2009 State of the World

Scientists have predicted that we have only a few years to reverse the rise of greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid a catastrophic global warming. 2009 is a momentus year because nations throughout the world have finally agreed to negotiate a new climate agreement in Copenhagen late in the year. This book is intended to energize the national and international discussions by conveying the profound long-term consequences, both for people and for our planet, of our current behavior. The book includes six chapters that discuss the policies surrounding the global warming debate and 22 "Climate Connections" focus stories that show how many of the issues discussed are related to greenhouse gas emissions.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

2009 State of the World: Into a Warming World
The Worldwatch Institute
HC 59 .S734 2009

The Leadership Challenge

This book asserts that it is a "personal coach in a book." Based on extensive interviews with leaders at all levels in organizations from around the world, the authors emphasize that the fundamentals of leadership are not a fad. However, the context in which leaders must operate has changed tremendously. This book focuses around the concept that leadership at its most basic is a relationship. Once that relationship is established, they begin to demonstrate leadership practices:

• Serve as a model to others
• Inspire a vision for others to share
• Take risks, seize opportunities, challenge established ways of doing things
• Enable others to act
• Recognize contributions and celebrate shared victories

Kouzes and Posner do not focus on CEOs, but rather study leaders at all levels. For this reason, their message is all the more relevant to leaders, regardless of where they sit in their organization.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

The Leadership Challenge
James M. Kouzes and Barry Z Posner
4th Ed.
HD 57.7 .K68 2007

Geology for Nongeologists

This book introduces basic concepts in geology. It explains how rocks, minerals, and fossils are classified, how water, ice, and wind have shaped the ice, how mountains are formed, and how volcanoes, earthquakes, groundwater, and other underground processes work to change the physical structure of our planet. This book is designed as a broad overview for readers who have little science background. However, it hopes to show geology's broad impact on other fields of study, as well as its complexity as a field of study that includes many distinct subfields. This book is a great starting point for scientists to explain their professional work to non-scientists, or to help interest middle or high school age students in studying science.

Geology for Nongeologists
Frank R. Spellman
QE 31 .S64 2009

Honor & Respect

Although e-mail has replaced hand-writing personal letters for many occasions, formal events and professional relationships often call for the resurrection of time-honored forms of communication. Written by the Protocol School of Washington, this book provides specific examples of what to do, and what not to do, when speaking to federal, state, and municipal officials, military personnel, and international dignitaries. It provides guidance on how to address envelopes and write invitations for formal events such as weddings or balls. It can help you to select the best phrases when making introductions, as well as when referring to titled officials in conversations. This book is an essential to anyone who works with government or military personnel.

Honor & Respect: The Official Guide to Names, Titles, & Forms of Address
Robert Hickey
CR 3515 .H63 2008

Wetlands

This book explains what wetlands are and how they fit into our environmental systems. It provides a scientific definition of wetlands and describes their functions and values. It also provides recent court cases and regulations concerning the permitting, jurisdiction, and enforcement of wetlands use. New to this second edition is a section on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers administrative appeals process. The authors use an easy-to-understand style to guide readers through the permit process, helping them to understand which wetland uses require permits and which are exempt.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

Wetlands: An Introduction to Ecology, the Law, and Permitting
Theda Braddock with contributions from Lisa Berntsen
2nd ed.
KF 5624 .B73 2007

Crash Proof 2.0

In the first edition of Crash Proof, Schiff warned of a theoretical economic and market diaster. The market crash is no longer theoretical. In fact, many market analysts think that it has only just begun. Schiff continues to observe the economy, asserting that market conditions in the United States will only get worse as the government refuses to allow the free market economy to re-normalize itself. This second edition picks up where the first left off--with the bursting of the real estate bubble and the insolvency of lenders such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac--providing up to date analysis an advice intended to help readers protect their investments and even profit from the market downturn. He offers specific investment advice for long-term financial stability as well as shorter-term survival during this economic instability.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

Crash Proof 2.0: How to Profit from the Economic Collapse
Peter D. Schiff with John Downes
HC 106.83 .S35 2009

A Paradise Built in Hell

The mental images that most people conjure and what actually happens after a disaster are often two very different things. Solnit writes that after nearly every disaster, people show themselves to be brave, altruistic, compassionate, and creative. Lives are saved, communities are created, and the experiences of the survivors, both those who help and those who are helped, are changed in the process. What Solnit emphasizes is that many of those who rise to the support of others during and after disasters do so willingly, enthusiastically, and happily. These spontaneous acts of kindness suggest that many of the utopian ideas of the past are not only still possible, but alive and well in our own societies. This book suggests ways that disasters can be used to harness these good forces in our society and shows us her vision of how our society can become less punitive and authoritarian and more collaborative and focused on local communities.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster
Rebecca Solnit
HV 553 .S59 2009

Highway Engineering Handbook

The infrastructure of roads, bridges, dams, and levees throughout the United States is aging. Maintaining and improving these structures is one of the biggest and most expensive challenges facing our nation. This handbook provides broad background information about our nation's infrastructure, including the standards and techniques required for effective and cost-conscious design, maintenance, repair, and rebuilding. It also highlights new engineering developments and materials that may be involved in evolving transportation engineering processes. This handbook is filled with images, schematics, tables, charts, designs, equations, and other useful references for highway engineers or advanced students.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

Highway Engineering Handbook
Roger L. Brockenbrough
3rd ed.
TE 23 .H484 2009

Green Building Trends

Yudelson approaches this book by asking why European builders have long been considered "more green" than their American counterparts. After more than a decade of searching and learning, this book proposes to answer this question. Yudelson argues that it is not because there are more examples of green building in Europe than in North America, it is because European approaches have been more daring. He asserts that American builders should begin with zero environmental impact as their goal, relying on the design, construction, energy production and conservation aspects of the building all to work synergistically to offset one another. With that as the target, the resulting buildings would be designed with multi-purpose uses, be sensitive to changes that might be necessary over time, and still maintain comfort, health, and productivity of their occupants. Additional considerations may also be included in green building so that urban planning, culture, and lifestyles of the building inhabitants were also included in the architectural design and construction processes. This well researched and thought provoking book will change the way you think about the idea of "being green."

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

Green Building Trends: Europe
Jerry Yudelson
TH 880 .Y636 2009

A Manager's Guide to Coaching

In today's competitive world, it is necessary to constantly improve your skills in order to stay relevant in the workplace and to improve your performance. As a manager, you may be under pressure to grow not only your own skills, but also those of your staff. This book is a concise guide which provides managers the tools to coach your employees and yourself. It helps you to clarify what you want, define action, assist with problem solving, and develop accountability. It offers sample questions, example conversations, and possible responses to every-day work issues such as time management, interpersonal conflict, lack of resources, and delegating responsibility. This book is a must for every supervisor.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

A Manager's Guide to Coaching: Simple and Effective Ways to Get the Best Out of Your Employees
Brian Emerson and Anne Loehr
HF 5549.5 .C53 E44 2008

Firefly Effect

Douglas explores what it takes to build teams that collaborate and work together creatively. She explains how business leaders can identify and capitalize on creative "fireflies" and use them as the center of productive, energetic, and innovative teams. Douglas asserts that the "firefly effect" leads to more than just great business results. It also develops employees who are invested in their jobs and working toward a higher goal than putting in hours or earning a paycheck. It helps employees identify and use their creative talents, and focuses these on the areas where they can be best used for benefiting the organization. Each chapter contains inspiring success stories as well as tools and exercises to begin putting this idea to work in your organization.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

The Firefly Effect: Build Teams that Capture Creativity and Catapult Results
Kimberly Douglas
HD 66 .D675 2009

The HR Value Proposition

Ulrich and Brockbank argue that the time is ideal for HR professionals to expand their strategic role in organzations. To do this, they assert that HR personnel must evaluate their value to company customers and stakeholders as well as to employees and managers. They need to focus on the value that they contribute rather than on the actions that they perform. By doing so, they can focus on value-added activities that help them align HR practices and the competencies of HR professionals with the strategic goals of the organization. This book provides a blueprint of actions that HR departments and front-line managers can take to have the greatest impact on their organization. They specifically address role and competencies of HR professionals and how these skills can be developed and upgraded.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

The HR Value Proposition
Dave Ulrich and Wayne Brockbank
HF 5549 .U38 2005