Amazon.com's Best of 2001
In retrospect, it seems as if the American Revolution was inevitable. But was it? In Founding Brothers, Joseph J. Ellis reveals that many of those truths we hold to be self-evident were actually fiercely contested in the early days of the republic.
Ellis focuses on six crucial moments in the life of the new nation, including a secret dinner at which the seat of the nation's capital was determined--in exchange for support of Hamilton's financial plan; Washington's precedent-setting Farewell Address; and the Hamilton and Burr duel. Most interesting, perhaps, is the debate (still dividing scholars today) over the meaning of the Revolution. In a fascinating chapter on the renewed friendship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson at the end of their lives, Ellis points out the fundamental differences between the Republicans, who saw the Revolution as a liberating act and hold the Declaration of Independence most sacred, and the Federalists, who saw the revolution as a step in the building of American nationhood and hold the Constitution most dear. Throughout the text, Ellis explains the personal, face-to-face nature of early American politics--and notes that the members of the revolutionary generation were conscious of the fact that they were establishing precedents on which future generations would rely.
In Founding Brothers, Ellis (whose American Sphinx won the National Book Award for nonfiction in 1997) has written an elegant and engaging narrative, sure to become a classic. Highly recommended. --Sunny Delaney
Book Description
In this landmark work of history, the National Book Award—winning author of American Sphinx explores how a group of greatly gifted but deeply flawed individuals–Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison–confronted the overwhelming challenges before them to set the course for our nation.
The United States was more a fragile hope than a reality in 1790. During the decade that followed, the Founding Fathers–re-examined here as Founding Brothers–combined the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the content of the Constitution to create the practical workings of our government. Through an analysis of six fascinating episodes–Hamilton and Burr’s deadly duel, Washington’s precedent-setting Farewell Address, Adams’ administration and political partnership with his wife, the debate about where to place the capital, Franklin’s attempt to force Congress to confront the issue of slavery and Madison’s attempts to block him, and Jefferson and Adams’ famous correspondence–
Founding Brothers brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in our nation’s history.
Download Description
In this landmark work of history, the National Book Award-winning author of American Sphinx explores how a group of greatly gifted but deeply flawed individuals -- Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison -- confronted the overwhelming challenges before them to set the course for our nation.
The United States was more a fragile hope than a reality in 1790. During the decade that followed, the Founding Fathers -- re-examined here as Founding Brothers -- combined the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the content of the Constitution to create the practical workings of our government. Through an analysis of six fascinating episodes -- Hamilton and Burr's deadly duel, Washington's precedent-setting Farewell Address, Adams' administration and political partnership with his wife, the debate about where to place the capital, Franklin's attempt to force Congress to confront the issue of slavery and Madison's attempts to block him, and Jefferson and Adams' famous correspondence -- Founding Brothers brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in our nation's history.
"A splendid book -- humane, learned, written with flair and radiant with a calm intelligence and wit."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
"Lively and illuminating... leaves the reader with a visceral sense of a formative era in American life."
THE NEW YORK TIMES
"Masterful.... Fascinating.... Ellis is an elegant stylist.... [He] captures the passion the founders brought to the revolutionary project.... [A] very fine book."
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
"Learned, exceedingly well-written, and perceptive."
THE OREGONIAN
Customer Reviews:
Excellent look into the formation of a republic.......2007-10-05
This was a very good read for me. I found it interesting and enlightening. What jumped out most to me were the differing personalities and philosophies of America's early leaders. It was intriguing to read about the Virginia Dynasty and connection between Madison and Jefferson. It was also interesting to read about the various rivalries.
However, there are three things that really made and impression on me from this book.
First, was the reality that the United States of America as a unified, sovereign nation barely happened. Sometimes there is this illusion that America's emergence was divine and undeniable. This book really shoots that illusion down. There were so many differing positions and rival parties. Many were still loyal to the British crown. And even after independence was won the states themselves could barely find consensus. There were so many points of contention. There were so much division among the newly independent American statesmen. The fact there was enough consensus to forge a republic is nothihg short of amazing.
Second, was Washington's decision not to be president for life. His stepping down and allowing someone else to run and take office while he was still alive was very significant. It provided a great degree of credibility to a tenuous political framework that very well could have collapsed once he died. Many leaders, only thinking of themselves, want to remain in position for the rest of their lives at the expense of the organization. Leaders with vision understand the organization has to last long after they are gone. Washington showed great vision with this move.
Lastly, of all of the historical figures that make an impact in this read none do so quite like Alexander Hamilton. After reading this work I feel Hamilton may be the most overlooked founding American of them all. His push for a strong central government made him a mortal political enemy of Jefferson and Madison. As I read the book Hamilton's position for a strong central government and his persona really struck a cord. While Jefferson's dreams of pure libertarianism made for good theory, Hamilton's insistence on a strong central government to regulate commerce made good sense. This book gave me a new interest in Hamilton. I plan to read one of his biographies.
In all, it is a great account of a collection of extraordinary events and people. If you like history and politics (as I do) check this one out.
Not great.......2007-09-29
Pretty much the most boring book I have ever read. (I had to for school)
An excellent capsule view.............2007-09-12
...of the founding of our country. The founders were NOT a homogenous "band of brothers"; there were profound personal, political, philosophical and sectional differences, which somehow got worked out. This superb book looks at incidents and relationships, and how they affected the final product.
[1] The Duel...Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804. This was an anti-climax for Hamilton; his useful life was already over...he had betrayed George Washington politically, and had experienced too many scandals in his personal life. The apostle of centralized government had become irrelevent, and, as for Aaron Burr, he had way too many enemies. In fact, Jefferson and Adams, who were then estranged, both hated both Burr and Hamilton. Anyway, Hamilton died, and Burr might as well have....he went on to try to become Emperor Aaron I, ran afoul of Mr. Jefferson....but that's another story. Dueling was already illegal, and this about finished it, though isolated incidents would occur until the Civil War.
[2] The Dinner Table Bargain. How did Washington, DC, get to be our capital? Here's how....Southerners wanted the new capital in the South...Alexander Hamilton wanted the new Federal Government to assume state debts. Assumption and Location. Enter Thomas Jefferson...he invited Madison and Hamilton to dinner at his rented house in New York. Hamilton, who could have cared less where the capital got located, agreed to back Madison's choice of the malarial swamp where our capital is today. Madison agreed not to fight assumption, though he still wouldn't vote for it. Compromise....
[3] The Silence....over slavery. Many, especially Benjamin Franklin, wanted to end slvery with the ratification of The Constitution...the Southerners wouldn't go along, and the resultant compromise put the problem off for another 20 years, by which time the cotton gin had been invented...Shiloh...Sharpsburg...Chickamauga... I know, there was a LOT more that went into causing the Civil War, but....
[4] The Farewell....to George Washington. Washington retired at the end of his second term. He had profound problems [mainly with Congress] in the second term, and God knows that he had done his share, and more. Maybe he knew that he wouldn't survive a third term. The Farewell Address is one of the masterpieces of the English language; how much of it was Washington's work, and how much Alexander Hamilton's, remains a matter of conjecture....
[5] and [6]...Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Friends, collaborators in the invention of a nation...estranged over differences in politics...then, a final decision "not to die till we have explained ourselves to each other", which resulted in a wealth of letters that will be studied forever. Only God would have dared write the end...both died July 4, 1826, the 50th. anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. A writer of fiction would be dismissed as insane for such a thing...
Joseph Ellis is a treasure...biographies of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson [not written in that order] that are substantive enough for a historian, and short enough that any intelligent person can read them easily. Yes, others have gone deeper...but Douglas Southall Freeman needed seven long volumes for Washington, and Dumas Malone six for Jefferson. Ellis writes history that is "available"....and this MAY be his best work. I can't recommend it strongly enough....
Wonderful book.......2007-08-26
I have developed a fascination with some of the nations great men, and been reading books on them, curious to what makes them 'tick'. This book is really unique in that it gives a really interesting perspective not only on the men, but the dynamic between them. It has been some of my favorite reading. This book is very well written, and thoughts flow logically and cohesively. I think the author has done a splendid job.
The Perfect Introduction to the History of the Revolutionary Period.......2007-08-09
Bottom Line: A very enjoyable and easy read. Before taking on the huge biographies on Adams, Hamilton, Washington, and Jefferson read this book.
What You Will Learn: This book is sort of a greatest hits of revolutionary history. My favorite section is on the run-up to the duel between Hamilton and Burr - something I had read about in High School, but never with so much detail and drama. The description of the complicated relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson is also very interesting and well written.
Parting Shot: Joseph Ellis does a great job in making history exciting - this book would serve as a great gift for a young person without much previous reading in American History.
Book Description
Unlike many formal professions, foundation grantmaking is a calling with no training programs and little definitive literature on the latest and best practices. Written for program officers and of considerable value to grantseekers, this volume is the first and only practical guide to making foundation grants and developing essential skills for effective and ethical grantmaking. Author Joel J. Orosz provides:
- The history, structure, and function of foundations in society.
- The complex role that program officers play in their day-to-day activities.
- Real-world advice on a myriad of tasks--from meeting with applicants and reviewing their proposals to assisting the funded project and managing foundation initiatives.
- A useful overview for those new to the field, helps more experienced program officers to think more deeply about their work, and shares rich insights for the thousands of nonprofit leaders who pursue foundation grants.
Customer Reviews:
I learned more than I already knew about my own job!.......2000-10-10
I've been a grantmaker for approximately five years now. During the course of my on-the-job training, I've heard certain maxims over and over again until they've become ingrained in my mind and in my responses to applicants for grant funds -- now, after reading this book, I actually understand the philosophies behind them.
Every grantseeker who bemoans the fact that foundations don't want to fund ongoing operating expenses should read this book simply for the explanation of the difference between charity and philanthropy and where foundations fit in.
Likewise, the tips on meeting etiquette, attributes of a good grant proposal, and top four reasons proposals are denied will benefit professionals on both sides of the proposal.
Had the opportunity to see the author speak -- if you get the same opportunity, don't pass it by.
An Outstanding Contributation.......2000-08-03
Dr. Joel Orosz continues his tireless efforts on behalf of philanthropy and those interested in philanthropy in his current book.
The Insider's Guide to Grantmaking is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in seeking funds from a foundation, or anyone interested in a career in a foundation. His years of experience give both experienced and inexperienced readers a window into a sometimes-shadowy world. Orosz lets the light shine in a way that is understandable and justifiable.
This long over due body of work is a must have for everyone in the third sector and especially should be required reading for those working in and leading foundations.
Don't give away another dollar until you've read this.......2000-07-28
It's an art, it's a science, and it doesn't need to be a mystery -- since there's no academic training for a career in philanthropy (it's harder than you think!) Insider Orosz bridges the gap with this warm and rewarding User's Guide.
Outsiders will read it for its clear-cut description of philanthropy worklife and practice; insiders will find themselves affirmed or inspired. Both will enjoy the author's mix of humor and scholarship. Sure to be a classic in its field.
A Much Needed Perspective.......2000-06-26
This is a much needed look at life in foundation grant making. As a retired executive director of a corporate foundation,books such as The Corporate Contributions Handbook and Corporate Social Investing were extremely helpful to the corporate grant maker. This book is a well-thought out look at foundation reality. While it is not meant to help those seeking grants, it certainly gives the donor a window on the inside process. It will serve as a good reference for those who wish to enter this field and provides sage advice to those who have been there for some time. The historical research was a plus.
Book Description
Discover 282 marketing and sales strategies proven to make more money for you!
A self-made multimillionaire and business development expert, Brad Sugars helps you identify your company's hidden “gold mines,” dramatically boost your bottom line, and get on the fast track to big profits. And best of all, these crystal-clear, bite-sized lessons can be put to work in your business immediately! Discover how to:
- Generate hundreds of promising new leads
- Increase your conversion rate of leads to sales
- Maximize the value of your average sale
- Measure your results and fine-tune your best strategies
Get real results right now when you discover all that Instant Success has to offer!
Instant Advertising * Instant Leads * Instant Profit * Instant Promotions * Instant Referrals * Instant Repeat Business * Instant Sales * Instant Systems * Instant Team Building * The Business Coach * The Real Estate Coach * Successful Franchising * Billionaire in Training
Customer Reviews:
Awesome Book for Business Owners!.......2007-09-24
Great book for small business owners who want to learn a wide variety of marketing and selling techniques. Also helps clarify how to convert leads into buyers, and lots of other important details such as understanding ways to improve your profit margin.
Cashflow -- for a writer ? ? ? ?.......2007-07-10
Why on earth would someone who writes cozy cat mysteries want a book that deals with managing a business? [I'm reluctant to use the term "duh!" but it seems to fit here.]
My work as a writer, editor, and speaker, generates income. Ergo, I have a business. Sure, I don't have employees, but so what? The general principles are still the same, despite the common belief that writers must be starving artists until they hit the big time.
Because I've never owned a traditional business, I'm not one to judge whether or not INSTANT CASHFLOW gives valid advice about deductions and such. Yes, there is MUCH in this book that I cannot use. But the story of the mechanic, the encouragement that I can shift my thinking (and my actions) to profitable means, the concept of buying customers -- all these are ideas I can use.
Check back with me in two years and see how well it's worked.
Required Reading for Every Business Owner.......2007-05-14
As anyone in business knows, cash is KING! This book is a "must-read" because it provides a thorough overview of the most important aspect of business--how to keep the cash flowing in. There are literally hundreds of usable ideas and strategies that can be put to work in any business right away, many involving no out-of-pocket cost. Brad challenges the reader with "common-sense" approaches to building your business while providing practical solutions. Keep a note pad handy while you're reading so you can remember the ideas you will want to implement.
Instant Cashflow.......2007-03-31
This is the best business growth book I have ever read. If you are sitting at your desk wondering how to increase your cashflow...buy this book NOW. Oh yea, and you have to follow the advice too!
Limited value.......2007-03-01
This book has three short chapters on theory which are reasonably good. The parable-like stories in Chapter 3 are probably my favorites. Then there are 282 ideas on 150 pages--the bulk of the book. Then six very short and almost useless chapters including one on how you can contact the author to get consulting help.
The ideas are "fluffy"... for each one that I thought was good there are several (even dozens) that were silly, commen-sense, illegal (you cannot legally trade comp time for overtime for non-exempt position in the US), or otherwise unusable.
So the ultimate value of this book is how to make a lot of money writing some very thin material and a monument to Sugars' salesmanship.
Amazon.com
Many good books have been written about the history of hip-hop music and the generation that nurtured it. Can't Stop Won't Stop ranks among the best. Jeff Chang covers the music--from its Jamaican roots in the late 1960s to its birth in the Bronx; its eventual explosion from underground to the American mainstream--with style, including DJs, MCs, b-boys, graffiti art, Black Nationalism, groundbreaking singles and albums, and the street parties that gave rise to a genuine movement. But the book is about more than beats and rhymes. What distinguishes his book from the pack is Chang's examination of how hip-hop has shaped not only pop music, but American history and culture over the past 30 years. He shows how events such as urban flight, race riots, neighborhood reclamation projects, gang warfare in the Bronx and Los Angeles, and grassroots movements that influenced political agendas are as integral a part of the hip-hop story as the music itself. He also charts the concurrent rise of hip-hop activism and the commodification of the music and the ideological clashes that developed as a result.
Based on hundreds of interviews and over a decade of work as a respected music journalist, Chang offers colorful profiles of the lives and influences of "the trinity of hip-hop music"--Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, and DJ Kool Herc--along with many other artists, label executives, DJs, writers, filmmakers, and promoters. Impressive in its scope, Can't Stop Won't Stop is a lively and sharply written exploration of the power of hip-hop to unite people across generational, racial, and economic lines. --Shawn Carkonen
Book Description
Forged in the fires of the Bronx and Kingston, Jamaica, hip-hop has been a generation-defining global movement. In a post-civil rights era rapidly transformed by deindustrialization and globalization, hip-hop gave voiceless youths a chance to address these seismic changes, and became a job-making engine and the Esperanto of youth rebellion. Hip-hop crystallized a multiracial generations worldview, and forever transformed politics and culture. But the epic story of how that happened has not been told....until now.
Customer Reviews:
Killer, meng.......2007-05-24
As a literate college graduate who loves hiphop and reading, this book bridges the gap by bringing a history of the movement and the place that, more or less, made hiphop. The initial chapters about NYC and Jamaica from the sixties onward really clarified the scene for me: white flight, the major NYC highway projects and the civil strife in Jamaica created a cauldron of creative activity in the center of the greatest city in the world, among its poorest citizens. This book rules, quite simply. I read it over a weekend, while downloading a lot of the music along with it, immersing myself in an epoch and a movement that I have only begun to truly appreciate in the last 3-4 years. Excellent and highly recommended.
a complete history.......2007-03-21
Chang's history of hip-hop starts at the beginning (in the 70s) and examines the phenomenon from musical, cultural, and political viewpoints. His main strength is that he refrains from discussing "current" events, lest the book become dated too quickly. Indeed, only the last couple of chapters deal with the last ten years, and at that it's a cursory look. Chang's writing is outstanding, if a little too focused on certain acts (Public Enemy seems to take up the entire mid-section of the book), but his depth of knowledge of his subject matter and his manner for conveying it are excellent. His primary weakness is that he has a definite political slant to his work, occasionally dropping his journalistic guard to take shots at right-wing causes/politicians. It doesn't get in the way of the text, but it does get annoying. It's hard to write a history of a person/event/phenomenon that is ongoing that actually seems like a history, but Chang has done an excellent job doing just that.
Quilting threads of Hip Hop.......2007-02-25
After reading Chang's book Can't Stop Won't Stop it is amazing how all the pieces come together. He writes with an amazing breadth that captures politics, sociology, history, economics, globalization, exploitation, capitalism, racism, media tricks, etc. and how they have all contributed to the formation of hip-hop and the resulting culture. As I came of age in the mid 90's I became transfixed with gangsta rap and inner city culture, I never realized how all the afore mentioned concepts made up an entire culture that connects with audiences all around the globe or the economics that helped regenerate a struggling economy and an evaporating job landscape. As the new century comes into full swing it is astounding to think of the power hip hop still holds and the mouths it feeds.
As I dig deeper into the sociology of this last statement I can't help but think while hip hop has revived industries like music, fashion, and film and laced corporate pockets with green the conditions that breed hip hop still have not changed. The current Bush Administration is continuing where Reagan and his pops left off by gutting social programs and destroying education while offering hope through the army only to die for a country that doesn't give a damn about a better tomorrow only a richer, whiter one. Hip Hop heads are still seen as criminals in broader society, still harassed by police and still followed around the stores their culture helps feed.
Perhaps Hip Hop can be the vehicle that delivers a unified front to reclaim this country from corporate interests and the carnivorous capitalist system. It has the power to reach audiences of every creed and the prophets to deliver the message.
Jeff Chang is a prophet of history. Thanks for writing this book and teaching me about my past. Because if you love hip hop this history is a part of you.
Overall an excellent book.......2006-10-22
Previous reviewers have already brought out the strengths of the book, so I won't extensively repeat them. For me, it was important that he located the development of hip hop in socio-economic contexts of the last few decades. Some were disappointed that this book was not a mindlessly celebratory litany of great artists, but a critical history of great art made by real people with real conflicts. I think we need less cheerleaders and more thoughtfulness.
While everyone has topics that they would like to see addressed, I was surprised that the author overlooked a major controversy in hip hop: the shootings of Tupac and Biggie. I am not nitpicking here, this was more important than the KRS-ONE/MC Shan dispute, y'know? This caused a great deal of anguish within hip hop and reverberated outside of it. Besides refocuing the question of violence in hop hop, it re-raised questions about the relationships between art, race, communitty and commerce.
Perhaps in future editions, something could be added?
the best academic Hip-Hop Book you will find.......2006-09-20
Jeff has doen an amazing job chronicling the culture from a academic perspective with the right amount of authenticity. He is not some egghead in a tower. He has started his own label and grinded it out in Hip-Hop. But he still has the intellectual desire to examine Hip-Hop with the proper historical angle.
I have read a lot of books on Hip-Hop and this is best. Amateurs - start here. Vets - brush up on your knowledge here.
Average customer rating:
- So inaccurate....
- New Study Needed
- generational understanding
- Interesting, but very much a product of today's culture
- Better services than I expected
|
Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation
Neil Howe , and
William Strauss
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Demography
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Children's Studies
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Social Issues
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Nonfiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Teen Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069
-
The Fourth Turning
-
Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled--and More Miserable Than Ever Before
-
Boomers, Xers, and Other Strangers: Understanding the Generational Differences that Divide Us
-
Generations at Work: Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in Your Workplace
ASIN: 0375707190
Release Date: 2000-09-05 |
Amazon.com
Building on the concepts they first developed in Generations and 13th Gen, Neil Howe and William Strauss now take on Generation Y, or, as they call them, the Millennials. Unlike their rather distressing portrait of the more reactive Generation X (the 13th Gen), or the negative stereotypes that abound about today's kids, this is all good news. According to Howe and Strauss, this group is poised to become the next great generation, one that will provide a more positive, group-oriented, can-do ethos. Huge in size as well as future impact, they're making a sharp break from Gen-X trends and a direct reversal of boomer youth behavior. Why? Because, as a nation, we've devoted more concern and attention their way than to any generation in, well, generations.
Using their trademark paradigm, which places each generation as part of a larger historical cycle with four generations to a cycle, the authors not only describe these kids as they are now (as the first year sets off for college, the last yet to be born) but launch into projections for the future. A sampling of their potential influence in this decade: pop music will become more melodic and singable and sitcoms more melodramatic and wholesome; there will be a new emphasis on manners, modesty, and old-fashioned gender courtesies; and they'll resolve the long-standing debates about substance abuse. "They will rebel against the culture by cleaning it up, rebel against political cynicism by touting trust, rebel against individualism by stressing teamwork, rebel against adult pessimism by being upbeat, and rebel against social ennui by actually going out and getting a few things done." Scanning the future further, this hero generation will have to confront some major crises. But, for a group that has never known war or famine, will it be an opportunity or a calamity? Much of Millennials Rising is familiar territory rehashed, and the profiles and prophecies just too general. But it's hard to resist this hopeful vision for our children and the future. --Lesley Reed
Book Description
By the authors of the bestselling
13th Gen, the first in-depth examination of the Millennials--the generation born after 1982.
"Over the next decade, the Millennial Generation will entirely recast the image of youth from downbeat and alientated to upbeat and engaged--with potentially seismic consequences for America." --from
Millennials Rising
In this remarkable account, certain to stir the interest of educators, counselors, parents, and people in all types of business as well as young people themselves, Neil Howe and William Strauss introduce the nation to a powerful new generation: the Millennials. They will also explain:
Why today's teens are smart, well-behaved, and optimisitc, and why you won't hear older people say that.
Why they get along so well with their Boomer and Xer parents.
Why Millennial collegians will bring a new youth revolution to America's campuses.
Why names like "Generation Y" and "Echo Boom" just don't work for today's kids.
Having looked at oceans of data, taken their own polls, and talked to hundreds of kids, parents, and teachers, Howe and Strauss explain how Millennials are turning out to be so dramatically different from Xers and boomers and how, in time, they will become the next great generation.
Customer Reviews:
So inaccurate...........2007-10-17
I highly disagree with the contention that Millenials are corporate-loving, wholesome, "heroic", young adults.
I am 24, on the cusp really of Gen X and Gen Y.
I actually feel like the Millenials are very similiar to Gen X.
They are definitely more tolerant and socially liberal.
However economically they are getting the shaft big time, thanks to the Boomers consumerism, and the government expecting the boomers to give us Millenials everything on a silver platter. That is a huge stereotype.
People don't go to college because they are more "civic". They go because it's almost impossible to land a job these days without a degree. I have a BA and had one heck of a time living a stable life so I am currently in graduate school.
The only real assessments I agree with are: that we are technologically more literate, more "group" oriented, and have more opportunities to excel. However, there are way more obstacles to economic success and the current leadership in Washington, at least, could seem to care less.
New Study Needed.......2007-08-28
I found the book to be well written and the authors' claim for the millennials to be the next Great Generation arguably true based on the data available in 1998. The data may be antiquated considering the events that have occured in almost 10 years to challenge their theories. It would be great to see an updated study on the millenials. All in all, the book was excellent and the information has been useful to me.
generational understanding.......2007-08-24
This book along with the book "Generations" and many others written by Neil Howe and William Strauss are some of my favorites. They have changed the way I look at the world. If you want to understand your parents world, or grandparents or children's frame of reference, these books are outstanding. My kids are both Millennials and this author's description fits them totally.
Interesting, but very much a product of today's culture.......2007-03-05
I've always been fascinated by social history, and generally enjoy reading about societal trends, so I found this book to be interesting on the surface. The book is entertaining (in small doses!), but there are some deeper problems, both in its assumptions and conclusions.
First, to really buy into what this book claims, one must in some sense buy into the authors' ideas about generations. To be sure, social phenomena are not linear, but it is a stretch to assume that they are cyclical in the sense of "great generations". Many of the events that influence different "generations", actually are multi-generational, encompassing time scales of a century or more.
Despite the idea that each generation makes its own future, or has it made for them largely by their parents or their place in a historical cycle, much of what takes place is on a much larger and longer scale and there is no evidence that this is really cyclical in any sense. This book has little to say about these, instead dwelling on grandparents, parents and children and the idea of cyclical generations.
The other aspect of this book that I find troubling is the combination of facts,trends, and broad assumptions that are not really well verified being taken as some sort rigorous analysis. It is more theme oriented journalism with lots of citations, interviews and "factoids". It as close to a feature in a Sunday magazine as to any real in depth analysis.
Prospective readers should also be aware of the background of these authors. Although they are referred to in various reviews as "historians", their backgrounds are closer to what might be termed "Republican policy wonks", who now run a consulting business based on identifying and advising on generational trends.
Why does this matter? First off most of the interviews were conducted in Fairfax County, VA. By no strech of the imagination is this representative of the Earth's or even the USA's youth population. Second, if one has read their other books or heard them speak, one becomes aware of their antagonism to cultural trends that might not fit the picture of "hope" painted in this book. Finally, the whole concept of "generations" such as "Xers and Boomers" is largely a marketing and pop culture phenomenon that frequently "fits" the way a horroscope does. Make a few suggestions, present some "proof" and voila, an instant read on history and the future.
America's obsession with pop culture, its children, the future and other themes of books such as these make for ocassional interesting reading, if one takes them with a large grain of salt. They trade largely in broad pictures that don't always hold up to closer scrutiny. They frequently ignore more sophisticated analysis and alternative explanations. To elevate them to something more is a serious mistake.
They are as much a product of the current culture as a study of it. As with much pop culture, they invent and reinvent stereotypes that take on mythical stature. This book is to be taken with a grain of salt.
Better services than I expected.......2007-02-22
Quality as told in the initial description.
Amazon (the seller) sent me this book two weeks earlier than the date they should send it.
So, only reasons to be happy about.
Book Description
"Power quality problems have increasingly become a substantial concern over the last decade, but surprisingly few analytical techniques have been developed to overcome these disturbances in system-equipment interactions. Now in this comprehensive book, power engineers and students can find the theoretical background necessary for understanding how to analyze, predict, and mitigate the two most severe power disturbances: voltage sags and interruptions.
This is the first book to offer in-depth analysis of voltage sags and interruptions and to show how to apply mathematical techniques for practical solutions to these disturbances. From UNDERSTANDING AND SOLVING POWER QUALITY PROBLEMS you will gain important insights into
- Various types of power quality phenomena and power quality standards
- Current methods for power system reliability evaluation
- Origins of voltage sags and interruptions
- Essential analysis of voltage sags for characterization and prediction of equipment behavior and stochastic prediction
- Mitigation methods against voltage sags and interruptions"
An Instructor Support FTP site is available from the Wiley editorial department: ftp://ftp.ieee.org/uploads/press/bollen
Sponsored by:
IEEE Power Electronics Society, IEEE Industry Applications Society, IEEE Power Engineering Society.
Average customer rating:
|
Handbook of Computational Statistics
J.E. Gentle ,
Wolfgang HSrdle , and
Yuichi Mori
Manufacturer: Springer-Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Algorithms
| Programming
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Bioinformatics
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Probability & Statistics
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Statistics
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Computers & Internet
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Professional & Technical
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Computers & Internet
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Professional
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Random Number Generation and Monte Carlo Methods (Statistics and Computing)
-
Monte Carlo Statistical Methods (Springer Texts in Statistics)
-
Monte Carlo Strategies in Scientific Computing
ASIN: 3540404643 |
Book Description
The
Handbook of Computational Statistics - Concepts and Methods is divided into 4 parts. It begins with an overview of the field of Computational Statistics, how it emerged as a seperate discipline, how it developed along the development of hard- and software, including a discussion of current active research.
The second part presents several topics in the supporting field of statistical computing. Emphasis is placed on the need for fast and accurate numerical algorithms, and it discusses some of the basic methodologies for transformation, data base handling and graphics treatment.
The third part focuses on statistical methodology. Special attention is given to smoothing, iterative procedures, simulation and visualization of multivariate data.
Finally a set of selected applications like Bioinformatics, Medical Imaging, Finance and Network Intrusion Detection highlight the usefulness of computational statistics.
Amazon.com
According to Robert J. Robinson and Mark van Osnabrugge, so-called business angels--those generally unheralded private investors who usually specialize in high-growth fields and often involve themselves directly in the endeavors they fund--now provide 30 to 40 times more financing each year than their more famous counterparts, venture capitalists. In Angel Investing, Robinson and Van Osnabrugge use personal interviews, anecdotal evidence, and more than 300 research studies to show exactly who these financiers are, how they operate, and where they can be found. Robinson, an international management consultant, and Van Osnabrugge, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, also compare various financing options, explain precisely how angels and venture capitalists function differently, describe proven ways to attract them, and provide relevant resources. "The vast size and power of the business angel market in the United States is not well understood but is of incredible importance to our entrepreneurial sector and, indirectly, to maintaining our economic growth and standard of living," the authors write. They pack their book accordingly with valuable information for serious fund-seekers who have exhausted the traditional three F's (founder, family, and friends), as well as those who are considering entrepreneurial investments of their own. --Howard Rothman
Book Description
They deliver more capital to entrepreneurs than any other source. And they often receive an incredible return on their investments. They're angel investors, some of the most important--and least understood--players in business today. The United States has close to three million angels, whose investments in startups exceed $60 billion per year. Some of our most successful companies were funded by angels--companies like Ford, AOL, and Amazon.com. But until now, little has been written about these angels, due in part to their preference for anonymity. Angel Investors provides an inside look at who these angels are and how they operate. It also shows would-be angels and entrepreneurs how best to find each other.
To learn more about this book, visit its website.
Customer Reviews:
more than a Guide.......2003-11-11
I am the Founder & CEO of a business that within the next 8 to 12 months was seeking to raise between $2M and $5M to fund our expansion. I always thought of going straight to Venture Capital firms or Private Equity divisons of Invmt Banks that I have already been in touch with. This book, Angel Investing, was a truly priceless read to me. The education delivered by authors has helped me re-strategize my approach to inviting external investors and also the amount that I should try to raise and the schedule of funds. What I thought was most helpful was the detailed comparisons between Angel Investors and Venture Capitalist, as well as understanding the psychology behind their thinking and how an entrepreneur seeking outside funds should try to prepare every aspect of their presentation (themselves, their product and overall business plan). The book has given me tools to have most questions covered and more importantly has prepared me to become an angel myself in the years ahead.
Great book.......2002-10-29
This book starts off slowly but when it gets rolling it is very helpful ,giving good infromation where and when you need it.
Good guide for entrepreneurs who need funding.......2002-08-28
If you are planning to go after Angel funding, this book is a must-read. The book contains interviews with a broad spectrum of Angels, who discuss their investment experience, the thinking they go through, and key things they look for, when evaluating an opportunity. This book would serve as an excellent reference for anyone preparing to be in front of Angels.
Good Overview of Angel Investing.......2002-07-22
"Angel Investing" by Mark Van Osnabrugge and Robert J. Robinson gives useful information about angel investors and venture capitalists.
Van Osnabrugge and Robinson estimate that angel investors--wealthy individuals who invest their own money into start-up companies--invest three to five times more money than venture capitalists and back thirty to forty times more ventures, making angel investors the primary source of external capital for entrepreneurs.
But, how do you meet and present your business idea to an angel investor? What factors do angel investors give the most weight to when debating whether or not to fund a venture? How do angel investors differ from venture capitalists when valuing a start-up company?
"Angel Investing" answers these questions and many more. It is stuffed with studies, interviews, and solid advice. "Angel Investing" can be divided into three main categories:
* General background about angel investors and venture capitalists and their relationship and importance to business and the economy.
* Practical advice for entrepreneurs seeking start-up funds from angel investors or venture capitalists.
* Practical advice for individuals considering becoming angel investors and making investments in small companies.
Each topic in "Angel Investing" is well documented. It's a rather formal book, actually. Robinson is a professor at the Harvard Business School and Van Osnabrugge is a former fellow of the Harvard Business School.
I found the section about successful angel investment deals a bit too rich for my taste. For example, we learn that one angel investor who backed amazon.com got a 260 times return on his initial investment of $100,000 making him $26 million. Another angel who invested in the Body Shop received 10,500 times his initial investment. As a new angel investor, don't get overly excited about the prospects! Remember, many angel investments fail dismally. As the authors point out, you must only invest money you can afford to lose!
If you are already a financially successful entrepreneur who considers becoming an angel investor, you might want to read "Angel Investing" to help improve the chances of making successful angel investments. However, the book is not a complete analysis of the due diligence process.
And, of course, from an entrepreneur's standpoint, reading a book won't automatically put you in contact with serious angel investors, and much of the real work in financing a new venture involves finding personal contacts to introduce you to appropriate angel investors. Van Osnabrugge and Robinson note that most funded ventures involve personal introductions.
Maybe, if you're ready to invest $50,000 per company or more (and ready to lose $50,000 or more per investment!), you're tired of investing in public companies (with mystic accounting and lack of reportability to the investor), and you want to add value to your investment by contributing information and contacts to your investment, this might be a good book to help get you started. On the downside, you'll probably have no diversification and poor liquidity with angel investments.
The most important tip from "Angel Investing": Do adequate research before investing in a company. And, it's best if you know the industry and know business.
Peter Hupalo, Author of "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur."
Place this in your shopping cart now!.......2002-05-31
This book is one of THE BEST books on this subject matter that I have read in recent years. Having been in the venture capital industry for many years I was very interested to read what van Osnabrugge and Robinson had to say. I'll be the first to admit that I was a bit skeptical because the book was written by academics. However, after a careful read it became clear that these authors have done their homework and know what they are talking about. This book is an enjoyable read that has some of the most useful information I have found to date. I urge anyone interested in entrepreneurship and investing to read this book. You won't be sorry.
Book Description
Technological advances and structural changes within the electric utility industry mandate that protection engineers develop a solid understanding of the related new technologies as well as of power system operations and economics in order to function proficiently. Continuing in the bestselling tradition of the previous editions by the late J. Lewis Blackburn, Protective Relaying: Principles and Applications, Third Edition retains the fundamentals of protection relays and power system protection while incorporating new developments in the field. Thoroughly updated and revised, this third edition focuses on technological changes in the design of protective systems, the practical concerns of power system protection encountered by users, and the techniques for protecting typical facilities used in modern power systems. New to the Third Edition · Expanded coverage of the requirements for generator intertie protection, generator protection, and generator excitation systems · The latest technologies in microprocessor applications, including digital-based devices and designs · Protection issues, such as capacitor bank protection, underfrequency and undervoltage load shedding, special protection schemes, DC tripping scheme designs, fault location, and event reports Building on the excellence of the preceding editions, this book will continue to serve as a basic reference for newcomers to the area as well as for experienced engineers. By sharing his first-hand experience with protection practices, the author offers valuable realistic insight into this field.
Customer Reviews:
Perfect for Grads.......2007-05-06
This Book has a great "A-Z" aspect of protective relaying I highly encourage people just graduating to buy it as a good referance book it will definatly help in almost all aspects of relaying.
The Definitive Book on the Subject.......2007-03-21
The definitive book on the subject. It is intended for the profdssional who is in charge of protecting the electric power system. In the new third edition, the book increases its discussion of protection of additional types of equipment including generator (intertie, generator, excitation systems), capacitor bank protection, underfrequency and undervoltage load shedding, special protection schemes, DC tripping scheme designs, fault location and event reports. It is also upgraded to cover the latest technologies in microprocessor applicaions, including digital based devices and designs.
This is the definitive book on the subject. Mr. Blackburn has been a force in the subject for many years and has keep this book current throughs its multiple editions. He provides a real-life perspective on the problems that real working engineers face in their day to day activities.
A must to have for anyone to start on this...........2007-02-10
I have been using this book from 1st edition up to the third and it provides both a theoretical and application background so the reader can use it as the base to go for more specific info or for manufacturers applications guides.
Not a coffee table book.......2002-07-28
This is a bit of a rough effort, and won't be making the Best Seller List, but how many books on this subject do? It seems like a must-have. I would only urge that unless you already know 3/4 of the material, you go through something smoother, such as Power System Analysis by Gross, to get yourself up to that point, because you're likely to be needlessly uncomfortable otherwise. Aside from that, this book will be greatly valued by anyone with serious interest.
An outstanding book.......2000-11-07
In order to appreciate this book, one must understand the history behind power system protective relaying. As the previous reviewers have mentioned, the two classic bibles in protective relaying is the Westinghouse Protective Relaying book and the Westinghouse T & D book. Lewis Blackburn put the former book together while he worked at Westinghouse and he had a hand in the second book as well. My father attended the Westinghouse training courses in the 1950's and his instructor was Lew Blackburn. Over time, Mr. Blackburn became a family friend and I grew up listening to them talk about the electric power industry and learned about the subject at the feet of the master. Even though I went into motors instead of relaying, I still enjoyed reading this book.
After Mr. Blackburn retired from Westinghouse, he became a consultant and proceeded to put the material in this book together. It was a labor of love, for a lot of people have said that the practice of protective relying is like black magic because there are many correct ways to protect a system, they all have problems but it is up to the practitioner to determine the best solution for a given situation. Mr. Blackburn poured his years of experience and expertise into this book. He tried to do this in a systematic manner in order to reduce the amount of ambiguity usually associated with the black arts. I believe he has succeeded.
I would agree with the others that the second edition was a letdown from the first, but then again, most first editions are more informative because authors wrote "their" book with the first edition, the following editions are ususally to answer the critics and publishers.
Book Description
Solar electricity is the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity by solar photovoltaic cells. It is a truly elegant means of producing electricity on site, allowing you to take control of your energy destiny and create your own lifestyle without concern for energy supply or environmental harm. No pollution, no by-products, no depletion of resources, these solid-state devices simply make electricity out of sunlight. Solar electricity is the ideal source of power for an environmentally-responsive home where it's a luxury residence or a rustic vacation retreat. With the right design, the sunlight that falls on your homesite will power your home. Your solar electric system can also be easily configured to provide on-site recharging of solar/electric vehicles allowing you to meet your transportation needs with renewable energy. The Solar Electric House will tell you everything you need to know to decide if photovoltaics are for you, including: * Systems options and economics; * Stand-alone and utility interactive systems; * Descriptions of all key components; * How to determine your electricity requirements; * How to design a solar electric house
Customer Reviews:
Dont waste your money its an antique.......2007-08-07
Ive had this book 4 years it was out of date then. I recently bought The Renewable Energy Handbook by kemp which is far more up todate. 8 years in Solar Electrics is a lifetime, the equipment shown and discussed is fit for a museum,sure its solar electricy for the indepedant home, as a model t ford is for cruising the motorway,save your money!
Basic but Dated.......2006-11-10
The book has all the basic knowledge about how the physics of solar energy works but the examples of solar arrays is out of date. There are many new products on the market which are not covered in this book.
History.......2006-03-16
This book was valid in its time but it has not been revised in so
many years it is now history not technology. I returned it.
Excellent Book on Solar Energy.......2006-03-01
I am learning about solar energy and this book was written in a way that explained every detail clearly. I feel I could get my engineer's degree from reading this book.
Still Good.......2005-11-27
I bought this book in 2005, almost 20 years after the first publication of the book. I went through a couple of emotional phases while reading the book. First I thought this was a great book: it has so many practical details and insights. When I got to the part on system controls and routing the power, I realized that this part is probably fairly weak because of the passage of time. Then when I looked at a few other more recent publications such as The Renewable Energy Handbook for Homeowners, by Kemp published in 2003, I realized that the present book is still a solid investment for someone interested in solar-electric. A lot of the basic information is still valid and it is more a case of prices changing and some of the technology being a bit easier to use. I like the fact that the book just concentrates on solar. There are no diversions or philosophical discussions on wind power or similar to confuse the situation. However, if you are a homeowner and want to look at all the alternatives, I suggest the newer book by Kemp, but that book is a bit thin on solar-electric so the present book is still needed. Kemp has many good ideas on insulation and conservation. In any case, the present book is down to earth practical stuff on solar: how it works and how you install. So to make a long story short I recommend the book as a buy.
The book is written by Steven J. Strong an MA from Harvard and someone who has worked as a solar energy consultant before writing the book. He describes a number of his projects and they are scattered thoughout the book.
The book has 10 chapters and it starts with how photovoltaic (PV) cells were developed and how they are manufactured. He explains how the atmosphere itself absorbs some light energy. He explains the eficiency of the PV cells, and how to position the cells to maximize power. Then he goes on to explain the manufacturing processes in detail.
Chapter 2 covers the design of the system of cells, controls, and storage of the energy. Storage itself can be a simple idea such as pumping water into a holding tank from a well during the sunny hours, but usually it is more complicated and uses a battery system or returns the power to the grid for credit, if the house can be connected to the conventional supply system. He explains a lot of these details with references to geographic location, be it in Arizona, or New england, or on a mountain in Colorado.
Chapeter 3 is a lesson on how to wire the modules and arrays together so you can get the right voltage and power combination.
Chapter 4 covers batteries and power regulation. He has many pictures and tables showing availbale products. These of course must be updated with current products but it gives a starting point for the reader.
Chapter 5 is very short and covers power inverters and attachment to the grid. An inverter converts DC voltage from the PV cells into AC for the appliances as in a conventional home. Also it is needed for connection to the grid to get power credits. Finally, he presents some options for power back up generation.
Chapter 6 explains how to conserve energy and then how to match your requirements with the size of the solar system, i.e.: how to determine how much power you need.
Chapter 7 and 8 describe how to design a system connected to the grid, or to design a system completely standing on its own. He gives examples with photographs of existing installations and this includes seasonal variations in power generation.
The last two chapter 9 and 10 are on the actual installion of the components along with maintenance tips.
The book contains many photographs, charts, lists of suppliers for parts, and it has many example calculations on how the power is produced, stored, and what it costs. A lot of this information can be updated by the reader using the web.
This book is now a bit dated and the reader will have to update the information when buying parts, but overall it is still surprisingly good. 5 stars.
Books:
- From Beirut to Jerusalem
- From Silence to Voice: What Nurses Know And Must Communicate to the Public, Second Edition
- Getting to Commitment: Overcoming the 8 Greatest Obstacles to Lasting Connection (And Finding the Courage to Love)
- Ghettonation: A Journey Into the Land of Bling and Home of the Shameless
- Green Development: Integrating Ecology and Real Estate
- Harry the Dirty Dog
- Heads-Up Baseball : Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- How Doctors Think
- Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
- The House on Hope Street
- Running with Scissors: A Memoir
- Steve McQueen The Last Mile
- Twistor Geometry and Field Theory
- The Third Secret: A Novel of Suspense
- Marie Antoinette: The Last Queen Of France
- The Classroom Is Bare... The Teacher's Not There
- Decision Point: The Business Game That Lets You Make the Decision and Reap the Rewards...or Bear the
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson
His Excellency: George Washington
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
Alexander Hamilton
