The Illusion of Choice: How the Market Economy Shapes Our Destiny (Suny Series in Environmental Public Policy)

Average customer rating:

Five Stars

Amazing

Wonderful glance at economic theory

The Illusion of Choice: How the Market Economy Shapes Our Destiny (Suny Series in Environmental Public Policy)
Andrew Bard Schmookler
Manufacturer: State University of New York Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Policy & Current Events | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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The Parable of the Tribes: The Problem of Power in Social Evolution

Fool's Gold: The Fate of Values in a World of Goods

Out of Weakness: Healing the Wounds That Drive Us to War (Bantam New Age Books)

Debating the Good Society: A Quest to Bridge America's Moral Divide

Living Posthumously: Confronting the Loss of Vital Powers

ASIN: 0791412660

Customer Reviews:

Five Stars.......2006-07-13

I read this a long time ago so I won't have any detail to give other than to say that I liked the book and I think it is worthy of five stars.

Amazing.......2006-02-14

Schmookler can write. And much of it rings in like poetry. Along with his major book, The Parable of the Tribes, this is one of my favorites.

Wonderful glance at economic theory.......1999-03-01

Mr. Schmookler does an excellent job critiquing conventional economic theory of all stripes in this book. He shows the virtues and flaws of markets in good detail. The finest part of this work, though, in my opinion, was its fine rejection of libertarian economic ideas, especially since it utilizes the words of the libertarians themselves in doing so. Mr. Schmookler has obviously studied the views of numerous conventional and alternative economists and he does a fine job of explaining their views and problems with them. Just an excellent work - easily the finest text I've seen on economics yet. Highly recommended.

Book Description

Current thinking about how to improve strategic planning (now upgraded to strategic thinking) and decision making by managers at all levels is to employ some aspect of information systems technology. Although this approach has worked well for most organizations, chief executives are now asking their managers to do what they do best but to do it better. But how? Future thinking about improving strategic thinking and decision making involves integrating creativity with the latest in information systems. Hence, the power of the computer can be an important means to assist managers in doing what they do better when employing a creative computer software approach. Initially, the text looks at a number of areas that are impacted by creativity, with special emphasis on creative computer software. Management decision making is examined from a problem-finding or a forward-looking viewpoint that can benefit from utilizing creative computer software. Not only is this software useful for organizing ideas, but also for getting managers involved in networking ideas in different locations of a company. But more importantly, this software centers on the generation of new ideas. To demonstrate the generation of these ideas, the final part of the text gives a number of real-world applications of creative computer software. Particular emphasis is placed on Idea Fisher 4.0, an effective software package for generating new products and services.

Book Description

Technology is only beginning to catch up with the public demand for foods that are low in fat and taste good. An extensive number of ingredients are under development for the sole purpose of fat replacement, using a variety of approaches and base materials. The Handbook of Fat Replacers describes in detail, for the first time in a single volume, the science and application of fat replacers in food products, including the multiplicity of technological, legislative, sensory, nutritional, and marketing issues involved. Part I of the Handbook is an overview of fundamental issues, including historical analyses and critical assessments of technological strategies, in the development of low-fat foods and the ingredients used as fat replacers. Part II discusses individual fat replacers and their properties in detail. The compounds are organized by their composition-starch-derived, fiber-based, protein-based, gums, emulsifiers, bulking agents, combination systems comprised of interactive blends, low-calorie fats, and synthetic fat substitutes, are all examined in detail.

Average customer rating:

Best fan guide to understanding baseball available

Good basic guide to baseball

One of the best books about the sport

5 Star Look at Learning the Game!

Very Helpful for anyone interested in the game

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Baseball
Johnny Bench
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books
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Baseball For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Basketball

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Soccer

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Football (2nd Edition)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Golf, Second Edition

ASIN: 0028629515

Amazon.com

This is for certain: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Baseball is, at over 400 pages, more complete than most Opening Day rosters; but, with Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench giving the signs, it's not just for idiots. Much of it is pretty sophisticated stuff.

Before knuckling down to the basics of how the game is played, Bench touches base with baseball's history, traditions, and the glory of its most magnificent records, like Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak, and moments, like Bobby Thompson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World." Both clear and thorough on baseball's ABC's--this is a good coaching aid for parents trying to introduce baseball to children--Bench ratchets things up a sophistication notch when picking apart pitcher-catcher dynamics, which is certainly fitting from the best catcher to ever play the game. He also makes solid contact on the art of hitting and goes fairly deep into the complexities of offensive and defensive strategies.

Still, you don't have to play to enjoy what the Guide is hurling. A section directed at fans analyzes everything from the business of baseball to how to watch a game on TV to Bench's predictions for the future. And there's still more. Appendices include a glossary, a who's who, and, most fun of all, a guide to the game between the covers, on the screen, and via the Web that's so extensive it could actually interfere with your going to the ballpark. --Jeff Silverman

Book Description

You're no idiot, of course. You know that Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat, Mark McGwire is the home run champ, and the '98 Yankees were one of the best teams in baseball history. But when it comes to understanding the finer points of a suicide squeeze or the impact of the designated hitter rule, you feel like a Little Leaguer facing a Randy Johnson fastball. Don't bench yourself just yet! Hall of Famer Johnny Bench--named the greatest catcher and 16th greatest all-around player in history by The Sporting News in 1998-- is here to help you follow the national pastime like a pro. In his fact-filled book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Baseball, Johnny gives you:

Customer Reviews:

Best fan guide to understanding baseball available.......2003-10-15

I've been watching baseball for years and there was a lot about the game I didn't realize or know I was missing out on. This book really gives you a better understanding of all aspects of the game. Bench goes over some important baseball history, then covers some of the basics like the baseball field, equipment, etc. He then has a chapter on the rules of baseball, and although it won't explain every rule of the game (that would take a lot of writing) it explains the ones that are most important to watching a game regularly. He also explains a lot of the strategy involved in baseball that I never completely understood, like which pitcher to start and close with, how managers decide the batting lineup, what kind of hit a batter might go with, how the defense can handle fielding the ball, etc. He explains how the Major Leagues work, discusses how they recruit players, and other stuff, and explains most of the stats you will see during a game or when reading about a game or player. The other reviews are right, he does throw in a lot of personal stories about his days with the Reds but honestly it didn't bother me that much. That's the beauty of the book; if it's not something you think is essential to read, you can skip over it. You'd be hard pressed to find a better book out there for learning baseball.

Good basic guide to baseball.......2003-05-14

I have both the "Idiot's Guide to Baseball" and "Baseball for Dummies" (I must be really stupid!). While either is acceptable as a good overall guide to baseball, I'd lean toward Johnny Bench's book; there seems to be more 'meat on it', even though I agree with one reviewer that there's a few too many personal anecdotes. One positive about either of the books mentioned is that while many of the 'Idiot's/Dummies' books had way too much 'forced humor', it's kept to a reasonable level on these.

Once you've digested either book, you might consider "Men at Work" by George Wills, "A Thinking Man's Guide to Baseball" by Leonard Koppett, "Tim McCarver's Baseball for Brain Surgeons and Other Fans" and the controversial but enjoyable book, "Ball Four" by Jim Bouton.

One of the best books about the sport.......2000-10-20

There's no better way to get into the game than by reading this wonderfully informative, thoroughly delightful overview of the sport. Not just the rules and procedures but the history, personalities, nuances and a wealth of inside information. As someone once said, "The only people who think baseball is dull are dull people."

5 Star Look at Learning the Game!.......2000-06-15

Bench imparts his knowledge of the game well in this book. Each chapter is devoted to a different aspect of baseball and is full of informative tips. I'm a casual fan and I learned so much reading though this book.

I learned about different pitches, offensive and defensive strategies, what each player's important jobs on defense and offense are, and how the manager tries his best to win the game.

There are also sections at the end of the book containing a glossary of baseball terms, all-time records, and a list of Hall of Famers.

I always admired Bench as a player; now I realize Bench is an excellent student of the game as well.

Very Helpful for anyone interested in the game.......2000-04-06

I bought this book for two reasons. One, I am a fan of Johnny Bench and two, my wife wants to learn more about baseball. What I found was a comprehensive "single source" for baseball info. I found the history and insight very interesting (baseball is after all nothing if not history) and the explanations are complete without being to complex for the neophyte to comprehend.

Johnnys personal insight into the game is very interesting, he certainly has the credibility to make observations and lacks the self aggrandizment that plagues so much sports writing (he doesn't include himself in his "All time greatest line up" when most people include him in theirs, deservedly so).

His pointers on the technique are both simple and thorough enough to get anyone started and complete enough to include even pointers on starting a local league and how to properly fill out a scorecard.

Johnny does include his own opinions on many things baseball related and while some may find that irritating, the insight of someone who has actually played the game and played it well are both interesting and compelling whether you agree with him or not.

If a person loves the game of baseball, or simply wants to be able understand the game enough to enjoy it, this book is for you. If you are looking for the "star gazing" and bloated, self serving commentary so common in sports writing, this will seem pretty dry.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball

Average customer rating:

Good book; a bit wordy

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball
Bill Gutman , and Ph.D., Tom Finnegan
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Basketball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1592570569
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Book Description

Here's the guide for current and prospective coaches that covers every aspect of effectively coaching youth basketball: teaching good sportsmanship, running an effective practice, coaching to a player's age and skill level, teaching offensive and defensive skills and drills, rules of the game, executing winning plays and strategies, dealing with parents.

Customer Reviews:

Good book; a bit wordy.......2006-02-23

"Complete Idiot" may be off-putting to some, but this book does cover a lot about coaching children, and basketball. It is especially helpful to those that lack experience working with kids' teams. I found it a little light on comprehensive basketball basics, but the history was interesting. Haven't checked out completing books, so I don't know how it compares to others in the marketplace.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fantasy Baseball

Average customer rating:

A personal memoir of the author
Great Bokk

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fantasy Baseball
Mike Zimmerman
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Fantasy Baseball Strategy: Advanced Methods for Winning Your League

ASIN: 0028638301

Book Description

Not everyone gets to play Major League baseball. In fact, not everyone has played Little League or even pick-up games. But everyone can play fantasy baseball--and it seems as if almost everyone does, with the huge boost the game received via the Internet. Fantasy Baseball is the greatest thing to happen to baseball fans since the invention of the sport itself, according to Michael Zimmerman, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fantasy Baseball. You are the one with all the power--you are the owner, general manager, and manager in a league of your own. See how to draft real major league players to form your own team. Use real stats from each real season. Use your own money. And if you win, you own the right of all rights: bragging. And if you stink? You have only yourself to blame.

Customer Reviews:

A personal memoir of the author.......2000-08-22

This book was not a complete waste of time. You do learn about the author's experience in a particular type of fantasy baseball league, but it leaves a lot to be desired. He does not really instruct the reader in how to make themselves a better fantasy baseball owner. This was my first year in fantasy baseball and had to really learn as I went. This book was not a big help. I could find out how to play from the rules of the game I played. I need a book that covers various types and variations of fantasy leagues, Challenge, Roto, 5X5, Sabermetrics, and fantasy point types. If you are new to fantasy baseball I guess it gives you a look at one owner in one league, but you really have to talk to other owners, and read all kinds of tip-sheets and articles on ESPN.com and other fantasy sites. It's a lot bigger world than the author lets you in on.

Great Bokk.......2000-04-03

I really liked this book. Go buy it.

Average customer rating:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Baseball
Johnny Bench
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8WYSO

Average customer rating:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fantasy Baseball
Mike Zimmerman
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O91RFE

Average customer rating:

The Title Says It All

NOT RECOMMENDED

Commonsense Etiquette: A Guide to Gracious, Simple Manners for the Twenty-First Century
Marjabelle Young Stewart , and Elizabeth Lawrence
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Little Book of Etiquette (Miniature Editions)

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ASIN: 0312242948

Amazon.com

Do you have a clue when it comes to the art of civility? Despite appearances to the contrary (road rage, airport rage, the age of litigation), Marjabelle Young Stewart believes, civility is as important now as it ever was--perhaps more so, as diverse groups with disparate expectations attempt to socialize and do business without smearing egg all over their collective faces, figuratively or literally. For all their steps forward in electronics and medicine, today's generation could do with a refresher course when it comes to table manners, office etiquette, and the polite giving and receiving of gifts, and Stewart, dubbed the Queen of Courtesy by Newsweek, is the woman for the job.

She explains the mechanics of a good conversation, commends the ritual of introductions, and discusses the prickly business of how to address one's parents-in-law. She takes on formal invitations, the social kiss, call waiting, and cellular phones, and delves into the niceties of which fork or spoon to use, as well as when, how, and why. Stewart compares the American and continental methods of eating, instructs how to eat fruit, pasta, mussels, and French fries politely (for which she advises a fork and knife in formal situations, but that seems a bit much for fries). Stewart's not, however, out to dictate rules for the sake of controlling your life. As she says, "Manners should never be a source of worry. On the contrary, knowing how to go about the business of eating and entertaining properly can provide a sense of confidence--for children and adults alike--that makes life easier."

In a similar vein, Stewart treats the dos and don'ts of weddings and thank-you notes, dining out and rites of passage, obituaries and emoticons. And she saves the best for last: "Fifteen Ways to Make the World a More Civilized Place," including "Resist the temptation to react when presented with bad behavior," and "Be aware that your actions--good and bad--affect those around you." Stewart's returns etiquette to its proper place in our society. --Stephanie Gold

Book Description

Dear Reader,For the past forty years I've had the great pleasure of teaching schoolchildren, college students, businesspeople, brides- and grooms-to-be, and other Americans the simple joy of behaving with courtesy and style.With my sixteenth book I'm thrilled to be sharing with you a complete handbook for old-fashioned and effortless etiquette for the twenty-first century.Never have thoughtfulness and care been more important in our lives-- from shared conversations at the family dinner table to two-line E-mails written in haste. I hope this book helps bring the joys of graciousness, kindness, and civility to your home and your life.Yours fondly,Marjabelle Young Stewart

Customer Reviews:

The Title Says It All .......2006-07-23

I did not read this book cover to cover, because the etiquette described in the chapters I did review, including "Communication", "Weddings", "Giving and Receiving Gifts", and "Office Etiquette" was either obvious (fake enjoyment if you receive an uninspired gift, be on time for a job interview...) or unhelpfully broad. This book may be appropriate for a teen whose manners need polishing. But as an [I hope] already somewhat considerate adult, I picked up no new information or strategies from this book.

NOT RECOMMENDED.......2005-06-28

The information in this book more basic than I had expected. The quality of the paper and the printing is also very cheap. This book is definitely not worth the price I paid.

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