Customer Reviews:
If You Could Have Only One Book About Painting..........2007-04-08
This would be the choice for a book about painting and picture-making in general. Brandt discusses drawing (basis for painting generally) and composition and tonal value, etc., but also details and explains illusory methods and color/tools commonly used by various artists throughout history. The man really LIVED through making art, teaching, publishing and truly earning his bread through illustration and commercial interests...Not a prima-donna, but a talkative, teaching artist, who imparted "bohemian" wisdom to his students. Many of those went on to become famous in their own right....Robert E Wood for one. I personally like to thumb-thru this volume now and then, if for no other reason than to remind myself of the many ways there are to "see" the world and how to express those visions thru painting. Must've been fun to be around Southern California from the 20's thru the 50's as were many of these California fine artists such as Brandt. Definitely 5 stars!
Excellent, distinctive book on painting.......2004-11-10
The late Rex Brandt brought a distinctive and well-informed perspective to the art of painting in general and to watercolor painting in particular. This 20-year-old book is not, however, a watercolor painting instructional book per se; that's what makes it unusual. It is a detailed, fairly sophisticated, but very accessible analysis of various aspects of visual perception and visual communication through painting. It should be very valuable for most painters, particularly--but not only--the more traditional ones. The book is most suitable for intermediate or advanced painters, although beginners should find it helpful, too. Brandt looks at painting in a surprisingly systematic way (so much so that some painters might be bothered by this analytical approach to developing a "painter's eye"). He provides an extensive painter's vocabulary that artists can use to evaluate their own work and that of other artists. Using plenty of his own paintings and drawings as examples, he discusses a variety of topics about the painting process, including the role of drawing, shape and proportion, methods of depicting light and shadow, the use of signs and symbols, the dynamics of spacial relationships, contrast in values, the perception of color, texture, composition, stylistic approaches, and many other aspects of visualizing a painting. His analysis is drawn from his own long and varied experience as a painter and teacher, enhanced by his well-informed sense of art history. It's a pity that this book is no longer widely available.
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Le Book: New York 1998
Powerhouse Books
Manufacturer: powerHouse Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1576870219 |
Customer Reviews:
A Classic.......2007-02-23
THis legendary classic shouldn't put much of a dent at all in your pocket book. Listed at a suggested retail of $3.95, that's one hell of a good deal, as Batman started to show his all too human flaws with a Death in the Family. Here, his psychological problems following the death of the second Robin show, I presume the out and out shock that The Joker was a full fledged pyscho, and a really weak 12 year old taking his place? This was the ultimate set up for Knightfall, as some rookie DC villain named Bane breaks Batman's back with ease, only to be succeeded by Azrael as Batman II, before cheating by Bruce Wayne to become Batman once more. The implied hardcore homosexual inclinations of the Batman-Robin relationship are laid down early if you couldn't have already guessed by A Death in the Family, it's overwhelming impact on pop culture and society still today. Usually, like in Hollywood movies, you'd have to pay someone a lot of miney to do that, or maybe not if it's a B movie, their obviously lower standards and of living and life itself. Did Bruce Wayne really flaunt his wealth that bad so as to take advantage of a virtually penniless, weak and defenseless 12 year old Tim Drake? Read and see for yourself. Batman's credibilty really was put into question here with this preposterous storyline, only a few years later with Azrael succeeding Bruce WAyne, Wayne was popular once again. The fact that you can't feel any sympathy for Batman after he couldn't save Jason Todd from the Joker is obvious, making one feel even worse for the Batman-Robin relationship at the homely price of a measly $3.95. Farewell, Jason Todd, you ripped the lid of Batman once and for all.
The rebirth of the dynamic duo.......2006-01-31
Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying (originally a five-part crossover series in Batman 440-442 and The New Titans 60-61) is a pretty darn important story in the life of Batman. The death of Jason Todd, the second Robin, is still pretty recent, and time is not healing the wounds of that loss - Batman is still going about his business in a reckless manner, letting his fists do all of the thinking and talking. Dick Grayson, the original Robin now going by the name Nightwing, has left his leadership position in The Teen Titans as he continues to try and get Batman to put his head on straight once again. It really doesn't help matters when Two-Face turns up once again; the voice in his radio and the flip of his coin have told him to kill Batman for good. It's just a matter of luring the caped crusader into a trap. Someone else, though, is stalking both Batman and Nightwing - someone who seems to know all of their closely guarded secrets.
A truly impressive series of dots are connected in this storyline. You have Dick Grayson visiting the circus he grew up in just as it is about to be shut down - largely because of some internal sabotage, a veritable tribute for everything Robin stood for and how important it has always been for there to be a Robin fighting by Batman's side, and - of course - you have the introduction of Tim Drake as the third Robin. This Robin's origins are quite different from those of Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, but I think the story works quite well, especially with its connections extending all the way back to the death of Dick Grayson's parents under the Bit Top all those years ago. Batman doesn't want another partner ever again - not after Jason's death, so Tim's story has to be different. He has to convince Batman that he needs a Robin again and that he could be that Robin. The first thing the kid does after donning the disguise (on his own initiative, mind you) is to give Two-Face a darn good wallop, but perhaps the best part of the whole story has Alfred himself putting his own life at risk to help the boy. You don't find too many Alfred action scenes in the Batman universe.
The artwork is strikingly different between different parts of the story. Whereas the Batman comic's illustrations are of the traditional, faded-looking variety, the artwork on The New Titans fairly explodes with vibrant color. This is one case, though, where the story definitely takes priority over the artwork. In all the decades Batman has been fighting crime in Gotham City, there have been only three Robins at his side - and it is Robin's "rebirth" in the form of Tim Drake that makes Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying an integral part of Batman's continuing story. It also affords the reader a rather probing psychological perspective on Batman, who would seem to need a Robin by his side in order to keep himself in check and thus be the Batman he is supposed to be.
You can't kill a hero.......2004-06-01
This collected volume directly follows the events of "Batman: A Death in the Family" where Joker killed Jason Todd, the 2nd Robin. "A Lonely Place of Dying" follows Tim Drake as he tracks down Dick Grayson, the first Robin, and the events that ultimately lead to Tim becoming Robin himself.
As far as origin stories go, this one's slightly above average. Thankfully it doesn't feature anyone getting doused in radioactive chemicals or subjected to the effects of a nuclear bomb, but then again the Batman titles always stay away from that goofiness. It also doesn't feature the cliched "avenging death of a loved one" that is overused in comics. Tim's deduction of Batman and Nightwing's identities is logical, smart, and still holds up reasonably well by todays standards.
However, the tradeoff is that Tim's origin feels kinda...blah. I still wouldn't want them to kill off Tim's family just for the sake of giving him motivation, but here Tim's desire to help Batman "get better" isn't very exciting. Of course DC wasn't looking to innovate, just to fill in the void Jason Todd had left, and hopefully with a Robin readers would approve of. It also explains why Tim's origin is so obviously linked to Dick Grayon's past, and the story at times hits readers over the head with the "Dick Grayson approves of Tim Drake as the new Robin" pitch.
This is a relatively cheap volume as far as collected editions go, and it's certainly worth a look by Batman fans. It's not overly exciting, but works well in the Batman mythos.
Flakey story, medicore art, but pivitol all the same.......2003-09-02
First they say "Kill Robin" then they say "Bring Robin Back". The story on the whole lacks luster (esp. the "climax"). The Batman art is typical of it's time (I don't like it, but that's my opinion). Luckily, this takes place across two issues of Teen Titans as well, which offer more appealing work.
Get it if you're a die-hard who loves the story, of the art of the time.
welcome tim Drake!.......2002-01-23
}Major spoilers} This TPB shows the first appernce of tim drake, a 13 year old who has descovierd the idenaties of batman and robin. very good book.
heros: batman, robin, nightwing, the teen titans, alfred, Jim gordan, jason todd {mentioned.}
villans: Two-face, Joker, the penguin {flashback.}
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Batman A lonely Place of Dying No. 442 1989
Marv Wolfman
Manufacturer: DC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
Batman
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ASIN: B000NU3R7U |
Product Description
In Part 1 of: "A Lonely Place of Dying" Batman batttles the Ravager on top of a dam, then later has to deal with thugs in a warehouse, and it seems the two crimes are connected to one major villian... And while all this is happening, a mysterious person is searching for Dick Grayson.
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The New Titans #61(Batman:A Lonely Place of Dying Part 4 of 5) December 1989
Mary Wolfman
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
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French
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ASIN: B000RRT85O |
Product Description
"Going Home!"
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Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Batman
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| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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ASIN: B000HW92YQ |
Book Description
"New York is a hard place to visit, but a pretty good place to live," says Garrison Keillor, and on this humorous and insightful audio collection he explains why. The tape comprises 10 monologues from the author's show, Garrison Keillor's American Radio Company, in which he reflects on New York City life throught the eyes of a transplanted Minnesotan. These stories are amount Keillor's very best work, including "Thoreau," "Monthly Meeting of the Loon Club," and "No Radio." PRAISE FOR THE AUDIO EDITION:
Customer Reviews:
Moved to City Too!.......2000-01-25
I'm a Midwest boy who moved to NYC and this is the absolute best description of how it is. I gave a copy to my Dad (still back in the Midwest) so he'd understand what it's like for me to live in Manhattan. Everyone who doesn't live on the coasts should own a copy -- it would bring this country back together again!
Bloody hilarious.......1998-07-30
What more to say? His analyses of the differences between life in the Midwest and life in New York are spot on.
Customer Reviews:
A great gift!.......2001-12-20
This cookbook was written by Karolyn Grimes who played Zuzu Bailey in Capra's favourite film, _It's a Wonderful Life_. This book would be a great stocking stuffer for the Lifer (person who loves the IAWL film) you love.
While these recipes aren't actually used or referenced in the film, Karolyn has drawn together servings of love, laughter, and thoughfulness, much as this classic film has done for so many over the years.
"No Man is a Failure who has Friends", so show your family and friends how they are truly the richest ones in town.
ListMistress, IAWL Discussion Group.
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Suzuki Piano Ensemble Music: 2 Pianos - 4 Hands / Second Piano Accompaniments (Suzuki Method International)
Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0874877520 |
Book Description
This book is to be used with the corresponding volume of the SUZUKI PIANO SCHOOL to produce duo versions of the pieces in the original series. Titles include: Allegro * Chant Arabe * Christmas Day Secrets * Clair de Lune * French Children's Song * Go Tell Aunt Rhody * Goodbye to Winter * The Honeybee * London Bridge * Long, Long Ago * Lightly Row (Alberti Bass) * Little Playmates * Mary Had a Little Lamb * Musette * Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations and more.
Book Description
This book is to be used with the corresponding volume of the SUZUKI PIANO SCHOOL to produce duet versions of the pieces in the original series. Titles include: Allegro * Chant Arabe * Christmas Day Secrets * Clair de Lune * French Children's Song * Go Tell Aunt Rhody * Goodbye to Winter * The Honeybee * London Bridge * Long, Long Ago * Lightly Row (Alberti Bass) * Little Playmates * Mary Had a Little Lamb * Musette * Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations and more.
Customer Reviews:
Old One Volume Opening Reference book the way the new ones should be written!.......2006-08-22
I wish the the newer one volume reference books like "Modern Chess Openings" and "Nunn's Chess Openings" were written like "Chess Openings: Theory and Practice".
Besides covering all the important (and some not so important) openings that were common in the 1960s, this book actually does a decent amont of explaining what the strategy and ideas are in the openings. Then some example games are given. This is a good way to learn your openings along with getting books that cover the type of tactics and combinations you will find in the openings so getting chess trap books are very helpful too. This is a very thick book and has a lot to it. There are also some opening variations that were left out of the newer books that were simply forgotten and you will not find them anywhere else. Would be nice to spring an old forgotten opening line that is very sound on your opponent!
This is a great book that if updated would be without any doubt the best one volume reference opening book.
Best, general opening book for a non-master level player.......2006-08-12
Why is Chess Openings: Theory And Practice by I. A. Horowitz the best, general opening book for a non-master level player?
Three reasons: 1) Breadth of coverage, 2) reasonably well written, short explanations of strategy in the intro to a line of play, followed by the lines of play themselves, with explanations that include footnotes with attributions (and sometimes, more explanations!), 3) whole games as examples.
By way of comparison, Modern Chess Openings (MCO), has the first two features, breadth and decent explanations of the lines of play, but lacks the game examples. It also has a LOT of white space. However, MCO has been updated and better reflects the strategy of today.
In contrast, Standard Chess Openings by Eric Schiller has the breadth and whole games as examples, but is lacking in its explanations of the lines themselves. It does feature current games, as well as older examples. However, like MCO, it also contains a lot of white space.
Nunn's Chess Openings (NCO) is simply not suitable for the non-tournament player. It assumes a level of ability and understanding of the game that only serious players have acquired. It has very little in the way of explanation, and very little white space. Just line after line after line of play.
Finally, one note on chess strategy. In chess, it seems that everything old is new again. For example, it took Kasparov playing the Scotch in a championship to demonstrate what was already known; namely that the displacement and capture of black's e5 pawn provides white with a slight advantage. Credit Kasparov for being able to leverage this advantage throughout the game. My point is that Horowitz's book is probably not that out of date given the vagaries of fashionable chess strategy.
Bottom line: if you can get a copy of this book, buy it.
It was Great .... There are Better now ...........2005-11-09
No question about it, this is one of the best Chess Books of the ages. It was put together before the advent of computers and databases and the amount of work put into was an amazing accomplishment.
The problem is, that chess theory develops over time and what you have here is a snapshot of the best there was to offer in 1965. Last I checked my calendar we're beyond that.
Don't get me wrong, any relatively new player could use this book and would grow tremendously. A beginning or intermediate player would come along just fine using it as a foundation and then could no doubt move on.
The question is, why would you do that? Why not start with something that is up to date and not have to unlearn or relearn things?
I understand the nostalgia. I used this book and loved it back in the 70's and early 80's. I just can't recommend it beyond that for now despite its rich heritage. It's like stating that a Commodore64 is still a great starter computer and then you can move onto a PC. Why would you do that?
An updated version with newer notation, and addressing those issue would be an improvement, but there are already better books and tools available and they should be used. Books in fact are my second choice for coaching. Computer based programs and databases teach the opening while simulating real movement like you would experience in a game, tournament or on-line. That is the way to learn now, not a book, no matter how good the book might be.
No doubt 20 years from now people will speak nostalgically of the best books today (maybe even more likely a program or database.) This was great. It's good enough for the average player. If you aspire to be more, go elsewhere.
Good book examining openings.......2005-03-06
This is essentially just another book on chess openings,but it stands out because it is much more reader friendly than many other openings books.The book lists the moves to get to the 'key position' of each opening examined (along with footnotes to moves varying prior to the key position),and then notes the main ideas,and what each side should strive for from that position.Generally,there will follow some of the main tries,and some sample master level games using the opening,or variation of the opening.I like this book because there is an emphasis on actual words as commentary rather than mind-numbing variations,as in some other books.
The book is in descriptive notation,which may bother some,but older players are probably equally familiar with descriptive and algebraic.It certainly doesn't bother me.Also,since this is a book from the early/mid '60s,you're not going to be getting the latest cutting edge theory from the Meran,or whatever.This sort of thing is commented on frequently in older opening texts,but for any player who is not of at least master strength,it simply doesn't matter.If you mostly play blitz on the internet,or even low rated tournaments,you can easily bone up on some 'archaic' opening,such as the Scotch for example,and have a large advantage over most of your competition in the opening.
I notice someone below wrote that he'd never heard a strong player recommend this book--on the back of my copy there is an endorsement from Sammy Reshevsky:"Speaking for myself,and players of my strength,'Chess Openings:Theory and Practice' is the greatest aid I have ever seen for preparing for a tournament.Speaking for all other players,this book is a must".Is Reshevsky a strong enough player for you?
I find opening manuals a bit of a bore in general,but this is my favorite of the bunch.
Can't Play Modern Chess Without THIS ONE!.......2005-01-07
"Your game is usually won or lost in the first ten moves. This is THE book ..." -- SAMUEL RESHEVSKY
Product Description
A definitive study of all the important openings, with 2,660 fully analyzed variations and 439 complete illustrative games.
Book Description
Investigates the view that there is a polarity in modern chess. On the one hand are those who systematically analyse forcing openings, such as the Sicilian Defence; on the other are those who deliberately select offbeat openings.Are both approaches valid?
Customer Reviews:
Synopsis.......2007-07-09
In this stimulating modern classic, Grandmaster Ray Keene investigates the view that there is a polarity in modern chess. On the one hand are those who systematically analyse forcing openings, such as the Sicilian Defence, hoping to find the philosopher's stone of absolute truth. On the other are those who deliberately select offbeat openings, in the hope of throwing well booked-up opponents off the scent. Are both approaches valid? Find out and improve your results.
Raymond Keene is a British Chess Champion, and the first British Player to achieve a FIDE (World Chess Federation) Grandmaster norm. He was awarded the OBE for services to chess in 1985. He is Chess Correspondent of The Times, The Sunday Times, The Spectator, and The International Herald Tribune. He is a prolific author of chess books, several of which are classics of the genre. He has organised three World Chess Championships.
The best way to open a game of chess.......2002-07-30
Chess grandmaster Raymond Keene analyses the compelling question of the best way to open a game. The advantages of both the traditional Sicilian defence and the more abstract and offbeat openings are discussed. Alltogether an excellent way to improve your own game. A must have for any chess enthusiast. (Published by Hardinge and Simpole).
Book Description
Take a satirical scamper through organizational life in the midst of changing times, brought to you by master storyteller and former World Bank executive Steve Denning. With wisdom and a healthy dose of wit, Denning introduces a cast of furry characters who together learn the fine art of change through storytelling in their quest to overcome obstacles, generate enthusiasm and teamwork, share knowledge, and ultimately lead their company into a new era of success and significance. Through the stories of Squirrel Inc., readers will learn that the ability to tell the right story at the right time can determine the outcome of any major change effort. In each chapter Denning's squirrels learn to use storytelling to address leadership challenges:
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How to bring about change
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How to communicate who you are
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How to transmit values
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How to foster collaboration
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How to stop rumors
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How to share knowledge
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How to lead your organization into the future
Download Description
Take a satirical scamper through organizational life in the midst of changing times, brought to you by master storyteller and former World Bank executive Steve Denning. With wisdom and a healthy dose of wit, Denning introduces a cast of furry characters who together learn the fine art of change through storytelling in their quest to overcome obstacles, generate enthusiasm and teamwork, share knowledge, and ultimately lead their company into a new era of success and significance. Through the stories of Squirrel Inc., readers will learn that the ability to tell the right story at the right time can determine the outcome of any major change effort. In each chapter Denning's squirrels learn to use storytelling to address leadership challenges:
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How to bring about change
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How to communicate who you are
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How to transmit values
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How to foster collaboration
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How to stop rumors
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How to share knowledge
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How to lead your organization into the future
Customer Reviews:
Engaging Hearts - Earning Commitment.......2006-09-26
In "Squirrel Inc.: A Fable of Leadership through Storytelling" Stephen Denning describes, in the spirit of a fable about squirrels leading change at Squirrel, Inc., how to use stories to engage constituents and earn their commitment to change.
Leadership, both formal and informal, is about engaging hearts, convincing minds, and earning committed actions. While we linear, logical thinkers are more prone toward selling through convincing logic (aka, `data'), both emotional intelligence and marketing research suggest that people buy (and buy-into) with their emotions before they commit with their minds. Effective stories touch the heart! Denning, uses the different requirements subsequent situations in the `change journey' at Squirrel, Inc. to demonstrate different story structures. Differing leadership objectives include: Sparking Organizational Change; Revealing Who You Are and Earning Trust; Getting Individuals to Work Together; Transmitting Values; Taming the Grapevine; Sharing Knowledge; and Creating a Future. To help readers recognize and remember appropriate story structures, Denning includes summaries of story structures at the end of each chapter. Much like most of us have graduated from black and white to colored presentations, effective leaders are moving from influencing solely through data/information and graduating to telling effective stories.
I recommend "Squirrel, Inc." for every leader who recognizes their need for engaging both the hearts and the minds of their team members.
A Humorous Delivery of Leadership Storytelling.......2005-11-27
This book has only two problems that keep it from being a masterpiece:
1. Mr. Denning later wrote The Leader's Guide to Storytelling which covers the same material much more thoroughly and helpfully; and
2. The fable is built around a mythical company of squirrels that provides nut burying services but is having problems. I had a hard time getting my mind around that metaphor. By contrast when Dr. Spencer Johnson teaches me about mice being in trouble when their cheese is moved, I don't have the same problem with the metaphor.
I recommend that you mainly use this book as a humorous side trip into leadership story telling. If you don't fell like you need such a humorous journey, you can certainly skip this book.
If you do skip Squirrel Inc., I urge you to read Mr. Denning's two "serious" books on the subject in this order: Start with The Springboard and then move on to The Leader's Guide to Storytelling. I've written reviews of both of those books recently if you want to check them out. Both are superb and are must reads for any leader who wants to be effective.
If you have to choose between reading Leading Change and The Springboard, choose The Springboard.
Nuts R Us.......2005-05-28
Think about it. Who are among the greatest storytellers throughout history? My own list includes Homer, Plato, Chaucer, Aesop, Jesus, Dante, Boccaccio, the Brothers Grimm, Confucius, Abraham Lincoln, Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), Joel Chandler Harris, L. Frank Baum, and most recently, E.B. White. Whatever the genre (epic, parable, fable, allegory, anecdote, etc.), each used exposition, description, and narration to illustrate what they considered to be fundamental truths about the human condition.
In his previous work, The Springboard, Denning focuses on "how storytelling ignites action in knowledge-led organizations" and does so with uncommon erudition, precision, and eloquence. His narrative covers a period of approximately three years during which he used what he calls "springboard" stories to "spark organizational change" at The World Bank. More specifically, to forge a consensus within that organization to support the design and then implementation of effective knowledge management, first for itself and then for its clients worldwide. How he accomplished that objective is in and of itself a fascinating "story" but the book's greater value lies in what he learned in process, lessons which are directly relevant to virtually all other organizations (regardless of size or nature) which struggle to "do more with less and do it faster" in the so-called Age of Information. Maximizing use of their collective intellectual capital is most often the single most effective way to do that.
In this volume, Denning uses many of the same devices which Orwell does in Animal Farm: He creates a stressful situation to which anthropomorphic animals respond; the lead characters discuss what to do; strategies are selected; conflicts and crises immediately develop; tension is increased by the perils the lead characters encounter; ultimately, the situation is resolved. In Animal Farm, the pigs prevail. In Squirrel Inc.,....
Whereas Orwell's purpose is to dramatize the evils of totalitarianism, Denning's purpose is to give "detailed advice on how to craft and perform a story that can spark transformational change in an organization" by examining six different kinds of storytelling "which illustrate the impact of storytelling on our work and our lives." Although this is a fable of leadership, it is important to keep in mind that (a) everyone throughout any organization tells stories of various kinds each day; therefore (b) the value of the information which Denning provides and the recommendations he makes is by no means limited to senior-level executives.
Why a fable? When considering how he could best communicate the various kinds of stories (e.g. "springboard" stories that communicate complex ideas and spark action), their specific uses in modern organizations, and their relevant similarities and differences, Denning "quickly discovered that conveying an understanding of seven types of stories across four or five different dimensions represented a level of complexity not well adapted to text-book style presentation."
I include that excerpt because many of those who read this book will also find themselves in situations in which they are preparing to make an especially important presentation and use of a traditional format is not appropriate. Their audience will not respond as well to the "textbook-style" as they will to a entertaining as well as informative narrative which seeks to achieve one or more of these objectives:
To spark action
To communicate who the speaker is
To transmit values
To get everyone working together
To share knowledge
To "tame the grapevine"
To lead people into the future
Here's the situation. Diana is a fast-track executive at Squirrel Inc. who is frustrated by her inability to convince senior-management to transform the company's core business from helping squirrels to bury nuts to storing nuts for them. Why should it? Because approximately 50% of the nuts buried are lost, either because squirrels forget where they buried them or the nuts are dug up by human gardeners. Great opportunity for Squirrel Inc. She shares her frustrations with Bartender who is the owner/host of a nectar tavern located high in an oak tree near the Squirrel Inc. headquarters. (He is also this book's narrator and thus, in several respects, a surrogate for Denning.) Throughout the remainder of the book, Denning focuses on Diana and Bartender's joint efforts to use effective storytelling to mobilize the support needed to transform Squirrel Inc.
Because Denning is himself a master storyteller, never does his narrative become precious, cute, quaint, darling, etc. Credit him with wit, style, grace, and -- yes -- intellectual rigor. His characters may be squirrels but the relevance of his material to human experience is profound: "The underlying reason for the affinity between leadership and storytelling is simple: narrative -- unlike abstraction and analysis -- is inherently collaborative. Storytelling helps leaders work with other individuals as coparticipants, not merely as objects or underlings. Storytelling helps strengthen leaders' connectedness with the world. Isn't this what all leaders need -- a connectedness with the people they are seeking to lead?"
I especially appreciate Denning's provision of a chart ("Seven High-Value Forms of Organizational Storytelling," pages 150-153) which clearly and cleverly summarizes all of his core concepts and specific suggestions. It serves as a useful reminder that the most effective story is one which has a crystal clear objective and includes the appropriate elements (e.g. problem to be solved, situation to be explained, value of the information provided). The story must also meet certain requirements of the given purpose. For example, provision of relevant background information and an analysis of current situation before proposing a future course of action, especially one which may seem bold and threatening to others.
For whatever reasons, only in recent years has there been an awareness and appreciation of the importance of the business narrative. Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Annette Simmons' The Story Factor, Doug Lipman's Improving Your Storytelling, and Storytelling in Organizations co-authored by John Seely Brown, Denning, Katarina Groh, and Laurence Prusak.
I didn't get it!!.......2005-04-07
I found the concept and the content of this book oversimplified and not very useful
Leadership Includes The Art of Storytelling.......2004-12-22
I was happy to see someone remind today's leaders of the purpose and power of storytelling. A good story not only makes the point but also creates both an understanding and a memory of the event. That memory, in turn, can be passed on from employee to employee.
Using squirrels to illustrate how to create and deliver a story is a clever way to help the reader understand storytelling, and for those not interested in squirrels, Denning provides helpful sidebars that summarize the text (thank you). The author also provides a chapter summary. More importantly, in the final pages Denning outlines the Seven High-Value Forms of Organizational Storytelling. This table is an excellent guide for the right story at the right time.
Denning has much to offer the reader. I found the essence of his message in the sidebars and the guidelines at the end of the chapters. There you will discover his wit, his understanding, and his valuable insight. For example, "The leader is someone who has seen the meaning of what is sweet in life and what is terrible and who then goes undeterred to meet what is to come."
Squirrel Inc. is a fast read for busy people and a fun read for those that like a good story. I liked it.
Books:
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- Seven Sketchbooks of Vincent Van Gogh (Painters & Sculptors)
- Signifying Art: Essays on Art after 1960
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- Steel Canvas: The Art Of American Arms
- Subjoyride: Selected Poems (Green Integer)
- SuperVisions: Stereo Optical Illusions (Supervisions)
- Tales of the Old North Shore: Paintings and Companion Stories
- Technicians of Ecstasy: Shamanism and the Modern Artist
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