Services Books

I received the book promptly and it is in wonderful condition. No complaints, would do business again.

I really enjoyed Anna Mindess's book Reading between the signs. I thought it was very informative and had read it once before when I first started taking ASL and didn't really understand it all that much but as of now I've been taking ASL for almost two years and have a better understanding and appreciatition for the Deaf and it's culture and the difference between the Deaf and the hearing world. What a great book for people who are just starting to take ASL and want to be come active in the Deaf community and one day maybe persue a career with it

This book entitled "Reading Between the Signs: Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters (2nd edition)" is the most indepth study of cultural mediation that I have ever seen. Anna Mindness does a wonderjul job of helping an interpreter to see where communication barriers exist, and then explain how to bridge those gaps. Why are cultures different? What is cultural mediation? How do you convey a message between conflicting cultures? What tools can effective interpreters use to empower the clients we serve toward better communication when obstacles exist? After reading this book, I found myself making adjustments in interpreting, and was able to see positive results in terms of faithfully communicating source language messages to the recipients. If one reads this book, and applies the principles learned toward their work, it will assist in making them a better interpreter, and ultimately a better communicator between cultures. I highly recommend this book to others and express my thanks to the author for putting the elements of intercultural communication together in one great volume.

i guess i expected this book to have pictures of signing for some reason...i don't know, but once i started to read it i saw how informative it is. i like the book a lot and i believe that Anna Mindess knows what she's writing about. if you want to understand the deaf culture more and are determined to become an interpreter, i think this book is essential.

In order to understand deaf culture, you need to understand what is standard American culture and then see how it contrasts with deaf culture. Anna Mindess does an excellent job of comparing and contrasting these cultures, with references to cultures from all over the world. She includes insights from respected Deaf members. This is an easy read, not a difficult textbook. I read this with many lightbulbs going "aha". She delves into values, presentation styles, and politeness in both worlds. She provides scenarios with cross cultural perspectives in the doctors' office and the job interview. I have a new understanding of myself as a hearing American and a new appreciation for the cross cultural obstacles that deaf people must face.

This book was so good I couldn't put it down the sex,pain and love was great I sat at the end of my bed reading this book its like i could see it unfold right before my eyes so for that I say thanks Risque I cant wait for the next one.

Kenyatta Smith is the mayor of New York City. His wife, Monday is left trying to figure out whether she wants to stay or leave her marriage to Kenyatta. After countless affairs and children outside of the marriage she is not sure how much more she can take. When Kenyatta is caught in more lies and is accussed of murder, she really doesn't know how much more she is willing to take.

Collyn Bazemore, is the beautiful madam who Kenyatta solicits the high price call girls he has been cheating on his wife with. When Kenyatta is unable to attend an important meeting with Collyn he sends Blessing a friend of his in replacement. Sparks fly between the two of them and they are caught up in a whirl wind romance, but what Collyn doesn't know is that Blessing has a secret of his own.

Risque is the Queen of Erotica. The pages are so steamy from the sex scenes, although I felt there was a little too much sex but still she is a master at writing these erotic scenes. I thought this was a really good read.

I just knew this book was gonna be good. And believe me Risque did not dissapoint. It started out good and ended with me waiting more. Kenyatta deserved eveything he got. He was to arrogant and treated Monday Like sh** half the time. But yet she stood by his side as he told lie after lie, until she got tired of him.I was hoping she went back to Mehki. He just seemed so protective of her. Collyn and Bless were just something else. I had my fingers crossed just hoping they got back together at the end. and of course they did. It just wouldn't have been right if they didn't. Through out the book I was pointing my finger at the wrong person thinking they had kelt Eve. Was I ever wrong on that part. Over all the book was great. I can't wait for the next one by Risque.

Kenyatta Jackson is the mayor of New York City and has a beautiful, intelligent and dedicated wife in Monday Jackson. His endless stream of adulterous affairs are a constant problem within their marriage and creates an even bigger threat when one scandalous night of scalding, hot sex leaves one of his paramours missing.

Manhatten madame, Collyn Bazemore, owns an exclusive art gallery, but also provides upscale call girls that cater to the socially elite freaks and their wicked fetishes. After meeting the mysterious, yet sinfully sexy Blessing Shields, the cautious and usually poised Collyn is left breathless , flustered, and sexually aroused. Blessing and Collyn begin a war of words, while their hearts and bodies are sparring to a different tune.

Kenyatta Jackson happens to be one of her Collyn's best customers, and is somehow connected with the disappearance of his favorite sideline ho, Eve Johnson. He fervently denies any association after her news worthy disappearance. A curious Monday begins her own investigation and crashes into Mekhi Davis, Kenyatta's attorney, and a lover in her past.

Risque' has skillfully articulated another masterpiece that transcends the readers from their lives into the pages of this suspenseful erotic novel. Red Light Special hypnotizes you with murder, risque' sex play, betrayal, political scandals, and insanity overlaid with pure brilliance. Risque's creativity is remarkably splendid and she enchants you as she develops an exciting and exhilarating relationship between the readers (or should I say junkies, you know who you are...lol) and characters with each fast paced read. Magnificente my dear!!! Pure genius!!!

This book was sooo good. I loved Kenyatta, the man with me magic stick. I read this book in a day, because I could not put it down. I did not think she could come back with anything that would be as good the Sweetest Taboo, but she did it again. This book was hot,like fire. I want to give my girl a hand, because she is bad. I can't wait until her next book.

I used to work in WTC building #7 until I moved to LA about a year before 9/11. I never felt so out of place as I did for a few weeks after 9/11 as I watched the recovery and clean-up efforts from Ground Zero from California. I wanted to know everything I could which is of course impossible unless you were there. This book gives you incredible insight to the bravery, courage, strength and gut-wrenching horrors of those who were there to find, clean-up and recover.

This is absolutely a great book, probably the best one for getting you into ground zero and feeling what they felt, to as great of an extent as you can. I don't quite understand all of the [---] he uses, for example, "the [firefighters] started down Vessey". Is he just trying something new? I don't care though, I have never read a book that is as honest and makes you feel like your fighting the fires with dennis more then his series of books. Great job!

A very readable, moving book that adds still more to the memory-bank of September 11, 2001. The book is divided into two sections: 9/11 itself and the first months afterward, recounted day by day. Most of the second section is Smith's own experiences, with fewer "interviews" with others; however, this doesn't take away from the power of the work.

One peeve is that Smith too often refers to his previous work "Report from Engine Co. 82" in terms of whether or not people were aware of it--including incredulity that a police officer guarding the crime scene a few days afterwards didn't know. However, he writes some of the best descriptions of a profession, any profession, that I have ever read: "...to me it was always the best responsibility to have in a fire--to be on my stomach and to have the officer and the men shouting, 'That's it, you got it, move in, a little more, get the ceiling, get the ceiling, watch the windows, you got it now...".

One quote from an Assistant Chief of Department captures how quickly people forget--from November 5, 2001: "They came down to the World Trade Center in fire trucks and we should not let them leave in dump trucks." Five years later, don't forget all of those who did not leave that day the way they started it.

It's hard to not give this book a 5-star rating because I was moved in many places and I'm so grateful for the sacrifice of the firemen on 9/11. This book opened my eyes in many ways to their ultimate sacrifice and their continued efforts to honor their own.

I do think, however, that this could have been edited a bit better. The aftermath section (which is about half of the book) seems repetitive to me and thus, not quite as powerful as the earlier section. Also, I found it strange that there was no mention of the crash of flight 587 on November 12th, 2001. Mr. Smith records that on that day he was in a meeting with Mayor Guilliani and other firemen about their role at ground zero. He focused on this day for several pages and failed to mention that 250+ people perished in a NY neighborhood aboard that flight and everyone initially suspected terrorism as the cause of the crash. This omission, perhaps, would have been more understandable had he not mentioned 11/12/01 at all, but there is a whole section for that day and certainly this crash was on his mind, since it did indeed involve firemen.

Overall, I recommend this book.

"Report from Ground Zero: The Story of the Rescue Efforts at the World Trade Center" by Dennis Smith provides a poetic-journalistic look at a tragedy which still continues to shake America. You'll find the book stronger in intensity than many of the photographic collections of September 11, 2001.

Why? Dennis Smith was a fireman who understood tragedy from an experienced viewpoint. Like all of us, he saw the worst of humankind crash into the World Trade Center. Then, he saw the best of humankind enter those same buildings to save the victims.

Now, three years later, after many in America have preferred to see terrorism as a political event and not one of evil and hate, it is important to remember the violent images, and the tender responses to the hurting and scared. America was in one its greatest moments in those torrid days, and we should never forget.

Smith's descriptions are more than photo-realistic versions of what he saw, but brings forth the anguish and passion, and the smell of wet ash and burning debris. Smith manages to connect with the reader beyond the hype and politics. You will not be able to read this unaffected.

The people in the high-rises, on the planes, and the policemen and fireman all were real people. Even the foolish young men who hijacked the planes, the ones who believe Bin Laden -- all real people who died for another man's lie. Smith draws out the real, draws out the essence as well as the actual accounts of the awful events.

I fully recommend "Report from Ground Zero: The Story of the Rescue Efforts at the World Trade Center" by Dennis Smith.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

'Robyn's Book' is a collection of short stories, anecdotes and reflections on being a young person with cystic fibrosis. Miller essays many of the aspects of life, from being a frightened teenager in the hospital to coping with chronic disease in college, with a bright, clear, descriptive eye. Many of the chapters are loving tributes to friends who succumbed to CF and other illnesses; others offer her responses to letters from readers.

I read this book back in high school, when I was researching cystic fibrosis; I came across it again a few years ago on Amazon and decided to buy a copy. I'm glad I did, as it appears to be out of print now. This is a shame, because it's a wonderful read and a touching tribute to a talented young writer.

I read this book ten years ago, and I still am touched by it today. It was one of the best works I have ever read - which I did through one day without ever wanting to put this down. This book isn't just about a sick girl with c.f - its about life. It makes you think and cry.

Robyn Miller died of cystic fibrosis at the age I am at now...with years of medical research, we are now to the point where people with Robyn's illness, have a median life age of 30. Robyn's essays about living with a life-threatening illness open your eyes to what your life might have been like, if you had spent a large part of your young life in hospitals, watching as friends, older and younger than you, died of the same disease your body continues to fight.
Her short stories are well written, but as I am a person with CF as well, my main focus was on her essays. A good book all around. God bless Robin, for knowing she was blessed.

A really wonderful book, Robyn has a beautiful gift. As Niel Glixon said, "everyone needs a friend like Robyn

This is defenetly a great book that really gets you thinking about how lucky you are if you're healthy. I had never even heard about cystic fibrosis before I read this. It has defenitly been an eye opener to what else is out there. This book is very good for anyone especially someone with cf or any other desease.

If you have ever had to care for a loved one, no matter the circumstances, this book is a must-read! I was touched by Tom's descriptive and humorous style...one minute I was laughing and the next I was crying. In a very special way, Tom makes his readers a part of his family's journey and gives a unique perspective on caregiving.

Once I started to read Rosie John, I couldn't put it down. It brought tears to my eyes, and at times I was laughing out loud. It brought back so many memories of my childhood.

The author shares poignant stories of joy, guilt, grief, and the importance of continuing a legacy of memories. He paints an endearing and honest portrait of his family, allowing a glimpse into the this very personal journey many of us share. "Rosie John" is an easy read with "laugh out loud" moments. This book is a sure source of encouragement and guidance for anyone in the eldercare journey. A great resource to have in your family library.

A tender and loving journal of the many emotional phases that we as children go through caring for our aging parents. The book is an easy read as Tom shares his experiences that many of us can relate to. The book brings great comfort knowing we "baby boomers" are not alone and there are many resources to guide us.

This book was wonderful. It took you on a journey of laughter, tears, and sadness - much like life. If you ever wanted to see into the future of what life will be like with your aging parents, this is the book. It was an enlightening and touching story. Loved every minute and an easy read.

I absolutely adored this book. The story of Sam is amazing, compelling, and most of all, humbling. Since reading it four years ago, I have found myself looking more for the good things of life instead of finding tiny, unimportant details to criticize. In that, I can truly say this book was life-changing for me. Sam, wherever you are, I hope that you are well and happy. You are a role model for us all with your courage and point of view!

This book is an excellent reading assignment for a student who thinks they want to be a doctor, especially a pediatrician or surgeon. It is a good choice to use in differentiating the curriculum for a gifted student in a regular health occupations classroom. My students enjoyed it very much.

This is the extraordinary story of Sam Lightner, a boy who showed me more about beauty and courage than anyone I've ever known. He has the toughness and persistence of any *ten* adults, and his parents and brother and sister are simply angels. The author's top-notch reporting and soulful writing make for an enlightening read.

I'm usually more of a "library rat" than a book buyer, but this is one book I'm adding to my personal collection. Read Sam's amazing story, and pass it on to your family and friends.

This story will touch your heart in an incredibe way! The author reaches inside you and grabs your heart, in order to take you from the day of his birth, when Sam's problems started, though his recovery process, after his surgery. The book is so well written and it invites you to view Sam's experiences in an up-close and personal way. If you want to learn about what life really means, or if you have a teenager that feels self-conscious, read this. This book makes you realize that inspiration can come from anywhere and that you should count your blessings and be happy for what God has given you. Learn from Sam and live.

Sam Lightner was born with a horribly deforming vascular tumor on the left side of his face that was so disfiguring and otherworldly that an adult at a Halloween party complimented for his marvelous costume. This is the kind of situation that Sam has lived with since he was an infant - the stares, the laughter, the shock, the misunderstandings. If any story teaches the lesson of appreciating a person's heart rather than his appearance, it is this one.

Sam was born with a large vascular tumor on the left side of his place that progressively compromised not only his appearance but also his basic vital functions including breathing and eating. It took a few courageous physicians to treat his condition. Drs. Marler and Mulleken at Boston Children's and Dr. Wehby in Portland are a few of the doctors that enabled Sam to have a fighting chance. What makes this book such a compelling read is not only the heroics of Sam's physicians but the courage of Sam and his family. Hallman delivers Sam's struggle to fit in with such an emotional impact that I had to quit reading the book in parts to take a breather. Sam's family is portrayed as truly remarkable, and their handling of Sam's problems is a lesson to be learned by all.

Unfortunately, the book leaves us hanging (not the author's fault) because Sam's story is not finished. He most likely will undergo further plastic surgery to shape his face, and he may undergo additional operations if his tumor returns.

Hopefully, this book can teach us a little about how to give respect to those like Sam who need support rather than the stares we often give them.

Superb "tough love" analysis of the way commercialization of healthcare has driven behavior predictably towards financial rewards while perpetuating disparities in access and quality of care and severely eroding the primary care workforce necessary for rational care for our next generation. Dr. Relman candidly acknowledges that correction of these patterns will cause some financial hurt to entrepreneurial physicians and physicians in highly remunerative procedural niches, as well as the familiar bogeymen of the for-profit commercial insurance companies and profit-driven hospitals. If physicians fail to take active, participatory leadership in the necessary corrections, a blunt and clumsy governmental change process will likely be necessary.

This topic is very much needed in the U.S. at this time. Each of the Presidential candidates should read it.

Dr. Relman calls for health care reform based on prepaid group practices, regulated and paid by the federal government. His objective, gradually developed in Chapters 1 through 4, is high quality health care for everyone at reasonable cost. In Chapter 5, he offers ideas on how prepaid group practices might best work. Nowhere, however, does he provide an organized case for this approach to reform, comparing it point-by-point with pertinent alternatives, citing evidence to show who benefits and who suffers and how much, under different alternatives.

Dr. Relman offers more a personal memoir than a policy analysis. His data are mostly broad-brush points and big-bucket numbers offered in editorial mode: "I reject," "I agree," "I believe" and "I envision." From a writer as eminent as Dr. Relman, that might be tolerated for an introduction and a postscript, but the book goes on in such a vein for 175 pages.

Dr. Relman probably has some sense of how his program might be achieved. However, Chapter 6 of the book comes down to this: elect more Democrats and appeal to the moral conscience of physicians (as he tries to do in Chapter 8). As he clearly knows, there have been times when we had more Democrats in office and times when we had a more vigorous climate of concern among physicians, but we still got little progress.

Dr. Relman's objectives appear worthy, and his approach to reform may be reasonable, but someone else will need to make the case. It will probably take a longer book, certainly one that is more focused and critical.

This is a step in the right direction, but faces massive opposition from the insurance, pharmaceutical, medical device and hospital administration segments that are profiting from the present situation. But the excess money that goes to them could easily fund the uninsured. And then we need to recognize that there is at present absolutely no incentive in the present system to save money. But we'll need to re-train an army of insurance clerks and their managers to start working for the good of patients instead of the good of their employers and their stockholders. Doable with the Relman prescription? Maybe. Certainly better than simply throwing more government cash at the present players.

Dr. Relman begins by asserting that America's health care system is much too expensive and its costs are rising at an unsustainable rate. Further, care is not available to many who need it most, and it is provided inefficiently and with highly variable quality.

By most measures of national health we rank well below many other advanced countries that spend less. Why is this? Dr. Relman believes it is due to the extent that private enterprise governs insurance and the provision of care, rather than public regulation and social need. Dr. Relman also sees physicians as too often part of the problem - in the U.S. they are more specialized, more likely to be paid on a fee-for-service basis, and more likely to have financial interests in facilities and products than their counterparts in other western countries.

Dr. Relman provides data comparing costs and outcomes from for-profit vs. not-for-profit entities. A 1997 study covering all acute-care hospitals found total hospital expenses/admission 10% higher in for-profits (administrative costs were 34% of the total, vs. 25% for non-profits; however, the for-profits provided less in-house clinical personnel. Thus, it is also not surprising that a 2002 study pooling all published data found the risk of patient death 2% higher in the for-profit hospitals.

Similarly, a 1999 published study of dialysis units found mortality rates 20% higher in for-profits, as well as the likelihood of being placed on a transplantation list 26% lower (would end the center's revenues). Prior studies also found lower expenditures on care within the for-profits.

Most nursing home payments are from standardized, per-diem Medicaid rates. A 1998 survey found for-profits with 40% more serious care violations than non-profits. Investor-owned insurance plans take 10-25% of premiums, vs. 5-10% for non-profits and only 3% for Medicare.

G.M.'s 2005 health care costs in the U.S. added $1,525/car built in the U.S., compared to only $197 in Canada.

Relman estimates that 40-45% of U.S. health care expenditures are wasted in overhead, marketing, and unneeded procedures. Canada has only 75% of the number of physicians/population in the U.S., but half are in primary care (vs. 1/3 in the U.S.). Thus, Canada ends up with 93 specialists per 100,000, vs. 150 in the U.S. This creates less pressure for high technology and associated high expenditures, and helps explain their lower overall health care costs. The provinces fund teaching hospitals, and have an incentive to hold down their numbers and production of specialists.

For anyone who enjoys fast action thrillers, political intrigue set in our modern world, with a touch of Cold War history thrown in, then you should buy this book. The author has an easy-going style which is instantly readable, and never slow.

Original, fast-paced, thrilling, reminded me of James Bond ala Ian Fleming (not the movies). A gripping, must-read.

Very good. I preferred The Secret Policeman, but this was well up to standard. One of the reasons I loved this book was the pure audacity of linking the Stasi to Al-Qaeda. But it's done in such a clever, believable way, that it can't but make you wonder, because it all rung true. There's a nice juxtaposition of the old, cold war world, and the new war on terror with Jackson and his former employers as the bridge between the two. For all that I liked about it, I would also say that I thought it was a bit too short, and could have benefited from additional chapters. The pace, however, was breakneck, and this made it go by all too quickly. I enjoyed seeing Jackson back in the sun in the last few chapters. As a portrait of a retired spy, he is excellent, and I wonder if Mr. McGregor has any plans to look at the adventures Jackson had when he was in the secret service.

Although it might be a cliché to say that a book is a page turner these days, when I put this book down for any time at all I found myself questioning the motives of every character. I couldn't wait to see what happened next and before I knew it, I had finished the novella in one day. The story is well-crafted, the theme interesting, and the action gripping. It has everything you could look for in a thriller, and a literary style all its own into the bargain. The plot is complex and brilliantly handled, weaving together what at first seem like unrelated events, the murder of an American army colonel, the disappearance of a former KGB man, and the death of a secret policeman and his family in a car accident. A fantastic read, completely different to The Secret Policeman, and even better. Thrilling page-turner.

The Secret Service is an outstanding sequel. This book is an excellent novel, with a believable plot, characters with depth, and a very quick pace, skipping from one location to the next. Unlike so many books I have read, I couldn't foresee the ending. A great read, exciting and realistic.

This book has been very helpful. I reads quickly and easily, and the CD provides great templates. Within a week I was able to stndardize my existing contracts and reduce the need for customization with each new client. Great Work Karl!!!

Nice work on this book Karl. After I finished it our general manager read it and could not believe the resources contained within. It is not only a book about service agreements for the SMB consulting space but a great tool relating to all aspects of your business practices. We are now in the process of having our lawyer (as you suggest) reviewing our new contracts. Keep putting out these little gems!!

It's hard to find good information on the business side of IT consulting.

We started a year ago with decent technical skills but not much in the way of business training. Since then we've built a company which is supporting us, but couldn't see how to take it to the next level.

I purchased Managed Services in a Month and a week later had converted two break/fix customers over to managed services contracts worth thousands every year in recurring income.

This book is not cheap, but it is extraordinarily good value. It's cost is still less than one billable hour (at least if you're pricing yourself reasonably, something this book teaches you to do) and you'll make it back tenfold with the first contract (included with the book) that you get signed.

If you're an independent IT pro dealing with small business networks or servers then this book will help you take your business to the next level.

Highly recommended, and I'll be buying other books from Great Little Book Publishing very soon.

This is the book to have on your shelf. Karl will walk you through how his contracts are setup, what the parts mean, and the basic structure of delivering managed services via a contract vehicle. You can't get this kind of consulting help this easily, and Karl will give you everything you need. I highly recommend it.

If you want to offer service agreements to your IT customers, or are not sure of the value of selling service agreements, buy and read this book. When you are finished, you will be able to start offering service agreements - it's as simple as that. Thanks to Karl, I'm in the process of proposing 4 service agreements. The $50.00 for the book will be paid for by the first one so it's definitely money well-spent. On that note, I appreciate the short, concise format because that made it that much easier and faster to read. Technology books with hundreds of pages are more often than not nothing but "fat." Not with Karl's book - lean and right to the point.

Whether you know nothing, something, or a lot about IT service agreements, this book is an excellent resource. It will show you nearly everything you need to know about service agreements, from the perspective of someone who is obviously very adept at running his own IT business.

In the past when I tried to come up with something on my own, I just stared at a blank screen. Although I could come up with a handful of bullets of what should be included in a service agreement, Karl points out many things I hadn't thought of, including what not to cover. He also provides actual frameworks and examples of the agreement language. I really like his practice of having more than one type of agreement.

This is a must have for any manager or owner who wants to drive sells in there restaurant. you need this book if you care about what you do for a living.

This is by far the best book out there on service, buy it you wont be disappointed!

I bought this book for my management teams and went through it chapter by chapter every week and created action plans for implementation. It is an easy read and gets everyone on the same page very quickly. Strongly recommended for casual dining environments.

This book it is exactly what it says it is. Easy tips that can help you to run your restaurant and improve the service you offer to your customers. It is more for the owner or the manager but it can be usefull to everybody who is working there even the barmen. I recomend it because of the easy language it uses and because it offers practical solutions to everyday problems.

My manager recommended this book to me. I started using the tips inside before I even finished the book. I saw a difference in my wallet immediately! This book makes your job as a waiter/waitress easier and more profitable. It pays for itself in the first night. I recommend it to all our new hires.