This book about Louis XIV is an example of all of the good things that an academic biography can be. Wolf is literate, stylish, and keeps the pace going while placing Louis's life, and his frequently extreme actions, in their proper historic context. For instance, Louis's incessant warmaking arose not out of a sadistic urge to send as many armies to the slaughter as possible, but from the prevailing seventeenth-century philosophies of statecraft and diplomacy, as inculcated in him by his mentor (and de facto stepfather) Cardinal Mazarin. Louis's preference for absolute and personal rule was a reaction against the lawlessness of the "Fronde" revolts that occurred during his minority. His intolerance of the Protestant Hugenots was short-sighted, but his Catholicism was sincere - and he spent the last years of his life repenting his many extra-marital affairs. For all the glamor of his reign - the palaces, the splendid mistresses, the glorious campaigns and sieges - Louis's last years were punctuated by military disaster, and he (bizarrely) attributed this near-loss in the War of the Spanish Succession as God's punishment for his earlier adulteries. While, as Wolf establishes, the reign of Louis XIV was epoch making, he himself leaves us with few bon mots or merry sayings, and for all of the sparkle and glamor of the era, one suspects that Louis himself was a rather humourless man. But never dull.

I had to select a text on Louis XIV to read, and chose this one based on the fact that is simply appeared to be the most authoritative. My hunch turned out to be correct. This book is filled with surely close to every detail on the Sun King, yet provides such information in a context that makes for a very interesting read. Every aspect of the monarch's life is considered, every stereotype of his absolutist reign analyzed. John Wolf leaves no stone unturned in his quest to uncover the true Louis XIV and the environment that made him.

Louis XIV is one of those figures of history who attract a variety of biographers and who can blame them? He was king at 5 years, set France on the road to being the leading power in Europe, built Versailles, waged war against the "Grand Alliance" (led by Winston Churchill's ancestor) and died following the deaths of most of his family. Two contemporaries, his sister-in-law, the Duchess of Orleans and the Duc de Saint Simon wrote extensively about what it was like to live within the orbit of the sun king. The gossip-packed writings of both have served to create cottage industry (at least in the UK and America) in which Louis XIV is remembered as a great figure, with a great story. However, few dwell on any of Louis's achievements (other than the construction of Versailles).

This is what sets Professor Wolf's book apart from the others, for it is Louis the soldier, not Louis the lover that is explored here. If one wants to understand the workings of 17th and 18th century France and indeed Europe, one can not do better than this outstanding book. Unfortunately, this book is not widely available and this is tragic, since it is one of the best works of scholarship in the 20th century. I would recommend, if one is seeking to understand the dynamics of France and Louis (and the two were much the same during the period in question), to seek out a second hand version of this book. While the text can at times be demanding, it is well worth the effort.

Guy Kawasaki has written a great book on Apple and the Apple business method. Very funny. Extremely unique and marvelous, like Apple. Perfect for brushing up your Mac Evangelist skills! One of the best books I've ever read, and I'm not even done! Guy truly embodies the Macintosh Spirit. everything about the book, from the footnotes to the illustrations, is like the artistic perfection of Macintoshes! GUY KAWASAKI RULES!!!EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK AND BUY A MAC!!!!!!

The teams I have been a part of that followed the basic attitude that Guy outlines here have accomplished amazing things against all odds. On other teams, the farther we got away from these ideas, the more mediocre the end results turned out. If you want to create an environment where world changing events will happen, you need to read this book.

Guy Kawasaki's "The Macintosh Way" empowers the very essence of understanding the principles of evangelism and doing the "right thing the right way" in business. This book and his other book " "Selling the Dream" should be required reading for startup companies. Values and principles in business are the key to success. Guy's keen sense of humour and reference to examples of what did and didn't work for the Apple Computer Corporation, while he worked there in the early 80's, is a fascinating perspective. Here, you will see how an successful company like Apple grows from innovation to mediocrity. For Mac users, this is a praticularly fascinating insight but should be required reading for all CEO's and directors of growing companies. It is an insightful collection of practicle examples of what and what not to do in business.

I read Marvin Redpost, A Magic Crystal? It was a good, funny, exciting, COOL book. Do you think that others will read it? Well I hope that people will read the book because its fun to read it! Kids can read this book when they are in first through third grad!! You can get other book of Marvin Redpost books in you local library!

It all started with Casey Happleton. She was the most unusual girl Marvin Redpost had ever met. She lived in an old fire station. Actually, it had been remodeled and on the inside looked pretty much like a regular house, except for the fire pole right in the middle of the living room. The pole went all the way up to the fourth floor and Casey was allowed to slide down on it. And, she had a big secret...a magic crystal. It used to be a normal rock, but had been struck by lightning in the storm the night before and now, if you made a wish on the magic crystal, it would come true. Casey had already tested it out. She had wished that Marvin would come over to her house and he had. Marvin was pretty skeptical about the magic and so he decided to test it himself. He wished that everyone would be in school the next day, no absences and the next day, everyone was in class. Then Casey wished for homemade cookies for an afterschool snack and a plate was waiting for them when she and Marvin got to his house later that day. Marvin figured the magic could be a coincidence and was pretty iffy. Casey was beginning to get on his nerves, always babbling away about the magic crystal and wishes and he finally got so angry that he wished she'd just shut up. And she did. She stopped talking completely. Now Marvin is starting to panic. No sounds are coming out of Casey's mouth and he doesn't know what to do..... Louis Sachar has written a delightful, silly and endearing story youngsters 6-10 will really enjoy. His writing is funny and true to life, his characters real people that kids can identify with and his scenes are vivid and at times laugh-out-loud funny. A Magic Crystal is a wonderful addition to the Marvin Redpost series.

Louis Sachar's tricks on words in "A Magic Crystal (Marvin Redpost Series)" will have you and your child giggling, laughing, and even roaring. This story captivated my 6-year-olds' interest without the need for lots of pictures. I found myself enjoying it just as much as he did. My son could really relate to the characters and was excited by the plot. There is no better feeling for a parent when your child asks for more.

I found this to be a detailed look at just about every theory that has been expounded about the Iron Mask. The great part was reading each new guess, agreeing with the author on the possibilities, then realizing that it couldn't possibly be that person because Noone then demolishes the theory. Highly enjoyable, and a read that hopefully will put away the tiresome "Twin Brother of Louis XIV" theory for good.

This is one of the most complete compendia of theories as to who was the Man in the Iron Mask. However, at the end, Noone totally negates all theories in favor of his own: that the MITIM was...well I will let you find out for yourselves. It is a silly end to a great book.

The MITIM is one of the enduring mysteries of French History, in itself fascinating even without the secret that has been hidden for 350 years. Will someone ever solve it? Perhaps.

Excellent! This book is a must for anyone interested in the "Man in the Iron Mask". Mr. Noone reveals some very interesting theories and possibilities as to who the MITIM really is. I STRONGLY recommend it!

This book, containing plenty of cases in accordance with each topic in every chapter, gives readers hand-on perception on how the theory exists within the business world. I especially love chapter 8:"Channel Power", which specifies 5 powers a manufacturer or distributor may owns and how to deploy them properly in different situation or period. While you read, the book keeps you thinking about your own business and desiring to apply these breakthrough knowledge tomorrow, great!

It's been said that experience is inevitable, but learning is not. The latest and greatest edition of the classic MBA textbook "Marketing Channels" offers distribution and marketing executives a chance to remedy that situation.

Anne and Erin, professors at the Kellogg School and INSEAD respectively, are the two lead authors. So be forewarned -- this is an academic textbook. It's challenging, rigorous, and thought provoking.

The sixth edition is organized around a comprehensive framework for channel strategy. Each chapter walks through a different element of the framework. This approach integrates a wide range of material while making it easy to sample just the strategic topics that are relevant to your business.

Here are a few of my favorite sections in this book:

- Chapter 3 describes a methodology for segmenting customers in a channel. (Namely, focus on how end-user customers buy and what value they seek from their channel. Don't simply measure which products they buy or who they are.)

- Chapters 7 and 10 present frameworks to analyze two common channel strategy decisions - Should we sell direct or use distributors? How many distributors should we authorize?

- Chapter 11 is a wonderful and practical synthesis of Erin's 20+ years of research on creating effective and profitable strategic alliances in distribution.

- Chapter 14 demonstrates how their channel strategy framework applies to electronic channels. (There are many excellent e-commerce examples throughout the book.)

- Chapter 15 provides a great overview of the fundamental issues facing the wholesale distribution channel. It's a dramatic improvement over previous editions of this book.

The book is also chock-full of detailed case studies and examples from a wide range of industries, both domestic and international.

Marketing Channels is a must-own for anyone who thinks strategically about marketing channels and supply chains. As both a channel strategy consultant and one of Erin's former students, I can personally vouch for the validity of their insights into channel strategy. You will not be disappointed by the quality and rigor of thinking in this book.

The book also has its own website , although there is not very much content on the site yet.

In a business world that is constantly changing, it is absolutely critical to understand the function and behavior of marketing channels -- that is, the roles that manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers play in the channel of distribution. The businesses that understand these tenets will be able to adapt to changes in the marketplace, and those who do not, will ultimately fail.

This is the 5th edition of the original book that developed the theories that explain the structure and behavior of marketing channels. There is still nothing better. For those who understand the significance of channels, it provides a clear roadmap for the analysis of changes. For those who do not, it will explain channel member behavior and illuminate recent successes due to channel management (Walmart, Dell Computer), so that you can understand how the lessons can be applied to your business.

I recommend this book to all business managers, not just to read once, but to keep in your office and refer to often through the years in order to navigate the high seas of channel change.

If you're a musician who has to worry about rhythm (which is everyone) this book is a must-read. I'm a guitarist and this has helped my rhythm playing more than any high-priced book, video or lesson out there. Louis Bellson's book forced me to view rhythm in a disciplined manner. Even after working through only 5 or 6 pages, the book paid for itself. It's got enough exercises to keep me busy for a lifetime.

Its cover may give the appearance of a sterile high-school drum major's book, but don't let its cheesy orange color (or very low price, for that matter) fool you. This is a serious rhythm book, guaranteed to help you establish a groove, make your music funkier (if that's what you're going for), and give your internal clock a well-deserved workout.

Bellson and Breines have accomplished what few authors on rhythmic perception are able to do: they have managed to combine a comprehensive overview of the most commonly-occuring notations in jazz, popular and Latin music repertoire with a sense of poetic lyricism, even if the book is based on only one note. The text is systematically laid-out, progressing from simple to difficult within all possible subdivisions of 4/4, yet maintains a constant sense of swing and realistic momentum. Every line of notation easily translates into melody and there are constant surprises; there was a tremendous amount of thought and love put into this work, and every imaginable kind of notation for the same rhythm is included in the text. Makes for excellent and challenging, not to mention inspiring exploration. Thank you Louis and Gil. Bravo!

This is a great book for bass players, as well as, drummers. It gives progressively challenging rhythm reading exercises. It gives examples using quarter-notes, eight-notes, tied rhythms, dotted rhythms, 16th-notes, etc. It presents a rhythm in a variety of ways that allow the user to see how the same musical sound can written in different ways. It is very mathmatical in its presentation. Although I was initially intimidated by the material, by working steadily,I have been able to build my confidence handling this type of material. Highly recommended.

This series just keeps getting better and better! And I do hope it continues. The relationship between Meg and Sarah is engaging and realistic. The mystery becomes secondary to me when these two are together. Meg's niece makes for a nice character to play off of, as does Patrick again. But nothing beats Darcy and Lindstrom!

The writing in this series just gets better! The characters are feisty and funny! . Meg and Sarah are a couple to be reckoned with and even the secondary characters are interesting. Do yourself a favour and read this series. I just hope we do not have to wait another two years for the next book. This series is a rival to J.M. Redman and Jaye Maiman for great lead characters.

....as do the authors of this series. I enjoyed this book so much that I dug out the first two books of the series to reread. Meg and Sarah are the perfect foils for each other. If you haven't read any of this series yet, start with "Cemetery Murders" and work your way through. They are worth reading.

The Mountain Valley War was first published (paper) back in 5/78. I bought my copy published 2/79. As always I read the book with-in the next day or so. so it's been about 23 yrs. gone by. I always write a short note in the book describing my opinions. It seems as if I was overjoyed with the book as I wrote "what a fabulous story", or was it, I'd been dreaming and placing myself in the lead character's shoes, something I do often. Louis's books are fabulous. If you don't find that to be so you might not like any westerns.

The second of the three novels about Lance Kilkenny, a man with an unwanted reputation as a gunfighter, now he's got himself a small piece of land, a few head of cattle and has hung up his guns. A good novel, though personally I favour the other two Kilkenny novels ("The Rider of Lost Creek" and "Kilkenny") but this one is not far behind. It's obvious that L'Amour knows his characters well, like all good writers for any medium should. Here Kilkenny finds he has to defend his land, and organise his neighbours, in a small war against a power mad cattle baron.

I have read over 80 of L'Amour's books, and this one was terrific! If you've read (and liked) Kilkenny, then you'll love this one, too. Kilkenny is a fascinating character in this book, and L'Amour has given him quite the brain to defeat the Hale gang. A must read!!!

Monique Felix's inviting mouse illustrations in Robert Lewis Stevenson's My Shadow provides an inviting mix of rollicking rhyme and whimsical mouse illustrations. Kids will learn a new appreciation of the poetic style will enjoying the mouse's lively adventures.

This classic poem by Robert Louis Stevenson displayed by wonderful illustrations! Penny Dale's talent shines in the clear pictures, that re a joy to look at over and over again. It only made the poem better for me, and my entire classroom of 5 year olds!

MY SHADOW (illustrated by Ted Rand) is on our short list for best picture book. Our four kids all loved the pictures and, of course, the poem. I would recommend the book as a toddler picture book rather than a beginning reader--the pictures are beautiful and engaging and the poem is suitable for little children.

This book is excellent and really gets to the heart of the very nature of negotion. It is both insightful, and practical. I reccomend this book strongly and give my compliments to Chester L. Karrass!

I initially started reading a 1970's version of the book while on vacation, but was unable to bring the book with me. The content is right on. I am pleased there is a new revised edition with modern day examples and analogies. I am purchasing several copies as gifts. I highly recommend it. For those shying away from the "self help" genre, make this an exception.

Mr. Karrass' years of experience provide an excellent and credible background. In combination with the tapes, he portrays real-life examples of how he discovers the true motivations behind a sellers' needs, helps the seller reach those needs, and get a better all-around deal for himself in the process. Mr. Karrass truly seeks to improve the deal for both parties involved.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. The techniques apply to both personal and business life.