Customer Reviews:
Brings many things together.......2006-07-14
I was impressed with this book's unique perspective of blending the business and technical needs into a single focus, and it continued to maintain the human considerations. It does an excellent job of describing how to support business decisions through architecture at a macro level in a style where "the rubber hits the road."
If you are a systems analyst or a software development manager, this shouldn't be on your book shelf - it should be on your desk for regular reference.
explains the job of a system architect.......2006-07-02
The authors give the reader detailed and useful suggestions about designing a software system. It should be made clear that this is not a programming book. Coding particulars are at a finer level outside the book's scope.
The book is addressed to the software architect. Which can be rather a vague job role. One merit of the book is that it can be used to define what a software architect does. While the authors might not claim to encompass everything in your job description, perhaps what is given here is your core responsibility.
So the text shows how to identify and use scenarios, to build sets of scenarios. And yet be able to construct inherently different scenarios. A vital feature of making the scenarios is how it involves the stakeholders very early in the design. Vital in preventing misunderstandings about undesigned or unneeded functionalities, before they get built into the system.
Then, given a system, the text explains how to document it using UML. The latter is extremely useful. Both for programmers who might have to design to it, and for the stakeholders. The visual nature of UML helps make it understandable to both parties.
Finally brings it all together.......2006-01-09
This is a really great book. Rozanski and Woods bring together in one text the information that is most important to know about software architecture. It is not filled with opinion but is based on research and ideas that have been proven in practice and that are widely accepted in the field. The ideas are straighforward and presented clearly and concisely. As a practicing software architect, author and professor on the subject, this is my recommendation as the first book on software architecture you should purchase for your collection.
Every IT architect should read this book.......2006-01-03
My reason for buying this book was to hear what the authors had to say about handling cross-cutting architectural concerns (such as security), which they refer to as "perspectives". The authors offer refreshing insights into how such concerns should be interwoven with the architecture views/viewpoints with which many architects will already be familiar when documenting their software architectures.
But now that I've finally finished reading the book (500+ pages) I have to say that this book is so much more. This is essentially a "book of 2 halves". The first half discusses fundamental architecture concepts, and various elements of the architecture process. However, the second half of the book is dedicated to a catalog of viewpoints and a catalog of perspectives. These sections are, I think, the most valuable, and offer probably the best overview of different architectural concerns (such as concurrency, deployment, operations, security, availability etc.) I've come across. And the whole book is liberally sprinkled with pragmatic advice, and examples, based on the authors' experiences.
In summary, the book makes a great "handbook" for both novice and experienced architects.
If you can buy only one book, get this one!.......2005-11-05
I am part of a software engineering process improvement group. In simple this means that I have read more books on software engineering in the last year than I care to mention. There are many good books on architecture, but the ones I have read all seem to conflict with one another and they didn't go to the tactical depths we needed to structure a solid process. I have found this book to be one of the best investments I have every made. I have recommended this book to at least five other co-worker who have all thanked me twice. Buy a copy for you, and a friend, and your boss, ....
Book Description
Managing employees in today’s rapidly evolving workplace can sometimes feel like negotiating a minefield. Such recent new trends as flextime, telecommting, 360-degree feedback, the flattening of hierarchies, and the increased use of temps and contract workers present tough new challenges for supervisors in every field. This timely, completely revised and updated edition of Ferdinand Fournies’s classic management coaching "bible" shows you proven ways to get workers to perform at the highest level while eliminating the self-destructive kinds of behaviors that have become increasingly prevalent in recent years.
In this book, you’ll be taught specific face-to-face interventions you can use to enhance performance in every kind of workplace situation--from sales to creative brainstorming. There are also interventions uniquely suited to resolving problems ranging from low productivity to absenteeism to conflicts between individuals. You’ll learn precisely what to say and do so that each person you supervise will want to give you his or her best work--even when that person was previously thought to be a "problem employee." Packed with brand-new case studies from Fournies’s latest research into the dynamics of the modern workplace, this classic guide takes all the guesswork out of becoming the kind of inspired, "hands-on" manager that every company today is looking for!
Customer Reviews:
A valuable reference on an important skill.......2007-09-02
This is an excellent book on coaching. You will read other views here to the contrary, but that is largely due to the many interpretations of the word "coaching." My primary focus is coaching managers and salespeople in a highly demanding, very technical field. There are many useful and effective tools presented in Fournies' work. Not everything will be applicable in every situation, but this book will give you many ideas for respectful, empathic coaching. If you are a "life coach" or a "mentor" you may prefer other techniques, but you'll still find some good advice here. Looking for achievement and opportunities to provide reinforcement can hardly be considered bad advice. Many managers simply don't know how to make the transition from technical expert or great performer to someone responsible for the performance of others. Fournies gives some valuable tips on doing so.
My recommendation is to read several books on coaching, beginning with John Whitmore's 3rd edition of Coaching for Performance. If you coach salespeople, also read Managing Major Sales by Rackham and Ruff. And if you are coaching others, read Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman; coaching others requires, first and foremost, self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy. Goleman's book will raise awareness of the importance of these qualities in business and in life.
Great Handbook for New Managers.......2007-04-03
I have been a sales manager for 10 years. In that time I have read close to 100 books on management and leadership. this is one of my favorites. It is an easy read, it makes solid points and it provides clear direction on what a manager needs to do to help get the most out of their people. I highly recommend this book.
Best business book EVER.......2006-11-10
This is a must have for anyone in a supervisory or managerial role. Simple concepts, easy read...with actual dialogues to help you practice the coaching techniques discussed. And best of all, IT WORKS.
One of the most useful management books yet.......2006-11-06
I wish I had found this book when I started managing people 20 years ago, it would have saved me a lot of painful trial and error. It is a remarkably practical guide that addresses the main problem that many managers face: how to confront performance issues in a way that will yeild a positive outcome, while not crushing or otherwise demotivating the employee. It includes examples of realistic conversations (including the extended silences that often happen, and the brush-off responses, the stalemates). It is also a book that can be constructively shared with your entire team - including those with performance issues - as it helps defuse all emotion and keeps the conversations on the actual and observable behaviors that are getting in the way of the business.
Most Disappointing.......2006-08-24
Having worked in the mental health community for sometime, I was already familiar with this technique and have been using it already. I felt the book was really droll and somewhat condescending in tone. I wouldn't purchase it again. His companion book "Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed to Do and What to Do about It" is a more practical read and enjoyable too--I would recommend that one.
Book Description
In this edition of Miller's ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, a new Student CD-ROM, INTERACTIVE CONCEPTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, has been added! This groundbreaking addition integrates nearly 100 engaging animations and interactions with chapter summaries, flashcards, and Web-based quizzes. Organized by chapter, students will find links to relevant resources, narrated animations, interactive figures, and prompts to review material and test themselves. The animations show complex processes and relationships unfolding on screen, such as the effects of acid rain, smog formation, and the phosphorus cycle. Narration allows students to focus on what is changing on screen while interactions allow students to explore figures in more depth. This Tenth Edition is a significant, all-encompassing revision providing continuing focus on the basic scientific content necessary to understand environmental issues in clear, straightforward language. It provides the latest developments and reflects several major shifts in environmental science education this century. Designed as a foundational text for environmental science courses, Miller's flexible book is adaptable to almost any approach, and is the most widely embraced approach to environmental science in print. With fair and balanced coverage and Internet tools integrated throughout, the book features an extensively developed art program, writing that communicates scientific information clearly and effectively, and the most current coverage of the subject. The book's flexible organization means that it can be adapted to fit almost any syllabus. Miller's more than 30 years of research and teaching expertise make this the definitive book on the subject. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: WORKING WITH THE EARTH, Tenth Edition is a concise alternative to G. Tyler Miller?s best-selling text LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT, which redefines the environmental science course and sets the standard by which every other book for this course is judged.
Customer Reviews:
great seller!.......2007-05-14
I received the product in the condition stated and in a short time.
New.......2006-07-19
Environmental Science/Tenth Edition.Excellent condition. No highlighting, torn pages or other marks. Sealed CD (Interactive Concepts in Environmental Science) included with book.
A great text for teaching Environmental Science.......2006-05-05
I began teaching with Miller's thicker text "living in the environment" but found that the main material was covered by this thinner and less expensive version. The graphics are helpful and the students enjoy reading the material as it is presented in an accessible and applicable fashion. The guest essays and case studies are from some of the top names speaking at conferences and so students are getting some really current views and information. Although there is not much of a lab book or teacher text-- there are plenty of other sources for field work and activity inspiration. The students also liked the website for activities and practice problems.
Excellent from multiple excellent thoughts ..........2006-03-01
Thyler Miller's books (I have 5 of them) are always the source of inspiration for me. I started reading his book when I took my Environmental Health Class for my Master of Public Helath Program.
The contents are clear, concise, correct, courtesy and full with critical thouught that has facilitated my curiosity to know more and more ....
Santa-Fe-Red
explains issues like population growth and global warming.......2006-02-25
Miller stresses the intricate interrelationships with the Earth's environment. Vital issues like population growth and its impact on the environment are gone into. Here, there is perhaps cautious optimism. But only if we as a species moderate our growth rate (maybe even turn it negative!) and resource consumption.
There is a natural flow from this issue to a discussion about global warming. The scientific basis for concern is explained, and the evidence for warming presented. While not absolutely conclusive, it is seen as very strong. In fact, in the 5 years since the book came out, even more evidence has appeared to indicate a continuing and possibly accelerating trend. Miller also suggests several ways that global warming might be slowed.
Book Description
Now anyone can be an online millionaire! These days it's easier, cheaper, and safer than ever to start an Internet business using readily available technology and turnkey opportunities. In this strategy-packed guide, Scott Fox reveals the powerful but simple methods he and thousands of others have used to strike it rich on the Net. Exclusive interviews with "mom and pop" entrepreneurs prove how easy it is to get started and build a million-dollar enterprise. Readers get:
* a guide to e-business opportunities, including "instant e-businesses" that require no start-up capital * strategies for making money from home and turning hobbies into businesses * marketing and product tips * legal and financial advice * a list of recommended vendors * years of expertise and experience in one easy-to-use book
Internet Riches also features an action plan for brainstorming new business ideas, and exercises to help readers determine the best moves for their particular situations. Filled with practical pointers and inspiring interviews, it's the most powerful book ever on starting and enjoying a million-dollar online business!
Customer Reviews:
Just what I needed.......2007-09-21
Practical advises and ways to make it on the cyber commerce.
Dr. Israel King, Ph D, Author of How To Keep A Man
book millionair.......2007-09-12
brillant brillant i thought colgate was good but this author leaves a smile on my dial
The only book you need!.......2007-09-10
This book teaches that even if you are not the next Amazon, ebay, or Google, you can still make a million on the internet. You just need to find a niche that is underserved.
I purchased "Starting an Online Business for Dummies" and the reviews were mixed. In someone's reviews, they mentioned this book and said it was much better. They suggested buying this book instead of the Dummies book. I took the advice, and am glad I did!
The book is great because it helps you understand that you don't need to be a billion dollar business to start with. Even small, underserved niche markets can earn a million.
I highly recommend this book if you are considering an ebusiness. It is well worth the money. I have been talking about this book to many people who have asked to borrow the book. I keep telling them to pick up their own copy because I am still using it as a reference! It is a great book!
Good Starter.......2007-09-10
This should be the first book you pick up on your way to an internet millionairehood.
Kishore Dharmarajan
Author of EIGHTSTORM: 8-Step Brainstorming for Innovative Managers
Do no give your money to this Author.......2007-09-08
If you already know what a "blog" is and you're fully proficient in searching the internet with google or yahoo, you're probably too sophisticated for this book. Fox's target are people with very little education (He introduces us at one point to the fancy MBA word, "business plan"). Fox also uses the website he started for his wife and mother as case studies. I guess I should have known better. After all, it is called 'Internet Riches" and has a picture of some guy driving in a brand new convertible on the cover.
Average customer rating:
- Process troubleshooting book.
- Unique style
- Great for students/interns and young process engineers!
- How Process Equipment Works
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A Working Guide to Process Equipment
Norman P. Lieberman , and
Elizabeth T. Lieberman
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Similar Items:
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Troubleshooting Process Operations
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ASIN: 0071390871 |
Book Description
Working Guide to Process Equipment, 2nd Ed. carefully and clearly explains all the basic technical issues that you need to know to trouble-shoot most process equipment problems. This guide contains a wealth of useful diagnostic tips, worked-out calculations, practical examples, and informative illustrations to help you quickly pinpoint trouble and repair typical malfunctions in: Trayed and packed distillation towers; Natural and forced reboilers; Partial and total condensers; Steam systems and deaerators; Vaccuum systems; Fired heaters; Shell and tube heat exchangers; Centrifugal compressors; Gas turbines and reciprocating engines; Centrifugal pumps and motor drivers.
In no time at all, this essential problem-solving manual will become your most trusted on-the-job tool for dealing effectively wtih costly equipment malfunctions.
Customer Reviews:
Process troubleshooting book........2006-03-09
Boringless, easy to understand and real practical book. Reading this book I have troubleshoot many process problems effectively.
I strongly recommend this fantastic practical book for all levels.
arvind bhagat.
Unique style.......2005-08-22
The unique style of the author explaining basic concepts with everyday problem expamples is what makes this book very absorbing and useful.
Great for students/interns and young process engineers!.......2003-07-18
I'm a summer intern in an oil refinery and few of my tasks were to rerate exchangers, fin fan coolers, etc., and I didn't have any experience whatsoever! They don't teach at school how this equipment works in a process context and if you don't have a clue on what you're doing, this is the best book to refer to. It is very elementary, but at the same time, it can be very specific. It goes through fundamental steps for troubleshooting general processes as well as clear explanations of how most of the equipment in the industry work. Highly recommended at any level!
How Process Equipment Works.......1999-12-25
As a licensed professional engineer and consultant in the Houston, TX area, I found this to be an excellent and useful book. It simplifies and demystifies fundamental chemical engineering principals and effectively illustrates how theory applies to understanding the root cause/s of real world plant operating problems.
The Lieberman's also do a fine job of making the book interesting to read through the use of non-process plant related anecdotes. These anecdotes help the reader understand the principals presented by drawing upon experiences and situations common to everyday life.
I highly recommend this book to engineers of all experience levels who work in the petroleum refining and chemical process industries.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource for Dealing with Untested Applications.......2007-08-01
If you're working on a project that lacks unit tests, but want to add them, you have to read this book. It has advice and strategies for refactoring untested code so it CAN be tested. Whatever language you're working this, this book has the help you need.
It is nothing about legacy, but daily programming.......2007-05-12
I am still reading the book, but till now have enjoyed it a lot. There are lots of practical example and approach with required code and explanation. Definitely a must read for anyone who programs in a formal environment - group or office. As you have to read others code, maintain and extend.
The best book EVER on making legacy code easier to test.......2007-03-15
Have you struggled to get your legacy code under control? Maybe even that code you wrote in a hurry last year? Or that hairy monster that no-one in the team wants to touch because it's so short-tempered?
If so, then this is the book for you. And I really can't recommend it too highly.
Michael Feathers' book is an extremely well-written book on how to take existing code and work with it so that you can get it under test. In the process you'll learn tricks that you can use in the future. And you'll also enjoy reading it.
You CAN escape from the tyranny of any code that refuses to yield to attempts at improvement. Feathers probably has several tricks to show you along the way. For just one example, look at his Pass Null trick on page 111.
All of the book is a great read. In fact, any single chapter will give you techniques that will help you IMMEDIATELY. For me, the most useful part of the book is the section on Dependency Breaking Techniques.
If you only learn a handful of these, you'll be a better code warrior and you'll feel more comfortable tackling any kind of messy code.
I've recommended this book to many colleagues. I also put together a course on unit testing and used this book in many parts of the course. And I've bought several copies and handed them out to co-workers.
Dreary Title, Very Important Book.......2006-12-22
Michael Feathers has written a book that is at once very focused on the legacy code problem, but also far more important than what the scary title would indicate.
Feathers went where few software developers would dare to tread. Often hired by organizations to "make us agile" or "make us eXtreme" [sic], he found that the teams had already inherited (or built) a lot of code that needed to be wrangled into a test harness before the team could even consider driving forward with Test-Driven Development. And more often than not, the code was written in C++. Poor Michael. (Oh, wait, he got a book deal out of it! ;-)
So, the examples he uses in the book are rather real-world (with the client's proprietary stuff stripped, disguised, or entirely rewritten, of course). The interesting thing I noted while reading the examples was: "Hey, this code doesn't look bad! It's a lot like what I would have written prior to my indoctrination into test-first programming." Feathers emphasizes that even well-written code can suffer from the most dangerous of ailments: This code is difficult to test.
I appreciate his clear, no-nonsense, line-in-the-sand (or stake-in-the-ground, depending on your choice of metaphors) definitions of "legacy code" and "unit test." If you've met Michael Feathers, you already know that he's not trying to start an argument or cause controversy. Quite the opposite, in fact: He's giving concise definitions of the phrases he uses everywhere in the book, so that you can easily tell whether something fits within, or is outside, the definition. There is no wiggle room.
Aside: Do my projects end up with unit tests that Michael would not define as "unit tests"? Yes. Invariably, my teams have a very small percentage of unit tests (less than 1%) that indeed fail the Feathers definition. I'm okay with that. Better to have a few slow-and-ugly unit tests than to have untested behavior.
Feathers starts later chapters with statements of common problems. In fact, the problem is the chapter title (e.g., "Dependencies on Libraries are Killing Me"). The author then describes the problem, provides examples, gives a general solution or two, and points you to detailed solutions in the catalog toward the back of the book.
This catalog is a catalog of refactorings for many legacy-specific code smells (put another way, "cures" for various "ailments"), all with the goal of getting the code under test, so that it can be further enhanced without fear. I tried to read the book cover-to-cover, but the catalog started to intrigue me early on, and I think I finally read the whole book, but certainly not in any particular order.
No book is perfect, of course. The only thing I could quibble with Feathers about is that his catalog--which, like others of this type, gives memorable names to the refactorings--occasionally renames common refactorings, or implies the use of a particular design pattern where it isn't always appropriate or necessary.
E.g., "Adapt Parameter" is a safe, powerful refactoring, but the name might lead you to believe that you need to wrap the offending parameter in a "Gang of Four" (GoF) Adapter Pattern, when in fact you may want a GoF Proxy (fewer changes to the code you're trying to get under test). Even that may be misleading, though, because someone may mistakenly interpret Proxy to mean that the parameter has to retain its original type (or an Interface, at the very least). Not true (think Smalltalk or Ruby). An object can easily have an identical interface (i.e., set of public method signatures) without being of the same type. If it swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck...
I think "Wrap Parameter" would have been a better name for that refactoring. Proxies, Adapters, Facades...they're all different in important ways, but they're all wrappers (aka "Yet Another Layer of Abstraction"). And our industry needs to be able to embrace such vague terms in order to allow for creative solutions.
I don't think Feathers intended to imply Adapter (and my argument is really picking nits, after all, and perhaps my attempt to look smart), but I would ask the reader to absorb the *intent* rather than the *letter* of this (or any) catalog of solutions.
And the intent of this book is an important one. In fact, Feathers brings together quite a few pragmatic areas of today's world of software development: Test-Driven Development and refactoring, mock objects, design patterns, agile programming practices. This book gives developers the techniques required to lock quality in while allowing the product to mature.
Because of that, I'd say this is one of the most important software development books written at least since the GoF Design Patterns book. Unlike the Gang of Four book, though, this one is easy to read and comprehend! ;)
Valuable, practical advice........2006-10-10
A more accurate title for this book would have been "Unit Testing and Refactoring is How To Work Effectively with Legacy Code"
The book operates entirely from that premise, and only spends a little time trying to sell you on the concept. If you're still struggling with that debate, this book may rub you the wrong way. However, I found it to be intensely practical and found the author repeatedly speaking about scenarios that I run into quite often.
I would describe myself as someone who finds the whole fascination with design patterns a little optimistic and certainly hype-laden. Useful to be familiar with, but nothing to preach about. Feathers' treatment of patterns is exactly what they should be, however -- from the trenches, and goal-oriented. He describes the patterns he uses with the very immediate goal of how they will help you "get code under test" as he would put it, and slowly unwind the spaghetti we all run into.
Although the world didn't need yet another book about unit testing, refactoring, and patterns, there are few books that offer practical advice for the ugly side of software development. To get the most out of this book, you'll need to have slightly better than intermediate experience with object-oriented development, but this is not a hypothetical-scenario type book targeted at gurus. And most importantly, it acknowledges and embraces the fact that we have all inherited reams of code that has either abused and ignored OO principles, or wasn't even OO to begin with. It is quite readable and accessible, and doesn't overwhelm. I found a lot of valuable techniques in here that I have not found anywhere else. I highly recommend this book, and I'm going to be shoving it down my coworkers' throats. :)
Amazon.com
The Working Poor examines the "forgotten America" where "millions live in the shadow of prosperity, in the twilight between poverty and well-being." These are citizens for whom the American Dream is out of reach despite their willingness to work hard. Struggling to simply survive, they live so close to the edge of poverty that a minor obstacle, such as a car breakdown or a temporary illness, can lead to a downward financial spiral that can prove impossible to reverse. David Shipler interviewed many such working people for this book and his profiles offer an intimate look at what it is like to be trapped in a cycle of dead-end jobs without benefits or opportunities for advancement. He shows how some negotiate a broken welfare system that is designed to help yet often does not, while others proudly refuse any sort of government assistance, even to their detriment. Still others have no idea that help is available at all.
"As a culture, the United States is not quite sure about the causes of poverty, and is therefore uncertain about the solutions," he writes. Though he details many ways in which current assistance programs could be more effective and rational, he does not believe that government alone, nor any other single variable, can solve the problem. Instead, a combination of things are required, beginning with the political will needed to create a relief system "that recognizes both the society's obligation through government and business, and the individual's obligation through labor and family." He does propose some specific steps in the right direction such as altering the current wage structure, creating more vocational programs (in both the public and private sectors), developing a fairer way to distribute school funding, and implementing basic national health care.
Prepare to have any preconceived notions about those living in poverty in America challenged by this affecting book. --Shawn Carkonen
Book Description
“Nobody who works hard should be poor in America,” writes Pulitzer Prize winner David Shipler. Clear-headed, rigorous, and compassionate, he journeys deeply into the lives of individual store clerks and factory workers, farm laborers and sweat-shop seamstresses, illegal immigrants in menial jobs and Americans saddled with immense student loans and paltry wages. They are known as the working poor.
They perform labor essential to America’s comfort. They are white and black, Latino and Asian--men and women in small towns and city slums trapped near the poverty line, where the margins are so tight that even minor setbacks can cause devastating chain reactions. Shipler shows how liberals and conservatives are both partly right–that practically every life story contains failure by both the society and the individual. Braced by hard fact and personal testimony, he unravels the forces that confine people in the quagmire of low wages. And unlike most works on poverty, this book also offers compelling portraits of employers struggling against razor-thin profits and competition from abroad. With pointed recommendations for change that challenge Republicans and Democrats alike,
The Working Poor stands to make a difference.
Customer Reviews:
must read.......2007-09-30
This was an excellent book. A real eye opener into a whole other world. I'm giving it to my college student daughter, to make sure that she graduates. The last book that inspired me in the same way was Barbara Ehrenreich's Nine to Five. This is journalism at its best, excellent writing, excellent research. I only hope that its message gets through.
well researched.......2007-08-06
I found Working Poor to be well-researched, and I prefer it's tone to Nickel and Dimed. Shipler was thorough and balanced in his view of the poor in America. In the various stories, Shipler takes us into the psyche of the "working poor", showing the different circumstances that allowed these individuals to remain, or get into poverty.
Phenomenal.......2007-05-14
If you've ever taken pause to consider what makes the world go round as it relates to commercial or economic pursuits, you owe it to yourself to read this book.
It's a great start, but...........2007-03-08
Let me start by saying what I liked and appreciated about this book before I go on to say what I didn't. First of all, it's great that most of the focus has been placed on individual families and circumstances. He's not just rattling off statistics; he's actually taking you to the living rooms and workplaces of real human beings and for the most part letting them tell their own story. It is also clear that Shipler does not have a political agenda; he acknowledges the failings of both the left and right to address this issue on pretty equal terms. The author is not blaming the individuals in question entirely for their situations, nor is he completely blaming society or "the system;" rather, he shows in an extrodinarily clear and sober manner the variety of circumstances which cause poverty and which continually leave those afflicted in its grasp.
The main problem that I have with this book is that I feel it left out a lot of people and a lot of problems that could have easily been addressed. For one, most of the people in the book are urban minorities, and that seems to be where most of the focus lies. There's not a lot of emphasis on the rural poor (with the notable exception of migrant farm workers) among whom circumstances are quite different and in many ways even harder than those of the urban poor. In addition, Shipler is constantly noting the lack of education among poor people but doesn't ever mention the fact that ever-rising and insane tuition costs prevent many perfectly capable *middle-class* people of getting to college in the first place, thus rendering them just as poor as the people who started out that way. (Financial aid actually favors the very poor, and the middle class are often left in the limbo of "too much income to qualify, not enough money to pay out of pocket" and the only way to go is through financially crippling student loans.)
I also wanted to say something about the Earned Income Credit, because it is something that Shipler thoroughly sings the praises of throughout the book. First of all, it's not that easy to get it. As a personal example, from 1999-2005, even though I made hardly any money and should have qualified, I did not because I was under 25 (a stipulation that Shipler neglects to mention.) This year, I am 25, but I still did not qualify because I had gotten married. (Which is another big issue Shipler neglects to mention: the marriage penalty.) If you are married you have to make an absurdly low amount of money to qualify, so if you both work full time like good Americans without taking any other government money (which you wouldn't qualify for anyway unless you have children), even if you both make minimun wage and are barely scraping by, you still wouldn't qualify. So it's really not the panacea that he makes it out to be.
There are a lot of other relevant issues that Shipler never brings up. For example, why does someone who makes $15,000 per year have to pay the same percentage of their income to Social Security as someone who makes $75,000 per year? What about all those people on Social Security, anyway? Why are people without health insurance forced to pay for someone else's Medicare? Why doesn't a high school diploma mean anything anymore? There are a billion questions that, as a poor person, I wanted answers to, which is the very reason I bought this book. But there is so much emphasis in here about one very specific type of poor person (urban minority female with way too many children) who also happens to be the most stereotypical kind of poor person, without giving everyone else who is struggling to survive a very equal voice. But like I said at the beginning, this book is a good starting point. If you are poor, or have ever been poor, you may not get as much out of it as a wealthier person. If you have a lot of money or are otherwise quite comfortable financially, please read this book. It may not give you the entire picture of poverty in America, but it will put a real human face on the problem.
YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!.......2007-01-28
This should be required reading for everyone in this country. This book does what "Nickle and Dimed" could only dream of doing. This is not some man just trying on poverty to see how it feels. Shipler gets down to the bare bones of poverty and details the web of causes and effects. Speaking as someone that's been to hell and back when it comes to poverty this book was spot on in detailing the vast array of circumstances that all rely on and influence each other. He does well to point out that poverty is a mix of bad circumstances and bad choices and that it's all a painful cycle. He also does a great job at illustrating the way the working poor live not only paycheck to paycheck, but crisis to crisis and disconnect notice to disconnect notice.
Not only does Shipler highlight all the gritty details of the life of the working poor he outlines very reasonable and more importantly POSSIBLE solutions to combat poverty. His solutions are more common sense and can be done if everyone gets on board to recognize the problem and agree to work on solving it.
We will never get rid of poverty, some people will always make the negative choices that keep them poor. But there is no excuse for such a wealthy country to build it's empire on the backs of the poor and then refuse to let them in the door.
Read this book, then pass it on. You will learn more than you ever thought you could about the people that you never thought to notice.
Product Description
All organizations today are prone to friction between members of different generations. And in far too many cases, coworkers lack both the understanding and skills necessary to narrow these classic generation gaps. And, that can cause huge workplace problems! Left unchecked, generational differences at work can negatively impact everything from interpersonal relationships, teamwork, morale, and productivity to an organization's ability to recruit and retain top-notch people and achieve its overall mission. When that happens, EVERYONE loses. But it doesn't have to be that way! To ensure these challenges do not impact your organization?s effectivness, you will want to provide copies of this new handbook to EVERYONE in your organization!
Amazon.com
Working With Emotional Intelligence takes the concepts from Daniel Goleman's bestseller, Emotional Intelligence, into the workplace. Business leaders and outstanding performers are not defined by their IQs or even their job skills, but by their "emotional intelligence": a set of competencies that distinguishes how people manage feelings, interact, and communicate. Analyses done by dozens of experts in 500 corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide conclude that emotional intelligence is the barometer of excellence on virtually any job. This book explains what emotional intelligence is and why it counts more than IQ or expertise for excelling on the job. It details 12 personal competencies based on self-mastery (such as accurate self-assessment, self-control, initiative, and optimism) and 13 key relationship skills (such as service orientation, developing others, conflict management, and building bonds). Goleman includes many examples and anecdotes--from Fortune 500 companies to a nonprofit preschool--that show how these competencies lead to or thwart success.
Unlike IQ, emotional intelligence can keep growing--it continues to develop with life experiences. Understanding and raising your emotional intelligence is essential to your success and leadership potential. This book is an excellent resource for learning how to accomplish this. --Joan Price
Amazon.com Audiobook Review
This abridged audio version, sharply narrated by the author, focuses on Goleman's theories of emotional intelligence in the workplace, a standard that measures how well people manage feelings, interact, and communicate. In educational but accessible tones, Dr. Goleman explains the need for emotional intelligence in employees, the issues that arise when such skills are lacking, and practical guidance on how to achieve these skills. Goleman's use of real-life examples highlights the important lessons learned from business-world successes and failures. The humorous anecdotes also keep the listener entertained while he presents somewhat esoteric but insightful and interesting ideas, which ultimately increase the potential to succeed and lead others. (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --Cate Bick
Book Description
Do you have what it takes to succeed in your career?
The secret of success is not what they taught you in school. What matters most is not IQ, not a business school degree, not even technical know-how or years of expertise. The single most important factor in job performance and advancement is emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is actually a set of skills that anyone can acquire, and in this practical guide, Daniel Goleman identifies them, explains their importance, and shows how they can be fostered.
For leaders, emotional intelligence is almost 90 percent of what sets stars apart from the mediocre. As Goleman documents, it's the essential ingredient for reaching and staying at the top in any field, even in high-tech careers. And organizations that learn to operate in emotionally intelligent ways are the companies that will remain vital and dynamic in the competitive marketplace of today—and the future.
Comprehensively researched, crisply written, and packed with fascinating case histories of triumphs, disasters, and dramatic turnarounds,
Working with Emotional Intelligence may be the most important business book you'll ever read.
Drawing on unparalleled access to business leaders around the world and studies in more than 500 organizations, Goleman documents an astonishing fact: in determining star performance in every field, emotional intelligence matters twice as much as IQ or technical expertise.
Readers also discover how emotional competence can be learned. Goleman analyzes five key sets of skills and vividly shows how they determine who is hired and who is fired in the top corporations in the world. He also provides guidelines for training in the "emotionally intelligent organization," in chapters that no one, from manager to CEO, should miss.
Working with Emotional Intelligence could prove to be the most important reference for bottom-line businesspeople in the first decades of the 21st century.
Customer Reviews:
An Invaluable Resource.......2007-10-21
I read "Emotional Intelligence" by the same author and I learned and enjoyed the important insights on emotional intelligence that it provided. This motivated me to get the second book, "Working with Emotional Intelligence". This is a classic sequel that focuses on how emotional intelligence is applied in the workplace. The book is more practical than "Emotional Intelligence" and one need not have read the prior work to get the most from the book. However, the previous book has important concepts about emotional intelligence which will be very useful to those who wish to study the subject further.
The book is based on interviews and studies with business leaders and organizations and it explains what sets star performers apart and how emotional intelligence is critical for success. This book however is not quite practical. Emotional intelligence cannot be learned just by reading a book but rather requires a lot of practice and behavioural change to acquire the appropriate habits. The various examples and situations depicted in the book are very helpful to assist readers to readily identify and relate to similar situations in our lives. Hence you will benefit a lot by becoming more self-aware, an important first step in enhanced emotional intelligence. The book could, however, have been condensed significantly without diluting the message.
The author highlights aspects of personalities in the workplace that can adversely affect morale. The book discusses things that seem like common sense and common courtesy but which many people tend to forget. The bottom line is that we need to be mature, professional, and treat others with respect.
The book will benefit a wide readership including managers and workers at all levels as well as the home. For example, for a senior manager, it is vital to appreciate that success is not just about great strategies and working practices but knowing how to deal with the people's emotions and feelings about things. Mere skill or academic achievement, on their own, does not translate into professional success. This well written and insightful book cogently describes the missing link, that is to have high emotional intelligence to complement the rational and analytical skills captured by the intelligence quotient.
Tedious.......2007-09-07
If you want to read about emotional intelligence, then get the original book for the same author "Emotional Intelligence". If you want to read about practical applications of emotional intelligence in the work place then this is what this book is about. I only gave it two stars because I think that the whole book should be summarised into 20-30 pages and just added as a chapter to the original work. Its important to read about the applications of emotional intelligence, but in this book you end up reading the same story over and over again with different companies and different people.
Disappointed.......2007-06-10
I was expecting I would get information on IMPROVING my EQ. However the book only tells how EQ is important in working place but never provide methods on HOW TO IMPROVE it. Truely, the examples or stories of the importance of EQ are great, but I didn't benefit from anything.. as I ALREADY KNEW IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE EQ AT WORK! that's why I am looking for information about EQ..
Disappointed.......2007-05-12
Good information but does not execute how to utilize the information it leaves you confused and aggravated. I kept waiting for the punch line, guess the jokes on me.
Interesting, But It Ain't Science.......2007-05-09
I bought the unabridged audio CD version of this book. It was not well read, as others have said here, but I tried to look beyond that into the content.
Many of the assertions made by the author are supported by percentages and statistics which do not have any apparent source or academic credibility. The ideas are not bad - and some are downright fascinating. But I wonder about whether this is really "science" or something like scientology.
Goleman is clearly passionate and deep in belief, and his writing tends to express that depth. However, I don't know about the soundness of the platform on which so many of his assertions rest, and it makes me uneasy.
Given that he criticized corporate training programs for having little emphasis on measurable changes in business performance, this is really ironic.
Management and leadership is still as much art as science, and that might be where a reader can reconcile himself to Goleman's predicates. However, so much of what he asserts is not labelled art in this book.
Book Description
The heart of JIT is quick changeover methods. Dr. Shingo, inventor of the Single-Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) system for Toyota, shows you how to reduce your changeovers by an average of 98 percent! By applying Shingo's techniques, you'll see rapid improvements (lead time reduced from weeks to days, lower inventory and warehousing costs) that will improve quality, productivity, and profits.
Customer Reviews:
Very Good Book.......2006-06-04
I highly recommend this book and it is a must read for all manufacturing personnel in the USA. This book will make you re-think all aspects of fixture design and manufacturing processes. It provides many excellent verbal & illustrated examples of SMED concepts.
Very good book on Set Up Time Reduction.......2005-10-22
Very good book if your interested to reduce setup / changeover times. The book is very easy to read although in some cases it keeps repeating itself. When you think logical you could already figure out 75% on how to improve changeover before reading the book, but for the last 25% this book is an absolute must. A lot of the examples are car manufacturing related, but this I not a problem because the writer tries to give you the tools on how SMED can be reached, regardless which industry you are working in.
Best Set Up Time Reduction Manual.......2003-10-12
This book does an excellent job of explaining how manufacturing setup times can be drastically reduced, including many useful examples. Reducing setup times is critical in the effort to implement the extraordinarily efficient Toyota Production System.
The text is much clearer than "Kaizen For Quick Changeover" by Sekine and Arai. This book deals with setup time reductions for loosely toleranced components or assemblies, and does not deal specifically with tightly toleranced parts.
A really USEFUL book..........1999-11-09
Before reading this book, i had no certain opinions about SMED system. There was a lack of knowledge and i could not apply this technique properly in the factory which I am working for. Now, i am applying SMED technique and decreasing setup times sharply even not under ten minutes. This book opens doors for its reader. Pay money and take it. !
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- Technical Communication
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