Industrial Books

This book is one of the best in pricing. It is used as a textbook in business schools and highly recommended by consultants.
Unfortunately, it took 10 days to arrive using standard shipping.

I have spent over 30 years in computer software sales, pricing, and terms and conditions. This book resonates with me, specifically with it's emphasis on sustained company profitability rather than get rich quick pricing. It's comprehensive, not specialized to any specific product set or industry, and nothing I read failed to make sense to me, based on my experience.

If you are interested in this topic, there is no better work I know of to give you both practical and good theoretical advice.

This is the reference book of many of the best MBA courses in US, and when I started the reading, I realised why. It's written in a very easy way, and covers all the topics on pricing: strategy of pricing, segmentation, unbundling products and finally emotional pricing.

I have never readen any princing book before. At first, I thougt it would be hard to read, difficult to understand and almost all full of mathematics. This book is not so. In fact, the authors try to explain all the topics by words, not by numbers.

Actually, princing managers tipically try to find diverse formulae to apply to price their items. Nevertheless, this book teaches you that it is one of the ways, but pricing a product is much more than using a formulae...it is strategy and psicology as well!!!

I bought a second copy of this book after loaning it to too many people to know who had had it last.

The book is not light reading, is highly technical and has more than a little math to comprehend. But, it is worth it.

The strategic thinking is very focused.

If you are stuck on how to price your product or how to combat price competition, read this book.

We have the challenge of taking new products and services to the marketplace and really were looking form some guidance on a place to start. The area we are working in is really developing a new market as well. So we were wondering "What Price do we place on these product and services?"

We could not afford the experts on pricing (aka Strategic Pricing Group now part of The Monitor Group). And were looking for a place to start. All research including reviews from Amazon pointed us to start with this book. To myself and our endeavor, it the first 3 weeks of owning the book, I have read several chapters multiple times and the foundation framework on pricing is shares has already proven to be worth many times the price of the book.

On top of it, it is easy to read. Thanks to the people who took the time to make this book.

Ms Muir is a great storyteller. I was interested in the topic and prepared to slog through boring text to learn something, but this was AMAZING. Read like a novel. She sees inter-relationships and draws conclusions which taught me a lot. Now I want to read everything she's written. I was sorry when I finished this book.

It is hard to imagine how Reflections in Bullough's Pond could have been better written. Diana Muir gives an account of the interplay between New England's economic history and its environment in a lapidary prose which never leaves the reader behind. By the end of the book we are enlightened about the ebb and flow of these matters over the five hundred-odd years from early European settlement to modern times without ever being overwhelmed, for Ms Muir always wears her erudition lightly.

She breaks new ground in her treatment of the environment as both an economic resource and as a complex-often vulnerable-amalgam of ecosystems. Her thesis is that we are living on capital, be it fossil fuel, topsoil or forest-she is particularly compelling on the vulnerable biochemistry of these last. Unusually, however, Ms Muir is scrupulous in her use of statistics and fastidious in her argument. She never seeks to undermine the legitimacy of the economic impulse, though she does not flinch from her conclusion: an argument for restraint in economic activity and population.

Nor does she lose sight of the propensity of ecosystems to renew themselves, albeit often in new forms: she is pleased-almost amused-by the return of the beaver and the moose, while regretting the extinction of the elm and the emergence of local spruce monocultures. Indeed Ms Muir expresses herself more forcefully on the loss of flora than fauna. Perhaps this is because the long life cycles of the former make it harder to take an optimistic view of their capacity to renew themselves. Alternatively it may be because the collapse of agriculture in New England following the opening up of the West, has stimulated the return to southern New England of so many species formerly evicted to Canada.

Reflections in Bullough's Pond is no naïve elegy for a Paradise Lost; it never loses sight of a human interplay with the landscape which long antedates industrialisation, not to say European settlement. In a particularly ingenious section of the book, Ms Muir reminds us that in the middle of the nineteenth century, the courts and legislatures altered common law doctrines of liability to free up industrial activity. This reflected the climate of the times. Ms Muir argues that the climate of our own times may well give rise to more extensive liability concepts to restrain the corporations, notions very much with the tail wind of popular and professional thinking.

Given the book's generosity and elegance, it seems curmudgeonly to cavil at any part of it. But a couple of issues do arise. First forests. Since the invention of agriculture, we have cleared them for the simple reason that we have better uses for the land. This has been going on in the Old World for millennia. Of course there have been local environmental disasters, eg in North Africa and Mesopotamia, but nothing sufficiently general to justify veneration of forests as a precautionary measure. This is an artefact of late-twentieth century sentiment in the New World. There such virgin forests as have not lost within living memory are being destroyed even now, thus the local salience of the issue. Over the past fifteen years their defenders have sought to enlist support by arguing that they served one or another vital purpose: producing oxygen, acting as feedstock for drugs, now Ms Muir points to their role in topsoil. The first two arguments are infrequently heard these days. As to the last, let me point out that where I grew up in the eastern part of England, the ground was cleared eight or nine hundred years ago, but the topsoil remains sufficiently fertile for the local farmers to get out record yields.

I was also left uncertain as to the course Ms Muir might prescribe for the several billion who have never seen Bullough's Pond, and whose habitats have been profoundly altered by economic activity for millenia rather than centuries. The residents of Asia's great river valleys cleared the forests long before Columbus saw the New World. They have to eat-with luck raise themselves above thoughts of the next meal. Ms Muir has practical suggestions as to how the courts might restrain US corporations, but nothing on how to restrain the aspirations of those who dream of a fraction of American prosperity. I suspect she is wise enough to know that there is nothing to be done on this score. In a rare nod towards the nether reaches of environmental alarmism, she hints that she expects nature to impose population restraint, if we do not. I am more sanguine. In whatever might come to pass as in what has come before, we will wade through. As we must.

Other reviewers have discussed the virtues of the book, so I will only add that the lessons to be learned from this well written and fascinating study are relevant to the entire planet, not just New England. As such, the book is highly recommended to anyone anywhere who is interested in mankind's relationship to the environment and its effects on culture and economics.

This is one of the best books I have ever read- period! At the core of the book is Ms. Muir's message that we are part of nature, not separate from or above nature, and we have a great responsibility to maintain the integrity of the environment. Granted, this message is not new. Where this book is very different is how Ms. Muir leads up to this message. She shows how the New England landscape changed from one where farming dominated to one that was a mixture of many different types of mills and factories. You learn the consequences of everything that was done along the way: the consequences to fish and birds of damming rivers; the consequences to forests and to the air we breath of heavy logging; the consequences of catching too many of one type of fish, etc. What is great about this book is that Ms. Muir does not deal in hazy generalities. She takes you step by step and shows you specifically how certain actions cause certain changes in the environment, often unforseen. There is nothing simplistic in her observations and she knows there are no easy answers. She lays out the data for you and you can come to your own conclusions. But what really takes this book to another level is the fascinating biographical information that Ms. Muir provides concerning the many, many New Englanders that invented the machines of the Industrial Revolution and kept the economy vibrant as the importance of agriculture diminished. The way this book is put together is very unusual, due to the combination of all of the above factors and in the space of 248 pages you will learn a great deal of information. The research Ms. Muir must have done in writing this book is staggering and her knowledge across many different areas is amazing. Don't miss reading this book.

Using a pond near her home in Newton, MA as a backdrop, Diana Muir weaves a compelling view of New England history, which she argues is a series of ecological crises.

From pre-Columbian times, Muir says, New England was populated by individuals struggling on a land that was not conducive to making a living. Radical solutions to unsolvable problems were their only escape. In the 1790s, when farming was the only occupation, a growing population and a soil spent by generations of misuse, resulted in a dearth of farmable land. With no prospects and no future, individuals like Eli Whitney and Thomas Blanchard, were forced to look for creative solutions to society's problems and set in motion an industrial revolution.

I was particularly intrigued by the story of Frederick Tudor, the man who in 1806 introduced ice to Martinique. It is one thing to sell ice to people who because of their location, understand the concept. It is quite another, to sell ice to people who have never experienced it, to say nothing about the practical necessities of ice houses to warehouse the product.

His father's real estate speculation losses left Tudor with nothing but ambition and a house with a pond in Saugus, MA. He succeeded after two difficult decades. There was always a wrinkle to be solved before a fortune could be built. Iceboxes had to be designed and then marketed in southern ports to people who had to be taught how to preserve it.

This phenomenon explains why there so many Crystal and Silver Lakes dot the New England landscape, relics of an enterprising age. Savvy ice dealers understood that attractive names sell products. For a brief period even Muir's Bullough's Pond was briefly renamed Silver Lake.

Diana Muir e-mailed me twice during the past two years introducing her book to me. Having read her book, I am grateful for her persistence. If you enjoy reading unique looks at our history, I implore not to wait for her to contact you. Read her book; you will not regret it.

The space race of the 1960's was a crossroads in time that will never be repeated.

Walt Cunningham had a crow's nest view of that period. As a member of Apollo 7, the first Apollo mission and the first successful flight after the catastrophic Apollo 1 fire that almost disbanded the space program, he was able to see the inner workings of the American space program. He has recorded this unique perspective in "The All-American Boys."

"The All-American Boys" is a rare document of what really happened in the early days of the space program. In my opinion, most other astronaut memoirs are cleaned up versions of the truth--all "flag waving" and "ballyhoo." One gets a sense in the All-American Boys that the space race is being presented warts and all, including the social and political quirks of being an astronaut.

This version is an unabridged audiobook of Walt's book, which was first published in 1977 but thoroughly updated for this version. It covers Mercury/Gemini/Apollo but also shuttle/MIR/ISS. Walt himself narrates the audiobook, which is a great bonus. His pleasant narration makes the 22 discs go by very quickly

Unlike most other astronaut memoirs, you get your money's worth with this book. Highly recommended.

Col. Cunninghams's audio CD version of The All American Boys is, simply put a great listen! Having read the hardback, I thought that there would be little to gain in buying the CD version, but I was wrong. His carefully spoken rendition has laugh-out-loud moments, and his tough but thorough thought provoking commentary on the space race, NASA, the Russian's, the International Space Station, and the future of man's involvement in space is a must have. I don't know why, but hearing it 'first person' and in the spoken words of someone who was there, and who made this history, is a remarkable thing. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Absolutely Fantastic!
Walt's voice resonates through you as he recounts his life experiences before, during and after his NASA years. This is a wonderful way to learn about Americas Space Program from the ground up.
Whether you have read the AABoys or not, nothing matches hearing this incredible story with the true life passion only the author and main character, Walter Cunningham, can convey.
A great joy, and true and exciting find! A must have for anyone interested in space history and space exploration. What fun it was to replay parts to hear the subtle inflections in Walt's voice just to gain a greater insight into how this space hero must have felt during the space race years, through to the changes that are on the horizon today.
A most favorite addition to my space collection!

I got the title of this review from Apollo 11 astronaut Mike Collins who described fellow astronaut Walt Cunningham this way. Only a few people have flown in space, and so we would expect astronaut auto-biographies to talk about this, but unfortunately, only Mike Collins book "Carrying the Fire" does it. After reading a few other autobiographies I finally came to the conclusion that it is not really worth the time and money to get their books, with them spending most of the pages discussing petty jealousies, practical jokes, celebrity golf tournaments, and their success or failure in the world of business.. Thus, I was somewhat reluctant to purchase Cunningham's, but the reviews convinced me to give it a try. Fortunately, it was worth it. Cunningham does share the flaw of the others in that he also doesn't describe his Apollo 7 flight in any detail, but the uniquness of his book is that he does give an interesting perspective on the American space program, and his fellow astronauts, not seen in the other autobiographies.
Part of the reason is, as Collins pointed out, that Cunningham received a rigorous scientific education and was involved in scientific research before going to work for NASA. This gave him a greater ability to objectively judge the qualities of his fellow astronauts.
The original Mercury astronauts were good pilots, but one of the most important qualitites that they were chosen for was ability to stand immense stress, because at that time, it was not known how spaceflight
would affect the astronauts, physically or mentally. After Project Mercury proved the stresses were not as bad a feared, new generations of astronauts were chosen who had better education, better ability to understand the increasingly complex Gemini and Apollo spacecraft and a greater appreciation of the importance of the exploration of space in a scientific sense, something the Mercury astronauts did not have so much.
Cunningham also shows that the grind of training took a toll on the Mercury astronauts, and he says frankly that the commander of his Apollo 7 mission, Wally Schirra, who flew outstanding missions in both Mercury and Gemini (piloting the first rendezvous mission with another vehicle) didn't really have his heart in his Apollo mission and it negatively influenced his performance. Schirra repeatedly lost his temper during the mission which gave his whole crew a bad reputation leading to both Donn Eisele and Cunningham being banned from further flights (everyone admits Cunningham got an unfair rap in this). Cunningham also frankly points out that although the crew indeed proved that Apollo spacecraft was flight worthy, they didn't really accomplish nearly as much as they could have during their relatively long-duration flight in a scientific sense.
Other interesting things I learned from this book was that, starting with the two-man Gemini flights, the Mission Commander was the astronaut who controlled the abort initiation sequence, so he had to be significantly better, and management required more confidence in him than in the other astronauts who flew along, and in borderline situations, he had to have the best "feel" for how the flight was going and the spacecraft was performing.
One surprising thing Cunningham reveals was the most astronauts felt that
in the Gemini 8 mission (first docking of a manned spacecraft), astronauts Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott made a serious mistake leading to their spacecraft to spin out of control. Fortunately, they got it back under control and made an emergency reentry. Most histories of the space program say it was a mechanical glitch and that Armstrong's cool response gave Deke Slayton the confidence in him to assign him to be the commander of the first landing on the Moon.
Cunningham feels that ultimately, although all the astronauts were talented and qualified, the flight crews were chose based on Slayton's
feelings of friendship
for the fellow (although it should be pointed out that the great success of the space program shows that Slayton did generally pick the best to fly) and this was more important than ability, physical fitness or other objective considerations. Famous examples was Slayton giving Alan Shepard the Apollo 14 mission without him having served as a back-up crewmember on a previous mission. Although Shepard did an excellent job landing the Lunar Module very close to the desired target, his subsequent performance during the lunar EVA left a lot to be desired and much possible scientific gain was lost. Another example was Gene Cernan crashing his helicopter while he was ogling sunbathing girls. Many people
thought this would wash him out of his Apollo 17 command position, but Slayton covered up for him (it should be pointed out that Cernan did an outstanding job both piloting and carrying out his scientific duties on that flight).

Finally, although he wrote the book before the Space Shuttle first flew,
he points out that many of the astronauts felt too many compromises were made in designing it and that it wasn't safe. Cunningham points out that fighter pilots and astronauts find taking life-endangering risks to be exhilirating IF THE RISK IS NOT TOO GREAT. However, they oppose taking foolhardy risks, and not a few astronauts felt the Shuttle fit into that
category. Subsequent history has unfortunately shows that was the case, and the new Orion spacecraft is going back to an Apollo-like design and getting away from the "space-plane" concept.
All-in-all, I found the book a good read and a pleasant reminder of the
glory days of the manned space program that led to man walking on the moon.

This guy is one opinionated s.o.b. - but this book is all the better for it. Because Walt Cunningham is aware of his limitations, and has the virtue of being right in his strongly-held opinions.

I'd recommend this book even for those not interested in space flight. To see the cut-throat office politics behind a smooth veneer... it's something that relates so much to many walks of life. The fact that it is told here in the golden age of space flight makes it all the better. Wow! A great book.

I once wished that there was a grown-up version of the Girl Scouts for well-meaning women, like myself, who needed only a little guidance to get started. I purchased this book for my 81 year old mother and borrowed it soon after. I will now have to go back to the bookstore and buy more. I feel compelled to share this book with women I know and love. Knowing that the author died on United Flight 93 adds unbelievable weight to her words. It reminds me that no woman knows how much time she has left. I'm going to use this book to help me live, live, live!

Don't get me wrong, I really like this book. It's got good tips in it, but it's definitely overly 'cheesy' to me. Some points in some topics are *somewhat*-to-completely obvious, so it gets a little tiring to skim through things I already know through common sense (and perhaps through being a little older than 12).

Also what I was somewhat annoyed by was the 'motivational' tips on each page where I can basically write that I'm going to get more organized or make sure I throw out old banking statements.

What I do like is the uncommon suggestions from real experts on such things. That's the sort of thing I bought the book for. So my suggestion to make the book better would be to condense things a bit, and don't suggest everything, only provide more helpful tips that most seemingly don't think about instead of a gen-ed guide to living.

You Can Do It! was an idea Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas had for a year before she died on September 11, 2001, on her way home from her grandmother's funeral aboard United Flight 93. Whether it was learning to cook, garden or scuba dive, Lauren was always trying something new. She is remembered by her friends and family as their personal coach and champion. It is a fine tribute to Lauren's memory that they completed this project on her behalf.

Lauren, a former Girl Scout, structured the book around sixty "badge activities." Mentors for each chapter become a cheerleading team, encouraging women to make our dreams a reality. In order to earn a badge, you need to follow the "badge steps." The badges are full-color stickers created by Toronto illustrator Julia Breckenreid.

The first chapter I turned to in the "Create" section was "Be an Author." I always love to see what other writers have to say about the writing life. In this one, poet and novelist Laurie Henry explains what she does (writes books including The Novelist's Notebook) and why she does it ("it's an engrossing challenge"). For "extra credit," there's some advice on "Getting Published." The chapter touches on every aspect of the writing life, such as what to do when you're not writing (read). Or to keep the momentum going, meet with other writers. Every chapter has an extensive list of resources as suggested by the chapter's mentor.

No dream is too big or too small the author reminds us. So readers can check out firewalking, beading or sewing. Practical advice is included on the subject of money, and inspiration is included for our inner lives through such activities as meditation. Maybe you don't know what it is you need mentoring for. As you browse through the book, you'll remember, "Oh, yes, that's the dream I put on hold." At the end of the book, you are invited to dream up your own badge.

I found the book's design, by Debbie Berne of Herter Studio in San Francisco, attractive as well as practical. An innovative approach to the table of contents, for instance, is a checkerboard in greens, white and black. It's visually appealing and reminds us there are many moves we can make as we dare, create, learn, play, deal, connect and dream--all headings for the sections of the book.

The book made me feel like an excited kid again. But this time my kid has a team of mentors to encourage me. You Can Do It! is an inspiring and encouraging springboard for girls of all ages. Young girls can learn of all the many possibilities, and mid-life women (or beyond mid-life like me) can be affirmed in knowing they still have a chance to learn something new.

The accompanying You Can Do It! Workbook is a place to Dream It, Write It, Do It, and it reminds you to turn your to-do lists upside down. That means your want-to-do's will be on top. The workbook has lots of space, guided exercises, roomy pockets for brochures, an address book for your support network. The inspirational quotes throughout were like the voice of a coach as I made my daily journal entries.

Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas pursued a career in marketing and advertising, had her own consulting company in Northern California and, most recently, served as account executive for Good Housekeeping. As the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States reported, "The nation owes a debt to the passengers of United 93. Their actions saved the lives of countless others and may have saved either the U.S. Capitol or the White House from destruction." Lauren's legacy lives on in the dreams and aspirations of women of all ages. The proceeds from You Can Do It! go to the Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation to support charitable causes that were of interest to Lauren.

by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
www.storycirclebookreviewsorg
reviewing books by, for, and about women

A wonderful self help book for women who, after setting aside personal dreams and aspirations for the sake of others, seek to reconnect with their own unique dreams in life. Based upon the Girl Scout Model of the Merit Badge, Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas' book defines a step by step approach for a variety of accomplishments, big and small. Menors who are experts in the field provide guidance and advice.

For those who do not know, the author, Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, tragically died on United Flight 93. She had (and has still) a special gift for mentoring and encouraging other women. Very refreshing for today. Proceeds from the book, which was finished by her two sisters, goes to Lauren's favorite charities.

This is a very touching book through which the spirit of a vibrant, compassionate woman lives on.

I love to do things. I love doing new things! From arts & crafts (etching glass, and blacksmithing), to unusual sports (like sailing or bungee jumping), I am passionate about learning new things.

However, this book - while chalk full of ideas - is very skimpy on actual direction. While other resources are listed (usually another book that you should buy, or a website you need to visit) - I was hoping for a book that not only had great ideas --- but had information on how to actually DO the activity (and what skills I might need to have before-hand before starting).

This book has a wonderful concept, but it would have been even better if it had more details and information on how to actually DO things.

NOTE: the forward written by the author's sister is heartbreaking...and bumped this book from a 1-star to 2-stars, just based on that letter.

Tim Harrower provides a very practical guide to newspaper design. The art of newspaper design tends to be very subjective, so this book lays down some facts and guidelines to put to rest some of the indecisive elements of design.

For a beginner, this is a book that will give you the confidence and understanding to conquer page layout.

The CD gives the novice an even more practical guide than the book can deliver.

One criticism is that the book is printed on light gloss stock and is spiral bound. I am not sure how it was survive rough treatment.

Brian Hurst

This textbook is awesome. I've never seen a better textbook. It lays everything out, and makes it simple to understand. It tells you what to do and what not to do in simple language and clear pictures. It's one of few textbooks worth keeping for future use in your career (provided you're going into the newspaper industry)!

When I accepted my first "real" job in journalism as a page designer for a local weekly I was struck by a horrifying thought, I really knew nothing about newspaper design. I had done it before for my college paper, sure, but this was the big time. I needed a refresher course and I needed it fast... Tim Harrower and this spiral-bound book came to my rescue.

Although it was first published in 1989, this book will be relevant as long as newspapers exist, even in this age of computer design. Harrower explains and shows why certain designs are good and bad and he approaches it in a situational, problem-solving format. For example, he explains what should be done when you have to design a page with no art, when you have butting headlines, or two horizontal photos etc. Harrower says that most page designers stumble into the job and from this point of view he explains what exactly, a good design is. This book will always be on my desk.

(I wish my publications professor used this instead of the worthless $105 monstrosity he made us buy (and that we never used by the way).)

So, after some mild freaking out followed by a lot of reading, I can start my new job with confidence thanks to this book.

I ordered the hardbound and got the spiral bound, a product worth $12 less. It was then that I discovered there is no way to express a complaint to Amazon: no phone number, no email address, no human help. All that is available is a maze of pre-written web help, none of which includes "credit my account $12, since I don't want to go through the hassle of sending this book back." What's up, Amazon? Don't you want satisfied customers? I spend literally hundreds here each year. This egregious deficit needs to be fixed immediately. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book.

I am an editor these days.
I came on this book quite a few years ago when I was a sub. It was recommended to me by an old hand in the newspaper game.
Without doubt, it is the single best aquisition I have made in terms of newspaper design.
In the places I have worked, I have been regarded extremely highly for my layout skills.
This book, with a little creativity, is the basis of almost everything I do in terms of layout.
If you are serious about the newspaper game, get it, study it and then apply what you learn. It will help our career enormously.

This is the most revolutionary business book of the last twenty years! Not since Tom Peters masterpiece, "In Search of Excellance" has a book captured a message so profond, yet so simple. This book can change the course of American business and re-establish our country's confidance in corporate America. Timely, Powerful, Necessary!!!

During my 14 years as a business attorney I have seen clients rise and fall, succeed and fail - and one thing always stands out. The most successful clients are not threatened by the competition, have loyal employees and love what they do. I have read this book 3 times and it has helped me in reshaping my practice. Now, I give it to clients, especially those who have backed themselves into a corner and need the rest of the world to get out and succeed. Contact Sport lays it out clearly and the value system it presents works. As a business woman, I'm not crazy about the macho sports paradigm though. Not everyone does sports ball guys!

At first blush, Tom Richardson and Gus Viduarreta's book seems only to tell you things you already knew. I built a large computer-consulting firm (600+ employees) using many of the same principles described in the first chapters of the book. My first reaction was "Why do I need this book?" After reading it through to the end my feelings changed drastically: "Why didn't I have this book ten years ago?"
What Vidaurreta and Richardson do so well is provide an effective framework for organizing and harvesting a company's relationship management techniques - techniques that we all tend to use, but only in a haphazard and slipshod fashion. The book, in a practical "what to do on Monday morning" fashion, outlines how, with a little thinking and organization, you can vastly increase return on the relationship management techniques that you may already have in place. It then goes on to point out techniques you probably never thought of...
In my opinion a lotta bang for very little buck!!

I guess I'm one of the fortunate ones. I had the opportunity to work with Tom and Gus for a few years back when they first birthed Systems Consulting Group. I spent quite a bit of time with Gus and noticed from day one that he had an uncanny way with people. So I paid close attention and began to soak up all I could. I'm not wired like Gus is motivationally, nor am I gifted with his charismatic personality. I'm a software consultant, I'm still thrilled with the technical side of IT, and that's where I want to remain...but the competition is getting more and more fierce.

I recently discovered that Gus and Tom had written, "Business is a Contact Sport" so I rushed to Amazon[.com] and purchased it...more from curiosity than anything else. What I never would have realized had I not read the book was just how much I had gleaned from my time with them. I've actually been using many of their principles for more than a dozen years and greatly benefiting from them. I've had numerous long-termed engagements as I watched people with more expertise and more years of experience than myself being laid off. I've been able to cultivated relationships with key individuals at many of the clients I've worked at and have frequently been able to leverage these relationships into longer term or repeat engagements. Along the way I've always tried to help people in every way I could, even when I knew there would be no chance for reciprocation.

Maybe you're like me, you're not CEO material (or CRO for that matter) and you don't have the desire to IPO new companies, you're happy with your career but want a edge at being able to land the longer term or more lucrative job assignments. This new book is not just for the top executives, it's for the average person like myself who just wants a leg up in this new economy.

By the way, my wife and I attended the first Christmas party that SCG gave back in 1988, the one that cost 10% of that year's profits. They didn't have to invite me, they knew I'd never be a large source of income for the business, but they cultivated the relationship anyway. Relationships truly are circular aren't they...here I am fourteen years later giving a rave review on their book!

Of course you don't have to buy the book to benefit from their knowledge, you could begin your career under their tutelage like I did!

Kurt Sligh
Software Consultant

Tom Richardson and Augusto Vidaurreta, the founders of the Systems Consulting Group, have had tremendous success since the late 1980's using some of the obvious techniques necessary in business that we all know are important, but sometimes forget to practice. For the seasoned business professional BUSINESS IS A CONTACT SPORT easily defines and labels terms for the principals we know are important for us to succeed, but didn't know how to organize them to teach them to new entrants into the business world. Business leaders should read and develop a cheat sheet of the 12 principals and post it as a reminder of what we need to be doing each day. BUSINESS AS A CONTACT SPORT has been tested and passed with high grades from some of our best business schools. RAM, Relationship Asset Management and CRO, Chief Relationship Officer will become a standard in the evolving business world. Managers need to arms their sales staff with this book as well as department heads and HR personnel.

This book is HIGHLY recommended.Management really should pay attention to who is MOBBING who.The MOBBER S are UP TO SOMETHING and I am sure it is not in your companies best interest.People just trying to DO THEIR JOB and at first DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS TREATMENT GOES ON ?The Mobbers out to harm company. I think the companies have pretty much let them.You have let this go on for so many years.As a target I am telling you all TARGET"S WANT A SAFE WORKPLACE.People do not want to play games on the job.Go ruin your own reputation you gossiping liars.
NO TOXIC "OUT OF CONTROL "coworkers who mob.People just go to work to make a living, not a living hell.

Although a little dry at times, MOBBING: EMOTIONAL ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE is nonetheless an important book detailing a little-known phenomenon that has become rampant in companies and universities everywhere. The author explores the difference between mobbing and simply bullying, explaining that the former entails multiple coworkers ganging up on a single person in order to humiliate, discredit, and eventually dispel them from the workplace. Often the ringleader is a boss who finds the employee threatening. The author details the steps in the harassing process, and outlines the adverse effects on the workplace and the victim, explaining why the US needs to have legislation in place to prevent this common, but primarily unidentified, process. This is a very important book for HR professionals, as mobbing occurs in fifteen percent of all workplaces, yet is rarely recognized by the administrative employees called in to deal with the effects. Many times the situation is manipulated so that the victim appears emotionally unstable and paranoid. As someone who was herself the victim of a mobbing at a former job, I found this book a valuable tool in putting into perspective what had happened and why. If only I could get my ex HR director to read it!

One day soon workplace abuses like "mobbing" and "narcissistic abuse" will be as much within public awareness as sexual abuse/harassment/discrimination is today. I'm old enough to remember when sexual abuse in the workplace was "cutting edge." The questions during that time went something like this: is it really "abuse"? or is it just boys having fun and women just dressing too sexy? Why get all worked up about a little too much testosterone in the office? The problem is--it rarely had much to do with testosterone and more to do with abusing/using another human being.

I see that we are in a similar situation now with narcissistic abuse in the workplace. Not all organizational "mobbing" is caused by narcissism, but a whole lot of it is. In order to make a narcissistic organization "work" some people have to be designated as "second-rate." Ironically, the "second-rate" people most often have more on the ball than the "first-rate" people because they are too smart and emotionally healthy not to get involved in the narcissism of it all anyway. They just want to work.

One of these days, and I hope I live long enough to see it as much as Gloria Steinem ever wanted to live long enough to see laws against sexual abuse, I want to see laws against the emotional phenomenon of "mobbing" as other bellwether countries in the world have already done. What a great day that will be for the human race.

This is an excellent book. Well written. Well researched. As a recent victim of "mobbing" I can tell you that it does exist. Victims of sexual harassment/discrimination in the workplace years ago had to experience the phenomenon of either too few people believing them or too many people believing that it really wasn't that big of a deal. One great thing the authors do is to verify that "mobbing" is serious emotional abuse. That name it and call it for what it is: evil.

Why do we put up with "mobbing" today and why isn't it within the awareness of the average American yet? The author gives us some ideas why:
"One is that mobbing behaviors are ignored, tolerated, misinterpreted, or actually instigated by the company or the organizational management as a deliberate strategy." Been there, been a victim of that, got the T-shirt.
"The second reason is that this behavior has not yet been identified as workplace behavior clearly different from sexual harassment or discrimination"
"Thirdly, more often than not, the victims are worn down, feel destroyed and exhausted. They feel incapable of defending themselves, let alone initiating legal action." (page 20)

This is a super, comprehensive, competent book. I suppose that the only critique I would have of it is that the authors should have spent more than two modest pages on Narcissistic Personality Disorder. More often than not, this personality disorder is at work when "mobbing" is taking place. I really think a deeper discussion of this phenomenon could have added more psychological depth to the book. Furthermore, by doing so the authors could have helped "mobbing" victims by giving them definitive proof that the "mobbing" perpetrators, not the victim, are the ones who should be ashamed if anyone should be ashamed.

You know, now that I think about it, the authors should have focused more on "shame" as well. A huge part of the "mobbing" phenomenon is "shame dumping." The victim is supposed to be ashamed for not being "good enough" or whatever. The fact is that the "mobbing" perpetrators are probably highly motivated to avoid shame and thus dump their shame on a "not good enough" co-worker/employee. By spending more effort on unpacking the phenomenon of "shame", I believe the authors could have done a better job of helping "mobbing" victims put the shame that was dumped on them back on where it belongs--the perpetrators.

All in all, though, this is an excellent addition to the discussion of emotional abuse in the workplace. We're in denial as a country, in my opinion, to the severity of it in all areas of society. We need to follow the other European countries who call it for what it is and write laws against it.

But, one day...one day...we'll call it for what it is. I just pray I live that long and that my children won't have to fight that inevitable fight.

Let's win it soon.

This is an outstanding book. I highly recommend this book to any working professional, especially to anyone whose job requires him to deal with attorneys on a regular basis. The book defines the term mobbing - a group of employees ganging up on a fellow employee to force his resignation. It gives a description (personality type) of the likely perpetrator(s) or ringleader and breaks down the effect this abuse has on the employee. The book also provides a chapter about how to protect yourself legally. While most abuses I've seen in the legal field were one-on-one (I saw only one incident of actual mobbing against a secretary), the book provides a wealth of information to nonlawyer professionals, or anyone else for that matter, who may find themselves in a hostile environment at the job. This is a common, a daily of not hourly occurence, in many law firms. The personality types describe lawyers to a "T." This book is a must-have in the American workforce. I've seen too many legal secretaries' morale, self-esteem, and confidence go down the tubes because of harassment and abuse. This undoubtedly happens in other industries as well.

Before my experience of becoming a victim of "mobbing", I had never heard of this word. I've had to deal with a bully or two in the past, and the usual work pressures caused by demanding bosses and strict deadlines. But nothing prepared me for the experience of being mobbed. It was passive aggressive style mobbing. This book was a great resource for myself, though it made me sad that some friends and relatives couldn't believe such a thing could occur, or didn't want to admit such a thing could occur in this country. This experience has really changed my view of people. Of course, I could tell some of the participants would have caused me grief whether or not the mobbing environment existed. And it was easy to see that others were less enthusiastic about the mobbing and just did it to "fit in". Since managers were involved in my situation, the only recourse I had was to quit for the sake of my health. This book is written very clearly and will help you understand your situation, and the best way to respond.

But immediately after quitting, I then became a victim of "gang stalking", which has many similarities to mobbing, but takes place in the "community". I first encountered the word "gang stalking" during my research on "mobbing", and it sounded quite preposterous to be honest. However, now that it is happening to me, I'm finding that it isn't such a new phenomenon either. An example is the FBI's COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program). I keep asking myself "Why Me?. Its not like I'm a radical trying to bring down the government.

Could this have happened if it weren't for the so called "Patriot Act", creating opportunity for abuse of power and high technology? See "Opening Pandora's Box: How Technologies of Communication & Cognition May Be Shifting Towards a Psycho-Civilized Society" by Kingsley Dennis of Lancaster University. Another good paper is "The Mind Has No Firewall" by Timothy Thomas of the US Army War College.

I'm sure the number of people that experience "mobbing" is going to far outnumber the number of people who ever experience "gang stalking", but please believe that this is a reality in modern day America. So much for the 8th amendment about "cruel & unusual" punishments, not to mention all the other laws against this type of activity. With mobbing, I was afraid of losing a source of income & diminished health. With gang stalking, I'm afraid for my safety. I've received threats of bodily harm, threats of being framed for crimes, persecuted by the government and its extra legal "vigilantes" leaves no hope for justice, and imprisonment. Most interactions don't involve a major threat, but are just acts of harassment to let the victim know they are under surveillance. Anything to maintain a climate of fear and uncertainty. Hearing "directed conversations" (which repeat certain threatening themes, or relate to something personal in your life) at a restaurant or while walking, street theater, being tailgated or crossing paths with vehicles of various companies or government units (for instance, they all happen to appear at the intersections you stop at to condition the victim to start interpreting that type of vehicle as a threatening symbol), ect... after a while leave the victim realizing there are too many occurrences for all of them to be isolated random events, but are being coordinated by a government agency. Why would the government go to all of this trouble with our tax dollars? To quell dissent? Unify people by finding scapegoats for the vigilantes to persecute? Persecution on behalf of corporations?

This has been going on for quite a few months and I feel mobbing victims would be the most likely to understand or at least listen since the goals and methods are similar in many way. To Discredit & Destroy people in a way that leaves little evidence of the crime, and to provoke and blame the victim. And both mobbing and gang stalking are repetitive types of abuse that occur over a long period of time, so that the victim is always worried about "what will happen next?".

Its depressing when so many people gang up on you, but I think the bright spot to remember is that these liars and cowards are forced to carry out their activities covertly, since most Americans would be outraged if the true facts were ever revealed. If you are in a mobbing situation, this book is well worth the money.

P.S. The following quote from the book "Stalking the Soul: Emotional Abuse & the Erosion of Identity" is interesting. Marie-France Hirigoyen's research helped establish the anti-mobbing laws in France.

by Marie-France Hirigoyen, Helen Marx (Afterword), Thomas Moore (Translator)
"Often, emotional abuse builds over a long period of time until it becomes so unbearable that victims lash out in frustration and anger, only to appear unstable and aggressive themselves. This, according to Hirigoyen, is the intent of many abusers: to systematically "destabilize" and confuse their victims (with irrational, threatening behavior that preys on the victim's fears and self-doubts), to isolate and control them and ultimately to destroy their identity."

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in slate roofs. Very comprehensive and detailed. Exceeded my expectations.

very useful and very usable. Instructive for those with background in roofing, but helpful for most people..good book, worth purchasing

excellent and very comprehensive. as a layman i feel jenkins has a knack for imparting his vast knowledge on slate roofs.

This is a comprehensive book and one of the few books devoted to slate roofs still in print. It tells you everything from installing to the care and repair of the roof. It's true that slate roofs can last 100 years but our roof is 80 years old and is between fair and poor condition. Slate roofing is a specialized art, slate roofing material is difficult to find, and the tools are expensive. It is very difficult to find someone to repair a slate roof, and it needs to be checked/ maintained every year. Despite this, we wanted to repair our roof because it is attractive an possibly less expensive than replacing the entire roof. When I was unable to find someone to repair our roof, I went on line and found Joe Jenkins site. Later I found his book at Amazon. Although the book is complete, it is difficult for a lay person to read though. We were able to tell that the last person to repair our roof didn't know what he was doing (sloppy tar all over). We couldn't find slate to match our roof anywhere. Luckily we discovered some extra under our porch. We bought ladder hooks to convert our ladder to a hook ladder, and this is as far as we got.

Whether you are and experienced slate roofer or a homeowner who might be considering investing in a slate roof, you'll enjoy this book.

I'll let the other reviewers talk about pictures and text and history and other aspects of the book. But the overwhelming sensation I got from this book is the passion Joseph Jenkins has for slate roofs. This is a man who absolutly loves what he is doing. When reading this book I really received the impression that slate roofs are a part of Joe Jenkins soul and he really, really wants to tell you all he knows about them. It's rare in life to find someone so impassioned about their occupation. I became absorbed not just for my own self interest but because Joe Jenkins knows what he is talking about. I was interested in finding out about slate roofs before I purchased; after reading this book-- I REALLY wanted one.

$30 is cheap tuition to have Joeseph Jenkins experience.

There are parts of the book that are clearly written in the immature style of a teenager (colloquial speech) and parts that have been edited so much that they seem to come from an entirely different person. The overall book is choppy in terms of style, although the organization is excellent.

I would have preferred that the author articulate more clearly his emotions that accompanied his experiences. I would have hoped that his editor/professional writing mentor would have worked on making the story more compelling. I was a bit sad to get to the end of the book and not feel inspired. I felt like it was an "interesting story," but inspirational--not quite.

The captions below the photos should either not exist or tell additional information that is not contained in the text. I was annoyed to read a summary statement below the photo that I had just read on the previous pages.

It would be a good leisure read for high school students (or anyone for that matter), although as an example of good quality writing, I wouldn't suggest it.

A wonderful book that will give you a firsthand account of the situation surrounding child labor in South East Asia.

The Kielburger story is one of an incredible journey that he took as a twelve year old to explore the problem of child labor. The "journey" has continued since then into his discovery of the problem all over the world, in addition to his solution through his organization. They build schools, spread awareness through lectures (and their website www.freethechildren.com), inspire young leaders through their programs, and so much more. This is a story that needs to be told over and over again to whomever in hopes that the world can work together to "Free the Children" all over the globe. Get this book and pass it on to any one and make sure they pass it on....

Craig and Marc's stories are so amazing. I used to think that I can't make a difference in the world because I am only 14 years old. This book taught me that even the smallest of actions can create a ripple that affects more people than I can ever imagine. The ideas in this book are really quite simple, but when articulated so clearly by Marc and Craig, it just makes so much sense.

Craig Keilburger is an amazing man and is one of the Worlds greatest heroes. I have learned more from this book then any in the whole world. Even Social Studies!

I liked what the book was saying. The only thing I really had trouble with is that trying this in real life situations is really hard. I'm an assistant manager in a hair salon, and my stylists just don't seem real motivated to join the bus. But I wouldn't give up.

It's a story about the life of work and living. The energy bus and the 10 rules learned within the story will guide you to see how the positive attitude can put life back into work, family, and life. If you don't see the possibilities after this easy read there just might not be a way out of our rat race. Jon Gordon has simplified the process of positive attitude thinking in a way that will touch the heart of over-worked executive, manager, or supervisor. Read it for you and then give it away to someone you love or at least care about. This is not a self-help book; it's much more, it's a look in the mirror.

All of Jon Gordon's books are great and this one takes no exception. I like the step by step method he uses in this fast paced, easy to read and right to the point book. Restore that belief in yourself and in your fellow humankind because life really is too short to live any other way. Another book I highly recommend is Understanding: Train of Thought.

I first heard him speak several years ago at the Texas Governor's Conference for Women (around 8500 women) and have been receiving his newsletters since. His newsletter is a great reminder to remain positive throughout each day. His new book exemplifies this attitude. You can tell from hearing him in person that he actually lives what he speaks and writes.

There are some great reviews below, I am doing this one both for my own notes, and to flag the book for those that follow my reading.

I've been looking over around six books on "positives" and this is clearly one of the top ones. We cannot get enough of this kind of insight, especially since most of us have been trained from birth with the war, scarcity, competition metaphor.

This is a double-spaced fast read. I recommend it be read along with Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation and A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted, both of which I have also reviewed.

CEO Take-Away: Managing the Energy away from negative and toward positive is a big part of your job.

The book has an excellent story to open, and I am learning that the story, not "just the facts" is much more powerful in getting others to receive and embrace new ideas.

+ Everything happens for a reason, make the most of it.

+ The ones who most need help are the most closed off.

+ Love life, live in the moment.

The 10 rules:
01 You're the driver
02 Desire, vision, and focus TOGETHER
03 Positive energy is fuel (negative energy are the brakes)
04 Invite others to SHARE your ride
05 Don't waste energy on those who do NOT want to share your ride.
06 No energy vampires (people whose negativity will offset)
07 Enthusiasm attracts and energizes
08 Love your passengers with time, listening, recognition, service; bring out the best in them
09 Drive with purpose
10 Have fun.

The book ends with a self-survey and ideas for action.

This book at this price at this time is a VERY good value.