It is VERY nice book. Especially for medical students and residents.
You can understand from detail to basic of diseases. With this book, you know how to approach and make your list of differential diagnosis.
I worked for infectious disease patients for a while, and this book was very useful because you can get the general knowledge not only about infectious diseases but also general internal medicine, skin lesions, bone diseases, and so on. I especially recommend the chart of antibiotics(Chart 37). I like this book because we can also get the update etiology of diseases. So nice.

Current Medicine is right up there among the top few reference books. It has excellent chapters in Cardiology, Infectious diseases and Respiratory medicine. One of the key features is the references of the latest articles at the end of every topic that is covered. This is book is worth every cent that is spent to buy it, a truly productive investment of time and money....a must buy for students who want to ace their exams.

This is a "must have" text for any student of medicine. It has all the information one needs for ward rounds, presentations, and exams. Medicine is an ever-evolving field and this book keeps up with all the latest developments. The references are conveniently given at the end of each section so the student can easily look up the most relevant articles. I especially like the "Essentials of Diagnosis" that precedes each disease entity and summarizes the key points. However this book is very much clinical/management-oriented. It does not have pictures/slides nor does it cover pathophysiology (for that, Harrison's is a better book).

Get the Ring is a must-buy! There is at least something (actually, lots of things) for everyone on every single CD. I myself was amazed at how the series seemed to be talking personally to me. The issues it addresses are exactly the ones that I have come up against again and again while dating.

For example, the information about the differences between men and women is priceless. I know that lots of people today have trouble with this idea, but what can you do? Men and women really are different, and this series does an excellent job of describing each one fairly.

Not looking for perfection is another key theme that struck home. I found that I have really been looking for that "perfect" someone, just like in the movies and the novels, and that's one reason why I've always been disappointed in relationships - they never measured up!

The advice on actual dating is terrific. Even though it might not all be relevant to everyone, there are a lot of good, sound principles in there that can be applied in different ways to fit different situations - for example, the need for down time, which is something I had been ignoring.

Another aspect of the series that I really appreciated was the emphasis on character development and how the person you are is what's really going to determine the nature of the relationship and how well it goes. That was a big revelation to me.

The 10 ways to marry the wrong person are fantastic! I felt like whacking myself on the head with each one. Why couldn't I have heard this five years ago?!

But the biggest advantage to Get the Ring is how realistic it is. On the one hand, it dispels a lot of illusions that people (including me) have (in my case had, because I already heard the series) about dating and marriage. But on the other hand, it doesn't leave you with the feeling that you're stranded holding a burst balloon. Each speaker explains - with lots of empathy, I must add - how to rebuild your outlook on dating so that, if you follow their guidelines, you're sure to be more successful in the future.

If you are dating - or married, for that matter - than you owe it to yourself to buy "Get the Ring." Even if you never listen to self-help products, change your policy this one time. I promise you that you won't regret it. I didn't. I am now going out with someone and Get the Ring is my bible - and things are going great!

Dear Mr. Levine,

Thank you so much for putting together this comprehensive overview on love, dating and marriage. I always thought I knew everything one needed to know about finding a mate until I listened to your Cd's and heard what your experts had to say! Wow, now I have a whole new attitude and approach to dating and relationships. Never before had I heard the information that was revealed, such as who to say NO to after one date, what qualities are a MUST to determine the right mate and what's needed in the foundation of a relationship to make a happy home. I am very excited to begin my search with a new perspective, thanks again and come dance at my wedding - soon!!

Warmest Regards,
DLR 33 from NYC

Get The Ring is an excellent six CD audio collection that provides invaluable insight for singles about finding the right person for marriage. David LeVine interviews many reliable resources within the Jewish Dating Community who provide common sense back to basics advise. Whereas this CD is a bit more focused on the Jewish Community, persons of other faiths can certainly utilize this information.

The people interviewed on this CD set all have varying styles. Rabbi Shimon Green is certainly the must humorous of the bunch. Lawrence Kelemen certainly reflects on societal issues the most. Excellent points on how seeking the one you love is not taught in school. Too much of an emphasis on veneral diseases instead of how to treat a member of the opposite sex.

Regardless of who is speaking, excellent advise flows like a river into a stream. Its important for single people to evaluate strengths and weaknesses carefully. What are key deal breakers? Also what are potential red flags? Its very important to notice how someone treats those whom he or she has a casual relationship with like a telephone operator.

Also the importance of physical attraction, ethics, and how long should one date someone. Another key point is to network when dating someone. Getting recommendations from trustworthy people always helps. You are oh so precious why not go the extra mile.

Other sections emphasize the value of being humble and acts of kindness as more important than raw chemistry. Kindness and a humble attitude can actually create long lasting chemistry as opposed to a flash in the pan relationship where both parties never take the time to know the person.

I could emphasize so many other good moments of this CD for many more moments. However the deep meaning behind the words of wisdom from these speakers is what will provide long lasting knowledge to many single people out there. This is a must purchase for anyone in search for true love.

I am a 47 year old mother of three sons. I was given this book many years ago by a friend and I have recommended it many times. It is a practical, easy to follow concept: Help your children make wise choices and live with the consequences! It eliminates the power struggle between parent (authority) and child (rebellion). You help explain their choices, possible outcomes of those choices, and what you will or will not do in any given situation. For example, "I cannot drive this car with so much shouting. If you continue to shout (argue) I will stop the car". If shouting persists, stop the car and get outside until everything is quiet. A few stops like this and all you need to do is put on the turn signal. They learn that if they choose to argue and make noise in the car, the car will stop. One son decided he did not like his winter coat the first day it was cold enough to wear it. I said, "ok" and didn't push the issue. However, when he arrived at school, he wasn't allowed outside for recess. The next day he took the coat and never complained about it again. BUY THIS BOOK.

I've gone through so many parenting books and magazines - and this book is reaaly the first helpful book I've come across. I found results in my home in days - more cooperative children, a lot less fighting, and a calmer, happier mother. The author demonstrates clearly how to maintain disciipline and order while also respecting children and their free agency. When I first found the book I called my mother, "I finally found a book that IS my philosophy of child rearing!" Ironically, it is an old edition of the same book that my mother read over and over when I was growing up.

My son was about 2 1/2 years old when I found "Children the Challenge" in a box of books I bought at auction. I started reading it and realized it put into words things I felt but couldn't articulate. All the things I said I wouldn't do to my children ( and found myself doing because my parents did ) I was able to change almost overnight! I guided 3 preteen step-children from wild uncontrolled children to at least respecting ( becaused they were respected ) and more coopertive members of our family. My son was raised on this book -- succesfully. Today, he is 15 years old, we are very close, he is very loving, and 97% of the time way talk our way through our problems. My mother, though all of this said most of what I was doing wouldn't work, but every 6-12 months she says how pride she is of him and what a good job I'm doing ( we've see her weekly all his life ). I've been a single mother for the last 8 years and I've kept his father very involved in his life ( don't fight-using the kids. READ THE BOOK ! ) This book really is the best. Two years ago my father checked Amazon.com for the book ( I couldn't find copies of it anywhere else, ( lost my original book when I loaned it to a co-worker)), and I ordered two copies, one for me and a friend. I'm going to order more for gifts ! I thank God I found it again. Questions ? E-mail me Chewbacca-wooky@juno.com

This title by Drs. Jacob and Lawrence is by far the best word on MSM (along with product manufacturers dmso2.com etc).

I, also, prefer the hardback version of this book. It is out of print but I found that it is still available at the distributor (msmsupplement.com as mentioned by someone in another review).

I hope that there is a new, updated version of this book on the horizon, because I know that MSM is helping so many people with a variety of problems (e.g. Arthritis, Allergies, Energy, Joint and Muscle & Nerve Pain, Skin Conditions ...). I even give it to my dogs and cats now!

By the way, Dr. Lawrence (on of the authors) is the doctor of the famous actor James Coburn. Mr. Coburn now attributes his recovery from crippling arthritis pain to benefits derived from MSM.

This book is the best that you will get on MSM. It is written by the "father of MSM" (IMO), Dr. Stanley Jacob. Co-written by Dr. Ronald Lawrence, doctor of famous actor James Coburn...

Get the hardback edition - it costs less than the not-so-well-bound paperback. You will use this book as a reference for natural dosage, et cetera, so definately get the hardback.

I read Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Lawrence's book when it first came out and continue to reread it periodically and learn something useful each time. I have been taking msm since 1998 for severe back pain and in just 3 days the pain was gone. For the person who said it upset her stomach try taking it with food or maybe you are taking the wrong brand if you want to learn more you can e-mail me at msm4all@aol.com.

I admit I am not an intellectually well read person, but I have never been so moved by a novel. I am a transplant to Philly and have lived here for a decade. I will never forget this book. By the time it ended, I felt I was living in this world. It made me realize the importance of our children in this world and what we should do to protect their vulnerabilty. It was an eye opener for me to see how easy it is to make a fatal wrong turn. This book will wake you up to reality in our cities. Months after I have read this novel, I still have moments of reflection when I am near this part of town. I wonder how many other children are in the same shoes as Gabriel. Thank you Steve Lopez for this experience.

This is just a great story with characters you will never forget and told with a genius for dialogue and place. An excellent debut novel. I couldn't put it down and at the end I didn't want it to end. Lopez captures perfectly the essence of life in the "Badlands" and South Philly -- and it was great to read a story set in a city that I know and love. Read this book; you won't regret it.

Steve Lopez paints the most accurate picture of Philadelphia's Kensington section I have ever read. There is no way to candy-coat the truth, but you can depict it with truth, in hopes of bringing some sensativity to the issues. Lopez's portraits are tight and clear. If anyone reading this story is not moved by Ofelia Santoro's search for her son, night after night, I don't know what that person would be affected by. Equally compelling are all of the portrayals of the characters in the story. I, unfortuately, know many of the families of Kensington in circumstances like the Santoros-- and worse! This book is certainly Pulitzer material.

Ferlinghetti is a man with his arms around the world.

These poems are still moving after more than 40 years. The poem I Am Waiting is typical of all the other writing in this small book. In this piece, he is waiting for a rebirth of wonder in man. The love of the innocence and of the wonder in his fellow man is a fine thing to say in poetry. Get outta here, Ferlinghetti!

AAAHHHHH! No one has ever topped Ferlinghetti for his exciting rhythm and electric presentation. Read this collection and discover how much FUN poetry can be. I first discovered these poems in the late '60s, an amazing time to be alive, and I felt that these poems captured some of that spirit uniquely and forever. What I didn't realize was that they also fit in perfectly with the '50s, and later in the '70s, the '80s, and the '90s, as well. And here we are in yet another century and the work holds up better than ever! Whatever you do, READ THEM ALOUD!

This was the first Ferlinghetti I ever got my hands on, and it swept me away into a world from which I have yet to return. The preciseness of his words and the incredible attention to detail make this book well worth the read. It made me fall in love with poetry...and the passion of the heart.

Having just finished The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales I will soon begin to read Gone To Texas. Carter portrays the Missouri Bushwackers and American Indians in a sympathetic light without the syrupy romanticism of Political Correctness. The Old West slang helps the reader get into the mindset of the previous Century. I strongly encourage this book -- and unlike the movie --the chess pieces do not fall into place with a tidy resolution.

I'd rank this one right below Owen Wister's The Virginian on my own list of all-time greatest westerns. If I'd read this book two years ago my son would've been named Josey Wales Lambert. Every Southerner, no, every American should read it, digest it, and live by the same code. Yeeeha!

This book tells two consecutive stories about Josey Wales that take place right after the War for Southern Independence, a period of time about which I did not have a lot of previous information. The first is a story about individualism and government abuse of those individual who don't fit the mold or have no use for the "services" that a government longs to provide. The second is more of a pure western and a vengence tale after some of Josey's friends are murdered. Although he'll kill a man in a second if he's crossed, you can't help but admire his character and courage. I've lent this book to three of my friends and they all tell me that the book was great. Overall, a very enjoyable read, expecially if you're not a big government lover.

I read this book a year ago in philosophy class when we were studying Thoreau. I must say, of all philosophers, Thoreau is one of my favorites. This play examines feilds such as family life, relationships, government, policy, and my favorite - education. After I read this play I had marvelous thoughts about how wonderful the education system would be if only Thoreau's ideas could be played upon! I strongly recomend this book to anyone who is sometimes accused of being an "idealist" or a "dreamer" - but also to those who hold a strict perspective on government and education. Keep an open mind and enjoy the thoughts that flow through Thoreau's mind!

"The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail" is a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, who also coauthored the classic "Inherit the Wind." "Night" is inspired by the life and writings of Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), naturalist, political radical, and seminal American intellectual figure. The play was first performed in 1970.

"Night" takes place during a night when Thoreau was jailed for an act of civil disobedience: he refused to pay a tax in defiance of the Polk administration's Mexican War. The action of the play consists of a series of interconnected, dreamlike scenes that explore Thoreau's life, ideals, and relationships. We see his theory of education, his strong opposition to slavery, his family ties, and, quite strikingly, his problematic yet enduring relationship with fellow American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. Particularly moving is Thoreau's encounter with an escaped slave.

"Night" is a moving, even inspiring, play. Thoreau is celebrated as not merely a crucial thinker and a great man, but as a truly transcendent figure: a prophet whose voice continues to resound. Highly recommended for literature classes, reading groups, and individual readers.

This is a great play to read before reading anything by Thoreau himself--it will help you to get a better understanding of him. Also great for Thoreau fans, or anyone who likes to read something worthwhile. This book is simply amazing, you will not regret reading it. I don't often cry when reading....but I'll admit that I did when reading this one. The authors of this play depicted Henry David Thoreau's life and philosophies so clearly yet with such an eloquent and touching manner. I loved this play 100% and I will definitely read it again!

This classic is an excellent blueprint of knowledge management (KM) in action, and is a must read for KM professionals, CIOs, and CEOs. One of the unique aspects of the book is its treatment of knowledge roles, skills and personnel (such as CKOs), in addition to detailed analysis of knowledge generation, codification, transfer and technologies. The material is divided into 9 chapters, and draws on case studies of KM in action in about 40 organisations.

Today, the 'knowledge movement' is picking up as more and more companies have instituted knowledge repositories, supporting such diverse types of knowledge as best practices, lessons learned, product development knowledge, customer knowledge, human resource management knowledge, and methods-based knowledge.

'The only sustainable advantage a firm has comes from what it collectively knows, how efficiently it uses what it knows, and how readily it acquires and uses new knowledge,' the authors begin.

First, companies must understand the difference between data, information and knowledge. Generally speaking, data is transformed into information after it has been 'contextualised, categorised, calculated, corrected and condensed.' This becomes knowledge after a process involving 'comparison, consequences, connections and conversation.'

'Knowledge is a fluid mix of framed experience, values, contextual information, and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information,' the authors state. Knowledge is fluid as well as structured, and involves experience, truth, judgement and rules of thumb.

'Knowledge is aware of what it doesn't know. Many wise men and women have pointed out that the more knowledgeable one becomes, the more humble one feels about what one knows,' the authors explain.

In contrast to individual knowledge, organisational knowledge is a more complex and murky dynamic, involving socio-political factors of knowledge buying, selling, brokering, pricing, reciprocity, altruism, reputation and trust.

The chapter on knowledge generation focuses on conscious and intentional techniques like acquisition (eg. of Lotus by IBM, NCR by AT&T), rental (sponsorship of research in academic institutes, hiring a consultant), dedicated resources (research centres and universities like Xerox PARC, McDonald's universities), fusion (via brainstorming and retreats), adaptation (eg. via learning sabbaticals), and knowledge networking.

Successful codification is implemented via a knowledge taxonomy suited for different knowledge types and attributes and which is aligned with business goals, as well as narratives and rhetorical devices for communicating knowledge behaviours. This can include external knowledge (eg. competitive intelligence), structured internal knowledge (eg. research reports), and informal internal knowledge (eg. know-how databases).

Instead of 'Stop talking and get to work,' Alan Webber recommends a better attitude: 'Start talking and get to work.'

Other approaches, depending on organisational and national cultures, include corporate universities, KM workshops, group dinners, and even group drinking sessions in nightclubs as in Japan (where inebriation can sometimes be used as an excuse for voicing criticism!).

Key roles here include knowledge project managers, coaches, trainers, councillors, counsellors, officers, integrators, administrators, engineers, librarians, synthesisers, reporters, and editors -- capped by learning officers, CKOs, directors of intellectual assets, or CIOs. Consulting firms have hundreds of KM jobs; Buckman Labs even has a role for 'anecdote management' to develop stories about successful KM in practice.

Good knowledge workers need to have a combination of 'hard' skills (structured knowledge, technical abilities, professional experience) and 'soft' skills (cultural, political and personal aspects of knowledge), the authors advise.

Three key CKO responsibilities include building a knowledge culture, creating a KM infrastructure, and making it all pay of economically, the authors recommend.

'The recent dramatic rise in Internet and Intranet use is one manifestation of the expanding role of electronic technology in communication and knowledge-seeking. Firms are becoming aware both of the potential of this technology to enhance knowledge work and of the fact that the potential can be realised only if they understand more about how knowledge is actually developed and shared,' the authors explain.

The authors caution against a technology-centred KM approach, but argue that a technology ingredient is a necessary ingredient for successful KM projects.

'Peter Senge, the influential author of The Fifth Discipline, has argued recently that organisations seeking to manage knowledge have placed too much emphasis on information technology and information management. We agree. However, the world of organisational learning places too little emphasis on structured knowledge and the use of technology to capture and leverage it,' the authors forcefully argue. In fact, the word 'knowledge' is not in the index of Senge's book!

Hoffman-LaRoche used KM to efficiently manage the drug application process, cutting it down by several months at a savings of $1 million a day. New England heart surgeons have jointly collaborated to cut down mortality rate for coronary bypass surgery. HP's case-based reasoning KM tool for customer support helped reduce call times by two-thirds and cost per call by 50 per cent.

Other benefit calculations include better management of patents (eg. Dow Chemicals), improved cycle time, better customer satisfaction, and even phone calls avoided (HP).
Intangible but also important outcomes include higher workforce morale, greater corporate coherence, richer knowledge stock, more knowledge usage, and stronger meritocracy of ideas.

In terms of pragmatic steps, the authors have lots of recommendations. Start with a focused pilot project. Work along multiple fronts at once: technology, organisation, culture. Begin with existing information resources. Focus on weak areas. Lead with technology and organisational learning.

The book is also peppered with useful quotes about knowledge, and it would be appropriate to end this review with some of them:

'In the end, the location of the new economy is not in the technology. It is in the human mind' (Alan Webber);

'The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers' (Sydney Harris);

'The great end of knowledge is not knowledge but action' (Thomas Huxley).

Knowledge is the only unlimited resource, the one asset that grows with use, according to Stanford economist Paul Romer.

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This new book by Davenport and Prusak, two old pros in the Knowledge Management business, is the most definitive book written on the subject. The writing is clear and concise and discusses a variety of issues in KM and Intellectual Capital. This is an ideal book on several levels. It will provide those unfamilar with this subject a good basis for understanding this emerging management discipline. For those who are up-to-date on the latest innovations within this field, the book provides a great example of the difficulty faced when trying to institute a Knowledge Management culture within an organization. Finally, as KM grows into a critical mgmt. function, this book can serve as a guideline on how to avoid the usual pitfalls as well as taking advantage of the strategies that will assist with the successful implementation of a KM System.

I must say that I really enjoyed this well rounded overview of Knowledge Management. The layout/structure of the information is great. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to explore the realm of Knowledge Management (KM) and is new to the thought and theories behind it. The authors date the book by offering only two technology solutions (Notes and Web Applications) as KM technology solutions however this doesn't distract from the basics and value that should be placed on KM in organizations.

This Titanic book is different from most others in being told entirely from the perspective of survivors. Two of the surviving passengers and crew tell of the ship's last hours. The first story is told by passenger Lawrence Beesley, a science prof. on his way to America. His account details the trip from Southhampton to New York. Beesley was a level headed individual who tells the story in an almost detached fashion, without fear or hysteria. His detail and objectivity make this my favorite eyewitness account. The writings of Lightoller and Bride are excellent as well. They do a good job of conveying the approaching terror people must have felt as the ship went down. One realizes that they knew what would happen, while many passengers did not. Archibald Gracie's chapter was less good. It begins alright, but he ends up giving us a detailed review of the lowering of each lifeboat, something any later researcher could have done. And unless Gracie was taking notes at the time, I find it hard to believe this was his experience! But all in all, this book is a must for Titanic buffs. It gives us a look into the tragedy that few other books can.

"Story of the Titanic as told by its Survivors" recreates that fateful night of april 14/15, 1912 with chilling detail. It is one of the most accurate accounts of the Titanic's collision with an iceberg in the North Atlantic and its subsequent foundering. The book is a collection of stories told from the perspective of second class passenger Lawrence Beesly, first class passenger Col. Archibold Gracie, Second Officer Charles Lightoller, and Junior Marconi Operator Harold Bride respectively. Each telling the tale of the foundering of the great ship from his own experience during the hours of 11:20pm April 14 to 8:30am April 15, 1912. After seeing the James Cameron film 'Titanic' I read this book and found that Cameron had recreated the tragedy to the tee. Although Lightoller and Gracie adamently claim the ship went down intact!

The Story of the Titanic as told by its survivors is a beautifully written and accurate account of the foundering of the Titanic. The book is a compilation of four previously pubished books by actual survivors. The four authors will transport the reader to a different time and place. Lawrence Beesley's 'The Loss of the SS. Titanic' provides terrific insight into the life and attititudes aboard the Titanic. Archibald Garcies's 'The Truth About the Titanic' offers an incredible story of survival since he actually went down with the ship and was able to swim to safety, only to die a few months later. Finally, Commander Lightoller, one of the only surviving officers, provides a more technical assessment of this epic disaster. Though the story is repeated in each volume I never got bored because each perspective gives the reader greater insights into the people, the ship, and the ensuing disaster. The details in each volume are fascinating. I'm convinced that James Cameron read this book prior to filming the movie since so many of the details in the movie are found in these pages. The writing, reflecting the earlier part of this century, is formal, but beautifully clear. Overall, this is one of the best shipwreck books that I've read. A Must Read.