Book Description
Until a 1998 federal court decision, a Minnesota publisher claimed a monopoly on access to all federal court decisions. A Texas company recently filed a patent on a kind of rice grown in India for centuries. Other businesses now claim ownership of mathematical algorithms embedded in software, valuable public lands acquired for five dollars an acre, and icebergs that they plan to transport and sell as fresh water.
In Silent Theft, David Bollier argues that a great untold story of our time is the staggering privatization and abuse of our common wealth. Corporations are engaged in a relentless plunder of dozens of resources that we collectively own-publicly funded medical breakthroughs, software innovation, the airwaves, the public domain of creative works, and even the DNA of plants, animals and humans. Too often, however, our government turns a blind eye-or sometimes helps give away our assets.
Amazingly, the silent theft of our shared wealth has gone largely unnoticed because we have lost our ability to see the commons. Spooling out one outrageous story after another, Bollier skillfully weaves together debates about the Internet, the environment, biotechnology, and the communications revolution. His fresh and compelling critique illuminates a rarely explored landscape in our political and cultural life.
Crisp and revelatory, Silent Theft is a bold attempt to develop a new language of the commons and, in the face of a market order that knows no bounds, to outline an ambitious new project for reclaiming our common wealth.
Customer Reviews:
Nothing new here.......2003-02-16
Bollier does a credible hob outlining the issues surrounding the theft of the public commons. Many of the issues he highlights are unbelievable. Just thinking about how much of the public commons are being given away is truly astounding (the mining act of 1872 is one example that has always bugged me. A pretty good deal to lock up mineral rights for a few dollars an acre.)
However, Bollier comes up short in his recommendations. He outlines a few suggestions as to how to stop the "silent theft", however, many of his ideas will require a quantum change in how business operates. There is no way Congress will agree to any of them. I would loved to have seen him address how to jump that obstacle.
Highly Useful.......2002-12-08
Bollier has written a very useful little book, of particular interest to liberals, Greens, and Libertarians, as well as the broader public. The book's thesis holds that the 'commons' -- understood as our collectively owned assets, (natural resources being one example) -- are under steady threat of enclosure (privatization) by an increasingly aggressive commercial sphere in search of expanding profits. His use of the more archaic terms 'commons' and 'enclosure' to describe the process is a shrewd one, connecting current encroachments to those more infamous enclosure laws of time past. Despite appearances, this is not an abstract bookish issue. Daily, the public faces such benchmark symptoms as depleted public resources, brand-name idolatry, open spaces overwhelmed by advertising, and threats to an unfettered internet. Ironically, what is disappearing, as Bollier points out, are those very public and personal places that provide a market economy with the societal wherewithall it needs to reproduce itself. Inasmuch as the market has its own parochial definition of rationality -- one that has increasingly become the public standard -- such commons are too often unable to justify themselves and thus are contracted and sold, disappearing at an alarming rate. Government's role in aiding and abetting these enclosures is also detailed, and while the book is severely critical of market myopia, it does not call for their elimination, but for an intelligent circumscription.
Traditionally, liberals have defended the public sphere. This work should help provide some backbone for rediscovering the importance of that commitment. It is a call to arms for those who understand the long-term significance of what the author calls the "Gift Economy", i.e. a free exchange among parties, as exemplified in the conditions leading to the explosive growth of the internet. Greens should like the emphasis on community-based solutions, while Libertarians should feel challenged to justify their paradigm, given the sociological priority of gift economies. Bollier's style makes for easy reading, along with a helpful bibliography. The book is neither weighty nor deep, but it does maintain a steady focus and serves as a useful compendium for understanding the rapidly shrinking public domain, and what we are losing in the process.
Book Description
The complete blueprint for making the transition to the most exciting new growth area in psychotherapy today-corporate therapy
"For any psychologist and consultant seeking to apply his or her skills to the great challenges of the corporation, this book is invaluable. Lucidly written, concrete, specific, and practical."—Nathaniel Branden, PhD Psychologist, Management Consultant and author of The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
"One of the few books that looks at organizational change through the prism of personal change. Transformation, that overused word, is given new meaning in this book as the integration between personal growth and deep cultural change."—Dr. Warren Bennis Distinguished Professor of Business Administration at USC and author of Creative Collaboration
"The job of a therapist is to create a context for change. One immensely important and often overlooked arena to help people in this era is to transform large corporate systems. Iris Martin draws a beautifully detailed map from the therapist's door into the corporate terrain. Sometimes poetic and always rich in examples, she helps readers shape their talents to transform corporations. Reading this book will greatly expand a sense of potential and provide specific guidelines for the journey."—Stephen and Carol Lankton Corporate consultants and authors of The Answer Within; Tales of Enchantment; Enchantment and Intervention in Family Therapy; and Practical Magic
From Couch to Corporation
The business world is experiencing the shock of rapid, unprecedented, all-encompassing change. It is a time of new paradigms and roles, and the accompanying emotional and psychological upheaval. Increasingly, corporations are finding that conventional change management consultants are incapable of dealing constructively with the larger psychological issues that underpin successful change and ultimately impact the bottom line. As a consequence, more and more business executives are coming to rely upon the services of consultant psychotherapists. Trained both in systemic and individual interventions, sensitive to developmental transitions, and skillful in maneuvering the system/psyche dynamic, the well-trained therapist is ideally suited to help organizations successfully maneuver through rapid corporate change.
But the transition from couch to corporation can be a harrowing one; complete with unforeseen pitfalls, unfamiliar rituals, and different values and priorities than private practice or traditional consulting. From Couch to Corporation is designed to help therapists and nonclinically trained change consultants make the transition comfortably and successfully into this new role. It provides psychotherapists with a complete blueprint for becoming successful corporate therapists.
Authored by the founder of one of North America's most prestigious psychologically based international consultancies to the Fortune 500, this book uses case studies and extensive real-world examples to illustrate what it takes to succeed in the corporate environment today.
From Couch to Corporation helps you expand your professional skills and take advantage of lucrative opportunities now available in the field of organizational consulting. As corporate executives recognize the impact of the pressures of the 1990s (downsizing, restructuring, and merging), they are turning with increasing frequency to psychologically skilled professionals for support and guidance. This book will arm you with the insights you need to enter this rapidly growing consultant specialty.
Customer Reviews:
Idea is good, so why do I feel uncomfortable?.......2001-09-23
I read this book a while ago, after seeing an full-page ad in the Family Therapy Networker. I was favorably enough impressed with the book to call Iris Martin to inquire about her seminars, and spoke with her directly. I was sent flyers (which is good) in which there were testimonials. So I called some people listed, to find out how "competent" the seminars were. I spoke with three people (I don't have names), all of whom had taken the year long seminars, none of whom would recommend her. I decided to skip the workshops.
So, the book is OK as a coaching manual. It's a good introduction to coaching--probably as much as any book can be. Just don't expect the book to replace appropriate training, or to serve as a training manual.
An extraordinary book!.......2001-01-13
Best book i've ever read detailing how psychology has transformed corporations across the globe. I loved the case studies of the crazy CEOs the best! It is all the rave of London.
More Resources.......2000-02-05
Ms. Martin seems to be knowledgeable on the subject & takes many oportunities to sing her own praises. I wish she would've spent more time pointing reader into the direction of helpful resources, people, references, etc. I finished the text feeling I had lots of good ideas, but no where to go for further support and information. Finally, compared to other similar books, the purchase price of the book is extremely high. (Maybe she needs to help pay for all those houses she owns :-) )
More "real time" perspective needed........1999-06-25
Martin's book provides an entry level overview of the complexities required to make a transition from conventional therapy to the more "bottom line" world of business. Martin illustrates the application of traditional therapy based skills but provides only a cursory view of real-time business issues - particularly as those issues apply to firms of more moderate size. There are also several instances in which Ms. Martin utilizes scenarios in which there appears to be clear "client/therapist - consultant/therapist" conflicts. Yet, she offers no hint of how these issues are addressed or resolved.
Martin's book is enjoyable introductory reading that needs to provide more substance if it is to have significant impact.
Job Retraining for Therapists.......1996-11-07
Martin presents an interesting outline of how to take psychological therapy skills into the corporate environment. If you're a therapist considering taking on corporate clients for either mentoring or marketing work, this book is a must.
Note, Martin assumes psychotherapy expertise. Her focus is on how to transfer it. She doesn't cover what techniques are useful in helping corportions, except incidentally.
Book Description
This book serves the small and medium business (SMB) technology consultant seeking to make a great living as a professional service provider. Focused more on the "business" side than the "bits" side, it's all about: * Not only surviving but thriving as an SMB consultant by cultivating a superior portfolio of top flight customers with appropriate, effective and efficient business development approaches.
* Keeping your customers happy by applying the consulting practice management skills presented between the covers.
* Finding your calling in SMB consulting life by discovering niches such as Windows Small Business Server 2003 (SBS 2003) that allow you to master a technical area and consistently deliver assured outcomes. Some will find this book, built on the well established construct of the finder, minder, grinder professional services delivery model, could aptly be titled "How to Make Money as an SMB Consultant." Others will view this book as a transition tome between SBS 2000 and SBS 2003 due to the timeframe that is was penned (this books uses both examples as . Others will view it as the first SBS 2003 book to market! And finally, many will consider this book their ready guide to taking their SMB consulting practice to the next levels of profitability and service delivery. Bottom line: This is your "pocket MBA" course on how to launch yourself as an SMB consultant using Microsoft's SBS solution -or- if you're an experienced consultant, this book will help you sharpen your SMB consulting operations. It's safe to say it's purchase price will be returned many times over and reflect an positive return on investment! You may contact the author (an experienced SMB consultant, SBS guru and writer) directly at sbs@nethealthmon.com if you have any questions about this book you would like answered before you make your purchase. You will receive a reply within one business day.
Customer Reviews:
Self Merchant.......2007-03-31
If you haven't heard about the author's personal enterprises, then you surely will after reading all about him in this book. Heck, if a merchant won't promote his own wares, then who would? The gist of the book is to sell yourself wherever there is a heart-beat, and since would-be readers of this book have a pulse, they are fair game.
The author insists on calling this light-weight a 'tome,' but it is far from one. This book could have been written in half the number of pages and had room to spare. It is interspersed with redundant spaces for the reader's notes. These 'Notes' boxes and generous screen-shots fill many pages with vacuums when the author draws a blank. He admits it is more profitable to self-publish and and so the lack of editing is evident. The prose is colloquial, verbose, replete with spelling and grammatical errors, and has a few misplaced figures.
So why rate it three stars? Well, we mustn't throw out the baby with the bath water. The author is a successful consultant and so his experiences are instructive. Among the topics covered are the business plan, growing a consulting practice, marketing, sales, client relationships and financial management. One can almost envision him recalling courses from his MBA as he navigates these topics. The author is a Microsoft Small Business Server consultant and the material leans heavily that way, and so a more accurate title would have been SBS Consulting Best Practices. The coverage is adequate, but not worth the price tag, especially for those familiar with consulting books.
Nothing but a bloated advertisement..........2005-12-19
From the blurb on this book's back cover, it would seem that actual consulting with 'SMB' as a target market would be covered extensively in the book content. This really isn't the case.
Page after page of this book contains little more than thinly veiled advertisements for 'MS Small Business Server'. Reason after reason for selling 'SBS' to a client is detailed, while providing little else in the way of actually useful information.
For example, take chapter 6, titled 'SMB Consulting Sales'. This would hopefully contain information on selling consulting services to an SMB. Instead, this chapter focuses entirely on the section 'How To Sell SBS in under five minutes'. Swell.
From the standpoint of a consultant looking for ways to begin or improve practices as related to SMBs, this book is nearly worthless. I count myself fortunate that I purchased it used for $10, but I honestly regret spending even that.
If you're seeking useful information on consulting to the 'Small To Medium sized Business', look elsewhere, you won't find it in this book. If you'd like to pay in the neighborhood of $60 for a bloated sales pamphlet that covers MS SBS in nauseatingly fuzzy detail, then this is a must-have.
A Worthy Investment.......2004-11-30
I stumbled onto Harry Brelsford just by happenstance while I was searching for info on SBS for a client who uses SBS. I got the SBS starter pack which includes this book and the "Best Practices Book" (plus other stuff) and so far have not regretted my decision. I am new to consulting and this book has been extremely helpful to me in planning my practice with its realistic but positive tone. Harry's folksy "wit and wisdom" approach makes what could be a very dry and painful subject exciting and interesting.
Since I have a strong background in business and finance, there were a few chapters that were not as much use to me as they might be to others, but there was still a plenty of other great information left for me to feed on.
In the interest of full disclosure you should know that there are several typos scattered throughout the text. This tends to be distracting at times (it would drive my wife crazy) but I found the book so interesting that I was able to deal with it. In my humble opinion, the substance by far outweighs the form, so trade in your red pen for a hi-liter and you will still get more than you money's worth.
Also, one might argue that this book is just one big advertisement for Microsoft and its products. As Harry would say "fair enough", but as we all know, you have to be sold on the product you are selling, and if what you are selling is your services as an SBS consultant, you had better be sold on Microsoft and its products. Otherwise you had better choose another line of work!
That said, the book was a great read - interesting, well structured, and very informative. It had lots of great marketing ideas, information on how to expand and leverage your consulting practice, and many ideas for suggested additional resources one can use to springboard into further study. Well worth the money and time spent. I am continuing to work through his "Best Practices" book and I am looking forward to the release of his "SBS 2003 Advanced" book. When it comes out I will buy that one as well...
Great Book, Harry keeps his streak going!.......2003-10-06
If you know Harry Brelsford and his writing this is the next book in a long line of great books. Harry's wit and personality shines to the forefront but don't be mistaken this book is strictly about making money and advancing your business which Harry is all about. If you're starting up your own consulting biz then you must have this book or if you are just stagnant in your own practice this book has some great pointers to get you going again.
Also, as a SMB Nation attendee I suggest that as well, which is the conferences that Harry sponsors. Check it out at smbnation.com.
Get it, Grab it, Read it, Understand it, Prosper from it!
Tavis Patterson
TAZ Networks
Book Description
You Can Make a Fortune from Home!
Imagine starting up a million-dollar-a-year business from the comfort of your own home. What a life! No more bosses, no more nine-to-five grind, no more just getting by. Home-based business expert Tyler Hicks has shown thousands of people how to achieve this dream. Now, in this invaluable book, he shows how you can achieve it, too.
203 Home-Based Businesses That Will Make You Rich opens up a world of opportunity you never thought existed. You'll learn how to:
·Stake your claim in the multi-billion-dollar Internet market
·Find hidden success in real estate
·Export your way to great wealth
·Make big money on high-discount and liquidation sales
·Sell information and grow enormously rich
·Do good works and get money that you never have to repay
·And much more!
Lean how to choose which business is right for you, how to find money for financing, and how to pick the best ways to promote your business—including low-cost publicity through the Internet. This is your chance at financial freedom and independence in a wealth-building business all your own!
Customer Reviews:
The only source for real business opportunities.......2004-12-15
Ty Hicks writes books that are pre-sale materials for his other more detailed products. They are intended to show the wealth seeker the possibilities. Many of the reviewers that critized the Hicks materials probably paid thousands for an education that has not made wealthy other wise they would not have looked at this book. Specialized knowledge is what Hicks is selling. The "kits" provide the details. They are larger and more expensive and would be marketable in a book store. The newsletter has real info on loan sources. Hicks does actually answer his phone and will answer your questions. There are no other books in a book store that will give everything needed to actually run a business and learn the business. Even my other favorite, Robert Kiosaki, doesn't tell what to do in any of the Rich Dad books. So get over it and get off you rear and stop read these books and start doing business.
Still an interesting book for ideas.......2004-10-11
While I would agree with most other reviewers that this is more of an "idea" book and not much on the nuts-and-bolts, still, every great business in the world did start with an idea.
The author uses repeated references to his own products because that is what he knows best and his product line was fabulously successful in sales! I did not find these mentions distractive.
The reference list of associations in Chapter 5 is useful and handily organized. The list of products/services in the back does contain some business ideas that I had not considered before.
The banking and loan information tips are particularly valuable and presented in easy-to-understand terms. The author's advice is excellent, and the average person probably does not know how to approach the applications in the way he explains.
Terrible, a waste of money and space on my bookshelf!.......2003-11-04
This is probably the worst book on business that I have ever read. The business suggestions that Tyler Hicks gives are not realistic and will NOT make you rich. Additionally, he spends most of his time selling his other products. To me, this book is the prototypical "get rich quick" scheme that never works for anyone. Don't waste your money.
BUYER BEWARE!.......2002-12-16
Should be titled: 203 OTHER BOOKS AND THINGS YOU CAN BUY FROM TYLER HICKS TO MAKE HIM RICH!
I've bought your book - now stop selling at me!!.......2002-07-04
One or two tentative ideas hidden amongst 342 pages of adverts for more of his products. Every time I came across another "plug" for one of his "kits" or "handbooks", I believed less and less in what he had to say.
Sort of like the literary equivalent of the door-to-door insurance salesman!
If you could get past the adverts, then there is some value in the ideas and motivational messages.
Book Description
While there are several schools of thought about how PR professionals should relate to reporters, only one truly serves our purposes and the public interest: a professional relationship. Recognize that dealing with reporters is a fact of life and that the goal is to achieve communications objectives by getting the messages out as well as by being responsive to reporters.
Lukaszewski talks frankly about the professional nature of your relationship with reporters based on five basic caveats:
1. Set objectives (have a reason for dealing with reporters).
2. Do your homework on reporters.
3. Do your homework on their medium.
4. Understand the nature of the relationship (you are always a story).
5. Establish your own internal ground rules and stick to them.
This monograph provides a different perspective on this controversial subject.
Book Description
"I have advised countless medical students and applicants over more than two decades and I repeatedly found myself agreeing with the advice given by the Daneks." —Michael V. Drake, M.D.Professor and Associate Dean, School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco
"These authors have the experience, knowledge, and writing skills to lead the lost through the maze of uncertainties of medical schools and beyond."—Robert H. Shapiro, Ph.D.Academic Dean and Provost U.S. Naval Academy
"Any student thinking about a career in medicine should have this book."—Tyrone D. Taborn Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Career Communications Group, Inc.
Here, at last, is the book that will help you realize your dream of a career in medicine. Whether your goal is to work in a busy city hospital ER, as a country doctor, or in research, here you'll find innovative ways to actively plan and tailor your medical school education to meet your specific needs. Explore your many options with:
- Straight facts on the medical school admissions process
- Up-to-date information on the MCAT
- Advice on selecting the right medical school
- The current medical trends and the most attractive specialties
Customer Reviews:
The best book I have read for pre-med.......2007-09-12
I would highly recommend this book to anyone going into pre-med. There are so many practical tips, ideas, etc.
I have been doing a lot of research into medschools and what it takes to get in etc and this book did not seem too redundant to me.
The writing style is friendly and easy to read. I almost feel like a trusted friend is giving me advice.
Not many books like this........2007-08-27
Although this book is a little outdated, it answers many of the questions premed students have about getting into med school. It helped me to focus my efforts and keep on the path of becoming a doctor.
Informative.......2007-03-17
Lots of good to know as well as need to know information. I could've wasted my time in a career in medicine but now that I know what all is involved, I know it's just not for me. You may think you're meant to be a doctor and so may all of your friends and family but don't be so sure until you find out how to get to that career and what all it entails.
Simple, subtle and inspiring.......2007-02-17
This book is excellent for someone just thinking of applying into medical school. It simply crashes the stereotypes of what makes a doctor and make the journey and initiation to medical school more simple. So YES you don't have to be a genius to get in and finish. You just need to have your own personal self concept to get you through to the end of the day. Great handbook for medical students
Great for anyone considering to become a doctor.......2006-10-17
This book was great, but most of it was common sense knowlege. I had wished it had gone into more detail about medical shool etc...The ending of the book sort of just dropped off, I kind of expected more. But it was a real eye opener, and it showsthat as long as you put your mind to something you can be anything you want to. A great self motivator!
Product Description
How to Protect your most valuable asset.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Black Enterprise, published by Thomson Gale on September 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1988 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Stolen lives: identity theft is the country's fastest growing crime. Here's how to protect your most valuable asset--you!(CONSUMER ALERT)
Author: Stephanie Young
Publication:
Black Enterprise (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 36
Issue: 2
Page: 86(4)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Amazon.com
"With cellular telephony... we saw an enormous gap between what was and what should be. I mean, [the fixed phone system] makes absolutely no sense. It is machines dominating human beings. The idea that people went to a small cubicle, a six-by-ten office, and sat there all day at the end of a six-foot cord, was anathema to me" So says Craig McCaw, who staked what once amounted to $3.5 million dollars of long-term debt on the idea that in the not-too-distant future, America would be ready to cut that six-foot-cord... and whose epic risk paid off big in 1994 when AT&T bought for $12.6 billion the nationwide cellular-phone empire McCaw had for the past decade stealthily patched together, leveraged buyout by leveraged buyout.
His story is told here by O. Casey Corr, who covers business and technology for The Seattle Times. Corr starts with the 1969 death of McCaw's broadcasting-tycoon father, whereupon Craig and his superrich Seattle family realize they are actually flat broke. At once risk-loving and shrewd, young Craig starts buying one small cable outfit after another in the Pacific Northwest as the fledgling industry picks up steam through the 1970s. But sensing the real wave of the future is the wireless phone, McCaw seizes on the FCC's mid-1980s decision to jettison its Byzantine application process for wireless regional franchises in favor of a lottery system--a move that transformed wireless speculation from a sleepy insider's game dominated by AT&T into a nationwide feeding frenzy, all at a time when cell phones and their transmission were still wildly expensive and their mass popularity more than a decade away. Leveraging one high-risk purchase against the next, eventually with the help of junk-bond king Michael Milken, McCaw gobbles up most of the infant markets. But he's smart enough to dodge his debt by selling off the entire thing to AT&T in 1994 for a dazzling $12.6 billion. He has since moved on to future-minded projects such as Teledesic, his $9 billion partnership with Bill Gates, Boeing, and Motorola to create what the book calls "an Internet in the sky, a satellite network that provides fast, cheap Internet access worldwide."
The dissolution and triumphant reconstruction of the McCaw family fortune is an intricate tale of shrewdly choreographed deals, and Corr tells it well, in an assured, crystal-clear and tautly paced entrepreneurial narrative. That said, Money from Thin Air does a better job of dissecting the technical minutiae of McCaw's empire-building than it does at dramatizing or interpreting the personalities or psyches of its main players, foremost McCaw. Corr tries hard to paint McCaw as another of those quirky, New Economy, redwood forest visionaries à la Bill Gates, full of complexities. But Corr fails at making much of a vivid character of McCraw or hitting the essence of what drives him to take such vertiginous risks. Perhaps that has to do with the one quality in his subject he seems to nail--McCaw's seeming desire to be as invisible (or, many of his employees would say, inaccessible) as possible. By Corr's own admission, McCaw agreed to all of two interviews for this book before he got bored and politely waved Corr away. You may not get caught up in the characters of Money from Thin Air, but you'll keenly follow McCaw as he profits his way across the frontier of an emerging telecommunications market. --Timothy Murphy
Book Description
From Jay Gould to John D. Rockefeller to Bill Gates, the titans who change the world have set themselves apart by seizing the high ground before anyone else even knew it existed. Gutsy, shrewd, and ruthless, they were, above all, visionaries who saw whole new industries where others saw only chaos. Today, another visionary is seizing control of the vast new world of telecommunications, an elusive entrepreneur named Craig McCaw.
Money from Thin Air is the story of how he created a new industry literally from thin air, and how he will do it again.
Journalist O. Casey Corr vividly portrays here for the first time how McCaw created a cellular communications empire from the disarray of his father's failed cable business and went on to sell it to AT&T in 1993 for a stunning $12.6 billion. And he shows how McCaw is now creating another new industry that could dwarf the accomplishments of Gates and Rockefeller put together, an "Internet in the Sky" that will provide high-speed data access to any point in the world. Most of all, Corr captures the heart of a new kind of executive -- mercurial, brilliant, extremely flexible, always entreprenurial -- who is changing the way business works forever.
A Leadership Style for the Twenty-first Century: McCaw's radically different approach to management--based on hard-nosed negotiation, shrewd borrowing, and a rare willingness to change business plans on a dime--is the new model for anyone who wants to survive, let alone thrive, in the new economy. This book shows how McCaw's unique management style evolved by instinct and from periods of intense personal reflection and self-scrutiny.
Insight into the Emerging New Media Landscape: Today, the telecom world is in turmoil. Giant companies are vulnerable because of their entrenchment in old technology and high cost. So they merge; bigger must be better. At a different level, start-ups tap new pools of capital and maneuver to exploit opportunities created by stumbling giants and collapsing regulation. Increasingly, it's a game for the nimble and the daring. The telecommunications world has come around to Craig McCaw's way of business.
An Amazing Life: Rarely does a family make and remake a fortune. Craig McCaw's father literally ran his multimillion-dollar radio and television business out of his hat, and when he died suddenly at an early age, the family's bank declared the estate insolvent. McCaw, then only twenty years old, rejected the advice of more experienced businessmen and began investing the money he got from his father's life insurance in a series of businesses most thought worthless, or at best, extremely risky. His career since then has been a series of increasingly large-scale ventures based on a unique personal vision of an emerging human society in which all of us will be freed by technology.
The Next Big Thing: McCaw made one fortune in cable TV and another in cellular telephones. Now he's building a telecommunications empire of staggering potential through a collection of companies he controls: Teledesic, a satellite partnership with Microsoft's Bill Gates that is building a global "Internet in the Sky"; Nextlink, a company positioning itself to rival the Baby Bells with its own vast network of fiber-optic cable and switching systems; CablePlus, a company that provides voice service, Internet access, and TV signals through coaxial cable; and Nextel, an international wireless-telephone company with an expanding role in data services. Each company alone is breathtaking in its ambition, hunger for capital, and risk-taking management style. Together, they provide a glimpse at the depth of McCaw's ambition: one company capable of providing high-speed data access to any point in the world.
Odd, mysterious, yet public-spirited, McCaw is a technological visionary who sees profit where others see thin air. His amazing, ongoing story is required reading for anyone wanting to understand what it takes to build an industry from scratch -- twice.
Customer Reviews:
A good story, but you never get close enough to McCaw.......2004-03-11
As Corr tells it, McCaw has always operated by a unique, hands off managerial style, often absent from key negotiations and busy flying his plane and paddling his kayak through British Columbia. For an author of a business biography, such a subject presents a real problem, because it makes it virtually impossible to paint a nuanced, subtle, in depth profile of the subject, and Corr's book suffers from this flaw. Michael Lewis had the same problem with Jim Clark in "The New New Thing," and I think there are few biographers of sufficient skill to really help us understand a mercurial figure like McCaw.
That said, the book is still worthwhile, especially for the excellent early history of the cable and cellular phone industries. The explosive growth, relentless deal making, constant capital shortages, and sudden, inexplicable abandonment by the financial community might ring a chord with anyone who has lived through the last five years. Revolutions in the communications business seem to follow such a hype-hysteria-despair-rebuild path, and today's investors and entrepreneurs can learn a lot by studying the early history of these industries. For this purpose, Corr's book is a worthy addition to a business person's library.
Sleeper in Seattle.......2003-08-24
This book provides limited facts that are not already available in the newspaper. The writing style is monotone and does not compel the reader - definitely not something that will keep me up at night reading.
Reads fast.......2001-08-03
Very insightful, quick reading book about one of the nation's most unique business leaders, a real character. There should be a sequel about McCaw handling the big shakeout in telecom and about his pet project, saving Keiko the whale. I hope Corr does another book.
Boring..........2001-06-09
The long title first struck me very impressively. However, as I went on reading the book, I find it frustrating and uninteresting. It's hard to write a book with a boring life (no offense, Mr. McCaws). But rather than diving into how the McCaws from not a nerd, a technologist, or futurist becomes successful, the author tries really hard (but unsuccessful) to make McCaws as a great visionary. If you look at the reference section in the book, you will see that most materials for this book came from newspaper. The author has to admit in his book that McCaws didn't spend much time to be interviewed either. Besides, some readers might find the book funny and silly in a technical point of view. Well, I have a feeling that the author doesn't have much insights on the wireless industry. I just read "AOL.COM" before reading this book. And in comparision, this book is really a frustration even though I really want to know more about McCaws, a local well-known family.
The Boring Billionaire.......2000-12-18
This book is obviously the story of Craig McCaw and how he made his fortune in the cellular phone market. The book does a good job of summarizing Craig's life from a family tragedy that shaped his business life, to his strong belief in cellular communication and how that made him a millionaire.
The good news/bad news is that he eschews the fame and glory of a typical egomaniac like Donald Trump. It's great from a role model standpoint but since McCaw is so protective of his privacy and is around so few people, it was difficult to write a glamorous tale of an unglamorous life. Particularly since there is no mention of McCaw ever being interviewed by the author. Therefore, you are left with the history of cellular phone development in America coupled with mention of McCaw's unique management style.
That was enough for me as I had no knowledge of the business and it was interesting to see how a conservative man leveraged himself to great wealth. But don't buy this book if you want stories of drugs, models or other scandals. This story is nothing more than a successful business tale and that is enough.
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| Popular Economics
| Business & Investing
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