Digital Books

An Unusual Book, July 28, 2007
By Ray "A Reader" - See all my reviews

This book is a somewhat dated, but nevertheless gorgeous, panorama of product design Sony's way, and with their distinguished record of outstanding design work for some half a century, they are certainly in the position to tell us something about design. Never mind Sony's missteps and forays into the world of media and movies - this book tells us all about the Sony WE know, the company that developed the Trinitron television, the Walkman player, the MiniDisc recorder, and brought both cassettes and CD-ROM's into mainstream use (with its co-partner, Philips of the Netherlands). Digital Dreams tells us not so much about products, but how products are envisioned, designed, and ultimately walked through a lifecycle. It's a fun-filled story, filled with stunning graphic designs, gorgeous pictures and artwork, and even a little on how Sony viewed its business at the year 1999.

Though this book is not intended to do so, the book actually serves as a great case study for the field of Knowledge Management. For example, we learn a little bit about corporation logos, how they are best used to leverage their tacit value, and even thoughts on protecting them. We peek into the world of tacit knowledge and skills at Sony, and see how they are implemented in product design and even in marketing efforts. We learn about the creation of a CONCEPT that is materialized in a product (i.e., the MiniDisk recorder, the Memory Stick, the VAIO computer) which is as much about the psychology of human beings as it is the design of the product. As such, the text could easily serve as a supplemental text for a KM course, as well as it's obvious use in a graphic arts, products design, or business-oriented course.


Much of this information is now no longer of great interest to today's consumer due to it's release date of 1999, but it is remarkable to see the "timelessness "of the many designs in the book, and there is really not a dull moment to be found between the covers. In some ways, this was a great date to release such a book, because the VAIO computers were just beginning to hit the market, CyberShot digital cameras where just becoming available, and the Memory Stick was also just showing up, as well. If you can still get a copy of this book and you are interested in product design, graphic arts, consumer technology, and yes, even Sony itself, this book should be just what you're looking for.

Fascinating book that gives a very good insight into the create 'engine' of Sony. A must read for designers and business people alike.

Beautiful photographs and explanatory text help make this book a must buy.

But in no way does it sit on my coffee table - it's in my studio, in my home office - inspiring. The tight detail shots of real products to concept products make you wish all man-made objects had this attention to quality. This book is a must for designers because there are words that go with the pictures. They tell a wonderful story - whether you agree with the philosophy or not - it helps explain the design decisions, the strength of the Sony identity and their success. The timeline diagrams and text explaining the business trends of product entry to saturation really is a reflection of someone thinking and analyzing the system - something not really expected in pretty-picture books.

I can't believe the excellent price point too - most decent design books gouge you on cost. For those who appreciate beautiful form+function, get it.

This is a rare coffee table type book that you'll want to take the the bedroom or study, or wherever you do your serious reading.

You can easily enjoy the book simply for the wonderful images of the ingeniously designed products that Sony has and continues to develop. But what sets this book apart from most in its genre is that it provides the reader with a surprisingly rich context within which to view the design work, not only with regards to industrial design, but also the history of Sony the company.

Reading the text, one gains a deeper appreciation for the level of thought put into the design of each and every product throughout its entire lifecycle.

Finally, the book also provides a unique look into the future of consumer electronics, at least from the perspective of the leaders at Sony. It's a rare opportunity to see the future as defined by a company which has much to do with the shape of our present.

This is definitely a great buy or gift!

I am writing this as a sony evangelist, although the cover of the book is diffrent to the one which is shown here. the content of the book is amazing, The dazzling pictures and photography in the book is an eye opener, The book takes about the cluture and the art of the japanese sony designers. How they get their inspiration from stories and from the world around them. An extreammly good showcase of the arts and industrial developnment and design. The book is also rather new tackling subjects on memmory sticks and the newest Sony MD. However the most impressive part of the book was the chapters on the sony playstation and the sony viao subnote book computers. They explain such indept on how the designers used their inspiration and creativity to craft out wonders of high tech art. They also explained how sony tackled the many problems face when designing the playstation. Overall it is the best sony book i have bought. A wonderful inspirtational book filled with creativity which makes you "wow" at sony's design process and designs. "wow"

Without a doubt this book is the most user friendly book on technology I've read. It is packed with essential information for everone using digital photography today. It provides help in setting up shots as well as streamling your workflow and a lot more. There is nothing extraneous out this, it's great from start to finish!

Just fininshed reading Lee Varis's new book. It's a great overall treatment of digital photography for any student of graphic design or even the seasoned art director that may be new to digital technology. The technology discussed is current, and in common use professionally. The discussions of critical concepts of resolution and color are presented in a user friendly, easy to grasp manner.

This book should well prepare the designer going into their first digital photoshoot. It can help in understanding how to achieve all the technology is capable of, and how to get the most from the shoot.

This is a must have book for designers and photographers, especially designers of the old school who have been more then a little afraid of going digital and there are many out there. For the beginer designer, this book puts on the page what they will be told about the digital work flow as it exists today.
Lee Varis takes the reader on a digital ride explaining more then enough to get the reader to appreciate the digital workflow.

This book is a must-have for designers and photographers who are moving towards a fully digital production process. DPFGD is a well-organized linear treatment and full of extremely useful guidance relevant to both the broad creative issues and nitty gritty details that we face in our profession. Varis is precise, clear, experienced, and is well backed up by artfully selected examples on every page. This is one book that I expect to look back to again and again.

Even though there are many books as there are about digital imaging, none discuss in detail the relationship of designers and art directors with the process (and people) involved with creating digital images.
This book covers a great many of the complexities of digital imaging with a clear, casual style that does a great deal towards clearing up many misconceptions people have about digital photography. Not only does it cover that, but the book goes further into aspects such as pre-press, proofing, editing and printing, and and does so with a very enjoyable, non-technical narrative. Anecdotal writing, along with supporting photography (beautifully printed) helps lend creedence to this book. A necessary text for anyone in graphic design and/or advertising.

I liked this book so much. I am still reading it and enjoying every page .

In transitioning from film to digital, I needed some books for a quick transition and to avoid reinventing the wheel. I don't have a lot of time, so a focused and detailed reference that could rapidly take me to a functional level was needed. I was very happy with the accessibility and the level of detail presented. I read the whole thing, but realize that I will need to go back to it to get the full value from it (e.g., when I find the need for a particular technique or action). It does address workflow, but that is not its focus, which I would describe as more of a broad, but sufficiently detailed introduction to many issues and techniques available to the digital photographer.

So, you want to be a professional photographer? If so, you need this book to provide the kind of information you'll need when starting out. It contains all the nitty-gritty details that are an essential part of learning to turn pro, including information on meeting the needs and expectations of your clients. That's the kind of practical business advice you won't find in other digital photography books.

The amount of useful information in this book is amazing.

This is a well written digital photo book. It's a great for beginners and reference for experienced photographers. I strongly recommend.

This is one of those books that you will want to read and then reference. I have been a film SLR photographer for decades and now am on my second generation DSLR. This book reminds me of my old Kodak Photographers Handbook and my Nikon SLR handbook. I think I will use the Pro Digital Photographer's Handbook for many years.
Michael's information about sensor technology compared to film and how lense design affects this is one example of the depth of topic in this great handbook. He also covers the digital workflow from simple (little to no editing) to complex (steps for client based work). The color management section was very useful to calibrate all my devices.
I highly recommend this book for the photographer who understands the basics - depth of field, apertures, shutter speed, etc. (Although he has a great section about sensor size and depth of field).
Buy it and enjoy it!

The book is well layed-out, and descriptions are clear and concise. The first 95 pages or so are relatively basic. I have used a crusty version of Homesite to create a few basic Websites in-the-past, so those first 95 pages didn't teach me anything that I didn't already know. Except perhaps for the design and paper and pencil preparation.

After page 95 (or so), you jump right into Dreamweaver and are instructed as to its' functions. The Webpage you're building is a basic HTML page, and does not use any server-side technology like ASP, or PHP, or CGI/Perl.

It too is well layed-out, and step-by-step. I only wished that a deeper discussion of CSS integration was employed.

So, for the beginner, or for someone who likes to paper & pencil prep, I'd have to say that this is a worthwhile buy.

For the more advanced user, I'd have to say that you may be better off with more of a reference-style tome.

All said, I do not regret the purchase.

This book takes you from web-site zero through building a basic client-side only web site using Dreamweaver 8.

My only critique is that it seemed like we didn't even get to actually using Dreamweaver 8 until about page 100. Before that was an intro to general web-site concepts and HTML.

Anyway, it's an attractive and informative book that is priced lower than most.

If you are looking for website building software, you might want to take a look at Dreamweaver 8: Design and Construction. This book educates the reader on the various aspects of Dreamweaver 8. It also shows the reader, step by step, how to build a website using this software. The author also includes all sort so tips, illustrations of what the reader will see as he or she builds their site, and helpful tech talk boxes that explain some of the more technical issues in an easy to understand way. Everything in this manual is suitable for those with little or no knowledge of website design or website design software.

I believe that the best way to choose website software is to understand what that particular program can do and how this may or may not suit your needs and your abilities. It doesn't help to buy software that can do seemingly magical things if you don't have a clue how to actually make it work. This book helps the reader understand the basics of the Dreamweaver 8 program with a taste of some of the more complex things that can be done.

This book is well written and laid out well (for the most part), but the lack of color really, really hurts this Dreamweaver 8 guide. Perhaps I am being a bit of a stickler, but a book in 2006 not only needs to have good content, but it need to also have a great layout as well. Deciding to go with 5 major colors (white, black, grey, blue, dark blue) not only makes the book seem dull and drab, it detracts from the reader the good content within.

For anyone that uses Dreamweaver 8 on a daily basis this is a great reference guide but the layout editor could have done a much better job. If you care about content more than pizzaz, I think you will be happy with this book

**** RECOMMENDED

Are you new to Dreamweaver 8? If you are, then this book is for you! Author Marc Campbell, has done an outstanding job of writing a book for people who are new to creating their own web sites from the ground up and all that it entails.

Campbell, begins by showing you how to devise your plan. Then, the author shows you how to develop a blueprint for your site. Next, he shows you how to add just about anything to the pages of your site. Finally, the author shows you how to take the working prototype that exists on your computer and publish it to the Web for all of the world to see.

This most excellent book serves an introduction to creating web sites using Macromedia Dreamweaver 8. More importantly, the focus throughout this book is that sound design and usability are inextricably linked.

This book was helpful in defining all the new technologies and illustrates many challenges businesses face integrating their initiatives online.

There are a lot of facets to running a business that not only must serve an online community but an offline customer base as well. Gutzman does a nice job highlighting the various sectors and the tools businesses must consider to address those needs. She provides examples and case studies. Good book, must read.

In the Preface, Gutzman explains that her book "is designed to tell you what the must-have technologies are for your Web site, with resources listing vendors for each technology. However, new vendors are entering the field daily. For example, for the technology I discuss in the Epiloque, alternative payment systems, I received three press releases in the week before the book went to the printer. In fact, this book has been difficult to write because I have never felt that any chapter was finished." Nor could one be. There are several reasons why I thus begin this brief commentary. First, to indicate that Gutzman focuses on "must-have technologies" rather than on, for example, specific strategies and tactics. Also, to indicate (as does she) how rapidly circumstances in the "digital arena" can change. Finally, to suggest that a Web site is never "finished." Gutzman organizes her material within five Parts: The E-Commerce Climate, Technologies for Driving Traffic, Technologies for Making Buying Easier, Technologies for Customer Service, and finally, Turnkey Growth. Of special interest to me are the various "Case Studies" of exemplar companies and technology applications. Also various "Profiles" such as those of "Net Perceptions", "Soliloquy" and "BroadVision", each of which briefly discusses specific functions, features, and benefits of specific technologies. As a non-technical person, I commend Gutzman on creating access for me to subjects which can sometimes be daunting, if not intimidating.

Gutzman's is a "three-pronged strategy" for meeting your demands: implement essential technologies, maintain a flexible business model, and outsource everything. Think of the material in her book as if it were on display in a store which you enter, tool box in hand. Roam the aisles. Examine various clusters of items. She is your expert advisor as well as the store's proprietress. (I strongly suspect that she had this metaphor in mind when writing the book.) Over time, all of your questions are answered. She helps you to make appropriate selections. In process, she has helped you to understand not only what you need and how to use it but also why you need it. Effective use of the 12 "must have" technologies will drive traffic to the Web site, create and sustain Web site functionality, and facilitate customer service which ensures that the Web site will be ETDBW (Easy to Do Business With). In the Epilogue, Gutzman adds another "must have" technology: alternative payment systems.

For whom will this book be most valuable? First, I highly recommend it to decision-makers in small-to-midsize organizations which already have or are now developing a Web site. The more they know and the more they understand, the better prepared they will be to select and then work with vendors. (NOTE: Reputable vendors will welcome such expertise because it enables them to accomplish more for their client and in less time. The same expertise will enable decision-makers to recognize disreputable vendors, either immediately or soon thereafter. That one benefit all by itself is worth at least ten times the cost of the book and probably a great deal more.) I also strongly recommend this book to decision-makers in larger organizations because, in the "digital arena", they will be expected (if not required) to gain a literacy in the technologies which Gutzman examines. Also, these same decision-makers will become progressively more involved in business initiatives (marketing, client relationships, strategic planning, market research, etc.) which the "must have" technologies support. Congratulations to Gutzman on a brilliant achievement.

Those businesses that make the best use of the best technologies available are the truly innovative and solid e-businesses. The most successful of these companies are the ones that recognize that a retail sale is still a very human activity and requires a mix of technology and personalization. Marketing and promotions are still required; however, the internet requires technology upgrades at a greater rate. There are still three keys of retail, and these objectives must be met properly utilizing the latest technologies in order to be successful:

· Attract customers
· Make shopping simple and easy
· Offer superior customer service

The author of this book lists twelve "must-have" technologies that will help to achieve the three listed objectives. The reader will learn about:

· Place websites high in the search engine
· Partner with aggregators
· Use targeted electronic direct mail
· Connect with customers on the go
· Install search tools to help buyers find what they want
· Make the site personal
· Adapt the site for global customers
· Give customers real-time inventory access
· Keep all information current by using a content management system (CMS)
· Use real-time presales chat and other online customer support
· Integrate on-line and offline customer support
· Realize and use the importance of alternate payment systems

The E-Commerce Arsenal surveys twelve technologies needed to prevail in the digital business world, from submitting a URL and web positioning to using targeted direct email. The case histories from other business experiences are particularly revealing, covering common problems and solutions.

This book gives practical, action oriented information for both developers and merchants, and explains it in an easily comprehendible way. The author does not dwell on theory or basics, but gives concrete insight into what's working and what's not from the first chapter - something I've found very valuable as one who has little time to read a book from cover to cover.

This book came in a brown paper package a few months ago, and I saved it to be my hospital book (though it nearly killed me to see it sitting there so patiently on my shelf, waiting for the baby right along with me). What a book to read during those first few days with my new baby! As I savored the excitement of my new daughter, feeling much the way I remember feeling on the Christmas mornings of my single-digit years, Donna's book reminded me about the hard work and the bright rewards of motherhood. She doesn't gloss over the difficulty, nor does she make light of the responsibility. In this book, she does what she does so well - she encourages all of us mothers.

In the past few months, I've gotten to know Donna a bit, through her blogs and some emails we've exchanged, and reading this book was just like talking with Donna. Each chapter ends with prayer, the kind that you'll want to copy into your prayer book or post on your bathroom mirror. I felt the same sort of comfort in reading this book that I feel when I'm having a cup of tea with a dear friend. So go and grab a copy of this book and a steaming cup of tea. Donna has some words of encouragement for you!

I am a mother of soon to be 3 children ages 3 and under and have read THE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD and it has truly changed my life! The author's outlook on the vocation of motherhood could only have come from the Holy Spirit....Donna Marie Cooper Oboyle's writings are awe inspiring. I encourage all mothers to read this book. It is easy reading and one you can't put down. The writings of this book are ones you remember in the middle of the night when you are up with sick children and want to break down and cry or the days you don't know how you are going to make it through the day....the voice of this book sticks with you and truly helps you become a better mother and helps you to live a holy life at home. IT is a reminder of the true vocation of motherhood that has been lost in today's society.

This is exactly the book I was looking for. I am a stay at home Catholic mom who at times needs a few words of encouragement. It is hard to pray when the 3 year old is up at 5am, the 1 year old just went back to sleep, the 11 and 14 year old need to get up and be ready to go at 7:30 and I am trying to find time for a conversation with God. It is helpful to hear that everything we offer up for our children is a prayer. While I was reading this book I thought of friends and sisters who have and have not given up comfort and wealth to raise souls for God. The Chapter on the Cross made me think of my own Mother who lost my adult sister a few years ago. This book is highly recomended for moms and dads who suspect that there is more to life than what our culture is trying to sell us. God is love and the fullness of his love is in loving our children.

I've read MANY books about being Catholic, being a Mom & being a Catholic Mom...but none of them have touched my heart & mind the way this one did. It was SO common sense about how to weave our Catholicity into our daily lives when there are children at our feet before 5 AM (when it's near impossible to get up before them to pray...even if we really, really want to) and at night, we just pass out, not fall asleep. I read this book twice, have MUCH highlighting throughout & even bought a 2nd copy to give to my sil for her birthday this past Feb. Being a Mom can seem to be a thankless job, being a stay-at-home mom is less than respected in today's society and being a Catholic Mom in the truest sense of the word, can be rougher than anything else I could imagine. Using the practical wisdom in this book helped me to see that even though I can't physically be on my knees in prayer, my heart can be bowed down & focused on Our Lord all day, everyday, keeping my focus on the true Heart of (Catholic) Motherhood.

During May, Mary's month and the month in which we celebrate the vocation of motherhood, it seems fitting to write about what is undoubtedly one of my favorite mothering books in recent years. The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home by noted author Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle offers and encouraging and inspirational look at the vocation of motherhood.

In her introductory remarks, Donna-Marie shares that today's mothers need encouragement and recognition. Her mission statement for the book comes in these early pages:

"My hope is that I can help more mothers realize and embrace the sublimity of their missions as mothers, responsible for the souls entrusted to our care."

Having savored the pages of this book through several readings, I would say that Cooper O'Boyle manages to hit that mark head on. Among the highlights of this book, along with Donna-Marie's warm and engaging writing style, are the many quotations she shares from two luminaries of our Church: Pope John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, with whom the author shared a personal correspondence. The Heart of Motherhood is the type of parenting book I favor most. Concise enough to be read in a few short settings, yet thought provoking enough to invite its reader back repeatedly for in depth illumination. Each chapter ends with dual prayers, inspiring pause and reflection upon the content discussed.

In her chapter on the need for saints in our world today, Cooper O'Boyle shares the life story of Mother Teresa, reminding readers that each of us is called to be a saint in our own walk of life. It is fitting that the author reminds mothers that any task, done with love, becomes an act of faith, love and prayer. In this manner, she commends and affirms the role of any mother who may feel that the mendacity of her day to day lives is not "good enough" or sufficiently holy. Remarks by Pope John Paul II reinforce the dignity of the role of every mother. Cooper O'Boyle also underscores the vital necessity for mothers to take breaks for prayer and refreshment throughout the course of their daily familial service.

As Catholics, we have in the Blessed Virgin Mary the greatest role model for parenting with faith and love. Cooper O'Boyle reminds mothers to strive to imitate Mary and her virtues in their lives and to turn to Mary, mother of Jesus and our mother, when in need of help or consolation. Additionally, she reminds mothers of their duty to pray on a regular basis, to teach their children to lead lives of constant prayer, and to seek out opportunities for evangelization in our everyday relationships. The age old conundrum of taking small children to Mass is lovingly and patiently discussed as the author shares her own experience as a mother of five. Donna-Marie encourages mothers to pray throughout their day and to model this prayer to their families. Families should emphasize family dinner as a time of spiritual and physical nourishment and each day should end in quiet prayer with our children.

In subsequent chapters, Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle shares the story of female saints whose lives of quiet service to their families shine as a true lesson for today's mothers. Additionally, and with great charm, Donna-Marie addresses the topic of suffering as a form of prayer and encourages mothers to look for life's "everyday miracles", those moments of grace and opportunity that are sprinkled throughout family life.

I have loved and followed the progression of Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle's writing from her previous book [...]. With The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home it is certain that Donna-Marie continues to encourage and support the vocation of motherhood with gentle and loving care.

This book is fantastic! The characters are wonderful! I can't wait to read it all!

Kalan captured the "feel" of every small town girl wanting to spread her wings... move beyond the horizon... and then realize what treasures the "Real Life" of small town living is truly all about~ Oh... if all the big city folks only knew-we would soon be crowded! hahahaha! I think this book has appeal to many!

Great characters that grab you immediately with wonderful descriptions and a story line that you makes you want to know what happens. The family type just comes alive and everyone has known them somewhere at sometime! This book can't miss!

What a great read! This book is entertaining, funny, and insightful. The characters are well developed and easy to relate to, and the story grabs you on the first page. The author moves quickly enough to keep your attention, but will not leave you with unaswered questions. This story is witty, smart, and sassy and will leave you wanting more!!

This is a very entertaining novel. The author makes you feel like you are right there with the characters. The story is told with wit and humor which makes the main character, Lilly come alive for the reader. Anyone from smalltown, America can relate to the action taking place. The story is fast paced and refreshingly humorous, which makes for fun reading.

Betty Dravis has an affinity for Hollywood and is culturally astute. Her short story gets past the cultural assumptions people sometimes make in the divide between Anglo and Hispanic, wealthy and poor, native-born and (allegedly) foreign born people. With gentle good humor, we encounter Homer Fairshield, a successful Hollywood producer who gets in an accident while in his fancy Jaguar. It is here that he meets Hector Ramirez, a Hispanic-American who has hit him with his gardening truck. From there they work out terms until they get together at his place, while Homer awaits his wife, Helena, whom he expects to be upset. She has little tolerance for misfortune and even less for foreigners.

Her writing is striking. In the first part, the narrator lets us know, "My neck's stiff, my nerves are raw, and my hands are shaking like a novice actor's before his first shot." From here she unpeels the prejudices in the cultural divide with great skill. In her own way she does so only sympathetically. She never hits her characters over the head with a sledge hammer. Using absurdity and a solid message, her execution is fun and filled with good will.

As usual Betty Dravis has swung for the fences and comes out with a heart-warming winner.

Betty Dravis has written a short story that has a couple neat messages--without being preachy. This story unfolds naturally, with no forced events, no deus ex machina, nothing that seems out of character.

Three stories are inextricably intertwined--one of a developing friendship between Homer and Hector after an accident that damages the Jaguar that Homer was driving, one of the resurrection of a slowly decaying marriage between Homer and Helena (born Helen, a change of name that says a great deal right there), and the confrontation with racism/ethnocentrism that is forthrightly laid out by the author.

To say much more would give too much away. Suffice it to say that this short story is literately written, moves quickly and naturally, and addresses an important issue in a natural way, not beating racism/ethnocentrism to death in a preachy way.

All in all, then, a delightful short story that gets one to thinking about larger issues. Well worth a read (only 15 pages of text). One nice feature--an authorial self-referential comment regarding one of her major pieces, "1106 Grand Boulevard."

"Helena's due home soon, and I dread telling her about the smashed-up Jag ... that green one's her favorite."

That's our first clue that Homer and Helena live an elite Beverly Hills lifestyle. As in all of Betty Dravis's work, the story tells itself in a way that seems effortless. Homer is a wealthy movie producer with down-to-earth Texas roots; he's also the victim of an accident with a Hispanic gardener's pickup truck.

We find Homer on his veranda ("front stoop" in Texas-speak) nursing a Scotch and wondering how cute little tomboy Helen Briggs morphed into the snooty, prejudiced, free-spending society rich bitch she's become. He knows she'll be furious about the damage to the Jag, and more furious that he invited the uninsured Hector home to discuss terms of reparation.

How can Homer explain to Helena the affinity he feels with the proud, hardworking father of ten? His efforts to explain it fail, of course, but he follows his heart and gets to know Hector better. They share much more than unusual names.

This charming, incisive little story entertains with Betty Dravis's brand of everyday life, and as usual there's a lesson subtly illustrated along the way: it's easy to fear a faceless group, but easier still to understand when we make contact on a personal level.

Highly recommended.

Linda Bulger, 2008

This is a chance to rethink priorities.

An exuberant look backward and ahead full throtle.

I found the story just refreshing and different.

Do you need a little break in the day? If you do, you'll welcome this lively tale.

Highly recommended.

In this tale, the author gradually unlayers the characters until we view the common core that connects them. Despite the outer trappings of a successful life, Homer and Helena (Helen) have simple roots, as does the character Hector.

Surprised that Hector "reads", Homer begins to understand some of the feelings he noticed almost immediately ("there's something about the man"); as he also begins to fondly reminisce about his own simpler roots, the connection between them is enhanced.

Hector brings out a side of Homer that he has long overlooked, and which his wife has attempted to quash.

But with the deepening connection between the men, a gradual return to these roots also seemingly pulls Helena out of her facade until she, too, is joining the men in their activities.

A seamless unveiling of cultural differences that gradually disappear as the characters find commonality, this story reveals that when humans find something in common, they can let go of their prejudices.

As another reviewer has described, a clever mention of one of the author's books is discreetly subtle...But led to my going online and ordering that book!

Recently a juror on a drug possession and distribution case, the author feels that she and her fellow jurors were duped into recommending an unusually harsh punishment. In her essay,"How Ordinary People Can Perform Unthinkable Acts", Evans sets out to understand how she could have so willingly relinquished her own ability to reason and blindly follow the advice of the district attorney.

Evans begins her analysis by discussing the experiments first conducted at Yale between 1961 and 1962 and related by Stanley Milgram in his book, "Obedience to Authority". In these experiments ordinary people, following the orders of a scientist, were willing to give increasing jolts of electricity to a subject despite that person's obvious pain and discomfort.

After explaining the experiment in detail and its conclusions on authority and obedience, the author segues into a comparison between these experiments and the court case she participated in. The essay then develops into a thoughtful discussion of the influence people in authority have over us.

This was an extremely well written and thought provoking essay. It left me wondering what I would have done in the same situation.

When I was 13, my grandfather was murdered. Sadly, this incident tore our already fractured family asunder. It seems likely that someone I know and love killed someone that knew and loved. It's a thought that chills my heart even today, some 47 years later.

Even more frightening for me, someone that I know for sure was innocent was charged,tried and convicted twice. The Supreme Court overturned both of those convictions. The judge presiding over the third trial ordered a change of venue and an impartial jury freed my step-uncle. I shuddered to think what would have happened if he'd been executed.

What makes this part of the story so hard for me to handle is that everyone in my family rabidly pursued my uncle's conviction. They were searching for justice of course -- and they believed the ugly accusation and reacted with anger and frustration the day that he was finally found 'not guilty.'

It's only human to want guilty people to be punished for their wrongs. When I'm all alone in the dark, I still feel the rage ...it's different when someone dies of disease or as a result of an accident. With murder, you have to face the fact that someone wanted your loved one dead.

Allyn Evans' essay brought all of these troubling thoughts back into my mind. How does one REALLY know what is right? None of our decisions are made with complete information. History is perspective -- not necessarily fact. Each time we judge one another, we chance creating injustice. As Allyn notes, so often we respond to the emotions of others, authority -- even our own ideas of moral superiority.

With this in mind, it seems to me that only the brave and the blind step up to shoulder this important responsibility in our society. Those who are so sure of everything that they are so sure of lead charmed lives. I long for that certainty sometimes. For the rest of us, we can only soldier on, doing the best we can with the available information -- and live with the knowlege that even the best intentioned person often makes grievous mistakes.

This is a thoughtful analysis of what it means to be aware of our own human weaknessses. Good job, Allyn!

Joyce Faulkner
[...]

America's second President, John Adams, said in 1771: "It is not only [the juror's] right, but his duty...to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court."

"The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him."

Thus, under the Nuremberg Principles, "defense of superior orders" is not a defense for crimes, although it might influence a sentencing authority to lessen the penalty.

It was popular in the 60s. But we need to breathe life into it again.

Allyn Evans has brought to the fore a very real dilemma which changed her life - a true courtroom drama. This situation could touch everyone caught in the web of a judicial system that unfortunately (in my opinion) is fraught with corruption, manipulation of jurors, and greed.

The word "attorney" loosely translated from the French, means "word turner".

Juries are never "fully informed". If jurors truly knew their obligations, through "the fully informed jury rules" for which there is an available booklet, they would know they have the right to override judicial decisions. This is a very crucial piece of information that American juries are denied in probably every court in the land (http://www.fija.org/). It is a case of not knowing your rights and being told what your rights are and following orders, and because the author wasn't fully informed, she has agonized over the verdict to which she contributed, knowing it was wrong.

It is not her fault. Well researched, in clear and concise prose, this is a must read for every American who is asked to participate in a jury.

In a court in my county, a man carried a copy of the Constitution with him to jury duty. The jurors were pressing for a unanimous guilty verdict in the case of a young man who was pulled over for erratic driving; denied a requested blood test. The breathalizer was not working, and as I recall, he spent the night in jail.

This man argued with his fellow jurors because it was nearly midday and they wanted to settle this before they left for lunch. The man felt strongly that it was a case of reasonable doubt, since the defendant was sober, but very tired, having worked all day and was a designated driver for a friend that night.

Knowing about the fully informed jury rules, he pulled out the Constitution in front of the judge and opposing attorneys and there was a mistrial. The judge ordered the copy of the Constitution confiscated, and for the record, called it "seditious" from the bench. The judge also told the man never to come back to his courtroom or he would hold him in contempt. This is a true story.

I understand how Evans must feel. My anger still boils over at the injustice in my county courtroom as it does here in the retelling of her story. You see, even you, a "good guy" could be on the receiving end of a manipulated trial.

Always know your rights because if you don't, you have none. Then, armed with knowledge, use your moral compass with confidence. Never follow orders without questioning.

I am so pleased to review this very important piece of writing.

Reviewed by May Lattanzio - Amazon Shorts Author of "Paradise" and "The Last Striper".

Evans' simple and compelling essay speaks directly to why I had become a psychology major years ago and then a playwright and fiction writer. We human beings, good at heart, do terrible things. I first realized this most profoundly when learning about psychologist Stanley Milgram's experiment on obedience. Ordinary citizens administered increasingly severe electrical shocks to a stranger in the name of "learning." Nazi Germany was not an aberration because it could happen here. People cede control of their actions to higher authorities--it's just human nature.

Evans writes of being on a jury and meting out a harsh sentence because she listened to authority--and that listening later disturbed her. May you, too, question your actions. Our society depends on voices such as Evans'.

I have been in charge of some small companies IT departments over the years. Technology changes at the speed of light and it is very difficult to keep up with it. This book gives no nonsense information, checklists, etc about various topics in project management. I think the reason why they named it 'How to Cheat...' is because it is a single book containing all the information needed to understand what IT project management is all about. I especially like the sections on dealing on how to understand corporate and business strategies and how IT is supposed to support them. When you don't have the money to go to school, this is a great book to have!

After taking Project Management I, II and III, and reading the classics like Kerzner's _Project Management_, this book is a solid supplement. In addition to the "basics" it gives insights on dealing with people, organizations and requirements in straight manner format.

The grey box inserts give real life examples on the topics discussed. I found the section on "forming the team" to be of great value. The sections on "quality" and "diagraming the processes" are full of valuable suggestions.

This is most certainly a book of value and I'm glad to add it to my library.

Where other books cover IT project basics, How To Cheat At It Project Management goes a step further in showing project managers how to make sure an IT project is in line with company strategic objectives, and which will deliver the best results. Learn how to link work process to project tasks and budgets, and how to manage a team more effectively through a book which covers 'cheating' or shortcut methods to get a project back on the fast track. From when and how to report to identifying risks, How To Cheat At It Project Management holds all the answers to decreasing errors and increasing returns.

Are you an IT professional who's looking for a fast and easy way to do project management? If you are, you're in luck! Author Susan Snedaker, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that synthesizes project management fundamentals, IT processes and procedures, and business fundamentals.

Snedaker, begins by looking briefly at business process improvement and how project management fits into that world. Then, she explores corporate strategy issues so you can navigate through the sometimes confusing world of corporate IT funding. The author continues by showing you the why and how politics operate in organizations, and the insight and knowledge you'll gain that will help you navigate corporate policies more effectively. Next, she explores the skills that are required to manage the IT project team. Then, the author starts digging into IT project management itself. She continues by developing a bit more project detail including elements such as priorities, specifications, user requirements, and project infrastructure, to name just a few. Next, she looks at some of the ways you can build quality into your project without implementing an additional quality management program. The author continues by showing you how to put together a project team and how to assign roles and responsibilities to team members. Then, she shows you how to break the project down into manageable components so that you can not only plan the work, but you can develop a more realistic schedule and budget.
Next, she discusses strategies for managing your IT project. The author continues by reviewing a few more technical approaches to measuring project progress. Finally, she looks at the inputs, actions, and outputs from this final phase of IT project management.

This most excellent book shows you how to align your IT projects to the company's strategic objectives. It also shows you how to determine which project will solve the right problem at the right time while still delivering high-quality results.

This is a solid work on traditional IT project management. I'm not really sure what the whole cheating thing is about. This is the basic IT project management book written in a text book style (questions at the end, checklists, etc.) There is information on politics, team management, managing and tracking implementation and more.

It's more holistic than most of the books I've read on this topic and I liked that. IT projects don't exist in a vacuum and understanding how to operate within the larger corporate framework is important.

The only issue I have with the book is that it's overly formatting. There are lots of graphics around the headers and sidebars and that gets old fast.