The iconography of late Minoan and Mycenaean sealstones and finger rings

Book Description

Creating memorable photographs is a process that starts before you edit an image in Photoshop, before you capture the image, even before you pick up the camera. You must first approach the subject with the proper sense of perception, with the ability to visualize the finished print before you commit a scene to pixels, but still be flexible and spontaneous. Master Fine Art photographer Vincent Versace has spent his career learning and teaching the art of perception and how to translate it into stunning images. In Welcome to Oz, he delves into what it means to approach digital photography cinematically, to use your perception, your camera, and Photoshop to capture the movement of life in a still image.

Adapt your workflow to the image so you always know how best to use your tools
Turn a seemingly impossible photographic scenario into a successful image
Practice “image harvesting” to combine the best parts of many captures to create an optimum final result
Create black and white prints that have the look, feel and “richness” of traditional silver prints without ever leaving the RGB color space

Customer Reviews:

Dust collector big time.........2007-09-24

A postprocessing photoshop book. But a bad one of its kind. The first example he uses is a portrait of an female actor he tries to make better in photoshop. It ends up with very very yellow skintones. Im surprised he didnt see it himself before publishing. He uses a lot of time, too much, explaining about selective focus done with gaussian blur and layermasks. Why not get a fast lens and save all that paintwork- it didnt take me to OZ!!

3rd Party Req. not mentioned.......2007-09-12

After much anticipation and excitement....This book requires third party plug-ins, to complete the lessons as described..only good for 15 days. Sorry to say I am disapointed because nowhere in the Descriptions, Editorial reviews etc... does it mention this oversight!!!. I'm feeling kinda deceived right about now!!..... made it to page 17.

Not for the faint-hearted.......2007-08-27

In my opinion, this book is aimed squarely at the photographer aiming at exhibition quality work, with no concessions. Having said that, there is a lot of valuable information for others as well. It requires a willingness to push the philosophical boundaries of the ethics of manipulated image, because Versace's approach is to take multiple shots of the same subject from subtly diferent viewpoints, then combine them to produce a single image that matches his artistic vision. He is quoted as considering Photoshop an imagination enhancer, and says in his forward that one of his aims is to teach the reader to be able to make magic, starting at the point of capture. Indeed, this is what he proceeds to do. His methods require that you take pictures of subjects that move you, capture the image with spontaneity while being able to conceptualise the end result, and have advanced Photoshop skills. He then offers an insight into the ensuing conversation between photographer and image, with a great deal of the "how" and the "why" along the way. The final results are stunning, but the process is somewhat tortuous, and not for the faint-hearted. This is not your generic "how-to-do-it" Photoshop book, but a glimpse into what drives one man's quest for as near to perfection as possible. It wasn't what I expected - I bought it on the strength of the review in Photoshop User - and it won't be one of the books that lives by my Mac for constant reference. It will, however, be one to which I refer to be reminded of the potential of digital imaging towards which I might aspire for my art prints.
I gave it 5 stars because Versace succeeds in what he set out to do. It won't be for everyone, though.

Versace is amazing.......2007-07-24

This book is excellent. Rather than writing another how to use Photoshop book, Vincent Versace teaches you WHY you use Photoshop and some of the key techniques that can make an incredible difference in your digital photography. If you already have a basic understanding of Photoshop then this book will help you kick it up a notch!

No what I hoped for.......2007-07-23

This book is aimed at photographers who have never worked in a darkroom before. If you have started working as a photographer in digital, there is a lot to be learned from this book. However, if you know how to dodge and burn, and you know how to do it in Photoshop using layers, you will find nothing new here.

Book Description

Created in 1984, Six From Sirius featured the incredible pairing of writer/creator Doug Moench and artist/creator Paul Gulacy! The pair - best known for their collaborative run on Marvel Comics' The Master of Kung Fu, among other comic classics - created the series for Marvel's Epic imprint back in the mid-80s. The series, featuring the intergalactic adventures of a team of agents, combined action, intrigue and suspense, all against the backdrop of that final frontier - space!

SIX FROM SIRIUS #1 IN A FOUR-ISSUE LIMITED SERIES (1)

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SIX FROM SIRIUS #1 IN A FOUR-ISSUE LIMITED SERIES (1)

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S5RJF6

Product Description

PAGES ARE DIFFERENT, THEY SEEM WAXED

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Six from Sirius #3 (Volume 1)
Doug Moench
Manufacturer: Epic Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
ASIN: B000W2IPWQ

SIX From Sirius (1984 Marvel) 1-4 Complete Series

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SIX From Sirius (1984 Marvel) 1-4 Complete Series
Doug Moench
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
ASIN: B000Q3M29I

Product Description

Interstellar Adventure & Intrigue! July 1984 - October 1984 *** Contains Issue #'s 1-4 *** The legendary revolutionary team of Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy (The men who made Master of Kung-Fu) reunite for this exciting science fiction romp! A team of secret agent trouble-shooters on a mission to rescue a kidnapped (telepathic!) ambassador....

SIX FROM SIRIUS #4 IN A FOUR-ISSUE LIMITED SERIES (1)

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SIX FROM SIRIUS #4 IN A FOUR-ISSUE LIMITED SERIES (1)

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S5OI32

Product Description

PAGES SEEM WAXED

Book Description

Written by a Realtor who is also a poet and novelist, Homeowner Haiku elegantly encapsulates the often enervating process of the real estate transaction. These brief flashes, a perfect calming gift for anyone buying or selling a home, satisfy and challenge the reader with vivid images and pithy insights, as in this sample: "Dream house / we see our / children climbing the pear tree / that's not yet planted." Sherry Karver's artwork expands the experience of poems like "Zen and the Art of Homeownership" and "Those Little Voices" that run the gamut from comic to elegiac.

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Homeowner Haiku
Sherry Karver
Manufacturer: AIRLIFT BOOK COMPANY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Japanese & Haiku | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000K7ET0K

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The Doors Greatest Hits
Robby Krieger, John Densmore, Ray Manzarek Jim Morrison
Manufacturer: Warner Bros Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0898982006

Book Description

2 charming youngsters with 30 accurately rendered costumes include Kabuki robe, judo outfit, Rice Festival costume, and samurai outfit for Kimura; floral print kimono, bridal robe, and school jacket and skirt for Hanako; plus headdresses, toys, and other accessories. 8 plates.

Customer Reviews:

Good!.......1999-02-11

My English is not very good,but in my views,It's good,but not very

Book Description

Praise for the First Edition of Virtual Teams

"If you want to see where organizational communications are going in the future, heed what these pioneers have written today." -Howard Rheingold, author, The Virtual Community, and founder, Electric Mind

"Lipnack and Stamps have written an important book for the twenty-first-century corporation." -Regis McKenna, The McKenna Group, author, Relationship Marketing

"This book provides a long overdue perspective on how to apply the discipline of real teams in the fast-moving, increasingly dispersed information age of the future." -Jon R. Katzenbach, author, The Wisdom of Teams

"For those who want to lead the movement, catch up with it, or simply know where it is going, this book is packed with useful information and interesting stories." -Dee W. Hock, founder and chairman emeritus, VISA

"Virtual Teams provides valuable insights into global teamwork and management through network technologies now available to all companies, large or small." -Jim Lynch, director, corporate quality, Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Customer Reviews:

Useful, but some fluff.......2003-09-28

I purchased this book because I was intrigued. In much of the work I do I am a member of "virtual" teams. That is, I often am some distance apart from the people I am working with.

I found the book to be a slow read, with nuggets of information separated by deserts of fluff. The first half of the book is filled with vague ramblings about how the information age has changed the way that teams work and with case studies that illustrate how the forming of virtual teams has helped various companies solve difficult problems.

In the second half, the book begins to pick up. In a chapter entitled "Teaming with People" the authors discuss team dynamics, including essential roles with a team, how teams form and which aspects of team dynamics are especially subject to the stresses of distance communication.

The authors suggest that the beginning and closing phases of most projects are the most stressful on team members and that extra effort be exerted at the beginning phase of the project to bring the core project team members together, even if they are geographically separated. This, say the authors, will help build interpersonal relationships that can hold the team together in times of stress.

There are several optimum team sizes. 3 to 5 is the size of a core team, 5 to 25 the size of a "team family" and 25 to 200 the size of a "team camp". In the authors' opinion, any team larger than 5 people will naturally divide into sub-teams.

The authors also point out the value of rewarding teams. Making teams compete, or making them completely independent of one another has little value for the company. Cooperative goals can encourage and motivate all of the teams, while competition can demoralize them.

Finally, the authors talk about starting up teams and provide a checklist of some elements such as a customer and a management sponsor which are essential to any team's success.

Overall, I found the book to have some good information on forming and maintaining teams, and what to do when those teams are not located in the same physical location. There is some fluff, I feel, and the book could easily be half its current length without sacrificing much.

Aphoristic.......2001-10-01

I spent many hours with Lipnack & Stamps' Virtual Teams. Lipnack and Stamps are team consultants, and this book is one of their business cards. It's strong on axioms, moderate on bibliographic references, filled with trenchant observations derived from their consulting experiences, and written in a hurried style that reads like a draft or a condensed version of a larger book, despite its 300 pages. The authors provide dozens of taxonomies, some of which are useful and thought provoking, but most not deriving from research data. I obtained one item referenced in the bibliography, a middling-quality correlational study, but noticed the authors were quite creative in their interpretation of its results. Once you get past the aphoristic writing style ("Connected, linked, matrixed. We are the future now. . . Before we know it, 10-year-olds will be running the world. Perhaps they already are. . . The new virtual organizations are at once very old and very new, very small and very large . . . ") you'll find yourself reading many interesting nuggets of information combined with useful advice on how to build and manage a virtual team. I appreciated the fact that Lipnack and Stamps avoided treating the virtual team as a panacea or as a solution to team problems. Their cool approach to the formidable problems faced by distributed groups adroitly avoids the hype in which other authors engage. I also appreciated their extended discussions in the areas where virtual teams suffer the most, including trust and communication across time zones. Leadership got slight treatment, but perhaps for good reason-the DNA of effective leadership in general has yet to be cracked, and is a largely unexplored phenomenon in virtual teams.

Highly Recommended!.......2001-07-11

Globalization can create as many problems as opportunities. One big problem is figuring out how to unite people worldwide to work on projects for your company. In an age that lacked a worldwide communications net, the answer would probably be quite depressing. However, as authors Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps make clear, the modern Internet makes it quite possible for workers all over the world to collaborate. The physical location of your firm’s various experts is no longer a barrier to effective team building, be they in Dublin, Bangalore, Las Vegas or Bangkok. In fact, the authors claim that companies that fail to create effective teams across cyberspace will be left in history’s dustbin. This might be overstating the case, but we [...] recommend this book for its candor about exactly how challenging it is to create virtual teams. Still interested? If so, this book serves as an excellent primer of both theory and practice.

"Teamwork" Re-defined for New Realities.......2001-04-06

The authors are convinced that, eventually, "virtual teams will become the natural way to work, nothing special. Virtual teams and networks -- effective, value-based, swiftly reconfiguring, cost-sensitive, and decentralized -- will profoundly reshape our shared world. As members of many virtual groups, we will contribute to these ephemeral webs of relationships that together weave our future." That day is already here for many people and I agree that virtual working relationships will soon be the rule rather than the exception. The authors correctly note that technology extends capabilities "but organizing to do things together is only human. The most profound change of the new millennium is in the way we're organized." Moreover, as more people connect online, "we increase our capacity for both independence and interdependence. Competition and cooperation both thrive in our new culture." However, there are perils to avoid because whatever goes wrong with in-the-same place teams can also go wrong with virtual teams -- only worse and, worse yet, faster and at a much greater cost.

The authors organize their excellent material within 14 chapters whose individual titles indicate each chapter's perspective on virtual teams: Why, Networks, Teams, Trust, Place, Time, Purpose, people, Links, Launch, Navigate, Theory, Think, and Future. I agree that a virtual team "is a group of people who work interdependently with a shared purpose across space, time, and organization boundaries." Nonetheless, I still have some quibbles about the authors' sequence of subject matter (not with the content itself) and am still convinced that cooperation between and among members of virtual teams is even more difficult than it is between and among those within physical boundaries. Moreover, my own rather extensive experience with all manner of corporate clients suggests that the most formidable barriers are between two ears. If you have some serious human barriers in your own organization, I urge you to check out O'Dell and Grayson's immensely thoughtful and practical book, If Only We Knew What We Know.

But please keep in mind that even if O'Dell, Grayson, Lipnack, and Stamps were retained to create virtual teams for your organization, unless and until everyone else involved buys into the enterprise, the results would be abysmal. Hence the importance of several points which Lipnack and Stamps make in the final chapter, notably the absolutely essential need for trust. "A presumption of trust enables a successful strategy of collaboration [enables everyone involved] to be better innovators, competitors, and survivors....If purpose is the glue, trust is the grease." I agree.

Of course, no single volume such as this can provide all the right answers but Lipnack and Stamps raise most (if not all) of the most important questions. Their answers seem sensible and practical. Of course, decision-makers must decide what the nature, extent, and duration of a virtual relationship should be in their organization at any given time. The authors do provide an excellent source of information and insight which can help virtually (pun intended) any organization increase cooperation and collaboration across boundaries through the effective use of various technologies. Especially, in this age of accelerating globalization, most organizations need all the help they can get.

Practical Ideas for Boundary-Crossing Teams.......2000-10-15

The very nature of teams has changed in most organizations. This change is not rooted in the use of technology but rather in organizational changes that require teams that cross all kinds of boundaries: organizational, temporal, geographic, functional, cultural. Virtual Teams focuses on the fundamental issues that challenge members, leaders, and stakeholders in these boundary-crossing teams rather than simply on the technology that connects them. A major strength of the book is the wealth of stories about how key ideas have been applied in both public and private sector organizations. This book offers practical ideas you can apply to any team - whether it is co-located or spread across the world. - Lisa Kimball, Executive Producer, Group Jazz

Virtual Teams : People Working Across Boundaries with Technology, 2nd Edition

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Virtual Teams : People Working Across Boundaries with Technology, 2nd Edition
Jessica; Stamps, Jeffrey Lipnack
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KXQF0Q

Book Description

In 1973, Norma Cobb, her husband Lester, and the their five children, the oldest of whom was nine-years-old and the youngest, twins, barely one, pulled up stakes in the Lower Forty-eight and headed north to Alaska to follow a pioneer dream of claiming land under the Homestead Act. The only land available lay north of Fairbanks near the Arctic Circle where grizzlies outnumbered humans twenty to one. In addition to fierce winters and predatory animals, the Alaskan frontier drew the more unsavory elements of society's fringes. From the beginning, the Cobbs found themselves pitted in a life or death feud with unscrupulous neighbors who would rob from new settlers, attempt to burn them out, shoot them, and jump their claim.The Cobbs were chechakos, tenderfeet, in a lost land that consumed even toughened settlers. Everything, including their 'civilized' past, conspired to defeat them. They constructed a cabin and the first snow collapsed the roof. They built too close to the creek and spring breakup threatened to flood them out. Bears prowled the nearby woods, stalking the children, and Lester Cobb would leave for months at a time in search of work.But through it all, they survived on the strength of Norma Cobb---a woman whose love for her family knew no bounds and whose courage in the face of mortal danger is an inspiration to us all. This is her story.

Download Description

MINOOK is an adventure memoir and survival tale; this is the personal narrarive of Norma Cobb, who in 1973 became the last woman to homestead in the Alaskan wilderness.

Customer Reviews:

I was very disappointed in this book.......2007-08-02

I was very disappointed in this book. While the first half is entertaining and interesting, it eventually became offensive to me for a number of reasons. The author, Norma Cobb, refers to herself (in the section about working on the pipeline) as "not unattractive" but then later goes on to categorize Susan Butcher as being not much to look at. Well, from looking at the pictures, I might agree with Norma's appraisal of herself, (though it does sound boastful for someone living in Athapaskan country, where the Natives do not boast about themselves), but to denigrate Susan's looks is simply tacky. Many believe that Susan Butcher was a very attractive, natural and wholesome looking woman. Further, when Norma comments on the passes made towards her by another musher, Rick Swenson, well - that is equally tacky, particularly with a well known individual. Unfortunately, these things, along with other things such as poor grammar and incorrect usage of the English language point to someone who appears to be both rather full of herself and disdainful of people with more education. It is a shame that what was essentially a good story had these elements that detracted from it. I was also bothered by the characterization of others in this book as they did not, somehow, "ring true." This assessment was solidified for me when I read Ken Nelson's review of the book. I normally do not cull books from my personal library but this book won't be kept.

Great READ!.......2007-07-06

This was a great book that was easy to read and hard to put down.

The Artic Homestead.......2007-05-13

If you are looking for a book about homesteading in alaska, this is the book. Of all the books that I have read about alaska so far this is the best. If you are an alaskan enthusist like myself you should love this book. Lee from Georgia

Great Book.......2007-04-25

If you're looking for a well-written captivating book - look no further. This book will only last you a couple days or less. The flow of the book allows the reader to quickly get amerced in the personal voyage of the writer and when you come up for air, the book is over.

Arctic Homestead.......2007-03-30

Great book! If you like to read about the outdoors and tough living conditions, you will love this. You can't put it down.

Book Description

By the late 1820s, furs, land and minerals made the Indian territories west of the Mississippi River an increasingly inviting realm. The vast expanse of the Great Plains, coupled with the fact that many tribal groups of the region possessed horses, meant a more mobile type of soldier was required. Consequently, on 15 June 1832, Congress authorised the raising of 600 mounted Rangers. They proved such a success that they eventually gave way to a more permanent organisation: the Dragoons. John Langellier details the fascinating campaign history of the US Dragoons 1833-55, complete with numerous illustrations including eight fine full page colour plates by Bill Younghusband.

Customer Reviews:

Useful Introduction.......2001-12-30

Dragoons were introduced into the US Army for the purpose of patrolling the overland routes to Oregon and later to California. They were the first mounted troops to be raised in many years.
Their lineage can be traced to today's cavalry units.
All of the work done by this author has proven to be well worth having, provided you have an interest. He has spent many years gathering and interpreting his information. One of his specialties is combing various works for narrative commentary. He is especially known for ferreting out contemporaneous images of the clothing and equipment in use.

Book Description

History, literature, religion, myth, film, psychology, theory, and daily conversation all rely heavily on narrative. Cutting across many disciplines, narratology describes and analyzes the language of narrative with its regularly recurring patterns, deeply established conventions for transmission, and interpretive codes, whether in novels, cartoons, or case studies.

Indispensable to writers, critics, and scholars in many fields, A Dictionary of Narratology provides quick and reliable access to terms and concepts that are defined, illustrated, and cross-referenced. All entries are keyed to articles or books in which the terms originated or are exemplified. This revised edition contains additional entries and updates some existing ones.

Customer Reviews:

for the sake of Clarity and Conciseness.......1999-10-23

This is a highly useful dictionary. Although its entries total to just over 100 pages, it is remarkably complete. Prince offers short, to the point explanations of terms that in other dictionaries are notoriously fuzzy explained. Moreover, he provides a very helpful set of crossreferences that goes with each entry, thus enabling the reader to find out more. Among the outstanding explanations is the description of point-of-view, in which Prince sets forth the proposals of Friedman, Genette and Stanzel complete in just two pages. Useful bibliographical references substitute for the fact that Prince could not adress every controversial discussion in full. Everyone interested in literary theory should own a copy, even if the work was not updated to take aboard recent developments.

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Father of Modern Political Philosophy
Machiavelli's best
An essential tome on gaining and wielding political power.

The Prince and The Discourses
Niccolo Machiavelli
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0075535777

Book Description

Translated by Luigi Ricci, Revised by E.R.P. Vincent, Introduction by Max Lerner

Customer Reviews:

Father of Modern Political Philosophy.......2006-02-14

Niccolo Machiavelli, (1469-1527), writes the greatest treatise on keeping a republic vibrant by comparing Rome to republican Venice. Machiavelli has gained an unwarranted notorious reputation for his "evil" treatise on political thinking and acting through his authorship of "The Prince". "The Prince" received more notoriety than his politically erudite work "Discourses on the First Ten Books of Livy" in which Machiavelli espouses his belief that the Roman Republic was the best and most virtuous form of government to emulate. His breadth and understanding of Roman history is remarkable. Machiavelli's love of his country Florence, and the proud political work as a minor government administrator and ambassador Machiavelli performed during its years as a republic show through in this work. It was on his many ambassadorial trips to the French, Papal, and Italian courts that he learned to observe political leaders and their governmental institutions which formed the basis of his political theories in his many writings. My favorite quote from Machiavelli is; "It's better to act and repent then not to act and regret".

Modern philosophers starting with Machiavelli reject the classical view of politics as undemocratic and elitist. Only wealthy men of leisure would have time to develop the virtues and character necessary to rule. Machiavelli believed that man by nature was selfish and driven by ambition. Machiavelli is not interested in character formation and moral appeal but in building the right kind of institutions to govern society. Laws and justice would protect men from power hungry rulers. Modern philosophy is an out growth of the revolution that takes place in the natural sciences during the Enlightenment. The purpose of science is the conquest of nature man is in control of human life. Philosophers from Machiavelli on become sectarian. "Everything good is due to man's labor rather than to nature's gift."

As a retired Army officer and student of political philosophy, I found this to be an indispensable book to continue one's journey into political philosophy and history of Europe.

Machiavelli's best.......2005-10-07

In the course of my political science training, I studied at great length the modern idea of realpolitik. In that study I came to realise that it was somewhat incomplete, without the companionship of 'The Prince', by Niccolo Machiavelli, a Florentine governmental official in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. 'The Prince' is an oft quoted, oft mis-quoted work, used as the philosophical underpinning for much of what is considered both pragmatic and wrong in politics today. To describe someone as being Machiavellian is to attribute to the person ruthless ambition, craftiness and merciless political tactics. Being believed to be Machiavellian is generally politically incorrect. Being Machiavellian, alas, can often be politically expedient.

Machiavelli based his work in 'The Prince' upon his basic understanding of human nature. He held that people are motivated by fear and envy, by novelty, by desire for wealth, power and security, and by a hatred of restriction. In the Italy in which he was writing, democracy was an un-implemented Greek philosophical idea, not a political structure with a history of success; thus, one person's power usually involved the limitation of another person's power in an autocratic way.

Machiavelli did not see this as a permanent or natural state of being -- in fact, he felt that, during his age, human nature had been corrupted and reduced from a loftier nobility achieved during the golden ages of Greece and Rome. He decided that it was the corrupting influence of Christianity that had reduced human nature, by its exaltation of meekness, humility, and otherworldliness.

Machiavelli has a great admiration for the possible and potential, but finds himself inexorably drawn to the practical, dealing with situations as they are, thus becoming an early champion of realpolitik carried forward into this century by the likes of Kissinger, Thatcher, Nixon, and countless others. One of the innovations of Machiavelli's thought was the recognition that the prince, the leader of the city/state/empire/etc., was nonetheless a human being, and subject to all the human limitations and desires with which all contend.

Because the average prince (like the average person) is likely to be focussed upon his own interests, a prince's private interests are generally in opposition to those of his subjects. Fortunate is the kingdom ruled by a virtuous prince, virtue here not defined by Christian or religious tenets, but rather the civic virtue of being able to pursue his own interests without conflicting those of his subjects.

Virtue is that which increases power; vice is that which decreases power. These follow Machiavelli's assumptions about human nature. Machiavelli rejected the Platonic idea of a division between what a prince does and what a prince ought to do. The two principle instruments of the prince are force and propaganda, and the prince, in order to increase power (virtue) ought to employ force completely and ruthlessly, and propaganda wisely, backed up by force. Of course, for Machiavelli, the chief propaganda vehicle is that of religion.

Machiavelli has been credited with giving ruthless strategies (the example of a new political ruler killing the deposed ruler and the ruler's family to prevent usurpation and plotting is well known) -- it is hard to enact many in current politics in a literal way, but many of his strategies can still be seen in electioneering at every level, in national and international relations, and even in corporate and family internal 'politics'. In fact, I have found fewer more Machiavellian types than in church politics!

Of course, these people would be considered 'virtuous' in Machiavellian terms -- doing what is necessary to increase power and authority.

Perhaps if Machiavelli had lived a bit later, and been informed by the general rise of science as a rational underpinning to the world, he might have been able to accept less of a degree of randomness in the universe. Perhaps he would have modified his views. Perhaps not -- after all, the realpolitikers of this age are aware of the scientific framework of the universe, and still pursue their courses.

An essential tome on gaining and wielding political power........1999-06-13

"The authentic interpreter of Machiavelli," wrote Lord Acton, "is the whole of later history." Thus, Bill Clinton to his peril, ignored Machiavelli's advice: "Men have less scruple in offending one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared." Nearly 500 years ago, Machiavelli set out to teach the lessons of power. And his teachings remain as valid in our day as in his own. Want to size up a ruler's competence? Then "look at the men he has about him." Want help in making hard decisions? Consult your advisors, deliberate privately, and then stick to your decision. It was Machiavelli who first described the fundamental law of public relations: "Everybody sees what you apear to be, few feel what you are." Even those who want nothing to do with executive authority will profit greatly by learning the truth about how such power is actually gained and used. Above all, Machiavelli urges those who must deal with the real world to remain clear-eyed about its dangers: It is necessary for a prince, he warns, to "learn how not to be good," and to sometimes use this knowledge in effective defense against ruthless enemies. This is admittedly strong stuff for many idealistic readers. But those who reject Machiavelli's advice do so either in ignorance of the ways power is actually used, or in a well-intentioned but doomed attempt to create a Utopia populated not by men but angels.

The Prince and Discourse on Voluntary Servitude (The Audio Classics Series: Giants of Political Thought)

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The Prince and Discourse on Voluntary Servitude (The Audio Classics Series: Giants of Political Thought)

Manufacturer: Knowledge Products
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0786169834

Product Description

Machiavelli wrote The Prince for his ruler as a guide for gaining and keeping power. Central themes of his essay are the relation between politics and ethics, what the best form of government consists of; the importance of the Church, and the growth of Italy as a nation-state. The word Machiavellian often suggests sinister motives, but some scholars question this traditional interpretation.

Boétie wrote Discourse on Voluntary Servitude in 16th Century France during the birth of the nation-state, the rise of absolute monarchy, and intense religious and civil wars. He examines the psychology of political obedience, the structure and specific mechanisms of state authority, the motives of those who obey and those who command, and the phenomenon of obedience in the absence of force.

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A Tale of a Tub and Other Writings
Jonathan Swift
Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0543899705
Release Date: 2000-05-03

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The Prince and the Discourses
Niccolo Machiavelli
Manufacturer: The Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000G2L38K

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Bhagavad Gita: The Song Celestial from the Mahabharata, Being a Discourse Between Arjuna, Prince of India, and the Supreme Being Under the Form of Krishna

Manufacturer: The Heritage Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Bhagavad Gita | Hinduism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000CBZNB8

Product Description

Slipcased Hardcover Edition.

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Centering Theory in Discourse

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Logic & Language | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Linguistics | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Cognitive | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0198236875

Book Description

Many areas of language-related research -- language processing, linguistic semantics/pragmatics, speech understanding and synthesis, and psychological theories of attention -- have shown an increasing need to describe and understand aspects of discourse anaphora in relation to both processing complexity and the global structure of discourse. A major problem in this area is the large gap between existing theories and accounts of actual phenomena in naturally occurring discourse. Centering Theory is an account of one aspect of discourse, local discourse structure, that makes specific claims about both processing complexity and discourse anaphora. Centering Theory in Discourse focuses on Centering Theory's ability to account for data from naturally occurring discourse in several languages. The contributors test empirically several claims of Centering Theory, propose extensions to and refinements of Centering, and show how it can be integrated with other aspects of discourse structure and processing.

A discourse of church government: Wherein the rights of the church and the supremacy of Christian princes are vindicated and adjusted

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A discourse of church government: Wherein the rights of the church and the supremacy of Christian princes are vindicated and adjusted
John Potter
Manufacturer: S. Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B000883HS6

Machiavelli's the Prince and other works including reform in Florence Castruccio Castracani on Fortune. Letters ten discourses on Livy, new translations, introductions, and notes

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Machiavelli's the Prince and other works including reform in Florence Castruccio Castracani on Fortune. Letters ten discourses on Livy, new translations, introductions, and notes
Allan H Gilbert
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Machiavelli: The Prince ; selections from The Discourses and other writings

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Machiavelli: The Prince ; selections from The Discourses and other writings
NiccoloÌ Machiavelli
Manufacturer: Fontana/Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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FeederWatcher's Guide to Backyard Birds
Peter W. Thayer , and J. David Diehl
Manufacturer: Thayer Birding Software
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1887148175

Book Description

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Thayer Birding Software have joined forces to create the ultimate CD for newer birders. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's FeederWatcher's Guide to Backyard Birds features 135 birds that come to feeders or can be seen in your yard.

Each bird has color photos and song recordings. Over 35 video clips are also included. This amazing CD can help you identify unfamiliar birds. Simply select the color, size, habitat or location of your bird and the program will show you everything that matches your description!

Also included are hundreds of helpful quizzes. Set the level at Easy or crank it all the way up to Difficult. Select Multiple Choice, Fill-in-the-blank or Flash Card quizzes. This CD also includes a listing and recordkeeping program to help you remember the birds you have seen.

Minimum System requirements: Windows 98, Me, 2000 Pro or XP; Pentium 233 processor or equivalent; 64 MB RAM; 16x CD-ROM drive; 40 MB on hard drive; plus hardware and software required to support multimedia applications. Some features of this CD require an Internet connection.

An interesting feature: This CD can be upgraded (over the Internet) to show all 930 birds on the CLO Guide to Birds of North America.

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