Society Books

I am so enthusiastic about collections of complete works. The probability of hating all the works of one certain writer is so small that it is negligible. So when I bought this book I knew deep in my mind that I would at least like about a hundred pages of the book. I did not. I enjoyed all the book except for possibly 40-50 pages which is more than impressive.

When I say I like all of the book, I mean to say all of the prose section. I hate poetry, sorry for that but I cannot help it. This review here is concerned with the prose section.

The book begins with the only novel Poe wrote, namely "Narrative of A Gordon Pym." (For a complete review of the novel, please click on the blue "a_mathematician" to view it in the proper place). The novel takes one fifth of the prose section, and is followed by a subsection called "Tales of Deduction."

The first short story of that section is "The Gold Bug," an interesting story. As a matter of fact, Doyle based "The adventure of the Dancing Men," a Sherlock Holmes's short story, on it. Then it goes into introducing Dupin the French, the first unofficial detective ever. (For a complete review of the novel please click on the blue "a_mathematician" to view it in the proper place).

Then comes "Tales of Horror," and, oh my, this part is the most wonderful of the whole collection. Even though Poe was the first to write in this genre, there still no one superior to him. I am not sure about HP Lovecraft, but I am sure King is not up to him. Poe can bring the chill to your heart. I heard he used to eat much on dinner just to bring nightmares to his night sleep, and when he wakes up in the morning he would record every single detail of his dreams to use it in his short stories.

The stories I prefer are: "The Black Cat," which ruined the life of a very wretched man; "The Pit and the Pendulum," which speaks about the pains of one prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition; "The Masque of the Red Death," whose story I would not have actually liked if not for the marvelous description, Poe provides, for every single bit of occurrence. "The Fall of the House of Usher," which speaks about the life of a very singular person and his sister (This one is considered by many to be the best short story Poe has every written); and "The Oblong Box," which is exactly what Doyle would have written had he got the idea first.

Then comes "Tales of Imagination." This section was the one I did not like that much. He started with a few very descriptive emotional stories (I would only consider them nonsensical, no offense).

The stories I liked here were: "Manuscript Found in A Bottle," which is a pretty funny story about someone being in a foreign ship without people feeling his presence; and "The Unparalleled Adventures of One Hans Pfall," which explores the reasons behind Pfall's wanting to forsake the earth for the moon on his balloon. The latter is more of a novella than a short story.

The next section is "Satirical Tales and Hoaxes." This was the second best section I enjoyed. The best stories were: "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether," which is an insane story, no one could have ever produced such a comedy before; "Some Words with A Mummy," and for those of you who are familiar with the Egyptian novelist Naguib (or Najib) Mahfouz, I may tell you that he had used a similar idea in his first collection of short stories; "The Man that was Used Up," which I can describe with no other word than ABSOLUTELY FUNNY with a very twisted end; "Loss of Breath," is another example for the genius of Poe; "Never Bet the Devil Your Head," HaHa; "The Spectacles," I read this one so long ago and it still possessed its charm with its funny twisted conclusion; "The Literary Life of Thingum Bob, Esq," which was a satirical and wonderful one; and finally "X-ing A Paragraph," which was the best one in the section.

Then come some articles, the best of which were 'Didling' and 'Maelzel's Chess Player.' They were nice to read despite their being out of date.

In the end I would like to apologize for this long review, but you cannot describe - or better yet, review - about a thousand pages in a two liner. I like the book and there is no reason you should not. Poe has affected so many writers, some of whom are: RL Stevenson, AC Doyle, Roald Dahl, HP Lovecraft, Steven King, and so many others, so if you read for any of those you would definitely enjoy this book.

The hardcover book "The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe" is by far one of the greatest, unabridged collections of stories and poems ever to grace the shelf. Though Poe is said to have been cryptically insane in his lifetime, the misunderstood literature recorded in his writings have only recently been acclaimed as opposed to being further reprimanded by his era of supporters, or the lack there of. Such classic stories as; The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Fall of The House of Usher, and such poems as; For Annie, Hymn, The Haunted Place, and of course...The Raven are only some of the milestones contained in this masterpiece. Every fan of the work of Edgar Allan Poe should own this book or at the least a copy. The cover is decorated beautifully in gold upon a rough black surface with an attached, fair-haired, ribbon bookmark and should be the pride of any collection.

...that's what this book makes me. I honestly do not know what there is left to say about one of the greatest horror writers of all times. this book is essential - so if you like reading horror, gothic, etc. stories and you have never read a story by EAP, shame on you.

If you never even heard of EAP, shame on you even more!

But if you don't own this book, "you shalt not be suffered to live"!!!!(sorry for dramatizing, but buy this (*) book!!!!!!!! And read it of course, not only buy it and put it on your shelf because it looks nice and when you show it to people, they all say, wow, you got a great collection - they say this, at least one of them says this, because he knows what proud 'n' lucky son you are to own such a beautiful book -> not beautiful because it is thick hardcover edition bound in leather with golden renderings on the pages on golden imprints on the front and back cover.

Legite: (Amazon does not provide pictures for The Complete Works of EAP, and because there are several books in hardcover bearing this title, I do not know which of these books matches the description of the book's design featured in the end, so do not blame me if you buy THIS book because you liked how it does look - if you care for design, take a look around. There has to be some way to retrieve information about the book's design.)

I first read Poe when I was a little child, in an abridged mini series written for children. To this day, I have my favorites I have since read in full. Horror is the only way to describe what went through this man's writing, while being subdued to his own tragedies. He brang the most awesome literature we will ever read. Read Annabelle Lee, and if you don't cry you must have a heart of stone......

Edgar Allan Poe of Baltimore wrote the memorable poem, "The Raven", and that poem inspired the name of Baltimore's current NFL team. But naming football teams is not all he was good at. Poe wrote science fiction, horror, mystery, and detective stories. He is credited by some with the invention of the modern detective story. It is certain that Dupin, the hero of "Murders in the Rue Morgue", served as a model for Sherlock Holmes, who in turn inspired Hercule Poirot. One of Poe's short stories, "The Murder of Marie Roget", might even be classified as true crime. Although placed in Paris, it was based upon the true-life unsolved murder in New York of Mary Rogers. Poe never went to the scene of the crime, and everything he knew about the murder he got from the newspaper. Nevertheless he wrote a story in which he solved the murder and identified the murderer. His speculation was later confirmed in all major details by two confessions.

I read Poe's works as a pre-teen child, and some of the stories frightened me so badly that I can remember the details to this day. "The Pit and the Pendulum", "The Premature Burial", "The Black Cat", "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Tell Tale Heart". All these stories and more will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Poe's longest work, "The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym", proved somewhat tedious, and his poetry isn't the best, but the short stories are great.

The computer and natural language is a sub-domain of computer science in which one of the major aims is to imitation of man, focusing on two topics: psychology and linguistics. If we wish the machine to do something, we must tell it what to do and it must be able to understand us. The easiest way to tell a computer what to do is to give it a program to run. "Humans, if they are machines at all, are vastly general-purpose machines and what, is most important, they understand communications couched in natural language." Work must be done for a machine to understand natural language. "Man's capacity to manipulate symbols, his very ability to think, is inextricably interwoven with his linguistic abilities." A machine must be able to extract semantic content from the messages impinged upon it, adopt a syntactic structure of a visual scene and adopt a certain conceptual framework. The question of what comprises a visual symbol is in question. The developer defines the elements of the machines primitive vocabulary. Robert Lindsay said, "high quality translations could be produced by machines supplied with sufficiently detailed syntactic rules, a large dictionary, and sufficient speed to examine the context of ambiguous words for a few word in each direction."

Eliza was a program consisting mainly of general methods for analyzing sentences and sentence fragments, locating so-called keywords in texts, assembling sentences from fragments and so on. Eliza created the remarkable illusion of having understood in the minds of the many people who conversed with it.

In ordinary two person communication, each has a working hypothesis, a conceptual framework, concerning who the person is and what the conversation is about. The hypothesis serves an indicator of what the other person is going to say and what he is going to mean by what he is about to say. Often, the erroneous prediction is falsified before the sentence is completed and the listener makes corrections on the fly and virtually unconsciously. Each brings into mind an image of the other person, the image consists in part of the other's identity, attributes based on evidence derived from independent life experiences of the participant. "Our recognition of another person is thus an act of induction on evidence presented to us partly by him and partly by our reconstruction of the rest of the world; it is a kind of generalization". Eliza starts with the hypothesis that the system does understand.

Rogar C. Shank, based his theory on the central idea that every natural-language utterances is a manifestation, an encoding, of an underlying conceptual structure. Understanding an utterance means encoding it. The theory proposes a formal structure for the conceptual bases for making predictions. The theory creates formal rules for converting utterances into a conceptual base. One difficulty is that every individual's belief is constantly changing mean that an individuals entire base of conceptions is changing. "When a person enters a conversation he bring his belief structure with him as a kind of agenda."

Terry Winograd, of M.I.T, was working with a group were building a computer-controlled "hand-eye" machine; the computer could see its environment and manipulate objects in its environment by means of a computer-controlled mechanical arm. Winograd design and coded the software to enable humans by natural language, too instruct the computer, how to manipulate and explain events with respect to the toy world of blocks, in a natural language. "The robot can manipulate toy blocks on a table containing simple objects like a box." The robot could be ask to manipulate the objects, doing such things as building stacks and putting things in a box. It could be questions about the configuration of blocks on the table, about events that were going during the discussion, and it could be told simple facts about the objects which could be stored and used for reasoning later. The conversation goes on within a dynamic framework - "one in which the computer is an active participant, doing things to change his toy world, and discussing them."

An authority in the field of artificial intelligence and computer science in general, Joseph Weizenbaum provides insight in proceedings in that area but mainly warns about what these developments may lead to. It is very entertaining to read this book some 20 years after original publication and see how many of what we believe are recent developments were actually implemented back then already (on one or two priceless "super" computers).
Very dogmatic and patronizing at times, it still is a good read if only for the thought provoking ideas like: if electronic computers would have been used in the manhattan project, today we would assume that development of the atomic bomb would have been impossible without it.

This book is a basic philosophical treatment of computing. I think that it should be included as a basic part of any Computer Science / Computer Engineer curriculum in respectable universities, along with Roger Penrose book, The Emperor's new mind, it creats a better understanding of what is human and what is mechanic for all those who need to know it.

Should Computer Science / Engineering freshmen/women in universities know? My answer is YES, in their first year !

I read parts of this book, thinking highly of it. I thought one particular passage from it, as quoted in Gates by Stepehen Manes and Paul Andrews, particulary stood amid the limelight: [t]he computer programmer . . . is a creator of universes for which alone is the lawgiver. . . .No playwright, no stage director, no emperor, however powerful, has ever exercised such absolute authority to arrange a stage of field a battle and to command such unswervingly dutiful actors or troops.

This is perhaps the best book ever written on issues of computer technology and modern life, in the sense that it says a lot of really important things and is also very readable by both lay persons and technical persons. People like Jacques Ellul, Arnold Gehlen et al. have written very important texts in this area, but are much less "accessible". If the truth only counts when it is absorbed by persons, Weizenbaum's book stands out as being engrossing and a pleasure to read, as well as saying what needs to be said. It is very sad that the second edition which was supposed to be out a year or so ago has not appeared. But in no way has 20 years "dated" the present text. _Computer Power and Human Understanding_ explains why we have such problems as Y2K, etc.

This book is a product of the author's in-depth knowledge of the Intentional Communities Movement. Her intimate experience with successful ecovillage communities makes available key strategies and factors in community building. My only critique of this book is that the most important and useful chapter which should probably be first (choosing who to live with), is placed at the end. Incidently this chapter helped me take an honest look at myself and some of the issues i was carying at the time and made me aware i need to resolve them in order to be a more desireable community member.

Note: Even for those who aren't interested in living in "intentional communities," there's great guidance in this book that is relevant to forming a nonpfrofit housing community.

Christian candidly explains the many ways that a group of people choosing to live as interdependent residents, whether of just one house or several houses on commonly held land, both complicates and facilitates adjusting to the inevitable quirky expectations, needs and requirements of different, even if simpatico, individuals. Although Creating a Life Together is intended for those who want to start something more like a modern-day commune, some of which qualify as ecovillages, the points and principles in this book are relevant to sharing one residence or living in separate dwellings but making a commitment to share co-owned land with multiple homes. Either way, you're sharing your day-to-day lives as an extended family bonded by choice, not by blood.

Only 10% succeed

Christian's guidance and opinions are based on many years of living in intentional communities and serving as editor of Communities magazine. She starts with describing what the 10% of communities that succeed have and in common and what tends to make the other 90% fail, over before they truly get started.

Then she explains how and where to start and what steps to take in what order - and that is not jumping right into looking for the ideal land or property, despite how tempting that is when you're full of dreams and enthusiasm. Before you even get to that stage - or at least before you make an offer on any kind of property - you'll need to learn a lot about zoning, financing, housing and land trusts perhaps, and certainly what kind of legal entity will work best for what your group has in mind and exactly what each of you have in mind, from contributions of money, time and labor to what's acceptable and what's not in day-to-day living. You'll need to decide going in what happens when someone wants out, so you can protect everyone, both legally and emotionally.

First 6 crucial steps

She calls these six elements "crucial" to address in the formative stages:

Identify your community vision and create vision documents.
Choose a fair, participatory decision-making process appropriate for your group. If you choose consensus, get trained in it.
Make clear agreements - in writing. This includes choosing an appropriate legal entity for owning land [or a dwelling] together.
Learn good communication and group process skills. Make clear communication and resolving conflicts a priority.
In choosing cofounders and new members, select for emotional maturity.
Learn the head skills and heart skills you need to know.
Not a dream for dilettantes

Christian also offers fair warning that if you have a burning desire to start a new intentional community, you'll need that kind of passion and more: "It takes enormous amounts of time to pull off a project of this magnitude. Even if you meet weekly, you'll still need people to work on various committees that work and/or meet between scheduled meetings - gathering information, calling officials, crunching the numbers, drafting proposals, and so on - for at least a year, or even two years or longer, " she says. "The larger your group and/or the smaller your assets, the longer it'll take."

Judith Broadhurst
editor, publisher and bag lady doyenne
The Bag Lady Prevention Plan
Realistic Strategies for Secure and Fulfilling Futures
An online community women over 50
www.BagLadyPrevention.com

As a cofounder of an aspiring ecovillage I've found this book to be uniquely invaluable to forming a community. Since November 06, a group of us have been using this book to guide us along the path towards making our dreams of a creating a community come true. At each step along the way, the advice that Diana dispenses in this guide have served as discussion tools, as examples and as warnings on how not to proceed. She offers up numerous examples of success stories and of failures. There are many books on life in cohousing, or general overviews of the community concepts, but as far as I know, this is the only one to tackle the nuts and bolts issues of creating a community from scratch. This book is absolutely essential reading to anybody interested in forming a community or cohousing project. [...]

The title's a little misleading. This book is more of a guide through the legal and financial pitfalls involved with creating and sustaining an intentional community. But as such it is unsurpassed. I've also met the author during my permaculture course and found her to be very insightful, intelligent, yet humble and open to new ideas. Even if you're not trying to form your own commune, this book is packed with useful information.

As a longtime member of an intentional community I've made good use of this book in introducing people to the promises and conflicts that surround the concept. Although it's aimed more at founders than at people joining established communities, it provides enough background (and interesting stories, to boot!) for explorers to develop a certain familiarity with the issues that will serve them well as they seek their own special place.

It is beyond my imagination to find such a scripture in such a simple language which contains the total philosophy of all the ancient Indian scriptures and extensively covers all the devotional aspects for a sincere seeker of God. I have no words to explain the beauty of this divine book. In this age finding such a book reminds me the verse of Gita "Yada yada hi dharmasya ...".

Of all the many books I have read on spiritually, religions and philosophies of the world, by far this book is the most profound. I can not say anything meaningful to describe this book, only can I express a deep sence of awe and gratitude. Hinduism is a great and boundless philosophy. For the most part, it is totally misunderstood. H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati expounds on its totality in only 438 pages with a beautiful style and simplicity. This book, however, not for light reading, is extremely easy to read with clear concise sentences. It has a large index and glossary for those wanting to truly study this subject. On a scale of one to ten, this book is simply beyond, beyond.

This book is a jewel. It is a virtual encyclopedia of the Divine world and how to attain it. Every question is answered from the creation and dissolution of the universe to attainment by a soul of the very highest Divine abode, Vrindaban. As a Divine Master, Swamiji speaks authoritatively on the soul, Maya, God and the Divine abodes and their Divine personalities. He describes the Divine Love path to God, Raganuga Bhakti, and supplies guidelines for sincere aspirants. Anyone who absorbs and takes to heart the contents of this book is a very fortunate soul.

In The Divine Vision of Radha Krishn, Swami Prakashanand Saraswati brilliantly provides the entire truths and secrets of devotion to God, in an easy to understand format. His writings, based on the eternal Hindu Holy Scriptures, discuss the practical path to understanding and realizing God. Swami Prakashanand explains the intricate science of the soul, maya (cosmic energies), and God. He reconciles the Hindu philosophies and reveals the path to God: Bhakti devotion. As is explained, Bhakti is simply devotion to a single form of God with a pure desire to realize God's love. Furthermore, Swami Prakashanand describes his American Ashram, Barsana Dham, and the events that have taken place there. He has established the largest Hindu temple in North America to promote love and devotion to God. I highly recommend The Divine Vision of Radha Krishn, not just because it is very clear and concise, but because the knowledge provided is practical for any person desiring God's love--no matter what religion or culture.

This is one of the most incredible books I've ever read! It thoroughly and clearly explains all I wanted to know about the evolution and meaning of life, the world, Saints and Divinity, and how to find God in this lifetime. In fact, it contains so much more than I could have ever imagined - I'm amazed that such extensive knowledge has been clearly given in one book. It helped me to realize how commercialized and distorted most of the Eastern philosophy has become that is expounded in the West. Above all, I really value the simple, sincere devotional knowledge that the author has shared by writing this book.

Stuart's command of his subject matter is immediately apparent. His thoughts and helpful ideas are written in a manner easily digestible with spot-on insight that can only be garnered through life experience. Truly valuable and highly recommended.

Stuart has done a great job of taking different IT concepts and breaking them down into their simplest terms. There are a number of tips for running an IT business that will help make you more successful and profitable. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for anyone in the IT industry.

Stuart has captured a number of simple yet valuable tips for IT that will make your life simpler. It is a great book to read and is broken down into bite size topics that even non technical readers can absorb and apply. It is well worth the cost - just one idea will easily cover the investment in purchase price. And there are many ideas that will apply to most any reader so it is a bargain at that point. Enjoy and apply - it will make your IT experience much better.

Stuart is obviously a very well read author and combines that depth of knowlege with his practical experience to provide concise bits of wisdom that I was able to immediately put to use in my business. I've read and re-read many sections of the book and keep it by my desk for handy reference. If you run an IT business, this book will help!

I've found this book to have many good ideas and advice for small business IT providers. The format is a collection of articles of just a few pages each, and as such can be read whenever you have a few minutes to fill. Based on the authors own experience running his business, it's well worth the time to read.

WALTER: Hi, I'm writing this review with my 6-year old son Alden.
ALDEN: I'm writing this review with my 45-year old dad.
WALTER: We read this book together, taking turns reading a page (Alden's a very good reader for a 6-year old). As a scientific-type guy, I found The Eye Pocket to be a really fun story. I'm looking forward to reading more of Crow's books as he comes out with them. What did you like about the book, Alden?
ALDEN: I like the part where Mr Humblebeach walked in the mud in his slippers and robe because he forgot to put on his skinsuit.
WALTER: I want one of those skinsuits.
ALDEN: I want some High-V goggles.
WALTER: What else did you like?
ALDEN: The secret passageway with the green eye thing.
WALTER: Yeah, that whole book rocked.
ALDEN: Totally.
WALTER: I would recommend this book for any kid old enough to read it, and for any adults who secretly enjoy stuff like Harry Potter and Nintendo games.
ALDEN: You guys on Amazon should read this book. I LOVED it!
WALTER: OK, it's 8:33, that's 3 minutes past bedtime. Let's go, dude.
ALDEN: OK. Goodnight.
WALTER: Goodnight.

I read this book to my nine and seven year old and they loved it. At times they were drawn in by the suspense and at other times they laughed out loud at the comic relief. Best of all, they anxiously awaited bed time until I had read the whole book and always begged me to keep reading. FYI my nine year old is an extremely bright straight A 4th grader and my son is in first grade (creative type)-- not sure which one enjoyed it the most. Anyway, I think their reaction says it all, and I enjoyed the book too!

As a parent of young children, I have read many of the Magic Treehouse books, and E.J. Crow's The Eye Pocket puts those stories to shame. Crow's characters are more interesting and the premise is wonderfully original. Like J.K. Rowling, Crow has created an alternate universe that entertains both children and adults. My kids and I hope that Crow follows up The Fantastic Society of Peculiar Adventurers with another story soon.

Nine-year-old Bobby Humblebeach feels that he lives in the most boring town in America. The fact that he is the son of an unemployed adventurer, Bobby feels that his current living situation is an injustice. After all, an adventurer's son should live somewhere...adventurous! But when Bobby, along with two of his friends - Sam and Dirk - stumble upon a piece of land smack dab in the middle of the past, present, and future, known only as the Eye Pocket, he feels as if he has struck gold. Suddenly, his town doesn't seem as boring as it originally did. Now, leaving his couch, and remote control behind, Mr. Humblebeach decks himself, Bobby, Sam, and Dirk out in the finest gear for a pack of explorer's, and heads out to investigate the world they've just found. However, it is soon obvious that the mission has hit turmoil, when the four explorers dig up a mysterious gold chest, only to learn that they've disturbed its crooked owners.

I will admit that I had reservations when I first received this book, but I could not be more happy with the outcome. E.J. Crow is a new force to be reckoned with in the world of children's writers. His characters are fresh and exciting; his plot original and fast-paced; and his story absolutely spell-binding. Readers will be able to relate easily to Bobby's complaints about living in the most boring town in America; and find themselves searching for an Eye Pocket of their own. THE FANTASTIC SOCIETY OF PECULIAR ADVENTURES is an idea of a lifetime that will appeal to readers and their parents, and leave everyone grappling to become a member. A riveting tale filled with magic, technology, and a splash of mystery!

Erika Sorocco

Bobby Humblebeech's dad used to be a member of the Fantastic Society of Peculiar Adventurers. He used to go to exciting places and do and see interesting things. Then the society kicked him out. Now he just sits on the couch and watches TV. Bobby just wants to go out and have fun.

When Bobby runs into Dirk and Sam Straw, he might be in for more "fun" than he's ready for. The Straw's show him magical places that might not really exists. They only leave when they get scared away by an unidentified giant monster with tusks. The three run home to try and convince Mr. Humblebeech of what they've seen.

When Mr. Humblebeech is finally convinced, he gets so excited he actually leaves the couch! When he goes to the garage and actually lets the kids use his equipment, and wants to go see for himself, Bobby, Dirk and Sam know they're in for a real adventure.

This book is perfect for kids who grew up watching The Best of the Power Rangers - The Ultimate Rangers and similar shows. There are tons of high-tech gadgets and impressive pieces of equipment. Plus enough adventure, ghosts, and monsters to satisfy the most uninterested of children.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

Actions speak louder than words; this is a book about the former. It's all well and good for pundits, preachers, and self-help gurus to opine on how we should run our lives in the real world. Faith and Fortune reports on certain businesses that strive for the ideal. Gunther is a true reporter, his research original and in depth. Herman Miller and Timbaland are two fine examples. I was vaguely familiar with both, and enjoyed learning about the core business, but the people behind them are fascinating. Combine this with Gunther's fluid, crisp, style and it's a book that resonates, that has staying power as a tome that should continue to sell. The thesis: that business can coexist, indeed thrive, when true sharing of good, fundamental values are embraced, that profit is not the only motive. Give an employee wings to advance, the opportunity to learn, reward loyalty, profit-share: it works for these companies profiled. Gunther weaves in philosophers, spiritual rubrics into these case studies so that the reader ponders the issues from a variety of viewpoints. In a world filled with cynicism, by the close of the last page, one is hopeful that all will turn out well. These companies did it. And they are profitable and happy. Highly recommended.

Faith and Fortune, subtitled "the quiet revolution to reform American business," by Mark Gunther of Fortune magazine, celebrates the usual socially responsible corporations and entrepreneurs for their endurance over more massive corporations that disappeared in the last years of the previous millennium as American business experienced its moral meltdown. But while duly celebrating human decency and commitment to others, this engaging book doesn't quite capture the changes in the "atmosphere" of the workplace that contributed to both the horror of Enron and the success of companies like Starbucks, Ben & Jerry's, and Timberland. Rather, Gunther gets on the moral values bandwagon (a characteristic of our age) by focusing on the concept of "values" as they apply--or should apply--to the business world.

I joined corporate America in the early `90s at what had once been John D Rockefeller's original company, Standard Oil of Ohio, and the overarching belief system was that markets would find a solution for everything. The company's social responsibility was still grounded in the same rigid Christian attitude of the founder's era--namely, that the poor were owed compassion and a handout. Over the following decade, the fall of the great tobacco empires--and their miscalculation that Washington, D.C., would never forget all their political donations--spurred self-scrutiny and the realization that nothing lasts forever, that companies need to pay more than lip service to the communities in which they operate, and that corporations need to foster trust among their numerous stakeholders.

Gunther tackles two themes. The first is that the admirable personal values of businesspeople, whatever their faith, need not be compromised in the world of business. Indeed, to project those values is often a characteristic of great products and services--the foundation of great companies. This theme is contrasted with the evaporation of major corporations through greed and fraud. Gunther probably sums up many people's beliefs when he states: "Enron's Ken Lay, meanwhile, was a trustee of one of the biggest Methodist churches in Houston; while he has not been charged with a crime, he is guilty, at the least, of fostering a culture of criminality, arrogance, and greed." Things have moved on a little since that sentence was written.

I would like to read the follow-up on what happens after poster kids of good corporate social responsibility are sold, such as Ben and Jerry's to Unlilever and Odwalla to Coca-Cola. How much does the culture of the parents rub onto the kids, or do/can they in fact change the culture of their parents? Do moral values and good behavior actually win over the desire to make a buck?

Finally, Gunther takes a look at another emerging trend--the increasing use of religious values to teach businesspeople (and presumably consumers) about creating sustainable and nature-friendly businesses.

Faith and Fortune covers familiar territory, but it's the follow-up that is going to be the true report card on how far U.S. society has really moved.

Ian Fowler www.g-think.com

If you are sick of corporate America's traditional way of conducting business, this book is for you. It reveals a way of thinking that not only improves performance, but creates value in the workplace.
Faith and Fortune helped me identify why I really want to get into the field of business. It has given me a more positive outlook on the future, and I am sure it will do the same for you.

I normally eschew religious writing as overly evangelical (regardless of the faith in question). I am also not a big fan of corporate window-dressing-writing. This wonderful book falls into neither category. Faith and Fortune, by Marc Gunther is a marvellous book. It inspires without pretending to have all the answers. For every person who has ever tried to justify socially conscious investing or companies that put some of their profits back into the community, this book is a must read. Unfortunately, this book apparently came out shortly before the 2004 election and did not get the publicity or audience it deserved. This is a terrible shame. Any thinking and moral person tries to combine her financial responsibilities (to her family, shareholders, whoever) with the need to live a moral and balanced life. As our world becomes more interconnected and more susceptible to the ripple effect from one person's actions, thinking about how to combine personal morality with the Darwinian need to succeed becomes more and more important. This book actually makes a great companian to Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Succeed or Fail, which also touches on zero sum mentalities and how to expand the available resources through thinking more altruistically.

Faith and Fortune is inspiring and well-written. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Marc Gunther's superb Faith and Fortune explores a variety of businesses whose managers have been guided by values as well as by profit.

Two aspects of this book are especially compelling: (1)Gunther does not shy away from a discussion of spiritual values-- a subject often greeted with unease or disdain by the business community; and (2)Gunther reports the ups and downs of the companies he covers-- his book is honest, rather than a feel-good tract.

Gunther develops riveting profiles of executives who guide values-driven companies and their efforts to reconcile philosophy with the bottom line. An especfially dramatic example: the furniture company Herman Miller's painful downsizing after the decline of its business in the wake of the 2000-2001 downturn. Was the downsizing necessary? Yes. Was it wrenching for a company that prided itself on taking care of its workforce? Yes. And were the layoffs handled as hunanely as possible? Yes, again. As this suggests, values do not free companies from the need to make a profit-- indeed, the practice of values might raise the bar-- but Gunther introduces us to individuals who have achieved significant success in building more ethical companies while continuing to operate profitably, and that is something to cheer about. Even more cheering is that Gunther-- a senior writer for Fortune Magazine-- has explored this theme with sophistication and compassion, rather than with sentimentality, and that he has recorded both successes and setbacks.

Faith and Fortune honors businesspeople who have conducted themselves in ways consistent with the idea of a higher purpose, while continuing to grapple with the bottom line. The book is inspirational reading for the many in the corporate world who would like to see business make a positive difference, as well as for consumers interested in socially responsible purchasing or investing. Faith and Fortune also should be read widely in undergraduate and graduate business programs to spur discussion of alternative models for business success.

Bottom line: buy this book for a thought-provoking and inspiring read. And thanks to Mark Gunther for his sensitive and sophisticated handling of a worthy and sometimes controversial topic.

There's a lot to like in this book. It's comprehensive and easily the most readable 1500 page book you are ever likely to encounter.

Two substantive criticisms (i) it can be astonishingly opinionated at times. There is a pronounced pro-Bell bias and a dismissive attitude toward regulation and regulators generally. Not every reader will consider that a bad thing, but I found it shrill and annoying. (ii) The book can be very weak and frequently inaccurate when it wanders off the law and into policy analysis. I didn't sense that the authors were particularly knowledgeable about economics or technology and it showed in a poor comprehension of the reasoning behind FCC policy.

I was surprised that another reviewer recommended Benjamin's 'Telecommunications Law and Policy' as an easier introduction. Benjamin et al is an excellent casebook, but Kellogg et al is an easier read. In fact, they are excellent complements as Benjamin provides the more authoritative reference with lots of source materials. Sharon Black's book is an excellent but basic introduction to Telecom Law.

My recommendation. Read Black, then Kellogg, then Benjamin. That's not an order of preference, just the best sequence to peel away the onion of telecom law.

This is a comprehensive introduction to all sorts of telecommunications (mainly telephone regulation) issues. It's probably a bit much for the novice; something like Stuart Benjamin's Telecommunications Law and Policy is probably a better match there. But, if you want all the details, this is definitely the place to go.

This book was amazing. I could not put it down. The interesting and comprehensible writing was magnificently crafted and very thought-provoking, a real page turner.

This book gives the novice a very accessible route to the world of telecommunications and gives the expert a very comprehensive reference book. Very highly recommended. The FCC wants universal service? This book is universal in and of itself.

There isn't anything else like this on the market. It contains all the FCC and court and DOJ lore on telecom from the beginning of the century through the 1996 Act up to the present. The spicy bits apparently were written by pundit Peter Huber (who isn't identified in the listing above).

This book is not fiction. The author researches REAL facts and sightings, and concludes that the saucers are interplanetary. Donald Keyhoe made a serious recearch, from an "inside" perspective , having some access to original military files. Before he started the research, he would not believe in the "visitors from space" answer. But checking thoroughly every other possible answer, he saw that they didn't fit in the sightings and the reports.
This book is a *must* have to anyone who wants to know the truth about the UFO phenomenon. It contains everything, from the reports and reactions to the military cover up. The *visitors* were here even before we were born. Anyone with a clear mind will see this.

In the realm of UFOlogy, this book was not only one of the first, but also one of the best reports ever written on the subject. I first read it in the early 1950's, and believe me, it is perhaps the one book that fueled my interest not only in UFO's but in all forms of Fortean Phenonema, both past and present for the last fifty-three years. No fadism in the pages of this excellent tome - just cold, hard, and well researched facts about a subject that is now more popular than when this book was first published in 1950.

This is a wonderful book for anyone that wants to make sense of what has been going on for long around the world. Great research book.

I found this book unsatisfactorily casual and slap-happy for the work of putative been-there-done-that expert with such lengthy tenure in and around things ufological. Yet, by reading this, I did manage to concretize a philosophical system that has been emerging for years as I read one UFO book after another--while also reading widely in other things paranormal, as well as a spate of less abstract fields, such as history, science, linguistics, anthropology, and such. Let us posit that aliens (1) exist; (2) have the technology to visit remote star systems; and (3) took greatly enhanced interest in earth only when it developed weapons systems capable of either harming other civilizations (i.e., in combination with its rocket technology) or of destroying itself (which would constitute a crying shame from the viewpoint of fundamentally beneficent aliens who respect other sentient life forms). Keyhoe leads me to believe--amid his conspiratorial musings and his subtle hints at what was meant by what was really meant by what Mr. X thought that Mr. Y intended--that they are watching us and executing a hands-off policy until such time that we pose a direct, immediate danger to ourselves (this will occur long before we pose a direct and immediate danger to exocivilizations), at which time--Starfleet-style "Prime Directives" od non-interference notwithstanding--they will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the harmonious continuation of our culture. Whether that means utterly conquering and enslaving us, or surreptitiously seizing control over certain key organs of our governments (possibly to include forging certain elements of the whole-earth government whose existence Einstein endorsed as a logical and necessary eventuality), or just providing cultural "guidance counselors," who can really say. It is indeed food for thought to ponder the likely--well, the possible--archetypal alien ethos and surmise what it might intend for us and why it should, or will, occur when the time requires it.

Written in 1950, this book cannot be said to have been influenced by the massive hype and disinformation that has surrounded the subject ever since. The author demonstrates none of the hysteria that characterizes so much of this genre. In addition to being informative, the book is a great read, more like a novel than a work of non-fiction. However, one never gets the sense that Kehoe is embellishing for effect. This is solid reporting. One element of the story that the book does not cover (as it emerged later) is the wide range in sizes these objects manifest, and their extremely varied form factors. Some, evidently, can take on the appearance of biological organisms, even quite small ones. For instance, I have seen such UFOs in my apartment, usually in the kitchen, and they look exactly like houseflies. After many years of observation, I have noted that these UFOs, for some reason unknown to me, return to their home galaxy in the Winter months, only to return in the Spring. Nowhere have I found a credible explanation for this in the extensive literature on the subject of unidentified flying objects.

Diane Beers' book gives current activists important perspective on the animal protection movement, its history, successes and failures, and provides tools and information for the work ahead. This is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it.

There has likely never been a time when the words "animal rights activism" have elicited a stronger reaction from both sides of the stockyard fence. But do we ever stop to consider how this movement began? Who were the first proponents? What were their early successes - and failures? Moreover, what can we learn from the past to gain victories for animals today?

For the thoughtful insights into these issues and more, treat yourself to Diane Beers' "For the Prevention of Cruelty: The History and Legacy of Animal Rights Activism in the United States." Beers, a professor of history at Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts, has done what a writer within the animal-rights movement probably could not: given us a narrative that is at once a straightforward, authoritative account of the origins of animal rights activism and a compelling critique of the movement's triumphs and missteps from 1866 to 1975.

Animal activism, it turns out, is nearly as old as the word "vegetarian." Both sprang from England in the middle of the 19th century - one as a way to better define a culinary choice and the other to defend those caught in the crosshairs of humanity's hunger for scientific advancement, reliable transportation, momentary amusement and animal flesh. Exploring long-forgotten files in dusty broom closets in her pursuit of history, Beers unearths a remarkable story. Some of her discoveries are no surprise, such as that the founders of animal activism were mostly women. Yet others are downright revelatory. Who knew, for example, that activists convinced the Ringling-Barnum and Bailey Circus to stop using animal acts for five years?

The author introduces us to many of the compassionate individuals who helped forge the early movement - people like Ella Wilcox Wheeler, Anna Harris Smith and Henry Bergh, whom Beers describes as "the dynamo of American animal advocacy." But it is Caroline Earle White who leaps from the pages as the most inspiring and vocal activist of the 19th century. A passionate crusader, White helped create the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1867 and later founded the Anti-Vivisection Society of America.

The ideological struggle between reform and abolition for animals was palpable as activists in the 20th century battled groups formed to promote animal exploitation, confronted the tragic confluence of shelters and medical labs and organized against factory farming. Animal activism has now matured from what detractors once regarded as "a fringe cause dominated by hysterical, primarily female sentimentalists" into a growing concern for millions of ethically minded Americans.

If "For the Prevention of Cruelty" were simply a history of animal rights activism, it would be an indispensable work, both for its social commentary and as a chronicle of humane action. But the author takes the subject a step beyond, inviting readers to consider the impact of factions within the movement coming together with environmentalism to form a powerful, united coalition for animals and the planet. We have the work of early activists to thank for what we're able to accomplish today, and we have Diane Beers to thank for a skillfully written account that brings to life their efforts on behalf of the voiceless.

Mark Hawthorne, author of
Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism

Diane L. Beers puts animal rights and the various movements that delt with and continue to deal with the abuses of animals in historical perspective. Her book is about a movement but also shows how that movement fit into the fabric of American life. Beers clearly shows how animal rights activist changed the morality of America regarding the treatment of Animals. But they did not always speak as one unified group.

As evidenced by the national sorrow and concern after the injury and death of Barbaro last year, America has come a long way from the 19th Century when work horse were routinely abused. She shows how the various factions of the movement worked together and sometimes against each other.

One of the important aspects of the book is how she demonstrates the ways in which pressure groups have used thier political power to prevent better treatment of animals.

This book has a powerful message over and above the important things it says about the history of the animal rights movements. It also shows how public opinion can be changed. It shows the importance of women and their imput into this movement. Unfortunately, it was not until post WWII America that women had positions of power, but it is still important to show how women changed America. With the roots of women's activism in the Abolitionist Movement and thier progression into temperance and peace, middle class white women made significant difference.

For the animal rights lover and the the historian, this book makes a major contribution to the literature on this subject. It also provides an important historiography of the subject pointing out what other historians have said.

Animal rights have come a long way. Their is still a need to go futher. Many law schools are now teaching classes on Animal Rights. The recent movie about Noah's Ark points out that no animals were abused in the making of that movie. Many products are advertised and free from animal experimentation. Such aspects of current life can all go back to the early movers and shakers in the animal rights movement.

We have come a long way, but need to go further to stop dog fighting, dog racing, abuses of animals in slaughter houses and also the slaughter of horses for European markets.

This work only takes the reader to 1975. Hopefully Beers will continue to story.

Reading some basic history of animal advocacy, one might be left with the impression that nothing of significance took place before the publication of Animal Liberation in 1975/ the work of Henry Spira. For The Prevention of Cruelty is a nice counter to those notions and highlights the advocacy prior to the publication of Animal Liberation -- advocacy that started shortly after the Civil War and whose leaders were steeped in the push for abolition, women's suffrage, etc.

The book is accessible and fascinating. Being involved in animal advocacy, it's heartening to know how deep our roots are, to see today's advocacy as part of a long-standing tradition, to know what has worked in the past and what has failed. Highly recommended.

I saw Diane speak at a conference and was blown away. When she introduced her book and outlined its contents, I couldn't believe this story hadn't been told before. I can safely say I think this is one of the most important books to be published - not only for the animal protection movement but for all social justice causes. Diane is an eloquent writer (and speaker), creating an interesting narrative that would interest anyone who's ever adopted a dog or a cat, given money to their local SPCA, or who works on behalf of the voiceless. I highly recommend this book!