Review of Instant Trainer (Paperback)

The first time someone has to train coworkers, there are lots of questions about how to do it."How should I handle stage fright?""How can I jazz up a dry topic?""If only there were an advice columnist who could help me out."With this book, there areadvice columnists for new trainers:Leslie Charles and ChrisClarke-Epstein.

Part I, only 35 pages long, is titled "What EveryFirst-Time Trainer Needs to Know (Critical Factors That Can Make or BreakYou!)."This section is a crash course on how adults learn.

PartII, titled "Questions and Answers on Training Basics," is 186pages of pure experience-sharing.The question/answer format makes foreasy reading--the questions are a paragraph long, and the answers areconcise but information-packed.This format has another advantage:when anew trainer wants information on a specific subject ("Is there somestrategy for using humour in training?"), he or she need only read oneor two pages on that specific question, then get on with the job ofpreparing for the training.The well-done index makes it simple to findthe topics quickly.

The appendices are a gold mine for someone new totraining. They include resource lists andcontact information, an excellent bibliography, and even sample evaluationforms.

This book is usable, readable, and the content is dead-on.Whennon-trainers or new trainers ask me for a resource, this is the first bookI suggest.

Product Description
HereOs the first book to show todayOs first-time trainers how to prepare, deliver, evaluate, and fine-tune presentations that will keep trainees riveted and leave them smarter and more capable. Designed to transform readers into skilled instructors in as little time as possible, no matter what size group or what kind of subject matter they address, it combines the coauthorsO 35 years of training experience. Highlighted by a casual and informative question-and-answer format, The Instant Trainer offers a bounty of practical, easy-to-absorb tips, techniques, and strategies that help novice trainers deal with an extraordinary range of issues N from overcoming stage fright to energizing apathetic audiences to reaching diverse group members. Featuring checklists, sample forms, and lists of essential training resources, The Instant Trainer is so complete it even provides a coauthor hotline if readers have specific questions that are not answered in the book! Thorough, quick, and easy to read, this book is a rich resource of ideas, techniques, and practical tips on how to teach others what you know.

From the Back Cover
"Since youOre so good at this, I want you to put on a series of training sessions to teach the others!" You can panic when you hear this from the boss, or you can grab The Instant Trainer . Designed to transform you into a skilled instructor in as little time as possible, no matter what size group or what kind of subject matter you cover, this savvy guide is a rich resource of ideas, techniques, and practical tips on how to teach others what you know. Written by two seasoned trainers and facilitators who love their craft and share their enthusiasm, The Instant Trainer will teach you how to prepare, deliver, evaluate, and fine-tune presentations that keep trainees riveted and leave them smarter and more capable. The book will help you deal with a staggering range of issues facing the first-time trainer, including: How do I overcome stage fright? How do I break the ice? What support materials work best? How do I get shy people to participate? How can I use todayOs technologies?What if my trainees are apathetic? When do I use humor?How do I reach diverse group members? And many more!Featuring checklists, sample forms, and lists of essential training resources, The Instant Trainer is so complete it even provides a co-author hotline if you have a question thatOs not answered in the book! Whether you are a new trainer or an in-house topic expert who is unexpectedly "invited" to share your knowledge and expertise, this book is the perfect short course on classroom skills.

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Review of Choosing Simplicity: Real People Finding Peace and Fulfillment in a Complex World (Paperback)

There are books on frugal living, cutting costs and you'll find plenty of those in here, or in any bookstore.But let's start with the premise that 21st century life for many people - especially those who can afford tobrowse the Internet, and shop on-line, is paced far too fast to be trulyenjoyable.Read this book and you'll find personal stories of many peoplelike you, like me, who have found ways to continue living in the worldwhile bringing more meaninginto theireveryday lives. Not an instructionmanual, not helpful hints for practical savings, it's an inspirationalboost for those of us who know, in the back of our minds, that we arespeeding PAST life at breakneck speed - while realizing that life is tooprecious and too short to live like we do.



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Review of Meditation For Dummies (Book and CD edition) (Paperback)

This eloquent, insightful book thoroughly explores the simple yet subtle art of meditation. While user-friendly like all of the titles in the For Dummies series, it's also written with a wisdom born of the author's many years of direct experience as a meditator and teacher. Meditation ForDummies covers a range of subjects with humor and grace, from basicinstructions to the discovery of our most profound spiritual depths.

InPart 1 Bodian clariifes what meditation is (and isn't) and offers a numberof compelling reasons to adopt this "advanced technology for the mindand heart." He also traces the historical roots of meditation anddescribes the important foundations of motivation, attitude, and beginner'smind, which ensure a fruitful practice. "Ultimately, the greatmeditation teachers advise that the best attitude to take toward meditationis an open mind, completely free from all preconceptions andexpectations," Bodian explains. "One of my first meditationteachers, Zen master Shunryu Suzuki, calls this beginner's mind -- and hecounsels that the goal of meditation is not to accumulate knowledge, learnsomething new, or achieve some special state of mind, but simply tomaintain this fresh, uncluttered perspective."

In Part 2, the authorcovers the basics of meditation practice, including pointers on posture andpreparing for meditation, as well as a chapter on opening the heart andcultivating compassion. In Part 3, entitled "Trouble-shooting andFine-tuning," he offer sage advice on developing the rightrelationship with troubling thoughts, feelings and sensations. Thehighlight of this section is a chapter on cultivating spirituality thatexplores the nature of self (or no-self), traditional paths of awakening,and the sensitive subject of finding a teacher (inner and outer), which theauthor recommends if one wishes to go more deeply into the practice. Thebook concludes with chapters on how to nurture self-awareness while engagedin daily life and on how to use meditation for healing and performanceenhancement, followed by answers to ten commonly asked questions aboutmeditation.

Despite its one-size-fits-all title, Meditation For Dummiesis the best book on meditation I've read -- at once subtle andcomprehensive, spiritually sensitive yet pragmatic. Be prepared for aneasy-to-read, good-humored, and discerning guide on the journey ofdiscovering your true nature through the ancient but timely art ofmeditation.



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