Technology Investment: A Game Theoretic Real Options Approach (Theory and Decision Library C:)

Book Description

The technology investment decision of an individual firm has become a very complex matter in recent years. One reason is the incredibly rapid progress of technological developments in the last decades. Another reason is the existence of and movement towards oligopolistic markets. In this book, several theoretical and technology investment models of the firm are developed and analyzed. To solve these models real options theory and game theory is used. The real options theory makes it possible to explicitly take into account (and value) the option value of waiting. Game theory is used to incorporate strategic interactions. Technology Investment extends the already existing real options models by the introduction of game theory. The game theory, or more specifically, the theory of timing games, is extended by the inclusion of stochastics.

Average customer rating:

Perfect book for a half-day seminar in business management

Shadows of the Neanderthal

Pocket Wisdom

An excellent resource!

Should be required reading if responsible for company growth

Shadows of the Neanderthal: Illuminating the Beliefs that Limit Our Organizations
David Hutchens
Manufacturer: Pegasus Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Communications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Outlearning the Wolves : Surviving and Thriving in a Learning Organization, Second Edition

The Teaching Gap: Best Ideas from the World's Teachers for Improving Education in the Classroom

Breakthrough

The Reflective Educator's Guide to Classroom Research: Learning to Teach and Teaching to Learn Through Practitioner Inquiry

Results: The Key to Continuous School Improvement, Second Edition

ASIN: 1883823307

Book Description

Boogie the caveman is on a quest to understand how his people have become stuck in beliefs that drastically limit their ability to share insights and make progress. Join his hilarious journey of discovery and learn how to surface, share, and challenge your own and others' hidden beliefs and to recognize how they inform--and often misinform--what we do. With its engaging use of metaphor and detailed discussion guide, Shadows of the Neanderthal is a must-have resource for any organization on its own quest for clear and open communication.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect book for a half-day seminar in business management.......2007-05-01

Plato's allegory of the cave is a story that everyone must read in order to claim to be educated. In it, people are permanently located in a cave with their back to the entrance. The shadows of what takes place outside the cave appears on the wall and the residents use that information to reach conclusions regarding what is outside. It is designed to show you that much of what you think you know is only a faint shadow of what the world really is.
This story begins in that vein; Unga, Bunga, Oogie, Boogie and Trevor are cave dwellers with a fear of the outside. They watch the shadows and reach conclusions and each has a different opinion regarding what terrible fate would befall them if they ever set foot outside their domain. They eat only what blows into the cave, so their diet consists largely of dried plant life and dead insects.
Eventually, Boogie expresses a desire to explore the exterior world, an opinion that immediately gets him ostracized. When he leaves, he discovers an amazing world of animals and vegetation. He wanders until he encounters a wise man named Mike, who tells him how it used to be.
In the old days, there was a major civilization that built towers to see what was beyond their immediate vicinity. In one direction, there were enormous herds of wild animals and in the other direction there were abundant fruits and vegetables there for the harvesting. There were two groups, each of which looked in only one direction. This led to an immediate split, one group wanted to build spears and other hunting tools while the other wanted to build baskets for gathering. Neither side would budge from their position, which led to a battle for control. This battle led to separate groups retreating into caves, where they remained to this day.
After the initial story of the cave dwellers, there is a serious discussion of the meaning of the tale. You are asked to ponder the significance of the story and how it relates to the modern business world. With the advent of global markets and the instantaneous transfer of information, for most companies a strategy of staying put is suicide. Each and every day, someone in the company must be examining all of the fundamental assumptions used to justify the business decisions.
This is a short book that is perfect for the half-day management seminar. Illustrated and only 81 pages long, it can be read in about an hour and is packed with information designed to get you thinking about your approach to life, work and career.

Shadows of the Neanderthal.......2006-11-05

Fun and easy read but compelling! This is a book that I will want to keep on my bookshelf and revisit. A must read for managers, educators, and leaders.
Just as enjoyable and illuminating, Outlearning the Wolves, again, by David Hutchens.

Pocket Wisdom.......2003-02-24

Simple, yet powerful. A fun way to learn and very effective for group discussion.

An excellent resource!.......2000-07-03

I really enjoyed this book! The author's clever sense of humor and the great illustrations make a difficult subject--mental models--fun and easy to learn about. I think the book would help any company, family, or even couple get better at exploring why they think the way they do, and how to communicate better with colleagues and loved ones. The discussion guide at the end of the book makes it easy to start using the ideas in your day-to-day life.

Should be required reading if responsible for company growth.......1999-08-13

David Hutchens brings new insight and twists to an age old metaphor. This book begins with a humorous tale whose analogy, to the world in which we live and the mental models which we hold, will hit you between the eyes. The writer quickly points out problems every organization battles with to improve performance and grow. While the business culture has become so overwhelmed with change, many leaders have embraced their current state of affairs. Holding tight to what we have, we spend much of our energy trying not to lose market share. This book gives insight into why and when this happens and how to move from there. "In a world of chaotic information, the mind instantly locks onto that which it already knows--and simply filters out other data." (from Shadows of the Neanderthal) I'm glad I bought it. Thom Hazelip, Arthur Andersen LLP

Product Description

Mycorrhizae are a type of fungus formed by the relationship between plant roots and soil, and there is a widespread agreement among botanists and soil scientists that mycorrhizae are beneficial to the health and growth of soil and plants. Research into mycorrhizae has grown enormously in recent years. It is now known that these fungi have numerous properties and functions they promote plant growth, maintain plant and soil health, provide protection against root diseases, they assist production using reduced fertilizer and pesticides, they effect soil structure, nutrient acquisition, root length and root structure. Mycorrhizae have many useful modern practical applications the re-vegetation of landscapes, golf courses, contaminated soils, the prevention and retardation of leaf dehydration, the maintenance of soil and plant biodiversity to name but a few. The editors of this book have produced a valuable collection of specialised contemporary information describing state of the art and modern protocols in mycorrhizal research, compiled and presented in one authoritative volume. It will be a valued reference work for botanists, microbiologists, agricultural and soil scientists.

Basic Research and Applications of Mycorrhizae

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Basic Research and Applications of Mycorrhizae
Ajit Verma
Manufacturer: I.K. International Pvt. Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 8188237221

Book Description

Individual-based models are an exciting and widely used new tool for ecology. These computational models allow scientists to explore the mechanisms through which population and ecosystem ecology arises from how individuals interact with each other and their environment. This book provides the first in-depth treatment of individual-based modeling and its use to develop theoretical understanding of how ecological systems work, an approach the authors call "individual-based ecology."

Grimm and Railsback start with a general primer on modeling: how to design models that are as simple as possible while still allowing specific problems to be solved, and how to move efficiently through a cycle of pattern-oriented model design, implementation, and analysis. Next, they address the problems of theory and conceptual framework for individual-based ecology: What is "theory"? That is, how do we develop reusable models of how system dynamics arise from characteristics of individuals? What conceptual framework do we use when the classical differential equation framework no longer applies? An extensive review illustrates the ecological problems that have been addressed with individual-based models. The authors then identify how the mechanics of building and using individual-based models differ from those of traditional science, and provide guidance on formulating, programming, and analyzing models. This book will be helpful to ecologists interested in modeling, and to other scientists interested in agent-based modeling.

Customer Reviews:

Thorough.......2007-09-10

I haven't finished the book, but so far it's been very thorough on the subject and has given me lots of ideas for how to proceed on the project I'm working on. Would definitely recommend it.

Ecology: Individuals, Populations and Communities

Average customer rating:

Best all around resource for ecological studies
The best ecology book I ever read
Good clear introduction to ecology.

Ecology: Individuals, Populations and Communities
Michael Begon
Manufacturer: Blackwell Science
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Ecology | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0632043938

Customer Reviews:

Best all around resource for ecological studies.......2003-05-23

Begon's book is the best way to get a serious handle on the complexities of ecology. This book attempts no dumbing down and gives more resources than could ever be used in a lifetime.
The explanations given for basic concepts are unique and cannot be found anywhere else. For example, this book makes a clear point about the relationship between evolution and ecology. Chapter One starts off with a discussion of natural selection that is unique; seems that one must rely on an ecologist for a full understanding of evolution. Begon suggests that the word abaptation be used to describe the match that most organisms display with their environment because that word carries with it the historical meaning that is left out of the picture when the word adaptation is used to descirbe the match between organism and environment.
All important areas of ecology are covered; population dynamics, energy in communities and biological diversity. Again, I have yet to see, after having examined several major publishers' offerings, a better book for either someone just getting started in ecology or a person already well versed in the topic.

The best ecology book I ever read.......2000-05-28

An exelent book, covering almost any area of ecology. Lot's of useful references. An essential book for any ecologist.

Good clear introduction to ecology........1998-06-08

This textbook is an excellent introduction to anyone who wishes to study ecology in an academic context.I have found it very useful in my undergraduate studies.

Evolutionary Ecology of Parasites - From individuals to communities

Average customer rating:

Evolutionary Ecology of Parasites - From individuals to communities
R. Poulin
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0412793709

Book Description

Parasites evolve under selective pressures which are different from those acting on free-living organisms. The aim of this textbook is to present these pressures and to show how they have shaped the ecology of parasites over evolutionary time. Broad theoretical concepts are explained simply and clearly and illustrated throughout with example organisms. The book will be an invaluable text for advanced undergraduate biologists who are studying evolutionary biology, ecology, population biology, parasitology and evoluationary ecology. It will also prove to be a valuable reference to postgraduate students and researchers in the same fields.

Individual Behavior and Community Dynamics (Population and Community Biology Series)

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Individual Behavior and Community Dynamics (Population and Community Biology Series)
John Fryxell , and Per Lundberg
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Social Psychology & Interactions | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Behavioral Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

A book blending evolution and trophic dynamics, taking into account recent advances in both behavioral and population ecology, is long overdue. A central objective of this book is to consider whether adaptive behavioral decisions on the individual organism level might tend to stabilize trophic interactions. A second major goal of the book is to explore the implications of presumably adaptive behaviors on trophic dynamics and the implications of trophic dynamics for the evolution of adaptive behaviors. All evolutionary biologists, ecologists, and behavioral ecologists should find this exciting volume essential reading.

Community Ecology of Sea Otters (Ecological Studies, Vol 65)

Average customer rating:

Community Ecology of Sea Otters (Ecological Studies, Vol 65)
G.R. Vanblaricom
Manufacturer: Springer-Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Individual-Based Models and Approaches in Ecology: Populations, Communities and Ecosystems

Average customer rating:

Individual-Based Models and Approaches in Ecology: Populations, Communities and Ecosystems
Donald L. Deangelis
Manufacturer: Chapman & Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Population Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Natural History | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Until fairly recently, populations were handled as homogenized averages, which made modeling feasible but which ignored the essential fact that in any population there is a great variety of individuals of different ages, sizes, and degrees of fitness. Recently, because of the increased availability of affordable computer power, approaches have been developed which are able to recognize individual differences. Individual-based models are of great use in the areas of aquatic ecology, terrestrial ecology, landscape or physiological ecology, terrestrial ecology, landscape or physiological ecology, and agriculture.This book discusses which biological problems individual-based models can solve, as well as the models' inherent limitations. It explores likely future directions of theoretical development in these models, as well as currently feasible management applications and the best mathematical approaches and computer languages to use. The book also details specific applications to theory and management.

Book Description

There are three volumes to study systematically and comprehensively the brain structure in bats. Interpreting brain data with respect to taxonomic and ecoethological relationships, volume 3 provides deeper insight into the significance of the diversity of brain structure. It contains the most comprehensive and up-to-date references on chiropteran brain structure and biology presently available. This work provides immediate access to a large fund of well-organized information. This reference work will be of great interest and service to persons working in the fields of comparative neurobiology, behaviour, ecology and morphometrics

Average customer rating:

Unforgettable, and not to be missed.

The Undefeated: The Oklahoma Sooners and the greatest winning streak in college football

Poorly Written

OU

Not Likely to Happen Again...

The Undefeated: The Oklahoma Sooners and the Greatest Winning Streak in College Football
Jim Dent
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books
College & University | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books
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Oklahoma | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0312303262

Amazon.com

In The Undefeated: The Oklahoma Sooners and the Greatest Winning Streak in College Football, The Junction Boys author Jim Dent chronicles how Charles "Bud" Wilkinson helped the dust-bowl-depressed state of Oklahoma regain self-respect by building a program that became one of the most dominant in college sports history. From 1948 to 1957, an era when players played both sides of the ball--170-pounders played tackle, and some players smoked three packs a day--the Oklahoma Sooners dominated college football in incredible fashion: they tied twice and lost four times, and amid their 94 wins they compiled winning streaks of 31 and 47 games.

Dent has an eye for detail, and the book is equally the story of coach Wilkinson and his eccentricities, with halftime speeches and an innovative coaching style that implemented schemes not found in the NFL for decades. Also of interest are the plight of Prentice Gautt, the first black OU player during a time of racial intolerance; the hardscrabble backgrounds of the tough-as-nails players; and how preparation for big games included espionage and decoy playbooks. Most of all, Dent retells game highlights in dramatic fashion, including how an opposing receiver, after potentially ending one of OU's streaks by scoring in the final seconds, confessed he had trapped, not caught, the ball. The refs discussed the matter, and "[w]hile the man in the gray flannel suit waited, watched and paced, a crowd of 50,878 held its collective breath, and prayed."

As the wins accumulated, it became increasingly difficult for Wilkinson to motivate players and fend off all comers. In like fashion, Dent loses steam, but not before making the heartfelt case that Wilkinson's Sooners fielded some of the greatest teams in history. --Michael Ferch

Book Description

For three perfect seasons (1954-1956), the Oklahoma Sooners won every football game they playedhome or awayand over the course of five years they won 47 straight games, a record that stands to this day. This awesome achievement was the product of a masterful coach and the spirited young men he led. The Undefeated details all the thrilling action on the field during this record winning streak, but it also reveals the behind-the-scenes tumult and pressure swirling around it. Dent presents an absorbing character study of Bud Wilkinson, the brilliant, complex coach who engineered the string of victories and whose starched-shirt public persona hid a man of many secrets. The Undefeated also provides an examination of a state and its people still suffering from a Depression hangover and an identity crisis, who took up the Sooners football banner almost as a religious cause.Through it all, the young men who accomplished this amazing feat shine in vivid life. Combining the gritty, evocative period detail of The Junction Boys with an in-depth look at a legendary coach and the determination of his team like When Pride Still Mattered, Jim Dent has created a classic work of sports literature.

Download Description

Simply put, Jim Dent has resurrected the historical sports genre. He established himself with his bestselling THE JUNCTION BOYS, and now he proves himself a master with his winning and powerful history of the Oklahoma Sooners' run of glory.

Customer Reviews:

Unforgettable, and not to be missed........2007-04-22

I wish every football fan would read this book, but I am willing to bet that a majority of it's readership is full of people like me. Oklahomans who are fans and supporters of our Sooners. I have to admit, I doubt many Texas fans are going to rush out and buy this book, hell, they probably wouldn't read it if there was a free copy in the john, but they might use it for something else.

So right off the bat, I have to expose my bias on this book. How could I not love it? So it doesn't mean much for me to say things like, "Everybody will love this book, it speaks to all college football fans."

While this book does not hold universal appeal for all people, here is why I think it should. It has an underlying message that is positive and inspiring. A message that can be used by anyone, anywhere, and at anytime.

Being born and raised in Oklahoma, I of course became very familiar with the place and the people that live there. From an early age I began to realize that Oklahoma wasn't all that popular of a place. Even most of the kids I grew up with didn't have many good things to say about Oklahoma. They always wanted to be someplace else, and this always bothered me a great deal. In fact, that is one of the biggest problems my home state faces. Oklahoma isn't great enough to hold onto it's own people. I live in Southern California, which might as well be Hell to many OU fans after what the Trojans did to OU in the Orange Bowl. So even I became one of the traitors, in a way. I will always call Oklahoma home, I just live in Hermosa Beach. I'm an Okie, and proud of it.

I knew we didn't have any pro sports teams, no major cities that get mentioned in the same breath as "New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, St. Louis, etc." Whenever the big news stations covered the weather, they never gave the weather in Oklahoma, we just kinda got looked over. After all, we are just the funny shaped flat state out in the middle of the country.

I very quickly realized that the only time my state popped up on national radar was when the University of Oklahoma's football team was involved. Of course, this became a source of pride for me and countless others. Oklahoma has no place comparing itself to other states in many ways, whether it be pro sports, big business, vacation hotspots, or just simply being a "popular" place to live and work. But when it comes to college football, we stand as proud as anyone, and we know that we deserve the right to do so.

What I didn't know as a kid, was that this was the plan all along. Years before I was born, the big wigs at OU and others around the state of Oklahoma wanted to use the University's football program as a source of pride for the state, and this was especially true when my home state was devastated by the depression and the great dust bowl.

The Sooners of Oklahoma at one time, won 47 straight football games, and this cemented their legacy as one of the all time greatest college football programs. The mission was truly accomplished, Oklahoma was on the map and everybody knew it.

This book covers a lot of ground in the history of OU football, all of it is exciting and interesting. I would think that anyone who is attracted to stories of victory, and overcoming great odds to succeed above all others, would love this book. It's not just about sports in my opinion. The reasons that Bud Wilkinson and his Sooner teams were so successful was because they displayed the attributes of champions. These attributes are universal to just about everything, business, family, sports, etc.

I am sure there will be some Negative Nancy's about this book, who can't help but bring up the numerous brushes with the law and the NCAA, that OU has had. All I have to say is, you're probably right, but if you're a fan of any major college football program and some of the not so major ones, then you have to right to criticize. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. That's what is said anyway.

I suggest you ignore all that stuff and focus on the inspiring message inside, don't let YOUR bias against Oklahoma, or it's University, or it's football team prevent you from enjoying a very fine tale of glory.

The Undefeated: The Oklahoma Sooners and the greatest winning streak in college football.......2007-03-10

Maybe I knew too much of the story before I read it but there was more info about the players and coaches and the women they had than about football. I would have liked to read about the football games they won!!!

Poorly Written.......2003-02-26

I try to read every college football book that I can get my hands on. I can honestly say that I have read few books written as poorly as this one. I was expecting much more considering the potential story lines involved in this subject. I simply did not enjoy this book because of the way it was written.

OU.......2002-01-29

A great great football story, but disappointingly written. For starters, Jim Dent misses his audience. Recreated quotes reminisce made-for-grade school stories, yet hollow and stereotypical characters go on big-time drinking binges and grow 'harder than Chinese arithmetic' over the ladies. More disappointing is that one must read between the lines to discover what's most fascinating about 1940s/50s-era football - that the national champion was chosen BEFORE the bowl games (imagine THAT before BCS), that players played on both sides of the ball, that there were no designated field goal kickers, and heaps of other subtleties that have faded away as college football has 'grown.' Perhaps there was a rush to get this out while the 2000 Sooners team was STILL undefeated and national champions. It takes time to make a winner, I guess.

Not Likely to Happen Again..........2002-01-10

As a fan of the history of college football I found Dent's book to be a breath of fresh air in a genre that is often peppered with statistics, numbers and facts & figures. Dent goes beyond the numbers to present a living work about the Golden Program of the Golden Era of college football.

Many books about the history of a team give just that, a history of the team but overlook the individuals that comprise the whole. Not Dent. He relishes in crawling in the dirt or sailing into the clouds with the players, coaches, supporters and fans who made the story of the OU 47-game winning streak possible.

For all the glory and fame, it is well remembered that the Sooners, perhaps the greatest college football team of all-time, was made up of the same stuff as the worst college football team of all-time...a coaching staff of chain-smoking, hard drinking, middle aged coaches and stiff-legged college boys often more interested in getting laid than getting playing time.

From desk drawers full of cash, to skirt-chasing, to fist-a-cuffs, to race relations, to sweaty lockerrooms to game day, Dent captures the aura of the greatest winning streak of all-time and the crushing pressure of winning and gut-wrenching fear of losing like few sports writers can.

Careful in his details and persistent with his research Dent writes a classic tale of college football while weaving a great yarn of story-telling.

Combine this book with Dent's "The Junction Boys", gift wrap them both and you will have the perfect gift for not only the football fan on your gift list but the overall sports fan as well.

Hell, my wife actually read and liked the book and she doesn't know squat about football...

Great job, Mr. Dent.

Book Description

From idea to contract to execution, this is the first all-in-one guide for prospective nonfiction writers. How to Sell, Then Write Your Nonfiction Book is uniquely structured to help you sell your ideas or yourself before you invest time and effort in a lengthy book project. This comprehensive reference guide provides specific tips for pitching and writing various nonfiction categories, with suggestions from agents, editors, and published authors. With expert advice on the technical elements of voice and style, useful resource listings, and sample proposals, you will find all the tools necessary to ultimately earn a living from nonfiction writing.

Customer Reviews:

Lots of Helpful Information.......2006-05-26

Ms. Camenson presents a terrific overview of the nonfiction publishing world in general. More specifically, she outlines the necessary steps to sell your nonfiction book before you actually write it. This is one of the major keys to professional time utilization. Ms. Camenson points out that there's no point investing a lot of time writing a book that might never sell.

Included in the book are tips for researching ideas, preparing and presenting query letters and book proposals, information on "standard" contracts, and advice on writing your book once you sell it.

As far as the writing advice section goes, there are much better aids, books, and guides for this. But, on the whole, this is an excellent book for the nonfiction writer's bookshelf.

How to NOT Sell, Then Write Your Nonfiction Book.......2005-10-31

In terms of "writing" a nonficition book, this book provides sound advice. As for "selling" your nonfiction book, well, that's an entirely different story altogether. The three sample query letters/proposals the author provides comprise 80+ pages of this only 213-page book. Yet, only one of the three actually SOLD. One is, by the author's own admission, her only manuscript that NEVER SOLD. The other, one the author thought was so compelling and was sure would be snatched up quickly, was ultimately self-published after being shopped around for years. If you're seeking rudimentary info on nonfiction publishing then this book passes. If you're going to model your own proposals after those provided within, however, you'd be better served elsewhere.

A good book.......2002-09-24

The strongest points of this book are the sections on ascertaining the market for your book idea, the options available to get your foot in the door, and the need to write a quality proposal (better is better than faster). The chapter about the elements that make up a book proposal are sound although not as extensive as they could be. The examples of query letters and proposals are excellent. I found the sections on writing the book to be less useful but sound. Other writers may find them very helpful. The book is graced with some wonderful quotes. One of my favorites - by Patrick Dennis - is "Writing isn't hard. It isn't any harder than ditch-digging."

Book Description

Before Snoopy, before Brenda Starr, there was the Yellow Kid, created by Richard Outcault for the NEW YORK WORLD in 1895. With the YELLOW KID (a.k.a. Mickey Dugan), a new narrative medium was created, with multiple panels and speech balloons as defining elements.

Customer Reviews:

The book comics fans have waited a century to read.......2001-11-08

Hard-core comics nerds might be familiar with the writing of Robert C. Harvey through his in-depth (and at times, fascinating) columns in The Comics Journal magazine. That style carries over well to this book. His commentary is refreshingly brief, preferring instead to let the work of a century's worth of creative genius speak for itself.

Rather than give us a straightforward, linear (hence boring) history of comics, Harvey treats them as the masterpieces of art they are--just as there are various fine art "movements" (Surrealism, Cubism, etc.) the same holds true for the comic strip. Harvey divides comic-strip history into five such movements--the formative years, standardization of genres, the adventure strip, the gag strip, and the socially conscious strips of today.

We learn some things that may seem surprising at first, but on reflection are perfectly logical. First, even the most talented 'toonists weren't perfect--we see the strips in their original form--pasteovers, glue stains, pencil marks, and blobs of white-out litter the work. It's akin to seeing an X-ray of a painting by a Renaissance master--even Leonardo and Michaelangelo made corrections, sometimes painting over whole figures.

Second, the supposed decline of the quality of comics (and the rise of artistically bankrupt strips like "Dilbert") isn't the fault of the artists or the syndicates. (Despite sentiments to the contrary by "Calvin and Hobbes" cartoonist Bill Watterson, whose scathing diatribe against modern comics is reprinted in the book). Paper shortages during the Second World War, Harvey tells us, forced editors to cut the size of newspaper pages to save newsprint, which in turn shrank the comic strip. The advent of television immediately afterward forced newspapers to stick to the wartime standard permanently--and they have shrunk even more since. Such developments spelled the end of the lavishly drawn adventure-continuity strips (the detail could no longer be seen) and paved the way for strips like "Peanuts". Harvey doesn't talk about the role of the computer in perhaps reversing this trend, which is one of this book's few flaws.

Harvey, like other fans, pleads for the acceptance of comics as a "legitimate" art form, but does so without attributing to them any more significance than they deserve. No overintellectualized Freudian interpretations about what the comics "mean"--to Harvey, they are a unique form of art, driven as much by commerce as aesthetics. They are a throwaway medium for the general public, but as he shows us, that's more than OK.

Glue Stains and All.......1999-05-31

Curated, with helpful annotations, by a leading expert, this is a beautifully produced exhibition catalog of the original art for American comic strips since 1896. Especially wonderful is the reproduction of cartoon originals in full color (not just black and white line art) so that preliminary blue pencil drawings, glue stains, and pasted-over changes are all clearly visible. (Copyright © by Roy R. Behrens from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol. 14, No. 3, Spring 1999.)

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