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Big & Tall Chronicles [DOWNLOAD: ADOBE READER]
Morrie: In His Own Words [LARGE PRINT]
Rescuing Jeffrey : A Memoir
Beyond Breast Cancer
Liquid Lover
Home In One Piece
Rites of Passage: My Schizophrenic Youth in Mosaic
The "Sweet" Uses of Adversity
Danny: The Murder of a Man With Down Syndrome
Venus on Wheels: Two Decades of Dialogue on Disability, Biography, and Being Female in America
Inner Vision: The Story of the World's Greatest Blind Athlete
My Life Unraveled
Force a Miracle : Foreword by Mike Ditka
Weep For The Living
Paula (G K Hall Large Print Book Series) [LARGE PRINT]
Reflections on a Life with Diabetes: A Memoir in Many Voices
Past Forgetting : My Memory Lost and Found
Big & Tall Chronicles: Misadventures of a Life Long Food Addict!
Magical Story: A Teenager's Inspiring Battle Over Hodgkin's Disease
My Soul Purpose: Living, Learning, and Healing
Movie Stars and Sensuous Scars: Essays on the Journey from Disability Shame to Disability Pride
Lightning at the Gate
In the Jaws of the Black Dogs: A Memoir of Depression
Blindsided: Lifting A Life Above Illness: A Reluctant Memoir (Thorndike Press Large Print Biography Series) [LARGE PRINT]
The Bullet Meant for Me : A Memoir

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns (Little Book Big Profits)

Average customer rating:

Redundant
Quick and simple introduction to index investing
Good stuff
Excellent
Should be standard text book for High Schools seniors!

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns (Little Book Big Profits)
John C. Bogle
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth Edition
The Little Book of Value Investing
The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing
The Little Book That Beats the Market
Common Sense on Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor

ASIN: 0470102101

Book Description

Investing is all about common sense. Owning a diversified portfolio of stocks and holding it for the long term is a winner’s game. Trying to beat the stock market is theoretically a zero-sum game (for every winner, there must be a loser), but after the substantial costs of investing are deducted, it becomes a loser’s game. Common sense tells us—and history confirms—that the simplest and most efficient investment strategy is to buy and hold all of the nation’s publicly held businesses at very low cost. The classic index fund that owns this market portfolio is the only investment that guarantees you with your fair share of stock market returns.

To learn how to make index investing work for you, there’s no better mentor than legendary mutual fund industry veteran John C. Bogle. Over the course of his long career, Bogle—founder of the Vanguard Group and creator of the world’s first index mutual fund—has relied primarily on index investing to help Vanguard’s clients build substantial wealth. Now, with The Little Book of Common Sense Investing, he wants to help you do the same.

Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, The Little Book of Common Sense Investing will show you how to incorporate this proven investment strategy into your portfolio. It will also change the very way you think about investing. Successful investing is not easy. (It requires discipline and patience.) But it is simple. For it’s all about common sense.

With The Little Book of Common Sense Investing as your guide, you’ll discover how to make investing a winner’s game:

Why business reality—dividend yields and earnings growth—is more important than market expectations
How to overcome the powerful impact of investment costs, taxes, and inflation
How the magic of compounding returns is overwhelmed by the tyranny of compounding costs
What expert investors and brilliant academics—from Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham to Paul Samuelson and Burton Malkiel—have to say about index investing
And much more

You’ll also find warnings about investment fads and fashions, including the recent stampede into exchange traded funds and the rise of indexing gimmickry. The real formula for investment success is to own the entire market, while significantly minimizing the costs of financial intermediation. That’s what index investing is all about. And that’s what this book is all about.

JOHN C. BOGLE is founder of the Vanguard Group, Inc., and President of its Bogle Financial Markets Research Center. He created Vanguard in 1974 and served as chairman and chief executive officer until 1996 and senior chairman until 2000. In 1999, Fortune magazine named Mr. Bogle as one of the four "Investment Giants" of the twentieth century; in 2004, Time named him one of the world’s 100 most powerful and influential people, and Institutional Investor presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Customer Reviews:

Redundant.......2007-06-28

To summarize: Don't waste your money w/active mutual funds, simply purchase the entire stock market via an index fund.

By all means save your $$$ and do not buy this book. The information is simply repeated in each and every chapter.

Quick and simple introduction to index investing.......2007-06-27

John Bogle created the world's first index fund in 1975. In this book, he describes why you should make index funds the core of your investment portfolio.

Bogle starts off with introducing index funds through a parable that describes how middle-man costs in finance eat away at investors' profits. He discusses why speculation doesn't work and why business reality (in his definition, divident yields plus earnings growth) is more important that market expectation (changes in P/E based on what investors are willing to pay for various equities).

Bogle spends a few chapters discussing various problems with regular actively managed mutual funds, covering issues with performance (he asserts that less than 1% of all mutual funds were able to beat the market consistently over the past half century), various costs (expense ratios, sales charges, advertising fees, turnover costs, tax implications), poor market timing, and finally the difficulty of choosing a mutual fund (he states that there's no good way to pick a fund, since we can't foretell the future, and past performance is not an indicator of what's to come). He brings the reader to the "common sense" conclusion that index funds, in their pure simplicity, are the logical choice for any investor, as they provide the diversified return of the entire market with miniscule fees and minimal effort.

The last few chapters cover bond funds, ETFs, and a few pages of investment advice - which boils down to keeping at least 50% (if not all) of your money in broad-market index funds. Interestingly, Bogle spends a chapter discussing what Benjamin Graham would have thought about index funds, citing various quotes from Graham's "The Intelligent Investor" and certain blurbs from Warren Buffet. He, of course, concludes that Graham would have praised index funds.

So, did I like the book? Yep.. it was pretty good. Bogle writes very clearly and visibly tries to keep his discussions simple and to the point, so as to appeal to the widest possible audience. And with good reason! Bogle's advice is very applicable to the many individual investors today - index funds are a great low-cost and low-maintenance way to get your share (or all, as Bogle suggests) of the market's return.

To convince the reader, Bogle uses many diagrams to illustrate returns of various mutual funds vs. index funds, and to compare what your original investment would look like after a certain time - based on how it was invested. I found an error in one of the diagrams - exhibit 10.1 (and the text around it) on page 108 lists the average fund advisor return as $188,500 instead of $88,500. Not a big deal, but it slightly undermines the point he's trying to make on that page. Overall, I feel that Bogle's diagrams illustrate some good harsh realities - he clearly illustrates how a few percentage points (i.e. the costs associated with actively managed mutual funds) can eat away enormous chunks of your money over time.

To bring more authority into his argument, Bogle provides a "Don't Take My Word for It" section at the end of each chapter, where he quotes various respected investors and professors to support the points he made in the chapter. I enjoyed this, but it's important to be aware that some quotes can often be interpreted very differently outside a certain context.

One very obvious issue with this book is that Bogle is selling his own product - Vanguard's funds. He doesn't try to hide this in any way. He uses Vanguard's funds in nearly all examples, and he often hints how his "world's first index fund" is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You can't really blame the man - his contribution to the world of finance and investing is enormous, and he damn well should be proud of his accomplishments. So I think it's okay to cut Bogle some slack in this area.

The book is short - about 215 small-size pages. You can probably sit down and read it in a few solid hours. It also goes pretty quickly, as the material is not dense and easy to follow. However, some may argue that the book is too long for what it is trying to demonstrate. True, Bogle's advice really can be summed in just a few pages - index funds are a great choice for the average investor. But I have to say that I enjoyed reading the examples and history that he provides.

In conclusion, I recommend this book to any individual investor. While Bogle's advice is in no way eye-opening or revolutionary (chances are, you already know that index funds are a very low-cost and low-maintenance way to diversify), it is good to remind yourself the reasons why you should stay away from most actively managed mutual funds. As Bogle describes, this is all common sense - but we're often blinded by flashy advertisements, hot market sectors, and seemingly-reachable dollar signs. This book is a good reality check for the average individual investors.

I wish I could give this book 4.5 stars - but since I can't due to Amazon's rating system, I feel that it is more of a 4-star book rather than a 5-star one. It has solid advice, but it should not be considered the end-all of investing, and some of the advice and quotations should be taken with a grain of salt. Overall, however, it's a great and insightful read. I plan to buy a couple extra copies to give to my family.

Pros:
+ quick and easy read
+ lots of examples and diagrams to demonstrate how high expense ratios and other hidden costs can devastate a portfolio's return
+ some good basic investment advice: buy and hold, avoid emotional decisions, don't be enticed by "new hot trends" (as by the time you find out about them, prices are already inflated), diversify into the whole market, look into costs before buying, etc.
+ great format - short chapters, useful data, neat quotation sections at the end of each chapter

Cons:
- some may be turned off by Bogle's plugs for Vanguard funds (this didn't really bother me)
- may seem lengthy to drive one main point home (but keep in mind that there are quite a few good tid-bits scattered throughout the book)
- take some citations with a grain of salt

Good stuff.......2007-06-15

Easy to read and common sense. Of course the author is plugging his own product (Vanguard index funds) but you can ignore that bit.

M

Excellent.......2007-06-13

Convincing arguments as to why index fund investing is superior to managed mutual fund investing.

Should be standard text book for High Schools seniors!.......2007-06-02

It is grim fact that pentions are going the way of dinosours and every individual must be their own money manager. Most people listening to the noise of Wall Street which is designed to make long boring process of investing look overly exciting for ratings, is making many mistakes which could be costly on the long term. Many do not have the proper financial education and when they do turn to others for help they are often taken advantage of by the brokers (which go by many fancy titles) with expensive and sometimes even inappropriate products which often benefit the seller more than the investor.

John C. Bogle gives a clear direction for investing and makes a very strong case for use of diversified index funds. He also quotes Nobel Laureates, famous investors such as Warren Buffet etc. at the end of each chapter in "Don't Take My Word for It" frames.

It is a great book for someone just learning about investing as well as for those who are recovering from their mistakes and failures.

Other books I would recommend to follow up are:

A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth Edition (Hardcover)
The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio (Hardcover)
Capital Ideas: The Improbable Origins of Modern Wall Street (Paperback)

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

Average customer rating:

The tipping point
pop sociology well marketed
A great read for anybody
Insights on Grass-Roots Influence
Very Interesting Insight

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Malcolm Gladwell
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
The Wisdom of Crowds

ASIN: 0316346624

Amazon.com

"The best way to understand the dramatic transformation of unknown books into bestsellers, or the rise of teenage smoking, or the phenomena of word of mouth or any number of the other mysterious changes that mark everyday life," writes Malcolm Gladwell, "is to think of them as epidemics. Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do." Although anyone familiar with the theory of memetics will recognize this concept, Gladwell's The Tipping Point has quite a few interesting twists on the subject.

For example, Paul Revere was able to galvanize the forces of resistance so effectively in part because he was what Gladwell calls a "Connector": he knew just about everybody, particularly the revolutionary leaders in each of the towns that he rode through. But Revere "wasn't just the man with the biggest Rolodex in colonial Boston," he was also a "Maven" who gathered extensive information about the British. He knew what was going on and he knew exactly whom to tell. The phenomenon continues to this day--think of how often you've received information in an e-mail message that had been forwarded at least half a dozen times before reaching you.

Gladwell develops these and other concepts (such as the "stickiness" of ideas or the effect of population size on information dispersal) through simple, clear explanations and entertainingly illustrative anecdotes, such as comparing the pedagogical methods of Sesame Street and Blue's Clues, or explaining why it would be even easier to play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with the actor Rod Steiger. Although some readers may find the transitional passages between chapters hold their hands a little too tightly, and Gladwell's closing invocation of the possibilities of social engineering sketchy, even chilling, The Tipping Point is one of the most effective books on science for a general audience in ages. It seems inevitable that "tipping point," like "future shock" or "chaos theory," will soon become one of those ideas that everybody knows--or at least knows by name. --Ron Hogan

Book Description

This celebrated New York Times bestsellernow poised to reach an even wider audience in paperbackis a book that is changing the way North Americans think about selling products and disseminating ideas. Gladwells new afterword to this edition describes how readers can constructively apply the tipping point principle in their own lives and work. Widely hailed as an important work that offers not only a road map to business success but also a profoundly encouraging approach to solving social problems.

Customer Reviews:

The tipping point.......2007-06-27

An okay book, I liked Blink the second book better. The author spent to much time on the stories

pop sociology well marketed.......2007-06-25

I managed to read the entire book, though had to fight my desire to through the book to the trash can. Given the hype, I conclude that this pop sociology book is a case study about how to use great marketing to substitute for substance. Gladwell is a marketing guy, and it shows.

Save your money, do some research on Googles about the topic from neuroscience, economics, finance, and geneticists instead.

A great read for anybody.......2007-06-25

First of all, this book is very well written. It catches the reader's interest immediately and makes it hard to put it down. Gladwell uses a lot of interesting studies to support his findings. What I find most compelling about the book is that it's a fun read for anybody. Whether you're in advertising, sales, marketing, sociology or just like reading: This book is fun to read, engages your mind and will have you think about it for a long time afterwards.

Insights on Grass-Roots Influence.......2007-06-18

Malcolm Gladwell looks into the way epidemics work as the root of viral marketing. How do a small number of enthusiastic supporters tip the scales to bring an obscure trend to mass-appeal? Who are the key players who make an idea popular, and what qualities do they bring to the equation? How do you make an idea stick until it can gain momentum on its own? And how is context vital to the success of a trend? These are the ideas Gladwell explores in The Tipping Point.

Gladwell uses stories to illustrate the principles trend-setters use to find a market for ideas. The reading is engaging and follows a logical structure. The surprises come as counterintuitive insights that defy traditional ideas about marketing. Who would think a gold box would net Columbia Records unprecedented sales over a well-plotted campaign? Or that cleaning up graffiti on New York subways would factor into the dramatic plunge in the city's crime rates?

Gladwell's style is straightforward and transparent to get the points across. The chapter that lagged for me was "The Stickiness Factor," where it seemed the point was made, but then dragged out beyond patience to show how Sesame Street and Blues Clues defied traditional thinking to make learning stick in young viewers. The chapter on suicide and teen smoking also dealt with subjects that are unsettling indicators of how trends follow illogical extremes. As a parent, it's helpful to know how our youth are influenced, even if the news is disturbing. The Tipping Point is an essential read for following the basics of influence.

Very Interesting Insight.......2007-06-18

The way Gladwell talks about how trends and opinions spread like epidemics, and how we all have our little role to play in it, it's amazing. I never saw or read anything before that made that much sense.
Identifying and understanding your role in the scheme of things, could help you better understand cause and effect of your actions as well as that of society's as a whole.

Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries

Average customer rating:

disappointing at several levels
Exceptional collection of essays on vomit, "Titanic" and...science
Painless Non-fiction
Accessible to readers of all backgrounds
Science Writing for Everyone

Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution
God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
The Sky Is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God

ASIN: 0393062244

Book Description

A vibrant collection of essays on the cosmos from the nation's best-known astrophysicist.

Loyal readers of the monthly "Universe" essays in Natural History magazine have long recognized Neil deGrasse Tyson's talent for guiding them through the mysteries of the cosmos with stunning clarity and almost childlike enthusiasm. Here, Tyson compiles his favorite essays across a myriad of cosmic topics. The title essay introduces readers to the physics of black holes by explaining the gory details of what would happen to your body if you fell into one. "Holy Wars" examines the needless friction between science and religion in the context of historical conflicts. "The Search for Life in the Universe" explores astral life from the frontiers of astrobiology. And "Hollywood Nights" assails the movie industry's feeble efforts to get its night skies right.

Known for his ability to blend content, accessibility, and humor, Tyson is a natural teacher who simplifies some of the most complex concepts in astrophysics while simultaneously sharing his infectious excitement about our universe.

Customer Reviews:

disappointing at several levels.......2007-06-27

The book provides a pleasant review of astrophysics interspersed with attempts at humor - which themselves become funny, given their probable intended audience. The author seems to disdain intellectuals from the perspective of an intellectual and, in a probable attempt at a self-comparison with Newton's Principia, concludes with a flat promotion of a form of agnosticism - or is it denial? - to fall into the camp of chaos. The story is well written, filled with anecdotes that make for a pleasant read, an interesting insight into the manager of the Hayden Planetarium, but a disappointing ending about a squabble.

Exceptional collection of essays on vomit, "Titanic" and...science.......2007-06-18

OK so my title isn't exactly accurate but the author of this marvelous book does expound on all of these subjects as part of his discourse on science. The universe is a confounding place. We have black holes, dark matter, theories of contraction, expansion, the big bang all of them go into areas that the average person might find confusing. Neil DeGrasse Tyson's new collection of essays written between 1995 through 2005 for NATURE magazine proposes questions and answers that those without a degree in astrophysics can understand.

Tyson doesn't rest on his laurels either. These essays have been updated where appropriate to reflect new theories, changes, etc. The last section on science and Hollywood is particularly interesting (and funny). Tyson sat with James Cameron and noted to the "Titanic" director that the stars in the film were all wrong yet he got so many other facts right. He asked him simply why he couldn't also get the stars right as well. Cameron's reply, "Imagine how much more money I would have made if I had gotten the stars right!" silenced Tyson. Later, though, he got a request for the correct alignment of the stars for the special edition of "Titanic" released a couple of years back. Tyson happily complied with his request.

Tyson also tackles subjects as diverse as asteroids, to the five points of Lagrange (areas where gravity and centrifugal forces rotating systems balance. He uses an imaginative and funny analogy involving a thrill ride and vomit to make his points. He also tells us what the color of the cosmos really means. Insightful and often fun to read Tyson's book of essays look into a world that is often beyond the imagination of the average person but reminds us all why we should try and imagine it and appreciate it.

Painless Non-fiction.......2007-06-11

I have always been very interested in the way the universe works, particularly the stranger aspects of it (such as black holes). I am not, however, a big fan of reading non-fiction. This book attracted my attention because of its interesting title and I was certainly not disappointed by the book itself. The writing style is very conversational and the author clearly understands that bringing in vocabulary that the average person will not understand is not the way to keep a reader interested. "Death by Black Hole" blends humor with fact to create an informative, but still entertaining read.

Accessible to readers of all backgrounds.......2007-06-10

Written by astrophysicist and award-winning author Neal DeGrasse Tyson, Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries is an audiobook collection of essays originally run in "Natural History Magazine" about the amazing mysteries of the night skies. Discussing the basic physics of black holes (including what would happen to a human body unlucky enough to fall inside one!), the pointless friction between science and religion, the movie industries noteworthy failings to get its science right, and much more. Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, and featuring tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking, Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries is a first-rate simplified introduction to the mind-blowing discoveries of modern astrophysics. 10 CDs, 12 hours.

Science Writing for Everyone.......2007-06-04

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Tyson and hearing him speak at a conference recently. He is a very good speaker, clearly knowledgeable about astrophysics and able to communicate that love to a general audience. I hoped that this book would reflect some of his populist-dynamism to the page. For the most part, it does.

In point of fact, Death By Black Hole is a compilation of over 40 essays that originally appeared as Dr. Tyson's "Universe" column in Natural History magazine. If, because of that, there's a little repetition; well, that's to be expected. As shorter pieces that are not necessarily connected, he is able to cover a lot of ground within them from the process of science to the finer points of our study of the cosmos. In fact, I found his more general pieces to be much more engaging. His views on the process of science, the impact of science on the culture and the relationship between science and religion really pushed me whereas he can get a little "lecturey" when he really digs into the cutting edge of astrophysical research. Still, he takes us right to the edges of the universe--from Big Bang to its entropic demise.

As a former teacher of math and physics, there weren't a lot of surprises for me here; however, I am always on the lookout for ways to approach these topics for the general public and I found a lot of good stuff in this book. For the general reader interested in science, this is a valuable read.

Hatched!: The Big Push from Pregnancy to Motherhood

Average customer rating:

A Baby Shower Hit!
Hilarious Read!
FUNNY
Hatched
Perfect for new moms and moms-to-be

Hatched!: The Big Push from Pregnancy to Motherhood
Sloane Tanen
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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C Is for Coco: A Little Chick's First Book of Letters
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Coco All Year Round

ASIN: 1596912774
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Book Description

Following the bestselling Bitter with Baggage Seeks Same and Going for the Bronze, Sloane Tanen’s chickens are back, but this time they’ve only got one thing on their minds: babies. From epidurals and stretch marks to diaper rash and day care, never before have the joys, trials, and tribulations of having and raising a baby been so ingeniously and truthfully rendered. Hatched! is the one book you need to keep you laughing through your pregnancy and first year of motherhood.

Customer Reviews:

A Baby Shower Hit!.......2007-06-07

My daughter and I were looking for a theme for my pregnant daughter's baby shower when my husband said he saw this book entitled "Hatched" on Martha Stewart's show and it looked very funny.

I ordered it, read it and decided to make hatched chickens the shower theme. When the party began, I gave my daughter the book, explained why we had chickens on the invitations and she started reading. The book was passed around to all the guests (several will be ordering one for themselves). You could hear the laughing as the books made its way around the room. A few women even got into the theme by purchasing chickens and even a onesie with a chicken on it for a gift!

The book was an ice-breaker and certainly gave my daughter a view of her future via "chicken life".

I am so glad my retired husband saw Martha.

Hilarious Read!.......2007-06-02

Sloane Tanen has a fantastic sense of humor! This is NOT a children's book, but it is perfect for anyone who can appreciate the hilarity of pregnancy. Makes you laugh, laugh, laugh.
It is especially good for mothers who have already went through the pregnancy scene and are pregnant with a second child.
I gave this to a friend with her shower gift and she loved it...we all had to read it and laugh out loud!

FUNNY.......2007-05-30

SOOOO funny. Can't wait for more. My best friend and I are now quoting it....so no kappa kappa gamma. A must buy for anyone who has a sense of humor.

Hatched.......2007-05-26

THIS BOOK IS HYSTERICAL! I HAVE A 5 MONTH OLD AND COULD RELATE TO EVERY PAGE. I GAVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT TO TWO RECENTLY PREGNANT FRIENDS AND THEY LOVED IT AS WELL. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WITH A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR.

Perfect for new moms and moms-to-be.......2007-05-15

I love this book. I just can't stop giggling. I've now stockpiled several for whenever I hear of a new pregnancy or delivery.

Alcoholics Anonymous - Big Book 4th Edition

Average customer rating:

Well, it saved my life!
dr bob's nightmare
Isn't a Program Better than No Program?
Overeaters Anonymous
Cult Based Literature

Alcoholics Anonymous - Big Book 4th Edition
AA Services
Manufacturer: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Alcoholism | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
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The Little Red Book

ASIN: 1893007170

Book Description

It's more than a book. It's a way of life.

Alcoholics Anonymous-the Big Book-has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. First published in 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. With publication of the second edition in 1955, the third edition in 1976, and now the fourth edition in 2001, the essential recovery text has remained unchanged while personal stories have been added to reflect the growing and diverse fellowship. The long-awaited fourth edition features 24 new personal stories of recovery.

Key features and benefits
·the most widely used resource for millions of individuals in recovery
·contains full, original text describing AA program
·updated with 24 new personal stories

Customer Reviews:

Well, it saved my life!.......2007-06-27

I don't write reviews but I felt I needed to on this one, I truly believe in this book. The 'Big Book' was given to me by a prison chaplain and I have since read it three times. As I was reading it I was thinking to myself, "Jeez, that's me! I've done that!" This book inspired me to get help for an addiction I really didn't care about. (despite the agony it caused my family and friends.) I have since joined several local AA chapters and and am clean and sober. I am 25 years old and had no problem with the English presented within the text. I believe all addicts should read this book with an open mind and you WILL learn from it. Everybody has a diffrent 'rock-bottom' and I was at mine. Sometimes you have to be at the bottom of the pit to force you to look up. Through this book and AA, I have turned my life completly around. No addict can recover on his own, that's where the "Higher Power" comes in. If you are suffering from addiction, I beg you, at least give this book a chance. It may very well save your life.

dr bob's nightmare.......2007-05-29

just a title from the book.
arrived on time in excellent condition.

Isn't a Program Better than No Program?.......2007-05-09

Has anyone ever known anyone in A.A.? Has anyone ever worked with addicts? Is anyone reading this an addict? Words like "all", "never" and "always" are very taboo in the realm of psychology and addictions. Why, because as soon as you use one of these terms, there is an exception to your stereotype. Also keep in mind A.A. doesn't necessarily promote a relapse; it is quite possible the addict is doing it. The idea "addition is a life long process" is candid. A person who is in recovery will always be in recovery. Even if there is no drug and/or alcohol use, the person will still have addictive traits. That is why it is important to continue relapse prevention. Therefore if recovery isn't through A.A. and it is going to be successful, there is some sort of struture and modified behavior plan in place.

Some people believe that A.A is nothing more than propaganda with its aphorisms. Is the fact that those same people produced statistics about why A.A. doesn't work another form of propaganda? However, if you do want to speak statistics about an imperial research (that might not account for A.A. programs across the country), then I have no problem doing so. I read about a research study that found out of 100 people: 5 sober, 29 dead, and 66 still drinking, after being involved in A.A. It is a sad state of affairs that 29 people are dead and 66 still drinking, but 5 people who are still sober out of 100 alcoholics/addicts that is actually pretty good. The relapse rate is so high and success rate so low in this realm that sadly there are more calamities than triumphs. Therefore, I believe 5 saved souls are better than 0 save souls.

I believe the real problem isn't with A.A.; it is with social programs in this country. Many people who abuse alcohol and/or drugs have a mental health disorder as well. These are called co-occurring disorders, for instance bipolar disorder and substance abuse would be a co-occurring disorder. So perhaps if there was more social programs that tackled mental health and substance abuse, and if these programs were made more affordable to people who needed them, the problem could reduce. However for the most part, the common person has no real grasp of mental health or substance abuse. Addicts in many cases are treated like an elephant in the living room. As for government, aldermen don't seem too worried about it until a member in their family might have an issue. Anyone recall Jeb Bush and his daughter? Speaking of politics, perhaps these matters should be what counts come election time, instead of some of the other trivial issues in this country.

Please don't get me wrong, A.A. and N.A. (narcotics anonymous) aren't for everyone. It doesn't work for everybody, but you can't say it is a worthless program. The design of A.A. (and N.A.) is somewhat religious, yet I would say more spiritual. Still isn't a program or support group better than nothing at all? Honestly? I respect anybody's thoughts against or for anything, so it is good to stand by your convictions. However, one can say that democracy doesn't work if there is a poor public forum in place, or it appears the system might have some problems. Does that mean that democracy will no longer be used? Does that mean the democratic system should become null and void?

Overeaters Anonymous.......2007-02-22

Use this book for OA.....great book and great delivery by AMAZON. This was my first order and I am very pleased. I wish I had used Amazon this past Christmas!!!!!
Mitch from Belmar, NJ :)

Cult Based Literature.......2007-02-21

1. The Twelve Steps do not work as a program of recovery from drug or alcohol problems.
The A.A. failure rate ranges from 95% to 100%. Sometimes, the A.A. success rate is actually less than zero, which means that A.A. indoctrination is positively harmful to people, and prevents recovery. Some tests have shown that even receiving no treatment at all for alcoholism is much better than receiving A.A. treatment:
One of the most enthusiastic boosters of Alcoholics Anonymous, Professor George Vaillant of Harvard University, who is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (AAWS), showed by his own 8 years of testing of A.A. that A.A. was worse than useless -- that it didn't help the alcoholics any more than no treatment at all, and it had the highest death rate of any treatment program tested -- a death rate that Professor Vaillant himself described as "appalling". While trying to prove that A.A. treatment works, Professor Vaillant actually proved that A.A. kills. After 8 years of A.A. treatment, the score with Dr. Vaillant's first 100 alcoholic patients was: 5 sober, 29 dead, and 66 still drinking.
(Nevertheless, Vaillant is still a Trustee of Alcoholics Anonymous, and he still wants to send all alcoholics to A.A. anyway, to "get an attitude change by confessing their sins to a high-status healer." That is cult religion, not a treatment program for alcoholism.)
The A.A. dropout rate is terrible. Most people who come to A.A. looking for help in quitting drinking are appalled by the narrow-minded atmosphere of fundamentalist religion and faith-healing. The A.A. meeting room has a revolving door. The therapists, judges, and parole officers (many of whom are themselves hidden members of A.A. or N.A.) continually send new people to A.A., but those newcomers vote with their feet once they see what A.A. really is. Even A.A.'s own triennial surveys, conducted by the A.A. headquarters (the GSO), say that:
81% of the newcomers are gone within 30 days,
90% are gone in 3 months, and
95% are gone at the end of a year.
That automatically gives A.A. a failure rate of at least 95%. But the GSO does not count all of those people who only attend a few meetings before quitting -- they don't qualify as "members". (That amounts to "cherry-picking".) If we included them, then the numbers would be much worse.

First there is the propaganda technique of "everybody's doing it": "AA or a similar Twelve-Step program is an integral part of almost all successful recoveries".
That is a complete falsehood. The vast majority of the successful people recover without A.A. or any "support group". It's what "everybody" is doing.
Then they use the propaganda techniques of use of the passive voice and vague suggestions: "It is widely believed that not including a Twelve-Step program in a treatment plan can put a recovering addict on the road to relapse."
It is widely believed by whom? And what do those unnamed people know? What are their qualifications? Are they doctors? Medical school professors? Or salesmen for a 12-Step treatment center? Why should we care what some unnamed invisible fools allegedly believe, anyway?
The authors also use the propaganda technique of fear-mongering: you will be "on the road to relapse" -- you will probably die -- unless you practice Bill Wilson's Twelve Step cult religion.
And then the fluff-headed Pollyanna attitude is outrageous: Just going to the wonderful A.A. meetings is supposedly all that is needed to fix some alcoholics.
But since A.A. has a zero-percent success rate above and beyond the normal rate of spontaneous remission, that cannot possibly be true.

Average customer rating:

A high quality book for the right audience....
A regular dude
Boy Does This Make A Good Birthday Present For A Guy
Truly Awesome
This book is busted

The Big Book of Breasts

Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Breasts

ASIN: 3822833037

Book Description

Say no to silicone: The greatest natural breasts of our times

Some call it the American obsession, but men everywhere recognize the hypnotic allure of a large and shapely breast. In The Big Book of Breasts, Dian Hanson explores the origins of mammary madness through three decades of natural big-breasted nudes. Starting with the World War II Bosom-Mania that spawned Russ Meyer, Howard Hughes's The Outlaw and Frederick's of Hollywood, Dian guides you over, around, and in between the dangerous curves of infamous models including Michelle Angelo, Candy Barr, Virginia Bell, Joan Brinkman, Lorraine Burnett, Lisa De Leeuw, Uschi Digard, Candye Kane, Jennie Lee, Sylvia McFarland, Margaret Middleton, Paula Page, June Palmer, Roberta Pedon, Rosina Revelle, Candy Samples, Tempest Storm, Linda West, June Wilkinson, Julie Wills, and dozens more, including Guinness World Record holder Norma Stitz, possessor of the World's Largest Natural Breasts.

Customer Reviews:

A high quality book for the right audience...........2007-06-24

I review a lot of different kinds of books including art and photography. This is a large, heavy, well-made volume that is targeted to people who appreciate the beauty of the female form as it appeared in pop art between the 40s and 70s. It is printed on very high quality paper and the images are more "artsy" than "erotic." However, I'm sure people who enjoy the nudes of this period highly charged.

There are many creative shots in this book and the women all have natural breasts. While this type of art is not my cup of tea, all of the images are large and high resolution. Would you expect less from Taschen. There is a pin up quality to most of the pictures and certainly this book is of historical interest to photographers of nudes or anyone who appreciates female beauty.

I wouldn't personally classify this as "light porn." The pictures are more naughty than pornographic and there are a lot of good facial shots where the woman's personality or some quality of her personality is captured. The lighting is often creative and the images follow a similar style, but the pictures aren't redundant.

I also think this book is fairly priced. I'm going to sell my copy only becuase it's not my thing. I prefer nude photography that is more abstract, uses lots of shadows in interesting ways and focuses on form. The nearer the photographs approach a sculpture of painting, the better for me whether it is male or female art. I also like more variety, styles and other creative elements. Cygny would be an example of one of my favorite photographers of nudes as well as Robert Farber.

A regular dude.......2007-05-13

I wish I would have kept my money.

Some nice pictures, but not worth the money

Boy Does This Make A Good Birthday Present For A Guy.......2007-04-14

I speak from personal experience. I got this for someone and, heck, I've barely seen him since, and when I have, he's been smiling. Oh, sure, make no mistake, the photography work is excellent, as is the overall depth of the study of this subject matter, but let's face it, at heart it's a picture book. Trust me, this is one gift that'll never get returned!

Truly Awesome.......2007-03-03

This book is very well titled. Everything about it is big, including the physical size of the book itself. Its not one you can slip past your wife unnoticed. It's a joy to look at though. Famous names from the past such as Paula Page and Linda West. (Now she is the sort of woman you could happily marry) A cavalcade of great beauties, (and gorgeous women) on every turn of the page that will take your breath away. It puts me in mind of the erotic magazines of many years ago, that were filled with just pictures of beautiful goddesses. It would be wonderful to see those stars as they are now.

The book goes through the decades and all the models are a joy to look at. None of your scrawny cat walk size 0s here, just full figured natural womanhood. Also included are the very well endowed Chesty Morgan and the ultimate of ultimates, Norma Stitz. If you like your women well developed then this is the book for you. I would highly recommend it. Also in a similar vein, if you like erotic stories about mature well proportioned women (and indeed men) then have a look at 100 PERCENT EROTICA by Suzie Van Aartman.

This book is busted.......2007-02-21

I cannot recommend this book except to teenage boys. Too much of a good thing gets boring and this book is a yawner. Also the cover is printed incorrectly, so that the black bra is misaligned by 1/2" and hanging in the air on one end. Save your money for something more fun.

Average customer rating:

Too brief on material and examples
Recommended & Good
Splicing Introductory CS and Java together just causes confusion
I am Encouraged, but not the way that you think
Great book.

Big Java
Cay S. Horstmann
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Object-Oriented Design and Patterns
Thinking Recursively with Java

ASIN: 0471697036

Book Description

This text is an exploration into computer science, programming principles and advanced features of the Java language. The text is useful for anyone interested in learning or reinforcing introductory programming concepts and beginning to take advantage of many of the exciting attributes of the Java language. Now updated with Java 1.5, Big Java, Second Edition remains the definitive introduction to programming.
Horstmann, in his extensive teaching and industry experience, has always emphasized that those who truly want to study the discipline of Computer Science and the art of programming must, before writing a line of code, first learn to think like a problem solver. With this in mind, the first part of the text is focused not on programming as an abstract exercise, but on fundamental principles of programming and problem solving. Java is both the tool to be mastered and the key to understanding basic computer science concepts.
The second part of this text introduces advanced concepts of the Java programming language. Assuming an understanding of programming concepts at this point, the author offers the reader an in-depth look into how Java relates to searching and sorting, data structures, multithreading, networking, database connectivity, XML, and Java Server Pages.
In addition, the author also offers many reference resources in the appendices, including the Java Library, HTML, running applets, and number systems.
Throughout the text, readers will find notes that cover historical and social aspects of computing and capsule introductions to advanced topics of computer science. These optional features provide valuable context for those interested in going more deeply into the subject.

Customer Reviews:

Too brief on material and examples.......2007-02-21

I "had" to buy this textbook for a Java 2 class that I am just finishing up. For Java 1, I had to buy Deitel's "Java(tm) How to Program
Sixth Edition" book. I found Deitel's book much more thorough with lots of examples. "Big Java" is very brief on the material in every chapter. There are some examples, but not enough to really learn Java well. Also, the material is just not explained very well and in detail. I "always" read Deitel's equivalent chapter first before reading "Big Java's" version. For the XML chapter, Deitel didn't have an equivalent chapter and I ended up having to look at several other books I had on XML and also asked several people online to complete my assignment. There was not enough information in the chapter to complete the assignment, even though the assignment came directly out of the book, at the end of the chapter! I am not totally trashing "Big Java", because it did have another perspective and some material that was not in Deitel's book, but I cannot recommend this book to anyone. Deitel's books are thorough, though they can be a little overwhelming with information, but I think they should be the standard for programming classes. D.S. Malik also does a good and thorough job in his programming books.

Recommended & Good.......2007-02-18

I am a college student, and this text was recommended by all of the professors. Originally it wasn't required (another one was) and I tried out the other textbook. After a semester of that book, which was not very good, this textbook (Big Java) was required for my next course. So I got it, and upon using it I've noticed it's ten times better than the other java textbook. I'd recommend this to any student learning Java!

Splicing Introductory CS and Java together just causes confusion.......2006-08-09

This book just confuses matters by trying to mix the teaching of introductory computer science principles with learning the Java programming language all the way from simple "System.out.println" statements, through object orientation, to XML and server side programming. All of this is attempted in roughly 1250 pages, and the attempt is unsuccessful.

I cannot figure out why the author tried such an ambitious undertaking in just one book, especially when he has co-authored the excellent "Core Java" series of books on programming in the Java language, and that series has always been split into two volumes that are each approximately the same size as this book. "Core Java" is an excellent series from which to learn the Java language, but even that series does not try to tackle the issues of XML, server side programming, and JavaServer Faces which the author does in this book. Many details are missing from the text, and the student is just going to end up having to buy the "Core Java" books, or the "Head First Java" book, or something like them, in order to learn enough details about Java programming that he or she can do the exercises in this book. As it is, only enough detail is presented as to be both dangerous and annoying. I do not recommend this book for learning computer science, programming principles, or Java.

I am Encouraged, but not the way that you think.......2006-07-11

This book sucks ... it starts out with the author trying to describe some concepts of java then he annoyingly refers other concepts to other chapters because the reader is not yet able to understand it (chapter 1)... which is ok so it starts out slow, then it seems like he lost patience or something and then he throws all these concepts and words at you(chapter 2), and he describes useless things which has little value to the main idea of programming ... it seems to me Java books have two approaches to teaching, one is to begin describing all the concepts of and vocab of java and one is like a fast track to programming, this book does neither. I had to buy this book for a computer programming class, like the other reader i had to constantly find other materials to try to understand Java, on the plus side i find it extremely encouraging such a poor book can be recommended by colleges and universities around the USA, after i learn Java maybe i can write a Java textbook too!

Great book........2006-06-25

This book is excellent for anyone wanting to learn Java. It has great examples that actually work, and it teaches in an easy to learn manner. It covers a wide range of topics which would take you from beginner to about the high edge of intermediate. I have read many Java books before this, this book is very well rounded compred to most, and in my opinion has offered the most knowledge thus far.

Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big With Expert Play

Average customer rating:

Poker Book
Best poker book for low limit cash games
Great book for LIMIT Holdem
for my first book
generic principles well explained

Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big With Expert Play
Ed Miller , David Sklansky , and Mason Malmuth
Manufacturer: Two Plus Two Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1: Strategic Play
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ASIN: 1880685329

Book Description

For today's poker players, Texas hold 'em is the game. Every day, tens of thousands of small stakes hold 'em games are played all over the world in homes, card rooms, and on the Internet. These games can be very profitable — if you play well. But most people don't play well and end up leaving their money on the table.

Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big with Expert Play explains everything you need to be a big winner. Unlike many other books about small stakes games, it teaches the aggressive and attacking style used by all professional players. However, it does not simply tell you to play aggressively; it shows you exactly how to make expert decisions through numerous clear and detailed examples.

Small Stakes Hold 'em teaches you to think like a professional player. Topics include implied odds, pot equity, speculative hands, position, the importance of being suited, hand categories, counting outs, evaluating the flop, large pots versus small pots, protecting your hand, betting for value on the river, and playing overcards. In addition, after you learn the winning concepts, test your skills with over fifty hand quizzes that present you with common and critical hold 'em decisions. Choose your action, then compare it to the authors' play and reasoning.

This text presents cutting-edge ideas in straightforward language. It is the most thorough and accurate discussion of small stakes hold 'em available. Your opponents will read this book; make sure you do, too!

Customer Reviews:

Poker Book.......2007-06-28

This is a very good book. I have added th book to my poker libary.

Best poker book for low limit cash games.......2007-06-08

I have also brought the other popular small cash game book, "Winning Low-Limit Hold'em." "Winning Big with expert play" is a lot better poker book out of the two.

Great book for LIMIT Holdem.......2007-05-12

i bought this book thinking it was about no limit holdem; I consider Sklansky to be the best teacher of poker. once i started reading it , however, i realized it only talks about limit holdem. I read it anyway and it had great limit info, but i only play no-limit. a completely different ballgame. So, i'm gonna get Sklansky's No-Limit Holdem Theory & Practice. If you play limit holdem for small stakes, this is THE book.

for my first book.......2007-04-06

Its good, they put it out there straight up and on the line for you. they do referense a lot to their other books so if you havent read them then you kinda feel lost on a few things but they have a lot of good points and a lot of good things to learn. its not for beginners so if your looking for a starter book, this is not it.

generic principles well explained.......2007-03-30

this won't give you a second income the moment you finish the book :-)

gives a lot of insight into limit holdem betting and some general poker principles which are very useful.

at the end of the day, it lies in a turn of the card but knowing what the author knows will keep you alive till that turn.

Average customer rating:

boring
Helpful
Great book
Inspirational
Good but not the best!

The Magic of Thinking Big
David Schwartz
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671646788

Book Description

SET YOUR GOALS HIGH...THEN EXCEED THEM!

Millions of people throughout the world have improved their lives using The Magic of Thinking Big. Dr. David J. Schwartz, long regarded as one of the foremost experts on motivation, will help you sell better, manage better, earn more money, and -- most important of all -- find greater happiness and peace of mind.

The Magic of Thinking Big gives you useful methods, not empty promises. Dr. Schwartz presents a carefully designed program for getting the most out of your job, your marriage and family life, and your community. He proves that you don't need to be an intellectual or have innate talent to attain great success and satisfaction -- but you do need to learn and understand the habit of thinking and behaving in ways that will get you there. This book gives you those secrets!

Believe you can succeed and you will

Cure yourself of the fear of failure

Think and dream creatively

You are what you think you are

Make your attitudes your allies

Learn how to think positively

Turn defeat into victory

Use goals to help you grow

Think like a leader

Customer Reviews:

boring.......2007-03-27

The book is plain boring and outdated for my taste. The message is clear but it is a message based on blind faith rather than on actual analisys of facts. I couldn't get rid off the feeling that the book was written for drop-outs and then retrofitted for the corporate shark wannabies.

Helpful.......2007-03-25

Helpful to improve your outlook, attitude, confidence, motivation, inspiration, and focus. Certainly beneficial to read. I would not rank it the best. The paramount book on success is still the timeless classic by Dale Carnegie, "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

Great book.......2007-03-16

This book was recommended by a couch. According to him it is for great help on life

Inspirational.......2007-03-13

I'm not really big on the self help/inspirational genre of books, but I really enjoyed this book and think that it is one I will go back to again and again for a motivational pick-me-up.

Yes, much of the advice is common sense, and certainly many of the ideas have been co-opted by more "modern" positive thinking gurus, but I really do think that reading the book has, at least for the time being, changed my outlook on things and made me see that some of my thinking was self-defeating. I enjoyed many of the anecdotes that Schwartz peppered throughout his text to reaffirm some of his positive ideas.

Five stars.

Good but not the best!.......2007-02-28

The motivation he inspired is undeniably powerful. However, its somehow exaggeration can pull you off from the reality.

Average customer rating:

The Ultimate Step-by-Step Selling Guide
Better than the standard Spin Selling Book
Practice makes perfect.
Nice book, but too easy after reading SPIN Selling
Indispensable part of the salesman's library

The SPIN Selling Fieldbook
Neil Rackham
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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SPIN Selling
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The New Strategic Selling: The Unique Sales System Proven Successful by the World's Best Companies

ASIN: 0070522359

Book Description

Strategies and tools that guarantee big-ticket sales!

Neil Rackham's national bestseller SPIN Selling revolutionized high-end selling. Now, The SPIN Selling Fieldbook shows you how to actually put into practice the proven tools and techniques outlined in that cutting-edge guide. After a review of the SPIN method of selling, Neil Rackham zeroes in on the critical SPIN® questioning behaviors. He shows you how to apply the tools and techniques to your own selling situation, using practical, skill-building exercises incorporated into each chapter. Addressing the sales of services as well as capital goods, the Fieldbook provides you with a hands-on implementation guide for applying SPIN in a wide range of businesses from localized companies to large multinationals. Real-life case studies of sales forces at leading-edge companies such as Motorola, Johnson & Johnson, and AT&T help you explore additional techniques that go beyond the basics to boost sales with even the toughest customers and clients.

Customer Reviews:

The Ultimate Step-by-Step Selling Guide.......2007-06-25

I speak around the world on lead generation and marketing strategy. Neil did an outstanding job crafting "The SPIN Selling Fieldbook" to give you a roadmap on how to master complex sales strategy.

There is no other resource I can think of where you can "easily perfect" your approach and positioning sales strategy.

Neil gives you step-by-step plan that anyone can follow in their quest to excel at marketing their products or services.

The SPIN Selling Fieldbook gives you valuable "hands on" tools. I recommend the "SPIN Selling Fieldbook."

It is an invaluable resource that any salesperson or sales executive should have in their personal library.

Joe Heller, Trust Cycle Selling

Better than the standard Spin Selling Book.......2007-06-09

This field book is better than the original book was. If you are going to buy just one of the two you should probably just buy the field book. It allows you to apply the ideas very quickly.

Practice makes perfect........2006-11-14

Usually is not enough to read a book to have the knowledge, you need to practice, and that is what this book helps to, giving you ideas on how to put SPIN method into practice.

Nice book, but too easy after reading SPIN Selling.......2006-08-09

I bought this book together with SPIN Selling. I read the Fieldbook after reading SPIN Selling. If you've already read SPIN Selling, this book is not going to tell you much new things.

If you would read the Fieldbook instead of SPIN Selling, then I think the Fieldbook is not thorough enough, at least if you compare it to SPIN Selling.

In general I think the audience of this book is perhaps college students, or clever highschool students, but not really experienced salespeople. Maybe that's also because of the cartoons every now and then which make the book look like it's meant for younger people.

What I expected when I bought both books was that the Fieldbook offerd some transcriptions of salescalls, and an explanation of why certain aspects are wrong and how this could be improved using SPIN Selling. This was not really the case, it was more like a simple summary of SPIN Selling. So not really the Fieldbook I expected.

Anyway, the book is not bad, but I would not recommend to buy both SPIN Selling and the Fieldbook together. Also, if you're a serious and experienced salesperson I would recommend SPIN Selling. If you're new to sales or if you're still in college, I would recommend the Fieldbook.

Indispensable part of the salesman's library.......2006-07-19

This book is a practical guide for implementing the principles learned in the original book about 'Spin selling', however it is not necessary to have read the other book to make good use of this one. I think the SPIN methodology is a most valuable contribution from Mr. Rackham to the field of large sales and this book gives sound help to implement it.

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