Adams Books

All Ben Arnold wants in life are Mongolian Fighting Fish. The day he walks into Mr. Dodds's Pet Emporium with enough money to buy them should be the best day of his life. Except that he walks out with a cat. It's not really his fault. After all, the cat made him do it.

Ignatius Sorvo Coromandel, Iggy for short, also known as the Wanderer, has quite a story for Ben. He is from another world, a world called Eidolon. A world full of exotic, mythical, talking creatures. A world that is slowly dying and losing its magic. Someone is stealing creatures out of Eidolon and selling them in Ben's world. Each time a creature leaves, the magic is less. And each time one dies, which happens shortly after they enter our world, more magic disappears.

The most amazing part of all, aside from the talking cat thing, is that Iggy claims Ben's mother is the Queen of Eidolon! That's why Ben can understand Iggy, and the other strange creatures that are beginning to appear in random places. That means that Ben is a prince and his two sisters are princesses! And that's why Ben's mom is getting sick.

If Ben can go to Eidolon, he might be able to help save both the world and his mom. First, he'll have to escape Mr. Dodds and Awful Uncle Aliester, who are bad enough in the regular world and ten times worse in Eidolon. Not to mention Cousin Sylvia and her creepy hairless cat. Then he'll have to navigate a completely foreign land where he can't be sure who to trust.

Mythical creatures and huge battles are all well and fun in books, but living through them is a whole different story!

I love this book, in every way possible! The plot is interesting and moves along at a perfect pace, fast enough to keep you interested but not so much so that you get confused. It's written simply, but never in a way that makes you feel silly. The characters, even the creatures, are extremely interesting and realistic. The part I like best though, is that there is a great sense of humor throughout the story.

I love it. My six-year-old nephew loves it. My ten-year-old niece loves it. You can't ask for more than that.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

Twelve-year-old Benjamin Christopher Arnold (Ben, to his friends) has always been quite an ordinary boy. Like many other boys of his age, Ben is going through the typical gawky stage - long, gangly legs; big feet; hair that never stays in place. There is one thing slightly abnormal about Ben, however. The fact that he has one brown eye, and one green eye; the result of an accident when he was a mere child in a stroller, where he fell victim to a nasty bruise upon his head. And, after an emergency trip to the hospital, emerged with one brown eye, and one green eye. Peculiar indeed, but no cause for worry. Ben's ordinary boy status is thrown for a loop, however, the moment he enters the illustrious Mr. Dodds's Pet Emporium. Drawn into the shop by an advertisement for Mongolian Fighting Fish, Ben sets his sights on the prize, and does everything in his power to earn money for the two floundering fellows - from doing laundry, to mowing the lawn. But when he arrives at Mr. Dodds's Pet Emporium, clutching his freshly-made savings, Ben falls victim to a change of heart. And, as opposed to emerging from the store with his Mongolian Fighting Fish in tow, he purchases a scruffy, talking tabby cat by the name of Ignatius Sorvo Coromandel - also known as Iggy, or the Wanderer. It wasn't that Ben was interested in purchasing the cat. Quite the contrary, actually. But Iggy insisted that Ben take him home, and, feeling a sense of compassion towards the badly mistreated yowler, Ben hands over his savings, and retreats. According to the story Ben is told, Iggy has been kidnapped from his homeland known as the Secret Country. The Secret Country is a parallel world, where mythical animals run free, and beautiful scenery is plentiful. Teaming up, Ben and Iggy soon learn that Iggy is not the only resident of the Secret Country to find himself in the real world. In fact, it is quite obvious that various other creatures have become the victim of Mr. Dodds's get-rich-quick scheme of the mythical creature trade. In fact, with a little investigating, the two learn that Mr. Dodds has been stealing the creatures of the Secret Country, and selling them to England's rich socialites. It doesn't sound too horrible, but Ben soon learns that Mr. Dodds's actions are more harmful than even he realized. According to Iggy, the longer these creatures - whose connections to the Secret Country are quite more than skin deep - are away from their homeland, the worse things become for the Secret Country. In fact, as these creatures are removed, the Secret Country falls under an immediate threat, that could harm their existence. Ben doesn't want to see anything happen to these exotic creatures, but he feels that there is little he can do to assist them in their plight. When he learns that his mother is the long-lost queen of the Secret Country, and that Mr. Dodds's actions are contributing to her deteriorating health, however, he vows to save the creatures, and the country. Now, with his mother's in limbo between life and death, Ben accepts his role in the ancient prophecy of the Secret Country, and begins his quest to prove that he is more than worthy for his title as the Prince of Eidolon.

So often the synopsis on the back cover of a book promises thrilling adventure, spectacular characters, and a fantastical journey to an unexplored world. Yet, when you begin reading, you find that the story falls flat, and leaves you searching for more. So is not the problem with Jane Johnson's debut THE SECRET COUNTRY. Reminiscent of J.K. Rowling's lyrical language, Johnson has penned a tale that leaves you gripping the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Ben is an irresistible character, whose ordinary ways of life are relatable, and quite refreshing in a sea of novels depicting the "lifestyles of the rich and famous." His oddly colored eyes, and ability to see things differently through each one are imaginative and exhilarating to learn more about; while his penchant for succumbing to the pressures of the creatures and family around him make the reader not only sympathize with his character, but cheer on his bravery, as well. His oft-times tumultuous relationship with the snippy, bossy, yet totally lovable tabby, Iggy, is humorous, and quite refreshing. Iggy is fun, yet quite ornery at the same time. His determination to not only save, but to protect his beloved homeland is admirable; while his constant confusion regarding direction often makes the reader question how, exactly, he received the title of the Wanderer. While Iggy and Ben dominate the story, Johnson has also created a wide array of supporting characters, who certainly work to hold their own throughout the tale. From the evil Mr. Dodds - whom you can't help but love to hate - to the gorgeous selkie, Silver, whose unique identity, and ability to transform from seal to human girl - even if she's not yet a pro at the transformation yet - makes for an interesting character. Ben's family is also quite fun to learn more about. His father's constant cluelessness is humorous; while his Uncle Aleister is despicable in a way that makes you loathe and love him at the same time. And his mother - the long-lost queen of the Secret Country - is quite a confusing character, often causing the reader to raise their eyebrows as they struggle to learn more about the illustrious parent; while Ellie - Ben's older sister - and her love of garish make-up makes for a strikingly frightening, yet funny addition to the cast. An engrossing roller coaster ride that combines mythological and fantastical elements to create a thrilling debut. Bravo Ms. Johnson!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Though it may seem like something of a ripoff of Harry Potter, The Secret Country: The Eidolon Chronicles truly stands alone as a brilliant novel, seemingly 'inspired' by Harry Potter, Tolkien etc.
Written in third person, Jane Johnson A.K.A/ Gabriel King A.K.A/ Jude Fisher, takes the reader through an enchanting tale of the adventures of a boy named Ben Christopher Arnold, who, in his infancy, accidently changed the color of his right eye. Then, some years in the future, he sets his sights on two Mongolian Fighting Fish. When he finally raises the money, he is 'convinced' by a talking cat, to buy it instead. The cat, Ignatius Sorvo Coromandel, (you can call him Iggy) turns out to be from another world, and 'wandered' into Ben's (Note: This does take place on earth) world, where he was promptly kidnapped. Everything from there onward is perfect blend of adventure, humor, horror, possible romance, and friendship. This is a genius book for both boys and girls, and a sequel is in the making. This is a must read for anyone who likes: fantasy, action, cats, dogs, most magical creatures and talking cockroaches.

This story is about a boy named Ben Arnold who is relatively normal, but then he buys a talking cat named Iggy. Iggy is from a magic country called Eidolon, where there's dragons, magic, talking animals, and fairies. Ben finds out that his mother is the Queen of Eidolon, so he is prince, even though is father is from earth. "The bad guy" in this book is the Dodman (who exists also in the human world) and Old Creepie (who is someone VERY close to Ben, but I won't tell who) and they are trying to take over Eidolon and it's magical creatures. This book was soooo good, I finished it in an hour because I just HAD to figure out what would come next! :)

Gotta love a "children's" story that introduces the basics of platonic ontology (not entirely guised, either!) to my kids! Started reading: ran into talking creatures, then a world that is "more" real (via magic) than the "shadow" world that our protagonist lives in (socrates' analogy of the cave), where suffering and evil conflict as compassion and love eventually engages and empowers our just-your-average-kid hero into a reluctant but necessary struggle to keep the powers of blinded brute force at bay. Started reading as bedtime story (anyone else use that excuse to keep reading our kids' books??) but had to finish book myself just because it was impossible to put down. From notes on author (whose other great gift to us was helping JRR T. get published?!) could expect no less...Still was completely blown away by how engaging the narrative was! Have read Magyk and Septimus of late, and found that this was an wonderful cross (between harry potter's England and the fantastical magical world of the former. BRING IT ON! Need more in this series please...and a couple of movies would be just honky dory fine. ENCORE! ENCORE!

Excellent book compilation of short stories (six sentences!) from a wonderful web blog. Highly recommended, especially for writers who want to "tighten up their work." See http://sixsentences.blogspot.com/

Here are six sentences I came across that I hope will be included in the next edition (I'm not the author):

Title: "It's not my Mom"

Well Mom leaves early so it's just Zero the friend and I. Already I've bugged a bit this evening because I've seen Zero sit and pout and complain about his Mom; it was kind of like watching myself. I was disappointed that it still seemed to have so much control over him after all these years. It seemed that that's the way it would always be. Why was that bothering me though - not my problem, right? It's not my Mom.

I bought this book because it has stories published by a friend and one by myself. I have read it cover to cover and thought the stories were phenominal. My only reservation when buying it was the price because it is up there. Other than that, great writing and a good variety of stories and genres.

What fun this book is! Thought-provoking too. I enjoyed reading all of the stories. The range and variety is amazing, and the editor did a superb job organizing and formatting it into a wonderfully readable text.

A book that draws you in.
Each story in 6 sentences different from the previous one.
Beauty and art, pain and giving, all different walks of life written and captured, within the pages of this book;
It will drive you to try.
To try and master the art of the catchy new prose, only found in this volume one.
Six Sentences that will read to you a lifetime of different ideas!
You'll be asking Master Robert McEvily for more-perhaps in a 6Sentence format!

If writing is a muscle, SixSentences is Gold's Gym; it's where strong writers congregate to exercise (in sets of 6 reps, of course), improve their form, share secrets, and maybe to show off a little, too. To admire the physiques of a talented group of writers, peel open a Powerbar and check out 6SV1.

This book was SO funny - had me laughing out loud from page one! A GREAT gift idea for co-workers and colleagues. Definitely worth the read. Can't wait to get my hands on the next Stooples book!

When you set three wise guys loose in the office, you're going to get something unpredictable, funny and smart. "Wise" is the operative word here--all the things you were told not to be in high school. Or most anywhere else. Nothing is exempt! I wouldn't be exempt, or you, or the authors--everything goes. Go with it, you'll like it!

First there was Dilbert...funny, yet so close to the truth! Now comes Stooples: Office Tools for Hopeless Fools. I got hold of a copy, and I haven't let go or stopped laughing since!

It's essentially a table top book, although if you leave it on your corporate reception area table, it WILL disappear. Same for the washrooms.

At only $12.95, cheaper at Amazon, for this 128 page full color parody of an office supply catalog, it's well worth thinking about it as a Christmas stocking stuffer, your office gift exchange, or as a give-away at your office holiday bash. The authors will be on tour throughout the US in October and November just to make sure you got their message. You were warned!

This book was hilarious! For anyone who has ever worked in an office setting, it's a must-read when you need a good laugh. This would make a good gift for co-workers and bosses with a sense of humor!

This is one of the funniest office-related books I've read. These guys are cynical, sarcastic and have more insights in modern workplaces than most business consultants. If only we could buy these products--coffee mugs with your six-figure salary emblazoned on it and other ego-pumping products. It reminds me of the Alex Baldwin character in Glengarry Glen Ross, who plunks his Rolex on the desk in front of some loser colleague and says "Who am I? This watch cost more than you earned last year, that's who I am."
This book reminds me of when I got my first job in the early 90s. My predecessor cleared out the bookshelf and left only Dilbert's "How to Build a Better Life By Stealing Office Supplies," which turned out to be the best sources of career advice I had. Now, as I'm preparing to clear out of an office, I think I'll leave the Stooples book to my successor...

"Those Darn Squirrels" although a wonderful whimsical children's book is also applicable to all ages. It has a real life lesson to teach everyone which is, you never know where your friends or happiness will come from next so be open minded to all people and things. I have shared this book with children and adults alike. The response from all is one of delight. They can't stop reading it. Great job Adam and Daniel. Good luck with your future endeavors.

The book "Those Darn Squirrels" is a phenomenal read for children of all ages. The lessons learned in this story are something not only children but our whole society should value. The vivid imagery by Daniel Salmieri jumps off the pages, engrossing the reader and making one feel they are sharing a bowl of cottage cheese and pepper with Mr. Fookwire. Congratulations on a marvelous job by the author and the illustrator. Best of luck with all your future projects.

I definately enjoyed reading "Those Darn Squirrels" with my 8-year-old sister. She just loved the illustrations and was able to follow the story on her own. The story is uplifting, funny and easy for the little ones to read. The pictures are perfect! Glad I bought the book!

I bought this book for my several of my friends' kids. Great googly moogly its a great story of caring and teamwork.

I bought a copy of Those Darn Squirrels for my nieces and nephews recently and they absolutely loved it. The book was entertaining, witty, and very cute. It had a great message in it about acceptance and having an open heart. I would recommend this book to anyone and encourage you to give it a read too...the lessons are applicable for all ages!

As far as I know, this is the only available publication on Thiebaud. The book covers the artist's career from his early pastries paintings to his recent large-scale landscapes. It also enables the reader to discover less "typical" works, like the portraits of his wife.

However, what makes Thiebaud's paintings striking is their thickness, the way the artist works through the layers of paint, what we call in French "la matière". It is not only the color, which of course is present in the reproductions that fill this book. Unfortunately, that is somewhat lost and therefore I was a bit disappointed when I opened this catalogue for the recent retro on Wayne Thiebaud. The reproductions should have shown more close-ups and details of the works. For this particular artist, something is lacking.

I had ordered this book to share it with my adult painting students in a class I teach. It was to inspire a lesson about painting pictures of pastries. What I found was so much more. The book provides an informative overview of a variety of types of work by this artist, both realist and pop artist, with fine quality reproductions of the art work.

an excellent book with excellent reproductions. i enjoyed it.

This is the definitive book on the works of Wayne Thiebaud, which accompanied the very successful exhibition at the Whitney Museum. Thiebaud is best known for his hyper-realistic paintings of food, so luscious and sensual that they have universal appeal. When Theibaud first started painting in this style, he was compared to the Pop Artists, such as Warhol, Wesselmann, Indiana and Ramos. However, Thiebaud always tried to set himself apart from these artists, because although he agreed with their use of repetitive images as a comment on the banality of American consumerism, he wanted to paint well and believed that a series of soup cans painted poorly did not reflect his goal as an artist. It took many years after the Pop Artists became famous for Thiebaud to achieve the recognition that he deserved, partly because he was considered a regional artist who painted in California. This book is the seminal treatise on the works of Thiebaud and is therefore a must read.

Remember that old Frank Sinatra song that served as an inspirational film for rainy day grade school entertainment in the 50's? Well, if there is an artist who has captured the imagination and dreamy reveries of life in the past century, the quieter, more ebulliently committed time to joy and the simple treasures here, that man is Wayne Thiebaud. WAYNE THIEBAUD: A PAINTINGS RETROSPECTIVE is a beautifully designed catalogue raisonne of the pop artist's oeuvre that toured the country a few years ago. Organized by curator Steven A. Nash of San Francisco (the artist's home) this book is beautifully illustrated with all of the iconic images of pies, cakes, candy apples, etc. that everyone associates with Thiebaud. Yet it gives equal time to the inimitable 'landscapes' of the hilly terrain that is San Francisco, valleys of Northern California, and beaches. Thiebaud's ability to flatten vistas into geometric patterns can be compared to Richard Diebenkorn's purely abstract Ocean Park Series of paintings: both artists understand space, color, and the excitement of the line.

Accompanying this 'delicious' array of Thiebaud paintings are essays by both Nash and by Adam Gopnik of 'New Yorker' who aptly praises Thiebaud as a man in the same company of Americana as Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams, and John Updike! That about sums it all up and this essay alone would be reason enough to buy this important volume of American art history. Simply superb. Grady Harp, October, 2004

My first visit to Berlin, in May'89 was inspired by Wender's "Wings of Desire" movie. Since then I have been back to Berlin dozens of times; even bought our wedding rings there.

Unlike, say, Paris, Berlin is not an easy city to discover or appreciate. This huge well printed and edited book does a wonderful job of bringing Berlin to life for the viewer. Most of the photos are images I've never seen. My only wish would be more coverage of East Germany.

A great book and great pictures. Berlin has deeply changed in the last 150 years and all this has been documented precisely by great photographers: this the easiest way to show how. Texts are exhaustive too into describing "typical" life of a city.
Maybe Berlin has changed more in the last two decades then ever before: the last chapter of this book could be more fascinating and explorative, including the fact that there are a lot of pictures about it but it'd had took another book, perhaps. Maybe Berlin has changed again yet and is changing again now... so I'm waiting for a second edition.

This is a beautiful book! The photos are not only outstanding but they have zero pixillation. You can discern details such as the company name on the back of a horse drawn cart in a crowd. The turn of the century through the 1930's I thought were the best. You can stare at one and with out much effort find yourself slipping away into the photo.

The National Socialist period is not covered in depth nor do I think it needs to be. There are far an away plenty of books for that on the market. This is a book that can not be digested in one sitting. Take your time and look at each photo. The small details are fascinating.

My only problem with the book is the blue page stock that some of the entries is written on. It made it difficult to read the text. That is a minor quibble, especially in a book like this. If you buy a used copy make sure you check the price of shipping as this book weighs as much as a small childs school backpack.

What a book! My mother as well as her sisters were born in Berlin during and after World War II, so I grew up hearing family stories of this amazing city. This book provided a tremendous visual aid to all these stories. Looking at the images I could picture my grandmother as a young woman, and my aunts and my mother in the postwar years.
If you have any connection to this amazing city, this book will bring tears to your eyes, for all the hardship and challenges it has faced, and with what fantastic grace it reemerged like phoenix from the ashes.

I purchased this as a gift for my little (20 yo) brother's birthday. He was born in Berlin. First of all this book is HUGE! I love that the explanations of the pictures are written not only in English, but in German. What a fantastic masterpiece.

Beautifully illustrated and written, this is another winning tale about kids who are [feel] different. Adults and children will appreciate the sweet and enlightened "romance" that develops in this story. It's my current gift of choice for families with young children who are looking to promote tolerance and relationships built on respect.

This book creates two wonderful characters who each have a special gift. I bought this for myself because I enjoyed it so much and then bought copies for a nephew and friends' kids. If you enjoy children's books that are fun and also unique, that adults as well as kids love, then this book is for you!

This book is so delightful! It marries important messages about friendship with beautiful whimsical imagery. I can't wait to share this book with my own children someday.

My 5 year old daughter and I love this book. It's one of our all-time favorites and our standard gift for friends' birthday parties. Appropriate for both boys and girls, this story is fun to read while beautifully demonstrating how to be a truly good friend. Our family is looking forward to the next offering from this talented author.

The boy who grew flowers is a wonderful tale that children and parents will enjoy together. The main characters Rink and Angelina will steal your heart from the beginning. Its universal message about the beauty inside us all is especially positive for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. Buy this book!

i recieved this book for christmas last year i read it in 2 days and passed it on to my mother we both enjoyed it very much

Chicken Soup books are a wonderful addition to any personal library. The Christmas Treasury stories really put you in a Christmas Holiday mood. They are heart warming stories and are a must read for this time of year. Be sure to keep a box of tissues handy.

I have never bought a Chicken Soup for the Soul book I didn't like. The stories always get to me and tug at my heart. I especially love holiday stories and read them to my kids during devotion time after dinner. Also great to read after Advent Devotions. I especially love Chicken Soup for The Christian Families Soul. You wont be dissappointed with this book.

I had never read a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book but I had heard such good things about them that I decided to pick this one up and sure enough it's great!! It really got me in a holiday spirit which I needed and the first story made me want to cry. I can't wait to finish this book and get it out next year. I might even buy a few copies for my friends. I really want to read more of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series and I think you should too!

For the last couple of years I have shared these stories with my family at Christmas time. I am eager to see if there is a sequel to this book already published or one in the works. It is so easy to get caught in the commercial mess and frenzied pace of Christmas that it is so easy to forget what the season is about. From what I understand some of the stories were directly written for this book and others came from other Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Higher recommended reading for anyone who loves the holidays but occasionally forgets what the meaning of the season is.

This represents an interesting and effective approach to a difficult topic. Part two is especially good.

LeBon, Adam. "City of Oranges". W.W. Norton, 2007.

Living Together

Amos Lassen

Some of the most memorable experiences of my life took place in the city of Jaffa, Israel. It is a fascinating place occupying its own little area outside of the thriving metropolis of Tel Aviv. Jaffa sits as a city within a city much like the French Quarter of New Orleans, Jaffa has great restaurants, art galleries, shops and a port but above all, it is a historical site. The streets are narrow as they have always been and the people are a mix of Arabs and Jews, also just as it always been in Jaffa.
Adam LeBon's "City of Oranges" is a balanced look at the history of modern Jaffa and the birth of the State of Israel. LeBon looks at the lives of six families and by doing so makes the Israeli/Palestinian conflict more personal.
Jaffa is a city of layers of people, events and times, of Arabs and Jews living peacefully together, sharing lives and experiences. LeBon looks at the history of Jaffa by looking at Jewish, Christian and Moslem families to show that the struggle in the Middle East is a human struggle. It is the story of longing for a homeland and fortunes that changed and also the history of a multi-ethnic city that was changed by what was happening in the area. LeBon emphasizes the needs of the Jewish people to have a state and shows the tragic consequences this has caused for Arab neighbors. He names neither villains nor heroes but shows us people, like you and me, trying to find a way through what is going on. Adam LeBon, celebrates the capacity for endurance as we read about the ways people come to terms with themselves and each other.
The families that LeBon writes about are Christian Arab notables, Muslim aristocracy, Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi refugees from Europe. We see the story of Israel told in a microcosm, the struggle for land and the fight for political supremacy and the Jewish ambivalence to fight with their neighbors. We also see Jew and Arab helping each other through the years.
Many of the aspects of the Israel-Arab conflict are captured here. We see the proletarian Jews of Tel Aviv defeating the rich Arabs of Jaffa with their nationalism and we see how violence separated a community that was once solid. It is extremely poignant to read how refugee Jews were chased out of Arab countries and then lived in the lands that once belonged to Arabs who themselves became refugees when the Jews chased them out.
Throughout the book there is an interweaving of history with what was going on in everyday life. This is an intimate history and to me, at least, I did not feel the author's biases as I read. He attempts to understand without judgment and this is not an easy task. He looks at one town and from it gives the history of the State of Israel and the catastrophe of Palestinians by using the lives of Jaffa's Arab and Jewish residents.
LeBon has a wonderful knack for detail and allows individual opinion to be expressed without any type of judgment. Courage and trauma mark the histories of both Arab and Jew and we see clearly that neither side has really listened to the other because as LeBon states "any recognition of each other's losses is a kind of surrender" in a battle for territory as well as memory.
LeBon does condemn (but does so quietly) the excesses of both sides. He talks about the Israeli occupation and the corruption of the Palestinians, Israeli racism, and Palestinian suicide terrorism. His conclusion is one of compromise and I am sure that because of this, there will be readers who find cause to object.
LeBon has done extensive research especially in the lives of the families--two Christians, two Muslims and two Jewish. It is from his interviews with family members, memoirs and private archives that he is able to give us vivid portraits to show us the narrative of the modern Arab/Jewish and Palestinian/Israeli relations. He brings us into the lives of each generation as we witness both political and social upheaval and urban decay and redevelopment and war and its aftermath. It is through the family members that we see the issues of everyday life in Israel today. The families share so much and still sit on opposite sides of issues that are violently divisive yet they still manage to live together, as friends, in the most cosmopolitan city in the Middle East. It is this look at the human lives behind the volatile headlines of the world press that gives us a new look and understanding of an area that is often described as the "powder keg" of the world.

City of Oranges'' is a book that probably all
> sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could read
> profitably. By taking as its subject the
> interweaving
> histories of several families _ Jewish, Christian,
> Muslim _ over more than a century in what was once
> the vibrant port of Jaffa, now an adjunct of Tel
> Aviv,
> it reminds us that the struggle, whether a triumph
> for one party or a tragedy for another, had a human
> cost for all. The book is not only the story of a
> longing for home and homeland amid changing fortune,
> but also the chronicle of an ancient, multi-ethnic
> city and how it was forever altered by the tremors
> that shook the Middle East in the 20th century. The
> author, Adam LeBor, understands the desperate need
> for
> the Jews to found a secure state and the tragic
> consequences this had for some of their Arab
> neighbors. There are no heros or villains in his
> narrative. Only ordinary people trying to find their
> way through extraordinary circumstances. "City of
> Oranges'' refuses to be a book of lamentation or
> triumphalism. Rather, it celebrates the human
> capacity
> for endurance and the simple small ways that people
> make peace with themselves, if not with each other.
>
>
>

OK if the title is too cryptic for you...for something to begin something else has to end or it would just be continuation. Zionism and the establishment of a "Jewish State" in the Middle East would by definition be the signal for the end of the Ottoman Province of Palestine (including parts of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt). The new state by definition would be a 'western' style democracy with socialist overtones. So there would have to be a drastic change in how and who ran things.

This book by Adam LeBor does a remarkable job of looking at the changes to Jaffa and Tel Aviv as a microcosm for the who Middle East problem. By looking at the long term (beginning at the end of the nineteenth century) effect of Zionist immigration to the 'Holy Land' (HL, has less of a stigma or side to it). After having lived in relative harmony (as long as the Moslems were the top of the pyramid) for many centuries the influx of European Jews and their European ways would have to upset the balance. Of the three groups, the Christians were put in the most desperate of positions since they were never in charge or control of their destinies.

LeBor does a good job of following the participant families as they go from rulers to ruled, rich to poor, immigrant to ruler, and ruler to emigrant. The best part of the narrative is LeBor's concentration on the effects more than the causes. Causes can be ambiguous but effects are usually straight forward.

Needless to say this is as objective a story as can be written by anyone of the history of the HL over the last one hundred years, and that it will takes decades if not centuries until there is anything like a final settlement of the issues. Just like the scars that remain from the Partition of India, or the expulsion of the Sudeten Germans (from the Czech lands) after WW2; it will take more than the changing of the names of the towns and cities to heal up the wounds and for the scars to fade.

City of Oranges is a refreshingly balanced account of the modern history of Jaffa and the birth of the Jewish state.
LeBor's eye for detail and the rich family accounts bring the story to life, turning a historical account into a thoroughly enjoyable read. Reading about the lives of the six families and their truly amazing experiences manages to personalize the Isreali-Palestinian conflict.
It's an innovative approach that makes this book worth reading for anyone interested in Israel/Palestine.

This book takes a much more realistic approach to business life-cycles. Mr. Hartung has taken a fresh look at the way a business should view their stages of growth and learn how to look out for the stages that take you down a path that may be impossible to get out of -- Very relevant for our recent economic state.

Of the companies in the 1957 S&P 500 list, only 39 survived into 1987, and only 2 maintained above average rates of return.

As Adam Hartung puts it, companies rarely make the transition from one technology to another because of what he calls Lock In. They believe that the system that made the company revenue in the past will continue to make revenue if they just improve the system incrementally. That keeps resources focused on the same old product line, ignores competition and effectively prunes new ideas. Success becomes defined as continuing to do what you always did, and that actually becomes more important to the company than revenue growth!

Fortunately, Adam doesn't stop there. He succinctly describes how to counter Lock In, and remain on the growth curve.

Only those companies that give their managers permission to violate Lock In, funding them adequately to try new things, make the transition, and survive, even thrive. Will you be in one of those companies?

Adam Hartung has set the pace for enterprise renewal with this phenomenal book. It is simply an incredible blockbuster that belongs beside all truly great works from insightful business strategists. I have rarely enjoyed a book as much as this one and I read dozens a year. Well written, succinct, and prescient - this book's insights will not disappoint you unless you fail to heed their wisdom. Trust me, let your competitors make that mistake and remember Napoleon's advice - "Never interrupt the enemy when he is making a mistake." Hats off to Mr. Hartung and sound the well-deserved applause - this should be business book of the year. It's just that good.

This book was extremely enlightening. It was well-researched, thoughtful and easy-to-read. Hartung's points are so well supported by sources or case studies, they cannot be disputed. The advice seems refreshingly common-sense, but he establishes principles never quite put into these straightforward words.

For anyone reading this book, it should resonate for years, affect career choices and feed decision-making. One can't help but want to avoid Defending and Extending and embrace disruption based on the compelling case Hartung makes.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a perspective on business today, regardless of title or function.

In Create Marketplace Disruption, Adam Hartung succeeds brilliantly in illuminating the root causes for the shockingly high rate of business failure - especially among those companies that graduate to the ranks of exalted Fortune 500 status. His analysis of hundreds of companies confirms the reality of what Hartung calls "innovation lock-in" - the paralyzing effects organizations suffer when they commit themselves through their practices and structures to perpetuating and optimizing behaviors that once succeeded in gaining competitive advantage. The problem is that business markets are highly dynamic environments, and static management approaches quickly lose their relevancy. Yet these approaches are exactly what is being taught at business schools around the world today. He builds a compelling argument against employing "Extend and Defend" management strategies that inevitably lead to corporate rigor mortis. Having identified these root causes of business failure, Hartung outlines his provocative approach to overcome innovation lock-in, which he calls "The Phoenix Principle." The Phoenix Principle helps ensure that companies avoid the tailspin of innovation lock-in by instilling mindsets and practices that lead to regenerative business strategies with a foundation of continuous innovation. He calls on corporate leaders not to fear marketplace disruptions, but to actually embrace them - instigate disruptions if possible - and use this "creative destruction" force to keep the competition off-balance and keep their own organizations both agile and substantially more profitable over time.

- Peter G. Balbus, Innovation Expert and Managing Director, Pragmaxis LLC