ABOUT THE BOOK: Options for physicians working within the prepaid medicine system make sense when you understand the pros and cons, strategies, and structures analyzed in this guide to the new managed care environment.

-- Evolution of the managed care movement.

-- Myths about organizational requirements for managed care success.

-- Pros and cons of solo practice versus IPA, PHO, or group practice.

-- Working for hospital or HMO.

-- Entrepreneurial, legal, and regulatory characteristics of each model.

-- Best opportunities for primary care and specialist physicians.

-- The ideal physician organization for managed care.

-- Future winners and losers, quality of care, reform, and Wall Street.

Analyze the cost and benefits of practice and managed care proposals, because an informed choice makes good medicine work.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Richard Stenson has spent more than twenty-five years working in and analyzing integrated delivery systems (IDS) that bring together doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies as mutual players with common goals. He received his bachelors degree in Business from the University of California, Berkeley, a masters degree in Health Administration from Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, and an M.B.A from Loyola University in New Orleans. The author has worked in executive management at the Ochsner Hospital, affiliated with the Ochsner Clinic and Ochsner Research Foundation in New Orleans. He held joint administrative responsibilities for the Upjohn Medical Group, Harkness Community Hospital (formerly Southern Pacific Hospital), and Health Maintenance Inc. (HMO plan) of Northern California. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Straub Clinic & Hospital and the Straub Health Plan in Honolulu. Presently, he is President and CEO of the Tuality Healthcare system and the Tuality Health Alliance, a PHCO (nonprofit, physician, hospital, community organization) in Hillsboro, Oregon. Mr. Stenson is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives (medical group practice management) and also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (hospitals and health system management). He has certificates of completion from the Harvard University Program in Health Policy, Planning Regulation, and Stanford University's Advanced Management College. He has taught and lectured on the management faculties of several colleges and universities, and published articles and book reviews on health care management. He has also chaired and/or served on the boards of numerous organizations and associations for medical groups, hospitals, medical education, health planning, health issues advocacy, medical joint ventures, physician management services, health executives, medically indigent, and community service.

Finally - a comprehensive analysis and history of one of the most important children's books! If you think you know Pinocchio, think again. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern is THE exhaustive study of the great literary puppet. From Carlo Collodi's (pen name for Carlo Lorenzini) original late 19th century tale to its many 20th and 21st century spin-offs, from the original's illustrations to its inspired copies, to Disney's version and beyond, Pinocchio Goes Postmodern enlightens with its expansive chronicling of the fabled Pinocchio story in its myriad manifestations.

Wunderlich and Morrissey are, in my estimation, the world's preeminent Pinocchio scholars. (Hollywood and Global Cinema take note: If you are going to tackle a celluloid rendition of this tale - animated or otherwise - you need this team aboard as consultants.) The former is a professor of sociology at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, the latter, a professor of English at SUNY Plattsburgh. Wunderlich had already written a Pinocchio Bibliography before tackling this endeavor. Morrissey has written at least one Pinocchio-inspired play. Both have written many articles and given many talks on the subject for over twenty years. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern benefits from these scholars, not only because of their seemingly exhaustive knowledge about Collodi, Pinocchio and their literary children but because they are able to approach the material from both sociological and literary vantage points.

The text provides an overview of creator Collodi's life and work prior to Pinocchio, as well as a publication history of the original. Later chapters expand on the publication history of Pinocchio and trace the manner in which Collodi's story has been re-told, appropriated, outright stolen, bastardized, rescued and recovered by a plethora of storytellers. The best of these amalgamations capture the true spirit of the original tale and continue to make it both a learning experience in the context of amusing storytelling. The best of the Pinocchio spin-offs also continue to focus on the growth of the "I-ness" (to borrow Robert Coover's terminology from his adult sequel, Pinocchio In Venice) within the principal character. In spite of its detractors and countless rip-off artists, Collodi's original Pinocchio tale is a beautiful children's bildungsroman that does not shirk from strong lessons. The novel emphasizes that the so-called "real world" can be a cruel and dangerous place. You can get lost in it but it. And it can change you for better or worse. How we cope in the midst of harsh lessons and times of peril often speaks loads about us because these are often the moments that transform us into stronger human beings and give us a better understanding of ourselves. Indeed, Collodi's Pinocchio remains, in its own way, one of the most important of existentialist tracts.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Wunderlich and Morrissey's text, however, is not its incredible thoroughness regarding its core subject matter, but its attempt to rescue the original story from obscurity and reacquaint contemporary readers to the power and messages imbedded there. Disney probably did the most damage in terms of turning Pinocchio into a cutesy children's tale. (Moreover, the sociological and moral lessons imbedded in the Disney version are skewed. For example, nobody is economically destitute in the Disney (World) view and if you disobey your parents and guardian angels - even if they look like crickets - you're going to wind up a demon-like, gambling, heathen. Period.) Although Collodi probably kept adults in mind as he was penning his book, his text is unquestionably first and foremost a children's story. The author made sure his story remained focused on depicting sincere versions of the tough trails - and trials - children must travel on their journey to adulthood. Why there have been countless watered down retellings of the story may best be summed up by an overview of our postmodern culture: our obsession with keeping things light and easy, our manic infatuation with consumerism, our attempt to turn life into one long visit to Pleasure Island. Most damaging of all, perhaps, is a turning away from the importance of cultivating an intimate knowledge and ongoing study of the self. Self-study is not narcissistic behavior, but necessary in order to gain authenticity in a largely inauthentic and superficial world.

Pinocchio Goes Postmodern is not only a fun book to read, it's a tremendous reference tool that belongs in the library (public and private) of anyone concerned with the history of great children's literature and great texts in general. Wunderlich and Morrissey present their material in an accessible, friendly style. Their knowledge of and enthusiasm for their subject matter will make you want to keep turning the pages as quickly as you can read them - and then race to go re-read Collodi's original Pinocchio and re-discovery its joys and wonders.

Because of the dumbing down of the Pinocchio story in the U.S. since the late 1930's, augmented by the continuing dominance of the Disney version, modern American readers, child and adult, are missing out on an important reading experience popularly enjoyed during the first four decades of the 20th century. The Wunderlich/Morrisey book describes and analyzes the former richness and ubiquity, and the subsequent adulteration, of the original Pinocchio version in America.

This book belongs in the library of every academic institution where literary and cultural studies are important. It should also be accessible in public libraries to enable parents and teachers to discover, or rediscover, a rollicking and many-layered story to share with children.

Richard Price is without a doubt one of the finest libertarian theorists of all time. The works in this excellent volume set forth a political philosophy of natural rights, distrust of power, and local self-government that is as timeless as it is profound. It is unfortunate that Price and his works are all but forgotten and ignored today, even among libertarians.

Evans is a fascinating man to listen to. He is a decorated veteran, but shuns the recognition he rightly deserves. He admits that some of his actions during the heat of combat "might have been foolhardy." Evans was not interested in medals, only in trying to keep his men alive. As Evans' Third Army Com mander, General George S. Patton remarked, "No one ever won a war by dying for his country. He won by making the other poor bastard die for his country."

Evans met several truly historical figures. First and foremost was Patton. After the first day of the Battle of Arracourt, Patton visited Evans' command post to commend him on a job well done. That was just the first of many encounters with General Patton. After hostilities ceased in 1945, Evans was assigned to a Prisoner of War camp near Landshut, Germany. There, while interrogating prisoners, he briefly met General Vlasov, another larger-than-life individual. Vlasov was a former White Russian officer who was convinced (some say coerced) to help the Nazis against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. Later, in Switzerland, Evans was able to get a glimpse of a compound full of Nazi war criminals, most notable of whom was Herman Goering.

Evans was also fortunate to have been able to participate in the design, testing and eventual combat deployment of the M18 "Hellcat" tank destroyer. The United States Army found that its antitank capabilities were woefully inadequate against the masses of German armor, so a new tank destroyer was desired. Evans, along with a handful of other armor officers from various posts around the US, was invited to Detroit to the Buick Division of General Motors, to offer suggestions for the design of this new vehicle. There are precious few times in a soldier's career that he is given the opportunity to impact upon the equipment he will use in the performance of his duty. Evans and these other officers seized the moment and helped to design one of the most effective combat vehicles ever. In ju! st a few short months the M18 went from the drawing board to the maneuver field and then the European Theater of Opera tions.

This is a must for any Surgery Resident interested in clinical transplantation. The authors discuss each chapter in light of current wisdom and provide implications for the future. The chapter on "Pregnancy after Renal Transplantation" is a rare compilation. As well current hot topics including Xenotransplantation and Chimerism after transplantation are discussed. The only drawback is the lack of tables on key features of clinical topics.

I read this book years ago and just reread it. The issues are always important. The author does a great job presenting a non bias view of the tragedy of a father killing a son because he can't cope with the son's drug use. The problem is here years later I want to know how the survivors have moved on with their lives and generally what has happened to them.

"The Sacred Mushroom Seeker" has been selected for listing in "Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: An Entheogen Chrestomathy." http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy

The Scopes Trial: A Brief History with Documents is a wonderful introduction to the Scopes "monkey" trial and its significance in history. I found the narrative history to be a quick but compelling and informative read, and was especially interested in the way in which the author shows how events during the time period following the First World War influenced the parties and helped to explain their motivations. I also found the documents, including excerpts from the trial transcript and newspaper articles of the time to be very helpful in understanding the manner in which the trial developed and the manner in which it was perceived nationally. Anyone looking for a readable yet informative work on the Scopes trial would be well advised to look into this book.

Words can't describe how beautifully and eloquently the message of the book 'A Course in Miracles' is conveyed through the heart-warming and spellbinding voice of Richard Thomas.

I have heard these tapes, and especially the 1st one of the set, countless of times...

The late Len Bates has culminated a life-time of research with this biography of Thomas Walsh, senator from Montana and major political player in the first third of the twentieth century. This work fills a major gap in the account of this period, and speaks most directly to Progressive period and the 1920s, as well as to the surprisingly complex political history of America's Western states. Bates has no particular axe to grin, but confines himself to a measured, factual, but entertaining account that says much about the realities of reform and politics in American society Good history, well done!