A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide

Average customer rating:

The problem of International Liberalism

Simply put: One of the books one must read in one's lifetime.

Well researched, not so well argued

Omission awarded?

a must-read

A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide
Samantha Power
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | 20th Century | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Holocaust | Jewish | World | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
International Security | Freedom & Security | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda

Darfur: The Ambiguous Genocide, Revised and Updated Edition

Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda

Realizing Human Rights: Moving from Inspiration to Impact (New Europe)

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers (P.S.)

ASIN: 0060541644
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Amazon.com

During the three years (1993-1996) Samantha Power spent covering the grisly events in Bosnia and Srebrenica, she became increasingly frustrated with how little the United States was willing to do to counteract the genocide occurring there. After much research, she discovered a pattern: "The United States had never in its history intervened to stop genocide and had in fact rarely even made a point of condemning it as it occurred," she writes in this impressive book. Debunking the notion that U.S. leaders were unaware of the horrors as they were occurring against Armenians, Jews, Cambodians, Iraqi Kurds, Rwandan Tutsis, and Bosnians during the past century, Power discusses how much was known and when, and argues that much human suffering could have been alleviated through a greater effort by the U.S. She does not claim that the U.S. alone could have prevented such horrors, but does make a convincing case that even a modest effort would have had significant impact. Based on declassified information, private papers, and interviews with more than 300 American policymakers, Power makes it clear that a lack of political will was the most significant factor for this failure to intervene. Some courageous U.S. leaders did work to combat and call attention to ethnic cleansing as it occurred, but the vast majority of politicians and diplomats ignored the issue, as did the American public, leading Power to note that "no U.S. president has ever suffered politically for his indifference to its occurrence. It is thus no coincidence that genocide rages on." This powerful book is a call to make such indifference a thing of the past. --Shawn Carkonen

Book Description

Winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize For General Nonfiction National Book Critics Circle Award Winner

In her award-winning interrogation of the last century of American history, Samantha Power -- a former Balkan war correspondent and founding executive director of Harvard's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy -- asks the haunting question: Why do American leaders who vow "never again" repeatedly fail to stop genocide? Drawing upon exclusive interviews with Washington's top policy makers, access to newly declassified documents, and her own reporting from the modern killing fields, Power provides the answer in "A Problem from Hell" -- a groundbreaking work that tells the stories of the courageous Americans who risked their careers and lives in an effort to get the United States to act.

Customer Reviews:

The problem of International Liberalism.......2007-09-24

Samantha Power's 'A Problem from Hell' is a broad attempt to document the major acts of genocide/human rights violations of the 20th century paired with the international community's subsequent negligence in each case. She reports on the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide, and especially her major areas of research- Rwanda and Serbia.

However, Powers is content to simply recount major instances of crimes against humanity that the U.S. and other major Western powers simply ignored (a worthy historical task), rather than to document the major atrocities the U.S. supported/participated in (the far more morally serious and honest task). While she is scrupulous in her documentation of the horrors of Rwanda and Iraq, her sections on Indo-China fail miserably. She provides a lengthy and conventional chapter on the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, without mentioning to inform us about the U.S.'s massive contribution to such atrocities (only side references are provided). Additionally, she mentions in a rather depraved manner, that "In 1975, when its ally, the oil-producing, anti-Communist Indonesia, invaded Timor, killing between 100,000 and 200,000 civilians, the United States looked away" (147). In actuality, the U.S. did not look away: it funded the genocide, and President Carter deliberately escalated the intensity of the atrocities. This is the essence of Power's political backwardness. Pointing to the atrocities of official enemies is easy, it is far more difficult and necessary to point to the atrocities of the U.S. and its allies. Nowhere does Powers discuss Israel and the Palestinians, nowhere does she discuss the Pinochet, or the Contras, or Kissinger for that matter. So long as the the liberal intelligentsia refuses to stare in the mirror, the world will continue to be an arena of exploitation, injustice, and crimes against humanity.

Simply put: One of the books one must read in one's lifetime........2007-05-10

Simply put: One of the books one must read in one's lifetime.

Well researched, not so well argued.......2007-04-06

A 500+ page polemic against American non-interventionism in other people's wars. This book won the Pulitzer Prize, and it deserved to for the sheer amount of research that went into it. Unfortunately, the author's zealotry too frequently leads her to making sweeping, overly simplistic declarations, or even to contradicting her own arguments. For example, she stresses the importance of applying the term "genocide" to mass killings because of its emotional impact, yet she wants it applied so broadly that the inevitable result would be a diminution of that impact. She also applies a remarkable double standard to the Serbs: while (quite justifiably) condemning the (many) occasions in which they were the perpetrators of ethnic violence, she either excuses, tries to undermine the credibility of, or simply ignores the cases in which they were the victims. There are a number of examples of this, but the most staggering one is her depiction of their expulsion from the Croatian Krajina. The single largest episode of ethnic cleansing in the Serb-Croat-Bosnian wars, and what does she give to it? Less than one paragraph - and portrayed as a positive development! I almost threw the book across the room when I read that.

She makes it clear that in all the cases she describes, she thinks the US should have done whatever it took, up to and including sending ground troops, to stop the carnage. But she fails to really think through the logical consequences of her thesis. If genocide really is defined as broadly as she suggests, then there must have been dozens if not hundreds of episodes of it over the past century. Should the US have intervened in all of them, and how exactly - from a practical perspective if nothing else - could it have been expected to do so? Is it really advisable for a country with such a history of imperialism (and with its own record of genocide, certainly by her definition, against the native peoples of its own land) to become the world's cop? If General Dallaire was correct that he could have stopped the killings in Rwanda with just 5,000 more UN peacekeeping troops, then isn't the logical solution to reform the UN so that in future it can and will actually provide those troops? And why just America, what about all the other countries in the world that didn't intervene, either? None of these questions are really answered, at all.

Omission awarded?.......2007-04-03

Despite the Israeli policy towards the Palestinians fits the definition of genocide given in the book, Power ignores the Palestinian case. I wonder if this book was awarded for its contents or its omission. It could be a good book if complete! If you want to know about genocide, read Charny , Finkelstein and others, authors with a wider vision.

a must-read.......2007-03-12

flew through this book...its written with a great style and pace. power goes over quite a few crucial conflicts that still have aftershocks today. i read the section on rwanda in grad school, and it still makes my blood boil. also, power documents the efforts of republicans to block any actions or sanctions on iraq after hussein gassed the kurds and iranians in the 80's - of course now, they reference those crimes as reasons we were right to invade in 2003.

Average customer rating:

Graphic SF Reader
A masterpiece! What did you expect me to say?
UNBELIVABLE
The Best Graphic Novel written by Alan Moore
Superlative

From Hell - New Cover Edition
Alan Moore , and Eddie Campbell
Manufacturer: Top Shelf Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Horror | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Mystery | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0958578346

Amazon.com

The mad, shaggy genius of the comics world dips deeply into the well of history and pulls up a cup filled with blood in From Hell. Alan Moore did a couple of Ph.D.'s worth of research into the Whitechapel murders for this copiously annotated collection of the independently published series. The web of facts, opinion, hearsay, and imaginative invention draws the reader in from the first page. Eddie Campbell's scratchy ink drawings evoke a dark and dirty Victorian London and help to humanize characters that have been caricatured into obscurity for decades. Moore, having decided that the evidence best fits the theory of a Masonic conspiracy to cover up a scandal involving Victoria's grandson, goes to work telling the story with relish from the point of view of the victims, the chief inspector, and the killer--the Queen's physician. His characterization is just as vibrant as Campbell's; even the minor characters feel fully real. Looking more deeply than most, the author finds in the "great work" of the Ripper a ritual magic working intended to give birth to the 20th century in all its horrid glory. Maps, characters, and settings are all as accurate as possible, and while the reader might not ultimately agree with Moore and Campbell's thesis, From Hell is still a great work of literature. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

Legendary comics writer Alan Moore and artist Eddie Campbell have created a gripping, hallucinatory piece of crime fiction about Jack the Ripper. Detailing the events that led up to the Whitechapel murders and the cover-up that followed, From Hell has become a modern masterpiece of crime noir and historical fiction.

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Moore and Campbell have delved deeply into the story of Jack the Ripper, to present a version of what might have happened, based on what they knew and discovered in the research.

While odd looking to start with, the artwork seems to fit the squalor of the times once you start reading, and the density of the work is pretty impressive.

A masterpiece! What did you expect me to say?.......2007-08-07

Thick as a phone-book and often difficult to navigate. 'From Hell' is a comic that demands a lot from the reader and not is possible to finish over a single visit at the restroom. But it will yet be a highly rewarding experience for whoever who dares to give it a try.

In one of his most ambitious works Alan Moore gives his version of the still unsolved crimes of Jack The Ripper. Stories of the police, the prostitutes, citizens of London and the killer himself are neatly meshed together with a enthusiastic analysis and ideas that appears very realistic though most is fiction. Comics are rarely seen as intelligent or complex as this.

Eddie Campbell's drawings has this raw and unpolished look that suits the story just perfect and he makes a great deal of portraying the locations, the people and the gruesome killings in details. The killings are extreme and not for the weaker but they naturally also plays an important part and should certainly not ever be left out.

Now, just imagine the enormous research both must have done for this book!

UNBELIVABLE.......2007-06-06

i made the decision to purchase each of the 10 books individually. only needing #'s 8 and 10 i DO NOT regret my decision. the individual 10 books are WAAAAAAY cooler than the one volume with the whole story in it. it means you get 10 covers with 10 different paintings... cant get cooler than that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Best Graphic Novel written by Alan Moore.......2007-05-25

It's in black and white, a foot thick and will give you nightmares for a month.

If I could sum it up in a few sentences I'd be doing it a disservice and be a liar.

Buy it, read it and weep, for there will never be another book like it.

Watchmen for grown ups.

Superlative.......2007-03-17

'From Hell' has been in the world of literature for quite some time now. Like several other works by Alan Moore, it had also led to a paradigm shift in the world of Graphic Novels right from the beginning. But this work has a particular shade attached to it that we don't encounter elsewhere. Jack the Ripper has been the subject of so many works that sooner or later he/she may also become the butt of jokes like Knights' Templar (e.g. truest sign of one's insanity being his launching of discussions related to Knights' Templar). However, this book is no joke. It is a grim yet fictitous account of the Whitechapel murders based on Stephen Knight's now infamous "Royal Conspiracy" theory.
The story is briefly about the indiscretions of Queen Victoria's grandson Prince Albert Victor (Prince Eddy) that leads to her marriage to a shopkeeping lady and causes the birth of a girl. When the matter is attempted to be suppressed by the Queen through Sir William Withey Gull, Annie Crook (mother of Prince Eddy's child) becomes insane, but this secret is learned by Marie Kellie. She forms a loose confederacy of some of the other "Joy Maiden"-s of Whitechapel to blackmail the royalty through the painter William Sickert, which leads to their being butchered by Sir William Withey Gull, as per masonic rituals. These crimes are finally exposed, but masonic cover-ups as well as other efforts to silence Inspector Abberline succeed in suppressing the actual occurrences and distorting the entire picture.
Like all other works of Moore, it is a research paper, aimed at analysing those killings and to come up with meanings that our philosophy can not explain. This book is not for those who might wish either to read it for pleasure or to brush up their knowledge regarding "Ripperology". It is a work that might very well challenge your sanity and compell yourself to look at those faces, leering at you from the shadows, with a little more concern.

Average customer rating:

Big Disappointment
Short Stories by Some of the Greats...
Prom Nights
What does having a prom night from hell mean to you?
Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Prom Nights from Hell
Meg Cabot , Stephenie Meyer , Kim Harrison , Lauren Myracle , and Michele Jaffe
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Short Story Collections | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 006125309X
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Book Description

In this exciting collection, bestselling authors Meg Cabot (How to Be Popular), Kim Harrison (A Fistful of Charms), Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), and Lauren Myracle (ttyl) take bad prom nights to a whole new level—a paranormally bad level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper—and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.

From angels fighting demons to a creepy take on getting what you wish for, these five stories will entertain better than any DJ in a bad tux. No corsage or limo rental necessary. Just good, scary fun.

Customer Reviews:

Big Disappointment.......2007-10-03

Being a BIG fan of the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, I bought this to scratch the Twilight itch. (4th Twilight comes out in 2008 :( )

I was greatly disappointed. The stories were very "young" not "young adult". I'm in my 20's and found the stories very boring.

Short Stories by Some of the Greats..........2007-06-14

Prom Nights From Hell encompasses short stories by Stephanie Meyer (Twilight), Meg Cabot (Mediator), Kim Harrison, Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), and Lauren Myracle (TTFN). I enjoyed the stories on varying degrees.

As a Twilight fan, I went to Meyer's tale first and was caught slightly off guard about the abrupt ending to her story about Angels and Demons. Next, I read Meg Cabot's take on vampire slaying. It was enjoyable and written in the typical Meg Cabot style. Kim Harrisons' story about Angels of Death surprised me. Having never seen a YA novel from her, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I found her story to be the most enjoyable tale in the book. The other two stories weren't my favorites, but should entertain those who have read books by the authors before.

The common theme amongst the stories is not only that they take place at proms and have a paranormal feel, but also that they are all very open ended. All could be continued and some, like Kim Harrisons' short, should be extended into a YA book. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a few of these spun off into their own books and series.

If you like YA books about supernatural relationships, try Prom Nights out. There should be at least one story you will want to sink your teeth into more than once.

Prom Nights.......2007-06-02

I'm a huge stephenie meyer fan, so when I found out she had a story in prom nights from hell I knew I had to get it. I really liked the story's some were hard to follow. One of the best ones was Meg Cabot's story and Stephenie Meyer's.

What does having a prom night from hell mean to you?.......2007-06-01

What does having a prom night from hell mean to you? Maybe you tear your dress on the way out of the limo so everyone sees your underwear. Or you spend the entire evening smiling for your friends' cameras with lipstick on your teeth. Perhaps you even get dumped on what is supposed to be one of the most important nights of your life. All of these things surely can add up to a prom night from hell, but at least you didn't have the prom night from Hell.

Five of your favorite teen authors have teamed up to produce a set of short stories about proms gone supernaturally, horribly wrong. While you're concerned about shoes matching your purse, the girls in these stories are worried about crossbows and vampires, zombie dates who've been dead for weeks, and a devil in a red dress who causes chaos by snapping high heels and breaking up couples.

Michele Jaffe (BAD KITTY) gives scary a twist of humor in her story "Kiss and Tell," in which Miranda, blessed (or maybe cursed) with superpowers, takes it upon herself to protect a 14-year-old chauffering charge named Sibby. Sarcasm and a roller derby outfit, however, might not be enough for Miranda to keep Sibby safe from a potential murder.

If you're a fan of Stephenie Meyer's TWILIGHT, then you'll love "Hell on Earth." What looks like your normal prom becomes a jumbled mess of broken jewelry, ripped dresses and destroyed romances thanks to the new girl, Sheba, who's really a 186-year-old demon in disguise. But will Sheba's meddling older sister keep the prom from being anything less than perfectly hellish?

If you love the classic horror stories, then flip straight to "The Corsage" by Lauren Myracle (RHYMES WITH WITCHES), a retelling of W.W. Jacobs's "The Monkey's Paw." Frankie wishes for Will to ask her to the prom while holding a corsage she bought from a Juicy Couture-clad fortune teller. You know how the saying goes, though: Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. Frankie's wish comes true, and now Will is just dying to ask her to the prom.

For a twist on the Grim Reaper tale, look at "Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper" by Kim Harrison (A FISTFUL OF CHARMS). It's bad enough that Madison's date only takes her to the prom out of pity, but then the guy she leaves with kills her and completely botches her death. Now she's somewhere between human and ghost, relying on a stolen amulet to keep her solid.

And for those of you who are diehard vampire fans, open to page one and start reading "The Exterminator's Daughter" by Meg Cabot (AVALON HIGH). Vampires are alive, well, living in New York and taking Mary's best friend Lila to the prom. Mary, a vampire exterminator with her very own crossbow, is determined to save Lila. With Dracula in disguise at her high school, will Mary's prom completely suck?

Enter a world where Death and demons meet sequins and tuxedos. Whether you prefer a slow, detailed story or a tale that's funny and fast-paced, you'll find something here to enjoy. Your prom may not be as exciting as some of the ones in this book, but at least you won't have to worry about the new boy wielding a scythe.

--- Reviewed by Carlie Webber

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-06-01

What do you get when five great authors come together to create a paranormal prom anthology? In a word - greatness!

Meg Cabot starts off the collection with THE EXTERMINATOR'S DAUGHTER. When Mary shows up at Swig, an exclusive VIP club in Manhattan, it's not to socialize. No, she's on a mission to take out Sebastian Drake -- and by take out, I mean kill him with a crossbow. But when Adam, a fellow student at Saint Eligius, takes his own potshots at the dreaded Sebastian, things get a lot more interesting.

Lauren Myracle, the author of THE CORSAGE, has written what is probably the saddest, and creepiest, story of the bunch. All Frankie wants is for her best guy friend, Will, to realize that it's his destiny to ask her to the prom. To accomplish that goal, she drags Will and her other best friend, Yun Sun, to visit Madame Zanzibar, a fortune-teller. She's sure that Madame Z will proclaim that Will is her one true love, and that will be that. But the psychic is short on information, but does end up grudgingly handing over to Frankie a dried up old corsage, which she says will grant her three wishes. Over the next couple of days, however, Frankie will come to realize that she'll have to make some requests that she never in her wildest dreams would have thought of making.

MADISON AVERY AND THE DIM REAPER by Kim Harrison is the longest story in the group, and the most involved. When Madison ends up at the costume prom with a dud date, she's surprised to find one guy who can pick up the slack. Seth isn't like anyone she's ever met before. Unfortunately, before too long she'll find out why that is, and the picture it paints isn't pretty. There are deaths, white reapers, black reapers, grim reapers, and odd amulets. I really liked this story, and would be happy to see more of these characters in the future.

Michele Jaffe's story, KISS AND TELL, was by far my favorite. Miranda has a secret. Not only is she a student and a part-time driver/chaeffeur, but she also fights crime in her spare time. It turns out Miranda has special abilities that allow her to do things most regular teens can't do -- like, say, knock over a lamppost just by leaning on it. This particular day turns out to be stranger than the norm, though, when she picks up young Sibby Cumean, a strange girl who has an even stranger habit of kissing every boy she can find. When weird things start happening, Miranda's day turns into an action-adventure movie beyond anything she could have expected. I LOVED this story, and I HAVE to read more about Miranda and Sibby in the future! Yes, Ms. Jaffe, that's me begging!!

Last but not least is HELL ON EARTH by Stephenie Meyer. This is the story of Sheba, a demon on earth who loves bringing misery to others. Her plan is working pretty well, too, because nearly everyone at the prom is having a downright horrible time. Everyone, that is, except for Gabe, who seems not just happy but serene. By the time Sheba can figure out what's happening, it's too late, and prom just might end up having a happy ending after all.

PROM NIGHTS FROM HELL is a great paranormal anthology that teens and adults alike will enjoy. I highly recommend picking up a copy today!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well: Discover Human-Identical Hormones as a Safe & Effective Treatment for PMS, Perimenopause, Menopause or Hysterectomy

Average customer rating:

Finally! A doctor who "gets it"!!
Catchy title, but...
My Experience with Bio-Identical Hormones
Every woman 30+ should read this.
Hormones.....well?

From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well: Discover Human-Identical Hormones as a Safe & Effective Treatment for PMS, Perimenopause, Menopause or Hysterectomy
C. W., Jr., M.D. Randolph , and Genie James
Manufacturer: Natural Hormone Institute of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Pharmacology | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Accessories:

ASIN: 0975427008

Book Description

With devastating reports coming out about synthetic hormones, Dr. C.W. Randolph, Jr. was urged to write From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well . This book helps women around the world understand how their bodies can be treated effectively by using human-identical natural hormones - the safe way to a healthy life as the body changes.

The book is written for women suffering from the symptoms associated with PMS, perimenopause, menopause, or hysterectomy. With more than 38,000,000 women now hitting the perimenopause or menopausal years, it's important to know that there are safe options for their health. Dr. Randollph also provides insight into a woman's reproductive health as well as male menopause.

The book offers safe and effective treatments for the following: weight gain, depression, osteoporosis, mood swings, premature aging, breast health, hot flashes, low sex drive, fluid retention, and fatigue.

Customer Reviews:

Finally! A doctor who "gets it"!!.......2007-04-11

This thought provoking book gives hope to all who read it and follow Dr. Randolph's advice. I'm coming out of the "fog" because of his advice!

Catchy title, but..........2007-03-13

You'd think with a title like Hormone Hell, there'd be a revelation inside the book, especially being published rather recently. There's no revelation. This is all old news. And there are better books that address the subject. If you haven't done your research yet on hormones and BHRT, this would be a good place to start, but again...better books abound. Dr. Randolph is also pushing his own progesterone cream...go figure.

My Experience with Bio-Identical Hormones.......2007-02-14

First, let me say with much chagrin that I have never read the above book. I gave it 5 stars because I did not want to downgrade its rating if I hadn't read it. That being said, I have some really good info to share with those thinking of going down the bio-identical path, and I'm hoping Amazon is ok with this. I started on pharmaceutical hormones when I was 2 years into menopause. First I took pills, then I went on the patch. I took both estrogen and progesterone. I was having about 5 hot flashes an hour, couldn't sleep well, and was losing bladder control (I've exercised strenuously my whole life and this was a shock for me. I had my kids thru Csection, so that wasn't it). The pills worked (no more bladder problems), but I had breakthru bleeding and I was hoping to find something better. The patch was an improvement because the skin delivery system bypasses the liver (I was told). Thru reading books like this one, I came across a doctor who is the head of the ob/gyn dept. at Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee who developed his own delivery system of bio-identical hormones in DROPS. He also throws testosterone into the drops if a blood test shows that you need it. His name is Dr. Joel Hargrove and he will work with your own personal physician to get the proper dosage worked out. I found him in the book The Wisdom of Menopause by Christiane Northrup, MD, which I'm sure Amazon sells (look in the resource section in the back, chapter 5). I'd give you the lab's telephone #, but I don't think that Amazon allows that. I love the drops. I can take a minimum amount because if I take too little I get hot flashes, and if I take too much I get breakthru bleeding. I only need to take one drop a day. It's not covered by my medical plan (the dolts!), but it's cheaper than my co-pays would be. And the testosterone is great! Once I started on that, my sex drive came back and my hair, which had been getting very thin, filled out again. I had to look around a bit to find a doctor who was "with it" enough to help me.

Every woman 30+ should read this. .......2007-02-01

A must read for all women and anyone who cares about women.

Hormones.....well?.......2007-01-12

The book gave detailed info on the effects of menopause and perimenopause. The concept is interesting but more studies and research are needed before you blindly jump on the bandwagon and starting taking bioidentical hormones. If taking pharmaceutical hormones elevates your risk of breast cancer then taking any extra hormones could be equally harmful. Both the pharmaceutical companies and 'natural'health companies make lots of money, so one pointing the finger at the other is laughable. At least the pharmaceutical companies are regulated. The book is a good source of information on menopause though and for that the money is well spent.

A Survival Guide to Managing Employees from Hell: Handling Idiots, Whiners, Slackers, And Other Workplace Demons

Average customer rating:

A 'must' for managers
A common-sense approach to the difficult employee

A Survival Guide to Managing Employees from Hell: Handling Idiots, Whiners, Slackers, And Other Workplace Demons
Gini Graham Scott
Manufacturer: AMACOM/American Management Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Workplace | Organizational Behavior | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Human Resources & Personnel Management | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 081447408X

Book Description

All managers get saddled with "problem" employees from time to time; what sets great managers apart is how they deal with them. Drawing from real-life stories, this helpful and humorous guide provides readers with practical advice for handling a wide range of difficult types, including:

* The Impossible "I"s: Incompetents, Idiots, and Imbeciles -- clueless employees who simply don't know what they're doing
* The Bull in the Office China Shop -- the frequently angry worker ready to confront anyone and everyone
* The Party-Time Performer -- the employee who, although great with people, constantly turns work-time into fun-time
* I've Got a Problem -- employees whose work is compromised by any of a range of personal demons, from drug and alcohol problems to emotional issues

From whiners and wastrels to the needy and nefarious, this book gives readers the tools they need to handle any type of difficult employee.

Customer Reviews:

A 'must' for managers.......2007-02-03

A 'must' for managers is Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D.'s A SURVIVAL GUIDE TO MANAGING EMPLOYEES FROM HELL, telling how to handle a typical problem employee. Humor blends with practical, life-tested advice for handling different types of employee issues, from the clueless incompetent to the party-time performer who can't seem to separate work from fun. Case histories blend with advice and techniques from the field in a manual key to any level manager's success.

A common-sense approach to the difficult employee.......2007-01-29

We have all known the "employee from hell" in all of his or her guises: the complainer, the egomaniac, the troublemaker, the passive-aggressive type, the clever con artist, and many more.

In this plain-spoken book, management consultant Gini Graham Scott categorizes bad employees into some three dozen pigeonholes (like the "impossible intern," the "negative Nelly," and the out-and-out liar) and assigns each a brief chapter that opens with a succinct case study. In each setting, Scott asks the same question: Did the boss handle the situation well? Should she have fired the employee on the spot, put him on probation, called a staff meeting, had a one-on-one conversation with the troublesome employee, let the whole thing go, or done something else entirely?

Scott's advice springs largely from common sense. She acknowledges that there isn't just one way to handle a difficult worker. A good deal depends on the office atmosphere, the employee's and boss's personalities, and other intangibles. In discussing a saleswoman who gives so much attention to the first customer of the day that she neglects her duties to other customers, Scott suggests a variety of steps: giving the worker one more chance, explaining that she will be fired if she doesn't change, clarifying where she has gone wrong, asking another employee to monitor her behavior, and rewarding her with small bonuses if her performance improves.

Of course, some problematic behavior - drug use on the job, stealing from the employer, a pattern of lying -- can't be tolerated, and Scott urges that supervisors should fire people who do those things, even if the employee is a friend, or the friend of a friend. Still, there are a number of ways to dismiss someone, and Scott insists that even a fireable employee should be shown the door graciously.

Average customer rating:

Awsome book
Excellent
ok for short stories
And happily everafter....
DATES FROM HELL

Dates From Hell
Kim Harrison , Lynsay Sands , Kelley Armstrong , and Lori Handeland
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Romance | Subjects | Books

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 006085409X
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Book Description

She thought her date was out of this world.
Actually, he was not of this world . . .

We've all been on bad dates, nightmare dates, dreadful experiences that turned out to be uniquely memorable in the very worst way. But at least our partners for these detestable evenings were more or less . . . human!

Now Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong, and Lori Handeland -- four of the very best writers currently exploring the dangerous seduction of the supernatural -- offer up dating disasters (and unexpected delights) of a completely different sort: dark, wicked, paranormally sensual assignations with werewolves, demon lovers, and the romantically challenged undead. Sexy, witty, chilling, and altogether remarkable, here is proof positive that some love matches are made someplace other than heaven.

Download Description

She thought her date was out of this world.
Actually, he was not of this world . . .

Customer Reviews:

Awsome book.......2007-09-21

This book is great! Its basicly 4 differnt mini books in one but each of them keep you on the edge of your seat! I recomend it to everyone!

Excellent.......2007-09-03

I loved this compulation. I am a big Kim Harrison fan but this introduced me to several other authors who I enjoyed as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre.

ok for short stories.......2007-08-08

I personally only really liked one of these short stories. The others were ok but only one stood out. It is a good way to see how different writters catch your attention though.

And happily everafter...........2007-05-14

I really like the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison, so I was surprised that the first story was my least favorite. I enjoyed the humor and adventure in the other stories, Kelly Armstrong's 'Chaotic' being my favorite. I will be looking up more titles by these authors in the days to come.

DATES FROM HELL.......2007-05-12

I fell in love with Kelley Armstrong after BITTEN, she hasn't missed a beat since. Can't get enough!

Doctors from Hell: The Horrific Account of Nazi Experiments on Humans

Average customer rating:

Value of the book depends on your aim.
Dissapointing
Very Disappointing
Unbelievable!
German Barbarism: Genocide Beyond Jews and Against Slavs

Doctors from Hell: The Horrific Account of Nazi Experiments on Humans
Vivien Spitz
Manufacturer: Sentient Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1591810329

Book Description

A chilling story of human depravity and ultimate justice, told for the first time by an eyewitness court reporter for the Nuremberg war crimes trial of Nazi doctors.

Customer Reviews:

Value of the book depends on your aim........2007-09-16

The value of the book really depends on your aim. If you just wish to have a general factual survey about the Nazi human experiments raised in the Doctor's Trial, the book will serve your need. However, most of the book relating to the Doctor's Trial per se is same as the opening speech of the US Prosecutor (General Taylor) and it is definitely weak at the conversations between the defendants and the lawyers/prosecutors during the trial. As a result, you cannot explore from this book why the defendants can commit such crime (many of them are distinguishing doctors and even the chief prosecutor admitted that some of they were not sadists). In gist, it is a book about "what" but not about "why". If you want to explore the underlying mentality, the book "Karl Brandt: The Nazi Doctor" by Ulf Schmidt may serve as a good start.

Dissapointing.......2007-02-27

Quickly I will say that in buying this book I felt I was going to be reading about the Nazi doctors and their crimes. Instead I read a book about a young lady whom was a court reporter during some of the trials and what she saw/heard.

True some acounts are harrowing and emotional but not enough to live up to the unworthy title of "Doctor's From Hell".

I had a few friends whom stated they wished to read this book when I was done and I told every single one of them that it isn't worth their time. I'll tell you the same. There are plenty of books out on this subject that give you a real sense of what happned and the evil people whom were responsible.

I was really hoping this book was going to live up to expectations but sadly it did not.

Very Disappointing.......2006-10-21

First off, how in Hades does a trifle like this manage to get a blurb from Bill "der Schlickmeister" Clinton, Al "dropped out or thrown out of law school" Gore, and Christpher "Ted Kennedy's henchman" Dodd? Plus, sort of a forward by Elie Wiesel! I thought the book would be in the spirit of Lifton's book on Nazi Doctors, etc., but it is not. Its the story of a 21 or 22 year old court reporter who went over in 1946 to take down testimony at the Nazi Doctor's trials. Ms. Spitz, who I am sure is a very nice lady, learned all the right lessons from the trials and says all the right things. But she is sure no historian, or even a professional writer. She gives absolutely no insight into any of the men charged in the crimes, and is extremely disjointed about what she tells the reader about the trials. Sometimes she quotes the transcripts at some length, sometimes there is almost no discussion of a certain gruesome experiment. The big question, what the Hell were these guys thinking, is completely untouched. In addition, Ms. Spitz's knowledge of WWII is almost nil, and she seems to know little of the first Nuremburg trial. For example, she implies that Goering hid a cyanide capsule in his mouth (the whole time), while we now know that it is likely that an American guard (unwittingly?) smuggled the ampule to him. The quotes from the transcripts are often gripping & harrowing, but that is a credit to the trials, not to the author. Really, the only thing interesting in the book by way of the author is her discussion about living arrangements in 1946 Nuremberg, and the fact that in 1947-1948 there were still pro-Nazi terrorists. Do not spend $24 on this book (or the $16 it cost me) if you are expecting a professional discussion of the Nazi medical experiments. Its worth maybe $2 as a fast read by someone of average intelligence who was at the trials of the sicko Nazi physicians.

Unbelievable!.......2006-08-18

This book is a real shocker, to think that people can have no empathy for another human beings feelings is beyond belief. "How could they do this" in no way begins to describe the horror and torture they inflicted on these poor defenceless souls. A real eye-opener but a "must" read book. Very well written.

German Barbarism: Genocide Beyond Jews and Against Slavs.......2006-06-15

The reader of this book quickly learns that the gruesome experiments conducted against helpless victims were not just done by a few "warped" Nazi ideologues, such as the infamous "Angel of Death" Josef Mengele, but by a large cadre of German doctors. One also quickly realizes that the victims were not limited to Jews, but included members of various nationalities. Every imaginable grotesque experiment was performed. Perhaps the most instructive part of the book is chapter 14, which discusses forced sterilization. The Germans found that physical castration was too slow and costly. X-radiation often made the victims ill or killed them outright. A drug derived from a certain Brazilian plant induced sterility, and was tried on inmates.

What was said to be ultimately needed was a method of sterilization that could easily be employed en masse and was preferably one in which the victim did not know that he or she was sterilized. Obviously, mass sterilization was intended for very large target of victims. In fact, defendant Rudolf Brandt cited Heinrich Himmler (pp. 191-192), who stated that forced sterilization was to be used to exterminate not only Jews but also Russians and Poles. So, although the author Spitz does not develop this further, Himmler's statement adds proof to the fact that after the Jews, most of the Slavs were next in line for genocidal extermination. Mass shootings and gassings were useful for killing a few million people (Jews and Polish intellectuals), but mass sterilization was much more practical for the eventual extermination of tens of millions to hundreds of millions of people (Slavs as a whole). Just as a small number of sterilized Jews were kept alive for forced labor, so also a remnant of the Slavic peoples would be kept alive as slaves of the German Reich. It is high time that educational Holocaust materials include focus on the fact that the Slavs were also victims of genocide. Only the end of the war spared most of the Slavs from forced sterilization, and eventual extermination.

Average customer rating:

Historical Footnote found and Expanded
A superb book for anyone interested in Reich
Another great paradigm-buster
A Wake Up Call To The Brain

Wilhelm Reich in Hell
Robert Anton Wilson
Manufacturer: New Falcon Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1561841080
Release Date: 2007-03-01

Product Description

The great psychiatrist Wilhelm Reich once wrote, "No President, Academy, Court of Law, Congress or Senate on this earth has the knowledge or power to decide what will be the knowledge of tomorrow." In 1957, the government of the United States of America jailed Dr. Reich and burned all of his published works. Wilhelm Reich in Hell provides a remarkable new look at the vilification and destruction of a great man who refused to bow to Gestapo tactics.

Customer Reviews:

Historical Footnote found and Expanded.......2001-07-05

Harness sexual energy to power the world? Of course, the man was mad. Anyone in that time who would proclaim such a thing would be the Victorian equivilant of a Salem witch! Of course, the port-o-potty booth he made to help, um...harness that power, was a little too weird for the time, but he was on to something. He had notes and everything! He was a free thinker! A psychologist! A student of the greatest minds of the time!

But even these days, it would mean a trip to the psyche ward for you to proclaim such a thing. However, I doubt the FBI would burn down his house and destroy all his notes these days...right?

Wilhelm Reich in Hell is an interesting collection of thoughts and ideas regarding the "truth" about Orgone enery, the man behind the ideas and his ultimate downfall. It's a weird read, but sharp, funny and exciting a read as anything Robert A. Wilson puts out. Good stuff.

A superb book for anyone interested in Reich.......2001-02-14

Wilhelm Reich was many things in his lifetime- a student of Freud, a political activist, a research scientist, and an inventor. His work was decades ahead of its time and is finally being rediscovered and reevaluated by the public. If, like me, you are interested in Reich and his work, you might want to check out a novel called We All Fall Down, by Brian Caldwell. it draws heavily on Reich's theories, particularly Listen Little Man and The Mass Psychology Of Facism. It's a great introduction to Reich's work and the entire novel draws heavily on his theory. It's very interesting watching an author explore his theories in a fictional setting. Well worth reading.

Another great paradigm-buster.......2000-10-24

I noticed this book on a roommate's bookshelf at 2:30 AM one night, grabbed it (intending to flip through the preface to find out what it was about) ... and ended up reading the whole thing through before dawn. Wilson's like that.

This play is absolutely vintage RAW. From the lengthy introductions, where I finally found out where most of his tirades against organizations like CSICOP came from (he reveals that they were one of the major forces behind the book-burnings that played a central role in Reich's disintegration), to the play itself, new ideas are thrown out at a dizzying pace. Social commentary (such as the persistent beeping within the play of a computer tracking nuclear arms buildup), philosophy and a detailed and even-handed examination of Reich's later life (and eventual degradation into insanity) meld seamlessly.

The play itself is full of shocks -- both the prurient (some instances of actor nudity and simulated sex) and the brilliant. To avoid spoiling the surprises, I won't go too deeply into the latter, except to say that the boundaries between performance and reality at times disappear. This little gem is definitely worth a read.

A Wake Up Call To The Brain.......1998-06-19

A short and sweet play about eternal damnation, the flaws of science, reality (or what passes for it), the blindness of the dominant paradigm and impending armageddon. Great book. A quick, but mind blowing, read centering around a little known scientist. Wilson's second best play (next to Reality is What You Can Get Away With!). I highly recommend it.

The Patient from Hell: How I Worked with My Doctors to Get the Best of Modern Medicine and How You Can Too

Average customer rating:

A useful, special case
One Man's Journey
An Amazing Story
The Patient From Hell
A very educational book

The Patient from Hell: How I Worked with My Doctors to Get the Best of Modern Medicine and How You Can Too
Stephen H. Schneider , and Janica Lane
Manufacturer: Da Capo Lifelong Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0738210250

Book Description

Threatened with a rare and life-threatening cancer, a scientist works with his doctors to make decisions in the face of uncertainty

After patients are diagnosed with a dread disease, they learn two daunting facts: (1) that no doctor has all the answers, and (2) that there are no answers, only odds. For the patients (and their families) who want to be involved in the key choices regarding treatment, Stephen Schneider is the ideal guide. A climate scientist, his life's work is decision making in the face of great uncertainty. This important book is both his own gripping story of working with his doctors to get the best care possible, and also a brilliant critique of the flawed system under which most doctors must now practice.

The vital, even life-saving lessons of the book include: advice on obtaining and interpreting odds; how to seek better treatments that may not fit the usual "standard of care;" ways to get treated as a unique individual and not the mythical Average Patient; how to recognize the decisions that you rather than the doctors must make; and, most important, how to build a partnership with a sometimes reluctant doctor.

"Both I and my wife [a cancer survivor] find your book terrific. In many ways, it is without precedent." -Gary Schoolnik, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine

Customer Reviews:

A useful, special case.......2007-08-16

Clearly, Schneider is not an ordinary patient to begin with, so his is a special case. Nevertheless, there is plenty of good stuff to think about and much good advice given. You can't do it his way, but he can point you in helpful directions.

I enjoyed reading it and learned from it.

One Man's Journey.......2007-05-14

I sent this book to a friend when he was diagnosed with squamous cell. He did not like it. He said it was very specific to that particular patient. To be fair, he only gave it 50 pages.

An Amazing Story.......2007-02-23

Most of us at one time or another will have to navigate the medical system that is more concerned with making money than health care. The author shows you have to be on your toes, learn as much as you can, and be able to challenge the doctor. For your own health, read this book.

If you doctor doesn't like you questioning, better to find one who doesn't mind before the need is urgent. I've found that if you challenge and question your hired talent, they will do a better job. In this context, questioning the doctor may get him to say "no- you can't do that, but why don't we try this instead?"

It always helps to be an intelligent consumer. Even if you aren't treated as well as the author was as a male, a Stanford professor and a PhD, you'll still get better care than if you are passive and let the doctor make all the decisions.

The Patient From Hell.......2007-02-12

Not well written, I flipped past pages of dialog, opinion , politics
(global warminng?) cutsey remarks and lots of attitude to find nuggest of facts. We all cheer his successful treatment, no doubt about that, but thanks to modern science, certain facts in his experience are already out-of-date and no longer in use. My oncologist listens to me and all options are on the table. Why Mr Schneider needs cudos or takes credit for changing procedures at Stanford University Teaching Hospital by simply talking to his oncologist is beyond me. Since I had purchased the book, I wrote a book review in the cover and donated it to the bookcart at the cancer center where I am treated. O.K. reading.

A very educational book.......2007-01-31

This is an excellent book for the following reasons:

1 - It explains step-by-step, the cancer treatment experienced by the author himself, and includes chemotherapy, surgery, radiation treatment, and finally a bone marrow transplant. I found the treatment for cancer much more complicated then I had expected. It is also no joy-ride.

2 - This book could have been called `Negotiating Medical Treatments' as the author successfully negotiates with doctors for better treatment procedures, and better cancer drugs, resulting in a better outcome for his serious condition. His personal journey highlights the failings of the current HMO-style medical systems that provides an ordinary level of treatment, whereas he seeks a premium service for his life-threatening condition as a Stage IV cancer patient. His options are to go to an advanced cancer clinic in say Europe to get very high quality care but at his own cost, or use his current medical service and negotiate premium treatments every step of the way. He chooses the latter.

3 - The author is a very astute person, a PhD scientist, who uncovers many of the flaws in his cancer treatment protocol, as he progresses through the treatment over several months.

This book will help those who require treatment for cancer, by helping them to navigate through the medical maze of doctors and hospitals.

Deals from Hell: M&A Lessons that Rise Above the Ashes

Average customer rating:

Good insight into what NOT to do in a merger!
Informative but sometimes organized confusingly
Great analysis framework, good case studies
A quick read for a practioner
From an M&A pro, this is worth reading--

Deals from Hell: M&A Lessons that Rise Above the Ashes
Robert F. Bruner
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Corporate Finance | Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Consolidation & Merger | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0471395951

Book Description

A detailed look at the worst M&A deals ever and the lessons learned from them

It's common knowledge that about half of all merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions destroy value for the buyer's shareholders, and about three-quarters fall short of the expectations prevailing at the time the deal is announced. In Deals from Hell, Robert Bruner, one of the foremost thinkers and educators in this field, uncovers the real reasons for these mishaps by taking a closer look at twelve specific instances of M&A failure. Through these real-world examples, he shows readers what went wrong and why, and converts these examples into cautionary tales for executives who need to know how they can successfully navigate their own M&A deals. These page-turning business narratives in M&A failure provide much-needed guidance in this area of business. By addressing the key factors to M&A success and failure, this comprehensive guide illustrates the best ways to analyze, design, and implement M&A deals. Filled with in-depth insights, expert advice, and valuable lessons gleaned from other M&A transactions, Deals from Hell helps readers avoid the common pitfalls associated with this field and presents them with a clear framework for thinking about how to make any M&A transaction a success.

Customer Reviews:

Good insight into what NOT to do in a merger!.......2007-07-19

Easy read, with case studies of failed mergers and acquisitions contrasted with successful M & A. Allows the reader to get a good overview of causes of failures in M & A without getting too technical.

Informative but sometimes organized confusingly.......2007-03-03

"Deals From Hell" contains a lot of very useful information, but it is sometimes organized in ways that distract from, rather than augmenting, the material. For instance, I couldn't bring myself to buy into Bruner's metaphorical assertion that all mergers and acquisitions are local, which he uses as the foundation of a framework for evaluating "the neighborhood" in which a merger takes place. Also: while each of the case studies is interesting, some support his themes better than others. One or two of them seem out of place in this book.

The author does a great job of driving home his six factors present in most failed mergers, providing examples of each of those factors in the case studies he provides.

Don't let the criticisms keep you from reading this informative book.

Great analysis framework, good case studies.......2006-10-14

This is a very great book. After a few chapters about the major common mistakes in M&A where he provides a framework for M&A failures, he studies a few cases i ndetail, why these M&A did not work. And he always gives a counterpoint, an example of a M&A, in the same conditions, where they worked. Very interesting!

A quick read for a practioner.......2005-09-26

For anyone who has been in thegame for a while, it brings back memories. It is a quick read and a wonderful refresher. I highly recommend the book.

Andrew M

From an M&A pro, this is worth reading--.......2005-08-22

I'm an M&A pro with 15 years and 30+ deals.

This book is easy to read and offers some good ideas. Most importantly, he pushes back against the common wisdom that "most deals fail", on the premise that analyses of failure are often simplistic and quoted without understanding the causes of failure. His view is that the deals that fail do so because of "perfect storm" events, where multiple problems conspire to knock the underpinnings out of what the dealmakers thought were best laid plans. To set up his ideas, he uses as examples some great disasters, such as Bhopal, Chernobyl and a few others, where a sequence of individually avoidable errors was required to ultimately cause the disaster. He discusses the errors by type and gives key points to consider. It's not nuts and bolts - his issues are at the "you're-in-charge" strategic level.

The book is built in three distinct segments. The first section, heavily footnoted, reviews a lot of the academic literature about why certain deals fail. But wait - don't nod off yet. Bruner organizes his thoughts to keep it focused and accessible: this is written for people who do deals, not those who pontificate about them. He sorts the analyses into about 20 variables that individually may not matter a lot. But, as they line up against you, the deal begins to list to leeward more than a few degrees. A lot more.

So how is this useful, beyond giving us some thoughtful warnings about structuring deals? Well, consider that we all work with executives and investors that don't do deals every day. Convincing them, with confidence, that deals can be structured to work can be tough. This section not only gives you a list of good ideas, it supports them with reference to studies. And most importantly, it gives support that more deals do well than everyone thinks, and that focusing on certain items improves the likelihood of success. No, you don't use it to cite a paper to the CEO (good luck with that, my friend), but you can say, for example, that using earnouts drives statistically higher deal returns, even as your Counsel argues against them "because you always get sued".

The second section is case studies of failed deals. Again, don't run screaming from the idea of returning to B-school a bit. They read more like war stories than cases (thank goodness). From the Columbia-Sony deal, through AOL-Time Warner, to Tyco's acquisition program, these are readable, and best of all, you don't have to submit an analysis to the prof. Bruner reviews each one, discussing the events that sank them (and sometimes their companies) and finding common threads that give plenty of food for thought to the M&A pro.

The last section is "How to Avoid the Deals from Hell". Helpful summary, but I'll leave it to those who are interested enough to buy it and read it. Suffice it to say, the book gives a lot of good, if general, ideas for the practitioner.

And even if you're too busy or lazy to read it, it's a great conversation starter as it sits on your desk.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books