Book Description

Around-the-clock tobacco talks, multibillion-dollarlawsuitsagainst the major cigarette companies, and legislative wrangling overhow muchto tax a pack of cigarettesthese are some of the most recent episodesin thewar against the tobacco companies. The Cigarette Papers shows whatstarted itall: revelations that tobacco companies had long known the grave dangersofsmoking, and did nothing about it. In May 1994 a box containing 4,000 pages of internal tobacco industrydocumentsarrived at the office of Professor Stanton Glantz at the University ofCalifornia, San Francisco. The anonymous source of these "cigarettepapers" wasidentified only as "Mr. Butts." These documents provide a shockinginsideaccount of the activities of one tobacco company, Brown & Williamson,over morethan thirty years. Quoting extensively from the documents themselves andanalyzing what they reveal, The Cigarette Papers shows what the tobaccocompanies have known and galvanizes us to take action. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

note from J. Franzen, one of the blurbists above
In the actual text, the word "shocking" was in scare quotes and meant exactly the opposite of what it seems to mean here.

For serious students of the tobacco industry
This is worth a selective read if are a serious student of the cigarette industry and how it knew early about nicotine's additive and harmful effects. It provides a good insight into the thinking and industry-wide processes. Since it quotes extensively from actual corporate memos (that were given to the Univ of California by an unknown donor) it can be dry reading at times. The authors have organized the raw material well. While this is an important book, and revealing of a rich and powerful industry, it is more useful as a reference. A more readable book on the tobacco industry is Ashes to Ashes by Richard Kluger. ... Read more

Book Description

Tree farm business management for small private landowners (those who own about 40 to 4,000 acres). This practical guide to making money in small-scale forestry is written by the major seller of open market timber in the South, who is also publisher of a quarterly newsletter which is the most widely read publication in the business. In this new edition of Tree Farm Business Management, forester Vardaman covers the basics of the business and discusses costs of management and operations, accounting procedures, tax and legal considerations, selling timber, and the role of the big timber companies. Includes case studies of successful timberland investors. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Comprehensive Forestry Book
The book helps anyone who owns or is considering buying timberland. He teaches how to value land and timber as an investment, how to market your timber, and debunks popular myths and fallacies. The book is intended to teach people how to make money from growing trees and gives only basic information on growing them.

I checked the book out of the library before buying it.

How to make money growing trees
This book covers a broad range of issues that are neccessary for someone to be a successful tree farmer. It could use more depth in some areas but over all it is a very good source of knowledge. It should be on every tree farmer's shelf. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Comprehensive Undergraduate Health Economics Book
I am completing my final semester in the Economics Department at the University of Rochester. Looking back over all of the books that I have read as an undergraduate student, this book ranks among the top three (including books from other disciplines). Dr. Phelps offers a balanced perspective on a broad selection of health-related issues. Furthermore, he constantly backs up his analysis with insightful studies and statistics. Regardless of the quality of your professor, after reading this book, you will feel knowledgeable (from an economic perspective and more) about the issues facing our health care system (and to a certain extent, even those of other countries).

Chucky Phelps
I had this guy for Health Policy. He sure loved his book. Did you know it was translated to Japanese??? Quite simply, amazing. It is a good book though. It would be nicer if it had some color pictures to spice it up a bit!

A cracking book
Having spent almost 10 years teaching health economics, I've read and used quite a few of the texts books that are around. Phelps' "Health Economics" is quite simply the best I've read bar none.

Its coverage is as comprehensive as one would want in a book of this type covering the standard demand, supply and policy issues as well as looking at specific aspects of the health economy such as medical malpractice. It is written largely from a US perspective but is by no means insular.

What I found particularly commendable in this book was its style and structure. Many books cover much of the material that is covered here but none in a fashion that is as readable, articulate or clear. Appendices are used to deal with technical issues (and deal with them in a way most students with a basic knowledge of economics will actually work through) while examples are used to provide an intuition that is often absent from other texts.

I cannot recommend the book highly enough for teaching at an undergraduate level or non-specialist postgrad level. I also recommend it as a good read for those working in the area of health economics. Quite simply a cracking book. ... Read more

Book Description

'Protective Security Law', Second Edition is a text on the legal rights available to security officers, corporations, partnerships and individually owned businesses for the protection of their property from thievery by employees, customers, and others.It was prepared primarily for non-lawyers, but it also presents thoroughly documented coverage of the entire legal spectrum for corporate counsel and individual lawyers who must advise clients regarding security operations.

In addition to its practical application, 'Protective Security Law', Second Edition is a text that is highly suitable for instructional purposes in junior colleges and other educational institutions offering courses relating to protective security.It is valuable in police training schools, because it presents a uniquely simplified treatment of the law regarding police powers of arrest, search and seizure, interrogation and other aspects of law enforcement.This reference is an invaluable source of information on the legal rights and responsibilities of security personnel and merchants regarding thievery and other intrusions upon their lawful interest.An appendix contains statutory provisions from all 50 states and the District of Columbia regarding protective issues of particular concern to merchants and security personnel.

An invaluable source of information on the legal rights and responsibilities of security personnel.
Presents a uniquely simplified treatment of the law regarding police powers.
Highly suitable for instructional purposes in junior colleges and other educational institutions offering courses relating to protective security. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A book for the Private security Pro
Here is a book of knowlege that every private security person needs. If you know the basics of the trade then this will help to fill in the planks and point out the pitfalls. In easy to read form with easy references it can provide todays security personel the things they need to know and use on dutyto make them better at their jobs. ... Read more

Book Description

Are you a CEO, company president, or front-line financial manager recently involved in a merger or acquisition? After the Merger, long hailed as the indispensable reference source for anyone entering the M&A marketplace, is your bible for keeping costly post-merger surprises to a minimum. This classic text, first published in the heady days of 1985 and now revised to reflect new realities in today's rapidly-changing business world, is packed with fascinating case histories and examples involving TWA, Wells Fargo, and others. After the Merger shows you how to roll up your sleeves and combine two separate, highly distinct companies into one solid organization. Look here for details on ways to defuse the cultural time bombs that threaten to destroy international mergers; the 6 errors that managers make again and again, and how you can avoid them; best practices for handling the 4 major categories of merger, everything from "rescue" to "raid"; and time-saving checklists for executives on both sides of the acquisition. Whether you are in the middle of a merger or acquisition or just considering the possibility — no matter what your side — you need the completely updated and revised After the Merger to guarantee long-lasting, post-merger success. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Highly Reccomended!
Despite the breathless headlines about the latest billion-dollar merger, most mergers don't work. In fact, more than half of all mergers fail, derailed by a common set of pitfalls. Companies merge without considering how they'll integrate after the deal; they don't communicate properly with their employees, and executives don't make decisions quickly enough to placate frightened workers. The executives who navigate mergers effectively are those who communicate well, deal with ambiguity and make decisions in times of instability. Author Price Pritchett offers an easily digested primer on the hazards of mergers, and lists hints for avoiding common problems. The authors provide plenty of concrete examples showing how such companies as Sony, Wells Fargo and the Chicago Sun-Times suffered from the dilemmas that accompany mergers. We ... recommend this comprehensive guide for managers on both sides of a business marriage. Caution: Read After the Merger before you merge.

Good Starting Place
As a project manager who picked up integrating a merger as one of his projects, I found this book to be very helpful. Mergers bring out confusion, tension and stress to all sides. This book focused on how to bridge these gaps through effective communication and project management.

Particularly, I found chapter 10 (General Guidelines for Merger/Acquisition Management) insightful and I used the checklists in this chapter in portions of our integration effort. What I felt this book missed were templates designed to immediately pick up and use in my everyday life.

I found the book is a quick read-I read it on one airplane trip. Many of the comments are very simple and fall into the category of common sense. However, in much of this common sense many of the problems of integrating two companies exist.

"The Authoritative Guide"? Give me a break!
This book should have been an short magazine article. The authors basically dissect one concept over and over and over: change is disruptive. There is very little useful information in this book. It points out all of the obvious and frequently-stated problems that come with change - productivity suffers, commitment is lost, etc., etc., etc., but gives no insight in how to fix the problems (unless you count these golden nuggets- "Keep your eye on the ball" and "Provide direction"). The one chapter that I hoped would shed some light on tactics - "Integration Project Management" - was pure fluff. It offered such pearls of wisdom as "It is helpful to look at the integration process as a logical sequence of steps designed to help bring the two organizations together." Not only is this a "Duh" statement, but it shows up in chapter 8! I would expect to read something like that in the introduction. And chapters 5 and 6 state that you should evaluate key talent in the aquired firm - but no where in these chapters does it tell you how to do it! I guess you have call up Pritchett & Associates (and fork over big $$) for the details. My only guess is that the authors kept the book generic on purpose so that companies would call and ask about their consulting services. My advice: save your money for a real book, and just call up Pritchett & Associates for their marketing literature. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A 'must-read' for the whole family !!
"Generation to Generation", published by Harvard Business School Press, is an attempt to model how family businesses work in essence. The authors' research include interesting vignettes and 'lessons-learned' from a variety of families; how they achieved their goals, how they resolved conflicts between family members etc. Since the topic of family business in academics is fairly new, this book can be considered as one of the best in its field.

Important topics (such as succession, development stages and inter & intragenerational issues) are covered in detail to enlighten the reader. Contrasting viewpoints are also included to make the reader think for his or herself.

In general, the book is fairly easy to read since it explains the modeling theory with examples from numerous enterprises.
I strongly recommend it all who are destined to work in the complex system called family business.

Packed with Knowledge!
Most businesses in the world today are owned by families, but only a small percentage of these companies will survive and grow into major corporations. The unique challenges posed by family ownership can undermine even the best-performing small business, as issues of control and succession permeate the generations. In Generation to Generation, the authors apply the simple premise that managing a family-owned business to a large extent means managing the family itself. To that end, they provide a rich compendium of research and strategic suggestions for those charged with making a family business work, including the consultants who guide them. We from getAbstract highly recommend this book for these applicable measures and methods, which will help the performance of both business and family.

A perfect blend of theory and practice!
The authors effectively present a theoretical, as well as practical model of family business dynamics, incorporating the complexities of development over time. This book is a must-read to gain a deep understanding of families in business from the key perspectives of familiy, business, and ownership. Their use of case examples effectively illustrate the practical application and relevance of theory. To sum it up, it's steak AND sizzle!

An excellent book for anyone interested in family businesses
I think this is one of the best books available on family businesses! I found it insightful and informative. I think anyone interested in the subject should read this book. I strongly disagree with the review that describes this book as "too theoretical." I found it immensly practical.

Nice, but too theoretical
Provides a very thorough framework for understanding and theorizing about family owned / managed businesses. When the rubber meets the road, the book does not provide enough practical advice to be useful outside of business school. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a "must have" for anyone whose job requires writing clear, professional reports, memos, e-mail, or letters.Helps readers refine their existing communications skills while learning how to communicate effectively via various mediums, including the Internet and other technologies. Listening, working in teams, and understanding nonverbal communication are also covered and a handy appendix includes grammar and usage fundamentals.For readers in all levels of business interested in improving their communications skills. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great for reference
Although I owned the 6th edition, I can say this book is a must have for everyone. Actually I was a silent person and everytime I wanted to talk, I was a bit trouble sometimes, and this book has help me communicating easier, whether it is business or general.

With this book, started with easy to understand short-theory, move into non-verbal communications, divided by step-by-step preparations, suggestions, how-to-practice, then into verbal communications with letters, from routine & persuasive messages into how to deliver bad news (one of the hardest task), how to create report, how to make visual aids, how to make presentations, and how to make a job letter.

One of greatest feature is it provides many sample letters include few other culture or other countries' style letters, and along with it, there's a reason why he or she write that. There's also some tips how to write in e-mail, or make recorded voice for telephone systems.

This is a must have for everyone, include those who never attended this lecture.

Buisness Communication today
This is a fantastic book. It can be used for reference at home and at work. It helped me fine tune my job resume and also helps in communications between companies at work. Keep this book, you never know when you need a letter format or an outline for some other form of written communication.

Comprehensive and easy to understand
This book is really good to help me understand my course. It was well developed and accounted for basic skills needed for people to develop their skills. It was full of useful, colourful illustrations and easy to comprehend. The exercises were excellent and it did make me really able to detect my mistakes. The book would be helpful for future references (example: attending interviews, writing letters). I wouldn't even trade this book with another since I found it will help me to improve my skills in communicating and writing.

The only complete book of business communication
I did enjoy every page of this book, although I haven't read all of them. It's more an encyclopedia, which you may use in your day-to-day business, than something you will read straight through over the weekend. Veryvaluable and up-to-date were the chapters about intercultural and e-mailcommunication. Strong recommendation. ... Read more

Book Description

Software has gone from obscurity to indispensability in less than fifty years. Although other industries have followed a similar trajectory, software and its supporting industry are different. In this book the authors explain, from a variety of perspectives, how software and the software industry are different--technologically, organizationally, and socially.

The growing importance of software requires professionals in all fields to deal with both its technical and social aspects; therefore, users and producers of software need a common vocabulary to discuss software issues. In Software Ecosystem, Messerschmitt and Szyperski address the overlapping and related perspectives of technologists and nontechnologists. After an introductory chapter on technology, the book is organized around six points of view: users, and what they need software to accomplish for them; software engineers and developers, who translate the user's needs into program code; managers, who must orchestrate the resources, material and human, to operate the software; industrialists, who organize companies to produce and distribute software; policy experts and lawyers, who must resolve conflicts inside and outside the industry without discouraging growth and innovation; and economists, who offer insights into how the software market works. Each chapter considers not only the issues most relevant to that perspective but also relates those issues to the other perspectives as well. Nontechnologists will appreciate the context in which technology is discussed; technical professionals will gain more understanding of the social issues that should be considered in order to make software more useful and successful. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Insightful, highly recommended
*intersection* of software and business, and the business of software. The authors draw on research in economics, IT, and strategy and bring them together to draw excellent insights at thier intersection. The book is not really about business or software per se. Depending on your background, you might want to skip entire sections that are right up your own alley. If you are a manager looking to REALLY understand how the architecture of IT systems (e.g., at the enterprise level) interacts with business strategy, this book will provide a good exposure. If you are a propellerhead or uber-geek wanting to understand more about how your work shapes, hinders, or facilitates business strategy, this book is just right. I keep up with new research developments in the business of software and feel comfortable saying that the insights in this book are not to be found in other books that exist on the market. The book is very well written, but be forewarned, it is deep. Fully appreciating it requires thought, reflection on what the authors are saying, and a tempered pace. It is not a quick read and not a "how-to" book. My only quibble with this book has nothing to do with its content: Once you get rid of the dust jacket, the quality of its binding and cover printing is absolutely shoddy. Very highly recommended and worth every penny of the forty dollar price.

Complexity Simplified
The authors write with uncommon clarity about an industry known for its complexity. Even experienced software developers can get lost in the shifting tides of technology change that periodically sweep the software industry. This book provides a way to get above the waves, and see the whole ocean.

(...)

The authors elegantly write about the interdependency of technology infrastructure and applications. Their presentation of the "chicken-and-egg conundrum" was a little depressing. I had hoped my great "CycleFree Software" invention would revolutionize software infrastructure, but after reading this book I have decided to take up writing plays for children!

Recommended as the basic work on IT industry
Varian - Shapiro "Information rules" made it worldwide. Now comes - actually from UC Berkely again - a systematic work about the thingsmany people believe to understand.

Software creation is here seen in context of industry, govrnement and economy - not only business, not merely science.

Excellent reading to get the correct ideas behind the buzzwords. Very good for people, who already got the hunch of important changes happening from Castells (Network Society).

Must Reading for Anyone in Information Technology
Messerschmitt and Szyperski have collaborated on a unique book, that provides a snapshot of the software industry from many different vantage points at a time of rapid change in both technology (components and objected oriented programming) and business models (Internet as a channel).The different vantage points they use suggest a number of trends that the software industry will follow over the next decade that are far different from that in the popular trade press or business press.They highlight why software is different intrinsically from an economics vantage point: the first release of a software product can cost significant time and money, yet further copies take relatively little to no time or money to generate; the more copies of software in use, the more valuable the software can become; experience has shown that as the number of people increases to get software product releases done, it can take more time, not less, to finish the work.This book will be like a fine wine: as it ages, it should get better. ... Read more

Book Description

Interest in intellectual property and other institutions that promote innovation exploded during the 1990s. Innovation and Incentives provides a clear and wide-ranging introduction to the economics of innovation, suitable for teaching at both the advanced undergraduate and graduate levels. It will also be useful to legal and economics professionals. Written by an expert on intellectual property and industrial organization, the book achieves a balanced mix of institutional details, examples, and theory. Analytical, empirical, or institutional factors can be given different emphases at different levels of study.

Innovation and Incentives presents the historical, legal, and institutional contexts in which innovation takes place. After a historical overview of the institutions that support innovation, ranging from ancient history through today's government funding and hybrid institutions, the book discusses knowledge as a public good, the economic design of intellectual property, different models of cumulative innovation, the relation of competition to licensing and joint ventures, patent and copyright enforcement and litigation, private/public funding relationships, patent values and the return on R&D investment, intellectual property issues arising from direct and indirect network externalities, and globalization. The text presents technical and abstract analysis and at the same time sheds light on current controversies and policy-relevant topics, including the difficulty of enforcing copyright in the digital age and international protection of intellectual property. ... Read more

Book Description

The economy may not be great, but there are still plenty of entrepreneurs around with great ideas for high-tech start-ups. If you are one of them, this book will help you succeed. It gives you all the basic information you need to make your great idea a business reality.

Updated for today's business and economic climate, the new, fully revised edition of Engineering Your Start-Up is the complete guide to launching and growing a successful high-tech company. The authors, both successful veterans of many start-ups, focus you squarely on the fundamentals of making a new business work.

They demystify the start-up process with frank advice, insider's tips, and in-depth analysis. On-point case studies show you what to do--and what to avoid. An expanded list of resources steers you to help when you need it. You'll learn what it takes for you to create and manage a start-up, and the personal characteristics required for success in your new venture.

Engineering Your Start-Up offers a dose of reality for all aspects of the start-up world. Among the topics covered: securing funding (or surviving until you do), dealing with venture capitalists, writing a business plan, creating a management team, market positioning, stock ownership and grant practices, protecting intellectual property, and many other topics.

Engineering Your Start-Up is a distillation of the key lessons of the high-tech start-up world. As a new entrepreneur, you'll find it a book you go back to again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

An excellent cookbook...I'll let you know how it works.
An excellent guide for software and hardware engineers planning to start their own business, particularly with venture capital. My entrepreneurial dreams have been centered on my dog-eared, oft-read copy of Mr. Baird's book. Just recently, I pulled the book out once again, this time to actually use the advice. So far, everything has confirmed his facts...I'll let you know if I find any holes :-)

More substantive than other high tech entrepreneurial books
I'm glad Michael L. Baird invested the time and his MBA project to share lessons he learned. His book is much more substantive than many of the high tech entrepreneurial books I've looked at. I particularly found the explanations of ownership and valuations useful. Although the examples don't reflect today's internet crazy markets, the lessons still apply.

Great real world guide
This is the first business start-up book I've found that discusses the practical realities of valuation/funding of an early stage company rather than the simple math and mechanics. Their description of the term sheet and the implications to the entrepreneur (Chapter 12) is great.

eysu.org contains the entire contents of this book online
In a bold marketing experiment, Professional Publications, Inc., has made available online at eysu.org the entire contents of this all-new 2003 2nd Edition of "Engineering Your Start-up." Every page is searchable in PDF files.
Michael Baird (co-author)

A must read for the new entrepreneur!
I wish I had read this before I created my first start-up! In this easy-to-read guide, Mike Baird walks you through the nuances of business structure and financing. Perhaps most interesting is the discussion of traits of successful founders, which prompts some introspective analysis. I'm now on my third startup, but I just read this guide to help me ask the right questions of myself and the other founders. ... Read more

Amazon

The Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado, is one of those prototypical American businesses that sprang from the efforts of a single-minded individual to become a dominant force in its industry. The elements that led to its ascension make quite a story, too: a destitute but hard-driving immigrant founder; kidnapping, suicides, and murder; secretive, right-wing politics and boisterous consumer boycotts; and, to top it off, an aristocratic ruling family that never dealt well with outsiders. To make sense of it all, former Wall Street Journal reporter Dan Baum interviewed more than 150 people, excluding, unfortunately, the primary family members, who still routinely refuse to talk to outsiders. Nevertheless, Baum tells this colorful Hollywood-esque tale in a comprehensive and compelling manner. He shows with considerable insight how the corporate and familial tone was set early by patriarch Adolph, a figure so domineering he "was still effectively running the company more than 60 years" after his death. And he shows with equal clarity why Peter, the heir, ultimately turned to an outsider to help the company address its competition in a way befitting a prototypical American business. An interesting tale, well told. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Citizen Coors: An American Dynasty
I thought the book was outstanding.It was historical, personal, tragic, economic, political and ideological.It also included incredible lessons for the business world.I have been and will continue to recommend this book to others.

Coors Family's Personal and BusinessTraumas
"Citizen Coors" is a book written about the ups and downs of the Coors family, in both the business and personal arenas. Founded by Adolph Coors, a Prussian stowaway to America, the Coors Company has been in existance now for more than 100 years and during that time, it has often found itself thrust into the spotlight over problems with employees, political involvement, and family crises and disputes.

Author Dan Baum spends a little bit of time talking about the foundation of the company, then he heads directly into the 20th century, discussing at length the Coor's family members (Bill, Joe, Adolph II, Adolph III, Peter, Joe, and others) and their various business philosophies and personal lives. As most people know, the Coors family has always had problems with organized labor, and the company has been the target of strikes and boycotts by various pro- labor and ethnic groups. Accused of being anti- labor, anti- gay, sexist, and racist, the Coors Company has been forced to face a never- ending onslaught of criticism from various civil and political groups. Author Dan Baum covers many of these important issues thoroughly, while managing to leave out his own opinions, allowing the reader to digest the information and make his/her own decision.

Reading a book like will make some people a little bit annoyed at the Coors family and its beliefs. The labor problems are one thing, but there are other issues that the author covers which are just as controversial. For example, it is known that Coors was very slow to accept the changes in the marketplace in the 1970's, when the other big brewers, Miller and Anheuser- Busch, were both switching to a brand marketing emphasis. Coors could visibly see the changes, but refused to make any moves until it was almost too late. Bill Coors, in particular, is incredibly rigid, refusing to even consider producing and selling a light beer, even though other family members and marketing experts all warn him that change is necessary if the Coors Company has any hope to survive.

The book ends by talking about the modern era. Coors is still around, but the boycotts and other problems have taken a toll. The company is no longer family run, like it was in the past. Now, Coors is directed by professionals who have managed to expand the product line, allocate more money toward marketing and sales, and have rescued the company from bankruptcy.

"Citizen Coors" is a very good read. It has its share of tragedy (Adolph Coors I and great- granddaughter Missy both committed suicide and Adolph III was murdered) but it also has its share of success. Coors is credited for inventing the aluminum can and for encouraging recycling on a massive scale. Above all, though, "Citizen Coors" shows the importance of accepting change. If Coors had acted more quickly, it could possibly be a much larger brewer than it is today, rivaling A-B for the top spot in the industry. A little more flexibility and open- mindedness could have worked wonders.

Insightful
Baum does not go easy on the Coors family, but I also found Citizen Coors sympathetic and very touching, with frank discussion of the family culture and their very human conflicts, weaknesses, and strengths. Stubbornly, and honorably, they stuck to their belief that if they made excellent beer, people would buy it with or without advertising.They finally succumbed to the need for expensive advertising campaigns in the face of market share wars that erupted when Phillip Morris bought Miller Brewing Company and applied sophisticated tobacco marketing strategies to beer.

At times, the book portrays some Coors as very much bewildered, as when Bill Coors innocently suggested at an employee meeting that citizen's votes should count in proportion to how much each person pays in taxes.But when it came to engineering, in which most of the family members were trained, Bill Coors was creative and determined in the successful effort to develop the aluminum can, and an aluminum can recycling program.

The Coors, and the companies they control, have expended enormous resources for the causes in which they believe, which included development of the aluminum can, and a tab that did not leave a separated ring, so prone to becoming a separate piece of litter.They also were willing to spend millions and suffer economic and public relations losses to fight for their conservative political and religious ideals. Many (but not all) of the family members have a born-again or fundamentalist Christian faith, and there is an uncomfortable conflict between their morals and the manufacture and marketing of beer.

Sometimes they implemented their ideals about private sector action, in place of government programs.As Business Week pointed out in its review of the book, Coors "recruited urban unemployables right out of prison", because they wanted to give them a chance to become productive members of society. In another situation they did not act so responsibly.When they discovered that chlorinated organic solvents from aluminum can manufacturing had gotten into the groundwater, they decided not to report it as required by law, and secretly pumped the water into Clear Creek for ten years, before finally getting caught.

To maintain their absolutist view of property rights, including the right to run their brewery any way they saw fit; they waged battles with labor unions, hurting Coors' image with some of its consumers.Property rights also seemed to be the basis of their 1960's opposition to civil rights laws.Baum asserts that it was the Coors' repugnance about having government inspectors coming onto their property and reviewing their records, more than the cleanup costs, that motivated them to not report the groundwater contamination.

The history of the Coors family and Golden are very much entwined, so those interested in local Golden history will enjoy the book.Many Golden residents personally know various people in the book. Ruben Hartmeister's work with Bill Coors to develop the aluminum can is excitingly recounted.There is an astonishing story about Leo Bradley and Coors setting up private drug stings, and expanding the operations to downtown Golden to Shotgun Annie's (now The Buffalo Rose).Meanwhile its owner, whose business was put at considerable risk, was also a client of the Bradley law firm, and was therefor owed a duty of loyalty by the firm.But he was kept in the dark about the drug sting operations, set up on his property.

With Thanks to historian Rick Gardner regarding the new name for Shotgun Annie's

Hint: As I read the book, I found it very helpful to sketch a family tree.

Amazingly Compelling
Two of my neighbors read this book and told me, repeatedly, that I'd love it.They said they'd both finished it in two days.Finally they gave it to me for my birthday--and I spent my birthday (and most of the following night) reading it.I finished it in even less time than they did--and me, a fiction reader!

The Coors family saga is fascinating.It's a classic American success story, with elements straight out of a Greek tragedy.The very qualities that made the family succeed so well for the first hundred years--attention to product quality and family concepts of integrity--nearly destroyed them in the last twenty-five.

I can't agree with the earlier reviewer, who commented that the book was poorly organized.I thought the author did a great job of interweaving story lines, so I understood what all of the players were doing during a given period of time.

I thought the author also did a good job of remaining unbiased.He may have had "Eastern Establishment" leanings, as one of the other reviewers commented, but I thought he painted the Coors family members in a reasonably sympathetic light.He certainly helps you understand how people with their family background--immigrant founder who built the business from scratch--would have developed some of the attitudes they hold (or held).

My only problem with the book was that the anecdotes were so fascinating that I was compelled to read long sections to my husband--even though he fully intended to read the book himself as soon as I finished it.

I highly recommend this book!

Concise, relevant historical background
This book is particularly fascinating for those of us living in Colorado. As someone who enjoys regularly visiting Golden, (and taking Coors brewery tours), it's interesting to look at the town from a different perspective; The Coors' family's.

While tragic in some respects, I do think that this tome paints a real and unflinching picture of the life of one immigrant family which has made in America. ... Read more

Book Description

Toyota is the best car company in the world. From a truck-maker in World War II to a carmaker in the 1950s to a Lexus maker in the 1980s, it excels everywhere. Chester Dawson is a Japanese-speaking investigative reporter who has got the inside story of Lexus and made it come alive.- Ezra F. Vogel, Professor, Harvard University

Chester Dawson brings to life the story of Lexus. This is a tale of invention, innovation, consumer insight, dedication and resolve. Dawson tells the story with drama, vision and insider detail. He unlocks the keys to how Toyota took a vague idea and turned it into a flagship brand and a new automotive icon.- Michael Silverstein, Senior Vice President, The Boston Consulting Group

While Detroit is still trying to figure out how Toyota made Lexus the best-selling luxury brand in the United States, Chester Dawson has dissected the Lexus story in an enlightening way. Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit brings to life the personalities who brought about an automotive phenomenon. This is a must-read not only for car buffs, but for any manager or executive who wants to understand any manager or executive who wants to understand how to create, sustain and expand an elite brand.- Micheline Maynard, author of the End of Detroit: How the Big Three Lost their Grip on the American Car Market

Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit takes you behind the scenes of one of the most ambitious and lucrative business strategies executed in the past 20 years.

• Learn why Toyota Motor decided to take on the German luxury brands-and how the company attacked the problem, starting with a top-secret board meeting in 1983
• Find out what drove the brand's success: the hows and whys of its unparalleled quality, those unforgettable ads and the unprecedented customer service
• Get the inside story on the birth of the luxury division, the vehicle code names and the lawsuit that almost derailed the launch of the billion dollar brand in 1989
• Discover how Lexus stumbled into its most successful line of vehicles: Luxury SUVs
• Take a virtual tour of Toyota Motor's crown jewel factories: the flagship Lexus plant in Tahara, Japan and the newest Lexus facility in Cambridge, Ontario.

This book is essential reading for automotive and business professionals! ... Read more

Book Description

A dynamic step-by-step guide to creating everything from tourism books and niche market magazines to specialty tabloids, using a home computer. Having built his own publishing business from scratch, Williams is uniquely qualified to shorten the learning curve by sharing the soup to nuts of what he has learned.

He begins with a basic premise: Start a publication on something known, or about a specific area. The publications that have made him successful are local papers, speciality magazines, and guides. Once subject and venue are determined, it's time to consider software tools, arranging an office for productivity, how to get advertisers, how to market your product, whom to hire (and how much to pay them), and all the other aspects of profitability.

In the sea of publishing books on the market, here's one that tells everything publishers need to know in one place. This revised version includes updated technological information on software products and addresses current fluctuations in the market and the changing business environment. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good Overview; Would Benefit From Narrower Focus
Although Williams certainly offers a great number of helpful tips and forms for those interested in pursuing publishing ventures, I agree with other reviewers that this book would have benefited from a narrower focus rather than trying to tackle the three major varieties of publications (not to mention their sub-varieties) in a single book. Though they certainly share similarities, there are enough differences to keep someone interested solely in newspaper publishing (or whichever focus is yours) rather bored for much of the text.

This is especially problematic in the chapters seemingly directed toward "all" of the publication varieties. The chapter on printing, for example, is actually heavily geared toward book printing with only a short section on printing newspapers, which seems to have been tacked on almost as an afterthought.

Specific technical information, too, is in slightly short supply. Even after reading through the entire book, I'm still a little uncertain about the nature and purpose of things like halftones and color separations, despite Williams' frequent mention of them.

Nevertheless, this is still a decent starting place for the ambitious novice publisher. Williams' advice is overall quite sound and relevant enough for me to keep the book around as a reference tool for my projects.

Motivational
I've wanted to start an original content development project for years. Reading this books gets my wheels spinning. If I do move forward with my idea, this book will be by my side. I run a small business training program and I would definitely recommend this book to any client who had an interest in publishing.

I'd love to sit down with Dr. Williams and pick his brain. There are questions I'd like answered beyond the book, but this makes the whole idea of starting a local project seem possible.

Fine for inspiration looking for a niche, but...
It is apparent the author does have a wealth of publishing experience in various endeavors. Still, I would have preferred more detail in each of the publishing phases, rather than a quick once over of each.

This is an excellent book if you are interested in publishing, but are not sure what you wish to publish. In other words, let this be a starting point. Then, if you decide to publish:

A - books, get Avery Cardoza's Complete Guide To Successful Publishing, or

B - community newspapers, get How To Produce A Small Newspaper

C - magazines, get Launch Your Own Magazine, and How To Start A Magazine, and Starting & Running A Successful Newsletter or Magazine - YES, YOU WILL WANT ALL THREE OF THESE!

The straight skinny on homebased publishing
Tom Williams generously shares his hard-won knowledge about making money as a publisher of periodicals. Learn from his mistakes and successes and you will stand a good chance of making it in this kind of business. His advice is comprehensive, thorough, and often surprising. This is a good business to try if you want to work at home, be your own boss, and create an interesting product.

A great publishing resource...
Gives a good overview of the challenges of small mag/newspaper etc publishing and gives alot of nuts and bolts type tips. Better to spend a little money on alot of good advice then to make the mistakes and learn the hard way. The author writes like a veteran of learning the hard way and thankfully he is sharing his knowledge. ... Read more

Book Description

A comprehensive guide to planning, preparing, marketing, and selling gourmet foods for the takeout market, a natural extension for caterers, food retail stores, and restaurants. This book discusses everything from planning to opening and operating, designing a "store" concept, setting up displays, marketing the food, equiping the kitchen and display area, and training sales and kitchen staff. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Invaluable Tool
I have been working on opening a specialty food shop/cafe and got stuck on the logistics of planning. After using several guides and books I randomly found (and getting NOWHERE) I decided to buy Gourmet to Go on a recommendation. It is THE best thing I could have ever bought, hands down. It seems that all the questions I had were answered in the book, and the structure of the book leads readers down a logical path through the maze of planning for this type of business. If you are to buy any book on this topic, this is the one. The money spent on this book will save you thousands later on. Two thumbs up!

Good for starting stores or providing to stores.
This is an excellent treatise of starting a specialty food store or, perhaps is even more beneficial to one who wishes to wholesale food products to place in food stores or delis..

People wanting to cash in on the current trend towards take-out convenience need this book, as well as From Kitchen To Market and How To Get Your Product Into Supermarkets.

The three books are invaluable for overlapping reasons. A prospective store operator needs to understand how to setup his or her store and, just as important, how their competition operates. Beginning store operators also need to understand their industry in detail not merely from the viewpoint of their competition and from their customers, but from their suppliers position.

Gourmet To Go does a great job from a narrow viewpoint. Probably the only topic not suffriciently explored is the hands'-on advice. Perhaps the next edition will detail the possibilities for including rollergrills, microwaves and how to earn what the industry refers to as "Plus-sales." I'm speaking of the technique in all fast food chains and convenience stores to get customers to spend more money.

Other hands-on topics that should be discussed are controlling theft and the experience of many store operators who have lost significant chunks of money in providing lottery tickets. I know of a feww whose losses exceeded $10,000. Adding insult to injury, lottery only reimburses stores from one to three percent of gross sales and pay-outs for winning tickets. Despite such a poor return on investment, many stores consider it mandatory to provide lottery.

Further, computerizing the store could be considered, as well as installing UPC readers. It is not uncommon to see even the smallest store using such equipment. Yet, those installing such systems all seem to have to reinvent the wheel.

Again, buy this book but augment it with From Kitchen To Market and with How To Get Your Product Into Supermarkets so you can keep up with and, perhaps, improve upon your competition and keep customers, suppliers and yourself happy!

Primer on Contemplating Gourmet Store Venture
Having some experience with new product projects for major corporations, this somewhat smaller scale, but nonetheless similar principled look at the operations and craft of specialty food store biz is well-done.

It is full of relevant and cogent thoughts for anyone interested in this market niche. What I found very well done is the sections of writing the biz plan and the steps therein critical to putting together and then implementing such.

Also included are fairly thorough lists of resources such as consultants, trade journals, suppliers, etc.

What could possibly have been additionaly useful was stress on two key areas: concentration on obstacles and their probability of happening (i.e. scenario plotting) and finding and use of two key players from the outset: attorney and accountant/tax specialist.

Don't even think of opening a gourmet food store without it.
Although, as the name suggests, this book is geared mainly towards gourmet to go operations (specialty food stores with emphasis on catering and gourmet take-out) it is an invuluable resource for anyone thinking about entering the gourmet food industry.

I wasted all kinds of time and money on general business start-up books and learned little more that nothing about starting a gourmet food store (or any business for that matter). The business plan section alone is better than a whole book I purchased on the subject. I found every bit of Gourmet to Go to be extemely useful and after reading it couldn't believe I had even considered going into business without it.

The book you must read before starting your gourmet store
You will find in this book the best advices for anybody who wants to endertake a Gourmet food business. From the design of the store (including Kitchen equipment) to the day to day operation, from a theorical business plan to its practical application, Robert Wemischner and Karen Karp provide the reader with the best support and the best methodology to succeed in this business. "Gourmet to Go" is a book that leads step by step the Gourmet food entrepreneur to a real and durable success in this field. Most of the subjects are treated with an obvious professional background. We would like to find some more informations on the product by itself (type of food, type of gourmet product) and maybe some ideas on possible future development... This is a very hepfull manual. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Change of pace
Tired of reading fawning novels about the movers and shakers of the computing age? Tired of reading tired knowledge passed off as far reaching vision because the author happened to be in the right place and made a pile of money?

This is the book for you. Robert Cringley has no reason to be nice to anyone since (1) he writes a column on the dirt of the industry and (2) his name is a pseudonym.

So, the gloves are off, and no holds are barred.

Of course, there are a few of Cringely's laws, and some of those tired bits of vision (broadband. It's the next big thing, as of 1996. Spitting distance to 2001 and I'm still waiting!).

The addendum to the 1996 edition is interesting, since it's less predictive than the 1992 edition. Sometime between 1996 and the present, things changed in ways that no one expected, and the predictions are rather amusing. In 1992, looking at the 'new' 486s and looking at the future, the vision is true.

If you want to see someone analyze everyone's personality defects, in depth, this is the book for you. If not, there's plenty else to read.

I'd recommend this work.

Excellent book.
A short read that tells the seemingly blunderous history of the PC industry. The story is told in a witty and accurate manner - quite the joy to read. All of the major companies are chronicled, including Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Xerox, etc.

The book was first written in 1991 - with a couple chapters added during the 1996 reprint. As such; the book doesn't cover items of the last eight years with much detail. But it more than makes up for it with it's portrayal of the first 20 years.

This is NOT a funny book
Now, I've read a lot of books and taken something from all of them, good or bad. However, I would have to say this is the only book I ever regret having read. Being in the business and half decent at my work (ego driven dictator in Cringley speak), I found the 300 odd pages of his ranting and raving against anyone with talent and vision a little hard to swallow. Don't get me wrong, it's a fascinating story, but ruined by his poorly camouflaged bitterness at his own failings as an engineer. And no, I'm not Steve Jobs.

Stories of techies and profiteering
"Accidental" refers to the fact that a lot of these guys really just loved to play with electronics and computers but for the few for whom everything fell into place perfectly, the reward was wealth beyond their wildest imagination. Read about how incompatible some true tech personalities can be with the mundane reality of the business world; I thoroughly enjoyed the story of the guy who held up the completion of a pivotal product so that he could measure the reflectivity of the ceiling tiles in his office. Contrast with the ego-driven salemen and capitalists who were there simply because there was money to be made and you may find yourself more appreciative of the genuine nature of the "average" brainiac. This book was really written before the dot-com era, but likely the same dramas were played out then and will be played out again some day, with only the names and subject matter changed.

Funny and Informative
Crigenly tells the compelling story of the uprising of a small company becoming a million dollar businesss. He is very informative on the histroy of the computers in a different tone and style of writing that is easily understandable. ... Read more

Book Description

Start generating cash by the carload!

Americans love their cars. They spend billions of dollars to maintain them-and this tender-loving care includes having them washed regularly. One result has been a tremendous boom in the car wash industry. With no inventory and no costly labor, a car wash can be one of the most stable and profitable small businesses you can run. But you'll need more than soap and sponges; you'll need the knowledge and experience of Entrepreneur magazine's top business experts' distilled into this handy guide.

Start Your Own Car Wash walks you through the four different types of car washes and points out the advantages and disadvantages of each. This guide also provides expert advice on equipment, day-to-day operations, advertising, and getting the required permits. You also learn the basics of starting and running a business-everything from doing market research, choosing a location, and financing your business to buying equipment, finding customers and hiring employees.

This could be your ticket to the top. Buy this book, and get started today!

Reviews (1)

Car washing excellence
When I was looking to start up my own car wash, I exhausted myself trying to find the right combination of marketing and skill. When I finally turned to "Start Your Own Car Wash" I found the winning formula! Now I am basking in the praise I receive at my very own car washery! And rolling in the profits! Soon I may be in the movies! ... Read more

Book Description

For the 30 million business partners and co-owners, the essential guide for building, launching, and sustaining successful ventures.

In The Partnership Charter, psychologist and business mediation expert David Gage offers a comprehensive guide to the art of establishing and maintaining a business partnership. The centerpiece of his approach is the Partnership Charter, a document that clearly outlines the goals, expectations, responsibilities, and relationships of the principals. The charter identifies potential sources of conflict and how they will be resolved, while addressing such sensitive issues as personal styles, values, money, and power. Illustrating every principle through engaging stories drawn from Gage's front-line experience consulting to business partners, as well as interviews with the founding partners of such successful businesses as Progressive Insurance Company and Manpower, Inc., The Partnership Charter dispels common myths and presents a practical framework for launching, building, and sustaining a thriving business partnership. ... Read more

Book Description

Tom Peters says "Hal Rosenbluth's story is one of the great unsung business success sagas -- and in this fully revised and updated 10th anniversary edition of The Customer Comes Second, Rosenbluth and his co-author Diane McFerrin Peters offer proof that his leadership style is one for the new millennium.

The secret of his success, and that of his company, Rosenbluth International is simple: Hal Rosenbluth concentrates on his employees first, and his customers second. This is a formula that has worked for more than two decades, and has transformed his company from a small family business into a global industry leader, grossing over $6 billion.

In this classic on counterintuitive management practice, the entrepreneurial genius and visionary leader of Rosenbluth International shows you how to use exceptional service to win in any industry!

This insightful and compelling book reveals new ideas for hiring, motivating and managing employees, and shows how best to integrate technological innovation and creative solutions into the everyday work experience to ensure that your employees -- your company's greatest asset -- win you the best customers and propel your business to the greatest heights of success.

Rosenbluth's tried and tested methods show you how to build highly effective teams, inspire loyalty and initiative, and turn your workplace into a hotbed of synergy where people produce consistently incredible results.

For more than ten years, the strategies and ideas in this book have galvanized CEOs, entrepreneurs and managers everywhere, making fans of business leaders and thinkers like Jeff Greenfield, Scott McNealy and many others. These secrets continue to prove themselves today as Rosenbluth International has rapidly emerged as the foremost travel management company since its industry’s devastation following 9/11. Find out how Hal Rosenbluth's winning ideas can transform you and your company: by putting your customer second, you're guaranteed to win! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Common Sense and Company Culture
As an Executive Coach and a close observer of many corporate cultures it did my poor old tired heart a world of good to read this book. If what Hal Rosenbluth says about his company is even half true, it puts his organization at the forefront of employee value and relationship management. Beyond all that, it makes perfect common sense. Why we would think in our wildest imagination that an employee who does not feel valued by his employer would not transmit that lack of appreciation to his customers, is a mistery to me. The first 100 pages of this book are not be missed by any company who truly wants to improve their workplace culture, increase the productivity of their workforce and cut their turnover rate down dramatically. Read it and implement any one of the outstanding programs explained within and watch s shift in morale and productivity start right away. This book is a keeper and an excellent reference source. I could not recommend it more highly.

business book nut
I am an avid reader of business books, and if I gain just one or two usable ideas from a book, I consider it worth my time. This book is a stand-out among management books, because I got not one or two, but at least a dozen solid ideas I can implement right away. I have shared it with all my top level managers, and have wathced it being shared throughout my multi-national organization. It is a gem, to be kept within reach in one's office -- not with the countless other books that sit, read once, on most managers' bookshelves. I highly recommend it for anyone who cares about the success of their business.

Salmon swim upstream
I don't think I need to tell any educated person that a review from a disgruntled ex-employee needs to be taken with a grain of salt, if not a whole handful (9/26/02). Rosenbluth is not a perfect company, and Hal never pretends it is but the lifeblood of his company is his belief that every member of the company is a valuable contributor. His book does a great job of conveying that value proposition and how others can make it work.

Although many companies preach an employee empowerment model few practice it. That's why Rosenbluth's mascot is the Salmon - we swim upstream.

Refreshing...
When I saw this title, I had to get the book. Managers could learn some valuable lessons by listening to these authors. The heartfelt chapters on dealing with the after effects of 9/11 were a great insight on hearing how executives dealt with this American tradegy. As a manager, I will definitely be using some of these simple, inexpensive, ideas within my team.

Great Ideas/Great Results!
This Book was a great inspiration to me. It was filled with great innovative ideas for anyone starting a new company, as well as those struggling to breathe new ideas into their well established companies.
We have already implemented several of the innovative ideas that
Rosenbluth has shared with us and we look forward to introducing more as time goes on.
It is refreshing , in the sea of business self-help books, to find one with such creative suggestions.
I highly recommend this as a must read if you are looking for
information sharing by a team that has emerged as a leader in one of a kind thinking! ... Read more