Purchasing Books

Of the three books I've read on investing in multi-family real estate, this is by far the best. The author does a good job of walking the reader through from start to finish the purchase of a representative property. In the appendix the author provides several very easy to understand and useful financial analysis templates which can easily be recreated in Excel or any other spreadsheet program.

This is one of four books on purchasing and managing real estate that we purchased. Although pricey due to availability in hardback only, for those such as us that are first time buyers of commercial real estate, the data, clarity of thought and information will likely prove very valuable. It is a quick read that provides the basic tenets of buying multi-family units. The financial elements are fairly simplistic; hence we purchased an additional book that delves into the intricacies of purchasing and financing multi-family units.

I have read and own numerous books on real estate investment and found this one to be one of the most concise and detailed books on apartment house investing on the market. I really don't understand what a previous reviewer meant by that it was a total loss. I found it to be detailed and informative. It literally takes you by the hand leads into investing on a property. I will be following the author's advice and begin investing in small apartment properties. If you are seeking true financial independence, you would be wise to purchase this book and not the crap promoted on late night t.v.

This will be my first and only online review of any of my 200+ books in my library. But it needed to be said... The Biggest disappointment I have ever purchased...

1 Star
Two Thumbs Down
A Complete waste of money!

212 total pages (With Huge fonts and Filler pages after every Chapter Title Page)

4 Pages of Filler for "note"-taking in the back

17 Pages of "Constant Payment Tables/Remaining Loan Balance" Charts

The Book Averages 4 pages (Sides not full) per chapter of info

Page 151 is the Start of the Appendix

I found the book to be a very concise (Nuts & Bolts) and logical approach to buying small apartment properties from someone who obviously knows the process. He gives you all the tools needed to anaylise, purchase, manage and project profits. The forms in the book are easily accessed at the publisher's website www.dnapress.com for downloading. I'm closing on a 7 unit property in less than 2 weeks. Thanks Brian!

This is a completely unhelpful and horrible book. There is no real, specific information- for example, most tips consist of touchy-feely ones such as "it should feel right" and "maintain a positive attitude by taking scented baths"-- are you kidding me? Tips for finding a real estate agent include someone who is "honest, experienced, nice, polite" -duh, thanks for the advice! I have never watched the TV show but really discourage anyone who is serious about learning about the home buying process from purchasing this book. It is targeted for a junior high school audience, if that. There is a reason why there are used copies available starting at 25 cents. I bought mine for $1.50 and regret it. I'm sorry to be harsh, but this is the honestly the worst book I have ever come across. I normally do not write reviews but felt so strongly about this that I had to comment.

Very well done, whether you are a fan of the show or not.

I've always loved Suzanne Whang's perky style of hosting House Hunters, so I was eager to check out her Guide to Happy Home Buying. Unfortunately, now I'm wishing I didn't. While there is helpful information in the book, especially for inexperienced buyers, Ms. Whang does a great disservice to readers by giving her personal opinions way too freely. Her scathing advice on FSBO's, in particular, was completely unfair. And her attempts at humor via her many "Top Ten" lists reflect her obvious bias against all manner of people, neighborhoods, real estate websites, staging techniques and more. And shared personal details such as her initial bad credit rating due to ignoring her creditors didn't inspire me to trust what she had to say about home buying. Although I never thought I would say anything against Suzanne Whang, after reading this book I firmly believe she should stick with acting and hosting television shows, not revealing what she does not know about real estate.

such a treat! ms. whang's book is a must for anyone looking for that dream dwelling! this guide is different than most because it reads so easily and has humor (necessary with such a daunting task as picking your house!). i especially loved the fact that ms. whang includes thinking positively throughout the homebuying process, which makes this process what it ultimately should be: FUN. highly recommended!

If you are looking for some help in finding a home - GET THIS BOOK! It is so informative and a really fun read. Who knew that buying a house could be an enjoyable experience? This book makes it possible.

I am constantly dabbling in the idea of getting myself a sporty car that I can have some fun with but like most of us, I don't happen to have a large disposable income to blow on the hot new Ferrari 575. That is why this book is most fabulous for even the most fund-deficient of car enthusiasts that just want to have a pedal stomping, gear shifting good time.

There is a large collection of moderately priced sports cars that have been rated for various attributes. Each car has a few pages dedicated to the pros, cons and specs of the car, along with pictures and some history behind the car. I felt that this book covered a very nice variety of domestic and imported sports cars and offered almost all the basic information anyone would want in narrowing down their search for a new toy. I still haven't gotten myself a car yet, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming.

I am constantly dabbling in the idea of getting myself a sporty car that I can have some fun with but like most of us, I don't happen to have a large disposable income to blow on the hot new Ferrari 575. That is why this book is most fabulous for even the most fund-deficient of car enthusiasts that just want to have a pedal stomping, gear shifting good time.

There is a large collection of moderately priced sports cars that have been rated for various attributes. Each car has a few pages dedicated to the pros, cons and specs of the car, along with pictures and some history behind the car. I felt that this book covered a very nice variety of domestic and imported sports cars and offered almost all the basic information anyone would want in narrowing down their search for a new toy. I still haven't gotten myself a car yet, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming.

I am constantly dabbling in the idea of getting myself a sporty car that I can have some fun with but like most of us, I don't happen to have a large disposable income to blow on the hot new Ferrari 575. That is why this book is most fabulous for even the most fund-deficient of car enthusiasts that just want to have a pedal stomping, gear shifting good time.

There is a large collection of moderately priced sports cars that have been rated for various attributes. Each car has a few pages dedicated to the pros, cons and specs of the car, along with pictures and some history behind the car. I felt that this book covered a very nice variety of domestic and imported sports cars and offered almost all the basic information anyone would want in narrowing down their search for a new toy. I still haven't gotten myself a car yet, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming.

I am constantly dabbling in the idea of getting myself a sporty car that I can have some fun with but like most of us, I don't happen to have a large disposable income to blow on the hot new Ferrari 575. That is why this book is most fabulous for even the most fund-deficient of car enthusiasts that just want to have a pedal stomping, gear shifting good time.

There is a large collection of moderately priced sports cars that have been rated for various attributes. Each car has a few pages dedicated to the pros, cons and specs of the car, along with pictures and some history behind the car. I felt that this book covered a very nice variety of domestic and imported sports cars and offered almost all the basic information anyone would want in narrowing down their search for a new toy. I still haven't gotten myself a car yet, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming.

I am constantly dabbling in the idea of getting myself a sporty car that I can have some fun with but like most of us, I don't happen to have a large disposable income to blow on the hot new Ferrari 575. That is why this book is most fabulous for even the most fund-deficient of car enthusiasts that just want to have a pedal stomping, gear shifting good time.

There is a large collection of moderately priced sports cars that have been rated for various attributes. Each car has a few pages dedicated to the pros, cons and specs of the car, along with pictures and some history behind the car. I felt that this book covered a very nice variety of domestic and imported sports cars and offered almost all the basic information anyone would want in narrowing down their search for a new toy. I still haven't gotten myself a car yet, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming.

Completed the book in a weekend due to major contract negotiations at work. Found the chapters very "real-world" with appropriate anecdotes & examples to illustrate concepts. The chapter divisions were especially helpful; they allowed the reader to skip around & read the info needed. (I used the guidelines in the software contracts & contract administration chapters heavily. The contract clause samples are very good.)

The use of language was particularly interesting. There were many literary references & the occasional witty turn of phrase. (Was somebody an English major???) The book was an easy read & also quite entertaining. However, the authors' major goal is to help the professional who's actually involved in such efforts--not necessarily to amuse.

At times, the parody poems were a bit much, but almost all of the book was useful in some way or another. Would recommend the book to a procurement analyst or contract administrator that's new to the field and wants a good primer on all things IT.

Pretty basic and definitely geared toward the novice IT professional or procurement area.
Having spent over 20 years selling various IT products and services, most of her examples are over-exaggerated or just plain silly.

I have been negotiating IT & telecom deals on behalf of large companies for the past 3 years. I am continuously seeking material to expand my knowledge in this arena in order to be on equal footing with vendors. This book is without doubt the best I've come across in my long search. It's clear that the authors have "been there, done that." The review that gave this book a poor rating due to the authors'supposed unethical advice is bogus--I didn't find anything of the sort.

If you are acquiring products or services from a reseller/integrator then this book give you the knowledge you need to ensure that you're getting what you're paying for. Earlier in my career I was an MIS manager who dealt with resellers and made the switch to working for a number of reseller/integrators as a pre-sales consultant and network engineer. I came away with two fundamental truths: there is a definite ritual that underlies the IT sales cycle, and the difference between a computer sales rep and a used car salesman is the used car salesman knows he's lying. Apparently the authors of this book also see these truths because they arm you, the buyer, with a strategy and an array of tactics with which to cut through the FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) and the other ploys that the sales side of this ritual will use.

To be fair to the sales side of the acquisition cycle, they have face a tough set of challenges, among them the fact that many buyers do not understand the dangerous margins that are a reality of the seller's world. Also, IT technology has become a commodity and the resellers who truly do add value are often competing on price alone.

That said, everything in this book rings true for both sides. Resellers are going to employ every weapon at their disposal, and this book lists them all: relationship development, knowing your hot buttons and pushing them in many subtle ways, and always nudging you to the close. Some of these tactics are well-intentioned and may actually take into account your real requirements. However, the book also points out other external forces at play, such as quotas imposed by your sales rep's own company as well as pressures from their vendors. Combined, these too often result in your being skillfully talked into technology that is proposed for reasons other than its fit to your needs or overall value as an investment. In this respect the advice that the authors provide might seem on the surface to be adversarial or worse; however, it is designed to ensure that your acquisition strategy is aligned to your real requirements and not the result of skillful manipulation.

Among the most insightful parts of this book, in my opinion, are chapter 4, which covers negotiations and how to control the negotiations; chapters 8 and 9, which provide sound advice for monitoring and auditing vendor performance; and chapter 10 on contracting. Each of these areas are key in the sales and delivery cycle, and are especially important for services. When I was in that business I thought that it was absolutely amazing how many customers overlooked the vast difference between what our sales reps promised and what was actually delivered from a services perspective. The real value lies in service, and that seems to be the one place where the buyer consistently loses. If you follow the advice provided in these chapters you will learn how to get with you pay for and how to hold your reseller accountable for delivering what was promised.

I think this is one of the best written books on how to buy IT technology and services. Learn from it and you will have the assurance that you will get best value and solutions that meet your real requirements. The book is weak on the financial side of solution selection and measuring benefits, but it is incredibly strong on how to manage vendors and beat them at their own game. I strongly recommend it if you are involved in managing vendors or acquiring product and services from resellers.

Although the book contains some useful information, the authors advocated several unethical business practices, including lying, stalling, and micromanagement. Their advice was "cheat them before they cheat you." In 20 years of dealing with IT vendors, I have found that working WITH vendors, in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect, is a much more effective strategy.

Enormous profits are hidden away in the supply chain, say the authors. You can find new value in the operating end of your business- how you handle orders, source components, build your products and get them to customers. The key to unlocking this potential profit is an entirely new business design, the value net.

The value net is a system driven by customer choice, not the company. Today's customers demand exceptional convenience, speed, reliability and customization. These objectives are difficult to achieve with traditional supply chain management. The value net combines recent advances in supply chain management and strategic thinking to deliver more flexibility, speed and customization. The value net approach begins with the goal of creating value for customers. It is demand-driven. This is a contrast to traditional supply chain management which is driven by manufacturing needs, or supply-driven.

This new business model is based on five key elements.
1. Value proposition: Determine what the company will offer to potentially profitable customers, in terms of convenience, speed, customization, etc.
2. Scope: Determine which activities need to be performed to meet these goals, and who will perform them. Consider outsourcing activities to others to add value and efficiency.
3. Profit capture: Determine how the company aims to earn a compelling return on shareholder investment. Break down returns from benefits offered to customers like superior service, creative solutions, and costs and assets.
4. Strategic control: Maneuver to protect the profit stream over time through sustainable competitive advantages. Control your brand reputation and your relationships with supply partners. Use innovative design to pass on low-cost products and services to customers.
5. Execution: Use human capabilities and digital technology to hold all the elements together. Cultivate a team oriented culture fully supported with digital technology.

Merits: A systematic framework to understand how digital supply chain can apply to businesses. Good comparison with traditional supply chain (systematic vs. sequential). A few cases are detailed and insightful. For a fan of Mercer's Business Designs, it will be delightful to see how the authors fit the two together.

This book will be more readable if contents are cut by half. Many contents are repetitive. "The Profit Zone" is full of new ideas, "Value Nets" is filled with consultants' empty statements. Some cases only talk about what happened, but not why it happened and how.

I gave "The Profit Zone" five stars, "Value Nets" deserves only three.

This book is not primarily about eBusiness, but about the application of general management knowledge (such as customer focus etc.) in an internet - enabled world. As such it does not present new concepts for eBusiness. It merely summarizes old and well known cases and makes them fit to the own model of 5 "elements of business design". The book might be nice for beginners to see what is possible nowaday's but of little help if you want to learn really new concepts. Last point: the content could well be condensed to fit on 100 pages, 4 repetitions of everything are really of little use.

Value Nets is an intriguing look at businesses that have revolutionized the way the do business by revolutionizing their supply chain. What is a Value Net? According to the author a value net "is a business design that uses digital supply chain concepts to achieve both superior customer satisfaction and company profitability". One of the main concepts of a value net is that it operates in parallel manner rather then a rigid sequential chain.

Value Nets have the following five main characteristics:

Customer-alignment
Collaborative and systemic
Agile and scalable
Fast flow
Digital

Value Nets builds on the work of The Profit Zone, which define five elements of a value-creating business design. These five elements are defined as follows:

Value proposition - a company's value proposition consists of products and services that add value to customers.
Scope - what activities are required to deliver the company's value proposition and who delivers them (internal or partner).
Profit capture - mechanisms that capture profit from the value proposition
Strategic control - elements that protect profits over time
Execution - operational excellence

Value Nets take the five characteristics of the value net and show case studies of how companies implemented value nets within the context of the five elements of business design listed above.

The models that this book lays out are quite useful for considering how a product or service is delivered. The case studies and example in this book are quite useful and cover several industries. Most of the examples relate to product companies, but the concepts can be applied to services companies as well.

This book is a interesting and useful read for business consider how to interact with partners, competitors, suppliers and customers in the digital age. I would recommend reading the Appendix Value Net Self-Diagnostic first because is a great intro to the book. If this book resonates well with you might also like How Digital Is Your Business and The Profit Zone (also from Mercer Consulting).

If you're interested in supply chain management issues or e-business, you won't find much here. It's mostly a rehash of the other Mercer Consulting Book, The Profit Zone. Very general in nature, there's not much new material here. Read The Profit Zone and leave this one in the bin.

I purchased this book while I was 16 months pregnant. I'm a college educated woman who didn't know the difference between a crib and a cradle. I figured this book could help. The descriptions of the products were informative and the "must have" and "might want" labels were helpful. The problem I found was that the book didn't really prepare me when I dropped by my local baby store to register. The car seat models, crib models, etc. were old. The baby industry changes rapidly along with the number of recalls. I found the Baby Bargins book (and website) by Denise and Alan Fields a better consumer guide. Baby Stuff helped me decide which items were necessities, while Baby Bargins helped me decide which brands were top rated by both Consumer Reports and real life parents. If you buy this book, be prepared to keep looking for more information.

I found this book to be one of the best I've ever read on "baby stuff". I've bought copies for everyone I know. This book is definately worth buying!

When I was pregnant and trying to figure out how to prepare for the baby and what to buy, this book was a tremendous help to me. My husband and I live in a one bedroom apartment, and my friends and co-workers had been scaring me by constantly telling me that I just couldn't imagine all the things I was going to have to buy and how expensive it was going to be. I kept arguing with them, thinking, how much can a little baby possibly need in the first year? But I realized that I really didn't know, and decided to try to find out. In the process of educating myself I found this wonderful book. Some of the previous reviewers are right that this book lacks the detailed product comparisons that are available elsewhere. If you are looking for lists of different brands with ratings, this book is not for you (and most of it's recommendations of particular products are already out of date). However, it is wonderful if what you are trying to do is figure out how many little onesie outfits to buy, what on earth a "receiving blanket" is and why you need some, how to decide what kind of car seat you need, and what the difference is between one that costs $50 and one that costs $200. The book systematically goes through all of the many things you could buy and lists them as "optional", "might want", or must have" and goes on to explain why this is so. It also breaks things down into three different budget levels ("lotto winner", "lots of money", or "lots of love") and provides estimates of the total cost of everything you will need based on these different budgets. If you are planning for a first baby, this book may be for you.

I found this book to be far too general for my purposes. I was looking for much more detailed product reviews. I also found it annoying that Mr. Lipper was so heavily biased toward independent juvenile products stores (e.g. the store he manages in New York). He made himself out to be an expert, given his vast experience in selling baby products to expectant parents. However he doesn't have children of his own, so he has never really tested any of these products in real life experience. Don't bother with this book if you are a first time parent and need the nitty gritty details about baby products. Instead, I'd suggest you buy the book BABY BARGAINS by Denise and Alan Fields. They have two very young children and have actual experience with the products that they list in their book. Also, they are not biased toward any one type of store. They advise parents to shop around. I would rate the Fields book 5 stars and can't give more than 2 stars to Lipper's.

This book is somewhat helpful to a new mother. However, I found the book, Baby Bargains by Denise & Alan Fields to be more useful.

If you have the Baby Bargain book by Alan & Denise Fields, YOU REALLY DON'T NEED THIS BOOK. First, it's not as detail as Baby Bargain. Second, the information seems to be outdated because (1) copyright is 2000 and (2)I send in for some info. per author's instruction and I got a return to sender with NO FORWARDING ADDRESS. Third, these type of books should be updated annually since we are looking for the latest information. Companies form, merge, and go bankrupt annually. If the information is not updated, how is it a good guide? I got the book because of all the five stars review I read.

The book is not up to date. Web site is not working.
They tell you to send a self-addressed envelope for coupons, and after two weeks, the UPS return it to me with a note: the address is not longer valid. Do not give your money away!!!

If you want creative ideas on cutting the expense of a new baby, take a look at this book! There are lots of clever substitutions (use puffy fabric paint on plain socks instead of buying the expensive non-skid kind!) as well as been-there-done-that advice on what NOT to buy in the first place. This book will pay for itself almost instantly, and will save you both time and money all through the first year. I highly recommend it for the kind of advice you won't find in parenting books!

Christina Raley, Managing Editor...

If you want creative ideas on cutting the expense of a new baby, take a look at this book! There are lots of clever substitutions (use puffy fabric paint on plain socks instead of buying the expensive non-skid kind!) as well as been-there-done-that advice on what NOT to buy in the first place. This book will pay for itself over and over, and will save you both time and money all through the first year. I highly recommend it for the kind of helpful advice you won't find in parenting books!

What a great resource for new and expectant parents! I saved hundreds of dollars on baby furniture and accessories by reading this book before I went shopping. You'll definitely save more than the cost of the book by following just some of the ideas in it. I also liked the information about shopping online. Who knew there were so many great places on the Internet to buy baby products? Every expectant and new parent should make the investment in this book - if not for the money-saving information, for the health and safety information that I didn't find anywhere else.

Informative text. Before buying a used BMW, buy this book. Especially useful in talking to sellers over the phone. Use the information on each model to get the seller talking about what repairs and maintenence have been performed. It will put you in the driver's seat during negotiations.

For those who have no clue about BMW's but would like to buy one it is a very good option.
It focusses on elements that a layman would not think of.

Highly recommended.

Having owned 3 BMW's (82 320i, 83 528e, 95 318ic), I have found this book to be a wealth of knowledge. Especially for my 528e... since I bought that car after the other two and after buying the book. It has definately helped me pinpoint problems I have had with the car, very accurately I must say. Its a great book to start learning BMW lineage from 67 on up. Overall with the picture guides and pricing tables for parts and the valuable text... I'd say anyone looking for a used BMW shouldn't go without it... or even mechanics for that matter!

If you have never owned a BMW, this book is required reading. Pros: (1) Contains an overview of the more common problems with BMWs (a godsend). (2) Author provides a step-by-step primer of how to inspect a used BMW, which is more thorough than anything else, including the Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide. (3) The book's primary focus involves highlighting problems on a model-by-model basis with pictures of the different models, organized according to E number (i.e., the automotive platform), and includes cost replacement charts, detailed specs charts, and owners' insights. Cons: (1) Just about all of the owners offering remarks are from California. I live near DC and would like to read comments from owners that have to contend with east cost drivers, hazards, and road conditions as well as ALL four seasons. (2) Balance. In contrast to all of the negatives pointed out for each model, the book doesn't highlight the positives. For example, if traction control is standard on the E46 323i and 328i, it should be highlighted somewhere on those two pages, perhaps with a different color border indicating a positive. The few positive comments are buried in the one-page introductory remarks for each E type. (Gushing hype lifted from Motortrend or Car and Driver doesn't offer insight into owning a car.) (3) Each section offers ratings charts for the different models, which are ambiguous at best.

THAT BEING SAID, the book was an invaluable resource when I purchased my used BMW. It really helps to have the devil's advocate sitting on your shoulder (or tucked under your arm) when laying out this kind of money. But my mechanic's reassurance convinced me that my BMW choice was reliable and worth the investment. (He bought the same model for his wife and she's never had a problem.) If anyone's decision to buy a used BMW was based solely on reading this book, few would ever buy one. But having read the book, I can't imagine buying one without it.

This is a good book for those that are new to purchasing BMW's. Having owned three getting this book, I found it to have some interesting information that made it a good coffee table read as well as a begining reference when car shopping.

Those that own previously owned BMW's either love our mechanics because the car purchased was in good condition or they love us but we purchased a bad egg and will be spending big $$$ at the shop.

No, this isn't the BMW Bible. Join the BMWCCA for that book, but it does contain a large amount of good information and nice photos of the various models up to the 2001 X5 which makes it a good buy for a non-BMWCCA member wishing to learn about the various models.

It does what the author said it would do, provide a "guide" for the buyer.

Get it and enjoy.

For someone who brings nothing more than enthusiasm to the art of motorcycle riding (in other words, you don't know the first thing about motorcycle parts and you have no idea what "countersteering" means), this book is a fairly good introduction. The author takes you through all aspects of motorcycle ownership, from deciding whether riding is right for you to the mechanics behind the combustible engine to making high speed turns. The information is reasonably detailed and well written, and all topics are covered.

My only complaints are: 1) many introductory books to motorcycles, such as The Idiot's Guide, give a more detailed breakdown of all bikes currently on the market... this book only covers a handful of bikes available (although it does have a section on used bikes), 2) there could have been more illustrations to accompany the explanations of motorcycle parts and functionality, and 3) certain sections use terms that the author never takes the time to define (at one point he makes numerous references to the "gasket" without telling the uninitiated where a gasket is, what it looks like, what it's function is, etc.).

But in the long run, my complaints are minor. This book is relatively comprehensive, and covers some issues that other books don't (such as the section on female riders). The author is well informed, clearly cares a great deal about the subject matter, and stresses safety. Anyone who is considering buying their first motorcycle would do well to buy this book (and maybe one or two others as well).

I'm taking a motorcycle safety test and purchasing my first bike this spring. I browsed through a few books at the bookstore and do believe that this was the best choice of the books available on the shelf that day. As a female total beginner who has only ridden on the bakc of bikes, I found the general information on the types of bikes, and general structure and components, motorcycle maintenance most useful. I'm quite sure the information on riding techniques will help me in training and during the skills test. The only information that I pretty much skipped was the beginning where the author discusses a son's choice in buying a bike and talking him out of it. Also, the detailed information on classic bikes, and used bikes, (bikes that a beginner is not likely to buy) perhaps would have been better as an Appendix. But I remember a section like that in a lot of the beginner books I browsed and would suspect that the experienced motorcycle enthusiasts just can't help themselves and want to share the joy (I'm sure I'll reach that point when I become that knowledgeable about these beautiful machines). All in all, I thought this was a great written introduction to read while waiting for spring to arrive.

A great book for anyone who is curious about becoming a rider. The author was very informative and answers almost all questions that a beginner/entry-level person would have. I highly recommend this book to any beginner, like me. : )

A really good book for beginners and a not to bad book for experienced riders. I recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about buying a bike or whose love one is about to buy a bike. This book is chock full of information, starting out with trying to answer the question ride or not ride and then going on to explain how to pick the right bike; how to buy a used or new bike; basic motorcycle maintenance; and safety tips.

i had high hopes for this one. good table of contents and the few pages i skimmed at the store were decent. in fact the first half of the book was fine but after about page 200 it seemed the author's editor must have given up.
   i found it oddly funny that the first chapter discusses how to dissuade your son from getting a bike, then later Jim Bennett attempts some kind of stance to ostensibly include women in his survey of motorcycling by attempting to note special issues women may have when deciding to ride. these few paragraphs seemed clunky, contrived and a bit condescending.
   the book had some pictures and some advice and i might even be an iota or two smarter than i was before i picked up the book, but i came away disappointed. it's a quick survey for the complete beginner, but once read you know it could've been done a lot better and that there must be better survey-type books for beginners out there. maybe the "idiot's guide to motorcycles" referenced before would've been a better purchase for me.
   if you are a woman i might recommend The Perfect Vehicle by an actual woman Melissa Holbrook Pierson. not a survey of motorcycles, but a story about her experience as a beginning motorcyclist.

If you are looking for a "Toyota Way" level of insight in to Honda, it's definitely not here. If you want a manual for how to implement Honda's BP tools, it's not here. The BP material seems to be mostly just treated as magic that floats in and produces fantastic gains.

However, if you want some insight in to how Honda thinks, this is decent material. If you want a really good example of including purchasing as a key area of your business and not just people who squeeze suppliers for a few extra pennies, there is some good info here.

My first impression is that this is a 220 page fluff piece on how fantastic Honda's purchasing function is. This shouldn't have surprised me as it was written by Honda purchasing people, but it did. However, after some reflection, it did provide me some good insight on some of the interactions that I have had with HAM's purchasing team in the past and might have prepared me better for future interactions. Overall, I don't plan on reading it again, but it was worth the few bucks I paid for it used and I may keep it around on my shelf.

Honda developed a unique approach to building a supply base and managing production that parallel the Toyota Production System, only Honda margins proved higher than Toyota's. Powered by Honda contains stories and examples illustrating how this simple kaizen-based system works. [...]

Let me first say that I thoroughly enjoyed "Powered by Honda". I do agree with the review that some of the praise by the authors is a bit over the top, thus the four star review, but the fundementals of what they are teaching are excellent. Too many businesses don't pay attention to the details, both internally and externally, and "Powered by Honda" goes a long way in showing how important the customer/supplier relationship is in building quality products. W. Edwards Deming's PDCA circle and theory of continuous improvement are used throughout and I would suggest to anyone who finds the information in this book interesting to read the works of Dr. Deming, Juran, and Six Sigma teachings to learn more about the tools used by Honda. Anybody who is involved in quality improvement should enjoy the stories in the book and find a few ideas to add to their own work.

This is nothing more than a long puff piece, probably written to indoctrinate Honda employees. Alternately cryptic and jejune, it provides little insight into the workings of Honda's touted BP management system. Reflecting the American/Japanese duality in Honda culture, the book preaches in tones that are part Knute Rockne, part Zen Master. The overworked prose reaches its fawning heights in the section on Honda's racing team:

"All Honda team members share a fierce competitive spirit and an intense dedication to the task at hand."

"Under the stresses of racing, the driver, his vehicle, and his support team experience their greatest performance peaks. Each race, every lesson, and every failure are treasured."

"The company's leadership has consistently been drawn from the ranks of engineers who love engines and who share a passion to drive well-designed, robust, high-speed vehicles to their limits and beyond."

Yeeks!

Powered by Honda is for every leader's desk. If managers apply what they read in this book, their organizations will be dynamically improved, and their customers along with their associates will be delighted. Robert A. Kemp, PhD, CPM Former President, National Association of Purchasing Management President, Kemp Enterprises Former Professor Emeritus, Management, Duke University