Biology Concepts Connection Campbell Advanced Accounting Fischer Edition

Biology Concepts And Connections 6th Edition Campbell

Most books on systems thinking, leadership, and organizational change lay out ideas up front and progress logically through the presentation of those ideas, "Presence" is unique in that the four authors, accomplished academics, have chosen to invite their readers along on their journey, and that of dozens of successful scientists and business folks they have interviewed, of talking about a theory on learning and living systems they have been working out for several years. In one way you can think of this book as an opportunity to see how deep thinkers cultivate a theoretical idea over time.

What is that theory? They are trying to understand the deeper dimensions of transformational change that look not so much at the what leaders do and how they do it to initiate change, but at who we are and the inner place or source where we operate, both at the individual and collective level, to help realize our futures. They call it U Theory. Is this unique? The authors are first to admit that the wisdom throughout the ages and the great works in spiritual traditions reflect a lot of their ideas. But the authors feel they needed to put these ideas into "a language that fits the present time-that can deal with the collective as well as the individual, and that transcend traditional boundaries of tribe,nation,culture." Overall, the authors are aware that new theory is useful only to the extent that enough people's experiences have brought them to a point of needing different ways to see things and they can recognize they are not alone in the world. (p. 232). This may be hard to believe, but scholars also must arrive at certain points in their careers when they must realize that what may have been obvious to them as children, they lost along the way in their pursuit of knowledge. I'm delighted that four individuals have made an attempt to let down their guard a little to be more human, more vulnerable with this publication. 

Is there convergence with other models you have read about? Certainly. But again, the method the authors have chosen to use to convey their journey is different. This makes the book unique. The authors use the synergy of the trust and respect they have in each other to let down their guards as well-known academics and just be ordinary people who can admit that they do not have all the answers about our purpose for being here (individually and collectively) and it is time they begin to step back and start looking at the whole of our existence. The authors did this by meeting at Otto Scharmer's home in Cambridge (NOTE: same home where "Jurassic Park" was written) and `breathe' their book into existence. The writing of their book is informal, collaborative writing with a lot of story telling to fill in the pages. 

Is it a must read? It's not for everyone. However, I have found it to be a timely read for myself for four reasons. First, a book on human purpose and the field of the future that is made up of interviews from great thinkers of the past and present should not be overlooked. Second, the unique style in which the book has been written is a refreshing change from reading a manual-like business text. You can imagine yourself having private engagement with four established academics of our time who are opening up their life experience with you. Third, this book would be a timely read for anyone who has read such books as Dialogue, Cultivating Communities of Practice, Enabling Knowledge Creation, The 8th Habit (there are a lot of similarities here), Activity Theory, Leading Change, The Leadership Challenge, The 5th Discipline, Leadership Challenge, In Defense of Globalization, The Art of the Long View, The Bible. Elements from all, and more, are contained in this read. Again, it is subtle, but this may be what you need to let some of the concepts of the above references register if they have not sunk in yet. 

Finally, I should add that in terms of a breakdown of the book, the first three parts of this book are about the process of deepening collective learning. The Fourth part of the book places this process in a context of a more integrative science, spirituality, and practice of leadership at the individual, organizational, and global change levels.



Advanced Accounting Fischer 10th Edition

I would indeed agree with the review of J Maguire that much of this has been said before however I would beg to differ that buying this book would be a waste of time. There is a freshness in the presentation of the concepts - the book is written in Conversation Mode and so well done that you feel as if you are indeed present and listening to the discussion taking place between our authors. They have been very successful in allowing the reader to be "Present" in "Presence". 

All the old friends are there in the ideas being discussed, Boehm, Buber, Capra, Hock but there are new presentations of those ideas also - the discussions around the concept of the "U", prototyping, creating and adjusting: "People often believe that you need to know how to do something before you can do it. If this were literally true, there would be little genuine innovation" 

Above all for me the book inspired questioning as to what we can do to help change the way the world conducts business and how can we develop ourselves to live by example. By adjusting our thinking, we can all see that indeed we are part of a larger whole than that which we are brought up to believe in. We can if we wish to, all share the responsibiity for and help shape the future of our world and the shift towards globalisation which is currently the reality of our social and business lives. 

I was enormously impressed by the book and can only heartily recommend it to anyone interested in the development of management concepts, individual, business and social change.
This is one of the most exciting books I've read. I bought the book because its title promised to illuminate my approach to metaphor-driven change work, which requires being fully present. But what is presence? "We first thought of presence as being fully conscious and aware in the present moment. Then we began to appreciate presence as deep listening, of being open beyond one's preconceptions and historical ways of making sense. We came to see the importance of letting go of old identities and the need to control... leading to a state of 'letting come,' of consciously participating in a larger field for change" (pp. 13-14). 

In other words, spontaneous presence is absent of all preconceived notions, all self-talk, all assumptions and beliefs. It is trust in a "knowing" that has nothing to do with logical efforts. This knowing is absolute, unmistakable, and comes from a larger "field" (see Scharmer's Theory U). 

The authors give a number of business examples, including that of Visa International. Amidst a growing perception in the late 1960s that the whole credit card industry was doomed, a small group of Visa executives realized the system they'd created could never solve the problems to which it had given rise. They had to abandon their traditional organizational models and banking jargon. They needed a change in consciousness. Then CEO Dee Hock awoke one morning asking himself if -- instead of arguing about the structure of a new institution -- an organization could be patterned on biological concepts so it could continually organize and invent itself. Visa is now organized as a network of more than twenty thousand member-owned institutions... "In short, one of the world's largest corporations operates as a self-governing democracy" (pp. 170-171). 
These are world class authors, each impressive, so this book held great promise. What a disappointment. I'm actually saddened to have read it because I've lost some respect for each of them. What could motivate this group of people to write in such an ego-centric, ill-disciplined and poorly referenced way? I can only imagine it was the clash of egos that allowed this book to sink to its lowest common denominator so often. 
Yes, as other reviewers have said, there are nuggets here. The topic itself is profoundly important. So all the sadder that the message has been diluted, or perhaps polluted, in its delivery. Can do better

Best  college Textbooks   This book is written and presented much like a good book should be, but the content is eastern philosophy/religion (Taoism, Buddhism, et cetera) reborn and applied to a contemporary western lifestyle. The content has some merit (a paradigm change in the troubled western perspective and lifestyle) but this is not an innovative book and it's all been said before in dozens upon dozens of books from self help to philosophy. Moreover, The authors' suggestions are even quite abstract, not specific. Although the book carries a positive vibe, if you have read any books related to eastern philosophy/religion and don't want to waste time repeating the same ideas don't buy this book.  
Although I agree with some of the previous reviewers that much of the material in this book could be found in more depth elsewhere, yet I still enjoyed the book. What I found interesting was the process the authors went through in trying to clarify the core ideas in the context of their work with organizations and organizational leaders. It is important that these ideas, whether original or not, permeate some of our core cultural organizations. It is these organizations which have such a large impact on the world today and it is the actions of these organizations (and our contribution to the social matrix which makes such actions possible) which critically influence our well being. It is heartening to see that the viewpoints expressed in this book may have a chance of taking hold in such organizations and seem to have already begun to germinate among some of the leaders of these organizations.

Books Cheap      Presence is a "different" book with an unusal outlook but ... I commend it nonetheless for those trying to see the more obvious that we have overlooked by the day to day pressing demands. This book was one of many I used in a graduate business class. It took some on-line discussions to gain the insights the book seeks to offer. Nonetheless, while I would not have otherwise rushed to purchase the book, I am glad to have been exposed to the serious work. It gives new meaning to 'U.'
I really would not recommend this book. It is business mumbo jumbo at its very worst. The whole thing seems to be just a conversation between the 4 authors and it is written in a language that only they can understand. I have been involved in organisational change and I can tell you that this book would not have helped at all. Mind you if you want a load of platitudes to make you feel comfortable I guess it might help.