Forbes Greatest Investing Stories

Book Description

An exciting follow-up to the bestselling Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time
In the tradition of the bestselling Forbes(r) Greatest Business Stories of All Time, Forbes(r) Greatest Investing Stories focuses on profiles of fascinating people who have achieved success in a range of investing arenas. This volume chronicles old-time innovators like Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing; Hetty Green, the Street's first female stock picker; T. Rowe Price, founder of one of the largest mutual fund families; and Georges F. Doriot, the driving force behind the first publicly owned venture firm in the United States. Others featured include such modern-day legends as Tom Bailey, founder of Janus Funds; Marty Whitman, value investor supreme and manager of the Third Avenue Value Fund; and Muriel F. Siebert, the first woman admitted to the New York Stock Exchange. Packed with investing lessons, wisdom and even the story of the swindle of the century, Forbes(r) Greatest Investing Stories makes an engrossing read and a great gift for any investor or market mogul.

Richard Phalon (New York, NY) has been a contributing editor at Forbes since 1980. He covered personal finance, Wall Street, urban affairs, and politics at the New York Times for sixteen years before joining Forbes. He is the author of The Takeover Barons of Wall Street and Your Money: How to Make It Work Harder Than You Do.

Customer Reviews:

Great lessons, lacking in style.......2002-07-06

This book tracks the stories of some of the most successful investors in the history of Wall Street. It contains fundamental lessons and the anecdotes it contains are being repeated throughout the world today. Scandals, overly aggressive accounting, generous executive options, corporate greed, folly all have been well documented in this book and all are manifesting themselves today in the form of Anderson, Enron, Worldcom and so forth.

I like this book because it focuses on fundamentals. The most successful investors invariably focus on value stocks and long term growth. They look for basics such as earnings and cash flows. They look behind the accounting numbers and are not bamboozled by glossy brochures or big name executives. A wise investor would not have been sucked up by the dot com hype. They would have seen the companies for what they were, overpriced flash-in-the-pans.

Whilst this book contains many valuable lessons, the style was dry and at times difficult to get through. So, whilst the book is not an entertaining read, anyone interested in purchasing quality stocks should definitely have a look at this book.

Inspiring and Relevant.......2001-12-08

Reading this reminded me that bad ecomonic news can create terrific opportunities in the market-- the moral of the story of the very first story, which talks about Benjamin Graham and his protoge Warren Buffett! It was eerie how similar the "Investors Beware" chapter about the CUC/HFS International debacle is to what's currently going on with Enron: "If the 'story' behind the stock seems too good to be true, it probably is." A great read -- the author truly seems to love and relish what he's talking about and I learned a ton that heartened my sagging investing confidence (and hopefully my sagging portfolio as well).

Forbes Greatest Investing Stories (Audiofy Digital Audiobook Chips)

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Forbes Greatest Investing Stories (Audiofy Digital Audiobook Chips)

Manufacturer: Audiofy/Blackstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards
ASIN: 1599124939

Product Description

This Audiofy audiobook chip packs a full 9 hour reading of "Forbes Greatest Investing Stories," narrated by Edward Lewis, on a tiny memory card. A single Audiofy audiobook chip, hardly larger than a stamp, holds a complete digital audiobook, and saves the last listening position automatically, unlike CDs. With an SD memory card slot or low-cost adapter - like those for digital cameras - this Audiofy audiobook chip can be played on Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh desktop computers or laptops (Microsoft Windows XP/2000/Me/98, or Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9 and above) or transferred to Apple iPod media players. Audiobook chips also move seamlessly to most Palm OS and Pocket PC handheld PDAs with SD expansion slots, as well as Treo and Windows Mobile "smartphones" (Palm OS 5.2 or Windows Mobile 2002 and above)... Biotech, high tech, bubbles, and busts-no two stock markets are ever the same. Getting ahead of the game demands something hard to find on Wall Street these days, a flexible long-term strategy good for all seasons. Start your search with this book. Capitalizing on the techniques of the shrewd money spinners that it profiles will help you profit, no matter which way the wind blows. Let the time-tested measures of seers like Benjamin Graham and T. Rowe Price, adapted to the world of the Internet, show you how to spot value at a discount and profit from growth at its most rewarding.

Book Description

Knowledge has always resided in organizations-but it wasn't until the Information Age put a premium on ideas that intellectual capital was recognized as a critical resource. Now, forces like technology, globalization, and the rise of free agency and virtual workplaces are bringing another form of "hidden" capital to the forefront.

In Good Company is the first book to examine the role that social capital-a company's "stock" of human connections such as trust, personal networks, and a sense of community-plays in thriving organizations. Written by leading knowledge management experts Don Cohen and Laurence Prusak, this groundbreaking book argues that social capital is so integral to business life that without it, cooperative action-and consequently productive work-isn't possible. The authors help today's leaders understand the nature and value of social capital, suggest ways they can encourage and enhance it, and explore how they can protect this vital but increasingly vulnerable resource in a volatile, virtual world.

Drawing on major social and economic theories, and the experiences of organizations including the World Bank, Aventis Pharma, Alcoa, Russell Reynolds, and UPS, In Good Company identifies the social elements that contribute to knowledge sharing, innovation, and high productivity. The authors convincingly show how almost every managerial decision-from hiring, firing, and promotion to implementing new technologies to designing office space-is an opportunity for social capital investment or loss. They also reveal the benefits that derive from investments in social capital, such as greater commitment and cooperation, increased talent retention, and more intelligent responses to customer needs.

A landmark book on the critical role that relationships play in organizational success, In Good Company helps employees at all levels recognize the power of social capital to help people work better, and make organizations better places to work.

Don Cohen is a writer, consultant, and the editor of Knowledge Directions. Laurence Prusak is Executive Director of the IBM Institute for Knowledge Management and co-author of Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know.

Download Description

In Good Company is the first book to examine and explain the role that social capital--the value inherent in human connections, including trust, personal networks, and a sense of community--plays in the successful running of organizations. Knowledge management experts Don Cohen and Laurence Prusak identify the social elements that contribute to knowledge sharing, innovation, and high productivity--and show how nearly every managerial action can enhance or diminish an organization's social capital. Drawing on the social sciences, economics, and engaging stories from organizations including the World Bank, IBM, the New York City Diamond Trade, and UPS, this book offers practical advice on how to recognize and develop this hidden resource for employee fulfillment and economic gain.

Customer Reviews:

Social Capital is the leading edge for HR measurement- pay attention.......2006-02-16

The Information Age has put a premium on ideas and intellectual capital is more valuable today than ever. Knowledge has always resided within organizations, therefore the very sought after intellectual capital is a critical resource that resides within the employees of a company. Although these employees possess intellectual capital, with the emergence of technology, globalization, and the rise of free agency, another resource has emerged: social capital. This social capital is made-up of human connections, such as trust, networks, and a sense of community. In this book the authors share how to:

· Recognize social capital for what it is and what it is not. Understand that social capital is not about everyone liking everyone else, nor accepting everyone. It is not about being nice, or being forced to share tales of their personal lives. It is important to stay focused on what is truly social capital.
· Develop a sense of trust among employees and build trust between the employees and the firm. Learn how all social capital starts from a sense of trust.
· Allow networks and communities to develop naturally. Within networks, the authors show that social capital is strongest. Allow employees the space and time to connect.
· Encourage talk and storytelling. This is the voice of social capital. The art of conversation is discussed at some length by the authors.
· Meet the challenge of an increasing virtual world. The authors stress the importance of balancing both the virtual and real world experiences.

Work as Social Process.......2002-08-03

Why do new CEOs staff the company with their men?
Why are women under-represented un the business world?
Why could some succeed in launching and establishing new enterprises while other couldn¡¯t manage do so?
Why are the MBA degree craved, while there is no link between MBA results and future salary?
Social capital is supposed to be the answer to these questions. Social capital is widely exploited to emphasize the social nature of work: the work is the social process. Previously, corporate culture is used to point out such a nature. Organization¡¯s culture means the set of rites and rituals that give it its unique character. Culture is the ¡®way things are done around here.¡¯ The HP way, for example, the open-plan, walkabout management style laid down in the 1950s, by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard, a style that still imbues the company today. But culture is a elusive concept. It¡¯s too soft to be managed. One executive asserted that ¡®the only culture round here is in the yoghurts in the canteen.¡¯ Nevertheless, though too soft to grasp, it¡¯s very real one. So many M&As have been botched for clashes between corporate cultures. It¡¯s real but too elusive to manage and grasp. Social capital is introduced to ground it on tangible material base. Then what is social capital? Social capital refers attributes like trust, commitment, attachment and so forth which belongs to active connections among people, in other word, network and community.
When the God decided to put a stop to human-being¡¯s first great collective enterprise, he confused their language so they could no longer understand one another, and could not carry out the joint project, Tower of Babel. Carry a heavy stone could be done without words. The real problem was the loss of understanding that cannot be mimed or diagrammed. Without common speech, the tower¡¯s planners could not have inspired others to join the project, workers could not have learned to trust each other¡¯s judgment, resolve unexpected problems together, or count on each other¡¯s help in dangerous situations. In other words, what they lost was not just common language, but the social capital which was probably more critical than the failure of information exchange.
Some schools in economics of organization characterized the firm as the flow of information. It¡¯s hard to deny. In this regard, however, corporate culture is no more than each company¡¯s idiosyncratic frame to each processing info: the firm is no more than a cybernetic system. But the firm is a social process built on community and network. Culture is what resides in community and network within personnel.
Moreover, organization¡¯s knowledge and capabilities lies not in official hierarchy but in unofficial community of practice. Most job training occurs after workers join a firm. They learn by dong on the shop floor. There is always a manual that describes how to operate a particular machine or conduct a job. As times passes, however, workers are apt to devise better ways to do the job and surpass the manual. And this is the collective process. As they work together, knowledge slowly moves from person to person. Network and community are not only the repository of corporate knowledge and capacities, but also the incubator of collaboration, especially voluntary collaboration that does not rely on external incentives. They help create and sustain our personal identities, the intrinsic satisfactions of praise, respect, and gratitude from fellow members. Those have more meaning and power than little prizes or even monetary rewards.
Now, I think, you¡¯ve got what is social capital. Above, I followed the style of the book which does not burden the reader with abstract concepts, but illustrate the picture of social capital with real world examples, to enlighten readers to the practical meaning of social capital in their own workplace. With closing the last page. I bet you get the crux and import of social capital.

I was glad someone noticed!.......2002-06-19

This is a good and helpful read. While Cohen and Prusak do tend to say a lot of things that one has a gut feeling of but has never read or heard someone say aloud about working relationships, some of it was really fascinating. They have a particularly interesting chapter on chat and storytelling and the functions those activities serve at work. The theme of the book is that organizations should invest in social capital the way they invest in other kinds of capital, but that such investments can't be faked. Workers know when the love is real, so to speak.

The writers address particularly cogent trends of telecommuting and volatile industries and how those can cause stress in organizations because they lower social capital. They had some interesting points. One thing I particularly responded to was the chapter on trust. They wrote that when someone says their organization is particularly political, what they are saying is
that there is very low trust. Another thing they wrote that really interested me is that the virtual office isn't going to succeed - and hasn't as predicted - because work is an inherently social activity. That's one of the reasons people like it and are dedicated to it. Not that many people are ever going to want to work at home in their pajamas - every single day. They also suggest that money isn't the only effective lure for new talent or retainer of current employees. They write that if talent can just be bought, it will be, but if you create high social capital in your organizations, money alone won't be able to suck the talented people from your offices.

[The book made me want to read more by Chris Argyris, who is an organizational pyschologist at Harvard, and the book "The Social Life of Information."]

Pointing Out the Intangible Values of Positive Connection.......2001-09-25

"Social capital consists of the stock of active connections among people, the trust, mutual understanding, and shared values and behaviors that bind the members of human networks and communities and make cooperative action possible." What is new about this book is that it applies this sociological concept to business enterprises.

As the authors point out, having more social capital inside an organization is good, but it is not sufficient to create a successful enterprise. Digital Equipment is used as an example of this point. Also, organizations can have social capital and be serving harmful ends (the Nazis are used as an example).

The authors feel that there are important limits to what free agency, telecommuting, virtual organizations, and hoteling offices can accomplish because their basis in social capital will be weaker.

On the positive side, they argue for hiring and encouraging people who fit the values and culture of the organization, and creating an environment in which social capital will build. To do this, companies should actively take steps that build trust, networks and communication through making appropriate spaces and time available, and help people learn through effective story telling.

The benefits of this approach will be better knowledge sharing, lower transaction costs, lower turnover of key employees, better coherence of action due to organizational stability and more shared understanding. You may also see more creativity if people are allowed to experience the intrinsic pleasures of making the future.

I thought that the best part of this book was in the detailed look at the various kinds of stories that organizations tell and what their purposes are. This book extended my understanding of that subject, which is an important one for communications.

The main drawback of the book is that it does not address social capital in terms of the connections between the individuals in the organization and most stakeholders (like customers, suppliers, partners, owners, lenders, and the communities the company serves). These connections are more important in those dimensions discussed in the book than the equivalent connections within the company. So this omission is a pretty significant limitation of the book.

The major secondary drawback of the book is that those who work in organizations like the ones described here with lots of social capital (UPS, SAS Institute, and J & J) will probably find little that is new. For those who are insensitive to the importance of social connections, this book will seem too amorphous and nonquantitative to change minds. If the target is to make those with low emotional intelligence become more effective and supportive, this book won't make the grade. It's preaching to the choir, without enough discipline in defining its prescriptions. For example, the book argues that cubicles with lots of sight lines are great for improving communications. But those who need quiet time and places to work for extended periods will tell you that cubicles drive them up the wall and reduce certain kinds of productivity. What's the best way to encourage both more communications and quiet thinking time when it's needed?

If you are interested in seeing lots of case histories on these subjects, you would probably enjoy the parts of The Dance of Change that focus on improving communication, trust, and connection.

After you finish this book, think about where your organization needs more trust, where you need more connections within and without the company, and how you can create a more cohesive creativity on the significant opportunities that face you.

Be open to the positive potential of the new, and help others to see it also!

Common sense, uncommon insight.......2001-05-01

If I could inflict one book on business executives this year, this would be it. In arguing that social capital within organisations has a value, and that there are ways to encourage it, the authors will not surprise most corporate infantry. But they draw together the human strands of this topic - trust, networking, the office environment, gossip - in an elegant and compelling way, and turn an insightful lens towards everyday facets of employee interaction. While the approach is scholarly, there's enough case study and anecdote to give their case a grounded authenticity. It's extremely well written, and the ideas it brings together beg for enlargement and further research.

Book Description

Plant Genome Analysis presents outstanding analyses of technologies, as well as explanations of molecular technology as it pertains to agriculture. Advances in genome analysis, including DNA amplification (DAF and RAPD) markers, RFLPs, and microsatellites are reviewed by accomplished scientists, many of whom are the developers of the technique. Articles by patent lawyers experienced in plant biotechnology present the legal viewpoint. Chapters focus on special elements of genome analysis, such as the: o use of antisense technology o investigation of telomeres o production of plant YACs o importance of cell cycle genes in plants. Other chapters focus on specialized topics of genome analysis. These include a description of antisense technology in the study of photosynthesis and a comprehensive review of the characterization and isolation of plant telomere, including their use in varietal discrimination. A detailed anaysis of cytoplasmic male sterility in the french bean that focuses on the mitochondrial genome is described. The book provides a chapter on the production of yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) carrying soybean DNA. Genes of the cell cycle in plants and their importance in developmental processes are presented, as well as detailed chapters on the molecular mapping of trees (apples and pines), and nodulation-related genes in legumes. A comprehensive index and a complete glossary are included.

Customer Reviews:

Numbers as archetypes.......2005-02-25

Drawing on the initial concept advanced by Pythagoras that reality is number and Plato's later theory that there exist a world of perfect ideas which transcends the world we live in, the author sketches the scientific advances made from the Renaissance through the 20th century. He skillfully explains Descartes' geometry, the calculus of Newton and Leibniz, Cantor's theory of infinite sets, Freud's theory of personality, Jung's model of the psyche, and Godel's Incompleteness Theorems. Utilizing the above mentioned background material, Robertson then explains how Jung and Godel both posited that a Platonic world of ideas (archetypes) exist beyond physical reality and the inner world of the psyche. And his well reasoned conclusion is that these archetypes are Pythagoras' simple counting numbers. This is a marvelous and thought provoking book which is also readable. A must buy for anyone interested in mathematics, psychology, philosophy, or archetypes.

It's a great book.......1999-09-08

This book is short, but it integrates two diferents area as mathematics and phycology. The author makes a comparation between mathematical vision and phycological vision about the world, the integrating medium of these visions are the archetypes which exists as platonic ideals in mathematics and as collective unconcious in the people.

C.G. Jung and the Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious (American University Studies. Series VIII, Psychology, Vol 7)

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C.G. Jung and the Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious (American University Studies. Series VIII, Psychology, Vol 7)
Robin Robertson
Manufacturer: Peter Lang Pub Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This timely new book is a "must-have" for anyone involved with wetland conservation, in particular bottomland hardwood forests, a habitat in which over 50% of our nation's inventory has been destroyed. Authored by recognized experts, the book thoroughly covers the ecological processes in bottomland hardwood forests and relates these processes to human activities. Chapters include original research into ecological processes, discuss impacts of human activities on flood plain ecosystems, and examine human perceptions of bottomland values and management strategies for ecosystem restoration and conservation. The book focuses on impact assessment and management, featuring local sites and ecosystems, as well as the processes in larger areas, such as watersheds and hydrological basins.

Book Description

For some learners a picture is worth a thousand words--and this lavishly illustrated volume proves the rule. The expert advice and lively illustrations combine to offer serious how-to instruction in an entertaining fashion to sea kayakers of all levels.

Developed by an ACA-certified instructor over years of paddling and education, this complete program provides a visual tour of all that sea kayaking can offer, including ingenious tips on advanced paddling techniques, navigation and safety, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Funny and informative.......2007-03-27

This book has a lot of GREAT information in it. It gets the points across by funny but sometimes very serious cartoons and illustrations. There is a lot of emphasis on safety which is very important to learn up front.

Great Book!.......2007-01-04

This book is fantastic. The pictures combine humor with instruction, and the book itself covers a lot of basics for those just learning about sea kayaking. I've been very happy with it.

Fun, Funny and Informative!.......2006-10-09

This is a great books. You almost have to see it to really appreciate it. There are thousands of hand-drawn images which makes everything very, very easy to understand. They make the book fun and you'll even get a giggle out of a few of them. It's definitely worth the money!

the complete package: informative and entertaining.......2005-10-22

This book is a superb resource for all sea kayakers, from aspiring novices to adrenaline-seeking rock garden explorers. Better than probably any other instructional book on sea kayaking does, Robison provides something for everyone. He thoroughly presents a comprehensive range of basic paddling skills and sprinkles among them subtle insights, tricks and tips derived from his impressive paddling career. As a former professional sea kayaking guide, I would recommend this resource to all sea kayakers. You are bound to learn from it and you will smile and giggle as you do. The illustrations bring the concepts to life and make the information quite accessible. An essential book for any sea kayaking library.

You will enjoy this book!.......2004-11-01

Sea Kayaking Illustrated is simply an outstanding guide for anybody who wants to immerse themselves in the marvelous world of sea kayaking. Although I might be considered an expert level sea kayaker, this book can serve as an excellent introductory level primer, yet has plenty to offer the more advanced practitioners of the craft. As a seasoned veteran of the wind and waves, I was pleasantly surprised to find lots of information in the book that was new to me, and presented in ways I hadn't before considered. There's everything from nuts and bolts basics to more advanced tricks of the trade. Everything from common sense kayak-carrying techniques to tips on how to deal with the various wildlife you'll encounter.

As you can tell, I love this book. For the coup-de-grace, it's entertainingly illustrated and humorous, so you don't feel like you're reading a textbook. This is the first work i've read by Robison, but this is a talented author/illustrator, heck i'd probably read a book about druid preening osprey if he wrote it. I strongly recommend it for anyone who's into sea kayaking (or who wants to get into it). And then you look at the price of the book and realize it's really a no-brainer to buy it! Shred on!!!

Sea Kayaking Illustrated: A Visual Guide to Better Paddling

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Sea Kayaking Illustrated: A Visual Guide to Better Paddling
John Robison
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Sea Kayaking | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OFR7SE

Book Description

Stage Rigging Handbook is written in an at-a-glance outline form, yet contains in-depth information available nowhere else.

This second edition includes two new parts: the first, an expanded discussion of the forces and loads on stage rigging components and the structure supporting them; the second, an examination of block and tackle rigging. The remaining four parts contain numerous revisions.

Explaining his purpose, Jay O. Glerum points out that four main principles constitute the core of this book: know the rigging system; know that it is in safe working order; know how to use it; keep your concentration. Glerum applies these principles to all the major types of stage rigging systems, including block and tackle, hemp, counterweight, and motorized. He describes each type of rigging and then thoroughly reviews the operating procedures and ways of inspecting existing systems.

To provide background, Glerum opens with the basic theory of applied physics as it relates to rigging. Step by step, he explains the calculations required to determine safe working loads for various components. Glerum’s many anecdotes help the reader translate theory into reality.

Glerum then turns to four separate and detailed treatments of the main types of theatrical rigging. His thorough descriptions include drawings that identify each separate component of the rigging. He points out the advantages of each system, detailing everything from the mechanical advantage and the effects of wear on rope to the best ways to tie off the pin rail and to store weights. Because stagecraft often has been handed down orally from one stagehand to the next, incorrect—as well as dangerous—assumptions exist in the trade. Glerum provides a ready reference for everything from how to tie a knot to how to effectively communicate a warning for a runaway set.

Glerum also discusses special problems such as cutting fiber rope, terminating wire rope, attaching drops and framed scenery, using trusses and bridles, dead hanging, tripping, guiding loads, and other topics. He also covers recordkeeping, with tips and pointers on how to establish an inspection log.

Customer Reviews:

Outdated.......2005-08-02

This book must have been the rigging bible...in 1970. There is very little mention of motorized rigging and modern trussing used in the majority of stage, concert and corporate events. I would strongly recommend NOT buying this book unless you're looking for a historical document of how rigging was performed 35 years ago.

A Must Read For High School Techies!.......2002-09-03

Stage Rigging Hand Book is a great book for anyone responsible for rigging. It covers very important topics and safety issues. Working in one of the biggest and best high school theatres in the state of Virginia, I can say that this book is a major help on any rigging job and is an indispensable book when safety is concerned (and when is safety not involved?). If you are a TD at any high school with a rigging system you must have this book.

Nothing Better.......2002-06-24

As an instructor in the Canadian College system, I have found this book best sits within easy reach. I am constantly using it as a teaching tool for my students and myself. I had the priviledge of attending a master class with Jay in 2001 and would recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity. When teamed with Harry Donovan, you will find no better pair to flood your mind with all that is entertainment rigging.

An Amazing Book.......2001-08-19

Jay O. Glerum has written a book filled with history and practical hard-to-find information every theatre tech should have in his/her library. This book is rich with clear illustrations and photos for just about every rigging situation you will encounter. It has chapters on "Loads and Reactions" "Block and Tackle Rigging" "Hemp Rigging" "Motorized Rigging" and much more. There's a very useful chapter on cutting and knotting rope. I was particularly impressed with the sections on "Special Problems" and "Recordkeeping". As today's threatres move more and more toward mechanized scene changes and motorized light rigs, a solid understanding of rigging techniques is more important than ever. Whether you are a novice or have years of experience ... whether you are an independent or on staff, Jay O. Glerum's "Stage Rigging Handbook" will improve your knowledge and give you a wealth of information. I highly recommend this book.

A Must for any Flyrail!.......2000-12-27

As an IATSE stage rigger, I have worked with people like Eddie Blue and Aaron Hutsch, and I have yet to work with a flyman or rigger who doesn't use and own this book. Glerum's methodical approach to everything rigged, from sand bags and tension pulleys to loft blocks and chain bags makes the complicated art and physics involved with theatrical flying and baton loading easy to understand, and in-depth enough for the novice or master rigger. A must have for anyone persuing a theatrical or IATSE position.

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Stage Rigging Handbook, Third Edition
Jay O. Glerum
Manufacturer: Southern Illinois University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0809327414
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Book Description

Succinct and jargon free, Stage Rigging Handbook remains the only book in any language that covers the design, operation, and maintenance of stage-rigging equipment. It is written in an at-a-glance outline form, yet contains in-depth information available nowhere else. This fully indexed third edition includes three new parts: the first, an explanation of inspection procedures for rigging systems; the second, a discussion of training in the operation of rigging systems; and the third, essential information about the operation of fire curtains. The remaining six parts, as well as the glossary and bibliography, have been updated. This edition also contains a new preface, many new illustrations, and expanded information on Nicopress terminations.

Glerum explains that four main principles make up the core of this book: know the rigging system; keep it in safe working order; know how to use it; and keep your concentration. Glerum applies these principles to all of the major types of stage rigging systems, including block and tackle, hemp, counterweight, and motorized. He describes each type of rigging, then thoroughly reviews the operating procedures and methods of inspecting existing systems.

Arena rigging: A practical guide for riggers, designers, and managers

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Arena rigging: A practical guide for riggers, designers, and managers
Harry Donovan
Manufacturer: Harry M. Donovan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

In Searching for God Knows What, Donald Miller's provocative and funny new book, he shows readers that the greatest desire of every person is the desire for redemption. Every person is constantly seeking redemption (or at least the feeling of it) in his or her life, believing countless gospels that promise to fix the brokenness. Typically their pursuits include the desire for fulfilling relationships, successful careers, satisfying religious systems, status, and escape. Miller reveals how the inability to find redemption leads to chaotic relationships, self-hatred, the accumulation of meaningless material possessions, and a lack of inner peace. Readers will learn to identify in themselves and within others the universal desire for redemption. They will discover that the gospel of Jesus is the only way to find meaning in life and true redemption. Mature believers as well as seekers and new Christians will find themselves identifying with the narrative journey unfolded in the book, which is simply the pursuit of redemption.

Customer Reviews:

eh..........2007-10-06

This book was soooo slow starting out. It was definitely not what I was expecting from Donald Miller after having just finished Blue Like Jazz.

a must-read.......2007-08-31

You'll find yourself putting this book down frequently so that you can just think about some of the mind-blowing content that Donald Miller is pitching. Great stuff.

Donald Miller gets it right...sometimes.......2007-08-12

It took me a while to get used to the author's cozy stye of writing, but eventually I grew to enjoy it. It's messy and all over the place - just like life and very conversational. I've been reading some heavy theological stuff lately and this was refreshing. I loved the 'lifeboat theory'. His explaination of how the 'lifeboat' relates to the fall of man was probobly one of the greatest things that I've ever read. It really makes a lot of sense. I think everyone should read that chapter.

I was able to read the Bible like I used to after reading this book. And it's been months, maybe closer to a year since I was able to do that. The text was fresh to me. I saw a few things I hadn't noticed before. Since he eluded to the fall in the book, I thought I would go back to the beginning and read those chapters for the billionth time. I wasn't really expecting to see anything new. But I did. And it was real again.

I have to say I was cringing through a good part of the book. I know Donald Miller has had bad experiences with religion or the church in general, and with conservatives and republicans. I can certainly see why he holds those views. There are enough people in all of those camps whose examples could drive him away. I get the sense that the author feels that most Christians who are conservative republicans are less than intelligent and have been brain washed. That makes me sad. I can speak personally and say that I care about people living in poverty and under oppression. I care about the environment and about peace and about healthcare. These are important issues to me. And I *still* have to go with conservative views on just about everything. To me, conservative views and economic policy just make the most sense and it's not because I care less than liberals do. I can see how people who also care about these things hold to a liberal world-view. I don't think they are crazy or demented.

I agree with saying "NO" to excess govenment funding for programs to help the poor and needy and the oppressed. How does it make things right to steal money (via excessive taxation) from other people - wealthy people who have worked for their money and success - and give it to somebody else? How do handouts solve the problems in our society? I actually think it makes things worse for everyone involved, because it encourages dependancy and laziness. BUT... just like these problems will not be solved or helped with government funding, they will also not be solved by doing nothing! There are millions of broken, needy people in this country - in the world. How can we as Christians, who are called by Christ to feed and clothe and care for others, say no to plans for government funding and then not do anything else to help these people? We need to ask ourselves - "what am I *personally* doing to help them?" It is easier to say that we believe rich people should be responsible for taking care of poor people than it is to 'get out in the trenches' and do it ourselves. The Church -Christians, liberal and conservative alike, should be the ones ministering to the broken and needy. Jesus didn't give that job to Ceasar and the people of Rome. He entrusted that responsibility to his followers. The church needs to step up and live out their faith in this way. Once they start doing that, maybe the government can back off. I might start a speaking tour at local churches to get the word out. I'm very passionate about this. :)

Okay, enough of my rant....back to the book...(my previous thoughts actually do tie in to what I am going to say next - I just don't have a clear segue).

It seems to me that the problem is not with religion or today's church or conservatives or republicans or liberals or democrats, but it is with the need to understand the scriptures BOTH from a theological point of view AND from experience.

Without theology, the experience or relational aspect of Christianity is not grounded and is even dangerous. There is no expectation of an absolute truth and so all of faith is relative. Thus God becomes not who scriptures say he is but who I want him to be. It is particularly difficult to study the scriptures this way. Theology in the form of bullet points and fomulas (i.e. creeds, the articles of religion, the catechisms and things like the five points of Calvinism) is good and necessary. These things exist to give focus and steadfast understanding to our fickle feelings and experiences. In studying these things, the worshipper can stand on the shoulders of giants instead of presuming that he alone is a giant who can figure everything out himself.

Conversly, I would say that religion without relationship is dangerous in that it misses the point. Certainly God does not desire this. Scripture makes so many references to the act of offering sacrifices versus the offering of the heart. And yet He did not do away with sacrifices in the Old Testament - He required that his people sacrifice as well as call upon Him. In the new testament when Christ came to be the final propitiation for sin, He said that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Clearly the law (or religion) is important but it is not fulfilled nor has meaning without Christ.

Christianity does not work in an 'either-or' mentality -either religion or relationship. It is 'BOTH-AND'. Why is it that it is so hard to find a church that embodies this 'both-and' principle? It seems that they love to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The formulas, church history, tradition, creeds, systematic theology are all important. Much more important, in fact, than Donald Miller acknowledges. But without a true, ongoing, growing relationship with Christ, theology just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I think this was one of the author's main points and it is definately one I needed to hear. It is the responsibility of the worshipper to maintain an understanding of both at all times. This is such a difficult task. It seems to me that our finite minds just were not created to focus on all of that at once, but fortunately, God makes these things possible. I am constantly in this desperate struggle to remain focused on both. I have been concentrating almost exclusively on only one aspect of my faith. I needed to be reminded of the 'both-and' argument. That is why I loved reading this book.

Thank you Miller.......2007-07-11

If you liked Blue Like Jazz, you'll love the book. Thank you Mr. Miller for another great one, can't wait for the next.

Following Christ is a Relationship not a System.......2007-07-01

THANK YOU Donald Miller. This is one of the most important books you can read as a Christian. It inspired me to do an about face. That is look for the face of Jesus, not his rules, not his rewards, but ENJOY THE PRESENCE of our God. After reading this book, I actually laughed and played with Jesus. I petted the Lion's mane and He licked me back. We hugged after that.

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Searching for God Knows What
Donald Miller
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QYDZNE

2 Book Set Bydonald Miller; Searching for God Knows What; Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality.

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2 Book Set Bydonald Miller; Searching for God Knows What; Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality.
Donald Miller
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WR54AM

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2 Book Set Bydonald Miller; Searching for God Knows What; Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality. ASIN: B000WR54AM

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