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Leadership by Average Customer Review:  Hardcover (01 October, 2002) list price: $25.95 -- our price: $17.65 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Reviews (110)
I have not read the plethora of other books on leadership, so I will not comment on whether the items posited in this book are original. I will note that the recipe he describes is backed up with many real-world situations where they were employed. I suspect that many other authors would be hard pressed to have as many examples of the suggested action having real-world success. Of course, Giuliani colors his successes in the most favorable light, but field-tested and proven techniques like his are worthwhile. The best part of the book is Giuliani's remembrances of the people he met in his public life. Arafat (whom he ejected from a black-tie event), Tom Olsen, various Mafia Dons, Dick Cheney, and many firemen and police officers in NYC that helped with the 9/11 tragedy all make excellent character studies. Giuliani may not be a hero to some, but his transformation of NYC by paying attention to the details and resisting the entrenched special interests is laudable on a public service level. His struggle against prostrate cancer is praiseworthy on a personal level. I listened to the CD version and I found that the narrator would be better suited to a Mickey Spillane thriller because he was a little too melodramatic.
Primary among the many great stories is the Mayor's references to September 11, 2001. This occupies all of chapter 1 but the stories continue throughout. One of the early delights in the book is the story of overcoming the "squeegee men" panhandlers in New York City. Chapter headings related to "Be Prepared", "Loyalty" and "Stand Up To Bullies" deliver what they promise. I marvelled that the loyalty stories related primarily to loyalty down to the people who work for you. The story about Rudy's fight with prostate cancer was remarkable for the example that it gave of great diligence in gathering information and making a careful decision. The book, as read, is clear and concise. Every word seems to count. In my experience, Rudy began to earn his reputation long before he was Mayor when we worked to obtain convictions and strong sentences against organized crime bosses. The precepts and examples are admirable. It's Rudy's own account, but it is clear that Mr. Giuliani has given great diligence to his work while showing great insight, great commitment to principle, great courage.
Isbn: 0786868414 |
$17.65 |
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Jack: Straight from the Gut by Average Customer Review: Hardcover (11 September, 2001) list price: $29.95 -- our price: $20.96 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review It's hard to think of a CEO that commands as much respect as Jack Welch. Under his leadership, General Electric reinvented itself several times over by integrating new and innovative practices into its many lines of business. In Jack: Straight from the Gut, Welch, with the help of Business Week journalist John Byrne, recounts his career and the style of management that helped to make GE one of the most successful companies of the last century. Beginning with Welch's childhood in Salem, Massachusetts, the book quickly progresses from his first job in GE's plastics division to his ambitious rise up the GE corporate ladder, which culminated in 1981. What comes across most in this autobiography is Welch's passion for business as well as his remarkable directness and intolerance of what he calls "superficial congeniality"--a dislike that would help earn him the nickname "Neutron Jack." In spite of its 496 pages, Jack: Straight from the Gut is a quick read that any student or manager would do well to consider. Highly recommended. --Harry C. Edwards ... Read more Reviews (226)
The management insights that Jack does reveal seem to me to be generally built on fairly well established (but poorly executed) management practices. Jack has just embraced them and used focussed passion coupled with an obsession on people to execute superbly and produce great results. For example, some of his major initiatives could be said to have been derived from existing management principles: 1) "No. 1 or 2" Jack admits is derived from Peter Drucker, 2)I believe six sigma is derived in part from Motorola, 3) "Boundaryless behaviour" can said to be based on Peter Drucker's observation that there are no profit centers inside an organization, and 4) Jack was clearly not an early pioneer on "E-business". Yet he recognized the opportunities and produced results from them. The book probably won't become a classic, but it is still recommended reading for today's and tomorrow's managers and especially those interest in the man himself. STRENGTHS: The book is a fairly easy and interesting read full of anecdotes and insites. It does a great job of showing the management task as art and discipline that can be learned, improved, and mastered rather than as personal charisma or other common stereotypes of leadership. WEAKNESSES: The minor weaknesses of the book relate to Jack's strong, competitive personality (and maybe ego) that show through in his writing. Despite that author's initial disclaimer to read "I" as meaning "we" I found Jack's lack of distinction between himself and GE to be minorly annoying. Parts of the book are filled with phrases like "I bought this $$$$$ company" when clearly "We" is appropriate [I know, I'm nit-picking]. Second (and this is almost excusable in an autobiography) Jack rarely gave the "other side" of the story when discussing major GE crises. For example, he never explains the EU's reasons for blocking the Honeywell merger, assuming that it is so obviously wrong it's not worthy of explaination.
For example: the chapter about rating and rewarding his employees was excellent. For example, giving Class A employees 3x the salary increases over Class B employees-- Great!! Giving NO increases to Class C employees, and getting rid of them sooner rather than later...what can I say, I LOVE IT!! He's so right about the fact that it's more cruel to let Class C workers attain and maintain an certain income level (that they are not really worthy of), and waiting til they're older, with a large mortgage and kids in college before finallly telling them that they're not making the grade. I've worked with some people in the high-paying tech arena that, because of either blatant incompetence, bad attitude, and/or pure laziness, never should have gotten to where they are today. As far as I'm concerned, some never should have gotten past working in the food service industry. Eventually those people *do* get weeded out (I'm seeing it happen right now in this economy). Sooner is better than later, both for the employer and the employee. I also enjoy not having to work with those types.
I cannot waste any more time on this book, so I must end this review here, but there are good parts of this book. To find out about those, read someone else's reviews. ... Read more Isbn: 0446528382 |
$20.96 |
I am almost ashamed to keep this book on our shelves
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The Art of War by Average Customer Review:  Paperback (June, 1971) list price: $9.95 -- our price: $9.95 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review The Art of War is the Swiss army knife of military theory--pop out a different tool for any situation.Folded into this small package are compact views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning, the profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed, positioning, surprise, deception, manipulation, responsibility, and practicality.Thomas Cleary's translation keeps the package tight, with crisp language and short sections. Commentaries from the Chinese tradition trail Sun-tzu's words, elaborating and picking up on puzzling lines. Take the solitary passage: "Do not eat food for their soldiers."Elsewhere, Sun-tzu has told us to plunder the enemy's stores, but now we're not supposed to eat the food?The Tang dynasty commentator Du Mu solves the puzzle nicely, "If the enemy suddenly abandons their food supplies, they should be tested first before eating, lest they be poisoned." Most passages, however, are the pinnacle of succinct clarity: "Lure them in with the prospect of gain, take them by confusion" or "Invincibility is in oneself, vulnerability is in the opponent." Sun-tzu's maxims are widely applicable beyond the military because they speak directly to the exigencies of survival. Your new tools will serve you well, but don't flaunt them. Remember Sun-tzu's advice: "Though effective, appear to be ineffective." --Brian Bruya ... Read more Reviews (222)
So no matter what you were looking for in this book, whether it be business, sports, war games, or actual wars, you can be sure to learn more on how to best deal with the situation through the strategies in this book. The book is timeless....and should be required reading for all persons.
I found James Clavell's version quite difficult to find, but well worth it - due to clarity of reading and balance. I tried reading Cleary's version, but could not get through the first chapter. However, I did purchase "Mastering the Art of War" by Cleary; finding it a better tour guide. Clavell's "Art of War" offers tactical insight on overcoming an opponent whether it be war, work, relationships, or your own personal demons. Sun Tzu created a timeless piece of history written for the future. I personally feel that today's society needs to look back, master the art of war, in order to repair the future. Today I'm buying book #9 for a person who inspired me... I wanted to return the favor.
Very little seems to have changed since last 2,500 years when Sun Tzu, the great Chinese Philosopher wrote "The Art of War" with respect to philosophies of fighting wars. They are still driven by the law of Moral, Commander, Earth, Heaven and Methods of the Majesties commission. But what might have transformed lies in conditions & present resources of war. Thirteen chapters of must enforceable laws & a foreword on the author Sun Tzu covers the entire spectrum of waging wars. From waging wars to the use of spies, intermingled brilliantly with tactics out of history this book has served as the stratagem guide to Napoleon & the Soviet political-military hierarchy, where it is obligatory bible for soldiers studying the art of war. ... Read more Isbn: 0195014766 |
$9.95 |
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The American Dream: Stories From the Heart of Our Nation by Average Customer Review: Hardcover (08 May, 2001) list price: $25.00 -- our price: $25.00 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Despite years of reporting on tragedies around the world, Dan Rather is clearly an optimist. His take on the American dream, as personified by more than 30 Americans, is an inspiring reminder that the ideals the nation was founded upon are still alive and well. Rather first looked at how Americans pursued the American dream in a yearlong feature for his CBS Evening News show. His book takes off where the series ended, with more in-depth stories of those successfully pursuing their version of the dream. Nosrat Scott came to the U.S. in search of freedom of religion. She was so persecuted for her Bah'ai faith in Iran that she was moved to tears when she realized she could speak openly of her religion in her English-as-a-second-language class. For many, of course, the American dream is all about making it rich. Some traveled long distances only to be surprised by fortune, such as Trung Dung, who escaped Vietnam at the age of 17 and became a multimillionaire with his Internet start-up company. There are those who covet the pursuit of happiness as an end in itself, such as the couple who gave up their high-paying jobs in Southern California to move to a small town in Oregon in order to meet their "not rich criteria"--that is, time for family and community. And there are those who have to swallow their pride to get there, like the chef from Georgia who learned to read at age 26. Other dreams are organized under the headings of fame, family, innovation, and service, which could just as easily have been titled the pursuit of justice. There are few recognizable names here, but the stories of these everyday heroes are a spirited antidote to a creeping national cynicism and a vigorous challenge to seize on the opportunities--and responsibilities--that the dream implies. --Lesley Reed ... Read more Reviews (12)
The book is chock full of success stories that were not broadcast during Rather's "American Dream" segments on the CBS Evening News program. The stories, due to Rather's fine writing skills, are inspiring, moving and heart-warming. The Americans portrayed are certainly deserving of the praise and attention this book brings them. Their stories alone make this book worth purchasing. But, caveat emptor, Rather brands this book with his cynicism of what is wrong with America and how the U.S. Constitution should be viewed. He profiles the successes of the heroes in this book against the failings in American society that they had to overcome. Rather's favorite American sins? Greed, big business, the wealthy, and white men in the less-enlightened past. Word of mouth will not be good among Republican readers. Rather, for the most part, shies away from famous household names in this collection. Even the people profiled in the "fame" chapter (with the exception perhaps of author Jacquelyn Mitchard) are not household names. While the subtitle of the book indicates these people come from the "heart" of the nation, most of those profiled here come from decidedly urban environments. But that should not detract from the fine stories presented here. This is a good book that could have been great if Rather would have checked his ego at the keyboard.
I never understood why some people hate Dan Rather so much. What a great book!! Jeffrey McAndrew Isbn: 0688178928 |
$25.00 |
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Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Average Customer Review: Hardcover (17 October, 2000) list price: $26.95 -- our price: $18.33 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review In retrospect, it seems as if the American Revolution was inevitable. But was it? In Founding Brothers, Joseph J. Ellis reveals that many of those truths we hold to be self-evident were actually fiercely contested in the early days of the republic. Ellis focuses on six crucial moments in the life of the new nation, including a secret dinner at which the seat of the nation's capital was determined--in exchange for support of Hamilton's financial plan; Washington's precedent-setting Farewell Address; and the Hamilton and Burr duel. Most interesting, perhaps, is the debate (still dividing scholars today) over the meaning of the Revolution. In a fascinating chapter on the renewed friendship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson at the end of their lives, Ellis points out the fundamental differences between the Republicans, who saw the Revolution as a liberating act and hold the Declaration of Independence most sacred, and the Federalists, who saw the revolution as a step in the building of American nationhood and hold the Constitution most dear. Throughout the text, Ellis explains the personal, face-to-face nature of early American politics--and notes that the members of the revolutionary generation were conscious of the fact that they were establishing precedents on which future generations would rely. In Founding Brothers, Ellis (whose American Sphinx won the National Book Award for nonfiction in 1997) has written an elegant and engaging narrative, sure to become a classic. Highly recommended. --Sunny Delaney ... Read more Reviews (278)
John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington are examined in great detail by Ellis. Adams "enlightened diplomacy" negotiated a critical peace treaty with France. Burr is an opportunist and manipulator who was never forgiven for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Franklin, (who is not given the same attention as others) is a scientific genius who uses the press to attack political enemies, particularly those who were advocates of slavery. Hamilton restored public credit but also nurtured power for the commercial elite at the expense of the large landowners. Jefferson is the brilliant author of the Declaration of Independance. Madison's nickname in Congress is "Big Knive" for his ability to cut up opposition to legislation he sponsors. And Washington is the "American Untouchable," a great horseman and pragmatic military man who is clearly not as well read as other leaders of his generation but becomes by far the greatest legend among the people. The combined talents of the founding fathers provided the intellectual energy that allowed our nation to survive. Ellis is a talented writer, impressive researcher and a towering patriot. Highly recommended. Bert Ruiz
Ellis is a highly biased historian and, as a result, can be a sloppy one. He fares best with Hamilton and Burr, showing Hamilton's concerns about Burr's character at a crucial time when character mattered because so much was at stake. Any attempt at objectivity ends with Hamilton and Burr, however. For Ellis, George Washington is the sole reason we are here today. While outlining his physical flaws, Ellis believes that Washington had a prescient idea of what the nation needed, including a strong leader like himself-a leader who could write to the Cherokee "in this path I wish all the Indian nations to walk" (referring to his advice to them to stop fighting white expansion and to adopt white economics and culture). Ellis avoids any reference to what would happen when many of the Cherokee did exactly what Washington told them to do-the infamous Trail of Tears. For all of Ellis's belief in Washington's prophetic abilities and insight, he deliberately leaves out that which does not fit with his view of history-the fact that the Indians, whether compliant Cherokee or defiant Comanche, were going to suffer similar fates, whether they took Washington's advice or not. Later, when listing the Founding Brothers' individual faults, the worst Ellis can say of Washington is that he was not well read, did not write well, and was a poor speller. He also notes that Washington was more of an actor than a leader, failing to acknowledge that leadership is largely a matter of acting out the role and performing for the public. Ellis is similarly protective of John Adams, whose presidency is remembered as a bad one because that is what Jefferson wanted. Ellis points out that Adams's best decision-to send a peace delegation to France-was made while Abigail was sick in Quincy, while his worst choices-support of the Alien and Sedition Acts-were made under her direct influence. When he says that Adams did well when all the votes were counted, despite "bad luck, poor timing, and the highly focused political strategy of his Republican enemies," Ellis disingenuously blames circumstance, Abigail, and Jefferson for Adams's failings. Ellis can gloss over the evidence, but he cannot explain away Adams's personal choice to support bad legislation. He, not Abigail or Jefferson, was responsible for his own actions and his own presidency. This is not the case with Jefferson's presidency. While it is barely mentioned (it merits part of a paragraph on page 212), Ellis says that Jefferson's first term "would go down as one of the most brilliantly successful in American history." This passive statement implies that this success had nothing to do with Jefferson or his actions, but just happens to be how history had recorded it. Ellis hurries on to state that his second term "proved to be a series of domestic tribulations and foreign policy failures." Ellis leaves the reader with the impression that Adams is not to blame for his mistakes and that Jefferson can take credit only for his failures. While Ellis's view of Jefferson as a conniving, borderline psychotic may explain Jefferson's behavior and pattern of denial, it does so partly because Ellis contorts the evidence to lead to his conclusion rather than letting the evidence lead him to the conclusion. At one point, he states that Adams must surely have seen an exchange of letters between Abigail and Jefferson and that "we can be reasonably sure that Abigail was speaking for her husband as well as herself and goes on to elaborate that the "Adams team" was charging Jefferson with two serious offenses. One page later, Ellis contradicts himself when he says, "Although Jefferson probably presumed that Abigail was sharing their correspondence with her husband, Adams himself never saw the letters until several months later." He quotes Adams as writing, "The whole of the correspondence was begun and conducted without my Knowledge or Suspicion." Later, Ellis reads Jefferson's mind, asserting that his use of the "collective we" in a letter was "inadvertent acknowledgment of the coordinated campaign of the Republican party." How Ellis draws this conclusion is unclear; Jefferson uses "we" three times in the sentence. There is nothing "inadvertent" about Jefferson's statement; he is telling Adams outright the collective Republican leadership's perception of his role. Ellis has come up with an interesting interpretation of Washington as indispensable; Jefferson as treacherous, traitorous, and seemingly disturbed; and Adams between the two-a fiery but decent man, hamstrung by Washington's aura and reputation and by Jefferson's disingenuous deviousness. Jefferson's version of history, which Ellis believes was consciously created, has won. The underlying problem is that, given the level of contortions, distortions, and outright mind reading it requires for Ellis to come to this point, his version of history is as suspect as that of the Thomas Jefferson he portrays. If you want to learn about the aftermath of the American Revolution and the relationships of its leaders, read Founding Brothers-but read it critically and with an awareness that Ellis is guiding you not to where the evidence leads, but where he directs it to lead. It's interesting, entertaining, and thought provoking-but then so is historical fiction. Trust Ellis's objectivity as much as he trusts Jefferson's. ... Read more Isbn: 0375405445 |
$18.33 |
Read critically
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Mastering the Zone: The Next Step in Achieving SuperHealth and Permanent Fat Loss by Average Customer Review: Hardcover (December, 1996) list price: $25.00 -- our price: $17.00 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Barry Sears's 1995-96 bestseller, The Zone, changed the way many people look at nutrition and weight loss. Although his plan advocates eating fewer calories and exercising more, it also stresses getting more of those calories from fat and protein and fewer from carbohydrates. Here, he expands on that theory (which is still not accepted in most scientific circles) and offers recipes to help readers put his principles into practice. ... Read more Reviews (58)
I don't know how much of the cravings for food at that point is psychological, which the Zone books never mention. They say that you control your hormones, you control your cravings. It's not as simple as that...there are lots of people who are body dismorphic and eat for reasons other than their brain pinging them because they're hungry. Perhaps I'll make my millions writing a follow-up book, but I digress... However, after reading every review for "Enter the Zone" (which I believe is just the same as "Mastering the Zone", the latter of which I did buy, which I believe has more practical advice on how to make things work than the theory in "Enter...") I am fairly convinced that all but two of the negative reviews are from people who either didn't read the book, didn't get what was written, or they were simply stating that they didn't want to live this way. Two reviews make me wonder. One speaks to the shoddiness of his research reporting -- which I agree upon, but maybe it's glossed because the reading public can't handle reading that boring stuff. The other is about the Zone being a low-calorie diet and that being the only reason you lose weight on it, makes me wonder. It wasn't the "a calorie is a calorie is a calorie" review...sure, a calorie is a calorie, but insulin, different macronutrients and so forth are not the same, so I disagree with that reviewer. But the idea that this only works as a low-calorie diet...I'm not sure....I am eating more bulk with not a lot less calories than I was before. So I'm still willing to give it a shot. Basically, this is a nutritional plan for a lifelong change that includes food in moderation. I also don't see in the Zone books that they are so facist that they don't recognize that "stuff happens" and people will get off the Zone with some meals, but you can always go back with the next. Unfortunately people are too often "all or nothing" fanatics who don't realize that we aren't perfect machines and sometimes our psyche requires something our body doesn't. They look at the Zone and think that if you're not fanatical, it won't happen at all. After thinking about it, the Zone is really rather stress-free and forgiving...it's really how much discipline to be conscious about your food and activity that should be watched out for. You mess up, you can always be conscious the next meal. And with time comes the habit, in my opinion. I will remain skeptical, but that's me. I can't be otherwise until I've given it a shot. I used to be 350# grossly obese, and after a year of getting more active and eating in moderation before, I came down to 225#. I still have oversized love handles, and I want to tighten that up and lose the rest of the pounds, but the last year or so has been stressful and I have only been hovering and gained a couple pounds back. So we'll see if the Zone leaves me with more energy I had before and convinces ME to be more conscious of my food choice. I would recommend, finally, not to buy more than one of the books (probably "Mastering") as they all appear to be saying the same thing. It's just not money conscious. Or if you do, buy them used. Barry Sears has turned into a marketing empire, and I think the message gets lost somewhere in there. Most of the information is on his website, as well, so buy one book and just look at the website.
Definitely get the book--but pass on the audio version! ... Read more Isbn: 0060391901 |
$17.00 |
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The Greatest Generation Speaks : Letters and Reflections by Average Customer Review: Hardcover (30 November, 1999) list price: $19.95 -- our price: $13.97 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review The popularity and credibility of charismatic news anchor Tom Brokaw ensured bestseller status forThe Greatest Generation, Brokaw's homage to the Americans who survived and overcame the depression and World War II. The Greatest Generation Speaks expands his thesis that we owe a huge debt of gratitude to those tough and courageous men and women for ensuring the freedoms and comforts that Americans enjoy today. Their stories, culled from letters, interviews, and personal histories of the Greatest Generation and their family members, are anecdotal but extremely powerful, showing how men and women were sustained by simple ideals of patriotism, family, and fair play. This individualistic portrait is exactly how Americans saw themselves: Brokaw's book is a valid reflection of the times. During a period of economic hardship and in a country united by the war effort, choices were simple; few people questioned why America was fighting Germany and Japan. Adversity brought out the best, especially in an optimistic culture like America's. As the soldier who found Beethoven's pianos in a Weimar house says after his unit is shelled, "Nothing like a close call to make the morning more beautiful." The greatest impression that war veterans seem to carry back from war is a sense of comradeship that, in spite of pain and loss, render their war years the most rewarding of all their life experiences. Modern life doesn't necessarily have the same certainties. The Greatest Generation Speaks is a healthy reminder of the foundations on which American society is built. --John Stevenson ... Read more Reviews (43)
By contrast, Tom Brokaw sounds like he's phoning in his part of the script. But he has comparatively little to do here. The heavy lifting is done by the professional narrator and actors. A stunner. It's impossible to recommend this edition too highly. ... Read more Isbn: 0375503943 |
$13.97 |
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A Rumor of War by Average Customer Review:  Paperback (15 November, 1996) list price: $15.00 -- our price: $10.50 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Reviews (65)
Phil Caputo could have been virtually anyone in America in the early '60's. A young, idealistic, all-American boy who joined the Marines in search of adventure, and out of a patriotic desire to answer John Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you. . ." He and his platoon marched off to war to find glory and honor. What they found was, "death, death, death." Caputo takes you into the muddy foxhole with him, making you feel the heat and annoyance of the ever-present insects, and the sniper shots that all united to deprive you of the precious commodity of sleep. He takes you on patrol with them down, "Purple Heart Trail," where the main enemies were the heat, the insects, and endless mines and booby traps. The reader can feel the rage of the infantrymen who fought endless battles with an enemy that was everywhere, yet nowhere. Gradually enthusiasm turned to pessimism; pessimism to despair; and despair to rage; rage that ultimately vented itself in mindless violence against anything Vietnamese. They were then left with the heat, the insects, and guilt borne of actions taken that they would never have dreamed of a few short months before. Caputo and his enthusiastic, young, Marines could have been anyone who has ever fought: the patriots at Lexington and Concord, who later found themselves half starved and freezing at Valley Forge; or any number of Union or Confederate soldiers from Bull Run to Appomattox. They could have been "Doughboys" who went, "Over There," to "Make the World Safe for Democracy," only to find themselves "fighting" immersion foot and mustard gas in the trenches of France; or perhaps even soldiers serving under, "Ol' Blood and Guts" himself, George S. Patton; "Our blood, his guts," as the GI's said. Their stories all verify Gen. Robert E. Lee's famous quote: "War seldom avails anything to those unfortunate enough to have to fight it." A Rumor of War ranks up there with Gen. Harold Moore's, "We Were Soldiers Once and Young," and Col. David Hackworth's, "About Face." All three show how debates that raged in Washington, Paris, Saigon, and Hanoi were ultimately scored. Whether you were a "hawk or a dove," a liberal or a conservative, a professor or student, you will benefit from reading this book that answers the question authoritatively: "Hey! What was Vietnam really like?"
Isbn: 080504695X |
$10.50 |
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Paco's Story by Average Customer Review: Paperback (November, 1989) list price: $11.95 -- our price: $11.95 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Paco Sullivan arrives in town penniless and job-hunting, the rain evaporating off the street forming "pungent steam so thick you would think his legs were cut off at the knees." In truth, the enigmatic Paco is indeed crippled. He is the sole survivor of an infantry company "pulverized to ash" in the Vietnam War. The methodical monotony of a dishwashing job in a diner offers some salve, though everyday things bring back savage memories. Heinemann's second novel--the first, Close Quarters, was based on his combat experience in Vietnam--is narrated through the collective voices of Paco's dead colleagues and offers a war veteran's envious and despairing view of the regular world. Paco's Story won the 1987 National Book Award. ... Read more Reviews (12)
Author Larry Heinemann's use of language is so lyrical that the prose here has a rhythm that is musical. His descriptions are graphic enough that the reader almost can smell the blood, hear the screams, taste the fear. At times, PACO'S STORY is painful to read, but that is a direct consequence of Heinemann's mastery of the topic. This novel deservedly won the National Book Award. PACO'S STORY is as significant report of the Vietnam era as CATCH-22 was of World War II.
Heinemann's a veteran, so I hesitate to write this, but the feeling I got in reading this book was that it's like tabloid sensationalism. It seemed like the war part of the story was overblown to appeal to people looking for that kind of story and the back home part of the story was either mindnumbingly dull or voyeuristic. Not a great formula for an appealing book - and it wasn't, in my view. I'd recommend Close Quarters heartily, but I only gave this as high a rating as 3 stars because the text writing is well done - it's just wasted on this story.
Isbn: 0140127615 |
$11.95 |
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Montana 1948 : Montana 1948 by Average Customer Review: Paperback (01 April, 1995) list price: $12.95 -- our price: $10.36 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Reviews (86)
Isbn: 0671507036 |
$10.36 |
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Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving With Grace by Average Customer Review: Hardcover (April, 1998) list price: $22.00 -- our price: $15.40 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Reviews (69)
As someone who speaks extensively on creativity and is the author of "Aha!-10 Ways To Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas," I have read many books on the subject of creativity. Gordon's is unique and special. It is a joy to read, and guaranteed to provide any reader with a fresh perspective on their creative challenges. It is sad that Gordon passed away not to long ago. He was a gift to everyone he crossed paths with, and we are fortunate that he left this legacy so that he will continue to cross paths with many more in the future. Click buy...you will not be disappointed.
Any book that bills itself as a "guide to surviving with grace" should have actual advice for how to do it. "Hairball" adoringly recaps the author's career path with little practical advice on how to replicate any of his success. (Unless I want to work in dim lighting and pretend to be a mysterious.) Like "Who Moved My Cheese?" this book dumbs down any good lessons it could make. And like WMMC, it had my teeth on edge by the end. The illustrated stories started out as whimsical and amusing, but became irritating after the 50th messy, run-on sentence-filled, stream-of-consciousness page. If you want to learn why Gordon was the man at Hallmark, this is the book for you. If you want to learn how to survive with grace in your own corporate hairball, sorry - you're out of luck. ... Read more Isbn: 0670879835 |
$15.40 |
Amusing, but not helpful
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The Greatest Generation by Average Customer Review:  Hardcover (30 November, 1998) list price: $24.95 -- our price: $16.97 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Veteran reporter and NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw went to France to make a documentary marking the 40th anniversary of D-day in 1984. Although he was thoroughly briefed on the historical background of the invasion, he was totally unprepared for how it would affect him emotionally. Flooded with childhood memories of World War II, Brokaw began asking veterans at the ceremony to revisit their past and talk about what happened, triggering a chain reaction of war-torn confessions and Brokaw's compulsion to capture their experiences in what he terms "the permanence a book would represent." After almost 15 years and hundreds of letters and interviews, Brokaw wrote The Greatest Generation, a representative cross-section of the stories he came across. However, this collection is more than a mere chronicle of a tumultuous time, it's history made personal by a cast of everyday people transformed by extraordinary circumstances: the first women to break the homemaker mold, minorities suffering countless indignities to boldly fight for their country, infantrymen who went on to become some of the most distinguished leaders in the world, small-town kids who became corporate magnates. From the reminiscences of George Bush and Julia Child to the astonishing heroism and moving love stories of everyday people, The Greatest Generation salutes those whose sacrifices changed the course of American history. --Rebekah Warren ... Read more Reviews (420)
But perhaps I can point out an additional, less-commented-on lesson from the book: Despite the consistent themes of responsibility and duty which underlie almost every account, these people were far more diverse than we today have given them credit for. They were not monolithically conservative, worshipers of the Establishment, traditionally religious, obsessed with making money, conformist gray-flannel people with 2.6 kids and a stay-at-home mom in each family. For example, when the Viet Nam war and the associated 60s protests arrived, the reactions and tolerance levels of these people varied widely. Their values and lifestyles were about as diverse as those we find in our new century. The one clear difference between that generation and subsequent ones can be summed up in two words: no whining. In the entire book, I don't recall a single individual even mentioning the word "rights" as they applied to himself or herself. No one believed that he or she was entitled to special privileges or to live at the expense of anyone else. No one expected the world to be fair. They took the world as they found it, and made the best of it. The only failure that the Greatest Generation can be charged with is that they were so successful in building a society where everything came easily. That in turn gave rise to the generations of adult brats who gave this book negative reviews because they couldn't believe some of the UNsolved problems could have been so hard to solve. The life of ease bequeathed to us by the Greatest Generation has obscured the natural hardships of life that made loyalty and hard work a necessary trait for survival. People now have the luxury of sitting back and leisurely lecturing their forebears on how THEY would have done everything better. When we hear (or read) such nonsense, I don't know whether the proper reaction is to laugh condescendingly or to throw up.
Thanks Tom Brokaw, for writing this timely book and bringing us dozens of stories from the war years - a wonderful collection -a look back to a time we need to remember. Every patriotic American should own this compelling book. It should be required reading in our schools. Rightly named the "greatest generation" by Mr. Brokaw, this generation will soon disappear. Fortunately there are still some veterans who will see the dedication of the new World War II memorial. We need to educate our children early and be honest with them. A book such as this one, and other great books by our esteemed historians, David McCullough, Stephen Ambrose, and others, belongs in our personal library, ready to read and reread, ready to share and discuss the contents, and to remember American history.
Brokaw, one of America's best television journalists and anchor of NBC's Nightly News, not only coined the phrase "the Greatest Generation" when he wrote this amazingly fascinating and inspiring collection of personality profiles of men and women, some famous (Bob Dole, Julia Child, George H.W. Bush), some not-so-famous but prominent (Norman Mineta, Daniel Inouye), and some neither prominent nor famous yet vitally essential (Leonard Lomell, Jeanette Gagne Norton) who either saw combat, contributed to the war effort, or endured the hardships of being separated from loved ones without succumbing to fear or giving in to selfishness or self-pity. In the same concise yet utterly convincing style of his network news writing, Brokaw draws the reader into his chronicles of 50 men and women whose experiences encompass a wide spectrum of the American World War II experience. He captures, for instance, humorist Art Buchwald's seemingly unlikely stint as a Marine in the South Pacific, at first (and almost disastrously) loading ordnance onto Marine Corsair fighter-bombers, then more wisely reassigned to work on the squadron's newsletter and drive trucks. In five pages, Brokaw wonderfully gets the essence of Buchwald's satiric-yet-gentle personality, while at the same time revealing that the least-likely-to-be-a-Marine was given a parade by then-outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin Powell. The Greatest Generation is full of vivid personality profiles like Buchwald's. Some, such as that of Len Lomell, highlight bravery in combat; others are like Jeanette Gagne Norton's, whose husband Camille Gagne was killed in Holland during Operation Market-Garden. The recollections Brokaw presents here are full of drama and laughter, of happiness, love, and sometimes shame, but there is no bitterness or self-pity. For these are the men and women that saved the world from tyranny...and made our country what it is today. ... Read more Isbn: 0375502025 |
$16.97 |
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4-Wheel & Off-Road Average Customer Review: Magazine list price: $47.88 -- our price: $12.00 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Features Reviews (2)
They do this without any overly macho styling that makes every automobile into a phallic symbol. This is good for the sport, since not every off-roader is a man with a torque wrench for a brain. They manage to do this without being the least bit dull either. You will find photo essays on notable mistakes, driving articles, essays on tire choice, and detailed discussions of how to create an off-road vehicle from sometimes unlikely components. If you have to pick one trade journal out of the bunch, 4 Wheel & Off-Road is probably the choice that makes the best sense.
Asin: B00005N7OB |
$12.00 |
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Four Wheeler Average Customer Review: Magazine list price: $47.88 -- our price: $10.00 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Features Reviews (6)
I started to subscribe to one of the other 4X4 magazines then I have F150 4X4.
I read many 4x4 magazines and have for over 25 years. I am not at all impressed with the current crop available, especially Four Wheeler. Primedia Publishing has bought out most of the automotive enthusiast magazines out there and now dominates the market. It's almost as bad as Microsoft, (i.e. as it's a Microsoft World). Recent FourWheeler published the Four Wheeler of the Year Test and I received it with in 3 days of receiving my 4WheelDrive magazine with the same test. They both even had the same cover shot of the winning Soccer mom Station Wagon (maybe a fine vehicle but bad choice for a 4x4). Who are these testers, do they even live in the real world? Same vehicle won both tests and was on the cover of both mags. Inside the selection of articles were very similar and most case the same writing. My son and I both thought we had received duplicate copies of the same magazine. It was only by placing them side by side and comparing the cover names that we saw they were two separate magazines. When Peterson Automotive Publishing (owners of the Famous Auto Museum in LA by the same name) put out the mags they were excellent articles with original content covering a wide variety of subjects related to each different magazine audience. Then Emap bought out Peterson and quality declined somewhat. Then Primedia (a world wide publishing firm) bought them all out, and then quality went thru the floor. Don't waste your money on these subscriptions until they can get the quality back up to where it was when Peterson published these titles. It's an insult to everyone to think they could pull off stunts such as this. Buyer Beware! ... Read more Asin: B00005NIO0 |
$10.00 |
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Wired Average Customer Review: Magazine list price: $59.40 -- our price: $10.00 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Features Reviews (57)
- stories about the unsung heroes who are really responsible for pushing the limits of technology Beyond that, I find Wired is the best place to read about things like the melding of human and computer and the progess of technology outside of the U.S. So, I find every issue interesting. It's a little less useful to me as an investor in technology stocks, but it does offer me that broader perspective on technology that helps put investable ideas into context. The clincher is the price - a small sacrifice for so much intriguing and entertaining content. I once considered discontinuing my subscription, but realized that it's so different from everything else I read and just one decent article an issue makes it worthwhile. Very glad I kept it. So, if you've never read Wired, I would give it definitely give it a try.
Asin: B00005N7TL |
$10.00 |
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National Geographic Magazine Average Customer Review: Magazine list price: $47.40 -- our price: $34.00 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Features Reviews (44)
Many images that have become ingrained in national and international consciousness had their origins in the pages of National Geographic. The most famous photograph being of the refugee girl with the haunting eyes. I was only 10-years-old when I first saw her back in 1985, and I have seen her picture many times since, as it is reproduced in many National Geographic publications and annuals. I have always wondered what happened to her, and have always assumed the worst. A long life is far from a guarantee for a refugee. September 11th happens, and suddenly a country I had never thought much about is being mentioned everywhere: Afghanistan. How could a country that meant so little to me on on September 10th suddenly be so central? It was quite a turnabout this month to realize that girl had been from Afghanistan, her beauty had ecclipse the recollection of her origin. The horror of the fighting in Afghanistan has always been with me, in the trauma of the eyes that stirred my soul seventeen years ago. The country that has come to symbolize so much pain was also the source of great beauty. But that's what National Geographic does and has always done, educate its readers on topics of which they would otherwise be unaware, as well as add a much needed touch of humanity. That is why I love this magazine and plan to read it for years to come.
Geography covers more than just land masses and forests. National Geographic is not about "national," it is about our entire universe; National Geographic refers to "The National Geographic Society," rather than the breadth of coverage. In the decades that I have been reading National Geographic, articles have covered everything from the Earth's core, to the deepest oceans, to the people living on the land and the land itself, the mountains and skies above us, and the whole universe. Warning: if you are a creationist then I would avoid this magazine. The breadth of the magazine is well matched by its depth. Articles in the last decades have covered genes, atomic science, microbial life, how remote sensing technologies work, lasers, frequencies, such as those that make up color and the all the invisible spectra, and so many more that it is impossible to list them in a 1000 word review. Virtually every major issue possible to be covered that is related to geography has had at least one article in Geographic, and thousands of not-so-major issues. There was even an article on holography! The core of the magazine is still geography as we grew up believing geography to be. There have been articles on Lake Baikal, a wonderful trek through the still wild and swampy jungles of Africa, excellent articles on caves and national parks of all nations, glorious color pictures of undersea life and animals of all shapes, sizes and description, and the ever popular insects and arachnids, to name but a fraction. National Geographic has always been famous for the pictures. A recent addition to the magazine has been a brief article describing a picture that did not quite make the cut for a featured article. The brief summary explains why the editor, writer or photographer was enamored of a particular picture, and why the picture was not used in the article. This article provides a wonderful insight into the marriage of photography and prose for each article in every magazine; a primer for would-be editors. While National Geographic does have an environmental lean in reporting, it is remarkably balanced. The needs of affected populations such as fisherman, farmers, and people in general are reported alongside commentary on how people have damaged an ecosystem or caused the extinction of another species. There always seems to be a note of glee when the needs of ecology and the needs of people are in balance or when people have benefited from improving or guarding an ecosystem. There are few adult magazines that I feel are sufficiently balanced in their reporting that I am comfortable providing unlimited access to children. While there are occasional articles that are quite bloody, which is to be expected when dealing with humans and animals, the blood is real and not staged. While I would not expose a very young child to such imagery, older children need to learn of the realities of the world. I remember when I was first exposed to National Geographic 40 years ago I found some of the images disturbing, but those same images helped prepared me for some of the harsh realities of life outside my home, my city, my country and even my solar system and galaxy. National Geographic has been an important magazine in my life for about 40 years. I was fortunate to go to a high school with magazines that dated back more than 70 years, and spent many free hours reading those old magazines, with all black and white photographs. What an incredible perspective this magazine gives us on the world and how we and our knowledge have changed in the course of the last 100 years. What a wonderful way to discover those changes. This excellent and educational magazine is for those interested in people, science, geography, the world, and the universe. ... Read more Asin: B00005NIOH |
$34.00 |
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GQ Average Customer Review: Magazine list price: $37.00 -- our price: $15.00 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review The "GQ look" is synonymous with classic cool and sophistication, and despite a recent outburst of trendy magazines (think Maxim and FHM) vying for the attention of young professional males, the steeped-in-tradition monthly GQ carries on without missing a beat. Yes, there's more décolletage gracing the cover than there used to be, but GQ continues to supply enough cultural commentary, celebrity profiles, features, and style guides to keep the modern man in touch with what's going on in the world from month to month. GQ's ideal reader is probably one who actually might be able to afford any of the high-end suits, shoes, and watches featured among the countless ads packed between the covers. Though the average reader might enjoy scanning a fashion spread about steakhouses entitled "How to Dress for a Porterhouse" and reading articles like "50 Ways to Blow Your Bonus," it's unlikely that such folly holds much practical advice. Literary editor Walter Kirn keeps short fiction on display, and Alan Richman's writing on food and dining out is always entertaining, even when he comes across as borderline cranky. Two regular Q&A features, "The Style Guy" and "Dr. Sooth," run the gamut from when it's appropriate to wear a straw hat to problems in the bedroom. Features Reviews (19)
But, there are so many positives about GQ that a subscription is not only recommended, it is almost required. First, and perhaps foremost, Alan Richman's food/restaurant columns. Second, Peter Bart (the once-deposed editor of Variety) writes a great Hollywood column. Third, GQ is far and away superior to its rivals, which I believe are Esquire and, somewhat surprisingly, Vanity Fair. Fourth, the fashion features and celebrity interviews are beyond compare. Finally, GQ generally has one article a month that I would describe as investigative journalism, and these articles can't be missed. All in all, GQ is an essential for any magazine rack.
That said, the magazine is rife with flaws. Snobbish east-coast writing, awful music that is lauded for no reason other than its anonymity, still worse book reviews of Norman Mailer-style authors, shrill articles by naive hacks, and so on. The clothes are great, but buy with caution. ... Read more Asin: B00005N7QI |
$15.00 |
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Men's Health Average Customer Review: Magazine list price: $39.90 -- our price: $24.97 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Features Reviews (33)
However, they're all gone and all that's left is an emaciated skeleton of articles that are not interesting, innovative, or remotely intelligent. In fact, the only men I know who look at it now are my gay friends, for the great pictures of muscles on the cover and inside. But they, also, are too smart and savvy to waste their time on the lame articles. I don't know what happened to the management of that magazine, but somebody made some devastating decisions. I've never seen a magazine go from being truly one-of-a-kind to just a faceless jumble of paper and staples among the crowd. If you want articles on fitness, almost any other magazine will be better than Men's Health. The newest teeny bopper rag will have deeper articles on relationship than Men's Health. They assume the average guy is extremely insecure and has a sub-standard IQ. This magazine had a great thing going, and they blew it. Big time. Don't waste your time or money.
The magazine has plenty of good articles on health, exercise, nutrition, sex, etc. This is one of the few magazines that I can actually read from cover to cover; it has tips on how to fight off sickness (i.e. cold, flu, etc.), how to exercise--I've found out what I've been doing wrong in my workouts as a result, and how to please a woman. If you're interested work-out tips like I am, this magazine offers some but not enough... For extensive work-out tips, I suggest you go get "Exercise&Health"; in my opinion, "Exercise&Health" has the best work-out tips, and the magazine has lots of them! For general health, however, I recommend "Men's Health".
Asin: B00005N7RD |
$24.97 |
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