Changing Fortunes makes a solidly researched, reasoned, and documented case that large economic institutions-manufacturing corporation in this case-have a skewed bell-shaped curve of evolution. Each curve emerges almost unnoticed out of the debris of a fading economic institution-frontier agriculture in the case of the medieval Church, religion in the case of the Enlightenment, and piecework in the case of manufacturing. It rises rapidly to previously unimaginable heights of power and prestige (as peas in a pod, cathedrals and high rises are separated only by centuries), and then begins a long decline that never quite ends in demise (Christmas and Easter are relics of paganism, not the progency of a new religion).

The reasons for the decline are varied and many, but several threads seem ever present: selfish interest replaces collective interest (American politics), accountability shifts from external to internal (American business), the network effect grows too inwardly dependent (Japan), and the life support of the whole thing-the everyday Joes and Joannes-feel more and more betrayed as they watch corruption replace commonweal. The shabby little personal deals these days between CEOs and Congressmen reminds one of the commerce in Church offices during the 14th through 16th centuries, which led to unprecedented levels of disproportion between principle and practice. The book Silent Theft by William Bollinger comes to many of these same conclusions from the commonweal-holder's point of view.

Changing Fortunes documents its case very well. It is so lucidly written that typically leaden case studies are polished into brilliance by blunt, often witty assessments of corporate goofs. No softening the blow with genial dollops of well-wishing comes from this trio. And of goofs, boy are there some dandies. The sequence of awful decisions that took Xerox from poster-child of TQM (Total Quality Management) revolution of the 1980s to the blunderer of 2000 that shredded both their billing system and customer loyalty makes one chortle, but behind management's arrogant imbecilities are unemployment lines.

The book is a goldmine of facts. Between 1982 and 1992 the number of U.S. business consultants went from 30,000 to 81,000 (if you can't do it, teach it). In 1998 102,171 MBAs graduated from American universities (enough to populate a medium-size city, and wouldn't that be a dull place). Such statistics hint at the explosion in business information and expertise now revolutionising U.S. corporate life. Yet how many bright young things lust for life at a widget factory? The authors cite many examples of manufacturing sector decline, but in the end the example they don't cite is the most telling of all: employment in the manufacturing sector is at its lowest point since 1961, and out-of-work statistics have risen every month for the last 27. Somebody's hurting, and it's not the guys at the top. Now recall that every seismic shift in thinking in the West since Rome has happened because the Joes and Joannes have become ill-served to the point where they no longer believe what they are told.

Changing Fortunes certainly has its virtues. For one, its procedure is sound. The authors examine the Fortune 100 lists from the turn of the 20th century up till today. They find a scowly mask behind the veil with the smile: American industrial companies may be turning out more products than ever, and many of them may have healthy balance sheets, but their relative importance in the economy is inexorably declining in favor of firms based on technology, finance, and services. Classic Schumpeter creative destruction. Wonderful, until you realize that corruption is far easier in a service economy than in a manufacturing one. Enron, WorldCom, and the Wall Street analysts didn't manufacture a thing.

For another, the authors' analysis is impressive. The companies they study are household names-General Motors, Xerox, Merck, Kodak. It's not hard to relate to those. These companies have survived some bad shakes-the 1974 oil price shocks, the rise of an information economy that sucks up the best brains, a compliant but aging workforce, and globalization that hurts as much at home as it does abroad. In search of lifebuoys corporations spent 13 years trying to convert to TQM, six years to soak up Business Process Re-engineering, and three years to embrace network technology. The first two had inward effects: management got better. IT, on the other hand, made for better informed and therefore more footloose customers. Despite all these stopgaps, the decline continues.

In addition to its analytic interest, Changing Fortunes is a formidable resource of interpretive history. One detects the hands of dozens of grad students busily scrabbling together the raw material. The authors' main point-that industrial companies are on the way out-has a flaw, however: It is very US-centric. Offshore, manufacturing is still an extremely important engine of global wealth. Asia and Latin America set the pace in steel, cars, computers, televisions, and so on. If the authors had examined the top 100 global corporations instead of the Fortune 100, quite different conclusions might have turned up. One is that globalization has brought sovereign nations to grovel for the blessings of corporations the same way corporations grovel for the blessing of consumers.

The ultimate penalty for the regressive thinking that congealed over the great corporations analyzed in Changing Fortunes is the inspiration it gives to the tiny little lumps on the next bell curve-the inspiration to respond to a brick wall by walking around it.

This book is great for kids in grade school and junior high school. It teaches the fine points of cheerleading and baton twirling.

I highly recommend this book for grade school and junior high school children.

The story of Chief Joseph is one of the most important and disturbing chapters in American history. In this book, Bill McAuliffe provides an excellent introduction to Chief Joseph, the Nez Perce, and the amazing story of their flight to escape the American Army. The book contains some excellent photographs and a time line of events. It concludes with words from Chief Joseph, "The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it." This is a man and a subject that we all should know more about. This book is an excellent begining.

I first read this book in 1990 after it was assigned for a course on ministry with children I took in a graduate school for Christian Education. After 12 years I am still actively using it. The strength of the book is that it makes a convincing argument concerning the necessary of using children's literature in the Christian nurture of children. If you want children to learn to read and love the Bible, you need to use more than the Bible. This book convinced me of that. It demonstrates in practical ways how to use children's literature in connection with the Bible to give children a fuller understanding of the world God has made. Children's literature becomes a bridge linking the world of the Bible and the world of adults with the world of children. In addition to arguing its point and making excellent suggestions on how to use children's literature in the Christian education of children, the book also includes an annotated booklist of the best children's literature, the age groups for which it is written and a summary of the stories and themes you will find in each of the books. I highly recommend this book for parents, teachers, pastors and directors of Christian Education.

This book contains a history of how Christians viewed the age of the earth, the nature of methods of dating sediment, and reasons why the idea that the earth is young is false. It is a good book for any Christian wondering whether he must choose between believing in God or accepting evolution and the idea that the Earth is billons of years old. This book will also be good reading for scientists being drawn away from God by fundamentalism and young-earth talk.

I love Donald Davis's storytelling tapes about his Appalachian childhood, and this one is no exception. "Christmas at Grandma's" is a 45-minute tape that has 3 autobiographical stories on it, told in Davis's engaging drawl. My 7-year-old daughter has typically zoned out when I've tried to share books-on-tape with her, but she was immediately taken with this one, and has listened to it 3 times now. Then we loaned it to a friend, and she and her kids listened to it 3 times as well. Perfect for a family holiday car trip!

The Christmas Barn is an excellent read and gift for children and anyone that was alive during the Great Depression. I've purchased copies for everyone in my family. During these tough economic times, a look back to harsher times and the true Christmas spirit may make this book a classic one day!

Ironically, I read this book on Christmas Eve. However, it's message can be realized at any time of the year. The book's focus is on a twelve-year old boy during the final months of his grandmother's life. His relationship with her and her "final lessons" are very heart warming. No nail-biting plot, nor exploding ending, but I finished the book feeling renewed. If you want a feel-good book with no profanity, violence or sex, give this book a try. Recommended to all readers of Christian fiction.

I first checked this book out from the local library and picked out a few recipes to try for Thanksgiving prior to the Christmas holiday parties. I also took it to my mother for her to look at. She began writing down page numbers of recipes she want copies of too. After trying several of the recipes, which for the most part, were very easy, I decided I wanted this book in my home for year round entertaining. The craft and decorating ideas are also wonderful. I especially liked the tomato cage Christmas trees. It was simple to make and when I showed my friends they couldn't believe it--you have to see the pictures in the book to appreciate how simple and elegant they are and so inexpensive to make. For your holiday entertaining I strongly recommend this beautiful book.

Leroy Davis is a briliant scholar and an excellent teacher. His depth of knowledge on John Hope is amazing, and the real man comes through in this great book.

-Adam Rothwell