Economics Books

This is the best book I have ever read on life and survival in human systems. I have been working with Barry's material for ten years and it has become the way I see the world. Seeing Systems captures the essence of his work in comprehensive, understandable and often humourous way.

This book provides an elegant framework for understanding our behavior in human systems. It is accessible and powerful.

A first rate professional book. It deals with complex issues in a clear, intelligent and original way. The book offers a lot of added value to both consultants and managers. I find myself leafing through it many times, never failing to find new insights. The book contains both a thorough theoretical analysis and practical tools and concrete tips for dealing with tough issues that impact organizations, such as power, accountability and the "positional trap" . The book is full of inpiring insights on the possibilities of making organizations more robust through empowering people. After reading the book, we cannot help it but seing systems in a new and refreshing way.

Seeing Systems is a brilliant book; Dr. Oshry has here succeeded in
relating a set of practicable principles in a highly readable and
entertaining fashion. The particular charm of Seeing Systems -- what
distinguishes it from other books of its type -- is in its pedagogical
style; it is designed not only to describe, but to teach the theories
which are there presented for inspection. The teaching itself is
twofold; the first part (which Dr. Cummings seems to think should be
the only part) consists in explaining an abstract theoretical model
for systems thinking. The second part is phenomenological, in that it
seeks to help the reader identify and sympathize with a range of
experiences that occur in system life. To this end, Dr. Oshry employs
evocative description and sympathetic re-enactment to great effect.
The result is that the contents of the book are easiest to remember
when that of other books are easiest to forget -- that is, when one is
caught up in a whirlwind of intense experiences.

The phenomenological part of the book manifests itself in the
distinctive manner of phenomenology; as winding and discursive. There
is no remedy for it, other than to stop doing phenomenology. If it
were not phenomenological, Seeing Systems would be as Dr. Cummings has
described it -- a mere shadow of "Systems Thinking: managing chaos and
complexity". Its prosody would be direct, as direct as it was dull;
its illustrations quite businesslike, and forgettable. It would never
be lightened with something so childish and so right as a mob of black
dots at a committee meeting. It would be a primly respectable little
book, fit to grace an executive desktop and be charming until opened.
And I for one should not read it.

Thankfully, Seeing Systems is not such a shadow. It deigns to stay
charming even after it is opened. It is not like other books in the
same field; but those books have been written already, and by other
authors. It is a book unto itself, and is all the better for it.

I read this book about 6 years a go as a part of my graduate program on organizational learning. My reaction at that time was, "Wow! I feel as if I was blind and Now I See!." It was like I gained a secret lens through which the organizational behaviors were making more sense to me. I felt so enthralled with the book, I called the number on the back of the book to inquire how I could explore, experience and learn the Seeing Systems concepts further. I have not done that before or since. 6 years later, I still feel Barry Oshry's teachings are one of real gems in understanding organizations and their behavior mysteries. I have integrated these concepts into my own ways of thinking and being and use them to generate partnerships for impact. I most highly recommend this book to anyone who works with organizations including executives, organizational developers and change agents.

I would recommend this book to a friend with absolutely no hesitation. The title of the book, Sell More, doesn't really cover the scope. While increasing sales is always the ultimate goal, the book touches on almost every aspect of running a business from initial set-up to getting the most from employees to how to deal with unhappy customers. Sell More was obviously written for businesses that want to give their customers great value and generate good word-of-mouth and repeat business. Honestly, in a perfect world I would only have to deal with companies that followed the advice in this book. Written in a fun and fast-paced style, but always takes the subject seriously. The suggestions are extremely creative but above all solid. The specific advertising strategies are frequently flat-out brilliant. Sell More would be a valuable tool for any business, for a new business it would be crucial.

Sell More by Judy McKay is very well written in a simple and interesting manner. She immediately grasps your attention and holds it until the very end. The book is challenging and thought-provoking. She encourages entrepreneurs or prospective entrepreneurs to be creative - be proactive.
One subject that especially interested me was discussion on the niche market. She emphasized the importance of identifying and focusing on our niche market.
Even though there are only 102 pages, Judy has left no stone unturned. In very short and simple language she covers many subjects that apply to long-time entrepreneurs and those new in the business field. I recommend her book to anyone wanting to "Sell More" and make a difference.

This is an excellent book. I found this book particularly helpful since I work in the hospitality industry. With such a wide spectrum of competition, new ideas are always required to maintain guest satisfaction and for gaining their continued patronage. This book delivers!

As the owner of a small business, budgets for extensive advertising simply do not exist, however the need to reach my target audience to drive more sales is constantly at the forefront. We have been conditioned to believe that the higher the cost of an advertising effort - the more successful the results. It simply is not true.

Sell More shows us that what we really need is to really take time to understand what we are selling and specifically how that relates to customer's needs. The common sense and economical strategies are the "practical magic" that is needed to turn this understanding into dollars in the register.

A must read for all small business that want to take it to the next level.

I am a nursing student in Indiana and I read this book. Ms. McKay's chapter on customer service was instrumental in helping me successfully interact with my client's on a daily basis. In Chapter 6 "Customer Service, it's not brain surgery or rocket science; its harder," Ms. McKay writes, "It is about integrating a positive customer experience into all facets of your day to day operation." Using this technique, I have had very positive feedback from my client's. If you deal with clients on any level this book is a "must have."

This book is filled with great information BUT as an executive recruiter Chapter 9 on cold calls is not just good but indispensible! It sure helped my cold calling routine.

What a great read! This is a great book that takes a refreshing new look at sales tactics. Not only do you learn new ways to sell, but also understanding the type of salesperson that you are. I've read many books on selling and found this one to be one of the best! An easy read that is packed with great information that is easily applicable to any salesperson.

"As executive editor of Incentive Magazine, I see a multitude of business books come across my desk and I have to review many of them. Selling Without Selling: 4 1/2 Steps to Success was a refreshing change. It was an easy read and I really got a lot out of your unique ideas on rapport building."
~ Jeanie Casison, Incentive Magazine

"Two days after I began using the Selling Without Selling system, my boss was told by my latest customers that I was the most professional sales person they had ever met. Thanks for making me look good!"

~Jim Smith, Jim Smith Chevrolet

Carol has really taken the time to write this book from both the brain and the heart. You learn to appreciate how selling can be an integration of who you are and what you aspire to be. Take that passion and apply it to selling. Her tricks of the trade are both personal and universal. At the end of the day you end up enjoying what you have ventured to do, having respect for yourself and the sellee. A timeless book, indeed.

I'm not really great about writing book reviews but Amazon.com asked for my thoughts.

"Shelter for the Spirit" is one of the most beautiful, meaningful books I've ever read. I was so impressed that I purchased another copy for my aunt who has recently lost her husband and moved to a smaller home. It was my intention to share the beauty of this book with my Aunt so that she can create the next phase of her life and home.

Many of Victoria's idea are simple, common sense and yet they are written so beautifully that you find yourself sheltered within the book. Ms. Moran is one of my favorite authors. All of her creations are lovely little treats and are reserved in a special part of my bookcase for when I want to visit "an old friend." Don't hesitate to read her books or to give them all as gifts. They are simply beautiful and beautifully simple.

Enjoy!
Mother Crone

The writing flows easily, the tone is compassionate, and the advice is both helpful and healing. I love this book and have kept it as a reference for years after first reading it; I go to it often and find more than what I expected every time.

I have purchased this book three times and gave copies to good friends. I have one for myself. Home is important and it doesn't depend on having fashionable and dust-free furniture. Whether one is creating a home for one-self, a child, a pet, a family, or any combination, it's the spirit that makes the home. If all you have is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, invite your friends and make it a celebration.

I have read this book through many times and appreciate the messages every time. It is also a book that I give as gifts to friends (a great housewarming gift) because it is not preachy, it is an easy read, and it gets to the heart of our connection between the outer world and our inner spirit.

I read this after thoroughly reveling in her other book, Leading a Charmed Life. This one was more work to get through, since it's not in the one-thought-to-a-page format of Charmed Life.
The ideas appeal (learn to meditate, relate housekeeping to nurturing yourself rather than as a chore, etc.)
The author shows her own struggle to develop her spirit and find a peaceful haven in her home. Too many Americans think that buying stuff will bolster their ego and erase feelings of deficiency. Save yourself a bundle of money and wasted time in the stores. Read some of Moran's books and find more satisfying ways to enrich your life.

Shocking Velocity is an excellent aid for managers and consultants wanting to drive change through organizations. The book contains several examples that make it easy to determine how an organization needs to change in order to be more competitive. In addition, the analogies presented in the book help in building a business case and "selling" it through the organization.

For anyone looking for simple, implementable strategies that will provide great value this is the perfect book.

This book demonstrates the power of using information for competitive advantage. If your company can mature beyond the phase where it can gather the data you need, you need to understand what to do with all of it. When I started reading the book I thought of it as a book for product companies -- but after reading it I believe the lessons in here apply to almost any company.

Excellent practical guide to supply chain management. Must read to create operational efficiency in your organization.

At the outset, I share an opinion that there is nothing new, much less "shocking" in any of Srinivas' material but he does support his assertion that "small, focused changes to critical variables [can] result in a big impact on bottom line results." As he promises, his approach guides his reader step-by-step through "everything you need to understand, change, and strike the right balance between critical variables; and how making focused changes to these variables will result in superior Value." Frankly, I could have done without so many capitalized words and exclamation points throughout the narrative. Also, I encountered no "breakthrough concepts." Moreover, I question Srinivas' claim that the changes he recommends will be "entirely self-funding." If these changes are achieved, they will be well worth whatever investment is required; indeed, their ROI could be substantial. Given the cost of this 109-page manual, its own ROI will depend almost entirely on how relevant the material is to each reader's specific cicumstances, and, how effectively Srinivas' recommendations are implemented.

Nonetheless, I still think the material is solid and well-organized. Here's the situation. Srinivas' tells a "story" which features two former schoolmates named Tony and Freddie. Cleverly, Srinivas uses his business narrative to illustrate applications of the aforementioned concepts. For example, how performance measurements can be used to monitor progress and how to create a culture of continuous improvement. The objective, obviously, is to "sustain operational excellence, and stay competitive and agile." It would be a disservice to both Srinivas and to those who read this brief commentary to reveal what happens after Tony and Freddie are by chance reunited.

For whom will this manual be most valuable? In my opinion, owners/CEOs of small-to-midsize organizations which have fewer resources and thus a much lower tolerance for the consequences of waste. I presume to suggest that they read and then re-read Srinivas' manual, carefully absorbing and digesting its material, provide copies to key people and ask that they do the same, then meet to identify and discuss what the given organization's "critical variables are," and, which "small, focused changes" will add substantial value to customers and thus to the organization. Do not expect immediate, "breakthrough" results. (Note Srinivas' use of the word "small.") Be both persistent and patient. Think in terms of a Bunsen burner rather than a sparkler. Forget about "shocking." Make haste slowly. Good luck!

Shocking Velocity was the simplest book I have ever read on this subject. It is filled with illustrations that distill the essence of complex ideas, and makes them actionable in a unique context. There are stories, quotes, case studies and examples that will keep your attention, drive home the point and inspire you to take actions. It is written for these tough economic times. It doesn't stop at explaining concepts. It brings them to life and helps you apply the ideas in your unique context; applying these ideas can make all the difference between struggling for survival and growing stronger through the tough times by creating superior value. Supply Chain and Change management is not an easy concept to master. The book explains supply chain and change management in a very simple and easily implementable manner. If you have limited time looking and are looking for a supply chain solution Shocking velocity is the right one. Srikanth Srinivas has managed to master these concepts and the book is a pure example of his Brilliance. Srikanth you are the master!!!

Was used as a textbook, but is an excellent reference book for managers.

I like his 5 spheres of side-by-side leadership. He then added certain skills to each sphere. 20 skills in total spread out among 5 spheres. I found his chapter on "Interaction Fields" to be the most useful part of the book. I read other books on leadership. And this one has a lot of good information. Great book to read for a beginner in leadership.

Just like many other leadership books, he tries to look at great leaders. In general he doesn't present anything new. He just found new ways to say what is now being said repeatedly in other leadership books. Is it worth reading this book? Yes... as I said earlier, especially if you're new to true leadership. If you have been having problems with your leadership position, defiantly read this book.

In conclusion, it is a good leadership book filled with practical tips. Not only defines what leadership is, but tells you how to lead as well, explaining his ideas based on what works.

... I believe that the leadership points the direction of where to go and when to get there and the frontline people figure out the "how" part. When I picked up Side-By-Side Leadership, I was immediately struck by the wealth of research to support the basic premise of the book. I was also impressed with the careful, almost scientific approach Dennis took in proving the case for frontline people driving performance improvement by working side-by-side with organizational leadership. I knew we were kindred spirits when I read a few lines on page 44 " The effective Side-by-Side leader is aware of all of these influences on the team and organization and knows that frontline people -- the employees who are in daily contact with customers and suppliers -- are often the first to discover new opportunities and threats to the organization. By maintaining a two-way dialog, Side-by-Side leaders and their contributors can respond quickly to changes without losing sight of their goals." If you want true, sustainable and significant performance improvement in your organization, regardless of your industry, read the book and bring the concepts into your heart. Let your actions speak louder than your words to the people in your organization.

Dennis Romig has done an excellent job of integrating real world experience with a wealth of research to create a very readable book. Often leadership books are criticized for being "too theoretical" or "too soft" for the real world. This book is different. The principles and best practices presented are backed up with "hard" data obtained from the review of 3,000 studies.

The ideas presented in this book can really make a difference to the bottom line. Applying these innovative ideas will yield productivity gains, improvement in employee morale, and increased profits. This leadership model departs from both the "top down" and "bottom up" models of leadership. It presents a third model which Dennis Romig calls "Side by Side" leadership. The Side by Side model recognizes that leadership is about building and sustaining effective relationships. "Leadership is facilitating Side by Side relationships in pursuit of shared goals."

Romig points out that often the most effective way for leaders to influence others is to "change their own behavior." This is right in line with Stephen Covey's "inside out" approach to leadership and Bowen's Natural Systems Theory. The Side by Side model recognizes that leadership involves facilitating and coordinating a two-way influence process. Such leadership is mutual, interactive, and shared.

In the top-down, authoritarian model of leadership influence is one-way. Top-down leaders usually listen only to a few others-mostly those in authority above them in the hierarchy. On the opposite side of the leadership spectrum are the bottom-up leaders who have allowed participative management practices and "democracy" in the work place to get completely out of hand. Dennis Romig presents a "third way" that is a higher way than either the top-down or bottom-up approach.

The Side by Side leadership model appears to be the closest of the three models to Robert Greenleaf's vision of Servant-Leadership.

"Executives who spent their entire careers practicing autocratic leadership read Robert Greenleaf's Servant Leadership and did a complete turnaround. But they mistake Greenleaf and others like him. They went too far. The proponents of participative management never meant to advocate a one-way, bottom-up model...Neither top-down nor bottom-up has worked very well for us."

Dr. Romig presents five spheres of influence in Side by Side Leadership. These five spheres are:
1. Personal
2. Interpersonal
3. Team
4. Organizational
5. Knowledge

Most of us are strong in one or two of these spheres, but naturally weaker in other spheres. For instance, you may excel at personal and knowledge leadership, but be weaker in interpersonal, organizational, and team leadership. This is an important concept. An organization needs leadership in all five spheres. It is unlikely that a single individual will excel in all five spheres of influence.

Dennis Romig identifies seven principles that are critical in all five spheres of influence. These principles include focused creativity and structured participation. Each of the five spheres of influence can be thought of as an assemblage of these seven principles. Finally, the author shows that it is important for a Side by Side leader to master twenty critical skills, such as two-way listening and living organizational values.

With five spheres of influence, seven principles, and twenty skills to master, this leadership model may seem overly complex. That is just the point. Too many authors have taken a simplistic approach to leadership. Leadership is not simple! It is a complex system with many interrelated parts. However, Dr. Romig has done a superb job of integrating all these elements and relationships into his book, keeping references to research findings brief and to the point. He shows that there are many "entry points" into the Side by Side leadership model, and there are many different ways to be a successful leader. This is not a "one size fits all" kind of book!

I want to thank Ray Bard at Bard Press for suggesting I review this book.

I rarely get this excited over a book. Buy it! Read it. Get excited too!

Review By Dr. J. Howard Baker

Dennis Romig's consulting experience gives real and personal flavor to this research-based guide for leaders. His examples are interesting and the book is especially readable because he keeps his references to research findings brief and compelling. I was especially interested in his references to Bowen's work on patterns to be watched for in teams and organizations. Romig has written a great "how to" text of best practices.

Mark Ortman's "simple guide" is an easy to read, comprehensive look at the various aspects involved in self-publishing, including preparatory steps (copyright, ISBN), printing, marketing, and distributing. He offers lots of references to resources which will be useful, and he provides some tips as well.

Brevity is the chief positive attribute of this book, and it is also a weakness. You might want more about each of the subjects that Ortman raises. Another problem with the book is that much of the information involving technology is outdated, although most of the rest of the book is up-to-date.

Not everyone will want to read this book. But the beginning writer can certainly benefit from it.

Back in the late 1980's I had the privilege of attending a self-publishing workshop with Mark Ortman, the author of this excellent how-to guide. I purchased "A Simple Guide to Self-Publishing" and used the knowledge I gained to successfully publish and market my first book. I've recommended this book many times over the years, since it provides a perfect introduction to the topic. I'm happy that Mark has kept the book up to date, and that the Third Edition includes helpful information on On-Line Publishing.

This book may be a handy ADDITION to your publishing library, but it is definitely not "the" source book for marketing. In fact, in the rapidly changing world of publishing, I found that most of the information I did want to use was already out of date.

This book helps you compare regular publishing with self-publishing to see if it's right for you.

Three main questions underlie the process:
Why do you want to publish your book?
Who is your audience?
What makes your book different or unique?

Chapters cover such topics as:
Learning about the industry and preparing the manuscript
Printing
Announcing your book
Distribution
Creating a demand, touring, marketing--by far the longest chapter

This book has lots of great suggestions, but he doesn't go into any very deeply. At only 62 pages, this is useful as a handbook. It is geared toward writers who needs an overview of the process, particularly those wanting more traditional paper publishing for their books.

This simple guide is exactly that, the bare bones basics for those who don't want to wade through hundreds of pages. You can get more than three times the information for only twice the price in a book like Dan Poynter's The Self-Publishing Manual, but more is not always best for everyone. If you are the type of person who wants "Just the facts" this book could be your ideal introduction to self-publishing.

This is a very good book on Walt Disney World. It is far superior to the 20th Anniversary Book "Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years". Although, many of the pictures are the same, there are alot more in Since the World Began.

In addition, this book provides much more information on the creation of the park. Still the best book on the creation of the Disney theme parks is "Disneyland: Inside Story" by Randy Bright. Since this is out of print, Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years is a good choice.

Walt Disney lives.

No, I'm not talking about the urban legend about him being cryogenically sealed and stashed below the Pirates of the Caribbean exhibition. Nor is this some soft New Ageism about spirits inhabiting the celestial plane.

He's alive down on a plot of land outside of Orlando, Florida, a boom city that was a dumpy little crossroad when Walt began buying what became a 30,000-acre spread there is the late 1960s.

Walt's gone, but his vision and energy lives on, and once you start dipping into "Since the World Began," you'll see that the scope of his vision is nothing short of awesome.

There are many faces of Disney, the producer of family-friendly and highly profitable movies, the creator of family-friendly theme parks, but also a visionary who thought that, as one associate put it, "bad information was responsible for all the evil in the world." Who tried to change people's attitudes within the confines of an amusement park, the man whose idealism spawned the Epcot center, and under Michael Eisner, the Disney Institute, where education and learning are on a par with entertainment.

What the book won't tell you -- this is published by Hyperion, Disney's publishing arm, and written by Jeff Kurtti, a longtime Disney employee -- is just what hell Walt went through to realize his vision. You won't hear of Disney's fundamentalist upbringing, his retreat into fantasy to escape a brutal father and life in poverty, his endless hard work to make animated movies, his multiple nervous breakdowns. His brother Roy is idealized as the business brain behind Walt's success, but you won't hear that Roy constantly opposed Disney's ideas as a waste of money. When Kurtti writes that Disney founded the design firm Walt Disney Imagineering in 1952 "because he realized that he wouldn't be able to create Disneyland within the boundaries of the studio system," he doesn't mention that it was also because Roy and the Disney board refused to advance Walt the money to design Disneyland, fearing that it would be a failure.

There was plenty of reason for Roy to be worried, too. Disney's ideas constantly threw the company perilously close to bankruptcy, generally on the order of every 18 months, until Disney's deal with ABC in 1955 made him very wealthy and put the company on a firm financial footing. Walt Disney was an idealist and a visionary, and if it wasn't for his tenacity, the company would not be the worldwide giant it is today.

Even while ignoring those shadings, there is still plenty of story left to make "Since the World Began" an awe-inspiring overview of Walt Disney World. It's probably the single largest and most complex construction project this side of the space shuttle. Its statistics are jaw-dropping: 55 miles of canals and levees were built to control the water levels, nine acres of underground corridors thread through the park, housing sewer lines, pipes and cables, and a pneumatic system for hauling trash, 60,000 plants and 800 varieties of trees acquired, moved and transplanted to build the park, 100,000 pounds of linen had to be washed every day.

As befitting its creator, the theme park was ahead of its time in its use of innovative technology. WDW was also the first area to implement 911 service in Florida, the first commercial venture to use fiber optic cables, the first telephone system using underground cable instead of overhead wires.

But the park was also a reflection of Walt Disney's vision of a global coming together of different peoples and cultures, learning about each other and attempting to find and enjoy peace as a result. It's globalization with a human face, to borrow someone else's phrase, and even if it seems outdated or even impossible in this post-9/11 world, Walt's beliefs is a hopeful and sustaining vision, and as American as the culture from which it sprang.

The author dives into the nuts and bolts of Disney history, including the formation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Disney's unique infrastructure. Yet the book isn't bogged down with technical, intricate details. Any Disney fan should enjoy reading about the Imagineering behind all four Florida parks' concepts, the hidden meanings of the names on Main Street's second floor windows, the transformation of Tomorrowland, ad infinitum. I received the book as a gift in 1996 and I've enjoyed reading through it several times.

Wow, wow, wow what a great book depicting the history of the number one vacation spot on the planet. I actually bought this book when it came out about 5 years ago. After reading it, I decided I'm going back to Dinsey World to celebrate its 25th birthday. Needless, to say it was a great trip. This is the book for all you wanting to know about Dinsey World History. For Dinseyland I would reccommend Disneyland: Inside Story, but getting on of those under... is a hard task.... What are you waiting for, buy this book! Get ready to experience the magic!

This is a very good book on Walt Disney World. It is far superior to the 20th Anniversary Book "Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years". Although, many of the pictures are the same, there are alot more in Since the World Began.

In addition, this book provides much more information on the creation of the park. Still the best book on the creation of the Disney theme parks is "Disneyland: Inside Story" by Randy Bright. Since this is out of print, Walt Disney World 20 Magical Years is a good choice.

Finally a book that incorporates two powerful concepts: scorecards and six sigma. I have worked on various projects with the aim to achieve operational efficiency and at the same time I have been part of various meetings and discussions to find best ways to "empower" the staff to help them understand, align and achieve corporate goals. Both these efforts have largely been fragmented. The measurement tools to achieve both these goals have, at best, been mediocre. This book provides a comprehensive, more robust and practical approach to bringing the two concepts together.

This book gives a pragmatic approach to not just evaluating performance but also provides easy-to-use tools that help predict performance and profitability. This book provides a much needed scorecard methodology for the 'new' globalized world. A must-read for any business leader.

Praveen, I just have to buy you a cup of coffee or a drink one day. I am just finishing your book, "Six Sigma Business Scorecard " and have to say that I haven't been this riveted to a business book since "The Goal". Books like this for me have been far and few between.

I am writing to congratulate you for your outstanding work on the book you have written about the Six Sigma Business Scorecard. I have spent the past week reading it, and I've realized what a fantastic tool it is.

I am a Six Sigma Intern, and I work at Recofarma, a Concentrate Plant of the Coca Cola Company, located in Manaus, Amazonas - Brazil. I was trying to create a Massive Communication Plan for Six Sigma within the company and one of my ideas was to create a Scorecard for Six Sigma, then I looked for related material at Amazon.com and your book appeared on the top of the list. It surely was a great investment.

Finally, a pragmatic approach to developing a Business Scorecard that captures the profitability proposition through periodic measurement of critical performance. The critical thinking used to construct and evaluate each element of the hierachical measurement structure provides a keen insight into the contribution value of each functional area of the business. The concise step-by-step approach in building the overal Business Performance Index provides the guidance necessary for immediate implementation by small or large enterprizes.

I have read a few hundred "non-fictional" books over the years for my MBA, for quality, etc, but I have to tell you that this book about the use of balanced scorecards is the best business related book that I have ever read, and I feel that every CEO should completely absorb it to utilize its "pertinent" applications that are applicable to their business processes, thus institutionalizing the process metrics' continual improvement concepts of ISO/TS 16949:2002 and ISO 9001 in all types of firms, including those that are not automotive suppliers!- Bill Cooper, Global Quality Systems Senior Manager, Lear Corporation

This text is a valuable resource for those interested in the science of flooring and tribometry. The scope of topics is comprehensive and I especially appreciated the discussion of flooring types, cleaning methods, and maintenance in Chapter Six.

Mr. DiPilla's book is delightfully clear, concise and comprehensive. It educates the reader from the scope of slips and falls issues, to common procedures for recognizing and mitigating walkway hazards, to management control methods and accident investigation/claims mitigation. The text and illustrations read in a simple, common-sense way, showing the truth of Voltaire's comment that "common sense isn't so common."

Another noteworthy feature of this book are the remarkably comprehensive, annotated references to slip resistance principles, flooring, footwear and slip-resistance measurement techniques, both within the U. S. and internationally. The annotated listings of U. S. and international standards and guidelines in themselves provide the best collection of references I've seen on this complex subject. Remarkable.

David C. Underwood, Ph. D.

One might expect that evaluating the slip resistance of a walking surface is a straightforward procedure. Surely building codes contain specifications for slip resistant walkway surfaces and indicate procedures to evaluate available surfaces. You will not find these specifications or procedures in building codes and you will be frustrated and confused as you seek guidance. Slip and fall Prevention by Steven Dipilla is the best summary of up to date industry standards and test methods needed to perform meaningful evaluations. If you need guidance this should be the reference you purchase.

This book is a comprehensive reference on slips and falls and "must have" for every safety professional reference library. Very useful hazard recognition and prevention guidelines is offered for indoor and outdoor slips and falls from floors, stairs and ramps. In addition, this is one of the best references I've seen on slip-resistance measurement guidelines and tribology standards.

Slip and Fall Prevention by Steven Di Pilla, though probably written primarily for professionals in the field of safety and risk management, can be invaluable to anyone who owns or manages physical assets.

It seems to me that Mr. Di Pilla has dealt with every possible manifestation of the subject. I was particularly impressed with his advice regarding claim mitigation. This handbook belongs on practically everyone's bookshelf.