Investing for Middle America: John Elliott Tappan and the Origins of American Express Financial Advisors

Book Description

In 1894, in the teeth of America's second worst depression, a young Minneapolis lawyer feared for the ability of ordinary men and women to survive in a collapsing economy. John Elliott Tappan did something about it: he founded Investors Syndicate, the financial pioneer that later became American Express. This is the story of an unlikely man and the role that he played in the great sea of change in American life. A reserved Republican, Tappan was one of America's great financial entrepreneurs. He created an investment service that championed slow, steady growth at a time of get rich quick scandals. The authors track the extraordinary successes of Tappan's idea through World War II. Drawing on his letters, diaries, and family histories, they have created a fascinating chronicle of the transformation of American economy-and a rare portrait of the genius whose innovations and rock-solid faith in "democratic capitalism" helped make it possible.

Customer Reviews:

Minneapolis Financial Entrepreneur/Environmentalist!.......2001-10-27

I hope a lot of people in Minneapolis - and the rest of the country and world - read this book. Not only is it the fascinating story about a leading honest citizen of my fair city, it offers all of us an example of a man who maintained his Victorian morals and sense of honor despite the many hurdles he had to jump to make IDS the company it became. From the U.S. Post Office to charlatans to a personal and professional betrayal, John Tappan gave his life-blood to his company in the hopes that its services would relieve the debt of his clients and help them save for their futures.

He was also a strong environmentalist, clearly never forgetting that his youth spent in the wilderness of frontier America shaped him morally and spiritually, and that even though the concept of "survival of the fittest" applies to all of us one must never forget perserverance, courage and loyalty to family, friends, and business clients if one is to succeed and maintain one's moral compass.

He also was able to forgive his clients' weaknesses and helped them improve their lives. If only that happened today!

Any business public relations firm should read this book and read what customer service and loyalty should be all about - and anyone interested in a unique American Renaissance man should order this book for themselves, family members and friends. They won't be disappointed.

A must read.......2001-09-19

Excellent book. I really enjoyed it. It gave me a new understanding of the history of American Financial industry. I encourage other people who have dealing with the financial markets to read this book.

This is an outstanding book........2001-09-18

It is a compelling history of Investors Syndicate, covering the formative years of 1894 - 1925. Equally fascinating is the biographical material on and quotes from the correspondence of John Elliott Tappan, the company's founder. I highly recommend it.
Glenn - CFO World Class Flowers

Book Description

Truly unique in both concept and approach, here is a fictionalized account of what made one of the finest golfers who has ever lived: the great Ben Hogan. A legend in his own time as well as today, Hogan is a four-time PGA Player of the Year, and one of only four persons to win all four Grand Slam titles. Much has been written about the mechanics of his game, but Hogans reclusive lifestyle has left millions of fans to merely speculate about his mental game and what made it one of the best in the sport. Now that secret is revealed.

By interweaving historical fact with careful deduction, author Bob Thomas offers a more complete picture of the whole man and shows just what it was that drove this indisputable master to achieve his spectacular records.

In the tradition of Golf in the Kingdom, Ben Hogans Secret is sure to be a hit with any golfing enthusiast.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful journey through the life of a golf icon.......2007-10-19

A friend of mine received a copy of this book at a golf tournament and passed it along to me. Bob Thomas gives us a very real look at the life of Hogan that is both inspiring and emotional. For those few negative reivewers, this book is not meant to be a biography -- it is a literary portrait. If you are not inspired by the overall message of the book, then you are truly missing something. I was amazed at the presentation of Hogan's life in the way that makes my own seem not so bad. I'd recommend this work to any golf enthusiast looking for some motivation.

Absurd.......2007-10-05

This has to be one o the most absurd books I've ever read. The very term "fictionalized biography" is a literary abomination. Other than the name Ben Hogan and some basic events of his life this story has nothing to do with the complexity of the man. There is no evidence at all that the author's made up "secret" has anything to so with the real Ben Hogan. The author never met him, never interviewed him, yet he builds up a whole touchy-feely new-age persona for a man whose whole life screamed out the oppsite. This is the worst kind of revisionism and one suspects that the author's family and friends have written most of the reviews that appear herein, as it is hard to imagine how an unbiased reader would find anything of value in this tripe.

Ben Hogan's Secret - A Real Winner.......2003-07-26

Author Bob Thomas has a real winner in Ben Hogan's Secret. This great fictionalized biography of Ben Hogan is more truth than fiction and portrays Hogan as the man he really was, a shy, caring individual who tried to avoid the limelight. Once I started reading this book I found it very difficult to put it down.

A Good Read.......2003-07-13

I read and enjoyed "Ben Hogan's Secret." I too read the first chapter on the website and decided to purchase the book. I enjoyed reading about the camaraderie between Hogan and Bobby Jones. It was interesting how Jones helped Hogan believe in himself as a golfer. I recommend adding this book to any golfer's library.

Laughable!.......2002-01-04

I can't believe the good reviews this book has gotten here on Amazon. In my opinion, this book is so far fetched it's laughable. It vaguely hits upon factual events in Hogan's life and it is written as if by (and for) an elementary school child. I know it is a fictionalized story, but it's based on a real person and therefore must remain somewhat grounded in reality. Unfortunately, it does not. This book is incredibly trite and simplistic and makes Ben Hogan appear as an insecure, confused little boy...

Ben Hogan's Secret A Fictionalized Biography

Average customer rating:

Ben Hogan's Secret A Fictionalized Biography
Thomas Bob
Manufacturer: Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Average customer rating:

Ben Hogan's Secret: A Fictionalized Biography
Bob Thomas
Manufacturer: Macmillan General Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Book Description

A pioneering study of the genesis of the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, who emerged in the 1980s with films of startling originality. Through an analysis of this generation and its films, Clark brings several decades of transformation in Chinese society into vivid relief. The book focuses on the making and meaning of films such as Judou, Raise the Red Lantern, and Farewell My Concubine. Clark also draws heavily on interviews with directors, including Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige and Tian Zhuangzhuang, as well as other less well-known figures.

Average customer rating:
Teaching Cross-Culturally: An Incarnation Model for Learning and Teaching

Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 1417676965

Customer Reviews:

Not as detailed as it should be... particularly for craps.......2006-07-03

'Commando Craps & Blackjack!' by John Gollehon is a good book in that some of the basic "rules" (or disciplines as Gollehon calls them) of gambling (bide your time, start small and work your way up, avoid greed, set a predetermined 'loss' limit, small wins are still wins, etc...) are sound advice for any gambler. However, in explaining the rules of craps, this book falls short in my opinion. The advise seems pretty elementary (play the passline, play the odds, play the come line, etc...), but doesn't explain everything an inexperienced player needs to know about the game. Gollehon glosses over the prop bets (mentioning only the Hardways and then actually contradicts himself.) No mention of horn bets, C&Es, any sevens.

For blackjack, the advise is really standard advise. Just type 'blackjack strategy chart' on Google and print yourself out a chart. There. You're done. You have the 'optimum' strategy for blackjack (and you can take it into the casino with you).

I would say that one should read the 1st half for the disciplines and basic gambling philosophies and then read a more detailed book for a greater understanding of the rules of blackjack and craps.

save your money!.......2002-09-20

I have gambled in Vegas for 30 years, and read many a book from alleged experts. Save your money on this book. About the only advice this book gives that is worth anything is to bet more when winning. Otherwise, only very green beginners will find anything of worth in this book. I gave it one star because it has a great title. But, that's about all it has.

Careful when you buy this book........2002-08-27

The first thing I need to say about this book is that it is an update of Gollehon's " Pay the Line". This information doesn't appear in the blurbs for either book on Amazon. Having pointed that out I can say that this is an excellent book for serious gamblers. The advice is difficult to put into practice, particularly for newer players. Does anyone really think that parking your butt at a craps table for eight straight hours is a formula for success? People do it all the time. Does anyone really think that the casinos beg you to take comps and insist on giving you rfb because its to your best interest? Everyone takes comps. So its difficult to be disciplined when it comes to gambling and visiting Vegas, but if you want to have a chance of winning you must practice what Gollehon preaches.

Book Description

Take a strategic approach to software constructionand produce superior productswith this fully updated edition of Steve McConnells critically praised and award-winning guide to software development best practices.

Customer Reviews:

A bible for programmers.......2007-10-01

This book is targetted for software programmers. It advocates that the primary goal of the developer is to manage complexity, and I fully agree with that! It discusses several topics while providing good and bad examples: naming, coding style and organization, code tuning, refactoring, requirements and planning, testing debugging. I highly recommend it!

The Programming Bible.......2007-09-27

This book is quite simply a must read for anyone in the programming field. The chapter on debugging is worth its weight in gold. My copy is riddled with sticky notes marking key topics. McConnell's writing style is entertaining and very educational; he says what he needs to say and doesn't bore you along the way. There is really no other way to put it: if you must buy one programming book this is it, at least until the third edition comes out.

Live IT.......2007-09-21

Buy it. Study it. Live IT. Your career will take off because of the insight provided.

Thorough coding advice.......2007-09-16

If you're looking for a humorous, clever tome about coding, this is not your book. If, however, you are looking for thorough, well laid out, research-backed coding solutions and advice, then this book is an excellent addition to your library. The examples are based upon C, but suggestions are readily understandable by coders using any OOP compiler.

Great stuff..........2007-09-01

My only disappointment was to find that some coding practices I've been using for the last 10 years or so he is now recommending against. Actually a few of them I would be glad to give up (large comment blocks at the beginning of scripts) but others are well ingrained. I can see his argument, but it will take a while for this old dog to relearn those new tricks.

Book Description

Prior to the 2004 Athens Olympics, few Canadians - outside fencing circles - knew very much about Sherraine MacKay, but as the countdown to those games began, her name became more and more familiar, and while the world of fencing had been, up to that time, an esoteric sport at best, it too was suddenly thrust into the limelight. It helped, of course, that in the last World Cup of the season prior to the Games, MacKay had won gold (her second) that she had been ranked as high as number two, and consistently ranked among the top 10 female fencers in the world over the past five years. It helped that her photo suddenly began appearing in our national magazines and in major daily newspapers across Canada. It helped that she was ebullient, outspoken, quick-witted and funny enough to land a spot reading her Letters from Paris on CBC Radio's The Inside Track with host Robin Brown. In a surprise upset, a Greek fencer bested Sherraine in Athens, though the Canadian women's team, which she anchored, finished fourth - the best finish ever by Canadian women in Olympic fencing. Running with Swords, is Sherraine McKay's journal, her own story of her incredible journey from tiny Brooks, Alberta where she was born, to Paris, France where she moved to train for Athens while teaching English as a second language to elite athletes. At once inspiring, thoughtful and brimming with MacKay's sense of humour, it is also the story of young athletes from Canada and around the world, of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of dreams, the friendships forged, and the joy of the game whether on the track, in the field, in the water, on the ice, or on the piste.

Customer Reviews:

A fencer's point of view.......2007-02-28

I have been looking forward to this book for a year, when I received it as a gift. I knew of Sherraine's fencing career, but not in great detail. I have fenced recreationally in the past and have kept up with the latest news and events.

This book chronicles the career of Sherraine McKay, from her childhood to the peak of Canadian Women's Epee. We start with Sherraine's introduction into the sport, her high school years, and eventually to the International competitions. She takes us through training, World Cup tournaments, and the Olympics.

I found the book enjoyable, but I think that is in part, due to my background in fencing. For the average person, without a fencing knowledge, this book would not be as interesting. I found some parts of the book to be slow, and at times the story jumped from topic to topic too much and aburptly for my taste. I enjoyed the chapters immediately preceeding the Olympics and also her experiences in the Olympic villages.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the wonderful sport of fencing and also the Olympic experience. However, for the mainstream reader this book may not be as interesting.

Both a personal memoir and a lively insider's account of the Olympic sports world.......2006-06-26

Any interested in the sport of fencing will find engrossing RUNNING WITH SWORDS: THE ADVENTURES AND MISADVENTURES OF THE IRREPRESSIBLE CANADIAN FENCING CHAMPION. Author Sherraine Mackay's Olympic dreams and efforts to chase them across Europe made her among the top ten women fencers in the world. From her personal upset in Greece to her success in leading her team to fourth place in the Olympics, RUNNING WITH SWORDS is both a personal memoir and a lively insider's account of the Olympic sports world.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

A book of universal appeal.......2005-12-17

I am the kind of person who would NEVER pick up a book written by an athlete, am rarely interested in biographies and am wary of "inspirational" literature because of the amount of fluff out there.
However, this book crosses so many genres of literature, that it has appeal to all. It was rare to not read a few pages without a smile on my face and even let slip a few guffaws along the way. And i was inspired by her challenge not to let her sport define her and control her sense of value and worth, something we all face whether it be via money, our job or how we look. Overall an honest, humble and candid look inwards at herself and outwards at her environment, all with a great sense of humour that by the end of the book you feel like you have made a friend.

You'll Poke Your Eye Out!.......2005-10-04

This delightful look at the demanding world of Olympic athlete Sherraine Mackay will provide hours of insight and fun.Written in a fast paced enjoyable witty style this book should prove to be a delight for readers of all ages.Find out about the ups & downs of a dedicated amateur athlete who pays to compete around the globe. Witness the catalogue of sacrifices it takes to reach the top.This book should be an inspiration to all prospective Olympians and athletes of all ages and skill levels....run out and buy it today!

Average customer rating:

Excellent Book! Reveals what school texts don't.

A Wonderful Surprise

Readable but problematical

Readable but problematical

An outstanding Western Civilization text. . .

Christ the King-Lord of History: A Catholic World History from Ancient to Modern Times
Anne W. Carroll
Manufacturer: T A N Books & Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Catholic | Church History | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Christ the King: Lord of History Workbook and Study Guide

Christ and the Americas

Christ the King Lord of History Answer Key

Christ and the America's Workbook and Study Guide: With Answer Key

Pocket Catholic Dictionary

ASIN: 0895555034

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Book! Reveals what school texts don't........2006-01-05

This was truely an amazing book. When I went to high school I was forced to learn how evil the Catholic Crusades were, and how grusome the Inquisition was, but this book puts a whole new light on it! This woman really did her research. She's not someone who'd just put her own Catholic twist on things. Anne Carroll founded Seton School in VA, and Christendom College, and has spent 20 years teaching and has an M.A!
I usually found history incredibly boring, but Anne Carroll livens it up greatly. Not just focusing on American History,(How many times can we hear about Washington Crossing the Deleware?) she covers from roughly 3000 BC, to the end of WWII. While in school, we'd breeze by the Middle Ages within a month and focus on things I've already heard about, but Anne goes further into detail with the Kings and Queens of those times. And instead of just listing a bunch of boring facts, she tells humorous stories about most of the people she introduces.
But she doesn't sugar-coat everything. While putting a Catholic viewpoint on it, she doesn't deny that Catholics made mistakes in the Crusades, but she informs us as to exactly what they DID do, instead of getting the blown out of proportion explanations we sometimes get.
In conclusion, Anne made History what it should be, FUN! (and true. We sometimes have anti-catholic bias history books that distort the truth. I'm not saying all are like that, but I've seen some. So if you're a die-hard Catholic, have a good read!) Half of learning is enjoying what's being taught. It really is a worthwhile book!

A Wonderful Surprise.......2005-07-05

While browsing in a Catholic book store, this lovely little book caught my eye. I picked it up and could not put it down. So home with me it went, whereupon it captured also my heart. It truly is a wonderful little surprise.

Many have here commented on the level of writing in the book. Certainly it is intended to be a high school history text. Of this, I have two observations. First, if Catholic high schools are indeed using this excellent book as a text, then students priviliged to attend these schools are receiving a vastly superior introduction to world history than are their government school counterparts. Second, as a person who earned a degree in history from a great American University and who now approaches the study of history as a serious hobby, I found the writing to be refreshingly straightforward and clear. It is vastly superior to the drivel that passes for academic history among our "court historians".

In summary, I strongly recommend this excellent little book both as an excellent overview of world history from the solid foundation of a Catholic epistemology and as a quite enjoyable and informative read. May God bless Anne W. Carroll and TAN publishers for bringing this important work into being.

Readable but problematical.......2003-07-03

As a traditionalist Catholic and a professional historian, I cannot recommend this book whole heartedly.
This book is a passable Catholic introduction to world history. Maybe I should say, a Catholic tweak on world history. By trying to Catholicize history, the author provides a fresh look but makes no contribution and actually distorts many issues.
There are major advantages to this book. It gives a point of view not normally found in other texts. It covers history in a readable style. It is primarily a survey book.
There are major cons. The author ignores the contributions of major civilizations or glosses oevr them. The author also attributes ideas to time periods where they did not enter into play. Take, for example, the idea of distributism.
I would recommend this book as additional reading but not as the main textbook in schools or homeschool history programs. Unfortunately, many homeschool parents fall into the trap that, because Mrs. Carroll has been involved in the Catholic homeschool and educational movements, her work is sacrosanct. It is useful but one should not pin the children's historical competency on this book alone.

Readable but problematical.......2003-07-03

An outstanding Western Civilization text. . ........2002-09-23

. . .for homeschooling parents, especially those teaching from a Catholic perspective. If you're looking for political correctness and watered-down minimalism, give this one a miss!

Mrs. Carroll has a wonderful narrative style of reading which is most engaging. This book will probably interest even the most "anti-history" student! While the book is geared for the highschool age, my 7th grader made good use of it over the past year.

Highly recommended

Average customer rating:
Bicycling Science : Third Edition
David Gordon Wilson
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQBUZ4

Book Description

Protecting Biodiversity addresses one of the most fundamental aspects of this important issue: the lack of adequate national laws regulating access to, and compensation for, the use of local genetic resources. This book is the first to compare such laws and policies across a range of countries in both the industrialized and developing worlds, including Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru and the United States. It also presents legal viewpoints, conclusions and solid recommendations for future action.

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