High Fidelity

Average customer rating:

Good, but Rob's stubbornness makes for sometimes tiresome read

I'm not musical enough for it to be my favorite...

Brings back good memories.

Fun and relaxing

More than just the top 5 lists...
High Fidelity
Nick Hornby
Manufacturer: Riverhead Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Hornby, Nick | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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About a Boy

Fever Pitch

A Long Way Down

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High Fidelity

ASIN: 1573225517

Amazon.com

It has been said often enough that baby boomers are a television generation, but the very funny novel High Fidelity reminds that in a way they are the record-album generation as well. This funny novel is obsessed with music; Hornby's narrator is an early-thirtysomething English guy who runs a London record store. He sells albums recorded the old-fashioned way--on vinyl--and is having a tough time making other transitions as well, specifically adulthood. The book is in one sense a love story, both sweet and interesting; most entertaining, though, are the hilarious arguments over arcane matters of pop music.

Book Description

Rob is a pop music junkie who runs his own semi-failing record store. His girlfriend, Laura, has just left him and he's both miserable and relieved. After all, he could have spent his life with someone who has a bad record collection. Rob seeks refuge in the company of Barry and Dick, the offbeat clerks at his store who endlessly review their top five films, top five Elvis Costello songs, and top five episodes of Cheers. Rob tries dating a singer called Marie. Maybe its just that he's always wanted to sleep with someone who has a record contract. But then he sees Laura again. And Rob begins to think that a life as an episode of Thirty-something might not be so bad.

"...as funny, compulsive and contemporary a first novel as you could wish for" (GQ)

Customer Reviews:

Good, but Rob's stubbornness makes for sometimes tiresome read.......2007-07-03

High Fidelity is the third Nick Hornby book I've read. And like About a Boy and A Long Way Down, it features a lot of the insightful, often funny navel-gazing I've found appealing in Hornby's other books. In this case, we get to listen in on the thoughts of Rob, a sort of neurotic, disconnected thirtysomething who's just broken up with his fifth or sixth girlfriend. He's vaguely reminiscent of the Will Lightman character from About a Boy. He can't maintain stable relationships and has obsessions with things that interfere greatly with his social life. My main gripe with this book though is that his observations rarely seem to show some sort of growth or progression of character. Only after a particular, tragic event, late into the novel, do we finally begin to see a different Rob, one who begins to realize that he's got his priorities all mixed up and begins to take responsibility for more important things. It's a refreshing change of pace after a lot of the confused, sad self-centered ramblings, funny and dead-on as some of them may be. It's hard to be too critical of this lack of drive in the novel, because Hornby obviously wanted to develop a fully realized character in Rob, which I feel he has done successfully. It sometimes, however, makes for a tiring read, especially when one can't always rely on the pop culture references for laughter or knowing amusement. (I got like maybe half of them!) More interaction with some of the supporting characters would've been nice too--especially Barry, Rob's co-worker at the record shop, who's even more socially inept and out of touch, and Marie, an underground country singer who Rob has a one night fling with. An enjoyable, readable book about a pretty unsympathetic guy--that's sort of an accomplishment in of itself, but I can't say I'm as enthusiastic of the book overall as the majority of reviewers.

I'm not musical enough for it to be my favorite..........2007-06-28

Allow me to clarify the above statement. I had read Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down, at the recommendation of a friend. I loved it and definitely feel the sense that I could read it over again at some point. High Fidelity, on the other hand, while a very well written book, with funny moments, very real characters, and a good story, just isn't the same for me. I liked it a lot, but I didn't love it, and most likely would not pick it up again.

And as I sit here I can't help but wonder if it's because I'm not that into music and obviously the main character, his life, and a large bulk of the story revolve around it. I realize there are relationships, real life thoughts, fears, and moments, and that's what I enjoyed and took from this book. However, I couldn't help but think that if these were sports references and not musical ones, I'd be much more interested in the details.

Despite all that, I was interested in the story. It was a quick read, and like the other Hornby book I read, filled with some funny moments, some poignant thoughts about life, and a strong dose of reality. I appreciate all of that. My favorite part of the book, probably, was the interaction between Rob and Barry's characters. Their exchanges were sharp and funny. The record shop, itself a big character, and all the other odd characters that found their way there, were equally enjoyable. I also must admit that I liked the top five lists, despite my not knowing many of the musicians on them.

Overall, I give High Fidelity four stars because I really do appreciate most of what the book was about and the overall journey of reading it. I just find that I liked A Long Way Down much better.

Brings back good memories........2007-06-10

Just a fun, easy read about guy/girl relationships...from the guy's point of view. While the main character was different from me in many ways, I could completely relate in 9 out of 10 experiences. I hope you enjoy too.

Fun and relaxing.......2007-02-28

I had big expectations on this novel and fortunately, it didn't disappoint me. It's easy to read, all the cultural references just make the text even more entertaining. The best part? It really gives you lights about guys' behavior.

More than just the top 5 lists..........2007-02-10

"High Fidelity" is a near-perfect novel. Not only is it almost too entertaining for its own good, it also is brilliantly written by Hornby and it provides and excellent look into the world of relationships. Rob is a failing record store owner who recently broke up with his girlfriend and needs to go back and re-examine his life to realize where he needs to be is where he was all along. Mix in some of the greatest music lists ever assembled and you have a great novel. Hornby rarely lets people down and along with "Songbook," this could be his most enjoyable work.

Average customer rating:

Couldn't put it down!
Great guide to understanding high-end audio
indispensable
Robert Harley Responds
Something 4 Everyone

The Complete Guide to High-End Audio
Robert Harley
Manufacturer: Acapella Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Recording & Sound | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Consumer Guides | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0964084961

Book Description

This newly revised directory brings readers up to speed on the latest in cutting-edge audio equipment. Included are updates on multichannel music reproduction, surround sound, DVD-Audio, and Super Audio CD. Extensive tips on how to listen critically and judge audio-equipment quality, how to optimize the performance of an existing system, and how to best allocate an audio budget are included. Practical techniques for improving the acoustics of existing stereos and listening rooms are also featured.

Customer Reviews:

Couldn't put it down!.......2007-08-22

I love this book. I'm an audio/videophile going on over thirty years now and though I don't agree with alot of what's perpetuated in high-end audio especially concerning cables, I did enjoy this read. You can tell that the author really loves audio and video and is doing his best to describe his passion. It's a good book for the novice as well as the seasoned veteran who thinks he knows it all. He covers the gamut from A to Z. You may or may not agree with everything in this book, but it's well worth the price.

Great guide to understanding high-end audio.......2007-05-15

I found this book to be quite useful. It goes into detail on all components starting from the wire to the final output. Highly recommended!

indispensable.......2007-05-14

Much more than you thought you needed to know in order to effectively negotiate the process of buying the equipment that'll be best for you. It vastly expands your knowledge base, while it systematically and painlessly sorts through the details of the current universe of Audio/Video. Your job becomes eliminating as you go, the functions and equipment that you learn no longer fit with what will work best for you. At the end, the mystery is solved, you know both what your ideal system is and how to go about getting it. It's a treasure.
-Kerry O'Neil

Robert Harley Responds.......2007-03-28

The negative "reviews" of my book The Complete Guide to High-End Audio are a cleverly disguised attempt to discredit an entire field of audio with which the book's "reviewers" fundamentally disagree. Specifically, a vocal minority of audio hobbyists believes that all competently designed amplifiers or CD players, for examples, sound identical, and that high-end audio is an organized consumer rip-off. They also reject critical listening in the belief that measurements can completely define audio-component performance. The posted "reviews" are an attempt to discredit not just my book, but also the entire field of observation-based evaluation of audio products. Moreover, the "reviewers" resent the fact that I have a large and dedicated following through my books and as Editor-in-Chief of The Absolute Sound magazine. They also don't want you to read Appendix D of The Complete Guide to High-End Audio, an update of the highly controversial paper I presented at the 1991 Audio Engineering Society convention that makes perhaps the most compelling argument to date for the observational-listening approach to audio.
The main line of attack is that the book is filled with technical errors and that I am technically incompetent. First, I have a degree in audio engineering and have taught a college degree program in that field. Second, I have been Technical Editor (or de facto Technical Editor) of the two leading English-language audio magazines (Stereophile or The Absolute Sound) since 1989. Third, I sent each chapter before publication to experts in specific areas of audio for technical review. For example, a world-class acoustician and physicist reviewed the acoustics chapter; a designer of reference-quality digital products reviewed the digital chapter; and so on. Fourth, The Complete Guide to High-End Audio has sold more than 100,000 copies and has been translated into three other languages. Fifth, the book has received rave reviews from highly technical audio experts around the world (excerpts are posted on my website).
I invite readers to see through the agenda of those posting "reviews" and to form their own opinions of The Complete Guide to High-End Audio.

Something 4 Everyone.......2007-03-27

I'm one of those guys that need to study hard to get onto new concepts. So when I set out to fill in the spaces between what I knew, thought I knew, & didn't know about "high end audio" this book looked to be a godsend! I'm not the worlds most voracious reader but I found myself engrossed in this lengthy & comprehensive explanation of all things audio. Frankly tho there is so much info you may find yourself in "skim mode" here & there. I've read other reviews prior to getting this book that suggest that some of the authors science is askew but if that is the case it was over my head anyway. I think most audio hobbiests will find plenty of useful & interesting info. One note, I pre-ordered Harleys' newest book but since it was to take a couple of months to arrive I got this one first. It is far more thorough but the latest book cuts all his passing on of knowledge closer to the bare bones & much of it is a direct copy from the latter. So the choice is the full or condensed version. Enjoy!

The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People

Average customer rating:

Wow
false comparative analysis
Finally The Truth, But We Do Have A Choice
"We are biological creatures . . . "
The Truth Is Revealed, But Choice Is Always Ours

The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People
David P. Barash , and Judith Eve Lipton
Manufacturer: Owl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Genetics | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0805071369

Amazon.com

Shattering deeply held beliefs about sexual relationships in humans and other animals, The Myth of Monogamy is a much needed treatment of a sensitive issue. Written by the husband and wife team of behavioral scientist David P. Barash and psychiatrist Judith Eve Lipton, it glows with wit and warmth even as it explores decades of research undermining traditional precepts of mating rituals. Evidence from genetic testing has been devastating to those seeking monogamy in the animal kingdom; even many birds, long prized as examples of fidelity, turn out to have a high incidence of extra-pair couplings. Furthermore, now that researchers have turned their attention to female sexual behavior, they are finding more and more examples of aggressive adultery-seeking in "the fairer sex." Writing about humans in the context of parental involvement, the authors find complexity and humor:

Baby people are more like baby birds than baby mammals. To be sure, newborn cats and dogs are helpless, but this helplessness doesn't last for long. By contrast, infant Homo sapiens remain helpless for months ... and then they become helpless toddlers! Who in turn graduate to being virtually helpless youngsters. (And then? Clueless adolescents.) So there may be some payoff to women in being mated to a monogamous man, after all.

Careful to separate scientific description from moral prescription, Barash and Lipton still poke a little fun at our conceptions of monogamy and other kinds of relationships as "natural" or "unnatural." Shoring themselves up against the inevitable charges that their reporting will weaken the institution of marriage, they make sure to note that monogamy works well for most of those who desire it and that one of our uniquely human traits is our ability to overcome biology in some instances. If, as some claim, monogamy has been a tool used by men to assert property rights over women, then perhaps one day The Myth of Monogamy will be seen as a milestone for women's liberation. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

Applying new research to sex in the animal world, esteemed scientists David P. Barash and Judith Eve Lipton dispel the notion that monogamy comes naturally. In fact, as The Myth of Monogamy reveals, biologists have discovered that for nearly every species, cheating is the rulefor both sexes.Reviewing findings from the same DNA fingerprinting science employed in the courtroom, Barash and Lipton take readers from chickadee nests to chimpanzee packs to explain why animals cheat. (Some prostitute themselves for food or protection, while others strive to couple with genetically superior or multiple mates.) The Myth of Monogamy then illuminates the implications of these dramatic new findings for humans, in our relationships, as parents, and more. The Myth of Monogamy at last brings scientific insight into this emotionally charged aspect of the ultimate dating and marriage quandary.

Customer Reviews:

Wow.......2007-05-05

This book explains everything I always wanted to know about our relationship habits and how we are more similar to other animals than we would ever expect. I learned a lot from this book, but also gained a ton of affirmation that my personal life was not as crazy as some people make it out to be.

An excellent choice for anybody that is poly, wondering if they are poly, or just wants to learn the facts.

false comparative analysis.......2006-11-26

I'm sorry but there are some serious flaws with the logic of this book and its comparison between animal behaviour and human. To speak of monogamy in terms of myth simply because animals and humans exibit tendencies toward bed-hopping displays embarrasing ignorance of the tools of human thought. You might as well write "the myth of incest" "the myth of murder" surely there is enough data in the mammal world to verify that killing, cannabalism,etc. are not "unnatural".
Besides a statement like "monogamy is rare" is not very intelligent given the fact that within the majorities' experience monogamy is not only common but cherished. Humans exhibit many tendencies above which it is our honour to rise. This book simply assumes that a human can be summed up in biological terms or that monogamy can be explained as the imposed tenet of a sex-phobic religious scheme. This is simply not true. It doesn't matter how many people practice polygamy since human morality is not a matter of popular vote but a sense of justice(think of incest or murder before you say morality is subjective). The fact that we are the only mammal that requires almost 18+ years to reach maturity would also play a huge role in the choice of monogamy since the needs of human offspring seem to demand it as is amply evident from the sociological problems that plague children in divorce or unstable family situations.
I give it two stars because I see no problem with collecting data on the mating habits of the animal kingdom and it would have received more in this regard had the whole book not been steered toward oversimplifying the complexity of husband/wife interpersonal relationship with the hormone responses of the biological organisms. "Why does monogamy occur at all?" says chapter five... if you want your answer then sit quietly; stare into your spouse's eyes and see your own being and history unfold; see the moments they only have shared; meet a mind that knows your every like, quirk, strength and weakness and loves you by solemn and continually renewed vow till death does part. Monogamy is the crown of civilization and the victory of Equality and Personal dignity. "Why hasn't polygamy occured to me?" Because I AM A MAN.

Finally The Truth, But We Do Have A Choice.......2005-05-14

An excellent book that tells the truth, but we do have a choice. Our animal part of our brain is not very monagamous. However, the cerebral part of our brain can make a choice to build a partnership. That partnership is not based on the fear of being caught, but is based on the joy and delight of building a wonderful team effort in life. LIfe is quite difficult and having this team partnership of two greatly improves the joys that can be achieved in life. It is a case where one plus one doesn't equal two but equals three or more.

"We are biological creatures . . . ".......2003-02-26

Keep that notion in mind as you follow the authors on their marvelous tour of sexual behaviour in all nature. Most of us were raised with the notion that humans "must" be monogamous. Often, animals such as swans or foxes were held up as examples to emulate. Barash and Lipton expose the hollow basis of these examples. The notion of human monogamy becomes a fragile ideal - nature, and we are part of nature, is anything but monogamous. In a book combining solid science and entertaining prose, this pair have produced an informal, but information-packed review of new finds in the sexual behaviour of a wealth of species.

One small flaw must be dealt with first - sexual behaviour studies must retreat from overuse of the poor screw-worm fly. The authors cannot resist numerous word plays on the poor creature's name. As the subject of an early attempt at controlling pest populations, the screw-worm fly initiated the host of studies of sexual behaviour among animals. Barash and Lipton describe sterilization of this insect as largely successful, reducing its population significantly. Screw-
worm flies are monogamous, which reinforced the notion as predominant in nature. However, a 1970s groundbreaking paper indicated monogamy might not be universal in animals. From that start a wealth of new studies demonstrated that it was monogamy that was rare, not the reverse. The screw-worm fly turned out to be a rare exception to the rule, and the basis of comparison for the later research.

Bowing to the expected abuse of "anthropomorphising" biology, the authors eschew "adultry" in favour of EPC [Extra Pair Copulation] in describing the common practice in nature. They show the distinction between "social" and "sexual" pairing. Social pairing includes nest building, territorial defence, raising offspring and other "family matters." Copulation itself, they show, has many more factors involved than simply insemination. Mates must be available, attractive or both. Age, health, even "marital status" may be taken into consideration. And these factors are weighed for "adultery" in animals! Males might need a special physiology or the ability to prevent EPC, even while seeking to achieve it on their own.

As they must, the authors arrive at last at humans. Noting how difficult research on human sexual behaviour is to document, they cite, albeit with many reservations, several noteworthy studies. If nothing else, the work proclaims that monogamy among humans is not the "norm." In relating the studies, they present anthropological data, surveys of modern societies and clinical studies. The authors grind no axes and are quick to criticise studies they feel are suspect. The dearth of valid data, however, leads them to present any plausible suggestion that seems either supportable or capable of further investigation. Throughout the narrative they insist that no predictable pattern can be applied to humans any more than with the other animals. Even our closest relatives all retain individuality among their members.

A running theme in the book is the authors' call for more research. How do female blue tits judge the ability of some males to resist winter cold more than others. "No one knows. [Yet]" and similar statements permeate the book. Anyone fearing there is little in biology left to investigate should read this. The sparseness of their references certainly supports this plea. While much work has been done, particularly in recent years, an immense range of study topics remains to be investigated. Younger readers should seriously consider the number of topics requiring clarification. A valuable book for these and many reasons.

The Truth Is Revealed, But Choice Is Always Ours.......2003-02-13

What I mean by "Truth is revealed, the choice is ours", is the theme of this review. It is also the message in the book, although many readers have misinterpreted the entire theme, believing the co-authors, David P. Barash and Judith E. Lipton, are simply feeding us hard reality and crushing dreams of blissful and faithful marriage. David and Judith are experienced, older scientists, specializing in the observation of birds and apes, with a profound understanding of logic, human emotions, sociobiology and biology in general. They both hold high degrees- Judith has an M.D. and David holds a Ph.D. It is noteworthy, also, that they are a happily married couple and have been so for many years. Their real message and theme from this outstanding book is that although by nature, humans are generally not faithful to their long-term mate (spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend), we have evolved so much that we can chose to be faithful and monogamous to our partner and truly be satisfied, fulfilled and completely happy. Monogamy is not extinct, it is rare. Half of all marriages end in divorce. When a couple has been together for many years, it's world news. It is the greatest partnership, relationship, union, and the most peaceful, happiest and fullest feeling. But it is always the individual's choice. If a partner cannot remain faithful, we now have a reason and explanation for it.

The reason why so many find it difficult to be faithful to their partner for a long time, is biological. Originally, before an evolved society with its ground rules grew from primitive communism, the homo sapien men were polygamous, especially because genetically, nature demanded variety from their offspring. Incest, of course, was formerly practiced to keep a family bloodline, true even to the highest societies, royal dynasties of ancient Egypt, etc. There was a time when free will seemed to bother no one, and men had many wives, shared partners and even shared land. But eventually, power and property was established, much like class systems, and it came to be a violation when someone "outside" the group took one of the wives from another male. Feeling of jealousy and ownership were established and so, when religion began to take over people's consciousness, they labeled this "taking", "adultery". The biological needs of women are important in the scene, as well, in fact, perhaps the most important link. Women's sex cells contain life-giving ovum, enabling them to bear children, and because they are so few and rare in them, they are selective about their sexual/romantic/etc partners. They are far more choosy because it is going to reflect on the ensuing progeny, their children. Men's sperm is abundant and cheap, and they are less selective. It's all down to our biological make-up. This book is very casual about the whole matter and contains not only very scientifically accurate truth, but very genuine humor and witty lines, making reading this book very enjoyable.

Book Description

Written by a team of experts and specialist contributors, this comprehensive guide has proved to be an invaluable resource for professional designers and service engineers.

Each chapter is written by a leading author, including Don Aldous, Nick Beer, John Borwick, Dave Berriman, John Linsley Hood, Geoff Lewis and John Watkinson, which provides as wide a perspective as possible on high-quality sound reproduction as well as a wealth of expertise.

The third edition includes new chapters on servicing, Nicam stereo and digital satellite radio. For the first time in paperback, this revised edition features a completely new chapter on the most recent digital developments, CD-R/RW, HDCD, Internet audio, MP3 players and DAM-CD.

Ian Sinclair has written over 140 books on aspects of electronics and computing and has been a regular contributor to the electronics and computing press.

A comprehensive - and comprehensible - guide to audio electronics
Enables enthusiasts to understand and modify their Hi-fi equipment
Electronics and design principles make this book a handy reference tool for anyone involved in audio design, manufacture, installation and use.

Customer Reviews:

Public Address Portion of Handbook.......2002-01-08

I found the public address portion of this handbook the most complete and helpful of any in the largest technical book store in Washington, DC. It discusses practical and theoretical aspects of public address system design. I finally "got" the Haas effect.

Creative Fidelity: Weighing and Interpreting Documents of the Magisterium

Average customer rating:

levels of authority, degrees of adherence

Creative Fidelity: Weighing and Interpreting Documents of the Magisterium
Francis A. Sullivan
Manufacturer: Wipf & Stock Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1592442080

Customer Reviews:

levels of authority, degrees of adherence.......2002-03-14

"If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."--Jn. 4:10

What is this gift of God, the revelation of God? No simple answer, not least of all for Catholics, who believe in faith that the revelation of God springs from the threefold origin of scripture, tradition, and magisterium.

Fr. Francis A. Sullivan, S.J. brings a fine, discerning intellect to bear on the question of the magisterium. With 36 years' grist of teaching experience at the venerable Gregorian University, Fr. Sullivan draws key distinctions that manifestly reject the excesses of the conservatives, for whom every declaration of the magisterium is to be accepted without question, as well as of the liberals, for whom every aspect of the magisterium that is not set forth as infallible dogma is to be contested and, for all practical purposes, discarded.

In order to define the different levels of authority by which doctrines are set forth as well as the varying degrees of adherence required, Fr. Sullivan uses as his framework the new Formula for the Profession of Faith that in 1989 was required as an oath for all those who assume a responsible position in the Church.

According to this formula, there are three kinds of doctrine: dogma infallibly or definitively taught, pertaining to the depositum fidei, which requires an act of faith; truths infallibly or definitively taught, pertaining indirectly to the deposit of faith, which must be firmly accepted and held; and non-definitive teachings of the Pope and the Bishops when they exercise their authoritative magisterium, which obliges the religious submission of will and intellect.

As in many instances throughout the book, Fr. Sullivan makes the following all-important distinction concerning religious submission to non-definitive teachings.

...The essential difference between "assent" and an attitude of willingness to accept the magisterium is that assent is an "either-or" proposition; one either gives one's assent or one does not. On the other hand, an attitude of willingness admits of varying degrees (p. 24).

I believe that any Catholic who wishes to genuinely understand the meaning of the term "magisterium," and, as a corollary, Church teaching, would benefit greatly from Fr. Sullivan's exposition.

Apt historical examples elucidate rather abstract ideas. To illustrate different degrees of dogmatic weight, for instance, Fr. Sullivan discusses three distinct Marian doctrines. The first is the virginal conception of Jesus, which has a clear basis in scripture and is consistent with Christian belief and Church teaching from earliest times. He says it is an instance of an infallible dogma taught by the ordinary and universal magisterium. The second doctrine is the perpetual virginity of Mary, which is not found in scripture although conciliar and papal documents witness to constant and universal belief. This, Fr. Sullivan opines, is a dogma but undefined. The third is the virginity of Mary in giving birth to Jesus. Fr. Sullivan agrees with Karl Rahner that this doctrine is not uniform, constant, nor clear enough to be recognized as a dogma.

The book dwells somewhat at length on infallible dogmas, so that it is apparent that here is where the author believes the most explanation is due.

Those who take issue with the magisterium will find provocative, enlightening, and persuasive discussions on, for example, the fourteenth-century papal bull Unam Sanctam, which posited the primacy of the spiritual over the temporal power, the Council of Trent on the indissolubility of marriage, or the present pope's 1994 apostolic letter on women priests.

Fr. Sullivan's dense style is not to everyone's taste. However, it is, in my opinion, lucid, eminently reasonable, and intellectually satisfying.

Book Description

Guides you step-by-step through the confusing world of surety bonding
Obtaining performance bonds can be a long, arduous, frustrating process, fraught with obscure legalese and endless hoops for contractors to jump through. Contractors need all the help they can get in making sense of and navigating the confusing world of surety bonding. Unfortunately, most books on the subject are written for lawyers and provide little or no practical guidance for contractors. Written by a suretyship expert with more than three decades of experience working with contractors, this book fills that gap in the literature.

In plain English, author Richard C. Lewis brings surety bonding down to earth for contractors. Covering all types of contracts and all forms of bonds, he walks you step-by-step through the entire bonding process. He introduces you to the various players involved and explains who is responsible for what. He carefully explains the rationale behind each step, the issues involved, when it is required, and how best to prepare for it. And, with the help of fascinating real-life case studies, Lewis describes common mistakes that can blow a deal and tells you how to avoid them. He also provides invaluable insights into underwriter psychology and shows you how to work with surety company representatives to resolve any spoken or unspoken objections they may have to providing you with the surety you need.

Contract Suretyship is an indispensable tool of the trade for construction and contracting firm owners and managers.

Average customer rating:

Lowell's latest FIDO Book

Comprehensive Review of Fidelity Funds
What Every Fidelity Investor Needs to Know
James Lowell
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Finance | Accounting & Finance | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Business & Investing | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Professional & Technical | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Fidelity's World: The Secret Life and Public Power of the Mutual Fund Giant

Investing with Exchange-Traded Funds Made Easy: Higher Returns with Lower Costs--Do It Yourself Strategies Without Paying Fund Managers

The Only Guide to a Winning Bond Strategy You'll Ever Need: The Way Smart Money Preserves Wealth Today

Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map: The Leave-Nothing-to-Chance, Worry-Free, All-Systems-Go Guide

Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: Five-Star Strategies for Success (Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds)

ASIN: 0470036273

Book Description

Fidelity offers investors some of the most innovative financial tools, products, and platforms currently available, and with What Every Fidelity Investor Needs to Know, James Lowell—one of the most trusted names in the investment business and a self-described Fidelity fanatic—will help you get the best out of what Fidelity has to offer; whether it be through taxable accounts, IRAs, or 401(k)s.

Customer Reviews:

Lowell's latest FIDO Book.......2007-02-03

Informative Writings with good data & thoughful analysis.
Charts & Graph while readable the font size is too small.

Comprehensive Review of Fidelity Funds.......2006-12-27

James Lowell has spent many years analyzing Fidelity funds for his well-known website and newsletter. In this 338-page, twenty chapter book, the author tells you everything you ever wanted to know about Fidelity funds from their inception through current times. Part One of the book begins with the basics including the history of the firm, and then covers the mechanics of opening an account accompanied by a description of the fees and charges involved. Next, in separate chapters the author covers how to read the Fidelity monthly statement and how to master their online site.

Part Two first reviews retirement planning (IRAs, 401(k)s, 529s, UTMAs/UGMAs), a generic description of mutual funds, and then a five-page barebones chapter on charitable giving, including trust and estate planning.

Part Three, composed of eleven chapters, is by far the heart of the book. It covers all the Fidelity fund categories (e.g., growth, international, sector, money market, bond, Advisor funds, variable annuity, and index funds). Lowell devotes a paragraph to each fund in each of the categories. Interestingly, he doesn't mention funds that are closed to new investors.

He includes scatter diagrams of the fund categories of risk vs. return, but all the diagrams are too small to read. Also, included is a correlation matrix of growth funds compared to other funds, sector funds compared to each other, bond funds compared to each other, and Fidelity Advisor funds compared to one another. Again a two-page matrix would have been much more readable.

Lowell is a proponent of buying the "fund manager" not the fund, since he believes that fund management is the most important determinant of fund performance for diversified funds. Chapter 7 in Part Three is devoted to the importance of the fund manager, since individual managers run most funds rather than teams which is common at American Funds, for example.

Lowell provides a five-page table showing the management tenure for each fund since inception with a listing of the manager name and period managed. The date of this data table is not provided, but I assume it was around April 2006. To help investors determine a manager's performance record, the author provides quantitative data in table format measuring risk-adjusted relative returns, and other relative returns over various periods. Unfortunately, the small font size used (printed on only 1.25 pages) requires a magnifying glass to read. Considering the importance of the data to making mutual fund decisions, it should have been printed horizontally on four pages.

Appendix C is provided which lists the 114 Fidelity Fund Managers. This 19-page appendix alphabetically lists the fund managers with their college degrees, which funds they currently manage and prior fund management at Fidelity with dates and any prior employment. This appendix is not that useful information, since all managers have college or master degrees and there is no data correlating manager performance to educational background. It is interesting to note how many managers Fidelity recruits out of college or after receiving their MBA or Ph.D. Interestingly, only 5 out 114 managers have received their CFA designation, certainly not an impressive statistic.

Part Four covers three sample diversified model portfolios, chasing hot funds, and Fidelity's top stock holdings list as of 3/31/06. This list is not useful, since it is at least nine months old by the time an individual gets this book which was published in December 2006.

The end of the book contains glossaries and a few appendices. Included is an 11-page glossary of generic investment terms supplemented by a four-page glossary of Fidelity related terms

Appendix A 9 pages long lists all Fidelity's Investor Centers across the country by State, then city with address and phone number. This was nice to include, but not really necessary with the availability of 800 numbers and Fidelity online.

Appendix B contains a 2002 interview by Lowell with Peter Lynch, legendary Fidelity Magellan fund manager and currently vice chairman of Fidelity Investments. There are good insights on investing by Lynch which will stand the test of time.

Overall, Lowell provides a readable, organized treatise on Fidelity funds. New Fidelity investors and current investors who want to know all that Fidelity offers will benefit from reading this book.

Average customer rating:

Fidelity: Five Stories - Great Read!
Honest, earthy stories
Made me weep

Fidelity: Five Stories
Wendell Berry
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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

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

ASIN: 0679748318
Release Date: 1993-09-28

Book Description

"Berry richly evokes Port William's farmlands and hamlets, and his characters are fiercely individual, yet mutually protective in everything they do. . . . His sentences are exquisitely constructed, suggesting the cyclic rhythms of his agrarian world."--New York Times Book Review.

Customer Reviews:

Fidelity: Five Stories - Great Read!.......2007-09-13

I purchased this book because it was required for a liberal arts class I am taking. I was pleasantly surprised. Although I have four months to read all five stories, I completed them in about 3 weeks. I have read other Wendell Berry stories so I was already familiar with the characters. What I like best about this book is the sense of community, stewardship, devotion and love. The book took me back to a simplier time when farming and community were important and a man's word was as good as gold.

Honest, earthy stories.......2000-08-13

These stories, especially the title story and "A Jonquil for Mary Penn," are among the finest I've ever read. They are stories of such moral integrity and beauty that I would include them among the best ever written by an American author, alongside the best by Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Linda Hogan, and Tony Earley. All are set in the fictional town of Port William, Kentucky, and all confront similar themes: death, honor, community. The story "Fidelity" is the most powerful, the story of a mountain man who, according to the most rigid interpretation of the law, kidnaps his dying father from a hospital. Although Berry is heavy-handed in getting his point across, the beauty and honesty of the story easily carried me through it. A luminous book by one of America's greatest living writers.

Made me weep.......2000-05-10

The title story touched me as no story has before or since. A son behaves intimately and unlawfully with his father during the days of his death. With the son we confront stupid laws and unfeeling bureaucracy and, in the end, vital community. The poignancy of the secret burial made me weep. How the son acts out his values with fidelity and grace is a story for all to learn from and be inspired. This is horror made beautiful. Berry's writing here is beyond criticism. Read this book and be renewed.

Fidelity's World: The Secret Life and Public Power of the Mutual Fund Giant

Average customer rating:

Not an insider
tantalizingly incomplete
Useful, but it has its limitations
A clear view of the explosive growth of mutual funds

Fidelity's World: The Secret Life and Public Power of the Mutual Fund Giant
Diana B. Henriques
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Company Profiles | Biography & History | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Mutual Funds | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0684832232

Book Description

Called "trail-blazing and hard-hitting" ("Christian Science Monitor"), this in-depth portrait of an investment empire reveals Fidelity's dramatic impact on America's corporations and individual investors. of photos.

Customer Reviews:

Not an insider.......2002-06-12

Wouldn't it be interesting to know what really goes on inside Fidelity? They own every company in America and their proxies ought to control the outcome of every boardroom battle, what a subject! Plus, this is one man's creation and certainly a discussion of who he is and what he does would be interesting.

But, no. Unfortunately, you can't look here for much of any insight into any of these subjects. Too bad.

tantalizingly incomplete.......1998-04-07

The author tells the very interesting history of Fidelity Investments and FMR, from Ed to Abby Johnson, and through it, a history of the mutual fund industry in America. The author makes a case for Fidelity being an autocracy geared to selling shares in mutual funds at all costs. Certainly, the last few years have shed a lot of light on the seamy side of Fidelity. In Fidelity's defense, little is told of the "good guys" at Fidelity like longtime manager George Vanderheiden, and even the tale of Magellan is told haphazardly (what happened to Morris Smith?). Still, I found that I was pretty much unable to put it down for long, and it was pretty good read.

Useful, but it has its limitations.......1998-04-03

This is a book that needed to be written: the explosive growth of the mutual fund industry in the past 20 years is one of the seminal events of our generation, and Fidelity is the most important mutual fund company out there. That having been said, I think that Diana Henriques could have done a much better job. The text is often jumpy and disjointed, and the actual events as Henriques relates them often don't warrant the build-up that she gives them in her introduction to them. More disturbing, I disagree strongly with many of her criticisms of Fidelity. Don't get me wrong: there are many valid criticisms of Fidelity that can be made, from the exorbitant fees it charges for average performance to the many ethical lapses that have plagued Fidelity in the past 10 or 15 years. But Henriques carries it too far. In one breath, she criticizes Fidelity for selling massive amounts of stock early on Black Monday in 1987 to meet the equally massive redemption requests that its funds had received over the previous weekend because most Fidelity funds did not have sufficient cash on hand; in the next, she criticizes the Fidelity Magellan fund for having too much cash on hand in early 1996, thus missing the big market rally that was in progress then. Likewise, she criticizes Fidelity's active role in corporate governance and then later criticizes Fidelity's policy that Fidelity funds in the aggregate cannot own more than 15% of any company. You can't have it both ways -- any organization which controls more than 15% of a publicly-traded company is going to have a big influence on the way that company is run. At its core, I think that Henriques's fundamental problem is that she believes that the Americans are and ought to be complete financial waifs who cannot be expected to make decisions about their finances in a responsible and informed manner. This assumption causes her to take Fidelity to task for things that Fidelity should not be taken to task for, and it undermines her books credibility.

A clear view of the explosive growth of mutual funds.......1998-01-29

The book gives a broad and clear view of the growth of the mutual fund industry in the United States and the consequences it has to the investors, shareholders and managers of the public quoted corporations. However, it rambles on sometimes, making the reader forget that the book is about Fidelity and the dangers a company of such size pose due to the power it holds trough the family of funds it has, unless it is adequately regulated and overseen. Anyway it is a great reading for anybody interested in the development of the mutual fund industry. Congratulations to Diana B. Henriques

All Things for Good: The Steadfast Fidelity of Stonewall Jackson (Leaders in Action Series)

Average customer rating:

Great book within a great series.
Stonewall Jackson and his personal relationship with God

All Things for Good: The Steadfast Fidelity of Stonewall Jackson (Leaders in Action Series)
J. Steven Wilkins
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1581822251

Book Description

Dubbed "Stonewall" following the battle of First Manassas in July 1861, Thomas Jackson has long been revered as a brilliant military leader and tactician and as one of the most adroit Confederate commanders. The man himself is a study in contrasts: justifiably feared by his enemies and completely beloved by his men.

J. Steven Wilkins examines the life and character of Jackson. His research reveals a man humble and sincere in his Christian faith, which stands in stark contrast with the general's reputation as a ferocious warrior.

Shortly after his graduation from West Point in 1846, Jackson served in the Mexican War in 1848, where he became one of the most decorated heroes of the conflict and received promotion to the brevetted rank of major. He left the army in 1851 to accept a teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute, resigning his commission in the army a year later. In 1859 he led a contingent of cadets to maintain order during the trial and ensuing execution of John Brown. When Jackson departed VMI in 1861 to join the Confederate army, he was immediately commissioned a colonel and within months was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Mortally wounded by friendly fire in May 1863, he "more than anyone else, personified the compelling and the virtuous in what the subsequent generation would label `The Lost Cause'"—James I. Robertson Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Great book within a great series........2007-03-14

First let me say that the "Leaders in Action" series is tremendous (check the rest of them out--Robert E. Lee, Winston Churchill, Teddy Roosevelt, William Wilberforce and more). They are biographies which deal not only with facts, but also with the character and faith of historical figures. Every school age child should read these books and take these role models to heart.

The great thing about this book is that it gives a solid summary of Stonewall Jackson's life and history as well as a thorough examination of his faith and values. If you can believe it, I was almost brought to tears by the account of his death. Especially for Civil War buffs--this is a must read.

Stonewall Jackson and his personal relationship with God.......2006-01-09

This is an excellent look inside the life of Thomas Johnathan "Stonewall" Jackson.

Reverend Wilkins does an excellent job of researching first-hand accounts of the important events that occurred during Jackson's life and how they refined him into the man that God made him.

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