This book should be in every school library in the world (in translation, where necessary). Stanford tells us how to make public schools really work.

I was at first a bit put out by his advocacy of "running schools like a business," having all too often heard that phrase as an excuse for placing cost reduction above all other goals. But Stanford clearly recognizes and strongly emphasizes that the correct BOTTOM LINE for a school is STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVMENT! The proper test of a proposed expenditure is its anticipated effect on SAA (Student Academic Achievment) per dollar spent. Projects should be prioritized by decreasing improvement in SAA per dollar.

The most important qualification for a school administrator is not knowledge of teaching, but ability to be an effective LEADER. The successful school administrator must have the LEADERSHIP to get several constituencies enthusiastically involved in achieving a high level of SAA. These constituencies include not only teachers, school staff, and students; but also other government entities, parents, businesses, the media, and the general public.

The leader should practice management by support rather than management by intimidation. The intimidated will concentrate on keeping a low profile and covering their backsides. The leader can benefit little from such people, because no leader can provide all the needed creativity. (S)he must encourage and reward constructive suggestions from teachers, staff, students, parents, businesses, other government entities, and the general public.

In the three years before he lost his battle with leukemia, Stanford caused an enormous improvement in the Seattle Public Schools. His methods and practices could be employed in any school system, with great benefit not only to the students, but also to teachers, staff, businesses, and the public. But also read "Radical Equations," by Robert P. Moses. Moses' book complements Stanford's. If you are a parent of school-age children, or expect to be, and you want the best possible education for your children, you need the Algebra Project, which was started by Robert Moses, and is described in his book.

Both books should be required reading for every school administrator and everyone involved in the selection of a school administrator.

I found Stanford's book to be a blueprint for educational reform. He was not merely a theorist; he was an activist who took his vision from the black board to the the hearts and minds of the students. He didn't propose, he purposed. Read this book...you need to read this book if you are unclear about the means, if you need to know HOW to enact change in the bureaucratic jungle of miasmic, lackluster schools.

What I enjoyed reading about was how he emphasized having a heart for the students, caring for them with compassion and keeping their interests at the center of all educational activities. Next, I found that he wrote persuasively about running schools more like businesses than the anachronistic centers of regurgitation. Finally, I was energized by his results; although he only had three years in Seattle schools to enact many of his plans before his hard passing, the momentum has started.

This needs to be on the book shelves of administrative offices of schools across the country, but it needs to be read by anyone concerned about how to engage our students for higher achievement in learning, now.

Stanford's book is an easy read about reforming public education. He is no fan of charters or vouchers, which he thinks draws money away from public education. He also believes that increases in funding must be tied to student and system performance and not granted because the public "ought" to support educational levies.

This former director the the US Military Logistic Command knows how to marshal resources and arguments for reform. His strongest point is his systems perspective--that is, all the systems of the schools must be aimed at one fundamental objective. His was to develope a "world class student-focused learning system by 1999." He tied this statement to every plan made within a complex 47,000-student system. He does not provide the testing data to substantiate his plans, but he gives great examples of an achievment-oriented system development.

Drafted by a committee of 19 (but sufficiently well edited to read as if it were written by a single author) this book provides a well-argued, detailed and wide-ranging analysis of the consequences of economic globalization (the term corporate globalization is also extensively used in the book) and an examination of alternatives and the action required to move towards those alternatives. It has succeeded brilliantly, and deserves very close study, whether or not you agree with the drafting committee's views.

This is no extremist anti-corporate, anti-capitalist text, although it does clearly come to the conclusion that the vector of economic globalisation that we are on is neither inevitable, desirable nor sustainable. It is notable for arguing at the level of underlying principles and their practical consequences - it makes explicit the assumptions underlying corporate globalisation and questions them. This, in itself, is a valuable service as so much of the 'debate' in the media proceeds on the basis of bald assertion of essentially fallacious economic dogma.

The report starts with a critique of 'corporate globalization'. The term itself is useful, because the term 'globalization' has become something of a 'Humpty-Dumpty' word ('when I use a word, it means exactly what I want it to mean, neither more nor less'). 'Corporate globalization' describes a process driven and promoted by the large global corporations which, whatever its other consequences, gives primacy to the benefits that will flow to global business.

The critique identifies eight key features of corporate globalization:

1. 'Promotion of hypergrowth and unrestricted exploitation of environmental resources to fuel that growth
2. Privatization and commodification of public services and of remaining aspects of the global and community commons
3. Global cultural and economic homogenization and the intense promotion of consumerism
4. Integration and conversion of national economies, including some that were largely self-reliant, to environmentally and socially harmful export oriented production
5. Corporate deregulation and unrestricted movement of capital across borders
6. Dramatically increased corporate concentration
7. Dismantling of public health, social, and environmental programs already in place
8. Replacement of traditional powers of democratic nation-states and local communities by global corporate bureaucracies.'

It demonstrates each of these propositions and explores who are the beneficiaries of application of these policies. One of the complexities of trying to follow the arguments of the pro- and anti- globalisers is that both use statistics, both from apparently authoritative sources, that directly contradict each other. It is almost as if the two sides inhabit parallel universes that operate in different ways. Suffice it to say that the report puts forward convincing arguments in support of its case.

The critique proceeds to a devastating analysis of the impact of the World Bank, The IMF and the WTO, the three pillars of corporate globalisation, over the last four or five decades.

The report then argues ten principles for sustainable societies, as a basis for identifying ways of realising these principles in the subsequent chapters of the report. It argues that these principles 'seem to be the mirror opposites of the principles that drive the institutions of the corporate global economy.'.

One of the minor problems in the debate is that, whereas 'globalization' rolls easily off the tongue, 'the principle of subsidiarity' is neither easy to say nor obvious in its meaning. The report contains a chapter on the case for subsidiarity, and it is a strong one. The counter argument is almost entirely concerned with power. While there are many elements of conflict between corporate globalisation and the principle of subsidiarity - local control - they are not entirely antithetical. But the reach of the large corporates would unquestionably be reduced.

You may or may not agree with the arguments in this report, but they deserve serious attention. They are well and carefully argued, they represent (in fairly sophisticated terms) the views of a growing number of people around the world who believe that current beliefs and institutions serve them poorly, and they show those who wish to promote change a path for doing so.

This book is excellent for all those who think we can do better-that small farmers needn't be driven from the land, our water needn't be polluted, people need not go hungry while others are overfed genetically engineered chemically altered junk food, etc. It has great thinkers presenting clear, well thought out ideas about what's wrong and what we can do about it. It helps when getting in that classic argument of keynesianism/communism v. neoliberalism because it outlines the thrid alternative very well. I am a grad student and I used it for a paper i wrote recently refuting neoliberalism and it was very helpful. I highly recommend it! Also, look into Maria Mies. She is the anti-capitalist-patriarchy bomb, yo.

A friend of mine who is involved with Rabbi Michael Lerner's Tikkun Community movement recently gave me a copy of Alternatives to Economic Globalization: A Better World is Possible. I'm not an expert in this field at all, but I found the book worthwhile and very accessible. (So accessible that I read the entire thing in a week!) The writers include Jerry Mander, David Korten, Lori Wallach, and many people working around the world in the anti-globalization movement.

What makes the book really important is the positive solutions and alternatives offered. The authors offer real ways to put into practice the Tikkun Community's first and second core principles (interdependence and ecological sanity, and a new bottom line in economic and social institutions).

I think other Tikkun readers, progressive-Democrats, Green party members, and thoughtful people everywhere---who want to see the world change from how it is now to how it could be---would want to read a book outlining specifics of how to create sustainable energy, transportation and food systems. And Alternatives to Economic Globalization does just that. I can't recommend this book enough (in fact I've already bought several copies to give to some of my friends).

Burl Barer really captures everything about the Saint in this book. It is a huge source of information, and everytime I read it I find out something new!

Even if you aren't a fan of the Saint, you should still buy this book. It's a remarkable, inside account of how a character is translated into books, comics, radio, tv and film. A must-have for anyone thinking of breaking into publishing, tv or film

Burl Barer's book on the history of The Saint is "the source" for Saint fans yearning for more information about The Saint. It is a must-have for Saint fans, and makes for an excellent read, even for those detectivish fans who don't really know much about Simon Templar or Leslie Charteris to start with...

I have worked with individuals experiencing disabilties and their families for several years. After The Tears is an honest, informative and poignant collection of experiences of families whose lives have been changed by a family member with a disability. This is a great resource for families and a MUST read for professionals and para professionals. It has raised my awareness and reminded me of both the strength and fragility of the families and individuals whom I have served.

I am a parent of a child with a disability. This book was wonderfully written. It expressed many of the feelings I had when my child was born. I realized I am not alone. I have read many books about coping and this is the best one by far. It is also an easy read. I read it in one night.

I am a teacher who has never had a child with disabilities. This book really helped me understand what the parents of my students are going through. It is a great book for new parents or friends of parents with a baby with disabilities of any kind.

I LOVED this book. It provides a fascinating inside look into the unconscious mind and the power of hypnosis and counseling. Even if you have no interest in hypnosis per se, this is a great study of human nature and relationships.

This is not only an excellent read--like a series of whodunits-but a fascinating glipse of the working of the unconscious mind. This is not just about hypnosis, but it is about universal processes in every person. The writing is excellent and the stories compelling. Good read for anyone interested in the mysteries of the mind

Rarely do we get a chance to witness a master healer at work. In this fascinating and well-written book you can begin to fathom how the mind impacts the body, how powerfully the events of our childhood mold our psyche and reverberate into every area of our lives. Here's a benchmark for good therapy - so whenever you might need some help navigating your life, you hope to find a gifted therapist like David Calof. This is a must-read for all who want to know themselves and others. P.S. Mr. Calof, when's your next book coming out?

The most striking single aspect of the therapeutic techniques David Calof demonstrates in these gripping case histories is the peer partnerships he creates between clinician and clients. It is this "at ease" stance which enables him to access the client's unconscious with such facility and enlist his inner resources in the healing process. May his tribe increase.

Collaboratively written by Richard Steckel, Robin Simons, Jeffrey Simons and Norman Tanen, Making Money While Making A Difference: How To Profit With A Nonprofit Partner is a clear-cut, practical and effective guide to forming a business alliance with a nonprofit organization. Chapters cover such diverse methods as sponsorship, premiums, licensing, strategic philanthropy, and many more avenues to improve business image and contribute to society while remaining profitable. Making Money While Making A Difference, is enthusiastically recommended reading for any business owner or entrepreneur interested in thinking enhancing their financial bottom line through positioning with the not-for-profit sector.

this book is easy to comprehend. the book offers insight into the 'floor time' approach to therapy and play, as well as offering helpful ideas on coping with the stresses of being a special needs parent and family.

chapters are well-defined, clear-cut and easy-to-read. a must for anyone whose child has developmental delays!

Buy this one! Our daughter was recently diagnosed with a developmental disorder and this book is just a wonderful resource, particularly for the period just after diagnosis, when parents are scrambling to find the right treatment options and at a loss for what to do. After reading this book, we felt suddenly empowered to begin working with our daughter, even though we don't yet have our full team in place. We realized that we were doing all the wrong things with the best of intentions, often making our interactions with her frustrating on both sides. The floor time descriptions and techniques have really helped us interact with our sometimes withdrawn and difficult child and even better, really enjoy the time we spend playing and working with her.

When my wife and I first felt that our daughter had serious developmental issues, we panicked. My daughter was 3 at that time and was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified(PDD NOS). Days later a librarian helped me choose this book. I read the book, re read it many times and applied it to interact with my daughter.
After nearly two years of applying the principles and techniques discussed in this book, we turned our daughter around a full 180 degrees.
She is now very intentional, joyful, creative, spontaneous, logical, friendly and natural. What were some of her major issues are now her strengths. She still has a few minor issues and they are being addressed.
Our main intervention has been Dr. Greenspan's Floortime model. Most of the caregivers and professionals of my daughter were educated in the Floortime principles.
This book must be considered a great tool for providing intervention to special needs kids both at home and in the classroom. This intervention is very demanding of a parent's time and mind but worth every bit of it. We had a great psychologist that helped us apply the intervention.
Contrary to what another reviewer said, this intervention is not easy. You need a lot of patience, determination, mental energy to understand your child and apply the intervention for her individual needs.
Stanley Greenspan and Serena Weider created a masterpiece. This is a must read for anyone with a special needs child.

The ISBN number of this book is for Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, The Official Movie Book by Garth Pearce. The book is a beautifully produced chronicle of the making of the Kevin Costner movie. Color photos, interviews, behind the scenes participants, etc. If you loved the movie, this is the book for you!

well, if you're familiar with other Simon Green books, this won't disappoint. The style is very similar to "Blue Moon Rising" and I swear Robin is a distant relation of Rupert's. It shits all over the Kevin Costner film - but why won't they do another printing run on it is beyond me.

This is not as bad as one would expect given the general awfulness of Simon Goldhill's oeuvre. However, the sections authored by him so degrade and debase the book that the otherwise useful chapters it contains are debased by the presence of its co-editor. Readers would be advised to skip Goldhill's parts or even, as I did, physically remove them from the tome. Given that he is so utterly devoid of anything vaguely resembling talent, one can only wonder why on earth the man goes on. And on. And on...