Book Description
The best organizations have the best talent. . . Financial incentives drive company performance. . . Firms must change or die.
Popular axioms like these drive business decisions every day. Yet too much common management “wisdom” isn’t wise at all—but, instead, flawed knowledge based on “best practices” that are actually poor, incomplete, or outright obsolete. Worse, legions of managers use this dubious knowledge to make decisions that are hazardous to organizational health.
This practical and candid book challenges leaders to commit to evidence-based management as a way of organizational life – and shows how to finally turn this common sense into common practice.
Customer Reviews:
No 'one size fits all' solutions here.......2007-08-21
In this well written book, Stanford Professors Pfeffer and Sutton demonstrate the dangers of copying others, blindly applying conventional wisdom, or accepting ideologically based fables without understanding how the underlying human behavioral principles and fundamentals apply to the situation at hand. It asks us to look at the underlying assumptions about how people think and operate - are people really motivated only by the stick or the carrot? Is the relational model for the `rest of life' really different than the relational model for our `work life'? If neither assumption is a fundamental truth, should we be using policies and practices that make these assumptions?
It encourages leaders and organizations to constantly `be in learning' rather than looking for `the answer' in a best practice book or seminar. Simply put, `copy & paste' of someone else's answer is seldom, if ever, your answer on a performance improvement test. If you are thinking that evidence-based management means, "show me who is using this practice", or "show me where this policy is working"; read the entire book. What at first sounds like a declaration that only statistically proven, historical practices should be accepted as the basis for future practices is in itself a dangerous half-truth that will limit the future to a repeat of the past. Hard Facts is recommended for leaders who will read the book in its entirety. Dennis DeWilde, author of "The Performance Connection"
A balanced, practical look at management "beliefs"..........2007-07-12
Pfeffer and Sutton take a hard look at a few management beliefs that have seemed universally accepted in one form or another. Of the ones presented, I have heard and read the most about 1) best organizations have the best people, 2) strategy is destiny, and 3) change or die. The authors have done a very good job at showing that some beliefs are not always true under all circumstances and, in fact, quite often false or at least "half-truths". I also found the financial incentives chapter particularly compelling as it seems that a more balanced reward system is better for most companies in the long run.
I found most of the advice for handling these beliefs to be very sound although a recurring theme is just take a step back, look at hard evidence, and not necessarily follow "the crowd". This book would be best appreciated and most easily "implemented" by executive management but is also a very interesting read for anyone who wants to build out their general management knowledge. Overall, a pretty insightful and practical read.
Finally ... A Management Book Worth Reading.......2007-07-09
The problem with the puffed up, presumptuous world of management literature and reasearch is that it is neither. Most books are an appalling mixture of presumed truths, mishmashed ideas set up, many times as a "science." In fact it Management is much more a dismal art than Economics ever was a dismal science.
But now enter the duo who wrote this book... the true essence of the book could be:
1) lesson of wisdom... wisdom in the Platonic sense -- knowing what you do not know and being smart enought to admit when you do not know and brave enought to continue on using;
2) evidence-based management. This means empirical management, hard facts, not preconcieved notions of how the world is or should work.
Evidence-based management is based upon a scientific approach and this book take evidence-based medicine as its template for how to arrange business. In evidence-based management there is no immutable truth -- science and the socratic method of inquiry mean that the playing field is level. Poeple are able to challenge preconceived ideas, but they must also be willing to submit their ideas to the scrutiny of analyse. Pfeffer et al, give good examples of preconcieved ideas that are either not true or half-baked. Incentive pay is one -- it works in simple, non-dependent environments where individuals control results. It does NOT work in highly structured environments where results depend upon complex interactions with others... ie. Cold-callers should be incentivised by pay-for-performance, but doctors and teachers clearly should not -- and all the imperical evidence supports the above assertion.
So why do people have such a knee-jerk reaction and assume that everyone only needs to be incentivised to spur them ever onwards to better results...? Pfeffer et al, suggest that it is popular culture and sort of presumed ideological supposition that is never challenged.
Other ideas challenged in this book by Evidence-based Management tecniques are:
STRATEGY: Its nowhere near as important as knowing what to do. In fact concentrating only on strategy is most often wrong. What is much more necessary is having a process to implement changes little by little.
LEADERS: Not as important as billed. Change at the top has almost no correlation with corporate performance. Leadership does matter to a degree, but not as much as good systems of work. Here again is the banal overwhelmed by the sexy presumption that someone who is in power of a company must "actually control results" -- as Pfeffer et al show... they clearly do not. Good process, good middle line managers who implement well and who know and listen to process management determine which companies will succeed more than good leaders.
This book was one of the few management tomes that I actually looked forward to reading when I picked it up. I have already ordered "The Knowing-Doing Gap." A very refreshing change and real wisdom for a wretched genre.
Find your company in this book and squirm.......2007-06-19
This excellent book lays out why and how companies fail to drive their business based on evidence, and instead "miracle cure" advice and personal reactions - largely to the detriment of everyone involved. The book quickly lays out why you should take an evidence-based approach and some guidelines on how. The meat of the book comes in chapters on various half-truths that are dangerous in terms of managing people and organizations:
- Is work fundamentally different from the rest of life and should it be
- Do the best organizations have the best people
- Do financial incentives drive company performance
- Is strategy destiny?
- Is it change or die
- Are great leaders in control of their companies (and should the be)?
They wrap up with a call for evidence-based management. The book is well-written, funny in many places and slightly depressing (if you don't see yourself or your company in any of the "how not to" stories I will be astonished) but very worthwhile. Some of my favorite quotes include:
"If doctor's practiced medicine the way many companies practice management, there would be far more sick and dead patients, and many more doctor's would be in jail"
"If you think you have a new idea, you are wrong. Someone problably already had it. This idea isn't original either; I stole it from someone else
Sutton's Law"
"Treat your business as an unfinished prototype"
"No brag, just facts"
In particular they recommend making sure you have identifed cause and effect when considering past successes, taking account of changing circumstances and establishing why something was effective before adopting it. They emphasize the importance of attacking assumptions and establishing which are pre-conditions for success. The book lays out plenty of evidence on the importance of narrow testing of new ideas before rolling them out, especially in ways analogous to the double-blind study used in medicine. They discuss the importance not of individual leaders being great but of them building a structure within which people can be successful (think Toyota) and they conclude by reminding us that wisdom is knowing what you know and what you don't know while still acting on the best available data and being willing to change as new data becomes available.
I would also recommend three other books I have reviewed recently:
Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning
Tom Davenport's book shows one aspect of evidence-based management - driving company behavior with analytics - and uses some of the same examples (Harrah's, for one)
Making Robust Decisions: Decision Management For Technical, Business, & Service Teams
David Ullman's book is a great discussion of decision-making in the face of uncertainty, a key skill in evidence-based management
The Halo Effect: ... and the Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers
Phil Rosenzweig's book disses many of the same business trend half-truths with even more wit than this one. If you are cynical about fix-everything-with-technique-X books, and you probably should be, this is a great book
Lastly if you are more technically minded and enjoy this book, you might enjoy the one I have just finished:Smart Enough Systems: How to Deliver Competitive Advantage by Automating Hidden Decisions
Hard to Believe.......2007-06-04
Pfeffer & Sutton's book is all about how bias and incorrect "common sense" can lead us astray in making management decisions. They show how a great deal of what passes as business management advice is just not all that good. In fact, some of it is, as the title says, total nonsense.
That said, it was far less of a book than I wanted it to be. The title, you see, has this really bold lettering for HARD FACTS. In smaller type underneath is the rest of the title. In fact, on my copy the Total Nonsense is in bigger type than the Half-Truths part (the latter even being gray on a black background). Yet, as I read the book, I kept looking for the HARD FACTS and found a lot of references to Half-Truths. The basic premise seems to be that while most advice is correct in some settings, it is only when it is taken as truth for all time that it becomes dangerous.
I wanted graph after graph of facts from all the studies people mention but never put into digestible form. I wanted to get the translation of management studies into facts that I can use. However, what I did get was basic management book stylistic convention: assertion of some truth followed by an example from one of seven (plus or minus two) case studies. Not that this is all bad, far from it. But it seemed sad given the large HARD FACTS on the top. In fact, I find the convention easy reading. But it doesn't really give me the HARD FACTS. I guess I would have to go into the footnotes (ugh), read all the studies mentioned (ugh, ugh), and then draw the graphs, charts, and summaries (ugh, ugh, ugh). That is what I thought this book would do and doesn't.
So I think it becomes another interesting book that will be put aside for another interesting book in about five months. Are there good insights? Sure. Do I trust all their sources? I don't know why I should since they never explain why they do (the "lots of studies" logic). So maybe they are right, but it is hard to believe.
Book Description
Being a twice-divorced, happily independent loner has worked like a charm for P.I. Kinsey Millhone-until holiday weekends like this one roll around. What she needs is a little diversion to ward off the blues. She gets her much-needed distraction with a case that places her career on the line. And if that isn't enough to keep her busy, her ex-husband, who walked out on her eight years ago, pops back on the radar....It all begins with a $5,000 deposit made into Kinsey's bank account. Problem is she's not the one who deposited the money. But when she's accused of being on the take in an industrial arson case, Kinsey realizes someone is framing her...Now Kinsey's working for herself. But with new evidence-and corpses-surfacing around her, she's going to have to act quickly to clear her name before she loses her career, her reputation-and quite possibly her life...
Customer Reviews:
Never a letdown.......2007-03-13
If detective heroines with a minimum of fluff and romance are your thing, this series is made for you if you haven't found it already.
Kinsey Millhone is a heroine just about anyone can love. Unpretentious, feisty and real, she lives in a converted garage apartment and lives simply. Her life revolves around running, her friendship with her 81-year old landlord and her career as a private detective. The series is best if read in order-like any-but out of all the running mystery serials (Evanovich, Hamilton, Paretsky, etc.), this one probably has the least serialization of plot points from one book to another. Kinsey lives alone and she likes it that way. And as much as I love Kinsey, I'm hoping she stays alone and jaded as I've seen more than one mystery series ruined by the introduction of too many boyfriends and bedroom distractions. Do, however, start with "A is for Alibi" since Grafton makes many references to an event that occured in that book in subsequent works.
As for this particular work, I agree with other reviewers that the killer's motive was a little weak but that did not affect my enjoyment of this story. Specifically, Kinsey gets called in on what seems like a routine arson investigation at a family business for her sometime employer, California Fidelity Insurance, and quickly finds herself in a frame-up with multiple suspects. To clear her name, she must take herself on as a client to avoid jail or worse. In the process, someone from Kinsey's past shows up which provides some illumination as to her current outlook on life and her need for solitude. As usual, the action is brisk, the humor is wry and never slapsticky and Kinsey is self-aware and hard-edged without seeming bitter or over the top. I finished this book in 2 days so as with any Grafton, make sure you don't have anywhere to be once you crack the cover.
Grafton has said she intends to finish the alphabet for this series. She's got me until the letter Z.
So-so.......2007-01-29
I wasn't crazy about this one. It still had plenty of mystery to it but the topic of insurance fraud was boring. I am still glad I read it and I liked it enough it just wasn't better then the others before this one. I did like the characters and there was a shock factor at the end. Thats why I didn't competley hate it. I am hoping the next one is better.
Kinsey rules!.......2006-11-10
Sue Grafton has created the best female detective--bar none! Kinsey's cases are realistic, and she is so real that you find yourself looking for her on the street. There is no higher praise for an author.
E is for Evidence.......2006-02-28
Middle of the road. Not fast paced. Did not have that aha! factor.
"E" is for Excellent.......2005-07-13
In this tale, our friend Kinsey, is out to find who started a fire in the Wood/Warren Warehouse. But somewhere in the investigating Kinsey finds herself weaved into this horrible mess. With her life and career on the line here Kinsey stretches to desperate measures to not only find out who started the fire but also who committed murder. Its a rollercoaster ride till the end, but hop on, cause like I said "E" is for Excellent and Exciting!
Average customer rating:
- not sure about Hardy
- Another enjoyable entry in the Dismas Hardy series
- Not a Whodunit
- 4 and a half stars is not bad.
- I used to be indecisive, but now I'm just not sure
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Hard Evidence
John Lescroart
Manufacturer: Signet
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ASIN: 0451206460
Release Date: 2002-06-04 |
Book Description
When the bullet-ridden body of a Silicon Valley billionaire washes up on shore, assistant D.A. Dismas Hardy finds himself the prosecutor in San Francisco's murder trial of the century. But when a bizarre series of events blows the case wide open, Hardy finds himself on the other side of the law.
Customer Reviews:
not sure about Hardy.......2004-01-28
This book really has me torn in that it was an interesting story with a good plot that kept pace (although I did figure out the ending), yet I am just not sure if I connect with the main character, Dismas Hardy. This is the third Hardy book I've read and I have pretty much felt the same after each one. I feel that the story sort of goes on around him and then he occassionally enters in the picture to drink a beer and throw darts. Don't get me wrong - his character is in the book throughout - he is just not very charasmatic. I plan to try again and read the next one -maybe then I'll have a more concrete opinion.
Another enjoyable entry in the Dismas Hardy series.......2003-03-23
Iýve been reading Lescroartýs series featuring attorney Dismas Hardy all out of order; fortunately, ýHard Evidenceý stands up well on its own. The author provides a brief update regarding what must be several novels worth of tumultuous events in the lives of Hardy and his wife while quickly moving on to the mystery at the core of the novel. Hardy has rejoined the San Francisco DAýs office and, while toiling away at the sort of low-level crimes addressed by junior staff, finds himself investigating the murder of a wealthy and prominent businessman. With the help of his buddy, prickly police detective Abe Glitzky, Hardy searches for the murderer while striving to maintain the stability of his marriage and resolve his own doubts about his chosen career. Itýs not too hard to figure out who was the murderer, and the plot twist that puts Hardy on the side of the defense is so heavily foreshadowed (and practically given away altogether on the back cover of the book) that I spent the whole first half of the book wondering when it would finally arrive. However, ýHard Evidenceý strikes a good balance between plot-driven and character-driven elements ý the recurring characters are central to the story and are given plenty to do even as readers get to visit with old friends.
Not a Whodunit.......2002-07-27
I figured out who the murderer was about half-way through the book. I'm not very bright - the clues were just that obvious. Unfortunately, after the mystery is solved there is little reason to continue with the book. The characters were poorly developed and generally unbelievable. I did get a laugh out of Hardy's wife, Frannie, who repeatedly whined about her attorney husband working, on occasion, until 7 pm or so, "what's your job doing to us." Most attorneys I know, even government, would love to be out of the office by 7 on a consistent basis. This is just one example of the silliness in this book. I take it that we are supposed to admire the great Dismas Hardy despite his few flaws. However, I find it hard to believe that Lescroart would build his literary career around such a jackass. I would have enjoyed Hard Evidence a lot more if Hardy had never made it back from Viet Nam.
4 and a half stars is not bad........2002-07-06
Lescroart ewrote this fast paced thriller. I enjoed it a lot! "Undownputable". A great thriller. Dont miss this one. Its not bad for 4 and a half stars. The beginning is great the ending is a tour de force!
I used to be indecisive, but now I'm just not sure.......2002-06-27
Dismas Hardy is a renaissance man. Vietnam veteran, bereaved father of a lost child, lawyer, bartender, bar owner, lawyer again, and, championship dart thrower.
Hard Evidence is a play on words, I think, balancing on the fulcrum between lots of circumstantial evidence, individually or piece by piece not compelling, and direct evidence. In a manner of speaking, this Wigmore definition on evidentiary substance mimics life. Hardy's ex-wife, Jane, remains his friend and becomes, inter alia, his current wife's friend. I would think that the first circumstance would be difficult; the second preposterous.
Hardy has joined (again) the San Francisco DA's office as a junior prosecutor, and inherits, almost by accident, a homicide case involving Owen Nash, an enormously wealthy financier. Hardy investigates his partner's status, exponentially more wealthy now that Nash is dead, the sexually obsessive daughter, the Japanese prostitute that Nash fell in love with, all the while drinking a huge amount of alcohol and having a lot of sex.
Lescroart seems to be on the periphery of becoming a "sought after author" like Parker, Crais, and Burke, and to a lesser extent, Lehane and Pelicanos. You can see people ordering up in a bookstore or e-mailing Amazon asking, "when's the release date on the next Lescroart?" Or, if they're fairly young, "when's the release date on the next Lescroart, dude?" But although this is a 1991 novel, even now he seems to be still just on the edge.
The writing is excellent; the plots are intricate and like a form-fitting rug, interwoven. I would say, too interwoven. And that amplifies that the interwoven characters are just, well . . . weird. Unbelievable. To follow the implied legalese, incredible.
Nash, who has 8 gazillion dollars, falls in love with a prostitute. Wants to marry her. Not live with her. Marry her. As in, "Honey, what time are Trevor and Brie coming over to play Bridge?" Imperil the whole financial house of cards because at the age of sixty, darn it, it's time he did something for himself. Dismas is constantly having sex with his wife. OK, this is good. He worships her and her child, Rebecca. Also good. Yet he fools around, literally, with Nash's daughter. As they say on ESPN, "what's up with that?" Frannie, the current pregnant wife, is friends with Jane, the ex-wife, and they're all friends with Andy, the ex-father in law, who has his own secrets. The prosecutor is sleeping with the DA, one of Detectives on the staff, and another DA. Yeah. That's why the books are not in the inner circle. YOU NEED A SCORECARD!
So eventually, the Hardy series gets better. You may want to skip this one though, or at least not start with Hard Evidence.
Book Description
Replaces Hard Sayings of th Old Testament, which received a 1990 Christianity Today Critics' Choice Award!Are you grappling with a difficult verse in the Bible? And are you looking for a short, easy-to-read answer that really makes sense without explaining away the verse?
Hard Sayings of the Bible is the handy reference book you need. Here you will find explanations of over 500 of the most troubling verses to test the minds and hearts of Bible readers. Four seasoned scholars, all with a notable gift for communicating with people in the pew, take you behind the scenes to find succinct solutions to a wide variety of Bible difficulties, ranging from discrepancies about numbers to questions about God's justice.Historical, cultural and linguistic backgrounds shed light on these passages and not only help explain what they meant in biblical times but also show how they are relevant today.Now carefully cross-referenced with over 100 new verses explained, as well as a dozen new introductory articles on chronology, miracles, archaeology, prophecy and more,
Hard Sayings of the Bible offers the combined resources of five previous volumes that have over 250,000 copies in print.If you find yourself tied up in scriptural knots, here's the book that will help you cut through them.
Customer Reviews:
Great quick source!.......2007-09-21
I often like to engage people in real time debates on the internet. As a Christian, I find that one of the main challenges in such a situation is countering the many supposed Bible "contradictions" that the non-Christian is able to cut and paste into the conversation.
No matter how much you read, at some point they will present to you a supposed "contradiction" that you've never heard, and in some less civil discussions, such a situation would be seen as a victory for person who is "hurling the elephant."
This book presents well written articles on all sorts of "Hard" passages, and provides explanations from a Christian perspective. It's a great quick reference guide if you need a prompt answer, but it is also deep enough to act as a springboard into further study on any of the covered issues!
This is a great book that I would recommend to any Christian!
Hard Sayings of the Bible Resource Book.......2007-04-02
My recent purchase of the book "Hard Sayings of the Bible",
has been a great investment for me. Upon viewing the contents,
I found that the author explains in detail scripture verses
of the bible that I have read often,
but have understood little, even when using other
reference material. An example of this is the explanation of the
"red heifer" and the word "scapegoat". I recommend this book to anyone
wanting to understand in greater detail the meaning of verses and
words that may not be fully explained in other reference material.
Good.......2006-01-05
I think this book was really good. However, I think the apolegetics could've been done a little better. They mostly deal with some of the hard verses in the bible. Not a bad job.
Great stuff!.......2005-05-28
This book offers a great scholarly look at some of the sayings that seem difficult to us who live in the 21st century -- far removed from the cultural setting and lingo in which the Bible was written. The work is pretty thick consisting of several hundred pages. I like this though, because (usually) more thickness means more substance, and fortunately I do indeed find it to be the case here. The book is also good because it addresses considerations from opposing camps that the authors do not necessarily agree with. Thus there is a sense of objectivity.
Now, on a defensive note, I've seen the objection from at least one other certain person that the book, hence the length, is essentially one convoluted mess of rationalizations attempting to fight a losing battle. As the work has also been described as 'cumulative rationalizations' and a work of torturous logic. These kind of statements come exceptionally close to the logical fallacy that long and complex arguements or statements imply that said statements are 'patch-work' for a failing viewpoint, paradigm, or what have you. This is a non-sequitur, because it does not follow that a work of great breadth and sophistication is a result of torturous rationalizations. Afterall, no one would suggest encyclopedia writers/publishers are in denial about reality! Indeed, even skeptics produce heavy works, but don't look for these same skeptics to apply such logic there!
In the end, could it be that the great amount of work put into this book, other than to satisfy all the relevant data possible, is to respond to the likewise "exhausting" and even sometimes "torturous" criticism that the Bible so often receives? Quite so, anyone who produces an extravagant criticism of the Bible offers the opportunity to have the favor fully returned to them likewise. And that is what this book so wonderfully does: If you want a scholarly handle of the supposed difficulties, and sometimes so-called 'contradictions', in the Bible then this work will provide you with the plentiful data to deal with them.
ONE OF THE BEST BIBLE REFERENCES OUT THERE!.......2004-09-01
THIS BOOK WILL COME IN HANDY TO ANYONE WHO IS STUDYING THE BIBLE FOR THE FIRST OR THE FIFTIETH TIME! IT OFFERS AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF INSIGHTS AND REFERENCES FOR THE BEGINNER ON UP. I REFER TO IT OFTEN AND SUGGEST IT FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN BIBLICAL STUDY.
Book Description
Investigative reporter Tessa Novak witnesses the murder of a teenage girl-and believes Julian Darcangelo committed the crime. But Julian is actually an undercover FBI agent on the trail of a human trafficker and killer. And now Tessa's report has brought them closer than either one of them could have imagined-and put both of their lives in danger.
Customer Reviews:
I would give it more if I could!.......2007-07-31
I absolutely love this book.
It is in my list of all time favorites.
This is one book in my collection that I will not sell.
Julian the hero can be summed up in one line. He took a bullet for his woman! If that isn't the type of man every woman would love to hang her stockings on then there isn't one in print or alive.
This man is so masculine that he refuses to acknowledge the pain taking a bullet causes him.
Tess's character is strong and vibrant. Her feminine side comes out when Julian is near. Otherwise she is as tough and fearless as he is and their chemistry before during and after the steamy scenes is electrifying.
There are many scenes that made my eyes water. Many scenes that have made me cringe, many scenes that have made me way too hot and bothered for the middle of the day. And many that have had my mouth hanging open in 'Oh My God he didn't say that' pose.
"The next time I see you and you tell me that you're not thinking about f'ing me. I'm gonna call you a liar." - Julian
Pamela Claire knows the perfect formula for creating a male character that will make any woman want to devor everything about him.
Julian is visually stunning has a heart of gold and knows his way around a woman's body. He is initially uncomfortable with feelings she creates in him, but still he steps up to the plate and rises to EVERY occasion for her. Proving over and over to Tess that its not just about sexually desiring her. It's about willingly giving his life to protect her.
What's not to love about Julian?
Wow! This Guy is awesome and he isn't even a Vampire.......2007-06-29
Great Story! Exciting, three-dimensinal, sexy, strong, brave, silly, and interesting characters. I truly enjoyed this book. This is my first read by Pamela Clare but I have already ordered the first book/book before this book/Kara-Reece's book. The hero Julian is an Alpha to-die-for an a real Bad A$$. He is an undercover agent on the track of disgusting human traffickers. Heroinne Tessa is my girl. She has a wondersul southern believable accent, is a journalist and a brave, feisty little something. There chemistry was so wonderful to see blossom. I truly enjoyed and cried for Julian's awakening to Tessa. This book is so exciting, funny, sexy, heart breaking and interesting that you will not be able to put it down.
Hard Evidence .......2007-05-11
When Tessa Novak witnesses the brutal murder of a teenage girl, she uses her skills as an investigative reporter to search for justice. The mysterious leather jacket clad man she sees at the scene becomes her main suspect.
The man wearing the leather jacket is not the killer, he is Julian Darcangelo, an undercover FBI agent. Julian is working to shut down a human trafficker and murderer.
Tessa's search for the slain girl's killer is threatening Julian's cover and his investigation. And it's not just Julian's cover that is being threatened by Tessa's quest, Tessa has come to the attention of the murderer and now her very life is in danger.
Hard Evidence is the sequel to Pamela Clare's novel Extreme Exposure and an incredibly delicious sequel it is! I am drooling for Julian. Drooooooling. He makes me quiver. And shiver. And dream of hot alpha hunks of steel.
But Hard Evidence is so much more than a Julian drool fest, it is a fast paced novel of heart pounding romance and fine tuned suspense. I was entranced from beginning to end.
Annmarie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Hot! Hot! Hot!.......2007-02-14
This is another hot read by Pamela Clare. She writes the most amazing men who are not only super sexy but possessive, tender and caring. The heroine had the right mix of independence and vulnerability to make for an excellent romance.
A superb author!.......2007-02-14
I'm so glad I discovered this super talented author called Pamela Clare! If you thought her first book in the I-Team series called Extreme Exposure was hot, wait till you read this one! This romantic suspense/action story gives you a mix of everything and you feel the passion and gut wrenching emotions while falling in love with the characters. Pamela Clare writes heroes like no other, whether she writes about a sexy Senator or a super hot FBI undercover cop in this case. The author has excellent knowledge of the subject she writes and makes the story riveting from start to finish while bringing to life the reality and horror of human trafficking. We also get to revisit characters from her first book and I will just say, I can't wait for the next one in this series which I believe will be called Unlawful Contract. Enjoy this book!
Average customer rating:
- agenda here?
- OK, but not a groundbreaker
- Nothing new, nothing convincing
- Some evidence...
- Not bad, but Strieber is out of his element
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Confirmation: The Hard Evidence of Aliens Among Us
Whitley Strieber
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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Communion: A True Story
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Casebook: Alien Implants (Whitley Strieber's Hidden Agendas)
ASIN: 031218557X |
Amazon.com
In his 10 years of experience as a publicly recognized close-encounter witness, Whitley Strieber has labored to lift the veils of skepticism and denial from scientists, politicians, and reporters. He's appreciated a climate of increasing open-mindedness, noting also that any hard evidence confirming the existence of UFOs, close encounters, and alien abductions has been, to date, lacking. But times, he writes in Confirmation, have changed. "Gone are the arguments that science has nothing to work with. Behavioral science has not only the witnesses but also physical proof that something unknown has happened to at least some of them, in the form of apparent implants that have been removed from their bodies." Further, "fantastic advances" are enabling false alien-abduction stories to be weeded out the from the true ones. But it reads like a stew of bold assertions tagged onto eyewitness accounts, the "truth" of which remains largely anecdotal, and mixed in with a discussion of new theories about false-memory syndrome. Confirmation might rally the believers, but it will make the unconverted skeptical and querulous.
Whitley Strieber has never suggested that the alien presence among us is benign, and his confessions and investigations have always been unnerving. Sinister, secret, and bizarre are words he uses to describe "them." Strieber's "evidence" that there are aliens among us falls into three areas: an increase in amateur videotapes of strange objects in the sky; the massive amount of abduction testimony that is different from older accounts; and the insidious implants that have been removed from close-encounter witnesses (of which he is one). This last area is creepy, indeed, and we can be glad that science is conducting careful studies. What the implants are made of, how they function, and what their purpose might be--these questions hold the key to Strieber's mystery.
His reporting of the "facts" begins on July 11, 1991, in Mexico City during a total eclipse of the sun. A UFO was spotted and videotaped by hundreds. Exhaustively he argues against the variables--it can be, for example, neither Venus nor a star. He recounts the heated public debates and asserts that this 1991 event was not isolated, but heralded an extended period of sightings. Of course, he admits, hoaxes abounded, too.
When it comes to discussing the three videos that have actually appeared on TV depicting aliens, Strieber's extrapolations do not harden to proof. Yet he begins part 2 of Confirmation with this assertion: "The evidence that UFOs are flying around in our skies is so extensive that it is reasonable to consider that these unconventional objects are in some way real, and that many of them seem to be under intelligent control." This part of the book (it's livelier than the first part, because it's even creepier) presents testimony of actual encounters. These narratives came to him in letter form and his approach is to discern common threads among wildly diverse experiences. Rejecting psychological explanations for alleged abductions, Strieber pounces on what he thinks of as the reliable source--"the natural memories of people who have had continuous recall of their experiences from the time they happened." Now, when was the last time you trusted your memory as a reliable source? But Strieber believes without a doubt that we are receiving communication from another world. Describing the strange and chilling world of the abduction letters, he's convinced that they indicate "the working of a nonhuman mind, or of a part of the human mind so hidden that it has never before gained a voice." So is it Close Encounters or psychosis?
Unfortunately, with every extrapolation or assertion, Whitley Strieber's arguments seem more and more strained; the "proof" remains, alas, poofy, as when he compares the increasingly elaborate abduction narratives to those of crop circles--another documented but unexplained mystery--citing elaboration itself as proof of increasingly different abductions. Since the first sightings, crop circles, too, have grown far more elaborate and complex. Is it really any wonder that peoples' stories should become increasingly endowed with imaginative complexity? How is that proof? It's all creepy, to be sure, and certainly worthy of serious, sustained investigation. But do not look for proof or hard evidence in Confirmation. The promise is unfulfilled, the confirmation pending. --Hollis Giammatteo
Book Description
This book is at once a journey of scientific discovery and the story of the personal struggle Whitley Strieber has fought since he had an apparent close encounter in 1985, which he recounted in Communion: A True Story. He has been criticized for creating folklore; he has been called insane, labeled a liar and a cult leader. Naturally, he wants to correct the record. But more than that, he has come to feel certain that something truly earthshaking is happening, something far stranger, far more incredible than anyone suspected, which has made mankind vulnerable.
To change all this, what he's need is physical proof. He has it, and this book is the story of how he got it and what it is.
Strieber first reviews all the evidence for UFOs-including the remarkably dramatic and repeated sightings over Mexico city filmed by so many people-as well as the testimony thousands have given about their close encounter experiences, before turning to shocking new physical evidence: five implants surgically removed under controlled and documented conditions from the bodies of people who have reported contact with aliens. The study of these "implants"-what they are made of, how they function, and what their ultimate purpose is-holds the final answers to this whole puzzle.
In addition, in a remarkable appendix, Monsignor Corrado Balducci of the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples and Propagation of the Faith discusses the perspective of the Catholic Church on the whole matter of alien contact and what it means within a religious perspective.
Customer Reviews:
agenda here?.......2006-06-15
Well in my opinion, there is no longer any doubt that some things appear to be flying in our skies, and some people have had some unusual experiences (mostly disturbing, but some apparrently enlightening), but the question is, is it all as it seems? The fact of the matter is, various military branches from around the globe have real hardware that could easily fool us. Holographic projections can and are used to place images within our skys (this is related to controversial theories surrounding the 911 events); there are devices that can manipulate brain waves and neuronal excitation to have people hallucinate any scenario; advanced, drug manipulated hypnotic techniques can control memories and behaviour; implants have been around for decades and have even gone mainstream now (Verichip). I'm not saying that other lifeforms don't exist in the Universe (far from it), and perhaps there are a number of entities here on Earth carrying out agendas, but this idea that there are little, menacing Greys abducting us for various sinister reasons without immense COLLUSION seems suspect. It smells of classic fear mongering that the elite love to push on us. Historically, there's been the Barbarians, Huns, Mongols, Pagans, Jews, Christians, Vikings, black Natives, Cannabals, red Natives, Mexicans, Germans, Nazis, Communists, now the Arabs and the next logical conclusion is some evil force off planet because they have used all the boogey men on Earth. Even President Reagan set us up for this scenario in an infamous speech in the late 80's. The fact is that with known technology (not including whatever they may have that has not been leaked), they could quite easily pull the hoax off. Even genetic manipulation and cloning is much further advanced and PRACTICED (albeit "underground") than most people can fathom. What has become another fact is the major extent to which the UFO community has been infiltrated and compromised, of which Strieber has been front and centre at various times. My belief is that Strieber is part of this fear mongering campaign, sponsored by the elite and carried out by various military and government groups. In this book, his "hard-evidence" is flimsey and suspicious. For example, why wouldn't super advanced Aliens using implants design them such that they are entirely organic and of shapes that mimic human tissue (thus not showing up on any X-ray, MRI, CT, etc)? And design them such that they quickly break down when removed from the body? Surely, this would be child's play for Alien scientists? Why no major discussion or mention of the human military, or NAZI connection with abductions? There seems to be a growing number of victims who are recalling strange "fragments" of memories that are slipping through various memory covers. Why are they mentioning cooperation of human doctors and nurses with the Greys? Why are they mentioning swastikas and other known military insignias on uniforms? Why are some speaking English, others German? Why is there a connection with deep, underground bases and specifically Antartica? These are things Strieber never mentions, which I find curious. My point is, things are happening, but it has become nearly impossible to ascertain what, and Strieber's books seem to cloud the issues and possibly even advance certain agendas.
OK, but not a groundbreaker.......2005-09-04
This is an OK book. IT was interesting to read and pretty well written. I didn't think, however, it was exceptional and nor did I find it full of information that I could find elsewhere. It did make some interesting paints and it did add some information that I did find interesting. I classify it as a core UFO book, but not something of revolutionary nature.
Nothing new, nothing convincing.......2005-08-27
Hard evidence? If you consider fuzzy photos and anecdotal evidence to be "hard", then yes. Otherwise, this book really offers nothing new. Everything that is presented in this book is easily explained by any UFO skeptic. If you are interested in hearing a more natural reason for UFOs and so called unexplainable phenomena, check out "Demon Haunted World" by Carl Sagan or "Why People Believe Weird Things" by Michael Shermer. Overall, the book wasnt bad... it was interesting, but I was very let down by the lack of convincing evidence. This book might incourage believers, but it sure wont convert a skeptic.
Some evidence..........2005-08-13
When the title of your book is "Confirmation: The Hard Evidence of Aliens Among Us" it would probably be a good idea to produce some hard evidence. This book is the loosest of innuendo; the shakiest of suppositions; and probably hurts more than helps the UFO movement. The so-called "hard evidence" - the shards of foreign materials found in a few people are classified as alien, even though not one of them is of a foreign substance not found in nature. I love a good UFO tale, but this book proves absolutely nothing and isn't even a provocative read. Whitley has completely milked the alien abduction genre, and I'm sure he's not done... It's been too profitable!
Not bad, but Strieber is out of his element.......2003-04-07
This is one book that shouldn't be judged by its lurid, tabloidesque cover. Strieber's approach is honest and evenhanded, and, unlike the back cover with its screaming red warning that "AFTER YOU READ THIS BOOK YOU *WILL* BELIEVE IN ALIEN LIFE," he never makes any over-the-top claims of conclusive proof. Critical of both debunkers and believers, Strieber argues simply that the UFO and close encounter phenomena are genuine unknowns that deserve serious scientific attention. Nothing more.
While it's a decent introduction to the field, though, Confirmation is definitely not Strieber at his best. What Strieber really has to offer is his own close encounter experiences, documented in Communion and its sequels, and the thousands of letters he has received from other close encounter witnesses, many of which are published in The Communion Letters. But when it comes to a general overview of UFO sightings, implants, etc., he has no particular credentials. The result is that Confirmation is mostly a rehash of evidence published elsewhere. Strieber is a storyteller, not a scientist, and is probably better off sticking to fiction and autobiography and leaving the "hard evidence" to professional UFO researchers.
Average customer rating:
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VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE
Loren, Douglas
Manufacturer: Booklocker.com, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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ASIN: 1601451210 |
Book Description
Jack Cole is an early fifties private detective in the Portland, Oregon area. Verifiable Evidence is about the search for a missing husband. In Cole's shoulder holster is a Glock .45 automatic...and not because it's fashionable.
Average customer rating:
- Gourmet Grocery Bag w/Artistic Ooze of Burgundy & Cheese
- a spicy bouillabaisse
- Interesting subject but characters need more "life"
- Excellent read
- A very pleasant read!
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Hard Evidence (Cat Marsala)
Barbara D'Amato
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Series
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
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Women Sleuths
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| Mystery & Thrillers
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D'Amato, Barbara
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Similar Items:
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Hard Bargain (Cat Marsala)
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Hard Tack: A Cat Marsala Mystery
ASIN: 0425174123 |
Book Description
It starts with a soup bone.
Chicago freelance journalist Cat Marsala, relaxing at home after a long week's work reporting on the city's best restaurants, looks forward to a quiet evening with her semi-significant other, Dr. Sam Davidian; her parrot, Long John Silver; and her temporary houseguest, a Dalmatian named Dapper. As a special treat, Cat buys Dapper his very own soup bone at Chicago's most elegant and exotic food emporium, Spenser and Angelotti.
The Dalmatian is delighted with his bone, but his euphoria is short-lived when Sam, a trauma surgeon, snatches the bone away. One close look tells Sam that he and Cat will not enjoy the romantic evening they'd planned.
The bone is human, probably part of a large male's leg, which suggests two immediate problems: a murder may have occurred at the Spenser and Angelotti store and a potential health hazard may exist in the store's butcher shop and meat cases. Cat's purchase was packaged in plastic, tucked in next to the beef, lamb, and pork. How much meat has been contaminated? How many other customers will face similar surprises?
Cat gets on the phone to her longtime friend, Chicago's chief of detectives, Harold McCoo, who with the mayor, the medical examiner, and other officials, agrees to a deal. The store will do a five-times-your-money-back recall on its meat, and Cat and the cops will have twenty-four hours to find a killer before the story goes public and Spenser and Angelotti's reputation is trashed.
Co-owner Bruno Angelotti, desperate to preserve his beloved store's reputation, brings in Cat to work undercover in catering. If she has a good reason to be in the store, she can ask questions more easily and observe the employees in unguarded moments. Is one of them a killer? When Cat's car windshield is broken as a warning, it's clear that somebody, at least, does not want Cat nosing around Spenser and Angelotti. And that's only the beginning in a dangerous case that takes Cat and the reader deep inside the intriguing worlds of specialty foods and funeral homes. Somebody will stop at nothing, even another murder, to obscure the evidence of one of the most bizarre crimes Cat has ever encountered.
With all the ingredients that have made Barbara D'Amato's mysteries such favorites -- the puzzle, the research, the ensemble characters, the rich Chicago setting, the police detail -- Hard Evidence is powerful, page-turning entertainment from one of the very best of contemporary crime writers.
Customer Reviews:
Gourmet Grocery Bag w/Artistic Ooze of Burgundy & Cheese.......2005-09-06
Loved the leisurely beginning of an evening over dinner, the entertaining pet conflict, and the way it slipped easily into an engrossing situation of a human bone disrupting the peace.
I was drawn in wanting to know how the problems with the public exposure situation would evolve, and how the conundrum would be concluded of the grocery owners trying to cooperate with the murder investigation yet remain solvent. The reader wants such an enterprising, awesome gourmet grocery to be able to stay in business.
This is a special series in the sense that it has the ingredients of great mysteries worked by Cat Marsala, an investigative journalist, and her trauma surgeon boyfriend, Dr. Sam Dividian, who wants to be married to Cat, but she's dragging her independent woman's high heels. In some unusually intriguing ways, Cat tests Sam's ability to treat her as an equal, and his responses don't disappoint.
This is a winner series on which I've posted a Listmania, hoping to stimulate interest in the earlier books, some of which are (VERY wrongly and unfortunately) out of print and don't have cover graphics presented on Amazon. I was happy to see that the cover art is viewable on Ms. D'Amato's web site:
http://www.barbaradamato.com/books.html
Each of the Cat novels use her investigative journalism well in presenting interesting insider tidbits into various subcultures which relate to the case/theme at hand.
In this book, the gourmet grocery daily routine work machinations are to drool for, and the contrast to insider forensic and funereal dealings with vacated bodies is definitely an effective relief from one to the other. How ironically appropriate (and fascinating) for a culinary mystery to dig into the dirt and jewels of two industries so uncomfortably on opposite ends of the stomach workings continuum.
If I could use a magic wand to surge a new lease of life force into this series I would be happy to do so. It deserves to remain on the shelves for at least a few more decades.
Likely Barbara was at the Bouchercon (World Mystery Writers Conference) in Chicago this past weekend. Possibly she made some contacts which will renew a publisher's commitment to this series. I hope so.
Linda G. Shelnutt
a spicy bouillabaisse.......2001-01-06
one part essay on food and food customs(including menus, recipes and a glimpse at meat processing), one part lesson in anatomy and one part introduction to embalmimg all simmered in a classic whodunit base.authoritative and entertaining narration and steady pacing.
Interesting subject but characters need more "life".......2000-07-24
There were lots of things that interested me about this book--reading about the gourmet food industry, what it must be like catering to the rich and famous etc. But I did not come away from this book caring about any of the main characters--Cat Marala, the heroine, her boyfriend doctor Sam, her coworkers etc. The only one that came off believable was the italian co-owner Angelotti--you could feel his pain as news of the human bones found in the soupbones closed down the business. I enjoyed "listening" to the woman in the store lecture on the uses of olive oil and the details of how precise and prepared you need to be to be a top notch caterer. Maybe this wasnt her best book, I may try again....
Excellent read.......1999-07-19
Hello- Amazon - what is a review of Hard Bargain doing being included with Hard Evidence?
I had a hard time reading Hard Bargain, but I bought Hard Evidence and finished up Hard Bargain so I coudl get to the next one. I don't know now why Hard Bargain was hard to finish. I put it away until Hard Evidence came out and then finished the one before I read the other. Kat Marsala is an excelelnt character. I must confess I started reading these in the library and then went to used bookstores to add them to my collection, but once I got started I've been faithful.
I recommend this and all of Barbara D'Amatos works to all those who love a good mystery and have the skill to suspend their disbelief. Who reads to solve the problems of the world? Read for pleasure and enjoyment. There is time enough to work on the problems of the world in daily life without working during your leisure hours.
A very pleasant read!.......1999-07-06
Good plot, good characters, and some witty repartee. Better than the last one I read, Hard Christmas (I've so far missed Hard Bargain).
Average customer rating:
- Best of Both Worlds...
- Way better than CSI
- Science and the evil that men do
- An Accurate Portrait of the FBI Laboratory
- A Good Primer on Forensics
|
Hard Evidence
David Fisher
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Criminology
| Crime & Criminals
| Nonfiction
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True Crime
| True Accounts
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ASIN: 0440222362
Release Date: 1996-05-02 |
Book Description
Hard Evidence reveals, for the very first time in print, what goes on in the FBI's modern sci-crime lab--and it will dramatically alter your understanding of crime detection. Here you will learn the behind-the-scenes stories of the truly remarkable work done in each of the lab's twelve units, told by the agents who actually conducted the investigations.
A sampling of the chapter titles will give you a sense of the readability of this riveting book:
--The Little Green Specks Of Death: The Chemistry/Toxicology Unit
--Putting The World Back Together: The Explosives Unit
--Threads Of Evidence: The Hairs and Fiber Unit
--Number One With A Bullet: The Firearms and Toolmarks Unit
Customer Reviews:
Best of Both Worlds..........2005-03-24
As a student majoring in Criminology, I read many True Crime books, however I found that this one included the best of both worlds: it was technically accurate as well as intellectually engrossing. The only reason I put this book down was to jot down notes for personal future reference! I think David Fisher did a great job on this one (even if it is based soley on interviews with the FBI's brilliant staff...)
Way better than CSI.......2004-10-24
I love forensics! From the very first episode of CSI I was hooked on Sci-crime sleuths. I love the idea of "silent witnesses", things like DNA, paint chips, a strand of hair, being able to put even the cleverest of criminals behind bars. But "Hard Evidence" makes CSI look like a high school science project. Fisher's book deals with the real cases that have impacted our lives. Historical and contemporary. Perhaps the most interesting was how the FBI was able to find out not only how, but who was responsible for the destruction of the PanAm flight over Lockerbie Scotland from a single piece of plastic no larger than a thumbnail. Fisher's style is easy to read yet informative and detailed at the same time. He makes the lab and the people who work in it come alive. Although some of the material is dated by today's standards, it's still a fascinating read. I'd love to see him write an updated version.
Science and the evil that men do.......2002-12-03
"Hard Evidence" was published in 1995, after the first bombing of the World Trade Center but well before the second. It is fascinating to learn how the FBI and other law enforcement agents were able to catch the original bombers so quickly, through forensic evidence left at the bomb site. Many of the most interesting cases in this book involve bombs, including the explosion of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland that was eventually traced to the Libyans, the extortionist who was blowing up transmission towers in the Pacific Northwest, and the package bomb that killed federal judge Robert Vance. The FBI really shines in cases such as these, where sometimes thousands of pieces of potential evidence have to be analyzed, and hundreds of leads have to be followed--which makes me a bit uneasy about our current Administration's effort to turn FBI agents into something other than the world's best crime solvers.
Sometimes there is very little evidence: a tiny chip of pink paint off of a girl's bicycle convicted one murderer; a partial egg casing from a body louse, another.
Inside the FBI's sci-crime lab, the author divides his narrative between the Chemistry/Toxicology Unit, Explosives, Hairs and Fiber, Latent Fingerprint and DNA Analysis, Documents, Firearms and Toolmarks, and the Special Photography, Video Enhancement, and Polygraph Units. He uses obscure cases as well as famous ones to illuminate the techniques employed by each group of experts. FBI forensic scientists have to become experts in arcana that most of us wouldn't think about in a life-time.
(Unless we plan to commit a federal crime. Then we'd better think hard about all of them. It worries me that the copy of "Hard Evidence" I read was heavily underlined, especially in the chapter on explosives).
Some of the cases in "Hard Evidence" depended upon expertise in identifying the origin of a feather, showing the difference between wig and Barbie doll hair, and intimate knowledge of the process used to manufacture plastic garbage bags.
I did find one minor misstatement in the author's discussion of body fluids left at crime scenes: forensic dentistry helped convict Theodore Bundy, but it was the bite-mark pattern left by the assailant, not the saliva left in the wound as stated in this book. The forensic dentist recognized that the murderer had a chip on his front tooth that made a unique pattern on his victim. He was then able to recreate the identical pattern using the model of Bundy's teeth.
Even so, "Hard Evidence" is a good read. Those who are already knowledgeable about forensics and American crime will find never-before-published cases that illuminate even the most obscure connection between science and the evil that men do.
An Accurate Portrait of the FBI Laboratory.......2001-06-01
As one of the FBI Lab personnel interviewed by Mr. Fisher I can attest that his presentation of the material reported in his excellent book is accurate. I was impressed with his thoroughness during the time he spent in the Lab conducting his interviews and reviewing case facts. And, even though I was intimately familiar with much of the material contained in the book, I was still fascinated by Fisher's perspective and his ability to weave the material into a thrilling portrait of actual forensic scientists at work. An excellent read!
A Good Primer on Forensics.......2001-03-13
This book provides a good overview of what the world's best crime lab can do. Unfortunatley, like anything else this day and age, in the six years since it was written, there have been many advancements. A revised addition would certainly be in order.
Books:
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
- Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response Manual and Desk Reference
- Heart of a Dog
- High Country Bride (The McKettrick Series #1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- Into Temptation (Lytton Family Trilogy)
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