Book Description
Today’s managers and investors are bombarded with so many conflicting economic reports and data that it seems impossible to know which way the market will turn until it’s too late. Now, a thirty-five year Wall Street veteran enables managers and investors to stop relying on conventional economic forecasts (which are usually wrong), and confidently analyse how the market will impact their industry, business, or stocks. The author unveils his proven forecasting model—based on just a few key economic indicators—for identifying major directional changes in the economy and adjusting business and investing strategies accordingly. A simpler and more pragmatic approach to forecasting: user-friendly approach draws from empirical observation and first-hand practice rather than abstract economic theories Great timing: will appeal to the many business people and investors who got burned in the dotcom bust because they didn’t see the downturn coming Proven model developed by a bonafide Wall Street sage: Ellis is widely respected as a sage when it comes to analysing economic trends based on over three decades as a successful Wall Street analyst Novel, counterintuitive, accessible: goes against the grain of common wisdom about what really drives the economy and makes practical tools available to a wide audience of practitioners for the first time Appendix B in the book specifically relates the methodology in the main section of the book to possible application in the UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Japan
Customer Reviews:
Take bashing by the theorists wth a grain of salt.......2007-07-22
Another reviewer remarked that this book did not pass the Statistics 101 test. It is true that Ellis provides no supporting data for his ideas.
However, in some of my own work I did find considerable support for one important aspect of the Ellis approach: his suggestion that readers ignore quarterly or monthly percent changes and focus instead on year over year changes.
I, too, look at data year over year. I did not work with the exact same data sets Ellis discusses, but among the sets I did use, I noticed that multi-factor models of stock, bond and commodity returns against economic series showed t-scores below 1.00 when the variables were expressed as monthly returns. The theorists who bash Ellis here know that anything below 2.00 should be deemed suspect. But when, I re-cast the same sets of variables on a year-to-year basis, the t-scores jumped above 2.00, in fact, most were above 5.00 and some were above 10.00. That, or course, doesn't "prove" things (correlation vs. causation, curve fitting, yada yada yada). But it does add support to Ellis' claim that going year-to-year, which removes a lot of noise, can be very helpful.
It is not that simple.......2007-07-20
Don't get me wrong, the book has its merits.
It cuts through hundreds of economic indicators to select a few that make economic sense, telling a convincing story (but oversimplified). It will help mostly people with some market experience but lacking enough flying hours in macroeconomic (big-picture) thinking.
Pros :
1 - Acessible to people without an advanced degree, seeking a non-overly-technical introduction to both macroeconomics and its relation to stock market over time.
2 - Explain everything in a intuitive way
3 - Clearly tells his perspective of "how" and "why" things happen in economics, however some of the causalities he writes in the book may not be a consensus among economists or professional analysts.
Cons :
1 - Oversimplifies Inflation, foreign trade, budget deficits, the role of politics and expectations, global economics
2 - Overstates the importance of "charting" and lacks even the most basic "statistics 101" test.
3 - Macroeconomic history is a lot more complex than this book tries to show, with different monetary policy periods (keynesians in 60s and 70s - monetarists in 80s), different fiscal policies ("anomalies" in the book), productivity growth, shocks, demographics, wars, etc.
How stock market reacts to economic changes is also not that simple and may confuse even smart (but naive) guys who may think they understood a lot of macro-thinking after reading this book..
Bottom line : Book does not add too much to those already in the field. It's a very good introduction to an average investor seeking more macroeconomic knowledge (big-picture investing), but be *very careful* with oversimplification of economic history, hidden unstable relations between variables and not-that-simple theoretical subjects;
Ahead of the Curve.......2007-07-09
This book describe the how the market work in a very concise and simple way. Fantastic. Also maintain a site of market data update.
clear and sensible.......2007-06-06
I am only about 75% finished, but Mr. Ellis has a clear and simple writing style. His arguments are easy to follow and understand. His analysis and data treatment are compelling. I would recommend this book to a junior market analyst (or home investor who would like to understand market forecasting on year/decade time scales).
This book is definitely worth reading........2006-11-08
The author's approach toward economic data is very refreshing, in that he works quite hard at finding data that is predictive of stock market declines. Just the chapter on the "recession obsession", and why its bad for you makes the whole book worthwhile. It really put a lot of economic numbers in perspective, and made me realize it was actually possible to use economic numbers to your advantage.
I would also add that his writing style is very easy to follow. While it definitely helps if you have some background in economics, it is really not necessary.
Book Description
George Soros Ends the Speculation
"The outcome [of this book] is a summing up of my life's work. . . As I finish the book, I feel I have succeeded."-George Soros from the Preface
Critical praise for Soros on Soros
"If you have ever wanted to sit down for a candid conversation with a phenomenal financial success, George Soros's book provides the opportunity. You will meet a complex man and a first-rate mind."-Henry A. Kissinger
"The best expert on Soros is undoubtedly George Soros! After all, who is better equipped to tell us what he really thinks and how he thinks, a matter of some importance given the fact that he has translated a remarkable personal financial success into a truly generous and historically significant effort to promote postcommunist democracy." -Zbigniew Brzezinski
"The best X-ray of the mind of the master yet." -Barton M. Biggs
"George Soros brings a lot more to the world of finance than the intuition and nerve of a born trader-and in Soros on Soros he's no longer bashful about telling us about it. A philosopher at heart, George attributes his success at investing to a theory of the interaction of reality and human perception. What really drives the man now, with a personal fortune beyond all personal need, is a different kind of strategic investing-investment to build in Eastern Europe the kind of open societies he came to value in his own life." -Paul A. Volcker
Financial guru George Soros is one of the most colorful and intriguing figures in the financial world today. Now in Soros on Soros, readers are given their most intimate and revealing look yet into the life and mind of the one BusinessWeek dubbed, "The Man Who Moves Markets."
Soros on Soros interweaves financial theory and personal reminiscence, political analysis and moral reflection to offer a compelling portrait of the world (and its markets) according to Soros. In an interview-style narrative with Byron Wien, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, and with German journalist Krisztina Koenen, Soros vividly describes the genesis of his brilliant financial career and shares his views on investing and global finance, politics and the emerging world order, and the responsibility of power.
Speaking with remarkable candor, he traces his progress from Holocaust survivor to philosophy student, unsuccessful tobacco salesman to the world's most powerful and profitable trader and introduces us to the people and events that helped shape his character and his often controversial views.
In describing the investment theories and financial strategies that have made him "a superstar among money managers" (The New York Times), Soros tells the fascinating story of the phenomenally successful Soros Fund Management and its $12 billion flagship, Quantum Fund. He also offers fresh insights into some of his most sensational wins and losses, including a firsthand account of the $1 billion he made going up against the British pound and the fortune he lost speculating on the yen. Plus: Soros's take on the devaluation of the peso and currency fluctuations internationally.
He tells of the personal and professional crises that more than once threatened to destroy him and of the personal resources he drew upon to turn defeat into resounding victory. And he explains his motivations for establishing the Soros Foundation and the Open Society Institute through which he worked to build open societies in postcommunist countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Finally, turning his attention to international politics, Soros offers keen insights into the current state of affairs in Russia and the former communist bloc countries and analyzes the reasons behind and likely consequences of the West's failure to properly integrate them into the free world. He also explores the crisis of the ERM and analyzes the pros and cons of investing in a number of emerging markets.
Find out what makes one of the greatest financial wizards of this or any age tick. Soros on Soros is a must read for anyone interested in world finance and international policy.
Customer Reviews:
Truth and myth of a utopian Open Society........2006-09-03
Edward Teller and George Soros shared few common traits; nationality, religion, and globalization. Both were Hungarian, Jewish, hard workers, and stubborn thinkers. Teller dreamed of the Hydrogen bomb and believed earlier that a nuclear explosion might detonate the earth's atmosphere and ends civilization. Even with the fission bomb out-of-reach, Teller was living in the dreamland of the nuclear fusion. Soros is less fortunate in reaching his utopian dream despite his billions. Sociology isn't physics. Soros' players have emotions and beliefs that impact their decisions. The Russian robbers had outsmarted him, as they did with Napoleon and Hitler. Yet, his driven obsession with open society made him repeat the same mistake in Macedonia and Ukraine.
Teller also confronted opponents, yet with like scientific minds and confronting limited physical constraints. Knocking down Oppenheimer was Teller's big chance to keep his status, though never became billionaire. In Soros's realm, there is no known opponent to knock down in order to satisfy his utopian dream of open society. His sense that his efforts might lead to lasting changes on the long term, even in his absence, might well be true. Ideas outlive people, though Soros' generation is unique in many ways.
Soros's basic concepts center on reflexivity, fallibility, far-from equilibrium economy, and open society. His basic tools are economic and mathematical analysis of supply and demand. The greatest challenge to his effort to utilize his tools in achieving open society is the lack of concrete principles for predicting human emotion. Not only the little players like Macedonia, Albania, Iran, and Israel are driven by emotions, but also the American Superpower shares the ailment. Noticeably however, financial investors possess detrimental emotion as well. They must win in the first round or get out before another loss. Soros' judgment on the imbalance of receivables and production in the new Russia is an example of an impatient, selfish, and zealous financier looking merely for his immediate gain.
In his comparison to the sudden decay of the Soviet empire with the British Empire, Soros cannot conceal his wishful desire of a mechanical history. He bitterly blames the West for betraying Mikhail Gorbachev and accuses the latter of being naïve. Yet, he admits that the sick mother of communism could not carry her fetus to full term. His paternal views that eastern European and third world nations need be or anxious to be told what to do when given financial assistance, omit national emotions. Nations have pride as do individuals. Coercive politics might hinder the progress to open society. Past Germany, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, Iraq, Syria, Cuba, and Yugoslavia are examples of how imposing politics perpetuated long conflicts.
Where does his utopian dreaming lead to? The Internet, he claims, is opening society and might seal the death of fascism, communism, and the like. However, anything could happen in the future since our civilization is fueled by energy which is getting scarcer everyday. His assumption that a new scientific breakthrough, such as carbonless extraction of energy from coal, or other innovations that secure renewable energy, could safeguard human civilization from inevitable catastrophe.
Soros' resort to philosophy is driven by his economic undertaking. In order to make financial profit, he has to tackle the emotional factors of key players. Against the common wisdom of history and science, emotional policy-makers are still blundering national treasures and human lives. Defeat or victory in war is still the controlling principal in curtailing stray emotion of nations.
Mohamed F. El-Hewie
Author of
Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training
If you like reading Warren Buffet, you will not like reading George Soros.......2006-05-13
I'll say this first: I am not a genius, and George Soros probably is. The book presented itself in an interesting Q&A format that made it easy to skip around and jump sections. That being said, it was still a struggle to finish.
I did not like this book because it was hard to understand and mostly discussed Soros' high-level theory on investment strategy. His theory, which Mr. Soros is very passionate about, has something to do with the universe always being out of balance. If you are a finance whiz who thrives in theoretical analysis, or if you are a new age guru curious about a billionaire's spiritual mantra, maybe you will like this book.
The Life & Times of Convicted InsideTrader.......2004-05-21
George Soros was convicted of inside trading in December 2002. He engaged in inside trading of Societe General stock.
"Mr Soros and three other defendants, the court found, bought Societe Generale stock when it was cheap, and cashed in their investment when the price rose after the bid became public.
Two other businessmen implicated in the scandal - Edmond Safra and Robert Maxwell - have since died."
Maxwell killed himself after his billion dollar scam/business was exposed. He dove off his huge yacht off the coast of France. He left behind billions in debts and thousands of British workers lost their pensions. Soros is known by the people he associates with.
It is not to hard to "stay ahead of the curve" when you trade with inside information.
For more details - go to the BBC news web site and search for Soros insider trading or Google and type Soros BBC insider trading.
Self indulgent but interesting.......2003-10-24
This is a commissioned book. Basically, a self-indulgent pseudo-autobiography written in an interview style. "my own estimation of myself is more important to me than other people's" (P249)
The interview style makes this work more accesable to the average reader by overcoming the intense, convoluted style of Soros' other writings. It also allows more topics to be covered in less technical detail.
If you want to learn a little about Soros, this is an interesting book with fascinating pearls of wisdom. But don't think of it as an autobiography; rather a rumination on various aspects of his character.
The Man Who Moves Markets.......2003-08-08
This book covers many facets of George Soros's life- his investment philosophy, family history, quantum fund, his own theories of investing, philanthropy, diplomacy, and some of his selected writings. Mr. Soros talks about macroinvesting and how leverage has given the quantum fund greater flexibility than a two dimensional portfolio. He surprisingly admits that he is a very critical person who looks for defects in him as well as others- calls himself an insecurity analyst. Mr. Soros also talks about the tension between his parents and how the Nazi invasion of Hungary influenced him. I would suggest that one read his book, The Alchemy of Finance to learn more about his approach to investing. Classical economic theory assumes market participants act on the basis of perfect knowledge, his philosophy is based on imperfect understanding. The Alchemy of Finance talks in detail about the general theory of reflexivity and boom/ bust theory. Using the sterling crisis, Mr. Soros emphasizes the need for Euro. Karl Popper at LSE influenced him greatly and Mr. Soros invested millions on promoting an open society in Eastern Europe. His foundations have failed in China and Russia. He does not want anything but the Central European University to outlive him. Mr. Soros talks extensively how the west failed the Soviet Union and states that it would have been better had it not collapsed like Yugoslavia It is a must read for anybody interested in philosophy, diplomacy ,and business.
Product Description
People are discovering they are drowning in a sea of tactical activitiesand short-term operational demands. They find themselves left behind when the needs of their customers change. This book will show you how to allocate time and energy to think ahead, add value, and innovate for the future. It addresses the need to carve out time, learn to tame the operational beast, and get our strategic bearing in life.
Customer Reviews:
Another excellent guide/resource to be added to your Strategic Thinking Bookshelf!.......2006-05-28
In the marketplace, there isn't much good books written from the personal strategic thinking standpoint. I can only recall one really good one, & that is, Choosing the Future: The Power of Strategic Thinking by Stuart Wells.
This particular one by the founders of Center for Management Organisation Effectiveness is one I have just recently come across. (The book is apparently based on their Applied Strategic Thinking workshop.) After perusing it, I find it to be an excellent guide/resource, which any interested reader can add to their Strategic Thinking Bookshelf.
Most strategic thinking books focus at the corporate planning &/or boardroom level. Big strategy. The grand plan. Nothing wrong with that. This particular one brings the concept & philosophy of strategic thinking down to the individually applied level, as well as the immediate team, at the front lines. The authors offer an interesting application model which combines 'strategic landscape' with 'strategic dashboard.' This one model is definitely worth exploring.
Unlike most strategic thinking books, the authors don't waste time dwelling into the historical perspectives.
I also like their contextual premise: Effective strategic thinkers focus not on what can't be done, but finding a way to do what must be done.
I really appreciate the authors' strategic way of interpersing the chapters with appropriate graphic icons & provoking quotations as they share real-life experiences, illustrated examples & straigh-forward ctivities & practical tools. These make the reading a quick & easy breeze!
In a nutshell, these are the chapters:
- Introduction to Strategic Thinking;
- Strategic Landscape;
- Strategic Thinking: An Overview of the Fin Art of Practical;
- Tame the Beast;
- Acquire the Target;
- Gather Intelligence;
- Analyse Forces;
- Define Scenarios;
- Chart Course;
- Mobilise & Sustain;
- The Future;
Surprisingly, the authors did not include a bibliography or references at the end of the book. However, they did mention a few other pertinent books in the various chapters.
If you like this book, please feel free to explore the principal author's other books.
This book works!!!.......2005-10-18
This book is for people who want to escape from the "activity trap" and start thinking strategically about all aspects of their lives. For me, the book's strength is its clear-cut, seven-step model for thinking, planning and acting strategically. The book contains a lot of practical examples that I found very beneficial. I believe "Ahead of the Curve" is intended for people who want to have greater success in the future.
Ahead of the curve is ahead of the curve!.......2005-09-27
The best book I have ever read regarding strategic thinking. This book is very well written. It provides new insights to the subject and was well worth the time spent reading it.
AST - Guide to Achieving the Best.......2005-09-22
Want to achieve more than you thought? Have a clearer picture of what the future might bring? Then this is the book for you. Dr. Stowell and Ms. Mead give a model that anyone can use to get on track so that future events don't derail you. It is written in an easy to read format with each element explained and examples given. I rate this as the book to have, both for personal use as well as business.
Applications for the real world - We should ALL be strategic thinkers.......2005-09-21
"Ahead of the Curve; A Guide to Applied Strategic Thinking" by Steven J. Stowell and Stephanie S. Mead is a book that provides excellent tools for team members and leaders at all levels and in any size organization to become more effective strategic thinkers. The authors bring in examples of people who have utilized strategic thinking effectively, which helps increase my ability to apply what I'm reading, making it real. The book reminds (or educates) us that strategic thinkers aren't, or shouldn't be, found only in company boardrooms but throughout every organization, team or group. The model shared in this book has been extremely helpful to me as I strive to make effective decisions in both the personal and professional areas of my life. The "strategic dashboard" element in one section of the model is a highlight and can provide guidance in one of the more challenging but highly impactful areas of thinking strategically, that being the ability to work on the right things or effectively "acquiring the target" thereby increasing the ability to be successful. Having had the opportunity to experience a more in-depth look at the contents of this book through participation in the workshop conducted by the authors as well as having facilitated said workshop, I can enthusiastically state that I have become a much more effective strategic thinker. Leaders I've talked with about the model and the details found in this book have expressed how helpful this has been to them and to their efforts to stay ahead of the many curves that come rushing at all of us in our lives. The future is rushing at us at what seems to be an ever increasing speed. With the help of the authors' applied strategic thinking model and guidance found in this book, we can stay in control and turn the steering wheel well before we're at risk of sliding off the road through the curves life brings our way. While we won't be able to tell the future, the model and guidance in this book can help us be more adept at making decisions that result in bigger and better results. After all, including the word "applied" in the book's title and model isn't an accident; it's all about applying those things that can increase our effectiveness and our efficiency. I highly recommend this book!
Average customer rating:
|
Ahead of the Curve: Cases of Innovation in Environmental Management (Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science)
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Sustainable Development
| Economics
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Natural Resources
| Economics
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Management
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Environmental Science
| Earth Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ecology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Environmental
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Planning & Management
| Environmental
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Chemistry
| Environmental
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Ecology
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Environmental Science
| Earth Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Conservation
| Environment
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Living on the Land
| Ecology
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
| Architecture
| Hunting & Fishing
Industrial
| Engineering
| New & Used Textbooks
| Stores
| Books
General
| Business & Finance
| New & Used Textbooks
| Stores
| Books
Ecology
| Biological Sciences
| Sciences
| New & Used Textbooks
| Stores
| Books
Earth Sciences
| Sciences
| New & Used Textbooks
| Stores
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Business & Investing
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Engineering
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Medicine
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Outdoors & Nature
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Professional & Technical
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Look Inside Business Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0792368045 |
Book Description
While it is generally true that the actions firms take to make them more environmentally friendly are driven by the pressure of government regulation, there are some companies that have been driven by `vision' or expectations to stay ahead of regulatory pressure. The book described how some organisations are going, or have tried to go, beyond current requirements to arrive at more solid environmental achievements. The cases described will thus provide other firms, organisations and policy makers with ideas for innovative environmental responses that lie outside the slowly rising trend of improvements the we currently observe - firms and ideas that are `ahead of the curve'.
The editors and many of the contributors are members of the Greening of Industry network.
Book Description
For 18 years, cartoonist Greg Evans"s popular strip Luann has masterfully captured the essence of the most fundamental truth about being a teenager . . . adolescence is an extremely funny time, except when you are in it.This ever-popular strip chronicles the humorous trials and tribulations of teenager Luann DeGroot. Using a careful blend of one-strip zingers and humorous ongoing story lines, Evans allows readers to peer into a 16-year-old"s life"one filled with homework, heartbreak, and humor.Luann actually gets along with her parents better than the average teenager, as long as they don"t get "all parental," that is. Tolerating her Oreo-chomping brother, Brad, and his wasteland of a bedroom and nasty bathroom habits can be a little more challenging. Brad isn"t the only trying male in her life. There"s also the school brainiac, Gunther"a sweet guy who Luaan likes only as a friend. Unfortunately, Gunther thinks he and Luann are a perfect match. Meanwhile, Luann knows who her ideal mate is: the gorgeous and popular Aaron Hill. Now, if only he know that Luann existed.The secrets of her family challenges and boy troubles are safe with best friend Bernice, the girl who gets straight As and gives Luann the straight truth about life. The anti-Bernice is Tiffany, Luann"s arch-nemesis classmate who exudes plastic popularity and single-handedly destroys half the atmosphere with her hair spray.The charming ensemble cast of Luann is enjoyed by thousands of readers daily, including the 50,000 who visit the Luannsroom.com Web site each day. Luann"s fans include both teenagers who understand where she"s coming from and parents who can appreciate the often-humorous difficulties they face. This collection proves that teen life can be troublesome and hilarious at the same time.
Customer Reviews:
From an innocent but flawed child to a "Girl Power" bimbo........2004-03-14
Now changed from a baby-faced 13-year-old kid to a 16-year-old Barbie doll, Luann looks down on men and older people, has glittery movie fantasies about herself, and chases pretty boys just like any cartoon teensyboppers those days.
Now fewer and fewer people outside the idealized teen group can relate to Luann, who might as well be twin sisters to Tiffany, her once-upon-a-time rival. Heck, it won't be long before she becomes the busty, short-skirted captain of a cheerleading squad and a prom queen with her boy toy, the elusive Aaron Hill permanently at her side.
So it's goodbye to pathetically low self-esteem and hello to ridiculously sky-high ego.
Luann:The Tv Series.......2003-12-03
there is going to be a tv series of "Luann". the role of "Luann" was turned down by JamieLynn Spears. the younger sibling to pop superstar Britney Spears.
for more info go to:: http:://www.jamielynn.net
Sooo cute.......2003-11-22
This is one the best Luann books. It addresses issues that adolescents go through with refreshing humor. I like how Brad constantly makes fun of Luann and Luann's never-ending boycraziness. I know that my friends sometimes can't stand it when I go on and on about men. I enjoyed this book, however the "connection" between Luann and Stuart never got resolved. It seemed as though he just disappeared. Still worth the read.
You won't laugh........2003-10-14
But that doesn't mean it's too bad of a book. The story line is pretty decent. It's more like a serious strip like Apt. 3-G or Brenda Starr, but with a saracastic teenager. Just don;t expect to laugh and you should be ok with this book.
Luann needs fans!.......2002-04-05
Luann has been around for the amount of years that her now age is! the 16 year old is by far the greatest comic to be made, okay actualy peanuts is, but that's hard to top! we need fans to buy luann so creator, greg evans can release more editions and allow us to see her grow up from 1985 to now. if you havent purchased luann: the plunge please do, and if u have please purchase "passion, outrage, betrayal!"
Book Description
Shane Crotty's biography of David Baltimore details the life and work of one of the most brilliant, powerful, and controversial scientists of our time. Although only in his early sixties, Baltimore has made major discoveries in molecular biology, established the prestigious Whitehead Institute at MIT, been president of Rockefeller University, won the Nobel Prize, and been vilified by detractors in one of the most scandalous and protracted investigations of scientific fraud ever. He is now president of Caltech and a leader in the search for an AIDS vaccine. Crotty not only tells the compelling story of this larger-than-life figure, he also treats the reader to a lucid account of the amazing revolution that has occurred in biology during the past forty years.
Basing his narrative on many personal interviews, Crotty recounts the milestones of Baltimore's career: completing his Ph.D. at Rockefeller University in eighteen months, participating in the anti--Vietnam War movement, winning a Nobel Prize at age thirty-seven for the codiscovery of reverse transcriptase, and co-organizing the recombinant DNA/genetic engineering moratorium. Along the way, readers learn what viruses are and what they do, what cancer is and how it happens, the complexities of the AIDS problem, how genetic engineering works, and why making a vaccine is a complicated process. And, as Crotty considers Baltimore's public life, he retells the famous scientific fraud saga and Baltimore's vindication after a decade of character assassination.
Crotty possesses the alchemical skill of converting technical scientific history into entertaining prose as he conveys Baltimore's huge ambitions, intensity, scientific genius, attitude toward science and politics, and Baltimore's own view about what happened in the "Baltimore Affair." Ahead of the Curve shows why with his complex personality, keen involvement in public issues, and wide-ranging interests David Baltimore has not only shaped the face of American science as we know it today, but has also become a presence in our culture.
Customer Reviews:
A must read for all budding biomedical scientists!.......2006-04-01
I knew of Baltimore's greatness before reading this book, but this book is more than just a biography. Yes, Crotty does give us a glimpse into the life of one of biology's greatest heroes, but complementarily, Crotty's sanctity is so radiant in this work that you can't help but be inspired. In addition to delivering intellectual nourishment and inspiration, more importantly, the book is written so well that biomedical scientists (like myself)and non-biomedical scientists (like my mother) alike can appreciate the important messages in this work. The story of Baltimore's life is unparalleled, but almost as great is Crotty's presentation of it. This book is a must read for all budding biomedical scientists!
When Baltimore speaks, everyone listens........2003-10-05
I truly enjoyed reading this book on the impressive scientific accomplishments of David Baltimore. I remember being in a relatively informal seminar at MIT when he gave a short introduction to the science that was to be presented that evening. His presence commanded awe and respect---almost always expected from someone with outstanding credentials.
The book is good not just for examining Baltimore's exponential rise to scientific stardom but also for getting a seminal idea on the development of the fields of virology, molecular biology, and immunology. Through his work, Baltimore became a unifying force between these seemingly disparate sciences. The author also writes clearly about the political baggage that comes with having such a high profile in biology.
A Must Read!.......2001-05-11
The author weaves a wonderful overview of the early history of molecular biology with the achievements of David Baltimore's life. We are given a great deal of insight not only about his groundbreaking research and accomplishments but also personal qualities and passion for life outside of science.
This is a great book for both biologists and those with simply an interest in biology. The scientific information is easy to comprehend without being oversimplified.
Some works of non-fiction can take a long time to read, but I finished this book in 2 days as the story flowed very smoothly. I am definitely looking forward to Shane Crotty's future publications.
Excellent read!.......2001-04-10
This is a great book! I really enjoyed the story of Baltimore's life, and I feel that I learned a lot of science along the way. I definitely feel more qualified to comment on conversations about biology now! I actually picked up this book because I really enjoy biographies, but it has gotten me interested in other science books for amateurs. I hope Crotty writes more soon!
Book Description
In Roads and Curves Ahead : A Trip Through Time with Star Quilts, quilt book author Edie McGinnis presents 24 classic Kansas City Star block patterns that will have you eager to pack your bags for your next vacation! Included are "Road to California," "Wheel of Mystery," "Wild Goose Chase," "Many Roads to the White House," "Chisolm Trail," "Lover's Lane" and many more. Edie also shares some hilarious vacation and travel memories.
Book Description
Ten romantic tales pack suspense and sizzle into a collection of contemporary short stories featuring ample heroines by the Queen of Rubenesque Romances, Pat Ballard. A healthy serving of entertainment and reminder that love comes in all sizes.
Download Description
Ten romantic tales pack suspense and sizzle into a collection of contemporary short stories featuring ample heroines by the Queen of Rubenesque Romances, Pat Ballard. A healthy serving of entertainment and reminder that love comes in all sizes.
Customer Reviews:
Refreshing! Entertaining!.......2004-11-17
Pat Ballard has a refreshing, creative style that, not only entertains the reader, but brings her message of love at any size. The characters in this book of short stories come alive, even though we're only given brief glimpses into their world. I felt like I knew these people and wanted to know more about them when I'd finished their story. Ms. Ballard brings surprise and intrigue into the development of each of her stories. MORE! MORE!
Comment from the publisher.......2004-11-03
I'm sorry to hear a reader was disappointed in the book, although it's a compliment, in a way, to hear someone feels a work is too short, since people often feel that way about good books they'd like to go on reading.
I am puzzled, however, as to how the reader could be surprised that the book contained short stories, since that is the subtitle of the book and is noted in the product description.
The nature of short stories is that they are short. Contemporary literary fiction even contains a subgenre of short stories called "flash fiction" or "sudden fiction" consisting of short stories no more than one page or a few paragraphs long each.
I'm glad the reader enjoyed Pat Ballard's novels, and hope she will appreciate the novel Pat she has just completed, Abigail's Revenge. Pat says it's longer than anything else she has written!
I was very disappointed .......2004-09-13
I normally love Pat Ballards books, but when I got this one in the mail I was so excited because I have loved her other 2-Nobodys perfect and wanted one groom. Little did I know this was a bunch of short stories and believe you and me that is what they are. There was no building relationships b/c after reading the first two short stories, I have basically all of them down to a science. Very Very predictable and yet made me wonder why Pat Ballard would publish such a book not worth reading at all.
Book Description
The most important edge you can develop in becoming a smart investor is knowing how to spot an emerging trend before the pundits are advertising it and everyone jumps on board. As global investment specialist and popular AOL Finance Editor and Money Coach Hilary Kramer knows, picking the stocks that are hot today doesn't give you that edge -- it just makes you part of the pack. Instead you need to learn how to get ahead of the curve, discovering the trends that will lead you to the best up-and-coming companies well before others are on to them. You don't need elaborate calculations or a degree in finance to discover great investment opportunities. As Kramer reveals in this fascinating and indispensable book, the clues are all around you, hiding in plain sight -- you just have to learn the secrets of spotting them as you go about your everyday life.
Offering a wealth of specific examples from her own wildly successful investing career, Kramer divulges the remarkably effective techniques she uses to spot trends: nine powerful yet simple methods for discovering trend indicators all around you. Who would have thought that, in the days of the Atkins diet anti-carb craze, a company called Panera Bread -- now a booming chain -- would be a great investment? Hilary Kramer knew it would be. How did she know, way ahead of the crowd, that Embraer, an aircraft manufacturer located in Brazil, of all places, was becoming a market leader and had great growth potential? She knew how to spot the trend. As she shows, if you follow her simple methods, you, too, will be able to:
Identify reliable market trends early
Spot other, secondary, trends that will be sparked by more obvious trends
Discover the clues in everyday life that will lead you to great growth companies
Evaluate which companies among the competition are the best investments
Recognize when a trend is peaking and it's time to sell
Armed with her time-tested techniques, your own eyes and ears become your most reliable and powerful resources for market-beating wealth creation, not only today but for the rest of your life.
Customer Reviews:
Honest and No Gimmicks.......2007-10-07
I've seen the author on National Business Report and AOL. I liked her recommendations, her candor, and her grounded view of the stock market. I think this book captures all that. It is easy to read, makes you think, provides pragmatic suggestions that are not "too good to be true". I enjoyed the anecdotes and honesty. This book demonstrates that honest financial advice is possible without "shouting" or ridiculous claims. I'll take this "Kramer" over the other "Cramer" anyday!
Hilary is great and I am really enjoying the easy read.......2007-10-06
Hilary is great and I am really enjoying the easy read. I am almost half-way through the book and it's pretty basic but gets you thinking outside of the box, but specifically in the realm of long-term investment ideas. She is very candid and tells personal stories. I am glad I purchased. God bless!
A Wonderful Book!.......2007-09-29
"Ahead of the Curve" is a magnificent book. I am a longtime follower and fan of Hilary's, and I know her personally, and so I can say with a reasonable degree of certainty that she is every bit as intense and passionate about market trends in person as she is in her fabulous first book. The book is most useful for those who want to invest in the stock market. I think it's pretty clear that if you wait until they recommend something on television, that it's probably too late to take full advantage of the company's recent success. Sure the stock may continue to go up a bit, but if you could have figured out what it was going to do before everyone on TV started saying that it was going up, then you would have been in much better shape.
Hilary is well known to AOL subscribers (which includes myself, for better or worse) as the columnist of "Hilary on Stocks". She writes a daily column recommending a different stock, a formidable task especially considering the fact that people can track her success (or failure). She's also a regular speaker on the nationally syndicated radio show Doug Stephan's Good Day, where she talks about stocks and other economic trends. What the book does that you won't get from any of these places is give you an overview of how she keeps "ahead of the curve".
The book is well written and reads like a novel. Doing what she recommends, however, is not a five minute a day activity. Trend tip #5 for example, is be a news junkie, and trend tip #6 is study the stats. For those who do not want to make stock trend spotting their new consuming passion, the book is highly entertaining and gives you a very good insight into how Hilary and possibly other stock analysts make their choices. In the end, you can still rely on them for your actual stock choices. But for the more serious stock investor, the book can potentially help you tremendously to gain insight into how to choose the best stocks, and possibly make lots of money.
Average customer rating:
|
Ahead of the Curve
Manufacturer: Environmental Defense Fund 1990
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000FGYLIG |
Books:
- Alternatives to Economic Globalization
- An Introduction to Efficiency and Productivity Analysis, 2nd Edition
- An Introduction to High-Frequency Finance
- Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing
- Applied Linear Statistical Models
- Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty
- Capital Ideas Evolving
- Casino Operations Management
- China's Global Reach: Markets, Multinationals, and Globalization (Revised and Updated Edition)
- Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish
- In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of
- Construction Print Reading
- CRC Handbook of Processing and Utilization in Agriculture, Part 1: Plant Products
- Elements of Ecology
- Logistic Regression Using the SAS System: Theory and Application
- Hasty Death: An Edwardian Murder Mystery
- Modern Exterior Ballistics: The Launch and Flight Dynamics of Symmetric Projectiles
- Classic Interior Design: Using Period Features in Today's Home
- Computational Neuroscience: Trends in Research 1995