Business and Investing Books

The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing Dos and Donts to Protect Your Financial

2010-11-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

ISBN13: 9780470568057
Condition: New
Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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List Price: $ 19.95 Price: $ 10.53

Original :: The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing: Do's and Don'ts to Protect Your Financial Life (Little Books. Big Profits)

The Little Book of Behavioral Investing How not to be your own worst enemy

2010-11-12T06:55:00.000-08:00

ISBN13: 9780470686027
Condition: New
Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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List Price: $ 19.95 Price: $ 11.31

Original :: The Little Book of Behavioral Investing: How not to be your own worst enemy (Little Book, Big Profits)

The Best Business Books Ever The 100 Most Influential Business Books Youll Never

2010-11-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

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List Price: $ 16.95 Price: $ 8.99

Original :: The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read

F Wall Street Joe Ponzios NoNonsense Approach to Value Investing For the Rest of

2010-11-05T01:56:00.000-07:00

Rating: (out of 18 reviews)

List Price: $ 15.95 Price: $ 5.98

Original :: F Wall Street: Joe Ponzio's No-Nonsense Approach to Value Investing For the Rest of Us

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair

2010-11-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

ISBN13: 9780470102107
Condition: New
Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Rating: (out of 103 reviews)

List Price: $ 19.95 Price: $ 7.77

Original :: The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns (Little Books. Big Profits)

The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing Dos and Donts to Protect Your Financial

2010-10-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

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Original :: The Little Book of Bulletproof Investing: Do's and Don'ts to Protect Your Financial Life

Crown Money Map Financial Software

2010-10-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

Budget Build a realistic budget using the Envelope Budgeting System to spend only what you earn. Import transactions from your bank account directly into Crown Money Map Financial Software
Organize Closely monitor and organize your income, expenses, and investments with customizable user preference settings
Reminders and Reports Set customized reminders to never miss another payment. Use the handy reporting feature to track your progress, and then print or email the report.
Financial Teaching and Advice The Wisdom Portal includes a comprehensive online database of FAQ?s, financial advice, and online tools.

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List Price: $ 59.99 Price: $ 55.00

Original :: Crown Money Map Financial Software

Reference Book of Marine Insurance Clauses

2010-10-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

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List Price: Price: $ 121.79

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The Little Book of Common Sense Investing The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair

2010-10-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

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Original :: The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns

Mary Buffett Warren Buffett and LongTerm Investing

2010-10-16T04:56:00.000-07:00

Complete video at: fora.tv Author Mary Buffett discusses billionaire investor Warren Buffett's emphasis on investing for the long-term, and warns against overvaluing short-term profits. ----- Mary Buffett on "The Tao of Warren Buffet." A collection of pithy and inspiring sayings from America's favorite businessman that reveal his secrets of success. Like the sayings of the ancient Chinese philospher Lao-tzu, Warren Buffett's worldly wisdom is deceptively simple and enormously powerful in application. In "The Tao of Warren Buffett," Mary Buffett - author of three books on Warren Buffett's investment methods - joins noted Buffettologist and international lecturer David Clark to bring you Warren Buffett's smartest, funniest, and most memorable sayings with an eye toward revealing the life philosophy and the investment strategies that have made Warren Buffett, and the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway, so enormously wealthy. Warren Buffett's investment achievements are unparalleled. He owes his success to hard work, integrity, and that most elusive commodity of all, common sense. The quotations in this book exemplify Warren's practical strategies and provide useful illustrations for every investor - large or small - and models everyone can follow. The quotes are culled from a variety of sources, including personal conversations, corporate reports, profiles, and interviews. The authors provide short explanations for each quote and use examples from Buffett's own business ...

Video Rating: 3 / 5

Investing and Trading My Alma Mater Books

2010-10-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

The Blog Entry that Accompanies this YouTube Vlog is at: investorandtrader.blogspot.com My Daily Blog is at: investorandtrader.blogspot.com I've received a series of questions, that sort of relates to the same topic. These questions are along the lines of "Where did you receive your education? Where did you go to college? What books have you read? What books would you recommend on trading? What books would you recommend on investing? What books would you recommend on investing? I'm going to discuss that topic, in the videos in the next two entries ...NOTE: This is not an investment or trading recommendation. The losses in trading can be very real, and depending on the investment vehicle, can exceed your initial investment. I am not a licensed trading or investment adviser, or financial planner. But I do have 12 years of experience in trading and investing in these markets. The Challenge accounts are run for the education of other traders who should make their own decisions based off their own research and risk tolerance

Video Rating: 4 / 5

The Intelligent Investor The Definitive Book on Value Investing A Book of

2010-10-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

ISBN13: 9780060555665
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Rating: (out of 181 reviews)

List Price: $ 21.99 Price: $ 8.99

Original :: The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)

The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing 2010 Edition

2010-10-07T03:56:00.000-07:00

ISBN13: 9780452295827
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Rating: (out of 34 reviews)

List Price: $ 16.00 Price: $ 4.98

Original :: The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing, 2010 Edition

Looking for BUSINESS INVESTING BOOKS Yes BUSINESS INVESTING BOOKS Its all here

2010-10-02T22:55:00.000-07:00

GuideCareForYou.com Practical tips on business & investing books. Brief and Straightforward guide about business & investing books. Browse by Category Book Arts & Photography Biographies & Memoirs Business & Investing Children's Books Comics & Graphic Novels Computers & Internet Cooking, Food & Wine Entertainment Gay & Lesbian Health, Mind & Body History Home & Garden Law Literature & Fiction Medicine Mystery & Thrillers Nonfiction Outdoors & Nature Parenting & Families Professional & Technical Reference Religion & Spirituality Romance Science Science Fiction & Fantasy Sports Teens Travel

Video Rating: 0 / 5

Top Business Book Recommendations

2010-09-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

www.AskJoelComm.com What are some of the books that I consider must-reads? In this edition of Ask Joel Comm, I present five titles that should be on every marketer's bookshelf.

Video Rating: 4 / 5

Executec Suites Green Screen Ad

2010-09-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

Addicted to Real Estate--Why I Can't Stop and Why You Should Start, by Phil Falcone, is a case study of a full-time investor who can't stop making aggressive and creative real estate moves www.addicted2realestate.com Real Estate Addict Reveals His Secrets for Success...and Shows You Why You Should Become an Addict Too! Do you want to learn about real estate investment from a fresh perspective, by "getting into the head" of someone who is doing it all the time? Do you want to get the edge when negotiating your next real estate investment deal? Do you want to take your real estate portfolio to new heights? Meet The Addict Phil Falcone, the ultimate real estate addict, honestly chronicles his real estate success story in his new book, "Addicted to Real Estate...Why I Can't Stop and Why You Should Start". From his first investment property over 20 years ago, to his relentless search for the next great deal every day...he is a non-stop real estate investment machine! Get Addicted Phil takes you through his deals, and shares with you what he was thinking as he made each real estate move. Whether you are a seasoned veteran, or just getting started, Phil shows you how to achieve amazing success as a real estate investor and addict โ�ข Delve into the details of actual deals he negotiated and learn why his methods were so effective โ�ข Discover why his residential to commercial real estate strategy will create ultimate wealth โ�ข Learn how he used apparent liabilities (OCD, insomnia, and ...

Video Rating: 0 / 5

The Smartest Investment Book Youll Ever Read The Simple StressFree Way to Reach

2010-09-24T04:55:00.000-07:00

Rating: (out of 48 reviews)

List Price: $ 19.95 Price: $ 2.00

Original :: The Smartest Investment Book You'll Ever Read: The Simple, Stress-Free Way to Reach Your Investment Goals

The Little Book of Commodity Investing Little Book Big Profits

2010-09-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

ISBN13: 9780470678374
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Rating: (out of 4 reviews)

List Price: $ 19.95 Price: $ 11.91

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Donut Recipe

2010-09-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

donutedvd.com My name is Ed Chastain and I have over 20 years of experience making and creating handmade donuts by scratch within my donut shop, testing and perfecting my donut making art. I look forward to training you in the lost art of donut making and assisting you as you open your own highly profitable donut shop or wholesale business. Donuts are quickly becoming a lost art that YOU CAN PROFIT FROM due to poorly trained bakers, aging donut shops, inferior frozen donuts and premixed, and established professionals unwilling to share their knowledge. With two decades in the donut business, I've gained valuable knowledge, and I'm willing to share. My objective: to provide quality information and valuable training about the donut business so your own only option isn't just to open a donut franchise and use their baking methods. Instead, I demonstrate expert donut making techniques for both "yeast" and "cake" donuts. This can be found on a two disc, four-hour, step-by-step training course DVD and its companion e-book Donut Shop Formula. As an added bonus, you get personal consultations and advice from me...free. "Donuts are all I do!" From the baker's table, I demonstrate my most guarded donut making methods along with instruction on how to make traditional, unique, and even lost-to-history donuts, fillings, and toppings, many of them lost over time, (like my special chocolate and white raised cinnamon twist, which, in my shop, outsell every other donut I have.) Starting ...

Video Rating: 4 / 5

50 Cent on the business of fear

2010-09-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

BBC Radio 4's Today presenter Evan Davis speaks to 50 Cent about how overcoming your fears can help you get ahead in business.

Video Rating: 4 / 5

Donut Recipe

2010-09-13T01:56:00.000-07:00

Video Rating: 4 / 5

The Little Book of Commodity Investing Little Book Big Profits

2010-09-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

ISBN13: 9780470678374
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

List Price: $ 19.95 Price: $ 11.90

Original :: The Little Book of Commodity Investing (Little Book Big Profits)

Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit

2009-04-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit

During his twenty-five year career with the Investigative Support Unit, Special Agent John Douglas became a legendary figure in law enforcement, pursuing some of the most notorious and sadistic serial killers of our time: the man who hunted prostitutes for sport in the woods of Alaska, the Atlanta child murderer, and Seattle's Green River killer, the case that nearly cost Douglas his life.

As the model for Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, Douglas has confronted, interviewed, and studied scores of serial killers and assassins, including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Ed Gein, who dressed himself in his victims' peeled skin. Using his uncanny ability to become both predator and prey, Douglas examines each crime scene, reliving both the killer's and the victim's actions in his mind, creating their profiles, describing their habits, and predicting their next moves.

Now, in chilling detail, the legendary Mindhunter takes us behind the scenes of some of his most gruesome, fascinating, and challenging cases -- and into the darkest recesses of our worst nightmares.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #12523 in Books

Published on: 1996-08-01

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Mass Market Paperback

397 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Mindhunter enters the minds of some of the country's most notorious serial killers to tell the real-life story of the Investigative Support Unit (ISU) -- the FBI's special force that has assisted state and local police in cracking some of the country's most celebrated serial murder and rape cases. The unit specializes in understanding the chemistry and mechanical workings of the brain's of these serial criminals, and did its homework by interviewing such murderers as Charles Manson and David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam). John Douglas, who worked for the FBI for 25 years, is an authority on the unit, and his book combines the best of nonfiction with that of a murder mystery.

From Publishers Weekly
Douglas, who developed criminal profiling techniques for the FBI, teams up with novelist Olshaker to tell of his 25-year career tracking down serial killers.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
John Douglas knows more about serial killers than anybody else in the world.

Customer Reviews

Condition Overstated
The book was priced well and arrived quickly, but the condition of the book was overstated.

An eye opening account of criminal behaviour
This is an interesting account of a career that started out as rather ordinary and ended up with the author as one of the pioneers of Profiling at the FBI. Profiling in this account comes across as much of an art as a science. Certainly not everybody would have the skill the read people like this. It is also a high pressure - high risk job, and the author developed a certain understandable bitterness over time at the lack of support the FBI gave its agents in these roles.

It's surprising how criminal behaviour can be classified as to what sets of these killers and the type of crimes that they commit. You certainly won't learn to be a profiler yourself by reading this book, but you'll gain a new appreciation for the skill of the people who work in the field and an eye opening account of the depths human beings can sink to. For me this was the first book on violent crimes like this I have read and it is heartening that a through and logical approach to these crimes has meant an improvement in the ability of the law to capture the people who kill and keep killing.

Fascinating
Name a serial killer in the 20th century, and John Douglas has gone inside his mind. This is one of the most fascinating books I have read. I got the privilege of meeting Mr. Douglas 12 years ago at an event. He is even more fascinating in person. If you like true crime books, as well as understanding what makes a criminal tick, then get John Douglas's books.

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Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)

2009-04-20T14:40:00.001-07:00

Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)

Presentation designer and internationally acclaimed communications expert Garr Reynolds, creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the net -- presentationzen.com -- shares his experience in a provocative mix of illumination, inspiration, education, and guidance that will change the way you think about making presentations with PowerPoint or Keynote. Presentation Zen challenges the conventional wisdom of making "slide presentations" in today's world and encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations. Garr shares lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of communication and business. Combining solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, this book will help you along the path to simpler, more effective presentations.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #305 in Books

Published on: 2008-01-04

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

240 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Please don't buy this book! Once people start making better presentations, mine won’t look so good. (But if you truly want to learn what works and how to do it right, Garr is the man to learn from.)"
Seth Godin
Speaker and Blogger
Author, Meatball Sundae

"Garr is a beacon of hope for frustrated audiences everywhere. His design philosophy and fundamental principles bring life to messages and can invigorate careers. His principles of simplicity are as much a journey of the soul as they are restraint of the mouse."
Nancy Duarte
CEO, Duarte Design

"Presentation Zen is just fantastic. Best of all it's not another recipe book about “how to make slides” — this is about re-imagining how your entire presentation will work together as a persuasive and integrated show, from conception through delivery. Awesome."
Merlin Mann
43folders.com

About the Author
Garr Reynolds is an internationally acclaimed communications expert, and the creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the net: presentationzen.com. A soughtafter speaker and consultant, his clients include many in the Fortune 500. A writer, designer, and musician, he currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Management at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. Garr is a former corporate trainer for Sumitomo Electric, and once worked in Cupertino, California as the Manager for Worldwide User Group Relations at Apple, Inc. A longtime student of the Zen arts and resident of Japan, he currently lives in Osaka where he is Director of Design Matters Japan.

Customer Reviews

Presentation Zen is superb!
Have you ever read a book where the content is so appealing, applicable, and soothing that you wish it would never end?

"Presentation Zen" is one of those books. This book is filled from cover to cover with amazing examples, techniques, and images that inspire and encourage excellence in presentation. The layout adheres to the principles of simplicity and elegance taught in the book. The author, Garr Reynolds, is generous and knowledgeable in his narrative.

The book consists of five sections:

Introduction - This section starts with one of my favorite quotes: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" (Leonardo Da Vinci). This sets the tone for the rest of the book.

Preparation - Get away from the computer and think about the central point. My favorite suggestion from this section is: "As you prepare a presentation, exercise restraint and keep these three words in mind always: simplicity, clarity, brevity."

Design - Here the author reminds us of the design principles often associated with Zen: Simplicity, Naturalness, and Elegance. You can't really go wrong if you keep these in mind.

Delivery - Having an awesome deck of slides is all well and good, but the delivery of the presentation is just as important. The key here is being completely present and in tune with your audience.

Next Steps - Practice makes perfect!

The best part of this book is that the author does not hold back on sharing the wealth. After reading some books, I feel like "yeah, that sounds good in theory, but it didn't give me the tools I need to make it happen." "Presentation Zen" provides all the tools you need, including confidence. In fact, it even includes a promotional offer for iStockPhoto to get you started with getting high quality images for your next presentation. After reading this book, I totally get Seth Godin's tongue-in-cheek comment in his endorsement:

"Please don't buy this book! Once people start making better presentations, mine won't look so good."

I am actually excited about starting on my next presentation for an upcoming product roadshow. I can't wait to deliver an amazing presentation!

A practical and engaging antidote to Death by Powerpoint
This is an extraordinarily practical yet engaging and thought-provoking book. Beyond it's obvious uses by perpetrators of "Death by Powerpoint" (including me, alas), it's insights are relevant to how any person presents themselves.

The book is concise and easy to read yet is full of useful references and examples. I've already made good use of the ideas in the book - from specific slide designs and stock photo sites to more abstract ideas about engaging the audience and Ben Zander's philosophy.

not worth the time or money
* A total waste of time and money.
* If only the author used just one of the techniques of good writing in building this book it would have made it a better read
* Too many paragraphs to explain simple concepts
* 10 or 11 sized font used with hundreads of word per page. I had to speed read

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Options Made Easy: Your Guide to Profitable Trading (2nd Edition)

2009-04-20T01:00:00.001-07:00

Options Made Easy: Your Guide to Profitable Trading (2nd Edition)

Options trading offers unparalleled opportunity for rapid profit, but most options guides are difficult to understand and even harder to use successfully. Not this one. Options Made Easy has earned a worldwide reputation for simplicity, clarity, and practical value. In this thoroughly revamped Second Edition, renowned options trader Guy Cohen delivers even more of what makes this book so valuable: better graphics for easy visual learning, updated hands-on examples that walk step by step through real trades, and the clearest plain-English explanations of trading techniques you'll find anywhere. Unlike its competitors, Options Made Easy, Second Edition shows you how to design your own trading plan for high probability trades and consistent profits, offering proven strategies you can begin using right now. Best of all, Cohen teaches through easy-to-understand charts and graphs, not complicated math! Coverage includes: filtering for moving stocks; selecting the right strategy for each situation; bull call and put spreads; covered calls; straddle/strangle; volatility and sideways strategies; trading and investing psychology; and much more. This edition also contains a completely revamped introduction to the Greeks-- the standard sensitivities to options risk characteristics that every trader must know.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #3384 in Books

Published on: 2005-07-28

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

368 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review
"The best book on options I have ever come across."- Alpesh Patel, best-selling author of "Trading Online "and "Mind of a Trader" "Incredibly well presented - actually makes you want to learn about options if you are a novice, and for the expert teaches you huge amounts you never knew. The diagrams, charts and illustrations are exactly what is needed for a potentially complex subject and turns it exactly into what it says on the cover - Options Made Easy. Very thorough. Very accessible." "Guy's approach in using well illustrated diagrams is the most effective way" "to understand the concepts and intricacies of options trading. This book" "will guide you through the popular strategies adopted by traders at all" "levels. "Options Made Easy "is definitely a valuable addition to any trader's" "library. It's one of the best investments I have ever made." J Pau, Australia

From the Back Cover

“Guy Cohen cuts through the fog and helps all levels of investors grasp the most intricate concepts. He does so with great clarity and brevity despite covering such a broad set of topics. His is an invaluable guide for the interested beginner and the most advanced trader.”

–Ned Bennett, CEO, optionsXpress, Inc.

"The best book on options I have ever come across."
–Alpesh B. Patel, bestselling author of Trading Online and Mind of a Trader

"Guy Cohen really does make options easy. Each options strategy has both a visual diagram of the risk and reward, as well as a logical explanation of how the strategy works. Combined with primers on fundamental and technical analysis, Guy shows you how to put the odds in your favor in today's options markets."
–Price Headley, Founder, BigTrends.com and author of Big Trends in Trading

"Guy Cohen has put together a comprehensive, easy to understand, must-read on options for investors of all levels. Practical in its approach, the graphics bring clarity to what beginning investors might consider complicated strategies."
–Joseph Sellitto, Director Retail Derivatives, E*TRADE Securities LLC

"This is one of the best books on option strategies I have ever read."
–Daniel J. Zanger, President, Chartpattern.com

"Guy Cohen builds a foundation for the reader with simple definitions and clear mechanics on what can be a complicated topic. He then approaches each strategy with a context of fundamental and technical analysis and sets the stage for a solid understanding of risk, reward and probability."
–Dave Whitmore, Managing Director, Products & Services, Ameritrade, Inc.

In Options Made Easy, Second Edition, Guy Cohen clearly explains everything you need to know about options in plain English so that you can start trading fast and make consistent profits in any market, bull or bear!

Simply and clearly, the author reveals secrets of options trading that were formerly limited to elite professionals–and exposes the dangerous myths that keep investors from profiting.

As you set out on your options journey, you'll learn interactively through real-life examples, anecdotes, case studies, and pictures. Guy Cohen is your friendly expert guide, helping you pick the right stocks, learn the right strategies, create the trading plans that work, and master the psychology of the winning trader.

Master all the essentials–and put them to work

Options demystified so that you can get past the fear and start profiting!
Learn the safest ways to trade options

Identify high-probability trades that lead to consistent profits
Design a winning Trading Plan–and stick to it

Understand your risk profile and discover exactly when to enter and exit your trades
Choose the right stocks for maximum profit

Screen for your best opportunities–stocks that are moving–or are about to move
Discover the optimum strategies for you

Match your trading strategies to your personal investment goals
No bull! The realities and myths of the markets

What you must know about fundamental and technical analysis

The easy, plain-English guide to making consistent profits with options!

Teaches all the essentials with real-life examples and crystal-clear explanations

No complicated math or confusing jargon: Learn visually with easy-to-understand pictures!

Identify high-probability trades, and design a Trading Plan that works

Master practical, easy strategies for succeeding in any environment–even bear markets

Updated for today's markets with even more dynamic graphics, intuitive explanations, and valuable information!

For every investor interested in trading options

When you read this book, you'll be amazed how quickly you understand options–and how quickly you can start profiting from them!

About the Author
Guy Cohen is the author of the best-selling trading books: Options Made Easy and The Bible of Options Strategies. He has extensive experience in the options and stock markets and his clients include NYSE Euronext, the largest stock exchange in the world. Guy is also the creator of trading products Flag-Trader, OptionEasy, and Illuminati-Trader. Specializing in trading applications Guy has developed comprehensive trading and training models, all expressly designed for maximum user-friendliness. An entertaining speaker, Guy has an MBA (Finance) from City University Cass Business School, London.

Customer Reviews

Not for a novice! It's a difficult read filled with jargon.
I was extremely disappointed with this book. I thought it was written for people with little knowledge of options. It has many confusing charts & analysis & written with terms that are not part of the average persons financial vocabulary. I will go out to by a "dummies" book. It was a complete waste of time.

Options Made Easy - not really that easy
Although this book seems to be well written, with a title like "Options Made Easy" one would assume that it would be a good book for the inexperienced options trader. If you're a beginner, this isn't the book for you. It assumes that you have knowledge about the subject. Read "Understanding Options" by Michael Sincere first. After you become familiar with the subject, then read Options Made Easy.

very displeased!!
No Quality in this item. A lot of missing pages. whats with this? There are pages with great info. What is this doing to the author? Please strive to get it right or dont sign your name to it.

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Looking for Lincoln: The Making of an American Icon

2009-04-16T03:40:00.001-07:00

Looking for Lincoln: The Making of an American Icon

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #8324 in Books

Published on: 2008-11-18

Released on: 2008-11-18

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

512 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Book Description

In honor of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, an extensively researched, lavishly illustrated consideration of the myths, memories, and questions that gathered around our most beloved—and our most enigmatic—president in the years between his assassination and the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922. A sequel to the enormously successful Lincoln: An Illustrated Biography, Looking for Lincoln picks up where the previous book left off, examining how our sixteenth president’s legend came into being.

Availing themselves of a vast collection of both published and never-before-seen materials, the authors--the fourth and fifth generations of a family of Lincoln scholars--bring into focus the posthumous portrait of Lincoln that took hold in the American imagination, becoming synonymous with the nation’s very understanding of itself. Told through the voices of those who knew the man--Northerners and Southerners, blacks and whites, neighbors and family members, adversaries and colleagues—and through stories carefully selected from long-forgotten newspapers, magazines, and family scrapbooks, Looking for Lincoln charts the dramatic epilogue to Lincoln’s extraordinary life when, in a process fraught with jealousy, greed, and the struggle for power, the scope of his historical significance was taking shape.

In vibrant and immediate detail, the authors chart the years when Americans struggled to understand their loss and rebuild their country. Here is a chronicle of the immediate aftermath of the assassination; the private memories of those closest to the slain president; the difficult period between 1876 and 1908, when a tired nation turned its back on the former slaves and betrayed Lincoln’s teachings; and the early years of the twentieth century when Lincoln’s popularity soared as African Americans fought to reclaim the ideals he espoused.

Looking for Lincoln will deeply enhance our understanding of the statesman and his legacy, at a moment when the timeless example of his leadership is more crucial than ever.

Surprsing Facts from Looking for Lincoln
(Click on Images to Enlarge)


During the twenty days of his public funeral...	...more than a million mourners looked at the face of Abraham Lincoln.

There was an attempt to steal Lincoln’s body from its tomb in 1876.	For years afterward it was hidden in a basement while the public believed it was still inside its sarcophagus.

Robert Lincoln was present or close at hand at three presidential assassinations--his father’s, James Garfield’s, and William McKinley’s--leading him to believe that his life was cursed.	For years after the Civil War, Lincoln was hung in effigy in some southern homes, whereas John Wilkes Booth was hailed as the courageous slayer of an American tyrant.

Lincoln’s dog Fido met the same fate as his illustrious master, and was “assassinated” by a town drunk.	The Lincoln penny, issued in the Centennial year, was the first U.S. Coin to bear the image of a historical figure.

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The Kunhardts use the family's vast collection of Lincoln photographs, started in the late 19th century by Frederick Hill Meserve, combined with concise commentary and valuable first-hand accounts, to illustrate Lincoln's postmortem life. The Kunhardts trace the circuitous route by which the assassinated head of state morphed into a cherished figure as much of myth as of history. The profusely and beautifully illustrated volume-the companion to a PBS special to air in winter 2009-is loaded with rarities: never before seen letters, photos from the 1901 unearthing and re-interment of Lincoln's remains, and first-hand reminiscences from numerous Lincoln intimates, all of them rich with telling detail about the man. Fascinating anecdotes abound, such as Robert Lincoln's shunning of the dedication of the memorial housing the presumed Lincoln birth cabin, which he said commemorated nothing but the "degradation and uncleanliness" of his father's humble beginnings. All in all, the Kunhardts' book represents a visual and literary feast for all devotees of the sacred national idol that is Lincoln. 910 color photos and illus.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
"Enough to ignite a lifelong interest in the era that reveals the most about our history."
–William Safire, New York Times Book Review

“Powerfully illustrated . . . To leaf through its pages is to walk through the life of the nation after that night in Ford’s Theater in 1865, watching as a man became a legend . . . To remember Lincoln, the Kunhardts demonstrate, is to remember ourselves.”
–Jon Meacham, The Los Angeles Times

“The Kunhardt trio offers up yet another impeccably designed and meticulously researched package, full of never-seen-before photographs and personal anecdotes that impart a fascinating and unbiased portrait of the heroic statesman. A timely read!”
–Alexis Burling, The Washington Post

“Fascinating . . . Describes how Americans became obsessed by Lincoln from his death in 1865 to the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922 . . . The Kunhardt family not only recount this story, but inhabit it.”
–Ted Widmer, The New York Observer

“Exceptional . . . A fitting tribute to our 16th president . . . This is a work that is certain to enhance our understanding of the man and his legacy.”
–Larry Cox, Tucson Citizen

“If you want one book to read on Lincoln during his Bicentennial, this should be your top choice.”–Greg Lennes, Las Cruces Sun-News

“By thumbing through this lavishly illustrated and well-organized book, we . . . bear witness to the generations that shaped Lincoln’s legacy . . . The photo gallery of all known Lincoln portraits is not to be missed.”
–Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor

“An amazing exploration of one of our most photographed and beloved presidents.”
–New Orleans Times-Picayune

“A museum within covers.”
–Asheville Citizen-Times

“If Abraham Lincoln is one of our most fascinating presidents, the Kunhardt family is among our foremost Lincoln historians.”
–Uptown Magazine

“An essential volume . . . Every page here has images and words worth thinking about . . . An important and fascinating examination of Lincoln’s legacy as accepted and as forgotten.”
–Rob Hardy, The Commercial Dispatch

“A visual and literary feast . . . Beautifully illustrated . . . Loaded with rarities: never before seen letters . . . and first-hand reminiscences from numerous Lincoln intimates, all of them rich with telling detail about the man.”
–Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Lavishly illustrated with haunting, amusing and powerful images, this is the ultimate hardcover keepsake for Lincoln’s bicentennial.”
–Terry Golway, Newark Star-Ledger

“Fascinating . . . An engrossing invitation to scrutinize its every page and image, the Kunhardts’ work is sure to be one of the most popular books in the bicentennial effusion of Lincoln volumes.”
--Booklist

“Will surprise even the most knowledgeable Lincoln fans . . . [a] treasure trove.”--Guy Powers, Detroit Free Press

“You can really lose yourself in the pictures.”–Joe Mysak, Bloomberg

“The Kunhardt family has done it again with their latest tour de force--Looking for Lincoln. For five generations, the Kunhardts have been immersed in the study, writing, and collecting of Lincoln and Civil War era photographs and prints. While this book is chock full of iconography, it is not just a picture book--but a superlative narrative in text and illustrations that gives us a first-rate study of Abraham Lincoln in his bicentennial year.”
--Frank J. Williams, Founding Chair of The Lincoln Forum and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island

Customer Reviews

"My God that's John Booth." Harry Hawk, actor on stage when Lincoln was shot
After being thoroughly absorbed in Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" for two months, I was suffering from Lincoln withdrawal. Then I found this wonderful book, just the thing for someone in my condition. It picks up right where Goodwin left off, to the day, the infamous day of April 14, 1865. Not only that, its rich treasure of photos and illustrations brings to life all the characters I've been reading about. What a stroke of luck to have found it!

This work is divided into five parts: 1. Black Easter; 2. We Who Knew Him; 3. Betrayal; 4. Looking Back; and 5. His Unfinished Work. In addition, there's a wonderful gallery of photographs of Lincoln from 1846 to 1865. Every reader is guaranteed to learn something new from this work. The text by Philip, Peter, and Peter (Jr) Kunhardt is clear, unobtrusive, engrossing, and thorough. Original texts from newspapers, testimony, letters, and first-hand accounts are presented in chronological order, from April 14, 1865 to the date the last survivor of "the Emancipator," Robert Lincoln, his son, died on July 26, 1926 at the age of 82. To his dying day, Robert regretted not going along to the theatre with his parents that fateful awful night. He said no when his father asked him to accompany them. Little facts like this are everywhere to be found in this rich work.

For the professional historian, much of what's here is probably known. But for me, I had no idea that there was an attempt to steal Lincoln's body on November 7, 1876, or that Teddy Roosevelt's ring contained a strand of Lincoln's hair. On and on this book goes, giving one more fact after another in a generously large format that doesn't spare quality in its production. I love this book. I think anyone who's read "Team of Rivals" or who cares about Lincoln will love it too.

Long Overdue
The author Fred Reed should be canonized for this work. Surely he deserves sainthood. The book is what every collector of Lincoln numismatics has been waiting for. Breath taking photographs of rare items, ample and exciting information, a book you can't keep your hands off of. The best word to describe the book in total; INTOXICATING! Thank you Mr. Reed.

The rest of the story
This is a different take on the Lincoln story, following his life's work through the people and events that he influenced. It starts with his death and reflects his life through milestones in the lives of other people in the years following his demise. Thus, among many other stories, we find out what happened to Lincoln's barber, to Billy Herndon, Lincoln's law partner and eventual biographer, we read excerpts from the book written by his former secretaries, Nicolay and Hay, and follow his wife, Mary, and his son, Tad, to their sad ends.
The book, which calls on the authors' vast collection of Linolniana, is effectively laid out and attractive. It is literally "heavy" reading, as its size and weight can be tiring to hold, but the binding and glossy paper add to its quality. There are a few minor mistakes--Lincoln's sister does not lie next to her mother, but in a churchyard a mile away--that are alarming, but on the whole, it is an interesting and pleasant read that adds dimension to the Lincoln story.

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American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

2009-04-15T13:40:00.001-07:00

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

J. Robert Oppenheimer is one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century, a brilliant physicist who led the effort to build the atomic bomb for his country in a time of war, and who later found himself confronting the moral consequences of scientific progress. In this magisterial, acclaimed biography twenty-five years in the making, Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin capture Oppenheimer’s life and times, from his early career to his central role in the Cold War. This is biography and history at its finest, riveting and deeply informative.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #11982 in Books

Published on: 2006-04-11

Released on: 2006-04-11

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Perfect Paperback

721 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
In American Prometheus, Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin delve deep into J. Robert Oppenheimer's life and deliver a thorough and devastatingly sad biography of the man whose very name has come to represent the culmination of 20th century physics and the irrevocable soiling of science by governments eager to exploit its products. Rich in historical detail and personal narratives, the book paints a picture of Oppenheimer as both a controlling force and victim of the mechanisms of power.

By the time the story reaches Oppenheimer's fateful Manhattan Project work, readers have been swept along much as the project's young physicists were by fate and enormous pressure. The authors allow the scientists to speak for themselves about their reactions to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, avoiding any sort of preacherly tone while revealing the utter, horrible ambiguity of the situation. For instance, Oppenheimer wrote in a letter to a friend, "The thing had to be done," then, "Circumstances are heavy with misgiving."

Many biographies of Oppenheimer end here, with the seeds of his later pacifism sown and the dangers of mixing science with politics clearly outlined. But Bird and Sherwin devote the second half of this hefty book to what happened to Oppenheimer after the bomb. For a short time, he was lionized as the ultimate patriot by a victorious nation, but things soured as the Cold War crept forward and anti-communist witchhunts focused paranoia and anti-Semitism onto Oppenheimer, destroying his career and disillusioning him about his life's work. Devastated by the atom bomb's legacy of fear, he became a vocal and passionate opponent of the Strangelovian madness that gripped the world because of the weapons he helped develop.

Twenty-five years of research went into creating American Prometheus, and there has never been a more honest and complete biography of this tragic scientific giant. The many great ironies of Oppenheimer's life are revealed through the careful reconstruction of a wealth of records, conversations, and ideas, leaving the clearest picture yet of his life. --Therese Littleton

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Though many recognize Oppenheimer (1904–1967) as the father of the atomic bomb, few are as familiar with his career before and after Los Alamos. Sherwin (A World Destroyed) has spent 25 years researching every facet of Oppenheimer's life, from his childhood on Manhattan's Upper West Side and his prewar years as a Berkeley physicist to his public humiliation when he was branded a security risk at the height of anticommunist hysteria in 1954. Teaming up with Bird, an acclaimed Cold War historian (The Color of Truth), Sherwin examines the evidence surrounding Oppenheimer's "hazy and vague" connections to the Communist Party in the 1930s—loose interactions consistent with the activities of contemporary progressives. But those politics, in combination with Oppenheimer's abrasive personality, were enough for conservatives, from fellow scientist Edward Teller to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, to work at destroying Oppenheimer's postwar reputation and prevent him from swaying public opinion against the development of a hydrogen bomb. Bird and Sherwin identify Atomic Energy Commission head Lewis Strauss as the ringleader of a "conspiracy" that culminated in a security clearance hearing designed as a "show trial." Strauss's tactics included illegal wiretaps of Oppenheimer's attorney; those transcripts and other government documents are invaluable in debunking the charges against Oppenheimer. The political drama is enhanced by the close attention to Oppenheimer's personal life, and Bird and Sherwin do not conceal their occasional frustration with his arrogant stonewalling and panicky blunders, even as they shed light on the psychological roots for those failures, restoring human complexity to a man who had been both elevated and demonized. 32 pages of photos not seen by PW. (Apr. 10)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From The New Yorker
J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who oversaw the creation of the atomic bomb, was lauded as a patriot after the United States dropped the bomb on Japan, but nine years later he was disgraced, accused of Communist sympathies and "substantial defects of character." This commanding biography, the result of twenty-five years of research, reëvaluates that character, and delivers the most complex portrait of Oppenheimer to date: a brilliant but insecure child prodigy who became a charismatic leader; a polymath who learned Sanskrit just so he could read the Bhagavad Gita; an aesthete who mixed infamously strong Martinis; a one-time fellow-traveller who was almost willfully naïve about politics. Drawing on thousands of pages of F.B.I. surveillance records, the authors contend that the scientist was never a member of the Communist Party.
Copyright © 2005 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Superb biography
For all the reasons other reviewers have praised this biography, I do too. Timely (acutely so) when it was first published, it is no less timely today. There is so much in the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer -- his personal story and the story of his times -- that resonates now. AP should be required reading in high school American history courses, lest, as the saying goes, those unaware of history doom themselves -- and us all -- to repeat it. In addition to being a highly sobering and informative read, AP is also vivid and facinating in the telling. Though AP may not be the last word on Oppenheimer, it's hard to imagine it will be surpassed. A first-rate book.

The rise and fall of the physicist who helped create the Atomic Bomb
Subtitled "The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer", this 2005 book won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Biography. This fascinating story of the physicist who oversaw the creation of the atomic bomb is meticulously researched by the authors and offers the reader a comprehensive look at the facts and the political complexities that first held this man in high esteem in 1945 and later turned on him and disgraced him just nine years later in 1954.

Born in 1904 to a Jewish family who had been one of the founders of the Ethical Culture movement in the America, young Robert attended a private Ethical Culture school and grew up inspired by the ideal that the supreme aim of our lives is to create a more humane society. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Cambridge in England and the University of Gottingen in Germany, later becoming a professor at the University of Berkeley in California. This was in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Europe was where the innovations in physics were happening, Hitler was rising to power, Russia was in a state of revolution, the Spanish Civil War was beginning and the work of Karl Marx was being discussed by the segment of American society that believed in making the world a better place. Naturally, Robert Oppenheimer found himself in that world, and contributed money to some humanitarian causes. During this time he had several romances and eventually married a woman whose former husband was a Communist who had died fighting in the Spanish Civil War.

Robert was a brilliant physicist and was chosen to run the project at Los Alamos to create what turned out to be the Atomic Bomb. In this section of the book we meet the other scientists involved in the project and get to understand the kind of isolationist lives they and their families lived during the two years that the project was being developed. Later, when the Atomic Bomb became a reality, there was debate over whether or not it should be used. Originally, it was designed to be used in Europe, but Hitler had already surrendered and Japan was on the verge of surrendering. There were no military targets left that the bomb was suited for. All it would do would be to kill thousands of civilians and wreck havoc in Japan. Some thought at the time that all that would be needed was to call a press conference and do a test in an isolated area so that reporters could report on its strength which might have been enough to push Japan's surrender. This, however, was not to be.

Well, we all know what happened. Two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. Japan surrendered. And Robert Oppenheimer was lauded as one of the greatest scientists of all time.

Things changed however. Atomic power seemed to let the genie out of the bottle. The arms race began with the Soviet Union exploding a bomb of its own and the United States wanting to develop even bigger and bigger bombs. All of a sudden, it seemed as if there would be no end - that the bombs would just get bigger and bigger and the world would blow itself into destruction. Robert Oppenheimer opposed this trend and wrote many articles warning the world of this course of action. Some saw him as un-American and wanted to destroy him. Eventually, in 1954, there was a hearing which would eventually strip him of his top secret security clearance. It was an unfair, kangaroo court which made me cringe as I read the transcripts. How awful for him.

After that, Robert was never the same. A few years later, at the age of 62, he died of throat cancer.

I looked up the myth of Prometheus so that I could better understand the title. In Greek Mythology, Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals to use. Zeus then punished him by having him bound to a rock while an eagle ate his liver, only to have it grow back the next day.

This is a fine book. I learned a lot. It is not the kind of book to read in one big gulp though. I read it little by little, a page or two at a time. And during the period I was reading it I was right there in those long-ago years, living and breathing all the influences of the times and understanding the world around me just a little bit better.

Incredible
What a powerful book. Beautifully written. Oppenheimer was a near-mythical figure and suffered a tragedy that was undeserved and spiteful. A must-read for anyone who wants a better understanding of this man and the times in which he lived.

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Leonardo's Notebooks

2009-04-15T00:00:00.001-07:00

Leonardo's Notebooks

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) possessed arguably the greatest mind the world has ever known. Artist, draftsman, inventor, and philosopher, his contributions to modern society are profound and wide-reaching. Throughout his life, Leonardo kept dozens of notebooks, elegant studies on topics ranging from architecture to botany to philosophy—indeed nearly anything of which the human imagination could conceive.

Leonardo’s Notebooks collects a variety of the most fascinating of these studies and compiles them into one monumental volume that demystifies his insights and clearly illustrates his ideas, experiments, and observations with hundreds of his original sketches, line drawings, and paintings. Topics include Anatomy and the Movement of the Human Figure; Botany and Landscape; Engineering and Military Engineering; Physical Sciences; Aerodynamics and Flight; Geography—and more.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #15951 in Books

Published on: 2005-08-01

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

352 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Leonardo da Vinci is recognized as the quintessential Renaissance Man. A great painter, he was equally prodigious in the fields of architecture, engineering, anatomy, and physical science.

H. Anna Suh has a master’s degree in Art and Archaeology from Princeton University. She was on the curatorial staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and has worked on projects for several scholarly publications. She is the editor of Leonardo's Notebooks.She lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Great buy
This is a beautiful book, informative and visually stunning at the same time. You can't beat the price, either. A great practical alternative to the actual notebooks, because you get glosses and explanatory bits in this edition that put them in the context of his other work.

Fascinating, Accessible Look at Leonardo's Genius
Leonardo Da Vinci pursued a systematic approach to knowledge, in which understanding of the human body was central and other phenomena were analyzed in that light, or compared to the human body. He offers some fascinating insights about how an artist "sees" subject matter---about how to observe nature and people and try to capture them through the medium of art. I thought his views on geography were quite interesting, for example that a river with many bends in it is an older river.

Saw the book at the museum. Bought it from my phone.
This is not so much a review of the book itself, but more of my experience buying the book from my phone.

I visited the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at The Tech Museum in San Jose California. On my way out, I stopped by the museum store and came across this book. After scanning through the book, I decided to buy it. But the price tag of $40 was too rich for me. So - for the first time - I decided to try Amazon from my phone. Sure enough, the book was selling for $26. So I proceeded to place the order. The process was straight forward and took less time than it would have taken to stand in line and pay for the book at the store! I'll be getting the book in a few days.

Amazon... two thumbs up on your mobile site. There's nothing like comparative shopping while in the store and buying right there and then at a better price.

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Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom

2009-04-08T19:40:00.001-07:00

Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom

The bestselling holy grail of trading information-now brought completely up to date to give traders an edge in the marketplace

. .

ï¿½Sound trading advice and lots of ideas you can use to develop your own trading methodology.ï¿½-Jack Schwager, author of Market Wizards and The New Market Wizards

. .

This trading masterpiece has been fully updated to address all the concerns of today's market environment. With substantial new material, this second edition features Tharp's new 17-step trading model. Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom also addresses reward to risk multiples, as well as insightful new interviews with top traders, and features updated examples and charts.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #9125 in Books

Published on: 2006-11-22

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

482 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review
"The book is clearly written and makes generous use of practical examples and models...The principles he [Tharp] promotes for traders, if followed closely, can be applied to a wide group of investors." (Ticker Magazine )

From the Back Cover
Your own strengths, style, and personalityand the steps found in this bookcan revitalize your trading program!

Praise for Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom:

"While I can't promise you financial freedom, I can promise you a book filled with sound trading advice and lots of ideas you can use to develop your own trading methodology. And, if you don't think that's enough, then you really need this book."Jack Schwager, author of Market Wizards and The New Market Wizards

"Van's book gets directly to the heart of what it takes to be a successful trader. It's the best book I've read on trading successfully; not fluff or hype like so many others."Tom Basso, President, Trendstat Capital Management, Inc.

"I've read hundreds of books about trading and this is one of the three best EVER WRITTEN. It's straightforward and to the point. Van clearly cuts through the appeal to wishful thinking, instead stressing psychological preparedness, expectancy, and money management. Moreover, he shows clear methods, with simple entry techniques, to push your equity to the moon. It's a great book!"Rolf Sigrist, President, Sigrist AG

"Van Tharp's new book...[is] full of new ideas and approaches to developing an individualized trading system; it teaches the principles that are necessary to make you a great trader. The trading public owes Dr. Tharp a debt of gratitude for this insightful masterpiece." -Edward Dobson, President, Traders Press, Inc.

Van Tharp "...cuts right to the essence of professional trading: how to develop winning attitudes and approaches; how to forget trading for accuracy and trade for expectancy; how to master position sizing. If you intend to trade, you'd better know what's in this book."Ed Seykota, professional trader

About the Author

Van K. Tharp, Ph.D., is an internationally known consultant and coach to traders and investors, as well as the founder and president of the Van Tharp Institute. He is the author of multiple bestselling books on trading and investing, including Safe Strategies for Financial Freedom and Financial Freedom Through Electronic Day Trading. Tharp is a highly sought-after speaker who develops courses and seminars for large banks and trading firms around the world. He has published numerous articles and has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Barron's Market Week, and Investors Business Daily.

Customer Reviews

One person's perspective
I am writing this review because of the many negative reviews this book has received. For the record, I am formally trained in Finance and have a graduate degree in the subject. I understand fundamentals, macroeconomics and technical analysis as well as most folks. I have traded for 2 years although I was a buy and hold investor for 17 before that. I am commenting on the 2nd edition.

Over the course of the last few years, I've learned a lot of things about markets that my formal education and experience never taught me. The single most important thing I've learned is that psychology matters more than anything else when it comes to trading. There is the psychology of the market to deal with and the trader's own personal makeup as well. If you don't confront these issues, your chances of succeeding as a trader are long at best. Markets are moved not by news, not by economic conditions but rather by the basic human emotions of fear and greed.

This book caused me to confront matters in my psychological makeup that were holding me back as a trader. If you spend some time in chapters 3 and 4 and do what Tharp asks you to do you will become a better trader. I completed the assessment. I did the exercise on beliefs. I did not rush through them but revisited them 2-4 times after the initial exercise and came away with a pretty clear picture of who I am, what my biases are and how they torpedo my trading efforts. Maybe this is elementary and maybe the other posters have already done this sort of thing, but judging from the comments I read here and elsewhere on trader blogs, I suspect most have not. I learned things about myself I didn't know. I applied those things to my present plan and immediately saw results. I've read hundreds of books on trading and never had that happen before. I don't want to bias other readers unduly, but I found it really somewhat remarkable.

Next, I incorporated the information on trading systems and time frame in chapters 5 and 6 and rewrote my existing plan which really wasn't a plan at all but merely a list of setups and entry and exit strategies that sounded good to me when I learned about them. I came to discover that I was trading far more impulsively than I thought I was.

Finally, Tharp spends the remainder of the book going into specifics on setups, entry and exit, position sizing and other specific topics. This is all well and good, but most of it I had heard before. For me the value was in the first half of the book, the part that many of the reviewers who didn't care for the book panned. For me, it boiled down to two things. First, very little is written about the psychology of trading and even less about how biases can destroy a trader. Michael Pompain's "Behavioral Finance and Wealth Management" was best of breed until I read Tharp, at least in my opinion. Secondly, I think it helps that Tharp isn't a trader. Most books written by traders are full of biases because these traders know what works for them. It may not work for you or me.

If you're interested in learning about the psychology of trading and becoming a better trader by learning to be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses and the biases that you bring to the market every day, this book will help you better understand, and in the process it will make you a better trader.

Great Book - Poor Reviews Not Warranted
First I should state that I am new to trading and trying to find a method to invest that allows me to grow and protect my capital. Buy and hold doesn't seem to work well in the current bear market, yet that was the primary methodology that has been advocated for many years now. It has cost a lot of us dearly! I can't put a stop limit on my mutual funds!

I purchased this book because of a recommendation in another trading book, and as a result I didn't read any of these reviews before my purchase. Before reading the book, however, I did check the reviews, first reading those with a 1 rating. Initially I was concerned that I had not made a good purchase and was prepared to return the book.

The 1 rated reviews indicated that the book was poorly written, confusing, they didn't learn anything they didn't already know, and that the author promoted a lot of his other products. These were the minority of the reviews, and I am glad that they didn't convince me to return the book. Yes, if you want to dive into trading in the first chapter you'll find that the book starts out slowly with a metaphor about searching for the Holy Grail of trading systems. Tharp also talks about your own beliefs and psychology about the markets. However, please read on and you will be rewarded.

This was the third trading book that I've read as I begin to more actively trade my own accounts. The first was Trading for a Living by Elder, and A Beginners Guide to Day Trading Online by Turner. All three are excellent. But this book was unique in that it suggested that there exist many and vastly different trading systems, all of which can work, but work most effectively when matched to the beliefs, abilities and time afforded the trader. As you read about some of the systems, you'll find yourself thinking, "No, definitely not for me." "Well, I might be able to do something like that." Or, "Yes, that's how I think, that's how I want to trade, I'm going to develop a system like that!"

Tharp goes into a lot of detail regarding what constitutes a true trading system, dispelling a lot of myths such as that being a successful trader just means picking winning stocks. He speaks to stocks, options, futures, going long, shorting, and probably most importantly, spends a lot of time explaning why picking the vehicle (e.g. stocks or options) and entering the market at the "right" time are far less important than determining expected value, managing risk, exit criteria (e.g. what types and where to place your stops), and position sizing. Elder and Turner's books also touch on some of these subjects, but not in the context of developing a system that is right for you.

Similar to how Peter Lynch's books convinced me that an individual investor has a better opportunity to beat the market because we can pick a small number of the best stocks in which to invest, whereas mutual fund managers have billions of dollars they must spread over hundreds of companies, this book convinced me that an individual trader has some advantages over many institutional traders who trade without fully understanding the risk or even the amount of capital being placed at risk on each trade.

This book doesn't give you a single system or menu of systems that should allow you to trade your way to financial freedom, though he does present a number of systems that successful traders have used and that could allow you to attain financial freedom (actually, he also helps you define what financial freedom means to you). It does give you the ability to design a system of your own, how to measure and adjust its performance, and it offers a lot of insights that I imagine will change the way you approach your trades.

Trading the Markets
An extremely fun and exciting read when it comes to books on trading. This book more than met my expectations. It will guide you to define your expectations and goals for trading in a very simple, clear and concise manner. This book should be required reading for any and all traders, beginners or advanced alike. It is perfectly outlined with simple steps and guidelines and then summarized at the end of each chapter. Should be read by all so called "trading gurus" as well.

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301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions

2009-04-08T05:40:00.001-07:00

301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions

301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions is packed full of the toughest interview questions and the savvy answers that today's managers are looking for.

While many interview books still focus on "What are your strengths?" and "What are your weaknesses?" 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions is the definitive guide to the real-and sometimes quirky-questions employers are using to weed out candidates.

What are the best answers to: - From your résumé it looks like you were fired twice. How did that make you feel?

- Do you know who painted this work of art?

- What is the best-managed company in America?

- If you could be any product in the world, what would you choose?

- How many cigars are smoked in a year?

- Are you a better visionary or implementer? Why?

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #8095 in Books

Published on: 2005-05-01

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

384 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Author
Vicky Oliver is an award-winning copywriter with X years of experience at brand name, top tier advertising agencies in Manhattan. She would confess how long she's been in the field, but that would go straight to her age-something she feels strongly that one should never reveal on a job interview. As a freelance writer, Ms. Oliver has written extensively about unemployment and the job search, appearing on the front page of the New York Times Job Market Section, in Adweek magazine, and on Crain's New York Business website. Ms. Oliver has also worked with more than 5,000 professionals who have emailed her for advice on their job hunt and has given seminars on the topic at The Writer's Voice in Manhattan.

About the Author
Vicky Oliver is an award-winning copywriter with X years of experience at brand name, top tier advertising agencies in Manhattan. She would confess how long she's been in the field, except that would go straight to her age - something she feels strongly that one should never reveal on a job interview. Ms. Oliver's has written extensively about job hunting, and her articles have appeared in Adweek magazine and on Crain's New York Business website, and she has been featured in The New York Tines Job Market section and on national radio programs. She has given seminars on job-hunting skills and the art of networking at The Writer's Voice at the West Side Y in Manhattan. She is in constant touch with over 5,000 recent candidates in all different professions and all walks of life: the employed, the unemployed, entrepreneurs, freelancers, retirees, and people returning to the job market.

A Brown University graduate with a degree in English Honors and a double major in Political Science, Ms. Oliver lives in New York City, where she has dedicated herself to helping others turn around their careers and their lives.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Excerpt from Chapter 1:

An old adage tells us "there are no stupid questions." If only there were no stupid answers!

If you are tired, underprepared, or overly nervous when you meet your prospect, your chances of performing well decrease dramatically, and even "softball" questions can seem ridiculously challenging. So first, study really hard. And then, sleep really well. (If you have no idea why this is important, it's time to go back and read the Introduction of this book. And tsk, tsk for skipping it in the first place.)

A great first impression is made in an instant. When this is the case, your interviewer may ask you, in so many words, to put yourself in his shoes, and convince him to hire you. If you are lucky enough to find yourself in this situation, first, relax, and then, resolve to knock your interviewer's socks off. Nothing's going to stop you from landing this job!

1. If you were hiring someone for this position, what qualities would you look for?
A. I would look for three main talents, Alex:
1. The ability to solve problems;
2. The ability to nurture strong working relationships; and
3. The ability to close deals.
A candidate who possesses all three qualities would make the ideal associate new business director.

Let me tell you a little bit about my background. I "grew up" on the account side, and for seven years, helped companies like Revlon and Stoli Vodka solve big problems-such as how to position themselves in an increasingly fractured, competitive environment. Revlon, which for years had been the number one cosmetics company, was nervously watching its market share erode. Stoli was in a similar situation, due to Absolut's strong presence in the marketplace. I helped Stoli launch some new flavored vodkas, and the company soon regained valuable market share. Stoli rewarded me by offering me a job working on new product development. And I switched over to the marketing side for the next two years.

In marketing, having good people skills was mandatory. I had to beg vendors and suppliers for more shelf space. I had to chat up bar, restaurant, and hotel owners, and convince them to prominently display our vodkas.

I also wined, dined, and played golf with CEOs, CFOs, and owners of all different types of companies. So I know that I will be extremely resourceful when it comes to attracting new business to your company.

2. What would you like me to know about you that's not on your resume?
A. Well, Pat, I have the right mix of interpersonal and work-related skills to be a successful commercial real estate agent. A lot of people think that being a good saleswoman is simply a matter of being outgoing. But this is only part of the equation. You also need to be able to solve real problems for companies.

What if the space that you're showing isn't in the ideal neighborhood? You've got to persuade your prospect that the value of the property will overcome the inherent drawbacks of the location. What if the commercial space doesn't have as many windows as the company's current property? You have to help your client envision a different way to carve out the space, if only to muffle the complaints of the top executives. You need to be able to think, not just in terms of square footage, but also in terms of "profit per foot" for the company in question.

Above all, it's critical to seal the deal. For the past four years, I was among the top five closers at a large, commercial real estate company.

3. Let's say that I offer you a job. Please tell me how the company will benefit.
A. I am an expert on LED and rotational signage. I have been selling huge, LED signs to stadiums for the past five years. This has involved not only a great deal of technical expertise, in terms of understanding the technology that goes into our product, but also the ability to compare and contrast our offering to others that are less expensive to implement and maintain.

I've had to convince large groups of people, who are not technically inclined, to spend the money for a quality product. I always promise them tremendous service on both the front and back end, and then follow through. As a result, my clients have been very pleased with my performance.

Your company will benefit from my expertise on three counts: 1) I will train your sales staff how to close on deals more quickly and profitably, 2) I will share my extensive contact base with your company, and 3) I will reorganize your service department to be more "hands on." Then, your customers will give your company those glowing referrals that will lead to even more new business.

4. Why should I hire you?
A. Well, Martin, as we've been discussing, your company's website could probably benefit from a complete overhaul. For a first website, it's not bad...It covers all of the pertinent information that you want your customers to know about your business. But I agree with your own assessment, and feel that your website could be more inspired. You need some technical help with links, and I know how to come up with the key words and phrases that will bring a lot more web traffic to your site.

I think that a more creative flash opening, along with some music and graphics will keep customers on your site longer. It would be helpful to have something there that was continually updated in real time, perhaps some company news, or even games that would reward people for learning more about your services.

I've created twenty websites for all different companies, and one of them is in a similar line of business. I'd love to show you that website, so that you can get an idea of what's possible for your company. Can we hop onto your laptop right now?

Customer Reviews

I loved This Book!!
Whether you are a seasoned professional or a student just entering the job market, this book has all the answers to tough interview questions in easy to follow question and answer format. This is a must have for those looking to score a job! There are answers to questions that you may never hear in an interview, but if you do you'll be ready with the right answer. If you are looking for a job, you need this book!

Excellent Interviewing Advice
This book is packed with smart and savvy career advice about how to position yourself in the best light, whether you're interviewing for a new job, or answering questions about yourself for new bosses or team members at your current company. Vicky Oliver covers all the bases with common sense and encouragement, providing sample responses that are clear and easy to apply to your own situation. She also puts what can be a high stress situation into perspective, dispensing light humor along with her logical "how to's" and facts.

Not just what but why
Vicky Oliver not only gives you hundreds of questions interviewers ask - she tells you why they ask them, and what your answers say about you. Once you understand that, you can tailor your answers to your own personal situation and still be sure of making the right impression.

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When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa

2009-04-07T16:20:00.001-07:00

When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa

Hailed by reviewers as "powerful,""haunting" and "a tour de force of personal journalism,"When A Crocodile Eats the Sun is the unforgettable story of one man's struggle to discover his past and come to terms with his present. Award winning author and journalist Peter Godwin writes with pathos and intimacy about Zimbabwe's spiral into chaos and, along with it, his family's steady collapse. This dramatic memoir is a searing portrait of unspeakable tragedy and exile, but it is also vivid proof of the profound strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love.

"In the tradition of Rian Malan and Philip Gourevitch, a deeply moving book about the unknowability of an Africa at once thrilling and grotesque. In elegant, elegiac prose, Godwin describes his father's illness and death in Zimbabwe against the backdrop of Mugabe's descent into tyranny. His parent's waning and the country's deterioration are entwined so that personal and political tragedy become inseparable, each more profound for the presence of the other" -- Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon

"A fascinating, heartbreaking, deeply illuminating memoir that has the shape and feel of a superb novel." -Kurt Anderson, author of Heydey

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #6464 in Books

Published on: 2008-04-10

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

368 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In this exquisitely written, deeply moving account of the death of a father played out against the backdrop of the collapse of the southern African nation of Zimbabwe, seasoned journalist Godwin has produced a memoir that effortlessly manages to be almost unbearably personal while simultaneously laying bare the cruel regime of longstanding president Robert Mugabe. In 1996 when his father suffers a heart attack, Godwin returns to Africa and sparks the central revelation of the book—the father is Jewish and has hidden it from Godwin and his siblings. As his father's health deteriorates, so does Zimbabwe. Mugabe, self-proclaimed president for life, institutes a series of ill-conceived land reforms that throw the white farmers off the land they've cultivated for generations and consequently throws the country's economy into free fall. There's sadness throughout—for the death of the father, for the suffering of everyone in Zimbabwe (black and white alike) and for the way that human beings invariably treat each other with casual disregard. Godwin's narrative flows seamlessly across the decades, creating a searing portrait of a family and a nation collectively coming to terms with death. This is a tour de force of personal journalism and not to be missed. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From The New Yorker
Godwin, the author of a previous memoir about growing up during Zimbabwe’s war of independence, has written a sequel of sorts, tracing the collapse of his country in the course of the past decade (the violently destructive Robert Mugabe is the "crocodile" of the title) in tandem with the decline of his father. The memoir’s central drama comes from the dying father’s revelation that he is not British at all, as his son had always believed, but a Polish Jew, born Kazimierz Jerzy Goldfarb, whose mother and sister were killed in Treblinka. Occasionally, Godwin’s attempts to knit the various story lines together seem a bit pat—"A white in Africa is like a Jew everywhere . . . waiting for the next great tidal swell of hostility"—but he ultimately delivers a powerful narrative of grief and desperation, both personal and national.
Copyright © 2007 Click here to subscribe to The New Yorker

From The Washington Post
Reviewed by Wendy Kann

In 2000, Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, held a referendum to perpetuate his decades-long rule. He lost. Incensed, he annulled the results and set about destroying his suspected opposition. The economy imploded, and Zimbabwe fell into chaos. In When a Crocodile Eats the Sun -- a reference to solar eclipses, the most apocalyptic of African omens -- Peter Godwin, an acclaimed Zimbabwean journalist now living in Manhattan, masterfully weaves the political and the highly personal. An eyewitness account of that cataclysmic time, When a Crocodile Eats the Sun is also a tribute to Godwin's aging parents and a searing exploration of the author's own soul.

The Godwins had immigrated from England to Africa in the early 1950s, where Peter's father, George -- nearly broken from the traumas of World War II -- reinvented himself, managing copper mines, timber estates and government transport. He was a fierce believer in fairness and integrity, sending letters decrying the political corruption of Mugabe's government to the state-owned Zimbabwe Herald under the pseudonym "Rustic Realist." His wife, Helen, an adored doctor at a cash-strapped government hospital, began work before dawn and treated more than 80 patients daily. The couple had three children. Jain, their eldest, was killed on the eve of her wedding in a tragic car accident; Peter was exiled in 1983 for breaking the story of Mugabe's massacre of thousands. Georgina became a Zimbabwean media darling, lately banished for her independent coverage, who now beams hard-to-hear news to her homeland from a lonely London studio.

Mugabe's violent reclamation of mostly white-owned commercial farmland destroyed Zimbabwe's food supply, fostered lawlessness, and shattered the country's economy. Increasingly isolated as their friends flee the repression and hyperinflation, and barely surviving on now worthless Zimbabwean pensions, the elderly Godwins pointedly avoid buying much needed gasoline and medical supplies on a growing black market that they feel benefits only the privileged few. They would rather walk to polling stations and wait in long lines for hours in the hot sun to participate in ultimately farcical local elections. They eat mainly bread and cabbage but consider Peter's attempts to replenish their pantry using American dollars as vulgarly extravagant in light of the extreme poverty suffered by most of the country's inhabitants. As hundreds of the starving and unemployed spill into Harare's suburbs, a swelling camp of the indigent lingers just beyond the Godwins' hedge. Belligerent officials shoulder into their modest yard, claiming bogus infractions and demanding bribes. George is hijacked at his gate by men who beat him to the ground and then toy with killing him.

As his parents' health quickly deteriorates -- George has heart trouble and gangrene, Helen has sciatica -- the frantic author risks slipping into Zimbabwe on frequent magazine assignments despite his exile status. He finds himself on the front line as Mugabe's murderous, pillaging mobs invade farms and smash agricultural infrastructure. An interview with an opposition candidate evolves into a nightlong ordeal fending off goons. Incognito at a political rally, Peter watches farm workers get selected for "re-education" while sullen armed teenagers prowl the remaining crowd, prodding people to raise fists higher, to cheer louder.

And yet much of the book is wryly comic as Godwin describes the absurdities endured by Zimbabwe's white middle class. George's battered Mazda 323 is jerry-rigged with locks and alarms and practically roped to the side of their house. Peter, entertaining his parents with an outing to gawk at McMansions being built by political favorites, takes a wrong turn and finds himself on the prohibited dead end street leading to Robert Mugabe's new palace:

"As we round the bend . . . we see that the soldiers have been reinforced by a dozen more. These new ones carry machine guns, and the brass bullets in their bandoliers shimmer with menace as they catch the sun. At least ten weapons are now pointed directly at us.

" 'Oh, God!' mutters Mum. 'We're all going to be shot. I told you we should have gotten a new atlas, Dad.' "

As Godwin faces both his parents' mortality and his country's collapse, he is tormented by the devastating loss of his own identity. One evening, while still mourning George's recent death, Peter stumbles across a roadblock. When he refuses to offer the expected bribe, an armed and angry policeman forces him to pull over and wait, possibly all night, as punishment. Minutes later, a bus rattles up and as sacks are hurled out for the police to plunder, an old woman pleads for her meager bag of maize. Godwin, fully aware he could be killed for interfering, cannot bear the injustice of the woman's predicament and offers money on her behalf. He is viciously ordered off, but we are left with no doubt at all that Peter Godwin has inherited George and Helen's fortitude.

Customer Reviews

This memoir will stay with you for a very long time
This is a fascinating and horrifying memoir which will stay with you for a very long time. I really didn't know the specifics about the turmoil and devistation going on in Africa. It was quite shocking to read parts of this book, which is so well written. But not only does Peter Godwin write about the state of affairs in Africa, there is a twist to his memoir which is also fascinating. Great read!

a memoir with a surprising twist
This memoir has it all----there is fascinating and horrifying history of the turmoil in Zimbabwe---an in depth look at an unusual b ut recognizsble family- plus a totally surprising revelation about the family background- The b ook is a " good read" and raises many questions---

Wonderful!
This is simply one of the best books I've "read" in many, many years. I first listened to it on tape while I was painting and then ordered this copy for a friend. I would love to pass it along to any thinking person who is curious about Africa -- and why we should be concerned about events on that continent. I think the fact that Jimmy Carter and Kofi Annan were denied visas to visit Zimbabwe this week should make everyone concerned about human rights in that country. Peter Godwin's story is personal and riveting -- not to be missed!

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Legends: Women Who Have Changed the World Through the Eyes of Great Women Writers

2009-04-07T02:20:00.001-07:00

Legends: Women Who Have Changed the World Through the Eyes of Great Women Writers

Rendered by women artists and writers, these portraits illuminate the most influential women of our time. Liv Ullman marvels at Anne Frank's faith in the face of atrocity. Claudia Roth Pierpont explores how Virginia Woolf's atypical persona informed literature for the next hundred years. Camille Paglia champions Amelia Earhart as a pioneer who invaded the male world. The book also celebrates the fire of Angela Davis, the courage of Aung San Suu Kyi, the brains of Eleanor Roosevelt, and the brio of Ella Fitzgerald. The essays are accompanied by striking duotone photographs by such photographers as Alfred Stieglitz, Man Ray, and Cecil Beaton. Pairings include Joan Didion on Georgia O'Keeffe, Terry Tempest Williams on Rachel Carson, and Gloria Steinem on Marilyn Monroe.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #210872 in Books

Published on: 2001-09-09

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

128 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Although readers may quibble over how "legendary" a few of these subjects are or the greatness of some of their literary portrayers, this glossy tome deserves readers' attention. Brief, punchy text is paired with arresting black-and-white photos of a melange of remarkable women, such as Frida Kahlo, Aung San Suu Kyi, Rachel Carson, Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir, Marilyn Monroe, and Josephine Baker. The result is an unholy, but thoroughly enjoyable, jostling throng where sex symbols rub elbows with world leaders and artists spill drinks on reformers.

Alma Guillermoprieto emblazons the later years of mercurial modern dance pioneer Martha Graham's life. Once a dance student at Graham's vaunted studio, she remembers that "as Martha wove through our ranks she would snarl, and pinch and slap us, evidently enraged by our sloppy posture, our dishevelment, our general lack of presence." Camille Paglia talks of what Amelia Earhart meant to her as an American teenager in the early 1960s, railing against restrictive sex roles while "marooned in a desert of perky blondes." Cynthia Ozick takes aim at Gertrude Stein, Joan Didion at Georgia O'Keefe, and Diane Ackerman at Beryl Markham. Margeretta Mitchell recalls photographer Imogen Cunningham striding San Francisco in her beaded cap and white bangs, proclaiming by her acts "that it was possible to grow old working; to maintain interest in life; to be wholly oneself." Far from being fluff, many of these excerpts from longer writings are as provocative and engaging as the legends they embellish. --Francesca Coltrera

From Publishers Weekly
With such noted writers as Joan Didion, Mary Jo Salter, Alice Walker and Gloria Steinem, this compilation of images and words commemorating some of the world's most powerful women is invaluable. Legends: Women Who Have Changed the World Through the Eyes of Great Women Writers, edited by John Miller, celebrates eminent women like Anna Pavlova, Jane Goodall, Mother Theresa, Oprah, Frida Kahlo and Virginia Woolf from the perspectives of other women luminaries. Brief biographies of the 50 women featured are provided at the end.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful coffee table book
this is a beautiful book,and makes a great gift.I had trouble getting this book at the local "national chain",bookstore waiting almost four months for them ...they never followed up.I ordered this from amazon and got it in less than a week. Thank you

A Work of Art
I initially borrowed this from the library, I picked it up because I loved the photo of Audrey. Every page is a little feast of information and every photo a work of 'Art'. I need say no more.

www.valderbeebeshow.com
After reading Legends 2 : Women Who Changed the World through the Eyes of Great Women Writers by John Miller, Kirsten Miller (September 2004) my curiosity to know more about `the women who are considered legendary' in our times, lead me to the original Legends by John Miller.
As my life is always inspired by those who `live their purpose' I was not disappointed by John Miller's daring assemblage of writers to optimize in words, their thoughts of contemporary iconic women from Golda Meir, Bette Davis, Josephine Baker, Zora Neale Hurston, Helen Keller, to the power of Georgia O'Keeffe, the bravery of Amelia Earhart, the beauty and wit of Lucille Ball, to the omni-presence of Oprah Winfrey.
As I tackle my days of mountains and mountains of to do's, during my mandated 3:00 mediation time, I read a page for renewal and inspiration to tackle the next contract, the next segment of my radio show or write the next review. Each well written snapshot of each of these heroic women is pure energetic inspiration. Reading the shards of Ella Fitzgerald life, reminds me of how far our world has come and how GOD has kept watch over "women" who are the perpetual of the world (not the destroyers as our gender counter part seem). The passions of Martha Stewart no matter what is said, you can not tarnished her business greatness for turning the mundane into an empire, (no matter what you think today).
As I continue to read, I want my daughter to now know these books, Legends. I want her to know and revere the women who faced odds and simply saw obstacles as `what you face in life.' Babe Didrikson Zaharias, an Olympic Athlete, faced it all; controversy, cancer and unbelievable discrimination to live her purpose. Anne Frank, has shown us that our greatness will rise, no matter what the circumstances. Marion Anderson exhibited that greatness will fulfill its purpose, no matter where; before a segregated audience or from the Lincoln Memorial.
Women. We make the world revolve, we create new life, and we are the reason for the term `a glass ceiling' being incorporating into modern language. John Miller reminds us `women-you have to live with us because you can not advance without us.'

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Search Engine Optimization: Your Visual Blueprint for Effective Internet Marketing

2009-04-06T12:20:00.001-07:00

Search Engine Optimization: Your Visual Blueprint for Effective Internet Marketing

Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and youll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 140 key search engine optimization techniques, including analyzing your competition, researching and analyzing keywords, developing your link building skills, and setting up blogs and communities. Succinct explanations will walk you through using Google Analytics, networking with Facebook and MySpace, setting up pay-per-click campaigns, and much more.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #4482 in Books

Published on: 2008-04-07

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

320 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and you'll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 140 key search engine optimization techniques, including:

Analyzing your competition

Researching and analyzing keywords

Developing your link building skills

Setting up blogs and communities

Using Google Analytics

Networking with Facebook® and MySpace

Boosting traffic with Digg and StumbleUpon

Setting up pay-per-click campaigns

Discovering ways to monetize Web traffic

Installing valuable SEO plug-ins

Extra Apply It

"Apply It" and "Extra" sidebars highlight useful tips

High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task

Succinct explanations walk you through step by step

Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules

About the Author
Kristopher B. Jones is considered one of the top Internet marketing experts in the world. A true pioneer and leading voice of the industry, Kristopher is a prominent speaker and moderator at leading national and international marketing conferences, including Search-Engine Strategies (SES), Affiliate Summit, Electronic Retailing Association (ERA), and eTail, among others.
As President and CEO of Pepperjam, a full-service internet marketing agency, Kristopher is looked to by thousands of businesses worldwide as one of a small group of pure Internet marketing experts. Among numerous other notable achievements, Pepperjam has been recognized for the past two consecutive years by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the United States.
Kristopher was recognized in 2005 as an Entrepreneur of the Year by Bank of America and in 2006 as one of the “Top 20 Business Leaders” in northeastern Pennsylvania under the age of 40.

Customer Reviews

Great Reference Material
I like to buy books that I will reference time and time again. This book fits that category.

It is a broad overview of the SEO field. A lot of books are way too basic to be of any practical use but this book is good for an intermediate level internet marketer.

Basically, it gives me a broad overview of an SEO tool that I then google and research some more.

A great investment for anyone with a website.

Exceptional SEO book! Best one I have read in years!
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3L3KNTLG8K7AZ I enjoyed Kris's book so much I decided to make a video! As an e-commerce developer and internet marketer I use SEO strategies every day and the Search Engine Optimization: Your Visual Blueprint for Effective Internet Marketing breaks it down into readable, easy to digest sections with step by step visual diagrams.

Some highlights are proper seo design, seo tools, analytics tracking, Google quality score, social networking promotion, affiliate marketing and ppc strategy. I can't say enough good things and thank you for writing the book Kris!

Good and Informative Book for SEO beginners and new Learners
As an intermediate SEO for specific market, i would like make not that this book is a very book for SEO beginners, it had a good annex for the seo specific words and good description for each start of a chapter...on the other hand, as all SEO knows that everyday there is a new thing in SEO (updates from search engines, new growing social media, etc...) but its a good book to start learning the basicx

WiSs D
Http://www.lebseodesign.com

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Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic

2009-04-05T23:00:00.001-07:00

Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic

The "slyly ironic, frequently hilarious"(Time) memoir about angels, academics, and a boy named Adam...

A national bestseller and an important reminder that life is what happens when you're making other plans.

Put aside your expectations. This "rueful, riveting, piercingly funny" (Julia Cameron) book is written by a Harvard graduate--but it tells a story in which hearts trump brains every time. It's a tale about mothering a Down syndrome child that opts for sass over sap, and it's a book of heavenly visions and inexplicable phenomena that's as down-to-earth as anyone could ask for. This small masterpiece is Martha Beck's own story--of leaving behind the life of a stressed-out superachiever, opening herself to things she'd never dared consider, meeting her son for (maybe) the first time...and "unlearn[ing] virtually everything Harvard taught [her] about what is precious and what is garbage."

"Beck [is] very funny, particularly about the most serious possible subjects--childbirth, angels and surviving at Harvard." --New York Times Book Review

"Immensely appealing...hooked me on the first page and propelled me right through visions and out-of-body experiences I would normally scoff at." --Detroit Free Press

"I challenge any reader not to be moved by it." --Newsday

"Brilliant." --Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #12853 in Books

Published on: 2000-08-01

Released on: 2000-08-08

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

336 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Expecting Adam is an autobiographical tale of an academically oriented Harvard couple who conceive a baby with Down's syndrome and decide to carry him to term. Despite everything Martha Beck and her husband John know about themselves and their belief system, when Martha gets accidentally pregnant and the fetus is discovered to have Down's syndrome, the Becks find they cannot even consider abortion. The presence of the fetus that they each, privately, believe is a familiar being named Adam is too strong. As Martha's terribly difficult pregnancy progresses, odd coincidences and paranormal experiences begin to occur for both Martha and John, though for months they don't share them with each other. Martha's pregnancy and Adam (once born) become the catalyst for tremendous life changes for the Becks.

Focusing primarily on the pregnancy but floating back and forth between the present and recent and distant past, Martha Beck's well-written, down-to-earth, funny, heart-rending, and tender book transcends the cloying tone of much spiritual literature. Beck is trained as a methodical academician. Because of her step-by-step explanation of her own progress from doubt to belief, she feels like a reliable witness, and even the most skeptical readers may begin to doubt their senses. When she describes an out-of-body experience, we, too, feel ourselves transported to a pungent, noisy hawker center in Singapore. We, too, feel calming, invisible, supporting hands when she falls. Yet, whether or not readers believe in Beck's experiences is ultimately a moot point. There is no doubt that Adam--a boy who sees the world as a series of connections between people who love each other--is a tremendous gift to Beck, her family, and all who have the honor of knowing him. --Ericka Lutz

From Kirkus Reviews
Wickedly funny and wrenchingly sad memoirs of a young mother awaiting the birth of a Down syndrome baby while simultaneously pursuing a doctorate at Harvard. Sociologist Beck, now a columnist for Mademoiselle and a regular on the television show Good Day Arizona, became pregnant with her second child in September 1987, a time she and her husband now refer to as ``the month It All Went To Hell.'' To put it mildly, the unexpected pregnancy complicated their busy lives and academic careers. At the time, Beck kept a voluminous and detailed journal of her thoughts, conversations, and experiences, which provided the basis for these memoirs. Early in the pregnancy, Beck began having paranormal experiences that took auditory, visual, and tactile form. In what she refers to as ``the Seeing Thing,'' she would see brief, vivid images of where her husband was on his frequent trips to Asia. Calming voices spoke to her (and to her husband) in times of stress, and invisible helpers rescued her and her young daughter from a burning building. A Mormon turned atheist, Beck cannot explain the presence of comforting spiritual beings during her pregnancy, but she accepts them as real. Once Adam was delivered, she no longer felt ``like the focus of all that magic.'' Adam himself became the source of magic in her life, teaching her values unlike those she had learned at Harvard. In her son she sees wisdom, beauty, and a way of looking at the world that is astonishing and joyous. Besides a sense of humor that pokes as much fun at herself as anyone, Beck has both a sharp eye and a sharp tongue. Her portraits of Harvard academics, omniscient doctors, and uptight in-laws are priceless. Even skeptics will find magic in this story, and parents of a Down syndrome child will cherish it. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review
"A wonderful book, funny, unbelievably tender, and smart.  It shimmers."
--Anne Lamott, author of Operating Instructions

"Expecting Adam is Martha Beck's meticulously written, uplifting, and compassionate account of being gifted with a retarded son who opens her heart to the deep intuitions that love can bring."   --Judith Orloff, M.D., author of Second Sight

"Set half in Harvard and half in heaven, Expecting Adam is a tough-minded yet tender-hearted book of spiritual discovery--a rueful, riveting, piercingly funny, thoroughly modern and deeply old-fashioned memoir. In short, a book to be reckoned with."      --Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way

"I can't believe I almost didn't read this book. The thing is, I thought it was about a lady who had a baby with Down Syndrome. This is like saying ANNA KARENINA is a book about a lady who commits suicide. In fact, this book is about matters so important and yet so totally way-out that I would accept no one but a comic genius with seven years at Harvard under her belt telling me about them. That's Martha Beck: funny, companionable, razor-sharp, down-to-earth, and onto the Big Secrets of Life Itself. Anyone considering having a child should have to read this book. It has changed some of my thinking about pregnancy and about children with disabilities, and I don't think it's too much to say it could change my life."
--Marion Winik, author of First Comes Love and The Lunchbox Chronicles

"Expecting Adam  is not one of those grit-your-teeth, lemons-into-lemonade sagas that leave the reader feeling more besieged and guilty than the writer. It is a long hymn, from a practical woman caught flatfooted by amazing grace. Martha Beck is a celebrant skeptics can trust."
--Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Most Wanted  and The Deep End of the Ocean

"I laughed. I cried. I couldn't put it down. I didn't want it to end. I wish I knew Adam and his family--and of course I do. A brave, uplifting, life-transforming book."     --Sophy Burnham, author of A Book of Angels

"With uncommon sense and dependable wit, Martha Beck unravels every assumption about the meaning of life, choice, love--and the wisdom of pursuing happiness through any of the usual routes. If Expecting Adam raises suspicions among more rational readers that Martha Beck is slightly crazy, it raised my hopes that I'd catch it from her."     --Mary Kay Blakely, author of American Mom -- Review

Martha Beck is smart, willing to confide in the reader, good at concise description and very funny... -- The New York Times Book Review, Susan Cheever

Customer Reviews

one of my all time favorites
I've been in a book club for 20 years. We've read a lot of wonderful books. This is truly one of my favorites. It's a book filled with miracles. I wonder who couldn't believe that there's a God after reading this book. Though it's been quite some time since I've read it, I still get chills when I tell someone about it. This is a book that will show you that God has a plan and a purpose, even though we don't always understand or see it. If you want a book that will make you laugh, make you cry and make you a beliver, this is it. Thank you Martha, for sharing your wonderful story with us.

A wonderful book -- no matter how much of it is factual.
I picked up "Expecting Adam" thinking it would be a quick and mildly enjoyable read, something I might enjoy for the subject matter but not much else.

I was very pleasantly surprised, then, when I started reading and became quite emotionally involved in the story. Maybe it's just because I'm four months pregnant, but I found Martha and John's semi-mystical attachment to their son and their decision to keep him deeply affecting.

Without becoming a diatribe on one side or the other of the culture wars, "Expecting Adam" delves humanly and personally into the way our society views and treats those it views as imperfect or "damaged."

Although I read many other reviews questioning Beck's sanity and veracity in recounting events, and some even lambasting the novel's sentiment as fake in light of Martha and John's subsequent divorce, I think these criticisms miss the mark.

Spiritual and religious experiences are not as rare and explicitly supernatural as some would think, but even if Beck were crazy, the book is still lovely. As to its accuracy, again -- I think it's value, for me, was not in the accuracy of its facts but in its emotional truth. And as for John and Martha's divorce, all I can say is that these are real people -- their lives don't even with the book, and their lives won't be as neat or predictable or apparently cohesive as characters in a work of fiction.

All in all, you should probably read this book not for an accurate portrayal of the Harvard community in the late '80s, or a perfectly objective recount of events, or even for what it's like to raise a child with Down's. Read the book for Beck's story and the heartrending -- I mean that positively! -- way her life changes during her pregnancy with Adam.

Loved/Love this Book
This book is beautiful, funny and absolutely moving. Martha Beck's writing really touches me. I found myself drawn to the unfolding events in the book. What a gift! What a journey!

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Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny

2009-04-05T02:40:00.001-07:00

Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny

Why is it that women, who are so competent in all other areas of their lives, cannot find the same competence when it comes to matters of money?

Suze Orman investigates the complicated, dysfunctional relationship women have with money in this groundbreaking new book. With her signature mix of insight, compassion, and soul-deep recognition, she equips women with the financial knowledge and emotional awareness to overcome the blocks that have kept them from making more out of the money they make. At the center of the book is The Save Yourself Plan—a streamlined, five-month program that delivers genuine long-term financial security. But what’s at stake is far bigger than money itself: It’s about every woman’s sense of who she is and what she deserves, and why it all begins with the decision to save yourself.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #790 in Books

Published on: 2007-02-27

Released on: 2007-02-27

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

255 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Money maven Suze Orman's latest book, Women & Money addresses the complicated (and often dysfunctional) relationship women have with personal finance. Orman's direct, non-condescending style is perfect for this subject matter--she begins with the premise that "Women can invest, save, and handle debt as well and skillfully as any man" and then tackles the important question--"So why don't they?" Designed to educate and inspire, Women & Money also offers a "Save Yourself Plan," a five-month program that "delivers genuine long-term financial security." Want to know more? Watch a video message from Suze below, and take a gander at the first chapter of Women & Money--you'll be "controlling your destiny" in no time. --Daphne Durham

An Exclusive Video Message from Suze Orman

Watch the video

Read the First Chapter of Women & Money

For Women Only

I never thought I'd write a book about money just for women. I never thought it was necessary. So then why am I doing just that in my eighth book? And why now? Let me explain. All my previous books were written with the belief that gender is not a factor on any level in mastering the nuts and bolts of smart financial management. Women can invest, save, and handle debt just as well and skillfully as any man. I still believe that--why would anyone think differently? So imagine my surprise when I learned that some of the people closest to me in my life were in the dark about their own finances. Clueless. Or, in some cases, willfully resisting doing what they knew needed to be done. I'm talking about smart, competent, accomplished women who present a face to the world that is pure confidence and capability. Do you mean to tell me that I, Suze Orman, who make my living solving the financial problems of total strangers, couldn't spot the trouble brewing so close to home? I don't think I'm blind; I just think that these women became very, very good at hiding their troubles from me.Why not? They had years of practice hiding them from themselves.

Read more from Chapter 1...

From Publishers Weekly
Bestselling author (2005's The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke, etc.) and host of her own CNBC show, Orman encourages women to "give to yourself as much as you give of yourself" in her ninth financial advice book, sure to resonate with legions of readers who will appreciate her straightforward advice and supportive tone. Aiming squarely for a female audience, Orman guides readers through the very basics of finances. She explores why women have dysfunctional relationships with money and notes the ways they undervalue themselves or "treat themselves as a commodity whose price is set by others," while also sharing the story of her own evolving relationship with her finances. Though her explanation of the "8 qualities of a wealthy woman" (harmony, balance, courage, etc.) is more inspirational than practical, she also presents a concrete five-month "save yourself plan" for financial repair, starting with setting aside checking and savings accounts, fixing one's credit rating, saving for retirement, setting up a will and purchasing home insurance. This encouraging guide will not intimidate women who are foundering financially. (Feb.)Correction: Due to the publisher's error, we misidentified Sidney Wanzer in our review of his book, To Die Well (Reviews, Feb. 18). He the former head of the Harvard Law School Health Services.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Suze Orman is the author of six consecutive New York Times bestsellers: The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom; The Courage to Be Rich; The Road to Wealth; The Laws of Money, The Lessons of Life; The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke; and Women & Money and the national bestsellers You ve Earned It, Don t Lose It and Suze Orman s Financial Guidebook. She is the host of her own award-winning CNBC-TV show, which airs every Saturday night, and also hosts the Financial Freedom Hour on QVC television. She is a contributing editor to O,The Oprah Magazine and is a featured writer on Yahoo! Personal Finance with her biweekly Money Matters series.

Orman has written, co-produced, and hosted six PBS specials based on her bestselling books, which have made her the single most successful fundraiser in the history of public television. She has won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Service Host in 2003 and 2006. She has been honored with four American Women in Radio and Television Gracie Allen Awards, which recognizes the nation s best radio, television, and cable programming for, by, and about women, and in 2003 was inducted into the Books for a Better Life Award Hall of Fame in recognition of her ongoing contributions to self-improvement.

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional, Orman directed the Suze Orman Financial Group from 1987 to 1997, served as Vice-President-Investments for Prudential-Bache Securities from 1983 to 1987, and was an account executive at Merrill Lynch from 1980 to 1983. A highly sought-after public speaker worldwide, she has been called a one-woman financial advice powerhouse in USA Today and was profiled in Worth magazine s hundredth issue as among those who have revolutionized the way America thinks about money. She lives in south Florida.

Customer Reviews

Suze Orman Book
The book arrived in a timely fashion and is in good condition. Professional Service!

Women and the Psychology of Money
In my opinion, Suze Orman has done a great service for women by telling them they have a responsibility to themselves to care about their financial well-being. No one has done this as effectively as Suze and I applaud her effort. Somehow, the women's movement dropped the ball after it urged women to burn their bras, put their kids in daycare and climb the corporate ladder. Although I do not agree with every recommendation made, this book, like all her previous books goes beyond the practical to the psychology of money and how it affects women.

Readers will gain confidence while learning that money decisions they blindly leave to others is their responsibility, and as Suze suggests will begin to take an active interest in preserving and growing their wealth. She wants women to love themselves as much as they love others. She hopes they will pay themselves in a way that shows they value their work. She urges them to have boundaries around money and limit what others can extract from them. She has a nurturing voice and a compassionate writing tone that engages women while simultaneously holding them accountable. There is an urgency to her message.

I see Ms. Orman as a social engineer who by sharing this collection of tools and teaching the language of wealth educates and empowers a group undervalued in this society. To permanently help those who have been outsiders to the financial world, Suze shares information using the buzz words of the industry. She is a pioneer, giving women the ability to negotiate and self-protect wealth they did not know they had a right to. This is clearly a woman on a mission who has done a wonderful job communicating to her readers.

Complaint
Thought I'd ordered a CD, per the other items I ordered that day, was sent the hard copy & had to send back. It was an inconvenience and cost me $4.

Brooke

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Managing the Nonprofit Organization

2009-04-04T12:40:00.001-07:00

Managing the Nonprofit Organization

The groundbreaking and premier work on nonprofit organizations

The nonprofit sector is growing rapidly, creating a major need for expert advice on how to manage these organizations effectively. Management legend Peter Drucker provides excellent examples and explanations of mission, leadership, resources, marketing, goals, and much more. Interviews with nine experts also address key issues in this booming sector.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #2790 in Books

Published on: 2006-05-01

Released on: 2006-05-09

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

256 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter F. Drucker is considered the most influential management thinker ever. The author of more than twenty-five books, his ideas have had an enormous impact on shaping the modern corporation. Drucker passed away in 2005.

Customer Reviews

The Besetting Sin of Leaders
"Don't be afraid of strengths in your organization," writes Peter Drucker. "This is the besetting sin of people who run organizations. Of course, able people are ambitious. But you run far less risk of having able people around who want to push you out than you risk by being served by mediocrity."

Affirm your team at your staff meeting this week with Drucker's reminder that "strong people always have strong weaknesses too. Where there are peaks, there are valleys. And no one is strong in many areas." It takes a village!

Wow! The wisdom still oozes from Drucker's 1990 book on nonprofit management. Many leaders re-read at least one Drucker book a year. If you lead a nonprofit, this is a good place to start. It includes five major sections: 1) The Mission Comes First: and your role as a leader; 2) From Mission to Performance: effective strategies for marketing, innovation and fund development; 3) Managing for Performance: how to define it; how to measure it; 4) People and Relationships: your staff, your board, your volunteers, your community; and 5) Developing Yourself: as a person, as an executive, as a leader.

Drucker's interview with Max De Pree is worth the price of the book. De Pree says, "The first duty of a leader is to define reality. Every organization, in order to be healthy, to have renewal processes, to survive, has to be in touch with reality." The book includes five additional interviews with Frances Hesselbein (goals), Philip Kotler (defining the market), Albert Shanker (accountability), David Hubbard (boards) and Roxanne Spitzer-Lehmann (the woman executive).

As Bob Buford reminded us in the foreword to my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit, Drucker was preaching to both nonprofits and churches when he said, "The purpose of management is not to make the Church more businesslike, but more Church-like."

More ImportantThan Ever as Boundaries Blur
I realized a few years ago that government as we know it is a complete failure. The US Government as we know it has failed to provide for domestic or global security, has failed to spend our money wisely, and it is broken across all three branches. At the same time, the political parties, corporations, bankers and many asset managers, have also failed, along with the media, religion, and labor unions. I decided two years ago to create the Earth Intelligence Network along with 23 other co-founders, and yesterday the IRS told me they planned to approve our 501c3 letter, so I pulled this down to refresh myself, and was surprised to find that I had read it but not reviewed it.

The book was first published in 1990 and includes interviews with nine contributors as well as original material from Peter Drucker.

Two sentences stand out for me:

1) The non-profit delivers a changed human being.

2) The non-profit leader is responsible for translating glorious mission statements into executable, measureable, visible specifics.

After a year's work with many others, and aided immensely by the recent identification of the ten high-level threats to humanity in priority order, courtesy of LtGen Dr. Brent Scowcroft, USAF (Ret) and other members of the United Nations High-Level Threat Panel we not only recognized that the lines are blurring as segments of government that are honest, segments of private sector marketplaces that are moral, segments of civil society that are committed to responsible stewardship of their local communities and areas and non-plenishable natural resources; but we began to see the non-profit as central to weaving a shared understanding of the threats, the policies and budgets that can eradicate the threats, and the knowledge that needs to be transferred to Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and Wild Cards like the Congo, if they are to avoid our mistakes.

This book, in short, is my crutch, my reinforcement, my inspiration, and my proof positive that we can translate our mission into specifics, and do what we have set out to do.

Early on Peter Drucker emphasizes that while the non-profit is the largest employer in America, the share of money being donated to non-profits has remained relatively steady. I suspect that has changed since this was written in 1990, but his second key point in this context is that it is not enough to find donors, one much recruit contributors who wish to be active "in community" and for acommon purpose.

I confess to not being a people person, but I will also be an unpaid member of the board, so I would emphasize that in looking for our first non-profit manager, we are going to look for someone with three skills this books helps describe:

1) Ability to create logical executable specifics
2) Ability to interact effectively with high-end planned givers (humans)
3) Ability to recruit and keep happy passionate people who love life and want to pursue life-affirming, world-changing objectives.

The middle core of the book has a lot of underlining. Here are some of the highlights.

+ Strategies are the bulldozers.

+ Strategies are action-focused with measureable results.

+ Set the goals twice as high as a "normal" or business as usual organization might aspire to.

+ Tailor the message to each unique segment (e.g. one message for foundations seeking to harmonize high-end spending programs; another for individual donors seeking to find the best possible way to contribute $100 to one needy person anywhere (hint: cell phone and paid annual subscription--one per village will change the world).

+ Training matters, and not just of staff; also of donors, volunteers, everyone being helped or in any way engaged in the overall mission. [In my terms, if someone cannot recide the ten threats, twelve policies, and eight challengers form memory, or know where to find the 52 transpartisan answers to 52 tough questions, then we have failed to train them or educate them.]

+ Planning is not just about objective results, but about a vast social network of relationships that need to be nurtured for the long-term.

+ Dissent is priceless, discourtesy should never be tolerated.

+ Page 115: "The most important *do* (italicized in original) is to build the organization around information and communication instead of around hierarchy." See the image above, something I created in the 1990's. All the candidates running for President today are top down command and control freaks, with one possible exception. Epoch B leaders create a bottom up constant churn of information, and for me, this one sentence validated, reinforced, and inspired.

+ Educate up the chain and sideways, not just downwards.

+ Ensure every person is immersed the real-world (e.g. poverty at its worse in the slums of Rio de Janeiro or Caracas) so that they are refreshed as to the reality and the meaning of their mission the rest of the year.

I was very surprised to find a chapter on "How to Make the Schools Accountable," pages 131-142, an interview with Albert Shanker, at the time president of the American Federation of Teachers AFL-CIO, but it fits perfectly. Three points:

1) CEOs and Labor Leaders need to hold schools accountable.
2) Schools that pursue long-term deep learning find that short-term financial and other objectives fall into place.
3) Hold everyone accountable for giving their all, and end complacency, a sense of tenure, a lack of passion for what should be a life-affirming world-changing endeavor (those words are from other books, see list below).

The index is excellent, and the last page of the book educated me on the continuing value and offerings of The Drucker Foundation.

My take-away from this book is that any strategy that focuses on sharing information with as many parties as possible, and finding ways to optimize sense-making of the collective, and harmonization of many different programs and budgets across multinational, multiagency, multidisciplinary, multidomain boundaries, will in the end produce results that no amount of government mandate, corporate bribery, foundation give-away, or wailing calls of doom, could possibly achieve.

Peter Drucker's legacy adds a new line to an old saying; the last line below:

The men who manage men manage the men who manage things.
The men who manage money manage all.

The men who manage information not only manage the men who manage money, they create new open money, information capital that enhances, influences, and exploits all else.

Great book. The audio series is ideal for those driving back and forth from bedroom communities into big cities, and vice versa.

Other links to books I have reviewed and recommend:
The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits (Wharton School Publishing Paperbacks)
How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, Updated Edition
The Politics of Fortune: A New Agenda For Business Leaders
Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming
The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All
Society's Breakthrough!: Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People
One from Many: VISA and the Rise of Chaordic Organization
Building a Knowledge-Driven Organization
Global Assemblages: Technology, Politics, and Ethics as Anthropological Problems
The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom

I do not list books I have written, edited, or published, but urge the reader to consider some of them as well. In early March we will be publishing COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace, that is free online now and forever more, and then in May, free online from April, PEACE INTELLIGENCE: Assuring a Good Life for All. And finally, in July, free online in June, COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE: From Moral Green to Golden Peace.

I am certain that public intelligence and bottom-up self-governances are going to put an end to fraud, waste, abuse, corruption and secret earmarks, and that the non-profit, and those who share rather than hoard informationl, will in fact save the world and profit handsomely from doing so, on multiple levels, not least of which is giving seven generations of their descendants a sustainable Earth where everyone is a billionaire (Medard Gabel's vision).

excellent information for non profits
i was pleasantly surprised at the information i could gather from this book. Well written and very easy reading. i enjoyed it fully and look forward to ordering more from this author.

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A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

2009-03-28T18:00:00.001-07:00

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

The literary sensation of the year, a book that redefines both family and narrative for the twenty-first century. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is the moving memoir of a college senior who, in the space of five weeks, loses both of his parents to cancer and inherits his eight-year-old brother. Here is an exhilarating debut that manages to be simultaneously hilarious and wildly inventive as well as a deeply heartfelt story of the love that holds a family together.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is an instant classic that will be read in paperback for decades to come. The Vintage edition includes a new appendix by the author.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #2042 in Books

Published on: 2001-02-13

Released on: 2001-02-13

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

496 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Dave Eggers is a terrifically talented writer; don't hold his cleverness against him. What to make of a book called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Based on a True Story? For starters, there's a good bit of staggering genius before you even get to the true story, including a preface, a list of "Rules and Suggestions for Enjoyment of This Book," and a 20-page acknowledgements section complete with special mail-in offer, flow chart of the book's themes, and a lovely pen-and-ink drawing of a stapler (helpfully labeled "Here is a drawing of a stapler:").

But on to the true story. At the age of 22, Eggers became both an orphan and a "single mother" when his parents died within five months of one another of unrelated cancers. In the ensuing sibling division of labor, Dave is appointed unofficial guardian of his 8-year-old brother, Christopher. The two live together in semi-squalor, decaying food and sports equipment scattered about, while Eggers worries obsessively about child-welfare authorities, molesting babysitters, and his own health. His child-rearing strategy swings between making his brother's upbringing manically fun and performing bizarre developmental experiments on him. (Case in point: his idea of suitable bedtime reading is John Hersey's Hiroshima.)

The book is also, perhaps less successfully, about being young and hip and out to conquer the world (in an ironic, media-savvy, Gen-X way, naturally). In the early '90s, Eggers was one of the founders of the very funny Might Magazine, and he spends a fair amount of time here on Might, the hipster culture of San Francisco's South Park, and his own efforts to get on to MTV's Real World. This sort of thing doesn't age very well--but then, Eggers knows that. There's no criticism you can come up with that he hasn't put into A.H.W.O.S.G. already. "The book thereafter is kind of uneven," he tells us regarding the contents after page 109, and while that's true, it's still uneven in a way that is funny and heartfelt and interesting.

All this self-consciousness could have become unbearably arch. It's a testament to Eggers's skill as a writer--and to the heartbreaking particulars of his story--that it doesn't. Currently the editor of the footnote-and-marginalia-intensive journal McSweeney's (the last issue featured an entire story by David Foster Wallace printed tinily on its spine), Eggers comes from the most media-saturated generation in history--so much so that he can't feel an emotion without the sense that it's already been felt for him. What may seem like postmodern noodling is really just Eggers writing about pain in the only honest way available to him. Oddly enough, the effect is one of complete sincerity, and--especially in its concluding pages--this memoir as metafiction is affecting beyond all rational explanation. --Mary Park

From Publishers Weekly
Literary self-consciousness and technical invention mix unexpectedly in this engaging memoir by Eggers, editor of the literary magazine McSweeney's and the creator of a satiric 'zine called Might, who subverts the conventions of the memoir by questioning his memory, motivations and interpretations so thoroughly that the form itself becomes comic. Despite the layers of ironic hesitation, the reader soon discerns that the emotions informing the book are raw and, more importantly, authentic. After presenting a self-effacing set of "Rules and Suggestions for the Enjoyment of this Book" ("Actually, you might want to skip much of the middle, namely pages 209-301") and an extended, hilarious set of acknowledgments (which include an itemized account of his gross and net book advance), Eggers describes his parents' horrific deaths from cancer within a few weeks of each other during his senior year of college, and his decision to move with his eight year-old brother, Toph, from the suburbs of Chicago to Berkeley, near where his sister, Beth, lives. In California, he manages to care for Toph, work at various jobs, found Might, and even take a star turn on MTV's The Real World. While his is an amazing story, Eggers, now 29, mainly focuses on the ethics of the memoir and of his behavior--his desire to be loved because he is an orphan and admired for caring for his brother versus his fear that he is attempting to profit from his terrible experiences and that he is only sharing his pain in an attempt to dilute it. Though the book is marred by its ending--an unsuccessful parody of teenage rage against the cruel world--it will still delight admirers of structural experimentation and Gen-Xers alike. Agent, Elyse Cheney, Sanford Greenberger Assoc.; 7-city author tour. (Feb.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
It's a good guess that Jedediah PurdyAthe author of For Common Things and righteous agitator against ironyAwould hate Eggers and his late satirical magazine, Might, right along with this masterly memoir. That is a shame because, despite Eggers's inability to take anything seriously on its surface, this meandering story rests on a foundation of sincerity that is part of Purdy's rallying cry. Amid countless digressions, Eggers relates two tales: his mostly successful, if unconventional attempt at raising his much younger brother following their parents' deaths and his years founding and then witnessing the slow demise of Might. Throughout, Eggers eschews any contrivance. The expected tales of emotional longing, political alienation, and creative struggle by a smart twentysomething are replaced by a stream of hilarious, how-it-happened anecdotes; often inane, how-we-really-talk dialog; and quick jabs at some of our society's bizarre conventions. In the end one is left with a surprisingly moving tale of family bonding and resilience as well as the nagging suspicion that maybe he made the whole thing up. In any case, as compared with the spate of recent reminiscences by earnest youngsters, Eggers delivers a worthwhile story told in perfect pitch to the material. Highly recommended for public and undergraduate libraries.
-AEric Bryant, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Good writing, but that's all
There are lots of reviews to tell you what the book is about. Simply: it's about the short life of a guy who takes himself too seriously, feels his voice is important to a generation when in reality it's just another voice of another 20-something who's figured it all out, already. The redeeming quality of this book is the writing. Good writing. Worth reading, just don't buy it. Dust off that library card for this one since it probably won't find a spot on your keeper shelf.

Just as expected
I bought this book as gently used and that is exactly how it came. Very please with its condition. Also, it arrived very quickly.

Exactly as the title states
This is a beautiful book. Eggers delves bravely into his own heartache, depicting honestly his own life and emotions what many of us refuse to admit even to ourselves. The ending, I will admit was not to my liking but the book overall was beautiful and truly captivating of the force of grieving, and moreover, loving.

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Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu (Vintage)

2009-03-28T04:00:00.001-07:00

Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu (Vintage)

As the first European to travel extensively throughout Asia, Marco Polo was the earliest bridge between East and West. His famous journeys took him across the boundaries of the known world, along the dangerous Silk Road, and into the court of Kublai Kahn, where he won the trust of the most feared and reviled leader of his day. Polo introduced the cultural riches of China to Europe, spawning centuries of Western fascination with Asia.

In this lively blend of history, biography, and travelogue, acclaimed author Laurence Bergreen separates myth from history, creating the most authoritative account yet of Polo's remarkable adventures. Exceptionally narrated and written with a discerning eye for detail, Marco Polo is as riveting as the life it describes.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #19619 in Books

Published on: 2008-10-21

Released on: 2008-10-21

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

432 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Drawing on original writings and walking in the footsteps of Marco Polo himself, Laurence Bergreen's Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu is the most definitive biography of the legendary traveler to date, separating the man from his considerable myth.

Look inside Marco Polo (Click on thumbnails to see a larger image):


Marco Polo: a traditional portrait; Granger	Frontispiece of an early published edition of Marco Polo’s Travels, Nuremberg, Germany, 1477; Granger	Kublai Khan, emperor of the world’s largest land-based empire; Granger

Marco Polo commanded a Venetian galley similar to this in the Battle of Curzola; Granger	Stone carving on the Marco Polo bridge; Laurence Bergreen	Marco Polo’s vivid and occasionally misinterpreted descriptions of his travels inspired this medieval artist to depict dragons in China; Granger

Marco Polo timeline (All dates given in the Julian calendar):

1215 - Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan and Marco Polo's mentor, is born.

1254 - Marco Polo born in Venice, although one tradition locates his birthplace in the Venetian colony of Dalmatia.

1260 - Kublai Khan becomes leader of the Mongols and in 1271 founds the Yuan ("Origin") Dynasty.

1271 - Young Marco Polo leaves Venice with his father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo, bound for the court of Kublai Khan.

1274 - Kublai Khan oversees a failed Mongol invasion of Japan, as the Mongols, masters of the Steppe, meet their match at sea.

1275 - The three Polos arrive in Shang-du, Kublai Khan's summer palace immortalized by Samuel Taylor Coleridge as Xanadu; Marco begins his years in the service of the Khan.

1276 - 1293 - Marco travels throughout Asia, reaching the coast of India, and possibly Zanzibar, gathering intelligence for Kublai Khan and serving as a tax collector for the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty.

1281 - Kublai Khan's second failed invasion of Japan, a serious blow to his prestige.

1292 - The Polos escort Princess Kokachin to Persia to marry, their last formal service to Kublai Khan before departing.

1294 - Kublai Khan dies, freeing the Polo family, who undertake a dangerous return voyage by sea.

1295 - Marco, his father, and uncle, arrive in Venice after their 24-year absence. They have been away for so long that their fellow Venetians do not recognize them.

1298 - Marco is captured by the Genoese in the Battle of Curzola, according to some accounts, and confined to a cell in Genoa with a romance writer, Rustichello of Pisa, to whom he dictates his adventures in China, his reminiscences of Kublai Khan, his life among the Mongols.

1300 - Safely back in Venice, Marco Polo marries Donata Badoer; the couple has three daughters.

1324 - As manuscript versions of his exploits spread throughout Europe, Marco Polo dies in Venice, claiming that he did not reveal the half of his experiences in his remarkable Travels.

From Publishers Weekly
Even in his own day, the famed 13th-century travel writer Marco Polo was mocked as a purveyor of tall tales—gem-encrusted clothes, nude temple dancing girls, screaming tarantulas—in his narrative of his journey to the Chinese court of the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. In this engrossing biography, Bergreen (James Agee: A Life), while allowing that mere facts... were never enough for Marco, finds him a roughly accurate and perceptive witness (aside from the romantic embellishments and outright fabrications concocted with his collaborator Rustichello of Pisa) who painted an influential and unusually sympathetic portrait of the much-feared Mongols. Bergreen follows Polo's disjointed commentary on everything from Chinese tax policy to asbestos manufacturing, crocodile hunting and Asian sexual mores—Polo was especially taken with the practice of sharing one's wife with passing travelers—while deftly glossing it with scholarship. Less convincing is Bergreen's attempt to add depth to Polo's lurid taste and over-heated imagination by portraying him as both a prophet of globalization and a pilgrim and explorer of the spirit. Polo's spiritual trek didn't take him very far, since he ended his days back in Venice as a greedy, litigious merchant. Still, the result is a long, strange, illuminating trip. 16 pages of photos, 3 maps. (Oct. 25)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine
Laurence Bergreen, the author of books about Louis Armstrong, Irving Berlin, James Agee, and Ferdinand Magellan, traveled Marco Polo’s route across Mongolia and China to conduct research for Marco Polo. Part biography, part travelogue, and part scholarly analysis, the book offers a glimpse of an exotic Asia that few knew at the time—and that Bergreen, with his rich research and stories, mostly corroborates. Bergreen posits Polo as an early promoter of globalization, an open-minded traveler who adopted some of Kublai Khan’s philosophies and carried them back to Europe. If Bergreen sometimes succumbs to speculation (Polo’s egotism is well recorded, though his time in China is not), Marco Polo will immortalize the famed traveler—again.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

Customer Reviews

edge of the world better
his other book about magellen was much better in my opinion. still, if you're like me and you like anything book written about ships and sea adventure this is a must read.

brian d

Travel with Marco
After reading Bergreen's Magellin bio...I really was looking forward to this Marco Polo one. It appears that much about this man is still a mystery. What one does learn is a tremendous amount about the Far East at the time. One can easily see why much of what Polo claimed to have seen was discounted. What he brought back from his travels was a marvel. I was though, expecting to learn a bit more about the man... I must also add that you should take the advice of other readers and read the Epilogue first. I did.

Bergreen adds little to his compelling quotations
I appreciated Bergreen's attempt to illuminate Marco Polo's tale in a historical context; however, I was regularly frustrated by his disjointed and repetitive style. It struck me that the most compelling information was often conveyed by direct quotes from Polo's manuscripts, leading me to wish I had simply picked up a version of that work. In fact, Bergreen adds little more than indirect quotations that often repeat a direct quotation appearing a paragraph before. For instance, he quotes Polo discussing the postal system: "'When a messenger wishes to travel at this speed and cover so many miles a day, he carries a tablet with the sign of the falcon as a token that he wishes to ride posthaste'" (p. 154); and Bergreen then repeats this fact in his own words only a page later: "Each of these messengers carried special identification in the form of a tablet bearing the image of a falcon, as a sign that he wished to go 'at express speed'" (p. 155). This sort of duplication is regular, and I'm not sure if this is indicative of poor writing, atrocious editing, or simple apathy. In combination with the lack of reference maps, I would not possibly recommend this book to anyone. I hope for the sake of the historical academy that there is a better contemporary work out there.

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Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea

2009-03-27T14:20:00.001-07:00

Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea

THE EAGERLY AWAITED COLLECTION OF PERSONAL ESSAYS FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF MY HORIZONTAL LIFE

When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power -- vodka. You would too if you found out that your boyfriend was having an affair with a Peekapoo or if you had to pretend to be honeymooning with your father in order to upgrade to first class. Welcome to Chelsea's world -- a place where absurdity reigns supreme and a quick wit is the best line of defense.

In this hilarious, deliciously skewed collection, Chelsea mines her past for stories about her family, relationships, and career that are at once singular and ridiculous. Whether she's convincing her third-grade class that she has been tapped to play Goldie Hawn's daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin, deciding to be more egalitarian by dating a redhead, or looking out for a foulmouthed, rum-swilling little person who looks just like her...only smaller, Chelsea has a knack for getting herself into the most outrageous situations. Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea showcases the candor and irresistible turns of phrase that have made her one of the freshest voices in comedy today.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #141 in Books

Published on: 2008-04-22

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

264 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Handler proves the adage that just because one can, doesn't mean one should. This applies to both her role as a writer and a narrator. In this disjointed collection of memories and experiences, even her overenthusiastic voice cannot compensate for the irrelevance and frivolousness that is this book. Her anecdotes cover a range of topics from sex to sibling rivalry to parental humiliation, all showcasing how smart and witty she can be-in hindsight. Whether rambling about how she's freaked out by red-headed men or bemoaning her arrest and short stint in prison, her attempts to be funny fall flat and her valley-girl persona wears quickly on listeners. Her lively voice has the potential to do well with audiobooks, but the overall tone and ecstatic energy she emits only emphasizes the inconsequential prose. Listeners might find themselves asking for Vodka to help reach the end of this production. A Simon & Schuster hardcover.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
"Chelsea Handler writes like Judy Blume, if Judy Blume were into vodka, Ecstasy, and sleeping with midgets and nineteen-year-olds."

-- Jennifer Weiner, bestselling author of In Her Shoes

"Ms. Handler's style is a friendlier, more workaday version of the haughty self-abasement practiced by Sarah Silverman, leavened by the everywoman spirit of Kathy Griffin...She seems like a cruel queen bee from an expensive college: There's something suspiciously sophisticated about how her jokes line up that suggests the moral austerity of a comic not of [Joan] Rivers's bad-girl school: Tina Fey."

-- New York Times

"Where have I been all of Chelsea Handler's life? I had no idea how funny, how brilliant she is. She is too clever for words."

-- Liz Smith, New York Post

"Chelsea Handler is a terrific comedian and a hilarious writer."

-- Jay Leno

About the Author
Chelsea Handler is an accomplished stand-up comic and actress, as well as the bestselling author of My Horizontal Life. She is the star of her own late-night show on E!, Chelsea Lately; was one of the stars of Girls Behaving Badly; has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with David Letterman; and has starred in her own half-hour Comedy Central special. Chelsea makes regular appearances in comedy clubs across America and lives in Los Angeles.

Customer Reviews

Just not my kind of martini-
I didn't know Chelsea Handler until my book club picked this book. I watched a few of her episodes and they were hilarious- I was actually looking forward to reading the book.

I didn't enjoy it, it seemed like she was trying to be funny with deeper insights into her early life, but it came off shallow and missing the mark for me. I actually would have given less stars, but I think that this book could have been really great, if it had delivered the meaning behind the comedy that it seemed like she was hinting at. I think she can pull this off in person because a big part of her comedy is she's a good actress, which doesn't translate to the page. It sounds like her first book was much better, but based on this book, I'd say Chels needs to work a lot more to get her comedy writing up to the caliber of her performance comedy.

Funy stuff!
Funny, if not cringe-worthy stories. I never really cared for Chelsea Handler's show, but her books are hilarious!

Unapologetic in your face awesomeness

As always, one can count on Chelsea to tell it like it is. We all have our quirks, some of us try to hide them others don't care, Chelsea writes all about them in her latest book that covers some of her childhood and stops about two years back. After reading it I realized that no matter what happened to her along the way, she always told her stories in such a nonchalant way that even the most horrific events that would turn most people to mush didn't really seem to stop her. I won't give spoilers but Chelsea goes through some rough patches with men and with the law, written with giggles and shocking situations that she always managed to turn in her favor at the end.

The book is easy to read and goes fast; I pretty much read it in two days, not because I'm a slow reader but life was getting in the way, and sometimes I simply needed a break form laughing. Cute and funny, not as crude as some people say, Chelsea's sarcasm shines though at time but with charm to it, she has wit and brains too, always trying to keep her head up, trying to be nice to everyone and supporting her friends best as she can. One of the funniest parts of the book was towards the end, where she's dragged to a birthday party, hilarity erupted when the main guest of honor was staring to fall of the deep end taking her sanity with her, I laughed and laughed, and it was prefect for a relaxing weekend. Alcohol is mentioned here, even Chelsea's trip to the nutritionist was hilarious, the results and some trauma that followed were very, very interesting for sure. She does a great job of integrating her family into the story, making me feel like I all ready spend a Sunday morning in the kitchen with them eating pancakes, except that if I was there syrup would probably come out of my nose, these people are hilarious! I hope Chelsea leads a colorful and happy life, I'd be happy to read about it some more.

- Kasia S

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Cash: The Autobiography

2009-03-27T00:40:00.001-07:00

Cash: The Autobiography

He was the "Man in Black," a country music legend, and the quintessential American troubadour. He was an icon of rugged individualism who had been to hell and back, telling the tale as never before. In his unforgettable autobiography, Johnny Cash tells the truth about the highs and lows, the struggles and hard-won triumphs, and the people who shaped him.

In his own words, Cash set the record straight -- and dispelled a few myths -- as he looked unsparingly at his remarkable life: from the joys of his boyhood in Dyess, Arkansas to superstardom in Nashville, Tennessee, the road of Cash's life has been anything but smooth. Cash writes of the thrill of playing with Elvis, the comfort of praying with Billy Graham; of his battles with addiction and of the devotion of his wife, June; of his gratitude for life, and of his thoughts on what the afterlife may bring. Here, too, are the friends of a lifetime, including Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and Kris Kristofferson. As powerful and memorable as one of his classic songs, Cash is filled with the candor, wit, and wisdom of a man who truly "walked the line."

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #16435 in Books

Published on: 2003-10-01

Released on: 2003-10-07

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

320 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews
A humble, happy look back from the man in black. Johnny Cash answers to many names; he's JR to childhood friends and family, John to bandmates, and Johnny to fans. ``Cash'' is the name wife June Carter reserves for ``the star, the egomaniac.'' The star gets plenty of ink here, from the early days at Sun Records--with Elvis, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis--to his current status as a darling of the alternative rock set. But it's the private man who's most compelling and surprisingly complex. Cash writes candidly of his recurring addiction to amphetamines and his concomitant shortcomings as a father, addresses his spirituality without sounding maudlin, and displays genuine humility at his success and very little bitterness at his abandonment by the country music establishment. A more accurate subtitle might be ``The Second Autobiography,'' since this volume covers some of the same ground as Cash's previous work, The Man in Black (1986), but a life so chock full of oddments (he once started a forest fire with an automobile and on another occasion was nearly disemboweled by an ostrich) and renegade stands (he opposed Vietnam, heresy to the nation's blue- collar constituency) easily merits a second look. Organized around the domiciles where he divides his time--homes in Tennessee, Florida, and Jamaica, as well as his tour bus--the book stays grounded in the present, mixing reflections on his 40-year career with a running chronicle of an ongoing tour. This novel approach minimizes the as-told-to blahs that plague many a celebrity autobiography and highlights Cash's wry humor and introspection. With the help of Carr, editor of Country Music magazine, Cash keeps the pace lively until the end, when the roses he throws everyone from grandkids to music biz buddies bog things down. Mostly, though, a pungent, substantive autobiography from one the most iconoclastic talents on the American music scene. (32 pages b&w photos, not seen) ($200,000 ad/promo; author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review
"Insightful, relaxed, and conversational. . . . The stories sing." -- New York Times

About the Author
Johnny Cash (1932-2003) was an American icon and country music superstar, a professed man of faith, as well as the author of three books. Cash first sang publicly while in the air force in the early fifties. The youngest person ever chosen for the Country Music Hall of Fame, he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and awarded eleven Grammies in a career that spanned generations. Married to country legend June Carter, Cash performed everywhere from Folsom Prison to the White House, hosted his own television show, appeared in feature films, and in 1996 received the Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award.

Customer Reviews

Johnny Cash autobiography
This is a great book; I can't wait to finish it and share it with my friends and family. It came very fast and buying it was so simple.

Great storyteller, enjoy at your leisure
Had Johnny Cash never picked up a guitar or sung a word, this book would still be a well told story of a bygone American life. Cash grew up picking cotton in an America he's both grateful to be past but remiss to see disappear. In total, this book reads like an afternoon spent with a genial storyteller who likes to pluck out memories at leisure, telling a lifetime's worth of stories out of sequence.

His candid confession to past wrongs and misdeeds make him a compelling narrator not just for his candor, but for the details he's willing to share. This book is better than the movie "Walk The Line," and it adds a deeper understanding to the themes Cash wrote into his songs.

Hello, this is Johnny Cash
Pull up a comfortable chair and hot cup of java and spend a few hours listening to the man himself tell you about various aspects of his life. Funny, sad and frightening it's all here. You will get to know a J. R. and his life on an intimate level far beyond the songs he wrote.
It's an excellent read.

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The Forever Portfolio: How to Pick Stocks That You Can Hold for the Long Run

2009-03-26T10:40:00.001-07:00

The Forever Portfolio: How to Pick Stocks That You Can Hold for the Long Run

How to find companies with high long-term value by understanding key trends

Warren Buffett once said that his favorite holding period for a stock is “forever.” Now James Altucher shows how to find “forever” stocks—ones you can safely buy and hold for at least twenty years. These companies will profit from broad demographic trends and can ride out any short-term market fluctuations.

For instance, Altucher says it’s smart to invest in:

• Obesity: 33 billion dollars are spent each year on services for the obese
• Dirty Water: Developing countries are finding it much harder to deliver clean water to their growing populations, and companies that sell clean water treatment technologies will thrive
• Luxury: The rich are recession-proof, and the stocks of luxury producers make a great hedge against any slowdown in the global economy

The Forever Portfolio shows investors how to build a strong, consistent, long-term portfolio, diversified enough to withstand the various cycles of the market.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #334629 in Books

Published on: 2008-11-13

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

256 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
James Altucher is president and founder of Stockpickr LLC, which runs a thriving Web site that has been called the “MySpace for finance.” He is also a managing partner at the asset management firm Formula Capital, a columnist for The Financial Times, a frequent guest on CNBC, and a nationally ranked chess master.

Customer Reviews

Interesting premise, poor execution
The premise of the book is quite interesting---what are fundamental trends with significant tail wind? And, indeed, the author throws out some interesting ideas, like varicose vein treatments in response to obesity problems. That said, the book is horribly written---the author has about 20 pages of interesting content interspersed with 200 pages of random digressions, about his love of computer games and the longest words in the English language.

Looking for honesty in a cesspool financial system
I have the opinion that James Altucher is honest and intelligent. He has been burnt like many of us. He knows the system is so rigged that an ordinary investor has a minute chance against the PhD mathematics, computers, inside information, derivatives, short selling, options, etc, etc of the greedy elite. James tries to tackfully steer us to solid companies that still derive thier value from solid business principal of growth and dividend yield. I think the book is a great read to try to get your mind clear and refocused if necessary to reality. James is trying to help the average person and he is not trying to fill his own pockets at your expense. Refreshing and ethical.

Not painful but not as good as I had hoped
I like the basic idea of the book that time is one advantage individual investors have. Unfortunately, I found the book superficial. The author is on to something but does not develop his thoughts well enough for the reader to take away a truly useful framework for investing.

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Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition

2009-03-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition

Newly updated, this timely history of the struggle to discover and control water in the American West is a tale of rivers diverted and damned, political corruption and intrigue, billion-dollar battles over water rights, and economic and ecological disaster. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #6229 in Books

Published on: 1993-01-01

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

608 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The definitive history of water resources in the American West, and a very illuminating lesson in the political economy of limited resources anywhere. Highly recommended!

From Publishers Weekly
In this stunning work of history and investigative journalism, Reisner tells the story of conflicts over water policy in the West and the resulting damage to the land, wildlife and Indians. PW stated that this "timely and important book should be required reading for all citizens."
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Dams ostensibly provide indispensable economic development through flood control, irrigation, and recreation. Goldsmith and Hildyard, with examples from throughout the world, demolish the common justifications for large dams. They advocate traditional irrigation as environmentally sound and economically beneficial. Reisner focuses more narrowly on North America in his portrayal of the personalities and agencies (e.g., Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), and the manipulation and deceit through which water policy in the United States has evolved. This policy, a form of financial vandalism of the future, has made us rich but our descendants insecure. Cadillac Desert describes serious, perhaps fatal threats to the miraculous desert civilization of the West. With different approaches, both volumes take effective aim at the vested interests that perpetuate unsound water resource development. Both volumes contain insights for the specialist and the wider public. James R. Karr, Smithsonian Tropical Research Inst., Balboa, Panama
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Great Read
This book covers an issue that many people are probably aware of but have no idea to what extent this problem reaches. Much of the Western United States, particularly the Southwest and California, is located in a desert ecosystem that gets less than 10 inches of rain per year. The chapters of this book cover a broad spectrum of topics pertaining to water problems in the west. The rapid depletion of the streams and rivers, the history of human life in the west, the environmentally harmful effect that humans have had on the hydrosphere, and the political struggles from state to state over water rights are just some of the important topics touched on by the author, Marc Reisner.
The growth of the west, especially the booming populations of Phoenix, which went from a population of 65,000 in 1940 to 439,000 in 1960 (p. 269), San Diego, and Los Angeles, which was "growing like a gourd in the night" (p. 129), caused these cities and others to depend on outside water supplies such as the Colorado River. However, this rampant river does not have enough water to support many of the surrounding states which were turning to it for irrigation needs.
The Colorado River Compact divided the river randomly for seven states to be allotted certain amounts of water. This led to a long, hard fought political struggle between the states. To add to the problem, some of the water needed to be set aside for Mexico in order to avoid legal troubles. The Colorado River became diverted every which way by multiple dams in order to bring water to many of these booming cities that probably did not belong in this arid desert in the first place. The amazing part about this water diversion is that nearly all of the water consumed goes to irrigation; 85% in California, 90% in Arizona, and in many other Western states the figure is closer to 100% (p. 9).
Throughout the 20th century, the problem concerning this lack of water was in the back of many politicians minds. At the same time, money had to be made and many people thought the need for irrigation outweighed any consequences pertaining to this loss of water. A significant ecological problem that I was previously unaware of is the salinity problem from streams and rivers when using the water to irrigate land with high salinity contents. Many of the rivers that feed the Colorado are filtered through irrigated, saline earth. When the water spreads out into a dammed lake or reservoir, much of the water is evaporated while the salt is left behind on the land. This had become a huge problem in the San Joaquin Valley in California, where this salty water is used to irrigate the crops since it is a very dry region. Once the crops are irrigated, the good water is evaporated, leaving behind the salty water which kills a lot of the crops. This is a difficult problem to solve which has an extremely large economic and ecological effect.
Another interesting section of this book covers the history of human settlement in parts of Arizona. The Hohokam was a thriving culture that consisted of approximately 400,000 people between about A.D 800 and 1400 (p. 265). Their culture is relatively unheard of by many people yet the study of their culture may have a profound effect on the people living in Arizona today. The Hohokam were sophisticated society in a variety of ways for their time, especially their irrigation techniques that helped them survive in the arid desert. However, for some reason they were suddenly wiped out around 1400, probably due to water problems. Reisner states it superbly, saying that "the disappearance of Hohokam civilization seems linked to water: they either had too little or used too much. And that is the problem that Arizona faces today."

Outstanding
This was an outstanding book. Filled with a lot of information I had only partially known, and seldom understood. The story of thousands of dams built for no reason other then to keep two Federal agencies in business. Some success and some death causing failures. A must read for anyone west of the Mississippi with a interest in the historical infrastructure of the western states despite the massive mishandling of Federal funds to aid in ecological disaster. A true study in government math at alludes us all.

Ahead of its time
This was a return engagement to "Cadillac Desert", as I had read the original in the 1980s, amazed at the time, considering it a premier example of thorough history and analysis in a subject about which few people knew much at all. What could have been a "dry" subject was actually quite gripping and informative, and fortunate to have many participants in key moments still available.

In that sense the author was ahead of his time, documenting essential history that looks all the more important twenty years later. No doubt the book would still be fresh history to many, especially if supplemented by some other source on more current topics. I can only imagine what Mr. Reisner would think of the explosive growth of Las Vegas in the barren Nevada desert in recent years.

I finally got to the revised edition and certainly feel the loss of Marc Reisner, who would have had plenty of material for another revision or two. The additional material is a plus, although it, too, has been around long enough for either edition to be a worthwhile reference.

The growth of Los Angeles and the whole situation with the Owens Valley, San Fernando Valley, William Mulholland, the Chandlers, and so on, is exceptional, and can be read almost on its own. Perhaps there is a more definitive history, with more emphasis on some individuals or some other angle. Reisner packs a punch, laying it all out bluntly, including the fraud and corruption along with social and technical aspects.

Another favorite was the early history of the unexplored West, such as John Wesley Powell's prescience and his journey down the virgin Colorado. How much the region has changed in such a short time, and how extensive were our errors.

This is a first-rate history.

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The End of Prosperity: How Higher Taxes Will Doom the Economy--If We Let It Happen

2009-03-24T19:00:00.001-07:00

The End of Prosperity: How Higher Taxes Will Doom the Economy--If We Let It Happen

Arthur Laffer -- the father of supply-side economics and a member of President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board -- joins economist Stephen Moore of The Wall Street Journal editorial board and investment advisor Peter J. Tanous to send Americans an urgent message: We risk losing the exceptional standard of living that has made us the envy of the rest of the world if the pro-growth policies of the last twenty-five years are reversed by a new president.

Since the early 1980s, the United States has experienced a wave of prosperity almost unprecedented in history in terms of wealth creation, new jobs, and improved living standards for all. Under the leadership of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, Americans changed the incentive structure on taxes, inflation, and regulation, and as a result the economy roared back to life after the anti-growth, high-inflation 1970s.

Now the rest of the world is following the American economic growth model of lower tax rates, more economic freedom, and sound money. Paradoxically, one country is moving away from these growth policies and putting its prosperity at risk -- America.

On the eve of a critical presidential election, Laffer, Moore, and Tanous provide the factual information every American needs in order to understand exactly how we achieved the prosperity many people have come to take for granted, and explain how the policies of Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi can cause America to lose its status as the world's growth and job creation machine.

The End of Prosperity is essential reading for all Americans who value our nation's free enterprise system and high standard of living, and want to know how to protect their own investments in the coming storm.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #654 in Books

Published on: 2008-10-14

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

352 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review
"At a time when economies around the world are going wobbly, this insightful and timely book reminds us of the principles and the policies which America will need to employ to restore stability and prosperity."-- Lady Thatcher , prime minister of the United Kingdom 1979-1990

"This book focuses on the greatest economic issues of our time. While I have very different views, it's through careful debate and full understanding that we can make progress. This book is a must-read." -- Joe Kennedy, former congressman from Massachusetts

"Fair warning! No one can say, 'No one told us this would happen.' Art Laffer, Steve Moore, and Peter Tanous have done just that with this brilliantly insightful book. Read it -- and act!" -- Steve Forbes

"Frankly, I think supply-side economics is snake oil. But you should know how three of its smartest proponents try to defend it in this influential and important book."-- Robert Reich

The Gathering Economic Storm

On the hope of our free nation rests the hope of all free nations.

-- John F. Kennedy

America: What Went Right

It was difficult for the three of us to write a book titled The End of Prosperity.

We're not doom and gloom people; we're natural optimists. And we're not part of the trendy set of intellectuals who like to trash our nation, blame America first for all the world's problems, or worst of all, predict with glee America's downfall as some kind of punishment for our alleged past environmental crimes, racism, financial mismanagement, greed, overconsumption, imperialism, or whatever the latest chic attack on the United States is.

By contrast, we do believe in the idea of American exceptionalism and that this nation is, in the words of our hero Ronald Reagan, "a shining city on a hill." The Gipper said it eloquently in his 1980 speech at the Republican National Convention in Detroit when he proclaimed that it was "divine providence that placed this land -- this island of freedom here as a refuge for all those people in the world who yearn to breathe freely."1 Yes, we certainly agree.

We're also well aware that American skeptics who have written over the last two or three decades about the end of the United States' economic might have gotten the story 180 degrees wrong. There've been dozens of wrongheaded books, many which became best sellers, from America: What Went Wrong? (Bartlett and Steele), to Bankruptcy 1995: The Coming Collapse of America and How to Stop It (Figgie and Swanson), to The Great Depression of 1990 (Ravi Batra), to The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (Paul Kennedy), to The Day of Reckoning: The Consequences of American Economic Policy Under Reagan (Benjamin Friedman), all forecasting America's impending economic collapse. So much gloom. These pessimists were about as right as the record producers who turned down a contract with the Beatles in 1962 because in their famous assessment, "guitar groups are on the way out,"2 or the venture capitalists who rolled with laughter over the idea of a computer in every home, and then told Bill Gates to go take a hike.

Many of today's leading liberals who are advising Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress are the same people who predicted in the late 1980s that Japan, with its sophisticated government-managed industrial policy economy, would take over the world in the 1990s and the early twenty-first century. Yes, those predictions were made at the early stages of one of the greatest and longest financial collapses in world history. Lester Thurow wrote after the Berlin Wall came down: "The Cold War is over. Japan won."3 The Nikkei Index stood at 38,000 in 1989 and fell to below 8,000 in 2003, an 80 percent decline.4 So in the 1990s while the U.S. stock market more than doubled, the Japanese stocks fell by about half.

Where the declinists on the left foresaw America's demise in the eighties and nineties and predicted a future that looked like the grim portrait of cities in movies like Blade Runner and Batman, we forecast growth and a cornucopia of financial opportunity and a coming burst of prosperity. We believed that Ronald Reagan had the right prescription for the malaise of the 1970s. Reagan focused like a guided missile on the big problems that had come to cripple the U.S. economy: rampant inflation, high tax rates, a crushing regulatory burden, and runaway government spending. Call the Reagan economic agenda Reaganomics, supply-side economics, or free market economics -- critics can even keep on calling it Voodoo or "trickle down" economics -- but what is undeniable is that the economy surged in the 1980s and 1990s as if injected with performance-enhancing steroids.

Movin' On Up

Anyone who followed the declinists' advice about selling America short lost a lot of money. After the Reagan tax cuts and the conquering of inflation in the early 1980s America's net worth -- or what we call America, Inc. -- climbed in real terms from $25 trillion in 1980 to $57 trillion in 2007.5 More wealth was created in the United States over the past twenty-five years than in the previous two hundred years. The economy in real terms is almost twice as large today as it was in the late 1970s. Or consider these income gains:

-Between 2001 and 2007 alone the number of Americans with a net worth of more than $1 million quadrupled from 2.1 million to 8.9 million, according to TNS Financial Services.
- In 1967 only one in 25 families earned an income of $100,000 or more in real income (in 2004 dollars), whereas now, almost one in four families do. The percentage of families with an income of more than $75,000 a year has more than tripled from 9 percent to almost 33 percent from 1967 to 2005.
- The percentage of families in all of the income groups between $5,000 and $50,000 has dropped by nineteen percentage points since 1967.

These figures confirm what we believe to be the most stunning economic accomplishment in America over the past quarter century: the trend of upward economic mobility in America. A poor family in 1979 was more likely to be rich by the early 1990s than to still be poor.7 This is the sign, not of a caste economic system, but of a meritocracy where people get ahead through hard work, saving, and smart investing. And moving up the ladder is the rule, not the exception, in America today.

There's a wonderful new video on Reason.tv called "Living Large" that can be viewed on YouTube. In it, comedian Drew Carey goes to a lake in California where people are relaxing on $80,000 twenty-seven-foot boats and goofing around on $25,000 jet skis that they have hitched to their $40,000 SUVs. Mr. Carey asks these boat owners what they do for a living. As it turns out, they aren't hedge fund managers. One is a gardener, another a truck driver, another an auto mechanic, and another a cop.

Today most of the poor own things that once were considered luxuries, such as washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, color TV sets, air conditioning, stereos, cell phones, and at least one car. Table 1-1 shows that, amazingly, a larger percentage of poor families own these consumer items today than the middle class did in 1970.

One of the big dividends of this technology age is how rapidly new inventions become affordable to the middle class. It took more than fifty years for electricity and radio to reach the average household, but newer inventions, such as cell phones, laptop computers, and color TVs, became affordable within a matter of a few years (see Figure 1-1). We are democratizing wealth in America, and new things that were once the exclusive purchases of the rich are now regarded by Americans of all income groups as not just necessities, but entitlements. Young people today can't even fathom a society without cell phones, iPods, laptops, DVD players, and the like. They think that to live without these things is to be living in a prehistoric age. But watch a movie from twenty years ago and you will laugh out loud seeing big clunky black machines that weighed as much as a brick, gave crackly service, and cost $4,200. Now cell phones are about forty-two dollars -- even disposable. And the cost of making calls has dropped dramatically, too.

Here's an even more amazing statistic: Americans in 2007 spent more than $1 billion just to change the answer tune on their cell phones.9 And yet Americans are still far and away the most generous citizens of the planet, giving more than $306 billion in 2007 to charity to help others, while 60 million Americans volunteer time for nonprofits, hospitals, churches, and other causes.

In the late 1990s Barbara Ehrenreich asked in the New York Times, "Is the Middle Class Doomed?" She then noted that "some economists have predicted that the middle class will disappear altogether, leaving the country torn, like many third world countries, between an affluent minority and throngs of the desperately poor."11 Here's the truth. The purchasing power of the median-income family, that is, families at the midpoint of the income continuum, rose to $54,061 in 2004, an $8,228 real increase since 1980.12 The middle class is not disappearing, Barbara, it is getting richer, as shown in Figure 1-2.

There's no question that the poor and even the middle class face real financial challenges -- paying for health care, college tuition, making mortgage payments in a downward spiral of housing values, and filling up the gas tank at the pump. But we always have to ask the question: compared to what? Today the poor generally have access to more modern goods, services, and technologies than the middle class did in the middle of the last century. As Nobel Prize-winning economic historian Robert Fogel wrote in 2004: "In every measure that we have bearing on the standard of living...the gains of the lower classes have been far greater than those experienced by the population as a whole."

A recent study by the Congressional Budget Office came to the eye-popping conclusion that from 1994 to 2004 Americans in the bottom 20 percent of income actually had the highest increase in incomes.14 Yes, you read correctly: The poor got richer faster than the rich did. A subsequent study by the Treasury Department found the same thing.15 When you track real families -- real people -- over time, you find that people who are poor at the start of the period you examine have the biggest subsequent gains in income. Amazingly, the richer a person is at any given point in time, the smaller the subsequent income gains. Those in the top 1 percent actually lose income over time. You won't read that in the New York Times, because the media treat facts like this as if they were closely guarded state secrets. And for the media, good news is practically a contradiction in terms when covering the American economy: If it's good, then it's not news. But no matter how you slice or dice the data, this has been a shared prosperity (see Table 1-2).

Today we are ...

Customer Reviews

very enllightening.
This book gives a clear and accurate state of our economy and where it has gone from over the past 50 or so years. It is quite frightening to see hw our country keeps taking steps backwards while the socialist and communist countries are all moving towards capitalism. We all know wat works, but this administration is moving us so far to the left and they know that these policies do not work, but they don't care

Very good but disappointing ending
The authors make an excellent case for supply side economics. They use facts in the form of easy to understand charts and tables, not subjective arguments. I also became a believer in a flat tax.

I was a little disappointed in the final chapter where they were supposedly going to give you investment advice on how to deal with a 70's type economy. All they did was give you investing 101, and didn't get into alternatives such as inverse etf's, options, and other alternative investments. I realize that giving specific investment recommendations can be a slippery slope, but I expected more.

The book is worth reading, especially if you feel as I do that it's 1977 all over again, which is not a good thing.

An absolute MUST read!!! Please read it. You will be glad you did.
Quite simply, I learned (and re-learned) more about economics and U.S. economic history from reading this book than I did in 4 years of college followed by a 25+ year business career which now includes being CEO of my own tax consulting company for the past 9 years.

Anyone who has ever built a business or had to work for anything will appreciate this book and how straight forward it presents what many politicians try to make very complex. Most all of us will work more productively if given the INCENTIVE to do so. We really DO want to be better off and live a higher quality of life while helping those less fortunate improve their situation as well. That,however is hard to do when more and more of the economic policies being put into play kill off our incentive and ability to start businesses, hire employees, buy assets etc. The excessive taxes coupled with restrictive government policies and crushing bailout debt being put into play make it difficult if not impossible to expand.

This book brings to mind an old but very intelligent saying from 1931 by Dr. Adrian Rogers, " You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

There is no cavalry coming. Go out and earn it!

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Stock Trader's Almanac 2009 (Almanac Investor Series)

2009-03-24T04:40:00.001-07:00

Stock Trader's Almanac 2009 (Almanac Investor Series)

Turn to Stock Trader's Almanac 2009, the indispensable annual resource, trusted for over 40 years by traders and investors. This practical investment tool includes historical patterns and little-known market trends and tendencies to help market participants forecast market trends with accuracy and confidence. Savvy professionals like money managers and journalists use this guide, which encapsulates the historical price information on the stock market, provides monthly and daily reminders, and alerts you to seasonal opportunities and dangers so that you can avoid making costly mistakes.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #30064 in Books

Published on: 2008-10-13

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

192 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
Praise for Stock Trader's Almanac 2009

"Historical price patterns continue to work because human nature doesn't change, and neither does the law of supply and demand. Study past successful stocks if you want to know what future ones will look like. Stock Trader's Almanac is all about historical facts."
—William J. O'Neil, Chairman and founder, Investor's Business Daily

"All my almost four decades in professional investing, I've found this annual tour de force fascinating. There is a lot of provocative here to whet your whistle and adrenaline-rush your curiosity. If you don't find something here that tickles your mind, you probably don't have one."
—Ken Fisher, CEO and founder, Fisher Investments, 24-year Forbes columnist, and author of The Only Three Questions That Count

"The Stock Trader's Almanac is a treasure trove of solid-gold investment nuggets. No serious trader should have it far from his hands."
—John Mauldin, author of Bull's Eye Investing and Thoughts from the Frontline

"I've been reading the Almanac since Yale first published it back in 1968. I wouldn't miss a year for anything. It's the perfect reference for every trader's desk."
—Larry Williams, Darlings of the Dow fund manager, trader, and author

"Whether I am researching seasonality trends or old Wall Street sayings, or am simply in need of some good old-fashioned investment horse sense, I start with the Stock Trader's Almanac. I have been a student of Yale and Jeffrey Hirsch's Almanac research for years, and look forward to future lessons."
—Sam Stovall, Chief Investment Strategist, Standard & Poor's Equity Research

About the Author
The Hirsch Organization (Old Tappan, NJ) was founded by Yale Hirsch (Old Tappan, NJ) who first published The Stock Trader's Almanac, which provides historical information to investors, in 1967.

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (South Nyack, NY) is president of The Hirsch Organization and has worked with Yale for over 15 years. In 2001, he took over as president and editor. He appears frequently on CNBC and CNNfn to talk about market cycles and seasonal trends. He also edits The Hirsch Organization's monthly Almanac Newsletter.

Judd Taylor Brown (Nyack, NY) is the Vice President of The Hirsch Organization.

Customer Reviews

not a fan
it's ok. i have looked at it very little. i don't like the format. it's kind of like a calendar book with tips or facts on the adjoining page.

Stock Traders Almanac 2009
The Stock Traders Almanac is great. Invaluable tool to look at market trends and to give great tools to help one make decisions on the Stock Market. Great Resource.

Stock Trader's Almanac 2009 (Almanac Investor Series)

Great tool for index traders and index ETF's and options.
The almanacs don't attempt to teach you how to assess valuation or secular shifts, these books are historical trends of broader markets and indexes and they are often more accurate than wrong.

Interestingly, it seems when they're wrong it is a "duh, no brainer" such as when the trend for an up January often means an up year for the DOW, S&P except for times of war / duh !

Another gem, "Down Friday, Down Monday warning" that says market tops and bottoms are often denoted with a down Friday followed by the next Monday also down. This is a great tool in volatile markets like we've been experiencing for the last 13 months.

From November of 2004 - June 2006 this indicator was spotted 17 times and every time it was either the very bottom or top of the market OR within 1% of either.

If you need the other stuff I mentioned about how to assess valuation and secular trends then spend time at Vectorvest and even by reading Cramer's Real Jim Cramer's Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World to gain some fundamentals on these topics.

For index trading, the ST Almanac is required.

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What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character

2009-03-15T01:40:00.001-07:00

What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character

The best-selling sequel to "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"--funny, poignant, instructive. One of the greatest physicists of the twentieth century, Richard Feynman possessed an unquenchable thirst for adventure and an unparalleled ability to tell the stories of his life. "What Do You Care What Other People Think?" is Feynman's last literary legacy, which he prepared as he struggled with cancer. Among its many tales--some funny, others intensely moving--we meet Feynman's first wife, Arlene, who taught him of love's irreducible mystery as she lay dying in a hospital bed while he worked nearby on the atomic bomb at Los Alamos. We are also given a fascinating narrative of the investigation of the space shuttle Challenger's explosion in 1986, and we relive the moment when Feynman revealed the disaster's cause by an elegant experiment: dropping a ring of rubber into a glass of cold water and pulling it out, misshapen. A New York Times bestseller.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #11350 in Books

Published on: 2001-01

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

256 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
A thoughtful companion volume to the earlier Surely You Are Joking Mr. Feynman!. Perhaps the most intriguing parts of the book are the behind-the-scenes descriptions of science and policy colliding in the presidential commission to determine the cause of the Challenger space shuttle explosion; and the scientific sleuthing behind his famously elegant O-ring-in-ice-water demonstration. Not as rollicking as his other memoirs, but in some ways more profound.

From Publishers Weekly
Roughly half of these 21 short, colloquial essays deal with Feynman's firsthand investigaton of the Challenger space-shuttle disaster. He casts himself in the role of intrepid detective, and the first-person singular pronoun keeps intruding on the worthwhile things he has to say about flight safety and lack of communication within NASA. An appendix offers his chilling technical observations on the shuttle's reliability or lack of it. The remaining pieces are mostly a blur of international conferences, purveying slight anecdotes. But two essays touch genuine depths of feeling: his tribute to his father, who taught him to cultivate a sense of wonder, and his account of his love affair with his first wife (who died). In this posthumous miscellany, theoretical physicist Feynman displays only sporadically the adventurousness that captivated readers of Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Following the success of the late Nobel laureate's first commercial book, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman (1984), this second was perhaps an inevitability. The book has problems, but it is worthwhile nonetheless. In general, the new anecdotes lack the wit, novelty, and outrageousness of those in the earlier work. The book's second half is the high point; it is topical, entertaining, and illuminating, and telells of Feynman's work on the Rogers Commission, which investigated the Challenger space shuttle disaster. Readers who bypass the first part, which is rife with unconnected tales, will be happy to find this in their libraries. Gregg Sapp, Idaho State Univ. Lib., Boise
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Becoming a Scientist
I strongly encourage you to enjoy the pages of this book as I have. It portrays the study of science as something that curious people do to live well. Science is the study of how our world works. Scientists explore what happens and how it happens with the delight of children at play and the logic of objective experts. Mr. Feynman models the process in an inspiring and personally curious manner that can only come from someone that enjoys his life as he contributes to society.

There are few ways that show young people exactly what it is like and how to pursue a career in science. This book is fantastic for the job. It is recommended by the Young Adult Library Services Association as an outstanding book for the college bound under the category of Science and Technology. And, it is interesting with a very real and fascinating main character. You will enjoy reading it and learn about what it is like to be involved as a scientist with NASA.

This book is about the life of an internationally renowned physicist. It portrays Mr. Feynman's father as someone who encouraged him to think like a scientist from a very young age. Mr. Feynman talks about what it was like to be a young man falling in love and a married man relating in a loving, caring way with both his wives and children. He discusses his worldly working life and how he related to his friends. Most exciting, perhaps, is how he handled his investigation of the Challenger space shuttle disaster. Mr. Feynman exquisitely and humbly relates his life in the center of the greatest of man's scientific endeavors.

Although this book models the life of a fascinating scientist, it fails to answer questions about Mr. Feynman's life that naturally came to mind as I read the book. Mr. Feynman writes to his second wife while traveling, yet the book never mentions anything about how he came to marry a second time. And while I strongly recommend that young students read the book to know what it is like to be a real scientist, some of the technical material will probably be a bit beyond the comprehension of this audience.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I like the way Mr. Feynman related to the world as an ordinary person. Yet, his accomplishments and experience clearly define him as a man of extraordinary talent and high integrity. His story can be proudly held as a model of what a scientist is. As a teacher I would ask my students to be curious, ask questions, and relay information in an honest yet humane way as Mr. Feynman has so elegantly demonstrated in his biography.

Title: "What Do You Care What Other People Think?"Further Adventures of a Curious Character
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10110
Author: Richard P. Feynman, as told to Ralph Leighton
©1988, first published as a Norton paperback 2001
Reading Level:
Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 6.9
Fry Readability: Eighth Grade Level
Number of Pages: 255
Genre: Biography-Physicists-Science

Feynman was a great man
Not quite as funny as "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman", but just as touching. A pleasure to read. This books makes us like not only the man, but it also inspires us to join his quest for scientific knowledge and rational thinking.

An adventurous and curious character.
"The scientist has a lot of experience with ignorance and doubt and uncertainty, and this experience is of very great importance, I think. When a scientist doesn't know the answer to a problem, he is ignorant. When he has a hunch as to what the result is, he is uncertain. And when he is pretty darn sure of what the result is going to be, he is still in some doubt. We have found it of paramount importance that in order to progress we must recognize our ignorance and leave room for doubt. Scientific knowledge is a body of statements of varying degrees of certainty--some most unsure, some nearly sure, but none absolutely certain.
Now, we scientists are used to this, and we take it for granted that it is perfectly consistent to be unsure, that it is possible to live and not know. But I don't know whether everyone realizes this is true." Feynman, The Value of Science

The book's title relates to Feynman's telling of his relationship and experiences with his first wife, Arlene, a victim of Hodgkin's disease. But the subtitle of this book would have made a better title than the one used. Feynman was indeed a curious sort, and he begins by telling how his father encouraged his curiosity.

Feynman achieved a measure of celebrity that few scientists do, and as a result, he sometimes found a forum for his thoughts outside of strict science. He was a fun and likeable man, and an innovative thinker as regards certain scientific difficulties; he wasn't much of a philosopher (evidenced by the fact that he thought Voltaire was a good philosopher), and in fact didn't like philosophy. While he was intelligent enough to admit that his views on art, culture, history, religion, and politics should not be taken too seriously, he was generally happy, and perhaps anxious, to offer such of his views anyway, and they are usually entertaining: "I believe that a scientist looking at nonscientific problems is just as dumb as the next guy--and when he talks about a nonscientific matter, he sounds as naive as anyone untrained in the matter. Since the question of the value of science is not a scientific subject, this talk is dedicated to proving my point-- by example." RF, The Value of Science

It hardly seems correct to call the short articles he wrote `essays', so I'll call them writings. This volume is a collection of Feynman's personal writings, with some contributions from physicist friends Freeman Dyson and Henry Bethe. Most of the book is Feynman's account of his work as a Commissioner investigating the space shuttle Challenger disaster.

This isn't a great science text, it isn't great literature; it's more like listening in on Feynman's thoughts and conversations. Apart from minimal aspects of Appendix F (Feynman's appendix to the Presidential Commission Report) his book isn't particularly technical. It's rather `light' and entertaining, and anyone interested in Feynman, in NASA and the US manned space program, or in bureaucratic `ethics' (or perversion thereof), will almost certainly enjoy it.

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The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin

2009-03-14T11:40:00.001-07:00

The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin

He was the foremost American of his day, yet today he is little more than a mythic caricature in the public imagination. Benjamin Franklin, perhaps the pivotal figure in colonial and revolutionary America, comes vividly to life in this masterly biography.
Wit, diplomat, scientist, philosopher, businessman, inventor, and bon vivant, Benjamin Franklin was in every respect America’s first Renaissance man. From penniless runaway to highly successful printer, from ardently loyal subject of Britain to architect of an alliance with France that ensured America’s independence, Franklin went from obscurity to become one of the world’s most admired figures, whose circle included the likes of Voltaire, Hume, Burke, and Kant. Drawing on previously unpublished letters and a host of other sources, acclaimed historian H. W. Brands has written a thoroughly engaging biography of the eighteenth-century genius. A much needed reminder of Franklin’s greatness and humanity, The First American is a work of meticulous scholarship that provides a magnificent tour of a legendary historical figure, a vital era in American life, and the countless arenas in which the protean Franklin left his legacy.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #42080 in Books

Published on: 2002-03-12

Released on: 2002-03-12

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

784 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Benjamin Franklin may have been the most remarkable American ever to live: a printer, scientist, inventor, politician, diplomat, and--finally--an icon. His life was so sweeping that this comprehensive biography by H.W. Brands at times reads like a history of the United States during the 18th century. Franklin was at the center of America's transition from British colony to new nation, and was a kind of Founding Grandfather to the Founding Fathers; he was a full generation older than George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry, and they all viewed him with deep respect. "Of those patriots who made independence possible, none mattered more than Franklin, and only Washington mattered as much," writes Brands (author of a well-received Teddy Roosevelt biography, T.R.: The Last Romantic). Franklin was a complex character who sometimes came up a bit short in the personal virtue department, once commenting, "That hard-to-be-governed passion of youth had hurried me frequently into intrigues with low women that fell in my way." When he married, another woman was already pregnant with his child--a son he took into his home and had his wife raise.

Franklin is best remembered for other things, of course. His still-famous Poor Richard's Almanac helped him secure enough financial freedom as a printer to retire and devote himself to the study of electricity (which began, amusingly, with experiments on chickens). His mind never rested: He invented bifocals, the armonica (a musical instrument made primarily of glass), and, in old age, a mechanical arm that allowed him to reach books stored on high shelves. He served American interests as a diplomat in Europe; without him, France might not have intervened in the American Revolution. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He possessed a sense of humor, too. In 1776, when John Hancock urged the colonies to "hang together," Franklin is said to have commented, "We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." Franklin's accomplishments were so numerous and varied that they threaten to read like a laundry list. Yet Brands pours them into an engrossing narrative, and they leap to life on these pages as the grand story of an exceptional man. The First American is an altogether excellent biography. --John J. Miller

From Publishers Weekly
"Franklin's story is the story of a manDan exceedingly gifted man and a most engaging one. It is also the story of the birth of AmericaDan America this man discovered in himself, then helped create in the world at large," says Texas A&M historian Brands (T.R.: The Last Romantic, etc.) in the prologue to his stunning new work. Franklin's father took him out of school at age 11, but the boy assiduously sacrificed sleep (while working as an apprentice printer) to read and learn, giving himself rigorous exercises to develop his ease with language and discourse, among other disciplines. In essence, as Brands vividly demonstrates, Franklin defined the Renaissance man. He made multiple contributions to science (electricity, meteorology), invention (bifocal lenses, the Franklin furnace) and civic institutions (the American Philosophical Society, the University of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Post Office). But Brands is primarily concerned with Franklin's development as a thinker, politician and statesman and places his greatest emphasis there. In particular, Brands does an excellent job of capturing Franklin's exuberant versatility as a writer who adopted countless personaeDevidence of his gift for seeing the world through a variety of different lensesDthat not only predestined his prominence as a man of letters but also as an agile man of politics. From Franklin's progress as a self-declared "Briton"Dserving as London agent for Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and other coloniesDto his evolution as an American (wartime minister to France, senior peace negotiator with Britain and, finally, senior participant at the Constitutional Convention), Brands, with admirable insight and arresting narrative, constructs a portrait of a complex and influential man ("only Washington mattered as much") in a highly charged world. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
In this new biography, Brands (history, Texas A&M Univ.; T.R.: The Last Romantic) sees Franklin's January 29, 1774 confrontation in Parliament with Alexander Wedderburn, first Earl of Rosslyn (1733-1805), as the formative moment in Benjamin Franklin's life. During those two hours in the "Cockpit," it was not just Wedderburn insulting Franklin, "it was also Britain mocking America." Franklin's story, as Brands sees and tells it, "is also the story of the birth of AmericaDan America this man discovered in himself, then helped create in the world at large." Brands, a master storyteller himself, draws on letters to and by Franklin, as well as recollections of Franklin's contemporaries, to create an absorbing portrait of the 18th-century world that was the backdropDand the stageDfor America's multidimensional journalist, inventor, diplomat, propagandist, moralist, humorist, and revolutionary. Brands's eminently readable narrative is a worthy successor to Carl Van Doren's classic Pulitzer Prize-winning Benjamin Franklin. Recommended for public and academic libraries.DRobert C. Jones, Central Missouri State Univ., Warrensburg
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Receipt of A Book in Deplorable Condition
I thought I ordered a new, hard-back,collector's edition, of a book -- or at least one in good condition, "The First American" (Benjamin Franklin). The book I received is a paperback in deplorable condition -- old, yellow pages, dirty,terrible odor, falling apart and marked in ink on pages. I could not be more disappointed and I have not been able to find out how to return it. This book is not even in condition to give it away!

Benjamin "Renaissance Man" Franklin
H.W. Brands does a fantastic job of portraying Benjamin Franklin as the Renaissance Man that he was. From the first page, you meet someone who understands the world, people, and his own place in it. Brands does not skimp on material, going back to the setting before Franklin's birth all the way to his last day. Every page is worth the time as this biography is both readable, interesting, and packed with relevant contextual information. No matter your nationality, you'll find Franklin a character not only of great sensibility but humility and kindness as well. These are rare traits in people who found countries, supervise revolutions, and leave a legacy of inventions. Nonetheless, Brands shows us that Franklin was the rarest of people.

Highly Recommended
The reading of this biography of Benjamin Franklin is well worth the investment. It is important to understand where we have come from and the life of Franklin is as much about the United States as it is about the life of one man. It is very well written. My only criticism is that its snippets of John Adams seem unbalanced against David McCullough's John Adams. I believe that although Adams was very critical and suspicious of Franklin early on, he did come to greatly respect him in the end. If this was my only exposure to Adams, I would not value him as a founding father as I do. Having said that, I still give this book 5 stars.

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Mr. Market Miscalculates: The Bubble Years and Beyond

2009-03-13T22:00:00.001-07:00

Mr. Market Miscalculates: The Bubble Years and Beyond

Why is America in financial crisis today? This book, better than any to date, explains it all-how we got here and where we are going. The how we got here is brilliantly described in a collection of pieces from Grant's Interest Rate Observer, the Wall Street insider's Bible. The where we are going is treated in Jim Grant's up-to-the-minute introduction. No fan of Greenspan or Bernanke, Grant tells the unvarnished truth about America.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #3779 in Books

Published on: 2008-11-07

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

430 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Collected from speeches and editorials by Grant, the editor of Grant's Interest Rate Observer, these essays are remarkable for their prescience: two years before subprime mortgages collapsed, the author described them as not one borrower left behind and when other analysts were worried about the effect of a Fed interest rate increase, he foresaw that the risk to house prices lies not with interest rates but with lending standards. Other chapters attack bubbles in stocks and the dollar with erudition and wit (Economics, mistaking itself for physics, is wont to turn up its nose at history, but the past has much to teach; as dress on Wall Street has become more casual, so have the monetary arrangements... the gold standard and swallowtail coats have given way to Greenspan and open-neck shirts). It's hard to imagine reading any other investment newsletter even a week after publication. Grant's is the exception; it paints on a larger canvas and is infused with the author's generous spirit and rich sense of humor. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
James Grant's Mr. Market Miscalculates may well be the most perceptive book on the current financial crisis yet published. What is most impressive is that almost all of it was written years before the crisis finally struck in July last year.

Grant's views on the markets are well-known and consistent. A strong critic of the decision to take the dollar off the gold standard in 1971, he has used Grant's Interest Rate Observer, which he founded 25 years ago, to criticise the money-printing policies of the Federal Reserve. He has earned a steady and loyal following.

Grant ... draws his title from Benjamin Graham, the investment theorist, who coined the term "Mr. Market" in the 1930s. Thanks to Mr. Market's irrational behaviour, Graham said, it was possible for opportunistic investors to make money. Grant paraphrases Mr. Market's attitude thus: "Price is never an object; he just wants in, or he wants out. You, the sane one, could get rich just by availing yourself of the opportunities served up by your unbalanced partner."...The essays in the book show how easy the opportunities were to spot.

There are many other uncanny examples of prescience in [Grant's] diagnosis of the conditions that led to the current crisis. His trademark clarity of thought and of expression are there throughout. So, thankfully in an analyst who is generally pessimistic, is a crackling sense of humour. --Financial Times

Review
After having read the book twice during the past four days, I can say without equivocation that it is a must-read item. Grant lays out on the table almost all of the key pieces involved in the current credit crisis that is enveloping the world, even though the last essay was written late this spring. Fortunately, James Grant gives us most of the last pieces of the puzzle in his op-ed, The Confidence Game, which was published in the Wall Street Journal on October 18, 2008. It, too, must be read in its entirety to be fully appreciated....

You can read all about the folly [of recent years] in Mr. Market Miscalculates and you should probably weep while doing so. But James Grant writes too well, thinks too clearly and is just too darn funny to distract one from the narratives that make this book worth every penny it might cost you to purchase it.

After having read the book twice during the past four days, I can say without equivocation that it is a must-read item. Grant lays out on the table almost all of the key pieces involved in the current credit crisis that is enveloping the world, even though the last essay was written late this spring. Fortunately, James Grant gives us most of the last pieces of the puzzle in his op-ed, The Confidence Game, which was published in the Wall Street Journal on October 18, 2008. It, too, must be read in its entirety to be fully appreciated....

Customer Reviews

Clear understanding of what has happened
Jim's Book, or more accurately compendium of articles from Grant's Interest Rate Observer, shows how the warning signals for our present economic problems were in place as early as the late 1990's. It also explains in layman's language what the exotic debt instruments and derivatives are that caused much of the distress. It seems to also indicate that the future will be best fixed with time and bed rest for the economy.

Educational and Entertaining!
"Grant's Interest Rate Observer" has provided witty, contrarian, and insightful comments on the financial market for the past 25 years. You can subscribe for $850/year, or get some of the best issues for $14.96 in "Mr. Market Miscalculates."

This collection traces events from the late 1990s dot-com boom to the mortgage collapse years later. "Who is Mr. Market," you ask? He's the invention of Benjamin Graham - 1920s - 1970s author and investor. It puzzled him that stocks and bonds commanded radically different valuation from one investment phase to the next - not at all like the calculating and even-tempered human featured in economic texts. He ascribed these flucuations to a mythical "Mr. Market."

Bubbles shouldn't happen according to the efficient market theory of some economists, and one-third of institutionally-managed funds are passively invested via indexing. Efficient market exponents believe eg. Cisco Systems deserved every dollar of its $435 billion capitalization in early 2000, and its $85 billion value 18 months later was also richly deserved. Similarly, there was nothing to fear in the fact that a family earning a median income in L.A. could afford just 1.8% of houses sold during the spring of 2006 in L.A. without the use of a new-fangled mortgage.

"Financial markets exist to channel scarce capital into profitable outlets. If they can't distinguish true value from ersatz, what good are they?"

John (not Henry) Paulson, president of Paulson & Co., made more money in 2007 than Rwanda's GNP by anticipating the mortgage mess. (Cure poverty by training everyone in Rwanda to run a hedge fund!)

"Aeronautical and civil engineering have delivered safer airplanes and better skyscrapers, while financial engineering has brought us more crises." Another example of Grant's wry humor. The accompanying cartoons are also quite funny.

Per Fred Smith, FedEx CEO: Logistics costs in 1980 (inventory carrying, warehousing, and transportation costs) ran about 17% of GDP in 1980; this declined to 10% in 2007. That's a 7% (overall) productivity improvement!

U.S. financial sector profits rose from 12% of total corporate profits in 1984 to 37.6% in 2007, accompanied by a burst of deregulation and aided by lower interest rates. (So that's why we don't need manufacturing!)

The various former letters are arranged by topic, and cover everything from Boeing's supply-chain problems, AIG, various market anomalies, and the distillation of various CMO offerings. The latter I particularly appreciated, as they improved my limited understanding.

In one example, a $1.4 billion CMO launched in 2005 had 20 tranches (bulk of the dollars in AAA), spread primarily over California (1/3) and Florida (11%), having 82.2% ARMs (possible increase of 2-3% after 2 years, then 1-2% every 6 months) and 29% interest-only (possible double-counting), with 58% having full documentation. By August, 2008, 4.2% of the principal was in foreclosure, 8.8% delinquent. A contrary investor "shorted" the offering for 1.9%/year buying a CDS - enormous upside, about $750 million at the time (also excludes those paid off through home sales). (That's not bad money if you live in Rwanda!)

Grant's forecast: More inflation and higher interest rates.

James Grant is One of the Best Financial Writers of Our Time
Mr. Market Miscalculates is a multi-year collection of Grant's Interest Rate Observer investment letters, foretelling many (in fact most) of the financial predicaments we find ourselves mired in today (market bubbles, housing/mortgage-related excess, credit crisis, etc...). Jim is a very talented writer and one of the best at pointing out how certain aspects of the various markets have diverged from historic norms and, more importantly, why "it's not different this time."

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There Is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind

2009-03-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

There Is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind

In There Is a God, one of the world's preeminent atheists discloses how his commitment to "follow the argument wherever it leads" led him to a belief in God as Creator. This is a compelling and refreshingly open-minded argument that will forever change the atheism debate.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #5651 in Books

Published on: 2008-11-04

Released on: 2008-11-04

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

256 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
British philosopher Flew has long been something of an evangelist for atheism, debating theologians and pastors in front of enormous crowds. In 2004, breathless news reports announced that the nonagenarian had changed his mind. This book tells why. Ironically, his arguments about the absurdity of God-talk launched a revival of philosophical theists, some of whom, like Alvin Plantinga and Richard Swinburne, were important in Flew's recent conversion to theism. Breakthroughs in science, especially cosmology, also played a part: if the speed or mass of the electron were off just a little, no life could have evolved on this planet. Perhaps the arrogance of the New Atheists also emboldened him, as Flew taunts them for failing to live up to the greatness of atheists of yore. The book concludes with an appendix by New Testament scholar and Anglican bishop N.T. Wright, arguing for the coherence of Christian belief in the resurrection. Flew praises Wright, though he maintains some distance still from orthodox Christianity. The book will be most avidly embraced by traditional theists seeking argumentative ammunition. It sometimes disappoints: quoting other authorities at length, citing religion-friendly scientists for pages at a time and belaboring side issues, like the claim that Einstein was really a religious believer of sorts. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
"A most valuable and readable overview of the many evidential changes of landscape that 20th century science is furnishing to the oldest question in Western civilization: Is there a God?" -- American Spectator

About the Author

Philosopher and former atheist Antony Flew set the agenda for modern atheism with his 1950 essay "Theology and Falsification," which became the most widely reprinted philosophical publication of the last half century. Flew has published over thirty books, including God and Philosophy, The Presumption of Atheism, and How to Think Straight. He spent twenty years as professor of philosophy at the University of Keele and has also held positions at Oxford, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Reading. He now lives in Reading, England.

Customer Reviews

The universe, the earth, life, rational and moral man - all require the Mind of God
FLEW REVIEW THERE IS A GOD

This must-read book is outstandingly easy to read, because the author and his collaborators - Roy Abraham Varghese (Preface and Appendix A) and Anglican Bishop Tom Wright (Appendix B) - all write with admirable clarity, but also because the print layout is so easy on the eye, with well-spaced lines and attractive type-face. A model. Would that more authors managed to put their deepest thoughts, like Flew here, in a mere 160 pages (his own text)!.

One cry of anguish, more than a mere speck in this ointment. How, oh how, did the book's editors allow it to be published without an index? To illustrate, the book repeatedly demolishes Richard Dawkins - this happens all over the place, but without cross-referencing. Every author mentioned, and every idea and topic, should every time be referenced in an index.

The author's text is divided into two main parts of equal length: the first, an outline of his early slide from the traditional Christian childhood of his time to atheism in his late teens, and an ensuing active `apostolate' in defence of atheism, via a stream of books and various university posts, from his Oxford days (including meetings chaired by C S Lewis!) in the early 1950s through teaching posts in Aberdeen, Keele, various American universities, and Reading, to his 80th year, when at a symposium in New York in 2004, "To the surprise of all concerned, I announced at the start that I now accepted the existence of a God ... when asked if recent work on the origin of life pointed to the activity of a creative Intelligence, I said: `Yes, I now think it does ... almost entirely because of the DNA investigations ... the DNA material ... has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which are needed to produce (life), that intelligence must have been involved in getting these extraordinarily diverse elements to work together (pp. 74,5)." On the `monkey theorem' [random monkey key-board tapping to see if it will produce a Shakespearean sonnet] Flew concludes: "You will never get a sonnet by chance. The universe would have to be 10 to the 600th times larger. Yet the world just thinks the monkeys can do it every time (pp. 75-77)." What about the whole of Shakespeare?

In 1961 Flew wrote an acclaimed commentary on Hume's Philosophy of Belief. He now says, "I have long wanted to make major corrections to my book ... in the light of my new-found awareness that Hume was utterly wrong to maintain that we have no experience, and hence no genuine ideas, of making things happen and of preventing things from happening, of physical necessity and of physical impossibility (p. 57)." Hume would notice that the application of heat to a pot of water co-existed with the water's boiling. But he refused to say that the heat caused the water to boil. Flew's rejection of this is something that I also believe most profoundly as a general principle, which I enunciate this way, that philosophers who reject the reality of the world outside of their minds, or who reject any concept of morality or of right and wrong, cannot and do not live by these beliefs in practice. Flew puts it beautifully: "Hume's scepticism about cause and effect and his agnosticism about the external world are of course jettisoned the moment he leaves his study (p. 58)."

In the second part of his book, Flew outlines the reasons that brought him to belief in a God, a Mind who designed the universe. Note however that Flew has (so far) stopped short of identifying this God with the Judeo-Christian God. He says: "The God whose existence is defended by [David] Conway [in his book The Rediscovery of Wisdom: From Here to Antiquity in Quest of Sophia] and myself is the God of Aristotle (p. 92)."

Nevertheless, he has included, as Appendix B in his book, a 30-page essay by the present Anglican Bishop of Durham, N T Wright, a leading New Testament scholar, who argues to a newly-sympathetic Flew that the evidence for the real existence of the Person of Jesus Christ, the solidity of his claim to fulfil in himself all the Old Testament expectations that the God of Israel would visit and save his people, the Christian claim that he is divine, the evidence for miracles and, supremely, the miracle of the Resurrection, provide a most solid platform for making the `leap of faith' to belief in Jesus Christ. As Flew says on page 186, introducing Wright's essay, "If you're wanting Omnipotence to set up a religion, this is the one to beat."

However, Flew stresses that "my discovery of the Divine has been a pilgrimage of reason and not of faith", as he `followed the evidence wherever it led'.(p. 93)."

One of the interesting things about this book is the clearly perceived relationship between philosophy and science, especially as expressed in current Darwinism. Flew defends the absolute right of the philosopher to critique scientists, on the unchallengeable grounds that the scientist is not always acting merely as a scientist: "When you ask how it is that those subatomic particles - or anything [Flew highlights `anything'] physical - could exist and why, you are engaged in philosophy. When you draw philosophical conclusions from scientific data, then you are thinking as a philosopher (p. 89)." When the scientist extrapolates from what he sees under the microscope or in the fossils or in field work, to preach that rational, moral man must have evolved, and actually has `evolved', by exactly the same micro-evolutionary steps as explain adaptations within species, he is stepping outside his brief and his competence as a scientist. There is a fast-growing literature pointing out that this `belief' is scientifically and logically unsustainable.

For reasons of space, I sum up: "Science spotlights three aspects of nature that point to God. The first is the fact that nature obeys laws. The second is the dimension of life, of intelligently organized and purpose-driven beings, which arose from matter. The third is the very existence of nature (pp. 88,89)." "Those scientists who point to the Mind of God do not merely advance a series of arguments or a process of syllogistic reasoning. Rather, they propound a vision of reality that emerges from the conceptual heart of modern science and imposes itself on the rational mind. It is a vision that I personally find compelling and irrefutable (p. 112)." "The only satisfactory explanation for the origin of such `end-directed, self-replicating life as we see on earth is an infinitely intelligent Mind (p. 132)."

In Appendix A, Varghese attacks the `New Atheists', Dawkins, Dennet, Wolpert, Harris and Stenger. He lists five phenomena that call for a God: human rationality, life and autonomous action, consciousness, conceptual thought, and the human self which is the center of consciousness, thought and action (pp. 161,162) In brief, these "underlie our experience of the world and ... cannot be explained within the framework of the `new atheism' (p. 165)."

Great
There Is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind by Antony Flew is a book about a man who was a staunch atheist for most of his life and now becomes a believer in God. It did not happen overnight it took twenty years but he is now a believer. When he was a atheist he claimed he would follow the evidence no matter where it lead him. "The evidence" that he followed led him to the conclusion that there was a God. Breakthroughs in science, especially cosmology played a big part in Flew's change of mind. He learned that if the mass or speed of an "electron" were off by a fraction there would be no life on this planet. There is much more evidence of God's existence if you know where to look! If you liked Flew's book you might like the book entitled "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message For Everyone,"

FLEW FINALLY FINDS the FLOCK
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In the parable of the lost sheep (a sheep that has strayed from the flock) found in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says there will be more joy in Heaven over "one sinner that repenteth" than over 99 just persons who need no repentance. Thus, the main author of this book states (or repents):

"It`s time for me to lay my cards on the table, to set out my own views, and the reasons that support them. I now believe that the universe was brought into existence by an infinite Intelligence [and this Intelligence belongs to God]. I believe that the universe's intricate laws manifest what scientists have called the Mind of God. I believe that life and reproduction originate in a divine Source [and that Source is God]."

The above is found in this slim book by, according to the book's cover, "the world's most notorious atheist," Antony Flew (born: 1923) , a "renowned" philosopher who announced in 2004 that he now accepts the existence of God.

Roy Varghese (whose name also appears on the book's front cover) is, I presume, the co-author of this book (with Flew being the main author). Unlike for Flew, there is no information about him anywhere in the book but an Internet search reveals that he "is the editor and author of various books on the interface between science and religion."

The book itself is divided into six sections:

(1) Preface by Varghese
(2) Introduction by Flew
(3) Part 1 (three chapters) written by Flew explains, against an autobiographical background, his "denial of the Divine"
(4) Part 2 (seven chapters) written by Flew explains, after over half a century as an atheist, his "discovery of the Divine"
(5) Appendix A by Varghese about the "New Atheists"
(6) Appendix B by Flew which is a "dialogue on Jesus with [Bishop] N.T. Wright."

The best parts of this book (for me anyway) are the autobiographical details written by Flew. For someone totally unaware of Flew's existence, I now feel I know him well. The history of twentieth century philosophy is well presented. Also, I found some of the philosophy presented to be quite interesting (but some readers may find it too abstract for their taste).

Some of the science presented is quite good but in some spots Flew demonstrates little understanding of science and how it works.

However, the good points of this book are prologue to its reasoning for the existence of God. Instead of trying to construct a coherent chain of reasoning in his own words, Flew often presents his views by quoting the written works of mainly scientists (the quotes here are out of context), popularizers of science, and philosophers.

Flew doesn't seem to care if readers understand what he is trying to say. For example, one crucial passage refers to a "C-inductive argument" for God, but there is no explanation as to what such an argument is.

The pattern of reasoning seems always to be the same--something (such as consciousness or the order of nature) is said to be mysterious (that is, science can't explain or adequately explain a phenomenon) and its boldly asserted that the only "logical" and possible explanation for it is "an infinitely intelligent Mind."

We're never told how and why the existence of such a mind constitutes an explanation.

Finally, the form of reasoning illustrated in this book actually highlights one of the truly bad effects of religion. This is that it's a virtue to be satisfied with not understanding. If you don't understand how something works, never mind: just give up and say God did it.

(Alternatively, if you do something wrong, you don't have to take responsibility for your actions. Just say: "The devil made me do it.")

In conclusion, it's unclear whether:

(1) Flew has lost the desire to reason effectively or
(2) he is trying to make amends for initially not believing (for over five decades) his Methodist minister father or
(3) he is attempting to open up a space for himself in Heaven (Flew is in his 80s) or
(4) he no longer cares what's published under his name.

One thing I am certain of, though, is that this lost sheep remains rather...lost.

(first published 2007; preface; introduction; 10 chapters; main narrative 160 pages; 2 appendices; notes)

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Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them

2009-03-12T18:40:00.001-07:00

Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them

Learn some lessons in good living from the Bible's bad news belles. Women everywhere marvel at the "good girls" in Scripture such as Sarah, Mary, and Ruth. But on most days, when they look in the mirror they see the selfishness of Sapphira or the deception of Delilah. They catch a glimpse of Jezebel's take-charge pride or Salome's misguided attempt to please her mother. What's a good girl to do?

In Bad Girls of the Bible, author Liz Curtis Higgs offers a unique and clear-sighted approach to understanding those "other women" in Scripture, combining a contemporary retelling of their stories with a solid, verse-by-verse study of the lessons we can learn from them. Whether they were "bad to the bone," "bad for a season," or just "bad for a moment," these infamous sisters show readers how not to handle life's challenges. With her trademark humor and encouragement, Liz Curtis Higgs helps us avoid their tragic mistakes and joyfully embrace grace.

Here's encouragement, hope for the future, laughter, and stress release, all between the cover of one book.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #3201 in Books

Published on: 1999-08-17

Released on: 1999-08-17

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

246 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Jezebel and Delilah have plenty to teach contemporary Christian women, according to Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them. In this self-help book, Liz Curtis Higgs tells fictionalized, contemporary stories based on the lives of biblical characters including Eve, Potiphar's Wife, and the Woman at the Well. In verse-by-verse commentary, Higgs summarizes each life's lessons and provides a list of questions for personal consideration or group discussion. The overall message of each chapter is the same: "Good Girls and Bad Girls both need a Savior. The goodness of your present life can't open the doors of heaven for you. The badness of your past life can't keep you out either." In its effort to turn readers' minds heavenward, Bad Girls draws a distinction between fun and joy. Associated with "fleshly pleasures," fun "is temporary at best; it's risky, even dangerous, at worst." Joy, on the other hand, is found in God's "gift of grace." Perhaps the book's greatest weakness is its inability to see that "fun," in many lives, is a holy and necessary means of attaining "joy." --Michael Joseph Gross

From Publishers Weekly
Humorist and popular storyteller Higgs (Help! I'm Laughing and I Can't Get Up) takes a look at the vamps and tramps of the Bible, searching for the lessons these wicked women have to teach. She acknowledges that as much as she admires Sarah's faithfulness and Mary's innocence, she finds that her own life contains many of the shortcomings of women such as Rahab, Delilah and Lot's wife. When Higgs begins her study of Jezebel, she notes, "I understood her pushy personality, I empathized with her need for control, I tuned into her angry outbursts...but boy did she teach me what not to do in my marriage." She places the ten women in her study into four categories. Eve, she says, was the "First Bad Girl," for badness has to begin somewhere. Potiphar's wife (who tried to seduce Joseph), Delilah and Jezebel, Higgs says, were "Bad to the Bone": these women "sinned with gusto from bad beginning to bitter end." Women who were "Bad for a Moment," and who have forever been characterized by their "life-changing" mistakes, include Saphhira, Michal and Lot's wife (who was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back on her homeland against God's commands). Higgs says that Rahab, the prostitute who helped the Israelites conquer Jericho, the Woman at the Well and the Sinful Woman were "Bad for a Season, but Not Forever": these women "had plenty of sin in their past, but they were also willing to change and be changed." Higgs opens each chapter with a fictional retelling of the biblical story and then proceeds to a verse-by-verse exegesis and commentary on the biblical text. Each chapter closes with four lessons to be learned from the life of the bad girl and eight "thoughts worth considering." Higgs retells these biblical stories with rollicking humor and deep insight as she teaches about the nature of sin and goodness. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap
Women everywhere marvel at those ?good girls? in Scripture?Sarah, Mary, Esther?but on most days, that?s not who they see when they look in the mirror. Most women (if they?re honest) see the selfishness of Sapphira or the deception of Delilah. They catch of glimpse of Jezebel?s take-charge pride or Eve?s disastrous disobedience. Like Bathsheba, Herodias, and the rest, today?s modern woman is surrounded by temptations, exhausted by the demands of daily living, and burdened by her own desires.

So what?s a good girl to do? Learn from their lives, says beloved humor writer Liz Curtis Higgs, and by God?s grace, choose a better path. In Bad Girls of the Bible, Higgs offers a unique and clear-sighted approach to understanding those ?other women? in Scripture, combining a contemporary retelling of their stories with a solid, verse-by-verse study of their mistakes and what lessons women today can learn from them.

Whether they were ?Bad to the Bone,? ?Bad for a Season, but Not Forever? or only ?Bad for a Moment,? these infamous sisters show women how not to handle the challenges of life. With her trademark humor and encouragement, Liz Curtis Higgs teaches us how to avoid their tragic mistakes and joyfully embrace grace.

Customer Reviews

not spiritual or interesting!
Really Bad Girls of the Bible Workbook

very traditional christian! boring and sad, sad because of it fundamentalism.

An amazing, one of a kind book!
Although not a perfect book, this was one of the best Bible-based books I've read! Bad Girls of the Bible takes a look at ten amazing women who inspire me and encourage. At the beginning of each chapter Liz starts with a short story of each woman if she were in present-day, making it easier to relate with each woman... Liz also separates each verse in the story and shows what may really be inside each woman's heart. I couldn't put this book down! It reminded me of what small things can make us sin.. and what can bring us back to God. Entertaining, amazing, inspiring book! I encourage it for all readers!

Bad Girls From the Bible and What We Can Learn From Them
This book tells a real world story similar to the story of each of the "Bad Girls" of the Bible, then tells the actual biblical story for each. This is followed by though-provoking questions for modern-day women to think about how we can apply this to our lives.

For women who wish to stay in a walk with God, and sometimes feel weak in today's world, this book shows that we are not abnormal, but can learn from mistakes that women made in the Bible.

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Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism

2009-03-12T05:00:00.001-07:00

Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism

The well-known and very popular Catholic couple, Scott and Kimberly Hahn, have been constantly travelling and speaking all over North America for the last few years about their conversion to the Catholic Church. Now these two outstanding Catholic apologists tell in their own words about the incredible spiritual journey that led them to embrace Catholicism. Scott Hahn was a Presbyterian minister, the top student in his seminary class, a brilliant Scripture scholar, and militantly anti-Catholic ... until he reluctantly began to discover that his "enemy" had all the right answers. Kimberly, also a top-notch theology student in the seminary, is the daughter of a well-known Protestant minister, and went through a tremendous "dark night of the soul" after Scott converted to Catholicism.

Their conversion story and love for the Church has captured the hearts and minds of thousands of lukewarm Catholics and brought them back into an active participation in the Church. They have also influenced countless conversions to Catholicism among their friends and others who have heard their powerful testimony.

Written with simplicity, charity, grace and wit, the Hahns' deep love and knowledge of Christ and of Scripture is evident and contagious throughout their story. Their love of truth and of neighbor is equally evident, and their theological focus on the great importance of the family, both biological and spiritual, will be a source of inspiration for all readers.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #5341 in Books

Published on: 1993-08

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

210 pages

Customer Reviews

Great Book!
Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism by Scott Hahn and Kimberly Hahn is a book that helps dispels a lot of the myths about the Catholic faith. Scott Hahn is a great writer and speaker. Both Scott and Kimberly have had an incredible spiritual journey together that led them eventually to embrace Catholicism. Scott has a deep love for Jesus and the Church which is evident when you read the book. Scott has converted many readers over the years.
If you have faith and are interested in God, who exactly He is, and what you will do in the after-life I suggest you read my book as well entitled "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message For Everyone," It also deals with Jesus' Passion. I think if you liked Scott's book you will love this book. If you are searching for HOPE in a seemingly hopeless world, look no further.

A spiritual "shot in the arm"
(Crossposted from LibraryThing)

A wonderful account of the "coming home" of the Hahn family. Scott Hahn, now a well-known Catholic theologian and speaker, was originally a Protestant. This book is a very compelling account of how Scott found Catholicism and perfectly described the trials and tribulations he and his family endured while converting. If anyone needs a spiritual shot in their arm, this book is the perfect remedy.

Journey of Faith
Rome Sweet Home is an interestingly told story of a Journey of Faith by a couple who are already highly committed Christians. The story is told from the perspective of both spouses in turn. Because of the depth of their search, it is also nearly a catechism. Highly recommend for those wanting to know more about the Catholic Church and those in RCIA or teaching RCIA. Over the years my wife and I have personally bought and distributed more than 65 copies.

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Empire of Debt: The Rise of an Epic Financial Crisis

2009-03-11T15:20:00.001-07:00

Empire of Debt: The Rise of an Epic Financial Crisis

In Empire of Debt, maverick financial writers Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin provide you with the first in-depth look at how the American character has shifted to accommodate its new imperial role; how we have abandoned the private virtues of personal liberty, economic freedom, and fiscal restraint; and how the government has gained control of public life and the economy.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #9952 in Books

Published on: 2006-10-06

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

384 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Many Americans have resisted the notion that their country is an imperial power. The idea seems to contradict the values of the Republic and its Founding Fathers. But in Empire of Debt, prominent financial analysts Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin argue passionately that not only is the United States an empire, but it is also one whose end is coming soon. Bonner and Wiggin are the brains behind www.dailyreckoning.com, an iconoclastic and irreverent market advisory service that has long raised concerns about American indebtedness and warned of a looming dollar crisis. In Empire of Debt, a sequel to their earlier doom-and-gloom book Financial Reckoning Day, they elaborate on their argument that the U.S. economy is about to implode.

Bonner and Wiggin enumerate a long list of chronic ailments that imperil the American financial system--a massive trade deficit, soaring personal and government debt, a housing bubble, runaway military expenditures. These problems "hardly disturb the sleep of the imperial race," the authors write. "[But] all empires must pass away." Bonner and Wiggin argue that American imperial delusions are similar to the fantasies that fueled the dot-com market mania. They recommend readers buy gold as insurance in the event of a financial crisis. Empire of Debt flounders when discussing how America indebted itself; the authors blame the Federal Reserve Board's low interest rates but gloss over the fact that rates were slashed because the U.S. teetered on the brink of deflation in 2002 and 2003 (a topic they give more attention to in Financial Reckoning Day). As hardcore free-marketeers, Bonner and Wiggin also seem to long for the pre-welfare days of the 1920s but forget how that period's policies led to the Great Depression. That said, Empire of Debt contains many revelations that will open eyes. --Alex Roslin

Review
" The doom mongering is leavened with some waspishly witty writing" ("Daily Telegraph," 6th December 2005)

From the Inside Flap
There was a time when being a "conservative" meant you were a stodgy old curmudgeon; an isolationist, closed to new ideas. Now, the conservatives are leading the charge—promising to make the entire world "safe for democracy!" Never has such a bold plan been put into action—that is, not since the "liberal" democrat Woodrow Wilson coined the phrase nearly a century ago!

How could such a shift in the politics and economy of the United States have come about in a span of less than 100 years?

In Empire of Debt, maverick financial writers Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin—the team that brought you the international bestseller Financial Reckoning Day—reunite to provide you with the first in-depth look at how the American character has shifted to accommodate its new imperial role; how we have abandoned the private virtues of personal liberty, economic freedom, and fiscal restraint; and how the "guv'mint" has gained control of public life and the economy. The result has been, among other horrors, unfettered deficit spending, gluttonous consumption, and fearless military adventurism. All the while, the nation slouches ever more precipitously towards bankruptcy.

Empire of Debt is a wry, witty, and erudite look at the state of the empire. To the delight of many, Bonner and Wiggin do not spare the political icons of either national political party. Casting a wide-angle lens through history and into the next century, the authors suggest a "great empire" is to the world of geopolitics what a great bubble is to the world of economics—it is attractive at first but will eventually end in catastrophe.

Unfortunately for some, the Empire of Debt will be received like an unwelcome guest who intends to spend the night. But for those who open the door to the often uproarious, but always sensible, wisdom within these pages, the future will be bright, indeed.

"They've done it again!" says financial commentator Eric Fry, "Once more, Bonner and Wiggin have weaved together the disparate worlds of politics, economics, and personal finance to produce an enormously entertaining snapshot of modern American life." We entreat you to sit back, relax, and drink in the splendor that is America's Empire of Debt.

Customer Reviews

Must be read by every head of family!
This book tells the truth about world history and the United States. I couldn't put it down!

I Wanted To Read More
My only disappointment with this book was that it ended. I felt like Bonner & Wiggin covered so much ground, but still left me wanting to know more- so I've found that more in other places by intellectually cheating on them. I liked that they didn't come across as partisan- they plopped out the numbers and history and there she was in her naked truth. I have also become a regular on their daily reckoning website.

entertaining but misses the mark
This book attempts to illustrate the associations of empires and does so in an articulate and entertaining fashion. With respect to the current empire's follies, the author fails to give the true reasoning. It fails to understand the real purpose of the federal reserve system, and that all wars since then have served to enrich those who profit from war while enslaving the working class in paying for it and fighting with their blood. All these follies which have led to the current massive federal debt have been intentional, this is not the result of clouded imperialistic ego. Readers need to skip this book if they really want to know what is going on in the monetary system.

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Mob Boss: A Biography in Blood

2009-03-11T01:40:00.001-07:00

Mob Boss: A Biography in Blood

Don Stefano Magaddino murdered his way from the sleepy Sicilian village of Castellammare del Golfo to the mean streets of Brooklyn before heading to Western New York and seizing control of the notorious Buffalo mob. They called him The Undertaker, for the fortress-like funeral parlor he ran in nearby Niagara Falls, and by the end of Prohibition he ruled a criminal empire that stretched from Toronto to Youngstown, Ohio. Based on interviews with both underworld and law enforcement sources, and packed with never before seen photographs, Mob Boss is certain to take its place among the classics of Mafia literature!

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #167891 in Books

Published on: 2008-11-19

Binding: Paperback

120 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Mike Hudson is founding editor of the Niagara Falls Reporter. His previous books are Niagara Falls Confidential and Diary of a Punk.

Customer Reviews

EXCELLENT BOOK
This book is excellent and tells a lot about my old neighborhood and what actually went on behind closed doors. A lot of the names are familiar and well-known. A must read for anyone who lives or lived in Niagara Falls.

Good book, but NOT worth $20!!
Mob Boss was a descent book, as to the fact it pertains to the inner workings of the Magaddino family. However, he re-used articles that were in the paper that he owns (Niagara Falls reporter)....you could find those online. All in all, the information was pretty solid, but it could have been alot more in depth and for a $20 paperback book, should have been alot longer than 100 pages. My advice is to get the book from someone who already has it because it is a pricey read for the amount of pages you get (I finished it in about 3 hours!)

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FairTax: The Truth: Answering the Critics

2009-03-10T11:40:00.001-07:00

FairTax: The Truth: Answering the Critics

In 2005, firebrand radio talk show host Neal Boortz and Georgia congressman John Linder created The FairTax Book, presenting the American public with a bold new plan designed to eliminate federal taxes and the IRS, jump-start the U.S. economy, bring back lost industries and jobs, and recapture billions of untaxed dollars hoarded by criminal and offshore businesses. Their book became an immediate #1 New York Times bestseller, propelling a powerful grassroots tax reform movement that's spreading like wildfire across our nation.

Now, three years later, the authors are back to answer the outspoken and misinformed critics of their innovative proposal. Offering eye-opening new insights not covered in the original book, FairTax: The Truth debunks the negative myths and gross misrepresentations of this groundbreaking idea. The FairTax plan is simple, brilliant, and it will work—enabling you to keep all the money in your paycheck; eliminating the fraud, hassle, and waste of our current system; and revolutionizing the way America pays for itself.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #3620 in Books

Published on: 2008-02-01

Released on: 2008-02-12

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

272 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The host of radio's The Neal Boortz Show, syndicated in nearly two hundred national markets, Neal Boortz is the author (with Congressman John Linder) of the New York Times bestsellers The FairTax Book and FairTax: The Truth, and author of The Terrible Truth About Liberals. He has been nominated twice for the National Association of Broadcasters' Marconi Award and divides his time between Atlanta, Georgia, and Naples, Florida.

Customer Reviews

Join the Fair Tax revolution, just say no to Obama's plan
If you really want the U.S. to succeed, support the Fair Tax! This book and the whole concept is the real change that America wanted and needs. After reading this, you'll be a true believer too. Make sure you contact your congressmen/women, senators and governor's and tell them to support the Fair Tax.

Wishful Thinking
I very much enjoyed this book. Very thorough in its description and explanantion. Great usage of graphs, charts, etc.

I agree whole-heartedly with the concept. Unfortunately, with the system we currently have, I don't see this plan ever coming to fruition. BUT, I would support any representatives who stand on the Fair Tax Platform

WE NEED THIS!
If the Congress were to have studied and passed this bill instead of acting maniacal over the last 12 months, then the US economy would probably already have in excess of $10 TRILLION of offshore capital back in the US to shore up this sagging economy. This book is poignant and well researched, yet entertaining to read (imagine that from a book on taxes). Read it. Pass it on. Read the original to this sequel, then CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN! WE NEED THIS!

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The One Minute Manager

2009-02-28T04:05:00.001-08:00

The One Minute Manager

For more than twenty years, millions of managers in Fortune 500 companies and small businesses nationwide have followed The One Minute Manager's techniques, thus increasing their productivity, job satisfaction, and personal prosperity. These very real results were achieved through learning the management techniques that spell profitability for the organization and its employees.

The One Minute Manager is a concise, easily read story that reveals three very practical secrets: One Minute Goals, One Minute Praisings, and One Minute Reprimands.

The book also presents several studies in medicine and the behavioral sciences that clearly explain why these apparently simple methods work so well with so many people. By the book's end you will know how to apply them to your own situation and enjoy the benefits.

That's why The One Minute Manager has continued to appear on business bestseller lists for more than two decades, and has become an international sensation.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #101 in Books

Published on: 1982-09-01

Released on: 1982-09-01

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

111 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Ken Blanchard lives in San Diego, California, and is the Chief Spiritual Officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies.He is the coauthor of The One Minute Manager and eleven other bestselling books.His books have combined sales of more than twelve million copies in more than twenty-five languages.Blanchard was recently seen in the PBS special Gung Ho! Succedding in a Changing World.

From AudioFile
After a heartfelt introduction by the authors, Eric Conger reads the now famous parable with perfect tempo and emotional pitch. The basic lesson is on how to concisely communicate goals, praise, and correction. Though focused on method, the underlying message is that people want to be managed and tend to flounder when their efforts are not directed and nurtured. The program is a reminder that quality work doesn't happen without organized and disciplined leadership. People need challenging and worthwhile goals, respect, emotional security, and a sense of being part of a community that makes them feel connected and invested. That this shouldn't take huge amounts of time is the key contribution of this audio, which ought to be on everyone's "top 10" list of management guides. T.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Readers confuse "simple" with "profound"
This book is definitely simple, but definitely not profound, timeless OR classic.

This is a rather short book -- readable in a single sitting -- and yet it is still mostly fluff. It could easily be condensed to 1/3 of its original length or less without losing any meaning.

My biggest gripe with the book is the format: it is written as a fictional narrative, with a contrived storyline that reads like it was translated from some other language. I really can't stand this style of writing. Why introduce these characters at all in a non-fiction book? Especially if they aren't based on real-world events, aren't developed at all, and don't serve any allegorical purpose?

I, on the other hand, believe that the word is a very large and complex place. Real knowledge can be condensed down to some set of first principles, but over time you only gain understanding by understanding the subtle complexity that underlies everything inside and around us.

The principles in this book are valid -- but almost to the point of obviousness.

1) Set goals with your employees (to communicate expectations and set evaluation criteria).
2) Reward your employees when they do something right.
3) Reprimand your employees when they do something wrong.

Sure, this is a jumping off point for some extremely clueless managers, but it also glosses over a lot of subtle complexity involved in motivating people.

To my mind, one of the single most obvious things you can do to motivate people is to flip the question around: ask your employees what motivates *them*. This is going to be different for everybody. Money is an important motivator, but some people are also interested in job security; some employees want to be challenged; others want to work on something meaningful, and so on. You really need to understand these various sources of motivation in order to have any hope of keeping them productive.

This book, however, presents a binary view of motivation: either you encourage, or else you reprimand. (I suppose there's a third state suggested, but not explicitly described: not communicating at all.)

As a final nit to pick: for some reason, the unenlightened managers in this book are characterized as having messy offices and calendars that are booked up heavily. The one minute manager, on the other hand, has a perfectly tidy office, and is rarely too busy to take walk-in appointments. This distinction isn't explained in the book at all, but it seems to me to be a subconscious message that one minute managers are also magically transformed into tidy, efficient workers who have a lot of free time to philosophize. Indeed, the student in this book evolves into this one minute manager mold and magically his office is cleaned up, too. I'd love to read a "one minute office organizer" book. Let me know when they write that one.

Should be on all Manager's must read lists.
An excellent must read for all managers. Easy to read once a year to keep on track.

Wise Old Man Advises Wide-Eyed Young Man - Enough Already!
Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson birthed a monster writing style when they published THE ONE MINUTE MANAGER, "The Runaway #1 National Bestseller!" -- and that style is surrounding a hideously boring topic with clichés, adverbs, adjectives, redundancies, dull characters, and exclamation points. The book is then called a nonfiction fable. Hunh?

When this book came out in 1981 it used a new, perhaps fresh, approach to teaching management skills, but since then it has been copied and copied and copied ... when it should be put in a cage. It's time to stop dumbing down and start smartening up books for managers. Enough already!

Note: You'll only need 1 minute to get what's useful out of this book.

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Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

2009-02-20T00:00:00.001-08:00

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard

Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #19 in Books

Published on: 2007-01-30

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

368 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Some failures lead to phenomenal successes, and this American nurse's unsuccessful attempt to climb K2, the world's second tallest mountain, is one of them. Dangerously ill when he finished his climb in 1993, Mortenson was sheltered for seven weeks by the small Pakistani village of Korphe; in return, he promised to build the impoverished town's first school, a project that grew into the Central Asia Institute, which has since constructed more than 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. Coauthor Relin recounts Mortenson's efforts in fascinating detail, presenting compelling portraits of the village elders, con artists, philanthropists, mujahideen, Taliban officials, ambitious school girls and upright Muslims Mortenson met along the way. As the book moves into the post-9/11 world, Mortenson and Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Captivating and suspenseful, with engrossing accounts of both hostilities and unlikely friendships, this book will win many readers' hearts. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine
While critics agree that Three Cups of Tea should be read for its inspirational value rather than for its literary merit, the book's central theme, derived from a Baltistan proverb, rings loud and clear. "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger," a villager tells Greg Mortenson. "The second time, you are an honored guest. The third time you become family." An inspirational story of one man's efforts to address poverty, educate girls, and overcome cultural divides, Three Cups, which won the 2007 Kiriyama Prize for nonfiction, reveals the enormous obstacles inherent in becoming such "family." Despite the important message, critics quibbled over the awkward prose and some melodrama. After all, a story as dramatic and satisfying as this should tell itself.

From Booklist
On a 1993 expedition to climb K2 in honor of his sister Christa, who had died of epilepsy at 23, Mortenson stumbled upon a remote mountain village in Pakistan. Out of gratitude for the villagers' assistance when he was lost and near death, he vowed to build a school for the children who were scratching lessons in the dirt. Raised by his missionary parents in Tanzania, Mortenson was used to dealing with exotic cultures and developing nations. Still, he faced daunting challenges of raising funds, death threats from enraged mullahs, separation from his family, and a kidnapping to eventually build 55 schools in Taliban territory. Award-winning journalist Relin recounts the slow and arduous task Mortenson set for himself, a one-man mission aimed particularly at bringing education to young girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Readers interested in a fresh perspective on the cultures and development efforts of Central Asia will love this incredible story of a humanitarian endeavor. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Excellent!
Book was recommended by our local librarian...I wasn't disappointed and sent books to 2 other family members. Incredible insight into other cultures and what is possible by really getting to know other cultures via the people.

understanding
this is a book while true that sheds an enormous light--on the man and his quest and inner passions;on a country that defies the modern world; and a community that is profoundly traditional in its treatment of each other.
well recommended.

An inspiring and educational book
I'd heard about this book for a while before I picked it up to read. Everything I heard was good and I have to say what I read confirmed the good vibe I had been getting. Greg Mortensen has not had an easy life - it's not one full of material wealth or security, yet by a commitment to making a change he saw was needed and a determination to fulfil a promise made - no matter how hard it was - he has made changes in the lives of ordinary people that will help them for generations.

Mortensen's work is not world changing in the sense of great or dramatic events, but his quest to build schools and especially get girls educated in the backwater provinces of Pakistan and Afghanistan shows that if you truly want to make a difference and are prepared to make sacrifices for the future you can do just that. What's truly striking is that on a tight budget he has done what politicians only promise and never achieve. He has also had the support of local communities and does not impose his own values on the education given in his schools - except that it is an alternative to the extreme madarass religious eductions many would otherwise receive.

There is a lot to learn from this book. Mortensen is not perfect. He's always late for appointments, is terrible at delegating, leaves his family for long periods of time, but despite all this he really has made a difference in some of the poorest, violent and most deprived parts of the world. Not many of us can same the same thing and more stories like this need to be told.

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Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

2009-02-19T10:00:00.001-08:00

Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

"Oh, screw it, let's do it."

That's the philosophy that has allowed Richard Branson, in slightly more than twenty-five years, to spawn so many successful ventures. From the airline business (Virgin Atlantic Airways), to music (Virgin Records and V2), to cola (Virgin Cola), to retail (Virgin Megastores), and nearly a hundred others, ranging from financial services to bridal wear, Branson has a track record second to none.

Losing My Virginity is the unusual, frequently outrageous autobiography of one of the great business geniuses of our time. When Richard Branson started his first business, he and his friends decided that "since we're complete virgins at business, let's call it just that: Virgin." Since then, Branson has written his own "rules" for success, creating a group of companies with a global presence, but no central headquarters, no management hierarchy, and minimal bureaucracy.

Many of Richard Branson's companies--airlines, retailing, and cola are good examples--were started in the face of entrenched competition. The experts said, "Don't do it." But Branson found golden opportunities in markets in which customers have been ripped off or underserved, where confusion reigns, and the competition is complacent.
And in this stressed-out, overworked age, Richard Branson gives us a new model: a dynamic, hardworking, successful entrepreneur who lives life to the fullest. Family, friends, fun, and adventure are equally important as business in Branson's life. Losing My Virginity is a portrait of a productive, sane, balanced life, filled with rich and colorful stories:

Crash-landing his hot-air balloon in the Algerian desert, yet remaining determined to have another go at being the first to circle the globe

Signing the Sex Pistols, Janet Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Boy George, and Phil Collins

Fighting back when British Airways took on Virgin Atlantic and successfully suing this pillar of the British business establishment

Swimming two miles to safety during a violent storm off the coast of Mexico

Selling Virgin Records to save Virgin Atlantic

Staging a rescue flight into Baghdad before the start of the Gulf War . . .

And much more. Losing My Virginity is the ultimate tale of personal and business survival from a man who combines the business prowess of Bill Gates and the promotional instincts of P. T. Barnum.

Also available in the UK from Virgin Publishing, and in Canada from General Publishing,

From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #9032 in Books

Published on: 1999-10-19

Released on: 1999-10-19

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

416 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
In this autobiography, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson says one of his prime business criteria is "fun." Fun made Branson a billionaire, and few business memoirs are one-billionth as fun as Branson's, nor as niftily written. Not only does it relate his side of near-death corporate experiences, it tells how the chairman literally cheated death by gun, shipwreck, and balloon crash.

Branson's empire--now encompassing interests in an airline, pop music, soda pop, e-commerce, and financial services--began when the dyslexic 16-year-old dropped out of school in 1968 to found the British magazine Student. His headmaster said, "I predict that you will either go to prison or become a millionaire." Briefly imprisoned for dodging customs selling records, Branson got his first million by releasing Tubular Bells, a maverick recording all the stuffy executives rejected. (1998's Tubular Bells III puts the series' sales over 20 million.)

Despite wild tales of Branson's wife-swapping and Keith Richards fleeing naked from Branson's studio at gunpoint with another man's woman, the most shocking parts of the memoir concern British Airways' James Bond-like "dirty tricks" campaign against Virgin Atlantic, resulting in the biggest award for damages in English history.

Though it's filled with famous names, witty quotes, and pulse-pounding accounts of lunatic balloon adventures, it is as a business thriller that the book really scores. His instinctive bet-the-ranch tactics could cost him all, or earn another billion. Either way, Branson will likely remain the most entertaining entrepreneur in Europe. --Tim Appelo

Review
?Richard is good-looking and very smart, which is sexy to start with. He also makes a billion dollars before breakfast?and still knows how to have fun."
-- Ivana Trump
?Few people in contemporary business are as colorful, shrewd, and irreverent, and probably no one?s nearly as much fun to be around. . . . Branson embodies America?s cherished mythology of the iconoclastic, swashbuckling entrepreneur."
-- GQ
?Branson wears his fame and money exceedingly well: no necktie, no chauffeur, no snooty clubs. . . . What continues to set Branson apart is the unique -- and, to some, baffling -- nature of his ambition. . . . He isn?t interested in power in the usual sense of influencing other people. . . . Boiled down to its singular essence, Richard Branson just wants to have fun.?
-- Newsweek
?Branson, a self-described ?adventure capitalist,? is a business-creation engine who was clearly born in the wrong place. . . . Those business instincts are matched by an ability to motivate people who work for him. And who wouldn?t want to -- Branson seems hell-bent on making sure that everybody, but everybody, is having as much fun as he is.?
-- Time
?Richard Branson . . . is dressed to the nines: in a $10,000 white silk bridal gown with a traditional veil and train and acres of lace. . . . Branson is expected to do the unexpected, even the bizarre -- anything to publicize his latest venture. . . . The fact is, Branson?s widely reported stunts seem almost staid compared to the unconventional way he manages his burgeoning empire.?
-- Forbes ASAP -- Review

Review
“Richard is good-looking and very smart, which is sexy to start with. He also makes a billion dollars before breakfast—and still knows how to have fun."
-- Ivana Trump
“Few people in contemporary business are as colorful, shrewd, and irreverent, and probably no one’s nearly as much fun to be around. . . . Branson embodies America’s cherished mythology of the iconoclastic, swashbuckling entrepreneur."
-- GQ
“Branson wears his fame and money exceedingly well: no necktie, no chauffeur, no snooty clubs. . . . What continues to set Branson apart is the unique -- and, to some, baffling -- nature of his ambition. . . . He isn’t interested in power in the usual sense of influencing other people. . . . Boiled down to its singular essence, Richard Branson just wants to have fun.”
-- Newsweek
“Branson, a self-described ‘adventure capitalist,’ is a business-creation engine who was clearly born in the wrong place. . . . Those business instincts are matched by an ability to motivate people who work for him. And who wouldn’t want to -- Branson seems hell-bent on making sure that everybody, but everybody, is having as much fun as he is.”
-- Time
“Richard Branson . . . is dressed to the nines: in a $10,000 white silk bridal gown with a traditional veil and train and acres of lace. . . . Branson is expected to do the unexpected, even the bizarre -- anything to publicize his latest venture. . . . The fact is, Branson’s widely reported stunts seem almost staid compared to the unconventional way he manages his burgeoning empire.”
-- Forbes ASAP

Customer Reviews

Branson Rocks!
This book should be required reading for business majors and anyone who has ever entertained thoughts of becoming a captain of industry. Branson's off-the-cuff candid style spends as much time sharing what he gleaned from his failures as it does explaining all the maneuvers that led to his most profound successes. What one comes away from in this entertaining read is that life can be a glorious, exhilarating, pulse-pounding adventure that's not unlike the Indian Jones ride at Disneyland; specifically, you scream, you squeal, your heart races, and you get caught up in the sights and sounds and surprises and wonder whatever possibly possessed you to put yourself in the path of spears and snakes and runaway boulders. And then the ride ends and the first thing you want to do is go get back in line and do it all over again.
If a movie were ever made of Branson's life, he'd have to play himself because no actor could ever come close to emulating his charismatic presence and wicked sense of humor.

Christina Hamlett
Author of "Could It Be a Movie"

Fun book to read
This book gives insight into Mr Branson life - from his school days, dating life, married life ,crazy balloon adventures and how Mr Branson managed to build business portfolio and create a Virgin as brand name. Overall fun to read, keeps reader interested - this is definitely not a how-to for business or entrepreneurship.

Richard Rocks
I really enjoyed reading this autobiography, a great look behind the scene. I realize this is just a one sided account of events but I found it to be very candid, inspiring and often humorous.

Richard shows us that fun and joy should be the foundation of creating your life, because life is going to happen anyway. There is no such thing as can't, unless you believe in it. It really is good to feel good.

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Rimbaud: The Double Life of a Rebel

2009-02-18T20:20:00.001-08:00

Rimbaud: The Double Life of a Rebel

The distinguished biographer, novelist, and memoirist Edmund White brings his literary mastery to a new biography of Arthur Rimbaud.

Poet and prodigy Arthur Rimbaud led a life that was startlingly short, but just as dramatically eventful and accomplished. Even today, over a century after his death in 1891, his visionary poetry has continued to influence everyone from Jim Morrison and Bob Dylan to Patti Smith. His long poem A Season in Hell (1873) and his collection Illuminations (1886) are essential to the modern canon, marked by a hallucinatory and hypnotic style that defined the Symbolist movement in poetry. Having sworn off writing at the age of twenty-one, Rimbaud drifted around the world from scheme to scheme, ultimately dying from an infection contracted while running guns in Africa. He was thirty-seven.

Edmund White writes with a historian's eye for detail, driven by a genuine personal investment in his subject. White delves deep into the young poet's relationships with his family, his teachers, and his notorious affair with the more established poet Paul Verlaine. He follows the often elusive (sometimes blatant) threads of sexual taboo that haunt Rimbaud's poems (in those days, sodomy was a crime) and offers incisive interpretations of the poems, using his own artful translations to bring us closer to the mercurial poet.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #44322 in Books

Published on: 2008-10-09

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

256 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Here is a lean, incisive biographical-critical book by one of our outstanding literary commentators. In compelling personal writing, White (Genet: A Biography) shows how one of the heroes of French culture, Arthur Rimbaud (1854–1891), led a double life—in many forms. He who famously declared, I is another, abruptly abandoned the literary life, virtually as a teenager, for more than 15 years until his death. Unconventionally beautiful, from a provincial middle-class background and something of a mama's boy, the lover of Paul Verlaine was bisexual and secretly craved conventional worldly success even as his aesthetic was in the Symbolist art-for-art's-sake mode, portrayed by White as part shaman, part alcoholic and drug addict, part Catholic saint, Rimbaud remains a phenomenon in world literature. Included in this literary biography are White's superb translations of works he is discussing and fresh insights into Rimbaud's destructive relationship with Verlaine in particular, as well as with other poets, family, friends and business associates. This is a disturbing and original portrait of a man White sees as a fallen angel who misbehaved even in hell. (Oct. 6)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From The New Yorker
Yeats once said that the writer must decide between the life or the work, but Arthur Rimbaudï¿½teen-age prodigy, archetypal rebel, African adventurerï¿½chose both. Although White notes that ï¿½a biographer of Rimbaud could fill his pages with nothing but his ceaseless comings and goings,ï¿½ his own account is slim and skillfully blends action and analysis. White declares his personal infatuationï¿½even speculating that an affair with a teacher as ï¿½an unhappy gay adolescentï¿½ may have been inspired by Rimbaudï¿½s exampleï¿½but he is clearheaded about his idolï¿½s shortcomings. Rimbaudï¿½s contempt for bourgeois life certainly made him an impossible visitor: if he wasnï¿½t selling the guest-room furniture, he was using the magazine in which his hostï¿½s poetry had just appeared as toilet paper. White ultimately agrees with those of Rimbaudï¿½s acquaintance who saw him not ï¿½as an angel or a devil but as an obnoxious boor.ï¿½
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About the Author
Raised in the Midwest and Texas, Edmund White is a renowned author and literary and cultural critic. He is the author of biographies of Genet and—in the Penguin Lives series—of Proust, and of eight novels, most recently Hotel de Dream. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the recipient of numerous awards and honors. He teaches at Princeton and lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Slim and Unimpressing
This slim volume left me completely lost. My basic problem is in deciding who should be its audience.
If you are in love with Rimbaud you should simply stay away from this book. White does not offer anything you have not heard before - major difference from academic biographies is that he seldom indicates his authorities but for some it may be a plus: there are no boring footnotes.
If White is fascinated with Rimbaud he fails to convey this fascination completely. The quality of translations he included is rather doubtful - unless you have a penchant for a vista translations which have little ambition beyond grasping the meaning precisely leaving the form aside (or to be described separately).
If you are in love with White... Well... Hasn't he published a novel recently? Read it instead.
My impressions were eerily similar to those White's Proust left me with - both books could be summed up in the following manner: nothing much happens, nothing much happens, he writes something which when summed up sounds quite trivial, nothing much happens, he dies, some people whose names may ring a bell remember him afterwards, thank you all dear. Plus a bibliography which fails to provide basic data for further research (as if White was painfully aware of the fact that his presentation of the subject matter can hardly make anyone interested in any further research...) in which my favourite part was "most of these books are out of print anyway" - have you ever heard of libraries, honey?
Just one example of originality. White goes on for a while trying to decide the issue of copulation - suggesting that Rimbaud was a top only to conclude some pages further that it is just as possible that they did not practice penetration at all. Charming but if we are talking about Verlaine and Rimbaud it is perfectly clear who was the dominating force when they started writing. What they did in bed is of secondary interest as our data is slim if not outright nonexistent.
If you have never heard of Rimbaud before and your French is not exactly up for the task the only useful part is the end of bibliography when White lists English translation of his poems. If you also fell under the spell of this noisy adolescent from the Ardeness, there are decent biographies of him to be found quite easily. This one comes short both as entertainment and as scholarship so don't bother.

More of an overview
This is a well-written, interesting and fun book for anyone who is interested in Rimbaud. However it is more of an overview of his life not an in-depth study like some of the other bios out there. If you have any knowledge of Rimbaud I would suggest going for a different book but for a first timer to Rimbaud it is an excellent introduction.

A DIVIDED LIFE
The Starkie and Fowlie biographies were my introduction to Rimbaud's life. As scholastic in tone as those two were, Edmund White seems determined to make the leap to a more conversational, anecdotal overview. Not critical in tone - he lets the work speak for itself - nor overly technical, White's own writing seems at times clumsy and repetitive, rarely hitting the smooth and dazzling pace and associative depth of his subject. The overall effect of this very concise book is one of making the complex comings and goings of Rimbaud more approachable and graspable, less an academic reading experience than an empathetic one: "Pity the wood that finds itself a violin".

What are we to make of such a life? Rather than a "double life", it seems to me Rimbaud deliberately and consciously divided himself from the rest of the world, as well as from the main body of literature. Of course, too often, the rebellious element of artistic movements are simply reactionary: standing against the entrenched as much as for (one of perhaps many) alternatives. Rimbaud's talent transcends simple opposition, but his choices in life clearly took him to a more radical point, one removed from even the need of art.

Still, there lingers a sense of disbelief that any person with such a gift could literally walk away from writing, or that any creative artist could or would set aside the arts for a "regular" life. Personally, I don't find it so hard to accept. The creative life is an often demanding and thankless one. If the artist is an honest critic of his own work, then his own work - no matter how well judged by peers or history - can offer a subjective wealth of disappointment and frustration, regardless of the presence or absence of commercial success. And, often enough, success can simply demand that the artist, now answerable to a market, simply continue to issue redundant, bankrupt artefacts. More so for Rimbaud than virtually any other artist, the second act of his working life seemed capable of breaking the spell of his own writing, demonstrating that the seemingly unknowable aspects of life, those he tried to attain by deranging his senses, could make themselves known in many and terrifying ways, completely free of the artifice of art.

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Chance to Die, A: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael

2009-02-18T05:40:00.001-08:00

Chance to Die, A: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael

A Chance to Die is a vibrant portrayal of Amy Carmichael, an Irish missionary and writer who spent fifty-three years in south India without furlough. There she became known as "Amma," or "mother," as she founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, a refuge for underprivileged children. Amy's life of obedience and courage stands as a model for all who claim the name of Christ. She was a woman with desires and dreams, faults and fears, who gave her life unconditionally to serve her Master. Bringing Amma to life through inspiring photos and compelling biographical narrative, Elisabeth Elliot urges readers to examine the depths of their own commitment to Christ.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #13143 in Books

Published on: 2005-05-01

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

384 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
Be inspired by a woman who dared to follow God Amy Carmichael understood true discipleship and lived it out. At a very young age she felt called to the mission field, followed God's guidance, and eventually went to India, where she would spend fifty-three years without furlough. While there, Amy founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, a refuge for children in moral danger-children who were orphaned or unwanted and sold to the temple. Amy became a mother for these children, and so they called her "Amma." Even today, Amy's life of obedience and courage stands as a model for all Christians everywhere. We resonate with her desires and dreams, her faults and fears, her dedication and service. For former missionary and author Elisabeth Elliot, Amy became a role model. "She was my first spiritual mother," writes Elliot. "She showed me the shape of godliness." A Chance to Die is the life story of Amy Carmichael. In this reverent biography, Elisabeth Elliot brings "Amma" to life, providing a compelling, unforgettable narrative that will provoke you to examine the depths of your own faith and encourage you to reaffirm your life and commitment to Christ. Elisabeth Elliot, one of the outstanding women of present-day Christianity, is the author of more than twenty books, including Passion and Purity, The Journals of Jim Elliot, and These Strange Ashes. She and her husband, Lars Gren, live in Magnolia, Massachusetts.

About the Author
Elisabeth Elliot, one of the outstanding women of present-day Christianity, has been a conference speaker and is an author of over twenty books. Her titles include Passion and Purity, No Graven Image, Be Still My Soul, The Path of Loneliness, Secure in the Everlasting Arms, The Music of His Promises, and Keep a Quiet Heart. She and her husband, Lars Gren, live in Magnolia, Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful true story!
I love the story of Amy's life, especially as presented by Elisabeth Elliot. The biography is true to Amy, even admitting her faults (though few!) and is a lovely book for any young woman. Challenging without being forceful. A biography at it's finest!

Amy Carmichael - a life worth writing and reading about!
This is the first book I read about Amy Carmichael's life. It is very interesting and since reading this, I have purchased many many books that Amy wrote herself. My top 3 recommendations are IF, Kohila, and Lotus Buds. However, any of her books are wonderful.

This book by Elizabeth Elliott gives an overview of Amy's life and pictures. If you want to know about her, this is the book to read.

Life changing message
I have read this book twice over the last decade and each time it has given me life principles applicable to the time of life in which I read it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who needs an example to live by. I couldn't help but think that if God could do such things in Amy Carmichael, He could certainly do the same in me. What a challenge!

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Where Have All the Leaders Gone?

2009-02-17T15:40:00.001-08:00

Where Have All the Leaders Gone?

Legendary auto executive Lee Iacocca has a question for every American: Where have all the leaders gone?

The most widely recognized business executive of all time asks the tough questions that America's leaders must address:

• What is each of us giving back to our country?

• Do we truly love democracy?

• Are we too fat and satisfied for our own good?

• Why is America addicted to oil?

• Do we really care about our children's futures?

• Who will save the middle class?

A self-made man who many Americans once wished would run for president, Iacocca saved the Chrysler Corporation from financial ruin, masterminded the creation of the minivan, and oversaw the renovation of Ellis Island. Since then he has created the Iacocca Institute for leadership at Lehigh University and the Iacocca Foundation, which funds research for a cure for diabetes. Lee Iacocca believes that leaders are made in times of crisis -- such as today. He has known more leaders than almost anyone else -- among them nine U.S. presidents, many heads of state, and the CEOs of the nation's top corporations -- and is uniquely suited to share his wisdom, knowledge, and wit about the leadership of America.

Author of the gigantic number one bestsellers Iacocca: An Autobiography and Talking Straight, Lee Iacocca famously doesn't mince words and offers his no-nonsense, straight-up assessments of the American politicians most likely to run for president in 2008, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, Mitt Romney, and John Edwards.

Confessing that he has "flunked retirement," Iacocca calls on citizens of all ages to vote, get involved, and choose our leaders carefully. Along the way, he shares stories about the prominent people he's met and known, including the time he smoked cigars with Fidel Castro, what Bob Hope told him about how to live a long life, what Lady Sarah Ferguson said to him as they danced, why Bill Clinton woke him up in Italy, what Robert McNamara taught him about success, how Frank Sinatra sang for him personally, and whom Pope John Paul II asked him to pray for. We learn what he discussed with Warren Buffett, DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche, Ronald Reagan, Senator John Kerry, Congressman John Murtha, Prince Charles and Camilla, former Saudi ambassador Prince Bandar, rapper Snoop Dogg, financier Kirk Kerkorian, Ted Turner, Bob Dole, and many more.

Knowing that the times are urgent, the iconic leader shares his lessons learned and issues a call to action to summon Americans back to their roots of hard work, common sense, integrity, generosity, and optimism.

Where have all the leaders gone?

Lee Iacocca has the answer.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #1753 in Books

Published on: 2008-04-15

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Paperback

288 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
It's fun listening to Lee Iacocca's gravelly voice scold us for the mess we're in. His curmudgeonly conversational style and idiomatic language make us feel as though grandfather is venting at us. His lists of complaints include Iraq and the lies that got us there, dependency on foreign oil, democracy undermined, grossly incompetent political appointees, eco-disastrous policies, deficit insanity, etc. He holds special venom for Cheney's pretense of distance from Halliburton's humongous profits from no-bid, no accountability contracts. But he holds irresponsible nonvoters and mindless voters responsible for it all. He exhorts us to listen carefully to presidential candidates and to apply to them his nine Cs of leadership: do they have curiosity, creativity, communication skills, character, courage, conviction, charisma, competence and common sense? Iacocca also describes how he put the Mustang and the minivan on the road and saved Chrysler from financial ruin, then blames his successor for the unequal marriage of (and divorce from) Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz. But Iacocca isn't simply a boaster and grumbler; he's also a doer. He established a leadership institute at Lehigh University to address the lack thereof, and a diabetes research foundation after his beloved wife died of the disease. Simultaneous release with the Scribner hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 2).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Iacocca is outraged. Now 82, he has seen the U.S. overcome some of its worst crises, including the Great Depression and World War II, through great leadership. As the CEO of Chrysler Corporation, he brought the company back from the brink of bankruptcy and worked with the government to overcome the fallout from the 1970s oil crisis. Now, he says, our government has fallen under the grip of arrogant ideologues and spineless detractors. Our business leaders are more obsessed with stock options and trumping each other's multimillion-dollar salaries than with finding creative solutions to pressing problems, such as the health-care crisis, our loss of competitive edge in the global marketplace, the massive trade deficit, and the slow death of the middle class. He describes his frustration as his successor at Chrysler sold out to Daimler-Benz, and the once proud, independent company lost its soul. Although Iacocca presents a brutal analysis of cronyism in Washington, D.C., the abysmal situation in Iraq, and failed policies at home, he is not a pessimist. With a reputation as a straight shooter, he hopes to inspire more young people to vote. This is a surprisingly outspoken take on the pressing need for real leadership in this country. David Siegfried
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Lee Iacocca is the former president of Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation and a bestselling author. He spends his time traveling, giving speeches, and supporting the Iacocca Foundation, which funds research for a cure for diabetes.

Customer Reviews

Where Have All The Leaders Gone is a great read for anyone and everyone!
Where Have All The Leaders Gone is a great book for ages 16-99 :) It is a very stimulating read, and I couldn't put it down! I would recommend this book to everyone!

Didn't answer the question
Never answered the question. When the people who run for public office lie about what they will or will not do while in office, how do you choose? Why don't true leaders run for office???

Straightforward
I loved it no BS just the facts.. Make sure your kids are not around.

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