Book Description
Written for CEOs, CFOs, and the investment bankers, lawyers, and auditors who advise them, this is the first book to explain how reverse mergers work, from the business and legal points of view.
Customer Reviews:
Professional manual for reverse mergers.......2006-12-11
Only a few years ago, it seemed that nearly every company was going public with an IPO. Now many quality companies are locked out of the IPO market, but companies have other ways to go public. One of the most popular paths is a "reverse merger." In this transaction, your private company merges into a public company (often a "shell") and controls it, giving you a public stock with which to raise capital. This may sound shady, but it's not: many well-known companies have gone public through reverse mergers, including Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Turner Broadcasting System, Occidental Petroleum and Blockbuster Entertainment. Experienced Wall Street securities attorney David N. Feldman takes you through the reverse merger process in detail. The book is wonderfully clear and thorough, and should become the definitive textbook on reverse mergers. It is, however, a dry read. A profusion of technical rules and especially acronyms (SPAC, SOX, Form 10-B, Rule 419, Regulation A, SB-2, PIPE) make the book slightly MEGO (My Eyes Glaze Over) for the uninitiated - but then, they are not its target audience. We enthusiastically recommend this book to sophisticated investors, lawyers, accountants, investment bankers and executives who want all the details on this increasingly popular financing technique.
This book changed my life!!!.......2006-10-10
Well, maybe it didn't exactly change my life, but it gave my law firm a new direction. My firm specializes in strategic transactions - initial public offerings, private placements, mergers & acquisitions - but we had steered clear of reverse mergers because of the uncertainty and confusion. Feldman and Dresner cleared up that confusion we now offer reverse mergers as part of our services.
This book showed the mechanics of structuring a reverse merger, how to create shell corporations and guidelines on financing. It covers due diligence, securities filings and and plenty of mistakes to avoid.
Whether you're an attorney, accountant, investment banker, business owner or private investor, this book will offer you an new strategy for growth and finance by way of reverse mergers.
excellent book.......2006-10-02
This is a most informative book and tells you how to do it. The concept is mysterious at first but is clearly explained in this book. It is a must for anyone considering taking his business public. I highly recomend it.
An excellent investment if you're interested in reverse mergers.......2006-10-01
If you want to know the right way to organize and structure Reverse Mergers, this is the book to go for. It's an excellent up to date reference as well as a guidebook of do's, don'ts and "tricks of the trade"; even better, it's written so both newbies and professionals can benefit from it.
At the very minimum, Reverse Mergers will pay for itself many times over in saved legal fees; more importantly it will almost certainly save you a lot of time and may well save you from some very expensive mistakes. If you intend to do anything in this area, Mr. Feldman's book is undoubtedly the best $50 investment you can make.
Book Description
A practical guide to taking your company public—successfully This updated version of the Ernst & Young Guide to Taking Your Company Public looks at the IPO as a milestone in a larger process called The Value Journey
sm, the basis for the work of the Ernst & Young Center for Strategic Transactions
®, a business advisory resource for CEOs. This practical book is designed to help you determine whether an IPO is the right move for your company and addresses the major leadership challenges that CEOs face. It describes how to plan your IPO journey and chart your business strategy, focusing on the steps you must take to succeed during and after the IPO event and fulfill the critical need to continuously innovate and renew your company.
Customer Reviews:
Good, easy-to-read textbook. Not not a great guide........2001-01-27
About the book
Based on research questioning about 500 executives who took IPOs between 1986 and 1996. So, most IPOs came from companies who had been profitable for a few years. After the collapse of the Internet stocks, the context is similar, but I believe such profit records may not be as important as during 1986-96.
Published in 1999. So, it has comments to imply "being first makes the company valuable without profits".
About the authors and their style
Authors are experienced in their job of bringing IPOs.
This book is not at all in the class of books by Al Ries and Jack Trout, but more like a text book, covering every related point (from text book point of view). There is no prioritization or difference in emphasis of the importance of various issues involved.
Their diagram on cover of book is confusing because they have used 2-dimensions to show a linear 1-dimension process, which essentially are their recommended steps.
Book's Message
1. Define goal/success. IPO may not be the best way to achieve that.
2. Plan and start working on IPO at least one year ahead of the need.
3. Many specific to-do items: · Revise salaries as variable salaries that include stocks rather than just cash. · Plan personal estates. Give gifts before IPOs to family members to minimize future tax liability. Hire CPA for this planning. · Hire Earnst & Young early. · Clean books of accounts-use GAAP. · Build strong executive team. · Start working like a public company at least one year before-that is-create quarter-to-quarter profitability guidance and exceed them. Create reports such as needed by SEC. · Build external Board. Create committees of Board members.
If you want to read just 7 pages, read these: 25, 37, 56, 65, 74, 108, 170
MasterGuide for IPO (US).......2000-11-30
Aimed at executives considering an IPO, the `IPO Value Journey' is also of use to staff in pre/post-IPO companies to understand about market perceptions of companies & ideal "success factors".
The lightly referenced, well structured chapters span: the CEO's journey; the journey's early vital steps; chart your transaction strategy; chart your personal strategy; create the winning team; complete your IPO platform; be the public company; the IPO event; and deliver the value. Useful appendices span: outline for a business plan; selecting the stock market; registration exemptions and resale restrictions; overview of the SEC and SEC rules and regulations; simplified registration under the small business disclosure system; and glossary.
Strengths include: the concise factual (dry) writing style; good use of exhibits and checklists; and useful easily-accessible content addressing legal, accounting, reporting, board issues (amongst others).
Weaknesses include: need for more sidebar success story anecdotes (which integrate the steps); mostly US focus; and relatively superficial analysis evidence supporting the success factors and `journey' metaphor.
Overall, a very useful working book, to be read with something like `Confessions of a Venture Capitalist' (ISBN 0446526800) or `E-boys' (ISBN 0812930959), for a fuller life-cycle, energetic view of the IPO journey.
IPO handbook for CEOs.......1999-12-03
I found this book had just the right amount of detail for the CEO without becoming tiresome. It gives a very good overview of the IPO process and provides plenty of recommendations to guide you along the way.
Book Description
Presidents are uniquely positioned to promote themselves and their polices directly to the public. Using sympathetic crowds as a backdrop, a president can rally public opinion to his side, along the way delivering a subtle yet unmistakable message to his intended audience in Congress. Samuel Kernell shows how "going public" remains a potent weapon in the president's arsenal, both for advancing his own agenda and blocking initiatives from his political adversaries in Congress.
In his highly anticipated fourth edition, Kernell delivers thorough analysis and detailed background on how this strategy continues to evolve given the intense polarization of Congress and the electorate as well as changes in communications technology. He considers the implications of both factors--especially in combination--on the future of presidential leadership and weighs the lessons of 9/11 on "going public" in foreign affairs.
Customer Reviews:
Evolution of Washington Politics.......2005-11-16
Samuel Kernell argues that Washington politics have undergone a structural change over the past half century. Traditionally, politics in Washington were conducted according to a system of mutually beneficial interactions and bargains. Kernell refers to this structure as institutionalized pluralism. Under such a system, the political elite are the ultimate decision makers. It is these elites that have access to a number of political resources that help shape and enforce their political power.
As such, this early era Washington is essentially isolated from the core constituents. Party leaders and other senior political elites offer support to candidates who will not only tow the party line, but respect the seniority system already in place. Furthermore, institutionalized pluralism supports an environment in which coalitions form the spine of the system. The coalitions often shape the options available to the early presidents. Kernell describes the role of the President; "(he) seizes the center of the Washington bazaar and actively barter's with fellow politicians to build winning coalitions. He must do so...or he will forfeit any claim to leadership" (18).
However, Washington politics has moved from a closely regulated environment of institutionalized pluralism to what Kernell refers to as individualized pluralism. A system of individual pluralism is one in which the system of strong parties, seniority and bargaining are in decline. In their stead has emerged a system of individualistic politicians which are driven not by coalition building and party support, but by maintaining the will of their constituent base. Kernell describes the institutionalized plural Washington as, "a political community constituted of independent members who have few group or institutional loyalties and who are generally less interested in sacrificing short-run, private career goals for the longer-term benefits of bargaining" (27). As such, a president is forced to deal with weakened leaders and weakened parties who may be unwilling or unable to deliver on proposed bargains.
Kernell explains the change from institutionalized to individual pluralism as the result of an increased welfare state which "increased the size of the community and created large, interested constituencies outside of Washington" (28). In other words, Washington was no longer an isolated island of political elites. Secondly, individual pluralism emerged as a result of changes to communication and transportation. The President and elites had the means to communicate directly to the people. Lastly, Kernell argues that a decline in the strength of political parties in Washington as well as nationally fueled the evolution towards individualized pluralism.
In the new era, the President and other major Washington players have evolved new leadership strategies. Going public can be described as political elites making a conscious appeal for support to their constituents, or as in the case of the President, to the nation as a whole.
Kernell explains the increase in making appeals to the public in order to garner support for views or popularity as the result of a number of developments in national politics. First, in the system of individualized pluralism, bargaining between the Executive and legislature has grown ineffective. For example, since 1956 the United States is often confronted with a divided government, one in which one party controls the legislature and the opposing party sits in the Executive office. In such situations, negotiations become difficult. Often the President cannot get his policies through and opposing Congress. As such, he calls on the people to pressure their representative into accepting the President's proposal.
Second, rather than being nominated by major political parties, presidential selection reforms have allowed ordinary voters to place their presidential choice on the ballot. Now, a President is no longer beholden to party leadership. Instead, the president is beholden to the people. As such, the President does not always feel obligated to negotiate with party leadership and may appeal to the people to pressure the party.
The ways in which the President shapes "going public" differ. Perhaps the earliest method of going public was through manipulation of the media. In an earlier era, a good deal of bargaining existed between press and President. A system of reciprocity existed. A President would exchange personal interviews for an article that leaned in favor of his proposals.
However, John Kennedy shaped a system which is still in use today. President Kennedy used live television to carry his message. With the use of such a direct medium, the president is able to shape his message with little outside influence from newspaper men, editors and others. In this way, the President had to rely on bargaining to an even less extent.
Aside from "going public" in order to garner support for policy, the President uses public appeal to garner popular support. The President does so in a number of ways. First, the President may offer a public address. The public addresses used by a President appear in two forms, major and minor. A major address allows the President to speak directly to the American people. "Of the major addresses, the most dramatic and potentially the most effective are special reports the president delivers to the nation on primetime television" (107). These addresses often accompany some sort of crisis and can develop into what Kernell calls a "rally event." Rally events often drive the President's popularity up a few points in the polls. However, it is important to note that the major address can only rarely be used as the interest of the voter wanes quickly. If the President continuously interrupts Desperate Housewives, regardless of the importance of the address, he is bound to lose 5 points with every broadcast.
The second type of address Kernell refers to is minor. The formality of the address is limited and generally the message is specified to a particular constituent group. For example, Kernell cites Ronald Regan appealing to Catholic voters in order to garner support for a school funding initiative.
Lastly, the President may go public though appearances. In this situation, the President need not say anything. His presence alone will suffice. An example of an appearance shaping popularity would be George W. Bush visiting the Twin Towers shortly after the September 11 attack. He said very little, but his presence increased his popularity.
Necessary for understanding the presidency.......2004-06-09
Kernell's fine work is a wonderful addition to the scholarly literature in political science on the American presidency. It's well-written and well-organized. His insights into why, when and how presidents "go public" and take their case over the heads of congressmen to the people are informative and worthwhile. Not all of his observations fit the case studies he uses, and he sometimes exaggerates his case a bit, but overall he makes good points.
Highly recommended for scholars of the presidency, or American politics in general. Also a good book for a knowledgeable layman interested in politics.
intuitive if not empirical.......2000-03-14
Kernell described "going public" as "a strategy whereby a president promotes himself and his policies in Washington by appealing to the American public for support" (p.2). Use of this strategy is said to be on the rise as it is particularly well suited to the modern president. Kernell argued that this strategy is a powerful tactic that can be used by a president to force a reluctant Congress to go along with a certain policy, but that it is incompatible with Neustadt's "bargaining president." He described several cases where the strategy was used, sometimes it worked, other times it did not, he said. The underlying premise though is that our government has moved from being institutionally pluralistic to a more individualized pluralism where every Congressman must fend for themselves (decline of party argument). One is left agreeing that public support does give a president certain leverage in bargaining with Congress, but how the support is measured or that it definitely replaces bargaining and forces Congress to act is not adequately substantiated. The book has some interesting stories on how some policies of some presidents played out in the political arena. If you like behind-the-scenes writings on policy making and president-Congress relations - buy the book.
Invaluable Evaluation of the Modern Presidency.......1999-05-01
Sam Kernell's book is a must-read for students and scholars of the American Presidency. He artfully examines how modern American Presidents seek to persuade their constituents in a media-driven political environment. He takes Richard Neustadt's Presidential Power, and adds to it a crucial blend of modern circumstances in this evaluation. It is an enoyable read, chalked full of potentially valuable information for anyone seeeking to understand the modern Presidency and its persuasive difficulties.
Average customer rating:
- Careful, this con-mans firm was shut down by the SEC
- Morty's stock advice is like Tiger Woods'golf advice...
- Hard Knocks to Hot Stocks
- This book's a winner- it will make you a winner too!
- Brilliant formulas on getting rich in the stock market
|
From Hard Knocks to Hot Stocks: How I Made a Fortune Through Smart Investing and How You Can Too
J. Morton Davis
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Company
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Book Description
Morty Davis is a winner at picking winners, a champion at spotting champions, and a genius at discovering genius. Daviss ability to recognize great ideas, top-flight management, and promising companies is legendary, and it has made his firm, D.H. Blair, a premier underwriter of new stock issues. Under his leadership, in good times and bad, Blair has consistently outperformed its competitors in the market for small cap initial public offerings.
From Hard Knocks to Hot Stocks combines Daviss colorful personal historyincluding the remarkable story of how, despite humble origins and a less-than-impressive academic record, he discovered investing and built a career and a fortunewith provocative ideas and investing tips. Davis tells his story with humor, anecdotes, frank opinions, and unstuffy revelations. And he shows how to apply his own proven investing strategies with straightforward, easy-to-understand advice, such as how one should invest in small companies, what the dangers of more traditional forms of investing are, and why one should be a contrarian investor. Above all, Daviss advice provides readersfrom first-time investors to seasoned professionalswith real insight into how to successfully navigate their way through Wall Streets myriad opportunities and pitfalls.
Customer Reviews:
Careful, this con-mans firm was shut down by the SEC.......2004-06-21
According to published articles, D. H. Blair & Co. was a training ground for the "pump and dump.
In this strategy, prices for an IPO are artificially "pumped" by a group of brokers who control the shares by creating demand selling to each others' customers in a closed artificial market. Once the price increased, the insiders dump while the unsuspecting retail clients are aggressively encouraged to hold their shares and not sell. After the insiders have dumped their shares, the cold calling stops and because there is no longer support for the price, the shares free-fall as the brokers move onto the next issue.
On March 7, 2002, in an action before the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, Blair pled guilty and was convicted of three counts of violating the Martin Act-the New York state securities law
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Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the stock fraud indictment of securities firm D.H. BLAIR & CO., INC., and fifteen of its officers and employees for enterprise corruption. Included among those indicted are KENTON WOOD, the Chairman of the firm; ALAN STAHLER and KALMAN RENOV, the firm's Vice Chairmen; VITO CAPOTORTO, the head trader of the firm; ALFRED PALAGONIA, the top-producing broker for the firm; and ten other Blair brokers. In addition, three other former D.H. Blair brokers have pleaded guilty to felony charges arising from this investigation.
The sixteen defendants have all been indicted for Enterprise Corruption, Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, and securities fraud in violation of the New York State General Business Law. The Grand Jury alleged additional pattern acts, including perjury and violation of New York's antitrust law. Various defendants were also indicted for Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree. The Enterprise Corruption charge, which is punishable by up to twenty-five years' imprisonment, alleges that managers and stockbrokers at D.H. Blair ran the business as a criminal enterprise.
The 173-count indictment charges that the defendants participated in the "D.H. Blair Criminal Enterprise" from 1989 through 1998, and that the members of the scheme defrauded numerous people - including their own customers, other investors, other brokerage firms, and securities regulators - in order to realize massive illicit profits. Members of the D.H. Blair Criminal Enterprise conspired to commit, and did commit, a variety of crimes to advance their common criminal purpose. They manipulated stock prices -- including securities being offered in initial public offerings ("IPOs") -- for the benefit of the firm, certain favored customers, stockbrokers, and other people associated with D.H. Blair. They engaged in a wide range of illegal and high-pressure sales practices to generate excessive commissions and to facilitate the manipulation of stock prices. In addition, they illegally colluded with other securities firms to manipulate stock prices. They fraudulently increased commissions by selling securities to customers at far more than prevailing market prices. They increased the size of the firm's customer base by trafficking in client information stolen from other firms and by opening accounts for customers whom they knew were not suitable for the kind of high-risk securities marketed by D.H. Blair.
More than 50,000 customers invested with D.H. Blair & Co., Inc. during the period of the existence of the D.H. Blair Criminal Enterprise. Many suffered severe economic losses as a result of the criminal conduct of the enterprise. For example, a 56 year-old disabled man from Colorado lost approximately $150,000 from a disability settlement upon which he relied to pay for medicine and other living expenses; he was given false price predictions and so-called "inside" information which did not pan out. Another investor, a 63 year-old disabled racetrack worker living on a fixed income in Manhattan, lost $35,000 of a $38,000 IRA due to unauthorized purchases in her account and refusals to sell. A tugboat pilot from Brooklyn lost the $45,000 she had saved to buy a house; while she was at sea, unauthorized trades were made in her account and when she complained she was falsely assured that she would be the recipient of windfall future profits. Another Blair customer, a 70 year-old Florida resident who had retired as a trumpet player for the New York Philharmonic, lost approximately $250,000 from his IRA and trust accounts due to false price guarantees and high pressure tactics designed to prevent him from selling.
D.H. Blair made large profits by fraudulently distributing and manipulating the securities of companies that had been brought public by its associated investment banking firm. In 1996, for example, the brokerage firm made gross profits of over $85 million from such over-the-counter securities trading. The indictment charges that among the IPOs that the D.H. Blair Criminal Enterprise fraudulently sold and manipulated were Amerigon, Inc., Telepad Corp., Premier Laser Systems, Inc., Interactive Flight Technologies, Inc., Sepregen Corp., Food Court Entertainment Network, Inc., Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Digital Video Systems, Inc., Conversion Technologies International, Inc., and Advanced Aerodynamics and Structures, Inc.
In order to commit these crimes and evade detection, members of the D.H. Blair Criminal Enterprise falsified business records, suppressed customer complaints, hid illegal practices, gave false and evasive testimony, and otherwise misled regulators charged with enforcing the laws and rules governing the securities industry, including the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the National Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD").
Morty's stock advice is like Tiger Woods'golf advice..........2000-07-23
I know the author personally,he gave me my "shot" on Wall St.when I was 18 years old.There are a lot of "empty suits" that have written books on investing,I promise you Morty is not one of them. If you love facts as I do regarding investments...buy this book it will be of value to you.
Hard Knocks to Hot Stocks.......1999-12-23
In reading the book I found the first half some what hard to get through. I was looking towards getting the info he was to give on investing. The second half of the book was what I was looking for. If you use his discipline in trading you could make alot of money in the market. I would recommended it just to have a base to use in your stock trading methods.
This book's a winner- it will make you a winner too!.......1998-02-25
Larry King's review (on the back cover) said it best, "this is the best book I've ever read on making it big. You're in the hands of a master. Enjoy!"
Brilliant formulas on getting rich in the stock market.......1998-01-20
Morty Davis shares his inspiring rags-to-riches story while outlining an insightful path toward stock market wealth. The book is packed with real-life anecdotes that teach tremendous lessons on business and true success. I devoured the book and loved every minute of it. I can't wait to call my broker and start using the techniques on a portion of my portfolio. The humor and simple strategies make this a book that all will enjoy. I will be sure to include it as a gift idea for many of my friends.
Amazon.com
Goldman Sachs brings you inside the rarefied boardrooms of one of the most secretive Wall Street banking giants. Begun by a German immigrant in the late 1800s as a small family-run business, Goldman Sachs rose to become the world's top investment bank in the 1990s, even without selling stock to the public. It attracted some of the best talent in the business and cultivated an image of superiority and exclusivity. "The Goldman Sachs mystique was born of secrecy and success. Nothing like it exists on Wall Street," writes the author, Lisa Endlich, a former vice president at the firm. But behind that mystique lie tales of being swindled by British media tycoon Robert Maxwell, multimillion-dollar losses on bad trades, and the on-again, off-again attempts to go public. The book begins and ends with the firm's efforts to go public and get greater access to capital. Most other brokerages are already publicly traded, but internecine conflict and financial turmoil always seem to prevent Goldman from joining the action. In September 1998, for instance, Goldman stunned investors when it dropped plans for a stock offering amid a plunge in the market. A management shakeup soon followed. Goldman Sachs is an intriguing history of the company that invented such financial tools as block trading, commercial paper, and risk arbitrage. The book can sometimes be critical, but is largely a favorable portrait by a former employee. --Dan Ring
Book Description
Goldman Sachs, the nation's leading investment firm, with a solid-gold reputation and a first-class list of clients, began as a family business in a lower Manhattan basement in 1869. The secrets behind the remarkable success of Goldman Sachs since then are revealed in unprecedented depth in this fascinating and authoritative narrative history of the firm.
Former Goldman Sachs vice president Lisa Endlich draws on her insider's knowledge and access to all levels of management to bring to life a unique company that has long held its mystique intact. The most stunning accomplishments in modern American finance are explored through the story of how Goldman Sachs reached its summit.
Goldman Sachs: The Culture of Success provides a rare and revealing look inside an institution -- until recently the last private partnership on Wall Street -- and inside the financial world at its highest levels. Included here, in a new chapter, is a first look at the history behind the firm's landmark initial public offering.
Customer Reviews:
We are talking of billions here .........2007-10-13
We all know last year profits at Goldman Sachs and the Big fat bonuses expected for its employees to receive. What is it that these guys do to obtain such level of profits?, well that was the reason to read this book. I never thought this book would be that interesting, the whole history of the Goldman and the Sachs, both jewish immigrants families, and the following consolidation of the firm along the years, its ups and downs, make this book an easy reading.
The idea for me was also to understand a little about investment banking and other concepts such as equity trading, long term capital management and others. To tell you the truth, I need further reading but the spark is there and I want to learn more of this subject. I cannot finish this review by saying that also in this book you learn some of the aspects of running this big firm and few lessons of experience by some of the best in this field like Sidney Weinberg and Robert Rubin, both pillars of a company that now may be called a culture of success.
The Goldman Touch.......2007-08-01
This is the firm that learns. From its origins as a two person broker of IOUs in 1862 to its position today as the world's dominant player in trading, risk management and arbitrage, Goldman Sachs has managed the unthinkable in the world of finance: attaining mind-bending levels of profit growth over a century and a half while maintaining a mythical mystique based on a corporate culture of integrity, intelligence, and humility. It's an improbable feat at best. But after all probability is Goldman's business--measuring it, defying it, and reading into it things that others can't.
So what is the secret? How is it that one firm can attract the most brilliant minds in finance, force them into a quasi-military commitment of time and mental energy, and organize that brainpower into a unified profit machine? Many have conjectured, more have envied, but noone on the outside can provide any more than idle opinion.
Luckily for the readers of "Goldman Sachs: A Culture of Excellence", they have in author Lisa Endlich a docent of matchless qualifications. A former VP in foreign exchange at the firm, she provides an insider's view that's not a tell all. She's writes well, in a style that honors the Goldman ethos--thorough, absorbing, and critical in the academic sense. While examining the birth and development of each of Goldman's divisions starting with commercial paper, she offers up a rich education in the operations of i-banking and trading for anyone inclined to read in detail.
And for the rest of us, there's still plenty. Endlich starts from the premise that Goldman Sachs is all about its people, and she stays consistent throughout. From its inception as a family firm run by Marcus Goldman and his son-in-law Sam Sachs, through its early years as banker to the robber barons, the long reign of the Weinberg family, its reinvention as a trading power and the tenure of master trader Gus Levy and Uber banker John Whitehead, and on into the nineties and the ascendancy of Rubin, Friedman, Paulson, Corzine, and Blankfein, Endlich provides nuanced and sympathetic portraits of brilliant, complex men whose leadership skills are surpassed only by an ability to place personal ego second to the needs of the team.
And that, Endlich suggests, is the big secret. That's what makes Goldman so exclusive. The firm absorbs those with superior intelligence who subsume personal need to propel the greater glory of the collective. It's a major irony in one of the prime movers of capitalistic society, but its borne out empirically by the story Endlich tells.
Throughout its history Goldman has demonstrated time and again an insatiable institutional desire to win, and to accomplish that by embracing change. Goldman created the commercial paper market, and went on to become a pioneer in investment banking, risk arbitrage, and trading. All along Goldman, the whole organism, developed an intuitive feel for risk and a collaborative approach to deal making that helped it emerge on top time and again. And since its decision to go public, the action that Endlich builds her book around, its business model has only refined and improved.
There may be those in the know who believe that the ascendancy of hedge funds and the powerful private equity barons has rendered Goldman's model obsolete. There are others who take issue with aspects of the firm's trading philosophy. Only time will tell whether the naysayers views on the subject have merit. But Goldman has left armies of detractors in the dust for decades now. Bet against it at your own peril.
The rise and rise of Goldman Sachs - a human history.......2007-01-21
Any financial news reader is aware of the almost mythical status that surrounds this company, not to mention the money its employees can earn in a good year. And for Goldman Sachs every year is a good year. Well, almost... The company had a few bad years that almost wiped out the company. The book is a good account of the rise of this company from its birth as a small private enterprise until it became a large public investment bank.
Lisa Endlich is an ex-employee of Goldman Sachs, as a foreign exchange trader to be more precise. Lisa talks in positive terms about Goldman Sachs, almost humanising it. You could almost believe you are reading the story of a successful athlete that manages to become a champion after many, many defeats and difficulties.
Lisa went to great length to do a thorough research and combine stories about people and companies that contributed to the history of making of Goldman Sachs. The book starts with the story of a German Jewish emigrant that arrived in US in 1848, raised five children and had the courage 21 years later to open a brokerage business (called Marcus Goldman & Co. Several other personalities influenced strongly the evolution of this company. The leaders have legend status and they are almost like heads of state for Goldman Sachs. You will learn about founding families of Goldman and Sachs, then the extraordinary Weinberg dynasty, Stephen Friedman, Robert Rubin, Jon Corzine and finally Hank Paulson.
The author takes you in and out of the company, so you get to know the inside stories while other macro events occur outside the company. The reading has an almost intimate atmosphere and it makes you feel an insider (to a certain degree). The story telling is great, though some times I found a little bit frustrating the lack of detail in their chronology. I wish I had more facts about historical context. I also found that the stories and the presentation of the events where predominantly about the trading side of the business. From the history point of view, the investment banking business is much more telling than trading, and this part is rather missing or less represented in the book.
You also get a glimpse of the history of competition with other companies, the rise of globalisation and liberalisation of trade in Europe. Sadly, the story of China is missing (this is where Hank Paulson brought a major contribution) because when the book was written, China was not making the headlines.
The reading is enjoyable and instructive. If you want to understand Goldman Sachs and the making of one of the most successful investment bankers, this is a good source of background information.
Great Historical read.......2006-08-10
I'm an I-Banker with a regional firm and do some business with Goldman. This is a very dry historical book but it is a subject with which I have knowledge and an interest. I enjoyed this book. For history buffs this is an excellent book giving background of a historical perspective of how this company was initially built on excellent commercial paper execution. Also, their troubles at the 1929 stock crash and the lingering effect on the firm are of interest. This book also does a great job describing the management personalities, what they did well and in some cases the problems they caused. Other significant events covered are the Penn railroad failure and the early 90 red ink from lack of control in proprietary trading.
This is/was an excellent firm to analyze as it struggled with its partnership structure before finally relenting to go public in 98. For finance buffs, this is a very worthwhile read.
Review of "Goldman Sachs".......2006-03-02
I cannot give this volume a very positive review.
This is a very good book to read on the development of the company and on the internal workings of Goldman Sachs- which is one of the world's great investment banks.
The difficulty arises from the author's strong bias toward the positive, which is reflected in the subtitle of the work. This bias penetrates the work in all aspects of the operation- culture, people, history, etc.
Yes, it is a strong company, but it has made its share of mistakes, most notably in the book in aligning itself with the "false tycoon" Robert Maxwell and his dealings. The various mistakes made along the way are polished over by the author or ignored entirely.
Again, I would raise my review from two stars to four with the caveat that the reader view the book as part history lesson and part unabashed advertisement while consuming its wisdom.
John Kercheval
Georgetown
Washington, DC
Book Description
Urban decay can sap the determination—not to mention the soul—of anyone who experiences it. But there are forces that can and do reverse it. They are not spectators, or critics, or occasional demonstrators. They are groups of citizens, encouraged and trained to take power with dignity and creativity and unrelenting determination, and to make it work for them, day by day, month by month, and year to year.
For more than twenty-five years, Michael Gecan has been a professional organizer with Industrial Areas Foundation, which has trained thousands of little-known community groups from Brownsville, Texas, to Brownsville, Brooklyn. Having grown up witnessing at close range the destructive effects of political patronage on powerless, disenfranchised Chicago communities, Gecan knows from experience that strong relationships in the public sphere and sustained and disciplined organizing can spark the public and private alchemy necessary to achieve sidewalks, parks, schools, housing--and the collective renewal that results.
Full of good advice and entertaining accounts of success,
Going Public is the story of those who, says Gecan, “succeed in unexpected ways and in unexpected places.”
Customer Reviews:
Activisim for everybody.......2004-10-07
Despite America's revolutionary beginnings, we tend to marginalize the radical. From the Greenwich Village freethinkers of the 1920s to the new left of the 1960's to the Riot Grrrl movement of the 1990's, progressive organizing's limited regular visibility routinely has been confused with it's actual efficacy. People tend to distrust what they cannot immediately sense happening in the world.
In Going Public, Michael Gecan ( 2002) argues that progressive activism is not a time-specific aberration. Ending injustice and oppression IS everybody's business during every year. Everybody can do something-if they are not already involved within their communities.
Urging readers to "think nationally, act locally" Gecan shows political organizing is really very easy to undertake. Since politics is literally about whom you know and what you each know, relationship processes assume heightened significance in this book. Forgetting all of the glitz and special effects on cable news shows, politics is simply the art of negotiating with others to get what you need. Maintaining good relationships with all levels of government is important to achieving these goals.
Gecan is of course critical of big business for exploiting already vulnerable communities, but he also takes a critical eye to social service bureaucracies more enamored with self-preservation than providing service for humanity. Time and political/economic factors subsequently have caused even the best intentioned structures (some of which were ironically initiated by grassroots radicals!) to calcify into self-serving shells of their original mandates. Instead of being viewed as a nurturing force, government social services are thus now viewed by some politicians and constituents as inherently substandard to private sector resources. People who need to use government services (welfare...etc) have also become stigmatized as being substandard themselves. This abhorrent catch 22 keeps the United States noticeably behind our European counterparts in developing national healthcare and maintaining numerous other social welfare programs.
Pointing out their still-underutilized potential (and ideological starting point for many now-established bureaucratic agencies) Geacan wants relational culture---non-profits---- to have a bigger role in citizen lives and service delivery. Stressing the benefits of merit, he also believes the ability to reward AND punish appropriate public sector individuals can provide better results for everybody. Individuals with both incentive and room to innovate in their job theoretically develop a greater attachment to the position as opposed to people who are literally being trained in the art of being a paper-pushing drone. In a service position, this difference is critical to effective community organizing.
Focusing on methodology instead of issues, this book is a clear and enjoyable read for both activists and potential activists alike. The best activism always comes from something that participants personally have a stake in. Legitimization of political action will ultimately raise the voter turn out rate and then encourage other forms of political participation through default. THAT America will be a great place to live in.
Book Description
This valuable resource is for the executives and advisers of any firm considering making the transition from a private to public company. An IPO is not just a short-term financial transaction. It often marks the turning point in the life of a company, enabling it to launch new products, enter new markets, accelerate its growth, and attract valuable employees. If an IPO is the way to grow, then a "balanced scorecard" approach needs to be used - an honest evaluation of the process and consideration of whether an IPO, despite its glamour, will or will not produce the desired results. Initial Public Offerings uncovers many of the successful approaches and common pitfalls to going public. It helps officials decide whether an IPO or other financing alternatives is the right strategy, determine which stock market to use, plan and execute the IPO, and stay on track following the IPO - helping companies reach their true potential for success.
Customer Reviews:
Buyer BEWARE, most 5 star comments are fake.......2007-02-15
Notice how all the five star reviewers are "Dr. XXXXX" from Beverly Hills / Stanford and the ONLY book they have reviewed is this one. Classic astroturf attempt.
This book is nothing special.
Excellent Presentation and Form!!!.......2006-09-02
This book is a perfectly thought out, well written, and precise account of the difficulties companies face as they become "public." I have numerous clients whom wish to take there companies public without the foresight of what is truly involved. I have recommended this book to numerous clients and scholars alike all of whom have enjoyed the book and its ease of readability. With so little information out there on IPO's this book is a must have.
literary piracy!!!.......2006-08-18
This book is a bad copy of The Ernst & Young Guide to the IPO Value Journey. Author didn't try to change words. Word for word!
Awful!
Simply Brilliant.......2006-07-21
I enjoyed reading every page of this book. The material covered, which is rather a difficult subject, is made easy to comprehend as "Initial Public Offerings" delivers a most informative, comprehensive and well thought out look into taking a company public. I, myself, have taken several companies public and wish I would have had this book as a reference at the time or event to present it to my client.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Walsh
EXTREMELY INSIGHTFUL.......2006-07-20
I really enjoyed this easy to read, comprehensive and insightful look into the IPO process. The book will continue to be an excellent source of reference for me as I take companies public each year. Additionally, it familiarizes my clients with the process their company will be going through to avoid any surprises on their part. "Initial Public Offerings" has truly provided a value-added service to both my colleagues and clients.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marlene Whitticare
Book Description
The manifesto for waging a street-smart publicity campaign with no- or low-cost strategies from one of Hollywood's most successful publicists.
Customer Reviews:
guerrilla PR: how you can wage an effective publicity campaign.......2005-09-30
even though his book was written (1993) before the internet was a way to communicate and advertise, this book shows that determination and follow through are very important in public relations.
Informative.......2005-06-17
I think that Guerrilla PR is a great book for anybody that is looking to learn about the field of public relations. I am relatively new to the field, and I feel like I learned a great deal from reading this book. The author writes in a very comfortable style, as if he is having a conversation with you. There is a lot of warmth and humor in the writing. And my favorite thing about the book is how the author always made sure to give examples in order to further illustrate what he is talking about. If you are curious at all about the world of PR, this book is a great place to start.
Good Travel Reading.......2005-01-22
I'm scared to fly so I took this book on a plane with me when I had to visit my grandparents in Winnipeg. It immediately transported me to the wonderful and magical world of public relations!!! I soon forgot I was on a plane, and suddenly I felt like Colin Farrell's character in Phone Booth--you know where that guy held him hostage on the phone to make him repent for his sleazy ways. I especially like how the guy called Farrell out for claiming to be this big shot PR guy with all these connections, but actually he had no real connections at all. I also visited the wonderful olden days of PR like in the movie Sweet Smell Of Success where Tony Curtis is the PR man. Whenever he walks into a room, people cannot hide their contempt for this scumbag. I like at the end how he ends up getting the stuffing kicked out of him.
I arrived in Winnipeg safely all thanks to Michael Levine and his book about what sleazy liars PR people are.
Contradicts Most Teachings.......2004-04-26
I have taken several courses on public relations in school. Most of what Michael Levine teaches is totally opposite of what several of my professors have taught me. In all fairness to Levine, perhaps the practices described in his book were sufficient way back when the book was written, but the world has changed quite a bit since then, and the pace of Public Relations has changed along with it. I understand he wrote a follow-up book called Guerrilla PR Wired which pertains to using the internet as a valuable PR tool, but I know that using his outdated techniques, even with the help of the internet, would still not be the least bit helpful. I certainly would not recommend this book to other students who are preparing for a career in the field of PR.
Down-to-Earth, Tell-it-Like-it-is Book on PR and Publicity.......2004-04-20
Michael Levine tells it like it is in how to put together a PR and Publicity Campaign. He knows what he talks about - no theory here. Any business or person seeking to promote themselve through the power of the media - should grab this book - ASAP!
I have dozens of books and tapes on PR and Publicity and this is at the top - my main reference when I want to put together a PR campaign for my business. All I know is that it works - hands-down.
Customer Reviews:
Creating a sustainable local economy.......2007-10-09
Michael Shuman has written a superb book on how we can begin to realize a sustainable, stable and self-sufficient local economy. While just over 200 pages, this book packs an array of insightful information and reference material. It is a handbook on how to revive what we have in part lost - local power to determine our economic and community destination. While fundamentally rooted in democratic principles, it provides a clear vision through experimental examples of what's needed in the 21st Century. It is neither anti- nor pro-capitalism, but clearly Mr. Shuman has a deep understanding of the damage and danger of global corporate capitalism as it is and has been practiced.
Going Local is not about isolationism, but grass-roots empowerment and how to make municipalities work. The treasure chest of tools to regain local self-determination through community is wonderfully explored with examples that reverberate. If you are running or thinking of running for city or state government or are an activist looking to create living democracy and to rebuild our economics where it really matters to people, then you can find no better handbook then Going Local.
As a companion, I strongly suggest the works of Henry George, who is mentioned in GL. His Progress and Poverty, once one of the major American works on sustainable economics through land value tax, has been slighted over the years. Considered one of the greatest thinkers by some of the worlds greatest thinkers, Progress and Poverty is one of the most beautifully written books on a topic not known for beauty - how progress creates poverty and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. Our cities live this reality today and both Shuman and George show us a new way.
Shuman is one of several thinkers who has extended E.F. Schumacher's powerful work on human-scalability and provides a real hands-on set of tools to realize the important vision of a sustainable world.
For those who feel like DC and even state power centers are too remote and disempowering, Shuman breaths new life in the power of going Local.
Good information, lacking actionable plans.......2006-03-21
Great information and background for understanding the impact of 'going global' on our everday lives. Lacks solid implementatable plans for going local but does provide frameworks. Overall a good read - easy to understand and sufficiently technical to keep advanced readers entertained.
interesting but not practical.......2004-07-13
He presents well the case for locally-owned business being better for a community's economic well-being than are chain and franchise stores, and provides lots of different examples of ways that businesses can be community oriented. I found particularly interesting the part about the Green Bay Packers, who were saved out of bankruptcy by a group of fans who sold "stock" to the community to raise the cash. You can't sell the stock to a non-GB resident, you can't own more than 1 (I think) share, and you can only sell shares at the same price you bought them for: $25. Really, sounds a lot like the ICC's shares, and it guarantees that the Pack will never leave Green Bay.
On presenting options for ownership, though, Shuman seems to go a little overboard.
When trying to decide how to promote the kinds of business he wants, Shuman starts reasonably enough, but quickly moves into the implausible. Suggestions such as using zoning law to encourage local business (by discouraging development in the locations and of the scale that WalMart likes to build) and implementing local currencies to encourage patronage of locally-oriented business are useful, and have been successfully used in many places. However, when we get into suggestions about tearing down the WTO and replacing it with something that supports local business, we're getting unreasonable. While it may be possible that the WTO would become less multinational- and more local-friendly, I'm betting that it will only do so when its member states do so, and not as a first step which will encourage its members to do so. Shuman seems to realize this to some extent, as he proposes pro-local legislation in the United States Congress, but this too is unuseful.
Fun to read, but not practical at all.
All you need to know about community empowerment.......2004-04-24
EVERYONE should read this book. It is very well thought out and very convincing. Change is possible by sticking together and empowering ourselves as self-reliant communities. The appendix takes up no less than a third of the whole book and is a gold mine in and of itself.
A Highly Important Book for Any Concerned Citizen.......1999-05-25
This book cuts through all of the conventional public discussions on the economy and society to make a clear, convincing case for reviving local communities. Pundits, politicians, and intellectuals are always bemoaning the collapse of "community," but their analyses are usually coiled around morality, or the need for "better education," or some equally superficial issue. But as Shuman points out, all the civic involvement and moral uprightness in the world is useless if our towns and cities are being held hostage by globe-trotting corporations and ultra-mobile capital. "Community" is only possible if people control their own lives; and this is possible only when there are thriving, viable local economies. This is not a book that calls for a complete retreat from the global forces that are shaping our world -- that option is impossible with the current levels of technology. But what Shuman does outline is a way for communities to reestablish a balance between the local and the national/global, in the areas of production, finance, and government. And unlike many other books, which never get past the critique to make any positive prescriptions, this one is brimming with concrete proposals. It also has the most extensive list of groups, organizations, and resources that I have seen in the area of decentralized economics and community self-reliance. This is a must-read.
Book Description
INCLUDES:
• 1 LEADER’S GUIDE
• 1 PARTICIPANT’S GUIDE
• 1 VHS
• 1 SOFTCOVER BOOK
IDEAL FOR
• groups large or small
• Sunday school
• retreats
Customer Reviews:
A Biblical View of Evangelism.......2005-01-29
I will not attempt a thorough review of the book. Here are a couple posts from my blog that I put up as our elder team was going through it:
First post: We are concerned for a greater external focus in our congregation. The chapter we read last pm is entitled: "Earning the Right to be Heard." Whereas many evangelistic texts or theories begin with an evaluation of the target audience, the authors are quite clear that evangelism begins with a change in our hearts. Since this book is focused on being a spiritual influence at work, the emphasis is on the kind of person we are at work. The author(s) note:
"Will rational arguments pacify negative emotions? Will preaching biblical exposition reduce anger or bitterness? Will persuasion penetrate a hard heart? Perhaps, but not as often as you may wish. However, a nonmanipulative relationship with you--where a non-Christian respects you and experiences love and acceptance--can plow thorugh even the hardest soil. The groundwork for this day-to-day ministry in the workplace always starts with the condition of our own hearts--not the hearts of our coworkers."
This chapter emphasizes five areas that require our utmost attention if we are going to build a trusting relationship in which we have the right to be heard:
1. competence: the pursuit of excellence in one's daily work
2. character: even if people hate what we believe, they will be attracted by Christ's character in us
3. consideration: how we treat people--authentic communication (free from gossip and criticism), careful listening that seeks understanding, and a life that exhibits grace
4. communication: wisely speaking the gospel to ready hearts, not ambushing the disinterested. Share your faith when it 1) arises out of relationships naturally built around your work with another person, 2) naturally fits into the topic of conversation, and 3) when you are asked
5. courage: "The desire for safety stands against every great and noble endeavor" (Tacitus)
Easily read, harder to live. Get a copy and read along.
Second post: Last night our elder team completed the fifth chapter in "Going Public with Your Faith" by Peel and Larimore (Zondervan, 2003). The chapter, entitled "Keep it Simple," emphasizes engaging in common courtesy in the work place versus adopting techniques and strategies in order to share one's faith.
The authors point out that scripture commands us "to be a witness," not to engage in "witnessing." The first viewpoint implies the results are up to God (we live the faith), the second that results are up to us (we try to convince others). The text quotes John Fischer (Fearless Faith): "When witnessing is a verb, it becomes something we do or don't do. We turn it on or we turn it off. It becomes a segment of the spiritual compartment of our lives, as in prayer, Bible study, going to church, and witnessing--a very small segment. It's something we are supposed to go out and do, and poor, unsuspecting non-Christians often have to bear the brunt of our spiritual obligation."
I came away with a couple observations: 1) this is a tremendous relief for believers who think they need to engage in a "gospel sharing" conversation in order to be an effective witness; and, 2) this is an incredible call to seamless Christian living at home and work--living that is genuine, deliberate, and committed to demonstrating our faith over the long haul of relationship building.
Here is a list of common courtesies the author's recommend:
-remember an employee's, customer's or client's name--and their spouses too
-remember an employee's, customer's or client's birthday or anniversary
-sincerely listening to the response when you ask someone, "How are you?"
-asking a fellow employee if you can get them something (coffee, etc)
-leaving a larger-than-expected tip for the waitress who regularly serves you
-helping a co-worker fix something at home
-sharing your knowledge with someone who needs it
-going out of your way to express appreciation to others
-asking meaningful questions about things important to others and then really listening to the response
These are small things, but they help build a relationship of trust. God may allow us to share out of that relationship our faith in Him.
Being an Effective Witness in the Workplace.......2005-01-03
This is a very practical and extremely helpful book on being a witness in the workplace. Dr. Larimore is co-author of "The Saline Solution: Sharing Your Faith in Your Practice", a course that has been widely used in the medical profession to help doctors become effective witnesses in their practices.
The authors emphasize the need to focus on being a witness and not on "witnessing", quoting John Fischer in "Fearless Faith": "Salvation is God's thing and is out of our control. Saving people is God's part, ours is being a witness." The book places a healthy emphasis on relational evangelism, because, "We believe that the bubble has burst for an aggressive, non-relational approach to evangelism."
According to the authors, this book is based on four simple, but big, ideas:
1. "Evangelism is a process. The journey of faith takes place over the course of time as a person makes many small, incremental decisions that lead to the big decision of trusting and following Jesus."
2. "Our job in evangelism is to discover where God is already at work in a person's life and to join Him there, not to force a conversation or persuade someone to pray a prayer he or she may not be ready to pray."
3. "Being a person of spiritual influence is every Christian's calling, not just the responsibility of a gifted few."
4. "More so than the inside of a church building or a foreign mission, the workplace is the most strategic place of ministry for most Christians."
This is a very practical and pithy book, in part because the authors give a one-sentence summary at the end of each chapter. It should prove to be of immense help to anyone who is serious about being an effective witness in the workplace. It combines many of the principles in other helpful books and tools, such as "Living Proof", "The Insider" and "Becoming a Contagious Christian" and applies them to the workplace. I can recommend it highly.
Going Public With Your Faith.......2004-09-07
If you have a low view of the work environment whereby you place little value or significance on the workplace and on Christians who work there, then you need to grab a copy of Bill Peel's and Walt Larimore's book, _Going Public With Your Faith: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work_, a.s.a.p. This is the first book on evangelism, which I have read, that focuses specifically on Christians in the workplace. Despite the lack of exposure in this area, my Spidey senses tell me this book contains the stuff that classics are made of.
In their book, _Going Public With Your Faith: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work_, Peel and Larimore restore a high view of the workplace. I emphasize the word restore, because work always used to occupy a place of importance and eternal significance. After all, long before evangelism was necessary and before the Great Commission was given, God decreed that men and women were to work (Genesis 1.28). Work and the workplace are not curses of the Fall. Not only that, at least 75% of the men and women in the Bible that Christians consider heroes worked in secular vocations (e.g. Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Jesus; Peel and Larimore, 2003, p. 32). If this weren't persuasive enough, there is the explicit teaching of Scripture itself (e.g. Colossians 3.22-5), which ascribes dignity and respect to the workplace as a venue where Christians can do the "Lord's work" and worship God in so doing.
Peel and Larimore explain the primary reason why many Christians hold to a low view of the workplace (cf. 2003, pp. 34-5). The culprit is the sacred-secular split, which originated in Greek philosophy and crystallized later in the heresy of Gnosticism. This dichotomy, which is alive and well in the minds of many Christians today, states that reality is divided into two worlds: God's world and the real world. The former sphere, which is spiritual, includes activities like prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship, and evangelism. The latter sphere includes activities like recreation, finances, and work - which are obviously worldly and not spiritual according to the gospel of the sacred-secular split.
In debunking the sacred-secular split, the authors reinforce the importance of Christians in the workplace, referring to the work environment as perhaps the ripest mission field in today's culture (Peel and Larimore, 2003, p. 11). This creates a natural lead-in to the main thrust of their book, which is evangelism in the workplace.
Peel and Larimore emphasize over and over that evangelism is not to be thought of as an event but as a process; evangelism is not so much mechanical as it is organic; evangelism is not so much about witnessing, but about being a witness; non-Christians are not projects, but persons, and so on. As is often the case in the New Testament, evangelism is analogical to a process much like the agricultural time cycle. First, there is the cultivation stage (which is the most time-consuming), then the planting stage, followed by the harvesting and reaping (multiplying) stages.
Peel's and Larimore's book is really written around this biblical perspective to evangelism. Biblical evangelism is not about "cold-contact," or trying to start a fire in the rain. It's not about "selling Jesus" and "closing off the deal." Sadly, many Christians operate this way. Rather, evangelism is a process and the first step is cultivation. Christians must establish and develop trustful relationships with non-Christians. The emotional barriers that many non-Christians have toward Christianity must be removed. In the planting and harvesting stages, the intellectual and volitional needs of the non-Christian respectively are addressed. Finally, the reaping stage of evangelism refers to the discipleship of the new convert. Although Peel and Larimore address all four stages of evangelism, their emphasis is on the cultivation stage since this stage is underrated in most books on evangelism while the harvesting stage receives all the attention (2003, p. 154).
In a very readable style, Peel and Larimore explain how this agricultural model of evangelism is lived out in the work place. For example, they teach the reader how to raise "faith flags" and "faith stories" among colleagues and how to be judicious when doing so. They also warn against certain approaches to evangelism, which are neither wise nor conducive to sharing the gospel naturally. Every so often, the reader is treated to a poignant real-life story illustrating these points.
As a Christian just entering the workforce, I cannot adequately describe what a gift from God this book is. Peel and Larimore have inspired me to take a high view of the workplace to my own work environment and to be conscious of what God is doing in the lives of those around me. True evangelism requires that Christians be involved with non-Christians for the long haul. And what mission field is more conducive to that than the workplace where most Christians spend a large portion of their lives?
If I were to collate a list of Christian books by topic, which have been most helpful to me, _Going Public With Your Faith: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work_, would be at the top of the evangelism category.
Thoughtful, gentle, respectful, effective evangelism.......2004-08-18
Just finished my first pass and have started through again. The authors know what they are about, having trained many physicians and dentists in ethical and effective methods. This respects the rights of others to refuse, but gives them a chance to listen too. This is not cheap shot evangelism or scalp taking, it's sincere building of friendships and relationships and it's about time somebody wrote this book.
Real life tips for evangelizing.......2004-07-02
I LOVE this book!!! It should be shared with all Christians! Thank you
for relieving my guilt for not moving my co-workers to "ask me the right
questions." For years I have raised faith flags and told faith stories
but felt guilty that I couldn't seem to get to the gospel presentation
in one-on-one situations - oh, I given the quick overview in groups but
that hasn't borne fruit, that I have seen, anyway! Now I see that I
have been depending on and blaming myself too much. It is in God's
timing, not mine. I have been doing the right things. It is their
decision to ask me more.
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Books Index
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