Thursday, May 29, 2008

The paradox of choice


By Barry Schwartz

"Whether buying a pair of jeans or applying to college, everyday decisions, big and small, have become increasingly complex due to the abundance of choice with which we are presented...we assume that more choice means better options and greater satisfaction, but choice overload can make you question your decisions before you even make them, it can set you up for unrealistically high expectations, and it can make you blame yourself for failures. This can lead to decision-making paralysis, anxiety, and stress.

In this book, social scientist Schwartz explains at what point choice--the hallmark of individual freedom that we so cherish--becomes detrimental to our psychological and emotional well-being. He offers practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, focus on those that are important and ignore the rest, and derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make."

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The new leaders


By Daniel Goleman

In The new leaders: transforming the art of leadership into the science of results, Daniel Goleman (the author of Emotional Intelligence) explores the consequences of emotional intelligence for leaders and organisations and explains "how leaders can groom personal EI competencies and optimise organisational EI to ignite outstanding performance".

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Science and public policy


By Aynsley Kellow

"This book is an examination of a neglected form of scientific corruption - corruption by political attachment to noble causes...[I]t makes extensive use of peer-reviewed literature to explore scientific controversies and the role of politics in them."

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Balance, real-life strategies for work/life balance


By Isabella Allan et. al.

In this book, you will learn practical, real life strategies and techniques from a combination of work/life balance experts as well as everyday people, who have designed work/life balance systems that work.

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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Difficult conversations


By Douglas Stone et. al.

"Much as we try to avoid them, difficult conversations are part of life. And we often handle them badly. This ground-breaking book will give you the know how to tackle even the most challenging conversations:

Know when to speak and when to listen
Stop laying blame and start being positive
The role of feelings, yours and theirs
Say what you mean, don't make others guess
Understand what's not being said as well as what is
Transform a battle into a learning conversation"

Misty Mountain: Stanthorpe through time


By R. J. L. Adams

Rod Adams provides a fascinating history of the town of Stanthorpe. Carefully researched, the book includes chapters on the national parks in the area (Girraween, Sundown, Neighbours) and the development of the town into the cultural and fruit growing region it is today.

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Our iceberg is melting


By John Kotter

'Our iceberg is melting: changing and succeeding under any conditions' is a "simple fable about doing well in an ever-changing world". Based on the Eight Steps work of John Kotter, the fable is about a penguin colony in Antarctica who are facing very real change in their circmstances and the resistance they face to change.

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A cultural and conservation economy for northern Australia


By Hill, R. et. al.

Drawing on Canada's Ecotrust model for supporting the emergence of a conservation economy, this report presents the outcomes of a collaborative research project facilitated by the Australian Conservation Foundation to investigate the applicability of the concept for Indigenous and rural sustainable community development in northern Australia.

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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Natural surface trails by design


By Troy Scott Parker

'Natural surface trails by design: physical and human design essentials of sustainable, enjoyable trails' "comprehensively explains what actually happens on any natural surface trail - how we relate to the site; how trail use, natural forces, water and erosion affect the trail; how the trail affects us" etc.

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Times of change: A history of Caloundra City


By Gary McKay

""Times of Change" presents facts and fascinating stories for Caloundra City residents, visitors, students and historians, highlighted by over 200 historical images."

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Paradise: life on a Queensland goldfield


by Jonathan Prangnell et. al.

Paradise, a small town on the Burnett River in southeast Queensland, was a booming gold mining town in the late 1800's, but by the turn of the century had disappeared. Then, in 2002, "archaeologists from the University of Queensland were called in to salvage the site ahead of the construction of the Burnett River Dam. This book details the portrait of Paradise pieced together through their painstaking historical and archaeological research."

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Thursday, May 1, 2008

Climate Change: Getting it right


Committee for Economic Development of Australia

Drawing upon the expertise of climate change scientists from around the world, this report examines what we know about climate change and discusses risk management strategies.

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Trail Solutions


International Mountain Bicycling Association

An essential guide to building environmentally friendly trails for mountain bikers.

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