MAD - Cover to Cover: 48 Years, 6 Months, & 3 Days of MAD Magazine Covers

Book Description

Collected here for the first time in one easy-to-dispose-of volume is an inside look at the outside of Mad. Launched in 1952 as a ten-cent comic book, Mad was transformed three years later into a twenty-five cent (cheap!) magazine. Over the years one thing remained constant: Every issue had a cover. And here they are, complete with running commentary by Mad's poet laureate, Frank Jacobs. Join idiot cover boy Alfred E. Neuman as he's depicted by the magazine's greatest cover artists, including Norman Mingo, Kelly Freas, Richard Williams, Mort Drucker, chimpanzee J. Fred Muggs, and Leonardo da Vinci. Including rare, never-before-seen art, photos, and sketches, Mad: Cover to Cover is a fifty-year roundup of Mad humor from its humble inception right up to the present as it celebrates its 400th issue as the world's foremost satire magazine. Hoohah!

Customer Reviews:

Five Stars Plus.......2006-07-23

Among the most enjoyable books of my experience. Just the high quality reproduction of the covers would make this a great book. Add to that a fantastic presentation! Amazingly done.
A richly savory festival of imagination, creativity, insight(cultural, sociological, philosophical, etc.) and, of course, delightful humor and splendiferous transcendental artwork. Lots of charming tidbits including photos, extra art reproductions, etc.
Thanks Frank and The Usual Gang for this inundation of funshine and good cheer!

Best sight gags ever, although some background needed.......2005-03-26

If there are better sight gags than those on the cover of Mad magazine, then I have yet to see them. This book is a collection of the first 400 covers and some of them had me hysterical with laughter. My favorite was the one where Alfred is holding a hard taco shell behind a Mexican dog that is straining mightily. Others were just as funny, although some did require explanation. The producers of the magazine were not above applying a little duplicity when creating the covers.
The only drawback for younger readers will be that knowledge of the current events of the time is a precondition if you are to get the joke. For example, some covers feature political figures, and if you don't know anything about them, the joke is lost. Other covers are spoofs of hit movies of the time, so the explanatory captions are a welcome addition. Having lived through those times, I understood most of them, but there were a few times when I didn't understand the joke until I read the caption.
This book is very funny and you cannot help but be impressed by the quality of the artwork and the zany intelligence that went into the covers of Mad. The producers of Mad constantly lampooned themselves as idiots, but they were without question geniuses.

a must have book for mad readers.......2004-10-13

this book is well designd and gives all the information about the covers over the years, including notes about the spacial covers.
i highly recomand this book to any mad reader.

How the 'usual gang of idiots' spent forty-eight years........2002-11-24

The first copy of Mad I saw was issue 29 in September 1956 (still got it too) and I was hooked. How could a magazine be so funny and be so spot-on with its satire? Easy, just employ the `usual gang of idiots' that's how. I kind of grew out of it when I discovered the National Lampoon, how could a magazine be so funny etc, etc. But I have always had a soft spot for Mad and this book of covers is a super addition to my back issues and other Mad books.

All 399 (up to November 2000) covers are in this well designed and printed book Mostly one or two covers to a page sometimes with Frank Jacobs' commentary and with a lot of the latter covers you get to see the preliminary cover roughs. As the years go by you can see how the covers changed from simple visual gags into ones that are much more graphic and busy because they have to work harder on the newsstand. The ideas are still very funny after all these years though. My favorite is issue 35 (October 1957) a wraparound that celebrated the fifth anniversary with a great painting from Norman Mingo showing a few dozen very famous American merchandising characters seated round a dining table, Alfred's at one end grinning. I would love this as a poster.

I think it is worth mentioning for Mad fans the seven CD-ROM `Totally Mad' set, every page from the issue one thru to December 1998, the interface is very user friendly and the discs have a lot of additional aural and visual surprises.

BTW, Robert Silver's photmosaic book cover, made up from the magazines covers, is stunning.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

BEST BOOK EVER.......2001-08-17

I loved this book , mostly because Im a mad magazine FAN!!! BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!! GREAT BOOK

Book Description

This time-hopping series chronicles the naughty rompings of monumentally stacked English girls, as they satisfy one another in a Sapphic frenzy through the ages!

Customer Reviews:

Hot, humorous and strangely British.......2000-08-29

This graphic novel collects the 4 issues of the Eros series of the same name.

It chroniclas 4 lesbian encounters between the same women working backwards in time from the 1990's to the 1950's to the 1890's and finally 1000's.

Each encounter is explicit and erotic but the setting and dialogue retain an essential Britishness that is charming and amusing simultaniously.

The story is minimal with only the final (or chronologically first) encounter offering any explaination of their encounters through the ages.

The art is worth of special praise all too often being the let down of such books. It is (like most Eros books) black and white and drawn with close attention to detail and scant regard for gravity as our two protagonists tend towards the pendulous end of the breasts range.

It's worth noting that the colouring on the Cover art is quite nastily done and the un inked art inside is considerably nicer to view.

Also worth noting that it seems to ship to the UK without any hassles from Customs (always a bonus)

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A Workshop in a Book!

Including interactive online 3D storyboards

Very clear and useful...

Clears Away the Cobwebs!

A practical how-to guide with plenty of examples

Film Directing: Cinematic Motion, Second Edition
Steven D. Katz
Manufacturer: Michael Wiese Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Direction & Production | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Michael Wiese Productions)

Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film & Television

The Film Director's Intuition: Script Analysis and Rehearsal Techniques

Film Directing Fundamentals, Second Edition: See Your Film Before Shooting

The Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques

ASIN: 0941188906

Amazon.com

A sequel to Steven Katz's Film Directing Shot by Shot, this book tackles specific problems of staging cinematic scenes. How should directors shoot scenes in confined spaces, such as small rooms or the interior of a car, in large open spaces, or with a number of characters involved in busy dialogue? As in his previous book, Katz addresses these problems by storyboarding hypothetical scenes for the camera, laying out a drawing of each shot in the sequence for readers to study. As a bonus, the book is peppered with interviews about creating shot sequences that Katz conducted with a number of professional filmmakers, including Allen Daviau, Ralph Singleton, and John Sayles.

Book Description

The book uses extensive illustrations to explain how to create extended sequence shots, elaborate moving camera choreography, and tracking shots with multiple story points.

Customer Reviews:

A Workshop in a Book!.......2004-07-13

Cinematic Motion, by Steven Katz, published by Michael Wiese Productions, is another one of those absolutely must-have books for serious filmmakers. The subtitle, A Workshop for Staging Scenes, is just what this valuable resource and reference manual is...a workshop in a book! It's unique in that it is written from the film director's viewpoint. The focus of the book is on creative visual staging of each scene, and the storyboards and diagrams are clear, consistent and workable. Katz shows you how to choreograph scenes and create illusions, as needed, through blocking, camera movement, moving an actor or actors in a scene, and staging, in scenes with confined spaces up to large spaces, interiors and exteriors. The interviews with director John Sayles (The Secret of Roan Inish; Passion Fish; City of Hope) and production manager Ralph Singleton (Pet Sematary II; Clear and Present Danger; Last Man Standing) are very informative and helpful for the beginning filmmaker and the experienced filmmaker alike.

Including interactive online 3D storyboards.......2004-06-06

Now in an updated second edition, Film Directing Cinematic Motion is an extensive how-to manual especially for aspiring and practicing directors to fine-tuning the art of creating a personal camera style, piecing together extended sequence shots, make the most of digital technology for visualization and script breakdown, and much more. Including interactive online 3D storyboards for hands-on practice, Film Directing Cinematic Motion is extremely down-to-earth in its presentation, offering direct Q & A with an expert, extremely detailed situational examples, frame-by-frame diagrams to illustrate complex points, and much more. Highly recommended for anyone involved in the field, whether amateur or professional.

Very clear and useful..........2002-10-10

...as well as "shot by shot" from same writer. Very nice explained, b&w illustrated and easy to understand. Perfect guidebook for beginners and also indy filmmakers.

Clears Away the Cobwebs!.......2002-05-17

This fine, detailed & user-friendly book opens up a director's view of the world of cinematic movement & how it relates to good story-telling through film. Staging scenes, blocking, camera movement, choreography of scene movent, reverse shots, camera angles, tracking, exterior & interior shooting, staging multiple characters in a scene...it's all here, with drawings that clearly illustrate the informative text.

A practical how-to guide with plenty of examples.......2001-04-03

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning to compose better pictures of any kind. This unusual book takes a "through-the-lens" approach to presenting ideas about how to compose pictures. This is a refreshing break from abstract "art-babble" discussions that offer the reader little practical guidance about where to point the camera. In addition to video and film, still photographers will find this book especially interesting.

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Mel Bay Complete Electric Blues Guitar
Mike Christiansen
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Blues by the Bar: Cool Riffs That Sound Great over Each Portion of the Blues Progression

ASIN: 0786668679

Product Description

From blues rhythm guitar to soloing, this book will help you learn in a step by step manner to play blues guitar styles similar to greats such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, BB King, Eric Clapton and others. You will learn the different techniques used in playing blues guitar and how to combine these elements to create your own blues solos and rhythm parts. The book contains sections on the blues progression, comping, power chords, turn-arounds, blues fills, scales, double stops, common blues licks, use of the whammy bar, how to get a blues sound, and how to build a blues guitar solo. The text is written in notation and tablature. This set includes a stereo play-along CD and 110-minute DVD.

Mel Bay's Complete Electric Blues Guitar

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Mel Bay's Complete Electric Blues Guitar
Mike Christansen , and Michael Christiansen
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Interesting insight into this Dame's career.......2007-01-05

I read a review that had said this book doesn't go very far into Dame Judi Dench's private life, but rather sticks with her professional career, and this is very true. The book highlights Judi Dench's career from the very beginning by focusing on all that she has accomplished professionly. The book isn't totally void of private tidbits about Judi Dench, few have been generously exposed and are pleasant to read. My favorite parts of the book are told about how Judi Dench loves to play funny tricks on her costars, she will go far for a laugh. I have seen quite alot of her work and it is really neat to read about the behind the scenes antics and dramas that went on. Overall, great read and very enjoyable for anyone who is a Judi Dench fan, you will learn alot from reading this book.

Interesting if one dimensional........2006-08-01

This is a gently and beautifully written book and embues a real sense of how the great Lady has developed her craft and how it has developed her as a person. I found it particulary interesting in terms of Dame Judi's early life as she and I hail from the same city (York) and her Father was my Grandmother's family Doctor.
What you get from this book is really what moulded Judi as an actor, by and large it steers away from her personal life and personal expose. I for one am glad of this as too often the style of the modern biographer is to seek out skeletons lerking in cupboards first and foremost, however tenious the evidence.
This is more of a celebratory style of the working aspect of Judi's life, how it developed and what traits lie at her core, what it is that makes her one, if not "the" finest living British actress.
It is a compliment of a book and collaborative overhaul of her career form it's inception. It manages not to be sychophantic and feels, moreover like a gentle but very interesting conversation with Judi. It delicate style almost certainly reflects Judi's personality to some degree, a private and retiring woman not given to self inflation nor aduration. It's a hark back to respectful style of biography and chronicals a remarkable career superbly. A very different genre of modern biography and worth it for this reason but moreover for it's outstanding and wonderful subject.

Look into the life of a true actor.......2001-11-13

I'm an immense Judi Dench fan and waited for the publication of this paperback version of her biography. I wasn't disappointed. The author gives a complete picture of 'the Dame's' professional life--from her first stage parts up until her more widely known successes in the last couple of years.
Reading the book made me want to know this smart, funny woman who has now added 'M' (Bond movies) to her coverage of classical stage roles, television pieces and other movie parts. I came away with a somewhat better understanding of the enormous talent it must take to get to the heart of various characters. And, I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of the practical jokes JD loves to organize. I loved the 'corpsing' (the Brits use the term to describe actors 'cracking each other up').
Great reading for a 'Dame Judi' fan, or any fan of good acting, with an 'inside' view of the process.

Dame Judi Dench.......2001-04-03

This biography is a rarity. Its purpose is to share the tremendous career and achievements of Mrs. Judi Dench, and it happily is lacking what biography has often become. It is not several hundred pages of dubious gossip or borderline slander. It is not a litany of innuendo from those who claim some dubious relationship to the subject and then do their best to damage the individual's reputation. If you are looking for gossip-strewn trash, buy history as revised and fictionalized by Kitty Kelly. Mr. John Miller has written a wonderful book about a woman of substance and of great personal and professional merit. Unlike other biographers who survive based upon how low they will sink for tabloid attention, he did not write whatever someone would spew to relate a story that was not there.

Dame Judi's career has spanned a period that has allowed her to work with many of the greatest names of the theatre of the 20th Century. Additionally the actresses, the Directors and Playwrights also read like a list of those most accomplished in their fields. Many fans first met her as "M" in the James Bond Film Series, or as "Mrs. Brown", in her portrayal of Queen Victoria, or Queen Elizabeth in "Shakespeare In Love". The latter two films won her nominations for The Academy Award and the trend continued this year in Chocolat.

If you are interested in a story of a hard working actress, a woman who is a consummate professional, and respected by virtually all who have worked with her, this book is for you. However if you are like the journalist that opened a press conference by asking her a personal and intimate question, which caused her to rightfully dismiss the press conference format of dirt gathering from that day on, you will have to look elsewhere.

This is a great book about a woman who has succeeded in all areas she chose, and has done so with style and without the sordid notoriety that passes for fame today. Hers' is not a career of 15 minutes or 15, 30, or 45 years, but more like another legend Sir John Gielgud, who when he hit his 90th birthday never thought to pause.

Mr. Miller is to be commended for writing a worthwhile book and not a hardbound tabloid. If he seems less than objective due to the praise he has collected from her peers, it in fact only does "seem" that way. There are accomplished people today who can be admired and pointed to as role models. This book documents one. The other group tends to be long on press clippings and short on substance, but they also unfortunately sell books by the ton to book reading voyeurs.

Mr. Miller has written a work for the other readers.

Fascinating view of the British Theater and one of its Best!.......2001-03-25

I became interested in Judy Dench when I first discovered the British comedies that appear on American Television. "As Time Goes By" is my favorite and of course stars Judi. When I heard about her most exceptional career I wanted to learn more about her and see more of her acting. I found this book, which does give an "arm's length" view of Judi, the person, which I understand is her choice, and more power to her. However, I was fascinated with the in-depth information on the British Theater and those who have performed there over the last 40 years as told in this biography. It certainly describes many of the wonderful theatrical productions, and all that goes into making these possible. While Judi Dench is the central character, the book shows what a career in theater is like and all the many aspects of theater that go into every presentation. I did enjoy the book, and felt I had learned far more than anticipated about the recent British Theater.

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Judi Dench With a Crack On Her Voice
John Miller
Manufacturer: Trafalgar Square
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0297819631

Book Description

Whether it is her sunny temperament, or her gift of laughter or her wide-ranging abilities, or all three, Judi Dench is a star. Shortlisted for a 1998 Hollywood Oscar for her performance as Queen Victoria in Mrs Brown, she is widely loved and not only among the theatrical profession. Her long-running appearance opposite Geoffrey Palmer in the TV situation comedy AS TIME GOES BY has run to four series and gained her a TV Times readers' award as "the actress we most wish see more often on television". Her range is far greater than her rival Maggie Smith (Dench was created a Dame in 1988 two years before Smith). She juggles the National Theatre (a sell-out season in Sondheim's A Little Night Music and David Hare's Amy's View) withb tv and films (she is now established as 'M' in the latest James Bond series).

Judi Dench has always declined to write her memoirs, but agreed to co-operate with John Miller, whose life of Ralph Richardson was highly praised on publication in 1995. The only previous biography (by Gerald Jacobs and published in 1985) causes her to wrinkle her nose and laugh. "It didn't tell me anything I didn't know about myself. " John Miller's does that. The final chapter includes Dench's own diary she kept in the run-up to the Oscar ceremony in Hollywood in March 1998.

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JUDI DENCH: WITH A CRACK IN HER VOICE
JOHN MILLER
Manufacturer: ORION
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S6DS96

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Judi Dench: With a Crack in Her Voice
Judi Dench
Manufacturer: Orion mass market paperback
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OIK4VI

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Judi Dench: With a Crack in Her Voice
John Miller
Manufacturer: Welcome Rain
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PSBII0

Book Description

"Jenson, Fraser and their impressive contributors have provided us with something all too rare in the child & family services literature: a truly integrative volume. They argue cogently for a cross-systems perspective, an orientation to developmental 'risk' & 'protective' factors and a strategic process for identifying most favorable targets for intervention .The summaries of different service domains and the editor's emphasis on crafting the proper policy context for the integration of 'evidence-based' practices make this volume a 'must read' for seasoned policy makers, as well as beginning practitioners. This book will be an important resource for all involved in the kind of creative, science-based innovation so desperately needed in the child & family services field."Â - James K. Whittaker, University of Washington

â€œ What a book! A must read for those who provide services to at-risk children and their families. Jensen and Fraser call attention to the professionâ€™s blatant unwillingness to systematically draw upon existing research, and translate it to policy to advance the design of programs that remediate and prevent mental and physical health problems among the nation's youth. The application of the public health framework to programs and policies adds value to the usual suspects of perspectives/frameworks drawn upon by the social work profession. This book is very consistent with the ideas expressed in related professional and social science literatures, as well as that of federal and private funding sources. The authors boldly call for the triangulation of relevant theories and models of risk and resilience, and make a major contribution to social work research by advocating for the translation of empirical evidence into practical application.â€Â - Paula Allen-Meares, University of Michigan School of Social WorkÂ Â Â Â Â Â

We now know, more than ever, about why some children and adolescents develop social and health problems such as sexually transmitted diseases, drug use, and delinquency. However, this knowledge is not yet systematically applied to policy or program design, resulting in poorly integrated and often duplicative services for children and families. Social Policy for Children and Families: A Risk and Resilience Perspective uses a unique framework to help students understand effective public policy development. Authors Jeffrey M. Jenson and Mark W. Fraser argue that a public health framework rooted in ecological theory and based on principles of risk, protection, and resilience is essential for the successful design of social policy. This book applies the authorsâ€™ conceptual model across the substantive areas of social policy, including child welfare, education, mental health, health, developmental disabilities, substance use, and juvenile justice.Â Â

Key Features:

Applies a risk and resilience model to help readers understand and develop effective public policies for children, youth, and families
Offers recommendations for ways to advance a public health framework in policy design, implementation, and evaluation
Includes case studies, discussion questions, and web-based resources to prompt critical thinking and future research Â

Social Policy for Children and Families is designed for undergraduate and graduate students studying social welfare policy in the field of Social Work. It can also be used in a variety of Political Science, Public Policy, and Sociology courses. Â

Family Perspectives in Child and Youth Services (Child & Youth Services) (Child & Youth Services)

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Family Perspectives in Child and Youth Services (Child & Youth Services) (Child & Youth Services)

Manufacturer: Haworth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0866568506

Book Description

This is an account of the Battle of Stalingrad's later stages, written from the perspective of a radio operator in a platoon leader's, later squadron commander's, tank. Of the 145 men who started the campaign in his squadron, only six survived to the surrender on the 2nd of February 1943. After his tank was knocked out, Panse was pursued by Russian assault infantry and fired on by high velocity anti-tank guns. At one stage he and his commander had to shelter beneath the bodies of recently killed infantry as the only protection against the splinters of Russian rockets. Iron Horsemen (a reference to the unit's cavalry origins) is a tribute above all to the virtues of comradeship and group loyalty; Panse would never have survived the battle nor its aftermath were it not for the selfless care and concern of his fellow crewmen. To read Panse's account is to understand why the German Army, even in a situation of utter hopelessness, could hold on, to the amazement of its foes. Panse makes plain his sense of outrage at the cynicism of Goering, the sense of betrayal at the waste of his comrades' lives caused by the empty promises of succor for a doomed cause.

Customer Reviews:

Great First Hand Account.......2003-03-11

A great book, which though short in pages, gives a great first hand account of the battle of Stalingrad from the point of view of an ordinary soldier.

We have all read the top level strategic views of this world famous battle but to read of its effect on the ordinary combatant takes one actually there to the front line yourself

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Fascinating if one sided- a must read for all development workers. Unfortunately outdated

good points marred by over-the-top rhetoric and no solutions

A wonderful account

extremely disappointing

One part fact, one part rant

The Lords of Poverty: The Power, Prestige, and Corruption of the International Aid Business
Graham Hancock
Manufacturer: Atlantic Monthly Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Road to Hell: The Ravaging Effects of Foreign Aid and International Charity

The Trouble with Africa: Why Foreign Aid Isn't Working

The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good

A Bed for the Night; Humanitarianism in Crisis

Condemned to Repeat?: The Paradox of Humanitarian Action

ASIN: 0871134691

Book Description

Lords of Poverty is a case study in betrayals of a public trust. The shortcomings of aid are numerous, and serious enough to raise questions about the viability of the practice at its most fundamental levels. Hancock’s report is thorough, deeply shocking, and certain to cause critical reevaluation—of the government’s motives in giving foreign aid, and of the true needs of our intended beneficiaries.

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating if one sided- a must read for all development workers. Unfortunately outdated.......2006-05-29

Disclosure time- I work in the aid industry.

While I agree with much of what Hancock has to say (see below), this book is somewhat one-sided. Aid can reasonably claim a share in some positive world developments, such as rising life expectancy rates, decreased infant mortality, increase in primary education and literacy, growth in per capita GDP, and others. Undoubtedly, success has been patchy, and some areas, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, are worse off than they were fifty years ago, before the advent of the international aid industry. But in detailing its extensive failures, one should not completely ignore its successes (even if they maybe much less than what the aid industry claims).

With all that being said, I think a book of this sort is a must read for all aid workers, to bring us face to face with dark side of our work.

Here is a list of criticisms Hancock has about the international aid industry, and my own impressions.

1. International aid is a big bureaucracy more intent on keeping itself going than helping the poor.

My response- true- International aid is a huge bureaucracy. I spend my time writing and reading memos, and trying to get them 'cleared' as fast as possible. I literally spend no time with the poor.

2. International aid agencies spend money on big, wasteful projects that harm the poor and decimate indigenous societies.

My response: True depending on the development agency/country mission. Agencies (and agency sub-divisions, such as country missions) with lots of funds go this route. The ones that don't have such large accounts hire 'technical experts' instead.

3. Aid agencies hire expensive foreign 'technical experts' who lack local expertise; they bypass the concerns and wisdom of the local population.

True to a large extent. Most experts do not even speak the language of those they are trying to help. Some of our experts do supposedly meet with the local population, and address them through means such as surveys, interviews and 'focus group discussions.' I have no idea how hard they really try, as I sit in the office writing and reading memos. In either case, nothing really innovative comes from these efforts. This is because these experts already have blanket solutions (which are the same throughout the world) and try to impose them on the local populace through 'behavior change and communication' and other similar methods. Thus, the surveys and interviews, to the extent they take place at all, are not really a means to partner with the local people; rather, they are means to learn about the 'barriers' to implementation of blanket solutions.

4. International aid is actually a means for subsidizing western businesses.

Undoubtedly true. As Hancock points out, this is one reason why development agencies go for big projects, and why they hire 'foreign experts.' If I am not spending my time writing and reading memos I am spending my time reading project proposals for my development agency's money. Most of these, of course, come from Western businesses and NGOs. I also spend my time enforcing or waiving regulations stating that organizations that receive our money can only buy goods (including but certainly not limited to automobiles and pharmaceuticals) produced in my nation.

5. International aid has allowed wicked despots to make themselves richer, and allowed ruling thugs to escape responsibility.

True- but I think there has been somewhat more of an emphasis today on funding being tied to concepts such as 'good governance,' controlling corruption, and so on, at least in theory. Of course, reality is sometimes different, in that nations of 'strategic importance' get large amounts of funds despite poor governance, incredible corruption and other failures.

5. Development workers are lazy and mediocre. They are often under-educated, make lots of money, live in big houses, have conferences in the best hotels and eat gourmet cuisine.

Partly true. Most of the aid workers in my particular aid agency are highly educated- the minimum entry requirement is a master's degree, and many of us have PhDs or the equivalent. Our base salary is not very impressive compared to others of a similar educational background- certainly many of us could make much more outside of the official aid industry. That being said, the fringe benefits are quite lavish- one may even say over the top: I admit that I am a single woman living in a large 3-bedroom manor, I attend conferences at ritzy hotels and dine on great food- in an impoverished third world country, all at government, or should I say tax payer, expense.

So, the aid industry has gone seriously wrong- what can we do about it? Unfortunately, while Hancock goes into great depths about the problems of aid, he gives us very few solutions. He believes we should dismantle the aid industry- but then what? How can we as citizens of our planet help our world become a better place? Some possible solutions suggested themselves to me when reading the book- one wonders why Hancock decided not to write an extra chapter with ideas such as these:

1. Clarify and purify intentions. As Hancock points out, the mixed intentions of the aid industry (help the poor AND aid western businesses AND further political interests AND AND AND...) is responsible for many of the problems it has caused.

2. Partner with local communities. I mean truly partner with them, listen to their concerns and ideas, and let them take the lead in coming up with solutions. Note, unlike Hancock, I do think there is a place, with careful thought, for some `Western' knowledge and technology. The best solutions maybe ones arrived at through our collective wisdom. However, don't just try to impose blanket solutions through means such as 'behavior change.'

3. Keep things small as much as possible. Some big projects such as large-scale famine relief, refugee assistance, etc, maybe necessary, but these large-scale efforts are much more prone to corruption, and much more often bypass local communities.

4. Speak the local language- this is the only way to effectively partner with local communities.

Finally, as others have pointed out, the book was written in 1989, so its quite dated. While much of what it says still holds true, an updated version offering modern examples of aid failure would be much more powerful.

good points marred by over-the-top rhetoric and no solutions.......2005-04-29

Hancock makes important points in this book: many aid projects do more harm than good, many aid officials are overpaid, too much aid money gets funneled to US companies (for more on this, see Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins), and publicly funded aid organizations are insufficiently accountable to the public. But his extreme rhetoric warns us that if there is a good side to aid, it certainly won't be represented here. Here's a sample of his accusations: "These lords of poverty are the druids of the modern era wielding enormous power that is accountable to no one."

On the one hand, Hancock's anecdotal evidence is unconvincing. He tells us that his often-chilling anecdotes are representative, but we have no way of really knowing. That said, he provides so many anecdotes that - by the end - we start to feel like they are, if not representative of all aid, at least insightful into an uncomfortable proportion.

But the litany of anecdotes is also tiring. The writing is not particularly great, and I felt that some of the analysis was flawed. (For example, in two places he argues that Western nations don't give nearly enough in aid, but most of the book argues that everything we give is wasted anyway. It's not clear how giving more would help, given his theses.)

Eventually I tired of simply hearing one aid horror story after another. He also misses the fact that there have been some major successes in aid, particularly in the realm of public health, in which organizations like the World Bank and UNICEF have played a part. (To read about some of these successes, look at Millions Saved by Ruth Levine et al.)

I'm glad I read the book, but I wish Hancock had made it a little less exhausting and a little more balanced. I also wish we'd gotten more solutions in the end. His only solution is to dissolve the aid industry (as it is "inherently bad, bad to the bone, and utterly beyond reform"), after which we have the vague promise that "it will become possible for people to rediscover ways to `help' one another directly."

A wonderful account.......2004-11-28

This sobering account of the truth about aid and the turth about what the 'lords of poverty' are doing to africa is wonderful. Let us first understand the thesis. The new NGOs and those who make their living on aiding 'Africa' are in it for the money and their racist idea that africans cant do anything without the white man has led to disaster in africa. THe one solution to africas problems would be for all the aid workers to leave. Let Africa walk on her own legs. This book tells the dirty details of the how the aid organizations lie to the western public to get massive amounts fo money so they can drive expensive cars and pray on teenage african prositutes and what is worse these aid organizations constitute a new colonization of Africa by the europeans, here we have entire countries who budgets are planned by the IMF and whose food is distributed by the WFO and whose schools are built by NGOs. Where is the African in all this? COlonization is alive and well in Africa and this book exposes it.

Seth J. Frantzman

extremely disappointing.......2004-10-15

As an open-minded aid worker, I was interested to read about our faults (and there are many, nobody's perfect).
But G.Hancock fails miserably to deliver. I have the same reaction with Michael Moore: I agree with his ideas, want to enajoyhis books, and then am extremley disappointed. A long litany of facts mostly correct, sometimnes distorted to fit the picture, and nothing else. No analysis of reasons why, no consideration of what the other side may have to say, no shades of gray, everything is black. Morevoer there does not seem to be any alternatives. Even conservatives can do better than that.

One example of superficial analysis (page 171):
1- a highway was (poorly) built in Somalia and started failing almost immediately. OK this happens too often
2- Somalia will still be repaying the loan ($100M) after 40 years.
NO: first of all with a soft loan they would pay at most a third of it, second even if the road is failing, the road built may be still worth more than that...
And second of all Somalia's debt was cancelled in the meantime...SO they will not pay anything...

I am not saying building a poor highway is OK, I am saying the the author criticizes in a simplistic manner. His ranting is really useless. I guess it is for non-aid workers, who will conclude that aid is to be stopped completely.

WHAT DOES THE AUTHOR PRPOSE TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF AID ?
Nothing said about that.

NB. One failing among others: why there is no mention of international journalists (such as the author). They also live (fatly) from poverty...

One part fact, one part rant.......2004-06-08

The first half of this short book is a relatively informative overview of the responsibilities and functions of major aid and development agencies, although the statistics are now well out of date. That said, little of any of this is primary research and the author relies fairly selectively on sensationalistic quotes and facts that tell the part of the story he wants to tell.

The second half of the book, however, is little more than a rant during which the author mocks and insults aid and development workers for about 100 pages. The vitriolic quality of writing makes one wonder if an aid worker dumped him at some point. You could skip this whole part of the book and be better off for it.

Maybe I take it personally since I'm an aid worker, but I can tell you with authority that Mr. Hancock really doesn't have any idea what he's writing about - he mischaracterizes the lives and personalities of most aid workers and oversimplifies the challenges and complexity of the work. He's angry and bitter about something and I don't think it's corruption or incompetence.

And just for the record: Reviewer Viola P. Reyna doesn't have command of the facts either. Most foreign aid workers are required to pay taxes in their home countries while living abroad. Americans living abroad for more than 330 days a year, whether they are aid workers or oil drillers or whatever, are not required to pay taxes unless they make over $80,000. Everyone is still, however, required to report their incomes and file their tax returns. So contrary to what Viola says, the US Government knows exactly what everyone is making.

Customer Reviews:

Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest, very informative........1998-08-19

This book is well written and wounderfully arranged for the shorebird buffs and beginners alike. The book gives a great over view on the identification of shorebirds and gives many interesting facts as to their range and occurrence in the Pacific Northwest area. Every thing from the most common Killdear to the rare Spoonbill Sandpiper is covered quite thoroughly with good photographs, descriptions of various plumages, and a habitat and behavioral description. Even though I do not live in the Pacific Northwest area, this book has been a great help in my shorebird watching.

Shorebirds and predators (His Birds of the Pacific Northwest ; v. 1)

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Shorebirds and predators (His Birds of the Pacific Northwest ; v. 1)
John E Rodgers
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Shorebirds And Predators - Birds Of The Pacific Northwest - Volume 1

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Shorebirds And Predators - Birds Of The Pacific Northwest - Volume 1
John E. Rodgers
Manufacturer: J.J. Douglas Ltd.
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Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JZFMEA

Shorebirds And Predators - Birds of the Pacific Northwest Vol. 1

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Shorebirds And Predators - Birds of the Pacific Northwest Vol. 1

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ASIN: B000GQR16Y

Shorebirds and Predators: Birds of the Pacific Northwest Volume 1 (Volume 2)

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Shorebirds and Predators: Birds of the Pacific Northwest Volume 1 (Volume 2)

Manufacturer: J.J. Douglas Ltd
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ASIN: 098889467X

Product Description

Dimensions in inches. 8 3/4 x 3/4 x 5 1/2. "This refreshingly different field guide provides all the 'how to identify' information--specific details on mature and immature plumage, seasonal changes, sex differentiation, voices, habits, and (where applicable) nests and eggs--and surpasses the normal guide not only in the background lore it contains, but also in the photographs."

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