Kirkpatrick

The Right Hand of God (Fire of Heaven Trilogy)
$7.99
Last book left me a bit frustrated - the plot was not completely thought out and I was left with a few questions, e.g. who or what exactly was Hal? There were too many holes in the plot and it spoiled what was overall a good yarn. I thought the author spent too much time on the landscape and maps and not enough on developing the characters.

In the Earth Abides the Flame (Fire of Heaven)
$7.99
Kirkpatrick tells a great story and creates a vibrant world. For those that love a good description, and not just the action, the realm of Faltha comes to life. Only a few fantasy worlds can beat this, and I'm thinking Tolkien, GRR Martin, Donaldson and Jordan. Book two continues the tale.

Technical Analysis: The Complete Resource for Financial Market Technicians
$89.99
This is a very good book on technical analysis. The book is reminiscent of a college text. It is well written with goals for each chapter, lots of pertinent examples and questions and exercises at the end of chapters for reinforcement.

A must have for any student of technical analysis.

Evaluating Training Programs (Volume 1 of 2) (EasyRead Large Edition): The Four Levels
$31.99
Donald and James Kirkpatrick's work is an update of the classic reference book that forms the foundation of current training evaluation practice. It begins by describing the initial activities of understanding the resources available in your organization and obtaining management support for training evaluation. Chapters three through six teach readers how to measure training outcomes at four different levels:

- Reaction - What is the "customer satisfaction" of training attendees?
- Learning - What attitudes, knowledge, or skills did they gain?
- Behavior - What do they do differently on the job?
- Results - How does training make a difference to the organization?

The book closes with a chapter advising readers how to use training evaluation data to forge a chain of evidence that supports the value of training--or points to a need for change.

This is an excellent, practical introduction to the essentials of training evaluation. Motivated readers may want to follow up with Implementing the Four Levels: A Practical Guide for Effective Evaluation of Training Programs, which contains case studies and additional guidance in implementing the four levels evaluation model.

Jack Phillips and his colleagues have extended the Kirkpatrick model to include strategies for determining the return on investment in training. Their technical work is well documented in Handbook of Training Evaluation and Measurement Methods. See also the forthcoming Metrics That Matter: What CEOs Really Think About Learning Investments for their latest advice about how to talk to management about training value.