Williams Books

I used this book for my college biology I and II classes. My favorite part of the book was animal structure and function. Although the writing in this book is on a pretty high level, nothing was left out--very complete. Sometimes it was hard to understand the chapters on genetics. Then again genetics is a hard topic. I used additional sources to clarify on what I learned in Raven's book.

I used AP Biology by Beck. This book was a helpful study guide. This was easy to comprehend. Made biology easier to learn.

However, what really did it for me was Patrick Leonardi's:
The Ultimate Study Guide for Biology: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations
This study guide comes in 3 volumes, make sure to get all three if you take biology I and II. If you are only taking Biology I, you can probably get away with only getting volume 1 and 2. These study guides had very good questions on every topic that is tested on in college biology. It was organized into specific sections, making it very helpful for exam preparation. It was so complete that it had the kind of questions that were asked on my exams. Don't go blind into an exam. These books are very helpful.

This is a great biology book. One of my favorite things about this book is the diagrams. I also like the sections on human origins and the individual sections on different organisms. This book is as good or might even be better then the Campbell biology-that speaks for itself

This is definitely the best intro to bio books out there. As a graduate student I got the chance to read lots of bio books and this one by far is the best. The chapters are well organized and easy to follow and gives you the depth needed to pursue any area of biology. When it was time for me to student teach this was the book of my chose. It expensive but definiely worth it to any biologist. The CD-ROM is also very good!

This is by far the finest Introductory Biology textbook I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Biology teachers, do yourselves (not to mention your students) a favor--make this the required text for your Biology I (and II) Class! Special Thanks goes out to Dr. Michael Hoefer...for requiring this textbook!

.....or if you had to travel back in time. I had this for my textbook in Biology back in 1987 and even then, .... well before the human genome was anywhere near being charted, let alone completed, this was a spectacular acomplishment. This book isn't riveting like say Druyan and Sagan's SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESOTRS is, but it is as good as any biology textbook can possibly be. It has EVERYTHING you could possibly want to know about biology; from modern cell theory to ecology. All you have to do is look this over and you'll see why I highly recommend it. Does any other bio textbook even compare?

I've read Mark De Castrique's previous "Buryin' Barry" series and enjoyed it a lot. This new series introduces a likable yet flawed new hero in Sam Blackman. It opens in a VA hospital where Blackman is recovering from losing his leg in Iraq. The story weaves together a nearly hundred year old mystery with a series of murders in the present. The descriptions of Asheville, NC and the Biltmore Estate outside the city are outstanding and make me want to visit the area. I learned a lot about Thomas Wolfe (who I didn't know was an Asheville native) and enjoyed how he was worked into the story. Blackman's relationship with the sister of the first (or maybe not first...) murder victim is one I hope carries through in the next installment. It was a good read with a great setting. I'm looking forward to the next one.

BLACKMAN'S COFFIN (Unl. Inv.-Sam Blackman-North Carolina/Georgia-1907/Cont) - Ex
De Castrique, Mark - 1st Sam Blackman book
Poisoned Pen Press, 2008, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9781590585177

First Sentence: I felt a hand on my shoulder , shaking me awake.

Sam Blackman was a Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment. He is now in a VA Hospital in Ashville, NC after having lost part of his leg in Iraq. Tikima Robertson, an ex-Marine who lost part of her arm in Iraq, visits his room. She comes with sass and an offer for Sam to put his past experience to use.

After Tikima is murdered, her sister Nakayla asks for his help and presents him with a journal written in 1919 on which Tikima has placed a note saying "for Sam."

I have become such a big fan of De Castrique's writing. He knows how to construct a good mystery with dimensional characters, a great sense of place and a touch of humor. He manages to include ideas and observations that are important and make me think.

The story is informative without, in any way, being boring or slow. This book is particularly timely in that the protagonist is an Iraq veteran and amputee. Some of his supporting characters are residents of a senior-care facility. References to other characters include the Vanderbilts and Thomas Wolfe.

The structure of the story is fascinating; a supposed journal from 1907--a device that could have slowed the story to a crawl but, instead, gave it extra dimension--and the present day. The story's plot was interesting and the manner in which the two time periods were linked and tied together at the end was so well done. I couldn't identify the bad guys and enjoyed the twists that took the story to a suspenseful climax and a touching end.

I was very sorry to see his Barry Clayton series end but am much better now that we have Sam Blackman. Thank you, Mr. De Castrique, for another great book!

The Churchillian phrase, "A mystery wrapped in an enigma," certainly applies to this novel, which promises to be the first in a new series featuring Sam Blackman. Sam was a career soldier in the army, most recently a Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment in Iraq where he lost a leg. Sent to Walter Reed Hospital in the nation's Capitol, he raised his voice against poor treatment of veterans in the press and before a Congressional Committee, gaining a certain notoriety.

Apparently as a result, or in an attempt to hide him from the public eye, Sam was relocated to a Veteran's Hospital in Asheville, NC, boyhood home of the novelist Thomas Wolfe, who plays a role in the story. Shortly before his discharge, Sam is visited by another amputee, Tikima Robertson, who suggests she could use his services. Before either could follow up, she is murdered. Her sister brings Sam a journal written in 1919 by a 12-year-old boy. The tale leads Sam and the sister into looking into not only Tikima's murder, but several others, including that of a couple that took place almost nine decades before.

Written with style and verve, the novel provides broad and interesting glimpses into North Carolina history, excellent descriptions of the Vanderbilt's legacy at the Biltmore estate and some interesting insights into Tom Wolfe's writings. Recommended.

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book! It's engaging, intriguing, and unique (in a good way!). I started it later in the evening than I should have, resulting in a late night. LOL Definitely highly recommended!

Very well-written debut of a new series introducing war-wounded veteren, Sam Blackman. Book has so much fascinating detail and history of the Asheville, NC / Bilmore house that the book would be worth reading it for that alone. The story line, however, is also excellent and readers will not be disappointed.

John is not an Amazon customer so I've entered his review for him.

The end result is that I have read a good book (thought provoking and an enjoyable read) but can't give it public praise. There should be a copy in all Board rooms--not only for the Directors but anyone who wants to combine accountability and responsibility with that of a trusted position. Bill is at the forefront of combining the ethical with the daily governance of a business. A very refreshing concept!!! Kudos to the author.

An excellent, thought-provoking book written so anyone -- director and investor alike -- can understand its profound messages. Another outstanding work from Dr. Brown.

Scorn and ridicule for Directors of such august institutions as the Red Cross and the Smithsonian warn members of Boards of non-profits that they must exercise the same -- nay, more intensive -- scrutiny as Directors of commercial corporations. Responsible leaders of non-profits should see that this book is studied by every Director: non-profit Boards are too easily led and mis-led, prone to confuse over-seeing with over-looking.

Just perfect for a businessman to carry in his briefcase so he can read it while waiting in the airport lobby or flying off to an important meeting.
And he needs to keep it in that briefcase!

Even directors of nonprofit organizations need to pay attention to the material in this book. With plenty of examples it explains the responsibilities of directors, officers, auditors, and counsel, and predicts how things will evolve.

This is the finest commentary on Genesis in my library. It is a 2 volume set.

Hamilton deals with a wide array of issues. His work reflects later scholarship than Wenham's Word Biblical Commentary, and his conclusions are more convincing than Wenham's when they differ (in my opinion). For example, Genesis contains the Hebrew 'TOLeDOT' in 10 locations. Hamilton reviews Wenham's (and others) idea that 'TOLeDOT' in Genesis 2 is a conclusion for the first chapter. He then goes on to reject that idea because the 9 others are clearly introductions to the following material. He then goes on to explain how it should be seen as the introduction to Genesis 2:4 ff. He goes further than commentators like Waltke on this, by offering a significant grammatical point on this as well. Wenham does not talk about it at all. Wenham bases his argument on context only with a leaning towards the meaning of the words themselves. This affects how one sees the entire book of Genesis. Wenham does not see the ten divisions of Genesis. Hamilton includes the ten divisions as part but not all of his reasoning. Waltke concurs with Hamilton, and I have to say that Hamilton's argument is far superior in my view.

It's not just another point in the exegesis of the book. This particular point is crucial to how you see Genesis as a whole, and its parts. It even can affect how you view the authorship of Genesis (hodgepodge or a whole composition).

Unfortunately, Hamilton does not contain information that deals with chiastic and alternating structures. He should.

I've found his commentary is usually full and helpful as well as readable. Every part of every verse provides reflection on the hard issues and the easy ones.

I have had the feeling that I am not just reading about the bible, but am feeding on the spiritual treasures of Genesis presented by someone who loves the Word. I really appreciate the tone of this commentary.
Often Hamilton gives a section called New Testament Appropriation where he cites a passage in Genesis and related passages in the NT. These are packed with comments on each relevant passage and loaded with footnotes for further study. This is extremely convenient for the preacher or Bible teacher who is dealing with these issues in the text.

He does not give what is now expected in the finer full commentaries...one excursus after another. This is a disappointment. He also does not give the wealth of Chiastic and Alternating structures that Waltke gives. He does not provide any special systematic treatment of Christological passages, even though more than one book has been written on preaching about Christ from Genesis.

He does give a lot of integrated and expertly cited information from Jewish literature and Ancient Near Eastern Studies. These citations seem to flow from the pen of someone who is very familiar with Ancient Near Eastern cultures and religions. I love the way he ties this research in, and even though I have personally read some of the very things he cites, I still didn't see the link the way he brings it in until I read his perspective on it and went back to review. He's very good for this sort of thing.

This excellent work treads the line carefully, taking into account Textual Criticism, Ancient Near East backgrounds and parallels, New Testament Appropriation of texts and critical scholarship in a way that leaves the reader well informed on issues. Sometimes comes to "interesting" conclusions, but if not near a reference library, this is the commentary on the book to have (over Wenham, Spieser, or Westermann). Especially helpful to have 1 more if possible (I'd take the JPS Torah series to get a solid Jewish and historical approach) to compare against, but Hamilton is solid and orthodox in his conclusions, avoiding straying too far from either extreme, though leaving ultra-conservative evangelicals out in the cold with some of his statements. (see esp. Gen 1-3; Oi)

* Many authors suppose to write for scholars, pastors and laymen, yet few accomplish their goal. Hamilton succeeds. This commentary is of sufficient depth and technicality for scholars and students. The introduction in particular does a wonderful job of addressing theological themes within the book. One very useful feature, not usually found in scholarly OT commentaries, is a section on 'New Testament Appropriation" at the conclusion of every few chapters. Hamilton also includes useful applicatory points and easy-to-read and understand chapter and section summaries. IMHO this is the best commentary on Genesis.

Hamilton's outline and word study allows the reader to determine for themselves the best interpretation of verses under challenge. While focusing on the Biblical evidence, Hamilton shows varying opinions on specifics and then challenges each with other areas of Scripture. The format, and easy-to-read structure make it a must for any Old Testament library.

No doubt Wenham and Hamilton have written the best conservative's commentary on Genesis. Longman said that "between Wenham and Hamilton, Genesis is well covered."

But to have both means you must buy 4 volumes because both Wenham and Hamilton separated their commentaries on Genesis into two volumes (Wenham: Genesis 1-15 & 16-50; Hamilton: Genesis 1-17 & 18-50).

I have read all of the four volumes and found that for the first part of Genesis, Hamilton tend to be more conservative than Wenham (e.g. compared their interpretations on the "spirit" in Gen. 1:2), but for the second part Wenham has given me more insight (He always can find fresh meanings and applications from the famous Christian stories that I have been reading since I was in the sunday school!).

My suggestion is if you have enough money buy all, but if you don't buy the first book of Hamilton and the second book of Wenham.buy all, but if you don't buy the first book of Hamilton and the second book of Wenham.

The story is believable. The characters are alive and real. There are no times when the story drags as it holds your interest all the way through. When I had to stop reading I always looked forward to when I could pick up the book again.

Dr. Goodson gives the reader the setting in a very detailed and descriptive manner. Once all the details are in place the story begins to unfold. Not a predictable story, I was suprised and captivated throughout the story. I could not put it down as the story began to unfold. If you are interested in Thomas Merton, or suspense and drama, take a look at this book. I think you will enjoy it.

Well done! An easy to read, captivating tale that is definately worth it. I highly recommend Bossuet Conspiracy.

This was a who done it with a twist. The historical perspective added to the interest. Well written. I hope he brings the central characters back for a sequel or even a series. It was and excellent first novel.

The author has taken real facts and real settings and woven them into a fascinating story. Dr. Goodson takes several items with which he is very familiar (a dysfunctional family relationship, the Catholic Church, the Thomas Merton story, and local and national politics) and fashioned an intriguing tale which is fast-moving and extremely believable. Living in Nashville and having visited Gethsemani, I found this a true page turner. For his first novel, the author has set a high mark. This book is an easy read and will not disappoint.

Anyone of a certain generation - i.e., baby boomer - with a particular interest in long distance running and track & field will love this book. Bill Bowerman was a one-of-a-kind and the world is a better place because of him. A tough coach, a real driver of men, he was one of those unique individuals able to get the best out of his athletes, stuff they themselves (Moore included) didn't think they were capable of.

I was a high school distance runner back in the late 60s and we all knew Bowerman's reputation and admired him and his teams. Even our cross-country coach emulated his training techniques. Heck, we all figured everyone knew who Bill Bowerman was.

This book, for me and others like me, is a great trip down nostalgia lane - as well as providing lots of behind-the-scenes details and information that I found fascinating. Great read!

This was a fascinating read. However, I must take Mr. Moore to task over his writings about Steve Prefontaine's accident. Yes, Mr. Moore, you never met Karl Bylund, because if you had, you would have understood exactly why Karl would have been no help if he had stayed to lift the car. This kid was all skin and bones; everyone who knew him would attest to this fact.
Your lack of complete research has produced an unfair, false and mean judgement.

My sister already has a copy and loves it so much she wouldn't let my mother borrow it. So, I copy as a gift for my mom and she can't put it down. For anyone who is a runner and loves reading about the history of the Oregon running team and the history of Nike, this is the book for you. This book has history and sports. Enjoy!!

I knew that Bowerman coached Pre and had an influence on Nike and the jogging boom of the 70s, but Moore's biography fills in all the gaps from Medford to Mexico City. Bowerman's life reads like a case-closing defense of the Great Man theory of history, at least for track & field. His accomplishments are truly remarkable and well-rendered by Moore.

This is an invaluable read for anyone involved with coaching. The first chapters on Bowerman's ancestors also offer some insights into Oregon life in the small towns in the late 1800's early 1900's. Finally, the book is well written and easy to read. All around a worthwhile experience!

What can I say? Historically an important book for Bradbury fans but also a visual feast for anyone and everyone!

There's a point in this book where the author says "You have to be an amazing writer to inspire so many illustrations and paintings." And that's why Bradbury is so great. After reading a book like The Martian Chronicles, you can easily imagine what he was describing. And if you can draw or paint, you'll want to create those images on canvas.

That's why almost every piece of artwork in this book is so beautiful. Just take the Illustrated Man as an example. Each artist who was commissioned to create a cover for the book had the task of showing an almost-naked man covered in tattoos. But the tattoos had to show scenes from dozens of short stories. One artist made the Illustrated Man an obese, shirtless guy in a carnival sideshow. Another gave him technicolor cartoons across his back and shoulders, depicting roaring lions and men in spacesuits. The third image is the most famous --- a nude man with his back to the viewer, sitting, with all of the skin below his neck covered in images.

This approach is repeated throughout the book --- different artists interpret the most vivid images from Bradbury's best books and stories. Over a hundred paperback book covers are reproduced (including a few that I was obsessed with when I was ten years old), along with movie posters, paintings, movie stills, and comic book pages.

The text is just as good. This book serves as a biography of Ray Bradbury, tracing the arc of his career from science fiction author to short story writer for 'the slicks' to comic book writer, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. Bradbury's relationship with EC comics is recounted through the correspondence between Bradbury and William Gaines. It's very interesting, especially when Bradbury catches Gaines stealing his stories and offers to write more for EC instead of suing.

If you're a Bradbury fan, you'll love this. It's the kind of book you'll pull off the shelf every month and flip through, just to marvel at all of the strange and beautiful images. If you don't know Bradbury's work, you'll still enjoy all of the artwork. Maybe the images will inspire you to read his books..

Now that Sam Weller's "The Bradbury Chronicles:the Life of Ray Bradbury" is selling like water at the bookshops,we'll see the importance of Jerry Weist's "BRADBURY,AN ILLUSTRATED LIFE,A JOURNEY TO METAPHOR".I didn't read yet Weller's book,but I know that Frederik Pohl didn't like it.I own a copy of "Bradbury,an illustrated life...", since it appeared.And I loved it.What a gorgeous "objet d'art"!The ailing Bradbury must be proud to have inspired a book as beautiful-and good-as this one.The text by Jerry Weist is well written,professional,competent.The Foreword,by Bradbury's archivist ,collector and friend,Donn Albright,is very informative about a few of Bradbury's illustrators.The Introduction,penned by Bradbury himself,is enlightening.
As an admirer of Science-Fiction illustration and collector of SF Memorabilia ,this work was a visual feast to my eyes ,taste and, sensibility.
Called my attention:firstly,the reproductions of book and magazine(AMAZING STORIES,WONDER STORIES QUARTERLY)covers,interior illustrations,movie stills and posters(the famous one-sheet poster for the silent "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" and the glorious six-sheet poster designed for William Cameron Menzies's/H.G.Wells's "THINGS TO COME")and the Sunday comic strips(TARZAN,BUCK ROGERS),that influenced Bradbury's visual taste and literary preferences.Secondly,the reproductions of publications(fanzines)like IMAGINATION and FUTURIA FANTASIA(with Bradbury as editor)that enriched his beginnings as a science-fiction fan ,nurturing his creative juices and his friendship with the future great illustrator Hannes Bok,plus the moving photos made when Ray was visiting New York City during the (First)1939 WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION financed by his buddy Forrest J. Ackerman, or made in Los Angeles ,like the amazing photo showing a youthful Ray at a meeting of the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society(LASFS) in 1940,when nineteen-year-old Bradbury was just beginning his writing career.This photo is sensational because it shows us other famous(now)members of the LASFS:FORREST J. ACKERMAN,MOROJO,RAY HARRYHAUSEN,ARTHUR K. BARNES,EDWARD E. "DOC" SMITH,CHARLES HORNIG,ROBERT HEINLEIN(seated at the table,only his face showing).Also appearing in the photo :JACK WILLIAMSON and EDMOND HAMILTON(standing near the wall in the background).The other photograph that moved me was taken(circa 1946/47)probably in Los Angeles, too. In this one , Ray appears side by side with the couple EDMOND HAMILTON/LEIGH BRACKETT and with Hamilton's sister.Thirdly,I was enraptured by the exquisite beauty of the interior B&W drawings(Oh,the marvelous B&W drawings by HANNES BOK,LEE BROWN COYE,BORIS DELGOV, VIRGIL FINLAY&LAWRENCE STERN STEVENS) illustrating Bradbury's stories in pulp magazines ;the outstanding colour paintings printed as illustrations for Bradbury's stories in the 'slicks'(ESQUIRE,THE SATURDAY EVENING POST,COLLIER'S,and so on).His stories(for instance,"A Sound of Thunder","The Beast from 20000 Fathoms","The Illustrated Man" and "Mars is Heaven")were,then, interpreted by great artists like STANLEY MELTZOFF,REN WICKS,JAMES R. BINGHAM&JAMES BAMA;the futuristic cover designs for Hardcovers ,like GEORGE BARROWS'S Arkham House(American edition) and MICHAEL AYRTON'S Hamish Hamilton(British edition) cover designs for "DARK CARNIVAL",ARTHUR LIDOV'S cover illustration for "THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES"(1950)and JOSEPH MUGNAINI'S cover painting for the british edition(1963)of "SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES" ;the catching paperback's covers for the BANTAM edition of "THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES"(1951)and the BALLANTINE editions of "FARENHEIT 451" &"THE OCTOBER COUNTRY"(1953&1956 respectively,both JOSEPH MUGNAINI'S covers).Deserve special mention the series of JOSEPH MUGNAINI'S(1912-1992) litographs,preliminary watercolor sketches,original B&W drawings and paintings inspired by Bradbury's stories and books.The italian-born MUGNAINI was considered the best interpreter of Ray's dreams.
Finally,the chapter dealing with 'EC COMICS and Ray Bradbury:The Untold Story' is precious.Jerry Weist is in his terrain here.As he says in the opening of the chapter:"The story of how Ray Bradbury came to have his writing adapted by a small,energetic company named Entertaining Comics in the 1950's is now a legendary chapter of comics history".How very true this is.I was enchanted by fantastic reproductions of originals by FRANK FRAZETTA,AL WILLIAMSON,AL FELDSTEIN(his recreations are amazing).And it is always rewarding for me to admire the fabulous adaptations&splash-page arwork by the great WALLACE(WALLY)WOOD,a real genius of the comics.'Last,but not least' I was thrilled reading and seeing the archive of photos and Film Memorabilia reproduced.My favorites:the promotional photographs of Ray with the lovely Barbara Rush during the production of "IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE"(Universal,1953);the Half-sheet &Insert posters & Window lobby card for the same film and the known(signed) One-sheet poster for "THE BEAST FROM 20.000 FATHOMS" .
Many years ago I saw "THE BEAST FROM 20.000 FATHOMS" at an old movie theatre in my home town.It was an unforgettable experience for me.A few years later ,I read the famous Bradbury's terrifying short story "MARS IS HEAVEN",the first yarn by this great writer that I read.I was definitely hooked.From then on I've been reading almost all his SF&Horror stories and a good number of his novels(novels?).
So,I love this book and I warmly recommend it.

This coffee table book is a must have for Bradbury fans. Full of pictures and illustrations of his various stories and books are interweaved with text written by friends and associates of Bradbury's throughout his professional carreer. The book spends a great deal of time on his personal correspondance with William Gaines (comic book publisher and later MAD magazine). The correspondance shows a literary master who was truly fond of comics,then considered a trash medium during the 1950's. The book also spends a good deal of time on notes by Francois Truffaut, the french cinema genious who filmed farhenheit 451. Bradbury is also shown as a man who loved Hollywood from the time he was a small boy. This book is a great addition to have, both for the written word and the beautiful artwork.

This treat of a book is unique in that it is not merely a collection of illustrations from Bradbury publications over the years, but seeks to document the whole spectrum of "visualizing" the rich prose of Mr. Bradbury, an almost impossible task! This includes films, stage productions, marginal doodles by Bradbury himself, books and films that inspired Bradbury in his early years, and much more - a rewardingly broad approach to crafting the book.
In addition wholeheartedly agreeing with the wonderful points noted by other reviewers, I would like to point out that the book features much rare material by Joseph Mugnaini, the definitive Bradbury artist, in the form of concept sketches for covers, stage backdrops, and some of the original paintings that inspired the Bradbury-Mugnaini partnership in the first place. The contribution of Mugnaini's works to Bradbury's success, as a visual carnival barker beckoning readers into Bradbury's world is tough to underestimate.
The book is beautifully printed, with one absolutely tragic exception - the reproduction of Charles Addams' original illustration for the story "Homecoming" is horrible! It is terribly blurry and there are some kind of liquid stains on the original work, which hung in the Bradbury home for many years. For comparison, look at the (reversed) reproduction used as the dust jacket for Bradbury's recent "From the Dust Returned" novel/collection. Just unfortunate that the one illustration botched - was the lone collaboration between two magnificent twentieth-century masters of the macabre. Still OVERWHELMINGLY worth owning however.

The book contains good overview information and good sample cases. The sample for future CRT sections seem to disconnect from the current CRT. This is very strange. Overall is good.

"Breaking the Constraints to World-Class Performance" "Can this book really tell me how to do that, Man that would be great. Well yes I believe it does.

So what is stopping your company from getting better? Do you know? The body of knowledge called the Theory of Constraints says there is usually only one constraint stopping you from making progress toward your goal, maybe two. Well, if you want a way of finding out what it is, it is in this book. But more can be done than just finding it. This book will teach you how to eliminate or manage the constraint to your advantage.

This book explains in general and in specifics how to change. You must answer, what to change, what to change to, and How to cause the change. These are the beginning thoughts. But think of it if you knew the answers to these questions.

If you want to learn HOW to do Theory of Constraints, no matter what level of experience you may be, this book is a must have. It is one of the most valuable resources on TOC that exists. It shows you step by step how to do things and also why they work. It is easy to use; Mr. Dettmer has a remarkable talent for clarity

How long do you stay on top as a world-class performer if you are just sitting back enjoying it. Not very long these days. This book is about making dramatic improvements with simple solutions. But it is more correct to say it's about a continual improvement process. I recommend you read this book and give it strong consideration. You just may find a Gem for your company, a whole new culture of winning.

The short and sweet is that I have read many books on TOC and this is at the TOP of the heap. It covers the whole range and makes for one stop shopping.

As someone who read the entire series of Goldratt's books and as someone who has been practicing TOC in project management for a few years, I rate this book '5 stars' only because six is not an option.

Step-by-step and in a didactic manner, Mr. Dettmer takes the reader into the world of TOC. If you read Goldratt's books and left with the test but without the 'know how' then this is the book for you.

Mr. Dettmer explains the basic building blocks and the terminology of the 'Thinking Process Toolkit' and he then, step by step, explains the 'how'.

How to build a Current Reality Tree - The tool for understanding the one core problem (few root causes) preventing your organization from achieving its goal.

How to discover and solve conflicts that cause your company to stagnate.

How to systematically verify that the solution you want to apply will actually lead to the desired effects, without causing other adverse ones.

How to systematically understand what conditions should be fulfilled in order to reach the company's goal, and how to build a 'winning plan' to achieve the goal.

I also read the first book of Mr. Dettmer on the subject (Goldratt's Theory Of Constraints) and I liked this one better.

At last, I think that every executive who wants to do something beneficial to his company should get this book.

Tip: Read Appendix D first and then go back to page one.

Contains an step by step general methodology for analizing problems by identifing the chains of causes and effects. It can be applied to solve business problems and analize personal situations. It is a very practical thinking process that you can use in a diversified variety of situations. Really powerfull. The book is very well written with examples of the use of the different tools of analysis: the current reality tree, the future reality tree, the conflict resolution diagram, the negative branch, the prerequisite tree and the transition tree.

After a recent visit to Bremen in Germany, and souvenir t-shirts for the grandkids, I decided to purchase copies of the "Bremen Town Musicians" as Christmas presents. I am very pleased with my purchase. I am impressed with the quality of English used, which would surely be of benefit to young ears. Also, the text included some lesser-used words such as 'hound, lute, minstrels', great for vocabulary building. Young minds absorb so much, so let us give them worthwhile things to soak up. The text also lends itself to reading aloud with lots of expression and drama, always enjoyed by children. The illustrations are simple but superb, plentiful and complements the text beautifully - a great help for young readers. I can't wait to read to them on Christmas Day!

The illustrations and text aren't very compelling, and neither my nieces nor I are very interested in this book. We'll swap it away soon.

The illustrations are delightful for this traditional story. A great gift for any child or adult.

My children and grandchidren love this story. I bought the book to read to my youngest grandchild, who is 2 and a half. We love both the story and the pictures. We also have fun braying, barking, meowing and crowing like the heroic animals in the story. When her dad was her age we lived in Germany and visited Bremen and saw the statue of the animals.

Some animals were going to Bremen Town to be musicians. On the way they saw some robbers. They kicked them out and the animals never went to Bremen-Town.
The donkey kicked the robber with his hind legs, that is why I liked the book.

I am a seasoned budget keeper and accountant. I bought Budget Map for my son who is just out of the military and starting out on his own. I already knew how to help my son set up his budget but I think it is an excellent tool for a person to keep their budget information close at hand so they can make their spending decisions real time and not after it is too late. Budget Map addresses the need to look at each pay check as a portion of your Food, Shelter, Utilities, Etc. Great Product!

I've spent my entire life in debt and clueless. I spent so much on bounced check fees, late fees and other bank charges that I had nothing left for me! This has kept me on track with no bounced checks and no late fees for six months and counting! I can't do without it.

We have tried to budget for most of our married life, 21 years. Sometimes with success, but mostly not. This is the perfect item to make sense of the cash in your checkbook. If you have a balance of 350 in the regular check register...you don't know whether it is "extra" and your spouse who doesn't do the finances doesn't for sure! The columns in the fold-out ledger help keep you on track. You know you have 350.00....but 150 is in the utilities column for upcoming bills, 50.00 is in the car maintenance column, 75 is in school related expenses, and 75.00 is in the column for credit card purchases. This makes a HUGE difference in your piece of mind. You know where you stand. I have one in both of our accounts. One account is for house payment, repairs, and car maint. etc. The other is for our other bills. We started using the envelope method again and decided how much cash we actually needed per 2 weeks. (gas, groceries, entertainment, lunches, etc) This helped keep the entries in the journal to a minimum. It is work to keep up with it....but it is soooo worth the time! My husband thinks I am a genius for starting this. It makes us both feel like we are on the same page....less argueing over purchases....because you have to deduct the purchase out of one of the columns....you see what you are taking from if you are making a purchase you shouldn't. But, ohhhh does it feel good to have a plan and to have the money there ready to pay the bill!

I've known about this product for about 10 years, but I wasn't quite "ready" for it until I realized recently thatI was spending too much time handling my finances paperwork "my way" with papers here, sticky notes there, 2 check registers and columnar paper pads. Too much trouble. I had already organized the money in my bank accounts into separate funds, so the Budget Map was the next logical step.
When we went to see our accountant to do our taxes, I had just received it and enjoyed showing him my new system, which I set up easily, right out of the box. The inventor's instructions are easy to understand and can be tailored to various life situations, such as a couple who each use a separate register. I was pleased to find separate pages at the back to record Savings transactions and I finally can link--all in one place--money transferred from the checking account to the savings and vice versa.
What a helpful tool. There are many practical suggestions included with the 3 registers in the box to help people sort out their finances and get on track.
I wish schools had classes on how to set up your budget and manage your finances and would have the students buy the BudgetMap as a text resource to start them off right. It took me years to hit upon the idea that I should stop regarding all the money in my account as a lump sum. With BudgetMap, one can set goals and easily see how to break down amounts into manageable chunks and to be able to save up for major purchases and expenses on a regular plan, coordinating it with when they receive their income, monthly or bi-weekly, or whatever. I especially pounced on the idea of having one column dedicated to Credit Card purchases. By moving the money for a restaurant bill I charged from my "Eat Out/Grocery/Entertainment" fund and the money spent for my husband's birthday from the "Gift/Charity/Donation" fund to the Credit fund, I can pay the bill as soon as it comes.
While I don't carry a checkbook around with me, I can easily check the totals frequently and know with certainty whether I can afford to buy something in a certain category right now, or whether I should wait and save up for it.
Bottom line, if you want to get a grasp on your money, to spend and save it in a way that's custom-tailored to your goals and needs, give BudgetMap a try. It makes plenty of sense and costs about the same as a book.

Back in Grandma's day, the envelope system of budgeting helped people keep their spending on track and within limits. The envelope system is clearly effective: you decide ahead of time based on your income and fixed expenses how much you can afford to spend on variable expenses, put the planned amount of cash in each envelope, and when the envelope is empty, you're done spending until new income comes in (or until you transfer money from another envelope). But with today's spending occuring mostly through credit and debit cards, old-fashioned cash envelopes are no longer useful. The envelope system has been modernized into online computerized form with Mvelopes (usually the first thing to pop up when one googles "personal budget"). But Mvelopes, while a worthy program, requires paying a continuing monthly fee, plus it only gives you updated spending limits when you link to the internet to report expenditures (it also requires linkages to your accounts). The BudgetMap system provides a superior substitute. It makes "envelope-style" budgeting easy and gives you instant feedback as to where your spending stands with regards to your targets (no waiting until you can link to the web). It's portable, as private as your wallet, and relatively inexpensive. It comes with enough registers to cover about six months of expenses, so the total cost would be about $60/year, about 40% cheaper than the cheapest Mvelopes subscription (which is only available with a two-year commitment) and 60% cheaper than Mvelope's quarterly plan. I've tried all kinds of budgeting systems to keep me on track with my spending, and this one looks like the winner!