Book Description
âEureka!â
In an age of open-mindedness, many believers accept too much with too little discernment, resulting in great confusion and compromise. But God’s Word makes it clear that not everything that glitters is gold. False teaching is at every turn, and the temptation to embrace it is great. As God’s people we are called to sift through the overwhelming number of traditions and trends and use the truth of Scripture to determine which are the true treasuresâand which are âfool’s gold.â
General editor John MacArthur and the contributors of this uncompromising book define the principles of biblical discernment and use them to address several contemporary Christian issues. They provide straightforward, biblical critiques of some popular but unfortunate Christian trends, such as watered-down preaching and doctrinally questionable best-selling books. Dr. MacArthur ends with a practical plan for cultivating discernment in the Christian life.
It is the duty of every Christianânot just pastors and eldersâto follow the biblical command to cling to what is good and to reject what is not. This book will equip you with a foundation for biblical discernment that will enable you to make careful distinctions in your thinking about truth.
Customer Reviews:
The Need for Discernment.......2007-08-03
Introduction:
How are we to distinguish gold from "fool's gold"? This is a question that perplexed many in the 1800's with the "gold rush" that swept the many hopefuls that left all behind in search for fortune. In Fool's Gold?, John MacArthur, along with other staff members from Grace Community Church, tackle a wide variety of trends in the evangelical world that seem to offer hope and answers, when in fact they might be a bit misleading. All that glitters is not gold.
Book Structure:
There are four parts to the book. In the first part, MacArthur unabashedly calls for discernment rooted in Scripture, offering three points from 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22. Having established a foundation for biblical discernment, he then presents the negative results of "watered-down" preaching which seems to pervade the contemporary Christian community today. In the second part, four different popular books are addressed and critiqued from a biblical standpoint-in a way modeling for the reader what it looks like to employ biblical discernment: 1. Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life; 2. N.T. Wright's What Saint Paul Really Said; 3. John Eldredge's Wild at Heart; and 4. The Resolve New Testament Bible-zine for girls. The third part deals with very provocative issues such as contemporary Christian music, "altar calls" and invitations to "receive Christ into your heart," the Christian's approach to politics, and the consumeristic mind-set that many adopt within the church. And the finally, the book concludes with a doctrinal and practical framework to implement as one seeks to discern which hills are worth dying on and to live a life much like the Bereans, who Luke tells us in Acts 17 were of "noble character" because they "received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (v.11, emphasis added).
Notable Quotes:
* "If the current current hunger for ecumenical compromise, pragmatic sanctification, and numerical success continues to gain a foothold within evangelicalism, it will result in an unmitigated spiritual disaster....The church will never manifest its power in society until we regain a passionate love for truth and corollary hatred for error" (pp.14,15).
* "...worship is a transcendent experience. Worship should take us above the mundane and simplistic. So the only way true worship can occur is if we first come to grips with the depth of spiritual truth. Our people can only rise high in worship in the same proportion to which we have taken them deep into the profound truths of the Word. There is no way they can have lofty thoughts of God unless we have plunged them into the depths of God's self-revelation" (p.38).
* "So let the man who searches for true masculinity look no further than the pages of Scripture, for there he will find the truth about himself from the mouth of his Creator. Let his ears not be tickled by the whims of men, but let his mind be trained by the Word of God. And before any man looks for his battle to fight, his beauty to rescue, and his adventure to live, let him first look to his God to glorify" (p.95).
* "Our only sure defense against false doctrine is to be discerning, to distrust our own emotions, to hold our own senses suspect, to examine all things, to test every truth-claim with the yardstick of Scripture, and to handle the Word of God with great care" (p.199).
Conclusion:
I heartily endorse this book to any Christian who seeks honor God and show discernment in what he reads and what he meditates on. I wish the authors would have tackled a few more popular books like Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now and some of the emerging church books that seem to popping up everywhere. Overall, I think the authors did a great job in laying a foundation in the Word for discernment and then demonstrating what that looks like in some books (many of which I have read have benefited from). There a few minor criticisms I have of the book, but they in no way undermine the overall flow that makes this a great read as we can expect from John MacArthur.
If we lose the ability to discern, then we lose the ability to distinguish truth from error; when this occurs, our gospel becomes vulnerable to the onslaught of false speculations and lofty ideas that present themselves against the Truth. We then become confused and apathetic to the essentials of our faith, thinking it only a matter of preference.
May we all be known for our discernment as we test everything and hold on to the good (1 Thess. 4:21) and in so doing, God will receive the glory!
Discernment in a balanced forum.......2007-07-10
Unlike many articles written to counter political or religious differences, the ones I have read in this book are balanced, Christlike and were written in an attitude of caution and warning. I appreciate the candor that does not cross over into angry dogma, even willing to see the good side of some of the trends they caution against. Any discerning Christian should appreciate the desire of the authors to carefully analyze the thoughts and practices around us in light of Scripture. Too often we find ourselves going through the motions of typical church procedures, or following the trends of popular Christian books and leaders without stopping to think about whether our doing so is Scriptural. These authors remind us that "Sola Scriptura" or Only Scripture should be our guide, while tradition, trends and other guidelines should be carefully thought through. Like the Bereans who Paul commended, let us "search the Scriptures daily to determine whether these things are true."
This books shows the problems of modern evangelicalism.......2007-06-08
Considering the sad state of modern evangelicalism books like these should be published more and more to combat the consumer mentality among modern-day evangelicals. The book deals with various issues with the problems of contemporary evangelicalism.
One of the key essays in the book is Nathan Busenitz's thoughtful critique of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven program. Though he does not bash Warren, he gives a careful critique of why Warren's program is unbiblical in many ways (especially Warren's use of Scripture and weak theological foundations). Those enamored with this movement should read this chapter. You'll realize just how off Warren is on many issues.
Another good essay is Phil Johnson's critique of the New Perspective on Paul. He ably provides evidence why the NPP is anti-orthodox and anti-Protestant. That it undermines sola fide and should not be accepted by orthodox evangelical Christians. I really liked how he treated Wright's understanding of justification, the law, righteousness, and imputation. Those Reformed people who embrace the NPP are nothing more than a bunch of theonomic cattle farmers who obviously need to loosen their collars a bit.
I also liked Johnson's other essay on Christians and politics. This essay is based on Matthew 5:16. Johnson rightly argues that this verse should not be used by Christians to implement some socio-political program on earth (as those theonomic corn farmers like to advocate, I can't stand those guys), but about individual Christians making a positive impact in their society by being salt and light to the world by bearing good fruit.
Other good essays include Daniel Gillespie's critique of John Eldridge's "Wild at Heart" (yes, you must stop reading his stuff because it is harmful to your masculinity and spirituality) and Rick Holland's essay on the teenage girl directed "The Revolve New Testament" (ech...how low will Christian publishing companies go just to be "cool" and "mainstream").
Other well written essays include Carey Hardy's essay on the legitimacy of modern-day alter calls, Kurt Gebhards' criticism of Western consumerism (oh yeah, did you know that excessive materialism is condemned in Scripture? Oh, who would have known!), and Dan Dumas' touching yet instructive essay on doctrinal discernment (I agree with Dumas that Christians cannot believe what THEY WANT TO BELIEVE...sheesh).
MacArthur's essay on worship songs is okay. As long as worship songs are not heretical and/or hyped up by modern instruments, I believe that it is okay (yes, it is okay to use Matt Redman's songs during Sunday service).
Overall, I highly recommend this book to all Christians - clergy or lay - who want a better understanding of the problems of modern evangelicalism. Many of you will be surprised to know that what your church promotes may be non or anti-biblical. It will be up to you, after reading this book, to stay in your stubborn disobedience to God or to truly seek God and obey his truth.
Test all things .......2007-02-04
The book of essays from a variety of writers, encourages the reader to have a miner's discrimination and fortitude applied to discerning -- truth and error. This book urges a return to the authority of Scripture which is much needed. Sound teaching is in short supply and this book was a refreshing find.
Detecting a spiritual counterfeit requires discipline. Titus 1:9 "holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
Each chapter addresses a different subject on trends or false teaching. Part Two: Practicing discernment in your local bookstore was one of the most helpful sections of the book. An evaluation of four popular best-sellers books are biblically discerned by the writers with Scripture. The concluding chapter of the book gives practical and biblical instruction on applying discernment by the sufficiency of Scripture. God's Word is an anchor in our faith, and it provides instruction on how to evaluate and test - every spiritual message we receive and discern between trends, traditions and truth. 2 Tim 3:16,17
Learn to Discern.......2007-01-24
MacArthur puts together a wonderful thought-provoking book concerning the lack of discernment by the church today. I'm so heart sick to see how many Christians buy into every new book and trend that attracts the masses. Much of the church has not hidden the Word in their hearts and have been led astray by an "American pop-culture gospel" which is no Gospel at all.
Get this book and you will find that it points you to the Scripture... as every book should do. God's Word ought to be the centerpiece to all that we do as a church. MacArthur really shows his love and respect for the Word of God.
However, I would like to point out something in the book that I thought was off base. In chapter 4 Phil Johnson discusses 'New Perspective Theology.' He really pushes N.T. Wright into a category that he doesn't belong. I believe New Perspective Theology is misrepresented by Mr. Johnson. His case sounds good, but he doesn't present New Perspective Theology in full. N.T. Wright is only trying to broaden our understanding of "justification by faith." A closer study of first century Judaism will prove that. Mr. Johnson defends the understanding of "justification" taught by Luther and the reformers years after Paul. It is peculiar that he doesn't mention Luther's view on the book of James, Revelation, etc. It certainly would not have helped his case.
If the truth be known, Luther's understanding of "justification" comes amidst the Catholic teachings (legalism & paganism) concerning indulgences, works salvation, and so on. Luther had a particular axe to grind with the gospel presented by the "church" of his day. We certainly respect much of Luther's work, but we better recognize that the buck doesn't stop with Luther. Luther's agenda is no secret.
We want to understand "justification" and "righteousness" the way Paul's hearers would have heard it in the first century, not through the eyes of a reformed catholic like Luther. Even if you are committed to reformed theology... you must ask yourself, "Am I concerned with what Paul meant when he wrote Romans... or Luther's 16th century interpretation of what Paul wrote?" The answer should be obvious.
I recommend you read Paul: In Fresh Perspective by N.T. Wright before you take Mr. Johnson's word for it. And this is the very point of the book. Discern!
Book Description
The brilliant conclusion to the "fascinating" (Anne McCaffrey) Fool's Gold trilogy, The Rose of the World features one of the most dynamic and charismatic heroines to ever grace the pages of a fantasy novel. The godlike entity, Rosa Eldi, has escaped the clutches of the evil sorcerer Rahe. But will she regain her memory and restore her world before man's baser nature triumphs and brings ruin to Elda forever?
Customer Reviews:
Not the Most Compelling Trilogy.......2007-03-28
Fool's Gold is not the most compellling trilogy I've ever read. But I did like the first book enough to buy the others. There are three major groups of people -- Scandinavian-like, Mid-east-like and Gypsy-like, who interact, fight and are mistreated. There is an awful lot of violence, as wars are fought for foolish reasons and unlikely quests are made from greed. The characters are varied and some are quite likeable. There are a couple of real meanies who seem to be completely evil. Sexual language and situations are rampant, but more amusing than anything else. The southern cities seem to be much the same in description. There is a lot of killing, but the resurrection rate is high.
Woah!!.......2006-07-04
This book sums up the trilogy perfectly. Captivating from the beginning to the end, I have to blame this book for 2 - 3 late projects, but at the same time thank it for one of the most captivating reads i have had yet. The story was well paced and delivered with immaculate style. The constant swapping between caricatures was a stroke of genius, I was never left waiting and wondering what was happening with the many other caricatures.
11/10, one of the best reads i have had for a long time
Brilliant!.......2006-07-01
I have never posted a review before, but then I'd never written to an author before to say how much I loved a book either - until I read the final part of the Fool's Gold trilogy, Rose of the World. I might still not have written a review had I not noticed the number of negative postings while I was searching for more by Jude Fisher - okay, we all have different tastes, but I was still amazed; after all, Jude Fisher had just joined my list of favourite authors, alongside Tad Williams, George RR Martin, Tolkien and Robert Jordan!
I'm not a literary critic and I struggle to explain why I was so enthralled by this story. I love remote Scottish islands and Norwegian fiords and perhaps I felt an empathy with the people and landscapes of Katla Arensen's world. But a novel needs characters who make that world come to life - and that's what happens here. I liked having characters who made mistakes; who sometimes survived more through luck than judgment, but who are infinitely more real than the chisel-jawed Robert Langdons of popular literature. Surely having less-than-perfect characters only adds to the unpredictability of the story? I suppose I'm saying that Jude Fisher's characters (both human and divine) have depth and, therefore, believability.
I also found it a refreshing change for an author to treat me like a grown-up. This is not a trilogy for children; if it was, the often graphic sexual references and the horrors of death and sadism would have been toned down into euphemism and goodies killing baddies who deserved to get their comeuppance!
So please, do not be put off by some of the other reviews. If you enjoy fantasy by the authors I've mentioned, and especially if you like Mary Gentle's `Ash' and `1610', then I'm certain you'll love this. Rose of the World is a brilliant book which concludes a brilliant trilogy. I, for one, want to read more about the adventures of Saro, Tam and Katla. A definite 5 stars!
A brilliant series.......2006-06-27
I never post reviews normally, but I was so flabbergasted by the negative reviews posted for this excellent book, the end to what I think is one of the finest epic series I've ever read, that I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. I've passed The Fool's Gold trilogy on to my mom, my aunt, my cousins and lots of friends and they've all loved it, so I really don't understand where all this negativity is coming from. I like the way the story goes from character to character - it gives a sense of how huge this fantasy world is, and the balance Jude Fisher strikes between the cosmic and magical and the real human stories is quite breathtaking. There are flaws, sure: but there's no such thing as a perfect book, right? And I think the flaws (the end is just a bit too neatly done for my liking - I think maybe it should have been 4 books, not 3) suggest that when this interesting writer produces another book, she will be even better. If you like George RR Martin's Ice and Fire books, or Robin Hobb's Assassin series, you'll love this trilogy, I promise you. Don't take any notice of the reviews: get hold of a copy and make your own mind up. For me 5 stars.
It's not all bad, but it does have issues.......2006-04-16
Three ? stars. This is a very large and awkward book, but I'm not sure that it deserves the flack that the other readers are delivering. Admittedly, there are flaws. However, it wasn't that bad. I just skipped most of the stuff about Aran Aranson, like I did in the last book (Not Interested in the greedy idiot!). I do think that Jude Fisher either tried to tie things up to neatly within the trilogy or just tried to fit to many characters into a trilogy. The flaw might be a combination of both of these comments. I didn't find it that confusing of difficult, just to reliant upon convenience (oh, we just tripped over a god, lets go finish this?!?) to bring the characters together for the "final showdown." The conclusion is a far cry from my hopes when the series started. If you liked Sorcery Rising, please try Jennifer Fallon's Second Son's Trilogy or Transformation, Revelation, and Restoration by Carol Berg (avoid most of the D'Arnath stuff).
Book Description
The brilliant follow-up to Sorcery Rising and the continuation of the "fascinating" (Anne McCaffrey) Fool's Gold trilogy penned by Jude Fisher-a major U.K. publisher who oversees all of J.R.R. Tolkien's work.
Customer Reviews:
Good Service.......2007-08-18
The book arrived promptly and was in excellent condition but I haven't had a chance to read it yet.
Wild Magic has more cliches than I have fingers and toes........2006-08-17
It used to be a time when I would devour and nearly gulp down whole any book that was a fantasy novel. It didn't matter if it was good or bad or in between, to my hungry young mind, it was all worth it. Now that a few decades have passed, I've gotten more picky about what I read any more. And to my sorrow, most of the time my instincts will prove out right.
Wild Magic is author Jude Fisher's second book in the Fool's Gold trilogy. Picking up right where the first book, Sorcery Rising leaves off, it continues the mysterious goings on in a world that is somewhat close to our own. There are the Eyrans, a blend of hardy, Viking-like seafarers and warriors, and the Istrians, a somewhat more civilized country of fire-worshippers whose treatment of women make the Taliban look like pro-feminists. Every few years, the two nations gather for treaties, marriage arrangements, sports and trading in the AllFair. But a series of insults, botched betrothals and imagined sacrilege has strained relations between the two nations to the brink of war. Caught in between the warring states are the Footloose, nomads who trade trinkets and charms to make their living, and now the Istrians are hunting them down and burning them alive to their fire-goddess, Fala.
What started the entire mess is Virelai, a sorcerer's apprentice who has imprisioned his master, Rahe (the Magnificent) in his artic fortress, and fled with the sorcerous cat, Bete and the Rosa Eldi, the Rose of the World, a woman whose pale beauty incites unbearable lust in men, and plenty of jealousy in women. But the Rose has avoided being sold off to an Istrian lord by marrying the King of Eyra, Ravn, instead. Now Virelai has taken refuge with the Istrian, conjuring forbidden magic using the nasty tempered Bete, and discovering that his own powers are dwindling. Maybe leaving Rahe's fortress of Sanctuary wasn't such a good idea.
Among the Istrians, there's the two brothers, Saro -- a gentle young man who is more inclined to books rather than warfare, and Tanto, hideously maimed and unmanned, and a cad to boot. Saro has recieved a 'gift' from a dying nomad that is bringing him nothing but horrors, something that his brother gleefully exploits. And the Lord of Cantara, Tycho, has been bewitched with a case of priapism that makes Viagra look like children's aspirin.
Then there's the Eyrans, starting with the folk of Rockfall. Aran is determined to raid Sanctuary -- seems that Virelai was selling 'maps' to the hidden stronghold -- and has sent his sons Halli and Fint to coerce the best shipbuilder in the kingdom to make a craft that can withstand the voyage. But his daughter, Katla, who was nearly burnt alive by outraged Istrians, tricks her brother, and takes his place. Now not only does she have to survive among a crew of mummers and cutthroats, but evading the lustful advances of their leader, Tam. Oh yes, not only is Katla a flaming redhead, but she's also a blacksmith with budding magical abilities of her own.
Then there are the Footloose and assorted other characters sprinkled throughout the book. There are about a dozen different ways of making magic, from the spell-casting breath of Bete, visions in crystals, abilities to sense shifts in the earth, and love spells and cantrips that seem to have a mind of their own. And then there's the reawakening of the Rose, who may have the most fearsome magic of all.
Does it all sound confusing?
As with most middle novels, this one does little to carry the story forward. Most of the book is taken up with various characters bemoaning their fate, setting off to get this or that, plenty of sex -- indeed, male lust and the easing thereof is a major component of the story -- and a rather cheerless, humorless series of bloody events and malice. Unlike the first novel which managed to hang onto a sense of humor and had a lively sense of going on with the events of the Allfair, this one just grinds on.
Young lovers drown, sea monsters attack, plenty of women either being raped or sent to flaming pyres, nasty thoughts, malicious mothers-in-law, or just plain mothers, an irritating cat with a bad temper and worse halitosis, and other gimcrackery that borrows from everything and everywhere. While Fisher does manage to create some vivid imagery and narrative, it's such a downer of a book that I kept finding my interest wandering and doing other things while I tried to wade through this sad-sack of a novel.
Will I bother to go on and read the third novel? Probably, since I already have a copy, but otherwise, I don't think I would have bothered. It's rather sad when an author starts out with a few really great ideas, but then runs out of steam halfway through the three-book contract. While the story does start to get interesting about a third of a way through -- this is a massive, bloated novel of more than six hundred pages -- it's hardly enough to keep the reader motivated. A great deal of it is spent reviewing or rehashing the first book, and more of it with the characters going on and on about the mess they are in, or just ruminating.
I'm just glad I didn't plunk the money down for the hardback editions and held out for the mass market paperbound releases. Just barely three stars for this entry in the series.
Once again, a somewhat recommend.
Are you serious...........2005-06-14
I read the first book and was not too impressed. Jude Fisher does not give the readers any credit and explains situations and plots too many times. There were a few characters that were interesting enough to keep my interest, so I decided to read the second book to appease my curiosity.
Mistake.
The second book is worse than the first. I didn't even bother reading the rest of it. There were only two situations that she wrote about that were remotely interesting and believable. The rest of her characters are just plain uninteresting and their daily struggles are not portrayed well enough for a reader to care about. Her books require no brain thought. She makes it too easy to read. I don't know what else to say.
I guess I could write a few lines that could impress all of you and hope that you find my review helpful, but frankly, her story has no magic too it. Oh Fisher Fans go ahead and leave me a "not helpful vote," just because you don't agree with me. You already enjoy her mediocre writing and this review wouldn't really be helping you at all.
I am frankly shocked by the rest of these reviews. I wonder if we read the same book...
Bishop may be a New York best selling author but her story is weak and needs to be tossed in the trash. Check out Robin Hobb or Anne Bishop if you want more of a challenge.
Fantastic!.......2004-04-14
It is amazing how, she Jude Fisher does it. You fallow all these caracter's lives, how they think what they want. I think it was absolutly amazing peace of work! And can't wait for the third one, will tie everything to gether, all the while reading this you wonder what will hapend, because the caracters take such sudden changes, so manythings happen that you didn't expect to happpend. It's a one of the best Fantasy novels I have ever read.
Fatally slow first half.......2004-01-27
Wild magic walks the world again after centuries of rest. The Rose of the World cannot remember everything but her powers are returning. The cat/beast is still held in captivity, but it is increasingly able to serve its own interests. And the old man has begun to awaken. But before the three are completely empowered, mortal men have much to do. Saro must suffer his family's abuse while the death-stone he carries makes him share their worst memories, Aran Aranson must make his doomed voyage into the ice flows in search of mythical gold. His daughter, Katla Arensen adventures in search of a ship designer, then finds herself forced to do woman's work. Virelai, once apprentice to the great wizzard needs to discover his true calling and escapte the bondage of those who use him. And the great female mercenary, Mam seeks work for her troop.
Author Jude Fisher writes a frustrating combination of fabulous world-building with one-dimensional characters. Katla is a brat-tomboy. Her brother is a crazy coward. Her father is obsessed. Saro is a whiny baby. His brother is a cowardly bully. Growth comes slowly to these characters, especially as few of them are pursuing any particular goal (this makes for fine realism but disappointing reading). Of the major characters, only Aran Aranson seems to have a goal. On the other hand, Fisher's world is fascinating with its different cultures, religions, and the strange trinity that created it and still plays an active force within it.
The first half of the novel is slow sledding. Characters wander around without much purpose, fighting and dying without achieving anything. Once Aran completes his ship, however, Fisher seems to get her second wind and the pace of the story and my interest as a reader picked up as well. Relatively little of the first half is really necessary for the story (the kidnapping of the ship builder could have been handled in the preface) but readers must still labor through it.
WILD MAGIC is a definite step up from the first novel in this series, SORCERY RISING and gives me hope that Fisher will pull things together in the third volume.
Average customer rating:
- Fool's Gold
- A must-read book for young and old readers alike.
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Fool's Gold
Zilpha Keatley Snyder , and
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Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
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Binding: Hardcover
 Snyder, Zilpha Keatley
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ASIN: 0385309082
Release Date: 1993-03-01 |
Book Description
For as long as he can remember, people have warned fourteen-year-old Rudy and other kids in the neighborhood not to play in Pyramid Hill's abandoned gold mines. Even Rudy's best friend, Barney, a true daredevil, won't go near those cavernous death traps. That is, until Tyler Lewis moves in from L.A. Ty's determined to go in, and he's got a map.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Fool's Gold.......2001-09-18
This book is a good story about true friendships, crushes and just live in general. I think that any person of any age would enjoy this book. If your looking for adventure then you might want to check out this book. It is very dangerous and exciting.
So try and read this book in your spare time!
A must-read book for young and old readers alike........1999-09-12
This book was basically about friendship and making the right choices. I learned that if you make a choice that goes against your conscience, one must suffer the bitter consequences. In this book, two main characters were best friends, and they thought it would be that way forever. But when a new dare-devil boy came along, one of the boys went with his conscience, and the other went against it. The boy who went with his gut feelings, in a way, did the right thing, yet, in this case, he lost his only real friend to the rude boy, who had stomped in and destroyed the two boy's relationship. This book was very well-written, awesomely descriptive, and taught a very important lesson in the midst of a story packed with mystery, suspense, and an interesting, fast-paced plot. Yes, indeed, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Book Description
Richard Miniter skewers the sacred cow of market share and debunks the conventional wisdom that corporate profits rise as you grab more territory in the marketplace.
Market share is the fool’s gold of modern business. In reality, companies that maximize market share end up minimizing profits, while their smarter rivals earn higher returns. Three times out of four, on average, the most profitable firm is not the one with the largest slice of the market. Yet the myth of market share continues to hobble and kill great companies, while smaller competitors dig out real profits. Executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and regulators will learn why megamergers often fail, brand extensions wither, and stocks tumble. The Myth of Market Share also reveals a positive and proven strategy for transforming a company into a profit leader.
Richard Miniter recounts many cautionary tales of great companies that refused to change—and outlines the practical plans of those that changed and flourished. Managers and investors will profit from knowing why Dell prospers by treating market share as a benchmark, not as a goal. Executives and entrepreneurs can retool their strategies by examining the case studies in this book, including Ryanair, an upstart Irish air carrier that transformed itself into the world’s most profitable airline; International Paper, a manufacturing Goliath that tried to buy success; Boeing, the plane maker that pulled out of a steep dive by jettisoning its market share strategies; and DaimlerChrysler, the carmaker that stalled when it tried to be all things to all people.
By providing a road map for persuading doubtful colleagues and leading a company to profit leadership, The Myth of Market Share is an entertaining, historical review and leadership tutorial, delivering proven strategies for generating long-term profits and sustainable growth during these uncertain times.
From the eBook edition.
Customer Reviews:
Definitive guide on the concept of "Market Share".......2006-09-04
The theme of this book can be summarized in pg 15 as follows: "Market share should simply be seen as a by product, a secondary effect, of pursuing a company's core mission. Market share is not an advantage by itself. It is the result of a sustainable competitive advantage, not the cause."
To support his core message, the author, using plenty of secondary research data and case studies (Dell, Ryannair, Sony, Daimler Chrysler, Microsoft, Boeing, Visa....), hit hard on the "Market Share" myths, including:-
- Leadership = Market Power
- Size naturally creates higher returns
- Economiies of scale kick in
- The experience curve improves efficiency
- Quality management (good staff attracted by size) leads to growth
Furthermore, insightful discussions are made on why myths persist, why profit leaders beat market leaders, and of course, exceptions owing to networked markets.
Definitely a very resourceful book for those who needs to write a thesis on the topic or to make strategic decisions for any company. Highly recommended!
A Must for those exploring Consumer Products.......2006-03-05
I have over 15 year experience in the food and beverage industry. Market share in the malt beverage industry is very competitive. The standard measure for judging success with in the segment has always been market share. I have represented the largest brewer to some of the smallest. In representing many specialty and micro brands, market share was not as important to retailers and distributors as profitibility. This book details the impact of distribution, marketing, pricing, merchandising, customer service, branding and many other concepts. The book is full of examples from all types of companies. It is a great refresher and also can give you different views on rewriting your resume or brushing up for interviews.
Bigger is not always better!.......2003-06-10
Heard the taped version of THE MYTH OF MARKET SHARE by
Richard Miniter, which presents an interesting concept that says that
being the biggest player in a market doesn't mean that you will make the
most profits . . . in fact, the opposite is often true; i.e., the
bottom line is that size does NOT automatically lead to profits.
According to Miniter, there are three types of companies in every line of
business: the profit leaders, which make the most money; the market
leaders, which have the largest share of the market; and everyone else.
And the goal, at least as it seems to me, should be to become the
profit leader. Such a company doesn't go in for the dangerous
discounts that sap the strength of its brands in pursuing market share.
It avoids foolish mergers for the sake of size. And it focuses on the
customer, rather than on the competition.
The above might seem easier said than done, but real-life examples
(Mobil, Roche Diagnostics, Dell, etc.) so how this can be accomplished.
As a result, I liked the book and would recommend it, if just for the
conclusion which drives home this key marketing point:
In contrast, companies that are profit leaders can usually survive and
gain a larger share of the market--as long as they continue to focus
on giving the customers precisely what they want, at a profit.
good concept, mediocre writing.......2003-02-21
The concept is a good one. Too many times we hear that a sale must be won or the competition will get it (regardless of profit). Unfortunately, those executives who need Mr. Miniter's message the most will probably never hear or understand it.
Unfortunately for the book, the author's writing style is mostly surface gloss and generalized facts and figures that "supports" his points. He cites numerous company examples, but I walked away with the feeling that each one was much more complex than he leads the reader to beleive and there were many more variables to the success or failure being presented as "evidence". I have little doubt that he has a good point, but I don't think he backs it up very well.
Case in point: On Page 94, he talks about the Smart car and questions why Daimler would venture into the small car market with such an introduction. Actually, they did not create the car, a small independant maker did and they acquired it. The story of this independant car maker and Daimler's insistance in buying them out would have made more interesting reading and could have added to the depth of the book.
Concept 4 stars, writing 2 stars
Book Description
Jane Jakeman is back, with her signature "crisp, vividly evocative prose, interesting people, arresting plot, and unusual background."* More consuming than any mystery is Lord Ambrose's ardor for a down-on-her-luck governess. To have her hand would bring him untold joy, but when she refuses his proposal, Ambrose smarts from the pain-and has a premonition of something awful.
Governess Elisabeth has taken up a post as companion to Lady Jesmond when the family doctor is poisoned to death. It looks like a suicide, but couldn't be. Elisabeth knows that the one person capable of solving this mystery is Ambrose. And soon, he too is embroiled in the sinister goingson at Jesmond Place.
Customer Reviews:
great Ambrose historical mystery .......2006-02-08
In 1833, for the first time in his life, Lord Ambrose finds a passionate desire to be with Elisabeth Anstruther, the governess to Edmund Crawshay, whose parents were recently murdered. Ambrose arranged for the child to be educated while proposing marriage to the lovely Elisabeth. To his dismay she refuses to wed him and instead accepts a post as a companion to Lady Jesmond, about thirty miles from Ambrose's home Malfine.
Elisabeth and Ambrose exchange letters in which she tells him that her companion wants to learn French and that Sir Antony of Jesmond Place is an invalid cared for by young Dr. John Kelsoe. However, the last correspondence states that Dr. Kelsoe was found dead in his bed; local Dr. Langbridge found a vial of prussic acid near the corpse so declared suicide by poisoning, but Elisabeth has doubts as he was in good spirits. Ambrose arrives more to insure the safety of his beloved though he knows part of accomplishing this includes investigating whether a homicide occurred.
As with LET THERE BE BLOOD and THE EGYPTIAN COFFIN, the latest Ambrose historical mystery is a delightful tale that brings to life 1830s England's West Country inside a strong investigative tale. Ambrose is terrific as he is in love, but the woman of his dreams though she likes him and perhaps loves him, believes she must move on in her life. The inquiry into whether a murder or a suicide occured is deftly handled so that the audience keeps wondering and wanting to know more as Jane Jakeman provides a wonderful entry in one of the best early nineteenth century mystery series.
Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
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Fool's Gold
Brian Hutchinson
Manufacturer: House of Collectibles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0676970982 |
Book Description
The Making of a Global Market Fraud and Why it Could Happen Again
Canada's wild new business frontier is the global mining industry and its players are among the best in the world - and sometimes the most corrupt.
This is an extraordinary tale of human exploitation, fraudulent financial practices, and a stock market collapse that led to the loss of billions, with - scandalously - no word of an inquiry, no serious calls for a re-evaluation of Canada's market practices, no reform to Canada's regulatory system and no justice for the ordinary investors who lost everything. And Canadian Business Senior Writer Brian Hutchinson shows how it could easily happen again.
The Canadian mining business is sick; the financial instruments used by many companies to raise money have been seriously abused; and an industry-wide conspiracy of silence culminated in the Bre-X debacle. Exploring deep into the industry's practices, Hutchinson provides the context to explain how and why the biggest fraud ever perpetrated by a Canadian company was allowed to happen. He was the first reporter on the scene in Indonesia in 1996 as the Bre-X story began to unfold, and now he pulls together all the strands of this complex and disturbing saga - combining his insider knowledge of the business world with direct access to the major players in Canada, the U.S., and Indonesia. This hard-hitting, brilliantly written account will be acclaimed as much for its storytelling power as for its business acumen.
Book Description
Book six in the acclaimed TrueColors series tackles an issue most highschoolers encounter: materialism.
Customer Reviews:
Didn't live up to my expectations.......2007-03-16
After seeing Melody Carlson's books all over and having read some excerpts, I was eager to read one. Fool's Gold: Color Me Consumed, wasn't quite what I had expected.
The premise was decent, missionary girl, Hannah Johnson, gets caught up in the American way of consumerism. But I wasn't statisfied with the way it was carried out. Some of Hannah's thoughts didn't seem quite rationalized and the conclusion was very sudden, a blanket answer being provided. Sure she had to pay for the mess she got herself into, but it had a 'and they all lived happily ever after' feel about it.
Another thing I disliked was that the book at times had a very conservative tone to it, which I didn't mind, and at others, not such a conservative tone, as if it couldn't make up it's mind which it was going to be. In fact, a few of situations, especially where Hannah told the urban legend to her uncle, were quite uncalled for, in my opinion, and didn't even have any purpose in the story.
The book wasn't entirely bad, for it did leave me with some complexities to ponder over and study my own life, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it for others to read.
Living the Life of Luxury.......2007-02-27
This story is about a girl whose parents are missionaries, and she goes and stays with her rich family. She realizes how money is not something you would want to deal with financially. Her rich cousin and her aunt take her shopping and get her new stuff. It turns her into a completely different person. She goes to some parties with her cousin and then her parents come back. Before they do she has turned back to her normal self. They end up moving to where she was staying that summer.
My favorite part was when she finally decided that money was not fun to deal with. People who have issues with "always wanting more" should read this book because there are lessons to be learned from it. I did have questions like, "How is she going to pay off the debt that she owes to the store?" I found out she got a job and paid them all off.
not a good book.......2006-07-23
this book was not biblical and could have been way better.
could have been way better.......2006-07-19
Fool's Gold follows the life of a MK teen who comes to the U.S. to live with her newly wealthy relatives. She's depicted as not caring much about fashion. While I loved the contrast between her cousin and her, I could not for the life of me give this book five stars. The main character goes on a spending frenzy after acquiring a credit card and proceeds to shop and max out said credit card. What I hated was how designer boutiques were trashed by the author and cheaper clothing outlets were applauded. I was much like the girl's cousin during my teen years except for one thing: I never stepped foot in a designer boutique. Instead of convicting teens of their spendthrifty ways the author endorses shopping at cheaper stores, even if you are buying things you do not need. The Bible does not condemn wealth; it condemns wealth that comes at the expense of other people or wealth that becomes an idol in your life. We live in a country where Christians don't tithe and yet the author feels free to endorse discount retailers and secondhand shops. This book could have been so much better had the author pointed out that we as a country are not only spending too much on luxury crap, but that we also spend to much at discount retailers. God draws no distinction between a fashionista who spends too much money at a thrift store or a designer boutique. He does have an issue if it becomes an idol to you or you don't tithe or think of other people when you buy it. Lastly, this book forgot the Bible verse in the New Testament that states quite plainly that you cannot serve both God and money. Plenty of people in this country serve money without ever owning a single Prada handbag. That is what made this book bad. The author decided to soften the blow and make the average "I bought too much junk at the big box store" American feel good. Its sad. Two stars. A worthy effort. It could have been way better.
From Goodwill to Orange County.......2006-04-24
Many people think that it would be awesome to be rich and go shopping when ever you want. Wouldn't you? Well Hannah, whose parents are missionaries, is going to live with her aunt, uncle, and her cousin in California. Hannah doesn't have the best sense of fashion, and she doesn't care if she gets her clothes at Goodwill. Vanessa, her cousin, used to be a normal kid just like Hannah, but now she only wears the best clothing. Vanessa gets Hannah to go shopping to get some more fashionable clothes. Hannah ends up loving to shop, but will she stay like Vanessa and continue to buy clothing at the best places and stay in debt?
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Laguna Beach and The O.C. I would also recommend this book who likes the series of Diary of a Teenage Girl, and if you like shopping.
I liked this book because I love to go shopping and it has a lot of drama in it. One thing I didn't like about this book was that they made fun of Hannah for dressing different when she first arrived in California.
Book Description
Bad Idea #1 -- Coming to Goldstone, Nevada, for vacation
Bad Idea #2 -- Not getting out when he had the chance
People come to Goldstone to forget -- and be forgotten. Sounds good to Sheriff Tyler Braxton. He needs to get his mind off his past. But when he's wrangled into investigating his brother-in-law's suspected affair with infamous local author Simone Chandler, it's his present that gets complicated. Especially when his brother-in-law turns up murdered!
Simone writes Internet erotica. That doesn't make her a home wrecker or a murderer. But what on earth is she doing in Goldstone? As he delves neck-deep into the secrets of the small town and finds himself falling hard for Simone, Sheriff Braxton is beginning to wonder. Has he stumbled upon the perfect little town and the woman of his dreams, or is it all nothing more than Fool's Gold?
Customer Reviews:
Another madcap quirky romance.......2007-04-09
While not exactly a sequel, this book follows on from "Sex and the Serial Killer" which won the 2006 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence. It was the second of four quirky comedy romances which this author has so far published under the name Jennifer Skully. These are -
Sex and the Serial Killer
Fool's Gold
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Sheer Dynamite
The fifth, "It must be magic" is due out in June 2007, and the sixth, "Your Heart or Mine," in April 2008.
These books are not part of a series, and each stands on its own with one partial exception, which is this book. One of the main supporting characters of "Sex and the Serial Killer" is the hero of this book, "Fool's Gold." Shortly after the conclusion of the first book, Sherriff Tyler Braxton (Brax) goes away on holiday to stay with his sister. A few of the comments in "Fool's Gold" refer to events in the previous book and might be considered mild spoilers. So if you are minded to read both "Sex and the Serial Killer" and this novel, tackle the former book first.
Brax arrives at the home in Goldstone of his sister Maggie to find that her marriage to her husband Carl is in trouble. He can't fully understand why; one possiblity is that his brother-in-law is having an affair with the town's so-called "Porn Queen," author Simone Chandler. (She has acquired this nicknme because she writes custom erotica on the internet.)
When he meets Simone to investigate, Brax soon decides that his brother-in-law is not in fact playing around with her - but he can't get her out of his own mind, a sentiment which is reciprocated. Then one of the characters in the book turns up dead in unusual circumstances - and Simone's famous and overbearing mother turns up very much alive - and suddenly things get even more complicated ...
One of the good things about Jennifer Skully's books is that you can't usually tell what's going to happen. When similar situations arise in more than one of her books, it's quite possible that they can turn out one way in one novel and the opposite way in another. The villain or villainess is rarely who you think it's going to be. But you can rely on it that the outcome will be manic, sexy, and funny.
These books are capable of providing amusement to readers of both sexes; I originally bought all four of these books as presents for my wife and ended up reading them myself.
If you like a quirky,funny, madcap romance novel, you will very probably like "Fool's Gold."
N.B. Jennifer Skully also writes under two other pen names; as J.B. Skully she has written the "Max" series of dark romances which begins with "Dead to the Max"; as Jasmine Hayes she writes or contributes to adult fantasy books such as "Resolutions," "One Night Only" and "Somebody's Lover."
Take a Trip to Goldstone.......2007-03-06
Fool's Gold by Jennifer Skully has romance, murder and a town full of characters. Tyler comes to Goldstone at the request of his sister. She is having problems in her marriage. Tyler meet Simone who writes erotic stories online and sparks fly. Lots of twist on turns - a great read!
A surprise from beginning to end.......2006-06-18
Fool's Gold was a surprise from beginning to end. It was not the usual romance, it was unique...as unique as the town of Goldstone itself. The setting and the people came to life through Skully's writing.
Simone's job as an erotic storywriter on the internet was very unusual. Brax, the sheriff, was a hero any woman could fall for. The cast of many in this small town all added flavor to the story. Well done.
Another winner by Skully!.......2006-04-04
I look forward to each new Jennifer Skully novel. She creates quirky, loveable characters and dumps them in a heap of trouble. It's fun turning the pages to see how they'll get out of the next mess. I wasn't disappointed in FOOL'S GOLD and heartily recommend it!
A mystery which is actually surprising!.......2006-03-31
Tyler Braxton is visiting his sister Maggie in sleepy Goldstone, Nevada. Maggie is convinced that her husband Carl, who has become distant, is having an affair, and asks for Brax's help in getting Carl to toe the line.
But each conversation with Carl results in more questions than answers. Brax knows that something is going on, but he is not sure it has to do with another woman. Of course, the fact that Carl has sexy Simone Chandler as a pen pal piques his interest. Simone is well known for her on-line erotica site, and it appears that she has penned a rather explicit story that has Brax's blood boiling. The chemistry between the two is very hot and endearing when he stands up to her snobbish celebrity mother.
When Carl suddenly ends up dead, like any good sheriff on vacation, Brax jumps into the fold to help in the investigation, which is quickly showing signs of foul play. Could there be a murder among the quirky people of Goldstone?
Skully manages to keep the identity of the killer as well as the reason under wraps until the last reel. I felt the story dragged until the murder, so it was not quite as strong as its predecessor, "Sex & the Serial Killer." Skully makes mention of characters and a murder that happened in the first story that just seem clunky and out of place here, since it does nothing to progress the plotline. But if you discount those, you have a solid romantic mystery which does actually manage to surprise the reader.
Books:
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- Forensic DNA Typing, Second Edition: Biology, Technology, and Genetics of STR Markers
- Friends, Lovers, Chocolate: An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery
- Gangsta
- Graceland: An Interactive Pop-Up Tour
- Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 2: Endgame
- Hereditary Hearing Loss and Its Syndromes (Oxford Monographs on Medical Genetics, No. 50)
- Heroes and Saints and Other Plays: Giving Up the Ghost, Shadow of a Man, Heroes and Saints
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
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