The Indebted Society: Anatomy of an Ongoing Disaster

Customer Reviews:

Tedious and Academic.......2002-11-18

If you are an economist you might find this book readable. If you are not trained in the dismal science you might just find this book to be dismal itself.

Far too often the author asserts points and then asks the reader to take his assumptions on faith while he builds up to his grand conculsions. This can serious hamper the lay reader in being able to follow the arguments made. Those with a more in depth understanding of fiscal policy might just find the conclusions themselves to be faulty and un practicle.

Written in 1996 this book is already out of date and rapidly becoming more of a hostorical document than a current events book.

Needs a "Caution" sign.......2002-03-15

If you thought a book with a foreword by John Kenneth Galbraith would be a tax-and-spend, big-government screed ... well, in this case you would be right. The authors are probably too oblivious to even be embarrassed by the wrong-headed interpretations they put on such matters as productivity and the expected unending upward slope of interest rates to favor "the lenders." This is ham-handed analysis, often shockingly simplistic and tendentious, and now getting dated of course. But I give the book one star for at least touching on some interesting subjects and being reasonably readable, even if one must be cautious about its interpretations. I bought my copy remaindered for about three bucks -- about the right price.

The Indebted Society, Anatomy of an Ongoing Disaster

Average customer rating:

The Indebted Society, Anatomy of an Ongoing Disaster
James & Harless, Andrew Medoff
Manufacturer: Little, Brown & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KLVQN4

Average customer rating:

The Indebted Society: Anatomy of an Ongoing Disaster
James L.; Medoff, James; Harless, Andrew Medoff
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (T)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUFW36

Book Description

Business process reengineering (BPR) helps transform the way businesses and organizations work in order to dramatically improve performance. This book shows how to implement BPR rather than re-design organizations and guides managers through the BPR process.

Customer Reviews:

Avery practical guide for the manager.......2000-01-02

This book presents global experience and provides complete support with fundamental guidance for each stage of corporate transforming.

Book Description

The question of growth and stagnation in Indian agriculture over the colonial period which is the subject of this volume, has been central to the debates on the impact of colonialism. The early estimates of George Blyn and Sivasubramoniam offered a gloomy scenario of twentieth century Indian agriculture, with yields failing to keep pace with population. This pessimistic picture was subsequently questioned in two ways. Disputing the reliability of agricultural statistics, historians suggested that no calculation of trends in yields was possible. Others recalculated the figures and doubted the basis of Blyn's pessimism. One commentator, Alan Heston, argued that the apparent downward trend in yields was the result of flawed estimation procedures, and needed to be revised.

Book Description

A heart that once beat erratically has regained its natural rhythm. A woman paralyzed by an automobile accident is now able to resume her favorite hobby. Physicians using a robotic surgeon named da Vinci perform lifesaving operations. These are some of the feats of biomedical engineering, one of the fastest-moving areas in medicine. In this exhilarating book, award-winning writer Fen Montaigne journeys through this little-known world, sharing the stories of ordinary people who have been transformed by technology.

From the almost commonplace pacemaker to the latest generation of artificial hearts, Montaigne tells the stories of pioneering patients, engineers, and surgeons. Taking the reader behind the scenes of a dozen of America's leading centers of biomedical engineering, Montaigne recounts the field's history while describing cutting-edge work in medical imaging, orthopedics, cardiovascular care, neurological therapies, and genetics.

Through the stories of patients whose lives have been saved and improved by biomedical devices, Montaigne reveals the marriage of medicine and engineering to be one of society's greatest advances.

Customer Reviews:

Medicine by Design
The Practice and Promise of Biomedical Engineering.......2007-02-27

It is an excellent book: engaging, informative, and it covers quite a bit of material.

However, the second paragraph on page 7 starts:
"The seniors were a diverse group---including students from China, India, Palestine, and Russia..."
I got stumbled on the word Palestine. I can understand that Fen Montaigne, the award-winning writer, may be unaware of the fact that there is no country with such name, but wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that the editors at the Johns Hopkins University Press are less ignorant?
Of course, the young student at Boston U. Inas Khayal couldn't have been born in Palestine (page 21) unless she is at least fifty-nine years old...And so the "young student at Boston U. Inas Khayal" has turned the award-winning writer Fen Montaigne into a useful idiot... (I am referring to the utterly descriptive term "useful idiot" which was coined by Vladimir Lenin some 85 years ago)

Allowing to push political agendas onto pages of books designed to popularize science and technology is disheartening, to say the least.

Excellent book.......2007-01-03

This is a great non-technical introduction to those who are curious about the industry or who want to know more about Biomedical Engineering in general. The book is well-rounded, up-to-date as of 2006, and one of the only narrative books out there concerning BME. Its non-technical nature means it's accessible to everyone, engineering savvy or not.

The author writes about BME as a series of vignettes, each revolving around a researcher in a particular field, a patient with a condition that was alleviated by biomedical engineering, a major player in the industry, or a developing technology. For those unware, the unique characteristic of Biomedical Engineering is that it spans all engineering and science disciplines. You can have an electrical engineer working on an MRI machine, a materials engineer working on artifical joints, a programmer creating bioinformatics algorithms to decipher genetic code, a biologist trying to grow tissues to remedy organ donor shortages, etc. And you can't forget the doctors out there who straddle the line between patient care and engineering new technologies to supplement patient care.

Each chapter focuses on one of the BME sub-disciplines, such as tissue engineering, medical imaging, bioinformatics, implants, etc. Players in industry and academia are highlighted in narrative form as the author details the work of everyone from undergraduate students at Boston University using photonics to find tumors, to graduate students at UC San Diego using nanotechnology to research synthetic livers, to industry legends such as Earl Bakken, the founder of Medtronic. A few products are specifically highlighted such as Medtronic pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, Minimed insulin pumps, Neurotech's encapsulated cell technology, and Intuitive's Da Vinci machine. Patients who have reaped the benefits of Biomedical Engineering advances are also interviewed and have their stories told.

I recommend this book highly to engineering students who are unsure what industry they want to enter, high school seniors who are searching for a college major (if I knew about BME in college, I would have definately pursued it, too bad for me), future doctors who have an affinity for engineering and problem solving, and those who are curious about the field in general. It's an enjoyable read and afterwards those who are engineering savvy but seek the altruism typically associated with medicine might feel a spark to become involved in this field.

Book Description

Regulatory authorities worldwide still depend greatly upon and require long-term animal test results. To improve the reliability of interpretation of such results, a standardized nomenclature for the lesions observed in the tests is essential. Scientists from both academia and industry in many countries have closely cooperated to arrive at a consensus on the descriptions of all the types of tumour and pre-neoplastic lesions encountered in laboratory mice. The series of fascicles should provide information and guidelines especially adapted for international use in practical toxicologic pathology. Images showing the typical appearance of the discussed lesions and references to the most recently published papers complete the presented information.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Resource.......2001-09-04

This is one of the best books in the field that I have seen. It is a comprehensive classification of tumors in mice. Figures are excellent. The international authors are the leading authorities. It is well worth the price!

Average customer rating:

Great stories of real adventure

An inspiring read

The Thrill of Victory, The Agony of My Feet: Tales from the World of Adventure Racing

Manufacturer: Breakaway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Running & Jogging | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Running & Jogging | Individual Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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Running Through the Wall: Personal Encounters With the Ultramarathon

The Complete Guide to Adventure Racing

Primal Quest Adventure Race DVD

Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

Fixing Your Feet: Prevention And Treatments for Athletes

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 1891369547

Book Description

Adventure racing is an exciting and fast-growing sport that combines nonstop, action-packed challenges such as trail running, mountain biking, orienteering, rock climbing, trekking, whitewater swimming, and paddling in some of the world's most beautiful-and most challenging- places. Races last from just a few hours to two weeks, and are filled with passion, drama, sleep-deprivation, hallucinations, blisters, cramps, exhaustion-and inevitably great stories.Ã,Â

The Thrill of Victory, the Agony of My Feet contains over thirty first-person adventure racing stories that will take you from the leech-infested jungles of Borneo to the snow-capped peaks of Tibet to races near you.You will be entertained and inspired as you read how athletes-from beginner to expert-overcame enormous odds, physical limitations, raging storms, equipment failure, personal fears, and in one case, even the tragic death of a competitor. These stories are as close as you can get to adventure racing without getting your feet wet.

Neal Jamison is the author of Running Through the Wall. Nic Stover and Maureen Moslow-Benway are adventure-racing competitors and journalists.

Customer Reviews:

Great stories of real adventure.......2005-11-01

I've seen adventure racing on TV (Eco Challenge, Primal Quest, etc.). And those shows always concentrate on the drama, the beautiful people, and so on. This book, however, shows what adventure racing is all about. The 30 stories in this book are all from people who love the sport of adventure racing and have dedicated a part of their lives to the sport that they love.

There are stories from seasoned veterans and beginners -- all of which demonstrate how we can overcome great odds to reach the finish line. The lessons learned from these athletes will help athletes and non athletes alike. Great book!

An inspiring read.......2005-06-15

I was originally turned on by the book "Becoming an Ironman" as I was training for my own first Ironman. This book had the same effect on me. The stories by the different athletes repeat similar tales of pain, adventure, pain, beautiful scenery, pain, and all-out efforts, but they also report another common experience that extends beyond that of individual sports: the rewards of developing team relationships that come from depending so completely upon each other during such a difficult event. The book does a great job of describing this exciting sport.

Book Description

To Nora Kavanagh, the tiny Irish village of Killala is the only home she has ever known. But her home is being ravaged first by the devastating Potato Famine of the mid-1800's, then by the merciless absentee landlords who threaten to take over her family's one precious possession the land. One after another, the fever brought on by the famine claims her husband, daughter, and closest friends, leaving Nora and her young son Daniel in immeasurable sorrow and poverty.

Their single hope for the future lies with Morgan Fitzgerald, the love of Nora's youth. But his rebel activities with the Young Ireland movement keep him in constant danger. Morgan, a poet and wanderer, has never lost his wild and reckless ways, and all his good intentions may not be enough to save what remains of the Kavanagh family.

Song of the Silent Harp begins the story of two Irish families trying to survive and hold on to their faith in God during one of the bleakest periods of Ireland's history. It is a story of deep spiritual struggle and commitment and of the surprising work of God among nations and individuals.

The Ireland they knew and loved was crumbling around them. Could they survive the famine? And if they did, what would their world be like?

Customer Reviews:

Incredibly Long...and Detailed..........2007-02-21

Okay, so this wasn't as boring as Eragon(perhaps worst written book I've read in a long time, but I digress), and it was certainly well- written....but all in all I'd say it was just plain long. You will get a good feel for the hardships these poor people faced, but sheesh, they didn't get to America for how many pgs???
As for overdetailing things, you'll prob know the character's middle names, favorite food, and birthmarks by the end.

Ballads of the Emerald Isle Series.......2004-12-04

Five years ago as I was returning to upstae NY from a visit to my daughter in Texas, I asked her for a book to read as I had a long layover on the trip. She gave me the Song of the Silent Harp and my life changed forever. By the time the plane landed in NY, I was 3/4 of the way through it. I immediately called the Life Discovery Book Store locally and went over and bought the next four books in the Series. I read continually, only taking time out for the necessities, and was totally mesmerized by the stories. Let me say here, that both my parents were born in Ireland, and so much of the stories brought back memories of tales my parents told me about life in Ireland and their immigration to Upstate NY. I couldn't put the books down.

I had a wonderful Italian friend, Angie, who loved to read and had an empathy for the Irish so I bought her the set of books and her last note to me before she died, she thanked me for introducing her to the writings of B. J. Hoff. She claimed it was the best gift she ever got. I subsequently gave a set to my younger sister, who ws traveling to Italy, and she likewise was mesmerized with the books, even more so than her trip to Italy.

To read these books, the author gets you caught up in the story of what it was like to be Irish and an immigrant and makes me so proud to be of Irish descent. I have 10 grown children who are avid readers and the books are a real education for all of them and helps them understand the sacrifices their grandparents made and the hardships they overcame as immigrants. In the five years since I first read them, I have yet to read a book that left me with such wonderful feelings. I read that B.J. Hoff wrote these books from memories her grandmother shared with her about her life. The language is wonderful and can be read by anyone able to read. The books have a prominent spot on my bookcase. Thank you B. J. Hoff

Amazing Start to a Wonderful Series.......2004-09-05

I read these books years ago when I was twelve or thirteen. I honestly couldn't put the books down once I started, I devoured them in every sense of the word and was not dissapointed. This book sparked in me a love for history and literature that I don't think ever will be quenched. My teachers that year were I think a bit shocked when I decided to pick the Irish Potato Famine as the topic for my research/presentation project. LOL You won't be dissapointed with this book or series, you will be left wanting more like I was.

This is only the beginning..........2002-07-11

My friend got this book from the library when I was fourteen or so... I remember she kept telling me what a WONDERFUL, AMAZING book it was, and I could only think, "What on earth could be interesting about the potato famine?" She went on to read the rest of the series, and eventually through telling me more about the story, I became extremely interested, and when I read it it surpassed my wildest hopes. Of course, as I said, I was fourteen or fifteen, and girls that age live on this kind of book. I did live on it. I read it in two days and had to wait a whole week to meet my friend at church and get the second one from her.

But enough on how I found B.J.Hoff... The "Emerald Ballad" series is the best series of books that I think I've ever read. I don't get into romance novels like Grace Livingston Hill or Janette Oke or Beverly Whats-her-name that writes the Amish soap operas - I find them pretty predictable and tacky... With B.J. Hoff I never knew what was going to happen, and she made it all seem so REAL. I have read all five of the books in this series through at least three times, some I've read four or five times. This first one is the best, and could stand alone. It's after you read the second book that you know you HAVE to read the rest.

The story is, essentially, about three people - Nora Kavanagh, Michael Burke, and Morgan Fitzgerald. They were friends in childhood and went separate ways as adults. Nora married, Michael went to New York, and Morgan is a wandering dreamer who writes poetry, plays the harp, and is obsessively devoted to Ireland. It's been a while since I last read the book, so I'm not good with details, but this book has famine, fear, death, romance, white slavers, evil landlords, stuttering Englishmen, near hangings, one killing, one chase scene (what's a good story without at least one chase scene? That was Alfred Hitchcock's idea). But more than anything else, God is the centre of this story, providing all the central people with faith to pull through all the events and survive all the villains I mentioned above.

You should definitely give this book a try. Now that I'm a bit older, it's no longer the staple and sustenance of my literary life but I still enjoy them once in a while and fondly cherish the memories of my friend and I going ga-ga over Morgan.

Let me say a few words about Morgan. For one thing, he's a great big tall guy. For two other things, he has copper hair (which the sun can light ablaze) and green eyes. He's poetic and musical, as I said, and whenever he talks, his choice of words is fittingly dramatic, just as if it came straight out of those dear old melodramatic 30's movies. Personally I find that pretty neato. I would say that he was definitely my favourite character. My friend liked him a lot, but she liked Michael more. I learnt to like Michael a lot toward the fourth read-through, but Morgan remained my favourite.

Okay, I believe I have waxed descriptive enough. If you want to know more, go get this book!

Couldn't put it down!.......1999-11-20

I really like this book.It takes you from the dark dispair of the Great Famine of Ireland, to the shores of hope imigrating to the US. I was 1/2 way finished the book, and thought, I have to get the rest of the series! It also teaches about faith. You grow with the characters growth in faith. You can see that even in our darkest times, God does not abandon us. He's always there with us, and can use even the most dismal circumstances to bless us. Truley a good read!

Song of the Silent Harp/Heart of the Lonely Exile/Land of a Thousand Dreams/Sons of an Ancient Glory/Dawn of the Golden Promise (An Emerald Ballad 1-5)

Average customer rating:

Awesome, awesome!
My only complaint is that there are only 5 books!
Read them, loved them!
These books couldn't possibly have been better!
These books couldn't possibly have been better!

Song of the Silent Harp/Heart of the Lonely Exile/Land of a Thousand Dreams/Sons of an Ancient Glory/Dawn of the Golden Promise (An Emerald Ballad 1-5)
B. J. Hoff
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1556617941

Customer Reviews:

Awesome, awesome!.......2001-04-03

I've had these books for years but I think I've read each book atleast three of four times! The characters seem to come to life and the entire background is a lesson in 19th century Irish and American history. If you like books like the Zion Covenant and Chronicles, you'll love these books too!

My only complaint is that there are only 5 books!.......2000-05-28

I bought this book entirely on a whim and it absolutely captivated me-- I passionately love all things Irish, which usually makes me very critical, but this entire series does not disappoint! There aren't enough stars to tell everyone just how much i have enjoyed this series. In fact, I have been rationing myself to make the series last as long as I can... I can't bring myself to read book five and be finished! It's so good to find a book that pulls me into it like these do-- it seems rare these days. Wonderful, wonderful book... an absolute must-read!

Read them, loved them!.......1999-12-31

My libraian pointed out the series to me and as soon as I absorbed into them imediatly! At the end of the 5th book I found myself craving more. Irish history (and all other European history) has facinated me and I can't stop taking in all the information historical books have to provide. I suggest this book to any one who enjoys historcal literature (fiction or non).

These books couldn't possibly have been better!.......1999-05-16

These books are the best I've ever read! I couldn't put them down. Once I got into the first book, I burned through the series. I've always been a fast reader, but even I was surprised how fast I read these books. I started the series on Saturday and was finished by Thursday. Since then I've read the books, especially my favorites, the last two, several times. My favorite character is Annie, Morgan Fitzgerald's adopted daughter. I reccomend this series to anyone who likes historical fiction. My only disappointment with these books came after I read the last sentance of "Dawn of the Golden Promise" and I realized that it was over! A fantastic series!

These books couldn't possibly have been better!.......1999-05-16

Song of the Silent Harp (An Emerald Ballad #1)

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Song of the Silent Harp (An Emerald Ballad #1)
B.J. Hoff
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JVZV4K

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Song of the Silent Harp (An Emerald Ballad #1)
B. J. Hoff
Manufacturer: NorthStar Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000JXK4W2

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Song of the Silent Harp (An Emerald Ballad #1)
B.J. Hoff
Manufacturer: Kingsway Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OIK2NI

Song of the Silent Harp/Heart of the Lonely Exile/Land of a Thousand Dreams (An Emerald Ballad 1-3)

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The Emerald Ballad series is among the best in Irish fiction

Song of the Silent Harp/Heart of the Lonely Exile/Land of a Thousand Dreams (An Emerald Ballad 1-3)
B. J. Hoff
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1556617712

Customer Reviews:

The Emerald Ballad series is among the best in Irish fiction.......1998-07-03

This series, by BJ Hoff (not Michael Phillips as indicated), is an outstanding work of Irish-American fiction. Not only is it well researched, but the plot is so enthralling, you can not stop reading until you've finished the last book in the series!

Satan's Trophies: Hanging Harps and Silent Songs

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Satan's Trophies: Hanging Harps and Silent Songs

Manufacturer: Schambach Miracle Revivals
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000CALY1W

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Song of the Silent Harp (An Emerald Ballad #1)
B. J. Hoff
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NTBD3Q

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Song of the Silent Harp (An Emerald Ballad #1)
B. J. Hoff
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TDMUDI

Book Description

An impressive gallery of alphabets, inspired by the elaborate calligraphy of the Middle Ages, features many unusual fonts for artists and illustrators. Styles range from heavy Gothic typefaces such as Lowenbrau and Hansa to the more dainty modes of Leipzig and Tory. Most include uppercase and lowercase letters; many numerals. 53 fonts.

Customer Reviews:

Great for typographers with such particular interest.......2004-04-05

This is one straight forward book. It delivers what it says: complete fontfaces from the early gothic period mainly on england, nordic, and celtic cultures. a complete set of characters of a font is spread on single pages, most of them at only one and the same point size. They vary from simple strokes to some of the most ornamented and complex sets ever created. Don't expect information concerning the background of the fonts or any other contextual related content.

bread and butter - no jam.......2000-12-29

This text is not a coffee table art book. And at first I was disappointed in my purchase but it had what I was looking for as far as bare bones examples of celtic alphabets. For the price I should not have expected a "pretty" book. But it gives many clear and useable examples of illuminated letters for those who are looking for exactly that. For this reason it was worth the money.

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