How They Achieved: Stories of Personal Achievement and Business Success

Book Description

Pearls of Wisdom from How They Achieved

"Pride comes from knowing what you want to do and trying your best. You may not always get there, but you will be proud of the experience of trying your best. And if you really, really try and enjoy the process, nine times out of ten you will get there."--John Chen, President and CEO, Sybase

"Be the most passionate guy in the room. Not the smartest, not the cleverest, but the most passionate. Care more than anybody. You'll be the guy that wins."--Ted Bell, Vice Chairman and Worldwide Creative Director, Young & Rubicam

"People who are lucky enough to be in a position to choose their career should ask themselves, `What interests me? What makes me really excited?' Then they should get going and never take no for an answer."--Susie Tompkins Buell, founder and former owner, Esprit Clothing

"People usually plan their vacations more carefully than they plan their careers. I'm a compulsive planner, but there were times when I had no idea what I was doing."--Bob Cohn, CEO, Octel and Lucent Technologies

"A lot of it is timing, but a lot of it is a desire to work hard and to contribute, to not be somebody sitting on the sidelines and commenting, but to be someone playing a part in what's happening. It's also having the courage to toss your ideas out even though eight out of ten of them will be shot down."--Jane Cahill Pfieffer, President, NBC, and former vice president, IBM

Customer Reviews:

A great achievement.......2003-03-08

Lucinda Watson made reality her dream of understanding how very successful people get where they are. The book is lucid and informative. More importantly it is inspirational. The great collection of interviews serves as a learning voyage into the minds of greatness and determination.

Highly Inspirational!.......2002-07-05

This book is very well organized, systematic, and most of all very very inspirational. It is a compilation of stories from 20 highly successful people. It is about how they made it, their inspirations, their values and beliefs and how all these factors combine to make them who they are today. These people are divided into 3 categories: CEO's, Entrepreneurs, and Visionaries. This distinction is very useful because there are different traits that are associated with each category. To be successful is to hold firm to your own beliefs, but we all know this is difficult because you will be taking enormous amount of risks and inevitably be facing a lot of insecurities. This book will remind you that you are not alone and many of these highly successful people have gone through the same thing. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to find support in achieving their goals and dreams.

Take it along on your summer vacation.......2001-07-19

This is a great book--full of interesting insights and sound advice, yet fun and spunky--just like the author.

There is no substitute for hard work..........2001-04-19

I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Watson previously and this book is every bit delightful and enlightening as she is. Her book shows that strength of character, passion and hard work are the most important components to a successful business career and happy life. She brings her subjects to life, and leaves the reader with the impression of really knowing these super-achievers at a very intimate level. How They Achieved is a badly needed antidote to the Internet generation's belief of overnight success.

the most helpful book ever.......2001-04-10

Interesting and helpful, this book has made all the difference in making my business more succesful. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without it, thank you Lucinda.

Book Description

This groundbreaking book by one of Britain's leading film historians is the first to take on this major genre in all its complexity. It takes to heart Ken Loach's view that "the only reason to make films that are a reflection on history is to talk about the present." With this proposition as his starting point, James Chapman examines the place of historical films in British cinema history and film culture. Through in-depth case studies of fourteen key films, from Henry V and Zulu to Chariots of Fire and Elizabeth, he analyzes the themes they present, including gender, ethnicity, militarism and and imperialism--throughout exploring their dialectical relationship between past and present and how they project images and ideologies of "Britishness" to audiences in the UK and North America.

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British Cinema: Past and Present
Justine Ashby
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0415220610

Book Description

This work responds to the commercial and critical success of British film in the 1990s. Providing a historical perspective to the contemporary resurgence of British cinema, this unique anthology brings together leading international scholars to investigate the rich diversity of British film production, from the early sound period of the 1930s to the present.

British Cinema, Past and Present. (Reviews of Books).: An article from: Albion

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British Cinema, Past and Present. (Reviews of Books).: An article from: Albion
Richard Foulkes
Manufacturer: North American Conference on British Studies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008FIKPO
Release Date: 2005-07-30

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Albion, published by North American Conference on British Studies on March 22, 2002. The length of the article is 900 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: British Cinema, Past and Present. (Reviews of Books).
Author: Richard Foulkes
Publication: Albion (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2002
Publisher: North American Conference on British Studies
Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Page: 174(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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British Cinema: Past and Present
Justine Ashby
Manufacturer: Taylor & Francis, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MHGDK2

Book Description

Customs in Common is the remarkable companion to E. P. Thompson's landmark volume of social history The Making of the English Working Class. The product of years of research and debate, Customs in Common describes the complex culture from which working-class institutions emerged in England--a panoply of traditions and customs that the new working class fought to preserve well into Victorian times.

Customer Reviews:

Great social analysis of XVIIIth century England!.......2006-12-09

E. P. Thompson was one of the founders of social history. He was part of a group of marxist British historians, among them were Raymond Williams and Eric Hobsbawm. Costums in Common offers a great social analysis of XVIIIth century England. His main thesis is that XVIIIth century England saw sort of a tacit agreement of social behavior and stability between the gentry and the poor. They were both allowed to take certain measures to achieve their aims--the gentry did it via the parliament, and the poor via civil desobedience. Most interestingly, however, was the symbolic struggle, or cultural struggle--what E. P. Thompson calls the theatre and counter-theatre. The theatre meant the social attitudes--the gentry had its wigs, its fancy outfits, and its arrogant attitude, and the poor had its popular culture. This was a way to channel power and discontent through cultural manifestations. All in all, E. P. thompson demonstates how all these tacit agreements and symbolic struggles allowed England to go through the XVIIIth century without going through a revolution (unlike the rest of Europe did or would later), although let's not forget that this was the rural poor and the haute bourgoisie and aristocracy, but the real bourgois were barely emerging. For that we'll have to turn to his other (and lenghtier too) book: The Making of the English Working-Class.

CUSTOMS IN COMMON: STUDIES IN TRADITIONAL POPULAR CULTURE

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CUSTOMS IN COMMON: STUDIES IN TRADITIONAL POPULAR CULTURE
E.P. Thompson
Manufacturer: The New Press New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H5YO4Q

Customer Reviews:

Minor Piece Endings: The Final Verdict........2005-10-15

This is the last book or 3-volumn set that Dr. John Nunn wrote using Dr. Ken Thompson's 5-piece endgame database. Each side has a minor piece and the stronger side has an extra pawn. The goal is to see if the P could be promoted or not. The defender's job is "simple", gets rid or blocks the P.
I think this type of endings is more practical and simpler than the other two. It's practical because it happens more frequently. It's simpler because the mobility of the minor pieces is more limited than the major pieces. This causes broader and deeper variations for other type of endings. To make up for this, the special move of the N creates many interesting saving patterns.
In Averbakh's Essential Chess Endings, he mainly considers when the P has reached the seventh rank. Here Dr. Nunn gives the complete analysis for the position of the P from the seventh back all the way to the second rank. Except the cases of the a-P and when the P reaches the seventh rank, many other positions are somewhat related. The defender has some tempi to re-organize his defense.
Unlike the first two books where Nunn provides us general set-ups and themes (and practical tips at the end for the rook book) to understand the standard positions, this one does not have the practical tips tips and general set-ups. I guess he chose to do so because the theme is obvious, stop or kill the P.
Also noticeable is that about half of the positions from the studies and compositions, the other half is from practical and database endings. Maybe this is because the limited mobility of the minor pieces makes the variations narrower. It's easier to check for the accuracy of the studies and compositions. Even so, if the compositions have many interesting points, Nunn will give the authors due credits. But if they have errors, Nunn also honestly says so.
Like the first two books, this book is good for academic research. Dr. Nunn receives 5 stars for writing about 1000 pages of 4- 5-piece endings. It takes a lot of hard work and patience. After this, it's very surprising if anyone dares to visit this topic again. It's also curious to see how many players could memorize and perfectly play these types of endings in real games.

unless you're really, really serious.......2002-10-16

This is an excellent coverage of single pawn minor piece endings because it's exhaustive. The explanations can be difficult: this should not be the first, second or even third endings book you take on! But if you simply enjoy the fundamental chess endings and have been through most of them already, then this has a lot in it for you. Nunn's explanations, although they can be difficult, really are helpful.

typical nunn quality.......2002-01-10

excellent detail, but very narrow focus. only covers endings with one pawn on the board, and one piece each side. with the advent of endgame databases, is this book worth buying anymore? but it is well done nonetheless.

Book Description

Instructions To The Cook is a distillation of Zen wisdom that can be used equally well as a manual on business or spiritual practice, cooking or life. The hardcover edition was featured in every major Buddhist magazine. "Be nourished and inspired! Magnificent work!"--Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Customer Reviews:

Buddhism and entrepreneurism can mix!.......2003-08-25

Enjoyed the taped version of INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COOK, written by Bernard Glassman and Rick Fields . . . subtitled A ZEN MASTER'S LESSONS IN LIVING A LIFE THAT MATTERS, it is actually
an autobiography that tells how Glassman took his beliefs
and used them to set up a Zen Center (with a successful
bakery) . . . I had previously thought that Buddhism and
entrepreneurism were terms that didn't even belong in the same
sentence; however, this book proved me wrong.

In addition, it confirmed for me the fact that PR-type folks sometimes
don't know what they're talking about . . . when coming up with
a name for the bakery, many advised against any mention
of the Zen tie-in . . . Glassman disagreed, though, because
he felt that to hide the fact would be not consistent with his
value system . . . he fortunately won out.

My only criticism: I would have liked to have seen a few
more actual lessons; i.e., suggestions that I could apply
to my daily life along the lines of the following one that
I did recall:

As with time, there's almost always enough money to
start the process [of starting a business or virtually
anything else].

Not a lot of Instructions..........2001-01-31

I'm a little disappointed with Glassman Roshi here. Its useful if you're considering a new endevour in business, but as far as personal practice it's not. It's more a bio on Glassman ans his successes, tooting of the horn , I feel. The "instructions" were vague an dalmost always applied only to business or corporate functioning. If you're not in this world, don't expect too much.

Combining Zen and Activism.......2000-05-13

I liked this book because it combined Zen and activism, a rare combination in our culture (unfortunately). Almost as soon as he hit the streets of New York to set up his Zen Center, Glassman was intent on helping the homeless in a meaningful way. What I enjoyed the most is when he focused on Zen principles in doing his activism. When a dilemma arose, he recommended that people meditate to find a possible solution. In the bakery he set up to employ the unemployed and homeless, he erected a meditation center so that people could meditate, if so inclined. I think his merging of spiritual practice, hard work, and activism is probably a good reason why his projects were successful. He realized that business without "more" is not fulfilling, and that spirituality needs to help the community we all live in, as its purpose is not simply to help our individual souls. A most worthwhile book. The only criticism: although he discussed himself, I would have liked to have learned even more about his background, how he came to the place of combining Zen and activism.

Building a community is a job for us all.......1998-08-24

Filled with inspiration and common sense wisdom, Glassman shows that caring can become compassion, and in turn can significantly alter our communities for the better. This is a message of hope for those who see government subsidies and the welfare system as our only way to deal with the unemployed or underemployed.

Business owners and community leaders could learn more from this book than from sitting through dozens of meetings filled with people who like to complain, rather than take action. I highly recommend this book both for the joy of seeing that there is light in the world, and as an example of how compassion can reap profits in so much more than dollars and cents.

Best Guide to Spirituality in the Street.......1997-05-11

On Becoming a Zen Cook How do you go further from the top of a hundred-foot pole? The answer to this Zen koan, given on the opening page of Instructions to the Cook: A Zen Master1s Lessons in Living a Life that Matters (Bell Tower Harmony Books) is simply, 3Live life more fully.2 The Zen 3cook2 writing this book is Bernard Glassman, abbot of the Zen Community of New York and the Zen Center of Los Angeles, with assistance from Rick Fields, editor of Yoga Journal and co-author of the Zen book, Chop Wood, Carry Water. When Dr. Glassman (with a Ph.D. in mathematics from U.C.L.A.) was an aeronautical engineer working on manned missions to Mars at McDonnell-Douglas in the 1970s, he felt a hunger for 3something more.2 He began his practice of Zen and soon became a teacher himself. Glassman vowed to serve the 3supreme meal2 to the world1s hungry. The supreme meal for a Zen cook is life lived to the fullest. By the time he wrote his cookbook, he had created a Zen community in New York, complete with uniquely profitable means of livelihood for its members, as well as several not-for-profit social action enterprises. How did he come to serve up such a full meal? He began by gathering the ingredients at hand at started cooking. Along the way, he didn1t worry so much about doing the 3right thing2 as simply doing the 3next thing,2 which usually proved to be correct. His cookbook, which is also an autobiography of his work, shows that a meal concocted from spirituality, livelihood and service is quite fulfilling. His story, and the teaching he makes from it, has provided me with some of the most inspiring reading I1ve encountered in a long time. I want to pass along some of his recipes here for each of five courses which make up the complete meal. The first course is spiritual practice, such as meditation (or use other methods at hand), to develop the awareness of the oneness of all things. Spirituality also helps us to realize the stillness in the center of all our activities. We need to clear our minds just as a cook cleans the kitchen prior to cooking. We don1t meditate to become enlightened, however, but because we are enlightened, we meditate to keep our stillness in the endless cycle of cooking, serving, cleaning. The second course is study or learning. We need our education to develop intelligence and skills. Rabbi Glassman--of course I should call him Roshi, not Rabbi, but he was born Jewish and his practical, down to earth approach has a Jewish flavor--teaches that we learn by doing. No need to wait until you know everything before you do anything, but you learn like a baby learns to walk, by getting up over and over again until you get going. Then you become more polished with practice. He teaches you to cook with all available ingredients, including your own faults and problems, which are always in plentiful supply. When a series of burglaries into the housing complex for the homeless, for example, began to anger the residents, he used the situation to teach them how much they cared about and wanted to protect their dwelling place. He used this problem to get them more involved in its management, and they learned valuable skills in the process. The third course is livelihood, which requires practical skills put to good use. Although we don1t live to eat, we have to eat to live. No matter how spiritual we may be, finding a way to sustain ourselves in the world is a common necessity. He calls it the meat and potatoes of the meal. Denying donations, Glassman created a self-sustaining businessÐa bakeryÐbecause good food would nourish others and because it could be quite profitable. His tales of creating that business (becoming the official supplier of baked goods to the Rain Forest brand of cookies and for Ben and Jerry1s ice cream sandwiches) is an instructional manual itself in practical spirituality. He saw to it that the employees not only earned a living, but also found spiritual nourishment in their work. He had a double bottom line that he sees as really one: profit and service to all concerned. He didn1t aim merely for profit that served, but also profit that transformed, because the forth course is social action. Creating economically self-sustaining structures that nourished the community and transformed its social landscape, he hired and trained the homeless so they could earn money to own their own shelter. Have a big vision, he counsels, but pay attention to the details. He developed, for example, an 800 number voice mail network for the homeless to communicate with each other and with potential employers. The final course is relationship and community. He and his students lived among the homeless and learned from them in designing their programs. He also engaged local business and government to participate as be began a program of refurbishing abandoned buildings. Glassman has had his critics, people who miss the traditional zendo. They ask, 3But is it Zen?2 He treats the question as a koan, and replies, 3Three pounds of fudge!2

Instructions to the Cook : A Zen Master's Lessons in Living a Life that Matters

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Instructions to the Cook : A Zen Master's Lessons in Living a Life that Matters
Bernard & Fields, Rick Glassman
Manufacturer: Bell Tower c1996
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ONHY4S

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Instructions to the Cook: A Zen Master's Lessons in Living a Life That Matters
Bernard ; Fields, Rick Glassman
Manufacturer: Bell Tower
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHPZ54

Customer Reviews:

Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Off, and Keep Moving Forward!.......2007-01-04

Was a tad surprised about the pot smoking incidents, but it took some hutsvah (spelling?) to put it down in the book. With that said, this is great reading from 1987. Obviously, Barry did NOT kill off any brain cells with the pot, or, if he did, he certainly had many extra ones to play with. I bought this book because I wanted to know more about my absolutely FAVORITE singer. It was hard to put it down at night but I HAD to sleep. Lemme start by saying that I do not generally care to read bios, but this was written by the big Mr. Barry himself, so it's not somebody making up stuff just to sell a book. The ONLY bios I have read have been that of Barry and of Chuck Norris. (I was impressed by Chuck and the values he attempted to portray on Walker, Texas Ranger.)

As is consistent with Barry, he begins the book thanking everyone who helped him for their brutal honesty (obviously in helping him remember details) and helping him in any way with this book-writing venture, which took him over 3 years. He states, "...I want to tell you the story of an average guy on the way to the rest of his life...". (and that about says it.)

The book is very well written, and is done in such a way that it makes you feel that you are sitting across the kitchen table chatting with him over a couple of pots of coffee. It's interesting, witty, simple, and if it's not brutally honest, then he's got me fooled. I found it far more interesting than I had anticipated. Like I said, hard to put down.

It begins with his simple childhood in Brooklyn and discusses his background, family, his failed marriage, beginnings of his career, girlfriends, struggles of the career, challenges, his work at the NYC Bathhouse, alone and with Bette Midler, and so on. He never planned to be a singer, but it sure must have been in the stars. Some of the past must have been painful to write about, but writing about it was probably a type of therapy in itself.

This is a story of determination and perseverence, of getting knocked down and getting back up and going on. It's about putting fears and insecurities aside and having the guts to go forward and keep going. It's about doing a little bullcrapping, too. It's also about having an "I CAN" attitude, which I greatly admire in anyone, along with perseverance. Barry enjoyed the music world and he threw himself into it and got more than he ever expected. This bio is an average man's climb from a poor kid to a superstar, but then, is Barry REALLY average? I think not. "Average" people give up. Average/normal is overrated.

I'm ready for the sequel anytime, Barry! This was FANTASTIC and well worth reading. I LOVED it!!!

Great Entertainer, Superb Musician.......2006-01-25

Wow, I cannot believe it's been 8 years since I read this great book and reviewed it online @ Amazon. I have since read and re-read this book so many times, I've practically memorised the words - but they remain as touching and inspiring as ever. I laugh and cry each time I read it. My respect for him as an entertainer and a person grows each time I read the book.

Barry's words have helped me in my affirmation of my own self worth during the low times and in celebration of the highs - just as all his songs have done all these years. Here's one true blue fan who is looking forward to the next autobiographical update from the man himself.

It's a wonder my book is still in mint condition!!! but I am determined to treasure this book for always. :-)

What a pleasure!.......2004-06-16

Mr. Manilow is a great inspiration.
I loved this book.
It's sincere, funny, interesting and sad all at the same time.
Not only does this man write beautiful music, he sure knows how to write a book too!
If your a fan I would say it's a MUST read.

Barry speaks his mind and i agree with him.......2004-04-28

in this book, which i finally NOW have, i was expecting to read a dark and gloomy rise to fame but there wasn't any. Manilow's fame came by accident and the pressures of the business and the reluctance to accept the fame, in the beginning, is a refreshing story. Barry talks about his early musical career in the '60s before being pushed into the spotlight by Clive Davis. all facets of Barry's career is talked about in here. there's a chapter called "Read 'Em and Weep", which was the title of his huge AC #1 hit in 1984. The story part of the book ends during the "Paradise Café" album in 1984 but the discography in the back includes his 1985 and 1986 material. the pictures contained in this book are rare...you see Barry with black hair, combed to the side, during his days with CBS prior to hooking up with Bette Middler. there's also a picture of Barry on a beach with no shirt on...there's another one where he has a small beard! if anything, this book helps paint the picture of Barry Manilow. It allows people who really never followed his career in-depth to know how the off-stage "barry" was always at odds with the on-stage "BARRY" throughout much of his biggest years. There's also chapters that talk about the commercial aspect of music and the heart-felt aspect of music and why Manilow's songs were poignant yet had a commercial "sound" to them. This is a complex story of a man living the life of a super-star. Being a writer, Barry was also stunned whenever a song he never co-wrote would become a hit for him. "I Write the Songs" wasn't written by Barry...but neither was a few other big songs like "Mandy", "Looks Like We Made It", or "Read 'Em and Weep"...Barry said that it took years before he could accept their success. Barry has changed a lot of his personal opinions since the mid '80s. Nowadays whenever he does a CD he's performing "outside songs", as he calls them, even more than his own material, which wouldn't have happened in his past. above all else, this book shows that "Barry Manilow" is a human and has feelings, too. no artist should ever have to go through what he went through; and all he ever wanted was to spread joy and happiness through his music and even today he's still causing happiness with his style of pop music.

Sweet Life.......2003-06-16

I enjoyed reading every page of Barry's Sweet Life book and all the pictures inside the book, are very good.
Until I started reading Barry's book for the very first time, I never knew about his pot smoking days(Bad Barry!). :-O
Otherwise, it's a very interesting book to read!

SWEET LIFE Adventures on the Way to Paradise

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SWEET LIFE Adventures on the Way to Paradise
Barry Manilow
Manufacturer: McGraw Hill - Book Club Edition
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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SWEET LIFE, ADVENTURES ON THE WAY TO PARADISE
Barry MANILOW
Manufacturer: McGraw - Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Sweet Life: Adventures on Way to Paradise

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A Chat With Barry at the Kitchen Table

Sweet Life: Adventures on Way to Paradise
Barry Manilow
Manufacturer: Random House Value Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0517695154
Release Date: 1989-08-02

Customer Reviews:

A Chat With Barry at the Kitchen Table.......2007-01-29

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A Poor Addition to a Great Series

Disappointed in lack of work for younger students....

dissapointed

The Story of the World Activity Book Four: The Modern Age: From Victoria's Empire to the End of the USSR

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Explore the World | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 4: The Modern Age: From Victoria's Empire to the End of the USSR

The Story of the World Activity Book Three: Early Modern Times

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 3: Early Modern Times

The Story of the World: Activity Book Two: The Middle Ages

Story of the World, Volume 4: The Modern Age Audiobook CD: From Victoria's Empire to the End of the USSR (11 CDs) (The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child)

ASIN: 0972860355

Book Description

This comprehensive activity book/curriculum guide contains all you need to make modern history come alive for your child!

Don't just read about history—experience it! Designed to turn The Story of the World, Volume 4 into a complete history program, this activity book provides comprehension questions and answers, sample narrations, maps and geography activities, coloring pages, lists of additional history and literature readings, and many hands-on learning activities, all designed for grades 2-5.

Customer Reviews:

A Poor Addition to a Great Series.......2007-09-21

While the books are very good, these activity books are written/developed for a much younger crowd. Fine if you are using them for elementary students in a home school environment. Not very challenging or invigorating for a child that can read the book by themselves.

Disappointed in lack of work for younger students...........2006-11-12

I have never written a review before, but felt compelled to for this book. We are in our 4th year of using Story of the World and have always loved it. The activity book to volume 4 is a huge disappointment to me because of the lack of reading list suggestions for the lower grades. My favorite thing about Story of the World is that I have been able to easily present it to a variety of grade levels (I currently teach 6th, 4th and 2nd and K). The past activity books have allowed me to get books at each child's level (without having to go search them out myself). They have also provided pictures and coloring activities for the younger students, all of which allowed me to easily tailor the chapter's work to each child. This activity book will be very nice for my older children, but will leave me doing extra work for my younger ones (a prospect I am not looking forward to). My expectations were that this activity book would provide the same type of materials and activities as the first three. This book falls far of meeting my expectations. I am dissappointed that the authors decided to make what I see as a fundamental change in this last book of the series.

dissapointed.......2006-02-26

The prior three activity books have been a great addition to our homeschooling, but this activity book vol 4 was a huge dissapointment. It contains mostly maps. We get plenty of maps in the reading book. This looks to be more appropriate for older grades. It is not as useful for the younger grades which was the benefit of her other books, they were great for all levels. Not this one.

Book Description

Suicide attacks have become the defining act of political violence of our age. From New York City to Baghdad, from Sri Lanka to Israel, few can doubt that they are a pervasive and terrifying feature of an increasing number of violent conflicts. Since 1981, approximately thirty organizations throughout the world - some of them secular and others affiliated to radical Islam - have carried out more than 500 suicide missions. Although a tiny fraction of the overall number of guerrilla and terrorist attacks occurring in the same period, the results have proved infinitely more lethal. This book is the first to shed real light on these extraordinary acts, and provide answers to the questions we all ask. Are these the actions of aggressive religious zealots and unbridled, irrational radicals or is there a logic driving those behind them? Are their motivations religious or has Islam provided a language to express essentially political causes? How can the perpetrators remain so lucidly effective in the face of certain death? And do these disparate attacks have something like a common cause? For more than two years, this team of internationally distinguished scholars has pursued an unprejudiced inquiry, investigating organizers and perpetrators alike of this extraordinary social phenomenon. Close comparisons between a whole range of cases raise challenging further questions: If suicide missions are so effective, why are they not more common? If killing is what matters, why not stick to 'ordinary' violent means? Or, if dying is what matters, why kill in the process? Making Sense of Suicide Missions contains a wealth of original information and cutting-edge analysis which furthers our understanding of this chilling feature of the contemporary world in radically new and unexpected ways.

Customer Reviews:

Sociological Analysis of the Suicide Attacker.......2006-12-11

If there is a single point that defines the current political struggles in the world it is the Suicide Mission. This book consists of essays from a number of social scientists from around the world who have studied such missions.

The book begins with a discussion of the Japanese Kamikaze in World War II where some 3,000 Japanese army and navy pilots died trying to crash their planes into Allied ships during the later phase of the war.

After this chapter the book covers the more recent activities from self-immolations, as with the monks in VietNam to the activities by Palestinians, Al-queda and others. Finally there are several chapters on the more general aspects of suicide missions such as motivations, beliefs, the overall impact and so on.

The hardcover version of this book was published in early 2005. For this paperback version an additional Epilogue has been added that analyzes what has happened in the world since then. As the business analysis types would say, this has been a growth industry with 555 attacks in 2005.

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Making Sense of Suicide Missions
Diego Gambetta
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press(UK)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKY2MI

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