Book Description
It’s World War II and the A-bomb is here to stay.
The only question: Who’s going to drop it first?
The Battle of Midway takes on a whole new dimension with the sudden appearance of a U.S.-led naval task force from the twenty-first century, the result of a botched military experiment. State-of-the-art warships are scattered across the Pacific, armed to the teeth with the latest instruments of mass destruction.
Nuclear warheads, rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47s, computer-guided missiles–all bets are off as the major powers of 1942 scramble to be the first to wield the weapons of tomorrow against their enemies. The whole world now knows of the Allied victory in 1945, and the collapse of communism decades later. But that was the first time around.
With the benefit of their newly acquired knowledge, Stalin and Hitler rapidly change strategies. A Russian-German ceasefire leaves the Führer free to bring the full weight of his vaunted Nazi war machine down on England, while in the Pacific, Japan launches an invasion of Australia, and Admiral Yamamoto schemes to seize an even greater prize . . . Hawaii.
Even in the United States the newcomers from the future are greeted with a combination of enthusiasm and fear. Suspicion leads to hatred and erupts into violence.
Suddenly it’s a whole new war, with high-tech, high-stakes international manipulations from Tokyo to D.C. to the Kremlin. As the world trembles on the brink of annihilation, Churchill, Stalin, Roosevelt, Hitler, and Tojo confront extreme choices and a future rife with possibilities–all of them apocalyptic.
Customer Reviews:
The first 10 pages contain 25 f*** and sh***.......2007-07-09
One thing that struck me was the usage of bad words so frequently.
Churchill, Heinz Guderian, etc too wrote about World War and he not even once did they use a single bad word.
Still Going Strong.......2007-06-22
It's hard to get a sequel as good as the original- especially if it's the second in a trilogy. Birmingham pulls it off. He writes with such realism, spontaneity, and wit, that one feels like they are actually in the trenches, actually dealing with merging 21st and 20th century technology, actually in a room with Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. We feel the palpable tension of a world going to pot- and we feel this from a nearly infinite number of perspectives.
I found I was missing the chapter introductions of the first book, which told me what time and date it was. I also enjoyed the tighter storyline in the first book, without the constant jumping across continents just at the moment of most intense action. But this reduces Designated Targets to a 4.9 instead of a 5. It is still exquisitely written. It would seem that Birmingham has been in all the places he's described, and experienced everything that his characters have experienced. Nearly every character is round and evolving. It is hard to convincingly write Hoover's perspective as well as that of an enlightened 21st century woman fighting against racism.
Perhaps the saddest thing to realize is the effects the fight on terrorism is having on us all. Birmingham also convincingly writes the perspective of the 1940s and the 2020s. In the midst of the vileness towards blacks, women, and Jews that we see in those of the 1940s, we also see the cavalier attitude that those of the 2020s have towards violence and the deaths of others- innocents or the guilty. Fighting a long struggle has endued them with an incredible lack of compassion, and a thirst for vengence. It is convincing, because one sees the roots of such ideals in today's society, as we slowly become the children of tomorrow.
Review of the "Axis of Time" trilogy. Overall rating: 4.4 stars.......2007-06-09
Weapons of Choice (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 1, 2004)
Designated Targets (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 2, 2005)
Final Impact (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 3, 2007)
I've now read all three of John Birmingham's "Axis of Time" novels -- which amount to one long novel, so don't start at #2! -- and warmly recommend the books to mil-SF and alternate-history fans. To reprise, a naval task force from 2021 is diverted to 1942 by a DARPA teleportation experiment gone spectacularly wrong. In the confusion of the transition, the moderns sink most of Admiral Spruance's fleet, enroute to the Battle of Midway. Oops....
The three books go on to re-fight WW2, and show once again that the oldest cliche' can look fresh in the hands of a good writer with a new approach. Birmingham's innovation here is that the world of 1942 suddenly knows how the next eighty years would play out, if nothing changes. So the Big Losers -- Hitler, Tojo and Stalin -- are frantically trying to rewrite history to keep from going down in flames "again". And the winners must guard their "historic" victory... It's a riveting, twisty, violent story, and man, do those pages turn.
The Axis of Time is a good reminder of just how bad the mid-20th century was, and just how monstrous Hitler and Stalin were. And how warfare brings out the best -- and worst -- in "good" people (and bad). Some of the expedients the "good guys" resort to, to win, are appalling. Which isn't to say, not necessary....
Birmingham's near-future is a rather grim place, and the interactions of 2021 with 1942 are very nicely done. The past is a different country, and the multi-racial men and women-warriors from the 21st century make the folk of 1942 *very* uncomfortable. And vice-versa.
Birmingham, a well-known Australian humorist, is making his first venture into SF here. He's done his homework, and he's an exceptionally good storyteller. The Axis of Time books are thoughtful page-turners. His writing style and pacing are still a little rough, and there's a huge plot-logic flaw in the first book. The books still rock. Start with the first, Weapons of Choice, and you'll soon know if the series suits your taste.
Book #3, Final Impact, ends with the end of WW2 -- the three books are WW2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 in the Birmoverse -- but with little resolution, which has upset some readers. Birmingham has a contract to continue the series into the Cold War (CW1.1, 1.2), with the next book scheduled for Fall 2007 (Australia). I'll be reading it. And you should read WW2.1--2.3. Not perfect books, but pretty darned good.
Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman
Review first published at SF Site
Not a bad read..........2007-03-30
I found this book while killing some time in a bookstore. Even tho' it was the second volume of a trilogy, and the first volume wasn't available, I took the plunge anyway. I have not been disappointed in the decently-paced and better-than-usual alternate history aspect of this tale. I'm burned out on Harry Turtledove, so I was pleasantly surprised by Birmingham's easy to read prose. The plot line is NOT telegraphed ahead, and a lot of the chaacters are well developed to a point where readers can actually identify with them.There are a few "clunkers" as semi-major characters, but I have enjoyed the careful weaving of many recent day celebrities (i.e.: Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and John Kennedy) into the fabric of the story.
I will read the entire series without fail. Not perfect, but good enough to entertain me...4 stars.
Second volume in an alternative history trilogy.......2007-03-17
This is the middle volume in an exciting series of three books in which a force from the 21st century is accidentally sent back in time to 1942 and throws the history World War two onto a completely different course.
I found the first two episodes in this trilogy so fascinating that when I learned that the final instalment had been published in Australia several months before the US and UK releases I could not wait, but had to order this one from Oz. None of the books in the series disappointed me.
The full "Axis of Time" trilogy is
Weapons of Choice
Designated Targets
Final Impact
In the first book, "Weapons of Choice" a multinational carrier battle fleet from the 21st century is accidentally sent back in time to 1942 when a scientific experiment goes wrong. They arrive in the middle of the US fleet which would have been about to win the battle of Midway, which immediately causes a major "friendly fire" incident; meanwhile the Japanese fleet which should have been sunk gets wind that something very odd is happening and escapes.
A different story in which a military unit was sent back to World War II might have given them a dilemma; should they intervene on the allied side, or try to minimise their impact in the hope of getting back through the wormhole to their own time without changing the past? Birmingham never gave his characters that option, as their arrival itself changed events beyond any hope of putting the timeline back in place. In this book his 21st century characters are struggling to make the best of the world they now find themselves in.
What happened at Midway was bad enough, although the the arrival on the Western side of a 21st century carrier battle group is more than enough compensation. But a second problem is that, while the great majority of the multinational force is thrown back as a unit and arrive together, one or two ships turn up in other parts of the world and are captured by bad guys so that some modern technology and knowledge of the future which would have happened fell into the hands of the Soviet Union, Imperial Japanese, and Nazis. Once they have overcome their disbelief, Stalin, Hitler, and Imperial Japanese alike resolve not to repeat the mistakes which in our timeline consigned them to the dustbin of history.
The men and women from the 21st Century face a continuing struggle both to adapt to the very difficult world they find themselves in, and to persuade the "temps" (short for contemporary) from their own side to accept such things as an African-American U.S. Marine colonel, and a Royal Navy Commander who is a half-asian woman. I would like to think that my parents and grandparents' generations would have treated members of the 21st century forces better than they are treated in this book: however, no doubt that Mr Birmingham is right that some people would have treated them well and others very badly. The treatment of J Edgar Hoover, who is very prejudiced against the 21st century people and makes a real nuisance of himself, is quite entertaining.
Mr Birmingham takes the view that Japanese members of the multinational force, and other people in an anomalous position such as a 21st century Russian special forces officer, would regard the current rulers of their home countries as tyrants and put loyalty to their 21st century comrades before loyalty to country. However, the "temps" have great difficulty trusting Japanese and this is perhaps the worst of the many problems with the multinational force have in getting on with their new allies.
The action scenes in the book are very well done and make it almost impossible to put down; there is also some excellent use of humour. One of the members of the multinational force from the 21st Century is Prince Harry, who has become a Colonel in the S.A.S; throughout the trilogy there are some amusing lines and situations involving him.
None of the books in this trilogy are suitable for those of a squeamish disposition. Faced with Axis and Soviet powers who have become even more cruel and ruthless in their desperation to avoid defeat, the allies have to be almost equally brutal to defeat them. I can't remember reading a story in which the "good" guys kill so many millions of innocent people since E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman series. (More so even than in the real WW2, which is saying something.) Birmingham rarely goes for the easy answer and this is a series in which horrible things often happen to good people - and in which good people do horrible things.
Nevertheless, if you are into alternative history or war stories, and provided you are not squeamish, you will very probably enjoy the "Axis of Time" trilogy.
Book Description
With these two books, youll learn essential skills for leading any project, as well as techniques for using the rich functionality of Microsoft Office Project 2003 to help you successfully complete your project. On Time! On Track! On Target! focuses on the core project management skills you need to manage any project, giving you a practical education in project management and how-to instruction for using Microsoft Office Project 2003 and other Microsoft Office programs. With Microsoft Office Project 2003 Step by Step, you work at your own pace through easy-to-follow lessons and practice exercises to learn exactly the tools and techniques you need. Discover how to develop a project plan with tasks, resources, and assignments; create reports; manage multiple projects and dependencies; and track progress and costs while making real-time adjustments.
Customer Reviews:
Great Value..........2007-01-18
Both books are good references to have with you when working with project, and very affordable.
Amazon.com
Procrastination is the focus of mega-selling One Minute Manager Ken Blanchard's latest business fable. Blanchard, and co-author Steve Gottry, tell the tale of "Manager Bob," the uber procrastinator, whose lateness, missed deadlines, and lack of priorities have put his job in jeopardy. And Bob is not alone. "If you study the personal and corporate crash and burns of this world, you'll discover that procrastinators move to the head of the class."
The authors create a dialogue between Bob and a fictional chief effectiveness officer who introduces a three-step strategy to work "on-time and on-target." The first technique "create priority," is explained in terms of triage, a battlefield term for assigning an order of medical treatment on the basis of urgency. Next, Bob encounters the intriguing notion of "Propriety" expressed in the format of a succinct "Bill of Rights": Am I doing the right thing, for the right person, at the right time, with the right reasons? Finally, Manager Bob learns to distinguish between interest and commitment and the deeper meaning of yes and no.
Each of the three strategies underline the premise of procrastination as a failure to define what is important. Occasionally, their message is sidetracked by cuteness, (nicknames for Bob) confusion, (calling the approach a "3-P strategy" ignores the C in commitment) and a contrived ending where Bob becomes the chief effectiveness officer. Still, the center holds with practical techniques, explained with brevity and clarity. Blanchard and Gottry know how to make a long story short. --Barbara Mackoff
Book Description
Ken Blanchard's phenomenal bestsellers, such as The One Minute Manager and Raving Fans, have made him a globally recognized business legend. Millions look to Blanchard for innovative approaches to management, leadership, customer service, and much more. Now, he has joined with noted business author Steve Gottry to explore one of the most common and insidious problems plaguing the workplace—procrastination.
The On-Time, On-Target Manager is the story of Bob, a typical middle manager who puts things off to the last minute. As a result, he misses deadlines because his lack of focus causes him to accomplish meaningless tasks before getting to the important things. Like many professionals, Bob rationalizes, justifies, and tries to explain. Luckily, Bob is sent to his company's CEO—which stands for "Chief Effectiveness Officer"—who helps him deal with the three negative side effects of procrastination: lateness, poor work quality, and stress to himself and others. Bob learns how to transform himself from a crisis-prone Last-Minute manager into a productive On-Time, On-Target manager.
With this engaging parable, Blanchard and Gottry offer practical strategies any professional can put into practice to improve his or her performance.
Download Description
"
Ken Blanchard's phenomenal bestsellers, such as The One Minute Manager and Raving Fans, have made him a globally recognized business legend. Millions look to Blanchard for innovative approaches to management, leadership, customer service, and much more. Now, he has joined with noted business author Steve Gottry to explore one of the most common and insidious problems plaguing the workplace -- procrastination.
The On-Time, On-Target Manager is the story of Bob, a typical middle manager who puts things off to the last minute. As a result, he misses deadlines because his lack of focus causes him to accomplish meaningless tasks before getting to the important things. Like many professionals, Bob rationalizes, justifies, and tries to explain. Luckily, Bob is sent to his company's CEO -- which stands for ""Chief Effectiveness Officer"" -- who helps him deal with the three negative side effects of procrastination: lateness, poor work quality, and stress to himself and others. Bob learns how to transform himself from a crisis-prone Last-Minute manager into a productive On-Time, On-Target manager.
With this engaging parable, Blanchard and Gottry offer practical strategies any professional can put into practice to improve his or her performance.
"
Customer Reviews:
A parable that misses the mark.......2007-01-02
Ken Blanchard has always been one of my favorite business
authors, starting with the classic that he wrote with Spencer
Johnson: THE ONE MINUTE MANAGER . . . so when I came
across something of his that I had missed, THE ON-TIME,
ON-TARGET MANAGER (co-authored with Steve Gottry), I grabbed
an audio copy of it since I was particularly interested in its
subtitle: HOW A "LAST-MINUTE MANAGER CONQURED
PROCRASTINATION.
I must admit it took me a few weeks to listen to it . . . first, I had
to . . . well, I won't bother you with the details, but procrastination
definitely came into play . . . unfortunately, I'm not sure that I
learned very much from listening that helped me deal with
this vexing problem.
THE ON-TIME, ON-TARGET MANAGER is another parable
that Blanchard typically writes so well . . . this one, however,
missed the mark for me . . . I wasn't interested in the
main character, Bob, or any of his multiple nicknames that
actually got annoying after a very short while . . . moreover,
I was thrown by the "3-P strategy" that started off fine with
Priority . . . however, I'm still now quite sure how Propriety
fit into the mix . . . and Commitment isn't even a "P," but
according to the authors was a mnemonic device that didn't work
for me.
I would have preferred a better ending, along with some actual
examples of how the principles could be put into play
by Bob or anybody else for that matter.
In retrospect, I did at least come away with a reminder that I
need to continually ask myself: What is the most important
thing I should be doing? Other readers wanting an answer
would do better by reading my all-time favorite time management
book, HOW TO GET CONTROL OF YOUR TIME AND YOUR
LIFE by Alan Lakein.
Too mediocre a parable/book on time management. Nothing on procrastination at all!.......2006-04-25
The proposition of 3Ps, Priority, Propriety (do the right thing at the right time with the right people....) and Committment (yes, it's a C, the author said it's for you to memorize it better, which I duly agree) is straightforward and simple. However, as a victim of procrastination who read tens of books on the subject and is still fighting daily against it, I can tell this book is a mediocre time management book instead of a cure for procrastination, that the psychological or even physiological aspects of procrastination had not been addressed at all. If things can be dealt with easily in the prescribed rational and mechanical manner, there would simply be no market for this book. Even worse, the parable is real bad and boring.
For those who want to read to fight against procrastination, I strongly recommend "Unleash the warrior within" by Richard Machowicz. If you wanna improve your time management skills, "10 Natural Laws of Succcessful Time and Life Management" by Hyrum W. Smith is a very good choice.
The Easiest Time Management System.......2006-04-24
Time management does not have to be complicated. Daytimers, PDAs, project management software and so on all help . . . especially if you follow the advice in this book.
Quite simply, this book teaches time management by dividing tasks into 3 simple categories:
* Tasks I have to do
* Tasks I can do if I have the time
* Tasks I don't have to do but want to
Yes, Maybe, and No. It's that simple. Tasks I have to do go into the yes category; tasks I can do if I have time go into the maybe category; and tasks I don't have to do but want to go into the no category.
Divide a piece of paper into 3 columns titled "Yes", "Maybe", "No". List your tasks under the appropriate categories. Prioritize the tasks in the "Yes" column. Make sure you do those first. Next, work on the "Maybe" column, and so on.
I provided the simple, condensed version of this method. This book provides more valuable information written in an enjoyable format.
Not up to the standard I expect from the series.......2005-03-08
I have always enjoyed Ken Blanchard's management books because they deliver simple and straightforward management principles in an easy-to-learn style. For example, The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey is a classic of proper delegation.
Unfortunately, the Last Minute Manager was not up to the usual standards of this series. The book was not compelling and did not really teach the reader a solution to the problem of procrastination.
* The basic problem was that the book did not have a simple system to teach. Though the system was called The Three P's these were really headings for a complex variety of questions, ideas and principles that made the execution process more complex than it needed to be. The fact that the third "P" started with C was a bit jarring. The book claimed this was a mnemonic device but I see it more as an symptom of the fact that the whole model needed more work.
* The main character is a doofus. I didn't find myself cheering for his success, I simply found myself annoyed with him. The descriptions of him as "Bob the last-minute Manger", "Bob the suddenly-surprised Manager", "Bob the newly-focused Manager" etc were also annoying.
* The book had too much theory and not enough tactics. It presented you with high levels questions and ideas about your priorities but it was light on examples of how to use them. For example it shows you a "triage" form but we never see Bob use it.
* There were no examples of how Bob the-highly-annoying Manager used his new found skills to improve his work or productivity. The book did not clearly tie the process in the book to the problem of lateness, poor-quality, and stress.
There is definitely room for a Blanchard book on the problem of time management. I'm afraid that I can't recommend this one. Instead I recommend "First Things First" by Steven Covey for those struggling with this issue. It is much more work to read, but I think it solves the problems that afflict Bob in this story in a more straightforward manner.
Finally there is a pet peeve. Why do all these management book use married men as examples of people who need to be fixed? I agree that the problem of choosing a sex for someone with a problem is vexing, and its most likely that married men will be the least likely to complain. That said, I think there is room for some originality in this realm. The work world has a much wider constituency than married men named "Bob". I hope we see it reflected in future books.
Solid Material with Cheesy, Campy, Memorable Moments.......2004-12-23
Why do employees and people in general procrastinate?
From this allegorical business book from the highly successful Ken Blanchard and his co-author, Steve Gottry, we learn employees and others procrastinate predominantly because they are clueless. They haven't invested in life - or the business. Once our "subject" middle manager Bob make that change from employee mindset to owner mindset, all life will change.
With a little bit of help from a Cheerleader-Coach type "Chief Effectiveness Officer" we watch Bob's journey... and pick up many lessons along the way.
One of the details I have to mention about this book is memorable. The story it tells and the suggestions it gives stick in the mind.
There are cheesy moments (like all of Bob's silly nicknames - really, enough is enough writers). I almost thought there was a sound track over the campy text "dadadada daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh" when the words in bold were trotted out.
PRIORITY (stated in BOLD) "Yes, it is important!" PROPRIETY (what does that mean exactly?) and COMMITMENT (wait - that isn't a "P" - so get over it already.)
The ending section of the book reminded me of what I have heard from network marketers, especially from one company.... Listing what is really important. God first, Family second, then the 3-P's with Commitment being fleshed out as purpose, ideals, goals, integrity, truth and follow through as well as that also tiny bit annoying "you gotta wanna!".
I would suggest reading this book for everyone simply because the information is solid, it is familiar enough and reinforces a lot of what you may already know and that you haven't yet tied together.
There are enough Bobs in the world - lets introduce them to this book and see what happens.
Book Description
Attract More Clients, Even if You're Not a “Born” Seller
Whether you're an entrepreneur, salesperson, or service marketer, you know that generating sales leads is the single most important-and challenging-part of your job. But what if you're not the type of person who operates in “selling mode” 24/7? What if you find it hard to aggressively cold-call hundreds of strangers every week, and you dread those endless networking events? “Don't worry,” says lead-generation strategist and consultant Marcus Schaller. “You don't have to be impossibly driven, thick-skinned, or aggressive to bring in new clients. In fact, you'll win more customers if you use a more personal, thoughtful approach that fits your comfort level.”
The Lead Ladder is a complete step-by-step system designed especially for people like you. You'll see how a typical salesperson or self-employed professional can rise above any situation-whether it's dwindling contacts or a depleted pool of clients-to build a steady source of new business options, one customer at a time. The Lead Ladder breaks it down to three basic steps:
1.
Identify your best prospects before the competition.
2.
Differentiate yourself as an advisor, not just a salesperson.
3.
Personalize each client relationship-until they become a client!
In addition, you'll learn how to set realistic goals, target your ideal market, and lure prospects in with the most effective and affordable advertising tools. The Lead Ladder is filled with easy-to-use strategies to help you follow up on your leads, establish trust, increase sales, and create a solid database of steady customers and contacts. It's everything you need to know to reach the highest level of your professional potential.
Customer Reviews:
Thought provoking as a reminder.......2006-11-22
There's really nothing new in this book, but the method of presentation and short read time make it an excellent choice as a reminder to keep doing what we all should know works. Marketing, build relationships, close the sale. This is what has always worked and it hasn't really changed. Some of our marketing methods are new, but the great sales successes continue to go to those who focus on building relationships.
Good book and I recommend it because you can read it in 30-45 minutes and get a good kick in the seat of the pants.
Book Description
Keep your project on time, on track, and on target! This practical guide focuses on the core skills you need to successfully manage any project with Microsoft Project. Includes a companion CD with sample Project templates.
Customer Reviews:
This is a book about project management.......2006-11-24
I wrote this book and it is supposed to be a book about project management with some tips about using Microsoft Project and other programs effectively to manage projects. It is not intended to be a how-to guide for Microsoft Project from start to finish, although it includes techniques that I use all the time to manage projects. I am a PMI-certified Project Management Professional and I manage projects for clients in many industries. The motivation to write this book came from the advice I've had to provide to new (and some more experienced) project managers on many projects.
The idea is to help people relatively new to project management learn about the tasks they should perform to manage a project successfully and how to use Project and other Microsoft programs practically in those endeavors. For example, some folks break down work into way too much detail and try to track it all in Project. This book explains how to figure out how far to break work down and where to store all the details that don't go into a PRoject schedule.
The book also includes tips for using Word, Excel, Access, and other programs in project management tasks. The book was published by Microsoft Press, hence the reference to Microsoft Project in the book title. I am sorry if the title is misleading--I can't do anything about that.
MS Project not included!!!.......2006-07-30
Just like the previous reviewer, I was confused when reading this book and still 1/3 into the material the references and practical application of MS Project was virtually non-existent. In fact, you're more likely to find Excel screenshots that MS Project in over 50% of the book.
Not to be unfair, the provided material is a good basic primer on project management and covers the surrounding techniques broad enough to get an overview. However, if you already own (or use) MS Project, you most likely read similar material before. (Especially if you had to dish out the hundreds of dollars yourself, you should have covered the basics before.)
Overall the tie-in with MS Project is completely misleading as this book does not teach even fundamentals on how to deal with the software. I wish I could say the background makes a few things clearer in my in-frequent use, but frankly it's way to generic for most of the time. Around page 130 was the first time I felt I found about 2 pages worth of interesting material, but that's about the only time.
So for general project management it may be a good basic book with a reasonable price tag. (The only reason I gave it more than one star!) For anything more stay clear of this title and look somewhere else.
A difficult book to recommend.......2006-05-05
I bought this publication because 1) the price seemed reasonable and 2) it's often good to go back over familiar material and learn some new perspectives.
And, though I succeeded on point 1, I was generally disappointed with this publication which seems to be directed at new project managers and yet fails to convince that is has been edited with such an audience in mind.
The title - suggesting that Microsoft Project might get a strong focus - left me somewhat confused. The first 90 or so pages make little reference to Microsoft project and, when they do, do so in a way that suggests the author presupposes a fair degree of familiarity of Microsoft Project. This seems at odds with the previous text which is an almost simplistic view of project management basics.
The terminology seems loose, some of the early examples fail to illuminate the topic and the cartoons that accompnay the test create a 'home published' feel that I don't believe does Microsoft Press many favours.
Those expecting to find a gentle introduction to Microsoft Project will need to perservere beyond the initial chapters. And, even then, when Project is introduced it is done in such terms - without explanation - of "task view", "dependency links", etc which, although in themselves not a problem, are introduced without explanation and apparently with an assumption the reader will understand such terms.
These problems suggest (to me at least) some real problems with identifying the audience for the book: new PMs, experienced PMs but new to MS Project, or other. I was never sure.
This is the kind of book I would recommend to those with no experience in Project Management or MS project. And, if that desribes yourself, this book is a gentle introduction to the techniques of project management. Others familiar with Project management will find the introduction of little value and the segue into the details of MS project abrupt and assuming a familiarity that won't necessarily exist.
Book Description
Kakuro took the brain-teasing fun of sudoku to the next level by adding math and a crossword puzzle grid. Now, Beat the Clock Kakuro takes kakuro itself to the next level by challenging game players with a time goal for each puzzle.
Players can truly test their skills by seeing how their times rank them — from beginner to master. The added time challenge in Beat the Clock Kakuro will help players improve their concentration and solving abilities as they push themselves to achieve lower and lower times on their way to becoming masters.
Customer Reviews:
Warning: these are not simple puzzles!.......2007-01-26
I have gone through a few other kakuro books before trying this one. The other books never even came close to the difficulty of these puzzles. It took me a while to get into the spirit, but now I'm totally in love with this book. These are puzzles you can really sink your teeth into.
Book Description
In this power-packed toolkit, Matejka and Murphy mix humor with meaning, theory with skill-building practicality, as they put the power to successfully plan for and implement any type of change initiative into the hands of employees at every level of today's team-based organizations.
Customer Reviews:
A basic manual on organizational change.......2007-02-20
Ken Matejka and Al Murphy take the principles of change that others have pioneered and present them in an exceptionally clear and applicable fashion. For a book on change, this one presents few new ideas. In fact, at times, the authors' statements come close to being hoary platitudes. Still, the book provides good advice - platitudes get that way because they express well-known truths - and its presentation is even better. Their book takes the form of a useful manual, with tips, questionnaires, checklists, definitions and diagrams. Name your favorite tool; it's here. However, don't let the book's utility deceive you into thinking that you'll be able to handle even the most revolutionary and disruptive transformations with a little reflection and a clipboard. In real life, change is more complicated than a few checklists. We recommend this book to beginners to whom the clichés will seem newly minted, and to experienced managers who can take advantage of the organizing tools while retaining their awareness that true change is always a messy business.
A CONCISE, EXCELLENT GUIDE FOR SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE!.......2006-05-18
If you're looking for a clear, concise book on organizational change to serve as a guide, this would be an excellent choice.
The book's focus is on a six part blue print for approaching change. These six parts are:
- diagnosing the sources and reasons for change;
- developing and communicating a compelling business case for change;
- identifying the type of change and the implications for that type;
- assessing the match between the type of change and the organizational culture and realistically evaluating the time needed for change;
- identifying and prioritizing the potential roadblocks to implementation;
- determining what you can do to sponsor and facilitate change.
Includes an appendix with a concise "map" to help keep the key points of the book in mind and a "planner" to track each change initiative.The book is practical, highly applied, and very well organized and written. Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- Step by Step Guide to Winning Proposals.
- An easy-to-read summary of how to turn over an A/E firm.
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Proposals: On Target, On Time
Dan Safford
Manufacturer: Amer. Consulting Engineers Council
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0910090009 |
Book Description
Proposals are the most important documents your firm writes, but if your firm is like most other design firms, you probably don't spend the resources necessary to write the best proposals possible. Believe it or not, there is no magic about developing a winning proposal; it's simply a matter of following a planned process that is systematic and repeatable. Proposals: On Target, On Time is your blueprint for preparing successful proposals that win, making the best and smartest use of your resources.
Customer Reviews:
Step by Step Guide to Winning Proposals........2004-02-03
This guide shows you how to plan the process of proposal drafting. It makes the overwhelming process more manageable; I consult it as a reference time and time again. This book helps us to decipher the best and smartest uses for our resources.
An easy-to-read summary of how to turn over an A/E firm........1998-03-12
This book outlines in reader-friendly terms what is required to value, sell, purchase, or turn over to family or workers an engineering firm. The authors have years of experience from the standpoint of proper accounting experience and legal experience to coordinate these functions. It is a well written book--from the point of view of people in the engineering and architectural environment.
Product Description
This is a AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A433123. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: Concurrent engineering approaches for the disciplines of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and electromagnetics (CEM) are necessary for designing future high-performance, low-observable aircraft. A characteristic- based finite-volume time-domain (FVTD) computational algorithm, developed for CFD and now applied to CEM, is implemented to analyze the radar cross section (RCS) of two three-dimensional objects, the ogive and cone-sphere. The FVTD formulation implements a Monotone Upstream-Centered Scheme for Conservation Laws (MUSCL) algorithm for the flux evaluation and a Runge-Kutta multi-stage scheme for the time integration. Developmental FVTD work for the thesis focused on algorithm development to analyze scattering and obtain RCS data for closed- surface perfect electric conductor (PEC) 3-D objects using either a Gaussian pulse or sinusoid incident wave. In addition, specification of the direction and polarization of the incident wave gives monostatic and bistatic RCS results. Convergence and threshold checks end the simulation run to ensure accurate computation of the RCS. Validation of the characteristic-based FVTD formulation and code for electromagnetic scattering problems is completed by comparing RCS results obtained from the FVTD code to Moment Method and empirical RCS data. The FVTD results for the ogive and cone-sphere are within 3.0 dB of the MoM results and 3.1 dB of the empirical RCS results. Accurate FVTD computations of diffraction, traveling waves, and creeping waves require a surface grid point density of 15-30 cells/lamda.
Average customer rating:
- Good idea spoiled by academic snobbery
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Huckleberry Finn As Idol and Target : The Functions of Criticism in Our Time (The Wisconsin Project on American Writers)
Jonathan Arac
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 029915534X |
Book Description
If racially offensive epithets are banned on CNN air time and in the pages of USA Today, Jonathan Arac asks, shouldnt a fair hearing be given to those who protest their use in an eighth-grade classroom? Placing Mark Twains comic masterpiece, Huckleberry Finn, in the context of long-standing American debates about race and culture, Jonathan Arac has written a work of scholarship in the service of citizenship. Huckleberry Finn, Arac points out, is Americas most beloved book, assigned in schools more than any other work because it is considered both the quintessential American novel and an important weapon against racism. But when some parents, students, and teachers have condemned the books repeated use of the word nigger, their protests have been vehemently and often snidely countered by cultural authorities, whether in the universities or in the New York Times and the Washington Post. The paradoxical result, Arac contends, is to reinforce racist structures in our society and to make a sacred text of an important book that deserves thoughtful reading and criticism. Arac does not want to ban Huckleberry Finn, but to provide a context for fairer, fuller, and better-informed debates. Arac shows how, as the Cold War began and the Civil Rights movement took hold, the American critics Lionel Trilling, Henry Nash Smith, and Leo Marx transformed the public image of Twains novel from a popular boys book to a central document of American culture. Hucks feelings of brotherhood with the slave Jim, it was implied, represented all that was right and good in American culture and democracy. Drawing on writings by novelists, literary scholars, journalists, and historians, Arac revisits the era of the novels setting in the 1840s, the period in the 1880s when Twain wrote and published the book, and the postWorld War II era, to refute many deeply entrenched assumptions about Huckleberry Finn and its place in cultural history, both nationally and globally. Encompassing discussion of Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frederick Douglass, Ralph Ellison, Archie Bunker, James Baldwin, Shelley Fisher Fishkin, and Mark Fuhrman, Aracs book is trenchant, lucid, and timely.
Customer Reviews:
Good idea spoiled by academic snobbery.......1999-10-03
If this book is supposed to provide "a context for fairer, fuller, and better-informed debates" on Huckelberry Finn, then the only people the author must think are doing the debating are cloistered academics. The issue frequently under debate is whether to "ban" Huck Finn from classrooms because of the infamous "N-word." This issue therefore begins and ends with secondary and high school parents and teachers. Academics with PHd's have little to nothing to do with this debate in the real world other than to provide sound-bites for the media. The people who need this type of book, the non-academic parents and students who will end up having do live with the results of the debate need not look to Arac's text except as a sleeping pill. What could have been a very lively reading on a stimulating subject is submerged by the author with the usual academic psycho-babble. Weigh this book against Shelly Fisher-Fishkin's popular and highly accessible "Was Huck Black?" and "Lighting Out for the Territory" and you can see why the pro-Twain faction always comes out looking better even if they lose the debate. Arac's book is inaccessible to the average parent (black or white) who must continually resort to a reactionary mode when faced with the prospect that their child will have to see and hear the word "nigger" when Huck Finn is assigned in class. As a result this is hardly a work of "scholarship in the service of citizenship." It is a work of scholarship in the service of exclusive academia only. I'm not saying that the book should have been "dumbed down" for use by the average reader, but that the text reeks of stereotypical academic snobbery. As Huck Finn himself might have said, "This book puts on airs." It's a pity becasue Arac raises some good points, which are unfortunately lost in ten dollar words and page length sentences.
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