Reflections on Commercial Life: An Anthology of Classic Texts from Plato to the Present

Book Description

Is commercialization the mainspring of modernity? Do modern commercial forms represent an end state of social development--the "end of history"? Reflections on Commercial Life, an anthology of writings from the ancient Greeks to contemporary thinkers, poses these and other similar questions. It provides students, scholars, and general readers an opportunity to develop a more self- conscious and critical relationship to commercial life, as it challenges the inattention of mainstream economics to the social forms that make up commercial life, such as money,the commodity, wage-labor, and capital.

Selections are drawn from seminal works of high intellectual and literary quality. Through an inquiry into history, nature, and outcomes, Reflections on Commercial Life is an important anthology that offers the opportunity to explore, as never before, alternatives to modern commercial life.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent collection of human arrival at commerce.......2001-04-05

Commerce IS Western society and has been since our Puritan founders disclosed divinity in the ethos: work hard. From Calvinism, we have developed the Gila Monster (as John Steinbeck puts it) called capitalism, and now it develops and controls us, dollar for dollar.

Patrick Murray gives us a guided tour of commercial life via classical and contemporary texts: Aristotle reminds us of the purpose of money in commercial exchanges as well as our contradiction in the form of usury (using money to "breed" money, collect interest). Aquinas allows us refuge from usurious sin by examining consumable forms of capital (money) and non-consumable forms of capital (like an apartment for rent). Then, there's John Locke's labor and Invisible Hand, David Hume's luxury, and probably most importantly, Karl Marx's Capital.

After Marx, the book takes an interesting shift into Weber's "spirit of capitalism," Bataille's examination of gifts, Weil's "bigness," and others.

This is one of the most important books I have ever read. The social form peculiar to commercial society is, like language, so close to us that we often can't see it. Even recommending this book, I am asking you to participate in a commercial exchange: you SELL your labor power to your employer; "they" give you a wage and keep the excess value you've produced; you BUY this book, read it, and suddenly understand how it all works.

Book Description

Throughout history, money has developed along with society. During ancient times currency took many forms, including such varied items as beaver skins and sea salt blocks. As societies made technological and artistic advancements, their monetary systems and currencies advanced as well. Today, coins and currency are an important part of the historical and archaeological record, providing information regarding the culture, religion, interests, and major leaders of societies throughout the world.

This reference work offers numerous entries of historical commentary on the role of coins and currency in human events, politics, and the arts. Not only does this sourcebook cover the evolution and circulation of money throughout history, it also includes biographical information on the designers of coins and the creators of various monetary systems. A timeline of important events in the history of money is included, along with a glossary and bibliography. Photographs of coins and bills enhance the text, providing an up-close look at many beautiful artifacts.

Book Description

What's going on with corporate America? More and more, the success of today's leading companies is based upon favorable quarterly earnings reports. This mantra of consistently high earnings and the stock market effects it generates has driven America's business executives to seek every advantage and to implement every economy possible. Why didn't business advisors and industry analysts see Enron, WorldCom, and countless other business scandals coming? What really happened at IBM in the 1990s as its revenues declined and its market position eroded? Where have many of America's leading businesses looked for workable management solutions to prevent more corporate debacles from happening in the future?

Steve Romaine answers these questions in one word -- consultants. Consultants are the common denominator, and they are enmeshed in all aspects of business today. Exposing the real story about corporate America's increased reliance on consultants, SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 500 offers a view of the inner workings of the corporate machine never before shared with management or stockholders, a hired gun's journey beginning at the outside looking in, and ending at the pinnacle of a corporation's power.

Based on his experience working for IBM, his later role as a self-employed consultant, and finally his responsibilities as senior vice president for NationsBank, Romaine provides many insights into the complex manager-consultant relationship and makes it clear that the issues leading to the collapse of Enron were not isolated events. He explores corporate cronyism between executives and their consultants, and builds a convincing case of how, without the proper safeguards, such cozy relationships can lead to pervasive problems, placing stockholders, employees, and the future viability of the American corporation at risk.

In addition to bringing to light the agendas of omnipresent consultants, Romaine offers advice to help manager avoid future quagmires: "Manage them, or they will manage you." To ensure a successful alliance between managers and consultants, Romaine furnishes corporate managers with a summary of observations at the end of each chapter, containing sage advice he has garnered during his twenty years in the business world, so they can better understand their changing roles and responsibilities, recognize the tactics and strategies of the four main types of consultants, learn the rules of engagement and how to execute them, maintain the loyalty of employees, and provide incentives for better collaboration between employees and consultants.

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 500 is a road map from current corporate ills to new solutions for the challenges ahead. It is a must read for corporate managers, employees, anyone involved with the consulting business, and anyone interested in what is going on in the high-stakes game of cat and mouse being played out every day at all levels of corporate management.

Customer Reviews:

Good story, but Romaine misses the core problem.......2007-07-16

I enjoyed this book. Its a great blow-by-blow story of how business works (or doesn't) seen by an insider. Romaine sees the problem as that of consultants with their own agenda huntng for follow on business, lining their pockets but eventually failing to deliver what they pronmised at the expense of their clients. He's right of course, but he never seems to ask the next question - how is this allowed to happen? He thinks that better control of consultants is the solution. I'm not sure. I wonder if this isn't just a bandaid on a broken leg.
I question whether the issue isn't that the corporations he describes aren't fundamentally disfunctional, driven by ego and riven by infighting. Why did NationsBank need to be the biggest? Did the hunt for growth from takeovers not just hide their technology and management problems for longer? From the book it appears that taking over other banks did not deliver the synergies and cost savings promised through technology, so they cut staff (and often customers left too as service worsened) to make savings committed and quickly moved on to the next takeover. It seems like pyramid selling - its great whilst it lasts, but cannot go on for ever.
Unless corporations can deliver new functions, better service or other breakthoughs, then new entrants or others in the business are bound to eventually win out in the marketplace. Corporations can grow stodgy, hidebound and stuffed with too many managers at the top and lose sight of customers and their business. Takeovers, downsizing, outsourcing and consultants only put off the day of reckoning. Its honest management with an unrelenting customer focus that organisations need. Using and controlling consultants better is but a small part of it.
Thanks for a good read Steve, but eventually I was disappointed that you never dug to the bottom of the issues.

Slashing critique of a consulting firm and client.......2007-03-12

Soldiers of Fortune 500 takes Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and Nationsbank (now Bank of America) to task for spending too much money on an ineffective information technology program. Romaine expands this personal story (in which he partook as a consultant too) to condemn the consulting industry in general. If only the consultants and clients listed were able to defend themselves...

The subject is germane today, but the book has not stood the test of time. Perhaps intended as the Liar's Poker of the consulting industry, it ends a more specific diatribe against the parties listed.

Provides an interesting view of NationsBank, now Bank of America.......2006-04-11

All of the other reviews here discuss the author's observations on the perils of dealing with, and how to control, consultants. (Accenture, formerly Andersen Consulting, justifiably draws his ire) His comments ring true since he was at the center of one of the most difficult software development projects in history, NationBank's Model Bank platform, which lay at the heart of the NationsBank/Bank of America merger in 1998.

Many of Mr. Romaine's observations will be on interest to IT people who face similar conversions. The more casual reader will find much of the discussion about insider-fighting tedious.

The Bullet Point suggestions for dealing with consultants that appear at the end of each chapter are particularly useful.

Interesting view into corporate IT.......2004-10-13

This book presents an interesting view into the politics of modern corporate IT with the various relationships between internal employees, departments and consultants.

A good read.

Definitely a worthwhile read!.......2004-01-17

This is a "must read" for any consultant and more importantly any one who works with or hires consultants. From my perspective (as a finance professor) perhaps the book's greatest benefit is that Romaine lays out a rarely talked about conflict within the nexus of contracts: the shareholder vs. the consultant. While not necessarily always opposed to each other, the consultant has a much shorter time horizon and hence differing incentives. Given the fact that incentives matter, the book is a good introduction to an overlooked conflict that is worthy of future academic research.

oh and it is interesting too! :)

Jim Mahar
http://www.financeprofessor.com

Customer Reviews:

Start Your Own Information Broker Service.......2005-11-29

Don't waste you money on this turkey. This book is a basic primer on how to set up any business. It is not specific to the information brokerage business. In fact no more than .1 percent of it deals with information brokerage if that. I'm surprised that a publisher like Prentice would publish such a misleading title.

Probably the worse book on... not Info Brokerage, for sure!.......1998-12-02

"Start Your Own Information Broker Service" is not only a gross misnomer but also reassured me about the necessity of being provided a proper table of contents or a good synopsis on the "At a glance" page. This is a perfect example of how just browsing through its TOC should have been more than sufficient to steer you away from it. Don't waste your money on this one. If you want a good book on information brokerage, look somewhere else. If you want a mediocre general book on how to start your own business, save your money a buy a good one! It simply amazes me how this one could manage to get published by Prentice Hall...

It contained two pages specific to information brokerage.......1998-07-30

This book was grossly lacking in information pertaining to information brokerage. The book was about how to start any business,only 2 pages were dedicated to info service. Save your money! I learned nothing! I recommend the Information Broker Handbook by Rugge! It's excellent!

not much help.......1997-11-23

As another reviewer has stated this book is how to start abusiness. its useless for starting an information brokerage.

The Book Title Should be HT Start Your Own Small Business.......1997-11-13

The book had all the basic general information on How To start your own (any type of) small business. The inside contents of the book even specifically state that the book was based on people's experiences in the mail order business. I bought the Book because I wanted specific information on starting my own Information Broker Service. The outside back cover had more information regarding the Information Broker Business than the entire inside contents of the book.

Start Your Own Information Broker Service

Average customer rating:

Start Your Own Information Broker Service
Pfeiffer
Manufacturer: Pfeiffer & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

New Business Enterprises | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0893842869

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT BOOK FOR MODERN BUSINESS COMMUNICATION.......1998-09-12

A very useful book to the ones interested in this field. Useful examples updated to today's business needs (e-mails, memos, etc.). Good for both native and non-native English speakers.

Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:
Vest-Pocket Guide to Business Writing: The Instant-Answer Source for Today's Business Writer (Vest-Pocket Series).
Deborah. Dumaine
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OI7BMS

Customer Reviews:

A must have "how-to" for psych grads.......2007-08-01

This book gives great tips on potential interview questions for internship as well as precise hints on how to write excellent cover letters and vitae.

Great Resource.......2007-01-04

This book is a great resource for anyone who is about to embark on the internship application process. I highly recommend it!

Necessary for understanding "the match.".......2006-05-21

This book is a great step-by-step guide of how to approach the application essays, registering for APPIC, and debunks some urban legends about "the match." Additionally, there are tips on interview questions/questions you should ask, sample cv's, and suggestions for tracking your practicum hours. This book, however, does not offer much information about the APPIC Clearinghouse (God forbid that any of us have to go through that!!!).

Average customer rating:

Perfectly Practical

Advice That Works !

Practical strategies for getting the best possible deal

A REAL BARGAIN!

The Bargain Hunter's & Smart Consumer's Field Guide: How To Buy Almost Anything For Next To Nothing!
Art Beroff
Manufacturer: Avebury Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Consumer Guides | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0971459819

Book Description

Would you like to save 10 to 90 percent off the price of everything you buy? Don't have time to collect coupons or shop for sales? Hate trudging through outlet malls? Then you need this book. Packed with the tips and techniques of smart consumers, The Bargain Hunter's & Smart Consumer's Field Guide can save you thousands of dollars. You'll learn how to:

* Get discounts and unadvertised specials everywhere you shop
* Get merchants to call you when deals come in
* Use the Internet to get bargain prices at local merchants as well as online
* Become a smart comsumer and get discounts from service providers--doctors, attorneys, insurance companies, contractors, and more
* Negotiate great deals on family and business vehicles
* Find the real deals at flea markets, garage sales, and auctions
* Negotiate like a millionaire on real estate property

Whether you're shopping for yourself, your family, or your business, The Bargain Hunter's & Smart Consumer's Field Guide will show you how to buy the things you want and need for less than you'd imagine possible.

Customer Reviews:

Perfectly Practical.......2003-10-20

I love this book! It's so easy (and fun) to read. It's got chapters for buying new products as well as buying "Secondhand Rose" stuff at auctions and estate sales and a very detailed index, perfect for looking up an area I want to concentrate on. I just looked up holiday gifts and found some terrific ideas for bargain buying now, instead of waiting until December. This book is full of practical information on how to make your money go further while having fun at the same time.

Advice That Works !.......2003-10-04

A excellent primer on getting great deals on all kinds of products, from clothing to computers to cars. Besides the great advice (which really does work!), the book is a fun read, with lots of tip boxes and sidebars that share the authors' own experiences.

Practical strategies for getting the best possible deal.......2003-08-11

Collaboratively written by Art Beroff (a professional investment banker and member of the Small Business Administration National Advisory Council), with the collaborative assistance of Rob Adams and Terry Adams (real estate development and property management experts who buy distressed properties and then remodels and furnishes them for a profit), The Bargain Hunter's & Smart Consumer's Field Guide is a solid and accessibly presented money-saving guide to getting discounts when shopping or utilizing service providers; using the Internet for finding bargain prices; negotiate like a professional over real estate; and much, much more. The text is comprised of motivational, down-to-earth language, showcasing accessible and practical strategies for getting the best possible deal, while avoiding scams. The Bargain Hunter's & Smart Consumer's Field Guide is a thoroughly "user friendly" how-to guide that will literally pay for itself over and over again.

A REAL BARGAIN!.......2003-07-26

Save 10x the price of the book on your first purchase. Don't wait...buy it now and start saving!

Customer Reviews:

Not an insurance company.......2000-04-26

I have not yet read the book, 5 years after it was published. It predicts the doom of Lloyd's of London, which still has not occurred. They've been able to sort out their problems.

There is an important misconception in the reviews and sinopsys on this website: Lloyd's is not an insurance company; it is an insurance market formed by syndicates providing insurance and reinsurance coverage. Some of these syndicates have been very profitable, others have not.

Fun and interesting expose about a mysterious world.......1997-07-22

Excellent introduction to Lloyds, the incestuous relationship among the insiders, and how the insiders used their superior knowledge coupled with the myths surrounding historic Lloyds to dupe individuals into becomming Names. If you're in the business, this book has a lot of dirt about a lot of folks. A good read

Ultimate Risk The Inside Story of the Lloyd's Catastrophe

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Risk The Inside Story of the Lloyd's Catastrophe
Adam Rapheil
Manufacturer: Four Walls Eight Windows
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W8JOZW

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Risk: The Inside Story of the Lloyds Catastrophe
Raphaeldoubleday
Manufacturer: Bantam Press, 1994
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0593026934

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Risk: The Inside Story of the Lloyd's Catastrophe
Adam Raphael
Manufacturer: 4 Walls 8 Windows Publ.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NQKALU

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