Author: Biz India

Authors: Thom A. Mayer and Robert J. Cates Publisher: Health Administration Press -120 pages Book Review by: Paiso Jamakar A practical and sensible thesis is what this book is mainly about: take the lead in providing caring service to patients, have all members of the staffs of health care institutions learn to do that, and you not only make the patients happy, but you also make the employees happy. Easily said, but has common-sense advice been applied anywhere and shown to be a success? The answer is a resounding “yes”! One of the principal reasons for its success is that this type of service applicable to patients has been designed and structured as a course which has been taught to and implemented by thousands of people employed in the health care profession. As a matter of fact, the creators of this program – the Survival Skills course – and the author of book, Drs. Thom A. Mayer and Robert J. Cates (who have more than 26 years experience in providing health care) write: “Not only did customer service scores improve dramatically following the implementation of the Survival Skills concept but they have stayed at industry-levels since that time and have continued to improve.” The authors also report that “the Survival Skills course has been taught at hundreds of hospitals with thousands of participants, resulting in dramatic improvements in their...

Authors: Chef Oliver Said and Chef Mike C. Publisher: Da Capo-Lifelong, A Member of the Perseus Books Group – 442 pages Book Review by:  Laxmi Chaandi This is an unconventional book on cooking. Many books are for the most part, simply collections of recipes for making different dishes. While this book has more than a thousand photos and illustrations with step-by-step cooking instructions, the authors’ unique approach is teaching you cooking by technique, by also imparting some of their unique tips and tricks to you, with their goal being to “transform you from a normal human being into a super home chef.” If you read a recipe for making a particular dish, that will enable you to make that one dish. But when you learn the techniques of cooking covered in Kitchen on Fire! you become “a master in the kitchen” as written on the back cover of this book. Knowing cooking techniques enables you to make a whole range of tasty dishes from different foods and ingredients. The chefs teach you the methodology of cooking, the alchemy of food, various food preparation methods and techniques (such as proper weighing and measuring, for example), basic food science, applying different amounts of heat to different foods does to them (such as why vegetables basically need less heat than meats do to make them edible, for example) and much more, for...

Author: Joyce Lain Kennedy Publisher: – Wiley Publishing – 318 pages Book Review by:  Nano Khilnani This guide to having a great job interview contains advice that is more useful than that found in other career-related books. The pointers on “delivering a winning interview” are not only practical but reflective of the collective experience that Joyce Lain Kennedy has gained from her many years in this field, including being a syndicated careers columnist. She has a wealth of knowledge and great insight on this subject, a lot of which is found in the seven books she has written on this subject. If you’re in the job marketplace and preparing for an interview, you may have done some research on your prospective employer, have some ideas on how to dress and look, and what to say when asked certain questions. You may also plan to “be yourself” when interviewed, and you may have answers to questions that you guess may be asked, but are not sure. But such assumptions as being yourself and guessing what you will be asked are likely to backfire and lead to poor performance at the interview and result in a dud – no call from the interviewer for a second meeting. In this detailed book of 25 chapters that covers numerous aspects of the before, during, and after-interview process, you will discover 18 interview formats...

Authors: Bob Burg and John David Mann Publisher: Portfolio Books – A Division of the Penguin Group – 127 pages Book Review by Nano Khilnani This little book is about a company that is about to go out of business and its owners and employees. You have probably heard or read the expression “it’s not about you” as it relates to success in an endeavor whether it be a business or something else. Essentially, it brings back to our minds the adage we learned early in school “do unto others what you want others to do unto you.” It also brings to our minds Zig Ziglar’s saying: “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” I like this book because it tells a story to make some important points and helps readers learn some important lessons about business and about living in general. It is a good story and the authors Bob Burg and John David Mann tell it well. They are authors of “Go-Givers” and “Go-Givers Sell More.” Heard about “go-getters” I’m sure?  Well, how about giving, for a change? Explore the relationship between the two types of people in this Of course, no one is purely a “getter” nor a “giver” But how much you get and give makes a huge difference in the level of success...

Author: Eric Tyson, MBA Publisher: Wiley, 410 pages Book Review by Ramu Nakliba In Investing for Dummies, Eric Tyson shows the ordinary, inexperienced person not only how to invest money in intangibles such as mutual funds, stocks and bonds, but also investing in tangibles such as real estate properties. He shows you how to develop a portfolio of the intangibles and manage it for long-term gain, minimizing the taxes due not only while holding these assets but also when selling them. Tyson should know. He is also the author of Personal Finance for Dummies and Mutual Funds for Dummies. And, if you’re bent on taking the plunge into business, he guides on this course of action. As a business owner, you get deeper into investing. You’re not only investing your money but also investing your time and efforts into becoming a business owner, for the rewards of profit it entices you with. He shows you how to open and run a small business profitably. Tyson discusses, among other topics: time-tested investment strategies, knowing your expectations and finding matching investments, investing in precious metals and commodities, how economic indicators affect different types of assets and firms, what to do in down and up markets, how to invest wisely when your emotions color your thinking, and how to take advantages of tax laws to maximize your returns. He touches upon important...