I've read Dick Biggs' other books, heard him talk, and witnessed the positive change and growth in people from the mentoring program he developed. BURN BRIGHTLY WITHOUT BURNING OUT is his best work. If you like Stephen Covey, Norman Vincent Peale, John Maxwell or Ken Blanchard, this book should appeal to you because it packs powerful but simple ideas of living a better life.

The author uses good illustrative examples in his twenty short and compact chapters that serve as stepping stones in a stairway to happiness and fulfillment in your life. Its messages have solid moral foundations, The book's subtitle, Balancing the Work You Need with the Life You Lead, is a theme carried throughout this fine work, with appeal for adult readers of all ages.

I've given copies of this book to a niece working towards a medical degree, a retired senior military officer friend starting a new executive career and a brother rebuilding his life, in addition to my three grown children.

The book is an easy read, however, its worthy of highlighting and reading again for reinforcement and to pick up additional insights. The book covers a lot of ground in less than 150 short pages and lives up to its title. It's a winner!

They say in five years, you will become the average of the books you have read and the people you have associated with. For two-and-a-half years, I've had the privelege of associating with Dick Biggs as a professional speaker--and now I've been able to read his book. Both have become indispensible resources for me.

Dick is respected among professional speakers for being a man who walks his talk. Reading his latest book, BURN BRIGHTLY WITHOUT BURNING OUT, is almost as good as knowing the man--it will provide very practical assistance if you want to achieve great things in your professional life while building balance into your personal life.

Are you a reader? Then you'll really enjoy this book. Are you working on developing the reading habit? Then this book will get you hooked. If Amazon allowed a SIX-star review, this one would get SEVEN!

For years I've been reading two books monthly on personal development(Well,at least trying real hard to do so!). The first book of each year is most important because it is the foundation upon which the entire year's reading is built. It is imperative, then, that I choose wisely for the year's first read, and this year I could not have chosen better - I selected "Burn Brightly Without Burning Out".

Grounded in a solid spiritual base, "Burn Brightly.." presents 20 powerful insights into leading a more balanced life, and it begins with a wonderful section on determining your purpose for being on the planet. The 20 insights come to life with right-on vignettes and action steps for making them happen in your own life.

"Burn Brightly..." is an easy read, yet a challenging one, for it challenges you to think about your life in a different way. The format is great for travel and it fits very nicely on the night stand as well. You've probably already read your first books of the year, so let me suggest you make "Burn Brightly Without Burning Out" your next one.

Although this might be passed off by people who think that it is just another writing from the "christian" introverts that don't know what it is like in the "real world", it would be their mistake. Yes, this it a christian book, but it is also an enthralling story. From the Vivid descriptions one the very first page to the ending, it grabs you in to its complex and dark plot. It is more on the lines of a Secular fantasy than it is a Christian "happy tale". Its plot is dark and at points may be disturbing to those that are the feint of heart. I Got this book on a monday and by tuesday evening, I had finished it. I rarley read a story strait through, but I was so enthralled with the plot that I lost track of time, my mind wandering to the fantasy realm that he told in detail. I enjoyed it so much that i read it again the same week.

If you are looking for a story that will keep you turning the pages, and one that has an equally gripping meaning, read this book.

I just finished reading this novel, and I must say I was quite impressed. I can vouch for the author, as anyone that has actually read the book can, concerning the main character. He does not represent Jesus. Read the back cover for the information the author wanted to present to you, and check out some of the excerpts. In The Last Guardian, I must say that Shane Johnson's descriptive talent and vivid imagination was underpinned with a lot of Biblical truth. It made this novel a joy to read. I feel a kinship with him, and was surprised that some of the themes I wrote independently in my own novel were touched on by him. The Biblical concepts weaved into the fictional elements of the story are right on the money, and the fictional elements are well thought out and presented. After reading this book, especially the author's commentary at the end, I am sure that Shane Johnson is a true, Biblical Christian, and I whole-heartedly recommend this book to all Christians. The gory scenes some have mentioned are done in a manner that magnifies the depravity of certain people, and are not overdone, but are there for a reason. This is a powerful, uplifting read that I passionately recommend. 5 stars.

D. Shane Burton, author of Black Storm Rising.

The Last Guardian was my first venture into the Christian fiction genre, so I didn't know what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised by what I read. Shane Johnson is an amazing writer. His imagery is vivid; I could very easily visualize the characters, settings, and situations in the book. Some of the scenes were literally chilling! If movies weren't so often made by committee, I would love to see a filmed version of this novel. I couldn't help but try to read The Last Guardian in one sitting. Johnson does a remarkable job weaving scripture, spirituality, and discovery into a compelling story whose every paragraph compels you to dive into the next. At the same time, the story makes you think. The main character, T. G. Shass, undergoes a spiritual rebirth, and along the way he asks questions that we face ourselves: Who am I? Why am I? What is my purpose? As Shass finds his answers through faith, we come to feel that, if we haven't already found our own answers, we can. I highly recommend The Last Guardian, and I thank Shane Johnson for sharing his talent and inspiration with his readers.

Interesting, informative book about the pedophile scandal in the Catholic Church. The author points out that the true problem lies in the cover-up. Pediphiles occur in many areas of society, but other agencies, such as the Boy Scouts, do not try to protect and hide them. The Catholic Church does.

I have had first hand experience with priest sexual misconduct, so I have read much of the literature and have followed the present crisis closely. This is the best thing I have read. The best written and researched. Every Catholic should read this book about the present state of the priesthood. I know what he is saying is true, and I also know from my experience, but it still astounds me.

This is truly a can't-put-down book about the current crisis in the Catholic Church--priest abuse of children. Jason's book was written before the present crisis that erupted in 2002, but it gives solid background of other priest-pedophile cases dating back 30 years or so.

Jason is not content to just quote other sources--books, newspapers, magazines--as others have done concerning this scandal. He actually went and interviewed the priests, bishops, parents, and most importantly, the victims. He doesn't just state the facts, which could become boring, but he has the gift of writing that made me feel that I was actually there, seeing and hearing what he was seeing and hearing.

Nothing else got done in my house for over a week because I was so wrapped up in his true characters and his gritty, gutsy reporting style. This is not a book for the faint of heart, and Jason does not pull any punches in his investigative reporting. He proves himself vulnerable, however, as he revealed that he cried with victims and became angry with the system that let this abuse be a continual event. He remains a Catholic as I am because he feels that there is still hope that the Catholic Church can correct itself and become what Jesus meant it to be. I feel the same way.

The Catholic hierarchy is shown as more caring about the male buddy system than they are about our children who need our protection. The guilty priests, who should have been defrocked and turned over to the authorities, were nonchalantly transferred to other parishes with no warning to other parishes about the new priest in their midst and his dangerous, dark side.

Jason's writing is powerful and real. When I read the part about a man who became terrified because he felt that the devil was after him after he had talked to a pedophile priest, that terror transferred itself to me. It was 2 a.m. and I had been unable to stop reading Jason's book. I needed to go downstairs to get my medicine, but I was afraid to do so. My house alarm had been on so I knew that no BODY was in the house, but I felt the same evil that Jason's character had felt. It was as though an evil menace was there in the room with me. I knew that this menace did not want me to read Jason's book and thereby learn about all the evil that had been buried in the Catholic Church for so many years and that Jason's reporting was now bringing to the light.

Fortunately, the terror did not last long. A beautiful peace soon settled over me, and I knew that a protective Presence had entered my room, dispersing the evil menace. This loving Presence wanted me to continue reading Jason's book so that I would be knowledgeable and would be prepared for necessary changes that I believe the Holy Spirit will make in the Catholic Church.

Thank you, Jason, for a remarkable book and all your labor that went into it. I do not know you but I feel that I do. Keep up the good work.

I do not know if Mr Banner's novel will eventually emerge as one of the finest works of fiction in the late 20th century. But it should. Its delights are in its details: no writer I know wields such an incredibly perceptive eye over American culture; Mr Banner shows an extraordinary, almost scary knowledge of all the wonderful and sad little things that make up the average American's everyday life. The Life I Lead is a great painting that's never been painted; a perfect film that's never been shot; a poem not yet set down. It captures so much that has yet to be properly articulated in American art, I can only hope that it someday receives the recognition it deserves.

Was it Flannery O'Conner who said "nothing human is alien to me?" In seeking to demystify (yet not forgive) pedophilia, Banner beautifully fulfills this most challenging of the fiction writer's credo. It took no small about of courage to write this novel. I applaud the writer and the publisher and find myself perhaps a bit sadder but also richer for having read Keith Banner's dramatic exploration.

Anyone looking for a sicko novel about a pervert should look elsewhere. Keith Banner has written a deeply perceptive novel that explores the baffling question of why a seemingly good man can be a pedophile. His characters are so vivid I found myself forgetting they didn't exist beyond the page. But the best reason for reading this book might be Banner's writing. The man can tell a tale, and he does it with a bone-edged poetry that at times had me catching my breath.

Sugar of Lead is a phenomenal read. It delves into the life of a gangster who seeks revenge for the death of his blood brother while trying to save the life of his widow. It asks questions about the value of life and death while confronting the ongoing battle between good and evil. It is intriguing and a fast read. Sugar of Lead is one of the few books that actually cover the life of Asian gangsters. It compares to The Godfather in its richness of detail and excitement. I highly recommend it people of all ages.

Rarely do thrillers attempt much more than thrilling; they are generally designed as "pleasure fiction," to distract the reader for a period of a few hours. Almer John Davis has apparently decided that he'd rather not walk down the narrow alley of another gangster thriller, but the backdrop of Korean gangsters in Los Angeles provides the appropriate setting to get much of his message across. The novel mixes the best of old and new--there are shades of Hamlet and Beowolf mixed with the best of Elmore Leonard--upon my first reading (there have been many since) I remarked that this book is a sort of higher-echelon Elmore Leonard novel. Davis presents his views on crime, death, and most importantly, life through the eyes of protagonist Micheal "Sugar" Pierce.
An outsider of sorts, being white in a Korean gang, yet with an insider's knowledge, being best friend of the boss and in love with the boss's wife, Sugar is caught in a web of deception, love, hate, and violence. His desperate attempt to break out, forced by the actions of others, leads to a fast-paced novel, with riveting aciton and constant tension. Yet, Davis seamlessly works in his literary perspectives, using effective and poignant symbolism, allegory and metaphor in order to fully acheive his purpose. Above all a novel that will make you think, examine yourself, and ponder the dilemmas of the characters (the true sign of good literature), Sugar Of Lead has my highest recommendation. I only hope that many more books of the same quality will be produced by its author.

Sugar of Lead is one of those novels that provides a deep, rich tale of one man's introspection after trying to survive in this world, as well as a deep, rich context for its setting and background. This reminds me of novels written by some guys named Hemingway and Bellow. In true fashion as a story in this postmodern era, Sugar of Lead tells of a white male trying to find his place in the Asian gang world, which no other novels offer. The reader is left in introspection of his own identity, as well as with the satisfaction of finishing a good book. People of any ethnicity or age will be able to enjoy this book, which is much more than a gangster novel. It is a classic just waiting to be deemed so, and a must-read.

The Love Compatibility Book offers the reader sophisticated guidelines to choosing a soulmate based on sound research of 12 personality traits . It helps to understand and match similar traits with your own personality style.
Written in contemporary and easy to read style, the authors Drs. Hoffman and Weiner offer practical advice based on their combined knowledge,professional and life experience of qualities that enhance loving relationships.
Dr. Lenore Powell, author of Alzheimer's Disease:A Guide
For Families and Caregivers

Drs Weiner and Hoffman devoted 7 years to compile the research necessary to complete this book...they have integrated their information from a number of fields, including biology, developmental psychology, and personality theory. A more subtle undercurrent of the book has to do with spirituality, and gaining further insight into the Self. I believe this book will be extremely helpful to other professionals in the field of psychology, as well as those looking to meet their spiritual and practical counterpart...if you are looking for love and haven't found it, this book will help in illuminating why and will assist in self-enlightment, the first step of finding true, lasting intimacy and love. Highly recommended!

At last, a more reasonable approach to sorting out Mr. Right from Mr. Wrong! It's an amazing book and very empowering. I learned so much about myself and why some of my past relationships just didn't work out. Now my love life won't be left totally to chance. Thank you, authors Bakur-Weiner and Hoffman for your help!

I am a storyteller when I am trying to convey an idea to someone. This book conveys very important ideas about mentoring in a very readable story. The characters in this story are people we can relate to on a personal level, either as ourselves or as people we know. Shirley Peddy focuses on mentorship, using a common sense approach to the subject of mentoring, and giving excellent real-life examples to illustrate her main points. This book gives practical advice on everything from familial interactions to asking for a raise. Each chapter has a summation of the relevant points in that chapter, so you do not have to pause to pull them out of the story and write them down. Peddy includes the ten things every mentee should know or learn and the ten things every mentor should do, as well as potential pitfalls for each. The book is very readable; the writing is fluid, and, if you have an afternoon or so, you can read this entire book. You can also put this book down and easily pick up the story at a later reading. I look forward to reading more books by Shirley Peddy.

I learned so much from this book. The three most important things I learned about being a successful mentor were I need to do a lot more listening and a lot less speaking, I need to remember that the commitments that we make to ourselves are our most important commitments and serve as examples to others, and I need to adhere to the steps of lead, follow, and get out of the way.

Listening more and speaking less. This ties into the author's message of "Lead, Follow, and Get Out Of The Way." In order to lead, I need to know what information would be most beneficial to my mentee. Listening is a primary skill by which to gather this information. This is done best by asking open-ending questions and giving space for the person to fully answer and for me to fully listen.

Commitments to self. The best way to mentor is to lead by example. I need to be firmly grounded in my self-commitments in order to be in a place to establish interpersonal boundaries, to listen to the needs of others, and to model successful ways of dealing with situations.

Adhere to the steps. These instructional guidelines give a simple, but not an easy, way to monitor the health of my mentor-mentee relationship. The hardest part about this process is getting out of the way. Mentoring has a life cycle and it will not always have the same level of need. I must learn how to release the relationship when it is time to do so.

Shirley Peddy addresses key mentoring skills, not in a sterile antiseptic way, but in real-life, 'it could happen', situations. In fact I found myself associating each mentoring challenge with a situation in my own environment. When skills are outlined and discussed, often it is the 'nitty gritty' of how would you really go about saying that to someone, that is not addressed. Not true here. You experience not only the dialogue, but also the toss and turn nights and the talks that don't end with the desired outcomes. I found this book entertaining as well as a keeper for referring back to for various mentoring issues. Peddy's work and family parallel story lines added to the picture of what mentoring is and isn't.

The title itself is very telling and helpful as a masterplan. I would recommend this book to anyone who's goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Susie =>

Reading Shirley Peddy's book has truly been an engaging learning experience. By practicing the art of story telling, Shirley is able to captivate her audience and naturally become a mentor to all who read her book. Before I knew it I was deeply engrossed in the book and identifying with each character at various levels. Rachel (the Mentor in the story) focuses heavily on the importance of environment in relationship to performance among employees. After working within the same work space for a number of years and having experienced challenging times within our group, I can recognize the absolute importance of environment in relationship to performance. I wish I had been able to read her book in the beginning of my career. While reading about and experiencing what the characters were going through in my mind, I also learned important tools for starting mentoring relationships, identifying a mentoring spirit, understanding the role of a mentor, and working through problems.

The story had a happy ending for each of the characters. Although this may not always be the case in real life scenarios, I completely appreciate the focus on how effective, positive, mentoring relationships can turn about happy endings to otherwise difficult or impossible situations. I highly recommend this book to all who are interested in dealing effectively with other people as well as those who play key roles in helping others succeed.

Author Anthony J. Alessandra identifies the four basic business personalities: Directors, Socializers, Relaters and Thinkers. As you come to appreciate the strengths of each of these styles, you also learn to put them to use. You will read about the drawbacks of each style and you will see how you can help people overcome them. The book is generally for managers who want to get more out of their employees. The authors include a section on how to apply The Platinum Rule to selling, which makes the book quite useful for anyone in a sales position. We [...] recommend this book to sales or personnel managers, and to other executives who want to understand and motivate people.

Over the years there have been many books written to explore human personality, some by academics and some by laymen. This work stands out among them as a superior learning tool written by two academically trained experts who are also actual practitioners of their messages. It is solid material and a downright good read. Dr.s Tony Alessandra and Michael O¹Connor are the leading authorities alive today on the subject of Behavioral Styles. Alessandra is a professional speaker and trainer who has specialized in the application of behavioral science in the business world. As a former college professor he taught sales and marketing for several years. As an individual he has practiced what he preached. Alessandra spent several successful years in sales and sales management positions and now counts among his closest acquaintances the top thought leaders in the worldwide business community. His experience as a professional speaker to over two thousand audiences shows up in the book, it is very entertaining and motivational.Dr. O¹Connor is the brains behind many works on behavioral style, most notably the Performax materials published by Carlson Learning. His scientific mind and technical training make this a well structured and highly accessible work.The book offers readers immediate insight into their own relationships and their personal behavior patterns. Real world examples are peppered throughout and do a great job of keeping the reader engaged. Examples are well balanced among various life situations and industries. Business people will especially enjoy the practical and entertaining nature of the book.The Platinum Rule addresses a basic human truth: the fact that we are all alike in many ways and we are all different in other ways. If we will take the brief time necessary to notice our differences then we will instantly see how to better connect with each other. The book shows how to easily observe the four most common ³styles² of behavior. It goes on to show you exactly how to deal with each style. Readers will instantly know from their own experiences that the suggestions will work. Once you have read this book, solutions become obvious and tension between people disappears. This is one of the most practical and enjoyable books ever written on this topic.Respectfully submitted by:Jim Cathcart, author of The Acorn Principle, Know Yourself-Grow Yourself, and Relationship Selling. President of the Cathcart Institute, La Jolla, CA. Past president of the National Speakers Association.

The Platinum rule presents an easy to learn and apply system of personality typing based on an individual's social style and interpersonal interaction. This differs from many other systems of personality typing in that it is based primarily on a person's observable behavior and style, rather than on their deeper inner motivations, functions, attitudes, etc. It's a great tool to use in any relationship, business or personal. I use it often and train my staff in the system. It really works and is extremely effective!

Tony Alessandra's work is a more updated, refined, expanded and user friendly version of the work on social styles by David Merrill. A good companion book with more analytical and theoretical information on this work (for all you Thinker types) is Merrill and Reid's "Personal Styles and Effective Performance".

when i was first given a copy of this book in 1994 i read it on the advice of a friend. it literally changed my life! i always knew being a good father was important, but didn't realize how important. i also wasn't aware how important it is to be a godly husband. i have since met steve farrar and ws even further blessed. i would reccomend that any man, christian or not, should read this book. you owe it to your wife, your children and yourself. i have repeatedly referenced this book for speeches and sunday school lessons for five years. farrars other books are also wonderful. but this one, "point man" could possibly be the most important book any man can ever read besides the bible. God bless... keith reid

Steve Farrar has touched the essence of what it takes to be a Husband and Father in his book Point Man. He steps up to men with an "in your face" look at the realities of life as a man in today's society and provides sound advice on how to stay focused as the head of the family. He doesn't shy away from telling men that they will have to make hard choices and his words dare any man to make the wrong choice by providing "real-life" examples of the impact wrong decisions by Fathers and Husbands have had on families. Point Man should be required reading for every male prior to marriage. And, as the father of three little girls, it will be required reading for all potential sons-in law.

I have read a number of fathering, parenting and family books over the years and this is one of the best. There was nothing startlingly new here for me, but it summarised just about everything I have gleaned from other sources.

One quibble: p154 (of the version I have) elevates the full-time ministry. As an example of a godly man Farrar shows how many of a particular man's descendants became pastors. And that is the problem for many men: we have few role models who are in 'normal' secular jobs and we therefore think that we can't be spiritual giants.

Pellicer's book was an excellent book for anyone in the education field. Through short essays, he gives a clear, sometimes humorous, always honest view of what it takes to be a successful leader. While reading this book, I was able to personalize many of the experiences he speaks of and apply the lessons that he has learned through the years to my own life and career goals. Because of the way it is written, the reader has the ability to "skip around" and read the chapters that seem the most pertinent at the time. As a classroom teacher, I found this book to be a source of inspiration to me--inspiration that I desperately need at this mid-year point! After reading his thought-provoking, encouraging essays, I think I might just be able to make it until the end of the school year after all!

Caring Enough to Lead was an easy to read, interesting, thought-provoking book. By sharing personal experiences and perspectives in his book, Dr. Pellicer helped me begin to understand what it means to be a leader and to focus on some of the attributes and attitudes of an effective leader. The questions at the end of the chapters caused me to stop and reflect on my role as a leader in my school and in my classroom. The short chapters in the book enabled me to read one or more chapters at a time depending on how much time I had available.

Leonard Pellicer posed many questions in his book, Caring Enough to Lead. By using questions as chapter titles he captured my attention as an educator. I found myself writing comments to myself throughout the book because of the thought provoking questions that he presented. In Pellicer's book, he quotes Autry(1991)"...proper management involves caring for people, not manipulating them." This sums up to me how caring is the most important leadership quality. As a special educator, one of my favorite quotes was "...a leader without the capacity to give away love and caring is seriously handicapped!"