Semai: A Nonviolent People of Malaya is an Ethnography of the Semai (an indigenous people of South East Asia). The Semai are oart of the Orang Asli still living in Malaysia. Dentan bases the book on his own experiences with the Semai; describing their culture, technology and effect of the Western world on their way of life. The book is a little dated (as it was written in the 1970's). But documents a little known piece of humanity well. If native peoples, humanitarian causes and South East Asian culture are of interest to you, I recommend this book highly. There are other books on this topic on this site (just do a keyword search for Semai).

A book about a lesser known aspect of the failure of Johnson's "Great Society", "Stinking Creek" fairly describes the tug of war between a government that tries to "help" and an independent and sometimes proud culture that doesn't really want it. The book is filled with real people whose personalities are more richly and fully described than in any Dickens or Jakes novel. Although dated, the book portrays the bridge between the Roosevelt relief attempts and current welfare programs. Very readable.

I've used this book when researching abiotic and biotic processes and for modeling transport and fate processes. Chapter 8 covers the applications of transport and fate information with tracer studies, remedial technologies (i.e., cyclic pumping) movement of LNAPLs into the subsurface. Appendix A presents physical, chemical and fate data for priority pollutants which I have found helpful. Overall this is a good text and is a useful reference.

This book applies Myers-Briggs type theory and much more to the way managers operate. I found most interesting the distinction between type preferences, which are essentially given, and needs, which are formed by interaction with the environment. Needs are independent of type. For example, a Thinker can have high nurturance needs - the need to help and be affectionate towards others.

He has more interesting material about conflict management style and the kinds of power managers use. They were interesting, but unlike the needs discussion, I think it would be very difficult to accurately assess these for yourself. There are too obviously "right" and "wrong" answers in these areas. After all, don't we all know that it's usually not right or effective to use "coercive" power?

A good book, and worthwhile adjunct to those interested in applying more than just Myers-Briggs type to management issues.

A scathing chronicle of William and Nackey Loeb's tenure at the Manchester Union-Leader, New Hampshire's largest newspaper. The only paper with statewide circulation, Loeb took advantage of his monopoly to become a spoiler in national politics. The book covers Loeb's acquisition of the paper, its mismanagement, his adulterous affair with Scripps-Howard heiress Nackey Gallowhur, and the use of the paper for their personal vendettas. Sadly it's a little outdated since William died c. 1980 and it doesn't cover Nackey's involvement of the paper in Pat Buchanan's presidential campaigns in the 1990's. Still, it's still a bold critique, especially when you consider it was written at a time when Loeb had virtual blacklist power in the state.

Noah Webster (real name William Knox) writes his character Jonathan Gaunt as a believable ex-soldier who is now in an unusual position as money collector for the Scottish gov't. Unlike James Bond 007, Jon Gaunt is involved in realistic situations of murder and, until 3/4 into the book, clues which keep the reader guessing as to the true meaning behind the mystery of his mission. Good background in the descriptions of Bavaria and Munich both land and culture, along with a story ending which makes sense. Good creative, entertaining light mystery.

Beran's premise is an an intriguing one - that RFK was really a conservative liberal; but, in the end, his position is unconvincing. His entire argument is hung on Kennedy's attempt to reform welfare and empower neglected communities to overcome hardship. Although Beran sees him as a conservative trying to break free of the liberal shakles that bind him, I see it as the true effort of a man to seek a lasting solution. Perhaps it is a conservative notion, but the true story is not that he was a liberal or conservative but a free thinker. Furthermore, Mr. Beran's interjection that "faith-based initiatives" are clearly the true path to urban renewal is inappropriate and a view that is not shared by this reader nor the framers of our constitution.

The author further belittles Kennedy's opposition to the Vietnam war as shameless pandering for votes which is a view that I strongly disagree with. I believe that RFK "opposed the war" simply because he "opposed the war" and to suggest that he truly believed otherwise is baseless conjecture. It's as if the author is trying to recreate Kennedy into the man he wishes he could have been.

Although the author's assesments of the 20th century liberal, politically active, aristocracy are astute; and, his obvious respect for the character of Mr. Kennedy is appreciated, his attempt to jam a proverbial square box into a round hole simply does not work. Beran demonstrates clearly that he is well read but does not present an argument that is in the end logical.

This is a book best suited for academic types. It is more about the author's description of the "end of the American aristocracy" than it is about Bobby Kennedy. The writing feels overblown, using five dollar words when fifty cent words would have sufficed. And as other reveiwers here have noted, the use of the word "Stimsonian" over and over, without adequetely describing what a "Stimsonian" is(or was, or might be)got pretty annoying by the end of the book. Still, if ones interest in the Kennedy's is deep enough, the book does provide yet another take on the mystique surrounding one of America's most loved-and despised-families.

The premise alone of The Last Patrician is enough to make it a must read for any serious student of, to borrow from Arthur Schlesinger, Robert Kennedy and his times. Beran, a Groton and Ivy League educated lawyer, hypothesizes that Bobby Kennedy, in his efforts to find his own identity, was in the process of shedding his favorable opinions of the welfare state when he was killed. It's a pretty controversial claim. I mean, who would think that Bobby Kennedy might have had more in common with Bill Clinton or even Ronald Reagan than he would with Franklin Roosevelt, or his own bother Edward.
He describes the political and social world in which the Kennedys were brought up, which was at the peak of what could be called "the new American aristocracy." This new patrician class stressed athletic prowess, as well as intellectual pursuits. RFK became the epitome of this class, and through it saw how the welfare state was affecting American society. When he came to the realization, according to Beran, he broke with traditional liberal thought, and was heading toward what might best be described as a compassionate conservatism, when he was killed in Los Angeles.
Beran makes his arguments convincingly, using analogies from all varieties of literature. His bibliography alone is something to marvel at, ranging from the typical RFK biographies to the diaries of Edward Gibbon and the poetry of T.S. Eliot. In the end, despite making a strong case, Beran does little convincing. The main thing that a reader can glean from this truly impressive work, as well as any others on Robert Kennedy, is a heartfelt sense of loss upon thinking of what might have been.

As a working sportswriter, like myself, the author should know that there is not a single player in today's NBA who would knock an opponent to the court, then utter the words: "You went down harder than the Hindenberg!" I doubt whether there is a single active pro basketball player that could even identify the Hindenberg, let alone use it as a taunt. (Who edited this novel?)

That sort of preposterous dialog -- and the hackneyed romance between Dee and her coach -- made it difficult to fully to enjoy Lupica's well-intentioned little fantasy.

After howling in Bump and Run, I couldn't wait to listen to Full Court Press.

The first half of the book continues at a great pace with a slew of colorful characters. The last half was a let down. I enjoyed it, however, it wasn't as crisp as Bump and Run.

With that being said, I would still recommend either buying or listening to this story.

Mike Lupica's "Full Court Press" is a sports fantasy in which the flamboyant owner of the worst team in the league signs the first woman to play in the NBA. Dee Gerard is the illegitimate daughter of a New York playground legend and a star in Europe who impresses a scout for the New York Knights. If you hear echoes of the real world twisted this way and that (Dr. J's daughter, Nancy Lieberman, etc.), then you realize that is part of the game here (is Dee's teammate a "nice" Dennis Rodman?). Try not to get caught up in figuring out if you are dealing with stereotypes or Frankenstein like creations composed of the parts of various real people.

Understandably Lupica has to tweak things to put Dee in a position to play in the NBA once he sets up the desperate franchise idea: she is basically a female John Stockton (sees the court, knows the game, can make the pass) with a healthy injection of Globetrotter style and flair. She is also the fastest woman ever to play basketball, which works for me as the secret ingredient. However, in terms of the story "Full Court Press" reminds me of the old Sammy Davis, Jr. joke: Sammy is on the golf course and somebody asks him "What's your handicap?" Sammy does a double-take and points out that being a one-eyed, Jewish, black man is handicap enough. Lupica saddles Dee with similar baggage: she is having an affair with her coach and sometimes she gets what is basically acute stage fright. So being a woman is, ironically, the least of her problems in this book. Fortunately she is pretty much the most level headed person in the book and so most readers will be inclined to wish her well and remember this is a sports fantasy, not a social argument (Earl Monroe says it will happen one day; anybody out there got the chops to argue with the Pearl?).

I watch ESPN's "The Sports Reporters" on a regular basis, so I have to admit that the Mike Lupica who wrote this novel does not "sound" like the same one who goes from articulate rationality to passionate diatribes at the drop of a hat (or one liner from a cohort). There are insights into the world of sports in general and professional basketball in particular (they might not know the game, but these kids today are FAST) scattered throughout the book, and I found a really good insult for somebody from a farm I would dearly love to use someday. Certainly Lupica has a feel for the game (so does the dust cover, where the basketball feels like a basketball). The resolution leaves a lot to be desired, but the journey is fun and it is a good read. "Full Court Press" can keep you occupied during the first three quarters of a NBA playoff game when nothing is happening.

This ill-conceived and poorly written compilation of superstition and combined myth and fairy tale has nothing of redeeming value except for the study of possible ancient beliefs. I write "possible" as there are no corroborating texts with which to gauge whether or not described customs were in fact part of the described culture or simply "literary license" by the author. Without this, nothing credible exists within the text.

Wonderful version of this age old and fabulus crutch. Explore the limits of who we are - where we come from and how we shold treat each other.

Theoretically this is morality. Politicians take note: Read this and learn from it. Everyone could (and should) take a page from this book. It would be a lot smaller. Not to be taken lightly or literally. Scholars will learn the lessons and forget the words.

The final point is: If you can't find someone to blame well then just blame it on God. Perhaps you should buy numerous copies to prop up your life when the good word just isn't working. When did it become necessary for a new version anyway? I guess politically correct has even gotten to the religious right. Did we find any new clues along the way?

For Gibbon-thumping Milton fans like myself, it's troubling to have to experience the poetic majesty of the King James Bible through some sorrily-printed Zondorvan or Nelson edition, especially as it is likely to be larded with commentary of the most dubious (considered archaeologically or theologically) nature. There's always "The Bible Designed to Be Read as Living Literature," but who wants to be cheated by abridgment (to say nothing of RSV substitutions)? This lovely Ivy Books paperback is the perfect answer to this dilemma. Its virtue is to present the KJV in a readable format, sans additions of any kind, with a majestic veined-granite cover. It places the Bible as a book among other books, without making it humble. A comfort in the hands and easy on the eyes, this edition allows the majesty of this Renaissance cathedral of Words to speak to the reader with all the billowing grandeur of its majestic style and substance. Nor would it seem cheaply out of place in a place of worship. Whether one seeks literary or divine intoxication, this edition is worthy of one's affection.

I didn't like this book at all. It's very small, very broad, and about as informative as asking a co-worker about their experiences buying a cell phone. This book had about the same "take away" as a compilation of Lifestyle articles from your Sunday newspaper combined with the glossy promo pieces that cell phone dealers give away. This book is barely more satisfying than eating a bag of microwave popcorn for dinner.   You'll not learn much about CDMA, TDMA, GSM, etc. In my opinion, you don't need to buy a book that tells you to be careful when you sign a cell phone contract, or that contract terms can vary, or that calling plans can come with lots of minutes or not so many minutes, or that you may run into something called "roaming". Yeesh. I know that some people need this information (I did, too, at one time), but a much better source would be a book that gave you those one or two paragraph tidbits PLUS some real meat on the bone (i.e., other information about the technology). In my opinion, a better book (which I now own) is "The Cell Phone Handbook : Everything You Wanted to Know About Wireless Telephony (But Didn't Know Who or What to Ask)" by Penelope Stetz. (And, no, there are no conflicts of interest in my recommending Stetz's book over Lenart's.)

This book is quite a bit different than most of the telecom books I have read. You should probably rely more on this review than you do its three star rating, since I really had a difficult time determining just how many stars to give it. It could have been given five stars, it could have been given just one. It really is a matter of perspective. I'll explain later.

How to Shop for a Cell Phone is a very short (40 pages) home-spun look at buying cell phone service. Despite the book's title, it is really more about buying cell phone service, than about buying an actual cell phone.

The reason why this book is so difficult to rate is because it is aimed at a completely different audience than the average telecom book is. It is aimed at complete telecom novices. It's really more of a consumer education booklet than a book about cell phones, so please don't get the impression that you will learn anything new about wireless service here. You won't, unless you know next to nothing about shopping for cell phone service.

For what the book tries to be, it does a good job. It is aimed at educating consumers that have never bought a cellphone before. It uses very short chapters (chapters are often less than a page in length) in order to explain general industry terms and answer questions that most first time wireless buyers have.

The book certainly isn't thorough in its explanations of technology. My biggest criticism of the book is that it seems to (accidentally, I'm sure) "talk down" to consumers. The book really looks like it is aimed more at children than adults, although few kids buy their own wireless plans. The entire volume is filled with cartoons of "Herbie the Cell Phone," a cutesy little character that introduces each chapter. It makes the whole book rather lighthearted, which just strikes me as sort of odd for a telecom book, for some reason. Maybe I am just in a grumpy mood today though.

Of course, it can be said that consumers don't have much of an attention span, and don't WANT to read any complicated, technical details. Since this book is actually aimed at consumers, only those involved in telecom will likely have the same (above) criticisms of the book that I do. Consumers may love the book for its simplicity. It seems to have garnered quite a few positive reviews from consumers, so I'm guessing that it does a good job at reaching its target audience.

So, why should you buy this book? If you are involved with the telecom industry already, you will not learn anything new here. It may make a very good book to have in your office, lobby, etc. for consumers to read while they are at your place of business, especially if you are in the wireless business. If you are a wireless agent or carrier, this may make a great book to distribute to potential residential clients. Donating this book to your local public library, schools, etc. would probably also win you some customers. It is very consumer friendly, and largely unbiased.

If you are a wireless dealer, it is worth picking up a copy to have around your office. You may even think of ordering copies for each of your sales locations. At [price], it really is not much of a bargain (for 40 pages), but it has few competitors.

Bottom line? If you know absolutely NOTHING about wireless service and plans, this book may be worth [price], as you will find good information and largely unbiased advice. Wireless dealers may find it a good consumer education tool. It seems to be slightly slanted towards supporting wireless agents, rather than superstores and carrier offices, so you may find this a good PR piece. Telecom people will learn nothing new from it, so they should pass on the title. The book accomplishes its primary goal though; consumer education.

Unlike other books which bore you with long winded discussions, this book gets right to the point with plain and simple language and illustrations. Herbie the Cell Phone (the main character in the book) points out pitfalls and things to look for with cellular contracts, phones, and accessories. Both new and experienced users can profit from this book. A MUST READ !