Debra, I've thought about you often in the past year, and was hoping that your book would become reality. Now, it has...and I'm thrilled for you. Your message is important, and powerful, and there is much to learn from it. I know it will help others.

Arlene

Debra,

So very proud of you, sweetheart. Of all the battles through our lives, how fantastic to achieve the place you are at. Congratulations.

Moira

Debra, your website has a wonderful look and feel and I am honored to be up there with this great book. I am very appreciative and proud to be an endorser of your great book.

Terri

If you're thinking about buying this book, you might want to know what's in it. This book is about 250 pages, and each page contains one example of something you can do in SQL*Plus. There is only a small amount of explanation about what the example does, often only a sentence.

The examples are all things that people who work with Oracle might want to do from time to time, but might not know how to accomplish.

So this book will be most appreciated by someone who already has a certain amount of experience with Oracle. If you use the Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced categories of Oracle knowledge, I'd say the people who would most like this book are those who are at least half way through the Beginner stage, up to people who are just entering the Advanced stage.

If you are a rank beginner to Oracle, you will not understand many of the examples. For instance, the page for Using Array Processing merely demonstrates, for SQL*Plus, the command SHOW ARRAYSIZE. That's all! If you already know what array processing is, and just want to know how to determine what arraysize is currently set to, then the command shown will be helpful. But if you don't know about array processing in SQL*Plus, what's the use of seeing this page?

Most of the book is like this. In fact, imagine for a minute there was a SQL*Plus expert in your office, and every day several people came over and asked, "I'm stuck on one point and was wondering if you could tell me how to...." Now suppose that expert typed a few commands, showing the person how to do the specific thing they were asking, and then saved what he typed. After he had 250 commonly asked questions, he put what he typed in a book, one per page, adding a title to the page and maybe one sentence of explanation.

That's exactly what this book is. It assumes you already have a certain level of knowledge about Oracle in general, and about SQL*Plus in particular. If that's true for you, then great, you'll appreciate these 250 techniques and tips, because they're things you'll probably want to know how to do. But even if you have a year or two of experience with Oracle, you'll probably find you have to look in the Oracle documentation for a fuller explanation to make sense of some of the things in this book.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. It could be a great way to learn. In fact, if you're a rank beginner, you might still like this book if you're the type of person who likes to dive right in and start typing commands to see what they do. Just be aware that you better have the Oracle documentation CD-ROM handy, because virtually none of the great commands and techniques shown in this book are accompanied by any explanation other than the occasional sentence.

If you are the type who likes to read complete explanations, I'd suggest the SQL*Plus book by Gennick. Whatever, this is a good book, it's just that you'll probably need some background before you can really appreciate and make use of it.

Pete's cookbook is an excellent resource which I highly recommend. What makes the book 'work' for me is there are many superb examples of both simple and complex practical SQL and SQL*PLUS problems and solutions. In addition to being humorous, it is easy to follow and to understand. When I am trying to get a task done by a certain deadline, I don't have time to wade through miles of explanation. I need the answer YESTERDAY and the SQL COOKBOOK does that for me. I also teach Oracle courses and my students really love the book too.

I have used Pete's book for over a year now, and I find it a strong sourcebook. Unlike many of my other source books, this book gives the actual text of the commands that are necessary to accomplish the job.
I place this text at the top of the Oracle books I have.

After reading a library copy of this book, I knew this was a MUST HAVE book ! The publisher needs to definitely do a reprint of this book, as I know that there are many others that would love to have a copy of it for themselves ! It is a valuable asset for any crocheter- beginner or advanced ! It show us crocheters many different types of stitches that most of us would never think of trying otherwise and in an easy to understand format.

Craftspeople, we need to do something. Everyone who sees Mountford's book wants a copy. Let's write letters to the publisher--or find the publisher's web page and email them--or something! Nowhere else have I seen a book so clear about the steps to be followed in working a stitch. Never before have I seen directions for so many different stitches in one book. The photos and drawings are the most clear and helpful I have seen in 25 years of crocheting. Beginners, intermediates, and masters of crochet are all well served by this book, but none of us seems able to get a copy of it!

Mountford also has a guide to knitting, of which I have always been afraid because of the difficulties I have had each time I've tried to knit, but I can't seem to find a copy of that book, either. I just know I could learn to knit if I had that book.

If anybody out there in this wide, wide, electronically connected world knows why the publisher isn't coming out with other editions of these wondrous books, would you please let me know so that I can lay my knitting ambitions to rest? Many thanks.

Good luck to us all.

I borrowed this book from a friend and enjoyed it so much that I didn't want to give it back. However, all good things come to and end. I am currently looking for this book and would love to have it in my collection. If you have any information to help me in finding a copy for myself please contact me. The graphics and organization of the book as a whole are just absolutely fabulous. It's easy to follow and the ultimate teachers guide to crocheting. So please let me know if you can find me a copy.

"Go from 0 to 100 miles an hour and jump to the head of the pack with Debra Amidon's The Innovation Superhighway. Part history, part who's who, part encyclopedia, this fast paced book is packed full of some of the latest thinking and stories of the best thinkers. It is a must read for anyone who wants to take the accelerated route to the future in innovation. Debra Amidon's new book is a keeper."

This book opens your eyes on many important questions and guides you through the world of people that may have the answers.
It's not a simple 10-step guide to success in your business, but a wise, well-researched analysis of the current trends in business and society. Really a must for leaders of today and tomorrow. Fascinating lecture!

Debra Amidon has long been recognized as a visionary in the Knowledge Strategy world and was one of the first to recognize the role that KM would play in enabling Innovation as a fundamental part of any business. She has since been a stalwart on the conference circuit, educating major corporations and major governments around the world on the necessity of Innovation (or "knowledge in action" as she sometimes likes to put it) and how to do it right. With her latest book, she not only traces back through the history of KM & Innovation, she also puts out her latest thoughts on the process of Innovation - "...the creation, evolution, and commercialization of new ideas into products and services..".

Unlike other authors, Debra looks at the Innovation process not just from a corporate standpoint, but also from a government standpoint giving us case studies, stories, and insights into the importance of Knowledge and Innovation at the Macro level. With this kind of change in viewpoint levels, it's obvious that this won't be of relevance to everyone from cover to cover - however, selective reading of the chapters that relate to your level and to your interests will not disappoint, and for anyone approaching the Innovation process from a KM standpoint, this book should be considered a must-read reference to understand the process intimately.

Highly recommended...

This book has many great ideas for the small business person that I wish I had before I started my business. For example, just how to pick a name for the company or how to look like a big company without spending a fortune. The book provides examples from people who have done it and adds credibility to the content. I recommend for all businesses but especially fo the smaller business and one person operations.

I bought and read this book after seeing positive reviews at more than a half dozen Web sites and small business publications. I found it to be very valuable in helping me position my company to be competitive. It offers a lot of easy-to-do tips, and I saw results in my marketing efforts right away. So I had to laugh when I saw an Inc magazine review that said some of the advice in the book is "predictable." I wasn't surprised that a Goliath publication, which is out of touch with us small businesses, doesn't "get" the point of the book, and therefore would downplay its good advice. Perhaps they feel threatened by it? This just goes to show that the book will probably open some eyes to the "real" plight of small businesses.

This book is loaded with good ideas to help entrepreneurs and small start-up companies manage their image with a little panache. I hadn't given a lot of thought to the fact that how I answered questions from clients was either enhancing or detracting from how they viewed my company. So, one of my favorite parts of the book was the recommended answers to the top 25 awkward questions small business owners face. Without embellishing, distorting the truth, or outright lying, you can use those questions as an opportunity to build a strong image. That, alone, is worth the price of the book. I used to cringe when someone would ask me how big my three-person business is. No more. Now, they're opening the door for me to explain how my company is big enought to meet their needs, and then some.

My fourth grade class loved the book! After reading it aloud, I added to our shelf of favorites--but it's more often in someone's hands! We plan a vocabulary parade for spring, but students are already creating word-based costumes.

This book is a lot of fun. I was introducted to Miss Alaineous at a teacher's workshop and conference. It was read aloud to us by the person conducting the workshop and all of us howled in laughter.

The art work is like nothing you have ever seen before, very vivid, bright and certainly original. I bought the book to share with kids in the classroom. The Vocabulary Parade and the sentences on each page (A to Z) are great ideas to use to make school more exciting.

A true delight and I am looking forward to more from this author!

Poor Sage (one who shows wisdom, experience, judgement) is home with the flu and gets the weekly vocabulary words and assignment from her friend Starr (who is not a luminous celestial object seen as a point of light in the sky). Unfortunately, she does not quite get the last word down and that is the basis for her story. Instead of writing miscellaneous (consisting of various kinds of qualities, a collection of unrelated objects), she writes Miss Alaineus, defining it as (the woman on green spaghetti boxes who hair is the color of uncooked pasta and turns into spaghetti at the ends). Sage is devastated (wasted, ravaged) as the class, including Mrs Page (who is not a single side of a printed sheet of paper usually found bound in a book) burst into laughter and she turns red (the color of embarrassment). But as her mother explains, "There's gold (a bright yellow precious metal of great value") in every mistake (something done, said, or thought in the wrong way). And her mother was right. Sage uses this embarrassing error and goes on, to her astonishment (great shock and amazement), to win the gold trophy at the Annual Vocabulary Parade..... Debra Frasier has taken the boredom out of spelling words and definitions and written a marvelous, inventive and creative story, kids 5 and up will just love. Filled with hundreds of words and definitions, a terrific story line and detailed, expressive illustrations, youngsters will begin to understand and enjoy the power of words and how important it is to use them correctly. And as Sage triumphs (a true success), kids will see that making a mistake is not the worst thing that can happen, in fact it sometimes leads to great success (a favorable or desired outcome of something attempted). Miss Alaineus A Vocabulary Disaster is a special and unique book that should be included in every home library, and is sure to be a classic, in years to come.

This book is great! So many women (and men!) really don't understand how a body works. This book explains it clearly. It's not overwhelming, it doesn't ask for huge lifestyle changes all at once. It DOES NOT call for "dieting." The main message of this book is probably PLEASE EAT! Not eating is probably the worst thing one can do for one's body. Waterhouse explains that the important thing is HOW you eat, NOT what you eat. There are no formulas. There is no calorie counting. This book explains metabolism, fat cells, and all that "scientific" stuff no one bothered to tell you. It's simple, it's realistic (even the exercise portion starts you with 10 minutes of walking!), and it's interesting to read. You will not regret reading this book. It might even save your life. If you follow the sensible ideas contained therein, you can do nothing but succeed in your efforts to be healthier, lighter, and happier.

I have been a yo-yo dieter for 10 years and this book finally did it for me. It is very clear, very logic and realistic. It also manages your expectations very well, it may not be for everybody.

It is very informal so it's not heavy to read. The method is so simple that there is SIMPLY no excuse for not getting in shape.

I have exercised for the last 12 years of my life and had not been able to achieve my fitness/shape goals, but the approach that Dr. Waterhouse recommends is wholistic and it makes sense for your body.

Women out there: stop dieting and learn how to outsmart your fat cells!

It has been approximately 4 years since I've read this awesome book. I've learned so many things from this book, so much so that it has changed my life. I've lost approximately 60 pounds using the principles covered in Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell. It's not a diet or weight loss scheme but guidelines on how to live healthily.

While I have read and reviewed many books on Windows 2000, this is the first one that I have read from this particular publisher. It is one of the best books and compares to the likes of Mark Minasi's works. As the title indicates, this book concentrates strictly on the networking services of Windows 2000. It covers all the typical items of DHCP, DNS, WINS, etc. in a very organized and detailed manner allowing you to quickly setup the services and get it right the first time. It does an excellent job of explaining how the services work with each other and the problems an administrator might encounter.

Although not designed as a test preparation book, the book could be used for that purpose. In my opinion it is much better than a test preparation book that tells you what answers to put where on an exam, it is a real-life problem solving book with the answers to the questions that you will have in reality instead of on an exam.

There is one more thing that is unique about the book and publisher. When you purchase a Syngress title you are given a unique warranty against content obsolescence as the result of vendor upgrades. If there is a vendor upgrade and you need to get the new information or changes to the information then you can download chapter updates directly from the Syngress web site. In addition you can sign up for monthly mailings of customer questions and the detailed explanations. Finally, you get a free membership to Access.GlobalKnowledge - an information source for IT professionals.

What a deal! An excellent book, a warranty against becoming outdated three months after you read it and access to an informative and helpful web site. This is a book that should be on every administrator's bookshelf and the extras just make it an even greater value.

Excellent book. I've read a number of Windows 2000 books from many different authors/publishers. Some good, some Ok, some not so good. This is one of the great ones. There is a wonderful chapter on TCP/IP 2000- which is obviously a foundation for Win 2000. I found myself reading this chapter numerous times as it delves into QoS, IPSec, Arp, DNS Caching, etc. This is followed by great sections on DHCP, DNS,Developing a WINS strategy, etc. As many of us get ready to take the MCSE2000 exams, this is one of the books that will provide a ton of value in one's studies- and will remain on my shelf for reference.

Having read the MS Press book for the Networking Infrastrucutre test, I knew I needed something thatI could use that would actually help me pass. I read this book and it covered the material in good detail and included good practice exercises to test my knowledge. Even if it wasn't written to be a test prep book, it worked for me. Nice book.

First, let me start by saying that I liked this book and have been recommending it to others. As a "tempered radical" I wish that I had read this book early in my career. I had the wrong impression that hard work and results were enough as long as there were no bodies along the way. Young, naïve, and idealistic. Consequently, I am recommending this book to people starting their careers so that they get the reality of work as well as to others who just do not get that their approach is a major irritant to the powers that be.

I also liked this book because the author used her premise to package her ideas so that her tempered radicalism around race, gender, and other legally protected groups could be better heard by others. I came from academia too (and even received my PhD from Michigan where she had an early appointment in her career) but left that environment because of the oppression of free thinking and any kind of difference. This background added to my wish that this book had been around 10 years ago. I might have better succeeded in that environment if I had had this framework from which to work.

Although I like this book, I did not give the book 4 or 5 stars because the best of her book and the most important aspect of her premise was saved until last - the downside of the "tempered" approach. I do believe that revolutionary results can be achieved by evolutionary steps - small steps can achieve great things as they add up without the major heartburn or resistance that a revolution can cause. However, maybe evolution is not the best means to the ends and that cannot be decided until one decides whom they are and what they are about and decide whether tempered or full scale radicalism is what they want to do. This is a choice and is worthy of exposing at the beginning of the book. So although I may have succeeded in academia if I had had her premise from which to work, I would not have been happy because I would not have been true to me and the essence of who I was or am.

Evolution vs. revolution. To choose one must first know what one is willing to give up.

This is an important book for you to read if your gender, ethnicity, or lifestyle makes you an outsider in your workplace. Debra Meyerson gives examples of how employees have successfully taken small steps to change their companies so they are accepted and their voices are heard.

Many of us work in places where we have a vision for how things could be better -- how we could work differently, treat people more respectfully, act on our values. If only, we think -- we could do something different--then we would really feel good about ourselves and proud about the places we work. This book inspires you to lead that change, to act on your vision. In these times when the impulse is to hunker down and just do our jobs, Meyerson gives us role models of people who have been everyday heroes, leading change that made their organizations better for everybody.