Amazon.com
About the Authors:

Robert Scoble helps run Microsoft's Channel 9 Web site. He began his blog in 2000 and now has more than 3.5 million readers every year. Scoble's blog has earned acclaim in Fortune magazine, Fast Company, and The Economist.

Shel Israel played a key strategic role in introducing some of technology's most successful products, including PowerPoint, FileMaker, and Sun Microsystems workstations.He's been an expert on innovation for more than twenty years.

An Excerpt from Naked Conversations:

Bloggings's Six Pillars: There are six key differences between blogging and any other communications channel. You can find any of them elsewhere. These are the Six Pillars of Blogging:

1. Publishable.Anyone can publish a blog.You can do it cheaply and post often. Each posting is instantly available worldwide.

2. Findable. Through search engines, people will find blogs by subject, by author, or both. The more you post, the more findable you become.

3. Social. The blogosphere is one big conversation. Interesting topical conversations move from site to site, linking to each other. Through blogs, people with shared interests build relationships unrestricted by geographic borders.

4. Viral. Information often spreads faster through blogs than via a newsservice. No form of viral marketing matches the speed and efficiency of a blog.

5. Syndicatable. By clicking on an icon, you can get free "home delivery" of RSS- enabled blogs into your e-mail software. RSS lets you know when a blog you subscribe to is updated, saving you search time. This process is considerably more efficient than the last- generation method of visiting one page of one web site at a time looking for changes.

6. Linkable. Because each blog can link to all others, every blogger has access to the tens of millions of people who visit the blogosphere every day.

You can find each of these elements elsewhere. None is, in itself, all that remarkable. But in final assembly, they are the benefits of the most powerful two-way Internet communications tool so far developed.

Other Blogging Books

Blogging For Dummies

Buzz Marketing with Blogs For Dummies

Publishing a Blog with Blogger

Book Description

From the creator of the number one business blog comes a powerful exploration of how, and why, businesses had better be blogging: Naked Conversations.

According to experts Robert Scoble and Shel Israel, blogs offer businesses something that has long been lacking in their communication with customers -- meaningful dialogue. Devoid of corporate-speak and empty promises, business blogs can humanize communication, bringing companies and their constituencies together in a way that improves both image and bottom line.

The authors use more than 50 case histories to explain why blogging is an efficient and credible method of business communication. You'll find yourself excited about the possibilities blogs present after reading just a few pages. Discover how:

• Prominent business leaders, including Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks, Bob Lutz from General Motors, and Jonathan Schwartz of Sun Microsystems, are beginning to use blogs to connect with their customers in new ways.
• Blogging has changed the rules of communication and competition.
• You can launch an effective blogging strategy and the reasons why you should.

Featuring a foreword by Tom Peters, this is a resource you and your business can't do without.

Download Description

From the creator of the number one business blog comes a powerful exploration of how, and why, businesses had better be blogging According to these experts, blogs offer businesses something that has long been lacking in their communication with customers-meaningful dialogue. Devoid of corporate-speak and empty promises, business blogs can humanize communication, bringing companies and their constituencies together in a way that improves both image and bottom line. With a Foreword by Tom Peters, author of such business bibles as In Search of Excellence, this book uses more than 50 case histories to explain why blogging is an efficient and infinitely more credible method of business communication. Blogs are easily linked, allowing information to spread rapidly, and blog readers are active, not passive, participants in the communication. Business and marketing decision-makers will find themselves excited about the possibilities after just a few pages. Interviews with Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks, Bob Lutz from General Motors, Jonathan Schwartz of Sun Microsystems, and other prominent business leaders showcase how businesses are beginning to use blogs to connect with customers in new ways Explores how blogging has changed the rules of communication and competition Gives business owners the tools to launch an effective blogging strategy and the reasons why they should Robert Scoble (Redmond, WA) is a technical evangelist who helps run Microsoft's Channel 9 Web site. He is also the company's best-known blogger, whose blog is read by more than 3.5 million people annually and is the top-ranking business blog among Technorati's Top 100. Shel Israel (San Carlos, CA) has been a consultant for more than 20 years and played a key strategic role in introducing some of technology's most successful products, including PowerPoint, FileMaker, and Sun Microsystems' workstations.

Customer Reviews:

Very Helpful.......2007-08-09

As a novice blogger and blog reader, I found this book to be a very helpful initiation into the culture of blogging. While the authors can be a bit "preachy" at times, they do get their message across and I find that their views on what blogging is all about ring true.

If you are already out there in the blogosphere, you will probably not find anything new here. However, if you are just getting your start, and especially if your business is just getting its start in blogging, this is an important book to read.

Great book!.......2007-07-23

I'm really enjoying the book. I'm blogging for my company, and was very interested in the insights of these men. They offer far more than just blogging guidelines - they offer a window into how our communication styles have developed in the digital age, and how to serve our employers with our communications.

Great book - I'm recommending to friends.

Received quickly & in great condition.

Every Marketing person should read this book.......2007-06-01

Blogs are another way of marketing a company's products and services and drawing folks into the raison d'etre for the company doing certain things, or going in a certain direction. Websites offer information, but no dialog.
My take on this book is that .. this is a must read for every Marketing person. Blogs have a huge potential for making companies look human and help sell products.
The book is very 'straight from the heart'. You can see that all over the place :). These guys are really into blogging and passionately so.
The industry examples are very good. Google and Apple not encouraging blogging was a big surprise.

A Practical Guide to Corporate Blogging.......2007-04-07

Naked Conversations is an insightful guide to the phenomenon of corporate blogging. Robert Scoble and Shel Israel have taken the fundamental message of The Cluetrain Manifesto--the claim that `markets are conversations'--and explored its business implications. Less visionary than The Cluetrain Manifesto, Naked Conversations is far more practical and instructive. It's the kind of book that you could recommend to your boss if he wanted to know why he should encourage his employees to blog about work.

The authors put forward a convincing case that businesses large and small need to take blogging seriously. On the one hand, corporate blogging can provide excellent return on investment, particularly in terms of search engine rankings but also, less quantifiably, in shared community perceptions. On the other hand, ignoring the blogosphere or entering it without taking account of its culture risks injuring a company's credibility. A key point is that blogging, unlike traditional public relations, is as much or more about listening as it is about speaking.

The authors divide the book into three sections. The first provides a series of case studies exploring different aspects of corporate blogging. Scoble and Israel point to corporate (and national) culture as the major differentiator between companies which encourage blogging and those which do not. Some companies like Google and Apple have turned corporate secrecy into a competitive strategy. Others simply let the big boss blog, preferring not to allow the minions to express themselves in their own voices. Microsoft and Sun are among the forward-thinking corporations which recognize the public relations value of encouraging their employees to talk online about the products and ideas they care about. The second section gives very practical tips about how and how not to blog about business. The third section, which is the shortest, provides a broader perspective on the place of blogging among other emerging technologies and trends.

Robert Scoble did a tremendous job with Channel 9 while he was at Microsoft. His video interviews introduced me to the people building the technologies I use everyday. I now feel a kind of personal connection to Microsoft and its employees. This would never have happened through advertising and traditional public relations. It came as a result of letting employees speak publicly about what they are working on. Rather than thinking about the company as a `Borg,' I regard Microsoft as a collection of extremely interesting and creative individuals who also listen and respond to what others have to say about their products.

Naked Conversations is not a technical book about how to set up a blog. Rather, it's an introduction to the culture of blogging and how it contributes to business today. Clearly, anyone considering blogging about business will want to read this book first--not just to avoid getting `dooced'--but to gain the right perspective on the risks and returns of talking and listening to customers online.

Good ONE.......2007-03-28

I think the book is really good if you don't have read any book about blogs.
Just in this case, buy it.
Otherwise, just read blogs, do not need any book.
At least this is what I think.

Best Regards,

Average customer rating: Finally, a book that allows us men to remain men while still pursuing a healthy relationship with women. More than dating All News is Good News a clear, concise start for anyone looking to improve in the dating game. READS LIKE A UNIVERSITY THESIS ON MALE/FEMALE DYNAMICS...

Stumbling Naked in the Dark: Overcoming Mistakes Men Make with Women Bradley Fenton Manufacturer: Trafford ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books General | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books Love & Romance | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books Motivational | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books General | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books Health, Mind & Body | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books Similar Items: Understanding Women: The Definitive Guide to Meeting, Dating and Dumping, if Necessary Seduce Me! What Women Really Want (Seduce Me!) The Layguide: How to Seduce Women More Beautiful Than You Ever Dreamed Possible No Matter What You Look Like or How Much You Make The Professional Bachelor Dating Guide - How to Exploit Her Inner Psycho How to Succeed with Women ASIN: 1412012155 Release Date: 2006-07-06

Book Description

This revolutionary guide offers an alternative to stumbling blindly, outlining the ideal mindset for confident men and opening a new era in men\'s perception of dating and interacting with women.

Customer Reviews:

Finally, a book that allows us men to remain men while still pursuing a healthy relationship with women........2007-07-31

I read this book over and over again while highlighting and taking notes. In the first chapter I was able to identify with the author, and acknowledge that I was the type of guy to whom he was referring.

If you are like me, and suddenly lose all sense of self once you meet a woman that intrigues you on all levels, you NEED this book. Most of the content is very relevant to day to day dating, and acts as a quick reference guide to almost any situation. I bought this three months into dating a girl I really like and it immediately helped me overcome certain insecurities while allowing me to still be myself and give the girl I'm dating the ability to choose me. It's refreshing! Finally I understand how to be the "real" me in any dating situation, and how to feel confident no matter what the outcome may be.

I wouldn't recommend this book to men who are looking to just get laid, or who view women as objects. This book is for guys like me, who, believe there is something real out there, and are willing to work hard on themselves and take the necessary time to have "it."

More than dating.......2007-06-12

I agree with much in the positive reviews, such as those by The Capitol and Mr. Maslanka. We can all agree that the world of personal relationships offers a vast subject that no one book - or even many - can or will ever cover completely. Furthermore, the tips and tricks change as the culture changes: what's in this book would have been inappropriate in 1900 and may be outdated by 2010 (who knows?) So dating books are a bit like the blind men and the elephant - everyone knows something, no one has the full picture. But this short tome offers an excellent, succinct approach that promotes honest and direct communication with the object(s) of your affections. Each chapter deals with a different dimension of the dating relationship, and offers a clearly defined method for 'managing' it. The approach permits - even encourages - honest self-evaluation, improvement and growth with integrity. That's a lot better than macho methods that retail themselves like dimestore aphrodisiacs. The book could also be read profitably for advice on communication generally - with friends or family or in business. Like other things, it will be an amusing, idle read for those who do not put its lessons into practice. Those who do, however, will be well-positioned to learn interesting, positive things about themselves and how they relate to others.

All News is Good News.......2007-05-13

The more I read thees books the more value they have to business. A client, ceo of a small company, once told me that ,in business, all news is good news---you must know where you stand and the context you are operating in. True in business, and---as Fenton demonstrates---true in dating. Find out at the outset if there is any interest and,if not, move on. One other example. I try lawsuits and when you do, a key is to empower the jury to decide so that their answers come from them, from the bottom up, not imposed by you, from the top down. Fenton uses the "Opening No" technique where he advises that empowering a woman by telling her, upfront, that a "no, I am not interested" is OK. This takes off the pressure(on both her as well as the male) , making room for considered and, yes, ethical decision making.There is other good stuff, boiled down to 127 pages.

a clear, concise start for anyone looking to improve in the dating game........2007-02-20

When I first purchased this book, I was purchasing it for the sheer hell of it as I had bought about 5-6 other books on the wide world of dating. Fenton lies out a clear, concise formula for greater success with women both on the first date and after the first date. This isn't a pickup book though, there are no clever lines or strategies to get to that first date, although you could apply some of the first date techniques to pre-first dates as well. There are no magical spots to meet women here, when to call, etc. However, it is a book that will explain a great deal of misconceptions many guys, including myself, have about women and what buttons to push and not to push for gaining that compatibility factor with any woman. More importantly, this book gives you the right mindset in dealing with the opposite sex. Perhaps, that's more important than many of these "pickup 101" and "where and how to seduce women" books. Because if you don't have the right mindset, you can read the player books all you want, but it won't make a damn bit of difference if you lack confidence and the right frame of mind around women. That being said, the four star rating is largely due to the fact that some scenarios the author envisions, I just can't see happening too often. The wording that Fenton suggests in some scenarios seems a little too wordy and almost without a doubt, forced in some cases. Overall, a solid book and I'd recommend "always talk to strangers" by David Wygant for a solid pair of books on the enormous realm of dating.

READS LIKE A UNIVERSITY THESIS ON MALE/FEMALE DYNAMICS..........2007-01-30

... and obviously a great deal of thought went into the analysis of every aspect of the female psyche during the writing of this book, which ironically represents the biggest problem your average frustrated chump encounters when trying to meet women - overanalyzing something that should be fairly simple if you're a guy with a cool vibe who's got his act together.

Although I haven't written a book on the subject (yet), my belief is that playful flirting - without serious intent and being indifferent as to the outcome - is always the best approach. Just play it cool, keep it light and go with the flow. Do this consistently and you will achieve positive results.

But if your real problem isn't so much meeting women as much as being the guy who always seems to find himself suffering from migraines due to high-maintenance relationships with difficult/demanding women expecting you to supplicate to them (ie: typical North American ballbreakers with entitlement complexes and/or attitude problems), maybe it's time to think outside the box and consider a more global perspective... perhaps finding a kinder, gentler kind of woman with a sweet disposition and nurturing instinct, like an Oriental woman from the Philippines, or a sexy and passionate South American female who can appreciate a man who makes no apologies for being one (hello, Rio de Janeiro) might be the cure for what ails you... if you'll open your mind to the possibilities, there's many other very appealing options out there that you're missing out on.

Average customer rating: You'll love Jamie, cause Jamie L-O-V-E-S food! Easy to follow recipies Jamie's Dinners: The Essential Family Cookbook Good, easy and wholesome recipes, but not always a hit with kids Useless cookbook for families

Jamie's Dinners: The Essential Family Cookbook Jamie Oliver Manufacturer: Hyperion ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books Culinary Arts & Techniques | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books Similar Items: JAMIE'S ITALY JAMIE'S KITCHEN The Naked Chef Happy Days with the Naked Chef The Naked Chef Takes Off ASIN: 1401301940

Book Description

Cooking sensation Jamie Oliver returns with a cookbook designed to delight the entire family! estselling cookbook author Jamie Oliver takes his signature fresh, fun cooking style into new territory by putting his focus on the family. Designed to encourage us to eat healthier meals at home and enjoy our time spent in the kitchen, Jamie's Dinners features over 100 new and simple recipes for easy-to-afford, easy-to-prepare gourmet dinners that will get even the busiest of families back into the kitchen. Jamie's pared-down style and inventive use of fresh, uncomplicated ingredients will ensure that even novice chefs can cook up delicious dinners with confidence and ease using accessible, stylish recipes that the whole family will love, such as Farfalle with Carbonara and Spring Peas and Japanese-Style Saturday Night Steak.

Customer Reviews:

You'll love Jamie, cause Jamie L-O-V-E-S food!.......2007-03-10

I wasn't sure about getting this cookbook, but WOW is my stomach grateful that I did! Straight off, being that fish and chips are my favorite, I tried his "Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas"...minus the mushy peas...(they scared me a bit, being with mint?!?! and all)...it was deluxe, restaurant-ish, lick-your-fingers-and-enjoy-your-guests-praise-nonstop-throughout-the-whole-meal-GOOD! I tried lots of fish and chips recipes before by hoo-ha chefs, all over-complicated, disappointing messy and not-tasty muck, but this one by Jamie was SIMPLE (3 ingredients for the batter) and tasted like perfection! (p.s-try it with a tartar sauce with mayo, mustard, lemon-juice, pickles, onions and a freshly crushed garlic clove...Y-U-M)

After trying the fish, I had a drive to try out some of the others so I tried his "Roast chicken with lemon and rosemary roast potatoes". Now... I make a great variety of roasted chicken dishes, complicated and simple, all BIG hits, and I really thought there was nothing new in the roasted chicken world, until this!!! Wow! My husband and I gorged the whole dish ALONE while quickly abandoning the fork and knife for our hands, licking our fingers every trip to the mouth! The recipe includes stuffing the chicken with garlic cloves and a pierced boiled lemon oozing it's juice...OH MY...speechless is the word! I recommend to eat this dish alone or with the hubby/wife, because it's too good to share with guests! It's our new favorite chicken roast (p.s-stick with fresh herbs, you'll taste the amazing difference!)

After two amazing triumphs with Jamie, I went on to "The ultimate burger and chips". Had it with the hubby and a friend. This burger should have been on that show Oprah had, where her friend explored the top 50 burgers to eat before you die! B-L-I-S-S! This recipe calls for a pestle and mortar, which I never owned and was weary about, but I got one and I am loving it (bye-bye aggression!)We added fresh avocado slices to the bun, besides Jamie's other recommendations..."druel-icous"! This one makes the "junk food/snack" reputation of the burger vanish and become 100% Meal!

The only danger with Jamie's cookbook is that you can forget about all conventional table conversation period...the eating experience becomes only EATING THE FOOD...AND TALKING ABOUT HOW GOOD IT IS...and having a very sudden urge to be thankful to God for food! (shouldn't that be the correct way anyhow, if you're cooking like you should...or could with Jamie?) This is my idea of an eating-lifestyle one must experience before they die! Life is too short to just eat to fill!

It is so refreshing to come across a chef who does all the normal meals we all know and love, but has a deep-food-loving twist that makes it feel like it's the first time ever eating the meal, and who has such a passion for food that you can taste with every bite! Plus, I gotta hand it to him for sticking to the fresh veggies and herbs as opposed to all the dried, frozen and over processed junk there is widely offered today! Don't be afraid to try out new tastes and new herbs...with Jamie they'll become an inseparable part of your meals that you'll marry with the rest of your dishes too!

Suggested food blessing for Jamie's dishes: "Hallelujah, thank you God for Jamie! Amen."

Easy to follow recipies.......2006-11-11

Great recipies and easy to follow. Good foods to entertain your family and friends!

Jamie's Dinners: The Essential Family Cookbook.......2006-11-04

Jamie Oliver aka "The Naked Chef" is my favorite celebrity chef and former Food TV cooking show host. I learned to cook watching his shows. This cookbook is chock full of recipes for parties and family events. There are 120 recipes beautifully illustrated with color photos and simple instructions. Jamie Oliver makes cooking fun, fast and easy. You don't need to be a pro to have a hearty, healthy meal in minutes. Buy this book! You'll love it.

Good, easy and wholesome recipes, but not always a hit with kids.......2006-10-24

This is my first Jamie Oliver cookbook. His TV shtick never appealed to me, but when I read about his really admirable work at improving school lunches in the UK and providing training for school-leavers at "15," his London restaurant, I decided he merited some support. Besides, we definitely needed to widen our repertoir of home dinners.

I've been very favorably impressed by the book. I've made about seven or eight things out of it now, and all have turned out to be excellent. Unlike some reviewers, I didn't mind the lack of precision in some recipes (I've always relied more on just using a "lug" of olive oil than measuring it, anyway), and I've learned to deal with the occasional editing lapse--if you read the whole recipe before starting (good advice I don't usually follow) you discover the "beaten egg" called for in the Spanish roast chicken isn't actually part of the recipe anyway.

So I recommend this book very highly. I should mention that although there are a number of recipes that the author describes as hits or favorites of his children, we've yet to find recipes in the book that will enchant young and old alike. (I don't rule out that this is only because he prepares them better than I do.) But I'm happy to keep plugging away at it, because literally everything has pleased the old, and that's who's doing the cooking!

Useless cookbook for families.......2006-08-26

We don't all live by farmer's markets or in big cities. Too many ingredients (some hard to find in many places) and too long preparation time for stressed out families. I'm sorry Jamie, but I don't have time when I come home from work to crack open a coconut and shred it for fixing a sallad which, by the way, my family won't like. The amount of fat, especially saturated fat in the recipes is astounding. Fine for once a week, but for everyday? I was very disappointed in this cookbook, I'm sorry to say.

Average customer rating: Simplicity on the other end of complexity. Lively read Good introduction to microeconomic analysis but some big errors Economics Made Fascinating Truly a pleasure

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science Charles Wheelan Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books International | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books General | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books General | Reference | Subjects | Books Similar Items: The Undercover Economist: Exposing Why the Rich Are Rich, the Poor Are Poor--and Why You Can Never Buy a Decent Used Car! Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics New Ideas from Dead Economists: An Introduction to Modern Economic Thought Armchair Economist: Economics & Everyday Life Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life ASIN: 0393324869

Book Description

Finally! A book about economics that won't put you to sleep. In fact, you won't be able to put this one down.

Naked Economics makes up for all of those Econ 101 lectures you slept through (or avoided) in college, demystifying key concepts, laying bare the truths behind the numbers, and answering those questions you have always been too embarrassed to ask. For all the discussion of Alan Greenspan in the media, does anyone know what the Fed actually does? And what about those blackouts in California? Were they a conspiracy on the part of the power companies? Economics is life. There's no way to understand the important issues without it. Now, with Charles Wheelan's breezy tour, there's no reason to fear this highly relevant subject. With the commonsensical examples and brilliantly acerbic commentary we've come to associate with The Economist, Wheelan brings economics to life. Amazingly, he does so with nary a chart, graph, or mathematical equation in sight—certainly a feat to be witnessed firsthand.

Economics is a crucial subject. There's no way to understand the important issues without it. Now, with Charles Wheelan's breezy tour, there's also no reason to fear it.

Customer Reviews:

Simplicity on the other end of complexity........2007-09-07

I've heard that simplicity on the front end of complexity is foolishness, while simplicity on the back end of complexity is genius. What I mean by that is that in this book Wheelan is genius in how he can concisely describe complex matters in simple terms without over-simplifying to the point of simplicity. It was obvious to me, as a reader, that he clearly understands economics in all its complexity; that is, he could probably make a sequel to this book called: Economics Dressed Head to Foot: Ornamenting the Dismal Science With Toe-Rings. The fact that Wheelan understands economics throughly and has an obviously polished journalistic, pleasant-to-read writing style lead me to give this book 5 stars, and recommend it to my wife and mother, who typically would have little time and interest in the topic. Thanks Wheelan.

Lively read.......2007-09-05

I took econ pass/fail many years ago and didn't enjoy it. Had the prof used this as his textbook, I might have becom an econ major. Wheelan does a great job making the subject as interesting as others make it dull.

Good introduction to microeconomic analysis but some big errors.......2007-07-05

The author writes well.The lense through which he views the economy is primarily libertarian.His microeconomic analysis,as long as there are no major negative externalities and/or spillover effects ,or market failures ,involved in the production and consumption of the particular product,good,or market he is talking about,is interesting.Not so when it comes to macroeconomics.Wheelan simply does not know what it was that either Adam Smith or J M Keynes actually said in their major theoretical contributions .He is ignorant.

Let's start with Adam Smith's fundamental macroconclusion,stated on pp.734-735 of the Wealth of Nations-the Invisible Hand process,i.e.,comparative advantage,the division of labor,extension of the market(national and international trade),etc., creates major undepletable negative externalities(social,political,martial,intellectual,moral)that impact practically the entire work force.

What is Smith's summary of the problem ? Smith is crystal clear:"Division of labor destroys intellectual,social,and martial virtues unless government takes pains to prevent it".(Cannan paraphrase).What is Smith's solution ?.Smith gives his solution on pp.767-768 after 40 pages of the most lucid and pungent analysis ever made by an economist.I leave this as a voluntary assignment for Wheelan to read and integrate into a later edition of his book.

How about Keynes ? Does Wheelan get Keynes right? No! He gets it all wrong-again. Wheelan makes the following claim on p.157 of his book:"The government can use fiscal policy-spending,tax cuts,or both-to " fine tune"the economy[.This] was the central insight of John Maynard Keynes...".In fact,Keynes was a life long opponent of such a policy.Nowhere in the General Theory(1936) or in any of the 30 volumes of the Collected Writings of John Maynard Keynes(CWJMK) will any support be found for Wheelan's wild claim.In volume 27 of the CWJMK,pp.225-410 contain Keynes's arguments against such a policy (which were being advocated by later Nobel Memorial prize winner James Meade)are covered for the 3 years 1942-1943-1944 in England.What was Keynes's solution ? It is the same solution as given by Adam Smith-maintain low,fixed rates of interest permanently in the long run and cut off all bank loans to projectors,prodigals,and imprudent risk takers so that their leveraging behavior is prevented.This will prevent the formation of bubbles whose collapse causes major negative externality effects .

Wheelan needs to correct these errors, as well as a number of other mistakes,in a future edition.

Economics Made Fascinating.......2007-06-16

I recommend this book, not because I agreed with everything the author wrote, but because I agreed with much and disagreed with just as much -- in other words, it's balanced.

For example, the author acts as an apologist for the existence of child-labor and sweatshops in developing countries (he seems to believe that we should accept that either sweatshop jobs or no jobs at all are the only two realistic options for many developing countries), implies that teacher unions (i.e. teachers) are primarily responsible for hurting public education, misrepresents the positions of most who protest the WTO, and side-steps potentially harmful effects on economic growth caused by significant inequalities in distributions of income. Published in 2002, he also confidently states (or implies) that a rising tide lifts all boats (contrary to this assertion, since this book was published, we've seen our economy grow while the poverty rate have risen and real incomes have remained flat for most Americans).

At the same time, this author advocates market incentives to reduce carbon output, is a strong advocate of free trade (not to be confused with "fair" trade), recognizes that without government intervention, business is financially motivated to pass external costs (i.e. externalities) onto outside parties (ex: to save money, a factory might spill waste into a river leading to "externalities" such as costs and suffering arising out of unusually high rates of cancer and birth defects in nearby communities), is a strong advocate for providing economic aid to developing countries and recognizes that government has an important and necessary role to play in order to maintain a productive free market economy. He writes, "Economics can move us beyond the inane debate over 'big government' versus 'small government'... It is about what government should and should not be doing."

Despite my numerous head nods while reading this book, in both directions, I learned a lot - a whole lot. This extremely readable book really made me think, and it wet my appetite for even more books on the subject. Most importantly, I feel that I'm a better informed citizen/voter. I highly recommend "Naked Economics".

Truly a pleasure.......2007-06-08

The best part about reading books by journalists is the readability. In a book on economics, which I neglected to study in college, this is the most important factor. Wheelan breezes through developmental economics, monetary policy and the various aspects of the stock market in about 8 hours of reading. My understanding of economics has been greatly enhanced by this quick read, great in clips of about 60 pages at a time. I've wanted to read a book like this for about 3 years and have truly benefitted from the experience. I highly recommend this book.

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