As a teenager in London in the late 1960s I remember the daily ritual of nipping in to Joe Lyons Corner House to sneak a cup of tea and a last cigarette before going to school. Little did I (or any other customer) know what had been going on behind the scenes. This book lets us in on the secret.

It tells how a UK catering company, J. Lyons and Co, got involved in the design, development and building of an electronic computer initially for their own use but subsequently for other customers. Written and edited by many of the people involved, the book is a mix of personal recollection and documentation from the period. It is the story of an extraordinary innovation, conceived and developed by a group of talented and incredibly hard-working people, made possible by the vision of the senior management who in 1949 "resolved to introduce, before anyone else in the world, what it called an 'automatic calculator'"

The book has four parts. Part I, by David Caminer gives a brief description of the successful running on a stored program electronic computer of the world's first regular routine office job in November 1951, and some background on Lyons. The rest of Part I charts the history of the development and use of the Leo computer and its derivatives from its conception in the late 1940s up to the demise of the Leo computers in 1968 by which time some 82 Leo systems had been installed. The last few, located at the Post Office, continued in service until 1981.

The rest of the book consists of personal contributions from many of the individuals who worked for Leo Computers. Part 2 provides an insight into the early task of programming - a non-trivial task in the days before computer languages had been developed. It includes reminiscences of many of the early applications that ran on LEO computers. Part 3 provides some more detailed recollections by those involved of working for specific customers. Part 4 documents the export efforts of LEO computers and later English Electric to gain a foothold in South Africa and the Iron Curtain and ends with an evaluation of the approach behind LEO by John Aris. A small number of appendices provide extra details to events depicted elsewhere in the book.

As well as being a fascinating piece of historical writing the book provides food for thought in the supposedly computer literate world of the 21st Century. Spectacular computer disasters such as the London Stock Exchange's Taurus system have left us with rather jaundiced perceptions about computer projects . Why were Lyons better at implementing computer systems?

One major factor was that before automating business processes the Lyons team ensured that they were well understood and ready for computerisation. Long before the prospect of computers came along, Lyons had established a systems research office with the brief to constantly search out how improvements might be made to the business by changing processes. Consequently, Lyons was more aware of the possible uses of computers and also that the large costs of development could be recouped. Lyons only computerised applications where it could see a clear business benefit. In contrast to much of the rest of the computer industry LEO's sales were based on an application-led approach rather than a technology-led approach. This was partly because LEO could not compete head to head in terms of technology but largely reflected the history of Lyons own innovative approach to business processes. It is clear from the book that Lyons consultants had a harder task implementing systems in their customers businesses than they did with their in-house applications.

Also the standards for good practice set by the management were extremely high. The "six articles of faith" documented in John Aris's evaluation of the LEO approach, which became embedded in the way the LEO teams went about their computerisation projects are another major factor. These can be summarised as follows: 1. The computer system should be thorough and radical. Understand the system as a whole. Re-think the processes rather than simply automate the existing ones. Make the system produce management information as well as transactions. Do a proper job. 2. Check everything. Program errors are a deadly sin, to be eliminated come what may. 3. Design of input and output documents is critical. 4. Detailed systems specifications must be written, agreed and frozen before any programming can begin. 5. Computer time is expensive, programmer time is cheap. Using a lot of human effort and ingenuity to minimise run times is an excellent bargain. 6. Before a computer can be configured enough work has to be done on both specification and detailed design to ensure it will be powerful enough.

While it may no longer be true that programmers are cheaper than run time, it seems that many of the problems related to software development even now might benefit from a stricter following of the other five articles of faith.

Of course the kinds of applications that LEO was devoted to might be considered routine today and the expectations of what can be done with computers are far greater. As long ago as 1972, Edgar Dikstra, a pioneer of computer science, recognised the problem that this expectation created when he wrote:

"as the power of the available machines grew by a factor or more of a thousand, society's ambition to apply these machines grew in proportion............ [t]he increased power of the hardware, together with the perhaps even more dramatic increase in its reliability, made solutions feasible that a programmer had not dared to dream about a few years before. And now, a few years later he had to dream about them and, even worse, he had to transform such dreams into reality!"

Most people would have thought that the people from Lyons who considered developing an electronic computer in 1947 were dreaming. This book is a fitting tribute to all those involved in daring to bring this particular dream to reality.

Amazon Review 21 January 2000

Professor Dick Nolan of the Harvard University Business School writes in his introduction to the book:

"This story has the best qualities of a Harvard Business School case study: it is an important event in the history of the business.

It is a study about extraordinary people ... As confident executives they look outside their company, in other countries, at universities to discover new ways of doing things and fresh ideas. In their bold actions, trust shows through as a foundation in implementing their vision. Young people are given free reign and do not disappoint. A resulting exiting, challenging 'can-do' culture is heard in the words of the people who were there."

From Dr Terry Gourvish, Director Business History Unit, LSE, in Business History Newssheet,

"This is a major contribution to the history of computing and computers in the UK. A full scale case study of LEO computers, written by members of the team who experienced all its trials and tribulations, it provides a fascinating insight into the development by J. Lyons & Co. of the first business computer in the UK."

From Neil Fitzgerald, editor of CA magazine, in The Scotsman, Business section. .

"Can-do culture, empowerment, user-driven innovation, business process re-engineering, flat organisations, quality, short lines of communications and decision making. We are led to believe that these are radical, modern ideas. However, a book that has come into my hands shows that they were being successfully harnesses almost half a century ago, to create the most significant event ever in business management.

The editors ... tell the story of how they and others built and put to work the world's first business computer. This did not happen in California's Silicon Valley, but at Cadby Hall, the ... west London premises of Lyons.

An important facet was that they felt they should always take a strategic view of the whole function to be computerised and make recommendations for improvements before going to work."

From Dr John Pinkerton, review in ICL Technical Journal

"Telling the story of how the foundations of data processing were laid from 1949 onwards has evidently been a labour of love.

This is a work of scholarship but eminently readable nevertheless. It will be seen as a major contribution to the history of business computing; it is strongly recommended for anyone already working in or studying to enter the field of IT."

From Michael Braithwaite, Deloitte, Touche, European Journal of Information Systems.

"I commend this book to a wide audience. To the general reader it stands as a very well written and exciting account of technological innovation. To the business school student it presents a remarkable story of technological success that, as a commercial venture was flawed, perhaps by factors beyond the control of the players."

From Professor George Mitchell, review published Journal of Operational Research Society..

"This fascinating book tells the life story of LEO. Rather over a third of the book is the historical record, carefully researched and engagingly written up by Caminer. The rest is largely personal memoirs of those involved in the early days, including accounts of several innovative applications. The whole is rounded off by an evaluation by Aris. The book's value is enhanced by the style of writing. Those who worked in LEO, especially in its earlier days, including many of the book's authors, exercised an influence on the development of business computing in the UK quite disproportionate to their numbers.

I found this book a good read and one which exited several strands of thought. Although its main market will be among scholars and students of IT and business studies, it deserves a wide readership in the OR community."

From John Perkins, National Computer Centre Newsletter,

"The book, ...., is a fascinating adventure story in which the dynamics of an extraordinary group of people made the seemingly impossible happen."

From Professor John Ward in the Journal of Strategic Information Systems.

"The story of that first business computer: Leo - Lyons Electronic Office - is told in this book. Whilst it is history, reflection on what was achieved and not achieved and why still has many lessons of relevance to the successful use of IT today - we seem to be learning painfully and slowly!.

.... a review by John Aris of what of what he calls the 'LEO approach' - an integrated combination of technology innovation, application and consultancy designed to enable significant business improvements from computer use in a range of situation. Many of these applications would be called 'business process redesign' in the 1990s!

The wide range of contributors provide many different perspectives on what happened and views on why things evolved the way they did. It is a set of memoirs - often very personal ones - of a time when Britain could be said to have led the world in the application of this new technology.

... it is a book that we should all be grateful the authors took the time and trouble to get together and write. It is a story of extraordinary achievements , by a talented team..."

From I. A. Lovelock in Management Accounting.

"This book is a first-hand account of how this astounding innovation came about. It is a flesh and blood, warts and all story related by the participants, brimming over with the same enthusiasm that enabled the unlikeliest of organisations to lead the way into the future that we are all familiar with today.

It concludes with different strands coming together to provide the essence of the LEO credo of comprehensive, integrated, secure, action stimulated implementations.

A LAND SO REMOTE

Prior to the holidays, I received a great gift, a copy of the beautifully produced three-volume study A Land So Remote, authored by Larry Frank and Skip Miller, and published by Marianne and Michael O'Shaughnessy of Red Crane Books, Publishers, Santa Fe.
Creation of a successful publication of this magnitude can only be accomplished by many who work in concert, in this case scholar, editor, publisher and, of course, those who are willing to share their treasures with anyone wishing to turn the pages in this landmark study. Frank and Miller have devoted a large percentage of their lives carefully studying and painstakingly handling objects-some of religious importance, powerful images that were the subject of daily devotion, while other objects that served a useful function in the lives of hundreds of thousands attempting to make their lives easier. To the Hispanic, Native American, and the Anglo, these objects were an integral part of daily life-whether as an expression of their spirituality, their intense religious devotion-- or to enable them to perform certain physical tasks-- cutting wood or baking bread.
The authors, in concert with photographer Michael O'Shaughnessy, have treated each object sympathetically, whether it be a santo or bulto, or packsaddle or carreta wheels, with the same level of care, even reverence. The real joy is in seeing so many diverse objects fashioned out of wood and other materials in significant numbers. How often have we had the opportunity of examining page after page of images beautifully organized and described. The authors, of course, treat us to a display of work by lesser known santeros, as well as the most celebrated, notably José Rafael Aragon. Volume two devotes pages 288 to 377 to some of the most powerful religious images by Aragon and his followers that the reader will ever experience.
Since 1974, I have been a frequent visitor to New Mexico and have written a few books on the Anglo painters. After reading Miller's and Frank's essays, I said to myself, "I wish I had written these words. Both scholars write with conviction and authority. They also write in a style I have labeled "an easy read." They have organized their material so that it makes sense. You understand why the objects were created, who created them and importantly, how they were created. Happily, these objects, some still in the churches in Ranchos de Taos, Chimayo, Taos, and chapels throughout the Southwest, others in museums and private collections, have been "gathered" and presented to the reader and viewer in a beautiful and effective manner (I was tempted to use the phrase elegant but refrained).
All reviews of the publication praise A Land So Remote for its visual appeal, handsome photographs," fascinating account of the history and culture of Hispanic New Mexico," scholarship, a major contribution to Hispanic studies. One critic even suggested that, before being placed in a glass case [with other rare books], it might serve as a coffee table book. Never! If anything, it will be a banquet table book, and will be the scene of great feasts-visual and literary. But their words, like mine, fail to express the impact this handsome three-volume study will have on you-the participant. This study will, like the objects that it treats, transcends time. Secure your copy. I can assure you that it will never gather dust (although it will go out-of-print).

Dean A. Porter, Ph. D.
Director Emeritus, The Snite Museum of Art
Professor of Art History
University of Notre Dame

Published by the vaunted Red Crane Books of Santa Fe, New Mexico, this three volume set on religious art and wooden artifacts of New Mexico is a rare, rich visual and intellectual repast. It would be a treasured gift, one to which collectors and aficionados will return time and again.

Larry Frank is remembered for "The New Kingdom of the Saints" (1997), while Skip Miller is curator and director, Taos Historic Museums.

With 842 stunning color photographs and 848 pages A Land so Remote surely holds the most comprehensive and accessible information on this subject. Many of the photos included are of rare objects gleaned from nine museums and a number of private collections. Carefully selected for the part each plays in this artistic corpus, photos are accompanied by concise essays that enhance knowledge while still piquing an interest to know more.

Volumes I and II beautifully present the growth of religious art during a period of over 125 years. It was a time when in order to undergird their faith Spanish settlers turned to santos, visual representations of saints. Thus was born an art form unique to America which once was of great import in churches, communities and homes.. Santos were, if you will, incarnations of the hopes and dreams of these immigrants.

"Rightly understood," author Frank remarks, "santos are a kind of 'liberation theology' written in the language of wood, plaster, and paint, an understanding of Christianity that empowers the poor to free themselves from unjust socioeconomic and cultural structures in the larger world and within themselves.

Volume III centers on wooden objects, such as tools, furniture, toys, and domestic utensils. These objects testify to the influence of the Spanish on the traditions of the indigenous inhabitants of this region.

Photographer Michael O'Shaughnessy described his task as a "...wonderful, often awesome, experience of having such close contact with material that radiates the love and importance that their makers brought to their creation."

Such is the case with readers as they leaf through the pages of these landmark volumes.

- Gail Cooke

This has been my favorite book every since I was born! I'm 13years old now, and I still ask my mom and dad to read it to me everynight. This book is great for everyone. The Last Puppy says that you can be last at EVERYTHING, but still, be first at something. I recommend it to everyone!

My wife, daughter and I all loved this book. The illustrations of the puppies being born are wonderful. My three year old got so emotionally involved in it that she could bearly stand to find out what happens to the "last puppy."

One of R. A. Montgomery's most sophisticated and bleak works, Last Run takes the reader inside a murky and sinister conspiracy. The protagonist is more richly detailed than most "you" characters, the setting (the Italian Dolomites) is interesting, and the endings, while largely unhappy, are dramatically satisfying. A must-read for all CYOA lovers.

I really enjoyed it, but for some reason, I could not find a ending where I demolished the Meridians. I wish that I did though. I thought that the plot was perfect. This was my most challenging Choose Your Own Adventure ever! It was well written and what I would say was the most wonderful and greatest book ever published. As a critic and fan of Choose Your Own Adventures, this was the literary masterpiece of young adult fiction everywhere. I acclaim it as a 10

I was impressed with the detail of where the main characters lived and how the main characters family interacted with one another. Particularily in light of the family history which was was delicately and slowly protrayed in the book. I was particulary impressed and held captive with the last chapter. It took unexpected turns and twists and I found myself holding my breath until the end of the chapter. I was spellbound.

I recently read Frank Jones's "The Last Secret" and I feel the need to address my feelings of this book here. I first must say that I was quite skeptical of the novel because of the subject mater that it deals with. I am a survivor of incest and childhood sexual abuse, so when I started to read this novel I was quite cynical about how true to life this book could really be. I started reading this book on a Wednesday and was finished with it the next day (Thanksgiving). I simply could not put it down, the book captured my attention in both content and with the issues that it raises. I found the issues expressed mirrored my own so radically that I really had to take a look at the relationships I have been in and see if I had behaved in a manner depicted in the book. I would recommend this book to any survivor of childhood sexual abuse as I have found it to be very theraputic. I also can recommend this book to supporters of survivors as I think that the insight that is given on the mind and feelings of a victim/survivor are invaluable. I also love the setting for this book and since I also live in the San Francisco Bay area I found the book to be true in every sense of the word. The language used is simply beautiful, it truly reads like poetry. I think that this book is one of the best I have ever read, only rivaled by "1984" by George Orwell. Do your self a favor and pick this book up for you or a friend. I am sure that you will not be able to put it down once you pick it up. This book is one that Oprah should place on her reading list! This book should be required reading for all students or english and psychology.

"Lebesgue Integration on Euclidean Space" is a nearly ideal introduction to Lebesgue measure, integration, and differentiation. Though he omits some crucial theory, such as Egorov's Theorem, Jones strengthens his book by offereing as examples subjects that others leave as exercises. The best example of this is his section on L^p spaces for 0 < p < 1.

The book's greatest strength, however, is its readability. Whereas Royden gives no hint as to how much work is needed between steps, Jones highlights important steps in proofs, not just the important proofs. It is this motivated style that makes his book useful.

Jones is so careful in his construction of the theory that differentiation does not appear until Chapter 15, and specific results for R^1 come only in Chapter 16. But the wait is worth it.

While Jones has written a great introduction, the book cannot be used for more advanced courses. As the title suggests, the discussion is restricted to Euclidean spaces. In addition, his direct jump to measure on R^n and the use of "special rectangles" therein make the development incongruous with other books. But what is sacrificed in depth is made up for in breadth, with Jones hinting at how the theory is used in other branches of math. There's even an entire chapter devoted to the Gamma function!

As a student, I have found Jones's book more instructive on basic theory than Royden, Rudin, and Wheeden & Zygmund. I highly recommend it as a first-semester introduction to Lebesgue theory or as a source of clean, fundamental presentations of proofs.

This book is a treasure trove of mathematical technique. It covers topics that are relevant to many broad areas of real and functional analysis including signal processing and approximation theory. The author takes the time not only to prove the results, but also to construct the proofs so that the technique is made explicit to the reader. The author also motivates definitions by breaking them into the successively more complicated pieces so as to build intuition in the reader.

I especially recommend this book to anyone who lacks formal training in mathematics or wishes to develop mathematical technique in the areas of real and functional analysis.

Wonderfull History of the breeding of Foundation Mares & Stallions of the AMerican Quarter Horse. I would not be without all 4 volumes in this series. I refer to them when considering a new horse purchase to research bloodlines for Temperment, type,usability and many other factors.

This is and excellent book in a series of four (so far) about sires and dams of significance in the Quarter Horse Breed. I learned about the horses from birth to death, successes and failures and the people in their lives. A pedigree is provided, and links are made from ancestors and offspring. I found it an excellent reference tool and enjoyed reading it. Another well written book from Western Horseman.

My family practice physician "prescribed" this book for me during a very dark period in my life. It's short, practical and a very easy read. I make it a practice to re-read the book at least once a year.

While I've found the book makes an excellent gift for folks who are suffering, it's important for the giver to remember that reading this book -- or any book -- doesn't guarantee a magic fix. The reader must be committed to change. But sometimes when we're suffering, we're so overwhelmed that we don't know where to begin. This book has some mightily powerful suggestions.

This book was the beginning of a journey that has changed my life. After suffering through many years of anxiety and depression, among other things, The Lies We Believe showed me the misconceptions that I had been letting cause my unhappiness and ultimately it has led me to a deeper understanding of myself and Jesus Christ. If you take the Truth from this book to heart, you also can experience the peace that has begun to flow in my life.

A collection of intense scary stories that are accompanied with an orchestral background. Great for the scary story reader (not for children under 14). I personlly give this CD a five star rating. Very well put together.

Have you ever read a book that was so engrossing that you couldn't put it down? You had to read it from cover to cover. The stores in this Cd have the same effect.

My favorite story is the first one in which the man learns he is buried alive and after struggling for what seems hours he escapes his coffin prison only to meet a twist of fate he did not count on. The special music recorded in Russia by a full symphony orchestra drives the horror of this mans delima home. The narration by Jim McDonnell is especially effective.

I highly reccommend "Little Evil Things" Vol. 3. Listen to it when your ready for bed and I guarantee you won't sleep well but you won't care either. It's a fun trip.

My two year old and four year old love this story, evert night before they go to bed I ask them if they want to read "Little red monkey" again, and of course they do. They love this story so much that they will say the last word of a line on their own, and at the end of the story they scream, "IN HIS UNDERPANTS!!" and fall down laughing! Jonathan London did a very good job of writing this story.

"Little Red Monkey" is a delight for small children--brightly colored characters and animated rhythms introduce them to an experience beyond pastels and pat the bunny. London is masterful with the modern view of a child's world.