Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time

Whether you are a leader in business, a team leader, work in a profit or non-profit business, you will learn from Scrum by Jeff Sutherland. His methods are being used in classrooms, the military, government, and in homes successfully.

As I read this book, I was quickly drawn into this practical and transparent method of working as a team, focusing on success instead of failure. My mind immediately began to think of areas in which I could incorporate this method into my classroom, our school, my personal life, and was anxious to share with my fellow educators.

The areas I liked most about Scrum was that for the method to succeed, the group must work transparently as a team, knowing the progress of the other teams to reach the goals of the company. I also liked Jeff Sutherland's views on multitasking and being overworked, believing that shorter, but more efficient work hours brings greater success.

 I will let my friends and family borrower this book as well as my coworkers its one of the best books I have ever read. 

The Penguin Book of Witches

This book was an excellent read and it talks about everything you need to know about witches in detail.  The author is very knowledgeable in regards to witches.  I was really enthralled with the book and couldn't put it down until I finished it.  I will
let my friends borrower this book. 

The writing style of the era can make for some thick reading, but the author has done a superb job of providing overviews and notes which clarify the original material. While the language of the texts can be a bit stiff for the 21st century reader, most of the accounts are perfectly readable (excepting, of course, James I and his bloody "whereas").

Glory Days in Tribe Town: The Cleveland Indians and Jacobs Field 1994-1997

I love the Cleveland Indians and these years were the best they ever had and this book describes everything perfectly.  The author makes you feel like you are their and its a great feeling.  All the players and coaches are described perfectly and this book is an excellent addition to any sports fan library. 

The Death Of WCW

I followed wrestling for a long time growing up and I loved every minute of it.  This book goes into detail about WCW and how it ended and why.  I enjoyed how the author had so much information about the wrestlers and the background and the history of the sport.  My favorite wrestler growing up was Sting and Hulk Hogan 

Decorating the Way I See It

Dazzlingly photographed and with a distinct and unique voice, leafing through this gorgeous book feels like you are having a one-on-one meeting with the esteemed decorator himself. But don't be intimidated! Roberts' advise is fully accessible, with healthy doses of humor and wit woven through.  This book is awesome all the pictures and different types of ideas the author gives you is amazing.

Vegan Casseroles: Pasta Bakes, Gratins, Pot Pies, and More

Fantastic! This book will forever destroy the image of casseroles requiring cans of tuna and condensed soup. Julie takes on traditional comfort foods and wins. Casseroles no longer need to be feared. Now they can be revered. Julie removes the eggs, dairy, cholesterol and processed ingredients traditionally found in casseroles and replaces them with whole-food ingredients without losing any flavor. This book is a must get!

This book was great every single recipe in this book looks great and I tried a few of them and they are delicious. 

California Farm Cookbook, The

This book was a great read and had so many recipes in it I couldn't find just one I wanted to make.  I made quite a few recipes from this book and it was exciting seeing how everything turned out.  Everyone enjoyed the food I made from this book.  The author was excellent at describing how to make everything and the step by step on how to make it completely correct. 

The Legacy Journey: A Radical View of Biblical Wealth and Generosity

This book is just another one of the best authors I have ever read.  Dave Ramsey is one of the best authors out there, I listen to his radio show.  I own all his books and I have attended his classes as well.  The author of this book has so many valid points and makes so many great arguments.  I love everything that he says in this book, he keeps coming out with better and better books.  It amazes me how much this guy has to say in all of his books.

One Direction: Who We Are: Our Official Autobiography

This is an amazing book about a bunch of young kids with a lot of talent, they became famous really early in life and their story is one of the better ones coming out of Hollywood and the music industry.  This book goes over their life and how they became famous and what makes them who they are.  They are one of my more favorite boy bands that have existed they are fun and outgoing and energetic.  I will let my friends children read this book as well. 

Scandals of Classic Hollywood: Sex, Deviance, and Drama from the Golden Age of American Cinema

This is an awesome book and all the different stories of Hollywood and scandals over the years are in this book.  This book has so many different stories and scandals that I wasn't aware happened during all these years.  The gossip in this book is great and it makes for a great read, the author really keeps you interested in all the different things famous people did or didn't do.

Yes Or No

This book is so packed full of information! However, the author didn't make it like a text book where you were snoozing half-way through. He brought stories from his own life and from the lives of others into the book and it was so interesting to read how making the decision between "no and yes" really has an impact on our lives.

Mr. Shinabarger has done some really amazing things in his life and it's by stopping to really consider his decisions that have helped him. The greatest thing he always stresses is to stop and pray about these decisions - go off on your own if need be - and really consider what God wants you to do.

He also shares the different kinds of personalities and decision making styles there are and how to make yours work for you. I found this incredibly helpful as I really didn't know what kind of style I had when it came to making decisions, but now I do. I know the positives and the negatives of this style and how to make it all work for me. Be sure and watch the video imbedded in this post to see more about your own decision making style.

He also discusses one of the main things that holds many of us back - including me - and that's fear. I gained so much insight and confidence by reading this. Also, knowing I'm not the only one who has fears about doing things, was quite relieving! It just really helped me to take that step forward in something I've been dragging my feet about for a long while.

Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?

This book is written in similar fashion to the way Eugene Cho preaches: Humor, confession, story and scripture brought alive, and penetrating conviction. He asks the question of the subtitle in a variety of ways, always with an example of how it played out in his own experience. Do we make things more about ourselves than about God and others? Is justice a fad destined to pass or is it the true conviction of our hearts? When pursuing change in the world will we cut and run when it gets costly?

Read this book if you are willing to have your life changed to be more like Jesus. If you are into religion you won't like it.
Read this book if you are courageous enough to take risks that will be costly to you. If you are into being safe, it's not for you.
Read this book if you want to live a better life of following Jesus. If you are looking for something else, try a different book.
Read this book as a signpost on the amazing journey of faith in Christ. If you think you've already arrived, it will frighten you.
And finally, read this book if you are critical of the church and people of faith--I think it will have you saying, "I'd like some of that!"

Becoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You

This is a great book for women and women who are trying to figure out what God wants them to do in their lives to serve him.  This book really opened my eyes and made me see how much I can make a difference as a woman in todays society.  The author really let the readers know how deeply she feels about this issue and how she has even struggled with it in her own life,.  I am going to let my Bible Study read this book next. 

In Her Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Grandmas Around the World

The stories about the women featured in the book were nice and it was interesting to see what people around the world eat. However, what elevated the book from interesting to amazing is the photographs! I loved, loved, loved examining the pictures of all the women in their kitchens or dining rooms. They were featured with materials they use in preparing their recipes and I found it fascinating to see the different labels on food products. I was equally fascinated to see a bottle of 409 cleaner in the background of one of the pictures.

It was nice to study the pictures of the women and imagine the stories that they might have to tell. Some of the women were in their 80's, so it was mind-boggling to consider the changes they have seen in the world in their lifetime.

The greatest thing about this book is that it is so much more than a simple cookbook. For me, the recipes were a miniscule part of the charm of this book. I find myself desperately hoping that Galimberti will do a follow-up book in the same format. I would love to read another book similar to this one.