Month: August 2011

business, self improvement

The Skinny on the Art of Persuasion

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jim Randel
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Self-improvement / Business
ISBN: 978-0-9824390-0-5
Pages: 168
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

In order to succeed in business, it’s helpful to be able to persuade others to follow your way of thinking. This skill can be utilized in sales, but it’s also useful in dealing with people on a day to day basis.

Although it may seem as if the best salesmen are born with the ability to convince people to buy, this skill is actually something anyone can learn. All you need to do is follow the steps Jim Randel has laid out for us in The Skinny on the Art of Persuasion. Persuasion is not the same thing as manipulation, so Randel also reminds us that integrity is key – people will know when they’re not being treated respectfully.

Skinny books are mini-courses presented in a power-point format with stick figures and brief insights on each concept. A bibliography of further reading is provided for those who want to dig deeper. Read a Skinny in an hour, and gain a wealth of information. I highly recommend this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

adventure

Saltwater Taffy

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Eric Delabarre
Illustrator: R.C. Nason
Publisher: Seven Publishing
Genre: Adventure
ISBN: 978-0-9723578-0-7
Pages: 272
Price: $15.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

A pirate’s treasure is hidden somewhere in Port Townsend, Washington. When the annual clue to the Keys to Lafitte is announced, this time Scott and his friends think they have a shot at finding it.

Old Man Sheesley has already solved the first two clues left behind by Jacques Pierre Lafitte. Now there are only two remaining. But solving the puzzle could turn out to be the most dangerous thing these five friends will do. In addition to treasure hunting, they learn a lot about themselves, what friendship means, and how some of their weaknessess hold them back from being the best they can be.

Saltwater Taffy is a coming-of-age adventure that will thrill the reader with its fast-paced excitement. But any kid who reads this well-written novel will also come away with a sense that he is more than he thinks he is, and maybe even has the ability to stretch himself beyond his wildest dreams. Positive, uplifting and a great read – I highly recommend this book!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Justice in June

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Barbara Levenson
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-193351571-7
Pages: 312
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Mary Magruder Katz expects to be busy in her line of work. After all, she’s a criminal defense lawyer in Miami, Florida. But on one June day she finds herself caught up in three cases that are anything but boring.

A prominent judge needs Mary’s assistance when her rulings in court are under investigation. A family friend of her hot boyfriend, Carlos, is accused of terrorism. And Carlos himself faces a damaging class action lawsuit. Mary is brilliant in ferreting out the truth and offering sound legal counsel to her clients. But she’s less than perfect at being a girlfriend to a man who clearly adores her. It will be a true test to see if their relationship survives.

I really liked the first book in this series, Fatal February, but I found Mary a little hard to understand in Justice in June. She’s too caught up in her own cases to pay attention to the issues Carlos is having in his business, and she comes across as self-centered. I hope to see Mary soften a bit, at least with Carlos, as this series progresses. Overall, though, this mystery is fast-paced, engaging and an enjoyable read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

nature

Hide and Sneak

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Elizabeth Cook
Photography: Robert Yin
Publisher: Hameray Publishing Group
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-1-60559-098-1
Pages: 48
Price: $9.95

Buy it from publisher

Sea animals fascinate us because of their unique coloring and design. But have you ever thought about why they look this way? Elizabeth Cook and Robert Yin show us some of these unusual sea creatures in their natural habitat, as they attempt to hide and sneak.

Avoiding predators is a key to survival, and an animal’s ability to blend in with its surroundings can mean the difference between life and death. Predators also need to go unnoticed, in order to sneak up on their prey, so their coloring is intended to assist them. In these beautiful close-up photos, we see how these creatures sneak up on others as they try to eat, or hide to avoid being eaten.

Hide and Sneak is part of the Underwater Encounter series, designed to deliver intriguing facts and first-hand accounts from the depths of the seas. This colorful and interesting book provides detailed explanations of underwater camouflage with great photographic images to illustrate these points. I highly recommend it for classrooms and libraries.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

relationships, self improvement

The Compliment Quotient

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Monica Strobel
Publisher: Wise Roads Press
Genre: Self-help / Motivation
ISBN: 978-1-936214-37-2
Pages: 164
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Are you looking for a simple but effective way to change the dynamics of an important relationship? A compliment may be just what you need. In The Compliment Quotient, Monica Strobel shows us how and why compliments can be so powerful in our interactions with others.

Compliments don’t just help others. They can help us just as much, since giving a compliment also makes us happy. But giving the right kinds of compliments makes a huge difference. Avoiding flattery and pinpointing something specific to compliment are important. And sometimes the hardest thing we can do is accept a compliment from others gracefully.

Strobel provides helpful information on proper complimentology techniques in a well-organized fashion, relying on detailed bullet-point lists to explain her ideas. She also shows us great examples of how — and how NOT — to compliment others. If you’re looking to improve relationships with friends, family and co-workers, give compliments a try, and be sure to pick up The Compliment Quotient for guidance.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Buddhism, spirituality

Tibetan Sound Healing

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Publisher: Sounds True
Genre: Spirituality / Buddhism
ISBN: 978-1-60407-095-8
Pages: 120
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

The Bön Buddhist tradition of Tibet has been practiced for a very long time, through the efforts of a few dedicated lamas. In Tibetan Sound Healing, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche teaches us the Five Warrior Syllables from the Bön practice, and shows us how to use them in our own lives.

First Rinpoche introduces us to the syllables. These are A, OM, HUNG, RAM, and DZA, each of which has its own energy as we sing these sounds. Then we’re instructed to read the chapter about each syllable, turning to the CD to listen to it being sung by Rinpoche. A final track on the CD is three chanted prayers.

This book and CD set complement each other nicely. Rinpoche explains the syllables with clear images, describing our feelings as if we were in the desert, and adding more elements as we move to the next syllable. As the sounds reverberate, we can easily place ourselves in the images he’s created, and work with these Five Warrior Syllables to activate our own healing potential.

Reviewer: Alice Berger