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GOOD READS EXPAND YOUR SKILLS, GAIN INSIGHT, AND GET INSPIRED Building Home: Howard F. Ahmanson and the Politics of the American Dream By Eric John Abrahamson, Ph.D. Even before the real estate sector's bubble burst in 2007, economic historian Eric John Abrahamson, Ph.D., was focusing on the need for the government to adopt a more active role in the mortgage industry. In his newest book, Building Home: Howard F. Ahmanson and the Politics of the American Dream, Abrahamson applies his knowledge of the evolution of mortgage finance and reflects on the history of Southern California, as well as one of its most influential postwar entrepreneurs: Howard F. Ahmanson. Harnessing a dynamic narrative and dense analysis, Building Home tells the story of Ahmanson's bold endeavor to build Home Savings, which became the country's largest savings and loan bank. The book also explores how Southern California served as the savings and loan capital between 1945 and 1965 and the ways in which the postwar paradigm for mortgage finance opened the doors for the 2007 recession and mortgage crisis. A compelling biography, it also paints a portrait of Ahmanson's contributions to public policy on homeownership following World War II by promoting the middleclass American dream. 20 My Next Step: An Extraordinary Journey of Healing and Hope By Dave Liniger No one expected Dave Liniger, the highly successful founder of RE/MAX and self-proclaimed adventure enthusiast, to become entrenched in a battle of survival. With his high-adrenaline hobbies, from car racing to safari expeditions, Liniger was accustomed to living on the edge. But it wasn't until one fateful morning, when he awoke to find himself paralyzed from the neck down, that he had to engage in his most courageous feat yet: learning to walk again. My Next Step is an inspiring memoir that sheds light on the struggle and heartache faced by a seemingly invincible figure who was suddenly forced to endure a life-changing event. Liniger's story illustrates the journey of coming face-to-face with the darkest moments of one's life, and how it is possible to find the strength to fight. Spending nearly six grueling months in the hospital and enduring three critical surgeries, he never succumbed to despair and instead found fortitude in a mantra he created for himself: "Just 10 steps." Liniger's personal account is a timeless story of resolve and a source of inspiration for anyone looking to get through life's difficult roadblocks. Maximum Success with LinkedIn: Dominate Your Market, Build a Global Brand, and Create the Career of Your Dreams  By Dan Sherman Literature covering the reach of social media is profuse, but it's rare that a book focuses on the power of one single source. Maximum Success with LinkedIn by Dan Sherman uncovers the many advantages of building and maintaining your presence on the LinkedIn professional network. The stepby-step guide offers insight into finding customers and investors, hiring employees, building a brand, attracting media exposure, increasing one's network, finding the perfect job, and building business relationships. If readers are like many of the members who have signed on and created a profile—but haven't done much with it—the advice is a valuable resource to get the most out of the site. For those who view it as an informal social space, Sherman is eager to change their minds, recommending deepening their connections through a number of activities, such as developing relationships with mentors who can offer career coaching. Sherman is a full-time LinkedIn consultant, trainer, and speaker, so his insight comes from a career of helping professionals maximize their online presence. Financial Fresh Start: Your Five-Step Plan for Adapting and Prospering in the New Economy By Sheri Olefson Following the economic downtown and housing market crash, many Americans found themselves in an uncomfortable financial situation. With 11 million homes underwater and 43 million Americans with poor credit scores, the numbers only begin to tell the story. New reforms put in place by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as well as other entities, offer consumers a second chance at making their credit, savings, and investments count. Along with a clear and highly explanatory summary of the housing bubble's burst and bailout, Financial Fresh Start by Sheri Olefson offers readers a digestible understanding of the new laws, simplifying the complicated language so consumers can begin to get their finances back in shape. With a background in the legal, financial, and real estate fields, Olefson demonstrates her expertise as she delivers clear answers to many problems plaguing Americans, such as how to repair credit quickly, the safest places to invest, strategies to make up for losses, and ways to avoid escalating credit card interest rates, and she offers sound advice on filing for bankruptcy when other options are exhausted.

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