Consultants Books

The word `Trust' really caught my attention. We are in a knowledge economy and that itself is based on Trust. The WKID pyramid indicates how we go from Data to Information to Knowledge and finally to Wisdom.

Knowledge is transmuted into Wisdom only when it is applied and yields sustainable results. Consulting as a successful business model is based on this single premise. Where trust comes in is to trust individuals enough to invest in them, coach them, and allow them to make smarter decisions to create value.

Personal and corporate lives are being more interwoven. Consulting projects are more multi-disciplinary and the changes that are being affected are more widespread in scope and scale. All of these require that there is trust between clients and consultants. The book however, points out the irony that the process of hiring consultants is becoming more mechanical in nature by methods such as, electronic auctions and blind bids.

The book introduces the concept of a Delivery Triangle: People, Process and Values and how consulting firms can build trustworthy relationships. Having empathy for the client and being able to demonstrate is key to a successful client relationship and smart consultants know this. A joint client-consulting team is an effective way of making the client feel like they are being respected and in contrast to solutions just being imposed on them.

The book emphasized that consulting is people oriented, the recruitment and retention policies have to be carefully evaluated to bring the right kind of people in. The employees have to feel engaged with the consulting firm.

Next, the process part of the equation is discussed. The consulting firm has to decide how it wants to be perceived in the market place: as a brand or a specialized firm. A strategic intent to specialize can be at the peril of foregoing short term revenues. The relationship building aspect cannot happen where procurement departments rely on electronic or standardized selection processes for awarding the work contracts. The danger here is of bringing in the wrong firm and making the consulting firm feel like a commodity. This might have ramifications on the client-firm relationship and the industry on the whole. This further highlights the issue of corporate trust. The sales structures that might work for one client or consulting firm might be very different from what would work for another one. Leading from this, account management has become a discipline unto itself.

The six incremental degrees of management thought leadership is a good way to look at how knowledge becomes wisdom and yields results. The six degrees as covered in the book are internal knowledge-sharing, recognition among colleagues, increased presence on short-lists, lead generation, differentiation, and agenda setting. It also gives people a clear structure and path to navigate in building trust and continuously focusing on the business aspects of consulting. Thought leadership is integrally linked to the culture of a consulting firm.

This book makes a fine point of a consulting project being successful when it is not just a consulting project. The treatment and engagement is of acute concern at both ends and success often hinges on this very soft moving target of a skill set.

A good example is when consulting firms come together and work on a complex project as a consortium. It is potential toxic situation but if managed well, it also can offer the highest rewards. Teamwork and an understanding of how the services can be offered as a bundle as opposed to standalone components greatly enhances the value proposition play for the consulting firms. There were good examples of consulting engagements that required innovative thinking. One of them was the London Eye's revenue generation.

On the whole, I would recommend this book to understand some real concerns that mire the image of consulting as a profession and possible ways to overcome these biases. It reinforced the idea that along with thought leadership, management consultants would do well to develop their social and human sides as well. It should definitely be given a reading by someone entering the consulting industry.

This "pocket reference" is one of the best available and is inexpensive, too. I bought several copies to have them around at the various computers...but they keep turning up missing because everyone takes them back to their desks...this is the most often "lost" publication I've ever bought next to SSCs C Library Reference! I highly recommend this for all but the most guru vi-er...and a definite requirement for every aspiring vi learner. Oh yeah...be sure to tie a rope around it if you want to hang on to it at the office :)

John Perkins gives a good account of his understanding of how the building blocks of empire in this new age of global finance is achieved. There is one question that I tried to answer throughout the book, but could not find the answer. John seems to feel very guilty, and attempts to purge his sins with this book. ¿Are his economic "hits" just the tip of the iceberg? For that I'll have to wait to finish reading Chalmers Johnson's book Nemesis. John fails to deliver the broader vision that Chalmers does into the working of empire building and its relation to the failing republic.

Have you ever wondered how the world really, really, really works? Perkins attempts to show insight into the secretive world of global finance, emphasis on markets, and the quest for American Empire.

I really wanted to love this book, yet at times it felt more than a bit shallow. It is hard to know what is true and what may be distorted. Perhaps Perkins cannot come completely clean.

Having lived abroad for several years in the 1990's I can attest to the "Ugly-American" syndrome, and how some have contempt for foreign cultures.

Debt burden and the rise of the Corporatocracy are true and attestable. If you don't believe it, search for "Project for a new American Century" on Google. Take a look at the membership, and you will find many of the cast of characters within Perkins book.

Remember, "The greatest trick the Devil ever performed, is convincing the world he doesn't exist."

Cheers!

Although this book is a highly self-centred and personal account of his role in the "corporatocracy", Perkins' account is an eye-opener and a great introduction into the current state of our world. Perkins has been criticised for publically airing his guilt over his actions, however this is his way of coming to terms with his actions. I don't believe this is fair criticism, as this book is a personal account. It is engaging because it is about John Perkins. It's like criticising an apple for being an apple. However, I do admit that including a three page resume about himself was a bit much. That's way too much ego! That said, I would still recommend this book to people seeking answers to why the world is in the state that it's in, and for anyone else in fact!

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is an extraordinary story of a modern man facing his inner demons, with the backdrop of a world gone mad. Highly recommended!

John Perkins reveals his hits in the economic arena. The book narrates nicely with good description of events, places and conversations. However, it is loaded with fantasies, silly scenarios and unbelievable events. This book has no facts, when facts must have been the backbone of such allegations.
When I started reading it, I though that it might be a good read like "Fundamentalist World: The New Dark Age of Dogma" by Stuart Sim who talks about the the economic fundamentalism of the World Bank. However, I was totally disappointed by the:
1)Lack of facts
2)Missing to tell us how he could convince other economists who were reviewing his work and did not agree on his economic growth arguments. What were his arguments against theirs?
3)His conversations with different locals and his apologetic behaviour through out the book
4)The fact that he told Claudine (his coach) that he will someday reveal all and she did not even rise an eyebrow. Logically, she would contact her superiors and terminate Mr. Potential Hitman.
5)On one hand he says that the House of Saud does what it sees appropriate and does not tolerate other Saudis refusing the mentioned deal/contract with the States, and on the other hand he had to buy a Saudi through providing him with blondes.
6)Other and other pieces in his narrative that makes the whole story seems not related to his true life.
I stopped reading at page 98.
This economic hit man thing might be a factual thing, but it definitely did not have John Perkins on its payroll.

This is one of the worst books I have read in a long time. All his mistakes in life are someone elses fault (ie, his parents, school, wives, employer,etc.) It amazes me he stayed with the organization for 3 decades and FINALLY decided it was evil. He takes no responsibility for his actions. Sour grapes to me.

I picked up this book because the premise was intriguing.

The actual writing itself is dull and business-like. The narration has no flow, and the settings are jarring--moving back and forth from nostalgic waspy childhood memories to a present day Starbucks store. I realize those two concepts are supposed to juxtapose his upbringing with his current situation in life, but it's not a smooth delivery.

What I liked least about the book was its author. Michael Gates Gill reminds me of what is wrong with America. He comes across as a completely pompous ignoramus. He spends at least one third of the book advertising himself and his accomplishments at J. Walter Thompson.

I have a hard time conjuring up any sort of pity or appreciation for his life and his story. He made millions during his years working in advertising at JWT. He is in his SIXTIES when he gets laid off, and acts like he is a major victim of corporate America. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!

What did he do during his previous 30 years of prosperity? Did he save/invest his money like a wise person? No, he floundered it away. Did he work on his marriage? No, he had an affair instead. Did he spend time with his kids? No. He made a series of bad choices that brought him to where he ended up.

As for where he ended up, he does Starbucks no favors by romanticizing an unglamourous job. Most Starbucks stores do not have managers like Crystal. The employees are not always kind and courteous to one another, and the bathrooms are not always lovely and clean. I wonder how Crystal feels about the book. I would be offended to know that someone turned my career--my LIFE--into some sort of year-long anthropological study, and then published all the findings.

Overall, this book was a bum deal. I gave it two stars because I reserve one star ratings for the worst of the worst.

A friend of mine gave me this book so I felt like I HAD to read it.
It was painful though.
The fact that the author was an advertising copywriter is way too obvious in this, the longest infomercial I've been through.
If I could get paid for every time "Starbucks" was mentioned, I would be rich now.
Way too much focus on Starbucks products.
Having gone through business school I very much appreciate Starbucks' innovative Human Resource management and I share their views, particularly that one of respect to everyone. In fact, I'd heard about all this in case studies before.
The book however has blatant product placement. Why do we need to read lists of products, which cakes are carried, etc. No wisdom in any of these.
I'm sure some naive readers may end up spending a lot more money in Starbucks or getting a job there (nothing wrong with that) but the book should be given away for free as it seems to be a recruitment ad.
Spare yourself the pain

This is one of the best books ever written about mid-life career crisis. The story of the advertising executive who ended up cleaning toilets at Starbucks is filled with wonderful anecdotes that can be best appreciated by those who are middle aged and beyond. Young adult readers may not appreciate or understand the life-changing lessons (as seen by some of the one-star ratings from other Amazon reviewers) and some of the book comes across as almost too hard to believe. But the book is never preachy--just a narrative progression through a life that was changed due to corporate downsizing and personal selfishness. It is also very well edited, mixing the author's current progression at the coffee shop with his recollections of knowing Jackie Kennedy, Ernest Hemingway and others. The end result is a lesson in humility and the need for respecting others you would normally consider beneath you. It should be required reading for college career courses.

This book is one of the worst books I have ever read. Its suppose to be a memoir, but really it just brown-noses Starbucks. I think he wrote this book for ulterior motives. (I think he wanted some executive position and was hoping Starbucks would oblige after reading this book.) As I read the book, I kept thinking it would get better, a plot line would eventually unravel. It never does. He writes this book to feed his ego and the reader gets nothing out of it.

I bought this book to read at the beach -- not expecting too much -- but interested by the concept. The biggest problem is that the author seems to be writing at an elementary level. He clearly has an interesting story, but nothing that couldn't be written in a two-page essay. He used to be successful, failed, and realized that people find contentment in low-paying jobs too. The end. I can't understand how a book this poorly written was ever published.

An interesting tale about how Karl Rove, son of a Rocky mountain geologist, and a "political savant extraordinaire," a virtual Bobby Fischer of politics, with the same kind of a political instincts and genius as Bill Clinton - was, since childhood, bent on becoming a "top behind the scenes man." And next to Dick Morris, he has perhaps succeeded in becoming the greatest one of our (or any) times.

Rove, single-handedly found, mentored, and fashioned a reluctant under motivated and under-performing peripatetic warrior, composed of the most meager of raw materials, into a conservative political superstar.

Left to his own devices, "Bush junior," would probably have preferred nothing more than remaining a spoiled, underdeveloped, under motivated, misdirected, mediocre, "kick-about" for the rest of his life. However, Rove saw, as few others did, a "diamond in the rough," and set about chipping away at the lackluster and peripatetic outer shell to get at the hidden untapped, underdeveloped inner treasures.

Rove, in the best of his Svengali-like roles, not only became the Rasputin to the Western World, but since every decision Bush has made -- from his two terms as governor of Texas through his two terms as President of the U.S. - have been "cleared" by Rove, he literally became not just Bush's alter ego, but his "uber-ego." Rove quite literally became Bush's brain. So much so, that, as the author notes: "it is hard to know where Bush's brain begins and Roves' ends."

How did Rove polish the dull and listless GW into spanking shiny brand new money? In the liveliest of prose, chocked full of lush and tasty details, this book gives the answer: Rove, like the inventor of the term itself, Dick Morris, is nothing but a "triangulator." His political philosophy is the same as Morris': See what the polls say, and then "spin the rhetoric" so that (even when it is not so) the President's policies "sound like" and "look like" what the President's political constituency thinks they want.

Rove owes a deep unacknowledged debit to the one who invented and patented this process, Dick Morris. Since Morris invented the process of triangulation during the Clinton administration, this period in U.S. history may someday be known as the "era of the super power-political triangulators." (no pun intended).

A fabulous but disturbing read. Five Stars

this book shows that without someone else's input this president would not have made it to any elected position. it is all smoke and mirrors for this administration.

Reading about Rove's contempt for fair play from the beginning of his career is absolutely chilling. The book is even-handed and meticulous, but presents so many cases where he damaged lives, careers and democracy with his political ruthlessness.
What's frightening is how much influence he has on Bush today, and the fact that he isn't the only Lee Atwater disciple wielding power in the current Republican Party. Read David Brock's Blinded By the Light for a complementary tale of manipulation and dissembling.
This book was obviously completed before the Republican ads that defeated Senator Max Cleland by calling him unpatriotic, even though Cleland had lost two legs and an arm in Vietnam--but that approach only buttresses the core points I take from this powerful book: The bullying tactics of people like Rove need to themselves become a political issue, because they represent a direct attack on our democracy.

Paul Loeb
Author Soul of a Citizen

This review is not a memoir. Nor is it a policy memorandum issued by the government or by a local think tank. Rather, it is an assessment of how our long-corrupt legal system is parlously close to establishing a precedent that will enable Karl Rove to waste our time and money. Note that some of the facts I plan to use in this letter were provided to me by a highly educated person who managed to escape Karl's flippant indoctrination and is consequently believable. The problem is, if I didn't sincerely believe that there is certainly reason to fear that imprudent beatniks will provide covinous franions with an irresistible temptation to palm off our present situation as the compelling ground for worldwide Fabianism by the next full moon, then I wouldn't be writing this letter. His true goal is to implement a hotheaded parody of justice called "Karl-ism". All the statements that Karl's helots make to justify or downplay that goal are only apologetics; they do nothing to stand up and fight for our heritage, traditions, and values.

If I may be so bold, only by taking risks and pushing boundaries with this letter can I operate on today's real -- not tomorrow's ideal -- political terrain. And let me tell you, my message has always been that Karl's decisions are ill-advised. It's that simple. My general thesis is that Karl has written volumes about how there is something intellectually provocative in the tired rehashing of larcenous stereotypes. Don't believe a word of it, though. The truth is that if he thinks that he can make me experience psychological stress or "cognitive dissonance", then he's barking up the wrong tree. I'll talk a lot more about that later, but first let me finish my general thesis: I don't care what others say about him. Karl's still cold-blooded, offensive, and he intends to wipe out delicate ecosystems. If you think that Karl's blessing is the equivalent of a papal imprimatur, then think again. If Karl wants to put a demented spin on important issues, let him wear the opprobrium of that decision. To bring the matter closer to home, let me remind you that we've all heard his yammer and whine about how he's being scapegoated again, the poor dear. It is not uncommon for Karl to victimize the innocent, penalize the victim for making any effort to defend himself, and then paint the whole addlepated affair as some great benefit to humanity. Have you ever had a bad dream about her trying to exhibit cruelty to animals? Well, I have news for you. That wasn't a dream; it was real. I would like to end on a heartfelt note. I find Karl Rove's failed attempts to create an infantile world of guilt and shame mildly amusing.

This is a masterful account of a Masterful Pupeteer, who determines, along with Rumsfield and Cheney, most of what is controlling our country.

It is written by two men who know what they're talking about, Texans, who've been there, seen this and that.

This book scares the daylights out of me. George W. Bush, our president on the surface, is no more than a puppet! Above him, moving the strings is Karl Rove in the center, with Cheney and Rumsfield, on his left and right.

Karl Rove apparently never felt the love and nurture of caring parents. Could this be what motivates his insatiable drive to control our country? I don't know, but I'm scared.

Just another book sitting on my shelf...I read it, but nothing in there just turned me around...not overly impressed.

Robert Barefoot may be on to something but there really is not much information to back up claims. The whole book seems to be an advertisement for coral calcium. Pages and pages of testimonials seem to be filler for the content. The author took a few chemical calculations and made a whole book on just a few ideas. Not bad but could have been done in a pamphlet or newsletter style and been just as complete.

Enjoyed the book. Had already become informed about the deficiencies of
calcium in our American diet. Coral calcium is excellent. Stay with
a top-notch maker such as Standard Process. I don't sell it or have any financial ties to it- just get it from my health care provider - Dr. of
nutrition. Better brands cost more and are dispensed only by health care providers, but you don't have to worry about contamination.
Also, natural health care providers are aware that your tissues can still be acidic even
though the blood may say you are over alkaline. That happens because when
the tissues are acidic and need more alkaline, the body drafts calcium (which is alkaline) from the bones and sends it into the bloodstream to try to compensate. Blood alkaline readings above the normal 7.365 always indicate that the tissues are acidic and the body is sending its alkaline stores (mostly from bones) into the bloodstream to protect your organs.
The only way I could get sane with what to do for my health was to
find a professional who could guide my path. Many chiropractors are also
natural doctors (DN's)and dispense products such as Standard Process
which you can count on.
Give Barefoot a break. He has a good message and nobody's perfect.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to prevent at least 152 degenerative diseases that we know of! It explains why calcium is SO important to the body, and how it does what it does for us in our bodies. I can prevent cancer just by keeping my body alkaline, since cancer can't live in an alkaline body! Test strips are available to test your saliva so you can keep up on whether or not you are alkaline on any given day and act accordingly. I have been taking coral calcium for years now and am rarely sick. Since just about everyone in my family died of some type of cancer, I am particularly interested in prevention of this disease for myself, my husband, and my two children. I was so excited about this book that I told my holistic doctor about it, to see if he had heard of it and he said, "great book...I have it on my desk in my office." This isn't just, my opinion.
This book is filled with good solid facts on this subject. So for any of you out there who are interested in good health and prevention of lots of degerative diseases, this book is a real gem, and might just prolong your life!

I was very impressed with Robert Barefoot's scientific background, research and conviction to saving Americans as well as the world from themselves and big Pharma. I have applied this information to my own life with astonishing results. Just a few short months ago I thought I was on a doomed path to lifelong chronic disease or early death. After a trip to the ER and follow-ups with my doctors I suggested that perphaps I could have a nutritional deficiency or maybe chronic dehydration was a problem as I knew myself I had not been drinking enough water. This was dismissed by the medical community as nonsense without any testing to prove otherwise. I was told on top of all my other problems, I now had fibromyalgia and was told that there is no cure but we can control it with several prescription drugs (for the rest of my life). Observing the way my doctors were so willing to dismiss nutrition sent me running, and this was before I embarked on a natural, nutritional path. My own commense sense raise serious red flags. I left there and headed for the Internet to research anything I could find on each one of my symptoms, one-by-one. I started a journal with a section devoted to each symptom and researched every known deficiency that would cause that one symptoms instead of looking at all my symptoms as a whole. When I broke down my research in this manner, I suddenly started coming up with 3 main culprits that kept reappearing with each symptom: Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium as well as water and oxgyen. This led me to Robert Barefoot's book, The Calcium Factor, which I eagerly purchased and read within hours of its arrival. It made the most sense of anything I had read or been told to date. Ironically, about the same time I got this book, a friend told me about her experiences and frustrations with her doctor and how she turned she skeptically turned to a procedure called "BioMeridian Feedback" and how it turned her life around. I then found a BioMeridan Feedback Specialist in my area and quickly made an appointment, thinking I had nothing to lose by trying. I was very skeptical so didn't tell the therapist any of my ailments, only that I had heard of this and wanted to check it out. What happened next blew me away. She told me exactly the symptoms I had been experiencing and told me I had a deficiency in Calcium and Potassium. This therapist also informed me that my most serious problem that needed addressing first was acid. This backed up what I had read in this book so I embarked on a regimen of ionic minerals and ionic coral calium. Within days my health and my life began to turn around. Symptoms were disappearing rapidly, my mental acuity sharply increased and I had an incredible surge in energy. I needlessly suffered for over 10 years from symptoms that left me debilitated with pain, fatigue and brain fog, all the while being treated by numerous medical doctors who not once addressed nutrition. A few years back I asked one of my doctors if I could ever hope to be pain free. His reply was, "if you ever wake up and find that you no longer have any pain to be immedialely suspicious that you are dead". No hope was offered by my doctors and apparently a positive mental attitude was not important to them either as this one statement sent me into a state of depression that lasted for years. So as far as I am concerned Robert Barefoot and the others who work tirelessly to bring to light the importance of giving our bodies what GOD put here for us and what we were built to run on should be praised for they are truly Angels. I have since bought several copies of this book for family members and friends. As far as some of the comments about Barefoot's literary skills, I say who gives a s---. I'm not interested in glossy words or propaganda, I can get that from the doctors, I want real evidence and real answers to real problems and that is what Barefoot delivers.

This book has helped my sales drastically! At first glance I thought it would be too simple, but once I got into the book it was filled with tons of information. I followed the dialogue Mr. Davis offered and am amazed at the results. It was just what I needed, coming from sales, with no car experience.

He sold me a $2.00 pamphlet for $10.95 + shipping!
Patrick Davis may be the greatest saleman alive! I thought cars had a big mark-up. Instead of getting 30% of the profit on a car, he gets 4000% profit on this pamphlet. It must have taken 3 hours to write this "book?" in between car deals. Took 45 minutes to read.
If you purchase it, don't say you weren't warned!

A tiny book -- 96 pages, counting every one, each with fewer than 50 words, so about equal to three type-written pages. The book is rife with non-sequitors, incomplete thoughts, and contradictions. It's a bit of a marvel, really. A good subtitle might be "How to get customers off the lot ASAP -- without making a sale." So why two stars instead of one? Because some of the advice, carefully separated from the rest, is sound. However, if you don't already know quite a lot about what makes customers tick, I'm unsure how you'll separate the good bits from the bad. There are better articles all over the web for free, built on arguments that make sense and are internally consistent. They can't all be correct of course, except in the sense that we each learn a different way to sell effectively. But, if you try to follow Mr. Davis's advice, all of it, you'll be tongue-tied and tripping over your own feet. The customers won't notice: they'll already have left.

If car salesman have a bad name, the publisher of this book has given their industry a black eye!
This book is a joke.
First, the trim size is about as large as those $1 mini-mags that sell at the check out counter of your local supermarket.
Second, it could be read in 5-10 minutes.
Third, there is nothing new to learn here.
Fourth, my review is about as long as the book!

This is the first item I have ever returned to amazon.
I wasted my money, do NOT waste your hard earned dough.
For something really helpful, stick with Zig or Joe Girard.

I am a female new to the business. I was very nervous to enter the automotive industry. The dialog has helped me avoid the drilling of endless questions from customers I have worried about. Not only did I sell 3 cars my first week with the dialog in this book, but I searched the internet for more info on Patrick Davis and found his workbook. They both have been extremely helpful. I am signed up for one of his upcoming sales seminars.

For many, particularly in the wake of the 2002 and 2004 electoral disasters, Shrum represents the very epitome of what is wrong with the national Democractic Party.

Having read many books crucifying the man, it was interesting to get Shrum's own story. Because the tale is certainly an interesting one - Kennedys, Clintons, Gores oh my!, and offers "lessons learnt" as well as interesting tidbits sprinkled throughout.

It may not be an objective view of history - no autobiography ever is. But even if you are no fan of the man, the book itself is an interesting read, and offers lessons, not just in politics, but in life itself - academia, business, and just people.

Shrum proves that money and politics corrupts.

Nothing he was written justifies the money he and his business partners garnered from just the Kerrey 2004 campaign. The fees totaled $5,000,000. This money consumption came at the same time that everyday Americans were being pressed to "send their contributions in as soon as possible" Many of these people were on limited incomes and still were being told that they held the key to win the election.

Shrum should be ashamed. His "consulting" has been a total disaster and so much money from honest, everyday working people have been his prize. It didn't matter if the campaigns won or lost, he got the money anyway.

I think one of my favourite moments in the 2004 campaign was when ex-Senator Ernest Hollings saw Kerrey with Shrum sitting at a coffee shop or restaurant and Hollings looked at them and said to Kerry something to the effect that "I thought you want to win this thiing" pointing to Shrum as his consultant. Hollings hit it right on the nose.

Don't buy this book. Why make him even richer?

If you love politics this is a fun read but the title is a misnomer as Mr. Shrum is more than a little thin skinned. You do get a ringside seat to every Presidential election since 1972 and some of the insights are fascinting. Some of my notions about certain politicians might of changed because of what Mr. Shrum writes,one thing is for sure he's off the John Edwards Christmas card list. Having read about Mr. Shrum in other books I've enjoyed getting his side of the story about events over the last 30+ years. One thing I found very interesting is a man who can't type became one of the most famous speechwriters in history. All in all I enjoyed this book and if your a political junky you will to.

When I first saw Bob Schrum's book on the shelves at my local book store, I pulled it out, cracked the cover, and sat cross-legged right there on the floor, inhaling about 100 pages before my wife Holly caught my attention, and said we should be on our way.

I bought the book that I'd already marked with my notes, and tabbed.

I read it that evening, all the way through, couldn't put it down.

If you like great writing, are somewhat of a political obsessive, and are dying to know what goes on in political campaigns, you should read this book. You won't be disappointed - except you'll find it went by too fast and want more. I did.

To appreciate my point of view, you have to understand that I have always thought that Schrum could turn a phrase or see an argument in a way few could, and I've always thought that he did this with high-minded compassion for the underdog that has survived numerous campaigns and, even more challenging to his integrity, that has endured his own commercial success.

I know there are folk out there who pulled out their long swords to cut at Schrum's revelations and the story he had to tell and that wish him ill. The most prominent of these you can find in Schrum's table of contents so you can see for yourself, if so inclined, precisely how Schrum dispatches the unworthy.

Sour grape critics aside, if you want to get a sense of present politics and past history, this is a book that you must read.

It tells you how Schrum realized his own appetite and skill for the political adventure that became his life story, whether it was his gift to merge the right word with the moment, or to turn the precisely correct argument into a rhetorical pirouhette.

At his best, he takes you inside the back rooms when chaos and indecision must be ordered to figure out what to do next.

He gives you a glimpse into Ted Kennedy, his first and longest lasting loyal devotion, and other presidential runs for the White House.

If you want to know about the high strategy and drive-by slanders and back-biting king-of-the-hill wars on the campaign bus endemic to political campaigns since Brutus drove his blade into Caesar, you'll find a few recent chapters in that history right here.

Schrum writes this as if it's his last memoir, and he's fading from the active political scene.

It is interesting to observe, however, that, in his book, he favors only one candidate running for President on the Democratic side, Barack Obama.

Schrum's direct praise of Obama's qualities, written when the field of candidates was crowded, shows his reading to be somewhat prescient of Obama's success.

It also makes you wonder whether, if Obama gets the democratic nomination in Denver, whether Schrum will be on the talking head shows as an Obama spokesperson, rather than as a disinterested observer and old hand.

Get this book. But don't clutter the aisles reading it on the floor - as I did.

Shrum proves that money and politics corrupts.

Nothing he was written justifies the money he and his business partners garnered from just the Kerrey 2004 campaign. The fees totaled $5,000,000. This money consumption came at the same time that everyday Americans were being pressed to "send their contributions in as soon as possible" Many of these people were on limited incomes and still were being told that they held the key to win the election.

Shrum should be ashamed. His "consulting" has been a total disaster and so much money from honest, everyday working people have been his prize. It didn't matter if the campaigns won or lost, he got the money anyway.

I think one of my favourite moments in the 2004 campaign was when ex-Senator Ernest Hollings saw Kerrey with Shrum sitting at a coffee shop or restaurant and Hollings looked at them and said to Kerry something to the effect that "I thought you want to win this thiing" pointing to Shrum as his consultant. Hollings hit it right on the nose.

Don't buy this book. Why make him even richer?

This book is really fast moving like the events and people it portrays. From a kid explaining theology to a priest to a Pinky & the Brain scenario of taking over the world (or at least a part of it), Doctorow's ideas flash by you.

While not overly techie there's enough thrown in to capture the feel, but us oldies, who remember when MS-DOS (look it up, kids) was new, are able to keep up.

I particularly enjoyed the intelligence that went into this. The unforced humor was the key to my liking it as much as I did. I've already ordered more of his books.

Just a mild disappointment after reading Down and Out at the Magic Kingdom. Many of the same ideas are here, online affinity groups, peer moderation, and creeping insanity.

I wasn't too impressed. Like others have said before me the Story had lots of Potential but in the end was poorly executed. It was a short read which I finished before bed in a couple of nights and I've heard Doctorow has better works which I may try in the future.

The interlinked world which Doctorow describes is entirely possible. One of my problems with the story is that parts of it are too real. Online chat channels complete with trolls. If I wanted that I could log into any chatroom from MSN to MySpace to Second Life(which can come with troll avis dressed as real trolls).

I liked Art but could never really sign onto his mission. The possibility of other tribes being out there completely untied to the time zones is there but not explored. The majority of the common people seem to me to be mundanes (Art dealing with a call from his Grandma just as he is trying to have a romantic moment is hilarious). The Nanny State Bureaucracies that are surely the future of the West before our collapse are explored and ridiculed.

Over all I would reccomend the book as a pleasant way to pass the time if you've run out of reading material and its the only thing that catches your eye at the library. Read Neal Stephenson first for the true Post Cyberpunk experience if you haven't already.

Doctorow is a good writer. If you're familiar with Boing Boing, you'll probably know him as a writer and editor there and I've certainly enjoyed what he had to say in that forum and other online ones.

However I feel suckered when I laid out $13 to read this piece of fluff that's masquerading as a novel. The characters are extremely weak and the plot just drifts along without coming to any sort of solid conclusion. The ideas behind the book are interesting but I just don't think they're worth reading about in a novel that's as uncompelling as this one. You can see where he's taken current trends in how technology is shaping society and twists them to an absurdist end, but at best they're material a cute little 'gee wiz' short story, not a full novel.

I'd stick to boing boing and skip this one.

A couple of interesting ideas, here, but old girlfriends are best quickly ignored and forgotten, not written about, at length. :) Or at least, perhaps not to the point of being so obvious about it, and beating your readers over the head. However, some of the things his tribal consultant was talking about certainly seem to be happening. Sharing music between mp3 players, and that sort of thing. Doctorow is worth reading just for the futurology.

Dr. Bev does a wonderful job giving simple but informative tips on becoming an independent consultant. I have read a couple of her books and they are great. The print is easy to read, and there wonderful samples of contracts,work logs, invoices, and other items a new consultant will need to track and grow a successful business. I recommend this book for anyone desiring to become an independent consultant. I felt confident after reading this book.

I read Dr. Browning's first edition of this book and the 2nd edition is a big improvement, particularly in the specifics of pricing services. She lays out a neat table describing various pricing levels that may be either misleading or inspirational (depending upon how one views money matters) to novices or people looking to start a grant writing career. The truth of the matter is that it takes years of work developing a sound knowledge and experience base, and building a reputation in your community, to earn a basic living as a grant writer. And most grassroots nonprofits - and even some larger ones - balk at paying a REAL hourly rate for the REAL work it takes to write a clear, well-written grant proposal. I love to write and to improve people's lives - that's how I got hooked into writing my first successful grant 5 years ago. And while I do not agree with Bev on her pricing strategy and find the discussion of her ethical beliefs (use of "finder's fees and taking a percentage of a grant as payment) in the book to be confusing, I do respect her success. Because I know first hand what she went through to get there. Probably the most informative section of her book is the chapters related to costs of start-up, which can easily be used as the basis for researching a Business Plan.

This book gave me just the information I was looking for. It is well worth the price.

A warning that the author issues about this book that should be heeded:
It is not for general grant writing/research or for people who are seeking personal grants.

However, for the grant-writing upstart it is a priceless guide! Thank you Beverly Browning...

I was utterly surprised and disappointed when I opened the box and found what can only be described as a pamphlet inside.

It certainly is NOT worth the $49 price tag. The roughly 60+ sheets (printed on both sides) of paper and the oversized type serve as negative reminders that I paid far too much for this booklet.

I can't comment on the validity of the information contained because of my lack of grant writing experience, but I am absolutely certain I paid way too much for way too little. This book reminds me of my grade-school strategy to dupe the teacher into thinking she got what she asked for by writing with really big letters and repeating paragraphs verbatim in order to fill us space. Didn't work back then, either.