For a Few Demons More (Rachel Morgan, Book 5)

Amazon.com

With her action-packed Hollows series, featuring former bounty hunter--and mistress of the dark arts--Rachel Morgan, Kim Harrison has become one of the hottest authors in the incredibly popular genre of sexy supernaturalism. In her latest Hollows tale, For a Few Dollars More, Rachel unleashes all kinds of undead fury on the greater Cincinnati area when she tries to track down a serial killer. To catch up on the Hollows series so far, and to see the music that has inspired the stories, see below.

Follow the Hollows

Dead Witch Walking (Book 1)
The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (Book 2)
Every Which Way but Dead (Book 3)
A Fistful of Charms (Book 4)

Music Is the Muse

For Kim Harrison, music inspires her stories, and especially her characters. In her exclusive Music Is the Muse list for us, she reveals some favorite records that have provided the source, and the soul, for Rachel, Ivy, Trent, and more of her passionate and powerful characters. Among her muses:

Bleed Like Me, Garbage
With Teeth, Nine Inch Nails
Fallen, Evanescence

Book Description

Despite dating one vampire and living with another, Rachel Morgan has always managed to stay just ahead of trouble . . . until now.

A fiendish serial killer stalks the Hollows, claiming victims across society, and the resulting terror ignites a vicious Inderland gang war. And while the ancient artifact Rachel is hiding may be the key to stopping the murderer, revealing it could also create a battle to the death among the numerous supernatural races that live in and around Cincinnati.

For every action has its price, and when the vampire master Piscary is set free and the demonic Algaliarept dares to walk openly under the sun, even Rachel Morgan can't hide forever.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!.......2007-10-02

I love this series immensely. The characters are believable and fun. Kim Harrison knows how to write a story. I've love all of her previous books and this one is no different. The plot is intense. It's the kind of book you can't put down. I love how Rachel is portrayed. I look foward to the next ones!

OMGOSH! Amazing!.......2007-09-17

Everytime I think a book cant get any better i get shocked and this book was awesome!! I love Rachel although im a HUGE fan of IVEY! she rocks. I love how this book plays out i think its the best in the series so far!

She is getting better and better.......2007-09-17

Ms Harrison is getting better with each installation. Can't wait for her next book!. The addition of a "few more demons" was brilliant and diversified the storyline nicely.

For a Few Demons More.......2007-09-05

This entire series rocks!!! Pick them up and you can't put them down. The cast of characters are memorable and believable. I had given up on urban fantasy, Laurel K Hamilton will do that to you. (that's called fair warning folks)

However Kim Harrison saved the day. I have all the Rachel Morgan books and have my calender marked as to when I can get the next one coming out. The plots MOVE.. and in unexpected ways at times. While relationships are there, Ms. Harrison doesn't let it become the whole story (thank the goddess for that!)

This books are a must read for all urban fantasy fans!!

Highly Recomended.......2007-08-23

I think this book is the best in the series so far. It seems like Kim Harrison books just get better and better. I love this series and I'm waiting feverishly for the next one. If the rest of the books in her series are any indication, then the next book will be even better than this one. I really liked this book because of the brilliant mix of humor, horror, fantasy, and characters that are so well described I feel like I know them. I've never read an author who could shock me, scare me, then make me laugh out loud so many times in the same book. Trust me, this one is worth several all-nighters.

Average customer rating:

I like this better then Da Vinci Code
Entertaining Fiction
Spellbinding!
Angels & Demons & Bishops ... oh, my!
Stupid and Mass Marketed

Angels & Demons
Dan Brown
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416524797

Amazon.com

It takes guts to write a novel that combines an ancient secret brotherhood, the Swiss Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, a papal conclave, mysterious ambigrams, a plot against the Vatican, a mad scientist in a wheelchair, particles of antimatter, jets that can travel 15,000 miles per hour, crafty assassins, a beautiful Italian physicist, and a Harvard professor of religious iconology. It takes talent to make that novel anything but ridiculous. Kudos to Dan Brown (Digital Fortress) for achieving the nearly impossible. Angels & Demons is a no-holds-barred, pull-out-all-the-stops, breathless tangle of a thriller--think Katherine Neville's The Eight (but cleverer) or Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum (but more accessible).

Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati--dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning the blind faith of Catholicism--is alive, well, and murderously active. Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered, his eyes plucked out, and the society's ancient symbol branded upon his chest. His final discovery, antimatter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared--only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope. Langdon and Vittoria, Vetra's daughter and colleague, embark on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches, and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilization.

Brown seems as much juggler as author--there are lots and lots of balls in the air in this novel, yet Brown manages to hurl the reader headlong into an almost surreal suspension of disbelief. While the reader might wish for a little more sardonic humor from Langdon, and a little less bombastic philosophizing on the eternal conflict between religion and science, these are less fatal flaws than niggling annoyances--readers should have no trouble skimming past them and immersing themselves in a heck of a good read. "Brain candy" it may be, but my! It's tasty. --Kelly Flynn

Book Description

An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new

weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target.

World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization -- the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth . . . the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.

BEFORE THE DA VINCI CODE WAS BROKEN,

THE WORLD LAY AT THE MERCY OF ANGELS & DEMONS

Download Description

From the acclaimed author of Digital Fortress comes an explosive international thriller that careens from enlightening epiphanies to dark truths as the battle between science and religion turns to war.

Customer Reviews:

I like this better then Da Vinci Code.......2007-10-10

This is a fast pased prequil that you do not have to read any of the other books for. While Dan Brown got the Papal elections and some hisorical facts wrong, it was a great thriller and was well written. If you haven't done so, read this one.

Entertaining Fiction .......2007-10-08

This book is good clean fun. I usually don't read fiction but this was too good to put down. There were glaring errors in quantum theory (the proton being the antimatter counterpart to the electron ...more like the positron, and how much energy there is per unit mass) But hey its a good warm up for a guy breaking his free fall with a hand held parachute... The book is so well put together I moved right past these sort of far-fetchers... But hey it is great action and the sidelights of history (fact or not) are the fascinating weave Brown is known for... Don't miss it.

Spellbinding! .......2007-10-07

This is the only book I've read of Dan Brown's (I have The DaVinci Code, but haven't read it yet), but after reading Angels & Demons, I have ordered Deception Point. I had a hard time grasping Angels & Demons in the first chapter; however, it grabbed me after that and I couldn't put the book down!

This book was written so well and so convincing that I was worried that some parts of it could be true. I'm not a Catholic, but it sure gave me the chills! I don't think you'll be disappointed in this book if you like mysteries. Enjoy!

Angels & Demons & Bishops ... oh, my!.......2007-10-03

Let's get this out of the way right from the start: I picked up ANGELS & DEMONS at the behest of dozens of friends who -- on the tails of THE DAVINCI CODE movie -- spent the better part of several weeks arguing which book (DAVINCI or A&D) would make better fodder from cinema entertainment. Yes, most of them argued that ANGELS was far more 'filmable,' and, having not yet read DAVINCI, I'm in no position to debate that. Loved the subject matter (I've always been a bit of a conspiracy nut, and ANGELS provides more than ample proving ground for topics relating to the ever elusive Illuminate as well as fringe Catholicism and future science), loved the characters (Robert Langdon seems and sounds like a bona fide college professor / academic, and Vittoria Vetra made a pleasant sidekick / love interest), and loved the premise (I've always been a sucker for race-against-the-clock narratives, and ANGELS delivers pretty solidly on that count).

However, the book tries way too often to vacillate between the philosophical arguments of religion versus science when author Dan Brown should've done like everyone suggests: pick a side, and run with it. Too much time is spent on the fence -- the middleground reserved for centrists or realists who prefer to pick-and-choose what to and what not to believe based on convenience -- when I wouldn't have faulted Brown for just deciding "'A' is going to be the truth for this novel, and I'll stick with it." It's easier to get past some of the lesser inconsistencies OR major incredulities when, at the very least, you've chosen a side and put your stake in the ground. At some points, Langdon believes ... and then he doesn't again. Sure, I think it's comfy; you avoid offending the audience by presenting a main character who's struggling with these moral dilemmas (just like you and me!) ... but, as I'm inclined to give the book a pass due to the delicate subject matter, I won't go on with that point.

Also, Brown didn't quite handle the real-time element in the latter half of the novel. At the beginning, Robert Langdon is in the realm of science, so it's forgivable to have him jetting from one side of the world to the other in one hour, but racing throughout Rome in only a matter of minutes given the fact that there are, allegedly, hundreds of thousands of folks obviously cluttering the streets around the Vatican? Seems a bit of a stretch to me. Also, the hearty Langdon performs with such athletic prowess that a Navy Seal would blush. Langdon's last brush with death totally killed my ability to suspend disbelief ... and I'll leave that little moment for your own discovery.

Incidentally, I've read somewheres that the folks behind Fox TV's stellar program "24" were interested in acquiring the rights to ANGELS & DEMONS at some point in the book's history, and I don't find that hard to believe in the slightest. Much of the book is told in the same kind of hectic frantic incredible pace of one of the better seasons of that program, so fans of Jack Bauer should take interest in exploring the book if for no other reason than to see what could have been.

Stupid and Mass Marketed.......2007-09-30

Thank God there are others out there who appreciate the sheer stupidity of this book -- and Brown's other book, the Da Vinci Code. I bought both through a price club, sadly believing the buzz which surrounded them. I was expecting an interesting, engaging read, along the lines of best sellers I have read in England. I have to be honest -- I put the book down after reading a few pages. One reviewer posted the many, numerous factual errors. What is more astounding is the many reviewers who defended such factual errors. The first few pages of this book were inane, vacuous, and glib. Nothing intelligent, riveting, rigorous, compelling about them at all. I leafed through the rest of the book, looking for interesting parts -- and it was more or less the same. I did not see any interesting detours into philosophical, historical excavations or reflections....or depth any kind really. The back of the books shows a picture of David Brown, who looks as happy as if he had discovered the Happy Meal (at McDonalds) and is gleeful that million are buying his garbage and proclaiming it to be haute cusine.

This is one stupid, ridiculous book marketed and hyped to the masses. Brown is not a gifted writer, though he can write. But genius, ground breaker he is not. THere is nothing remarkable or extraordinary or even remotely interesting about this book.

The fact that so many in America love it reflects how dumbed down this country really is. The people who defend it dont realize how dumb they really are. Ignorance is bliss (and apparently quite profitable) in America!!

A Demon of Our Own Design: Markets, Hedge Funds, and the Perils of Financial Innovation

Average customer rating:

Smart - insightful book
Spectacular info... but ah what to do, what to do
Great risk insights, and lots of useful reminders on liquidity mechanics
The Wisdom of the Cockroach
A MUST READ for all financial markets professionals

A Demon of Our Own Design: Markets, Hedge Funds, and the Perils of Financial Innovation
Richard Bookstaber
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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ASIN: 0471227277

Book Description

Inside markets, innovation, and risk

Why do markets keep crashing and why are financial crises greater than ever before? As the risk manager to some of the leading firms on Wall Street–from Morgan Stanley to Salomon and Citigroup–and a member of some of the world’s largest hedge funds, from Moore Capital to Ziff Brothers and FrontPoint Partners, Rick Bookstaber has seen the ghost inside the machine and vividly shows us a world that is even riskier than we think. The very things done to make markets safer, have, in fact, created a world that is far more dangerous. From the 1987 crash to Citigroup closing the Salomon Arb unit, from staggering losses at UBS to the demise of Long-Term Capital Management, Bookstaber gives readers a front row seat to the management decisions made by some of the most powerful financial figures in the world that led to catastrophe, and describes the impact of his own activities on markets and market crashes. Much of the innovation of the last 30 years has wreaked havoc on the markets and cost trillions of dollars. A Demon of Our Own Design tells the story of man’s attempt to manage market risk and what it has wrought. In the process of showing what we have done, Bookstaber shines a light on what the future holds for a world where capital and power have moved from Wall Street institutions to elite and highly leveraged hedge funds.

Customer Reviews:

Smart - insightful book.......2007-10-09

Book gives good insight into workings of major buldge bracket houses and hedge funs with similiar risk reducing strategies. Little dry but this book has nothing to do with Jenna Jameson so its to be expected.

Spectacular info... but ah what to do, what to do.......2007-09-22

This book is very well layed out and is an excellent primer on what is going on behind the scenes in the financial markets.

The end is a bit disappointing in that the issues are clearly explicated but the solution seems a bit murky and maybe impossible. The author does acknowledge the difficulty of implementing a truly workable solution.

Great risk insights, and lots of useful reminders on liquidity mechanics .......2007-09-21

A finance-related book like this one is always something I open with a fear of "deja vu". To Bookstaber's credit, his numerous insights quickly got me over this. It is a constant reminder to risk practitioners and traders that liquidity supply is a serious matter. It does indeed move mountains. For new comers into risk management and trading, it explains the sources of the LTCM debacle, and its learnings. By all standards, I recommend this book to any finance graduate, experienced trader, or risk manager. A very useful read.

The Wisdom of the Cockroach.......2007-09-14

In recounting his time as risk manager at a number of prominent houses (Morgan Stanley, Salomon Brothers, Citigroup etc.), Bookstaber completes the i-banking trifecta. First there was the Michael Lewis classic, Liar's Poker, detailing the juvenile bravado and macho antics of the trading floor. Then Jonathan Knee gave an intimate portrait of the i-banker deal making culture with The Accidental Investment Banker.

And now, in A Demon of Our Own Design, we get a glimpse at the risk management side of things... a sort of master plumber's walking tour through the bowels of the system, with technical descriptions of exactly what happens when pipes burst and boilers explode. (Some will find Bookstabers' level of detail intolerably dull; others will find it quite fascinating. I was in the fascinated camp.)

Nature of the beast

In describing the finer points of risk arbitrage, Bookstaber explains why it's normal -- expected even -- for trading desks to take a good whack every so often. The nature of the beast is to make relatively steady profits, month in and month out, and then give back a chunk of those profits when something goes haywire. (That's how you move huge sums on an arb desk; grind out small bets that are almost guaranteed to work, juice up the returns with leverage, and try not to be in the vicinity when the rare position goes kablooey.)

In light of this general modus operandi, perhaps it isn't surprising that the "quant" funds recently took a major hit (as of September 2007). They had been minting money for an extraordinarily long period, had the leverage to show for it, and now, after the recent "oops," seem to be generally back in business.

In fact it appears natural for much of Wall Street to work in this "make a little, lose a lot" fashion... the key idea being that all the little updrafts make up for the once-in-a-blue-moon downdrafts. (Such calculus works better for the fee collectors than the fee payers, but that's a different kettle of fish.)

Bookstaber's detail-rich description of the various trades that investment houses put on, many of them lasting years, is also enlightening. The details seem to confirm that, by and large, Wall Street is a gigantic, slow moving, conventional-returns type machine. (And what else could it be, really, with such an ocean of capital to allocate and so many jobs to fill? There is only so much creativity and contrarianism to go round.)

A dangerous combination

Risk manager war stories aside, Bookstaber's goal is to hammer home a key philosophical point regarding risk. He wants readers to understand that financial markets are inherently unstable, and this reality places limits on how far we (or anyone) should go in pursuit of outsized returns.

To make his point, Bookstaber uses various analogies to describe how the market is a highly complex, tightly coupled system... and to explain why the combination of high complexity and tight coupling is particularly dangerous.

The counterexample Bookstaber gives of a highly complex, loosely coupled system is the US Postal Service. The USPS has countless potential points of failure and myriad moving parts, but there are no catastrophic linkages involved. A lost package does not set off a disastrous daisy chain of events in which millions of packages are lost.

In contrast, the classic example of a highly complex, tightly coupled system is a nuclear reactor. The reactor is tightly coupled because any point of failure can lead to a knock-on chain reaction; one small thing going wrong can set the entire mechanism on a path to disaster. Being a highly complex, tightly coupled system, the market is less like the postal service and more like the nuclear reactor, in that the combination of aggressive leverage, complex methodologies and heavily interlocking parts leads to significant potential for catastrophe.

Exquisitely adapted

Another serious problem is Wall Street's deeply ingrained tendency to push the envelope. (Richard Lowenstein put it exceptionally well in his book Origins of the Crash: "Finance has its own Peter Principle, by which a successful model will be adapted to progressively riskier causes until it fails.")

In this habit of fighting for every inch of profit, Wall Street is like a self-evolving animal overquick to embrace the particulars of its immediate environment. The more precisely an animal is attuned to a particular "fitness landscape," the better that animal can thrive... in the short term at least, as long as everything stays just so. To be exquisitely adapted (as opposed to robustly adapted) is to be vulnerable to the slightest change.

Thus when the fitness landscape DOES change -- as it inevitably will -- the heavily specialized competitors tend to get crushed (if not go extinct). If a strategy-gone-sour broadsides a large enough group of market participants, the entire financial ecosystem can be thrown into turmoil. When the turmoil from this upheaval spills into the broader economy, wreaking havoc in its wake, the "demon" spoken of in the book's title is unleashed. (As this reviewer interprets it anyway.)

Wisdom of the cockroach

So the problem, in sum, is Wall Street's tendency to `overadapt' to every appealing landscape it encounters, building up complexity and leverage to dangerous levels in doing so.

Bookstaber's suggestion is to heed the wisdom of the cockroach.

The cockroach has survived a longer time span, and a wider variety of harsh environments, than humans could ever match. It is one of the creatures man cannot wipe out no matter how hard he tries. And yet, the cockroach's key risk management strategy is embarrassingly simple... simpler, even, than putting in a stop loss. The deeper point is that simple equals robust; by refusing to get fancy, and sticking with the tried-and-true, the cockroach ensures its reign as champion survivor.

Bookstaber uses the cockroach (and other examples from nature) to argue that we, too, should consider cutting back on our excessively specialized ways. The cost of a rough-edged strategy is forgoing excess profits in accomodative environments... but the benefit is increased likelihood of survival in a much wider range of environments, including the truly harsh ones. (As Jim Grant likes to joke, if so many of these credit-driven vehicles can barely handle prosperity, how are they supposed to fare when adversity hits?)

Harrumphs all round

Bookstaber's finger-wagging solution (be less fancy; take less risk) has the ring of common sense to it, especially in the way it frustrates all those market participants determined to have their cake and eat it too.

For those who seek to wring every last nickel out of the market (as LTCM used to brag of doing), Bookstaber argues persuasively that flying too close to the sun will always be perilous. The commitment to leveraging every edge on a broad scale inevitably leads to disaster-prone configurations, no matter how smart the players.

For those who think the answer is greater regulation of markets, i.e. more rules, Bookstaber shows how extra layers of bureaucracy can actually bring about the exact opposite of the intended affect. Perversely, layers of red tape can (and often do) make a situation more risky, by increasing confusion and complacency simultaneously.

Nor is greater information disclosure the answer. If the market's traditional liquidity providers (traders, market makers, speculators etc.) are forced to disclose their positions to the world in real time, they will react in the manner of poker players forced to play their hands face-up. To the extent that disclosure resolves uncertainty, it also drives market participants from the game. And because "liquidity is a coward" as the old saying goes, always running away when you need it most, strict disclosure rules would likely make bad market conditions worse at the least opportune times.

Some left smiling

Two groups in particular may be left smiling at the end of this book -- value investors and trend followers. In both the theory and practice of their normal operations, value investors and trend followers intuitively embraced Bookstaber's message a long long time ago, favoring longevity and robusticity over the temptations of adjusting to the moment.

It is perhaps not surprising, then, that value investors and trend followers are arguably the most profitable market participants by far on an absolute-dollar basis, hauling in hundreds of billions in profit over the course of many decades. They are champion survivors too... with a touch more class than the cockroach.

A MUST READ for all financial markets professionals.......2007-09-13

This is an excellent book. I cannot say enough good things about it. Unquestionably one of the best books on financial markets of the hundreds that I have read. This book provides a ringside view of how the major banks and hedge funds work and why financial risks have become more magnified than before.

Derivatives, trading and hedge funds are here to stay. They perform a valuable service to the financial markets, though Warren Buffet will disagree with me. Nevertheless, it is the mis-use of derivatives and the excessive use of leverage that leads to financial disasters. This book provides an excellent insight into why we witness financial turmoil in some of the most liquid markets.

I strongly recommend it to all MBA finance students as well as to financial markets professionals at hedge funds, prop trading desks, risk managers, quants, bankers, pension fund managers.

The Real Holy Grail: An Orthodox Response to Dan Brown's Deceptions in Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code

Average customer rating:

The Real Holy Grail: An Orthodox Response to Dan Brown's Deceptions in Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code
Metropolitan Bishoy, Nicola
Manufacturer: Orthodox Research Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Orthodoxy | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1933275146

Book Description

Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, by author Dan Brown, have deceived millions of people across the world with a plethora of lies about the one true God, Christianity, the Holy Bible, and the Christian Church. Dan Brown has achieved this by presenting the elements in his novels under the guise of fiction, while at the same time, claiming that they are factual. But even Brown's "facts," which he maintains are historically informed, are full of inaccuracies and historical discrepancies. What Dan Brown is describing in Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code can most certainly not be categorized as fiction, because in reality, the core and foundation of his writing is Theological and Christological. However, the Theology and Christology which Dan Brown has incorporated into his novels is a false Theology and Christology?-?it is grossly distorted and stridently far from the truth. This apologetic work sets out to provide the true Theological and Christological teachings of the Holy Orthodox Church in response to the deceptions in the selected writings of Dan Brown.

Angel Customers and Demon Customers: Discover Which is Which and Turbo-Charge Your Stock

Average customer rating:

Outstanding Piece of Work
A few simple ideas that are woefully uncommon
One good idea
Make your Angel Customers Happy
This is a great strategy book

Angel Customers and Demon Customers: Discover Which is Which and Turbo-Charge Your Stock
Larry Selden , and Geoffrey Colvin
Manufacturer: Portfolio Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Customer Service | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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

Entrepreneurship | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1591840074
Release Date: 2003-05-22

Book Description

How businesses can thrive by learning which customers are creating the most profit-and which are losing them money.

One of the oldest myths in business is that every customer is a valuable customer. Even in the age of high-tech data collection, many businesses don't realize that some of their customers are deeply unprofitable, and that simply doing business with them is costing them money. In many places, it's typical that the top 20 percent of customers are generating almost all the profit while the bottom 20 percent are actually destroying value. Managers are missing tremendous opportunities if they are not aware which of their customers are truly profitable and which are not.

According to Larry Selden and Geoff Colvin, there is a way to fix this problem: manage your business not as a collection of products and services but as a customer portfolio. Selden and Colvin show readers how to analyze customer data to understand how you can get the most out of your most critical customer segments. The authors reveal how some companies (such as Best Buy and Fidelity Investments) have already moved in this direction, and what customer-centric strategies are likely to become widespread in the coming years.

For corporate leaders, middle managers, or small business owners, this book offers a breakthrough plan to delight their best customers and drive shareowner value.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Piece of Work .......2007-03-21

This book is a highly relevant must read for anyone serious about customer-centricity. The model used has the potential to drive economic benefits that far outpace traditional marketing, CRM, and customer satisfaction focused programs.

It should, however, be read along with some other good material on CDI and Customer Experience Management (CEM) like Collin Shaw's books on CEM [...] - I have no connection to them.

I've talked with a few companies and consultants who have attempted to implement customer profitability management without the underlying CDI and the programs failed - even in smaller markets like Europe. It places a little too much faith in just demanding data from IT on the premise that millions have been invested in systems so the data must be there. That is certainly not always the case. A good CDI strategy is critical to this program. But the focus of this book is the financial model and it should be read for what it is.

The other section of material that could be more developed is the Value-Exchange methodology. Intermixing operational customer segmentation (not the kind done in direct marketing programs) with the profitability deciles would seem to be the kind of thing that is needed to mature the strategy and place relevant value propositions where they belong in the CEM/marketing mix.

But alas, customer centricity is far too broad and complex of a topic to knock out in one book. This book is excellent and makes a much-needed contribution to a field that is sometimes more enamored with attempts at operant conditioning (a.k.a. CRM) than common sense management. I bought out the entire stock of this book from a store and continue to give copies give copies away to this day.

A few simple ideas that are woefully uncommon.......2006-01-12

The central thesis of Selden and Colvin's book is that not all customers are desirable. Some are "angels" who deliver net profit while others are "demons" who cost more to serve than they generate in revenue. A well run company must understand who its customers are and then organize around serving them effectively, securing its relationship with angels while repairing (or ending) its interactions with demons.

The authors write with a simple and bright style that keeps the book interesting. They touch on a number of case studies they've performed in their professional careers to help illustrate their points. I wish that they had included more data in the book, but what they do provide is about right for an introduction to the topic.

Some reviewers deride the content of this book as obvious, but even more obvious is that a tremendous number of businesses don't get it. I see the problems the authors describe play out repeatedly, from perspectives as a professional within my own industry, as an investor, and as a consumer. This book is an exciting rebuttal against the mentality of "The customer is always right" (what if the customer wants to pay less than your cost?) and a wakeup call to move forward from smokestack-age business organization in the information-age economy.

One good idea.......2005-09-10

The book has one good idea in it. You should know your good customers and seek a more profitable way to deal with "not-so-good" customers. It is pretty simplistic - but some companies probably need this insight.

There are more in-depth research out there on this topic in the marketing and operations management journals.

Make your Angel Customers Happy.......2004-03-29

We should all be aware of unprofitable Customers. Anyone in business should be already aware of the 80/20 rule - that 80% of your profits come from 20% of your customers.

This book goes that one step further - by some excellent case studies it shows how 150% of your profits come from 20% of your customers - they are the Angels. The Demons are those 20% of your customers who actually lose you money equal to 150% of your profit.

Its not another book about CRM (Customer Relationship Management), but it is about being Customer-focussed rather than Product-focussed.

I have multiple relationships with Companies who could do with reading this book - including my own employer, with whom I have around 20 Contracts, and yet any one Business Unit only seems to know about 1 or 2 others at best. All those lost selling opportunities - for example they know the ages of my kids from my Travel Insurance Policies, but have never tried to sell me any College Savings Plans!

Read the book and make your Angels happier - and get rid of the Demon ones!

This is a great strategy book.......2004-02-23

This is a skillfully written, subtile and insightfull book.

I believe that the reviewer who said that "this book stated the obvious and that outside of a novice business student, anyone who finds this book interesting or useful may want to consider another profession than business" has missed the point of this book...completely.

The importance of this book is NOT in stating that "the customer is important .. some more than others". This we all know.

The importance of this book is in outlining a practical methods for ascerting which customers are money making one and which are not money making one **by going at the junction of customer marketing and customer finance**. It is by offering a practical way to relate the two perspectives (the qualitative and the quantitative one) that this book was useful to me.

The key thing I learned from this book is the introduction of detailed customer-finance reasonings to evaluate clients.

I also was greatly inspired by their concept of CUSTOMER DEAVERAGING. I too often see company that thinks in terms of their "average customers" and thereby miss any valuable & actionable insight on how to relate to their customers in a way which is both more profitable and more meaningfull (from both the customers and the client perspective).

Well for company who are like that, I think this is a GREAT book that uncovers what needs to be done in both a practical and theorically sound way.

I can testify that having applied a big part of the framework of this book to solve one strategy problem of one of my european client, we did uncover some really devishly customers (50% of their client acquisition was focusing on customers from which their will be never enough money generated to cover the initial customer acquisition expense) and some really angel ones (25% of their customer acqusition was focused on clients that represents overall 65% of their actual profit). We were also able to do some detailed financial modelling to discover that, in their specific case, they should refocus their attention on the angel customers and probably completely change their business model and value proposition for dealing with their demon ones.

If I had one critic it would be that the part relating customer oriented strategy and the stock valuation is treated without enough precision.

Having said that, I can also state the customer business I was speaking about is a recurrent one and that as a result the benefit of acquiring an angel customer goes well beyond the financial revenue derived from them in the first year. So, beyond the immediate profit improvement that are likely to results from their refocusing on the right customers this year, I anticipate this company to achieve a surge of their financial results in the following years (This hopefully will ultimately also find a reflection in their stock price...)

Average customer rating:

not bad

A very mixed bag, with very few demons

disappointing read

I've read better...

demon's unsatisfaction more like it

Demon's Delight (Berkley Sensation)
MaryJanice Davidson , Emma Holly , Vickie Taylor , and Catherine Spangler
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Over the Moon

Undead and Uneasy (Queen Betsy, Book 6)

Master of Dragons (Mageverse, Book 8)

Sleeping with the Fishes (Fred the Mermaid, Book 1)

The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires

ASIN: 0425213811

Book Description

Four never-before-published paranormal tales from a quartet of top-tier talents.

In the realm between the living and the undead, between human and immortal, four of today's most thrilling authors explore the delight that ensues when opposites come together...

New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson challenges a charlatan exorcist with a sexy dead woman-and an unnatural romance.

USA Today bestselling author Emma Holly introduces a beautiful scientist to the realm of the Demon World...and an irresistible male she has experimented on.

National bestselling author Vickie Taylor throws a hell-bent man into the arms of a beautiful dark angel who is driven by ethereal desires of her own.

And award-winning author Catherine Spangler gives a vampire prostitute a last chance at redemption when an angelic hunk offers her a night of divine lovemaking.

Customer Reviews:

not bad.......2007-10-06

This is a decent anthology and Holly and Davidson do a decent job. I would buy this again. About half of the stories were pretty good, the other half were pretty pedestrian. More romantic erotica with a veneer of paranormal romance than paranormal or fantasy. Using 'demon' in the title is rather misleading.

A very mixed bag, with very few demons.......2007-07-16

Of the four stories in this collection, there's one that's completely worth it, one three-quarters worth reading, one half-worth, and one not worth bothering with, in my opinion. So, a total of 2 and a quarter stories out of 4, that's 56%, which is not a passing grade, most places.

The first story, "Witch Way," is by Mary Janice Davidson, and she's always funny. Even when the premise is lightweight and more than a little silly, her characters have such snappy dialogue that it's enjoyable. This story doesn't involve any of her regular series characters, no werewolves or vampires. It also doesn't have much to do with demons; the only demons are the ones Chris Mere, the witch, vanquishes. There is a cute little kid.

The second story, "Street Corners and Halos" by Catherine Spangler, has nothing at all to do with demons. It's vampire prostitute meets angel, and while the moral of the story is as subtle as a brick, the interesting twists to the usual vampire stuff make this worth reading, even if you can see the ending coming a mile away. The background of Jewish religion - which doesn't really have angels in the way that the Christian religions do - meeting up with a Christian-type angel, except that he refers to his Goddess, She, rather than a male god, makes for a nice contrast, and does offset the overly saccharin goodness of the angel. As a paranormal story in general, it's not bad at all, as a vampire story in particular, there's not enough of it to really characterize it. Oh, there is a cat, which is always a plus in a story.

The third story, "The Demon's Angel" by Emma Holly, is apparently based on a concept that the author has also put into a couple of novels, where the demons are some sort of mutant humans living in an alternate world, where they have genes and chromosomes and all, and are doing genetic research, for which they need human subjects. I found this premise to be so offputting that I didn't finish the story. My own preference is that people keep science fiction and fantasy separate; trying to put a science fiction veneer onto demons and a lot of sex winds up, to my mind, bringing out the worst aspects of both science fiction and of the paranormal. The romance was, as far as I could tell, nonexistent, unless by romance you mean plain lust. Other people who don't mind completely illogical squishing of science fiction over fantasy with neither making any sense, may like this story better than I did.

The fourth story, "Angel and the Hellraiser" by Vickie Taylor, was another angel one - again, no demons whatsoever. It was full of cliches, but it was not totally bad, and the ending was not quite as saccharin as the second story, the other angel one. So this is the half-okay one.

In short: a book with demons in the title has more stories with angels than with demons; one humorous, two that take their paranormal elements a little too seriously, and one that does a bad job of trying to turn paranormal into scientific. You decide whether it's worth it; if you already like one of the authors, then you probably want to read this book just so that your collection of that author is complete.

disappointing read.......2007-06-02

One story was okay but the rest were just blah. I was very anticipatory about this book and then was extremely disappointed when I got it.

I've read better..........2007-05-22

This is more something to read if you have some time to kill. I bought the book only for MJD and Emma Holly's contributions, which were good. The others didn't deliver, but then I didn't expect them to. They weren't horrible, but I've read better.

demon's unsatisfaction more like it.......2007-05-14

very boring stories.. did not capture my interest at all

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

Average customer rating:

The Demon-Haunted World
All you need to know about critical thinking
The case for a sensible worldview
Excellent book....
My highest recommendation

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
Carl Sagan , and Ann Druyan
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Controversial Knowledge | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0345409469
Release Date: 1997-02-25

Amazon.com

Carl Sagan muses on the current state of scientific thought, which offers him marvelous opportunities to entertain us with his own childhood experiences, the newspaper morgues, UFO stories, and the assorted flotsam and jetsam of pseudoscience. Along the way he debunks alien abduction, faith-healing, and channeling; refutes the arguments that science destroys spirituality, and provides a "baloney detection kit" for thinking through political, social, religious, and other issues.

Book Description

"A glorious book . . . A spirited defense of science . . . From the first page to the last, this book is a manifesto for clear thought."

*Los Angeles Times

"POWERFUL . . . A stirring defense of informed rationality. . . Rich in surprising information and beautiful writing."

*The Washington Post Book World

How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don't understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience and the testable hypotheses of science? Pulitzer Prize-winning author and distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan argues that scientific thinking is critical not only to the pursuit of truth but to the very well-being of our democratic institutions.

Casting a wide net through history and culture, Sagan examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies of the past as witchcraft, faith healing, demons, and UFOs. And yet, disturbingly, in today's so-called information age, pseudoscience is burgeoning with stories of alien abduction, channeling past lives, and communal hallucinations commanding growing attention and respect. As Sagan demonstrates with lucid eloquence, the siren song of unreason is not just a cultural wrong turn but a dangerous plunge into darkness that threatens our most basic freedoms.

"COMPELLING."

*USA Today

"A clear vision of what good science means and why it makes a difference. . . . A testimonial to the power of science and a warning of the dangers of unrestrained credulity."

*The Sciences

"PASSIONATE."

*San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle

Customer Reviews:

The Demon-Haunted World.......2007-09-29

Excellent book. Carl Sagan gives an analysis of how our lives are effected by many legends and superstitions in a respectful and considerate way.

All you need to know about critical thinking.......2007-09-20

Unfortunately, this book is often considered a science book or about the scientific method. The subtitle is "Science as a Candle in the Dark." That was an unfortunate choice because, with the exception of one chapter (I won't say which)it is much farther reaching than that.

It is about how we know what we know and how and why that frequently is incorrect. It considers why we are so un-critical in our acceptance of authoritarian statements from any source - scientific, social, business or political. The book is worth it just for the description and discussion of the "Baloney Detection Kit."

Though Sagan was by training a scientist, his knowledge of history and culture makes this (as well as most of his books) a compelling, enlightening and enjoyable read.

The case for a sensible worldview.......2007-09-18

As the 20th century's greatest voice for the popularization of science and rationality, Carl Sagan performed a noble public service. In this age of nearly instant communication and information overload, we each need to develop a quick and reliable method for sorting good information from interesting but bogus anecdotes. Sagan's "baloney detection kit" offers us that very tool for avoiding credulity.

As our society becomes ever more dependent on complex technology, it seems that an ever shrinking proportion of the population has a grasp on how that technology functions or what consequences its failure might give rise to. There seems to be a widespread desire by many individuals to divorce themselves from understanding in favor of immersing themselves in comfortable fantasy. Sagan argues that such a turning away from rationality and reason could usher in a new dark age.

For those who have an interest in seeing our society continue to progress, this book is somewhat of an eye-opener. The current increase in interest in the supernatural is precisely what Sagan was warning about. His writing style is personal and narrative, with many examples from his own life. The book is an easy and engaging read that holds your interest.

Highly recommended.

Excellent book...........2007-09-06

This is a fabulous book. Sagan does a wonderful job of promoting the field of science to non-scientists.
I wonder how many young - or open minded - people have been pulled into science fields after reading it?

My highest recommendation.......2007-09-05

This book can be the antidote to so much nonsense that fills the heads of well-meaning people everywhere. Sagan makes a convincing case for reason and skepticism.

If you remember just one thing, remember that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda

Average customer rating:

Relax and enjoy it.
My most cherised series
Amazing
A wonderful series to read and reread
One of the best Fantasy series since Tolkein!

The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda
David Eddings
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0345483863
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Book Description

Discover the magic of The Malloreon–David Eddings’s acclaimed series, the sequel to his bestselling The Belgariad. Now the first three Malloreon books appear in a single volume, taking us on an epic quest across strange lands among gods, kings, sorcerers, and ordinary men. It is a gripping tale of two ancient warring destinies fighting a battle of good against evil.

Garion has slain the evil God Torak and is now the King of Riva. The prophecy has been fulfilled–or so it seems. For there is a dire warning, as a great evil brews in the East. Now Garion once again finds himself with the fate of the world resting on his shoulders. When Garion’s infant son is kidnapped by Zandramas, the Child of Dark, a great quest begins to rescue the child. Among those on the dangerous mission are Garion and his wife, Queen Ce’Nedra, and the immortal Belgarath the Sorcerer and his daughter, Polgara. They must make their way through the foul swamps of Nyissa, then into the lands of the Murgos. Along the way, they will face grave dangers–captivity, a horde of demons, a fatal plague–while Zandramas plots to use Garion’s son in a chilling ritual that will make the Dark Prophecy supreme. . .

Customer Reviews:

Relax and enjoy it........2007-09-25

Eddings writes mindless drivel, but it is ENTERTAINING mindless drivel - great for telling the world to go soak its head and just sitting back and having a good time.

My most cherised series.......2007-07-26

Along with The Belgariad, the Malloreaon is probably my most beloved series of fantasy. I read all the books in the series over 10 years ago & to this day when I just need to escape, I find myself in this world. What David Eddings has crafted is every bit as beautiful as the Tolkien world, as magical as Harry Potter, and as rich as Anne Rice's history in the Vampire Chronicles. The characters are faceted & complex, the story line flows easily & I feel that I am a lucky reader to have found such a magical world!

Amazing.......2007-05-20

I've read alot of fantasy books from all kinds of authors. High fantasy and Epics and light fantasy. Usually in a series, the first 3 books are the best and if there are any after that they decline. I started out reading the Belgaraid knowing that this series was "light fantasy" and I didn't expect anything more than that. Then I get to the Mallorean and not only did it surprised me but it was actually better than the Belgaraid. Even the 3rd book in the Mallorean was better than the first. It seems that the author got better as he wrote and had a story to tell instead of stretching out a shorter story just to sell more books.

A wonderful series to read and reread.......2007-04-29

I first picked up Guardians of the West in the Library while I waited for my three children to finish their homework assignments. I couldn't put it down. Then I discovered there were five previous books. I immediately went and checked out Eddings first book The Pawn Of Prophecy and I was hooked. I was especially intrigued by their world and the numerous societies they developed to fill it. The background story was always intriguing. As Tolkin said about Bilbo's home, `There was always something more to discover'.
The landscape is rich in detail and their characters are warm and real. I enjoyed the surprises David and Leigh build into their stories. I was especially entertained by twist that the Murgo King and Silk were half brothers. While I love all the characters, I was fascinated by Polgara. I loved Beldin's character as a foil to Belgarath. I was surprised, happy, and saddened by his departure at the series finale. I have all the books in my collection and I have reread them many times. I go there to escape or find inspiration. This is truly one of the great works of fiction by a truly distinguished writing team.

One of the best Fantasy series since Tolkein!.......2007-03-31

In most cases, it seems, sequels tend to lose the punch and energy found in the origanal series. This is far from the truth when it comes to The Mallorean, by David Eddings. In his first series,The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit andThe Belgariad, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Castle of Wizardry, Enchanters' End Game Eddings spins a tale of good and evil that is worthy of J.R.R. Tolkein, without being a slavish copy of the masterwork of Fantasy fiction.

In The Mallorean, Eddings successfully creats a new story, resurecting most of the old characters. He creates a story that shows that even though everything seemed to come to a successfull conclusion, fate often needs to go full circle. His characters are immensely believable; the reluctant king of an island kingdom, Belgarion, who also is one of the world's most powerful wizards, to his Queen, headstrong and with a short-fused temper. Add in the Emperor of the largest land, who must forge a reluctant reliance with Belgarion to save his people, and the young child destined to take his place as the newest god. The story is wonderfully crafted to carry this tale. Add in the final bookThe Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell to tie all the ends together and you have the perfect series in the world of Fantasy literature.

Every year or so, regardless of where I am in my reading list, I make the time to reread The Lord Of The Rings by Tolkein, Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorian, and the works of Raymond FeistMagician: Apprentice (Riftwar Saga), et al. These are, in my opinion, the benchmarks of all Fantasy. If you haven't read Eddings yet, do so at your earliest oppurtunity. You won't be dissappointed.

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression

Average customer rating:

Very thorough...
Best in-depth book possibly that there is
Quality of Life--Not the Existence of Life
A self-absorbed whine from a privileged pill popper
This book "Tells it like it is."

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
Andrew Solomon
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Depression | Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0684854678

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Sometimes, the legacy of depression includes a wisdom beyond one's years, a depth of passion unexperienced by those who haven't traveled to hell and back. Off the charts in its enlightening, comprehensive analysis of this pervasive yet misunderstood condition, The Noonday Demon forges a long, brambly path through the subject of depression--exposing all the discordant views and "answers" offered by science, philosophy, law, psychology, literature, art, and history. The result is a sprawling and thoroughly engrossing study, brilliantly synthesized by author Andrew Solomon.

Deceptively simple chapter titles (including "Breakdowns," "Treatments," "Addiction," "Suicide") each sit modestly atop a virtual avalanche of Solomon's intellect. This is not a book to be skimmed. But Solomon commands the language--and his topic--with such grace and empathy that the constant flow of references, poems, and quotations in his paragraphs arrive like welcome dinner guests. A longtime sufferer of severe depression himself, Solomon willingly shares his life story with readers. He discusses updated information on various drugs and treatment approaches while detailing his own trials with them. He describes a pharmaceutical company's surreal stage production (involving Pink Floyd, kick dancers, and an opener à la Cats) promoting a new antidepressant to their sales team. He chronicles his research visits to assorted mental institutions, which left him feeling he would "much rather engage with every manner of private despair than spend a protracted time" there. Under Solomon's care, however, such tales offer much more than shock value. They show that depression knows no social boundaries, manifests itself quite differently in each person, and has become political. And, while it may worsen or improve, depression will never be eradicated. Hope lies in finding ways--as Solomon clearly has--to harness its powerful lessons. --Liane Thomas

Book Description

The Noonday Demon examines depression in personal, cultural, and scientific terms. Drawing on his own struggles with the illness and interviews with fellow sufferers, doctors and scientists, policy makers and politicians, drug designers and philosophers, Andrew Solomon reveals the subtle complexities and sheer agony of the disease. He confronts the challenge of defining the illness and describes the vast range of available medications, the efficacy of alternative treatments, and the impact the malady has on various demographic populations -- around the world and throughout history. He also explores the thorny patch of moral and ethical questions posed by emerging biological explanations for mental illness. With uncommon humanity, candor, wit, and erudition, award-winning author Solomon takes readers on a journey of incom-parable range and resonance into the most pervasive of family secrets. His contribution to our understanding not only of mental illness but also of the human condition is truly stunning.

Customer Reviews:

Very thorough..........2007-06-26

... but a little opinionated, which you should definitely expect with a topic as personal as depression.

Best in-depth book possibly that there is.......2007-03-01

I haven't read this, but my wife has. She doesn't read many books cover to cover, but she did this one. And it's a big book. She found it informative, and that the information in the book made sense, based on her experience with our own lives. She said it's the best book on the topic she's found. A phychologist that I know has also told me she thinks it's one of the best books in her experience, too.

Quality of Life--Not the Existence of Life.......2006-12-31

"I am terrified by this dark thing--that sleeps in me; all day I feel its soft, feathery turnings, its malignity." (Sylvia Plath)
"I must hurriedly note more symtoms of the disease, so that I can medicate myself next time." (Virginial Woolf)
"This is an element of blackness." (Emily Dickinson)
Julia Kristeva called depression "The Black Sun."
Hamlet named it "The pale cast of thought."
Dante described it as "Black Wood."

And Andrew Solomon describes his depression in this metaphor---It feels like a vine slowly choking a vast oak tree."

"The Noonday Demon" will not tell the reader that there is only one way to solve or cure depression. Every individual is unique--thus---every individual will need to search for their own direction, their own path, and may come to the realization that depression really does not have a cure--but those people can learn from it, and gain knowledge of ways to live with the depression--intergrate it--and as Solomon says" learn to embrace it.

Andrew Solomon gives the reader a million directions to follow and numerous points of view. Nineteen million Americans suffer from chronic depression--What the hell are we going to do about it? Solomon does not give the reader answers, but does the research for us: statistics, interviews, studies, drugs, talk therapy, positive thinking, genetics, pychotherapy, psychobiology, Freudian views, Plato's writings, and of course, Andrew Solomon uncovers every secret and has no boundaries when writing about his own stuggle with the "Black Beast."

"I had to have my father cut up my lamb chops to feed to me." Solomon confesses. And to add a little humor in the midst of blackness--he uses this sentence throughout the book when friends called and he was having a bad day---"I'm afraid of lamb chops again, he would admit.

This book is for everybody, not just people who suffer from depression. We all need the knowledge, understanding, insight, and empathy (not indifference) for those 19 million people out there trying to find their way back into the light (people from our own families!)

"Noonday Demon" is a beautiful book that challenges all of us to open our minds and hearts and stop thinking of depression as a weakness--but instead, as a strength---that can be intergrated, embraced, and understood.

"It is the quality of life, not the existence of life." Andrew Solomon

A self-absorbed whine from a privileged pill popper.......2006-12-27

Solomon's research on the history and treatment of depression is impressive, but his anecdotal stories on his own and others' experiences will set back the public perception of the affliction 70 years! The clincher was when he describes a depressive friend who found some respite from her condition when her family bought her a pony (!) We should all be so lucky... and that's what you'll find yourself mumbling time and again on reading this book. From Solomon's endless supply of friends at his beck and call and seemingly able to drop their lives completely and at a moment's notice and for weeks at a time to pep talk and care for him, to his changing of doctors... er, "pharmacologists" and drug "cocktails" as often as most people change underwear, to his unnamed and unbelievably generous health plan that foots the bill for all this, you're ultimately left feeling that this is nothing more than a self-absorbed whine from a privileged pill popper who, together with his countless friends, seems to have little visible means of financial support (in Manhattan, no less!) as the characters of "Friends."

This book "Tells it like it is.".......2006-12-20

I am an Internal Medicine physician who suffers from major depression. In retrospect, I probably began having episodes as early as age ten. However, I had to wait until my last year of medical school while doing my psychiatric rotation to find out "what had been wrong with me" for all those years - and of course, I had to diagnose myself without the help of anyone else. Prior to then, I had had episodes where I had become dangerously suicidal, and I thank my lucky stars that I am still here to tell about it. I had also consulted with no less than my own personal doctor, two social workers, and a psychiatrist (with whom I met for several weeks) during the worst of it, and EVERY SINGLE PROFESSIONAL COMPLETELY MISSED THE DIAGNOSIS. (Thank you very much.)

Andrew Solomon's book is an incredibly accurate, rich and resourceful text of immense depth and humanity, and reflects my own personal, as well as professional, experiences with depression. I have recommended this book, not only to many of my patients, but also as necessary reading for all health care professionals. Most of the medical books and journals dealing with depression provide very little useful information for diagnosing and treating depression in the "real world" - giving only instead technical generalities and "lists of criteria" that would indeed miss depression in many patients. (For example, no useful and concrete examples are given when describing "Psychomotor Retardation".) Mr. Solomon's book would go a long way to explaining to the "uninitiated" what the subjective experience of depression is like. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

The Demon Soul (Warcraft: War of the Ancients, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

History continued
Interesting 2nd book continuing a great story
The second act of a play is always slow
A Must.
Illustrates Various Aspects of the Genre

The Demon Soul (Warcraft: War of the Ancients, Book 2)
Richard A. Knaak
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743471202

Book Description

THE BURNING LEGION HAS COME.

Led by the mighty Archimonde, scores of demonic soldiers now march across the lands of Kalimdor, leaving a trail of death and devastation in their wake. At the heart of the fiery invasion stands the mystic Well of Eternity -- once the source of the night elves' arcane power. But now the Well's energies have been defiled and twisted, for Queen Azshara and her Highborne will stop at nothing to commune with their newfound god: the fiery Lord of the Burning Legion...Sargeras.

The night elf defenders, led by the young druid, Malfurion Stormrage, and the wizard, Krasus, fight a desperate battle to hold back the Legion's terrible onslaught. Though only embers of hope remain, an ancient power has risen to aid the world in its darkest hour. The dragons -- led by the powerful Aspect, Neltharion -- have forged a weapon of incalculable power: the Dragon Soul, an artifact capable of driving the Legion from the world forever. But its use may cost far more than any could have foreseen.

The second novel in an original trilogy of magic, warfare, and heroism based on the bestselling, award-winning electronic game series from Blizzard Entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

History continued.......2007-08-09

As the second volume of the trilogy, it is an excellent continuation of the history of Warcraft and explains a lot about why things are the way they are in the game. Highly recommended

Interesting 2nd book continuing a great story.......2007-06-08

This book continues on from the earlier book, The well of eternity, i was so wrapped up in the story of the first book this was not a let down at all. I weas turning page after page so unravel the story. i can admit some sections began to repeat themselves slightly but i did indeed finsh this book within a week.

A fantastic read and continuation of the war of the ancients series.

4/5

The second act of a play is always slow.......2006-12-19

This book is a little slower than the rest. It has a lot to offer on the mythos and back story of warcraft, but it is very slow for this genre of book.

I almost didn't read the third book after reading this one. But you have to remember that this is the "second act" of a play. This is setting up the final conclusion you get in the third book.

The third book brings a lot of closure to the story, and a lot more of the lore of warcraft. I enjoyed the three as a set. If you like the warcraft books, grind your way through this to get to the third book. Afterall, not all of the lvl 1-60 is fun either is it? You do have to grind from time to time. :)

A Must........2006-06-27

Loved the whole triology... even my girlfriend who hates WOW, read these and liked them, that is a rating by itself. A must if you like the genre.

Illustrates Various Aspects of the Genre.......2006-06-08

I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I loved how one can learn about how various powers work (druidic powers interaction with nature or sorcerers powers that fetch magic directly from the well) and also about powerful natural spirit forces like Cenarius or Aviana and also the Aspects (powerful dragons embodying some cosmic force like time or the earth). There are hints about how the Old Gods (H.P. Lovecraft's cuthulu like entities) somehow corrupted the Well of Eternity and also corrupted Nefarion in a complex endeavor to engineer their release.

I've found that these details can really give on a feel of the Warcraft's universe that one cannot easily get through MMORPG or pen-n-paper Warcraft d20 game.

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