Consumer Information Books

I found this book easy to use (especially for an Internet beginner like me). I bought it last week and am using it as a reference guide (not sure it would be much fun as a straight read) to start my holiday shopping online. It's fun to be part of my children's generation using this technology (and they can't believe how much I know now because of the help this book provides :)

Gomez Best web has done all the work for me. It is easy to read and look up information that I do not have time to do myself. Gomez has taken selected industries and focused on them. They are providing the essential information important to consumers. Thanks!

Gomez has always provided a wealth of information online about e-commerce, and the quality of their sites. Here they provide a more indepth look at these sites for those who still like their information printed on paper.

I found the book provided me with easy access to information about where to invest, bank, and buy online. As we try to wade through the overwhelming number of consumer sites online this is a must have.

I picked up a copy because I loved the job Gomez.com does rating web sites. I am a relative newcomer to the internet (about 6 months) and this book does a good job giving a general overview of different types of sites and some really helpful tips on how to shop and invest online. I highly recommend it.

I wish I'd thought of it! A book that shows you which are the best Web sites -- I always thought it would be great to flip through paper pages to research online sites. After a couple of days with this, I already feel like an e-commerce expert.

Identity theft is the fastest growing consumer threat in America. The explosion of computer and graphics technology has made it a much easier crime to perpetrate than in the past. It is the sort of crime that can happen to anyone, and be perpetrated by anyone.

The most practical documents to obtain for an identity thief are a Social Security Card or a driver's license (usually stolen and altered). With those, anything is possible, from getting new credit cards to cleaning out bank accounts. Administration of these systems is chaotic, and faking is easy.

The lead federal agency dealing with identity theft is the Federal Trade Commission. A problem with any federal investigation of a specific case is that the amounts are usually small, perhaps a few thousand dollars, and the victim and perpetrator usually live in different states (cost efficiency and jurisdiction). Therefore, the first responder will most likely be the local police department.

Preventing identity theft starts with the consumer. It is not possible to fill in all ID "holes," but things can be done, like safeguarding personal information, to make a thief go elsewhere. The consumer is responsible for notifying the authorities of illegal activity; the bank or credit card won't do it. Clean out your wallet or purse. Keep a photocopy of your license, credit cards, etc. in a safe place, in case it is stolen. Get things like bank account numbers, PIN numbers, passports and birth certificates out of there, and into a fireproof box at home. When ID theft is discovered, document all letters and phone calls, no matter what.

This book is excellent. It's small, so it can easily fit in a pocket or purse, and it is packed with easy to understand information. For those who are concerned about, or are victims of, ID theft, this is very much worth reading.

If ones credit history is messed up by identity theft and several credit cards have been falsely issued in ones name - can someone frame you?

Identity theft is one of the hardest thefts to control and is the one most damaging to consumers, so Identity Theft: How To Protect Your Name, Your Credit And Your Vital Information, And What To Do When Someone Hijacks Any Of These is a timely handbook vital to any consumer's fiscal health. Chapters explore common mechancis of ID theft, consider the various ways crooks choose victims and manufacture bogus identities from information, and tells how to reduce a risk of ID theft, and to respond effectively if someone steals an identity.

This is the best book that I've found on this subject.
Lots of people are worried about ID theft. But the truth is not very many understand exactly what the crime is and how it works. This book explains both--in good detail, but also in plain English.
The book is full of case studies and preventive steps you can take for reducing your risk of having your ID stolen. But it also makes the important point that preventing ID theft is mostly a matter of changing your lifestyle. Being willing to be a little difficult or uncooperative when people ask for your credit card or--more importantly--your Social Security number in everyday business transactions.
Learning...and being willing...to say "No" is a key part of mindset you need to stay secure. This book does an excellent job of explaining that.

Three key problems I found with this book:

1. It is wordy and the key useful material doesn't stick out or appear all together.

2. There isn't much useful material.

3. You may be easily able to obtain equivalent or better info free.

I haven't read any other book on identity theft. And I haven't made any study of identity theft. But, after reading this book, I went thru and made a list of material that seemed useful. From the list, I crossed out precautions I was already aware of. I was left with 1 item, all the others may be good reminders but only the 1 item was something I wasn't aware of and am grateful to be. But even that one wasn't that big a deal.

The free brochure my state representative sent me had about as much useful material. And I quickly just found a government web site on identify theft that seems more useful than this book.

Mostly what I learned from this book was how easy identity theft can be for those who are willing to break the law, even if one tries to prevent it. So I appreciate that lesson from this book, but it appears that info of equivalent or greater value is readily obtainable free and seems to have been since this book appeared in 2004.

As an author and speaker on the subject of Information Security - The House & the Cloud: Building a Compelling Value Proposition using Risk Awareness to Sell Technology, I read John's book with a great deal of background and experience in the trends and methods of information theft. John does a great job of explaining to the average person what assets are critical, where the relevant threats exist, and how to detect and respond to misuse or out-right theft of your personal identity. Stolen Lives is a "must read" for everyone!

"Stolen Lives, Identity Theft Prevention Made Simple" is a 'must-have' for those of us who aren't into computers, and a vital book for we who are. The information in this wonderful book is of critical importance to us all, and it provides us with a means of protecting ourselves from intrusion, and worse, into each of our lives.
Review from San Francisco, CA

Stolen Lives: Identity Theft Prevention Made Simple is the informed and informative guide to the innovative avoidance of the modern threat of identity theft knowledgeably written by John D. Sileo. Having been victimized by an identity theft, John D. Sileo lived the horrors and pains of defending his innocence for the embezzlement of $300,000 for the span of two years, during which he became highly educated on the whole construct of modern identity theft and with Stolen Lives is doing his best to prevent others from having the same thing happen burden their lives. Written in an easy-to-use format, Stolen Lives is the ultimate informational reference for situational threats such as who to watch out for, how likely certain people may commit such acts, proper mentality for banking, and many more educational information. Stolen Lives is strongly recommended reading for all readers, but most particularly newcomers to cities who are setting up a new life and in fear of identity theft.

I have had my identity stolen several times, and my wife has had it stolen once. We have read everything there is to read on identity theft and Stolen Lives is by far the most logically organized. Mr. Sileo gives a calendar of tasks to follow that walks you through every single step, one by one. You would have to be a complete idiot to not get this one. And you really only have to spend a couple of minutes on each step, so you don't get bogged down in a useless checklist. I recommend this to everyone I know. I also liked Johnny May's book.

I have also had the opportunity to see Mr. Sileo speak at an association meeting that I attended. He was a phenomenal speaker - I highly recommend trying to see him if you can.

Who does identify theft happens to? To everyone because the thieves are more diligent about stealing our identify than we are at protecting it.

The book's stories really brought the reality home. For example...

A thief observed Michelle opening her health club locker. She knew Michelle's workout habits and timeline. While she exercised, the thief stole her wallet, and while in her purse, noted her cell phone number. Once Michelle returned to her locker, she noticed her wallet was missing--but nothing else. So she rushed to her car, thinking she left it there. Her cell phone rang. It was the bank stating someone was using her information--and she should verify information so they could verify her identity. In her panic and stress, she CONFIRMED to "the bank" her PIN and Social Security number, mother's maiden name--giving them everything the thief needed need to start using her identity immediately.

Sound farfetched?

Read and act on information in this book so you don't join Michelle and others. Need I say more? If you haven't noticed the increase in "experts" talking about this subject, you have your head in the sand.

Stolen Lives: Identify Theft Prevention Made Simple will (or better) scare every ounce of complacency out of you. It did me!

We're just too darn nice, helpful, trusting, careless with how we discard or store vital information--and we don't believe that we could become a victim. My favorite thought: "Know when to say NO."

In 2004 alone, it is estimated that 9.3 million people have become victims of identify thief. The author tells us to "think like a spy," being aware of your surroundings. Our "spy" radar must be up and alert every second.

The information in these hot topics are worth the read and tell everyone about!

-- 6 spy-style interrogation techniques to protect yourself.
-- 5 things you should NEVER CARRY in your wallet or purchase.
-- 8 places your ID protection may be leaking, and how to stop the flow.
-- 8 tip offs an ID thief may be trying to con you into releasing information.
-- 10 "weapons" you can use to keep personal info from being collected online.

Author and identify theft victim John Sileo is Harvard educated--but even his ID was stolen--twice.

Unfortunately, as an editor and one who writes a lot of book reviews, I wish the author had not made it so hard to read and find the information. I persevered because I really wanted to learn what he had to teach, but it was a challenge. Be patient and the "meat of information" will be worth it. His ideas have brought up much discussion (and action) in our home.

Armchair Interviews says: This book will help you see you should lock up every vital document as if they were cash-because to identity thieves, they are CASH. We no longer can afford to be so trusting.

can you send this book for my testing purpose please send me the details if possiable. or it is available to buy from mumbai-Thane ( india) i am interesting to buy this book asap.

Thanks and regards.

can you send this book for my testing purpose please send me the details if possiable. or it is available to buy from mumbai-Thane ( india) i am interesting to buy this book asap.

Thanks and regards.

An unusually fresh perspective on quality, or lack of it, in software... written by well-respected and highly qualified individuals. Highly recommended reading and reference!

Complain!com REVIEW: Cem Kaner and I worked together briefly at Oracle/NCI. I had dinner with a mutual old friend recently who pointed me at this book. Software is an area where the consumer has been far too tolerant in my estimation - speaking quietly with their feet. While that has proven good for the collective it has been less satisfying for the individual. A book of this kind for software consumers was long over due. Kudos Cem. - Steven

This book talks about the common experience of buying and trying to use software which has defects or does not meet our needs. It sets out what you can do about this and what you should rightfully expect (and what not). As a practitioner myself I see such a book as important not only for the consumer but also for everyone who produces software.

I liked the approach that explains how customer service staff experience customer complaints and how NOT to complain (ie screaming and shouting will at best get you onto the PA system for the customer care staff to enjoy). Complaining is a psychologically difficult terrain and Cem's book helps doing it more effectively.

There is a short coming (not of Kaner's fault) in that in chapter 7 he refers to the American laws, which obviously do not apply overseas. Nevertheless this book is useful because many of the principles in the US do apply in many countries.

The Online Shopper's Survival Guide by Jacquelyn Lynn can be a handy tool for anyone who considers themselves a novice when it comes to the Internet. Lynn explains the rudimentary basics of online shopping and even takes a chapter to discuss search engines and another to skim over online dating, networking, and job hunting. Online safety and identity theft protection are a key theme throughout the text.

When I say it's a handy tool for a novice, I mean those who have had the very minimum experience online. Those of us who have been using the Web for years will have already learned most of the tips and advice on our own through trial and error. However, for someone who is just discovering the benefits of online shopping, there are some very important tips that can prevent a lot of heartache down the road. For example, Lynn explains how to spot scams and frauds, how much and how little personal information one should provide online, and taking charge in the event that something does go awry.

This book would make an excellent gift for someone receiving their first computer or finally getting hooked up to the Internet. I would even venture to say it should be required reading before newbies are allowed online, for everyone's protection. I plan on gifting it to my seventy-year-old mother-in-law who is about to discover the joys and pains of the World Wide Web.

I recently read the Online Shopper's Survival Guide (Entrepreneur Press, 2006) written by Jacquelyn Lynn and found some great ideas! Not only does Jackie tell readers how and where to look for the best bargains all over the world via the Internet, but she also gives them a heads up on consumer protection issues including frauds and scams. A couple of my favorite tips on how to save when shopping online are:

- Have Your Entire Order Shipped Together: If you are ordering more than one item from the same web site, make sure that your order will be shipped together so that you are not charged for separate shipments.

- You Don't Need Fries With That: Resist unnecessary upselling when you are making a purchase from a web site. Just like fast food restaurants who try to encourage customers to "value size" their meals, many online merchants will also try to sell you additional products or service agreements during the checkout process.

If you ever shop online - whether its once in a while, seasonally, or frequently, this is a must-read!

The only thing Online Shopper's Survival Guide doesn't tell you is how to get the money to pay for your online purchases--that's something you have to figure out for yourself. But it does tell you everything else you need to know to find things online, get good deals, and avoid fraud.

Experienced online shoppers may find some of the advice basic, but even they are likely to learn something that will save them far more than the price of the book.

This is an easy, enjoyable read, and the book is well-organized. You can read it straight through or jump around to the topics that interest you. Lynn also maintains a blog with current advice on a variety of consumer issues and she uses that to update information in the book.

Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (1/07)

These days you can stay at home and never venture out to a store again. You can buy insurance, pay your bills, order groceries, furnish your house, get your prescriptions filled and even buy your pet food, all from the comfort of your own chair. All you need is a computer and a modem.

But how safe is shopping online? How do you find the items you need? What questions do you need answered before you buy from and unknown store? You can get the answers to all these questions simply by reading the "Online Shopper's Survival Guide."

Originally conceived as a book to teach people how to sell on eBay, the focus changed when a seller told her what was really needed was a guide to teach people how to buy online. His reasoning was that there were plenty of sales sites, tens of thousands of them--what was needed was more customers for those sites. This book is the result of that conversation.

Written for seasoned shoppers as well as the neophyte, there is sound advice to be found for everyone. Jacquelyn Lynn has the book set out in an orderly process; beginning with the ancestors of online stores, the brick and mortar shops we all grew up with. Part two takes us into the field, explaining the ins and outs of online auction sites with a few tips many people don't think of, such as poor spelling may be your best friend in an auction (Page 46). She also discusses the pros and cons of buying items such as tobacco, liquor and firearms online. A short section I found interesting and had never given any thought to before was buying from another country, which could entail a duty fee or customs tax.

There is a large portion of the book devoted to online safety; how to keep your credit card information safe, how to protect yourself from scammers, tips to make sure a sale site is legitimate, and, if the worse should happen, how to deal with being defrauded.

And finally, near the end of the book, a great listing of all the websites mentioned in the book, listed both alphabetically and then by category.

I keep "Online Shopper's Survival Guide" next to my computer just to visit some of the sites listed. I thought I was a savvy shopper, but I learned many new things that I use everyday...especially the poor spelling tip, probably my favorite, since I bought three pairs of ladies jeans for $3.00 each.

It's amazing that the age of the Internet has ushered in such a wide array of shopping items - all available from a few clicks on the computer. "Online Shopper's Survival Guide" gives readers savvy advice on obtaining great deals on food, pet supplies, jewelry, medicines, cars, boats, travel accommodations, real estate, vacation rentals, and much more. Lynn even guides online shoppers to helpful sites for finding jobs, friends, and dates. If it's available online, this book shows you how to find it and get the best value.

Also the co-author of Make Big Profits on Ebay: Start Your Own Million $ Business, Lynn is clearly an expert on online buying and selling, and eagerly shares her secrets for getting the most for your money when shopping the Internet. This book is a great source of information that you'll want to refer to over and over again.

Leslie Halpern, author of Reel Romance: The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies and Dreams on Film: The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science.

With its annual supplements, this book continues to be an outstanding resource on privacy issues--the collection and dissemination of personal data, electronic surveillance, identify theft, credit reporting, and many others. The Compilation is always my first source for fielding questions about confidentiality and privacy rights and protections--or the lack thereof--in this country.

A truly valuable resource for privacy researchers, as well as anybody interested in navigating the confusing (and sometimes contradictory) panorama of legal protection afforded to privacy in the United States. The fact that this 2008 edition updates the compilation of laws up to very recent months makes it a much needed and timely reference.

Knowlege is power and this book will empower you with knowledge on how the government likes to keep track of everyone through laws such as the "Freedom of Information Act", the "Privacy as of 1974" Computer matching of information on you, if you want to learn about the different files that are kept on you, you need this book.

Knowlege is power and this book will empower you with knowledge on how the government likes to keep track of everyone through laws such as the "Freedom of Information Act", the "Privacy as of 1974" Computer matching of information on you, if you want to learn about the different files that are kept on you, you need this book.

'Pro .NET 2.0 Graphics Programming' by Eric White is a great GDI+ programming reference, first and foremost. With 400+ pages of content spread out amongst 14 chapters, the user will be able to get a solid look at GDI+ programming and learn how far Windows graphics programming has come.

Chapter Overview

01. .NET Graphics Programming
02. Drawing Surfaces
03. Pens and Brushes
04. Text and Fonts
05. Images
06. GraphicsPaths and Regions
07. Clipping and Invalidation
08. Transformations
09. Printing
10. An Alternative Coordinate System
11. Architecture and Design of Windows Forms CustomControls
12. Design-Time Support
13. Scrolling
14. Mouse Events and Cursors

There are no overwhelming book length examples which I think was a good decision made. Instead of building an app up step by step there are lots of little examples to drive the points home that the author wants to.

The only gripe that I have (and have in the past with other Apress books) is the lack of color. With reduced printing costs and a book that has the title 'Graphics' to not have any color within is a poor choice by the publisher. Having said that, if you program with GDI+ and want to get a good handle on this technology, you will be hard-pressed to find a better book to learn from then this nice effort by Apress.

**** RECOMMENDED

This book is for beginners and doesn't cover advanced materials related to real-world DGI+ programming. As an example, its matrix coverage is very limited. I don't know why the title of the book has "Pro" in it. Perhaps for its coverage of making custom controls. If the word "Pro" was not there, I would give it 5 out of 5 - a good book for for beginners.

If you are looking for a book on how to create GDI graphics then this book is definitely for you. It covers every topic you need to create your graphic designs on forms and images. It does not go into detail on sending the image to a web page, but that is just serializing the image and there are many topics that can be found on Google that will show you that. The chapters are arranged by topic, it explains each sub topic with an example and at the end of the chapter it also explains how to improve performance! One extra thing this book has is a couple of chapters on how to write custom window forms controls. If you where ever thinking about designing you own controls this book is a must have on how to create custom controls from entry level through advance topics! One last thing don't think that this book is only for .NET 2.0 [...]

Excerpt from C# Online.NET (CSharp-Online.NET) Review:
"For those who might want a book dedicated only to topics directly related to custom control development, there may be disappointment.... The coverage of GDI+ topics is exhaustive. This makes the book an excellent introduction and reference to GDI+."

John L. Mariotti, a senior business executive turned consultant, speaks from experience about the causes, costs and cure for complexity. He argues that companies complicate their businesses in the effort to grow when markets are stagnant. They multiply products, services, target markets and vendors. However, this strategy gets them into trouble: They increase overhead, because they need to hire more people to deal with the multiplication, their inventory swells and their service suffers. They don't know how to forecast accurately under these new circumstances, and their bottom lines turn red. Because the world's wealthiest markets are in regions with low population growth and, therefore, low market growth, complexity is becoming a widespread crisis. Fortunately, it is curable. getAbstract suggests that if you are a manager or executive whose company is heading down the complexity route, you might want to consider Mariotti's useful guidance on appropriate therapies.

If you don't buy this book and then 15 more for your staff, you probably aren't qualified to save your company from Asian competition? This guy has been there done that and what he proposes is not just "word salad". It works and creates a common worthy goal for your company while all your employees work together to get there.

Once you read this and apply it to your company, you will be hooked...and need a basket to catch the dollars coming down out of the sky! I know, we did something very similar..whithout the benefit of his guidance. It would have saved us years had we had Mariotti's roadmap. If you aren't willing to walk the walk, don't bother reading The Complexity Crisis because it requires leadership and changing the way things happen.

The Complexity Crisis--Why Too Many Products, Markets & Customers Are Crippling Your Company - And What To Do About It

John Mariotti's new book , The Complexity Crisis, is a must read journey through the morass of burgeoning complexity facing today's businesses and out again into a cleaner and more competitive future. Mr. Mariotti identifies an aggressive focus on reducing the nonvalue-adding complexity in your business and creatively managing the value-related complexity as the perfect strategic response to the current tightened market conditions. Mr. Mariotti identifies the explosion of complexity as a two-edged sword and shows us how to wield it to our advantage.

The Complexity Crisis is rich in simple, concrete examples of how complexity relentlessly increases in businesses, dragging down profitability while overwhelming the processes and systems used to manage the business. Mr. Mariotti defines a simple, concrete six-step path to reducing our business' complexity.

He then shows us how wield as a competitive weapon key product, service and channel complexities by finding ways to manage them better than our competitors. The Complexity Crisis is an excellent guidebook to the strategic opportunity available by leveraging complexity into greater competitive advantage.

I have Interstitial Cystitis and I think this is a great alternative book for people with IC. Dr. Ripoll and Ms. Mahowald have a very practical, no nonsense, but kind and sensitive approach to the subject of IC and helpful exercise. At first, I was a little intimidated by the thought of doing yoga (I also have no burning desire to stand on my head or anything like that), but the yoga in this book is easy, uncomplicated, and very well laid out for someone who has been in pain for a long time with IC (14 years in my case). There are a lot of hand drawn illustrations (as opposed to some of the more colorful yoga books with photos I've seen, but never bought) which get theidea of each exercise across very well.

I like this book and really do feel more relaxed and less stressed after I do one of their exercise sessions. I would recommend it very highly to anyone with IC (even if they are 54 years young like I am).

I recommend seeing a physical therapist about your pelvic floor, if it is already damaged (you have IC, pelvic floor pain, pudendal neuralgia..) then you will need physical therapy treatments and doing these poses alone won't heal you. Make sure not to sit without one of those donut seats. This book can be a good start.
Do yourself a favor and google Rhonda Kotarinos.

Cystitis: A Time to Heal With Yoga and Acupressure

By Dawn R Mahowald and Dr. Emmey A Ripoll
AuthorHouse, Inc ©1999,2002 ISBN 1-4033-8870-9

This book explains the different types of cystitis and the difference between yoga, acupressure, and acupuncture. Written in everyday speech, it is simple enough for the layperson yet thorough enough for practitioners. It gives eight weeks of exercises and poses, with tips for those with IC. Also listed are certain poses to avoid, "Yoga for a bad day", and tips on the IC diet and ideas to keep patient's flares to a minimum.

I tried some of these poses and felt more relaxed and calm throughout the day. There are simple illustrations to show you how to do the poses and where to press for the acupressure. At 165 pages it gives you plenty of options and tons of guides to help you on what path you should take to decrease your chronic pain. The author reports that 90% of their students have a decrease in their symptoms following the program. That is fabulous for us IC patients!

There is the tip to do the lessons right before bed as the yoga tends to decrease your night urinary frequency. What great news that is for us as well!. You don't need alot of space, a maximum of 3 feet by 6 feet is recommended.

There is also no equipment to buy.

The All Info About Interstitial Cystitis website (http://cystitis.allinfoabout.com) Highly recommends this book for anyone with Interstitial Cystitis as a way to manage their symptoms and chronic pain.

This is a very good book. The author has compressed in less than 200 pages an enormous amount of information. I learned from this book more than from any other book I have read about advertising research. I read this book while also reading "Advertising Research" by Joel Davis, "How Advertising Works" from John Jones, and "The Advertising Research Handbook" by Charles Young. "Effective Advertising" is easily the best of this pack if your goal is to acquire maximum knowledge from a minimum number of pages. I recommend it highly.

Effective Advertising: Understanding When, How And Why Advertising Works is an absolute must-read for professional and aspiring advertisers and marketers. It very candidly and straightforwardly presents the theories, principles, and techniquest of advertising, including findings from marketing studies in the late twentieth century concerning advertising intensity, elasticity, frequency, content, and more. As fascinating for lay people seeking to learn more about the commercials that bombard daily life as it is for students and professionals making a living spreading word of their products, Effective Advertising is a thorough, no-nonsense explanation of the nuts and bolts of how messages can be spread and leave a mark on human psychology.

This book is full of extremely valuable information, but it's written in a very dense academic style. I wish the author had gotten a ghostwriter to help make it easy and enjoyable to read. It has far more meat than just about any advertising book I've read (and I've read a lot). What it lacks, ironically for a book about the business of communication, is the skill at communicating that. i.e. It's steak without the sizzle. What I would love the publishers to do for a second edition is: get a much better title, a much better cover (this one is appalling and boring), ask a good marketing/popular writer to make it palatable for the every day reader, and you might potentially have a hit on your hands. The content itself is first class.