W Books

It's a very good book for use as Lactation consultunts, MD and everyone else that works with breastfeeding mothers.

AWESOME book!!! I use it constantly. I've also compared the info in the book with what my pediatrician and a lactation consultant recommend and found that the info in the book corresponds with both.

This book should be a required book for breastfeeding mothers. In our world of unedicuated medical professionals regarding breastfeeding, all mothers should be armed with this book before they see a doctor- that way you KNOW for sure if the medication really is safe, or isn't. Too many doctors will tell a mother to stop breastfeeding during medication, or to pump and dump- and that is bad advice all around. There are TONS of medications that are safe for use during breastfeeding and we need to arm ourselves and teach our doctors so that we ALL get the best treatment. GET THIS BOOK!!!!

Dr. Hale is the foremost authority on medications and breastfeeding. This book also contains pregnancy categories. A great deal of information is presented and well organized. Written so as to be readable by laypeople.

As a pharmacist, this is absolutely the first book I turn to for any question about medication and breastfeeding. It's very readable, and has both the quick, "bottom-line" recommendation and an explanation of the quality and quantity of research that led to that conclusion. I recommend it to anyone in the medical field who might encounter a breastfeeding patient as well as any woman who is currently breastfeeding or plans to in the near future. The author's website ([...]) is also useful.

If the answers you're looking for aren't here, or if you're looking for detailed recommendations about medications in pregnancy, try your local teratology information service (www.otispregnancy.org). Most of them accept calls from both the public and health care professionals, many of them handle both lactation and pregnancy questions, and it's free to call and get information. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, but I've found them a very useful resource that doesn't seem to be very well publicized.

A must buy for all erotic romance fans. Buy it, read it again and again, and let your heart be touched and your eyes be opened. You too will become a JWH fan!

All I can say is "WOW"! As a new erotica reader, this was a compelling introduction to the genre. Mac and Violet's story was hard to read at times, especially for those not familiar with BDSM, yet so moving, I couldn't put it down. It gave insight into the D/s lifestyle, and a whole new way of looking at those involved in it. I see many more erotica purchases in my future, especially by Ms. Hill.

I ordinarily find BDSM erotica degrading and it makes me uncomfortable. Not this book. I did enjoy it. The charcaters were developed beautifully. I could see the romance/affection//love between them. Not like Most BDSM erotica I have read where Dom meets sub; they engage in sex and other things and you get no character insight.

I have read several romantic erotica books and there are those I like and those I don't, but I have never been emotionally touched by an erotica story until this one! I read the book cover to cover as soon as I received it. I can't stop thinking about these characters. I think it is too far and few between that we read stories that express a strong alpha man's emotional loss of control to the right woman, because there is nothing sexier than that loss. Ms. Hill expressed that loss so vividly in through Mac's actions and in his dialogue that I literally had chills! This is my first written review because I just couldn't help myself from telling others how great this book is.

And the other reviewer is right - 5 stars is not enough for Natural Law!

This is the story of two characters who also appear in The Ice Queen, a story that I enjoyed a lot more than this one. Violet is a sexual dominant, and Mac, a cop, is a sexual submissive, even though he is controlling male, alpha-type outside of the bedroom. It turns him on to have the woman be in control, though in practice, he is caring and controlling in other ways.

Mac comes to the club where Violet 'plays' because he is undercover, looking for a female dominatrix who he believes is responsible for a string of deaths of male submissives.

I really like this author, and have been reading all her material. Unlike many erotic books, she writes with a plot and includes great characterization. This is not just a story about sex, with a little plot thrown in. This book, unlike some of her others, is not about troubled characters, however. Both Violet and Mac are comfortable with who they are. The suspense comes from the murder mystery, and there is just not quite enough of that crime element for this to get 5 stars from me. It is a very good story, nonetheless, and definitely one for fans of Joey Hill to include in their reading list. It is interesting to compare Mac with Jacob from The Vampire Queen's Servant, another character who is a dichotomy interms of a strong male who is a submissive.

Just what I needed to get started with my Garmin 76csx. Good price and arrived on time.

Excellent book for me. I bought my first GPS for hiking and canoeing and this really helped me prepare for using my GPS in combination with maps. Lots of great bits of advice and quick and dirty instruction on GPS units, maps, compass navigation etc. Most importantly I learned that one uses a GPS in combination with maps. It does not replace them and you must teach yourself solid map reading skills and good old fashioned compass navigation. This book gives you a great overview as well as just enough detail to encourage you to learn as much as you can.

This is a great resource book for any outdoor enthusiast using a handheld GPSr. The book covers all the basics from how GPSs work, to understanding waypoints and bearings, and what to do and how to recover from a navigation disaster. After reading this book you will be better prepared for any outdoor experience using a GPS to its maximum potential. Learn primitive navigation techniques, trail mapping and even highway navigation using your GPSr. This book integrates an important chapter on fusing map and compass skills to compliment your GPS. Finally, if than wasn't enough, the author Stephen Hinch manages to squeeze in a chapter on Geocaching, naviagtions games and orienteering relay races. A great addition to your library on GPS and Navigation.

As a newhbie to GPs, I found this book, Outdoor Navigation With GPS: Hiking, Geocaching,etc. easy to read and understand.
All aspects of GPS useage are covered fully and concisely.

Now in an updated second edition, Outdoor Navigation with GPS is a no-nonsense guide to basic GPS navigation skills, useful for all kinds of outdoor activities ranging from hiking, mountain biking, and fishing to geocaching, outdoor photography, canoeing/kayaking, and any other activity involving the negotiation of wild terrain. Written in a jargon-free style accessible to readers of all backgrounds, chapters cover how to program waypoint coordinates and reach them, prepare for and recover from disaster, read topographic maps, and much more. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams illustrate this "must-have" for outdoorsmen in the modern age.

Though there are some rare occasions when I indulge in a greasy, dripping with fat, and tantalizingly delicious bacon cheeseburger, I never cook meat in my home, because it smells like... well, what it is. I have a decent collection of vegetarian cookbooks, but this has become a fast favorite. I'll admit it, combining vegetables with pasta really shouldn't be much of a task for a seasoned cook such as myself, but there are some simply amazing combinations of greens, olives, pine nuts, and veggies in every color and variety that I just wouldn't have thought of on my own. I LOVE THIS COOKBOOK. The layout is fantastic, the recipes are superb, and the dishes are easy to make and taste fantastic. I live with a vegan, and she also praises every recipe that we have tried. There is a list of vegan recipes in the front of the book, but I have found that there are many recipes not included on the list where the shredded parmesan can simply be omitted. The portions are generous, but I will admit that on certain recipes I slightly increase the amount of vegetables.

Stumped at dinnertime? This book makes cooking dinner easy. Look to see what vegetables you have lying around, find the vegetable in the book, and start cooking. It's that easy. By the time the water's boiling and the pasta's cooked, your sauce is ready.

The vegetables are organized from Artichoke to Zucchini, making it easy to find what you need. The easy-to-prepare recipes are a lifesaver when you're hungry, ready for something quick and easy, and want to use up what you have in the refrigerator.

I've eaten probably two dozen of these recipes and have yet to find a dud.

There are few cookbooks that are as universally useful as this one. While the subject matter (pasta sauces) is limited, the situations in which you can use these recipes is almost limitless. The book contains simple recipes that make me think that my mom was slacking when she fed us bottled sauce when I was a child. And you can find elegant recipes that use unusual ingredients in imaginative ways. Best of all, you'll love this book if you're a budget-constained novice (like my recent college-grad brother to whom I gave this book - many of the recipes are neither expensive nor difficult) or an accomplished cook, especially in Italian cooking, looking for new ways to prepare pasta. Regardless of your situation, you can find a good recipe in this book. Frankly, this book is indispensible if you want to cook interesting pasta. My copy is so stained from the many sauces that I've cooked that I have an extra "clean" copy that I'm saving for posterity.

I have cooked recipes from this book for my Italian colleagues who were universally impressed by the results. And, quite honestly, I'm not sure if my wife would have married me if I hadn't delved into this book. The first time that I cooked "Spicy mixed peppers with basil and parmesan" was an unqualified success.

This book contains over 100 great recipes for pasta sauces, but if you want suggestions for some specific ones (the type for which you'd bend a corner of a page if you were to give the book as a gift) try (page numbers refer to the hardback version):

Cheap sauces
1) Chopped broccoli puree with garlic (pg. 65)
2) Blanched broccoli with spicy black olive vinaigrette (pg. 67)
3) Aglio e olio (a great garlic and olive oil recipe) (pg. 148)
4) Pasta alla puttanesca (pg. 290)
5) Pasta arrabbiata (pg. 296)

Sauces to impress
1) Golden Cauiflower in Spicy Tomato Sauce (pg. 101)
2) Sauteed endive with bell peppers, shallots and white wine (pg. 124)
3) Carmelized vidalia onions with black olives and rosemary (pg. 152)
4) Steamed green beans with double mushroom sauce (pg. 164)
5) Spicy mixed peppers with basil and parmesan (pg. 234)
6) Roasted red pepper sauce (pg. 238)
7) Roasted new potatoes with herbs, garlic and balsamic vinegar (pg. 248)
8) Spinach in tomato sauce with shallots and carrots (pg. 263)
9) Slow-cooked zucchini with tomato sauce (pg. 312)

Of course, almost anything else from the book is worth trying as well. These are just some recipes to start. Overall, this book is fantastic. I use it at least twice a week, and the inspiration that it has provided is even more pervasive. Grazie, Jack Bishop!

This is the best kitchen resource for pasta and vegetables! Look up the vegetables you have, and for each one, there are a bunch of great sauces to choose from. Plus he suggests substitutions or alterations. Once you've done some, you get the hang of how to mix and match to fit your pantry, or your harvest. Well-written, clear and complete... one of my most used cookbooks ever.

Outstanding book!! Simple and approachable. The most used cookbook in kitchen...Some recipes can be combined to add dimension and complexity. (Of course, as an omnivore, all recipes can be improved with a little pancetta, prosciutto or sausage, not to mention a splash of wine). Huge fan of Jack Bishop!

ps. why buy paperback? Esp. when the hardbacks are nicer and more durable...as well as cheaper!!

I love this whole series of books. As an individual who has always been interested in the anthropological and archeological study of the Native American people, I find the whole series of books to be well written with just enough historical evidence to form characters and be intriguing and interesting but without being so crammed full of information the story is lost. Another job well done.

I have read all of the current books in this series and by far this ranks as my all time favorite. There are also follow-ups that accompany this book, the Anasazi Mystery Series that greater explains in detail about events that actually led up to this book. If I could go back, I would have read those in succession first and then this book. All in all, this book has all of the great elements that I love to read about in a book. It has romance, betrayal, mystery, and complexities that are much like the human experience that occur sometimes in life. It is about the intense love shared by two people and what they sacrificed to finally be together. The consequences for their actions greatly influenced their entire community.

Engaging novel set among the Anasazi of the 1200's. Probably as close to an actual living breathing recreation of that culture as anyone will ever write. These authors do not begin with a modern Christian perspective and proceed from there, they take the good and bad, humorous and shocking of a past nation and tell it like it was, "warts and all.'

at first it was hard for me to get in this story but after a 4th to half of the book it got better and I could not put it down. this book goes good with the new book MOON and the Anazazi triogy books.

I really enjoy this series in my oppion it is best to read the series starting with Book 1 so that you know what is being talked about. If you are a Indian or love to read about Indians and their history then this is a Great Series of Books to read. It gives great in sight to the beliefs of the Indian Nations and their ways of life.

This book is intensely disturbing, gut-wrenching and horrific... That being said, it may sound cliche, but Jeremiah Denton provides an entirely new insight into what our servicemen have endured for our country -- what he went through will hit you hard. I dare anyone to read this book and not come away a changed person in some way...

I was impressed by Denton's horrifying experiences as a POW in Hanoi for 7+ years. He accurately describes the torture he and his fellow POWs experienced for several years before the tides of war slowly changed in the early '70s which lessened the tortures they were receiving. You, as a reader, are right there with Denton in his cell as he learns the tap codes and other methods of communication; how he is horribly punished and tortured for communicating and not cooperating. One has to ask oneself, "How would I have handled this situation?" To be locked in Alcatraz for several years in solitary confinement and wondering how to cope with it...what would YOU do?

I had seen the film of Denton's return in the movie, Dear America: Letters Home from Viet Nam and never really understood his horrible times in the Hanoi Hilton. Now, I do. A treasure of a read to add to any library. The only drawback...not enough maps to put his location in perspective.

Nevertheless, fascinating. In the words of his captors, "Shut mouth. Read book!"

This is one of the best books I've ever read. I have so much respect for Denton and the prisoners of war he was held in captivity with for over 7 years. It amazes me that anyone could survive within that environment. These soldiers helped each other survive under great distress -- even while many of them were in solitary confinement and their story is amazing. This book isn't just a recap of Denton's experience; it contains deeply thoughtful content throughout the book about love, patriotism, encouragement and more. There is much wisdom contained in this book. I learned a lot and highly recommend it to others.

Mr. Denton and his fellow POWs are the very definition of the the word hero. In this book, Mr. Denton tells the story of his 7+ years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam with grace, dignity, and courage. His great love for the United States and his pride in being an American are evident again and again. He endured unspeakable agony and conditions so horrible they are beyond my comprehension, yet he never wavered in his love for his country, his family, and his God. I am humbled and overwhelmed at the sacrifices this man (and many others) have made on my behalf. The despicable act of the California state "leadership" and Fabian Nunez in barring Mr. Denton from speaking before a California Assembly on Independence Day 2004 is reprehensible and disgusting.

Thank you, Mr. Denton! You deserve our undying gratitude.

Here is yet another first rate tale of an American P.O.W. in North Vietnam. The prisoner is Navy pilot Jeremiah Denton, who was based on the carrier "Independence". His A6 aircraft was shot down in July of 1965. Denton spent the following 8+ years in captivity until the general release in the Spring of 1973. The title refers to the torture "sessions" Denton and his colleagues suffered at the hands of their captors. This reviewer has read several P.O.W. accounts. While all are similar in that they demonstrate great bravery and perseverance in brutal situations, each is also unique: WHWS focuses on the military command structures that existed in prison despite rigorous Vietnamese efforts to stymie them. The senior military commanders/prisoners like Admiral Stockdale, Colonel Robinson Risner and others obviously possessed a tremendous pride and strove to imbue that pride in all P.O.Ws. Denton pulls few punches. It startled this observer to learn that not all prisoners always agreed with the "program" and not all P.O.W.s were the best of buddies behind the walls. The author stresses the ubiquitous "tap code" that allowed communication within the prison walls. There is even an introductory chart to tapping! Denton glosses over his 4(!) years in solitary and concentrates on the other 4 years he was free to "mingle" with his fellow Americans. There is a noticeable lack of venom and bitterness toward the North Vietnamese in the text. The reader may suspect that Denton has come to terms with his years in the Hanoi Hilton and other garden spots of the North. WHWS is rated 5 stars with only 2 minor demerits: One is the absence of ANY maps. Most war books gloss over maps but surely the publisher could have inserted one! The other weakness is the appallingly small type in my paperback edition. Those interested in Admiral/Senator Denton's story may wish to verify before purchase how the many available editions of WHWS handle these issues.

This book is by far my favorite book on the subject. I would recommend it to anyone starting out in their teaching career. Don't be put off by the "dummies" title.

This book is very easy to read and written in an informal style, but manages to provide great tips and information to make teaching a lot easier. I haven't started teaching yet, but this book has served to warn me about some problems and experiences I may encounter. It doesn't go over what they teach you in education courses, like lesson planning and educational psychology, but it does tell you things like what to do if you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of your class and gives management, organizational, and networking tips to help you avoid having to reinvent the wheel in some areas. Overall, a good read that I found hard to put down, because it was entertaining, helpful, and oh-so-true.

I really liked this book. I was an easy read, very helpful, and humorous! I was hesitant at first because it's written by a high school teacher, and I am elementary. However, his advice, tips, and warnings apply to ALL grade levels. This book skips the educational theories, and dives right into the important things that rookies really want to know: setting up your classroom for the 1st day; getting to know parents; how to deal with your administrators; and keeping your kids under control, among many other topics. The author includes many anecdotes from his teaching career. This book is excellent; I definitely recommend!

This book is one of the best I have read on being a teacher. I am a new teacher, but have been in the classroom for 10 years. The author has a very good insight on what it is all about, from dealing with the kids, the never ending responsibilities of being in charge of a classroom and dealing with the adults involved. W. Michael Kelley has a fantastic sense of humor and gives so many inspiring examples of how to make teaching fun, not only for the teacher but for the students as well. I highly recommend this book to rookie teachers as well as veteran teachers who feel they need to revamp their teaching styles and methods.

I am in the stages of deciding whether teaching would be a good career change for myself. Michael Kelley's book has really helped me get a clear picture of what to expect in the world of teaching. It is very easy to read and fun too -- he has a wonderful sense of humor and has some great antidotes. I highly recommend this book. This one will be going in my "to keep" pile as I have highlighted quite a few passages worth remembering.

This series is great and this was another chapter in the ongoing story of Maturin and Aubrey. Their adventures are of another world and provide a great contrast to other books.

This entry in the Aubrey-Maturin seagoing saga was probably my least favorite that I've read so far in this series. My quibble was with the novel's plot, which was pretty thin and derivative of other action novels and movies. And Diana Villiers, Dr. Maturin's love, is starting to remind of the character of Irenee in The Forsythe Saga. Everyone is always talking about how fascinating she is, but darned if I can see why. On the plus side, as always O'Brian serves up amazing historical details and makes Jack and Stephen witty and real. And the on-going story of their lives advances to a very eye-opening and surprising ending. So you can bet I'll look forward to the next installment of this series.

The focus is on Stephen Maturin in this seventh installment of the Aubrey-Maturin series, which, though it isn't the best or most exciting of the first seven books, is still a ripping good read. Returning to England following their escapades in North America, Aubrey and Maturin try to settle into life at home -- Jack with his family and Stephen with his scientific pursuits -- but their pasts catch up with them, compelling them to join forces for a spur-of-the-moment mission to the Baltic. Will they succeed? Will they overcome the old problems that dog them? And just who is the surgeon's mate? Read this tale of spying, diplomacy, and (of course!) naval combat to find out.

Patrick O'Brian's scope of imagination is staggering. We are now into the seventh book in his series, and Captain "Lucky Jack" Aubrey and surgeon/naturalist/spy Stephen Maturin continue to find themselves in realistic-yet-dire circumstances of a personal, military, and intelligence nature. Through it all, these two characters never seem like invincible juggernauts, but instead very human, very capable men living by the best their wits and luck can offer.

At the outset of the novel, Aubrey and Maturin need to flee the New World for the old, but find themselves hard-pressed to do so. Thanks to Dr. Maturin's single-handed destruction of French spy networks in Boston (including a wee bit of murder), a wealthy intelligence figure hires ships to track down the fleeing Maturin. The result is a thrilling chase off Nova Scotia and the nearby waters - while I prefer Aubrey's sinking of the Dutch 74 the Waakzamheid in "Desolation Island," this chase is one of the most thrilling in the series so far.

And the joys of this novel don't stop there. O'Brian once again finds various ways to inject humor into his novel. Dr. Maturin hits a personal and professional high (as a naturalist) when he gets the chance to address a body of learned scientists in Paris . . . only to bungle the presentation horribly. Aubrey allows himself to be seduced by a wanton woman while celebrating his escape from the jail in Boston, and is confronted with news of the natural biological result of such a transgression. Maturin and Aubrey are accompanied on many of their adventures in "SM" by the Swedish captain Jagiello, a supremely attractive young man, and Aubrey finds himself at a loss as to why the women fall all over themselves for this young buck when they could have a sailor "with the handsomest set of whiskers in the fleet." There are joys in this novel that you just don't find in most swashbuckling thrillers.

But at its heart, "SM" is an adventure yarn, and O'Brian does not disappoint. In a story that sweeps from the New World to Paris to Denmark to the infamous Temple Prison back in France, Aubrey and Maturin find themselves thrown from one pan into another fire. And God bless them for it!

Confession time. THE SURGEON'S MATE is the fifth book in the "Aubrey/Maturin Series" of seafaring novels that I have completed; however, it is the seventh book in the logical series order. Having subscribed to receive the entire series, I began reading the books in the order that they arrived, assuming that the publisher would send them in proper sequence. Such turns out not to have been the case, and some of my discontent with other volumes I have reviewed derived from the fact that I had missed some events because of reading the books out of order. Allow my experience to stand as evidence that, for maximum enjoyment and even comprehension, these books should be approached in their logical sequence.

I have now edited those earlier reviews to correct any misstatements as to the books' places in the sequence of novels and have removed comments pertaining to missing events that actually were addressed in preceding volumes. Nonetheless, I find that my overall assessments of the books remain unaltered. I feel that Richard Russ (Patrick O'Brian's real name) is essentially a "three star" author. When he writes of naval engagements aboard men-of-war, sloops, frigates, and the other fighting ships whose maneuvering capabilities are largely at the whim of the prevailing winds, he is a most engaging author. However, when he delves into the interpersonal relationships of his characters, he is less successful in engaging his readers.

Two other continuing weaknesses in Russ' writing are his heavy use of now-archaic seafaring terminology that often clouds the meaning of the passage and his frustrating lack of time transitions. The first problem could have been alleviated by judicious use of explanatory footnotes. The latter could have been corrected by use of transitional commentary. As it is, however, in one sentence, the captain may call for one of his officers, and in the very next sentence he is speaking to that officer. It is as though a time warp has occurred and the officer has materialized next to his captain at the very moment he is called for. This annoying truncation of time appears in each of the five volumes I have read thus far, and I fear it is a weakness to which the author is blind and may well continue throughout the series.

By itself, THE SURGEON'S MATE, while subject to the general criticisms I have mentioned, is, by and large, readable and engaging. Is Russ/O'Brian improving as he writes additional volumes, or am I becoming accustomed to his style and more accepting of it? In either event, I found this volume a much faster and more intriguing read than some of the others I have already encountered. The single most perplexing thing about this book is its title. There is no focus on any "surgeon's mate" whatsoever, and where Russ/O'Brian found his inspiration for the title remains a murky mystery! (Some reviewers have identified the title as referring to the character of Dr. Stephen Maturin; however, he has hitherto been described as being much more than a naval surgeon, being a skilled physician while a naval surgeon was essentially limited to chopping off shattered limbs. If this is indeed Russ/O'Brian's intent, then his choice of title essentially demotes Maturin from his former position, which is not, I think, the author's intent.)

If, gentle reader, you are determined to read the entire Aubrey-Maturin series of novels, you will certainly not want to miss this one. However, you will perhaps enjoy it most if you have read the preceding six volumes first. On the other hand, if one is interested in merely sampling Russ/O'Brian's work, this would not be a bad example to choose, although I would still suggest reading at least the first work, MASTER AND COMMANDER, before delving into any of the succeeding books, including this one.

I grew up reading books like the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, The Three Investigators and the Danny Dunn series. I loved these stories and now my children read these old favorites in addition to many of the new offerings. It was my love for these stories that shaped my own children's book.John Fastramp and the Dakota 3000 Challenge

Lost books from my childhood. The writing is very clever and witty, with that old 1950's charm.

My [...]son loved these books. I've always had a hard time finding books that keep him interested all the way through. He picked up the first book and read it cover to cover.

This set of books has caused quite a stir in our home! My boys (8 and 6) love to hear us read to them so much that bedtime has often been delayed because of "just one more chapter!"

For a wonder, I never read a Hardy boys novel when I was growing up, probably because they weren't on the shelves at the librarywhere I got most of my books. Of course I saw the Disney versions and the tv series, but I never read one of the books until I was sixty one years old. Then while shopping online I found this boxed set and decided to buy it and read what the books were like.
The first thing I found was that these are not the original versions of the stories written in the late twenties and early thirties. The giveaway was when some of the villains stole a case of transister radios, which were not even invented til long after the forties. So this is the series rewritten in the sixties.
That said, the stories were ingenious and well written. Also, I liked the group of friends that were always ready to help the heroes with their adventures. Television lost out on a good thing when they did not mention these guys and girls on the shows.
After reading through the books, I passed them on to some of my friends, who are eagerly reading them, too.
These books are a good read and a fine memento of a time when it was considered possible for a pair of teenagers to take on a gang of criminals and not get killed out of hands.

This is a no none sense view of precious talent. Tulgan does an excellent job of showing managers don't have to just let their talent walk out the door. Sometimes the solution to keeping good people is a simple change of schedule of 30 to 60 minutes. This book has good ideas that don't cost money!

Winning the Talent Wars: How to Build a Lean, Flexible, High-Performance Workplace is the recent softcover edition of Tulgan's workplace classic. His workplace philosophy, "Talent is the Show" is applied to all areas of HR: staffing, compensation, coaching-style management, training, and career paths. The only difference between this book and the original hardcover edition, Winning the Talent Wars: How to Manage and Compete in the High-tech, High-speed, Knowledge-based, Superfluid Economy, is a new forward.

So we're not in the go-go late 90's early 2000's anymore.

That doesn't change the basic theme of this book.

Even in the recent economy, the power at work is shifting from the employer to the employee, especially when that employee is among the best performers.

The point Tulgan raises is that that this is not a matter of salary, but a matter of *compensation* Employees, especially the best employees, are seeking more and more to craft their own dream job or dream career. If someone doesn't get that with one employer, they are likely to leave for a place where they can come closer to accomplishing that.

What is ideal for one individual is not likely to be ideal for another individual, so Tulgan advocates a negotiation process, where the company and the supervisors, work to figure out what makes a person "tick" and to change the nature of employement to make the work environment fit that as much as possible. This could be flex schedules, work conditions, more/less travel, office location, etc.

However, this is not solely the employee in charge, as, by doing this, the business will keep their best and brightest and most productive employees, instead of losing the valuable training investments. Also, productivity will increase, and the carrot is mightier than the stick in Tulgan view (how strong is the threat of firing when people are more likely to pick up and leave?)

Tulgan also mentions thinking in terms of "work" rather than "jobs" and devotes sections of the book to management by coaching (in a number of respects) rather than "command and control."

While this book was written in 2001, the arguments are even more relevant as the economy has gotten more global, especially for the top performers. While some of the "power" may have shifted back to companies in the workplace for industries subject to outsourcing, giving them a larger worker pool, the top performers have a greater pool of EMPLOYERS. The need to have the top performers is stronger than ever.

Whether you're managing, looking to manage, or just looking at how to deal with managers (and what you CAN and SHOULD ask for as a term of employment) this book will tell you how the workplace will operate in at least the early part of this century.

The book lucidly explains the fundamental shift in employer-employee relationship in the new economy. Bruce Tulgan does an admirable job of showing that managers do not have to just let their talent walk out the door. This book has useful ideas that can save your company a lot of money. It is written in an immensely readable style and has some good humour.

Tulgan argues persuasively that in the new economy, every term of employment, including schedules, training, career paths, location, assignments, co-workers, pay, among others, will best be agreed through a negotiation process, so as to tailor it to the individual needs of the scarce talents, which he explains will enable the organization to retain the talent. Naturally, the most precious talent will have the most negotiating clout. All this entails a novel set of organizing principles for employing highly productive people in the new economy.

Companies are advised to reflect and take note of the kind of work place that Tulgan describes in his book. Unless action is taken timely to recruit and retain talent, then the future prosperity of an organization may be in doubt. As a senior manager in my organisation, the book was a wake-up call and showed me the things I can do right now to make the workplace a place where the best people will want to come to work.

The book is essential reading for both managers and workers. The managers will learn how to build a lean, flexible, high-performance workplace. The worker will be able to understand better the background of some people policies, such as why managers are more accommodating to "talents" demands and how they can adapt their aspirations accordingly.

In Good to Great, Jim Collins and his research associates learned that the great companies "...first got the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats -- and then they figured out where to drive it. The old adage 'People are the most important asset' turned out to be wrong. People are not [italics] your most important asset. The right [italics] people are."

The right people share the same values and, together, sustain their organization's commitment to those values. If involved in their organization's recruiting and interviewing process, as they should be, they will help to ensure that the right people will be hired (i.e. allowed on the "bus"). Obviously it is important to get talent and task in proper alignment. It is equally important to keep an organization's values in proper alignment with its objective.

Tulgan's important book is even more relevant and more valuable now than it was when first published about two years ago. As its subtitle correctly indicates, he explains "how to manage and compete in the high-tech, high-speed, knowledge-based, superfluid economy." That is to say, he wrote the book for decision-makers in all organizations (regardless of size or nature) to help them determine HOW to get "the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats"...and then keep them there.

All of the companies which Tulgan discusses (e.g. Johnson & Johnson and J.P. Morgan Chase) demonstrate one of Tulgan's core concepts: "In the new economy, every term of employment -- schedules, location, assignments, coworkers, pay, and more -- will be negotiation, whether you like it or not. The most valuable talent will have the most negotiating power. Every employment relationship will last exactly as long as the terms are agreeable to all parties." There is a new set of organizing principles for employing people in the new economy:

' Talent is the show.

' Staff the work, not the jobs.

' Pay for performance, and nothing else.

' Turn managers into coaches.

' Train for the mission, not for the long haul.

' Create as many career paths as you have people.

Tulgan devotes a separate chapter to each of these principles, explaining with meticulous care how to apply each to his reader's specific business situation. Note how these principles apply to any organization which competes for available talent and then is challenged to keep its best people who, more easily now more than ever before, can leave the "bus" whenever and wherever they wish. This situation is as common among the great companies whom Collins discusses as it is among the local merchants from whom we purchase various products and services.

Extensive research indicates that only one in 28-30 dissatisfied customers ever complains to the provider of the given product or service. All others simply never do business with that provider again...while continuing to express their dissatisfaction to family members, friends, and business associates. More often than not, customer dissatisfaction is the result of an unpleasant personal experience rather than because of a product defect. To extend Collins' metaphor, customers are among the "passengers" and can also get off the "bus" whenever and wherever they wish. Much has been written about the power of BUZZ (i.e. word-of-mouth) and the importance of creating "customer evangelists." From my perspective, winning the "talent war" is essential to winning the competition for customer's repeat business. A careful implementation of the strategies and tactics which Tulgan recommends in this book will help to achieve that ultimate objective.

Otherwise, not having "the right people on the bus...and in the right place," the "bus" will either never reach its destination or in the highly unlikely event that it does so, arrive with few (if any) "passengers" aboard.