Book Description

In this collection of his latest essays, John H. Dunning - renowned authority in international business - elaborates his theories on the current situation of the foreign direct investment and multinational enterprises. ... Read more

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The first book to distill the best of the forward-looking ideas of socially responsible policies emerging from the corporate world. By following the suggestions detailed here, individuals can institute similar programs in their own companies--because it's the right choice to make, and the smart one. ... Read more

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"Simply the most important new stock book of the 1990s, to date. Buy it and read it." —Kenneth L. Fisher Forbes

The runaway bestseller—updated with new material included for the first time!

"The Warren Buffett Way outlines his career and presents examples of how his investment techniques and methods evolved and the important individuals in that process. It also details the key investment decisions that produced his unmatched record of performance." —from the Foreword by Peter S. Lynch Bestselling author, One Up on Wall Street and Beating the Street

". . . an extraordinarily useful account of the methods of an investor held by many to be the world's greatest." —The Wall Street Journal

"Robert Hagstrom presents an in-depth examination of Warren Buffett's strategies, and the 'how and why' behind his selection of each of the major securities that have contributed to his remarkable record of success. His 'homespun' wisdom and philosophy are also part of this comprehensive, interesting, and readable book." —John C. Bogle Chairman, The Vanguard Group

"It's first rate. Buffett gets a lot of attention for what he preaches, but nobody has described what he practices better than Hagstrom. Here is the lowdown on every major stock he ever bought and why he bought it. Fascinating. You could even try this at home." —John Rothchild Financial columnist Time magazine ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Belongs on the list of all time investment classics.
Other reviewers have written that this book is undervalued and they are right. Right from the start Hagstrom gives us advice on the nature of the market. He then gives management tenants, how to value a business and all kinds of investment tenants. These tenents are so fundamental that its very difficult to see how investing can be done without them in one form or the other. This makes the book timeless. Numerous examples are given from real world cases of how these tenants are used. There is also an excellent appendix that gives examples of how a business is valued. This is very helpful. Some reviewers have criticized Hagstrom, saying that if the book is true, why isnt he rich? But this is not how information is to be judged. There are many books that contain solid gold advice, but there are few who master them. Buffett is among them. If one wants additional information on Buffets methods, I suggest reading "How to pick stocks like Warren Buffett" by Tim Vick. But The Warren Buffett Way is a classic and at the top of the heap.

one of the most popular investment reads
This book is for anyone whether you are trying to understand investing for the first time or an experienced investor refreshing yourself with the principles of fundamental analysis. Hagstrom answers all the questions of what makes Buffett one of the most successful investors of our time. He talks about Buffett's childhood as a boy ambitious to turn a profit in selling Coca Cola as well as his philosophy behind which he makes his decisions on buying a particular stock. The refreshing part about investing like Buffett is whether you buy millions of dollars worth of stock or just a few shares of stock, you can still use the same principles that Buffett uses in making a decision. The methods are straight-forward and bring common sense approach to picking stocks. In it you buy stocks as if you were buying groceries and not as if you were buying perfume. It is not even necessary to know any complicated formulae about how to determine the value of a stock although some elementary math is required. If you only had to pick one book to read about investing and burn all the other books I would recommend this book. It is more informative that many other textbooks out there read by college students filled with unnecessary math and financial theory.

Worth the read
Forget B-school, read this book. Seriously, a great introduction to value investing and the Buffett mentality of risk.

Hagstrom's analysis is very easy to read and understand... a book everyone should read.

What if Mr. Market goes really crazy?
If you are reading this book just to be better informed, I think you will get your money's worth. I feel I got a five-star education. But if you are going to read it to make a decision to buy or not to buy Berkshire Hathaway, you should keep these two points in mind: First, almost everyone considers Warren Buffet to be the world's greatest investor. This special attribute of Mr. Buffet might be reflected in the price of Berkshire Hathaway stock. If Warren Buffet were no longer around, what would that do to Berkshire Hathaway? Hasn't Mr. Buffet's greatness built in a premium in Berkshire Hathaway stock?

Second, this book proves that Mr. Buffet beat Mr. Market most of the time under normal circumstances. In abnormal circumstances, Mr. Market could beat Mr. Buffet. Abnormal circumstances would exist if Mr. Market went into a long, deep depression (like he did in the 1930's and dropped in value by 90%). And could a second terrorist attack similar to 9/11 cause Mr. Market to panic and create abnormal circumstances in the economy?

No matter how good the company, Mr. Market can and will hurt the value of its stock. If there is another terrorist attack like 9/11, Mr. Market will panic and Coca Cola, Washington Post, GEICO, etc., would all suffer terribly.

Once Again, Take It With A Grain of Salt
I am not Warren Edward Buffett. Unlike Mr. Buffett, who has the delightful headache of trying to figure out where to put his steadily growing billions, I am a non-investor, sitting on the sidelines, wondering what all the fuss is about. Like most readers of this book, I have been told incessantly to invest for retirement, and not knowing exactly how I should do so, I figured it might be a good idea to glean a few secrets from a proven successful investor. Hence, I read The Warren Buffett Way from cover to cover, hoping to learn a few things.

And what did I learn? I learned that I am not Warren Edward Buffett. Unlike Mr. Buffett, whose circle of associates includes all of the Beautiful People of Corporate America, I am surrounded by ordinary people, more than a few of whom are looking for a way to get rich quick. Whereas Mr. Buffett is patient and thoughtful with his investments, most of the people I encounter are thoughtless and reckless with their gambles. These two things, which I increasingly began to ponder as I read this book, distinguish me from the Oracle of Omaha, and quite possibly from most readers of this book.

The book consists of nine chapters, and is mostly historical in nature. It details many of Buffett's past exploits in the stock market, mostly the good moves but also some bad ones, and offers some of the principles guiding Mr. Buffett's stock investing strategy, grouped into three classes called Management, Financial and Market Tenets. The first four chapters of the book delve into the early history of Berkshire Hathaway, the key influences on Mr. Buffett which helped to shape his investment philosophy, Mr. Buffett's perspective on the financial markets, and the principles by which he goes about purchasing a business. The last five chapters of the book give example after example of some of Mr. Buffett's past stock moves, and tries to show his Tenets in action.

The style of the book is mostly active until the fifth chapter, whereupon it becomes plodding. The book is extremely repetitive at points, and as other reviewers have pointed out, key concepts are not fully explained up front, suggesting that the possible target audience for this book are those having a strong background in the general principles of economics and business.

In all honesty, I have previously encountered most of the content of this book in coursework or self-study. I previously read Mr. Hagstrom's The Warren Buffett Portfolio, and found the two books to be similar in some respects. That said, I still found this book to be very interesting and useful, primarily because it exposed me to an investment approach which utilizes these concepts in ways I had not previously considered. I also found it highly interesting on an anecdotal level, given that Mr. Buffett's investment career spans The Go-Go Years, The Nifty Fifty Stocks and the 80s and 90s Tech Stock Boom, and yet he never once participated in these tech-stock manias but handily outperformed tech stock investors nonetheless.

Like I said, I am not Warren Edward Buffett and I can not expect or even hope to do what he does, but that does not mean that I can not think like him. Even Mr. Buffett cautions the small investor in this regard, as there are things that he can do that none of little guys can do. Yet, he also has said that there are things the little guy can do that he can not do. That said, the book deserves to be read by any one lacking the ability to reason through the process of investing. However, readers at all levels should not stop with this book. Others have pointed out that one could get even more information straight from the horse's mouth- the Berkshire Hathaway website.

On the other hand, as this information details past moves for which the conditions surrounding them are most unlikely to come around again, I believe that the more astute reader looking to learn more should consult The Money Game by Adam Smith for a brief historical look at financial foolishness (albeit the late sixties but the resemblance to Right Now is striking), The Theory of Investment Value by John Burr Williams for Buffett's original basis for valuation, and The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham for a more detailed explanation of the concepts of margin of safety, intrinsic value, and the benefits associated with ignoring the market noise. These three books will help one learn how to reason through the investment problem, as this is the most important step, aside from finding smart people (as Mr. Smith admonishes forcefully in The Money Game and Buffett has consistently done) and thinking more but acting less (as Buffett has said- do a few things right and screw everything else). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jeffrey A. Rosensweig is a capitalist with a heart. In his book, Winning the Global Game, Rosensweig takes a long look at the Third World--Africa and East Asia--and sees both tremendous economic opportunities and vast, untapped human potential. A professor of finance at Emory University in Georgia, Rosensweig makes the case that foreign investment can improve people and businesses. He writes that if managers follow a careful plan for development in fast-growing parts of the world, fewer people will starve, the environment will be spared, and women will enjoy more power and equality.

To show how multinationals can impact the developing world, Rosensweig gives us a taste of what Coca-Cola alone is generating in Africa. "New industries are popping up all around Coca-Cola," he writes. "The company estimates that every one job it creates directly produces another eight to ten jobs as a result of local economy growth." Winning the Global Game is painstakingly researched and organized. It's critical reading for students, community leaders, and businessmen. --Dan Ring ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Excellent reading for the corporate leaders of tomorrow
Rosensweig's book offers a new perspective on the "global game" that corporations will play in the future. It provides an insightful peak behind the curtain of the global markets of the future. The early chapters focus on the traditional triad of industrialized regions. The author provides details of the growth in the markets of Norht America, Western Europe and Japan. He then forecasts population growth for all the regions of the world and opines that the "populous south" will be an emerging economic region that offers great potential. As a corporate executive, I found his perspective extremely refreshing and insightful.

A fresh approach to global economy.
Winning the Global Game Jeffrey A. Rosensweig

The book presents one great discovery, what is well above the average. So it is worth of reading. But if you want to learn how the global economy is structured in next 50 years and if your business depends on global developments the reading is vital.

Rosensweig likes models, what the readers not speaking about students, normally do not like. But he also likes clarity and simple sentences. So what you have in the book, is a lot of figures and scientific accuracy, but all of it in clear and easy to follow form.

The conventional knowledge is that the population of developed nations compared to developing nations is declining. And if you take the standard population and output statistics then you have to agree with it. But if you forget the national statistics and try to look on the world as set of economic regions the result is different. And this is what Rosensweig actually does.

Few years ago US former labor secretary Robert Reich in his book "The Work of Nations" and Japanese management thinker Kenjiti Ohmae in his book "The End of the Nation State: The Rise of National Economies" argued that thinking in the terms of nation states is not valid any more. Economic regions are more important to describe the new world economic development. Now we see Rosenswig to use the concept. His discovery is that if by year 2000 the share of developed regions in the world population is 33,8%, then by year 2010 it will be 44%. Why so? Simple, you just have to ignore the nation states and look on huge emerging countries as China for example just as set of regions. The result is that you see some of regions belonging to almost developed industrial world and some of them to rather poor agricultural world.

Rosenswig also briefly desribes how it is possible for the nations to get out vigorous circle of generating the poverty. But what is especially important he presents the examples of the nations who could do it.

Unbridled Optimism vs. Reality
Time has shown the theories in this book to be flat out wrong. There is a difference between being an optimist and a realist. The optimism in this book ignores reality, implying that third-world countries can participate in the global economy without the years and dollars it will take to build crucial infrastructures, while ignoring the fact that there is competition of other more-advanced countries with the same cheap labor and less inherent risk. There is no hard-core / hard-hitting analysis, just a little number crunching, some remedial graphs, and unfounded theories. The best advice is to save your [money] and not buy this book.

Just plain bad....
I thought this book was stupidly optimistic, at best. Now that there have been a couple of years to test "Dr." Rosensweig's theories, it proves to be as flawed and ignorant as originally thought. Not worth the paper it is printed on.

Insightful!
Jeffrey A. Rosenweig's scholarly study of the global economy is detailed, thought-provoking and rich in source material. Intelligently and clearly written, it is by no means light reading, and wasn't intended to be. Rosensweig covers each corner of the globe, putting such issues as population, development and economic status in perspective. He expertly guides you through complex historical and financial issues and information, and manages to connect all the dots. We at getAbstract recommend this serious book to executives, managers and other thoughtful participants who are interested in present and future global commerce. "Serious" is the approach here, no dilettantes allowed. ... Read more

Book Description

Business is all about playing games. It's about creating chances, being competitive, and tackling tricky situations. Above all, it's about winning. When we discuss expert game-playing, what we are talking about are successful sets of actions and interactions. People who perform brilliantly in business are successful because they are 'programmed' in a particular way: they know the rules of the game, the right games to play, and the right way to play them. Because of this, they achieve results, and win - automatically.

GAMES BUSINESS EXPERTS PLAY reveals the business games experts play in order to succeed - and the successful ways to play them. As you read this book you will learn to play games that work for you, and you will understand that successful game-playing involves changing your frame - because it is only when you change your own frame, and replicate the frame of mind of a business expert, that you too will become a consistently, habitually successful business person.

Analyzing the core components of successful game playing, Games Business Experts Play identifies: the name of each game (what is it? how does it work?; the rules of each game (who plays it? when is it played?); the cues of each game (what questions elicit the game? what are the triggers?); the payoff (what are the benefits?).

It then coaches you in games for personal empowerment, teaching you how to win at specific Business Games that address: positioning yourself; making work meaningful and satisfying; handling things; being your own best boss; adding value to the lives of others; resolving conflicts; inventing even better games.

Presenting unique insights into the games business experts play, this revelatory book applies powerful techniques from the sphere of Neuro-Linguistic Programming that will target your behavior and transform you into a brilliant player. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not all five-star reviews are created equal
I paid actual dollars for this?
Watch out for the reviewers of Dr. Hall's books. Sure they're often "Certified NLP Trainers." By Dr. Hall, I presume? You may want also to take a look at the other types of books that those reviewers read (and review) - books of the "how to make a killing in sales" ilk.

Have you noticed all the praise that the publisher offers about Dr. Hall and his co-authors? Not too surprising when you learn that Crown House is Dr. Hall's publishing company. It all starts to make sense that members of this NLP fraternity not only recommend Crown House titles but recommend that "for full benefit" you take the training courses - presumably with Dr. Hall and associates.

Wish I could have found some of these titles at our major university library here in town. Strangely, this group of authors has not been able to get into the library. Strange: Bandler, Grinder, and Milton Erickson get into the library, but not this crowd. Guess someone must not have been impressed by this marketing scheme for horribly (un)edited self-published self-promoting titles. Where is my receipt for returning this thing?

Master Your Business Matrix!
As the author has noted in his more recent works, we live in a matrix of frames -- attitudes, beliefs, values, decisions, thoughts, feelings -- about the world, time, others, ourselves and our capabilities. "Games Business Experts Play" is the first step to awareness of this matrix and mastery of it.

"Games Business Experts Play" is a step-by-step guide to running your own brain in all phases and aspects of business: sales, service, management, leadership to name a few. I use it as a textbook in my executive sales coaching practice, to get my clients started. A word of warning, though: the book contains a number of practical exercises. If you don't do them, you won't get much out of it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The PC business is full of rags-to-riches stories. But perhaps none is as dramatic as the rise of Dell Computer. In Direct from Dell, founder and CEO Michael Dell tells how he started his company from a dorm room at the University of Texas with less than $1,000 and built it into an industry powerhouse with a market capitalization of well over $100 billion. What makes Dell Computer unique is not what it sells, but rather how it sells it. Dell was first in the PC industry to pioneer the direct-selling model, a method that competitors such as Compaq and Apple Computer are only now starting to embrace. By cutting out the intermediary and creating a direct link between manufacturer and customer, Dell was able to provide customers with computers that cost less and that were more apt to meet customer needs.

Direct from Dell is organized into two parts. The first recounts the history and the enormous growth of Dell Computer. The second part focuses on Dell's management approach, from developing customer focus to creating alliances with suppliers. The book manages to avoid most of the promotional and self-congratulatory air that seem to plague so many first-person CEO tomes. Anyone who has followed the PC industry or would like insight into Dell Computer's success should enjoy reading this book. Well written and easy to read. Recommended. --Harry C. Edwards ... Read more

Reviews (110)

Provides a range of useful value drivers begining with 'P'!
This book is both an autobiography and a business book. It describes first the rise of Michael Dell, and second, the Dell Corporation. Therefore, although the word 'I' is prevelent in the first part of the book, the far more interesting 'we' predominates in the latter part. From the more business part of the book, I learnt the 12 'P's of (internet) business: 1. Personalisation; of offering for customer need. 2. Performance; of offering & competitive strategy 3. Price: Disintermediation; Profit Pools & competitive strategy 4. Proximity: Direct to customer; Supplier location & selection. 5. Partnering: For R&D; Common culture 6. People: Common culture & HR; Diversity of ideas 7. Proprietors: Deep share ownership & commitment 8. Parity: No hierarchies & participation 9. Preparedness: For org. change and internal comms 10.P&L: Matrix P&L of offerings and customer segments 11.Parts: Service; Inventory in hours not weeks or days 12.Process: Service; Increasingly the only source of competitive adv.

In a period in which the lack of Proximity featured large in the leadership and financial problems of a leading computer manufacturer, Dell Corps. strategy appears endorsed! Despite my listing the 12 P's, the book is nevertheless worth 'P'ersevering with. Callum Morrison

Great read for Business & Economics Studnets
I can understand the criticism of this book that perhaps Mike Dell should have gone more in depth about the dynamics of his company and industry. However, this being his first book that I know of I can understand why he choose to keep it short and simple, and to his credit.

A great peak into the mind of a business man and leader who in my opinion deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence with Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Lee Iacocca et al.

One part in particular that caught my attention was Chapter 7 where on page 95&96 he talks about his "Know The Net" initiative in order to familiarize his employees with the Internet.

I personally liked when he stated that: "Some might argue that if you give employees access to the World Wide Web, they will spend all their time surfing the Net. But that's like saying, We don't want to teach our people how to read because they might spend all their time reading."

Fabulous insight into Michael Dell's view of the Internet's future as a conduit for Economic Efficiency in business, school, and life.

Great piece of literature especially for beginning Business& Economics students. Peace :-)

FAST-PACED AND INSIGHTFUL SKIM, BUT HINTS OF NARCISSISM
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a manager, a marketer, or a passionate loyalist of the compelling and always competitive offerings from the star PC firm, this semi-memoir will let you in on the madly tight ship that's known as Dell.

It's a fairly compact fluently-written book that distills Dell's lessons for business (p.s. it's NOT a biography of Michael Dell) that lends itself to some pacy in-flight reading.

But thinking back, I have a couple of gripes.

In recounting the company's meteoric rise from a college dorm to the multi-million dollar company in a short couple of decades, the book advocates a fanatical belief in the power of the Internet and how it is vital to every business's survival. If you don't provide access from every one of your users' desktops, you'll be gone. I find this a bit hard to digest as a categorical generalization, and I am a net evangelist myself. But I would not have expected anything different from Dell.

Secondly, the tone of the author(s?) occasionally takes on a doting note, and they seem to imply that Dell veritably invented the direct selling approach. This is patently misguided. A corollary that stems from this is the novel way that Dell came up with to segment customers. Somewhat cloying, this self-absorption.

Yet, in terms of good business insights, it's a fascinating read good enough to be devoured in a day or two. Recommended, especially as a business gift.

Very inspirational
As a young entrepreneur it helped me to believe that one can achieve their goals by having a plan and a burning desire to succeed.

Great story with practical advice!
The story of Dell Computers is an enjoyable story of how an entrepreneurial young Michael Dell couldn't contain his enthusiasm for his business idea and took it all the way. Without much to guide him beyond his instincts he made some mistakes, but he admits to these and describes them so readers can learn from them as he did. Of course, far more can be learned from what he did right. One of the more noteworthy approaches he mentions is that Dell rewards success by *reducing* the responsibilities of the successful manager- an act many use as a negative disciplinary measure in other companies. The reasoning is that after a division grows from a $10 million market to $200 million, by cutting it back to $25 million, it will be easier for the manager to focus on this smaller block, understand it better, and again grow it to $200 million or more. ... Read more

Book Description

Putting the expertise of the world's leading business writers to work for you.

Best Practice puts the expertise and insight of the world's business thought leaders in your hands. Featuring 100 original essays and interviews, Best Practice captures the state of the art in management thinking and practice today--from Warren Bennis on "the four critical aspects of leadership" to Jim Collins on "growing from good to great" to Thomas Stewart on "managing intellectual capital." Edited by internationally recognized management journalists Tom Brown and Bob Heller, and featuring an introduction by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Best Practice offers unique access to the issues and ideas that will drive business forward into the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Book Description

Originally developed at Toyota, the approach to manufacturing known as Kanban has helped revolutionize how corporations and suppliers achieve maximum efficiency in getting products to and from the assembly line. When implemented properly, the Kanban technique minimizes waste, avoids overproduction, and ensures quick response to changes and problems.

Kanban Made Simple is the first simple 'how-to' guide for incorporating the just-in-time ingenuity of the Kanban system into any manufacturing environment. From the Japanese word for "visual record," the technique dictates that suppliers deliver parts to the warehouse only as they are needed, reducing storage in the production area. Using before-and-after case studies, this easy-to-follow guide contains information on establishing project goals, forming a Kanban team, and designing the process. Kanban Made Simple helps readers decide if Kanban is right for their organization, then teaches them how to train personnel and administer the program. A ready-to-use CD-ROM, included with the book, guides the Kanban team through the entire implementation process. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Highly Recommended!
Visit any healthy manufacturing operation and you'll see a buzz of bewildering activity - parts being moved on overhead cranes, raw materials being wheeled in, line operators checking their production schedules before they change the line over to their next product. Those production schedules, as this book suggests, can really be a hindrance. Operators become dependent on them, although the schedules may not accurately reflect customer demand. The solution? Kanban, which is based on having a communication system right on the factory floor that communicates key indications of customer behavior - buying, ordering, canceling - directly to the workers themselves. Production activity, therefore, is actually scheduled based on customer demand rather than on past expectations, with the advantage that you hold less inventory and operate more effectively. This book (which comes with a compact disc of implementation directions) gives clear insight into this powerful scheduling system employed efficiently by Toyota and other world-class companies. We highly recommend it to executives, managers and supervisors of companies that earn their living by making widgets more successfully. ... Read more

Book Description

"Your book is terrific. It contains helpful advice and is easy to read."
—Warren Buffett

"This is 24-carat advice–a real gem for any aspiring entrepreneur."
–Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

"Who better to teach us all about managing and growing a business than Barnett Helzberg? His honesty and upfront perspective on management and business principles should be required reading for a wide audience."
–Henry W. Bloch, Cofounder and Honorary Chairman,
H&R Block, Inc.

"What I Learned Before I Sold to Warren Buffett is based on thirty-nine years of hard work and experience. It is interesting and instructive, and I highly recommend it."
–Bob Dole

Although the chances of receiving a phone call from Warren Buffett are small, the chances of developing a highly successful company are better than you may think. All you need to succeed is a burning desire and the right set of entrepreneurial skills. In What I Learned Before I Sold to Warren Buffett, Barnett Helzberg shares his thirty years of experience in running a successful business and outlines the steps needed to prosper within a challenging business environment. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Insightful!
In a book that is more almanac than business history, author Barnett C. Helzberg Jr. includes a bit of narrative, but this is not a discourse on what he learned as he developed his Kansas City jewelry store empire, not a case study and not a look at how the sale of his company to Buffett went (which might have been a dandy negotiations yarn). Instead, it is basically a sound collection of sayings, aphorisms and - now and then, it must be said - platitudes about what he knew before Buffett came along. This is not, therefore, a book that We recommend necessarily reading from cover to cover. Instead, keep it handy. Pick it up when you are stuck for ideas or guidance, and peruse it for experience and sense. If all the thoughts are not particularly original, that is part of their appeal. Like a Polonius of the Plains, the author is never at a loss for a nostrum. He reaffirms the sound, traditional principles that guided the steady and sure growth of his business. It worked for Warren; it may well work for you.

Sound advice, repeated again and again
I enjoyed the first third of this book. Barnett Helzberg seems like a neat guy with good integrity.

The second and third third were also okay, but only because it was the first third repeated a couple times.

Probably, he could have written a couple magazine articles instead.

Like Sitting at the Feet of a Guru
If you're an entrepreneur-at any stage of the development of your business(es), you're hungry for the secrets of the successful trail blazers who have gone before you. The opportunity to learn from someone who built a strong enough business to sell to the legendary Warren Buffett would be particularly valuable. This book offers that coveted opportunity.

The author did not build his business all by himself. His father and grandfather preceded him in building the three-generation family business of 143 retail jewelry stores in 23 states. A well-led executive team made it all work beautifully. Helzberg Diamonds set the standard for customer service, earning the loyalty of thousands of customers who contributed to the success of the enterprise.

Helzberg starts his book by telling us that he's a plagiarist. He's collected ideas from many other people, used them to grow his business, and shares them in page after page of philosophy and advice. The book is organized into six sections: Managing, Decision Making, Hiring, Inspiring, Communicating, and Focusing. Each section is a collection of short chapters that deliver this effective CEO's secrets, illustrated with examples from what he and his company accomplished. Each chapter's advice is complemented by a sidebar entitled "Mining for Diamonds"-pithy statements that provide powerful guidance for any business leader. Quotes from a wide range of gurus, mentors, and leaders, offer an additional dose of thought-provoking and inspiring words.

The book is easy for busy entrepreneurs to read. The chapters are short enough to absorb during a break-coffee, bathroom, or deep breath-and tightly written enough so you can glean the concepts quickly. A list of recommended readings and an index add value to the volume. The only feature that might have improved this treasure would be a complete listing in one place of all Helzberg's "Mining for Diamonds" advice. Too bad, you'll have to go through the book chapter by chapter to mine those gems for yourself. The experience will be worthwhile...and probably repeated a few times to gain the full impact of this down-to-earth, almost homespun, recipe book for entrepreneurial success.

A mandatory read for every business person!
I read everything written about Warren Buffett and therefore seeing him pictured with Barnett Helzberg on the cover piqued my interest to pick it up.

What I found was a cogently written, pithy synopsis of what is really important for the success of any business. The "mining for diamonds" summaries and the integral selected quotations at the end of each chapter are also "gems".

The wisdom shared in the pages applies to much more than business.

I look forward to the sequel.

WhatIlearnedfrommy brother before he sold to Warren Buffett
Likely one of the reasons Barnett had such success is that he had the strength or character and ego to hire people he thought were smarter or better at the assigned task. When he got home from college I was his little brother and he was my mentor, but he has always had mentors, always wanted to learn from others. He, in turn, mentors others, and this book, straightforward and candid, does the same, and for anyone in management, there will be useful ideas and tools.
I must disclose that I did receive a free book from the author, inscribed!

Richard Helzberg ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Global view on sustainability
Do not expect from this book practical guidelines to become "sustainable" as some reviewers seemed to have expected. This book explains in detail what sustainability involves, three majors fields: economical, social and environmental that the author called the triple bottom line. Each field has been for long separated from each other and the new trend for sustainability is to make them working together. How? There are no answers in this book. This book does not want to offer solutions but just to show us that this so-called revolution has already started, based on existing facts and where these changes are taking places.

Low on content and little practical guidance
This book is bogged down in useless metaphores and imprecise, whooly language - well suited neither for practical decision-makers nor serious academics. Claims are not explained sufficiently well, and we are left guessing how to solve - or even understand - the important problems that this book claims to adress.

a guide to get from here to there
Elkington has created an awesome nuts and bolts description of where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. If The Ecology of Commerce (Paul Hawken) lays the visionary groundwork, this book is the next step. It adds in a lot of detail, bringing to light many cases and ideas about specific problems. It is a slow read but well worth the time.

The bible of sustainability
You can expect a complete perspective from the head of an organisation called SustainAbility on sustainability. That is what you get. John Elkington makes a useful classification of Non Governmental Organisations. The polarisers don't want to have anything to do with business. Business is in principle bad and should be watched and harassed. The integrators try to add two additional dimensions to business, environmental and social responsibility. Discriminators differentiate between good and bad businesses and the non-discriminators do not. This book is for the discriminating integrators. John Elkington believes that it is possible and necessary to get all businesses to act responsibly concerning profit and social and environmental issues- the triple bottom line. The book provides an excellent historical perspective of why businesses are moving on from the Friedman doctrine stating that the only social responsibility of a business is to make a profit. A business that wants to move in the sustainability direction can use the book to find out where it is on the path to full sustainability. The book also makes many practical suggestions on how to move forwards. The book is equally useful for NGOs, and public policy makers.

Count the Silver
Long term sustainability has become a topical issue not just for politicians, but also for executives. For the executive, the key lies in the question: "How do we serve the shareholders in the short term, yet leave behind a long term legacy with which to be remembered?"

While these two aims appear contradictory, they are linked via the organisation's system of shared values.

Values work in the present and the future. They set the framework for consistent decision making, yet remain with an organisation long after its physical assets have depreciated. Values also link the organisation to the society in which it operates and to its social agenda, namely the creation of wealth, the protection of the environment, and the support for social equity.

It is in the context of the social agenda that John Elkington asks us whether capitalism is sustainable, and whether it has made progress over the last hundred years. "Is it progress", he asks, "if a cannibal uses a fork?"

Not that we expect progress to be uniform. Lenin measured progress as two steps forward, and one step back, and even that is steeped in the paradigm of central planning. Free enterprise progresses by many steps in many different directions. Yet the record shows that de-central systems make progress, less systematically, but perhaps more surely than central ones.

However, the random nature of such progress generates many deceptive examples, where the same instance may be used to support contradictory theories. Thus, The Body Shop and Shell become symbols of corporate responsibility, but also corporate duplicity, while Nike and Intel become examples of corporate greed but also corporate responsiveness. Unplanned progress appears as a subtle, difficult to navigate, terrain.

Yet the pitfalls are great. We live in a world, where renewable resources such as trees are "mined rather than harvested". We find children on the one side of the planet working as slaves to produce fashion items for consumers on the other side. Furthermore the public, ever more aware of social and environmental issues, mobilise suddenly and to dramatic effect as ABB, Intel, Monsanto, Shell, Nike, and Texaco and many others testify.

To help us navigate, Elkington introduces his triple bottom line, which comprises of social, economic, and environmental measures. He uses this to expound on 'the seven revolutions affecting sustainability': Markets, Values, Transparency, Life-cycle Technology, Partnerships, Time, and Corporate Governance. He looks at the need for regulation, but also for regulatory frameworks "which operate, as far as possible, through market processes and are intrinsically pro-competition". The triple bottom line becomes his yardstick for corporate values.

When people start talking of values, said Mark Twain once, it is time to count the silver. Since the early sixties environmentalists have told us that "things will go very well and then suddenly collapse". Yet this proved indistinguishable from the prediction that "things will go very well, and then even better". The predictions of our demise have proved to be greatly exaggerated.

Yet, 'Cannibals with forks' raises all the relevant issues. If you are in an industry, which is subject to the whim of public pressure, or if you are trying to solve the riddle of long term sustainability, then 'Cannibals with forks' will make an interesting and profitable read. ... Read more

Book Description

Top professionals reveal the keys to their incredible success

What personal and professional attributes seem time and again to propel successful people to the top? Staying Power asks that question of an amazingly diverse group of notable figures. Their answers--often startling, always enlightening--reveal 30 key characteristics that seem to be consistently present in those who experience breakthrough success. They also reveal how the most enduring top executives and public figures keep their careers out of the kinds of business scandals that are dominating today's headlines.

Executives from major U.S. companies such as H. Willard Marriott of Marriott International and Jim Parker of Southwest Airlines, as well as such success stories as varied as Bob Dole to Sheryl Crow, reveal the tactics that drove them forward through good times and bad. Both current and aspiring executives can protect their careers by following the book's real-life guidelines for achieving:

• The Invincible Career Path
• The Invincible Personality
• The Invincible Management Style

Reviews (3)

Success Lessons Not Found in a Text Book
Staying Power is a must read for anyone who plans to acheve success. As a high school marketing teacher, I have applied many conecpts to my own life and shared them with my students.The book brings some very important "success-based" concepts that are not normaly taught, unless by the "school of hard knocks." The book is easy to read, unlike most books of its kind. I highly recomend it.

A Timely Book for Trying Times
This is a great book. Have you ever wondered why some colleagues carreers seem to be blessed. They seemingly can do no wrong. They seem to have spectacular rises. Moving from one promotion to the next, seemingly effortlessly. When they do encounter obstacles and setbacks or seem stymied, they some how mangage to sidestep it or often it turns to their advantage. These executives seem invincible. Is it just dumb luck or is there something at work here? Tom Schweich has some answers. Continuing in vein of his earlier books Tom has taken things a step further. He has gone out and interviewed some of the most successful people of our time and distilled the essence of their successes. Like his other books though he has plenty of war stories from mainstream business world. What I liek about htis book, though is that it does go outside the corporate world. He interview some exotics. There are rock divas and politicians. It's great reading, enjoyable, and written in a clear organised style that you may be familiar with in his previous books. You don't need to be an executive to enjoy and benefit form this book. There are enough universal principles expounded for anyone.
A very timely book for the difficult economic times we're headed into.

Incidentally don't pay attention to the 1 star review. It's about nursing book....

What Every Young Executive Should Know !!
If you are "on your way up" or if you can't figure why you are
stalled on "rung two" of the corporate business ladder---READ
THIS BOOK !! The advice and experience offered by top managers,
politicos, military officers, professionals and entertainers is amazingly similar and, by following these tactics, they have arrived and stayed at the top. The author's excellent research has produced the excellent secrets of success that everyone can apply to their own careers and lives. I plan to buy two more copies of this book to give as gifts. ... Read more

Book Description

Why do many companies find it so hard to escape the pull of the past? Why do many individuals keep resorting to learned behaviour, the habits and ideas that may have brought them success in the past, but which will leave them adrift in the fast-moving currents of the new economy? What is the spell that keeps them so immobilised? It's the Voodoo...
And what is the magic that can release us all - organisations and individuals, leaders and the led, employees and free agents, parents and children and candlestick makers - into a world of power, creativity, connection and achievement? It's also the Voodoo...
The power comes from knowing the difference...
VOODOO is suspicious of the neat and tidy answer
VOODOO inhabits the dreamworld
VOODOO asks: Why clarify the contradictions?
VOODOO asks: Are you thrilling yourself today?
VOODOO asks: Why predict the future when you can make it?
VOODOO says: Write your own most compelling story about you
VOODOO is not in the cornflakes
VOODOO asks: When was your last life-changing moment?
VOODOOcelebrates
VOODOO is not found in the kitchen at parties
VOODOO values the vibe
VOODOO asks: In what ways should you be fearful of yourself?
VOODOO connects to a powerful future
VOODOO says: If you are failing - fail fast
VOODOO catches you doing things right
VOODOO finishes off your sentences
VOODOO practitioners punch way above their weight
VOODOO is the goal scorer never the goalkeeper
VOODOO is more than mere magic, it's your magic ... Read more

Book Description

Adopting Web Services will affect many processes within any organization. To throw light on the most important issues, we have commissioned Experts in the Industry to share their insights. The resultant papers cover a broad spectrum from architecture to business strategies without diverting into deep technological fashions. Each study in the collection will answer specific business challenges thrown up by Web Service architectures. Before changing, commissioning, or evaluating a Web Service initiative, all IT Managers, System Architects, Lead Developers, and Business Visionaries should study and reference this book.

Topics covered in this book include:

- Return on Investment

- EAI, business integration, and ebXML

- Key Web Services architectures

- Comparison of J2EE and .NET platforms

- Security ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Way too high level to be useful...
If you are looking for a high-level book on Web Services, then this book is OK. Otherwise save your money and buy a book that outlines Web Services from the architecture perspective.

Excelente Referencia
Este libro es una excelente referencia acerca del tema, ya que da la visisón de negocios de la Arquitectura de los WebServices, la integración de sistemas legados, ERPS, CRM, etc. Es un compilado de varios artículos que reune las mejores prácticas en el diseño, desarrollo e implantación de WebServices, es una buena forma de introducir el tema desde la perspectiva de visión de negocios.

Very high level book - Definitely not an Architecture book
(-) Don't set big expectations on this book especially if you are looking for defining a Web services architecture.
(-) Does not address the Webservices implementation complexities especially Transactions, Security, Interoperability etc. (I WAS LOOKING FOR IT)
(+) This book is full of high level content if you want to know the basic story of Web services and where you can apply them.

Great!
What a simle, but brilliant book. Well worth the money and i hope to see more.

Not a developers book and hardcore architects may find the business sections at the start too business focused, but as a focus for all on web service, this is the best book i have seen yet.

I'd love to see more of this type of book.

Web Services - The Complete Picture!
This book is an excellent compilation of 20 articles from leading experts in both the business strategy and technology infrastructure of deploying Web services. The book's forward includes an overview of Web services, the premise for their adoption, and how they are integral to e-business and the evolution of the Web as a business platform.

Introductory chapters give a clear and concise description of the technologies, without complication or over simplification. Topics following then delve into the history and rapid rise in development of Web services, opportunities for the enterprise, and threats to adoption.

Experts in the field of EAI and B2Bi show with both examples and illustrations how Web services address key strategy and technology issues for e-business development. Technical discussion of the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and the foundation technologies of SOAP, UDDI, and WSDL give the reader an excellent introduction to the interlinked components of Web services. Coverage of UDDI was excellent, including a look at UDDI-based electronic marketplaces.

Topics also include integration brokers using Web services in ERP, SCM, and CRM, showing readers the reach of Web services in solving integration and orchestration issues in e-business. Practical deployments in e-logistics and financial services show how Web services are being used today. The book covers ebXML and STP (Straight Through Processing) and how each addresses the foundation and evolution of networked e-business.

The chapter on vendors, including coverage of IBM, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, HP and BEA shows the reader how leading vendors support Web services. Material on security and remote references, addressing both network and distributed object technologies, show the reader the nuances of critical Web service infrastructure. The book finishes with a balanced "compare and contrast" of .NET and J2EE application frameworks, and how each supports Web services.

This book really worked for me. The compilation from experts with domain expertise created balanced and in-depth discussion without the "hype" associated with this subject. Key concepts and definitions, using examples and great illustrations, made this an easy book to read, but never shallow. If you want a great introduction to Web services, combining business strategy and technical architecture, this book is for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A top-down commitment to top-notch customer service is a critical element in the battle for corporate survival. In their Customer-Centered Growth: Five Bold Strategies for Building Competitive Advantage, Richard Whiteley and Diane Hessan of The Forum Corporation, a training and consulting firm that emphasizes just such customer focus, show readers how other companies have successfully placed customers at the center of their operations. They also provide 15 tools for self-assessment and strategy planning. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This Audio Tape Is an Outstanding How-To Guide for Growth!
It has been almost two years since I read this book. On a recent trip to New York, I realized that I had the audio cassettes, but had never listened to them. So I did. What a wonderful surprise this was.

There are four cassettes and each is read by the authors who alternate. Both have good speaking voices, and use a good pace. It is easy to listen to them and follow their voices.

Unlike many cassette series which are overly edited, this one is just the right length. You get a good overview of all of the points on the first side and a half, then go into each one in more detail in the remaining three tapes.

As much as I liked the book, I liked the cassettes better. The authors are obviously used to speaking and teaching, and I felt like I was having them speak directly to me in a one-on-one session. I turned the tapes off whenever I had an assignment from them, and did the assignment. Clearly, this advanced my thinking much more than reading the book did. I was not as deeply into the concepts from reading as I was from listening, and did the assignments from a much more fundamental perspective.

Their first principle is to focus. The idea is to find what your most profitable customers find most valuable to them that you do best. This caused me to see our firm's relationship to our clients in a totally new perspective that is very valuable to me.

The second principle is to hard-wire listening to the customer. Although I remembered this advice from before, I was struck by realizing how few of the companies I know well take this advice. Customer listening is usually continuous, but is usually not well integrated into focusing the firm's attention. This is usually because most people don't see the information, or don't know how to interpret it.

The advice on how to create cooperation routinely throughout the organization is very good. I especially liked the variation on the internal customer concept espoused here whereby you are encouraged to both stay focused also on what the external customer needs.

Not only should you buy this resource, but you should then take a driving trip so you'll have a chance to listen to it. I suggest that you do as I did, and switch the tapes on and off so you can do the exercises in your mind (and later write down what you learned).

When you are done with this, I suggest that you also consider how this kind of approach could help your personal life. What should you be focusing on? How can you hard-wire listening to those around you? How can you all become more cooperative?

... Read more

Book Description

A charismatic, heart-warming business memoir that’s filled with life lessons on overcoming obstacles, Copy This! is a book for every business owner looking to grow a company, every manager helping his team perform, every visionary trying to launch a new idea—and for every mother and father of a child suffering from dyslexia or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Because Copy This! is the story of how Paul Orfalea opened a small copy shop called Kinko’s in 1970 and turned it into a $1.5 billion-a-year company, while barely being able to read, write, or sit still through a business meeting.

Here is the story of a dyslexic, hyperactive boy who flunked out of second grade—twice—yet succeeded in using his learning differences as opportunities, molding the compassionate, unconventional, partner-driven culture that allowed Kinko’s to thrive, and made it, according to Fortune, Forbes, and Mother Jones, one of the best places in America to work. In fourteen chapters narrated with the engaging voice of a born storyteller, Orfalea takes as much pleasure in discussing his shortcomings as he does his successes, and imparts the valuable lessons he’s learned along the way: Manage the environment, not the people. Fail forward. Be “on” your business, not “in” your business. Let your soul catch up with your body. Keep a poker face—and a poker mind. And know when—and how—to walk away. Which Orfalea did in 2000, having made millionaires out of dozens of his friends and partners, after an extraordinary 30-year run. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

A pantheon of predators
Resource control is the core of Madelaine Drohan's book. Where the image of empire was once faceless armies, religious zealots or expanding trade, modern conditions have changed this view. Instead of governments launching empires, suit-clad businessmen now decide where the action lies. Decisions to exploit resource areas are not made in ministry offices, but in corporate boardrooms. Businessmen, "and they are almost always men", choose locations, make investments, recruit workers and begin operations. Until there is unrest. Then they call in governments to support their enterprise. If governments cannot or will not respond, the entrepreneur's answer is the "private army". Mercenary professional military men act as "security" teams, policemen or replacement armies. And they are accountable to no-one but the firm that has hired them.

Drohan's account begins with the rule of Cecil Rhodes "who stands head and shoulders above" the ranks of those applying military solutions to "corporate problems". Rhodes built an immense resource empire in Southern Africa. He also set the standard for controlling workers as firmly as he did markets. By the expedient of raising a battalion of "pioneers" to deal with reluctant African peoples and recalcitrant workers, Rhodes expanded his holdings to an unprecedented degree. Attributing his goals to the furtherance of the British Empire, he also ensured the continuation of profits to his own pocket. Belgium's king Leopold followed Rhodes' example by keeping the Congo as a personal fief. The Belgian government was simply shunted aside on imperial affairs for decades. The rape of the Congo is a glaring example of imperialism run rampant, yet it set the stage for what followed.

Drohan's narrative is dominated by personalities. Like a gaggle of rapacious ravens, men prominent in resource enterprise descended on Africa after Rhodes. Some of these were British, some Canadian, but others arose from among Africa's own peoples. These last were flexing political and economic muscle as former colonies became independent. These new nations, with their artificial boundaries laid down irrespective of tribal or ethnic limits, became caught up in internal regional disputes. Resource firms played off these rivalries to their advantage where possible. If contests for power became too heated, the companies had the option to withdraw or find ways of protecting their investments. Protection was provided by "security forces" available for hire. Among the most notorious of these was the South African firm, Executive Outcomes. Staffed by disaffected South African soldiers, it offered services directly or through hidden subsidiaries. Executive Outcomes emerges frequently, if often vaguely, as Drohan valiantly tries to unravel the machinations the firm and its customers perpetrated as gold, diamonds and other resources were sought and exploited. Legality is an elusive term in these activities.

These are not distant and unrelated events. We tend to cling to the image of investment benefiting all - the theme of "globalisation". Drohan demonstrates how firms, pursuing resource wealth in Africa, have followed the Rhodes formula for success. Whether hiring private armies or simply requesting local government forces to act in their interests, resource firms are steadfastly ignoring the impact on local people and their economy. Of all Drohan's examples, the most glaring is the Talisman Energy story. Her chapter on this operation is at once the worst and the best example in the book. Talisman, a latecomer to Africa, seems to have learned nothing from previous resource history in the region. As Drohan describes it, Jim Buckee, Talisman's head, followed a sinuous path trying to keep his firm active in the resource field. With one eye open to profits and the other closed to government activities done in the name of "security" for his operations, Buckee brought his firm close to disaster. On the other hand, the case demonstrated the power of the public in bringing such firms to judgment. Various large stockholders, chastened at the thought of supporting a firm blind to the impact of its operations, withdrew investment. It's a fine example of what individuals can achieve in acting collectively.

Drohan's book is a much needed exposure of business morals left unscrutinised. In her final chapter, "Perfectly Legal, Perfectly Immoral", she shows the path to justice for people under oppressive regimes shored up by rapacious businesses is long and difficult. Yet, if readers pay attention, she shows how they can be effective in making change. With a federal election looming, it would benefit electors to read this book and reflect on its message. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A book about corporate and state power without responsiblity
This is an excellent book about how specific corporations, individuals and both European and African rulers have plundered Africa for profit and the accumulation of private fortunes on the backs of millions of Africans who have been slaughtered over the centuries. Some of the individuals have passed into the history books, but some of the corporations and individuals are still very much in the news today and the world still waits for their atonement. Madelaine Drohan has provided a very courageous addition to the literature in the area by in-the-field research in some of the most dangerous places in Africa and written in most detailed and compelling manner.

Solid research and first-hand observations
Drohan cover a number of specifc cases of corporations using violence to further their interests - dedicating a chapter to each case. She makes no effort to be a comprehensive compendium of all the ills perpetrated by corporations, instead choosing to focus on a few prime examples in detail where her experiences as a journalist can bring some perspective to each case.

My own particular interest is around the role of Calgary-based Talisman Energy Inc. in Sudan. The chapter on Talisman was solid and insightful, with Drohan drawing from her own experiences in Sudan and interviews with key players, as well as the volumes of research and reports available.

The book is a telling study of the irresponsible extremes corporations can go to in their simple-minded focus on profit as the only goal. ... Read more

Book Description

Ten secrets of the world's most astonishing web business:

Live and breathe e-commerce

Fill the place with entrepreneurs

Focus

Brand the site

Get and keep customers by offering great value

Develop Unbeatable Logistics

Stay Lean

Practice Technoleverage

Constantly Reinvent the Business

Grow with the Best ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Could Your Company be the Next Amazon.com?
Amazon.com, perhaps best known for its highly effective and popular affiliate marketing program, has achieved much success during its short time in business. It has grown from a Web-based start-up in 1995 to become one of the most influential businesses in history.

Rebecca Saunders has taken the time to provide us with a behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations of Amazon.com. She provides some background on the people who own and run it and offers some of the major reasons why this company has prospered in so little time. She offers her readers "secrets" of how this company has achieved its much heralded success within the membership of the online community. Readers will learn how they can harness some of the successful strategies that has made Amazon.com a household name.

For a company that has yet to turn a profit, Amazon.com under the direction of Jeff Bezos has put into place some mighty sound principles for conducting business that others should nonetheless pay close attention to, such as having a strong focus. Having a clear purpose, goals, and laying a foundation for the future are essential for the survival of any company.

It won't take readers long to notice that Amazon.com pays close attention to other details. Consider areas such as promoting a sense of community, learning to know about your customers, building customer satisfaction, providing safe and timely delivery of products, keeping promises (where have we heard this before?), name branding, Website domain name selection, Web development, and saving money.

Could your company be the next Amazon.com? You won't know without learning from among the best in the business world. This book is packed with a lot of insight that will lead any business in the right direction. They will benefit from sound advice and a clearly written outlined text that reads quickly and is easy to understand. Readers will enjoy this concise yet revealing look at this giant Web-based company. This book will provide readers with what it takes to succeed in any business!

Very basic work
Very basic book on doing business via the web. This should have been released a generation ago when Amazon.com itself was finding its way. The new enterpreneur exploring online business is more knowledgeble than the informaiton and insight provided here and hence can disappoint reading it. It may be suitable for those who are hearing the name of e-business and trying to set up the business online for the first time in their country to know what happend when Jeff Bezos tried doing so for the first time in the history. Certainly this book is not for those who already heard about e-business.

200+ pages of nothing.
Ms. Saunders has taken riding someone else's wave to a new low - two waves really. The first is the branding and selling power of anything with "Amazon.com" on it. The second is the hope that this book will follow in the footsteps of Robert Spector's, "The Nordstrom Way," in giving the reader some insight into the world's leading and most successful e-commerce enterprise. Unfortunately, she fails to even remotely live up to either.

The book is dry and completely uninformative. Even worse, it's factually incorrect. A couple examples (though there are many, many others):

According to Saunders, Amazon.com set up shop in Seattle, Washington because Ingram is there. Um, Ingram is in Oregon, not Washington. What the heck is the Federal Trust Commission? I think it's usually referred to as the Federal Trade Commission.

These two errors and the many others in this book have regrettably been printed before - usually in the popular press - which speaks volumes about where she got her material.

The book is marketed as an investigative look at the business model and "Ten Secrets" that make it work. Considering the legendary secrecy surrounding Amazon.com's business and the supposed investigative nature of this book, I find it pretty amazing that she knocked it out without attempting to consult a single (current or