Professional Reviews

Social Workers' Desk Reference

Published in Hardcover by Oxford University Press, USA (2002-01-17)

Author:

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A Great Refresher

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-24

I purchased the Desk Reference to study for my MSW licensure exam. It's filled with the entire scope of social work practice and it's organized in a way that the subjects connect and related well to each other. It's easy to investigate the many aspects of social work. A few more specifics and slightly more detailed articles would have been great. But those are small complaints. Overall, a great resource!

An absolute must for people in social work

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-09

This is an invaluable compendium. Many mini-articles about subjects relevant to those of us in social work. Also great for use as a study guide for the LCPC. Worth every penny.

Accessible & Appropriate

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-23

I have already used this in my beginning clinical social work practice when I needed a refresher on theory, assessment tools, etc. Easy-to-apply reference book.

A wonderful social work treasure

Helpful Votes: 21 out of 21 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-23

An impressive, professionally prepared practice guide was born in 2002 for social workers. Professors Roberts and Greene include 146 topics that are relevant to social work practice in this desk reference. This exciting guide, that is divided into sixteen parts, not only provides the essential components for social work practice, but also presents the most informative discussions about how to enhance knowledge, skills and values for use in social work education. This book is also an encyclopedia for social work practitioners. It provides a clear picture of how skills are applied in different situations with contents and describes the use of case studies that are devoted to vulnerable populations, as well as to children and families with special needs. It addresses the technological, ethical and cultural issues of skill applications in direct practice and research. It also analyzes past issues, current state of practice principles, and future of social work development. Its comprehensiveness makes this guide book a social work treasure.
Monit Cheung, PhD, LMSW-ACP
Professor of Social Work
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77479, USA

A comprehensive guide

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-06

The desk reference is a good compilation of write ups on all facets of social work theory and practice. It appears to be of equal use to a social work professional or student. I bought it for my licensure exam. But it has information that will help me beyond the exam.

SONET-based Metro Area Networks

Published in Paperback by McGraw-Hill Professional (2002-06-10)

Authors: Daniel Minoli, Peter Johnson, and Emma Minoli

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The MAN Bible

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2002-09-23

A must have book. Without a doubt this is the most comprehensive book available in the industry. Great authors! Experts in telecommunication industry. Check out their other publications, all invaluable resources.

Highly Recommended

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2002-09-23

I highly recommend this book to everyone. This book is pertinent to the library of any Telecommunications Personnel. It's quite thorough and equipped with the most recent information from the telecommunications industry.

Great Resource

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2002-09-23

I have 32 years in telecommunications. This book is an exceptional resource. Every essential topic is covered and provides specific and detailed information.

Get this book

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2002-09-23

Amazing book. Best source in MAN arena. A must have!

Look at previous reviews carefully...

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-02-17

Besause they have been written by the same person. Perhaps by friends of the authors or by the publisher (I don't want to blaim the authors because they have may good books published so far and I own most of them). On the other hand these reviews don't change the fact that this is a really good book on MANs with sonet (though it is not the MAN bible). Warmly recommended.

Successful Proposal Strategies for Small Businesses 4th edition (Artech House Technology Management and Professional Developm)

Published in Hardcover by Artech House Publishers (2005-01-31)

Author: Robert, S. Frey

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A Must Read for Small Businesses That Want to Win!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-28

The best book on successful proposal strategies for small businesses available today! The 4th edition again raises the bar, incorporating the latest lessons learned and the latest techniques to consistently produce winning proposals. This book is a must read for all business development, capture management, and proposal management professionals. It serves as a tutorial as well as a reference, and is widely regarded as the Bible for small business proposals. Whether your small business is 10, 100, or 1000 employees, the application of these successful proposal strategies will increase your win rate and take your small business to the next level. The 4th edition not only provides a roadmap on how to write compliant proposals, but also how to gather and incorporate marketing intelligence [e.g., customer hopes, fears and biases] to produce the winning proposal. I highly recommend this book to all my colleagues, as this reference is equally valid for businesses of all sizes.

Exceptional & Proven Resource for Small Business Entrepreneurs

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-02

Winning proposals in the federal market space is incredibly challenging for small businesses. The 4th Edition of Robert S. Frey's book, Successful Proposal Strategies for Small Businesses, provides small business owners and managers with real-world, in-depth insights, best practices, and lessons learned to increase their proposal win rate on a sustained basis. The book is filled with hundreds of practical and field-tested ideas, templates, techniques, and methods. Successful Proposal Strategies is required reading for my management at 1-Source. Why? Because it is the single best proposal development resource on the market, period.

Book Review

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-04-04

This book is a must read for all proposal and capture professionals:

1. It is now in its 4th edition - lots of tuning, process updates, lessons learned, and continuous industry syncronization. The first edition was great, each new edition builds on that success while continuing to add more value.

2. The book is based on extensive first-hand experience with what works, what does not, and why. Bob makes effective use of collaboration with other industry leaders and introduces processes that have withstood the test of winning.

3. Although aimed at small businesses, the information is equally valid for businesses of all sizes.

4. The focus is on winning, winning, winning.

An essential resource for anyone preparing proposals

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-03-03

Bob Frey has created both a tutorial as well as a reference book that will guide you through the entire business development process from identification of opportunity through the completion and follow on activities of the proposal. It will introduce the novice to all the intricacies of proposal development and provide the seasoned veteran with new insights as we constantly endeavor to provide true value added services to our companies or clients. It is easy to read as a tutorial. It also is easy to find the answer to a particular vexing problem. It is loaded with references to informative web sites. I highly recommend it to all my colleagues whether they work for the small businesses identified in the title or for large corporations. Every consultant should have this on their bookshelf.

The Rubber Meets the Road Guide to Successful Proposal Writing

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-01

This is THE book for small business wishing to grow and thrive in the Fed Gov market place. Robert Frey is the first author to capture the true essence of Business Development, Knowledge Management, Capture Management and Proposal Development for leveraging small, disadvantaged business such as Service Disabled Veteran Owned, 8(a), HUBZone and others into the Fed Gov, Private Sector and International market. It offers concrete, tangible, rubber-meets-the-road advice on how to succeed in these highly competitive arenas. Highly recommended reading for the company that truly desires to succeed.

The Successful Therapist : Your Guide to Building the Career You've Always Wanted

Published in Paperback by Wiley (2005-09-02)

Author: Larina Kase

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Good guide for the licensed therapist

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-13

Aimed at licensed therapists, this book makes you feel like you have your own business coach sitting alongside you. It is a well-written guide for the licensed therapist who is looking to improve his/her practice or change it altogether within a related field. - Cris Walker Roskelley, MFT, Author of the MFT Handbook titled "On the Road To Becoming a Successful Marriage and Family Therapist: An Insider's Guide From Graduate School Through Licensure... and Beyond!" On the Road To Becoming A Successful Marriage and Family Therapist

Great Book for Developing a Therapy Practice

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-06-20

If you are a therapist needing help to develop a therapy practice, this is the book for you. It's tough building a practice these days. Things are way more competitive than they have ever been. Larina Kase's book is a good step-by-step analysis of what works. I recommend it highly and am going to use it with those therapists that I coach around practice development.

Well-written, practical, and immediately useful

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-29

This is a comprehensive guide to starting a private practice that does an exceptional job combining the broader concepts of successful practice building with ample details and user-friendly examples. I found it simple to implement Dr. Kase's recommendations and quickly saw positive results in my own practice.

Clear and informative

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-22

I am part of a consultation group of early career psychologists and we regularly discuss issues related to starting and building a practice, marketing, developing a niche area, and issues related to the business of owning one's practice. This has book has been referenced numerous times by our group and has been so helpful and informative to us, particularly b/c these issues have not been taught in graduate school or in our training. I would not forge ahead in the field of psychology and in your career as a psychologist without looking at this book first.

Leslie J Hoy, MA, LPC, www.hiperformance.net

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-01

I have a private practice as well as a coaching business. I found this book full of excellent information and resources. I am now pursuing other business options as a result of reading this book. I have also purchased a number of Dr. Kase's ebooks, and have found them extremely helpful. She consistently gives you more than you pay for.

Tailing Mulligan: Mastering the Art of Workplace Communication

Published in Paperback by iUniverse (2004-03)

Author: Robert K., Jr. Skacel

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Average review score:

Excellent Resource

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-01-29

I found Dr. Skacel's book to be very enlightening to the dynamics of communications in the workplace.... and quite humourous as well. I highly recommend this book.

Mulligan delivers what the workplace needs!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-26

I loved this book! Dr Skacel delivers very practical and helpful ideas to improve communications in a cleaver and humorous way. This is a fast paced read that allows you to learn and enjoy the process. Mulligan is worth tailing for workplace communication improvement!

Great Read for CEO's & Employees Alike

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-19

Tailing Mulligan is a well-written, unique work. Skacel has created a brief and unintimidating aid for anyone, from employee to CEO, in a business setting. Because it is concise and written as a story, it is more likely to be read than any other dry textbook manual. Skacel's use of symbolic creatures conjures up images of people the reader has known or is currently encountering in the work place. The characters' experiences and lessons learned are easily remembered and applied.

A Great Tool To Enhance Your Communication Skills.

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-23

This book captures the essence of good communication skills in an enjoyable, quick read. The concepts outlined should be used in all communication, regardless of the context.

I keep it handy for quick reference.

A Must-Read for Organization Team Builders, and Players

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-28

Tailing Mulligan provides simple solutions to the big communication issues that challenge so many organizations. But what's really special about this book is the way that it is clearly written to engage and entertain the reader. For an organizational development book, Tailing Mulligan is more witty and humorous than any of the other few dozen books we've used to build a team culture in our businesss. Each communication approach detailed in Tailing Mulligan is cleverly linked to reinforce and build upon prior concepts. Plus, because this book is so easy and funny to read, it can be used as a training or team building tool for every member of virtually any organization. I've always admired authors, like Mulligan's Rob Skacel, who can make difficult concepts easy to understand and provide simple, easy-to-apply solutions. The way this book keeps you laughing is a bonus that keeps you leashed all the way to the end. Masterfully written. After finishing Tailing Mulligan, I immediately ordered copies for all of our team leaders!

Tales of a Bear Hunter: Forty-One Years of Recollections from a Professional Bear Hunter

Published in Hardcover by Safari Press (2001-01-25)

Author: Dalton Carr

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A fantastic account of a Real Bear Hunter

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-25

Having hunted with Dalton and shared the life on the hunt with him, this book is no exageration as to the skills necessary for the Bear Hunter to possess. Dalton writes as he speaks, a straight and factual dialogue of a successful hunter. He is a Master of the wild and hero to America.

Incredible Book

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-02-26

Wow! I could not put this book down! The author tells the tales in such great, vivid detail that he really puts you in the story! The wealth of knowledge gained from reading this book is awesome. Any bear enthusiast/hunter will greatly appreciate the honesty and bluntness spoken here. With good solid info on rifle calibers and ammunition and just straight common sense, this book gets the big thumbs up!

Excellent!

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-21

Too many books on hunting deer...not enough on bears. This is one of the few good bear books. It stands up there with Ben Easton's classic "Bears." Great hunting adventures with lots of good info for the aspiring bear hunter, like myself. To me, bears are the ultimate North American game, and Mr. Carr has produced an excellent source of both anecdotes and information.

Dalton Carr knows more than you do.

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-01

Even if you are a long time bear hunter, you will soon realize upon reading this book that Dalton Carr knows more about bear hunting than you do. Having taken 179 bears, this fellow has learned a few things about how do do it, and how to do it safely. His stories make for some memorable reading too.

One word of caution. If you hunt bear with muzzleloader or bow, you might not want to read this book just before heading into the woods. I just made this mistake and for the first time, I may bring a "back-up piece", juuuust in case.......

Wonderful stories and anecdotes of bear hunting

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-02-04

Dalton Carr draws upon his forty-one years of experience as a black bear hunter, predator controller on the Yakima Indian Reservation in Washington State, marshal of Red River in Colorado (where he killed "bad" bears); and a sport bear hunter in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming to write Tales Of A Bear Hunter. Dalton never used traps and dogs, but preferred to stalk his bears with a rifle and an tracking ability honed by his many years in law enforcement. Dalton shares with the reader more than wonderful stories and anecdotes of bear hunting as he reveals what to look for when tracking bear, why bear charges happen, what the best bullets and calibers are to use on bear, the best places to shoot a bear to deliver a killing shot, as well as safety issues when hunting bear. Tales Of A Bear Hunter is very highly recommended reading for anyone who has ever aspired to hunting bear with camera or with rifle, as well those with a keen interest in the rugged and demanding sport of hunting big game.

Terra: Cooking from the Heart of Napa Valley

Published in Hardcover by Ten Speed Press (2001-01)

Authors: Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani

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Average review score:

Divine food made understandable

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-25

For anyone who's dined at this gorgeous restaurant in St. Helena and wants to get better acquainted with it's secrets, this book is a must buy! I got this book as a Christmas gift for my husband and we've cooked a couple of the recipes and both turned out really well.

Outstanding

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-04

A book of artistry and inspiration, Terra is sure to please the intermediate to advance chef and their diners. A cookbook and a reference, simply wonderful.

Great resource for special occasions

Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2002-12-14

Great cookbook for those special occasions where you want to spend the time and resources on making something special. The recipes are a little more time-consuming, the ingredients a little harder to find, but the result is wonderful. Jacques Pepin is simpler (and excellent) and French Laundry Cookbook is even more complicated (but also excellent) - Terra is a great in-between.

I've cooked over 10 of their recipes already and every single one has turned out really well. They're not simple nor for a beginner cook, but if you have a little experience, it'll make for some very memorable dinners.

The desserts are especially great, as are the appetizers.

A Masterpiece for the Kitchen

Helpful Votes: 19 out of 20 total.
Review Date: 2001-03-24

For those of you fortunate enough to have dined at this world class restaurant, Hiro & Lissa'a book needs no introduction. I was fortunate enough to have found Terra shortly after it opened in 1988 (living in St. Helena at the time) & have been hooked ever since. The BEST dishes of their menus past & present are included in this beautifully illustrated book. Most importantly the instructions are well detailed & the dishes turn out exactly as they do in the restaurant. What more can I say? THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK!!!!!

Awesome and amazing...

Helpful Votes: 32 out of 33 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-02

Much like it's worthy counterpart's book (Tra Vigne), this wonderful piece should not fail to delight and please all those who happen across it.

First, if you are lucky enough to have dined at Terra, you'll already understand the beauty of (and behind) this book. Quite simply, this is a work of art. Why is that the case? Well...

Design--Beautiful graphic design and photographs. The layout is incredible and the photos are enough to make you drool.

Dialogue--Add to that delightful text and dialogue. Much closer to what this book achieves is the word "prose" as opposed to merely "text." The stories and dialogue are true pleasure to read. It makes this much more than simply a "cookbook."

Recipes--The recipes are, much like the food at the restaurant, exquisite. They are just delicious. Their difficulty ranges from relatively easy to moderately difficult. But, they are very easy to follow, making even the harder recipes accessible to the average "joe."

I strongly urge those considering this one to just go ahead and make the purchase. You will not be disappointed. It will be book you will treasure, and will reach for time and again.

Also, look into the Tra Vigne cookbook. It too is on the same level as this piece.

Time to Write: Professional writers reveal how to fit writing into your busy life

Published in Paperback by Adams Media (2008-01-01)

Author: Kelly L Stone

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Average review score:

If you really want to write...

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-15

This book is done thinking in really help those to want to write a have a lot of excuses not to do it. The book has only one supposition: You have a burning desire of writing. If you do not have it, the book most probably will failure in being useful to you. On the other hand, if you have such desire, buy the book asking for help and obey the instructions, you will receive the guide. This book will not tell you about characters nor plotting, it is extremely well focused in having time to write. Personally, my opinion is first you need to solve your life for getting time to write, after that generate a lot of pages and finally review them as required. The first step is make time to write. Without time to write you will not have a page to review or edit or show to your friends. This book will tell you how to accommodate the pieces of your life just after waking up or before going to sleep for having time to write. If you do not know where to start try this.

An inspiring and practical book for all writers

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-19

Time to Write is a must read for aspiring writers and, indeed, anyone who wishes to grow and improve writing skills-- and to deal with problems common to all writers such as getting started, finding a time and place to write, and writer's block. As writers ,we wish this valuable, well written and inspiring book had been available to us when we started years ago.
Carolyn and Jack Fleming

Time Management Tips for Aspiring Writers

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-05

Kelly Stone offers a tidy little treasure trove of inspiration and practical tips for those who want to write but who just can't find the time. She offers practical strategies on how to find nooks and crannies in one's schedule to devote to writing. View the book as a buffet of ideas. Some may not be to your liking - like getting up at 5 AM - but others may resonate with you.

Stone draws liberally from other published writers who have used various tips and tricks to fit writing in their busy schedules and reconcile with the demands of a full-time job, child-rearing etc.

I would rank this book as slightly below "Write is a Verb" by Bill O'Hanlon, but that is not a lethal criticism. Both are good books. This one focuses on the time management challenges of would-be writers.

Well worth your investment of time!

Just the motivation I needed!

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-09

The advice in this book was a kick in the pants to a procrastinator like me. It made me realize that the secluded cabin to write in wasn't going to happen, and that most successful authors struggle with time to write just like me! Some of the advice is practical and almost common sense, but good to hear just the same! This book gets a thumbs up from me!

A Quick and Informative Read

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-19

I read most of this within one sitting and found it quick and easy to read. Don't let the name fool you: yes, you will learn proven strategies for fitting writing time into a busy schedule. You will learn how some famous and successful authors make writing work for them. But you will also learn so much more - how to create an action plan for your writing; how to balance writing with your family life; etc. It's a good read.

Top Performer: A Proven Way to Dramatically Boost Your Sales and Yourself

Published in Audio CD by Hyperion (2007-01-02)

Author: Stephen C. Lundin

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Average review score:

Beyond "Fish"

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-06

Although this is a departure from author Lundin's famous "Fish" series of customer service focused books, "Top Performer" demonstrates yet another means of identifying and delivering excellent customer service. It is novel in that most people would never seriously consider a street performer to be excellent at focusing upon the "needs" of his customers and then delivering customer service that fulfills those needs. As in the "Fish" series, "Top Performer" will deliver those "light bulb goes on" moments. The lessons that it delivers are easy to recall and should be part of any process used to identify and deliver superior sales and service. This is a fast and easy read which you will end up going back to periodically for a refresher course.

Energy Plus

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-29

What a cool concept, increase the energy of yourself and those people around you. Without getting metaphysical, Lundin and Hagerman have touched on something that is real but cannot be seen. A great, fun read to keep me on the path of continuous improvement.

It's much more than a business book . . .

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-22

Lundin and Hagerman have authored a book that is surprising in its depth. A burned-out businessman goes in search of new energy to stay on top of his game. What he finds surprises him and it will surprise you, the reader!

This clever fable of life lessons from a street performer is something we all need to learn. Life is about relationships--about living the moment with gusto--about honoring mistakes and surprises, and finally about taking care of one another. The principles that spark the protagonist are good advice for life. This book is a great gift. How rare to find a "business book" that is fun to read and offers life-changing advice.

Top Read for Any Sales or Service Professional

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-30

Anyone who works in sales or customer service industries should definately read this book. It tells the story of a successful salesperson who finds that the extra hours and discipline which have worked well early in his career are no longer enough. His home life is strained, his motivation is low, and he no longer can sustain himself on the challenge of just meeting his targets. He finds the answers he needs from discussions with street performers and learns tools and strategies to excel and rekindle the excitement in his job and life. A quick and fun read full of great ideas that stick with you!

Energizing

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-04

A wonderful journey in the land of intuitive reasoning and inner potential mining. For those of us struggling in the pursuit of new business ideas or suffocating in unattainable bottom lines. Top Performer will help you tap your natural energy, awaken your curiosity and leverage your unique abilities. A truly sustainable new year's resolution!

VISA : The Power of an Idea

Published in Hardcover by Harcourt Legal & Professional Publications, Inc. (2001-04)

Author: Paul Chutkow

List price: $35.00

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Average review score:

No transactional currency is better than Visa or Mastercard

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-18

Visa & Mastercard (a.k.a. MC) are one of the major success stories in the world. And why? Because Visa & MC, in many ways, redefined what "money" is. And they did so on a monumental scale the likes of which hasn't been seen in a long long time. In case it isn't clear, visa & mc are such a major success because they regulate the transactional behavior of the currency - forcing both sides to behave & act honorably. No other currency comes close to the elegance & "user friendliness" of visa or mc.

Why carry cash or checks if you can get a visa or mc? Lose a visa or mc? No problem if you exercise due diligence in reporting it lost/stolen (not the same with cash or checks unfortunately). Order something & it doesn't get delivered? No problem more often than not (with no attorney needed) when paid for with visa or mc, again as long as due diligence is exercised in reporting the problem (not the same with cash or checks unfortunately). The list of benefits associated with visa & mc "currency" over cash & checks goes on & on. Visa & mc are available today, everywhere.

Literally don't leave home without a visa or mc (the truth of that ad phrase is ridiculously deep).

Great read about a slice of American history!

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-04

This book is a fascinating read about the history and evolution of "plastic." The book recounts how the visions and innovations of a few revolutionized the world of banking and provides an interesting profile of Visa's rise to global success. Particularly interesting was the story of Visa pioneer and innovator, Dee Hock. Additionally, the historical look at San Francisco in the late 1800s and early 1900s, both in photos and text, was a real treat, especially for this East Coast transplant to the Bay Area. The photos and graphics of Visa's early advertisements are fun to see, especially the Visa "chicks" -- an ad concept that would not fly today. This is a compelling, educational, and even inspirational story -- it's a great read and should be a welcome addition to any coffee table or library.

An impressive book

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-04-27

This is a very impressive book on many fronts. The author obviously spent quality time with Visa's people and files, because the story he recounts is very human and absorbing. You read a lot about the ills of credit cards these days, but this book sheds new light on the value and impact of bank cards. The early chapters on A.P. Giannini, the founder of Bank of America, show his passion for bringing banking services to immigrants and working people. The book tells how Giannini changed banking entirely and financed Hollywood, Walt Disney, the Golden Gate Bridge and the building of California. I know that Time Magazine named Giannini one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century. His story gives nobility of purpose to the 1950s creation of BankAmericard that later became Visa, because it was an extension of putting capital into the hands of the people. Chutkow focuses on the human side of this unfolding drama and the real-life characters involved. I don't know of any previous book that has covered this story as well. I particularly liked the chapters on the shadowy world of fighting credit card fraud. His story about Visa's staff in Asia battling "6 Fingers," a crime ring boss, is worth the price of admission. Chutkow also reveals interesting inside stuff on Visa's sponsorships of the Olympics and its battles with MasterCard and American Express. Perhaps most impressive of all is the quiet role Visa has been playing in developing countries to create the payments systems that are fostering dramatic economic growth and social change. The takeaway impression is that Visa's pedigree truly is the card of the people. This is an excellent and beautifully presented book.

Excellent enlightening book!

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-04

If you love to read books about the history of empires and success stories, you will love this! I currently work for Bank of America Bank Card Services (Visa) and I loved it. I knew a lot of the history, but there were a lot of things I didn't know.

It is a must read for anyone who works in this industry or has a card.

Love everything about it and highly recommend it.

Helpful Votes: 8 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-16

If you're looking for the more positive side of the Visa story, or of the impact of American Banking systems, this is a great start. Not a lot about statistical results and analysis, this is more of a story about the people side of building one of the largest global enterprises on the planet, and how that came about during the past 3 decades. Paul Chutkow is not a finanical analyst or banker, so he brings a fresh perspective to the story, and it's a very compelling read. This is also a story about leadership and vision, with the leading characted being Dee Hok. Paul Chutkow has captured many insights into the strategies in building Visa, and how the obstacles were overcome. The pictures of course are wonderful, and the historical views of many different phases of consumerism make this an important read for the student of payment systems. With the new dot-com startups of the day scratching their way in the markets, such as PayPal, BillPoint, and so many others, this book helps us develop a keener appreciation for the visionary and dramtic efforts of the 'fore-fathers' of the payments industry. I really enjoyed learning about the battles Dee Hok worked through to create that little start-up, to eventually be called Visa. The business development and marketing decisions in working with the International Olympic Committee are important for any marketer, and I was introduced to some important people in the the history of credit card fraud. I do recommend this book whole-heartedly, and I will be referring my asociates working in the payments and banking industries read it.

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