The Vanderbilts and the story of their fortune

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An antidote for anti-business

mostly facts but is interesting if you are into learning

The Vanderbilts and the story of their fortune
W. A Croffut
Manufacturer: Belford, Clarke
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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The Vanderbilt Women: Dynasty of Wealth, Glamour and Tragedy

Fortune's Children

ASIN: B00085J288

Book Description

1886. This is a history of the Vanderbilt family, with a record of their vicissitudes, and a chronicle of the method by which their wealth has been acquired. It is confidently put forth as a work which should fall into the hands of boys and young men - of all who aspire to become captains of industry or leaders of their fellows in the sharp and wholesome competitions of life.

Customer Reviews:

An antidote for anti-business.......2006-10-10

This book is a celebration of wealth creation and of the men whose minds drive it -- in particular, Commodore Vanderbilt and his son, William. In telling the story of their business success, the book emphasizes:

* That great wealth is not made by cheating the public, but through hard work and brilliant ideas
* That a genius like Vanderbilt, working for his own self-interest, will incidentally do more for society than any philanthropist could dream of
* That making money is not something to be ashamed of

It does so without the muckraking that is characteristic of so many biographies of great men -- looking for anything that might seem like a neurosis so as to present a more "balanced" picture of a historical figure, when the importance of that figure is NOT that he was neurotic, but that he did great things.

It is no surprise that this book was written in 1886, during the height of the Industrial Revolution. Such pro-business writing would have a hard time finding a publisher today, and that's a shame. So read this book for a glimpse into that most productive time in America's history, the Industrial Revolution, and into the life of Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the men who made it that way.

mostly facts but is interesting if you are into learning.......1998-02-08

I read this book for a project on Cornelius Vanderbilt. I thought it was very interesting and it showed a personal side of him that showed his real character. I believe the thesis to this book is that Cornelius Vanderbilt's motives were money.

Customer Reviews:

Excellence Exemplified.......2000-07-24

For those who have recently become interested in Porsche cars & their history, this book should be read to understand how their products & fame evolved over the years. In the early days, Huschke von Hanstein literally "put them on the map" with his press releases & dedicated innovative efforts to gain deserved attention for a fledgling Porsche KG.

For the many automotive enthusiasts who are knowledgeable in any degree about the history of Porsche, this book is an absolute "must-have". In contrast to some others, this book is packed with incredible photos, never published before to my knowledge. The photo of Damon Hill with "others" is wonderful ! The copy is a joy to read, detailed, accurate, & factual. It is full of trivia tid-bits, which will delight all readers. The English translation deserves special commendation.

There is no hype or fluff in this book. The comments & reminiscences are by the very best. The Huschke & Ursula charm, courtesy, & attention is shared by all who knew them.

Incidentally, this book is a bargain at twice the price.

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Huschke von Hanstein The Racing Baron
Aichele Tobias
Manufacturer: Konemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UE0VZA

Book Description

"Ladies and gentlemen: THIS IS CINERAMA." With these words, on September 30, 1952, the heavy red curtains in New York's Broadway Theatre opened on a panoramic Technicolor image of the Rockaways Playland Atom-Smasher Roller Coaster--and moviegoers were abruptly plunged into a new and revolutionary experience. The cinematic transformation heralded by this giddy ride was, however, neither as sudden nor as straightforward as it seemed. Widescreen Cinema leads us through the twists and turns and decades it took for film to change its shape and, along the way, shows how this fitful process reflects the vagaries of cultural history.

Widescreen and wide-film processes had existed since the 1890s. Why, then, John Belton asks, did 35mm film become a standard? Why did a widescreen revolution fail in the 1920s but succeed in the 1950s? And why did movies shrink again in the 1960s, leaving us with the small screen multiplexes and mall cinemas that we know today? The answers, he discovers, have as much to do with popular notions of leisure time and entertainment as with technology. Beginning with film's progress from peepshow to projection in 1896 and focusing on crucial stages in film history, such as the advent of sound, Belton puts widescreen cinema into its proper cultural context. He shows how Cinerama, CinemaScope, Vista Vision, Todd-AO, and other widescreen processes marked significant changes in the conditions of spectatorship after World War 11 -and how the film industry itself sought to redefine those conditions. The technical, the economic, the social, the aesthetic -every aspect of the changes shaping and reshaping film comes under Belton's scrutiny as he reconstructs the complex history of widescreen cinema and relates this history to developments in mass-produced leisure-time entertainment in the twentieth century. Highly readable even at its most technical, this book illuminates a central episode in the evolution of cinema and, in doing so, reveals a great deal about the shifting fit between film and society.

Customer Reviews:

Best source of information of this type........1997-07-02

John Belton, historian and cinema guru at Rutgers University, has put together a very valuable reference in this book. It contains chapters on the development of the early widescreen processes; Cinerama, CinemaScope, 70mm Todd-AO, and others. Belton traces the geneology of widescreen imagery to art works predating the cinema by hundreds of years. This is the most thorough and accurate source of information in this field I've ever encountered. As a historical treatise, it is vastly superior to "Wide Screen Movies" by Carr and Hayes, which relies largely on the recollections of the authors, and contains numerous misstatements and inaccuracies.

Widescreen Dreams: Growing Up Gay at the Movies (Living Out: Gay and Lesbian Autobiographies, Joan Larkin and David Bergman, Series Editors)

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Memoir and Memory
Movie Memories and More!
He loved The Wiz?

Widescreen Dreams: Growing Up Gay at the Movies (Living Out: Gay and Lesbian Autobiographies, Joan Larkin and David Bergman, Series Editors)
Patrick E. Horrigan
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Gay | Biographies & Memoirs | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

FIRST PAPERBACK EDITION

In 1973, a sweet-tempered, ferociously imaginative ten-year-old boy named Patrick Horrigan saw the TV premiere of the film version of Hello, Dolly! starring Barbra Streisand. His life would never be the same. Widescreen Dreams: Growing Up Gay at the Movies traces Horrigan's development from childhood to gay male adulthood through a series of visceral encounters with an unexpected handful of Hollywood movies from the 1960s and 1970s: Hello Dolly!, The Sound of Music, The Poseidon Adventure, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Wiz.

Customer Reviews:

Memoir and Memory.......2007-05-02

Horrigan, Patrick E, "Widescreen Dreams: Growing Up Gay at the Movies" University of Wisconsin Press,
1999.

Memoir and Memory

Amos Lassen and Literary Pride

Patrick Horrigan experimented by bringing his autobiography and cultural studies together in "Widescreen Dreams". The result is a very successful and readable book. He uses his critical writings on film as a way to tell us the story of his life and his coming out as a gay male. In five chapters, each of which is centered on a movie, we learn about his family and his own personal maturation. It's a strange handful of movies but they obviously influenced his growth.
Horrigan was born in 1963 and as a child became a Barbra Streisand devotee which may explain why he devotes a chapter to "Hello Dolly", a major flop for Babs and her studio and career. The other movies that he uses in his memoir are "The Sound of Music" (of course), "The Poseidon Adventure" (Shelley Winters swims), "The Wiz" ("The Wiz"?), and "Dog Day Afternoon" (a classic). As he goes into great detail in describing scenes from the films, he interweaves stories from his own life as well as snippets of the fantasies these films inspired in him. We do not get a really good look at his life but we do get some interesting and fun reading. To him "The Poseidon Adventure" is a metaphor for gays to come out (or drown?) and he daydreams of how different his life might have been if he had become a movie star (not an actor but a star) instead of a college professor.
Although not very deep, the book is filled with memory and criticism of society and culture as well as family gossip. Horrigan's personal stories illustrate the closeness of film and the imagination--after all, movies are the stuff fantasies are made of and derived from.
As a boy, he was captured by the movies and he takes us down the yellow brick road of Hollywood, stopping along the way to bring his own life into the journey. We learn about his large Catholic family and how he accepts himself as a gay male and as I read his book I found myself thinking about my own life in terms of the movies I have seen. I also had several good laughs. The memories that "Widescreen Dreams" brought to me were those I had tucked away or simply forgotten.
As for the movies Horrigan chose, I am pretty sure I have better choices but this is his book and his life so who am I to argue? I loved the way Horrigan approached growing up and coming out gay. I wonder if Streisand knows how much she helped recruit members to our community.
You will not learn a lot from this book but you will have a touching and insightful reading experience as Horrigan brings light to the strong relationship between film and imagination.

Movie Memories and More!.......2000-12-19

This book gives enjoyable insight into the mind of a boy who was captured in the journey that cinema can take us on. He reveals quite well his child perspective and the impact films like The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly, The Wiz, and The Poseidon Adventure had on him. You get to travel through Patrick's recollections not only of film experiences but also of his large Catholic family, his self embrace of being gay and his dating interactions as a gay young man. I often found myself recalling my own childhood memories of cinematic impressions, relating to my early identity as a gay male, and I often found my self laughing out loud. Though it's a book of Patrick's history, it touches off sparks of memories that we all have in common and unknowingly share. It transports the reader to their own childhood memories which is a gift to any reader and the work of a skillful writer.

He loved The Wiz?.......2000-06-11

I enjoyed this book despite myself. The author just LOVED some really wretched movies - The Wiz shaped his life? However, his tales of growing up gay in a Catholic family in Reading, PA are interesting and evocative. A fun little diversion for those of us who grew up more into theatre, movies, and glamor than sports and girls.

Jackass: The Movie (Widescreen DVD Collection)

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Jackass: The Movie (Widescreen DVD Collection)

Manufacturer: Paramount Pictures
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0792186524

Apple Jumps Into Widescreen Displays.(Apple Computer Inc.): An article from: Display Development News

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Apple Jumps Into Widescreen Displays.(Apple Computer Inc.): An article from: Display Development News

Manufacturer: Business Communications Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Display Development News, published by Business Communications Company, Inc. on July 1, 2004. The length of the article is 376 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: Apple Jumps Into Widescreen Displays.(Apple Computer Inc.)
Publication: Display Development News (Newsletter)
Date: July 1, 2004
Publisher: Business Communications Company, Inc.
Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Page: NA

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

A must read!!.......1998-06-07

This excellent book will uncover for you the dangers inhent with the modern paradigm of science. The "S knows that P" model, and the atrocities that it can alow will become evident after reading just a few essays in the Racial Economy of Science. Chanllenge yourself to face the problems that feminism presents.

Customer Reviews:

baker's till-in bible puzzle magazine.......2001-08-20

I NEED TO ORDER IT IN AND GIVE YOUR ADDRESS OK THE REASON I CANT PUT THE CREDIT CARD ON APPLICATION IT FROZEN SO I WOULD LIKE SEND MONEY ORDER OR PERSONNAL CHECK OK

THANK YOU MARTHA NGUYEN

Book Description

Being highly flexible in building dynamic, database-driven web applications makes the PHP programming language one of the most popular web development tools in use today. It also works beautifully with other open source tools, such as the MySQL database and the Apache web server. However, as more web sites are developed in PHP, they become targets for malicious attackers, and developers need to prepare for the attacks.

Security is an issue that demands attention, given the growing frequency of attacks on web sites. Essential PHP Security explains the most common types of attacks and how to write code that isn't susceptible to them. By examining specific attacks and the techniques used to protect against them, you will have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the safeguards you are about to learn in this book.

In the much-needed (and highly-requested) Essential PHP Security, each chapter covers an aspect of a web application (such as form processing, database programming, session management, and authentication). Chapters describe potential attacks with examples and then explain techniques to help you prevent those attacks.

Topics covered include:

Preventing cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities
Protecting against SQL injection attacks
Complicating session hijacking attempts

You are in good hands with author Chris Shiflett, an internationally-recognized expert in the field of PHP security. Shiflett is also the founder and President of Brain Bulb, a PHP consultancy that offers a variety of services to clients around the world.

Customer Reviews:

Overpriced.......2007-01-03

Of the 103 pages in the book there are probably only 13 of unique information and 90 pages of saying the same exact thing over and over again. Worse yet, I found the author had already released the 13 pages of useful information online for free.

Definitely wish I had browsed this one in a store before I blew $30.

Alright - not very meaty though.......2006-12-26

Alright - not very meaty. Overall I'm glad I read it though, as I picked up some useful nuggets.

==========
Update 2006-12-30 - I'd like to bump this up to four stars. The book came in handy today - I used some code in it regarding session variables.

PHP Security is a HUGE topic.......2006-09-27

This book is essential for anyone starting out in PHP, but not only for them. It offers tips for almost any skill level, maybe you know some of the ways to keep your site secure but Chris really goes in depth on some of them.

The code snippets are short, simple, but convey the point exactly as intended... and I also like Chris's method for validating tainted data, similar to a fisherman. If the fish is bad throw it back and the same goes for user input.

I still have this book for reference and have lent it to a few people which resulted in them picking their own copies... all around a great resource.

VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!.......2006-06-12

Are you a developer who is writing insecure PHP code? If you are, then this book is for you! Author Chris Shiflett, has done an outstanding job of writing a practical book that will help you improve your PHP application-level security.

Shiflett, begins by giving an overview of security principles and best practices. Then, the author covers form processing and attacks such as cross-site scripting and cross-site request forgeries. He continues by focusing on using databases and attacks such as SQL injection. Then, the author explains PHP's session support and shows you how to protect your applications from attacks such as session fixation and session hijacking. Then, he covers the risks associated with the use of includes, such as backdoor URLs and code injection. Next, the author discusses attacks such as filesystem traversal and command injection. Then, he shows you how to create secure authentication and authorization mechanisms and how to protect your applications from things like brute force attacks and replay attacks. Finally, the author explains the inherent risks associated with a shared hosting environment.

This most excellent book brings long-needed security guidelines to PHP developers everywhere. More importantly, the content of this book will be an asset to your development teams.

Essential for the Beginner or Advanced PHP developer.......2006-04-11

As a very security conscious developer, I found this book to be a GREAT resource to my library. Though the book is short in length, it is very rich in content. Chris does a GREAT job of presenting the problem (citing specific examples of the exploits), showing the pitfalls, and then presenting the solutions.

He is very thorough in his descriptions, and his easy to understand writing and use of analogies made this a very simple concept to grasp. If you are a seasoned PHP developer, or just beginning programming PHP - his writing style helps you to understand the underlying attack, visuals to see it in action, and how to prevent being attacked - it is very simple, yet deep.

Reading this book has helped me to see where my applications may fall short, and what I can do to protect them. Especially in the realm of PHP developers, there are MANY Open Source options out there, and many of them lack the security that is mentioned in the chapters of this book. Don't let yourself get caught!

I recommend this book, and performing an audit of your own work. Excellent book!

Book Description

Bald in the Land of Big Hair is the hilarious-and often heartbreaking-tale of Joni Rodgers's journey through the badlands of cancer told with humor, occasional anger, and unflinching honesty. More than just a cancer book, this is a deeply affecting memoir of one woman's struggle to come to terms with everything that life throws her way.

Ultimately, this is a moving celebration of the true meaning of human triumph and courage, the importance of community and the imperative of living everyday with joy.

Customer Reviews:

So-so.......2007-09-10

Perhaps I'm just very sensitive to the topic of cancer and general, and despite the fact I realize humor has it's place in cancer treatment, as well as treatment of the whole person, I did find offense to a few aspects of this book. The author obviously has dealt with this trial first hand and knows the importance of tactfulness in such situations, however I felt saddened by it at times and wonder if it would also sadden a newly diagnosed cancer victim.

I would recommend this book for someone that has a good support group, knows the monster they are dealing with, and is strong enough and ready for humor.

Offended and Disappointed.......2007-02-27

Rodgers writes this book from a Christian perspective, but as a Christian I was offended by the language and explicit nature of this book. She explains love making early in her chemotherapy treatment, and discusses the smell and taste of body fluids in explicit detail. This part was at the beginning portion of the book; I finished the book, and found this to be the most offensive bit. Negative attitude and raw language were scattered throughout, however.

This being said, Rodger's story is an honest, provoking one. Her story is interesting and useful. The reader just needs to understand that, as a Christian book, this has some very offensive, unnecessary language.

Funny and real - in the land of Very Scary Things.......2006-04-03

This is one of the best books I have read lately. It's definitely not a cancer-as-slapstick memoir. Joni Rodgers got horribly sick, could have died, and she pulls no punches as this book surveys the physical, emotional and financial wreckage.

Yet she weaves laugh-out-loud passages into her story, which also resonates with tough spirituality, honest frustrations and fears, and love. Lots of love.

I'm buying an extra copy, to pass along when I think someone could benefit from reading it. I want to hang on to a copy, though. There are things I can learn from reading it again. Things I wish I wouldn't need to think about, but for the sad fact that someone I know is likely to be diagnosed with cancer in the future. Maybe with Joni Rodgers' book under my belt I can feel less helpless and find something useful to do for them.

Excellent Combination of Tragedy and Humor!! .......2006-02-22

I read this book because I asked my fiance to bring me any book from the library and he picked this one because he thought I'd like it...and the reality is that YES I DID LIKE IT.

"Bald in the land of big hair" is a very very good, inspiring and hilarious book. The mix is just perfect.

Joni Rodgers tells us about her life and the huge impact on her life when she discovered she had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This book really touched me in many ways...I never thought someone could find a way to write about the combination of tragedy and humor like Rodgers did...she just makes us see her journey thorugh cancer and how she survived it.

We all know (or at least have a idea) of how horrible chemo is.....Although nobody knows its effects that well as someone who has been through it...but at least we heard horrible things and Joni just found a way to express us how she suffered but in a sarcastic-funny way...which takes a lot of courage..especially when you talk about something as scary as having cancer.

Joni Rodgers also tells us about the conflicts with her kids...the way they reacted toward their mom's condition; the feeling of being a bald woman that screams out cancer; the mental and physical strugle, the relationship with her husband, etc.

This is a great book. I REALLY recommend it. This book has a meaning for cancer survivors, cancer victims and those who suffer with someone close who has cancer...my grandma has cancer but she chose not to have chemo because of the scary effects of it...

Anyway get Bald in the land of big hair...even if you are neither of the people I said...get this book...it gives you a insight into what cancer victims deal with.

vgxoxo@hotmail.com

A note from the author.......2006-02-05

It's been five years this month (Feb 2006) since BLBH was published, and I still get email from readers every week. Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to post a review or drop me a line! Hope I get a chance to meet and greet many of you as I tour with my new novel, THE SECRET SISTERS. Be well, be joyful. ~ Joni

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Cuban-Americans Must Read this book

On Becoming a Member of the Privileged Class in Havana

On becoming russian: after 1959

Not entirely accurate

Coca-Colony of the Caribbean

On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture
Jr, Louis A. Perez
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cuba | Caribbean & West Indies | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | Caribbean & West Indies | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | Central America | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
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Cuba: Between Reform and Revolution (Latin American Histories)

The Cuba Reader: History, Culture, Politics (The Latin America Readers)

Cuban Counterpoint: Tobacco and Sugar

Havana USA: Cuban Exiles and Cuban Americans in South Florida, 1959-1994

A Nation for All: Race, Inequality, and Politics in Twentieth-Century Cuba (Envisioning Cuba)

ASIN: 0060958995
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Book Description

Cuba has long fascinated, mystified, and frustrated Americans. Now, in this sweeping work, Louis A. Pérez Jr. transforms the way we view Cuba and its relationships with the United States. Drawing from an enormous range of sources, including archival records, oral interviews, and examples from popular culture, Pérez reveals a powerful web of everyday, bilateral connections between Cuba and the United States. He shows how America's cultural and political forms profoundly influenced Cuba's identity, nationality, and sense of modernity from the early 1850s, when the island was still a Spanish colony, until the revolution that erupted in 1959. In exploring Cuba's encounter with the United States, Pérez articulates the cultural context for that revolution, tracing it to the country's growing dissatisfaction at not having kept pace with America's own rampant prosperity and modernization.

Customer Reviews:

Cuban-Americans Must Read this book.......2004-12-19

Castro's bloody footprint on Cuba's back will soon be over, and the re-construction will then begin.

Before that happens, this book - together with a few more - should be read by those who hope to stake a claim on the future of that island.

The book is educational and informative, although it seems to put a lot of emphasis on the upper middle class of pre-Castro Cuba and little on the lower classes, with some small exceptions on the issue of race and Afro-Cubans. Too much is also made of Desi Arnaz's negative portrayal of Cuban men, although I never knew until I read this book that Eamon de Valera was half Cuban and that the Capote in Truman was Cuban.

But it does hit the nail right on the head on the formula via which the Cuban culture and character - so different from other Latin American countries - was formed.

The powerful influence of the USA and all things American upon the island may have been somewhat blown out of proportion (especially when not brought to a lower class context), but it was (and is) nonetheless important and a key ingridient in the make-up of the modern Cuban.

I suspect that when Cuba opens up to the world, those Cubans who remained in the prison island will soon re-join the interrupted life of a island full of paradoxes, brilliant thinkers and an unfortunate history of dictators and bloodshed. And perhaps the marriage between Castro's Afro-Cuba and the exile's mostly white-Cuba will result not in a baptism of fire (or blood) but in an incorporation of lessons learned in 50 years of modern exile with the astounding eneregy and creativity of the Cuban people.

On Becoming a Member of the Privileged Class in Havana.......2002-09-29

That should be the title of this book. The author makes the same mistake many have made: to them Havana=Cuba. If it happened in Havana, it must be so in the rest of the island. From the beginning of the book he attributes to all Cubans what really applies to the upper class of Havana: travelling to the U.S. on vacation; sending their children to be educated on the U.S.; shopping sprees in New York; conducting their businesses on the American model, etc.
I was born in Camagüey and lived in Oriente and still have family in Cuba and I never heard of, much less witnessed many of the "facts" he gives. I've checked with several other Cubans, older than I from all over the island, about some of the authors assertions and everyone assures me Cubans did not celebrate Thanksgiving; kids did not get toys on December 25 (it was January 6); few Cubans spoke English, many Americans spoke Spanish; men did not stop flirting with "mulatas" in favor of blondes; and American supermarkets did not obliterate the neighborhood bodega. Perhaps that's the way it was in the Americanized Vedado neighborhood.
The author quotes from many novels and short stories. The writings of Cuban revolutionaries, the constitution written for the formation of the Cuban nation during the 10-year war, the effects of that 10-year war, and the effects of the war of independence on Cubans' idea of nationality are practically ignored. It seems we Cubans obtained all notion of who we are from the U.S.
Sociologist-like, he ascribes deeper meaning to all kinds of things; for example: the Cubans' enthusiastic adoption of baseball becomes an anti-Spanish, pro-feminist protest and a condemnation of Bullfighting as a bloody, colonial sport. How about this: baseball was fun and was not only a spectator sport, even kids could play it pretty much anywhere. Can't do that with a bull fight. As for rebelling against bloody, primitive sports: cockfighting has been part of Cuba's "sports" life from the colonial period.
It goes on and on. True there are neat facts in there: the early adoption of technology in Cuba, the symbiotic relationship between the U.S. and Cuba and a few other interesting tid bits. But his interpretation of the American influence in the notion of what it means to be Cuban is skewed. I must admit it got to me: I couldn't finish the book. I stopped at Chapter 6 because I anticipated what was coming: Fidel's revolution puts a stop to all that and now Cubans have a more real view of who they are. Am I right? Is that the punch line?
No one can deny the influence of the U.S. on Cuba. Its proximity, and its intervention in Cuban affairs garanteed that, but this book is replete with misinterpretations or are they misrepresentations?.
Can't recommend it.

On becoming russian: after 1959.......2002-09-09

This book helped me very much as a source of data on events that happened way before my time, mainly because in Castro's Cuba most of this has been distorted, or in many cases, access has been totally impossible. I found the book very interesting and educational at the same time, very helpful also in making me understand better our influences and roots, as well as that tremendous link, for good or bad, that always existed with the United States and that Castro always persisted and portrayed as something not important and besides , very negative. However I have my problems with this book , especially on the last chapters, the revolution era, which is the one I lived, and know the most. I'm 36 now, and lived 25 years in Cuba, so I have a pretty clear knowledge of how things were and are during this years of "revolution". As many other non-cuban authors, Perez seem to have a problem criticizing the regime for what it's been responsible and on the other hand puts most of the blame on the United states, I think than from a fear point of view we got more positive things than negative ones from them. Corruption and mishandling of the government is constantly mentioned during the republic period; but very little is said about castro's failures. Nothing is said about the assassination and abuses that took place during those first years of revolution, practice that has continued during all these years. Unfortunately it was during these years that many liberals and idealist turned a blind eye to what was happening in the island. Nobody wanted to talk about what was really happening and preferred to accept the idea that the US were to blame for the rupture in the relationships between both countries. Still today not many people know about the darkest years of the revolution, a good example is that Ernesto"che" Guevara is still considered by many as a modern Quixote, a romanticized revolutionary that fought the imperialism in order to built a better world, when in reality he was nothing but a selfish murderer who committed all kind of atrocities, mostly in my country, and played a leading role in the process that turned the revolution into that aberrant regime that has ruled the country for more than four decades. So what I found negative about this book is that not giving a fair and balanced analysis on this part of the Cuban history affects the credibility of what was said about the rest of it. A good book for those who would like to read a least detailed but very fair analysis is" journey to the heart of Cuba" by Carlos A. Montaner.

Not entirely accurate.......2002-08-05

The trouble with scholars and academics is their middle-class presumption that the world is middle-class. This book suffers from this presumption.
I married a Cuban, have been to Cuba five times, and know that there are both rich and poor in that country--just as there are in the U.S. There are Cubans in government and baseball stars and artists with access to dollars who are chauffered in their Benzes, live in gated mansions with electric fences, and swim in their backyard pools. In the meantime, my relatives live without running water or a phone. They have an extension cord leading from the neighbor's house to get electricity. When the annual hurricane hits, they live in the local secondary school's gymnasium, along with everyone else in their neighborhood in Cerro who lives in a plywood house.
Let's decide not to idealize the Revolution.
I'm not on the side of the anti-Castro supporters in Miami (I'm not Cuban)--I think free quality healthcare and education is an amazing achievement. And despite the last ten years of intense lack of material help since the Soviet Union dissolved, Cubans have an amazing stamina and love of life that gives them the hope to survive.
But let's not--especially for the academics who travel to Cuba and see only the middle class Cubans living there--idealize the country. Reader: check out "Afro-Cuban Voices" to get another side of the story.

Coca-Colony of the Caribbean.......2002-06-15

Professor Perez has done another outstanding job of exploring the complexities of U.S.-Cuban relations. Again he has shown that the Revolution of 1959 didn't happen just because Castro read Marxist books while in college. Professor Perez explains why Castro's generation were reading the Marxist books in the first place.

There are some things in the critique of U.S. culture which are disturbing, to a North American, not so much in Professor Perez' presentation as in the chauvinistic attitude of some Cubans quoted here, expecially regarding language. All languages borrow from each other. English is full of loan words, from French, Latin, etc., and are considered normal parts of speech. This can be accepted without a sense of victimization. The "I Love Lucy" episodes referred to were not as bad as portrayed; "Ricky" was not a buffoon and corrected Lucy's miscomprehensions about Cuba more than once.

That said, this book is still good stuff. Yanquis (including Yanquified Miami "Cubans")should read it before they reconquer Cuba in the next decade.

Average customer rating:
On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality & Culture
Louis A. Perez
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEOM2O

Average customer rating:

A wonderfull and necessary book for every scientist

Indespensable, a MUST-HAVE!

The most helpful book I've found for a PhD Engineer on the job market

Put Your Science to Work works!

Put Your Science to Work: The Take-Charge Career Guide for Scientists - Practical Advise,,, Proven Techniques
Peter S. Fiske Ph.D.
Manufacturer: American Geophysical Union
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Job Hunting | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0875902952

Book Description

The job market is more complex and challenging than ever before. Although young scientists and engineers are facing a larger array of career choices, many of them are not getting the job hunting and career development advice they need to make wise decisions.

If you're a new scientist or seeking a mid-career change, Peter Fiske's Put Your Science to Work: The Take-Charge Career Guide for Scientists gives you practical advice and proven techniques for finding both traditional and non-traditional jobs in science. It includes examples of resumes and cover letters, and stories of scientists who have moved into a wide range of careers.

Written with humor and insight, Put Your Science to Work gives readers a broad view of career possibilities and tools for choosing the best job options. Completely revised and updated from Fiske's best-seller To Boldly Go: A Practical Career Guide for Scientists, this second edition offers expert help on how to achieve success now.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderfull and necessary book for every scientist.......2007-01-09

This book can be divided into three sections:

1) The "enlightenment section" - This section is worth one hundred thousand dollars and should be read by every graduate student and mid-career scientist. This is the best part of the book. It gives the reader the desire and courage to change. It contains:

a. Forward - by the President of the National Academy of Sciences
b. Preface - by the author
c. Chapters 1 & 2

This section does a good job at changing the mindset of a young or mid-career scientist. The author convincingly told the readers that the total available job market for a scientist is much bigger than just the realm of academia. Also, the author successfully conveyed that the skills a scientist acquired while getting a PhD are also the ones highly useful in the corporate world. Finally, the author bluntly told the reader the some of the skills and habits that make a person successful in the academia are bad for the world outside of the academia.

2) The "principle section" - This section is worth ten thousand dollars. This part is the second best of the book. It gives the reader the principles of how to change ones job from inside the academia to the outside world. It contains:

a. Chapter 3 - the stages of change
b. Chapter 4 - the proper career planning process

Why is this section valuable, yet not as good as the first section? It is because it contains the same good career planning principles for every career type, not just for the scientists. While the principles described are good, they are not unique, nor earth-shattering. However, the Stanford Career Planning Model in p32 and the "80:10:10 Rule" in p33 are outstanding. These two pieces of information alone are worth much more than the price of the book.

3) The "do-it section" - This section is worth one thousand dollars. This part is the least valuable part of the book. It gives the reader step-by-step procedure of how to look for a job in the outside world. It contains chapters 5 to 13.

This section is least valuable because it is not much different from the myriad job hunting books that were written by others. However, chapter 8 on the difference between CVs and resumes, and chapter 10 on resume case studies are very outstanding. These two chapters are worthy of careful reading and are not found in ordinary job searching books.

**Note: The author, by revealing an important piece of information in this book, is worthy of great adulation and applause for daring to speak out. In page 1, this author points out the erroneous prediction of shortage of young scientists by National Science Foundation (NSF), which caused "one of the worst job markets for scientists in the past 40 years."

Indespensable, a MUST-HAVE!.......2006-03-29

This book has been very helpful to me in deciding what I want to do and how to promote the skills I have for the career I choose. After a couple of years of grad school, I realized that I absolutely did not want a career in academia. Reading through this book liberated me from thinking that academia was where I was doomed to go. I have choices. And I can make my choice happen.

This book is definitely a must-have for any scientist seeking employment, particularly outside of academia. The book highlights that you can do anything with your degree, whether or not you are seeking a science or non-science career.

The most helpful book I've found for a PhD Engineer on the job market.......2005-10-18

I think this book is the best resource out there for PhD engineers and scientists looking for a non-academic job, although it has some great pointers on the academic search as well. What I found particularly helpful was the list of transferable skills. I learned more than I thought in grad school! The book also has great practical advice on thinking about the type of job that you'd like best. The advice on resume and cover letter writing is solid and helpful. I have bought this book for several friends who are finishing up their PhDs.

Put Your Science to Work works!.......2001-01-25

This book is a must for young scientists just starting out and mid-career scientists looking for employment opportunities in academic, research, and industry. It offers the best advice I've come across on a whole range of job search and career issues, from taking stock of where you are now and where you want to go, to getting there! It's helped me and I know it will help others who wish to make the most of their advanced science education.

Book Description

A range of powerful forces-increasing demand for wood, uncertain and decreasing supply, increasing environmental pressures, and growing markets for environmentally certified wood-are changing the way the forest products industry conducts business. Forward-thinking firms have recognized the significance of these forces and are developing a new business model, one that will not only sustain revenues, but can ensure the long-term health of the forests upon which the industry depends.

The Business of Sustainable Forestry integrates and analyzes a series of twenty-one case studies of industry leaders carried out by the Sustainable Forestry Working Group. The motivations of the pioneering firms studied are as varied as their characteristics, yet each has made significant progress. The authors of this book argue that the operations that have been most succeessful are those that have integrated sustainable forestry principles and practices into their overall corporate strategy. The book:

describes the forces that are pushing the industry toward sustainability
presents an overview of the new techniques and technologies that are making sustainable forestry more feasible than ever
presents in clear, engaging prose company profiles that demonstrate both the promise of and the obstacles to sustainable forest management
gives a clear-eyed look at practices such as certification and their capacity to transform the forest products market
provides conclusions drawn from the cases by Stuart Hart of the University of North Carolina and Matt Arnold of the Management Institute for Environment and Business
offers a succinct set of lessons learne.

The Business of Sustainable Forestry is the first book to present a composite snapshot of the business of sustainable forestry and the lessons learned by early adopters in form and language accessible to the general business reader. Forest and natural resource managers, forest products industry managers, and students and academics in schools of business and forestry will find the book a unique and valuable guide to an industry in transition.

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