Williams Books

Like a ship's captain, a CEO is only as good as the latest weather report. If a chief executive unknowingly steers his or her ship into the path of a hurricane, that ship's in trouble, no matter how skillful a seaman that captain may be. And unfortunately for CEOs, hurricanes - in the form of disruptive changes that remake markets overnight - have become almost an everyday danger. Authors W. Warner Burke, William Trahant and Richard Koonce argue that the most critical function of a corporate leader today is to monitor and respond to these rapid shifts in the external marketplace, or business climate. To illustrate this point, they offer insightful profiles of leaders who successfully guided their companies through the storms of organizational change initiatives. These profiles are especially effective in giving the reader both a sense of the personalities of these dynamic executives and a practical breakdown of the methodologies and strategies that they employed. We [...] strongly recommend this book to senior executives, would-be change agents and anyone curious about how to navigate the turbulent environment of 21st-century business.

This book is a must-read for anyone involved with organizational change -- whether you are managing the change or experiencing it from the "front lines." These fascinating Q & A's gave me real insight into the process. I recommend Business Climate Shifts to any forward-thinking person in the corporate world today.

Just ordered "Business Climate Shift" at the recommendation of a friend. I am a consultant who works with corporations on training and e-learning strategies that support implementation of knowledge and skill development in rapidly changing market places. My work continually has me working with senior managers on business change issues. I am always looking for new perspectives on organizational change. What is interesting about the book is the interview format. A very interesting way to explore the subject. The interview style gives you a chance to draw your own conclusions and you get a personal feel for the context senior managers face as they address organizational change issues. I have found the interviews very engaging and the authors do a nice job of summarizing the key organizational change issues for each interview. Many organizational change books present models and theory. This one also gives you a view of the human and personal issues associated with leading major change initiatives. .

After reading BUSINESS CLIMATE SHIFTS it was clear to me that this book was as much about leadership as about change. As a thirty year middle manager who has participated in both the planning and implementation of change, I was extremely pleased to read throughout the book that, although the companies were focusing on the customer, they all recognized the importance of the employees. The one common denominator throughout the book was that how management treats the employees is how the employees treat the customers. Although Colin Marshall at British Airways and Roger O. Goldman of National Westminster Bancorp. have distinctively different styles, they both recognized the importance of employees in the change process and demonstrated that leadership is key to effective and efficient change.

Starting my career in government late in life, I have noticed a reluctancy of federal executives to get the rank and file involved in major change initiatives. I suggest that any government manager or executive contemplating change read BUSINESS CLIMATE SHIFTS. The lessons learned from those who have been there, both government and industry, are invaluable and provide a framework for developing issues and questions that need to be addressed before any major shifts or changes in organizational culture.

As a college president, I read a lot of books about leadership and about institutional change. I found "Business Climate Shifts" to be extremely enjoyable to read, helpful, and relevant to a CEO of a not-for-profit. Although the idea of fast change seems like an oxymoron when connected to higher education, this book gives a framework in which higher education and other not-for-profits can operate. The helpful use of the living organism as a metaphor feels comfortable for higher education as does the book's use of scenarios -- something we are very comfortable with but often fail to use. In fact, the use of a metaphorical approach throughout fits with current thinking on the sources of visionary capability in leaders. The Organizational Diagnostic Checklist is worth the price of the book; it allows an organization to begin quickly the process of assessment and can be used throughout an organization. Educational institutions are very familiar with assessment, and this book fits directly into that familiar territory while giving it a business twist. The use of informal case studies and interviews makes the book easily readable and quite interesting. The chapter conclusions help focus the reader's attention on what has been read and demonstrate what has been learned from the case study. I found myself going back to them as a kind of review when I had finished the book. Asking people who have been successful to describe their own skills and approaches adds strong credibility and validity to the book. I feel certain this aspect of the book will make it useful as an educational tool for developing future leaders.

Good recipes, ok pictures, expected more from William Sonoma but it was good for the price.

Much to my surprise these recipes come out way better than the cake mixes in a box. And even more surprising, the recipes were simple. These are hard to screw up. The cake comes out moist. The cheesecake recipes are of both no-bake and bake varieties. A must have.

This book doesn't only have good recipes, but also give the reader very useful tricks. The results are totally delicious.

Creating mouth-watering cheesecakes are a breeze when you follow the simple recipes in this book! Instructions are concise and precise, and when followed produce results bound to wow any crowd. I highly recommend this book!!!

I have tried many of the recipes baked by a co-worker and liked every bake good she made from this book ,that i had to get the book for myself.The recipes are easy to follow and many of the items in the recipes are items we are able to purchase at any grocery store ( thats the best part!).If you like simple homemade you have to purchase this book!

It's interesting to note, other books by Robert Westall are not as great as this one; although Blitzcat is definitely worth reading. This is most definitely the best young-adult reader I've ever come across, but it's not just for kids!! (I'm 20 years old and it's been my favorite for almost 3 years). If you have a special place in your heart for animals and otherwise enjoy fantasy or mideval stories, this one is definitely worth your time! Enjoy!!

The "reluctant hero" is the theme of the book, along with cats (of course). He is just a man who travels around, and ends up being the hero and having to save the Duke's son. The cats and his sword take charge by making him become the Seroster, which is someone he doesn't want to be. This is one of my very favorite books. The golden mews are the best part.

This is one of my favorite books of all time ! The first time that I read it, I loved it so much that I bought a copy. This is a book I would recommend to Sci-fi fans or cat lovers any day of the week. Some other books of his that I would recommend of his would be BLitzcat, Futuretrack 5 and the Devil on the Road. All of these books are worth reading ! My absolute favorite book though would still ( for three years in a row, and probably for years to come ) be The Cats of Seroster.

I read The Cats of Seroster several months ago, and I still feel the magic. I am NOT a cat lover, but after this book I wanted to go right out to the pound and adopt one! This book is a riveting fantasy with great adventure and dark threads running through that make you think. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly.

I read Cats of Seroster when I was 13 or so... I will never forget it, it was so good. The story is interesting, the writing descriptive and passionate, and the characters enjoyable. I recommend you buy this book for your kid if you really believe they'll read it. Other good books for kids (or anyone if you'll read them!) are The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea - this is a huge book, so enticing and satisfying! - and Johnny Tremain, about a soldier boy in Boston in the 19th century. That's a classic that people really love, not another boring 18th century book. It wasn't written back then, though.. it's by Est(h)er Forbes. Have fun :)

I found this book to be very intriguing and suspenseful. It completely captivates you from page one. Stolen moments from my family were rewarded by discovering the multi-faceted characters and feeling as if I had stepped into their world and personally knew them. Sadness and mystery are woven into the lives of each character ... absorbing the reader so that they feel like they must get to the end. Once there, long kept secrets are unveiled and a surprise ending leaves you on the edge!

A definite page turner!!! Bill Reina is able to get into the hearts and minds of his characters that takes his reader on a journey of excitement, lonliness, and love. It is not until the surprise finale that you realize the ride you have been on and wish would never end. Bill, I'm hoping for a sequel!!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading great novels. From the first page to the last, I could not put it down. The way the characters were developed really allowed me to connect and grow with them as the book continued. The twists and turns throughout the book kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next, and the suprise ending capped off the book leaving a lasting effect on the reader. This book is definitely an easy read, full of excitement, and not one dull moment.

The novel is full of guessing, events that take place lead to many different possible outcomes that are not so predictable. The author manages to have lives so eventfull, full of excitement, and drama that is so intense however it still stays within the realm of possibility. The characters in the book are both flawless and have great flaws. The flaws that they have are brought out by the author to increase the charaters personality. It makes them so real you start to think you actually know the person. When infact doing this makes them perfect characters. The novel is full of morals of life and you will be stunned at how well anyone can relate to some of the events in the story. Caverns is a great book to read, enjoy, and learn from.

I thought this book was truly insightful. Any reader will be able to relate to some aspect of this book whether it be love, betrayal, self exploration or drive. From the minute I picked this book up and read through the opening chapters I was hooked. I was able to relate to the many aspects of the book in regards to soul searching and career drive. From the opening and CAG stock to the Cayman Islands, this book had my full attention. I read the 480+ pages in just 2 days. I recommend this book to anyone who wonders about things larger than themselves and what lengths people will go to in order to show love or cover things that they may have done in their past.

This book is one of the best Italian cook books I have seen. The recipes are easy to follow and their are a wide variety of recipes.

Ciao Italia is filled with traditional Italian recipes and is not only a wonderful book that is an associate book to the public television show but the host of the show and the author of the book Mary Ann Esposito is one of the most down-to-earth and personable people I have ever met

I had this book for years and then it was stolen. There are recipes in it I absolutely must have so I find myself buying a new one.

Don't pass up an opportunity to own this book! With love and warmth the author shares recipes that are simple and satisfying. I've cooked half of this book and the results have always been terrific...especially the Farfalle Picante.

These are my home town recipes! Reading this made me feel at home. True Italian flavor. These are real...real..hand-me-down recipes from the old country. Even if your not Italian you can't help but enjoy the tradition presented here. CAIO !

There are numerous attempts at producing illustrated versions of the classic tales from around the world.

The series called "Classics Illustrated" is the definitive attempt at bringing all the great classics to the easy reach of us with beautiful illustrations, in the grand form of sequential art also known as Comics.

It invovled some of the finest artists, and produced a huge collection of stories. These were the results of the dream of Albert Kanter, materialising during the 40s,50s and the 60s, thrilling and educating and entertaining a generation with vivid, simple and beautiful versions of the well known classical tales such as the Three Musketeers, Ivanhoe, The Count of Monte Cristo, Arabian Nights, Robinson Crusoe to name a few.

I remember as a kid, I got hold of a used copy of 'The Salt Mountain' this was part of the Classics Illustrated Junior series, there was something absolutely stunning about it, the story, the pictures, the adventure. it captured the imagination.There was something special about it, which I could not find in any other story book, or series. I wasn't aware what series this was part of, who the publisher was, who the artist was. I was a kid, I simply enjoyed it. not a collector or a history buff. But several years later, when I tried to figure out more about that book, I simply couldn't, until recently the omnipotent WWW helped me learn about this amazing series. I was hooked. I am sure many of us can relate to this, and have a similar tale.

Now to the book.

This is a fantastic chronicle, of the happenings of the Classics Illustrated series, beginning with the beginning, Alber Kanter's dream, it takes us through the publications history of the various stories, and the involvment and influences of the numerous artists invovled in the effort. The evolution of the style and presentation of the books, such as the evolution from comics style to the painted covers etc. are all full of interesting information.

There were several editions, and series... Classics Illustrated, Classics Illustrated Junior, Classics Illustrated Specials, etc and several republishing attemts up until the turn of the century. All of this is detailed in the book with interesting facts.

This book lists all the stories that were published with details about the author, illustrator etc. as much as is available, also the listings from several publishers, and variations.

The book also contains pages and covers from several Classics Illustrated, mostly in black and white. There is a section of about 8 pages in color in special paper.

For the Classics Illustrated collector this sure will be a delight, as it would be to anyone interested in the grandeur of sequential art.

When I was just a boy (many years ago), for a treat to myself, I bought the Classics Illustrated comics. The art work and plot were so engaging that I still carry some of those images around in my mind. Jules Verne's "Mysterious Island" and Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast" and many others were indelibly imprinted on my brain so that they could never be forgotten. Little did I realize that these illustrated novels were real literature, that they would lead many years later to actually reading those works. When I spied the life-sized book "Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History with Illustrations," I could not resist buying this book. When it arrived, I began reading a serious history of the Classics Illustrated publications, their awkward beginning and about the lives of their illustrators, and how the U.S. Postal Service effectively drove Classics Illustrated out of business. (It seems that the post office considered this comic a book and not a periodical.) Colorful images taken from the book abound throughout this edition. It's ironic that this very volume of literature is in danger of becoming a classic itself.

CLASSSICS ILLUSTRATED comprised such a crucial, influential, and above all, entertaining part of my youth that they have never entirely left me, and in fact I still have my entire childhood collection, and then some. The author of this book, William B. Jones, notes that his approach to the subject is meant to be objective in nature; but of course anyone raised on CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED can never be completely objective about them, and time and again Jones' understandable passion for these books seeps through. Nor is it simply nostalgia: when I go back to reread old issues it is mainly for the inherent richness of the storytelling and artwork they contain. Where in all comic book history is there a work so profound and moving as the Norman Nodel-illustrated LES MISERABLES, or as sad and tragic as the Angelo Torres-illustrated TOILERS OF THE SEA? Where is the comic book art that can excel, for its sense of historical time and place and fine drawing, John Severin's treatment of the Alamo and the Mexican War in BLAZING THE TRAILS WEST? Has there ever been a swashbuckling comic book so superbly ALIVE as George Evans' treatment of THE THREE MUSKETEERS? As for THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, I wholly agree with the author that it was never adapted so effectively, in any medium, as it was in CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED. I could go on. This is not to say that there weren't issues that were pretty bad, especially in the early days, and Mr. Jones freely admits this. But for those who are already familiar with this series, and especially for those who aren't, I cheerfully recommend this book as a kind of bible to CI and its several related series. I learned so much that was new to me about the issues, the artists, the editors, and the evolution and ultimate decline of the publishing house, Gilberton Company. The packaging and layout and paper quality of the book is a delight. Bravo, Mr. Jones! And bravo, CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED!

Ever said that line? Then you'll love this beautifully written and lovingly researched book about the history of Classics Illustrated.

Jones manages to evoke the characters of the men and women who contributed to this fascinating niche of Americana: illustrators, editors, publishers, and even its detractors. Interviews were obviously thorough, chapters are meticulously footnoted, and yet it reads like ...well, like an engrossing classic tale of adventure! Pick a chapter at random or read from cover-to-cover... it's consistently a winner.

While occasionally too ready with a disavowal of nostalgia, Jones does not hesitate to reveal his personal lifelong love of the comic book series. Truly, the best works of fandom itself can be so endearing, so contagious with admiration and awe. This book is no exception. Like myself, Jones loved the comics when he was a kid. Just as publisher Albert Kanter intended, as an adult I've managed to read every word of the real Count of Montecristo and War of the Worlds and The Moonstone, but I first learned these vivid and amazing tales by reading the Classics versions. Jones augments my personal appreciation and gratitude in this excellent book.

His work was in-depth and, while certainly using a critic's eye, relatively even-handed when it comes to the series' contributors. Now, reading the book, Jones has even made me appreciate the work of Classics artists whose pages I'd previously disliked.

Excellent illustrations, particularly of rare pages and covers, fill the book. Nice personal photos of the artists and editors are a great touch, seeing as this is a book of both down-to-earth and scholarly sensibilities.

Only fault I can find is that the text sometimes refers to a page or panel or other artwork which is not actually reprinted in the book. It can be maddening, at times, because we want to see exactly what he's talking about. My family's incomplete collection lies in another continent, otherwise it would be nice to have it at hand for referencing these things. Keep yours at hand. The book, I suppose, would be gargantuan if Jones did include these bits. So, by rights, it is an excellent book, and I did enjoy reading it.

From 1941-71 Classics Illustrated comics introduced millions to abridged, comics-style version of literary masterpieces. Classics Illustrated tells of the birth of this popular medium, founded by Russian Jewish immigrant Kanter whose operations saw both the heyday and decline of the golden age of comics. The focuses on artists' creations is particularly involving.

I've read many books on the subject and this is, by far, the best one out there for beginners who want to build a succesfull aquarium. Very easy to read and understand. You will learn everything you need to know and more about water chemistry, fish and plants.

This book is very informative on the keeping of home aquaria, the author is obviously very knowledgeable and knows his fish. From species profiles to chosing a filter, this is a great book for beginners and full blown aquarists alike. It really is too bad it's out of print. :(

I've been keeping fish for well over 12 years and this is, without question, the book I always recommend for people new to, or getting into, fishkeeping. Levine thoroughly and clearly explains water chemistry and its effect on your tank, equipment functions and purposes, how to calculate the number of fish your tank will hold healthily - everything a beginner or someone returning to the hobby needs to know. There are excellent sections on determining what fish will "go" with others, characteristics of many common - and not so common - fish and even a very good section on live plants. I can't praise _The Complete Fishkeeper_ or Dr. Levine highly enough.

This is the best book on fish anyone could hope to own. It is concise and informative, yet easy to read. An excellent buy. I used it for my first tank and not a fish has died yet.

I've read many books on the subject and this is, by far, the best one out there for beginners who want to build a succesfull aquarium. Very easy to read and understand. You will learn everything you need to know and more about water chemistry, fish and plants.

I love this book. It does not go too deeply into any particular subject but covers horse care and riding in general very well. There are hundred of books out there for beginners to intermediate riders, but this is my best general reference book.

It even has snippets for the more advanced rider. I really think this book is a very valuable addition to any horse lovers Library.

I have a substantial library of equestrian-related books, and this one certainly deserves pride of place. It is the best and most complete general guide to horse riding I've yet come across. The photographs are gorgeous and the production values superb. William Micklem writes very well and his explanations are very clear and thorough without being dry or pedantic. This really is about how to get the most out of riding, pure and simple. It isn't one of those ordinary, "how-to-groom-your-horse-compendium-of-breeds" picture books, and it delves into dressage, show jumping and cross-country in three separate but interlinked sections. I actually learned quite a few things reading this book. Experienced and beginner riders alike will enjoy it. Read it cover-to-cover, and savour the beatiful layout and illustrations. Completely awesome and highly recommended!

I'm relatively new to riding because I have only a few years of experience without too intensive training. Up to now I have read the first 70 pages of the book only but my first impression is rather good. Its language is clear, the book is well organized into small chapters and contains good illustrations. I have already learnt several interesting things that were new to me e.g. how to learn jumping progressively or how to build strong relationship with horses. I will try to put these things into practice.

As it's not possible to 'see' a few pages of the inside of this book on Amazon, and I'm always sceptical about buying books online that I don't know and can't page through, after some searching, I found it at the DK website and looked through it there. I liked what I saw and then bought if from Amazon.

The photos are fantastic. Although the book is rather thick, it is very well organized and encapsulated with a new subject or further drill down every two pages. I covers everything from anatomy, to behavior, to harmony, to drills, to troubleshooting, and goals in building a solid relationship between horse and rider in all English riding disciplines.

If you're into jumping, especially, it's fantastic, because it covers, in great detail, distances between fences from trot and canter for training, gymnastics, and courses. It gives lots of exercises and drills. There are great overviews and tips for both competing and training. I have not come across any books that have this level of detail here.

The dressage explanations give you good basics but leave you hanging a bit for more.

It's like having great instruction from a master. The author's British, however, and Western riding is not covered at all as it's not as popular in Europe as English.

I give riding lessons. One of my students is moving back to the States, so I bought if for her as a going-away present. I liked it so much that I bought another copy for myself. It's a great reference tool and worth having on your shelf. I'm definitely going to use a lot of information in it during my own workouts and lessons.

This book would have gotten 5 stars if it were actually the "complete" riding manual. It covered no western events! I love riding english but i want to know more about the western events too. Anyway, this book covers almost everything you need to know about riding in general to riding in advanced shows. It seemed to me that the beginning of the book didnt really go into detail, it just sort of told the basics but didnt say why. Im going to re-read the whole thing again. The book itself was AMAZING and i reccomend it to EVERYONE!!! (but maybe, just maybe, they will change the title, PLEASE). go buy this book!

This well-written book has added facts to my fears about the impact of an exaggerated emphasis on football. At some institutions it has had a negative impact on education of college students. It is definitely worth reading if you are afraid it could be happening at your alma mater.

Dowling, a Rutgers English professor, argues that commercialized division 1a athletics negatively effect the intellectual rigor and atmosphere of the colleges and universities that are involved in them.

In the book, Dowling states that he has witnessed the following in his 20+ years at Rutgers:
1) much larger classes
2) an explosion in the cost of tuition
3) classrooms in an ever-increasing state of disrepair
4) decreasing morale among the faculty
5) the elimination of a number of non-revenue sports, including men's swimming and the crew teams
6) at least 100 million dollars spent on the football and basketball teams (scholarships, coaches, perks, facilities, etc...)

Dowling inspired a number of undergraduate students to create Rutgers1000 in the early 1990's. The goal of Rutgers1000 was to remove Rutgers from division 1a sports and to make Rutgers a non-athletic scholarship university. While the students, faculty and alumni all had branches of Rutgers1000, Dowling focuses on the student and alumni groups in his book.

Dowling details some of Rutgers1000's explanations that are listed on their website in his chapter "Warriors on the Web":
1)most Div 1a football teams lose money - the few programs that make money put the money right back into the football program
2)there is a big difference between exposure (Miami, Nebraska) and reputation (Berkeley, Harvard) - big-time athletics result in exposure, not reputation
3)if Freshmen go to a school because of a final four or bowl game appearance, these are not the kind of students that a college or university wants
4)Michigan is one of the few examples of a good academic school that also has a good Div 1a sports program - supporters of big time athletics often cite Michigan; this is false logic, as Michigan is an exception rather than the norm

Dowling details a number of scandals that have rocked colleges and universities over the last 30 years. He explains that there is a common pattern in the way they are usually handled:
1)college officials express shock
2)an investigative committee is established
3)there is a protest that the scandal does not truly represent the university
4)there is an announcement that "nothing like this will ever happen again"

Ever since it joined the Big East football conference under former president Francis Lawrence, Rutgers' rankings and admission standards have moved downwards. William Dowling here describes the battles of the Rutgers 1000 group (to which he belonged) against the corruption and cynicism of 'big time' athletics at Rutgers, and details the harm done by 'booster culture' to the intellectual and academic tradititons of America's 8th-oldest university.

For those who believe that universities exist primarily for the transmission of knowledge and free intellectual enquiry, this is not a pretty story. It details how, under a weak president chosen by a board of govenors concerned foremost with 'making it big' in sports, Rutgers withdrew from over a century of competition with schools like Princeton and Cornell and modelled its sports program on institutions like Virginia Tech and Miami. The consequences - including the flight of many of the brightest students, and a run down, crowded, shabby campus offset against the first-class athletic facilities provided for 'student athletes' are well documented in the book.

As a Rutgers student, it angers me that my university has thrown away at least $150 million over the past 15 years on football alone - money that could otherwise have gone into scholarships, new buildings, and facilities for ALL students. In these days of hype and hooplah over a 'winning' football program at Rutgers, it is worth remembering the price Rutgers has paid and continues to pay for such 'success'. I salute Professor Dowling for detailing the numerous reasons why many of us at Rutgers view div 1A football as an expensive sham that does far more harm than good to this great university.

This timely and riveting book beautifully describes what happens when big-time college sports, in this case football, take precedent over the quality of education at an Eastern university (Rutgers). The author, a professor of English at Rutgers, describes the valiant student-led effort to return college sports at Rutgers to the era when football players were indeed student athletes (emphasis on student) and the opponents were Princeton, and the rest of the Ivy League, Bucknell, Colgate and other private eastern schools with colonial roots. He describes how funds are stripped from non-revenue sports (crew, fencing) to build "professional" sports facilities for the football team at the expense of resources for the non-athetlic student body. The role of the New Jersey legislature, the Rutgers Admmissions office and the Rutger's Board in enabling the diminution of the intellectual quality of a great university for a few apearances on ESPN is especially sad

To put my cards on the table at the first opportunity: I have recently retired from Rutgers, New Brunswick after 37 years on the Math faculty. For several years, I worked with Bill Dowling and the Rutgers 1000 to try to find a way of diverting the university from the cesspool that is big-time Div 1-A football. I am mentioned in the book in one or two places.

That said, I have to say that I don't miss teaching very much and that the atmosphere created by the dominant jockocracy, especially now that the "program" is a "winner", is an important factor in my indifference. Div 1A football is pure poison when one longs for an atmosphere where serious students predominate and their genuine intllectual curiosity flourishes. I have had such students, of course, and met quite a few of them in the defunct Honors Program, which Dowling accurately describes. These days, they seem like remnants of a doomed race.

Note that it's not jocks, as such, who now flourish in New Brunswick? The best and brightest of them--those who participate in the "non-revenue" sports as free individuals motivated only by their enthusiasm--have, in most cases, been victims of a wholesale purge (unreported in Dowling's book, alas, though it is the saddest and most ironic aspect of the moral rot that concerns him). Fencing, Crew, and Men's Tennis and Swimming have vanished without a trace, despite intense lobbying from outraged parents and alumni and universal bewilderment among undergrads. Why? The pretext is that they are "too expensive". But this happens as more and more cash is poured into a bloated and self-indulgent football program, in the form of luxury accommodations to entice recruits and astronomical pay-scales for coaches and administrators. If you need further reasons, such wholesale aboliton of varsity teams is a cheap and cynical way of "satisfying" Title IX requirements, so that there is no legal obstacle to providing the football team with all the cannon fodder it claims to need.

Likewise, the roster of listed courses continues to decline across the board, especially the small specialized courses that give undergrads access to serious scholarship and research as opposed to once-over-lightly survey courses. The physical plant is ill-maintained. Even the newest buildings, poorly designed to begin with, are allowed to decay in short order. The Banks of the Old Raritan are now tilted so that all the loose cash flows directly into the football program's coffers, with a bit diverted to basketball. The univeristy boasts of the academic success rates of its "student athletes"; funnny thing, though: I've never seen one in any of my classes and I strongly suspect that that if transcripts were on the public record, there would be little sign of anything that deserves to be called higher education.

Alas, the same is true of all too many ordinary students. The student culture has simply plunged into "party school" mode, which is why, as a previous evaluator notes, its a pretty rag-tag bunch, academically, despite the continued presence of a first class faculty. [By the way, to address another point brought up in the previous post, the reason Rutgers outranks such schools as Nebraska is purely a matter of faculty quality; there are still departments at the school that outshine anything in the Ivies. My own department has been consistently listed among the top 15 or so for decades (from a research point of view, of course).] But even the most loyal faculty get pretty disgusted at seeing some lunkhead of a football coach who is making ten times what they are (salary alone, excluding all the little side-deals that fill a coach's pockets when his minions do what they're supposed to and knock their brains out to get a bowl invitation without ever seeing serious money themselves). I know of a few cases where top scholars have gone on to other venues after long Rutgers careers, and I don't think the jockocracy can be let off the hook.

I think Dowling leaves some other factors in the decline of Rutgers (and universities in general) unvisited, since his focus is exclusively on the depradations of the Div 1A program. The snottiness, cynicism, and off-the-shelf nihilism of what may be called the postmodern turn in the humanities convinced many students that their teachers were self-indulgent and out of touch, blind to their own gullibility. So, too, the heavy emphasis on "identity politics" and all the machinery of mandatory righteousness (usually called "political correctness") that came with the package. Academic quirkiness of this kind drove off far more students than it recruited, so far as the life of the mind is concerned.

Equal blame goes to the ethos of pure utilitarianism that colonized much of the academic world utterly indifferent to the vapors of postmodernism. Too many programs and departments, along with their students, came to view their function as credentializing bureaucrats, technocrats, and corporate functionaries, without any concern for deeper cultural values unconcerned with the generation of high incomes and vocational perks.

But, still, there is something about the omniverous football culture that dwarfs everything else in determining the ethics and values that are commonly understood to characterize a campus. If you have a big-time program, you know damned well that sooner or later some high-ranking administrator is going to be caught cheating and lying on a grand scale, and that it will be the chief goal of the top dogs to paper the whole busines over and get back to business as usual. Meanwhile, the program will pass tons of meat on the hoof through the system every year, chewing most of it up past the point of usefulness, and sending the poor kids who signed up for football glory out into the world with no real education and a host of joint problems that will grow worse over the years.

As Dowling points out, the people responsible for this meltdown at Rutgers were for the most part local businessmen and politicians for whom access to a skybox at the stadium of a ranked team is the summum bonum of existence. President Bloustein, who might have known better, wasn't able to hold them off (I think Dowling treats Bloustein too generously, by the way). Presidents Lawrence and McCormick were in their pocket from the getgo. How a decent academic, like McCormick, decays into that forlorn state, I do not know. It's the American version of "Die Blaue Engel", I suppose.

In any case, Dowling has said what needed to be said. The jock-sniffers will howl, either because they are emotional cripples, or because they are cynical parasites who thrive on the crumbs that are dropped from the table of big-time NCAA sports. To hell with them.

This is a fascinating book. It starts out a little detailed and slow but once you get into the debt of the story you cannot put it down. It is horrifying and graphic and tears at your insides as you read the passages. It takes you into the debts of his despair and suffering. You begin to realize how his remembering details such as he did actually helped him make it through the ordeal. You also realize it could happen to anyone.

This book will make you think about countries that pretend to be allies of the United States and Britain. Do we play into their politics only to save face with the world?

This book is uncomfortable to read yet offers hope for the human spirit.
I highly recommend it.

What a horrifying story. Thank you very much, William Sampson, for telling about the terrible things that you experienced. I'm amazed at the incredible detail, dates, names, etc. I wonder how I would have done in a similar situation. The Canadian and British governments should be ashamed. The officials involved probably are.

This book about one man's torture at the hands of Saudi Arabian officials is a must-read. To cover up internal problems, Saudis blamed bombings of Westerners on other Westerners. They then tortured the arrested into confessing. It's hard not to be irate reading this book - Saudi Arabia strikes one as the most dangerous and vile country on Earth. Sampson's survival is testament to the human spirit, and his horrific tale makes for gripping and worrying reading.

Not often you pick up a book and have serious trouble putting it down. William Sampson's narrative of the circumstances and events that overtook him in that xenophobic wasteland of Saudi Arabia will send chills up your spine. A true hero, Sampson describes, in alarming detail, the torture and backward, self-serving mentality of his captors. His ordeal exposes the Canadian and British government's incrediable ignorance and willful lack of concern for one of it's citizens when in crisis in a foreign land. Even when faced with a death sentance (beheading), Sampson showed courage and resolve to not let his captors have the satisfaction of breaking his will.

This is a 'must read' book for anyone concerned with 'human rights', 'international relations' and 'politics.

Like the book Night, by Elie Weisel, this book shows how even a man imprisoned can fight his captors with the strength of his mind (and body). Samson is challenged in ways many of us "soft" Americans cannot dream of; yet he rises to the challenges and finds ways to stay sane in an insane situation. He learns how he can live without even basic necessities (giving up books is harder than giving up food) so that his torturers cannot use these privileges against him. Samson shows us when he "fails" himself and when he triumphs.
To think that a citizen of a Western country can be abandoned by his country in order to keep good relations is an outrage that needs to be corrected. Samson shared with us his trial so that we might see the truth and perhaps others would be spared.
Thanks so much for this well written, eye-opening book. You are a true hero.