This celebration of Goth takes readers on a heady journey through the 25-year history of one of the world’s most sophisticated and influential youth subcultures. The book details Goth's origins in the early 1980s in London’s Batcave, along with stateside Goth gatherings like Dracula’s Ball and Convergence. Vivid photographs and revealing interviews explore every corner of this darkly seductive world, from its trend-setting fashions (including tattoos, jewelry, and extreme body art) to legendary groups like Bauhaus and The Cure that have helped make Goth a household word.
Party games for all ages
Ideal for planning events, motivating couch potatoes, or just a few hours of family fun, this is the all-in-one reference for exciting activities for everyone!
Customer Reviews:
Not worth buying.......2007-01-13
There is a total lack of explanatory pictures to the games.
To be able to learn a game, the text should be a tool to assist or help clarify the pictures.
I find it very difficult to "get into the game" simply by reading a text.
Incredibly comprehensive and helpful.......2005-07-27
Have you ever tried to explain a card game to a bunch of friends and found yourself having trouble clarifying the rules of game play? Have you ever dragged an old board game out of the closet, only to find that the rules were missing and you couldn't remember how to play? Or have you ever found yourself planning a recreational day for a bunch of kids and ended up drawing a blank when trying to think of fun outdoor games to play with them?
I've found myself in every one of those situations at one time or another. And it turns out that The Everything Games Book would have been a lifesaver every time. The Everything Games Book is definitely a must-have for anyone who enjoys playing games. It's a complete rule book, containing directions for over 600 games in all sorts of different categories. It includes rules for popular board games (checkers, chess, Monopoly, Backgammon, Scrabble, etc.), card games (this section is extensive, with over 120 pages of rules for all kinds of card games), bar and basement games (pool, Ping-Pong, air hockey, and the like), outdoor games (dodgeball, hopscotch, tennis, badminton), car games (perfect for overcoming boredom on long road trips), and party games.
Each game listed in the book is rated for age appropriateness: 5+ for ages five and up, 8+ for ages 8 and up, and Adult for (obviously) adults. In addition to complete rules and regulations, the book also contains information about the origins and history of many games, as well as playing strategies.
If you're a game fanatic like me-or if you find yourself planning a lot of events like family reunions, bridal or baby showers, or parties-or if you're looking for creative ways to keep kids busy (especially when they're home during the summer!) without turning on the TV, I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Everything Games Book. It's a fantastic resource that belongs on every fun-loving family's bookshelf.
Book Description
Management professor and West Point graduate, Evan Offstein, approached leaders at the U.S. Military Academy and the Department of the Army with two primary questions: (1) How does West Point develop its leaders?; (2) Can other individuals and organizations apply these methods effectively? Two years later, after conducting extensive on-site research at West Point and with business leaders in a variety of industries, he offers unprecedented access to the process of leadership development at West Point, and practical insights that can, indeed, be applied in any type of organization that strives to operate on the principle of integrity. West Point is the ideal laboratory for studying the dynamics of character, honor, and leadership: first, it operates a comprehensive honor education and enforcement program that has been subjected to rigorous Congressional scrutiny; second, it builds all of its academic, athletic, and military programs on this bedrock of honor. As a result, West Point invests heavily in mentoring, training, and evaluation to ensure the leadership and character development of its 4,000 cadets. From Civil War General Robert E. Lee to astronaut Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin to basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, West Point has groomed leaders whose contributions far exceed the successful management of their immediate charges. By illuminating the principles by which West Point teaches leadership, Stand Your Ground not only provides a unique tour behind the scenes at this revered institution, but, more generally, imparts lessons of honor and character-building that can be adopted by any aspiring leader.
Customer Reviews:
The real meaning of leadership.......2007-08-26
Offstein's book is incredible. It really doesn't matter what you do for a living, leadership will always be critical in your life. Stand Your Ground is about understanding HONORABLE leadership. Offstein uses the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the honorable leadership that is honed there as the blueprint for leadership and success. Like a book fables, there are hundreds of snippets from personal experience and well-known events to illustrate the importance of honor in leadership. If you want to one day be an effective leader in your own life, who is respected and admired, you have to read this book.
Highlights the value of military trained leaders.......2007-08-13
We highly recommend Evan's book. As the largest contingency placement firm that specializes in placing military job seekers into Corporate America, we know that companies recognize the advantages of the leadership lessons imparted at the service academies and via the military at large. The quality of this training, coupled with the high caliber of the individual, is what makes these military leaders so valuable, whether they are serving our country, or whether they are making important contributions in the private sector after their service.
Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI) - Delivering Military-Experienced Talent to America's Top Companies
Offstein Just Nails It.......2006-12-29
Quite simply, Evan Offstein just nails his thesis: truly successful individuals, leaders, and their organizations are based on a deep reservoir of moral/ethical grounding that help them to make the right decisions every single day. His numerous, down-to-earth examples hammer it home from multiple angles, and you can't help but be convinced that he's on to something here. Dr. Offstein has a gift for writing prose that is personable and easy to read. It's as if he's talking straight to you through the pages of his book much the same way he might deliver a lecture at his university.
Perhaps my favorite lesson from his book is the chapter on lifelong preparations for a MOMENT (heck, multiple MOMENTS). It reminds me of what one Army General said one time: "Your integrity will be challenged in small ways every day." it has proven absolutely true over the years, and the daily struggle continues to make sure we do the right thing by our coworkers, our kids, our wives, our friends, etc. Those who can make the RIGHT ethical choices on a day-to-day basis will be slowly building the bedrock of their organizations to guard against the Enrons, Tycos, NCAA scandals, etc. of the world.
Most of the so-called "leadership" or "management" books you'll find wasting shelf-space at Barnes & Nobles or Book-a-Million wish they could lash onto some of the truths that Dr. Offstein lays out in his concise book. Highly recommended!
Finally--a leadership book that explains how to BE a good leader!.......2006-09-11
I first approached this book with a bit of skepticism, as I thought its focus would be upon the "grandiose" merits of the West Point experience (which I shared elbow-to-elbow with the author, my classmate). I was greatly relieved to discover that this work is actually a testimonial to the necessity to BE a good person and leader, so important (and foreign) in a day and age where corrupt individuals realize incredible personal gains while simply paying lip service to such lofty ideals as honor. This book explains both the origin of corporate corruption and the way a leader SHOULD behave to ensure that this phenomenon does not continue to grow in scope.
I was happy to see that Dr. Evan Offstein was able to distance himself from our shared Cadet experiences and approach the book in an organized, thoughtful, and systematic fashion. He explains that good leadership begins with an honorable character and THEN extends into the leader's expertise and skill sets. I always struggled to quantify the almost intangible quality which caused me and my West Point classmates to react in horrified disbelief when we encountered corrupt individuals with an almost limitless propensity to harm and defraud employees and stakeholders. Evan has finally defined this lineament: honor, and the overwhelming need for an individual to BE a good person, rather than simply KNOW the "acceptable" or "expert" manner in which to proceed and to "DO" only what needs to be done to temporarily satisfy personal and shareholder demands.
The book is straightforward, easy to read, and informative without possessing an air of pretense or superior knowledge. I am firmly convinced that if leaders the world over would read this tome and apply its principles, corporate scandal would disappear, replaced by increased levels of profit, worker motivation, and customer/shareholder satisfaction. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Stand Your Ground - Relevant & Insightful.......2006-09-01
In the wake of corporate scandals such as Enron, Global Crossing, WorldCom, Tyco and many more it is not surprising to see the emergence of books focused on the subject of ethics. Bookshelves are already over-packed with books on leadership, so it may seem only natural that these two subjects would become linked. However, Dr. Evan H. Offstein takes on a slightly unique angle in his book, Stand Your Ground: Building Honorable Leaders the West Point Way. Offstein, a West Point graduate, former Army officer, and now college professor, conducted a study over the course of two years to learn how the United States Military Academy develops its young leaders and how other organizations could apply the same principles and tactics. The result is an interesting read that presents time-tested lessons over the academy's 200 year history that are just as relevant today as when Robert E. Lee or MacArthur roamed the fields above the Hudson Valley and can be employed either in the military or in civilian sector.
West Point is used as the benchmark for honorable leadership because it is "the ideal laboratory for exploring principles of leadership" considering that leadership is woven into every aspect of its culture. One cadet describes the four-year experience as a "hyper-competitive" environment. The author points out that "highly competitive people thrown into an extreme performance culture, is a recipe for individual and organizational ruin," yet, comparatively speaking, West Point has little lying, cheating, or stealing. The question is why and how does the institution accomplish this?
The book begins with a traditional approach to leadership, discussing how good leaders aspire to reach a higher moral ground regardless of the environment around them (Chapter 1, "Secure the High Ground"). Numerous historical examples are used as well as experiences from cadets and faculty. Successive chapters outline how these young "leaders of character" are developed over their career. Some of the concepts may seem familiar to anyone that has studied leadership, such as surrounding yourself with other leaders of strong moral character (the chapter, "Who's Got Your Back?") or using role modeling or visualizing the outcome of decisions to reflect on the validity of the approach (the chapter, "Imagine That"), but readers may find other chapters more personally challenging. For example, in Chapter 3, "Wash Away the Gray," Offstein proposes that there are actually very few such things as "ethical dilemmas." Instead, most situations are black and white, with an obvious morally correct choice, but our tendency to "rationalize" a decision to produce a more comfortable or personally desirable outcome is what sometimes clouds our thought process. Chapter 4, "Be Big About Small Things," goes even further by asserting that there is very little difference, from an ethics perspective, about the scale of decisions. And building on this, Offstein contends in Chapter 5, "Going All In!" that there is no distinction between professional and personal lives for honorable leaders.
It may be easy to dismiss some of the lessons or principles as utopian, but Offstein manages to convey his thoughts without being preachy. He is quick to point out that West Point and some of its graduates too had its share of scandals or examples of where the system had failed, but the response, and not over reaction, to these lapses also provides learning points. Offstein humbly admits his own shortcomings as a leader and reminds us that the lessons learned at West Point create a roadmap for a continuous climb to become what we aspire to.
What is most interesting in the book are the numerous interviews conducted from Offstein's research. Unlike many popular titles on bookstore shelves, Offstein does not find examples of leadership from well-known historic figures. Instead, the lessons of honor and leadership come from young 19 and 20 year-old cadets readying themselves to become Army officers. Additionally, the author also conducted interviews with West Point grads out of the Army and in corporate America across various industries to assess and validate the transferability of these practices.
Stand Your Ground is as relevant today as when the Enron scandal first hit newsstands. It is recommended reading for anyone interested in leadership or for organizations looking at gaining a competitive advantage through creating an atmosphere of trust and communication. At a minimum, it is hard to read the book and not feel a sort of national sentiment given the current world situation and the role these young West Point cadets will assume as future Army officers. Readers should feel some comfort in understanding the type of leadership the academy is instilling in its new leaders and will hopefully provide a target for the rest of us to achieve.
Book Description
West Point has bred more CEOs than any business school, and the leadership skills taught there are truly matters of life and death. Bolder than Sun Tzu, savvier than Gracian -- THE book on learning to lead.
Customer Reviews:
Leadership Development at West Point.......2007-05-30
This book has been selected by the West Point Society of the Lehigh Valley for presentation to winners of our Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award. This award is presented to high school juniors selected for their achievments in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership. It is an explanation of how leadership is practiced and taught at WEst Point.
So So.......2004-01-11
I found the book to be disappointing enough to write this because I am cheesed off enough for having somewhat wasted my money. It was quite boring and I didn't like the ego of the author setting himself up as the paradigm.
Gives leadership principles through a cadet's viewpoint..........2003-06-16
The book is divided into different levels of leadership starting with self and moving on from squad leader, platoon, all the way to executive positions where the main goal is sucess and direction of the organization and less on individuals of the organization (Visionary). The book is more for military than for civilians in that it pushes WP philosophy heavily. In fact, it seems, in some sense, written strictly for WP cadets. It shows through stories and discussions how a leader's decision can make or break a mission. Since the book is only 160 pages; it's worth a look.
Absolutely Awful.......2001-08-07
The structure of this book was absolutely awful. The content even worse. This book has no clear storyline and jumps around uninspiringly. The army-business connection wouldn't convince a 1st grader. In summary, this book offers nothing of value.
Applicable to a wide variety of constituencies!!!!.......2001-04-19
In his book, the West Point Way of Leadership, Larry Donnithorne has reached across a variety of constituencies explain a way of leadership that can be successful not only in the military, but in the boardroom, the classroom, and in the higher education arena. With thought provoking insight, Mr. Donnithorne makes West Point and the leadership style taught there a common ground for anyone seeking to improve their leadership abilities. A great read, clear concise language, wonderful organization.
Book Description
Major General Joseph P. Franklin (ret.) believes almost everything that he is as an adult can be traced back to his days at West Point, where he was not only a cadet but an instructor, football coach, and eventually Commandant of Cadets. U.S. Military Academy graduates are found at the highest levels in every walk of life: military, education, business, medicine, law, and government. "But," says Franklin, "you don't have to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy to embrace its ideals or to benefit from the wisdom that is taught there. Competent, even inspiring, leadership is within the grasp of nearly everyone." The principles of leadership-including Duty, Honor, Faith, Courage, Perseverance, Confidence, Approachability, Adaptability, Compassion, and Vision-can be internalized and polished to one's own level of expertise and ambition.
"I have known Joe Franklin, since the late 1970s, when I coached at West Point and he was the Commandant of Cadets. General Joe is well-known by the many people whose lives he has touched as a truly thoughtful, approachable, and compassionate human being. He has written a very readable book using examples drawn from his personal experience to illustrate key principles of leadership, a subject I have studied and practiced for most of my adult life. His simple, honest, easy to understand text is a welcome addition to the references available to leaders, young and old alike. This book will definitely help you become a better leader. The General is one of the best ever!" - Mike "Coach K" Kryzewski, Duke University Basketball Coach
Customer Reviews:
Building Leaders The West Point Way.......2007-09-20
Great book, stimulating, practical, and clearly written. The author balances inspirational stories with theoretical foundations so the reader is able to incorporate new ideas into the everyday world of management and teaching.
Another great Leadership Book........2007-08-31
I was reading Leadership: Past, Present & Future by Carlos M. Rivera and he talks about West Point, so I wanted to know more about West Point and Leadership and this is a great book.
Every Leader should get both books.
5 Star book.
A keeper.
The foreword by General Norman Schwarzkopf is impressive!.......2007-08-28
The foreword by General Norman Schwarzkopf is impressive (I would have put his name on the cover) and the author's declaration that, "everything I have accomplished and learned, successes earned and disappointments endured--can be traced back to my days at West Point" alerts readers, right from the start where this book is going. What surprised me--having known a few generals in my time--is the candor with which Major General Joseph P. Franklin, former Commandant of the Corps of Cadets at West Point, writes this. Who will benefit from it and why, is the broader question.
As an entrepreneur and author of a book on marketing, I know that business leaders don't take the time they should to read. When they do it is books with bulleted points, single page self-evaluations and faddish, over-simplified directives. One of the best ever, "In Search of Excellence," benefited from in-depth analysis of what worked in a variety of existing corporations. Here we are limited to Franklin's service experiences and the one or two top-level executive positions he has held since retirement. Would a young buck scrambling up the corporate ladder in these Enron/WorldCom days ask, "What are we doing...and why are we doing it?" or rather, "How can I get more, faster?"
I don't doubt the General's earnestness for a moment, only wish our politicians and current military leaders would at least appear to practice what he says. For example, while discussing honor he states: "What if there's a problem and they (company leaders) are asked to cover it up? The right person to step up to leadership will always answer: 'If that's the case, don't ask me to be in charge.'"
The chapter on "Faith" was the hardest for me to swallow. I understand what the General means when he says, "Those dedicated volunteers and their leaders (in Iraq) have two choices: they can be bitter and question their service and the leadership above them, or they can faithfully serve their leaders our country, and the assignments given them." It would be hard to follow someone who you didn't believe had faith in the mission and faith does play the major role in controlling fear, but as a Vietnam vet, I have to say, "yes, but..." And maybe he heard me because the next chapter begins with the quote: "It takes real courage to admit you're wrong."
On the other hand his chapter on "Compassion" reveals the man as well as the true meaning of leadership. His distinction between leadership and management is also useful. (There are callouts throughout the book that reinforce its message. Someone--probably the publisher--marked each of these with three stars. Their content stands on its own without an appeal to rank and, anyway, shouldn't it be two stars for a major general?) But talk about putting your money where your mouth is. Franklin's decision to measure the high radiation levels of a nuclear power plant at the Greenland ice cap by himself rather than put a subordinate in danger is truly inspirational.
My neighbor would love this book (in fact I am giving my copy to him). For years he owned a bakery and managed young workers. He also reads history and is very active in church work. Anyone who has had to make decisions that affect others but has afterwards ruminated long and hard about their consequences will gain perspective through chapters on duty, honor, faith, courage, perseverance, confidence, approachability, adaptability and compassion. Those are the ten principles Franklin discusses. Like Albert Schweitzer, the General believes "Ethics is our way of being human." That's a lesson not only for leaders but for the whole world. And we need to learn it now.
Motivational reading as well as an ethics refresher.......2007-08-17
"The ten principles are duty, honor, faith, courage, perseverance, confidence, approachability, adaptability, compassion and vision. After reading this book it makes you wonder how much better the United States would be if everyone did two years of military service out of high school.
There is a shortage of all of the above principles within corporate America today. I highly recommend this book both as motivational reading as well as an ethics refresher and the audience for this text is not limited just to those in leadership positions. Anyone in charge of themselves will find something of value in here. We all should choose the harder right rather then the easier wrong."
[...]
Superb Primer on Leadership from a proven Leader of Character.......2007-08-08
This is an excellent, no nonsense primer on leadership. General Franklin doesn't pontificate or preach; he presents practical, easy to read essays on ten key principals of leadership, principals that apply in every walk of life, not just the military. One would expect nothing less from a former Commandant of Cadets at West Point, the individual charged with turning America's finest young men and women into commissioned Leaders of Character who will lead our nation's Army and indeed, the nation itself, through the 21st century. Evryone has something to gain from this book; much of what he says is timeless.
Average customer rating:
- A guide to developing value-centered leadership.
- A Good Overview of Military Leadership & Management Style
|
The West Point Way of Leadership
Larry Donnithorne
Manufacturer: Random House Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
 General
| Business
| Books on Cassette
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
Management
| Business
| Books on Cassette
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
General
| Books on Cassette
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The West Point Way of Leadership
ASIN: 0553472194
Release Date: 1993-12-01 |
Customer Reviews:
A guide to developing value-centered leadership........1998-10-14
Donnithorne has provided a practical and concise work on developing value-centered leadership in any organization. He addresses the issues of leadership within a moral and ethical context by: 1. Reviewing West Point's approach to teaching value-centered leadership (which is enjoyable to read about in-and-of-itself). 2. Providing anecdotal examples from his own life as a military engineer who has worked in combat. 3. Providing examples in a variety of practical business settings, many which will be recognized by the reader. 4. And, providing the reader with a summary of key questions which lead to the core of value-driven leadership. Throughout the book, Donnithorne references a wide array of current and past literature validating and providing substance and context for the methods developed by West Point.
Any individual who has experienced the trials, tribulations and rewards of leadership will recognize much of the fundamental truths found in Donnithorne's effort.
Credibility also comes from Donnithorne's own experience as a successful military officer, teacher and college president. He is not an academic who has studied leadership patterns, etc. He is a practical, experienced leader who brings depth to his words by sharing interesting and heartfelt anecdotes from his own life.
This is a must read for anyone interested in the moral, ethical and value-centered aspects of leadership and organizational life.
A Good Overview of Military Leadership & Management Style.......1998-07-30
I enjoyed learning about the Military method of training, developing and teaching people to lead and manage. Based on the synopsis, I was hoping to see how the Military leadership styles worked in the business world. But the examples of business applications were somewhat limited. Overall an interesting book
Books:
- Reel to Real: Making the Most of Movies With Youth (Reel to Real Making the Most of the Movies With Youth)
- Resisting Images: Essays on Cinema and History (Critical Perspectives on the Past Series)
- Revisioning Italy: National Identity and Global Culture
- Rocky Mountain Flower Finder: A Guide to Wildflowers Found Below Tree Line in the Rocky Mountains (Nature Study Guides)
- Screen Acting: How to Succeed in Motion Pictures and Television
- Screen Couple Chemistry: The Power of 2
- Shifting Shadow of Supernatural Power: A Prophetic Manual for Those Wanting to Move in God's Supernatural Power
- Sholay: The Making of a Classic
- Shows About Nothing: Nihilism in Popular Culture from the Exorcist to Seinfeld
- Somewhere in Time: The Screenplay
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Best Answers to the 201 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions
- Season on the Brink
- Fundamental Accounting Principles w/2003 Krispy Kreme AR, TTCD, NetTutor, OLC w/PW
- Learning and Expectations in Macroeconomics
- MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit
- The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers
- Suite Française
- International Capital Markets in a World of Accounting Differences
- New Perspectives on E-Commerce -- Comprehensive
- Savage Run: A Joe Pickett Novel
