God in the Pits: Confessions of a Commodities Trader

Customer Reviews:

ok.......2007-03-23

This isn't much about trading or Christianity. More about this guy's somewhat unusual life story. A nice little read but it won't rock your world. What I found interesting was the unresolved issue of what happened to the people who lived before the time of Christ, when Ritchie was raised to believe that salvation only comes through Christ. This is a perplexing question for a Christian who believes this--it certainly says something about the nature of God as such or the belief structure which holds this as a tenet.

One of the finest books I have ever read.......2006-11-15

A very engrossing, candid, and well written work by a man who has commanded credibility and respect from his own achievements as a commodities trader. This is about his life's journey, of which many people will find a great amount of common ground especially in the formative years. The reader will find it difficult to lay this one down as Mr. Ritchie describes one experience after another from his early years in Texas, moving with his family to Aghganistan, then moving to the Oregon coast to complete high school. Also a lot of interesting trader stories from the Chicago commodities business. What is most striking about this book is not so much the content, but the writer's stark honesty and humility as he addresses the numerous life issues all of us have encountered, but seldom talk about. Evidently he made a lot of right decisions. This, coming from a very successful trader who could just as well have taken the money and ran. This is a book every MAN (and woman) should have on his desk. When you realize who this man is and what he has to say, you might even shed some tears. Much thought-provoking stuff here from a guy you will inevitably admire and respect.

It's not about trading.......2006-08-10

There are about 20 pages having anything to do with trading. The rest of the book was about his experiences with his Christian faith. What's funny is that for all his searching, he basically concludes that one has to invent Christianity for themselves, so it's not even a good book FOR a religious Christian to read. His brief account of his experiences getting started trading were good, but, after a day or so of flipping through this book I threw it on the floor where it stays until I got over wasting my money on this.

A Book in Need of RePrinting.......2006-02-24

I read this book with Great fascination because I know the Family.

My wife's brother was in business with Mark & Joe Ritchie in the beginning, but left to pursue a PhD in Linguistics at Univ. of Chicago. Joe was best man at Wes's wedding. My wife lived on the third floor of Joe & Sharon's house for a year before we were married.

I absolutely loved this book, all the struggles as kids of missionaries, Mark's struggle with his personal theology, vs. the evangelical community's magic words, "Jesus Christ Personal Savior" stories about the Ethical failures in "the Business", and finally finding peace and purpose with wealth.

Now that I have a favorite son just out of college/Econ School & entering the business, I would like to get another copy and co-re-read it with him.

There are alot of valuable life lessons in this book.

So I have a special interest another copy, Contact me if you have one.

A christian book with minimal relevance to trading.......2005-02-04

To give you an accurate idea of the book, I would like to quote from the last page of it: "The story would tell how twenty years had shown me that Christianity was true, that it worked for me, and could work for anyone else willing to try it." That's it. For those who want to read something like Pit Bull, Baruch: My own story, Reminiscences of a Stock Operator type of stuff, you will be absolutely disappointed. However, if you want to read some spiritual stuff, this is it.

p.s. As usual, I would do some copy and paste of messages I like the most for your reference. (Though it's not easy for this book)

You will be amazed at how much common sense you'll have to drop in order to understand this business. pg 8

There is an important lesson to be learned from the silver debacle of 1979. The lesson is old, simple and taught by every kindergartenteacher: Share with others. It applies to stocks and commodities as much as it does to crayons and toys. pg 24

It is a world of make believe, where money grows on trees, dreams become reality, a Disneyland for adults. Almost everyone I meet wants to know how they can get into the business and make a fortune. When I discourage them from doing so, they only become more convinced, thinking that I am just trying to preserve a greater portion of the pot of gold for myself. Little do they know that the gold is not held by a few as a result of their ability to keep others away. It is held by a few because the others find consistent ways to lose. And the futures industry is a most convenient place for the public to lose their money. pg 181

God in the Pits; confessions of a Commodities Trader.

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God in the Pits; confessions of a Commodities Trader.
Mark A. Ritchie
Manufacturer: Macmillan Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O94J54

Opening Up: My Autobiography
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Opening Up: My Autobiography
Mike Atherton
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OV689W

Book Description

Luxury isn't just for the rich, says James B. Twitchell. Today you don't need a six-figure income to wear pashmina, drink a limited-edition coffee at Starbucks, or drive a Mercedes home to collapse on the couch in front of a flat-screen plasma TV. In Living It Up, sharp-eyed consumer anthropologist Twitchell takes a witty and insightful look at luxury -- what it is, who defines it, and why we can't seem to get enough of it.

In recent years, says Twitchell, luxury spending has grown much faster than overall spending -- and it continues to grow despite the economic recession. Luxury has become such a powerful marketing force that it cuts across every layer of society, spawning a magazine devoted to spas, cashmere bedspreads on sale at Kmart, and a dazzling array of bottled waters.

Twitchell says that the democratization of luxury has had a unifying effect on culture. Luxury items tell a story that we want to identify with, and more people than ever aspire to the story of Ralph Lauren's Polo or Patek Philippe. Shopping itself is no longer a chore but a transcendent experience in which we shop not so much for goods as for an identity.

Sharply observed and wickedly funny, Living It Up is a revealing and entertaining examination of why we are all part of the cult of luxury.

Customer Reviews:

A glorious state of denial.......2006-01-16

This deserves three stars, at least, for its wit. Even as I disagreed with Twitchell, I found myself wanting to read more.

There are several things terribly wrong with his argument, such as his ignoring the mindlessness of much consumption. He thinks consumers are aware, but that doesn't hold water, or advertisers would not make or spend so much to influence everyone, and they would not be so successful.

The real trouble I have with this book is that Twitchell never, ever connects the growing consumption of "unnecessary" luxury goods with the incredible destruction they are causing all over the world. Even a passing acknowledgment of the environmental catastrophe related to our consumption would make this a better book. At least he could admit he's only interested in luxury as a construct, as something to play with philosophically.

Still, it's definitely worth a read.

Terrible.......2005-01-11

The author has no familiarity with his subject and routinely provides the reader with incorrect information.

A Guilty Gordon Gekko.......2005-01-01

Living it Up starts with the premise that consumption--even overconsumption--is good for the economy and good for your community. Twitchell makes a coherent argument that those who pay ridiculous prices for things they don't need make it possible for the rest of us to pay lower prices for the same things. Then, what used to be a luxury to one generation (indoor plumbing, cars, computers) becomes a necessity for the next.

But somehow, Twitchell seems guilty about all this. He even quotes Gekko (from the movie Wall Street), a bit sheepishly. He praises "first-users" (those who buy the first VCRs, etc. at high prices) while sneering at the stereotypical yuppie with all his toys. Professor Twitchell mocks the voluntary simplicity movement by picking the most hypocritical example he can find, of a back-to-nature advocate who buys acres of her neighbor's land. But he ignores such aspects as not spending more than you have, reducing the amount of stuff you own, enjoying the occasional luxury rather than shopping as a habit.

Interesting reading if you are fascinated by our consumer culture, but a bit confusing as the professor tries to decide where he stands on over-consumption.

Luxury, a new religion analyzed.......2003-08-31

This is a landmark book. The author analyzes in very detail the mechanisms behind selling luxury to the public, including the religious attributes affixed to those products.
"Probably it shouldn't get into the hands of consumers", because they might find out they are spending too much money for ordinarily manufactured goods with high status affixed by advertising. On my trips to the US, I wondered how big, luxury only shopping malls could survive, this book tells the reason why. Europe is still more conservative with luxury spending.
I wanted to give it 5 stars, but the language used is very difficult to read. To exclude most luxury spenders?

Posh LUST.......2003-02-26

Entertaining book, well written, thought provoking, ultimately absolving us of our sins of posh LUST.

Customer Reviews:

Must have book to a glorius gem of a game........2003-01-23

Lets you know where all the tokens are so you can finally play Ms Pac Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Plus it helps with the harder parts of the game even though I beat it without this guide.I got it for the token locations and boy am I impressed.Pac Man rules!!!

Management Secrets of the New England Patriots: From Patsies to Triple Super Bowl Champs
Average customer rating:

superb book !

can't get enough of it

WHat makes Teams Great

Great book that has occasioned too little notice

3 Superbowls....No Coincidence

Management Secrets of the New England Patriots: From Patsies to Triple Super Bowl Champs
James Lavin
Manufacturer: Pointer Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books
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Management Secrets of the New England Patriots Volume 2

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ASIN: 0976203952

Book Description

The definitive account of the 2001-2004 New England Patriots. Analyzes the many "success factors" underlying the team's two Super Bowl victories in three seasons. And entertains with humorous, insightful quotations from players, coaches, executives, and owners.

"Management Secrets" is essential reading for any serious fan of Bill Belichick's Patriots and anyone seeking to build a great organization.

The book is based on analysis of literally thousands of articles (and six books) that have been written about Bill Belichick's Patriots. As the book explains, "The Patriots' 'secrets' are no secrets at all. They are time-tested management fundamentals... well applied and well executed."

Customer Reviews:

superb book ! .......2007-08-29

this is THE BIBLE for all football fans. This book should be read by everyone in management in the world of business as well as by executives in the NFL and other professional and college sports teams.James lavin shows the reader HOW THE PATRIOTS ORGANIZATION THINKS!!!!! If you want to learn how to build a winner in sports as well as business I RECCOMENT THIS BOOK IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY!! P.s. reading volume II currently and lavin's second book is as good as the first i can't wait for the third volume.

can't get enough of it.......2007-06-28

I don't know about you, but this Patriots fan can't re-live those days enough. And this book is packed, cover-to-cover, with the details.
Sure, as a manager and Patriots fan, I've read it all before too. But as a beer drinker, it never occurred to me to decide "hey, I've done it before, I think I'll stop."
Bring on the other volumes!

WHat makes Teams Great.......2007-04-03

I always wanted to know what make teams tick, especially great teams like the Pats. This is a good example of a well run organization for any business.

Great book that has occasioned too little notice.......2006-09-29

Most football books read as though they were written by Dumb to be read by Dumber. This, unlike most, is a terrific book (actually two, vols. 1 and 2), well conceived, written, and executed. This book merits significantly more attention than it has thus far garnered.

3 Superbowls....No Coincidence.......2006-06-22

The media was quick to credit "luck" for the Pats super bowl wins, but thats not the reality. This book reveals the Patriots formula for success.

Book Description

Shows how the figure of Mary has shaped and been shaped by changing social and historical circumstances and why for all their beauty and power,the legends of Mary have condemned real women to perpetual inferiority.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant research and interpretation.......2006-01-23

Marina Warner's writing style is so magnificent that each paragraph seems a tribute to the beauty of the English language. I should like to use this book as an instruction manual for advanced courses in literary composition.

In itself, this book is a landmark work of European history. Marina's treatment of nearly a millennium of devotions, historical implications, poetry, art, and culture is exceedingly extensive and cohesive.

I withheld the fifth star because the underlying thesis, that the devotions to Mary have condemned women to inferior status, distorts the essence of the devotions chronicled. Even in the 'age of faith,' the connections between devotion, which admits to God's ways being unknowable, and the physical manifestations (icons, relics and the like) which make them come alive for the believer, hardly would have been veritable manuals of 'how to use Mary's holiness to underline female inferiority.' In fact, were this book a historical work without the feminist angle, it would have been far better.

Not for Christians.......2005-02-22

Warner's book is far more than a mere history of the Virgin Mary. It is not intended for devout Catholics who only wish to hear praise heaped on the mother of God. What Warner does is chronicle the journey that Mary has taken throughout history, highlighting her many cultural guises and pointing out how they have historically been used to reflect the political motivations of the church. For anyone who is looking to read something beyond the sterile propoganda of a religion that has too long controlled the way in which people perceive and treat women, this is a book that will answer many questions. A beautiful read, written sensitively by a woman who knows Catholicism intimately, but who has been disillusioned by the deeply misogynistic foundations of the Catholic faith.

Fascinating, well researched.......2002-04-21

The fact remains that this book offers a very solid and accurately researched survey of the development of the "phenomenon" of devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is not exhaustive by any means, but traces all the major strains of development from at least the third century. What the book fails to do adequately is critically delve into the real roots of Marian themes as found in the New Testament records. Indeed, what we see in the very first century of the Christian/Biblical era is a rather rapid (and radical) development of attitudes about the Mother of Jesus, a shift from early indifference and ignorance of Mary's role (the Marcan Gospel, Pauline letters) to an outright "lifting up" of Mary as the Ideal Christian, the First True Disciple, worthy of loud praise (Luke), and even iconic status as Eve-Israel 'Mother of believers'(John) and glorified symbol of the Church itself (Revelation). I wish Werner had spent more time drawing attention to how swift and startling these developments in the understanding of Mary were when the New Testament writings were being composed. Also, how did these "arcs of thought" regarding Mary take root geographically in the 2nd century church? Werner could have noted that it was no coincidence that Gospel communities giving great prominence to the figure of Mary(Luke's Antioch, the Johannine churches) in the first century continued to preserve these emphases in the 2nd (Ignatius of Anioch, Irenaeus-Justin, etc). Otherwise, Werner gives a solid depiction of how formative ecclesiastical motives (asceticism, Christological controversy) rattled the chains of Mary's rather flexible image in the patristic age, and how her mystique lent itself so readily to mythical, legendary rumblings about her death, intercessory powers, etc. A fascinating handbook and not even remotely [a] feminist manifesto ... It seems that some would have a hard time handling the reality that much of what Mary represents was a complex combination of iconic mythologizing that began in Scriptural/Apostolic times and only grew in succeeding centuries according to the demands of the age and normal human piety.

Excuse me, your bias is showing........2001-08-11

Notice that if you have an encounter with the Virgin Mary. . . and write about it you are biased. If you have a feminist axe to grind and write from the point of view of philosophic naturalism, you are scholarly.

This is political correctness applied to Mary.

Yawn.

JMNR

Fabulous resource.......2000-07-07

This was a fabulous resource for understanding the evolution of the Marian cult. The one weakness of this book is that it did not deal with the pre-Christian origins of the Marian cult. Other resources, however, cover the evolution of the Anatolian fertility cult of Cybele into the Roman Magna Mater and later into the so-called "BVM". The author does a good job of showing the origins of various aspects of Mariology and contrasting these developments with Christianity in the West. The author has done a great service to those who wish to more fully understand the syncretic process which blended Christianity with various pagan religions and medeival political structures to create the Roman Catholic Church.

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Alone of All Her Sex
Marina Warner
Manufacturer: Quartet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0704331853

Alone of all Her Sex: The myth and Cult of the Virgin Mary

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Alone of all Her Sex: The myth and Cult of the Virgin Mary
Marina Warner
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHGJX6

Alone of All Her Sex: Cult of the Virgin Mary

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Alone of All Her Sex: Cult of the Virgin Mary

Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Book Description

"Marina Warner begins with the gospels, noting the slight allusions to Mary, and the curious confusions between the two women of that name. She points out the falsities, fables and manifest fabrications that have shaped mariolatry. This intriguing and intelligent book is an attempt to explain the origins, growth, appeal and persistence of the Virgin's cult. The narrative is a rich, allusive tapestry set in a framework of theological commentary." - New Society

ALONE OF ALL HER SEX: THE MYTH AND THE CULT OF THE VIRGIN MARY.

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ALONE OF ALL HER SEX: THE MYTH AND THE CULT OF THE VIRGIN MARY.
Marina. Warner
Manufacturer: NY, Knopf, 1976. 420 pp., illus. in color and b/w. Fine copy of first American edition in dust jacket.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UE0326

The Cambridge Illustrated History of China (Cambridge Illustrated Histories)
Average customer rating:

An interesting perspective on Chinese history

Cambridge Illustrated History of China

Good Reference; Not Detailed

An excellent overview of Chinese history

Bored to tears

The Cambridge Illustrated History of China (Cambridge Illustrated Histories)
Patricia Buckley Ebrey
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
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Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook, 2nd Ed

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ASIN: 052166991X

Amazon.com

To compress 8,000 years of a civilization's life into a single volume is a daunting task, but University of Illinois historian Patricia Ebrey does the job with authority and considerable flair. Writing with an eye to explaining recurring themes in Chinese history, she discusses ideas of order and statecraft, resource allocation and use, imperialism and population growth. Along the way she makes interesting asides, noting, among other things, that the Mongol conquerors of China monopolized the bamboo trade because they did not want the ethnic Chinese to make weapons, and she gives stimulating overviews of such matters as the manufacture of silk, hardwood furniture, and ceramics.

Book Description

More populous than any other country on earth, China also occupies a unique place in our modern world for the continuity of its history and culture. In this sumptuously illustrated single-volume history, noted historian Patricia Ebrey traces the origins of Chinese culture from prehistoric times to the present. She follows its development from the rise of Confucianism, Buddhism, and the great imperial dynasties to the Mongol, Manchu, and Western intrusions and the modern communist state. Her scope is phenomenal--embracing Chinese arts, culture, economics, society and its treatment of women, foreign policy, emigration, and politics, including the key uprisings of 1919 and 1989 in Tiananmen Square. Both a comprehensive introduction to an extraordinary civilization, and an expert exploration of the continuities and disjunctures of Chinese history, Professor Ebrey's book has become an indispensable guide to China past and present. Patricia Ebrey is Professor of East Asian Studies and History and the author of Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook (1993).

Customer Reviews:

An interesting perspective on Chinese history.......2007-05-27

I'm a Chinese living in China. Because of politicized history accounts in China after 1949 I have little interest in official history books in Chinese. But I like this book very much; for me it provides a totally new perspective on the evolution of our culture, peoples and economy etc. The rich pictures in the book make reading easier and more interesting.

Cambridge Illustrated History of China.......2007-03-21

Highly informative and readable; wonderfully illustrated both with photographs and maps. This was exactly what I had hoped for.

Good Reference; Not Detailed.......2006-11-12

I used this book as a reference text for a course in Ancient Chinese History. The labeled illustrations are a pretty good reference for the components of the class that require us to identify and date archaeological pieces. Ebrey does a good job giving an overview of all the various things happening in China, however, it truly only skims the surface. In addition, points of controversy are not really discussed. Among the academia, there is debate of one of the groups of Chinese people- the Xia. In this book, Ebrey identifies the Xia as a group that does exist. Depending on who your professor is, you might get a different spin on the situation and the Xia might be considered mythical. While this isn't a serious point of contention, there might be other discrepanicies like this between what Ebrey writes and what others think.

Now this may be nitpicky, but the book doesn't do very well with sitting in a backpack. If you intend to take take it around with you, you'd be better of buying a hardcover version. The binding comes loose relatively easily and it's printed on this beautiful, heavy, glossy paper.

Buy this book only if you're looking for a quick read and a good reference.

An excellent overview of Chinese history.......2006-08-21

As a single volume overview of Chinese history, you couldn't ask for much more than this book. It is clearly written, objective and very readable. The most significant events in Chinese history are all covered (albeit in only superficial depth, necessarily.) The book also tries to describe developments from the perspective of ordinary people, not just the emporers. Cultural and technological advances are covered as well as the major military conquests. Finally, each chapter is concluded with the author's analysis of the period and comparisons to other contemporaneous civilisations.

My only criticism is that the Japanese atrocities during World War II are glossed over, only the Rape of Nanjing is mentioned, and even then, only the lowest bound of the estimated death toll is given. If you read only this book, you might get the impression that the Japanese occupation was a relatively benign experience.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking an introduction to Chinese history.

Bored to tears.......2004-09-13

I faithfully read this book as a text for a class. The fact that it was boring wasn't such a problem because reading the book was unpleasant. In fact, it wasn't such a bad read, for a textbook. However, I was bored enough that I retained next to nothing from each chapter.
I personally find Chinese history fascinating (I speak the language, studied in Beijing, and majored in Chinese studies) but this book was a snoozer. For what you are going to get out of this book, take my short synopsis instead and forget the rest:

Qin Dynasty 220 BC: Unified China, Machiavellian
Han Dynasty 200 BC - 200 AD: Confucian
Tang Dynasty 600-900: Cosmopolitan
Song Dynasty Around 1000 AD: Confucian revival
Yuan Dynasty Around 1200: Mongols
Ming Dynasty 1300-1600: VERY Chinese
Qing Dynasty 1600-1900: Manchus

Artisans and Cooperatives: Developing Alternative Trade for the Global Economy
Average customer rating:

Some revealing case studies..

Case studies of various cooperatives around the world

Artisans and Cooperatives: Developing Alternative Trade for the Global Economy

Manufacturer: University of Arizona Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0816520887

Customer Reviews:

Some revealing case studies.........2007-08-13

This book is far from comprehensive if you wish to gain solid knowledge about Fair Trade, but is very valuable as a supplamental knowledge about the practical workings of the CRAFT side of the Fair Trade market. In other words, it will tell you nothing about the FOOD industries within the Fair Trade market.

The strong conclusions I got from this book are that 1.) a successful Fair Trade operation is a democratic one, 2.) access to finance, industry knowledge, economic knowledge and practical know-how are all important pieces to the Fair Trade puzzle which become obstacles if they're missing and 3.) Fair Trade is fragile. Fickle consumerism is definitely enough to crush the craft side of the market.

This is a great learning tool for those who want to avoid the mistakes other Fair Trade operations have made. Again, the emphasis is on practical, qualitative information based on case studies. Take it for what it is.

Case studies of various cooperatives around the world.......2007-06-19

I purchased this book because I work with cooperatives in Guatemala. Multiple authors discuss cooperatives in the Americas and Asia, covering such topics as the global market, fair trade, craft production and substinence activities. The book focuses on political, economic and cultural issues of craft production. I found the book to be a practical read and informative. I recommend this book to anyone interested in handcrafts, importing/exporting and helping the poor through cooperatives.

Product Description

Environmental issues confront professionals responsible for facility design, maintenance, safety and health, and security. This books offers an overview of economic, legal and ethical concerns; infromation on the complex laws of waste storage and disposal; and discussion of broader issues such as global warming and risk assessment.

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