I've worked as an employee for ten years (5 government, 5 corporate) and have had my own microbusiness for the last seventeen. This book tells it like it is. Now I know why I'm so addicted to personal technology - these are the modern-day equivalents of the tools of production that Marx wrote about. These are the tools of liberation.

I'm an amateur futurist keeping up with big-picture books on social trends since starting with Alvin Toffler's Future Shock in the late sixties to The Third Wave, Free Agent Nation and the Cluetrain Manifesto and many books in between. FAN is a very good book. As a microbusiness owner, it helps me understand myself and my situation better. It gives me LOTS of ideas and inspiration to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves in this time of transition and economic challenge.

I started my business 17 years ago after reading a great book called Maverick Career-styles: The Way of the Ronin. The writing was on the wall even then - in the mid-eighties. I was willing to take a chance and strike out on my own after ten years of traditional employment because that book gave me a way of seeing that I might be more secure as a wiley and agile independent professional than I would be as a corporate drone in this new world we are living in. Dan Pink speaks my language! Well-written, entertaining and valuable read.

In Baltimore, 700 low-income people have completed a 108- hour course in how to start a small business. The course is offered by a non-profit, Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore. WEB says that 80% of those who started the program have begun their own enterprise, and that after 10 years, 80% of those are still in business. These new business owners are part of a national trend affecting rich and poor alike. They are "free agents", the people who will eventually change all we think we know about work life.
According to the latest census figures, more than half of American companies have less than five employees, and 70% of all businesses in the United States have NO paid employees. Today the 33 million free agents in the US outnumber manufacturing employees and all federal, state, local and county government employees, including teachers and police officers.
These little companies typically re-circulate 60% of revenues into their local economies through wages, using local vendors, and consuming local products and services. In contrast, chain stores only re-circulate 20% locally and warehouse type stores only 6% locally.
Author Daniel Pink calls this growth of the productively unattached "Free Agent Nation", and it may signal a new capitalism that will go far beyond "getting a good job", and "the organization man".
In his essential book Free Agent Nation: How America's New Independent Workers Are Transforming the Way We Live (Warner Business Books, 2001), Pink notes that the growth of free agents are enabled by four economic trends. The old social contract in which a company traded lifetime job security for employee loyalty no longer exists. Second, new inexpensive and portable technology means that anyone can buy a computer and own the means of production, no longer being dependent on a corporation to provide what's needed to make a business work. Third, long term prosperity has enabled people to search for meaning in their work, not just a paycheck. Fourth, corporations continue to form and dissolve at faster rates, so most workers will outlive their companies.
The new social contract is more challenging than the old. Pink describes it: "The free agent provides talent (products, services, advice) in exchange for opportunity (money, learning, connections)." Many large corporations now outsource as much as possible to free agents, a good deal on both sides.
Free agents are growing in spite of outdated employment, tax, and zoning laws that restrict small businesses. Free agents pay more taxes than employees because they are both employers and employees, they pay more for health insurance because of laws encouraging corporations to provide coverage, and they find themselves breaking outmoded zoning laws to run home businesses. But while the political landscape doesn't yet support their freedom, they have already changed the cultural and economic landscape. Free agents put up with the downside for freedom and because they actually earn more than their employed counterparts for doing the same work. A recent study of one thousand new millionaires found that two thirds were self-employed.
In many ways, being a free agent is the ultimate step in personal responsibility, ethics and self-actualization. The free agent definition of success is entirely personal and may have little to do with income or prestige. Free agents survive through positive relations with others. If a free agent acts in an unethical manner nothing will soften the landing. Whether they make it or not, there is no one to pity them, and no one else to blame.

And I never thought I would say that about any book other than the Bible. But Pink's book has become my professional Bible. I wasn't one of those wise ones who sat down, thought it all out, weighed all the plusses and minuses, and made a decision. Nope, not me. That makes way too much sense! After being left stranded high and dry after the Technology industry downturn last year, and scrambling to make it; little by little, one job here, one job there, I finally realized I was making it, and pretty well, but without the traditional J-O-B. Then I ran across Dan's book, and found myself!! It is overflowing with advice, insights, perspective, tips, you-name-it for those who love freedom and controlling their own life more than a corner office with a rubber tree plant!

If you want to understand the current revolution in the workplace, read this book.

If you think you might be interested in being a Free Agent, study this book!

If you're trying to make it as a Free Agent, DEVOUR this book.

Thanks for all your hard work, Dan! I can never thank you enough!!!

I very much enjoyed this book mostly because it is written in plain ordinary English for the average person. With all the internet shopping that is now available, it is advisable to know something about the various gems so you know what you're getting.
This book fills the bill perfectly!

This man knows his gems and he has great stories behind each piece. He has great ways of romancing the stones like no one else. I get so excited hearing the little background stories he tells about each gem and the history behind the locations they come from. A great book by a renowned expert of gemology. I highly recommend this book.

I can't begin to say how wonderful this book is. Whether you are a layman or a professional, this is THE book to turn to. Not only is it highly informative, but it is written so well that you actually WANT to read it. Dan's sense of humor and his love for gems shines here. I wouldn't trade this book for anything.

This book is to the Giant Clam world what Eric Borneman's book is to the Coral world. This tome contains everything you need to know regarding the Tridacnid clams; from natural distribution to anatomy to reproduction to ecology. The chapter on clam diseases is especially enlightening. With that being said, the book is just as famous (or infamous) for its poor readability and editing. Typographical errors abound and in some chapters, the pages are virtually unreadable. However, the wealth of information presented by the author far outweighs the difficulties one may encounter navigating this bivalve treatise. Simply plan on some extra reading time to thouroughly digest and comprehend what the author has to say, and your clams will thank you. If you are going to keep Tridacnids in the aquarium, then this book is a must have - regardless of the navigational difficulties.

Covers the biology of tridacnid clams, the "Killer Clams" of the South Pacific Reefs. Harmless & unique creatures, they are popular aquarium pets because of the beautiful colors & patterns of their fleshy mantles. This book also covers reef aquarium lighting, filtration, water chemistry, protein skimmers, tank construction and coral propagation. Good photography!

The Author did a ton of research on Giant Clams, this is a very complete book ( although a revision would be great! )Lots of pictures. Highly recommended.

At times gentle and beautiful and other times shocking, this book of personal, spiritual, and ecological discovery is a real eye-opener. It presents what I believe is the best portrait of Gaia I've ever read. It brings up a lot of questions and a lot of answers, and will probably shake up your belief system a bit, no matter what that belief system is. If you like this one, try "Conversations with God" (book 1) and the Seth books of Jane Roberts.

... You'll love to read Karen's account of her journey into Spirit. Daniel's teaching helps us tear down the limitations we place on ourselves and remind us of the magic and the majesty of Life, Earth, and Heaven. This is an important book, which should not be missed by anyone who is searching for who they really are. You might just find that you can bring miracles into your own life.

I just finished reading this book, and I was amazed. A friend encouraged me to read it, insisting it could change my life. I was pretty skeptical, since this whole "new age" thing hasn't really impressed me much. Mostly crystals and empty fluff. Not this book. Not by a long shot. Extremely well-written and very, very powerful. This book is worth the time for just the quality of writing alone. Anyone who has ever wondered "why are we here?" or "is this all there is to life?" needs to read this book. Not just tired old rhetoric, this book gives entirely new insights to our lives, our spirituality, and who we really are. I can't recommend this book enough. Read it. Then read it again. It WILL change your life. It has mine

Unequivocally the best reference for shots and blocking. Strickly for the professional director and cinematographer; this is a highly technical book. I refer to this book during my prep for each film, and no matter how many times I have read it, I am always reminded of something dynamic and valuable. Each page has storyboard drawings that show camera position, screen direction, and sequence of cuts. Also shown are dolly moves and character movement. These diagrams are accompanied by clear and detailed commentary. Do not be misled by the selected sample pages above. Fully 35% of the book is diagrams; the text explains the diagrams. The book is organized with the most basic coverage at the beginning, and each chapter thereafter presents increasing complexity of blocking. The shots presented are all from actual films, a factor that gives the material and the book an aliveness and vitality. Some of these films are complete unknowns, others are classics. Yet the source is inconsequential; what is amazing is that Mr. Arijon has essentially put into this book every possible combination of camera placement and character arrangement that has ever been done in cinema. Every director I have shown this book to has immediately gone out and gotten their own copy for reference. Anyone planning to direct or shoot a film will find this book an invaluable contribution to their ideas and creativity. Again due to its highly technical content, this is for professionals or serious students. The bible of blocking for cinema.

Grammar Of The Film Language by professional screenwriter, film editor, and director Daniel Arijon is a comprehensive, thorough, "user friendly" guide to the assorted visual narrative techniques used in professional filmmaking. From the basics of placing players and cameras in the right positions to sequencing patterns, clearly explained with the help of more than 1,500 black-and-white illustrations. A strongly recommended addition to film school reference library collections, Grammar Of The Film Language is a core practical reference for anyone with an interest in filmmaking, or who just wants to know more about what makes the craft of shooting movies and TV shows tick!

Are you an amateur film maker, prehaps you have not attended film school, and your looking for a book to guide you through the rudimentaries of directing? Well, look no further, this book is a directors panacea, a klodike filled with sound advice, superb diagrams and clear chapters taking you through all techniques.

It's 600 pages of diagrams that will explain in detail how to set up shots, what techniques one can utilise and unconventional methods of composing pictures, playcing actors etc.

I have bought numerous books on directing, this is the first one which actually helps a director transfer a scene from a script on to film/storyboard. It can be quite sophistocated and requires some effort to get aquainted with certain intricate techniques. Even seasoned directors would be advised to have a copy of this fine book.

As a college lecturer I have found this book invaluable. I recommend it, it's worth every penny.

This abridged version of Maimonedes thoughts covers about one quarter of the complete book with the same title. The selection by Guttmann concentrates on Maimonedes' attempt to bring rational Aristotelian philosophy in accord with classical Jewish literature. Thus, allegorical reading of the anthropomorphic features of the biblical God is urged for a better understanding of the hidden meaning and to bring it in conformity with reason. Other main aspects covered deal with Prophecy, Providence and the way to a godly life. It is the latter which struck me as most interesting because the dedication of every moment of one's life to God (except when engaged in mundane duties which ought to be kept to a minimum) is precisely what one finds in the Bhagavad Gita except that the name of the Deity is Krishna rather than Yahweh. Apart from the name there is absolutely no other difference. If we are serious in believing that there is only one God in control of the universe this should not be disturbing because all nations are entitled to use their name for the Deity which encompasses all. Yet Maimonedes insists that only through contemplation of the Jewish law can perfection be achieved and one finds some rather derogatory remarks about those who think otherwise. Although Maimonedes emphasizes that the way to God is through humility, tolerance of the views of others will not be found. Furthermore, while intellect and reason are extolled Maimonedes has no difficulty accepting oral traditions of biblical stories, especially in regard to Abraham, Jacob and Moses, which have not only no corrollary in the Pentateuch but are at times at variance with it. Thus, the imaginative faculty and the rational faculty, as Maimonedes called them, and which distinguish the human being from animals, did not seem to find complete harmony in his view of the world and may leave some of us still perplexed.
The introductions to the book by Frank and by Guttmann are very helpful in setting Maimonedes' work in its appropriate context. For the student of comparative religion this is a useful introduction to medieval Jewish philosophy as it originated in a Muslim milieu and which is still held in high esteem by some modern theologians.

Rambam knocks me over. This is an amazing work. This is one of the most important books in any language. This translation by Pines is excellent, clear, simple, unobtrusive, and has just the right small amount of clarifying notes.

The Guide clearly should be studied with others. I would like to discuss each chapter with other people as we read (and maybe re-read) them. My email address is my firstnamelastname at yahoo dot com.

This is volume one of a two volume set, so be sure to get both volumes. Volume one contains two interpretive essays, one by Leo Strauss and one by the translator, the former alone making this translation worthy of purchase, according to the Times Literary Supplement. Maimonides' work itself is an intentionally tangled web of reason, not to be undertaken by the casual reader; such a reader will leave disappointed with its obscure style. Maimonides assumes a great deal of Scriptural knowledge and a familiarity with the most important commentators of his time. Nevertheless, for those willing to put in the effort both in learning the fundamentals of religion and in exploring an almost endless maze of logic, Maimonides will provide a sumptuary feast and sketch the outlines of his view of philosophy and faith.

Bold, interesting, exciting, surprising, elucidating, sharp... and maybe a little bit too sharp at the edges. Daniel Reid is a wonderfully eloquent spokesman for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in general, and particularly of Chi-gung, which he has studied for many years. His opinion about the subject, stated elsewhere, is that "...Chinese chi-gung is by far the most profound and effective sytem for self-cultivation of health and longevity ever developed", and he is probably right, and he goes to great lengths to prove it. This book is Reid's latest, and it is thoroughly researched; his argument presented beautifully, artfully, intelligently, showing true love for and conviction to the philosophy and practice of Chi-gung. There is not a single statement in the book which is not documented by scientific evidence, accompanied by quotes from experts in the fields of biomedicine, TCM, martial arts, meditation, physics, and so on. However, and eventhough Daniel Reid is perhaps one of the best qualified persons in the Western world today to present such a thorough and lucid dissertation on the subject, (in my very humble opinion) I find some of his conclusions a bit too forward, and this, I think, could mislead newcomes to Chi-gung into expecting a bit too much. Now, do not get me wrong, I loved this book. I practice Chi-gung and T'ai chi ch'uan myself, and am deeply interested and involved in the study of Chinese philosophy and the Tao of Cultivating life. And Mr. Reid also states clearly, several times throughout the book, that chi-gung requires serious commitment, but anyway, an ounce of prevention and a good dose of pragmatism is my recommendation for those who read this book as a first introduction to Chi-gung (which is one of the author's main intentions). It's worth what you'll pay for it, as long as you remember that reading about something like chi-gung is only the half of it, and that experiencing it is as thorough and complete a thing as the contents of this great book!

This book is simply amazing. From the moment I started reading this book I was hooked. I just could not put it down. Once I started incorporating the simple breathing techniques discussed in the book,I noticed immediate improve ments in my circulation, energy level,flexibility,and mental clarity. Then after trying some of the moving exercises I felt totally charged as if I was being pumped with electricity, I have never felt better. This book is a must if you are interested in learning more about yourself, your inner strength, and your place in the universe.

This is a very compact book. It covers many things in CHinese Chi Gung, like Breathing exercises,self-massaging, acupressure, postures, meditation, health. It also covers the philosophy of Tao which Chi Gung itself is based on. Reid explains it in a clear way that's easy to read for Westerners. Personally, I've tried Chi Gung and it does really increase my energy and vitality and clarity. Especially the breathing exercises, god if there's one thing you should improve to make your vitality 'explode', it's by improving your BREATHING. Even Anthony Robbins teaches the 'power of breathing'! So it's not traditional mumbo jumbo. What chi gung is mainly about is, Chi (Air/Energy) Gong (Work/practice) that's what it means! Overall, this is a good guide for those who wants to know what chi gung is. You might also want to read another good book by the same author "The Tao Of Health, Sex and Longvity", it's a thicker book but it covers more subjects like diet, nutrition,fasting,breathing,exercises,correct sexual practice for vitality,meditation etc. Read it and most importantly, USE IT AND DO IT!