Oliver Books

This book is basically about all of the buzzwords or TLA's (Three Letter Acronyms) of 1994. I found it a very fascinating book.

This book is a compilation of about fourty different authors, each of which write a different chapter on a different aspect of manufacturing.

A lot of the chapters focus on the buzzwords of the time, like JIT, TQM, QFD, ISO 9000, and SQM. I found it really interesting to see what had changed and what had stayed the same. I have the following observations: 1) That all of the government based programs (ISO, Malcom Baldridge awards) are still around, 2) That everything that has a pattented, proprietary chart or graph is gone (QFD, NewComp), 3) That everything that claims to be everything to everyone is still around (JIT, TQM, Benchmarking, ERP), 4) That the biggest difference between now and then is that computers have allowed connecting the supply chain further (This book talks about the ability to connect to your suppliers, and then talks in a separate section about how to connect to your customers. Modern books push the Customer of Customer and Supplier of Supplier concept).

It was really interesting, because things were a lot simpler, as far as supply chain back then, so I recommend reading this to everyone to get a good idea of the basics. A lot of the newer books that I've found delve right into complex concepts like the Advanced Supply Chain Model that connects everyone to everyone else. Where do you start learning in a model like that?

The funny thing is that every chapter was extremely interesting, except the one written by the compiler, Thomas Wallace. His chapter was really boring. The guy can compile, but he can't write. But the other 39 chapters are great.

I really, really liked the format of the book. Each chapter is set up in the same format with 1) the body of what the book is about, 2) definitions of key words, 3) Q&A, and 4) chapter summary. Probably the definitions were the most interesting part because they didn't just repeat parts of the body of the text, but they provided a lot of additional information. Whoever came up with the format of this book was a genius, and really should roll it out to more books.

Bruce Morgan's book, Writing Through the Tween Years, is a lot of fun to read. Can you say that about a professional text? Not usually. But somehow Bruce is able to take the wacky world of working with tweens and make it come alive on the page with a real classroom. To top it off, you learn a lot about mentor texts, living books (writer's notebooks), and that your kids aren't the only ones who act that way or don't pay attention. Bruce has real kids in his classroom and real human reactions, but most of all he is able to be a reflective, ever-improving REAL teacher, so that from time to time the good stuff happens. And happen it does. It gave me some fresh air and, as he says, kids ten years from now are not going to thank me for my detailed lesson plans or how many grades I took, but from the real experiences of learning and discovering with each other. We teach because we love it. If you forgot, let Bruce remind you.

"Life is action and passion," observes Judge Holmes. So if you have any misgivings about law profession and/or what you ought to do as an American citizen a rare glimpse of Judge Holmes' legal career as described in this book will surely give you a reference point.

I first saw this book in my school library and immeadiatley read it up. This book puts you in the shoes of some of the greatist military minds in history, including Eisenhower, Schwartzcoph, Hitler, and others. Fans of roll playing games will find this short read very enjoyable, especialy when you find out that, had YOU been in charge, Grmany would have won WWI. I recomend this book to anyone who likes history, especialy military history.
Note: This book is very short, so don't waste money on a purchase. Find it at a library instead

This "Young Magicians" series is fantastic! They make wonderful gifts for children. This book teaches kids the fundamentals of card tricks, from how to hold and shuffle a deck, to performing basic "pick a card" tricks and more. Great for kids, and interesting for parents, too!

Remember the classic days when tanning skins, playing chess, and archery were naturally part of a boy's education? Welcome back!

This cool book has everything from tying knots to survival tips, instructions for "marbling paper" (a gorgeous and artistic project I didn't even know an average person could do), how to play poker, and even a few naughty projects to do when you're bored in school. There are also geographic, historical, and even grammar tips for boys; just about anything a boy could need to know is in here. While not all of these things would be fun for me personally, I can tell just reading this book will be a blast in itself and make it hard for me to sit still.

Just as a minor note: this book is NOT sexist. Just a few people have claimed this, but it's still ridiculous. The title says "For boys", not "ONLY for Boys". What do you think the author's going to do, guard the bookstores to make sure no female buys it? I'm a woman and I'm getting it; moreover, I'm a social feminist and I don't mind the title in the least. Heck, I love that it's shamelessly old-fashioned. I've always wanted sons and I can't wait to share this book with them when I do have them.

But until then, it's all mine! :)

This book is a wonderful, educational, coming of age book for all boys. It includes all kinds of stuff that every boy needs to know. I picked this up for my brother who just became the daddy of a little boy and he was very excited to see all the different instructions, games, and so on in the book. Even though my sons are teenagers now, I'm still going to pick up a copy for them.

Bought this for my son. He keeps it by his bed and opens it randomly to find something interesting.
He often brings it downstairs with him to ask us questions about things he's read, and if we can try this or that. We love it! We've made several of the projects, and he has learned so much about history and literature from it. He really enjoys it!

I bought this for my nephew. I had thumbed through it at the toy store about a month ago and liked what I saw so I thought I would give it a shot. Of course there's no pleasing everyone. Upon closer inspection after receiving this book I was a bit disappointed in seeing "The Ten Commandments" in this book. Then I realized - well, every boy should know something about the great fiction of our time, too. If part of that is the "Ten Commandments", so be it. And it's only one page. I didn't see any other hidden religious instruction in there (I looked). Hopefully there isn't any more. I'd hate for my sister (who has chosen not to indoctrinate her children into any specific religion) to be unprepared for that. I'll be mentioning it to her so when the boy has questions - his parents can explain that clap trap to him. So for those of you raising your kids with an "other than Christian" religion (a non-Abrahamic religion in general) or no religion at all - be aware it's in there so there are no surprises.

Such a wonderful treasury of lost information and just plain fun, fundamental knowledge for young men. A must buy...

my oh my, some of the books that pass for classics! i have read compulsively for around 26 years, but this sort of book could make me give up the activity. i so deeply regret the loss of the six evenings that i wasted slogging through the pages of this ridiculous thing. the characters are annoying flat caricatures, and the plot/action is simply silly beyond belief. if this book can be considered a classic, then anything is possible. maybe in a hundred years Brittany Spears will be considered on par with Bach and Beethoven in the history of "classic" music? could happen, i guess.

I'm not a huge fan of the horror genre, gothic fiction, or Victorian literature; but, as one of the most famous novels ever written, I thought I would give 'Dracula' a shot. It's reputation as a classic and the inspiration for numerous films sparked my interest; yet Stoker's work is for the most part dull, slow-moving, and (the worst sin of all for a horror novel) not scary.

True, the opening chapters are quite interesting as we follow Jonathan Harker's experience in Transylvannia and are introduced to the sinister Count himself, yet as the story shifts to England the novel quickly runs out of steam. Encounters with the undead in this novel are strickingly few, and Stoker's uninteresting male characters spend much of their time either waiting for each other or fawning over Mina and Lucy, the novel's female protagonists. As the story progresses, the (covertly sexualized) relationships which develop between Mina, Lucy and Dracula become the novel's saving grace.

I know many will disagree with me, but 'Dracula' is a highly over-rated work - worth reading only as a historical curiosity rather than a classic in the suspense or horror genre.

Though it had been made in to multiple movies and changed into other forms of media, Dracula's characters and the evident Victorianism makes it one the greatest horror novels ever written. It does move slowly at times and the ending is anticlimactic but the good outweighs the bad in Bram Stoker's classic novel.

There are many "good-guys" in Dracula but there is never a true apparent protagonist and this does anything but detract from the story. Jonathon Harker does seem like the intended protagonist but Mina, Van Helsing, and Dr. Seward could all be put on the same level as well. In fact it is Van Helsing who makes the plans to try and destroy Dracula. The way the book was written (diary and journal entries) the reader is drawn closely to the group of heroes who pledge there lives to one another to fight an evil they all wish to destroy.

Also the elements of Victorianism are seen through out the masterpiece. Stoker is able to maintain the characteristics of the era while still writing a horror novel. Mina is able to rise above what women were expected to be able to do and "play with the big boys." She plays a vital role in the fight against Dracula proving that even with men and all their wisdom, sometimes it takes a women's mind to come up with ideas and conclusions that the men had not thought of.

Though it is a bit gruesome, slow, and anticlimactic at times, Bram Stoker's Dracula is a masterpiece for the ages.

Bram Stoker's "Dracula" was first published in 1897, and as one reads this work, it is overwhelmingly apparent that it was written during a time when morals and virtues were held in a much higher regard than they are today.

The book is comprised primarily of various journal entries from six main characters. Two of these main characters are remarkable women, possessed of lofty talent and high moral character. It is when both of these women encounter Count Dracula himself and fall under his poisonous and deathly spell that the remaining main characters in the book--all courageous and gifted and accomplished men--spring to the aid of these women.

I, for one, loved the old fashioned language, the rigid formality and courtesy, and the unyielding respect that the main characters demonstrated in their interactions with one another. Chivalry was certainly not dead in 1897, if one were to use this book as evidence. The graciousness and loyalty that the men in this book showed the women is inspiring, and the moral refinement and sensibilities of the women characters caused me to yearn for an older time, away from the immorality and crudeness apparent in today's society.

I had to smile at one point when reading the book when the two main women characters found themselves out late at night after a frightening experience. They were both in their full-length bedclothes, which apparently covered every part of their bodies but their bare feet. One of the women, not wanting to appear immodest dabbed mud on their bare feet so as not to offend anyone who might see those exposed parts.

This book is filled with suspense and plausibly thrilling episodes. It stands as a wonderful classic of good-natured fright, which proves that tension and drama and expectation may be created in a work of fiction without all of the offending elements of bloody violence, gore, vulgarity, sex, and devilishness thrown into the mix. Its ending is noble, with at least one of the main characters revealing remarkable compassion when she sees the look on Count Dracula's face during the final decisive scene in the book. This book was a pleasant surprise, as I wasn't suspecting a work of such high literary value from a "horror" novel. Thus, I highly recommend it.

While not typically driven to review, I was puzzled by the other reviews for this book. There is an overwhelming amount of, not just good but, great reviews for this book and an average rating of 4-1/2 stars. Actually, the only reason I looked at the reviews for this book at all is that I found it to be the most disappointing book I've ever read. Like a few of the other 1 star reviewers, I actually liked the first few chapters. Stoker develops a nice gothic atmosphere until the story moves west. To each their own but when I read the reviews that claim this to be the best gothic story ever written, riveting, exciting, and any other description that wouldn't apply to watching paint dry or grass grow I wonder if we read the same book at all.

A great story! So many things about the whaling industry and Nantucket that I didn't know about made this book all the more enjoyable. Some of the scenes described after the shipwreck made my skin crawl and I wonder...what would any of us do if in a similar situation?

The detail of this book is wonderful. I started off reading this with little sympathy for the Quakers, by the end of the book my feelings had changed a little bit. Good information about all aspects, Quaker life on the island, the business of whaling, and what happens to the human body and soul under such extreme conditions.

Once again, truth is stranger that fiction. No one could have, would have made this up. It would be too unbelievable on the silver screen or on the small screen....even in the pages of novel---But this did happen.

A whale, being pursued, turning on its pursuers and sinking a whale ship!!! Quite a story in its own right, but the crew's efforts to get home safely make it a gripping read.

A book that should not be missed. Not only is it a good story, but an educational revealing look at the whaling industry.

After reading this, Moby Dick will seem a lot more real than ever thought or imagined...this was Herman Melville's inspiration.

Well, once I started, I couldn't put it down. My word. It was pretty grisly in parts, but really compelling. The author did a great job of following all the survivors, mapping out where the were (3 were on an island, and of the 3 boats, 2 were rescued--after some people died), and it was very easy to read. I also liked the author's comments on leadership and so forth. Recommended w/ the caveat that there are some descriptions about sad animal stories + lots o' cannibalism. (I didn't know if it was really necessary to describe what it's like to eat someone who has starved to death, but then the author is also a scholar and why would he lighten up in this area?)

You just can't ask for a more riveting tale of survival at sea, and what it means to go beyond the prescribed limits of perserence and will. A first rate read. Highly recommended.

Milan Kundera's book, The Unearable Lightness of Being was a great, light but heartfelt read. I am sure can all relate to Sabine's sittuation with Tomas and the feeling of being/ seeming wonderfull but never being 'the one'. Kundera's reading reminds me of Salinger and Kesey's works but is not as good.

Milan Kundera has epitomized what lonliness and life is like in and out of love/lust. I enjoyed the author's insight into each character. He takes time to expose their flaws and explain only what is necessary. I enjoy this book every time I read it.

This book may not be for everyone but I simply loved it. A love story with a philosophical bent it leaves you questioning your own life and decisions. Burdened by love or light enough to achieve beauty or somewhere in between?

This quote from the beginning of the book says it all:

"The heaviest of burdens crushes us, we sink beneath it, it pins us to the ground. But in the love poetry of every age, the woman longs to be weighed down by the man's body. The heaviest of burdens is therefore simultaneously an image of life's most intense fulfillment. The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the earth, the more real and truthful they become.

Conversely, the absolute absence of a burden causes man to be lighter than air, to soar into the heights, take leave of the earth and his earthly being, and become only half real, his movements as free as they are insignificant.

What then shall we choose? Weight or lightness?"

How to explain a book into which one sinks? It deftly captures all the nuances, both positive and negative, of falling in love, out of love and back again. Yet it is not a love story, not in the sense that one would imagine. It is so much more; it is written with such a light hand that the prose becomes poetic and sings itself off the page.

"If a love is to be unforgettable, fortunities must immediately start fluttering down to it like birds to Francis of Assisi's shoulders."

"While people are fairly young and the musical composition of their lives is still in its opening bars, they can go about writing it together and exchange motifs (the way Tomas and Sabina exchanged the motif of the bowler hat), but if they meet when they are older, like Fraz and Sabina, their musical compositions are more or less complete, and every motif, every object, every word means something different to each of them."

The best I could do to provide evidence of this book's beauty was to point to the words themselves. Yet, without the backing of all the other words they seem so much dryer than they do on the page. Some of the luster is lost when devoid of their context.

In short, read it. Read it once and it will become a book you'll read over and over again forever.

This book is overly pretentious; so do not be fooled by the superfluous 5 star reviews that so many literary idealists have given it.

First, let me tell you what is good about the book. Kundera offers his readers some beautiful metaphors--in fact, some of the best I have ever read, but unfortunately the book's significance practically ends there.

Although Kundera's book starts off on a promising note, posing strong existential questions, his postulates fail to deliver any thought provoking "weightiness."

Ironically, it is Kundera's incessant attempt to produce "weightier" concepts as the book progresses that inevitably ruin it.

Kundera opens his novel with originality, discussing Nietzsche and eternal returns; but as his novel progresses he drifts far from originality, and as if he is struggling to appeal to mass market, or all those wannabe intellects sitting around smoke filled coffee houses drinking lattes and discussing what it is to feel "the unbearable lightness of being," he closes his novel with one of his last, "profound" philosophical discussions--analyzing God's potential bowl moments.

Wow, I feel enlightened already.

In addition, Kundera's attempt to present his philosophical treatise through his superficial story of Tomas, Sabina, etc. was meager.

Sometimes Kundera's storyline effectively embodied his philosophical exposition, and many times I was filled with hope and promise that the story would remain on that path, but on the contrary, I mostly found his characters completely contradictory to everything Kundera was using them to represent. Ultimately, I found the actions, complacency, and attitudes of Tomas, Tereza, etc. rather incredulous.

Everyone's childhood was plagued with malevolence, even Karenin's "puppyhood" was fatefully doomed. His bland storyline made poor attempts to discuss those human dualities, such as love and lovemaking, life and rebirth, all those dichotomies which produce lightness and weightiness.

I found myself replacing words with blah, blah, blah, blah, blah while I was reading; and most of the time, I found myself so disappointed that I felt worse than when Tomas suffered from those dreadful stomach aches.

This book was "unbearable" for me to read. However, what I find most fascinating is that when I finally finished the book, I was so elated that I experienced that strange, melancholy feeling, that "unbearable lightness of being."

Maybe that was Kundera's intention. Maybe he meant to write this book to incite exactly that emotion in his readers.

I guess I'll spend my time pondering over that philosophical question...then again, maybe I won't.

I am enjoying the Intellectual Devotional, though I am troubled when I come across screaming errors like "Marie Antoinette said 'Let them eat cake.'" I can't imagine any serious historian would miss this error, so how qualified were the editors? And if the information is wrong, what is the point of the book?

I enjoy this book very much. Yes, there are some factual errors, but I haven't read a non-fiction book yet that hasn't had errors. I think that despite some of the typographical errors, and some facts that are a bit questionable, I'm better of reading it and having exposure to a vast array of subjects, than not, and it has certainly been enjoyable.

Great Book...It is exactly as it states, one page;one new topic. All so far are very interesting. This seems like it would be a great textbook for some class. Only thing I would tell prospective buyers...print/font is extremely small. I don't wear glasses or have eye issues and I was shocked at how small the print was. Main points of each topic are in 10 font (estimate), then each subsequent section of each topic is in smaller and smaller font. If you have any issues with reading small print you will need a magnifing glass or some similair produc to read this book. But it is very interesting.

i love reading this book every chance i get. you learn something new every page. very detailed and great book to share with your kids(10 and up).a great trivia book,even. well written and it makes you a better / well-rounded jeopardy contestant. get you one!

This is a great book and easy read. I can't believe no one came up with this concept earlier. The topics are very interesting and informative. I often find it hard to only read one per day. Highly recommend this to anyone.