Reviews (3)

Irresponsible!
I must say I agree with Cramer when it comes to the wealth of Cuban culture. However I have a few concerns about this book. A most shocking part of this book is what is not in it. While it is true that Cuban citizens have no right to bear arms since all weapons were confiscated at the start of the revolution, gun violence is still a factor to consider in Cuba. Consider the case of Joachim Løvschall a Danish student learning Spanish in Cuba who was shot in the back and killed by Cuban state security with an AK-47... In addition, I did not care to hear about how JoAnne Chesimard aka "Asaka Shakur" a fugitive from justice, convicted of killing a NJ state trooper, had learned to adapt to life in Cuba. By sharing the story of Ms. Chesimard Cramer lends credence to her "story" of persecuted victim. In addition, Cramer says he will be balanced but by mentioning the story of Ms. Chesimard an allegedly former political prisoner in the US and not mentioning the plight of dissidents in Cuba (such as Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet... his commitment falls through. The US Department of State has suggestions not mentioned in Culture Shock for those wanting to visit Cuban schools and universities...

A Great Read
I bought this book after I fell in love with the Buena Vista Social Club series and thus Cuba. It is difficult to find unbiased reporting on life in Cuba because most people have very strong feelings about this island. Cramer carefully considers all opinions but actually talks to the people who live there. He doesn't just interview those who love Castro -- in fact, most think Castro should step down. He interviews people who feel that Cuba is racist and those who feel that the "social experiment" has eliminated racism. The book is very intellectually honest which is rare any work but especially one on Cuba. Cramer demonstrates why he is horserace betting's most effective writer. He can teach while he tells amazing stories.

Cramer has written a fascinating look at an amazing island.

Gain insight *before* you go!
Culture Shock Cuba really did it for me. Any imaginable situation you get yourself in while visiting Cuba is mentioned. Coming from a Northern European culture there was just a lot for me to understand, if I didn't want to behave like a total weirdo. It is an easy and fun to read book I absolutely recommend. ... Read more

Book Description

The term "economic globalization" has been discussed extensively in the popular press, by business executives and by policy-makers all over the world. While academic economists have made some excellent contributions to specific, technical aspects of economic globalization, there appears to be a need for economists to discuss the broader aspects of the issue in a more accessible manner. Failing this, the general debate will be informed only by the writings of non-economists.

That is the motivation for this book, which is a collection of essays on various aspects of economic globalization in general, but with specific reference to Asia. ... Read more

Book Description

This book explores both the skills and the knowledge base needed for not only surviving, but also thriving, in the fast-paced, highly interconnected, world economy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent survey of common barriers to global business
Can modern business owners and managers operate in the connected global economy of this century? Global Brains covers the knowledge base and competencies needed for global competition, discussing cultural values, communication basics, and understanding global values systems. An excellent survey of the common barriers to global business relationships. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

One of the best Economic textbooks I've read
Heyne begins w/ the first principles of economics: how human beings interact on a mass scale, and the positive consequences of those actions, and the negative consequences of interferring w/ voluntary human interaction. He then carries the reader through the traditional economic concepts of Supply and Demand, Specialized Labor, Externalities...all focused through the lens of the "Economic Way of Thinking".

Make no mistake--this book is a substantive, philosophical refutation of "Statism". Heyne hits Comparative Advantage, Price Theory, Rule of Law, and Private Property hard (in the affirmative), and if you're for tariffs, regulated prices, arbitrary Gov't intervention, and public property, your views won't be validated. All the more reason for you to read this book, and understand why so many stamp their foot down against politicized economic policies that superficially sound and feel so good. Heyne's lesson is to think on a macro-scale, think about the unintended consequences of mass social change, for that is the Economic Way of Thinking.

Comparative Advantage in Price Theory
Heyne's text explains what it explains well. It is a good Freshman level price theory text. Its strengths are in explaining informational and coordination issues in markets. It does more to explain how the price system works as a communications network than any other text I have seen. It also explains the issues of property rights and transactions costs clearly.

When it comes to the public sector, it is vastly better than many other texts. There are other texts, like Gwartney and Stroup, and Ekelund and Tollinson, which are arguably better at explaining the public sector.

The biggest weaknesses of this book are in macro and international economics. Its chapters on money are ok, but it explains far too little about trade cycles. It has some good material on growth, but could explain more and in more detail. The chapter on international economics could go further as well. The shortcomings of this book likely reduce its sales. So, it seems that the marginal benefits of such revisions exceed their marginal costs.

Heyne is no longer around to revise this book, but the co-authors who took over for him could improve this book greatly for the next edition.

Outstanding
Dr. Heyne was an outstanding professor. In fact, the most memorable and influential of my college "career." You will understand from reading his books how brilliant he was.

Excellent
This book makes the complex subject of economics very easy to understand, and will cause you to think very differently about social issues. Paul Heyne is also one of the best teachers I've ever had.

Very usefull book. VERY USEFULL ONE!
If you need a textbook on Economic, and you do not know the theory, you HAVE to read it before you get started. It's also very usefull for businessmen. I've read it in Russian ... Read more

Book Description

Be comfortable and confident when visiting any Asia-Pacific country, without offending others or embarrassing yourself. Louisa Nedkov provides all the insight, information and practical advice you need to enhance your international business success and improve your foreign relations. Helping you prepare for your next business trip or vacation, Raise Your Cultural IQ: Increase Your chances for success in international business and foreign relations discusses issues such as punctuality; greetings; conversation; dress; dining etiquette; tipping; business entertaining; forms of address; gift-giving dos and don'ts; special tips for business women; and helpful local language phrases. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

First Thing to Pack for a Trip to Asia & the Pacific
This is a great book! It is incredibly information-packed and focuses on the key information a traveller needs to know, which is crucial in this part of the world where custom may prevent your hosts from letting you know you have made a terrible gaff. The book itself is amazingly compact and small in format - you will feel like you have an encyclopedia at your fingertips, while carrying something small enough that it could be packed in a purse for quick reference checks in any situation. ... Read more

Book Description

Just Business provides a thorough and invaluable framework for understanding questions of business ethics and corporate governance. What are business's proper responsibilities? Is bribery ever moral? When are takeovers and redundancy ethical? Elaine Sternberg looks at these and other issues, challenging many notions associated with the "stakeholder" approach to business. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Packed With Knowledge!
Elaine Sternberg has written an important, fascinating look at business ethics. Despite its academic presentation, it hooks you right away, and keeps you hooked. She is not fuzzy in her ethical analysis; there is no moral posturing to be found. This book is a practical decision-making guide for businesspeople. Sternberg builds an ethical framework that starts with the fundamental premise that the goal of business is to increase owner value. If an ethical issue relates to that goal, it's one you must address. If not, it's not your problem. Once you've identified an ethical dilemma that you must resolve, Sternberg guides you through a series of intellectual exercises that narrow your options, identify your constraints and ultimately help you arrive at the correct answer. We [...] recommend this book as a seminal introduction to ethical decision making for business men and women that should be read by all and referred to often.
... Read more

Book Description

- Safeguard your confidential business information - Understand the threat posed by technology - What to do if your secret gets out ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Useful for lawyers who need to learn about business
BUSINESS BASICS is a very comprehensive overview of business issues designed for law students and lawyers. Students taking a basic course in corporations or business associations will find it useful, especially if they lack a business background. It covers not only corporate law, but also such broader topics as insurance, retirement planning, real estate purchases, and the like. Relatively little traditional doctrinal analysis; more an explanation of how business works. Don't think of it as a study aid for your corporations class-think of it as a one volume equivalent of an undergraduate business administration program. On that basis, I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

This major new edition of the bestselling practical guide for managers in the new Europe has been expanded not only to cover the three new members of the European Union-Austria, Finland and Sweden--but has also been generally revised and updated to reflect international developments, including a new section on Russia. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Full of stereotypes
I bought this book hoping to gain insight into the minds and customs of my foreign business associates. I was sadly disappointed. As a European who has lived in Italy my entire life, I can say with 100% certainty that all of the information and advice in this book draws on age old stereotypes. For example, the lazy Southern Europeans, the cold Scandinavians, the pub hopping British and the industrial Germans.

This book will not help anyone improve relations with Europeans. It will only enforce false stereotypes and foster misunderstandings of other cultures.

Fantastic insight into European cultures...
John Mole isn't one of those authors who pretend to have lived what he writes about. He truly has the insight and has understood the way each culture works in Europe. If you have a hard time understanding why an Italian will act the way he does in business, or wondering why being late 5 minutes at what you thought wasn't such an important meeting was so shocking to a German, this is the book to read. Even though Mole goes into depth about the reasons behind the way the different cultures think, the details aren't gruesome and keeps the reader entertained. It seriously made me understand in some cases why my fellow international colleagues react the way they do. And I've corrected my manners to flow on a more 'neutral' basis to accomodate them in business as well....and it works!

Brilliant review of cultural management
A 1993 London FINANCIAL TIMES "Book of the Year", this book continues to be useful. John Mole's management seminars are familiar to us and his book sparks with his seminar wit. It is hard to fault his insightful analysis of cultural behaviour. As well, it is a valuable analysis of how to do business outside of one's culture. One need only to look at Mole's analysis of Germany and Russia to know that this fellow is on the ball, accurate and wonderfully precise with his words. I fully endorse this as a best buy book.

Highly recommended
This is a very useful resource. It is a little dated, but it covers the more familiar European countries, as well as the Japanese and Americans in Europe. One of the reasons it is so useful is that it gives a socio-politico-economic snapshot of the country. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Poorly researched and full of inaccuracies.
As an academic specializing in Latin American business, I have frequent contact with senior managers, politicians, and other academics in Mexico and throughout Latin America. As such, the inaccuracies in this book are plainly evident, and there are many. For a contemporary understanding of Mexico, I would instead recommend Bordering on Chaos by Andres Oppenheimer. An excellent introduction to Mexico's Colonial and Revolutionary history can be found in Blood Drenched Altars by Francis C. Kelley. But stay away from this one. ... Read more

Book Description

SmartStart was designed to eliminate financial and bureaucratic confusion by providing you with the most current contact information for federal, state, and local agencies. It also offers a detailed explanation of the legal and practical considerations of setting up a small business, and contains a long list of up-to-the-minute regulatory requirements that can help you to determine the best structure for your company, find necessary financing, develop a marketing strategy, choose the right insurance, hire and keep loyal employees, and even set up and equip your office efficiently. Small Business Development Centers and entrepreneurial education programs throughout the country currently use and recommend SmartStart books to professionals and students alike.

Detailed, accurate, and jargon-free, SmartStart is an invaluable reference for any business and includes sample forms, a sample business plan, detailed economic and demographic information, and a comprehensive guide to money resources. In addition, its appendices contain brief descriptions of each regulatory agency and provide Web site addresses, phone numbers, and other pertinent contact information. Currently available for 46 states and the District of Columbia. ... Read more

Book Description

The Other Game of Golf: Practical Principles & Strategies for Business on the Course, is not a book of "tips" or "how to's," but a "when you" book; a concise, insightful, trustworthy companion for both the novice and experienced players. It will help you understand the subtle elements that characterize the complex protocols surrounding business golf and what to do when you decide to practice and play golf's "other game."

The Other Game of Golf doesn't focus on how to hit a ball, or select equipment. Instead the authors; an experienced investment banker and a championship player with his own successful business, and a writer; define and organize a series of 45 easily recalled one-sentence principles. Understanding these principles will enable you to function confidently in a sophisticated business-golf enviroment-projecting a high level of perceived performance-regardless of your personal level of playing skill.

The Other Game of Golf provides you the previously uncollected rules of the business game-an adroit synthesis of strategic social and tactical psycological skills

Reviews (3)

Very insightful
Mr. Amster sure knows his stuff! I learned plenty of life lessons from his book. It's a must read.

Business Golf Primer
I found the book to be very informative and also provided simple anecdotes to akward situations that occur on and around a golf course

Amster nails the inner core of the grand old game.
Like a blistering drive bisecting the fairway, Brian Amster's first book goes to the very heart of every golfer's vision for the game. The authors take what for most is merely a passtime and make it something truly beneficial. What insight. What charisma. Truly, a must read for every golfer and person interested in developing their inner self. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Goof Proof Grammar is not Bullet proof
This book is extremely condensed, and contains all the essential elements of grammar. The problem is that it is not very well laid out. I would instead highly recommend "Write Right!" by J. Venolia ... Read more