It Ain't Always "I"

Grammar check and spell check on our computers have partially salvaged our written English, but spoken English has really disintegrated over the past 50 years. To prove to yourself that you need to read this book, I have a simple challenge for you: Take just 15 minutes listen to any news broadcast, speech, sermon, politician, lecture, address, etc. Mark down the number of times the speaker used the pronoun “I.” On a second column, mark the number of times the speaker used the pronoun “me.” When you find that the speaker never used the word “me,” (when a third of the time they should have) you will buy this book and move to the head of the class! Easy to read, understand and quickly apply - without grammar rules or textbook rigor. Just a simple technique that anyone can follow to get it right!

This book is not a grammar text. There will be very few formal rules given, particularly in the two most important Chapters (One and Two). Rather, I shall indicate the areas of the most common spoken grammatical errors and use examples and special techniques to illustrate the concepts to improve. Correcting one’s speaking habits will take some practice, effort and concentration, but I believe you readers will like my fresh approach. One can start by using my “Mother’s game" (explained in the Introduction). When listening to others, mentally correct them (remember, I said to mentally correct them – unless of course you’re listening to your own children – then, of course, you will want to teach them). Keep in mind, we are trying to accomplish in several hours of study what was formally done in 12 years of rigorous schoolwork. But don’t despair, I believe it can be done.

Jim Bowers is a retired professor, engineer, consultant, business owner, corporate President and author. He received his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University, his Master's from the University of Tennessee and his Doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis. He taught at Tennessee, Washington University and the University of South Florida. As an Electrical Engineer he worked at Boeing and McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. At McDonnell he worked on the Mercury spacecraft program and later for the Gemini project when his dissertation was funded by NASA for developing an attitude control system for space vehicles. At 29 years of age he was promoted to the position of Director of the Engineering Technical Staff. the highest technical position in the Engineering Division, of a company with over 50,000 employees. At the University of South Florida his research work was foundational in the then emerging field of computer-aided-design. As reported in the March 1981 issue of Powerconversion International: "The EE Department at the University of South Florida has been a fountainhead of creative activity in the field of computer-aided-design. Much of the original R&D work in this field was initiated at USF under the leadership of Dr. Bowers. He has been a pioneer in this direction, recognized around the world as one of the leaders." As President of A.B. Associates, Jim directed the development of an electrical engineering software design program called I-G SPICE. It became the most widely used program of its type, used by electrical engineers everywhere. He also did consultant work for many companies and government agencies, holding three patents in conjunction with his work with the U.S. Navy. As a consultant to Honeywell, he with worked on the Minuteman, Viking and Space Shuttle programs. He has co-authored a textbook and two engineering handbooks, in addition to publishing over 50 articles. Dr. Bowers has also been quite active in his civic responsibilities. He has given over a hundred speeches and lectures on a variety of topics to schools, churches and civic organizations. He has received community awards from the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Clubs and Kiwanis Clubs. For twenty-five years Jim and his wife Carole were volunteer teachers at the SUMMIT Ministries summer program - a Christian ministry for high school and college students. He has made a number of appearances on radio and television. He has done literature research involving Communist advances for several U.S. Congressmen . He is listed in the Personalities of the South, the world-wide edition of Leaders in Electronics, American Men and Women of Science, National Who's Who in Technology Today and Who's Who in Engineering. Jim is a senior member of the IEEE Professional Society, a member of the Sigma Chi social fraternity and a member of Sigma Xi, the national honorary scientific research society.