Research Books

Based on conclusive research, the authors teach you how to apply the keys they discovered for radical "blockbuster" products. The research component extended over a decade. Some of the things they found reinforce what one would expect, other finds show assumptions to be inaccurate. For example, having a specific "due date" pushed teams members to find a way to get things done. Positive interpersonal relations among team members, however, was not found to be that significant.

Lynn and Reilly do not advocate "management by walking around." Their research indicates that senior executives who are passionately involved in the day-to-day decisions of bringing a new product to market get the job done, not those who have a passive, casual interest in the team's efforts. Therefore, they say it involves a lot more than just popping in occasionally to see how things are going.

Particularly useful is the discussion they have on creating products so radical that customers don't even know they want them because nothing comparable exists. In such cases, they describe how to be your own customer in bringing such products into being. They cite a couple of examples of people who did so, and because very wealthy.

Blockbusters is one of those rare business books that once you start reading, you just can't stop. I read this book in maybe 2 sittings, because each chapter created a strong curiosity to learn quickly, "what is the next key step." I couldn't wait to finish so I could go into my company and begin implementing some of these steps.

Like most business books, Blockbuster has theory, but backed by solid data and many years of research; however, unlike other business books, it written in a very practical manner, particularly for the working business profressional.

The authors, Drs. Lynn and Reilly, seem to have a very good understanding of what goes on inside companies when teams work together to design and launch new products. In my opinion, they were able to successfully identify the key areas that all business leaders must be aware of if they are to be successful in product launches. The case histories of real product successes, both industrial and consumer, showed me the power of having a solid product development process.

I highly recommend Blockbusters to senior management or anyone that is involved in the new product development process, whether the products are consumer, industrial, or services.

It is difficult to find a well-written book that addresses the real-world application of New Product Development and "blockbusters" - Drs. Lynn and Reilly solved this problem!

Whilst their work is based on in-depth surveys and an extensive analysis, they convey the success factors to practitioners in an easy-to-read and understandable format. "Bottom-line" information is found here.

My MBA students (New York) are intolerant of all theory and no practical application - they love this book!

Blockbusters brings home the key elements of bringing a true winner to the market. You will not be surprised at the elements they bring to your attention, but will be pleasantly reminded of the fundamental points that you often forget. Excellent business analogies make the reading not only informative and educational, but also enjoyable. Knowing the problems that some of these larger companies faced and overcome helps put other business problems into perspective. I have already implemented their Dirty Dozen questions into the team plan and I am building the War Room as we speak. I think they have created their own blockbuster and I look forward to further work from these authors

Every year companies spend spend hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars guessing what it takes to create just one hugely successful product. A large portion of that money could be saved if new product development teams would read Blockbusters and take its message to heart. The real world examples evaluated by Lynn and Reilly include high and low tech "blockbuster" products created by well-funded corporations and a struggling garage start-up. The authors teach five keys to success that are shared by all. Well worth buying and reading thoroughly.

My goal in buying this book was to attempt a little self analysis and psychotherapy. Well, it's a great book I suppose but not for the amateur. I suspect it is required reading for graduate level mental health professionals.

It's very readable however; nicely organized. I am just in over my head with this one!

I first read this work 30 years ago. It remains as vital and relevant today as it was then. If you're serious about helping yourself get rid of old emotional baggage, this is a superior tool.

The book was delivered to me complete and in the condition that it was sold to me in. I would recommend and use this seller for future transactions.

...and traces, not just the "pathways" of inner conflict, but their intertwinings, demonstrating with case examples how problems in one area of one's life put roots into many areas.

You've read the above reviews, and I second them all, so I will not repeat them. Let me just add that you will want a pencil and highlighter, because you will be underlining, circling, and making notes to yourself in the margin. This is an irreplaceable tool if you're into self-cultivation. A giant step UP from the abundant new-age spiritual soul-candy out there. It is not a book on spirituality, but identifying and correcting our OWN inner conflicts is the cornerstone of spiritual practice; therefore I highly recommend it for seekers and cerebrals alike. Everyone has heard the saying "Know Thyself"; this book will help you do it.

Good book with good data and good case scenarios. The stuff in this book is really something every company should be looking to doing in the very near future. The title is a bit deceptive. It's more about what just doesn't make sense for a company to spend their money on because of the technology that exists. Telecommuting just has so many benefits for all. It certainly helps being competitive if you aren't "wasting" your money on office space, but it's not the strategy to focus on if you want to be competitive.

CORPORATE AGILITY: A REVOLUTIONARY NEW MODEL FOR COMPETING IN A FLAT WORLD tells of a new business model, one that enables businesses to embrace workworld changes on a global scale. Currently most companies are unable to adapt to new methods of doing business, and become crippled by high fixed costs and new competition. CORPORATE AGILITY tells how to break this destructive cycle, offering tried methods by leaders of the Work Design Collaborative and providing a survey of value to any business library.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Finally there is a book for the Facility Manager, I.T. Guy or H.R. professional looking to prove their point. How often have we heard the words; "That may be a great idea, but what is everyone else doing?" When it comes to leading edge ideas for changing the work place and the way we work, this book provides hard data based on what some of America's top companies are doing now.

Corporate Agility gives us a look into companies such as Hewlett Packard, Sun, IBM and others. It provides detailed analysis of how they are addressing the changing work place environment. How are companies staying connected with an increasingly mobile work force? How are they integrating Gen X, Gen Y & the Millennial workers? How are they reducing costs for work space, real estate and I.T. while increasing productivity and worker satisfaction? In depth case studies provide hard data regarding how different programs impact costs savings, worker productivity and employee satisfaction.

The analysis and case studies also let you key into a network of resources to help with your projects. Furniture systems, architects, designers, real estate brokers and I.T. solutions are all discussed. The Future of Work community is a door to a nearly endless supply of thinkers and practitioners dedicated to solving today's work place issues. Regardless of the size organization you are trying to change, Corporate Agility will provide the ammunition you need to get the project designed, approved and completed.

In the Introduction, Charles Grantham, James Ware, and Cory Williamson explain that they assembled a small group of thought leaders from major corporations and collaborated with them when conducting a survey among decision-makers in both labor and management "to discover how new technologies, the changing workforce, and economic globalization were changing how and where people worked, and what those changes meant to the future of work in the so-called Information Economy." The survey responses confirmed what they had only suspected previously: "most businesses had been unable, or unwilling, to adapt their traditional management styles to the new conditions." Various factors resulted in a crippling loss of corporate agility. "These Industrial-Age behemoths are often referred to as corporate dinosaurs, in an effort to describe just how slow and unwieldy they really are - to say nothing of being nearly extinct - and there may be even more truth and insight contained in that image than anyone ever intended."

Grantham, Ware, and Williamson pose an especially interesting question: How can a business evolve from being a dinosaur to a jaguar, and do so in the space of months, not millennia? In this book, they provide their response to it, what they characterize as "a collaborative, strategic approach to management that acknowledges and leverages the growing interdependence of human resources (HR), corporate real estate (CRE), and information technology (IT), a process we call collaborative strategic management." In this volume, they explain to define, develop, and then implement the CSM process, and thus achieve corporate agility. The co-authors organize and present their material within ten chapters and draw upon a collection of wide-ranging, cutting-edge ideas drawn from pilot programs, case studies, and evolving best practices established by members of the Future of Work community. (The co-authors invite you to visit www.thefutureofwork.net/index.html.)

FYI, the quoted phrase in this review's title was formulated by James O'Toole while identifying major barriers to leading change in a book that bears that name. Grantham, Ware, and Williamson have no illusions whatsoever as to the difficulty of defining, developing, and then implementing the CSM process to achieve corporate agility. They realize that many organizations cannot overcome "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom" and will not survive. These are the "dinosaurs" to which they refer. However, other organizations can become agile and thus adapt to rapid, model-shattering changes in the global economy. These are the "jaguars" to which they refer.

To me, it is especially appropriate that the process of defining, developing, and then implementing collaborative strategic management requires organizations to be actively involved in all manner of alliances and mutually beneficial partnerships between and among members of global communities such as Future of Work. This is precisely what Satish Nambisan and Mohanbir Sawhney also have in mind in Global Brain: Your Roadmap for Innovating Faster and Smarter in a Networked World. They wholeheartedly agree with Grantham, Ware, and Williamson that agility is more, much more than a highly desirable attribute; it is, in fact, a key to organizational survival. Hence the importance of this brilliant book that will be of incalculable value to those planning for or have already embarked upon the perilous and complicated but necessary process of strategically integrating the effective management of real estate, human resources, and technology assets.

And as Charles Grantham, James Ware, and Cory Williamson point out, "It does that in a collaborative fashion that requires a change in decision-making processes and styles from what most organizations rely on today. [Moreover, an agile enterprise organizes itself into three (and only three) levels that center on completion, survival, and renewal." In this context, I assume that "completion" refers to achieving the given objectives, whatever they may be. However, collaborative strategic management is a journey rather than a destination, an on-going process that must be constantly renewed with appropriate modifications. Only then can an organization sustain its agility.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Thomas Friedman's The World Is Flat and Competing in a Flat World co-authored by Victor Fung, William Fung, and Yoram (Jerry) Wind as well as The New American Workplace co-authored by James O'Toole and Edward Lawler, O'Toole's aforementioned Leading Change, Henry Chesbrough's Open Business Models, Noel Tichy and Warren Bennis' Judgment, Richard Ogle's Smart World, Frans Johansson's The Medici Effect, James Kilts's Doing What Matters, Dean Spitzer's Transforming Performance Measurement, and Enterprise Architecture As Strategy co-authored by Jeanne W. Ross, Peter Weill, and David Robertson.

All Real Estate organziations struggle with driving dramatic change in their organizations, whether stemming from the challenges of supporting 4 generations under a single (physical or virtual) roof, dramatically reshaping a portfolio and costs or creating a stragety that aligns with the overall business strategy -- this is THE book for you. It's written with a relevant, direct approach and loaded with practical case studies that can easily be applied to your operations.

Creating Ever-Cool is must-read for marketers - especially for anyone marketing to kids.

Entertainment brands are often short-lived. As the title of the book suggests, there are ways to revitalize and sustain the life of a product or brand. Gene Del Vecchio's book gives you practical suggestions on how to do it.

Today's brand stewardship involves not only corporate ID, mission and vision statements, but also creating back stories that help consumers understand the brand in context. Nowhere is this more important than in marketing to children. In his chapter, "Develop Kid-Appealing Products" Gene provides matrices that help marketers create a story line for their products and brands. In cases where a story actually is the product or brand, as with film, video games, books, and many toys, his insights are invaluable.

As a marketing professional and former Ogilvy & Mather Creative Director, I've known Gene Del Vecchio for 20 years. He was the head of planning and research at the Ogilvy & Mather/LA office, and his expertise was often tapped by other Ogilvy offices - especially when a project involved kid marketing. I worked with him on major brands including Microsoft, Mattel, Pacific Bell, and Shell. His thinking played a major role in the development of advertising for the brands we worked on together. Creating Ever-Cool is a rare insight into the thinking of a brilliant marketer.

Creating Ever-Cool: A Marketer's Guide to a Kid's Heart

The author not only reveals important and interesting aspects of a child's psyche, but also gives you insights on how to use those aspects to make your products and brands "ever cool".

Are you looking for a secret formula to guide your kid focused marketing decisions? Gene Del Vecchio's book - "Creating Ever-Cool A Marketer's Guide to a Kid's Heart" is truly insightful. It is the closest thing to a secret formula that I've come across.

'Ever-Cool' is a book that answers a seemingly simple but actually quite complex question... Why do some brands in the kids marketplace remain the favorites of children year after year - generation after generation. Exactly what gives these brands their staying power? 'Ever-Cool' answers this question in a well written and entertaining style.

The book has 4 sections: 'The Introduction' , 'The Child's Psyche' , 'A Kid's World and Culture' and 'Marketing to a Child's heart'.

In 'The Child's Psyche' section Del Vecchio examines the timeless and underlying needs of childhood. From the differences between girls and boys, to their fears and fantasies.

'A Kid's World and Culture' investigates children in the world today. Their self awareness, shifting family structures, and universal (hopefully) experiences of childhood such as going to school, and living in the neighborhood. The 'Marketing to a Child's heart' section contains lots of advice and suggestions on how to utilize these insights.

I found the concept that there could be 'Kid Psyche Gaps' in the market place to be particularly intriguing. Del Vecchio explains it in the following way: Psyche Gaps are "that part of the child's psyche that is not currently being satisfied by a competitor" (pg. 221.) Clearly identifying what these gaps are and strategically developing a product to fill the gap is very sound marketing.

Another really cool part of this section is the 'Kids' Idea Matrix'. Del Vecchio provides a creative idea development aid that works in the following way: "By forcing our eyes to see relationships, we help our brains consider the ideas that are born from them. This can be accomplished with a system I call Matrixing a simple process of putting various categories of items in front of our eyes, side by side, in a fashion that will help us to easily mix and match them. The items we will force together are those that we have discussed throughout this book." (pg. 185) Del Vecchio essentially is showing us how to use his ideas.

Del Vecchio also briefly covers advertising, setting up a research program, and ethics. All in all I personally have no hesitation in recommending this book. I found it to be highly insightful and an enjoyable read.

This might be the most useful business book and the best book on kids that I've ever read.

Most business books have just a couple of points, mostly covered in the first chapter, and then drone on to fill the pages with expansions, slight additions, and examples. They should have been articles instead of books.

This book, however, is absolutely brimming with valuable information about the psyche of kids, chapter after chapter. It starts with ever-present needs; moves into fads; gender specific issues; age based issues; etc etc.

It draws on the authors extensive hands on experience at Ogilvy working with kids marketing. And his apparent research on child development and psychology.

This is an excellent, concise but information-packed book on reaching kids for marketers, product developers and even parents!

Short version: Buy this book now, and get it shipped to you overnight!

This book is the secret weapon for anyone who markets to kids or wants to. Gene Del Vecchio manages to make the subject entertaining and engaging while teaching you a pile of indispensible techniques to capture a kid's heart.

Not only does the book teach you how to market products better, it gets you thinking different. Suddenly, you're developing products and strategies with kids in mind, and you understand why certain products are big hits with kids.

Another funny thing about this book...it helps you to understand kids better. For readers with their own kids, this could be the greates value of all.

I am only a third of the way through the book and it has been very informative and easy to understand. I have never been able to grasp Crystal until I started reading this book. If you want to save yourself $1000 for training, buy this book.

I've only been working with Crystal for a few weeks but am already putting together some pretty decent reports. I could not have done it without this book. After such a short amount of time my copy is somewhat dog-eared and filled with yellow post it notes for quick reference to the things I need. It is open at my desk whenever I work with Crystal.

If you are a Crystal novice this book provides an excellent foundation for Crystal Reports. If you are an intermediate/advanced user there is plenty here for you as well. I especially like the financial twist the report provides since most of my reports are payroll, general ledger and accounts payable/receivable related.

The discussion forum associated with the book is also an excellent resource. I was "stuck" on a couple issues and was helped by both the author and other users on the forum.

Bischof's book is a complete, well-researched reference that quickly arms a novice Crystal Reports user with the techniques necessary to create sound, well-formatted financial (and other) reports. The appendix on Balance Statements and Income Statemens is a fabulous jump-start for those who must get up to speed quickly! If Crystal Reports is your platform for information delivery, this book belongs in your library.

The very clearly written style, REAL WORLD EXAMPLES!!!, and great technical content make this book a must have for Crystal Reports Development.

5 Stars

This is my first crystal report book and i can say this is the best crystal report book ever i found. Every chapters has a lot of Tutorials and Tips.

Have studied the Cayce Materials for over four decades -- along with many other metaphysical writers. Cayce was a trance medium who when in trance state contacted sources from the other side or overself.

This is an excellent reference. Cayce presented much data for the enrichment of self and this book shows the variety of his trance work.

His materials are not easily read -- for the subjects are complex ---and written in a style of English no longer used. But study of the data will make clear the subject.

I recommend the book highly....RR

As a third generation 'Cayceite', I spent the better part of two decades studying the Edgar Cayce Readings. I was a long-time member of a Cayce 'Search For God' study group, and for two years, a volunteer correspondent for the Cayce Foundation's (A.R.E.) Prison Outreach Program, and so my personal history with this material is extensive. But after circumstances compelled me to initiate an objective reexamination of my metaphysical teachers and their teachings, I arrived at a conclusion that forced me to back off and entrust my spiritual development exclusively to Bible study, prayer, meditation (and the Divine Guidance ensuing from these practices.)

To be sure, there is much information of great value within these pages. Cayce was a benevolent soul whose psychic readings helped bring physical healing to scores of people. This is documented fact and The Bible tells us 'a tree is known by its fruit' and a 'house divided will not stand.' (Matthew 12:25,33) THIS work was of God. In one reading (#1152-5) Cayce stated, 'DID YOUR LORD BLEED WHEN THE NAILS WERE DRIVEN IN HIS HANDS AND FEET? DID HE GIVE UP THE GHOST? DID HE DIE? YEA. FOR AS HE GAVE, WITHOUT HIS DEATH - YEA, WITHOUT HIS RESURRECTION - THERE IS NO HOPE IN MAN'S ESTATE.' And in another (#422-1) he said that spirits or entities must be tested: 'IN EACH EXPERIENCE ASK THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIFE, THE DEATH, THE RESURRECTION OF THE JESUS, THE CHRIST...OTHERWISE, GET THEE BEHIND ME, I WILL HAVE NO PART WITH THEE.' According to The Holy Bible (1st John 2:22; 4:1-3; 5:1) Cayce could not have made statements like these but by inspiration of The Holy Spirit. That the Light of God can be found in many of his readings is indisputable and clearly evident in this collection of excerpts which includes a valuable section on SPIRITUAL IDEALS and gems such as these: 'Why worry when ye may pray?' (#2981-1); 'You'll not be in Heaven if you're not leaning on the arm of someone you have helped.' (#3352-1); 'When individuals hold a grudge they are fighting the God within themselves against the God within the individual...towards whom such is held.' (#1304-1); and the EXCEEDINGLY IMPORTANT WARNING, '(In meditation) never open self...without surrounding self with the Spirit of The Christ, that ye may ever be guarded.' (#440-8)

The section on HUMOR is very brief, but it's a hoot! For example: 'Q: woulD it be better fOr the body to remain in bed without movinG about? A: It'll move when you give it the Castor Oil.' (#348-18); 'Q: How much better am I? A: 37.3%' (#567-4); 'Hide not skeletons in thine own closet, for they rattle when ye least expect them.' (#3246-1)

So, what's the problem then? Cayce's readings are NOT ALL correct and they sometimes originated from spiritual darkness! In reading #1472-14 he said, 'IT IS NOT MEANT THAT INFORMATION GIVEN THROUGH THIS CHANNEL SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AS BEING INFALLIBLE.' In #531-2 he posed the question, 'WHAT PREVENTS THE INFORMATION FROM ALWAYS BEING ACCURATE, OR BEING WHOLLY OF UNQUESTIONABLE NATURE?' before continuing on with an impossibly convoluted answer! This is YOUR spiritual development we're talking about here; no small matter! Do you REALLY trust your own judgement sufficiently to always be able to discern which of Cayce's readings are Divine and which are a demonic deception? MANY of his Earth changes prophecies have proven to be inaccurate. Jesus did not return in 1998 (#5748-5); The poles did not shift in 2000 or 2001 (#826-8), et al.

Yes, I know experientially that Cayce's 3-Day Apple Cleanse Diet is efficacious, and clearly he supernaturally gained insight into the anti-cancer vitamin B-17 content of (bitter) almonds (see #1158-31 and read WORLD WITHOUT CANCER by G. Edward Griffin and ALIVE AND WELL by Dr. Philip Binzel, Jr.) And yet, in another reading (#3180-3) he inexplicably makes the absurd statement that 'AN ALMOND A DAY IS MUCH MORE IN ACCORD WITH KEEPING THE DOCTOR AWAY...THAN APPLES. FOR THE APPLE WAS THE FALL, NOT THE ALMOND.' Not only does the apple have nothing whatsoever to do with the 'Fall' of mankind (the word 'apple' does not even appear in the entire book of Genesis), but in fact, apple seeds contain as much or more concentrated vitamin B-17 than bitter almonds did!!! (They are no longer available.)

In other readings (#1152-11 & #470-10) Cayce dubiously praises things that my independent studies have conclusively shown to be luciferian in nature! In #364-1 he says of Theosophical literature: 'AS TO WHETHER THIS INFORMATION IS TRUE OR NOT, DEPENDS UPON THE CREDENCE INDIVIDUALS GIVE TO THIS CLASS OF INFORMATION.' Is this not bovine excrement of the highest order? Can a less helpful and more noncommittal position be conceived?

Over the years I developed a theory to explain how Cayce's God-given Gift became polluted and why his 'HEALTH' readings are considerably more reliable than his 'LIFE' readings. But the bottom line is this: Do you really wish to risk the condition of your mind by trusting in these pages when a sincere appeal for (and faith in) The Father and Son's Guidance, serious Bible study, prayer and PROPER (!!!) meditation is all that's required in order to get you SAFELY where you want to be? Not to mention saving you $16.00 (See my Amazon guide titled, "So You'd Like To...DEVELOP A REaLATIONSHIP WITH GOD" Parts 1 Through 4.)

Naturally, it is for each person to decide just what course they wish to sail. I apologize for the unseemly length of this review, but I felt that this was important and that I ought to share my thoughts with you. Thanks for considering them.

HOSANNA!

This is one of my favorite books. It's curious to me how I come across in the review below, all those months ago. Since that writing, I have come a long way in my spirituality, and Edgar Cayce (and this book, quite truthfully) played an important role in that. This book is comprised of Cayce's readings and covers a broad array of topics. It is engrossing. I have it on my nightstand and reference it often. Still.

I am no longer worried about my past fundamentalism. I am, however, still stoking the fire ignited by my interest in Cayce, and spurred on by this book. I truly would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject of PSI or the man himself.

Peace.

Coming from a very apocalyptic religious background, I was fearful to even open this book. I knew when ordering it that it would deal with such "heretical" concepts as past lives. However, I am so very glad I purchased it! This companion quotes directly from Cayce's readings, and at length, but not simply on past lives. There is poignant affirmation and revelation pertaining to God, soul development, reincarnation, death and life, soul mates, Jesus, even nutrition. I would be lying if I did not admit that this book testified to something deep within me. Simply seemed logical, each page, and as a result, so freeing!

I am not asserting that all things proceeding from Cayce's mouth are infallible---I'm too much of a Cacye novice to say anything of the sort. But his beliefs, concepts and practical applications certainly add some much-needed "gray" to the harsh black and white mentality of today's religions. How foolish it is to actually believe that God, in his infinite grandeur, can be contained in entirety within the confines of the Bible! Common sense, as well as resources such as this particular companion, will open the eyes of anyone longing to explore spiritual truths and lead richer, fuller lives. I enjoyed this book immensely and would recommend it to anyone truly seeking something more, something real, something eternal.

Buy This Book and you'll not regret it!

Also,I feel obligated to comment on a Reviewer's quote from a Cayce reading and stated "Cayce's readings are NOT ALL correct and they sometimes originated from spiritual darkness!"

The quote he inserted was not in its' entirety such as in where he, the reveiwer states, "In reading #1472-14 he (Cayce) said", ('IT IS NOT MEANT THAT INFORMATION GIVEN THROUGH THIS CHANNEL SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AS BEING INFALLIBLE.')

I felt that in all fairness it should be read and taken as intended for the recipient it (the reading) was given to, so therefore I have included the entire two paragraphs from the reading itself, that pertain to this particular EC quote.

(Q) As far as I know I followed all instructions given me through this source in all former Rdgs. and would therefore be grateful to be told why I received no help through the information, that I may now correct the cause of former failures in order to make this Rdg. and the advice it offers more effective.

(A) Because they didn't do what was indicated to be done! It was not always the fault of the body, [1472]. Mostly it was because of the manner in which administrations were made by others. These as we find are the faults, if faults they be.

It is not meant that information given through this channel should be interpreted as being infallible, but these are the conditions existent as viewed from the condition of the individual entity.

The interpreting of the information in the minds of others, as well as the manner in which the individual entity is influenced by others - by their material or physical knowledge, does not imply that the information given is incorrect. But it does imply that if these are met under certain other administrations, and done in the same manner and attitude that the information may be given, there may be produced a oneness - and response in its own kind.
READING 1472-14

Again the same reviewer wrote: In #531-2 he posed the question, 'WHAT PREVENTS THE INFORMATION FROM ALWAYS BEING ACCURATE, OR BEING WHOLLY OF UNQUESTIONABLE NATURE?' before continuing on with an impossibly convoluted answer! This is YOUR spiritual development we're talking about here; no small matter! Do you REALLY trust your own judgement sufficiently to always be able to discern which of Cayce's readings are Divine and which are a demonic deception?

Below is the two paragraphs from the original reading. And if read accurately with an open heart and mind, it will and does make perfect sense. Of course if one were 'looking' for evil, then they shall certainly find it somewhere within their own mind, even if it doesn't truely exist, but I have yet to find any so-called "demonic deception" in any of Cayce's readings....Ever! And I have encountered nothing of this "spiritual darkness' that was spoken of by the reviewer and have lost nothing from my own personal 'indepth' studies of the readings except a portion of my own selfish nature, in which is a blessing.

EC reading 531-2:

The soul of the seeker being passive, and the soul of the individual through whom information comes being positive (as the physical is subjugated into unconsciousness) goes out on the forces that are in activity by being guided by suggestion to that individual place of the seeker. And the souls commune one with another.

9. Then, it is asked, what prevents the information from always being accurate, or being wholly of unquestionable nature? The fact that such information must be interpreted in material things. And that then depends upon how well the training of the physical-mental self is in picturizing, visualizing and wording that which takes place in such a communion.
READING 531-2

Quote: MANY of his Earth changes prophecies have proven to be inaccurate. Jesus did not return in 1998 (#5748-5); The poles did not shift in 2000 or 2001 (#826-8), et al.

These are not inacurate! These are wrong 'only' according to an individuals own personal interpretaion or in this case 'mis-interpretation'.

Jesus did return in 1998, the proof is in the spirtual awakening that has occurred world-wide since 1998.

The poles 'are' shifting right now and there are plenty of 'scientific evidence' and articles to back this up.

If you want to grow spiritually and want to understand lifes real purposes, then adding "The Edgar Cayce Companion: A Comprehensive Treatise of the Edgar Cayce Readings" to your collection is a must!

Please, there are many Edgar Cayce critics out there that have tried (in vain) to defame this spritual God-loving individual, all because of the selfish deceptions of ignorance. Please do yourself a favour, buy this book and keep it along side the greatest book of all, your Bible, It is an worthy companion and helpmeet in your search for True enlightenment.

What's new under the sun? Nothing really. Everything that holistic health is preaching this day was given 80 years ago by Edgar Cayce. And some great ideas that science hasn't figured out yet. Why wait another 80 years to get the whole story. Read this book now.

Only gave it 3 stars since I didnt read the whole book. But I recommend it,very helpful

The services were flawless - everything arrived in great shape and timely.

This is one of the best books on natural remedies. Easy to read too. Comprehensive. It has remedy ideas for almost all ailments; formulas that nowadays are proven true. And most important, ideas to keep oneself healthy, to prevent sickness. A must have for anyone's library and reference.

This is a wonderful book on how to use the Cayce trance suggestions to maintain a healthy body. The first time I bought it, it happened to arrive while I was suffering with a terrible flu that was going around my community. At the time, my one-month-old baby was being breastfed. I realized I couldn't afford to be sick again with a newborn depending on me, especially since it's not recommended to take medicines while breastfeeding. I also felt wretched because of the painful head pains associated with this particular flu. You can imagine how motivated I was to get and maintain a healthy body.

I began to follow the suggestions in the book immediately--switching to an alkaline-reacting diet, and as soon as I was well enough, incorporating the exercises suggested in the book. These included specific exercises for the morning and others before bed. With two small children, there were many nights I just wanted to crawl in bed, but I kept up with the exercise program even though I was often very tired.

Amazingly, when the next round of flu went through the community, the other members of my family suffered with it but the baby and I sailed through without any symptoms whatsoever. The suggestions in the book, based on Cayce's trance source as put into use by Reilly's expertise as a top-notch physiotherapist, worked!

There's much more in this book than diet and nutrition. There's also the famous Cayce castor oil packs and mixtures of oils for massage recommended for ailments such as arthritis. There's suggestions for increasing beauty and prolonging life.

I like that Reilly quotes from many of the actual Cayce readings and that the publisher included the number of the readings. Many books about Cayce, such as The Edgar Cayce Remedies, which I also like because it is written by a doctor, refer to the Cayce readings but seldom quote them and if they do, they neglect to add the reading number.

Today, it is so easy for members of Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. to look up the readings online that I appreciate the reading numbers if I want to consult the rest of the psychic reading.

Reilly was recommended by Cayce in his psychic readings. Reilly thought that Cayce must be a doctor because his diagnoses and physiotherapy suggestions were so accurate. You can imagine Reilly's surprise when he discovered that Cayce was not a doctor but a psychic.

Reilly is a real authority. He trained many physiotherapists and massage therapists. Edgar Cayce's A.R.E.'s health facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia is named for him and Cayce.

If you want to know how to do many of the therapies suggested in the Cayce readings, this is the book for you. If want to understand Cayce and Reilly's insights into the workings of the body, get this book. If you prefer to keep healthy instead of cure illness, you need this book.

By Carol Chapman, award-winning photographer of the ONLY Edgar Cayce calendar Divine in Nature: With Quotes from Edgar Cayce and author of When We Were Gods: Insights on Atlantis, Past Lives, Angelic Beings of Light and Spiritual Awakening.

With no footnotes, no jargon, no namedropping and (almost) no mathmatics, this book clears all the conceptual underbrush away from the foundations of the social and behavioral sciences. Reading it was like watching an intellectual kung fu master in a rapid-fire series of celebrity deathmatches. As soon as Elster has dispatched Milton Friedman (Whup-POW!), he moves on to Steven Jay Gould. He chops ideas up into neat 10-page sections, says what he has to say, then cracks his knuckles and moves on. He does this so effortlessly that I found myself scratching my head ("how did I not see this before?") at the end of each section. It's not exactly fun - the reading can be dense - but it can be thrilling to simply feel the dust and cobwebs shoot out of your ears. I learned more in 500 pages than in 6 years of undergraduate survey courses. Highly, highly recommended.

If you are absolutely anyone; an undergraduate student, a postgraduate student, a researcher, a Social Science scientist, or anyone from any field of life; who is just interested in knowing a few intricacies of the studies in rationality and subversions of rationality, collective behaviour of people, human rational and irrational behaviour and so on, but in a *SIMPLE* manner, read this one... One of the absolute best books on rationality/irrationality, available in the world of Social Sciences. Other than this, "Sour Grapes" by Elster and a couple of other books by Sen, Arrow, Coleman and others, are a MUST read for a comprehensive understanding of the subject of rational choice, individual interests, collective action and public-choice theory...

A must read... go for it.

Subhasish Ghosh
University of Oxford
9th Feb 2006

For the past forty years, Jon Elster has attempted to explain things ranging from the emotions to technological change. The result is dozens of books (and even more papers) in three languages across four universities. And throughout, his work has not just been exemplary social science, but has always struggled with the question of what social science _should be_ -- what kinds of explanations are legitimate, which techniques should be used, and so on.

As he reaches his late sixties, it is understandable if he begins to think of his legacy. That certainly would help explain his latest book, _Explaining Social Behavior: More Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences_ (Cambridge University Press, 2007), a 500-page masterpiece that I expect will be seen as the summation of a brilliant career.

It's a book unlike any other and, as a result, unless read from start to finish can seem bizarre, if only because one has little sense of what the book is trying to do. It is not a guidebook, or a textbook, or a piece of social science in itself. In short, it is nothing less than an attempt to summarize an idealized vision of the whole of social science in simple language.

The book's foundational assumption (as implied by its title) is that the goal of social science is to discover explanations for social phenomena. It begins by describing what explanations are and discussing their different forms. But the bulk of the book consists of tools that can be used in explanations: emotions, norms, time discounting, weakness of will, magical thinking, cognitive dissonance, heuristics and biases, rationality, irrationality, neuroscience, evolution, externalities, game theory, pluralistic ignorance, informational cascades, collective action, cyclical preferences, institutions, etc. -- in short, the entire toolkit of the social sciences.

Just as amazing as the breadth topics is the way in which they're covered. Elster explains each phenomenon clearly and concisely, so that any educated reader can understand them with little effort, without ever sacrificing intellectual depth. His explanations are peppered with examples from an amazing variety of sources: ancient history, recent history, personal experience, the classics of social science (e.g. Tocqueville), the great philosophers (Montaigne, Pascal, Mill), and classic novelists (e.g. Proust). The result is a book which not just introduces readers to the discoveries of the social sciences but to the intellectual world as a whole. Bibliographical notes following each chapter as well as the conclusion provide a rich guide for further exploration.

And yet it's not simply a compendium of interesting results in the social sciences, but attempts to defend a particular conception of what the social sciences should be. In the conclusion, Elster defends his notion of social science as the attempt to discover particular explanations for particular phenomena against the "soft obscurantism" of the literary theorists and the "hard obscurantism" of the economists. As part of this, he turns his back on the notion of rational-choice models being an explanation in themselves, noting that their many assumptions are in desperate need of empirical defense.

In response to an earlier draft of this review, Elster wrote "I'm glad you appreciate the details in my book, but you're missing the big picture, which is that there isn't any." Instead of trying to build a Grand Theory which explains all of social life, we should try to build explanations of particular phenomena from the nuts and bolts we have lying around. And "even if a dominant explanation of a given event or episode is discarded and then resurrected, the building blocks or mechanisms at work in the discarding and resurrection remain. The repertory, or the size of the toolbox, does not shrink."

For anyone who cares about social science, Elster has done an amazing service in clearly describing the toolbox's contents and defending its importance.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Nuts and Bolts is its accessibility. The language is clear and not overly technical, and despite the excessive use of footnotes the text flows and facilitates understanding.
Elster gives us mechanisms, or nuts and bolts, to help us explain and understand complex social behavior and organization. This work is invaluable as an introduction to the social sciences, but it is not limited to the student or the specialist (of which I am neither). Elster does not make the mistake that countless other social scientists have made in falling for fixed rules and materialistic thinking; instead, he displays great wisdom in knowing the limits of the social sciences while at the same time being an eloquent advocate for rational choice and the development of a greater scientific understanding of human society.

I read this book twice. The first time, I thought that it was excellent, the best compendium of ideas of social science by arguably the best thinker in the field. I took copious notes, etc. I agreed with its patchwork-style approach to rational decision making. I knew that it had huge insights applicable to my refusal of general theories [they don't work], rather limit ourselves to nuts and bolts [they work].
Then I started reading it again, as the book tends to locate itself by my bedside and sneaks itself in my suitcase when I go on a trip. It is as if the book wanted me to read it. It is what literature does to you when it is at its best. So I realized why: it had another layer of depth --and the author distilled ideas from the works of Proust, La Rochefoucault, Tocqueville, Montaigne, people with the kind of insights that extend beyond the ideas, and that makes you feel that a reductionist academic treatment of the subject will necessary distort it [& somehow Elster managed to combine Montaigne and Kahneman-Tversky]. So as an anti-Platonist I finally found a rigorous treatment of human nature that is not Platonistic --not academic (in the bad sense of the word).
Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The prologue explains the use of this book very well and I've found it works best when used in that way. This book is a sort of stimulus for prayer and once the words begin flowing its easy to put the book down and continue my conversation with my higher power. But for the times when you just can't find the words to say or are just too exhausted to articulate your feelings this is an awesome compilation of prayers!!

It's worth having as it is but it's not the classic that it might have been. A hardcover edition with the prayers in Hebrew with transliteration, as well as the fine English translation contained in this book, would have been made this book a classic. To my knowledge the book I describe does not exist but it should. We need it! Publishers take note!

These are a collection of beautiful prayers in English. I would look forward to a Hebrew with transliteration version in the future.

A well-written book of prayers, especially one meant to be carried on one's person, is worth its weight in gold. Unfortunately, all too many of them are about as inspirational as a dime store greeting card. Either that or they're so sectarian as to be of limited use generally.

It was with some lack of expectation, therefore, that I purchased a copy of THE GENTLE WEAPON. Much to my surprise it was the one book of prayers that succeeded at being intelligent, inspiring, and -- while unabashedly theistic -- theologically sophisticated.

I found only one prayer to be questionable: "...everything that happens to me... is an expression of Your everlasting love, and Your concern for my ultimate good." I prefer Reb Noson's prayer: "You send hidden messages to each person, in every situation, to bring him or her closer to Your service, in accordance with the place, the time, and the individual." So when I read "an expression of" I substitute: "embraced by."

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for meaningful and compelling language for personal prayer.

This little collection is a selection of prayers from one of the great teachers of Hasidut Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Rebbe Nachman said " When you pray, hold nothing back from God. Pour out your heart with honest openness as if you were speaking to your very best friend. "
The element of non- fixed prayer of what is called hiboddedut of being alone with God for part of each day was practiced and perfected by Rebbe Nahman.
Each of the prayers is a kind of meditation which can help the person think about their own situation and relation to God. And this when the Hebrew word ( tefilah) has in it the meaning of self- reflection and examination in moving closer to God.
I believe that these prayers can inspire and help in many different situations .There are prayers on ' loss' and on' arrogance' and on 'living to the fullest ' and on ' joy' and on ' healing ' and on ' crying and sighing' and on ' true nourishment' and on ' giving' and on much much more.
A wonderful little book to take with one everywhere, and from time to time dip in, for inspiration and spiritual strengthening.

History writers often fail at the task of presenting great stories in an interesting, organized and readable form. Todd Tucker has not failed in this account of a little-known chapter in the great story of World War II. He presents the work of Dr. Ancel Keys, a University of Minnesota scientist who used the unique combination of circumstances presented by the availability of volunteer conscientious objectors, military funding and the looming famine in Europe to study the multiple effects of starvation.

The success of the book is the easy flow of the story of the men who starved for science and the background of the times. The reader is informed of the history of pacifism, the politics of promoting democracy in Europe, the state of research ethics, and the backdrop of the war while following the personal stories of the men in the study. This a case of great editing.

It becomes clear that a similar study of starvation could not be done today. Perhaps the biggest reason is that it would be difficult to find a group that possessed the motivation, dedication, and altruism that these men displayed.

The Great Starvation Experiment is a great read! The doctor and the men involved were courageous. The contribution that these men and Dr. Keys made to mankind and science is amazing. It had to be very hard to do what they did; starve themselves and watch what happened.

The author delivers the story of this experiment with an intelligent writing style. He covers the scientific and ethical reasons for reasons for the experiment. The personal stories of the men (guinea pigs) makes their experience come to life for the reader. There is humor and sadness.
Starvation has always been a threat to man. It is interesting to see starvation faced head on - on purpose!

I recommend this book to anyone interested in history, medicine, nutrition, science, conscientious objectors or WWII.

As an alumnus from the Univesity of Minnesota, it was incredibly interesting to see how my alma mater factored into this important research. I heard whispers of this story while in school at the U, but never enough to be able to piece the entire story together. I couldn't put this book down! Plus, it was fun to be able to read about what the campus was like during this period of American History.

Nope it's not about anorexia, but it is fascinating! All manner of details about hunger, calorie restrictions, who loses weight, who doesn't, and why! This study, run by Dr. Alan Keys (who also invented the K ration) is the seminal (and only) work on human starvation. This book is its story and the story of the men who participated to make the study possible. As someone who is firmly opposed to the taking of any life I can relate to the characters motivations and be inspired by their perserverence.

Mr. Tucker does a wonderful job of bringing all the characters to life. One stylistic trick I really enjoyed was his blending of characters' colorful descriptions right into the authors narrative so that for a moment the narrative becomes an illustration of the attitude of the person being discussed.

Highly Recomended

-Ian

Tucker writes a history story as well and Ambrose or Bradley (Flyboys and Flags of Our Fathers). This little known WW2 story is one I could not put down.