Bottom

Surprisingly dramatic., January 21, 1998

I thought this would just be another submarine combat story, it was not. When I look back on it, the plot sounds boring and overly technical, the recovery of a sunken US Navy submarine in the late 1920s after it is hit by a larger ship, but I found the tail surprisingly dramatic and engaging.

The story is really about the bravery, leadership and innovation of the men that were able to do something that had never been done before. A glossary helps with the technical jargon.

Anyone with military experience, is a diver, enjoys/studies submarines or wants to read about brave men and how to lead them, Edward Ellsberg's book is a great case study and quick read (one night). Life threatening risks for people in the military do not always entail combat.

I wrote the review above five years ago. I just reread the book and still think this is one of the best. Since nobody has made this into a movie or reprinted it yet, it was available free online electronically in text editor format. If I was teaching a graduate course on leadership it would be required reading.

I thought this would just be another submarine combat story, it was not. When I look back on it the plot sounds boring and over technical, the recovery of a sunken US Navy submarine in the late 1920s after it is hit by a larger ship, but I found the tail surprisingly dramatic and engaging.

The story is really about the bravery, leadership and innovation of the men that were able to do something that had never been done before. A glossary helps with the technical jargon.

Anyone with military experience, is a diver, enjoys/studies submarines or wants to read about brave men and how to lead them, Edward Ellsberg's book is a great case study and quick read (one night). Life threatening risks for people in the military do not always entail combat.

Who thought deep sea salvage could be exciting? I have to say Edward Ellsberg's "On The Bottom" is as gripping and suspenseful today as it must have been when it was originially released in 1928.

This is the story of the sinking of the submarine S-51 and the subsequent salvage recovery. Ellsworth does an excellent job of walking the reader through the 1920's technology used to do the job: the tools, the limitations, the hardships; and how these brave Navy divers risked their lives to get the job done. There were many times while reading the book that I could feel the frustration these guys were going through completing tasks that would seem simple by todays standards. But since we're dealing with technology from the '20's, the simple act of cutting a cable with a prototype underwater tourch was an ordeal.

Clive Cussler must have read this as a child, as the senarios these divers went through mirror a Dirk Pitt adventure. Yet, in my opinion, Ellsworth's novel reads so much better than a Cussler novel!

Get this book back in print -- it is truly one of those forgotten gems that deserves to be discovered by a new generation of readers.

This journal is a tough analysis of an unscrupulous corporate raider's methods of mining the temperate old growth redwood rain forests of Humboldt County, California. Joan and Doug's curiosity and observations lead her and us through all the resent events and to many victims of such a mass liquidation of forest, soil, waterways and wildlife. As a resident of the area, I have read news accounts regarding the Headwaters Forest, but none have even come close to the articulate passion that Joan has focused on to repeatedly hit her mark. The natural descriptions of the remaining groves and wildlife are tender and capable of grinding the callousness from even the hardest of hearts. I find myself walking in circles of despair for all of the destruction that has already taken place. Doug's photo journal validates every accusation made against this corporations blatant grab for money at the expense our community, our children's future and everything sacred. Read this book, then make it required reading for all of your friends and family.

It's urgent that you and your children visit the redwoods! This book will inspire you to do so. Joan, the author, takes you on a journey through the redwood forest and through your conscience. Her artistic expression of her humanity in words and in nature drawings often made me laugh with the insights ("Humboldt County, Log it or Leave it - a bumper sticker she saw), yet also cry with the vulgarities. It's a wonderful read, but one should also be aware of the astounding photography in the middle section. I kept referring back to the photos the whole time while reading the book. I'll offer TWO of my FAVORITE QUOTES that epitomize the book's strenghts: "Like Kristi, and many other residents of various watersheds who have suffered loss of private property and peace of mind, Mike seemes strangely perfect to be one of the people who have no choice but to stand up to MAXXAM. He can't sell his house because he would have to disclose the danger it is in. He can't rent it out for the same reason. His insurance company has canceled his house insurance. He doesn't have the money to buy a new house and walk away from the situation. Right now his house stands abandoned, simply a liability, while Mike is forced to rent at his own expense in Rio Dell." (p.145) ALSO, Joan includes her 12-year-old son in her adventures. At the end of the book they have this conversation: "At one point he said, 'I forgot what I was going to say.' 'Well, it'll come back to you,' I reassured. 'Yes, but I was just making conversation before. This was something I really wanted to say.'" (p.259) I'm not ruining the end for you by saying that you'll really want to say something, do something, express something when you finish this book!

No book has ever moved me the way this one has, I have tears in my eyes as I write this. I've just read many of the other reviews, and I don't have the way with words that some do, but they tell it like it is. Joan tells it like it is. Books don't get any better, and this one will change your life, like someone said it isn't all about happiness, and I have become informed and aware of too much to not so something about what is being done to our Redwood Forests, and what is being allowed to be done to our envirnment and watersheds. It's a true story, happening right now, this book documents it succinctly with amazing one of a kind pictures. It will open your eyes. Something needs to be done about Charles Hurwitz from Houston, Texas and his company MAXXAM. He is savaging The last of the Virgin Redwood Rainforest in California. I cannot beleive the CDF and the department of Forestry are "letting him get away with it." Not to mention the way he "aquired" the land, which is explained in the book. Please read this book. This book will light a fire in you, and like me you will have to do something. There are several websites listed in the back to point you in the right direction. I beleive this book is THE BEST one on the subject and if you plan on reading only one this should definitely be it. It has the most facts, information, and insight and is so well written, I couldn't say enough. And 57 pages of priceless color pictures! I am buying used copies for people, I would give one to EVERYONE if I could, and I have only said that about 2 books, and I read alot. The book is priceless. Thank You Joan

Thomas Woll draws from a variety of publishing experiences including being a start-up publisher and years of consulting for a variety of publishing clients. He has the expertise to teach us the publishing business.

He covers the gamut of publishing. Subjects covered include defining your niche, structuring your staff, using financial projections, the editorial process, copyrights, book production, sales, more sales, fulfillment, publicity, selling subsidiary rights (a special expertise of his), direct mail marketing (another of his areas of special expertise), and (ugh) returns. I can't imagine a publisher, new or experienced, not being able to find great value in this book.

Tom gives a variety of valuable forms and charts to use for tracking data and strategic planning. We've decided to incorporate several of these into our operations. He also goes through in greater detail than I've seen in any other book the projections you need to run in order to manage your cash flow. Cash flow will make or break your publishing company. Study these sections carefully.

I speak from my own experience as a small publisher: If you're a small publisher, you need to know the information in this book. As Tom says, publishing is a tough business, and you need the competitive edge of this knowledge.

Tom's book contained exactly what I was looking for, financial information about the business of book publishing. I come from the franchising industry were every business has its operating norms and ratios. To my dismay, I was unable to find norms and ratios about the book publishing industry until I read this book. I would urge anyone in the publishing business or anyone considering publishing a book to read this book.

The first time I read this book was early in my career as a publisher. With only one book on the market, a lot of the advice didn't hit home. How hard is it to manage one title and a part-time assistant? Now with three books in print and more in the pipeline, I'm finding Publishing for Profit ever more useful. With growth in mind, I need guidelines from someone who's been there, done that. Mr. Woll's experiences with a number of publishing companies gave him a broad-based view that will be equally as helpful to companies who are reorganizing as well as to upstart companies who want to start off on the right foot. Does the single title self-publisher need this book? Not really (though if he or she is planning or dreaming of bigger things, reading this book might be educational). But the multi-title, multi-author, multi-employee publisher should take a look to see if his or her publishing system could be improved. Mr. Woll covers it all, from working with staff and authors, to managing cash flow and developing company goals.

This is the best book on recovery I have ever read at any time at any place. I have been in AA for 28 years and this tops all the self-help books known to man!

I started this book not sure if I am an alcoholic, not sure of anything. The help and hope and LIFE giving forces that come tumbling out of these pages have less to do with alcohol than you may think. As Tyler says, "alcohol is a neutral substance - it is like Pepsi, Gatorade...." It isn't about the drink. It is about the soul.
I have read it 5 times. I have bought 4 copies and given them to the people in my life that I really do love. I will re-read this book countless times for the rest of my life and along with my Thanks be to God, will be Thanks be to Tyler.

I thought the flow of conversation in this book made for interesting reading and discussion. A good read for anyone in recovery. Do you need a sponsor? This book answers the question clearly. Yes. A poignant look at how we are all in this together and here to help those who remind us of how we used to be.

This is a histerical book! I loved it. I have read it many times but each time I read it I laugh some more. Its about a girl named Rachel who has a fear of turning out like her parents. Her dad loves classical music and is always sitting in the den listening to it and waving around his pencil baton. Her mom is always blasting out writing letters to the newspaper about different causes. Rachel herself is a 14 year old who lives in a small town called Sandy Bottom and plays the violin. Rachel is worried because ehr best friend Carol isn't paying very much attention to her. This is a GREAT book!

I can't believe I almost missed this book. I was just leaving the bookstore and I saw the word "orchestra" on the bottom shelf of new releases. I picked it up and read the first page, to see if it was a good book or a bad book. Good book. I could see that easily. So the very next chance I had, I called it from the library in the next town (I can't understand why they didn't have it at our own library) and read it. Then I read it again. Then, because I thoght it was so good, I had to order it from Amazon. Here's why I like it: It's real. Rachel and all the people surrounding her life are very believable and also insanely funny. It's not predictable, yet it's an extremely comfortable read, like everything turns out how it should. The musical aspect of it is very funny too, and if you play an instrument (school band does NOT count) you can sympathize with this book. Yes, there's romance in this book too. A great drive-in movie scene with Rachel and her special guy . . . If that's not enough to convince you, you need psychological help. :) Get to this book before it's too late!!!

I first read this book about four or five years ago, when I was around eleven, and it's become one of those books that I can just go back to and re-read as many times as I want and never get tired of. OK, so it's not one of the deepest books ever written, but the style is easy, the plot simple and entertaining, and yet somehow it manages not to slip into cliche or become overly shallow.

The books follows exclusively the character of Rachel Green, an early teen whose one solace from life and parents is classical music. Perhaps the reason that I found this book so enjoyable is that I am a big fan of this type of music myself (as you can see from my name!). The girl displays all the characteristics typical in an early teenager - paranoia about her appearance, desire for acceptance, the feeling that her parents are unbearable, etc. However, in the last case, she might well have a point.

Her mother is a crusader for better education and artistic facilities in the town of Sandy Bottom, and forbids a TV in the house; instead there is a grand piano. Her father meanwhile conducts imaginary symphony orchestras in the den, and cries over recordings of classical music.

As you can see, the characters in this book are, shall we say, unique, and even those characters which could be called "transitory" are invested with larger-than-life personality traits. (The foremost among these being Drew and his mother.)

Mainly due to these characters there is a good deal of humour in the book. However, there are a lot of wry observations made by the authors on some aspects of life and love. Speaking of which, there is a touching romance between Rachel and a cellist thrown into the book, further making the character of Rachel even more real and vivid.

The book's overlying theme is obviously music, which makes it a joy to read for someone who is interested in this, but you definitely do not have to be a music-lover to get a great deal of enjoyment out of this book.

All in all, for something which appears on the face of it to be merely a "children's book" it is a very enjoyable and easy read for people of pretty nearly every age.

During the past ten years I have worked with a nunber of methodologies in the area of Root cause analysis. During this time I have seen none as effective and cost efficient as the PROACT methodologies showcased in this book.

Bob has written a classic RCA manual for all people in all industries. I personally have used both the methodology and software to great effect and would recommend them to anyone.

If you are serious about a reliability growth program in your site, then you need this book!

I co-ordinate a root cause troubleshooting clinic at a major engine manufacturer. We have had moderate success with our investigations and have developed several powerful methodologies. This book has taken our procedures one large step further with a coherent, effective method to analyse and document a problem to root cause. The combination of system diagram, logic tree and verification log described in the book is exactly the kind of methodology we needed and is proving very useful. The book is well written and is filled with useful guidelines for such required activities as information gathering and selection of the most productive analyses to perform. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in root cause analysis.

Closing the gap between the goals companies set and their actual situations is the overall focus of this book. Written by two experienced executives from the Reliability Center, Inc., the book helps readers identify, resolve, and eliminate the chronic plant floor issues, such as repeated equipment or system failures, that hinder the attainment of organizational goals.

Specialists in root cause analysis methodology, the authors discuss the roles of management and a root cause analysis team in prioritizing the problems to analyze, automationg the process, and helping to uncover the physical, human, and latent causes of undesirable workplace events. They point out that the gap between goals and reality that exists in virtually every industry leads to undesirable outcomes, failures, and incidents that siphon profits from the corporate coffers. To close the gap, they explain, companies must reinvent the way they work, understanding why errors occur and how to prevent them.

The book explains root cause analysis, which is a structured process designed to uncover the cause of any undesirable workplace event. The PROACT steps outlined in the book teach companies how to preserve event data, order the analysis team, analyze the data using logic trees, communicate findings and recommendations, and track for bottom-line results.

Case studies are used to illustrate the potential of root cause analysis, showing its effectiveness in particular in steelmaking, customer service, and manufacturing. Software for automating root cause analysis is also discussed. Informative, well-illustrated and well-organized text is worthwhile reading for any plant engineer seeking to understand why errors occur and to eliminate them, and have a direct positive impact on his company's bottom line.

Mr. Weinstein proves again how happy employees are more productive employees. I have worked in jobs that would have been far more rewarding had the other employees not been in such bad moods all the time. With all the corporate scandals lately, companies would definately benefit by using these strategies to boost moral and efficiency. Also to enjoy life more check out Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life.

I was delighted when I found this book. I have been thinking about how much better work would be if fun was deliberately emphasized. Wow! Then I found a book that not only subscribes to that idea, but is full of practical advice for how to pursue that liberating concept.

Weinstein is the self-described emperor of a company called Playfair. He and his colleagues give a lot of speeches, and only charge if they fail to get a standing ovation. So far, they've always gotten paid. So here are some people who know how to generate enthusiasm.

In the beginning of the book, Weinstein uses an example of Marshall Hall, a CEO who came to one of his speeches, to show how the ideas can be pursued. At first, Hall could not imagine how he could take any of the pressure off his people. With coaching, he began to make steady progress in adding fun in ways that are consistent with the trust he has established in his enterprise. Skeptical people on the subject of fun will find these examples helpful.

In the middle of the book are 52 examples (one for each week of the year) of ideas for adding fun. You don't have to follow them blindly, but they can stimulate your thinking. One of my favorites was paying the toll for the person behind you at the toll booth, and lingering behind to see the expression on the person's face when they catch up to you on the road. I've done that, and it can be a lot of fun.

In the end, Weinstein tells a story from his own organization about someone who was having trouble dealing with a lot of fears about flying in small planes. Playfair evolved some fun ways to help him that made all of the difference.

Beyond the fact that we would all like to have some fun at work, the book makes a decent case for the role of fun in team building, better customer service, morale, generating loyalty, and in reducing stress. For example, in one study, those who found coins in a pay telephone were 4 times as likely to help someone who dropped packages in front of them as they finished their call as those who did not find any coins.

One of my very favorite examples in the book was of a boss who put little candies and rewards into his memos to encourage his assistant to have fun typing them up. Then, he surprised her one day by inviting her into the office, closing the door, and dancing with her for one minute. He knew she liked dancing, and they do this once a month or so. Basically, it is an affirmation of his respect for her. It was this story that led to Marshall Hall feeling that he could never add fun to his company. He was sure his assistant would sue him for sexual harrassment!

Be sure to read the story about Aunt Jemima. It'll give you a good laugh as well.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in making work more meaningful and satisfying for themselves and others. It is the essence of the fun part of the book, Nuts!, about Southwest Airlines.

This book is highly valuable in a work culture that seems to uptight for its own good. This book gives wonderful ideas on how to make that stiff upperlip quiver into a smile.

Jim has captured the spirit of networking to its fullest. I had to read it with a pen in hand so that I could immediately start making lists of potential renewed acquaintances or simply an acknowledgement of key professional and personal relationships and why they are important.

"PowerSkills" will change your life and change your business. Whether you're at the top of your company or determined to get there, you'll learn practical tips and techniques -- a sustainable process for becoming more savvy and successful in managing relationships for results.

Jim Masciarelli's book is great for those who are looking to improve the quality of their professional relationships. Not surprisingly, his advice spills over into personal relationships as well. I particularly like his ideas on cultivating and sustaining a "Nifty 50" - the fifty most important professional relationships in your life.

It seems Mr. Rabbit is in a bit of a fix. After losing that race to Turtle, he's in a bit of a financial jam. So, he goes to Bear and makes a deal.

The Rabbit family will plant and harvest the crops on Bear's land. Rabbit will split the crops with Bear 50/50. All Bear has to do is decide which half - tops or bottoms - he wants.

Unfortunately, whether the crop is potatoes, lettuce, corn, or radishes, Bear keeps picking the "wrong half".

This is a hillarious story that kids of all ages will appreciate. For visual interest, the book is designed to flip from top to bottom (as opposed from left to right).

Janet Stevens' artwork alone is worth the cost of the book!

Enjoy!

This children's book is a retelling of an African-American folktale about a lazy bear and an industrious rabbit, a trickster, who grows different crops on the bear's land. Sometimes the bear wants the top of the crops while the hare takes the bottoms. Other times the bear demands the bottoms. Each time, the hare grows a crop which makes him the "winner" in the deal. The book was a 1996 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children.

I enjoyed reading this and looking at the pictures as much as a child. To me, that's a real hit when you have both the child and adult looking forward to the reading.

This book is great... It reminds me of the days I used to get up at 2 am and wake up the cows for milking.

I LOVE MILKING COWS!

I have read hundreds of management books and found "Contented Cows" to be one of the most enlightening and refreshing, yet statiscally valid approaches to improving performance and productivity through improved employee relations. As a fellow management consultant, I like the way this book depicts the importance of creating a "healthy" environment starting at the top of the organization, yet at the same time showing ways that a front-line manager can make a grass roots change initiative.. I like your "No Excuse" type of mentality. I am a facilitator for accountability at all levels, and this book hits it right on the head. Thanks Richard and Bill for the fascinating and effective ways in which you present your methodologies for change.

I remember reading this book over the course of a few days a couple of years back while I was in Florida on vacation. Since then I have given them as gifts to associates on numerous occasions. The truths held in this book while being so simple in concept reach far into the way successful businesses are run (or should be run) in the new millennium. You need look no further than the list of Fortune 500 companies detailed in this book to find the who's who of the world's most consistently profitable organizations. When I saw that "Contented Cows" had been released in paperback I ordered several copies to give to other managers in my company as well a copy that I can keep on hand for myself. Catlette and Hadden make an excellent point about the power of employee validation. Could it really effect the bottom line that much? Think of the last time your boss patted you on the back on a job well done. How did you feel? Now, multiply that by millions of employees and you can start to see their point. Could the key to success be that simple? Read the book and try it yourself.