Oliver Books

Good source book for clans Gangrel, Assamites, and Followers of Set. Had new merits and flaws like nameless, pied piper, lokis gift. New higher level disciplines for protean, also has Assamite sorcery, and a new discipline for Setites calledimmanence of set...but its really setite sorcery.

Continuing WW's Libellus Sanguinus series, which details three Dark Ages vampire clans per book, this book details the three non-European clans in the Dark Ages setting. Essentially, each book is a mini-clanbook, covering the clan's history, outlooks, practices and disciplines during the Dark Ages. Considering that my favorite clans are covered in this book, I found it very exciting.
After an introduction saying what is in the book and why, we get to the first section, "Animals", which covers the feral and animalistic Gangrel barbarians. Probably the shortest book in this collection, it goes from the Gangrel's distant roots on the steppes of Central Asia to the Dark Ages, covering the Gangrel's outlook and practices like the revel and the survival test new embraces are subjected to. A brief section on views on other Clans and the wild places in Europe is followed by a section full of game mechanics, from wilderness oriented Merits and Flaws to new Protean and mixed discipline powers. It closes out with two new bloodlines (Greek Gangrel and the Mariners), brief mention on the "animal forms" that different Gangrel might assume and a few sample templates. There is also a "dark secret" concerning the Gangrel's connection to the Ravnos.
Following this is the chapter on the Assamites, which did quite a bit to clear up old stereotypes. After a really cool fiction piece, we get to learn about the Children of Haqim, from their homelands in Arabia, Persia and North Africa to distant Iberia, Byzantium and even into India, Asia and Africa. This is followed by some info on Alamut, Haqim's whereabouts and other clan specific info, as well as a nice section on the Clan's relatiosnhip to religions (and Viae). No longer is the Clan stereotypically associated with Islam, but now with many religions from Christianity and Judaism to distant Eastern religions to the ancient faiths of Greece and Persia. After getting Haqim's Laws (the Assamites code as it were) and views on other clans, it also goes into detail on the three Assamite castes: the Warriors (not just assassins, but also soldiers, judges, hunters and strategists), Sorcerers (specialists in Mid-Eastern magic) and Viziers (scholars, theologians, politicians and artists), as well as the clan's organization and secret societies.
Some really neat mechanics (like the Multicultural Merit, Quietus powers and some more info on Assamite blood magic) were included, as well as really original character templates, like th Sea Witch and the Reluctant Crusader. The Assamite's "dark secret" involves the Clan's connections, real and imagined, to the Hashashyinn and is a suprisingly clever twist.
The final chapter, "Serpents", focuses on the Followers of Set, and finally connects them to Egyptian magic and mythology. The Setites are presented as crusaders on a holy task, no longer mere tempters and corrupters. And they don't believe in Caine like other vampires, literally believing in Egyptian mythology and religion. The Setite backstory goes that they believe they are liberating man (and vampires) from the oppressive tyranny of Ma'at (law or balance). Info on the Setite's history, doings in Egypt and beyond, as well as the schism between the older Egyptian priesthood and the younger Decadents (primarily in Byzantium and Europe) were also really neat.
There were also plenty of mechanics for running Setites. Aside from the Merits and Flaws, there was also more information on Setite blood magics, including a new Path. There was also a new Via (Via Serpentis), designed off attaining the "original" or "natural" state of man, and it is presented as the ORIGINAL Setite Via. Pretty cool stuff. The character templates weren't bad but didn't particularly interest me. The dark secret for the Setites, involving a dark conspiracy concerning the Assamites, Setites and Baali, was pretty neat, but not really unexpected. Overall, this was an excellent book and a long needed overhaul for all three Clans really. Check it out, even if you don't use the Dark Ages setting.

I was nerviously awaiting this book. I had hoped byond hope that it would give a better representation of my favorite clan in the Dark Ages setting than the original Clanbook for the modern setting. Needless to say I purchased the book as soon as it was available, and I was taken away as I dove into the first section. I feel in love with Clan Gangrel all over again. The feel of the introductory tale gave both the feel I believe is Dark Ages and the smooth but violent purpose of nature's predators of the night. The rest of the book also holds the World of Darkness's history from some of the farthest points from the Dark Ages eurocentric world. Tales and truths decorate the Assimites' Islamic culture as well as the the Setites' Egyptian name-based society. The book was wonderous, but it was all icing on the cake for me after the woodland feel of the Gangrel world. Now all I have to wait for is the forth book in this series so I may know more about the feud between the Gangrel and Ravnos.

Life and The Art of Change by Gene Oliver is absolutely the best book I have ever read that deals with life change which by the way is all life is. Nothing ever stays the same and the sooner we understand this the better our life will be. Gene's book combines clarity with compassion in understanding the human condition. We are all in this LIFE together. When we take the time for inner growth our outer growth will take care of itself.
Life is choices and change. I am responsible for my choices.
Allow people the dignity of their choices. Uninvited opinions from others tell me more about them than about myself. The only power people, places and things have over me is that which I give to them. Any thought without action or emotional involvement means absolutely nothing. Be in the present moment.
These are Gene's seven principle's of Inner Change. They are not new principles of life for they are timeless. Sometimes we just forget them and have to be reminded. Sometimes the reminders are gentle and sometimes they hit us like a ton of bricks. But never fear, we always end up in the safety of the present moment where all life IS.

I wish you much success with your book Gene.

For anyone going through the pain of change, this book will help you.
It will not cure the pain but it will help you to understand it.

Understanding is the first step to letting go.

Love,

Michael D. Johnson

I have spent years reading and studying about many topics, which has given me specific knowledge in certain areas of life. Most of us can claim similar accomplishments, but actually still not know much about ourselves. Life and the Art of Change is a truly remarkable book that guided me into the world of self-discovery. The examples were simple and easy to understand. I would love to see the contents of this book used in classrooms, especially noting the difficult teen years when emotional issues are extremely tramatic. Speaking from experience, practicing the concepts described in this book can change how you view your life. The wisdom and experience found in this book are inspiring and enlighting! Ten Star, in my opinion!

When I first read the book it was absolutely awesome!! I thought it was so down to earth..that even my children would be able to understand and use the concepts in the book..... I thought it was written so well, had such good examples and imagery in it.....that I had a very easy time relating to the concepts and ideas....

I began to see how I could start to apply these tools, like the FAFA box and 7 principles to everything in my life....and have good results. Beginning to understand what the heck the DADA part of the process is, and where I am in it.....(this knowledge alone has given me insight to be compassionate towards myself in my process) I learned that 'feelings' were chemical reactions in the body....reactions that I have over the years labeled........ thinking and rethinking about them, and then came to realize how I was using these labels.........and masks to create more negativity in my thought life........ giving in to ego.....and staying stuck.... I have learned that there is a process that I go through with changes............and i have my OWN process I am going through... (no one else's and not for anyone else....for me!) :o) I am who I am... I have learned to AAH myself....... Acknowledge, accept, and hear me! This all has been an awesome discovery! Even though awkward at first....the changes in my life, and changes to some of my belief systems, have brought me to a place of peace and higher understanding of myself and others around me. I am growing in compassion towards myself and others. I am becoming more and more comfortable and at ease with changes, with being human and having a higher degree of self-esteem and respect than I ever had before. I am more able to believe in myself, and communicate where I am in my life without the 'fear' that I used to have. I am more able to take the risk to speak up...and learning to not be a victim anymore. I'm grateful that this book of wisdom has come into my life. I'm grateful that I am teachable, and willing to learn what is between its covers.

A great book. I was a career government employee rather than a political, but the advice is great for everyone who aspires to accomplish something in government. For that matter, most of the lessons transfer well to the private sector if you just use a little common sense.

Certainly anyone coming to Washington as a political appointee should read this book. I worked for too many who did not.

Full disclosure: I read this book because I met Dave Oliver and liked him. Now that I have read the book I like him even more.

Most management texts seem to be aimed at the private sector. Oliver makes a great contribution with a text focusing on the different management and leadership environment within the government, including relations with civil servants, Congress and personnel in other agencies/Departments. In addition to useful tips on organizing a personal staff and managing a schedule, he provides insight on loyalty -- an essential currency inside the beltway -- and information management. Case studies unsurprisingly draw on Oliver's experience at the Defense Department, and some parts of the book seem overwhelmingly focused on the military, but nearly all of the lessons Oliver offers appear applicable to any part of the federal government. The book, which is a quick read due to the clear writing and logical organization, should be required reading, not just for political appointees, but for civil servants who will be working for political appointees, as well as lobbyists, lawyers and industry representatives who need to understand political appointees in seeking to persuade them to adopt a particular viewpoint. One minor quibble: a good copy editor should have caught more of the typos scattered throughout the text. Hopefully, this will be corrected in future editions.

This is an excellent book no matter where you are trying to succeed. The leadership skills apply to any profession. It's also a good education about the way our country is run. The author is entertaining as well as informative. If this book had been required reading in any of my high school or college classes I would have actually read and retained the information beyond the test. Dave Oliver manages to capture the attention of a broad audience with his entertaining and intelligent writing.
Where is this man and how do I get a chance to work for him?

Mejdrich lures you in with interesting characters and engaging plot developments. The writing is witty and creative. I could not turn the pages fast enough. A must read for mystery buffs and thrill seekers!

A wonderfully written story that blends a bit of fact, some fiction, a good deal of the story-teller's imagination, and a large portion of his personal regard for nature into a compelling suspense that would make a successful movie.

Mr. Mejdrich uses his scientific and mathematical backgrounds to skillfully craft a tale of intrigue and hidden romance. Combining this with his self-taught "way of the woods," he masterfully draws the reader deeper into the plot lines without our knowing.

The author purposely left a couple of plot lines open (for future books?) to make us think. Will Charlie Johnson and Maclin Ethek realize they've met before as children at the home of Charlie's grandfather? What became of Chris Colby's discovery? And just who is Eve?

I can't wait for the next book to hit the shelves, and the next, and the next ... give us more!

A EXCELLENT BOOK THAT BRINGS OUT SOME OF AUTHERS INNER FEELINGS

Questions for the executive team that merit concern: What about inventory? If a plant is schedule to build a 100 unit but 140 appear will there be enough inventory to satisify the unexpected demand? In the reverse, when demand fails should the plant continue building inventory? What are the alternatives existing on the manufacturing floor? When orders fail to appear workers and equipment are idle unless alternative work is found. When demand exceeds supply, can more supply be created through overtime or outsourcing? How are customers affected? "When actual demand is underestimated, management becomes the traffic cop, directing the company's limited output to certain customers and withholding it from others."

"Knowing that forecasts will never match actual demand, except on rare occassion, master schedulers understand that they must be flexible in shifting capacity and materials from one period to another. They must know which customer will allow a delivery split over two or more periods. "A valid master plan is one in which the material due dates equal the material need dates, and the planned capacity equals the required capacity."

Manufacturing Production Scheduling is balancing Demand (Sales Forecasts, Customer Orders, Branch Warehouses, Interplant orders, and Custom/Special Orders) with Supply (Inventory,Equipment, Labor, Facilities, Time, and Money). When a company has more demand for it product it can 1. Increase the supply of the product by getting more material and resources 2. Decrease the demand by turning away or rescheduling some of the demand. Likewise, if there is more supply of the product than demand the company has two choices: 1. Increase demand by energizing the sales force, run a promotion, or discount price. 2. Decrease the supply of the product or material/capacity needed to produce it by cutting back production, people, and equipment.

The supply side can have a shock absorber. Inventory is a shock absorber. Another type of supply shock absorber is flexibility in the manufacturing chain which allows the company to alter plant floor activity to satifisy demand flunctations with severe disruptions.

The demand side can have a shock absorber. Flexiblity can extend to sales and marketing through promotions and discounts. The customer can be swayed to cooperate with the demand and supply balance through sales and discount or sales inducements.

A company must decide which side of the demand and supply balance to focus on: "sell the products manufacturing makes" or "build the products that sales sells." Once decided the company moves to the task of balancing product supply through demand management, sales and operation planning, supply management, and master scheduling.

Capacity planning addresses the question: "Do we or will we have enough equipment, enough people, enough materials, and enough time to meet the sales and operations plans as currently written?"

Demand managment manages all demands for the product and ensures the master scheduler is aware of them. It encompasses the activities of forecasting, order entry, order promising, branch warehouse requirements, interplant orders, and service part requirements.

Supply management manages replenishment quantities created in response to anticipated or firm demands for the product. It encompasses supply planning in pre-sales and operations planning, rationing out the production plan to the manufacturing facility, coordinating finished goods inventory, manage production to satisify customer demand, establishing competitive lead times, and counseling with plant master schedules.

John F. Proud has given us the definitive text on master scheduling. He has turned what should be a dry subject into 500+ pages that are thorough, enlightening, and suprisingly readable.

Contents include the mechanics of master scheduling, managing the MPS in various manufacturing environments (make-to-stock, make-to-order, etc.), planning bills, finishing schedules, capacity planning, demand management, and system implementation. Key points are punctuated by a running fictional account of master scheduling in action -- with all the personalities and politics that bear on this essential task.

Proud presents the vast material in a logical and entertaining manner. Detailed computational examples are provided for many of the situations a master scheduler will face. Proud is not afraid to depart from standard APICS language or teachings when appropriate -- but he does clearly identify when he has done so. Perhaps most significant is his exceptional grasp of the human relations and management issues involved. He shows that master scheduling is more than just crunching numbers.

Highly recommended as preparation for the APICS Master Planning exam.

One of few 600-pages book that is easy to understand, and a "pleasure" to read. The book is well organized, and fairly comprehensive. I was a novice in manufacturing concepts and this book helped me gain significant understanding of manufacturing planning concepts. The only subject that is lacking is a brief chapter on modern supply chain planning software packages that have become essential tools these days. The book is very expensive, but IMHO it's worth every penny if you're trying to learn about the subject.

This book is for the child in all of us who used to canter, rather than walk, to school. The illustrations show Oliver's love for both horses and the Native American craft designs. The loving care and detail of the beautiful trappings indicate how truly the Native Americans loved and valued their horse companions. Each illustration is identified on the back and most all are recreations of historical artifacts from major museums. Children can enjoy this book and will want to cut out all the items to dress the horses up. But adults will enjoy it also as a great source of information on the different tribes and styles, which has been carefully researched. A great gift for the horse-crazy little girl (and boy) in all of us.

This book is for the child in all of us who used to canter, rather than walk, to school. The illustrations show Oliver's love for both horses and the Native American craft designs. The loving care and detail of the beautiful trappings indicate how truly the Native Americans loved and valued their horse companions. Each illustration is identified on the back and most all are recreations of historical artifacts from major museums. Children can enjoy this book and will want to cut out all the items to dress the horses up. But adults will enjoy it also as a great source of information on the different tribes and styles, which has been carefully researched. A great gift for the horse-crazy little girl (and boy) in all of us.

This book is for the child in all of us who used to canter, rather than walk, to school. The illustrations show Oliver's love for both horses and the Native American craft designs. The loving care and detail of the beautiful trappings indicate how truly the Native Americans loved and valued their horse companions. Each illustration is identified on the back and most all are recreations of historical artifacts from major museums. Children can enjoy this book and will want to cut out all the items to dress the horses up. But adults will enjoy it also as a great source of information on the different tribes and styles, which has been carefully researched. A great gift for the horse-crazy little girl in all of us.

A book that most readers can identify with!

I loved this book. It is well written, easy to read, and fun. The poems have a musical lilt, almost like jazz. The topics are of everyday life things that happen to all of us all the time. Good work.

This collection of poetry does what truly great poetry should do -- it touches so truly and so deeply upon the human condition -- the joy and the suffering of it -- that the personal voice of the poet becomes, as Galway Kinnell once wrote, just another voice of a creature on the planet speaking. Whether speaking of difficult or joyous times, the loss of love or its fond remembrance, the naming of a child, aging, or death, the poet's words enliven, enrich and expand the reader's own experience, outwitting despair, careening toward joy, encountering pain with courage, and then letting that pain go to the "dirt-borers," whose job it is to turn the dead back into the living again. This is poetry that can save your life on those dark winter nights when the only voice you can hear is the one of your own despair. If I had to choose one or two voices to have with me on such nights, voices to sail the psyche's frail ship to morning's shore, Ms. Fargnoli's would be chief among them.

This is a very good dictionary which takes a very wide range of concepts from all fields of human endeavor and provides short and most often clear and good definitions.On one page I see definitions for ' democratic centralism' 'demography' ' demonstration'(logical) demythologize , dendrochronology, denotation density. There are also on the page names of individuals who are identified and related to the articles on concepts. On this page for instance Charles Demuth(British painter 1935) is referred to the entry on PRECISIONISM. This is a very useful intellectual tool.

I have many dictionaries on my shelves -- among them dictionaries of theology, philosophy, and sociology. I bought this dictionary at an airport, not really being sure how useful it would be. In fact it is a relatively new concept, having originated in the 1970s with Alan Bullock and Oliver Stallybrass. They felt that an ordinary dictionary contains "thousands of words familiar to us all", while an encyclopaedia contains (with regard to modern thought) "a vast amount of irrelevant material". They sensed the need for a dictionary of a new kind.

This book contains nearly 4,000 entries, typically half a column's length, as well as copious cross-referencing, and mini-bibliographies on many subjects. It covers (inter alia) the fields of anthropology, sociology, economics, philosophy, history, politics, physics, and biology. The entries are well written, and by and large would seem to distil the essential meaning and significance of every term. It is also written "in language as simple as can be used without over-simplification or distortion".

In short, if anything has been a major topic of conversation during the past generation, it is likely to be found in this dictionary. I myself have been engaged in postgraduate studies, and have found it to be remarkably comprehensive and dependable, as well as giving me many useful leads in contemporary debate. No one could expect such a book to hold everything -- yet the amount of information that it does hold is surprising. It is not just a faddish idea. It has become one of my most valuable reference tools.

A very useful book. In fact, I use it much more regularly than my Britannica. Where, in a single volume, would you find entries on 'Lolita Syndrome', 'transitional object', 'hydraulic civilisations', 'Equal Rights Amendment' and 'serial music'? In the Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought, of course. And there is much more to learn in this gem of a book. Really a browser's delight! Hurry up: it's still readily available via amazon.co.uk.

Oliver E. Allen's "New York New York" is an outstanding account of the growth and development of New York City from the small Dutch settlement of the 1600's to the international powerhouse of the 1980's. All major influences, people, and incidents that played roles in the shaping of the metropolis are describe with compelling and cohesive clarity. Factual and scholarly research that reads like a page turner. A must for any historian, urban politician, or literate New Yorker. Should be a required text for New York Colleges or elite High Schools, as well as the private libraries of politically involved urbanites of any city. Even as a jaded New Yorker I give it Five stars.

First let me preface my review by stating that this is thefirst book I've read on New York, so I am by no means an expert on thecity's history. Therefore, I found this book to be a good introduction for the beginner(me), because it encompasses much of the overall development of the city while not getting bogged down in unneccesary details, which keeps the book moving fluidly throughout. The book covers over three hundred years of material, ranging from Dutch settlement in the 1600's through English colonization in the 1700's and up to the present day 1990's, and does so in a way that most people will find interesting. Now that I've read Allen's book I'm stirred to read more on the city's wonderful history, something I've been neglecting even though I've lived here for 32 years.

After finishing Allen's book, I found I knew little about the city I've lived in for 32 years. This book is chock full of interesting facts about the city's history from Dutch control in the 1600's, to British colonization in the 1700's, and independence through the 1800's and 1900's. The author skillfully brings to life many of the colorful characters, both good and bad, who have stirred the mixture that makes NY so exciting. Men like Stuyvesant, Boss Tweed, JP Morgan, Lindsay, and LaGuardia, are all given the attention they deserve for shaping the city of today. This a terrific overview and will push me to a more detailed study of particular aspects of this unique city.

As soon as we opened this book, my inquisitive 5-year-old was hooked. It is filled with interesting facts about ocean life, written on a level just perfect for ages 4-8 (the target age group for these books). The pictures are rich and colorful. I bought "Space", too, and now we often read these books instead of good-night stories. Each 2-page spread contains so much to see and discuss that it takes the place of a standard good-night story. So if your child is curious about the ocean and what lives in it, I would really recommend this book. (Even for older kids, frankly. My mother and I both enjoy it and learned from it. And it's much more interesting to read and look at than a typical story book.)

I bought this book for my 5 year old who loves the ocean. Believe me we have more books on the subject than I care to think about. This one is by far the best I have seen. The photographs are superb. The knowledge is good yet simple for kids to follow and understand. I think I am having as much fun reading it as my son does.

The photos alone are worth the price. Go nose-to-nose with a fangtooth; see an octopus's eggs festooning a cave; contemplate a dolphin's teeth. My 5-year-old daughter adores this book so much that she takes it to school for Show-and-Tell. Thanks to the clarity of the description of zones, she refers to the three levels of our house as the daylight zone, twilight zone, and midnight zone. The photos are vivid, the text is clear, and you can read as many or as few nuggets of information as your kid wants to hear - they're all self-contained. You just can't miss with this one.