Services Books

The Postal Service Guide provides an excellent opportunity to get a ballpark value of an existing collection or to fantasize about your next purchase. Any stamp collector should find this guide a helpful tool. Stamps are pictured in color with information regarding date of issue, value and description.

Thoughtfully catalogued...easy to follow...accurate, current pricing...vivid pictures. Don't hesitate to buy this guide.

jules5253

The USPS Guide to US stamps is the best illustrated and best priced general guide to US stamps. Specialists will want more specific information, but for the general collector the info here is quite adequate, and the color photos are very helpful. It's easy to use, too, and affordable. It fills its niche in philatelic reference material quite adequately.

Reference index excellent for cataloging stamps. The spiral binding is great for being able to open the book and compare the page information against the stamp in hand! Recommend it for all stamp collecting fans

My husband is a beginner at stamp collecting as a hobby. This little book is fantastic. It numbers all your stamps, in a easy to read format. We had been to a stamp and coin store, the week before. We bought a book that was sugested by the store clerk and spent well over $50.00. This little book is just as good, if not better.At a very GOOD Price. Thanks, Amazon!

I have received the item in a good condition. Else, product features were available as mentioned on website. This is for the first time I have dealt with Amazon people and I find it worth dealing in future also. Regards, Pranav Darji.

James has been rightly credited as the father of Psychology, and this was the work that launched psychology into a field of its own. When it came out some 100 years ago, The Principles was criticized as "un-systematic." James would have taken this as a compliment. It is exactly because this book is not an elaborately contrived system that it remains fresh as a morning flower. Full of details and insight, it is perhaps the most epic and insightful psychological work every produced. That said, The Principles doesn't quite stay within the bounds of psychology. As you will see from the citations (which are voluminous), James was also well read in the humanities, from abstruse philosophy to literary fiction. But then, James was living in a time when Philosophy and Psychology were not distinct disciplines. Not a problem if you enjoy philosophizing. For its breadth, scope and penetrating insights, this book might never grow stale.

This book is a beautiful classic. James is unafraid to tackle the perplexing questions about consciousness. He is also unencumbered by simplistic theoretical assumptions or restrictive definitions of science, but he holds to a high standard of clarity and steers for the truth.

This book is a brilliant catalogue of the phenomena that must be explained by the various brain and psychological sciences. While the behaviorist movement that came after James led to important advances in scientific method, in terms of objectively establishing empirical results, it also led to a massive denial of mental phenomena that cannot at present be explained purely in mechanical or behaviorial terms. Because subsequent generations have denied the phenomena, or written them off as "illusions" or "folk psychology," as is still common today, this book is a precious trove of unbiased insights about the mind.

I would thus agree with the other reviewers that this is a great book. However, while they seem to claim James for functionalism, (which is I think the dominant framework for understanding mind in contemporary cognitive science--holding that implementing certain functions such as self-representation and planning, are what makes a system conscious, no matter what it's made out of) I suggest that much of James' critique of what he calls the "mind-stuff theory" and the "associationists" is equally devastating to what is now called functionalism. For example, people still talk about patterns of brain actvity as if they had objective, ontological reality. But we can completely describe the brain at the level of molecules without reference to patterns, so the pattern is not an intrinsic, necessary way of interpreting the activity of the physical brain system. Similarly, having the idea of A and the idea of B does not imply having the idea of A+B. James makes this basic point in multiple ways in his book. It seems more or less equivalent to the point articulated in recent times by John Searle, that "any physical process you might find is computational only relative to some interpretation," ie some observer (in "The Mystery of Consciousness" p.16). When expressed in Searle's modern language, it is more clear why the distinction between real objective properties of a system and its extrinsic observer-dependent properties, is a big problem for contemporary functionalism.

In any case, I highly recommend this book to any serious student of psychology. It's not for boneing up for psych exams or grant proposals, but for patiently ruminating on and savoring.

This 1400-page work in two volumes, published in 1890, is probably the best single survey of psychology ever written.

The work is of imposing size, but James covers such a wide field, so thoroughly and so engagingly, that to my own surprise I read both volumes cover to cover, back to back. The two volumes comprise 28 chapters, including "The Functions of the Brain", "Habit", "The Stream of Thought", "Attention", "Association", "Memory", "Imagination", "The Perception of Reality", "Reasoning", and "Will"--to name just a few that I found the most fascinating.

James's reasoning is sharp and subtle, his writing clear and vigorous. The qualities of his own mind, which come through in the prose, are astonishing: he is both skeptical and open-minded, deeply versed in the existing literature, and an original and fearless thinker. He must have been a fantastic prof.

I was a little afraid that the age of the book would make it antique, with fusty 19th-century notions that have long since been disproved. Not a bit! With few exceptions, the material is as fresh and relevant today as it was in 1890. Even the material on brain physiology and function, an area where the 20th century can claim to have made some progress, was sharp, perceptive, and interesting.

The advent of Freud, Pavlov, and others in the 20th century seemed to push certain theoretical ideas about the mind to the forefront, putting other, older ideas in the shade. My prejudice was that they had made 19th-century psychology irrelevant. I was wrong. There were many able minds studying psychology long before Freud, and their findings and views are well worth knowing. Among other things, James's book is a treasure-trove of psychological thinking up to the time of his writing, including many extracts by other researchers, both those he admires and those he is critical or dismissive of.

James, of course, was not merely a psychologist; he was also a philosopher. If I had to give a single reason why I think this book is excellent, it would be that James fearlessly tackles questions lying at the boundary of what today are seen as distinct disciplines. Here you'll find penetrating, persuasive insights into the nature of reasoning, logic, and the will, as well as the origin of aesthetic and moral ideas. James is as thoroughly versed in the works and ideas of Kant, Hume, Berkeley, Locke, and Mill as he is in those of his fellow psychologists. He confronts the thinking of the greatest minds with complete confidence, using his laserlike intellect to discover their obscurities and contradictions. He is their peer.

At the same time, James is humane and folksy in his style, often making references to his own experience, domestic life, and the little experiments he often performed on himself or his students. He writes with candor, humanity, and honesty. Time and again he comes to conclusions or makes observations that cut to the core of human experience altogether.

Technically this is a textbook surveying psychology, probably for a first-year introductory course. It bears almost no resemblance to the dry, cautious tomes that usually fill that role. It is an impassioned work by a learned, deep, and original mind explaining his own conclusions on this vast and elusive topic, based on long study, experiment, and careful thought. It is one of a kind. If you're interested in the human mind, this book is for you.

Why would anyone want to read a book about psychology that was first published 113 years
ago? One answer is the rationale for reading any psychology book: that it
provides insights into psychological issues not available elsewhere. Although
many psychologists of the late 19th and early 20th century probably started their career by
reading this book, it is not appropriate today as an introduction to psychology. Too
many of James's viewpoints are antiquated, and his facts, outdated or incorrect. Neither
is it the book to read if you are looking for contemporary psychological views
or a compilation of psychological knowledge. Recent textbooks are better for these purposes.
Yet, the word most frequently used to describe James's Principles of Psychology
is probably 'monumental' and rightly so because not only is this a lengthy work (~1400pgs),
but it also is the culmination of a long line of philosophical thinking about the Soul,
Self, Mind, Matter, and related topics that began with the pre-Socratic Greeks
and continued through the 19th century, when positivist philosophers and experimentalists
began to explore psychologically relevant philosophical questions in more concrete terms,
invoking a scientific method and rejecting metaphysics. At the end of the 19th century, a
seeming riot of discussion about the meaning of life, the nature of consciousness, mind,
ego, evolution, and related subjects dominated the scientific and popular culture.

At this point in history, William James, an American trained as a physician and employed
as a Harvard professor, examines the various philosophies of the previous two millenia, picking
out those aspects relevant to psychology, comparing and sorting them to reveal their value
as unambiguous theories that might be tested by research, and reflecting on how the evidence
stacks up in their favor. He also advances his own, original conceptions on various issues.
His work is not the first to collect speculation and evidence into a coherent
psychology, and there are many previous works with "Psychology" in their titles,
but James's efforts would galvanize an American discipline of psychological science that
would eventually become a dominant intellectual force.

James defines psychology as the "Science of Mental Life" and describes the
stream of consciousness as "the ultimate fact for psychology." Out of his viewpoint,
the school of functionalism in psychology developed, where the mind is conceived as a
useful organ that evolves according to natural selection and grows according
to discoverable rules. His orientation towards physiological and behavioral data
eventually diminished the then dominant psychological
method of introspection that James himself uses so frequently with great effect.
Subsequent viewpoints in psychology, such as behaviorism, though taking part of their
inspiration from functionalism, reject James's definition of psychology, so that
by the end of the 20th century, most psychologists with an empirical orientation may
call themselves "behavioral scientists," but certainly not "mental scientists."

Reading this book can be disconcerting, perhaps because of his period style or
Victorian sensibilities, or the frequent, unglossed short quotes and phrases in German, French,
and Latin because he assumes the reader has at least these minimal language skills.
Perhaps also, it is because James is not only conversant with the giants of philosophy
and experimental technique who preceeded him, but seemingly, with virtually every
published sentence to date bearing on the subjects of concern, and in veritable fractal detail,
producing a tour de force in erudition. His is not the style of current psychology
journals and textbooks, but fortunately he does translate into English many long passages
he quotes from their original sources. Yet possibly the most disconcerting aspects
are the subjects that James raises in this book.

The new mainstream psychology after James rejects many topics as unsuitable - even for
discussion - that figure prominently in the intellectual history of philosophy
and psychology. James's view that the concept of Soul should be eliminated in
scientific works is one point on which later psychologists heartily agree, but they
also, to a large extent, throw out other concepts of central concern to James, such as
mind, emotion, will, and feeling. Rare pleas by scholars
with varying backgrounds (e.g., Ornstein, Tomkins) urge students of psychology to
revisit issues discussed by James and address the larger questions contained therein, but
such exhorations echo mostly in halls of learning emptied by Vita enhancement pressures.
Renewal of interest reappears lately for some of the suppressed topics, cast into such areas as
cognitive psychology or emotion theory, but James's idea that the mind is a core
concept remains foreign to virtually all contemporary psychologists, and much of his
emphasis seems uncomfortable from today's viewpoint.

The reluctance among psychologists to embrace such philosophical and scientific issues
concerning the mind is remarkably not shared by some physicists, mathematicians,
biologists, computer scientists, and other scientists who in recent works have implied
that psychologists may be irrelevant to elucidating such issues, if not muddle-headed,
scientific dwarfs. This twist is ironic because psychologists restrict their
vocabulary and investigations partly to ape their conception of these "hard-core" sciences.
It is not clear whether psychology will survive the choices that psychologists have
made about their subject matter, or whether psychology departments will inevitably be
diced and parsed into their appropriate slots in departments of computer science, biology,
medicine, statistics, and physics, but certainly, the end of psychology is nearer if
tomorrow's students of psychology fail to study James's Principles of Psychology.

James's work is the jumping off point for much of what forms 20th century psychology:
habit, association, attention, memory, imagination, object and space perception, etc.
His thoughts about emotion, feelings, the self, consciousness, and other topics remain important
for today's theoretical views. On the other hand, this work predates psychoanalysis
and does not include an organized account of abnormal psychology, human communication,
and other topics raised in most elementary surveys of psychology. The context in which
James puts scientific psychology is probably the most important lesson of this book.
The Dover edition is unabridged, the only form of this work that should be
considered by the serious reader.

It has been a few weeks since I have recieved this book and I believe that this will be a great tool for anyone looking to start a business. The books has many hints and tips that, im sure will make you business profitable. This is a must have for anyone wanting to open a resturant, bar or nightclub. Very impressive.

Bought this book, very detailed info for operating you bar. The only down side is the size of the font. The font is huge compared to most other books and that makes it a little difficult to read.

The Professional Bar and Beverage Manager's Handbook is a hefty hardback, and serves as a comprehensive guide to the successful management of bars, pubs, and night clubs. This volume comprises nineteen chapters that cover diverse topics such as how to make a gin and tonic, hiring and firing employees, to tips on how to recognize fake IDs.

A unique and useful feature of this book is the clear state-specific legislation that regulates bar operation in each area. For instance, in Arizona, Happy Hour Laws dictate that no free drinks may be given to patrons, and that bartenders must be age 19 or over in order to pour, sell, and serve alcohol.

Easy to reproduce sample forms include the most common forms used in restaurant management, such as a Receiving Checklist to a Pour Cost Chart form, but also include unique and useful forms such as a robbery description form. A handy companion CD-ROM is included in the volume, and provides forms critical to any successful bar operation, including a sample business plan.

Other useful features of this book include a glossary of bar and management terms, as well as a reference list of manufacturers and service providers. The Professional Bar and Beverage Manager's Handbook is highly recommended for anyone involved in bar and night club operations.

The Professional Bar and Beverage Managers Handbook has the look and feel of an encyclopedia on the outside, and the contents of a detail oriented bar entrepreneur on the inside. It's a large book, with large print, which leaves plenty of room for margin notes. The book is quite comprehensive and covers end to end, everything to consider when opening and running a bar or nightclub.

The opening chapter provides an extensive overview of opening a bar. It suggests several questions to ask yourself, offers how to conduct market research and analyze your competition and tips on financial planning. This chapter also goes into creating a business plan and provides a 50-page sample business plan to model on the accompanying CD-ROM.

The depth and breadth of detail covered is quite impressive. Topics covered include laws of various states, how to properly prepare and serve drinks, controls, finances, and so much more. An example of the detail can be found in chapter 7, where a section goes into the process of properly pouring a beer. Additionally there are several web links sprinkled throughout the pages pointing the reader to a variety of suppliers and vendors.

Some information may seem over simplified, or common sense, such as the section on "The Qualities of a Good Employee," however this is offset by the overall thoroughness of each section and truly contains the level of information one would expect in a bar manager's handbook.

The CD-ROM is chalk full of forms and charts. The same documents that are contained in chapter 19 are conveniently stored as PDF files for ease of printing. These documents range from alcohol awareness charts inventory control reports and more. My only qualm with the CD-ROM is that the forms are not stored in a format easily edited by end users.

The book is a little pricey, but considering all that's packed into it, there is no question that you'll get more than you pay for, and something you'll want on your shelf. You'll find it at Amazon.com. Bottom line, if you're already a bar or nightclub owner, you could gain some new information, and if you're thinking about opening a bar, you'll have a better idea of what it takes.

This is no casual companion, but a professional bar manager's handbook which was over two years in the making: as such, it goes far beyond the usual focus on recipes to cover all the basics on how to set up, operate and manage a successful beverage operation. All kinds of bar operators receive tips on trends, marketing, equipment and products, and more. Professionals seeking a comprehensive manual to the business can't go wrong here. And yes, it does include recipes - lots of 'em. And a companion cd-rom packed with information.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

We found this book to be an excellent guide, answering our questions or informing us of what to expect before, during and after surgery. Easy to understand and very helpful. A must for any family dealing with prostate or prostate cancer concerns. We recommend the book!

I was introduced to this book after I had had a radical psostatectomy and spent countless hours researcing the internet. I wish I could have read it early on in my diagnosis and treatment. The book is well organized, clearly written in terms that a layman can readily understand. The layout and chapter arrangement is logical and there is even an appendix listing useful internet web sites.

I found this book to be informative, written on a level that is easily understood by the lay person. Reading this book helped me to make decisions regarding my situation with confidence. Would recommend this book to any family facing prostate cancer and also to those men who have a history of prostate cancer in their families.

Comprehensive but clear and easy-to-use guide. Read the whole book or just those chapters or sections you need (good index). Question and answer format helped me formulate questions to ask MY doctor.

This is a wonderful resource for all men aged 50 and over, whether or not you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is organized in a very logical format, from normal male anatomy and physiology to the problems men have which are "benign" and then goes into the entire work-up, diagnosis, treatment and survival options for men with prostate cancer. It has an unbelievable index and is filled with useful information for finding a physician that will listen to your needs and wishes. I especially liked the chapter on diet and nutrition. The entire book is easy to read and understand and is surprisingly positive and hopeful. I was fortunate to receive this book from my doctor, but I am buying and recommending them for everyone I know, now.

Anyone with hearing loss will identify with the content of David Myer's book. Very inspirational!

This book is very nice and a valuable source. However, there are some things you ought to know before buying it.

The book is very subjective in the sense that it is written in diary form. The author basically tells you about his experiences with hearing loss. Fortunately, he does have insightful comments with regard to hearing loss.

This book both made me sad and happy at the same time.

The account of this guy made me very happy that there are others out there who do understand what I'm going through, like I'm not alone or just antisocial. Deaf IS an important issue when communicating and relating to others.

Sad because for the first time I fully realized how real this is for me. I just can't keep ignoring it. I need to understand that there are things I must do to become more functional out there as a hard of hearing person.

Why 4 stars?

Well, the book isn't exactally written by a professional advisor on hearing issues. He is a psychologist who happened to be hard of hearing. And as far as I know he does not have a speciallity in hearing therapy or such. What I'm saying is that you should read the book as a valuable testimony from someone's experience, not as a professional help source.

It is important to have this kind of book, because there are people who need to know there are others going through similar experiences. Yet, it is very important you understand this is still a very subjective book.

He also mentions that he is a teacher and all the big time problems he has in his class and conferences. It sure most be hell for him, still what about people who hadn't even had an education to teach and who need to work in even way more demanding (for the hearing impaired) workplaces because they had not had other choices.

Again, the book is good, but keep in mind it is just the very personal account and not a professional source to help you overcome deaf or hard of hearing problems.

This book is wonderful and useful in a variety of ways. It deserves all of the praise it has earned. The chapter "Aids and Advice" contains a helpful subsection, "Advice for Friends and Family Members" that is invaluable. Tips such as "invite us to a quiet place," "get our attention," "face the light and face us," "rephrase," "create a context," and "speak slowly" are essential for successful communication with people with hearing loss since, for many people with hearing loss, lip-reading is necessary or at least desirable.

Wearers of hearing aids become particularly vexed by, for example, noisy restuarants. This is because most hearing aids still amplify all sounds without prejudice - the words you want to hear (the signal) along with the crash of dishes three tables away (the noise). Add curtainless windows, uncarpeted floors, background music, and ever-increasing decibel level of voices competing to be heard, and you get a very noisy place. Myers explains this in good detail. He then shares his wonderful fantasy : respite from the "noisy world" of most restaurants and coffee shops via a chain of acoustically thought-out tea rooms and coffeehouses named "A Quiet Place." He quotes various studies and surveys that have shown that a great many restaurant patrons object to excessive noise.

Myers offers some great trivia, such as the fact that umpires' hand signals were invented in 1892 by William Hoy, the major leagues' first deaf player. In addition, Myers cites the works and writings of others (whom he names) - Oliver Sacks, linguist William Stokoe, Alexander Graham Bell, for example - leading his reader further into this interesting field, should one wish to read on. He also mentions, though not in much detail, some current research and developments, using lay person's terms. There is an appendix of resources for the hard of hearing, and an index. No bibliography, unfortunately.

A great book and thoroughly worthwhile.

This book has so much to offer for the hearing-impaired and their families. I almost skipped over it because it is the author's story of losing his hearing as an adult. My son was diagnosed at age 4 1/2. I am so glad that I decided to read it! Myers offers a wealth of technical information along with an impressive list of internet resources. Perhaps the most important aspect of the book is the emotional insight in dealing with hearing loss. I definitely learned to be more patient with my son after reading this book. I visited the author's website and emailed him about his helpful book. He even emailed back with more suggestions for my son!

If you have loss of hearing, the prose and memoirs by Dr. Myers will be profoundly familiar. You will find yourself sitting and listening to this friend as he shares secrets you seldom discuss with anyone. The author offers rich experiences in roller coaster rides of emotion. He is insightful, humorous, sensitive, revealing, encouraging--and often painfully honest. You feel his torment and elation, and through it, not only come to know the author, but clearly more about living with hearing loss.

An excellent recommendation for those with hearing loss, and professionals who desire to learn more about the experience.

Dr. Myers leaves you anxiously waiting for his next book. . .

Richard Carmen, Au.D. Clinical Audiologist, Sedona AZ rcarmen27@yahoo.com [and Editor/Author, "The Consumer Handbook on Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids: A Bridge to Healing," Auricle Ink Publishers, 1998]

This is a great pocket book for a quick review. Seller was prompt and book was in excellent condition.

This is great to use while your sitting at your scanner. Easy to read and understand.

Faulkner is easy to follow and understand. This book is just the right size to carry around with you to use as a reference,also.

Very useful, great supplement to MRI in Practice. Worth the price.

Beleive me this is THE best little MRI review book I have ever seen so far. It is very easy to undersand and very concise. IT covers everything in an easy to understand way. I really helped me.

Mr. Ricketts has delivered a practical users guide for TOC in the service sector. It is a no-nonsense read that provides a structured intro to TOC and makes the leap to service sector eloquently.

Don't be put off by intro, for those of us who have studied Dr. Goldratts work, it is an enlightening reminder of those core concepts and all of them are related to service rather than the manufacture of goods.

Each chapter pulls the reader through the concepts in theory and is backed with practical application. Sevice business managers and owners can unlock the power of TOC in a way never presented previously.

The chapters are completed with an overview of key-learnings for the reader to reflect upon. The comparison and ramafactions of services when available and services on demand is significant.

Delivery of services on demand is a sure fire way to grow your business and market. Utilizing the "bench" as professional sports teams do is key.

If you are learing TOC in a service business this is a must read!

Rickett's "Reaching the Goal" provides foundational insights for practitioners and researchers seeking a science of service (sometimes called the emergence of Service Science Management Engineering and Design). The author takes on the challenge of complex service businesses, including B2B (Business to Business) and PSTS (Professional Scientific and Technical Services). PSTS are the most highly customized of all services, which means that demand for these services is not easily predicted, and service delivery is not easily automated. The discussion of internal, external, and interface constraints is clear and concise. Theory of Constraints (TOC) gets its name from the fact that all enterprises are constrained by something. If they weren't, they could grow as large and as fast as they wanted. A common theme is therefore that local improvement rarely leads to global improvement, unless focused on the proper constraints at the proper time. The book guides the reader through a series of contrasting approaches: Critical Chain versus Critical Path, Throughput Accounting versus Cost Accounting, as well as others. I highly recommend this book to all faculty who are establishing service science courses or degree programs, as well as service researchers and practitioners in industry and government.

This is simply an outstanding book! Dr Ricketts brings unusual clarity of thought and writing style to this discussion of TOC concepts and the services business. I have read many TOC books. This is easily one of the top books in field.

Beginning with an excellent review of TOC concepts, Dr. Ricketts transports you to the services business. There, he surfaces the issues and challenges found in services environments and how TOC provides solutions. He displays a deep understanding of the many dimensions of services. One could buy this book for its educational value on services alone and not be disappointed. His presentation reflects both deep knowledge of services and clear understanding of how TOC can make it better.

Dr. Ricketts also provides excellent discussions of strategy development, change, and the elements of resistance to change. Then, there are other highlights too numerous to mention here. Rich in examples and illustrations, it was truly a pleasure to read this exceptional work!

REACHING THE GOAL: HOW MANAGERS IMPROVE A SERVICES BUSINESS USING GOLDRATT'S THEORY OF CONSTRAINTS explains not only the basics of TOC, but how it improves business performance, using experiences from IBM research to document using TOC in services businesses. From its basic principles to applications in different areas of business, TOC is thoroughly covered including guidelines on how to implement in an existing organizational structure, making this a fine pick for both college-level business libraries and libraries catering to managers.

TOC has an outstanding record in manufacturing and here Rickett's has cleverly adopted the TOC applications and thinking to suit service industries. I know TOC well, I work in the services industry, and I've learned a lot from reading it. It is not (imho) an easy book for TOC newbies. I'd have liked a few more concrete examples - my mind works that way, and I hope John will add those in the 2nd edition. It's a very good book - I suspect in a year or so once the ideas have sunk in and I've tried them - that I'll be describing it as a classic.

"Blahous has produced a timely, comprehensive, accessible . . . review of the issues involved in financing Social Security after 2020. . . . Blahous is aware that the complexity of Social Security means there is no single best financial and political solution. Interested readers will find this a sound addition to the literature. Useful index. All collections." CHOICE

Given that I am a Democrat, now long gone from D.C. and that Dr. Blahous and I both happily sit at opposite ends of the political spectrum, one might think I'd have little interest in reading a book on Social Security reform by a member of the Bush administration. Frankly, the sole reason I bought this book was that I once had the pleasure of working with Chuck in Washington when we were both staffers in the office of Alan Simpson. Without a doubt, he was both one of the brightest people I'd ever met and one of the most human staffers ever to grace the Hill.

Chuck's book, "Reforming Social Security: For Ourselves and Our Posterity" is a reflection of that. One element of Blahous's brilliance is that he can gracefully translate the most complex issue into something anyone - even I - can easily grasp.

In a modern political environment, in which the five-second screambyte passes for reasonable discourse, Chuck thoughtfully presents a case for an approach to Social Security reform that I would normally not even consider, largely because the folks on "my side" are making political hay out of opposing it. I wish that Chuck's approach to the thoughtful discussion and development of policy were the standard in Washington. We'd all be the better for it.

Ignore the rhetoric from both sides on this issue. Take the time to read the book, consider his arguments, mark the heck out of the margins (despite that hefty $68 price tag), check his sources, weigh the evidence and then reach your own conclusions. You may well be surprised that your position has drifted somewhat. Odds are good that you'll be a bit closer to the truth for the effort.

Since Chuck's talents have largely been focused on Social Security issues for most of this past decade, it's often easy to forget that his PhD. is in chemistry and that much of his early work on Simpson's staff was devoted to questions of foreign policy. I, for one, would be pleased if his talents were relied upon in other areas as well.

Chuck's presence - indeed, Chuck's presence alone - reassures me that there is still some hope for this administration.

This easy-to-read book is a must read for anyone who is concerned about the future of Social Security and sick of the way politicians typically talk about the issue. This book provides hard facts about the problems facing the system and straight answers about the benefits and drawbacks of reform proposals.

I live and work "inside the Beltway" as we like to say here in Washington, DC. We tend to use a lot of big words, talk endlessly about inane topics, and congratulate ourselves that we have the American people "figured out".

In reality, there's a lot every Washington insider could learn simply by picking a point on the compass and driving a couple of hours away from DC in that direction. We need to hear what people really feel about issues that are important to them. Conversely, we need to educate the American people in a logical way, to give them all the information they need in digestible portions -- as Thomas Jefferson noted, "to set before mankind the commonsense of the subject in terms so simple as to command their assent [paraphrase]." It is in these terms, that Dr. Blahous writes.

Social Security reform is a weighty, complicated issue. Because it is not readily and easily understood by most, it is demagogued by politicians of every persuasion. Charles Blahous cuts through the demagoguery and provides a clear explanation of the Social Security retirement program's history, the need for reform, and events of the last few years that have led to the current debate on reform.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and tone. He conveys his message as one who earnestly wants to communicate the truth. Opponents of reform should pay heed -- with logic like this, there is nowhere left for them to hide.

Read this book. Get informed. Contact your elected officials in Washington and urge them to support Social Security retirement reform.

After the excellent "The Real Deal" (by Schieber and Shoven), is there anything more to say? Yes, a lot, actually, as Blahous's very original and valuable book makes clear. I loved several aspects. The honesty of the comments shines through. He criticizes the press, the demagogues, some unions, not in partisan fashion, but only where their bias or lack of knowledge contradicts facts -- a feature that earns the gratitude of all of us who want an honestly considered solution, whatever it turns out to be. His insider's view of the political evolution of Social Security's recent history is totally fascinating and another valuable feature. I'm a student of this subject, and Blahous's book helped me understand some things I didn't see clearly before. One is why certain factors in the NCRP plan were phased in over that particular 20-year period. Another is how valuable is the proposed raising of the benefuit for the lower-paid. A third is why he describes Senator Gramm's proposal as an add-on when I considered it a carve-out. Perhaps it's unnecessary for all members of Congress to read this book. But I do hope the necessary few on staff and others who help members decide how to vote read it, because the more it influences their deliberations, the better for the country.

What a great book. A fascinating subject, fabulous photos and a fun read. The authors give us condom history with a sense of humor. The photographs are wonderful, and the prices helpful.

I saw this book at a small party and immediately orderd six copies. Christmas gifts for my folks and a hard-to-shop-for couple. The tins and packages are beautifully shot and reproduced. As a designer I actually am finding it to be a resource for great retro design and color combinations. There you have it... some really diverse reasons to purchase this wonderful book!!!

I could not believe the quality of this hardback book. Many pricing guide books for collectibles are printed on newsprint, and they are paperback as well. This book is top class all the way! I hope these guys keep coming up with revised additions, as new and yet undiscovered condom tins and boxes surface. Bravo!!!

When I received this book, I was thrilled to see that it was filled with full-color pictures of the condom packages. In fact, 90 percent of this book is pictures, with fascinating bits of history comprising the other 10 percent. It's very difficult to find much information on historical birth control, and this is the first book I've seen dedicated to condoms. It even includes information on "chemical prophylactics" (all I could think after reading this section was "ow, ow , ow"). A great book!

Interesting to find that this is the first book of its kind on the history of condoms and their packaging. Not only does it contain information the average person would never have guessed, it is useful to those into the history of graphic design. The tins are miniatue works of art in themselves, regardless of what they contained! The down to earth style of the text is easy on the reader as well. All in all a great bargain - the hardcover of the book in itself is worth the price of admission!

This book has been a great help in planning our 50th Renewal wedding. Many thanks.

I had never thought about renewing my wedding vows! I loved reading the stories people shared. There were some very creative ideas, like the couple who wrote a poem to all of their guests and used a lot of symbolism of their union through flowers and certain songs. They were hoping to start a family and I thought it was adorable how they brought friends and family into the "mix" to celebrate 10 years AND to help them launch their next phase.

This is a fantastic buy if you are planning to review your wedding vows for whatever reason. For me, it is for a 10 year wedding anniversary and the book has some great tips on making it extra special. I wasnt sure before I read this book what you could wear, expecially if you had the 'full works' first time around, but you can wear what you like and have bridsmaids!! You can have and do whatever you want and more and this book made me realise that. Renewing your wedding vows is becomming very popular and this book makes you realise that. They have 'real life' stories which is great to read.

This easy to read guide has inspiring and creative ideas for different ways to plan a wedding vow renewal ceremony and celebration. Sharon Naylor cites ways to bring the original wedding into the renewal and offers ways to include children. My favorite chapter is titled Perfect Words. Great quotes and readings to include in your re-commitment ceremony. I additionally enjoyed reading real-life couples' vow renewal stories. My husband and I just celebrated our fifteen year wedding anniversary and are planning our own vow renewal sometime soon. We will definitely use the great advice and ideas in this book!

The book gave me lots of ideas on how to refresh and renew my 20 year marriage! From vows on the beach to vows in a chapel to getting the bridal party back together or having the latest additions of the family attend, this book is full of creative suggestions and ideas!!!