Megaprojects and Risk: An Anatomy of Ambition

Book Description

Promoters of multi-billion dollar land-use development megaprojects systematically misinform parliaments, the public and the media in order to get them approved and built. This book not only explores these issues, but suggests practical solutions drawing on theory and scientific evidence from the several hundred projects in twenty nations and five continents. It is of interest to students, scholars, planners, economists, auditors, politicians and concerned citizens.

Customer Reviews:

Packed with Knowledge!.......2004-03-02

Every once in a while a little book comes along that, while small in size, carries sufficient intellectual weight to strike the body politic between the eyes, thereby getting its collective attention. This may be one such book. It offers a realistic look at megaprojects - those major infrastructure endeavors that span vast bodies of water, dam natural resources to generate energy and extend rail lines to previously unreachable regions - and compares the promises of these projects to what they actually deliver. The report card isn't very good. Cost overruns are typically 25% to 100%, and sometimes 200% or more. Worse yet, studies show that the public tends to use megaprojects - be they airports or subway systems - only a fraction of the amount predicted. We strongly recommends this book to politicians, legislators and anyone who wants to know the truth behind these huge infrastructure projects, as well as to CEOs, CFOs, project managers and risk officers in the private sector - this applies to your projects, even if there is a difference of scale.

A fool, his money and the bridge that parted them..............2003-09-13

I am the first amazon.com reviewer of this short, but important book. It concerns me that this might reflect a diminished U.S. readership. That would be unfortunate. Professor Bent Flyvbjerg and his colleagues have written a book of significance to taxpayers everywhere. It's apparent that they have written this book largely for the policy-maker; yet, make no mistake about it: the ordinary taxpayer has a major stake in this book's message. The central characters in Megaprojects and Risk are three large-scale, European transportation projects: the Chunnel, the Great Belt and the Oresund. American readers unfamilar with these names (the chunnel connecting London and Paris is perhaps the most recognizable to American readers) will nonetheless recognize familiar features. Specifically, they will find project costs that exceed estimates, and revenue inflows that are below projections. The traits are not unique to these projects. In fact, cost over-runs and revenue disappointments are a familiar global refrain, according to these authors. In spite of this, the number and scale of infrastructure projects continues to grow, forming what they call the megaproject paradox. The book is stronger on documenting problems, including the lack of project post-audits, than on providing solutions. I think they have correctly identified the problem -- the lack of accountability throughout the project life-cycle -- but their solution, which largely involves ensuring a healthy segment of private capital not supported by state guarantees, together with more attention to genuine risk assessment, falls short of the mark. The risk assessment tools are firmly established and largely well-understood (Monte Carlo simulation packages are increasingly available). So is the "moral hazard" problem that rears its ugly head when projects (in this case) are "over-insured." The difficulty, which they acknowledge, is that the political interplay between state, private interests and NGOs are decisive in determining whether and to what extent the appropriate risk assessment and risk management tools are used.

This problem is inherent in the beast. Policy-makers would love for the private sector to shoulder the risk, but may not be willing to permit a commensurate return. Private players, just as understandably, are apt to seek insurance of one kind or another on the downside. The best medicine, and one that this book delivers admirably, is simply to raise our awareness of the track record from the start.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of the American Planning Association, published by American Planning Association on March 22, 2004. The length of the article is 1622 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: Mega-Projects: the Changing Politics of Urban Public Investment.(Book Review)
Author: David J. Forkenbrock
Publication: Journal of the American Planning Association (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2004
Publisher: American Planning Association
Volume: 70 Issue: 2 Page: 229(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Megaprojects and Risk: An Anatomy of Ambition [A book review from: Technological Forecasting & Social Change]

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Megaprojects and Risk: An Anatomy of Ambition [A book review from: Technological Forecasting & Social Change]
J.F. Coates
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RQYOG8

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Technological Forecasting & Social Change, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:

Megaprojects and risk: An anatomy of ambition, Bent Flyvbjerg, Nils Bruzelius and Werner Rothengatter, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK (2003) ... review from: Journal of Transport Geography]

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Megaprojects and risk: An anatomy of ambition, Bent Flyvbjerg, Nils Bruzelius and Werner Rothengatter, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK (2003) ... review from: Journal of Transport Geography]
R. Knowles
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RQZX40

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Journal of Transport Geography, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Book Description

Organizations are shifting from hierarchical structures to more open networks of people cooperating to achieve interrelated goals. A major role of leadership in this context is to engage participants in the work of identifying, developing, and employing a foundation of values that are responsive and accountable to participants, stakeholders, and society. This calls for students and professionals to develop an understanding of the role of leadership across the organization. Leading Organizations provides a framework for examining and integrating issues pertaining to organizational leadership and helps prepare the student and professional for leading and participating in these new era organizations.

Book Description

While traditions are very important to a culture, there is a need to challenge, as well as to respect, those traditions that have given rise to a particular rural research and development system. The authors examine the broad themes of "knowledge transfer" and the organization and conduct of research and development, based particularly on the system operating in the rangelands of Australia. The need to adopt a novel approach arose because the existing practice of agricultural extension did not meet the needs of the farming community there, and the funding bodies were dissatisfied with the return on their investment. The way in which the relationship between the rural community and researchers might be differently, and perhaps more fruitfully, managed are discussed. The issues addressed have relevance in a wider context and, as a result, this book will be of importance to any professional involved in agricultural management and policy making.

Customer Reviews:

The Strange Case(s) of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.......2002-09-29

The artist Paul Gauguin once said that "life being what it is, one dreams of revenge." In "Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream," Dr. Robert Simon explains that all people have "bad dreams"--thoughts of suicide, or revenge, or crime--but only a very few cross the line from bad dream to bad action.

This book explores the nebulous borderline between what people think and what they do. The topics covered include serial killing, workplace violence, multiple personality disorder, killer cults, suicide, sexual misconduct by professional caregivers, rape, stalking and pyschopathic behavior.

In each area, Dr. Simon's analysis shows just how complex and surprising the human mind can be. Even apparently straightforward questions, such as whether a given criminal is likely to be dangerous in the future, or whether a "suicide" is actually an accident, turn out to be very hard to answer.

At times, Dr. Simon's style is a bit academic, but on the whole he writes clearly and does a good job of covering a wide range of complex issues.

Bad men do what good men dream.......2000-09-15

Dr. Robert I Simon's book Bad Med Do What Good Men Dream is an erudite and readable treatment of one of the knottiest questions in the history of humanity: what separates good men from bad men? Dr. Simon has applied his vast experience in clinical and forensic psychiatry to illuminate the similarities and differences between those who demonstrate remarkable psychopathology and "normal" people. He has explored the spectrum of violent and horrifying behavior, from killer cults to serial murderers to workplace violence, and provided a thoughtful discussion of the difficulties of identifying the good and evil inside us and around us. As a forensic psychiatrist, I found this book enlightening, thought provoking and well written. I highly recommend it to any professional or lay student of human nature.

the struggle between good and evil.......2000-08-26

Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream is a fascinating and well researched account of mankind's capacity for evil. Written by a forensic psychiatrist with years of clinical experience examining the human mind, the book not only provides the theoretical underpinnings of the subject, it provides the seasoned observer's inside account of what makes us "tick". In the humanist's tradition, it recognizes that dark thoughts are latent in all of us. Dr. Simon has produced a highly educational and riveting read without ever lapsing into the usual pomposity or sensationalism often found in writings on this topic. Readers will enjoy the many thought provoking discussions not only about why we do the things we do, but about what separates "good" people from "bad".

Pass on this one.......2000-08-15

...[T]his book has four or five chapters of differing criminal
behaviors (the serial murderer, the sexual deviant) told in
sensational stories with little serious discussion of the the
psychological basis or reasoning of why bad men do what good men
dream. In fact, the question of why bad men DO what good men dream is
never seriously examined. In fact, there is little, if any,
illuination of the causes or understanding of psychopathic behavior.
If this is a topic that interests you, you're much better off with
Charles Patrick Ewing's work or Henry Steadman.

Lacking in emperical evidence.......2000-06-23

This is a so/so book. Its main weakness is its reliance on sensational stories rather than on creditable evidence as to why people commit horrific crimes. For those who are facisinated with "criminal profiling" this may be worth a read, but for any serious scholar of forensic psychology, pass on this one.

Average customer rating:
Proceedings of the Third Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Workshop, February 1992 at Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba (Provincial Museum of Alberta natural history occasional paper)

Manufacturer: Curatorial Section, Provincial Museum of Alberta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Natural History | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0773212205

Book Description

Now you can teach or coach gymnastics—even if you don't have a gymnastics background—and ensure that every child learns and succeeds.

Teaching FUNdamental Gymnastics Skills is a hands-on guide that provides you with a strong foundation in exploratory gymnastics skills as well as formal gymnastics skills and helps you bridge the gap between the two approaches.

A unique feature of Teaching FUNdamental Gymnastics Skills is the use of specific verbal cues for different learning styles. You'll get "kinder" cues appropriate for young learners, plus cues that address these learning styles:

• logical/mathematical

• visual/spatial

• bodily/kinesthetic

• musical/rhythmical

• verbal/linguistic

The book covers these essential teaching topics:

• Foundational positions and movements that form the building blocks for all gymnastics skills

• How fundamental skills fit together to make complex movements and sequences

• Common errors in gymnastics skills and how to correct them

• Hard-to-find safety information, including injury prevention and tips for spotting

This well-organized book also covers skill progressions and lead-ups for floor, beam, springboard/vault, and bars. Each skill includes practical information you can use for individual or small-group work at stations: a complete description, common errors, spotting information, and checklists.

Additional special features include the following:

• A movement chart in each chapter outlines the skill progressions

• Sequential illustrations clarify skill sequences and progressions

• A skillfinder chart makes it easy to find skill descriptions based on level of difficulty

Learn how to deliver effective and safe gymnastics instruction in an educational setting, no matter what your experience or comfort level. Teaching FUNdamental Gymnastics Skills is a great way to get started in teaching gymnastics, build students' confidence, and introduce fun programs.

Customer Reviews:

A great resource.......2006-03-13

This book has been a great resource for my staff. The organization makes skills easy to find. It lists common mistakes and how to correct them and also includes lead-up skills and drills. The instructors feel more confident in their knowledge as they help each child progress.

Customer Reviews:

Judicious balance, enticing introduction........2000-12-24

I personally prefer Lewis' "Word Power" books, but I've noticed students do not stay with them--due to the length as well as piling on of information, especially etymological details. The present volume, on the other hand, represents an optimal compromise between comprehensiveness and depth. Lewis' progressive exercises help motivate the reader and provide a sense of accomplishment. Recommended for anyone who wishes to sharpen grammatical and vocabulary skills. Moreover, Lewis shows sufficient awareness of the differences between "prescriptive" and "descriptive" usage to be acceptable to traditionalist as well as modern grammarians.

to know english.......1999-10-18

to speak english very fluently with other and to know it to use very wel

Average customer rating:

Thirty Days to Better English
Norman Lewis
Manufacturer: New Amer Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WV7KVY

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Thirty Days to Better English
Norman Lewis
Manufacturer: Doubleday & Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000V4UPC8

Book Description

"Yeah but...," I started, then I decided to confront what I thought was probably really bothering her. "Look, about Jonno. I didn't mean for anything to happen. He just kind of..."

After a game of truth or dare, Lia manages to gain the interest of the school heartthrob, and alienates "teen queen" Kaylie, who was after Jonno for herself. Kaylie and her friends then start a campaign of bullying against Lia -- the nasty, underhanded kind where rumors are spread, threats are sent, secrets are exposed, and confidence is underminded.

Soon Lia begins to question her whole life: who she is, why these girls have got it in for her, and who her real friends are....

Customer Reviews:

THE BEST BOOK EVER!.......2006-09-24

i learned a lot from this book especially about cliques, and friends, and that its hard sometimes for girls at that age to get along. Every book in the entire series, are great! cathy hopkins is my idol!!. White lies and barefaced truths, is the first. Then it's the princess of pop, then its teen queens and has beens. and then the fourth, starstruck is my second favorite out of the whole series, and then its double dare. After that its midsummer meltdown which is my favorite out of the whole thing, becuase its the most jam packed, out of the series and it has so many exciting things happening at the same time. This series is sooo0o0o0 good!!

THE BEST BOOK EVER!.......2006-09-24

Pretty decent!.......2005-09-25

I read this book in one night... from 1 to 3 in the morning... not one of those books you just CAN'T put down, more like one of those that just flows so smoothly there doesn't seem like a place you can end it till you read till the end...

The Lia character was too perfect, and the Kaylie character was too mean. Everybody has a good side and bad traits... Lia almost seemed like a "Mary Sue".

Plus it really didn't teach much of a lesson, didn't hold a deeper meaning, a bit typical, and just one of those books I'll read to the end simply because I can't find a place to stop, but afterwards, I feel nothing and will probably forget about it.

I suppose it flowed nice but the story just wasn't deep enough like Christopher Pike's books or Anne Rice's.

The Mean Girl.......2005-08-01

*TQAHB is quite a realistic story about a pretty and sweet girl (Lia) who is bullied for no good reason by the school Bitch.
Via rumours, smirks and giggles, threats and general bitchiness.
Lia is a sensitive, peaceful and down-to-Earth girl who is cut to the quick by the nastiness and she tries to get through to the mean girl.But no matter how nice she is or how forgiving she tries to be or what she does, nothing changes. Lia comes to a point where she must be strong or else sink into some leval of depression.

An enjoyable story tackling serious issues.......2004-12-11

The third installment in Cathy Hopkins's Truth or Dare series features Lia, daughter of a famous '80s rocker. Lia recently started going to school near her home after years of boarding in London. She loves her friends --- Cat, Becca, Squidge and Mac --- and just wants to fit in.

Popular "teen queen" Kaylie mentions that she likes Jonno, who in turn asks Lia out. Now Kaylie has it in for Lia, and starts a subtle bullying campaign that has Lia in knots every time she goes to school.

The pranks increase and get more serious, and Lia now thinks about returning to her school in London. But her new friends are not ready to give her up yet, and encourage her to stand up for herself. She tries to reason with Kaylie, but the girl is bent on humiliating Lia in any way she can. Lia also tries avoidance and shrinks within herself, attempting not to attract notice. The last thing Lia wants is a big confrontation, but soon she realizes that lots of other girls are bullied by Kaylie and her friends as well. It's time for it all to end.

Hopkins tackles the serious issue of girl bullying in the midst of an enjoyable story. This series remains strong.

American fans should realize that 'been' comes close to rhyming with 'Queen' in England, where the story is set.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

Average customer rating:

Teen Queens and Has-beens
Cathy Hopkins
Manufacturer: piccadilly press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K2IXBQ

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