Publications and Media Books

This book seems to cover absolutely all the ins and outs of succeeding as a freelance writer. (I have one reservation, which I'll discuss later.) Bly is a very successful freelance writer, sometimes earning as much as $600,000 per year and apparently routinely earning at least $100,000 per year, so he is an author who knows what he's talking about. He includes chapters on everything from the freelancer's administrative logistics, how to get leads and market yourself, and a signifcant number of resources to help the novice writer. If you follow his advice with diligence, and put in the necessary time, there is probably a high likelihood that you will make a good and possibly a very good living as a freelance writer.

Here is my concern: In the introduction Bly says, "Even a writer with average abilities and modest ambitions can get published and make $800 to $1,000 a week or more as a freelance writer." But on page 11 he says "Writing, on the other hand, is a field in which the average practitioner does not make much money (of course, there are many exceptions) And so money is not the primary motivator to go into writing; you should become a writer because you love to write." Yet, the rest of the book is about how you can earn a great deal by becoming a freelance writer, although more specifically he means commercial freelancing - writing copy for businesses large or small. So which is it? Will the average writer "not make much money" or will he "make $800 to $1,000 a week"?

Here is another inconsistency: on page 60, where he is describing how you can't make the big bucks by writing for magazines, he says "you can make $36,000 to $48,000 a year, provided you are paid $1 a word - a rate most markets no longer come close to." Hey wait a minute, you buttered us up in the intro that us average joe writers could make $800 to $1,000 a week (or $41,600 to $52,000 a year). Where did all that bounty go?

There are other inconsistencies about how much you have to earn per hour and how many hours a week you have to put in to reach Bly-like levels of earnings. For example, page 61: "If you want to make $100,000 a year and work 50 weeks a year, you must gross $2,000 a week from your writing. If you work 5 days a week, you must earn $400 a day." On page 158 he says, "If you follow the advice in this book you will soon be earning $50 to $100 an hour" but previously, on page 156 he revealed to us that 7 hours a day (9 to 5) "won't cut it" if you want to earn more than $100,000 a year; in fact, his suggested number of starting weekly hours is 45, but it could be 50, 55 or even more.

So stay with me here: $400 a day/7 hour day equals $57 per hour to earn $100,000 a year, but Mr. Bly just told us that we probably need to work at least 45 hours a week, so we are now down to $44 an hour and if we go to say 55 hours a week, our hourly earnings drop to $36 an hour. The problem here is that $50 per hour seems to be Bly's threshold for living the good writer's life, and is the benchmark he refers to when suggesting outsourcing your time for tasks that cost less an hour than you earn.

Now, having said all that, the message reminds me somewhat of the get rich via real estate/day trading sales pitches. In other words, Bly should have included the disclaimer "results may vary" because I believe that any one individual could apply Bly's lessons and actually reach the level of income he says you can. So these criticisms are not a wholesale refutation of his claims but more of a wish that more clarity and consistency were present. That's why I still give Bly four stars.

Now, if you want the other end of the spectrum, see Real Success Without a Real Job: There Is No Life Like It!, where Ernie Zelinsky tells us how to make a comfortable living by writing for four hours a day, with comfortable redefined as a level of income chosen by you which provides you with the things you need, plus a little more.

Usually the guru of ad copy, Robert Bly uses a more comprehensive approach to freelance writing and goes all out to help fledgling writers of all stripes - articles, books AND ads. In addition to sharing secrets for impressing various potential clients with quality copy, Bly also treats such topics as self-evaluation for writing, self-confidence, writing business start-up and money management, etc. It's a quick read (unusual for Bly) but complete, nevertheless. Better understood with other, more detailed, Bly books.

This book should be entitled Getting Started as a Freelance Copywriter, since it's worthless to anyone who wants to write magazine articles and such. In fact, he criticizes writers who want to do anything other than copywriting and commercial writing. Bly's writing is dull and the material is difficult to digest. This "new edition" still says "We're living in the nineties" and that the "internet is new and exciting." This book is disappointing and a big waste of money. If you're an aspiring writer, find a better book.

In Getting Started As A Freelance Writer, professional writer Robert W. Bly draws upon more than twenty-five years of experience and expertise (he became a self-made millionaire while still in his thirties and is the author of more than one hundred articles and sixty books) offers aspiring writers and authors a comprehensive understanding of the highly competitive process of becoming a published freelance writer. Introducing readers to a complete knowledge of where the work for writers is to be found, how to get paid assignments, the fine art of negotiating fees and contracts, how to turn out acceptable manuscripts, and how to insure getting paid, Getting Started As A Freelance Writer provides a concise exploration and complete knowledge of what freelance writing is all about. An informed and informative resource for a sustainable progression into the world of profitable writing and freelance authorship, Getting Started As A Freelance Writer is very strongly recommended as a key "how to" reference for anyone at the beginning of their professional writing career.

I really liked this book. In fact, the first moment I picked it up off the shelf to peruse the contents, and first few pages, I was hooked. Robert Bly has an easy-going style to his words, and explains things in user friendly terms.
The author includes real stories to inspire the writer that its entirely possible to make a good living as a writer in no-nonsense language. And considering the size of this book, you'll find tons of information at your fingertips to help you in the process of becoming a successful writer.
He includes marketing and promotion, as well as where to look for leads for work. I particularly enjoyed his own experiences he shares with the reader on his journey to success.
I highly recommend this book for anyone wishing to be a writer. You won't regret it.

An enormous amount of work has gone in publishing the ITIL v3 bookset and it shows. Unfortunately the degree of in depth information varies here and there, which is probably due to the tight release schedule.

All in all a worthwhile execution of the LCM concept for IT Services.

There will be many that feel ITIL v3 is lacking in parts, however, these will be the same people that felt ITIL v2 wasn't required when it was originally published.

There is a large amount of work in ITIL v3 and those who are displaying the signs of resistance towards it will simply need time to see that it is in fact the new commonsense approach for IT Service Management.

Let's begin...

All five books start with a common section that reviews Service Management as a Practice. In here you will find what you would expect. What is Service Management, What are Services, Business Processes discussed and a good section that explains the concept of the Service Lifecycle.

Service Strategy
Includes a section on Service Strategy Principles. Where the concept of service assets are raised against the three differnt Service Provider types. The book then moves into some heavy duty stuff where Service Strategy itself is defined as four distinct phases. This is real heavy going so don't try to read it at the end of a busy day.

Service Strategy then looks at organizational considerations as well as addressing the imporant issue of organizational culturee, before rounding out with a link to the other four volumes, a section on technology and finally the risks, challenges and critical success factors.

Service Design is next and it (like Transition and Operations) has two dominant sections. The first on Service Design principles looks at the concepts and activities of service design (things like identifying service requirements and design constraints). The other major section looks at the Service Design processes (Catalogue Management, Service Level Management, Capacity Management, Availability Management, IT Service Continuity Management, Information Security and Supplier).

The Service Design book finishes with technology, organizational issues, technology, implementation and challenges, risks, critical success factors.

Service Transition follows the pattern of Service Design. The principles section of Transition is very short; but then you have over 110 pages on processes (Transition Planning and Support, Change Management, Service Asset and Configuration Management, Release and Deployment, Evaluation and Knowledge Management).

Service Transition concludes with the same topics as Transition.

Service Operation continues the pattern, but throw in a sizeable chunk on the four defined functions (Service Desk, Application Management, IT Operations Management and Technical Management). The processes covered are event management, incident, problem, request fulfilment and access management).

Finally, the Continual Service Improvement volume. Issues dealt with here include Governance, Deming and benchmarks. Processes covered are the 7 step improvement process, service reporting, service measurement and some other topics which I would call concepts, rather than processes (ROI for CSI, Business questions).

The book introduces some techniques for CSI which is where Deming is expanded, assessments and gap analysis is covered and benchmarking gets a mention.

Finish off with technology, implementation, risks and challenges and that is the five books.

Service Strategy - 257 pages
Service Design - 317 pages
Service Transition - 251 pages
Service Operation - 251 pages
CSI - 215 pages

Approximately 10% is a direct repeat in each book (the opening sections).

I was excited to learn that the OGC was looking to 'evolve' ITIL but I've not been overly impressed with the output. Granted I've only finished reading two of the five books in the suite but have seen little in them to necessitate a five book re-write. And the style in which it is presented sends shivers down my spine. If I'd not been previously experienced in ITSM I'd have been intimidated by the material.

The point of the suite was to provide IT managers with a systematic approach to plan, design, implement, manage and improve IT process management. In other words they spent a lot of time throwing a project management wrapper around the ITSM processes... not exactly rocket science unless you were one of those that threw common sense out the window to religiously follow a consultant's 'expert' opinion and ended up mired in an undisciplined and incomplete ITSM installation.

I do credit them with the separation of the Service Management methodologies. It was due and makes more sense. I think that this section will benefit many who have struggled with the Service Catalog in Version 2.

Overall, I think readers will suffer through a lot of noise in these books trying to find the truly 'evolved' items that were promised.

I was using ITIL and others IT Quality Standards for almost 5 years and I think the new version includes a more mature evolution on how incorporating IT services towards the business. It takes into account strategic aspects, as well as new processes that were before not specified but that they were carried out in the day to day. What it really does is force the IT areas to view IT in a service lifecycle and customer business needs and expectations sense.

For those who have been understanding and applying the underlying concepts of ITSM since version 2, this is a natural evolution of the framework, and many of the IT shops are currently using one or more ITIL process.
I just want to point out some things that I found on this new version:
- some topics from ICT IM (infrastructure management) are now incorporated as part of the Service Lifecycle. For example Strategy and Event Management. In the past this two processes were NEVER taught in ITSM Foundation classes. The same can be said for Security and Application Management. Now they are part of the service lifecycle, wich is good for those who already knew this was necessary, but it could be very complex for those people completely new in ITIL.
- small but certain portions of the books are completely "copy and paste" excerpts from the previous V2 books, while other parts are improved and of course there are a LOT of new material.
I strongly suggest you buy first Design, Transition and Operations book. Specially the Operations book. And after a carefull understanding, proceed with Strategy and CSI.
Someone can say this books are really expensive. Yes, they are. But I just can think how much an IT degree (MBA) costs in this days. This is really a MBA in managing an IT organization. So the investment worths it, because you get the knowledge MOST of the world class IT shops are using.

This book is mostly a collection of other sources of information you will eventually need - but even as such, leaves you without a clear referral. I found the content lacking interest and substance. The author throws in a mixture of annoying fonts for some reason and the book is peppered with meaningless diagrams and clip-art. I found it a disappointing purchase - unlike many other books on the subject available @Amazon.com.

This book is now a favorite that I'll refer to again and again throughout my life. It is beautifully designed. I especially liked the many illustrations. Unlike other books that are just words, this one gives visual illustrations of many concepts that help you understand and remember them. At first I didn't see the scope of this total overview of life, but it really gives you a crystal clear big picture of life. In addition to helping me understand life, it gives easy step by step methods for adding balance. I love the fact that the author is flexible and encourages you to use the methods that work for you. If you like self help books, this may be the best one you'll ever read.

Rarely have I read such a book in which I felt the author was at peace with himself and wasn't trying to sell me anything, but genuinely cares about the truth. This book is extremely insightful. I found it refreshing and inspiring. I'm sure I'll read parts of it again and again.

This book truly has something on every area of life. It is a large book, but really it's like several books in one, covering a wide range of topics. It tells you the "key insights" to each area of life, plus step by step, easy methods for maintaining balance. I can't imagine that anyone would not find something of use in this book. It has become my favorite source of reference. I found it to be inspiring and down to earth as well. I doubt there is a better book on balanced living.

Giving customers what they want. Creating quality products. Improving customer service. Making use of employee strengths. Wouldn't it be great if businesses actually focused on these aspects?

While many businesses are starting to realize the benefits of these concepts, the majority of managers are still looking for an edge to oust their competitors. Corporate Intelligence Awareness shows these individuals how to ferret out information to give them that extra advantage while assuring that they don't lose that upper hand through fellow employees who unwittingly give away important intelligence about their business environment.

Although it all seems a little cloak and dagger at first, really the program described is simply becoming more aware about situations that could potentially help your business succeed and then following through on that intuition. This same system can also be used to note employees that are pulling their weight or who are at risk of inadvertently telling company secrets.

Avoid this book! The so-called advice proffered in it is trite and banal. Much of it is exceedingly obvious and could have been deduced by you, if you are in the position of doing strategic planning for a company. The gathering of information on your competitors by legal means is a basic role for someone in any large company. These days, simply by skimming the web you can find tips as to how to gather that information. Note that I'm not suggesting that carrying out all of the methods are restricted to the web. Several methods are "real-world" non-web procedures.

But the book's suggestions are already easily found from cursory web searches.

It is common knowledge that the embassies of nations are listening posts for gathering information about what is actually taking place in the host country. For any nation to have an effective foreign policy, it is necessary for the leaders to be in possession of accurate information. That is understood and one of the reasons why the principle of diplomatic immunity was developed.
However, there are some general rules to this information gathering. Employing local nationals as spies is done, but if anyone on either side is caught, there are penalties. For a person convicted of spying against their nation, the general penalty is execution. At the diplomatic level, the person can be declared "persona non grata" and effectively expelled from the country.
Harding is a former career diplomat with the South African government and was awarded the Star of South Africa for his effective work in gathering intelligence and applying it to the development of strategy. In this book he relies on his experience to describe ways in which companies and organizations can gather intelligence without exceeding the bounds of acceptable behavior.
His recommendations are sound; they start with the development of the initial intelligence gathering strategy and proceed all the way up to the point where the person at the peak of the decision-making pyramid is given the final, distilled summaries. Throughout it all he continues to emphasize that the gathering of intelligence is an uncertain process, so all through the process, you must never lose focus on that fact.
This is a book that all people whose job description falls under the title, "Director of Strategic Planning" should read. For without a solid grounding in understanding where the world is going, it is impossible to determine where your path should lie.

Former South African government career diplomat Rodger Harding, who earned the Star of South Africa for his work in intelligence and strategy development, presents Corporate Intelligence Awareness, a no-nonsense guide for business managers to gathering, developing, analyzing and protecting confidential information. Real-life examples and anecdotes illustrate Harding's tested tips, tricks, and techniques for improving one's people-reading skills, maintaining strict ethics and absolute adherence to the law while keeping close tabs on one's business interests, and how to ensure that ever-changing competitive intelligence can be skillfully delivered to the right people at the right time in the chain of command. An excellent and invaluable manager's supplementary resource especially in the increasingly information-dependent twenty-first century.

I have some programming skills and a budding web designer. I was really impressed with this body of work, especially considering the time frame it covers. The value for me was that the reader gets an understanding of what the "artist" has rendered. You you have read any of Paul Rand's essays, you can identify the significance of this work. This book is not a quick read, but a meal of ideas to be savored. I am still savoring this book, and it is really one of the best books I have enjoyed.

Thanks!

I hate to be the one to go against the other reviews, but I had to with this one. I just didnt see why people liked the book. I found the designs to be very techy and old school...mostly examples of what computer design used to encompass. I wasnt inspired by any of the work in the this HUGE book. If you want cutting edge inspiration, look elsewhere.

I have always been impressed with John Maeda's work: "Tap, Type, Write" is beautifully interactive, "Design By Numbers" is extremely innovative. Professor Maeda's newest endeavor, Maeda@Media is no different. It is a monument to Information Aesthetics and an icon for Information Society at large. The book itself, is painstakenly crafted with different types of papers. The images inside evoke a million poignant words. Professor Maeda's insights are invaluable. John Maeda uncovers a rare beauty in computing.

I have nothing but respect for John Maeda.

He's one of those rare people who stands at the cusp of three or four disciplines - say graphic design, programming, information architecture, and fine art - and exerts a gentle gravitational attraction on the long-sundered fields. He's a true practitioner of what E.O. Wilson calls "consilience," and I find his work unfailingly beautiful.

"Maeda@Media" is a far more comprehensive introduction to and summary of his work than his earlier ""Design by Numbers." It is also an exquisitely produced volume, and if it is occasionally self-indulgent (spending 60-odd pages on a graphic that spells out "IT IS CUSTOMARY THAT THE SIDES OF A PAGE BE NEGLECTED IN FAVOR OF ITS FRONT AND BACK" on their edges) - well, I'll forgive that. It's a gorgeous tome.

Maeda is doing vital and inspiring work; this book should be a kick in the pants to all those of us who work in any of the disparate fields his work touches upon: only connect.

I took a review class and did lots of practice problems on the Transportation area of emphasis. This book was bought to see if I was ready for the test. I could hardly answer any of the questions! They were all very tricky. It made me wonder if I'd have a snowball's chance on the test.

Well the test was much easier than 90% of the questions in this book (as another reviewer sort of noted). I certainly wouldn't try to use this as a study guide as it only "teaches" its own twisted questions. I would give this book away now the test is behind me, but no one would benefit from it, it would probably only frighten you! In general its meant to sell to panic-y test takers like me who want to cover all the bases.

This has been a good study guide for the PE. I haven't taken the exam yet, so I don't know if the study guide actually helps. It's easy to carry around though compared to other study guides, so I tote it from home and work each day.

The problems in this book are all qualitative. The solutions in this book show possible errors that can occur when solving the problems in addition to the correct solution. Below the problem is a "hint" to help you get started in the right direction. I didn't use the "hints" and didn't find them to be effective for my learning style. The problems are more in-depth than those found on the test but the idea behind this material is to introduce the student to the concepts found on the exam and improve your solving capabilities in a limited amount of time. The book doesn't teach you how to solve a problem in 6-minutes, which is what the title leads to believe.

A great workbook to help along with the P.E. exam; however, it is a brief review, and you'll probably need other books to complete your review, especially if tranportation is your cup of tea for the afternoon session.

The book is probably enough to cover the morning breadth session - but for the afternoon, I'd look into additional review books.

This book directly addressed my thesis. I found it incredibly comprehensive and informative. It was direct, to-the-point, and easy to read and analyze. Perfect source for a research paper that focuses on mass media and political science questions. Authors cited are strong and reputable. Overall, a wonderful book that every journalism student should read and consult.

While it is apparent that the authors are knowledgable about the subject of media and the effects on population, it is also readily apparent that they do not posess an English degree. Put bluntly, the text is difficult to read and sentences lack fluidity and eloquence. In addition, the studies mentioned are often repetitive and do not offer anyhting new to the subject being presented. It's informational but arduous reading.

UCLA political science professor Shanto Iyengar and veteran journalist Richard Reeves deliver a great read filled with thought-provoking contributions and commentary. The book is balanced with delightfully entertaining (and revealing) personal experiences from seasoned reporters such as Lou Cannon, and scholarly analysis on the impact of the media on the political landscape of today.
Reeves' lifetime of experience endows this book with a depth of understanding rarely found in books on the media. His easy-to-read introductions set against the backdrop of Iyengar's comprehensive exegisis of the science of journalism provide a complete picture the fourth branch of government.
In addition to being a great journalism textbook, this volume is a page-turner for anyone interested in the complex interrelationships between those that make the news and those that report it.

While I love the ideas and observations presented by Billig, he didn't seem to be putting too much thought into those who would be reading his book. I kept getting the impression that he had about 50 pages worth of content, but was required to write 150 pages in order to please his publisher. The bulk of the book is repeating the same things over again in different words and it is written in very dry language. He also seems to tell things in the wrong order. He'll go on and on about a conclusion he has, but wait several chapters before he actually tells you the reasoning he used to reach that conclusion.

Despite all that, he has a message worth hearing, and at least considering. He describes how nationalism is not something that exists only in extreme circumstances, but how it's a part of everyday life that citizens take for granted. Well worth a read. Or at least a skim.

This book should not be so hard to get, and it definitely should be more widely read - and not just by scholars. In contrast to the oft-mentioned "hot" nationalisms which seem to plague far-off or obscure places like the Balkans, the Caucuses, etc., Billig introduces the concept of "banal" nationalism to refer to nationalism and the way this form of identity politics is reinforced in stable, affluent and apparently "anational" societies, such as Great Britain or the United States. This is not a consideration of fringe groups, but of societies as a whole. Billig conducts an exemplary analysis into how identification with one's nation or country is reinforced on a daily basis in the most subtle and unnoticeable (and thus banal) manner: the weather maps in newspapers or on television which show one's country highlighted in a different color, currency or postage stamp containing patriotic motifs, pledging allegiance to the flag every morning by school children, etc. Billig's point is that this everyday, almost unconscious intake of psychologically loaded signs, symbols and signals can be one factor in explaining how easily people come to adopt irrational openly "patriotic" ways of thinking in times of crisis, whether real or perceived (as anyone who lived in the U.S. during the Gulf War can attest to). There is also a good critique of the dichotomy created between "civic" and "ethnic" nationalism, in that those who insist on this dichotomy usually tend to view the former as "good" while the latter is definitely "bad." Billig points out that both have the potential to become dangerously irrational.

I am the author. Please ignore the star-rating I gave this book - I had to give one!

This is why I wrote this book.

I've been working on the material for over a decade, though the ideas formed over thirty years. It was 9-11 that transformed them from 'ahead of their time' to 'important for today'.

I have been involved with history, international relations, inner growth, peace and reconciliation work since I was young - ever since being beaten up for refusing to take sides in the Protestant-Catholic rivalries in my home-city of Liverpool in the 1960s. Later I was deeply involved in flower power, inner growth and student politics (LSE), and embarked on a path of searching, study, social engagement and community leadership that I've followed ever since.

I have long struggled with issues around conflict between peoples, and schisms between politics and reality. Why will the world not resolve its problems more willingly and constructively? What will make humanity wake up to change before it is too late? These questions are more pressing today than three decades ago - and they were pressing then. It has gone from Vietnam to Iraq and from the threat of crisis to its actuality. I've been finding clues from professors, Tibetan lamas, visionaries, aid-workers, people in the street, refugees, lovers, political commentators and allsorts, but each possessed only a viewpoint.

I don't have a neat Grand Plan to propose. Yet current events and the deeper questions they expose seem to me to reveal answers and clarify ways forward. To see them we must 'think outside the box', particularly our own box.

This book outlines what I have seen. A visionary book, it also has its hands in the soil, the blood and thunder. A panoramic view anchored in events and issues of recent years, and practical strategies for the future. Around the Millennium we crossed a divide where the past and the future met, and the future started exerting an increasingly causal impact on the present. Today, hidden feelings, voiced fitfully by the world public, contain many of the necessary clues and solutions. It's a question of translating these into action and official policy.

We're heading for a crunch between public policy and mass intuition - between organisations and people. This isn't just about democracy but something much deeper - the nature of future civilisation. Public awareness is shifting its centre of gravity, its bottom-line human values. The intensifying grating between current events, popular feeling and global policy are proving painful, and this is churning up truth. We're in for an interesting time in coming decades!

For me, this book represents a summation of all I have learned in my quest to resolve the psychological and spiritual questions of my own life. It contains insights I've gained from the social and educational projects I have created and run, and from my studies of history and world affairs.

It is a book of personal insights, yet the sheer number of people who tell me I speak for them implies there's more going on here. My lack of affiliation to political parties, economic vested interests, academic schools of thought or popular movements allows me a rare freedom of insight and expression few better-known commentators possess.

I'm not into lambasting politicians, corporations or any other of the usual targets, and I'm not into negative criticism. Whether at the top or bottom of the ladder, we're all in the same boat and we're all responsible. I hope this book, whatever your viewpoint or background, adds something to your understanding of the enormity, and the concealed simplicity, of our world's problems today. May it be like a blast of multivitamins in a time which is rather under-nourishing, at least as far as constructive solutions are concerned.

Palden Jenkins
Glastonbury, England

I am the author. Please ignore the star-rating I gave this book - I had to give one! It's for you to judge the book's merits.

This is why I wrote this book.

I've been working on the material for over a decade, though the ideas formed over thirty years. It was 9-11 that transformed them from 'ahead of their time' to 'important for today'.

I have been involved with history, international relations, inner growth, peace and reconciliation work since I was young - ever since being beaten up for refusing to take sides in the Protestant-Catholic rivalries in my home-city of Liverpool in the 1960s. Later I was deeply involved in flower power, inner growth and student politics (LSE), and embarked on a path of searching, study, social engagement and community leadership that I've followed ever since.

I have long struggled with issues around conflict between peoples, and schisms between politics and reality. Why will the world not resolve its problems more willingly and constructively? What will make humanity wake up to change before it is too late? These questions are more pressing today than three decades ago - and they were pressing then. It has gone from Vietnam to Iraq and from the threat of crisis to its actuality. I've been finding clues from professors, Tibetan lamas, visionaries, aid-workers, people in the street, refugees, lovers, political commentators and allsorts, but each possessed only a viewpoint.

I don't have a neat Grand Plan to propose. Yet current events and the deeper questions they expose seem to me to reveal answers and clarify ways forward. To see them we must 'think outside the box', particularly our own box.

This book outlines what I have seen. A visionary book, it also has its hands in the soil, the blood and thunder. A panoramic view anchored in events and issues of recent years, and practical strategies for the future. Around the Millennium we crossed a divide where the past and the future met, and the future started exerting an increasingly causal impact on the present. Today, hidden feelings, voiced fitfully by the world public, contain many of the necessary clues and solutions. It's a question of translating these into action and official policy.

We're heading for a crunch between public policy and mass intuition - between organisations and people. This isn't just about democracy but something much deeper - the nature of future civilisation. Public awareness is shifting its centre of gravity, its bottom-line human values. The intensifying grating between current events, popular feeling and global policy are proving painful, and this is churning up truth. We're in for an interesting time in coming decades!

For me, this book represents a summation of all I have learned in my quest to resolve the psychological and spiritual questions of my own life. It contains insights I've gained from the social and educational projects I have created and run, and from my studies of history and world affairs.

It is a book of personal insights, yet the sheer number of people who tell me I speak for them implies there's more going on here. My lack of affiliation to political parties, economic vested interests, academic schools of thought or popular movements allows me a rare freedom of insight and expression few better-known commentators possess.

I'm not into lambasting politicians, corporations or any other of the usual targets, and I'm not into negative criticism. Whether at the top or bottom of the ladder, we're all in the same boat and we're all responsible. I hope this book, whatever your viewpoint or background, adds something to your understanding of the enormity, and the concealed simplicity, of our world's problems today. May it be like a blast of multivitamins in a time which is rather under-nourishing, at least as far as constructive solutions are concerned.

Palden Jenkins
Glastonbury, England

The audio book is a great addition to my listening collection. With the changes in the PMBOK regarding risk management, this audio book gives an overview of the subject that is an excellent accompaniment to your other reading. I definitely recommend this selection.

Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (9/06)

An essential component to any project is a strong understanding of risk. However, the components of risk are often misunderstood and subjective. Not so anymore! In this live recording of "Innovative Strategies in Risk Management" David Hulett provides the listener with the tools and processes necessary to understand and quantify risk from both the Project Management team and customer perspective.

With a strong focus on the probability component of risk, the impact is often overlooked. However, many people and corporations may be impact adverse, meaning they are more interested in minimizing or negating the impact with less regard for the probability. The example given involved the presenter going into his doctors' office for immunizations before travelling abroad. The doctor let him know what immunizations were recommended, stating "Oh, and you can have this other one but your probability of getting it is low." When asked what would happen if he were that 1 in 1000 the doctor stated "Oh, you'd die. But the probability of getting it is only 1 in 1000." He got the immunization.

The presentation serves as a strong reminder of the importance of understanding the customer and minimizing assumptions. By increasing your knowledge of risk and the tools available to better understand and manage risk, you increase the likelihood of customer satisfaction and decrease the likelihood of failure. The presentation goes into some additional detail on Critical Path Methodology and the importance of using the right tools to manage the schedule. Of key importance is staying alert to activities with a high risk of delaying the project. There would have been some value in providing access to the slide presentations as reference is often made to some of the detailed components, however, the listener can still derive much value without them.

"Innovative Strategies in Risk Management" highlights the importance of developing a quantitative process for analyzing and managing risk. Breaking the analysis down into the three main components of a project, Schedule, Cost, and Scope, further increases value as each project can then assign more importance to one or more areas depending on the needs of the customer. This presentation provides valuable insight and informative tools for understanding and managing risk in projects.