Book Description
You have more information at hand about your business environment than ever before. But are you using it to “out-think” your rivals? If not, you may be missing out on a potent competitive tool.
In Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning , Thomas H. Davenport and Jeanne G. Harris argue that the frontier for using data to make decisions has shifted dramatically. Certain high-performing enterprises are now building their competitive strategies around data-driven insights that in turn generate impressive business results. Their secret weapon? Analytics: sophisticated quantitative and statistical analysis and predictive modeling.
Exemplars of analytics are using new tools to identify their most profitable customers and offer them the right price, to accelerate product innovation, to optimize supply chains, and to identify the true drivers of financial performance. A wealth of examples—from organizations as diverse as Amazon, Barclay’s, Capital One, Harrah’s, Procter & Gamble, Wachovia, and the Boston Red Sox—illuminate how to leverage the power of analytics.
Customer Reviews:
Covers the basics of both the what-is and the how-to of fact-based decision making.......2007-10-04
Mark Twain once said something to the effect that it isn't what you don't know that gets you into trouble, it's what you know for certain that isn't so that will get you. Too many businesses are run on assumptions, guesses, and inertia. What we are doing now worked in the past so lets keep doing it. Shareholders lose a lot of money when their businesses are run with that kind of thinking.
This book is about fact-based decision making. It is really more of an introduction to the subject than a detailed text, but it is still quite useful for those wanting to learn the basics of the subject. The first five chapters discuss what analytics are, how you compete using them, and the growth path from wondering what an analytic competitor is through the fives steps to becoming one. They also discuss what it means when using internal data that you completely control, and what it means when you do it using data you control and supplier or customer data that you do not control.
The last four chapters take on the practical side of implementing a road map to becoming an analytic competitor. I particularly enjoyed the chapter emphasizing that all your plans will fail if you don't have the right people. Systems alone won't do it. The next chapter discusses the kinds of systems you need. The last chapter discusses the future of analytics.
For the right audience, this is a fascinating book. The stories about businesses succeeding by using analytics or getting themselves into serious trouble by ignoring them are all good and entertaining. Be careful, though. Some of the stories talk about instances (such as the Red Sox losing the World Series by letting the pitcher go beyond his statistical maximum pitching range) rather than trends and large numbers of events. Statistics don't work on instances. That is, at any given moment a coin might come up heads or tails. Just because there have been ten heads flips in a row does not mean you should take less than 50-50 odds on the next flip. It is still 50-50. That pitcher might have won, might have lost that game and it would have become part of the statistical information. However, for the stats to become powerful, you would have to be able to make a strong prediction over a series of games that he pitched. That is, if he goes beyond X pitches in 10 games he will lose about 8 of them. That means he still wins two (or one or three) and you don't know when in the series the wins will come.
The idea that very small observations can be exploited for big advantage is very important in today's ever more competitive business climate. For example Harrah's learned that moving the odds on slot machines one-tenth of one percent in their favor did not affect customer play at all, but netted them at extra $80 million (company wide). Marriott's hotel management system improves hotel performance by a couple percent. Remember that these improvements incur little cost, so most of the improvement flows quickly to the bottom line.
I thought that might get your attention. Read it so you can learn and profit from it.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
A limited introduction to business analytics.......2007-09-21
MY RATING SYSTEM:
* - if you have to chose between torture and reading this book, then you might want to consider reading the book - although it depends on just how severe the torture would be.
** - if you've lost your job and have quite a bit of free time on your hands, and don't have anything else better to do, then you might want to consider reading this book; don't expect to learn much or really be entertained. It will however, help you pass the time until your death.
*** - meh...I'm indifferent. Reading this book will not alter your life in any significant way, yet it is not so horrendously dreadful that your taking the time to read it will be a complete waste of time.
**** - Good book to great book zone here. You should probably read this book if you have some spare time. This book could be interesting, entertaining, or informative.
***** - Outstanding book! Make time to read this book - you'll learn or be entertained or intrigued. The book might even be good enough to provide original or helpful insights into the world that we live in.
REVIEW:
Competing on Analytics serves as an interesting, albeit limited, introduction to the concept of using complex data collection, management, and analysis techniques to gain a competitive edge in business.
For me, the book served as a useful introduction, but fell far short of satisfying the objectives I had in mind when I first came across it. What I was expecting was a book that provide a detailed guide to developing and implementing an analytical approach to business decision making. While early on the authors acknowledge the limitations of the book, I found what followed to be less than satisfying.
The book contained a variety of examples of companies that were using analytical techniques to improve the quality of business decision making, and discussed a variety of business areas in which companies might want to adopt such analytical techniques but failed to present comprehensive case studies that would provide real guidance to readers. I would have liked to have been led through a few cases, from a diverse set of industries, where the authors describe what information was collected and why, how the information was manipulated, analyzed and presented, and how the entire analytics process was influenced by and/or influenced the company's strategy and performance. Instead, the book left me with the impression that I need to go out an hire a consulting firm to lead me through the development of an analytics program.
One of the most ironic components of the book was that while it touted the use of analytical techniques and objective analysis to motivate business decision making, it's argument was largely based on anecdotal evidence of a handful of companies that have adopted analytical approaches.
Good Overview of Business Analytics.......2007-09-20
Technology & the easy with which information spreads has rendered many products and services easily replicable. Companies need to compete on the basis of something their competitors can't recreate. What companies don't have ready access to is each other's data, i.e., on customers, suppliers, & processes. What companies do with this data is what can set them apart from competitors.
Davenport & Harris describe how data is transformed into competitive advantage by discussing the types of information used in analytics, the stages of becoming a more analytic corporation, and many examples of companies who have applied analytics to successful operations. Problems encountered down the road to becoming more analytical were similar to those described in another recent book on the criticality of enterprise data, Information Revolution by Davis, Miller, & Russell.
This book contains no numeric formulas or specific procedures for using analytics, but it is an excellent as an overall survey of business analytics as used today.
Who Is The Audience.......2007-08-30
This book is meant for those who make things happen and need to gain a fresh perspective. It is not meant for those who know a lot but can't make things happen yet keep looking for more information, while criticizing a good effort, which without doubt could have been better.
Great Subject/Weak Effort.......2007-08-26
Not a lot of meat to this topic other than the obvious. Not very exciting stuff.
Amazon.com
First popularized by Daniel Goleman in his book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, the concept of emotional intelligence is now widely accepted, not only within the psychological arena, but also, ever-increasingly, within the business world. In The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book, authors Bradberry and Greaves outline techniques anyone can use to achieve goals in an easier and more fulfilling way, improve relationships, enhance health, and become more accomplished in the work force. Starting with a discussion on what emotional intelligence (EQ, for short) is and how it impacts our lives, Bardberry and Greaves then provide readers with instructions for determining their own EQ via the book's companion Web site (the passcode for doing so can be found on the inside of the book's dust jacket). They also provide a variety of ways readers can increase their EQ and put it to use in their personal and professional lives. Based on research with more than 500,000 people, The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book is exactly that, a quick and easy-to-read resource that empowers readers to master their EQ and more effectively incorporate it into all aspects of their daily lives. Larry Trivieri Jr.
Book Description
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: THE #1 PREDICTOR OF PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS AND PERSONAL EXCELLENCE
In today's fast-paced world of competitive workplaces and chaotic personal lives, each of us is searching for effective tools that can make our schedules, behaviors, and relationships more manageable. The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook shows us how understanding and utilizing emotional intelligence can be the key to exceeding our goals and achieving our fullest potential.
Authors Bradberry and Greaves use their years of experience as emotional intelligence researchers, consultants, and speakers to revitalize our current understanding of emotional intelligence. They have combined their latest research on emotional intelligence with a quick, easy-to-use format and cut-to-the-chase information to demonstrate how this other kind of "smart" helps us to decrease our stress, increase our productivity, understand our emotions as they happen, and interact positively with those around us.
The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook brings this concept to light in a way that has not been done before -- making EQ practical and easy to apply in every aspect of our daily lives. The Quickbook will help you to:
- Engage the four unique areas of EQ: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management
- Increase your EQ through the use of these skill-building techniques
- Apply your EQ at work to develop leadership skills and improve teamwork, making you a better manager and a more desirable employee
- Practice your EQ outside the office environment to benefit your relationships with loved ones, making you a better partner and parent
- Access the link between your EQ and your physical well-being to improve your overall health
- Measure your current EQ through access to the authors' bestselling online Emotional Intelligence Appraisal
Customer Reviews:
Beneficial to Everyone.......2007-10-02
This is a well written concise book on emotional intelligence that should benefit everyone. It teaches techniques that people can employ to enhance their emotional intelligence; on our rational and emotional minds and why it is very important to our careers, our relationships and our destiny.
This insightful book examines emotional intelligence in an easy to follow and understand format which makes the book useful to a wide readership. The book pragmatically examines what emotional intelligence is all about and what it can achieve for individuals and organisations. The author methodically explains how the rational and emotional minds can effectively work productively together. As you go up the corporate ladder, it is critical to know how to manage emotions so that you can relate better with others.
This is not just an academic book but also one that looks at the whole aspect of emotional intelligence to see how it "fits in" with all aspects of life. The book examines all the relevant issues and provides sound, sensible advice succinctly.
The book will change the way you look at life and relate with people. This is particularly the case with people with professional backgrounds that tend to emphasise logic and rationality such as engineers, doctors, mathematicians and the like. It is critical to realise that emotional issues affect the way you work, your motivation, satisfaction and productivity and affect the quality of relationships among spouses or friends. Understanding and embracing EI can make you much happier and more effective as a manager and therefore I recommend this book strongly to anyone who wants to live a happier and successful life.
The best emotional intelligence book.......2007-06-28
I've read about every book out there on emotional intelligence and this one stands out above the rest. It's far more practical in how it introduces emotional intelligence, and the strategies for increasing your EQ are excellent. It's also the only book I've seen that includes a code so that you can go online and take an emotional intelligence test, which is a real bonus. It's great to know what you are actually good at AND what you need to work on.
Good, quick read.......2007-05-14
I ordered this book to use with a class of managers in a service organization. It was very easy to understand the concepts, and what I liked most is that it quickly explained emotional intelligence without getting bogged down in psychological research. Perfect for learners who don't have time to read. The stories helped explain very well.
The assessment results were easy to understand. The only drawback was the relevance, or helpfulness of the suggestions for development. They weren't really meaty.
Overall, I liked the book very much.
Excellent book.......2007-05-14
This is a very interesting, factual but explanatory book to help edify the differences between female and male brains.
Great Book.......2006-11-10
Easy to read, consise, and very helpful. Embodies all the elements of EI I used it as a gift for individuals attending a seminar. It was well received.
Book Description
A sweeping narrative history of the events leading to 9/11, a groundbreaking look at the people and ideas, the terrorist plans and the Western intelligence failures that culminated in the assault on America. Lawrence Wright’s remarkable book is based on five years of research and hundreds of interviews that he conducted in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, England, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States.
The Looming Tower achieves an unprecedented level of intimacy and insight by telling the story through the interweaving lives of four men: the two leaders of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri; the FBI’s counterterrorism chief, John O’Neill; and the former head of Saudi intelligence, Prince Turki al-Faisal.
As these lives unfold, we see revealed: the crosscurrents of modern Islam that helped to radicalize Zawahiri and bin Laden . . . the birth of al-Qaeda and its unsteady development into an organization capable of the American embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and the attack on the USS Cole . . . O’Neill’s heroic efforts to track al-Qaeda before 9/11, and his tragic death in the World Trade towers . . . Prince Turki’s transformation from bin Laden’s ally to his enemy . . . the failures of the FBI, CIA, and NSA to share intelligence that might have prevented the 9/11 attacks.
The Looming Tower broadens and deepens our knowledge of these signal events by taking us behind the scenes. Here is Sayyid Qutb, founder of the modern Islamist movement, lonely and despairing as he meets Western culture up close in 1940s America; the privileged childhoods of bin Laden and Zawahiri; family life in the al-Qaeda compounds of Sudan and Afghanistan; O’Neill’s high-wire act in balancing his all-consuming career with his equally entangling personal life—he was living with three women, each of them unaware of the others’ existence—and the nitty-gritty of turf battles among U.S. intelligence agencies.
Brilliantly conceived and written, The Looming Tower draws all elements of the story into a galvanizing narrative that adds immeasurably to our understanding of how we arrived at September 11, 2001. The richness of its new information, and the depth of its perceptions, can help us deal more wisely and effectively with the continuing terrorist threat.
Customer Reviews:
History of Al-Qaeda.......2007-10-02
Lawrence Wright traces Islamic fundamentalism from 1948 to the 2001 attack on America. The book highlights Al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. His research asserts a historical lack of concern from intelligence agencies except for FBI agent John O'Neill and Saudi prince Turki al-Faisal. The book seems very well researched and laid out.
Even though it is filled with facts and dates, it is a book that you will find easy to read. But be aware the author goes into great detail in this writing in a successful effort to be objective. His work is also well researched and documented. This book contains violence and strong language but gives insight into this group of Islamic fundamentalist. So if you wish to have a look at the growth of this organization, this is a book you will want to read.
Real information about Al Qaeda.......2007-10-01
Too much of what we have heard about Al Qaeda has been little more than pep-talk and wishful thinking: I still remember how our president called the 9-11 hijackers "cowards"--evil, certainly, but cowards, no. It has been hard to find real information about these people, until Lawrence Wright's book. Like an ethnographer, he has been able to suspend judgment sufficiently to get inside the heads of Salafist, takfirist terrorists. I found myself learning something on every page: everything from the importance of kin relations in Saudi Arabia, to the nature of Osama bin Laden's business interests, to the role of the Arab Mujahideen in the Soviet-Afghan war, and much, much more. There is a great deal here, too, on the U.S.'s inadequate response to Al Qaeda, with quite a bit of detail on the dysfunctional CIA-FBI rivalry. He points no fingers at elected officials, but rather at institutional arrangements, a choice that, I think, makes the book more valuable.
The Looming Tower.......2007-09-26
This is an excellent account of the rise of al-Qaeda, based on very extensive interviews in both the Arab and Western worlds. But the book is also curiously one-sided when it comes to U.S. involvement. It supplies a detailed account of the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union in which Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal is mentioned about two dozen times, but William Casey of the CIA, the principal architect, is not mentioned even once. Nor does he mention Prince Turki's frank public account of how his jihad activities were guided by his own and other intelligence agencies grouped in something called the Safari Club, which took this initiative in response to the establishment of congressional oversight over the CIA. (As Prince Turki revealed, the group "included France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Iran.") With Casey's personal connivance and oversight, the Safari Club financed and administered the Afghan resistance through the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), also not mentioned by Wright. To get a more balanced view of America's role in the background of al Qaeda, I suggest that readers supplement The Looming Tower with Peter Dale Scott's The Road to 9/11, just out from the University of California Press.
What comes next?.......2007-09-24
While I was eager to read this book, I am finding it rough going. Mr. Wright has included way too much in my opinion. A lot of what he has included at length, could have been said in a fewer words and with more punch. Such as Qutb's visit to the USA or Ayman al-Zawahiri's childhood and background. While Qutb's visit is much more pertinent to the story line, al-Zawahiri's isn't all that much help in understanding what happened and continues to this day.
The info is good, one just has to plow through too many weeds to get to it.
THE LOOMING TOWER.......2007-09-19
Anyone who wishes to KNOW the BEGINNING and CONTINUING truth under-pinning our vicious, seemingly endless battle with ORGANIZED TERRORISTS, not just in IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN, but literally across the civilized world MUST READ THIS BOOK! It reveals clearly and unmistakably, the common threads which bind the very fabric of the terrifying spread of terrorism and literally, a continuing WAR between Western Civilization and the TYRANNICAL terrorists who will stop at nothing. One should read this after the "LONE SURVIVOR" best-seller. It brings together what appear as countless loose ends of this monumental struggle which promises to be a veritable 'FIGHT TO THE VERY LAST SURVIVOR' of what is, unmistakably. a WAR like NO OTHER WE HAVE EVER FACED. This conflict will test every conceivable sinew of the 'muscle of resolve and potency' of not only the United States but of the Free World as we now know it!
You owe nothing less to yourself than the knowledge you will gain from this truly thorough, remarkable book on the subject, which astoundingly, yet, has commanded the attention of all too few Countries and plain citizens!
Book Description
Emotional Intelligence was an international phenomenon, appearing on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year and selling more than five million copies worldwide. Now, once again, Daniel Goleman has written a groundbreaking synthesis of the latest findings in biology and brain science, revealing that we are “wired to connect” and the surprisingly deep impact of our relationships on every aspect of our lives.
Far more than we are consciously aware, our daily encounters with parents, spouses, bosses, and even strangers shape our brains and affect cells throughout our bodies—down to the level of our genes—for good or ill. In
Social Intelligence, Daniel Goleman explores an emerging new science with startling implications for our interpersonal world. Its most fundamental discovery: we are designed for sociability, constantly engaged in a “neural ballet” that connects us brain to brain with those around us.
Our reactions to others, and theirs to us, have a far-reaching biological impact, sending out cascades of hormones that regulate everything from our hearts to our immune systems, making good relationships act like vitamins—and bad relationships like poisons. We can “catch” other people’s emotions the way we catch a cold, and the consequences of isolation or relentless social stress can be life-shortening. Goleman explains the surprising accuracy of first impressions, the basis of charisma and emotional power, the complexity of sexual attraction, and how we detect lies. He describes the “dark side” of social intelligence, from narcissism to Machiavellianism and psychopathy. He also reveals our astonishing capacity for “mindsight,” as well as the tragedy of those, like autistic children, whose mindsight is impaired.
Is there a way to raise our children to be happy? What is the basis of a nourishing marriage? How can business leaders and teachers inspire the best in those they lead and teach? How can groups divided by prejudice and hatred come to live together in peace?
The answers to these questions may not be as elusive as we once thought. And Goleman delivers his most heartening news with powerful conviction: we humans have a built-in bias toward empathy, cooperation, and altruism–provided we develop the social intelligence to nurture these capacities in ourselves and others.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Mind EQ .......2007-09-21
This book (audio version) really tracks how and why EQ is neurally connected in the human mind. This provides more then I will ever know on human behaviors. Recommend to read or listen several times to realise the wealth of information provided. A great resource book for training, research and general interest.
Best book ever!.......2007-09-19
Social Intelligence tells the "real" story of life. It is absolutely and completely about people and relationships. Excellent read.
this is a must listen to book.......2007-09-10
You may not have the time to read the book. So, have Mr. Goleman be your companion while you are driving along the high way or commuting to work.
I have found this an interesting source to be utilized in our leadership development and trainings.
I highly recommend it for those who seek to improve their leadership skills and learn about this very important ingredient in leadership.
social intelligence.......2007-09-10
1. Please note: I ordered 1-hard cover..."working with emotional intelligence, received.
2. I ordered two "SOFT COVER.."working with emotional intelligence" Recieved ONE only.
3. I was shipped ONE "SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE" which I was careful not to order because I noticed the attempt to package it together with "working with emotional intelligence"
3. "Social intelligence" is a vain attempt to sell another book off the reputataion of "emotional...& working with "emotional intelligence'
Please send me 1-soft cover "working with emotional Intelligence" to replace the worthless "social intelligence" soft cover.Do you wish that I return "social intelligence"??????
Please respond ASAP to confirm the exchange.
Thank you for the cooperation.
Peter Kosick
Relating to people is more important than your IQ.......2007-09-02
Daniel Goleman has created another educational masterpiece to follow up his book Emotional Intelligence (which taught us we could have a high IQ but act emotionally unintelligent). This book teaches us we can have excellent analytical skills but be very unintelligent in how we interact with people. He classifies social intelligence as our ability to listen, talk appropriately in conversations, tell "white lies" when necsasary to value peoples feelings over blunt truth, and understand how to react with people as to create rapport and trust. He believes that SQ in many ways is more important than IQ because the success in the world is more determined by how you get along and relate to people as opposed to how many A's you received on your report card. He writes about the importance of doctor's treating their patinces as people, it has proven that this dramatically reduces the amount of malpractice suits. He discusses what people care most about in bosses great listener, encourager, communicator, courageous, sense of humor, empathy, decisive, humble, takes responsibilty, and shares authority. He discusses how through inmate interactions prisons are breeding grounds for life long criminals and how to change that. If you are interested in the above read this book. It is a detailed road map of how our brains loop with other people to create interactions. You will learn a lot, I did.
Amazon.com
John Perkins started and stopped writing Confessions of an Economic Hit Man four times over 20 years. He says he was threatened and bribed in an effort to kill the project, but after 9/11 he finally decided to go through with this expose of his former professional life. Perkins, a former chief economist at Boston strategic-consulting firm Chas. T. Main, says he was an "economic hit man" for 10 years, helping U.S. intelligence agencies and multinationals cajole and blackmail foreign leaders into serving U.S. foreign policy and awarding lucrative contracts to American business. "Economic hit men (EHMs) are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars," Perkins writes. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is an extraordinary and gripping tale of intrigue and dark machinations. Think John Le Carré, except it's a true story.
Perkins writes that his economic projections cooked the books Enron-style to convince foreign governments to accept billions of dollars of loans from the World Bank and other institutions to build dams, airports, electric grids, and other infrastructure he knew they couldn't afford. The loans were given on condition that construction and engineering contracts went to U.S. companies. Often, the money would simply be transferred from one bank account in Washington, D.C., to another one in New York or San Francisco. The deals were smoothed over with bribes for foreign officials, but it was the taxpayers in the foreign countries who had to pay back the loans. When their governments couldn't do so, as was often the case, the U.S. or its henchmen at the World Bank or International Monetary Fund would step in and essentially place the country in trusteeship, dictating everything from its spending budget to security agreements and even its United Nations votes. It was, Perkins writes, a clever way for the U.S. to expand its "empire" at the expense of Third World citizens. While at times he seems a little overly focused on conspiracies, perhaps that's not surprising considering the life he's led. --Alex Roslin
Book Description
The runaway bestseller that has generated a major movie deal—and an international dialogue—with over 170,000 copies sold in hardcover and seven weeks on the New York Times list
“Economic hit men,” John Perkins writes,” are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex, and murder. They play a game as old as Empire but one that has taken on terrifying dimensions during this time of globalization.”
John Perkins should know—he was an economic hit man for an international consulting firm that worked to convince developing countries to accept enormous loans and to funnel that money to U.S.corporations. Once these countries were saddled with huge debts, the American government and international aid agencies were able to request their “pound of flesh” in favors, including access to natural resources, military cooperation, and political support.
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is the story of one man's experiences inside the intrigue, greed, corruption and little-known government and corporate activities that America has been involved in since World War II, and which have dire consequences for the future of democracy and the world.
“[A] gripping tell-all book.”—The Rocky Mountain News
“Astonishing.”—Boston Herald
“This riveting look at a world of intrigue reads like a spy novel . . . Highly recommended.”— Library Journal
“Here are the real-life details—nasty, manipulative, plain evil—of international corporate skullduggery spun into a tale rivaling the darkest espionage thriller.”—Greg Palast, author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Customer Reviews:
A human story about change of heart, not just economics.......2007-10-02
John Perkins, a man who has written mostly about his experiences with shamanism and only eluded to his "dark side", now comes clean in this eye-opening expose of how real people are paid to destroy countries economies in order to create wealth for the elite. But more than anything, this book for me is about one man's conversion experience - from selling his soul to the highest bidder (even while studying with indigenous shamans) to facing the human and environmental consequences of his actions. Eventually, he changed his life and stepped into the full potential of his heart.
Despite the harsh reality Perkin's truth-telling offers, this book is inspirational in that it proves that anyone can change from a life of greed and domination to one of kindness and compassion. I highly recommend his previous books (such as Shapeshifting) which speak to his spiritual awakenings and the role of indigenous people's teachings in leaving the Hit Man life behind.
Viewing America's Global Empire from the Trenches.......2007-10-01
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man presents the experiences of John Perkins, while working as an Economic Hit Man (EHM)- although he was officially titled as an economist, essentially cheerleading foreign loans to third world countires as a means of economic development, although as Perkins claims, is was expected that the third world nations would never actually achieve the growth levels to allow them to pay off the loans.
All of this was done to both line the pockets of multi-national construction firms, primarily U.S.-based, as well as lead to the expansion of the United States "Global Empire".
While I find Perkins' writing a bit preachy, and his views somewhat a "holier-than thou" attitude, as it comes to his statements that he foresaw the ramifications of his work "doctoring" economic forecasts, the book is an interesting book that did make me consider a number of events on the international stage that I had previously considered chance happenings.
I think the time spent reading Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, is time well spent.
Self-Serving Drivel.......2007-09-25
Perkins was an economic hit man, acting as a consultant who helped strong arm less developed countries into being saddled with debt they would be unable to pay. This strategy enriches American companies, and makes indebted countries obligated to serve US interests. In doing so, poor people become more impoverished, sensitive ecosystems are destroyed, and future generations suffer.
All the while Perkins created inflated economic forecasts to justify irresponsible lending by the World Bank and other financial behemoths, he claims to have felt guilty. Guilty all the way to his bank...
To assuage his guilt, he tries to equate how the general population benefits from lower prices based upon the work he has done, making us all his moral equivalent.
[...]
Perkins has a story to tell. His constant whining about his feelings, while getting richer and taking bribes throughout many decades, sickens me.
He should tell his story, and let his actions speak for his feelings. [...]
Economic hit man.......2007-09-21
The book starts out with speciifc strong facts. However, towards the end it becomes significantly weaker and less convincing. Overall wothwhile reading, as long as you do not believe every word.
Over inflated, self-serving memoirs of a mediocre consultant.......2007-09-19
Oh, god. The stories move so slowly. They're watered down with so much description of how pathetic, filthy, sick, poor, but intelligent people are in the third world. The book is a constant iteration of doing work he was paid for, feeling guilty for his actions, then self justifying his work to himself.
He is constantly stating that this neo-colonialism was not a conspiracy, but a fraternity of people working together. What's the difference? At first blush you agree with him, but if you think about it, they are one in the same.
This is a case of someone looking at the glass as half empty. He worked for a company that wanted to maximize its revenues. Now he chooses to see where the revenue was coming from and feel bad. I was a consultant for a long time too. Only I sold my services to the likes of Sallie Mae, AT&T, Credit Suisse, and Wachovia. Do I feel guilty? No, but you could argue I was taking advantage of a need they perceived to have at the time. It is how business works.
Don't get suckered in by the authors claims, they are unsubstantiated and could be debated until the end of time. History serves the interpretation of it's author.
Amazon.com
Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach introduces basic ideas in artificial intelligence from the perspective of building intelligent agents, which the authors define as "anything that can be viewed as perceiving its environment through sensors and acting upon the environment through effectors." This textbook is up-to-date and is organized using the latest principles of good textbook design. It includes historical notes at the end of every chapter, exercises, margin notes, a bibliography, and a competent index. Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach covers a wide array of material, including first-order logic, game playing, knowledge representation, planning, and reinforcement learning.
Book Description
The long-anticipated revision of this best-selling book offers the most comprehensive, up-to-date introduction to the theory and practice of artificial intelligence. Intelligent Agents. Solving Problems by Searching. Informed Search Methods. Game Playing. Agents that Reason Logically. First-order Logic. Building a Knowledge Base. Inference in First-Order Logic. Logical Reasoning Systems. Practical Planning. Planning and Acting. Uncertainty. Probabilistic Reasoning Systems. Making Simple Decisions. Making Complex Decisions. Learning from Observations. Learning with Neural Networks. Reinforcement Learning. Knowledge in Learning. Agents that Communicate. Practical Communication in English. Perception. Robotics. For those interested in artificial intelligence.
Customer Reviews:
Highly recommended.......2007-09-28
I am half way through and I like it so far. Frankly I am puzzled by other reviewers complaining about "lack of real code examples", they clearly have not read the book carefully: it comes with tons of sample code (online) written in different languages, publishers/authors simply did not want to waste the precious real estate. The book is nearly a thousand pages already.
Otherwise this is a great CS book. Yes there is some math in it, but don't be scared - there is an appendix with all necessary mathematical background you'll need (and you don't need much). I was surprised to see so much historical references in this book, it teaches you not just about most major branches of AI, but also about how they started and where originated from in a "problem -> solution" form. For instance when they talk about genetic algorithms they actually go ahead and write a comprehensive comparison of analogies between biological evolution, genes and their computer-generated counterparts referencing the original work of Darwin and others.
If you're into AI, applied mathematics or computer science, I have no doubt you'll enjoy this book: it's not too focused on something specific (and something you'd need a PhD to understand) while not too shallow and covers fairly wide spectrum of AI problems, including (!) ethical and philosophical issues like "what happens if we succeed?"
Highly recommended.
Worth a million.......2007-09-26
An author of this book is said to have commented that its writing has made him a millionaire. It is used in over 1000 universities for a simple reason, it is good. The book uses the concept of an agent to unify the formerly fragmented field of AI and to link together concepts as diverse as logic programming and ethics. It is very easy to read and touches every area of modern research interest I can think of. The problems have a nice variety of difficulties (although there are no worked-out solutions in the book) and provide a mix between theory and practice, introducing the careful student to concepts and papers not developed in the main text of the chapter. The bibliography is well laid-out and provides useful depth (one of my current research interests was sparked by reading one of the referenced papers in the 2nd chapter).
My only complaint so far (not having finished the entire book) is that some of the definitions in chapter 17's whirlwind introduction to game theory were a little vague. But, a quick look at some other sources clarified things immensely.
It is rare to find a textbook as interesting and clear as this one. If a professor is requiring that you read it, consider yourself fortunate. If you are thinking of reading it yourself, you also are blessed. Look forward to many pleasant evenings.
Worthwhile.......2007-08-23
This book is very worthwhile if you are looking into AI with the purpose of understanding the various techniques, etc. It gives a really good background, and I find it useful. The only changes I would have made (for me, not everyone else) would be to include a few short chapters on second order logic, and the basic mathematics and math terms used in the book. It assumes more knowlege in math than I have. It would also be nice if it had a "recommended reading" page, listing those texts that would be useful for an AI beginner to review in order to understand the math and logic referred to. (My degree was in 79, and I only had a very basic calculus course...not too deep...I can diffentiate, but that is all).
It would just be nice if they could list reference books for people who are math nieve.
Thorough book.......2007-01-04
This book was very thorough in many facets of Artificial Intelligence. It was a tremendous help in the class I took and will be a great reference for future years.
Thick, informative & loads of diagrams.......2007-01-04
Useful book which at first explains in great detail the history, foundations for AI and the different approaches AI takes on. Your course will probably not use all the material in the book but still makes for interesting reading. Would recommend if you can pick up a copy cheap.
Book Description
CIA operative Mitch Rapp follows a trail of contract killers leading directly to the heart of our nation's capital in New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn's eighth explosive thriller.
It's a gorgeous autumn day in Georgetown. The Democratic candidates for president and vice president of the United States are dutifully glad-handing voters and the media outside a grand estate where a national security conference has just been held, bringing together the world's greatest minds to discuss the issues that are threatening the country. It's American politicking at its best. That's when all hell breaks loose.
When presidential candidate Josh Alexander's motorcade is ambushed by a group of terrorists, the nation is thrown into turmoil. Two weeks following the attack, Alexander is carried to victory by a sympathy vote, but his assailants have not been found. On the surface it appears to be the work of al-Qaeda, despite the tremendous job that the U.S. and her allies have done eliminating terrorist cells within the heart of America. While the FBI and the rest of the government begin scouring the world for jihadists, CIA director Irene Kennedy and Special Agent Skip McMahon are presented with classified information so toxic that they consider destroying it altogether, as it contains intelligence pointing to some of the most powerful players in Washington.
Enter Mitch Rapp, the one man reckless enough to follow the evidence to its explosive conclusion. His journey takes him through the shadowy world of contract killers, into the darkest corners of the globe, and eventually back to Washington, where the fragile pillars of power are shaken to their core.
Customer Reviews:
Weakest of Flynn's Novels.......2007-09-17
I have enjoyed Flynn's novels since Term Limits, but I hate to admit that I think this was his weakest moment. The story seemed to be put together too fast, and the characters would appear extremely one dimensional if a reader had not read the previous Mitch Rapp novels. Here, Rapp appears as a stereotypical gung-ho "do things my way" agent with little or no thought process. While he was always anti-politician, Flynn drills it into the reader's head at every opportunity.
While the twist of who the terrorists are is a nice departure, the bad guys also did not have much depth. Of course Flynn always makes his politicians the most unsavory characters, (and in his previous efforts it is usually enjoyable) but the characters in Act of Treason are way too cookie cutter, even for Flynn.
The ending sealed the deal for me, which I thought extremely unrealistic and a fantastic departure of the usual rationalism Flynn evokes; the ending seemed to be the least thought out segment of the book. Disappointing.
Another Great Mitch Rapp Novel.......2007-09-03
Vince Flynn has done it again with another amazing Mitch Rapp Novel. Act of Treason like the other's would make a great movie, however it would be too realistic and cause the American people to truly see how corrupt our own government really is. Thanks Vince Flynn
Rapp is the man!.......2007-08-31
You see a news story involving a corrupt politician, known terrorist, or murderer getting candy-coated treatment - your immediate thought is "why can't someone just take this guy out back and deal with him?". If you sometimes have the itch to skip the formalities and skip straight to the "justice" in due process, then Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp is a man need to know.
I picked up the first book in this series a couple of years ago and have since waited for new releases with the same anticipation I used to have for Tom Clancy to share the latest Jack Ryan/John Clark exploits. Who knows at this point whether Clancy will ever give us another in that series, but in the meantime the Rapp character is filling a void for me. Flynn's writing is crisp and fast-moving, allows you to put yourself in Rapp's shoes and thought process and, as noted, satisfies your internal need to sometimes "just deal with the problem". Compared to Clancy's characters, Rapp is definitely more Clark, and Flynn skips the multi-layered plots and techno-thriller language and moves straight to the action. The closest character comparison I see for Rapp is Jack Bauer on "24", which probably explains why Flynn has been involved on story-line development for recent seasons of "24". I could easily see Flynn's efforts one day turning into a series of Rapp movies in the Bourne vein - interestingly, there now seems to be some chatter about doing just that.
For me, Flynn is one of the few writers who make me say "just one more chapter" before hitting the sack or taking care of chores. I think "Act of Treason" is another solid effort in the Rapp series and very satisfying for a Rapp devotee, but will be much more enjoyable to a new Flynn reader if you go back and pick the series up from the beginning to see how the character has been developed over the first seven books (see FAQ's at [...] for the chronological order).
Keeps moving.......2007-08-28
Corridors of Power as seen from the third cubicle on the left.
Nice simplistic plot and characters. Good guys are good, bad guys are evil, sexually perverted, and probably vote Democrat. No ambiguity. Good guys get to kill the bad guys, exercising god-like powers of assassination. That evil NY Times gets its comeuppance too.
Really, its good because Flynn is a good writer. Even his filler, descriptions of DC neighborhoods, thoughts and bios of irrelevant characters, etc. are unobtrusive, I even read a few.
First, but probably not the last of the series I will read.
best one yet: a good ending.......2007-08-16
I feel like Flynn has matured in this book. The plot was more complex and the story had more turns than his previous ones. I have always been let down a bit by the endings of his book, until now, finding the endings a bit trite. This was a high paced, addictive book without a lame ending.
A lot of the book focuses on Irene Kennedy. The role she places at the end of the book was a suprise, but it was poetic justice.
Book Description
Everyone knows that high IQ is no guarantee of success, happiness, or virtue, but until
Emotional Intelligence, we could only guess why. Daniel Goleman's brilliant report from the frontiers of psychology and neuroscience offers startling new insight into our "two minds"—the rational and the emotional—and how they together shape our destiny.
Through vivid examples, Goleman delineates the five crucial skills of emotional intelligence, and shows how they determine our success in relationships, work, and even our physical well-being. What emerges is an entirely new way to talk about being smart.
The best news is that "emotional literacy" is not fixed early in life. Every parent, every teacher, every business leader, and everyone interested in a more civil society, has a stake in this compelling vision of human possibility.
Customer Reviews:
This is his classic work - I recommend it to all my clients........2007-09-16
This is his original classic work. The term "emotional intelligence" has become iconic yet not fully understood. Start discovering the concept with this first in a series of books by Goleman. Emotional intelligence involves the ability to identify and manage our emotions; to recognize our impact on others; to empathize; and to generate and direct emotions in ourselves and others towards a constructive goal. This ability can be measured, and more importantly, it can be improved. I egularly encourage my business and life coaching clients to read it.
I found this book well worth reading.......2007-09-16
This book does a great job of explaining the interactions between the logical part of the brain and the emotional part of the brain. I studied psychology 20 years ago in college. It is amazing how much more has been learned about the human body since that time. This book includes many case studies about what happened when various parts of the brain were removed or damaged due to cancer or some other malady. Reading this book has helped me to keep a better check on my emotions when in stressful situations.
When will this book be over?!?!?.......2007-05-12
I feel like I'm in psychology class all over again. He uses a lot of big words that all pretty much mean the same thing and says them over and over. Most of the things he's saying feel like common sense to me and nothing new. If this book wasn't required reading, I would quit reading it!
Psychology at best.......2007-03-22
I am not one who would volunteerly read a psychology book - so naturally I came across this book in one of my courses. It is a book, though, that I can say I was happy to read. It puts life into perspective with regard to how emotional intelligence - coping, depression, addiction - its all based on our emotional realm. Life does not revolve around the intellect of a person. Even the most intelligent can form addictions. This book was great and offers studies and other proofs for Goldmans point of view.
Emotional Intelligence * * * *.
Emotional Intelligence.......2007-02-08
This book is filled with useful information. Once you pick this book up, it is difficult to put it down
Really good reading!!!
Average customer rating:
- If you want your Child's Mind Left Behind do not read this.
- Five Minds Provides Wake-up Call for Educators
- A Map for Educating the New Philosopher Kings
- Excellent new approach from Professor Gardner
- It scales up your ability to undesrtand yourself and the world
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Five Minds for the Future
Howard Gardner
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ASIN: 1591399122
Release Date: 2007-04-03 |
Book Description
We live in a time of vast changes. And those changes call for entirely new ways of learning and thinking. In Five Minds for the Future: Howard Gardner defines the cognitive abilities that will command a premium in the years ahead:
- the disciplinary mind—mastery of major schools of thought (including science, mathematics, and history) and of at least one professional craft
- the synthesizing mind—ability to integrate ideas from different disciplines or spheres into a coherent whole and to communicate that integration to others
- the creating mind—capacity to uncover and clarify new problems, questions, and phenomena
- the respectful mind—awareness of and appreciation for differences among human beings and human groups
- the ethical mind—fulfillment of one’s responsibilities as a worker and citizen
World-renowned for his theory of multiple intelligences, Gardner takes that thinking to the next level in this book, drawing from a wealth of diverse examples to illuminate his ideas. Concise and engaging, Five Minds for the Future will inspire lifelong learning in any reader as well as provide valuable insights for those charged with training and developing organizational leaders—both today and tomorrow.
Customer Reviews:
If you want your Child's Mind Left Behind do not read this........2007-08-17
The ideas in this book deserve the broadest possible scrutiny and review. As we now know, our brains are able to significantly change themselves depending on how they are used and not used.
Dictators, slave owners, and totalitarian regimes have always suspected this. They carefully restrict the arts and depend on rote drill in education. They require competency testing that penalizes teachers that teach good questioning methods and foster disciplined minds that can synthesize, create, and empathize.
Teachers in the USA today are increasingly being overwhelmed by the requirements to teach facts and specific skills. School facts are often dated, while updates are instantly available via an Internet search. Thinking abilities (other than rote memorization) are not being taught because our tests are not well designed to assess Gardner's categories. The ability to synthesize (transfer and apply what we know from an array of experiences and sources), create (the ability to think divergently and imaginatively to produce better scenarios), and/or empathically (Gardner's terms are `respectful' and `ethical') are not as simple to assess. Consequently, facts are taught without time to learn how to question the viability of what is learned.
Assessment tools could be vastly improved if we had the creativity and the will to see what Gardner tries to tell us. I believe that computer programs could be developed that would assess education for Gardner's mind categories rather than simply for the rote accumulation of information that is often unconnected to what we need in life.
Any parent who does not care if their child's mind is left behind should not read this book. I pity children in schools that are under pressure to focus on learning without thinking. They are being brain damaged. If we want to see more capable and caring people in the future, this book is a starting place. Any leader of company, political entity, or other organization should not read this book if they are content with staying behind and coming in last.
Five Minds Provides Wake-up Call for Educators.......2007-08-14
Five Minds for the Future is an excellent look at the wider picture of how we need to use our brains to accomplish the tasks we will be faced with in the coming years -- both for our planet, our communities, our workplaces, and our families. This should be even more of a wake-up call to educational institutions across the world than Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences because it is about global approach to education (global in terms of "big picture").
A Map for Educating the New Philosopher Kings.......2007-07-17
The learned ancient Greeks were fascinated by what an ideal education would involve. Why? They hoped to apply that education to the kings of the era and to create a better society through the leadership of the kings. That ambition came closest to being fulfilled through Alexander the Great, who became a highly effective conqueror and spreader of Greek ideas and values.
Professor Gardner takes up this challenge once again in perceiving new challenges for modern people that will be more difficult to meet in the future. I suspect that his vision is, in part, aimed at the same goal as the ancient Greeks except as executed through the leaders and most prominent citizens of a republic employing democratic principles.
In a break from his prior focus on multiple intelligences, Five Minds for the Future emphasizes five methods of thinking that he hopes to see integrated into individuals. These methods of thinking are based on:
1. Mastering an important subject matter (such as history, math, or science) and staying up to date through application of the discipline's method of thinking. This is quite different from knowing the facts of the discipline.
2. Being able to integrate large quantities multidisciplinary facts and apply them into one's work.
3. Posing new questions, developing new solutions to existing questions, stretching disciplines and genres in new directions, or building new disciplines.
4. Being open to understanding and appreciating the perspectives and experiences of those who are different from the individual.
5. Doing one's work in an ethical way that reflects responsibilities to others and society.
What does this boil down to as a problem? Basically, most people never get as far as mastering one important discipline. They just memorize whatever is needed to pass tests. Professor Gardner's own work documents this problem. As a result, we face a hollowing out of our civilization as most people lack the ability, education, or interest to do more than function in an everyday living fashion. Beyond that, some of those who can perform a discipline are tempted by treasure or fame to stretch the rules and not honestly perform.
If we step back another few feet, there's an implicit vision of a future that's led by a smaller and smaller number of people as a percentage of the world's population. It will be easier for rot to set in at the top. In addition, the rewards for those people will grow exponentially . . . tempting those of limited ethics to falter.
I think the risk is a genuine one, and I applaud Professor Gardner for penning this book. I hope he will follow it with more books that spell out more about how to educate others and ourselves (after we leave school as students) so that these goals are achieved.
I have a few quibbles that I mention only in the spirit of sparking an awareness of what's needed. Peter Drucker taught me that the educated person should learn enough about a new subject each year to appreciate and be able the discipline involved. I found that suggestion missing from this book. Without that bridging method, I suspect we'll just end up compartmentalized from one another.
In addition, I think that some areas of public responsibility lend themselves to combined perspectives that encompass these minds more efficiently than by keeping them separate. For example, the advanced leader who is good at accomplishing continuing business model innovation will be able to cross these five boundaries and many others . . . simply by knowing one discipline. I suspect that other fields also lend themselves to such new integrating disciplines.
I also found that Professor Gardner mischaracterized the meanings of many of the business examples he cited. He does, however, do a fine job of summarizing what academics have written about business. I suggest that he have someone who is more familiar with business than he is help with checking such examples in future books. I realize that this book is published by Harvard Business School Press, but editors of books don't necessary have mastery of the facts within the subjects they edit.
Bravo, Professor Gardner!
Excellent new approach from Professor Gardner.......2007-07-05
Wonderful and breathtaking reading!! After transforming how intelligence is considered and measured, and offering millions a new chance to develop their potential, Professor Gardner presents his new approach about minds that will survive better in the future. He offers strong support for capacities not yet recognized as valuable in our rapidly changing and aggressive environment, such as ethical, respectful and sinthesizing minds. Three times "Hurrah!!".
It scales up your ability to undesrtand yourself and the world.......2007-06-08
An extraordinary work by an extraordinary scholar, It teaches you how to get the best by the process of learning and by your ability to be part of the human kind. An essential book for each and every age.
Amazon.com
Amid his efforts to expose the Russian mob, Robert I. Friedman learned from the FBI that "the most brilliant and savage Russian mob organization in the world" had put a $100,000 price on his head. Reading Red Mafiya, it's not hard to see why: this is a brave book about a troubling subject. Friedman, a freelance journalist, describes the research behind it: "I ventured into the Russians' gaudy strip clubs in Miami Beach; paid surprise visits to their well-kept suburban homes in Denver; interviewed hit men and godfathers in an array of federal lockups; and traveled halfway around the world trying to make sense of their tangled criminal webs, which have ensnared everyone from titans of finance and the heads of government to entire state security services." Their racket involves heroin smuggling, weapons trafficking, mass extortion, and casino operation, among other activities. "Blending financial sophistication with bone-crunching violence, the Russian mob has become the FBI's most formidable criminal adversary, creating an international criminal colossus that has surpassed the Colombian cartels, the Japanese Yakuzas, the Chinese triads, and the Italian Mafia in wealth and weaponry," writes Friedman. They've even penetrated professional hockey, as Friedman shows in an eye-opening chapter ("Federal authorities have come to fear that the NHL is now so compromised by Russian gangsters that the integrity of the game itself may be in jeopardy").
Red Mafiya benefits from a breezy narrative in detailing a master criminal operation whose influence on the United States is growing rapidly. Russian mobsters already have siphoned off millions of dollars in foreign aid meant to prop up their country's economy--and they may have a more direct impact on American national security concerns in the years ahead: "The Russian mob virtually controls their nuclear-tipped former superpower," writes Friedman. Now, there's a scary thought. Lifting the Iron Curtain seems to have been a mixed blessing: it let freedom in, and organized crime out. --John J. Miller
Book Description
"In North America alone there are now thirty Russian crime syndicates operating in at least seventeen U.S. cities, most notably New York, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver. The Russians have already pulled off the largest jewelry heist and insurance Medicare frauds in American history, with a net haul exceeding $1 billion. They have invaded North America's financial markets, orchestrating complex stock scams, allegedly laundering billions of dollars through the Bank of New York, and coolly infiltrating the business and real estate worlds.
"The Russians didn't come here to enjoy the American dream," New York state tax agent Roger Berger says glumly. "They came here to steal it." -From the Introduction From an award-winning investigative journalist comes an astonishing exposi of Russian organized crime, its growing power in the United States, and its terrifying implications for the rest of the world.
In the past decade, from Brighton Beach to Moscow, Toronto to Hong Kong, the Russian mob has become the world's fastest-growing criminal superpower. Trafficking in prostitutes, heroin, and missiles, the mafiya poses an enormous threat to global stability and safety. The black-market corruption of the Brezhnev era proved the perfect breeding ground for organized crime. Beginning in the 1970s, Soviet ?migr?s--including a large number of felons and murderers the USSR was happy to get rid of--began arriving in the United States and quickly established themselves as a major criminal force in New York, Las Vegas, and elsewhere. But it was the breakup of the Soviet Union that made the
Russian mob what it is today. In a weakened, impoverished Russia, it quickly became the dominant power. And it has now spread to every corner of the United States, infiltrating its banks and brokerage firms--and American law enforcement is just waking up to this enormous problem. No journalist in the world knows more about the Russian mob in America than Robert Friedman. At great risk to himself, he has made connections with a number of top criminals who have gone on record about their activities for the first time. The result of his discoveries is a revelation: the Red Mafiya is everywhere. The implications--for law enforcement, the economy, foreign policy, for the American people themselves--are staggering."
Customer Reviews:
Good information, poorly organized.......2007-10-04
An account of the Russian Mafiya is an daunting task that requires a great deal of research. While I have no doubt that many of the statements in this book are true, the book suffers from a terrible lack of organization. It seems as though Friedman decided to write this book in a stream-of-conscious format. The format problem is damaging to the credibility of the book because it can confuse readers.
The evolution of the Russian Mafiya, which is located at the conclusion of chapter 5, should really open the book. Instead, Friedman jumps right into a prison interview with little primer before the important text. The main thesis alleges that the KGB stashed much of the money after the fall in the Soviet Union in as many places as possible. Among these places was organized crime, which has been diversifying since the 1970's. The problem was exacerbated when the Soviet Union fell. And because many of these Russian are Jewish, they seek asylum in Israel.
One of the move informative chapters discusses the extortion practices that mafiya associates exhibited with Russian NHL player. The media seems woefully unaware of any problem. This chapter is toward the middle of the book, sandwiched between prison interviews, illegal schemes, and biographies of members. The format left me with little frame of reference or time line regarding this developing problem. The book could benefit from a return to an editor.
Very Factual and in NO WAY anti semitic........2007-08-07
Contrary to some of the comments mentioned by those giving this book low marks; this book is extremely accurate and in NO WAY anti semitic. Some stated that this book was anti semitic because it did not talk about the good side of the Russian-Jew Imagre. NEWS FLASH!!! This book is about the Russian Mob! The book is about BAD GUYS! Who says the author has to talk about the honest and good Russian-Jew imagre?? Secondly those who said the content was embellished or un-believable obviously do not have any knowledge on the subject of the Russian Mafia. Myself being involved in law enforcement at the state and federal level for 23 years, I can attest that nothing is sensationalized in this book. As for the person who claimed to have been written about in the book.. GIVE ME A BREAK!
for lack of "0" star option.......2007-04-29
Bottom line: this is not what you'd expect - 90's Russian mafia in the West stories. I was duped into... by the title 7 years ago... and pissed of by the good reviews which I saw now.
The great robbing of Russia and the spill-overs into the world have nothing to do with the hoodlum stories of this book.
Publishers do that: once a topic gets media attention... publish anything related.
CRAP!
Quite Shocking!.......2006-10-07
This is quite shocking of how the mafia is able to buy off members of both major political parties in the U.S. along with other Western nations such as Israel. I would also recommend reading Double Cross about Sam and Chuck Giancana the two mafia bosses whom had the Kennedys in their pockets.
Inciteful and Highly Readable.......2006-05-12
A real eye-opener. Friedman writes about some pretty ruthless, cruel people. I don't know how the author could have possibly obtained all the information that he did; he is a brave man. I hope he's still alive, and will be amazed if he is, given the nature of the people about whom he has written. Friedman describes Russian Mafiya types operating in Toronto, near to where I live -- very unnerving. Mind you, if you live in NYC, Miami, Denver, San Francisco or Los Angeles, you are not alone...
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