Learning to Fly: Practical Lessons from one of the World's Leading Knowledge Companies

Average customer rating:

Definitely not a masterpiece

The Best Yet

Don't hesitate...

Insightful!

A MUST read for all KMer

Learning to Fly: Practical Lessons from one of the World's Leading Knowledge Companies
Chris Collison , and Geoff Parcell
Manufacturer: Capstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Strategy & Competition | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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If Only We Knew What We Know: The Transfer of Internal Knowledge and Best Practice

ASIN: 184112124X

Book Description

"The first generation of knowledge management has come and gone. The second generation, which promises both deeper insights and greater impact, will be less about data and more about the social nature of knowledge, less about `capture and retrieval' and more about innovating and sharing, and ultimately more about know-how rather than know about — the only knowledge that ultimately matters in any pragmatic institution. BP's dramatic ascent as an industry leader stems in no small part from its commitment to learning and knowledge. Chris Collison and Geoff Parcell show how new ideas and tools are making working and learning inseparable in one of the world's most innovative large companies." Peter Senge. Senior Lecturer. MIT and Chair, SoL (Society for Organizational Learning) "Collison and Parcell compellingly demonstrate how the combination of sharing behaviors, smart processes and enabling technology have made BP a world leader in knowledge management." Steve Ballmer, President and Chief Executive Officer. Microsoft Corporation "A great story of a global company on the journey toward the Knowledge Driven World. From building networks across the organization to `having the time to halve the time' it is a journey of constant change for the better." Robert H. Buckman, Chairman and CEO, Buckman Laborotories "Finally in the jungle of theoretical sources about knowledge management, a really practical, `hands-on' book which gives useful insights in the practice: How to initiate knowledge management and even more important how to keep it alive-as normal part of everyday business." Cordula Söfftge, BMW Group Learning Concepts "With distinctive clarity and simplicity, Learning to Fly combines real practice with rich experience to meet the need to leverage know -how in a network-centric world. The authors have codified a set of proven tools and processes for teams and organizations to learn before, during and after, in order to dramatically improve their performance." Kent Greenes. Chief Knowledge Officer, SAIC:, "Here's what we have been waiting for — a practical way to apply knowledge management for immediate and identifiable business success. The authors have extensive experience in doing that and we should listen to them carefully. Just in time too, as the challenges of the future — wireless Internet,e-Business, continuing mergers, de-mergers and globalization — demand that we get on with the business of KM and this book makes that possible. Well done, guys." Col. Ed Guthrie. US Army (retd.) "There are very few knowledge management books written by actual practitioners and this is one of them. BP has led the charge in KM and these authors were there. A fine place to start one's KM education!" Larry Prusak, Executive Director, IBM Institute for Knowledge Management. "In the last five years few companies have implemented their knowledge management strategy as effectively as BP. Chris Collison and Geoff Parcell have used this compelling experience to provide a thoughtful and action oriented guide to knowledge management. It should be required reading for both students, practitioners and, perhaps most important, for those executives that have to deliver on the promise of leveraging knowledge assets as a mechanism for gaining competitive advantage." Dr. John C. Henderson. The Richard C. Shipley Professor of Management, Boston University

Customer Reviews:

Definitely not a masterpiece.......2006-03-31

Learning to Fly is fairly useful as a general overview of knowledge management principles, but it is far from great.

First, it doesn't quite live up to the promise made in the blurb: 'Learning to Fly shows exactly how to put theory into practice'. For one thing, there's very little theory in the book, which is not necessarily a bad thing -- just don't expect to gain a deeper understanding of the discipline by reading this book. But even the practical guidelines are a bit shallow and don't always give the reader a very clear idea of how things can be implemented.

Take, for instance, the crucial point of how to get started, presented in chapter 12 ('Embedding it in the organization', the second-to-last chapter). Here's all the authors have to say about the 'starting' stage (pp. 170-171):

"Starting with something simple. Applying one of the tools and techniques in this book to address a simple part of the issue is a good start. Demonstrating a 'quick win' is important to gain the interest and commitment of the team. If they see that these techniques can be applied, without spending too much time on them, to deliver some tangible results, then they are likely to come back for more. We have found it best to introduce some formality after this stage into the planning. What specifically will be done, what are the costs and the benefits and will the team commit some resources to it?"

That's it. They don't suggest, or give an example of, what might constitute a 'simple part of an issue' that could be used for a quick, low-cost demonstration. Since all the useful tools and techniques mentioned in the book have to do with changing the way a whole team, if not the whole organization, works, I would very much like to be given an example of how a 'quick win' can be accomplished. Surely not by suggesting a peer assist that will mobilize a bunch of people for a whole day -- management will never agree to that if they can't see the value of KM to start with.

Second, the book is written in an informal style that is probably supposed to give it a down-to-earth, let's-get-our-hands-dirty feel. But it's actually just not very well written and even more poorly edited (as evidenced by numerous ungrammatical bits like 'at the time when it most useful' and 'who are the people are involved') which, together with the shoddy typography, reveal overall carelessness and subpar organization.

Last, there's a lot of white space surrounding each paragraph, so the 220 pages could probably easily fit into 120 or so well laid-out pages.

The bottom line: U$25 is a steep price to pay for just okay contents packaged in a poorly designed paperback.

The Best Yet.......2004-01-16

Very down-to-earth, applicable guidelines for building a learning environment within an organization. Focuses on tools and techniques and difficult issues of embedding habits of sharing/learning.
I've read a lot of knowledge management books and this is the one our organization is using as a "starting point" for our efforts.

Don't hesitate..........2002-09-05

...trust me and the other reviewers. you will have to wait for a long time to come across another book equally informative, full of sound practical advice, and entertaining. proceed to check-out now.

Insightful!.......2002-02-18

The knowledge management craze may be passing right before our eyes, but Chris Collison and Geoff Parcell do a good job explaining what's behind all the hype. Although a bit dry in tone, the authors manage to capture the critical elements of KM and explain the whys and hows as they relate to individual businesses. Despite a somewhat sterile presentation, we from getAbstract recommend this book as a thorough introduction to knowledge management theory and practice.

A MUST read for all KMer.......2002-01-22

A uniquely entertaining book, Learning to Fly is written with the right blend of theory and practice. From the start, Collison & Parcell build an honest and caring relationship with the reader that takes you on a journey of understanding the why and the how of knowledge management (KM).

The Chris & Geoff hit on many key issues imperative to a successful knowledge management implementation -

·KM should be focused on business results for business objectives. Emphasizing the importance that organizations don't loose sight of why they are doing KM.

·The explanation of KM as an unconscious competence is an excellent model for organization to use for a self-assessment and then strive to achieve.

·Applying KM holistically through the model of learning before, during and after. Proving that building a learning organization is at the heart of KM.

Learning to Fly does it right! I particularly enjoyed the book's creative layout and the way the lessons learned and proven ways to institutionalize KM in any organization are related through thought provoking stories and reflective exercises.

Book Description

Corporate Restructuring examines the impact of financial restructuring on corporate priorities and performance. Countering the notion that an actual or threatened hostile takeover is needed to induce managers to restructure their firms, Donaldson claims that many companies have successfully restructured voluntarily. Drawing on a series of field studies and close examinations of three companies--General Mills, Burlington Northern, and CPC International--Donaldson shows how firms have implemented radical change through an internal discipline. The factual evidence demonstrates why and how voluntary restructuring works just as well--indeed better--than hostile takeovers, without the trauma of external intervention and disruption to day-to-day operations. Challenging many assumptions of current financial literature on how firms achieve increased efficiency, this book is bound to provoke controversy.

Customer Reviews:

He is what he is.......2000-04-14

When we were studying corporate finance and policy, our teachers use to recommend us Gordon's articles and books; they called him father of finance. His articles were true classics; even after passage of few decades they remain as applicable as they were then.

Same is with this book. It dispels the myth that restructuring can only be from outside by giving you live examples. I would recommend it to anyone who is at the top seat or eyeing that position. Whether he/she is leading a successful organization or trying to turnaround a deteriorating bottom line, this is the book for him/her.

Book Description

Covering all traditional topics in comfortable depth, this text presents a process-oriented approach to understanding how Earth systems work. Emphasis is placed upon understanding fundamental principles and concepts over memorizing terminology. The authors' vision of Earth as a "planet in process" reinforces throughout the text the dynamic properties of Earth's systems.

Changing Earth: Exploring Geology and Evolutions, Media Edition (Non-InfoTrac Version with Earth Systems Today)

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Changing Earth: Exploring Geology and Evolutions, Media Edition (Non-InfoTrac Version with Earth Systems Today)
James S. Monroe , and Reed Wicander
Manufacturer: Thomson Brooks/Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This text focuses on the human aspects of geology with essay commentaries on careers in geology. It integrates economic and environmental geology issues throughout. It contains the same features as Monroe/Wicander PHYSICAL GEOLOGY, 2nd and Wicander/Monroe HISTORICAL GEOLOGY, 2nd, including a built-in study guide.

Essentials of Geology, Media Edition (with Earth Systems Today CD-ROM)

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Essentials of Geology, Media Edition (with Earth Systems Today CD-ROM)
Reed Wicander , and James S. Monroe
Manufacturer: Thomson Brooks/Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Intended for a brief one-term course for which less detail is required, this text provides students with a basic understanding of geology and its processes and, more importantly, with an understanding of how geology relates to the human experience. Monroe and Wicander continue their tradition of making the subject fascinating and intriguing as they integrate many environmental and economic geology themes throughout the text. The book helps readers understand the relationship between the multiple physical processes of the earth--a "systems" approach--to instill enthusiasm and to help readers comprehend the concepts of the subject. The text also presents students with an overview of the geologic processes as a continuum of interrelated events, not as a series of facts to memorize. Monroe and Wicander, both respected scholars and authors, convey the excitement and sense of discovery inherent in the study of geology. This version of the text is packaged with the Earth Systems Today CD-ROM inside every copy of the text.

Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science, Media Edition (with Earth Systems Today CD-ROM, Non-InfoTrac Version)

Average customer rating:

Everyhting you need to know as an intro to marine science
Oceanography Text Book
One of Tom Garrison's Students
Best textbook I've ever read.

Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science, Media Edition (with Earth Systems Today CD-ROM, Non-InfoTrac Version)
Tom Garrison , and Tom S. Garrison
Manufacturer: Thomson Brooks/Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Earth Sciences | Sciences | New & Used Textbooks | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0534384692

Book Description

This introduction to oceanography text uses an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizes the discipline's connections with astronomy, physics, chemistry, meteorology, geology, biology, ecology, history, and economics. It strives to enhance students' natural enthusiasm for the ocean, including many full-color illustrations and photographs and a writing style that is clear, personal, and lively. Extensive reviewing by experts and students ensure the text's readability, accuracy, and currency. This book is the #1 seller in oceanography.

Customer Reviews:

Everyhting you need to know as an intro to marine science.......2007-09-03

This book is very well laid out. I am a teacher and would absolutely recommend this as an intro textbook to marine science. It contains all that you would need to know. great as a first year colledge text or even an advanced high school textbook.

Oceanography Text Book.......2005-09-28

Purchase and delivery were right on key. Very pleased with whole process. Item arrived in excellent condition. My daughter received a B+ on her first Oceanography College Exam (just points away from an A). That makes all the difference in the world....................Thanks.

One of Tom Garrison's Students.......2002-08-26

I took Tom Garrison's class at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA. Wonderful class! He taught along with the book and every session was both insightful and interesting. Dr. Garrison is without a match in instructional etiquette and eloquence. Indeed, this book showcases his best work on the subject. Read the book... Be educated by the diagrams and charts... Be taken back at the amazing realms of life under the ocean... And most of all, be in awe of a marvelous earth (or "Oceanus") that is in great need of our consideration right now. Otherwise we end up dead like the aliens... Oops.. I hope I did't give a way the ending! If you have few bucks, come and take the class at OCC. You will be so glad you did. Just don't come in late through one of the side doors, or leave your cell phone on. He can't STAND those things! It drives him CRAZY!

Best textbook I've ever read........1999-03-16

This textbook is very well written. It is ubnderstandible to students and others of all ages and interests. It contains intersting color pictures and graphics about the subject material for each chapter. Each chapter also contains web links to a homepage that accompanies the book. The book is full of intersting personal stories, history, theory, and facts. Dr. Garrison and all who have contributed to this book have set the standard for textbooks and integrated learning for the next decade.

Average customer rating:

Not how Dumas became famous

Just okay...

Boring and unremarkable

Hideous translation

Excellent new translation!

The Knight of Maison-Rouge: A Novel of Marie Antoinette (Modern Library Classics)
Alexandre Dumas
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Dumas, Alexandre | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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The Black Tulip (Oxford World's Classics)

ASIN: 0812969634
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Book Description

A major new translation of a forgotten classic

Paris, 1793, the onset of the Terror. Brave Republican Maurice rescues a mys-terious and beautiful woman from an angry mob and is unknowingly drawn into a secret Royalist plot—a plot revolving around the imprisoned Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, and her enigmatic and fearless champion, the Knight of Maison-Rouge. Full of surprising twists, breakneck adventure, conspiracies, swordplay, romance, and heroism, The Knight of Maison-Rouge is an exhilarating tale of selflessness, love, and honor under the shadow of the guillotine. Dumas here is at the very height of his powers, and with this first and only modern translation, readers can once again ride with the Knight of Maison-Rouge.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

Paris, 1793, the onset of the Terror. Brave Republican Maurice rescues a mysterious and beautiful woman from an angry mob and is unknowingly drawn into a secret Royalist plot -- a plot revolving around the imprisoned Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, and her enigmatic and fearless champion, the Knight of Maison-Rouge.

Full of surprising twists, breakneck adventure, conspiracies, swordplay, romance, and heroism, The Knight of Maison-Rouge is an exhilarating tale of selflessness, love, and honor under the shadow of the guillotine. Dumas here is at the very height of his powers, and with this first and only modern translation, readers can once again ride with the Knight of Maison-Rouge.

"The Knight of Maison-Rouge is one of those rare gifts that are all too seldom found in the book world. A work once thought lost in the dustbins of a shuttered store is rediscovered... brought out to the front of the shop for all to see and grasp. With this fresh and vibrant novel now reclaimed, the heroic Maurice and Lorin will soon be placed in the vaunted ranks of other Dumas stalwarts -- from Dantès to D'Artagnan and the rest of the glorious Musketeers."
   FROM THE INTRODUCTION BY LORENZO CARCATERRA

"Dumas seduces, fascinates, entertains, and instructs. His works are so diverse, so varied, so alive, so charming, so powerful; they radiate that light that is so peculiar to France."
    VICTOR HUGO

Customer Reviews:

Not how Dumas became famous.......2006-10-31

Readers familiar with The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo will recognize the swashbuckling style in this story of the Knight of Maison-Rouge. However, with this book Dumas would not have become a household name. It is a very different type of story and left me dissatisfied. Its value lies in its unflinching portrayal of the Terror that followed the French Revolution. Undoubtedly unpopular in times and places where the French Revolution was esteemed as a model for the overthrow of tyrannies, it is now available in a new edition. The story revolves around various, obviously unsuccessful, attempts to rescue Marie Antoinette after the execution of Louis XVI. The book is extensively annotated. The notes are distracting, but also very useful to anyone without an extensive knowledge of the French Revolution. I certainly learnt a lot of history. The book is recommended to anyone interested in the French Revolution. It is instructive in the workings of totalitarian regimes in general so that its lessons are relevant to our own times.

Just okay..........2006-09-30

Definately not my favorite Dumas novel. I had a real problem with the translation--it felt like I was reading a dumbed down version. "Heck!" "For crying out loud." "You'd be one of her hottest followers..." You get the idea. It felt like the "terror" of 18th century France was being played out in suburbia 21st century America. What a shame.

The story itself was fairly entertaining although it lacked the intrigue and intricacy of other Dumas novels.

Boring and unremarkable.......2005-11-28

I was very excited to read a "lost" Dumas novel, since The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my absolute favorite books. However, I found it extremely difficult to force myself to finish this one. It's either a dull translation or simply not one of Dumas' best works. I suppose you would have to read the original French to know for sure. The heroic characters are one-dimensional, sappy cliches of the Romantic era. The "adventurous" scenes are over in seconds and not gripping at all. There is nothing in this story that was not better portrayed in A Tale of Two Cities. Basically, there's a reason why I was able to purchase this book used for $1...

Hideous translation.......2005-08-14

I've read most of Dumas' work before I undertook the reading of this translation. In my opinion, it is hideous. If you love the "period" feeling of the language of Dumas, do not read this version of his work. I was utterly disappointed, and felt I was not reading Dumas' work. The translater butchered the very essence of Dumas' style of writing. In all of the other works of Dumas, I could not put the book down. It took all my wits to finish this labored translation!

Excellent new translation!.......2005-05-09

I love Dumas. There, I admit it. I've been bred on Dumas. (And those who think this book is atypical Dumas, simply haven't read much Dumas :) ). Sadly, much of Dumas' works get burried under poor and inaccessible translations where the translator apparently thought "This takes place 300 years ago - let's make it sound that way!" Luckily, this new translation is true to the Dumas style - it feels contemporay and speeds you through the action with ease and fun (as much fun as you can have reading about the bloodbath that was the French Revolution).

This is classic Dumas - the adventure, the intrigue, the history, the fascinating characterizations, and in this new edition it feels vibrant and fresh!

KNIGHT OF MAISON-ROUGE: A NOVEL OF MARIE-ANTOINETTE

Average customer rating:

KNIGHT OF MAISON-ROUGE: A NOVEL OF MARIE-ANTOINETTE
ALEXANDRE DUMAS
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K8QSB2

Customer Reviews:

An Odyssey.......2007-09-20

Apsley's journey through the darkness of the stormy Antarctic winter to where the Emperor penguins stood with their eggs was one of the most moving journeys I have read about. Apsley tells the story with great humility and this endears him to the reader. This book would be worth buying simply for this story, but it also tells of Robert Falcon Scott's journey and the death of all of the party who made the final push to the pole. Apsley and the others who were not chosen to make the final push to the pole doggedly searched for their companions and friends and finally found them frozen. Apsley quotes Scott's journal detailing Scott's last moments and the fate of the others. This is harrowing, but inspiring reading. Apsley Cherry-Garrard is one of the more forgotten heros of Antarctic exploration. I use the work hero with trepidation, but it is apt in his case. He truly would lay down his life for his friends and he cared deeply for those he called friends.

Worst Journey - best book.......2000-12-15

Apsley Cherry-Garrard's amazing tale of life in the Antarctic as the youngest member of Scott's fatal expedition. I was gripped from the very first line of this book; "Polar exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time which has been devised." He describes wearing clothes for 6 months with no dirt building up on them, or it being 'more lonely than London' and later he talks of his later experiences in the Great War (1914-18) where the polar explorers felt, considering what they had been through, the trenches were a relatively comfortable alternative. In short Cherry-Garrard has a simple way with words that I loved.

This Antartctic trip lasted some three years and ended with Scott's heroically-futile death - painfully close to supplies and help. Cherry-Garrard was one of those left at the base camp so he survived the trip - but don't think that his lot was much easier than those that struggled to the Pole. The book is as much about the Antarctic and the terrible hardships as about the people of the expedition. Cherry-Garrard's writing and his character seem to personify the stoic, good-humour of the men around him.

The book is very long and I have to admit that I needed extra maps to make sense of where they were - even though there are maps throughout the book. This is not a book, I think, for someone who is not interested in reading further about exploration in the Antarctic, but it makes an excellent start point to read others.

On a purely aesthetic note, the hard-cover version from Picador has the most wonderful cover and comes with a little ribbon to mark your place. It feels really lovely to read it.

One of the best Antarctic adventure tales.......1999-05-01

One of the members of Scott's last expedition to Antarctica was the author of this book, who at the time was one of the youngest members of the group. Cherry-Garrard recounts his personal adventures as part of the expedition, as well as the fate of the small group who trekked to the South Pole with Scott (they died on the return journey). However, Cherry-Garrard, with two other expedition members, made a journey that was far more harrowing than Scott's trek to the pole -- a journey of some weeks across the Antarctic ice shelf in winter! Walking in the near-total darkness, Cherry-Garrard's group man-hauled their heavy sledges, almost lost their tents in a gale(without which they would have perished), and endured extremes of temperature that not even Scott experienced -- all in pursuit of the rarest of prizes -- the eggs of an Emperor penguin (in order to study the animal's development). Unfortunately, in later years Cherry-Garrard would suffer from repeated nervous breakdowns, partly due to his war experiences and partly to his (misplaced) conviction that he might have been able to save Scott and his polar party. Cherry-Garrard was the last person to visit the farthest supply dump, called One-Ton Depot; Scott and his group would die a mere eight miles from this depot. However, at the time Cherry-Garrard visited the depot, Scott and his men were much farther away than this -- they also weren't expected to arrive back yet for some weeks. Although his expedition comrades in later years would try to make it clear to him that it would be absolutely impossible for him to have saved Scott, he was never entirely convinced. Of all the polar adventure books I have read, this will always stand out to me as one of the most thrilling.

Epic tales of survival and discovery in Antarctica.......1997-07-31

Apsley Cherry-Garrard recounts the heroic stuggle for survival during the exploration of Antarctica early in the 20th century. Much of the text was collected from the diaries of the explorers, and includes excerpts from Sir Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated journey to the Pole, and Cherry-Garrard's deep winter trek across the Ross Ice Shelf to obtain an emperor penguin's egg.

Amazon.com

As Apsley Cherry-Garrard states in his introduction to the harrowing story of the Scott expedition to the South Pole, "Polar Exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time which has been devised." Cherry-Garrard's The Worst Journey in the World is a gripping account of an expedition gone disastrously wrong. The youngest member of Scott's team, the author was later part of the rescue party that eventually found the frozen bodies of Scott and three men who had accompanied Scott on the final push to the Pole. These deaths would haunt Cherry-Garrard for the rest of his life as he questioned the decisions he had made and the actions he had taken in the days leading up to the Polar Party's demise.

Prior to this sad denouement, Cherry-Garrard's account is filled with details of scientific discovery and anecdotes of human resilience in a harsh environment. Each participant in the Scott expedition is brought fully to life. Cherry-Garrard's recollections are supported by diary excerpts and accounts from other teammates. Despite the sad fate of Scott, the reader will grudgingly agree with the closing words of The Worst Journey in the World: "Exploration is the physical expression of the Intellectual Passion. And I tell you, if you have the desire for knowledge and the power to give it physical expression, go out and explore.... If you march your Winter Journeys you will have your reward, so long as all you want is a penguin's egg."

Book Description

Cherry-Gerrards classic story of bravery and fortitude, first published in 1922 tells us of Scotts last expedition to the Antarctic from its departure from England in 1910 to its arrival in New Zealand in 1913. It is one of the most famous and tragic in the annals of exploration.

Customer Reviews:

A story of extraordinary courage and grace in adversity.......2007-04-28

Young Aspley Cherry-Garrard was rich enough to buy himself a space on Robert Scott's journey to the Antarctic in 1910. The trip ended badly for Scott, as everyone knows, but it was also a deeply life-altering experience for survivors of the expedition. Returning to England many were loudly criticised for not pressing on in their search for Scott, who as it turned out, died of hunger and cold not so far from where the rescue party turned back. Cherry-Garrard took the criticism very much to heart. Deeply sensitive, he wondered if he could have done more. Years later he wrote his recollections of the expedition in prose so strong and lyrical, yet so measured and insightful, that it illuminates the pages. The "worst journey" of the title is a metaphor for the entire expedition, which ended so badly, and also a literal description of a quixotic side trip that Garrard and some companions took in the middle of a bitterly cold Antarctic winter to retrieve an egg of the Emperor penguin. Mistakenly, as it turned out, one of the scientists on the trip felt that the penguin embryo held some crucial clues to evolutionary history. The little band on that dreadful journey returned to base camp, but after they had been through the most extraordinary privations. Yet though it all, says Garrard, they never forgot their pleases and thank yous. Gentlemen they were, and so they remained even at the point of death.

The expedition was composed of such men and Garrard was certainly among the bravest and best. And how he could write! He put his soul into this book, which has been described (by a well-known travel author) as the best travel book ever written, and perhaps one of the best books ever written. It really is enough to make one proud to be human. And yet the book is not the least self-serving - Garrard was too honest for that. His portrait of Scott, a man dogged more by bad luck than bad management, is required reading for anyone interested in that amazing polar expedition.

Though the book ends with Garrard's return to England, the remainder of his life was rather sad. Plagued with depression, afflicted with ulcerative colitis, he never quite forgave himself for not being able to pull off the miracle needed to save Scott and his companions. Though he was a only a junior member of the expedition - in the end crucial decisions were made by others - that seemed not to have comforted him much. And unfortuately he has not been well served by the biography "Cherry" by Caroline Alexander - she seems basically out-of-sympathy with her subject. In the end Cherry-Garrard's book stands as his legacy, and what a legacy it is.

Can you review a book that you did not entirely read?.......2007-04-21

I read about 50 pages and had to quit. Time was, I would never do that. I'm older now, and if the writing is way too verbose and stuck in irrelevant details that do not lend anything to the story, I quit. I really like adventure books and was surprised that this one wouldn't grab me. I don't think it is the story (from other reviews, the story is a good one); seems that the author and I just don't mix.

Maybe I will pick it up again at some time and give it another shot. Looking at the size of this book, it is unlikely. If I do, I will give it a fair review.

To put this review in context, I happened to have LOVED the story of Endurance by Alfred Lansing. Go figure.

Truly great........2007-04-11

I read quite a bit, and this is one of the best books I have read.

Antarctic journeys.......2007-01-10

This book has a rather heavy text but nevertheless is an excellent read.

Gripping story!.......2006-08-04

This is an inspiring, suspenseful story full of rich detail about what life on The Ice was like for these brave men who spent almost 3 years there in the early years of this century, when sails were still used on ships. The beauty, richly described by Cherry; the torturous conditions at times, how they kept busy and sane during the long long dark winter....I was completely enthralled even though I knew at least the rough outlines of the story before I began. I highly recommend it.

Book Description

An abridged history gleaned from years of military service as Commander of the Arab legion.

Customer Reviews:

History Lives.......2007-04-19

Excellent short review of who is where and how they differ from each other. Written in detail, but easily understood by non-experts and non-historians, this book will give you a strong understanding of how the current crises are merely continuations of what has happened before, but yet also the hope of seeing patterns in how conflicts were resolved in the past. For reviews of similar books, see the resources page at civilsociety at seedwiki

slamminsteve says this is a great read.......2006-06-07

i once long ago in another time read the multi volumes that were abridged down into this single short history of course i recomend the separate volumes but why eat so much ,this short small course is excellent...an excellent "short" history of the arab peoples...well written it will leave you spellbound.

Fabulous!.......2001-08-24

I used this book as a referrence when I was first learning the history of the Arabs. The book gives exquisite detail of the subject matter. In spite of this detail, it is not overwhelming for the new reader of Arabic History. It makes excellent reading for anyone with an interest, either mild or passionate. Hurrah for Sir John!

Well written overview of Arab history.......1999-07-27

If you must read a quick history of the Middle East, read this book - it's a hoot. Glubb was an English soldier who commanded the Jordanian Army during WWII and the first Arab-Israeli War, was kicked out of Jordan in the 1950's, and turned to writing books. Lots of books - on his experiences as a soldier, on history, current events, and even theology. This one is a condensation of a much longer four volume set on Arab history from the 7th century AD to the present century. Glubb does a pretty good job of getting his points across while excising some redundancies and boring spots. It is lively, personal, incredibly fun and easy to read, but has certain innacuracies, which academics will no doubt find annoying. But who cares - this is a really a great introduction to Arab history. Just a word of caution to newcomers to the topic - take his personal opinions for a grain of salt, because sometimes they are a bit flaky.

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A Short History of The Arab Peoples
Sir John Glubb
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MXHO3G

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A Short History of the Arab Peoples
Sir John Glubb
Manufacturer: Stein and Day
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QB61IS

A short history of the Arab period in Zanzibar: From the Sultanate to the People's Republic

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A short history of the Arab period in Zanzibar: From the Sultanate to the People's Republic
Abdulaziz Lodhi
Manufacturer: A.Y. Lodhi]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007B7VJU

Book Description

After describing the module-theoretic aspects of coalgebras over commutative rings, this volume defines corings as coalgebras for non-commutative rings. Topics covered include module-theoretic aspects of corings (such as the relation of comodules to special subcategories of modules: sigma-type categories); connections between corings and extensions of rings; properties of new examples of corings associated to entwining structures; generalizations of bialgebras such as bialgebroids and weak bialgebras; and the appearance of corings in non-commutative geometry.

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Corings and comodules are fundamental algebraic structures, which can be thought of as both dualisations and generalisations of rings and modules. Introduced by Sweedler in 1975, only recently they have been shown to have far reaching applications ranging from the category theory including differential graded categories through classical and Hopf-type module theory to non-commutative geometry and mathematical physics. This is the first extensive treatment of the theory of corings and their comodules. In the first part, the module-theoretic aspects of coalgebras over commutative rings are described. Corings are then defined as coalgebras over non-commutative rings. Topics covered include module-theoretic aspects of corings, such as the relation of comodules to special subcategories of the category of modules (sigma-type categories), connections between corings and extensions of rings, properties of new examples of corings associated to entwining structures, generalisations of bialgebras such as bialgebroids and weak bialgebras, and the appearance of corings in non-commutative geometry.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Parks & Recreation, published by National Recreation and Park Association on December 1, 2004. The length of the article is 492 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: Gold Medal winners announced: winning agencies see the fruits of hard work realized.(Congress Roundup)(American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration)
Publication: Parks & Recreation (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2004
Publisher: National Recreation and Park Association
Volume: 39 Issue: 12 Page: 44(2)

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