Reviews (2)

Without question the BEST Labor Economics text ever!
This is truly an amazing work, which shows so many models of labor market phenomena at the undergraduate level that an undergraduate's economics education is incomplete without it. This book is essential reading for both undergraduates and policymakers who want to learn labor economics, economics in general, or have a deeper understanding of public policy issues. The best features are its unmatched explanations of human capital models, labor market discrimination models, and labor union models -- which will change the way you think of these issues and give deeper understanding. The book is both concise, deep, a quick and fun read, and makes Nobel-prize winning material accessible to any undergraduate or policy maker.

All about Labor Economics
George Borjas in this book deal the basic of de Labor Economics, it's very usefull for the pre-grade student and it's preleminary to introduce in the labor world (academic). It's good but it's necesary to complement with anothers advanced books for a improve vision. ... Read more

Book Description

Kathleen Thelen explains the historical origins of important cross-national differences in four countries (Germany, Britain, the United States and Japan), and also provides a theory of institutional change over time.The latter is considered a frontier issue in institutionalist analysis, of which there are several varieties emerging from economics, political science, and sociology. Thelen's study contributes to the literature on the political economy of the developed democracies that focuses on different institutional arrangements defining distinctive models of capitalism. ... Read more

Book Description

The company is under-performing, its share price is trailing, and the CEO gets...a multi-million-dollar raise. This story is familiar, for good reason: as this book clearly demonstrates, structural flaws in corporate governance have produced widespread distortions in executive pay. Pay without Performance presents a disconcerting portrait of managers' influence over their own pay--and of a governance system that must fundamentally change if firms are to be managed in the interest of shareholders.

Lucian Bebchuk and Jesse Fried demonstrate that corporate boards have persistently failed to negotiate at arm's length with the executives they are meant to oversee. They give a richly detailed account of how pay practices--from option plans to retirement benefits--have decoupled compensation from performance and have camouflaged both the amount and performance-insensitivity of pay. Executives' unwonted influence over their compensation has hurt shareholders by increasing pay levels and, even more importantly, by leading to practices that dilute and distort managers' incentives.

This book identifies basic problems with our current reliance on boards as guardians of shareholder interests. And the solution, the authors argue, is not merely to make these boards more independent of executives as recent reforms attempt to do. Rather, boards should also be made more dependent on shareholders by eliminating the arrangements that entrench directors and insulate them from their shareholders. A powerful critique of executive compensation and corporate governance, Pay without Performance points the way to restoring corporate integrity and improving corporate performance.

Reviews (2)

Fine Combination of Information and How To
As interested in diversity management as I am, I find much of the written material a bit dry and academic. Perhaps writers compensate for the strong feelings that this work brings up by trying to create some sense of distance. In any case, there is a real lack of simple, down to earth texts that are both effective and easy to assimilate. "Voices of Diversity" is the exception to all of this. As the subtitle indicates, the material in the book is based on the content of interviews and discussions with many individuals, and the vitality of their expression permeates the entire work.

The book starts out with some generic introductory material and then starts to go through the interview findings in a straightforward, group by group fashion. There are seperate chapters on African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Latinos, recent immigrants, workers with disabilities, younger and older workers, gays and lesbians, women, and white men. Two groups that were left out, which I feel should have been included are Jewish and Arab-American which are often, mistakenly lumped together with white male. Nor is much attention paid to religious or socio-economic diversity.

The chapters themselves start out with general discussion. They then go on to introduce the statements made by interviewees and discuss the stories behind them. Then several scenarios of workplace situations are introduced. After each scenario sections discuss what went wrong and what might have been done differently. I found this material very useful. Getting some insight into how the affected people felt and what they thought is tremendously useful in getting to the source of the real problem. The material on what should have been done provides good examples of simple, considerate and respectful behavior which could be the basis for finding common ground and resolving issues.

The book dates from 1994, but is still quite timely in 2001. Renee Blank and Sandra Slipp have a crisp, clear writing style that makes for easy reading. Not only is the book good reference material, but it would be a fine teaching tool for a discussion group. I would recommend "Voices of Diversity" for everyone's diversity reading list.

Down-to-earth Manual.. Extremely well written
I am reading this book for a leadership program and have found a jewel. I am thoroughly enjoying the real-life examples of discrimination experienced by the various demographic groups. The book is written in layman's language, and without being blunt, its examples and how-to instructions are clear to the reader. I strongly suggest this to managers or staff members willing to learn more about diversity and how it fits into the workplace. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Self-employment gurus Paul and Sarah Edwards have updated their popular Working from Home series with a new edition of Making Money with Your Computer at Home: The Inside Information You Need to Know to Select and Operate a Full-Time, Part-Time, or Add-On Business That's Right for You. Focusing on the publishing, health, finance, music, and design industries, they describe 100 viable computer-oriented home-based enterprises in part 1 and include resources for further information. In part 2, they explain how to use computers to manage finances, fulfill administrative duties, complete marketing chores, and perform other tasks. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Outstanding!
Finally a making money at home book that is worth buying! This is an outstanding, easy read loaded with ideas for everyone. The 100 computer-based businesses listed each come complete with resources to follow up on in addition to what to expect in the area of salary. Paul and Sarah Edwards seem to really have a knack for communicating what so many of us are looking for. Of course the book contains all of the important money and business issues as well. I highly recommend this book as a "one-stop-shop" on the subject.

Well worth the money
This is a great book. As someone just begining to think about a home business, this book was very informative. I had had a general idea of what I might do, but this book helped clarify it and even gave it a name. It also gave me some other ideas to toss around. Beyond that however, the book was great in letting you know how to get started, some of the pitfalls to watch out for, and an overall sense of what it takes to start a home business. The only down side I found to the book was the constant references to other books by the same authors to get more detail information on any given topic. It was very frustrating when I didn't have the other books. But I guess their sales tactic worked since I bought two more of their books! I haven't read them yet, but because of this book I am looking forward to it.

The title of this book should be: How NOT to make money.
Warning!!! DO NOT PURCHASE THIS BOOK!!!

It is a complete wast of money.
Even though this book was written a few years ago, there is absolutely nothing in it that could even possibly be helpful. Basically, they just give you a little synopsis of 100 different potential business, from catering, daycare, tutoring, etc ; Businesses that are going to cost you a lot more than you could ever make in profits. And most of the websites they give you(few and far between) and just about all of the newsgroups they give you are gone.

There are many books out there about how to make money at home with your computer, and just save yourself the time and most importantly, the money, and look somewhere else...

Full of great ideas!!
This was a great, informative book! If you are thinking of a home business, or already have one in action this is the book for you. I work from home, but what I got was added ideas that I can combine with my already existing business.

There are 100 ideas for computer based business. Each one has idea's and resources to help you get started. I found the explanation for each was very detailed and if you have any creativity what so ever you take it and go from the idea's listed.

This really was a very useful and resourceful book!

Good Ideas, Now Do It!
Almost every home has a computer these days, and this book gives you good ideas on how to actually make that electronic box more lucrative than playing computer games, surfing the internet, or just a word processor. Gives you several business suggestions. All you need to do is start doing it. ... Read more

Book Description

After all the gains of the civil rights and women's movements, why are black people and women still faring so poorly when it comes to wages, employment levels, and the distribution of jobs? Unlevel Playing Fields tackles this critical question by presenting two contrasting economic theories -- neoclassical and political economy -- and showing how each theory explains discrimination and inequality in the labor market. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions and suggested readings. The authors also offer some practical proposals for altering the status quo. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

intriguing insight
This book provides some very insightful perspectives and opinions on minority employment in today's world. Although it can be fairly subtle in some spots, the book is based entirely on fact, and therefore is a good tool for those interested in contemporary labor studies. For those in the field, this book provides fresh new insights. It is appropriate for those studying labor economics, women's issues, minority issues, and discrimination. ... Read more

Book Description

In this definitive guide, Forrest Mosten--an internationally recognized mediation expert--helps would-be mediators answer the critical question "Do I have the values, skills, personality, and commitment necessary to mediate?"
A comprehensive resource, the book also explores a wealth of timely topics including the need to establish standards of the profession, how to maintain confidentiality, the pros and cons of co-mediation, and the place of mediation in the process of court and law reform. Straightforward and reader-friendly, the Mediation Career Guide is filled with practice tips, self-surveys, diagrams, reading resources, a list of training programs and volunteer opportunities, budget forms, and model standards of conduct. This hands-on resource is designed to make the challenging journey of becoming a peacemaker a one-step-at-a-time manageable process.

... Read more

Reviews (4)

A must have!
This book is one of the most helpful and insightful books that I have read. If you are thinking of, or already are, a mediator, this book is full of great information, ideas, and helpful hints.
This book is an easy read, you could read it in one evening and then be on your way to implement the things that you have learned.

The Definitive Book on Mediation
Forrest Mosten has written what must be the definitive book for those who are considering or might consider a career in mediation.

I have known the author since 1970, when he was a law student working part time for me in the foreign student office at UCLA. Even then he was thinking about how he might incorporate his strong social conscience into the practice of law. Ten years later he found his answer when he committed himself to becoming a professional mediator. For Mosten, mediation is more than an efficient means of resolving disputes, it is a way to work as a peacemaker at the person-to-person level. It provides its practitioners who are attorneys with an alternative to the adversarial nature of the legal system, which weighs heavily on many lawyers. Of course it provides the same benefit for clients. He makes his point about mediation as a peace effort dramatically in chapter one, where he states "...don't jump into a growing but still uncertain field like mediation unless you eat, breath and dream about creating peace and resolving conflict and are willing to risk everything to make it happen".

In addition to maintaining a highly successful mediation practice in Los Angeles, Mosten trains future mediators and he has established a nation-wide network of mediation centers. He also is the author of three previous books on mediation.

The author's purpose in writing the book is stated in the first paragraph of the preface, where he says "It was an uphill climb to build my mediation practice. This book is my effort to help you avoid many of the costly mistakes I made along the way".

The book is organized into three parts, each with several chapters, followed by nine appendices. In the first part, "Is Mediation right for You?", he covers the question of what it takes to be a mediator, such as being a good listener, patient, tolerant and neutral, flexible, and empathic, among other traits. In the chapter on "Education and Training", he discusses the question of non-lawyers as mediators. Mosten admits that lawyers have certain advantages, but he lists other fields which often provide a good background, such as therapists, business persons, teachers and clergy. Whether they come from the law or other fields, he states, extensive training in mediation will be required. Here Mosten goes into some depth on this subject which is dear to his heart because he wants "...mediation to be the first stop on the conflict resolution highway", which means having "...enough trained and experienced mediators available to meet this need".

Part Two, "Building Your Career as a Mediator" deals with the creation of a mediation signature, which includes advice on writing vision and mission statements to distinguish your particular practice. He also advocates having a board of directors to help with these tasks and to provide a sounding board along the way which he had earlier described as an informal group of persons whose judgment you trust. (He might more accurately have called them a "board of advisors). Another chapter, "Creating a Mediation-Friendly Environment", gets down to reading materials and arrangement of the reception room. Most important, he introduces the idea of the client library, described as a consumer-friendly collection of books, video tapes and other resources which will help clients learn what they need to help solve their own problems. This concept is related to Mosten's preference for informed client consent, and he reports that his library is well used by his clients.

Part Three is "The Nuts and Bolts of Private Practice", which covers topics such as finding a place to practice, naming your practice, forming strategic partnerships and networks. With respect to networks, he uses his own Mosten Mediation Centers as an illustrative model, in which he has established local mediators around the country as subcontractors. In the chapter entitled "Strategic Planning and Investing in Yourself", he gets very specific about the time and money required to establish a mediation practice, including a breakdown of out -of-pocket costs which add up to $57,000 over a five-year period.

Even though he has stated his desire to see a great increase in the number of practicing mediators, Mosten in no way sugarcoats the obstacles and challenges facing anyone who plans to enter the field. His candor, at times, would almost seem to discourage, but at least anyone who has read the book would enter the field fully warned. More important they will have read a well integrated combination of philosophy and nuts and bolts, each supporting the other.

This is a critical book for those contemplating a career in mediation, it is a useful book for anyone contemplating using the services of a mediator, and it is an interesting book for those who are attracted by the concept of mediation as a force for more peaceful interpersonal relations.

A MUST HAVE book for all Mediators!
Dear fellow mediators or anyone looking into the mediation profession:

Mosten's book, Mediation Career Guide, is just the book I was looking for to strategically guide me through deciding whether to go into mediation as a profession. The book is well organized and can be read cover to cover or as a reference guide. Some of the key parts of the book are 1) Deciding if Mediation is Right for You and 2) Building Your Career as a Mediator.

The chapter on deciding whether to get your law degree or not for mediation was an especially important chapter for me. I completed one year of law school and then decided to re-evaluate my J.D. path. I enrolled in SMU's Dispute Resolution program to help with my decision. Mosten's book is the only mediation book that directly dealt with the J.D. dilemma. The chapter did not tell me what to do or what Mosten thinks is best. Instead, the chapter asked certain questions about my background to see whether a J.D. is a good choice or not.

Mosten's book is a MUST HAVE if you are deciding whether the mediation profession is right for you and how to build a mediation practice.

Thank you Forrest (Woody) Mosten for this book and all of your contributions to the peace-making profession!

Roseanne Pierre

Just got this yesterday; already love it
I usually wait a little longer than this to write a review of a book, but I'm thoroughly pleased and excited by this one.

Forrest "Woody" Mosten will be familiar to most readers of this page, so I'll just mention that he's been a professional mediator for more than two decades and has written other books on this subject. In the present volume, he provides something new: a thorough, beginning-to-end nuts-and-bolts overview of what's involved in making mediation your regular job. (So far as I know, the only book even remotely comparable is Mosten's own earlier "complete" volume on the practice of mediation.)

And since that's exactly what I'm interested in doing, I'm pleased to say that less than twenty-four hours after receiving the book, I'm _already_ a thousand per cent better informed about what it takes to build a career in mediation.

Mosten starts at the very beginning. After a short introduction explaining how he moved into mediation himself and found it more consonant with his core values than the ordinary practice of law, he puts his readers through a few chapters of self-analysis to help us determine whether mediation might be right for us, too. (And I'm happy to say that I'm now even more firmly convinced that I'm going into what is, for me, the right field.)

Then there's plenty of good advice about how to prepare for such a career, including the all-important question: should you go to law school? All of Mosten's discussions are finely nuanced, with carefully balanced summaries of the factors weighing on each side; the one about law school is especially so. (I'm currently in an evening law school program myself, at the tender age of 38, and I would certainly caution would-be mediators to consider carefully whether such a rigorous program is necessary to their practice. I wish Mosten had also addressed the separate question of what factors tell in favor of and against actually taking the bar exam, but since I plan to take it anyway, it's not a burning issue for me personally.)

There's also an excellent chapter on the sorts of job available to mediators -- in, e.g., government, nonprofit enterprises, and other areas. A private mediation practice is presented as one alternative among others, and Mosten doesn't pull any punches in his discussion of what's involved in running your own mediation business; he says to expect it to be tough for the first few years if you go that route.

The rest of the book is devoted to developing and marketing oneself as a mediator. I won't even try to summarize this wideranging and thorough discussion (especially since, so far, I've only skimmed it myself!). I'll just remark that, in general, this is a wonderfully well-written and highly readable work of expository prose, packed with solid advice and plenty of information from one of the world's most experienced mediators.

(The bibliographic references are also excellent, though I didn't notice any surprises; some, most, or all of them may already be in your home mediation library. But it's nice to have Mosten's specific recommendations, and he's caused me to shift some things around on my to-buy list.)

If you're remotely interested in a career in mediation, or even in working in the field part-time, you'll find _lots_ of useful information in this book. I recommend that you add it to your own to-buy list -- _very_ near the top. I don't think anything like it has been published in this field before. ... Read more

Book Description

Thoughtful and provocative, 'Realizing the Promise of Corporate Portals' illustrates the vast potential of corporate portals and what your company can do to implement them for business success. Based on the authors' extensive backgrounds and consulting focused on implementing corporate portals this exciting new book extends IT theory into business strategy.


Terra and Gordon explore the components and architecture of typical corporate portals and fundamental issues in knowledge management. Geared for decision makers at the executive level, this book provides a comprehensive view of the market landscape, powerful and detailed case studies, and collected best practices and lessons learned to help organizations successfully implement corporate portals. The book also includes detailed checklists necessary for selecting and implementing appropriate corporate portal technical solutions.

Learn from their detailed case studies of hugely successful corporate portal implementations, including:
* ADC Telecommunications Inc.
* Bain & Company
* Bank of Montreal
* Context Integration
* Eli Lilly
* Hill & Knowlton
* Nortel Networks
* SERPRO
* Siemens
* Texaco
* Xerox

* Detailed case studies of hugely successful corporate portals and best practices for implementing corporate portals
* Authors' extensive technical backgrounds extends IT theory into business strategy
* Provides guidance for managers when choosing software, consulting services and developing implementation programs ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Refreshing book on overhyped subject
I've read one book after another about attaining a viable knowledge management solution using corporate portals, and was left wanting because the books either required great leaps of faith or were little more than marketing hype. This book closes all of the gaps between theory and practical application, and backs up assertions with a wealth of case studies that prove the connection between the goal (KM) and the means (portals).

In the first part of the book the authors address knowledge management and portals at the conceptual level. The second part is comprised of case studies that fully support the concepts by showing how results were achieved in a large number of corporate settings. Each case is a study in specific goals and objectives unique to companies that embarked on KM initiatives, and are diverse enough to overlap with your own goals and objectives. The important material covers barriers, how they were overcame, results and how they improved business operations.

The authors are subject matter experts who come across as credible and factual, and the content of this book is accurate and hype-free. I like the way they place KM and portals within the context of business objectives, and the way they impart their extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of KM and portals. It's obvious that they are writing from the trenches, and equally obvious that they maintain an objective view throughout the book. Another aspect of this book that I like is how carefully they chose and documented the case studies. Each goes to the essence of concepts in the first part of the book, and clearly show that KM can be effectively achieved through correctly designed and implemented corporate portals. It's worth noting that Appendix B, "Technical criteria to select a corporate portal platform", is an invaluable tool for readers who are seriously considering an implementation.

If you only read one book about corporate portals this is the one I highly recommend.

Excellent and Practice Case Studies
I found this book to be a well researched and practical book for senior executives that want to clearly understand what an enterprise portal is, what the value is, and how to execute a portal strategy. I particularly found the lessons learned and best practices as very helpful insights. Highly recommend this book to be read by any one in senior management that needs the fundamentals, but also more experienced professionals implementing portal strategies.

Keep this book a secret...
This is the kind of book I actually hesitate to recommend because it is so good my greedy side wants to hoard the valuable knowledge it contains! I am in the "knowledge management" business and believe reading this book has given me a competitive advantage. I also believe that an organization seeking to deploy a knowledge portal of any kind should have this book beside them at all times. José Claudio Terra and Cindy Gordon get to the heart of what all the spending on "portals" is for: to drive value in your business. They also provide a roadmap for ensuring your efforts and spending don't go down as yet another misguided IT boondoggle. The 10 recent and originally researched case studies are like gold. This is a very good book. David Brett, CEO, Knexa.

Practitioner's Point of View
I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Cindy Gordon and Dr. Claudio Terra recently at the Knowledge Management Conference in New York, where I attended a workshop with them. Their depth of knowledge in this area is world-class, and the insights they shared in their new book demystified the realities of implementing enterprise corporate portals. Their business strategy accumen, and balanced practical experiences make them a refreshing change to consultants with no substance - as they are experts with strong proven credentialing. What prompted me to write this review was their humbleness in their workshop and openness to learn from us as attendees. Their appetite for learning from those around them was very refreshing and I am looking forward to their next book as well.

Fact Based Stories on Corporate Portals World-Clas
I read this book a month ago and found the case studies rich with insights and very refreshing from the usual books on the market,very practical implementation advice supported by real customer stories and rich lessons learned. This is a must read for any executives, or IT professionals responsible for implementing corporate portals or knowledge management strategies in their organizations. ... Read more

Book Description

The breakthrough approach for aligning people with strategy for higher profits

Organizations that select, develop, deploy, manage, and motivate their people to produce outstanding business results have an extraordinary competitive advantage that others can't copy. Backed by Mercer's nine-year, $10 million study of leading companies around the world, Play to Your Strengths shows how to leverage a company's human capital strategy into business results that are measurable and profitable and that will create exceptional, enduring competitive advantages.

This bottom-line-boosting guide gives managers, senior executives, and consultants the theory, tools, and processes they need to:

• Measure the effects of people on business results
• Determine the impact of strategies before making them
• Focus on the organization's most effective people strategies
• Deliver more money to the bottom line in a sustainable manner
• Create enduring, copy-proof competitive advantages

Reviews (2)

~How~ people contribute to performance ... MBA must-read!
The term "human capital management" has stepped into the long line of buzzwords that attempt to leverage people into increased organizational performance. Play to Your Strengths takes a step beyond the rhetoric to actually explore "how" to accomplish this. From their 3 critical questions -- led by "what are we spending on human capital (cost) and what is it buying us(value)?" -- to their six-factor framework defining human capital, the authors give insight into how organizations should measure the contribution of people to a company's bottom line. They also provide real company examples and perspectives from investors, CEOs, and managers.

As a professor of business management, I've found that one of the most difficult challenges is helping students to learn how they can actually make good decisions in deploying personnel. This book goes beyond the "soft" side of management, developing an approach that fits with the organizational imperative to heed the bottom line. I'll be using Play to Your Strengths as supplemental reading for my MBA courses.

Science, art, or a new lable for an old management tool?
Whenever guru-accented statements like "leveraging human capital to produce results" I feel a quiver, not of excitement, but of caution. However, management trainees and schools like label-accented seminars and books, so this title, Play to Your Strengths, isn't anything that will offend anyone.
People are generally any company's core area asset. Despite the company's product, service, busines strategy, market share and management structure and reorganizations,it's people who ultimately make the differnce. People who are at the top, bottom, and between.
Apparently, this book is backed by a $10 million study. Hopefully, it was money well-spent. Human capital, in all of its forms - internal, external, management, labor and regulatory, is vital to understand, to appreciate, and to show appreciation for. As well, in today's world, the ethical element of conducting business is one that needs to be mentioned more often.
Frank G Anderson
MBA, Information Management
Korat, Thailand
Tel. 044-274972
mobile: 01-8773981 ... Read more

Book Description

If you’re having a baby, you read What To Expect When You’re Expecting.If you’re considering law school, you read One L. And if you’re thinking about working for yourself, you read Free Agent Nation—Daniel Pink’s contemporary classic about leaving the corporate rat race.

Widely acclaimed for its engaging style and provocative perspective,Free Agent Nation has helped thousands transform their working lives.Now the paperback edition of this business bestseller features an all-new section: a comprehensive 30-page resource guide that explains the basics of working for yourself (how to get started, where to find health insurance, how to market yourself) and includes 101 Free Agent Survival Tips culled from successful solo workers nationwide.Hip and hopeful, Free Agent Nation will change and your thinking – and maybe even change your life.Read it today to free yourself tomorrow. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

exceeded my high expectations
Free Agent Nation exceeded my expectations, which were high to begin with. This is not just a drawn-out version of Pink's classic cover story in Fast Company. It reflects extensive research and provides many surprising insights and interesting predictions.

This is not a book you can polish off in an hour or two. It is difficult to convey in a brief review the depth and richness of Free Agent Nation.

Pink demonstrates that free agents are a large and growing share of the work force. He describes some of the economic forces contributing to this phenomenon, but he finds that free agents themselves explain their reasons for leaving the corporate world in psychological terms: a desire for freedom, authenticity, accountability, and flexible concepts of success.

Pink shows that free agents have their own unique perspectives and solutions to such challenges as security, workplace relationships, career advancement, and work-family balance. For example, he describes the way that peer networks are providing the type of career support that formerly came from within large corporations.

Whether you like it or not, the gravitational forces between individuals and large corporations are weakening. In the future, how will business be re-organized? How will the economy function? Daniel Pink asks the big questions, and he comes up with a lot of fascinating answers. I expect Free Agent Nation to become the most talked-about nonfiction book of the year.

The Other Side of the Coin
Having been a member of the "free agent nation" since 1987, I read Daniel Pink's book with interest. There is no question that the American work force is undergoing what may be its most significant transformation since the migration from the farm to the factory one century ago.

The author spent a year traveling the country talking with hundreds of these workers. The portrait that emerges is the death of what William H. Whyte, Jr. named "the organizational man" in his 1956 book of the same name. Replacing him or her is the free agent, the home-based business, temp, freelancer or independent contractor. The lure of freedom, authenticity, accountability and self-defined success are luring workers from their cubical farms, stock options and regular paychecks into a life, the author dubs, "of meaning."

There is another side to this migration. Changes in three areas will be required before this migration becomes a powerful demographic influencing the economy and the nation:

1. Tax Changes
2. Access to Capital Markets
3. Attitudes

First, amend tax codes have to give the free agent the same status as the business he or she left. Benefits need full deductibility and ease of implementation. If the country benefits from independents building businesses, the capital gains tax needs to stop being a political football. It makes no sense to sacrifice to build a business unless there is a carrot at the end of the trail. A reduced or no capital gains tax is a powerful inducement.

State tax departments need to stop looking at independents as training grounds for their new agents. I have better things to do with my time than wet-nurse agents-in-training on a fishing expedition.

Second, open capital markets to the free agent. Capital, if available, is expensive for the individual businessperson. Bank loan officers do not or will not understand the difference between pre-tax and after-tax income. Finders access outrageous fees for equity capital.

Pink cites David Bowie's raising $55 million in 1997 collateralized by his song publishing and album royalties as an example of new financing opportunities available to free agents. For those of us who are not as successful David Bowie, this market place is closed. Democratic financial markets to finance startups, expansions and improvements are a necessity if the move to a free agent nation is to become a serious alternative to the bedrock of American work - the large corporation.

Lastly, social attitudes need to change. For a free agent nation to work concepts of the workday and workweek need to change. The free agent works when there is work. Vacations represent an opportunity cost.

Being a free agent is not an easy life, but one I will never leave.

Not much more than cheerleading.
Ok¡K.I am not a part of FAN (Free Agent Nation) ¡Kbut as someone who is interested in striking out on my own, this book did not offer much beyond cheerleading. What was said could have been told in far fewer pages. I expected more than just anecdotal research and feel good stories. At the end of every chapter is ¡§The Box¡¨ in which the author includes a summary ¡§The Crux¡¨, a paragraph called ¡§The Factoid, ¡§The Quote¡¨ and lastly ¡§The Word¡¨ which is just a way to get me to recall buzzwords and phrases I¡¦d rather forget, such as Thanksgiving Turkey Model, Free Agent Infrastructure, HOHO, FAN Bonds as well as others.

Many of the footnotes were based off newspapers and magazines, or sources listed in the text appear to be secondhand, or credit was somewhat misleading in the text. For example in Chapter 2 the author gives credit to ¡§Wells Fargo (Bank) study ¡K.¡¨ to give it more credibility but when you look in the footnotes it give the lead credit is given to the an advocacy organization the National Federation of Independent Business along with Wells Fargo. In reviewing their website the research is on NFIB¡¦s letterhead with Wells Fargo also supporting the publications. In his chapter, ¡§The New Time Clock¡¨ on page 105, the author lists studies by the Families and Work Institute and another by a NYU economist and a University of Pennsylvania colleague, but upon further review in the footnotes he lists the sources as a Los Angeles Times article and another in Business Week. The impression is given that he did not read or analyze the original research.

Without defining what a Free Agent is beyond an individual, temp, micro-business it was easy to make a leap and estimate 33 million free agents. If I am a stay at home spouse who sells a few things on eBay, or have a couple of garage sales every year; am I part of Free Agent Nation. I see many hardworking, entrepreneurial, networked free agents everyday, but not at Starbucks or Kinko¡¦s. Each morning as I pass the Home Depot near my house I see many free agents; not many have cell phones, buy high priced coffee, speak English, or have a car. It appears the huge market of what we call ¡§day laborers¡¨ here in California was not included in the author¡¦s FAN census or demographic statistics.

There were few good tips or ideas in the book about health insurance, taxes, and education but the opening dialog in Chapter 17, Putting the ¡¥I¡¦ in IPO: The Path Toward Free Agent Finance¡¨ was a bit laughable. The chapter begins with two different dialogs for a FAN business owner seeking a $50,000 loan from his local ¡§traditional¡¨ bank and another dialogue were the same business owner goes to a financial federation for Free Agent Electricians. Whereas the traditional bank turns him down the Federation of Free Agent Electricians proposes to float him a $50,000 bond. Although this is a fictional account the author does describe why it is impossible today due to regulatory restrictions, the credit risk involved in floating an unsecured bond, or the fixed and marketing costs of floating the bond. While Michael Milken did lend money to the ¡§shaky, or the sagging¡¨ as far as I know he only floated public traded bonds to public traded companies.

As the back cover endorsement by Tom Peters states ¡§Twenty ¡Vfive years from now we¡¦ll still be discussing this book¡¨, I only wish there was a better book out there to discuss. This book is one reason why I read few business books these days; rah, rah.

FAN is talking about me ... and us
I've worked as an employee for ten years (5 government, 5 corporate) and have had my own microbusiness for the last seventeen. This book tells it like it is. Now I know why I'm so addicted to personal technology - these are the modern-day equivalents of the tools of production that Marx wrote about. These are the tools of liberation.

I'm an amateur futurist keeping up with big-picture books on social trends since starting with Alvin Toffler's Future Shock in the late sixties to The Third Wave, Free Agent Nation and the Cluetrain Manifesto and many books in between. FAN is a very good book. As a microbusiness owner, it helps me understand myself and my situation better. It gives me LOTS of ideas and inspiration to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves in this time of transition and economic challenge.

I started my business 17 years ago after reading a great book called Maverick Career-styles: The Way of the Ronin. The writing was on the wall even then - in the mid-eighties. I was willing to take a chance and strike out on my own after ten years of traditional employment because that book gave me a way of seeing that I might be more secure as a wiley and agile independent professional than I would be as a corporate drone in this new world we are living in. Dan Pink speaks my language! Well-written, entertaining and valuable read.

I just got this, and am looking forward to reading, but
I had to point something out. Prior to my current career, I was a freelance musican. Every freelancer I know has been living this book their whole careers.

One other reviewer described the point of one chapter as "teams of highly skilled specialists come together to produce a creative product only to disband until the next opportunity draws them again." This describes most concerts/performances/recording sessions ever done.

Being a Free Agent may be a growing idea in "traditional" business, but in the music biz it's been a way of life for generations. And it was part of why I stopped depending on it for a living. No matter how jazzed you are about your work, if you're spending most of your waking time handling all the minutia that lives around the periphery of the act of work itself, it can be all consuming, no matter how fulfilling.

Compared to being a freelancer, having a corporate gig for the past ten years has been a cake walk. Not having to handle payroll taxes, paying for health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, having paid vacation, having training paid for, working from home once in a while, not having to reinvent my work relationships every few weeks/months/years - those are all pluses for corporate work.

I know, the steady corporate job is going the way of the dinosour, and I accept that, but let's not forget all the things we got from them that we didn't have to deal directly with, but will now. For those who don't have "hustle" in their genes, it's going to be a tough go. ... Read more

Book Description

'The New Knowledge Management' is the story of the birth of "second-generation knowledge management," told from the perspective of one its chief architects, Mark W. McElroy. Unlike its first-generation cousin, second-generation Knowledge Management seeks to enhance knowledge production, not just knowledge sharing.As a result, 'The New Knowledge Management' expands the overall reach of knowledge management to include "innovation management" for the very first time.

'The New Knowledge Management' introduces the concept of "second-generation knowledge management" to the business community.Mark W. McElroy has assembled a collection of his own essays, written over the past four years, chronicling the development of related thinking in the field.

Unlike first-generation KM, mainly focusing on value derived from knowledge sharing, second-generation thinking formally adds knowledge making to the scope of KM.In this way second-generation KM expands the overall reach of KM to include "innovation management" for the very first time.'The New Knowledge Management' finally begins to bridge the gap between KM and the field of organizational learning, which up until now have been viewed as miles apart.

* Charts the next generation of knowledge management thinking by the President of KMCI: the leading KM organization
* Expands the overall reach of knowledge management to include "innovation management" for the very first time
* Mark W. McElroy, chief architect of second-generation Knowledge Management, shares his vast experience in a collection of his own essays ... Read more

Reviews (4)

a non-book
As the reviewer from mexico notes, most of the chapters of this book are reprints of previously published articles. This make the presentation disappointingly repetitive.

OK but still not practical enough
The author makes a great contribution creating the awareness that KM is much more that IT, and that it is about creating new knowledge and organizational learning. Although the idea is not new, he presents it through an interesting framework called the Knowledge Life Cycle. Thats great.

On the other hand, since the book is a compilation of previous papers from the author, I feel that he repeats the same ideas over and over again. I couldn't find explicit evidence of the aplication of these ideas on the day to day work. I also see a contradiction in the sense that he says that the new KM is more about creating new knowledge, but it seems to me that he is trying to create new knowledge through the re-frasing and re-naming of other author's ideas. Please...don't throw more "fancy words" to the KM arena, it is already full !

The "next generation" of Knowledge Management is here!
In this wonderful little book, Mark McElroy begins to do for Knowledge Management what Peter Senge did for Organizational Learning: He connects deep theory with cogent practice, bringing the entire discipline to a new level. The book is a carefully designed compendium of Mark's leading-edge thinking over the past several years. In it he lays out the foundations for the next generation - "demand-side" - Knowledge Management, which enhances individuals capacity to produce knowledge, rather than simply use what's already there. By integrating a unique approach to complexity science with insights from organizational learning, he develops a model of "sustainable innovation" which is based on a broader theoretical framework of Social Innovation Capital (SIC). His SIC framework generates a core insight - the Policy Synchronization Method - a theory-based yet practical method for creating the conditions that support innovation in the long term. His writing is as useful as his modeling, for he constantly grounds his thinking into concrete and highly applicable suggestions that can be utilized in a wide range of contexts. Near the end of the book he shows the economic returns on investment from his second-generation KM, and concludes with a "presentation" that can be used to help make the case for these ideas in formal and informal settings. As a professor of entrepreneurship and management at a business school, and a 20-year student of complexity science, I am a true fan of Mark McElroy, and I am excited by this book and the ones soon to follow.

Comments of book "The New Knowledge Management"
The book "The New Knowledge Management" addresses some very intriguing concepts and provides some innovative thinking in the knowledge management area. It shows how the fundamental concepts of organization learning, innovation, social innovation capital, and complex adaptive systems are related to knowledge management. The author introduces the reader to the idea of "second -generation knowledge management" which is used as a framework to relate the above concepts to knowledge management. "Second-generation knowledge management is more inclusive of people, process, and social initiatives than "first-generation knowledge management". The book provides some unique insights and organizations approaches to sustain innovation. These insights are the first of its kind and have far reaching implications to how we should manage organizations. The book is very thought provoking and a must read for people interested in theory and practical implications. I am currently using it as one of my text in teaching a graduate course in knowledge management. ... Read more

Book Description

How can you build a successful community of practice that is integrally linked to your company's strategic vision? Learn from the first-hand experience of Hubert Saint-Onge, recognized by Fortune magazine as a leader in the field of knowledge capital, and co-author Debra Wallace, the people responsible for a recent project to establish a community of practice for independent agents at Clarica Life Insurance Company- voted one of the most admired knowledge enterprises in the world by practitioners and researchers.

'Leveraging Communities of Practice for Strategic Advantage' combines theory and practice to outline a model for developing successful communities of practice and proposes a direction for establishing communities of practice as an integral part of the organizational structure. Saint-Onge and Wallace relate what worked, what didn't, and why as they tell the story from inception through implementation to assessment. Whether you're developing communities of practice or want to learn how to leverage existing communities for strategic gain, this book provides you with everything you need to launch successful communities of practice in your organization.

* Hubert Saint-Onge has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a leader in the area of leveraging knowledge capital
* Clarica has been voted one of the most admired knowledge enterprises in the world by practitioners and researchers
* Combines theory and practice to outline a model for developing successful communities of practice ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very practical indeed
This book has proved very practical indeed with the developing of CoPs in our environment.

A useful practical model
The book describes the introduction of a virtual community of practice, the Agents Network, at Clarica Life Insurance, Canada's first and oldest mutual insurance company. The book offers a practical and detailed example of the establishment, implementation and evaluation of the virtual community, with examples of the tools used by the project team at Clarica.

The authors introduce the notion of communities of practice as a new strategy to leverage knowledge capital to create sustainable competitive advantage. By valuing communities of practice, by recognising the contribution of community members, and giving support for time and commitment) and providing an infrastructure (e.g. giving them a communication platform, active facilitation and information resources), the authors suggest that organizations can increase the speed of innovation and knowledge sharing.

The Community Development Process Model (p.137) provides an excellent 'roadmap' to the approach they undertook that is readily understood. Practical suggestions and tools about evaluating the value of the community are also provided. There is a good combination of theory and practice and, therefore, something for anyone interested in this topic. It has a balance between high-level strategic models, and detailed and practical examples.

The approach taken at Clarica was systematic and project-managed, with the organization playing a very active role in facilitating the conceptualisation, establishment, growth and expansion of the community. The organization obviously provided significant resources to undertake the project. Virtual communities of practice, like the one described in the book, clearly require strong organisational support and resources due to the technological infrastructure they require to be effective.

The authors do not purport to provide a recipe - rather, they tell a story about the introduction of a virtual community of practice in one organization - as such, the book offers an in-depth view of the process. The questions asked at the end of each chapter are intended to challenge readers to assess whether the approach described would work in their own organization.

Practitioners may be tempted to read more widely to find alternative approaches to developing communities of practice, and to select 'the best of the best'. The Clarica approach is only one way, but it does provide sound conceptual models that set the strategic context, as well as diving directly into the detail. There is a useful associated website.

The Future is Here!
Hubert and Debra, thanks, you two have written a monumental work, but in such a humble and mater-of-fact manner. The more I read, the more I became frustrated with the title, because although the book is about the strategic nature of "Communities of Practice," it offers so much more. For the last thirty years, people have been trumpeting the 'end of the hierarchy,' but without anything to put in its place. Know we know the future, and it is here!

In Nonaka and Takeuchi's "The Knowledge Creating Company," there was the suggestive diagram of the "hypertext organization." It showed three layers, the hierarchy, the project team community and a third space, the knowledge community. A few years later Nonaka understood that this third space was what the Japanese call "Ba," a shared mental space. Is this not what you two are talking about in your "Reflective and Strategic - Communities of Practice?"

Please write your next book as quickly as possible and reveal the key to the "culture of leadership," a phrase that got short-shrift. Revisit the earlier work you did at The Mutual Group around "values." I am convinced this, more than any number of memos, meetings and check lists, was what made it possible to accomplish what you did at Clarica. ... Read more

Book Description

Savas provides a complete guide to privatization––the background, theory, and practical reality. This book explains what, why, when, and how to privatize. Contracting services, using franchises and vouchers, divesting government-owned businesses, privatizing infrastructure through public-private partnerships, reforming education, privatizing the welfare state, and overcoming opposition to privatization are discussed in detail. In addition, Savas provides hundreds of examples from local, state, and federal government in the U.S. and other countries. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

media wants to burn this and suppress it
Is awesome to see ideas outside the mainstream. Most people today like monarchy. Kings are obsolete. Let people do as they please and the inefficiency will be squirted free like bad zits. Rmoving the rules that govern is privatization. Privatizing education alone would lead to much smarter people. Let all the rules that restrain people from creating good go away. Watch life improve. think different. Think freedom of action from the rules of the king.

awesome book anti-rules--media will want to burn it
Being a real rebel is thinking different. Thats what this author does. Get rid of rules of the goverment. Let private owners decide. These ways of releasing people lead to hugely improved results. Awesome read. Media will want to burn this book. It explodes all collectivist works.

Pro-Privatization
I will begin by stating that I have a major problem with the book. Savas skews his own statistics in order to push readers into supporting the privatization of our nation's public sector. His book focuses entirely on the private sector's greater efficiency over the public sector without addressing many other important issues. If you want a very one sided book that is pro-privatization, then buy this one. If, however, you would like a book that seeks to enlighten readers with facts and allows them to make their own decision on the matter, then find another book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Future of the Workforce Described for Policy Makers
This book describes the future workforce to policy makers. It gives individuals making career decisions some objective, long-range data about the future. Projections include fastest-growing occupations, ethnic and age mix of the workforce, needs of employers, and income to be expected.

As reviewed in Annotated Bibliography of Learning A Living, A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding A Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia by Dale S. Brown

Work Force 2020
This book is a masterpiece of research. So much is said very succinctly. It is vast in scope, breath and depth yet very understandable. Everything is supported by research. Numerous charts are extremely well done, informative and simple to understand. If you want to plan your career or help guide someone elses future, you must read this book. It has vital information about job trends, types of jobs, and what they pay. You will not be sorry about reading this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The Handbook of Employee Benefits has become the definitive reference book for every benefits professional. It is required reading for the Certified Employee Benefit (CEBS) Program, thus making it the handbook professionals use when they need authoritative answers on important questions concerning objectives, cost, and implementation of effective employee benefit plans. Jerry Rosenbloom's encyclopedic handbook has become the one necessary reference for understanding and selecting the benefits plans that works best for both employees and companies. This edition of this classic has been completely revised and updated, including 18 new chapters, a new section on performance incentive programs, and over 70 expert contributors. Important changes and additions reflect today's hot issues such as healthcare, employee compensation, and use of technology through e-benefits. New material includes: In-depth discussion of key legislation, most notably The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and The Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (SBJPA); New health chapters on behavioral healthcare, disease management, alternative medicine, and elder care; Chapters on the basics of stock options, compensation management using stock options, and global stock ownership plans; Additional material on new types of retirement plans and new proposed pension legislation; Two new chapters on benefits technology applications and employee self-service through the Internet. Employee benefits are an integral, costly component of an employees' pay package (nearly 40%). The proper benefits plan is not only essential for an employees' well-being but is also critical in ensuring high levels of employee satisfaction. With the spiraling costs of benefits, employee benefits continue to play an integral part to a company's bottom line. ... Read more

Book Description

Ernie Zelinski has taught more than 150,000 people what THE JOY OF NOT WORKING is about: learning to live every part of your life—work and play, employment, and retirement alike—to the fullest. In this completely revised and expanded edition, you’ll learn how to create an excellent work/life balance by working less, producing more, and being more leisurely; how to gain the courage to leave a life-draining job; and, if you are recently retired or unemployed, how to bring purpose and community back to your life. Plus, new to this edition are 30 inspiring letters from readers detailing how the book helped them live a more exciting and rewarding life. Illustrated with eye-opening exercises, thought-provoking diagrams, and lively cartoons and quotations, THE JOY OF NOT WORKING will guide you to living a more exciting and rewarding life—at work and at play. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

An amazing book
A message from France, written by a grateful French reader:

Be careful! This book is a ULO (an unidentified literary object)!It's completely different from all the other "advices books" that you may have read already.This one could really change your life... if you really want it of course.
"The joy of not working" ("L'art de ne pas travailler" for the French version, published by Les Editions d'Organisation in Paris) highlights a real problem of society : the overwhelming place of work in our lives, and its consequences. Ernie Zelinski calls into question the dogma of work and shows with a pertinent way how this dogma can move us away from our lives.
The advices he gives us are practical, often funny, and can help us to make a better use of our free time. So if you don't want anymore it's your boss who controls your life, or if you don't know how to keep busy during your free time, or if you want to take advantage of the pleasures of life, this book will bring you a precious help. Moreover, it's well written, there are many quotations, diagrams and drawings which make the reading very pleasant.
Last remark : if you prefer to have a boring and a laborious life, forget what I said! Don't buy this book : it's not made for you! Rather read : "My job? That's all for me! - or how to waste your life in 10 lessons".

Announcing "Dr. Leisure's" Prescription for the Good Life
=====>

This practical, reliable, and many times humorous guide (first published in 1991) helps you to create a paradise away from the workplace whether you're retired, unemployed, overworked, or just want to alter your lifestyle for the better. But to attain this paradise requires knowing certain principles and these are found in this book.

What makes Canadian author Ernie Zelinski, who has an Engineering degree and M.B.A., an expert in this matter? He was fired from his job at age 29 for taking an unapproved extended vacation. For the next two years, he decided to make his purpose in life happiness without a job. This happiness was attained through leisure and he now calls himself "Doctor of Leisure."

So what will you find in this book? Zelinski explains, "I will share my thoughts about leisure along with a number of my experiences. To give a much broader perspective to leisure, I am not drawing only on my own experiences. A greater part of this book is the result of studying and listening to stories, experiences, and aspirations of other people...This book's format encompasses text, exercises, cartoons, diagrams, and quotations to appeal to the many learning styles that individuals have."

Another aspect of this book is the inclusion of letters from readers. They describe how this book helped them to have a more exciting and rewarding life.

This book is jam-packed with useful information. Here are just ten examples of that information:

(1) "Success in life's adventures doesn't come from having a huge advantage over others...the key is to acknowledge your own talents and use them."

(2) "Your ability to enjoy leisure time will be determined by how much you have been able to avoid being brainwashed by mainstream society."

(3) "This is the North American way: the majority view work with such respect that they boast how many hours a day they work...They have become martyrs, giving up the opportunity for self-actualization [through leisure] in return for the priviledge of slaving [in the workplace], which primarily benefits the company rather than themselves."

(4) "There is the common feeling that getting one's financial state in order will put the individual's other needs in order. [Studies have confirmed that] the opposite is frequently true."

(5) "A concept involving a career of leisure will go against many of your friends' or aquaintances' instilled values. Ignore any negative comments that they make...these comments come from mediocre or small minds."

(6) "If you want your life to be boring, then conform and be dull; if you want your life to be interesting and exciting, then be different."

(7) "One of life's most difficult processes is discovering what we really want as individuals...most of us don't know what we really want because we haven't taken the time to find out [since we're so busy working for money]. Societal standards have become more important than our own unique needs."

(8) "If your leisure repetoire doesn't include a good balance of passive and active activities, chances are you are not going to be very happy."

(9) "Happiness is a product of achieving goals, but not a goal in itself."

(10) "Leisure provides unlimited opportunities for growth and satisfaction."

Finally, after you read this book, I then recommend reading "Your Money or Your Life" by Dominguez and Robin. This book develops some of the ideas mentioned in Zelinski's book.

In conclusion, take "Dr. Leisure's" step-wise prescription for the good life. Step number one: read his fascinating book!!

<=====>

A must read
I picked up this book just because I liked the title. It wasn't what I thought it would be about, but I was pleasantly surprised when I read it. I was one of those people that were striving to be rich, a workaholic, to have it all, but all it got me was stress, a divorce and no life or hobbies. Although, prior to buying this book, I was gearing myself to a simpler life, the ideas and suggestions in this book brought it all home. I am too young to retire, but I now am taking pleasure in my life, spending more time with my daughter and having resumed hobbies I gave up long ago. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to enjoy life!

A very helpful book.
My brother and I just spent a year on a sabbatical. When we were planning our time off, I searched the Internet for ideas and articles on the subject. I came across Ernie's book and went to Amazon to look it up. The description intrigued me and I ordered a copy. I am glad I did! The Joy of Not Working is a very helpful and funny book. The chapters on Zen and Money are my favorite. I reread them several times. It is full of wit and wisdom with some funny cartoons to keep you laughing. I enjoyed in immensely and recommend it for anyone planning a sabbatical or about to enter retirement.

Good, but not worth the price
This book is interesting and had some very good points, but not worth the price I paid. It is more philosophically orientied than practically - bad. This book is far cry from How to Survive Without a Salary by Charles Long or Living Well on Practically Nothing.
Read these books first. ... Read more

Book Description

Hardbound. ... Read more