by Isokari Francis Ololo ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2013
A dependable though parochial reference for leaders looking to safely shepherd their flocks.
Ololo (The Quest for Distinction, 2013) offers leadership advice based on a God-oriented approach to life and business.
A shepherd leader, writes Ololo, needs a vision of where his flock should be going and then needs to lead them there safely. He supports this notion by drawing heavily from Scripture and the metaphorical shepherd frequently alluded to throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the first chapter, Ololo describes the traits that separate leaders (shepherds) from followers (sheep). Shepherds, Ololo contends, are servant-leaders who keep both their vision of the path ahead and the safety of their flock as their primary responsibilities. Sheep, on the other hand, would do well to submit to their shepherd’s will. Ololo extends the scriptural parallels further to align with the pacesetting leadership styles defined by psychologist Daniel Goleman. (Business management students may recognize similar categories as defined by Kurt Lewin and others.) The remaining chapters describe how each of these leadership styles can be applied to various areas, from business to parenting to government, without losing the shepherd or servant mindsets. Ololo ably showcases his knowledge of Scripture, and his carefully chosen references clearly illustrate his primary ideas: “Christ, the Chief Shepherd, in John 14:12, in a pacesetting manner, performed miracles and encouraged his followers to have faith and perform greater miracles than he had performed.” However, nonevangelical Christians, as well as non-Christians, may chafe at the text’s male-oriented language since there’s little effort made to address or portray women as leaders. The sheep metaphor may also be unappealing to readers who’d prefer to retain their individuality.
A dependable though parochial reference for leaders looking to safely shepherd their flocks.Pub Date: April 19, 2013
ISBN: 978-1470075514
Page Count: 268
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Oct. 22, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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BOOK REVIEW
by Geneen Roth ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1996
A dubious exploration of appetite as a metaphor in women's lives, from the author of When Food Is Love (1991), who conducts workshops on women, food, and self-esteem. According to Roth, women desire obsessively—a perfect body, success, love—instead of embracing themselves as they are and appreciating what they already have. A woman who overeats, for example, may be trying to fill a void within herself, not realizing that she already has what she needs. Roth gives examples from her own life: Having obtained what she thought she wanted—fame, a good man, a thin body, a life in scenic northern California—she still wasn't happy. Then she developed chronic fatigue syndrome and a vitamin deficiency that caused her hair to fall out, all of which made her realize that she should have appreciated her health while she had it. A series of chance disasters—an earthquake, a fire that nearly burned her house down—led her to understand that everything she has could easily be taken away, that her deepest satisfaction must come from herself. Though witty and lucid about her personal experience, Roth does, unfortunately, lapse into the occasional New Age, pseudo-Buddhist truism. Nor is it always obvious how particular parts of the narrative fit into her overall argument. Worse, the author can be downright maudlin: Anthropomorphic paeans to her cat's capacity for enlightened contentment, though mitigated by moments of self-mockery, get embarrassing after awhile. Roth's lack of self-consciousness about her own privilege is an even larger problem. It is easy enough to preach about finding happiness within yourself when you have what you always wanted from the world. But those who haven't found love, fame, rewarding work, or money may be less than sympathetic to the spiritual struggles of the ``woman who has everything'' and still isn't satisfied. (Author tour)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-525-94076-6
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
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by Geneen Roth
BOOK REVIEW
by Geneen Roth
by Alice Trillin ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 8, 1996
Alice Trillin was 38 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Bruno Navasky was 12 when he was diagnosed with cancer. Trillin wrote Bruno a letter of support and commiseration, which was saved for 20 years. Both survived their ordeals, and now the letter is being published, with illustrations by Ed Koren, for children and grown-ups alike who face cancer. Trillin is never patronizing; her blend of empathy, warmth, and simplicity are perfectly directed at her 12-year-old correspondent. On the vicissitudes of hospital life she writes, ``The thing that always astonished me was how incredibly well-behaved I was, even when I had to wait in the hallway until I thought I'd been abandoned.'' She allows Bruno to share her anger at being chosen for such a painful fate: ``After all, I am a reasonably nice person, had always done my best to behave myself, and there were all sorts of awful people wandering around perfectly healthy . . . while I had to lie in bed having tubes and needles stuck into me.'' Everyone needs a friend like Alice Trillin—and now everyone can have one.
Pub Date: May 8, 1996
ISBN: 1-56584-057-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: The New Press
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1996
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