I've read at least six other Maxwell books, and this is the least memorable of all. It's not that there is a lack of content here...looking back through the book, there is a lot of good advice that would be valuable in developing your sphere of influence. It just seems to be an awkward assembly of borrowed wisdom that didn't stick once I closed the cover.

Maybe it's because the majority of the content is repeated from Maxwell's other books. It's not unusual to find two or three quotes or excerpts from other books on each page, which limits the amount of "original" material and seriously hampers the flow. It almost appears that Maxwell and Dornan wrote separately, then did their best to cut-and-paste the two scripts later.

The book considers four levels of influence: model, motivate, mentor and multiply. It does its best to weave those levels into ten chapters whose titles combine to spell "influencer" -- Integrity with people, Nurtures other people, Faith in people, Listens to people, Understands people, Enlarges people, Navigates for other people, Connects with people, Empowers people and Reproduces other influencers.

Perhaps this book would be more effective if you hadn't read any Maxwell books before. It would definitely be best to search through the book for individual nuggets of wisdom rather than try to pull one clear, solid message from these pages. Sadly, the nuggets that you pull are more likely to come from the quotes and excerpts than the original content. This isn't a bad book, but it's definitely not Maxwell's best.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Here John Maxwell has expanded his 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership into a 21-week study, using different biblical characters to illustrate each one of the 21 laws. Each week is broken down into five days, making it an excellent workplace study.

Lessons from Days 1 through 4 start with a thought for the day and a biblical passage, then close with a question for you to reflect on. Day 5 summarizes the week in brief sections that help you to absorb the week's material, sort it out, pray through it, apply it to your own life, and pass it on to another leader.

Obviously, this book is not aimed at the secular crowd, and is much more beneficial to those who have read the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. If you enjoyed the 21 laws and are comfortable with scripture, this study will dramatically enhance your ability to prayerfully apply the laws to your life and the lives of those around you. A great resource for Christian leaders.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Remember those old K-Tel albums, the collections of assorted artists gathered under a special theme? Y'know, Southern Fried Rock, Hits of the 80s, 24 Great Truckin' Songs...all those classics? (Just kidding.)

Imagine a collection of thirty leading Christian authors, sharing their insights on holiness, temptation and sexual purity. With 30 daily studies from the likes of J.I. Packer, Neil Anderson, Chuck Colson, Max Lucado, Bill Hybels, Charles Spurgeon, Bruce Wilkinson, Charles Swindoll and Randy Alcorn, there is no fluff here. Each day is an insightful, no-punches-pulled look into areas of a man's life that are very real, yet often difficult to address.

It doesn't say so on the cover, but this book is aimed at men. Female readers may want to have a peek in order to understand the temptations that the men in their lives face, but this is primarily a book for guys.

Men, are you ready to set yourself apart for God's special purposes? Are you ready to submit to His will, discipline yourself, break negative patterns, make better use of your time, become a better steward of His resources, resist temptation, gain self-control? Start with this 30-day journey and you will be well on your way to personal victory.

This book could also serve as an excellent launching pad. It is an opportunity to expose yourself to a number of Christian authors in a short amount of time, discover some of your favorite communicators, and start assembling your own personal library.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Whether you are an established leader or just getting started, there is something in here that will benefit you. By clearly defining leadership and its five levels, Maxwell starts you off with a strong understanding of the type of leader you can become, and how close you currently are to achieving it.

He then brings clarity to the obstacles that may be in your path and shows you how to clear them out of the way. He helps you to set your priorities, check your integrity, learn how to initiate positive change, and become a problem solver. He stresses the importance of attitude, people, vision and self-discipline. In the end, he shows you not only how to develop your own leadership ability, but how to start developing others as well.

Though sometimes choppy in its presentation, with maybe a few too many quotes and cliches, the content here is top notch. If you are a Maxwell reader, you will see repeats of this material in his other books. But then, some things are worth repeating.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Look around, and you will see that a lot of people in our society don't think. Our television shows have laugh tracks to tell us when something is supposed to be funny. Our coffee cups now warn us that the contents may be hot. Labels on our hair dryers remind us not to use them underwater. We are so used to having someone else do our thinking. What would happen if we woke up and started...thinking for a change?

Right away Maxwell establishes that successful people think differently than unsuccessful people. In Part I, he develops a foundation by explaining the merits of good, changed and intentional thinking. Part II reveals the 11 ways that successful people think -- big-picture instead of small, focused instead of scattered, creative instead of restrictive, realistic instead of fantasy, strategic instead of random, possibility instead of limited, reflective instead of impulsive, innovative instead of popular, shared instead of solo, unselfish instead of selfish, and bottom-line instead of wishful.

Each chapter explains one of these facets of thinking and allows you to evaluate yourself in each area. Maxwell then gives you action steps to develop that type of thinking in your life. This is an excellent resource to help you jump-start and expand your thinking beyond where it is today. If you are ready for a change, this book will get you thinking...for a change.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

When it comes to financial matters, do you find that you and your spouse speak a different language? Is one of you a spender, the other a saver? Would your marriage be stronger if you could somehow work as a team to manage your finances and get out of debt?

Notice that I didn't ask if your marriage would be stronger if you had more money. Mary Hunt aptly notes that money problems are about more than a lack of money. Money problems are the result of conflicting attitudes and habits, and indicate just how well you and your spouse communicate and combine the two.

Debt-Proof Your Marriage is written in three parts. Part 1 explains the relationship side of the equation, enabling you to prepare the groundwork for financial harmony. Part 2 gets into the numbers, starting off with six debt-proof principles that are powerful and easy to understand. Part 3 provides resources to help you apply parts 1 and 2.

All of this is written from a Biblical perspective, from someone who has walked the walk. Both frank and friendly, this is a sound message that will improve both your pocketbook and your marriage.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

At last, a book about "network marketing" that is more than just a bunch of sugary hype. Right from the start, Kiyosaki acknowledges that the network marketing business is not for everyone. He also admits that the industry has had (and will continue to have) a fringe population of greedy and/or crooked hucksters that drive the rest of us crazy and close many minds to its true benefits.

For someone exploring a network marketing opportunity for the first time, this book gives a solid, realistic foundation from which you can chart your course. For all those who have dived into multiple network marketing opportunities looking to make millions in a matter of weeks, and those who have dabbled for a couple of months, grown discouraged and quit, this book is a much-needed wake up call.

The title tells it all -- network marketing is not a "get rich quick" vehicle. Rather, it is a business school where the ultimate goal is personal growth. In this second edition, Kiyosaki presents eleven "hidden values" of a network marketing business. This is the ideal tool to help you look beyond the hype, see the network marketing opportunity for what it really is, and set realistic expectations for your personal success.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Several years ago I visited a trendy restaurant and ordered their chicken mango salad. Some delicious bits of chicken and mango arrived, nestled in a bizarre mishmash of strange colored and shaped lettuce. I politely picked through the lettuce and ate what I could endure, but the overall experience was one of confusion and disappointment. All those feelings came back when I read this book.

Robin Sharma provides life lessons via the fictional story of Jack Valentine, an advertising executive who is reunited with his long-lost father as they share a hospital room. On his deathbed, Cal Valentine sends Jack on a mystical journey to meet three mentors -- you guessed it -- a priest, a surfer and a CEO.

Writers such as Og Mandino and Paolo Coelho have mastered this style, delivering clear, profound messages through believable dialogue. Sharma doesn't come close here...the dialogue is stiff, unrealistic and unnatural. It is littered with dozens of profound quotes that deliver a great message, but send the hokey factor sky high. Success principles appear to have been cut from other sources and pasted in these pages with not much thought given to organization or flow.

The gist of Sharma's message is to submit to the will of "the universe" for your life and follow your true vocation. Some won't mind this message, but I was surprised to see that "God" is almost avoided like a four letter word in these pages, even by the priest.

Just like that chicken mango salad, there are some good nuggets to be found here, but you can save yourself the agony of picking through the jungle of lettuce by reading the summary on the last three pages.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Psalm 23 is probably one of the most familiar Bible passages, right up there with John 3:16. "The Lord is my shepherd..." Perhaps it is too familiar. Have we become so accustomed to hearing it that we have forgotten the wonderful promise it contains?

Traveling Light is a verse-by-verse exploration of Psalm 23, brought to life by comparing us to travelers weighed down with excess spiritual baggage. Each chapter identifies a different burden that we may be carrying in our life: flawed views of God, self-reliance, discontent, weariness, worry, hopelessness, guilt, arrogance, facing death, grief, fear, loneliness, shame, disappointment, envy, doubt and the longing for heaven.

This walk through the 23rd Psalm reminds and encourages us to take God at His word and release those burdens to Him. As usual, Lucado supports his material with plenty of scripture, sharp analogies and just the right amount of humor. For added impact, be sure to work through the study guide at the end of the book. Then get ready to lose some luggage.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

First published in 1937, this book is the result of 15 years of Dale Carnegie's research in human relations. When learned and applied, these 30 timeless principles will help you become more likable and influential in others' lives.

Millions of copies of this book have sold because the principles are basic and proven. Sure, some of the language is dated. Many of the characters and companies mentioned in these pages are no longer household names. Look beyond those quirks and you will find some of the most memorable and applicable people skills material ever produced.

With simple presentation and vivid examples, Carnegie deftly walks us through Fundamental Techniques in Handling People, Six Ways to Make People Like You, How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking, and How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment.

When material is this old and this good, it could sometimes be considered trite and nothing more than common knowledge. Don't fall into that trap. Until its principles become common practice in our lives, this book is just as necessary and effective today as it was more than six decades ago.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory