Book Description

Designed for concise courses in Business Law, this one-semester book employs all of the features found in books written for the traditional two-semester course.It features superior cases that grab and retain readers' attention as well as Working the Web sections in each chapter, offering students the opportunity to explore websites relevant to legal studies in business. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A wonderful book for applying Law everyday.
This is a wonderful book because of the way it is organized from the definitions of law and how American government works in terms of business dealings and legal relationships with others. I'm impressed at the margin headings of each chapter and a thorough definitions of each law which is easy for the reader to read and understand. An additional pro of this book is the numerous case examples given within each chapter and towards the end. Each case is interesting and useful once you take a thorough look through it.

Some flaws that I found with this item is on the Study Guide, where some erroneous answers are found, that is to say, it does not comply with the answers given in the back of the book. Other than that, this book is great and should always be kept in a library for legal purposes. Excellent work.

Essentials of Contemporary Business Law w/CD
This book is very in depth and yet still finds ways to make the subject interesting. I was amazed at how much was included between this soft cover edition. I was also pleased that the CD was for both PC and Mac formats. The overall flow of the subject matter and presentation ranks this book as one of the best I have purchased. Please let the publisher know that this eternal student has a new faith in the publishing industry again. ... Read more

Download Description

In Presenting to Win: Persuading Your Audience Every Time, the world's #1 presentation consultant shows how to connect with even the toughest, most high-level audiences--and move them to action. Jerry Weissman shows presenters of all kinds how to dump tho ... Read more

Reviews (13)

It's really presenting to win
You may be a skilled presentator, but your so called "support material" may be working against you. I give presentations almost every day since I work as a consultant and the audience response is better since I started following the book's advise. The book's writting is easy to understand and can be read very fast. The advice the author gives is easy to follow and it translates into achievements in real life. This book should be required reading for everybody in college, I'm giving it to the personnel under me as required reading. It's a great book. It has some typos and as verything it could be improved, but it's a great book.

The real story in presenting
I teach courses in business writing, including lessons on presentations. When students ask for good books to continue learning, this is the book I recommend for presentations. I also suggest that it will help them with all of their communications at work. The ideas in the book are simple yet powerful. For example, the most important communications we do at work is convincing others, and a powerful way to do that is to tell them a story. It is fundamental human nature that storytelling awakens, relaxes, and engages those who are listening.

Unfortunately, the editing and packaging of the book are not as well done as is the presentation of the main ideas. The author has had one audience for years: entrepreneurs who are trying to convince bankers to back their IPOs. The publisher tried to take his ideas and make them applicable and accessible to all business people everywhere. They did not quite succeed, for a variety of reasons.

The text uses vocabulary and figures of speech that exclude those who are not older, male, American, entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. It uses basic words (graphics, verbal) in ways I found confusing. It has errors in grammar and punctuation, as well as inconsistent ways of presenting material. The book includes an unnecessary color insert. The end of the book received much less editorial attention than did the beginning of the book. As I read the first parts of the book, I was usually smiling and saying, "Ah hah!" As I read the latter parts of the book I found myself occasionally frowning and asking, "Huh?" And the whole book is replete with intrusive "sideboxes" that repeat parts of the text. I find this distracting and insulting. I know publishers love them, but I think their reasons for using them have more to do with "doing what everyone else is doing" than with proven efficacy for the intended audience. Overall I would say it's an adequate first draft of an excellent book.

The usefulness of the ideas in this book almost justifies giving it a rating of 5 stars. The price is good, too. But an adjustment is necessary due to the audience bias, lackluster editing, and obtuse publishing. Despite all this, it is a very useful book on real-world business communication.

Real information you can use!
I purchased this book after the executives of my company raved about Jerry Weissman's work in helping them prepare for our IPO. Unlike many other books on this topic, I found it to be very useful because it provided a framework that was simple yet creative. The real-world examples he uses are great and they make it a more interesting read for those of us who enjoy learning more about the techniques used by successful people. Jerry is starting to conduct public seminars in the Bay Area but if you can't make it to a seminar, the book is a great alternative.

Packed with Knowledge!
The lessons in this excellent book should be studied and applied by everyone who has to give presentations. In terms of audience connection and persuasive technique, Abe Lincoln must have known everything here (except, perhaps, the details of PowerPoint). And that's good, because you don't need anything new or fancy to give a great presentation, you just need a message and clear instructions on how to deliver it - so, here they are. The book is cleanly written with pop-out boxes, sample graphics and corporate examples. Anyone who ignores its powerful basic rules will fail at presenting. Failure means boring the audience and leaving them unconvinced and unwilling to hear more. This is your cure for those blues. The book's flaw is the author's tedious self-promotion, but he's a former TV guy, so what the heck do you expect? The bottom line, we attest, is that what he says, you need to know.

It seems having no typos isn't one of the deadly sins
Its a good book, but full of typos. Excessive typos creates will a subconscious skepticism of the credibility of the author while reading. It's ironic that a book on effective presentation contains so many typos, I would say more than I can will remember from any book at from a major publisher.

(The typos above were intended.) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

If you have to take Statistics, at least get this book!
I've said it before, and I will say it again. I hate Statistics! It is not just that statistics originated as a means to classify and rank people according to their perceived social worth. Statistics is still used that way as evidenced by the publication and use of the book The Bell Curve. In comparision to a pure science like Neuroscience and also to mathematics, statistics is a subjective science. Everyone knows that statistics can be manipulated and used to show whatever the researcher wants to show...and it is more prone to abuse then most other hard sciences and math.

Ok, having said that...I had to take a statistics course at the last minute (read that last year) while working on my dissertation, because it was determined I did not have enough measurements classes. This book was required, but it really has not been used as much as the other textbook which is equation-based, but I quickly found that I preferred this book!

This textbook explains how and why statistics are used in all sciences, social sciences, etc. and how they are to be interpreted when seen in a journal. It is very concise...the authors for once are not writing for their peers, they are writing for their audience (which are going to be students, grad students, patient/consumers, etc). The book is written with an eye towards helping the reader understand the reasoning and logic behind using statistics. It is done with minimal decorative writing, and with a sense of humor. It makes use of good examples of both good and bad statistic use in papers and journals, it lambasts those who need lambasting, and it has a sense of humor.

If you have to understand statistics so you can read medical journals, sociology, educational journals, etc. this is the book to get. It is immensely helpful. I will rid my library of all other statistical books, but this one I will keep (since my statistics outside of class will be either on computers or I will do qualitative research!)
Karen Sadler,

Science Education,
University of PIttsburgh

the poor statistics students guide to understanding
This book not only assist the researcher in reading and understanding sometimes difficult statistical topics but it also is a excellent guide to decision making when writing your own research. ... Read more

Book Description

To produce changes that last beyond the classroom, training games must engage restless audiences, keep them interested­­and make learning fun!

The Big Book of Humorous Training Games uses witty, engaging games to create memorable lessons in numerous basic training topics, including customer service, teambuilding, creative problem solving, time management, and more. Step-by-step instructions work with dozens of reproducible handouts and worksheets help trainers and speakers minimize preparation time­­and maximized training success.

Reviews (5)

Lots of ideas
I got this book with Brian Miller's Quick Teambuilding Activities (also from amazon.com). Both are good. This one has more activities, but not necessarily better ones. I like the way this one often has a "suggested funny intro" for introducing the activity because i usually stumble in setting it up. The only problem is that some of the activites are quite long (up to an hour)...that's where Millers book excels, all activities are 15 min or less. The activities here are organized into nice categories, too.

Refreshing and Innovative
This is the best book on training games I have ever read. It gives new insight that I have found lacking in other authors. Sharyn Weiss is a genious in her trade. Thank you for making my job in executive and managerial training easier.

The Big Book of Humorous Training Games
This book is a must for anyone who is involved with training or in giving presentations. I write and design training materials for a large corporation in which there is a constant need for training on many different levels. I have repeatedly used this book to make even the dryest of training materials fun, interesting and interative. The techniques work for all levels of employees from management down to Customer Service Reprensentatives. Now people walk away from training classes retaining far more information than before I found and began using this book. Participation and interest have greatly improved. I highly recommend this book-don't wait another minute longer to buy it!

Fabulous
This book is a great reference for any trainer! Most of the Training Game books I have reviewed have a few games that really apply to your classroom needs. Not this one! There were very few of the games that I won't be using! So far, each one I have used has been received with enthusiasm by my students. I particularly enjoyed "Look Ma, No Hands" while training Delegation Skills.

Humor Opened Doors and Minds
I recently purchased a copy of this book as I was preparing to facilitiate a workshop on respect in the workplace. I had used games in previous training sessions but was pleasantly surprised when I came across this book.

I referred specifically to Chapter 8, dealing with reducing workplace negativity. I found that the games triggered a powerful response from the participants as their concerns became very obvious in a non-threatening way. The real benefit was what happened at the debriefing. Our discussion of issues turned into in-depth problem-solving. One participant said that an issue that had been festering with her for over three years was effectively resolved because the matter was finally discussed openly.

Fifty games set out in a manner that is easy to follow, easy to understand, and clearly focused on the concern being addressed, each game in a group probes deeper into the issues without getting personal. The final game in each group leads workshop participants to make a commitment to change. The structure of the games also permitted enough flexibility to address a group's specific workplace behaviors thereby making the exercise very relevant to the group. Based on the responses from participants in my recent workshop, the point of the games came through clearly and effectively, and will result in real change in their workplace. Very powerful catalysts, your games are.

I must also say that I am thoroughly enjoying this book! As a human resource consultant and trainer, I am always looking for new ways of thinking about change. This book is stimulating my mind to find other ways to present ideas in a fun and creative manner. Doni and Sharyn really helped make my job as a facilitator easier by giving me such powerful tools. I am keeping my eyes open to purchase other books by Doni & Sharyn to add to my library. I can hardly wait for Doni's new book, LAUGH AND LEARN: 95 WAYS PEOPLE WHO TEACH CAN USE HUMOR TO BOOST THE BRAIN. ... Read more

Book Description

This book shows how to use computers in educational settings by combining learning theory and instructional strategies to help the reader design software for learning and instruction. The book has been extensively revised to include new approaches to multimedia instruction as well as updating established methods such as tutorials, drills, simulations, games, and computer-based tests. Constructivist and instructivist approaches are analyzed and presented. The book is not equipment or software specific.For people interested in Educational Multimedia. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Intructional Technology at it's best.
Had to buy it for a class; execellent resource for it's target audience. Make sure you're a memeber of that target audience (instructional technologists) before you buy :)

The First Book on My Reading List!
If I could only put one multimedia learning book on my bookshelf, this would be it. The "General Principles" section provides one of the best overviews I've read of Behavioral, Cognitive, and Constructivist approaches to learning (although I do think they misrepresent the Instructional Systems Design process and treat it as a purely Behavioralist approach). This section also presents an excellent overview of the learning process. The book moves on to discuss methodologies and learning sequences at an unparalleled level, including a brilliant discussion of simulations and educational games. The book closes with an overview of an approach to Design and Development that's worth reading, but far less valuable than the previous sections. Of all my design books, this one has the most dog-eared pages and underlined text; the chapter-level bibliographies alone are worth the book's price! Anyone looking to delve deep into multimedia design for learning should have this book on his or her shelf.

Excellent breadth and and depth of coverage
This is an excellent text in terms of coverage and pacing. If you are interested in human-computer interaction, this is a 'must have' text. What astonished me about this book is that it covered more issues in HCI than many dedicated user interface design books. The text admirably blends practical considerations with theoretical concerns and trends. It strongly focuses on motivational issues surrounding users of learning packages(an area largely ignored in the bulk of standard HCI texts). Don't pass over this book.

I love it, it IS the bible of Multimedia design in learning.
I just find it very well put together.. It takes you through the various facets of designing a course/presentation that will actually be used and useful.

The source for multimedia production
The first clue as to the value of a book is the number of editions. Generally, the true standards in a field will continue to live and be revised. This book is the standard for multimedia design and production. The foundations and theory that are explored in the beginning are as valuable as the detail in the production process that is explained. The most significant aspect of this book has to be the detail concerning methods, especially instructional simulations. Simply a must have for anyone in the field of multimedia who is looking to develop products that go beyond the traditional page turner. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

A Classic!
A book designed to be used. It offers both theory and practice. There are fifty plus pages of practical suggestions: including "Testing Whether Information Is in Long-Term Storage," and "Using the Primacy-Regency Effect in the Classroom." It also contains a glossary, an eleven page bibliography (with five internet site references), and a three page index. A well balanced 305 page classic.

Practical and Uncomplicated
I am director of secondary school student teachers at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. I have found this book to be practical and uncomplicated. I have used it in Educational Psychology classes and Classroom Teaching classes.

Practical and Uncomplicated
I have used David Sousa's book, "How the Brain Learns", with my students in Educational Psychology classes and Classroom Teaching classes. I have found it to be practical and uncomplicated. I am director of secondary school student teachers at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.

Excellent application of the brain-based research
Sousa's guide is exactly that. Without cutting corners or making grandiose claims, he takes the neurological research of the last 20 years and shows how classroom teachers can capitalize on it. A must read for educators who are serious about furthering their understanding of pedagogy as it approaches the 21st century. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Excellent - Best book on advertising and copywriting ever!
I have read this book twice cover to cover and refer to it almost everyday. If I could have given this book 6 stars I would have done it without reservation.

I have ordered and read at least 4 different books on copywriting and advertising in the last year. Most of the books have good ideas, but none of them describe the methods of writing headlines the way Caples does. He spends 4 chapters on it and let me tell you when he is finished you will know it cold! Personally that would have been enough to sell me on the book, but he doesn't stop there. He talks about scientific advertising to make sure you are writing ads that sell and not waste money. In addition, he talks through how to write the first paragraph and how to structure the copy. Finally, he spends time to talking about how to improve the selling power of copy.

Since I have read this book my ability to write copy has reached a whole new level. If you are in this field or responsible for writing copy I would advise you that this is a book you MUST own.

Excellent - best book ever on direct response advertsing
As an author and professional speaker on marketing, I've recommended this book for years. It provides more specifics and sound advice for novice and experienced marketers on direct response advertising than anything else I've seen. It provides good fuel to test an ad agency's stuff-- especially those that say things like "oh, you can't track that..." I've re-read this book probably 20 times -- and you should too if you really want to improve the results of your advertising.

Learn How to Motivate People to BUY Your product!
This book is the best book on marketing that I have ever seen! You know, I think this book provided with me the same stuff that would cost me 5000+ dollars to have some "marketing guru" to tell me the secrets of advertising. This book is literally a gold mine! I highly recommend this book to anyone who has to motivated people with this pen. Read it today!

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

The Natural Successor to Scientific Advertising
First read Claude Hopkins's "Scientifc Advertising," then read this. Any modern-day advertisers and copywriters who don't follow the teachings of Caples and Hopkins are doomed to failure.

Caples picked up where Hopkins left off, expanding upon Hopkins's work and breaking new ground with his work. Far too many advertisers today fail to heed the advice of Caples and it shows both in their advertisng and the results they achieve.

"Tested Advertisng Methods," together with "Scientific Advertising," form the Bible of Advertising. If you are a serious student of advertising and/or copywriting, this has to be on your bookshelf.

One of the best books in advertising
This book is a jewel that every marketer or member of an ad agency should have as a reference. It does not lose time in trying to be creative. It's quite the opposite, with the author defending what he defines as "scientific" advertising, the type of advertising that wins sales as opposed to ad awards. It provides clear explanations on concepts of written copy and tests every different type of ad you can imagine - short copy x long copy, ads with picture x ads without picture, etc - to provide the reader with a quite good idea on the types of ads that really work in generating sales.

The only caveat of this book: it does not mention techniques that work better in radio and TV. ... Read more

Book Description

This updated, compact desk reference book defines and explains more than 4,000 terms related to investment. They include types of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, as well as terms that apply to banking, corporate finance, and tax laws, including the most recent revisions in income tax law. The book also features helpful charts and graphs. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

More Than A Book
Expect this little work to be exactly what it is titled, "Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms". It does not contain a story, or financial advice, or commonly used terms. It is a financial dictionary. Its binding is "professional softcover" and has very thin pages- required due to 600+ pages. I notice some reviewers' felt it was not worth the money. Where else can you find a professional dictionary of specialized terms for under $12 ? I found the book so useful, I purchased Barron's Investment Guide, which includes the dictionary. I recommend both of these books (...)

If your looking for an enthralling read, the Finance Dictionary is not that. If you're looking for an inexpensive, professional little reference book, full of pertinent terms and explanations, this one will definitely earn its keep.

Not Perfect, But Very Useful
When I first got into the financial field many years ago, I kept a copy of this book (an earlier edition) close at hand at all times. As I read The Wall Street Journal and Business Week, this book proved indispensible to help me understand concepts and jargon. Today, it is dog-eared, wrinkled and dirty, but I still turn to it occasionally. Yes, some of the definitions are outdated or incomplete. Yes, some terms are missing. But this is the best dictionary of financial terms I've ever seen, and I recommend it to anyone who needs an easy-to-use reference guide.

Great Tool When Dealing with Finance or Investment
Unless you work in finance and investment, it is virtually impossible to keep apprised of the terminology and jargon. Even if you do, it's probably fairly easy to come across some word that you do not know the meaning of or are uncertain as to its meaning. This handy reference book is perfect for both professionals and non-professionals who find themselves confronted with the often arcane verbiage of the finance and investment world.

This book has frequently been of personal use to me in reviewing contracts for clients, as well as helping me when I stumble across some unknown term while reading. This is a nice little tool that should be on your shelf or in your pocket the next time you talk to someone about finances, investments, or even insurance.

Not a panacea but extremely useful
I find myself somewhat amazed at the financial analysts and brokers who find this book unsatisfactory. The poignant analogy coming to mind is offering the book "Accounting for Dummies" to a CPA. Of course it is unsatisfying. A book like this is not aimed at seasoned professionals in the field; rather, it's intended audience is grounded in those with little or no exposure to the securities/financial fields.

I have been involved in securities litigation consulting for almost a decade now. As my consulting practice has grown, I have hired many individuals, most of whom are not well-versed in securities/financial jargon. In significantly all cases, these new employees feel ill-at-ease initially when reviewing case files and documentation due to the learning ramp and educational abyss. I have found if I offer them a copy of the DICTIONARY OF FINANCE AND INVESTMENT TERMS (DFIT) on their first day, the learning curve is flattened and becomes much shorter in duration. As a matter of fact, several of my employees have taken the initiative to take their DFIT home to look for particular words/phrases common to their daily routines. By derivation, this makes the employee feel much less out of place and instills some level of motivation relative to their work (this has been a definite intangible benefit to my practice).

I keep one in my office and although I don't crack it very often, there are times when I'm not as familiar with a word/phrase and then, I rely on DFIT. This is similar to the situation of reading a book, seeing a word you can pronounce and know but aren't quite certain of its EXACT meaning. Let's face it, with over 5,000 entries in DFIT, most professionals, even those entrenched in the field, will find themselves fuzzy on certain words and phrases.

While DFIT is not a panacea, it certainly fills the void. I would recommend this book for anyone new to the finance/investment fields and most professionals who deal on the fringes of these industries. ... I don't really see how one can go wrong here (particularly given that many reference offerings go for hundreds of dollars).

Endorsed by an elected treasurer.
As the elected treasurer for a Califonia county we have had this wonderful little book since its 2nd edition.

Of all the reference and resource books we have at our disposal, this book ranks the highest.

The book is updated quite often and is worth its weight in gold! ... Read more

Book Description

This new hybrid book integrates both e-commerce and traditional legal environment issues, serving as a bridge between the two by covering the legal environment of business and its extensions into e-commerce. The text fulfills the need for greater understanding of the role of law, regulation, and public policy. A major focus is on how existing laws will accommodate the transition and on what issues new perspectives are needed from legislation, regulation, judicial interpretation, private contracting, industry self-regulation and public policy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Winners Never Cheat
Whan I wrote my tenth book "Human Side of Management" my friends told me that book on "normal human behaviour in business environment" will not work. Ethics is unknown word in Croatian business (or anywhere around the World), they said. Six months later whole first edition (2000 copies) is sold and second edition is on the way (bare in mind, Croatia has only 4,2 million inhabitants). Many copies were bought as a business gift to colleagues or bosses.

Therefore, book "Winners Never Cheat" was a great support and confirmation for me, showing that people are the same all around the world - some want to do business according to ethical rules, without cheating and with respect to other people and some always has an excuse that lying and cheating is necessary because everyone else is doing business that way. Fortunatelly, world market is big enough so one can find his own "blue sea nitche", show knowledge and skills, win without cheating...and sleep like a baby.

Endless treasures in a small package...
In today's often cutthroat business practices, it's important to remember the lessons we all learned when we were young.To help, read this short book...Winners Never Cheat - Everyday Values We Learned As Children (But May Have Forgotten) by Jon M. Huntsman.

Chapter List:Lessons From The Sandbox; Check Your Moral Compass; Play By The Rules; Setting The Example; Keep Your Word; Pick Advisors Wisely; Get Mad, Not Even; Graciousness Is Next To Godliness; Your Name Is On The Door; The Obligation To Give Back; The Bottom Line

Jon Huntsman is the chairman and founder of Huntsman Corporation, which was the largest privately held chemical company in the world prior to going public in 2005.Jon built the business from a small operation in 1970 to what it is today...a multi-billion dollar firm.But instead of using business practices all too common these days (think Enron or Worldcom), he built the organization based on solid moral principles that everyone knows are intrinsically right.A handshake and promise is something to be kept.You should surround yourself with people who have and live the same ethics and value that you have.Giving back to the community and those less fortunate isn't a nice thing to do... it's a moral obligation.It'd be all too easy to write this off as simplistic platitudes that are easier said than done.But Huntsman has proven they do work, and there are numerous examples in the book that offer proof.

This isn't a 400 page book that requires days of patient determination to get through.It's a small-sized practical book that's only 185 pages, and each chapter and concept shouldn't take more than 10 to 15 minutes to read.But once read, and if contemplated and applied, they will change your life in more ways than you can count.A highly recommended read...

Fresh air to fill your business lungs - enjoy!
"Winners Never Cheat" is a tonic for our jaded age.To those already imprisoned in cynicism this book will read like a bunch of soft platitudes suitable only for children, but worse than useless to anyone trying to make it in the "real world".Of course, the cynics are not objectively correct.Cynicism and bad behavior are only necessary when you deem them to be the tools of your trade.If you decide that lying really is a losing long term strategy and that short run gains aren't worth long term losses, well, lying becomes a stupidity and easily avoided.

This is not to say that the kind of honorable behavior Huntsman advocates in this book leads to easy business success or a world of bright flowers and constant sunshine.Far from it!Competition is still tough and things still go wrong.It is simply how you compete and what you do to get things right that matter.These "everyday" values make for a more sustainable success that lead to better personal interactions, trust, and a more enjoyable life for everyone.Business failure is unpleasant, but it is transient.Corrupting your character for short term success is bitter and not easily undone.

Huntsman fills this short book with anecdotes from his own successful career.We learn about lessons he learned in the Nixon Whitehouse working on HR Haldeman's staff.The author describes how he handled various negotiations for rather large business deals.He tells us that lawyers are invaluable as business tools, but not as a substitute for business thinking or creativity.He describes his personal relations with a few business leaders of large companies.

In a couple of these I feel he raises some questions that are never directly addressed.For example, he describes the Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell as a friend without addressing what the huge and expensive reserves write down implies about the leader's character and leadership ability. He also mentions Armand Hammer as a friend!All I can suggest is to read about Mr. Hammer's true character in Edward Jay Epstein's terrific "Dossier".It is actually frightening to contemplate these two men being actual friends.I have to assume that Mr. Huntsman was simply using friend as a polite title the way Congressional enemies refer to each other as "my good friend".They could not possibly share genuine ideals and have anything in this book actually mean anything.

It is also clear that Mr. Huntsman has no use for Wall Street bankers.He must have hand some bad experiences in dealing with them.This makes me wonder why he ended up taking his company public.I also wonder if the bankers who helped him do so were honorable in his eyes or of low character.If they were honorable, shouldn't he have noted the exception in his book?If they were scumbags, why didn't he walk away from the deal?

Mr. Huntsman also makes a huge point of charitable giving.His personal example is inspiring and demonstrates what considered and generous giving can do to lift people and benefit communities.He also is unsparing of the notion that public corporations should be focused on profits for their shareholders.Mr. Huntsman says that as long as he is running Huntsman Chemical it will be doing charitable giving.This begs a thought experiment.Let's suppose that Mr. Huntsman were to retire, but still live a long, robust, and healthy retirement.Let's suppose that a chairman appointed by the board should decide, for personal reasons, to donate millions of Huntsman Chemical's dollars to anti-Mormon causes (Huntsman is a believing and faithful Mormon).Would this seem sensible or appropriate to Mr. Huntsman?That the person who did this would be immediately fired is beside the point.That shareholders in widely held firms have diverse interests apart from the management of the firm they own and that they are perfectly capable of their own charitable giving is really the point.When Huntsman chemical was a private and closely held firm, its giving was his business.Now that it is a publicly held firm, it is a different creature and has to act differently.There is a reason that I am more and more in favor of more firms staying private.

Two other short points.Two honest people with good intentions can still come out with different interpretations of simple English statements.I know this can all be avoided with careful negotiation, good contract writing and so forth.My point is that the fact of a powerful and even bitter disagreement is not necessarily evidence of bad character on the part of either side.It might well be that one or both of the parties is a ratbag, but they could both be good people who strongly disagree.This is important to note as you go about your business career and simply make sure to take extra steps to avoid such painful disagreements through prevention.

The second point is that I wish Mr. Huntsman had gone one step further.It is true that bad managers and dishonesty caused the financial tragedies at Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Adelphia, and others.However, who hired them?Why were they hired?Shareholders hired them by investing their money in these firms looking for the big returns.Those who lost money investing in equity in these firms are not innocent.They helped create an environment where the solid management teams of older less explosive firms were cast aside for the go-go huge return firms of the nineties.

We hired these clowns and they delivered the lies we asked them to tell us because they agreed with the lies we were telling ourselves about the likelihood of these huge returns.It is actually a dishonesty to simply blame the CEOs who ran these firms.Oh, they deserve every punishment they get.But let's not deceive ourselves that they were the only bad actors in this scenario.We were all acting in that dark comedy and deserve the wages earned.

Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Since publication in 1996 there have been tremendous advances in business and management which have necessitated the development of a new, improved second edition. IEBM 2nd Edition addresses these advances by updating all existing material as well as adding a great deal more. This revision means that the printed encyclopedia now fills 8 volumes with fifty percent more entries and four million words. Additional countries are profiled in the new edition and there are even more biographical profiles of influential management thinkers, making IEBM 2nd Edition bigger and better than ever. Full-length entries, equivalent to any secondary critical work or journal paper, serve as excellent introductions to the debates and literature of a given topic or concept. Each entry is fully cross-referenced and a further reading section is carefully annotated to indicate the level and importance of the work cited which proves especially useful for the student to take their research further. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A book to complete any businesss library.
Without this book all business libraries are incomplete.With articles rangeing from the biographies of such legends as Bill Gates to fully referenced and peer reviewed articles on world regions and their economic statuses and of course a thorough grounding in the business basics.This not only superseeds the first edition but comprehensively betters it. ... Read more

Book Description

A business classic, How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling is for anyone whose job it is to sell. Whether you are selling houses or mutual funds, advertisements or ideas -- or anything else -- this book is for you.

When Frank Bettger was twenty-nine he was a failed insurance salesman. By the time he was forty he owned a country estate and could have retired. What are the selling secrets that turned Bettger's life around from defeat to unparalleled success and fame as one of the highest paid salesmen in America?

The answer is inside How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling. Bettger reveals his personal experiences and explains the foolproof principles that he developed and perfected. He shares instructive anecdotes and step-by-step guidelines on how to develop the style, spirit, and presence of a winning salesperson. No matter what you sell, you will be more efficient and profitable -- and more valuable to your company -- when you apply Bettger's keen insights on:

• The power of enthusiasm

• How to conquer fear

• The key word for turning a skeptical client into an enthusiastic buyer

• The quickest way to win confidence

• Seven golden rules for closing a sale ... Read more

Reviews (38)

timeless
When a book receives hearty endorsements from Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale, it is hard to question its merit. What amazes me about this book is how gracefully it has aged. Even though this book was published in 1947, it is based on timeless principles that are just as effective today as the day they were written.

The language that Frank Bettger uses has travelled the years quite nicely; many books from this era contain long-lost expressions and dated language that make them less relatable -- not so here. Only the dollar figures used in the real life examples give the age of the book away. Bettger's friendly, conversational style makes this an easy read.

This book works because it is principle-based and backed up with real life illustrations covering both the "what to do" and "what not to do" ends of the spectrum. Truly a classic, the applications in this book go beyond sales to have a positive effect on all aspects of your life.

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

A must read for all sales people
If you are in sales or want to be, you must read Frank Bettger's
"How I raised myself from Failure to Success in Selling" literally from someone who failed terribly initially.

Bettger's story is one of inspiration and determination. Some of his keen insights include: The power of enthusiasm, how to conquer fear, the one key word that will turn a skeptical prospect into a happy and satisfied client, the quickest way to win confidence, how to deliver a winning sales talk and 7 golden rules for closing a sale.

Interesting is that one of Bettger's biggest supporters for writing this book was Dale Carnegie.

This is another one of those golden classics that some of us have hidden away only to appreciate it's value after rereading it many years later.

Great book. I highly recommend it.

Success from Success
Book review

Frank Bettger describes profoundly experiences to succeed in selling.

Bettger's book, How I raised myself from failure to success in selling, is deserving of a

five-star rating, because he explains and shows the real facts in salesmanship, the

impediments and the success in the same time. Bettger relates his own experiences as a

salesman; his intentions are that every new salesperson should take his book as an advice and

should follow all the rules he gives. The author relates about enthusiasm in job,

confidentiality, how to remember and to not forget costumers, and how to be organized.

Furthermore, Bettger increases a hope for those who believe that salesmanship is their

vocation and gives them more interest to continue this career.

Frank Bettger was a baseball player at his 20's; one day he had a big accident at one of

his arm and from that moment he ended his career as a baseball player. After that he decided

to do something different, so he started to sell life insurance. This job did not make him happy

until one day he heard a poem which made him to continue this career. One of the things was

that he started to put more enthusiasm in his work and to see things differently. He's routine

at work was to call people and to convince them to buy life insurance. Unfortunately this was

not enough; to make people to believe him he started to talk with more enthusiasm, to put

more questions, and to be organized. These changes raised his income, but more than

that he started to sell life insurance more than he did before. He believes that working with

enthusiasm is one of the biggest steps in a sale career. "Force yourself to act enthusiastic, and

you'll become enthusiastic!" (15)

After a while when his experience grew Bettger discovered and learned, in the

same time, that to be confident is what most of the people like. Asking questions made him to

believe that the interviews are more productive and consistent. The author found that asking

a question "is the only way to get people to think!" (62) Some of the questions that he used, in

one of the biggest contracts of his life, where what ambitions, hopes and objectives from that

interview the costumer is expecting. All these questions made his business to be

prospering and to grow as he wanted. The author knew that people like to make business, but

they also like that some questions to remain without answers. In his book Bettger gives six

things that salesmen should learned to approach the question method. The most important is

"Enables you to help the other fellow recognize what he wants. Then you can help him decide

how to get it." (62)

Equally important from Bettger's experience is to remember names and faces in many

cases. The best way to memorize these is to remember three words: impression, repetition,

and association. He is convinced that if a salesperson memorize these things will be much

easy to remember names and faces avoiding the salesman to talk too much. Impression is to

get a clear interest in someone's name and if is hard to be memorized do not be afraid to ask

the person again. Repetition is when having a conversation with somebody that person's name

is repeated at short intervals to make sure the brain is going to catch it. Association is when a

face is associated with a picture or with the person's business. Sincerity and honesty make

a businessman to be believed and to increase his reputation. "If you want to be welcome

everywhere, give every living soul you meet a smile, from down deep inside." (128)

Again Bettger shows that costumers are the main point to make a sale; sometimes just

using the business card can make the business to prosper. If a salesman is remember and is

calling a costumer after a wile is a good way to make that man to do not forget the new

business that he made. Many costumers like to share their happiness and success in business

with other friends or neighbors; they will not forget, and they will tell to the other people

about their new friend and about what he did for them. "New costumers are the best source of

new business...new costumers." (164)

Similarly important is to be self-organized; making appointments and keeping them in

a note book makes a salesman to be more organized and to have everything in the right place.

The time is very important in this business, not only for the salesman but especially for the

costumers. Many businesspeople are too busy to accept a strange visitor without to have an

appointment and without to know what it his business about. Bettger's suggestion is to make

appointments with a week before, to make sure a confirmation will be received in the

meantime. The author said that the following rule is good to memorize "First, sell the

appointment, second, sell your product." (144)

Otherwise Bettger became a good salesman after he had reading The

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. This book was his inspiration to act with enthusiasm,

to be confident, to remember names and faces, to be self-organized, and to not forget his

costumers. All those people who not have success in their work should read Bettger's book;

he relates everything they need, not only how to succeed but more than that how to not be

afraid to fail when a sail does not work. To be a salesman is not easy it just needs enthusiasm

and power to succeed in this business. Bettger said "take one thing at a time, and give a

week's strict attention to that one thing; leaving all the others to their ordinary chance." (191)

A timeless classic!
Frank's book is a timeless classic. I heard a lot of good things about this book in a mastermind group meeting in NYC with Mike Litman.

The book lived up to it recommendations.

There are many ideas in this book that anyone in any field can relate to. Even if you are not a salesman, there are many ideas in this book that are about "how to achieve success."

If you are interested in achieving success I highly recommend you reading this book and applying the principles within. Wishing you best of luck and much success,
Your devoted life coach,

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

The Best Book Ever Written on Sales
Rather than simply giving you information, Bettger tells you his story and how he learned what he learned. He tells you what he did and how it worked. This book comes from an era before slick and hype. Bettger is straightforward, honest, and sincerely trying to help the reader, and if you're a salesman, I think this book should be part of your core library. Bettger doesn't worry about superficial techniques for closing the sale. As any really successful salesman knows, you have to be honest and sincere to be great at selling, and that's where this book comes from. You'll get deep principles rather than manipulative tricks. The principles in Bettger's book work, not just in selling, but in life. I regularly read pages daily to inspire and refresh. Bettger's book should be in every salesman's library.

Other Recommendations: "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, "Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale, "Lateral Thinking" by Edward DeBono and "Breakthrough Advertising" by Eugene Schwartz. ... Read more

Book Description

A true landmark in legal education, Anderson's Business Law and the Legal Environment has long guided learners to a practical understanding of business law. ... Read more

Book Description

This audio version of RMC Project Management's Hot Topics is designed to use as you commute. Simply listen to over 300 Hot Topics read aloud and enhance your ability to recall and understand them as the answer is read back to you. This is a great tool for shortening your study time and decreasing the time it will take to do the actual exam.

The 4th Edition of the Hot Topics Audio CD has updated and additional hot topics, more on inputs and outputs and references the 4th Edition of RMC's PMP Exam Prep and the PMBOK 2000. ... Read more

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This first edition, written by the same authors of the Anderson family of texts, re-positions Anderson's Business Law of the Regulatory Environment by incorporating all relevant UCC Sections into the text.As the new incarnation of Anderson, this book retains the tradition of accuracy, depth and contemporary perspective.Its cases are excerpted, relevant and interesting.The UCC coverage provides the student with the code language when reading applicable portions of the text.This text meets AACSB requirements and offers complete coverage for CPA preparation, featuring ethics, public policy and the Internet. ... Read more

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With World Wide Web integration and interactivity, extraordinary visual drawings and photographs, unprecedented currency, and unique lecture presentation materials, this book will make your introductory computer course for teachers exciting and dynamican experience your students will remember as a highlight of their educational careers! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great E-text
It's the text of the future, having both printed and Electronic information at the same time. Text web site adds to the learning experience and you can go back time and again for a refresher.

Incredible Resource
I work as an adjunct at the University of Central Florida teaching a required course for students who will be entering the teaching profession. The text I use is "Teachers Discovering Computers".

The book's focus is on Computer, Information and Integration literacy. Each area is thoroughly covered in content detail, enhanced by photos and diagrams and supported with a wealth of unline material from the Cashman site. Every chapter has a review section, sites to go to on the web for additional information, and tips for teachers on integrating what they have learned. I would suggest anyone in or about to enter education, purchase this text so they too might make the most of technology in the classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

With over 100,000 copies sold, this is one of the most popular business- and sales-boosting guides ever written. This new edition offers successful entrepreneur and speaker Bob Burg's proven relationship-building system that thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs have used to turn casual contacts into solid sales opportunities. In Endless Referrals, he shows you how to:Turn every contact into a sales opportunity o Dramatically increase your business without spending more time or money o Identify the most profitable contacts o Use six keys to remember names and faces o NEW SECTION! Network the Internet o NEW SECTION!Set up a successful home-based business o Take the intimidation out of telephoning o Overcome fear of rejection o NEW SECTIONS!Succeed in multi-level, network, and mail order marketing o Position yourself as an expert o Mark yourself for success! ... Read more

Reviews (22)

A Good Start
I chose to read two books, one right after the other - Endless Referrals by Bob Burg and Business by Referral by Misner and Davis (also reviewed). Endless Referrals takes a very "real world" approach to the business referral process. It's direct, hard-hitting information. Bob Burg gets to the point immediately. I became very enthusiastic about Bob Burg's system and immediately began integrating it into my referral process. His ideas about making the initial contact and following up with that individual are a must for anyone in the business of generating referral-based sales. The book is full of examples of good and bad business actions, which Bob tightly weaves into the specific element of the process being discussed. The chapters on home-based businesses were very good, and even though I am not in home-based sales, I gleaned a few good ideas which I can apply. I found only one shortcoming. Bob Burg didn't really take the process far enough. I think he fell short in the systematic follow-up process of utilizing the information you have gained from a contact to build your business and your contact base.

I give a solid recommendation for this book; it is a must read for anyone wanting to generate referral-based sales or anyone who is in the selling business for the long haul. Utilizing Bob's techniques, you'll begin immediately to build a solid foundation for referral-based sales.

Common Sense in an Applicable Style
In "Endless Referrals", which I refer to constantly (I am a 15-year veteran in the financial services industry, and do not cold-call, so all my business is based on the generation of referrals), Bob Burg states what some would call the obvious: concern yourself with the welfare of others first, and it will come back to you in a big way. I believe this to be true, and Burg provides several strategies - mostly through the use of questions - designed to break down barriers and build rapport in a short period of time.

In garnering referrals, I often go point-blank with many of my clients, asking them the traditional "Who do you know....?" question. However, this is obviously not useful when meeting someone for the very first time. That's where Burg's strategies come in handy. That's not to say that this book doesn't contain ideas geared toward those you know already; it does.

I bought two copies of this book and gave one to one of the rookies in my office. My copy is highlighted from start to finish. I refer to it constantly. The book is an easy read, an enjoyable read, and an excellent source of extremely useful information.

The only requirement: You must ACT, and apply the ideas found within. If you do, nothing should stand in the way of your gathering many new sources of business.

I recommend this book highly - and I've read many on this subject.

Excellent, priceless advice!
Bob Burg's style is positive, upbeat and entertaining. I refer to "Endless Referrals" frequently. The ten questions in the second chapter, along with chapters eight and nine have contributed tremendously to my success in various endeavors. These parts alone are worth more than the price of the book. With that said, however, ALL the material is outstanding; the ideas for achieving success in all areas of life are pragmatic and energizing. Bob Burg's work stands out in that way certainly, but also couples the road to success with making the world a nicer place by promoting respectful interaction. This book is not to be missed!

Must have to build your business in this economy
I have moved from a technical support position to owning my own business. I needed to learn how to network effectively. Endless Referrals has provided me with the skills and confidence I needed to build rapport and trust with others. I much prefer working from referrals than cold calls.

A Game Plan for Growing Your Business Dramatically
Because I spent more than two decades in fundraising, I thought I had mastered the art of networking. Like many other development professionals, I was fairly aggressive in meeting people, remembering their names, and establishing rapport. Annually, I filled my desk with business cards.

Now networking is even more important for me as an entrepreneur. And in the last month, Bob Burg has given me valuable guidelines about networking. He taught me that I was a dedicated networking novice, and showed me how to become a skilled professional.

First, I attended one of Bob's dynamic seminars in Atlanta, Georgia. His novel-and highly creative-approach to networking prompted the audience members to think: "So. . .that's what I should have been doing all along."

Then I read Endless Referrals, which reflected Bob's comments in the seminar, and added many other tips. As is the case with his speaking, Bob Burg writes quite clearly, often entertainingly. Vivid case histories and anecdotes make his points memorable.

The book would be well worth the price if it contained only Chapter Eight: "Begin Your Own Profitable Networking Group."

Readers will welcome Burg's game plan for establishing and maintaining a systematic network. I know I did. ... Read more

Book Description

If you're in the process of starting a new restaurant or are managing an existing food service operation, this is the one book you need to do it right. Always wanted a personal assistant at your disposal? Now you will have one, in book form! Designed to save the food service manager both time and money, you won't know how you got along before with out it.

For the new and veteran food service operators alike, this book is essentially a unique "survival kit" packed with tested advice, practical guidelines and ready-to-use materials for all aspects of your job. The book and companion CD-Rom focuses on the issues, situations and tasks that you face daily in your management role as leader, manager, arbitrator, evaluator, chairperson, disciplinarian and more; from working with difficult customers and employees to ensuring the profitability of your operation.

Included in this book are hundreds of easy-to-implement tools, forms, checklists, posters, templates and training aids to help you get your operation organized, and easier to manage while building your bottom line! The material may be used as is or readily adapted for any food service application. For example, you'll find a practical form to use when interviewing employees, a template for developing an employee schedule and checklists for examining the food service operation and preparing a budget.

Expertly organized, this unique book takes you step by step through each department of a restaurant, caterer, hotel and non-commercial operations. Among the topics covered are management principles of planning, organizing, coordinating, staffing, directing, controlling and evaluation; product purchasing, receiving, storing and issuing, preparation and service; employment and personnel practices; and management of equipment and money.

This manual will arm you with the right information to help you do your job. Keep it on your desk for continual reference. The many valuable forms contained in this work may be easily printed out and customized from the companion CD-Rom. There are over 488 ready-to-use business forms, checklists, training aids, contracts and agreements! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Complete package for the Food Service Industry
As a long-time user of The Restaurant Managers Handbook by Douglas R. Brown, I have found The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Forms and it's CD Rom to be the most complete and comprehensive selection of forms and ideas for every day and every situation that can or will arise in the food service business.

Review From Book News Inc.
The encyclopedia of restaurant forms; a complete kit of ready-to-use checklists, worksheets, and training aids for a successful food service operation. (CD-ROM included)

This book/CD-ROM resource for new and veteran food service operators offers advice, practical guidelines, and ready-to-use forms, templates, checklists, and training aids for dealing with the issues, tasks, and situations that food service operators face everyday. The material may be used as is, or adapted for any food service application. Material is organized into 11 sections on food safety, kitchen management, bar and beverage management, general management, menu management, employee training, human resources, inventory control, financial management, catering and banquets, and hotel management. Forms contained in the book can be customized and printed from the companion CD-ROM.

Jane Erskine
Editor, Book News Inc.
5739 NE Sumner Street
Portland, OR 97218

Nice that the forms are perforated
I agree with all the other reviews and use the book almost daily as a F&B director - that additional part I like is they perforated each form so if you do not use the CD Rom, each form can easily be removed from the book

Nothing else on the market comes close!!!!
There is not one page of information in this incredibly handsome book that is not useful. The book includes every possible form I can think of, and many many more I never thought about which would be incredibly useful to our business today! The companion CDROM of forms allowed us to use this book from day one. Highly recommended!!!

The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Forms
There isn't another book published in the Restaurant field that provides as much comprehensive information. The CD is a wonderful addition. ... Read more