Book Description
A bright idea
People are the source of bright ideas in every organization. They power the organization's performance, competitive advantages, and long-term financial success. And when they are plugged into the firm's strategic goals, the results can be extraordinary.
By emphasizing the connection between organizational behavior and performance, Hitt, Miller, and Colella help you understand the value of OB to today's organizations and your future career.
Customer Reviews:
Organizational Behavior.......2007-08-22
This was a good book for the course I took. The information was current and relevant to the topics that were required.
Great Book!!.......2007-02-22
This was my first time ordering books online and I am satisfied with my purchase...would recommend buying textbooks online if it's cheaper.
Organizational Behavior a Broad View.......2006-11-10
This book is very interesting. It is an easy read and doesn't bog one down with a lot of technical terminology. I really like how the autor relates/compares a lot of the material to individuals as well as groups.
I am glad the professor chose this text.
Book Description
Advance reviews of Certain to Win
Certain to Win [Sun Tzu´s prognosis for generals who follow his advice] develops the strategy of the late US Air Force Colonel John R. Boyd for the world of business. Robert Coram's monumental biography, Boyd, the Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War, rekindled interest in this obscure pilot and documented his influence on military matters ranging from the design of the F-15 and F-16 fighters to the planning for Operation Desert Storm to the execution of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unfortunately Boyd's written legacy, consisting of a single paper and a four-set cycle of briefings, addresses strategy only in war. [All Boyd´s briefings are available on
Defense and the National Interest.]
Boyd and Business
Boyd did study business. He read everything he could find on the Toyota Production System and came to consider it as an implementation of ideas similar to his own. He took business into account when he formulated the final version of his "
OODA loop" and in his last major briefing, Conceptual Spiral, on science and technology. He read and commented on early versions of this manuscript, but he never wrote on how business could operate more profitably by using his ideas. Other writers and business strategists have taken up the challenge, introducing Boyd's concepts and suggesting applications to business. Keith Hammonds, in the magazine Fast Company, George Stalk and Tom Hout in Competing Against Time, and Tom Peters most recently in Re-imagine! have described the OODA loop and its effects on competitors. They made significan
Customer Reviews:
Control is an illusion.......2007-07-26
In environments that are marked by rapid and frequent change, such as battlefields and business, there have been a range of management processes to deal with that change. Generally, the approach has been tools and practices that attempt to control the rate or prediction of those changes - two things that are impossible to control. One cannot predict every possible future or every possible change and cannot therefore provide a plan that will fit every contingency. Attempting to plan for and control every contingency is inefficient and ineffective. What if you could learn, instead of how to control, how to thrive in rapidly changing environments? What if change could be made an ally instead of an opponent to your plans? Dr. Richards, a student of the late Col. John Boyd, has developed insights into just how to let go of the illusion of control in favor of learning to thrive in the apparent chaos of business competition. As a long time software engineer, I find Dr. Richards' insight especially helpful in facing the challenges of ever changing requirements, priorities, rapid design cycles, and intense competition. It sits well with the "extreme programming" theorists that emphasize the same approach to everyday software development that gets away from the structured and unbending schedule plans of most software development processes. I am certain the same approach will be helpful to more than just software business practices.
Most business practices assume that we can control our environment and mold it into the image we prefer. But control is an illusion; Dr. Richards can help you break out of the illusion into the real world.
Certain to Win.......2007-05-07
Chet Richards does an excellent job illustrating and exposing the ideas and brilliance of John Boyd, especially as it relates to business. Chet was not only a friend and acolyte to Col. Boyd, he became an equal and co-creator of John's wisdom and philosophy. This probably explains why he understands and instinctively knows how John might apply his "O-O-D-A Loop" or "Building Snowmobiles" to the business challenges of today. The philosophy detailed in "Certain to Win" is the key to solving the most difficult problems of business, government and society. Organizations which can understand and apply the four components of "Maneuver Warfare" will succeed when facing uncertainty and unpredictable change. Once we develop an awareness of our own paradigms (Boyd's Orientation Phase), and an ability to rapidly change or reorient those paradigms (Speeding-Up Our Decision Cycle) we can literally practice "Guerrilla Warfare of the Mind." Decisions and organizational thought processes become intuitive, combining the inductive and deductive approaches. By speeding up our ability to analyze and synthesize near simultaneously, we effectively create our own "Temporal Distortion," that is time slows down for us. In business, as in war, speed and cunning beats size and strength every time. Chet Richards is On Target & On Time with "Certain to Win." Cheers!
CERTAIN TO WIN.......2007-03-24
Dr. Chet Richards' work is an extraordinarily fine piece of tight writing designed to take the mystery out of the O.O.D.A. Loop decision cycle itself and how one might apply it in areas outside of the battlefield where it is often applied. Despite the handicap of being a brilliant mathematician Dr. Richards approaches and covers the topic utilizing a useful layman's view.
With clear language Richards presents the fundamentals of Colonel John Boyd's revolutionary thinking on decision cycles - which thinking became the genesis for modern manuever warfare. Dr. Richards' real contribution lies in his knack for taking what some might consider arcane military theories and laying them on top of current business models and making the case - successfully in my view - for their incorporation as the new "best practices in business.
The book is a delightful read which re-informs military types regarding the enduring value of "Boydian Thinking" - it will also stretch the minds of our keenest business leaders. Should be in any thinker and doer's personal library.
Bill Hayes
Major, USMC (Ret.)
Great Stuff - Boyd on Business.......2007-02-13
Sadly it is only after his death that we have come to have widespread appreciation of Boyd's great intellect. This book is another great step in finding broader application of some of what Boyd taught.Chet Richards has done a great job of bringing Boyd's message to the business world.
Some have questioned whether a view of decision making in combat was applicable to business. The answer is yes, sometimes and perhaps more often than you think. Boyd is probably even more applicable to political campaigns.
Were I still teaching MBA students, some of the material from the book would be in the classroom, replacing more traditional materials.
I would read Boyd first as a foundation for this book.
Highly recommended.
Interesting concepts - bland delivery........2007-02-06
I thoroughly enjoyed the Coram book about Boyd, so I bought this book as a follow-up. I thought that Richards' ideas with regards to the application of Boyd's OODA loop concepts were sound - however I thought at times his delivery didn't do the topic justice. Several times during my reading I found explanations to be almost too rudimentary or obvious.
Book Description
Filthy Rich Clients refers to ultra-graphically rich applications that ooze cool. They suck the user in from the outset and hang on to them with a death grip of excitement.
Filthy Rich Clients: Developing Animated and Graphical Effects for Desktop Java™ Applications shows you how to build better, more effective, cooler desktop applications that intensify the user experience.
The keys to Filthy Rich Clients are graphical and animated effects. These kinds of effects provide ways of enhancing the user experience of the application through more attractive GUIs, dynamic effects that give your application a pulse, and animated transitions that keep your user connected to the logical flow of the application. The book also discusses how to do so effectively, making sure to enrich applications in sensible ways.
In-depth coverage includes
-
Graphics and GUI fundamentals: Dig deep into the internals of how Swing and Java 2D work together to display GUI applications onscreen. Learn how to maximize the flexibility of these libraries and use them most effectively.
-
Performance: Follow in-depth discussions and tips throughout the book that will help you write high-performing GUI applications.
-
Images: Understand how images are created and used to make better Java applications.
-
Advanced graphics: Learn more about elements of Swing and Java 2D that are of particular benefit to Filthy Rich Clients.
-
Animation: Discover general concepts of animation, as well as how to use the facilities provided in the Java platform. Learn new utility libraries that vastly simplify animations in Java.
-
Effects: Learn how to create, customize, and use static and animated effects—the mainstays of Filthy Rich Clients.
Code examples illustrate key concepts, and the book’s companion Web site, http://filthyrichclients.org, includes extensive demos, utility libraries, additional information on related technologies, and more.
Informal, fun, and, most of all, useful, this book is great for any developer working with Java to build desktop applications.
Customer Reviews:
A must have ..........2007-10-10
This is a very good book. It can enlighten even your basic knowledge
about java 2d drawing and swing. It is not a book for beginners. If you
love swing/java2d this is the book for you!
Filthy Rich Clients.......2007-10-05
This very practical book is full of usefull tips to create your own filthy rich client. Definately worth reading!
A fun and useful Java book.......2007-08-22
This is one of those "fun books" on Java that you used to see so much of in the 90's but are pretty much no longer written. This book is about building better desktop applications that employ interesting graphical and animated effects. This book was meant to be worked through from beginning to end, although if you are already familiar with the technology that does not mean you can't skip around. The book has plenty of code and some math. However, as in the example in the section on morphing, the book does not try to get into heavy-duty math. If there are open source libraries that do the trick, as there are in the case of morphing effects, the authors refer you to that library. They do explain math if all it involves is something on the level of fairly simple matrix algebra - blurring for example. The book is not a primer on Swing. It assumes the reader has experience in that area. However, some of the touchier aspects of Swing that may not be self-evident to even experienced Swing programmers are explained in the first couple of chapters of the book. In particular, the authors do a pretty good job of explaining how Swing and Java 2D work together, which is hard to find in books and even in online tutorials. Obviously, there is lots of code involved in such a book, and although there are snippets in the book to the point that you can understand what's going on, you'll want to go to the book's website at O'Reilly & Associates and download the whole thing so you can study it and play with it. The book is divided into four parts as follows:
Part I - Graphics and GUI Fundamentals
Not a fundamental tutorial on building GUI's in Java, it points out the stuff you need to get up to speed with the APIs and techniques that later parts of the book build upon.
Chapter 1. Desktop Java Graphics APIs: Swing, AWT, and Java 2D
Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT);
Java 2D; Swing;
Chapter 2. Swing Rendering Fundamentals
Events; Swing Painting; Swing Rendering; Double-Buffering; Threading;
Chapter 3. Graphics Fundamentals
Java 2D; Rendering;
Chapter 4. Images
Image Types; BufferedImage; Image Scaling;
Chapter 5. Performance
Use the Clip; Compatible Images; Managed Images; Intermediate Images; Optimal Primitive Rendering; Benchmark ;Command-Line Flags;
Part II - Advanced Graphics Rendering
Continues looking at Java 2D and Swing. The first pat talks about composites, gradients, and image processing support in Java. The second part talks about Swing components that support graphical applications - the glass pane, layered panes, and the repaint manager.
Chapter 6. Composites
AlphaComposite; AlphaComposite: The 12 Rules; Creating and Setting Up an AlphaComposite; Common Uses of AlphaComposite; Issues with AlphaComposite; Create Your Own Composite; Summary;
Chapter 7. Gradients
Two-Stops Linear Gradient; Special Effects with Regular Gradients; Multistops Linear Gradient; Radial Gradient; Optimizing Gradients;
Chapter 8. Image Processing
Image Filters; Processing an Image with BufferedImageOp;AffineTransformOp; ColorConvertOp; ConvolveOp; LookupOp; RescaleOp; Custom BufferedImageOp; A Note about Filters Performance; Summary;
Chapter 9. Glass Pane
Painting on the Glass Pane; Blocking Input Events;
Chapter 10. Layered Panes;
Using Layered Pane Layers; Ordering Components within a Single Layer; Layered Panes and Layouts; Alternative to JLayeredPane with Layouts;
Chapter 11. Repaint Manager
When Swing Gets Too Smart; Meet the RepaintManager; A Reflection on RepaintManager; Summary;
Part III - Animation
Discusses the basics of animation in Java and the existing facilities in the core language that make it possible. Covers the Timing Framing library that simplifies Java animation.
Chapter 12. Animation Fundamentals
It's About Time; Fundamental Concepts; Timing (and Platform Timing Utilities); Resolution; Animating Your Swing Application; Summary;
Chapter 13. Smooth Moves
Background: Why Does My Animation Look Bad?; What Makes Animations Choppy, and How to Smooth Them Out; SmoothMoves: The Demo; Summary;
Chapter 14. Timing Framework: Fundamentals
Introduction; Core Concepts; Interpolation; Summary;
Chapter 15. Timing Framework: Advanced Features
Triggers; Property Setters; Summary;
Part IV - Effects
Effects are only possible after you really understand parts one through three. Individual effects are covered and explained in detail if not overly mathematically complex. The section ends by showing how an example graphically rich client might be developed from beginning to end.
Chapter 16. Static Effects
Blur; Reflection; Drop Shadows; Highlights; Sharpening; Summary;
Chapter 17. Dynamic Effects
Motion; Fading; Pulse; Spring; Morphing; Summary;
Chapter 18. Animated Transitions
Animating Application State Segues; Animated Transitions: The Library ;Animated Transitions: Under the Hood, or How Do You Get Swing to Do That?; Summary;
Chapter 19. Birth of a Filthy Rich Client
Workflow Paper Design; he Vision; Screen Paper Design; Mockup; From Mockup to Code; But I'm Not an Artist; Choosing Nice Colors; Read Design Books; Summary;
Overall, this is a very interesting book full of useful information both language-wise and effects-wise that I highly recommend.
Book Description
With help from the Lean Community, we made the new Third Edition of the Lean Lexicon even more valuable and useful. Starting with improvement ideas from Community members like you, we researched and added 21 definitions to the latest edition of this popular and indispensable reference book.
The expanded Third Edition, featuring 58 illustrations, defines 187 key lean terms from A3 Report to Yokoten. The new definitions include Lean Consumption and Lean Provision, the groundbreaking ideas on using lean principles to build a new producer-consumer model described in Lean Solutions by James Womack and Daniel Jones. True to the Lexicon's description as a "graphical glossary," we included consumption and provision maps. Here's the complete list of new terms:
* Genchi Genbutsu
* Hansei
* Jishuken
* Lean Consumption Maps
* Lean Provision
* Quality Function Deployment
* Shojinka
* Six Sigma
* Theory of Constraints
* Total Quality Management
* Yokoten
* Group Leaders
* Isolated Islands
* Lean Consumption
* Lean Provision Maps
* Preventive Maintenance
* Resident Engineer
* Quality Control Circle
* Team Leader
* Total Quality Control
* Work Element
The new edition retains past improvement ideas from readers, such as the simple, one-page guide to pronouncing Japanese terms.
Unlike most other business glossaries in print or online, the Lexicon is focused exclusively on lean thinking. It also makes abundant use of illustrations and examples, and was compiled with input from managers and engineers who are implementing lean.
Customer Reviews:
Lean REFERENCE book.......2006-01-07
If you are involved in training an organization in lean principles and want to provide an unbiased, well defined glossary on lean concepts and terms commonly used--this is an excellent book. First and foremost, it is a REFERENCE BOOK--it sits on your desk or in your department library for quick reference. The reason I love this book is the succinct explanation of the A3 lean methodology--it is perfect. If you want to continue to have a quickie ref to keep people on track with lean principles plus sustain and improve your processes after your initial events (kaizens or kaikakus)--keep this book in your library and use the A3 methodology.
And Now a Lean Dictionary.......2004-11-24
This pricey little (5" x 8" spiral bound) listing of lean manufacturing terms (Lean Enterprise style) is a good (and the only one that I know of) compilation of the Japanese lanquage terms of lean manufacturing replete with diagrams.
It is a great reference for all the lean wanna be's and is great for settling lean terminology bets, but it is far too shallow a reference to appreciably improve your knowledge of lean manufacturing.
Customer Reviews:
XP installed is both interesting and thought provoking.......2006-09-26
Whether you believe XP can work or not, this book will cause you to think about software programming in ways you never had before. By now most of us are familiar with the basics of XP: simplicity, communication, feedback, and courage. At the core of the XP philosophy are the concepts of pair programming, writing unit tests before coding, and small incremental software releases. The emphasis is on quality and rapid turn around.
The book opens with a foreword by Kent Beck. He is the creator of XP, and the author of Extreme Programming Explained. "XP was conceived and developed to address the specific needs of software development conducted by small teams in the face of vague and changing requirements." What this book does is to take it one step further by showing us how to implement the controversial principles of XP. The process begins by defining the roles of the customer, programmer, and manager. Each participant must provide a symmetric piece of the XP pie. The customer: determines what is to be done and how it is tested. The programmer: designs, tests, and builds. The manager: coordinates and facilitates the interactions between customer and programmer.
The authors tell us that software analysis is done in stories. A story is a short description of how the system will behave. The requirements gathering phase consists of the customer telling a story of what the software is do. Written on 5x8 index cards these stories will be later refined, sorted by importance, and handed to the programming teams for implementation. "Stories should encompass a week or two of programmer time." Any more than a week and the story is too long, any less and the story should be combined with other stories and treated as a group. When the stories are done it is time to write the test code. Working on one story at a time the programmer writes a test for each task in a story, and then codes for that particular task until it works.
After reading this book, readers will be amazed at the simplicity of the XP system. Metrics and modeling is not really necessary in the XP world. "Success is measured in Resources, Scope, Quality, and Time." The book was written in the clear and lighthearted manner we've come to expect from the XP family. You may not be ready to embrace the change, but XP installed is both interesting and thought provoking.
Good solid content, but not the best book to start with.......2003-09-07
This book is part of a series with "Extreme Programming Explained" and "Planning Extreme Programming", and needs to be viewed in that context. "Extreme Programming Explained" is the manifesto, designed to get you fired up about the subject but thin on detail. "Extreme Programming Installed" covers some of the same ground, but focuses on real-world examples and advice on how to make Extreme Programming really work.
Jeffries and the team are not afraid to face up to things people have trouble with in real situations. The book covers dealing with difficult managers and customers, deciding what needs testing, making pair programming work for you, and lots more. The bulk of the book goes through the practices of Extreme Programming step by step, but some of the most useful stuff is contained in the so-called "bonus tracks" which appear at the end. The book also has a large and interesting annotated bibliography. Well worth reading, but I'd recommend that you start with "Extreme Programming Explained", then read this one if you like the idea, but want a more practical approach.
One book, many authors.......2003-08-08
There's a certain amount of repetition in this book. It makes me feel that perhaps each of the three authors took their assigned chapters and wrote them, much like they would take their assigned "story cards" at the beginning of a project.
But there's good practical advice here.
Take out a yellow highlighter and resolve: "OK, I'm going to highlight at least one good idea on every page". You'll be able to do it.
If you read only one book on XP, this should be it........2002-12-06
I've read several of the original XP books (Explained & Planning) and to me this is the one that best explains XP and how to implement it. This book was a revolution for me, and I haven't looked at software development in the same way since I read it. It's hard to convert a company (especially managers) to XP, even at a new company on a new project. Managers typically want developers to agree to schedules based on business goals. XP will show you how to do this, but XP won't let you do the impossible. There are tradeoffs, functionality for time. Less time equals less functionality. Sometimes managers just don't understand this (they want it all and they want it now). In that case, it's best to find a new job! But if you are able to apply the XP method, you will love your work, your customer and manager will be happy, and software development will be a pleasant and enjoyable experience.
A final note, I've read this book twice and several sections probably over a dozen times. It can be a little skimpy on details and examples in a few places. I've recently glanced through the new XP books and they give examples and fill in details, but they're expensive and you'd have to spend hundreds of dollars to buy them all and get all the details! Instead look to the web. There's an XP newsgroup (search for it with Google). This book won't take you 100% but it will get you close enough to make it the rest of the way. And of course if you can afford to buy XP Explained and Planning XP I think they're worth it.
Accurate, Practical.......2002-10-13
This book, as well as "Extreme Programming Applied" by Ken Auer and Roy Miller are the two which should be read by a developer after the introductory "Extreme Programming Explained" by Kent Beck. XP Explained will encourage a reader to the new way of thinking, without bothering with technical details. For a manager it is OK, but for the developer, a bunch of questions will arise. "XP Applied" and "XP Installed" are to answer these questions, providing lots of tips, tricks and case studies.
The only disadvantage is that all the useful examples in these book contain code in SmallTalk, while C++ and Java are popular nowadays. SmallTalk has a distinct, unique style and may frighten C++ or Java developers. That's why I've rated the book four stars.
I would recommend this book to any XP'er.
Book Description
Larry McCabe was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He studied music with a number of teachers including Eldon Shamblin, legendary swing guitarist and arranger for Bob Wills. Deciding on freelance teaching as a music career, Larry received his degree in education from the University of Arizona in 1979. Since graduating from college, Larry has taught over 30,000 private music lessons. An experienced blues guitarist, he played in the Gulf Coast Blues Band, wrote a Living Blues magazine column called "Blues Box," and is currently on the nominating committee for the annual W. C Handy awards. Larry's vast experience in private teaching has given him a unique understanding of the educational needs of the typical music student. Beginning with Blues, Boogie and Rock Guitar in 1984, he has written a number of Mel Bay books on various subjects including guitar, bass, and song writing techniques.
Customer Reviews:
There may be an error in the product description - but this is still a GREAT book!.......2007-05-30
There may be an error in the product description - I don't think Larry McCabe was involved in this book. That aside, THIS IS A GREAT BOOK! Authors John McClellan and Deyan Bratic have crafted an amazing resource, featuring transcriptions ranging from Chet's earliest arrangements to his (in our opinion) best work in his final 2-CD set Chet Atkins - Solo Sessions
Beautiful, informative, and well put together........2007-03-15
If you are a Chet fan these transcriptions are a must have. Thorough and concise transcriptions of many of his lesser known pieces are included, as well as insight from the people with whom he collaborated throughout his long and versatile career. I highly reccommend Vol. 1 of this pairing as well. Buy them both, you won't be disappointed!
Average customer rating:
|
Mr. Atomic Energy: Congressman Chet Holifield and Atomic Energy Affairs, 1945-1974 (Contributions in Political Science)
Richard Wayne Dyke
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Natural Resources | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Nuclear | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Living on the Land | Ecology | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books | Architecture | Hunting & Fishing
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0313262446 |
Book Description
Dubbed "Mr. Atomic Energy" by Congressional colleagues and friends in recognition of his 28 years as a member and 10 years as House leader of the House-Senate Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (JCAE), Democratic Congressman Chet Holifield of California's 19th Congressional District served 32 years in Congress, from 1943 through 1974, and was a powerful figure in atomic energy matters. This first biography of Holifield, in chronicling the Congressman's significant role in the development and course of U.S. atomic energy programs and policies, also serves as a history of the formative period of this new force in national and international politics. An early champion of atomic energy, Holifield's efforts contributed to the establishment of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 and earned him a place on the JCAE. His 1949 recommendation on the H-bomb led to the development of this new weapon nine months before the Russians. An ardent proponent of public power in the 1950s, Holifield opposed the premature involvement of private industry in the development of atomic power and urged increased government participation in that area; many of his recommendations were later authorized by the Atomic Energy Commission. Holifield supported the conversion of the Hanford, Washington "N-reactor" to electricity as well as plutonium production, criticized U.S. civil defense strategy as inadequate, and championed both peaceful use of atomic energy and a "nuclear Navy." During the Nixon administration, in response to environmentalists" opposition to further atomic power development, the Congressman took the unpopular position that trade-offs between safety concerns and the public's need for increased amounts of electrical power were necessary. He also sponsored legislation that divided the AEC into the Research and Development Administration and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a move that affected the course of atomic energy development well beyond his retirement. The first chapter is devoted to a biographical sketch of Holifield's life prior to his congressional career, while the remaining nine chapters trace his influence and contributions in atomic energy matters. The in-depth description of the Holifield Papers as well as the select bibliography will be of great value to scholars of atomic energy history. Serving as an introduction to the wide range of atomic energy topics and issues, this biography would be a significant addition to the reading lists for American history survey courses as well as being useful for seminars that have students investigate atomic energy history.
Book Description
Direct marketing is a trillion-dollar industry and a marketing discipline that produces the bottom-line results most companies want to achieve. Many businesses are becoming more aware of the potential direct marketing offers, and as new technologies and opportunities emerge, more marketers are including this discipline in their marketing mix.
In
The Complete Guide to Direct Marketing: Creating Breakthrough Programs That Really Work master marketer Chet Meisner provides a step-by-step overview of direct marketing from strategic approach to execution. You will learn important insights and essential tricks of the trade, including:
· The strategic role direct marketing can play in your overall marketing programHow to buy lists and manage your data effectively
· The time-tested ways to create powerful direct marketing creative
· The most common rules for direct marketing that work in all the media including email, web sites, mail, print, and broadcast
· How the discipline of direct marketing can have a direct impact on a company’s sales and profitability
The Complete Guide to Direct Marketing: Creating Breakthrough Programs That Really Work is the complete primer for any marketing professional engaging in direct marketing, including veterans and those new to the discipline. Cover-to-cover this valuable guide includes the essential information you need to be a successful direct marketer and brings it to life with actual case studies from well-known companies and more than 50 charts, illustrations, tables and other graphics.
Customer Reviews:
A beginner's book. Too much background info on Direct Marketing........2007-05-30
After reading the reviews, I thought this book was what I was looking for (a book to help me improve my direct marketing campaigns). However, after reading it, it is for someone who is getting into direct marketing and needs a crash course. It has sections that provides tips to improve copy or creative, but most of the book is foundational stuff. He tries to ingrain that Direct Marketing is a strategy and repeats it way too much times throughout the book.
Complete For This Beginner.......2007-03-31
I needed a quick read to get my first direct marketing campaign started. This book provides comparisons to other marketing techniques and direct marketing examples. Also, it provides guidelines for approaching your audience and testing your approach. Easy read. I will read this book again to fine tune my approach down the road.
The Complete Guide To Direct Marketing.......2006-07-02
If you are looking for ways to make your direct marketing efforts more effective, more profitable, Chet Meisner's "The Complete Guide To Direct Marketing" is a must read.
What's really first-rate about the book is the up-to-date information that includes the new marketing technology, along with a good review of the classic elements of a successful direct marketing campaigns. This is definitely a book for pro's and new marketers who plan to use direct marketing.
M.E. Newton, President, Dirmark Group, Inc.
Cover says it .......2006-06-20
cool cover and yes this book shows exactly how to find the red umbrella people and move them down the buying path.
Marketing should Drive Sales - This Book tells you how........2006-06-20
For business people who have to sell stuff, this is the best, most up-to-date book on direct marketing I've seen. A lot of the other direct marketing books are second and third editions of older books that seem like they were written when direct marketing was just about direct mail. But Chet Meisner's book is more up-to-date and, in addition to covering "snail mail", he also provides practical advice on direct marketing on the Internet, email, television, radio, print, and the latest technologies like interactive DVR and text messaging --- how to do them and where to get lists for them etc
I really liked the chapters on strategy and business metrics. It helps a lot to understand how to plan your marketing and track your results so you can prove the success of your program on the bottom line: something I have to do every day. And the case studies were really great and informative. The chapter on creative was really helpful. I didn't realize there were so many "rules" for direct marketing copy and art. Also the chapters on lists and databases were very thorough.
There are definitely longer direct marketing books out there (this one is about 280 pages) but this book seems to be just long enough. You get the sense that the author has really "been there and done that." ---no soft fluff or useless theories for filler. Useful facts on every page. If you're looking for a way to increase your bottom line with direct marketing this book will definitely help you learn what you need to know without making you slog through a lot of extra text.
Mark Buckingham
VP Sales and Marketing
Callpod
www.callpod.com
Book Description
Now, drawing on hundreds of interviews and previously untapped sources, the author gives a hair-raising account of the trumpeter's dark journey.
Customer Reviews:
"Face of an angel, heart of a demon".......2007-07-27
I'd had vague recognition of the name Chet Baker until a trip to Amsterdam a year ago. Across from our hotel--now owned by a major chain--stood a plaque noting that Baker had died on that spot in 1988. I soon learned that in 1988, that area was among the worst of Europe's Skid Rows and that Baker had fallen from the window above to his death.
This book, if you can get through it all without being completely disgusted, is not at all flattering to the man. He recorded hundreds of records, very few any good due to his drug addictions and abhorrent version of a work ethic. But boy, when he was good, he was awesome. Often dismissed as a pale white version of Miles Davis, he attracted admirers of both sexes with his boyish looks and sad songs that, at his best, seemed to flow effortlessly from his trumpet.
Still, the book goes on too long, hence the three stars. We learn, with increasing incredulity, what a despicable person Baker was--absentee father, abusive husband and lover (often at the same time), thief, burglar, arsonist, rapist, forger, drug smuggler, literal pusher (he injected at least one person with heroin against her will). And those were with his friends! About the only thing he didn't do was murder (although he did secretly dispose of a shooting buddy who OD'd on him, dumping it in an alley). And, of course, there were the drugs; taking more than 200 crushed-up pills a day, the only place he didn't inject himself was his eyeball. To add to this incredible list of sordid behaviors, he vehemently refused over and over again to get tested for AIDS, despite his penchant for needle-sharing in the most unseemly of communities.
By the time of Baker's death in 1988, he is so pathetic one ALMOST feels sorry for him. Toothless, gaunt and ever cruel to everyone who ever reached out to him, even his fans looked for foul play as the reason behind the death of the otherwise indestructible Chet Baker. Only a concrete post crushing his head seemed to finish the job he'd started so many years before. (The contrast between Baker on the front and back cover photographs illustrates the toll on his physical appearance, never mind the rest of him.)
I have since borrowed a copy of In Paris: Barclay Sessions 1955-1956, which is a lovely album from sessions recorded in a relatively sober period in the mid-1950s. Still, the ugliness of the artist precludes full enjoyment of the album. In the end, it's just sad.
Valentine.......2007-07-07
Having just finished "Deep in a Dream" I want to mention a few thoughts.
As a read, it has a tension throughout. Odd for a biography when the ending is known at the outset. I believe it's created by the high level of research and the writer's editing choices of that level of detail.
I chose the book because of my having seen Chet Baker. Once.
It was 1966. There is a picture in the book from that appearance.
Having seen perhaps many hundred's of performances by many different jazz artists that one was the real deal. As a musical-human performance. The reputation of jazz is that it is all about improvising. That is seldom the case in my listening life. Only a small percentage have it and use it. Chet Baker is one of those rare ones.
The song has haunted me ever since. As " My Funny Valentine " has stayed with so many other folk. The conflict's in the book are tough to read.
The seeming lack of redemption for Chet's life...........It's rough but a worthwhile read. I do think Mr. Gavin must of been glad to be done with the project. I hope he worked on something a bit lighter afterward.
Be prepared to be radically disillusioned........2005-08-15
Just a glance at the front and back covers tells you quite a bit about Chet Baker. On the front he's an almost singularly good-looking young man, the equal of Hollywood actors of the day. On the back he looks like a corpse that's neglected to lie down and stop moving. Jazz, travel, pain, and heroin. That's Chet Baker's biography. He was a right bastard and if someone did push him they probably had a pretty good reason, played one hell of a gorgeous trumpet though.
Hatred........2005-05-31
I'm curious why someone who apparently thinks Chet Baker is a no-talent hack, would go to all the trouble of writing a biography of him?
After stating early on that Baker's horn playing was just a pale imitation of others, his voice was weak, etc. Mr. Gavin contradicts himself based on other peoples reviews of later performances.
It's really got nothing to do with Chet's music here anyways, it's just a book demonizing him as a person pretty much.
While it's interesting to see the life Chet led, the book over all just seems like an attack on a man who isn't even around to defend himself.
If the idea was just to make a buck off a dead celebrity, James Gavin would have done well to choose a celebrity that more people are interested in.
If there's a reason for Mr. Gavin's apparent vendetta against Chet Baker, that story might make for more interesting reading.
Synopisis: Chet Baker was a junkie and he hurt a lot of people.
That's about all you're going to learn here, and I said it in a sentence. Mr. Gavin tells us over and over and needs 448 pages to do so.
The companion CD 'Deep in a Dream' pretty well disproves James Gavin's critiques of Baker's talent, and gives a far more important picture of Chet Baker as a truly gifted and important artist.
Skip the book, get the CD.
Pityfull mr.gavin ........2004-11-30
Ooooooo, mr.gavin, if you can reach 1/10000000000000000000, glory and popularity, and geniousity, of Mr. CHET BAKER.
Better listen Chet`s, music and be quiet please!!
Book Description
Those who suffer from Macular Degeneration or other degenerative eye diseases including Cataracts, Lacoma, Retinitis Pigmentosa and eye diseases associated with diabetes can benefit from this book. Readers learn symptoms, causes, treatments and prevention strategies using all-natural and alternative methods. The book shows how nutrition, dietary supplements, exercises and other methods can bring relief.
Customer Reviews:
Good Book.......2007-01-12
This is a good book if you are in to natural heaing. I was actually doing research on Macular Degeneration for my Dad and picked this one up. To be honest though, had I been in a bookstore actually glancing through it, I probably would not have purchased it. Nothing bad about it, but just not worth the money.
Macular Degeneration Discussion Inadequate.......1999-12-11
Remarkably this book has only one chapter on macular degeneration. Other eye diseases are discussed in chapters that follow. Useful descriptions of macular degeneration research or ways to achieve living independence are lacking. Heavy emphasis is placed upon nutrition therapy. I found other books to be of more value in understanding the role of nutrition strategies in preserving sight and practical ways to follow them in daily living. This book alone will not fulfill most needs.
Down to earth and extremely helpful..........1999-09-25
Provides concrete advice for those who have researched "fix-it" methods and found them wanting. Definitely for those who are interested in natural means to retard degeneration of remaining vision.
Offers a natural alternative to losing vision!.......1999-03-05
My eye doctor told me I suffered from macular degeneration and I would gradually lose a good deal of my eye sight. He said there is no treatment for the condition that he was aware of. This book offers a natural alternative to losing vision. The book is based on fairly substantial research. The book gives you a detailed program of proper food and nutritional supplements that have been successful in halting the progression of this problem and even reversing its degenerative eye-sight robbing effects. I've started the program. While it's too early to report improvement at least I now have hope of improving my condition. The book is written for the lay person and is very easy to read yet packed with information.
Books:
- Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion (Ologies)
- Playing the Selective College Admissions Game
- Raising Vegetarian Children : A Guide to Good Health and Family Harmony
- Resonant Leadership: Renewing Yourself and Connecting with Others Through Mindfulness, Hope, and Compassion
- Roswell High Series 1 Through 10: The Outsider; The Wild One; The Seeker; The Watcher; The Intruder; The Stowaway; The Vanished; The Rebel; The Dark One; The Salvation
- Schaum's Outline of Heat Transfer
- Seduced by Moonlight (Meredith Gentry, Book 3)
- Sex Magic, Tantra & Tarot: The Way of the Secret Lover
- Shadows Of Destiny
- Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Knitting on the Edge: Ribs, Ruffles, Lace, Fringes, Floral, Points & Picots: The Essential Colle
- Death in Winter
- Strategies for Organic Drug Synthesis and Design
- The Wyndham Legacy
- William Randolph Hearst: The Early Years, 1863-1910
- Entomology and Pest Management
- Art Deco Textiles: The French Designers
- The Pink Glass Swan: Selected Essays on Feminist Art
- Toward a Geography of Art
- To Reach Yonder
Fundamentals of Human Resource Management
The Truth About Managing People...And Nothing But the Truth
Business Ethics: Stakeholder and Issues Management Approach
Essentials of Contemporary Management
Understanding and Managing Organizational Behavior (4th Edition)
The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Know: Studies in Organizational Behavior
A Primer on Organizational Behavior (Wiley Series in Management)
