I am recommending this book because it is very straight forward and offers a lot of good advise and templates. Some books are either quite dated (for example BPR in the 90's) or very academic. This book is definitely useful for current real-world needs.

I found Process Mastering to be a very valuable resource. The book is well written and straight forward in describing how to develop a process master.

In my field of information technology (IT), it is critical for progam designers to have a baseline of how a program presently works. This is best done by a representative team of end users. I have found process mastering the most economical and efficient way to get a document that describes the current system. By doing a process master the team becomes empowered to improve the present process without the IT people and to know what else they want or need IT to do for them. Additionally, the team becomes more effective in their participation in the joint application development (JAD) with the IT folks.

The philosophy behind the approach is very empowering to employees since it is they, the people who do the work, who develop the process masters. I am also pleased with the emphasis that the book puts on understanding the needs of internal and external customers.

Finally, I can recommend this book to anyone who has processes they want to improve and who sees the value of engaging the energy, thought and commitment of their employees to do it. This book, this process, is truly liberating even to the extent of giving meaning and value to previously mundane work.

Streamlining, downsizing, cost cutting, etc., are terms everyone in the business world knows all too well. Coping with these situations has become commonplace, but the solutions for replacing displaced personnel are not simple. The result is an increase in process variations, customer complaints, and production concerns that add to the stress everyone in the organization experiences. When a vacancy occurs, a manager's burden increases. The manager has to scramble to find a replacement who then must be trained to function effectively. Extended training times are a luxury that neither the manager, the department, nor the organization can afford, yet truncated training results in increased process variation and errors. In Process Mastering: How To Establish And Document The Best Known Way To Do A Job, Ray Wilson and Paul Harsin offer a solution.

While the title may give the impression that the book's purpose is to ensure that system documentation is compatible with ISO or ISO/QS requirements, the authors have a higher purpose. They recognize the problems managers face and also understand that the manner in which system documentation is developed is inadequate. They propose a method of developing process documentation that not only aids in the preservation of an associate's knowledge, but also helps to reduce the learning curve for new associates. An added bonus is a reduction in process variation during the training or transition period.

The authors define "process mastering" as the fundamental building block for continuous improvement, and as such, they describe a more complete and value-added approach to process documentation. While most organizations have used process mapping for documented processes, they have failed to implement a most important element, which is the evaluation of process needs and interactions which are used to determine the critical process steps. Combining the best of process mapping, quality function deployment, process analysis and planning, and cross functional team techniques in a simple manner, the authors present a more effective method for establishing the "best known way" to do a job.

The authors are not proposing a method that is either "magic" or easy. What they are proposing is a method that managers may use to avoid suboptimizing the system while juggling multiple projects and priorities. In addition to the flowcharts, forms, and templates, the examples provided in the book make this an excellent reference for managers wishing to evaluate or implement process mastering. Whether your specialty is manufacturing, engineering, quality, or auditing, you will find this book a worthwhile resource.

I use this book each year to teach my class about different countries and means of travel. I made up math related questions for small group work that includes estimating how many pumpkins could fit on/in each means of travel, How many for sale signs the man had to make, the children time themselves writing out the for sale sign that was attached to each pumpkin. Each child also uses multiplication, divison, estimating with the use of calculators. In the end the book, Pumpkins is a sotry for the chidren to express fellings and emotions about the mans experience in his field of dreams.

I am lucky enough to be able to see Ms. Ray and thumb through her books at the Concord Farmers Market each weekend. She is a lovely, magical lady and this is a lovely, magical book! I cried when I first read it and it still makes me weepy because it shows such love and hope. (I am a grownup.) It is also very witty and it SOUNDS good out loud, so parents won't get tired of reading it over and over to the children. Everyone should have a chance to read and re-read Pumpkins, any time of year (it's not a Halloween book, really). Several local conservation organizations carry this book because it demonstrates (in a technically unrealistic way, but that really doesn't matter) how one person can make a big difference. I can't imagine anyone not being touched and amused by this book.

This sweet book captivates younger readers with its wonderful painting illustrations, and the simple story of one man's determination. I love the spare, simple text full of evocative details (when he needs to write explanatory tags for every pumpkin he ships to countries that don't have pumpkins, "luckily he knew how to write in many languages"). This is one of those that I get a lump in my throat reading even after who knows how many times through it.

The Wild West days of the dot-com craze are behind us, but e-business strategy remains a largely uncharted frontier. In fact, e-commerce seems more bewildering than ever, now that many of the strategic maxims that the Internet bubble was built on have been proved false. To help you get a handle on the revolutionary technology that has survived the collapse, Nirmal Pal and Judith M. Ray have collected articles by researchers and executives, including many from their home base, the e-Business Research Center at Pennsylvania State University. This anthology constitutes a solid and well-researched book, which has sufficient gravitas (and jargon) for an academic and enough practical information for an entrepreneur. The multiple authors sometimes overlap as they dissect various e-business approaches, but all offer worthwhile ideas. We [...] recommend this book to executives at any company, since Internet technology is now ubiquitous, and distinctions between old economy and New Economy are fast falling by the wayside.

The various authors examine "key themes" that intersect all manner of changes now occurring during what they characterize as an "information revolution": free agency, compressed supply chains, co-opetition, obliteration of boundaries, e-leadership, the elimination of hierarchies, emergence of electronic marketplaces ("bazaars"), club membership, and finally, "trust brokers" who serve as "an incentive and penalty mechanism to uphold the 'digital order' in global, real-time electronic markets." The material is presented and then developed by within 14 chapters. In Chapter 1, for example, Ghadar and Leonard "deliberate on how the digital economy is forcing a fundamental and permanent shift in the way enterprise strategies are developed, and in the process raise significant new challenges for managers. In Chapter 7, Bhargava and Lee "provide valuable insights about emerging technologies and practices that will help organizations remain open and flexible in response to the changing technological environment so that past information technology investments remain useful and valuable in the future." And in the final chapter, Loomis and Gerhard "identify several strategic issues facing executives who must lead or interact within the e-government environment." All manner of forces are driving the expansion and consequent complexity of the "digital frontier" and at an ever-increasing velocity. Here in a single source are a range and diversity of perspectives on this process. The editors are to be commended on the selection and presentation of the 14 separate but inter-related essays. I also appreciate the "About the Contributors" section which identifies dozens of supplementary sources to consult for those to wish to explore specific issues in much greater depth. Those who share my regard for this book are urged to check out Profit from the Core, written by Chris Zook with James Allen, which suggests a number of growth strategies which are also worthy of careful consideration.

This is a wonderful collection of leading edge research and practical advice from experts in the field of e-business, e-commerce, and e-"anything". The authors and editors have created a very timely set of e-business thinking, imperatives, and recommendations, as well as practical and real life examples to cement the concepts. I highly recommend this book!

This volume continues the saga of Ray Metzker as one of the 20th century's premier photographers. His change of subject from urbanscape to landscape will startle those familiar with his opus. However, Metzker's focus on shape and design, and his darkroom mastery, bring us home. This volume leaves us wondering what will be next.

Ray Metzker is an experimental photographer whose work in the 1960s transform black and white landscape photography into a fine art. Ray K. Metzker: Landscapes showcases twelve series of his photographs. Evan Turner's informative essay on Metzker's life and work places this master photographer with an art-historical tradition spanning the contributions of such innovators as Boucher, Monet, Klimt, and others. An enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, academic, or community library photography collection, Ray K. Metzker: Landscapes was flawlessly designed and based upon a major traveling exhibition of his work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (November 18, 2000 through February 11, 2001. Thereafter the exhibition will travel the length and breath of the country.

Metzker is a modern experimental photographer well known for his city photos. Landscapes departs from his tested realm into landscapes, collecting rarely seen works - most of which have never been published - and packing in black and white full-page images made around the world. Landscapes accompanies a traveling exhibition but also stands well alone.

A detailed explanation of the universal forces which affect everyone and everything, and which can be manipulated for good, that's what I've learned from this work of DK and Alice Bailey. Clearly enumerated and explained are the rules for disciples and initiates, a must for anyone who is serious about serving mankind. Words of power affecting these forces, called "rays" in Alice Bailey's books, are divulged to the attentive reader, who wishes to follow the path of the chela, or student of the Masters, whose fields of activity are also shared with the readers. This book is a MUST for all industrious servers of mankind.

Some works of litterature is truely byond reviewing in the normal sense: You dont choose to take on the challenge of understanding the works of Søren Kierkegaard or C.S.Peirce because they got a better review than say the works of Kant or Hegel. I think in most cases you study such a work because they promise a deeper understanding of the general questions that you are strugeling with in life. In this case i would suggest that an interest in making true your aspirations for a life in service of humanity and a desire to expose yourself to a range of advanced suggestions from your freind and teacher Djwhal Khul would make up a sound basis for the study of this book. If you choose to do so The Rays and the Initiations offers a continuous source of inspiration which you will properbly value for decades. Leaving the advertising of quick fixes to others the book represents a clear view of the longterm goals in the unfoldment of your soul-pontential. In the way that it speaks to your deeper layers of soul wisdom I think that it is very suggestive of the relationship that you will devellop with ur master as you progresses on the path. There is in my experience a very real spiritual stimulation resulting from any attemt to grasp the vision of this book.

Out of the many volumes of Alice Bailey books, there are a few that truly are written at a higher level, and whose contents will endure long into the future. "Treatise on Cosmic Fire" is one of those, being exhaustively profound all through. "The Rays and the Initiations" is another, whose information is valuable in a profound way. The book offers many esoteric catechisms and allegories that are intrinsically valuable to anyone seriously into meditation and contemplation. The "14 rules for initiation" given in the early volume "Initiation Human and Solar" are reproduced at a "higher consciousness" level. Whether the casual observer needs to believe this is beside the point. The wisdom and esoteric knowledge hinted at in this book makes it stand out as a valuable tool.

The descriptions and implied definition of initiation is non-sectarian and considers the person as a soul, who passes through many incarnations in order to "stand at the portal" to participation in a permanent and elevated awareness of life. I've had complaints from readers of AAB that she was at times antisemitist, talking of Aryans and all that! I think that the intention of the author was not racist, and that the reader should seek to view it that way.

Intitiation is a testing experience, and many of the pitfalls and potential hazards are described here. It seems that true seekers of illumination risk their sanity at many points along the way. However, just reaching the "door" to this experience is triumph in itself.

There is emphasis in this book on "group awareness". This is due to the time coming when there is inner awakening of the disciple to the group of sisters and brothers. These are not literally our siblings, but the inner family with whom we share our spiritual journey in service to the planet and its living creatures.

There is also a very practical large section on building the link between lower and higher self. This link is known as the "rainbow bridge" in some books, or, as here, is called the Antahkarana. Many meditation techniques use this sort of idea to reach higher awareness.

Finally, its worth adding that AAB books can get rather heavy, especially if you try to read them as you would a novel. However, this book has a lot going for it spiritually (I think at least) and the purely interested intellectual reader may find there is lots to try put into a perspective.

Most people are ignorant to the issues discussed in this book and are walking around pretending to live. You have not lived until you experience the concepts of Rebirthing. I first read this book prior to my first Rebirth in January,1990. I woke up, I was no longer amongst the walking dead, it healed me, Rebirthing is the fastest tool/modality for clearing old negative programming and healing all of our stuff/emotional baggage. I am waiting patiently to get hold of a copy, as I am now a Rebirther and wish to recommend this book to my clients, however it is OUT OF PRINT and I know it is in high demand, so someone should get moving on re-printing this book! Thankyou Leonard Orr and Sondra Ray (spelt S-O-N-D-R-A) for all your amazing fantastic books, I own many of them and I am hoping to have the whole collection before the year is out. Truly amazing reading, it is more than a read it is an experential exercise!!! An ongoing process which transforms your whole life.....!!!

Helen Hriskin, International Rebirther, Australia

A Friend let me borrow this book (the older version with Leonard Orr) and I found it wonderful. It touched on important issues for me. This book is a basic for anyone interested in self-healing. I was VERY disappointed to find it out of print, and am interested in getting a copy for myself (old or new version). If you know where I can find one please email me at Towerflower@aol.com

Excellent tool for Spiritual Healers... I'm looking for any version of this book, english or spanish... please contact my e-mail with any information about it... thanks rosamariaychris@netscapeonline.co.uk

It was a privilege to learn the subjects of SEM and TEM from the the author of this book himself (David Joy). This is an excellent book which starts from the basics and it depends on the researcher how deep he wanna go. The book provides in depth analysis as well if required. Great resource book.

Goldstein et al have written a book that serves as an excellent introduction to the SEM, and is also a formidable reference. When I took SEM at NC State University, it was taught from this book. Between our professor and this text, I learned the ins and outs of the SEM, and I keep the book within arms reach whenever I'm at work.

Goldstein covers everything from the basics of operation, through image formation, sample prep, usage in particular fields of study -- everything!

If you get one SEM book, get this one.

This is an excellent textbook for graduate students majoring in Materials Science. The text is easy to read, and accompanied by plenty of photographs and schematics, is easy to understand. Covers almost every aspect of SEM and X-ray micro-analysis e.g. underlying science, technology, and practical use. Each chapter begins at a basic level and gradually develops the subject to intricate detail, and depending on the level of study one may skip chapters or part of a chapter.

What a great variety of classic sci-fi. Having recognized some of the titles & authors, I knew this would be good. Though the sound quality is not what we'd have today, it is superior to a lot of other radio broadcast reproductions I've heard. The slightly "scratchy" recordings of some of these gives a more nostalgic quality without diminishing the quality of the reading/acting. It some cases, the sound quality added to the mystery and suspense.
This collection is varied, having aliens coming to earth, earthlings going to alien worlds, humans reaching new frontiers on earth... actually under the water, immortality through science, and even kids involved in the storyline.
A better selection couldn't be put together than this. For a lifetime sci-fi fan and writer, this is "Sci Fi Hall of Fame" stuff.

My mother remembered the night Orson Welles panicked the country with "The War of the Worlds." I asked her if she was fooled by the broadcast and she said she was not. She was listening to Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy on the other channel. Two things contributed to the hysteria caused by Welles' broadcast. Firstly, the news-report format of the show was extremely realistic, and secondly a number of listeners switched over to "The War of the Worlds" partway through the broadcast when an unpopular singer followed a commercial on the Charlie McCarthy show (I thought people didn't start channel surfing until the invention of the TV remote).

One wit said that all the intelligent people were listening to the dummy and all the dummies were listening to "The War of the Worlds." But that is unfair. When I listened to the show the first time, I was struck by the realism of the radio announcer's panicked description of the Martian attack. It reminded me of the broadcast of the Hindenburg tragedy, and I wasn't at all surprised to learn that the actor who played that part had consciously tried to model his delivery after that broadcast. We'd like to think we're smarter than our countrymen from that earlier time, but you need only look to the recent Y2K panic to realize we're not as sophisticated as we think.

"The War of the Worlds" isn't the only gem in the collection. "Donovan's Brain," "The Martian Chronicles," "The Time Machine," and "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea" are classics by anyone's definition. The other stuff isn't quite as good as these excellent episodes, tending toward sci-fi formula stories and space opera, but the high quality of the named shows would be hard to equal in any genre.

The fifties were the "Golden Age" of science fiction writing, with talents like Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Alfred Bester all in their prime. Judging from the quality of the offerings in this collection, fifties radio sci-fi measured up quite well against printed science fiction.

A great collection. It has many classic shows, such as "The War of The Worlds", "Escape", and "Suspense". Ther is only one other radio show it needs. That is "Escape"'s brodcast of "The Earth Abadies". But it still is a fascinating collection.

In "Suspense"'s "Donovan's Brain", a multimillonaire's brain is kept alive by a scientist, played by Orson Wells. In "The War of The Worlds", Earth is invaded by martains. In "Lights Out"'s "The Metor Man", a semi vampire alien haunts a human couple. There are many more classics in this collection. Get it!

I am teaching an Economics class at the beginning college level at a private business college. This book is one of the better business textbooks I have encountered. It provides real-life and simplistic examples to help students understand complex issues. I recommend it.

C. Le Fevre

The book was pretty much cleaner than I expected!! All the deals went very smoothly, and I really like purchasing through Amazon.com already! Thanks for all the good deal!

The authors provide an understandable presentation of the dynamics of demand/supply, the price structure, equilibrium and concepts of elasticity. The data employed is current & this version is supported by the publisher in various prior versions , as well as, this successive version. The work has considerable technological support in the form of the CD Rom and various instructional materials.The authors provide a useful "News Analysis" to integrate current events into the text. This is very useful in providing background information for students. The problem sets are topical and challenging. There is a considerable discussion of international economics and transitional economies. Overall, the text can satisfy a wide range of student interests. i.e. Those students having a quantitative orientation will appreciate the considerable graphs throughout the text. Students having a more visual learning experience will enjoy the various news items throughout the text & the extensive discussion of basic definitions. The chapter summaries and WEB exercises are helpful in integrating the material & applying the various concepts using current technologies. This text should be employed for intensive renditions of introductory economics at the collegiate level.There is an appropriate amount of microeconomic coverage in the Principles of Macroeconomics, as well as, the more comprehensive Principles of Economics work. After having read this book, students should have a firm grasp of economics and the various data employed by industry. In addition, students will become more knowledgable on current events applicable to studies in this field. This work would provide very helpful background for further studies in Price Analysis and Econometrics (Mathematical Economics).

I read this book straight through in one sitting. The parts about the authors two dogs are particularly funny. (I don't blame the Doberman for hiding under the table). I hope he writes another book with further adventures. I would definitely buy it!

Mr. Parker has a delightful sense of humor--something that as a fellow rver I know can be of immense value on the road. I can identify with most if not all of the situations he described and found the book both entertaining and accurate in describing some of the "difficulties" that an rver may encounter along the way. I look forward to hearing more of Mr. Parker's travels in the future--whereever his rv may take him.

Parker's written for some big-name comedians, as well as for MotorHome magazine, and he sure has a funny way with words. Anyone who's traveled in an RV will love this book. The audio version, read by the author, is great listening