Every Mistake in the Book: A Business How-Not-To

Customer Reviews:

A Good Diagnosis Of Common Business Blunders.......2007-02-05

The author has had a varied business career and has made (or has knowledge of) a number of interesting mistakes in his life. People in the business world (and especially small business owners) should read and heed this book. The book is entertaining, yet makes excellent points with an uncommon amount of humor and flair for a business book.

I liked the book as soon as I got to page 42, where he discusses reorganizations. Having seen a number of these, I was won over with this concise and on-the-money comment: "Too often, reorganizations are twisted games-even regular rituals-in which insecure, out-of-touch, or untalented executives juggle the lives and careers of their employees." Many of these points reinforce a central premise: if you are working for a jerk, call a good employment recruiter, just don't stay in an environment you hate.

His best points are also the most basic (like "check your tongue at the door" and "keep your cool") but they are well illustrated and developed. I dislike getting correspondence and email which has not been checked for spelling, so the section "Spelling Still Counts" was a relief to see. It is now easier than ever to send non-proofread material electronically, but it is just as bad to blindly trust a spell check program to fix your errors without then checking for context and accuracy. (The example he gives on page 175 is priceless.)

This book could have been a five star book with a few changes, but I awarded it four for two primary reasons: first, the author uses profanity relatively commonly, which doesn't enhance the professionalism of a business book in my opinion, and got annoying quickly. The second, and even more annoying, problem is his use of stupid names (e.g. "Denny Deathbytongue") in his stories that brought a childish quality to the book that was counterproductive.

Overall, this is a strong effort and holds a lot of good lessons for anyone in the business world; his emphasis on truthfulness and ethical behavior is admirable, and I am glad I read it.

Funny - but on the mark.......2004-10-17

The cover illustration indicates that this book is marketed as a humorous but not very serious business study.

The book is a very easy read and very funny at times, but is dead on the mark with regards to a lot of good business advise. The author is in the computer software-game industry (I am in the construction-engineering field) but much of his advise is pertinent to almost any business field that involves an office setting, and would also be useful to people thinking about starting their own business.

Because the author used illustrations from his varied career, and was bluntly honest about his own failings, I thought the book was more practical than many other business "success" books-and also a lot more fun.

Every Mistake in the Book: A Business How-NOT-To

Average customer rating:

A Good Diagnosis Of Common Business Blunders
I am buying my OWN copy
Valuable and True Information. Depressing tone.
fairly good
Good Book for Someone Starting Their Career in Business

Every Mistake in the Book: A Business How-NOT-To
F J Lennon
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Ethics | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Entrepreneurship | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0060393939
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Book Description

Why suffer from your own business mistakes? Here's a lifesaving guide from a man who's made them all.The world of business is like the world's worst minefield: one wrong step in any direction and you're history. It's a lesson F. J. Lennon has learned over and over again, as his entrepreneurial career careened from snafu to snafu. But Lennon was different: from the beginning he kept a journal of the screwups, big and small, he watched himself and others make. And by monitoring his own learning curve he helped turn himself -- finally -- into a successful businessman.Every Mistake in the Book collects all the best lessons Lennon learned from his mistakes, pulling them together in a pithy, witty, and universally useful format. Whether you're a business owner, a manager, or a freshly minted graduate, Lennon's no-nonsense advice will enlighten you:Biz Basics: If you're contemplating a startup, here are essential lessons you won't learn in a classroom or read in a textbook.Money Matters: From venture capital to corporate debt, know the financial fundamentals or pay the price.How to Manage Managing: All managers are card-carrying members of the baby-sitters club. Learn what you should -- and definitely shouldn't -- do to the poor saps who call you boss.In the Trenches: Not everyone plays nice and you can't, either. Down-and-dirty advice for when the going gets tough.Let's Get Personal: Yes, it does matter how you act, speak, write, and dress. Here's how to get that little bit of polish -- or at least not alienate everyone around you.Often hysterical, always practical, this straight-from-the-hip handbook will educate and encourage everyone from the dot-com greenhorn to the established business professional.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Diagnosis Of Common Business Blunders.......2007-02-05

I am buying my OWN copy.......2005-10-11

My roommate is leaving and taking his book, so I am here to order my own copy.

This is just a bunch of little stories with REAL WORLD business lessons from a multimedia entrepreneur, not a far-removed business consultant. A few of his recommendations I would not advise, but most are helpful and learned at his expense, not yours.

My measure of a book like this is a question: Will the time and cost invested be rewarded in saved time and saved cost? I think so. Especially if you liesurely read the book a few times and the stories sink in. The only reason I can't say it would be of certain value is that it does seem, as another reviewer pointed out, that sometimes you just have to learn by your own mistakes. But it is a fun read with short, targeted anecdotes that at the very least let you know you aren't alone in your challenges.

Ideal readers are any business person or entrepreneur, especially those in cutting-edge operations who can relate very directly to his stories. It is also good for business teachers or students who want the real scoop.

Valuable and True Information. Depressing tone........2003-04-15

The book outlines 103 mistakes (1-2 pages each) that the author made in his many years of being an entrepreneur. It is amazing that he had the energy to survive the kind of mistakes he made. He had fortunately taken notes during all those years and was able to abstract his experiences into these mistakes that fall into 5 broad categories. He categorizes them into Biz Basics, Money Matters, How to Manage Managing, In the Trenches, and Let's get Personal. The first four titles of chapters above are self-explanatory but the last section refers to how your looks, actions, and thoughts really do matter.

The author has a very direct approach in communicating with the reader. It is almost as if you can hear him talking to you in a room with just a few other people present. Unfortunately, the tone that you hear while reading the book is very depressing. The author sounds very cynical and distrusting. It is almost as if he lost faith in people and the world. This alone was scary enough for me to want to read the book and make sure that I don't make the same mistakes (in case I end up with the same frame of mind as the author's).

If you are a small business owner, you can't afford to ignore the knowledge presented in the book. Everyone is familiar with at least some of the mistakes presented in the book. But it is very important to be familiar with all of them because you will run into them sooner or later. The difficult part is in getting past the author's bad attitude towards business and the world at large. I had to spread out the reading of the book into several sessions because I could only take so much of the book in one sitting. I wish there was a different book with the same information but a much happier attitude. But that is just my personal preference. I know other people who would read through this book in one sitting without noticing anything wrong with the tone of the book at all!

I purchased a copy of the book when I first started my company in 2001. I read it after I had already made a few of the mistakes that the author talks about. I then read the book and ever since then I have tried to consciously avoid making the rest of the mistakes presented in the book. And even then I am sure that there is no guarantee of this being an exhaustive list of mistakes one can make in business. I am sure every reader will discover a couple of mistakes unique to their situation that are not in the book.

After reading the book, I felt even more confident in my decision not to sell stock in my company till the business model has been proven successful (in essence, wait to have investors). Of course, you then have to deal with the worst problem any business can have - being undercapitalized during the stage when you most need the money! The author experienced both problems simultaneously - having too many investors and being undercapitalized at the same time. There are very good reasons why he ended up in that unique situation. You will quickly see this as you start reading about the various mistakes he made.

Overall, I am very happy to have made the purchase of this book. Another book that would go very well with this book is 'The EMyth Revisted' by Michael E. Gerber. This is a more inspirational book on how to build a successful business model (not just a business). Check it out when you have some time.

If you are a small business owner, I hope you benefit from this book by avoiding at least some of these mistakes. Sure, you will make different ones, but at least you are ahead of most people who don't read this book. I wish you the best of luck in your business!

fairly good.......2002-04-02

This book is straight-forward and readable. But its strength is also its weakness. Lennon admits to his foibles and past mistakes, that makes him seem human and his advice accessible...but the fact is a lot of his mistakes are ones a lot of people would NEVER MAKE IN THE FIRST PLACE, so don't have to be told not to do this or that. I'm naturally tight-lipped, for one thing, so don't have to be told to keep my cards close to my vest, etc. But a lot of stuff in here is useful, and I mildly recommend it as a book to supplement other business books you should read.

Good Book for Someone Starting Their Career in Business.......2002-01-06

I just checked this book out at the library by chance (I wasn't looking for such a book, but happened to come across it) and found it to be really good at giving an honest heads up account of what the business world is all about.

I really can't add anything new to the reviews than what has already been said. It is a good book to buy so you can refer to it whenever you need to be reminded what not to do.

I identified with the author. I feel like we could be brothers that were separated at birth.

Average customer rating:
How to Ruin Your Dating Life: A Christian's Guide for Avoiding (Almost) Every Mistake in the Book
Matthew Paul Turner , and Kerri Pomarolli
Manufacturer: Navpress Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Dating & Single Life | Relationships | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1600061397

Book Description

Dating is supposed to be fun, right? Yet it seems that we as Christians have complicated the experience. Singles worry about their marital status, analyze other people's behavior, or frantically pray for their dream mate--sometimes all at once.

Maybe it's time for a new perspective on dating.

In three unique sections, How to Ruin Your Dating Life offers wit and wisdom for guys and girls. Kerri connects with women's issues, Matthew serves up relevant topics for men, and both meet for an engaging "he said/she said" commentary on the joys and pitfalls of dating.

This one-of-a-kind release gives readers insight on the opposite sex while sharing hilarious life lessons learned in the trenches of Christian dating.

Average customer rating:
Every Mistake in the Book: A Business How-Not-To
F. J. Lennon
Manufacturer: ReganBooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OESOB4

Book Description

This book:
*provides a sound methodology for operational risk control
*focuses on management risk and ways to avoid it
*explains why and how information technology is a major operational risk
*shows how to integrate cost control in the operational risk perspective
*details analytical approaches to operational risk control, to help with scorecard developments
*explains the distinction between High Frequency Low Risk and Low Frequency High Risk events
*provides many case studeies from banking and insurance to demonstrate the attention operational risks deserve

*Assists risk professionals in preparing their institution to comply with the New Capital Adequacy Framework issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, which becomes mandatory from January 1, 2006
*Readers benefit from a significantly broader viewpoint on types of operational risks, operational risks controls, and results to be expected from operational risk management - compared to what the reader may gain from books previously published on this same topic

Customer Reviews:

This book is excellent - highly recommended.......2006-01-08

There are a lot of very useful details in this book. These details are very important, for the persons that "know" (or believe that they know) what is operational risk.

Dimitris Chorafas is a very experienced person. Since 1961, he has advised financial institutions and industrial corporations in strategic planning, risk management, computers and communications systems, and internal controls. Graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Paris, and the Technical University of Athens

Financial institutions which have sought his assistance include the Union Bank of Switzerland, Bank Vontobel, CEDEL, the Bank of Scotland, Credit Agricole, Österreichische Länderbank (Bank Austria), First Austrian Bank, Commerzbank, Dresdner Bank, Mid-Med Bank, Demir Bank, Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura, Istituto Bancario Italiano, Credito Commerciale and Banca Provinciale Lombarda.

Among multinational corporations Dr Chorafas has worked as consultant to top management, are: General Electric-Bull, Univac, Honeywell, Digital Equipment Corp, Olivetti, Nestlé, Omega, Italcementi, Italmobiliare, AEG-Telefunken, Olympia, Osram, Antar, Pechiney, the American Management Association and host of other client firms in Europe and the United States.

Dr Chorafas has served on the faculty of the Catholic University of America and as visiting professor at Washington State University, George Washington University, University of Vermont, University of Florida, and Georgia Institute of Technology. Also, the University of Alberta, Ecole d'Etudes Industrielles de l'Université de Genève, and Technical University of Karlsruhe.

More than 6,000 banking, industrial and government executives have participated in his seminars in the United States, England, Germany, other European countries, Asia and Latin America.

Impractical and long winded diatrabe.......2004-09-09

What I wanted:

1] Definition of Operational risk
2] Basel II standard explained in easy English
3] Flowchart for how to go about dealing with it
4] Some kind of standard best practices based on his experiences

What I got

1] Operational risk is everything.
2] Basel II not explained. It seems to assume you already get it.
3] No system is presented. He argues it is all relative.
4] No best practices. Again it is all relative.

He does in fairness mention make a great deal of arguments for the need for operational risk. The problem is that anyone buying the book already understands there is a need. They are buying the book to get hints on what to do about it. I know it is all relative but as an expert he needs to take a stand and come up with some fairly universal best practices. Also he needs to realize that this is a young area and many banks are just creating their Op risk departments and need some kind of help in how to go about that. Not theory but concrete practical help.

To complicate matters his English is boorish and he uses bullets like they were going out of style. Not to sum up things like they are normally used but rather to break up run-on sentences. The sign of a well written book isn't snotty language or fancy math terms. The sign of a good book is that the readers learned something from it. I came away from this book no closer to knowing what to do about Op risk then before I bought it.

Average customer rating:

Brilliant explanation of real-world auction theory

Auctions: Theory and Practice (The Toulouse Lectures in Economics)
Paul Klemperer
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Theory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Retailing | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Business & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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Putting Auction Theory to Work (Churchill Lectures in Economics)

Auction Theory

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Contract Theory

An Introduction to the Structural Econometrics of Auction Data

ASIN: 0691119252

Book Description

Governments use them to sell everything from oilfields to pollution permits, and to privatize companies; consumers rely on them to buy baseball tickets and hotel rooms, and economic theorists employ them to explain booms and busts. Auctions make up many of the world's most important markets; and this book describes how auction theory has also become an invaluable tool for understanding economics.

Auctions: Theory and Practice provides a non-technical introduction to auction theory, and emphasises its practical application. Although there are many extremely successful auction markets, there have also been some notable fiascos, and Klemperer provides many examples. He discusses the successes and failures of the one-hundred-billion dollar "third-generation" mobile-phone license auctions; he, jointly with Ken Binmore, designed the first of these.

Klemperer also demonstrates the surprising power of auction theory to explain seemingly unconnected issues such as the intensity of different forms of industrial competition, the costs of litigation, and even stock trading 'frenzies' and financial crashes.

Engagingly written, the book makes the subject exciting not only to economics students but to anyone interested in auctions and their role in economics.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant explanation of real-world auction theory.......2006-04-20

Paul Klemperer was the principal auction theorist advising the UK Government on the design of the 3G spectrum auction in 2000, which raised $34 billion, the biggest auction in history. In this book he reviews auction design both theoretically and in practice - the two perspectives turn out to be very different.

Chapter 1 is a survey of auction theory. The author begins by identifying four types of auction: the English type of open ascending bids, the Dutch auction using descending bids where the first bidder wins, the first-price sealed-bid auction where the highest bidder wins and pays their own bid price, and the second-price sealed-bid auction (the Vickrey auction) where the highest bidder wins, but pays the amount bid by the second-highest bidder. If the latter seems counter-intuitive, note that in the English auction, the winner also pays an amount set by the second-highest bidder (the last person to drop out). Note also that the Dutch auction and the first-price sealed-bid auction are equivalent.

Another important distinction is between private-value auctions, where each bidder has their own, invariant valuation of the object(s) being auctioned, and common-value auctions, where bidders might alter their valuations depending on signals (i.e. observed bids) made by other participants.

The key result in auction theory is the Revenue Equivalence Theorem, which states that all the standard auction methods, under certain plausible conditions, generate the same revenues. This accounts for the fact that no one method of conducting auctions has displaced all the others. However, practical considerations often favor one kind of auction design over another, and this is analyzed extensively later in the book.

Chapter 1 finishes with a mathematical appendix which proves some of the main results plus some questions (and answers) from the Oxford University MPhil economics examination.

Chapter 2 is titled `why every economist should learn some auction theory' and extends application of the theory to economic issues such as litigation models, wars of attrition, market crashes and trading frenzies, and Internet sales models.

Chapter 3 is a detailed guide to auction design. Auction theory is about mathematical models and their properties. Auctions in the real world are competitions where real money is at stake and any and all tactics will be employed to win. Critical tactics to `game' auctions include collusion between bidders to avoid bidding against each other therefore lowering prices for everyone, and predatory behavior, where weaker bidders are frightened off either before or during the auction, thereby clearing the field and closing the auction early. Examples are given of extraordinary behavior by bidders which succeeded in effectively wrecking auctions as revenue-generating vehicles. Klemperer analyses each of the four types of auction in the context of deterring such behavior and concludes that there is no one right answer: auction design is `horses for courses'.

Chapter 4, `using and abusing auction theory', is aimed at academic auction theorists seduced by the mathematics at the expense of real-world issues. Klemperer argues that `undergraduate economics', taking into account the concerns of industrial organisation (e.g. monopolistic, oligopolistic and perfectly competitive behaviours) are more central to successful auction design than some of the more `sophisticated' topics of the graduate-level theory. He also emphasises, with examples, that political realities can negate even the best auction design, if the designer is naive and doesn't take politics into account in advance.

Chapter 5 gives an overview of the European 3G spectrum auctions, which ranged from brilliantly successful to absolute disasters, while chapter 6 explains in great detail exactly how the UK auction (perhaps the most successful) was designed. This chapter is extremely insightful in indicating how many general economic intuitions have to be employed, over and above the specific insights of auction theory, to get a design which can resist the best efforts of the bidders to sabotage its effectiveness.

Chapter 7 analyses some of the more interesting and puzzling bidder strategies seen in the auctions, while chapter 8 is the reprinted Financial Times article, `were auctions a good idea', which defends the idea of auctions against special pleading by industry lobbyists that they had to pay too much, and that as a consequence the industry was wrecked. Not so.

Overall, this book succeeds in creating in the non-economist reader a sense that they understand the basic terrain of auctions - what they are about - although there is clearly a much deeper set of theoretical results underpinning this map of the territory. The chapters tend to be quite repetitive, but that can help offset Klemperer's use of jargon whenever he gets into conceptual analysis. It looks as though he doesn't know he's doing it, and that the people who reviewed it are his colleagues who use this stuff every day and didn't notice either. With a small amount of additional explanation to clarify the use of terms, much of the conceptual analysis would have been more accessible. The alternative is to read the book twice! Recommended.

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European Cases in Retailing
John Dawson
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Retailing | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Shopping & Commerce | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Business & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0631207309

Book Description

This casebook on retailing contains seventeen new cases illustrating the key issues facing European retailers today. The cases have been contributed by some of the top European experts in the field and are based on companies familiar to students across Europe. While taking a practical approach, these cases are designed to illustrate the complex nature of retail activity and the importance of culture in retailing.The cases are not simply stories of how these firms undertook particular activities. Each of them deals with a specific set of issues and is written to enable exploration of these issues. Some of the cases deal with conditions which no longer concern the particular firm but illustrate a general issue applicable to retail management. Companies discussed include Promodes, Ikea, The Body Shop, Shoe Express, Benetton, and Häagen-Dazs amongst others. The cases demonstrate some of the similarities and differences facing retailers from different countries, and include questions which enable exploration of key aspects of retail strategy or operations.

Book Description

Arid lands require that organisms inhabiting them be well-adapted to thrive or even just to survive. This book provides a review of the ecological adaptations - be they behavioural, physiological or morphological - of carnivores to arid environments. Following a general introduction into aridity and arid lands in Africa, the major carnivore families are presented. Ecological adaptations of carnivores in arid lands reveal the amplitude and resilience of the ecology of these animals. In setting up conservation measures, the nature and extent of such adaptations are important facets in determining the effective area and degree of heterogeneity required as habitat by a carnivore population so as to produce a viable unit.

Book Description

Gain the skills necessary to catalog monographic sheet maps and map sets!

With an easily understood how-to format, this ready reference manual will introduce you to the basics of cataloging sheet maps on OCLC, using MARC 21 and ISBD standards and AACR2R. It will guide you through each area of the bibliographic record, focusing most specifically on the title and statement of responsibility, mathematical data, physical description, main entry, and notes areas.

Approaching the subject from the perspective that maps are not that much more difficult to catalog than monographs, this book will familiarize you with the few fields unique to map cataloging as well as the fields that are common to monographs but simply used in a different way.

This essential volume:

describes the cataloging process as it relates to all parts of the record, including subject analysis, coding of fixed fields and OXX fields, and creating G-class call numbers provides an up-to-date list of map cataloging tools presents special chapters on cataloging historical sheet maps and special formats such as wall maps, map series or sets, and reproductions includes illustrations of bibliographic records, field-level examples, tables of information, and diagrams of maps to be used to highlight key concepts

Ideal for the new or inexperienced maps cataloger, this volume will help you become comfortable and confident while working with sheet maps. It also puts you in touch with current reference sources and tools, both online and off.

Book Description

This book is devoted to the presentation of rigorous mathematical results in the kinetic theory of a gas of hard spheres. Recent developments as well as classical results are presented in a unified way, such that the book should become the standard reference on the subject. There is no such book available at present. The reader will find a systematic treatment of the main mathematical results, a discussion of open problems, and a guide to the existing literature. There is a rigorous and comprehensive presentation of strict validation of the Boltzmann equations, global existence theory, and the fluid-dynamical limits. The authors also review and discuss classical derivation and properties of the Boltzmann equation, particle simulation methods, and boundary conditions.

Customer Reviews:

A reference text on rigorous Bolztmannia........2000-04-05

Written by some of the masters of the italian school of mathematical-physics, this book is a survey of rigorous results on the Boltzmann equation and various topics surrounding it. Trying to organize such an amount of material in a 350 pgs. book is an ambitious and breathtaking task. So the book is not an easy and systematic treatise, but a compilation of diverse results in the area, which is very needed, as they are scattered in a vast technical literature. Particularly welcome is a complete exposition of Landford's result on the validity of the Boltzmann equation, a (partial) realization of Boltzmann's dream and a real triumph of mathematical-physics. On the other hand, the chapter on hydrodynamic limits is extremely concise.

In any case, this book should be a standard reference in the field. Indicated to mathematical-physicists and mathematicians alike.

Average customer rating:

Fast paced and weird

Still pleasing after all this years

waiting for the Count of Montecristo

A Pleasant Surprise!

a smoother read than i had thought it would be

The Corsican Brothers
Alexandre Dumas
Manufacturer: Waking Lion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Dumas, Alexandre | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Memoirs of a Physician

Joseph Balsamo

ASIN: 1600961304
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Book Description

Alexandre Dumas weaves the compelling story of Siamese twins who are separated physically but never in spirit. When one of the brothers is murdered, the other leaves Corsica for Paris to avenge the killing. Dumas brings this thrilling tale to life with his fascinating descriptions of Italy and France and his powerful portrayal of the undying love of brother for brother. Newly designed and typeset in a modern 6-by-9-inch format by Waking Lion Press.

Customer Reviews:

Fast paced and weird.......2007-05-09

Separated conjoined twins are mutually empathic and engage in full on obsessive vendettas.

Still pleasing after all this years.......2007-04-01

I read this book when I was very young, a child. The story is still interesting and entertaining.
Would love to see the story transformed into a movie.
Good story.

waiting for the Count of Montecristo.......2004-03-02

This short novel By Alexander Dumas is nice and quite interesting in spite of the fact that the plot is not particualrly elaborated.
The plot goes more or less as follows. Dumas is a famous writer undertaking a journey in Corsica, meets one the two Corsican brothers, goes back to Paris, meets and befriends the other brother who enjoying the life Parisian high society. This second brother falls in love, has to fight in a duel and dies. The other brother who had sworn never to leave his mother and his (father)land goes to Paris and avenges the death of his beloved brother.
What is interesting is that Dumas demonstrates a phenomenal understanding of the customs and the institutions of the Corsican society. His treatment of the 'revenge' as a social institution is simply masterful.
Even more interesting is the fact that both the setting (a Mediterranean Island, Paris) and the themes (the journey, the revenge) of the Corsican Brothers are the same that Dumas adopts in the Count of Montecristo.
The reader has the impression that the Corsican Brothers is a study that Dumas made to prepare himself to write The Count of Montecristo. I think they should be read in exactly this order.

A Pleasant Surprise!.......2001-07-30

As The Corsican Brothers is one of Dumas' less popular works (I'm not sure if I should call it a novella or a short story), I expected it to be fairly dry: either very historical or very travel-oriented. It IS travel-oriented, and one CAN see the travel writer incarnation of Dumas, but it is far from boring and does not lack for interesting characters. The brothers may not have the relentless adventures of D'Artagnan, but they leap off the page and make themselves unforgettable nonetheless. There are some beautifully humorous moments as well (Dumas walks into one brother's library and checks to see if the man has any Dumas books!). If I had to compare this work to a more famous Dumas work, though, I would compare it to "A Masked Ball." Short, quick to read, using Dumas himself as narrator, and brilliant. I very much reccomend this one.

a smoother read than i had thought it would be.......2000-04-29

i had always wondered why it was near impossible to find this book, unlike the other dumas novels which had been turned into movies. the reason is apparent; the book has nothing to do with the movie, beyond the notion of sympathetic twins.

yet this is a nice read, more of a novella than a short story -- you should be able to finish it in two hours. and it gives a nice idea of that travel writer that dumas was, tho we barely know him as such. this is a good travelog of 19th century corsica (and certainly more readable than trash like thoreau's bloated "cape cod".)

Product Description

Full color Lithograph on the front cover of a lovely young lady, copyrighted 1906 by The Forbes Litho. MFG Co. No other dates given in the book. The Corsican Brothers, 148 pages. Also included are two other titles: The Artist's Love, 102 pages; and Florry's Lesson, 14 pages.

Les Freres Corses; or, The Corsican Brothers

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Les Freres Corses; or, The Corsican Brothers
E and X . de Montepin. [adpt. Alexander Dumas] Grange
Manufacturer: Samuel French (French's Acting Edition)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IXRNJ0

The she-wolves of Machecoul: To which is added, The Corsican brothers

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The she-wolves of Machecoul: To which is added, The Corsican brothers
Alexandre Dumas
Manufacturer: Little, Brown, and Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

STORIES : Mary Queen of Scots (6 stories) + France Before the Revolution (2 stories) + The French Revolution (11 stories) + The Era of Napoleon (5 stories) + The Count of Monte-Cristo (9 stories) + The Corsican Brothers (3 stories) (COLLECTED STORIES OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST WRITERS)

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STORIES : Mary Queen of Scots (6 stories) + France Before the Revolution (2 stories) + The French Revolution (11 stories) + The Era of Napoleon (5 stories) + The Count of Monte-Cristo (9 stories) + The Corsican Brothers (3 stories) (COLLECTED STORIES OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST WRITERS)
Alexandre Dumas
Manufacturer: Franklin Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000JHNVLY

The Corsican brothers and Otho, the archer; (The novels of Alexandre Dumas)

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The Corsican brothers and Otho, the archer; (The novels of Alexandre Dumas)
Alexandre Dumas
Manufacturer: Methuen & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008716M6

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"The Corsican brothers."
George Bruce
Manufacturer: E. Small Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Screenplays | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007G1TAM

The she-wolves of Machecoul ; and The Corsican brothers (The romances of Alexandre Dumas)

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The she-wolves of Machecoul ; and The Corsican brothers (The romances of Alexandre Dumas)
Alexandre Dumas
Manufacturer: Little, Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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