BRING YOUR SUPERPOWERS TO WORK
A Red Cape Revolution Media Publication
www.RedCapeRevolution.com

by DARCY EIKENBERG, ACC

The voice of Darcy Eikenberg, Founder of the Red Cape Revolution, leaps off the pages of BRING YOUR SUPERPOWERS TO WORK and speaks directly to the reader. And what she has to say may very well change your life.

In keeping with the subtitle, Your Guide to More Clarity, Confidence & Control, she tells you how to find and define your superpowers and what to do with them once you have found them. If that’s not enough, over 25% of the book is filled with bonus materials that include exercises to keep you on track, resources, powerful questions, and your very own Superpower Statement Generator.

Eikenberg writes in a congenial down-to-earth manner that leaves you believing that not only have you just read a powerful book but you have also made a new friend. And she encourages the friendship by continuing the experience on her website – www.redcaperevolution.com. You can find BRING YOUR SUPERPOWERS TO WORK there and in book stores everywhere.

- Laurie Lawson -

TO BE OR NOT TO BE
THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
A Workbook to reach YOUR full potential
www.thetobebook.com

By BARBARA HOFMEISTER
DTM, NLPTC, PPMCC
www.barbarahofmeister.com

For those of us who constantly feel there must be more, or in the words immortalized by singer Peggy Lee – “Is that all there is?” – Barbara Hofmeister has a plan for you! In her TO BE OR NOT TO BE – THE CHOICE IS YOURS! she candidly shares her life story and the benefits of mistakes made, lost opportunities, and lessons learned. This Workbook to Reach YOUR Full Potential is chock full of marvelous quotes, eye-opening exercises, and contracts to be made with yourself. Defining your purpose, setting up your goals, visioning your future, conquering your fears, establishing your values, and creating an action plan are just a few of the subjects covered in this essential manual.

In a progressive manner peppered with humor, she introduces you to Yebut and assists you in choosing between Victor and Victim. Tools and tips are plentiful, as are wisdom and encouragement. The choice is simple – get your copy of TO BE OR NOT TO BE and start living up to your potential. And I’ll leave you with one of the many quotes available to guide you along this exciting path:

Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.
Don’t wish for less problems; wish for more skills.
Don’t wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom.
- Jim Rohn

- Laurie Lawson -

The YOU Plan
www.TheYOUPlan.com
A 5-Step Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career in the New Economy

A Keynote Publication
By
MICHAEL “DR. WOODY” WOODWARD, Ph.D.

Don’t tell Dr. Woody (Michael Woodward, Ph.D.), but I opened his fantastic book, THE YOU PLAN, and started using it almost immediately. This inspiring, informative guide to survival in today’s economy is jam-packed with tips, exercises, and step-by-step plans to help you take control in an unstable, and often unfriendly, economy. In logical order he leads you through the confusing and chaotic maze of job survival and successfully delivers you to the more rewarding end of career fulfillment. Motivation via positive thinking, reframing perspectives, and the delightful “Dr. Woody Moments” peppers the clear, concise advice and insights that are a part of this book.

THE YOU PLAN is an essential tool for anyone beginning, maintaining, and/or creating a new career. And for those of us helping others in those endeavors, Dr. Woody is an excellent source of both inspiration and education.

- Laurie Lawson -

It’s Not PMS, IT’S YOU!
A totally non-hormonal analysis of male behavior

A 2010 Sterling Publishing Company Release
www.sterlingpublishing.com

By DEB AMLEN
www.debamlen.com

Available at www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, and various bookstores

Ever wonder why men constantly have their hands down their pants or why they can pick up a sports announcer crystal clear amidst a crowd of screaming fans but can’t hear you when you are sitting right next to them? How about the origin of the lovely expression “on the rag?” Well, Deb Amlen has some interesting theories about those male peculiarities and more in It’s Not PMS, IT’S YOU!

Packaged like a chocolate bar, her book non-hormonally examines all the bewildering behaviors that have puzzled and fascinated women for years. Heavy on the sarcasm and occasionally off the wall, in addition to wacky ideas like Scarlett O’Hara attempting online dating, Toenails of Death, and penis-measuring contests, she hilariously spars with her editor, answers Frequently Asked Questions, and includes a letter from her beleaguered father.

Will you understand the “other” species any better after having read It’s Not PMS, IT’S YOU! Probably not, but Deb Amlen will give you the ammunition for smirks, chuckles, and belly laughs, and that ought to be enough to get you through.

- Laurie Lawson -

When You Lie About Your Age, The Terrorists Win
by CAROL LEIFER

When I heard this title a few months back, I did the mature thing. I found a wall and banged my head against it. A real-life, “Why did I not think of this” moment. When I found out that Carol Leifer wrote it, I felt a little better. We were both doing stand up in the 80s. She became famous. I became convinced that it was a character building episode for me. But was she compared to a young Woody Allen?? I think not. My mother was concerned that I had morphed into a short, Jewish man, but I did get better gigs.

Okay, this is not about me. I am not a big “laugh out loud person.” Maybe it’s because I still have my tonsils, but it takes a lot for me to make any type of noise when I am laughing. . This book gave me permission to do just that and it felt liberating! Who cares if my 401K is worth 37 cents. I loved this book. The timing of the book hitting the bookstores is like Carol’s timing when telling a joke - perfect.

“When You Lie” is 27 (you couldn’t do 25 or 30 ??) brilliant and humorous observations about life according to Carol Leifer. Each one is a complete gem. I believe when you want to help people learn or experience something new, give them something to laugh about. it is like sulfur medicine that is flavored with honey. Carol does this better than most people walking around.

Her life experiences and background make her a natural for tickling people’s funny bones. She does this by bringing you into her life and letting you kick the tires a bit. Her sharp observations are right on and you leave the last page wanting to start all over. And I am sure Carol wouldn’t mind that as long as you tell all your friends to buy their own damn copy of the book.

I won’t say anything else about what is in this book. It would be like not letting you all enjoy the set ups and punch lines. You deserve to discover it all by yourself. But, if you think the title of the book is funny, there is, “The Call of the Sweatpants” or “”Buried or Not, here I Come” that caused me to strike my head against the wall.

So go out and buy this book. And if I can’t motivate you to spend a little cash to ward off the bad news of the world, then do to for Carol, Lori, Bruno and their rescued dogs. You will thank me. Very much

- elizabeth cassidy -

THE SUBWAY SERIES
A Book of Drawings Sprinkled with Words
www.myspace.com/barbarasfragaandcentersearchquest
http://www.openshoppe.net

By BARBARA SFRAGA

Barbara Sfraga came up with the name THE SUBWAY SERIES for her unique little book because many of the drawings were created en route to destinations on the NYC transit system. And the subtitle “A Book of Drawings Sprinkled with Words” perfectly describes what’s inside the covers.

Intricately-detailed drawings, reminiscent of M.C. Escher but much lighter, accompany an occasional poem or song lyric. Natural flowing lines create images that are crosses between nature and body parts. One song (“Safe”) has the spot on lyric – “Paint me into a Monet landscape Make me fuzzy too.” Swirling vortexes of lines, forms and shapes create faces and thumbprints amongst landscapes. THE SUBWAY SERIES is a work of art that will fit in your pocket. And I’m not exactly sure which came first in the old chicken-or-egg dilemma but there’s an album with some of this book’s song put to music – Timelessness Frozen In Time – available from www.soundvisions.com. To read our review of the album click here.

-Laurie Lawson-

THE HOW OF HAPPINESS

A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want

By SONJA LYUBOMIRSKY

Publication Date:  January 1, 2008

366 Pages * ISBN:  978-1-59420-148-6 * $25.95

Available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Penguin Group

Sonja Lyubomirsky’s THE HOW OF HAPPINESS, A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want, should satisfy all those people who have difficulty embracing today’s self-help/control-your-destiny tools, like The Secret, visualization boards, crystals and herbs, and other faith-based practices.  Fully armed with graphs, case studies, research results, self-tests and reading guides, Lyubomirsky sets about busting myths about happiness, such as it has to be “found” or it lies in the changing of our circumstances.  Written in a down-to-earth manner with plenty of anecdotes from the author’s life, this book has just the right amount of self-enhancement and scientific evidence.  And she offers 12 Happiness Activities and steps to obtain and sustain them. 

THE HOW OF HAPPINESS is a fascinating read and you don’t have to constantly test its validity – that’s already been done.  Lyubomirsky contends we are in control of approximately 40% of our happiness.  I don’t know about you, but I can (happily) live with those statistics. 

- Laurie Lawson -

PRICE YOURSELF RIGHT
A Guide to Charging What You’re Worth
www.priceyourselfright.com
By JANE FRANCIS

An iUniverse Publisher’s Choice
Available on www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com


Jane Francis had me pegged by page 3 of her eye-opening book, PRICE YOURSELF RIGHT: A Guide to Charging What You’re Worth. I kept trying to remember if we had ever met. This is a must-read for anyone in business or even contemplating opening their own business. It speaks to the heart and problems of well-intentioned, perhaps timid, entrepreneurs everywhere.

Chock-full of business tips, you’ll learn three things that customers of any culture, age, interest and socioeconomic status like; what your price tells the customer about you; 10 easy ways to discount and lose money fast; and 20 tips for negotiating success. Francis attacks the psychology of pricing - both yours and the client’s, and I’m willing to bet that there are a few life lessons to be learned here as well. She gives you a slew of options to consider when you’re determining price (including the “suck it and see” lollipop theory), tells you how to deal with an array of problem clients, and shows you how to write a written quote. Before you know it, you have a benchmark figure for your business, an idea of how many hours you need to work, and a breakeven point. Voila - your hourly rate awaits you! This book should be an integral part of any business education, training or marketing program.

Price Yourself Right is written in a easy-flowing style and takes you on an encouraging, inspiring journey in logical progression. And if that’s not enough, there’s a Recommended Reading List and a Glossary of Terms. Peppered with anecdotes from Francis’ hard-earned experience in her own business, this may well be the most enjoyable business book you’ve read in quite some time.

- Laurie Lawson -

HOW IT’S DONE 101
The Definitive Primer of Coaching Practice Development
by KEN ZARETZKY, MCC
www.howitsdone101.com

Published by Very Good Coaching Books
$19.95
64 pages

HOW IT’S DONE 101: The Definitive Primer of Coaching Practice Development is a no-frills, let’s-get-it-going guide for success. Rather than hold your hand step by step as you create your coaching practice, Master Certified Coach Ken Zaretzky tells you how to accomplish the business of your dreams. Or not - he actually has the audacity to suggest that you might want to quit your business if it’s not working. Definitely not a book for the timid or uncertain! One of the few coaches who can say that he makes a six-digit salary, Zaretzky freely shares all the tactics and tricks that worked for him. He does it with amusing anecdotes, tongue-in-cheek humor, and no sugar coating. He’s brutally honest, succinct (that’s why the book is only 64 pages), down to earth in his presentation, and funny as hell. Zaretzky will tell you what coaching schools won’t tell you, where your clients are hanging out right now, the difference between a liar and a visionary, and much more. Don’t be surprised if the phrase “cheap whore” creeps into your vocabulary. HOW IT’S DONE 101 can only be ordered online at the website above. It’s a must for anyone serious about creating a successful coaching practice. The good news is that it can be done. The bad news is that there are no magic wands, just a lot of hard work, but this little gem of a book puts you light-years ahead of the competition.

- Laurie Lawson -

A WHOLE NEW MIND
Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age
By DANIEL H. PINK
Riverhead Books (www.riverheadbooks.com)
260 pages


On my birthday I went to a Neil Diamond concert. And I have to confess, when the overture began, I had to hold back tears. The music reminded me of a time when we all thought we could change the world, when people cared about each other. The concert was magnificent, but I left with nostalgia for days gone by.

And then I picked up Daniel H. Pink’s A WHOLE NEW MIND: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age. What a hope-restoring, inspiring work! Pink’s premise is that in light of our current age of Abundance (a computer in every home has replaced a chicken in every pot), Asia (job outsourcing), and Automation (when’s the last time you actually wrote a letter by hand?), we are now moving into the Age of Conceptualization where human skills and qualities count. According to Pink, there’s room for both, and the successful survivors will be those who can meld both worlds. He backs this up with plenty of current-day, real-life facts and figures.

What makes A Whole New Mind special is the manner in which the information is presented. Pink’s style contains humor, anecdotes, and tons of easy-to-understand scientific studies. And at the end of each chapter, there is a Portfolio of resources, websites, exercises, clubs and places to visit just in case he’s peaked your interest. And he will.

A Whole New Mind will tickle your brain, upset your current mode of thinking, and hand you a guide to a bright and meaningful future – not bad for a $25 investment!

- Laurie Lawson -

           B O O K S

LORI: MY DAUGHTER WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED IN PERU 

By RHODA BERENSON

Published November 15, 2000

ISBN: 1-893956-06-7

256 pages

$21.95

Current Events/Biography

       This new work, which tells the facts of a story that is still unfolding,

       presents a clear time line of the arrest and incarceration of Lori

       Berenson. If the outline of the book is reader friendly, there is

       nothing pedestrian about the content.  Scary, startling and revealing,

       LORI: MY DAUGHTER WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED IN

       PERU will cause any traveler, especially one of humanitarian

       convictions, to look over each shoulder, often.

       In clear, frank detail, Rhoda Berenson reveals the injustice rampant

       in the Peruvian legal system. The surprise here, in light of the staid

       narrative voice, is that the Berenson Family has been privy to the

       uglier side of the United States government as well. Their story,

       simply related through Rhoda's recall, offers an unflattering reality

       about US politics.

       The horrors of the prisons almost pale in the face of the innate

       courage of the Berenson family.  Treachery, disappointment, deceit,

       incarceration and intimidation have done nothing to quelch the

       spirits of these twenty-first century pioneers.

       Truth be told, I know the Berenson family, Lori in particular,

       intimately.  Although an outsider may find her mother's repeated

       references to her stalwart bravado a product of wishful thinking, as an

       actual correspondent with this book's subject, I can affirm the

       unfaltering mental strength possessed by Ms. Berenson.

       In closing, LORI: MY DAUGHTER WRONGFULLY

       IMPRISONED IN PERU is quite compelling, and rather good.  All

       supporters of sought democracy should rally behind this cause.  In a

       country where the commitment to the system is merely measured by

       voter turnout, it behooves us all to fight the fight for real democracy -

       one that in our recent past led to such bloodshed.  As the recipients

       of such hard won pleasures, we have become far too complacent.

                   - Kessa De Santis -