Books about Accomplishment from Amazon.com

A sweeping cultural survey reminiscent of Barzun's From Dawn to Decadence.

"At irregular times and in scattered settings, human beings have achieved great things. Human Accomplishment is about those great things, falling in the domains known as the arts and sciences, and the people who did them.'

So begins Charles Murray's unique account of human excellence, from the age of Homer to our own time. Employing techniques that historians have developed over the last century but that have rarely been applied to books written for the general public, Murray compiles inventories of the people who have been essential to the stories of literature, music, art, philosophy, and the sciences—a total of 4,002 men and women from around the world, ranked according to their eminence.

The heart of Human Accomplishment is a series of enthralling descriptive chapters: on the giants in the arts and what sets them apart from the merely great; on the differences between great achievement in the arts and in the sciences; on the meta-inventions, 14 crucial leaps in human capacity to create great art and science; and on the patterns and trajectories of accomplishment across time and geography.

Straightforwardly and undogmatically, Charles Murray takes on some controversial questions. Why has accomplishment been so concentrated in Europe? Among men? Since 1400? He presents evidence that the rate of great accomplishment has been declining in the last century, asks what it means, and offers a rich framework for thinking about the conditions under which the human spirit has expressed itself most gloriously. Eye-opening and humbling, Human Accomplishment is a fascinating work that describes what humans at their best can achieve, provides tools for exploring its wellsprings, and celebrates the continuing common quest of humans everywhere to discover truths, create beauty, and apprehend the good.

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Price: $6.97 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Finally, a keepsake book for new parents, not just their babies -- because Mom and Dad accomplish something new every day, too. Jot down the first time you kept your shirt clean for more than 10 minutes, keep track of the first time you engaged in saliva-based hygiene, and paste in a memorial photo of yourself as a well-rested person..
Price: $1.85 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Responding to the increasing demands on school leadership, this timely book outlines a comprehensive model for re-organizing knowledge and guiding action to improve student learning. The authors take a fresh approach to the principalship by focusing on four accomplishment areas-creating sustainable goals, developing a strategic focus, practicing effective action, and building social and civic capital. They show why these accomplishments are important to a principal's success and how they can be achieved..
Price: $24.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

We so often take the gifts we are given for granted, overlooking simple moments along the journey of life--accomplishments, milestones, challenges It is in the everyday, ordinary joys and hardships that we can find true inspiration. In Hands, Melinda Clements reminds us that every aspect of our existence is a miracle, even the hands God gave us to undertake the mundane tasks and grand adventures in life--to plow fields, hold our children, save lives, and touch the face of God..
Price: $3.93 [Notify me when price goes down.]

What's so bad about being married to a coach? Mary Lou Podlasiak boldly, but playfully, reveals how the "women behind the men" really feel. Whether you are dating a coaching fanatic, or have spent half of your existence married to one, the stories and insight within will no doubt change the way you feel about yourself. (Unless, of course, you are already feeling good!)

Filled with warm memories, as well as a minefield of topics, the primary focus is aimed at turning frustration into empowerment. Read about the events that have led the author, and other seasoned wives, to look beyond the annoyances and view their situations as nothing less than wonderfully life-affirming.

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Price: $11.22 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"How Do You Know He's Real? God Unplugged," the second book in the successful "He's Real series," shares the profound real life journeys and dramatic encounters with the living God by young celebrities from the worlds of sports and music. The book addresses issues that young people deal with, like insecurity, anger, peer pressure, addiction and self-esteem. Always inspirational and often miraculous, "God Unplugged" is a must-read for those who desire to go deeper in their relationship with God..
Price: $8.55 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Extraordinary Women is a book about precisely that-extraordinary women, though not in the roles we usually see them. Each of the 58 prominent women in this insightful book was asked what they dreamed of becoming when they were children; they were then photographed in that role. Thus, former secretary of state Madeline Albright can be seen as a chess champion, actress Linda Carter as an Olympic athlete, gymnast Dominic Dawes as a justice of the Supreme Court, feminist Betty Friedan as a mystery writer.

But it's not just about the pictures. It's also about the interviews, in which each woman discusses what she'd hoped to achieve as a child and what she has achieved as an adult. Featuring an eclectic array of talented women from journalist Ann Curry to star soprano Denyce Graves to activist Dorothy Height, Extraordinary Women is an original and inspirational testament to women who helped change our world in ways they themselves could never have dreamed possible. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the Hand to Hand Eviction Prevention Program and the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, D.C. .
Price: $6.76 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"Her own genuinely encouraging chapters take the reader through the various stages of closing an old chapter and opening a new one. . . . She offers genuine help by giving people the words to understand and describe what they are going through as they close and open chapters of their lives."­­Publishers Weekly

"An engaging and instructive read."­­Fast Company

In Chapters, author Candice Carpenter offers concrete, step-by-step guidance for planning ahead for major changes, knowing when it's time to shift gears and embark on a new chapter, handling false starts and failures, and achieving true personal satisfaction over a lifetime..
Price: $0.91 [Notify me when price goes down.]