Book Description
This is an outstanding resource and covers more essential topics than any other.
Customer Reviews:
Not all that........2007-01-28
Well, another hyped up child custody/divorce manual that has been drastically over-rated by a few readers. What caused me to give this book at three star? Well it does have plenty of content. Kind of like when you go to a book store or library. How many of the books in there are you going to want to read? Maybe ten percent of them at best. Well this book will probably have ten percent of which may be possible to use in your court cases, and actually have it become applicable and useful to the reader. Another big problem I had with it was that the suggestions and information that the book was advising were too vague for it's readers,especially those involved in a custody battle. So many things in the book were way too generalized for the reader to be able to know how to precisely use them as effective tools. In essence, kind of when you read a horoscope, it's way too generalized to even know how and what makes this work. Also the book had the usual bias slant and actually gave much more advice to women going through child custody problems than it did fathers. The book seemed to focus more on how to legally screw over the father more by the mother than visa versa. Another drawback to the book is that it is very disorganized. There is really no order to it. It would of helpful if perhaps there were a chronological order to the advice using topics and subtopics relating to how events usually occur in pre/during/post divorce. It basically is a mumble-jumble and conglomeration of patches that were inserted while editing the book that say a lot, but say nothing useful. Authority and precedence is what is needed to be established in a family court. That is what a judge wants. The court cases that are mentioned in the book are relevant to the issue being referenced therein, but rarely apply to a lot of the situations that a father is going through. There are requirements that have to be meet while using a past court case that was established as precedence to be used. The only way to get applicable court cases for precedence is to use state family law books that are found at a law library. This book would be okay for a "quick read" at a bookstore.
Good resource.......2007-01-18
This was a good resource for someone going through custody battles. I would recommend it to anyone, but would also mention the fact that there were more misspelled words, typos, major lack of editing issues than any other book I've ever read. WOW. But, the content makes up for this gross neglect. Still, for the price I paid for this book, I did expect better from the editing...
10 Star Resource.......2006-12-13
Someone gave me a 1994 edition of this book at the start of my divorce and custody dispute. It was a better resource book than anything else at the Baker & Taylor Bookstore. When I found the 11th edition it was double the price of the 3rd edition and quadrupel the information. I am so greatful for the new book and it is again better than anything else available, even on Amazon. I read it for the information and because it is interesting. I appreciate seeing examples of reports and studies before I have to face them myself. Win Your Child Custody War, also helps me keep a healthy prespective on what is going on in my life because I can see what others have dealt with. I have used the letters and examples and they really made a positive difference. A great living, breathing piece of work and an outstanding reference!
Great information, Easy to read, Well organized.......2006-04-28
Remarkable. Because each case is so different it would be useless to present this information in any other form.
5 star easy! Highly recommended for its priceless content!.......2006-03-31
I wish someone would have recommended this book at the start of my divorce and custody dispute. This book is by far the best resource book for custody disputes and surviving a divorce. At first glance one would think that it is a bit expensive. However, once you receive it you will be thankful that you did. You could combine numerous other books in this genre and they would not compare to this single book. This book goes in depth without losing the reader. You will find yourself referencing it throughout your divorce and/or custody dispute. Chapters include: 1) Strategies to win custody 2)False Allegations 3)Evidence documentation 4)Grandparents 5)Hiring a detective 6)Rights during visitation 7)Parental Alienation Syndrome 8) Conflict resolution 9)DNA Testing 10)Case Law and so much more! 640 plus pages. An incredible resource worth every penny! Robert Pedersen founder of www.fatherachildsright.org
Average customer rating:
- Right On!
- Confusing, bewildering, and intense
- Monster
- Monster
- my review for monster
|
Monster
Walter Dean Myers
Manufacturer: Amistad
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ASIN: 0064407314
Release Date: 2001-05-08 |
Amazon.com
"Monster" is what the prosecutor called 16-year-old Steve Harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a convenience-store owner. But was Steve really the lookout who gave the "all clear" to the murderer, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? In this innovative novel by Walter Dean Myers, the reader becomes both juror and witness during the trial of Steve's life. To calm his nerves as he sits in the courtroom, aspiring filmmaker Steve chronicles the proceedings in movie script format. Interspersed throughout his screenplay are journal writings that provide insight into Steve's life before the murder and his feelings about being held in prison during the trial. "They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can't kill yourself no matter how bad it is. I guess making you live is part of the punishment."
Myers, known for the inner-city classic Motown and Didi (first published in 1984), proves with Monster that he has kept up with both the struggles and the lingo of today's teens. Steve is an adolescent caught up in the violent circumstances of an adult world--a situation most teens can relate to on some level. Readers will no doubt be attracted to the novel's handwriting-style typeface, emphasis on dialogue, and fast-paced courtroom action. By weaving together Steve's journal entries and his script, Myers has given the first-person voice a new twist and added yet another worthy volume to his already admirable body of work. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert
Book Description
FADE IN: INTERIOR: Early morning in CELL BLOCK D, MANHATTAN DETENTION CENTER.
Steve (Voice-Over)
Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie. Maybe I can make my own movie. The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I'll call it what the lady prosecutor called me ...
Monster.
Customer Reviews:
Right On!.......2007-10-08
I loved the format of this book! What a great way to really get inside a character's head - Chris is into film making, so it makes perfect sense to cast his story, plan his camera angles and set the scene with voiceovers. The diary effect in between chapters, the description of the "set," both in jail and in the courthouse - all of these combined for a dramatic, suspenseful screenplay.
I learned a lot about urban life in the neighborhood from this book, too. I would like to believe that gangs do not initiate, or store owners are safe, or that drugs are hard to come by for low income individuals, but none of that is true. Monster shows that gangs, burglary and drugs are part of everyday life for street kids.
Confusing, bewildering, and intense.......2007-06-26
One would think that these aspects make "Monster" a bad book. But they don't. They're what make "Monster" an original, heart-moving, emotional book. The style makes it stand out, once you remember the characters and what the little comments mean. A movie-script format? It's not dumb - it's interesting, original, and gets everything across.
"Monster", as you've probably seen, is about a teenage boy on trial for armed robbery and possibly second-degree murder. Throughout the book (which is almost always set in the trial, though occasionally we get flashbacks, and every once in a while we get a moment of Steve writing down his thoughts), Steve insists that he's innocent. Throughout the book, though, we don't really find out. The ending leaves the reader mystified and asking themselves so many questions.
Perhaps that's what sent other readers packing. On the other hand, what fun is a story if it doesn't make you think? "Monster" certainly made me think. I sat down and thought about the jury, about the lawyers, about the witnesses. I sat down and thought about the judge and other accused. I thought about if I was on the jury and had had this evidence placed before me, what would I pick? This book made me THINK.
It's an intense read. It's realistic, powerful, and emotional. I found myself crying during moments Steve was. I felt so connected to him, even though most of what we know is through speech and dialogue. I was drawn into this book so well.
This is a great read and a great buy. I highly recommend it.
Monster .......2007-06-06
Steve Harmon is on trial, and in jail for murder. Steve is only 16. Steve begins to realize the facts of the trial are very unbalenced.He also wonders, "Maybe the reason I'm is on trial is because of my rase." This book is a combination of Steve's journal entrees and a play written by Steve. This is a wonderful deep book that I enjoyed immensely! It descries Harlem and the raceisum Steve encounters. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the real issues in the world.
Monster.......2007-06-06
Nichelle Ennis
Title: Monster
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Harper Collins publisher Inc.
Copyright 1999
Pages: 281
The wrong place at the wrong time could change your life. Steve Harmon is a sixteen year old African male in the violent streets of Harlem, New York. A clerk is dead, gunned down by robbers. All the judge needs is eyes and evidence, and Steve does twenty 4five to life.
All the parts in this book are pretty good, because it leads up to the end, which is the best part, to see if Steve is guilty or not. It's crazy, because your heart starts racing, like you have to be careful what you read, like words are important at that point of the book.
This book is really about adapting to change, pressure, and experience you shouldn't be experiencing until about twenty five years old. This is how a sixteen year old saw another side of his world.
I like different, and this book has that unique. It's good because in the end everything comes together. Flashbacks are involved to make you think. In my opinion everybody would like this book, I mean everybody, from jailbirds to grandparents. I wouldn't change anything about this book.
my review for monster.......2007-06-05
monster is about a sixteen yearold boy who is in jail because he is thought to be in a murder at a store. this author writes this book like a typewritting person in court. the boys name is steven. steven writes his life in jail and his life while he's in court. in this book it has many many different characters so you have to make up many voices for those characters. if you like books like with people in court and need to make many different voices and if you like murder mysteries this book is perfect for you. this book has twists and turns in it. the main characters are steven,king,bobo,the lawyers,and the judge. stevens life story is called monster just like the books title.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
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History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Book Description
"At its core, the freedom-to-marry movement is about the same thing every civil rights struggle has been about: taking seriously our country's promise to be a nation its citizens can make better, its promise to be a place where people don't have to give up their differences or hide them in order to be treated equally."
Why Marriage Matters offers a compelling, intelligently reasoned discussion of a question at the forefront of our national consciousness. It is the work of one of the most influential attorneys in America, who has dedicated his life to the protection of individuals' rights and our Constitution's commitment to equal justice under the law. Above all, it is a clear, straightforward book that brings into sharp focus the very human significance of the right to marry in America -- not just for some couples, but for all.
Why is the word marriage so important? Will marriage for same-sex couples hurt the "sanctity" of the institution? How can people of different faiths reconcile their beliefs with the idea of marriage for same-sex couples? How will allowing gay couples to marry affect children?
In this quietly powerful volume, the most authoritative and fairly articulated book on the subject, Wolfson demonstrates why the right to marry is important -- indeed necessary -- for all couples and for America's promise of equality.
Customer Reviews:
expected more.......2006-04-22
I just finished Evan Wolfson's Why Marriage Matters, and although I am salivating at the thought of spending the rest of my night immersed in a tirade that focuses on what this book lacks, I will limit myself to describing one and only one glaring deficiency. Here it is. Come election time much of the hoopla surrounding gay marriage rights stems directly from those Christian conservatives that consider themselves among the moral elite. The self-described Christian "moral majority" is surprisingly effective at turning what is actually a civil rights and anti-discrimination issue into a moral issue. Because this is the nature of the one of the most powerful forces that is against us, if we are to put gay marriage rights on firm footing, the foundation must be a moral one. Granted, there is probably little hope for the hardcore dogmatists, but let's suppose they are all old and on the cusp of a trek through the pearly gates of heaven. Aside from those people, I am convinced that social conservatives can be convinced. Now, it would be nice if we could make all our very well-justified legal arguments in favor of gay marriage, be granted our legal rights, and be done with it. But, if we are going to gain any legal ground in conservative states, we must present damn good arguments that show three things: 1) one's sexual orientation is not a lifestyle choice, 2) same-sex sex is not morally wrong, and 3) same-sex marriage is not morally wrong. Wolfson doesn't do either in Why Marriage Matters. I was hoping he would give a point-by-point rebuttal of all the arguments from moral depravity that are flung like mud on groups of people who express a non-heteronormative sexualty, but I was disappointed. Maybe someday soon somebody will do us this service. But enough of that. On a positive note, Wolfson's book was easy to read. On another positive note, he drew strong analogies between the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s and the gay rights movement of the last two decades. One thing that becomes apparrent as we consider the parallels between these two movements is how badly the gay civil rights movement needs a leader like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Good primer on the next major civil rights issue.......2006-02-07
Do gays have the right to marry? This is emerging as the next civil rights issue to cross the American political scene. Attorney Evan Wolfson answers this question with a resounding yes, and uses this book to back up his answer. His central point is that marriage is a relationship, and being in it can and does bring joy to gay couples just as much as it does to heterosexual couples. And since the Declaration of Independence states that all humans have the right to the pursuit of happiness, government should not prevent two individuals from getting married. The author also examines other issues regarding gay marriage, such as child adoption, insurance benefits, gay divorces, inheritance rights, etc... The author also takes on arguments against gay marriage, and refutes them using historical and legal arguments. All in all, a good book to help understand the current, and growing issue of gay marriage.
The best book there is on why marriage is for ALL Americans.......2005-08-10
Evan Wolfson's book turned me into a believer. Even after seven years of sharing my life with the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, I still didn't think it mattered whether we were married or not. "Why Marriage Matters" changed that -- we had to fly to Canada to get married, but we did what we had to do, and now I've found that marriage has made every facet of our relationship stronger and better. Read this book and you'll begin to see that marriage does matter, and that, frankly, it is un-American to deny any segment of the population basic human rights and priveleges that the United States was created to protect for all its citizens.
Equal Rights, Right On!.......2005-08-02
Jonathan Rauch and Andrew Sullivan have written pro-gay marriage books, but unlike Wolfson's book, they approach the issue from ancillary perspectives (for example, how it will tame the flames of promiscuity among gay men). Whether these ancillary arguments are persuasive or not really does not matter, because they are not the core of the matter.
Wolfson alone accurately makes equal access to marriage for ALL people a civil rights issue, and that is exactly where it belongs. Whether or not it curbs the promiscuity impulses among gays or not is largely irrelevant. If that happens, fine, but if not, so what?
The Fourteenth Amendment and the Declaration of Independence are not heterosexually-specific, but universally-specific. All of us are entitled to the "pursuit of happiness," no matter our color, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation.
Mutatis mutandis, the same is true for equal protection under the law. People may continue to discriminate against minorities, but at least they cannot do so under the color of law. Denying a minority its right to marriage also discriminates, but when it does so, it does so with the color of law. That's wrong.
All people are entitled to the same rights or they aren't. Denying any segment of the population this right because of their difference from the majority is simply unconstitutional and UnAmerican. Canada, Spain, Belgium, and Holland have righted the wrong. It's time the U.S.A. did likewise.
This guy is an attorney?.......2005-03-08
While a previous reviewer calls this work "irrefutable", those with logical minds know better. Obviously, this book is based upon the false premise that homosexuals are denied the right to marry. All homosexuals have the right to marry, so long as their object of matrimony is of the opposite sex. This begs the question...do any of us have the freedom to marry who and/or what we want? Of course not. I can't marry my computer, sister, brother, car, etc. There are restrictions in marriage for everyone.
It doesn't take too much work to see through the author's flawed thinking in this excercise in futility. Hopefully there are enough people who will realize this and send this book to the trash heap of irrelevancy.
Book Description
At the dawn of the twenty-first century, America finds itself on the brink of a new racial consciousness. The old, unquestioned confidence with which individuals can be classified (as embodied, for instance, in previous U.S. census categories) has been eroded. In its place are shifting paradigms and new norms for racial identity. Eva Marie Garroutte examines the changing processes of racial identification and their implications by looking specifically at the case of American Indians.
Customer Reviews:
Great book, but out-of-date.......2007-05-28
I actually worked with Alex Bove on updating a book on estate planning, when I practiced law in Boston many years ago. I purchased this book back in 1996 (the date of the current edition), but since then the laws have changed several times, most notably in February 2006, with the enactment of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. As a result of those changes, many of the examples and planning suggestions discussed in Bove's book no longer work. For example, all rules relating to gifting, penalty periods, look-back periods, "half-a-loaf" planning, and annuities, have been radically changed. Do not rely on the examples in the book!
That being said, his material on durable powers of attorney, trusts (other than the Convertible Trust, which no longer works), gift taxes, general eligibility requirements, and ethics of Medicaid planning, is still worth reading.
For an example of a book that incorporates all the latest changes in the law, together with case studies and numerous cutting edge planning ideas, take a look at How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets. It's pricey, but well worth it when you consider all the information and ideas packed into it!
Woefully out of date........2007-04-28
While I own this book (I bought it ten years ago) it is now very much out-of-date. The law of Medicaid is one that is constantly in flux, changing just about every year. Recent changes to Medicaid law have made every book on the subject of Medicaid published before January 2007 obsolete. While this book and its author, Mr. Bove provided a great overview of the Medicaid planning process and for many years was the go to book to learn about Medicaid and the nursing home, today it is woefully out-of-date. For an example of an up-to-date book with information for all 50 states see: The Medicaid Handbook 2007
Not Topical.......2006-11-11
The book fairly explains the complexities of Medicare. However, many changes have been made in Medicare since the date this publication was printed. The book should be updated to reflect the recent changes.
Worthless after Feb 8, 2006.......2006-08-24
Dear Worried Reader,
On February 8, 2006, President Bush signed a law called the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. This law makes sweeping changes to the ability of seniors to transfer (gift) any assets to their children and grandchildren. Following the advice of any book written before that date can cause a catastrophic loss of Medicaid privileges when a senior citizen is most vulnerable..when they actually enter a nursing home. Do not use this book as a reliable guide to current law. elder law attorney Chicago, IL
Thanks to Mr. Bove.......2005-09-21
The information in this book is easy to understand and extremely valuable. It saved my family thousands of dollars by helping me get Medicaid for my father.
Book Description
As the former Chief People Officer at PepsiCo, and now a management professor at the Columbia University School of Business, Feiner shares his solutions from his years of handling unexpected crises, mediating between warring corporate factions, and taking care of all the people problems that pop up on a routine basis in companies all over the world. Feiners approach is based on common sense and practicality, and his book is full of examples that managers everywhere will identify with and relate to. Along the way, Feiner doles out his pragmatic laws of how those in supervisory roles can resolve these vexing situations. Interactive and entertaining, THE FEINER POINTS OF LEADERSHIP will be mandatory reading for anyone in a managerial position.
Download Description
THE FEINER POINTS OF LEADERSHIP offers fifty insightful laws covering everything from managing tough bosses and difficult subordinates, to dealing with uncooperative colleagues, to overcoming resistance to corporate change. Based on Feiner's experiences as an aspiring executive, senior leader, and management consultant, THE FEINER POINTS shows you that leadership has little to do with grand strategies or personal charisma.And the author's tales from the trenches will make you smile as you discover:. The Law of Building a Cathedral: Leaders convince their people that they're building a cathedral, not cutting stone. The Law of Class vs. Style: Never...ever...ever...ever treat your boss like a bumbling old fool (even if he or she is one). The Law of Winning Championships: No matter how talented the team, team members have different agendas-and leaders know what they are. The Law of the Silent Sinner: If you can't tell anyone what you're doing, don't do it!. The Law of the Onion: High-Performance Leaders look beneath the surface-and never assume anything. The Law of the Tombstone: Remember what's really important-and that your net worth won't be noted on your final resting place.With an easy-to-access appendix that lists typical office problems and points you to the laws that can solve them, THE FEINER POINTS OF LEADERSHIP will help you right away-with dramatic and measurable results that ensure the long-term success of both your career and your organization.
Customer Reviews:
Spectacular book on leadership.......2007-07-15
I bought this book on the recommendation of students who had taken the class with Feiner. It has surpassed all my expectations. Its the most clearly-written and practical book on leadership that I have ever come across. Most books and articles only say "what" to do - and that horse been beaten plenty. Feiner gets into "why" and "how" these ideas should be implemented, e.g., why resenting, stonewalling or badmouthing an incompetent boss is a recipe for disaster. And his genius is in describing simple ways to put lofty ideas into play. This book is SO GOOD that I plan to read it AGAIN after a few months on the job to reflect on issues that have come up.
Practical!.......2007-04-17
On the first page, Michael Feiner disputes the traditional "heroic individual" picture of a leader. This thinking, referred to as "Myth of the Great Man", holds that leadership is an inherently individual phenomenon consisting of solitary heroics, epitomized by Patton, Napoleon, etc... But Feiner states that 90% of leadership is invisible - "the aggregation of hundreds upon hundreds of small interactions - most of which take place out our sight - projected across layer upon layer of relationships, day in and day out". He spends the remaining 250+ pages explaining this, through a series of eponymous Feiner laws of leadership.
Feiner pulls liberally from his experiences at Pepsi. He peppers his high opinion of his own accomplishments with self-deprecating humor, and he shares his mistakes and regrets. His text is very readable and delivered in a conversational style. I found a good many quotable sound bytes I liked, some original and some from other authors.
At times, there seemed to be a repetitive effort to fill pages - laws identified by smug little titles supported by anecdotes from the author's career, then summarized at the end of each chapter and summarized again at the book's end. And occasionally I questioned the logic of the organization of the chapters. However, by the time I finished the book, it all seemed to work.
Feiner offers some really powerful practical insights on treating people right, sticking to your values, and being politically correct where at all possible. No faddish management theory here, just timeless advice and applicable tools that apply to all levels of organizational leadership and interaction. My copy of "The Feiner Points" is full of highlights and notes and I suspect I will be referring to it frequently.
A readable practical book.......2005-12-05
I bought this book few months ago and it was interesting to go through it step by step. As a leader the first thing one must learn is how to deal with subordinates. After going through the 8 laws mentioned in Chapter 3: Leading Subordinates, one can imagine how less we focus on the people who are our main assets. A leader's success depends upon the success of his subordinates and these 8 laws are the basis for that success. One need to read each law multiple times so that it gets engrossed in one's heart. The "Performance contract" is a must for everyone to set clear expectations.
The examples provided in the books are mostly based on author's experience and I found Feiner very sincere in putting them straight. Overall a must for anyone who wants to build lasting relationship with their people.
The Principles that Enable Success in Leadership and Life..........2004-12-07
With clarity, courage and conviction, this book delivers a message conveying the "whats" and, more importantly, the "hows" to successful leadership that enable individual, team, and company performance to grow and succeed. In short, Feiner guides leaders to put the heart and humanity back into business and in doing so, awakens the soul of business - yielding an environment that is embraced mutually and faithfully by peers, subordinates, bosses, and the total organization.
"The Feiner Points of Leadership" is the story of a man's extraordinary career, where past failures have in turn drawn enlightenment, as he builds a leadership model that all leaders and managers "must" understand, follow and instill throughout their organization to obtain competitive advantage.
Feiner guides the reader into becoming a "High Performance Leader," which will drive unprecedented and unlimited success in business - and in life! A must read.
Great Toolbox!.......2004-11-12
I have several leadership books, mostly social/psychological theory stuff; Feiner makes sense! Every new supervisor should have this on his/her desk, as well as "And Dignity for All" by Despain. Put it to work immediately.
Book Description
This book consists of two parts: the essay "The Idea of Public Reason Revisited," first published in 1997, and "The Law of Peoples," a major reworking of a much shorter article by the same name published in 1993. Taken together, they are the culmination of more than fifty years of reflection on liberalism and on some of the most pressing problems of our times by John Rawls.
"The Idea of Public Reason Revisited" explains why the constraints of public reason, a concept first discussed in Political Liberalism (1993), are ones that holders of both religious and non-religious comprehensive views can reasonably endorse. It is Rawls's most detailed account of how a modern constitutional democracy, based on a liberal political conception, could and would be viewed as legitimate by reasonable citizens who on religious, philosophical, or moral grounds do not themselves accept a liberal comprehensive doctrine--such as that of Kant, or Mill, or Rawls's own "Justice as Fairness," presented in A Theory of Justice (1971).
The Law of Peoples extends the idea of a social contract to the Society of Peoples and lays out the general principles that can and should be accepted by both liberal and non-liberal societies as the standard for regulating their behavior toward one another. In particular, it draws a crucial distinction between basic human rights and the rights of each citizen of a liberal constitutional democracy. It explores the terms under which such a society may appropriately wage war against an "outlaw society," and discusses the moral grounds for rendering assistance to non-liberal societies burdened by unfavorable political and economic conditions.
Customer Reviews:
Disparate peoples tcoming ogether.......2007-05-21
This is a must-read book. This treatise analyses how peoples of diverse cultures and religions can find a path towards living cooperatively together in peace. If the peoples of the world want to find a "government" that can lead them all and be respected, this book will be of enormaous assistance in understanding the way it may be done.
The discussion views a variety of disparate forms of societies and describes their pros and cons to underscore his arguments, and as a result Laws could easily be quoted out of context. This however is the strength of his discourse, as he takes the reader along in his line of thought, while at the same time answering his anticipated critics.
Major flaw of this book are misconceptions..........2005-07-13
Law of peoples has a major flaw: misconceptions, and this are:
1 - Bismarck isn't a statesman????? But Lincoln and Washington are!?!??!?!?! I believe j. rawls hadn't a great european knowledge at time he wrote about this part, even if he has, he's idea of "Just", "fair" seems ambiguos, since where is the difference between Lincoln, Washington and Bismarck? All three fought war to unify (or maintain the unity) of they people.
2 - About his exceptions, it is a shock to read that a country can suspend the status of citizien (civil) and transform all people of the enemy as military target, justifiyng that in "the need of win the war, and stop the evil". God, in other words: if i mean that country X is evil, and to prevent his victory i can use all means necessary so i can use nuclear weapons against it?
3 - His position in judging things in "evil/good" are.... how to say: a Error, if not a bu.......But this is personal opinion about the book.
4 - This is the greatest flaw: all idea about law of peoples move over the idea of american way of life, in other words, it isn't a law of peoples, but a AMERICAN law of peoples, even if he speak from toleration.
At last, i believe i found the doctrinal base of George W. Bush foreign policy: america is a paladin wielding the sword of justice to bring democracy (american democracy) to the world, and this is the law of people. This is the ideological flaw of this work.
Not to say that there aren't good point of view (that's why 3 stars) i would only sugest this book to people that, at minimum, readed: Epoch of International Law (GREWE) and Diplomacy (KISSINGER). If u don't have international history, law, relations knowledge, read this two books before entering in m. rawls ideas, or u may be converted in this ideologically flawed book.
An unfortunate book.......2003-11-09
First, some disclosure regarding my opinion of Rawls (may he rest in peace). I am no fan of Rawls' work, be it this work or his others. As such, my own views will no doubt influence my opinion, so keep that in mind as you read on.
This book is divided into two parts, the first dedicated to the "Law of Peoples," the second to public reason. In the interests of space, I will only concentrate on the first portion.
The Law of Peoples is Rawls' attempt to bring his notions of justice as fairness and the like into the international scene. Using a modified "original position," Rawls discusses the way the international scene would run, not only with liberal societies, but also "decent" and "outlaw" states (among others). Fine and good.
The problem lies (as it does with "Theory of Justice" and "Political Liberalism") in the acceptance of what the "original position" would result in. The original position requires that "comprehensive doctrines" be left to the side (read "Theory" for more on that). In other words, your (or a people's) worldview (or deep notion of the good) must be cast aside. This is problematic enough, but it gets worse. Rawls wants a "political, not metaphysical" notion of justice to prevail. By happy chance, that "political" notion just happends to be liberal, of a moderate left variety. Rawls would deny that he is slipping in his "comprehensive doctrine" into the works, but it does make things difficult.
So, say a people decides that they prefer their own comprehensive doctrine (a religion, an ideology of one type or another, etc.) to the "political" version of Rawls. Rawls argues that "reasonable" peoples will accept it, at least on some level, thanks to an "overlapping consensus" (very basically, that the political notion will overlap enough with the comprehensive doctrine, making it acceptable at some level). Both "reasonable" and "overlapping consensus" are argued at length in "Political Liberalism." The consensus idea has some merit. But who are "reasonable"? Why, they are the peoples who follow the original position's precepts, of course. How....convenient.
While Rawls would not agree, this system (like his national systems in "Theory" and "PL") is in practice the imposition of comprehensive liberalism by other means. When reading Rawls, it isn't a bad idea to have some critiques on his work handy (for instance: Michael Sandel, Robert P. George, perhaps Gutmann & Thompson, among others). Rawls is a giant in the field, whether one agrees with him or not. If one wants to understand contemporary political theory, he should be read - but read "Theory" or "PL". If you are interested in political theory as it involves international relations, read "PL", then read this, not because it's great, but it's popular.
Perhaps a little too scholarly for the lay reader........2001-08-03
John Rawl's "Law of People" is divided into two parts: "The Law of Peoples" (a paper based on Rawl's article by the same name published in 1993), and "The Idea of Public Reason Revisited" (1997).
First of all, don't make the same mistake as I did by thinking that this short book (200+ pages) would be "a quick summer reading" - because it's not.
John Rawl's book is on a very high reading level. The amount of research that went into "Law of peoples" is quite evident from both its extensive endnotes, and the general wordiness.
I find the topic itself interesting, but I found the reading of this book as achingly dry as the Sahara desert at high noon. This is certainly not the book to bring for your weekend trip.
Still, "Law of peoples" contains much interesting stuff, and I imagine it would be a valuable read for the hard-core student of political liberalism/liberal democracy/related topics...
Extending the social contract even further.......2000-05-04
John Rawls believes that we can achieve something akin to a utopia. Although precious few utopian thinkers have escaped the disreputable taint of astonishing naiveté, Rawls has thought hard about the moral, religious, cultural, and historical nuances that so often make utopic claims tragically optimistic. His own vision of a realistic political utopia rests in his faith in the idea of a social contract; the essays collected in these volumes present Rawls' lifework as a consistent project of extending and radicalizing this venerable idea.
Earlier Rawls articulated several general principles--for example, "justice as fairness," and "public reason"--that he thinks justify political relations between members of constitutional democracy. In this book he presents an even more general principle, "the law of peoples," that he thinks would extends the social contract to include members of certain illiberal societies.
Readers interested in Rawls' latest views about the real-world prospects of his realistic utopia will welcome this short book. In addition to presenting a long essay about his most general political principle, that of the "law of peoples," this book also includes a shorter new essay on Rawls' influential conception of "public reason" within liberal democracy. In both, Rawls is very much concerned with showing how his lifelong project-to bring into fruitful synthesis our deepest communal insights about reasonableness and justice-justify his faith in a realistic utopia. Rawls' congenial prose style makes his dazzling vision accessible to all conscientious readers.
Book Description
The Constitution is one of the most revered documents in American politics. Yet this is a document that regularly places in the White House candidates who did not in fact get a majority of the popular vote. It gives Wyoming the same number of votes as California, which has seventy times the population of the Cowboy State. And it offers the President the power to overrule both houses of Congress on legislation he disagrees with on political grounds. Is this a recipe for a republic that reflects the needs and wants of today's Americans? Taking a hard look at our much-venerated Constitution, Sanford Levinson here argues that too many of its provisions promote either unjust or ineffective government. Under the existing blueprint, we can neither rid ourselves of incompetent presidents nor assure continuity of government following catastrophic attacks. Less important, perhaps, but certainly problematic, is the appointment of Supreme Court judges for life. Adding insult to injury, the United States Constitution is the most difficult to amend or update of any constitution currently existing in the world today. Democratic debate leaves few stones unturned, but we tend to take our basic constitutional structures for granted. Levinson boldly challenges the American people to undertake a long overdue public discussion on how they might best reform this most hallowed document and construct a constitution adequate to our democratic values.
Customer Reviews:
Timely, Relevant but Not New.......2007-09-05
September 17, 2007 is the 220th anniversary of the birth (signing) of the U.S. Constitution. Constitution Day should be touted more by the media and our schools. As noted by Paul Finkelman, "the answer to constitutional ignorance is more discussion of the constitution."
The value of Sanford Levinson's book is that most Americans either over-revere or know little or nothing about our founding compact. In fact, it is overdue for a tuneup and some tweaking to enhance the democracy of the United States in the 21st century.
Levinson's book provides a good critique of the most undemocratic aspects of the U.S. Constitution (e.g., the electoral college, presidential veto, life-tenure Supreme Court justices, and the almost insurmountable barriers in the amendment process). But most of this thesis/case has been made better previously. I urge interested readers to get Robert A. Dahl's book, "How Democratic Is the American Constitution?"
Is the Constitution "Radically Defective"?.......2007-08-12
The United States Constitution was drafted in 1787, and was ratified by Rhode Island - the last of the original 13 states to ratify - on May 29, 1789. Since ratification it has functioned as the basic organic law of the United State of America. That it was less than perfect, as originally written is not at issue. It has been amended 27 times. But to argue that it is a dysfunctional charter, unfit to serve as the organic governing charter of a 21st century democracy will, to some seem to be political blasphemy.
Sanford Levinson, a lawyer, constitutional law scholar, and law professor, makes compelling arguments that the United States Constitution is, in fact, dysfunctional and is "radically defective". That in time, because of organic defects in the Constitution a political train wreck will likely happen. He suggests that American people should be given the opportunity to cause a convention to meet and draft a new constitutional.
It is not practical to catalog all of the defects he finds in the Constitution. Suffice it to note, that every four years, we run the risk of a presidential election, being thrown into the House of Representatives, because no candidate gets a majority of the electoral votes. If this happens, each state, regardless of population will have just one vote. It has happened once, and we have come close to having it happen again a number of times. Under the constitution, each state - regardless of population - has two senators. California has 70 times the population of Wyoming. Yet Wyoming has two senators, and California has only two senators. Is this fair? Is it the way the majority of Americans, if they had a choice would write the Constitution, today? The executive power of the government is vested in a president who serves for a fixed four year term. No matter how low a president's approval ratings may fall, he/she continues to control all of the executive powers of the government. In a parliamentary system, when the government falls out of favor, it is changed, without delay, but in our system power languishes in "lame ducks" for months, maybe years. The book is an informative read, and raises questions that cry out for public discussion.
Promotes a critical perspective on our Constitution and republicanism.......2007-07-01
If you are looking for an unvarnished, unbiased critique of the U.S. Constitution along with some recommended changes and recommendations on how to amend, I highly recommend this book. However, this book has a couple of major flaws that cause me to not support the author's promotion of our holding a constitutional convention in the near future.
What I liked about the book is the conversational tone, the lack of rhetoric and legalese, and while the author Sanford Levinson is a proud liberal, he's extremely fair, unbiased, and respectful to Americans who may not share his political ideology. In fact, the author stays away from reviewing or promoting any amendments that are hot-button social issues like abortion, gay marriage, or current special interest attempts to establish religion.
Instead the author mostly focuses on what he believes are structural weaknesses, like the unequal representation of voters regarding how representation is structured in the Senate or when voting for President or his belief that judges should be term-limited rather than having lifetime appointments. This isn't to say the book is boring by sticking to structural issues, in fact quite the opposite, the book is filled with anecdotes like how senators from smaller states wield enormous power over senators from large states or how campaign strategies could improve if we scrapped the electoral college when voting for President and went to a popular election.
The highest compliment I can pay the author beyond a well-written book is that he changed my position on a number of issues. I embrace republican values and the fact our founders created a constitutional republic rather than a democracy; in fact I was and remain extremely suspicious of pure democracy just like the framing architects (i.e., Madison, Hamilton, et al.). However, the author makes a strong case that more democracy in regards to each voter having equal power would improve the will of the people to influence their government in a manner that doesn't risk our liberties.
I do believe Dr. Levinson's editorial decisions leaves the book flawed in two areas.
Most Americans and the media are woefully ignorant regarding what democracy is relative to what we established in 1787, which was a constitutional republic especially in terms of how liberty is impacted by each form of government. These differences were a primary concern of James Madison's when he evaluated different forms of government and created and successfully introduced the framework of a constitutional republic at the Philadelphia Convention (see Wikipedia page for "constitutional republic" for a pretty good definition and comparison). Indeed, Madison focused strictly on past republics to construct the framework of our government and often dismissed democracies as little better than monarchies.
I believe Dr. Levinson should have included a chapter early in the book that discussed the differences between our republican form of government upon ratification and how its evolved towards a more democratic form of government, and the benefits but also the costs and risks of continued democratization in terms of individual liberty which are much better protected in a republic than a demoracy.
This leads to the second weakness of the book. While writing the book, Dr. Levinson obviously had a lot of concern thrown at him by liberals (pg. 174) regarding the frightening prospect of a constitutional convention in which the results of such a convention severely limited or eradicated many of our rights so unpopular with social conservatives (i.e., equal protection, judicial power to protect our rights from unconstitutional legislation, the 9th amendment, establishment clause, and full incorporation of the 14th amendment).
Dr. Levinson calls for a constitutional convention in hopes his concerns are addressed, while failing to address the fact that some interest groups will certainly leverage this opportunity to meet their political agenda as well that directly contradict the founding ideals of liberty by the framers. In fact he correctly terms this liberal concern "Madisonian" for reasons provided above.
His response to what I believe is a valid concern by liberals is a mere one paragraph that is unsupported by any empirical evidence, it's merely a vague notion held by Dr. Levinson's faith in the democratic process in spite of our continued inability to currently hold meaningful debates free of rhetorical fallacies on other hot-button subjects (e.g., gay marriage, where conservatives refuse to even discuss equal protection rights, instead the Media allows them to get away with opposing gay marriage due to their personal religious beliefs without challenging them on equal protection grounds).
These two flaws are not enough to stop me from recommending this book. The book really helped me to more critically analyze many features of our Constitution that do prevent a more optimal form of government, features I took for granted can not be changed where Levinson effectively challenges our inertia. The book also opened the door to my evaluating the Constitution in a more critical manner, which I greatly appreciate Levinson doing for me.
Where is the First Chapter?.......2007-04-19
According to Levinson "The Constitution is both insufficiently democratic, [...] and significantly dysfunctional" and therefore "we should not longer express our blind devotion to it". Levinson wants the reader to join him in a call for a new constitutional convention, and "Our Undemocratic Constitution" is the argument for that cause. Each reader must decide if Levinson succeeds.
Levinson takes the reader through the many shortcomings, pitfalls, and inadequacies of our federal Constitution. Regardless of opinion "Our Undemocratic Constitution is wanting, the first of which is a First Chapter.
Levinson presents the United States as "a country that professes to believe in democracy." Unfortunately, Levinson never presents the reader with his clear idea of democracy let along explain why it is better than what the United States is - a Constitution Republic, or a "constraint" democracy (professions notwithstanding). It has been over 150 years since the use of the phrase, "The United states ARE..." and even more years since a person called himself or herself a "Virginian" or "Carolinian". Presidential power and federalism has grown dramatically, but can we so easily say that we are now one big country and no longer a collection of "states"? Perhaps we can, but not without explanation. Unfortunately, Levison provides no explanation of his democracy and why it is superior and begins his book with the assumed premise that Federalism and a more direct democracy (?) is implicitly better.
The Journey takes the reader through unequal representation, bicameralism, the Electoral College, the tenure of federal judges, and the process required to amend the Constitution. During that journey the reader will meet some Straw men. The potential of a "Constitutional dictatorship" as a result of a "lame duck presidency" WAS an issue before 1933, before the 20th amendment to the Constitution. The inability to remove "disabled president" is noteworthy before 1967 and before the ratification of the 25th amendment, but not today. Levison freely admits this to be the case, yet still presents these as argument to throw out the baby because the bathwater WAS dirty 40 years ago.
The journey is filled with many, perhaps too many, assumed premise, "I suspect that most person are unconvinced..." pg 65, "one could easily read..." pg 71 "If one reads...which is certainly the most plausible reading, then it could well be..."pg 72 "It should be obvious that..." pg 87. "Easily read", "most plausible", "obvious that? Perhaps...but not without more.
Our Undemocratic Constitution does a fine job of shining the light on many aspects of our Constitution that are wanting. Levinson writes for the layman. It is because of this that Levinson should be more cautious and provide the reader with a first Chapter and more than the 180pg that are presented.
Levinson fails to address the many counter arguments to his position that exist both today and in 1787. He also fails to sufficiently differentiate between dirty bathwater and a dirty baby. Our Undemocratic Constitution addresses the dysfunctional of our current constitution without discussing what a future constitution and the process of getting there might look like. This is a deliberate choice by Levinson, but by doing so Levinson avoids the hardest task of all, addressing the arduous task of getting 300,000,000 people from 50 states to agree. Perhaps the words of Benjamin Franklin, following the singing of the "current" Constitution, provides a critical question for a reader:
"I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution: For when you assemble a Number of men to have the Advantage of their joint Wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men all their Prejudices, their Passions, their Errors of Opinion, their local Interests, and their selfish Views..." September, 17th, 1787
Thought provoking..........2007-04-07
Eveyone, especially those who live in densely populated states, should read this book. The author does a great job of getting his readers to think about the Constitution rather than just accepting it as the best way to run a democracy.
Average customer rating:
- Form Over Content
- Beautiful Poem
- Ambitious but highly disapointing
- From Sisters Nineties Literary Group Book Review Editor
- Richie's Picks: A WREATH FOR EMMETT TILL
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A Wreath for Emmett Till (Boston Globe-Horn Book Honors (Awards))
Marilyn Nelson
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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