I picked up this book because it seemed to be the best current book about the state of the art of Information Technology management. It contains short easy to read articles on topics ranging from Supply Chain, Knowledge Management and eCommerce written by some IT gurus including many academics, Peter Drucker and some Anderson people.

It comes with bit of a European perspective. I have read that European companies get better return on their investment in IT and perhaps this book reflects this. It lacks the hype of most of the American IT management books. My only criticism is that the book is somewhat academic, lacks depth in parts and is very light on the technology side of things. Glancing at the index for "Java" or "Open Source" one notices it is missing these key new technologies.

For what I was looking for it was great - an overall picture of the state of IT management theory. It filled in some of my knowledge gaps and made good subway reading.

This book is a massive scholarly survey of a subject which has not received much attention: the development of concepts of the actual (as opposed to potential) infinite in the Latin West. In the 11th and 12th centuries this was mainly a theological discussion, but it also involved science, via Aristotle, and religion mainly via Augustine and a large number of contemporary theologians. The book ends with Kepler, Descartes and Pascal, and the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century, in which the medieval developments played a central role by allowing ideal conditions to be proposed as the basis for theory. This book is heavy reading, but is an essential source for scholars of this subject.

The mysterious nature of an artistic gift, how it affects those who possess it and those who surround them, is a theme that has inspired many a plot, "Amadeus" being one of the best. Marcia Davenport's superb 1936 novel "Of Lena Geyer" has for its heroine a soprano of spectacular talent, a woman who casts a brilliant spell over her admirers, the ones who adore her unquestioningly as well as those who challenge her. It's not surprising that this was one of Ingrid Bergman's favorite books; she tried for years, unsuccessfully, to have it produced on the screen. The story opens with Lena Geyer's funeral; and the various mourners remember what they know of Lena Geyer, so that the plot unfolds as a series of post-mortem reminiscences. Most of the memories are generous, though this complicated artist's temper and prejudices are frankly described. Lenzka Gyruzkova is a dumpy Bohemian adolescent, a charwoman's daughter, when musically-trained men recognize in her a quick ear and a radiant voice. She masters roles easily, and she eventually becomes an important star in both Europe and America. Her repertoire is formidable, everything from Carmen to Isolde. Though she engages in a passionate, jealous affair with a man of incredible wealth, her marriage is to a protective father figure. In fact, she resembles Maria Callas; but Callas was only thirteen when "Of Lena Geyer" was published. Like so many real-life divas, Lena has many physical problems, and she does not enjoy a long life. But her death bed is surrounded by her devotees, who see her breathing the last words of the Liebestod: " ... ertrinken, versinken unbewusst höchste Lust!" The novel is deceptively biographical (you'll find yourself thumbing back to an index that doesn't exist) and technically historical, because the fictional Lena interacts with people who really lived: Lilli Lehmann is her advanced teacher, Mahler conducts when Lena sings Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni", and Jean de Reszke is her co-star in "Tannhäuser". Needless to say, "Of Lena Geyer" is a cult favorite with opera buffs, but the average reader will certainly be able to appreciate this expertly written novel. A Trivia Pursuit footnote: "Of Lena Geyer" is dedicated to Alma Gluck, a Met soprano of the First World War era (who, incidently, is mentioned in fictional context). As it turns out, Alma Gluck was Marcia Davenport's mother. I have no idea who Mr Davenport was, but Alma Gluck's second husband was the violinist Efrem Zimbalist, with whom she toured in concert. This means that Marcia Davenport, the author, was the half-sister of Efrem Zimbalist Jr, the TV and film actor.

In 1662, bankrupt fifty-six year old painter Rembrandt van Rijn flees his creditors though it means leaving his home. He accidentally stows away on a ship bound for Hull, England, but is caught by the angry captain. Through passenger Andrew Marvell, who speaks Dutch, Captain Dahl commissions the artist to paint portraits to pay for his passage as van Rijn proclaims he is bankrupt

Rembrandt hates painting the captain, but looks forward to working on the man's wife, the beautiful Amelia. However, Marvell challenges Rembrandt to a duel of tributes in which he will use the might of the pen with a poem dedicated to the lovely Amelia while Rembrandt will use the might of the brush with a portrait of the gorgeous woman. Amelia will declare the winner.

When THE PAINTER concentrates on an insightful historical novel, the story line is brilliantly conceived and does justice to the artist even when the clever Amelia manipulates the two artists to do her bidding. When the story line switches plot to 2001 focusing on an artist descendant of Dahl, it seems more like a paint by numbers that never quite holds up in comparison. In spite of the average twenty first-century subplot taking up half the book, the seventeenth century story makes Will Davenport's novel a winner.

Harriet Klausner

Thomas H. Davenport is Professor at the Boston University School of Management. He is the author of 'Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know' (1997). This article was published in the July-August 1998 issue of the Harvard Business Review.

"Enterprise systems appear to be a dream come true. For managers who have struggled ... the promise of an off-the-shelf solution to the problem of business integration is enticing." But the growing number of horror stories give managers pause. The main reason enterprise fail are business problems. Companies fail to recognize the technological imperatives of the enterprise system with the business needs of the enterprise itself. The author describes the scope of the enterprise system (the functions supported by enterprise systems, the allure of enterprise systems (streamlining of data flows and information), the impact of enterprise systems on strategy, and the impact of enterprise systems on the organization and culture. Davenport finalizes the article with some advise for management: "If the development of an enterprise system is not carefully controlled by management, management may soon find itself under the control of the system."

Interesting article on the possibilities and flaws of enterprise systems. It also provides good insights on the impact enterprise systems have on organizations. I recommend this article to people thinking about introducing enterprise systems, understanding enterprise systems, and using enterprise systems. Great article in simple US-English.

The seventh edition of Reporting for the Media is a useful tool for those just starting to learn to write a news story. It provides the basic underlying elements of a news story. With the formula provided, the reader learns the do's and don't's of the world of reporting news. From being accurate and concise to using correct style, the book provides a good tips for beginning news writers interested in expanding their knowledge. I recommend this book to professors needing a textbook for their classroom, or reporters who simply want to improve their newswriting.

I first read it a long time ago and I loved it then. It was very well made and held from the beginning to the end. It was the first novel about home automation I have ever read

I am a student in 6th grade that is using this book in Spelling. This book is hard, but I am up for the challenge. It is a great book.

This is a really comprehensive guide for those looking to learn more about Watershed Management practices. I would highly reccomend it to anyone interested, because it has everything you need all in one place, and has extensive lists of references for the things it does not include.

This book has great information on skirting and on the fleese. Good pictures too. It is worth the wait to find a copy!