Consultants Books

At the risk of going against the grain here - I missed the magic in this one. On the plus side, the plot line is an interesting one - i.e., the method used to extort money from Las Vegas casinos - and the author has a keen understanding of the workings and history of said place. Unfortunately the story itself doesn't flow and the characters, (as well as their development), were to me flat, wooden and very predictable. All of it reminding me of `70's TV show. Can't recommend this one.

This book is truly a "sleeper". The more you read, the more you get pulled into this Las Vegas web of intrigue. I truly could not put this book down, nor could my sister Jane in Toronto who recommended it to me.
Good work, John Goodger. I hope you continue to write.
Susanne

Once I picked up The Druperman Tapes, I couldn't put it down. It is a captivating read with well developed characters. I found myself wondering about these people outside of the context of the story. Goodger introduced me to the dynamics of an industry centered around the compulsions of the gambler. Intelligent, action-packed, I thoroughly enjoyed Goodger's first novel and am looking forward to his next hitting the shelf.

In Las Vegas normally just irascible grumpy Galaxy Hotel and Casino CEO Emmett Druperman has watched his temperament turn hot coal irate from minor irritants. Pickets were reducing the drop in leisurely casino players who detested stepping past the "ants" picketing his facility. The agent of his entertainer wants more money or he will cancel in spite of a half million ad campaign. His hemorrhoids on fire, Emmett receives a plain envelop addressed to him as the head of LVCA (Las Vegas Casino Association) containing videotapes and demanding $10 million or else from the casino owners.

Realizing he has real trouble, Emmett hands everything over to his Vice President of Security Steve Forrester who takes the threat seriously. They think of possible strip con artists such as Dan Shiller and Jurgen Voss, but Steve cannot picture either doing what happened on the tape, the poisoning of a guest. Knowing that the culprit is most likely a casino insider, Steve needs to figure out who would be bold enough to risk murder as opposed to card game scams.

THE DRUPERMAN TAPES is an enjoyable investigative tale that showcases Las Vegas glitz from the perspective of those who keep the casinos safe. The cast is powerful as all the key players seem genuine (hemorrhoids will do that) and a subplot involving a romance makes former cop Steve seem that much more real. Though the cat and mouse game never quite takes the audience over the edge, John Goodger hits black jack with his first hand.

Harriet Klausner

Fred Taylor is doing what he does best, wandering amidst the antique shops of Boston searching for a treasure for his employer, wealthy art collector Clayton Reed. In one ye olde shoppe, Fred finds a segment of a pain ting of a squirrel that has been cut out of a larger painting. He thinks that this fragment is part of an important work by Copley, an eighteenth century American artist. Fred buys the piece, hoping to find the rest of the painting. As Fred begins his search, his girl friend Molly is looking into the activities of Dr. Eunice Cover-Hoover, a noted professor who is helping people deal with cults and repressed memories. To learn whether Eunice is a savior or a brilliant con artist, Molly decides she needs to offer herself up as an alleged victim of repressed memories. Before Fred knows what is happening, his seemingly innocent quest places him on Molly's path, one that is filled with murder and other violent acts. Fred realizes that he must now do more then rescue a painting, he must rescue his beloved and perhaps himself. The second novel in the Fred Taylor series is absolutely great. The story line is extremely well written, entertaining, and absolutely frightening in that it seems so realistic and plausible. With novels like MAN WITH A SQUIRREL and HARMONY IN FLESH AND BLACK (the first Taylor tale), Nicholas Kilmer deserves to become a household name. Harriet Klausner -----

Kilmer has a very interesting style. There is humor in his turn of phrase, but you must pay attention or you might miss it. While the first book might have given me a greater history of the characters, Kilmer did fill that in as the story progressed. The dialogue is well done; the sense of place could have been stronger. I did enjoy the book; it did keep me reading and it did have an excellent climatic scene. Although it isn't a "wow" book for me, I liked it and would read another book by Kilmer.

Man with a Squirrel is one of the most bizarre mysteries I've ever read. I commend it to all of those who find themselves attracted to weirdness.

Someone is carving up and selling off crude sections of a valuable painting. How can Fred Taylor find the rest and arrange for the painting to be restored?

That would have been plenty bizarre enough, but Mr. Kilmer also populates this story with enough weird characters to fill a small asylum. If you enjoy reading about those who deal with suppressed memories of sexual molestation in their own families, you may like this book better than I did. I graded the book as though you have such a taste.

As for me, I wouldn't have finished the book except that I enjoyed two other books in the Fred Taylor series.

I'm hoping the next one I read won't be quite so disgusting in its exploration of depraved people.

Fred Taylor is doing what he does best, wandering amidst the antique shops of Boston searching for a treasure for his employer, wealthy art collector Clayton Reed. In one ye olde shoppe, Fred finds a segment of a pain ting of a squirrel that has been cut out of a larger painting. He thinks that this fragment is part of an important work by Copley, an eighteenth century American artist. Fred buys the piece, hoping to find the rest of the painting. As Fred begins his search, his girl friend Molly is looking into the activities of Dr. Eunice Cover-Hoover, a noted professor who is helping people deal with cults and repressed memories. To learn whether Eunice is a savior or a brilliant con artist, Molly decides she needs to offer herself up as an alleged victim of repressed memories. Before Fred knows what is happening, his seemingly innocent quest places him on Molly's path, one that is filled with murder and other violent acts. Fred realizes that he must now do more then rescue a painting, he must rescue his beloved and perhaps himself. The second novel in the Fred Taylor series is absolutely great. The story line is extremely well written, entertaining, and absolutely frightening in that it seems so realistic and plausible. With novels like MAN WITH A SQUIRREL and HARMONY IN FLESH AND BLACK (the first Taylor tale), Nicholas Kilmer deserves to become a household name. Harriet Klausner --

Answers to questions are not "board-safe" answers, and explanations are often incomplete. Not recommended as a review for anyone serious about doing well on the ABSITE and the surgery qualifying examination.

Very usefull in reviewing the THE ABSITE REVIEW Book From FISER. I suggest you buy both books. Read the first one and then take the corresponding chapter's tests, which are brought in this book.

I liked this much better than his plain old review book as the facts he is trying to drill in us are presented in a recognizable context; indeed a context we need to know.
I'll update you after Jan 27.

Good review book. Not really representative of ABSITE questions, however it was great for the preparation. The topics are repeated on the real exam. Good source for studying, and a fast and efficient way to do questions per topic.

Wow! The leading Roseville Price Guide has blasted into the new millennium. The glossary of shape number to Roseville Pattern is super along with the never published color plates to Sunflower and Rosecraft Vintage. This is a wonderful book that is much more than your standard price guide.

I would call this "book" more of a pamphlet. Author focuses too much on Roseville that I would call more rare. There was no identification for what I might call the more common patterns. This book probably would be of help to the collector who is targeting the higher end items. From a physical standpoint, one of the pages is not even bound into the pamphlet.

This is the third year in a row that I have purchased Mr. Jenkins' price guide and I can say without hesitation that is head and shoulders above anything else available on the market. I have purchased and compared all the available guides on Roseville in the past and this is the only one worth consideration. Not only do you get the most accurate information on up to date pricing, he has included a very handy reference guide to shape #'s to aid in identification. And, perhaps most importantly of all, you receive expert information on the various lines of Roseville that are considered most collectible. There is a trend chart showing the percentage increase year-by-year for the last six years, thereby offering a look at the overall reported investment value of Roveville pottery. The guide also contains first-rate pictures of many of the lines and has text that is not only well written, it has perhaps that rarest-of-all quailties - it is information that is both usable and invaluable. After purchasing and looking at price guides for both Roseville and many kinds of pottery and other collectibles, I would only hope that others in the field would take a cue from true quality and follow the example set here.

I could not believe how detailed this price guide is.It was well illastrated.Mr. Jenkins's price guide is the best on Roseville that is in the market.It was written in a way that is easy to follow.The collection on sunflower is the only photogragh of a complete set known in existance.AAAAA +++++

Mr. Bly has been in this business for a long time. He gives his own address, phone number, home page, ... which is unusual. His personal approach may just work in this economy.
What the book does not tell you, is how you can get consulting assignment in the first place. Being all things to all people will not work.

This book is one of the better ones out there. It really does take you step by step through all the different business development considerations inherent in a consulting business, and offers some excellent advice for getting yourself started. The appendix offers some useful forms and examples as well. This book is probably more for the beginner than the established consultant, but as a beginner, I learned quite a bit.

Mr. Bly a well known consultant gives an outline guide for one to become a successful consultant. This book also details what is expected and needed for you to achieve the coveted 100,000 a year status. Though, it does not have a cohesive flow throughout its chapters this book can take you from point A to point B in no time.

If you can get beyond the cover and perhaps the title, what you will find is an up to date book full of excellent examples and infomation. Not only does it offer the usual do's and don'ts, it offers well researched results and invites the reader to challenge their own thinking and go beyond what they think they can do. I don't think you will be disappointed. Excellent for someone starting out and someone who needs what Bly calls a, "jump start."

Professional management of professional services-as apposed to the traditional approach of professionals governing themselves-is a relatively new phenomenon, and this book is a very valuable source for any involved either as practitioners or researchers. Apart from several insights into the unique context of the professions, the book incorporates novel insights into strategy-resource-client positions, plus some up-to-date thoughts on globalization. This is a very important book in this fledgling field.

Una fuente profunda de conocimiento de las PSF, sobretodo en su bibliografía.
This is a profound source to understand PSF. Concentrate on its bibliography.

This booked is based on a PhD dissertation and carries heavy traces of library research. Readers already working in PSFs and expecting in-depth pragmatic ideas should keep searching.

Recommend to anyone who has read David Maister. Good analysis, well structured and very approachable. Some interesting models offered for providing perspective on professional services firms. Would be even stronger if a wider range of well known North American firms were included, eg. KPMG, PWC. Having worked in a management consulting firm, and written a strategic analysis on the field for my MBA, the insights are quite accurate according to my experiences and research. I suggest the author promote the book a bit, I can't remember how I found it, but I believe it would be useful to many others in the field.

Excellent work! Especially the 'fine art workflow' by Stephens Burns!
Debbi

The book is full of examples using numerous (and sometimes pricey) 3rd party software and plugins for photoshop. Color management for monitors, printing, and B&W and infrared were focuses of this book, with SEVERAL chapters on B&W alone. Ther was also a lot on printing with your own inkjet printer (most of us use 3rd party professional printing services). The last parts of the book go over making "digital art" or complete collages and pics with photoshop (not photography at all), and the last section deals with turning your photos into paintings using filters.

The description of most everything is pretty broad in nature, and when discussing sharpening (always a hot topic), the suggestion is to "Use USM and keep the pixel radius and threshold pretty low, while changing the % to get the desired effect". That's about the 1 sentence on sharpening without using some 3rd party PS plugin.

Overall, not recommended. I am still looking for a good all-in-one photography book.

First off, I'm an extremely amateur photographer, so I want to own up to that right away, since I realize that most of the people who buy this book are likely to be professional photographers. I'm not going to do a normal review to discuss the relevant chapter info either. The publisher's official write-up is better for that sort of thing, in my opinion. What I will say is this: I was slow to enter into the world of digital photography. I had the regular middle-range inexpensive digital camera, but whenever I went anywhere that I knew the pictures were going to really matter, I still lugged my SLR with all the great lens choices and accessories.

Last month, after reading through this book as mostly a curiosity, I took the plunge and bought a digital SLR. This book makes you truly appreciate the benefits of digital photography and the flexibility you can achieve through digital that you just can't get with your film negatives. I want to stress in advance that I am not an "advanced" digital photographer, but I still found this book to be beneficial and instrumental in bringing me around to this format. I wouldn't have wanted a basic book for this, since I would have outgrown that with the first round of pictures I took with my new camera.

Now, I'm in the process of working back through this book as I play with my new camera, and I couldn't be happier with the results. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who is the type of person who craves a little extra know-how when it comes to getting the most out of your work or hobby. If you are an amateur like me, don't be intimidated by the fact that this title was written for professionals who have advanced skills. When it comes to photographs, learning from the professional level is exactly what you want to do. Your pictures can't help but benefit.

I wish this book had been available when I was getting started as a consultant; it would have saved me a lot of the time and trouble of learning the ropes. The book is well organized and full of great tips, useful advice, and excellent discussions of the issues involved in being a successful consultant. It was clearly written (and written clearly) by somebody who has obviously "been there and done that." As I read through it, I kept saying to myself, "yeah, that's so true, and that's true too, and I wish I'd known that before discovering it the hard way, and . . . ."

If you've ever entertained idle thoughts about consulting in the computer industry, I strongly encourage you to get this book. It does a great job of presenting both the pros and cons of consulting and includes the essential information you need to succeed if you decide to make a go of it.

Having dabbled in consulting I knew some of the basics, but this will help me polish out any rough spots. If you are thinkng of becoming an independant or just started out by all means get this book! Just started reading two other books by Janet and I'm sure I'll like those as well. Also, stop by the messsage board on her web site to share your experiences.... No- I do not know her nor am I compensated by her. Just a solid book and thought I'd share.

I read from front to cover the Computer Consultant's Workbook. For a person who is interested in consulting, and has no knowledge at all about consulting, this is the book for you. After you read this book I would also recommend that you read her second book as well because both books together offer invaluable tips as you embark on your career as a consultant.

Julie Spencer was an image consultant at the top of her game. She thought nothing could shake her until she found herself face to face with the boy who had broken her heart in high school, and taken her virginity. Ty Calhoun was one of the world's greatest quarterbacks in fact he just recently scored the winning touchdown in the super bowl. While he was a great athlete, his public reputation was abysmal. He was a bad boy, and the new owner of his football team didn't want any public relations nightmares like Ty, so he was forced to meet with the new image consultant they hired. Ty couldn't have been more surprised or pleased that his meeting was with none other than Julie. He had regretted his treatment of her his whole adult life, and dreamed of being with her again.

Julie's first instinct was to turn down this particular client, but when Ty threw a veiled challenge in her direction, she couldn't turn away. He had to be close to her. Now that he knew where she was, and had the opportunity, he was not going to let it pass him by. Ty was supposed to be acting like a choirboy, but if his plans worked as expected, he would be getting a lot closer to Julie. When the team owner saw the new photos of Ty in the morning paper, he was spitting mad, and summoned them to his office. After a comeuppance, Ty found himself with a new temporary home - Julie's home! He had to stay with her for the next couple of weeks where she was responsible for his every action. She was supposed to keep him out of trouble.

Ty wanted Julie. He wanted her in his bed most definitely, but more than that he wanted her in his life, and he also wanted her forgiveness for being a stupid kid so many years ago. He didn't want to scare her away, so he decided that going slow was the ticket. After spending only a few days together when they could stand it no longer, they gave into the passion sparking between them. Things were looking up, and Ty just hoped they could overcome all their obstacles to be together in the "real" world.

Ty and Julie are a very appealing couple. Their history adds a rich element to the story. Both are only coasting through life until they cross each other's path again. When they come together this becomes apparent to them both. He leads a shallow existence living his life as others expect him to while trying to forget his humble beginnings, and alcoholic father. She was raised in the lap of luxury, but is trying to live her life without relying on her family's wealth. Her family embarrasses her as her mother is an alcoholic, and her father is a womanizer. Can these two broken people heal each other, and find common ground to build a life on? They both learn a hard lesson that appearances are deceiving.

Ty Calhoun is on top of the world. As the star quarterback for the Outlaws, he already has women swarming all over him. Now he has won the Super Bowl... but he can't seem to forget that one girl from high school, the only one to not be impressed by his athletic ability. Meanwhile, his team has a new owner, one who wants Ty reformed and is willing to do anything it takes. Anything, including hiring an image consultant! Ty is horrified until he learns the image consultant is Julie Spencer, the girl he hasn't been able to forget. Can Ty convince Julie that he's the man for her?

Bella Andre writes a fun, sensual book about finding both lost love and one's own self. Neither Ty nor Julie has forgotten each other but misunderstandings have kept them apart. Their story is both bittersweet and steamy, as neither can resist the other.

Bella Andre puts a fascinating spin on image and just how deceiving appearances can be! It's hard not to fall in love with Ty and Julie as they both struggle so hard with the misperceptions they both have about each other's lives. On the surface, Julie is extremely straight laced while Ty is a pure playboy. But does the outside image really tell the full story?

GAME FOR ANYTHING is the first book I've ever read by Bella Andre but I certainly hope it will not be the last featuring the Outlaws. Several secondary characters simply screamed for their own story, particularly Dominic. And who can't help but love little Jack and want to see how things turn out for him? Bella Andre has written the sort of story that draws you in and makes you want to see more of the characters. GAME FOR ANYTHING is a hit!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

NFL superstar San Francisco Outlaws quarterback Ty Calhoun won the Super Bowl on the last play with an incredible run. While the accolades pour in especially for his amazing final play, public relations specialist Julie Spencer watched the game and its final play on TV and expected Ty to score the winning points. She never forgot his scoring with her when he took her virginity and heart without a look back ten years ago.

Behind his impish demeanor, Ty hides the fact he never forgot that high school graduation night that shook him to the core and made him flee like a coward. Now he would give away every trophy and his throwing arm for one more night of uninhibited sex with Julie; even the thought makes him hard.

The new owner of the San Francisco Outlaws believes professional athletes are role models and wants them to behave accordingly in public. For his star quarterback that means a PR remake starting with nuking his current image. Julie, known for her spin skills, is hired to the delight of Ty. Whereas she tries to avoid his efforts to sack her, she knows even mentally thinking about his touch leaves her feeling tackled; he has a game plan to win back her heart starting with her trust as he has a chance to make up the one errant pass of his life by blitzkrieging her heart.

Even no football fans will appreciate this fun second chance at love sports romance as the two stars are likable characters. Ty knows he must gain his beloved's trust which is off the board for taking bets as he has to overcome his desertion and ignoring her afterward. Fans will appreciate this fun lighthearted romp with the only quibble being a team named the Outlaws probably belongs in Oakland (at least at one time that is).

Good solid book on political theory and the practical application of that theory. Highly recommend!

Wow is what I thought when I bought this book. It seemed so interesting for a future political consultant. A must read, I thought. This is no hands on campaigning book. Instead, think of it as a dictionary.Each chapter has about 4-5 pages on one aspect of campaigning. radio, tv, billboards, phonecalls, on and on. each author explains what they do and tries to give you a very tip of the iceberg view of what it is they do. Some authors even offer suggestions. I read chapter to chapter and got a highlight of each campaign tool. Ok, I thought.

At first glance, I thought it was a colleciton of articules with no particular focus. But after reading it for a while, I knew that's the one I have been looking for.

The book sets out in details the full picture of the political consultant's business, from history to development, from theory to techniques. A must buy for anyone who is interested in a career of political consulting.