Professions Books

The best book on information technology ethics. Good coverage of ethical theories and how they apply to the information age.

One of the best textbooks on IT ethics. Plenty of real world cases that illustrate how principles of ethical theories are dealt with in the age of information.

This book is extremely thorough yet easy to use. It came highly recommended by two very respected (well published, board certified, etc)professors I worked under as part of my clincal internship. My primary duites are not as a forensic psychologist; however, I have found in the couse of my work for an Outpatient Community Mental Health center that one can never really avoid forensic / competency issues and related evaluations. I have referred to this text often in the year since I purchased it; this book has proved invaluable. Forensic issues are increasingly prevalent in todays clinical practice; even if you are not primarily interested in forensic psychology, chances are you have or will be asked to assess competency at some point; while clinically oriented professors often offer some guidance on this matter, they often lack the epxerience / expertise to thoroughly train their students on the legal aspects of such determinations. This book provides the most relevant and accurate needed to ensure prudent and high quality. My only regret is that I did not purchase this book sooner.

Rob Metzger, Psy.D.

"The first edition of this book was a classic, widely cited both for its analysis of forensic assessment instruments and for Grisso's integrative theory of forensic evaluation. With the second edition, Evaluating Competencies remains a classic. I expect that whenever a forensic psychologist of psychiatrist prepares for an advanced examination in this specialty, this book will-or should-be one of the first books reviewed."
Philip H. Witt, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate
Dept. of Psychiatry

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

I just finished reading "Every Woman Should Go to Law School or Read This Book," by Margaret Basch, J.D. When I first started flipping through it, I thought it might be boring, dry do-it-yourself legal advice. It wasn't.

While "Every Woman..." teemed with advice on legal research, finding a lawyer, some do-it-yourself tips and getting the government to do your legal work for free, it also carried messages of girl power. Basch encourages women to become powerful in their jobs by reacting "like a man." Men don't worry about hurting someone's feelings if they get promoted; they worry about what tie to wear, she says. Every woman should also know how to negotiate effectively, whether it's for a raise or a new car, and write effective complaint and appreciation letters. If that isn't enough, Basch finally solves the mystery of networking for women. (Hint: it's not in those "networking lunches.")

As a total law layperson, I'm going to recommend the book because it's easy to read, very informative and well worth the $.... It might be too basic for those who actually went to law school, but for me, it inspired me. I've even used some of the tactics to get a refund already!

Excellent, enjoyable book filled information for the independent or not-so-independent woman. Legal matters are not above your head, when you use this little book as a guide. Ms. Basch must actually be one of an endangered species...a smart, sympathetic, humorous lawyer. I read it, enjoyed it, and recommend it.

The year 2006 was the 100th anniversary of the first scientific use of earth materials in a criminal trial. According to Murray, who wrote the book on the subject (it's called "Forensic Geology"), the first to assemble earth evidence systematically enough to present to a court was Georg Popp, a German chemist who was called in to examine evidence when a woman was strangled in a field.
On a dirty handkerchief, he found traces of coal, snuff and hornblende. Dirt from the clothes and under the fingernails of a suspect matched, and he confessed.
(Though Murray does not write about it, the mystery writer P.D. James and the historian T.A. Critchley used forensic geology to finger a likely suspect in one of the most sensational multiple murders of the 19th century. The investigators at the time were aware of the evidence -- otherwise James and Critchley could not have reconstructed the crime -- but unlike Popp, they were not able to use it in securing a conviction. The story is retold in "The Maul and the Pear Tree.")
One of the earliest appeals court decisions that endorsed the use of geologic evidence came from Hawaii in 1933, in a rape case, Territory v. Young. The soil on the suspect's trousers matched the crime scene but not his alibi location.
It isn't always simple. Murray says, "Some current television programs and books that describe forensic science confuse the roles of evidence collector, forensic examiner and investigator, giving the public the wrong idea . . . The true forensic scientist mechanically studies the evidence and presents an opinion independent of advocacy for any side in the legal issue."
It isn't all about gruesome killings, either.
The number of insurance cases requiring forensic geology involving international container shipments in the Age of Terrorism is disturbing.
Read Murray's book and you'll never watch "CSI" without laughing again.

EVIDENCE FROM THE EARTH Forensic Geology and Criminal Investigation, by Raymond C. Murray, 2004, Missoula, MT, Mountain Press, 226 p.

This book by Ray Murray is perhaps the most clearly written and definitive statement about forensic geology published to date. The author has close to 30 years experience as a forensic geologist in addition to being a renowned sedimentary geologist, a co-author of a major textbook on sedimentary geology, and a highly-respected and astute university administrator.

The basic principle of forensic geology is that of transfer. Anything (hands, feet, paper, and so forth) that is in contact with another object or person causes a transfer of signature traces from each object. Identifying that ingredient which is preserved from the transfer is critical to identify key sources of that ingredient. In criminology, those sources usually are associated with crime scenes and lead to convictions or exonerations.

Geological materials, whether natural or mixed with processed materials, provide an abundance of transferable ingredients and Murray illustrates the critical facts one needs to know to use such materials. The reader is taken through examples, historical improvement of technology, the nature of geological materials (written in everyday English without diminishing the technical level of what is being discussed), relevant geological principles, evidence collection, laboratory methods of examination, geophysical methods, and fraud related to the mining industry, gems and art. Each chapter focuses on one of these topics and is liberally sprinkled with actual cases that led to successful criminal prosecutions to illustrate the topic at hand.

Who should read this book? In my view, it should be read by every criminal lawyer, criminal investigator, judges, expert witnesses, consultants in the forensic field, professional geologists, mystery writers and producers and directors of mystery movies and yes everyone who enjoys CSI.

I highly recommend "Evidence from the earth:.." as a great read and learning experience and rate it as a five star, thumbs-up, outstanding book.

I like this book by reason of its comprehensive contents for evidence-based mental health practice.

This is an excellent learning tool for anyone interested in learning more about Evidence based practice! It is easy to understand, I highly recommend this.

I was a young child in Primary School when baby Azaria got taken by the Dingo, but even now 25 years on, I still remember the debates on whether Lindy Chamberlain was innocent or guilty.
Comments such as "she looks too emotionally cold for a woman who has just lost her baby" and the speculation that because Azaria had a black dress in her wardrobe, her parents must have been invoved in sacrificial rituals, because who would dress a baby in black?
What occurred at the time was a media sensation that used peoples fear of the uncommon (ie. a little known religion "the seventh day adventists) and used it to sell their magazines, newspapers or boost their television ratings. The media have a lot to answer for, as do the Northern Territory Police whose shoddy investigative methods and conclusions led to a Nation wide hate crime against a family who were going through one of the most difficult experiences a family can face, the loss of a child.
Evil Angels is a factual and non-biased account (despite my afore mentioned feeling on the matter) about the events leading up to the dissapearance of Azaria Chamberlain and the investigation, media frenzy and court trial that occurred afterwards.
It is a long book, but very interesting and tragic.
I highly recommend this book.

This is a classic in not only telling the story of the Chamberlains, particularly Lindy, the mother whose baby was taken by a dingo 20 years ago, but also about how people can be caught up in a maelstrom of media scrutiny.

I remember the events so well, and, like the rest of Australia, watched them unfold year by year.

The Northern territory government and the media have a lot to answer for. The NT remains a backwater of injustice to this day - most often directed towards Aborigines, but also, as demonstrated here, with invective directed towards another group outside the conventional mainstream.

The media reported in the most outrageously biased and one-sided fashion, and actually whipped up the populous into a frenzy of finger-pointing, gossiping hatred toward Mrs Chamberlain.

I am not at all religious, but to my mind Seventh Day Adventism doesn't even sit far outside the mainstream Christian tradition, yet we were encouraged to believe it was some sort of devil-worshipping Jim Jones type sect.

Eventually the government was forced to recognise the veracity of the Chamberlain's story. ironically, another person died on The Rock for the essential clue to be discovered - a tourist fell off and his body was found near the baby's matinee jacket. It is almost beyond belief the lengths the authorities went to to balme the parents, when most of the people closest to the event on that night verified or supported the Chamberlain's case. Yet those voices were drowned out for years.

Bryson did a wonderful job of bringing this story to public atttention,and some of the most important parts were effectively translated to the screen in the Meryl Streep movie (Cry In The Dark).

I have been involved in polygraphy since 1976, I have attended many annual seminars from different Polygraph Associations.I have testified in many criminal and civil cases involving polygraphy. Never have I read such a useful book to prepare me for the most robust of cross-examinations from the best attorneys.If you are a dedicated polygraph examiner, take the profession seriously and do not want to get caught off-guard,this book is a MUST. Take my word, this volume will supply you with the correct answers to give attorneys and judges which will enhance your professionnalism on the stand. I highly recommend it.Great for attorneys involved in polygraph cases. This book is a jewel.

As an attorney with a longtime interest in polygraph, I was thrilled to find Dr. Matte's recent contribution to this field. As Mr. Kitchen notes in his foreword to Dr. Matte's masterful treatise, the primary obstacle to the wide spread use of polygraph evidence in litigation is the difficulty of laying a proper foundation for its admission. To the average attorney the intricacies of psychophysiological veracity (PV) examinations present a virtual minefield of obstacles to the effective presentation of a foundation for admitting polygraph evidence or the cross-examination of an opposing expert. In "Examination and Cross-Examination of Experts in Forensic Psychophysiology Using the Polygraph", Dr. Matte has given us a detailed map to enable even the most unschooled practitioner to confidently navigate a safe passage.

I bought this after getting really frustrated with the kaplan book. This package has a couple of great features. It has complete books for all three sections, which means it's way more thorough than an all-in-one book. Some people like power score, but they have one glaring omission - no Reading Comp book! Not to mention that this package is cheaper than buying all the PS books.

Anyway, the best part about this is that it really makes a lot of sense and has tons of examples. I liked the timed quizzes on each topic. These books skip the gimmicky tricks that don't really work anyway and focus on pure understanding of how the test works. I think they really get it right. After buying this and some past official tests, my scores on practice tests improved by about 12 points.

Very thorough and detailed review! I've read through pretty much every LSAT prep book and I would say that these are even better than PowerScore books. They cover details and distinctions that no other LSAT book does. Obviously the Official LSAT tests are necessary, but when it comes to actually analyzing the question types and methodology, I would say these books are likewise necessary!

[Book review I wrote for an earlier edition of this book.]

After reading this book you can probably be an executor for an estate without hiring an attorney (assuming no legal documents have to be prepared or filed in court). I found this book in the reference section of the Westfield Pubic Library (NJ) along with its companion book: A Family Guide to Wills, Funerals & Probate (ISBN: 081604550X). This book was written for an executor to read, and the companion book concerned much of the same material but for the decedent to read before he or she dies.

I thought this book was great, and that it will help an executor gain a grasp of his or her responsibilities when administering and closing a decedent's estate. It is written without legal jargon. Have you ever had to administer an estate and gone to an attorney for help? Did you expect the attorney to tell you about your duties and delegate as much of the work to you as possible? And did you find the attorney did a lot of work you think you could and should have done? Well, if so, then this book probably could have helped you talk to the attorney and have more worked delegated to you.

This book is as comprehensive as it needs to be to educate an executor about his or her duties. When those duties can be complicated, the authors explain the basics so an attorney can be consulted to provide legal services. Keep in mind that many estates can be settled without any legal help being needed. Thus, I recommend an executor read this book before ever seeking an attorney for help, guidance, or services.

The edition of the book I read was hardbound and very pretty. There was an index of terms in the back of the book. However, I would have liked the book better if there had been a glossary of terms back there, too. Don't worry that the book doesn't have your state in its title. It is written so it is applicable to executors in all 50 states.

I found the book to be deficient in covering (failed to cover) the various tax forms (federal estate & income; state estate & income) that must be filed. They mention them, but I would have liked the book better if more had been written about them. Filing the tax returns is often the most complicated aspect of doing executor work. Most of the other things just take time. 5 stars!

Not only is this a first rate guide for someone who wants to do his best for the beneficiaries of a will or trust, but it also an excellent resource for anyone who wishes to identify and repair the weak points of his own will or trust. There is also a short, but detailed summary of how to prepare a proper Letter of Instructions for the executor of your own estate.

After five dazzling books each penned - in its own way - at the outlands of the vast intellectual map he is master of - William Ian Miller now gives us Eye for an Eye - a supercharged book fixed inexorably, brilliantly and meticulously at the core of his unrivaled expertise on revenge cultures; a book which explicates with extraordinary sensitivity, precision, even delicacy Miller's tough-minded sensibility about justice. In his preface Miller calls his book "an anti-theory of justice." The appellation is less a description of his own work than a concise critique (so very concise, indeed, as to be a flat dismissal) of the abstract theories of justice that have dominated the academy in the past century and have made scholarly writings about justice irrelevant to 99.99% of the world. Yet Miller's book is a theory of justice - one which insists that justice is about righting the balance, achieving reciprocity and cultivating a willingness to bear the not inconsiderable costs of getting even. Miller explores and explains the nuances of balance in its relation to wrongdoing and he argues convincingly that revenge - to be worthy of the name - must be finely tuned, skillfully measured, and meted out with intelligence (not to mention style). Miller demonstrates the admirable sophistication of revenge cultures. He shows us both how vengeance within such cultures was not indiscriminate, unbridled violence and that much intellectual agility and practical reasonableness went into getting it right when getting even.

Eye for an Eye is also a theory of the body and the body in its relation to justice. We may call it an "anti-theory" here too, since to do so will imply an equally flat dismissal of the generation of academics whose cooler-than-thou theorizing about "the body" has successfully bullied us into to thinking about "the body" as a brainy idea - too feeble, however, to stray too far from its intellectual bolsters like "culturally constructed" "articulated" or "inscribed upon." Miller's theory of the body never lets us forget all that we already know only too well about eyes, teeth, arms, legs, hands, fingers, feet, toes and toenails. (Anyone who has lost a big toenail or broken their pinky will identify acutely with Miller's discussion of the value of these parts.) Miller proves that bodies can and have paradoxically done double duty both as the nuclei of human dignity and as more or less valuable currency in economies of getting even. Bodies and body parts are money, both as measures of value and sometimes also as means of payment.

The crucial - and genuinely earth shattering - insight of this book and the core of Miller's theory of justice is that the lex talionis - the law of an eye for an eye - facilitates rather than ruling out what we see as the more "civilized" processes of negotiation and compensation. He makes a fascinating and compelling argument that - in the language of Calabresi and Melamed - the lex talionis protects our eyes, teeth, and the like with "property rules" not "liability rules." This means that the victim not the wrongdoer, and not a third party, decides how much the wrongdoer must pay for putting his eye out. If the wrongdoer balks at the victim's price - very well. But the credible threat of a return brooch in the eye might just (as we would say) bring the wrongdoer back to the table. Miller masterfully show us that eyes, teeth and lives have greater value in such a regime; and it is in our own culture - not in the revenge cultures that we look down on as barbaric - that life is cheap.

Miller's discussions of the scales of justice, the subtlety of discourse particles like "just" and "even," circumcision, cannibalism, accountants, Shylock and The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, compensation and commensurability, and the significance of the seating arrangements at Viking feasts are among the many virtuoso performances in this book that are not to be missed.

William Ian Miller pinpoints the key difficulty in dealing with compensation for bodily loss: the market price of the lost part cannot match the value of its former contribution to the unmolested organism. Lex talionis affords a solution to this disparity by enabling the victim to opt for incurring a reciprocal loss in lieu of accepting monetary compensation offered by the party responsible for his injury. The ensuing threat of losing a valuable organ inspires the perpetrator to raise his offer to the level implicit in its ownership.