John Carver On Board Leadership is a collection of articles that demonstrate the Policy Governance (R) model in board leadership, as written by its creator, John Carver, a man who has over twenty years of experience working with a variety of corporation boards. Addressing how to use the model of governance to improve communication and overall effectiveness, the role of committees, means for resolving disagreements, and much, much more, John Carver On Board Leadership is a solidly written, reader accessible, and effectively useful title recommended for anyone charged with the often difficult and complicated task of coordinating or leading a governing board.

WOW! This compendium of more than 100 of John Carver's articles would be useful enough if it only collected these important articles on Policy Governance into one volume. This publication goes several steps further - by starting with a Frequently Asked Questions Guide, the reader is directed to his or her most urgent concerns. These FAQs appear throughout the book along with pull-out quotes that focus the reader's attention on key issues in the section. Both these features make the book easy to navigate and consequently, a richer resource.

It's great to have these articles combined into one resource since many have been previously published in hard to access journals. This will be a great resource for those new to Policy Governance as well as to experienced practitioners.

This book is a gold-mine of practical information about the application of Policy Governance®. Boards will find a wealth of wisdom from former issues of Board Leadership, as well as a number of articles published in industry-specific journals that were not previously easy to find, now all in one convenient, easy-to-use package. Articles are short, easy-to-read, and of practical "hands-on" value. The FAQ section permits the reader to zoom in on particular areas of interest. As a consultant in Policy Governance® , I find the book to be a very user-friendly reference. For boards using the model, it is an invaluable resource. This is a book that can be read cover to cover, or can be "dipped into" to address specific issues facing a board at any given point in time. A must for your board's reference and on-going development.

lisa carver is a tremendous storyteller. this book is like having every issue of rollerderby inflated to be 300% larger than their normal sizes and put into one lovely book that can't be put down.

Lisa Carver, as a writer, makes it okay for us to embrace every part of ourselves. I think she is a better role model for teen girls that people like Brittney Spears could ever be. She understands herself, her sexuallity, and the world we live in (for the better and the worse). She takes the shame out of being poor, and encourages you to enjoy life. I could only call her inspirational.

I was late coming into touch with Lisa Carver. _Dancing Queen: A Lusty Look at the American Dream_ (Henry Holt) was published five years ago, and I didn't know it. I got to know her writing from her uninhibited diary entries at the fine adult site Nerve.com ('The Community of Thoughtful Hedonists'). So, I was glad to take a look into _Dancing Queen_ in order to understand the past of this peculiar woman. It is a slim volume of her essays on white trash, kissing, other ladies' bodies, and more. It is enormous fun. What's nice is that as different as Lisa is from anybody, she is happy and optimistic. 'I've done lots of stupid things, but I've enjoyed myself. _Dancing Queen_ is about _liking_ stuff. It's about how pleasing it can be to be poked and probed ' by the hairdresser, by the gynecologist, by killer bears, by the thirty-six-year-old ski instructress in _Princess Daisy_.' She is impatient with those who don't have fun; she cannot comprehend 'a whole essay by a woman who was upset that some men hooted at her, for instance. I _like_ to be hooted!' She gives us rants that certainly are self-indulgent, but you cannot expect anything different from someone who indulges herself with such lewdness, shamelessness, and fun.

Not only are her opinions odd, but it is obvious she enjoys getting them into words. In the chapter about her sensual enjoyment of a trip to the gynecologist ('It is the _illicit_ pleasure caused by _necessary_ procedures performed by _removed_ professionals that gets my temperature rising.'), she says that a certain kind of girl likes a visit to the gynecologist as much as Christmas: 'It only happens once a year and she gets lots of things she wants. She skips to the clinic while visions of speculums dance in her head.' She gushes over the ghost-written novels of perfect specimen Fabio ('He's always mentioning condoms in his pirate books') and informs us that 'They contain bold lines like:

1. 'I am a man of the sea.' 2. 'Go hide in the fields, woman.' 3. 'Mayhaps she thinks I am doing something bad.''

It was this sort of literature that fired her pre-adolescent fantasies: 'At twelve, I had as much sex drive as the entire U.S. Army and absolutely no idea what to do with it.' Not to worry; she has since learned. 'They sold me a roadmap to ecstasy covered in highways of trouble, and I couldn't wait to visit every site on the map.'

Lisa is hilarious when discussing just a trip to the hairdresser, or K-Mart, or Olivia Newton John, but the best chapter in the book is entitled 'An Iron Fist in a Polyester Glove: Lawrence Welk.' What is he doing here? Well, when Lisa was little, 'To me, the constant, ultra-close-ups of moist-lipped, moist-eyed, soft-bosomed lady singers lined up side by side in matching outfits like chickens to be plucked were an open call to perversion.' She has since made an extensive study of Lawrence's several autobiographies, where she must have learned that he originally picked up an accordion and set out to conquer the world, as Lawrence Welk & His Hotsy Totsy Boys. While she doesn't gloss over Lawrence's famous temper, she finds, surprisingly, a kindred spirit, someone who had a dream: 'extreme close ups of _nice_ people singing nice songs and dancing anachronistic dances against insanely cheerful backdrops. It's a beautiful dream!'

This isn't for everyone. Lisa is frank, naughty, and lustful. She throws sexual fantasies in even when discussing a sequence of post-Glasnost Russian leaders. If you like smart people who write enthusiastically well, and if you appreciate that to be peculiar is also to be interesting, this is certainly worth a look. Oh, and hot off the Lisa Diaries on Nerve.com: Lisa is trying to get pregnant again. That kid is going to have plenty to think about.

It's the best book! (Though I did read it before I had found a copy of the first book, Dragons in the Stars, and still, this one has more action, so I liked it more). Any dragon fan needs to read this, because this is so much better than normal fantasy; it's sci-fi! Still my favorite book, and I've had it for a couple of years now. It's awesome, and it's so descriptive that you can feel yourself watching the whole thing as though you're really there! It even made me cry (okay, so I had a thing for FullSky...)

A masterfully written book. I've read it so many times it is falling apart. The storyline is fantastic and the characters colorful. i believe this book is a must read for all dragon and sci-fi readers alike. My only regret is that Carver has only written two books thet deal with the mountain realm.

This book was absolutely fabulous! I couldn't put it down! I thought the plot was excellent and the book just kept movin'. Some lag after a while, but this book kept the action going! It took me awhile to understand some things(and I still don't fully understand exactly how they rig) because I missed the first one. Though I'm keeping my eyes open for it! If you like dragons and a lot of action, then this book is for you!

"Coach of the Century" follows Gordon Wood's remarkable career from a small West Texas school to Brownwood, where he won 7 State Championships (Wood won 2 additional State Championships at other schools). Wood doesn't get bogged down in his childhood days. He talks about football.

If you enjoy high school football in the Great State of Texas and have always admired what Wood accomplished at Brownwood, this is a great read.

Great story of the winningest high school football coach of all times. Most seasons are prefaced with a brief historical background to provide the setting. Wood's memories concerning his dealings with opposing coaches (for example, Wood accuses John Clark's Plano Wildcats of "cheating" Brownwood out of a state title game by unethically swapping suspiciously-edited game films, and he discusses the psychology of determining locations for playoff games) go way beyond the facts reported in newspapers or viewed by fans in the stands. On the book's last page, Coach Wood published his home phone number and encouraged readers to call to meet him. I hope to do so!

Even if you don't like High School football, you have to love Coach Gordon Wood. He's a "man's man" who grew up tough, but displays a great deal of respect for his family, his assistant coaches, and his players. This combination has led to one of the most successful winning records in the game. Coach Wood doesn't cut any corners on his opinions. No "politically correct" stuff here. What you do get is a great look inside what is "right" about the game. One of the most impressive aspects of Coach Wood's career isn't his win/loss record - but rather the significant accomplishments that his players went on to achieve in the business, political and sports worlds. That speaks volumes about the impact that a Great Coach and a Great Man had on some young boys in Brownwood Texas. I wish my son could play for Coach Gordon Wood.

In a small town in Montana, by the name of Carver, you will meet three lifelong friends. Bound to each other out of survival and a
love for the wilderness. Kevin, Bryce and Wiley are three boys that are tormented in High School by their classmates on a daily
basis.

Kevin's teasing began after coming down with polio. The virus affects the way he runs. So the kids call him "Spider". His friend
Bryce has been raised with strict morals and sees right and wrong in strictly black and white. He will report any cheating or rule
breaking by his fellow classmates without hesitation. Bryce truly can't understand why his classmates hate him for this reason
and he thinks everyone should live by these strict rules.
Wiley is the fast tempered one that is known as "Taxi" or "Dumbo" because of his big ears.

Three friends with different reasons for being teased all of their lives and bound together through friendship and survival.

The two chief tormentors of these boys are Mary and Alicia. When Bryce tells on Mary for cheating on a test she plans to make
him pay for it. She overhears the boys making plans to go skiing the following morning and sets a trap for Bryce. Her hatred
ends up going too far and she and Alicia accidentally kill him. What is even worse, Mary and Alicia don't even feel bad about
killing him. They only care that they don't get caught.

Kevin and Wiley know what really happened on the mountain and plan to cover up Mary and Alicia's crime from the Sheriff so
that they can turn the tables on their tormentors and prosecute the girls themselves. When Mary and Alicia realize that their
murder has been deemed an accident, they don't feel thankful, they just get meaner. And they go out of their way to make sure
that Kevin and Wiley hurt every single day from the loss of their best friend.

CARVER: HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY is an excellent book! I found the strange twist in taking the law into their own hands
perfect! What better way to exact revenge for Bryce then to do it themselves? A boy who only viewed right and wrong, in black
and white, would have loved to been alive to see his friends bring his two killers to justice. And in such a personal way.

C.H. Foertmeyer has written a truly gripping story that will pull you into the book and hold you there till the end. His characters
are wonderful and horrible. And that's just the way they are supposed to be. I recommend this book highly and can't wait to read
more by Mr. Foertmeyer!...

Where does total lack of discipline and loving attention end? How is cruelty born and how does any semblance of compassion die?

Seeing the title of this book, the reader will probably sense the upcoming hell and have the temptation to run! However, this book not only should be read by a few interested people but also should be mandatory reading in all schools and by all parents. Wiley Coates, Kevin Reynolds, and Bryce Spencer are best friends, united in their protective and raging front to peers who continuously and mercilessly torment them.

Getting a laugh and feeling superior prompts the abuse, but Mary and Alicia's seemingly prankish plans go far more awry than anyone could imagine. This last straw provokes planned revenge which again spins so far out of control that an entire town will reel from its effects for years.

Laced into this slowly evolving but potent nightmare, Foertmeyer weaves the living legend of the Blind Valley Hermit. How could Sam, the 19th century legend, with his trusty Sharpe rifle still be alive and communicating with anyone entering an ancient caldera bowl deep in the Colorado mountains?

Where is the moral consciousness in students who thrive on demeaning certain classmates? How could parents miss the solitude and rising hatred in children who are even less than popular among their peers? Why is there no reflection about giving a .357 New Model Blackhawk magnum gun comfortably nested in a Hunter Model 158 holster as a birthday present to one such lonely teenager? This poignant story will foster similar thoughts. However, it needs to do more than foster awareness, questions, and reflections.

Rather than exploiting the Columbine killings, C. H. Foertmeyer has crafted a wonderful story that meets the criteria for one of the best tension-paced crime stories but so much more importantly this amazing writer has penned a message that screams for acknowledgment and action about each and every young adult who innocently or deliberately may be part of this "voiceless hell."

Awards are usually offered for books that masterfully depict real life. Foertmeyer deserves more than an award for a book that has the timely potential to improve real life for countless young men and women.

I have to make a confession. This review is about the hardest review I have ever written. Not because CARVER: HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY was a difficult, or bad book. Because it is everything but that. CARVER: HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY is filled with just about every human emotion that can be brought forth, from a human being. I will try to cover them all, although right now I honestly don't think I can.

When I started reading this book, I thought it was going to be another rehash of all the school shooting stories. It is everything but that. It is a story that will haunt you long after you put the book down for the last time. It is a story that is as equally as tragic as Columbine, and the others, But what happened in Carver, Montana, in 1969, was even more tragic in many ways.

CARVER: MOUNTAIN HIGH TRAGEDY takes the reader into the lives, feelings, and the minds of three troubled teenage boys, Bryce Spencer, Kevin Reynolds, and Wiley Coates. For years the three boys had suffered the abuses and torments of their fellow classmates at Carver High. The three boys became and stayed the closest of friends fighting this overwhelming torture together, until one day one of the chief tormentors, Mary Clemmons and her friend, Alicia Koppe, took their torment to a new high. They killed Bryce. Although it was suppose to start off as a prank, it ended in a horrible death.

Wiley took this opportunity to finally even the score with these two tormentors, and talked Kevin into helping him cover up what had really happened to Bryce, in order to take justice into their own hands.

What follows is not only gut wrenching, but also goes to show how constant torment and ridicule can result in the changing of the lives of everyone involved, and even those not involved. It can change the lives of families, and friends. It can change the lives of an entire community. This is not a victimless "crime" in anyway. The victims are very widespread. But, like in so many instances, what happened in Carver was not only tragic, it could have been avoided.

Mr. Foertmeyer has created characters that actually bring out the emotions in the reader. In my case I actually put faces to Kevin and Wiley. I remembered kids that I went through school with that were the brunt of torments from the other kids. Tormentors much like Mary and Alicia. And there was always a leader to this, much in the same way as Mary leads Alicia around, and also in this case, as Wiley leads Kevin into getting revenge.

Mr. Foertmeyer has a wonderful way of describing the mountains, snow, valleys, and even the nighttime sky. He actually brings you into this story in such a way that you feel a part of the story, not only with the characters but also with the scenes in which these characters are living their lives.

I cannot say enough about CARVER; HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY. It is a story that took place in the late 60's but is every bit as modern as today. It is a story that will take you back to your childhood and make you think. It will make you wonder if perhaps what you did during those years was perhaps something to be ashamed of, or maybe proud of. Depending on which side of the fence you were on.

CARVER: HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY should be required reading for every teacher in the country, and it wouldn't hurt if a few parents read it too. Perhaps, just maybe the story wouldn't be repeated.

And to top it off, it is a wonderful, adventure story with twists and turns that keep you reading and won't let you stop. A definite page-turner. It kept me enthralled to the very last page.

I only hope for more from this great author, Charles Foertmeyer. He definitely knows how to please a reader, and at the same time make a statement we all need to listen to. In my opinion, Mr. Foertmeyer could very well be our modern day Samuel Clemons. He is that compelling.

Before discovering a dusty old hardcover copy of John Gardner's 'On Becoming A Novelist' in an infamous New York City bookstore (Gotham Book Mart), I was under the impression that every book related to the art of writing fit into one of three catagories. Either it focused on technique (Robert McKee's 'Story'), it offered encouragement (Anne Lamott's 'Bird By Bird'), or it took memoir form (Annie Dillard's 'The Writing Life'). I was wrong.

This book is a portrait of the writer as a young man (or woman). After years of teaching creative writing courses and wallowing around the publishing industry, Gardner acquired an opinion or two (major understatement). He correctly believed that writing novels is not a profession or a pasttime for the timid, and so he outlines the prototypical writer's 'character'. The purpose, of course, is to get the young writer to ask himself if he is really cut out for this. In the course of telling you what traits a talented writer must have (verbal accuity, a discerning eye, faith, etc.), Gardner offers up some brilliant insights into the craft. His discussion ranges from writer's block to writers' conferences, and while you may not always agree with him, his views are always thought provoking and perceptive.

In the end, this book may be mildly discouraging for the would-be writer who is currently on the fence. Gardner does not sugar coat his opinions, but I am glad for that. He has no qualms in informing his readers that worthwhile writing takes a great deal of talent, and not everyone has that talent. As he says, the worst that can happen after reading this book is that you will realize you don't have the right stuff, and you will move on to something else.

In reading this book, you get the impression that he was a brilliant writing teacher, as is evidenced by perhaps his greatest student, Raymond Carver. Carver wrote the brilliant introduction to this book, which familiarizes the reader with Gardner's personality and makes it easier to put the rest of the book in perspective. I, for one, would have loved to have Gardner as a teacher. As that is no longer possible (he died in a motorcycle accident years ago), this book is no small consolation.

Don't imagine that is book is out dated. It's actually better than most other books on writing out there today. Read it with your highlighter to capture some really helpful and inspiring advice. This is one you'll want to own.

There are lots of books out there on the mechanics of writing a novel. There are others that give you plot outlines, character sketches, or tell you how hard, hard, hard, or easy, easy, easy it is to build a career in writing.
Gardner, on the other hand, simply tells you how it is- at least from his point of view, and he makes it clear throughout that his advice to young writers is only one wall of the pigpen. The most refreshing aspect of this book is that it is geared to the "serious" novelist- i.e. someone who doesn't want to write books based on formulas or what sells, but just wants to write what they want to write. Gardner doesn't lie about the slim possibilities of making a living as a novelist, but he does give solid advice on how to make money without your job interfering with your work.
Though it was written more than twenty years ago, this book is still valuable today for the beginning writer- I'll keep it on my shelf for many years to come.

In this remarkable first novel, Alyson Richman pursues the universal themes of intergenerational love and guilt along with an erudite and yet fascinating portrait of the unique world of Noh theater in Japan at the onset of the Meiji era. Ms. Richman,with great sensitivity, carries the reader into the mind and heart of the eponymous young narrator as he struggles to free himself from the weighty artistic traditions of his father, the mask carver, and his grandfather, a great actor. The young artist manages to escape to Paris where he battles his personal and artistic demons in an attempt to establish himself as an artist in the Western style. Throughout this tour de force, the young author demonstrates a loving command of her subject matter while capturing for us, her readers, the auras and sights of both East and West in a way one would not expect from one so young. Anyone who is at all interested in art or in Japan, as well as anyone interested in a compelling and moving coming-of-age story, should read this very fine novel.

A friend of mine recommended this novel to me. Once I began reading it, I found it hard to put it down. Then, after reading it from cover to cover, after a few days I felt the urge to read it again. This was the first time in my life that I had ever done something like that. Reading "The Mask Carver's Son" the second time was even more rewarding and meaningful for me. The images in the book, as if painted by an artist, are exquisite and the story is told in a true Japanese manner. The emotions of the characters are carefully controlled, remaining under the surface. Yet, the story is a powerful one and one that is based on the real- life experiences of actual artists. Like other reviewers that have reviewed this book, I cannot believe that the author is not Japanese. Even more surprisingly, I found that the author is a young woman. She has written a novel of unbelievable beauty - perhaps better than any Japanese author might have created. I recommend it highly. It deserves six stars.

I found the "Mask Carver's Son" while perusing Amazon. After seeing the reviews, I selected it for my next read. After all, I did like "Memoirs of Geisha." LUCKY ME! I was captivated from the first page. Richmond writes a wonderful story that trancends cultures and time. Conflicts between a parent and child, and between ourselves and our work is universal. Here Richman treats us to an exceedingly well researched novel written as beautifully as the story she tells. I could not put it down!

I don't know what point Barry is trying to make with these collection of stories, but I couldn't find one.

What I did find was an overall warmth and a feeling of happy contentedness as I read through.

The works aren't deep, individually, but as a collection they speak wonderfully for Americana.

It's a good book for family reading time... in front of a fireplace on a cold winter day, on the porch during the summer, or anytime you want to feel good without working too hard at it.

The first time I read a Barry Carver "Sunday Story" I was transfixed, trapped by the words - yet somehow freer than I'd ever felt before. The words took me to another place, another time, another reality. The "Carver" reality. And I liked it there.

Each Sunday promised another voyage into the past, or the future, or into a place in time I had never been, into the ether of a different, yet familiar reality. Sometimes the trip was painful, sometimes joyful, but each journey was always a profound experience - one which urged me to ponder - to wonder. Each Sunday offered me an invitation to a world I never new existed, yet to which I always longed to travel - and return often.

Carver makes a splash with a his savvy new book, filled with thorougly enjoyable, thought provoking observations.

A must read...any day of the week!

Although Barry's Sunday Messages appeared early each Sunday morning online, I would wait until just before bedtime to read his words. There was something very "lullabyeish" about Barry's tales. It's not that each story ended peacefully or with a sprinkling of Sleepy Time tea, it's that I enjoyed having the images and characters navigate the worlds Barry created for them in my dreams.

When I learned that Barry would put together a collection of his short stories, I wondered how I'd keep from reading them all right away. There is such richness of life experience behind each of these tales. There is such a kindness in the manner Barry has gotten to know his characters. His investment in the art of storytelling shines through. Somehow, I keep to my Sunday night ritual. I let Barry tell me a bedtime story and hope that somehow my own written words can be as soothing in their wholeness.

Barry will again and again be published; his stories taking up residence in short story compilations here and there. But it is wonderful to have 52 Sundays all in one place. I look forward to the next 52. And the next.

This is a must have book for beginner or established Fetish collectors. It is a great, quick resource. I did not get as much out of the second volume, but this one is a must have.

This book, together with its successor volume, is the ultimate reference guide for the beginning or experienced collector. The author, who is probably the pre-eminent authority on the subject, provides clear, valuable information encompassing various segments of this remarkable art and contemporary artists. If you own or are considering purchasing these intriguing carvings, this little book (and the accompanying Volume II) should be your bible.

This little book (together with Volume II) is the most valuable reference guide on the market today for either the beginning or experienced collector. The author, probably the leading authority on the subject, provides clear, useful information, encompassing various segments of the art and artists, necessary for the understanding and purchase of these remarkable objects. The two books are a joy to read and own.

This is a beautiful book. Richard Nixon is an unlikely vehicle for beauty, but Maxwell does it somehow-- his gentle portrait of Raymond Carver no doubt has a lot to do with it. He has created a tragedy that does what tragedies should do-- simply, it makes you feel for another human being.
Also interesting in the same vein is Russell Lees' play "Nixon's Nixon"-- between the two of them these works do what history should do but can't.

buy the book, better than any "real" biography of either man...it leaves you hungry for more!.

I do not like to fish, play poker or clean the garage, but I loved Nixoncarver! Maxwell must have a vivid imagination because some of the images he created gave me a physical response--I will never look at a bluebird or my mother's arse the same way! After I finished the book, I regreted reading it so fast. Now I miss my new friends Nixon and Carver. Perhaps there is a part two in the works? Nixoncarver: Heaven or Hell? I hope so!