Book Description

This acclaimed, number one market-leading book embraces the basic theme of “different costs for different purposes.”It reaches beyond cost accounting procedures to consider concepts, analyses, and management. Chapter topics cover: the accountant's role in the organization; an introduction to cost terms and purposes; cost-volume-profit analysis; job costing; activity-based costing and activity-based management; master budget and responsibility accounting; flexible budgets, variances, and management control; inventory costing and capacity analysis; determining how costs behave; decision making and relevant information; pricing decisions and cost management; strategy, balanced scorecard, and strategic profitability analysis; cost allocation, customer-profitability analysis, and sales-variance analysis; allocation of support department costs, common costs and revenues; cost allocation: joint products and byproducts; process costing; spoilage, rework, and scrap; quality, time, and the theory of constraints; inventory management, just-in-time, and backflush costing; capital budgeting and cost analysis; management control systems, transfer pricing, and multinational considerations; andperformance measurement, compensation, and multinational considerations. For future accountant who want to enhance their understanding of—and ability to—solve cost accounting problems.

Reviews (5)

Cost Accounting by Horngren
A strength of this book is that there are many color diagrams
throughout which illustrate/highlight the material. The treatment
of process cost accounting is thorough and highly simplified
with many detailed examples to illustrate the computation of
equivalent units. In process cost accounting, it is critical
to understand the physical flow of costs, as well as,
interdepartmental transfers and modified cost assumptions.
In addition, there is a thorough treatment of managerial
cost accounting in the areas of discounted cash flow, internal
rate of return, compounding, depreciation and cash flow,
net present value, uncertainty, inflation, capital budgeting,
payback and the accounting rate of return. Lastly, there is
a good treatment of decentralization and transfer pricing.
The book is worth the price of admission. Classic problems
from this text have been replicated on some form or another
on professional and collegiate standardized tests.
This work helps to support what is taught in a collegiate
finance course, as well as the cost accounting element.

The thrust of a cost accounting course is for the B or better
student. There is a fair amount of work in this course.
As such, it is geared for accounting, finance or economics
majors. Quantitatively oriented students will enjoy the presentation as well as a wide constituency of teachers
in academe. Even college administrators would find this
text useful for preparing budget schedules and interdepartmental
cost analyses. Engineering companies would
benefit by having a detailed analyses of process costing and
managerial accounting on individual construction jobs.

thank you
the book was in excellent condition. I received it a couple of days after I ordered it. Thank you for saving me money and time!!!

Good Job!
I received the book very quickly and I got it new at a great price. I saved about 50 dollars. Wow!!! I will buy from this seller again if they have what I need.

Most Prompt Delivery
This was the fastest service I have received regarding a textbook. It was worth the effort to get the ISBN number ahead of time from the instuctor's to buy my books and save money. Thank you for the expedited service. I will patron again. I only wish this were a hardcover to withstand the abuse of a backpack.

i wouldn't recommend it to anyone at all
i've never seen such a poor book before. it is poor organized. and i got after 25 days from my order date. ... Read more

Book Description

A step-by-step program for making big plans that create big money in real estate

With a little help from Gary Keller, anyone can achieve financial independence. In The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, Keller shows you how, with the right plan and persistent effort over time, you can amass fabulous wealth in one of the strongest and safest investment vehicles around--real estate. The plan begins by establishing a state of mind that becomes a different way of looking at the world and evolves into an exciting way of life.

Through inspiration and solid instruction, Keller helps you develop a thorough knowledge of the best models for investing, along with a fundamental understanding of money, how it can be made and how it can be lost. Then, he shows you how to design an investment business that lets you get out of the day-to-day work and enjoy the freedom and benefits of what you have created.

Thoroughly researched with interviews and insights from more than 100 millionaire real estate investors who have struck it rich through Keller's concepts and practices, this book shows you how to:

• Think Like a Million: Develop the mind-set and financial strategies of a millionaire investor
• Buy a Million: Amass a real estate portfolio with a market value of a million dollars or more
• Own a Million: Turn investments into an asset-based business with ever-increasing net worth
• Receive a Million: Build an investment empire that provides a million dollars a year in passive income

Book Description

This text continues to dominate the field of International Marketing.Its long standing tradition as the market leader is strengthened in this edition with an increase in coverage of technology¿s impact on the international market arena and a more comprehensive website, helping to provide updates to text content in this continually changing field. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Best Overall International Marketing Text
I am a Professor of International Marketing and have used this book and the previous editions for 10 semesters. Compared to the competition, this book is definitely the best in the field. It is well written and researched and gives the reader a solid foundation in the major topics of IM. The instructor support materials are excellent and I highly recommend them, particularly the video series. If you are a new professor teaching IM for the first time, the instructor's manual, powerpoint slides, test bank, and videos are a godsend! The Country Notebook described in the book is a great semester-long team project and really reinforces the content of each chapter. I will continue to use this book for a long time!

Lots of information, but poorly written
I'm a senior in college, and I have read many textbooks by many authors. Through all that studying, only a handful of books have ever stood out in my mind as "exceptionally good" or "exceptionally bad" for whatever reason.

Well, I am sorry to say that this book more than any other has stood out as "exceptionally bad" because of 1) its horrendous, awkward phraseology, and 2) its unnecessarily lengthy explanations of most concepts. Because of these shortcomings, it routinely took me much too long to read even a few pages, and when I was finally finished, I disappointedly discovered that I hadn't even learned that much about international marketing. It's like reading an essay from a student who is just trying to fill up space or impress his professor with length, while compounding his error with poor style.

On the other hand, there is a lot of good information in the text, for which it received a star. There are several charts, black and white pictures, and some supplementary material as well.

a good coverage, but...
I used his book as an MBA student 15 or so years ago. Now as an adjunct professor, I am using this newest edition in my undergraduate classes. Although my observation may be biased, the book is a bit too encyclopedic, a bit superficial in coverage, and fails to excite the students. I wish it were more up-to-date.

A decent book, but its coverage is traditional and US-biased
Newer editions don't seem to have capture current trends and perspectives well.

Very Good Comprehensive Textbook
This is a comprehensive college text on the subject of international marketing. It is excellent in that it covers all relevant subject areas in some depth. The text also offers guidelines for student development of a "country notebook" international marketing project. There are also quite a few provocative and relevant cases. The only negatives are that the writing is a bit over the heads of most undergraduates, and the country notebook lends itself toward development of a multidomestic plan rather than a global plan. I use the text to teach international marketing. I have found no other book on the subject that offers an acceptable combination of project, cases, and material to be learned in a single source. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Effectively managing personnel--as well as one's own behavior--is an extraordinarily complex task that, not surprisingly, has been the subject of countless books touting what each claims is the true path to success. That said, Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton's Now, Discover Your Strengths does indeed propose a unique approach: focusing on enhancing people's strengths rather than eliminating their weaknesses. Following up on the coauthors' popular previous book, First, Break All the Rules, it fully describes 34 positive personality themes the two have formulated (such as Achiever, Developer, Learner, and Maximizer) and explains how to build a "strengths-based organization" by capitalizing on the fact that such traits are already present among those within it.

Most original and potentially most revealing, however, is a Web-based interactive component that allows readers to complete a questionnaire developed by the Gallup Organization and instantly discover their own top-five inborn talents. This device provides a personalized window into the authors' management philosophy which, coupled with subsequent advice, places their suggestions into the kind of practical context that's missing from most similar tomes. "You can't lead a strengths revolution if you don't know how to find, name and develop your own," write Buckingham and Clifton. Their book encourages such introspection while providing knowledgeable guidance for applying its lessons. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (126)

Mentoring, not hand-holding
I've read quite a few of these kinds of books starting way back when with "What Color is Your Parachute," through "The Acorn Principle" and "Please Understand Me." This has been a long-term process of discovering my interests, talents, abilities, skills, knowledge, preferences, and potential - always with the intention of finding my true calling in life.

But this book is not just another addition to that list; this is a superior method for focusing in on very specific talents and strengths and clarifying your own thinking about your life choices. The assessment and categories of strengths are more straightforward than taking the Meyers-Briggs or other similar tests. The book confirms some of what I already knew, but completely clarified the concept of natural talent combined with skills and knowledge creating the strengths that one can use throughout their life.

People have complained in other reviews that some of the book is "fluff" or that it doesn't tell you what job to go get. This is only true for people who want one 250-page book to answer some of the greatest of life's questions. I greatly appreciate that the authors give simple, straightforward examples and their own theories quickly and pointedly. They leave it up to ME to make decisions based on that information.

If you are prepared to do the work over the course of time and use this book as a mentor (not a nanny who tells you what to do) you will gain great insight into yourself and your path.

Management, Not Psychology
As a manager, perhaps one of our greatest challenges is juggling the uniqueness of our employees. It's not our job to fix them, rather it's our job to facilitate their success.

I agree with what "First, Break All the Rules" said, in that, we should seek to build the strengths of our employees rather than fix their weaknesses. But, I walked away from that book saying "ok, that was great, but how do you determine a strength or talent?"

"Now, Discover your Strengths" gives practical insights on the strengths and inate talents of people. I was impressed by this and also by the real life examples of people displaying the stregth being discussed. The disheartening thing about the test is that it only gives your top 5 strengths when it's likely that 8-10 strenths are outwardly shown (in my opinion).

Unlike other readers, I DID NOT see this and the online test as meant to be a "personality" test. Quite the contrary. I believe it accurately measures what it says it does: STRENGTHS.

I'm looking forward to applying this information to the organizations I work with.

Since my question after reading the first book (how do you determine someone's strenghts?) was answered with "Now Discover your Strenthgs", I'm guessing that if there is a third book, it will discuss what to do with your strengths now that they're discovered.

beware of used copies
An integral part of this book is the online profile. Each copy of this book comes with a unique PIN number inside the book jacket. If you buy a used copy, the PIN number may be already used, and thus will not allow you to use the online profile. However, the book is still interesting if you enjoy reading through the signature themes and guessing what your profile would have uncovered. It is also fun to read each theme and think of people you know who come to mind, and consider ways in which you can support their strengths.

I would give this book 5 stars if an unlimited number of people could use the online profile with each book purchase.

A motivating speaker
I saw Marcus Buckingham speak at the SHRM Conference last week in New Orleans and it was an excellent complement to the book. Very motivating and enlightening as is the book. I also purchased the Emotional Intelligence Quickbook which I saw recommended on this page and that title is excellent as well.

Take these lessons beyond the work place
Excellent read, Clifton gives clarity and tools for success. I enjoyed the online inner strength tests very much and found it fascinating. While Clifton gives us the the key to unlocking our abilities and the confidence to pursue the path, it is up to us to take the journey.
I have taken this book and its philosophies into my personal life as well, filling everyday.
Everyone has different things that can free them further.

I started singing because I had always secretly found that to be exhilerating. I bought singing lessons on CD off of Amazon,
"Voice lessons To Go" by Vaccarino- fantastic!

I also purchased and carefully followed the "New Sex Now" video by Arte with my husband- it was mind blowing for us.

Just those two examples show how much I have removed my own personal fear in life. The kind that held me back and locked my strengths in. You know the strength is there in any crisis, why not manifest them into your eveyday? How powerful is that? ... Read more

Amazon.com

John C. Maxwell offers lively stories about the foibles and successes of Lee Iacocca, Abraham Lincoln, Princess Diana, andElizabeth Dole in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Readerscan expect a well-crafted discussion that emphasizes the core attitudesand visions of leadership. Maxwell uses the same tell-it-like-it-isapproach that he honed in the bestselling Developing the Leader Within You. For instance, when explaining "The Law of Influence," Maxwell states that "job titles don't have much valuewhen it comes to leading. True leadership cannot be awarded, appointedor assigned. It comes only from influence and that can't be mandated."Even after Princess Diana was stripped of her title, Maxwell says shewas still able to lead a global effort toward banning land minesbecause of her sophisticated ability to influence others.

If readersare looking for a step-by-step formula, Maxwell's list of "laws" willprobably seem too chatty and anecdote driven. There are no specifictips on what readers can do during the next workday to help them becomestronger leaders. On the other hand, Maxwell's background as a pastorgives him an inspirational voice and a spiritual context to leadershipthat many business and church leaders appreciate. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (138)

Good beginning
I liked the book, but like others I was looking for more application than theory. If you can get past Maxwell's logic on how the examples explain EVERYTHING and determine how to apply the laws to your own situation you will do well to read the book. One reason his book doesn't explain how to apply the laws is because he has published numerous video tapes, audio tapes, and other books that you can buy which do explain how to apply them. In the video series on this book each of the "21 Laws" has references listed (which are published by Maxwell, imagine that)which cost hundreds of dollars. If you bought all of them they would cost almost $3000! He has a good system but it is very expensive. THe book is not meant to teach you everything, it is only a beginning. Learning leadership takes a lot of time and money if you are going to learn it from Maxwell.

If he put everything into one book it would be a VERY BIG BOOK and Maxwell wouldn't make as much money as he does from the complete series......

This book offers a background for successful leadership.
John Maxwell's hard cover is available on audio cassette. It was a pleasure to listen to it in the car on my way to work. It is filled with bits of wisdom I found very valuable to have in my thinking. The narrator has a steady, pleasant voice. He explains each of the Laws clearly and understandably one at a time, thus allowing the listener to pause at each new law to reflect.

There are many references to founders of popular businesses. I could relate to his success stories of well known companies like McDonald's or Apple Computer.

Maxwell is himself a minister of a church which he built successfully using the laws he describes. Because he is a minister, he has the ability to communicate in layman's terms. The story like manner in which the book is written allows for stress-free listening and easy learning.

I would recommend this book as an excellent supplement to any class in leadership skills or mentoring. It gives the reader a broad base to rely on when dealing with the long range goals.

The reality of leading in business
This is an excellent book of legendary leaders and management. We gain the opportunity to see the "big picture", and learn from the successes and failures of others. If you believe that we should always be surrounding ourselves with more wise and experienced people, then this book will make sense to you. I will reiterate that this is not a step-by-step, tips, tricks, or get rich tomorrow book. Whether, you are an entrepreneur or climbing the corporate ladder, this book will help with your vision and relationships in business.

On The Soap Box
Zig Ziglar has some good ideas, but the overall advice in this book doesn't offer clear tips to improve leadership skills in the short term. With elections drawing near, it reminds me of a dry, rambling political platform. Check out Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life, it has practical every day advice on how to be the leader of your own life.

The most concise and applicable book on leadership
This book is the best book on leadership i've ever read. It seems to me that the negative reviewers of this book misunderstood this book. The book is not meant to go step by step through all 21 laws. The book is meant to tell you what the laws are of leadership, it's ur responsibility to find out how you can use these laws in your life. Honestly the laws are practical and simple and they can be implemented as soon as u understand them just by the way u speak , how much u read, how many seminars you attend and audio training material you listen to. All those things will help increase your lid of leadership but that won't happen until you know what u need to work on and this book pinpoints what a true leader is and does in the world as we know it. ... Read more

Book Description

Updated to include new communication technology and its unique issues

For more than 50 years, The Gregg Reference Manual has been recognized as the best style manual for business professionals and students. The basic rules that apply to the most frequent problems are covered as thoroughly as the fine points of the problems that occur less often. The colorful examples and illustrations offer easy-to-follow models to help resolve the difficulties encountered in everyday communications from e-mail messages to formal reports. New features include:

• Up-to-date coverage on dealing with online source material and precautions to observe when citing electronic material
• New searchable index: the website accompanying the book allows the reader immediate access to definitions and information on specific topics
• Updated e-mail rules and expanded plagiarism coverage to meet the needs of changing technology

Reviews (2)

Best guide I've ever seen.
The Gregg Reference Manual has impressed me. I have never seen such a comprehensive manual on the english language and its usage today. I have only owned it for a couple of days, but I know that it will help me immensely as I move into college (even if it was meant for business men).

Simply the best!
The Gregg Reference Manual is the single most useful grammar, usage, and style reference available for business professionals. I have been using it for years as my primary reference tool. The manual is very comprehensive, and the well-organized index makes things easy to find. It is updated frequently to incorporate current technology, which makes it invaluable in today's continually changing environment. The 10th edition was just released, so it is the most up-to-date book of its type around. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether challenged with taking on a startup, turning a business around, or inheriting a high-performing unit, a new leader's success or failure is determined within the first 90 days on the job.

In this hands-on guide, Michael Watkins, a noted expert on leadership transitions, offers proven strategies for moving successfully into a new role at any point in one's career. The First 90 Days provides a framework for transition acceleration that will help leaders diagnose their situations, craft winning transition strategies, and take charge quickly.

Practical examples illustrate how to learn about new organizations, build teams, create coalitions, secure early wins, and lay the foundation for longer-term success. In addition, Watkins provides strategies for avoiding the most common pitfalls new leaders encounter, and shows how individuals can protect themselves-emotionally as well as professionally-during what is often an intense and vulnerable period.

Concise and actionable, this is the survival guide no new leader should be without.

"Few companies develop a systematic 'on-boarding' process for their new leaders, even though this is a critical function with major organizational implications. Michael Watkins's The First 90 Days provides a powerful framework and strategies that will enable new leaders to take charge quickly. It is an invaluable tool for that most vulnerable time-the transition."

-Goli Darabi, Senior Vice President, Corporate Leadership & Succession Management, Fidelity Investments

"Every job-private- or public-sector, civilian or military-has its breakeven point, and everyone can accelerate their learning. Read this book at least twice: once before your next transition-before getting caught up in the whirl and blur of new faces, names, acronyms, and issues; then read it again after you've settled in, and consider how to accelerate transitions for your next new boss and for those who come to work for you."

-Colonel Eli Alford, U.S. Army

"Watkins provides an excellent road map, telling us what all new leaders need to know and do to accelerate their learning and success in a new role.The First 90 Days should be incorporated into every company's leadership development strategy, so that anyone making a transition in an organization can get up to speed quicker and smarter."

-Suzanne M. Danielle, Director of Global Leadership Development, Aventis

"Michael Watkins has nailed a huge corporate problem and provided the solution in one fell swoop. The pressure on new leaders to hit the ground running has never been greater, and the likelihood and cost of failure is escalating. Watkins's timing with The First 90 Days is impeccable."

-Gordon Curtis, Principal, Curtis Consulting "The First 90 Days is a must-read for entrepreneurs. Anyone who's been the CEO of a start-up or early-stage company knows that you go through many 90-day leadership transitions in the course of a company's formative years. In this groundbreaking book, Michael Watkins provides crucial insights, as well as a toolkit of techniques, to enable you to accelerate through these transitions successfully."

-Mike Kinkead, President and CEO, timeBLASTER Corporation, serial entrepreneur, and Cofounder and Trustee, Massachusetts Software Council ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Good advice, wish I'd read it sooner
I bought this book in anticpation of a move that never happened. That said, it was remarkably useful even in my current position. It helped me frame many of my career experiences in a larger context, and when I do make a move in the future, I will be prepared for it.

I even bought it for a friend as a "happy new job" gift. She loved it, too.

His earlier stuff is good too
I work for a leading health care company and went through one of Watkins's transition forum programs here. If really helped me get off to a running start. We also got his negotiation book, Breakthrough Business Negotiation, which also was very helpful. I've since also read his book on influencing government and business strategy, Winning the Influence Game. Definitely helpful if you are dealing with issues of regulation and reimbursement as we are. It's nice to see him getting recognition for the First 90 days, but his earlier stuff is just as good, if negotiation or influence are important to what you do.

Watkins' negotiation book is great too.
I bought The First 90 Days when I was heading into a new VP Sales position. It was a huge help just like the other reviews say. Then I got his Breakthrough Business Negotiation book and it was great too. I bought copies for all my regional and district sales managers. It's the best thing for tough negotiations I've read.

just what I needed
I was on day 6 of a new CEO job and everything was falling apart -- I encountered serious resistance to even minor changes that obviously needed to be made. Reading this book, I realized I had walked into a problem where management saw the company was in need of a turnaround, but the employees had no idea and saw their company as a steady success story.

Every bit of this book is gold. From how to approach change implementation based on situation, to managing upwards, to making the mental switch to your new position, it's all been helpful.

Many great ideas to think about!
There are many original great ideas presented in this book which stand alone on their own merit. But perhaps the biggest idea of the book is for companies to view a job transition as any other business process- and subsequently look to optimize it. There are so many transitions in most companies in any given year, that having a process that makes more transitions successful and the new employees effective sooner should noticeably improve the bottom line. Most importantly, this book makes you think!

Also noteworthy in this book is its straightforward organization- the book lays out 10 areas to consider during a transition, then dedicates a chapter to each, and concludes with a brief summary. The book also reads well, and has examples to clarify the 10 areas. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Why do some people consistently inspire others to follow their lead? According to John C. Maxwell, author of 24 books and a regular speaker on the topic, it's the "character qualities" they possess. In The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, Maxwell identifies these top traits as character, charisma, commitment, communication, competence, courage, discernment, focus, generosity, initiative, listening, passion, positive attitude, problem-solving, relationships, responsibility, security, self-discipline, servanthood, teachability, and vision--and then defines them in ways that readers can absorb and utilize. Each is covered in a separate chapter opening with a high-concept definition and continuing with relevant anecdotes, details on its meaning, suggestions for further reflection, and exercises for improvement. For example, in the section on vision ("You can seize only what you can see"), Maxwell describes how Walt Disney initially developed the theme-park concept after accompanying his daughters to a fun-filled but rather shabby amusement park. He then analyzes how Disney's resultant projects drew on his personal history while meeting other's needs, and explains how readers must "listen to several voices" to develop successful foresight in a similar way. Finally, Maxwell suggests methods to articulate these visions and measure their implementation. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (45)

leadership simplified
Written to complement The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, this book will help you identify and develop the personal qualities you need to become a more effective leader.

Maxwell does an excellent job of getting to the heart of each quality in a few short pages. He starts with two relevant quotations to start you thinking. He then gives you a short real-life example of that particular quality in action.

He breaks each principle down into specific applications, gives you a brief period where you can assess your own effectiveness, offers you concrete ways to improve yourself, and wraps each chapter up with a profound thought that will stay with you long after you have closed the cover.

What you get out of this book depends on how you read it. This is a very simple read, and you may be tempted to race through it and miss some key points. Maxwell rightly suggests that you walk through each quality methodically, giving it the attention that it warrants based on your current level of competence.

While the material warrants five stars, some spelling mistakes and the author's use of his own quotes dropped it down a notch for me. Otherwise, an excellent handbook for improving your personal leadership qualities.

Larry Hehn, Author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

MAXWELL HAS A WINNING COMBINATION!
Of all the books available on leadership, I have found this to be one of the best, and leadership is part of what I teach through my business management courses. This is by no means one of the lengthiest books or most in-depth books, but it says more in 157 pages than others say in 400 pages. The easy-flowing writing style creates an enjoyable reading experience which does not take an extensive amount of thought or time to comprehend. The end result is an accomplished, basic book served in a professional style.

The author uses these twenty-one qualities for the basis of successful leadership: character, charisma, commitment, communication, competence, courage, discernment, focus, generosity, initiative, listening, passion, attitude, problem-solving, relationship, responsibility, security, self-discipline, servanthood, teachability and vision. What a sensational, winning combination! Each of these twenty-one components is discussed separately. While all of these elements are critical for strong leadership, if I had to narrow the scope down to five areas of particular benefit, it would be the ones on character, competence, listening, generosity and self-discipline. I particularly liked Maxwell's straight-forward approach and positive attitude exhibited throughout the book. One other book that rated at the top of my list, and one I would also highly recommend, is a favourite, all-time classic, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

Spot on!
This is one of the best books on leadership I have read. It gives specific examples and motivational thoughts as to what it takes to live the life of a leader.

The book is an easy read and can be used as part of a 21 day/week/month program to apply the morsals and maxims of leadership Maxwell provides.

Now that my copy is all marked up, I can't wait to share it with my employees!

Qualities Every Leader Needs to Know and Apply
I genuinely like this book because it causes the reader to BE the qualities of a leader. It addressed character, charisma, commitment, communication, competence, courage, discernment, focus, generosity, initiative, listening, passion, positive attitude, problem solving, relationships, responsibility, security, self discipline, servanthood - to get ahead put others first, teachability - keep leading - keep learning, and vision.

This book will show you that every leader is a leader first to themselves, by integrating the above qualities into our consciousness, and walking our talk with others, and especially within our own selves.

I recommend that the reader seeks to BE these qualities, and to integrate them into a positively focused life - from the inside out.

This book is a wonderful contribution to embrace the highest qualities of genuine leadership, sans the ego's need to try to get others to follow you, but simply to be joyously immersed in BEING you.

Highly recommended to bring out the leader in you.
Barbara Rose, author of 'If God Was Like Man: A Message from God to All of Humanity' and "Individual Power: Reclaiming Your Core, Your Truth, and Your Life'

Foundational Leadership Information
Dr. John Maxwell offers clearly defined and timely advice for leaders. This resource is based on ethical leadership and other foundational truths. You may refer to this motivational and inspiring resource numerous times in your career.

Kenneth McGhee - Author
Eleven Leadership Tips For Supervisors ... Read more

Download Description

In 2000, when The Informant was published, few would’ve imagined that a story about price fixing at Archer Daniels Midland could be as un–put–downable as the best crime fiction. Yet critics—and consumers—agreed: The New York Times reporter Kurt Eichenwald had taken the stuff of dry business reporting and turned it into an unparalleled page–turner. With Conspiracy of Fools, Eichenwald has done it again.

Say the name “Enron” and most people believe they’ve heard all about the story that imperiled a presidency, destroyed a marketplace, and changed Washington and Wall Street forever. But in the hands of Kurt Eichenwald, the players we think we know and the business practices we think have been exposed are transformed into entirely new—and entirely gripping—material. The cast includes but is not limited to George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Paul O’Neill, Harvey Pitt, Colin Powell, Gray Davis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alan Greenspan, Ken Lay, Andy Fastow, Jeff Skilling, Bill Clinton, Rupert Murdoch, and Michael Eisner. Providing a you–are–there glimpse behind closed doors in the executive suites of the Enron Corporation, the Texas governor’s mansion, the Justice Department, and even the Oval Office, Conspiracy of Fools is an all–true financial and political thriller of cinematic proportions.

Reviews (53)

strange brew
This is the book counterpart of a video reconstruction.As best I can tell from the extensive endnotes, the author did a phenomenal research job, and then (from my point of view) turned his work into fiction.Instead of presenting us with the facts (fascinating in themselves) the author presents everything "through the eyes" of the participants, pretenting to be in their thoughts, and using quotation marks with the abandon of a novelist.We all know that this is just plain made up, but by using this form of presentation, the author blurs the distinction between fact and fiction.He DOESN'T know what these people were thinking, and making it up implies that he does; requiring me to search the footnotes at the end of each sentence -- what is true and what is made up? For example, on the first page we follow Ken Lay's thoughts as he is driven to work -- the footnote shows us the source for what kind of car it was -- but of course no reference for Lay's thoughts (and even if Lay had said what he was thinking, we have know knowledge that he told the truth).Accordingly, although the book is entertaining, I demote it to a "2" for horrendously bad journalistic practice.

The End of an Empire
I'm certain that all of us like to read a good book. One filled with intrigue, deceit, back-stabbing, illegal acts, social issues, fear, egos, greed, scandals,etc.

All the ingredients of an interesting novel. Only it's not. It is the true story ofENRON's humble pipeline beginnings to its bankruptcy and the saga of a hidden but eventually disclosed paper trail.

The book---"Conspiracy of Fools" by Kurt Eichenwald.

Notwithstanding the complicated financial transactions involved, it is written in a fast moving manner by a winning New York Times writer

If you get one book this summer, this is it!
Everyone knows the Enron scandal.The directors of the corporation have been depicted as nothing less than caricatures of corporate greed and the company itself a cliche of managers run amok.

This book ends all that.It brings dimension and personality to everyone involved and does justice to the events that transpire in a very evenhanded way.The "fly on the wall" narrative and the incredulous attitude of the author constantly ask the question we all wanted to ask right from the start: "What were they thinking?"Even moreso, a corollary becomes "Why did everyone else just let it happen?"Hard to believe, but the problems of Enron could have been predicted back in the early 90s.

This is a top-notch book and worth every penny.Its not particularly difficult to comprehend (the dialogue and complex schemes are broken down for laymen to understand), and believe it or not, its a quick read. Once it absorbs you, you just won't put it down.

Reads like a thriller
I read this book in three days.I have a two year old to chase around, so that tells you just how much time I devoted to finishing it.COF reads like a thriller.I kept waiting for the bad guys to get caught and became more and more incredulous that it took so long.

COF does an excellent job of showing what a dangerous combination greed, hubris and ignorance is and how prevelant it is in corporate America.Throw in a dash of politics and you have a national scandal.

Eichenwald does a good job of showing us all the nuances of what happened at the executive level of Enron, but I was disapointed that we never got to see any of it from the perspective of the thousands of employees that woke up one morning without jobs or retirement funds.We also never see the impact of Enron's fall on the varous companies and local governments that invested so heavily in them.

My last "complaint" is a silly one.There were no pictures of the principals featured in the book, which is pretty standard for non-fiction stories.I wanted to know what Lay, Skilling and the rest looked like so I could put faces with names.

Overall, well worth the read if you want some suspense and/or an insight into just what went wrong at Enron.

The BEST book I have read in years
I never thought I would like to read an Enron book, but my father really pushed this on me. I LOVED it. This is the best book I have read in years, certainly since A Civil Action. It is thrilling, unbelievable, captivating. I am up late writing this because the book kept me up until 3 and now I am having trouble not thinking about it. Unlike other books of this type, the research is incredible. Anyone who reads it has to thumb through the footnotes, and see all of the documents and other information that Eichenwald pulled together. A fabulous reporter and a spectacular writer all add up to a great book. ... Read more

Book Description

Salespeople hate to read.That's why The Little Red Book of Selling is short, sweet, and to the point.It's packed with answers that people are searching for in order to help them make sales for the moment--and the rest of their lives. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The best by far of slim pickings
I reviewed every Money and Banking text I could get my hands on before selecting Mishkin's text to use while I was an instructor at one of the top universities in the US. Mishkin's text was hands-down the best text. But there weren't a lot of alternatives to choose from. This text gets used in a lot of MBA programs.

The thing I liked most about this text was its comprehensiveness. Mishkin did a far better job than the other text of introducing stock options. And of course, he covered the banking (money multiplier, bnak loans, etc.) side comprehensively. Good job with exchange rates, too.

Weaknesses: Need more on the insurance industry, particularly with the biggest banks now firmly in that business. Need more on financial futures. And finally, I'd like to see a little more mathematical rigor. I supplemented the text in an undergrad class with some more mathematical articles from the economics literature. ... Read more

Book Description

Here are money-making secets that can change your life. Inspired by Andrew Carnegie's magic formula for success, this book will teach you the secrets that will bring you a fortune. It will show you not only what to do but how to do it. Once you learn and apply the simple, basic techniques revealed here, you will have mastered the secret of true and lasting success. And you may have whatever you want in life.
... Read more

Reviews (225)

Great book--Great foreward by Melvin Powers
Over the years I have bought several copies of Think and Grow Rich but this particular edition, original unabridged version is perhaps the best and my personal favorite.

Think and Grow Rich is without a doubt one of the most prestigious and beloved books in the field of motivational literature. This version is a reprint of the original, unabridged, classic edition of Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. No doubt, Think and Grow Rich has helped shape the lives of millions of people around the world. Perhaps moreso than any other book ever.

In Think and Grow Rich, Napolean Hill shares his brilliant philosophy and practical techniques for achieving your financial goals, reaching your highest potential, and ultimately creating a life that brings you great personal happiness.

Think and Grow Rich will teach you how to harness the awesome mental magic of your mind. You are given a blueprint for self mastery. You learn that there are no limitations to what you can accomplish, only those you impose on yourself.

Napolean Hill said, "If you can conceive it, you can believe it." This precept has proven true repeatedly throughout history. Did we not send a man to the moon and accomplish other seemingly miraculous feats in many fields of endeavor? Every one of these feats began as an idea that was then transformed into reality. Think and Grow Rich shows youhow to transform your dreams into reality too.

Melvin Powers inspiring foreward and indicating how this great book transformed his life adds just on more great testimonial of the power behind Think and Grow Rich.

If you were to buy just one book on personal development, you wouldn't go wrong by making Think and Grow Rich that one and only book.

Thank you Napolean for sharing your wisdom!

Bugaboos of the Mind Revealed
Why do some achieve great wealth when the vast majority wallow in poverty?

Napoleon Hill interviewed nearly 500 wealthy men (including steel magnate Andrew Carnegie) to determine the underlying causes of wealth. In addition, Hill interviewed thousands of financial failures to determine what drove them to poverty.

Think & Grow Rich is a remarkable text that outlines what Napoleon Hill learned from his vast number of interviews. Hill enables readers to emulate the traits of the wealthy while shunning those characteristics of the financially challenged.

Several highlights of the text are:

(1) Prerequisites to wealth acquisition include a statement of: (a) the amount of money desired (b) the sacrifice one is willing to give in exchange for the money (c) the deadline for obtaining the money (d) a definite plan for acquiring this money (e) a declaration of this statement twice daily once before sleeping and once after waking.

Hill remarks, "You may as well know, right here, that you can never have riches in great quantities unless you can work yourself into a white heat of desire for money, and actually believe you possess it."

(2) The subconscious mind can be a powerful ally (or foe) in the pursuit of wealth. One should truly believe that one will become wealthy and "the subconscious mind will hand over the plan that you need". This belief should be infused with emotion.

(3) Create a Master Mind group of encouraging individuals who can provide the specialized knowledge necessary to achieve wealth

(4) "Success requires no explanations; Failure permits no alibis"

(5) Common causes of failures include: Lack a well defined purpose in life, Lack of ambition, Lack of self-discipline, Procrastination, Lack of Persistence, Lack of decision.

(6) Persistence is absolutely critical to wealth. Hill mentions that "I had the happy privilege of analyzing both Mr. Edison and Mr. Ford ... I found no quality save persistence that even remotely suggested the major source of their stupendous achievements."

(7) To develop persistence one must have a: (a) specific goal with a yearning for its attainment (b) definite plan (c) mind closed against negative influences (d) friendly alliance with those who will encourage one to achieve the goal

(8) Sublimate your sexual urges to a yearning to accomplish your goals

(9) "You have absolute control over but one thing, and that is your thoughts"

This is a remarkable book that is a paean to the power of the mind and its ability to create wealth in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles ...

Excellent! but the hardcover version is abridged
Wonderful book, which inspires me and makes me think big and stay motivated. I love the unabridged version from wilshire book company. Unfortunately it comes only in paperback. I recently bought the hardcover, collector's edition. Unfortunately it is abridged, in some chapters several pages in total. The format in this book is among the best i've seen though. Leatherbound, goldedges etc. Anyway, great book!

It Helped Jim Carrey, myself and it can help you too...
What can I say? I bought this book at a church bookstore, ironic huh? Having been fortunate enough to attend elite academic institutions in America and Europe, I can say without a doubt that the principles espoused by Mr. Hill's writing are by far more valuable than much of what I learned in a formal academic environment--this is real education....SELF education, i.e. knowledge of Self.

Jim Carrey reputedly read this book while working a low wage job before becoming famous, applied the fundamentals and the rest, as we say is history.

I always like to point out interesting teaching points from books and here are a few:

**"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

**"There are no limitations to the mind EXCEPT those we acknowledge"

**"Both poverty and riches are the offspring oof thought"

One of my greatest ambitions is to actualize the level of success I envision for myself and in doing so, be in a position where I can mentor others about the principles of success such as those. Mssr. Hill teaches. One of the first things I shall do is give this book away in order to complete the cycle of giving and receiving.

I also recommend reading this book along side Joseph Murphy's book "Power of Your Subconscious Mind" and Claude M. Bristol's "The Magic of Believing" along with "It Works" by RJH. These books along with Think & Grow Rich can truly enable you to achieve whatever you desire not only financially but in health, relationships, peace of mind and true expression--true wealth.

I have personally achieved some wonderful results through the application of these principles and look forward to applying them even further for higher and higher levels of achievement. I hope you do so as well!

Not his best, but a great book by Napolean Hill
Think & Grow Rich is a condensed version of Hill's 17 principles of success; he course that he used to teach in over 17 lessons via weekly lectures and is still available in other books and tape programs like Your Right To Be Rich.

Nonetheless, Think & Grow Rich is an excellent intro to the principles and techniques that Hill discovered after interviewing the wealthiest people of his time.

Think & Grow Rich will open your mind and open opportunities to you. Great book by Hill. ... Read more

Book Description

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING, 7th Edition integrates coverage of both functional-based management topics (such as job-order and process costing) and activity-based management topics (such as strategic cost analysis, activity-based tactical decision making, productivity measurement and control, quality cost management, theory of constraints, process value analysis and international topics). This approach emphasizes that changing conditions often require a change in cost management systems. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Valuable Information for Tax-Deferred Investment Accounts
Anyone who enjoyed Stocks for the Long Run will find this book to be a very valuable addition to his or her knowledge about stock investing for tax-deferred investment accounts.

Professor Siegel has checked history again.This time he has looked for ways to do stock investing that have performed better than indexed mutual funds for tax-deferred accounts.

Much of what he finds is counter to the conventional wisdom, but makes sense when examined objectively.

Here are some key findings:

1.High dividend yields, when reinvested in the same stock, provide superior returns.That's only true in a tax-deferred account, of course.

2.Buying stocks with low multiples that grow faster than expected is much easier and more profitable to do than simply choosing companies in fast growing industries.

3.Exciting new companies make lots of money for founders, employees and venture capitalists . . . but not enough for investors.

4.Avoid capital intensive businesses.

5.The most productive companies are those who develop new business models (something I discuss in The Ultimate Competitive Advantage) regardless of how bad the industry is.

6.Beware of excessive valuations . . . no matter how good the future looks.

7.If a company has neither a high dividend nor any cash, assume something's wrong with the accounting.

8.Indexed stocks in slower-growing emerging markets have high potential to deliver huge gains in the future due to demographic influences.

From these findings, Professor Siegel suggests a model portfolio for equities that will intrigue you (see page 254) with high-dividend ideas, global firms, attractive sectors and interesting value plays.

In addition, Professor Siegel addresses the question of what to do about paying for the retirements of all those Baby Boomers around the world.His proposal is to encourage young emerging market workers to purchase the assets of older workers in the developed world.You'll find the argument to be intriguing and compelling.

I cannot remember reading a more stimulating and original book about investing.I was particularly impressed by his historical research that shows the superiority of sticking with companies that have been around a long time rather than searching out newer companies to buy.I think the exception to the latter comes in those cases where the management has proven to be adept at improving upon their business models to provide more value to customers.

Almost every investor would benefit from reading and thinking about this book.

New findings
There are several new revelations regarding the kind of stocks that are consistent winners, supported by data in this book:

Consumer Brand Names/consumer staples and healthcare industry have been strong performers.

The relationships of the top performers' P/E and growth rate.

Low P/E,high dividend stocks outperform.

These findings of characteristics make this book worth 5 stars.

The book also predicts a "global solution" to the demography issue. This solution is like saying a wealthy family that can no longer produce would sell their assets to the productive newcomers in order to maintain the life style are have become accustomed to. If this turns out to the solution, it's a pathetic one.

The importance of dividends and the dangers of growth
Jeremy Siegel has rediscovered the importance of dividends.When Charles Dow did his seminal research nearly a century ago he relied on dividends and ignored reported earnings because he knew that companies were lying on their balance sheets.Dividends, on the other hand, don't lie.Dividends let you compound.Very old fashioned.

The other important point this book makes is that investors almost always overpay for growth.He calls this the growth trap.It is critical for investors to distinguish between those companies whose innovations power the economy and those that provide superior returns to investors.They are usually two different things.

Many people seem to have learned nothing from the recent bursting of the NASDAQ bubble.Siegel has the research that shows what went so wrong several years ago and how to keep your head if it happens again.

The old is new again.

must read for all investors
Jeremy Siegel did it again with his new book. Filled with historical facts and observations, he shows how a company with 10% earnings growth is often a better investment that a company with 20% earnings growth. The reason for this phenomenon can be summed up in one word--valuation. Fast growing companies are expected to grow and that is taken into account in its price. Slower growing companies are expected to grow slow.

Professor Siegel shows how some of the best performing stocks in the past half century were companies with good dividends and earnings above expectations. He proves his point by comparing Standard Oil of New Jersey and IBM. IBM has grown faster than Standard Oil of New Jersey by any measure, except stock appreciation.

Professor Siegel also explains how fast growing sectors are not always good investments. Obviously, technology stocks in 1999 and 2000 were fast growing, but some of the worst investments you could have made. He also uses the Financial sector as an example. It has been one of the two fastest growing sectors in the past 50 years, but the stocks within the sector have not performed as well as the S & P 500. The reason this is possible is because new companies enter the business. These new companies bring competition and make the sector bigger, but not more profitable.

This book is great for any beginning investor or any professional.

The Role of Luck in Siegel's Success
An absolute disappointment. This is a classic example of misreading the formula that made you successful in the first place. Sequels are usually bad, in this case Siegel's are bad. The reviews and cover quote by Warren Buffett are misleading, and I seriously doubt whether the reviewers read the book. There is nothing new here. Undervalued stocks (value stocks) have been touted as being superior forms of investment for a long time. Eugene Fama, and others, have produced fantastic research in this area. I found the book to be self aggrandising, offering no original contribution and totally out of character relative to the first book. The data mining is significant, and to suggest that tried and true is the way forward simply because the past delivered such a pattern is foolhardy. Give this book a miss. ... Read more

Book Description

Boone and Kurtz’s Contemporary Marketing has proved to be the premier introduction to marketing text and package, edition after edition. With each edition, this best selling author team builds and improves upon past innovations, creating the most technologically advanced, student friendly, instructor supported text available. The eleventh edition continues to provide the most current and up-to-date content by including coverage on the events over the past year, such as the recession, the terrorist attacks on America, and coverage on the ethical disasters such as the Enron scandal.Realizing that students need a solid understanding of how these events apply to marketing the authors integrate this content throughout the new edition.The changes to this edition are so significant, that this new edition is more like a new text than just a revision. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very relevant to current times
A very recent book that explicitly relates recent important events to how to perform marketing of your products. Perhaps the most important is of course the terrorist attacks of September 2001, and the resultant war [wars?] on terrorism. Then too, there were the huge corporate scandals (Enron, Global Crossing...) that helped generate scepticism of large companies. How can you decide on a marketing campaign when such is the societal backdrop? Boone offers useful suggestions or strategies.

One virtue of the book is that this analysis gives it a very practical ambience. You don't feel like you're thumbing through the pages of some abstract intellectual debate, or some fine nuance of accounting on pricing options, say.

But an unavoidable side effect is that the book's very explicit invocation of recent events will make this edition VERY dated in just a few years. Well, perhaps Boone will issue new editions as the years go on.

Amazon did not send right ISBN nuber to seller...watch out!
I had ordered this book and Amazon sent the wrong information to the seller. I got the study guide which is a softcover. Now Amazon won't take responsibilty for their action. I'm screwed because I ordered this book for college and now have to reorder it so I can have it in time. This is the second time Amazon has not taken resposibility for their actions with me. I have little faith in them at this point. SO WATCH OUT!!! ... Read more

Book Description

This latest edition of Investments continues the legacy of excellence established in previous versions. Chapters on behavioral finance, arbitrage pricing theory, multifactor models of risk and return, and international diversification have been dramatically rewritten to meet changes in today’s transformed markets. In addition, unnecessary mathematical and technical detail continues to be left out wherever possible.

Reviews (24)

Comprehensive, student-friendly, and extremely helpful
The book by Bodie et al is unquestionably, the best introduction to Investment Theory available today. Please note that there is an emphasis on the word introduction, because there is much that can be covered after the book ends. This book provides a springboard from which the student can take off in different directions viz. Derivatives, Risk Management, Portfolio Management etc.

The language is simple, and there are no mathematical demons in the book. The Concept Check questions are extremely valuable and should be attempted before the reader delves into the equally challenging exercises at the end of the chapters. The book starts with an introduction to the different types of markets and financial instruments present today, and then moves into investments, risk etc. The book touches upon a number of topics including bonds, financial statement analysis, security valuation, derivatives and hedging. Like other multipurpose book, it does not go in-depth into any of these, but provides the reader a brief introduction to each of them for help in further studies. It does dwell a lot on portfolio theories which are described in detail, with numerous examples. The chapter-ending exercises are graded with easier questions in the beginning, and extremely challenging ones in the end.

All in all, a great book!

Excellent text book on investments & basic portfolio theory
I am a lecturer in Finance for a university in the UK. I evaluated this book for use in an Executive MBA course in portfolio management after previously using "Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management" by Reilly and Brown. The Reilly book takes a more quantitative approach to the valuation of various assets and is more comprehensive than "Investments" in terms of its coverage of securities and markets but I ultimately opted for "Investments" due to its clarity, organization, and quality writing style. The authors do an excellent job of communicating fairly complex concepts to a student with little or no background in finance.

If you are studying for the CFA or need a more advanced text, I can recommmend the Reilly book. If you are a practitioner or looking for a very mathematically rigorous text in portfolio management, I can recommend "Active Portfolio Management" by Grinold. But for an undergraduate or graduate student looking for an excellent primer on stocks, bonds, options, futures and the workings of the markets they are traded on, look no further than "Investments".

One note: we were able to obtain a paperback copy of the text at much reduced cost.

Good
The book is good. But if you can solve all the problems (buy the solutions manual) then you will be able to extract all the value from it.

Investments + S&P Card + Powerweb + StockTrak discount coupo
Bodie/Kane/Marcus is the leading textbook in the graduate investments market. It is recognized as the best blend of practical and theoretical coverage, while maintaining an appropriate rigor and clear writing style. Its unifying theme is that security markets are nearly efficient, meaning that most securities are usually priced appropriately given their risk and return attributes. The text places greater emphasis on asset allocation, and offers a much broader and deeper treatment of futures, options, and other derivative security markets than most investment texts.
Table of Contents: Part 1: Introduction 1. The Investment Environment 2. Markets and Instruments 3. How Securities are Traded 4. Mutual Funds and Other Investment Companies 5. History of Interest Rates and Risk Premiums Part 2: Portfolio Theory 6. Risk and Risk Aversion 7. Capital Allocation Between the Risky Asset and the Risk-Free Asset 8. Optimal Risky Portfolios Part 3: Equilibrium in Capital Markets 9. The Capital Asset Pricing Model 10. Single-Index and Multifactor Models 11. Arbitrage Pricing Theory 12. Market Efficiency 13. Empirical Evidence on Security Returns Part 4: Fixed-Income Securities 14. Bond Prices and Yields 15. The Term Structure of Interest Rates 16. Fixed-Income Portfolio Management Part 5: Security Analysis 17. Macroeconomic and Industry Analysis 18. Equity Valuation Models 19. Financial Statement Analysis Part 6: Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives 20. Options Markets: Introduction 21. Option Valuation 22. Futures Markets 23. Futures and Swaps: A Closer Look Part 7: Applied Portfolio Management 24. Portfolio Performance Evaluation 25. International Diversification 26. The Process of Portfolio Management 27. The Theory of Active Portfolio Management Appendix A. Quantitative Review Appendix B. CFA Citations

Well begun is half done!!
Anyone embarking upon a study of investments should begin with this book. From an explanation of market structure to intuitive analyses of all core concepts in investments (like Markowitz Theory, CAPM, Black-Scholes, Fixed Income concepts), this book has everything. Newer editions of the book also have very good instructions on how to implement the tools in MS-Excel. Obviously, this book is not meant for those pursuing a PhD. Rather it is meant for MBAs and aspiring CFAs who want to learn and implement investment tools and analysis. ... Read more

Book Description

A handy reference guide for Six Sigma which describes the DMAIC tools and how they can be applied. Perfect for those learning Six Sigma, or those who have already be trained and want a handy reference! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The Best Pocket Guide to Six Sigma Available
I don't due encomiums very often (check out the rest of my reviews); but Rath & Strong's pocket guide simply floored me.

I bought a dozen several months ago to try out on my black belts and green belts. They snapped them up and refused to retu