Z Books

Somewhere on the cover, or in the preface, or even in the introductions to other of his many profound works in the field of comparative religious studies, one will find Eliade's famous counsel: "I consider it the most significant of my books; and when asked in what order they should be read, I always recommend beginning with The Myth of the Eternal Return." One of the enduring monuments of twentieth century academic writing, The Myth of the Eternal Return expounds Eliade's seminal ruminations on the advent of the nuclear, or post-modern era - the naissance of our capacity for apocalyptic self-annihilation - an attempt to demonstrate in analyzable terms the relation between the foundations of the contemporary psyche to the seemingly adventitious madness which actively anticipates (and even militates in favor of) an end-time, an Armageddon, a Judgment Day, if you will. Eliade thus asks the arch-question: "What can protect us from the terror of history?"
The discussion is framed within a comparison between what Eliade deems as the distinctive difference between the ancient and modern, the archaic (or primitive) and contemporary world-view. The modern envisions reality as a series of events which fulminate in a linear, progressive history - a history which had a beginning and will have an end. The ancient experiences reality as an endless, cyclic repetition of primordial acts. "... the life of archaic man (a life reduced to the repetition of archetypal acts, that is, to categories and not to events, to the unceasing rehearsal of the same primordial myths) although it takes place in time, does not bear the burden of time, does not record time's irreversibility; in other words, completely ignores what is especially characteristic and decisive in a consciousness of time. Like the mystic, like the religious man in general, the primitive lives in a continual present. (And it is in this sense that the religious man may be said to be a `primitive'; he repeats the gestures of another and, through this repetition, lives always in an atemporal present.)"
Eliade points to the centrality of the lunar cycle in the mythological fabric woven from this perspective, which, to a degree, envelops our own world-view, however linear and eschatologically determinate. "The phases of the moon - appearance, increase, wane, disappearance, followed by reappearance after three nights of darkness - have played an immense part in the elaboration of cyclical concepts. We find analogous concepts especially in the archaic apocalypses and anthropogonies; deluge or flood puts an end to an exhausted and sinful humanity, and a new regenerated humanity is born, usually from a mythical `ancestor' who escaped the catastrophe, or from a lunar animal." Regeneration of humanity is thus always implied in its destruction. In the natural imaging, like the seasons, we assure ourselves, fall and dissolution are ever succeeded by renewal. "... just as the disappearance of the moon is never final, since it is necessarily followed by a new moon, the disappearance of man is not final either; in particular, even the disappearance of an entire humanity ... is never total ..." As the modern (historical) cultures translate this concept, "this optimism can be reduced to a consciousness of the normality of the cyclical catastrophe, to the certainty that it has a meaning and, above all, that it is never final... In the `lunar perspective', the death of the individual and the periodic death of humanity are necessary, even as the three days of darkness preceding the `rebirth' of the moon are necessary. The death of the individual and the death of humanity are alike necessary for their regeneration ... what predominates in all these cosmico-mythological lunar conceptions is the cyclical occurrence of what has been before, in a word, eternal return."
Due to the fact that the modern, predominantly Western model, of consciousness, primarily informed by Hebraic/Christian-Greek (teleological) influences, perceives time as a matrix for linear progress toward eschatological fulfillment, an end (and Eliade does not hesitate to analyze with his usual acumen - and here one must highlight the amazing passage where he claims that the concept of `ekpyrosis', the destruction of the world by fire, originates in early Iranian mythology - how Islam developed within this eschatological framework), we are forced to confront what he terms "the terror of history", the assertion (often stated by zealots of various stripes as fact) that human history, itself, must end. Recognition of this shift in human consciousness, from the archaic celebration of the repetition of nativity to the modern obsession with the limitation of mortality yields enormous explanatory power. In the face of the nuclear option, we must seriously consider how far such concepts as "resurrection", "rebirth" have tangible reality, not merely a traditionally assigned or contemplatively evoked meaning, but value as real states of affairs.
"Since the `invention' of faith, in the Judeo-Christian sense of the word (= for God all is possible), the man who has left the horizon of archetypes and repetition can no longer defend himself against that terror except through the idea of God . . . Any other situation of modern man leads, in the end, to despair. It is a despair provoked not by his own human existentiality, but by his presence in a historical universe in which almost the whole of mankind lives prey to a continual terror (even if not always conscious of it) . . .
In this respect, Christianity incontestably proves to be the religion of `fallen man': and to the extent to which modern man is irremediably identified with history and progress, and to which history and progress are a fall, both implying the final abandonment of the paradise of archetypes and repetition." These are the words with which the book concludes. If all that we are is the product of all that has been thought, they deserve the closest sort of reading by every thinking being. For the final abandonment, in the fine sense and print, means no less than the final abandonment of planet earth and the evolutionary project of humanity in full.

So far, this is a very good book that has a unique vision of religion. While most religion texts focus on either A) Christianity, B) Eastern Philosophy, or C) Atheist Polemics, this is an excellent study on the actual anthropological and existential functioning of religion as an entity. Along with Ludwig Feuerbach and Daniel Dennett, this stands as a very good, detached, objective study of religion as far as not being a polemic or an apology. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in general religious studies, especially if you are an Atheist and still have an interest in non-Dawkins literature on religion.

It is always a joy to read a great man's greatest book- and the author himself considered this to be the most significant of all his works. He would expand the central concepts elsewhere, but it is here that they first seem to burst forth. The way he rattles out references and examples with only a line or footnote you get the feeling that he can't be bothered with detailed analysis because he is too caught up with the central ideas and is being swept along with them. It is an infectious enthusiasm.

The central idea here is that for traditional man (man before our brief and temporary modern epoch) no act or object was real if it did not repeat or imitate an archetype. All meaning, all reality, flowed down from above. The goal was to achieve connection through the divine center with the archetype and therefore become one with the god or hero, indeed to abolish profane time itself and be transported into the mythical moment when the original model took place. This wasn't superstitious imitation; it was becoming one with true reality.

Nothing in a traditional society had any reality if it had no connection to the Divine- from buildings, cities, clothing, utensils- or your own life. The goal of life was to find the center of your being in the manner of the great heroes. Through arduous seeking and wandering through the profane and illusory earthly existence one would finally find the center and breakthrough into a life that was real, enduring, and effective.

The ultimate expression of this mode of life and behavior in the West was Platonic philosophy.

In reading this book I could not but wonder if this principle is not at the deepest core of every human being, and the reason why everything "modern" inevitably seems to be so cheap, meaningless, and illusory. Of course I am no academic specialist but rather "the cultivated man" that the author refers to in his foreward...

If I may add one more brief observation, it seems to me that an understanding of the principles of this book are key to an understanding of what 2012 really means. One of the greatest of the cosmic cycles is coming to a close. Mundane time will give way to sacred time. The actual instant of creation comes again- chaos gives way to cosmos. Regeneration is achieved by abolishing past time and reactualizing the cosmogony.

This was my second book by Mircea Eliade, but certainly not the last. It is very similar in content to his more basic introduction book "The Sacred and the Profane", detailing mostly the so-called Archaic religions views on time and space and related issues of religion. Naturally, being a bit longer, it also is more focused and in many ways more interesting for me personally, since a lot of it deals with the Indo-European concept of the ages and the Cosmos. Eliade was a professor of the history of religions at the University of Chicago, among other things, but he was also very well travelled, having studied under the guidance of an Indian yogi back in Mother India. He was born in Rumania, a contemporary of the European idealist freedom fighter Corneliu Codreanu in the 30's, and in fact a member of the Legion of the Archangel Michael, a radical "Right-wing" religious organization opposed to the project of creating a new Israel on Rumanian soil.

Although Eliade throughout his life claimed to be very "apolitical", his views on religion have a natural conservative and reactionary consequence, so hence this is for sure one of "our own boys". The book itself is split into four chapters, the first one being "Archetypes and Repetition". This is highly interesting, and details the many forms of rituals throughout the world (mostly archaic) that have been performed to re-create the cosmogony and the sacred times when the Gods or God-heroes performed the original act that the ritual today resembles. Eliade claims that for sacred rituals there is always a divine model that is more real than the perceived reality around us. He is quite clearly influenced by Platonic philosophy, with his emphasis that it is the divine celestial model that is real, the "idea", if you will, and that reality merely is a cheaper mirror copy of the celestial reality. Here we can mention for example the well-known city in the sky, or the real celestial earth.

The second chapter is "The Regeneration of Time", a chapter dealing with the idea that the world and the cosmos need regeneration, which the human races have a responsibility of helping with. The Gods spent themselves when they created the world, so hence we need to give them a little push. Often, this fell on the first time of the New Year, so hence, the Ragnarok of the cosmos fell on the last day of the year, and then the cosmos was regenerated on the first.

The third chapter is "Misfortune and History", where he does get a little political as well, dryly remarking that those that have claimed all in history is good, probably wouldn't have felt the same way had they been born in the Baltic or in the Balkans, where they for the simple reason of being neighbours with the Red Beast got invaded and killed off in millions. He then goes a little quasi-Hegelian on us, when he details how many races and cultures have though of history as theophany, that is, history as the appearance of God. He also details the various Yugas, or ages if you will, and how we are now decidedly in the Kali Yuga, the last age, known as Ragnarok to my own Germanic ancestors. If you don't believe this, turn on your television, and see how degraded the West and the world has become as of late, always deteriorating further.

The final chapter is "The Terror of History", detailing how these people acted with their knowledge that everything always returns, that unless you find a way out of the circle, your soul will always return to existence, along with the eternal cosmos. Of course, the fact that Creation will occur again and again is not something that many so-called "modern Christians" will find acceptable, but alas, this is what our ancestors believed, as well as the fact that for large parts of European Christianity, the Christological interpretation of history was merged with the Aryan one, to create a kind of "Cosmic Christianity", which was the religion that Eliade himself felt a part of.

This is of course a very shallow review of such a wide and deep book filled with examples and information to the brim, but I've read it twice in a month now, so it is certainly a wonderful book.

Highly recommended!

(I read the first English 1955-edition)

It's about time someone put together a clear and concise guide to the numerous alternative veterinary treatments available. Dr. Schwartz gives us a path to greater involvement in our pets' care, while stating clearly when to consult a health care professional. As an obedience instructor for over 20 years, I recommend this book highly to all owners of dogs and cats!

This is a fun book, especially for the beginner.
The drawing are wonderful!

This beautifully illustrated, colorful, spiralbound hardcover book would make a great gift for the dog or cat lover with an interest in natural remedies for animals. Of course it's nowhere near as thorough as Dr. Schwartz' excellent "Four Paws, Five Directions," but this A-Z guide to dozens of ailments (from abscesses and arthritis to worms and yawning) is nonetheless a solid reference for those who prefer to tackle health problems with nutrition, herbs, homeopathy, and massage instead of drugs and chemical insecticides. Don't expect elaborate treatment plans and diagnosis techniques from this little book -- just safe and natural remedies you can try at home. And yes, Dr. Schwartz does take care to point out when it's a good idea to see a professional for diagnosis/treatment.

Not only is this a great book, but Dr. Cheryl is a wonderful veterinarian!! She is incredibly intuitive and knowledgeable and my animals (cats, dogs, and horses) have been in the best of health since being under her care -- and I had some rather difficult cases.

Pretty Things Press is one of my favorite publishers--their erotica anthologies are so full of sweetness and fun!--and this volume is one of my very favorites from their catalog. Tyler Morgan's feng-shui tale shows you, in delicious detail, how dramatically a life can be turned around when the wrong person exits and the right person enters. Alice Blue's "Going the Extra Mile" is the sort of intense sexual trip that has to be read to be believed--suffice it to say that it's the kind of thing that gives exercise workouts a good name. "X-Ray Specs," by Heather Peltier, is a playful threesome adventure that makes me feel younger than I really have a right to at this point. These are just a few examples of the kinds of delights you'll find in Naughty Stories from A to Z vol. 3, and in the Naughty Stories series and other PTP series in general!

I adore the Naughty Stories books and this one is by far my favorite. The stories flow from one to the next seamlessly. My favorites were Marilyn Jaye Lewis' threesome story called "The Birthday Party," M. Christian's "Services Rendered" about a chance meeting and Alex Mendra's very surreal piece called "Zealous Therapy" that features the most unusual form of puppetry this side of "Being John Malkevich." There are 27 stories in this one (including a bonus piece from Naughty Stories 4!) and an intro by Jack Hafferkamp of Libido. It seems most genres are covered in the book: voyeurism, spanking, many menages, there is a hot story called "Quality Assurance" about a telemarketer who gets what's coming to him! -- and much more. A truly delightful collection!

Most anthologies that have numbers after them affect me like movie sequels -- the original is usually good but then each numbered sequel that folllows is progressively disappointing. Not so with these Naughty Stories from A to Z books. I was surprised by how good volume 2 was and astonished that volume 3 was actually a bit better! I started buying books in this series because Sage Vivant (who writes stories for Custom Erotica Source) had stories in them (I've ordered customized stories from her), but now I buy them because they're just excellent story collections. STRONGLY recommended!

I've read all of the Naughty Stories books now and I think this is the best one. As good as Sweet Life, Best American, and Mammoth Book series.

Want a pocket-sized paperback encyclopedic reference of herbs, vitamins, minerals and supplements which offers quick reference? Look no further than Dr. Michael Sharon's NUTRIENTS A-Z: now in its revised fourth edition, it discusses foods, herbs, vitamins, minerals and supplements in common foods from coconuts to kiwis.

The best nutritional dictionary I have ever seen.Highly informative and practical. I keep a copy in my kitchen for quick reviews of my food choices.

A must for the diet conscious, and well written in an easy to assimilate style by someone with an obvious flare for his work. A must reference book for everybody.

Too many people focus on nutrition only when they are feeling run down or ill. To maintain good health at all times, one needs to pay constant attention to the fuel that you provide to your body. The immune system relies on what we eat for the essential nutrients that it needs to combat illness. Good health is a strategy that everybody ought to employ to prevent illness and provide the body with the resources to protect itself.

This is an excellent quick reference guide to find your way amongst all the food and health products and the profusion of supplements available these days. Each entry provides a definition in plain language, i.e. what it is, where it comes from, the form it takes, how to prepare or take it, the medicinal and health benefits and the recommended daily use.

Not only foodstuffs are discussed, as the entries include related matters such as for example the acid-alkaline balance, allergy, antibiotics etc. The entries run from acacia to zinc. The book includes a list of helpful addresses and herbal suppliers in Australia, the UK and the USA and concludes with an index. I also recommend The A o Z Guide To Supplements by Phyllis A Balch and Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible.

This is an excellent starter book for people who would like to be able to do repairs and upgrades on their PC's but have had little hands-on experience.

The authors do a good job of covering a lot of areas without getting the reader lost in the technical jargon that is commom in other books of this type.

I am a teacher of computer science and I would recommend this book as a reference for anyone who owns a PC and doesn't want to pay through the nose for repairs every time their machine "coughs".

If this book saves the reader one trip to the service center then it is well worth the cost and then some. In addition it also contains some excellent advice on considerations when upgrading your current PC.

PC Repair And Maintenance: A Practical Guide by computer repair technicians Joel Rosenthal and Kevin Irwin is a do-it-yourself guide to repairing common computers (running Microsoft Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000 or XP) and is specifically meant and recommended for the non-specialist general reader. Easy-to-follow instructions, step-by-step tutorials, and an emphasis on practical and "hands-on" approaches fill the pages of this outstanding guide which is organized around the core principle that a deep understanding of "how a computer works" is not required to diagnose and repair basic problems. A superb manual for home use as a basic instructional and an ideal reference for anyone contemplating a career in the computer repair business, PC Repair And Maintenance is enhanced with a companion CD-ROM offering video tutorials on basic tasks such as installing a new memory card, hard drive, new battery, and more.

THE HARDEST PART OF A PC REPAIR OR UPGRADE IS FINDING THE CORRECT INFORMATION TO DO THE JOB. USUALLY IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSULT MANY MANUFACTURERS MANUALS FOR THE HARDWARE PORTION OF THE JOB. ONCE THE HARDWARE WORK IS DONE THE REAL FUN USUALLY BEGINS, LOCATING THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO GET THE SOFTWARE TO WORK WITH THE HARDWARE. PC REPAIR & MAINTENANCE A PRACTICAL GUIDE PROVIDES AN EASY TO UNDERSTAND, COMPREHENSIVE, SINGLE SOURCE FOR BOTH THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO REPAIR OR UPGRADE A PC. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

When I first looked at the book I thought just another PC repair book, I was right and I was wrong. What I found was a very good information for the "real" world as well a helpful tool for the A+ exam.

The main text is only about 220 pages so no one topic is coverd to far in depth. Also there is no coverage for DOS or Nt, however Windows 9X, Me, 200o and XP are discussed. The book does a fairly decent job of examining the finer points.

I also like the coverage of the hardware side of the PC world, and this book has a good blend of both sides. The amount of information makes this a good prep tool for the A+ exam, although you will other resources.

While the books does have some color photos, they should have had all the pictures in color and this could be fixed in the next release. The book comes with a cd with several videos about CPUs, motherboards and other hardware devices. This makes a great add on.

One thing that lends real credability tot eh book is the practice questions, which are written by the highly respected Christopher Crayton and based on his A+ test guide. Overall this book is a very good learning tool and needs to be given serious conmsiderationfor the certification study.

Filled with lots of photos and charts. Very thorough listings broken down by propagation category (seed, cutting, division etc) and genus listing best time, requirements, time required etc. I've been a plantaholic for about 25 years and was amazed at how much the book had to offer. With all of the photos, charts and descriptions it should be detailed enough for the beginner too.

I love this book. Beautiful color photos of propagation. We use this in our class for Master Gardeners for reference. I like the way it has seperate lists for cuttings and division and seed germination. This makes it for fast look up. I bought one for home use too. The reference part tells season to do propagation,strike time or germination time and temp. All around good reference guide.

I think this is a great book for beginner to intermediate gardeners. It's all that 90% of the people out there would ever need. The book describes several methods of propagation, then gives lists of plants and what methods to use. It doesen't cover some exotic plants, but then most people aren't trying to grow very exotic plants. I recommend it.

This is a great book for beginners as well as the seasoned gardener. Very easy to understand language and a lot of pictures. Anyone who has ever considered propagating their own plants either from seed to grafting should really consider buying this book.

As an educator, I am impressed with the ability of the author to explain how various types of disabilities affect the ability of a learning diabled person to learn. It is done in a way that is understandable to the general population. Her dedication to aid citizens with special needs to reach their potential is apparent. Her techniques for teaching individuals with special needs are simple and easily implemented. I would highly recommend this book for music teachers and parents of a person with special needs.

If you have a student with a special need or are considering teaching one, this book by Kowalski is a must-read. Kowalski, a pediatric occupational therapist and classically trained pianist, draws on her wealth of medical and musical knowledge to create an innovative approach to teaching music students with special learning needs. By giving a concise, easy to read "crash course" in several common disabilities and the body systems affected, Karen Kowalski prepares her readers for the extremely practical and applicable teaching strategies that follow. Heartwarming and inspirational, the testimonials given at the end of the book are a tribute not only to students who have persisted in music despite their personal challenges, but also to the music teachers who have encouraged these students to "[play] it their way".

This book is essential for today's piano instructor. More and more individuals with special needs are taking piano lessons, and their unique situations require a unique approach. Karen Kowalski has a proven track record, having brought the joy of playing music to students in situations where the traditional methods don't apply. This book is a great way to tap into her experience and effectiveness. Highly Recommended.

This book is enjoyable to read and provides creative, multisensory strategies for teaching piano to all types of learners.
The strategies are made clear through wonderful illustrations. I especially enjoyed the last chapter where several accomplished musicians with disabilities are described. I highly recommend this book to occupational therapists and music educators alike!

I'm Matthew Low, better known on both Pojo.com as the person who techs decks and stuff like that. I wrote one of the articles in this neat book; the Videl deck, dedicated to my sister.
This is one of the best things you can get if you want some tips starting out. Of course all card game books get outdated from time to time, but this one is all you need to catch up to right before Buu Saga. People like the almighty IQ and accomplished veterans like Zeller, Williams, and Fashbinder give their ideas. Most of the people included in this book (not all) are of the greatest there are in the game; take their advice.
It helps the person wanting to start out with a bunch of nothing, like the Cheap decks, to the tournament level ones like Richie's outdated Cell Namekian. More or less the decks are still good for the most part; make sure you swing by dbzcardgame.com and find any changes that have sprung up in the last few months.
If anything, read the articles. They are by far the most useful things you can read to help you in this game. The decks will get you started. After all, this is a beginner's book. If you are ready to go to the advanced/expert level, feel free to email me (go find my address in my article ^_^) for a deck tech or some tips.
So... I say get this book, especially if you need some help in the game of DBZCCG. It has a wealth of information you won't find ANYWHERE else. Get this. I said so.

I'm Matthew Low, better known on both Pojo.com as the person who techs decks and stuff like that. I wrote one of the articles in this neat book; the Videl deck, dedicated to my sister.
This is one of the best things you can get if you want some tips starting out. Of course all card game books get outdated from time to time, but this one is all you need to catch up to right before Buu Saga. People like the almighty IQ and accomplished veterans like Zeller, Williams, and Fashbinder give their ideas. Most of the people included in this book (not all) are of the greatest there are in the game; take their advice.
It helps the person wanting to start out with a bunch of nothing, like the Cheap decks, to the tournament level ones like Richie's outdated Cell Namekian. More or less the decks are still good for the most part; make sure you swing by dbzcardgame.com and find any changes that have sprung up in the last few months.
If anything, read the articles. They are by far the most useful things you can read to help you in this game. The decks will get you started. After all, this is a beginner's book. If you are ready to go to the advanced/expert level, feel free to email me (go find my address in my article ^_^) for a deck tech or some tips.
So... I say get this book, especially if you need some help in the game of DBZCCG. It has a wealth of information you won't find ANYWHERE else. Get this. I said so.

It's about time someone created a book about the DBZ Card Game. This game has been around for years, and there's not too many places to get information.

This book is perfect for newbies, and people that are trying to get better. I think you World Champion type guys will enjoy it too, as you finally can read about your sport. ;-)

This book has History, Killer Decks, Top 10 Lists and more. My favorite part is the Top 20 Most Collectible Cards, as I like to collect the rare ones.

There's 96 pages ... and all of them are fun to read! Pick in up!

I'm Matthew Low, better known on both Pojo.com as the person who techs decks and stuff like that. I wrote one of the articles in this neat book; the Videl deck, dedicated to my sister.
This is one of the best things you can get if you want some tips starting out. Of course all card game books get outdated from time to time, but this one is all you need to catch up to right before Buu Saga. People like the almighty IQ and accomplished veterans like Zeller, Williams, and Fashbinder give their ideas. Most of the people included in this book (not all) are of the greatest there are in the game; take their advice.
It helps the person wanting to start out with a bunch of nothing, like the Cheap decks, to the tournament level ones like Richie's outdated Cell Namekian. More or less the decks are still good for the most part; make sure you swing by dbzcardgame.com and find any changes that have sprung up in the last few months.
If anything, read the articles. They are by far the most useful things you can read to help you in this game. The decks will get you started. After all, this is a beginner's book. If you are ready to go to the advanced/expert level, feel free to email me (go find my address in my article ^_^) for a deck tech or some tips.
So... I say get this book, especially if you need some help in the game of DBZCCG. It has a wealth of information you won't find ANYWHERE else. Get this. I said so.

Tabs are very close to the actual way that Les Claypool plays his songs. Notations are a little difficult to remember, but they are the same throughout both anthologies and Sailing the Seas of Chesse (play it like it is) tab books so it isn't impossible to learn them quickly. Also be aware that a lot of the songs are played using a 6string bass (like old Les) and makes it difficult to get all of your money's worth out of it without first owning a 6string. Overall a great buy!

this sheet music just opened my eyes to how les claypool plays his songs. my skill has literally improved twice as much in a few weeks time.

this is a very good tab book. I love primus and that is probley why. You get 9 tabs or songs in one book. The songs are al popular primus songs. The thing to look at is if you are looking for a tab that you want to play it might not be the correct insterment. For example if your looking for a 4 string version of tommy the cat you wont find it here. Or if there is a banjo it will be a banjo not normal guitar. Overall this is a pretty good tab book. Make sure you like the songs on it before you buy it because this is the O-Z tab of primus and the other book is A-N.

This book is a much needed explination of the insanity of Les Claypool's bass style. His slap bass style with bits of tapping, usually on a 5 string bass, occasionally fretless. I have been trying for years to decifer les's music, and now it's finally possible. worth every penny and every second of practice. This is perfect for any primus fan who is instrumental, but be warned, Les' music "is!" as hard to play as it sounds. Have fun.

The authors define program management as "the coordinated management of interdependent projects, over a finite period of time to achieve a set of business results." The last phrase captures the dimension this book stresses for managers concerned with alignment between business strategy and the day-to-day execution of project deliverables. While this book recognizes the importance of project management as a tactical tool, its key contribution is to distinguish between the disciplines of program management and project management. This distinction is provided and explained to provide a framework for managers. Using this framework, managers will be able to ensure that products and services, however skillfully delivered, meet the overarching interests of the entire business. The authors refer to the "breakthrough" nature of this distinction. My search results for "program management" resulted in few alternatives to books on project management, but included this book. So the "breakthrough" description of this book is a reasonable one.

Chapter 1 lays out the purpose and applicability of the book, and motivates the study of program management. Part II (Managing the Program) and Part IV (The Program Manager) should be required reading in complex and dynamic environments. These chapters will help anchor program management requirements for organizations when significant priorities change in order to address new competitive or political realities.

The busier reader may choose sections for less emphasis on the first reading. I would nominate Part III (Program Management Metrics and Tools) and the first chapter of Part V (Transitioning to Program Management) for a more cursory reading the first time through. The more motivational sections (Parts I, II, and IV) will convince many readers of the value of aligning authority and communication and will challenge them to assess this alignment in their organizations.

This is by far the best book on program management that I've been able to find. Very practical and comprehensive - exactly the book I've been looking for to help me manage programs more effectively.

This fine book is a bit controversial in its contents. One might not agree on the definition of «program» the authors are espousing and use this single reason to reject the book contents as a whole. And maybe this is why «Program Management for Improved Business Results» is, to my knowledge, the first extensive book published in North America on the «elusive, misunderstood» subject of program management. I believe it took some courage to go ahead and produce this very extensive content on a subject that is currently storming boardrooms and giving headaches to senior executives, in their search for better governance of «project-oriented» business activities. An important landmark in project and program management literature, full of valuable information and propositions to tame the beast that is managing multiple projects happening together to serve a same corporate purpose. Many kudos.

Claude Emond, PMP, project management consultant and coach;
member of the Project Core Team for the development of the 1st edition of the PMI Standard for Portfolio Management and the PMI Standard for Program Management

As president of the Program Management Forum and a practicing consultant for almost 20 years in business process development, I have seen and used a lot of material related to program and project management.
I believe that this book is the best collection of valid, practical, usable information on program management that I have seen. Its basic approach is the view that program management, properly done, is a powerful, unifying mechanism for simultaneously coordinating the projects and functions with the strategic alignment, up and down the organization, of strategies, projects, and tasks.
This book clearly distinguishes the tools and functions of program management from those of project management. It clarifies the unique qualities required of a good program management system and team, outlines its unique tools and methods, and even presents a thorough discussion of program metrics, with advice how to customize them to a company's unique situation.
It includes a good presentation of unique program management tools including program portfolio maps, program road maps, program complexity assessments and many others, all of which are distinct from the standard project management tools in their role. The use of these tools is always presented in the larger context of achieving business results and implementing business strategy, not just specific project objectives - which therefore elevates program management to the role of a strategic framework.
In addition to the topic of program management itself, the book spends considerable time on the selection and development of program managers, how they differ from project managers, and how to build their supporting organizations who must implement this discipline.
Finally, the book clearly outlines ways for a company to transition to a Program Management Way of doing business and how the newly introduced role of program management must fit and collaborate with the other functions of a company to operate well.
This book is clearly the synergy of the broad corporate experience of the two of its co-authors with immense business background together with the thoroughness and ability to explain concepts of its academic, but also business-experienced co-author.
The book is absolutely worth its price, as it contains no fluff, is well organized, and is packed with relevant, practical information.
I thoroughly endorse this landmark book and recommend it to anyone wishing to implement or improve a program management organization and develop its program managers. It is easy to read, extremely comprehensive and packed with proven, practical information.