Q and A Books

Book arrived in excellent condition and quickly. The book is very informative and in a nice conversational, easy to grasp format.

This book is a complete winner! All the the other intercultural books I`ve read have been BORING. This is a book for everybody working internationally...and it`s wise and amusing

Written by the owner of an international training and consulting company, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh: Cultural Q & As For Successful Business Behavior Around The World is a comprehensive guide especially for international businesspeople, covering common cultural misunderstandings and gaffes that can plague one in nations ranging from Australia to Venezuela. From general information on how to make small talk safely and avoid common communication problems, to body language recommendations and warnings against inappropriate gestures in different nations (for example, a raised thumb is considered offensive in Australia and the Middle East), to countless case studies of problems and communication issues brought about by different cultural norms and expectations, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh is not only a "must-have" resource for globetrotters but also an engrossing to lay readers curious about the sharp differences in how folks from different nations relate. Extremely accessible and down-to-earth, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh explores the fascinating variety of cultural differences from an emphatically practical perspective.

I just started working in a large multi-national and have found this book invaluable in its advice about how to deal with people from other cultures. I particularly liked the Q&A format of much of the book when people wrote to Gwyneth Olofsson with questions about how to deal with tricky cross-cultural situations - the sort that can lead to "culture clash" if you're not careful. A big plus is that it's funny too!

There were places in this book where I laughed out loud, usually at the real-life examples of "culture clashes." The letters also made me think about how my own behavior at work could be misunderstood by foreigners. I learned a lot!

I knew Mike Curtis ( not his real name ) back in the mid 90's when we were both in South America. I had heard that he had written a book and I found a copy in a bookstore in New Zealand. Wonderful book and alot of adventures. He is a first class guy and alot of fun to be around and that certainly comes across in the book.

A very compelling account and exciting book that I was unable to put it down. It's in the same league as Andy McNab's books. Clearly shows the rigorous SAS Selection and training process. Particularly realistic were his accounts of the grueling experiences in the Falklands and the scud destroying missions in Iraq. Reading this book makes you realize the tough conditions that these elite troops survive in. Thanks Mike, for doing a tough job well and for writing an excellent book about it all!

Mike Curtis' life has been very exciting. He tells about his military life in the British Army along with personal backround. It even revealed secrets of the SAS. Including the mission in Iraq during the Gulf War, which was for destroying Scud missiles.

I couldn't put this book down! It also made me want to learn more about the Gulf (I bought Cameron Spence's book about the Gulf War called "Sabre Squadron"). I recommend this book for readers interested in the British Army or SAS or if you are just a military buff.

Curtis is in the same league as the McNab's, Spence's and Crossland's of this world! Great action in the Falklands. Awsome accounts of his selection (almost twice as good!!!!).Well written; full of anecdotes, humour and sarcasm...even in the tough moments. Makes you really wonder why "Bravo Two Zero" opted to tab instead of ride! We want more from Curtis.

After picking up the book and reading the initial pages I was unable to put it down. CQB made me laugh, made me sad and at times it even made me feel uncomfortable. Due to the gripping style, it is one of the few books that I have been sorry to finish, I just wanted it to keep going. The demise of his family life was inevitable however, I would have preferred it if the author had allowed greater expression on the subject (as this is a great bane of service life)and to attibute more narrative.

Overall, this is a compelling account of a soldiers life in two of the most elite fighting forces.

I read this book when I was a teenager & instantly identified with the hero & the characters. The characterisation of the Spartan & Athenian lifestyles is excellent and the intermingling of historical figures such as Socrates, Plato, Euripides, Alcibiades, Demosthenes etc is superb. This book alone forms a significant portion of my knowledge of ancient Greece. If you enjoyed the movie "300" then you should read this book. Even if you didn't enjoy the movie "300" still read this book. It is a tragedy that the author Frank Yerby did not achieve the acclaim he deserved for his novels as this definitely ranks among the best I have ever read. I am greatly surprised that he was an African American and disappointed that his great talent went virtually unheralded by the "critics". Read this book. You will not be disappointed.

Frank Yerby's 'Goat Song' is a book I would describe as 'almost perfect'. Not since Mary Renault's 'Last of the Wine' have I encountered such a complete telling of the life of a man in Ancient Greece.

Born to a Spartan General and his beautiful wife; who maintains that her son was truly sired by the God Dionysus, Ariston discovers his true parentage, and his first love, only to lose them to cruel fates.

Surviving these loses, Ariston is then sold into slavery, taken to Athens, and given over to a brothel to have his 'favors' sold time and again. Here in his life he develops a deep, loving friendship with Orchomenus; who remains a constant figure in his life for many years to come. Ariston and Orchomenus' friendship is reminiscent of many others that I have read of from the time period; in terms of the depth of the love between two men, and how once their lives were tied together by their great affection for one another, the bond was difficult, if not impossible, to break.

Once Ariston is freed from his service to the brothel,and adopted by a wealthy figure in Athens; his life takes a more favorable turn. Ariston; through virture of his unparallelled looks or kindly nature, draws many friends and loves to him. Danaeus; Autolykos; Chryseius; all people who will play important roles in his life.

But Ariston; too haunted by the loss of his first love, finds himself unable to return their affections fully. Though he takes Chryseius into his home and bed, his is not free to marry her; under Athenian law, as he is a 'metic', or free citizen, but not of birth, to the city of his residence. Therefore he builds his life as a businessman, philanthropist, athlete, and student in Athens, all the while hoping for eventual citizenship to fulfill his promise to Chryseius and one day marry her.

The book is sweeping in its scope; and epic in it's storytelling capability. The first few chapters virtually turned me away, as the tone and 'repetition' of Ariston losing his first love, Phryne, were tedius to say the least. The discovery of girls in general to him, as well as Phryne herself entering his life, seem contrived, as if they were hastily added to give Ariston a foundation for the 'loner' quality he maintains throughout most of the rest of his life.

However, once through these few almost unpalpable chapters, the story unfolds; page after page, without ever slowing. Yerby's pacing is excellent; his character development full and believable; and his painstaking attention to the everyday detail of life in Athens and Sparta in classical times is rich and rewarding to read. Ariston's own character and character flaws are well played out against the backdrop of the supporting and secondary players to the story. And while the 500 page novel is full of well-developed, interesting persons, Yerby never loses sight of his protagonist, even against such famed historical figures as Sokrates, Sophokles, Alkibiades, etc, etc, etc.....each of these persons influences Ariston, but never overshadows him.

For that I give Yerby 5 stars, and label the book as almost perfect. Although a bit difficult to involve myself in it initially, I was greatly rewarded for my tenacity. Hopefully other readers will agree. I highly recommend this story along with my other favorites written about the time period; Mary Renault, Homer himself, and newer author Steven Pressfield. Though Yerby leans more toward Renault in overall tone, his style and quality of storytelling are all his own.

This book was stunning, harsh, real, and violent as well as beautiful, romantic, and poignant. The story of a man's life is always complex, but Yerby demonstrates that so wonderfully in this classic. I can't believe that this book isn't more popular. Goat Song literally took my breath away and the characters lingered with me long after I closed this book. I would highly recommend this epic tale to everyone.

This work is incredible; I couldn't put the book down! He portrays ancient Sparta/Athens in ways that make me feel like I've visited there. His descriptions are wonderful, as well as his dialogue. The hero, Arison, is all I could want in a hero. I strongly recommend reading this book!

The story of a young man that suffers all kind of pains in his life and remains incorruptible in his mind, with capacity of loving and learning. Yerby makes a unforgetable story of the life of young Ariston with a master style. I have read a lot of Yerby's novels, but this one is on the top, in my opinion. Iam very sad to tell you that this book was stolen from my house almost ten years ago and that it has been imposibble for me to find it again. If you have the fortune to get it, read it and take care of it.

This book is a resource that all high school teachers should have. It begins with a relatively short (about 60 pages) history of mathematics and then diverges into a series of indepth explorations of particular mathematical topics.
The history section at the beginning has many small tidbits which will enhance the learning experience. The indepth explorations, which range from Pythagorus to geometry, will nicely enhance your lesson plans. Most of them can serve as the theme that particular lessons can be built around. I am currently working on my practicum at a local highschool and I am using the book regularly.

Most of the texts available for history of mathematics courses are aimed at upper-level undergraduate students and try to be encyclopedic. This book fills a needed hole in the offerings through its accessibility to freshmen, and its explicit aim not to cover everything. It contains a 56-page snapshot overview followed by 25 articles on particular topics, ideal jumping-off points for student presentations and/or research projects. The articles are clearly written, not intimidating yet accurate and sensitive to the current state of the art in the field. The references to further reading are useful and reliable sources.

After 13 years of frustration, I may finally have found a book that works with my course. Highly recommended!

As students struggle through their mathematics lessons, it is sometimes helpful for them to understand that the creators of their torment often struggled as well. Furthermore, when we present the polished mathematics of calculus, linear algebra and so forth, educators often forget the long historical road that led to the material that we handle so well. In this excellent book covering the history of mathematics, the authors demonstrate a competency of exposition and a focus on the key points that students and teachers can both appreciate.
It begins with a short and rapid recapitulation of mathematics from the first primitive scratches in the dust to the role of computers in solving problems. After this whirlwind beginning, you are subjected to twenty-five short essays, each about a specific point in mathematical history. By point, I don't mean in time, rather a point as in a position in a discussion. These essays are very well written and each would be excellent fodder for a one-hour class lecture or presentation. Questions for discussion and material for projects are included with each of the short essays. Topics covered in the essays include: the development of the zero, the story of pi, writing fractions, negative numbers, the development of coordinate geometry, complex numbers, Non-Euclidean geometry, probability theory and Boolean algebra.
This is by far the best book I have seen for courses in the history of mathematics. With the essays, problems and ideas for projects, all an instructor needs to do is read, discuss and enjoy. If your interest is in learning a bit more about the history of mathematics, it will also serve you well in that capacity.

Published in the recreational mathematics e-mail newsletter, reprinted with permission.

For math teachers at the high school or college level, or anyone else interested in math, this is an ideal introduction to the history of math. Start with the 55-page overview. Then read any or all of the articles that follow, on a variety of topics such as negative numbers, pi, quadratic equations, the Pythagorean theorem, the history of probability theory, and infinity, all around five pages each. Once you're finished with that, there's an extensive bibliography with plenty of suggestions for further reading on the topics that have piqued your interest.

Throughout, the authors have striven for (and succeeded at attaining) readability, accessibility, and historical accuracy. The result is a book that scores high marks for being both interesting and informative.

I came across this book because a friend of mine uses it in a college class for math ed. It's really well written and makes the material accessible for people whose math background isn't necessarily very strong. I bet it could even be used for high school students. The exercises and projects are really good, too.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to get an understanding of their personal finances. These are real life questions with easy-to-understand answers.

The question and answer format allows one to pick and choose those financial subjects one is interested in. There is no wasting of time to go through pages of uninteresting information. The book deals with every conceivable financial problem and information one would want to ask about, and the answers are written in a very concise and easy to understand manner. This is a book for everyone, whether it is a home-maker, a student or a business person. Its a good investment !

A great book for the beginning investor and a terrific reference work for the more sophisticated investor. Concise and to the point in a clever Q&A format.

A great book for the beginning investor and a terrific reference work for the more sophisticated investor. Concise and to the point in a clever Q&A format.

Money Matters Made Easy is a book every starting, and regular investor should have on his, or her bookshelf. It covers 178 subjects from evaluating investments to home ownership, and more, like wills, understanding bonds,retirement etc, in short concise and very easy to understand paragraphs. Because it is written in a simple, common-sense way, it is a bargain, for what it contains, and is one investment, which can only lead to dividends in any ones' investments and also life style, since it covers paying for college, insurance and taxes. GO BUY IT !

Written by Robert W. Drago (Professor of Labor Studies and Women's Studies, Penn State University), Striking a Balance: Work, Family, Life is not a self-help book for the individual, but rather a scholarly examination of the modern societal problems of the care gap (too many children, elderly, and disabled, particularly among the poor, are not getting the care they need), the gender gap (women are forced to choose between success in their careers and providing adequate care to their children, or any other form of care work for low or no pay) and the income gap (the rich get richer and the poor get poorer). At the heart of these problems is not just cold hard economics, but also societal norms - the "motherhood norm" that insists women should provide care for little or no pay; the "ideal worker norm" that conditions employers to expect their workers to put in long hours up to an inhuman level; and the "individualism norm", a society-infused belief that the government should not help those needing care. Striking a Balance prescribes society-wide remedies to these growing problems: paid family leave, early childhood education and child care financing, guaranteed health insurance, and a minimum wage increase indexed to inflation, and the simple importance of allowing men and women from all walks of life to have their voices heard. Extensively researched, Striking a Balance: Work Family Life is a persuasive academic treatise about the need for social change, and highly recommended for reading for not only college library shelves, but also anyone looking for a better understanding of why the government needs to pay more attention to minimum wage, health care, and paid family leave issues.

This excellent analysis of the current state of working and trying to live at the same time in America is a great wakeup call from the overwork hypnosis reining for too long. Unlike in other advanced nations, we've never had a real national conversation about the impacts of large numbers of caregivers in the workplace and skyrocketing workweeks. Drago makes those repercussions of work without end very clear, in imploding families, skyrocketing health costs and absentee lives. Armed with a trove of research, he shows us not only the downside, but also a way out, when we can see the unconscious norms that skew our value system and sanity--the ideal worker norm, the motherhood norm, and the individualism norm. This much-needed book should should be required reading for every exec, congressperson, and presidential-candidate policy guru in the land.

This is one of the best sociological books I've read in years--which is saying quite a bit, since the author is an economist! Bob Drago's latest book is both scholarly and eminently readable. He pulls together the best analysis of the challenges confronting women, families, and workers--which pretty much includes all of us, now doesn't it?--with the most enlightened thinking about what we need to do to change the structures that produce those challenges. The book is written in very clear prose and presents a persuasive argument that gets right to the point. I think just about any reader concerned with social problems (the working poor, strains on families, gender inequalities) will find plenty of cause for optimism here. And readers who just want to make sense of why life is so hectic for themselves, their co-workers, family members, and neighbors will come away from this book with a clearer understanding and ideas for action. I highly recommend this book.

Bob Drago has long been recognized as a leader in the work-life balance world through his work with Take Care Net and on the Work and Family Bill of Rights. After decades in the wilderness, many of us have reached a shared vision of what does and doesn't help us to lead balanced lives. Drago captures this new consensus, explains why it has taken so long for us to reach this point, and provides a blueprint for change. Anyone stressed about their own lives, and what to do about it, should read this interesting, insightful, wise, and humorous work, and then join with Drago and others to change things.

This book is for anyone who feels that life is complicated and getting more so all the time. In clear language Drago gives data to show that Americans are working more and defines 3 important gaps Americans face: a care gap, a gender gap, and an income gap. These are interrelated, of course, as Drago makes clear. And he contributes to our understanding of the gender gap by expanding it to include the gap between women who are involved in actual care work (whether paid or not) and those successful in professional jobs and hence not directly involved in care. He anchors his discussion in three norms, all of which contribute to these gaps: motherhood, ideal worker, and individualism, and supports his discussion with both data and stories. A particularly interesting formulation is his definition of balance, by which he means involvement in all three of paid work, unpaid work, and leisure. He describes the kind of social infrastructure necessary to support such balance for all people in our society and ends with a work and family bill of rights. A great discussion of the challenges we all face.

One of the most poetic and moving stories I've ever read. Great portrayal of characters and of a people and life style probably gone forever.

This book, the story of a Basque immigrant seen through the eyes of his journalist and politician sons, would have been compelling reading when it was first penned in 1957.

What makes it even more interesting fifty-five years later is the combination of the universal (the immigrant experience) with specific, the Basque sheepherder who came to Nevada in the early twentieth century and returned to his homeland for a visit mid-century. The world described here, at least in Nevada and I suspect, the Basque part of France, is rapidly fading.

A luminous tribute to a father.

This is an absolutely outstanding book about the true story of an immigrant. It conveys the various emotions and experiences of one who left his native country for a new land. Anyone who's a first-generation immigrant or knows a family member that was will be especially able to relate with the people profiled in this book.

As a aside, this book reminds me somewhat of the underlying theme in many of William Saroyan's books, namely his struggle with his dual identity - "am I an American or an Armenian".

Wonderful look at a Basque sheepherder's life in Nevada and his return to the family homeland after nearly 50 years away. Laxalt doesn't pile on the sentiment but makes this a clear-eyed, sharp look at a life that is unimaginable today, and sadly so.

"This was the way it was with him. In this first moment of homecoming, all the years in between meant nothing. The day he had left, he was a young man and his sisters were young and his brothers alive, and this was the next day, and he and his sisters were old, and all his brothers were dead, and the forty-seven years in between had not happened. He had left home one day, yesterday, and come home today, and the change was too much for him to bear."

This was a moving story of a Nevada sheepherder returning to his home in the Pyrenees of France after 47 years.

Easy to read and full of descriptive prose, Robert Laxalt combines in this story the poetry of place with the passion of lost family and friends.

Words cannot even begin to describe the beauty of the works of art contained in this book. If you only ever buy one book in your life to just look at the pictures let it be this one. I could sit entranced by this embroidery for hours. I agree with another reviewer who stated that you can't conceive of this art being created by human hands. If you need proof simply look at the cover. That is not a photograph folks, it is embroidered.
The photographs are also quite beatiful. Consider as you look at them that the photo's are trying to capture texture...something very elusive in that medium. In many cases you can barely tell the photo from the embroidery and in others the embroidery is an interpretation of the photo.
I cannot state this enough... this book is truly, truly extraordinary and I don't think that there is anything else like it out there.

This is, by far, the most beautiful embroidery book I've ever seen anywhere, at any time. It seems impossible that such impressive works of art could have been created. Robert Ketchum's photographs are beautiful, but the embroideries are, indeed, so breathtaking that it's hard to believe real human beings could have worked on them. This is the kind of embroidery I would love to be able to do, but it is so amazing that I know I'll never reach such a high level of expertise (at least not in this lifetime). My thanks to all the people involved in this project for sharing their special gifts with me and anyone else fortunate enough to have purchased this book or, better still, to have seen these works in person.

I bought this book, sight unseen purely from the rave reviews listed. To be honest I was a bit disappointed with the book. Firstly, Robert Glenn Ketchum's photographs are very average. In fact any 15 year old with a good camera and decent eye could take photo's of this quality. The thing that redeems them is the skill of the needleworkers. Secondly, I just think the book is overated. There's several western needlework books that cover this type of embroidery and have better images in my opinion so I just don't understand the rave. An interesting read, but..........yeah. I wouldn't have paid this much if I'd been able to flick through it first.

This is, by far, the most beautiful embroidery book I've ever seen anywhere, at any time. It seems impossible that such impressive works of art could have been created. Robert Ketchum's photographs are beautiful, but the embroideries are, indeed, so breathtaking that it's hard to believe real human beings could have worked on them. This is the kind of embroidery I would love to be able to do, but it is so amazing that I know I'll never reach such a high level of expertise (at least not in this lifetime). My thanks to all the people involved in this project for sharing their special gifts with me and anyone else fortunate enough to have purchased this book or, better still, to have seen these works in person.

I'm not all that interested in embroidery, but I enjoy visual excitement. One day while gallery hopping, we came upon a small portion of the work depicted in this book. We were both blown away by the work! Absolutely amazing. I would really like some posters of this work.

For those interested in the embroidery details, it is done with fine silk threads, hand dyed, on various fine fabrics, some of which are so fine you can see through them. Much of the interesting texture and effect is from what they call random stitch embroidery, in which the scenes are depicted by various colored stitches .5 cm (1/4 inch) long running in various random directions, yet they all come together to make the image. Other parts of the images are done by carefully controlled stitch direction to give crisp images. They pick up the light and are quite luminous, some are displayed as screens with light coming from behind. Only the enlargements in the book give a sense of the beauty and amazing technique of the actual pieces.

Oh, and the book is good too. Definitely a 5 star quality coverage of the work, with background information, as described in other reviews. But the work itself is beyond 5 stars. (In the gallery they were priced around the $10,000-$150,000 range, some took several years to complete.)

I bought these as a gag gift fo a friend and she loved them! The best part is the price is so low, that even if people don't like them you are only out a little bit. Honestly, the look on peoples faces is worth far more than these cost. Highly recommended for anyone with a sense of humor!

I just received this as a gift today from my older brother. I laughed so hard when I opened the package at work that everyone had to come and see what was so funny. What a fantastically funny gift for the cat-lover in your life.

I will have to get a few more of these to send out myself!

This product is hillarious to anyone who loves cats! A touch on the more vulgar side, but very funny nonetheless. Cheap way to get a laugh when you give a gift!

This is a great "anytime" gift to just let someone know you are thinking about them, and in this case a sibling living in another state who loves cats. It might also be a good prank for someone who did not like cats and frequently makes comments to that effect, but I haven't tested that approach. They definitely work if you want to "make" someone's day.

My whole family loves cats and I got each of them one of these Cat Butts items and they loved it! The field guide tells you exactly how cats..and their butts...are. I chuckle every time I see those magnets on my refrigerator too!

Book is very helpful and should be bought early during med school. It will make sure that you know frequently tested topics. Also great along w/ first aid for board prep. There are a few mistakes as this is a 1st edition book, but the book is well worth $20.

This book is not all encompassing however it does bring back into mind high yield facts that you should know. I would recommend using this book in conjuction with the First Aid

Just be careful when you go through this book, because there are quite a few typos. Usually it's nothing important, but once in a while it may confuse phase I and phase II, for example :). But again, it is not intended to be an ultimate resourse, so just be attentive not to confuse yourself.

Otherwise, this is a truly terrific book, and I still give it 5 stars because I certainly prefer to have it now, with the typos, rather then wait till all the little things are cleared. It helps me to structurize my studies so much, that I really cannot imagine what I'd be doing without it.

2Authors: Great job! Thank you very much!

I used this book as a quick review in the final days before my step I exam and scored much higher than I expected. I found it to be a great resource.

Deja Review is an innovative approach for Step 1 recall. I used this book as my primary resource and did outstanding on boards. Buy this book...you won't regret it!