First of all, shame on the women who gave this book glowing reviews on the first few pages! I was completely shocked (had to re-read the passages several times) by the authors suggestion that a woman who was sexually approached by a co-worker basicallly overreacted by becoming angry, and that she should have instead interpreted the pass as his awkward attempt to "find some way to connect with her. Might she have deflected the pass but turned the attempt into something more suitable to a collegial work relationship?"(page126) Give me a break! I can't believe that this example of gaining influence over people ever made it past the editor. And if that wasn't bad enough, they again insulted women on page 226, when they explain that a women ponders her failure in a management role by saying "I still haven't figured out why they allowed a female - especially one without an engineering background - to manage the project". What?!? I had to check the front of the book to see if it was published in the 60s! Besides these profoundly ignorant examples, I found the book to be less than marginal in developing my ability to influence those around me. I'll look elsewhere.

This book covers how to use the natural human laws of reciprocity with others in your organization to achieve maximum productivity. More importantly the book also promotes the attitude of looking on everyone in your organization as allies (people you like) and potential allies (people you don't). Highly recommended.

This book is one of the worst business books I have ever read. The authors are clearly on the gravy train trying to sweep up some more consultancy dollars.

This book basically breaks leadership up into two schools, the heroic school and the post-heroic school. The way it works is really simple. Anything bad, belongs in the heroic school, and anything good is post-heroic! WOW! This book is very one-sided and does not even try to entertain the notion that the most effective style of leadership can vary depending upon the situation. It continuously hammers home a certain style of leadership never exploring the situations where different approaches are effective.

I strongly recommend that if one wants to learn and think about leadership, read about leaders!....and by the way, the kind of leaders that we all admire do not even fit into this post-heroic category! This idealistic kind of approach recommended by academics lacks practical real-world substance, and only has value in a classroom.

I am considering using this book to prop up my dining table!

The authors make the impossible seem very possible in this excellent book. The differences between heroic and post-heroic leadership is well defined through stories involving real people. Can an organization switch from heroic to post-heroic leadership, sure, but it is not easy. Somehow this book and its ideas make that ideal a bit more reasonable. Only for managers and leaders who are ready to go out on a limb and turn everything they thought they knew upside down. Good luck.

Although too disgusted to continue beyond a few chapters, I can honestly say this book is easily the most offensive drivel I've read in years.

The book's synopsis, which ascribes such sweeping generalizations as "an extended adolescence, feel disillusioned, are materialistic" to the young workforce, was in itself enough to rouse my anger. The crude chapter concerning twentysomething managers ("The Yellow Sneaker Syndrome") managed to turn my stomach, while the pages of mean-spirited and heavily prejudiced stereotypes motivated me to write an angry letter to the publisher.

Having worked in the technology industry, where under-30 employees comprise 40+ % of the workforce, I have seen first hand how untrue all the precepts of this book are. When in history has a demographic worked longer hours (60 - 70 + /week) or in worse circumstances (the increasingly unstable technology economy) with more globally impacting results (see Jamie Zawinski's contributions to Netscape)?

Although I'm sure the authors have some right to their "expert" status, no professional should lay claim to such ignorant and blatantly one-sided misrepresentation of an entire generation. Should all the "twentysomething" references be replaced with any of a variety of ethnic labels, outraged public reaction would be immeasurable; the ignorance that prompted similarly charged racial stereotypes 50 years ago should not be heralded as sage advice when expressed in reference to an age demographic.

I would suggest "disillusioned" and "materialistic" more accurately describes the producers of this book, feeding on the fear of middle-aged workers forced to compete with a younger age group in an economy that has rendered many old-school business practices obsolete.

Lawrence J. Bradford and Claire Raines Twenty-Something: Managing & Motivating Today's New Work Force attempts to provide managers and supervisors in all types of organizations a practical guide to better understand and lead their young employees. This book examines the background and work orientation of today's new worker by examining the values of younger workers between the ages of 17 and 27. There are growing frustrations from managers and supervisors across the nation about the new workers' lack of work ethic and loyalty, dominated by self-interest, and their non-caring attitude. Bradford and Raines provide insight into this "so-called" disrespectful, cynical, but yet educated, innovative, and energetic group of young workers by helping managers and supervisors alike, better understand the values that drive their behavior. The book identifies eight core values of these "Generation X" employees: they are self-oriented, want "quantity" time, have an extended adolescence, feel disillusioned, are materialistic, want to have fun, are slow to commit, and don't bow to authority. Understanding these core values provides managers and supervisors more effective methods of motivating and leading these young workers. Throughout the book, the concept of effective leadership is intertwined with understanding. In order for managers and supervisors to lead effectively they must learn new leadership strategies in leading twentysomething workers. Bradford and Raines feel that the information about twentysomethings will help managers and supervisors better understand and lead these new workers successfully. This consists of outlining specific responsibilities, goals and performance standards, communication paths, advancement opportunities and rewarding their young workers. Managers and supervisors must not assume their workers have the same values and views of work as they do, or that they are driven by the same things that they are. Today's young workers are learning new management models in college that gives more power to front-line employees and flattens the organizational chart. In knowing this, managers and supervisors must get to know this new "breed" of young workers, their expectations, and provide them constant feedback and communication. Bradford and Raines have provided some useful information and background into this new type of worker. Their book is well written and provides good insight that helps the "old school" manager or supervisor lead, manage, and ease the impact of this generational conflict. Overall, the successful leader, manager, or supervisor of the twenty-first century will be a coach, mentor, a supporter, and a people person.

I read this book again, again , and wander where he got his teachings. I really wish he would be honest and tell the Truth that he is not a Yuwipi man. I want to know more of the Yuwipi men but this isn't appealing Please save your money and buy Black Elk Speaks Thanks

I have never heard of Gary Holy Bull Nor has he ever practice among the Lakota People on the Pine Ridge Reservation, I know there are many who say they are yuwipi Medicine men but I do like to think that this book can be honest atleast to say that Mr Holy Bull is not a Yuwipi Man. I do not tear this man down but the book and what is written about the ceremonies...Will the Truth ever come out?

The subject of Native American healing and spirituality is one that is not easily approached in a world of juried scientific reviews and instant computer data analysis. The topic refuses to be measured, quantified or otherwise put into the boxes we humans like to safely file out own biases into.

As a Native American physician, I am faced with this dilemma every day: how to walk in two worlds with one spirit.

I met Gary and Rita Holy Bull several years ago and heard a number of these stories first hand. I had never repeated them to anyone as they are their stories and not mine to share. I was always impressed by his intimate and personal way of sharing his life and beliefs. I was quite surprised and pleased to see them in print and hear them on the accompanying CD.

This is no ordinary "New Age" second person book about Lakota spirituality: it is in the first person from the source itself. I wonder how long it will take those in search of Lakota Indian spirituality to discover his words. They are given great power as they are spoken from his heart. He discloses as much as he can. Much more cannot be written. Yet the well done art work from the Sun Dance Arbor to that of Gary and Rita at their home in South Dakota make this more of a personal letter and message to the reader rather than yet another opus on Indian spirituality.

Let the reader beware that Indian spirituality themes overlap each other but keep in mind that this work is specifically Lakota Indian in its focus.

Many Tribes and New Age Practitioners have adopted parts of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota culture both in dress and ceremony. The reader should remember that just as there are many different Indian tribes, likewise Indians take many different paths to ceremonies and practices that ultimately lead them to their own paths and relationships to Creator. This is but one of many.

The serious reader searching for his own path would do well to add "Lakota Yuwipi Man" to their library.

Don't waste your time or money. Everything-the characters, plot, etc.-was not believable. It was a chore to get through this "novel".

This was the first novel I read by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I agree with the reviews that say it is alright when you just want to make the time go by (good for a long flight or to read lying in the sun). I'll give the author a second chance, since I'm sure others are better, but despite all the good things, thebook was rather disappointing.

I don't think there will be any BTB books that equal her trilogy, "A Woman Of Substance", "Hold The Dream" and "To Be The Best". In my opinion, those three were phenomenal. I've read a number of her books, but I just consider them light entertainment. I heard this one on audio CD, as I travel quite a bit for my job, and it really passes the time while driving. "Angel" did just that, passed the time. Agreeing with others, yes, it was predictable. There was no closure to a few subplots but the reader, Lorelei King made it quite enjoyable to listen to. I'm not sure that had I read the hard copy, I would have liked it nearly as well. All in all, not bad, just not great.

The story was continously jumping ahead so it could be told in the past tense. The word "had" appeared in most sentences one or two times except in the Epilogue. A low estimate, I would guess the word was used 1200 times. Very annoying.

I READ THIS BOOK ALTHOUGH I HADN'T READ THE ONES PRECEDING IT. AND TO BE TRUTHFUL I'M GLAD I DIDN'T. IT WAS ALITTLE "JUMPY" GOING FROM ENGLAND,NEW YORK, AUSTRALIA AND I THOUGHT THEREWAS ENOUGH SADNESS IN FAMILY WITH THERETARDED SON OF PAULA AND THE LEUKEMIADEATH OF ALEXANDER BUT IT WENT TO SOAPOPERA LEVEL WHEN PHILIP'S WIFE MADDYSUCCUMBED TO A BRAIN HEMMORAGE. I COULDNOT BELEIVE SHE HAD HER DIE. BARBARA,WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

i think that the guide that came with my book, which shows pictures of the slides that professors are supposed to use was completely usless, if you have to purchase this book for a class, try and get a used copy. It is not worth the price you have to pay. There is another book by Breyli and Meyers titles Corporate Finance which is much more comprehensive and much better.

more illustrations would have helped this out a lot. All in all, a bit wordy.

"A Little Lower than the Angels" by Virginia Sorensen, is the story of a group of Mormons at a specific time, 1829 - 1846 and place, Nauvoo, Illinois. It is told through the eyes of a newly converted Mormon woman, Mercy. It chronicles the difficulties of moving to a new place; bearing and raising children; acclimating to a new religion (chosen by her husband) and coping with the radical change the new religion advocates of plural wives. Mercy's story is a fascinating one. Sorensen tells the story of her family with passion even though the reader might wish that her editor had red penciled more freely. The one theme that Sorensen does not address, to this reader's satisfaction, is whether or not the Mormon religion was truly a new idea for a better life or just more of the same wrapped in a different package. For example, Brother Joseph builds a large hotel,supposedly for the good of the Mormon group, but seems to profit personally from its existence. This smacks of corruption of power. The same Brother Joseph lusts after the community's poet, Eliza, and comes up with the idea of plural marriages. He quotes from the Bible and gives the sociologic idea that since there are many sigle women this is the way to care for them. However, the old women do not seem to be the recipients of his largess but the young and attractive ones receive his attention. Then, after agreeing to become his wife, in secret, of course, Eliza is never treated as his wife economically or sexually. The point of plural wives in this case seems lost. In the case of Mercy, who gets very sick after the birth of her last child, the plural marriage provides a housekeeper and sex partner for her husband while she is confined to bed. One wonders if a paid maid might not have served as well for the care of the children and a little abstinence on the part of her husband might have shown him a stronger man and more faithful husband as well. From an historical point of view this is a worthwhile read.

For lovers of romantic books, this is a very nice piece. Barbara Taylor Bradford is not a perfect author. But then nobody's perfect, so why would I want perfection from her? But let's go back to the subject: this book is about lost, hate, vingeance, and obviously, love and how we learn from these feelings.

The plot itself is not very cool. Barbara has a way of telling the story that sometimes make the reader wonder why he/she is still reading the book. But what's worth with her is exactly this: the up and downs of the book and the good sensation you get after reading her books.

Personally, I found this to be one of her best books. After reading it, you don't regret and, to the credit of Barbara - and to her cash also - you want to read another. Then you become a frequent reader of hers without realize it. Isn't that wonderful? :)

Marco Aurelio - contact: deankoontzfan@hotmail.com

Some people love to read novels set in upper class surroundings, portraying family dynamics. Here is a book for them. With this genre you cannot expect deep characters and a clever plot. The beauty of these books lies elsewhere, and many readers will find them shallow. I was impressed by the language, and Bradford is obviously a better writer than many bestseller authors.

Barbara Taylor Bradford's fans will love this story about precious jewels and precious relationships!