During the past ten years I have worked with a nunber of methodologies in the area of Root cause analysis. During this time I have seen none as effective and cost efficient as the PROACT methodologies showcased in this book.

Bob has written a classic RCA manual for all people in all industries. I personally have used both the methodology and software to great effect and would recommend them to anyone.

If you are serious about a reliability growth program in your site, then you need this book!

I co-ordinate a root cause troubleshooting clinic at a major engine manufacturer. We have had moderate success with our investigations and have developed several powerful methodologies. This book has taken our procedures one large step further with a coherent, effective method to analyse and document a problem to root cause. The combination of system diagram, logic tree and verification log described in the book is exactly the kind of methodology we needed and is proving very useful. The book is well written and is filled with useful guidelines for such required activities as information gathering and selection of the most productive analyses to perform. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in root cause analysis.

Closing the gap between the goals companies set and their actual situations is the overall focus of this book. Written by two experienced executives from the Reliability Center, Inc., the book helps readers identify, resolve, and eliminate the chronic plant floor issues, such as repeated equipment or system failures, that hinder the attainment of organizational goals.

Specialists in root cause analysis methodology, the authors discuss the roles of management and a root cause analysis team in prioritizing the problems to analyze, automationg the process, and helping to uncover the physical, human, and latent causes of undesirable workplace events. They point out that the gap between goals and reality that exists in virtually every industry leads to undesirable outcomes, failures, and incidents that siphon profits from the corporate coffers. To close the gap, they explain, companies must reinvent the way they work, understanding why errors occur and how to prevent them.

The book explains root cause analysis, which is a structured process designed to uncover the cause of any undesirable workplace event. The PROACT steps outlined in the book teach companies how to preserve event data, order the analysis team, analyze the data using logic trees, communicate findings and recommendations, and track for bottom-line results.

Case studies are used to illustrate the potential of root cause analysis, showing its effectiveness in particular in steelmaking, customer service, and manufacturing. Software for automating root cause analysis is also discussed. Informative, well-illustrated and well-organized text is worthwhile reading for any plant engineer seeking to understand why errors occur and to eliminate them, and have a direct positive impact on his company's bottom line.

I am an avid reader of Christian fiction. This book was listed as such so I purchased it. Well, the story was excellent. It kept you on the edge of you seat until the end. However, when I finished the book, I realized that it is a Mystery/Suspense novel not a Christian/Fiction novel. There is no mention of God, church or the Bible in this novel. It is an enjoyable short story, but if anyone is expecting Christian fiction, pick another book!

I first became aware of this gem after I was given a now out-of-print audiobook of the same. I acquired the book in hardback shortly thereafter. As others have observed, the masterpiece stands quite on its own as a darn good yarn. Forsyth goes further, however. The entire story is littered with tempting religous allegory. Consider, for example, flight Lt. Marks, Old Joe, along with the now abandoned storage depot with many rooms, and all of it occuring on Christmas Eve. However, none of it is spoon fed, and a number of dots left to the reader to connect. Originally written as a Christmas present for his wife, it is most certainly a gift for us as well.

It's Christmas Eve 1957, and an English pilot is flying his single-seat fighter from Germany, on his way home for Christmas. But when the electrical circuits fail, he is suddenly on his own in a lonely sky, unable to contact the men below who alone can guide him home through the foggy skies. With fuel running out, radio contact gone, and navigation impossible, and when it seems that he's destined to ditch only to freeze to death in a deserted sea, a miraculous saviour appears. A World War 2 style plane appears out of the gloom, and its brave pilot "shepherds" the helpless flyer down through the frosty night sky towards safety. Will he succeed? And why does the airport seem deserted? And who is the mysterious shepherd?

Although "The Shepherd" is a very short novel that can easily be read in under an hour, it doesn't hinder Forsyth from capturing your attention. He cleverly heightens the intensity of the action and suspense by using the first person point of view. The stricken pilot's fears and bewilderment quickly become your own, until they are resolved in a spine-chilling last-page climax that raises as many questions as it answers.

The gripping plot is marred only by a few incidences of blasphemy. But the paperback edition is beautifully enhanced by Lou Feck's full-page black and white illustrations. "The Shepherd" may be a departure from Forsyth's usual fare in that it is a short and sweet Christmas story that exploits the season's fondness for supernatural miracles. But it lacks none of his trademark spine-tingling suspense. Unlike the pilot, it will be a while before you come back down to earth after reading this one!

This book has given me hope for a better quality of life. I am not able to try all the herbs because I am nursing but the yeast diet has changed my overall health. I don't recommend doing everything he says in the diet or you won't eat much but just cutting out sugar and bad carbohydrates I have been healthy and my last cold didn't turn into the usual nightmare sinus infection I always get! Now my brother is reading my book and I recommend to friends suffering with sinus problems. Exercising is possible for me now and is keeping me healthier. The fatigue is getting better now too. I think if you can do the herbs you will have even better results than me. This book has really helped me!

I had sinus problems so bad I was on disability. My family dr sent me to a specialist. He said shoot this up your nose. Ridiculous, I'm in severe pain and disabled, not working!! I tried it for three miserable weeks. I proceeded to the library and said "Ladies I have a sinus problem what do I do?" They did not even hesitate--This book had just come out. I read the ridiculous things I had to do!! But figured if it was in its third edition I'll take it seriously. It didn't even take a week before I was getting relief. It quickly gave me a complete recovery!! Yes, I love having no pain. As to my family Dr. he said great try it, it shouldn't hurt.

My son was plagued by chronic sinusitis from 2yrs through the age of 7. After constantly being prescribed antibiotics, inhalers and even steroids, I came across Sinus Survival and the link to nutrition and food sensitivities discussed in the book. The difference was immediate and significant. The culprit: chocolate and cocoa discovered through the strategies suggested in the book. I highly recommend the book for chronic sinus sufferers as well as parents of children who have frequent ear infections. They may not need those ear tubes!

When Samantha stays at Piney Point with her family, she never dreams what will happen. Her mother died many years ago, but she always loved to spend time at Piney Point with her friends just like Samantha. But when she finds her mother's old sketchbook, she becomes interested. Where did her mom draw all the pictures of Samantha and her father, who also died, when she was a baby? Trying to understand her past, Samantha and her two cousins go to Teardrop Island, the place where the mystery pictures were drawn. Their grandma forbids them to go, but they go anyway. But when they get stuck on the island, they get scared and realize they shouldn't have gone. I liked this book, but it was more of a little-kid book than I expected it to be!

This book is about Samantha going to Piney Point with her aunt,uncle,cousins,and Grandmary,and the admiral. On a rainy day Samantha and her cousins go up in the attic and discover her mother's sketch book. In it there's a map to Teardrop Island. One day Samantha and her cousins go to Teardrop Island. On their way there's a narrow passageway and there are rocks under the water they couldn't see. Once they got to the island, they went to go find the pretty waterfall and her mother's sketch book. They also had a picnic there. Then it starts to rain and they try to go find their canoe but they couldn't. They become stranded and the admiral sets out to find them but he hits his head and Samantha has to save the day.

it's about samantha going to a vacation with her two other friends, they go to where her parents died because it looked wonderful, when they tried to get home, they find out that the storm swept their canoe and now they here moans for help! the rest is up to you to read.

This has got to be one of the best Avalon books yet. Emily now befriends a magical unicorn with musical magic and faces creepy harpies also wtih musical magic, destined to kill the unicorn. A story of friendship and a tale of a magical world,and an intruiging plot.

Ihave read all of the avalon books that have came out and this is probably my favorite. One reason is that the character that it mainly focuses on is my favorite character. it talks about Emily Fletcherk and how she and the rest of her group finds and saves a unicorn named Loraleigh. It's realy exiting and is full of adventure and comody. Not to mention it has a great story line.

I had to read a book for a reading project in school. I choose to read The Secret of the Unicorn(Avalon Web of Magic,4). I started to read the book and got really into it! I loved how Emily and the Unicorn had a magical conection! It was really tuching when Emily wouldn't give up the Unicorn! I love this book and recomend it to anyone who loves books!

This is a book of quotes by the Author arranged by subject and bound together as a book. When I read the description I thought it was a series of Talks like Ouspensky's "Fourth Way" or "The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution". In this book Burton focuses on the main tenant of the Fourth Way which is the practice of "Self-Remembering". Burton seems well read as he quotes many famous authors who one gets the impression that Burton believes are beyond men numbers 1, 2 and 3 especially Goethe. At times one wonders if Burton is speaking beyond his experience. A very curious quote in the book is "After many years of teaching, I have tired of the novelty of the system except for self remembering."

I have been interested in the teachings of Gurdjieff/Ouspensky for the better part of 20 years, and though I have had friends who have been involved in "The Work," I personally never have been, largely because I'm inclined to believe that the vaunted objective of "waking up" is most likely a chimera, and that the harsh rigorism of these teachings is exploitative of the natural sense of inferiorty and masochism that is latent in most human beings. In addition, I have increasingly tended to find the personalities of both Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, as evidenced by their biographers, repugnant: the former often seemingly insane, the latter insufferably pedantic; and both, evidently, hopeless alcoholics (though certain of their biographers come up with the most ingenious excuses for their behavior). The other thing I find particularly offensive about Gurdjieff and Ouspensky is their quasi-scientific cosmolgy, which contradicts much of what we know about science, and which at the end of the day is just too silly to take seriously.

The one major idea promoted by these teachers, however, which does resonate within me (though it was harped upon more by O. than G), is that of "Eternal Recurrence," and which has meant a great deal to others, too, such as Heraclitus, Nietzsche and T.S. Eliot, to give three examples. For "Eternal Recurrence" seems to me to be a very plausible explanation for the "metaphyiscal" dimension of our plantetary existence, without which the universe would simply have to be recreated anew, moment-by-moment. For me, there seems little reason to doubt that everything we do does indeed possess ramifications sub specie aeternitatis.

The author, Robert Burton, seems to feel this way, too, and his book downplays, without dispensing with, the regrettable cosmological basis upon which the teachings of G. & O. rests, and almost exclusively focuses upon what only might be accomplished in the here and now by simply "remembering ourselves." Unlike Ouspensky and Gurdjieff, there is something Zenlike and essentialist about Burton's book in the sense that it doesn't prominently display such cringe-worthy notions as the coldness of the sun, the consciousness of stones, incomprehensible hydrogen tables, the enneagram -- and all the other Gurdjieffian malarkey that seems so enticing to the half-educated. In fact, contra G. & O, both of whom you can hardly ever quote to the unconvinced without seeming like an unregenerate New Age lunatic, there are even passages in Burton's book that rival Marcus Aurelius in terms of their unpretentious immediacy, fitting for practically everyone except the spiritually ossified.

All things considered, though, as "inferior" human beings, we tend to make saviors out of those who seem to know a little bit more than we do, and at the end of the day I'm inclined to think that the teachings of Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, Burton, et al, have helped precisely nobody to transcend in any meaningful way the horrific eventualities that comprise the fate of everyone who dwells in this vale of tears -- fascinating as those teachings otherwise might be.

But then again, as Montaigne would say, what the hell do I know?

Being intimately familiar with the writings of Mr. Gurdjieff and Mr. Ouspensky, I can say that Robert Burton's teaching is a direct extension of everything those two men practiced and taught. Also, as a 25-year student of Robert Burton's, I know that nothing is easier to misunderstand than a teacher and a school. Mr. Burton's book, Self-Remembering, is a pure encapsulation of how he teaches and how he himself works, and the fact that self-remembering is the hub of practicing the Fourth Way. But, more importantly, this book offers readers an emotional--not just an intellectual--handle for determining whether they see something unique in the idea of self-remembering, and in the idea that an individual cannot work or evolve alone; that a school is necessary for establishing a correct foundation of knowledge, methods, and guidance. Readers may also want to keep in mind that this book was not written originally for publication, but for Mr. Burton's students. It was not intended to persuade anyone of anything, but rather to convey the understanding of a conscious teacher to his students, largely as a reminder to them of how to re-connect emotionally to their own need to make efforts to actually awaken.

While this slight volume can't hold a candle to something like Will Friedwald's comprehensive analysis of Sinatra's recorded career, it's quick and handy. Moreover, while the authors' selections will inevitably produce disagreements, their choices are unlikely to provoke incredulity (no "My Way," or recommendations from the "Duets" albums). And when there are multiple versions of the same tune, which is more often than not the case, the authors give helpful rankings of the best choices. But just to give you an idea of how necessarily inadequate a collection limited to 101 recordings is, Sinatra's absolutely sublime, definitive Reprise recording of "I Hadn't Anyone Til You" is not mentioned. Still, I find myself making more use of this book than any other about Old Blue.

The music of Frank Sinatra is timeless and though the title contains the words "the 101 Best Recordings", you may find that it is just a starting point and find your own 101 favorites. You have over 1000 songs to choose from so your picks are bound to be different than the authors. The book lays out 101 excellent songs, gives information to listeners (date recorded, album it can be found on, arranger, etc.) and tells the background of the song and sometimes an anecdote about when it was recorded. The book is not only for longtime fans of Sinatra's work (though they will be more familiar with all the names, etc.). If your Sinatra cd collection extends to one cd of his greatest hits, then this book can help you figure out where to go next. The stories and anecdotes may not mean much but you can figure out if you want to explore Frank's Columbia, Capitol, or Reprise years. For the experienced Sinatra listener, the book is excellent for starting debate with fellow Sinatra fans or perhaps rediscovering a gem you've forgotten or never really listened to before. Obviously, it is not a biography so don't expect stories about Frank the man, just Frank the singer. My only complaint is that I wish they gave more detail to the songs. I realize they had 101 songs to review, but I wanted more background about the recording session and Frank's opinions and views of the songs. However, there are other books for that.

How do you pick the 101 greatest Sinatra recordings? The authors certainly came up with arguably the definitive list,and presented it in a most enjoyable read.Another reviewer wished there was a CD boxed set to accompany the book. I did the next best thing. I have an extensive Sinatra collection and I happen to have all the 101 songs(the correct versions). I bought some high quality cassettes and simply went through my CDs and tapes and put together the audio to the book..three 90 minute and one 60 minute tape covered the 101 songs.Needless to say, it was a labor of love putting these songs in order and is fascinating to read the descriptions and history of the songs as they are playing.

Because Lily Brewster and her brother Robert live in a big house and drive a Duesenberg, their neighbors in Voorburg-on-Hudson assume they're well off. They don't know that the pair, wiped out in the crash of '29, will inherit their late great-uncle Horatio's estate, including that grand house and automobile, only if they satisfy his executor, Elgin Prinney, that they can support themselves for ten years. And what better way to support themselves than investigating the odd murder-like the case of a mummified corpse Robert finds in Horatio's long-disused icehouse, or the more recent demise of local vegetable grower Roxanne Anderson's lecherous husband Donald? Both these pale homicides are eclipsed by a subplot in which Jack Summer, editor of the newspaper Lily and Robert don't own, goes to Washington to report on the Bonus Army March-an episode that has precious little to do with the murders but at least generates some emotional warmth when President Hoover sends in troops to fire on the veterans of the world war. Even the home-front intrigue has less to do with crime and punishment-the tiny mystery breaks every rule for plotting the detective novel-than soap opera, as Lily's heroic sacrifice in getting her hair permed twice in order to pump a key witness upstages any interest in whodunit. The lack of momentum in Lily's and Robert's hardcover debut won't surprise Churchill's fans, who may well be curious to see how she handles a tale set in the '30s, the spiritual matrix for her contemporary Jane Jeffry series

At one time siblings Robert and Lily were card-carrying members of the idle rich, living off their father's fortune. When the stock market crashed in 1929, the duo was left destitute as their father committed suicide. Sadly, neither has a skill to earn a decent living--upper-class style, that is. However, a relative comes to the rescue by dying and leaving his vast estate to the brother and sister if they move into his mansion in Upstate New York and support themselves for the next ten years.

It proves very difficult to find work in 1932, but neither sit idle. Robert finds a body on the property and is determined to find out who he was, especially since Lily's new friend Roxanne is believed to have killed her husband though no corpse has been found. Lily knows her friend did not commit any homicide and decides to prove she is right. Is amateur sleuthing acceptable under the stipulations of their inheritance? The Brewsters do not care because they believe they must do the right thing regardless.

Jill Churchill has written a delightful historical cozy that captures much of the ambience of America's Great Depression. The bewitching Brewsters brood is adjusting to a radical lifestyle change while trying to help a neighbor. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME is enjoyable: the characters are engaging, the plot strong and vibrant, and the mystery cleverly executed.

Harriet Klausner

Someone to Watch Over Me by Jill Churchill is the third book in her Grace and Favor series. The previous two titles, Anything Goes and In the Still of the Night were delightful mysteries and Someone to Watch Over Me is a welcome addition to this series.

Set during the Depression, the once wealthy Brother and sister Lily and Robert inherit their uncle's mansion on the Hudson River. But the inheritance is predicated on the English law of Grace and Favor where they must live in the house for a period of time before they can rightfully own it. And their uncle added one more element to this inheritance in that both Lily and Robert must have jobs in the area and live only in the house before they inherit anything. The house comes with an array of interesting people who work for them in addition to some of the townspeople who quickly become part of their lives.

Unfortunately, times are tough for all including Lily and Robert who few in the village know that their family was a casualty of the Depression early on and their fortune no longer exists. With both their parents now gone, they must figure out a way to make ends meet. They come up with one idea after another to bring in some much needed income while they also somehow become amateur detectives. As she did in her two previous books, Ms. Churchill presents first one murder victim and then another as Lily and Robert become entangled in solving the murder And not content to have only one main plot at work, Churchill fully explores the plight of the average person as they deal with the Depression. A most interesting part of the book is when the author describes the workers march on Washington, DC for wages as well as their living conditions in tent cities erected around this area.

While I enjoyed the mystery angle of this book, which is enough to satisfy most mystery readers, it is the description of the area around the Hudson and the characters that really interest me in these books. Now once again I am waiting for the next title in this series to find out what everyone is doing and how life has been treating all of them.

Have you noticed the other five reviews here haven't reviewed this book at all, but just talk about McCammon retiring? This has got to be the strangest set of reviews.

Anyways, who here like Domino's Pizza better than Pizza Hut?

For those of you wondering... I read on a website about a year ago that Robert was coming out with a new novel... they even had a picture of the cover art. I don't remember the naem, but Robert said it was going to be a real departure from his work with more supernatural leanings. Hope it comes out soon!

I just discovered McCammon a few weeks ago when I picked up a copy of Swan Song at a thrift store. He is an amazing story teller. I now have a new favorite author and am trying to locate a copy of all of his works. I understand he no longer writes - our loss.

This book is about a summer at the beach, but it has a dry writing style "In the evening, when the tide is high again, and all yor guests have gone, you row around to the point, feeling lonely..." It is pretty wordy and my children (5 and 8) did not want a it read a second time - that is very unusual for a new book at our house. Something about the story seems boring. I would pass on this one.

Robert McCloskey's "Time of Wonder" is just that--an examination of a wondrous summer spent in Maine. He follows two sisters (and nominally, their parents and friends) as they spend their days sailing, swimming, battening down for a big storm, and so on. Nothing of great import happens, but McCloskey has a lovely, calming way of relating their story so that we feel the sisters' closeness, their connection to their environment, and their childlike ability to find beauty and interest in nearly everything.

McCloskey's book was first published in 1957, and the illustrations show this--no life vests in a lot of the boating pictures, children swimming without being watched over by a lifeguard or adult, and so on. Still, that's not a bad thing--it shows the protective, exclusionary nature of childhood and the risks children take without even being fully aware that they ARE taking risks.

The illustrations are lovely. These paintings depict Maine as being beautiful without neglecting to show the dangerous side of coastal life as well (witness the storm scenes towards the end of the book). There is a caressing, rhythmic feel to the text which subtly imitates the tidal pull of the ocean. What a perfect gift for anyone who vacations in Maine--or wants to.

I have been a fan of Robert McCloskey books since I was old enough to remember (which was quite so time ago) and I only recently discovered this book. I think I have all of his other books and have read them over and over again through life, finally passing them on to my own daughter.

This is no less of a joy to read than any of the other books written by Robert McCloskey. If anything, it seems almost more lyrical and more developed than his early books.

One item of particluar note is that the illustrations are in color, as opposed to the single color or black and white of his other works. It is wonderful to watch the progress of his art through the various books, ending with the beautiful art in this title.

This is a book every child should have, and will keep, hopefully, until it is time to hand it on!