Book Description
Bill Bryson meets Bruce Lee in this raucously funny story of one scrawny American's quest to become a kung fu master at China's legendary Shaolin Temple.
Growing up a ninety-pound weakling tormented by bullies in the schoolyards of Kansas, young Matthew Polly dreamed of one day journeying to the Shaolin Temple in China to become the toughest fighter in the world, like Caine in his favorite 1970s TV series, Kung Fu. While in college, Matthew decided the time had come to pursue this quixotic dream before it was too late. Much to the dismay of his parents, he dropped out of Princeton to spend two years training with the legendary sect of monks who invented kung fu and Zen Buddhism.
Expecting to find an isolated citadel populated by supernatural ascetics that he'd seen in countless badly dubbed chop-socky flicks, Matthew instead discovered a tacky tourist trap run by Communist party hacks. But the dedicated monks still trained in the rigorous age-old fighting forms—some even practicing the “iron kung fu” discipline, in which intensive training can make various body parts virtually indestructible (even the crotch). As Matthew grew in his knowledge of China and kung fu skill, he would come to represent the Temple in challenge matches and international competitions, and ultimately the monks would accept their new American initiate as close to one of their own as any Westerner had ever become.
Laced with humor and illuminated by cultural insight, American Shaolin is an unforgettable coming-of-age tale of one young man's journey into the ancient art of kung fu—and a funny and poignant portrait of a rapidly changing China.
Customer Reviews:
American Sholin.......2007-10-07
Very entertaining..wouldn't be surprise if a movie was made based on this experience. Good reading!
An American's delightful stay among the Shaolin monks.......2007-09-28
American Shaolin is an amusing and insightful memoir of a young American's experiences while training with Shaolin monks in the 1990s. It is the kind of book that you will read in a few hours. I especially like the author's mostly positive attitude toward his environment. I compare it favorably to Paul Shirley's memoir as a basketball player, in which Shirley mostly complains and puts down his fellow athletes. In this book, the author has respect and awe for the monks, and it is satisfying to watch him approach their level of expertise. While it is nonfiction, the book follows a narrative structure and is essentially a coming-of-age story. Frankly, I'm suspicious of his success as a kungfu kickboxer. It is hard to believe that someone with months of training can defeat someone with years of training. However I do not think that he fabricated any of the stories. Rather, he chose the anecdotes that fit his storyline of physical (as a martial artist) and personal (as a man) growth. Thus, he starts with a few missteps and then describes a few more successes. I have one slight quibble: at the end, he refers to his respect for China's devotion to its culture, which I thought he could have referenced earlier in the book, to show his progression to that respect.
Six of one, half-dozen of the other.......2007-09-06
As a travel narrative, the book is excellent. It's easy to learn a lot about the Chinese culture from this period of time, and the local characters are likable, well-written, and complex. If read as a memoir, however, it's difficult for me to get over the fact that the author just isn't very likable. He begins as a self-centered college student, and never really evolves all that much. Sure, he gets stronger and more skilled at his art, but I was never able to sympathize with him. No matter why this is the case, the book is mildly recommended if read for what it is--a light travelogue for those interested in China or martial arts. Those looking for an example to follow or a character for which to root ought look elsewhere.
Go to CMAOD dot com to learn Shaolin and any other martial arts style for cheap, and avoid imposter martial arts teachers!.......2007-08-26
Shaolin kung fu is without question beautiful and if you wish to learn complete kung fu forms for only seven ninety nine per video disc, or slightly more for English-Chinese DVDs, visit the website that begins with the first letters of "Chinese Martial Arts On Disc": CMAOD dot com. "CMAOD dot com" offers every kind of kung fu form and style you would ever wish to learn from beginning to end: traditional hong gar, almost all styles of Shaolin, Dim Mak, traditional hong fist, animal styles, many fighting self-defense videos, wudang, er mei, and dozens of other complete systems of kung fu, including weapons, forms, and self-defense. You name it, you can learn it, without having to spend thousands of dollars to learn from phony kung fu teachers. Many Americans don't know that this website allows you to buy the best instructional VCDs and DVDs available. Visit the "wushu for youth" section of CMAOD dot com and you can buy the wushu fundamentals VCDs or DVDs that will teach you from the beginning stages. Visit the Shaolin section and you will find more fundamental Shaolin VCds or DVDs taught by two allegedly real Shaolin monks called Shi De Juan and Shi De Jian. I don't know how real their monkhood is, but they are gifted martial artists, and you can learn complete forms in many styles of martial arts. You've got to see this website to believe it. The owner Bill is a great guy, and offers great discounts on his website. You've got to visit CMAOD dot com to believe it. There are literally thousands of kung fu artists here that are "at least" as good as the so-called real Shaolin monks in China and America, and many are far far better. With a few bucks, they can be your teacher. If you can't find a good teacher in person, here's your only chance to learn real Shaolin or other styles for almost nothing. Ever wish you could find "the secret kung fu manual" to teach you various styles? Well, here it is in video disc or DVD form. Buy these VCDs or DVDs and enjoy learning great martial arts from top Chinese masters without worrying about being fooled by phony kung fu masters. Finally, every American has access to real kung fu learning at his or her own pace! I have written three international cover stories for Inside Kung Fu and Wushu Kung Fu magazines (now Kung Fu magazine) and can vouch that CMAOD dot com is the best source for learning authentic Shaolin and other kung fu step-by-step without being bamboozled by and kowtowing to phony practitioners of fake kung fu styles or schools. Learn at your own pace, according to your own interests from the best Chinese masters and grandmasters for less than eight dollars for VCDs.
A special book - warm, funny and thoroughly enjoyable.......2007-08-20
This book will appeal to anyone who likes a good story and a good laugh. On the surface, the book seemingly appeals more naturally to men, but it is great book for anyone who welcomes adventure, likes rooting for the underdog, and loves great writing ala PJ O'Rourke and Christopher Buckley. Matt Polly is a great new writer -- I'm hooked.
Average customer rating:
- I couldn't bring myself to do it...
- do not bother
- Another Reminder
- It is not all about Him!
- Liked Ultrametabolism Better
|
The UltraSimple Diet: Kick-Start Your Metabolism and Safely Lose Up to 10 Pounds in 7 Days
Mark Hyman
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Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss
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Canyon Ranch Cooks: More Than 200 Delicious, Innovative Recipes from America's Leading Health Resort
ASIN: 1416547762 |
Book Description
IF YOU NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT FAST, BUT DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH AND ARE TIRED OF HEARING PEOPLE TELL YOU TO JUST "EAT LESS AND EXERCISE MORE," THEN YOU NEED
THE ULTRASIMPLE DIET
Mark Hyman, M.D., the medical expert whose groundbreaking UltraMetabolism was a smash New York Times bestseller, now reveals an accelerated plan for quick, safe, and healthy weight loss--as much as 10 pounds in one week. Inside you'll find:
• a simple 7-day weight loss plan to revitalize your health,boost energy, and lose weight
• detailed instructions for exactly what to do each day--no thinking,
guessing, testing, or wondering--all straight forward and something anyone can do
• precise instructions for what foods to eat, what foods to avoid, recipes, supplements, and stress reduction--exercise is optional!
• The solution to the #1 problem most dieters have: how to keep the weight off for good.
• exercise routines to suit even the busiest schedule
• pages for journal entries and checklists
The UltraSimple Diet is grounded in 21st century science and medically
proven through years of testing on thousands of Dr. Hyman's patients.
seven days from now, you could weigh up to ten pounds less, have revitalized
energy and health, and both feel and look fantastic, all by simply trying
THE ULTRASIMPLE DIET
Join the ultrasimple diet community at www.ultrasimplediet.com/join.
Customer Reviews:
I couldn't bring myself to do it..........2007-09-30
I enjoyed reading this book and got hyped about trying this diet. Before I could give it a whirl though, I let my friend borrow the book over the weekend and by Monday, she had already started it. I decided to let her do it for awhile to see how it went.
She faithfully followed the directions in the book for about a month but did not feel better or lose any weight.
After watching her struggle to drink the shakes and spend a small fortune on the vegetables for the broth, I opted not to do it. (I do not like to be in the kitchen.)
Instead, I cut out most white flour, white sugar in my diet. I have been following it most of the time for the past three months. I am back into my skinny pants... was in a 9, now in a size 5.
So, if you want an entertaining read that will inspire you to do something about your diet, this is probably a good read. But if you want an Ultra-Simple Diet, this may not be a good one for you because it requires a lot of prep work and time in the kitchen.
do not bother.......2007-09-25
waste of money- same old info we all know- nothing new or helpful- I donated mine- it was really that lame!
Another Reminder.......2007-09-18
Mark Hyman reminds us once again about all the important rules that we all know but somehow fail to follow: timing of meals, portion sizes, eating fruits and vegetables, exercising, etc. The book is another reminder to put these rules into practice, to get measurable results. In my opinion this is a good book for anyone that is new to dieting. As long as you follow the advice you will be looking and feeling great. For some original ideas on weight loss I suggest "Can We Live 150". Tha chapter on obesity in that book is not to be missed.
Other recommended titles: Cure the Incurable
It is not all about Him!.......2007-09-13
I found this book hard to read until after I got through all the stuff about the author. I have no doubt that he is great, but he sure told us that over and over!
I also think that this will be a hard diet to do without spending a lot of money just on the new foods one needs to eat.
Liked Ultrametabolism Better.......2007-09-13
Although I LOVE Dr. Hyman, this book didn't agree with my system. My stomch was in a state of unrest for about three weeks, even after I stopped eating flax seeds, tofu, etc. I did lose a few pounds, but I lost on Ultrametabolism, just not as quickly. I think I may just have a sensitive stomch for certain foods recommended here, which is unusual for me. All in all, the science makes sense in all of his books and literature and I reviewed Ultrametabolism last year. WELL worth the money. If your in for a quick fix, go for this one, but be careful if you have a sensitive system.
Book Description
A lively insider's guide to starting a successful small business selling items old and new on eBay, written with personal anecdotes, well–kept secrets, and insider tips by Adam Ginsberg, eBay's most successful private salesperson.
This is the insider's guide to making money on eBay. Adam Ginsberg is the most successful seller on eBay, moving around a million dollars' worth of merchandise every month. Not only will he impart his personal secrets on how to sell on eBay –learned through years of experience – and his tips on expanding your small business using eBay as a global market, but he'll also give fun side–notes and anecdotes, keeping the book lively and making it a fun and interesting read.
This book will be a must–have for all current and aspiring eBay sellers, all small–business owners, and anyone who wants to learn how to start a million–dollar company.
Customer Reviews:
Read this book is one sitting..........2007-10-09
What really stood out for me was the writing style of the book. It was conversational with great stories that were fun and interesting.
Along with great tips, this book is not written in the typical "textbook" format. I read the entire book in less than a day and would definitely encourage anyone to read it!
Simply a GREAT Book!.......2007-10-09
Not only was this book easy to read - the content helped me go from a new eBay seller to an advanced one. I went from 19 feedback to 175 feedback in 60 days using the techniques I learned.
I'd highly encourage anyone interested in learning more about eBay to read this book!
Great eBay book.......2007-06-14
a Gotta Have book if you are planning on starting an eBay business in your home in 30 days. Great reference for the experienced eBayer.
Garbage.......2007-06-08
This book is one big fat advertisement for Ebay and for Adam Ginsberg's other ventures. It had very little useful information, and NO information that cannot be found easily on-line or on Ebay itself. It was a waste of my time reading it. It was utterly repetitive and took forever to actually get to any sort of information or advice. There is hardly enough information in this book to fill a 10 page pamphlet...let alone a 300 page book!!! I'm just happy I got it from the library and didn't end up wasting my money as well as my time.
I wish there was actually a book out there to help people who are not complete ebay beginners. The biggest ebay woe is finding sources for products, and there is little help in this book....OH, unless you want to go to the website Adam plugs and buy more stuff from him. SURE, then he'll help you out. HA, RIGHT!
Not bad but............2007-03-27
This book is not bad. It is good for the basics of how to buy and sell on Ebay, if you have never done it, but if you have already been doing business on Ebay, its more of a review than revelation. There are a lot of great little 'tid-bits' of information and the writing style is entertaining, but nothing really eye opening or anything that makes you say hum....It talks about doing your homework and how to to post listings, the rules of ebay but a lot of this is posted on the Ebay site itself. If you are a total novice by all means pick it up, but if you have done a few deals on Ebay and pretty much know your way around you may want to skip this one.
Average customer rating:
- Inspirational!
- Questionable Advice
- Kick in the butt!
- Standard Material, Different Approach
- More yelling from Larry
|
Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life
Larry Winget
Manufacturer: Wiley
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ASIN: 047177345X |
Book Description
Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life
This is not your typical self-help book. You won't find any motivational platitudes or cute business parables here. This is more of a "get off your butt and get to work" approach that can help you achieve more success, make more money, improve your business, and have more fun.
Larry Winget doesn't pull any punches here. He believes that business gets better when businesspeople get better through personal growth. And it works the same way in your personal life-husbands and wives improve each other when they improve themselves, and kids improve when their parents do. In other words, everything in life gets better when you get better, and nothing gets better until you get better.
This book can make you better, but it will probably tick you off. Winget is direct, caustic, and controversial. You won't like or agree with everything he has to say. Yet his advice is full of wisdom and truth that can't easily be argued with.
Words from Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life that prove that this book is anything but typical:
"If you don't have much going wrong in your life, then you don't have much going on in your life."
"When you work, work! When you play, play! Don't mix the two."
"What you think about, talk about, and do something about is what comes about."
"When it quits being fun-quit."
"Time management is a joke."
And that's just the beginning!
Download Description
Practical steps to take control of your life and get results
He might seem harsh from time to time, but Larry Winget's unique approach to personal development-combining blunt truth with irreverent humor-is really based on love of self and love of others. Life is serious, but that doesn't mean we should always take it so seriously. Larry's message is simple: life isn't as complicated as it seems and most people would find more success, and more happiness, in their lives if they'd do a few simple things-take responsibility for their actions, lighten up, and start doing the right things instead of the wrong things. By forcing readers to look truthfully at their own lives, this refreshingly honest approach to self-improvement leaves readers nowhere to turn but the mirror-and proves that when we stop making excuses we start succeeding.
Larry Winget (Paradise Valley, AZ) is one of the most successful professional speakers in America. He is known as the Pitbull of Personal Development(TM), speaking worldwide to corporations and associations over one hundred times per year, delivering hardcore self-help that's funny.
Customer Reviews:
Inspirational!.......2007-10-08
This book is fantastic! I love to listen to audio books on the way to work. A good audio book almost makes you want to get stuck in traffic!
Of course, if you listen to Larry Winget, you will find out that the traffic jam is your fault!! Shut up! Stop complaining about the traffic jam! Get a life! If you didn't want to be stuck in traffic jams on the way to work than you should write entire books based on one sentence and make a great living off it! Also, trumpet your seminars from the tallest buildings or thickest books or most annoying audio books to get interest and tour, tour, tour!
That's true! Listen, if you don't want to buy this book, let me sum up what you need to do. Larry's right. Shut up. Not making it? Not paying the bills? House not big enough? Don't hate. Find out what your skills are and see how that can make you money and bust your butt. I have two start-up businesses that may go nowhere but sitting and watching idiotic televion won't improve my lifestyle, I guarantee it. Hey, I did it! And without insulting you! Just go do it. And Larry, stop contributing to global warming with all that hot air. Just give your seminars and don't hate. That includes the fat people you hate so much. I'm not fat but I'm not bigoted against them as you say you are.
Questionable Advice.......2007-10-04
I like Winget's approach -- we all need a kick in the butt once in awhile, but his information is questionable in too many areas.
On Health: Winget insists all physical problems are our own fault. I agree with the theory, but it shouldn't be presented as a blanket statement. My wife was born with a defective heart and has to live with the problem. How did she "create" that?
On Stress: Winget tells us that stress happens when we know the right thing to do and choose to do the wrong thing. Excuse me, but how does that apply to being caught behind a traffic accident on the way to work, a loss of faith, the death of a loved one . . . what are the "right" choices to make when you come home to find you've been robbed?
On Relationships: Winget, on his second marriage and an admitted adulterer (with an adultress as a wife) claims he always likes his wife but doesn't always love her. I don't know what planet he's living on. I've been with my wife for thirty years and, although we don't always like each other, we've never doubted our love for each other.
Those are just a few of the problems I have with this otherwise entertaining book. It's a good read, and makes you take a look at yourself, but please don't embrace it as your new bible. The information is too simplistic and general.
Kick in the butt!.......2007-09-23
I love this book! He has a very direct and no nonsense method for delivering the message about getting it done. You may wince while reading some sections of this book because of the truth of it.
Standard Material, Different Approach.......2007-09-10
Larry Winget is terrific. He's in-your-face and irreverant (which, to me, comes across as funny). If you're a self-improvement junkie, however, you'll recognize literally everything in this book as originally coming from another source -- everyone from Buddah to Wayne Dyer to Julius Fast. Larry Winget is Tony Robbins with a different physical image and approach, although both are enthusiastic, funny, entertaining, and full of information.
As a self-improvement junkie for over forty years, I don't agree with everything Winget says. He's sure he's right and I'm sure he's wrong. My biggest argument concerns the idea that we create every medical issue we have. I've heard this one many times before . . . all from self-improvement gurus who have never really been sick a day in their lives. Yes, I agree that people can create ulcers and migranes and even cancer, but I'd like to ask Mr. Winget and the rest of the "experts" how my husband manifested his bayonet wound from Vietnam, how I created the extra heart nerve bundle I was born with, or how Michael J. Fox (great attitude, careful with his health) caused Parkinson's Disease. Or how the always-upbeat, active, and cautious Luciano Pavarotti created pancreatic cancer. Unlike Winget, I believe some things do Just Happen. It's hard for me to believe my daughter's seat belt magically released during an auto accident, leaving her with a concussion, because she had a bad attitude.
Aside from a few personal problems such as the health issue, this book will get you motivated. But once you're motivated, you need to be able to use that motivation or you'll just be enthusiastic for awhile and then fall back into your old routine. Even Winget declares that you have to know what you want and have a plan before getting all fired up.
For those who have run up against this problem in the past, I suggest the audiobook "Before You Hire A Life Coach . . . Heal Your Problems With Pyramid Problem Solving." Pyramid Problem Solving will (finally!) lead you to what you honestly want, bottom line. It does not stop with what you think you want, what you wanted ten years ago, what someone else has convinced you that you want, or what you think you should want. It gets right to the bottom, THEN you can use motivational material and finally find success.
I wish everyone who reads this book (or any other self-help material) all the success in the world. It's taken me a long time (and a lot of energy and money) to finally get to my own honest "This Is What I Want," and I'm in my fifties.
More yelling from Larry.......2007-08-16
This is a very honest, in your face book. I liked it alot. You have to like getting yelled at though. The author puts it right up there for you to understand. There are no doubts where the guy is coming from: Either you do what you already know what needs to be done, or you don't. If you don't care enough to put in the effort, don't bother whining because NOBODY cares. There you go...I just saved you $10.00.
Book Description
For anyone who sells or manages salespeople, these proven strategies create success in a really tough world.
Customer Reviews:
Dan The Man.......2007-10-01
I admit I am a big fan of Dan Kennedy,so I was not disappointed with the NO BS Sales Success. There are pearls of wisdom for the experienced salesperson as well as the newbie who still believes the customer really will "think about it"and get back to him. Well worth reading and re reading again.
No bs selling or an example of an infommercial book?.......2007-05-28
My profile: 43 yo beginner enterpreneur
It is very difficult to review this book, because in a way, I started in April 2005 and it is just now that I finished reading it. Add to that, that I received every week about 4 email newstletters from his website filled with valuable info on marketing, sales opportunities, etc as well as the pitch to buy his products.
- Does he deliver? Yes, but if you can tune to the metamessage
- Does he have methodology? yes, but he is almost shy of it and never expands on it. ( Too bad, it would be a classic in sales if he did)
- What he say, will it help you in the "real world"? If the "real world" is the US, maybe, if not, Im not too sure, adaptions have to be implemented.
Since I a not living in the US I can take this book with a grain of salt and see if it just "rides the well travelled roads of consumer behaviour of the US" or does he have something different to say on the matter? Remember, in US mass marketing, and aspects related to the "secret of sales", they are truly the masters in "selling the crap so neatly dressed in its golden wrap".
Dan is straight forward and we have to hand it to him, as his examples come rather blundtly.. yet, for timeless wisdom, there are a lot of other good sources, so it is not this that makes the book unique.
He positions himself in an aura of mystery, he only onced worked in sales surrounded by mediocre performers which he did not emulate, and then went on his own and earns milions of dollars by some sort of divine intervention that separated him from the pack.. . but he is willing you to tell you how, of course, if you invest $$$ to learn it, so in here is not the value of the book.
Somewhere 3/4th ahead, he shares one big secret with you, he goes back to the time he was an average Joe, with big dreams in his mind, with all the motivation and desire in his heart, he listened to all the tapes, yet he still had "moths in his wallet", then it dawn on him, if he could manage supply and demand in such a way that he will have more demand than the supply he can givem then he will always be rich, simple, right?
To me that was the slap in the face and the kick in the seat of the pants that I needed ( I am obviously leaving details out). I agreed with him totally: its not cold calling, is not the sales numbers game, is not all of those worn out mindless "shoot to everything that moves" strategy that will get you ahead.. I laughed at the reviewer who summarized part of the strategy as "playing hard to get".. well, I guess you can say it that way, but I view as he does, you have to "position" yourself in the mind of target segment.. and he gives you examples to do this (finally, he gives away somthing "proprietary" that is not taken from "Poor Richard's Almanac"). As a matter of fact, now you beging to see that the whole book is an infommercial destined to leading you to a new purchase as Scherezade would do with the sultan in 1001 nights..
No, the book does not give away the secrets as how to position yourself, but gives very good guidelines, so maybe you don't have to fall for the "Never cold call again" type of book.
As a beginner enterpreneur I thought that my knowledge of the client base, given my my years working in a corporation that gave me an "aura" of an expert supplier, was enough to assure me success, now in the light of this book, I can see where I am missing out, just for this the book has value.
packed with information, and advertisements..........2007-01-19
I got this book after reading another of Dan Kennedys books. I was not disappointed. After all the book was less than ten dollars, so my expectations were not all that high. I was pleasantly surprised.
Dan talks about many ways to sell and market more, better and faster. The book is packed with information and many shameless plugs for the author, who is the king of shameless plugs. But it obviously seems to be working for him. I think the plugs have a lot to teach also. Look at the way he throws it in and then use them for your own self promotion.
Overall it was an excellent book made even better by its low cost.
A MUST-READ for All Marketers.......2006-12-26
If you're in business or marketing, you need to read ALL of Dan Kennedy's books.
Dan is no B.S. and I love his books!.......2006-02-25
I have several books by Dan Kennedy he is the ulimate for getting down to business.
Amazon.com
This is a review
Book Description
Radical secrets of direct marketing players
Go behind the scenes and cash in on the undisclosed, off-the-record strategies of today's top direct marketers. These high-profile techniques can be applied to your non-direct marketing business with amazing results and direct marketing guru Dan Kennedy can take you there.
Dan and his elite team of consultants--all phenomenally successful at borrowing direct marketing strategies from the world of mail-order, TV infomercials, etc., to use in 'ordinary' businesses including retail stores, restaurants and sales--reveal their radically different, super-profitable methods and share actual advertising and marketing examples from their businesses!
Also, sit in on a discussion of the hottest marketing techniques on the audio CD inside. Discover customer-getting, sales-boosting tactics you never knew existed!
INSIDE!
- FREE--Email Course & Direct Marketing Tool Kit
- FREE--$995.00-Value Seminar Tickets
- FREE--Tele-seminar Invitation
- FREE--Newsletters
Customer Reviews:
Needed More.......2007-07-17
One cannot deny the fact that the book is used a selling vehicle for all of Kennedy's other books. You have to look past that however, and focus on the meat of the book, which is the only reason one would buy it.
The concept of having 90% of the book written by others is interesting, but makes some chapters far better than others. The audience of this book is meant to be small business owners, but I can't imagine that this book gives them enough content to actually get a campaign off the ground. It basically says that marketing, when done right, works. But makes it sound much simpler than it really is. Most of the details as to what makes something work are left out. It also contains blanket statements like, long copy is much more effective than short, which leaves out many details. An untrained person will think that the more you write, the better your response rates will be. Marketing is not that simple. Otherwise, why would Dan Kennedy change six figures to write copy for someone?
The book also loses some credibility because of the excessive self-promotion on behalf of most of the writers/contributors. In my opinion, the writers' accomplishments should be used to add to their credibility as subject matter experts. Not as a vehicle for expressing their over inflated egos or blatantly selling their products and services. Rather than impress the reader, the author pushed many away, who may have otherwise gained something from this book, which does contain some useful information.
On the positive side, the examples given are great. For the reader to be able to see the actual pieces that are being described in the chapter, can be really helpful. Statements like focusing on what your customers WANT rather than what they NEED, are great. So there are useful bits scattered throughout the book.
I have not read any of Kennedy's other books, so I'm by no means discounting the rest of the No B.S. series. However, before you start spending your hard earned money on marketing, I hope your research goes far beyond this book.
Disappointed.......2007-04-12
I am not sure if I should be disappointed with the book itself, or the fact that Dan Kennedy's students run around online giving all his products 5 star blindly.
This book is NOT written by Dan Kennedy. Dan Kennedy only wrote the first chapter, and from that point on, each chapter contains teaser content and a plug for a different guru.
This book has some nice overview of some examples, but it is not as good as the reviewers make it out to be. You will not get anything concrete out of it.
A shameless upsell atempt, very little substance........2007-02-12
I've bought and read all of Dan's No B.S. books and was very dissapointed with this one. While he does promote his books and services in the other books, it's not in a blatant hard sell fashion as in this book. So much so, the whole book seems to be a tease and a marketing attempt for his inner cicle's services.
Nonetheless, I'd give Dan the benefit of the doubt, he is after all a marketing guru. In fact, I got a lot of good ideas from his free newsletter. It seems to me, however, that ever since he partnered with Bill Glazer, everything that's published under his name is a non-stop commercial for the Kennedy inner cirlce.
compact and inspiring, from a super successful marketer.......2007-01-04
Dan Kennedy's "No B.S." series books are all excellent. This one is a great introduction to direct marketing. Learn how hugely profitable techniques formerly used only in direct mail and infomercials can be used in today's internet businesses. Although some people don't like his "No B.S." style, Kennedy is a clear and inspiring writer, and has achieved huge success for himself and his clients.
Short, and to the Point.......2006-11-05
This little book contains 17 chapters, each one dedicated to a separate marketing principle--and each one written concisely and persuasively. The first section consists of seven chapters in which the general principles are discussed. The next section includes success stories from retail businesses, restaurants, professional practices, sales careers, and service businesses, with additional chapters about "Systems for Every Marketer" and "Customer Retention."
A CD also comes with the book. The CD contains highlights from Dan Kennedy's seminar on direct marketing.
Book Description
Managed DirectX was released with the latest version of the core DirectX libraries in DirectX9. It enables developers using the new .NET languages (i.e. C#, VB.NET, etc.) to develop rich multimedia applications with DirectX. Unfortunately the Managed DirectX runtime was released without adequate documentation, and developers are having a hard time figuring out the best way to write managed applications. This book covers how to use the Managed DirectX objects, how they differ from the core DirectX libraries, and how to create these rich multimedia applications in C#. It also covers in depth graphics techniques and the new high-level shader language shipping with DirectX9.
Customer Reviews:
Very disappointed.......2007-09-14
The code doesn't compile with Visual Studio C# 2005 and doesn't work with the most recent DirectX 9. Please read other 1 star reviewers. They are correct. Don't waste your money.
Overall a very good book.......2007-02-21
The book is written for people with a basic knowledge of C# and no knowledge of Directx. The author starts with simple applications as how to display a triangle and rotate it. I'm sure you can find these things in several online tutorials. But he explains things very well. The examples on the CD are not very spectacular; the author doesn't show you how to program a complete first person shooter.At the end of reading this book, you will have a decent understanding of this 3D API, which seems to me become better and better with later releases. (I always thought that OpenGL code looked very clean, now Directx code can evenly rival this other 3D API) In my opinion you should combine this book with other books over network programming (there is a small chapter in this book about DirectPlay Server-Client network) and other books about 3D engine design.
So much info my brain hurts, in a good way........2006-05-02
Background: No professional programming experience, but i wrote MUDs in the late 90s. I learned C++ at a junior college. 4 classes of C++, analysis and design, discrete math, calculus, and a class of java. (and some other unrelated stuff)
I will recommend reading Ron Pentons MDX book before this one... it's much simpler (even though his sprite implementation is from dx 9.0b and won't compile... but learning how to fix it is good for you :P)
Tom does a great job of leaving out all of the baby stuff (like how to set up your IDE, install DX, etc etc.) and goes right into the meat and potatoes. So, for people who get bored too fast skipping simple concepts... this book is great for you.
I recommend getting this book, reading each chapter twice, then printing the sample code and hand typing it (don't let intellisense do the work). You'll quickly memorize the methods in MDX that way. Then read the chapter a third time to recap what you just did.
Hope you all enjoy learning as I have.
Very good book on managed DirectX.......2006-03-23
This is a very good book on managed DirectX - i.e. using C# rather than using C++, using the managed rather than unmanaged API, using .Net, etc. Adequate chapters on how to get started but not in as much literal detail as some books - you will need to already understand how to use Visual Studio, how to include libraries into your Visual Studio projects, etc. Starts off with the basics and fundamentals but quickly moves into more advanced topics.
Decent approach, bad information.......2006-03-17
The way that this book approaches teaching Managed DirectX is a pretty good one compared to some other books I have looked at, provided that you are willing to do most of the work of trying to understand what you're doing yourself.
However, the book has loads and loads of errors. Many of them are simple and easy to correct if you know a little about C# or .NET (which you should if you want to use the book), but there are some that will probably confuse most beginners. For example, the book gets a pretty fundamental bit of information about back face culling completely backwards from the way things really work.
For those interested in the technical details, this book tells you that counterclockwise culling mode means you must specify vertices in counterclockwise order for them to be displayed and that clockwise-ordered vertices are not rendered. This is completely wrong. Counterclockwise culling mode means that counterlockwise-ordered vertices are the ones that are not displayed (if you check the official DirectX SDK documentation [and most every other source of info about DirectX available on the Internet] you will see that this is the case).
While probably not the worst DirectX book you could possibly find, this book should not be used by itself. Just about everything it tells you should be double-checked against the SDK documentation or some other DirectX reference to make sure that the information is correct.
Book Description
When was the last time you had a creative idea? This morning? Last month? Last year? Sometimes you need A Kick in the Seat of the Pants to get your thinking going. This book does just that by taking you on a guided tour through the four roles of the creative process-Explorer, Artist, Judge, and Warrior.
- When it's time to seek out new information, adopt the mindset of an
Explorer. Get off the beaten path, poke around in outside areas, and pay attention to unusual patterns.
- When you need to create a new idea, let the
Artist in you come out. Ask what-if questions and look for hidden analogies. Break the rules and look at things backwards. Add something and take something away. Ultimately, you'll come up with an original idea.
- When it's time to decide if your idea is worth implementing, see yourself as a
Judge. Ask what's wrong and if the timing's right. Question your assumptions and make a decision.
- And when you carry your idea into action, be a
Warrior. Put a fire in your belly, eliminate your excuses, and do what's necessary to reach your objective.
Kick provides exercises, stories, tips, and Roger von Oech's proven techniques to help you strengthen each of your own creative roles.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book.......2007-08-06
Should be read along with Whack on the side of your head by the same author.
Just for the Software - Hardware classification toold its worth it .......2006-06-13
I came to this precious book in the 3M Library in Caracas while I was working there, the funny thing is that there was the most un-creative work enviroment I ever seen in my life!!
This book was the kick-off that got me to exercice my creative gears.. the clasification of subject themes by hardware/ software proved to be invaluable in my later marketing career.
I would recommended to all, specially those who think they are as creative as the need to be.
A must-have book in your Creativity & Innovation Library & card deck on your desk top!.......2006-05-30
I am a raving fan of Roger von Oech's creative work as embodied in his books & card decks, namely:
Books:
- A Whack on the Side of the Head;
- A Kick in the Seat of the Pants;
- Expect the Unexpected;
Card Decks:
- Creative Whack Pack;
- Innovative Whack Pack;
- Ancient Whacks of Heraclitus;
I have used all his creativity stuff ever since I started my own strategy consulting (& book store) business in late 1991.
From my personal & professional experience, I would like to say that the entire collection of Roger von Oech's creative work has been designed to serve three strategic purposes:
- understanding - & removing - your mental blocks;
- breaking your habitual patterns;
- shifting your focus & changing your paradigms;
As a matter of fact, once you appreciate & commit to these three strategic purposes in your life, you will soon realise that there is nothing in this world to stop you from getting rid of old ideas & getting new & fresh ideas.
Allow me to quote Edward de Bono: "...the mind is habitually uncreative - it is usually preoccupied with organising masses of incoming data into convenient patterns. Once this pattern is established, then the mind tends to rely upon that pattern in future situations, in order to facilitate decision making & action in an otherwise complex world..." (The Use of Lateral Thinking).
Breaking old habitual patterns is definitely the first & foremost priority in your journey to creativity!
Once your shift your focus, you begin to change your paradigms or the way you look at the world around you. Always remember this: Your brain follows the direction of your dominant thought. Once you focus on something, that thing becomes the foreground. Everything else around it will fall into the background. Most opportunties are unfortunately hidden in the background. The moment you begin to shift your focus, you are pushing the 'foreground' into the 'background', & pulling the 'background' into the 'foreground'. Get it?
'A Whack on the Side of the Head' will help you to break through your mental blocks. They will open up your mind for innovation. This book is filled with provocative puzzles, exercises, stories & helpful tips.
'A Kick in the Seat of the Pants' takes you on a guided tour through the four stereotype roles of the creative process - Explorer, Artist, Judge & Warrior. Understanding - & applying - these roles will fire up your personal & professional creativity. Tactically, they will change your mental focus as you change to play each of the four roles. I would like to add one more role from what I have learned from the Japanese creativity experts: Antique Dealer. This singular role will allow you to combine all the four roles into one.
'Expect the Unexpected' uses thirty of Heraclitus' (the world's first creativity master) epigrams as creative springboards. It has intriguing questions designed to topple old habits of thought & fire up your imagination.
All the three card decks are basically extensions of the three books, to allow convenient usage during brainstorming sessions.
From my strategy consulting experience, these three card desks have proven to be inexhaustible sources of inspirations.
In fact, the 'Innovative Whack Pack' combines the creative power of both the 'Creative Whacks' & 'Ancient Whacks of Heraclitus'.
I strongly urge readers to seriously consider having the entire collection of Roger von Oech's creative work added to your Creativity & Innovation Library, & all the three card decks placed permanently on your desk top at all times.
Suckers Will Buy Anything.......2005-04-15
I was a huge fan of von Oech's "A Whack in the Side of the Head." That is why I was bitterly disappointed by "A Kick in the Seat of the Pants." It is ironic that a book about creativity is almost a carbon copy of its predecessor. "A Kick.." has at least 50 percent of the text and cartoons from "A Whack." I feel robbed, as this book is little more than a revised edition of "A Whack."
If you already read "A Whack" and feel like you are experiencing deja vu while reading "A Kick", you are not alone. This book is a rip-off. How would you like to pay to see "The Empire Strikes Back," only to find that half of the movie is footage from "Star Wars?'" Shame on von Oech and the publisher for tricking me, and shame on me for being duped. Anyone who enjoyed this book either failed to read "A Whack on the Side of the Head" or has extremely short term memory.
Highly recommended.......2004-08-27
I first came across Roger Von Oech when I was a trainer - training other leaders - in a worldwide youth organisation. The ability to think outside the square is important in any lifepath and Von Oech is easy to dip in and out of to get prompted in another direction when life the way ahead looks too narrow.
This book is great - until recently we had a copy in our local library and I borrowed it avidly. Unfortunately it disappeared and I now own my own copy of both this and A WHACK ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD : How You Can Be More Creative. I highly recommend them both.
Book Description
When Ralphie imagines that he's a superhero named Weatherman, the Magic School Bus becomes a glider riding an updraft into the storm clouds. Then the kids become part of the storm - turning from ice crystals to rain. It's a science lesson they'll never forget!
Customer Reviews:
The Magic School Bus series.......2007-01-04
These are great educational books where children have no idea that they are learning.
Disappointing compared to earlier Magic School Bus books.......2006-05-01
My 4 year old son fell in love with the earlier books in this series - Hurricane, Ocean Floor, Electricity, Human body, Water Works, Bees. They are rich in detail, and are very engaging for young exploring minds. This one (MSB Kicks Up a Storm) pales by comparison. Not nearly as much detail. Lacks the quality of illustrations and side-commentary that make the earlier ones so special. This is a run-of-the-mill kids book with nothing much to distinguish it. I have read elsewhere that this series took a downturn when it became a TV show. It certainly reads like a comic-book version of a TV show. Take my son's advice - stick with the earlier books in the Magic School Bus series.
Shicka-Shicka Kaboom! The Book........2005-07-16
It's high summer at school and hot, hot, hot. Carlos is working on a rain catcher, but there's no rain. Ralphie stares out the window and concludes that what they all need to cool down is a big thunderstorm. The only problem is that the kids don't know how weather is made. Is it water? Is it moving air or the heat from the sun that creates weather?
Well, of course, there's nothing to be done about it but to get out there, take chances, get messy and make mistakes!
The children learn all about weather but not before they are turned into water droplets, ride on falling ice crystals and get whooshed about in a thermal updraft. Shicka-Shicka Kaboom! Ralphie gets carried away as your children will be.
Four Stars. These books are very educational, but they are not the easiest read-alouds. (I read them to my 3 and 5 year-olds anyway.)
**See the `Search Inside' Excerpt page for an example of reading level. Certainly young children will not be able to read them.
Average customer rating:
- Best of the series
- My whole family loved this book!
- Another good story...
- mystery, decadent chocolate, champagne and fabulous jewelry!
- charming superb suspense thriller
|
Friends in High Places
Marne Davis Kellogg
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Kellogg, Marne Davis
| ( K )
| Authors, A-Z
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
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Priceless
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Brilliant
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Insatiable
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Birthday Party (Marshal Lilly Bennett Mysteries)
-
Tramp (Lilly Bennett Mysteries)
ASIN: 0312337299
Release Date: 2007-03-20 |
Book Description
Kick Keswick, once a jewel thief living an exciting double life, has now retired in simple luxury to the south of France. But when an old enemy resurfaces, threatening to expose the countless fake jewels Kick had carefully substituted during her years of secret theft, she is ready to act.
Back in London, Kick finds herself with more employment than she bargained for at a company whose status is much more precarious than she’d thought. Her enemy, in disguise, circles ever closer. And a young nun comes to Kick with a mysterious jewel-encrusted figurine, and a story of greed and murder.
To balance on this high wire, Kick must sneak into an upper-crust wedding in the Italian Alps, break into an ancient castle owned by a very modern murderer, and do it all with her customary panache, style, and grace. Can she keep one step ahead of the most seductively ruthless foe she’s ever encountered?
Customer Reviews:
Best of the series.......2007-07-31
Now keep in mind that I'm a huge Lily Bennett series fan and live in the hope that the author will write another book in that series soon, I have to say that this is my favorite of the Kick books. It was a wonderful read. The secondary characters are the best developed of the series and the references to food, jewels and clothes are just right. If another Kick book comes along before the author writes the long overdue Lily Bennett book- please have more interaction between Kick and her wonderful husband.
My whole family loved this book!.......2007-05-15
My whole family read this book, waiting impatiently for their turns because we all so enjoyed the prior books. Everyone loved it. I read it twice, beginning again as soon as I finished it the first time. It is a delightful, funny, well-plotted mystery that transports you into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The jewels! The clothes! The gourmet food! The super-luxury hotels and fabulous homes! I would love a book of recipes from the Kick Keswick books. I would love to live her life. This is a such a fun romp! The only problem is having to wait for the next book in the series.
Another good story..........2007-05-14
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest in the Kick Keswick series. These stories are always entertaining - great fun to see the methods Kick uses to be in the right place at the right time for her own purposes. I very much hope this series will continue!
mystery, decadent chocolate, champagne and fabulous jewelry!.......2007-04-02
Kick Keswick has retired from her vocation at Ballentine's (and from her avocation as the Shamrock Burglar) although she finds she is a bit bored with living the quiet life that she planned for herself. Overhearing at a party that her former employer is in trouble (and hoping that trouble does not lead back to her) Kick decides to return to Ballentines to find out the truth. When her husband Thomas gets called back to Scotland Yard to help with a case, Kick travels back to London, and soon finds things as complicated as she had suspected, with her old nemesis behind the potential collapse of the auction house. Through a twist of fate, Kick finds herself running the organization and is approached by a young nun with an intriguing jeweled statue to sell, and an even more incredible story of the history of the statue and the others that are missing. Kick hatches a meticulous plan to not only restore the jeweled statues to their rightful owner, but to replace an intricate piece of jewelry that she herself had stolen years before (because, after all, self-preservation has been Kick's goal since she was a child).
This is the fourth book in this series, but Ms. Kellogg does such a wonderful job in drawing out and explaining the intracacies of each character that it is not necessary to have read the others to understand the background (although all of the rest are also fabulous fun). This one is my favorite, because we finally understand the details in Kick's past that led to her life of larceny. She also develops friends for the first time in her life; one who may turn out to be her daughter. Kick is so likeable that you tend to overlook the fact that she lies, steals, and changes identities so well that she can fool just about everyone (except the lovable Thomas, of course). But she has such a wonderful heart, and justifies her behavior by only stealing from the people who deserve it! Kick takes the art of revenge to a whole new level!
Friends in High Places is an entertaining read, and it is obvious that Ms. Kellogg enjoys writing about Kick. Let's hope there will be many more books in the future about Kick's mis-adventures!
charming superb suspense thriller.......2007-03-24
Former jewel thief Kick Keswick retired to Provence with her husband former Inspector Thomas Curtis. However when Thomas is called back by Scotland Yard to work a high profile case and Kick learns her former place of employment is in financial trouble, they both return to work. At Ballantine & Company Auctioneers, an appraiser made a mistake that led to a loss of millions and a firing. Also a person returning jewels substituted false stones causing the current fiscal crisis.
Kick knows that her former fiancé owner Owen Brace is the on who returned the phony gems, but she has no proof. Sister Immaculata wants to sell a jeweled Madonna so that the proceeds can be used to restore her order to health. She knows where the purloined jeweled Madonnas are but cannot get to
them because the possessor of them is extremely powerful. When Constance Flynn comes in to sell all her jewels including one of which a fake which resides in Kick's safety deposit box, she is forced to attend the wedding of the woman's son in order to substitute the fake jewels for the real ones. Constance's beau turns out to be Owen while another woman who Kick likes is married to the killer who possesses the jeweled Madonna's. Kick wants to steal them and get them to Sister Immaculata whom she thinks might be her daughter.
Marne Davis Kellogg has a hit series because of her heroine, a jewel thief with a heart of gold streaked with larceny. There is plenty of action as the support cast turns the storyline into a special cozy as they play major roles along side the kick butt heroine in the jeweled purloining "Olympics". Friends in High Places is a charming superb suspense thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Books:
- An Ideal Husband (Dover Thrift Editions)
- Ancestor
- Ancient Ireland: An Explorer's Guide (Travel)
- Between Worlds: The Making of an American Life
- Billy And Blaze: A Boy And His Horse
- Brief Encounters: A Dictionary for Court Reporting
- Burdens of History: British Feminists, Indian Women, and Imperial Culture, 1865-1915
- Confession of Saint Patrick
- Did Jesus Have a Last Name? And 199 Other Questions from Catholic Teenagers
- Dirty Little Altar Boy
Books Index
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