Book Description

A Master Guide to the world online public records. Quickly find complete profiles of over 3,000 government agencies and private companies that provide Internet access to public records. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of Three Basic Research Guides

This is the third of three basic guides by Facts on Demand press that I am very happy to have in my collection and to recommend to others.This one focuses, as its title suggests, on Public Records Online, going down to the county level, state by state.

It is not a tutorial in how to search public records, but it does includes helpful introductory chapters and the bottom line is that using this book is cheaper than out-sourcing the work, so if you have a need to search public records online, this book is certainly a valuable and cost-effective place to start.

The other two books from the same publisher that I recommend are "Find It Online" by Alan M. Schlein, and "Online Competitive Intelligence" by Helen Burwell, the Grand Dame of global information brokering who for many years published the absolutely top-notch Burwell World Directory of Information Brokers (I have the 1998 edition and it is still useful to me).

iffy
unclear search methods. not specific.

Excellent for researchers!
This book is designed in the same format that most of the BRB Publisher texts are.Opening chapters are of general interest, moving into state by state phone and online information followed up by several appendixes describing online vendor information companies, government URLs, and privacy information.The State chapter which is 80% of the book, is broken down as: State Agencies County Courts Federal Courts Local Courts and County Record Retrievers This section is very resourceful, giving in detail what is permitted in that location and who can get the information for you.It appears that several of the BRB publications have been combined, and added to, to create this excellent source. ... Read more

Book Description

Workers' compensation causes headaches throughout all levels of an organization. Injuries affect production, costs, and morale. Managing Workers' Compensation: A Guide to Injury Reduction and Effective Claim Management lays out - in logical order - management and safety procedures that reduce injuries and the aggravation that follows. The authors cover hiring, training, and managing employees with injury avoidance in mind. They provide a blueprint for dealing with injured employees and their families, and for determining the correct time for the employee to return to work.The book discusses the all-important issues of fraud, modified duty, substance abuse testing and accident investigations. It also provides guidance for managing your organization's safety efforts in a manner that targets workers' compensation cost control as one of its major objectives. In addition to comprehensive coverage of workers' compensation, the book gives you a thorough explanation of additional sources of assistance, including the availability and utility of Internet safety resources, a complete listing of state workers' compensation agencies, and sample checklists that help you evaluate your workplace. Although workers' compensation laws vary from state-to-state, the principles behind the system and the ability of employers to influence their own premiums remain consistent. By gaining a thorough understanding of these principles and implementing proven cost control strategies, you can realize substantial savings. Managing Workers' Compensation: A Guide to Injury Reduction and Effective Claim Management explains the process by which premiums are calculated and shows how you can impact - favorably - the amount your organization pays in premiums. ... Read more

Book Description

Finding the right successor to a well-loved founder or president is often the most difficult task an organization can face-and the challenge is often even greater for family-run businesses.Succeeding Generations explores leadership transitions in family businesses, offering a clear-eyed assessment of the different options, from direct succession to building partnerships between siblings and cousins.

Family-owned companies may dominate the worldwide business landscape, yet surprisingly few are successfully passed down from one generation to the next, and fewer still reach the third generation intact.Author Ivan Lansberg, an organizational psychologist who grew up in a family business, examines the reasons behind this high failure rate, and reveals the factors that contribute to long-term success.Succeeding Generations offers a framework for understanding the succession process, as Lansberg highlights the need for families to share a "dream" much like a business has a vision.He also offers practical advice on how to mentor successors, how to set up a systematic selection process, and how to make the best use of the board of directors during times of transition.With a wealth of examples from companies in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, Succeeding Generations provides a thoughtful and comprehensive look at the sensitive dynamics of leadership succession in family businesses.

Planning for continuity is a life-long process for families in business, and Succeeding Generations is the first book to provide in-depth answers to the questions that arise at every stage in the evolution of the family firm. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Packed with Knowledge!
Succeeding Generations takes the family business where few dare to venture: into the perilous landscape of succession - the boneyard of many a family enterprise felled by dissension, sibling rivalry, and greed. Ivan Lansberg, co-founder of the Family Firm Institute and your guide through this treacherous terrain, neatly straddles the worlds of academic rigor and real-world experience as he shows you how to pave the way for the generation to come. Case studies of well-known family businesses illustrate Lansberg's observations and bring his advice home. We from getAbstract recommend this book to anyone involved in the complex concern of family business.

A Landmark Book on Family Businesses!
Ivan Lansberg's new book is an excellent resource for anyone living through, or helping to manage, the succession process in a family business! The book is thoroughly scholarly yet practical...it is "a must read," for anyone interested in the subject. It is the best book on the subject I have read!

One of the best
Ivan Lansberg is among the top thinkers in the Family Business field. In this book, drawing on his experience as a consultant, and also on his work as co-author of Generation to Generation, he sums up all there is to say about the complex family/business relationship. A must for anyone interested in the subject. ... Read more

Book Description

A landmark document every occupational therapy practitioner and student needs at hand. This convenient 32-page publication originally appeared in the November/December 2002 issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. Pagination in this bound version corresponds to the original journal pagination to simplify your citing of this document. If fully incorporates the text, charts, graphs, tables, complete glossary, and extensive references and bibliography as first published. Add this conveniently bound version of the Framework to your professional bookshelf, clinical library, student resources, or university library, and carry it with you for immediate reference. ... Read more

Book Description

How to cut through the public relations jargon and analyze a company's financial health and future prospects as it's spelled out in an annual report. Sound advice for non-expert investors in the stock market. New topics covered and explained in this edition include annual reports on the Internet, materiality, and financial derivatives. Titles in the easy-to-understand Business Keys series are directed at consumers and non-professionals, with advice on saving, investing, protecting assets, and increasing wealth through prudent money management. The books define terms, cut through business jargon, speak in plain language, and take the mystery out of business. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Succinct and Informative
This book is very succinct and the explanations for each accounting concepts are very easy to understand and easy to remember. The "Red Flags" after each concept are very useful in pointing out all the possible problems that may arise. While the strengths of this book is his conciseness, it does require you to have some basic accounting background. Otherwise, some of the explanations may seem confusing. Having said that, if i am reading an annual report, I would definitely want to have this book beside me. Happy reading!

Great Little Book To Help You Understand Financial Reports



"Keys To Reading An Annual Report" by George Thomas Friedlob and Ralph E. Welton is a wonderful, little book for all investors. Each of the fifty, three-or-four-page sections covers a key concept that investors should understand when reading a public company's annual report and other financial statements.

"Keys To Reading An Annual Report" is no substitute for a complete text about financial statement analysis, such as "The Analysis And Use of Financial Statements," but "Keys To Reading An Annual Report" is an excellent first read for new investors who are learning to understand financial statements. And, experienced readers of annual reports will probably find this book a useful review.

Some of the fifty key topics covered include:

--SEC Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and the 8-K
--Current Assets
--Cash and Receivables
--Cost of Goods Sold and Inventories
--Property, Plant, and Equipment
--Depreciation
--Intangibles and Other Assets
--Depletion and Amortization
--Current Liabilities
--Bonds and Amortization
--Owner's Equity
--Classes of Stock
--Treasury Stock
--Discontinued Operations
--Ratio Analysis
--Taxes and Tax Deferrals

Many of the topics "Red Flag" things to which investors should pay special attention. For example, the chapter about Depreciation Red Flags: "The basis for long-lived asset valuation is historical cost. Because depreciation does not measure actual decline in value, the net book value of a long-lived asset (historical cost - accumulated depreciation) is not a good measure of the cost of replacing the asset. Neither is net book value a good measure of what the asset would bring if sold." (i.e., depreciation expense is a way of expensing the long-lived asset. And, the balance sheet only lists the so-called "unexpired cost.")

The red flag also discusses the difficulty in comparing depreciation across different companies because of the different ways depreciation may be computed.

The section about Treasury Stock tells us: "Stock Issued by a company may later be reacquired by the company. In some cases, the company may retire or cancel this stock. When reacquired stock is not retired or canceled, it is referred to as treasury stock." (there is a nice glossary at the end of the book.).

Friedlob and Welton point out that treasury stock is not an asset. "A company cannot create an asset by holding stock in itself."

However, because the reacquired stock may have been reacquired at a different price than it was originally issued, the wealth within the company can change in such a treasury stock transaction. For example, suppose stock is issued for $20 per share, but reacquired for $2 per share (it's an internet company!), then, somehow, the company has taken in $18 per share on the transaction. How is this accounted for in the financial statements?

Friedlob and Welton explain: "Just as treasury stock is not an asset, a loss or gain cannot result from treasury stock transactions. 'Things' happen that you and I would call a 'loss' (reacquiring treasury stock for $20 per share and later reissuing it for $12) or a 'gain' (reacquiring treasury stock for $30 per share and later reissuing it for $40). But it is illegal for a company to produce a gain or loss transacting in its own stock. When total stockholder's equity is decreased by treasury stock transactions (a loss), the decrease is generally taken directly from retained earnings. No loss is taken... When total stockholder's equity is increased by treasury stock transactions (a gain), the increase is recorded as a separate source of capital called Paid-In Capital from Treasury Stock Transactions."

So, by reading a little, two-page section about treasury stock in Keys To Reading An Annual Report, you probably now know more than 99% of all investors know about treasury stock!

"...If you are new to investing, you might also want to pick up a copy of Barron's "Keys To Investing In Common Stocks," which is an excellent first read for investors.

Peter Hupalo, Author of "Becoming An Investor"

Keys to Reading an Annual Report
This small manual concisely and succinctly presents the major elements of financial statements in easy to read, line-by-line format. It is not only ideal for the average investor without an accounting background, but also for the accountant who needs to explain financial statement concepts and presentations to others. Its examples are easy to relate to and quite illustrative. I regret this wasn't available when I tried to decipher "Accounting 101".

A CUT ABOVE ONE OF MY FINANCE COURSES
Even thought this book is five years old, the information still applies to the year 2000. As a person who now works iin finance, I know that detail is extremely important. This book certainly does its job by being very detail oriented. I graduated froom a very pretigious business school in which finance is actually the best subject taught, and I have to admit I think this little guide puts many pricey finance/accounting and finance professors to shame. It's also probably a good little guide for kids as well, to give them a headstart in the world of finance. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A must read for all sales people
This book was by far the best that I have read. The book covers all aspects of a sucessful cold calling campaign. I purchased this book when sales were slow and was forced to lay off my sales staff. As a result of reading this book, I was able to increase my sales and rehire my sales staff. This book is now part of our sales training.

Must have sales tool
I have been in sales for over 9 years and have read many books, but this book opened my eyes back up again. I sell complex CRM solutions and never thought this book could help, but it did. I will say, it's nothing most of us have not heard before, but for me it opened my eyes on the importance of picking up the phone more than I usually do. The author makes some very valid points, but the best one is that it does not matter what you are selling its always a numbers game. Those who are successful in sales make that extra cold call, appointment or dial that extra number. That's what separates the successful sales people from the average sales people.

Decent, but....
Nothing new here. Want a good tonic for your sales slumps? It's called "Wall Street" and it's not a book--it's a movie. Breathe that movie's creeds and you will succeed...

You have got to be kidding me
Ok, I am a new sales rep, and I thought this book would make a difference for me. Well the only difference that it made for me was in my wallet, which is unfortunately much lighter now. The book had some good advice, but not worth all of the filler which the author overwhelms you with just so that they can sell a book. Save yourself the time, see if it is out in cliff notes. 10 pages was all this book really neede to cover the points that this guy wanted to make. Save yourself time and effort and look elsewhere.

The author lives by selling by phone -> expert
I am biased in that I want to read a book by someone who has actual experience in the field. In the case of teleselling, I want someone who sells mostly by the phone. At least, they have to prospect by phone. This author states:

"I will be selling right up until my last breath... For me, heaven will be a small room with a telephone and a never-ending list of prospects... you cannot succeed at what you do not love. I am going to work very hard on making you love to prospect."

and

"I have two businesses of my own and attribute much of my success to my cold calling prowess... I have developed a prospecting and business development system that works!"

I'd say that this author is well qualified and, the book turns out very well.

At first I thought that my kind of business couldn't use teleselling: it was much too dignified. Then (this is a true story) I was sitting in a clients office reviewing my computer designs when I heard the client play back his voice messages outloud. One was from a competitor who was selling the same kind of services I provided. How could this be? I listened very closely and was extremely impressed with his technique. And had I been that customer receiving that call earlier, I might have responded to their prospecting call.

This book is highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

A 12 month plan for successfully starting a restaurant.

The all new edition of The Restaurant Start Up Guide focuses on what to do and when to do it advice for preparing to open a restaurant.This preliminary planner is an indispensable resource for anyone who is thinking of opening a restaurant.Complete with resources, timelines, sample financials, facilities checklists, and more, the would be restaurateur can be up and running in 12 months. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

First Anniversary Retrospective
Yesterday my staff and I celebrated the one year anniversary of my restaurant. The Restaurant Start-Up Guide was an integral part of my planning process, and I have recommended it to three other friends this year who are starting their own businesses. The month-by-month approach was not only motivating; it lent structure to a sometimes overwhelmingly complicated process. My previous experience was in hands-on restaurant management. The Start-Up Guide taught me the business basics and directed me to other sources of information I needed to get started. I will continue to recommend it to others in the future.

College professors writing a restaurant start-up book
This book is absolutely useless other than for academic interest. If you read the bios of the authors carefully they have never started or run a restaurant and that reflects the writing. The whole book is about marketing, planning, spreadsheets; something that would be taught in a college classroom. I really wasted my money on this book.

Provides all the information necessary to plan the venture
This new edition of Restaurant Start-Up Guide provides a 12-month plan for starting a restaurant, and is packed with financial and start-up information which will prove essential to any who plan on such a venture. Tips and techniques from two restaurant and business start-up pros provide all the information necessary to plan the venture, from creating revenue to determining the restaurant's focus and clientele.

Good resource that is honest about the industry.
I'm now reading this book for the second time. The step by step guide is in a prudent timeline and very comprehensive. The authors add in enough anecdotes and survey results from succesful restauranteurs to keep the text interesting. The authors pay alot of attention to making sure readers really want to get into this business. ... Read more

Book Description

The "Greatest Business Book of All Time" (Bloomsbury UK), In Search of Excellence has long been a must-have for the boardroom, business school, and bedside table.

Based on a study of forty-three of America's best-run companies from a diverse array of business sectors, In Search of Excellence describes eight basic principles of management -- action-stimulating, people-oriented, profit-maximizing practices -- that made these organizations successful.

Joining the HarperBusiness Essentials series, this phenomenal bestseller features a new Authors' Note, and reintroduces these vital principles in an accessible and practical way for today's management reader.

Reviews (32)

Stood the Test of Time
This book was written 22 years ago (in 1982) and seems to have stood the test of time. In fact, the business 'ingredients' delineated in this book have been demonstrated in many major corporations since the book was first published.

Essentially the book hinges on 8 basic principles. If any business can put these 8 basic principles into practice, Peters and Waterman say that business can not help but succeed. Now the success may not be as large as Microsoft, but success will occur at one level or the other. If you do not agree then that is fine, Peters and Waterman give several examples of small business that became huge business on the basis of these 8 principles (e.g. Walmart, Hewlett-Packard, Delta Airlines, McDonald's, IBM, etc.). In fact, when you read the book (which is actually structured around describing and demonstrating these 8 principles) you will see why and how these principles actually work.

One of the most interesting things I found in this book was the fact that the 8 principles are essentially common sense ingredients. For lack of better way to describe them, 'boy scout' type principles that can be incorporated into business action on an every day basis.

The book itself is very interesting, easy to read (even if you are not very interested in reading about businesses, business growth and management, etc.) and easy to understand. There are some great business stories about customers, business action, business men and their thinking, etc. Chapter 4 is quite theoretically and somewhat difficult to wade through, but has some great insights on management, measuring earnings, business theories and strategies, and how culture plays a part in business growth based on a businesses values in relation to the culture as opposed to a business values in relation to just making money.

This is one of the better business books I have read in a long while and I do recommend it for anyone who is about to start a business, who actually own a business, or for anyone who merely love reading business books.

Ahead of its time, but a little behind ours
I bought this book after reading many others, some of which referenced this book as "groundbreaking", "a landmark", and the like.While this book makes some good observations, it makes critical mistakes in oversimplifying a lot of its "evidence".Yet it fails to find any ideas that simplify its "eight basic principles".

As an example of a mistaken oversimplification, the book claims that "rationality" always yields negative, i.e. pessimistic, business forecasts, but this fails to understand that projections are guided by assumptions, that in turn are guided by management.Companies that penalize those whose forecasts are too optimistic will encourage its planners to use negative assumptions.Companies that don't, won't.

Many of the "excellent companies" have seen very bad times or were driven out of business completely in the years following the book's release.I think that shows that the authors were missing quite a bit in understanding the real nature of excellence.Fortunately, in subsequent years authors such as John Case (Open-Book Management) and Jack Stack (The Great Game of Business) have hit upon a much simpler yet more complete model for excellence.Not only does their model explain what is correct about The Search for Excellence, but it also explains the correct elements in many management ideas since including "reengineering", "TQM", "Empowerment", and "Six Sigma".I highly recommend their books instead of this one.

The search continues
I read this book again after a gap of nearly 20 years. The world has significantly changed since then and so have the fortunes of many of the "excellent" companies listed in this book. Some have continued to excel, some have made a comeback after facing tough times and some have ceased to exist. Excellence is neither permanent nor an assurance for "lived happily thereafter" ending for a corporate fable. As often mentioned in most management books, the only thing that is permanent is change, and change has been rapid and unforgiving in the last two decades. In this context, is this one time business bestseller flawed in its study and its findings ?. The authors themselves answer this question in their opening remarks - "Authors' Note: Excellence 2003" in this new paperback edition.

Theory first. There is a solid attack on the Rational Model ( over emphasis onquantitative approaches to management )in American business schools which the authors feel is a main cause for the decline of American companies in the third quarter of the twentieth century. The understanding of the human side and aligning people with the Organization's goals through a deep sense of respect and involvement is at the core of success at the excellent companies is the next hypothesis. In their search for excellence, the research leads to eight prominent attributes that are common across the best run companies. All these attributes have direct and significant link to this aspect of the human side of enterprise.

The excellent companies have focussed consciously and consistently on rigorously practicing several of the eight attributes. Failure to focus on these have led to setbacks in subsequent years. An outstanding athlete cannot be expected to win gold at all the Olympics in his lifetime. Athletes age and so do companies say the authors. But is there a prescription against aging for companies that are committed to excellence ?

This book is liable for criticism on the following counts :

- Too much of theory in the first four chapters, mostly borrowed from other earlier management gurus
- Descriptive and repetitive
- Data insufficiency for backing conclusions
- Sample does not cover all industries and restricted to American companies
- Talks of the past and ignores prescriptions for the future
- Attributes need to be ranked and revisited periodically and perhaps a new list might emerge

Several books have been written on this topic since this classic was first published in 1982.Many have addressed the points listed above. But this ground breaking book continues to be the pathfinder in all that has followed. Go back to the analogy of the athlete. A gold is a gold at any contest and this book deserves one for its own excellence.

Still relevant today
Even though Tom Peters admitted in a Fast Company article that some of the data in the book was faked, I still think it is worth reading because it discusses some key concepts.Ideas such as sticking to what you're best at, achieving productivity through people, and being close to the customer are simple, timeless, and most certainly worth studying.

Some argue that several of the companies that were deemed by the study to be excellent back then are no longer excellent and therefore that hurts the credibility of the book.It's a valid point to an extent but history is full of examples of companies that were once great and then faltered for whatever reason.The key is to figure out what the best companies are doing while they are on top and the book discusses this.

One part of the book I didn't like was the initial part of it where they discuss a lot of historical management theory.If the book were published today, I seriously doubt any editor would let them include that part since it's not very readable.Personally, I don't want to have to weed through too many boring parts before I get to the good material.

In summary, I feel "In Search of Excellence" is by far the best Tom Peters book in print and worth reading.

Greg Blencoe
Author, The Ten Commandments for Managers

A classic whose lessons still offer benefits
It is hard to appreciate the impact this book had when it was first released.Some of the cases (business stories) it contains still inspire although some seem a bit dated, but the underlying ideas retain some power if you take time to think about them.As the authors say in the new preface, this is a book about attributes rather than specific recommendations for action.I like their response to those who point out that many of the companies included have since fallen on hard times.They point out that we still learn the past accomplishments of great athletes no longer in their prime.

I think the best points the book makes involve the way people react under pressure in pulling back to numbers, research, and rationality in ways that won't help them.Numbers, research, and rationality are all extremely important, but will not in themselves enable you to innovate and see new ways to compete.Although this isn't in the book, I love the story about the driver side door for the minivans.Chrysler stole the march on that and when one of their competitors was asked why they didn't come out with such an obvious innovation he responded that none of the customers in their focus groups asked for such a feature.Game, set, and match for Peters and Waterman.

This is a book that should still be read.It has a lot more to offer than many business books being printed today at great cost to our forests and our precious time.This is still a keeper. ... Read more

Book Description

OVERVIEW
This best-selling text continues in its sixth edition to provide the most current and comprehensive coverage of business research. Its student-friendly design contains numerous examples illustrating real-world research in management, marketing, finance, accounting, and other business areas. It is the ideal text for the undergraduate and first year MBA courses in marketing, management, or quantitative studies. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An excellent text
i have been teaching Business Research to MBA classes for 5 years. I have gone through many text books and tried out several as recommended reading for my classes. None come even close to the readability and sheer ease of use of this book by Professor Zikmund. It is well organised, and gives comprehensive coverage to all aspects of research without getting bogged down in theory. The examples, end of chapter questions and cases are interesting and serve as excellent discussion points in class. I am happy to see a new edition is available and hope that it will contain some more up to date examples.

No Dust Bunnies!
This is one research methods text that will NOT be collecting dust bunnies on your shelf. It is extremely "user friendly" for the student/novice researcher but has the breadth and depth to remain useful to the expert and research professional. It is well organized so that you can skip around to the parts you need at the moment. It has lots of exercises and follow up readings/references to hammer home the content.

I had 16 weeks of statistical research methods as part of my Masters program. If I would have had this book, I would have understood and got much, much more out of those 16 weeks. If I had just one research methods book to buy, THIS is IT!

Don't waste your money on some academic text. Get this one and get the ability to hit the ground running with your research project!

A superb Text
I have been using Prof. William Zikmund's wonderful textbook, "Exploring Marketing Research," in my undergraduate marketing classes in the US since the early 1980s. When I started teaching "Research Methodolgy" to MBA students in Saudi Arabia some six years ago and discovered that Professor Zikmund has a text on the subject, I adopted that text without hesitation. The book is well written, easy to read and comprehend, and has several examples and very good applications and cases. I give it "A+" and recommend it to other professors and business researchers enthusiastically. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A lot of info in a nutshell
The beauty of the Management Pocket Books Series is that you get the necessary information without having to spend so much time reading. This particular book is no exemption. Training tips, techniques, and icebreakers are included. It tells you how to decode a participant's feelings by his/her action. Clear, concise, and helpful, this little book also tells you how people receive, process, learn, and retain information, and what the trainer can do to maximize these areas. ... Read more

Book Description

Organized around 50 rules for strategic thinking, The Art of War for Managers translates the strategic wisdom of Sun Tzu into powerful 10-minute lessons to enhance your business and personal success.

"Michaelson is Sun Tzu's foremost student and interpreter. He brings home the business relevance of this ancient military strategist in down-to-earth language." Al Vogl, editor of The Conference Board Magazine

"Brilliant work! The useful commentary in The Art of War for Managers brings Sun Tzu's timeless wisdom to a new level." Gen. Bill Creech, Author, The Five Pillars of TQM ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A required field manual for marketing war competitors.
Michaelson's subject, predicate,and direct object style of writing in "Sun Tzu:The Art of War for Managers" makes this reading a professional must for all hands who would venture into the marketing wars. Michaelson applies Sun Tzu's ancient theories on the strategy (Doing the right thing!) and tactics (Doing things right!)to the dynamics of corporate business today.Michaelson has condensed much of the previous good information he passed in his earlier book, "Winning the Marketing War".I would recommend this latest effort by Gerald Michaelson to all young Americans entering the competitive world of business. As a former Marine, I would place it at the same level as our "Small Wars Manual" and the "Landing Party Manual", and these manuals equated to the Bible as far as I was concerned. The truth is out there, and Gerald Michaelson will help to show you the way. Semper Fidelis, Bruce M. Mac Laren Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (ret)

Sun Tzu in a new translation with helpful commentary
Michaelson clarifies Sun Tzu's military strategy in this new translation and commentary. The book contains 50 excerpts from The Art of War with commentary on the facing page. These thoughts link Sun Tzu's strategies to the struggles of modern business.

What I found particularly pleasing about this book is that Michealson deciphers the sometimes mystifying advice from Sun Tzu, relates it to Western corporations, and gives examples.

This book should be useful to anyone who makes business strategy or is in the unenviable position of implementing someone else's strategy.

Effective strategies for handling a multitude of conflicts
"Make an estimate of the situation" and "fight only the battles you can win," are but two of the strategic rules outlined in Gerald A. Michaelson's translation of "The Art of War". Chinese strategist, Sun Tzu wrote the original 7000-word treatise 2500 years ago, and today his view of military strategy continues to be studied worldwide, not only by military commanders but also by others who seek to develop a winning strategy. "The Art of War for Managers" is an excellent book, easy to read with translations of the ancient text boiled down to fifty short simple rules that can be used by managers in a variety of career fields. Each of the thirteen chapters serves to group the strategic rules for easy reference and study while providing a "Manager's Commentary" which serves as a contemporary example of Sun Tzu's strategic points. Michaelson also provides his readers with a section of detailed examples from managers who have adopted one or more of Sun Tzu's strategies, as well as an outline of the key concepts detailed in each chapter. In the West, we tend to have the attitude that we must win all of the time, or win at any cost. Michaelson's translation and interpretation of Sun Tzu provides insight that suggests that we must choose our battles rather than fight every battle, and that there are ways to win without fighting at all. Each of the fifty strategic rules in this book will provide the reader the opportunity to develop effective strategies to handle a multitude of conflicts, and is well worth the time investment.

A poor attempt at understanding a great book
Michealson's book was recommended to our book club and I bought it with great excitement and joy. That joy lasted only a chapter or two. It was immediately apparent that little research had gone into to the book's relevance to managers in business. The examples were less than helpful, the author's ideas jumped around, leaps of logic were offered as fact...I actually stopped reading half way through the book and wondered what I would do when the book club met.

Of the 12 people who showed to that meeting, none thought it was a useful read, I apologized for picking the book. Personally I have also read the AOW for Executives by Krause, another very poor read. If you don't mind a longer read, try Sun Tzu and the Art of Business by McNeilly. He does a decent job, but he too gets lost in his expertise of Vietnam military tactics and other armed conflicts, but he knows more about what he writes than others.

I wish I could say something more positive, so save your money, time and wait for someone to write something that connects the 13 chapters to current business problems.

The Art of War for Managers
This book successfully describes how the fundamental strategic truths taught by Sun Tzu in The Art of War can be applied to modern day corporate skirmishes. ... Read more

Book Description

The newest edition of this comprehensive directory and reference book for investors includes a 5,000-term financial dictionary, an analysis of 30 key investment opportunities in today?s uncertain financial market, explanations for laymen on how to read corporate reports and interpret financial news, and an up-to-date directory of 600 publicly traded corporations in the United States and Canada. Readers will also find the names and addresses of all brokerage and mutual funds firms, banks, savings and loan companies, insurance companies, federal and state regulators, and major investment publications. Here is an all-inclusive financial reference volume that belongs on the bookshelf of every serious investor, both professional and private. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Investor's Dream
After reading this book, I went out that day and made $50,000 buying stocks, bonds and real estate. However, I blew it all the next day investing in rare coins and beanie babies. Maybe I should stick to CDs and money market funds.

Easy come, easy go.

An invaluable, up-to-date reference
This book, useful for both the novice and the more advanced investor, provides a thorough overview of almost every type of investment (including bonds, annuities, life insurance, etc.) and an comprehensive glossary of investment terms. It is handy when it comes to looking up unfamiliar terms and is an enjoyable overall read. The book also contains a listing of brokerages, banks, etc. with phone numbers and addresses. It is probably the authoritative volume on investing, which is to be expected coming from Barron's. It's definitely well worth it!

useful and valuable
Being a beginner of an investing guy, this book is very useful for reading any article about economics, investment and finance. You can look up all the specil terms in this one. A perfect handbook!

Maybe the best investment guide ever written...
Do you want a book that will naswer all your questions about investing and finance? Then this is the one. Written as a guide, the first section covers over 30 different investment opportunities- from stocks,bonds and futures to real estate, collectables and mutual funds. Each investment description includes risk, tax, economic and liquidity considerations.Other sections include: How To Read A Financial Report, How To Read The Financial Pages and the Dictionary of Finance and Investment. This $25 book well may be one of the best investments a beginner ever makes.

Maybe the best investment book ever published.
Do you want a book that will answer all your questions about investing and finance? Then this is the one. Written as a guide, the first section covers over 30 different investment opportunities- from stocks,bonds and futures to real estate, collectables and mutual funds. Each investment description includes risk, tax, economic and liquidity considerations.Other sections include: How To Read A Financial Report, How To Read The Financial Pages and the Dictionary of Finance and Investment. This $25 book well may be one of the best investments a beginner can make. Why do you think it is on backorder! ... Read more

Amazon.com

So you, too, want to join the ranks of the self-employed and start your own business at home or in a small office nearby. How do you choose the right field? Get customers? Price services? Protect property? Raise funds?Concise information on hundreds of basic issues that stem from such questions can be found in the updated second edition of The Home Office and Small Business Answer Book. Janet Attard--a journalist who has operated her own business for two decades and written extensively about the process--presents the essentials in a clear Q&A format divided into logical sections on selecting, starting, maintaining, and growing a business. Included is advice on franchising and multilevel marketing (pros and cons, how to assess); business and marketing plans (why they're needed, what's included); price structuring and financials (hourly vs. per-job billing, estimating expenses); equipment (what's needed, what it costs); marketing (obtaining publicity, placing ads); and much more. There is a wealth of information here, although additional specifics are necessary before many of the larger projects (like creating a business plan) can be fully executed. For that, however, Attard supplies ample resources in the appropriate sections and in six indexes. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very Informative
I read Ms. Attard's first book several years ago and heard that she was once again writing an update to this book.

I just received the book and have spent most of a day reading it from cover to cover. She answered most every question I had and all those that I did not even think of asking.

If you are going into your own business this book is a MUST HAVE. ... Read more

Book Description

The Encyclopedia of Leadership is a comprehensive reference guide to over 200 of the most important business leadership principles, theories, tools, and techniques. Each entry features a brief, one-page summary of an influential theory or tool—often illustrated graphically—followed by a worksheet or exercise. Thoroughly cross-referenced, it allows busy leaders to find what they need, review it, and even implement it—often in as little as 15 minutes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Be your own boss, quit the commute--sounds so good, so right. But in the quiet of your own office (or study, or garage), with your feet up on your desk, there are a few bits of information you seem suddenly to want to know: Blue Sky laws, escrow, Keogh plans, public domain, venture capital, maybe even the difference between bankruptcy chapters 7 and 11. Especially useful for hiring employees, dabbling in the stock market, or preparing for taxes, The SOHO Desk Reference is an A-Z for entrepreneurs with more than 500 lucid entries of small business practicalities and wisdom. ... Read more

Amazon.com

To learn a Japanese martial art is to learn Zen, and although you can't do so simply by reading a book, it sure does help--especially if that book is The Book of Five Rings. One of Japan's great samurai sword masters penned in decisive, unfaltering terms this certain path to victory, and like Sun Tzu's The Art of War it is applicable not only on the battlefield but also in all forms of competition. Always observant, creating confusion, striking at vulnerabilities--these are some of the basic principles. Going deeper, we find suki, the interval of vulnerability, of indecisiveness, of rest, the briefest but most vital moment to strike. In succinct detail, Miyamoto records ideal postures, blows, and psychological tactics to put the enemy off guard and open the way for attack. Most important of all is Miyamoto's concept of rhythm, how all things are in harmony, and that by working with the rhythm of a situation we can turn it to our advantage with little effort. But like Zen, this requires one task above all else, putting the book down and going out to practice. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Reviews (88)

Places Musashi in an Historical Context
What I prefer about Victor Harris's translation of Musashi Miyamoto's book is the fact that Harris has gone through exacting lengths not just to present an accurate translation in the context of a 17th-century samurai, but to present Musashi in his proper historical context. As opposed to every other English translation I have read, this one includes a chapter which gives a biography of Musashi, and shows many of his creations, such as paintings (including a self-portrait), tsuba (swordguards), etc. We can see where Musashi stayed, and what his grave looks like, etc. For clarity in understanding, this volume, along with the translation by Thomas Cleary, are the best. I should justify that by explaining that I practice martial arts--for those of you looking for a business oriented edition, there are several translations and interpretations out there which are geared towards your needs. For those of you involved in the practice of martial arts, sports, or with an interest in historical strategy texts, I heartily recommend this translation!

Whay does this book discuss? Musashi's masterpiece eschews practice, and decries vanity, ego, and "secrets". Musashi was a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, and the influence of Zen philosophy can be seen everywhere in his writing. This is however, definately a book on the strategy of swordsmanship, and not a treatis on religion. Musashi Miyamoto fought in a number of duels--back in the era of true challenge matches--when usually the victor was the man left living! The realities of his times, the fact that life was so cheap and had to be guarded fiercly, and that Musashi succeeded in doing this is what makes his writing even more precious. This was the book Musashi passed on to the students of his school, the unusual two-bladed Ni-to Ryu (two-sword school). For more on the historical Musashi Miyamoto, read Makoto Sugawara's excellent (non-fiction) "Lives of Master Swordsmen".

Lacking Commentary
Many of these books are difficult to understand because they are meant to be used as study and reference guides along with a teacher. The Book of Five Rings (of which I've read 3 of the 5, and am just a few pages away from finishing) is a treatise describing Musashi Miyamoto's personal school of fighting - the school of two skies. He eschews other schools as too this or too that. They concentrate, he says, on technique rather than what swordfighting is all about - killing your opponent.

The text is dry, and the sections are short. They are intended (a) for swordfighters, and (b) to be meditated on. The principals in this book would take a swordfighter years to master. In fact, at one point he says one should study for about 3 years (he gives a specific number of weeks) and then practice for 30 or so more years.

How does this translate into my life? I'm not sure. I don't have enough of a background in swordfighting, the culture, etc. to know how these concepts apply to my life. If perhaps I had a guide, in the form of commentary, I could more easily integrate these concepts into my life. As is, however, this book isn't of much use to me, except as reference for the day when I do have commentary.

I reccomend, instead, Cleary's Classics of Strategy and Counsel. This trilogy of books includes the Art of War, Mastering the Art of War, The Lost Art of War, The Silver Sparrow Art of War, Thunder in the Sky, The Japanese Art of War, The Book of Five Rings, Ways of Warriors, Codes of Kings (which includes several works), The Art of Wealth, Living a Good Life, The Human Element, and Back to Beginnings.

In addition to the text, there is often commentary, and supplementary material that can put the text in context and aid the student on his or her journey. Amazon lists several of these as the same book...

Like poetry it suggests more than it says
Okay, so I really have no clue as to what compelled me to buy this book. I hate to admit it but it looked "pretty" and it looked "historical," so I got it. I also love the Japanese film classics starring Toshirô Mifune as the ultimate samurai warrior. Many of them illustrate a combination of charm, sophistication, humor, even comedy, with violence, ruthlessness, and arrogance. The comparative lack of graphic bloodiness tends to focus the viewer on the human dynamics and art of the situation, and while some of these classics have been translated by the Hollywood film industry for Western tastes, what transpires still has a "foreign" feel. One sees the action and senses that something going on here is different, uncomfortable. Upon reading a few paragraphs of the Book of Five Rings : The Classic Guide to Strategy, I understood why.

For one thing, I had not understood that the character in the samurai collection that Mifune had been portraying had actually been an historic individual living in a unique period of Japanese history. Why I should have been surprised, I don't know, since the exploits of the likes of Pat Garret, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holiday became the basis for a good deal of 19th and 20th Century pulp fiction, TV series, and movies in the United States. In fact, the period in Japanese history that the translator describes sounds not unlike the "Wild West." The sod busters and the ranchers have made their peace, leaving hundreds of gunmen unemployed. The lucky ones find work as lawmen while the unlucky wander the country looking to enhance their reputations by lethal confrontations to see who's "fastest on the draw." The winner may ultimately find a job as a peace keeper; the loser finds a spot on boot hill. In the case of the American western, the contestants use guns; in the case of the Japanese samurai, they use swords and other equipment. Still there seems something more to it. The something more, I think, is a philosophy, a school, an etiquette, even an art that leaves the Western mind a little uncomfortable.

With some of the techniques of sword work and battle strategy, I think that as Musashi himself informs the reader, it is very difficult to "write" how to do a mechanical task. One can only convey the "feeling" that performing such a task has for the expert writer on the subject. In modern times this facet of the learning process is overcome by photo illustrations, but even then only to a very limited extent. As the author points out, there is no substitute for experience with the process and practice, practice, practice. Even the very limited experience I acquired years ago when I took fencing lessons helped me picture more clearly some of the moves the author described.

Part of the difficulty in connecting with the author's experience as he performs the various actions of sword fighting may be that this book is a translation from the Japanese, was originally written in an older version of the language, and embodied an ancient version of the culture itself, one that is no longer available even to modern Japanese let alone a Western translator. A warrior of Musashi's time may well have connected far better with the similes he uses than a modern person. The unique benefit of this fact, however, is that a great deal can be read into the work. Part of this is the author's intention, but part of it is due to the very ambiguity of the work. Just as the author himself suggests, the reader who does not concentrate on the words but allows the mind to float over them makes all sorts of interesting discoveries. For instance a book on dealing with problem people suggested a technique much like Musashi's "To Know the Times," essentially to match the rhythm and intensity of the subject until one can gain control of that rhythm to de-escalate it. His "To Become the Enemy" immediately brought to my mind the individual characters of Civil War generals Robert E. Lee and his opponent George McClelland. As Musashi suggested, the enemy always feels he is outnumbered which means that a few may defeat many if they are trained in The Way. Or as Lee is reputed to have said before a battle, "The Army of the Potomac is a very good one, unfortunately General McClelland brought himself along." Lee understood The Way. He knew that McClelland's personality, or lack of The Way, produced vast armies of the enemy in his mind.

In all a very interesting and surprising book, one I expect to read again and again to mine for concepts. For a slender 95 pages, the author, like a good poet, has packed each word with a maximum of information because they encapsulate concepts and principles.

Valuable for the Martial Artist
The Shambala Dragon Edition of Musashi's Book of Five Rings was passed on to me several years ago by a close friend and fellow martial artist after the death of our teacher, who had given it to him. I have kept it and read it numerous times as a reference that is applicable to my own martial arts studies. Throughout, Musashi gives insight into his theories and strategies regarding what he describes as "his" martial art, namely the art of Kenjustu (Japanese Swordsmanship), specifically his own "two-sword" or "Two Heavens" school. Although it is an interesting and insightful look into Musashi's strategies for individual and collective combat, the Book of Five Rings is short on technical details, and therefore difficult to apply to one's own martial arts studies in any specific and systematic manner. This being said, Musashi's writings are still very applicable to any martial art in a generalized way. With its lack of specifics, it is easy to see how publishers and readers alike could make the stretch that the Book of Five Rings is an excellent book on personal or business strategy-- rather than trying to sell it as an outstanding treatise on martial arts. After all, there are a lot more business people and self-help readers to sell books to than there are serious students of martial arts. However, these claims are more wishful thinking and skillful marketing than actual truth. If one wants to apply Musashi's strategies to business or the non-martial life, they will have a tough time trying to translate techniques such as those "on footwork" or "stabbing the face" into effective business management or personal growth strategies. One could certainly apply Musashi's techniques metaphorially, but to do so would be to take the author's instructional commentary entirely out of context. It must be understood that Musashi's Book of Five Rings was not written for business people, or those interested in self-help techniques. It was written about martial arts, for martial artists, by an undisputed master of martial arts, and must be read with this fact in mind to be truly appreciated and understood. Every serious martial artist should own it, and study it and apply its general lessons throughout his or her martial arts career. The Shambala Dragon Edition, includes Yagyu Munenori's masterful "Book of Family Traditions and the Art of War" which is an added bonus for serious students of Japanese martial arts.

Multi-layered
On the surface this book appears to be about the martial arts, warfare, swordplay. However, a careful reading with an open mind will surprise the reader not particularly focused on those aspects. Readers who've trained themselves to read complexity and symbolism as an overlay for everyday life experiences will find a strategy for the human life experience hidden here barely beneath the surface. It's only one strategy, and not necessarily the one you'll choose to lead your own life, but it's still worth studying and comprehending. In fact, readers completely unfamiliar with martial arts will find many 'lessons in life' worth digesting.

I believe it's worth the time and effort for study in the same sense as classic Chinese and European works of similar ilk. ... Read more

Book Description

The Enclyclopedia of Technical Market Indicators is the most complete and comprehensive description of technical stock market indicators ever published! It separates Wall Street myth from reality and shows the reader the true forecasting value of over 110 indicators. This book provides the reader with: Objective and quatitative guidance on how to calculate an interpret scores of wildly followed technical market indicators. Successful buy and sell decision rules; Clear examples and complete details of performance over many decades of stock market history. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Top Notch!
If you are serious about technical analysis and would like to be able to understand the underlying logic, formula, success rate, and limitations of market osicllators and indicators, then this book is for you.

The Encyclopedia of Technical Market Indicators
The best technical analysis and indicator encyclopedia. Comprehensive, best refernce.The only book yoy will ever need. Not a dictionary of indicator, complete analysis and trading models explained.

The Encyclopedia of Technical Market Indicators, Second Edit
A must for the serious investor. A concise and easy to understand examination of technical market indicators. Mr. Colby's book is invaluable when determining the usefulness of indicators. This book is about as close as you can get to a "one stop shop" for technical research.

Formulas are in Metastock
Add 2 stars if you don't care that the formulas are in Metastock shorthand, NOT in straightforward mathematical terms. I'm a programmer, looking for a book with the straight formulas for technical indicators. Here's what it says on the book, as quoted by amazon: "Simple, intuitive, easy-to-understand, and precisely defined formulas". Sounds great, so I buy it. NOWHERE does it mention that these formulas are in Metastock shorthand, which is NOT decipherable without Metastock, so I returned it. The book is very good at explaining the use of these indicators, but I'm very disappointed in the misleading marketing of the publishers and amazon.

A Valuable Resource
Robert Colby's book is a valuable resource for any practitioner of technical analysis, or consumer of technical analysis reports. Every TA method one is likely to encounter is explained clearly, and in detail.

Colby's bent is toward the science of TA, which is both a strength and a weakness here. His book places considerable emphasis on the backtesting he has done on the TA methods presented. The results are interesting, but would have served better as material for an appendix. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Starting a Cleaning Business
Don Aslett covers many of the major points that anyone who wants to start a business should consider. He has obviously gained a thorough knowledge of the subject through many years of practical experience in the business. As a cleaning contractor who started in the same way as Don I disagree with some of his views regarding hiring and motivating staff although this may because of the different countries where we work (Reviewer resides in the UK). He advises buying products from local suppliers in order to recieve a good reliable service. This is always more expensive for the contractor and does not guarantee good service.His points regarding overspending on items such as vehicles etc is well founded and his advice is generally sound. It is an interesting read although to gain more knowledge on the subject an aspiring cleaner/entreprenuer will need to know much more about the subject before considering embarking on a cleaning career and setting themselves loose on an unwary public. He has covered the subject in other books he has written and this may be found there. All things considered his book is readable and quite informative and generally quite good value for your dollar.

Not easily understood.
While the book does give a lot of valuable info to one starting out in the service business, it is not explained in enough detail. It leavea me with a lot of questions that I still can't find answers for. It should be followed by a book that will provide the answers to the serious minded service person. J. J. Robinson Virgin ... Read more

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