Killing Floor, Lee Child

Killing Floor, The First Jack Reacher Novel

Date Review Posted:  September 29, 2013

Authors:  Lee Child

Release Date:  March 1997

Web Site (as applicable):  http://www.leechild.com/

Related Blog (as applicable):  http://www.leechild.com/tour-blogs/

Rating:  *****  (A case could be made that I would only review the best of the best because if while reading a book it does not hold my interest, I would not finish it and therefore would not review it.)

Format:  Fictional Novel; intense drama

Reason For Reading THIS book:  Recommended by a long-time good friend Dave Jenks.  I am forever thankful for the recommendation.

Number Of Times I Have Read This Book:  One

Brief Summary of Content:  

This is the first of a series of novels featuring the main character, Jack Reacher.  As you read the novel you quickly grasp that Reacher is a man of great inner resource.  A former Army Officer, a former Military Police Officer, and someone gifted with insight in regards to the thinking of the criminal mind.  He always seems to be one step ahead of the villains in the book and then calls on his ability to anticipate their next move and create an effective counter move; oftentimes stretching the limits of the law.

 

Here is how the book affected me.  It is over 500 pages and I spent a Saturday when LSU was playing Georgia reading the entire book.  It is that good, that compelling and that riveting.  I tried to put it down several times to do other things only to go back to the book within minutes.

It would be unfair to anyone who wants to read the book to discuss the plot.  Suffice it to say it WILL keep you wanting more and that makes it hard to stop.  It has several stories that run at a parallel to the main story and they all intertwine until the very end of the book.

If you like stories like James Bond, and Jesse Stone, you'll love this book!

Final Test:  Would I read the book again?  Probably not.  Why?  I now know what is going on; that makes reading it again not something I would do.  But that does not diminish the high regard I have for the author and the book.  More importantly, there are more Jack Reacher novels I desire to read.  Would I give it as a gift?  I absolutely.

Next Review:  Not sure at this time.

The Unstoppable Power Within

The Unstoppable Power Within, Volume One, Imagine the Possibilities

By Kieran A. Revell, “The Success Wizzard”

Date Review Posted:  September 20, 2013

Authors:  Kieran A. Revell

Release Date:  July, 2013

Web Site:  http://www.kieranrevell.com

  ***** (A case could be made that I would only review the best of the best because if while reading a book it does not hold my interest, I would not finish it and therefore would not review it.)

Format:  Consists of 18 Chapters, each filled with great quotes, and quotes from the author.  Each chapter is one segment of a planned journey to success.  At the end of each chapter there is summary of Lessons Learned that were discussed in each chapter.

Reason For Reading THIS book:  I became a Facebook friend of the author, Kieran Revell and very much enjoyed his posts.  We became email friends so when his book hit the market there was no decision in regards to reading it, I simply had to.  It was a decision that I will long treasure.

Number Of Times I Have Read This Book:  One time.   Intend to purchase a supply of the books to give as gifts.  It is that good!

Brief Summary of Content:   I absolutely love this book.  I found that while reading it, the process took much longer than most books I have read.  I would read just part of a chapter and my mind would begin to wonder and think about what I just read.  The book causes you to think and that is always a very good thing – THINKING!  It WILL cause you to think not only about where you are right at this moment but also where you want to be in the future and they it helps you create a plan to get you to where you want to be.  The best way to describe what is in the book would be to simply list the Chapter Titles; which are:

• Dare to Dream
• The Essence of Self-Belief
• Learning Life’s Lessons
• Commit to Change
• Removing the (Glass) Ceiling on Success
• Being the Best You Can
• The Awesome Power of Transformational Change
• Taking Care of Your Health and Fitness
• Develop a Clear and Supported Plan of Action
• Sales and Marketing Knowledge
• Effective Communication
• The Gentle Art of Persuasion
• Additional Streams of Income
• The Value of Effective Time Management
• The Necessity for Saving Money
• Effective Steps to Problem-Solving
• The Challenge of Procrastination
• Empowering Our Children

Who Should Read the Book?    Everyone!

Final Test:  Would I read the book again?  ABSOLUTELY AND I AM!  Would I give it as a gift?  ABSOLUTELY and I am!

21.5 Unbreakable Laws of Selling

21.5 Unbreakable Laws of Selling.  Proven Actions You Must Take to Make Easier, Faster, Bigger Sales

By Jeffrey Gitomer

Date Review Posted:  September 11, 2013

Authors:  Jeffrey Gitomer

Release Date:  July 2013

Web Site:  http://www.gitomer.com/jeffrey-gitomers-21-5-unbreakable-laws-of-selling-pluLAWS.html

Author Web Site:  www.JeffreyGitomer.com

  ***** (A case could be made that I would only review the best of the best because if while reading a book it does not hold my interest, I would not finish it and therefore would not review it.)

Format:  This is really a “workbook.”  As you read it Gitomer asks that you answer questions and provide your thoughts to questions throughout the book.  The questions WILL make you think about your business and that is always a good thing – THINKING!

Reason For Reading THIS book:  I have read every Gitomer Book (several times each) and subscribe to his Sales Caffeine weekly blog.  There is nothing that Gitomer writes or talks about that I won’t read or listen to.  No matter what he writes about, I feel he is talking with me and causes me to think.

Number Of Times I Have Read This Book:  One time.   And already know that I will read it again, taking time to stop and answer all of the questions Gitomer asks.

Brief Summary of Content:  

I believe that you can tell a great deal about a book before you read it by reading the Table of Contents and any testimonials on the book.  In this case Gitomer has identified 21 Laws of (Successful) Selling that if followed should enable the reader to have a very successful sales career.  It was my intention to include the Chapter Titles in this review but then I read the very last .5 Chapter (Gitomer uses the .5 in almost all of his writings.  The .5 is like a gift, something extra, in Louisiana we refer to that as Lagniappe, like a baker who gives you 13 donuts instead of the 12 you may have ordered.  One of the Action Steps Gitomer asks is that you go back and read just the chapter titles but the first time you include “I MUST” before the title.  Then do it again and insert “I NEED TO” and then again inserting “I WILL”, when you do, you will get the following:

I Must; I Need To; and I Will….

• Attract Willing Buyers
• Think YES! (you need to read The Little Gold Book of YES!Attitude by Gitomer)
• Believe Before You Succeed
• Employ Humor
• Build Your Own Brand
• Earn Reputation
• Be Assertive and Persistent
• Demonstrate Excellence
• Deliver Value First
• Communicate in Terms of Them
• Ask Before You Tell
• Serve Memorably
• Exchange Loyalty
• Earn Trust
• Utilize Voice of Customers
• Discover The Why
• Intend to Achieve
• Be Perceived As Different
• Perform Dynamically
• Attract, Engage, and Connect Socially
• Earn Without Asking
• Love it or Leave It

“WHEN YOU MASTER THE LAWS, YOU WILL REAP THEIR REWARDS!”

Jeffrey Gitomer

Who Should Read the Book?   Everyone but especially anyone in sales or in charge of sales.

Final Test:  Would I read the book again?  ABSOLUTELY AND I AM!  Would I give it as a gift?  ABSOLUTELY!

The Liberty Amendments

The Liberty Amendments; Restoring the American Republic

By Mark Levin

Date Review Posted:  September 4, 2013

Authors:  Mark Levin

Release Date:  August 13, 2013

Web Site:  http://www.marklevinshow.com/

  ***** (A case could be made that I would only review the best of the best because if while reading a book it does not hold my interest, I would not finish it and therefore would not review it.)

Format:  It is really a “how to” book on how to restore the Republic to a Republic and block what the government can do to override its citizen’s desires.

Reason For Reading THIS book:  I find Mark Levin fascinating and very knowledgeable as I have listened to him on his radio show.  When I heard about this book, it immediately became a “must read” for me and I have not regretted that decision.

Number Of Times I Have Read This Book:  One time.   When I finished the book I immediately delivered it to my Louisiana State Representative in hope that he would read it and again, hopefully, take action.

Brief Summary of Content:  

Mark Levin believes, and I agree, that as good as the U. S. Constitution is, there are flaws in the Constitution that enables the government (President) to take advantage of its provisions to grow the size of the government and to bypass the legislative branch through Executive Orders and Regulations written and put into effect by persons not elected to office.  To correct this Levin has written 11 (actually 12 since one contains two) Constitutional Amendments and then gives guidance to demonstrate how these amendments can be instituted by the Legislature, State Legislatures and even citizens.  More importantly, Levin provides the reader with historical background on why the Founding Fathers did what they did and how they anticipated exactly what is happening in America in 2013.

Here are the 11 Liberty Amendments that Levin proposes.

• Establish twelve-year term limits for members of Congress and the Supreme Court;
• Repeal the 17th Amendment;
• Allow either Congress or the states to overturn a Supreme Court decision within 24 months with a three fifths vote of the members of both houses or the states;
• Require a federal budget to be enacted by May or impose an automatic across-the-board 5 percent cut, and the budget may not exceed total tax receipts or 17.5 percent of GDP;
• Place a 15 percent limit on the amount of income taxes collected from natural and legal persons, change the tax-return filing date to the day before federal elections, and ban federal estate, value-added, or sales taxes;
• Require every federal agency to be reauthorized every three years in a stand-alone bill or else expire, and require a seven-member House committee to approve all regulations with an economic burden greater than $100 million within six months or cancel implementation of the regulation;
• Limit the Commerce Clause to preventing states from impeding commerce and trade between the states, and specify that it does not extend to activity within states (whether or not it affects interstate commerce) or to compelling an individual to participate in commerce;
• Extend the protection against seizure of private property to require compensation for regulations that reduce market value or interfere with the use of property in an amount exceeding $10,000;
• Change Article V so that any constitutional amendment, proposed by anyone, will be adopted if it is ratified by two thirds of the states;
• Require a 30-day waiting period between agreement upon the final version of any congressional bill (engrossment) and the final vote to approve it, and allow three fifths of the states to override any federal statute or any federal regulation with a cost exceeding $100 million within 24 months of passage or approval; and
• Require valid photo ID and proof of citizenship to register and vote in all federal elections, in person or by mail, and limit early voting to 30 days before the election (except for active-duty military personnel).

Personally I would add a 12^th Liberty Amendment that would required Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court all to abide by the same laws, regulations and rules they write, pass and expect American citizens to abide by.

Who Should Read the Book?    Everyone!

Final Test:  Would I read the book again?  ABSOLUTELY AND I AM!  Would I give it as a gift?  ABSOLUTELY!