Insatiable Is Not Sustainable

Book Description

In today's culture of insatiable freedom, many believe that to be human is to be an insatiable self-actualizer. Yet insatiable is not sustainable. In order to solve today's crisis of environmental sustainability-and human sustainability-we must let go of our obsession to constantly be more. The desire to have all that we can have comes, Brown argues, from a cultural norm that has evolved to become an economic, social, and moral imperative-that To Be is to achieve more, improve more, and insatiably have more, to the point of planetary extinction. Incorporating the views of classic scholars--Aristotle, J.S. Mill, Marx, Thorstein Veblen--into his own unique interpretation, Brown traces human history from the earliest hunters and gatherers through the emergence of capitalism and the evolution to today's insatiable self and the culture of insatiable freedom. In conclusion, Brown argues cogently for the creation of a culture of sustainability, offering practical ways to achieve this goal.

Customer Reviews:

i was a student .......2007-06-22

Doug Brown was a professor of mine in college for comparative economics. his book "insatiable is not sustainable" is an awesome book that will definitely change one's perception about our culture of material-slavery. we had to read the book as a part of curriculum for the class and regretfully, i resold my copy back to the book store. (in order to make a quick buck). ironic and moronic because i resold it in order to perpetuate my insatiability... i highly recommend and have quoted it or referenced it many a' times since i've read it in college. i am searching for a cheap replacement and for those of you whom are interested in this book, i highly recommend it.

Should we value production over life itself?.......2003-05-23

Doug Brown has changed the way I feel about being "productive". Brown shows the reader that humans havn't always been so obsessed with improvemement, and havn't always followed the cliche of "be all you can be". And eventually this obsession with being more leads to insatiability because you can always be more! There is no end to it!

Another thing that sticks in my mind after reading Insatiable Is Not Sustainable is a quote by Derrick Jensen: "This culture values production over life itself." This constant pressure to be productive, and emphasis on "growth" in this culture is channeled into our economy which is turning living trees into to two-by-fours, mountain tops into aluminum cans, and prairies into parking lots.

Anybody who is fed up with dominant/taker culture needs to read this book.

An Important Book.......2001-11-15

If humans are going to have a future on this planet, a blaze of change has to sweep the earth in the next few decades--a change in the way people think about the world and our place in it. One of the sparks that are going to kindle this blaze is Doug Brown's Insatiable Is Not Sustainable, a book that reaches deep into the mad recesses of our culture (while retaining a sense of humor and remaining delightfully readable).

Insatiable Is Not Sustainable.(Book Review): An article from: Journal of Economic Issues

Average customer rating:

Insatiable Is Not Sustainable.(Book Review): An article from: Journal of Economic Issues
Stewart Long
Manufacturer: Association for Evolutionary Economics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008DK8FG
Release Date: 2005-07-31

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Economic Issues, published by Association for Evolutionary Economics on September 1, 2003. The length of the article is 846 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: Insatiable Is Not Sustainable.(Book Review)
Author: Stewart Long
Publication: Journal of Economic Issues (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2003
Publisher: Association for Evolutionary Economics
Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Page: 817(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

Insatiable Is Not Sustainable
Doug Brown
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORK838

Average customer rating:

Insatiable Is Not Sustainable
Doug Brown
Manufacturer: Praeger Paperback
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORBEMC

Amazon.com

Many books introduce Active Server Pages (ASP) programming and most include a few chapters on Component Object Model (COM) development. But Web Programming with ASP and COM offers an innovative mixture of content. Instead of covering COM component development with Visual Basic, like most ASP tutorials, this guide uses the more advanced Visual C++ language as a model.

The book is divided into two parts, with the ASP portion well suited to programmers new to VBScript coding. The text discusses both the VBScript language and the ASP platform in short, topical sections with brief, targeted code examples. This approach gets the reader up to speed on the basics of ASP scripting in no time; only then does it lead into the most advanced topic in the first part, ActiveX Data Object (ADO) programming and database integration.

As readers move to the second part of the book--an introduction to COM component programming with Visual C++--they might want to brush up on C++, since the previous part has them focusing on VBScript. To illustrate COM architecture, the book uses the Active Template Library (ATL) COM Wizard. Other key topics, such as MTS, ADSI, and MSMQ, are introduced very briefly.

Programmers have many reasons to code COM components in C++ for production use, so this ASP introduction is quite useful. But readers should be confident in their HTML and C++ programming skills before diving in. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered:

Web client/server model
Active Server Pages (ASP)
Component Object Model (COM)
VBScript
ASP object model
ActiveX Data Object (ADO) database programming
Built-in scripting objects
ATL COM Wizard
COM interfaces
COM automation
Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS)
Active Directory Services Interface (ADSI)
Windows NT Web security

Book Description

Active Server Pages (ASP) and the Component Object Model (COM) are two exciting technologies that are quickly making the development of mission-critical Web applications easier than ever. ASP, with its simple scripting languages and well-designed Web object model, is easy to learn. COM is a bit more complex, but is the most widely used standard for distributed reusable software components. Together, ASP and COM provide programmers with the tools necessary to develop applications for e-commerce, messaging, and database front ends.

Web Programming with ASP and COM emphasizes the importance of both technologies in an easy-to-read tutorial format. This book covers the fundamental concepts of ASP and COM, and quickly gets the programmer up to speed building Web applications.

Key topics include:

* Basics of Active Web programming * The VBScript programming language * Fundamentals of ASP and the debugging of applications * Working with databases and ActiveX Data Objects * Introduction to COM objects and the Active Template Library (ATL) * Automation * Introduction to Microsoft(r) Transaction Server (MTS), Active Directory, and Microsoft Message Queues * Securing ASP applications

This thorough, approachable resource shows you the power and flexibility of using ASP and COM together. If you are a Web application developer looking for a down-to-earth introduction to the construction of ASP Web applications using COM components, you need this book.

The accompanying CD-ROM includes extensive code examples used in the book, along with compiled, ready-to-run COM components.

Customer Reviews:

Execellent book for beginners on ASP and COM.......2002-10-29

I'd like to thank the author for writing such
a brilliant book. Everything I wanted to know
as a beginner is there.

Would have saved me a lot of frustration!.......2001-07-06

This book freaking rocks! I only wish I had found it back when I was learning ASP. It addresses all of the ASP issues that had me frustrated when developing an interactive site that is based around a database. I'm not finnished with this book yet but I have to give it a thumbs up now because of all that I have gotten from it so far.

This is a must buy if you are starting out or somewhat experienced with ASP, the COM information is a definate bonus as well. The examples are real-world and you will find the general information that Crouch gives on programming for the web invaluable.

Must buy for newbies.......2000-06-14

If you want a basic introduction to ASP, ATL, COM, MTS and ADO and how to put them together then this is the book for you.

When learning how to create an n-tier web application we must all start somewhere - and I would recommend you start here. Once you have experimented with the examples in this book then move onto the more focused books (ASP 3.0, Mastering COM and COM+, ATL Internals, etc).

The accompanying CD is ok, but does contain a mistake or two (which you will have to work out) and doesn't always exactly match the code shown in the book - but this should not cause you any problems if you have understood the written text.

As this is a basic introduction there are a number of topics it does not cover - OLEDB, threading for example.

For me though, this has been the clearest introduction to web programming for c++.

Excellent relevant sections (other technologies).......2000-05-24

This is a brilliant book, it focuses on the essentials required for developing real world web applications. The section on "real" COM (using C++ ATL) is excellent! Well worth the buy.

Excellent introduction to ASP and COM.......2000-03-17

This book is an excellent introduction to both COM and ASP. My questions were answered clearly and easily, and it didn't hurt my brain too much either. I was thrown into the situation of supporting a site (using ASP and some COM) without much background in either subject, and this book helped me to come up to speed quickly and make the site better in the process. The book not only introduces the various aspects of ASP and COM that you're likely to encounter in the real world, but also does a very good job of explaining how and why to use them, and the various options you've got at each step. Highly recommended.

First Aid for Meetings: Quick Fixes and Major Repairs for Running Effective Meetings
Average customer rating:

Pragmatic Approaches

Great resource

First Aid for Meetings: Quick Fixes and Major Repairs for Running Effective Meetings
Charlie Hawkins
Manufacturer: Bookpartners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Running Meetings & Presentations | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

How to Make Meetings Work!

The Manager's Guide to Effective Meetings

Running a Meeting That Works (Barron's Business Success Series)

Great Meetings! Great Results

how to hold successful meetings (30-Minute Solutions Series)

ASIN: 1885221614

Book Description

"First Aid for Meetings" is a complete reference to running meetings on purpose, on time and for results. Filled with common sense and uncommon wisdom, Charlie Hawkins provide strategies, tips and tools that will improve the planning and effectiveness of every meeting.

Customer Reviews:

Pragmatic Approaches.......2002-12-05

This book has very practical advice for facilitating 1:1 and 1:many meetings. This book has helped me polish my communication skills and become a more effective business person. I recommend this book to anyone, novice and seasoned career folks alike, who want to take their interactions to the level.

Great resource.......2000-01-19

I found this book to have practical advice around many of the stumbling blocks people have in conducting effective meetings. Well organized, humourous, and very practical suggestions have made a difference to several YMCA's in the US.

Average customer rating:

Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide

Informative Guide with Online Updates

Thank you Tim Kirkwood!!

A concise, skillfully presented compendium

Not worth the money

Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide
Tim Kirkwood
Manufacturer: Planning/Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Job Hunting | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Commercial | Aviation | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
jp-unknown3 | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant

Welcome Aboard!: Your Career as a Flight Attendant (Professional Aviation series)

Follow Your Dreams©: Secrets to Getting Hired as a Flight Attendant

Vault Guide to Flight Attendant Carrers

Flight Attendant Skills Test (FAST) (C-3338)

ASIN: 1884587143

Book Description

Did you know that lesser-known charters, regional airlines, and corporate flight operations are rapidly hiring flight attendants even as the big airlines make headlines with staff cutbacks in the wake of September 11? With competition for flight attendant positions more intense than ever, author Tim Kirkwood applies his 27 years of flight attendant experience to guide you to the airlines that are hiring and show you the ins and outs of this unique profession. Tim gives you the lowdown on:

How to survive the one-of-a-kind interviewing process so you get hired.

Why it is crucial that you select the airlines that are right for you to start your flight attendant career.

All U.S. and Canadian airlines: Tim's directory includes each airline's application requirements, pay scale, training, domiciles, and more — so you can select the airlines you most want to work for (free online updates).

What types of background make you an attractive candidate to the airlines.

Everything you need to know to succeed as a professional flight attendant.

Customer Reviews:

Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide.......2007-05-14

This book is not worth any amount of money. A much better buy is The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant by Kiki Ward. She has answered any and every question one may have about any part of the resume/interview process with questions as well as answers on how to answer those questions! Tim Kirkwood's book was useless...not enough information with a much too broad spectrum. Trust me...buy Kiki Ward's book - you won't be disappointed!

Informative Guide with Online Updates.......2006-05-28

Review for the 77th Anniversary Edition

Since this book was written back in 2002, it is probably due for a major update, but the main information will still be helpful to anyone looking for a career as a Flight Attendant due to the online updates for the second half of the book listing airlines.

The first part of the book introduces a history section, information on minimum requirements, education needed, work experience and career benefits. They also explore types of airlines, corporate flying and the application process. Training, Flight Scheduling and a typical three-day trip is also featured.

This book should serve as a good introduction
to this industry and give you ideas about
which company you may want to work for.

~The Rebecca Review

Thank you Tim Kirkwood!!.......2005-11-28

I had less than 5 days to prepare for my interview with one of the major U.S. airlines. I knew I was disadvantaged, because I didn't know anyone else in the airline industry, nor did I know much of anything about being a Flight Attendant!! I was so nervous, I couldn't sleep adequately for days before the interview. So I stayed up late, and I read this book along with Kiki Ward's The Essential Guide to Becoming a Flight Attendant and needless to say, I was very satisfied with the results! On the day of the interview I was armed with knowledge, ready to answer any questions the airline threw my way, and felt confident that I had an edge over the other less-prepared candidates. Thanks to these books, the aformentioned airline hired me on the same day!! So please, if you're considering a career as a Flight Attendant, please get this book and please prepare yourself as much as possible. It will be worth every minute of your time, and every dollar you put into it. Thanks again, Tim Kirkwood!!

A concise, skillfully presented compendium.......2003-12-13

Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide by 27-year TWA veteran flight attendant Tim Kirkwood is an authoritative and straightforward manual to pursuing a flight attendant career. Included is reliable information regarding the physical and educational requirements; surviving the interview process; seeking jobs on lesser-known regional airlines, charters and corporate flights (which have increased hiring even as the big airlines have made staff cutbacks since the September 11th attacks); a directory of application requirements for all the U.S. and Canadian airlines today, and more. A concise, skillfully presented compendium Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide is a "must-read" for anyone interested in the rewards and opportunities of becoming a professional flight attendant.

Not worth the money.......2003-03-05

I ordered all of the books available for flight attendant interviews. This one was the worst. I don't recommend it based on the content as it just wasn't as helpful or nearly as informative as others. Out of all of those I ordered, I'd recommend The Essential Guide To Becoming A Flight Attendant. It contained every question I was asked in my interview and a lot more information.

The Smart Mom's Guide to Staying Home: 65 Simple Ways to Thrive, Not Deprive, on One Income
Average customer rating:

Great Gift Idea!

Long title...quick read for busy Moms

Excellent Ideas!

If you have common sense you don't need this book

Don't go without, get it for less!!!

The Smart Mom's Guide to Staying Home: 65 Simple Ways to Thrive, Not Deprive, on One Income
Christine Walker
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books | Banks & Banking | Corporate Finance | Foreign Exchange | Inflation | Interest
Budgeting & Money Management | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Motherhood | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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You Can Afford to Stay Home With Your Kids: A Step-By-Step Guide for Converting Your Family from Two Incomes to One (You Can Afford to Stay Home With Your Kids)

The Momstown Guide to Getting it All : A Life Makeover for Stay-at-Home Moms

Living Well on One Income: ...In a Two-Income World

So You Want to Be a Stay-At-Home Mom

The Stay-at-Home Parent's Survival Guide

ASIN: 1412007607
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Product Description

How to conquer the fears that prevent parents from shifting from work to the home. You can switch from two incomes to one without sacrificing your standard of living.

Customer Reviews:

Great Gift Idea!.......2006-11-02

If you're looking for some good insights for yourself, this is a great, easy-to-read book. But, it's really great to give as a gift to a young bride or an expectant mom. Yes, some of the things the author discusses should be common sense, but let's face it, not everyone has common sense and many of us forget to use it sometimes! Ms. Walker gave me some great ideas and got me to re-think some of the things our family does. I am the envy of my whole family because of the deals I get on children's clothing, and until I read this book, I really wouldn't have seriously thought about rummage sales and consignment shops. Now, you can't pull me out of them. If you're looking for a quick, down-to-earth start on getting a handle on your budget, this is a helpful and fun book to start with. Thanks!

Long title...quick read for busy Moms.......2006-03-04

I like this book for it's practicality, simplicity and the fact that the author, whether intentional or not, made this an easy read that doesn't consume more of your time than necessary. Some of these suggestions are fairly common sense, others are eye-opening suggestions that could certainly make for practical use. Her writing style is not superior or overly-authoritative but more personal and conversational. Like reading a letter from a good friend who's "been there".

Excellent Ideas!.......2005-04-26

I am a mom of two little girls, and, like all other mothers, am always looking for ways to save money - but with precious little time to hunt for bargains. I thought that Christine Walker's book gave some easy, creative ways to cut costs on everyday items. As the author suggested, I have gone to my local grocery store and introduced myself to the store manager. He said he is happy to help point out bargains, and told me that he wished more people would take the time to seek him out!

Also, I went to a dollar store - never had been to one before - and it was a blast. There really are everyday items to be purchased for $1 - hairspray, shampoo, candles, etc.

This book is a quick read and a lot of fun. I highly recommend it.

If you have common sense you don't need this book.......2005-03-18

This slim book is filled with common-sense ideas on how to save money such as cut coupons, buy in bulk, eBay, rummage sales, etc. If you normally live a moderately frugal lifestyle, you won't find any new insights here. In fact, I can add a new one: #66: Don't waste $15.95 on this book.

Don't go without, get it for less!!!.......2005-02-15

The title of my review is the author's motto throughout the book. The book is short BUT full of helpful hints and information. Walker obviously knows what she is talking about, and knows what works and what doesn't when it comes to cutting back on spending. She is realistic, sometimes funny, and always to the point. By the way, despite the title, the book is in fact for anybody who would like to learn how to downsize without being a miser and still enjoying shopping!!! The Mystery Shopping suggestion is WONDERFUL. My husband has landed a LOT of assignments!

Average customer rating:

A Moms Guide to Family Finances
Ellie Kay
Manufacturer: Revell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Budgeting & Money Management | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Money & Values | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Motherhood | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Half-Price Living: Secrets to Living Well on One Income
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Shop, Save, and Share
Money Doesn't Grow On Trees: Teaching Your Kids The Value Of A Buck
The Debt Diet: An Easy-to-follow Plan To Shed Debt And Trim Spending

ASIN: 0800787358
Release Date: 2006-08-01

Book Description

Many parents dream of the day when their credit card bills are paid off, when they have a savings account and an IRA, or when they can take a once-in-a--lifetime family vacation. But many of them have no idea how to make those dreams come true. Writing with her entertaining signature style, Ellie Kay shows readers how to manage money to meet their goals. She offers practical strategies for saving money, making and sticking to a budget, and weathering financial setbacks. No matter what their family's financial background looks like, readers will find a useful tip or two in this easy-to-use book from America's Family Financial ExpertT.

Average customer rating:

Rescued!
Huge money savers this time!

Moms Saving Money
Ann Fox , and Susan Fox
Manufacturer: Harvest House Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Saving on a Shoestring: How to Cut Expenses, Reduce Debt, and Stash More Cash

ASIN: 0736902007

Customer Reviews:

Rescued!.......2000-08-11

I am a recently divorced father and pay child support for 2 children. I just read your second book, MOMS SAVING MONEY....my ex-wife has all of your books and I ended up with one of them when I moved out of the family home..... I found a simple but life- changing idea in your book that has literally rescued my sanity. Since I do support my family monetarily, there is little left over for me so I have had to rent a bedroom with a bath in the home of a very nice family. However, going into their private kitchen I felt awkward as well as coming into the front or back door, etc. . Then I read about the twins' father's idea of how to make any bedroom and a bath into a little efficiency apartment. I think this tip was to help make added income but it saved my life. I used the "boards and blocks" tips and created a little kitchenette in my bathroom (to be near running water )by buying a small microwave and a small ref........I painted the concrete blocks black and bought the white laminte boards at my local lumber store which were very inexpensive, stacked them into the configuaration I wanted ( not even using mortar since it is small) and now I have my own little bachelor pad! I even asked the owners if I could put the window in my bedroom on hinges as long as the look of the window didn't change....I used a piano hinge....the window is low to the floor and now I have a seperate little entrance and can come and go as I please!.....thanks, twins.....you write tips that only people on a severe budget would understand! I love you guys! Happy Tim

Huge money savers this time!.......2000-05-04

I loved your first book, twins, and I love the second one! Not only have you included the everyday tips but the really big money saving tips that can literally change my life if I put them to use. I want to quit work and can now see some hope! Thanks, twins, for sharing your secrets!

Book Description

Over the course of one treacherous year, Cisco Systems, the company that wired the Information Age, has seen its stock price crumble and its market domination challenged. For the first time ever, there are whispers about this Silicon Valley titan. Does Cisco still have what it takes to continue its mastery over the New Economy, a world in which lightening-fast shifts in technology and market demand can destroy, in the blink of an eye, billion-dollar corporations and garage start-ups alike?

"A great book about a great company by a great writer."
â€” Guy Kawasaki CEO, Garage.com and author of Rules for Revolutionaries

In this engrossing book, bestselling author and high-tech chronicler Jeffrey S. Young goes deep inside the new information technology that is radically changing the face of business and, at the same time, profoundly touching each of our lives. Standing alone in the eye of this electronic maelstrom is Cisco Systems, a company whose personality and drive mirror that of its tenacious CEO, John Chambers.

Through guts and guile, Chambers has built an extraordinarily aggressive company that owns the infrastructure through which more than 75 percent of the world's data travels. This remarkable achievement, however, is now under withering assault from all sides. Today, Cisco's domination of the $100 billion net-working market is threatened not only by such multinational corporations as Nortel and Lucent but also by a new breed of start-ups that are sprouting like weeds. Young, savvy com-panies such as Juniper, Redback, ONI, Sycamore, and others are moving with speed and agility to beat the giants at their own game. As John Chambers has said on many occasions, the guys he fears most are the ones who can start out with a blank sheet of paper. Today, there are lots of guys with blank sheets of paper.

s is a story of packets and photons, routers, fiber optics, and waves in an era of limitless wealth and opportunity. Yet it is also a human tale, with a handful of business warriors trying to take control of the future in the midst of technology wars and brutal competition. The stakes are nothing less than control of the future of information.

luding exclusive interviews with key high-tech executives, Cisco Unauthorized is an unforgettable portrait of a remarkable company, a brilliant CEO, and a defining moment in the Information Age.

Customer Reviews:

Clueless writer on the hoof.......2003-04-07

I don't know if Jeffrey Young understands the *business* of networking, but he sure doesn't have much of a grasp on the technical details. That'd be okay, except that he seems to feel compelled to try to explain the technical details.

The cherry on top of the sundae of misinformation: "Moving data around in a network or through the Internet [...] is inherently better with one standard. In networking today, that standard is IP, or Internet Protocol based on Cisco's software: IOS." IOS is just one implementation of IP, and certainly wasn't the first. If Young doesn't understand that the Internet doesn't run wholely on Cisco software, it seems to me that the rest of the book is going to be pretty suspect.

This is hardly the only poorly-stated, unresearched remark that Young throws out. His explanation of the Internet was perhaps the worst I've ever read. I'm giving the book two stars instead of one because I enjoyed some of the insight into John Chambers and the rest of Cisco. Alas, given Young's technical gaffes, I really don't know if I can trust these parts of the book, either.

Book is unabashed (and dated) cash-in on New Economy bubble.......2002-10-24

I spotted this book at a retailer and bought it with tremendous anticipation, both because it is a genre I enjoy (business "biography") and because it is about one of the most successful companies started in the last decade of the 20th Century. Regrettably, I was profoundly disappointed when I read it. Admittedly, I was expecting more of a historical accounting than a technology vision paper, so perhaps my disappointment was my own fault. Nevertheless, the book struck me as unabashedly written for marketability and to cash in on readers still interested in how companies benefited during the New Economy bubble rather than for information or entertainment value.

I had no beef with the fact that in the New Economy timeline, a book copyrighted in 2001 was probably out of date in 2002. What did surprise me was that I had to wait until page 165 to start learning about the actual history of Cisco, a problem in a book that is only 296 pages without the acknowledgements and the index. Also surprising was the storyboard built on anecdotal observations rather than detailed interviewing, the retelling of lightly edited stories, and solid research. Strangely, there are occaisional gems included on companies and individuals NOT associated with Cisco, but it obviously could't save the book.

A better execution of this type of book was writted by T. Boyle on GE and Jack Welch (At Any Cost). For reporting on the history of technology companies, one obviously has to mention T. Kidder's Soul of a New Machine on Digital's rise in the market. And finally, for a timeless approach to entertaining company biographies, I would be remiss not to mention C. Hilton's Be My Guest.

Used copies of this book are available for less than it will cost to ship it to you. My advice, take a pass on this one.

One Author's Look at a Giant.......2002-04-02

This book takes a look at the huge corporate monolith (also called "the Borg" by a few friends of mine who work there) called Cisco Systems. It starts off by giving a short story of the company's current status. And since this book is almost a year old now, of course it's a bit dated. This book came out before the economy took a nosedive, taking Cisco along with every other company. I'd be intrigued to see what the author would have to say about Cisco now. Even so, Cisco appears to have weathered the storm well.

It takes a long hard look at John Chambers, the "country boy" turned Cisco CEO and his quest to do "whatever it takes" to keep Cisco on top. Pointing out along the way that Cisco seems to have stayed on top due to the competitors' failures as well as acquiring at breakneck speed any "start-up" with the latest and greatest technologies that Cisco can capitalize on.

The book also details the stories of the competititors, like Lucent, Nortel, Juniper, and Redback and how they may yet cut into some of Cisco's sales. While I found this book to be very informative not only about Cisco and its history, as well as some background on its competitors, I got the sense the author is silently waiting to see Cisco fall. Whether or not this actually happens of course is another story, one that may take years to unfold.

The Narrative Continues.......2001-07-12

Any discussion of Cisco Systems either now or in weeks to come may soon prove inadequate, if not flat-out wrong. When Young wrote this book, neither he nor anyone else at that time (including decision-makers at Cisco) could have predicted what has since happened and not-happened in the company and in its industry. It was once said of Soviet historians that they could predict the past with absolute accuracy. The comments which follow are based on the book as published, not as it would have been written with the wisdom of hindsight.

Young organizes his material within four Parts: The Cisco Myth, Competition at the Speed of Light, Fault Lines, and Into the Void. He explains that his book "is particularly;y concerned with the period from the beginnings of the dot-com frenzy in early 1999 to the industry's winter of discontent at the end of 2000. It is a portrait of an extraordinary company, its charismatic leader, and the world it is creating, discovering, exploiting, and fashioning. But there is also a dark side to the story, a hollowness at the core of this great company that is symptomatic of much of the Internet generation, and an arrogance that afflicts Cisco particularly." Young makes it very clear that what he presents is his version of the Cisco "story" as of when the book went to press.

John Chambers, CEO of Cisco, is one of the focal points. Young quotes Chambers extensively and, I think, does so with circumspection. For example, "Make no mistake about it", Chambers asserts, "the Internet is nothing short of the second Industrial Revolution. Industry is going to change. You have to make the change or you won't survive. They key is how to do it without your existing business. And one of the toughest challenges is figuring out the new channels. Timing is the key." This has been one of the key verses of Chambers' mantra for almost a decade.

Throughout the book, Young offers his own analysis of the nature and extent of Cisco's response to "the toughest challenges" under Chambers' leadership. He concludes, "Maybe Coyote Valley is where the future is going to be created. Maybe it will not. But it will happen on Internet time supplied by Cisco. John T. Chambers and Cisco, have created the first great empire of the Information Age by selling pickaxes, Levis, and quicksilver to the early miners. Now they're going to sell them to everyone else too. In the process [if they succeed], they'll fulfill the vision printed on the plastic ID card that each of its wears....'We are going to change the way people work, live, play, and learn.'" Chambers remains wholly committed to that vision. Obviously, the full story has yet to be told but in his book, Young has made a strong effort to understand and then explain both Chambers and his company. He shares several rather strong opinions of his own about Cisco's acquisitions (70 companies in five years), its outsourcing model, and its competitors such as Lucent, Nortel, Juniper, and Redback.

His readers must now ask questions such as these: Can and will Cisco regain ground lost during the past 6-8 months? What are the most serious barriers to doing that? Young asserts that Cisco has relied on a "dangerous business model." To what extent (if any) has that business model been modified in recent months? Even if modified, can and will it prove equal to new as well as on-going challenges which lie ahead?

My own opinion is that Cisco will continue to experience problems but that it will regain much of its momentum and cap value, if not to the extent it once possessed. I share Young's concern about what he calls "one glaring hole: succession" but based on what I have recently observed, Cisco has a rather deep executive bench and Chambers, meanwhile, seems much more inclined to develop that talent than he once was. So, what we have with this book is one man's analysis of a CEO and his company, based on extensive research. Will every reader agree with Young's opinions? Of course not. If there is a revised edition, Young may well modify (if not repudiate) several of his own conclusions. For those who read this book, he increases their understanding of a great company within a major industry. He raises some very important questions about both and then offers his own answers. Each reader must then take it from there. Fair enough.

Disappointing and repetitive.......2001-05-27

Young is best at describing the personalities and backgrounds of Chambers, and the CEOs of Nortel and Lucent, Roth and McGinn, respectively. He's also adept at summarizing the key messages and sales pitches that Cisco, Nortel and Lucent make. He is weakest at understanding the technology, and competitive dynamics. Contrary to Young's assertions, Cisco has been able to price it's products at a premium, because Cisco's products are technically superior to the competition in most areas. Sure, other factors help (e.g., great service and support). But customers are smart enough to know the truth about product and technology leadership to overpay when it isn't necessary. And finally, the book is also poorly edited (e.g., the book mentions "Corvus" as an optical player instead of "Corvis"). Basically, this book is like a long, long, magazine article with some good quotes, and amusing anecdotes, but in the end, has relatively little substance.

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