Book Description
With the radical changes in information production that the Internet has introduced, we stand at an important moment of transition, says Yochai Benkler in this thought-provoking book. The phenomenon he describes as social production is reshaping markets, while at the same time offering new opportunities to enhance individual freedom, cultural diversity, political discourse, and justice. But these results are by no means inevitable: a systematic campaign to protect the entrenched industrial information economy of the last century threatens the promise of today’s emerging networked information environment.
In this comprehensive social theory of the Internet and the networked information economy, Benkler describes how patterns of information, knowledge, and cultural production are changing—and shows that the way information and knowledge are made available can either limit or enlarge the ways people can create and express themselves. He describes the range of legal and policy choices that confront us and maintains that there is much to be gained—or lost—by the decisions we make today.
Customer Reviews:
This Book Proves the Adage that You See What You Look For.......2007-07-08
I have been hearing about Yochai Benkler's book, "The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedoms," for some time and his exposition around what he (and many others) have called the "networked information economy." Benkler, a Yale law professor, also offers his 527 page (473 in text) book as a free PDF from his web site under a Creative Commons share alike license.
First, let me say, there are a couple of worthwhile insights in the book, which I'll get to in a moment. But mostly, I found the book overly long, often off-subject, and too political for my tastes. In fairness, some of this might be due to the fact it was written in 2005 (published in 2006) and the social and participatory aspects of the Web are now widely appreciated. Yet I fear the broader problem with this polemic is that it proves the adage that you see what you look for.
Benkler's argument is that cheap processors and the Internet have removed the physical constraints on effective information production. This is in keeping with the non-proprietary nature of information as a "nonrival" good, and is also leading to the democratization of information production and the emergence of large-scale peer-produced content. Benkler generally allies himself with the camp of technology optimists. His observations about trends and new developments from Ebay to Wikipedia to SETI@home and open source software are now commonly appreciated.
With the costs of information duplication and dissemination trending to zero, the limiting factor of production becomes human creativity and effort itself. But here, too, with hundreds of millions of Internet users, just a few hours of contributed content from each can easily swamp the ability of even the largest firms to compete. These trends to Benkler presage a "radical decentralization" of information production, and many other changes to the political economy and culture.
That radical changes in the nature of information production and authorship and even the role of traditional publishers or the media are underway is without question. Purposeful collaborations like Wikipedia are now clearly successful and were not forecasted by many.
The lens, however, in which Benkler looks at all of these trends is through the "modern" history of the mass media. Citing Paul Starr's "Creation of the Media," he notes how in 15 years from 1835 to 1850 the cost of setting up a mass-circulation paper increased from $10,000 to over $2 million (in 2005 dollars). In Benkler's view, these cost increases shifted the ability to publish away from the common citizen into the "problem" hands of the mass media. Fortunately, now with the Internet and cheap processors, this evil can be reversed. Though Benkler specifically disclaims that he is not describing "an exercise in pastoral utopianism," the fact is that is exactly what he is describing.
There can be no doubt that the role of mass media and traditional publishers is under severe challenge from the emergence of the Internet. It is also the case that we are witnessing citizen publishers and authors emerge by the millions. These changes are momentous, but they do not involve everyone -- only comparatively small percentages of Internet users blog and still smaller percentages contribute to Wikipedia (about 80,000 at present based on a user base of hundreds of millions). And, as the traditional gatekeepers of printers, publishers and editors lose prominence, new institutions and mechanisms for establishing the authoritativeness and trustworthiness of content will surely need to evolve.
These real trends deserve thoughtful exploration.
However, there is a reason that publishing costs increased so rapidly in that era of the 1800s. Mass publishing and pulp paper were emerging that acted to bring an increasing storehouse of content and information to the public at levels never before seen.
The explosion of information content that occurred at this very same time correlates well with the fundamental historical changes in human wealth and economic growth. Though mass media may prove to be an historical artifact, I would argue that its role in bringing literacy and information to the "masses" was generally an unalloyed good and the basis for an improvement in economic well being the likes of which had never been seen.
By taking a narrow historical horizon and then viewing it through the lens of the vilified "mass media," Benkler is both looking in the wrong direction and missing the point.
The information by which the means to produce and disseminate information itself is changing and growing. These changes in information infrastructure support an inexorable trend to more adaptability, more wealth and more participation. What we are seeing now with the Internet is but a natural continuation of that trend. The "mass media" and the costs of information production of the 1800s was a natural phase within this longer, historical trend. The multiplier effect of information itself will continue to empower and strengthen the individual, not in spite of mass media or any other ideologically based viewpoint but due to the freeing and adaptive benefits of information itself. Information is the natural antidote to entropy and, longer term, to the concentrations of wealth and power.
By trying to push the trends of the Internet through the false needle's eye of political economics, an effort that Benkler also erroneously makes with his earlier analysis of the growth of radio, what are in essence historical forces of almost informational or technological determinism are falsely presented as matters of political choice. Hogwash.
Benkler, however, does observe two useful dimensions for measuring social collaboration efforts: modularity and granularity. By modularity, Benkler means "a property of a project that describes the extent to which it can be broken down into smaller components, or modules, that can be independently produced before they are assembled into a whole." By granularity, Benkler means "the size of the modules, in terms of the time and effort that an individual must invest in producing them."
Benkler's insight is that "the number of people who can, in principle, participate in a project is therefore inversely related to the size of the smallest scale contribution necessary to produce a usable module. The granularity of the modules therefore sets the smallest possible individual investment necessary to participate in a project. If this investment is sufficiently low, then incentives" for producing that component of a modular project can be of trivial magnitude. Most importantly for our purposes of understanding the rising role of nonmarket production, the time can be drawn from the excess time we normally dedicate to having fun and participating in social interactions."
To illustrate this effect of granularity, he contrasts Wikipedia with its simple entries and editing and bounded topics with the far-less successful Wikibooks, which has much larger granularity.
Creators of social collaboration sites are advised to keep granularity small to encourage broader contributions, and if the nature of the site is complex, to increase the number of its modules. Of course, none of this guarantees the magic or timing that also lie behind the most successful sites!
I think that Benkler's arguments could have been more effectively distilled into a 30-page article, with much of the political economy claptrap thrown out. The book is definitely worth a skim.
Phenomenal Book on Information Science and Peer Production.......2007-05-12
I first became familiar with Benkler after reading his paper, "Coase's Penguin" in undergraduate study. I was delighted to hear of the publication of this book. Benkler continues beautifully where he left off in his previous papers and synthesizes an excellent theory of social production in his book.
Benkler begins by describing the economic shape of information - it's non-rival and builds upon itself. He explains the challenges that face information, particularly the Babel Objection. Benkler also covers some legal background on aspects of a "liberal society", such as the role of commons versus private property.
From there, he makes his way into peer production. He touches different aspects of this type of production, from open source to distributed content production & filtering (click workers) to the results of the FCC's shift towards commons-based wireless policy. I found chapter 4, where he connects social production to the economic concepts discussed earlier, to be the most interesting chapter of the book.
He moves on to a lengthy discussion of the political effects of network distribution and social production, including a summary of the history of mass media and predictions about the future. From there, he lays down his argument that we ought to continue to encourage open networks and information sharing. He presents a discussion on current legislation and legal challenges to information and provides some examples of solutions.
I read this book coming out of an undergraduate program in Information Science and wished I had read this book perhaps my sophomore or junior year. Benkler essentially lays out, in linear form, the precise message that my professors were teaching. Because of networks, information science in the 21st century will not follow the traditional industrial-style of distribution but rather a distributed and non-proprietary model. Its impact is phenomenal, not only in the realm of economics and science but politics, culture, and interpersonal communication.
This book ought to be required reading for every undergraduate student studying Telecommunications, Media, or Information Science.
Good argumentation.......2007-04-28
I agree when some people say the book is not well edited (even not being english my first language I found some errors within it) but I think the greatest think about it is the attempt to explain something that it is easy to see that is happening today but nobody know why is happening. You know people write in Wikipedia and that most of them do that at their free time, you know that some people participate in great collaborative efforts to develop free software in the Internet, you know people keep blogs to express their point of view. But can you explain why that happens, why do they do that expecting no financial return or acknowledgment? What do they want? Perhaps you may know what you want when you do or don't some of that things but what about the rest of the world, if you care about it? What has changed or is changing or still must be changed in the societies so that happens?
The author doesn't explain it too but he tries to do it, it is an initial attempt to get some answers. His argumentation through the book covers many aspects of our lives, economic, political, social, antropological, legal and I think that at least at the end you will have some new insights on what is all that about.
Connectivization.......2007-04-20
Be forewarned that this brilliantly conceived book is not so brilliantly written, and the reading can be a real slog at times. Yochai Benkler is a perceptive social theorist but his thoughts are bogged down in academic writing that could really use some editing. Expect excessive introducing, foreshadowing, recapping, and summarizing, giving you the often tiresome impression that you will read Benkler's prose again or have read it before. This book also suffers from what business strategists and military tacticians would call "scope creep," as Benkler's broad theories on society and knowledge become so all-inclusive as to border on diffuseness and ineffectiveness - a problem that really slows down the middle section of the book. This is a common difficulty for vast unified theories about information and humanity, so prepare for some difficulty in following the main points that Benkler is trying to make.
But now that those warnings are out of the way, beneath Benkler's ponderous prose are insightful theories about the rise of networked culture, inspired by the digital revolution, in the face of lockdowns from entrenched power players. The initial uses of open networks inspired a megalomaniacal reaction from the industrial and political sectors, which have partially succeeded in forcing technological design changes, and persecution of new cultural behaviors, that threatened their economic and political dominance. For instance, intellectual property laws (patents, trademarks, and copyrights), which were originally meant to encourage cultural production, have been transformed by power players into tools to enforce corporate profitability. And if you think concerns over those trends are merely alarmism, Benkler provides profound evidence that damage really is being done to culture, freedom, and democracy - in ways that are far deeper and more troubling than the (corporate-inspired) popular rhetoric around piracy, rolyalties, and hackers.
Benkler informatively differentiates the types of freedom that are at stake - personal, cultural, social, and political - and ably demonstrates how each are affected by trends in infrastructure development, media behavior, corporate profiteering, and political gamesmanship. One especially winning chapter deals with how the rising network society can promote justice and development in third world areas that are not currently connected and may never be. The corporate and political insistence on regulating the information infrastructure and criminalizing user behaviors may represent a losing battle against the basic human drive to network and create, as can be seen in trends like open source software and community wi-fi. Benkler's main point here (when you're finally able to uncover it) is that humanity may be on the brink of a major change in the way we process culture and information, thanks to the growth in open worldwide networks. The old school power players won't go without a fight, adding unnecessary strife to the process, but Benkler has faith in humanity's ability to transform and rise above [~doomsdayer520~]
Excellent and Insightful Articulation.......2007-01-11
I highly recommend reading Yochai Benkler's book.
It is a balanced articulation of what the Internet and Web 2.0 are enabling in the development of new forms of social collaboration that are not adequately recognized as such by both private/regulated market advocates and welfare advocates. One of the things that struck me most is Benkler's capacity to create a perspective in which he can show that these new forms of collectives are rooted in old practices that have existed forever.
He also shows that these practices can gain major significance if:
1. The neutrality of the web, access to the web, Open Source initiatives, and the General Public Licensing type of legislation are improved,
2. The aggressive move toward Intellectual Property laws and regulations, and control by corporations, is counter-balanced.
Excellent read!
Customer Reviews:
astonishing.......2002-07-31
I go to Harvard law school and I have found this book to be helpful in my field of study. Although i also study criminal justice law I have now become interested in environmental and this book has been impressive. This book is a life saver. It was classy and sophisticated. Please go buy this and I hope to see some new challenging faces at Harvard. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
This is an outstanding book........2001-08-26
I've used this book in two seated classes and one online course on environmental law. If you want a glorified HAZMAT course or have decided that the way our legal system actually operates doesn't matter, then look elsewhere. This is not a science book (nor should it be). If you want a text that students find easy to read and that provides comprehensive coverage of environmental law and our legal system, this is your book.
An Outstanding Book!.......2001-08-25
I've used "Environmental Law" by Nancy K Kubasek and Gary S. Silverman in two seated classes and one online course. It is an outstanding text for describing the parameters of our legal system to students. Those to want a glorified HAZMAT approach to environmental law (or want to ignore the legal system) might not like the book. I love it.
Limited value.......2000-11-02
The author of this books is an attorney who does a fairly good job with the big picture but not very well with the science. If you're only looking for a quick study of the structure of environmental law in the U.S., which is about one-third of this book, it's readable and informative. It also uses language and structure that's accessible for advanced high school and lower division college students in giving and overview of the U.S. legal and regulatory system for the environment. The author creates a good historical context for these discussions. However, the book begins to lose its polish when the author ventures into discussions of the science behind the law. I noted several points where the presentation of the science was clearly poorly informed (ozone and global warming, nuclear and alternative engery). If you're only looking for an general introduction to environmenal law, this book will get you started. But, if you want to get a good idea of the science that drives environmental law, keep looking.
Book Description
In 1998, William Queen was a veteran law enforcement agent with a lifelong love of motorcycles and a lack of patience with paperwork. When a “confidential informant” made contact with his boss at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, offering to take an agent inside the San Fernando chapter of the Mongols (the scourge of Southern California, and one of the most dangerous gangs in America), Queen jumped at the chance, not realizing that he was kicking-starting the most extensive undercover operation inside an outlaw motorcycle gang in the history of American law enforcement.
Nor did Queen suspect that he would penetrate the gang so successfully that he would become a fully “patched-in” member, eventually rising through their ranks to the office of treasurer, where he had unprecedented access to evidence of their criminal activity. After Queen spent twenty-eight months as “Billy St. John,” the bearded, beer-swilling, Harley-riding gang-banger, the truth of his identity became blurry, even to himself.
During his initial “prospecting” phase, Queen was at the mercy of crank-fueled criminal psychopaths who sought to have him test his mettle and prove his fealty by any means necessary, from selling (and doing) drugs, to arms trafficking, stealing motorcycles, driving getaway cars, and, in one shocking instance, stitching up the face of a Mongol “ol’ lady” after a particularly brutal beating at the hands of her boyfriend.
Yet despite the constant criminality of the gang, for whom planning cop killings and gang rapes were business as usual, Queen also came to see the genuine camaraderie they shared. When his lengthy undercover work totally isolated Queen from family, his friends, and ATF colleagues, the Mongols felt like the only family he had left. “I had no doubt these guys genuinely loved Billy St. John and would have laid down their lives for him. But they wouldn’t hesitate to murder Billy Queen.”
From Queen’s first sleight of hand with a line of methamphetamine in front of him and a knife at his throat, to the fearsome face-off with their decades-old enemy, the Hell’s Angels (a brawl that left three bikers dead), to the heartbreaking scene of a father ostracized at Parents’ Night because his deranged-outlaw appearance precluded any interaction with regular citizens, Under and Alone is a breathless, adrenaline-charged read that puts you on the street with some of the most dangerous men in America and with the law enforcement agents who risk everything to bring them in.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding!.......2007-10-25
This is a well written book about the undercover exploits of a true hero. A great view into the dark world of outlaw motorcycle culture.
Awesome Read.......2007-10-24
From the standpoint of someone in Law Enforcement, this is an awesome read. To see what one ATF agent endures in the worlds most violent Motorcycle one percenter gang. If youre interested in biker gangs or federal law enforcement, this is a must read
Jaw Dropping Fast Read.......2007-10-18
This book is simply great. Once you start reading it you will not be able to put it down. Page after page the book does not slow down. You get thrown in head first into the crazy and dangerous life of the Mongol M.C. world.
William Queen is given the duty of going undercover to take apart the Mongols M.C. The book follows him as he joins, becomes a prospect(follower), and then a fully patched member. He struggles day to day trying to deal with the Mongols and not be made as to who he really is. You start seeing how a group of unruly and uncivil gangsters start becoming a family to him all the while he is losing contact with his real family.
Excellent Book.......2007-10-07
I never knew the details about the Mongols. It was fascinating to learn about this motorcycle gang. The book is so well written that I finished it in 1 day. Recommended.
Revealing.......2007-10-06
William Queen presents a straightforward and compelling look at life within the most violent outlaw motorcycle gang in the United States. I found the most disturbing thing to be the movement of the gang across the United States, establishing locations in areas where local police have no experience dealing with them. Seeing the gang from the inside is a revealing and eye-opening story.
Book Description
Few other economists have been read and cited as often as R.H. Coase has been, even though, as he admits, "most economists have a different way of looking at economic problems and do not share my conception of the nature of our subject." Coase's particular interest has been that part of economic theory that deals with firms, industries, and markets—what is known as price theory or microeconomics. He has always urged his fellow economists to examine the foundations on which their theory exists, and this volume collects some of his classic articles probing those very foundations. "The Nature of the Firm" (1937) introduced the then-revolutionary concept of transaction costs into economic theory. "The Problem of Social Cost" (1960) further developed this concept, emphasizing the effect of the law on the working of the economic system. The remaining papers and new introductory essay clarify and extend Coarse's arguments and address his critics.
"These essays bear rereading. Coase's careful attention to actual institutions not only offers deep insight into economics but also provides the best argument for Coase's methodological position. The clarity of the exposition and the elegance of the style also make them a pleasure to read and a model worthy of emulation."—Lewis A. Kornhauser, Journal of Economic Literature
Ronald H. Coase was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Science in 1991.
Customer Reviews:
Comentario del prof. González Vázquez.......2006-08-30
Se trata de un libro clásico, imprescindible en un primer acercamiento a la perspectiva del análisis económico del derecho de sociedades.
Fifty years of Coase.......2006-07-24
A wonderful enrichment of Coase's seminal "The Nature of the Firm" with essays by Coase himself that explicate clearer the background that lead to his development of that theory as well as his reflections fifty years later that add significant breadth to half of the issues missed in this original treatise. Some of the other essays are less interesting and not as well stated or, to my mind, accurate; but do add some additional insight that one wishing better to understand the approach taken by Coase needs to have in order to undertake further analysis in this direction.
Coase is certainly worthy of his Nobel.......2005-08-14
This book is a reprint of several of Coase's previous works together with an introduction that links them. This line of thinking is very productive for framing solutions to various problems, economic, social, political, and legal. Well worth reading.
Brilliant But No Longer Revolutionary.......2005-05-30
Two of the essays in this short book -- "The Nature of the Firm" and "The Problem of Social Cost" -- are classic pieces of economic analysis. Together they practically created the field of law and economics. Unfortunately, the central ideas (for which Coase won the Nobel prize) have been so thoroughly integrated into economics curricula that they no longer seem fresh or novel; in fact, they are now almost humdrum economic "common sense."
That's a tribute to Coase and his impact on economic thinking, but it does make it hard for the reader to get excited about this book. Nevertheless, Coase's writing still has great value as a model of clear exposition, and it reminds us that simple, non-mathematical thought experiments can profoundly shape our view of economics. Any well-stocked economics library must include "The Firm, the Market, and the Law." Highly recommended.
Lucid essays on transaction costs and social welfare.......2004-01-06
This little book is a fantastic introduction to some of the powerful ideas introduced by Coase. Coase initiated two different ideas that today govern or inform much of the work of economists. The first was his introduction of the idea of "transaction costs", from an article suggesting an investigation into the root causes for industrial organization. The second is now known as the Coase Theorem, and stems from his insightful refutation of the Pigouvian view of social cost. There is also an article investigating the actual history of lighthouses in England, something which has usually been cited as a pure public good, and therefore requiring government provision. The history shows that most lighthouses - in some periods, all lighthouses - were privately provided. Coase's writing is lucid, his ideas profound, and his influence widespread. This collection is very important to anyone wanting to understand externalities, transaction costs, and social welfare.
Amazon.com
Mindhunter enters the minds of some of the country's most notorious serial killers to tell the real-life story of the Investigative Support Unit (ISU) -- the FBI's special force that has assisted state and local police in cracking some of the country's most celebrated serial murder and rape cases. The unit specializes in understanding the chemistry and mechanical workings of the brain's of these serial criminals, and did its homework by interviewing such murderers as Charles Manson and David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam). John Douglas, who worked for the FBI for 25 years, is an authority on the unit, and his book combines the best of nonfiction with that of a murder mystery.
Book Description
During his twenty-five year career with the Investigative Support Unit, Special Agent John Douglas became a legendary figure in law enforcement, pursuing some of the most notorious and sadistic serial killers of our time: the man who hunted prostitutes for sport in the woods of Alaska, the Atlanta child murderer, and Seattle's Green River killer, the case that nearly cost Douglas his life.
As the model for Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs, Douglas has confronted, interviewed, and studied scores of serial killers and assassins, including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Ed Gein, who dressed himself in his victims' peeled skin. Using his uncanny ability to become both predator and prey, Douglas examines each crime scene, reliving both the killer's and the victim's actions in his mind, creating their profiles, describing their habits, and predicting their next moves.
Now, in chilling detail, the legendary Mindhunter takes us behind the scenes of some of his most gruesome, fascinating, and challenging cases -- and into the darkest recesses of our worst nightmares.
Customer Reviews:
Another great J. Douglas book!.......2007-09-16
What can I say other than John Douglas never fails to deliver? This book is a great read, and I loved it!
Great inside look.......2007-07-10
Given Douglas' background there was little question that he would have a story or two to tell. In Mindhunter you get a glimpse of what it takes to conduct good profiling and what an instrumental tool the profile can be. The book covers some of America's most feared monsters and what role the Behavioral Science Unit played in their capture.
James A. Forrest - Eye of the Storm
Glad To Know They're There.......2007-06-09
With crimes becoming more and more heinous, it's good to know the FBI has minds like these working behind the scenes. Predicting the profile of criminals behind specific crimes is not only an art, after years of on-the-job training but also a very special gift. A fantastic behind-the-scenes look at crime busting well worth a read.
Absolutely Fascinating - A Must for "Criminal Minds" fans!!.......2007-05-29
I have been hooked on the TV show "Criminal Minds" lately and was so interested in profiling that I purchased this book. At the time I had no idea that the author was the basis for the main character in my now favorite show. Although undrestandably full of himself, this book gives amazaing insight into the criminal profiling world, discusses many infamous serial killers, and delves into an exciting world of criminal psychology. It has made me want to track down and read every similar book!
Mindhunter.......2007-05-13
Fascinating insight into the development of profiling. Full of real case studies, it is hard to put down.
Book Description
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) make commercial real estate profits available to everyone! REITs are one of the hottest and most potentially lucrative investment vehicles in the market today. Find out how you can take advantage of these increasingly popular securities in the powerful new book Real Estate Investment Trusts. Professionals Richard T. Garrigan and John F.C. Parsons have gathered over 20 of todayÕs most influential opinion leaders to explain how investors both large and small are beating the S&P 500 with REITs, how these REITs combine superior income and growth with relative safety, behind-the-scenes information on how to assemble and launch a successful REIT, and statistical support for market confidence in the long-term appreciation potential of REITs. Whether you are a real estate investment professional seeking comprehensive information on todayÕs REIT operational requirements; an investment professional needing to better understand REITs; or an individual investor interested in diversifying your own portfolio into real estate, Real Estate Investment Trusts will open your eyes to the incredible opportunities available in todayÕs REIT market. Order this well-researched, interesting and informative book today.
Customer Reviews:
Dull and disappointing.......2005-06-11
I bought this book because I am an investor in REITS and wanted to get a deeper insight into comparing different REITs to find the best ones to invest in. I wanted to be able to read the balance sheets of several different REITs and decide which is the better investment. This book left me bored and no further forward.
The main problem is that each chapter is written by a different "expert" on a particular topic such as "Asset Allocation" or "Institutional Investing". Firstly these experts may be great money managers but they are dull writers without a jot of personality. The chapter on Tax Treatment of REITs is a lifeless regurgitation of the tax code. Worse, the editors did not steer each contributor strictly enough to avoid repetition and as a result every chapter begins with yet another review of REIT history.
There was no analysis of different REIT business models, such as trading CMOs compared with Residential or Office space. There is no analysis of how to tell good REIT managers from ordinary ones. I was optimistic about the chapter on Asset Allocation to see how REITs fit in with stock and bonds in your portfolio but again I was disapppointed. After grinding through page after page differential equations the chapter fizzled out with no mention of reccomended asset allocation ratios.
I gave the book 2 stars instead of none because the data seems to be accurate and authoritative but then so is the maintenance manual for my vacuum cleaner. A $75 book has a duty to do more than assemble boring facts in sequence.
I don't really know who this book is targeted towards. If you are going to be a junior paper pusher employed by a REIT it may give you a head start but the rest of the planet should look somewhere else.
An excellent overview of the REIT Industry.......1999-07-17
The book provided an insightful overview of the REIT industry. The book was organized by various topics relating to investing and managing a REIT. The chapters were written by practioners and academics working in the different REIT industry areas. The authors were able to provide vital insights into their areas of expertise. As a new REIT employee I learned about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for my company and the REIT industry as a whole. some of the chapters were a bit technical in nature; particularly the analysis on historical private verses public REIT returns. Overall the book should be required reading for REIT investors and Managers as well.
Book Description
Everything you need to know to immediately start your own profitable and professional Notary Signing Agent business notarizing documents for mortgage, title and signing companies nationwide!
Customer Reviews:
How to Start, Operate and Market a Freelance Notary Signing Agent Business.......2007-10-17
Even though I haven't finished reading this book it has been the most helpful of all that I have read. It's a step-by-step guide to starting your own business with very helpful suggestions.
Can't wait to finish it!
Hillarious Reviews.......2007-06-23
The reviews for this book are extremely entertaining. I have not read the book yet but I think I will.
Too Preachy.......2007-06-08
The author writes at a junior high school level. The book is too preachy (not every Notary is a Bible thumper) and filled with useless info. (such as the part she makes fun of messages/letters/emails she received from stupid people)
KISS=Keep It Secular Sweety
Very Easy Read.......2007-04-11
This book was a very easy read. She inluded lots of internet help and Ideas. The book also became an idea book for more jobs you can have as a notary.
Like you have a friend to show you the ins & outs..........2007-02-07
I enrolled in both a notary and loan signing agent seminar.I read this before the class took place and felt I got alot from it.It is nice to have this information before I start out on a new venture. If you don't have a friend to show you the ropes, this is your answer. I will use some of her ideas and feel it was worth my time & money.I felt iwas better prepared than the other students before the class began.
Book Description
This book tells the story of credit cards around the world: why people use them, the effects on the economies of the nations where they prevail, why they are used so differently around the world, and what should be done to respond to the problems they cause. It includes a wealth of data from around the world, fascinating narratives about the differences from country to country, and penetrating analyses of policies that might stem misuse of cards.
Book Description
You've just invented a new technology, a must-have product. So what now? Patent it? Manufacture it? Sell it? If you're like most would-be Edisons, chances are your stroke of genius will collect dust waiting for you to plot your next move. Fear not, intrepid creator—inventor and author Ronald Louis Docie Sr. shares more than 20 years of valuable insight in this revised and expanded edition of THE INVENTOR'S BIBLE, which now includes a workbook to help you take your ideas from concept to profit. With everything you need to know about marketing, licensing, and selling your invention, this comprehensive handbook will also help you figure out what your invention is worth, which companies might want your ideas, and what steps to take first. You dreamt it, you created it, and it actually works—let THE INVENTOR'S BIBLE pave the way to your first million.
Customer Reviews:
Scary.......2007-06-27
I haven't gotten all the way through the book but it scared me enough not to want to go through the effort of inventing and marketing something.
An Essential Guide for Inventors.......2007-01-07
This book is an essential investment for enabling the inventor to take the right steps, and beware of the pitfalls of rip-off marketing companies and scams, with the thousands of dollars they charge.
The Special Bonus Workbook enables you to get started right away, and numerous Bookmark references refer you to the main part of the book for more detail and with many Words of Wisdom.
Another useful inclusion are the printable versions of the worksheets from the website for proceeding with commercialization of the product.
Valuable contacts of Local Inventors Organizations are also listed to help support inventors.
Finally, quoting from the book, "If you perform the exercises in the Workbook enough times, before you know it the process will flow intuitively. Interviewing people, who you have never met, can actually be fun, and you can make new friends. So relax and enjoy yourself.
Very helpful with step by step procedures.......2006-09-22
I recently purchased this book, to market one of our company product ideas. When I picked up the book locally at barnes and Nobles, I was a bit reluctant by the quality of the paper and the print. But within hours I was at my office, reading it, and it has abolutely good information. The "words of wisdom", "tricks of the trade" tips on each page are very helpful.
One can be in business without understanding many critical aspects of invention and marketing. Being a professional services company so far, this book is helpful for me when I'm venturing into new product inventions, manufacturing and marketing.
The books takes the reader step by step with real examples of the authors experience and points out the pros and cons of various scenarios.
It also has a comprehensive workbook for every section of the book (convered as a separate module at the end of the book) for the inventor to document and prepare for everything.
Wonderfully written book. After browsing through few books, I purchased this one. I also got some other related books. But haven't gone through them yet. I'll review them after I read through them.
The author, Ronald has truly manifested his experience for many of us to learn without re-inventing the invention wheel and suceeding without too many trials and errors.
This Updated Version has Patent and Marketing Workbook.......2006-03-05
I found and read the first version of "The Inventor's Bible" in my local library. The book was full of so much relevant and detailed information that I knew I had to own the updated version. When it arrived, I was pleased to discover that the book included a "Patent and New Product Marketing Workbook" to help readers evaluate and profit from their inventions. Even better, you can download the pdf versions of the workbook pages from the publisher's website (Tenspeedpress). When you get to the site, search for Inventor's Bible, then click the book's title on the page that returns, and then click on the link for the complementary Inventor's Bible PDFs.
What I liked most about the book is that it helps you seriously evaluate your invention's chance at making money. Some other books I have read assume you are going to do whatever it takes to profit from your invention and then lead you through the steps. The Inventor's Bible helps you evaluate your invention and then shows you what to overcome to make a profit. If going through that process makes some people reconsider whether their good idea just isn't good enough, then they will be wiser and richer for it.
That being said, after reading the book, I feel more confident that my invention will make me money. At the same time, I now know that it's going to take much longer than I expected, so I'm planning accordingly.
Great Resource for Inventors - highly recommend.......2004-03-11
I found this book very helpful. I am an engineer currently working on bringing my alternative energy invention to market. Not only I found a bunch of good advice in this book but this book made me feel that even though marketing my invention will be a lot of work, it can be done. I've read several similar books ("Idiot's guide.." and "Patents to Profit") but I think what set this one apart for me were the case studies. Reading what some of the other inventors went thru, their rises and their falls, makes you feel like you are already part of that group. I highly recommend this book.
Average customer rating:
- Suspend disbelief to enjoy this one
- Sassy, wise-cracking heroine
- Don't waste your money or your time!
- Early signs of greatness
- A "FUN" Legal Thriller
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Running from the Law
Lisa Scottoline
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Legal Tender
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ASIN: 0061094110
Release Date: 2000-02-02 |
Book Description
Whether it's poker or trial law, wisecracking Rita Morrone plays to win, especially when she takes on the defense of the Honorable Fiske Hamilton, a prominent federal judge accused of sexual harassment. And it's no coincidence that the judge is her live-in lover's father. Then the action turns deadly, and Rita finds herself at the center of a murder case. She probes deep into the murder, uncovering a secret life and suspects in shocking places. When the killer viciously ups the ante, Rita decides to end this lethal game. She lays it all on the line for the highest stakes ever—her life.
Download Description
"Whether it's poker or trial law, wisecracking Rita Morrone plays to win, especially when she takes on the defense of the Honorable Fiske Hamilton, a prominent federal judge accused of sexual harassment. And it's no coincidence that the judge is her live-in lover's father. Then the action turns deadly, and Rita finds herself at the center of a murder case. She probes deep into the murder, uncovering a secret life and suspects in shocking places. When the killer viciously ups the ante, Rita decides to end this lethal game. She lays it all on the line for the highest stakes ever. "Sharp, intelligent, funny, and hip. [Scottoline] gives fans of legal thrillers a good, twisty plot" (USA Today).
Customer Reviews:
Suspend disbelief to enjoy this one.......2006-09-16
Rita Morrone is a trial lawyer in Philadelphia who not only defends her clients, but upstages the entire local police force by single-handedly solving the crimes for which her clients are charged. Believable? Well, hardly, but it does make for an intriguing plot.
Rita's live-in boyfriend Paul is a forensic architect (a WHAT? do I hear you gasp?) and his father a respected and well-off federal judge. When Daddy is accused of sexually harassing his young secretary, Patricia, Rita naturally takes on his defence. Then the secretary is found murdered, and the judge and son Paul, who had also been carrying on an affair with Patricia, both come under suspicion. The judge is charged with the murder, and Rita not only takes on his case, but determines to prove him innocent, at tremendous risk to herself, by attempting to uncover the true identity of the killer.
Lisa Scottoline has written a fast-moving tale, with plenty of plot twists and more than a couple of red herrings. The dialogue is feisty, witty, and very bitchy in places. The characterisations are sharp, particularly those of Rita's butcher father and his poker-playing cronies, who come across as full of spirit and humour, and the book makes for an entertaining read -- if you can suspend disbelief long enough to accept the basic plot.
Sassy, wise-cracking heroine.......2006-07-24
Rita Marrone thinks that she has her life in order. She is a samrt, young lawyer who lives with a handsome architect, plays poker with her Italian father and his friends, and wise-cracks her way through life. All of this changes when she agrees to take on a sexual harrassment case against federal judge Fiske Hamilton, who just happens to be the father of Paul, her live-in boyfriend. Things get complicated when the woman bringing the case against Hamilton is killed, and Rita hears from an eye witness who saw the judge near the victim's house at the time of the murder. Her own life and that of her friends and family are threatened when Rita begins to get too close to the truth. This is an entertaining read, and I especially liked the thoughts that go through Rita's head when she is trying her best to be polite to whomever she's talking to. I will be looking for more books by this author.
Don't waste your money or your time!.......2006-06-07
One of the absolute worst books I have read from the genre! It starts out with a promising storyline. Young, female lawyer hired to defend her live-in lover's father, who happens to be a judge. As the story moves along, rather slowly, there are a couple of small twists and turns. Then the reader is flat-out insulted. Rita, our young, hotshot lawyer dresses up her elderly father's mostly geriatric poker buddies and takes them to a car dealership to do some investigating on the Judge's case. The so called investigating continues at the crime scene as a one-armed, yes...one-armed, geriatric, poker buddy portrays a hedge trimming landscaper while Rita combs the grounds of the property. Give me a break! I have four other Scottoline books on the shelf that will not be read. It's no wonder I was able to pick them up for $2 each at a charity book sale for the library! I don't even that the heart to donate them back for this year's sale. I would hate to see another reader sucked in my Ms. Scottoline's credentials or an appealing back cover summary of the novel.
Early signs of greatness.......2005-09-19
Who knew in 1996 that Lisa was going to be a superstar in the legal fiction field. I grew up in a 95% Italian immigrant community. Her character development is so real I was continually picturing all the beautiful people I grew to know and love.
The plot has great twists and really moves quite well. If you haven't read many of Lisa's newer books, you would do well to digest these earlier offerings. It really helps to see how her style has developed and improved. I would recommend all of Lisa's works if you enjoy strong, intelligent, and resourceful female characters - supported entirely by wonderful ethnic family and friends. If you don't like plots and characters that are well developed and real, you'll be in that small minority that don't enjoy Lisa's work.
I love these components and look forward to every new work that Lisa grinds out.
A "FUN" Legal Thriller.......2005-08-05
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; I even laughed out loud a few times. I don't ever re-hash the storyline when I take the time out to do a review - it is done again & again - so you already know the essence. I will say that the plotline is sound, the dialog refreshing & the characters are endearing. RECOMMENDED!
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