Product Description
Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell's two sons were buried in distant Ohio graves. On the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, Elizabeth began making a quilted cloth graveyard with two walnut-dyed cloth coffins for each of her two boys. The quilt would not only be a mourning piece but, at a time when there were no photographs, it was also Elizabeth's representation of the actual graveyard in Ohio. In the collection of the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, Kentucky, the Graveyard Quilt is an unusual piece of American folk art, as well as a quilt masterpiece. Using this well-known quilt as a document, Linda Otto Lipsett has uncovered a piece of American history never before written. The quiltmaker's pioneer saga begins with her grandparents before the Revolutionary War and continues until 1930, through five generations of her family. Throughout the book Linda Otto Lipsett weaves the story of the making of the Graveyard Quilt. Linda brings to her book over five years of research, which took her tens of thousands of miles from Maryland and Virginia to Pennsylvania and Ohio, to Kentucky near the banks of the Ohio River where Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell began her famous Graveyard Quilt, to Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and finally to California (the author's resident state), where three of the quiltmaker's children lived at the end of their lives. This book focuses on the following family surnames: Mitchell, Roseberry, Hughes, Swan, Stallcup, Boyd, Garrettson, Biggs, Dye and McElroy. Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell's Graveyard Quilt is unique--for the first time the detailed story of a museum quilt is set down in a full-length book. Includes bibliographical references and index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Elizabeth Roseberry Mitcherll's Graveyard Quilt
This is a fascinating recounting of the lives of Elizabeth Mitchell's family, taking them from before the American Revolution to after the Civil War, centering on a quilt made by Mitchell and her daughters after the death of one of her children.I read parts to my eight grade U.S. History students to connect them with the idea that history is not dry facts; it's what happened to real people.
There are wonderful photographs and quotes from letters and official documents.Be sure to read the quthor's introduction. ... Read more

Product Description
Praise for Toxic Workplace!

"Toxic Workplace! describes how to identify and best work with toxic personalities. It also provides a systemic approach for creating a culture that's positive and respectful while improving the bottom line. Kusy and Holloway share how their national research translates into real-world practices in organizations. I endorse their practical, concrete approaches that will make a significant difference in organizations today and in the future."
—Gregg Steinhafel, president and CEO, Target Corporation

"Toxic Workplace! brings a rare and valuable view of one of the great challenges facing leaders in today's organizations. It is a significant guidebook to the healthy enterprise of the future, not only because of Kusy and Holloway's systems approach to dealing with toxic personalities, but also their unique practice of creating communities of respectful engagement. This book demonstrates how this impacts both organizational social responsibility and the bottom line."
—Frances Hesselbein, former CEO of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.; founding president and chairman of Leader to Leader Institute, formerly The Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management

"Transforming the culture to support the strategy and mission is the real stuff of leadership. Toxic Workplace! gives you the research-based tools to identify and deal with the 'dark side' of this important dynamic. Read it and you will engage your organization in new, more authentic, and effective ways!"
—Kevin Cashman, author, Leadership from the Inside Out and senior partner, Korn/Ferry Leadership & Talent Consulting ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The Toxic Truth
I had to read this book for a class and I have to say I'm glad I picked it. It is an essential guide for anyone looking to go into management or is already in management. It's a super easy read and useful in the workplace. I def recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a toxic person at work or just to prepare yourself for the possibility of working with someone toxic.

Engaging research findings and practical solutions
PhDs Kusy and Holloway have taken the findings from robust research and created an engaging text with practical solutions for organizations. From a systems perspective they address how toxicity invades the workplace and organizational culture, why it thrives and what to do about it. "Toxic Workplace" is a must read for organizational leaders trying to maximize results while taking care of their people.
Janet Bell Crawford
Sobey School of Business
Saint Mary's University

You will never look at people the same way again
Hello there,

This book is really great in that it tackles the subject of toxic people by using the three-fold strategy - instead of the old and highly unreliable approach:"Just kick this or the other person off the team and thing will improve automatically".That does not work, or at least not well.The author did a great job in explaining that it does take addressing toxic people directly, and it recommends to also deal with the aftermath (usually the confusion and power vacuum) as well as with my favorite topic:Instill a great deal of integrity, honesty, but most of all purpose into your top leadership and thus the whole organization.
I found this book so captivating that I read it on a plane ride from Arizona to Philadelphia.
Ralf Weiser

Timely, Pointed, A Good Starting Point
I read this book in the process of obtaining two other books that are being used in a mid-career leadership course, Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable (J-B Lencioni Series).

Although a bit over-hyped and not the complete picture, I consider this a valuable book that is the equivalent of a Social IQ primer for an organization instead of an individual.

I was raised in the command & control environment and would be classed an over-achiever, with documented performance equal to the next four of my peers combined.Never-the-less, I see in myself toxic elements that have been allowed to run rampant in counter-productive ways.The book focuses on insulting and bullying behavior rather than "voices not heard." On the latter see The Deepening Darkness: Patriarchy, Resistance, and Democracy's Future as well as Pedagogy of the Oppressed and All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity (BK Currents (Hardcover)) for sharp critiques of patriarchal "rankism" and lost knowledge.

What concerns me especially that is NOT covered by this book is the inability of organizations to "hear" the frustration of their high-performers.Looking back over twenty years what I see is a two-way failure: I have been screaming and shouting about organizational pathologies and the failure of leadership, and those affected have refused to engage--they "shut out" both critics and those offering alternative views.The US National Security Council, to take one specific example, is filled with brilliant people who, in the words of Daniel Elsberg lecturing Kissinger (see my review of his book, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers "are like morons" who limit themselves to their Top Secret tid-bits and close out all those who actually have "ground truth" to offer.

The bottom line for me on this book is two-fold: first, we all need to recognize personality traits that may be good in isolation but are toxic when "unheard" or unchecked, and second, We the People, the "stockholders" in our dysfunctional government, must demand that it modernize away from the rigid hierarchical bureaucracy and toward the open space democracy that is now possible (see the books below).

Similarly "social IQ" of a corporation, beginning with a rational "not to exceed" multiplier for CEO salaries versus lowest-paid employee salaries, must become a feature of stock evaluations.Not only must corporations now embrace "Green to Gold" and "Cradle to Cradle" "Natural Capitalism", but they must achieve "Integral Consciousness," grow "The Knowledge Executive," and LISTEN to their "Exemplary Performer(s)."All quotes are book titles.

Toxicity begins in the White House and Congress as well as the Boardroom.When they shut themselves off from the public interest and instead pander to special interests, they are poisoning democracy and strangling the Republic.ENOUGH!

This book is well-titled, well-organized, and just right for our times.

See also:
The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All
The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World
Counterculture Through the Ages: From Abraham to Acid House
Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace

One Bad Apple
With the demand for transparency in the workplace it is high time for books that tackle one of the most corrosive aspects of work: toxic employees. So much time and effort is spent both helping and being afraid of this often "squeeky wheel" person that it is vital leaders learn how to handle the toxins without causing even more pollution.

This book offers important suggestions about how to handle the either passive or aggressive or combination of traits that set people's teeth on edge. What is most vital is the idea that an organization is a system and needs to be condsidered from this vantage point. The best way to limit toxicity is to design communities that limit bad behavior and that is what the authors suggest.

We need to understand that "Work is not a rehab facility" and yet acknowledge that people who come to work bring their past history with them and that needs to be monitored. I recommend this book to those in leadership and supervisory positions. It can help eliminate many work related headaches!

Sylvia Lafair PhD author "Don't Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns that Limit Success".

... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Kids music that boys and adults love!
What a nice, pleasant CD full of great songs and a sweet little book that's perfect for bedtime.We have two boys and they love it!Not sure why Elizabeth Mitchell is not listed as artist on all the editions.Check out Elizabeth's other CDs.

Catch The Moon
Bought this for a very young boy who enjoys music....and even though he has lots of CDs and tapes, he really enjoyed Lisa Loeb and her family and friends music, words, and sounds on Catch The Moon, including laughter!!I met Lisa years ago in Providence, RI...and I am glad that she is using her voice and wonderful talents with children's music as well.We are looking forward to her next CD with children's music.

Tweeners Love It
This book isn't just for young children. Check out what my 9 year old daughter thought of the music/book...

Catch the Moon was easy to read. I love The Little Red Caboose song. It was my favorite. I could whistle to the song, dance, and sing! My birds really liked Catch the Moon and Stop and Go! Whenever we played those songs, they would start chirping and bobbing their heads. (smile)

The songs are great and the book's good too.
The CD stays in my car.I have to remember to turn it off after dropping my daughter at daycare so I won't get sick of it.We listen to it all the time.

Bed time read.
I like this book, it's silly night time book especially for a girl.It come with a CD.My son got this as a present.You are probably not going to like every song from CD.But book's story/song flows really good. ... Read more

Product Description
Journalist Elizabeth Mitchell discusses the high and low points of George W. Bush's life and political career. With a new, up-to-date chapter on the 2000 election, the post-September 11th presidency, and the war in Iraq, W offers both in-depth and current analysis of the most powerful man in the world.Amazon.com Review
The premise of Elizabeth Mitchell's W: Revenge of the Bush Dynasty is that if you want to understand George W. Bush, you must look at his parents--especially his father. So, it makes sense that Mitchell's book is as much about former President Bush as it is about his son. Mitchell, a former executive editor of George magazine, clearly believes that pleasing his father has been the driving force in George W.'s life, leading him to follow in his father's footsteps almost stride for stride--to Andover, Yale, the oil business, politics, and a run for the presidency. An Andover friend of George W. told Mitchell that he has been resolutely trying "to live up to his father's achievements" his entire life. And that hasn't always proved easy, particularly in school, where George W. excelled in social pursuits rather than academics. "It's the first son syndrome," Mitchell quotes another friend. "You want to live up to the very high expectations set by your father, but at the same time you want to go your own way, so you end up going kicking and screaming down the exact path your father made." His mother, Barbara, even said in an interview that George W. and Jeb's decisions to enter politics "sort of vindicates our life," touching on a recurring theme in the book. "George W. would love to avenge his father's defeat," Mitchell writes. "To some, his political interest seemed ignited less by passion for the issues than by revenge." Full of rich detail and telling anecdotes, W is an important look at a dynasty in waiting. --Linda Killian ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Where's the beef?
Mitchell chooses to focus on the early years of Dubya, bringing him up as one would in a full length biography from his boyhood years to his formative years in the oil business and stumping for his father's political campaigns.She seems to have an overall favorable impression of Dubya, although she points out the various indescretions along the way, including his fraternity days at Yale.

I suppose this information is helpful to those who want to get a more familiar picture of Dubya, but my interest was in his political aspirations, his first bid for a US Representative seat from Texas (1978) and his successful bid for Governor of Texas (1994).Mitchell gives this period suprisingly short shrift. She also brushes over his oil ventures and the partnership he helped form to buy the Texas Rangers. She is critical of the leading role he assumed in the baseball partnership, and in the Presidential campaigns of his father, but in both cases gives him the benefit of the doubt.

She builds up the relationship between father and son and how Dubya more or less patterned his life after his father, achieving success only after his father had failed in his re-election bid.She notes how Dubya was the natural-born campaigner, able to reach out to the people where his father wasn't, and how his re-affirmation in the church helped him to gain this constituency.Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of meat to this book, it capitalized on the attention Bush got after seizing the White House. There have been much more thorough books written since this publication.

Good Overview
This is an interesting book that takes a look at George W. Bush and how his life shaped him all the way up to his running for President. The main premise of the book is that GW is following in his father footsteps out of love and admiration for him and a strong sense of duty. The author also gives us about 50% of the book on the first George Bush and his life story which is needed to show you how close GW follows in his footsteps. I would have liked a bit more detail on the other Bush children though, as the author states that all the children have a desire to follow in the father's footsteps.

I really did not expect this book to provide me all the details it did about the first President George Bush. That was a pleasant surprise for me. We get a good run down of his overall life and some interesting details about his time as VP and President. I also enjoyed reading how he felt a responsibility and loyalty to Nixon enough to take the RNC post. I actually came away with a better understanding of the father as both a person and a leader. I thought some of the insights also made the Bush handling of the 92 race a little clearer for me.

The fist part of the book makes you think this is a love fest book put out by the GW campaign. To be honest, I really did not get that much out of all the details of him in grade school / high school. The book really started to matter to me when the author got into his time in College and later. Once GW started to move on in life the less then faltering facts started to populate the book. Given that that author gives you so many facts, both good and bad, you get a balanced look and the book, in its totality, comes off as a balanced report. I actually did think the author could have played up some of the questions on the Viet Nam issue and the business failures / bailouts to get a more sensational book.

The one area that I would have liked more detail on was the major successes of GW. The book does a good job of running down his less then stellar business career, but I also wanted more detail on his work on his father's campaign. What the book does say on that point makes GW out to be good at the roll he was a playing - I wanted more detail. I also thought we got shortchanged on his run for the Governor and his service in the office. I wanted more detail on his major accomplishments in office. Basically I felt the author rushed this part through to get to print.

This book will not be the end all be all biography of his years before he became President, it is a bit light for that. What the book is though, is a very readable and interesting look at GW and his relationship with his father. If you are interested in either of these two men then this is a good way to learn some facts and not get bogged down in a heavy work.

Finally!
What a great book. Democrat or Republican, all should appreciate this writing. Not a documentary, but more, a story. Very easy reading. I'll be looking forward to reading more from this author.

Insightful!
Former Texas Governor Ann Richards once delivered this unforgettable quip about George W. Bush: "Poor George, he was born with a silver foot in his mouth." Basically, that line has defined the media's portrayal of Bush ever since. He is depicted as the privileged, but none-too-bright scion of a political dynasty. Of course, as is the case with all really good insults, there is more than a little truth to Richard's words. But is there more to the man? That's the critical question of the 2000 presidential election, and for an answer, we at getAbstract.com recommend Elizabeth Mitchell's skillfully written account of the pampered life and tobacco-chewing times of W. Although the Bush family declined to cooperate with this particular bio, many family friends offered their insights, and the figure that emerges from their descriptions is far more complex than his late-night comedy caricature might suggest. Mitchell's superbly documented research reveals that the man who many imply is running for office simply because he has nothing better to do, is in fact guided by two powerful motives: personal redemption and family revenge. The latter agenda is clear: W. will avenge his father's defeat by striking down Al Gore, heir to the Clinton legacy. The personal redemption is a bit more difficult to isolate, but has something to do with measuring up to his father and discrediting critics like Ann Richards, who is, as we mentioned, the former governor of Texas. Smirk.

Not bad, but not exactly the most focused.
As opposed to some of the other George W. biographies, it wasn't readily apparent whether the author was a fan of the not-yet president-elect.This adds a bit to the objectivity of the book.I feel I could believe the author.

I did think that she spent a bit more time than necessary at times talking about his father George and his brother Jeb.It is understandable that they do have an influence on W (the book points out where some ideas and phrases were borrowed for the father's and the brother's campaigns while W was running for governor), but I think the author went into more depth on them than was necessary.

One of the major factors in W's credibility is that he was governor of Texas.I don't think that the author spend enough time there to really give us a good idea of how his actions in office match his objectives for his campaign.I thought this could have used a bit more coverage.

Not the best biography out there, but I would still recommend reading it. When rea ... Read more

Product Description
A fictionalized biography of America's first woman astronomer, who in 1847 discovered a telescopic comet which was later named for her. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: HistoryGreat Britain; Dover (England); History / Europe / Great Britain; ... Read more

Product Description
The actual correspondence of a Yankee mother and herfree-spirited daughter, who is pregnant and living an unconventionallife in a beautiful spot in New Zealand. The book covers thedaughter's travels in the South Pacific, her love for a man ofPolynesian descent, her pregnancy, and the dramatic birth of herbaby. Although mother and daughter have vastly different lifestylesand opinions on many important issues (marriage, home birth, etc.),they share strong bonds of love and respect. "A fascinating look atthe mother-daughter relationship." Sandra Martz, editor, When I Am anOld Woman I Shall Wear Purple. "A gift to all who seek a betterunderstanding of families. . . . a rare and memorable treat."(Professor Hope Jensen Leichter, Columbia University). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A universal experience
"A Special Delivery" by Elizabeth and Joyce Mitchell is amother-daughter and prenatal memoir in a unique format.I was struckrepeatedly at how different this mother and daughter were (geographicallyand culturally) from my own experience.The letters from the mother,however, felt like ones I have received many times from my own mother. That is because this book shares the spiritual side of parenting that isapparent especially to women.Very enjoyable read.

BabyLounge.com gives A Special Delivery 4 pacifiers (of 5)
This unique book is a chronicle of letters between a mother and daughter living worlds apart, but manage to stay connected with letters full of love, hope, and the anticipation that comes with pregnancy.

Mothers and daughters across the world will relate to this book and give them a newappreciation for the incredible bond that is shared between them.The bondthat is magically multiplied exponentially when a grandchild is on the way.

This wonderfully touching book will make you realize that no matter howfar apart you are from loved ones, you can always be close at heart.

Are you a mother or daughter...then you will enjoy this book
I have just finished reading the most delightful book. Its a book written by a mother and daughter. The book is "A SPECIAL DELIVERY" by Joyce Slayton Mitchell and Elizabeth Dix Mitchell.Each of them are from adifferent era so they have to accept each others feelings on life. Thewhole books is letters back and forth to each other. But I can tell youthis I could hardly wait to turn the page and see what the other one wouldrespond back with and its wonderful how over the time each began to acceptwhat the other one was saying or doing. Take time and read this book. Itwill help you develop your thoughts with your Mom or daughter and give youways to begin having a better relationship.

Are you a Mother or a Daughter...then you can relate to this
I have just finished reading the most delightful book. Its a book written by a mother and daughter. The book is "A SPECIAL DELIVERY" by Joyce Slayton Mitchell and Elizabeth Dix Mitchell.Each of them are from adifferent era so they have to accept each others feelings on life. Thewhole books is letters back and forth to each other. But I can tell youthis I could hardly wait to turn the page and see what the other one wouldrespond back with and its wonderful how over the time each began to acceptwhat the other one was saying or doing. Take time and read this book. Itwill help you develop your thoughts with your Mom or daughter and give youways to begin having a better relationship.

Are you a Mother or a Daughter...then you can relate to this
I have just finished reading the most delightful book. Its a book written by a mother and daughter. The book is "A SPECIAL DELIVERY" by Joyce Slayton Mitchell and Elizabeth Dix Mitchell.Each of them are from adifferent era so they have to accept each others feelings on life. Thewhole books is letters back and forth to each other. But I can tell youthis I could hardly wait to turn the page and see what the other one wouldrespond back with and its wonderful how over the time each began to acceptwhat the other one was saying or doing. Take time and read this book. Itwill help you develop your thoughts with your Mom or daughter and give youways to begin having a better relationship. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
'Charismatic, a colt nobody wanted, is ridden by Antley, a jockey everybody doubted. That either could be a mere mile and a half from winning the Triple Crown would be astounding; that the two of them together are so close to racing immortality would be a fantasy...except that it is real.' So ran a newspaper story days before jockey Chris Antley and his horse Charismatic attempted to make history by winning the third and final race of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. After battling depression and drug and alcohol abuse, Antley had made a stunning comeback by riding the unknown Charismatic to victory at both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. Antley's success was viewed as symbolic of the new path he was forging in his life, but his story, and his horse's, would not have a fairy-tale ending. In Three Strides Before the Wire, journalist Elizabeth Mitchell takes the reader on a fascinating journey into the world of horse racing by tracing the intertwined lives of jockey Chris Antley, trainer D. Wayne Lukas, owners Bob and Beverly Lewis, 1999 Derby winner Charismatic, and the author herself, who placed a crucial bet on the race. The adventure takes us behind the scenes of the ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Emotional
This is an AMAZING book. You don't need to be a horseracing fan to enjoy it. This book gets you emotionally involved in the story of Charasmatic and his troubled jockey, Chris Antley. I guarantee you will laugh, weep and make you think about what your life is really about and what is really worth most to you in your life. I have read it atleast 5 times and have never gotton tired of it. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: J. Masters in 1884 in 384 pages; Subjects: Great Britain; Dover (England); History / Europe / Great Britain; ... Read more

Product Description
In Two Volumes. This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Bible; Religion / Biblical Commentary / New Testament; ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more