Benefits of Books

I work for a Tech company in Silicon Valley. It's been about 10 years since this book was written and it's amazing to me how little has changed since then. The work culture in Silicon Valley corporations mirrors that of "Ditto" corporation. People feel obligated to work long hours while sacrificing their personal lives. To me, reading this book has been an eye-opening experience. I am now aware of the havoc that the work/life balance equation can unleash on people's lives. I see shades of the characters covered in the book in my colleagues and friends. Awareness of these issues is the first step in defining your personal values at work.

Good job, Leslie!

While this book explores work-family issues, it also gives concrete suggestions about how to improve management processes and allow workers more personal time without decreasing productivity. Essentially, the thesis of the book is that workers that can work uninterrupted for a significant period each day are more productive and efficient. This thesis is supported by a study done by the author at a Fortune 500 company named "Ditto" (probably Xerox in real life).

However, a depressing aspect of the book is that once higher productivity is achieved, Ditto Corp just piles on more work! Anyone who has worked in a high-stress, tight-deadline environment will be able to identify with the situations in this book.

In terms of action orientation, I found this book better than "Time Bind" by Arlie Hochschild. It also leaves out the liberal politics. Give it as an anonymous gift to the the CEO of your company!

Time Management skills are essential for successful people the book deals with practical techniques, which have helped the leading people in business reach the pinnacles of their careers. The skills explained in the book helps you to become reliable and effective and show you how to identify and focus on the activities that give you the greatest returns by explaining goal setting, which is a vitally important skill for achieving what you want to achieve with your life. It is neatly summed up in the Pareto Principle, or the "80:20 Rule". This argues that typically 80% of unfocussed effort generates only 20% of results. The remaining 80% of results are achieved with only 20% of the effort. While the ratio is not always 80:20, this broad pattern of a small proportion of activity generating non-scalar returns recurs so frequently as to be the norm in many areas. It also talks about issues like learn to say no, learn to prioritize, combine several activities, doing subordinate's work, doing the work of others, scheduling projects, monitoring staff, and setting long-term objectives. The absence of personal time management is characterized by last minute rushes to meet deadlines, days, which seem somehow to slip unproductively by, crises, which loom unexpected from nowhere. This sort of environment leads to inordinate stress and degradation of performance. Poor time management is often a symptom of over confidence: techniques, which used to work with small projects and workloads, are simply reused with large ones. However, inefficiencies, which were insignificant in the small role, are ludicrous in the large. You cannot drive a motor bike like a bicycle, nor can you manage a supermarket-chain like a market stall. The demands, the problems, and the payoffs for increased efficiency are all larger as your responsibility grows; you must learn to apply proper techniques, or be bettered by those who do. Possibly, the reason Time Management is poorly practiced is that it so seldom forms a measured part of appraisal and performance review; what many fail to foresee, however, is how intimately it is connected to aspects, which do. Leslie Parlow's, excellent practical application of Time Management.By Vivek Dixit, Stanford.edu.

The third novel in the Rocky Bluff Police Department series opens with base behaviors depicting bad men. A young mother is raped in her apartment building's laundry room on a Wednesday morning. Cal Sylvester is a training officer for the rookie Gordon Butler and he hates it though he admits that Gordon's wife makes it somewhat worthwhile. He fully intends to get intimately acquainted with her despite his own marriage and hers. Elsewhere in the small town, an out of control teenager plots his escape.

Those are just a few of the storylines in the slice of life police procedural style novel by F. M. Marilyn known to most as Marilyn Meredith. As the days pass and the cases intermingle, so do the lives of numerous officers depicted in this novel. Some will do the right thing as they serve and protect their community and each other. Others will dishonor the badge they wear and the oaths they took and slide downhill morally bankrupt. Stress is a common theme throughout all their lives and the way the characters cope with the demands of the job at work and off duty tells readers everything they need to know in this ongoing series.

The result is an entertaining read that holds reader interest with several twist and turns. While not as gritty or intense as other reads in this genre niche, this novel is interesting and enjoyably depicts police life in a fictional small town. The concepts covered are universal and apply not only to members of law enforcement but for any readers who work in high stress jobs. The book, though short on length at 184 pages in large trade paperback, delivers a good tale told well and one that for the most part is completely resolved by the end of the book.


Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2007

Cal Sylvester, a California police officer despises Gordon Butler, who is his rookie partner. Cal does however find his partner's wife to be hot and has a plan to have her for more than a friend. Cal and Darcy begin a heated romance, after several months Darcy informs Cal she wants and expects more from her men.

In order to keep Darcy in the style she requires, Cal begins to plot the murder of his wife Lee Ann in order to get the money he needs to keep Darcy. He's plan is to use his wife's life insurance money, but what about their kids at home? Cal is completely obsessed with Darcy and now needs to fulfill his obsession. Will Cal continue with his plot to kill his wife?

While this book is compact, it delivers a complete read. It combines a luscious blend of police procedurals and thriller, and is a great read. In Fringe Benefits, F. M. Meredith brings a cast of engaging and winsome characters. And most definitely earns 5 stars, and is a must read. Hope there are many more on the way.

Rocky Bluff, California police officer Cal Sylvester detests his rookie partner Gordon Butler whose features seem so girlie to the rugged veteran. However Cal does cede the loser has one hot wife that he plans to make more than an acquaintance with. Soon after that first meeting, Cal and sexy Darcy begin a tryst as both seeks excitement not to be found in this sleepy town twenty miles from Ventura.

However, after a few months of heat, Darcy makes it clear to Cal that she expects more from any man who desires her. Cal is obsessed, but does not earn enough as a cop to keep Darcy in the style she demands. In spite of having young daughters at home, Cal plots the perfect murder to obtain the money he needs to keep Darcy. He will kill his wife Lee Ann and has a way not to get caught.

The third Rocky Bluff Police Department (see FINAL RESPECTS) is a terrific tale of an egotistical cop who behaves amorally in the best of times but goes over the edge even for him due to the lure of an avaricious woman. Cal is an interesting protagonist whose ego is in the stratosphere, but it is the femme fatale that steals the show as Darcy uses men like puppets on a string. Mindful of the 1944 film noir Double Indemnity (based on a James M. Cain novel), sub-genre fans who enjoy twists in their police procedurals will appreciate this tense thriller as they wonder whether Cal will go through with the homicide-frame and if yes will justice fail.

Harriet Klausner

Physically the book is attractive with nice layout, color photographs, calendar paper, and sewn binding. Timber Press usually does well in this regard. It'll make for an interesting winter-time diversion. It brings to mind another Timber Press book, "Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden" by Lee Reich. Both books seem to target the backyard orchard enthusiast. "Fruit & Nuts" is much more encyclopedic in organization, style and number of fruits covered (i.e. many tropical/subtropical entries). Mr. Reich's book focuses on a few, less-common fruits that can be grown in temperate areas, so his would be the better choice for the average enthusiast in most areas of the U.S.

Weaknesses with "Fruit & Nuts": Minor ones: wish Fahrenheit instead of Celsius had been used for the North American edition - I find having to do the converting to be annoying; and the cultivar lists for each entry are short and underdeveloped. More serious are several errors (both of omission and commission) I saw in the Ficus carica entry (a tree that I'm fairly well acquainted with). I won't enumerate them here, but makes me wonder if just as many errors were made with the fruits that I'm not so familiar with.

This product is everything it advertises to be and more, simply a must have for any fruit enthusiast. The book is very reader friendly and is filled with an enormous amount of information regarding the nature, use, and the benefits of more than 300 plants. Another wonderful feature of it is the amount of high quality photographs used to facilitate the flow of information seamlessly, so that nothing is left to uncertainty. A person would be hard pressed to procure the kind of knowledge provided by this book elsewhere. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is even remotely interested by exotic fruits.

I'm into all kinds exotic fruits. This book is actually one of my favorite reference books. It describes 300 or so fruits in plain language yet comprehensive. Scientific names, cultivars, and common names are listed making this book very useful. Each plant article divided into separate sections with heading, which makes it easy to find the information. Food, health and other uses are highlighted. The book provides very important info regarding hardiness (not easy to find this info everywhere and this is important when deciding what to grow), growing conditions, sun/shade, water requirements, etc. Many high-quality photos. Will definitely recommend this book as exotic fruit reference.

I'm amazed at how often helping others is overlooked in our society as a way of healing. After reading this book, I decided to put Allan's claims to the test and discovered that he was right. I began tutoring ESL to a newcomer for only 2 hours a week and within a couple of weeks I noticed a change in my sense of well being. Like he says in the book, I noticed that I would leave those tutoring sessions on a kind of high. Afterwards I felt calmer and more focussed. It truly is miraculous the way it works.

A book that reflects a truth that you felt must be right - now in this book we find evidence that what you thought, was in fact, correct. What is hard for me to believe is that this wonderful book that I have had on my book shelf at home since 1991, has had only two book reviews in all these years. This book is truly one classic non-fiction book that should be promoted. I think people need to hear this message.

It will confirm your basic belief that helping others and society is good for everyone involved including the helper. It is a great cure for depression and even diseases. I think this book should be mandated reading material in high school. I think young people need to hear this message early in their lives.

I personally give this book my recomendation and endorsement.

Medical researchers provide evidence that volunteering helps the body produce it natural healers, endorphens, enhancing health and increasing longevity. I have used information in this book successfully when encouraging individuals to become more involved in their communities.

Perfect! Just what I was looking for. Lots of information in a small easy to read pamphlet. Good starting point for more in depth research.

This book is easy to read. The author describes the various stages of digestion, the role that friendly bacteria plays in digestion, and discusses probiotic treatment options for various illnesses. However, there is a chapter that recommends how to buy probiotics. I realized that it only leads to one brand of friendly bacteria, which happens to endorse the book. Most of the other probiotic brands are ruled out through various comments. I made the mistake and bought the recommended strand, thinking they were the best and there were no other options available. Be aware that other stuff is out there, and the information in the book doesn't give an objective picture of what to buy.

Needing to do some research on the subject of DHA, I selected this book without any expectations. However, I was very pleased by the author's apparent knowledge of the subject matter, and her ability to explain fairly complicated concepts without being tedious or condescending. DHA as a nutritional supplement isn't all that well-known as yet, but I feel sure it will become a household word in the near future. As that time approaches, and people want to learn more on the subject, this author should prove to be an excellent resource. I have read this book pretty carefully and thoroughly, and have learned a lot from it. I will be buying more of her books on other subjects.

This book made me think a lot about how the Social Security program is run. There are many good recommendations in this book - worthy of serious consideration.

I was able to follow most of this book without too much trouble. The author has done a good job of quantifying the waste in SS. It's worth the read.

The author did a good job of showing why we need to update Social Security. Benefits are transferred illogically. Why give extra benefits to rich people at the expense of middle class workers? Also, the stuff about the Texas teacher scandal is infuriating. This rip off should be stopped!

The book title suggests help for small organizations, but the blurb inside the front cover says that the book "provides targeted strategies for companies with as few as 50 employees or as many as 5,000."

If you have fewer than 100 employees you may be disappointed with this book. The biggest focus is on self-funded plans, which the author says are most feasible for organizations with more than 100 employees.

Highly recommended for all smaller employers struggling with the process of buying health benefits for employees. Carefully crafted, well structured, and quite comprehensive, the book details everything a small or medium sized firm needs to know to begin to leverage their buying power in the marketplace. Certainly not for large employers with market power (because large purchasers will want to use more sophisticated tools to buy quality and incentivize plans and providers for greater performance), but a good primer for anyone just starting out.

As a small employer of only 35 employees, I wasn't sure how to proceed with changes in our health plan that are under consideration. This book has helped us resolve some of the different approaches suggested by our broker. I expect we'll use it again, as we grow over the next few years.

Just like the first book in the series, Friends with Benefits is filled with the same cliches found in The Clique, Gossip Girl, and The It Girl. Girls shop and go to parties, meet boys, have a misunderstanding, then get back together with said boys. However, I was still greatly entertained by the second novel, and read it in a couple hours. I highly recommend it, but read the first book first!

This book was awesome! its was just as good as the first one, probably better. Theres a lot more action and a lot more problems. Platinum gets even crazier causing a whole lot of trouble at just the wrong time. Will Esme end up with Junior? or Jonathen? and what happens to Junior that makes Esme second guess Johnathen? Ready for the juicy details...read the nannies friends with benefits and find out. Youll be hooked!

As THE NANNIES series rolls along, seventeen-year-old Kiley finds herself struggling to survive the craziness of being the nanny employed by rock superstar Platinum. She must hang in there, however, lest her dream "to graduate from high school in California so that she can attend Scripps Institution of Oceanography as an in-state resident" be shattered.

Kiley's friends, Lydia and Esme, are nannies for other prominent families in L.A., and each girl faces her own difficulties. Lydia was born into money, but her parents decided to move the family from their home in Texas to the Amazon basin to do missionary work when she was only eight years old. Until she moved back to the United States to live with her aunt and her girlfriend, Lydia's only knowledge of the rich, famous, and shallow came from the magazines she was able to confiscate from visitors to the bush. Now, she isn't about to let her life in the States go, no matter what she has to do to keep it.

Esme, on the other hand, has a completely different problem: She is sleeping with her boss's son. Not only does the situation put her job in jeopardy, it is also a point of constant guilt for Esme, who has a boyfriend back home. Besides, she is only the hired help: sleeping with the boss's son is a degrading road to nowhere.

Mayer occasionally tries to make the point that money isn't everything: "She was willing to work. Marym was willing to get paid for the looks that she'd done nothing to earn. There was something very unfair about it" (p. 49). Overall, however, the story is shallow, name-dropping, and requires no real thought to read. But is that a bad thing?

THE NANNIES series is not meant to be ground-breaking literature. It is written to entertain, to be fun, and to be a series of lighthearted "dirt" novels for pre-Jackie Collins fans...and I happen to love Jackie Collins. Mayer accomplishes just what she intends, and she does it well; if I were a fifteen-year-old girl, I would read this, breathless, in one sitting.

Reviewed by: Mechele R. Dillard

Mosher's book argues from the first line that "most of us grew up on a poisonous diet of overpopulation propaganda....Vice President Al Gore, who warned of an 'environmental holocaust without precedent'...that will engulf us if we do not stop having babies," and "The Population Bomb", that bestseller which predicted famine would soon be upon us.

Indeed most of the predicted demographic nightmare of growing population was based, not on overwhelming numbers of new babies, but on a huge elderly population, that, with new medical procedures, keeps living on...and on. That enormous new elderly population is what has mostly swelled the population numbers.

Now that those numbers of elderly are about to peak, the world population will start to decline. For some countries, such as Russia, Spain, Japan, and perhaps most of Europe, the population appears to be in a frightening death spiral.

Mosher is out to tell the truth, root out old assumptions, and he gives statistics that are bound to surprise you. Such as, "The old age tsunami that is about to hit Japan will not spare other Asian countries. The Four Tigers--Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore--are already long in the tooth. China and India, the world's two demographic giants, are tottering along not far behind" (p 17).

Russia is in dire trouble with population. Between now and 2050, all indications are that Russia will lose a quarter of its population. No wonder Putin has offered any woman willing to have a second child $9,000.

South Korea's birthrate is 1.2.

Thailand has a birth rate of 1.9.

What will happen to these countries as their populations decline? Will housing prices fall dramatically, and, with fewer consumers, will depressions result? How will these countries continue to care for the elderly?

These are the real problems we need to tackle, not problems of overpopulation.

Mosher gives a thorough history of the population control movement, including such famous names as Rockerfeller and Margaret Mead. Organizations like the World Bank and the UN, using code words like "reproductive health" have attacked the poorer countries of the world with sterilizations, sometimes forced or with bribes, abortions, and contraceptives. And lectures, endless, hectoring lectures.

Anyone interested in these facts will also want to read "Disappearing Daughters" which details the 100 missing women in India and China. Yes, that many female babies have been aborted or killed in India and China.

The crimes committed by the "Population Control" advocates is genocide to say the least. Their utter depravity show no bounds and is expanding at an exponential rate. Their predecessors like Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao would be proud that they have continued in such an "admirable" way.

One note. I had been looking for a number of weeks before Amazon finally got the paperback version of this book in. Both Borders and B&N does not stock this book and they made it very hard to special order it. I canceled the order I had (for two weeks) at Borders when it came available on Amazon. Reading the book makes me wonder if they were purposely not carrying it (i.e. Censorship).

Most people don't realize that soon, the world will be suffering from a dearth of young people rather than the excess that we have supposedly been enduring for the past few decades. Steve Mosher details the actual results of the brutal methods that population controllers have employed to keep down the numbers of the non-white peoples of the world and how successful they have been. He's especially interesting on China since he is a China expert who has lived in that country. I used to work for his organization, Population Research Institute, so I may be biased, but I believe this book is great compendium of the human rights violations and the developing social and economic costs of population control, costs which will become apparent to far more people within ten years. The book's endnotes point to a large amount of information for those who would like to learn more about this subject than they will get from the mainstream media and typical college courses, which take the anti-people attitude as gospel.

Bought this book for my husband (the accountant) since we are approaching Social Security age and weren't that familiar with SS benefits or Medicare. He has found this book very helpful in understanding the system. We would recommend.

This book is a very good reference for how these two very important entitlement programs work in as much as the text sticks to that objective. The authors could not resist intermingling a very biased and at times deceptive opinion into the text. The book bashes social security privatization from the point of view that only government can be trusted to handle a person's pension and that private citizens will only be taken advantage of if ever allowed to invest their own money into greedy corporations - what does this have to do with the text's stated purpose. The same approach was taken of Medicare Prescription D which is referred to as a huge corporate giveaway to the pharmaceuticals because the Medicare Administration was not allowed to "negotiate" prices. The latter is quite deceptive as the government does not ever negotiate prices with the private sector; it regulates prices. Can anyone deny that many doctors refuse accepting medicare-only patients because the prices set by Medicare do not reflect market rates for services? Can anyone deny that Medicare has oft times set prices for services based on budgetary constraints as opposed to seeking the best quality service? These authors certainly can. They also bashed Medicare Prescription D while at the same time having to acknowledge it is very successful but only "for the short run" as they say because in the end the profit motivated pharmaceuticals will raise their prices over time at the expense of seniors. This "government is all good and private sector is all bad lingo" is irrelevant to understanding how the programs themselves work as currently defined. Such commentary belongs in another text devoted to socialist propaganda. My objective as a 42-year old is to understand the entitlements to aid my retiring parents as best I can.

I picked up the 9th edition when I got ready to retire and it saved me a lot of money and confusion and helped tremendously getting thru all the "red" tape. So a couple of years later as I get ready now to approach Medicare I need all the information I can get so I ordered the new 12 edition. Which included tons of updated information.. A recommend for anyone retiring and/or getting ready to go on Medicare

he 12th edition of Attorney Joseph Matthews with Dorothy Matthews Berman's SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE & GOVERNMENT PENSIONS: GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR RETIREMENT AND MEDICAL BENEFITS provides the latest instructions on getting the most from Medicare, social security and government and veterans benefits. From uncovering benefits and when and how to claim them to qualifying for programs and combining them, this provides an outstanding, basic reference suitable for any public library.