Cool Book Of The Day

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Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Everybody! From teens going green to my 92 year-old aunt who is composting in her retirement home. And everyone in between who is looking for a safer way to grow food and flowers in their backyard, front porch or NYC fire escape!

Q: What is the book about?
A: From Booklist review, March 2010:
“While offering plenty of sound and sensible organic gardening advice, Spiegelman lightens the load with quippy and pithy observations that make the experience feel more like a casual conversation with a good, green-thumbed friend than a lecture from a stuffy horticulturist.

A transplanted Manhattanite who found herself gardening in California, Spiegelman wisely enrolled in master gardener classes before she killed so many plants she’d qualify for a ‘most wanted’ poster at the local nursery. She shares her hard-won knowledge glibly but with a great deal of gravity, too. Gardens are fun, yes, but the benefits they provide, from the aesthetic to the ecological, should be taken seriously.”

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Because I was a really bad gardener and now I’m a really good gardener. Ta-da!

I am now a Master Gardener and a garden columnist for the Pacific Sun newspaper in California. I’m also a concerned, opinionated and outspoken parent. I’m passionate about passing on land and water that is safe and clean to the next generation. If we don’t clean up our act environmentally, they’ll think their parents were so lame!

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: It’s written by an ex-New Yorker who works in the movie business and somehow, down the road, fell in love with soil. Go figure? If I can do it, anyone can.

Topics in the book:

• The secret to great soil (the only way to have a healthy garden)
• Organic rose care and flowers that invite the good bugs
• The least toxic ways to combat pests in your yard
• Learning to worship the worm and build a compost pile
• Tips and tricks for growing killer tomatoes
• A seasonal breakdown of gardening chores to stay on top of your garden year-round

Each chapter ends with a plant recommendation by Annie’s own Dirt Diva Royal Horticultural Society along with a rating system of how easy or difficult the plant is to grow and upkeep. Packed with tips for shopping, learning, and promoting environmentally sound garden practices, this one-stop handbook is ideal for anyone looking to grow their green thumb.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: Yes, these people are talking dirt about me:

It’s hard to resist a gardening book that’s both chocked full of information, and fun to read. It doesn’t matter if you are a novice gardener or more experienced, Annie, “The Dirt Diva,” shows the way to growing and enjoying a natural, sustainable, organic garden.
–Nell Newman, Co-founder and President of Newman’s Own Organics

Annie Spiegelman (AKA the Dirt Diva) understands what gardening is really about: having fun…even when you aren’t having fun! This book is laugh out loud useful and smart. Frankly, it’s the best book on Organic Gardening that I’ve seen in 11 years (since mine came out). The Dirt Diva Royal Horticultural Society is the only gardening club I really want to be a member of.
–Maria Rodale, CEO of Rodale Inc.

Fun, factual, and filled with ideas. What sets Talking Dirt apart from all other organic gardening how-to guides is Anne Spiegelman. The information is presented with personality and wit making this book a must have resource for the aspiring organic gardener.
–Michael C. Metallo, President National Gardening Association

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Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: The intended audience is teen and pre-teen girls – many of whom already call themselves “Tao-Girls”.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: After great success with my first book, Tao of the Defiant Woman, the women who read the book and/or attended my seminars and workshops asked me to write a similar book for their daughters and granddaughters.

I began by traveling the country and working with girls; listening to their stories and starting a community of Tao-Girls.  I met with girls who were members of national organizations such as the Uniquely Me Councils of Girl Scouts of America, and community organizations, as well as smaller, individual groups of girls.

I learned much about these girls and found that they eagerly accepted my Tao and dynamic philosophy into their lives.  They listened to me, were comfortable spending time with me and telling me their stories.  And they participated in the writing of “their” book.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: Many books are out there for these young girls.  Tao-Girls Rule!, however, gives them a role model to follow – Tao-Girl – who understands that to grow in self confidence and travel the paths of their lives with strength and joy they need to be:

Tenacious, Accepting, Optimistic, Grateful, Imaginative, Radiant, Loving.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: As for there being anything else you should know about the book, I would like to quote part of the text from the back cover:
” If you are the sort of girl who wants to find balance, be confident and act boldly, this book has all of the rules.”

“In Tao-Girls Rule! CJ Golden brings her guidance and insight to teen and pre-teen girls as they face the challenges of growing up in an ever-changing and  complex world. Combining the acceptance of the ancient philosophy of Tao with a healthy dose of boldness, Golden helps young girls grow in self-esteem  and confidence.”

“Whether you are worrying about your BFF not liking you, struggling with the way your body looks, or just trying to deal with all of the homework your teacher gave you last night, Tao Girls Rule! is for you. Inside you’ll find simple, yet powerful ways to discover and appreciate your very best self and live life with confidence and boldness when faced with challenges. Tao Girls DO Rule!‘ -Leanne Gluck, Project Manager, uniquely ME! Girl Scouts of the USA”

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Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: This is a self-help book that caters to people who are interested in the Law of Attraction or are wanting to live a more positive life. It reaches both a business audience as well as a personal audience. Stories and examples make both reference to the corporate fast lane as well as the day to day rhythms of love and family life.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Paving It Forward teaches a very powerful method of conscious intention called Pre-Paving. All day we are intending, and what we intend, we create.  When we are conscious of every thought, and choose that thought with conscious intention, we can create, at will, whatever we want and need.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Through an intense study of eastern philosophy with the masters of India, I learned about the energy of thought and the power to create.  I put the metaphysical teaching into practical action when serving for ten years as private assistant to a billionaire, traveling the globe and working alongside global business leaders.

Through this combined experience, I developed the technique I call Pre-Paving that can be used in all aspects of everyday life to reap success, peace and fulfillment. I used Pre-Paving to overcome great obstacles in love, life and health, and also used it to build my own dream company, RnR Wellness, that owns and operates a chain of successful Canadian wellness spas.

An excerpt from Paving It Forward:

“People spend more time choosing what they are going to wear in the morning than they do how they are going to connect with people, how they will feel or what they will accomplish.  Pre-Paving is choosing how you want to look, live and feel every part of your day and every part of your life.” Elisabeth Fayt

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: Paving It Forward is a PRACTICAL how-to book on the Law of Attraction and other Universal Laws.  It takes people from a place of THEORY and helps them walk the talk.

This book does not just inspire for the moment. Pre-Paving is a tangible tool that can be applied immediately, for instant results. Whoever reads Paving It Forward and learns how to Pre-Pave, will use Pre-Paving their entire lifetime. Once you realize that you are ceating your life, there’s no turning back.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: Paving It Forward is not a book you read once, but often. Most people use it as a reference manual over and over again. They leave it by the bed or kitchen table to read a page a day, reminding them that success is a choice and can be Pre-Paved, one thought at a time.

The companion Pre-Pave Your Day card deck is also a great way to be reminded daily to choose your thoughts for what you want to create!

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Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Anyone who wants to understand more about risk in their life or business, including business owners, managers, executives, and employees who want to know more about the risks to their jobs if their company is endangering jobs by not balancing risk taken and reasonably projectable rewards obtainable.

Q: What is the book about?
A: In Stick Out Your Balance Sheet and Cough, Gary Patterson details for the first time the proven methods he’s used to successfully treat ailing companies of all sizes across a range of industries–from a startup purchased by IBM to a public technology company sold to eBay to an Inc. 500 consumer goods manufacturer to an international Fortune 500 firm.

Offering tips to stanch the internal financial bleeding and providing a daily regimen for ensuring your company’s financial health, the FiscalDoctor’s prescription is clear:
• Give your company an overall checkup to gauge its condition
• Diagnose problems by reviewing your financials and operations
• Implement a treatment plan using Best Practices from world-class successful companies
• Create a wellness program to prevent future fiscal crises

Using the FiscalDoctor’s Best Practices, the high-growth company you own, manage or
direct can avoid unnecessary increased expenses, revenue shortfalls, employee layoffs, missed bonuses or broken dreams.

So open this book and say “Profit.”

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Gary W. Patterson, The FiscalDoctor®, actually uses these methods developed over more than 30 years of top management experience with companies in manufacturing, technology, wireless, service and distribution in companies from start-ups to Inc 500 to Fortune 500. Several reached 10x compounded annual growth in revenue. He was the European coordinator for a global enterprise-wide leading-edge supply chain re-engineering pilot software application for Robertson CECO, a Fortune 500 company. The project was selected as a premiere site by J D Edwards and he was one of three worldwide pilots for a dimensional MRP software module. Gary also successfully negotiated more than 25 M&A transactions with a market value exceeding $390 million. Gary holds an MBA in Finance and Operations from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, a BA in Accounting from the University of Mississippi, and is a KPMG Big 4 CPA.

Q: How is this book different than other books on this topic?
A: Patterson offers a commonsense approach to risk management that unlocks added value for existing or new ERM programs, both identifying formerly invisible opportunities and revealing key risk areas executives unwittingly take.

In these turbulent economic times when risk is a guaranteed certainty, Gary Patterson unlocks the “hidden risks” that could topple even the best of companies. Even before Bernie Madoff, he saw companies struggle, even die from self inflicted risks they unknowingly took. To this end, Patterson helps companies develop and implement an ERM strategy to ensure a company’s long-term financial growth.

Patterson offers readers seven takeaway tips:
• Management needs to “bite the bullet” and just get started. Often companies want to start at too high a level of sophistication and quit because of the “perceived” challenges. Patterson offers a basic starting point.
• Patterson zeroes in on five operational areas where an ERM strategy will result in immediate improvements.
• Even viable business models need continuous fine tuning to help re-define and manage risk.
• The greening of America will necessitate that every company have an ERM strategy.
• Even cash-strapped companies can find innumerable ways to improve their cashflow. Patterson’s Resource Sections offer additional tips to improve a company’s balance sheet.
• Executive teams must come to terms with their risk tolerance in order to implement an ERM strategy that works for their companies’ cultures.
• Corporate board packages that are delivered less than six days before a board meeting is a sign that there may be systemic operational problems (read risk) lurking inside the company.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: This enterprise risk management (ERM) book includes stories on how a Fiscal Checkup can save your business life. “What You Don’t Know About Your Business Can Cost You Your Business.” That is why sticking out your balance sheet and coughing gets you what you need to know in time for any needed procedures which can mean the difference between life and death. Sticking out your balance sheet is no more comfortable than a visit to your doctor, but it’s every bit as important. Even if it’s bad news (maybe especially) you need to know.

This commonsense approach to risk management unlocks added value for existing or new ERM programs, both identifying formerly invisible opportunities and revealing key risk areas business unwittingly takes.

Too many CEOs, C-suite officers, and boards are taking far greater risks than they may be aware of. Posing the million-dollar-question, “What is the cost of what you don’t know,” this session alerts managers to hidden risks that may be lurking inside their projects and even companies.

For example, in this rapidly accelerating world where layers of management and large numbers of employees have been fired or their work outsourced, decision makers are under siege. After adding factors like silo-thinking departments, inadequate reporting systems, and a challenging global economy, companies are taking far greater risks than CEOs and C-suite officers and their boards are aware of. Examples of risks can range from inventory mismanagement, outdated and/or incomplete financial reports, and false accounting assumptions to external forces like misreading the market, losing competitive advantage, and missing opportunities.

And as another point of WIIFM, you will find you can implement a basic version of this which can make you more money, including saving your bonus in some future year, or maybe this current year.

A video of Gary discussing his book is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXhsY8hP70A