Connellan, Tom. The 1% Solution for Work and Life: How to Make Your Next 30 Days the Best Ever.

Peak Performance Press, Inc.. Dec. 2010. c157p. illus. ISBN 978-0-9769506-2-2. $19.95.

Ever wonder how you can boost your performance, make your job and/or life better, become more successful, and/or ultimately happier? Winners of all kinds understand the power of 1 percent. In the case of Olympic athletes, 1 percent distinguishes the “exceptionally exceptional” from the “exceptional” competitors, the medal winners from the non-medal winners, whereas for the average person, it may seem more elusive. (p. 9) In this publication, based upon his own research and that of others, Connellan (Ph.D.; author of Bringing Out the Best in Others!), a former Program Director, company founder and CEO, as well as best selling author of ten books and numerous journal articles, sets forth what 1 percent means for an ordinary person, someone who can not be 100 percent better than everyone but can be 1 percent better at 100s of things if (s)he commits to improving. (pp. 9-10) In seven chapters that function as a call to action as well as a comprehensive plan for achieving results, the author retells the story of Ken, an average person, who reaches a turning point in his life after observing how his son’s soccer coach Jim was able to improve his son’s soccer team. Ken discusses the turnaround with Jim, who then sends him to learn from five successful 1 percenters-- a sales executive, college physics professor, prominent business owner, practicing psychologist, and former Olympic tri-athlete. These noteworthy individuals impart to Ken (and readers) their secrets, thereby providing him (and readers) with the knowledge and tools that he (and readers) needs to succeed. Packed with much useful and wise advice as well as many actionable ideas, derived from solid research in the social sciences and sciences, this inspirational, self-help guide, presented in the form of a story, will show readers how to power up and keep going at permanently higher levels in just thirty days. Of interest to anyone who wants more from work and life, it is highly recommended for all readers and most public library collections, even though it lacks a selected bibliography, footnotes/endnotes, and an index, all of which would have augmented the story and assisted readers.
Advance Readers Copy. Availability: Amazon, Barnes & Noble.com

Polanka, Sue, Ed.. No Shelf Required: E-Books in Libraries.

American Library Association Editions. 2010. c.194p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-8389-1054-2. $65.00. Item Number: 7400-0542 (e-book, ALA e-Editions). $52.00. B0043VE3J6 (Kindle Edition). $52.00.

Existing for more than 10 years, electronic books are going mainstream. A relatively new phenomenon for many librarians and publishers, they raise many issues and challenges. In this compilation, Polanka (Head of Reference and Instruction, Wright State University Libraries, Dayton, Ohio; M. L. S., Kent State University School of Library and Information Science; “Off The Shelf” Column Writer, Booklist’s Reference Books Bulletin; Moderator, No Shelf Required blog), a reference and instruction librarian with extensive experience in public, state, and academic libraries, as well as a variety of professionals share their expertise about e-books. In nine chapters, contributors examine electronic books in relation to the Internet, student learning, school libraries, public libraries, academic libraries, and the publishing industries. They discuss topics, not limited to the history of e-books, their types, technologies, devices and software applications, pricing models, data standards, usage statistics, preservation, and future. A must-read for librarians and professionals involved with the collection development, acquisition, cataloging, and/or preservation of electronic books, this nicely- presented and well- documented publication, with easy-to-read, insightful essays by experts, provides a significant, solid foundation for further practice and research. It is strongly recommended for many school, public, and academic library collections as a primary professional resource that can be read in its entirety or by chapter, as needed. Review copy. Availability: Amazon.com, Amazon (Kindle Edition), Barnes & Noble.com

Buse, Fred. A Caregiver’s Tips: My Wife Had Alzheimer’s Disease.

Rose Dog Books. 2010. c69p. ISBN 978-1-4349-9791-3. $11.00. ISBN 978-1-4349-4123-7 (pdf ebook). $6.00. B003DYGOGE (Kindle Edition). $6.00.


When Dorothy M. Buse’s mother was moved into the Alzheimer’s unit of a small assisted living home, Dot told her husband Frederic W. Buse, the author of this book, that if she got the disease too, she did not want to be put into a similar facility. Buse promised his wife that he would not do so. (pp. 7-8) In 1997, Dot was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She died nine years later in June 2006. In this brief, well-written story, Buse (New York Maritime College, Marine Engineering, 1958), a retired engineer from Ingersoll Rand Company and the writer of many book chapters and industrial journal articles, sets forth his personal account of his journey coping with his wife’s Alzheimer’s disease. The author shares his “experiences, ideas,” and any “insight gained” (introduction), hoping that his many tips (over one hundred) “may help other caregivers who choose” to care for “their loved ones at home.” (back- of- the book summary) In five chapters, averaging eleven pages each, Buse describes the onset of his wife’s Alzheimer’s and many other relevant topics including diagnosis, lifestyle adjustments, legal matters, social security, medical bills, Medicare, support organizations, patient behaviors, physical and emotional changes, the progression of the disease, hygiene, food and meals, medications, hospice care, his wife’s death, memorial services, and after-death issues. While this publication is not by standard definitions authoritative, since it is told from a layperson’s or an ordinary person’s viewpoint and it lacks appropriate documentation such as a selected bibliography, endnotes/footnotes, and appendices of additional resources, it’s first- hand account and seemingly practical advice may be helpful in some ways to caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients, who may be looking for an understandable guide that they can read in one sitting or a few hours. The back- of- the book “table of contents” by chapter, which lists the subjects covered in each chapter by heading but lacks pagination, may be used to record the page numbers upon which certain topics are discussed and/or to take notes. Reasonably well- presented and compassionately retold, but by no means authoritative or comprehensive, this book will interest mostly early stage Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. It is recommended for some public libraries as a supplementary resource only and should not serve as a substitute for other publications and advice written for caregivers that cover the disease and patient care from the most authoritative, comprehensive, and updated viewpoints. Patients and their caregivers always should consult the most appropriate resources and experts for the best, most comprehensive, and up- to- date information and advice when coping with major medical issues and life events. Review book. Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team. Availability: Amazon.com (print), Amazon (Kindle Edition), Rose Dog Bookstore

Book Review: Klaben, Gary. Changing the Conversation: Transformational Steps to Financial and Family Well-Being.

Navigator Press. 2010. c.299p. bibliog.. ISBN 978-0-9828009-0-4. $24.95.

Let’s face it. Most of us probably “have issues” with money. Money oftentimes gets in the way when it should not. It has an enormous power over us. It causes dysfunctional behaviors, debauches, defiles, and demoralizes. In short, money can enslave us, if we let it become our master. (p. 267-74) In this book, which was written in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, during the 2008-09 recession, Klaben (President, Owner, Financial Advisor, Coyle Asset Management, Glenview, IL; President, Protinus; Master of Science, Financial Services, The American College, 1995; Chartered Financial Consultant, The American College, 1989; Bachelor of Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, 1979), a renowned financial advisor and consultant, sets forth a “call to action” for individuals, families, and businesses, arguing that our conversations about money need to change, if Americans are to achieve a better future. (p. 33) Intending a “journey from dependency to mastery,” the author compiles a series of “conversations” that are meant to function as a “how-to guide to financial realization” (p. 21), a comprehensive strategy for multigenerational financial security and well-being. Each “conversation” or chapter focuses on how individuals, families, businesses, and the world are changing. They were written to help us anticipate future changes, prepare to manage them, and even lead. (p. 32) Kleban discusses a variety of topics, not limited to financial awareness, KASH (knowledge, attitude, skills, and habits), choosing one’s path, how the brain learns, setting goals, the psychology of money, the importance of financial mentors and mentoring, risk management, the significance of understanding and taming complexity, navigating life’s storms and currents, retirement, true worth, property, passing wealth to future generations, and growing greatness. Sufficiently well-documented, based upon the notion of the three stages of life—youth (i.e. learning), middle age (i.e. earning), and old age (i.e. yearning)-- and filled with excellent advice, drawn from many of the author’s own personal and professional experiences, this thought-provoking and noteworthy publication, dealing with the emotional (non-financial) aspects of money, will serve as a must-read for most of us and the precursor to transforming our financial livelihoods and legacies. (p. 282-3) Appealing to general and some specialized audiences, it is highly recommended for most public library book collections. Review copy. Availability: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com

Book Review: Rosen, Martin B. and Leibowitz, Abbie, M.D.. The Healthcare Survival Guide:

Cost-Saving Options for the Suddenly Unemployed and Anyone Else Who Wants to Save Money. Health Advocate Publishing. 2009. c.75p. illus. ISBN 978-0-9840696-0-6. $6.95. Kindle Edition (e-Book). $2.95

Written with the goal of helping Americans “’survive’” the current healthcare system that is not yet affordable, transparent, or accessible, this brief, clearly-presented, easy-to-read, practical publication, by Rosen (Cofounder, Chief Marketing Officer, and Executive Vice President, Health Advocate, Inc.), an accomplished marketing executive with broad-based experience in brand building, and Leibowitz (Cofounder, Chief Medical Officer, Executive Vice President, Health Advocate, Inc.; M.D.; Board Certified, Pediatrics; Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics), a nationally recognized authority on managed care, clinical management, quality assurance, and medical data and information systems, purports to be a complete guide for unemployed workers who have lost their employer-based health insurance, those persons struggling to find affordable healthcare, and others striving to save on their medical costs. Divided into eleven short chapters averaging five pages each, it covers COBRA, low-cost health insurance and medical services, government programs including Medicaid and Medicare, comparison shopping for coverage, cost-cutting strategies, reducing your medical bills, discounted and free medications, taking charge of your health, and much more. Its attractive graphics, charts, illustrations, and periodic updates complement and supplement the text, which is available free for a limited time from the book’s companion website. Timely, informative, useful, and inspiring, this publication is highly recommended as a very basic resource for most, if not all, public library collections. Review copy. Availability: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com

Book Review: Deysine, Maximo. The Old Man’s Passion for Medicine: Would a 1920 Medical Graduate Feel Just as Proud?

Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.. 2010. 124p. ISBN 978-1-4349-0521-5. $14.00. ISBN 978-1-4349-1966-3. (eBook) $9.00.

In this fiction book, which may be autobiographical, Deysine (M.D., University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; resident, St. Raphael’s Hospital, New Haven, CT and Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, NY; Fellow, American College of Surgeons; Board Certified, Surgery and Thoracic Surgery), now deceased (1931-2009) but formerly a professor of surgery, practicing physician, and author of many books, reflects upon the good and bad aspects of the United States’ healthcare system. Using various literary devices, including an old photograph and two main characters, the author introduces readers to his thoughts about its current and future conditions. Deysine’s story begins when the “old man,” the author’s main voice and stand-in, a distinguished surgeon practicing medicine somewhere in the United States, encounters an old photograph of medical students from the Class of 1921 in his basement library. The photograph inspires the aging physician to ask himself the question: would these young doctors “feel just as proud” today about their profession and the status of the healthcare system? While the old man concludes that they would (p. 4), he forgets the question arising from the photograph until Franco Tosato, a freelance reporter seeking to write a lengthy exposé on the “real” status of medicine in the United States, approaches him for an extended interview over several months of shadowing the surgeon. (p. 26) Distrustful of reporters, the old doctor agrees to the interview, provided that he will be able to make reference to the history of medicine and how the discipline has improved. (p. 27) Intent on promoting the history of medicine and its advances (p. vi), he believes that such knowledge is crucial to understanding its current state of affairs (p. 27) During ensuing encounters, many of which are described in chapters entitled “Getting to Know Each Other,” “At the Doctors Lounge,” “The Transplantation of a Foreign Surgical Resident,” “The Hernia,” “Coronary Care,” “Enter the Merchants,” “Thickening the Plot,” the old surgeon, the reporter, and supporting characters discuss many pertinent topics, not limited to informed consent, malpractice, advertising, religion and the practice of medicine, on being an immigrant doctor, the training of doctors, advances in medicine, healthcare administration, the disempowerment of medical staffs, medical billing and record keeping, medical bureaucracies, and doctor- patient relationships. Ending on a hopeful, utopian note, the story indicates ways in which the status of medicine and the healthcare system may be improved and ultimately perfected. Constituting one successful doctor’s assessment of and vision for medicine and the delivery of healthcare services in the United States, this publication will interest doctors, healthcare professionals, some general readers, and others. Concise, well- written, thoughtfully- conceived, artfully- presented, and enjoyable to read, it is highly recommended for public libraries and some special library collections. Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team. Availability: Amazon.com, Dorrancebookstore.com

Burnett, John and Carroll, Becky. How Marketing Can Help Lawyers Make More Money: Targeted at Solo and Mid-sized Practices. (Book Review)

Outskirts Press, Inc.. 2010. c.235p. illus. ISBN 978-1-4327-4579-0. $35.95. ISBN 1432745794 (e-Book). $5.00.

Strategic marketing may not be highly regarded by many law firms. Yet, in today’s brutally competitive marketplace, strategic marketing may be crucial to survival and prosperity. This reality may be particularly true for solo and mid- sized law firms that neither have the resources nor the motivation to learn and implement strategic marketing. In this noteworthy publication, Burnett (President, John Burnett Marketing; Professor Emeritus, Marketing, University of Denver; author of twenty books on marketing- related topics and sixty- five journal articles; Doctor of Business Administration, Marketing, University of Kentucky, 1976), a consultant specializing in strategic marketing for small to medium- sized, businesses, non- profit organizations, and law firms, and Carroll (Community Manager, Verizon, San Diego, California; Founder and President, Petra Consulting Group/Customers Rock!; author of the business blog Customers Rock!; Instructor, “Marketing via New Media,” University of California, San Diego; M.B.A., California State University), a long- time customer advocate, consultant, speaker, and more, provide a comprehensive examination of strategic marketing for solo and mid- sized law practices. In twelve chapters, they cover all topics relating to strategic marketing, including but not limited to, marketing planning and research, situational analysis, S.W.O.T., target market(s), clients and their decision- making processes, legal products, pricing in the legal sector, distribution channels, integrated marketing communications, personal selling for lawyers, social media marketing, budgeting for legal marketing, and evaluation of strategic marketing and marketing initiatives. Written by experts, this book is authoritative, intelligently- conceived, and reasonably well- presented, even though it lacks a selected bibliography, footnotes or endnotes, a back-of-the book index, and a glossary, all of which should have been included as necessary aids for readers. It features many diagrams that help to illustrate and augment the text. Of interest to mostly lawyers, legal marketers, and some business professionals, this informative, go- to resource belongs in some public and special library book collections serving the needs of the aforementioned groups. Highly recommended. Review copy. Availability: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Outskirts Press (eBook)