Haven Kimmel is the author of the bestselling memoir A Girl Named Zippy, and its sequel, She Got Up Off the Couch. Her novels include The Solace of Leaving Early and Something Rising (Light and Swift), and she is the author of the children's book, Orville: A Dog Story. Her next novel, The Used World, will be published in September 2007.
So much has been written, said, and expectorated about the memoir genre in the past five years there remains little to say. And it's true, the memoirs worth reading are rare--the ones that jolt or enlighten or delight with craft. Sarah Thyer's Dark At The Roots is a stand-out for countless reasons. Her sentences compel like electricity: the reader moves from one to the next as if being shocked, but pleasantly, or with the pathological love of the tongue for the toothache. Thank God I have this toothache, you think, because otherwise my life would be a pit of stupid. Her dialogue is dead-on (and having lived in both Mississippi and Louisiana I can tell you it isn't easy to replicate and virtually everyone gets it wrong). She is shameless and unembarassable and she makes a foreign world so concrete you can feel the shag carpeting and smell the extinct shampoo. Thyer handles a shadowy relationship with her father with a grace that both reveals and conceals, simultaneously. Most of all, from beginning to end she remains as consistent a character as one looks for in fiction: she is the best friend you wish you'd had, and the girl your mother warned you about (as if those two things don't always go hand in hand). My own sister recently said to me, as we were having a swinging contest at the park--I am 41 and she is 51--"I swing higher, I'm smarter and funnier than you, and people like me better." I can think of no better description for Sarah Thyer, or for her memoir, which was crafted with an edge razor-fine. She's gifted enough to write anything: fiction, another memoir, pamphlets about the dangers of hitting electric lines with your Rototiller. I can't wait for whatever comes next. --Haven Kimmel
Book Description
The story of one girl's heroic struggle to overcome the lower-middle class obstacles that stood between her and the world she knew she could call her oyster, Dark at the Roots limns the absurdities of growing up funny in the deep south.
When Sarah Thyre was barely out of diapers, her father started referring to her as the "family liar," though no particular incident had provoked this designation. Undaunted by her label, Sarah started referring to herself as Renee and creating scenarios that would help her assimilate up from her chaotic family into a higher social calling. But even as she was clipping an alligator logo off of one shirt to sew onto another, her place in the middle - of her family, her neighborhood, her school, her country - kept humbling her back to just plain Sarah.
In Dark at the Roots, Sarah is catapulted from the relative safety of a nuclear family, through the years of her mother going it alone with five mouths to feed with a steady diet of pasta and fried eggs, to the teenage years where wearing a school uniform was a godsend to a girl unable to afford the latest fashions ... if only she would have admitted it. In this telling, Sarah's inimitable sense of humor and resolve are both honed to a fine, sharp point. And though it is occasionally young Sarah who is skewered, she manages to turn her pain into punch lines, leaving little room for doubt that this is how a true humorist is built.
Whether it is a scene where small Sarah accidentally goes "poddy" in the garage during a game of hide-and-seek or medium-sized Sarah survives a fishing trip with her volatile father, or full-sized Sarah wrestles with a tooth she calls "Uncle Wiggly" and all he represents, grown-up Sarah tells her story with self-effacing sincerity and a seemingly invincible sense of humor. With its spare, razor-sharp prose and precision timing, Dark at the Roots emerges as not just a humorous memoir, but a powerful, universal testament to surviving one's rearing and living to laugh in the face of it all.
Customer Reviews:
Not that great........2007-09-11
The only thing I liked about this book was the picture on the cover. I thought this was a boring book.
From one Izod lover to another....LOVED IT!.......2007-08-15
Loved this book! I wanted a book for my book club that was going to make everyone laugh...and I think it will. We meet this Thursday night to discuss the 70's and this hilarouus book. I could relate so much to the trendy must have's of the 70's...I had one Izod shirt and a pair of Calvin Klein pants that I wore whenever they were clean. I thought I was so cool!
Thanks Sarah for the memories...
A fantastic read for anyone who remembers (?!) the 70's.......2007-08-08
I've often pondered in amazement myself at what I know now was the "hands off" parenting style of the 70's. I went through it and still sometimes can't believe how we managed to survive... my sisters and I would go out early in the morning and not come back until all the mothers in the neighborhood yelled "DINNER" or well after dark. It was exciting, fun, funny, scary and joyous all at the same time. I didn't experience the South that Sarah writes about, unless you count Southern California the south. I loved all the references to the pop culture of the time, the TV shows, the music. It's a thoroughly entertaining, disturbing and funny account of a spunky, funny kid who manages to thrive in spite of her upbringing. I loved all the references to Catholic schools, priests (I know nothing of these things but they fascinate me anyway), and Disneyworld. It's a wonderful book and I highly recommend it!
Disappointed.......2007-06-28
I really enjoyed Thyre in Strangers with Candy, was raised Catholic myself, and lived a few years in the dirty South, so I was looking forward to reading this book. I was hoping to find her tales observant, amusing, and slightly touching.
Instead, I found the novel to be wholly unentertaining. It was definitely dark, but in the Welcome to the Dollhouse sorta way, and not very funny. To be honest, I didn't think her writing was very good or "compelling." Most of the stories were centered from her POV as a child, not as an adult looking back at the events.
The situations she reminiscences about not only make her seem like a jerk as a child, but not even a loveable jerk. The executions of each story lack oomph in the chapter endings and are very anti-climatic. I had no desire to finish it.
I DEMAND A SEQUEL!.......2007-06-12
I finished reading this lovely tome set in my illustrious home state of Louisiana last night and sat straight up in bed and shouted, "I DEMAND A SEQUEL!" As it was 2 a.m., my husband sat straight up in bed, too, and said "WTF?" Even the dog barked! LOL!
This is one of THE best memoirs I've read in years. Sarah Thyre is a born comedian and a fantastic writer. She captures the essence of the Coonass culture and the hidden joys of a dysFUNctional Louisiana childhood like no one else I've ever read. (I was born in south Louisiana and have lived here most of my life, so I know a good story when I read one.) Ahem...
My only regret was that she ended the book too soon. I'm dying to know what happened to her after high school (and the convenience store job so deliciously described) and if she really did go to LSU. So, Sarah, if you read this, please, please, please consider a sequel to this hilarious, touching, bittersweet story of your childhood.
I think it deserves ten stars after some of the dry, boring memoirs I've recently read. Buy this book if you need a good laugh and a summer read that you won't soon forget.
Book Description
This is the first full-length account of the CIA's coup d'etat in Iran in 1953—a covert operation whose consequences are still with us today. Written by a noted New York Times journalist, this book is based on documents about the coup (including some lengthy internal CIA reports) that have now been declassified. Stephen Kinzer's compelling narrative is at once a vital piece of history, a cautionary tale, and a real-life espionage thriller.
Customer Reviews:
Consequences of One Week ,Fifty Years Ago.......2007-10-04
In 1953 the United States made a momentous decision. Partially out of legitimate fear of a possible Russian takeover of the valuable Iranian Oil field, and partly as a result of incitement by British interests who sought to stubbornly maintain their imperialistic power structure, the CIA led a sinister and clandestine coup that removed the most beloved and democratic leader Iran has had in a century; Mohammend Mossadegh.
Mossadegh was replaced by the Shah Pahlavi who became so hated that a Muslim fanatical mob overthrew him in 1979. The new theocracy, well remembering the American led coup, feared that the CIA would attempt it again. As insurance they attacked the US embassy and took 52 American hostages.
This act so infuriated the Americans that they supported Saddam Hussein's horrific war against Iran. This led to Russia's invasion of Afghanistan, the rise of the Muslim fanatics who created the Hezbollah and Taliban, the empowerment of Saddam, the invasion of Kuwait, the attacks on the US in Beruit, Somalia, 911, and of course our current clumsy missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
While America's awkward foreign policy proved disastrous in hindsight, the fear of communist control of Middle Eastern oil was a driving force in the 1950's. Blame must be shared with the British Anglo-Iranian Oil Company for their greed, the British for treating the Iranians so poorly, for the Iranian Shahs who sold Iran's concessions to fund their lavish life, and for even Mossadegh himself for becoming so blind in his justified hatred for the British that he refused any compromise offered.
Yet while the Iranians despise the US for our intrusions into their affairs and the suffering it has caused, they still honor the American institutions of freedom and democracy. These values are currently suppressed by the current theocracy.
Kinzer's well researched story reads like a first class spy novel. He avoids cynicism and anti American tirades and presents the story in a balanced light. While he does not avoid detailing the disaster we unleashed he also did not avoid the context of the anti Communist fears shared by many Americans in the 1950s.
He will make you think different about the current events in the Middle East.
All the Shah's Men.......2007-08-08
I think this is a book that every American should read because it explains so clearly the little known facts about the overthrow of the very first democratically elected prime minister in Iran. The seeds of democracy were there - just waiting for a little water but because Mossadegh was a nationalist and didn't want to be indebted to any foreign power including the U.S., we initiated this clandestine covert operation which brought the Shah back to power. At the time of the hostage crisis, I couldn't understand why the Iranian's hated us so much. Now I see that scenario with complete clarity. Regime change by any other name is still meddling in the affairs of foreign countries. Even if we don't care about what happens to that country, it always comes back to haunt us because it's bad foreign policy - bad for the U.S. in the worst possible ways.
Excellent crash course in the root of US/Iranian problems.......2007-07-17
I was recommended this book by a friend who is Persian. He considers himself Persian because he does not want to be identified as an Iranian due to misperceptions of the people in the United States. He also does not want to be lumped in with being the government that currently exists in Iran.
The book itself is a relatively quick read that can be done in a day or two. But the wealth of information that Kinzer has packed into what I would consider a short book is astounding. He chronicles the history of Iran dating back to the days of Darius and Cyrus albeit briefly. Then eventually focuses on several key events of the late 19th century and moves into the 20th century. The main focus of the book is the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and their nationalization by Mohammed Mossadegh in the mid-part of the 20th century. This eventually paved the way for the British to coerce the United States Government under Dwight Eisenhower to green light covert ops against Mossaedegh to remove him from his position of Prime Minister of Iran. This led the way for the Shah to assume authoritarian control over the country, which eventually culminated in the 1979 Revolution.
It is an incredibly fascinating story and goes to show how the United States in a sense created their own problem with Iran due to the desire to have oil flowing from the country. They got 26 years worth of it only to create a bigger problem by leading the way inadvertently for the fundamentalist government that is there now. It becomes clear why Harry S. Truman is so greatly appreciated these days due to his ability to make decisions that were and would have been better for the long term. He opposed any US action against Iran. If only that advice had been followed, who knows what might have been in the Middle East.
For those wanting to know why the current regime in Iran supports terrorist groups and is so vehemently anti-Western? This is the book to read. It does an excellent job of explaining why and how we got to the this point we are at currently.
Imagine that Iran would try to dictate the US at which prices and to whom they can only sell their products and own resources..........2007-07-14
This book shows the kind of info that is not found, as usual, in the mainstream media. It shows you how the US along with other countries like the UK have tried to control the oil resources of a sovereign third country like Iran. They have used any tool for achieving their goals, even the coup de etat. At the beggining of the history, through the middle ages and until the discovery of America the main excuse for conquering and destroying countries and for genocide was the religion, like happended with the religion wars in Central Europe, in America with the Spanish Catholic Kings and with the English purintans, in France with the hugonots... Then it was the liberty, equality, etc, like with the wars of Napoleon or with Russia and the poor republics that suffered its influece after the war of the October's Revolution. Then it came the race with Hitler. And nowadays the excuse is the democracy. But, always, it is just an excuse that hides the real motivation: economic interest. Nowadays the Western countries while keeping their own population uninformed and sort of drugged with the everyday work and consumption needs, try to convince them to go to war with the excuse that the objective is to spread liberty and democracy. They do this at the same time that they incentivate and protect dictatorships and antidemocratic regimens like they do in most of the Arab countries (there is/were such regimens not only in Iraq or Iran, by the way, just look at the bunch of allies of the US and the UK in the Persian Gulf like Oman, Dubai, Soudern Arabia, Kuwait, Katar, etc.. where the lack of freedom of speach or of democracy does not take the American politicians to go these countries to give them the present of democracy by the force of war). This book is an example of the whole lie, cinism and hypocrisy that the international foreign Wester policies are about. Like alwasy, it is not about virtues but only about money and geostrategical control. For this according the report of the worldwide reputed medicine magazine The Lancet, and published by the American University of John Hopkins, about 660.000 Iraqi people have been killed in Iraq by the middle of the last year, most of them by artillery and air strikes by false called "coalition" forces. For this reason the puppet government of Iraq has announce at the beginning of this year that they will not disclosure more figures of deaths caused by the war. Obviusly the occupants are frighteened by the fact that today, one year after that report, we may have reached already one million deaths, something that if the people of the US and of the UK would be well informed and aware of it they would jump to the streets to stop their goverments spreading the democracy in Iraq. A democratic country of dead people with the second largest oil reserves of the world, a very easy country to control. Whoever that can not understand that it is not democracy or liberty should find the information that is there and that is not provided normaly by the mainstream media. I recommend everybody to read the book of John Perkins, Confessions of an Economic Hitmank, to understand what it is going on behind the nice words of our politicians.
seeConfessions of an Economic Hit Man
This is a deep book which is very well written and organized.......2007-06-26
The history of Iran has never been documented this well. Kinzer is an excellent author and he has gained himself a loyal new fan in me. This is a most impressive book which I will read again and again and share with all my friends. The key to understanding the past and the roots of terrorism against the USA is this book. Every word in this book has been so superbly edited to convey Kinzer's specific points that every sentence or paragraph can be quite profound and meaningful. An excellent gift to anyone who has ever asked "why do they hate us so much?" - The detailed truth shall set you free.
Book Description
WASPs finally get their due in this stimulating history by one of the world's leading geneticists.
Saxons, Vikings, and Celts is the most illuminating book yet to be written about the genetic history of Britain and Ireland. Through a systematic, ten-year DNA survey of more than 10,000 volunteers, Bryan Sykes has traced the true genetic makeup of British Islanders and their descendants. This historical travelogue and genetic tour of the fabled isles, which includes accounts of the Roman invasions and Norman conquests, takes readers from the Pontnewydd cave in North Wales, where a 300,000-year-old tooth was discovered, to the resting place of "The Red Lady" of Paviland, whose anatomically modern body was dyed with ochre by her grieving relatives nearly 29,000 years ago. A perfect work for anyone interested in the genealogy of England, Scotland, or Ireland, Saxons, Vikings, and Celts features a chapter specifically addressing the genetic makeup of those people in the United States who have descended from the British Isles.
Customer Reviews:
important but disappointing.......2007-09-03
In many ways this is a very important book, as it does away with the old Anglo-Saxon myth. But it's also quite disappointing. Having read an artilcle summarizing Sykes' discoveries before I lay my hands on a copy of 'Saxons...' I was already familiar with its main conclusion - most British have very ancient origins preceding Vikings, Saxons, and Romans and perhaps to some extent this was the source of my disappointment. But mostly it comes from my too high expectations. In short, I hoped for a solid work with plenty of data, information and analyses of the genetic roots of Britain and Ireland. But the hard data filled only a few pages and the rest was a waffle, inflating the book to over 300 pages where 10 sentences would suffice.
If somebody wants to read page after page on how Sykes and his team struggled to collect the blood samples then it's a book for them. However, if you want to know the genetic background of peoples who settled in the Isles in more detail, then perhaps wait for a more informative book.
Sykes Latest Hit.......2007-08-16
Brian Sykes does it again with this most interesting book about origins of the people of the British Isles. He makes technical information understandable for the average reader.
More history than DNA.......2007-08-13
I got this book because Oppenheimer's Origin of the British is out of print and not available until 2008. This Sykes book is excellent history, but not as much about the DNA story as I expected. But it is a good read. What is surprising and intersting is that Oppenheimer and Sykes, both Oxford scholars, do not acknowdege each other existance. Does anyone know why?
The Key: Oisin = R1b, Sigurd = R1a, Eshu = E3b, ..........2007-08-09
The apparent result of Sykes' study is that the underlying genetics of the Isles is Celtic through all of the regions: England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. This may not make Sykes popular with some people. The old stereotypes do not hold up.
In this work, Sykes continues to use the names for the founders of the haplogroups that he created in "The Seven Daughters of Eve" but he does not list all of the standard equivalents. You cannot tell the players without a scorecard. However, I have found the answer on the web. For yDNA: R1b, Oisin; R1a, Sigurd; I, Wodan; E3b, Eshu; J, Re. For mDNA: J, Jasmine; T, Tara; H, Helena; K, Katrina; U, Ursala; V, Velda; X, Xenia.
The Isles were the subject of waves of invasion from Romans, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans among others. One of the results of Sykes work is that two of the best known invaders left very little genetic trace. Sykes could find virtually no evidence of Roman DNA. Where was Titus Pullo? The Normans also left very little genetic evidence. It came as no surprise to me that my own Eshu or E3b yDNA was not significant, comprising a scattered percent or two. My E3b haplogroup is found mostly in the region of the warm and sunny Mediterranean, not the wet and cold Isles.
Well writen........2007-07-18
The book was fine,Bryan, but one suggestion I have for future editions is that a modern Map of the islands be incuded. the maps you have are fine, but they dont show the current locations, for those of us with a limited knowledge of English Geography.
Amazon.com
Green thumbs and non-green thumbs alike will fall in love with Roots, Shoots, Buckets, & Boots, a remarkably fun and informative introduction to the wonderful world of gardening--and more specifically, gardening with children. Learn how to make everything from a pizza garden (pizza-pie-shaped, with herbs and vegetables for a fabulous pizza at harvest time), to a sunflower house (a secret hideaway with stately sunflowers and lovely creeping morning glories), to a moon garden ("Fragrance is the color of night"). Chock full of helpful hints, clever and artistic touches, and intriguing "recipes" (Moth Broth and Compost Sandwich, to name a few), this idea book will spark creativity and a lifelong fascination with gardening. Nine concepts for theme gardens are presented in a clearly defined yet non-rigid manner that is just right for encouraging young gardeners. Sharon Lovejoy, award-winning author and illustrator of several gardening books, including Hollyhock Days: Garden Adventures for the Young at Heart, has a true knack for working with all kinds of living things, including children. She understands how quickly young people will be turned off by inflexible rules, and instead encourages budding green thumbs to experiment and explore, while providing them with useful guidelines and helpful information. Wonderfully earthy watercolors make this cozy book even more welcoming. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
Plant a pumpkinseed with a child, and cultivate wonder. This simple act of reconnecting with children with nature is Sharon Lovejoy's purpose and joy and gift. Author of Sunflower Houses: Garden Discoveries for Children of All Ages and Hollyhock Days: Garden Adventures for the Young at Heart, Sharon Lovejoy is a nationally known garden writer whose books, television specials, and projects at her learning landscape in California have introduced thousands of children to the pleasures of gardening.
In her newest book, Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots, she presents 12 spirited, easy-to-implement ideas for theme gardens that parents and kids can grow together. Illustrated throughout by the author's own lyrical watercolors, each garden includes a plan, the planting recipe -- seeds, seedlings, and growing instructions spelled out step-by-step -- and activities. There's the Pizza Patch , a giant-size wheel garden planted in "slices" of tomatoes, zucchini, oregano, and basil. A Flowery Maze to get lost in. A Moon Garden of night-blooming flowers, including a moonflower tent. And Mother Nature's Medicine Chest.
Discovery Walks teach kids how the gardens work, and a chapter on gardening basics includes a child-friendly 10-Minute Plan for planting and maintenance, plus a list of the top 20 plants guaranteed to make gardeners out of kids.
Customer Reviews:
neat ideas!!.......2007-05-14
This book has things I wouldn't normally think of to get kids interested in gardening and outdoors. My husband used the idea of a sunflower fort and planted sunflowers in a big circle next to our garden. The kids can hardly wait for their secret fort to come up so they can play inside. Our oldest (8) sits around reading it to her little brother so they can pick out their next project. :o)
WOW!! Lets start gardening!!! .......2007-02-26
I bought both books. Roots,Shoots,Buckets & Boots, and Sunflower Houses. They are not the same! There are a couple of similar items, but both worth having and different. Sunflower houses shows how to make leaf hats and flower crowns, screechers, boats, pansy dolls, and much much more. The first book (roots, shoots,..) shows more creative gardening and hideouts and things like pizza patches sunflower hideouts and flower mazes. They both teach how to make hollyhock dolls. I recommend both. But if you only want one, get the roots, shoots, buckets and boots. However dont pass up the chance later on to get Sunflower Houses. Enjoy!!!
Light hearted drawings and magical ideas.......2006-11-30
With lyrical watercolors this lively text explains how to create 12 child-friendly theme gardens, including both a moon garden and a pizza garden. I simply had to buy this book, because even though I'm not gardening with children, I enjoy dreaming up and planting fun theme gardens.
I included this book in my article "25 Best Books For Hobby Farmers", in the November/December 2006 issue of Hobby Farms magazine.
good book, and a warning for parents of small children.......2006-10-26
This book is excellent. The idea is wonderful, the illustrations are beautiful; it makes a great gift; it's very inspiring. My three small boys were very excited about helping in the garden this year, and we paged through the book many times, trying to decide which project to start with.
However, I was shocked to discover that Moonflowers (recommended for the Moon Garden) are not as child-friendly as I assumed! I started some Moonflower vines from seed which didn't do as well once I transplanted them. It came up in conversation and I was told of a relative who almost died from eating something from this plant; recently there was a report on the news of college-age kids who were "pre-comatose" from eating the pods. Of course, you should always keep an eye on kids, and teach them not to eat anything in the garden without permission. But if you have small children, you know something is bound to go in their mouths that shouldn't, at some point. Many plants have poisonous parts, including tomato plants and foxgloves. If you have small children, be sure you know what you planted!!
Overall, I LOVE this book and look forward to trying more of the ideas in it, next spring.
Lots of creative ideas!!!.......2006-08-27
I love this book!! There are so many creative ideas to get kids involved in gardening!!! I can't wait to try them!!
Product Description
Apollo Root Cause Analysis is about effective problem solving. It is truly a new way of thinking that will ensure effective solutions to almost any kind of problem. Discover new communications tools that are revolutionizing the way people all around the world think, communicate, and make decisions together. This is a life-changing book that will enable people and organizations to effectively communicate and solve problems without the usual conflicts. This is a unique event-based problem solving method utilized by many Fortune 500 companies, NASA, and the FAA. There is no other problem solving process like this. In this book readers will learn more about the cause and effect principle than has ever been documented before. They will also learn why 70% to 80% of the general population are ineffective problem solvers and why conventional problem solving methods don't work. The number one skill every employer wants in an employee is good problem solving skills, yet problem solving is not taught in school. Apollo Root Cause Analysis and its supporting software, RealityChartingTM makes everyone a skilled problem solver.
Customer Reviews:
Good Presentation of Yet Another RCA Method.......2006-01-07
This was a good-great book for the Apollo method but as one who has read a lot of these types of books, e.g., TQM, I found the sales pitch a little strong. The explanations were excellent with a step-by-step development, but I see nothing special here. Almost any RCA book will provide similar material. An alternative to this book could be: "Root Cause Analysis A tool for total quality management," or "Quality Improvement Toos & Techniques." The later is an excellent overview of the methods available for investigating problems --- and it is fairly inexpensive. I recommend Dean Gano's book if the Apollo RCA is your flavor.
A unique approach.......2004-01-22
Apollo is the name given by the author to his unique approach to root cause analysis. I'm assuming this (Apollo) explains why there is a naked man on the cover, either that or this is the most unique author photo I have ever seen. The book focuses on causal relationships, emphasizing that there are often many causes (factors) contributing to an undesirable outcome. The author's insights on casual relationships and human behavior are extraordinary, it is obvious he is passionate about this topic and has had extensive experience with it. In addition to explaining " A new way of thinking", the author details specific tools (his own version of a cause-and-effect chart) that are the core of the Apollo method. And just when I started thinking that it would be great if there was software available to do this, he mentions that he has such a product available.
There were a few things I didn't like about the book. In fact, after receiving the book, the combination of the naked dude on the cover (which still creeps me out) and the opening paragraph in the "How to read this book" section which you just have to say "Duh!" to, almost convinced me to not read the book at all. In addition, the branding of "Apollo" throughout the book ( frequent references to "the Apollo method", "the Apollo process", "Apollo tools") made some sections read like scripts from an infomercial. These are minor gripes though, and I'm glad I got by them and took the time to read this excellent book
Great introductory work.......2002-05-02
I teach root cause analysis and have been a practicing failure analyst for nearly 15 years. I've had the priviledge of working with some very expert people in this field. Dean Gano does a great job taking what can be a very confusing and intimidating task and making it clear and understandable.
Dean Gano has been honing his craft for many years and is well respected in the failure analysis community. The only criticism I have is that the process is more geared to providing supporting evidence for possible causes of events. There needs to be more discussion of the need for refuting evidence.
Cause analysis at its best is a structured application of scientific principles (referred to as the scientific method). What the scientific method requires is that you pose a hypothesis (a possible explanation for what has happened) and then gather evidence to support or refute the hypothesis.
I recommend that anyone interested in a better understanding of how refuting evidence is used read "The Rational Manager" by Chuck Kepner and Ben Tregoe. It's the foundational work that provides a complete solution for resolving concerns (problems, decisions, etc). The "Rational Manager" has you break things down and deal with them separately. Dean Gano's book helps you see the larger picture. The other book I use as required reading for our root cause analysts is "Managing the Risks of Organizational Accidents" by James Reason. Together, these three references will help you to significantly improve your ability to resolve problems and will be the three books you will refer to over and over again.
A "Must Read" for anyone investigating failure incidents.......2002-02-02
After several years of pumping equipment failure analysis engineering, this is by far the best book I've read about the failure analysis and problem solving process. Dean Gano's approach covers the full spectrum of associated issues in a very efficient and flexible manner. He challenges a lot of failure analysis "conventional wisdom" in a very convincing manner, truly creating "a new way of thinking" that should greatly improve failure solutions.
Excellent for doing Med Error Root Cause Analysis..........2001-06-28
Read several books and this seems to get to the heart of the matter in the least amount of time. Book is well written, to the point and will get you going within 24 hours.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource.......2006-06-25
Leila Ahmed's "Woman and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate" is an outstanding contribution to the field of Middle Eastern Women's Studies. Ahmed explores and effectively dissects the many intersections between women, gender, and Islam. Her book is readable and makes an excellent sourcebook for those who are interested in the historical foundations of women and Islam.
Particular focus is placed on Egyptian women.
Everyone should read this.......2004-05-11
By far the best scholarly and historical work amidst the increasing number of books on this topic. Particularly interesting is the discussion of how Muslim caliphs adopted the Persian custom of having huge imperial harems. Of course, this is one of the aspects of "Muslim" culture that really tantalized the early Orientalists, as discussed by Edward Said in his book on the subject.
Good history book.......2002-10-01
This is a good book for anyone to read who doesn't know much about Islam. The author gives several chapters of in-depth history of the rise of Islam. It is interesting to read--not dry and boring like a lot of other detailed history books.
Brilliant and informative........2001-10-17
Leila Ahmed gives a brilliant and informative read about the history of women in Islam. Her book maintains both factual information along with anecdotal pieces which only enhance our understanding of the lives involved in the religion and politics of Islamic civilisations. While the book focuses on Egypt, it should be understand that Egypt is taken as a very typical regime with the exception of perhaps Morocco and Saudi Arabia as polar extremes. Ahmed clearly has a humanistic objective of equality in all her points, though never too harshly. The book carries a very clear picture of issues and can even help a lot of us consider what Western false concepts of female equality we truly have.
A serious work with no apologies for her feminism.......2001-07-25
This book was assigned reading in my NYU course about the Middle East. Written by Leila Ahmed, a professor of Near Eastern studies at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the Director of the Women's Studies program there, it reinforced some basic information we studied from other textbooks, with a particular emphasis on women's role in Middle Eastern history. The book is well researched, with little-known documentation from pre-Islamic history on up to the present, citing what is known of ancient marriage laws and including literary writings and histories of some 19th and 20th Century women writers. Her particular feminist position is apparent throughout and there are no apologies for this. Often she writes about the veil and blames colonialism for using it as a misunderstood interpretation of women's subjugation.
The second half of her book concentrates specifically on Egypt and it was fascinating. However, I would have liked to see more about the other countries, especially as she got into modern times. I also would have enjoyed reading her insights about the changes and challenges occurring today. It is refreshing to see a serious work such as this written by an Islamic woman and I hope she continues bringing her skills in research and interpretation to the public. Recommended.
Book Description
All companies must grow to survive-but only one in five growth strategies succeeds. In Profit from the Core, strategy expert Chris Zook revealed how to grow profitably by focusing on and achieving full potential in the core business. But what happens when your core business provides insufficient new growth, or even hits the wall?
In Beyond the Core, Zook outlines an expansion strategy based on putting together combinations of adjacency moves into areas away from, but related to, the core business, such as new product lines or new channels of distribution. These sequences of moves carry less risk than diversification, yet they can create enormous competitive advantage, because they stem directly from what the company already knows and does best.
Based on extensive research on the growth patterns of thousands of companies worldwide, including CEO interviews with twenty-five top performers in adjacency growth, Beyond the Core (1) identifies the adjacency pattern that most dramatically increases the odds of success: "relentless repeatability;" (2) offers a systematic approach for choosing among a range of possible adjacency moves; and 3) shows how to time adjacency moves during a variety of typical business situations.
Beyond the Core shows how to find and leverage the best avenues for growth-without damaging the heart of the firm.
Customer Reviews:
Practical and Insightful .......2005-03-28
What is especially useful about this book is that it is practical. It gives advice for every stage of an adjacency expansion, from strategy development to execution, on how to increase the likelihood that it will be successful. The case studies are interesting and the analysis is insightful.
For people like me who do not have a business background or management consulting experience, this book is an excellent read and, at the very least, should get you by at parties where you would run into such people.
An Outstanding Growth Guide for Global Business Leaders.......2004-05-13
As a second year MBA student at the Kellogg School of Management and a future corporate strategist for a global financial services firm, I found reading Beyond the Core to be one of the best time investments that I've made over the last few years. Chris Zook seems to have a knack for writing great books that not only stand the test of time but that are also highly relevant to the current business and economic environments. Specifically, his first book, Profits from the Core, which focused on maximizing the value of the core business, was launched when businesses needed it most - during the economic downturn. Now, Beyond the Core is perfectly timed since, from what I and other MBA's are observing in the market, most businesses are remobilizing for growth.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed Beyond the Core - it's a relatively quick read that is focused, insightful and well structured. More specifically, I think there are three key things that make this book stand out in comparison to many other business books I've read: 1) it takes a global perspective 2) it is highly data driven and has great examples and 3) its very actionable and offers lots of insights on implementation.
To elaborate, the first thing I really liked about Beyond the Core is that it takes a truly global perspective with examples from Europe, Asia and Latin America. As an MBA student majoring in International Business Strategy who will be working in a global firm after graduation, it was great to read about the strategies that firms such as Li & Fung (HK), Ambev (Brazil), Lloyd's Bank and Vodephone (UK) and STMicroelectronics (Italy). Overall, I also liked that the book mixes an array of fresh case studies (Tesco, Biogen, Ambev) with more traditional ones (Dell, Nike, American Express).
Secondly, Beyond the Core is highly data driven and the recommendations are based on empirical evidence, not conjectures. As a student of business strategy, I too often come across books or theories that are supported by nothing other than a few select examples that prop up the author's hypotheses. Beyond the Core, in contrast, is supported by an enormous amount of financial, competitive and market research and by many CEO interviews and studies by Bain & Company. This is extremely insightful as it helps the reader understand the odds of success and failure across the business world and thus leads to much more informed strategies.
Finally, Mr. Zook has focused nearly a third of the book on implementation and execution strategy. This makes the book and its recommendations highly actionable instead of leaving the author asking "so what?" The book sets out a systematic and understandable road map for adjacency expansion. More importantly, it discusses issues that are critical to growth initiatives such as: organizational structure, decision making processes, staffing, accountability and reporting, etc.
In sum, I highly recommend Beyond the Core, especially to global business leaders looking for a practical guide for profitably growing their businesses. Enjoy!!
Questionable Choice of Examples and Lack of Definitions!.......2004-03-15
Many people who have been burned by going into new areas will grade this as five-stars for encouraging caution in expanding a company's scope. If that's all you want from a book, this is a five-star book. If you want to learn what the exact lesson is, and why that lesson is true, you'll have to look elsewhere however. If you want to learn how to beat the odds in this area, you will also have to look elsewhere.
I found Profit from the Core to be a directionless mishmash of data without firm definitions that repeatedly espoused the idea of "stick to your knitting." As a result, I took up Beyond the Core with great trepidation. At first blush, Beyond the Core seemed to cure some of the peripheral problems of Profit from the Core . . . until I began to notice how almost all of the important examples of continuing business model innovation had been excluded that seemed to fit all of the criteria (except perhaps being willing to be interviewed by the author). Mr. Zook continues to avoid defining what "the core" is, so that basic problem continues.
The book's message is "stick to your knitting . . . unless you have not choice . . . then don't go away from your cost advantages and knowledge." If you want to know a little more about that message, you can read all of the key points in the book summarized in the Afterword on pages 189-192 in less than five minutes.
The book will mainly be helpful to those who are thinking about making unrelated acquisitions. The advice: Don't do it! The odds are way against you . . . but even the most unrelated acquisitions sometimes work (GE bought NBC and has done well with it, for example). The book lacks clear direction for how some overcome the odds.
The book was also curiously silent about how companies can use small experiments to test their way into new areas. That's the way that most firms expand beyond their core.
The methodology looks very much like those employed in Build to Last and Good to Great . . . but don't believe it. Cases were selected in part based on whether Mr. Zook could interview the companies. So it's really a subjective sample. So take the conclusions with a selective grain of salt. Here are some of the cases of those who have prospered with expanding into new areas that seem to fit the Zook criteria but don't appear in the book: Beckman Coulter; Berkshire Hathaway; Clear Channel Communications; Education Management; GE; Iron Mountain; Nucor; Paychex; Sony; Virgin Group; Xilinx; and Zebra Technologies. It's not surprising that the book fails to describe the discipline of continual business model improvement as a best practice . . . a serious omission for this subject.
Ultimately, I think the flaw behind the book is to look at moving "beyond the core" separately from looking "at the core." If the two books had been combined into one that looked at how to outperform the competition, there would have been the basis of helpful insights. Or, this book could have been scoped down into how to grow into new areas with internal development activities versus acquisitions. That would have been helpful. But with the focus of "beyond the core," you are left in a never-never land that you may not want to be in. The other interesting question that could have been addressed is how companies prospered by eliminating the old core and replacing it with a new one through acquisition as a number of companies have.
As I thought about why the author might have chosen this direction, I realized that it may be an unconscious use of the older ways of strategic thinking. Those analytical schemes separated thinking about existing business areas from entering new ones. For some time though, most strategic thinkers have emphasized seeing the questions as connected. You should, for example, be pursuing your best opportunities. That means comparing all choices in some manner at the same time.
The other problem with data-heavy studies like this one is that you are relying on backward impressions (with 20-20 hindsight). Studies of best practices are best done by looking at the decisions and actions when they are made . . . and then measuring the results to see what happens. Interviews taken at such times reveal much different information than the neat success stories spun after the fact. Clayton Christensen does a good job of explaining this issue in chapter one of his new book, The Innovator's Solution.
As I finished the book, I began to think about the many unsuccessful unrelated acquisitions that I have run into among companies. In almost every case, I remember reading a thick book by a name consulting firm that had explained at the time of the purchase why the acquisition could not miss. Perhaps a follow on for this book would be how to avoid bad advice in evaluating acquisitions.
Not All Adjacencies Are Appropriate.......2004-02-12
Perhaps you have already read Profit From the Core: Growth Strategy in the Age of Turbulence which Zook co-authored with James Allen. It was based on rigorous research which revealed the key strategic decisions that most often determine growth or stagnation in business. They note: "Central to our findings are three ideas: the concept of the core business and its boundaries; the idea that every business has a level of full-potential performance that usually exceeds what the company imagines; and the idea that performance-yield loss occurs at many levels, from strategy to leadership to organizational capabilities to execution." In the five chapters which follow, Zook (with Allen) examines "the types of strategic business decisions that most often seem to tilt the odds of future success or failure." Zook correctly suggests in this book that many organizations cannot resist the appeal ("the siren's song") of "miracle cures" of their problems. Zook focuses entirely on what has been verified in real-world experience, on what is practical, and on what will reliably achieve the desired results of sound strategic decisions.
In the first chapter of this book, Zook discusses what he calls "the growth crisis" which many (most?) organizations encounter. He observes, "Finding or maintaining a source of sustained and profitable growth has become the number one concern of most CEOs. And moves that push out the boundaries of their core business into 'adjacencies' are where they are most often look these days." I agree with Zook that these strategies have three distinctive features: "First, they are of significant size, or they can lead to a sequence of related adjacency moves that generate substantial growth. Second. they build on., indeed are bolted on, a strong core business. Thus the adjacent area draws from the strength of the core and at the same time may serve to reinforce or defend that core. Third, adjacency strategies are a journey into the unknown, a true extension of the core, a pushing out of the boundaries, a step-up in risk from typical forms of organic growth." Much of the material in this brilliant book is guided and informed by what Zook claims is "the new math of profitable growth." Specifics are best provided by Zook himself.
Zook presumes that those who read this book already know what a core business is, and more specifically, what the core business is of their respective organizations. Given his objectives, that assumption is probably necessary so that he can explore the opportunities which (key word) appropriate adjencies offer. Fair enough. However, my own experience suggests that companies frequently extend the boundaries of a core business without fully understanding what that core business is. Railroads probably offer the best example. Only much too late (if then) did senior-level executives at major railroads realize that their core business was transporting people and cargo, NOT "railroading." Obviously, trains are confined to the tracks as are ships to the water and trucks to the roadways over which they proceed. Early on, what if owners of railroads and their associates had addressed questions such as those Zook poses in his Preface (Page ix)? Had they done so, presumably they would have recognized appropriate adjacencies which include taxi cabs, Super Shuttle, local delivery services, and "overnight" delivery services (e.g. DHL, FedEx, and UPS). While they're at it, why not own or forge strategic partnerships with over-the-road trucking companies and cargo airlines? Given the central locations of railroad stations in major metropolitan areas, it would have been easy enough to combine a full-range of travel services within an upscale retail mall.
The question to ask, therefore, is not what an organization's core business is. Rather, what could AND SHOULD it be? The correct answer to that question is important, of course, because without a proper core, there can be chaos. Also, the correct answer suggests appropriate adjacencies by which to achieve and then sustain increasingly more profitable growth.
In the Afterword, Zook imagines himself engaged in what he calls the proverbial "elevator" conversation during which he reviews the "key messages" contained within his book. It serves no good purpose to list them here because each must be carefully considered within a meticulously formulated context. However, once the book has been read, I strongly recommend that all of these "key messages" be reviewed on a monthly (if not weekly) basis. For decision-makers in at least some companies, this may well prove to be the most valuable book they have read in recent years.
Standing Tall.......2004-01-31
Standing Tall among Business Books, Chris Zook has indepth research examples of Companies portraying picture of today's business times. Numerous CEO reports, charts and graphs with real practical illustrations are varied. Outside a core business, the expansion is detailed in this book - on how to go ahead framing and practically applying the ways and means so as not to harness the existence levels. The books offers nurturing roots of business, examples on adjacency expansions with pros and cons of success and failure measures. The name itself speaks big 'Expand market without abandoning Roots' and the rule of the game lies in effective management. The author pin points steps to leverage best avenues and the possible adjacent moves so as to reach competitive edge and pooling profit without harnessing the roots of main frame business. In today's time, with diversifications, 'Beyond the Core'- the book serves a Good Reference and as I read on Chris zook's comments, I feel this is a 'Grab Pick' and Must for all Big Company Executives.
Book Description
Anyone can learn to store fruits and vegetables safely and naturally with a cool, dark space (even a closet!) and the step-by-step advice in this book.
Customer Reviews:
A classic must have for overwintering your vegetables.......2007-09-13
I was very impressed with this book, if you are looking at supplying your own food needs through a garden it's a must have.
Excellent book for over wintering the harvest.......2007-09-07
I was so tired of freezing and canning all my garden products and was frightened about my eletricity and gas bills. So this book comes up with the solution how to spare all the energy costs and the hours of work for preparing the food for freezing and canning.: root cellaring.
The book is a wonderful ressource not only on the topic but also in gardening.
For me it is a "must-have" and I wish I had it got 25 years ago....
Excellent book on gardening as well as storing.......2007-08-10
Many of the ideas don't work in our mild wet winters, but even so a wealth of ideas on how to think about the issues, and actually a useful garden reference for when to start what for eating when. A must have for my gardening library.
Very practical guide to energy efficient food storage.......2006-03-01
No matter what your location or how much space you have, the Bubels are likely to have a root cellar option that will work for you. I've got the first edition, but I'm sure the second edition is just as good if not better. Detailed explanations of how to store vegetables and fruits without electricity with specific temperature and humidity recommendations for each variety. Many different cold storage designs. Good photos and diagrams. Well worth the money.
Yup!.......2005-11-17
Goes into what when and where. Perfect! Reduce your need for the grid man!
Book Description
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger-now Pope Benedict XVI-joins Marcello Pera, President of the Italian Senate, to offer a provocative critique of the spiritual, cultural, and political crisis afflicting the West.
Bringing together their unique vantage points as leaders of Church and State, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Marcello Pera challenge us to imagine what can be the future of a civilization that has abandoned its moral and cultural history. They call on the West to embrace a spiritual rather than political renewal -and to accept the moral values that alone can help us to make sense of changes in technology, economics, and society.
Customer Reviews:
So There ARE Europeans That Don't Despise Us!.......2007-08-22
I didn't know much about Ratzinger before I picked this up so I was suprised to see him giving praise to the United States and not doing things like, you know, calling the fight against anti-Semitism, Islamic psychopaths and Pan-Arab Authoritarianism a "great loss for humanity." I couldn't agree more. The future of the world and the West in particular looks pretty bleak at times in my view. Who's going to do it if not us? We defeated Fascism and Communism by ourselves. Once more we have to swoop to rescue our European friends from the latest threat while they cower in fear.
Why is the United States so willing to fight these battles both figurative and literal while Europeans seem to care less? Ratzinger argues the reason for this is that Americans aren't completely consumed with self-hatred the way Europeans are although we're about halfway there. As he put it, we Americans "aren't afraid to love ourselves."
Important point to make because Europeans like to kid themselves into thinking they hate Americans because of the War in Iraq when in actuality they hate us because we're religous, because of our success, and because they'd all be speaking German or living on communes if it weren't for us. Since those threats have been defeated Europe is starting to reconsider its friendship with America now that the relationship doesn't seem as important as it used to.
This self-love, our religiousity, our belief in ourselves, our belief in liberty for all humanity, our relationship with Israel; all of this gives America a unique position in the world today and should, as Ratzinger argues, bring us to recognize the important role we have in preserving the West and bettering all of humanity.
As the Islamic World continues to invade the West, terrorize the citizens of Europe and ghoulishly obsess about the annihilation of world Jewry the United States is and will be the only one to confront these great problems. If we don't stand up then who knows what will happen to liberty and human rights in another century or two especially with the rise of China. If these problems aren't snuffed out then all of humanity could be facing a darkness that makes relativism look like a Sunday morning walk in the park.
Manifesto against Cultural Relativism .......2007-08-17
This short book is definitely worth the price. It can be read in one day and has the usual brilliant analysis of relativism & the decline of Christianity in Europe by Benedict XVI, but what made the book even more special was Marcello Pera's contribution .It was interesting to hear a secular non-Christian view of post-modernism and cultural relativism. Every Christian regardless of denomination and non-Christian interested in preserving an "open society" would benefit from reading this book.
The Pope Knows.......2007-04-11
This is an excellent book that puts the European situation vis a vis Islam in perspective. Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XII has a deep knowledge of the great divide between Christianity and Islam and realizes that Islam is slowly taking over in Europe. This is a very serious problem to the future of the world.
It is of great concern to us because it could spill over to the U.S. and would be very detrimental to our country.
This is an excellent book that should be read by all so they understand what Western civilization is up against.
Phenomenal Reflection for a Culture on the Edge of Death.......2007-01-22
This collection of essays stands as a testimony on behalf of the West as it drills itself into the ground of Relativism and apathy. Marcello Pera's lecture stands for me as a refreshing breeze coming from the heart of a Europe which has nearly completely bought into the destructive force of Philosophical Relativism. The very dangers of this school of thought are laid out well, as Pera reflects upon how it is freezing the West and is giving it atrophy as conviction dies. Surprisingly, the philosopher-senator also answers the problem of Islamic extremism and the need for response against it. However, Pera's primary focus is the refutation of relativism and the exposition of the ossifying dangers inherent therein.
The speech given by Pope Benedict (then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) focuses more on the cultural heritage of the West and its roots in the Mediterranean. In the face of the decline of the West, the Pope offers a positive assessment of the hopes for development by means of "energetic minorities," a topic which is fleshed out in somewhat greater detail in the correspondence included as an appendix to the essays. This idea remains as a hopeful focus against the semi-biologicistic view of culture as a birth-growth-death process which has no hope of breaking out of a death spiral. The continuity of Ratzinger's understanding of the West through history, a continuity which historically has braved storms of philosophical uncertainty by means of energetic groups (be they monastic, academic, or familial).
In view of the grim realities reflected on by both Ratzinger and Pera as they speak of the West's Fall, they both build a staunchly Christian-underpinning for Europe, an under-pinning which is necessary to have roots for the survival. This discussion is all-the-more convincing in light of Pera's atheism which still acknowledges the philosophical necessity of Christianity to combat relativism and restore the roots of the West.
This strong, sober, yet hopeful vision for the West which is a necessary read for us living in a crucial period of history for not only the Church, Europe, and the Extended West but for the entire world.
Christianity in Europe.......2007-01-18
The first 30 pages were hard to get through but after that it was great. There is mention that not only does Christianity offer happiness in the next life, as does Islam, but it offers a better life in this world. I recommend it for all who are wondering if any religion is better than any other. Not light reading but worth the effort.
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