Performance Books

I've listened to all the putting audios and read all the books on putting, and this one is the best! Dr. Cohn and his associate do a great job to helping you find the mindset to make putts. What I like is that I can listen to the audio over and over and still learn new stuff. This is loaded with mental keys for better putting. A must buy for any golfer who has the putting woes!!!

These fifteen essays show you what can happen when a bunch of first-rate minds get together and express their findings in a single volume. Dynamite. No fluff, no filler. Just hard facts about modern Greece, razor-sharp analysis, and reasonable conclusions, mostly following rigid scientific procedures and a few based on anecdotal, impressionistic material. This means that we are dealing with a publication away from which those who wax romantically ecstatic at the mention of Greece should stay.

The paradox mentioned in the title refers to the unfortunate gap between Greece’s many endowments (democratic government, strategic geographic position, economic potential) and the way the country has failed to make the most of its gifts (top-heavy bureaucracy, feckless foreign policy, economic disequilibrium).

By way of introduction to the volume, Kalypso Nicolaidis starts off on a note of controlled optimism by asking if there really is a Greek paradox, a gap between promise and performance. Viewing the present moment as a window of opportunity for Greece that calls for analysis, introspection, vision, and leadership, she briefly shows how these elements are woven into the other articles.

In an article dealing with political issues, Nikoforos Diamandouros declares that the paradox (potential in contrast to achievement) is indeed real. He suggests that a comparison between the period from the 1950s to the 1970s and that from the mid 1970s to the present is essential to grasping the “logics” that might explain the disappointment characterizing the latter period.

The article by Misha Glenny was written in 1995 when the situation in the northern Balkans was “uncertain” and “troubled”. Glenny points out the absolute importance of Greek diplomatic initiatives and bilateral treaties as a means of maintaining peace and economic growth. He discusses the ineptitude of some Greek diplomatic maneuvers and the general unpreparedness of the foreign ministry for changes in the structure of Soviet and Yugoslav power.

Dimitris Keridis writes that the Greek economy is badly in need of structural reforms that cannot be carried out unless there are parallel efforts to get rid of a pervasive “political culture based on populism and clientelism” (read, alternatively, corruption and cronyism.) His analysis is informed and his conclusions strengthened by consideration of five distinct historical developments that have contributed to Greece’s current status as an economic underperformer in the European Union. Starting off with the underlying principle that states are supposed to “tax fairly to provide their citizens with a maximum of physical and a minimum of economic security and equal opportunities,” he identifies pressures in support of reform along with three specific areas at which reformist undertakings might effectively be directed: decentralization of policymaking; encouragement of accountability, hierarchy, and meritocracy in public administration; an increase in the independence and accountability of such institutions as the courts, the central bank, the universities, public utilities, and state companies; a strengthening of the civic dimension of Greek citizenship to include separation of church and state.

Further recommendations and suggestions for improving the economy and political leadership are put forth in the article by Basilios E. Tsingos. Greece could do a lot to enhance its diplomatic capital among the nations of the West, principally by abandoning it current belief that the world owes the Greeks a living (because of their historical contributions to the development of Western culture). This requires a shift from the language of “entitlement” to the idiom of “present-day interests.” The entire thrust of Greek foreign policy should be shifted away from the East and toward the West. The nation should make stronger efforts at image-building in the West. (Endowing a few chairs of Hellenic studies at Western universities would not be a bad idea.) Reform of the electoral system is indicated to render the central government stronger and more effective. This would involve doing away with the current system of “proportional representation.” And finally, private initiative should be encouraged and government entrepreneurial involvement diminished.

Alexis Papahelas also takes up the theme of structural reform in politics and economics and mentions the deep-seated cynicism and inertia that characterize contemporary Greek society. He proposes the establishment of an independent, privately funded foundation made up of homeland Greeks as well as members of the Diaspora. This would serve as a think tank to analyze all aspects of public life and make recommendations to government and other public institutions.

In his contribution (Chapter 9), F. Stephen Larabee examines five issues touching on Greece’s potential as a leader among the nations of the Balkan Peninsula. Susan L. Woodward also considers Greece in its Balkan context and points out some lessons that have been, or should have been learned from the wars in Yugoslavia.

In the concluding essay Loukas Tsoukalis offers a “subjective interpretation” of the Greek paradox. He follows the logic of the whole undertaking by saying that prescription should follow diagnosis but tries to steer clear of writing a political manifesto. He continues with the reformist agenda and zeroes in on politics, economics and foreign relations as areas of public life that need serious attention. His “prescriptions” are well worth careful study.

This book is an indispensable work for anyone interested in modern Greece, and it could well serve as an important work of reference. Highly recommended

This is a good book, but something has gone wrong with amazon's pricing on this item. Somehow it is shown at $197.32 when everywhere else it is just under $20.00. Perhaps if they review these reviews, someone will correct it.

As a compendium of insider knowledge in the field of human performance technology (HPT), this book has it all. The first section briefly reviews the history and body of knowledge which comprises HPT and gives insight to its breadth and complexity. Acknowledged leaders in the field share their time-proven and refreshingly wholistic tools for diagnosis and resolution of issues in a continuously changing environment. While the book has a decidedly theoretical bent, it doesn't fail to provide wonderfully practical tools, supported by examples, you can use right away to get results.

Plus, I found out I'm a "brown suit"? Are you?

I highly recommend this book. It's a "must have" reference for the library of every self-respecting performance technology (HPT) or organizational development (OD) person out there. Just make sure you read it and use it!

I saw this on tv when it first came out and I had to own it. I love this movie. It is just so fantastic!! Halle B. is beautiful without makeup and proved she could really act!!! must see for all!!!

What drives stock markets? Earnings. Can you look at current earnings to predict future price changes? No, current earnings are already reflected in the stock price. You must look at the estimates of future earnings in order to predict price changes. This book is a MUST READ for anyone who invests as it covers every seminal article written on the subject of using earnings estimates. Brian Bruce, who hosts an annual conference on the subject, is a leader in the field and has chosen the best of the best articles.

Those who have been involved in chromatography for some timewill likely remember the book by Daniel Knapp, Handbook of AnalyticalDerivitization . This book is an excellent resource for exploring derivitazation reactions by GC, GC-MS and HPLC. The focus on this current volume is on HPLC and CE so those interested in GC and GC-MS should continue to refer to Knapp's book on this subject. This book by Lunn and Hellwig is an excellent addition to the literature. It is almost 1800 pages long with several appendixes including one on reagent types, formula names including a citation in the book where the particular reagent or chemical was used. There is also an appendix "Bibliography of Related References " that includes information on compound types not included in the main text. All of the appendixes are welcome additions to the book. The book is organized according to the functional group that is derivatized starting with acyl halide and ending with thiosulfate. Each entry includes the chemical structure involved in the reaction, the sample matrix, analyte, sample preparation, HPLC variables, chromatogram, key word (s) and reference(s). Additionally, should the sample be able to be analyzed by CE, that information is also provided. This books contains a wealth of information and reflects the heroic amount of work that has gone into it's preparation. In the introductory material, the authors provide the sources they used for searching the literature and indicate that the period searched was from 1978- present. A list of abbreviations and suppliers of reagents is also provided. In addition to the printed book, a searchable CD is also included. The CD provides similar information to that found in the book with search strategies straightforward and easy to execute. The entire package is excellent and highly recommended for it's breadth of coverage on this topic. This package should be available to all who are involved in this type of work.

Sections of this book were required reading for a graduate-level course in HPT I took several years ago. I found myself reading vast portions of this book not because it was required, but because this book is informative and enlightening. Now that I work to help companies re-engineer for the Web, the practices and principles I learned through these readings are more relevant than ever. A great resource! I can't wait to read the follow-up.

f you're a Harley bike owner with a Softail to customize, look no further for instruction than HOW TO HOP-UP AND CUSTOMIZE YOUR HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAIL: it teaches how to install budget kits, add tires, lower the bike, and more advanced ideas as well, including interviews with pros and step-by-step color photos and charts throughout. Add sources for all specialty and listed items and you have an extraordinary guide to fine-tuning and customizing your Softail model.

This very useful book illuminates the healing powers of nature as far as stress and anxiety are concerned, recommending the use of herbs that are non-addictive and have fewer side effects than prescribed medicines.

Part One examines the basic questions about anxiety, like what it really is (an exaggerated stress response), the common types, signs and symptoms, the primary types of anxiety disorder, its diagnosis, its causes and how it is healed.

Part Two reveals how herbal remedies are revolutionising its treatment. It deals with a wide variety of herbs and its applications, like Kava (the root of the Polynesian pepper tree), Valerian, the different types of Ginseng (Adaptogens), Ginkgo Biloba, Milk Thistle, Echinacea, Hypericum (St. John' Wort), Chamomile, Passion Flower, Reishi Mushroom and Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwaganda. It also examines Aromatherapy and the Bach Flower remedies.

Part Three is a detailed natural self -healing program that contains exercises to revitalise the mind and body. It includes advice on how to sleep more soundly, overcome fear and worry, maintain emotional fitness, create inner peace and effectively deal with problems.

There is helpful information on healthy nutrition, which includes vitamin and mineral supplements (with emphasis on the B-Complex), natural brain boosters like Phosphatidylserine and Phosphatidylcholine, Coenzyme Q10 and the hormones DHEA and Pregnenolone, plus a section on music as medicine. It concludes with a discussion on the spiritual crisis and how to nurture one's soul.

The book concludes with a list of good self-help books (Bibliotherapy), a vast bibliography, a list of organizations that provide further information on herbs and an index.