Book Description
Brad Schiller's text, The Economy Today, 10/e, is noted for three great strengths: readability, policy orientation, and pedagogy. His accessible writing style engages students and brings some of the excitement of domestic and global economic news into the classroom. Schiller emphasizes how policymakers must choose between government intervention and market reliance to resolve the core issues of what, how, and for whom to produce. This strategic choice is highlighted throughout the full range of micro, macro, and international issues. Every chapter ends with a policy issue that emphasizes the markets vs. government dilemma. And Schiller packs his chapters with the facts of economic life—real stories and applications, not fables. This is a book that teaches economics in a relevant context with careful pedagogy. It is also the only principles text that presents all macro theory in the single consistent context of the AS/AD framework. Schiller 10e is for students motivated by real-world policy issues who want to become economically literate. This is a book students actually READ. Schiller is also known for its cutting-edge and current coverage of today’s issues.
Customer Reviews:
slightly biased..........2007-05-02
Schiller definitely covers the info you need to know. There are more than a few points in the book, however, where he puts forth his opinion of certain fiscal policy decisions as an outright fact - he even coughs up a few graphs and charts to back himself up.
I would bet my next 16 paychecks that Bradley Schiller is a die-hard republican. His political leanings are up to him, but a textbook is hardly the place to be putting forth biased political opinions, whether you agree with them or not. If you have an econ class that requires this book, keep an eye out for anything that seems like it might not be a fact - they are incredibly subtle.
Macroeconomics Class.......2005-10-02
This was the same book as 9th edition w/just a few different pictures a little more up to date current events. I could have used the 9th edition
easy to understand and well written - but be cautious.......2003-06-29
Be cautious because the author is opinionated about certain controversial issues, and he puts them forth as fact. I even question the way he uses some graphs and analyses; some of them are so in depth, that I really don't have the time to break them down and expose what I think are fallacies - I dont' have the luxury of that kind of time! With that said, however, I have definitely learned a lot from this book. I am very impressed with the authors ability to explain some pretty complicated areas of economics in a manner that should be easy to understand by all. He is even at times funny, which is nice. You will learn a lot from this book - just be sure to read critically and don't take everything he says as fact!
Highly recommended reference book.......2002-01-28
A very thorough overview of macro and micro economic issues, principles and policies. This book is well suited to the un-initiated seeking to gain a better insight into the world of economics and economic theory. Jargon is well explained and the authors do not assume that you necessarily have any background knowledge and build up the theory in a very logical way. I appreciated the chapter summaries and the key issues highlighted in the margins. I found the book very useful in my MBA studies and found that it has stimulated further interest and a better understanding of the subject.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
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History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III
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ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Book Description
Brad Schiller's text, The Microeconomy Today, 10/e, is noted for three great strengths: readability, policy orientation, and pedagogy. His accessible writing style engages students and brings some of the excitement of domestic and global economic news into the classroom. Schiller emphasizes how policymakers must choose between government intervention and market reliance to resolve the core issues of what, how, and for whom to produce. This strategic choice is highlighted throughout the full range of micro, macro, and international issues. Every chapter ends with a policy issue that emphasizes the markets vs. government dilemma. And Schiller packs his chapters with the facts of economic life—real stories and applications, not fables. This is a book that teaches economics in a relevant context with careful pedagogy. Schiller 10e is for students motivated by real-world policy issues who want to become economically literate. This is a book students actually READ. Schiller is also known for its cutting-edge and current coverage of today’s issues.
Book Description
Brad Schiller's text, The Macroeconomy Today, 10/e, is noted for three great strengths: readability, policy orientation, and pedagogy. His accessible writing style engages students and brings some of the excitement of domestic and global economic news into the classroom. Schiller emphasizes how policymakers must choose between government intervention and market reliance to resolve the core issues of what, how, and for whom to produce. This strategic choice is highlighted throughout the full range of micro, macro, and international issues. Every chapter ends with a policy issue that emphasizes the markets vs. government dilemma. And Schiller packs his chapters with the facts of economic life—real stories and applications, not fables. This is a book that teaches economics in a relevant context with careful pedagogy. It is also the only principles text that presents all macro theory in the single consistent context of the AS/AD framework. Schiller 10e is for students motivated by real-world policy issues who want to become economically literate. This is a book students actually READ. Schiller is also known for its cutting-edge and current coverage of today’s issues.
Customer Reviews:
Terrible Quality.......2007-03-06
I've just started to try and read this book as part of my MBA, however the book is of terrible production quality. The pages are all out of order, and some are falling out as I turn over the pages. If you have this book mandated as part of a course as I did, you'll just have to live with it, otherwise choose another book that you don't have to hop around in just to get the pages in order.
Great place to order books online!.......2007-02-28
I received my book very quickly and it was in great condition.
Not much glue.......2006-07-22
Although the concepts are presented in a fairly understandable way, they are not tied together well for someone new to macroeconomics. Particularly annoying are the missing variable definitions for formulas. With Barron's as a supplement, it makes more sense.
Macroeconomy Today.......2000-04-14
This textbook is quite a comprehensive of introductory macroeconomics. Great graphs, well-explained, carefully thought out. The one downside is that it is quite idealistic, as one would expect of a neo-classical economist. The author does not recognize flaws in the theories nor does he acknowledge that the real world is not so cut-and-dry and ordered as we would be led to believe. However, as stated before, this is a wonderful introductory text for anyone who wants to understand the economy today.
Book Description
"Impressive... This is an evidence-based bottom-up account of the realities of globalisation. It is more varied, more subtle, and more substantial than many of the popular works available on the subject." -- Financial Times
Based on a five-year study by the MIT Industrial Performance Center, How We Compete goes into the trenches of over 500 international companies to discover which practices are succeeding in today’s global economy, which are failing –and why.
There is a rising fear in America that no job is safe. In industry after industry, jobs seem to be moving to low-wage countries in Asia, Central America, and Eastern Europe. Production once handled entirely in U.S. factories is now broken into pieces and farmed out to locations around the world. To discover whether our current fears about globalization are justified, Suzanne Berger and a group of MIT researchers went to the front lines, visiting workplaces and factories around the world. They conducted interviews with managers at more than 500 companies, asking questions about which parts of the manufacturing process are carried out in their own plants and which are outsourced, who their biggest competitors are, and how they plan to grow their businesses. How We Compete presents their fascinating, and often surprising, conclusions.
Berger and her team examined businesses where technology changes rapidly–such as electronics and software–as well as more traditional sectors, like the automobile industry, clothing, and textile industries. They compared the strategies and success of high-tech companies like Intel and Sony, who manufacture their products in their own plants, and Cisco and Dell, who rely primarily on outsourcing. They looked closely at textile and clothing to uncover why some companies, including the Gap and Liz Claiborne, choose to outsource production to foreign countries, while others, such as Zara and Benetton, base most operations at home.
What emerged was far more complicated than the black-and-white picture presented by promoters and opponents of globalization. Contrary to popular belief, cheap labor is not the answer, and the world is not flat, as Thomas Friedman would have it. How We Compete shows that there are many different ways to win in the global economy, and that the avenues open to American companies are much wider than we ever imagined.
SUZANNE BERGER is the Raphael Dorman and Helen Starbuck Professor of Political Science at MIT and director of the MIT International Science and Technology Initiative. She was a member of the MIT Commission on Industrial Productivity, whose report Made in America analyzed weaknesses and strengths in U.S. industry in the 1980s. She lives in Boston , Massachusetts.
Customer Reviews:
Nice one.......2006-02-26
A real page turner, plenty of insight into outsourcing and globalisation, very impressive piece of work!
We Should Not Accept Second-Best Ever!.......2006-02-20
In the boom years of mass consumption after WWII, the vertically integrated companies flexed all their muscles. Giants like RCA, IBM, Levi Strauss, and Volkswagen coordinated all the functions from research and development to distribution within their own control in the company. "For the first time in history, a great number of complex manufactured goods, like automobiles, refrigerators, canned foods, bicycles, and radio and television sets, became affordable for people with ordinary earnings."
In this book, they attempt to report on what the team learned about constraints and strategic choices in the global enonomy. "As far as I know, this is the first large-scale analysis of globalization that starts with a view from the trenches -- the people under great pressure to respond to new challenges in hundreds of companies around the world." If all manufacturing leaves America, can research, design, and services be far behind?
Firms locate production abroad or contract out to foreign manufacturers to get the cheap labor. It doesn't matter that the quality is poor and not up to standard. "Finding workers at lower wages is the main concern." Who makes Dell computers and where? The December 19, 2004, 'New York Times' article quoted Kevin Rollins as saying that "Dell makes them in the United States." They even moved a production group to Nashville, Tennessee. "None is outsourced; none is made in other countries and shipped in." It has been pointed out that Dell laptops are assembled abroad." In 2005, 'Fortune' named Dell "America's most admired company." Ms. Berger maintains that "the only operation that take place in Dell factories in the United States are those involved with final assembly -- in other words, screwing in the parts and burning in the software options selected by the customer" and that Dell outsources all the manufacturing of the components which are included in its computers.
Lenova Group Ltd. may be the world's third-largest computer maker after acquiring IBM's personal computer business, but it's a household name only in China. It provided an Internet cafe in the Olympic Village at Torino with free access to thirty-four computers for email service for the athletes and trainers. NBC's Olympic crew leased 1,000 Lenova notebook and desktop computers. Because of this exposure and the expensive sponsorship, its aim is recognition as a worldwide brand.
Global trade has railroads humming again. The right train of thought can take you to a better station in life. Norfolk Southern is leading the way. As manufacturing moved abroad, more finished goods needed to crisscross the country from ports. In the 20th century, train engines, railroad cars, and thousands of miles of railroad tracks were all Norfolk Southern needed to reach prosperity. With the assistance of University of Tennessee as a key management tool to a broader understanding of the global logistics economy, Norfolk Southern is now more integrated in the global supply chain.
Many of their trains are reassembled at the John Sevier Yard where my dad worked in the Fifties for the Southern Railway. Norfolk Southern who bought them out operates in twenty-two states and Canada, employing 30,000 people with Knoxville as a key hub because of its location and the CSX local Railroad. Sourcing of parts and materials is more global not only on a 21,000 mile cross-country route, but the Asian products headed to the Midwest will use Eastern ports like Norfolk, Virginia.
At present, six major U. S. ports including Miami, Florida, are being used by Arab Emirates businesses which merged with a subsidiary of a London-based firm purchased by Durai Ports Wrold for $6.8 billion to allow direct access to American soil. Medicare is already substituting generic medicines manufactured in Israel and Germany in its new drug "insurance" whereby the American patient has no say in the matter. And it is not free! Competing globally for manufactured goods is one thing but putting the American population, especially the fragile elderly, at risk for chemical warfare -- or national security -- is another matter.
Previously, I reviewed Thomas Friedman's THE WORLD IS FLAT which this author takes a differing opinion. She says that he claims "talented individuals from all over the world are now competing on a level playing field." She advocates that our world is still round. When MIT came out with another study, "Made in America" in 1988, "we learned about senior corporate delegations making visit after visit to Japanese plants to fathom the secrets of Japanese success." The Toyota and Nissan plants were built in Smyrna, Tennessee, and Lexington, Kentucky, and Detroit lost some of its automobile production to Spring Hill, Tennessee. Now, the digital companies have decided on Middle Tennessee to relocate.
This is a five-year study by a dozen (nine men, three women) MIT Industrial Performance Center Globalization Team of which the author was a member. She teaches political science at MIT and was also in the group which produced the earlier study, "Made in America." Established in 1991, the IPC is headed by Richard K. Lester. There is a group picture on page 335 of the illustrious group which has now decided "How We Compete." I say, we don't!
They Can't See it Coming!.......2006-01-21
More than two million jobs disappeared from the U.S. between '01 and '04 - half a million in high-tech industries alone. Further, Steven Roach, chief economist at Morgan Stanley, estimates that there have been about 8 million fewer jobs in the current recovery than would have been expected from prior history, and most of the new jobs come with low wages and few benefits.
Berger knows these numbers have caused a rising fear that no American job is safe from low-wage countries. To discover whether these fears are justified, Berger and a group of MIT researchers visited over 500 workplaces and factories around the world. Their conclusion is that cheap labor is not the answer.
This conclusion is currently true in some instances; however, the authors fail to see that cheap labor (the "China price") is increasingly dominating decision-making - both in services and manufacturing. Jobs that formerly were not candidates for outsourcing (finance, market research, industrial design, computer systems design, paralegal research, reading X-rays) now are; strategies that previously fought off Asian alternatives often fail to work several years later as China and India adopt new techniques; in fact the authors often cite previously highly successful American companies that subsequently succumbed.
G.M. and Ford are additional examples where this may yet happen - despite years of world-leadership. Part of their problem was believing that they could let Japan have the low-cost market - this worked for awhile, but now Toyota et al have applied the lessons learned in that market segment, and leveraged their distribution etc. systems on to producing competitive SUVs and innovative hybrids as well. Meanwhile, Toyota sees Korea and China as its most formidable future challenges, and despite its vaunted Toyota Production System, maintaining direct control throughout all stages (so does Microsoft, but that hasn't kept it from substantial outsourcing to India), and co-locating with suppliers, is seriously looking at China. Remember Visteon and Delphi (Ford and G.M.'s former parts arms)? Spinning them off was supposed to encourage more companies to utilize them, and it worked - for a time. Today's successes are far too often ephemeral!
To be fair, the authors also point out that studies and analyses on the impact of outsourcing reach conclusions all over the map. However, I think the most accurate (and certainly highly credible) conclusion is that of former MIT economist (and Nobel prize-winner) Paul Samuelson - globalization should increase the world's total income and average standard of living, but there's no reason to think any particular country or region's advances will outweigh its losses.
Berger, et al, also go on to recommend substantially improving American education. The "bad news" is that this has been tried for at least 30 years, with little impact. Further, others have determined that Asian IQs average about ten points over that of American whites. Regardless, what difference would improving education make, even if we did achieve equality with Asian outcomes, when the workers are paid but a fraction of Americans?
Berger does mention the rationale for foreign corporations choosing to continue building millions of cars in the U.S. - laws requiring U.S. content. Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes, BMW, Subaru, VW and others have built large plants in the U.S. as a result of this act. However, the authors fail to recognize this as a potentially strong and viable overall solution to the hollowing of America.
Another important omission is the problem of outsourcing large numbers of jobs to illegals within this country - in fact, Berger et al reference a situation involving such as a solution! Estimates are that AT LEAST nine million illegals from Mexico are here - depressing wage levels and stealing jobs that Americans formerly did. And what about the large number of Canadian truck drivers within the U.S. - soon to be augmented by Mexicans. (There are NO American truck drivers in Mexico that I know of, and very few that I've seen in Canada.) Then there is the self-inflicted problem of L1 and H1B visas bringing hundreds of thousands more, albeit legally. While technically not "outsourcing," the impact of each of the preceding is the same.
Another thought from some "experts" is that sending off the lower-level jobs allows the U.S. to focus on "higher level" jobs such as innovation. That's ridiculous for at least two reasons: 1)Manufacturing, for example, involves more than drilling, welding, molding, etc. It also involves design, production management, production layout, machine design, etc. These are NOT low-level jobs, nor is operating highly technical equipment. 2)How are all the displaced workers going to become eg. biomedical researchers, rocket scientists, etc.? (Oh yes, the Chinese and Indians are moving into those areas also; I have encountered a number of Americans who took recommended training in new areas after being "outsourced" from a long-term occupation only to become outsourced again.)
Also missing from "How We Compete" is any discussion and recommendation on healthcare. Auto manufacturers repeatedly claim that having to pay healthcare for their employees adds $1,000+ cost to each car - creating government-funded universal healthcare like other nations would help save jobs in America.
"How We Compete" address an important topic - however, its focus on CURRENT approaches (vs. trends) results in conclusions that are seriously over-optimistic. (Inadequate analysis by Berger and others helps explain the maze of contradictory conclusions on this topic; political and economic motivations of short-sighted clients are additional drivers.) Eight million jobs here, nine million there, etc., etc. - it adds up and hurts a lot. Meanwhile, America's competitive status declines daily and our government does little or nothing in defense.
Customer Reviews:
A must for crossborder security professionals.......2005-10-10
I have read this book twice, it was different than anything I have ever seen before. The author uses security generically, blending physical security and information security. Most people do not do that, but I think Patterson is simply a year or two ahead of his time.
The first 1/3 of the book was a bit of a waste for me, sort of a know thyself without little exercises. Then you hit the good stuff.
All Americans should read page 105 at least twice. This is also where the value of this book becomes apparent, I will read this section at least one more time. I don't know how much credence I would put in the Mapping Security Index (MSI), where the author tries to quantify the ROSI of doing business in a particular part of the world or another, but the annecdotal bits are great. I have a much better understanding of why my own company has had such an odd experience doing business in Europe.
If you are an American and you have an IT security position with a company doing business in the wider world ( and who doesn't) then I recommend this book. I also recommend a movie called the Coca Cola Kid. It is a bit off color, but it can really help explain why we make the mistakes we make.
Excellent resource for doing global information security.......2005-05-31
Creating an effective information security infrastructure for a large multi-national company is a challenge. Above and beyond the technology, the software, and the hardware, there are non-tangibles, specificially the cultures and laws where the security solutions, people, and technology will be deployed. Deploying technology without considering the local environment and culture is a sure-fire way to undermine a project.
Today's technology infrastructure is getting more and more complex. Companies are more global with more porous borders. Outsourcing is increasing dramatically, creating an additional need to understand the cultures in the remote locations.
Given all that, Mapping Security: The Corporate Security Sourcebook for Today's Global Economy is a valuable guidebook to deploying information security outside of the United States. Author Tom Patterson is a former Big 4 Information Security partner whose job responsibilities saw him living abroad for much of his adult life. The book is not so much a network security title, but rather a guide to performing the business of security across various cultural and physical borders. Mapping Security is management-level source book for companies and organizations that do - or plan to do - business outside of the United States. Patterson takes his years of living abroad, his successes and his failures, his war stories, and his challenges, and maps them into a usable framework so the reader can better deploy an information security program.
In the book, Patterson details the various opportunities and challenges in each geographic sector across the globe and provides security best practices, rules, and customs for 30 countries. Patterson does a good job of explaining how and where Americans are often perceived to be arrogant by having a overly U.S.-centric view of things.
The book is divided in three parts. Part 1 details the manner in which an effective information security infrastructure can be developed. Chapters 1 through 7 show the necessary steps to building an effective security culture. The book, especially Part 1, is focused not so much on specific technology but rather the processes in which to develop such a security infrastructure.
The heart of the book is in Part 2 where Patterson details his Mapping Security Index (MSI). The function of the MSI is to provide the reader with a metric to determine how an organization can perform security functions in a different country. The book has an MSI for 30 countries, but it does not detail every country, only those where U.S.organizations are likely to do business.
Peterson's expertise comes from living abroad extensively and bringing to the table how business should be done in whatever country you are dealing with. Two of the countries with the highest MSI are Netherlands (90) and Canada (93), with Russia (26) and Saudi Arabia (32) at the bottom. The main advantages of the Netherlands and Canada are that they both have a safe, stable, and effective infrastructure in which to build an information security organization.
Russia, on the other hand, while having a strong technical outsourcing potential has a legal and technical infrastructure that is significantly lacking. Additionally, most other business services are not yet on par with the rest of the region. As to Saudi Arabia, Patterson notes that while it provides a growing domestic marketing, it is an extremely difficult security partner to deal with and has very little cross-border activity. There is extremely little opportunity for women when it comes to the region. He notes that it is practically impossible for women to do business there and observes that "surrendering gender equity is simply the cost of doing business in Saudi Arabia".
Part 3 of the book deals with that challenge of mapping various laws and regulations from different countries. Part of the challenge and headache is dealing with laws from different countries that are contradictory. For example, one country might require an organization to capture and report customer information, while another country forbids it. The question becomes whose law do you break? That is not an easy question to answer, but it is one that needs to be considered.
The author notes that security standards and regulations are the biggest drivers for security around the world and a misstep in dealing with regulations can create the scenario where one could face business impairments, fines, or even prison.
Overall, Mapping Security: The Corporate Security Sourcebook for Today's Global Economy is a very valuable reference guide for anyone who needs to deal with information security in different countries and cultures. By relating security to the international community, the book enables the reader to avoid making those mistakes that can sink a security project.
Patterson has a keen business insight, and the book provides many of his war stories (from illegal barbeques in Germany to an innocuous racial fax paus in South Africa). The book is not overly technical in nature and is both entertaining and informative. For anyone that plans to deploy security outside of the United States Mapping Security should be required reading.
great security book!.......2005-05-26
Mapping Security is a book written by a security expert who travels the world.
Great info you won't find anywhere else.
Critical reading for global organizations..........2005-05-23
If you're doing business internationally, IT security might be more of a nightmare than you know. This book does an excellent job of helping you through the mine fields... Mapping Security - The Corporate Security Sourcebook For Today's Global Economy by Tom Patterson.
Chapter List:
Part 1 - Charting A Course: Why You Picked Up This Book; Establishing Your Coordinates; Building The Base; Enabling Business And Enhancing Process; Developing Radar; Constant Vigilance
Part 2 - Reality, Illusion, And The Souk: Europe; The Middle East And Africa; The Americas; Asia Pacific; Outsourcing And Your Map
Part 3 - Whose Law Do I Break?: Mapping Solutions; Mapping Law; Mapping Technology; Mapping Culture; Mapping Your Future; Local Security Resources By Country; Index
Patterson takes an approach to global technology security that I've never seen before. He talks about how differing countries, laws, and cultures can all conspire against you when it comes to maintaining (legally!) security for a global organization. Conceptually you probably know that not all laws are the same as the ones in the United States, but you may not know or understand just how different they are. For example, if you have a server in France running an HR or a payroll system and you back up the data to a server outside of the country, guess what? You're in violation of French data security laws. It's that easy...
Part 2 of the book was very interesting. He takes some of more significant countries in terms of global and cross-border commerce and scores them with an index value that takes a number of security issues into consideration. You'll learn that every country, no matter how cheap or technologically adept they are, have significant hindrances that could make or break your business if you're not prepared to deal with them. Language is a major issue, as well as nationality. Even though you may be opening up shop in a country that speaks English, you can usually count on the fact that sending an American over to tell them how to run the security is a bad idea. You need to be able to partner with a local firm or find someone from the country to handle the day-to-day issues in order to make sure all is running well. Patterson covers this and a lot more in the book, and it's actually interesting reading, too. He keeps the conversation with the reader moving along at a decent pace, along with interspersing little sidebars on cross-cultural issues that you may never have considered.
IT security professionals who work for global organizations or who have outsourced operations will do well to pick up a copy of this book to make sure they are abiding by all the laws that could affect them. The book's far cheaper than fines that could be levied by the country whose laws you break.
Out of the ordinary census of international security.......2005-05-12
I'm really impressed by this book. It's a summarization of a lot of valuable research that you can find nowhere else. Which to me is the definition of a great book. The authors take us on a world tour and give us background on the security concerns in all of the different countries. It's fascinating, insightful and even funny at times. A must have for anyone doing applications business globally.
Customer Reviews:
This Book is Awful!.......2006-09-20
I agree with darkeyes, this book is terrible!
The author does assume that we will understand and have prior knowledge of formulas that aren't even listed in the book!
You know what? I am a 24 year old college student. I haven't had Algebra in 4 years! And even if I had taken it last semester, it is unfair to assume that students will recall which formulas go with each problem. Not only does the book not provide them, but the teacher's manual doesnt even proovide them, and I know because I have seen his book. Second, the problem sets in the back of the book are not EXPLAINED anywhere! THIS TEXT IS HONESTLY AWFUL!
Totally updated and relevent........2006-08-28
This book was a great addition to my on-line microeconomics course. They use really current business information and real-life examples to make is easier to understand. The problems are challenging. You should have a basic understanding of charts and graphs before economics though.
Not the best book for at home reader.. .......2006-07-15
This was a required book for my Microeconomics class. Unfortunately it's an online class. Therefore, I had to read the book at home. The economics graphs and equations weren't explained well on this book. The author expected us to know how stuff works before reading his graphs (and there isn't much explanation on the book about it). My instructor gives us exams based on the equations and graphs which made it even harder. I wouldn't recommend this book for at home reader or online students.
Book Description
Brad Schiller's text, The Microeconomy Today, 9/e, is noted for its three great strengths: readability, policy orientation, and pedagogy. His accessible writing style engages students and brings some of the excitement of domestic and global economic news into the classroom. Schiller emphasizes how policymakers must choose between government intervention and market reliance to resolve the core issues of what, how, and for whom to produce. This strategic choice is highlighted throughout the full range of micro, macro, and international issues. Every chapter ends with a policy issue that emphasizes the markets vs. government dilemma. And Schiller packs his chapters with the facts of economic life-real stories, not fables. This is a book that teaches economics in a relevant context and with careful pedagogy. Schiller 9e is for students motivated by real-world policy issues who want to become economically literate. This is a book students actually READ. Schiller is also known for its cutting-edge and current coverage of today’s issues.
Customer Reviews:
Microeconomy for undergraduate.......2001-01-26
Excellent feature of this book is the aplication part that shows real impacts or examples of theory in reality. I have bought this book to accompany my Economics by Collander and it was good choice. If you want to test your knowledge - buy yet Economic Concepts (ISBN 0070455910). You will do the best for your understanding.
Average customer rating:
|
Economy Today (Text)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0072826355 |
Product Description
Hardcover McGraw-Hill Companies, The April 2002
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