I came into this book assuming a book on the history of Jack Welch's early years with GE. It ended up being much more and I was pleasantly surprised at the overall educational value of the book.

The book is broken down into three "acts" which recount the years of Jack Welch - when and how he was made the CEO with GE, the early years of layoffs, the early resistance to his ideas, reorganization of GE, the need for globalization, and eventual acceptance of his ideas as he empowered GE's employees. Welch's ideas of empowering the employee encompassed such things as "boundarylessness", strong values, leadership, simplicity, and productivity. As the book progresses, the reader is provided with the real world GE examples that qualified Jack's ideas and their results. Nor does the book hold back from describing Jack's missteps and describes the lessons learned.

Overall the book was a good read. The examples read as stories that both entertain and educate. Welch's ideas, as presented in Control Your Destiny, are probably now considered common sense business practices. The ideas seem simple today, yet were revolutionary for that time as you'll read.

The end of the book provides a manual that can be used to carry out a similar revolution with your business and employees. I didn't really work my way through it - it seemed more appropriate for larger organizations.

Tichy is a guru of all gurus and he has a winner with this book. Highly recommended.

'Control Destiny or Someone Else Will' is deeply insightful and comprehensive examination of GE's transformation. It contains detailed, valuable lessons for all those interested in Jack Welch and his GE, as revolutionaries.

Noel M.Tichy and Stratford Sherman write, "The old way, exemplified by Henry Ford's production line, calls for top managers to analyze the work that needs to be done, then devise rules even an idiot can follow. Managers, divorced from the actual work, become bureaucrats, while their frustrated subordinates tighten the bolts...The new way-GE's way-breaks the intellectual framework that defines the limits of traditional management...Instead of seeking better ways to control workers, Welch says he aims to liberate them. As he explains, that goal is based on self-interest: The old organization was built on control, but the world has changed. The world is moving at such a pace that control has become a limitation. It slows you down. You've got to balance freedom with some control, but you've got to have more freedom than you ever dreamed of" (pp.19-20).

At this point, after outlining basic characteristics of old and new ways, Noel M.Tichy describes the difference between them in terms of sports:

1. Old Way-Machine Age: Hierarchical, control-focused, and bureaucratic. He notes, "The old GE resembled a football team: Each player had carefully prescribed roles, yielding a carefully orchestrated pattern. The coach called all the plays. Even the strategic-planning guidebook that governed GE policy were like the playbooks in football."

2. New Way-Information Age: Networks, flexibility, knowledge, and creation. He notes, "The New Way GE is like hockey; roles are blurred, play flows uncontrollably from one side of the rink to the other, there are no timeouts, players adjust to new situations almost every moment and think for themselves while looking out for the team as a whole."

In this context, throughout the book, Tichy and Sherman show GE's process of corporate transformation as three-act drama.

I highly recommend this business classic to all revolutionaries of the new century.

Although I admit being choked up in parts of the book, I won't say which parts, I feel "The Last Noel" was a piece of fluff compared to Michael Malone's other books. I have always enjoyed the depth of Mr. Malone's characters but feel the characters in this book were soap opera like in a way. I enjoyed reading the book, but felt it was less than I expected.

"The Last Noel" is elliptical, beginning and ending at Christmas time when all our emotions spike: higher highs, lower lows. This novel is such a joy to read that at first it seems a box of bonbons wrapped in every conceivable variety of seasonal glitter; as light and enjoyable as the snow-starred sled zipping down its stylish vellum cover. Michael Malone's beautiful torrent of carefully chosen words often blurs the line between prose and poetry. This balanced, structured novel is indeed a Christmas confection. That and so much more.

Malone's richly textured work is accomplished using a panoply of methodology: his osmotic knowledge of history, his appreciation of music, his unerring ear for the cadences of idiomatic dialogue, and his encyclopedic compendium of pop culture. These provide the musculature which clothe his elegant twelve day framework. Malone always has great heart, compassion, and humor to spare. This novel is no exception as he takes us deep into the lives of characters who live side by side, but who are poles apart.

For over a generatioin, Malone sweeps the reader along with Noni and Kaye as they grow up in the new south. We bring our own memories to the civil rights struggle, to a frightening number of murders and assassinations, Vietnam, and Watergate: events which shook our nation. We sing along with snippets of pop songs quoted, and remember mini-skirts, high boots, Afros, and can luxuriate in recalling Noni's tried and true classical piano music. The love story between rich, white, upper crust Noni and poor, black, lowest rung on the social ladder, Kaye creates a sexual tension which is palpable. The brave and decent struggles of these two who are forbidden to love is captivating and the denouement will prove that you can read while crying and snubbing into an industrial strength tissue.

Sound like too much perfection? Well, one negative criticism might be that Noni is a heroine too good to be true. Shouldn't we be told more about her weaknesses? We know what they are, but they are not as fully developed as Kaye's. However... Charles Dickens (to whom Malone is often compared) created many female characters who are much more lacking in the life-like department than Noni is. Generally, Malone understands the way a woman thinks and feels. More so than most male writers. But is Noni, whom I loved, a smidgen too angelic? Nit picking aside, she is still unforgettable.

When the subject is miscegenation, inevitably, Desdemona and Othello are bound to come to mind. And if not the mixing of the races, then that of social class is the crux. Cathy and Heathcliff are the predecessors of Noni and Kaye, as are, perhaps Estella and Pip. No matter. When the time comes for Dr, Michael Malone to conduct his first seminar in that great class room in the sky, his friends, Shakespeare, Emily Bronte, and Charles Dickens will welcome him as a kindred spirit. And if I am lucky enough to be there, I'll check my wings, settle a cloud against my back and be allowed to audit. That would undoubtedly be Heaven.

I picked "the last noel" off the shelf because of the unique & festive cover which looked like a perfect read for the Holidays, and was happy to find that sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover. This was my first novel by Michael Malone & I found his writing style to be wonderful, entertaining and easy to read, as well as discriptive and moving.

The story begins with 7 year old Kaye intruding upon Noni one wintery, snowy night, where they journey out into the freshly fallen snow and take off on Noni's new beautiful red sled with her name engraved upon it. Thus begins a lasting yet tumultuous friendship between the two. The Last Noel is written quite creatively, as the novel spans 12 different Christmases at various points in Kaye & Noni's lives. At their homes of Clayhome & Heaven's Hill you will meet many lovable characters. The story spans the relationship of Noni & Kaye as they struggle to love one another at the right times and in the right ways. There is also an undercurrent of racial tension, but the heart of the story lies with this loving yet frustrating couple.

The Last Noel is a cozy and moving story that will stay with me~

Steve Roby, a well known Hendrix archivist as collected information on audio, film and video recordings of Hendrix, either in circulation or 'lost'. There is a wealth of info that Hendrix collectors, such as myself, will be able to use for years. Roby also hopes that 'lost' recordings will surface from someone reading his new book.

Excellent read and addition for any hendrix fan or any interested party.The material is very well researched and provides excellent background material as well as the current status of hendrix recordings,videos,etc.What was most interesting to me were the background stories of the material itself and the authors superb presentation and style of writing .The book is simply a must.Thank you Mr.Roby

This is the Hendrix book fans have waited for. While Hendrix's catalog has been messy (compared to the Beatles), Roby has researched & documented Hendrix's many amazing collaborations, unreleased gems, and new directions, both audio and video. Roby proves that Hendrix deserves another Top 40 credit with "Mercy,Mercy" with Don Covay. Very well documented (endless end notes!) and highly entertaining for any level of music fan. Check out the new stuff on Jimi with Miles Davis, Jayne Mansfield, or Frank Zappa!

This book has everything. There are pictures in here of virtually all 246 species (give or take a few). There are great summaries about each animal and a hearty set of basic references for each. I love this book and look at it all the time. A must for anyone who loves primates.

The Pictoral Guide to the Living Primates is the most outstanding book I have seen of its kind. As a zookeeper and lover of primates, I have researched various books and have not found one as complete as this book. Most books only have pictures of some of the primates, whereas this book has at least one picture for each species. The information provided for each species is thorough, yet simlpy written making it much more enjoyable to read. I greatly recommend this book to anyone intersted in or researching primates. A great find.

This guide to the living primates is by far the best guide I have come accross in my studies. The author has gone out of his way to photograph the subjuct animals in their natural environment, relying on captive photos only when absolutely nescessary. I find myself using this book over and over, both professionally and personally. The photos are beautiful and the write ups are concise and well written. I love the page on Homo sapiens, which has a mirror instead of a photo. The write up on the humans is amusing as well. All in all the best of its kind. I really need to purchase another, mine is falling apart simply from use. A must for any physical anthropology student, environmentalist or nature lover.

I had to buy this book as part of the paragliding training course I did last year. the book prepared me well, and I still find myself thumbing through it every now and again. the sport of paragliding is moving forward technology-wise and my only criticism would be that the book is dating quickly but I have just noticed that Noel Whittal has released an updated version of the book..it would be a good idea to get the latest version.

I bought this book in anticipation of taking paragliding lessons because I just could not wait and had to have something to whet my appetite. This book did just that. I'm still waiting to take those lessons but this book will have me prepped when I do.

All I can say is that this book is a must have for anyone planning to take up this incredible sport. Its full of great pictures and ilustrations that help you with all the basic procedures of paragliding. Not to mention its excellent quality, picture ilustrations, and binding. Have Fun!...

This is a looong read but it is well worth it in the end. I found that taking this book chapter by chapter was the best way to read, because sometimes you find yourself reading the chapter's twice. Wolf offers an insighful and opinionated view of European and Imperial history. I would advise anyone who is interested in history and modern political relations, its a great overview of well....everything that happened in European history involving trade, imperialism, and colonial relations.

Europe and the People Without History describes the very process by which capitalism has spread and permeated throughout the world. Wolf's narrative starts from AD 1400 and ends in the 20th century. He traces the historical events associated with the expansion of European commerce, paying extra attention to the people ignored by traditional history, those who either resisted to the death or toiled under the drudgery of capitalism.

Instead of viewing nations or "tribes" (a problematic term in anthropology) as isolated and coherent entities, Wolf is concerned with the international and intercultural processes that is continually creating new nations, new cultures, new identities. In turn Wolf warns against the reification of complex processes or elements into one seemingly unified term. I find this perspective especially valuable. Generalizations and broad categories must be used with caution, since words and concepts merely reflect aspects of reality, but they themselves are not to be equated with reality.

Another merit of Wolf is his world systems approach. He analyzes world history as a system in which disparate and distant social groups can have important influence on each other. This analytic method rejects the notion that countries are independent and self-contained systems, but instead they are interrelatetd in the larger global processes of change.

Finally, readers should pay extra attention to the concluding chapter. It discusses the nature of ideology, about how it is formed and how it is perpetuated. Wolf reminds the readers that common terms and categories are not innocent words - they are the offspring of constant construction, deconstruction, and redefinition of power relations.

In short, Europe and the People without History will impact the minds of those who have not been exposed to the history of capitalist and colonial expansion. It will force people living in developed nations to reconsider the historical source of their affluency and wealth. Despite the dispassionate and objective tone used in Wolf's analysis of global history, I cannot help but read the book as a somber epitaph to the silent victims of colonization and globalization.

- Malcolm Godwin

Wolf breaks the paradigm that the world ever was full of isolated pockets of civilized people void of contact with others. By tracing routes of fur trade, slave trade, early movements of people, materials and ideas, Wolf examines the world before Europe "civilized" the world. He is able to show how contact with European traders change the lifestyles of groups of people who already had fully developed cultural, linguistic and political traditions. How trade, bureaucracy, military force and violence influenced the people with whom the traders contacted illustrates the fact that "globalization" is hardly a recent phenomenon.
This provides the background for understanding the current changes in the transition of ideas in the world. Without Wolf's excellent work, it becomes possible to get lulled into the trap that the "Internet" changed the world. In fact, it did not provide contact for people where none previously existed. Electronic media does provide a new medium by which the transfer of ideas can take place. It changes the nature of that transmission, but it does not create a transmission where none previously existed.

Noel Hynd's books are all rather slow-paced and "Lost Boy" is no exception. While I like the characters of Michael Chandler and Ellen Wilder, their constant rehashing of their background crises is overdone and essentially seems to be Hynd's way to pad the book. Chandler's death experience is frightening, but we are over-saturated with his feelings about it; same goes for Ellen Wilder and her decision to buy the failing newspaper and her regrets over giving up a child for adoption. The "Lost Boy" of the title is really two lost boys, as the reader will find out. The Corbett family is despicable and typically redneck, which is odd for a Connecticut setting. They are so over-the-top sometimes that it's almost farcical. Franny Corbett is initially pictured as such an evil force that when we find out who he really is and why he's like that, it seems like such a turnaround...not totally credible.
Why give it three stars? The book has some really frightening sequences, and in spite of the length, I found the book a good read. When Franny shows Chandler some of his "tricks" in the cemetery, including making it snow, there is a poignancy and haunting atmosphere realistically conjured.
Hynd is not one of my favorite "spook" authors, but he has given us some good chills in the past and this book is worth a read if you like ghost stories.

After a few disappointing novels, Noel Hynd is back with a strong super creepy title. Reminiscent of Ghost, one of the best novels I have ever read, this book will keep you turning the paged till the wee hours of the morning. If you like ghost stories that will make your hair stand on end then this is the book for you.

What can I say, this book is one of the most moving, thought provoking books I have come across. I read it 2 years ago, and recommend it to anyone looking for a great read. I think Noel Hynd is an author who definately deserves more recognition.

Malcolm's BOSNIA: A SHORT HISTORY is an outstanding work. The book shows the range of Bosnian history and the rich complexity and texture of its various religions. It puts into perspective the savage attack on Bosnia, both by nationalist militias and by propagandist media within the former Yugoslavia.

Particularly impressive is the discussion of the Bosnian Church, which brings into a clear and accessible language the breakthroughs by Balkan and Western historians on early Bosnian Church history. Malcolm demolishes the mythologized history of the Serbian and Croatian militias by showing that the patterns of conversion in Bosnia were historically complex. He refutes the notion that present day Catholics, Orthodox, and Muslims are derived in a straight pattern of blood descent from the 15th century. Indeed, there were large-scale conversions back and forth throughout the history of Bosnia.

This is no abstract scholarly debate. The stereotype that present-day Bosnian Muslims are descendants of "traitors" in the 15th century who betrayed Christianity is a key element in the attack on Bosnia and also a part of the mythology of "age old hatreds" promulgated by the architects of ethnic-cleansing and adopted by some Western policy makers and journalists.

Malcolm shows that Bosnia was for 500 years, despite its many tensions and wars, a successful civilization with different religions that engaged each other in complex ways far beyond the cliches of age-old hatreds.

This book is recommended for anyone who cares about the Balkans or who wishes to understand the stakes involved in the struggle against "ethnic cleansing."

Malcolm's analysis of the radical Serbian nationalism in Belgrade was unfortunately dismissed by some British political leaders and intellectuals. The horrors in Kosovo today are a tragic vindication of his analysis. Those who dismissed him with a facile refusal to acknowledge an unwelcome message, are left brutal evidence of what they denied.

Malcolm no doubt, and all of us, wish he had been wrong--or at least that his warnings, stated with such cogency and scholarly accuracy, had been heeded. There is still time to read this book now and allow the history of Bosnia to come through the smoke of genocide, ethnic-cleansing, and desires for religous apartheid based on historically false and destructive mythologies of age-old hatreds.

It is almost sad that the most accurate historic book about Bosnia was writen, not by a person born in Bosnia, but someone born outside it's borders. In Bosnia today there are three official versions of history, Bosnian, Croatian and Serb, remnances of which we can see in many loaded comments listed bellow, none of which give Bosnian history respect and accuracy it deserves. They are mostly expansions of the myths and deluded ilusions of people who never thought of Bosnia as their home, their homeland. Unfortunately, as it has happened so many times before, the few were able to tint the picture of Bosnia, not only to the world outside, but also tint the picture of Bosnia to people in Bosnia themselves. It is absurd, but true. Malcolm takes a bold step to clear that picture to both insiders and outsiders and bright the historical perspective closer to the truth.
The author takes a fresh and unbiased look at the centuries of Bosnian history, and most of all he backs it up with an enormous detail and footnote. He is not just speculating, he is listing facts....isn't that something fresh for history of a country, where loudest (and equally sadly most successful) proponents base their entire knowledge on vague narrative and myth.
The most interesting part of the book for me was his unrestrained bashing of the UN, EU, US and the world in general for lack of action; of countless narrowminded envoys these countries assigned to "rescue" Bosnia. This part of the book has a great place in any history book for it shows ineptness and impotence of the world community to solve a problem when there are no vital geopolitical interests in danger-offcourse I am talking about the major players.
All in all, great unbiased book, should find its way as an official version of Bosnian history, rather that the garbage the kids are being thought in Bosnia today. I recommend it to anyone even mildly interested in understanding the conflict that was imposed to my country.

Noel Malcolm attempts to provide a general overview of history of Bosnia in this highly acclaimed work. Though a serious scholarly work on this subject has yet to appear, as of 1999, this book is by far the best guide to Bosnian history. Despite the fact that it is overtly polemical and biased against nationalist histories that fueled the genocide against the Bosnian Muslims, it still remains a considerable work whose main strengths are its lucid stye and its wealth of information.

I really like this book. It reads more like an interesting novel than a textbook, but don't let that fool you. The information is there; it just sneaks up on you so that you don't even know you are learning. But....by the end of the first chapter, the reader is given the opportunity to begin interpretation on a simple level. And what a boost that is to beginners (I've seen the excitement in the students I teach.)

The author has done an excellent job of organizing the material in a logical fashion for learning and still manages to appeal to the seasoned astrologer.

One of the best features of this book is that it teaches concepts that can be applied over and over in various combinations.

I highly recommend what is truly a "New Way to Learn Astrology."

Basil Fearrington's "New Way to Learn Astrology" is one of the few astrology books that can be read from cover to cover rather than being used just as a reference book. The author expertly guides the reader thoroughly through astrological symbolism and interpretation. Numerous examples make concepts easier to comprehend. Each chapter is followed by a summary and a quiz (with answers in the back) allowing the reader to build quickly on their acquired knowledge and rapidly gain confidence in their abilities.

This book solidly and clearly presents information useful to beginners as well as seasoned astrological students -- and is a wonderful review for practicing professionals. Rather than being just another book with a "cookbook approach" where the reader looks up a planet in a specific sign or house, this text teaches the student how to understand concepts and make their own meaningful interpretations based on their acquired knowledge.

The organized, systematic approach concisely and efficiently ties together interconnected concepts into a practical, meaningful, and complete horoscope interpretation.

I am a full-time astrologer and have selected this book as the text for the classes I teach. The information allows students to quickly tie together their knowledge and efficiently approach interpretation.

This book packs quite a punch! Clarity and content make this the first book I recommend to people seeking to begin or enhance their astrological knowledge.

This book is a great learning text that helps to keep the student of beginning astrology focused. Each chapter ending with a summary and quiz is a wonderful help for reinforcement. And, while the basic signs, planets, aspects, and houses are covered, Fearrington also covers keys to interpretation that are not often seen in beginner texts, such as the Aries Point, configurations such as the Grand Trine and T-square, the quindecile, the meaning of Saturn Rx., and hemispheric emphasis. Chart examples of well-known figures are used in this very readable, easily understood text. It provides an excellent beginning place for anyone wanting to learn to be an effective astrologer who can cut to the chase quickly, as well as a refresher with some new perspective for those who already have some astrological experience. This is well worth the time!

Wow, do I remember what an uproar this caused when it first came out! As the murderous villian presented himself as a man of God, many incorrectly saw this graphic novel (and, in regards to complex characters, a compelling plot, and thematic depth, this does indeed deserve to be called a novel) as being an attack on religion. Its nothing of the sort. Instead, this is an attack on racism and intolerance in all its forms -- even the kindly-looking forms that speak words of love while thinking only thoughts of hate.

The plot deals with the anti-mutant crusade of a televangelist whose followers back up his sermons with murderous violence. (The opening scenes in which two mutant children are ruthlessly gunned down is powerful and haunting.) The X-Men (mutants themselves for those who, for whatever reason, might not know) join forces with their usual nemesis, Magneto, and, in the course of battling the nominal villians, they must decide for themselves whether to follow a path of peace or to give into Magneto's call for violent revolution.

Its a strong story and one of the best to come out of what, in my opinion at least, was the X-Men's strongest creative period. Considering the violence, sex, and sadism that's become almost common place in all forms of "entertainment" nowadays, the violence in God Loves, Man Kills seems almost quaint. Unlike so many others in his field, Claremont takes no joy from creating violence and never sinks so low as to cheapen the suffering found within this graphic novel's pages. For that he is to be comended. Hopefully, other aspiring comic book writers will take his lesson to heart and return the industry back to where it truly deserves to be.

This book plays wonderfully on the one thing that unites Charles Xavier and Magneto - their love for their fellow mutants. A right-wing extremist believes that Xavier is the anti-Christ, and his phrases only too often remind us of similar personages in America. The philosphy and theory is supported by necessary action, not the other way around as is the case in so many lower quality comic books. Overall, an excellent work.

This story is as moving to me today as it was when it first came out long ago. As a long-time fan of the "new" X-men (the first one I bought was 105 straight off the rack) it pleases me to see that the long-awaited movie seems to have been based on this book. The themes of prejudice and hatred based on fear of the different or the unknown are just as timely now as they were then. The courage, "humanity", and compassion shown by the mutants in this book are poignant counterpoints to the aggression and fear of the "normal" people.