The Limits of Liberty: Between Anarchy and Leviathan (Collected Works of James M Buchanan)

Customer Reviews:

Contractarian theory of the state.......2004-10-15

The book's thesis is two-fold
* Anarchy is undesirable if for no other reason than that adopting some public works will increase Pareto-efficiency (e.g. David Hume's famous illustration of the drainage of the village meadow: p. 49).
* Leviathan-like government is also undesirable. The reason is Buchanan's usual theme that if left unchecked (e.g. constitutionally), government will grow larger than is Pareto-efficient (ch. 6) due to dynamics of public choice (which are briefly touched upon on pp. 129-131 but worked out in far greater detail in The Calculus of Consent).

The topic of the appropriate role and size of government is approached from an economist's rather than a philosopher's perspective (e.g., pp. 11, 98 make this explicit). Considerations are therefore of efficiency rather than justice or philosophy. E.g., property rights are based on contract-type reasons rather than natural-law type reasons such as those argued by John Locke and Robert Nozick (pp. 76-77).

The book is persuasive in demonstrating that "even under the most favorable conditions the operation of democratic process may generate budgetary excess" and that "[d]emocracy may become its own Leviathan unless constitutional limits are imposed and enforced" (pp. 204-205). However, it does not explore where in between anarchy and Leviathan the optimal size of government lies, or even how to determine this point (he says so explicitly on p. 222). This is deliberate, in that Buchanan does not want to impose his views of his own preferred society on the rest of us (pp. 3, 210). But while this is understandable, it also leaves the book hopelessly wanting or uninteresting. The thesis that neither anarchy nor Leviathan is ideal is neither new nor controversial, and it is the where-in-between part that is interesting (on p. 227 Buchanan acknowledges that the alternative that falls in between anarchy and Leviathan must indeed be articulated). If we are expected to buy in to "ordered anarchy" (pp. 149, 169, 215, 228), it would be helpful to know what Buchanan means by "ordered".

Note: All page references are to the Collected Works edition (vol. 7).

The Limits of Liberty Between Anarchy and Leviathan

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The Limits of Liberty Between Anarchy and Leviathan

Manufacturer: Univ of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000I349OM

The Limits of Liberty:between Anarchy and Leviathan: Between Anarchy and Leviathan

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The Limits of Liberty:between Anarchy and Leviathan: Between Anarchy and Leviathan
James M. Buchanan
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPG1BS

Book Description

Praise for Leading at the Edge of Chaos

"If your organization is facing any anticipated chaotic event in the next six months-and who isn't-you should read Daryl Conner. His tough-minded definitions of winners vs. losers will make you think twice." -Craig E. Weatherup, Chairman and CEO, The Pepsi-Cola Company

"Conner's new book is thoroughly original and useful on the mastery of leading change." -Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business Administration, University of Southern California, and author of Organizing Genius

"Daryl Conner has done it again! The leading authority on managing change has given us what we need right now. Leading at the Edge of Chaos offers prescriptive advice for leading in today's world, where the tempo and thrust of change has escalated. A must read for anyone who is still breathing and leading." -Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager(r)

"Delightful and thought-provoking . . . [links] deep organizational research with useable 'real world' advice . . . I would recommend this book to others-senior line leaders and their management teams." -Kenneth Schwenke, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Aramark Corporation

"In the new reality in which the human need for control is continuously assaulted by escalating change, Daryl Conner provides [organization leaders] . . . steps to take . . . in clear language and vivid images, with psychological insight and knowledge born out of broad hands-on experience." -Judy Bardwick, author of In Praise of Good Business and Danger in the Comfort Zone

"Every executive who is leading constant change in their organizations should read this book." -Don Beattie, Chief Executive, Personnel, The BOC Group (U.K.)

"Gone are the days when innovations and new ventures were incremental in scope and sequential in nature. In their place is 'perpetual unrest,' unending, fundamental changes . . . " -Daryl Conner

In his 1993 classic, Managing at the Speed of Change, Daryl Conner showed managers how to implement business innovations on time and under budget. In this groundbreaking new book, he shows them how to ride the whirlwind.

The tempo of change has sped up to a dizzying pace over the past few years. Globalization, rapid-fire technological innovation, and mounting pressure for shareholder value have pushed the markets into a state of ceaseless turmoil. What was cutting-edge change management theory just five years ago now seems naive. Success amidst such a maelstrom of change calls for much more than what change management models have to offer. It calls for a radically new kind of organization, nimble enough to adapt instantly to changing market conditions, and piloted by leaders versed in the art of Leading at the Edge of Chaos.

This book is not about decision making; it is about execution. It is not about predicting change; it is about adapting to it at a moment's notice. Internationally renowned "Change Doctor" Daryl Conner defines the new roles that all leaders must assume in order to direct the changes that are crucial to their organizations' survival. He schools them in all of the essential components of the change process. And, most importantly, he arms them with action steps for instilling their companies with the nimbleness and resilience needed to survive and thrive in today's supervolatile markets.

Conner also introduces the revolutionary concept of human due diligence-the human equivalent of financial due diligence and an indispensable tool for orchestrating major enterprisewide transitions. Strategic, results-oriented, and proactive, human due diligence focuses on people's capacity to absorb change as a limited resource, and offers tools for ensuring that there is sufficient capacity available to face the next challenge-and the many others sure to follow.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2006-01-26

Change and transition have become the norm for most organizations today. Change is difficult, unpredictable and demanding, and can threaten a company's success. In order to cope with change, your organization and its people must be able to balance between the familiar and the unfamiliar. You must be able to absorb as much change as possible without slipping into chaos. In order to do this, you must take steps to make your organization and its employees more nimble. The author provides the following advice for companies to become more flexible in an environment of constant change:

· Learn to work in the Nimble Zone. Becoming a nimble organization means that you are able to succeed in unpredictable environments by implementing changes more efficiently and effectively than your competitors.
· Investigate the critical issues that will affect your workforce during change, not just the financial issues. How prepared are your people to deal with disruptive change and implement projects?
· Recognize the business imperatives that arise from opportunities as well as problems.
· Make sure that senior management promotes flexibility within the organization and are able to guide the organization through transition.

Insightful!.......2001-08-15

Daryl R. Conner's book operates under the assumption that the future of business will be steeped in chaos. Thus, it tries to prepare the leaders of the future for the kinds of challenges that result from chaos. These challenges will primarily involve employees, since every person reacts differently and usually unfavorably, to change. The companies that marshal an agile workforce and adapt quickly to unexpected circumstances will do the best in this unstable environment. This thoroughly researched book gives leaders a decisive look at what happens when the human psyche tries to navigate change. Conner documents the problems people have when they deal with change and offers a disciplined strategy for making your organization more limber. Even if you've heard many of the key concepts presented before, as you navigate the waters of change, this calm, lucid manual will keep your hands steady at the helm. Therefore, we [...] recommend it to everyone who is confronting change, and that is everyone.

Capitalizing on the emotional edge-.......2001-04-26

The consideration of the human component of the organization should not be overlooked- nor it's importance be minimized. Anyone who has ever tried to lead the unwilling or otherwise disinterested can appreciate the value of the Human Due Diligence model. Recent focus on employee satisfaction polling and scores underline today's concern with the "happy" employee, assuming that he/she is also the more complient, resilient and productive one. This book is a melding of how humans function in transition and organizational change. It provides a formula and certainly a novel slant to a topic much written about. Daryl Connor has taken concern for employee's feelings about their work environment directly to the heads of corporations and their boards. He creates a replicable framework on which to build an organization that can recognize, adapt to, and recover from change faster than it's competition.

The real challenge of leading change is the HUMAN ELEMENT........1999-03-22

Conner notes that the lion's share of attention to organizational change goes to the process of deciding on what needs to change and the steps to take; the bottom line is the execution of change. Here is where leadership faces its real challenge which specifically comes down to people. Leading the human organization in a continuously changing world is at the heart of the book. Leaders must learn to keep in a dynamic zone in which the adaptive capacity of people can be enlarged providing an agile organization. Conner stresses the importance of people as central to change and introduces such good ideas as Human Due Diligence...an investigating of the people side of the organization before taking change initiatives.

The integration of organizational change, leadership and human beings is so crucial that it is a wonder why decision makers so commonly place the human element in second place when formulating strategy, organization design, and initiating organizational transformation. Perhaps this work will help some CEO's and other top executives to get a clearer focus on the reality of their enterprises and the real challenge of leading change. A great book-give a copy to your CEO! And if you are a CEO, give a copy to the members of your executive team.

A must-read for leaders, marketers, and strategists.......1998-10-30

Conner is author of the bestselling Managing at the Speed of Change. In this new book, he continues along the path of resilience, and adds in a new concept called "human due diligence." He has carefully examined not only the propensity for change, but the human capacity for it, and his new book reveals important new directions in change management, based on years of extensive research and observation. A must-read for leaders, marketers, and strategists. Copyright 1998 by Michael Pellecchia. Recommended by www.moneyblows.com END

Book Description

Metabolic Regulation in Mammals presents the basic principles of metabolic control, based on investigations conducted during the past twenty years. It explains the impact of recent advances in cell biology, molecular biology and genetics on the field. Beginning with the basic concepts, this text covers all angles of metabolic regulation, including blood caloric homeostasis, cardiac and skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and liver metabolism. Review questions, summary sections and worked examples help break down the complexity of the subject and allow the reader to review the principles and concepts presented. Details of metabolic pathways are provided for each body system, with accompanying charts to provide the reader with an overall perspective. This text is ideal for undergraduates across a range of biology and health science disciplines, particularly those taking one or two semester courses in metabolic regulation.

Customer Reviews:

Wrestling enzymes the old-fashioned way.......2005-01-08

This book will do little to encourage people to renew their interest in metabolism - it has no point of comparison, for example, with Dan Atkinson's classic Cellular Energy Metabolism and its Regulation, which was packed with interesting and stimulating ideas on every page. It is "dedicated to those who wrestled enzymes from tissues the old-fashioned way", and that, alas, is just how it reads.

As a book on metabolism it is adequate. However, the title mentions regulation, and it falls far short of what one would hope for in a book on metabolic regulation. Depending on one's taste and background one would expect some treatment of cooperative and allosteric interactions, of feedback inhibition, of protein kinases and phosphatases, and of the newer view of metabolic regulation that is emerging from work in metabolic control analysis. Of the last of these there is nothing; the other topics do get mentioned, but the treatment is skimpy.

Principles of Metabolic Control in Mammalian Systems

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Principles of Metabolic Control in Mammalian Systems
Herman
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Biochemistry | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Metabolic Regulation in Mammals
David M. Gibson
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MU2W0O

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Metabolic Regulation in Mammals
David M./ Harris, Robert A. Gibson
Manufacturer: CRC Pr I Llc 1/3/2002
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBZX0Y

Book Description

Essential Mathematical Biology is a self-contained introduction to the fast-growing field of mathematical biology. Written for students with a mathematical background, it sets the subject in its historical context and then guides the reader towards questions of current research interest, providing a comprehensive overview of the field and a solid foundation for interdisciplinary research in the biological sciences.

A broad range of topics is covered including: Population dynamics, Infectious diseases, Population genetics and evolution, Dispersal, Molecular and cellular biology, Pattern formation, and Cancer modelling.

This book will appeal to 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students studying mathematical biology. A background in calculus and differential equations is assumed, although the main results required are collected in the appendices. A dedicated website at www.springer.co.uk/britton/ accompanies the book and provides further exercises, more detailed solutions to exercises in the book, and links to other useful sites.

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Essential Mathematical Biology

Manufacturer: Springer (India) Private Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 8181281810

Product Description

Essential Mathematical Biology is a self-contained introduction to the fast-growing field of mathematical biology. Written for students with a mathematical background, it sets the subject in its historical context and then guides the reader towards questions of current research interest, providing a comprehensive overview of the field and a solid foundation for interdisciplincary research in the biological sciences. Topics cover include: Population dynmaics, Infectious diseases, Population genetics and evolution, Dispersal, Molecular and cellular biology, Pattern formation, Cancer modelling.

Book Description

Post Genomic Perspectives in Modeling and Control of Breathing is comprised of the proceedings of the IXth Oxford Conference on Modeling and Control of Breathing, held September 13-16, 2003 in Paris, France. This publication is placed within the general framework of post-genomic neurobiology, pathology, and the precise example of the rhythmic respiratory neural assembly being used to understand how genetic networks have been selected and conserved in the vertebrate brain. Specific topics include: ion channels and synapses responsible for respiratory rhythmogenesis and plasticity; pre- and post-natal development of the respiratory rhythm; chemosensory transduction and chemo-afferent signalling. These valuable insights open new avenues as to why the genetic codes underlying a vital function such as breathing have been selected, conserved, or optimized during evolution â€“ a major issue of post-genomic biology. This critical issue will be considered from both top-down and bottom-up integrative modeling standpoints, with a view to elucidating the functional genomics linking discrete molecules to the integrated system that regulates breathing.

Respiratory Control: A MODELING PERSPECTIVE

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Respiratory Control: A MODELING PERSPECTIVE
GEORGE, ED. SWANSON
Manufacturer: Plenum Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Biophysics | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0306433664

RESPIRATORY CONTROL: A MODELING PERSPECTIVE (HB)

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RESPIRATORY CONTROL: A MODELING PERSPECTIVE (HB)
Swanson/grodins
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OSJH3Y

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Does not work

reply to reader with no brains from June 17th 2003

A plus book

Good Book

Nothing but a "stage dad"

Training a Tiger: A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life
Earl Woods
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books
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Playing Through: Straight Talk on Hard Work, Big Dreams, and Adventures with Tiger

The First Tee Shot: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Kids Golf

Tiger Woods: A Biography for Kids

IN EVERY KID THERE LURKS A TIGER: RUDY DURAN'S 5-STEP PROGRAM TO TEACH YOU AND YOUR CHILD THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOLF

How I Play Golf

ASIN: 0062701789

Amazon.com

The first thing you'll learn in this book, which details how Earl Woods raised his son, Tiger, to become probably the greatest golfer who ever lived, is that your child will never be another Tiger Woods. Tiger is a prodigy in the sense that Mozart was a prodigy. But even if your child has completely ordinary abilities, Training a Tiger shows how to pass on your love for a sport to your child. Most of the book is specific to golf, but the same lessons can be applied to any activity.

Book Description

An educator, top-ranked college ball player and Green Beret who served in Vietnam, Earl Woods reveals the instruction and training secrets that went into raising a child who might be the greatest golfer ever. His teaching method starts with the simplest swings: Putting, chipping and pitching, and doesn't introduce the full swing until the basics have been mastered. The book includes dozens of games and competitions to make golf fun and interesting, teaches mental toughness and emphasizes skills, posture, balance, set-up and grip.

There are also some subtler points for parents to consider: when and how to introduce golf (or any sport) to their child; how to lay the groundwork for open communication; and how to cultivate the right attitude toward competition. Through an intelligent mix of instruction, humor and common sense, Training a Tiger helps parents everywhere lead their kids to love the game, and to play it with confidence, patience, proficiency and passion.

Customer Reviews:

Does not work.......2007-06-01

I bought this book to help me take care of my new baby tiger, Thundercat. All I found was a bunch of crap about golf and black people. In the end, the tiger died. I tried to stuff a golf club down it's gullet but nothing happened except it threw up all over me and went to sleep. Overall, I do not recommend this book if you care about your new animal friend or are an animal lover AT ALL.

reply to reader with no brains from June 17th 2003.......2006-05-04

This moron is a jealous racist. Everything he said is wrong. He should know what he is talking about before he speaks. Earl never asked Tiger to go golfing with him. The only way he would take him is if Tiger asked to go. Tiger is Stanford educated, insanely rich, the best golfer in history, never been in trouble and calls his dad his best friend. I would give anything to be sure my kids were half the person Tiger is. If you read this book and got nothing from it I feel bad for your kids. By the way he is the best dressed person on tour!!

A plus book.......2005-09-05

This book is great! Anytime you can read about wonderful parenting, it is a highllight in your day. As the mother of 2 boys I can only hope to be so self sacrificing as Earl Woods. Whether you are into golf or not, all children could benefit from more attention from their parents. This book is about putting the child first and helping them make their dreams a reality. While so many children watch tv all day, it sure is refreshing to read about a parent who demonstrates the real meaning of parenting-take the time to train the children up right and they will end up as you trained them. Earl is truly an inspiration. Thank you for writing the book if you read this email Mr. Woods.

Good Book.......2003-10-20

In Pete McDaniel's, Training a Tiger, Tiger Woods shows you basics and in depth steps to golf. This book will show you how to start a your child in golf, equipment, putting, short game, driving, practicing, and in to mental mechanics. The authors purpose for writing this is to show young kids how to golf. It is worth reading if you want to improve your golf game or your childs.

Nothing but a "stage dad".......2003-06-18

Well, I think the fact there are only three reviews of this book before mine pretty much sums up how popular it is.
As I write this, there is a show on TV called "American Junior" -- a take-off on "American Idol" in which children with prodigious singing voices try to become stars. The most striking feature of the show, however, is not the kids' talents but their parents' obsessions. They are trying to achieve vicariously, through their kid's success, the fame and fortune they were never able to achieve on their own. I think you probably get my analogy to Earl Woods.
By the way: I have a point to make about Tiger that has nothing to do with this book, really, but that I want to get off my chest. It has to do with his wardrobe. He is in serious need of a fashion makeover. Here is his customary garb:
1. "Poofy" (i.e., baggy-legged) pants. The effect is a little bit odd.
2. A standard golf shirt -- but with the top, collar button fastened. This is a distinctly child-like feature; normally the only people with top button fastened are little boys dressed by their moms.
3. A cap that is more rounded than that of other players; if you removed the bill and attached blades to the top, it would be a perfect propellor beanie.
What I'm getting at is that his working clothes are childish. When combined with his natural baby face, the effect is comical. I predict that 20 years from now, film of Tiger in his 20s will look as silly as film of golfers in the 1970's with their tight, plaid pants, wide white belts, and super-sized lapels on their shirts.
So Tiger -- please come up with a new look on the course to go with your fabulous game.

Training A Tiger - A Father's Guide To Raising A Winner In Both Golf And Life

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Training A Tiger - A Father's Guide To Raising A Winner In Both Golf And Life
Earl with Mcdaniel, Peter; Foreword by Woods, Tiger Woods
Manufacturer: Harper-collins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W7LUBO

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Training a Tiger : A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life
Earl Woods , and Pete McDaniel
Manufacturer: DIANE Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Golf | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0788199749

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Training a Tiger: A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life
Earl Woods , and Pete McDaniel
Manufacturer: Diane Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0788158570

Average customer rating:

Interesting portrayal of the life of a rising superstar

Training a Tiger: A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life
Earl Woods , and Pete McDaniel
Manufacturer: G. K. Hall & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0783886225

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Interesting portrayal of the life of a rising superstar.......1998-09-02

When you here about a superstar like Tiger its natural to wonder where this incredible talent came from. The book is a bit of a mix of golf how to, parent child relationship and history of Tigers early years. If you are raising kids and want a perspective on what went into developing such a great talent the book offers some interesting insights. The book lacks the level of detail or story telling that could of showed us more of Tigers character and made the book a more interesting read. If you love Golf and want your kids to get involved with the great game this book is a must read.

Average customer rating:

Training a Tiger: A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life
Earl Woods , and Pete McDaniel
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEXHT8

Book Description

This book focuses on the process of educational change and leadership using the Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) as a conceptual framework. The change process in schools is made complex by the wide range of educational innovations. These require effective leadership that recognizes the role people play. If the focus of change is solely on technology and if the personal side is not addressed, the result is resistance and implementation failure. This book addresses those concerns using the CBAM Model in a useful and immediately applicable format. For anyone in School Reform, Staff Development, Educational Leadership, and Organizational Change.

Customer Reviews:

: Implementing Change: Patterns, Principles, and Potholes.......2002-04-08

Implementing Change: Patterns, Principles, and Potholes (2001) is the latest book on the process of educational change and leadership co-authored by Gene E. Hall and Shirley M. Hord. It describes the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM), a framework they have been developing for use in organizational and educational settings for the past thirty years. Within it they describe how people can and do facilitate change. Leadership today requires the ability to organize and direct human resources for levels of constant change, most recently in educational settings. This book provides educational leaders and change agents with practical tools and advice on how to effectively accomplish their goals. Among them are: innovation configuration mapping techniques, stages of concern surveys and evaluative tools, and levels of use matrices, as well as information on leadership styles and how they affect change.
The format of this book is not only engaging, but entertaining. Chapters begin with quotes in first person narrative, from real/fictitious accounts of people involved in change. The figures and graphics, often using analogies and metaphors for text ideas, add to the clarity and the readability of the book. Case studies and examples are interspersed with humor and credible settings and characters. Focus questions within chapters and discussion questions at the end of the chapter invite further thinking and discussion which makes it an ideal resource for study/focus groups who are dealing with change. Chapter endings also include suggestions for fieldwork activities that provide opportunities for active engagement with the issues being discussed.
While they caution readers not to use this as a recipe book (p. 103) it is difficult to overlook the accommodating and sequential format they use, filled with useful advice and suggestions. Hall and Hord offer practical tools and a unique combination of theory, research and practice for coping with change in organizational structures. With good humor and practical advice this is one of the most readable and useful books ever to help managers and change facilitators navigate through the difficult process of organizational changes.

Average customer rating:

didn't help

Excelente libro

Great examples in grid design

Scrapbook good for scrap

offers the necessary design skills and sharp eyes to become a successful designer !!

Grid Systems: Principles of Organizing Type (Design Briefs)
Kimberly Elam
Manufacturer: Princeton Architectural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)

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Accessories:

Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)

ASIN: 1568984650

Book Description

Although grid systems are the foundation for almost all typographic design, they are often associated with rigid, formulaic solutions. However, the belief that all great design is nonetheless based on grid systems (even if only subverted ones) suggests that few designers truly understand the complexities and potential riches of grid composition.
In her best-selling Geometry of Design, Elam shows how proportion, symmetry, and other geometrical systems underlie many of the visual relationships that make for good design. Now, Elam brings the same keen eye and clear explanations to bear on the most prevalent, and maybe least understood, system of visual organization: the grid.
Filled with extensive research and more than 100 informative examples from the Bauhaus to Nike ads, Grid Systems provides a rich, easy-to-understand overview and demonstrates a step-by-step approach to typographic composition. It suggests design strategies that transcend simple function and reductionist recipes to allow grids to become a means of truly dynamic communication. Any designer, educator, or student will benefit greatly from this elegant slim book, chock-a-block full of colorful examples, helpful vellum overlays, and Elam's insightful analysis.

Customer Reviews:

didn't help.......2007-09-22

If you want an excellent book dealing with the grid - and if you want to actually learn something - get Tim Samara's Making and Breaking the Grid. I was very unhappy with this purchase.

Excelente libro.......2007-07-26

Esto es un gran aporte al conocimiento y una herramienta imprescindible en el diseño gráfico, claramente escrito, excelentes y variados ejemplos, increíbles hojas guías y una gran redacción. Excelente compra!

Great examples in grid design.......2007-05-14

This book is filled with great examples of grid use in real-life design, with vellum overlays outlining the grid on the actual layout. Between the examples--and what makes up the bulk of the book--is the "exercises" the author works through on three different types of grid: horizontal, horizontal-vertical, and diagonal. Her examples are on a 3x3 square grid, with elements that perfectly fit within one, two, or three squares. Because of this basic instruction, some of the concepts are a little difficult to translate to your own design.

Overall, though, I still give the book 4 stars; the concepts Elam presents in the book are very solid and it's relatively easy to understand.

Scrapbook good for scrap.......2006-11-29

Kimberly Elam must be famous enough that a publisher will take her notebooks or scrapbooks and have them typeset without much editing and without giving any real thought to trifling details such as the reader.

This book is just a collection of notes that may make sense to the person who wrote them, but are not very illuminating to someone looking for a methodical approach to the subject -- unless, of course, that someone is telepathic and can read the author's mind.

Save your money.

offers the necessary design skills and sharp eyes to become a successful designer !!.......2006-08-11

I wanted to take a brief moment to express the huge impact that the "System Grids" made in my design skill development.

What to say about the Book? It's truly an experience! It is a very helpful book for designers, educators and students. Grid Systems is a unique design book. It is like a knowledgeable friend walking with you through the principles of typographical design; pointing out the differences between a good design and a bad one ; leading you to understand the importance of hierarchy in design; figuring out type, space, image, and size relationships. This is done step by step, to insure a thorough understanding of these principles from basic to advanced, ultimately making for good design and a perceptive and successful designer.

In this book, Kim Elam explains her ideas on how to produce a good quality design using the grid system principles. With her many years of experience as an educator, the book offers us a system to develop the necessary design skills and sharp eyes to become a successful designer and to develop and produce exceptional work.

It's a wonderful book, in both quality and quantity! I've known about it since my undergraduate study, and I am so happy to see my colleagues using it now in the class room.

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