HENCE THE TITLE.
IN A NUTSHELL, THE OVERWHELMING ANSWER IS 'YES'. A MAJORITY WILL TORTURE & KILL PEOPLE THEY DO NOT KNOW AND WHO THEY HAVE NO PERSONAL FEAR FROM OR GRUDGE TOWARDS.
ESSENTIALLY MILGRAM'S CROSS-SECTION OF MAIN STREET AMERICANS WERE CONSCIENCE-FREE. THEY DID WHAT THEY WERE TOLD TO DO BY 'AUTHORITY' EVEN IF BLATANTLY EVIL. THEY WERE SPINELESS WHEN IT CAME TO PERSONALLY HOLDING AND DEFENDING CIVILISED VALUES.
THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBOURS AND COLLEAGUES IN THE US.
IN EUROPE THERE IS A WELL-WORN JOKE: THE US IS THE ONLY GREAT POWER TO RISE AND FALL WITHOUT A PERIOD OF CIVILISATION IN BETWEEN. MILGRAM'S RESEARCH SHOWS WHY. THE AVERAGE AMERICAN AS REPRESENTED IN HIS RESEARCH, HAS NO BEDROCK VALUES. FOR ALL HIS MONEY AND MATERIAL POSSESSIONS AND LAWYERS, TAX ACCOUNTANTS AND GUNS, HE IS A CULTURAL ... AND A MORAL SAVAGE. HE IS OBEDIENT ONLY TO EXTERNAL! AUTHORITY : INTERNAL CONTROLS ARE LACKING.
START BY READING THE DOZEN OR SO PAGES OF THE EPILOGUE, WHICH MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS STUDY IS ABOUT EVERYDAY AMERICANS, NOT WESTERNERS IN GENERAL. THESE AMERICANS ARE AS BAD AS FRANCO,THE GESTAPO, THE KGB, POL POT, IDI AMIN, SADDAM HUSSEIN AND OTHER TYRANTS OF RECENT HISTORY.
RELIVE THE MAI LAI MASSACRE THROUGH THE NYT TRANSCRIPT IN THIS EPILOGUE, OF THE FAMOUS WALLACE INTERVIEW ON CBS. LT.CALLEY OF THE US FORCES IN VIETNAM CHEERFULLY PROVED NO DIFFERENT FROM THE SS DEATH SQUADS IN EUROPE. THE SCENE DESCRIBED IS IDENTICAL - SADISTIC, RUTHLESS, MURDUROUS, BESTIAL. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, MILGRAM EXPLAINS THAT CONTEMPORARY POLLS SHOWED THAT THE MAJORITY OF CALLEY'S FELLOW CITIZENS IN THE US SUPPORTED HIS ATROCITY. THEY RECKONED HE DID THE RIGHT THING & HE WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO JUSTICE; ANY MORE THAN SENATOR KERRY HAS BEEN.
A REVIEWER FROM THE NETHERLANDS TRIES TO IMPLY THAT MILGRAM HAD AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF HIS FELLOW AMERICANS AFTER THIS RESEARCH. A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE BOOK PROVES THAT HE WAS PROFOUNDLY PESSIMISTIC, EVEN DESPAIRING. HE CONCLUDED THEY HARBOUR A FATAL MORAL FLAW THAT WILL BRING ABOUT THEIR DOWNFALL.
IF YOU ARE UPBEAT, AS MANY AMERICANS PROFESS TO BE, ABOUT THE GREAT 'AMERICAN WAY' AND WISH TO BELIEVE THAT AMERICANS ARE SOME KIND OF 'CHOSEN PEOPLE' BELOVED BY GOD, THIS RESEARCH WILL BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR BELIEFS.
Not so much in its insights into everyday life but, in its insights into what normal people are truly capable of doing - no room for argument.
To check out the nature of his work go to w3 dot stanleymilgram dot com and see the Stanley Milgram Basics section of the site. (reason for cryptic site address above is because this here online retailer seems to frown on such data)
Here's some quote's from Milgram (who sadly, died at age 51yrs) (- see the above mentined site for more quotes)
"...The social psychology of this century reveals a major lesson: often it is not so much the kind of person a man is as the kind of situation in which he finds himself that determines how he will act." (1974)
[From Milgram's reply to Baumrind's ethical critique of the obedience experiments] "I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority. This view sustains a conception of human dignity insofar as it sees in each man a capacity for choosing his own behavior. And as it turned out, many subjects did, indeed, choose to reject the experimenter's commands, providing a powerful affirmation of human ideals." (1964)
I wonder if other books that deal with issues relating to mass actions of evil, allow for the truly scientific insights given to us by Stanley Milgram?
When I lost someone I loved I needed to remember that Christ is the Source of my strength. Thank you Charles Stanley for your guidance and for sharing your knowledge of the word.
I have also found it helpful to use another Christian book to help me continue to heal. It is Write From Your Heart, A Healing Grief Journal.
The answers and the comfort are in the word and in Him.
Mr. Stanley offers biblical principles that will help you discover your liberty in Christ so you can live fully and freely every day.
Get this! You won't be sorry!
List price: $15.95 (that's 30% off!)
Thank you, to the authors. Thank you, thank you.
List price: $21.95 (that's 30% off!)
Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby tell us that most small businesses are too small to be sold for anything more than net asset value. We learn that of the 24.5 million businesses in the U.S., 17.1 million are owned by only one or two people and are often part-time endeavors operated from home.
These ultra-small businesses typically have zero value as a going concern, because they are often highly dependent upon the owner's labor and they have limited income potential. These ultra-small businesses have little "goodwill" value beyond the value of their net assets.
Small businesses with several employees and an established client base often have value as a going concern. These companies often sell for more than net asset value. The amount paid above the net asset value is called "goodwill."
Because buying or selling a company is probably the biggest financial decision you'll ever make, you should understand the valuation process and consider utilizing the assistance of professional business appraisers. The authors tell us that professional business appraisal is costly, often ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to appraise a company.
Using several case studies, Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby discuss the main business valuation methods used today, including:
1) Valuation based upon earnings, which typically involves adjusting reported earnings appropriately and determining a proper industry-specific multiple of earnings for which the business should sell. Often, "similar" businesses are examined to see the valuations given to those companies.
2) Valuation based upon revenue, which usually involves determining an appropriate number that is multiplied by the company's revenue to determine company value.
3) Valuation based upon discounted cash flow, which involves estimating the future stream of free cash flow the business is expected to provide and then discounting this stream of cash flow to the present. Sometimes, the basic discounted cash flow calculation is further adjusted to allow for a small company's lack of liquidity or other factors.
Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby write: "There is a growing consensus among professional valuation experts that the discounted cash flow method produces the most accurate valuation results for an ongoing, established business if there are no current transactions of very comparable businesses."
"What Every Business Owner Should Know About Valuing Their Business" shows the valuation of several specific businesses, including an insurance agency, an environmental consulting business, a law firm, and a metal fabrication company.
Each case study provides a current tax return for the business (one company is a C-corporation; two are S-corporations; and one is a partnership), and each company valuation demonstrates several aspects about the valuation of different types of businesses.
For example, for O'Toole Insurance Agency, we learn several things:
1) An important part of valuation is convincing the other party that there is a reasonableness to your valuation.
2) Large expenses can be incurred in valuing a business and preparing it for a sale. In one failed transaction, the buyer and seller collectively spent $44,880 in accounting, appraisal, and legal fees, and, in the end, the deal fell through.
3) Sometimes, it's important to separate different parts of a company for valuation purposes. O'Toole Insurance Agency owned its building and rented space to other occupants. If the potential buyer only wished to purchase the insurance business, the insurance business would need to be separately valued from the property and rental business. Also, because the new agency, sans building ownership, would need to pay rent, the insurance company earnings would need to be lowered by the new rental expense.
4) Discretionary expenses and "missing" expenses must be examined, and adjustments might need to be made to reported earnings when valuing the company. Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby point out that many business owners incorporate discretionary expenses into their business in an attempt to lower taxation. These expenses reduce taxable income, but can be eliminated without compromising the earnings power of the company. (Some buyers might be willing to accept that the true earnings of the company are higher than taxable earnings due to these discretionary expenses, thus increasing the true value of the business.)
Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby include a solid chapter about maximizing the value of a business. The authors say business owners planning for the sale of their businesses must start thinking less about minimizing taxes and more about maximizing company value. Over a period of several years, owners should prepare for the eventual sale of their company by making their operations more transparent and disentangling personal expenses from business expenses.
Suppose, for example, an entrepreneur incorporates $30,000 in discretionary expenses in his business, including expensive club memberships, that really aren't necessary business expenses. Assume these "expenses" generate little or no added sales and don't really help customer retention nor benefit non-owner employees. If the business sells for eight times earnings and we use the taxable earnings for valuation, this $30,000 in discretionary expenses will reduce the company valuation by $240,000.
Feldman, Sullivan, and Winsby write: "A dollar saved on taxes can cost $$$ in lost value."
The authors also discuss the possibility that expenses the owner claims are "discretionary" are, in fact, necessary. For example, the club memberships may be crucial to meeting potential clients. The authors tell us that a new owner who does less networking might need to increase advertising expense appropriately. And, thus, it's useful to examine the advertising expenses of similar companies.
"What Every Business Owner Should Know About Valuing Their Business" discusses other "life business events" such as divorce, death, transition planning, and portfolio diversification. There is also an excellent discussion of the different types of business structures, such as S-corporations and C-corporations.
Overall, I highly recommend "What Every Business Owner Should Know About Valuing Their Business" to entrepreneurs buying or selling a business.
Peter Hupalo, Author of "How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation: S-Corporations For Small Business Owners"
This book offers education and guidance about matters very relevant to the management of one's business in order to make it more profitable and ultimately more valuable at the time of sale. The ramifications of various decisions about what to include as tax deductible necessities are spelled out. I recognized how many times my desire to minimize my taxes had driven my decisions rather than looking at the larger picture--my need for an adequate retirement income. This is an even bigger issue for someone who hopes to ultimately sell their business to fund their retirement than for me as a professional practitioner.
I especially liked the fact that the authors explained the various methods of business valuation and their underlying assumptions. They spelled out the pros and cons of each so that they could be selected for appropriateness as well as weighted if they were all combined to provide a ballpark figure.
The examples were detailed, varied, and interesting. They seemed very realistic. They were effective at illustrating various points the authors wished to make. While this book is targeted more to owners and sellers, it would be very beneficial for any potential business buyers to read. It makes clear many areas to be probed so that there are not unpleasant surprises later on.
... The book is quite inexpensive and the valuation service, although it sounds expensive at ... is inexpensive and fast compared to any other alternatives. The ways in which the information the valuation process yields can be used are amply demonstrated in the various examples. The authors are also available for consultation as part of the package and there are options to tailor services to meet a specific legal need.
This book has the potential to save a business owner a tremendous amount of money if he or she plans to maximize the value of their business for 3-5 years prior to a projected sale, rather than manage their business in their usual way. It's a great resource to help business owners (and/or their families)prepare for transitions! Buy it and read it if you are a small business owner now or are considering becoming one!
C.M.Steward Managing Director The Crossland Group
This optimistic, upbeat book stands out because of Gryskiewicz's ability to show how his ideas can be put into action. Pragmatic and practical, he shares his ideas and experience generously. Strategies such as "Focusing on the periphery as a source for innovation and renewal" come to life as a way of spotting technology shifts and marketplace trends.
As a psychologist and consultant, I work with R & D teams and with managers who need to become more effective, forward-looking leaders. This is a book I can and will recommend to my clients and to my colleagues.
What I found especially valuable is the way the authors clearly illustrate processes as well as artifacts. For example, the Quantified Product Integrity Attributes illustration in chapter 6 distills on a single page a highly complex concept into an easy-to-understand storyboard. Another example, on the facing page is the Requirements Specification Evolution, which portrays a complex sequence in a single illustration. Since the book has around 200 illustrations, most of which are page size, in the book's 745 pages, getting a clear picture of the software development domain and its associated processes is easy. The text is clearly written and hits all of the key areas of software development, starting with business cases and project planning.
In this one book I have found processes, procedures and techniques that I can apply to both application delivery and service delivery for clients. Also, for the first time I was able to clearly see the "big picture" and how carefully thought-out development processes can be used to deliver value to end users instead of mere applications.
I highly recommend this book and give it a solid five stars.
The authors have structured the book's contents along the lines of a sequential life cycle; however, they are not promoting the classic waterfall development approach - just presenting processes and procedures in a logical order. The chapters can be read in sequence or you can skip around without getting lost. The book starts with a chapter on business case development, followed by chapters on project planning, software systems development, change control, product and process reviews, measurement, cultural change, and ending with a chapter on process improvement planning.
What I like most is the book starts with a strong emphasis on making a business case, followed by an in-depth look at project planning. These PM practices are essential to organizations seeking CMM Level 2 and above. I also like the way the book is illustrated because the processes and concepts depicted in the 200 illustrations distill the complexities of software engineering into easy-to-understand process areas.
This book will align nicely to SPICE, CMM, Bootstrap and ISO 9000-3, making it an excellent reference for mature organizations. I strongly recommend it to serious practitioners who are committed to mature practices. I also think it would be an excellent college-level text because it shows how the theoretical aspects of software engineering can be used in the "real world".
In making a point about God's sovereignty, Dr. Stanley notes "the Holy Spirit decides who gets which gifts" (p. 134). As a result, the person is seeking to discover what God has already put in place in his or her life. The adventure continues as one uses those gifts for the kingdom of God and His purposes.
In his book Dr. Stanley does an outstanding job of explaining how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. Although I do not agree with all of his conclusions about the Holy Spirit (most specifically when he talks about the limited availability of speaking in tongues for all Christians), overall, I think this book is right on target. Whether you are a new Christian, or have walked with God for years, I think that this book can help bring new light to a subject that is often misunderstood.
Using a lot of scriptures, and his extensive research on the subject, Dr. Stanley has greatly increased my understanding of the Holy Spirit. I liked the book because he offers a lot of practical advice about seeking God's Holy Spirit. I really enjoyed the fact that Dr. Stanley shares his own struggle with grasping everything that the Holy Spirit has to offer us as Christians. I think that many Christian leaders in his position would perhaps be too proud to discuss their own journey towards a greater understanding of God's spirit. Lastly, I think that this book has helped further my quest for knowledge about the Holy Spirit. Dr. Stanley includes a list of the resources he used while writing the book, at the end of each chapter which will serve as an excellent guide for me in the future.
I highly recommend this book to any believer who is wanting to learn more about the Holy Spirit. If you are like me, you want to learn the truth from a reliable source. I think this book will meet your need, if that is your desire.
List price: $13.00 (that's 20% off!)
Each chapter addresses an aspect of the planning process and gives anecdotal examples of plans that were presented to the MIT forum. The summaries at the end of each chapter help expedite the annual review.
I cut my teeth on Mancuso's various B-plan guides almost two decades ago and this book, by far, gets you where you want to go in the most direct manner. If you only want one book on B-planning, this is it.
So says Dromio of Ephesus, one of the members of two sets of estranged twins whose lives become comically intertwined in this delightful, ingenious, & aptly named Comedy of Errors. Being an avid Shakespeare fan and reader, I unequivocally consider The Comdey of Errors to be Shakespeare's finest and funniest comedy. Antipholus of Syracuse and his long lost twin Antipholus of Ephesus along with the two twin servants Dromio of Ephesus and Syracuse become unceasingly mistaken for each other making for a hilarious and entertaining farce of a play.
The Comedy of Errors has been copied many times since in literature, movies, & sitcoms, although it has never been duplicated.
Slap a Sinatra tune on light a fire, mix a martini and grace the pages, it's gonna knock your socks off... don't forget the cigarette!
Blass' article in Mar/Apr 2002 Psychology Today also highlights this sobering comment by Milgrim in 1973:
"We do not observe compliance to authority merely because it is a transient cultural or historical phenomenon, but because it flows from the logical necessities of social organization. If we are to have social life in any organized form - that is to say, if we are to have society - then we must have members of society amenable to organizational imperatives."