"For someone who has their personal finances in order, this will be a boring and basic book. For someone who is just figuring out how to manage their "For someone who has their personal finances in order, this will be a boring and basic book. For someone who is just figuring out how to manage their finances, this is a great book. I read this book when I was feeling weighed down by our finances and debt. This book helped me think systematically about what we were doing with our finances, helped refine a plan to retire all our debt, and convinced me the need to save and invest for the future. Since I read this book, I have read a number of other books about personal finance and investing. While several of these books gave me a deeper understanding of the topics, not have contradicted what I learned in this book. Personal Finance for Dummies has all the advice I would hope a parent would pass onto their children about money. Unfortunately, a lot of parents don't know many of the things found in this book or don't think to teach their children how to effectively manage their money."...more
The heart of this book is that we often engage in self-betrayal (choose to do what we know isn't right) which leads us to engage in self-deception (deThe heart of this book is that we often engage in self-betrayal (choose to do what we know isn't right) which leads us to engage in self-deception (devalue others, over value ourselves) to protect our ego. This leads to self-defensiveness, and things quickly spiral down. Choosing to honor others can break this cycle. This book is rooted in LDS traditions but is largely compatible with classic, Biblical Christianity. This book is an excellent examination of the dynamics of the heart as one attempts to walk in the spirit. I found this book transformative. I can't say that I am better at avoiding self-betrayal, but since reading this book I have become better at recognizing when I have and repairing the damage. This book is the cornerstone of the Arbinger group, which has produced the business oriented Leadership and Self-Deception....more
I first read this book in 1984. Until I read this book I thought motivating people via guilt was one of the most effective ways to bring about change.I first read this book in 1984. Until I read this book I thought motivating people via guilt was one of the most effective ways to bring about change. As I read this book I came to see how destructive guilt motivate was, and how it was unlike to sustain deep change in the long run. I try to read this book every few years. Each time I am reminded how easy it is to use guilt to motivate, how guilt is hugely damaging, and what are effective and life giving alternatives to guilt....more
"Explores how cooperation can emerge in a world ruled by selfishness with no central authority or rule. Axelrod demonstrates that enlightened self int"Explores how cooperation can emerge in a world ruled by selfishness with no central authority or rule. Axelrod demonstrates that enlightened self interest can lead to effective cooperation in any situation where the participants believe that they will need to interact with each other in the future. These lessons can, and should be applied to personal, corporate, national, and international interactions. After reading this book I noticed that I was much less likely to take an all or nothing approach when dealing with others, and was more more likely to look for win-win options."...more
This book resonated in my heart more than nearly any book I have ever read, but with a caveat. While the themes Palmer discussed resonated with my heaThis book resonated in my heart more than nearly any book I have ever read, but with a caveat. While the themes Palmer discussed resonated with my heart, I didn't always find the specific example or the writing to be on par with the "truths" explored. The key truths for me were: Teach out of identity and core not technique. Fear and alienation are the enemies of effective teaching. Greater truths are often paradoxes. Trying to resolve paradoxes too quickly short-circuits learning. The tension from paradoxes can leave us open provide we have fuel to endure the tension which requires love and suffering. Finding truth as a community centered around a subject rather than "objective facts" and experts. Teaching from the microcosm. From an impact in my life this is a five start. From a completeness of the topic / writing quality, this is a three star....more
Paul Miller asserts that we shouldn't focus on prayer (the method) but rather God (the object). Miller has a very high view of prayer. He expect prayePaul Miller asserts that we shouldn't focus on prayer (the method) but rather God (the object). Miller has a very high view of prayer. He expect prayer to accomplish things. Not because we are somehow manipulating God, but because God cares and prayer is a key way that we communicate with him. Prayers answered tomorrow? Maybe, or maybe in 20 years, or maybe 2000 years. And they might be answered in a way that you wouldn't have predicted and might not like, but God will do what's best. Miller highlights how critical our heart is in prayer, and that prayer will change our hearts.I found this book disturbing in the best sort of way. The book is going onto my list of books that really changed me....more
Drive suggests that knowledge workers need motivation 3.0. Version 1 was survival of the fittest. Version 2 was the industrial revolution which was foDrive suggests that knowledge workers need motivation 3.0. Version 1 was survival of the fittest. Version 2 was the industrial revolution which was focused on efficient, repeatable steps which make use of external rewards to motivate desired behavior. Version 3 is fostering intrinsic motivation for work which requires creativity. Pink suggests that there are three (I would say four) intrinsic motivators.
Autonomy Mastery Mission
I think there is a 4th: Team/Community, Pink thinks these should be lumps in with mission, but I disagree. Just look at the military to see how sense of team is seperate from mission.
Damage any of these intrinsic motivator and you risk demotivated a person and ultimately losing them.
Autonomy is destroyed by micro-management, where people are given tasks from above without explanation. As much as possible you want to ask open ended questions, not tell people what to do.
Mastery is destroyed by asking people to spend all their time working on mundane tasks or tasks which are way beyond their capabilities. You want to find tasks which stretch people, and help people learn from their failures.
Mission is destroyed when people believe the company can’t make their objective or when they decide the objective isn’t worthwhile. The solution here is often to increase transparency so people can see the factors that can lead to success and what is being achieved. Objectivity is key which means you have to face head on the challenged and acknowledge problems.
Team/community is broken when people are isolated, or when the feel their trust has been violated. Rebuilding trust which has been broken is very difficult. It starts with acknowledgement of the problem and a re-engagement. It will also require the person who has lost trust to extend forgiveness. Learning to forgive is one of the most important skills for someone to develop. People aren’t perfect and we will be disappointed. The inability to repair will lead to isolation.
Drive also points out a final issue which motivates people to leave. Ineffective extrinsic motivation. In creative jobs, financial motivation (pay, benefits, stock) rarely bring about effective motivation, but the perception that these aren’t fair can kill someone’s motivation. In other words, if you comp is more than fair (among people, against the market) you take comp off the table as an issue. Note: this means you don’t need to have the best comp, just good comp. If comp is not competitive you will lose people, and if it is being used as a tool to motivate and retain people, you will likely hold on to people, but not get their best performance....more
The first book in a good series on Christian life. Each chapter starts with a story from the author's life which illustrates how the chapter's topic eThe first book in a good series on Christian life. Each chapter starts with a story from the author's life which illustrates how the chapter's topic effects day to day life. Then the topic is look at from several perspectives which typically includes religious and popular culture and then what the Bible actually says. A discussion of false narratives vs what's true is often very enlightening because rather than straw men, the false narratives often capture commonly held or practices perspectives....more
"This book as the message that there can be hope, even in darkest of times. During WWII, the entire community of Le Chambon refused to cooperate with "This book as the message that there can be hope, even in darkest of times. During WWII, the entire community of Le Chambon refused to cooperate with the Nazis and helped more than 5,000 Jews escape Nazi camps. There was no one hero... rather the whole community engaged in a conspiracy of goodness. Whenever I start to think that it's impossible for a community to tackle a difficult issue, I find myself reflect what this amazing community was able to achieve. There is a good documentary about this community called Weapons of the Spirit." http://www.chambon.org/weapons_en.htm...more
Stevens had an amazing ability to simply and clearly explain technical topics that can be quite complex. While I knew quite a bit about the TCP/IP proStevens had an amazing ability to simply and clearly explain technical topics that can be quite complex. While I knew quite a bit about the TCP/IP protocol stack this book helped pull this topic together in a more complete way that I could have on my own, or by reading several other books. I still find myself regularly reaching for this book (or the other 3 in the series)....more
If I had to choose a single book for someone to read before getting married, this is the book I would recommend. Keller have a talk at google that doeIf I had to choose a single book for someone to read before getting married, this is the book I would recommend. Keller have a talk at google that does a great job summarizing the book http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9THu0......more
I am going to need to read this book a second time before I write a good review, but I would highly recommend this book. If you have read a summary anI am going to need to read this book a second time before I write a good review, but I would highly recommend this book. If you have read a summary and think you know what’s in the book you are wrong. I think it takes example after example to actually internalize how easily we are influenced by things we don’t notice and realize how poor we are all at when it comes to thinking logically....more
Over the years I have tried a number of devotionals. Most seems either too simplistic or to ethereal. I have found A Guide to Prayer for Ministers andOver the years I have tried a number of devotionals. Most seems either too simplistic or to ethereal. I have found A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants to be refreshing and challenging at the same time. Even though I have read through each of the chapters several times, they continue to be fresh and challenging. I have lost count of how many copies of this book I have given out. Nearly everyone has loved it as much as I, often gifting this book to others....more
The best book I have read on vocation. Keller captures the tension that we all feel between being made to work and that we live in a broken world wherThe best book I have read on vocation. Keller captures the tension that we all feel between being made to work and that we live in a broken world where nothing works as it should. Work can be deeply satisfying, it can also be great source of frustration which grind us down. Keller makes the case for working hard, but to remember that our ultimate hope is in the new world that God will be making. A new world the is connected to the world we live in now, that will be material, not some ethereal cloud filled world. Keller demonstrations that all work, be it the humble work of a house cleaner or a trauma surgeon are not just necessary but valued by God, and should be valued by all of us. I am given this book 5 stars rather than 4 because it played a significant role in moving me from being ready to quit the world of high tech start-ups to looking forward to new work....more
Stevens had an amazing ability to simply and clearly explain technical topics that can be quite complex. While I knew quite a bit about UNIX system prStevens had an amazing ability to simply and clearly explain technical topics that can be quite complex. While I knew quite a bit about UNIX system programming, these book helped pull this topic together in a more complete way that I could have on my own, or by reading several other books. I still find myself regularly reaching for this book....more
I discovered the earlier book in 1981 at local book store. At the time I realized that I didn't have very good insight into myself or the people arounI discovered the earlier book in 1981 at local book store. At the time I realized that I didn't have very good insight into myself or the people around me. This book introduced me to the Myers-Briggs personality classification system. After reading this book, I had a better understanding of myself, both my strengths and my weaknesses. My appreciation of people who were different from me grew significantly and I was able to start thinking of them as different rather than "plodding" or "insensitive". I came to realize that there was great value in people who were more systematic than me, or who cared more about truth than people. While I have benefitted from this book, it's theories have not been validated by rigorous science. The Big Five is better in that sense. ...more
I read the paperback version of this book in 1981. Roland argues that the church doesn't need complex structures and systems to be effective. Rather tI read the paperback version of this book in 1981. Roland argues that the church doesn't need complex structures and systems to be effective. Rather the church needs to free it's members to follow after God. Too often, church leadership trying to control what is happening and how it's happening. This is almost always a mistake. The church is a group of people who are together, trying to follow after God and responding to what they are learning. This books resulted in me being much more laid back when in leadership roles within the church, and has lead me to select a church that favors less structure and control....more
A very brief book which makes a strong case that the Bible is an accurate record, and can be instrumental in answering the most important question... A very brief book which makes a strong case that the Bible is an accurate record, and can be instrumental in answering the most important question... Who is Jesus and what did he want us to know? The book takes time to discuss how we can evaluate truth claims and how the Bible self-validates itself, e.g. you can trust what's written as being accurate, not some fairy tale. The book examines of the core message of the Bible. The final chapter briefly touching on several sticky questions that are often brought up by people who object to christianity. This is an updated version of the book Christianity: The Faith That Makes Sense. I first encouraged much of this material listing to the author teach. ...more
My first "read" was as an audio book while I ran. I liked it enough to "re-read" in text form so I could highlight and mine it for useful ideas and toMy first "read" was as an audio book while I ran. I liked it enough to "re-read" in text form so I could highlight and mine it for useful ideas and to put much of the material into practice. This book taught me to establish the most basic form of a habit I want to incorporate into my life, and slowly add to it, rather than try to immediately establish a hard habit and give up after a month....more
Dennis McCallum is one of the founders of the church I attended as a new Christian. This book distills most of the teaching I heard early in my ChristDennis McCallum is one of the founders of the church I attended as a new Christian. This book distills most of the teaching I heard early in my Christian faith about the nature of spiritual growth. These teachings had a significant role in shaping how I view the world and understand what it means to live life as a Christian. To be honest, when I learned this material it was in the form of handouts and articles... this book was written later making use of the materials I learned from. I believe that there are better books for many of the topics that are covered in this book. For example, I think Green Letters by Miles Stanford and Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee has more depth on many of the topics. Release of the Spirit by Watchman Nee and Broken in the Right Places by Alan Nelson gives a much more complete explanation about how trials and suffering refine our character. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence and A Praying Life by Paul Miller is much better explaining a life of prayer. The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis & John Eldredge is much more effective at capturing the personal nature of a walk with God. Never the less, the materials in this book are extremely valuable in understanding the foundations of basic, Christian spirituality and I can't think of a better book that covers all these topics as well as Walking in Victor....more
I read the original edition which was a 700+ page tome which is a collections of \ articles which examine Christianity and missions through the lens oI read the original edition which was a 700+ page tome which is a collections of \ articles which examine Christianity and missions through the lens of Biblical theology, history, culture, and strategic analysis. The combination of this book and the class that used it as a textbook changed not only my views on Christian missions, but changed the way I engage life. For example, the section on culture helped me understand how I valued my culture above others and that was a form of bigotry. I was challenged to learn more about other cultures and find value in the differences from my own. I learned that communication is rooted in ones world view, and to bridge that gap one needed to understand the context of the people you are communicating with and actively bridge that gap. I learned to appreciate how organizational structures are more (or less) appropriate for different tasks... that one size doesn't fit all. Finally, I learned that God was concerned for the whole world, the whole man, and that the history of missions doesn't have a good track record doing either of these things. I learned how thru history there have been awful things, and great things, done in the name of missions which gave me an appreciation for the need to critically examine projects I might be involved with... and of course, that just sitting back wasn't an option....more
Highly influenced by Schaeffer's exploration of truth at the intersection of culture, philosophy, and theology. I expect most intellectual christians Highly influenced by Schaeffer's exploration of truth at the intersection of culture, philosophy, and theology. I expect most intellectual christians who came of age in the 1970s, 80s or 90s who say this book shaped their thinking. Originally read this in paperback, but now own the Kindle version....more
the best book I have found describing how to help establish a new Christian. This book helped me appreciate what core truths and life practices were ithe best book I have found describing how to help establish a new Christian. This book helped me appreciate what core truths and life practices were important in the life of a new Christian, why it was important to purposefully pass these core practices on, and gave me a framework to help someone new in the faith become more established. I also learned to appreciate how people grow in different ways and that what someone might need in one stage of life, will likely be different in the next stage of life. Finally, Dynamics of Personal Follow-up provided me a basic framework to think about how people grow. I have taught classes based on material from this book and used much of Kuhne's material when mentoring people....more
Loading...
