Companies Books

This book is a great overview for someone just beginning to think about starting a business venture, but it seemed to be more focused towards the needs of a large venture, rather than a small business. It covered a lot that I thought would not be applicable to the type of business I want to start -- a small town retail shop where I plan to run the business myself and will not hire executives or get funding from investors (other than probably a local bank or the SBA). Perhaps this just shows my ignorance of what owning a small business is about, though!

I also have to express my disagreement with his comments regarding attorneys. (Disclosure: I am currently an associate at a big law firm.) It sounds like he happened to get some bad attorneys. For what it's worth, my thoughts, based on my own observations of attorneys at large and small firms (my own firms and opposing firms), are this: (1) I don't think his experiences reflect the services provided by all large law firms -- I think the quality of services you get depends on whether you hire a good INDIVIDUAL attorney, not law firm, (2) you are much more likely to have someone "learn on your dime" at a small firm than a large one simply because attorneys at large firms do a lot more business and specialize in certain areas and therefore become more experienced with matters that arise in those areas, (3) most small firm attorneys will NOT be as great as the ones he found, and (4) most partners are so distracted by bringing in business and a million other things that associates are much more likely to focus on your deal, keep things moving quickly, and actually pay attention to the details. I think the ideal arrangement for a small business owner is to find a good associate who has a good partner to ask for guidance on big issues when needed. I just don't think it's fair to generalize that all big firm attorneys are terrible and negligent with small clients, or that associates are all clueless and learning on your dime. (I can provide proof in the form of reviews from my large and small business clients!) That all being said, there are some fantastic attorneys at small shops and if you find one, you will pay much less for their services. My best advice on finding a good attorney (whether at a large firm or a small firm) is to get referrals from other business owners.

The Entrepreneur's Notebook by Gold offer an enthusing reading for anyone interested in knowing the fundementals of starting a new business venture with the least amount of mistakes. This is why I liked this book:
1. Uses real life examples from the author's own experience to explain entrepreneurship and the mistakes not to make when starting a new business.
2. Uses very simple analogies (I love the chapter on cash flow).
3. Very easy to follow and explains the different entrepreneurial personalities in great detail.

I did not like this book for the following reasons:
1. This book is not universal and most of the chapters apply to entrepreneurship in the US only. Although the first chapters are applicable to any entrepreneur, the ending chapters are rigid and US specific.

Final Verdict: Still a valuable buy but more applicable to US entrepreneurs rather than Entrepreneurship in general.

Steven gives great illustrations to drive home his insightful advice for entrepreneurs. As he's "been there, done that," we can take his advice to heart in the hopes of becoming a success like him!

Great book for getting ready to open a new business. Would refer to anyone thinking about opening a business.

Gold goes far beyond the typical "here's the difference between a C Corporation and an LLC" to explain not only the nuts-and-bolts of finding business partners, forming a company, marketing your products/services, and writing a business plan, but also--and perhaps even more importantly--how to *think about* being an entrepreneur and how to make the critical decisions that can make or break any new venture in its early stages. And he does this not only from the point of view of someone who has studied and taught business (although he does fit the bill on both of these fronts), but as someone who has successfully started and run several businesses.

For example, he not only points out the need to put together a team, but explains how to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses and how to identify complementary team members who are most likely to work together as a cohesive unit. He not only explains the importance of finding the right corporate lawyer for your company, he also provides concrete--and nonintuitive--advice for how to avoid picking the *wrong* one. He doesn't merely repeat the mantras of "find your niche" and "focus on your core competency," he explains how to translate your "big idea" into a finely-honed business plan based on analysis of both your company's strengths and weaknesses and the market in which it will operate.

I highly recommend this book to anyone thinking about starting a business who wants to avoid common pitfalls and start off on the right foot with the "entrepreneur's mindset" and plenty of concrete strategies for success.

This book has practical advice. And the recipes are pretty darn good, and amazingly inexpensive. He relies heavily on beans and canned tomatoes and lots of spices, so the food is interesting in flavor, color, and texture. Most recipes also make a LOT, so that you can have extras to freeze for later dinners or take some to work in your lunch. This not only saves your eating plan, but softens the blow to your pocketbook that eating out entails. We have not found too many recipes yet, that we dislike. Most are very delicious and filling and are even better the next day. This book was indeed worth the purchase price; equal amounts of advice and recipes. Well done!

I think any one concerned about their health should take a look at this book. The recipes are great too.

I started researching this topic about 2 years ago when my 35 year old husband became violently sick one night, he went the next morning for a blood test and his triglycerides were over 1800. They should be around 150 for a normal person. My husband has what Dr. Murkin calls Diabetic genes (all of his siblings and father suffer from high tri's & cholesterol). His HDL was 20 and his cholesterol was 400. After 2 weeks on Murkin, tricor and niacin he's bloods were in a good range. Since my husband & I prefer not to take medicine, he dropped the niacin and tricor after about a month. His bloods remained low with just the Murkin Diet. He began cheating about 6 months ago and spiraled out of control, a recent blood test showed tri's up above 2000. We are back on the diet in a big way and we will never go off of it again. I highly recommend this book!!

I edit cookbooks for a living, and this is one of my favorites from which to cook. If a strict fat-free diet isn't necessary for you, modify as I do by saut?eing veggies in a little olive oil, and feel free to improvise with substitutes. But this book is solid and full of creative, colorful food and wonderful flavor combinations.

Fat Free, Flavor Full is the book where Dr Mirkin lays down the thought and the science behind his 20-gram/ "20/30" plan. If a Mirkin book has been recommended to you by a doctor, this is the book to read (get it from the library if you must, but do get it). He lays out his story, explains why genuinely low-fat diet is important, and the links between high fat and disease. I cannot recommend this book enough for those with high cholesterol, who have typeII diabetes, or TypeII runs in their family.

For most Americans it requires a bit of a seachange in eating habits, but it's well worth it. With the right foods, you can lose weight while eating as much as you want(I work in a very physically demanding job, build up a whale of an appetite, and teeny portions of food are simply NOT going to cut it!).

His tone can be a bit magisterial at times and I personally don't share his dislike for soybean products, but the science and reasoning behind this book are undeniable. If you are serious about losing extra weight and living healthier, get this book. Read it, absorb it, make the change, and live better.

I love this book. It was "the book" when I was growing up. My grandmother read from it to us all of the time . Great memories!~ Highly recommended.

This large collection of poems is absolutely great! I love poems I don't have to work at to understand - just enjoyable, fun, nostalgic reading. I wanted to surprise a friend that remembered having a book of poetry as a child that included both Custard the Dragon and Little Orphan Annie. This is the only book I could find with both. And now I treasure it as well. I hope to have to buy more copies for my grandkids someday!!

I have had this book for years, ever since my family was very young. I purchased it myself. We spent many an evening sitting on the front porch with neighborhood children reading the poetry. The funniest time was when we had a neighbor from Japan read Jabberwocky. I remember that to this day. I think she laughed the hardest. There is a poem there for everyone. Now I bought the book for my grandchildren. One in particular loves and writes poetry, and I feel this will give her a chance to read all kinds of poetry. That is who I bought this last book for. It is a family book.

Great collection of poems for read aloud to younger children and for older children, copy and memeory work.

As a homeschooling mother, I have searched for several years to find just the right poetry book. I have children ranging in age from 6-19, and wanted a wealth of poems that would span the broad age range. This book contains over seven hundred poems - so every time we open the book, we discover new treasures. We especially like the rhythm and rhyme that so many of the poems have. Although the book is organized by themes, it is indexed by title, author, and even first lines, so we can easily find our favorites the next time. If you only have space or money to buy one poetry book, this is the one!

This is yet another book about dieting!!

It says that Diets are bad, they don't work etc etc etc etc but then offers it's own opinions on how to cut back which effectively make this a diet!

I found the tone very pretentious and the lady clearly has her own problems which she is pushing on the reader.

The fact is if you eat less calories you lose weight, if you eat more calories you put on weight, there is no secret!! So when the writer starts labelling everyone then people start believing that they have a problem whereas most of the time they haven't.

A painful read and I recommend you spend the money on a book with some healthy low fat recipes and lose weight properly!!

If your ready to say no more dieting and say hello to No-Diet Fitness.. this book is for you. Its a must read!!!!!

I own every diet/weight loss/fitness book known to man AND I've wasted thousands of dollars on various diets, prescription diet pills and alternative treatments for my weight. I've battled bulimia, starved myself, gone on all liquid diets, acupuncture, weight watchers - you name it! Nothing has worked long term. Now I know why. Pyatt lays it all out for you in plain english. I felt like she had witnessed my entire life and wrote this book especially for me!

Everything is addressed in this book - Unrealistic expectations set up by the media, medical issues, how not to pass the food obsession on to your children. She helps to take away the guilt without giving excuses. No more diets doesn't mean more weight gain. So don't worry. She's not trying to make you be happy with an overweight and unhealthy body.

Even though she does say that MY medical condition (PCOS) does require a diet with certain restrictions to achieve any kind of weight loss (bummer), I wish I had this book when I was 13 years old. It would have saved me alot of grief and I'd probably be a healthier more fit person today.

I'm planning on buying a copy of this book for all my friends and loved ones that have been and are going through the same thing. I may even buy an extra copy to give to my doctor and a few to leave in his waiting room!

Heck, I might even take up a collection to hire a fleet of helicopters to drop a few copies over every junior high and high school in the United States!

My fiance bought this book for me as a gift and I have been grateful ever since.I am on his account so the review will appear with his name, which is why I signed underneath.

This book changed my entire outlook on life, not just my weight. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of dieting that was causing me severe depression and a general lack of appreciation towards my entire existence. This book taught me to look at myself in the mirror and know that I am beautiful, and that there is so much more to life then food.

I think the best piece of advice is to really tell yourself that you can eat, anything you want whenever you want, then you just stop craving food and start having a healthy relationship with it.

I don't know what to say, now that food is slowly taking up the space it should be in my life (less space!), I have so much more energy and passion towards a lot of other things, so thanks wendy. one of my wishes in life now is; may every girl or guy who has struggled with their weight read this book and start to love themselves like they should!!

and wendy...thank you

-dalia

I first read a blurb about Dr. Pyatt's book in a fitness magazine. I was intrigued and, as a medical writer, wanted to learn more. So, with an editor's blessing, I arranged an interview with Dr. Pyatt and wrote a feature story about the work she has done throughout her life to help both men and women find their way back from the chaos created by dieting and disordered eating in response to the messages society bombards us with every day. We can never be thin enough. Thus, we are not "good enough." It's a vicious cycle, and difficult to break.

Dr. Pyatt's voice, in person and throughout her book, is encouraging, gentle, supportive, and wise. She does NOT ignore nutrition, potential medical problems, or the necessity for regular exercise. Neither does she leave readers feeling that if they DON'T exercise, they are "bad." In a world full of diet- and weight-related myths, "Fed Up" is a volume of common sense.

The method may be frightening at first to those of us who have been "brainwashed" from our youngest days--admonished for being overweight, perpetually dieting, falling prey to the promises of every new "program" that comes down the pike. It's hard to let go of the fear of NOT dieting, and Dr. Pyatt knows this. But by turning to her book again and again, readers will find that they gradually learn to accept their bodies, to set more realistic goals, and to stand up against the impossible expectations of a society obsessed with anorexic ideals.

As for myself, I have lost and gained weight time and again. I have re-read this book three times. Last night, I completed the questionnaire in Chapter 4 for the third time, and was extremely happy to see that my highly negative body image and damaging weight obsession has significantly decreased in intensity. I don't expect 40 years of brainwashing (and dieting from the age of 7) to go away overnight. I just want to live a life free from constant obsessing about food and weight and how I look. This is the peace of mind that Dr. Pyatt offers, through the process she outlines in "Fed Up."

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to any man or woman who 1)is tired of endless, futile dieting; 2)wants to lose (or gain) weight; and 3) wants to take a stand against the unrealistic messages and expectations of our weight-obsessed society.

I had the honor of taking a pendulum class from Ramon Grace in August of 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida. He is an awesome teacher...and this book is like having him in the same room with you telling his stories. I learned a lot from his class and this book served as an excellent refresher for me. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in dowsing.

Some great information presented in a refreshingly simple and unassuming manner. Definitely one book I'll reference again and again!

In a field so top-heavy with wannabe gurus, spiritual advisors, people who 'know' what others ought to do with their spiritual lives and precisely how they should do it, Raymon Grace is a breath of fresh air.

He's an humble, unassuming man who knows his role and does his best to pass on his quiet wisdom without spamming, chest pounding proclamations and pronouncements, New Age evangelism.

I recommend Raymon, his books, his approach to metaphysics, his work of any kind to readers, wonderers, wanderers, and all others who don't believe they yet know everything there is to learn about the workings of the self, the Universe, the position of humanity in the overall scheme of things.

We could all learn much from Raymon Grace, and we'd all be doing ourselves a great favor by doing so.

I really enjoy this authors attitude and approach toward energy work. This book skims the surface and makes me want to know more. I intend to own more of his work.

The purpose of this book is to encourage you to use your mind power essentially by intending the outcome you desire to experience. The style of the book is conversational, dynamic, open ended, which makes it particularly refreshing. You are encouraged to experiment and explore.
The author provides numerous examples from his experience and from experiences of other people of using the power of intent for healing, changing financial situation, removing obstacles and transforming the energy whether in people, places or situations, increasing energy, and much more.

I have been likewise using and experimenting with mind power all my life, and some of techniques I used are similar to the author's, some are different, but I have totally enjoyed reading this book because in the author's desire to experiment with just about anything, I feel I have found a kindred spirit. The only way to learn, to develop proficiency in using mind power, regardless of the tools and techniques used, is by doing it - by doing something and discovering what happens. The author repeats it over and over throughout the book and I totally agree with it.

At the end of the book, the author has added - in the Appendix - Dick Sutphen's talk "The Battle for Your Mind" which revolves around different brainwashing techniques. The talk starts well delineating the elements of brainwashing as used by different organizations and institutions and then it goes into describing few techniques related to persuasion and influence (there are many, many more) and the article with this talk begins to sound paranoid because the moment you dare to relax your mind, someone will mess up with it. He mentions in one breath that the spiritual purpose of a human being is finding True Self, but at the same time sounds terrified of the idea of stilling the mind so that this True Self can emerge into his conscious awareness. Until he is willing to still his mind, he will be forever seeking and never finding, because the True Self is experienced beyond the thoughts, beyond the mind. What Dick Sutphen didn't seem to realize at the time he made that talk is that we are always influencing each other with our thoughts, words and behavior and that the way of choosing your life and exercising your freedom begins with choosing your thoughts and living consciously. Unless you choose your thoughts for yourself, someone else will do it for you.

There is a little bit more to miracles than merely intending them - and that is an awareness that we are immersed in an ocean of intelligent energy, of Spirit, or whatever you like to call it, and not only immersed by also made out of and that everything else is made out of this intelligent energy - and when we use intent we are consciously working with this intelligent energy. The greater awareness you have of this ocean of boundless energy and the greater friendship, the more intimate relationship you have with it by communing with it daily, the more you can do with it.

Dove into this after enjoying Pedersen's wonderfully heartbreaking but humorous novel "Last Call." Now we move from Brooklyn, NY, to the Midwest. Anyone who has ever been a teenager or attempted to raise one will love "Going Away Party," which sums up so many of the conflicts inherent in coming of age today. Technology and the high cost of education have changed the landscape and not always for the better. It also contains a romance with an age difference that serves to show how our perspective on life changes as we mature. What I especially enjoyed was that drugs, abuse, and violence were not needed to make the passage to adulthood dramatic and fraught. It's angst filled enough without those and Pedersen also uses deft humor to keep things moving toward a surprising and touching ending.

Wow, this really is a really hilarious version of that movie "Lost In Translation," though the book came out a few years before the movie. What was most interesting to me was that you can read nothing into it and just enjoy the story and the one-liners, or you can read A LOT into it, about life and love and coping in the modern world. I'd be interested in hearing the author's intention. I enjoyed the book and my 16-year-old daughter not only loved it but won't give it back.

This is definitely a riotous "Lost In Translation," though I see from the date that this book came first. And there's no Tokyo, just the good old American midwest. But it's a wonderful tale about two peple meeting in (very) unusual circumstances and searching for meaning in their lives. All the Catholic girl guilt resonated deeply -- dating on Saturday night and then going to church on Sunday morning. And also the boys in the family always being allowed more freedom. I had no idea how Pedersen was going to wind this one up but she managed to do so nicely, complete with suprises and laughter. Every mother will want her daughter to read this book in order to demonstrate that we're not as bad as you think!

I first read this book a few years ago but when I saw the movie "Lost In Translation" the other night I couldn't believe the similarity and went back and enjoyed it a second time. I didn't like the movie as much as all the reviewers but I'll see anything with Bill Murray. HOWEVER, for all the people saying how good that movie is, GOING AWAY PARTY is also a story about two dislocated adults, a young woman and an older man, that takes place in the US Midwest. Only tt is laugh-out-loud funny on almost every page and has a terrific ending.

Great take on the conflicts of being a young person and trying to follow the rules set down by your parents, the guidelines of your religion, and the expectations of society. Terrific dialogue and a surprise ending. Laugh-out-loud funny!

The titanic battles of the Great War on the Western front are probably well known to most readers of this review. Much has been written (and rewritten) and analyzed (and overanalyzed) about the Somme, Verdun, Ypres. Given the relative numbers of troops and the distance from the main action, the events in Africa can seem to be of little importance. The story of the fighting in Africa during the Great War contains no less heroism or bravery shown by many participants, and the actions of General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck are still mentioned amongst the greatest campaigns fought by any general at any time. Throw in a few harrowing and humorous anecdotes plus some unusual aspects to campaigning (like big game hunting), and you have a great read.

Byron Farwell has written a detailed, entertaining account of the events of the Great War in Africa. It is part military history and part adventure story. There were essentially four (largely) independent campaigns fought against the Germans in Africa: Togoland, the Cameroons, German Southwest Africa, and German East Africa. Farwell covers each of these in detail, the last of course taking up most of the book, as a succession of generals chase Gen. Lettow-Vorbeck and his native askaris through modern Kenya and Tanzania. From a purely military perspective, there is quite a bit of interest here. For the Germans, how do they defend a central position we surrounded by much stronger forces. For the British, how do they use their military and logistical superiority to advance into hostile (to say the least) terrain against a disciplined and motivated enemy?

One of the great aspects of this book is that Farwell occasionally takes detours from the narrative about the purely military aspects of the campaign to present accounts of many of the quirky events and people and the role they played in Africa. For example, Farwell discusses in detail the dragging of several ships over several thousand kilometers to Lake Tanganyika to contest naval control of the lake with the Germans. This expedition was probably unique in the annals of military campaigns, but it leader was particularly unusual. Farwell also discusses an attempt to resupply the Germans with zeppelins, some of the confuse naval actions along east Africa (the German cruiser Konigsberg sailed up the Rufiji river and it was quite difficult for the Royal Navy to get at it, to say the least). Finally, Farwell discusses some of the nasty diseases present in Africa that were often more of a scourge to the average soldier than combat. One type of parasite that infected the body and slowly ate the infected person from the inside out was particularly nasty. It is also annoying that Farwell tries to explain away every British defeat as the result of unreliable and poorly motivated natives, poor leadership, etc. To be fair though, he does give the natives (particularly the askaris fighting for the Germans) their due.

There are two reasons that I only give this book four stars (most reviewers to date have given it 5). First, while both detailed and highly readable, this book is not uniquely outstanding. Farwell is not David Chandler or Shelby Foote, and while anjoyable to read, this is not something that most readers may read 3-4 times in their lives. Second, this book is definitely written from the British perspective by someone who is obviously sympathetic to (and enamoured with) the Golden Age of the British empire. I certainly respect this view, but I think there is much more to the events in Africa during the Great War than what can be gleaned from General Smuts headquarters or in London. Working through Gen. Lettow-Vorbeck's memoirs after reading this book would give you a somewhat different perspective.

The bottom line is that this is a great (and easy) read for anyone (either casually or professionally) interested in one of the most unusual military campaigns in history. Definitely recommended.

Informative, insightful, & readable.
At last! A writer who both:
A)Knows his material
and
B) Can write in an absorbing & engaging fashion.
L. Sprague De Camp fans take note--you will like this book.

Also, try--
Mimi and Toutou's Big Adventure: The Bizarre Battle of Lake Tanganyika

Joseph Conrad would have loved and respected Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, and any woman would have been proud to have been his African Queen. This book is really three vignettes and one great story of courage and endurance.

At the outbreak of World War I, Germany had four African colonies, Togoland, Cameroon, South West Africa (now Namibia) and German East Africa (now mainland Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi). The stories about the conquering of the first three are very straight forward and give a very good idea of how the fighting in Africa differed from that in Europe. Of course the British made major mistakes of bringing in untried Indian troops who were totally unfit to fight in the 'Bush' but everyone kept a 'stiff upper lip' and died from disease and malnutrition.

The major story is how the commander of the "Schutztruppe" (local militia that were made up of European Officer and NCOs, African levies called Askaries, porters who were the most numerous and their wives and children) Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, managed to fight a four year war against over- whelming odds, and never lose a major engagement to the British. Throughout the war he was the consummate Guerrilla fighter, never facing the British head on but using hit and run tactics and always being one step ahead.

(There is a great side story that is better documented in "Mimi and Toutou's Big Adventure by Brian Garfield", about the bringing of some British naval ships to fight on Lake Tanganyika; but Farwell does a good job of telling the story in a succinct manner.)

In the end, the British, mostly made up of South African Whites,Nigerians, Kenyans and Indian troops, spend four years chasing Lettow around Tanganyika, into Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique), Northern Rhodesia and back into Tanganyika. During all this time he would leave his sick and wounded behind to be tended by the British, and would release his European prisoners if they would give their parole (agree not to rejoin the war). At the end of WWI, he was leading four to five thousand troops and keeping 87,000 British Commonwealth troops tied down protecting ports and railroads that could have been shipped to France. (He didn't surrender until November 15, 1918.)

For any history buff who enjoys a story that is almost Kipling-esque, this is the book to read.

This book was ok, no way near how good you might think it was by reading all the glowing reviews. To me it read more like a university text book than an exciting story. If you read the other reviews and see them mention all the really interesting "forgotten" stories of WW1 in Africa you may be suprised when you actually read the book. Several reviews mention the "Battle of the bee's" - you may be suprised when you read the book & see that the "battle of the bee's" is one short paragraph in the book. The reviews mention an amazing story of zeppelin L59 - in the book this takes up about 2 pages of text & a picture. So if you have read some of the glowing reviews you know almost as much about the bee's & the Zeppelin journey as if you had read the whole 400 page book. I found most of the book of some interest but I wouldn't really recommend this book to someone unless they are really looking for info on a certain battle in WW1 Africa at this time - but even then the info isn't very in depth.

As an italian, I've always had unending difficulties in search of books or any other source about military operations in Africa during WWI. But now and then, the name of von Lettow-Vorbeck appeared, surrounded of the fame of glorious deeds and exceptional personality. Well, reading this book has been a really enjoyable experience: masterly well-written, with sound attention to details but always keeping in sight the overall perspective. Last but not least, really fair balanced, it depicts men and events almost flawless, without any irritating bias against the one or the other side of the battlefield. In the midst of all that, Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck emerges as a hero and one among the greatest soldier of history, maybe a forgotten one, but nonetheless as great as a von Moltke or a Napoleon.

I love this book. I have read some of the chapters two-three times now and get something more each time. As an amateur woodworker, I don't fully understand what each tool can do yet dream of outcomes that the masters create. This book explains in simple terms the what, how and what should be for each tool, be it a hand plane, chisel, hammer, etc. Most of my other woodworking books that speak of tools only touch on how to sharpen and maybe adjust but not the how it does it and how it should perform. This book heads to the top of my stack to reach for when I need some tutoring on a particular hand tool.

This is a beautiful book, the moment I read the first chapter I was wishing I'd bought the hard copy so I could put it in pride of place on my bookshelf.
I loved the illustrations, which are on almost every page and give exactly the right amount of detail in a way that photos can't. But the best part is the author's wonderful writing style, which really conveyed a sense of the timeliness and pleasure of woodworking. Even when describing such mundane things as taking measurements, the author has a great knack of focussing on the human aspect of the process, the decisions that need to be made and the emotions that the wrong and the right decision evoke. This, to me, is the reason working with handtools it is such a satisfying pastime, and this book wraps up all of those experiences in a really beautiful way. Top marks.

Just beginning my adventure in woodworking, this book has done exactly as it claims in the back cover. It feels like I have a readily available experience woodworker in my pocket whenever I have a question about a tool. The explanation is clear like a craftsman would teach his apprentice, and because of this, the obvious question of what tool should I get first and what tool should be my next purchase is easily answered, without actually saying. The drawings make the book almost timeless, not dated by photos, and the diagrams are reminiscent of the technical sketch you may see on a drafting table. I purchased other books along with this, but keep referencing back to this book to answer my questions about what tool do I need for the next part of the job. The writing is easily explanatory and conversational at once, and is quite enjoyable to read. You can either read it in a linear fashion, from front to back, or you can choose the tool you have questions about (from the Table of Contents) and move directly to it to have your question answered.

Free bench plans if you've never built a workbench, are included. This is a book that could sell itself if you had a chance to open it up.

I don't gush over books very often but this is one of the best investments I have ever made. The illustrations are startling and the writing is clear and unadorned.

What Watson does very well is assume nothing with regard to his reader. He neither panders to the "old pro" nor is condescending to the "rank amateur." He just talks about how to use hand tools, how to think about hand tools and how to appreciate hand tools. I don't think there is a person doing wood working today who would not find something in here that makes them say "Oh, yeah..., that's a good idea."

I have spent quite a lot of money on the Taunton woodworking library and I value them highly. They are good books. But this one is the first one I pick up when I am just spending a few minutes sitting down or before drifting off to sleep.

One caution - this book is about "hand tools" and does include chapters on tools like "hand augurs" which very few of us use, however I have to admit I am tempted to buy one just because of the obvious pleasure this guy has in them. One of my quirks I suppose.

Watson has written a clear and concise user's manual for woodworking hand tools. He includes many of the basic hand tools that are overlooked (such as the brace and drawknife) in other hand tool books. I got more information out of Watson's clear drawings than I did from the beautiful photographs in Garrett Hack's "Classic Hand Tools" book. This book is meant to be kept in your workshop instead of on the coffeetable.

The work points to many of the negations in the current health
care delivery systems in the USA. It spends too much money and
the paperwork is burdensome, generally uninformative and
inefficient. The system needs a separation between the doctor
and the pharmaceutical industry because the needs of the general
public demand an independent attitude on the part of physicians.
Emergency rooms are utilized instead of patient clinics.
This contributes to bloated costs. The HMO co-pay can be burdensome for patients. In addition, there is a slow migration
toward the universal health care coverage in order to correct
some of these inefficiencies and distribute the resource to
persons uncovered or undercovered by the present protocols
and medical delivery systems.

In more than 20 years teaching a course focusing on analysis of American health care history and policy, I have yet to discover a more persuasive diagnosis of our health care delivery system's ills or a more convincing case for how to cure them. Dr. Lebow brings to this examination direct experience as a practicing physician from which he draws numerous stirring personal accounts. To his clinical perspective, he adds an extraordinary command of the broader economic and political issues essential for understanding the context and causes of America's current health care crisis epitomized by the alarming number of our country's uninsured--now about 44 million and growing. The book is honest, engaging, and sure to stimulate discussion with its clear prescription for change. With lively prose and strategically placed humor, he makes complex matters understandable. His humanity and passion are the earmarks of a brilliant teacher. Regardless of how deeply you presently understand America's health care system, you can learn from this book. And regardless of your political inclinations in respect to his advocacy of a single-payer solution, you can't ignore his meticulous presentation of the facts or the relentless logic of his conclusions from them.

Health Care Meltdown: Confronting The Myths And Fixing Our Failing System by Robert H. LeBow (former Medical Director of an Idaho community health center for more than 25 years and who was paralyzed in a cycling accident shortly after completing this book) is a clarion wake up call focused upon the medical care system's rampant excesses, over billings, neglects, and quagmires that floods the American health care system to near incapacitation. Over 40,000,000 Americans have no health insurance. This places an unsupportable burden on Emergency Room Care (one the most expensive health care provider resources), and while money is in unnecessary and wasteful bureaucratic and law-suit avoidance oriented testing, far to many people simply go without the medical service they desperately need. A sharply worded criticism that also offers models for reform and improvement, Health Care Meltdown should be mandatory reading for health care providers, citizen health care activists, anyone charged with the responsibility of developing policies and guidelines for managing health care services.

I'd like to give this book 4 stars, but there are just too many holes for me to do so. Dr. Lebow presents many important points, but the book simply is not the answer to our prayers regarding the current healthcare mess.

As Dr. Lebow points out, in the health insurance industry, competition among health insurers has led to less efficiency rather than more efficiency. 10 different credentialing applications, 12 different contract types, no standardization whatsoever and an administrative mess for any doctor who doesn't have the luxury of a seasoned healthcare administrator in his office. Add to that the eligibility trouble. Multiple phone calls for every patient to check eligibility for every appointment. Worst of all, the current health insurance system provides no incentive to managed care to pay for preventive care.

These are the issues that single-payer would fix for the insured population, saving billions of dollars. Dr. Lebow is right on, though I wish he spent as much time on eligibility and insurance company hassles as he did on preventive care. He also does great work in presenting the myths of healthcare today. Many of them can't be repeated enough (like the corporate welfare given to prescription drug companies).

But I have several issues as well.

My biggest complaint is that his solution only delays the inevitable a little longer. He deals only with the healthcare funding system and has little to say about the healthcare delivery system. "Market Driven Healthcare" by Regina Herzlinger and "From Chaos to Care" by David Lawrence offer real long-term solutions to the healthcare delivery problems we face in our current environment. Unless those market principles are imposed on healthcare, single payor will only delay the final implosion of medical care. Once the financial gains from single-payor healthcare are realized and exhausted, the costs will continue to spiral out of control.

Another issue is that he gives few details in the "how" of his solutions. Focusing on prevention and public health is a good and obvious point. Everybody agrees on it, but I don't think simply saying "it will happen once a grassroots movement demands it" is sufficiently descriptive of how he sees prevention and public health becoming the standard. Who will implement it? How?

Because of these problems, Dr. Lebow does not make a convincing case to those in power that change is good for them. He persuades the persuaded brilliantly, but I can't imagine why someone who opposes single-payer would change his mind after reading this book. And those in power are whose minds must be changed if change is to come.

The way I see it, healthcare as we know it is a very young industry. Only 16 years ago, managed care was almost an unkown in the healthcare world. Now, it dominates. Unfortunately, that insurance model grew so quickly there was no way anyone could have planned it properly. Imagine how the computer industry would have destroyed itself if it weren't entirely made up of systems thinkers known for their planning ability. ISO-9000 was brilliant, as is settling on the PC as the standard. Healthcare needs, and is getting, more of that now. HIPAA and state-mandated credentialing applications perfectly demonstrate the government's role in fixing healthcare. It should be a regulator, an agent for the lowly to make sure the big guys play fair, and a standard-setter to make commercial insurance more efficient. But it's entirely too early to declare the market dead and single payer as the only way out of this mess.

As an Adjunct instructor in the Concordia University system, I have had the opportunity to encourage my MBA students to read this book for my Special Topics in Health care class. After reviewing other possible textbooks during the last 6 months, I have decided to now use this text as the basis for my 8-week adult education class. Offering ample examples and 'myths' that portray our fractured health care system of today, this author has summarily provided a springboard for ongoing conversations and possible answers for this country. Granted all, the HC system will not be corrected for some time, but an accounting will be made when the public becomes a focused participant at the table.
As health care professionals, it is our responsibility to study, learn, participate and educate others, as well as ourselves.
This will begin that process and it will be well worth your effort and consideration.
Thank you
ESchwarz, RN, MBA, CCM

This is a terrifically entertaining and informative compendium of 1950's science fiction movies that, for fans of this inexplicably overlooked genre, will serve as an almost endless supply of delectable brain candy. Other reviewers have nicely captured the essence of this book; I'll simply add that this is the one volume you'll want to keep by your bedside and savor night after night.

do you ever wonder about the old days? how people thought about space and time, and oh yes, giant monster bugs? then look no further than this fine and funny volume. from 1950 to 1962, warren covers the best to the worst with a wry sense of humor and a clear love for the subject. almost everything is covered, from obscure jungle movies, to elaborate space epics. if you want to know about these old films, and have a laugh or two, then by all means pick up this book.

Bill Warren is obviously very knowledgeable concerning classic science fiction films, having spent a lifetime researching the subject. "Keep Watching the Skies" is not only factually accurate, it is also extremely entertaining to read.

Highly recommended for all fans of the genre.

If you're a fan, or even a casual watcher, of science fiction movies of the 1950s and early 1960s, this exhaustively researched, 2-1/4-inch-thick tome deserves a prominent place in your library. It is, quite simply, THE definitive reference book on the subject. Period. There is none better. The conscientious reviewer MIGHT point out only one minor "problem"--but more on that later.

Mr. Warren does an unbelievably thorough job of presenting the most minute details of virtually every American science fiction film produced from 1950 through 1962. The classics are all here, of course. "Destination Moon," "The Day the Earth Stood Still," "The Thing From Another World," "Forbidden Planet," "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and "War of the Worlds" each receive 10 or so pages of treatment (in very small, closely spaced print, mind you). Mr. Warren tells you everything you could ever want to know about the script, the director, the actors, the special effects (such as they were, in those days), the budget, the editing, the musical score and the reception that each movie got on its initial release. He includes meaningful, interesting details and fascinating anecdotes, many of which I can't imagine how he managed to dig up. Lesser films such as (to pick a couple at random) "Mesa of Lost Women" and "The Rocket Man" get only a page or so, but still with full discussions of each film's production and how it fits into the genre. Well-chosen still photos, typically printed in full-page size and in many cases not the same ones seen in other books, illustrate some of the movies.

I found that the best way to use Mr. Warren's monumental work is to refer to it just after watching one of the films that it covers (which means ANY science fiction movie of the era). With the screenplay fresh in one's mind, reading the relevant chapter adds immeasurably to the viewing experience, much as a director's commentary does on a DVD. You can, of course, read "Keep Watching The Skies" through from cover-to-cover, but only at the risk of information overload. Its usefulness is sure to last for many years--as long as there are VHS tapes, DVDs or (if you're very lucky) old 35mm prints of classic science fiction movies to watch and enjoy. It adds new meaning to the term "reference book."

Now, for the one and only "problem" with "Keep Watching The Skies." The book consists of two parts. Part 1 covers the years 1950 through 1957; Part 2 covers 1958 through 1962. Both parts were apparently once issued as separate volumes. For this reissue, both volumes are bound together. Each part has a comprehensive index, but ONLY for that part. Thus, it can be a little difficult to find a specific film if you don't know its year of release, especially since many films in Part 1 are referred to--and thus indexed--in Part 2, and vice versa. A single integrated index would make Mr. Warren's magnum opus much easier to use. With that single tiny quibble aside, I give "Keep Watching The Skies" the highest possible recommendation. Five stars is not nearly enough. It deserves a galaxy of stars.

The best science fiction book I have ever read.A must-have for everyone fond of golden age movies and classic science fiction.
I read the book in one go.I wish I could read another book like this!