Book Description
This is a book about Washington Consensus capitalism and the controversies its encroachment causes in Japan and Germany. Many people in both those countries share the assumptions dominant today in Britain and America-that managers should be intent solely on creating shareholder value and that shareholders' financial logic alone should determine who buys what company on the stock exchange. That way efficiency (and hence global welfare) will be maximized. The Japanese and German advocates of full-bloodied market capitalism are not having it all their own way, however. In both countries there are articulate defenders of what they consider to be a better way of life, informed by a more human, more social-solidary, set of values. Dore traces the fascinating debates which ensue on corporate governance, on worker rights, on supplier relations, on cartels and anti-trust, on pensions and welfare. He also analyses actual changes in economic behaviour-an essential means of sorting out a lot of the muddle and double-talk not just in the internal debates themselves, but even more in the foreign reporting of them. These accounts of the battle for the national soul in Japan and Germany constitute one of the finest contributions to the 'diversity of capitalism' debate. Dore's account should be read by anyone who is interested to know whether, for all the talk of globalization, that diversity is going to survive.
Customer Reviews:
Good book with wrong conclusions.......2005-08-15
I disagree with the conclusions which contain a good deal of left-wing simplifications and pessimism (I believe that Germany and Japan will preserve many of their characteristics and prosper!). However, no doubt an interesting piece of work, which I recommend especially now that changes in the two countries mentioned above are finally accelerating (while the US is starting a phase of decline after a very successful decade).
Review of Journal of Economic Literature.......2003-04-07
This review appeared in JEL, Dec. 2002, by RICHARD A. WERNER Sophia University, Tokyo.
Hardly a day passes without the financial press asserting that Japan's economic structure is responsible for the long recession and demanding "badly needed" structural changes. The results of a decade of apparently vigorous counter-cyclical policies have been disappointing. It is therefore not surprising that many experts agree with the Bank of Japan's argument that deep structural reforms are needed to enhance growth. A similar story is being told about Germany. Recent economic weakness is seen by the European Central Bank as evidence that structural re-form is "needed"-a view enthusiastically sup-ported by the financial press (who, according to Dore, constitute an interested party benefiting from the "financialization" that results from introducing U.S.-style capitalism). As Francis Fukuyama argued, the "Anglo-Saxon" free market and stock market based system has become the global standard. It is this mainstream view that Ronald Dore's important and refreshing book is directed against. It deserves praise not just for Dore's courage in defending an unpopular cause.
The book is very timely: it points out the advantages of German/Japanese welfare capitalism just when it is becoming an endangered species. It is rich in detail, yet surprisingly concise. It is analytical, yet highly readable and full of illuminating examples. It combines an eye for macro-economic implications with sound micro-economic and management- level insights. Finally, Dore's book provides an analysis of the ongoing pressures on welfare capitalism and how its salient features are now changing. Dore's readers benefit from his decades of experience and seminal work on the Japanese firm. The relatively smaller weight given to Germany is the book's main (though acknowledged) weakness.
Dore identifies key features that make Ger-man/ Japanese capitalism different from the "Anglo- Saxon" variety familiar from textbooks. The former produces benefits due to its cooperative nature and long-term orientation. The Anglo-Saxon model is good for the shareholders. The Germans and Japanese maintained market mechanisms, but eliminated shareholders as the main beneficiaries. Instead of serving the few, a form of capitalism was born that succeeded in creating a decent quality of life for the many- employees and society at large.
Dore is a must-read for any economist, precisely because he challenges our preconceptions. As is increasingly recognized in the literature, once unrealistic assumptions such as perfect information and efficient markets are relaxed, there is no guarantee that markets left to their own devices will produce socially optimal results. The designers of the German and Japanese systems based their institutional designs on a more realistic description of the world. By focusing on mutually beneficial cooperation and coordination, they managed to internalize externalities, minimize information costs, and, most of all, motivate individuals. They recognized that "utility functions" are interdependent, people compete in hierarchical fashion and have a common desire for justice and fairness of organizational arrangements. Recent growth theories acknowledge the importance of the human resource aspect of "labor." While neglected in static models and policy advice, human resources are at the center of the German/Japanese model.
With regard to the premise that capital is the scarce resource and that "labor" will normally be in fairly abundant supply, Dore says, "It is amazing that anyone can seriously sustain this view in a world awash with so much liquidity that its movement from one country to another keeps exchange rates in perpetual motion" (p. 15). Human resource mobilization requires institutional design. "The whole discussion of modal behavioral dispositions as a factor in the functioning of economic systems tends to be avoided among economists who wish to believe that what they teach their students are theorems about THE economy, determined by the universal utility function of MAN" (p. 38). Not so in Japan, where people tend "to be good at discerning possibilities of cooperation which can be of general benefit, and at devising organizational forms which can reap those benefits in ways which all participants can consider fair" (p. 38).
One such organizational form is the system of industry associations, which are modern incarnations of the medieval guild structure. Due to their public goods character, resulting cartels may be welfare-enhancing. The cooperative orientation does not mean there is no competition. As Dore explains well, competition can be fierce, as the system combines markets and hierarchies. The tendency towards the formation of cartels is counteracted by relatively low concentration ratios in many industries (due to bank finance and cross-shareholdings which result in fewer hostile takeovers) and inter-firm rivalry due to lifetime employment.
Just when economists are beginning to recognize these issues, Germany and Japan are moving toward adopting the Anglo-Saxon model. These changes increase "financialization" and thus the share of economic activity devoted to profit-seeking by shifting ownership certificates from A to B. Adopting U.S.-style capitalism means that Germany and Japan are importing its disadvantages and social problems. Dore asks: Can it be efficient to devote ever more people to servicing "gambling on uncertainties in financial markets" with analysis, advice, appraisal, advertising? As increasingly strong shareholders demand "value," will social welfare or overall fairness increase? One issue remains: If it is so successful, why is Dore one of the few to defend welfare capitalism?
Recent weak economic performance is blamed on the system, and it is seen to have out-lived its usefulness. Whether this is really true must be investigated, though it is beyond the scope of Dore's book. In my forthcoming book (2003, Princes of the Yen, Japan's Central Bankers and the Structural Transformation of the Economy, Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe) I provide evidence that the Japanese recession was not due to the economic structure but instead to a central bank aiming at dismantling welfare capitalism.
All in all, Dore's book succeeds in raising and illuminating these challenging issues. It deserves much attention. It also shows the need for further research on this topic-and soon, before this species of capitalism becomes extinct.
Stock Market Capitalism.......2001-01-04
"...a thoughtful and provocative book on how global capitalism may evolve" Jeffrey Garten, Dean of Yale Management School
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of Economic Issues, published by Association for Evolutionary Economics on December 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1099 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: Stock Market Capitalism; Welfare Capitalism: Japan and Germany Versus the Anglo-Saxons. (Book Reviews). (book review)
Author: John Groenewegen
Publication:
Journal of Economic Issues (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 2001
Publisher: Association for Evolutionary Economics
Volume: 35
Issue: 4
Page: 1056(3)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
Understanding Organizational Change:
- offers an overview of change management
- brings new case studies to help students understand organizational change
- provides a concise overview of the developments in change management with new critical case study material for the use of advanced undergraduate and masters level management students;
- presents the contemporary experience of change for people in work and employment,
- considers alternative strategies and practical lessons on living with change.
Offering a critical analysis of change, Patrick Dawson resists the hype of popular management books which formulate simple change recipes, but uses the views and experience of people holding positions from shop floor operator to chief executive officer to further our understanding of complex change processes. In using the insights and views of those who promote, implement and experience the effects of change, this book moves beyond simple determinist arguments based on economic imperatives to a greater appreciation of the sociological dimensions of change.
The integration of theories of change with processes of organisational adaptation is central to the objective of understanding organizational change both for its academic value and its practical worth.
Understanding Organizational Change will be essential reading final year undergraduates and postgraduates (MBA/MSc) taking organizational change and change management modules across business and management studies.
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Privatization of Information and Agricultural Industrialization
Steven A. Wolf
Manufacturer: CRC
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ASIN: 1574441043 |
Book Description
The respective roles of public and private sector institutions engaged in development and dissemination of agricultural information are currently undergoing dramatic change. Enhanced incentives, new technologies, and changes in industrial organization are spurring private investment. Simultaneously, political and economic conditions are constraining public agencies' participation in the current information boom. Privatization of Information and Agricultural Industrialization identifies the basis and implications of the ongoing shift from public to private sector control of agricultural information. Privatization of information raises meaningful social, economic, and environmental concerns deserving of immediate attention by analysts, advocates, policy makers, and those with a direct economic stake in agriculture. The objectives of the book are to:
Book Description
This digital document is an article from American Journal of Agricultural Economics, published by American Agricultural Economics Association on August 1, 1999. The length of the article is 439 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: Privatization of Information and Agricultural Industrialization.(Review)
Author: Thomas P. Zacharias
Publication:
American Journal of Agricultural Economics (Refereed)
Date: August 1, 1999
Publisher: American Agricultural Economics Association
Volume: 81
Issue: 3
Page: 759(1)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Amazon.com
In the latter part of the 20th century, the adage "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" has evolved far beyond its original intent as an admonition against false vanity to become a cultural manifesto used to explain phenomena as diverse as the art of Andy Warhol and the rise of a multi-billion-dollar cosmetics industry. But is there something more to human reaction to beauty than a conditioned response to social cues? Yes, says Harvard Medical School psychologist Nancy Etcoff. Survival of the Prettiest argues persuasively that looking good has survival value, and that sensitivity to beauty is a biological adaptation governed by brain circuits shaped by natural selection.
Etcoff synthesizes a fascinating array of scientific research and cultural analysis in support of her thesis. Psychologists find that babies stare significantly longer at the faces adults find appealing, while the mothers of "attractive" babies display more intense bonding behaviors. The symmetrical face of average proportions may have become the optimal design because of evolutionary pressures operating against population extremes. Gentlemen may prefer blondes not so much for their hair color as for the fairness of their skin--which makes it easier to detect the flush of sexual excitement. And high heels accentuate a woman's breasts and buttocks, signaling fertility. Is beauty programmed into our brain circuits as a proxy for health and youth? In marked contrast to other writers like Naomi Wolf (The Beauty Myth), Etcoff argues that it is, noting, "Rather than denigrate one source of women's power, it would seem far more useful for feminists to attempt to elevate all sources of women's power." --Patrizia DiLucchio
Book Description
In this provocative, witty, and thoroughly researched inquiry into what we find beautiful and why, Nancy Etcoff skewers one of our culture's most enduring myths, that the pursuit of beauty is a learned behavior. Etcoff, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and a practicing psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, skewers the enduring myth that the pursuit of beauty is a learned behavior.
Etcoff puts forth that beauty is neither a cultural construction, an invention of the fashion industry, nor a backlash against feminism, but instead is in our biology. It's an essential and ineradicable part of human nature that is revered and ferociously pursued in nearly every civilizatoin--and for good reason. Those features to which we are most attracted are often signals of fertility and fecundity. When seen in the context of a Darwinian struggle for survival, our sometimes extreme attempts to attain beauty--both to become beautiful ourselves and to acquire an attractive partner--become understandable. Moreover, if we come to understand how the desire for beauty is innate, then we can begin to work in our interests, and not soley for the interests of our genetic tendencies.
Customer Reviews:
Nicely researched.......2007-08-06
About: Guide to what humans find beautiful and attractive about each other
Pros: Interesting, very thorough, well researched.
Cons: Almost a bit too well researched, the multitude of facts and studies thrown about can bog the reader down. You're pretty much guaranteed to feel worse about at least one part of your appearance after reading this book.
Grade: B+
In the eye of the beholder.......2007-03-19
Many of the reviews here complains about this being not a book scientifically strong enough.
But even looking at the index you can see what the text is about from the chapters 'the nature of beauty', 'beauty as bait', 'cover me', 'feature presentation' and 'fashion runaway'... since the book is written by someone like Dr. Etcoff, everybody expects the scientific cold point of view evident in every page.
But for many other disciplines the text is perfectly able to open wide a huge perspective in the general problem of the perception of beauty, its uses, and the necessity of it.
For people into arts, the thing about beauty perception and mathematical relation deeply rooted, not in the software but instead in the hardware, is fundamental in a time were the discussion is always about art not being interested in the aestethic depiction, perception or even consideration.
Of course it can be sort of very well known facts what she is saying here about the golden proportion, simmetry and genetic health, the 7 to 10 hip proportion and fertility in women, and even the relation between the mother's perception of beauty in their offspring and neoteny -a concept that certainly you can trace back to Stephen Jay Gould or any other 'divulgative' text, even like the mentioned here 'the selfish gene', etc.
But the real problem is context.
What this book is really good at, is filling the gap between those kind of books -biology, life sciences, perception- and the kind of studies that really need to approach the subject not only as a problem, but instead as a matter.
Not precisely aesthetics, but !fashion!.
Even at the very beginning is mentioned how nowadays an entire city can be stopped because Claudia Schiffer is at a starcaise making some photographs, giving us the clue to understand how this whole book can be seen; in a total different light and with such a different use.
The fact that every now and then Desmond Morris collides with Sandra Rhodes, Azzedine Alaia meets Darwin, opens the window and let you see the landscape is about the form, perception and construction of beauty as an adjective, as something we worn and sometimes have to endure.
So this book belongs in the shelf next to Anne Hollander, Valerie Steel or Alison Lurie. Comprehensive studies about the power of image, fashion and appeareance. And not precisely in the side of the 'scientific' bunch.
And it is an excellent entrance to think in the equation beauty, perception, process and representation that is so difficult to see, but so much necessary to really achieve: design with one eye into the biological process, art once again perceiving its duties, and science humanized through the contact with the arts, designs and fashion. Also I think everybody goes to the scientific side forgetting all the good concatenation of historical facts from corsets, wigs, make up, heels, making a very well define line between the subject -the beauty- and its uses.
As a companion I think also in the same shelf could it be 'Venus Envy' by Elizabeth Haiken, also a bridge between 'science and consumer culture'.
Good for pop psychology, but highly unscientific........2007-03-01
This is a fun read for the layman, but it is not very scientific, furthermore, it is does not stand up to even the most basic scrutiny-don't think too hard if you want to enjoy this one!
For example, the idea that women are Darwinistically selected for their beauty is a hard buy. In all species except humans, males compete for the right to mate with females, but females can ALWAYS reproduce and pass on their genes; females do not need to force males to mate with them. Can you imagine a human society where a female cannot have sex and pass on her genes because her cheekbones are not high enough? It is purely laughable, if anyone is selected, it is us males.
Also, recent scientific evidence (see human genome project) suggests that sperm competition resulted because of the high levels of promiscuity of human females. This throws into question one of the most popular theories of evolutionary psychology, which posits that men roam and spread their seed while women stay home and take care of the kids. On the surface, evolutionary psychology tries to make sense of us, but in reality, it is like thinking the earth is flat. Let's leave science to the scientists.
Not scientifically robust, but maybe a good fit for a dinner talk.......2006-08-12
"Survival of the prettiest" is a very provocative title indeed and it is also a very ambitious subject to say the least. I expected from this book an identification of a phenomenon called "survival of the prettiest" if there is indeed such a thing, and if there is, a robust account of how it can be explained scientifically, because the subtitle of this book is no less than "the science of beauty." But, as a whole, this book fails to give us any satisfactory identification or explanation of the so-called "survival of the prettiest." In fact, I find the book often drifts away to somewhat trivial episodes of some biological or sociological findings to sustain readers' interest. I don't see how such things can be put together to establish the author's ultimate claim that our biological and sociological existence is so designed that the prettiest have been assured a better chance to survive to form the current world. Chapters are not thematically connected with each other and are not well-organized to deliver what the author intends to get across. I expected somehow solid scientific backing for the author's claim, but generally said, this book is a very light read that may not be called the "science" of beauty. I have no objection, however, for the readers who just look for some interesting subjects for light talks with families and friends at the dinner table. This book may be a good fit for that purpose.
Is beauty an honest advertiser?.......2006-06-25
Etcoff does a great job showing how our response to beauty is innate and deeply connected with our urge to reproduce. But I would have wished for a bit more exploration of the way beauty also might fool us. For example, she talks about men preferring women with hourglass shapes and more feminine features, because it signals health and fertility. But then she doesn't give information about whether this is true. Are more feminine looking women more fertile in reality? Are they healthier? We don't know.
Book Description
The Bollettieri Tennis Handbook is the most comprehensive guide on learning and teaching tennis from the most successful coach in the game today. Nick Bollettieri's training and development system is recognized around the world. He has developed or coached many of world's top players, including Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Anna Kournikova, Boris Becker, Mary Pierce, Tommy Haas, and Jim Courier.
Now you can work with Bollettieri without travelling to the Academy. You'll get detailed lessons on everything from stroke techniques, strategies, skill development, conditioning and mental training to his ideas on coaching and practice.
Bollettieri's experience and wisdom are second to none. Bollettieri's Tennis Handbook allows you to train with a true master teacher and apply all the skills and drills that have helped produce world-class players to your game.
Customer Reviews:
Good overview.......2007-03-19
I'm a 3.5 NTRP player who watches a lot of tennis. This is not for beginners. It will not teach you how to play tennis, but it will tell you what to watch for. It's like a cliff's notes of the most important things of all aspects in tennis, and in this respect I find it invaluable. The perspective of the book is geared more toward coaches rather than players, and I can imagine parent-coaches finding this very useful. Read the whole thing, not parts, because it's not organized too well, and there are good tidbits scattered throughout. If you're not sure, click the Amazon link to "look inside" the book, and click "surprise me" to see random parts throughout the book...i think if you clicked it enough you could finish most of the book before you buy it =)
A beginner's view.......2005-04-08
While I do not question Nick's ability to teach the game of tennis, this book was not written for beginners. In fact, it is hard to tell who it is written for since he never makes it clear. From what I can tell, the book seems to be aimed at the average coach or instructor who is looking to improve his or her teaching methods to juniors. It seems the book was written under the assumption that you already have an extremely strong foundation of the concepts and mechanics of the game, but again, it's hard to tell. I also believe the author spent way too many pages as promotional material for his prestigious tennis academy. Perhaps in five years when I have a much better understanding of the game, I will come back to Nick's book and look to improve my game.
Bollettieri's Tennis Handbook.......2002-02-05
This is a good book to go along with Bollettieri's video series. It is a book that you can carry along with you to help remind you of areas that you need to work on. However, this is not a book to teach a beginner the game of tennis. This book is for the intermediate to advanced player and them the best techniques on training and strokes. If you are a total visual person, then the book isn't for you. If you can understand the concepts and have a good base to start with, then this book, along with the video series and be and excellent source for help. My favorite areas would be the Killer Forehand, Boll-istic Backhand and the Sonic Serve. If you follow the instruction in these 3 sections, I promise you that you will notice a big difference in your game.
Bollettieri's Tennis Handbook.......2001-09-04
For any tennis players who want to learn any stroke, DO NOT buy this book. It is a total waste of money for me. Like the previous reviwer said there is no picture for the stroke production section at all. I BOUGHT his videos which are sketchy in many parts. I bought this book to clarify things on the tapes. I tell you there is nothing in this book that can help me understanding the videos better.
I want to make it clear: his videos are not best made but have some good points in some tapes (Killer Forehand for one but I hate the distastful humor in it). So stay away from this book, it is a total waste of money.
disorganized.......2001-08-20
This is a long book but not very well organized. The first part deals with the bolettieri academy. It reads like promotional literature, from which it was probably taken. Next is grips. The grips recommended in this section differ from grips recommended when he discusses specific strokes (whats up with that?). Next come specific strokes. If you can imagine, there is not a single picture in the any of the chapters on serve, backhand, forehand, volley and specialty shots. Let me repeat, not a single picture! Nick references his video series, which would be absolutely mandatory viewing to make sense of the confusing text. A short drill section and some tips on buying and stringing racquets follows. A long section on the mental approach to tennis concludes the book. This book should have been exceptional given the authors experience and success but unfortunately, as a stand alone without the videos, it leaves something to be desired. At the very least, this book is of almost no value for beginners. I would recommend Tennis 2000 by Vic Braden as a much better and clearer choice. For advanced players interested in stroke production, the videos may be a better investment, though I have not seen them. At least this book is not too expensive, but it is hard to say much beyond that in the way of praise.
Book Description
Wedding etiquette requires that brides promptly acknowledge all gifts with a handwritten thankyou note. In this newly revised edition of her classic guide, Marilyn Werner provides brides and brides-to-be with a wealth of notes for every kind of gift and gift-giver to speed and simplify the thank-you note process. This one-of-a-kind hand-book is an invaluable source for:
* Stationery and gift lists
* Advice on establishing a routine
* Guidelines for appropriate tone, openings and closings
* Sample thank-you notes for typical gifts, special situations, and special people, arranged alphabetically by gift.
The model letters can be used as they are, altered to fit individual needs, or referred to as examples. Werner does not only offer an effortless, entertaining, and knowing course in poise, she also provides the new bride with what is perhaps the very best gift of all -- a super time-saving aid during a very busy and exciting time in her life.
Customer Reviews:
Very Useful.......2007-07-30
This book was great! While it is true that the book is a little outdated, I found the phrasing charming, and the attitude behind the samples provided was appropriately playful and sweet. Overall, this book really greased the wheels and got the creativity flowing for me when I sat down to write my own thank you notes. Unexpectedly, I received compliments on my thank you notes - talk about the proof in the pudding! Even better than that, my mother and my mother-in-law received compliments from their friends and family on how nice my thank you notes were, and the good will that created was priceless. I give the credit to this book. (However, I was smart enough to politely take the credit myself at the time.)
It was VERY helpful.......2006-06-05
My sister-in-law used this book and gave it to me when I got engaged. It was a complete lifesaver for me.
I did not copy these notes verbatim, but even reading through the "old-fashioned" phrasing in the sample notes gave me inspiration for writing my own. I find that the hardest part of thank-you notes is coming up with what to say after "Thank you for the ___." This book is full of ideas.
I am actually buying a copy for my new sister-in-law to be, because I want to keep my own copy around for birthdays and Christmas.
Helpful, but outdated.......2005-08-13
This book was originally published in 1968 and reprinted in 1985, so the advice is somewhat outdated. For example, it implies that sending thank you notes immediately after the wedding is absolutely necessary, otherwise you should apologize for not doing so as part of your note and include a reason. No bride I know these days spends her honeymoon writing thank you cards. Just as a matter of logistics, it's not possible, as the cards haven't been received from the photographer yet. That alone takes a month or so. So, right off the bat, there are a few issues that I have with this book, although it is helpful. There are general suggestions as far as wording goes, but again, most young brides I know would never use that phraseology as it is from the 60's and the wording would sound strange coming from us, although I understand the intention is for us to use it as a guide and to paraphrase. The only extremely helpful tip that I got from this book was not to write more than 5 notes per day (although it can be very tempting when you get on a roll!) as you will find yourself starting to write sloppy and making mistakes. People hang on to these cards as keepsakes and you want to make it worth their wait. Unfortunately, I could absolutely not locate any other more appropriate book to help me out. So, I would say if you are absolutely desperate for help, this book will do.
Outdated & Unhelpful.......2005-07-22
I bought this book to use when completing my shower thank you notes and it has not been very helpful. The sentiments are not heartfelt, but fake. The gift examples they give are not useful (telephone cart, sterling silver tea setting, chandelier) and it lacks helpful gifts like everyday place settings and everyday towels. The book desperately needs to be updated. Not for the Bride of the new millennium.
Useful Guide.......2003-01-26
Even though the book was first published in 1968, it served as a very useful guide for writing wedding thank yous. The section that eloquently illustrates how to word late wedding thank you cards is worth the entire cost of the book. A gem!
Product Description
THREE BOOKS * SACRED THRESHOLD RITUALS AND READINGS FOR A WEDDING WITH SPIRIT. * SHOWERS, *THE BRIDE'S THANK YOU NOTE HANDBOOK.
Average customer rating:
- A half-vampire and a half-book
- What happened?!
- vimpire mountain
- Very Interesting
- Off To See The Council
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Cirque Du Freak #4: Vampire Mountain: Book 4 in the Saga of Darren Shan (Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan)
Darren Shan
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0316905747 |
Customer Reviews:
A half-vampire and a half-book.......2007-03-14
I have enjoyed this series so far, but this book was incomplete. The first three books were complete self-contained stories. This book setup the story, but then came to a cliffhanger ending. You need to buy the next book to read the complete story. Essentially, I had to pay full price for a half-book.
What happened?!.......2007-03-10
The first three Cirque books were awesome! The series started out spectacular. It should have had that quality, and be great from beginning to end.
So what happened????
Darren Shans writing style and voice seem to have changed. It's been eight years, now, and Darren and Mr. Crepsley are off to vampire mountain. And, um, that's about it. Call me ignorant, but that's all I could see. Some parts on the way there were great, but the rest went way downhill. To me, the rest of the book compiled of Mr. Crepsley's friends, and how Vampire Mountain works. A plot only comes near the end, with a cliffhanger. I definately did not enjoy this as much as I did with Tunnels of Blood. I liked seeing Darren interact with the "normal" world and Evra Von. Things change, but something about this book doesnt seem right. I do hope things shape up soon.
vimpire mountain.......2007-02-20
i give this book 3 becaue itsbored and only thing that they talk about is that how do they get there.its about darren sean who goes to the vimpire mountain and he takes 2 little man and a wolf. and some part of the book is exciting because like how the wolf tried to save sean from danger andmostly its boring because it toook half of the book to just to get there
Very Interesting.......2006-11-03
I love this book because I love reading about vampirers.Darren Shan is a thirteen year old boy even though he doesn't look thirteen he is the reason why he doesn't look his thirteen is because he is half vampire it doesn't let look like he is his age because he is growing slower than the normal humen would.
Off To See The Council.......2005-10-18
Darren Shan, star and author, has been hanging out with vampire Mr. Crepsley and the Cirque Du Freak. Mr. Crepsley decides that it is time to journey to the vampire counsel (held once every twelve years) and present Darren to the Vampire Princes. Creepy Mr. Tiny insists that they take two of the Little People with them.
The Journey to Vampire Mountain, home of the Princes, is long and hard. The journey itself is meant to weed out the unfit. Many hardships are encountered and it is discovered why the Little People are accompanying them. They are to deliver a message from Mr. Tiny regarding a dark future.
This is a very interesting book and is the first to set up a long plot cycle concerning the history and future of all vampires. The trek to Vampire Mountain provides a nice setting for being able to clue the reader in to much of the history and customs of the vampires. If you read this far you will find yourself needing to read more volumes in the series.
Book Description
In Vampire Mountain, the next gruesome encounter for the vampire's assistant, Darren Shan and Mr. Crepsley embark on a dangerous trek to the very heart of the vampire world. But they face more than the cold on Vampire Mountain- the vampaneze have been there before them. Will a meeting with the Vampire Princes restore Darren's human side or turn him further toward darkness?
Customer Reviews:
Darren Shan's Vampire Mountain.......2006-11-03
Vampire Mountain is book #4 in Darren Shan's thrilling, suspenseful and horrifying saga about a half vampire by the name of Darren. In this book, Darren and his master, Mr. Crepsley, make a dangerous trek to the Vampire Mountain. Along the way he encounters new friends, thrilling secrets, and a blood thirsty bear looking to rip him to pieces. Darren Shan is an excellent author, keeping you glued to your seat by throwing in creepy macabre touches. I recommend this book (along with numbers 1 through 3), to anybody looking for an irrisistable read.
Darren Shan's Vampire Mountain.......2006-11-03
Vampire Mountain is book #4 in Darren Shan's thrilling, suspenseful and horrifying saga about a half vampire by the name of Darren. In this book, Darren and his master, Mr. Crepsley, make a dangerous trek to the Vampire Mountain. Along the way he encounters new friends, thrilling secrets, and a blood thirsty bear looking to rip him to pieces. Darren Shan is an excellent author, keeping you glued to your seat by throwing in creepy macabre touches. I recommend this book (along with numbers 1 through 3), to anybody looking for an irrisistable read.
Darren Shan's Mountain Climb .......2006-05-23
In Cirque Du Freak "Vampire Mountain" Darren Shan is starting his adventure up Vampire Mountain. Vampire Mountain is a mountain that the inside is a giant home for vampires. During his adventure Darren comes across a family of wolves. He named the Alfa male "Streak". He named the cub "Rudi" but he did not name the she-wolves. Before he leaves the Cirque they go up Vampire Mountain, Mr. Tiny-his first name is Desmond so when you put it together its Destiny-sent two little people with them. On the way one died, and the other gave a scary message that the vampaneze lord is coming. When Darren got to the top of vampire he discovered that when all the vampires get to Vampire Mountain a ceremony takes place.
In the book I had a few questions. Like, "what are the trials of initiation?" But it was never answered. The author captured me with this book. He used a lot of explanatory words. I also like horror books about vampires. I give this book five out of five star.
Journey to Vampire Mountain.......2006-02-27
Eric Kuhn
February 15, 2006
Vampire Mountain\By Darren Shan\ISBN 0-316-60542-5
Journey to Vampire Mountain
Do you believe in vampires? Well here is a story of a boy trying to become one. The story takes place, present day. Darren Shan is traveling to a place called, Vampire Mountain to become one of them. Once there, he needs to be accepted as a full vampire.
This book was at the top of my list, because it was both spooky and a fantasy. These types of books usually spark my interest. I would recommend this book for anyone age ten and older, because it is easy to read and understand. Or for anyone who prefers fantasy and survival books. The book kept you on the edge of your seat always wanting more and more.
D- I enjoy this genre, fantasy books are one of my favorites. This book did a great job of doing just that, because you just can't guess what's going to happen next, nor can you can you tell. Plus it introduces you to new things or animals that you know nothing about. It allows you to use your imagination a little bit more then some other books do.
I- When I was reading the book I found my mind usually didn't wander, but there were a couple of times that I did notice my self getting side tracked. However, when I got side tracked it was about the book. Sometimes just by stopping and thinking about what's going on and imaging what's going to happen next in the book
Cirque Du Freak - Vampire Mountain (Book 4).......2006-01-26
Really good book after "Tunnels Of Blood". In this book, Darren, Larten and Harkat make the journey to Vampire Mountain with some obstacles in the way. I think this book is quite a bit more intersting than the first three, just for the fact that you are introduced to a lot more characters in this book, and Darren gets involved in quite a bit of conflicts that makes him prove himself.
Even though this is the shortest book out of the first four, it still has a great evolving storyline, and keeps you entertained throughout the whole thing. The end is also good, because it makes you wan't to pick up book 5 as soon as possible. Great book, recommend this after you've read the first four.
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