Dealers Books

Outstanding book! While my book club members had mixed reviews on this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has a strong spirituality/religious message, which I mostly set aside. What was compelling to me was the cross-cultural relationship between the two authors, and the power of moving beyond initial assumptions to develop a relationship that transcends race, socioeconomic status, background, and privilege (or lack thereof). It's a true story about what happens when circumstances unleash the best in people, and what's possible when we consciously move beyond our biases and assumptions to really get to know others. It is also a testament to how little we really need to get by. It reads like fiction, and to know that it's a true story makes it that much more intriguing.

This book profoundly impacted both my husband and me. I have recommended it to many, many friends. They have also responded with rave reviews. This true story reveals how living beyond yourself can change our world, one life at a time.

I loved this book. It shows the power of God and how he can transform lives. I could not put it down once I started reading it. It really opens your eyes to look at people from the inside instead of the outside. No matter what we look like, I think we all have a story to tell. Some more powerful than others and it is obvious from this book that you don't need to be rich or have a college degree to be one of the most giving and insightful people there is. I would highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to have their heart touched.

This book, a true story co-written by a homeless man and an art dealer, deals with incredibly important social and moral issues in a relaxed but intimate way. Your views on homelessness, suffering, forgiveness, and faith will be challenged and sharpened by reading this book. Understanding gained by reading this book can be life-changing for you, as well as the world.

This book is a fast read that was hard to put down until I reached the final page. It is the first story I have read in which authors with extremely different techniques alternate chapters, yet blend together a fascinatingly true story of love between human beings from opposite ends of the social spectrum. It tells of lost and found, pain and healing, solitude and relationships, and rising out of the ashes of dispair into the realm of hope. It is a spirit lifter.

It is a very good book, but I am a bit skeptical of some of the content

Unlike most prison stories which chronicle the lives of men caught in the system, Life on the Outside, sketches the life of Elaine Bartlett, a mother of four and victim of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Jennifer Gonnerman, a Village Voice staff writer, draws an amazing picture of the hardships and suffering women face when they try to weave their way back into society after a long prison term without any training or support. Unmatched by any other book, Life on the Outside will give readers a glimpse of the multi-generational effect prison terms have on families.

I feel as though I've now had an intimate look at life in the ghetto. This story of Elaine Bartlett is written with honesty and has no happy ending. It is a story of Rockefeller's ridiculous drug laws and the impact they had on one family. If you're looking for justice, you won't find it here. Elaine and her family have had lives of struggle, poverty, anger, crime, prison, drug addiction, etc. Not pretty. It is a book every American should read. It is my hope (and I didn't see any mention of this in the book) that the author, Jennifer Gonnerman, has given a percentage of the profits from this book to Elaine Bartlett. Without her, there would be no story. I want to thank Jennifer Gonnerman for writing this book. I hope Elaine has decorated her apartment and has some extra money stashed away in a safe place.

An important book. Several years ago, I read a lengthy rave review about this book in "The New York Times" and bought it. It's about "breaking the cycle" of imprisonment and poverty in families. At a time when governments do little other than epitomize Benjamin Franklin's definition of insanity ("doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results") this book makes clear why we should tell stakeholders to go to hell and do something other than Nixon-Bush's "tough on crime," "punish don't rehabilitate," etc. Buy it five copies at a time, read it, and pass it on (please)!!

I was outraged that a first time offense could land this mother in prison for 15 to life is that justice No matter fact Hell to the No. Are drugs bad in the community well of course Yes. Although what she did was wrong by carrying those drugs to Albany she and her children should not have had to suffer sixteen years without her even five years would have been stiff but sufficient. I read one reviewer state that she was committing welfare fraud by working under the table and a host of other things anyway. But different people look at things differently you see I was born where Elaine was born and when our mothers went out and worked under the table it was called survival. When young white teens are allowed to work under the table it is called "teaching them responsibility" People kill me how they are so ready to judge. Anyway I once again will reiterate that in no way do I agree with her carrying any drugs because my mother was addicted to drugs which royally screwed up my family BUT before anyone judges Elaine let's look at this a young mother with four children working on the side is very vunerable to be lured into the situation she was lured into by George Deets. And to think good people allowed this to happen and are still allowing this to happen cause' why is Nathan still sitting in prison for four ounces worth of cocaine.
To the Author I applaud you for writing Elaine's story with DIGNITY.

I purchased the first edition of this book almost 20 years ago and found it to be an amazing resource that I continued to use to the present day. I recently thought to myself, "I wonder if they have updated it since then?" Well, I checked Amazon, and the authors indeed have updated it (currently 4th edition). This new version is literally twice the size of the original book, which already seemed comprehensive. Of course, there have been new trends, fads, and other developments since the early 1990s and the Herbsts have addressed them.

Whenever I hear about a fruit or spice or dish that I never heard of before, the first thing I do is check the book! I have moved around to different parts of the US and as I discover regional delicacies, the book is a great resource to learn more about them. I highly recommend it.

This is so helpful at my work whenever I have no idea what the Chef is talking about

I discovered this book at a friend's house and found it to be both fascinating and adictive to poke through. A better companion to breakfast browsing than the newspapers or magazines, and constant fun in quizing eating companions to describe obscure food items and the name-sources for well known food dishes. All that, plus much more.
Rather than bring a bottle of wine to our dinner hosts, we now bring a copy of this book. We find that it is much more appreciated and lasts forever.

We have a food service business, and this is completely indispensable! Every edition improves, and this is definitely the latest, greatest!

This book is a great resource for all foodies. Also it makes a great gift.

Love Starts with Elle is a pleasantly surprising book. If I had to choose one word to describe my overall impression, I'd choose healing.

Hauck uses the premise of Girl meets Boy #1, falls in love, throw in Boy #2. To me the choice between Boy #1 and Boy #2 was an obvious one and by page 70, I wondered why I should finish the book - I had it figured out!

Once I made it past thinking I knew where the story was going, I wasn't prepared for what happened in the remaining 200+ pages. Elle's character began to challenge me personally. Hauck doesn't "preach" at her readers, but instead quietly shows how creating a true relationship with God will affect our lives. By the time I finished the book, I wanted my life to be more like Elle's.

Hauck's style is easy to read and the storyline flows nicely. She throws in some plot twists, makes your heart break for Heath McCord, and teaches you how to manage the inner struggles when life changes dramatically. Artists and writers will identify with the characters, and those who have been involved in "big ministry" will understand the pressures Hauck portrays.

While Love Starts with Elle isn't complicated, it's perfect for a quick read snuggled under a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. Definitely a five star book.

Hauck's richest read yet. With Elle, Hauck has created a character that moves beyond cardboard-flat and into the kind of emotionally complex heroine that made me want to keep turning the pages. A work that avoids pat answers to relationships and life, and offers up both multi-layered meaning and easy readability, "Love Starts With Elle" is a fine piece of work.
James E. Robinson, Author of The Flower of Grass

I've had Rachel Hauck on my TBR list for some time now, and the cover of Love Starts with Elle prompted me to buy the book. And I'm so glad I did!

Hauck's style is fresh and witty, and she peppers the story with realistic, flawed characters I cheered for and had compassion for. The love story is charming and romantic without a hint of sappiness. I'm a picky reader and often don't finish books, but this one I took down in 2 days: a high compliment!

I'll definitely be buying Sweet Caroline and Hauck's other books sooner than later.

Artistic and a little bohemian, Elle Garvey loves life in small town Beaufort, South Carolina where she owns an art gallery. Engaged to Jeremiah Franklin, a pastor who oozes confidence and charisma, Elle is happy and in love. Willing to sacrifice her dreams to follow Jeremiah's call to a large church in Dallas, Elle heads to Texas only to find her fiancé's focus has switched from her to his new congregation.

Returning to Beaufort, Elle finds her heart confused and her home rented out to a NYC lawyer and his little girl, still grieving the loss of his wife. Heath McCord's pain and his uncertain yet passionate parenting appeal to Elle, as does his gentle encouragement to pursue her true passion ~ painting.

Can Elle follow her heart in love and life?

I love Rachel Hauck's books! Engaging characters, entertaining storylines and wonderful prose imprint each novel and make them exceptional. I am delighted to say Love Starts With Elle continues that trend. Elle Garvey, first introduced in Sweet Caroline, takes centre stage, a painter whose artistic talents are on hold as a result of a professor's harsh criticism years earlier. Jeremiah is a good man, overwhelmed by the demands of a large pastorate and Heath McCord is devoted dad, fearful of his ability to raise a little girl without her mum ~ Elle's emotions are torn. Rachel infuses each character with complexity, appealing characteristics and genuine weaknesses making Elle's journey authentic and captivating as she is brought to a crossroads in love, life and faith. Catch up on Caroline's life through emails with Elle and be strengthened in your faith through Miss Anna's love of God as Elle kneels with her in the prayer chapel. Simply put, Love Starts with Elle is a beautiful story that will engage your heart, soul and mind.

I love a good romance and this one did not disappoint. I just finished Sweet Caroline a few days ago wishing that it had a sequel. I was pleasantly surprised to find it did! Love Starts with Elle picks up with characters we met in Sweet Caroline.

I think one of the things I like so much about these books are the secondary characters who are so alive with their own stories. From Huckleberry, the environmental activist/artist who needs a clue, to the heartwrenching storyline with Elle's sister...the author really creates characters that you care about.

As a christian romance lover, I found the love story to be spot on; the banter between Elle and Heath was realistic and romantic. Well done Rachel Hauck...you've got another fan.

Whether you're a proverbial deer in the headlights at the mercy of salespeople or a picky shopper who fancies himself quite a negotiator, you will almost certainly learn something from this book that will save you money and/or frustration. Mark Marine isn't your typical car dealer; he may in fact be "the anti-car dealer." That's a good thing. The reason other car dealers don't like him or this book is because he sings like a canary about all of the ways car dealers exploit you for their own profit.

This isn't a primer on arguing down your local salesperson to the lowest price possible. You don't need to haggle to get a good deal; in fact, even the best hagglers probably won't get a good deal if they don't understand the arcane arts that car dealers use to make money off you. Speaking of deals, those "too good to be true" deals the guys are always yelling about on TV are indeed too good to be true. Marine shows you how something like 0% financing (which sounds great) can actually cost you money. Those sweet trade-ins values that sound so surprisingly generous? They're not. You'll also learn how the cost of your chosen car manages to swell so much on its way from the salesman to the loan manager - it's not just all the accessories you know about. There are all kinds of secret little add-ins the dealer probably won't tell you anything about.

What most surprised me - and probably a lot of you, too - is the way good credit works against you. Because lenders are willing to lend those with excellent credit more than the cash value of the car they want, car dealers feel they have a license to add all sorts of extras to the deal. In Marine's words, "good credit begs for abuse." If you don't want to find yourself buried in your car loan, you need to read this book. Marine shows you how to make your credit work for you - whether it's good credit or bad credit. It starts by getting pre-approval from the lender of your choice, as that's the only way to get the lender on your side rather than the dealer's; by knowing what you can do financially before you ever get to the car lot, you also seriously diminish the wiggle room the dealer has for exploiting you for his profit.

Kick the Dealer ... Not the Tires! takes all of the intricacies of buying a car and explains them in terms you can easily understand - and profit from. Mark Marine can save you enough money to buy this book many, many times over.

In this wonderfully succinct helpful guide the author walks the reader through every step of the car buying nightmare, with special attention given to the many faults, frauds and pitfalls of credit. This book takes an inside look at how the car dealership works, especially the ins and outs of where the car dealer makes money and the tricks he uses to compel the buyer into a bad deal. There are several places the car dealer is making large profits, sometimes it is by creating an artificially high `sale price' and then giving the buyer a big discount off the fake price, thereby pressing the buyers `hot button'. Most likely these profits are made at the credit table, for instance in the method of `spot delivery' where the dealer gets the buyer to sign a contract before credit conditions are approved.

The book takes an excellent look at all the shenanigans that take place when buying a car, from the trade into the `back end profit' such as all the extras like service contracts and add ons that the buyer is talked into getting. However the best part of this book is the portions on credit, how those with good credit are abused and those with bad credit are misled by `debt management' companies that pretend to repair credit but in the end only hurt the credit more. A very helpful guide that should save the reader a good deal of hassle and money the next time one buys a car. Highly recommended.

Seth J. Frantzman

Daily radio show personality Mark Marine shares the secrets he had to fight for the right to speak freely in Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires!, is a cut-the-bull assessment of how to get the best deal on how to shop for a new or used car, and especially, how to prevent car dealers from using your credit against you. Do you have a good credit score? Then watch out! Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires! reveals how customers with good credit are the most likely to get "buried" (meaning "to owe more in loans on a car than the car is actually worth") in a bad car deal, because both the dealer and lenders see a good credit rating as an invitation to jack up loan rates and pile as many unneeded extras on the bill as possible. Car dealers have been known to overcharge good credit customers to make up for money lost selling to bad credit customers! And if your credit is not so good, don't let it be an invitation to get gouged either - arm yourself with the knowledge to protect your pride, your rights, and your wallet. Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires! offers warnings against common pressure sales tactics and pitfalls, tips for protecting oneself against dishonesty and fraud, and much more, and is an absolute "must-have" for anyone who can't afford to pay for their car in a lump sum (which is to say, the vast majority of us).

I am one of a large group of people who wonder why buying a car has to be such an unpleasant experience. It seems almost impossible to get a straight answer to any question, much less an honest one. My worst experience was my second visit to examine a car at a dealership where I had previously purchased two vehicles and had one vehicle serviced for almost ten years. During the first visit, I talked with a saleswoman. On the second visit, that woman was busy, so I talked to a salesman for a short time and then left. When I got home, I fielded a call from the saleswoman where she chastised me for even talking to another member of their sales staff. That was seven years ago and since then, I have not set foot in that dealership, and in that time I have purchased two vehicles.
This book will not help you deal with rude sales personnel, but it will help you anticipate and avoid the questionable practices that almost always cost you more. In particular, you will be armed against the deceptive talk that is the main weapon of the car salesperson. The first rule is to never walk into a car dealership without having been pre-approved for a loan. One of the biggest sources of profit for the dealership is the markup when they obtain the financing for you. Terms that you will learn about in this book are:

Powerbooking - this is where a dealer will add options on the loan application that are not on the vehicle to inflate the value of the car and the amount the lender will be willing to lend.
Upside down - where an owner owes more on the car than the book value.

All of the points are explained in language that everyone can understand and will anger most people who have purchased a car. I recognized several of the tactics that were used on me and now realize what they were trying to do. This is a very valuable book that could save you thousands of dollars when you purchase your next vehicle. Read it before you walk into a car dealership for the next time.

Locked in this little package are all of the secrets that the car dealerships use to make their profits at the buyers' expense. Do you think that people with good credit get good deals, while those with bad credit get bad deals? Well, think again! In fact, the dealerships have tricks that allow them to maximize their profits on the backs of people with good credit, and this book tells you how you can avoid being a cash-cow.

Heck, it even tells those with bad credit what dealers can do for you (versus what they promise), and what you need to do to rebuild your credit.

Oh man, how did I ever live without this book? Not long ago I found out that I was "buried" in my most recent car, that I paid a good deal more than the car was worth. I blamed that one dealer, and vowed to take my business elsewhere. Well, in this book I found out that the treatment I got from that dealer was not unique, but actually standard procedure. But, now I am forewarned and forearmed!

If there was one book that I could recommend to all people, it would be this book! If you *ever* buy a car, then you should know what you need to do to make the best deal, which means that you should, indeed must, buy this book!

I give this book my highest recommendations!

What an amazing transformation. Jorge is man who has the intelligence to run a legitimate business at an early age. Dealing drugs offers him more money then he can fathom. His newly discovered faith turns him on the straight, narrow and happier path. The old saying is true, money cannot buy happiness.

I had to go to jail for possession and happened to come across this book in the library there. I found it impossible to put down once I started to read it. If you get a chance I suggest to anyone to give this book a chance.

I am not a book reader, George gave me a copy of the book when I visited him in Atlanta and the following week I was on vacation in Florida picked up his book and read the entire book could not find a stopping point may God continue to bless his works as he is now touching so many lifes. It took Jesus Christ plus a lot of courage George to write this book.

When I saw this book on the shelf at my local library, I assumed this would just be some preachy, manipulative work in which a drug dealer tries to make his past vanish by finding God. As a lapsed Catholic I found this concept rather weak, but I picked up the book with a (reasonably) open mind, and started reading.
By the time he was in his twenties Jorge Valdes was a cocaine dealer on the rise, dealing to the rich and famous, the living embodiment of wealth and power and luxury; leading a life most of us can imagine only in our wildest dreams. The life of the rich with all the negative excess that goes with it: drugs, pornography, prostitution, infidelity, murder, double-crosses, torture, kidnapping. Enough drama and suspense for a Robert Ludlum novel. The only difference is, this is the real deal. But, as Valdes soon disovers there is a price to all this; and he finds the courage and committment to steer his life onto a new, positive path.
Reading this stirred my intense interest in the good and evil that all human beings are capable of, what Karl Jung called "the shadow". Obviously some of the content of this book is tough to take (Especially Valdes' graphic account of him and an associate being tortured by police for refusing to leak info), but the honesty with which Valdes tells his story and the glimpse the reader gets into his former life makes for fascinating and sometimes horrific reading.
Even though I gave up my religious faith long ago, I still found myself moved by Mr Valdes's committment to his beliefs and how dramatically his life has changed for the better because of his faith. COMING CLEAN is quite simply a remarkable story. I challenge anyone to read this book and finish it without feeling affected. A very moving and powerful work that could only have come from the pen of someone who has lived and breathed the life... and survived to help prevent others from making the same mistakes he did.

From the very first page the reader is drawn into this first person account of the life of Jorge Valdez, former drug smuggler and money launderer.This is a compelling story of intrigue, corruption, power, and greed.

Valdez describes the culture, family life and values of a Cuban family trying to find their dream in America. Valdez emigrated from Cuba with his family when he was 10 years old. He was an honor student and was planning a career in banking and accounting.
A series of events changed his life. He became involved with a drug cartel. By age 20, Valdez was in charge of the entire U.S. operation that included smuggling, distributing drugs, and money laundering.
Valdez eventually got caught and spent a total of 11 years in federal prison. The account of his family's support during his trial and imprisonment is especially touching.

The story is written by author Ken Abraham. The reader is given insight into the world of drug dealers, the prison system, and Valdez's personal ethical values. The book is a well-written account of the dramatic change in the life of Jorge Valdez. This is the testimony of a man freed from the power of sin by the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Vignettes of fellow prisoners help the reader understand the consequences of bad judgment and wrong choices. The story takes you behind prison walls. The contrast of life in prison before and after Jorge's conversion give solid evidence of a man changed by the power of Christ.
While in prison Jorge earned an undergraduate degree from Southeastern Bible College and most of his credits for a graduate degree from Wheaton College. After his release Valdez completed his graduate studies at Wheaton College and went on to Loyola University to earn a doctorate in New Testament theology.
Valdez has made himself vulnerable in this honest portrayal of his strengths and weaknesses. It is a story of depravation, faith, forgiveness, and a new start. I am looking forward to another installment relating the miracles of Coming Clean Ministries in Tyrone, a nondenominational Christian ministry. This ministry seeks to intercept youth who are on destructive paths by redirecting their lives to become productive members of society.

If you think the book was about bragging rights, think again! I read the book with the intent to satisfy my interest about the "drug game," and this one did it and then some. I had read some so-called drug stories, but this story is so different in a sense that you can feel the remorse of Azie, through details about this lifestyle that is still glamourized by "rap stars." Azie takes you from his innocent early childhood, to his administrative position in dealing with drugs, to the aftermath of his envied lifestyle. You actually get to understand the relationship of everyone involved. With every page I read, I was piecing together alot of the mystery about the drug game. When I finished this book, I walked away with a fulfillment of why and how Harlem and other black communities were lured into a pseudo life of selling drugs.We all should give one copy to a young person as a gift. IT may save their life. I want to aknowledge the co-author Agyei Tyehimba for his literary skills that also kept me glued to the book. I, too, look forward to more projects from these two. Talk about being real...

Bought this book on Friday, Never put it down til early Saturday Morning. Such compeling hard gritty truth !

I thought this book was absolubtly "wonderfull"!
As a former resident of Harlem during AZ's reign, I can assure you of the accuracy of this well written, informative book. I laughed, I cried, I felt fear, and I celebrated, as I was entertained. I believe this book should be a required text of all schools; for it is a lesson that both teachers, and students can benefit from. I applaued AZ for his candid accounts, and his chosen co/author (Agyei Tyehimba). This Authors abilities breathed litterary life into a story now not soon to be forgotten. I look forward to Mr. Tyehimba's next projects, and Az's future accomplishments. Wishing you both continued success... Mochabreez

THIS AUTHOR HAS BEEN THROUGH HELL AND BACK, WHAT WITH THE LOSS OF SO MANY FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES!!!! I AM SO VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT YOU ARE NOT GLORIFYING YOUR FORMER LIFE,BUT YOU ARE UPLIFTING YOUR FAITH AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT!!!!!I REALIZE IT PROBABLY TOOK A LOT TO DIVULGE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU DID,RELIVING THE PAIN OF THE DEATHS, THE ATTEMPT OF YOUR OWN LIFE,AS WELL AS HAVING THE COURAGE TO LEAVE THE FAST MONEY BEHIND AS YOU'VE SAID IT'S VERY ADDICTIVE!!!! A COPY OF THIS BOOK SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL OUR STREET VENDORS,I'M SURE SOME OF THEM NEED TO BE ENLIGHTENED AS WELL!!!!!

This book was excellent and should be passed out at every juvenile system and prison. I wish I had read this book before my son turned 20 and moved out. I would have made him read it and right me a full report about! I have a younger son and it will be a must read in a couple more years!
Thank you for sharing and writing a powerful and enlightening book.

I've been reading MSR's books from almost the beginning, so when I learned she was switching from non-fiction writing to fiction, I was excited at the prospect, because I had read The Seventh Mesa and thought it was outstanding.

Suffice it to say, my expectations were high because I do have a long history, and I've often read many of the other sources that MSR discusses in her Q&A books and autobiographies.

I felt Ruby was written for the initiate not for someone seeking a peek into the inner mysteries. MSR has hinted a lot in her non-fictional writings about all that she knows. I was hoping she'd fill us in.

Ruby is written in a highly descriptive style, one that I admire and appreciate. I felt like I was there with the characters watching the scenes as if I were watching a movie. The simply message of the book is one that can never be told enough, never gets old. So even though I was wanting something more, slightly different, I've recommended this book to many people with the hopes that it will pique their curiosity to explore the non-fictional offerings MSR has written.

I loved the storyline. I am a little too impatient to get through all of the descriptive passages, but Ruby (the character) was reminiscent of a feminine verson of Sai Baba in the flesh. I loved the concept and really got into the story. Kudos to you Mary for this lovely story.

The wait was worth it!!! Mary pulls out all the goodies in this novel which will bring on the truth bumps.......that is , IF you really know Summer Rain and have read ALL off her books.

This book is worth buying and please ,, give ourself time to digest the story. If you have read ALL off Mary's books, you WILL get where she is at with this one. Love and Blessings to ALL, And to Mary Summer Rain for helping me to awaken to the truth and for being MY TEACHER just by putting her heart into print for the past 20 some years! Lightweaver

Mary Summer Rain is one in a million!!! She has a way of writing that brings her point across so one will never forget it. I have read all of her books, and am a fan of her non-fiction works especially, but "Ruby" is a priceless gift to her readers!!! Mary brings "Ruby" to life in a way that will inspire the reader to question those 'chance' encounters forevermore!

This book, while disarmingly simple in it's premise and style, contains a compassion and grace, that is genuine. It is a welcome return for those of us who have come to be used to the prolific offerings of Mary Summer Rain, only to have her suddenly take a sabbatical. It was an exciting prospect for her to return with a novel, only her second, and I was far from dissappointed. She simultaneously perceives life through the innocent eyes of a child, and the learned eyes of a sage, and the confluence of that sight transmits so nicely into this story of a deeply personal spiritual nature. It is well written, with great thought, and is imbued with integrity and charm from its beginning to its conclusion.

The thing that struck me most about Chip Jacobs' fascinating biography of his "Hollywood Player" uncle was just how un-Hollywood it felt. Certainly there is the human interest aspect, involving the tragic, early childhood injury that left Gordon Zahler bound to a wheelchair for life. Yet Mr. Jacobs wisely avoids going overly maudlin upon his audience, choosing instead to offer up the portrait of a man, so driven by the desire to succeed, that a mere physical disability could not stand in his way. Throughout the course of reading this book, I never saw Gordon Zahler as an object of pity; there were in fact times when I found him an entirely unsympathetic character. But he always came across as a human being, with all the debilitating flaws, and ennobling traits that characterize our species. And that to me is what makes a great biography. I look forward to Mr. Jacobs' next work.

I loved this book! Wheeler-dealer reminds me of the classic American story. It is a story about an "underdog" fighting to overcome his own personal challenges and limitations to find success. What would you do if you woke up paralyzed? How could you support a family, marry and ultimately enjoy life when you had no use of any of your limbs? Gordon's story shows us how powerful our minds are and reminds us that nothing is beyond our reach. Wheeler-dealer is much more than a story about Hollywood, or about quadriplegia, it is a personal story, one that the author tells with raw honestly of his own journey to find himself and how these family members, especially those past relatives long since buried, effect his life. Anyone that has ever undergone a personal or family tradegy will relate to the circumstances that this family finds themselves in, but as a reader, you will want to cheer as they find succes through ingenuity, perserverence and hard work. The human quality in this book makes you want to keep turning the pages. This book provides amazing insight into the power of dreams and sheer willpower. Try it, you be glad you did!

There is something so gripping in Chip Jacobs' biography of his uncle, Gordon Zahler. The author never caricatures his relative, but enfleshes him with boundless objectivity, even when recording his personal distaste in his responses to his mother's brother. I find the ability to do that a rare gift in writing. And the prose, the turn of a phrase and the point in a paragraph, hold the reader's interest like glue. Perhaps that is because Jacobs brings to this work years of newspaper writing, where words cannot be wasted, but packed with punch. Personally I was touched because Chip describes the Southern California and Hollywood of my coming-of-age and young womanhood, and it was, oh, so accurately portayed. Bravo!

It is unusual to find an unlikely protagonist such as Gordon Zahler, Chip Jacobs didn't have far to dig for this character, Uncle Gordon was always a topic of conversation at family gatherings. Now Chip introduces Gordon to the rest of us. He was a complex and inspiring character. Go Chip!

I thoroughly enjoyed this page-turning book! The story is one that you will never forget. The author, Chip Jacobs, will touch the soul of everyone who reads this book. I can't recommend it enough. I have told all my friends and family that this is a must-read for everyone!

It is unlikely that there ever was a senior executive who has not had to face a crisis. It comes with the territory. But how he handles and resolves the challenge determines his fate.

Gerald Meyers understands crises. As the former chief executive of American Motors and now University of Michigan professor, he speaks from experience, which lends credibility to his 8 crises-solving management styles.

Professor Meyers presents the reader with insights from his guests lecturers, a group of former chief executives each of whom have faced major crises in running their businesses. Given Meyers background, one would think that he would pontificate about the pros and cons of the decisions these executives made, but he doesn't. Instead, he let's them speak for themselves, giving us their perspective on the challenges they dealt with. Yet, even though it's a one-sided account, the reader walks away with an appreciation of the enormity of the task that these chief executives faced, and the style they used to bring their companies out of the crises.

A great read before you find yourself in a hole.

This book is insightful and energizing. I particularly liked the sections on Andy Grove and Robert Crandall.

This book pierces the corporate veil. The author takes you inside the executive suite.

Clearly written, precise accounts showing how today's top executives apply their individual attributes and personalities in solving and avoiding business crises. The book demonstrates that managing is 4 parts art and 1 part management theory.

This book is both entertaining and insightful. It held my attention like few other business texts.

Dealers, Healers, Brutes and Saviors is an essential read for rising and aspiring executives. It gives you a fly-on-the-wall perspective from behind the scenes through inside stories of executives who rescued their companies. It provides a useful framework for incorporating eight management styles of leadership worth considering during times of rapid and radical change. Don't miss it.

The most popular social figures of any age are characterized by being very effective one-on-one and in small groups. Their methods are often lost when translated into writing, because a great deal of their effectiveness depends on a state of mind, demeanor, style, and body language that are hard to capture when you haven't seen them.

Drawing on personal observations and interrogations in MBA classes, Gerald Meyers has created leadership style categories in this interesting book that are sometimes hard to grasp by those who have not yet met the leaders the co-authors outline. Although he shares many interesting case histories, the case histories are a little too brief in some cases to reveal much about the underlying person and what he (these are all men) does as a leader. That was why I had to grade the book down one star.

Some of the categories were instantly recognizable to me, such as Sizzle Sellers (the perennial salesman as CEO), Healers (those who bind together capable people after a major fiasco by the previous CEO), Saviors (those who follow a major fiasco that leaves the company devastated, and with few choices), and Dealmakers (finding common ground that expands value for the company, while creating a win for the person being negotiated with). I could name my own examples of these.

I had more trouble understanding Unorthodox Operators (which seemed to me to be a question of strategy orientation rather than style), Peacemakers (this seems like a variation on healers, with a negotiating issue at hand), and Brilliant Brutes (these may simply be smart leaders who like to zing their staffs and operating people -- it's a style, but is it worth memorializing?). You'll have to decide for yourself. These categories may have meaning for you based on meeting other executives than I have.

These are obviously not the only styles there are. Other styles including those for avoiding crises, styles for turning crises to advantage, and styles for containing crises. Those styles are beyond the scope of the book. However, I would commend to you reading Built to Last, which addresses style elements that are at odds with many of the ideas here and which help avoid crises in the first place.

I, too, meet lots of top CEOs, and there are other styles of crisis-solving that one can find. A style that I find particularly compelling is that of changing the business model by encouraging innovation in that area. I think that style will be a dominant one in the future. Another will be the person who can develop an organization that generates strategies that work in any business environment. So don't let your thinking be too limited by these style types. Better ones may be emerging.

The typology will be especially useful to boards of directors as they consider what kind of a CEO they want to lead the company next, and what sort of leadership team should be developed.

After you have considered these styles, ask yourself these questions: (1) Which style (if one of these) do you use? (2) What are the drawbacks of that style in crisis and noncrisis situations? (3) What style would work better? (4) Why? (5) What style would you most like to have others apply to you?

Too many of us are not conscious enough about our own styles. Some of the people in the profiles seemed quite surprised by how they are perceived by others. That's perhaps the greatest vulnerability you can have in employing a style.