Dean Baker, codirector of the Center for Economic and Policy Research recounts the strategies used by the country's top economic policymakers to conceal their failure to recognize the housing bubble or take steps to rein it in before it grew to unprecedented levels, resulting in the loss of millions of jobs, homes, and the life savings of tens of millions of people. He quashes dire warnings of looming rampant inflation and spiraling debt with solid historic evidence to the contrary—evidence that supports more stimulus, not less. He reveals the evolving role of the U.S. dollar in today's global economy and lays down cogent arguments about why the dollar will fall in value. With a dose of optimism, Baker outlines a thoughtful progressive program for rebuilding the economy and reshaping the financial system, including new financial transaction taxes that will reduce or eliminate economic waste while providing stimulus and incentives where and when they are most needed.

Dean Baker, codirector of the Center for Economic and Policy Research recounts the strategies used by the countrys top economic policymakers to conceal their failure to recognize the housing bubble or take steps to rein it in before it grew to unprecedented levels, resulting in the loss of millions of jobs, homes, and the life savings of tens of millions of people. He quashes dire warnings of looming rampant inflation and spiraling debt with solid historic evidence to the contraryevidence that supports more stimulus, not less. With a dose of optimism, Baker outlines a thoughtful progressive program for rebuilding the economy and reshaping the financial system, including new financial transaction taxes that will reduce or eliminate economic waste while providing stimulus and incentives where and when they are most needed. 

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Recounting controversial First Amendment cases from the Red Scare era to Citizens United, William Bennett Turner—a Berkeley law professor who has argued three cases before the Supreme Court—shows how we’ve arrived at our contemporary understanding of free speech. His strange cast of heroes and villains, some drawn from cases he has litigated, includes Communists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ku Klux Klansmen, the world’s leading pornographer, prison wardens, dogged reporters, federal judges, a computer whiz, and a countercultural comedian. This is a fascinating look at how the scope of our First Amendment freedoms has evolved and the colorful characters behind some of the most important legal decisions of modern times. “Turner tells fascinating stories of unlikely heroes and explains difficult legal issues clearly and concisely, educating and entertaining at the same time.”—Elizabeth Farnsworth, The PBS News Hour

Recounting controversial First Amendment cases from the Red Scare era to Citizens United, William Bennett Turner shows how weve arrived at our contemporary understanding of free speech. His strange cast of heroes and villains, some drawn from cases he has litigated, includes Communists, Jehovahs Witnesses, Ku Klux Klansmen, the worlds leading pornographer, prison wardens, dogged reporters, federal judges, a computer whiz, and a countercultural comedian. This is a fascinating look at how the scope of our First Amendment freedoms has evolved and the colorful characters behind some of the most important legal decisions of modern times.

For the second time this decade, the U.S. economy id sinking into a recession due to the collapse of a financial bubble. The most recent calamity will lead to a downturn deeper and longer than the stock market crash of 2001.

Dean Baker's Plunder and Blunder chronicles the growth and collapse of the stock and housing bubbles and explains how policy blunders and greed led to the catastrophic --but completely predictable --market meltdowns. An expert guide to recent economic history, Baker offers policy prescriptions to help prevent similar financial disasters.

Plunder and Blunder chronicles the growth and collapse of the stock and housing bubbles, explains how policy changes since 1980 laid the groundwork for catastrophicbut completely predictablemarket meltdowns, and offers prescriptions for avoiding these disasters in the future. Dean Baker argues not only that competent economists should have recognized the developing housing bubble, but also that policy makers and the media cheerfully neglected those economists who did predict danger. Baker doesnt engage in 20-20 hindsight, but thoroughly documents how fundamental policy shifts destabilized the economy and eroded the broad prosperity of the post-war period. His expert analysis explains the outcomes clearly so we can prevent similar financial disasters.

Every business understands the value of connecting its top leaders to other established and high-potential leaders in the organization. Becton, Dickinson and Company had its leaders make this vital connection in a unique and highly effective way -- through teaching.

Offers a compelling implementation roadmap and includes detailed plans, worksheets, exercises, complete sample training outlines, and other useful tools that speed the transition to leaders as teachers

Dozens of sidebars throughout the book present the participation experiences of leaders at all levels, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and personal testimonials of those who have benefited from participation in the leaders as teacher program.

Most business professionals understand the value of connecting their top leaders to other established and high potential leaders in the organization. Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a $6.5 billion medical technology company with 28,000 employees, believes its leaders should make this vital connection in a unique and highly effective way – through teaching. Leaders as Teachers chronicles BD’s 8-year journey to create and deploy a leadership development program that relies on all top leaders (even its CEO) to train other leaders. The initiative, led by author Edward Betof , BD’s vice president and chief learning officer, has produced dramatic results, including measurable business results, a stronger and more supportive learning environment, improved communications and strengthened organizational culture, a more adaptive and change-receptive leadership team, and direct cost savings for the organization.

In addition to its compelling story of change, Leaders as Teachers offers a roadmap for other organization wishing to implement and benefit from BD’s experience. This complete roadmap includes detailed advice on how to introduce the leaders as teachers program and advice on how to overcome resistance to change; how to select, recruit, and train new leaders for the program; and how to evaluate the effectiveness of a fully functioning program. The book provides all the necessary tools, including detailed plans, worksheets, exercises, complete sample training outlines, and extra materials that speed the transition to leaders as teachers and take full advantage of BD’s extensive experience. Dozens of sidebars throughout the book present the participation experiences of BD’s leaders at all levels, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and personal testimonials of those who have benefited from participation in the leaders as teacher program.

•    Offers a compelling implementation roadmap and includes detailed plans, worksheets, exercises, complete sample training outlines, and other useful tools that speed the transition to leaders as teachers
•    Dozens of sidebars throughout the book present the participation experiences of leaders at all levels, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and personal testimonials of those who have benefited from participation in the leaders as teacher program.

Most business professionals understand the value of connecting their top leaders to other established and high potential leaders in the organization. Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a $6.5 billion medical technology company with 28,000 employees, believes its leaders should make this vital connection in a unique and highly effective way – through teaching. Leaders as Teachers chronicles BD’s 8-year journey to create and deploy a leadership development program that relies on all top leaders (even its CEO) to train other leaders. The initiative, led by author Edward Betof , BD’s vice president and chief learning officer, has produced dramatic results, including measurable business results, a stronger and more supportive learning environment, improved communications and strengthened organizational culture, a more adaptive and change-receptive leadership team, and direct cost savings for the organization.

In addition to its compelling story of change, Leaders as Teachers offers a roadmap for other organization wishing to implement and benefit from BD’s experience. This complete roadmap includes detailed advice on how to introduce the leaders as teachers program and advice on how to overcome resistance to change; how to select, recruit, and train new leaders for the program; and how to evaluate the effectiveness of a fully functioning program. The book provides all the necessary tools, including detailed plans, worksheets, exercises, complete sample training outlines, and extra materials that speed the transition to leaders as teachers and take full advantage of BD’s extensive experience. Dozens of sidebars throughout the book present the participation experiences of BD’s leaders at all levels, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and personal testimonials of those who have benefited from participation in the leaders as teacher program.

Provides a complete overview and practical strategies on a full range of leadership topics.

Featuring a who's who of leadership gurus, The ASTD Leadership Handbook is an exciting compilation of insights, ideas, and tools that will enable individuals, teams, and organizations to fully develop their leadership capabilities. It provides a complete overview of leadership and covers a full range of topics, including competencies, development, attributes, and current challenges, taking a broad view of what leadership means. Editor Elaine Biech and her team worked to carefully match up topics with the leading authorities: William Byham on leadership development, Ken Blanchard on ethics, Bill George on authenticity, John Kotter on leading change, Marshall Goldsmith on coaching, Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood on getting results, Patrick Lencioni on teams, Leongard Goodstein on strategic planning, Frances Hesselbein on leading the workforce of the future, and many more.

The ASTD Leadership Handbook's five sections -- Leadership Competencies, Leadership Development, Characteristics of Successful Leaders, Contemporary Leadership, and the Global Role of Leadership -- cover all the major leadership areas. Chapters are written from a practical perspective, enabling readers to immediately put the wisdom and experience of the authors to use in their own lives and organizations. The book also includes three dozen tools to help you apply the concepts, such as John Kotter's Eight-Step Change Model, Bill Gentry's Checklist for Avoiding Leader Derailment, Marshall Goldsmith's Mini Coaching Survey, Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evan's Jerk Checklist, and Leonard Goodstein's Applied Strategic Planning Model. These tools are available as free downloads on the book's accompanying website.

This handbook sets itself apart in a crowded field by emphasizing leadership development and providing practical approaches to address this crucial need. When you pick up The ASTD Leadership Handbook you hold amost 2,000 years of experience in your hands. This will surely be the definitive leadership resource for many years to come.

Selected chapters from The ASTD Leadershipp Handbook are also available for sale in PDF format: Leadership Whitepapers.

• Provides a complete overview and practical strategies on a full range of leadership topics

• Contributors include more than forty-five renowned experts in the leadership field

• Includes more than sixty activities, tools, and assessments for application of principles and concepts

Offers accessible, practical advice for getting past barriers to team success

Focuses on both team members and team leaders

Features a wealth of assessments and tools to help implement the steps and chart progress along the way

Most projects or initiatives in today’s organizations begin with the formation of a team. Indeed, the global nature of doing business today demands that people perform well together as cross-functional and cross-cultural teams. Teams need to be able to connect quickly, determine what needs to be done, identify obstacles and overcome them, and meet deadlines and goals. Positive collaboration is essential. Yet the majority of resources available for this core business activity are long on description and short on implementation.

You’ll find this missing practical, east-to-implement advice in 10 Steps to Successful Teams. Using a holistic, process-oriented approach, this book carefully guides readers through building strong new teams and improving even the best existing ones. The straightforward, accessible steps can be followed in sequence, or you can go directly to the step that addresses your particular, immediate need. Renie McClay includes extensive assessments and tools created just for this book to help identify roles on the team, improve communication, track progress, encourage creativity, work virtually, deal with problems, celebrate success, and more. You will find individual team member and leader self-assessments to help focus the team on getting results and identify areas for improvement.

This book was written for both team leaders and team members. Each of the ten steps has content and specific tips for both audiences. This is no accident. Being a great team member plays just as important a role in the success of any team effort as being a great leader. This book can be used by individuals on a team or by the entire team as a developmental tool.

An effective team can unleash a collective intelligence and energy that is far more than the sum of its parts. McClay’s 10 Steps to Successful Teams is a concise, instantly actionable guide that can help any organization reap the powerful benefits of effective, engaged teamwork.

Offers accessible, practical advice for getting past barriers to team success

Focuses on both team members and team leaders

Features a wealth of assessments and tools to help implement the steps and chart progress along the way

 

Most projects or initiatives in today s organizations begin with the formation of a team. Indeed, the global nature of doing business today demands that people perform well together as cross-functional and cross-cultural teams. Teams need to be able to connect quickly, determine what needs to be done, identify obstacles and overcome them, and meet deadlines and goals. Positive collaboration is essential. Yet the majority of resources available for this core business activity are long on description and short on implementation.

You ll find this missing practical, east-to-implement advice in 10 Steps to Successful Teams. Using a holistic, process-oriented approach, this book carefully guides readers through building strong new teams and improving even the best existing ones. The straightforward, accessible steps can be followed in sequence, or you can go directly to the step that addresses your particular, immediate need. Renie McClay includes extensive assessments and tools created just for this book to help identify roles on the team, improve communication, track progress, encourage creativity, work virtually, deal with problems, celebrate success, and more. You will find individual team member and leader self-assessments to help focus the team on getting results and identify areas for improvement.

This book was written for both team leaders and team members. Each of the ten steps has content and specific tips for both audiences. This is no accident. Being a great team member plays just as important a role in the success of any team effort as being a great leader. This book can be used by individuals on a team or by the entire team as a developmental tool.

An effective team can unleash a collective intelligence and energy that is far more than the sum of its parts. McClay s 10 Steps to Successful Teams is a concise, instantly actionable guide that can help any organization reap the powerful benefits of effective, engaged teamwork.