The Auditors Guide to internet resources is a very useful tool for the practising Auditors as well as Auditors who are in the employment. With the help[ of these resources the Auditor can provide value added services to their clients

Jim Kaplan's The Auditor's Guide to Internet Resources, 2nd Edition

By: Ron Keister Date: 6-15-00

The Auditor's Guide to Internet Resources, 2nd Edition has a lot of very useful information for auditors interested in using the Internet as an audit tool. In fact, there is good information for anyone interested in using the Internet. While the whole book is useful, for auditors the most interesting and immediately useful areas include:

A. The Internet Literacy Checklist B. The Digital Literacy Self-Assessment Tool C. Information on how auditors can use the Internet D Internet Search strategies and evaluating search results E. Guidelines and techniques for auditors to evaluate Internet information and data

The Internet Literacy Checklist and Digital Literacy Self-Assessment Tool will help auditors understand their Internet strengths and areas that could use improvement. Audit Directors and Managers can use these to help identify audit staff training needs, as well as help them assess their reliance on auditors' use of Internet information. The effective use of these can help improve the quality and quantity of audit work.

The Internet audit use areas presented in this book are some things that all audit organizations should seriously consider. I fear too many are not making high-quality use of the Internet, resulting in less economical and valuable audits. With the usual limited resources, audit organizations must focus their efforts on key organizational issues in an efficient and effective manner.

Knowing how to identify and find the "right" audit information via the Internet in a well-organized and successful way is essential. This book provides excellent techniques and ideas for how to achieve this. First, it provides a good method for identifying what information should be searched for. Then it provides excellent Internet search techniques and ideas. Last, it provides a first-rate way to assess the adequacy and validity of the Internet information obtained.

If the above were the only things in this book, it is worth the price. But no, there are other interesting areas including:

A. The list of available Internet features and how to understand and use them B. Good information on audit discussion groups, tips on use, and a thorough list C. Excellent "real-life" examples of how auditors have used the Internet D. A great list of technical data that can help reduce the dreaded call to "support" and the wait on them to "fix it" E. Last, but not least, is the details or inside Internet information that help you understand the Internet, how it works, and it's good and not so good features.

Reviewer Background: Mr. Keister has a bachelor and master degrees in Accounting; is a CIA and CPA; and has more than 25 years auditing experience, the last 20 in internal auditing in both large and small organizations, private industry and higher education. He has been using computers since about 1982 and the Internet since 1995, but is not an IT auditor.

Having offered books on "The Sluggers" and "The Hurlers," the World of Baseball series offers "The Fielders: The Game's Greatest Gloves." The book opens with "Mr. Impossible," recalling Brooks Robinson's performance in the field in the 1970 World Series. Throughout the book Jim Kaplan focuses on each position on the field in turn, which, by the numbers would be: The Fifth Infielder, Backstop, Scoop, Keystone Cops, The Hot Corner, Captain Infield, the Hitter's Spot, Captain Outfield and the Longest Arm. There is even a tribute to Dick Stuart, known variously as "Dr. Strangelove," "Stone Fingers" and "The Boston Strangler" because of his fielding ineptitude. As with all of these books, the great defensive players are profiled and while you will find a couple of great offensive players like Carl Yastrzemski and Richie Ashburn, most of these players are known more for their gloves: Bill Mazeroski, Carl Furillo and Jim Hegan. One section is even devoted to the great good field, no hit shortstops of the 1960s: Ray Oyler, Ed Brinkman, Roy McMillian and Dal Maxvill. There are little gems scattered throughout the book, such as the tobacco cards of Tinker to Evers to Chance, the evolution of the glove over 100 years, a chart showing the average number of chances/errors per position per game, and a profile on Ebbet's Field. Because fielding is the most neglected area of the game, this book sheds light on more things I did not happen to know than the volumes on hitting and pitching. After reading "The Fielders," you will certainly have more of an appreciation for cover boy Ozzie Smith and his brethren.

This book by James Kaplan provides an in depth look at John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport in NYC. But in doing this it is looking at a small town with it's different people and functions. Everything from the medical staff, to the guy who changes all the lightbulbs in the ground are given a face in this incredible book. It's a fast read, and it will answer all your questions. It's not just for people who like airports or for New Yorkers. It is for everyone who should marvel at how special a place JFK really is. It leaves you hoping that Kaplan will adopt the same methods with other institutions around the country.

Extremely well written with terrific detail. This book takes you inside the workings of the airport. It gives you a view of JFK and particular events that are relevant to the airport that you would not have without the benefit of this book. The real testament to this book for me is that since I've read it, every time something happens that has to do with JFK (TWA 800 etc.), I wish that Mr. Kaplan would incorporate it in a sequel so that I could understand it through his perspective. Kaplan's chapter on his experience of flying in the cockpit of the Concorde is worth finding this book even though it now appears to be out of print.

I never thought I'd be fascinated by baggage handlers or traffic cops at an airport. But this book changed all that. It is a wonderful adventure from the most exciting moments in the cockpit to the control tower to the ticket counter to the kitchen and beyond. It takes you to 30,000 feet all the way down to the guts of the airport operations. From the beginning account of an actual plane crash to everything else, I could not put this book down. If you're the least bit interested in commercial airliners or airports, this is a must read.

i grew up in new jersey territory covered by book. found moods and characters evocative and often moving. james kaplan can clearly write--often beautifully and lyrically. he is way too in love with his own voice, however, his description of places and things and people often painfully overdrawn and convoluted. we get it: he knows language. but sometimes a sentence fewer than 10 lines long, with fewer than 6 parentheticals and dashes, isn't a tragedy. it's exhausting reading the sometimes overblown and tediously and needlessly complexly woven sentence structures around secondary and terciary characters and story elements. there were times i wanted to shout, get to the point, say it more simply and clearly. one less adjective please; use 6 adjectives in the sentence instead of 11. this isn't graduate school fiction writing in which you're trying to impress your colleagues and professor.

having said that, kaplan's observations about suburban life--its foibles and flaws and eccentricities--are often sharp and great fun. so are some of the nuances of his core characters. sometimes his references and comments dazzle.

what's not so sharp are some of the critical plot developments and resolutions. too neat and simple and quick. why, for example, wouldn't core character joel have investigated more carefully the disappearance of his beloved girl friend (cindy) years earlier? it makes no sense that he would have waited so long to visit the hospital from which she disappeared just after high school. and why, when "relatively" early in the story he learned that cindy had a local daughter, didn't he jump all over that, and confront the "supposed" very accessible father. joel's life transformation after finally finding and meeting cindy--from borderline schizophrenic and complete screw up to proprietor of a suburban coffee house--is equally implausible. it all happens way too fast and without necessary development.

the ending, and the weaving together of various plot lines, reads too much like a hollow hollywood movie. kaplan clearly can do better than that.

he's created the edges of something very special here. i was hooked; i read much of the book eagerly. i just wish he filled in more of the content with a little less attention to style and a little more to reality--the real shapes and patterns of real human interactions and dynamics.

Several months ago, I finally got around to reading Two Guys from Verona by James Kaplan. The book is set in Verona, N.J. (I believe that's near where James grew up), and follows two friends in their early 40s, friends since high school. One, destined for greatness, lives with his nutty mother and has difficulties with mental illness. The other did all the things he was supposed to do, including joining his father's business, marrying, having children, buying a house... Besides capturing upscale suburbia and the way many of us live now uncannily well, this book also explores how much of life is beyond our control--especially for those who just follow it rather than trying to take control."

Being in my mid-forties I had an epiphany reading this book. Haling from metropolitan NY the book had some resonance for me, and I was highly entertained by Kaplan's descriptions of a bourgeois lifestyle both familiar and very amusing (from a distance). Initially, I was detached reading what I thought were descriptions of a long gone era, but abruptly realized when reading of Will's class of 1974 high school reunion that this book was talking about me! Accordingly thereafter the text became more pointed and I became more personally engaged.

Kaplan aptly describes the superficial and label oriented culture culture predominant in much of suburban NY. He also poignantly depicts the marginal accomplishment and sense of lost opportunity, shallow satisfactions, and sacrificed ideals this lifestyle often represent. The beauty of the book is that he conveys a meaningful, thought provoking message in an entertaining fashion without being morose or pedantic.

The book sustains a credible plot until the last quarter in which events become increasingly fantastic and absurd. However, throughout it remains entertaining despite a weak ending.

This is a perfect read for middle class, middle aged, metropolitan readers.

When I listen to John McEnroe as a tennis commentator I often wish that other former athletes were as candid and insightful as he is. I figured that his autobiography might provide similar insight and entertainment. I can't say that the book succeeds in this regard but it is still rather interesting and entertaining.

The quick summary is that McEnroe grew up in a comfortable environment as a child and was able to transform tennis talent into a life of celebrity and athletic greatness. He's bright and articulate but also rather shallow, extremely sensitive, somewhat self-centered, but has generally decent intentions.

For tennis fans and fans of McEnroe's, the book provides a nice recounting of his tennis career. I especially enjoyed reading about his personal impressions of some of his opponents including his disdain for Jimmy Connors, his relationship with doubles partner Peter Fleming and his strange respect and awe of Bjorn Borg.

The problem I have with the book is that in attempting to reveal his personal life with Tatum O'Neal and his current wife Patty Smyth, he doesn't do himself any favors in terms of image. He also doesn't reveal much about himself. In contrast we know how screwed up (in his mind) that Tatum O'Neal and her family are, but very little introspection on himself.

Indeed he even admits in the book that even in his playing days he rarely admitted that someone beat him. Instead, he had some sort of excuse for why he lost. In this book, he also has plenty of excuses for some of his "losses" off the court and gives off the impression that he would be fine to share a few beers with, but would be awful to have as a friend.

In short, if you were a tennis fan when McEnroe, Connors, Vilas, and Borg were the stars, read this book. Otherwise, it's kind of interesting but you could spend your time better elsewhere.

John McEnroe was a freshman at Stanford during my last year of graduate school. He joined the top ranked team in the nation and as a freshman became the star of the team and led them to a national championship and an undefeated season. He left to turn pro after his freshman year. Yet this could have been expected. Before arriving on the scene at Stanford he made a miraculous run as a junior reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon! All this and more is detailed in this book.

The book is basically a look at McEnroe's life, how he was involved in sports at an early age and actually liked team sports like basketball better than tennis. This and his natural patriotism explain why he played Davis Cup so much and encouraged others to do the same.

Most of the book deals with his childhood friendships and his ascension in the tennis ranks to his run as the number one player in tennis. He describes his great matches and you get an inside look at what led to his great victories and his agonizing defeats. He even replays as best he can his terrible fold to Lendl in the only French Open he really should have won.

Part of his purpose in writing this book is to give you a look at what was going on inside him when he had his infamous tirades on the tennis court. He reveals the New Yorker inside of him and his inability to control his temper. Contrary to what many think this was not something that he did for advantage. McEnroe felt that these outburst hurt his matches as much as it helped him. He also usually felt bad or guilty about it afterwards.

John McEnroe is an intelligent and complex person and that comes out if you read this book closely. Late in the book you get a glimpse at his personal life. His marriage to Tatum O'Neill and the problems that led to their stormy divorce. Unlike what most people think, he does not blame her for the problems and does accept some of the responsibility. But he definitely wants to dispell the notion that he tried to hold back her acting career in favor of his tennis career.

We also get a glimpse of his second marriage to Patty Smyth and how his attempts with his own rock band nearly caused problems in that marriage.

McEnroe seems to be a much more content soul these days. He has his tennis commentating and received the honor of Davis Cup captain and induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame that were oviously very satisfying achievements. Still it seems that he wants to change his public personna. The bad boy image is not something he is proud of and this book and his recently unsuccessful TV quiz show seem to be attempts to reconstruct his image. He also has a very good sense of humor which comes across in this book as well as in his TV commercials

John McEnroe scores a triple bagle on his personal testimony. A brat on the court and an insightful analyst behind it, Johnny Mac endorses tennis fans with a rare perspective of his life unveiling some truths, but attempting to eradicate those dark dots in his life in a self-righteous fashion.

Honesty fuels good biographies; objectivity rattles them. McEnroe offers the former, but true to his principles, repudiates the latter. His admiration for Borg, his disdain for Connors, his arrogance for up-and-coming players, his passion for Davis Cup competition, his addiction to controversy are all illustrated in a book churned by his unparalleled idiom.

Yet, his conspicuous bravado backfires on him one too many times. Rather than apologizing, McEnroe expects answers from the likes of Girulaitis and Ashe. Rather than admitting his own share of faults on a relationship that failed because of clashing egos, Tatum O'Neal and her genealogical tree are the evil empire. Rather than trying to understand Lendl's or Connors' different personalities, he bad-mouths them imperviously.

However, John McEnroe does attain one peculiar feat. He harnesses the various dilemmas presented in his book in much the same way he picked up an argument with a chair umpire or negotiated a long rally with the "robotic" Ivan Lendl. He writes a great biography and he does it in his own terms.