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Thick Face, Black Heart: The Warrior Philosophy for Conquering the Challenges of Business and Life
$14.99
What Ching-ning Chu has here is the quintessential self-improvement book. She speaks to issues that no one is learning in college, issues that must be brought up to the living way before experience gets to them. It is a sad, sad state of affairs that the knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to the reader in Chu's book are not realized by the majority until they run up against them in real life. Oftentimes this is too late. The material in Chu's book needs to be understood beforehand, before any life beyond school has been experienced so that students don't have to struggle and fail as much as they do. Unfortunately, few will be exposed to this material, a major failing in our educational systems.

Now, onto the book . . .

What Chu has here is not set-to-fail conditioning, mantras, chants, or daily / hourly affirmations. These are nice and may be effective to a degree, but the problem is that the core issue is left unaddressed as chants and mantras merely apply band aids. What needs to be addressed, as Chu states, is a deeper understanding of self. How's this done? Through spiritual manifestation, a going deeper to innate, core understandings (personal) that abscond with any arbitrary, preconceived, subjective notions of socially accepted standards.

What's all that mean? That people make up rules that satisfy them and often shore up personal failings or aid them more than they aid or enhance the majority.

What Chu has here is a very down-to-earth, practical, challenging work that will aid one in being successful in life. Here Chu is not just dispensing information or impractical theory but rather that which will aid the individual in being more successful in their relationships, job, life. This is not easy-fix self-help pablum, but rather practical information that takes time to master. Remember, if it's too easy, especially when it comes to long lasting, self-improvement, it's most likely not useful.

And even though she may miss on occasion, by and large she is on the mark. A must read, especially for those just cutting their teeth on their working life.

Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxel, Cowan, Liang; Concon (1995) [Highlights]
$7.99
I bought this album simply for Ying Huang. And I was not disappointed. It's such a pleasure to listen to her voice: a purity of tone, a slight whisper sometimes at the start of a phrase, another something that I can't describe that happens when a long phrase is ending - a new tone, one so beautiful it can only be heard for perhaps 8 seconds in 75 minutes of album. Ying Huang's voice is incredibly mature - not in an academic or learned sense, but innately so, as though this maturity had been with her all throughout her life. She knows exactly what she's doing, but knows intuitively. It seems a love of singing has combined with some genetic gifts, creating a singer so wonderful that sometimes I doubt whether we are actually allowed to hear her. But we can, in this and several other albums. If I had millions of dollars I would produce a Ying Huang album every 6 months. My conscience now asks if this is true - shouldn't I give it to those in need? "Perhaps", I answer, "But the world will truly be better off with more of Ying Huang". She is a missionary for the soul whose message is beautiful as well as believable.My only worry was that there was not enough Ying Huang on the album. The other singers and musicians are great. Only, I don't really know this. Compared with Ying Huang everybody else is reduced 10 fold. You only want to hear her, and when another part is sung you exclaim "No, what? why is that man shouting?!!". There is a nice duet somewhere in there though. I suppose the best way to sum this all up is with a quote from one fine reviewer (who is a lot more economical than I) It's a good album "especially for the Ying Huang..."

On the Beat
$29.95
Part of Ning Ying s Beijing Trilogy, ON THE BEAT offers a humorous look at the daily grind of a Beijing police station through the perspective of two mismatched police partners.
Ying s Beijing Trilogy follows three generations of residents as they respond to the fast-paced lifestyle and rapid changes of China s capital city. I Love Beijing focuses on the heartbreak of young love, For Fun concerns the elderly and China s disappearing traditions and cultural values, and On the Beat offers a humorous look at the everyday lives of middle-aged adults.

Smart Start-Ups: How Entrepreneurs and Corporations Can Profit by Starting Online Communities
$24.95
I am well on my way of building a new business involving mobile communities. I am a technology expert, and was looking for a validation of my business ideas. This book not only put me at ease, but also provided with many helpful business recipes and monetization strategies. After reading it, I went back and started reworking my business plan; it is now much more sane and sound than I could ever hoped for. The book is not intended to tell the technology side of the story; it is all about business. I suggest following it up with David's more recent "The Social Network Business Plan"; it provides further insight on building various social communities.