Daniel Ragsdale
My oldest son, Roy, and I read this book during a recent 5 and 1/2 day 72-mile jaunt on the Appalachian Trail. It is both laugh-out-loud funny and incredibly insightful. The critical acclaim that this book received when it was first published is well-justified.
BTW, Roy is one of the coolest, most level-headed, and kindest people I have ever known. I am now certain that over the past 22 years he has taught me more than I have ever be able to teach him.
A collection of good basic summaries of philosophies, contributions,and most interestingly, shortcomings of our first 43 presidents.
The ratings are especially intriguing - Pierce and Buchanan had a rough go of it. I find it amazing how life experiences, intellectual capacity, and knowledge of domestic and/or international affairs before taking office are frequently not very good predictors of a successful presidency. What is not surprisingly is that leaders of character have often flourished while in office. Also notable is that it appears that most successful presidents seem to be likable chaps - the surely codgers (sp?) who appear to find little joy in life are often poor performers. Admittedly, these somewhat naive observations are not likely to be embraced by presidential scholars, but, nonetheless, they work for me!
It was an excellent read! The two riveting parallel stories capture the spirit of the times.
Sort of a “Philosophy for Dummies” book but it did motivate me to try and tackle Bertrand Russell's tome, A history of Western Philosophy.
A powerfully simple or overly simplistic metaphor for life? I vote for the former!This is an awesome, although an admittedly thinly researched, airport-book-store-rack book that, if universally and properly applied, will greatly enhance the quality of life for human life forms the world over....Related work that is scrupulously researched and splendidly written by [a:Barbara Fredrickson 170314 Barbara Fredrickson http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg], Ph.D.: [b:Positivity Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive 5629875 Positivity Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive Barbara Frederickson http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1240452793s/5629875.jpg 5801281] A great review at: The Big Impact of Small Interactions
Everyone who wants to understand West Point in the “here and now” should read this book. Dr Samet is an institutional treasure.
A must-read for anyone who wants to fully appreciate the overriding importance of maintaining a robust intelligence community, even in free and open societies which embrace freedoms and civil liberties.
All who struggle with the issue of suffering, especially in light of natural disasters such as the Haiti earthquake, should read this book. Christians and non-Christians readers alike have much to be gained. Although the author is a former Christian minister who, in his words, “has lost his faith,” his message is, in some ways, uplifting.
The author's greatest contribution is the depth and breath of his analysis of the many ways in which suffering is addressed in Scripture. Although he draws different conclusions that I would draw I think he he should be commended for the both the profundity and the comprehensive nature of his analysis.
McCullough is an absolute American treasure. He never disappoints and this effort, written over 30 years ago, is no exception. TR is a larger than life figure who was a Republican and a reformer who actions and motivations were consistent with the legacy left by the great Republicans who preceded him. It is so unfortunate that great men like TR are no longer motivated to serve their country in elected office. Abraham Lincoln, for one, would almost certainly be ashamed of that the many petty, anti-intellectual, anti-science men and women who now claim to represent the ideals of the Republican party. Their counterparts, on the other side of the aisle, are, in many ways, no better, but at least their actions are consistent with the long-standing principles of their party.
My initial review (3 stars) was way off base. There are few “success” books* that have had the impact and broad appeal of this true classic.
Although many of the ideas Covey presents in 7-habits are based on Drucker's 1966 book “The Effective Executive,” Covey's conveyed them in a manner that, over time, has caused them to become almost self-evident.
I now realize that since the time of its initial publication many authors have simply re-packaged and re-formulated the truisms that Covey serves up in “7 Habits.”
BTW I prefer the label “success” books as opposed to “self help” books because the latter is often used in a condescending manner by those who do not read them.
I loved this book! Well worth the five weeks it took me to finish it. This book is not for everyone but I found that it to be both uplifting and informative.
This book is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. My take: true empathy, based on a honest regard for others, is the quinestinal skill we must possess.
One of the most enjoyable nonfiction books I have read in quite a while. It describes an amazing late-80s story of cyber intrigue.
Wow, just wow. Set aside what you're currently reading, get this book, a be prepared not to put it down until you're finished. It reads like a somewhat implausible movie script BUT, it's a true story that is fully infused with improbable but amazingly inspiring messages. These parables address a wide array of human values and the associated ethical dilemmas they can cause. Oh, As an aside, I do find it ironic that, on the day we celebrate motherhood, the lead character's stepmom, unlike nearly all other stepmoms, is the absolute embodiment of bad mothering.
I love this book!
In typical Maxwell fashion, this short book is filled with wise and practical advice. Although he writes for a secular audience, the spiritual foundation of his words is quite evident.