The retail industry has undergone enormous changes during the last thirty years. But there is one retailer that not only has remained consistent in the fluctuating?even tenuous?market, but also has grown in the process. More Than a Hobby takes you inside the story of David Green, the man who built the phenomenal success of Hobby Lobby. Green went beyond surviving in a competitive retail market to thriving, ultimately expanding his $600 start-up company into a $1.3 billion per-year enterprise. Green’s incredible accomplishments were based not on business-school theory but on his grassroots experiences as a store manager and his creative application of cutting edge ideas, including: Allow managers to spend no more than thirty minutes per day on paperwork Instead of paying a middleman, assemble as much of the product as possible in-house Give buyers the freedom to purchase without restraint—but within the realm of common sense Keep God and family first More Than a Hobby is a practical field manual, filled with revolutionary ideas for all those who dream of success in the world of retail business.

Is your daily grind taking the joy out of life? Don't get glum—get a hobby! In this entertaining, information-packed guide, journalist and ReadyMade contributing editor Tina Barseghian invites you to explore 101 thoroughly absorbing diversions, from conventional to downright wacky, that'll satisfy every taste, talent, and timetable. The bonus: Practicing a hobby boosts your all-around mental and physical health, as longtime family practitioner Dr. Miguel Figueroa reveals in the Foreword. Are you an independent, nature-loving, outdoorsy type? Consider beachcombing, caving, or mushroom hunting. Crafty, meticulous, and patient? You might enjoy needlework, knotting, or growing bonsai. Just take the personality quiz to identify those hobbies that best match your aptitude, interests, and even your mood, then it's on to the hobbies. Each hobby entry provides a playful mix of information: overviews, histories, and sample projects to help you get your hobby on, plus profiles of dedicated hobbyists and resources that'll help take you to the next level. Get a Hobby! might just be the inspiration you've been looking for.

World's Best Hobby is an unusual title for a memoir, which is exactly what this book is. It's my life in the fascinating hobby of Amateur Radio. Much of my professional life is spent producing documentary and reality programs for television (including more than a few about Ham Radio) where I learned that the purpose of a title is to attract an audience and if it was also true, all the better. The challenge with documentary films is to make them entertaining first and foremost, and informational if possible. I've tried very hard to make this book entertaining, and from feedback I've gotten (from Hams and wannabee Hams who found it posted online as I was writing it) I've succeeded, at least to some extent. I tried to make the book fun because Ham Radio is fun. And Ham Radio has more facets than a cheap diamond, as you'll discover as you dig into World's Best Hobby. Enjoy! PS. Let me know what you think of World's Best Hobby - especially if you like it. 73, Dave Bell, W6AQ

How the billionaire owners of Hobby Lobby are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to make America a “Bible nation” The Greens of Oklahoma City—the billionaire owners of the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores—are spending hundreds of millions of dollars in an ambitious effort to increase the Bible’s influence on American society. In Bible Nation, Candida Moss and Joel Baden provide the first in-depth investigative account of the Greens’ sweeping Bible projects. Moss and Baden tell the story of the Greens’ efforts to place a Bible curriculum in public schools; their rapid acquisition of an unparalleled collection of biblical antiquities; their creation of a closely controlled group of scholars to study and promote the collection; and their construction of a $500 million Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Revealing how all these initiatives promote a very particular set of beliefs about the Bible, the book raises serious questions about the trade in biblical antiquities, the integrity of academic research, and the place of private belief in public life.

"Does my life make a difference?" People of all ages and stages of life want to live a life that has meaning and extends beyond their years on earth. In A Generous Life, Hobby Lobby founder David Green suggests readers start now to adopt a lifestyle of generosity. As the founder and CEO of the largest privately owned arts and crafts retailer in the world, David has amassed material wealth, yet has learned the secret of generous living. As someone who gives away half of his profits to charity, lives with integrity and faith, and enjoys the peace of crafting a legacy now, David has found peace and fulfillment. A Generous Life: guides you through ten simple but life-changing action steps helps you establish a generous mindset, determine where and how much to give, how to create a family legacy plan, and more teaches you how to identify your blessings—friendships, family, work, education, or talents This beautiful hardcover book has a ribbon marker and a section for you to personalize a family legacy plan of your own. A Generous Life is a thoughtful gift for: Christians looking for ways to connect with their purpose and faith housewarming parties, baby showers for new parents, or college graduates fans of Hobby Lobby and founder David With practical helps on everything from deciding what you want your legacy to be to talking about money with your children, A Generous Life helps you start right where you are. You are richer than you know—and when you give it back to our generous God, your true wealth will never end.

Will Work for Fun presents a simple three-step process for turning your favorite hobby or interest into a reliable source of income. Why stay trapped in a job you hate, when you could turn your fun into your job? No matter what your interests are, Alan Bechtold will show you how to what you love into a real moneymaking career. Packed with stories, examples, exercises, and links to online resources, Will Work for Fun is the cure for another dull day at the office.

More than a Hobby takes readers inside the mind of a low-key, likable Oklahoma entrepreneur who has created a unique shopping experience. How did his company go from a $600 loan to $1.3 billion in annual sales in just thirty-one years-especially when he wasn't groomed for this work either by heritage or by education? Green was willing to go against the tide, allowing faith to play a huge part in the business. More Than a Hobby describes how this wildly successful business was built not on business-school theory, but on the founder's own experience as a grassroots store manager.

Need a new hobby? Looking for a hobby that's more than something to "pass the time," but rather a potential pathway to find your passion and higher purpose in life? The Big Book of Hobby Ideas: Hundreds of Hobby Ideas for Men and Women Complete With Links and Resources to Help You Find Your Passion is that book. Author D.J. Gelner spent hundreds of hours researching an amazing array of new hobby ideas for people around the world. The result is The Big Book of Hobby Ideas, which contains all of the resources you'll need to start a new hobby and find a new passion. Included inside are: -Hundreds of hobby ideas, ranging from Sports, to the Arts, to Food and Drinking Hobbies, Collections, Car and Motor Hobbies, Tech Hobbies, and even Super Spy Hobbies! -Lists of "What You'll Need" for each potential hobby -Links to the most helpful websites, videos, and other resources specific to each hobby idea to aid you in your hobby search -An alphabetical, clickable index that will direct you to any hobby in the entire book with the click of a button or tap of a finger. You've never seen a resource quite like this; far more than a list of pastimes, The Big Book of Hobby Ideas will surely point you toward your ultimate goals of leading a happier, more successful life.

Bill Hobby has spent most of his life in and around Texas government, including a record eighteen years as the state's lieutenant governor. His candid recollections about his days in office, as well as his take on what state government should and should not do are part of How Things Really Work: Lessons from a Life in Politics, published by the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. "Nostalgia is not my purpose," Hobby writes in the book's preface. "But I do hope to convey something of my admiration for the people that I had the honor to work with, the spirit of the times, and a sense of how things actually worked--at least in the legislative process." His no-holds-barred opinions about everything from partisan politics to efforts to rewrite the Texas Constitution to government wiretaps and the war on drugs are included, as are his memories of working with Texas politicians Ben Ramsey, Dolph Briscoe, Bill Clements, and Ann Richards. Hobby's years as lieutenant governor coincided with Texas's transition from a state dependent on oil and agriculture to one with a more diversified economy strengthened by the technology and health care industries. Through it all, Hobby emphasized the need for Texas to make education a priority. He enjoyed the nuts and bolts of the legislative process, especially appropriations and redistricting. "To help people, government has to work," he says. "Make the system work."

Discover the simple secrets to understanding the complex world of real estate. Bonnie Laslo shows how anyone can easily get started in real estate in less than 30 minutes. Learn how to become wealthy in real estate and how to: -Avoid losing your shirt. -Be prepared for the tenants from hell. -Determine if you have the stomach for this business. -Avoid putting too much money into your property. -Identify things you need to look for in buying property. -Purchase at the best price. -Do simple calculations to make sure the deal is a good deal.