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-
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THE HOW OF HAPPINESS |
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 -
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PRICE YOURSELF RIGHT |
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.
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HOW IT’S DONE 101: The Definitive Primer of Coaching Practice
Development |
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.
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A WHOLE NEW MIND |
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),
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!
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LORI: My Daughter Wrongfully Imprisoned In |