Professional

Landscape Architecture

laryssah — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:23:52 +0000

The most comprehensive, current guide to the theory and practice of

Landscape Architecture

Filled with more than 400 contemporary full-colour images and completely revised and updated, Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition, remains the quintessential resource on planning for the human use of land in harmony with the environment. The book presents a systematic approach to the creation of more usable, efficient, and attractive outdoor spaces and places. Teaching diagrams, plans, photographs, and graphics—including the works of many of the world’s leading landscape architects and firms—are featured throughout. This thoroughly modernized classic offers new coverage of:

Sustainability
Climate change and global warming
Water preservation and water rights
Land reuse and brownfield redevelopment
GIS mapping
Invasive species
Urban agriculture and urban forestry
Stormwater management
Low-impact design
Complete streets
New urbanism, smart growth, and traditional new development

Landscape Architecture discusses every aspect of planning, design, installation, implementation, and maintenance with full details on:

The human habitat and sustainability
Climate
Water
Land
Vegetation
The visual landscape
Topography
Community planning and growth management
Rational land use planning
Urban design
Site planning
Site spaces
Circulation
Structures
Landscape planting

This edition preserves the essential character and timelessness of the original classic while incorporating up-to-date advancements in the profession.

About the Authors:

John Ormsbee Simonds (Deceased) was one of the Twentieth Century’s most important figures in landscape architecture and environmental planning. He was recognized worldwide for his visionary thinking and innovative spirit. Mr. Simonds’ work and career spanned over 70 years, bridging an era during which the profession of landscape architecture expanded from a small number of individuals in the early 1900s to the more than 31,000 in the United States today. Mr. Simonds was President and a Fellow of ASLA (The American Society of Landscape Architects) and the recipient of its highest honor—the ASLA Medal.

Barry W. Starke, FASLA, AICP (Casanova, VA) is President, Earth Design Associates, Inc., a multidisciplinary landscape architecture/land use planning and architecture firm. He has received numerous medals/awards for his work as a landscape architect and has authored/co-authored/contributed to several publications in addition to co-authoring the current edition, along with the late John Ormsbee Simonds, of Landscape Architecture: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design.

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For publicity or to arrange interviews, please contact Laryssa Hulcio, PR Coordinator, at laryssa.hulcio@mheducation.com or 905-430-5151

Influencer

laryssah — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:30:53 +0000

An INFLUENCER leads change.
An INFLUENCER replaces bad behaviours with powerful new skills.
An INFLUENCER makes things happen.
This is what it takes to be an INFLUENCER.

Whether you’re a CEO, a parent, or merely a person who wants to make a difference, you probably wish you had more influence with the people in your life. But most of us stop trying to make change happen because we believe it is too difficult, if not impossible. We learn to cope rather than learning to influence.

From the bestselling authors who taught the world how to have Crucial Conversations comes the new edition of Influencer, a thought-provoking book that combines the remarkable insights of behavioural scientists and business leaders with the astonishing stories of high-powered influencers from all walks of life. Readers will learn each and every step of the influence process–including robust strategies for making change inevitable in their personal life, their business, and their world. They will also learn how to:

Identify high-leverage behaviours that lead to rapid and profound change
Apply strategies for changing both thoughts and actions
Marshal six sources of influence to make change inevitable

Influencer takes readers on a fascinating journey from San Francisco to Thailand to South Africa, where they’ll see how seemingly “insignificant” people are making incredibly significant improvements in solving problems others would think impossible. They will also learn how savvy folks make change not only achievable and sustainable, but inevitable. They’ll discover breakthrough ways of changing the key behaviours that lead to greater safety, productivity, quality, and customer service.

No matter who they are or what they do, they’ll never learn a more valuable or important set of principles and skills. Once they tap into the power of influence, they can reach out and help others work smarter, grow faster, live, look, and feel better–and even save lives. The sky is the limit . . . for an Influencer.

About the Authors:

Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler (Provo, UT) are the leaders of VitalSmarts, an innovator in best practices training products and services that has taught over two million people and worked with more than 300 of the Fortune 500 companies. For more information, visit www.vitalsmarts.com.

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For publicity or to arrange interviews, please contact Laryssa Hulcio, PR Coordinator, at laryssa.hulcio@mheducation.com or 905-430-5151

The Killing Zone

laryssah — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:12:06 +0000

This guide for new pilots identifies the pitfalls waiting inside the killing zone, the period from 50 to 350 flight hours when they leave their instructors behind and fly as pilot in command for the first few times. Although they’re certified, many of these unseasoned aviators are unaware of the potential accidents that lie ahead while trying to build decision-making skills on their own — many times falling victim to inexperience.

Based on the first in-depth scientific study of pilot behaviour and general aviation flying accidents in over 20 years, The Killing Zone offers practical advice to help identify the time frame in which pilots are most likely to die. Author and aviation specialist Paul Craig offers rare insights into the special risks new pilots face and includes updated preventive strategies for flying through the killing zone alive. He alerts readers to the 12 mistakes likely to be fatal, and provides guidelines for avoiding, diverting, correcting, and managing dangers. The book also includes a “Pilot Personality Self-Assessment Exercise” for an individualized survival strategy.

About the Author:

Paul A. Craig, Ed.D. (Franklin, TN), longtime pilot, FAA award-winning flight instructor, and aviation educator and author, designed and conducted the research described in this book based on his lifelong concern with the high accident rate among general aviation pilots, and in the process of earning his doctorate in education, with special emphasis on pilot decision-making and flight training. A Gold Seal Multiengine Flight Instructor and twice FAA District Flight Instructor of the Year, he has spoken widely to flight instructors and others on improving flight training and safety.

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For publicity or to arrange interviews, please contact Laryssa Hulcio, PR Coordinator, at laryssa.hulcio@mheducation.com or 905-430-5151

12 Disciplines of Leadership Excellence

laryssah — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:53:46 +0000

We’ve all heard the phrase “born leader.” Leadership experts Brian Tracy and Dr. Peter Chee are here to debunk the myth that you either have it or you don’t. That leadership is a talent bestowed on some and not on others. That in order to lead effectively, you have to have it in your genes.

The authors assert that great leaders are made, not born. Everyone has the ability to shape himself or herself into the kind of person who enables and uplifts others to reach their highest potential–and in 12 Disciplines of Leadership Excellence, they reveal exactly how readers can achieve it.

It all starts with discipline. In this groundbreaking book, the authors break down great leadership into 12 disciplines, including:

Clarity . . . about who you are, where you are going, and how to get there
Control . . . build and bolster your sense of personal responsibility and self-mastery
Character . . . dedicate yourself to passionately build trust with honesty and integrity
Competence . . . commit to constant never-ending improvement and learning
Caring . . . because when you care, your people care in building great working relationships
Courage . . . moving out of your comfort zone to embrace change and make tough decisions

Readers should do things one at a time, not trying to take on too much at once. Readers should also choose a discipline and live it until it becomes a habit of excellence. Then move to the next one. It will take time–but all life-improving endeavors do.

By reading this practical, inspirational guide readers will be one step closer to becoming a highly effective leader.

About the Authors:

Brian Tracy is the founder of Brian Tracy International and the author of over 56 books in 38 languages and numerous bestselling books including the Maximum Achievement, How the Best Leaders Lead, and Now…Build a Great Business. He is also the author and narrator of over 500 audio and video programs including bestselling programs, such as The Psychology of Achievement and How to Start and Succeed in Your Own Business.

Dr. Peter Chee is the president and CEO of ITD World with more than 26 years of experience in training and developing leaders from over 80 countries. He is the Chief Mentor Coach and master trainer of Jack Canfield and John Maxwell programs, the inventor of the Situational Coaching Model (SCM), the coauthor of Coaching for Breakthrough Success with Jack Canfield, and the coauthor of Becoming an Effective Mentoring Leader with Dr. William Rothwell.

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For publicity or to arrange interviews, please contact Laryssa Hulcio, PR Coordinator, at laryssa.hulcio@mheducation.com or 905-430-5151

The Gamification Revolution

laryssah — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:03:37 +0000

Gamification: It’s the hottest new strategy in business and for a good reason–it’s helping leading companies create unprecedented engagement with customers and employees. Gamification uses the latest innovations from game design, loyalty programs, and behavioural economics to help leaders cut through the noise and transform their organization into a lean, mean machine ready to fight the battle for user attention and loyalty.

With The Gamification Revolution readers will learn how top companies:

Recruit and retain the best talent from the gamer generation and beyond
Train employees and drive excellence with noncash incentives
Cut through the market noise and ignite consumer sales growth
Generate unprecedented customer loyalty without breaking the bank

Drawing inspiration from the most popular games of all time–from Angry Birds to World of Warcraft—authors Gabe Zichermann and Joselin Linder reveal the secrets of market leaders that readers can apply immediately to their business.

As a bonus, the book gives full access to The Gamification Revolution app–a great way to optimize and enhance their experience with videos, tips, and social tools, including the ability to easily share the best ideas with their colleagues and workgroup.

Additionally, readers will learn the new rules of engagement that are guaranteed to generate excitement and enthusiasm in their employees and customers. They will understand how game designers predict and motivate behaviours–and how they can achieve the results they are looking for. Also included in the book is a winning selection of fascinating case studies, best practices, and game-ready tools of the trade readers can easily apply to their specific needs.

It’s all here in one ready-to-use strategy guide filled with the best ideas and pitfalls leaders can avoid. If they’re going to play the game, this is how they play it. To win.

About the Authors:

Gabe Zichermann (New York, NY) is the world’s foremost expert on using game thinking and game mechanics to engage customers and employees. As CEO of Gamification Co and Dopamine, he has helped several Fortune 500 companies set the pace for the gamified business experience today, including SAP, Cadbury, Richoh, Aetna, Google, Gap, The New York Times, Toyota, Honda, and many others.
Joselin Linder (New York, NY) coauthored the acclaimed Game-Based Marketing with Gabe Zichermann. Her work has appeared on NPR’s This American Life, AOL, and gamification.co.

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For publicity or to arrange interviews, please contact Laryssa Hulcio, PR Coordinator, at laryssah@mcgrawhill.ca or 905-430-5151

Coyote Lost at Sea

laryssah — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:56:47 +0000

He came to ocean racing late; as an American in a sport dominated by European sailors he was an underdog. And yet he won his class in the 1986-87 Around Alone 24,000-mile race, beating competitors with more experience, among them Hal Roth. To win Mike Plant sailed through hurricanes, surfed his boats down six-story waves, and survived a capsizing in 45-foot seas in the Indian Ocean. Plant’s life was lived with great passion; some would say a recklessness. Coyote Lost At Sea (written by Mike Plant’s sister Julia Plant) explores the events and circumstances leading to Plant’s phenomenal success as a singlehanded ocean-racer, as well as the factors contributing to the failure of his high-tech boat, Coyote, found floating upside down, with hull intact–except that the boat’s 8,400 pound ballast bulb, designed to keep the boat upright (held on with six, three-quarter-inch stainless steel bolts threaded through a metal plate embedded in the carbon fiber keel blade) was missing. Light, made of cutting-edge materials, and fast, the new boat and its preparation were controversial; Coyote Lost at Sea explores the factors that led Plant to gamble everything on her.

Plant led an adrenaline-fueled life, full of seemingly suicidal adventures and yet his charismatic personality attracted hundreds of friends. Told in the style of Into the Wild, Coyote Lost at Sea transcends the sailing story and explores the intimate details of Plant’s intense personality, upbringing, and experiences that created the fiercely original character of Mike Plant.

No other books have been allowed to be written–this is the only one that finally explores the mystery of Mike Plant.

About the Author:

Julia Plant (San Diego, CA) is the perfect one to tell the story. As the younger sister of Mike she is a minor character in the story; she was there while Plant the hero was alive, and she can and does expose some of the underside of the hero worship. And yet her writing is professional, distanced, and perfectly suited to the tone of a mystery with many unanswered questions. Julia has written a play that was produced both in the US and abroad; she lectures widely in her chosen field of art history.

From the Author:

When my older brother, Mike Plant, died at sea in 1992, just before his 42th birthday, he had made a big name for himself in the strange, and, seemingly impossible, sport of single-handed sailing around the world. Before his racing career took off, my relationship with Mike was an enormous part of my life and, particularly, a big part of my “coming of age” years: my mid- teens to my mid-twenties. His sudden death left me feeling bereft, and I wasn’t ready to let him go. Writing a book about him gave me the illusion of having him in my life.

As his sister, it was important to me that people understand who Mike was on an intimate level, as well as, who he was before he found his passion. Although he had dreamed about sailing around the world his whole life, he lived a lot of his life before he even knew about solo, long distance racing. He didn’t actually have a typical ocean sailor’s background. He grew up in Minnesota, a long ways from the sea, and he did not begin sailing on the ocean, let alone, solo, until he was thirty-six, the same year he won Class 2 in the 2^nd BOC Challenge Around the World. He did realize his dream and the path that he took was wild, compelling and definitely worth writing a book about.

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For publicity or to arrange interviews, please contact Laryssa Hulcio, PR Coordinator, at laryssah@mcgrawhill.ca or 905-430-5151

Disney U

laryssah — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:29:29 +0000

In helping Walt Disney create “The Happiest Place on Earth”, Van France and his dedicated team started a business revolution in 1955 that eventually became the Disney University. Through his transformation of the profession of employee training and development, Van learned numerous lessons along the way, but he also shared many. Those lessons, which continue to be the very essence of the Disney University, have over the course of 55 years withstood the test of time. They are still alive and well and in use at all Disney properties worldwide. Today, business leaders in Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, non-profits and government agencies emulate what Disney University first established because they find Van’s lessons invaluable.

Doug Lipp’s book, DISNEY U examines how Van France’s timeless company values and the leadership lessons he conceived and then applied have turned into a training and development dynasty: the Disney University.

The book reveals the heart of the Disney Culture and describes the company’s values and operational philosophies that support the world-famous Disney brand. These organizational values drive the strategies that are the basis for Disney’s success. In addition to their tireless devotion and dogged insistence upon maintaining those core values, the game-changing business concepts that Van and his team created have helped build an organizational culture that is envied world-wide. To this day, the organization that Van created continues to turn out some of the most engaged, loyal, wildly passionate and customer-centered employees the business world has ever seen.

Doug Lipp is the ideal person to write about the Disney University. He spent the bulk of his career at the Disney University with Van France as his primary mentor. He was a member of the training department in the Disney University at Disneyland. He helped create the first international version of the Disney University as an expatriate manager in Japan at Tokyo Disneyland. And he was then promoted to lead the Training Department at the Disney University at the corporate headquarters of The Walt Disney Company, the Disney Studios. Presently, Doug consults with a number of Fortune 100 corporations, and is actively engaged giving talks about the lessons he learned at the Disney University. On average he is booked to speak at about 75 major conferences around the world annually.

About the Author:

Doug Lipp is an internationally acclaimed expert on customer service, leadership, change management and global competitiveness, specializing in the lessons he learned at the Disney U.

Leadership Lessons from the Cherokee Nation

laryssah — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:29:22 +0000

When Chad Smith became Principal Chief, the Cherokee Nation was a chaotic and dysfunctional entity. By the end of his tenure, 12 years later, the Nation had grown its assets from $150 million to $1.2 billion, increased business profits 2,000 percent, created 6,000 jobs, and dramatically advanced its education, language, and cultural preservation programs.

How could one team influence such vast positive change?

The Cherokee Nation’s dramatic transformation was the result of Smith’s principle-based leadership approach and his unique “Point A to Point B model”–the simple but profound idea that the more you focus on the final goal, the more you will accomplish . . . and the more you will learn along the way. In other words, “look at the end rather than getting caught up in tanglefoot.”

In Leadership Lessons from the Cherokee Nation, Smith combines Cherokee wisdom handed down from generation to generation with a smart leadership approach that takes today’s very real issues into consideration. He explains why this leadership approach works and how readers can apply it to their own organization, whether business, government, or nonprofit. They will learn all the lessons that drive powerful leadership, including how to:

Be a lifelong learner
Solve problems with creativity and innovation
Recruit and develop strong leaders
Delegate wisely
Act with integrity and dignity
Don’t be distracted from your objective
Lead by example

More than a simple how-to leadership guide, Leadership Lessons from the Cherokee Nation offers a holistic approach to becoming a powerful leader inside and directing energy outward, in order to accomplish any goal the reader has in mind.

About the Author:

Chad Smith, the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1999-2011, has been a powerful force in building businesses and working toward self-sufficiency for Native American Nations. He has devoted the majority of his adult life to rebuilding the Cherokee Nation and helping Cherokees learn how to help themselves.

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For publicity or to arrange interviews, please contact Laryssa Hulcio, PR Coordinator, at laryssah@mcgrawhill.ca or 905-430-5151

Inspired People Produce Results

laryssah — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:57:00 +0000

The world of business is faster paced than it has ever been. Budgets are being slashed, competition is fierce, and the finance people are scrutinizing profitability and pointing fingers like never before. Pressure for results has never been greater.

What is the key to leadership in this high-stakes game? In a word, INSPIRATION. Employees are a company’s number-one asset, and the quality of a leader’s relationship with them will spell the difference between success and failure.

Written by leadership expert Jeremy Kingsley, Inspired People Produce Results reveals the secrets to leading in these times of great change. Kingsley explains the essential principles and skills for effective leadership in the twenty-first century: passion, purpose, loyalty, humility, patience, integrity, strong communication skills, establishing a safe working environment, and a commitment to giving personal attention to each team member.

If leaders inspire their people, they will unlock their staff’s potential. It’s the ingredient that enables readers to lead their teams to unprecedented success. The ability to inspire makes them more than a manager; it makes them a leader.

Inspired People Produce Results helps readers unlock incredible growth by:

FOCUSING on the passion that people need to succeed
EXAMINING the purpose and mindsets of great leaders
DISCOVERING the principles that can change the culture of a company

Fast-paced and enjoyable to read, this game-changing leadership guide focuses on a single, vital premise: success as a leader hinges on his or her ability to inspire.

Inspired People Produce Results provides the tools, the skills, and the inspiration readers need to lead their people and organization to greatness.

About the Author:

JEREMY KINGSLEY is one of the most sought after speakers in the country. Since 1995 he has spoken to more than 500,000 people at live events around the world, and he has delivered over 2,000 keynote speeches, his messages reaching millions through radio, television, and the Internet.

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For publicity or to arrange interviews, please contact Laryssa Hulcio, PR Coordinator, at laryssah@mcgrawhill.ca or 905-430-5151

The Canadian Guide to Will and Estate Planning

laryssah — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 23:36:11 +0000

We all know we need a will, one that is current and reflects our wishes. So why do two-thirds of Canadians still die without a will, of which 50 per cent have children – without a plan for passing on their assets the way they want? Why do Canadians still risk losing everything to creditors or the government, or certain relatives being awarded assets by provincial government formulas, none of which were the deceased’s intention? Approximately one out of four Canadians die suddenly, so advance will and estate planning is critical.

The Canadian Guide to Will and Estate Planning provides readers with insights and options, practical suggestions, and authoritative guidance. They can then discuss their customized and evolving needs and wishes with their professional advisors in an informed fashion, ensuring assets are protected and their family and beneficiary needs are met, while saving time, money, tax, stress, and anxiety.

The Canadian Guide to Will and Estate Planning is a comprehensive resource to educate and enlighten, and act as a catalyst to informed action. More information can be obtained at Gray’s website at: www.estateplanning.ca.

About the Authors:

Douglas Gray, LL.B., is an entrepreneur, a speaker, and an author of 25 bestselling business, real estate, and personal finance books. A former lawyer, he is now an educator on estate and retirement planning. Douglas lives in Vancouver. For more information, visit: www.estateplanning.ca.

John Budd, F.C.A., is a Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years experience in tax and estate planning. He is an investment advisor and portfolio manager with a leading wealth-management firm. John lives in Toronto. For more information, visit: www.cumberlandprivate.com.

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For publicity or to arrange interviews, please contact Laryssa Hulcio, PR Coordinator, at laryssah@mcgrawhill.ca or 905-430-5151