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Scott Fabel
Lancaster, PA, United States | Member Since 2010
132
HELPFUL VOTES
- 70 reviews
- 316 ratings
- 344 titles in library
- 7 purchased in 2018
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![The Science of Success: How Market-Based Management Built the World's Largest Private Company | [Charles G. Koch]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F+cfjY0hL._SL175_.jpg)
"Great Ideas for Business!"
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to do some consulting for one of the Koch Industries companies, Invista. I taught a course at its Wilmington, DE facility and then again at its headquarters in Wichita, KS. I was struck by the incredible ways in which the employees treated me--and each other! While in Wichita, I learned a lot more about Koch Industries and its business philosophy. I happened to visit the company story while in Wichita, and I saw that the CEO had written this book. I knew that I had to read it to learn more about how he built the company and how he inspires his employees. What I read was nothing short of astounding. Koch Industries should be a role model for other companies.
This book starts by providing a bit of history about how Koch Industries has become the largest privately held company in the United States in terms of revenue. It's no surprise that this was achieved through the implementation of the company's Market-Based Management (MBM) philosophy. The book goes on to describe MBM in great detail.
Personally, I had been exposed to only one aspect of MBM during my time at Invista: the Guiding Principles. There are ten Guiding Principles in MBM, and I was introduced to them because they are printed on all of the coffee cups in the corporate office in Wichita--what a great idea! The ten Guiding Principles are 1) Integrity, 2) Compliance, 3) Value Creation, 4) Principled Entrepreneurship, 5) Customer Focus, 6) Knowledge, 7) Change, 8) Humility (a personal favorite), 9) Respect, and 10) Fulfillment.
These Guiding Principles are described in the book, yet they make up only one part of the overall MBM philosophy. The other aspects of MBM include Vision, Virtue and Talents, Knowledge Processes, Decision Rights, and Incentives. Each aspect of MBM is described in this book, and examples are provided throughout. While I wouldn't say that this book is prescriptive (i.e., it doesn't tell you how to run a business), I would say that it provides a very valuable set of tools that can be used to improve any business. If you like business books, then this book needs to be read--and frequently referenced. You will really enjoy it!1 of 1 people found this review helpful -
![The Bear and the Nightingale: A Novel | [Katherine Arden]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WxjilZBBL._SL175_.jpg)
"Good Take on Russian Folklore"
While I loved the Russian folklore aspect of this novel, the story itself was somewhat bland. I don't really feel as if it went anywhere. Additionally, I did not like the narrator. I'm still baffled that someone who clearly does not speak Russian was hired to narrate this book. She botched so many of the Russian names that it became embarrassing to listen to. This is definitely a case where I should have read a physical book instead of listened to the audio book.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
![Sixth Watch | [Sergei Lukyanenko, Andrew Bromfield - translator]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/611AZX1rxGL._SL175_.jpg)
"What a great finale!"
This book was so amazing--and I was nearly brought to tears by the ending. I can't believe that this is the final book in the series.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
![Fury of the Seventh Son: The Last Apprentice, Book 13 | [Joseph Delaney, Patrick Arrasmith]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61k0IgiLlyL._SL175_.jpg)
"Great conclusion"
A very satisfying ending to a great series. I would highly recommend reading all of the books!
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
![The Eyes of the Dragon | [Stephen King]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HdUM51EvL._SL175_.jpg)
"Wow! Stephen King can write fantasy!!"
This was a great story. Plus, if you're a Stephen King fan, there are many subtle nods to several of his most well known characters.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
![The Wise Man's Fear: Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 2 | [Patrick Rothfuss]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61wSj6rxZAL._SL175_.jpg)
"How Many Authors Wrote This"
This book is tough to rate. I want to give it five stars, but I just can't. It almost seems to me that two different authors took turns writing this book. At times, it borders on absolute genius. At other times, it is shoddy and lazy writing. Overall, it is a great story, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful -
![The Bad Beginning, A Multi-Voice Recording: A Series of Unfortunate Events #1 | [Lemony Snicket]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61VaZwNjhLL._SL175_.jpg)
"Great story, but a terrible production"
I really love this story; however, there was far, far too much background noise and voices that were supposed to enhance the experience. It had just the opposite effect and was very distracting.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful -
![The Martian | [Andy Weir]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61VrXXqyR-L._SL175_.jpg)
"Wow! Great story!"
This book was so much better than I expected. The story was compelling, and the characters were believable. I wish I would have become an astronaut.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful -
![FREE The Human Division, Episode 1: The B-Team | [John Scalzi]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ALyOSw+yL._SL175_.jpg)
"Great First Episode!"
In this short story, John Scalzi is setting up a rather impressive space opera. This story focuses on a low-end diplomatic team that becomes thrust into a high-profile mission when another (high-ranking) diplomat goes missing. While the story reads much like searching for a needle in a haystack, the approach for the search is great.
When I first started reading the story, I was rather annoyed. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that the beginning of the story draws the reader in very quickly--then slaps you in the face. I was irritated, but I'm glad I kept reading. The initial slap turns out to be necessary to set up the rest of the book, and I have forgiven the author for setting me up.
I have always had a place in my heart for a good underdog story. In many ways, that is what this book is about. The B-Team is clearly comprised of underdogs. No one expects them to succeed, yet they are full of surprises. I am eager to see where this book series goes and whether the B-Team can continue to surprise.1 of 1 people found this review helpful -
![The Returned: A Novel | [Jason Mott]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VZitUSdWL._SL175_.jpg)
"The Dead Are No Longer Dead"
Imagine a world in which the dead start coming back to life. They have no memories from when they were gone; they simply start appearing all over the globe. This is the premise of Jason Mott's novel, The Returned. Prior to reading this novel, I read the three prequels, so I was very excited to see what the book had to offer. I was not disappointed.
The focus of the novel is on the Hargrave family, Harold and Lucille. Their only son, Jacob, died in 1966 when he was only eight years old. Now, the Hargraves are elderly, and their eight-year-old son has returned. He's still eight, and he has no memory from the time of his death. Harold and Lucille have very different opinions about their son's return. Lucille believes that he is a gift from God. Harold doesn't believe it's really his son. Even so, Harold continues to act as if he were his son.
In addition to the Hargrave family, the book also touches on some of the characters that were introduced in the prequels. My only disappointment with this books (and the only reason that I didn't rate it five stars) is that those other characters' stories are not as closely connected to the novel as I had hoped. I recently learned that this book (and its prequels) has been optioned for a television series. I am hopeful that more of the stories can be told in the television series.
Although the book focuses on the Hargrave family, it also looks at how the returned are affecting others around the globe. In particular, the question of what to do with the increasing number of returned is a critical plot point. The government (in its infinite wisdom) has decided that the returned need to be rounded up and placed in what could only be called concentration camps. The town in which the Hargraves live becomes one such camp. How the returned are treated there introduces a tremendous moral dilemma. Moreover, there is a battle between the returned (and their supporters) and the "true living," who do not believe that the returned are actually living. In a way, there is a type of civil war brought about by the appearance of the returned.
In many ways, this story shook me to my core. I was frequently questioning my own values and beliefs while reading the story. What would I do if one of my own family members were returned from the dead? It was a question that kept going through my head as I was reading. While I do not believe that I will ever have to face that reality, the question is still disarming. Because of my own shaken beliefs--and because of the characters in the story--I was in tears by its end. In my opinion, that is a sign of a great story. I highly recommend this book, and I am looking forward to the television series.3 of 4 people found this review helpful -
![The Choice: A Prequel to 'The Returned' | [Jason Mott]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iV4H68BDL._SL175_.jpg)
"Third of Three Prequels"
Imagine a world in which the dead start coming back to life. They have no memories from when they were gone; they simply start appearing all over the globe. This is the premise of Jason Mott's novel, The Returned. In this third prequel to the novel, another of the returned is introduced. When she was only 17 years old, Tracy Whitmore disappeared. Eventually, her disappearance was ruled a death. Her boyfriend at the time, Peter Galvin, was heartbroken.
Fast forward 20 years, and Tracy has returned. She is still 17 years old, but Peter is not. All she wants is to see Peter again. Unfortunately, in the years since her death, Peter has married someone else and has a daughter. Nevertheless, Peter still loves Tracy very much. His new wife, Samantha, believes that he needs to make a choice between Tracy or her. Eventually, Peter agrees to meet with Tracy--and he makes a very difficult choice.
Out of the three prequels, I enjoyed this one the most. The story was just heart-wrenching, and I couldn't imagine what I would do if I were in this situation. At this point, I really took notice of how intense The Returned would be because I was starting to question my own values and beliefs while reading The Choice. When books can make you questions beliefs to which you have held firm for many years, it's a sign of a great book. I could not wait to read The Returned.
(I also want to make a comment about the low rating I gave the performance. While I had nothing against David Ledoux as the narrator, I thought that his voice was uncharacteristic for the seriousness of the book. If he were reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," I think he would be amazing. His voice just didn't have the right tone for this story.)0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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