error Books

this is shakespeare's most accessible comedy. it's a farce about mistaken identities among identical twins. nothing complicated here. the play has it's funny moments. it's not the bard's best comedy; that's 'much ado about nothing', imho. but this is not a bad place to start.

"Methinks you are my glass, and not my brother."
So says Dromio of Ephesus, one of the members of two sets of estranged twins whose lives become comically intertwined in this delightful, ingenious, & aptly named Comedy of Errors. Being an avid Shakespeare fan and reader, I unequivocally consider The Comdey of Errors to be Shakespeare's finest and funniest comedy. Antipholus of Syracuse and his long lost twin Antipholus of Ephesus along with the two twin servants Dromio of Ephesus and Syracuse become unceasingly mistaken for each other making for a hilarious and entertaining farce of a play.

The Comedy of Errors has been copied many times since in literature, movies, & sitcoms, although it has never been duplicated.

Shakespeare's vision grew tremendously over the course of his writing career. However, this play demonstrates that his uncanny power as an artist grew quickly and was present in some form from the very begining. It is exceedingly hard to buy the common notion that this was his first comedy when it is so much better than "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" in nearly every way. The dialogue is fast paced and screamingly funny. The characters interesting if broad and there are some surprising touches that, aside from being interesting in and of themselves, point down the road to later, darker comedies. Chief among these is the amazing opening, perhaps still unequaled in all comedy for the level of grimness. These are the first words uttered in a play long seen as a kind of sitcom of Shakespeare's plays: "Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall, and by the doom of death end woes and all." The speaker is Egeon, a merchant about to be put to death for simply coming from the wrong country. The whole first scene feels like a cloud is hanging over it and there is a sense of fear-infused urgency that catches the mind off guard and makes the joyous, lunatic story all the more welcome while at the same time coloring it with real drama, making it all the more exciting. To be sure, there is little real depth and much of the play is like a sitcom but only the best of sitcoms and perhaps "Monty Python" at their most absurd is a better comparison. The plot is well chosen (from the Roman comic dramatist Plautus) and well handled. For some reason the play is not well known even among the early comedies which is a shame. It is probably the best of them, even surpassing the wonderful "The Taming of the Shrew". Aside from being an easy read, keep in mind the play is good to perform as it holds up well and doesn't suffer from being tinkered with. I've seen one production that was mostly straightforward but did a few weird things that worked like magic. They would've sunk almost any other Shakespeare comedy. I must also mention the last moment between the two clowns. It is as heart-warming and humane as it is funny. The master is already present AND growing. Do yourself a favor and pick up this play, you'll laugh your head off!

I recently re-read THE COMEDY OF ERRORS prior to attending The Colorado Shakespeare Festival's performance of this farce-like play under the summer stars here in Boulder. Based on Menaechmi by Plautus, William Shakespeare (1564-1616) produced this romantic comedy between the years 1592-93 and published it in the First Folio in 1623. While on its surface this early play may seem superficial and frivolous when measured against KING LEAR or HAMLET, it is not without its own unique depths. It also shows that the Bard had a sense of humor. It tells the hilarious story of two, identical twin brothers (Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus) and their identical twin servants (both named Dromio), all of whom were separated at sea during their infancy until redisdovering each other through a series of madcap mix-ups, mayhem, and mistaken identities in the apparently insane town of Epheseus. Meanwhile, Egeon (the father of the Antipholus twins), has been granted a day to raise local ransom for illegally entering Ephesus. In that day, the separated twins are reunited, Antipholus of Ephesus pays his father's ransom, and Egeon discovers his long-lost wife (Aemilia) living in the local priory. In the end, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is as much about the power of family as the search for completing oneself. It is a play that reminds me that it is perhaps better to re-read and understand Shakespeare than to devour one bestseller after the next.

G. Merritt

One of the problems that great artists present to us is where to begin in getting to know their works. Their masterworks are often so full of what they have spent a lifetime developing that most of it is lost on those who have not yet put in a significant amount of effort becoming familiar with that artist's style and means of expression. Yet, if one begins with their apprentice works one may become discouraged because they lack the miracles of the masterworks. So, where does one begin?

Shakespeare offers the reader an additional challenge of an English that is removed in style and idiom from us by 400 years. It is not an insurmountable challenge. In fact, it is quite easy to overcome with a bit of time reading it and getting into the flow. It just seems strange in the beginning, but it really does become easy to read once you spend some time with it. However, getting over that small hill has kept many from enjoying the glories of Shakespeare.

This play, "The Comedy of Errors", is clearly an early work. It has many virtues, but despite them it does not offer much of what we really value in Shakespeare. It is a very fine play and is constructed very well. It is a wonderful first work to read of Shakespeare because it is short and has a very simple plot. The new reader does not have to spend much effort contemplating characters or the immense subtlety of language of the great works. Its charms are direct and what it has to offer is pretty much on the surface of the words.

The plot is, like all farces, ridiculous. It involves twin brothers who are served by twin slaves. They are separated early in life and when the play opens one set does not know the other exists. One set (the Antipholus and Dromio from Syracuse) visits Ephesus where the other set (the Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus) lives. The play involves people confusing the two sets to the bewilderment of those suffering from the confusion. It really is quite funny. Of course, eventually, all is resolved to everyone's delight.

This edition, like all of the individual editions Arden offers of these plays, has a wonderful opening essay that offers a great deal of background on the play including a discussion of its performance history, sources, and discussion of the play itself. The appendices in the back offer excerpts from the sources and some brief information on the Gray's Inn performance of 1594.

If you desire to study Shakespeare and are willing to spend time reading many of his plays, "The Comedy of Errors" is a good work to start with just to ease into the language and get a feel for some of the conventions of Elizabethan theater. Just don't stop here. Shakespeare has so much more to offer that you owe it to yourself to continue your exploration of this supreme artist.

When reading this book you find that what's old is new and that
somethings really don't change much over time. What does change
is that the perception of market behavior can be quantified and
measured easily, when in fact, it cannot. Some of the accounts
of history date back over two hundred years, but yet are as relevant
today as when they originally happened. The facinating information
is that before the 17th Century, most of the wealth was concentrated
in the hands of landowners and royalty. There was no need for
grand financial markets since the ownership of the wealth was
passed down by death of their owners. One of the authors even
mentions "bubbles" which in today's financial lexicon is even
more relevant. If someone wants to fully understand what is
not understandable, they should purchase this book just to
enjoy the fact that they too, are not complete morons, but just
part of the crowd that thinks they are immune to the whims of
the market.

"Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" and "Confusion de Confusiones" are both works that address speculation frenzy in early financial markets but which have continued to enjoy a surprising popularity among investors centuries after they were written. Perhaps that is because a certain romanticism and distance comes with age, while at the same time these stories of speculative bubbles tell us that nothing really changes in the markets no matter how sophisticated we get. A foreword by Peter Bernstein sets the stage for the 17th century proliferation of financial instruments and pursuit of wealth. Martin S. Fridson's Introduction comments on the enduring popularity of these works, their differing perspectives on market forces, and their debunkers.

"Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" was authored by Scotsman Charles MacKay in 1841. It was a favorite book of Bernard Baruch, who wrote the foreword to the 1932 edition, a much longer work than what we see here. Only chapters relating to financial markets have been included in this Wiley Investment Classics edition. MacKay recounts three speculation frenzies and their aftermaths: The 1717 Mississippi Company of John Law and France's misadventures with paper money under the regent Duc d'Orleans, the 1711 South Sea Company bubble, and, more briefly, the "tulipmania" that overtook Holland in the 1630s. MacKay concentrates on the human behavior that drove these bubbles rather than on financial minutiae. If you're interested in learning more about John Law, father of modern finance, Millionaire by Janet Gleeson is a very readable biography.

"Confusion de Confusiones" author Joseph de la Vega wrote about what he knew personally: the stock market in late-17th century Amsterdam. The 1957 introduction by Hermann Kellenbenz includes a bio of de la Vega and helpful explanations of the types of transactions to which the work refers. The main text is a series of Dialogues between a Shareholder, a Philosopher, and a Merchant, in which the Shareholder explains the stock market, which he describes as "this enigmatic business which is at once the finest and most deceitful in Europe", the "quintessence of academic learning and a paragon of fraudulence." De la Vega uses stock of the Dutch East India Company as an example and lays the blame for price instability on syndicates of bears and bulls who conspire to move prices. I can't say that either of these works is useful -we have plenty of bubbles in our own time, after all- but they are engaging curiosities.

This was the warning shot ahead of the internet bubble. Hearing about the Dutch tulip bubble in 1995 (when I first read the book) we should have been well prepared to duck when Amazon, Ebay and their fallen comrades shot to the moon. If only we had listened...

The book clearly articulates why "The more things change, the more they stay the same" and helps us understand when to buck the herd. Perhaps a bit long, it is well written and worth the space on your nightstand.

Keep this book within handy reach for any time that you're getting a bit too smart for your britches. How otherwise intelligent and rational folk get themselves into these troubles is truly fascinating and instructive. The writing here is, of course, rather archaic to modern sensibilities (originally published in 1841) but the stories are interesting and very readable. It's tempting to read the tales as history but when I see Goggle trading at over $400.00 I scratch my head and wonder. And when I hear the president cutting taxes, increasing spending, and still assuring me that my Social Security payments are secure, well, I think there might be a few chapters still waiting to be writing in the book. A good read.

Based on the previous 5-star rave reviews written here, I decided to give this book a try, especially since it's two books for the price of one. But when I opened up the book, I discovered that you don't even get Mackay's complete book; you get just the chapters relevant to finance/investing. Because I was reading the book primarily for insight into trading/investing I thought I would make do. However there was very little of that to be found, and when it was found, it was typically written in verbose, archaic English, sandwiched between many pages of irrelevant historical minutea such as how exactly transactions were conducted in the 1700's. There are a couple good gems, but nothing which has not been repeated in more modern books in much simpler language. E.g. The Money Game by Adam Smith or Market Wizards, or Mindtraps by Barach or any of Tony Oz's books. There are sooo many good trading books out there to read that reading this was a complete waste of time.

This is a sweet little collection of some of the funniest misuse of the English language! It's nicely organized into specific categories, and I absolutely guarantee some quotes will make you cry from laughing so hard.
You'll either find yourself reading them out loud to family and friends, or copying them over and emailing them out to everyone you know!

Do you suspect that there's a book out there about how Americans sound like fools in other countries trying to speak a foreign language? (Just a little sobering thought!)

Those of you who are fans of engrish.com will love this book (and if you're not sure if you'll like this book, check out that website - they are very similar in content). This book has hilarious examples of how phrases can get mixed up in translation. I would caution, however, that there are many "adult" phrases that have sexual meanings or references to sex or bad language. Not for kids.

For those people who delight in circling garbled or gramatically incorrect headlines and roadway signs in their everyday life, this book is a surefire winner. Authors Petras and Petras take the reader on an international journey of well-intentioned but absolutely mis-used English.

This small-format paperback is broken into chapters by usage, from traveling to sightseeing to athletic events to dining to dealing with government agencies. Not surprisingly, Asian examples make up a good portion of the book, but there are also delightful entries from Italy, Russia, and European counties.

What makes this book work is the structure and commentary provided by the authors. This isn't a laundry list of goofy signs, rather, it is an intelligent anthology of English usage organized by subject matter. The authors provide commentary and introduction to all of the sayings, signs, and instructions.

Even if I do not "speech american as my mother`s tongue" I could not stop laughing reading this wonderfull book.
Made me realize how difficult it is to translate culture.

This book is interesting to those of us who study the English language as a way of life. Unfortunately, I found this book to be a bit too far on the dry side. It had the potential of being funny while being somewhat educational, but it seemed to be put together while the author was occupied with other thoughts. I came away from this book with the feeling that while the information and anecdotes included were funny and interesting, the author did not put her full energies into it's creation. I would recommend this book to anyone who travels and/or enjoys the English language, but I would preface that recommendation with a suggestion to take it for what it is worth.

This is a really clear, useful book for middle-level German (say, college 2nd semester and 2nd year?) I have this book in Spanish and the German version just seems more on-the-point and useful and easier to learn from. Highly recommended.

I recommend this book only for advanced students of German. The details are far too tedious and specific for anyone at any lower level. If you are ready for this book, however, I consider it to be brilliant. I have carefully read, marked up, and reread this book in order to move my German vastly forward. The author can seem stuffy and pedantic (his unceasing references to high German art become tedious), but he has done us a tremendous service and I compliment him with utmost praise for his incredibly practical choices for making sure that your German is always perfect. Because there are no practice exercises, I recommend underlining everything that you wish to remember and going over that material several times so that it sticks. It's worth it.

This book is like having 8 years of German lecture notes all in one book. This book amazes me every time I open it up. Notes and rules, pitfalls and mistakes, tips and charts and tables, plus more! I would recommend this book to anyone studying German!

-Dr. Kenneth

I bought this book a few days ago and i really like it. Grammar rules are well explained and there are many funny examples to illustrate those rules, which is very useful. There are also many other things here which can be very useful to people who want to learn any foreign language - paying attention to texts, songs etc in a given language is just one of many pieces of advice you can find here. I'm also really thrilled about small pieces of history of both German and English in this book (where the word "Mittwoch" comes from, for example)as it gives an additional flavor to learning German.
All in all, this isn't a book which you can use as your only resource to master German grammar but it definitely can help you to understand this language and avoid serious mistakes in using it.

I've noted that a few of the reviews for this book are doubtful as to whether or not it's sufficient enough to learn German with. I can answer that question: no, it's not. What's more is, it's not supposed to be!

This book is geared towards going over all of the most common mistakes and problems that an English speaker who is learning German will encounter in their studies. All of the questionable points of German grammar, word order, etc., that an English learner will have, is most likely covered in this book.

I generally look over something in this book *every* day, and it's helped me a great deal. Definitely 5 stars from me.

It's a small book but it does pack a punch. Most of the 25 mistakes to avoid are kind of no-brainers...like stay neat and clean in appearance. All in all it was worth the small amount I paid for it.

"Schiffman has done it again. A great back to the basics book, this should be a must read for all salespeople--new and experienced."

Stephan Schiffman, the famous master of cold calls and sales techniques, provides bite-sized tips on correcting common sales problems. He uses the same nuggets-of-advice format as in many of his other books, such as The Most Common Sales Habits of Highly Successful Salespeople, and the formula is a winner for him. His advice may sound fairly familiar, and much of it echoes his other books, though the concept that you can error-proof your sales approach is a dandy new angle. The advice is sound and is soundly given. Schiffman presents a short, brisk directory of 25 goofs to avoid and ways to fix up your sales approach in this easy-to-read booster. Maybe the simplicity and accessibility of his step by step approach explains why titles based on 10 of this or 25 of that are so popular - just as we suspect this spiffy countdown will be as well.

This book offers great little tidbits of information about common sales mistakes. It has truly improved my closing ratio. This is a great book to pull out every once in awhile when you need a boost. Sometimes it is hard to break a habit and easy to slip into an old routine.

This is back to the basics, but these basics will make or break you as in sales. A very good guide to keep on your shelf to re-read yearly and to pass on to sales personnel who seem to be floundering.

This is, indeed, a wonderful book, just as the other reviewers have said. People who are interested in language think most books on grammar and usage are entertaining even if they're really dry as dust. That's just how we are. This book, however, is much more entertaining than those that are really dry as dust.

The format of this book is easier on the eyes than many heavier tomes on usage. The pages have only a single, full column with bold heads and plenty of white space.

Bernstein has answers that can't be found elsewhere. Here's an example. Suppose you've written a paper you hope will be published in a scholarly journal. You submit the paper to your department head. He or she sends it to a peer reviewer. The reviewer writes that your ideas are "interesting, if not innovative." Based on that comment your department head refuses to submit the paper for publication. But did the reviewer mean your ideas were interesting BUT not innovative, or did he or she mean your ideas were NOT ONLY interesting BUT ALSO innovative? I checked five reference books searching for an answer. Only Bernstein came through. According to Bernstein, only tone of voice could distinguish between the two meanings, and so the construction "[this], if not [that]" should not be used in writing because of its ambiguity.

regarding the review just below, no professional editor could have written "this one earns it's cost." Oh, wait...the individual is Canadian.

There's no question that Bernstein's book has got to be on your shelf if you're a professional editor, as I am. I was happy to find it on the shelf of Amazon when all Canadian efforts to procure a copy failed (OK, I just called a few local booksellers and checked Amazon's competitor; I didn't say I'm not a _lazy_ editor sometimes).
It's a useful volume that has been used in my office to put snivelly writers back into their places as an effective "See, I _told_ you you're using those casualisms incorrectly, and Bernstein agrees with me!" atomic flyswatter ;).
I only give it 3 stars since it's dated (pub. 1966) and shows its age. Many times B. uses references to the Soviets as examples, which no doubt is amusing yet dates it somewhat. Similarly there are references to daily life and women's lowly state of the time that are quaint at best. Also I was looking for something that had a heavier grammatical bent, moreso than usage. I also am not in the newspaper business, so continual references to headlines and copy editors are not of much use to me.
All said, you must have this on your shelf, and you must read it, if you, like me, are editing for a living.
Any solid, respected tool such as this one earns it's cost the first time you can finally go after that PITA contributor who always thinks he/she can one-up you yet again in usage.

I suppose one might argue that other usage guides are perhaps more thorough and instructive but for quality none outshines The Careful Writer. Theodore M. Bernstein created a gem for the ages when he assembled this collection of some 2,000 entries. I cannot imagine how often I've consulted this text to resolve some slippery usage issue or to refine my own text.

If you need help sorting out the use gender vs. sex, for instance, here you will find that gender is a grammatical term and not at all synonymous with sex. If you are not sure whether the context demands the use of fewer or less, Bernstein will set you straight. Did your supervisor remove all the commas you correctly inserted into a report? Check out the clear, precise explanation here.

Even as the standards of language erode, there are still many who strive to uphold correctness, precision, and nuance over fad and fashion. If you can find a copy of The Careful Writer, you will have a powerful tool to help preserve the legacy of our language.

Any copy editor, writer, broadcast journalist, or English professor who does not yet have a copy of Mr. Bernstein's stellar book is bereft of one of the essential compendiums of usage. It's well worth the effort to track down and purchase this book, for you will consult it with increasing frequency as you become aware of what a rich resource it is.

As advisor to a school newspaper staff, I recommended this marvelous book to the students because it made finding the precise word or the correct pronunciation fun. Bernstein was copy editor for the New York Times; he is a true expert, with a wonderful sense of humor. I have bought a copy of "The Careful Writer" for each of five grandchildren as they were setting off to college, and now routinely give the book as a high-school graduation present.

I am writing this review only because all the other reviews are so favorable. Harington develops his settings very competently, occasionally eloquently (see Pangburn's review of 8/7/03). There is plenty of plot. I was very interested at times, and I can see how some readers might love this book. However, his characters are not really developed, and I just could not take them seriously. When he describes life in prison, he does not have the skill to transform despair and horror into art. At other times the plot reads like a TV script. Enjoy the book as a kind of historical novel, if you can, but this is not good literature.

I have so much to say about this novel; however, you should not be reading this review. Your time is much better spent reading this book and introducing yourself to the world of Stay More, Arkansas.

It is one of the most unforgettable books of all time, and the story will stay with you forever.

Harington is indeed one of our very best writers.

Like this part:

"In the last days of June, Stay More eases into the slow rhythm that will stay with it throughout July and into August: just enough rain, not very often, to settle the dust and keep things green; just enough work to keep everybody from being idle but not enough to keep them from enjoying what summer was mainly meant for: the casual contemplation of the inexorable passage of time.

Summer is a season for endurance and abidance. It is too hot to enjoy life but too green not to. And green is cool. The color alone sustained us, and was all around us, in every conceivable tint and hue."

This may be the most intimate, for me, of Harington's novels. TAOTAO was the first, and is the spine of all my Harington reading - but this one is easily the one my *girlish* heart loved most. It is the best balance of Harington's wild fancy and his talent for character development, and it is the book that feels like he must have had the same breezes in his fingers that live in Nail's trees. Merely seeing this title makes little hairs on my neck stand up a bit, this story is so affecting.

I want to go read it once more, and cry and smile as it carries me again.

I read 75-80 novels a year and this was hands down the best read of 2002. Moving, thought provoking, a wonderful historical characterization of a time and era, absolutely vivid characters, and surprises throughout. I always choose a top read of the year and this is the second time Mr Harington has topped the list for me. Not many novels make you feel you're there; this one does.

Belpher Castle, home of widowed Lord Marshmoreton. Both his children Percy and Maud, in their twenties, and his sister, Lady Caroline, along with her step-son Reginald, live at the castle, surrounded by their faithful butler Keggs, page-boy Albert and several other servants.
Maud is desperately in love with an American young man whom nobody has ever met and Lady Caroline, her aunt, resents and rejects the whole affair as it does not suit the family's aristocratic position, plus she wants her to marry Reggie, her step-son. Lord Marshmoreton, Maud's father, is actually more interested in his garden rather than in any direct involvement with his daughter's scandalous love "emergency" shall we say, but is forced to face the facts by his sister Caroline, who rules the castle (and tries to rule all their lives too) with an iron-fist hidden beyond her aristocratic subtle tones and smile.
George Bevan is an American composer in town with his show and in a case of mistaken identity, his life becomes muddled up with Belpher Castle and its inhabitants.

Firstly published in 1919, this comedy of errors is a classic and makes you laugh out laud to this day. Simply delightful British humour by the unforgettable P.G. Wodehouse.

Wodehouse is one of my favorite writers whenever I want to laugh with very witty conversations and funny situations. I like the most the way he portrays the characters and overall I know that at the end I will have a very satisfying conclusion. This book is not an exception, I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
As an extra comment I would like to add that being a Georgette Heyer fan myself, I found that his writing resembles that of Georgette Heyer in the way the characters speak. It is a treat!

Such a fun and charming book! P. G. Wodehouse has a funny, witty style of writing. His characters are wonderfully detailed, and he manages this detail in only a few paragraphs. A great blend of comedy and believable characters.
The story is set in London and a nearby castle with neighboring town. Several characters are involved in the story, each with a unique charm that you can't help falling in love with... I'd say more about them, but it would give away too much.
Highly recommended!

"A Damsel in Distress" was published in the U.S. on October 4, 1919 by George H. Doran, and then in the U.K. on October 17, 1919 by Herbert Jenkins, and it is a splendid example of early Wodehouse. This edition is part of The Collector's Wodehouse series being released by The Overlook Press (in the U.K. it is The Everyman's Wodehouse series from Everyman's Library).

As with many Wodehouse classics, this one includes a collection of colorful characters, a complex love story involving many characters, and of course the happy ending where everything works out. It is the story of an American Composer, George Bevan, who falls in love with Maud (The Earl of Marshmoreton's daughter). Maud is already in love with another American, Geoffrey Raymond, who she met in Wales the previous year. Her brother and aunt, Lord Belpher and Lady Caroline Byng oppose her getting involved with the American and want her to marry someone from her social class. There are more characters as well, including some servants, Lady Caroline's son Reggie, Lord Marshmoreton's secretary Alice Faraday, and an acquaintance of George's Billie Dore who is in the Chorus of George's latest musical comedy.

As with most Wodehouse stories, the plot is very complicated, and attempts to describe it in detail would fail to do it justice. It does involve a case of mistaken identity, a pool among the servants on who will marry Maud, and several characters finding their loves. Overall this is a very good example of a classic Wodehouse story, and it is well worth reading.

Just today I was making a list of the best-written bits in Wodehouse, and Damsel in Distress topped the list. Gracie Allen of Burns and Allen fame starred in an old black-and-white film based from this book and cast in the Billy Wilder screwball comedy vein. Arguably this book may not top the PGW cannon--nearly everyone would have a Jeeves, Mulliner or Drones book at the pinnacle of great reading--but it does contain some of the most delightful passages in Wodehouse.

The movie falls far short of the book simply because it was made when "All Singing, All Dancing"--(and no plot) was considered a good review for a movie. Any number of PGW novels critique and lampoon his experiences in Hollywood, but seeing the film first and then reading the book, one might be pleasantly surprised. For me, this novel holds up as one of the best non-Jeeves stories, others being French Leave and The Girl On the Boat.

This is another fine book by Argyris. I think this, in addition to "Strategic Organizational Change" by Beitler, is very helpful. (Beitler has an outstanding chapter on how to evaluate consultants.)

I recommend everything that Chris Argyris writes. This is no exception. This book has insight about management advice that reminds me of the work of Alfred Kieser at the University of Mannheim (Germany). I highly recommend the work of both Argyris and Kieser.

Dr. Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Change"

The author presents tools to examine advices from executives, change consultants, academics, etc., and offers four basic tests for the actionability of advice. The good advice should specify the detailed, concrete behaviors required to achieve the intended consequences; it must be crafted in the form of designs that contain causal statements; people must have, or be able to be taught, the concepts and skills required to implement those causal statements; and the context in which it is to be implemented does not prevent its implementation.

Argyris' theory of good advice, being highly practical and actionable, is based on the author's theoretical framework of "Model-II", exposed in his book "Organizational Learning II", co-authored with Donald Schoen.

The book does also contain a brilliant section about effective strategic choices, written by Roger Martin in very friendly tone. A high-quality strategic choice, according to Martin, possesses four key attributes: it is genuine; it is sound; it is actionable; and it is compelling. The section uncovers these principles in details.

The book shows the difference between external and internal employee commitment to the advices and helps to create and foster internal commitment.

You can test the actionability of the advices given in this book using these advices themselves.

I would recommend "Organizational Learning II: Theory, Method and Practice" prior to reading this book. I would also recommend "Leading the Revolution" by Gary Hamel in addition to these books.

Since you have an idea what this book is about from the other reviewers, I'll stick to my opinion of it rather than rehash what others have written.

It helped me a lot to know a bit of Argyris' other works (see his articles in Harvard Business Review for the quickest review), and also, to have read the works he critiques. While he always has such superb insights, including asking all the right questions that expose gaps in the business guru's works, because of the writing style (what it leaves out and what jumps it makes), it requires a bit of background if you're not familiar with his main points.

In any case, anyone who fancies him/herself a business consultant, or anyone who gives advice in any context, professionally or even to partners/kids/neighbors, should check out what Argyris has to say. You may find that you're not having the effect you believe you are. And that effect is like waking up from sleepwalking down the middle of a dark but busy road at night, without a flashlight.

Chris Argyris says that management advice - the content of countless seminars by management consultants and human resource professionals - rests upon a discrepancy. The goal of a more democratic workplace with empowered, internally-driven workers contradicts the actual actions executives take to produce this result. Argyris contends that much leadership, decision-making, corporate change and management advice lacks critical thinking. He urges executives to seek specific, testable, actionable advice. Role-playing and numerous examples show how advice givers may fail to understand the nature of the problems they're addressing. This book is valuable in helping managers identify flawed advice and understand why so many management initiatives fail. However, the author's own recommendations suffer from the same lack of testability. It just may not be possible to test for the effects of specific advice in complex situations. Still, this is an important book because it urges executives to think critically about the guidance they are given. We at getAbstract recommend this book to managers and to those who advise them.

Terrific thriller. Piling surprises on top of twists, Slosberg is always several steps ahead of the reader as his engrossing plot unfolds over a sixty-year timeline. The historic background has the ring of truth and the characters make every hour with the book time well spent.

I really loved this book and read it in a weekend. A page turner that I could not put down. I wish it had been longer.
I am now looking forward to Slosberg's next book!

The Hitler Error is a real page turner- clever, intriquing and plausible- fast paced with lots of twists and turns.

Do yourself a favor, buy this book before your next trip; you'll be glad you did.

The Hitler Error is a meticulously researched, densely plotted, sure-to-please page turner. Slosberg's fast-paced writing style makes this thriller a pleasure to read.

It's better than the Da Vinci Code, and I can't wait for the movie.

If you love reading about Nazis, stolen gems, secret hiding places, multiple murders, plot twists and turns, all taking place in the present, you will love Slosberg's new thriller. You won't want to put it down and the end will blow you away. Highly recommended reading and look for a movie down the road.