Book Description
It’s like something out of a Hollywood potboiler: start out in the mailroom, end up a mogul. Only for dozens of Hollywood’s brightest, it happens to be true. Some of the biggest names in entertainment—including David Geffen, Barry Diller, and Mike Ovitz—began as trainees in musty talent agency mailrooms. Now, in this fascinating new book, veteran Hollywood writer David Rensin travels behind the scenes and through sixty-five years of show business history to tell the real stories of the marvelous careers that began—and in some cases ended––in the mailroom.
Based on more than two hundred interviews, Rensin unfolds the never-before-told history of an American institution––in the voices of the people who lived it. Through seven decades of glamour and humiliation, lousy pay and incredible perks, killer egos and a kill-or-be-killed ethos, you’ll go where the trainees go, do what they must do to get ahead, and hear the best insider stories from the Hollywood everyone knows about but no one really knows. The kids in The Mailroom have done it all: from hanging out with Elvis to delivering a senior agent’s urine sample to the doctor; from pouring drinks for Sinatra to sending ice to Johnny Carson on the Nile; from crashing the Academy Awards ceremony to hoping to deliver more than just the mail to sexy actresses’ homes.
The Mailroom reveals why Harvard MBAs fight to turn down secure six-digit corporate salaries to start work at a major agency for less than $400 a week; what it takes to appease impossible bosses, outsmart the competition, and “agent” the agents; and how a hungry, star-struck kid can become the next Geffen or Diller by sorting mail, eavesdropping on crucial conversations, and trying anything to get noticed.
Full of revealing stories and delicious dish, The Mailroom is not only a non-stop, engrossing read, but a crash course, taught by the experts, on how to succeed in Hollywood through hard work, shrewd manipulation, and a hell of a lot of nerve. The Mailroom is classic Hollywood—a vibrant and complex tapestry of dreams, desire, exploitation, power, and genuine talent. If you want to know who rules Hollywood and how they got their power, if you want to know how to start with nothing and get ahead in any business, this is the book you must read.
Customer Reviews:
Read this book before heading to Hollywood.......2006-04-30
I'm a former talent agency trainee. I worked at one of the majors. This book tells it like it is, and I wish this book was published before my talent agency stint. If you have ever seen the show "Survivor", you can get an idea of what it's like to climb the agency, or Hollywood ladder. There are very few spots, and there many people clambering for those spots. And those people who want it the most will do whatever it takes. It's very cutthroat. An agency with 100 agents, has 100 assistants, all of whom want to be agents. Maybe 10 of them will make it. Family members of Hollywood VIP's most probably WILL get promoted to agents (but after that it's still sink or swim..you'll read the story of Peter Guber's daughter in this book...she sunk). Same goes for Harvard grads...deep Harvard connections in Hollywood. Many trainees quit. The attrition rate is huge. It's a crazy business, and nearly impossible to have a balanced life as a trainee (or agent, or for anyone else in Hollywood). It's no walk in the park for new agents either. They start with a tiny salary (although more than a trainee)and must perform or they're out.
Before going to Hollywood, be real with yourself and determine if you're cut out for it. This book gives you a good glimpse into those who make it. Unless you are highly extroverted, and an extremely high energy person, than don't choose this career. If you are a person who needs downtime to collect their thoughts, than don't choose this career. If you are a person who needs their 8 hours of sleep a night, than don't choose this career (you may never sleep again!). If you aren't a highly social person, than don't choose this career (i.e. does your phone ring off the hook in your personal life?). Are you politically savvy, or do you put your foot in your mouth? Can you handle egomanic clients? (and agents). Can you handle being screamed at on a regular basis? Can you handle the pressure of doing more work in one day than most people accomplish in two weeks, including juggling several hundred phone calls? I'm convinced that those agents that make it to the top, are people who'd make a fortune in any business. They're natural salesmen, born with charisma; have endless energy, and can win people over with a glance.
Also, determine if your morals/values are congruent with Hollywood. You might have to do some nasty things to people on your way up the ladder to success. In Hollywood, nastiness is embraced, not frowned upon. In Hollywood, real world morals and values are turned upside down. Believe it or not, many people in Hollywood are so egomanical that they consider people who don't work in Hollywood to be, "losers", or "the little people" (unless you're an internet billionaire or the equivilent). They believe they are the chosen ones. Even if you made a couple mil a year manufacturing cardboard boxes, they'd turn their nose up at you. It's a very snobby club.
Does all this bring people happiness? For some I guess. It seemed to me that many agents were very unhappy and perpetually stressed out.
Although my experience was interesting, had I realistically assessed my personality, which I would have, had I read this book, I would never have set foot in Los Angeles. Other than that, this book is a very entertaining read on the ins and outs of a ruthless business.
Hollywood History from the Bottom Up.......2005-01-07
You don't get what you deserve in life, you get what you negotiate.
This is the first quote in the book and I cannot tell you how many times I have used this in the past month. This book looks at the entertainment industry from the earliest days of William Morris (1930') through the collapse of the studio system, to the "young turks" of CAA until today. The author speaks to a varied group of people who went through the system. Many survived and stayed in entertainment business and some moved on to other things. What I most enjoyed about this book was that it didn't just cover the famous (Geffen, Diller, Ovitz) who rose out of the mailroom, but it also covered those who helped create the system that these people who control what we watch today came out of. For the number of people interviewed and covered, this book was excellently edited for flow and did not double up too much on stories. Very readable and informative. After reading this I pulled out my copy of "Swimming with Sharks" and watched it again with the new feeling of an insider.
Wild Amazing Real Stories of working for the Agents.......2004-08-02
I listened to the book on tape of The Mailrooom. Different mailroom employees from different Hollywood & New York Agencies give their stories of what it was like to work in the Mailroom and learn to be an Agent. The book starts with some of the older Agents who began way back when Agencies were first formed. Interesting stories about the stars of the 1950s all the way up to present times.
I really liked the stories of the pranks some of the mailroom employees would play on eachother. And some of the horror stories when they made mistakes on the job are really amazing.
The Mailroom is an interesting and amusing book about the inner workings of the Entertainment Business. The stories of how the mailroom employees make it to the top to become Agents are a real lesson in how the industry works.
I'd rate this one 15 stars if I could!.......2003-11-10
If you have an interest in the entertainment industry, this is an absorbing must-read, absolutely fascinating from cover to cover, the kind you don't want to put down. Can't recommend it highly enough!
SO?????????.......2003-07-04
A Studs Terkel-like verbal history of the role of the talent agency in Hollywood; with a particular focus on the Mailroom where the movers and shakers get their start. The book is a never ending compilation of interviews with the men who made it after paying their dues in the servitude of the Mail Room. For those in the industry it is probably fascinating lore. For me, it was one big bore.
Customer Reviews:
this book was a godsend to me..........2007-10-08
I recommend this book (or any of Joyce Vedral's books)to everyone! I used to be a size 11-13 back in high school, I had lumps of fat on my back, huge cellulite covered thighs, flabby arms, and a doughboy belly. I still follow her weight lifting programs today and now I'm a size 4. People I've met after high school never even believe i used to be fat. Her routines are hard but effective, so if you're not willing to put in some effort, this is probably not for you. However, it gets easier and easier as you get used to it. I love the fact that you can do it at home (even in my very tiny apartment) and you can get it done fast. The eating plan is easy, healthy, and effective as well...you never go hungry. Trust me, I have tried every fad diet along the way (south beach diet, raw food diet, fit for life, the zone, starving, slim fast, etc.)I just ended up fatter in the long run. There are no shortcuts...so get this book and change your life.
also recommended: the fat-burning workout, definition, weight training made easy
WOW.......2007-05-06
i need to get through this before I can officially write a review but this is the best book and program I've gotten through. It requires some dedication as she actually explains what to do not just throws it all at you. It's great, efficient and ...well in a month's time you'll hear my results!
It's hard...but it WORKS!!.......2006-03-11
I have always wanted a lean muscular physique, so when I seen Joyce's sculpted body on the cover of the book, I knew I had to buy it. I started this workout a weak, flabby, 170 lbs. at 5'9". I've been at it for 2 months now, and I have lost 10 lbs., and 14 inches off my waist, hips, thighs, arms, bust, and calves! Joyce really put a lot of time and research into this book. She has worked with some of the best female bodybuilders in putting the workouts together. I like how she explains why you are doing everything, like supersets, giant sets, etc... I really believe in the methods she uses, and she is living proof that it works! The book is a good read too, and I find myself going back and re-reading sections. The bottom line is results, and this workout delivers.
Great workout book!.......2005-11-24
I bought this on sale about 12 years ago. I've had people borrow it and I've had to go get it back. I will not let this one go. It is an excellent workout book. Whenever I need to get back on track - this is one of the four books I use. The others are great too. This book will be in my house for a long time to come.
piece of ..........2003-04-30
Those other reviewers are probably people that helped write the book. I had to search all over to find the right instructions to each exercise. Some of them were so complicated I couldn't even do them. I'm in pretty good shape but how can you sit on a bench holding a five pound weight with your feet and lift your legs up without falling backward? Plus there were too many exercises for one workout. I think you could spend much less time and get better results. Joyce says that these workouts take thirty minutes but it took me an hour to get one workout completed. (That's how long they are) The only good thing about this book were the pictures. But that's a given that in a weightlifting book that you need pictures. The other thing that I didn't like about this particular fitness book was the eating plan the author had set up in the book. Come on guys! We all finally know that pasta and starches are not going to make you thin! They'll just add more insulin to your body which will turn into fat and therefore make it much harder for you to to burn the fat you already have!...But back to the book. Joyce should have done her research more carefully and made the instructions easier for us readers....
Amazon.com
Growing Artificial Societies is a groundbreaking book that posits a new mechanism for studying populations and their evolution. By combining the disciplines of cellular automata and "artificial life", Joshua M. Epstein and Robert Axtell have developed a mechanism for simulating all sorts of emergent behavior within a grid of cells managed by a computer. In their simulations, simple rules governing individuals' "genetics"" and their competition for foodstuffs result in highly complex societal behaviors. Epstein and Axtell explore the role of seasonal migrations, pollution, sexual reproduction, combat, and transmission of disease or even "culture" within their artificial world, using these results to draw fascinating parallels with real- world societies. In their simulation, for instance, allowing the members to "trade" increases overall well-being but also increases economic inequality. In Growing Artificial Societies, the authors provide a workable framework for studying social processes in microcosm, a thoroughly fascinating accomplishment.
Book Description
How do social structures and group behaviors arise from the interaction of individuals? Growing Artificial Societies approaches this question with cutting-edge computer simulation techniques. Fundamental collective behaviors such as group formation, cultural transmission, combat, and trade are seen to "emerge" from the interaction of individual agents following a few simple rules.
In their program, named Sugarscape, Epstein and Axtell begin the development of a "bottom up" social science that is capturing the attention of researchers and commentators alike.
The study is part of the 2050 Project, a joint venture of the Santa Fe Institute, the World Resources Institute, and the Brookings Institution. The project is an international effort to identify conditions for a sustainable global system in the next century and to design policies to help achieve such a system.
Growing Artificial Societies is also available on CD-ROM, which includes about 50 animations that develop the scenarios described in the text.
Copublished with the Brookings Institution
Customer Reviews:
This is not a "how-to" book.......2005-08-08
This book is not a "how-to" book. They do not provide all of the code for thier sugarscape model. Yes, they provide some snap-shots of code for the reader, but those are instructive as to how to organize one's own code for your own ideas and models. If you want the entire code go to Swarm or RePast web pages and look for it in objective C or Java.
I was introduced to this book in a graduate archaeology course. Now, 3 years later I've returned to it for my dissertation. What this book does it explain how simple rules and ideas can create rather complex outcomes. What are the affects of having agents vision be only 5 cells compared to infinite sight? Can simple biological questions such as resolution of vision have a profound affect on our social structure? There are a bunch of, respectively, simple questions that this book address or introduce to explain the power of this method for the social sciences.
If one is looking for a "How To Book" you should go to Ascape, RePast, Swarm, or any of the other agent based modeling software research groups. What this book does is provide the reader with the conceptual issues and the foundation for what this method can do, that's it.
The Future of Modeling Social Systems.......2004-10-15
The authors do an impressive job of demonstrating how agent based simulations can be applied to social systems. In the past, modeling of this sort was limited to traditional analysis techniques such as applied differential equations. While some are critical of this work because they point out the number of assumptions inherent in this model, they also neglect to consider the greater degree of assumptions and over-simplifications implicit in pure mathematical models (eg, linearity, continuous functions, etc.) An advantage of agent based modeling is that one can consider all sorts of rules which do not lend themselves to purely mathematical models. Consider queuing theory as an example. While there exist basic mathematical models for queue analysis, once a certain threshold of complexity is reached, these models fail, and one must look to computer simulation as the alternative. While their results are speculative, the authors have successfully demonstrated emergence of complex behavior from simple rules. One such example is an unexpected diagonal migration path emerging from an orthogonal movement rule.
In the future, this type of social modeling will be the accepted norm and practitioners will look back at this work as a foundational reference.
Good intro to agent sims........1999-02-05
Granted, this is not a cookbook for creating the simulations described. However, it gives a good picture of the power of agent simulations, and shows the basics of behavior modeling. In this respect, it is an excellent text. I would suggest it for an advanced undergrad course, rather than graduate level.
An enormous disappointment.......1998-06-08
This book is an opportunity missed. The subject is interesting (and contrary to the views of another reviewer, I think there is valuable research being done here).
The model seems to be well thought out, although its very limited scope (a 50 by 50 playing field) makes me almost sure the results can have little meaning. I was continuously troubled by the fact that they described their world as a torus (wrap-around like a doughnut) but none of the illustrations supported this. I didn't buy the version with the CD-ROM, but frankly, I'm glad I saved my money.
Moreover, at almost every paragraph, I felt the authors had contrived the result they desired.
For a much more stimulating read, try "Turtles, Termites, and Traffic Jams : Explorations in Massively Parallel Microworlds" by Mitchel Resnick,
Good simulation, poor basis, riddled with errors.......1998-05-07
This book was part of a graduate research class I was in. We built thier simulation from the ground up, but found many errors and simulation artifacts with in the book. Though the simulation was a very good one, they left or ignored key details, and the book only discusses the conceptual model. Building the model from the information in the book can be an exercise in futility. They do not give much detail, and what they do give, they hide within footnotes and seperate critical information with pages of analysis. The alanysis unfortunately doesn't talk about model deficiencies and other simulation artifacts the modelers introduced. In the end, an excellent simulation, regardless of how they put it together, and the errors their model injected into it.
Product Description
Flexible men! Photographer David Aden Sprigle, has conducted a 10 year photographic essay of naked young men in the classic yoga pose Ananda Balasana, also known as "The Blissful Baby." Each man, in this happy state, reveals an expression that is uniquely his own. Vulnerable, intimate, beautiful and very sexy, each photograph conveys the many moods of this private position: joy, power, humor, fear and openness. Bottoms Up, Boys! Pictured here are 5 of the 111 beautiful yoga boys in the complete book.
Customer Reviews:
Delightful.......2006-12-06
I just perused this book at the store and came home to see whether there were cheaper versions available. I don't usually purchase art or photo books because of the expense, but I'm seriously considering this one. It's delightful. The faces on the guys all seem genuine and so subtly different from each other. If you've ever made love to a guy in this position, this book will touch affectionate memories. I found it artistically powerful to see so many men all in the same essential pose: it brought out the individuality of each man, since the subtleties of the pose and the faces of the men were what changed, and presented in an especially vulnerable and intimate position. I think the author succeeds at presenting many men as "blissful" and "boyish."
Disappointing.......2006-03-27
I found this book disappointing. There is a variety of men of all types (clean cut all-american, hairy hippy, tattoed and pierced) and colors, which is nice. The problem is, at least a third of these pictures are badly out of focus and/or badly (not artistically - badly) lit. Other pictures look like something you could snap off with a cell phone camera or the men simply just are not very interesting (I like a bit of personality.) In addition, many of the men don't actually get into the lotus position. The few nice pictures don't make up for the many poor or so-so ones, so it is too much money for the price.
Book Description
Chad Pregracke was a high school student when he first glimpsed the trash that littered the bottom of the Mississippi, a shocking sight that launched him on a quest to clean up the river. After four discouraging years seeking government help without success, he decided to take his fund-raising private—and a corporate sponsor decided to take a chance on this naive but unshakably determined young man.
Ten years later Chad's one-man project has grown into a $500,000 operation with more than 60 sponsors (including National Geographic). His work has been featured on national news and won numerous honors and accolades, but its grassroots, can-do spirit still thrives aboard the 135-foot barge that serves as home base for his organization, a floating environmental classroom, and an inspiration to people of all ages.
This is the story of his personal triumph as an advocate for America's rivers. Chad measures success in tons of garbage removed and thousands of people with a new stake in—and a new understanding of—the river environment. But From the Bottom Up is much more as well: a first-person chronicle of Chad's own life along the Mississippi featuring colorful characters, a near-death experience, a haunted swamp, and other flourishes worthy of a modern Mark Twain; and a fascinating portrait of the river itself which explores everything from the natural history of mussels and catfish to Indian lore to the key role of the Mississippi in our country's history.
Customer Reviews:
We need more people like this! .......2007-08-23
It's a great book that details how one person saw a need for change no matter what it took. Chad perservered (and continues to) and has created this movement that draws in sponsors, staff and volunteers who are happy and willing to help with enthusiasim. It's very well written and makes for a good read. Thanks Chad and Jeff - keep up the good work!
Fantastic! .......2007-06-15
I could not be more engaged in the book than I am - it is so thrilling and to read about the experiences they have had it makes you wish that you could have been there! It is just excellent! I love it - and I'm so excited when I carry the book somewhere and people ask me what I'm reading because I can't wait to tell people some of the CRAZY things that have happened to Chad and his crew.
ANYONE could read this book and thoroughly enjoy it - I even share parts of the book with my 6 year old son who can't wait to get back out the XStream Clean up this year!
It's amazing how he can take something seemingly so mundane as picking up garbage - write a book about it - and it is just an amazing adventure!
Rising to the Top.......2007-05-29
"From the Bottom Up" is an enormously impressive account of the prodigious effort and success of Chad Pregracke and his clean-up team to take on a difficult and necessary problem in our environment.
Our world needs this motivation, talent, work, and hands-on planning to protect our planet. Jeff Barrow's excellent writing makes the information flow easily and captivates the reader's interest. The dedicated and hard-working team forces attention to rise to the top of our consciousness and educates the reader on the necessity of cleaning up our waterways, taking responsibility for our environment, and stimulates our will to do it.
Great, very entertaining story about one man's idea and his ability to get thousands to help........2007-05-01
It's hard to write an accurate description of this book, let alone Chad Pregracke's accomplishments. Do you measure it in the number (545) of refrigerators he's pulled from rivers? Do you measure it in the number (15,991) of tires his group has pulled up? Or possibly by the number (1) of horse's heads he's pulled from the river? Combine these stats with tons of press coverage alongside a trip to the White House to receive an award alongside Rudy Giuliani and Bill and Melinda Gates and you've got a very good story.
Over the past 10 years Chad has assembled a group of volunteers, sponsors, and genuinely interesting people to help him accomplish a daunting goal of cleaning up America's rivers. This has extended into an audacious goal of planting a million trees and educating thousands of students on his "floating classroom."
This book will give you an inspiring, very entertaining snapshot of how it was done and even gives you a quick blueprint of how to do something in your own area. Read it for an inspiring portrait of a true original who started with a small idea and turned it into a national movement.
It's a real CRUSADE - action - danger - adventure & comic relief!.......2007-04-27
This is an amazing story with never a dull moment. Chad has to be one of the most tenacious persons on the face of the earth! The obstacles he overcame were numerous and the spirit he faced them with was awe inspiring. They don't call it the Mighty Mississippi for no reason. Chad's fabulous sensce of humor comes shining through from this self appointed trash talking, picking, sorting, recycling dude.
Book Description
Is it possible to think like a scientist and yet have the faith of a Christian? Although many Westerners might say no, there are also many critically minded individuals who entertain what John Polkinghorne calls a "wistful wariness" toward religion--they feel unable to accept religion on rational grounds yet cannot dismiss it completely. Polkinghorne, both a particle physicist and Anglican priest, here explores just what rational grounds there could be for Christian beliefs, maintaining that the quest for motivated understanding is a concern shared by scientists and religious thinkers alike. Anyone who assumes that religion is based on unquestioning certainties, or that it need not take into account empirical knowledge, will be challenged by Polkinghorne's bottom-up examination of Christian beliefs about events ranging from creation to the resurrection.
The author organizes his inquiry around the Nicene Creed, an early statement that continues to summarize Christian beliefs. He applies to each of its tenets the question, "What is the evidence that makes you think this might be true?" The evidence Polkinghorne weighs includes the Hebrew and Christian scriptures--their historical contexts and the possible motivations for their having been written--scientific theories, and human self-consciousness as revealed in literary, philosophical, and psychological works.
He begins with the words, "We believe," and presents understandings of the nature of humanity, showing, for example, that Cartesian theory, evolution, and natural selection do not tell the entire story of what humans are about, especially in light of many sources that attest to our spirituality. Moving through the Creed, Polkinghorne considers the concept of divinity and God as creator in discussions that cover the Theory of Everything, the Big Bang Theory, and the possibility of divine presence within reality so that God is not simply an outside observer. Chapters on Jesus analyze the different ways events are described in the Gospels and the way motivation for belief is conveyed--for example, how do these writings explain why a young man killed in public disgrace could inspire a following, when other major world religious leaders lived to become highly revered elders in their communities?
"Faith seeking understanding" is, according to Polkinghorne, like the scientific quest. Both are journeys of intellectual discovery in which those who survey experience from an initially chosen point of view must be open to correction in the light of further experience. "Religion," he writes, "has long known that ultimately every human image of God proves to be an inadequate idol." The Faith of a Physicist, based on the prestigious 1993 Gifford Lectures, delivers a powerful message to scientists and theologians, theists and atheists alike.
Customer Reviews:
Typical Polkinghorne material, but very thorough.......2007-02-08
Polkinghorne is usually a puzzling read for me. One admires his expertise in the exotic field of particle physics, and also his zeal in postulating a compatibility between physical science and his version of Christianity, but I usually come away from his efforts rather unconvinced of the merits of the proposed "merger" he proposes. On the one hand, he wants us to move forward from the ancient conception of God as brutally crashing through natural events to perform miracles, and instead conceive of God as the invisible gently-prodding hand behind all events. Such a model would not necessarily violate standard quantum mechanics. While this theological model has been proposed by others, and may indeed help modernize a believer's conception of God's possible action in the world, it is nonetheless difficult to reconcile with the traditional Judaeo-Christian image given by the scriptures themselves. If one looks objectively at the stories in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, one sees an abundance of gross physical violations of natural laws, the kind that Polkinghorne obviously has trouble with when constructing his own "gentle guidance" theology. I say "has trouble with", because if one reads Polkinghorne's dialogue with fellow physicist (Nobelist and skeptic) Steven Weinberg, Polkinghorne clearly doesn't want frequent abrupt divine interventions into the natural world, as is often seen in the Old Testament, for example (anyone for killing a crowd of Canaanites this week?). And this observation is not diminished by the presence of other images that might help Polkinghorne's theology, such as the Apostle Paul's statement "in Him we live and move and have our being". In essence, Polkinghorne wants us to have our cake and eat it too-i.e., somehow remain "faithful" to the Biblical intervention narratives and yet up-to-date on integrating modern physical insights into one's worldview. There might be a fundamental incompatibility problem trying to keep both types of "actions"; something needs to give. Interestingly, it is Polkinghorne's own faithfulness to the Biblical narratives that gives way; he can't deny the physics. In fact, Polkinghorne has re-visioned the Biblical view of divine action into something neither Jesus nor his followers might recognize. Say we want to buy Jesus and Peter walking on water, for example. It wouldn't be conceivable with Polkinghorne's "gentle quantum manipulation" theology, being a sudden (massive) macroscopic violation of physics. Miracles of this type aren't conceivable to many moderns anyway, as there is no direct observation of such gross violations in the empirical world, but we are here examining Polkinghorne's own model, not a skeptic's. We can go further; none of the miraculous acts of Jesus or his disciples are adequately explainable by Polkinghorne's (sub-)quantum gentle-action. Of course, the fundamentalists will have none of this anyway; the events in the Bible are unquestionably God's abrupt intervention. Yet Polkinghorne's theology *is* one possible theology away from this, of course. Be that as it may, it is far from the worldview of Jesus or his fellow Mediterranean inhabitants; let's not kid ourselves.
Polkinghorne is powerful.......2005-09-12
Polkinghorne is brilliant: he is way out in front as a scientist with his mastery at the leading edge of quantum mechanics. He is a very well read theologian. He brings both of these qualifications to bear in the explanation and support of his strong convictions about our need for a lively faith in a benevolent Creator God. This book has launched me into a journey through his other books; a journey that has all the flavor of a treasure hunt.
"seas too deep for simple knowledge".......2004-01-27
One may point to Polkinghorne's credentials as a theoretical physicist or an Anglican cleric, but in his writings we find that he is also a philosopher, theologian, and student of the humanities (art, history, comparative religion), although he is quick to label himself an "amateur" in these areas. A thoughtful reading of "The Faith of a Physicist" will be particularly valuable to philosophical materialists whose "skepticism" of Christian theism should itself be exposed to skeptical consideration. As Polkinghorne explains, dismissals of theism are often couched in convenient but ignorantly simplistic characterizations: "Scientists who are hostile to religion tend to make remarks such as 'Unlike science, religion is based on unquestioning certainties' [Wolpert]. They thereby betray their lack of acquaintance with the practice of religion. Periods of doubt and perplexity have a well-documented role in spiritual development . . . Religion has long known that ultimately every human image of God proves to be an inadequate idol."
Considering metaphysic's classic poles of dualism versus monism, the author is inclined to reject each in preference to a "dual-aspect monism." In this he is not particularly controversial, nor in his interpretations of quantum theory in terms of its philosophical implications. Polkinghorne's biblical exegesis will be controversial on certain points (whose isn't?). Although he is sometimes accused of being a process theologian, it seems clear that he is not. His theology is ultimately rather classical, including certain elements of process ("There are aspects of Whitehead's thought from which one can benefit without accepting it in its entirety") and what he calls a "tinge of deism" (recognizing that the cosmos was indeed "wound-up"). If the reader thinks that one must either demand that Christian scripture is inerrant or reject it as being errant, then Polkinghorne will offer him/her no satisfaction. In fact, all readers will be rather challenged.
(Regarding dual-aspect monism and David Bohm's metaphysics arising from his interpretation of quantum theory): "My instinct as a bottom-up thinker is to be wary of such grandiosities of philosophical fancy. Instead, I would want to follow the flight of such straws in a metaphysical wind as our understanding of the physical world provides. My own tentative ideas have been woven round two concepts: complementarity and openness." In other words, something like the particle-wave duality and something like the ordered-disorder of the so-called chaos theory.
(Regarding Stephen Hawking's suggestion that his "no boundaries" model displaces the need of a creator): ". . . theology is concerned with ontological origin and not with temporal beginning. The idea of creation has no special stake in a datable start to the universe. If Hawking is right, and quantum effects mean that the cosmos as we know it is like a kind of fuzzy spacetime egg, without a singular point at which it all began, that is scientifically very interesting, but theologically insignificant. When he poses the question, 'But if the universe is really completely self-contained, having no boundary, or edge, it would have neither beginning nor end: it would simply be. What place, then, for a creator?' it would be theologically naïve to give any answer other than: 'Every place - as the sustainer of the self-contained spacetime egg and as the ordainer of its quantum laws.' God is not a God of the edges, with a vested interest in boundaries."
Polkinghorne uses statements of faith taken from the Nicene Creed as a springboard for his apologetic. He offers a "non-literalist" defense of the doctrine of divine creation that assumes a general correctness to present cosmological and evolutionary theories but also finds them to be unexplained apart from the Divine action of an intelligent will. While questions certainly remain unanswered within the theistic view, the materialistic alternative is seen to provide no ultimate answers at all. He offers a defense of Christianity's doctrine of "eschatological destiny" which sees the "optimistic arrow of time" (Davies term for complexity in spite of entropy) and entropy's "pessimistic arrow of time" (second law of thermodynamics) as vectors converging in a significantly unique event. He offers a defense of New Testament uniqueness and reliability (not inerrancy); and a strong defense of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. He argues that, when all is considered, the claimed resurrection of Christ is more credible than any alternate theories that have been proffered but which fail to explain subsequent events. Polkinghorne offers a defense of the doctrines of the Trinity and of eschatology, and concludes with thoughts of alternative views. If you find the last chapter (Alternatives) to be too brief, Sire's "The Universe Next Door" may be of further interest. In the course of the text here, Polkinghorne argues for a bold and far reaching teleology including, but not restricted to, physical theory, embracing "the natural theology of the arts". He argues also for a boldness in defending the authenticity of the canonical Christian gospel; a boldness not simply based in unquestioning fideism but arising from the best documentation of ancient history and human experience. In sum, it makes for a difficult but fascinating read.
Rich food for thought........2000-11-10
For a volume that contains less than 200 pages, this book is certainly rich with interesting ideas. Furthermore, the author has mulled them over until they came to intellectual ripeness. Within an outline drawn from the Apostles' Creed, Polkinghome gives his view of the anthropic principle, the relation of body to mind, the nature of God, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and other subjects, in a thoughtful manner. He strikes a good balance between authority and personal opinion. He refers frequently and in humility to what well-known thinkers on all sides of the questions at hand have said (he has obviously done his homework), but is confident, bold, and smart enough to pick his own path across the fields of fact. He argues, at one point, that "The titles assigned to Jesus play the role that models do in scientific investigation." In other words, the New Testament does not appear as a mass of dogmas artificially superimposed upon stories of Jesus' life. Rather, terms like "Son of God" show the early Christians groping for a way of coming to grips with remarkable facts. That is the kind of "bottoms up" approach Polkinghome appreciates.
I have three caveats. First, Polkinghome slips into theological jargon too often. Second, his idea that we do not have souls, but that at some point in the future, God will make copies of us from His perfect knowledge, not from the same bits of matter though, seemed weak to me. I mean, presumably God could do the same now -- there could be copies of us running around on other planets. But what does that have to do with you or I or the promises of Scripture?
Third, what Polkinghome primarily seems to give here is a cautious explanation of his faith, rather than a strong argument for it. His initial caution lends his ultimate conclusions about the resurrection of Jesus, for example, a great deal of weight. But while agnostics and atheists who make this book their token foray into Christian apologetics could do worse, they should be aware that the author is passing over some very strong areas of evidence for Christianity. Please do not put the book down saying, "Well, I survived that; I guess I'm safe." I suggest you also consider the psychological truths G. K. Chesterton discusses in Everlasting Man, the history Don Richardson relates in Eternity in Their Hearts, and the many testimonies of modern Christians on how God answers prayer. (Miracles are the most "bottoms-up" kind of evidence for God.) You might also find my new book, Jesus and the Religions of Man, worth a read, especially if the question Polkinghome raised about spiritual alternatives to the Christian faith is of interest.
d.marshall@sun.ac.jp
A tough read that is well worth it.......2000-06-16
Polkinghorne's method of exploration is simply to look at the world as a scientist and interpret it as a theologian. In The Faith of a Physicist we get the opportunity to explore with him as he does this. He asks many of the same questions and struggles with the same issues that I do, basic questions that run through the heads of people who think seriously about the world. Fundamentalists may well discard his theological conclusions, but those with an open mind will appreciate his attempt to stay true to orthodox Christian belief while exploring its interaction with modern science.
This book is dense and not one that I would recommend for speed reading (believe me, I tried when I needed to read it for class). It takes time to digest and to ponder Polkinghorne's thought processes and conclusions. In addition, I found the first two chapters to be more difficult reading than the rest of the book (perhaps I was just tired when I read them), so don't let them stop you from finishing the book. The rest of the book is great.
Book Description
The concept of the "triple bottom line" (TBL) -- the idea that business activity can simultaneously deliver financial, social and environmental benefits -- was introduced in the early 1990s. A decade on, "The Triple Bottom Line: Does It All Add Up?" brings together the world's leading experts on corporate responsibility to assess the implications, benefits and limitations of the TBL.
This collection provides a review of what has already been achieved in stimulating change in corporate culture and bringing businesses to appreciation of the importance and benefits of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and good environmental performance. It further explores the conceptual and practical limits of the metaphor of the TBL and sets out what can be achieved through regulation and legislation, presenting detailed professional procedures for environmental accounting and management and social auditing.
The contributors' wealth of experience and insight provides a vivid picture of how much attention is now being focused by business on delivering more than just financial targets, and they clearly outline the necessary steps for successfully continuing along this trajectory.
Contributors: Carol Adams, Tom Baxter, Jan Bebbington, Nancy Bennet, Ian Buckland, David Cutteridge, Deborah Doane, John Elkington, Geoff Frost, Rob Gray, Adrian Henriques, Rupert Howes, Vernon Jennings, Alex MacGillivray, Markus Milne, Paul Monaghan, Ros Oakley, Jonathon Porritt, Julie Richardson, Rupesh Shah, Cornis van der Lugt, Wendy Webber.
Customer Reviews:
A powerful story of the great depression.......2004-10-23
When I was a child, my older relatives would occasionally talk about the depression. While I understood what they were saying, in many ways I took it to be another one of the "you kids have it so much easier" stories. It was also the case that the story was being told decades after the event. Even the most traumatic events become softened over time, years of living better had taken some of the edge off of their experiences.
The letters in this book will put that edge right back on. These are messages written by people who have had their world turned inside out by forces they could not understand. Their despair, fear and uncertainty are evident in their statements, which are letters to government officials such as President Franklin Roosevelt. Many are also addressed to Eleanor Roosevelt, a tribute to her image as someone who cared. It is moving to read the simple letters, most of which are filled with spelling and grammatical errors. These are common people who are seeking help, yet in most cases, what they ask for is so little. In one letter in particular, the writer is only asking for a little coal so that their house would not be so cold in the winter.
This collection of letters takes you back to a time in the United States when pessimism reigned. Despair was the emotion of the day, and some people poured their emotions and desperation out by writing letters to people they thought might help. A message from the days of hard times, these letters tell the story of the depression in a way that is more powerful and moving than hearing it in words could ever be. It is well worth reading and would be a strong supplement for any class covering the history of those years.
Interesting look at the Depression.......2004-07-30
McElvaine's fascinating compilation is read like an anthology of prose and poetry. By looking at the Great Depression from the perspectives of its victims of diverse backgrounds-- the old and the young, the rich and the poor, men and women, blacks and whites, the optimists and the pessimists, the educated and the barely literate etc.--the reader is able to gain a better understanding of their struggles on a more personal level. Correspondances range from angry letters denouncing the responses of President Hoover in dealing with the Depession, to cheerful letters praising President Roosevelt as a saintly figure, to poignant letters written to Eleanor Roosevelt begging for money and old clothes, to disturbing letters that sound eerily like suicide notes of people who have lost all hope, to bitter letters decrying New Deal legislations and the creation of a generation of lazy dependents of federal welfare.
One complaint I have is that this books does not contain a single correspondance dated after 1937, as the Great Depression did not end there, or a chapter devoted to people's responses as the United States gradually pulls out of depression during World War II. Nevertheless, it's a minor flaw of an otherwise great work by McElvaine.
Terrific Compilation Of Depression- Era Correspondance.......2000-11-25
This wonderful collection of depression-era letters from both ordinary men in the street as well as from celebrated people alike is offered by noted Depression era historian Robert McElvaine. In the opinion of most contemporary historians, the Second World War was the single most important event shaping and directing subsequent developments throughout the 20th century. Moreover, no single other event so shaped the 1930s world or influenced the events leading to WWII than did the great worldwide depression. Through the words of the survivors of those terrible time themselves we are introduced into the world of those times, and in the process are treated to a terrific account of the human ordeal of the 1930s, which, as noted historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Notes, "does justice to the social and cultural dimensions of economic crisis as well as to its political and economic impact." Here we take a busman's tour into a world literally turned upside down by the massive and systematic economic dislocations that suddenly arose in the late 1920s.
This collection of letters breathes life into the otherwise stale statistics of the times. Moreover, this is a quite interesting collection that imaginatively recreates the amazing social, economic, and political conditions of the Great Depression for the reader in a most entertaining and edifying way. Today it is difficult, especially for younger readers, to understand just how traumatic and dangerous the crisis in democracy that the events surrounding the Great Depression were, not only in this country, but also in all of the constitutional democracies of the west. To the minds of many fair-minded Americans, the capitalist system had failed, and it was the man in the street with his family who bore the cruelest brunt of this failure. Millions were set adrift, and everywhere ordinary human beings were stripped of their possessions, their livelihood, and their dignity as thousands and then millions of businesses and enterprises went bankrupt.
For a time it appeared the government itself would lost the confidence of the people, and that civil order would be sacrificed along with all of the material dispossessions millions had already suffered. Socialism and even communism flourished as alternative answers in academic circles, and no one seemed sure or even confident that the system could be saved or resurrected as it continued to fail. The rise from the ashes of the Great Depression was uncertain, fitful, and quite painful, and only the advent of the circumstances surrounding the Second World War really cured the economic ills that Americans struggled with in those times. The fact that we seem to have forgotten the fact that capitalism is a god that can and does fail is worrying to the author, and he examines some of the dangerous and misguided tacit assumptions of contemporary politicians such as the supply side "voodoo" economics of Ronald Reagan's administration.
I found the book to be a valuable aid in understanding how ordinary Americans, forged in the crucible of hard times and make-do, were given the character, self-reliance, and native ability to improvise that so influenced our conduct in the Second World War. Many scholars attribute our military success to the brilliant efforts by our young company and platoon leaders both in Europe and in the Pacific with providing the decisive ingredient to win the war in terms of the hand-to-hand combat. As David Kennedy argues so persuasively in "Freedom From Fear" (see my review), it was the young Americans whose characters were forged in the hard times of the Great Depression who so the moral courage and strength of character to rise up from their foxholes to win their war. This is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it.
Average customer rating:
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From the Bottom Up: The Story of the Irish in Kansas City
Pat O'Neill
Manufacturer: Seat O' the Pants Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Irish
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ASIN: 0967637503 |
Book Description
The Irish, Kansas City's largest ethnic immigrant group ever, hauled stones to build foundations and buckets of water to put out fires. They cut the throats of a million cattle, laid miles of bricks and rails, drove the streetcars, kept and distrubed the peace, organized the working poor and kicked down barriers at City Hall and the courthouse for themselves and many generations and nationalities to come. Lavishly illustrated with photos from family collections and historic and newspaper archives, From the Bottom Up features a soft cover with a photo montage, for a handsome addition to the library of anyone who is proud of that wee touch of Irish blood - or simply interested in a fascinating perspective on how Kansas City came to be.
Customer Reviews:
Top-Up Read.......2007-07-21
It's like drinking a glass of chilled water while crossing a marketing desert land. Crisp, clear and to-the-point.
Kishore Dharmarajan
Author of Eightstorm: 8-Step Brainstorming for Innovative Managers
insightful, practically effective, easy read.......2004-11-03
Traditional approach is for executives to define the strategy and for the middle management to follow through with execution and tactics. The authors describe that the more effective approach is for an executive to be on the front line working with the customers. This is because a strategy developed in relative isolation from customers is unlikely to leverage off of the company's positioning in the customer's mind. The executive's objective would be to identify the competitive mental angle or the position / niche his company holds in the customers mind. This leads to identifying a simple differentiating tactic. Examples include pizza delivery time (Domino's) or "we're #2; we try harder" (Avis). This approach becomes highly effective when the executive uses the simple winning tactic as a lightning rod to gather and focus the entire company's energy. This involves continuous improvements in processes, products, positioning towards the singular goal of penetrating deep into customer's mind via the beachhead that was initially identified. Contrary to most models, a strategy is developed from a winning tactic by seeking broad input from customers and a variety of stakeholders; however, execution, planning, and marketing are carefully controlled and coordinated in a precise military fashion to surgically deepen the penetration in a customer's mind. The emphasis is on fixing things within the organization to match the meaning already present in a customer's mind rather than spend a lot of resources ineffectively to change a customer's mind.
Make a plan at another angle.......2002-02-18
I can learn a lot of insights from this book. It teaches us how to make a plan at another angle. Unlike the traditional top down approach that decide what to do (strategy) and then how to do it (tactics), Trout and Ries suggest that tactics dictate strategies, which is "Bottom up marketing".
As bottom up managers first find a tactic that will work in the mind and then build it into a strategy (they work from the specific to the general), it is easier for them to exploit new opportunities, which is different from the top down managers that they are limited in the existing market. But remember to focus on only one tactic! Do better with less!
Bottom up marketing also emphasizes on change in the organization so as to find new opportunities in the market. Unless there is change in name, product, service, price but not mind or market, any strategy is unlikely to be successful.
Throughout the book, examples are widely used to show us the success of organizations that conduct bottom up marketing and the failure of those who conduct top down marketing, making it easier to understand.
Read it and try to plan at another angle!
Glass house strategy vs reality.......2001-10-15
Unlike "The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing", Bottom Up Marketing is not merely a re-hash of "Focus" and "Positioning".
The core focus of this book is the distinction made between strategy and tactics in marketing. A grand strategy is often created that is perfect and executed flawlessly - in the minds of those who create it - The details (tactics) will of course fall into place. This, contend the authors, is how many a marketing campaign is carried out, often without the smashing success expected.
Bottom-Up Marketing is just that, developing a marketing strategy from the bottom up. A successful strategy can be crafted only after the needs, wants, and minds of the consumers are understood. Once the opportunity is identified, tactics are developed to satisfy the need, focus and refine the actions of the company. Once a realistic picture emerges, a strategy can be created such that the entire organization can take the correct actions and take advantage of opportunities that actually exist.
Intelligence about the marketplace and opportunities presented within must come directly from the source, those on the front lines in touch with consumers. Strategy and resource allocation comes from the top.
It's a good book with a clear simple message, combined with a dash of Trout and Ries' humor.
A nice book to be read but with limited new ideas.......2000-08-17
This book has only a couple of new ideas. The rest come from "Positioning". The concept of bottom-up is nice but I am not sure if that's a new concept or a redefinition on tactic and strategy. Obviously, either of tactic and strategy must work. Otherway, something is wrong. The idea of bottom-up could be stated as a redefinition of tactic (as the key competing concept) and strategy (as the modeling of the organization to be able to run and follow the tactic). If so, the flow is down-up. On the other hand, authors are too much focused on the mental positiong concept. Tactics (or strategies if you prefer) could arise from many other sources. I recommend reading "the mind of strategist" as another way of looking for competing striking concepts. All in all, this book is nice and easy to read and some ideas can be got from it. I specially enjoy its saying as "the road to a disaster is paved with improvements" or "most of the guys in the exciting fire line fall, while the others remain" (by the way, where do you prefer to be?). They comprise usefull advises for surviving within a company, or do you have a different goal?.
Books:
- The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain's Untapped Potential
- The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
- The Oxygen Revolution: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: The Groundbreaking New Treatment for Stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Arthritis, Autism, Learning Disabilities and More
- The Revival Slim and Beautiful Diet: For Total Body Wellness
- The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1)
- The Serotonin Power Diet: Use Your Brain's Natural Chemistry to Cut Cravings, Curb Emotional Overeating, and Lose Weight (Hardcover)
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- The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything
- The Sugar Solution: Weight Gain? Memory Lapses? Mood Swings? Fatigue? Your Symptoms Are Real - And Your Solution is Here
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Books Index
Books Home
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Reel Power: The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood
When Hollywood Had a King: The Reign of Lew Wasserman, Who Leveraged Talent into Power and Influence
The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business
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The Hollywood Rules
