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| 9810539169
| 9789810539160
| 9810539169
| 3.82
| 1,893
| 2005
| Aug 24, 2005
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it was amazing
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THE BOOK IN A NUTSHELL A love story between an emotionally weak and unstable British journalist – Pete and money focused self-righteous and super-manip THE BOOK IN A NUTSHELL A love story between an emotionally weak and unstable British journalist – Pete and money focused self-righteous and super-manipulative man-eater - Joy a Pole Dancer. PLOTLINE Pete moves to Thailand from London as part of his work. He becomes involved with a prostitute named Joy He falls in love (Yup…falls in love) And then dedicates his whole life to keeping her happy She asks money. He give her money. She asks more money. He gives her more money. She keeps asking money. He keeps giving her money. She keeps asking him money. He assumes he is giving her money to change her life. She assumes he is doing his job of being ‘a man’ who is rich. What Pete doesn’t know is that She is already married to a Thai man and uses the money she receives from him to keep her husband happy. The book then takes the reader deeper and deeper into this obsessive love story – where one absolutely idiotic emotional nut-job seeks to win the heart of an ungrateful, manipulative, sinister and cold-hearted woman. And finally towards the end – the author takes you to a rather anti-climatic finish – where the reader is made to be at peace with himself knowing – there is no ‘happily ever after’….at least in the real world. THE CONTENT The novel is divided into small segments – each narrated by its respective character along the way. And it is absolutely intriguing to see how each person feels and thinks about the exact same situation as the story unfolds. What is amazing is the manner in which the writer has managed to capture the essence of each character. He really hits a homerun in trying to decipher the cultural influence and thinking of each character. WHAT DID I LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS BOOK? I loved the manner in which this book, the dialogues and the storyline was written. The manner in which the story unfolded and the view point of each character, Neither one being in the right or wrong – was in itself a thought-provoking treat. Even though the book is written keeping in mind only those 4 or 5 characters – the book as a whole acts as a manuscript in understanding how different people from different cultures and different environments think and communicate ideas, feelings and thoughts. LOY MACHEDO’S CONCLUSION Just as meeting The Axe Murderer was game changer for me, (understanding the intricacies of protecting one’s self from everything starting with a Knife attack, to understanding how to protect oneself from a group attack) this book in a strange way does educates you in the same manner – from such unpredictable & dangerous attacks (i.e. emotional traps). It kind of makes you understand how different people from different cultures think. Try this….If you have ever visited Pattaya, Bangkok, Chiang Mai or any other tourist places in Thailand, the most common sight you’d see is an old white man with a very young Thai girl. You’d wonder what’s up with that before you realize that they are actually bar girls or prostitutes and the white men are mostly sex tourists. But it is not the perverted old white man hangs out with the Asian young girl that you should look at. Rather how the girl plays her cards right, how she thinks and why she does what she does that is total revelation & education in itself. And this is a reality which – once you expose yourself to – will make you appreciate the sad, bad and ugly realities of life. Don’t get me wrong – I am not trying to say that the poor white man is a ‘angel’ and the bad bar girl is ‘evil’. Absolutely not. It always takes 2 hands to clap. So if the white man travelled hundreds of thousands of miles just to do everything hidden and in total secrecy – he too has his dirty little secrets and dirty little intentions. So the book - in a way, it’s the kind of book any and every man should read before coming to Thailand and getting involved with these bar girls. These women by no means should be under-estimated or disrespected. They are in their own right powerful creatures of desire – who main purpose – is to survive this evil world. So in as much as I would like to point fingers – I have to say, I myself personally do not have a stellar record to do so. THE CONCLUSION So as a conclusion….. Thailand’s sex tourism industry is a very small part of the entire culture – however, it is a very powerful and prominent part of the system. That is why understanding this tiny component is very essential for anyone. Thailand has a lot more to offer and so much more to learn. But this one small aspect is what drives the industry ablaze. So even if you are a potential or existing sex tourist or you are someone who would never get into this dark world – the experience and the manner in which the author has shared this world – is nothing short of spectacular. So if I had to summarize my entire book review in one sentence….this is what I would say… Private Dancer by Stephen Leather is….. A COMPULSORY POWERFUL MUST READ BOOK FOR ANY TOURIST PLANNING TO VISIT THAILAND! LOYMACHEDO’S OVERALL RATING 9.5 OUT OF 10 *********************** Loy Machedo www.ThinkPersonalBranding.com | www.whoisloymachedo.com | www.loymachedo.com ...more |
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Mar 06, 2017
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Apr 18, 2017
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| 0062273124
| 9780062273123
| 0062273124
| 4.02
| 3,627
| Mar 08, 2016
| Mar 08, 2016
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did not like it
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Gary Vaynerchuk is 1. An American serial entrepreneur, 2. Four-time New York Times bestselling author, 3. keynote speaker at global entrepreneurship and Gary Vaynerchuk is 1. An American serial entrepreneur, 2. Four-time New York Times bestselling author, 3. keynote speaker at global entrepreneurship and technology conferences 4. Famous internet personality, digital marketer & social media pioneer for VaynerMedia and VaynerX. 5. Angel investor & advisor Uber, Birchbox, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr 6. He was known as a wine critic who grew his family’s wine business from $3 million to $60 million So now the book review --------------------------------- What I loved about the AskGaryVee: 1. Good practical pieces of advice 2. Real time strategies from a real time investor, businessman & leader 3. Covers a lot of topics from Social Media, Leadership, Self-Awareness & Business 4. Honest, Sincere & To the point 5. Gives advice that really need to hear. --------------------------------- What I absolutely hated about the AskGaryVee: 1. Boring, Bloated and Brain-Numbing 2. Unstructured Content not meant for reading – rather listening as an Audio book 3. Uninterestingly filled with too many words which makes you want start speed reading and then finally to skip the pages altogether. --------------------------------- Loy Machedo’s Moment of Truth about AskGaryVee The book has substance but you have to dig through tons of useless words and phrases that do nothing but waste your time and give you a headache. If you really want to know what is best – just listen to his audio series or his video youtube channel. The 350 pages can be summarized into 30 pages at its best. --------------------------------- Loy Machedo’s Overall Ratings 2 out of 10. Sorry Gary Vee – I admire you mate Your advice is always great Your videos are worth watching But the book sucks! Loy Machedo The World's #1 Personal Branding Coach ...more |
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Apr 12, 2017
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Apr 19, 2017
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Apr 18, 2017
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| 1473635047
| 9781473635043
| 1473635047
| 3.88
| 674
| Aug 01, 2016
| Oct 25, 2016
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did not like it
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**spoiler alert** Here’s the thing. There are a Billion books in the marketplace. Millions in the Non-Fiction Category. Hundreds of Thousands of Authors T **spoiler alert** Here’s the thing. There are a Billion books in the marketplace. Millions in the Non-Fiction Category. Hundreds of Thousands of Authors Thousands of Books that are Best Sellers (Provided you know how to get it there) Hundreds of books that may not be labeled as Best sellers but have the potential to change your life And then you have the rest that are – just books. You have books that can Inform, Motivate, Influence, Guide, Change your Life And then you have books that can do all of the above. 100 Things Successful People Do by Nigel Cumberland tries to do all the above Inform, Motivate, Influence, Guide and Change Your Life However, the question remains – how effective was the author? Given the fact that I have a large library of great books I always tend to compare one book to another Or at times evaluate books on an experienced level playing field That maybe most other readers cannot. So this makes it very tough for an author or a book to really score a homerun At least in my books. Nigel Cumberland with this book 100 Things Successful People Do Has a collection of 100 tips, tricks and strategies That he believes is what makes some people more successful than others As common sense would have it – these are not ‘exclusive’ or ‘scientific breakthroughs’ that the author has discovered – they are just gems of wisdom Any person with a bit of common sense, wisdom and experience Can share with you any of these interesting tit-bits written in these pages. So lets get down to the evaluation. ON THE PLUS SIDE The book has 100 pointers or tit bits of wisdom that will help you gain insight into the ways and habits of successful people. Some of the points I loved were: Point 22 - Reinvent Yourself Point 26 – Exude Confidence Point 67 – Be Curious Point 76 – Embrace Technology Point 97 – Unlearn Everything The points are very simple and self-explanatory. You do not need pages and pages to be written to get you to understand what the author is trying to imply. ON THE MINUS SIDE If you are a seasoned and voracious reader like myself – the pointers mentioned here are just a refresher. Nothing else. All I did was just browse through the pages Get a quick read and – well that’s was it. MOMENT OF TRUTH I wouldn’t recommend this book to a seasoned professional or someone who is well read. Rather this would be a book I would recommend to a college graduate Or someone who has never read or hardly read a Motivational / Inspirational book They would love this book. Personally, I only purchased this book just to see what I could brush up my head with. And I completed reading the book easily In one sitting. OVERALL RATING 2 out of 10 Loy Machedo Loymachedo.com | Whoisloymachedo.com | ThinkPersonalBranding.Com ...more |
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Mar 25, 2017
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Mar 25, 2017
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Mar 24, 2017
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| 0553345834
| 9780553345834
| 0553345834
| 3.60
| 5,022
| 1984
| Jun 01, 1986
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it was ok
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First and foremost - Who is Mark McCormack? Mark Hume McCormack (November 6, 1930 – May 16, 2003) was an American lawyer, sports agent and writer. He w First and foremost - Who is Mark McCormack? Mark Hume McCormack (November 6, 1930 – May 16, 2003) was an American lawyer, sports agent and writer. He was the founder and chairman of International Management Group, now IMG, an international management organization serving sports figures and celebrities. McCormack was featured as one of the Forbes 400 Richest Americans in 1995, 1998, 2001. In 1990, he was named the "Most Powerful Man in Sports" by The Sporting News. His impact on the Sporting World was so great that even today they even have Awards named after him. The Mark H. McCormack Medal is awarded to the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after the U.S. Amateur Championship and the European Amateur Championship. The Mark H. McCormack Award is awarded to the player who has spent the most weeks at number 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking during a calendar year. The first 13 of these awards after its inception went to Tiger Woods. About the Book When I had read this book 18 years ago, I was completely mesmerized by the wisdom distilled in its pages. However, at 37 years of age, in the year 2014, now when I read it - the magic no longer is present. Lets get down to understanding the book. What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School came out in 1984 and was a New York Times Bestseller. Personalities like Robert Anderson (Chairman, Rockwell International), Christie Hefner (President and COO of Playboy Enterprise), Herbert J. Siegel (Chairman of Chris-Craft Industries) and even Rupert Murdoch (Chairman of News Corporation) were full of praise for this book. I suspect the reason this book became a best seller was primarily because of the impact, influence and the position of power Mark McCormack had on the Sporting / Celebrity Endorsed World - at that time. If you need an example of such authors from today's day and age - Barack Obama, Richard Branson and Jack Canfield come to mind. They are some of the many authors who talk anything from simple boring mundane stuff to absolute nonsense and end up having Best Sellers - because they leverage the sales based on their Brand Persona. So coming back to Mark McCormack Book - The title is pretty amazing. But the content is pretty ordinary, useless and at times nonsensical. The book is divided into 3 sections: Section 1 - People Section 2 - Sales & Negotiations Section 3 - Running a Business Section 1 - People 1. Reading People 2. Creating Impressions 3. Taking the Edge 4. Getting Ahead Section 2 - Sales & Negotiations 1. The Problems of Selling 2. Timing 3. Silence 4. Marketability 5. Stratagems 6. Negotiations Section 3 - Running the Business 1. Building a Business 2. Staying in Business 3. Getting Things Done 4. For Entrepreneurs Only What Mark McCormack has done is given his day-to-day examples like having Tea, going for a walk, playing golf, having dinner or meeting the family of Superstars (of those days) like Arnold Palmer, Bjorn Borg, CEO's of Companies, Vice Presidents etc and then throwing in a nugget of wisdom he learnt from that episode. Personally, I felt he was using the book to not only give us his gems of wisdom but also to advertise whom he knew and how close he was to the top names in the industry. (More of the latter and less of the former) In fact, some of the techniques like 'give less than your best' or 'doing something for their children to get their business' would be seen more as a Con-Artists or a Insincere Approach (How to Win Friends and Influence People - Remember?) rather than the Genuine Approach. The examples were not very interesting. But what really got to me was the long-drawn-out, old fashioned approach of writing Mark used to communicate his ideas. I think if you remove all the unnecessary words and sentences, this book could come to around 10 pages. Moment of Truth. Techniques like admitting "I don't know," "I need help," and "I was wrong", McCormack's advice on negotiation, the need to be organized, and the power of silence in interpersonal communication are today outdated. With the dawn of Information Technology, Social Media and Free Online Education - such ideas which were thought to be 'Secrets' are no longer fresh - if not useful. I felt Mark McCormack's main purpose of this book was nothing but to advertise his ego, brag about his achievements, keep advertising those big names under the pretext of preaching a worthwhile gem of wisdom. Overall the pointers mentioned in this book are definitely not the kind of stuff they would teach you at Harvards Business School. After all when did Harvard's Business School start teaching you outdated, boring and useless stuff? Overall Rating 3 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo.com | whoisloymachedo.com ...more |
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Jan 07, 2014
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Jan 07, 2014
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| 0071398473
| 9780071398473
| 0071398473
| 2.00
| 2
| May 30, 2002
| May 30, 2002
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did not like it
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There are some books which are really good for your career like the Knock ‘em Dead series, What color is your parachute and The Pathfinder. They offer
There are some books which are really good for your career like the Knock ‘em Dead series, What color is your parachute and The Pathfinder. They offer you thought-provoking insights and yes world class advice. And then you have books like these – 101 ways to recession proof your career by Wendy S. Enelow which just brush through the stuff you need to know – and may already know. Out of the 101 tips mentioned in this book, here is are the useful bits I found: 1. Talk to people you would never talk to 2. Keep a Journal 3. Have a Flexible Profile 4. Sharpen your Skills 5. Have the Attitude 6. You are not your designation 7. Say Thank You 8. Have a Success Team 9. Have your own Business Card 10. Have a Linkedin Contact Base 11. Have a Mentor 12. You are a Product 13. Position You as a Product 14. Market Yourself as a Product 15. Add Credibility to you as a Product 16. Customize your Resume 17. Use Smart Words – Avoid Recurring Jargon 18. Learn to Sell. Do not Inform. 19. Think like a employer 20. Practice, Practice, Practice 21. Your image is everything 22. Use Challenge, Action, Result Technique (CAR) 23. Personal Grooming 24. Video Tape Yourself Final Verdict No useful tips, tricks, suggestion, creative ideas or websites to check out. Just plain old stuff. Overall Rating 2 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo dot com whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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Dec 15, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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| B00ANKWJYC
| 3.80
| 4,397
| Apr 26, 2012
| Dec 14, 2012
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liked it
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Loy Machedo’s Book Review – The First 20 Minutes by Gretchen Reynolds Recommended by Dan Coyle (author of The Talent Code) comes The First 20 Minutes b Loy Machedo’s Book Review – The First 20 Minutes by Gretchen Reynolds Recommended by Dan Coyle (author of The Talent Code) comes The First 20 Minutes by Gretchen Reynolds. Who is Gretchen Reynolds? She is the writer for Phys Ed Column for the New York Times and contributor to the New York Times Magazine, O: The Oprah Magazine, Men’s Journal and Popular Science. What is this book about? This is not the usual kind of a Health and Fitness book that gives you the standard advice. Rather this book tends to break away from the norms that you expect to follow. Content Here are some of the tit-bits I found Thought Provoking 1. Drinking too much water is more harmful than drinking less water. 2. Stretching, Warm Ups, Vitamin Pills, Massage do necessarily do any good. In some cases, they cause negative impact. 3. The best remedy for muscle cramps is Pickled Juice. 4. Exercise doesn’t aid much in weight loss, it is helpful in weight control or maintenance in the long term (even brisk walking). 5. If you want to lose weight: work out before breakfast and include eggs in your breakfast. 6. Exercise helps to get better brainpower, pushing the onset of dementia by several years. 7. If your objective is to improve fitness and performance, you must overload the muscoloskeletal and cardiovascular systems, i.e.: you will have to push your body somewhat, increasing the intensity or frequency of your usual workouts. 8. Squats are considered by some scientists the single best exercise. And Yoga (or Pilates and its variations) have been shown to prompt muscular remodeling almost as readily as working with weight machines does. 9. Sitting adversely affects the health of even the well-exercised. 10. In order to improve your health, you should walk or work out lightly for 150 minutes a week. You can split them almost any way you want. 30 minutes a day can be split in 3 walks of 10′ each. Other option is to do 75 weekly minutes of more vigorous aerobic exercise plus weight training twice a week. 11. Almost all of the mortality reductions are due to the first 20 minutes of exercise, which drops your risk of premature death by 20%. Overall Verdict A thought provoking book but which is devoid of any footnotes, scientific bibliography & hard hitting research findings. Apart from the statements ‘based on the experiments conducted by’, you will not find anything much. However, this being said, I did find a few parts of this book really helpful and I would suggest anyone to have a quick read through. Overall Rating 5 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo dot com whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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not set
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Dec 16, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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Kindle Edition
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| 1885167776
| 9781885167774
| 1885167776
| 4.13
| 68,150
| 2012
| Apr 01, 2013
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really liked it
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Loy Machedo’s Book Review – The One Thing by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan I like thought provoking books especially those which are easy to read and li Loy Machedo’s Book Review – The One Thing by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan I like thought provoking books especially those which are easy to read and light in its content. Gary Keller & Jay Papasan’s ‘The One Thing’ fits in beautifully within that framework of being engaging, interesting and substantive. The Book starts off with a beautiful Russian Quote – If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one. And then the content moves on to revolve around one single theme ‘The One Thing’. The First Part address the 6 most popular beliefs and breaks them down to ground reality as to why they are lies and misleading: 1. Everything Matters Equally 2. Multitasking is Good 3. Success Requires a Disciplined Life 4. Willpower is Always on Will-Call 5. A Balanced Life is Required 6. Big is Bad The Second Part of the book focuses on the Truth to Productivity: 1. The Focusing Question – How asking the right questions does wonder for you 2. The Success Habit – Start with the Big Stuff & the A Priority Tasks 3. The Path of Greatness – How to use the Priority Quadrant Part Three encapsulates how to live ones life to achieve greatness – The Sequence being Purpose, Priority, Productivity and Profits 1. Live with Purpose – Live a life of Fulfillment 2. Live by Priority – Break Down your Goals 3. Live for Productivity – Block Time for A-Tasks 4. The Three Commitments – Mastery + Purpose + Accountability 5. The Four Thieves – Inability to say No, Fear of Chaos, Poor Health Habits and Goal Supported Environment Finally, the concluding chapter with The Journey Who is Jay Papsan & Gary Keller? Jay Papasan is the former editor at HarperCollins Publishers and is the Vice President of Publishing at Keller Williams. Gary keller is the Chairman of the Board and Cofounder of Keller Williams Realty, Inc. which holds the #1 Position as the largest real estate company in the US Moment of Truth A entertaining and engaging book that gives you the aha-moments where you really sit down and want to reflect on the pieces of advice given to you. I liked the book very much and I would recommend it to others. Overall Rating 8 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo dot com whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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not set
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Dec 16, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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Hardcover
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| 111849542X
| 9781118495421
| 111849542X
| 3.90
| 7,506
| Apr 01, 2006
| Apr 01, 2013
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really liked it
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About Michael Port Michael Port has been called “an uncommonly honest author” by the Boston Globe and a “marketing guru” by The Wall Street Journal. He About Michael Port Michael Port has been called “an uncommonly honest author” by the Boston Globe and a “marketing guru” by The Wall Street Journal. He is the author of four bestselling books including Book Yourself Solid, Beyond Booked Solid, The Contrarian Effect, and the New York Times Bestseller, The Think Big Manifesto. Michael blogs for the Huffington Post and has written monthly columns on sales and marketing for Entrepreneur Magazine and American Express Open Forum, is a regular guest on MSNBC, and receives the highest overall speaker ratings at conferences around the world. About the Book: The book is divided into 4 modules. 1. Your Foundation 2. Building Trust & Credibility 3. Perfect Pricing & Simple Selling 4. The 6 Core Self-Promotion Strategies Module 1 Your Foundation In this module the author addresses: 1. How to have an exclusive policy of bringing in clients 2. How to trim important clients and remove the unimportant clients 3. How to identify you key markets, understand client needs and what you can provide them 4. How to stand out from the market, how to identify your true self & know the underlying reason for your actions 5. How to market yourself effectively by focusing on how to be more human and less sales oriented. Module 2 Building Trust & Credibility The segments of this module cover: 1. How to position yourself as an authority 2. Understanding the impact of likability 3. How to turn conversations into sales processes 4. How to maintain your information database 5. How to build products & programs to serve your market Module 3 Prefect Pricing & Simple Selling 1. How to know and position your ROI while pricing yourself 2. Methods of Pricing your rates 3. The Power of Free 4. The Simple Smart Sales System Module 4 The 6 Core Self-Promotion Strategies 1. Networking 2. Direct Sales Reach 3. Referrals 4. Speaking to Sales 5. Writing to Sales 6. Web based Sales Moment of Truth More than a book, I would call this publication a reference tool for those thinking of starting their business and yes, for those who need guidance on how to go about making a Brand or Business Successful. However mind you, the pointers mentioned here are not as simple as they sound. Just as reading about getting 6-pack abs and getting about to make it happen are two entirely different things – in the same manner, this book also challenges you as how much you can do versus how much you think you can do. A highly recommended reference tool for Business Owners and people who want to build their own brand. PS – And given the fact the book is illustrated makes the book so much more easier to read. Overall Rating A respectable 9.5 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo dot com whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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Dec 16, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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Paperback
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| 0307990176
| 9780307990174
| 0307990176
| 3.75
| 3,344
| May 01, 2012
| May 2012
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really liked it
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Loy Machedo’s Book Review – The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper with Greg Critser A few days ago I found out that my mother was diagnosed with Diabetics & H Loy Machedo’s Book Review – The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper with Greg Critser A few days ago I found out that my mother was diagnosed with Diabetics & High Blood pressure. Immediately I realized that being her son, this was the disease I would most probably catch. So without wasting a single moment, I began digging for books and educational tapes on what would help me battle one of my biggest challenges – being overweight. The problem with me is not just being overweight. Rather it is the fact that I love to eat food and I love eating sweets. It has just been my passion since childhood and I always considered myself to be some kind of ‘superman’ of food – who could just gobble up anything and everything and get away with it. But yeah, lately I realized I didn’t have that luxury anymore. I abused a privilege long enough and that I was coming to the end of a very long and generous rope time handed over to me. Age was finally catching up and if I was not going to be careful – well there is a price to pay. And by no means am I interested to invite Mr. Diabetes or Mr. Blood Pressure or Mr. Cholesterol into my life. I want to live a short life but that of good health. So there began the search to find all the possible good books on health, losing weight and yes – good health. And this is where I bumped into The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper. First things First – Who is Bob Harper Bob Harper is a world-renowned fitness trainer and star of the NBC reality series The Biggest Loser, which finished thirteenth season in 2012. With several bestselling fitness DVDs, his own line of supplements, an online fitness club, as well as the inspirational book Are You Ready? to his credit, Harper still teaches a local spin class where he resides in Los Angeles with his dog Karl. Greg Critser is a longtime science and medical journalist. The author of the international bestseller Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World, he lives in Pasadena, California. So now what is ‘The Skinny Rules’ all about? In a nutshell, it is a book about losing weight and making sure those unwanted pounds stay away from your system for good. Here are the top 20 tips I found useful which I am currently implementing 1. Banish high salt foods – use more herbs 2. Don’t drink your calories – stay away from fruit juices and sodas that are high in sugar. 2 cups coffee okay 3. Drink large glass of water before every meal and snacks – 5 a day 4. Eat 30-50 grams of fiber 5. Eat a real breakfast: include protein, grains and fruit (low fat plain yogurt is great protein source in fruit smoothie or mixed with fruit said the nutritionist for breakfast) 6. Eat apples and berries each day 7. Eat lowfat protein at every meal–protein doesn’t have to be animal based. Protein minimizes hunger 8. Eat veggies – as much as possible 9. Get portion size right – you can bag some portions ahead of time 10. Go to bed hungry – try not to eat after 8 p.m. or 4 hours prior to bedtime 11. Make your own food and eat at least 10 meals a week at home 12. No artificial sweeteners 13. No carbs after lunch – eat lean and green at night. Protein and veggies are best 14. No fast foods and fried foods 15. No white potatoes – cut sweet potatoes in strips or round slices, toss in olive oil/cumin/garlic pepper and oven roast at 400 for 20-30 minutes. 16. One day a week meatless – eat more beans and nuts 17. Plan one splurge meal a week – but don’t go crazy with the calories, fat and sugar in it 18. Read labels – stay away from artificial ingredients or foods that sound like bad chemistry experiments 19. Slash intake of refined flour/grains – try brown rice, quinoa, barley, farro 20. Sleep Right – get adequate sleep What I liked about this book? 1. Easy to follow guidelines with logical reasons. 2. Very practical and doable suggestions 3. Great number of recipes at the end of the book. Moment of truth This book is written by someone who has achieved what we are trying to do and struggle with – lose weight and stay thin. And through the years of coaching and helping others lose weight – he has become an expert on this subject. Which is why it makes him an authority on the subject. I really liked this book for its easy language and practical pieces of advice. And yes, I will recommend it to others. Overall Rating 8.5 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo dot com whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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Dec 27, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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Audio
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| 0425174484
| 9780425174487
| 0425174484
| 3.84
| 10,627
| Jan 19, 1999
| Aug 01, 2000
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did not like it
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New Age Spirituality Bull-Shit. The theories are simply befuddling if not utterly obnoxious. Consider some of the exceptional mysteries unraveled in th New Age Spirituality Bull-Shit. The theories are simply befuddling if not utterly obnoxious. Consider some of the exceptional mysteries unraveled in this book: 1. Communicating with trees. 2. Being able to talk to spirits. 3. Having your life, actions & thoughts controlled by Spiritual 'Bunraku' Puppeteers (Japanese Puppeteers) as though you are just a puppet, 4. Being able to see everything (through your minds eye) what your husband is seeing and going through though you are in United States and your Husband is in Singapore 5. Having a baby in your fetus able to react to your thoughts and actions and being able to describe and give the meaning exactly of what your baby is trying to communicate to you 6. Knowing through sheer magic what the name of your child is going to be and then having your husband knowing the exact same name for the child - though you have never communicated it to each other 7. Having angles magically sent the right people at the right time to your rescue 8. Psychic readers share with you information about you that is shocking about your past. 9. Not being surprised when unbelievable incidents take place in your life - because you believe in some 'universal magic' which consists of angels watching over you 10. Being able to relate your story so incredibly well and so much in detail, that you even know how your husband felt, what he said, how he said it, to whom he said it, the expressions he used - though he was in one part of the world and you were in another - that too many years ago. So if this is the stuff that turns you on - then this is a Must Read Book for you. Couple of extra details Martha Beck has impressive credentials - A Master's and Ph.D. degrees in sociology, both from Harvard University. In addition to authoring several books, Beck is a columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine. So when you consider the profile, you think to yourself - Man, this is going to be some eye-opening brilliantly researched thought-provoking book. BRRRRR! WRONG!!! What I didn't know was Martha Beck belongs to the Quack Clan of Crackpots which includes nut-jobs like Deepak Chopra, Rhonda Byrne & Eckhart Tolle where they will demystify and scramble your brains with Gobbledygook inserted in between hi-fi words and spiritual nonsense. Sentences like "You are the Unconscious Spirit with a Soul in the Quantum Soup" are a common place for such so called 'Best Selling Authors'. In a day and age where people are lost and seeking direction, these intelligent, smart and well-educated people awe you with this intelligent gibberish. Moment of Truth If Chakras, Inner Soul, Cosmic Energies and the Law of Attraction is your thing, then this 355 paged fairy-tale book that sounds more like a Melodramatic Soap Opera and which describes in detail the cramps, muscular pain, nauseating sensations, hair-standing on the neck, weather details, unusual details and unnecessary details - that too in excess details - (along with new-age-spirituality bull-shit) then this is a Must Read Book for you. However, if you have an iota of common sense and realize bullshit when you smell it from a distance - please my request - keep away from authors such as her. Don't get me wrong. I am sure Martha Beck is a sincere (no-pun-intended) soul who means well for other. But there is a fine line between sense, common sense and non-sense. I sincerely feel Harvard Business School needs to keep an In-House Psychiatrist so that people with such deluded beliefs do not graduate from their campus. Or else, Harvard will eventually become another dying brand like TED talks. Overall Rating My inner soul wants to give this book a 1 but my spirits have communicated me to give her a Zero. Hence, the Cosmic Energies in my finger tips give her a Half out of 10. Loy Machedo loymachedo dot com | whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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Sep 25, 2013
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Sep 25, 2013
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| 1591842239
| 9781591842231
| 1591842239
| 4.00
| 8,133
| Oct 30, 2008
| Oct 30, 2008
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really liked it
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There are rare moments when you come across a book that has so much of content, logic & wisdom squeezed into its pages, you do not feel you have done
There are rare moments when you come across a book that has so much of content, logic & wisdom squeezed into its pages, you do not feel you have done justice to the book by reading it just once. Books like The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, The Element by Sir Ken Robinson and Influence by Robert Cialdini. To my biggest surprise, I would be adding Guy Kawasaki to this list - at least for now. Who is Guy Kawasaki No, he is not the founder of Kawasaki Speed Bikes or the Owner of the Brand Kawasaki. Guy Kawasaki born August 30, 1954 is a Silicon Valley author, speaker, investor and business advisor. He was one of the Apple employees originally responsible for marketing the Macintosh in 1984. He was also a co-founder of Garage Technology Ventures and a news aggregation site called Alltop. (Courtesy Wikipedia) Among the 12 books he has authored, on Amazon.com the top 5 most reviewed are: 1. APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur - How to publish a book by Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch, 2. Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions, 3. The Art of Start 4. What the Plus!: Google+ for the Rest of Us 5. Rules For Revolutionaries: The Capitalist Manifesto for Creating and Marketing New Products and Services by Guy Kawasaki and Michele Moreno Reality Check - The Review This book is a Must have Bible for anyone who wants to move into the Shark Infested Seas of Entrepreneurship. The book has 95 chapters - each one containing not one but many nuggets of valuable advice that if I were to start a detailed analysis, I will end up making this review itself into a book. However, I will just touch upon the overview of what stood out in my mind. Kawasaki, includes in the book 1. How to raise money from Venture Capitalists 2. What to say and what not to say when in a business meeting with Potential Investors 3. Bullshit given by CEO's Partners, Investors, Lawyers & Entrepreneurs 4. Financial Plans, Predictions and Pitfalls of such exercises 5. How to cut down expenses 6. Tips on Branding, Social Media, Presentations, Networking, Blogging and Making Ideas Stick 7. Tips on Evangelizing, Selling, Handling PR, Sending Email Communication and Career Guidance 8. The Art of Schmoozing, Sucking Down, Sucking Up, Hiring, Firing, Defensibility and Dealing with Mavericks 9. Silicon Valley - Stuff you didn't know, how to get a job, Hiring, Firing, 10. Humorous yet profound bits on Bozo Explosion, The No-Asshole Rule, Being an Egomaniac and Why Smart People & Smart Companies do Dumb Things Phew! I know. That in itself is quite a lot. So imagine what would you say after you had read this book? So moment of truth You must buy this book even if you are not planning to start your own business. Why? Because this book really makes you think and gives you the street smart and the wisdom you wish someone had shared with you at some point of your life. Overall Rating - 9 out of 10 Loy Machedo loy machedo dot com | whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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Sep 05, 2013
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Sep 23, 2013
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| 1591840562
| 9781591840565
| B0072OI91Y
| 3.89
| 28,463
| Sep 09, 2004
| Jan 01, 2004
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liked it
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This is the second book that I read courtesy Guy Kawasaki. The Previous book review I had done was for Reality Check. http://goo.gl/jipXzy However, I am This is the second book that I read courtesy Guy Kawasaki. The Previous book review I had done was for Reality Check. http://goo.gl/jipXzy However, I am confused as to why Guy would repeat the same advice from his previous book on to another book with the same title. In fact, if you ask me I would say instead of purchasing this book - just purchase 'Reality Check' and it will not only have all the content in this book - it will have much more. The content consists of 11 Chapters under the prefix 'The Art of' 1. Starting 2. Positioning 3. Pitching 4. Writing a Business Plan 5. Bootstrapping 6. Recruiting 7. Raising Capital 8. Partnering 9. Branding 10. Rain-Making 11. Being a Mensch Overall, I do not see any point in repeating what I have said before. And yeah, I do not know how to rate this book other than saying - if you purchased the previous book - Don't bother purchasing this one. Loy Machedo loy machedo dot com | whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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Sep 23, 2013
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| 9781439177303
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| 3.25
| 8,055
| Jul 03, 2012
| Jul 03, 2012
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did not like it
| Sometimes I fail to understand why big names endorse certain books. For instance when you have Best Selling Author Oliver Sacks, The Father of Cogniti Sometimes I fail to understand why big names endorse certain books. For instance when you have Best Selling Author Oliver Sacks, The Father of Cognitive Therapy - Aaron T. Beck and then Newspapers like Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The New York Times Book Review, Psychology Today, Kirkus Reviews, Newsday and Psychiatric Times - all endorsing this book and full of its praise, you begin to think you have bumped into a Treasure Trove. However, the book was absolutely terrible. Let me put it to this way. This book is a Memoir of a person suffering from Severe Anxiety. At first as I went through the pages, I had the anticipation that I could expect something different and new. But as time went by, it became less funny, more boring, and absolutely frustrating. The author just about blamed everyone on the planet. From his Mother, his Father, his Lover, his environment, his Life - Did I miss anything? Even worse is the detail and the intensity by which he feels the need to describe each and every sordid speck of information and blow it up to mammoth proportions for us to experience in its full splendor. I truly suffered a lot reading this book. So if you want to read a detailed autobiographical account of someone suffering from severe anxiety then this is the book for you. Otherwise, I seriously suggest you avoid this book at all costs. Overall Rating 0 out of 10 Loy Machedo loy machedo dot com | whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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Sep 23, 2013
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Hardcover
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| 157224108X
| 9781572241084
| 157224108X
| 4.01
| 11,557
| 1998
| Jan 01, 1998
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it was amazing
| The Background of how I came to read this book Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality The Background of how I came to read this book Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality Disorder by Paul Mason MS and Randi Kreger When one of my friends admitted to me his wife had a Borderline Personality Disorder, I quizzically wondered what in the world did he mean that. His wife looked perfectly normal to me and they did look like a happy couple - at least on the outside. However, after he shared with me a few intimate details - The first thing that crossed my mind was - Does he seriously expect me to believe all this? It was like listening to the tales of a serial killer slash psychotic murderer both rolled into one. So my next stop was amazon.com, I purchased the book and thus this book review comes into being. Randi Kreger and Paul Mason's research into this book is simply mind boggling. I simply wonder how in the world did they manage to come out with an objective analysis while going through a subjective experience. The book provides information neatly aligned and designed to make anyone understand what BPD is all about. Everything from identifying patterns, symptoms, behavior traits - all of them are wrapped into this one book. The number of stories mentioned in this book are also incredibly diverse and shocking. In this book they cover topics from: 1. What is BPD 2. How do you identify someone with BPD 3. What goes on in the head of BPD's 4. What we say versus what BPD's understand 5. How to deal with someone suffering from BPD 6. How to change your language while dealing with someone suffering from BPD 7. Common Myths on BPD 8. Effective Coping Techniques of dealing with BPD's 9. How to hone those skills to effectively deal with BPD's 10. Diffusing Techniques while handling BPD's 11. Stories and Anecdotes of people with BPD 12. And surprisingly a Chapter on Damage Control - How to choose the Right Lawyer if in case things go from bad to worse. 13. Finally towards the end - Useful websites links & Support Groups to help those battling this dreaded problem. So, What is Borderline Personality Disorder? Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD is an emotionally unstable personality disorder whose striking traits include impulsivity, instability and intolerance that affects all areas of relationships and self belief. It can also include symptoms of abandonment, anger, irritability, unpredictability, and hurtful intentions - both to themselves or to others. Self Mutilation, Suicidal behavior, Attention seeking actions & Revengeful acts for no rhyme or reason are very common with BPD's. BPD's normally do the following: 1. Cause people they love great deal of pain for no reason. 2. Fight, Argue, Threaten, Blackmail for no reason 3. Twist, turn, Skew, Manipulate and criticize suddenly for no reason 4. Get Angry, Irritated, Violent and Nasty for no reason. 5. Switch from Super Sweet to Horribly Nasty in seconds for no reason 6. Deny, Accuse, Distort and put people they love for no reason 7. Act as the victim, tell lies, false stories and shocking untrue tales to others about people they love for no reason. Among the vast library of information provided, here are some of the best I could pick up. 1. What to do while dealing with a BPD: 2. What not to do while dealing with a BPD: 3. Questions to ask when getting into a relationship with a BPD 4. How to Clarify Your Limits when dealing with BPD's 5. If the BPD does not respect your limits: 6. While Preparing for a Discussion with a BPD 7. BPD - Specific Communication Skills 8. During the Stressful Phase of Dealing with BPD's a few 'out-of-the-box' ideas: 9. Asking yourself questions can help you better understand your personal limits: 10. The three Cs and the three Gs while dealing with BPD's: 11. The 4 D's - Don'ts of how to respond to criticism: 12. FOG—Fear, Obligation, Guilt 13. DEAR - Researcher Marsha M. Lineha's Technique 14. Online Support Groups What to do while dealing with a BPD: 1. If the BP threatens harm to themselves (or others), notify the person’s therapist (if they have one) at the earliest possible time. You, the BP, and the therapist may all want to meet to discuss how you will handle self-harm in the future. If this is not possible, seek professional help on your own to discuss how to handle the situation. If you believe that the BP may be a danger to himself or herself or others, the BP may need to be evaluated for hospitalization. 2. Remain calm and speak in a calm and matter-of-fact way. In Lost in the Mirror (1996), Richard Moskovitz says, “Since self mutilation usually occurs when the borderline feels out of control; it is important that those around them do not add to the inner chaos with their own panic” (Moskovitz 1996). Moskovitz points out that although the behavior may be shocking and new to you, it may have been going on for a long time. 3. Seek appropriate medical treatment for the BP if warranted. You may wish to call medical professionals to obtain their advice. In our interview with Elyce M. Benham, MS, she said, “This also needs to be handled in a supportive, yet composed and factual manner. What I usually say is, ‘Let’s take care of this’ or ‘I’m going to take you to the doctor and have them check this out.’” 4. Help the BP put together a support team so you don’t feel overburdened and exhausted. The first person should be the BP’s therapist, who can work with the BP to reduce self-harm. 5. Empathize with and listen to the BP. Show that you are trying to understand how she feels. Ask questions in a concerned way, such as, “How are you feeling?” and “Is there anything I can do?” 6. Don’t underestimate the BP’s fear, anguish, and inner turmoil. Imagine the worst you have ever felt, and then triple it. 7. Emphasize messages of love and acceptance for the person, while making it clear that you wish she would find another way of handling problems. One BP suggests saying, “I feel helpless and angry when you hurt yourself. I want to understand this, even though I don’t fully. But I know I don’t want you to do this anymore, and if you feel those urges again please talk to me or call your therapist.” 8. Stress the positive and offer encouragement (e.g., “Before you did this, you went fourteen days without cutting yourself, and I know you can get back on track.”). 9. Suggest alternatives to self-harm such as squeezing ice, plunging his or her hands into very cold water, heavy exercise, biting into something strongly flavored (hot peppers or unpeeled lemon, lime, or grapefruit), or other activities that produce an intense sensation that is not harmful. However, realize that using these alternatives—or not—is up to the BP. 10. Refuse to be put in no-win situations—for example, promising not to seek outside help because the BP is embarrassed and ashamed. This is unfair to you both. If the BP insists that you keep the self-mutilation a secret from people who could help, point out that you are not qualified to handle this on your own. What not to do while dealing with a BPD: 1. Don’t take responsibility for someone else’s actions. You did not cause this to happen. If an event that involved you preceded the episode, recall the difference between causes and triggers. 2. While you can do your best to provide a safe environment, realize that you can’t remove every potentially sharp object in the house or watch the BP twenty-four hours a day. As the mother of a borderline teen says, “If my daughter is determined to hurt herself, she will.” 3. Don’t try to be the person’s therapist. Leave that to the professionals. 4. Don’t keep weapons such as guns in the house. 5. Don’t define the person with BPD in terms of the self-mutilation. It is something the BP does, not something the BP is. 6. Don’t dwell on the details of self-injury when discussing it with the person. Self-harm can be addictive; you don’t want to trigger the behavior. In our interview with Cory F. Newman, Ph.D., he said, “Addictive behaviors can be cued, such as when a cigarette smoker craves a smoke when he hears someone else talking about lighting up. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s your fault if the person with BPD engages in self-mutilating behavior after you confront them about it. I am merely stating that you have to handle dynamite with great care.” 7. Don’t moralize, preach, or act disgusted. One woman who hurts herself says, “My friends lecture me about self-injury—as if I didn’t know it was wrong. What if I were overweight? Would they follow me around and slap my hand every time I reached for a candy bar?” 8. Don’t say things designed to evoke shame or guilt, such as “How could you!” The BP already feels ashamed. 9. Don’t make threats in an angry or controlling way (“If you do this again I’m leaving you!”). This may come across as punishing. Even if you choose to set this limit, it should come across as something you are doing for yourself, not something against the other person. For example, during times when you’re both calm, you could explain which actions you cannot tolerate and which of these will force you to leave the relationship. Questions to ask when getting into a relationship with a BPD 1. What do I want from this relationship? 2. What do I need from this relationship? 3. How open can I be with my feelings with this person? 4. Am I putting myself in physical danger by staying in this relationship? 5. How will this decision affect any children? 6. How does this relationship affect my self-esteem? 7. Do I love myself as much as I love the borderline? 8. Have I accepted the fact that the BP will change only if and when he or she is ready to do so? Am I able to wait until that happens or live with things the way they are if it never happens? 9. What practical considerations do I need to consider, particularly financial ones? 10. Do I believe that I have the right to be happy? 11. Do I believe that I am only worthwhile when I am sacrificing 12. myself for others? 13. When am I currently the most content: when I am with this person, when I am alone, or when I am with others? 14. Do I have the energy and fortitude to go against my family or other people who might be upset with my decision? 15. Am I truly making my own decision, or am I doing what other people want me to do? 16. What are the legal ramifications of my decision? 17. If a friend was in my place and told me the story of this relationship, what advice would I give them? How to Clarify Your Limits when dealing with BPD's Patricia Evans, in The Verbally Abusive Relationship: How to Recognize It and How To Respond (1996), suggests 1. that certain rights are fundamental to relationships, including: 2. the right to emotional support, encouragement, and goodwill from the other 3. the right to be heard by the other and to be responded to with courtesy and respect 4. the right to have your own view even if the other has a different view 5. the right to have your feelings and experiences acknowledged as real 6. the right to a life free from excessive accusations, blame, criticism, and judgments 7. the right to live free from emotional and physical abuse Stepped on eggshells If the BPD does not respect your limits: 1. You can change the subject or refuse to discuss the matter. 2. You can leave the room or hang up the phone. 3. You can change your phone number, get Caller ID, or change the door locks. 4. You can go in your room and shut the door. 5. You can be with the person only when a third party is present. 6. You can refuse to read the person’s mail or e-mail. You can 7. change your e-mail address. 8. You can stop the car or refuse to drive with the person. 9. You can say no firmly without changing your mind. 10. You can ask for help from therapists or friends, even if the BP doesn’t want you to do so. 11. You can call a crisis line or shelter. 12. You can call the police and get a restraining order. 13. You can stop seeing the person for a while or break off the relationship altogether. 14. You can find alternative places for a child to stay (e.g., a group home, with a distant relative, etc.). 15. You can take steps to protect children from abusive situations (e.g., taking the kids out when the BP is raging, reporting child abuse, and seeking sole custody). While Preparing for a Discussion with a BPD 1. Be Specific 2. Communicate One Limit at a Time 3. Begin with the Easy Stuff 4. Practice with a Good Friend 5. Think about the Rewards BPD - Specific Communication Skills Some of the following suggestions are adapted from Marsha Linehan’s workbook, Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder 1. Stay Focused on your Message 2. Simplify 3. Give positive feedback, appropriate to the person and your 4. relationship 5. Ask Questions 6. Be aware of your own voice inflection and nonverbal communication During the Stressful Phase of Dealing with BPD's a few 'out-of-the-box' ideas: • Visit an art gallery. • Buy an outrageously expensive chocolate truffle. • Get a massage. • Seek out friends and family. • Volunteer or become politically involved. • Realize that—illness or no illness—no one person can fulfill all of your needs. • If you have let friendships falter, “unfalter” them. • When you go out, do not spend all your time talking about the person with BPD. • See a movie. • Try a new food. • Relax and enjoy yourself! Asking yourself questions can help you better understand your personal limits: 1. What hurts? 2. What feels good? 3. What are you willing to give up for the relationship? 4. What are the things that others do that leave you feeling angry and taken advantage of? 5. Are you able to say no to requests without feeling guilty? 6. How physically close can you allow others to get? 7. At what distance do you begin to feel anxious or uncomfortable? 8. Does the BP in your life respect your physical limits? Don’t expect to be able to sit down and answer these questions in one night—or even one month. Setting limits is a lifelong process. The 3 C's The three Cs and the three Gs while dealing with BPD's: • I didn’t cause it. • I can’t control it. • I can’t cure it. • get off the BP’s back. • get out of the BP’s way. • get on with your own life. The 4 D's Don'ts of how to respond to criticism: Weldmann (1990) writes that most people respond to criticism with behavior they learned in childhood. She calls this behavior “The Four Don’ts”: defend, deny, counterattack, and withdraw. You want to avoid these types of responses. 1. Don’t defend : Trying to prove to others that you really haven’t done anything wrong can make you feel foolish, childish, and guilty, even when you haven’t made a mistake. 2. Don’t deny : You may use denial because you truly haven’t been responsible for whatever it is that you’re being accused of. But repeated denial can also make you feel like a child again (“Did not!” “Did too!”). 3. Don’t counterattack : You may strike back at the person with BPD to try to win the argument or vent your feelings. But when you do this, you’ll fall into the projection and projective identification trap that the BP has unconsciously set for you. 4. Don’t withdraw : When non-BPs realize that defend, deny, and counterattack don’t work, they often withdraw. Some non-BPs clam up completely. Some leave physically. Some learn to dissociate. There is nothing wrong with leaving if you feel attacked. In fact, there are times when it’s a good thing to do. The damage comes from remaining passive and silent, absorbing the other person’s criticism while your sense of personal power and self esteem deteriorate. FOG—Fear, Obligation, Guilt In Emotional Blackmail, Susan Forward and Donna Frazier (1997) write that traits that make people vulnerable to emotional blackmail include fear, obligation, and guilt—FOG for short. FOG obscures your choices and limits your options to those the blackmailer picks for you: 1. Fear: You may fear losing something: love, money, approval, access to your children, or the relationship itself. You may be afraid of your own anger or of losing control of your emotions. 2. Obligation: Says Forward, “Memory, as employed by the blackmailer, becomes the Obligation Channel, with nonstop replays of the blackmailer’s generous behavior toward us. When our sense of obligation is stronger than our sense of self-respect and caring, people quickly learn how to take advantage.” 3. Guilt: When your normal activities trigger the BP, the person plays the “Tag, You’re It” game discussed in chapter 3 and shifts responsibility for her upset feelings onto you. The BP may accuse you not only of devious behavior but of acting in this way to deliberately hurt her. Instead of questioning her assumptions,you may respond by feeling guilty DEAR Also use BPD Researcher Marsha M. Lineha's Technique of DEAR 1. Describe: Describe the situtation without exaggerating. Be as Specific, Objective & Non-Judgemental about it. 2. Express: Express your feelings or opinions about the situation clearly. Take responsibility for your own feelings; do not say, “You made me feel this way.” Instead say, “I felt this way.” 3. Assert: Assert your limits, making them simple. For example, you can say, “I do care about your feelings, and I do want to resolve our difficulties. When things get intense and we start yelling at each other, I may need to stop the conversation and return to it later when we have both calmed down. This is something I need to do to make myself feel better.” 4. Reinforce: Reinforce the benefits of your limits, if appropriate. Explain the positive effects of getting what you need. Don’t threaten your loved one in an attempt to control their behavior. For example, you can say, “When we 5. resume the conversation, I can be in a better position to hear your concerns because I feel calm and more centered. And we will not get bogged down in angry conversations that do not seem to resolve anything and leave us both upset.” Online Support Groups www.bpdcentral.com www.parent2parentbpd.org www.bpdfamily.com www.bpddemystified.com www.bpdresources.net www.touch-another-heart.com www.mytriptoozandback.com www.borderlinepersonality.ca www.bpdrecovery.com www.fbpda.org www.middle-path.org www.aboutpsychotherapy.com www.schematherapy.com So Moment of Truth A must have book for those dealing with BPD. I found this book incredibly informative and really a great read. Overall Ratings 9 out of 10 Loy Machedo loy machedo dot com | whoisloymachedo dot com Stop Walking on Eggshells ...more |
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not set
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Sep 05, 2013
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Sep 23, 2013
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 1594488738
| 9781594488733
| 1594488738
| 3.73
| 588
| 2009
| Apr 30, 2009
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really liked it
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Books on the Brain & Human Potential like those from Charles Duhigg (The Power of Habit), Daneil Coyle (The Talent Code), Matthew Syed (Bounce), Danie
Books on the Brain & Human Potential like those from Charles Duhigg (The Power of Habit), Daneil Coyle (The Talent Code), Matthew Syed (Bounce), Daniel Pink (Drive) have always fascinated me. Simply because I am obsessed about anything that can help me become better. And when a book is authored by a Neuroscientist on subjects related to Mind, Body and Brain - well it becomes as irresistible as Thailand's Massaman curry dish. The book covers various modalities which impact or influence the Brain like Diet Control, Using Supplements, Body Weight, Nutrition, Exercise & Oxygen and Importance of Sleep. And throughout the book he probes into various techniques which help improve various regions of the brain - Playing Video Games, Taking Power Naps, Memory Techniques, Visualization and also covers a chapter dedicated to how to reduce stress. Some of the interesting & surprising discoveries I found through this book were: 1) Why Multi-Tasking is Bad 2) Drinking Red Wine is Good (moderately) 3) Improving your Vocabulary helps become smarter 4) The various kinds of intelligences 5) Why solving puzzles is actually good for the mind So moment of truth There were quite a lot of useful exercises and pieces of information which I found useful to me at least. My favorite one among the lot was to enhance ones vocabulary in order to develop ones mind (and not the other way around). The only part I am not too fond off it the Memory Technique Chapter. Reminded me more of Harry Lorayne's Cheesy Techniques. But it's an easy to read, easy to understand and easy to follow book. Overall Rating: 8 out of 10. Loy Machedo loy machedo dot com | whoisloymachedo dot com ...more |
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Sep 05, 2013
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Sep 23, 2013
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Hardcover
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| 4.05
| 229,848
| 1985
| Apr 02, 1998
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really liked it
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Loy Machedo's Book Review - The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat: And Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks Oliver Wolf Sacks is a British-American Ne Loy Machedo's Book Review - The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat: And Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks Oliver Wolf Sacks is a British-American Neurologist, Writer and amateur chemist who is Professor of Neurology at New York University School of Medicine. He is author of numerous best-selling books, including several collections of case studies of people with neurological disorders like Hallucinations, Musicophilia and Awakenings. His 1973 book Awakenings was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film of the same name in 1990 starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. He and his book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain were the subject of "Musical Minds", an episode of the PBS series Nova. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales is a 1985 book by neurologist Oliver Sacks describing the case histories of some of his patients. The book comprises 24 essays split into 4 sections namely: Part 1 - Losses 1. The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat 2. The Lost Mariner 3. The Disembodied Lady 4. The Man who fell out of Bed 5. Hands 6. Phantoms 7. On the Level 8. Eyes Right 9. The Presidents Speech Part 2 - Excess 1. Witty Ticcy Ray 2. Cupids Disease 3. A Matter of Identity 4. Yes, Father-Sister 5. The Possesed Part 3 - Transports 1. Reminiscence 2. Incontinet Nostalgia 3. A Passage to India 4. The Dog Beneath the Skin 5. Murder 6. The Visions of Hildegard Part 4 - The World of the Simple 1. Rebecca 2. A Walking Grove 3. The Twins 4. The Autist Artist The individual essays in this book include: "The Lost Mariner", about Jimmie G., who has lost the ability to form new memories due to Korsakoff's syndrome. "The Disembodied Lady" and "On the Level' are unique cases of proprioception - the sense of the position of parts of the body, relative to other neighbouring parts of the body. "The Twins", about autistic savants. Dr. Sacks meets twin brothers who can neither read nor perform multiplication, yet are playing a "game" of finding very large prime numbers. "The Dog Beneath the Skin", concerning a 22-year-old medical student, "Stephen D.", who, after a night under the influence of amphetamines, cocaine, and PCP, wakes to find he has a tremendously heightened sense of smell. "Rebecca", the chapter is pretty insightful as this girl is branded as a 'moron' (defective intelligence) but is still a person of beauty and emotional maturity. And how the surprise and shock comes when she - who cannot find her way around the block or open a door lock with a key, describes the death of her grandmother in the words "I'm so cold. It's not outside, it's winter inside. Cold as death...She was a part of me. Part of me died with her" Moment of Truth The book is a powerful collection of investigative information carefully trickled into understandable chunks. For the scientifically uneducated mind like mine - this book is a rare treat into the world of neuroscience and human psychology. Though I did find it at times a bit hard to read with interest - the book is impeccable it its research and a masterpiece in its contribution. Drawback - this book is more into the incidents, episodes and interactions of a Doctor and his patients. You may not find any useful bits of useable information for yourself - as in a self-improvement book, other than having your eyes opened into the realities of what exists but we remain ignorant about. Overall ratings 8.5 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo dot com ...more |
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not set
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Jul 26, 2013
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Jul 25, 2013
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Paperback
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| B0DN1WLWSV
| unknown
| 3.80
| 118
| Jun 01, 2013
| unknown
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really liked it
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Loy Machedo's Book Review - Change by Richard Gerver If there is an endorsement by Sir Ken Robinson (Element, Finding your Element), You can bet your l Loy Machedo's Book Review - Change by Richard Gerver If there is an endorsement by Sir Ken Robinson (Element, Finding your Element), You can bet your life I will pick up that book. And it was this very reason I decided to pickup Richard Gerver's 'Change'. About the Author: Richard Gerver is one of the world's foremost thinkers on education, leadership and change. In 2005, he was judged the best head teacher in the UK, after turning a failing school into a global innovation success story. Sir Ken Robinson describes him as "One of the clearest and most passionate voices for radical change both in education and in business." http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=... About the Book: 1. The Book covers 10 Chapters related to Change a. Explore Change b. Refresh Change c. Believe Change d. Question Change e. Visualize Change f. Share Change g. Develop Change h. Choose Change i. Lead Change j. Transmit Change 2. Each Chapter is filled with memorable stories 3. At the end of every chapter there is a summary of the lessons mentioned in the chapter 4. The Book is very easy to read and very interesting put across 5. The Story contains lots of Personal Examples 6. Each Story in itself beams with hope, inspiration and heart. 7. Every Chapters makes you feel as if the author himself takes you through his time-line. What I personally loved about the book was the lack of self Aggrandization that most authors resort to hold on to while preaching their value systems. Instead the author choose to take the more difficult path of bearing his soul, his failures and his insecurities on his journey towards Change. Were there any drawbacks to the books? Well for the strangest reason, I wished he had put some pictures of himself, his school and his struggles. Overall, Change can be described as an enjoyable, easy to read book you can complete in a few hours and which gives you fodder for thought. I give this book a rating of 8 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo dot com ...more |
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not set
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Jul 15, 2013
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Jul 14, 2013
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Unknown Binding
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| 1101442719
| 9781101442715
| B003YUC7BI
| 3.71
| 492
| Aug 01, 2010
| Sep 02, 2010
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it was ok
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Loy Machedo’s Book Review - The Man Who Lied to His Laptop: What We Can Learn About Ourselves from Our Machines by Clifford Nass and Corina Yen The tre Loy Machedo’s Book Review - The Man Who Lied to His Laptop: What We Can Learn About Ourselves from Our Machines by Clifford Nass and Corina Yen The trend now a days for most books at least is no longer the grandiose claims to Explain How Quantum Physics will help you do the Impossible, or Why you should use the Power of the Universe to help you achieve Mystery and Magic or What happens when you get in touch with your Super Consciousness to reach your Destiny. Albeit such Silly Sounding words sandwiched between a Few Scientific Terms may bring about credibility and popularity to the authors (and yes, the moolah that follows it), the end-result is nothing short of a routine boredom of nothingness & ignorance. The Man who Lied to His Laptop is among the new breed of books that complies Scientific Experiments based on a Hypothesis to give you specific results – positive or negative. And the findings do not limit themselves to proving the accuracy of the assumption, rather the black and white reports of a fact finding mission. Clifford Nass’s book ‘The Man who Lied to His Laptop’ is an intelligent compilation of rather unusual experiments designed to find answers relating to human behavior. For instance, see if you can answers to the following questions: 1) Does Flattery really work? 2) What happens if you criticize a person for something wrong he has done versus encourage the person, for the same failure, to do better instead? 3) In the case of German Drivers, Male Voice or Female Voice to guide your GPS system – Which one proves more effective and why? 4) Does wearing common T-shirts at the workplace boost Team Building & Bonding Feelings in Companies? 5) What about Team Building Exercises – Are they truly effective? 6) Is it better to arouse your emotions or numb them down while making judgments? 7) Do Work related Labels, like branding youself as an Expert or Specialist really work or backfire? 8) How can the law of Reciprocity help anyone? 9) Which is better – Trustworthiness or Expertise? 10) Inconsistency or Stereotypes – Which is worse? So if these questions intrigue you, then this book is worth looking into. However…wait. Before you do that, read the rest. What did I love about this book? 1) As usual the book took the road of proving assumptions via scientific experiments, observations & research. The author also was unafraid of proving himself wrong in the process. 2) There are quite a number of thought-provoking questions related to Human Emotions, Personality Types, Using Praise or Criticism and the impact of Corporate Practices like Teams and Team Building Exercises. 3) The summary at the end of every chapter was a blessing. What I didn’t like about this book? 1) At first it was exciting to read the experiments, but then it became so repetitive, long drawn and boring, I struggled to read through it. It was nothing short of torture. One of the worst collection of mundane details being regurgitated again and again and again. 2) The book could have been condensed to half its size and still not have lost its originality. 3) Too many unwanted details and too many characters to give credit to (this was my student whom I conducted this experiment with and who became a professor at this great university is peppered incessantly everywhere and on every page) Moment of Truth A book with great points to think about but with horrible, terrible and incorrigible long-drawn details to depress any enthusiasm you have for reading. Overall Rating 4 out of 10. Loved the findings. Hated the Detailed Reading. Loy Machedo loymachedo.com | loymachedo.tv ...more |
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not set
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May 08, 2013
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Jul 10, 2013
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Kindle Edition
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| 0062219685
| 9780062219688
| 0062219685
| 3.85
| 37,153
| 2011
| May 14, 2013
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it was amazing
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Loy Machedo's Book Review - The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Deobelli Books on Reasoning, Critical Thinking and Analytical Thinking have lately foun Loy Machedo's Book Review - The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Deobelli Books on Reasoning, Critical Thinking and Analytical Thinking have lately found its place in my circle of focus. I guess In my role as a Coach, Trainer and Mentor I have found the need to Read in Between the lines especially when my clients open up to me. Which is where Rolf Deobelli's book comes into play. The Author Deobelli' has complied a list of 100 tools of thinking which Communicators & Leaders can use to help themselves and have an insight and foresight into how human beings use logic logically or illogically. Some of my favorite chapters - Survivorship Bias, Swimmer's Body Illusion, Contrast Effect, Illusion of Control, Gambler's Fallacy, Halo Effect, Hedonic Treadmill, Twaddle Tendency, the Black Swan, News Illusion and Cherry Picking. So here are the top 5 Reasons why I recommend purchasing the book. 1) Each Chapter is short and not more than 3 pages. 2) The Contents are Concise, Condensed and Compact. 3) Easy to understand examples and interesting script 4) Each chapter is Thought-Provoking and well researched 5) Given 100 Chapters - You simply cannot put down this book! And if nothing else convinces you - Well, Consider this, Robert Cialdini (Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion) & Nassim Nicholas Taleb (The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable) have recommended this book. So Moment of Truth An amazing thought-provoking reference tool you can use anywhere in your life and which will help you become a better analyst for human communication and development. Overall Rating 9 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo.com ...more |
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1
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not set
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Jun 10, 2013
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Jul 10, 2013
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Hardcover
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| 0061995037
| 9780061995033
| 0061995037
| 4.03
| 35,477
| 2010
| Jun 01, 2010
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liked it
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Loy Machedo's Book Review - The Upside of Irrationality by Dan Ariely There have a couple of books on Behavioral Economics that I have read over the la Loy Machedo's Book Review - The Upside of Irrationality by Dan Ariely There have a couple of books on Behavioral Economics that I have read over the last 2 years. A few of my favorites being: 1. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, 2. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.) by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, 3. SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner 4. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg, 5. Influence: Science and Practice by Robert B. Cialdini, 6. How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer, 7. The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford 8. Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy by Martin Lindstrom and Paco Underhill 9. Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping--Updated and Revised for the Internet, the Global Consumer, and Beyond by Paco Underhill 10. Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein (didn't like this one though) But I have to admit, Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely was the 1st. And what's more, it was the 1st book review I had ever written. So yeah, it does bring back memories and this makes Dan's book an honor to be read and reviewed again. In this book, Dan Ariely, I feel, starts off where he left off previously. But what gives this book the magnetic charm is the personalized narrative of the authors life, the openness of his feelings, the horrible memories of his recovery period (having suffered 3rd degree burns), the silly humor and yes, the slight hint of sarcasm the author has towards his fellow bankers, economists and intellects. However, as opposed to Predictably Irrational it doesn't provide any new insights. As other reviewers have already mentioned, some of the experiments in this book are rather questionable. Just to cite one example, Ariely argues that high bonuses are not effective because when high stakes are involved people get nervous, and therefore, their performance drops. He "proves" that by offering three different winning prices (a small, medium and large bonuses) to random people to play various games. In this experiment, the performance of the player dropped as the amount of the bonuses was higher. Therefore, Ariely argues, big bonuses are not the best way to provide incentives to workers. (This only applies to cognitive tasks, and not to, for instance, laying brick, where the bigger the bonuses the harder people work). So can this hypothesis be sufficient to make a global theory? Ariely then peppers the second half of the book - which focuses on personal issues of irrationality - with stories of his experiences following a horrendous accident he suffered as a teenager. Here are brief summaries of the chapters. 1. Paying more for less: Why big bonuses do not always work - the bonus structure that raises the performance of physical work often freezes out knowledge workers. 2. The Meaning of Labor: What Legos can teach us about the joy of work - how work defines us and the value we place on that definition. There are deep reasons why everyone's baby is the most beautiful in the world. 3. The IKEA effect: Why we overvalue what we make - the behavioral realities of `sunk effort' and how to make products and services more sticky by stealing from Betty Crocker. 4. The Not-Invented-Hear bias: Why my ideas are better than yours - an examination of author bias and the behaviors behind executive, expert and management hubris in the workplace. 5. The Case for Revenge: What makes us seek justice - it is more than a dish best served cold. In fact revenge is a very powerful force in business. 6. On Adaptation: Why we get used to things, but not all things and not always - provides a fascinating study of the behavioral economics of change that helps you understand why traditional change management does not work. 7. Hot or Not? Adaptation, assertive mating and the beauty market - if you always thought it was a jungle out there, you were right and this chapter talks about the realities of how you seek and form lasting social relationships. 8. When a market fails: An example from online dating - a fascinating look at how the most sophisticated technology and psychographics cannot resolve a fundamentally flawed market structure. 9. One Empathy and Emotion: Why we respond to one person who needs help, but not to many - explains the rational and reality behind how to mobilize people and their resources and why the American Cancer Society is so effective. 10. Long Term and Short Term Emotions: Why we shouldn't act on our negative feelings - the reasons and science behind why it really is best to sleep on it. 11. Lessons form our Irrationalities: Why we need to test everything - provides a framework and way of thinking to get your rationality back. Why you may love this book: 1. The book has kept the structure and formula that made Predictably Irrational successful. If you liked that book, then you will like this one. 2. The book is backed by real research and the author is not afraid to show you how they tested these ideas, the results and their assumed implications. 3. The writing style is personal and candid. Many a times you will feel as if Ariely is explaining the ideas of this book to you over a conversation without it getting stale or too academic. Why you may not like this book: 1. The book can drag in places - as you will go through the same structure for chapter after chapter. 2. The experiments, while interesting, involve college students (MIT and Harvard mostly) working for relatively trivial sums of money. This raises an issue of applicability in a bigger business setting. 3. Once you read a few books in this genre of Behavioral Economics and the come back to Predictably Irrational, you will find most of the research repetitive Honorable Mention I loved the chapter on his Audi experience (loved the revenge strategy he adopted), the chapter on online dating, and most importantly, the honesty that poured out each page. It made me feel as if I was with him at a bar exchanging interesting bits of information. Moment of Truth The book is very easy to read. It is written in a conversational style. I feel Dan has the rare gift to take a complex subject and present it in easy to understand concepts - effective in terms of understanding and retention. My only bone of contention being it got a little boring at times and yes most of the experiments were kind of long drawn. Overall Ratings 6.5 out of 10 Loy Machedo loymachedo.com ...more |
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not set
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Jun 10, 2013
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Jul 10, 2013
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Hardcover
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| 3.82
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it was amazing
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Mar 06, 2017
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Apr 18, 2017
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| 4.02
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did not like it
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Apr 19, 2017
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Apr 18, 2017
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| 3.88
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did not like it
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Mar 25, 2017
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Mar 24, 2017
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| 3.60
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it was ok
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Jan 07, 2014
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Jan 07, 2014
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| 2.00
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did not like it
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Dec 15, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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| 3.80
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liked it
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Dec 16, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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| 4.13
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really liked it
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Dec 16, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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| 3.90
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really liked it
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Dec 16, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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| 3.75
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really liked it
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Dec 27, 2013
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Dec 26, 2013
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| 3.84
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did not like it
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Sep 25, 2013
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Sep 25, 2013
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| 4.00
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really liked it
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Sep 05, 2013
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Sep 23, 2013
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| 3.89
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liked it
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Sep 05, 2013
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Sep 23, 2013
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| 3.25
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did not like it
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Sep 05, 2013
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Sep 23, 2013
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| 4.01
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it was amazing
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Sep 05, 2013
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Sep 23, 2013
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| 3.73
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really liked it
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Sep 05, 2013
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Sep 23, 2013
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| 4.05
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really liked it
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Jul 26, 2013
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Jul 25, 2013
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| 3.80
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really liked it
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Jul 15, 2013
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Jul 14, 2013
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| 3.71
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it was ok
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May 08, 2013
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Jul 10, 2013
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| 3.85
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it was amazing
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Jun 10, 2013
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Jul 10, 2013
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| 4.03
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liked it
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Jun 10, 2013
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Jul 10, 2013
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