Amazon
Robert Quinn's Change the World offers profound yet practical guidance for those who truly want to improve their surroundings. Quinn, a University of Michigan professor and author of five books on change and organizational performance, bases Changeon eight "seed thoughts" drawn from the philosophies of Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. After relevant quotations from each, he cites contemporary real-life examples to show how these principles--Envision the Productive Community, First Look Within, Embrace the Hypocritical Self, Transcend Fear, Embody a Vision of the Common Good, Disturb the System, Surrender to the Emergent Process, and Entice Through Moral Power--can really be used. "All our lives we have been explicitly and implicitly taught to see human influence as an exercise in domination," Quinn writes. By learning instead to practice a new type of "transformational behavior," he suggests, even "ordinary people" can have "extraordinary impact." The section on asserting moral authority, for example, segues from his own fifth-grade coaching experiences to those of basketball superstar Larry Bird to details on building a bond between "change agents and change targets" that effects desirable modifications. Recommended for anyone open to new ideas on motivation and stimulating change. --Howard Rothman
Book Description
In this empowering book, Robert E. Quinn, author of the highly successful and influential Deep Change, gives readers the courage to use personal transformation to positively impact their home life, work life, and communities -- to be what he refers to as "inner-directed and outer-focused." We are all potential change agents, but most of us are trapped by belief that we as individuals cannot make a difference. Informed by the teachings of Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. -- three of the most successful change agents ever -- Quinn outlines eight steps each of us can take to move ourselves and others to the highest levels of excellence. Following his advice, each of us can access and apply the power that lies within us in ways that will change our world for the better.
Customer Reviews:
My first and only review at Amazon - The Highest Recommendation.......2006-12-22
This, more than any book, has had a profound influence on my life. Quinn helps us understand why our lives are so frustrating. The basic notion is that we are hypocrites. We believe or think one thing but we act differently. This integrity gap is what causes us to continue to accept the ordinary, or transactional, world as it is. He challenges us to reduce our integrity gap, and thus transform ourselves from ordinary to extraordinary human beings.
Quinn uses three historical figures to illustrate the power of transformation - Gandhi, Christ, and King, Jr. He also gives examples from his personal life and from his work as an organizational consultant of moving from the transactional to the transformational world. If you are willing to do the work Quinn challenges us to do, you will find yourself much more in tune with your highest ideals. By transforming yourself, Quinn argues, you can change (or transform) the world around you - your family, office, organization, and ultimately, the larger world.
Please read this book. Give it to friends and family. We (and they) are all hypocrites. Let us close our integrity gaps together.
top notch.......2005-09-04
If you want to be effective at influencing others, study this book. This is one of my favorites. It also has many lots of valuable references and a great bibliography.
Change the World by Changing Yourself.......2005-05-26
Bob Quinn is definitely one of the most profound writers on change in this era. But his work is not for the faint of heart because he challenges each of us to start change initiatives in the place we'd least like to go -- inside ourselves. I found this an incredibly powerful book. I've used sections of it with my "change management" classes for several years and I know it has a tremendous impact on students, who like most managers have grown up unconsciously believing that change always needs to start with the other guy. If you want a simple formula for change, don't buy this book. Although it is full of practical, actionable ideas, "Change the World" addresses change at a profound level that asks readers to reflect seriously on what they stand for. It's a very difficult but rewarding assignment.
real change.......2001-01-07
"Typically a top management team goes off for three days," writes the author Quinn. "They hole up in a room with lots of flip charts and go to work." Then he says that when they're through they typically write words on small cards and pass them out to employees. Sadly, he observes these cards are "ignored and things go on as before." The premise underlying this book is that Quinn would have us care enough to change this way of thinking. The key, he says, is to stop doing things out of self-interest and start identifying and going after the shared goals of the group. He does a nice job of working good examples into his text. He also points out how risky it is to be a true leader since it involves overcoming a fear of failure when trying something new. He also does a nice job of making clear that hierarchy in itself is not a bad thing; it's only bad when they're perceived as mechanisms that result in getting nothing done. "Hierarchies become frozen bureaucracies due to the failure of human courage." He makes a compelling case for why it's crucial to skip the hollow words and dare to lead toward change. Only then can organizations hope for real change.
Look Within: That's Where Change Management Begins.......2000-11-24
Hopefully, you have already read some (if not all) of Quinn's earlier books, especially Deep Change which serves as an excellent introduction to this one. In the Preface, he explains that this book "is about changing the world. It is about coming to a deep understanding of human beings and human relationships." He then adds, "The book focuses on vision, unconditional confidence, and profound impact. It is about the mastery of human influence, transformational power, and the capacity to accomplish extraordinary things. It argues that everyone of us is a change agent." It is important to add, that Quinn advocates "deep change" as opposed to "incremental change." Moreover, no organization can achieve deep change unless and until those within that organization achieve deep change. So as I understand it, each of us must assume full authority as well as responsibility for (and have control of) our personal development. "There is a language of transformation. Yet most of us are cut off from that language. All our lives we have been explicitly taught to see human influence as an exercise in domination." Even the most sensitive among us is shaped by this paradigm or worldview. But this outlook prevents us from seeing more deeply into the actual workings of human systems. This book demonstrates an alternative system."
Quinn recalls the remark by Oliver Wendell Holmes that he placed little value in simplicity that lay on this side of complexity but a great deal of value on simplicity that lay on the other side. The framework within which Quinn presents his material comes from the "seed thoughts" of people who have mastered "the language of transformation." By "seed thoughts" Quinn means some of the "core notions that masters of transformation hold in common, the simplicity they send us from the other side of complexity." Specifically, Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Quinn focuses on eight (8) "seed thoughts" (eg Envision the Productive Community, First Look Within, Embrace the Hypocritical Self), providing brief quotations from each of the three "masters of transformation" which he correlates with each of the eight "seed thoughts." His objective is to explain how Advanced Change Theory (ACT) can enable individuals to achieve deep change in their own lives and then within their organizations. The title of this book (Change the World) may be somewhat misleading. I wholeheartedly agree with Quinn that "ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary results", both individually and as members of a group. I also agree that Jesus, Gandhi, and King were "masters of transformation" within their respective spheres of influence as were Carnegie, Edison, Ford, Morgan, and Rockefeller within their own. Quinn's basic idea is sound. He and I may differ only when defining terms such as "change" and "world."
I urge you to read this book, to consider very carefully what ACT offers to you (personally) and to your organization, and then to select whatever is most appropriate. Quinn provides an eloquent and convincing argument in support of his concept of deep change; better yet, he suggests all manner of strategies and tactics to achieve and sustain it; even better yet, almost anyone who reads this book already has the resources required. If you need help to organize and allocate those resources, and truly powerful encouragement to support your efforts in process, look no further.
Book Description
A lively insider's guide to starting a successful small business selling items old and new on eBay, written with personal anecdotes, well–kept secrets, and insider tips by Adam Ginsberg, eBay's most successful private salesperson.
This is the insider's guide to making money on eBay. Adam Ginsberg is the most successful seller on eBay, moving around a million dollars' worth of merchandise every month. Not only will he impart his personal secrets on how to sell on eBay –learned through years of experience – and his tips on expanding your small business using eBay as a global market, but he'll also give fun side–notes and anecdotes, keeping the book lively and making it a fun and interesting read.
This book will be a must–have for all current and aspiring eBay sellers, all small–business owners, and anyone who wants to learn how to start a million–dollar company.
Customer Reviews:
Read this book is one sitting..........2007-10-09
What really stood out for me was the writing style of the book. It was conversational with great stories that were fun and interesting.
Along with great tips, this book is not written in the typical "textbook" format. I read the entire book in less than a day and would definitely encourage anyone to read it!
Simply a GREAT Book!.......2007-10-09
Not only was this book easy to read - the content helped me go from a new eBay seller to an advanced one. I went from 19 feedback to 175 feedback in 60 days using the techniques I learned.
I'd highly encourage anyone interested in learning more about eBay to read this book!
Great eBay book.......2007-06-14
a Gotta Have book if you are planning on starting an eBay business in your home in 30 days. Great reference for the experienced eBayer.
Garbage.......2007-06-08
This book is one big fat advertisement for Ebay and for Adam Ginsberg's other ventures. It had very little useful information, and NO information that cannot be found easily on-line or on Ebay itself. It was a waste of my time reading it. It was utterly repetitive and took forever to actually get to any sort of information or advice. There is hardly enough information in this book to fill a 10 page pamphlet...let alone a 300 page book!!! I'm just happy I got it from the library and didn't end up wasting my money as well as my time.
I wish there was actually a book out there to help people who are not complete ebay beginners. The biggest ebay woe is finding sources for products, and there is little help in this book....OH, unless you want to go to the website Adam plugs and buy more stuff from him. SURE, then he'll help you out. HA, RIGHT!
Not bad but............2007-03-27
This book is not bad. It is good for the basics of how to buy and sell on Ebay, if you have never done it, but if you have already been doing business on Ebay, its more of a review than revelation. There are a lot of great little 'tid-bits' of information and the writing style is entertaining, but nothing really eye opening or anything that makes you say hum....It talks about doing your homework and how to to post listings, the rules of ebay but a lot of this is posted on the Ebay site itself. If you are a total novice by all means pick it up, but if you have done a few deals on Ebay and pretty much know your way around you may want to skip this one.
Book Description
Customer Reviews:
Grade School Lessons & E-Myth Acadamy Advertisement .......2007-10-04
This is, at best the beginning part of a working business solution. Yes, Gerber makes a valid point about the E-myth concept (read other reviews if you don't know the concept) but it's really for beginners (newbs). All his books are really just advertisements,for his E-Myth Academy consulting business in the back of all his books. There is nearly no practical information. He makes his point about the E-Myth, then masterbates it endlesly, re-making that point six ways to Sunday, add nausium and leaves you wondering, well, but what should I do? Well, little lost lamb (newb), go to E-Myth web site or call the 800 number where they have a fast talking sales crew and sign up for 2 years of 700 plus a month (I haven't checked lately) consultation/classes.
After you get the point that to make your technical skill pay/function as a business you need to have business skills/know how. You can sign up for the 700 plus per month for 2 years advertised in the back of his books. Start looking elsewhere for actual practical information. Because there are no E-myth books or tapes that have that information. You can do a lot for your business with that kind of money. I'm always shocked at how newbs starting businesses throw money around. Something to buy and a place to buy it, no matter how pretty it all is, doesn't make a successful business, In my observations, it's the major reason new businesses fail. I'm sure some of you with deep pockets or You corperate types who have never had to find the guts or earn the money to build a small business without Sugar Daddy Warbucks help will think I'm wrong. This E-Myth stuff is valid but it it's grade school lessons made to look like some kind of super-profound truth/solution. Well, it is, grade school true, now what Mr. Gerber, where's the solutions, spend, what, nearly 17,000 Sign up for what I thought I was getting when I bought the Books and tapes? What a greedy little tight wad! When are you going to write a book with substance? Hey Newbs! Trust me, yes you need real business skills, there are plenty of great business books out there, take some of that 17,000 and buy some and be careful with the rest you're going to need it.
`Waxing On' a bit Too Much.......2007-08-28
Reportedly aimed at the small business entrepreneur, this book by consultant Michael Gerber probably has a solution for most every problem being encountered by a business owner, but discovering `your' issue may take too long for the typical small business owner/manager - this is a 400 page tome covering everything from leadership passion to product pricing.
Mastery in this book comes in two forms: Entrepreneurial Self-Mastery conveyed through the story of Michael coaching Sarah (The E-Myth Revisited) and her `All about Pies' business, and Entrepreneurial Business-Mastery conveyed through the seven disciplines for building what Gerber calls a World-Class Company. It is not that the book is written as two separated stories; the reader may just wish it was! If you read through the seven disciplines, it is quite possible (although not made easy by the structure of the book or the interwoven Sarah story) to put together a complete manual for the basics of running a business - small or large. The book is recommended for the non-existent small business owner - one with a too much time on their hands.
Too much information for one book.......2007-06-18
I love Michael Gerber, and I love all of the principles of this book. The problem is that he is trying to take his entire masters program and put it into a book. I actually did the masters program, and it was absolutely fantastic. The problem is you cant fit all of that information into a book, and that is exactly what he tried to do. If you really want to dig into your business I suggest checking out his programs, they are relatively inexpensive and worth every penny.
Useless DRIVEL.......2007-03-04
I think I hate this guy more than any author I've ever read. He is infuriating. He talks about business but tries to sound like a poet and a philosopher and is very BAD at it. He acts like he's Obi Wan Kenobi, here to teach us the deeper spiritual meaning of entrepreneurship. GARBAGE!!! The more I read, the more angry it made me, because I kept waiting for him to get to the dang point and give some great business advice. But it never comes. It's just more and more garbage!!! The last straw came when he said something completely ridiculous that made no sense. It was so convoluted I can't even remember exactly what it was. That's when I finally realized that this guy is just a freaking clown! He's a fraud! In the end I have concluded that this book is nothing but a snake-in-the-grass advertisement for his stupid business consulting service. Boy do I hate this guy for jerking me around like that. I want to slap the person who recommended him to me and said that he's brilliant. He is just one of those extremely emotional/feeling people that are full of garbage. Screw this! I want practical information I can use. I want info from a successful businessman, not a clown!
Please Stop!.......2006-10-17
I felt like I was reading some seedy Romance novel the way Mr. Gerber fawned all over his imaginary Sarah...He creeped me out more than actually provide relevant (and accessible) materials. Ughhh.
Book Description
Duct Tape Marketing is the small business marketing road map - A collection of proven tools and tactics woven together in a step-by-step marketing system that shows small business owners exactly what to do to market and grow their businesses.
This guide combines insights gained from over twenty years of successfully working, in the field, with real-life small businesses.
There are no theoretical complexities presented in Duct Tape Marketing - just simple, effective and affordable marketing that sticks.
CAREFUL! Duct tape is a serious tool... it sticks where you put it. So are the ideas in this book. If you're ready to make a commitment and are willing to make something happen, John's book is a great place to start.
--Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow
For all those who wonder why John Jantsch has become the leading advisor and coach to small businesses everywhere, Duct Tape Marketing is the answer. I have never read a business book that is as packed with hands-on, actionable information as this one. There are takeaways in every paragraph, and the success of John's blog is living proof that they work. Duct Tape Marketing should be required reading for anyone who is building a business, or thinking about it.
--Bo Burlingham, editor-at-large, Inc. magazine, and author of Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead of Big
Duct Tape Marketing is a worthy addition to the growing library of how-to books on small business marketing -- concise, clear, practical, and packed with great ideas to boost your bottom line.
--Bob Bly, author of The White Paper Handbook
With the world suffering from depleted reserves of trust, a business that sells plenty of it every day tends to create the most value. The great thing about trust as a product feature is that it delivers exceptional returns. With this book, John Jantsch has zeroed in on exactly what small businesses need to sell every day, every hour.
--Ben McConnell, co-author of Creating Customer Evangelists: How Loyal Customers Become a Volunteer Sales Force
John Jantsch has provided small businesses with the perfect perspective for maximizing all marketing activities - offline and on. Jantsch has the plan to help you thrive in the world of business today. Read it, all your competitors will.
--John Battelle, cofounding editor or Wired and author of The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture
Duct Tape Marketing is a great read for anyone in business. It has fresh ideas laid out in a practical and useable way. I highly recommend this book for growing any business.
--Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI and Co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Masters of Networking
Customer Reviews:
Small Business Must Have for your Tool Box.......2007-08-31
I can't say enough good things about this extremely useful tool. Duct Tape Marketing (or as Brian Small and I refer to it as "DTM") breaks the paradigm of what most small business owners "think" marketing is all about.
I've consulting small businesses in the way of marketing for years as well as worked to keep my own business(es) on track with marketing. Now it's as though I've taken a good tool in my toolbox and turned it into a hyper-drive power tool.
If you're thinking about starting a small business or have a well established small business then this book will make any time you spend on marketing much more effective.
This book was recommended to me by my friend and business com padre by Brian Small (www.briansmall.com) and in the last month I've recommended to many other small business owners. If you don't take time to work "on" your business then you're going to fall short of your potential. Make it a priority to read this book in a 4 week period.
Kyle Dreier
A Good Book on Marketing and Worth the Price.......2007-08-06
Although this book is not in my top ten of marketing books, it is still a good book with some useful ideas. There are many keys to successful marketing. Unfortunately, if one or more keys is missing, the total marketing effort can be wasted.
This book covers many of the keys. I wish it showed better how the pieces fit together to make a complete sale, but it does a good job on the keys it does cover. If you are a small business owner, read the book and use the ideas. You will see positive results.
One of the best books on marketing that a small business owner can read.......2007-08-03
To say "Duct Tape Marketing" is a great book is an understatement. As an entrepreneur who has founded two small companies, I found John Jantsch's approach to help customers to know, like and trust you more to be intuitive, yet very powerful.
He got my undivided attention from the point he proposed having you first identify your ideal clients (as early as in page 5) and asking you to fire about 20 percent of your past customers, if they no longer fit into the picture of your current business. Now THAT makes sense and it is SO powerful: I could recall the occasions when I was spending time pursuing projects that were not a good fit for the goals of our company, but we still pursued them ("Hey! It's business!"). Since I read that section, I've felt more comfortable not pursuing distracting projects.
He then proceeds to walk you through the discovery and delivery of your marketing message in a way that speaks to the heart of those ideal customers you identified early on. The rest of the book is packed with tactics to get that message in front of your target audience and help them contact you and refer you.
These easily are the best 300 pages I have read since I became a small business.
Love it!.......2007-07-23
This book has WONDERFUL, thorough advice for the small business. It really gets the creative juices flowing. I highly recommend this book.
Want More Customers? Then Read This Book!.......2007-07-17
Regardless of what you already know about marketing a small to mid-size business, this book is for you. It's a powerful tool that focuses on your specific marketing needs and your specific capabilites. John Jantsch doesn't merely tell you what to do, he explains how and why to do it. The information is clear, concise, and surprisingly thorough. John covers a broad spectrum of important marketing issues, starting from the basics of defining your customer, to a well-written summary about the power and value of effective Internet marketing. If you're smart, you'll read this book and then keep it handy as an ongoing reference tool.
Book Description
A bold manifesto by two business leaders, A Billion Bootstraps shows why microcredit is the world's most powerful poverty-fighting movement-and an unbeatable investment for your charitable donations.
A Billion Bootstraps unearths the roots of the microcredit revolution, revealing how the pioneering work of people such as Dr. Muhammad Yunus-winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize-is giving hope to billions. Philanthropist and self-made millionaire Phil Smith and microcredit expert and consultant Eric Thurman provide a riveting narrative that explores how these small loans, arranged by “barefoot bankers,” enable impoverished people to start small businesses, support their families, and improve local economies. By paying back their loans instead of simply accepting handouts, men and women around the world are continually giving others the same opportunity to change their futures.
Smith and Thurman also examine why traditional charity programs, while providing short-term relief, often perpetuate the problems they are trying to alleviate, and how applying investment principles to philanthropy is the key to reversing poverty permanently.
A Billion Bootstraps explains how ordinary people can accelerate the microcredit movement by investing charitable donations in specific programs and then leveraging those contributions so the net cost to lift one person out of poverty is remarkably low. You'll discover how to get more for your money by donating with the mind-set of an investor and calculating measurable returns-returns that will change lives and societies forever.
Customer Reviews:
Its an overview of what microcredit is but not how to start one .......2007-09-19
This is a good book in explaining what microcredit is and how to get involved, but not how to run a microcredit organization.
I preferred Mohammed Yunus (the noble prize winner) autobiography to this book it gave a better summary of what it is and explains how microcredit can work in the rural and inner city US which a Billion Bootstraps doubts can happen. In Yunus' book he demonstrates how microcredit has worked programs in urban Chicago and rural Arkansas.
Excellent introduction to Microfinance.......2007-08-26
The book explains well the business model of microfinance, what works and what not. It provides a very good insight into this industry. The author has obviously broad experience.
Required Reading for Those Who Seek to End Poverty.......2007-05-27
A Billion Bootstraps is potentially a world changing book. It describes the most effective way to end poverty that I've ever heard about. I had heard about micro loans -- before but didn't know how it worked or how powerful it can truly be. Many misguided people believe that giving people things is the answer to poverty, and sadly, that is rarely the case. Intuitively many of us have also realized this but never had a better way, never had an answer. Here's the answer and it's told and explained in a straigt forward and compelling way. I particulary enjoyed the stories of the lives that have been changed by micro loans, truly inspiring. My hat is off to Phil Smith and Eric Thurman for the fine work they have done in spreading the good word about the creative business solution to poverty. This is creative problem solving at it's finest. For more about creative problem solving, see: Jack's Notebook: A business novel about creative problem solving
Powerfully motivating.......2007-04-16
The best way to attack poverty is through the use of sound economic principles. This book will inspire you to look at poverty, not as a hopeless problem, but as an opportunity to effect real change in the lives of individuals. By acting upon the lessons of this book, you can ignite the spark of personal industry in the lives of people who can then create lasting wealth for their families, communities, and countries; finally succeeding where "charity" had previously failed. Reading this book will show you how you truly can make a difference.
enlightening read.......2007-04-15
A Billion Bootstraps changed the way I view charitable giving. Now instead of "giving to a charity," I am "investing in changing lives." What's more, I've learned to look for and expect accountability from the organizations which receive my money. Microcredit, which once seemed an esoteric concept, is now accessible to those of us who don't have business or economics degrees, thanks to Philip Smith and Eric Thurman. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to intelligently invest in changing lives of the poorest of the poor.
Book Description
This benchmark volume is the foremost source for cartridge information. Hunters, target shooters, military history buffs, ammunition reloaders and cartridge collectors alike will find all the answers to their cartridge and shotshell questions in this comprehensive book that includes 1,500+ cartridges.
This reference book includes detailed photos, dimensional drawings and loading data. Descriptions of obsolete American cartridges tell the tale of ammunition used by settlers, cowboys and outlaws during the nation's westward expansion, and offer insights into unusual rounds that never caught on. Hunters and shooters can improve their success with the useful ballistics tables.
-Completely updated with new cartridges and information on electronically fired rounds.
-Includes European and American cartridges, shotshells, wildcats and black powder rounds.
-450 b&w photos for helpful reference.
-Handy index included.
Customer Reviews:
General info.......2007-10-03
This book does a really good job at being a GENERAL reference guide. A buyer will likely be a bit disappointed if the purchase of this book is being considered for a specific information. For example: You could not help buying a surplus nagant revolver or mauser 71/84. Now you're wanting to get Info on cooking up some Ammo. You'll not find any helpful data or deminsional drawings (except for very common cartridges) You'll get a bit of (not entirely unbiased) history that you already knew, a little load/ballistic data that you'd be better going to a loading manual for.
The organization is in such a manner that is difficult to find a certain cartridge. In fact, I would say that it's been over organized to the point that complication smites simplicity.. On the plus; I've never not found a round that I was looking for after some searching.
If you'll be doing a lot of work around ammunition This is a good buy, as general and random as it is, that you'll be cracking open again and again.
I purchased this book in conjunction with another book, not knowing wich would better suit my needs. If I had to choose I'd keep the other, "The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions" Check the reviews to help in making a selection if you havn't already.
cartridges of the world.......2007-10-01
Great book full of information on calibers unknown to many of those who love to shoot.Good price. Shipped and received quickly.
Cartridge book.......2007-08-26
This is the best book on cartridges I have ever read and I have read 100s of books on cartridges.
A Beginner's Reloading Guide.......2007-04-10
This review of commercially-manufactured cartridges will teach you about the history of firearms and introduce you to some unusual types.
Decent reference work.......2007-03-13
This book is a generally decent review of most of the commercially manufactured cartridges of the world, plus good sections on obsolete, military and wildcat cartridges. It's a good first resource for finding basic information about specific cartridges and serves as a starting point for further research.
The wildcat section is interesting and has tidbits about some of the most unusual cartridges but there was a total lack of discussion of the plethora of 20 caliber wildcats available. No mention was made of the 20 Tactical or 20 Vartarg, or several other fairly popular 20 caliber wildcats. Yet four major bullet manufacturers make a range of bullet sizes in this dimension and several quasi-custom rifle makers chamber rifles in these calibers. I found this annoying that while considerable space was "wasted" on 10 to 14 caliber cartridges, which virtually no one except a few individuals make bullets or arms for, no space was allocated to the 20 calibers which are rapidly gaining popularity. It's a pretty large oversight.
Customer Reviews:
The Twilight Lord.......2007-08-27
For those following Bertrice Small's LARA Character this was the 3rd Book - it was very good - just as Books 1 & 2 were - makes you anxious for the 4th Installment. As far as Amazon goes - I ordered the book used - it came in 4 days in PERFECT condition and even with the shipping cost it was equal to a Book Store Price and I didn't have to use $6.00 worth of gas to go get it.
First and last foray..........2007-08-21
Despite the author's well-recognized name and long, award-filled career, I had never actually read one of Ms Small's books. I received The Twilight Lord (World of Hetar, Book 3) as a freebie and decided to give this author a try, even though I'd essentially be starting in the middle of an established series.
Given Ms Small's many, many awards for her historical fiction stories, I'll have to assume that she is truly a wonderful writer. Unfortunately, I only have The Twilight Lord to judge by, and it was not what I would have expected given the author's reputation.
No doubt someone will point out that it's hardly fair to judge Ms Small based on one book, and that one not the first book in a series. I can only point out the following issues do not rely on a book's order in a series:
- The author and editor should have cut out the numerous, numerous repetition and redundancies in the book, especially in those instances where the characters themselves were already aware of X, Y, and Z.
- There were several instances of rape, which, inconceivably, were portrayed for the most part as being pleasurable for the women involved. Not only was this offensive and cavalier, it didn't even serve the purpose of making the villains out to be more villainous.
- Several of the plot points didn't make internal story sense.
- The characterizations of the main characters were unlikable. They were by turns self-centered, cruel, and immature. It was hard to imagine what redeeming characters they had.
- Despite the big "Lara has a Destiny" plot line and the constant avowal of her powers, the only powers you really see her evince is transporting herself from place to place.
- Many of the sex scenes were repetitive and served no real purpose. Sex in a story is great, but only if it furthers the plot. The only sex that furthered the story in this book was the one that involved the prophecy of the Twilight Lord.
Sometimes, when I start a series in the middle, I'm intrigued enough to want to read the entire series and try other books by the same author. Alas, neither is the case here.
Well Done Ms Small.......2007-08-10
Twilight Lord was a great third book of the series of Hectar. The Subtle hints in book two had taken me in a completely different direction. I hope that this is not the last we see of Lara and the world of Hectar
One of the best!.......2007-08-04
I am thoroughly excited with the new way Mrs. Small has taken her writing. She can keep me up all night long with her stories, but this one makes me want a reread!!!! WOW!
The Twilight Lord.......2007-07-30
The Twilight Lord was a very disappointing example of Beatrice Small's normally excellent work. There is all together too much gratuitus sex and erotica that does not help to move the story along. Some of the scenes, even the shocking ones with the "Twilight Lord" are necessary to demonstrate his evil nature, but many of the sex scenes are redundant and only take up space that could be better used to develop the plot. Also, in a long-awaited book that was at first labeled part of a trilogy, the plot is neither tight nor resolved. After reading Beatrice Small for more than 30 years, I expect more of her writing--although I have little regard for the editors of Harliquin!!
Sarah C Jones
Book Description
"This remarkable manual is one of the durable and time-honored mainstays of military wisdom. Even with the new thinking that includes ""Shock and Awe,"" this 1940 manual was sent to Iraq as a needed reference." For fans of the Army, Marines, and followers of the War on Terrorism, this is a needed book.
Customer Reviews:
GOOD BOOK, but VERY POOR BINDING.......2006-12-22
Fascinating book, well written, thoughtful field manual relevant to the history of this type of conflict.
Good historical introduction. I am thankful for its preservation.
Pavillion Press edition is the most poorly bound book I have ever bought.
I thought Gutenburg figured out how to do that job correctly.
Treat it gently as it falls apart in your hands due to poor binding and construction.
Don't even think about opening it flat.
Consider it more as a looseleaf photocopy of a lost text.
Such poor presentation detracts from an otherwise very worthwhile effort.
Proves that counter-insurgency is not new.......2006-05-03
Despite being over sixty years old, the 1940 edition of the USMC's Small Wars Manual remains one of the cornerstone documents for fighting counter-insurgency warfare. Written in a direct style that is absent from today's military documents, the small wars manual covers the art of fighting limited wars from A-Z, to include ambushes, running elections, disarming the population, and dealing with locals. This book is widely used, often imitated, but never beaten. Far from a historical document, the Small Wars Manual remains vital today.
An Old Book but Surprisingly Revelant.......2005-10-26
Between the two world wars the United States sent its military forces to numerous small countries to bolster the US diplomatic efforts. The countries so 'invaded' included virtually every Latin American country and countries as far away as China and the Philippines. In order to have their forces operate, the United States military has to have manuals that define what the forces are going to do.
'Small Wars' are defined in several ways but which do not involve a major effort in regular warfare against a first-rate power. The final manual on the subject was published in 1940, before the concept of small wars was erased by bigger events. After World War II, the manual was not re-written but was reprinted from time to time with the admonition that it should be considered in relation to the time in which it was written.
Now re-published again, the book has been sent to Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries where 'Small Wars' are being fought. It covers every aspect from Strategy to Logistics, from Transportation to small unit tactics. Within the range of subjects covered is Air Trasportation, remember that this was written in 1940. But it also tells you how to load a Browning .30 water cooled machine gun on a pack mule.
This book is obviously not a direct report on what is going on around the world, but it is surprising that so much of the information given here is directly applicable.
Book Description
With 1,500 full-color illustrations and charts, and a fresh new design, Chapman is the standard text. "This...classic reference used by boating schools and recommended by the Coast Guard Auxiliary covers every imaginable topic related to both powerboats and sailing ships...information is presented in an easy-to-understand text and a user-friendly design."--Publishers Weekly.
Customer Reviews:
Nautical standard.......2006-11-07
This book has long been a nautical standard among small craft owners. It is packed full of information for boat owners and those who love the sea.
"Front, Bow! Back, Stern!" .......2006-07-28
CHAPMAN'S PILOTING AND SEAMANSHIP is one of the half-dozen or so "essential" technical texts that any sailor should own. Coming into it's 65th edition in September 2006, CHAPMAN'S is the only book that offers serious competition to THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP as an overall guide to sailing fundamentals.
Unlike Rousmaniere's book however, CHAPMAN'S is just as applicable to power boating, and because it is updated much more frequently, it's information on changeable topics such as boating regulations and new technologies, among others, is far more current---CHAPMAN'S is in its 65th incarnation, ANNAPOLIS in its seven-year-old third version (Where's the Fourth Edition?).
Did I say "competition"? Actually, the two volumes complement each other, and both are absolutely crucial for the serious skipper.
a new look at chapmans .......2006-07-03
still one of the best books available, on small craft handling.
--- would prefer the older edition , as it was more portable !
and much of the new material will be dated before the year is out!
---this is a volumne at once , serious , and readable,
many an old trick , well preserved , well presented make it quite useful for nearly all navigational tasks,
did remark , a lot of typos , and was surprised , but then this is the cyber era !? so it goes !? --- a real tool !, however!
Chapman's a Bible for Boaters.......2006-03-02
Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship is required reading for anyone
involved with boating. The Coast Guard Auxiliary uses this book for a reference tool for their courses along with applicable CG Publication. The book is heavy though, get a soft bound edition if possible.
A MUST FOR NEW BOATERS AND A GOOD REFERENCE FOR ALL.......2005-06-20
I just replaced my 54th edition with the 64th. Much of it is the same but much has also changed in the past 16 years. If you are new to boating this book might literally save your life. If you're a seasoned skipper you'll find yourself using it for a reference more often than you'd imagine. Covers every thing you need to know for boating in either sail or power. This book is "the Boater's Bible". If for no other reason than learning the "rules of the waterway" Chapman's is worth it's weight in gold.
Book Description
Everyone knows the small-world phenomenon: soon after meeting a stranger, we are surprised to discover that we have a mutual friend, or we are connected through a short chain of acquaintances. In his book, Duncan Watts uses this intriguing phenomenon--colloquially called "six degrees of separation"--as a prelude to a more general exploration: under what conditions can a small world arise in any kind of network?
The networks of this story are everywhere: the brain is a network of neurons; organisations are people networks; the global economy is a network of national economies, which are networks of markets, which are in turn networks of interacting producers and consumers. Food webs, ecosystems, and the Internet can all be represented as networks, as can strategies for solving a problem, topics in a conversation, and even words in a language. Many of these networks, the author claims, will turn out to be small worlds.
How do such networks matter? Simply put, local actions can have global consequences, and the relationship between local and global dynamics depends critically on the network's structure. Watts illustrates the subtleties of this relationship using a variety of simple models---the spread of infectious disease through a structured population; the evolution of cooperation in game theory; the computational capacity of cellular automata; and the sychronisation of coupled phase-oscillators.
Watts's novel approach is relevant to many problems that deal with network connectivity and complex systems' behaviour in general: How do diseases (or rumours) spread through social networks? How does cooperation evolve in large groups? How do cascading failures propagate through large power grids, or financial systems? What is the most efficient architecture for an organisation, or for a communications network? This fascinating exploration will be fruitful in a remarkable variety of fields, including physics and mathematics, as well as sociology, economics, and biology.
Customer Reviews:
All the details you need to know to understand Watts' and Strogatz' famous article.......2007-03-12
The book basically gives all the details needed to understand Watts and Strogatz famous Nature article 'Collective Dynamics of Complex Networks' in 1998. I think that it is basically Watts PhD-thesis and as such it is of course nicely written, but nothing for the laymen who is rather referred to Watts other, more story-telling book 'Six Degrees', Barabasi's book 'Linked', or to another book that I would recommend most, namely the one by Mark Buchanan titled 'Small Worlds'. Mark is a skillful scientific writer and his book has a broader scope that makes it more interesting than each of the two monographs that are a bit more focused on the scientists own contribution.
Not enough contents to be a good book.......2005-07-08
Networks are since a couple of years object of intense research in several different disciplines. One reason therefore is certainly the outstanding article by Watts and Strogatz, Collective dynamics of small world networks, Nature, 393:440--442, 1998. Unfortunatelly, this book can not continue the high level of this article. Actually, it does not really provide much more information than the article itself. I would suggest to read the article cited above and either decide for another book or to look directly in the literature and read the origninal articles.
To summarize, this book is not terribly weak, but one can clearly sees that it swims on the current 'complex networks' wave without providing enough justification for its existence. Of course, if you do not have access to the original literature and just what to have a general overview of complex networks and what be done with them, you may consider buying this book.
Good, but some typos.......2005-06-02
Mathematical level: Moderate; there's no calculus, and little high level math, but the book is quite mathematical in tone, and some of the arguments may be difficult to follow without a good "math sense". There are MANY equations and graphs.
Good points: Watts covers an area that will interest those who deal with mathematical models of social networks e.g. models of disease-spread, especially HIV. It might, however, cover other things that can spread through networks as well. He presents analysis of graphs (or networks) that are neither random nor highly structured; and begins to examine ways that the degree of structure v. randomness can be measured.
Bad points: There are more than the usual number of typos. The models presented are a "first step", only.
Inspiring.......2001-07-24
The author believes that human thought might be a small world, in the sense that one could reach any idea if he/she finds the right associations and "short-cut"s. The small-world theory is indeed one of those short cuts itself. It links many different domains and uncovers some interesting common behavior.
The theory is developed in a scientific manner with extensive numerical support. Rich literature reviews and many open questions make this book a good research reference. Complex observations are generally followed by qualitative explanations. However, some of the simpler derivations are not fully clear. I believe that adding a few lines here and there can turn this book into a textbook.
The book spans many different areas of science and a deep understanding of the related results may require some background. However, each chapter ends with a brief summary, allowing the reader to move forward if he/she finds the chapter difficult. In summary, as the author puts it, the book is simply the "end of the beginning" in an exciting new field.
Great scientific synthesis.......2000-07-12
The book takes a systematic look at the 'small world' graphs. These natural graphs have been discovered by graph theoretist as erly as 60's, but were not properly understood. The graphs are remarkable in their ability to cluster and scale lengths. There are fundumental connections between these graphs and complex systems, discrete dynamical systems, computation and information processing. Duncan has done a tremendous job in building experimetal and theoretical models trying to understand how these graphs come about and sustain themselves. Read this book.
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