Background
Keyes, Ralph Jeffrey was born on January 12, 1945 in Cincinnati. Son of Scott Sherman and Charlotte Esther (Shachmann) Keyes.
(In The Innovation Paradox, Richard Farson and Ralph Keyes...)
In The Innovation Paradox, Richard Farson and Ralph Keyes argue that failure has its upside, success its downside. Both are steps toward achievement, and the two extremes are not as distinct as we imagine. In today's business economy, it's not success or failure -- it's success and failure that lead to genuine innovation. History's great innovators, from Thomas Edison and Charles Kettering to Bill Gates and Jack Welch, saw failure as an important stepping-stone -- and with this groundbreaking book, you too can learn how to become more failure tolerant, more risk friendly, and therefore more innovative. Today's most prominent businesspeople agree that The Innovation Paradox has the formula for failure and success down to a science, Make no mistake: If you're looking to reinvent yourself, your ideas, or your business model, this book is your sure-fire way to start.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743225937/?tag=2022091-20
(The fifth book in this packaged and entertaining series h...)
The fifth book in this packaged and entertaining series has found its perfect subject. Here are witty one-liners, biting comments, and memorable bon mots by one of the world's great literary figures and oe of the best aphorists of all time.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006017367X/?tag=2022091-20
(The words of a politician who knew his own mind and wasn'...)
The words of a politician who knew his own mind and wasn't afraid to speak it, this volume truly captures the sprit of "Give 'em Hell" Harry, with the excerpts of letters, speeches, diary entries, even anecdotes that reveal this special man and his time.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517194597/?tag=2022091-20
( Today's eighteen-year-olds may not know who Mrs. Robins...)
Today's eighteen-year-olds may not know who Mrs. Robinson is, the size of a breadbox, or why going postal refers to a major uproar. Such "retroterms" are words or phrases whose origin lies in our past. I Love It When You Talk Retro discusses these verbal fossils that linger in our national conversation long after the topic they refer to has galloped into the sunset. That could be a person (Charles Ponzi), product (Edsel), radio show (Gang Busters), or ad slogan ("Cha-ching!"). How many realize that cooties was World War I slang for lice, or that doofus came from the comic strip Popeye? Ralph Keyes takes us on an illuminating and engaging tour through what he calls retrotalk. This journey along the highways of history and byways of culture is an invaluable handbook for anyone who's ever wondered about an obscure word or phrase, "I wonder where that came from?" Ralph Keyes's book answers that question. Repeatedly. And is a lot of fun to read.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312606400/?tag=2022091-20
( The Courage to Write is an invaluable book and essentia...)
The Courage to Write is an invaluable book and essential reading for anyone who wishes to learn how to write well. Katherine Anne Porter called courage "the first essential" for a writer. "I have to talk myself into bravery with every sentence," agreed Cynthia Ozick, "sometimes every syllable." E. B. White said he admired anyone who "has the guts to write anything at all."An author who has taught writing for more than thirty years, In The Courage to Write, Ralph Keyes, an author who has taught writing for more than thirty years, assures us that anxiety is felt by writers at every level, especially when they dare to do their best. He describes the sequence of "courage points" through which all writers must pass, from the challenge of identifying a worthwhile project to the mixture of pride and panic they feel when examining a newly published book or article. Keyes also offers specifics on how to root out dread of public "performance" and of the judgment of family and friends, make the best use of writers' workshops and conferences, and handle criticism of works in progress. Throughout, he includes the comments of many accomplished writers -- Pat Conroy, Amy Tan, Rita Dove, Isabel Allende, and others -- on how they transcended their own fears to produce great works.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805074678/?tag=2022091-20
(Wilde on Sincerity: "A little sincerity is a dangerous th...)
Wilde on Sincerity: "A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal." Nearly a century after his death, the wit of Oscar Wilde remains as fresh and barbed as ever. This collection of his works, letters, reviews, anecdotes and repartee is ample proof of this iconoclast's enduring place in the world of arts and letters.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517194600/?tag=2022091-20
( Our language is full of hundreds of quotations that are...)
Our language is full of hundreds of quotations that are often cited but seldom confirmed. Ralph Keyes's The Quote Verifier considers not only classic misquotes such as "Nice guys finish last," and "Play it again, Sam," but more surprising ones such as "Ain't I a woman?" and "Golf is a good walk spoiled," as well as the origins of popular sayings such as "The opera ain't over till the fat lady sings," "No one washes a rented car," and "Make my day." Keyes's in-depth research routinely confounds widespread assumptions about who said what, where, and when. Organized in easy-to-access dictionary form, The Quote Verifier also contains special sections highlighting commonly misquoted people and genres, such as Yogi Berra and Oscar Wilde, famous last words, and misremembered movie lines. An invaluable resource for not just those with a professional need to quote accurately, but anyone at all who is interested in the roots of words and phrases, The Quote Verifier is not only a fascinating piece of literary sleuthing, but also a great read.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312340044/?tag=2022091-20
( "Dishonesty inspires more euphemisms than copulation or...)
"Dishonesty inspires more euphemisms than copulation or defecation. This helps desensitize us to its implications. In the post-truth era we don't just have truth and lies but a third category of ambiguous statements that are not exactly the truth but fall just short of a lie. Enhanced truth it might be called. Neo-truth. Soft truth. Faux truth. Truth lite." Deception has become the modern way of life. Where once the boundary line between truth and lies was clear and distinct, it is no longer so. In the post-truth era, deceiving others has become a challenge, a game, a habit. High-profile dissemblers compete for news coverage, from journalists like Jayson Blair and professors like Joseph Ellis to politicians (of all stripes), executives, and "creative" accountants. Research suggests that the average American tells multiple lies on a daily basis, often for no good reason. Not a finger-wagging scolding, The Post-Truth Era is a combination of Ralph Keyes's investigative journalism and solid science. The result is a spirited exploration of why we lie about practically everything and the consequences such casual dishonesty has on society. American society has become permeated from top to bottom by deception. Its consequences for the nature of public discourse, media, business, literature, academia, and politics are profound. With dry humor, passionate fervor, and deep understanding, Ralph Keyes takes us on a tour of a world where truth and honesty are no longer absolutes but mutable, fluid concepts.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312306482/?tag=2022091-20
(When traffic gets so congested that it can no longer move...)
When traffic gets so congested that it can no longer move, engineers say it has reached a state of "gridlock". According to Ralph Keyes, many of us are in a state of "timelock". This is the condition that occurs when claims on our time grow so demanding that we find it impossible to wring one more second out of a crowded calendar. In this informative and entertaining book, which is filled with real-life examples, Keyes explains how we got ourselves into this position. He considers the "vanishing pause," "speed inflation," and "the convenience catch." Paradoxically, Keyes says, a key source of timelock are the very tools we've adopted to save time: computers, faxes, microwave ovens. Keyes doesn't just assess the sources of timelock but suggests how we can get out from under its pressure.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060165766/?tag=2022091-20
(In an era of spin doctors, media consultants, and politic...)
In an era of spin doctors, media consultants, and politics by poll, it's refreshing to read the words of a politician who knew his own mind and wasn't afraid to speak it. That politician was Harry Truman. "I never sit on a fence," said Truman. "I am either on one side or another." Pithy, blunt comments like this were his stock in trade. Many of them have survived the test of time. "Being a president is like riding a tiger," Truman observed. "A man has to keep on riding or be swallowed." In Truman's opinion, "An honest public servant cannot become rich in politics." And, "When an egotist is punctured, a lot of noise and whistling always accompanies the escaping air." These are just a few of the wealth of quotes and anecdotes that Ralph Keyes has collected for The Wit & Wisdom of Harry Truman. He has also included excerpts from Truman's letters, speeches, press conferences, and diaries, such as this entry that Truman wrote while in the White House: "Another hectic day in the executive office. Saw a lot of customers. Hope they all left happy." The Wit & Wisdom of Harry Truman is an informative and entertaining collection of the best observations by this most quotable of presidents. It is also a splendid introduction to his life. And a great read. From the book: After he left the White House, Truman was invited to visit San Francisco shipping mogul George Killion. When his driver got lost, Truman rang the doorbell of a nearby house and asked for directions. The homeowner couldn't help him. "I hope I'm not hurting your feelings," he did say, "but you look exactly like that old s.o.b. Harry Truman." "I hope I'm not hurting your feelings, either," responded Truman, "but I am that s.o.b."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963317962/?tag=2022091-20
Keyes, Ralph Jeffrey was born on January 12, 1945 in Cincinnati. Son of Scott Sherman and Charlotte Esther (Shachmann) Keyes.
Bachelor in History, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1967.
Assistant to public Newsday, Garden City, New York, 1968-1970. Fellow Center Studies Person, La Jolla, California, 1970-1980. Writer Philadelphia, 1980-1990.
Writer, lecturer Yellow Springs, Ohio, since 1990. Board trustees Antioch Writer's Workshop, Yellow Springs, since 1992.
(Katherine Anne Porter called courage the first essential ...)
(The words of a politician who knew his own mind and wasn'...)
(In an era of spin doctors, media consultants, and politic...)
(In The Innovation Paradox, Richard Farson and Ralph Keyes...)
( The Courage to Write is an invaluable book and essentia...)
(When traffic gets so congested that it can no longer move...)
(Wilde on Sincerity: "A little sincerity is a dangerous th...)
( Our language is full of hundreds of quotations that are...)
(The fifth book in this packaged and entertaining series h...)
( "Dishonesty inspires more euphemisms than copulation or...)
( Today's eighteen-year-olds may not know who Mrs. Robins...)
(Book by Ralph Keyes)
(Risk taking)
(Rare book.)
(255 pages)
Fellow: Western Behavioral Science Institute. Member: Author's Guild.
Married Muriel Lee Gordon, February 13, 1965. Children: David, Scott.