Business Books

Well what is there to say its a great book its exactly what youd expect and at 20$ its an excellent addition to any bookshelf

For some reason Amazon cannot get Sunzi right. The link to the audio edition of the Griffith translation is to a different translator's work. Some of the reviews here refer to Cleary's illustrated translation, not Griffith's. The link to paperback editions of this work are to Cleary's, not Griffith's etc.

Having said that, if you can figure out what edition is being offered, Griffith's translation offers many strengths. It is translated by someone who not only read the work, but practiced and theorized on unconventional warfare himself. There are questions as to whether his translation is perfectly accurate. It is said that the great Three Kingdoms strategist Cao Cao also misinterpreted the Sunzi in his commentary. So, while not strictly accurate to the letter, both enhanced the spirit.

There are other very good translations, Sawyer, Ames, etc. But Griffith's is the one I turn to first.

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This edition makes for a terrific gift for the college graduate. The illustrations and photos add visual interest; the text layout makes for "easy" reading. Although we already own several editions of this classic, this will be added to our personal collection.

This is a classic work on what works and doesn't work it war. It is from the 3rd century BC and cuts through the BS of modern war science. Must reading for all future Presidents, Secretaries of Defense and General Officers.

As a Chinese, I can say that author grasp the essence of Art of war and the English is beautiful.

I see adiobook on this topic. What no one for this version? strongly suggest and if come out I would buy it firstly.

This book of Lawrence Haines is an easy read, very helpful book. It is direct to the point and does not contain hard words to confuse simple people like myself, who are not really in the business world. I have the greatest honor of meeting this man and being directed by his example of leadership. I truly find him amazing, down to earth and very focused on the things that matters most in life. I recommend this book to everyone out there, in whatever leadership capacity you have, at home, work or the community.

"People are Everything" by Larry Haines has captured the essence about what is missing in the corporate culture. He does a terrific job of providing the reader with real examples to prove his points. He points out that communication isn't really difficult if we get back to using the basic tools of listening, providing challenges for your people and respect every individual within in the company, no matter what their position. You are reminded of things you may have forgotten --- yet, you are bound to learn some new things to help you with your own communication. "
Kathy Condon, Executive Coach, Speaker and Author

I just met Lawrence Haines briefly before reading his book, "In the Best Companies People Are Everything." I have to admit, Haines had me at the title. In small business and corporations, the opposite seems to be the norm--you sometimes wonder if CEOs and business-minded leaders wish they could do away with the pesky problem of people. Leadership egos and bully bosses seem to grow on the trees they wish could source bottom-line revenues. The last thing on the mind of big (and small) business seems to be people. Customers, clients, associations, and employees aren't just factors in business results; trying to accomplish worthwhile objectives while ignoring people is a prescription for venture failure.

Haines gets straight to the point: people are everything. And if you ignore this basic principle; products and profits, markets and margins will not live up to their potential. "In the Best Companies People Are Everything" is a candid, straight-forward treatment of the challenges of dealing with employees and the leaders who often fail to address the foremost concerns of business. Haines offers solution-oriented principles that could easily fill a thick volume. But he gives a business brief, structured in "brevity" that makes for a swift read for leaders or employees of any team or organization.

Get copies of this book for your team, even if you're doing it as a token gesture. But watch out--they'll start to get ideas that you really do care about people. Not only will performance improve through attention to working principles, but everyone will begin to see themselves as part of a team responsible for the results of your organization. You'll probably have to live up to the reputation of considering people the most valuable asset of your business organization.

This is what the executive leadership in business is missing these days, the human factor. If corporate managers would make these type investments in their greatest asset, their employees, the returns would be tremendous. Mr. Haines knows the value that people bring to a company. He knows how to develop employees loyalty, sorely lacking in today's businesses. I have experienced it first hand and seen him teach these principles to his managers.

As an HR and Education Specialist, I've come to believe that all good companies can become better. The key to excellence is in the heart of the leadership. Great organizations are led by great people. Their influence remains after they move on to other things because they really care about those who daily work and sacrifice for them. "People are Everything" provides a glimpse of lasting success. Balance sheets and profits will rise and fall, but the admiration an employee can have for its leaders can be eternal. Lawrence Haines' book helps corporate America pause and consider the true meaning of success. His checklist becomes a measurement for employee motivation, security, and self-esteem. It's a must read for management and practitioners alike if they really care about their legacy.

Dr. Lee E. Christensen
EMDC Education Advisor
Exxon Mobil Corporation

I recently read Paths to Power, co-authored by Anthony Mayo and Nitin Nohria with Laura G. Singleton, as well as this book in which Mayo and Nohria also focus on some of the greatest business leaders of the twentieth century. As in Paths to Power, rather than limiting their attention to a set number of exemplary leaders - in chronological order -- and then devoting a separate chapter to each, Mayo and Nohria chose instead to examine the evolution of 20th century business leadership in terms of the ten decades, assigning to each an appropriate theme while frequently cross-referencing throughout the entire century. For example, Chapter One (1900-1909) is titled "The Land of Opportunity"; Chapter Six (1950-1959) is "Feeding the Machine of Consumption"; and Chapter Ten (1990-1999) is "Reengineering, Restructuring, and Reality Check."

In my opinion, as in their later book (Paths to Power), Mayo and Nohria's role, is more that of cultural anthropologists than as biographers or even business historians. They create a social and economic context within a 100-year framework as they examine what differentiated outsiders from insiders in business leadership in the 20th century.

In the city where I live, we have a number of outdoor markets at which slices of fresh fruit are offered as samples of the produce available. In that same spirit, I frequently include brief excerpts such as these from a book to help those who read my review to get a "taste." Here is a representative selection from the material that Mayo and Nohria provide:

"The business executives of the first decade were driven, opportunistic, and innovative. They operated on a large scale and constantly expanded their base of power. They built businesses that often had far-reaching impact on the way society lived, but they were, for the most part, less concerned about the way people worked; there was generally little regard for progressive employment practices. The focus was not on the quality of work life or necessarily on the quality of the product; it was often the quantity of the output. For many, there was no better way to secure quantity in the 1900s than through consolidation, and the move toward consolidation subsequently spawned another fundamental shift in business - a focus on productivity and efficiency." (Chapter One, Page 31)

Note: The business leaders discussed in this chapter include Clarence M. Wooley (American Radiator Company), Cyrus H.K. Curtis (Curtis Publishing Company), and Frank C. Ball (Ball Brothers Company).

"Although innovation and technical competence were the principal drivers of products in the 1940s, marketing, advertising, and standardization drove products and services in the 1950s. Sales volume was further increased because many products followed a planned-obsolescence life cycle. Successful businesses adopted this use-and-replace strategy, which was aided significantly with the rise in products manufactured with plastic or other synthetic materials. The lack of focus on product quality would eventually become a major liability for U.S. manufacturers, but that was hard to see in the general prosperity of the 1950s and 1960s as corporate profits continued to rise."

Note: The business leaders discussed in this chapter include Howard J. Morgens (Procter & Gamble), C. Kemmins Wilson (Holiday Inn), Raymond A. Kroc (McDonald's), and Malcolm P. McLean (SeaLand Service).

"As we have seen in our analysis of previous decades, the full impact of the entrepreneur's work is often not visible for many years; these businesspeople often push the limits of what is possible and even what is conceivable. By their nature, entrepreneurs and their businesses are ahead of the curve, and it is relatively dangerous to assess performance and impact as it is unfolding.

Note: The business leaders discussed in this chapter include Alfred M. Zeien (Gillette Company), Louis V. Gerstner Jr. (IBM Corporation), and Meg Whitman (eBay).

Those who share my high regard for this brilliant book are urged to check out the aforementioned Paths to Power as well as Stuart Crainer's The Management Century and Stewart H. Holbrook's The Age of the Moguls: The Story of the Robber Barons and the Great Tycoons. (obtaining a copy of it is well worth the effort.) In his book, Holbrook examines a number of "lords of capital" who, in his words, "made `deals' purchased immunity, and did other things which in 1860, or 1880, or even 1900, were considered no more than `smart' by their fellow Americans, but which today would give pause to the most conscientiously dishonest promoter....They were a motley crew, yet taken together they fashioned a savage and gaudy age as distinctively purple as that of imperial Rome, and infinitely more entertaining." The group Holbrook considers is divided into three categories: promoters, bankers, and industrialists, with merchants in the latter group. They include Jim Fisk, Jay Gould, Charlie Gates, Thomas William Lawson, Henry H. Rogers, Henry Morrison Flagler, and Samuel Insull; Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Cyrus McCormick, Philip D. Armour, Henry Clay Frick, Henry Ford, and the Du Ponts; also the Guggenheims, Andrew W. Mellon, James J. Hill, Edward Henry Harriman, Henry Villard, the first two Vanderbilts, and the Astors. Some of these names remain familiar in our own time; others do not. All were "tough-minded fellows, who fought their way encased in rhinoceros hides and filled the air with their mad bellowings and the cries of the wounded." A colorful lot indeed.

Holbrook's account of 19th century robber barons and great tycoons "sets the table" for the "feast" of information and analysis that Anthony Mayo and Nitin Nohria so skillfully provide.

I bought this book for one of my MBA courses. It is a great outline of business in America. I really enjoyed reading the book from the intro to the conclusion!

Gives good sense of American economy combined with history and the leaders who shaped the economy.
It gives excellent details about how the business leaders leveraged the environment (business context) to succeed.
It is very inspirational to anyone thinking of creating a business and dreaming of making it big.

This is an important read beyond the standard insights of Collins, Charan and others. The historical settings of each leader are detailed to set the traits and skills of each business leader in context of the social and economic realities of their times.

Get two copies and give one to someone you admire and start a conversation on how important the social and economic realities are to business.

This book explores how context, over time, creates different types of opportunities, and how business legends can be defined by the types of opportunities they pursued. What distinguishes this book from similar studies of legendary leaders, managers and entrepreneurs, is the underlying theme of contextual intelligence-the profound awareness and sensitivity to macro-level factors driving the creation, growth or transformation of business at a particular time. The authors discuss and assess the great names in business in the context of their time, organizing the book by decades, beginning in 1900 through the end of the last century. The book makes for fascinating,d enjoyable reading. This is a top-notch contribution to the study of those who have created and shaped business enterprises.

Actually, this is the fourth of a four-volume set of books written by Forrest Breyfogle III, with the first volume (The Integrated Enterprise Excellence System: An Enhanced, Unified Approach to Balanced Scorecards, Strategic Planning, and Business Improvement) providing an overview on the other three. Briefly, the IEE system is set of management techniques that when effectively implemented improve an organization's measurement and improvement system so that there is an increase in predictable and sustainable bottom-line benefits. The IEE system embeds a set of best practices derived from the strengths of past systems--applying structured metrics and a no nonsense roadmap to initiate process improvement and achieve substantial benefits. IEE takes Lean Six Sigma and the Balanced Scorecard to the next level in the pursuit of enterprise excellence.

In two earlier works that I read and then reviewed, Implementing Six Sigma, Second Edition: Smarter Solutions Using Statistical Methods (2003) and Managing Six Sigma: A Practical Guide to Understanding, Assessing, and Implementing the Strategy That Yields Bottom-Line Success (2000) co-authored with James Cupello and Becki Meadows, Breyfogle indicates that he is a pragmatic optimist in that he is determined to know what does and does not work (also why and why not) but he also believes that all human initiatives can be improved. He seems driven to share everything he has learned with as many people as possible. In my opinion, that is why his explanations are so specific and so thorough as well as anchored in real-world situations.

This book offers an excellent case in point. Apparently writing primarily for the individual who aspires to develop superior skills and competence in process improvement project management, Breyfogle organizes his material with meticulous care within seven Parts: Integrated Enterprise Management System and E-DMAIC (i.e. Enterprise Process Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control), Improvement Project Roadmap: Define Phase, Improvement Project Roadmap: Measure Phase, Improvement Project Roadmap: Analyze Phase, Improvement Project Roadmap: Improve Phase, Improvement Project Roadmap: Control Phase, and Appendix in which seven are provided (Infrastructure, Six Sigma Metrics Article, Creating Effective Presentations, P-DMAIC Execution Roadmap and Selected Drill Downs, P-DMAIC Execution Toll Gate Check Sheets, Implementation of Six Sigma (Breyfogle 2003) Supplemental Material, and Reference Tables) followed by a Glossary and References.

Breyfogle serves several functions in this as well as in each of the other three volumes in the IEE series. First, as a geographer, he is intimately familiar with the territory that his reader is about to explore. Also, as a cultural anthropologist, he fully understands the nature and extent of probably barriers, challenges, and (yes) perils that await once the process (i.e. "discovery journey") has begun. Moreover, as a cartographer and navigator, he can assist with formulating or revising all manner of "roadmaps" that will enable his reader (i.e. the "traveler") to proceed safely in a timely manner. Finally, as an adviser, he is well-qualified to provide counsel when (inevitably) decisions about adjustments, modifications, and even "detours" must be made.

In an article published last week (April 10, 2009), Breyfogle asserts that, relative to our financial crisis, "there seems to be an elephant in the room that is being avoided. It seems like much discussion about the financial crisis is focusing on greed and use of process improvement activities such tools as Lean and Six Sigma. There is also blog discussion by the Harvard Business Review (HBR) about how the business schools teachings are part of the problem. The real question that should be addressed is what should be done differently?" He acknowledges that there are several "elephant in the room" business management governance policies that nobody seems to openly talk about. For example, red--yellow-green scorecards that permit, indeed enable playing games with the numbers. Also, addition table of numbers, stacked bar charts, and pie charts are not leading to actions that truly fix problems and make long-lasting improvements. "Our business management system is broken and needs re-invention - NOW! What is needed is a business management system that integrates healthy policy creation with scorecards, strategic planning, business improvement efforts and control. A business management governance system that addresses these needs is the 9-step business system of the Integrated Enterprise Excellence (IEE)."

Of course, everything any decision-makers need to know and understand about this system is provided in the four-volume series. Breyfogle also invites his reader to check out the resources available at http://www.smartersolutions.com/blog/forrestbreyfogle/?p=711. Obviously, it remains for others to decide to what extent will guide and inform their own efforts to devise or reinvent their business management system but I do presume to suggest that it is worthy of their careful consideration.

Integrated Enterprise Excellence Volume III (IEEV3)is one volume of a three volume series - but as a standalone text, it is essentially a highly evolved sequel to the award-winning Implementing Six Sigma (ISS) books which were first published nearly a decade ago, in 1999. Although the second edition of ISS (2003) introduced a substantial amount of new reference material to the original book, it was still largely a handbook for implementation of conventional Lean/Six Sigma systems at the operational level. IEEV3 introduces new topics, new text, and new graphics to provide a significant step beyond both earlier ISS books in scope, structure and content.

Although both earlier books generally address the wise application of improvement systems and analytical tools to resolving business problems, the scope of IEEV3 has been broadened to acknowledge and more clearly define two distinct yet interdependent levels of study and improvement: the operational level and the enterprise level.

IEEV3 takes the position that to focus on specific operational process improvements without consideration of effects throughout the enterprise can result in suboptimization of results if not counterproductive unintended consequences. To be effective, operational level improvement projects must derive from the study of enterprise level "top down" requirements that consider the needs of the entire enterprise.

At the outset, IEEV3 reviews the limitations of traditional improvement systems and methods and describes how, using the principles of IEE, established project improvement tools - like DMAIC and TOC- can be combined with innovative analytical methods for enterprise level goal setting and measurement to avoid problems and enhance performance.

The main body of the book walks the reader through a detailed DMAIC project level execution (P-DMAIC) roadmap using the enhanced measurement and scorecard techniques of IEE. It also includes extensive discussions on essential project management techniques: building team effectiveness, encouraging creativity, and how to document and present resulting improvements.

The Appendix includes additional concepts that are used in the enterprise process or project execution roadmap steps, including drill downs, check sheets, and reference tables.

In summary, Volume III of the new series is an expanded sequel to Forrest's previous award winning book - Implementing Six Sigma . It focuses on meeting the demanding business challenges of the 21st Century and avoiding the unintended consequences of earlier implementations. It provides additional analytical tools and a new, expanded and improved practical roadmap for successful implementation of Lean Six Sigma and the DMAIC process at the operational level, orchestrated to align with business needs and support the attainment of meaningful enterprise level goals.

Integrated Enterprise Excellence Vol. III is one of Forrest's best books that must be read by anyone who is seriously thinking to implement Lean Six Sigma, and it is also an excellent reference book for those who jobs entail the start and sustaining continuous improvement initiatives. This books presents and describes in detail a road map of DMAIC process that, if it is followed and the tools presented used, will lead to success.

Integrated Enterprise Excellence Volume III fuses enterprise strategy with operational execution. In the most comprehensive step-by-step Lean Six Sigma manual on the market today, this 1,100+ page guide is the perfect companion aid for any engineer, technology or business student, consultant, project manager or Lean Six Sigma practitioner who is serious about their career advancement and driving enterprise excellence in their company.

From business strategy and balanced scorecards to project management steps and detailed design of experiments, this is one of the most important handbooks on business performance improvement.
- Frank Shines, former IBM Principal and Director of Industriaplex

If anyone wants to understand how process management works on an enterprise level, this is the book to get. If anyone wants to know the future look of Six Sigma, this is the book to get. If anyone want to understand Lean principles and how they should work, this is the book to get. Forrest Breyfogle has been one of the most proflilic writers in the world of Six Sigma and process improvement. Even people who are afraid of math and statistics will understand the value of the tools and techniques that he writes about. His crisp style and many examples help the reader to understand the fundamentals and the outcomes of using these approaches to business excellence.
Every Six Sigma practitioner should have this book.

Good old fashioned ethics seem to be in short supply today. This book makes the case that doing the right thing for your customers and employees is good for business. Although focused on the hospitality industry, the message and the examples are interesting and pertinent for all types of businesses. An enjoyable read that provides lots to think on.

Usually issues like integrity, honesty and ethical conduct are considered things that derive from personal standards and values. Almost every MBA program or advanced degree in business has the obligatory nod in this direction through the inclusion of some form of class on ethics. Through that medium is conveyed the obligatory case studies of Enron and other spectacular failures that testify to the high price paid when corporate greed and expediency rise above basic rules of ethical conduct.

Tony Simons approaches things from a more grass roots and practical direction however. Rather than the abstract appeal to doing right for its own sake that is usually the domain of religion and other moral institutionalize value systems, Simons very simply ties these issues to day to day management and the bottom line.

With very little fanfare and in an organized and scientific manner Simons prefaces the anecdotal presentations that are standard fare for a book of this nature with a study that demonstrates that within the Hotel Service industry there is a direct correlation between the perceived integrity of management and the profitability of a local hotel or chain. In other words, the "street knowledge" that good guys don't get ahead and it's the people willing to cut corners to get the job done who win out in the end, generally is not true and Simon's study statistically demonstrates that issues such as employee morale, vendor trust and customer satisfaction derive in part from a corporate environment that is based in part upon how well these different parties perceive the personal integrity and word of leadership.

From this foundation then, Simons proceeds to share the softer elements turned up in his study in a manner reminiscent of the folksy, chatty type of literature that is standard fare in this genre. What is different however and important to highlight is that Simons has in fact already done the heavy lifting in chapter 1 to show that this is more than mere lip service. A reasonable foundation has been laid that demonstrates that personal integrity, as perceived by these different stakeholders in the Hotel Service industry, ties directly to profitability in a manner that allows of measure of what typically are seen as "soft costs" but in reality are shown to be cumulative and to tie into issues that in fact are hard wired into the process, such as employee retention, vendor willingness to work with extraordinary circumstances right down to customer satisfaction and repeat business even where these background factors aren't usually measured and directly correlated.

Of course, it can be argued that this study is industry specific and these factors perhaps amplified in such an obviously service based industry such as the Hotel and Restaurant focus from which Simons is coming. Simons does an excellent job however of reasonably expanding the base of his study to provide insights and strong cause and effect evidence that extend to where any level of management or leadership in any industry will find value in reading this well written book.

This book is more valuable to the reader than the typical case studies of large scale failures at the high corporate level because it demonstrates in an understandable way how these issues impact your personal effectiveness and your company's bottom line to where a reader will walk away not only motivated but also equipped as to how to bring about change in their personal lives and careers.

5 enthusiastic stars

Bart Breen

This is the most important leadership book I've kept within arm's reach in a long time. Integrity has been around for a while and it's often been included as part of a great leadership toolkit, but Tony Simons has brought it to the forefront, dedicating an entire body of work to it, making the development and application of integrity accessible to all of us in an easy-to-read book packed with practicality, proof and purpose.

This book brings together compelling and pragmatic evidence, anecdotes and advice in one place. The exercises at the end of each chapter are simple yet well thought-out, giving leaders and their teams something tangible to work with right away.

Tony Simons has taken the discipline of integrity, often considered an "add on" after the more basic business needs are met, and showed us that it is in fact the primary need to establish effective leadership and sound, sustainable results.

I have already recommended this book to a number of clients and associates. As a leadership coach and consultant, I continually come across situations in organizations where leaders and their teams struggle with the destructive effects of being out of integrity; this book is exactly what the doctor ordered. Instead of spending months, if not years, trying to uncover the importance and impact of integrity in the workplace, this book does much of the heavy-lifting, providing both the proof and the pudding.

I strongly recommend The Integrity Dividend to anyone who is responsible for leading others in any capacity. It will equip you with the permission, evidence and road-map to lead --and live--with greater integrity.

The book presents material that is original and creative in a well organized fashion. It is unique in that it encompasses theory backed up by practice. The book is well written and easily understandable. It is a must read for anyone interested in leading a dynamic organization.

So, it CAN be done! So often, prescriptive books for managers offer little in the way of sound theory or a basis in sound science. Similarly, books with a research base seldom translate into advice that managers can use. "The Integrity Dividend" offers that delicate balance on a topic that is intuitively and empirically critical to organizational success. Simply stated, it's the sizzle and the steak.
Simons takes the necessary time to introduce the topic of Behavioral Integrity, relating it to other concepts that all managers and executives acknowledge as important. He then goes beyond the typical management author to offer evidence for the unique contribution made by Behavioral Integrity, and then explores the causes and consequences of being perceived as not "walking your talk". Interestingly, this perception can be assigned to individuals (i.e., one's boss) as well as groups (i.e., "this organization's management" or politicians).
So often, people do not realize how often their actions do not align with their words, and Simons' presents a compelling argument for understanding that tendency. The consequences not only affect attitudes of subordinates, but also have a very real impact on performance and other "hard" outcomes like turnover and absenteeism (and I would suspect theft and social loafing).
Other insights offered by Simons, such as improving one's perceived Behavioral Integrity by focusing on personal discipline, the impact of management "fads" on BI, and the notion of "trickle-down" behavioral integrity (where subordinates tend to mimic their supervisor's level of BI) are particularly interesting. The topics in this book begin an important dialogue that will likely lead to applying BI in unique environments (i.e., military), and in other areas (i.e., what about downward-directed perceptions of subordinate BI?).
I'm sold on the topic, I'm impressed by the research supporting it, and I value the prescriptive recommendations. Well done.

Great job! Easy read, and gives me some practical tips for the customer service group in our organization. Important, timely, solid.

Great read from Mr. Willingham! "Integrity Selling" was the first book from Mr. Willingham that I read and it was a fabulous read! "Integrity Service" the service solutions in this book are fundamental to the success in small business and corporate environment success! Mr. Willingham has a way of writing the material, so anyone can understand and know how to put the solutions into practice.

A great read. I have just finished Ron Willingham's book, "The People Principle", and expected good things, was not disappointed. He makes the difficult process of working with different types of people easy to understand. Good material for the new service/sales employee, or the seasoned veteran. A management team could go through each chapter on a regular basis with their employees as a learning process.

Jim Hinshaw
Ft. Collins, CO

The most effective professional sales training I've ever introduced to any organization is Ron Willingham's Integrity Selling. Now we have a new beacon in the field of customer service. If you are tired of the vacant stares, indifferent attitudes and nearly hostile treatment you receive as a consumer of goods and services, this book will help. However, if you own or operate a business, division or department, this book will revolutionize your role in front of your customers. Each of the dozen chapter titles tells you and your team what you should be doing, but the real wisdom is in the pages where you are told HOW to meet, greet and serve customers as they want.

This book avoids the platitudes, the simplistic mantras and the repetition of old knowledge. Instead, you get a fresh and appealing notion of what it takes to meet and serve your fellow man. If that isn't your overriding perspective in the work world, you must read this book in order to survive. If you already share the servant's attitude with those around you, this will reinforce your methods in profound ways. An excellent resource!

What a great book! Integrity Service has so much more than your typical "how to" book on customer service. Ron Willingham takes the reader deep into valuing, listening, and really understanding the customer. Be careful! You may come away from this book with not only a thorough knowledge of customer service, but also profound personal growth.

I bought the first edition of this in 1991 & it is brilliant - and accurate. I have spent much of my career working for US companies that continue to make the most basic mistakes when dealing with "aliens", such as the need to exert power & control, authoritation vs persuasion. One of the basics - which I'd like to see Dr Adler cover - is the assumption that because some other countries also speak English that American behaviours & assumptions apply in those countries. The book also has a secondary advantage that it could be read as a "how to do foreign policy" book for the US, given Gulf 2 issues with say Europe.

Essential reading for anyone that really wants to be global & not just multi-national.

This book is very scientific, deep and practical. Simply great. I'm a Psychologist, Business Consultant for Multinational Corporations and is absolutely useful

I had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Adler in the early 1970's, when she was a young Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz and I was an undergraduate majoring in psychology. Dr. Adler was brilliant and is one of the most influential teachers I ever had. It was obvious she had an extraordinary and successful career ahead of her. After getting my B.A., I deserted psychology for the Yale Law School, and lost contact with Dr. Adler, but I never forgot her. Earlier this year, I discovered a box of my old college papers in storage, including my work with Dr. Adler, and googled her to see what she'd ended up doing with her career. I found this extraordinary book, among many other things. Although essentially a "lay" person not working in this area, I found the book very accessible and fascinating--hardly a surprise. I strongly recommend it.

I have had the pleasure of using Adler's book for several years now. Simply put, it is far more enjoyable to read than the average textbook and is packed with useful information for those wanting to learn.

Adler does a superb job of addressing the various dimensions of culture. She explains culture quite clearly and makes many connections to management practice. But maybe what I like best is that Adler goes beyond explaining. Each chapter contains vignettes discussing different cultural experiences. The short descriptions are interesting and lively. I have also noticed that the quantity and quality of vignettes has improved in the fourth edition.

Overall, the scope of this book seems quite thorough. National culture, workplace behavior across cultures, communication differences across cultures, creating synergy, multicultural teamwork and negotiation, global leadership, and the expat experience are all discussed. My favorite chapters tend to be early in the book (culture, teamwork, and synergy). It appears that these areas represent the author's greatest strength. The research informing each chapter is thorough and quite up-to-date. Maybe the weakest chapter, in my view, is chapter three which deals with communication. I suspect that maybe the author steps a bit beyond her expertise and is not able to touch on the deeper issues of cross-cultural communication (as she touches on the deeper issues in teamwork or other chapters). The result is a good chapter and sound discussion that maybe lacks the richness found in other parts of the book. She sets the standard so high in other chapters and I was hoping for the same here.

I have used this text for several years in intercultural management courses for undergraduate business students. The students seem to enjoy the book and encourage me to keep using it. I guess that is the highest praise we can give any text--students like it.

Nancy Adler presents a good overview on the topics in international HR Management. It is great as a textbook for class and a perfect starting point for novices who want to get into inter. HRM. The book is not overwhelmingly deep, but it is concise and has an efficient way of conveying the main concepts of culture and communication, synergy, teams, leadership, negotiations. Adler writes well making it easy to understand what she means and a fast read. She uses small cases to illustrate each problem she addresses, which are sometimes a little bit too simplistic for non-students. For me, a great advantage of the book is the comprehensive lists of references per chapter. This makes it easy to go further in topics I am especially interested in. The critique a have with almost all "international version" textbooks is, that it explicitly addresses Americans.

This book makes for some very compelling reading. It is not often that I read a book that delivers the goods... but these authors have nailed it. It uses both traditional and dot com companies to illustrate ways any company can leverage the Internet to gain customers at substantially reduced costs. This book has everything you need to implement a successful e-mail campaign. From how to identify good email lists to how to create the right message. Including dos and don'ts, front-end tips and back end response analysis. Has just the right balance of technical and practical information. I am a marketing manager working for a 'Fortune 500' company. The information in this book cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars to find out. Some things are so important, I wish I thought of them myself or discovered them sooner. I can't wait to try some of these techniques out and see the effect on my next campaign. I am recommending this book to everyone I know. Buy it!

These authors know their stuff. They've been very instrumental in helping Ancestry.com grow to over 320,000 paid subscribers over the past 18 months. Email Marketing is now one of our largest sources of subscriptions. I recommend this book for both beginner and expert alike.

I bought this book because I know the authors by reputation. My company was a traditional mail order company. We used to sell all of our products through our printed catalog. The Internet has changed all of that. Half our budget is now dedicated to e-mail marketing.

I applied the Author's recommendations and saw my e-mail response rates take off. On the most recent campaign, I saw a 247% lift in response resulting from the use of just one of their techniques.

The book is written in very clear and concise language. It's methodical and step-by-step method worked wonders for my company's program. I've read all the other books currently on the market, they just don't compare. If you're new to e-mail marketing or a serious pro, this book has information that you can put to use right away.

The tips and tricks in creating an e-mail program were dead on. I especially liked the chapters on the type of products that can be sold via the Internet and the characteristics of a successful Internet Buyer. The "Multi-Mailing" idea alone was worth the price of the book.

***** FIVE STARS***** Excellent..... If you are an executive looking for information on how email marketing will impact your business, you'll want to read this book.

If you want to know how the pros are using email marketing buy this book.

It details the differences between opt in permission based lists, and SPAM, and how to avoid the pitfalls that can literally kill your business. It comes complete with information on where you can find the best email lists and email marketing services in the business.

It identifies the different types of copy, formatting, text Vs HTML, rich media, etc, and provides insight into which may be best for your business. I've been asking everyone about timing of our messages. No one was able to give me a clear answer that made any sense. This book gave me great insight into the time and day that is best for me to do my email transmissions... and the auothor's information produced immediate positive results for us.

Aside from the practical knowledge, I also liked this book because the author's share the latest thinking about where this medium is going, and what steps to take today to make sure that your business reaps the rewards of the future.

This book is not just for dot comers. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone involved in the sales and marketing of their company's products and services.

This book is now the definitive resource on email marketing.

Any book that Bob Bly is associated with is bound to be good--no, great! And this one is no exception.

The author explores this new, exciting medium we call email and uncovers its powerful potential for direct response selling. It leads you through the basic techniques of marketing through email. What works and what doesn't. Most importantly, it steers you clear of potential pitfalls inherent in this new medium--like how to avoid spamming, etc..

A great book on email marketing that is thorough, timely, and bound to become a classic in its field.

Amor provides a very good book about upcoming technologies. It also provides a good outlook on the relevant services that can be expected from these technologies. One minor issue is that he also explains technologies like GSM and SMS and not only the hype stuff like wireless lan and G3. The second part of the book is even more interesting, because it provides four scenarios that give good insight on how the world will look like in a few years time.

Daniel Amor provides a very innovative way of presenting technologies and business cases of the future. Instead of describing Technology on a technology level and Business on a business level, he provides cases, which are easy to understand and include architecture blueprints for both, Technology and Business. Anyone that is interested in understanding the future of the Internet will be able to do so, both laypeople and professionals.

After his first book, The E-Business (R)Evolution, Daniel Amor created a new book in the same style as the first one. Instead of talking too much about technology and businesses, he created scenarios, which incorporate technology and business cases and put both of them into context. The book is of interest for people that want to develop new ideas on the Internet. I am eagerly awaiting the next book.

Daniel Amor provides a short introduction to the future that is about to happen. He provides some insight into new technologies, but more important into new business cases. He even provides simple ROI calculations, which is great. I am a professor at university and can use these cases with my students. A pity that there are only four in the book, but I found two more on his web site for free. Good work, keep it up!

Pervasive computing is a concept that is so broad, so inclusive, that it is hard to define. From the readily appreciated idea of personal digital assistants that are hooked up to the internet via digital cell phones to cars with GPS devices that tell computers where they are and receive back data on avoiding traffic jams, the potential for the field is vast. And exciting.

Daniel Amor, an internet expert who works for Hewlett Packard in Germany, has put together a beautifully written, elegantly thought out book on what pervasive computing will be. He covers a huge territory from the web today to the migration of wired services to wireless space: mobile architecture, mobile apps, home automation, business automation, services to be, and structures to be.

There are imaginative case studies of services that pervasive computing will permit: web-based reporting of credit card theft, objects with tiny chips reporting their whereabouts to police when stolen, even toothbrushes with medical diagnostic chips reporting to a user or a dentist what is wrong with the user's teeth.

The last case suggests the current problem with pervasive computing. The technology to make it happen exists, but users have not demanded anything like it. The talking refrigerator that orders more milk is widely ridiculed. Do we want a toothbrush to call a dentist? Socks to call a podiatrist to report a case of athlete's foot? An antacid pill that could report to an physician?

The solution is to have third party administration of all this intimate data, Mr. Amor says. Many would disagree, suggesting that the cure is not to collect it at all. Currently, wireless security is not as strong as hardwired network security can be. And even that is fragile, given advances in password cracking.

In a developing world of wireless services, pervasive computing is likely to grow in unpredictable ways. At the threshold of this new world, Daniel Amor's Internet Fuure Strategies has done a masterful job of mapping what may be. His work is superb, his insights often remarkable. If pervasive computing is part of your work, get the book.

The book serves as a brisk review of the most common internet laws. These laws, such as, for example: I.P., DMCA, privacy and security laws, slander and libel, contracts, etc., must be well understood by almost anyone involved in operating a website. The cost of not knowing of what is legal or where liability ends can cost a fortune.

The book does well as a quick reference or internet law primer with a few injunctions brought up for further clarification. But I would not recommend the book for those who need detailed analysis of any internet law.

The book ends with ten likely legal oversights that could shutdown your website, a glossary, and a forms appendix, a privacy and acceptable use policy, and contractual agreements that you are free to use for your own company.

This book is so helpful. It put my worries to rest right away. I do not have time to research how internet laws will effect my business and that's ok because this book covers all the bases. It is a great help to anyone doing business over the internet.

I currently manage an E-Commerce travel business and am very impressed with the information Mr. Trout has provided. I found the information very insightful and helpful in terms of avoiding any type of legal situations or protecting our rights. The sample policies were especially of great value to me. I highly recommend this book for all Internet related businesses.

After hearing Mr. Trout speak recently at a seminar, I decided to order his book. It contains a great deal of helpful information on Internet laws, and a valuable Glossary of terms. Mr. Trout obviously knows his subject very well.

How rare to find a book about a complex topic that clearly, precisely, and effectively illuminates the darker corners of a new continent just now being strung with lights. Mr. Trout's book is easy to read, but not naive; clear without being facile; and, most importantly, useful without the clutter that often incapacitates resources whose primary goal is to navigate technical material. Need expert advice from an experienced and successful attorney? Turn to "Internet Laws" for guidance.