Enterprise Books

Well written and wonderfully informed, this well designed book presents a comprehensive review of the appearance and use of the great cathedrals and abbey churches built across the middle ages in France and England. It also includes a wonderfully precise presentation of the social, economic, and political order of the time, and it discusses how the great buildings were built and what is known of their builders. Overall, it is the best general introduction I know of, easily accessible to non experts and a wonderful review for the better informed.

I would highly recommend Robert A. Scott's new book, The Gothic Enterprise. Although many books have been published on the topic of Gothic Cathedrals, Scott has approached his subject with a new perspective. He asks the reader to think as much about the "why" of cathedral building as the "how." The reader will still find lots of information about the practical aspects of cathedral building, most helpfully enhanced by a discussion of the social, political, economic, and even climatological factors that complicated such long and challenging construction projects. But above and beyond this, Scott is interested in the people who conceived, designed, and built these great churches. What motivated them? How did hundreds of people with varying and often conflicting interests work collectively over long periods of time? What did an individual or a community expect in return for their contribution to such a bold undertaking?

Scott answers these questions and more. In turn he challenges the reader to see the cathedral in a new light, not only as an example of great architecture, but as tangible evidence of the commitment, creativity, hope, and faith of the people who, against great odds, undertook such a bold and difficult enterprise.

Having visited dozens of cathedrals, I think Scott is right on target. A cathedral is more than an amalgamation of stone, timber, and glass. If we look closely, we can still see traces of the contributors: in a mason's mark, the carved face of an 800 year-old effigy, a bishop's ring, or an irreverent carving high in the rooftops. It is the collective presence of these long-dead individuals, as much as the grandeur of the architecture that makes a cathedral so memorable, so tangibly the result of a collective human enterprise.

Scott's book is beautifully packaged with many photos and charming illustrations. It would be a handy guide for a traveler visiting cathedrals or a great read for an armchair traveler. I suspect the reader of The Gothic Enterprise will never see a cathedral in quite the same way again.

This book is both a wondrous introduction to Gothic Cathedrals for those who are newly curious about them and a concise but thorough resource for those who have long admired and read about the Gothic Cathedral. The author often takes a personal approach in his narrative, which seems quite appropriate given the personal impression these buildings were designed to make (and have made on most who will read this book). The book is both well-researched and easy to read, a difficult achievement. Its description of the elements of Gothic architecture, for example, is one of the most complete and clear treatments I have read.

The broad perspective taken (historical, intellectual, religious, architectural, sociological) helps bring together into one coherent whole the many different faces of the cathedral. Even those who may know the historical and intellectual origins of the cathedral will learn much about its other aspects here. For example, some of the details on construction techniques and parts of the discussion of "sacred spaces" within the cathedral were new even to someone who has read many books on the subject.

Medieval intellectual history and its relationship to the cathedrals is explored, and the coexistence of the potentially conflicting reason and faith in a single building is explained. Some discussion of how the cathedrals and their attached schools gave rise to the medieval (and hence the modern) university would have been helpful.

Overall, though, the book provides an excellent introduction to the topic and a comprehensive explanation of the "why" and "how" of Gothic Cathedrals (in addition to the more mundane, but still important, "who", "when", and "where").

Before this book, one would have to read many volumes to get such a complete picture of the Gothic Cathedral. This book is appropriate for anyone with an interest in the subject. It is the book that I'm sure many Gothic Cathedral enthusiasts wish they had written.

Author Robert Scott had much the same the experience at Salisbury Cathedral as I had - a sense of awe and wonder, and a desire to learn more about it, not just as a place, or as an architectural wonder, or as a place of worship, or as a cultural icon. Scott wanted to get at the heart of the idea of the Gothic enterprise as a whole - a trained sociologist, Scott knew that the bigger picture is sometimes lost by too narrow a focus on particular details to the exclusion of others. The sociology background also gave Scott a sense of wanting to understand the hearts and minds of the people involved.

While the principal focus of Scott's travels started with Salisbury Cathedral (in full, the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Salisbury), Scott draws examples from the breadth of the Gothic cathedrals, churches and other buildings. There are literally thousands of such dotted across the European and European-influenced landscapes. Each building has its own unique characteristics, but they share a common spirit.

Church building in particular was 'big business' in Christendom for a long time. Scott quotes estimates of that there are nearly 19,000 ecclesiastical buildings in England and Wales, nearly half of which date to the medieval period. The first Gothic church was the Abbey Church of St. Denis, just north of Paris, built under the direction of the 'founding father' of Gothic style, Abbot Suger.

Scott's first major section looks at how cathedrals were built, in terms of materials, architectural design, settings, and workforce. With regard to the workforce, the numbers were large and the division of labour highly specialised. In the records of the construction of Westminster Abbey, there were fifteen different categories of workers listed in 1253. Workers were often local, but supplemented by those who traveled, particularly if special skills were needed. Construction was often suspended in winter months, not just because of the cold, but because the number of daylight hours greatly diminished (in England, there can be fewer than 8 hours of daylight in the winter months).

Scott's second major section explores the history involved. The Gothic enterprise grew up out of the feudal system as it was trying to define itself in a sea of shifting political structures. It is no mistake that the Gothic ideal was born in an Abbey rather than a Cathedral; bishops had become increasingly involved in secular and political matters, while the monasteries remained closer to the common people and closer to the spiritual ideals of the church. 'Monasticism was a continuous effort to surmount sense perception and intellectual understanding to achieve knowledge of God, to experience communion with God, and by so doing to reveal the divine mystery and achieve special favour in the eyes of God.' Still, the particular abbey of Gothic's foundation, the Abbey of St. Denis, had a particular attachment to the French monarchs, and for a time the Abbey enjoyed a supreme reputation, 'from 1124 onward the Abbey Church of St. Denis became the religious and, in an important sense, the political capital of France.' From this place, the influence of Gothic style spread through the Paris region, then outward into France and beyond.

In the third section, Scott highlights some of the classic details of what the Gothic look entails. There is a geometric symmetry involved, which, 'when followed consistently, gives Gothic cathedrals their characteristic organic unity.' There is a logic and harmony built into the design. High vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, pointed arches are other features. However, the key element in Gothic design is light, and it is in aid of this aspect that the other elements are enlisted. Gothic cathedrals in comparison with the dimly lit Romanesque predecessors are flooded with light. Be it clear or stained glass, the incorporation of windows and lighting techniques hitherto not done makes the Gothic space a brighter surrounding. Heaven would be a place of light, and the Gothic cathedral is intended as a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.

The fourth section explores the religious experience in Gothic structures, and how liturgies and worship are carried out, how they serve as temples of the imagination in addition to being the centre of worship, and how they become a repository of history. Part of this history was the incorporation of the memory and power of the dead into the fabric of the cathedrals - many became pilgrimage sites or burial sites; royal and other notable society figures also became part of the structures of cathedrals and churches. According to Scott, the cathedrals provided the saints with a focal point of veneration, and the saints in return provided a steady income (from the pilgrims) for the buildings to be completed.

The final section looks at the community that surrounded the Gothic enterprise, be they parish churches, abbey churches or cathedrals. Scott explores the living standards of the time, the stratification and specialisation of people in the different roles in society, and the questions not only of how the communities built the churches, but how the churches and cathedrals in turn built the communities. 'We might ...imagine that the long time required to build Gothic cathedrals added to the depth of the collective identity they engendered.' Indeed, in some regards, the building of a cathedral was never supposed to be completed. Spanning generations (sometimes, as in the case of Canterbury Cathedral, nearly 400 years) such enterprises defined the community in ways that no building project in modern times could approach.

Scott ends with a small essay regarding Stonehenge, not too far from Salisbury Cathedral, showing some similarities and differences in the way people built and found identity then.

Scott quotes Samuel Johnson as declaring Salisbury Cathedral 'the last perfection in architecture'; however, it is clear that there is much perfection to go around when it comes to all things Gothic. Scott's passion for the material and love of discovery is apparent on every page. A good writer, he serves as teacher, tour guide, and co-discoverer of ideas with the reader. This is a wonderful book.

The people who reviewed this book before me did a great job of describing this wonderful book, so I'm not going to repeat their observations. However, one aspect of the work I personally appreciated was the way Scott examined the cathedrals as architectural responses to the cultural context. His analysis is clear and straightforward. Excellent book!

I have been working on opening a specialty food shop/cafe and got stuck on the logistics of planning. After using several guides and books I randomly found (and getting NOWHERE) I decided to buy Gourmet to Go on a recommendation. It is THE best thing I could have ever bought, hands down. It seems that all the questions I had were answered in the book, and the structure of the book leads readers down a logical path through the maze of planning for this type of business. If you are to buy any book on this topic, this is the one. The money spent on this book will save you thousands later on. Two thumbs up!

This is an excellent treatise of starting a specialty food store or, perhaps is even more beneficial to one who wishes to wholesale food products to place in food stores or delis..

People wanting to cash in on the current trend towards take-out convenience need this book, as well as From Kitchen To Market and How To Get Your Product Into Supermarkets.

The three books are invaluable for overlapping reasons. A prospective store operator needs to understand how to setup his or her store and, just as important, how their competition operates. Beginning store operators also need to understand their industry in detail not merely from the viewpoint of their competition and from their customers, but from their suppliers position.

Gourmet To Go does a great job from a narrow viewpoint. Probably the only topic not suffriciently explored is the hands'-on advice. Perhaps the next edition will detail the possibilities for including rollergrills, microwaves and how to earn what the industry refers to as "Plus-sales." I'm speaking of the technique in all fast food chains and convenience stores to get customers to spend more money.

Other hands-on topics that should be discussed are controlling theft and the experience of many store operators who have lost significant chunks of money in providing lottery tickets. I know of a feww whose losses exceeded $10,000. Adding insult to injury, lottery only reimburses stores from one to three percent of gross sales and pay-outs for winning tickets. Despite such a poor return on investment, many stores consider it mandatory to provide lottery.

Further, computerizing the store could be considered, as well as installing UPC readers. It is not uncommon to see even the smallest store using such equipment. Yet, those installing such systems all seem to have to reinvent the wheel.

Again, buy this book but augment it with From Kitchen To Market and with How To Get Your Product Into Supermarkets so you can keep up with and, perhaps, improve upon your competition and keep customers, suppliers and yourself happy!

Although, as the name suggests, this book is geared mainly towards gourmet to go operations (specialty food stores with emphasis on catering and gourmet take-out) it is an invuluable resource for anyone thinking about entering the gourmet food industry.

I wasted all kinds of time and money on general business start-up books and learned little more that nothing about starting a gourmet food store (or any business for that matter). The business plan section alone is better than a whole book I purchased on the subject. I found every bit of Gourmet to Go to be extemely useful and after reading it couldn't believe I had even considered going into business without it.

Having some experience with new product projects for major corporations, this somewhat smaller scale, but nonetheless similar principled look at the operations and craft of specialty food store biz is well-done.

It is full of relevant and cogent thoughts for anyone interested in this market niche. What I found very well done is the sections of writing the biz plan and the steps therein critical to putting together and then implementing such.

Also included are fairly thorough lists of resources such as consultants, trade journals, suppliers, etc.

What could possibly have been additionaly useful was stress on two key areas: concentration on obstacles and their probability of happening (i.e. scenario plotting) and finding and use of two key players from the outset: attorney and accountant/tax specialist.

A friend recently opened a store and this book has acurately addressed some of the issues we are experiencing. The author has a knack for addressing both personal issues such as self doubt, fear, relations with partners as well as topics related to the business. He compels the entrepreneur to think hard about the objectives of his undertaking and then walks him through it step by step.

The sections on site location and templates for creating a business model, mission statement and feasability study are better than two other books that I had purchased.

Most of the book has little to do with specialty food and more about the decision and execution process of opening a new place. I would recomend it to both someone just toying with the idea and someone who is already established.

Terry's book is a very dramatic story of recovery from a severe illness. The book won't tell you any new techniques or give you a magic formula for fixing your life. But it is awe-inspiring and motivational. Terry is an absolutely fantastic speaker, and if you get an opportunity to attend one of his talks, DO SO!

The title caught my eye, the book captured my heart. What an amazing story of courage, strength, and hope! I started to fold corners on pages I wanted to refer back to rather than write in it because I wanted to share it with a friend when I was finished. Before long I realized there were more pages folded back than not. Needless to say, I'm buying my friend her own copy and will also buy copies for many others at Christmas. Very inspiration! As Terry writes, you don't climb a mountain... you climb one section at a time. His physical recovery is miraculous, his emotional recovery is our gift from him as he shares how we can truly LIVE life and not be limited by others beliefs of what they think we can/should/will do.

Terry McBride is an incredible writer, speaker, and thinker of our time!! How is it that he is not better known!?! To hear him speak can give anyone a sense that hope and the unlimited potential in us all is absolutely attainable in every situation that we encounter. This is definitely a must read and I recommend it to everyone on the planet!

The Hell I Can't is the true story of one man's physical, mental and emotional journey through the ravages of a grizzly and harrowing "incurable" disease.

Terry McBride's story is not an "airy-fairy', `feel-good' romp through some instantaneous and painless miracle of recovery. McBride endured a cumulative total of over 280 days in hospitals and around 30 surgeries spaced over several years. He doesn't spare his image or his dignity as he frankly describes, often in gritty detail (yet, somehow, not losing his delightful sense of humor), the day-to-day pain and indignities, his many low times, his times of doubt, of anger and rage, of self-pity, hopelessness, terror and depression --- and finally his emergence on the other side.

Rather than just telling the story, he relates his emotional, physical and spiritual journey through seemingly impossible times and, painstaking-step-by-painstaking-step, how he eventually emerged as the completely healthy, robust and very vibrant individual he is today.

Just relating the story of his illness could be a book in itself, but McBride goes much further. While he was sick he didn't just `lay there'. He worked extremely hard to get well, even when the doctors had given up hope. In the book he relates exactly what he did - emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically - to create perfect health.

The latter part of The Hell I Can't goes to the very heart of what reality is, why we have the life we have right now, and how to create the life we want. I must confess to being a bit of a "personal improvement junkie" but, since reading this book, I am sorely tempted to give away almost my entire private library of self-improvement books (the notable exception being Mike Dooley's CD sets). I no longer "need" them.

The book relates the story of a trip to hell and back. But it is much more than a story of the triumph of the human spirit over a hopeless situation. The latter part of the book is also a road map for creating new physical, emotional and spiritual realities, and also how to create the life of one's dreams.

The Hell I Can't is the story of one man taking responsibility for his life and his recovery, and his journey back to perfect health --- and, step-by-step, how he did it.

While reading this book, I was reminded of my own, albeit miniscule, physical and spiritual challenges ~ and was nudged by Mr. McBride to get over myself, and get on with the process!

What the author went through was tantamount to a miracle ~ a miracle of his own creation. Becoming physically and spiritually healthy, and then taking that pure knowledge to the public to help others, has taught me what true grace is really all about.

McBride tells and shows you, in no uncertain terms and in a succinct manner, that if you want to be healthy, you can ~ no matter what anyone else might say. If you are seeking answers to questions that no other "health professionals" can answer ~ read this book and get healthy!


Paula T. Webb ~ author of "Creating Perfect Relationships" and "An Independent Ministry"

My daughter is a 2000 graduate from high school (need I say more?). The tips and techniques outlined in this easy to read guide has made my job as a parent that much easier. She can't roll her eyes at a book like she can her mother! And she thinks she's "doing it on her own!" Thanks!

What a nice way to say, "I love you, but you are an adult, now get out there, be successful and stay independent". Please do not move back home. With so many young people moving back in with their parents, because of financial problems, this book is invaluable. Great get it together ideas.

I recommend this to parents so that they can stop feeling guilty about lessons they did not teach. This is an excellent "How To" guide.

I appreciated the common sense approach to providing help to people needing insight into basic life skills. I work with United Way Mental Health and Substance Abuse Council, and this could be tailored to help young people and their parents, that did not have rountine daily guidance for insurance, budgeting, etc. I am going to suggest this for self help groups and anyone transitioning from mental health/drug problems, into the real world.

This book is not just fro kids. I know some adults who could use it. It is practical and funny and just good common sense..which isn't as common as you might think. Found the sections on leases and contracts and utilities to be most helpful.

How To Write A Great Business Plan For Your Small Business In Sixty Minutes Or Less, is expertly co-authored by Sharon L. Fullen and Diana Padmoroff and offers a complete and concise descriptive explanation of the often difficult process involved in writing an effective business plan. Informatively presenting readers with a thorough understanding of the many intricacies and elements of a properly written business plan, and the difficulties frequently encountered in its preparation under the stress of deadlines, How To Write A Great Business Plan For Your Small Business In Sixty Minutes Or Less introduces the advantages and disadvantages of exploring certain risks in business. How To Write A Great Business Plan For Your Small Business In Sixty Minutes Or Less is very strongly recommended for all aspiring entrepreneurs seeking a step-by-step guide to the quick and effective development of a practical and "user friendly" plan for their business enterprise.

Many prospective new business owners interested in opening a small business are most daunted by the task of having to create and write their own business plan. Fear no more! While the cover design needs a little more creativity to draw you in, experienced authors Sharon Fullen and Dianna Podmoroff are clearly up to the challenge of rescuing you from this oft-dreaded task. They expertly hone in on common mistakes made by novice entrepreneurs writing their first business plan; such as underestimating the competition and forgetting about indirect competition, overstating your potential customer base and underestimating the cost of advertising. An additional bonus is the time spent on identifying helpful financial software, locating competent business resources, and avoiding potential "deal breaker" mistakes during your initial presentation to investors and financial institutions. This excellent resource also uses a clever Fast Plan icon, replete with "ticking stopwatch," to help locate tips for quick planning and efficient results. The included CD-ROM offers spreadsheets for projecting financial success and a mock-up business plan for a prospective new business. Although it may take more than the professed "60 Minutes or Less," this business plan guide does outline quick resources, writing tips, and an efficient method to get the job professionally done.

This book is an excellent and handy resource for those wishing to write an effective business plan. The book shows how to write a simple start-up plan that includes a summary, mission statement, keys to success, market analysis, and break-even analysis. This kind of plan is very useful for deciding whether or not to proceed with a plan, to tell if there is a business worth pursuing, but it is not enough to run a business with.

The book and attached COD-ROM clearly shows how to develop a business plan that works for a business to look ahead, allocate resources, focus on key points, and prepare for problems and opportunities. Business plans are not only for starting a new business or applying for business loans but also are critical for running a business, whether or not the business needs new loans or new investments. Businesses need plans to optimize growth and development according to priorities.

The book is highly recommended for those that wish to come up with a high quality business plan

There are many out there who have a dream of opening a small business but do not know where to start. The best place to start is with writing a business plan and this comprehensive is a must have for any would be business owner. Business plans are crucial to starting a business because it shows both the person who is opening the business and investors what the future plans are for the business.

The authors of this book simplify the process of writing by hitting on major parts of the business plan. There are many things which one would not always think about, such as market analysis and market strategy. Not only does the book have step by step instructions on how to write the plan and bring it together, there are many examples and resources mentioned throughout the book and also on the complementary CD-ROM.

This book is a windfall for those who have a dream and are willing to start but just need a little direction.

Where was this book when I needed it? Take it from somebody who's learned the hard way: Probably no aspect of creating a new small business attracts as much attention as the business plan. In starting my own venture, I read all the books, took all the courses, and attended all the seminars. Everybody promised me the "magic bullet" formula for writing a winning business plan.--none of them worked. I could have saved myself a ton of time (not to mention a boat load of money) if I had Sharon Fullen and Dianna Podmoroff's book in front of me on day one.

In these gem-packed pages you'll get all the hand-holding you need to write a winning business plan--one that has the traction to secure financing. And you can move through the process in a way that works best for you. Follow the easy-as-pie blueprint to build your business plan from the ground up. Absolutely no experience necessary! Or, take the FAST PLAN approach and get the quick-hit tools and concepts you want in only the topic areas you want. There's even a companion CD-ROM with business plan and financial spreadsheet templates, so you can plug in your own data and add it to your plan.

It's all here--samples, resources, toolkits, and real-life applications. The help is easy to get and easy to use! This is "business plan demystified." So, where was this book when I needed it?
-- Robert Gardner

This is the kind of book you need to read several times over. This will be one to keep and pass on. Great stories. I would suggest buying this book to everyone.

A wonderful collection of inspirational, motivational and thought provoking articles. Jim expresses what most of us are thinking....but has the knack for getting the point across through words that some of us don't have. It made me think about things I hadn't thought about for a while...and think deeper about things I take for granted.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for myself. I have also used it as a classroom reference book, during devotional time. It appeals "across the board" and has been very effective for use with junior high and high school students.

This book is a real "Gem" of current wisdom on all sorts of contemporary topics, spoken by a man who has every reason to form just the opposite opinion than those given. Mr. Jackson is a strong leader in every circle he enters and leaves those he meets with a newly found understanding of life's issues. Your time reading his essays will enhance your thoughts on the most important subjects that affect your daily walk. I await his next book with anticipation.

I love this book. Whether you like to sit and read in gulps or sips, this book is simply delicious. It is a must have for anyone wishing to explore how Christ is central to it all in an often clever, funny, warm, and always thought provoking way. A true renewer of the spirit. You'll walk away with many things to share with others and return to it's pages to relive the tellings over and over again. Brilliant.

Dr DeRosa's book was entertaining, easy to read and packed with anecdotes and information. As an investment pro, his book gave me a greater insight into the often arcane political manipulations that eventually sow the seeds for economic instability. He pulls no punches when he states that central banks and governments themselves set themselves up to be the eventual "victims" of their own bad policies and instead of doing something different, they blame the speculator.
I like his information "boxes" that help the reader with the technical details of the book. Although I have long been a fan of single currency idea's, DeRosa's book has given me reason to pause. Well referenced and well researched.
The reviews by Dr Hanke and Dr Friedman can't hurt either.

This work is illuminating and speaks to issues beyond the world of finance, like politics and ideaology. DeRosa lays out clear and consice arguments in defense of free floating exchange rates and against fixed exchange-rate regimes.

The author debunks the propaganda supporting fixed exchange-rate regimes with insightful analyses based on the facts of the various currency crises that occured during the 1990s. Particularly interesting is the fact that leaders around the world are either ignorant of or chose to ignore the last ten (let alone the last 100) years worth of economic history and persist in attempting to control and plan economies. This book should be required reading not only for finance professionals and central bankers, but anyone interested in how the decisions of people in appointed positions (like the head of a central bank or finance ministry)have far-reaching and often dire consequences.

"In Defense of Free Capital Markets is an impressive survey and analysis of the crises of the 1990s. Mr. DeRosa makes a strong case that official intervention has made matters worse, not better, and that in such instances it is far better to leave it to the invisible hand of the market than to the clumsy, visible hand of regulators."

--Milton Friedman Senior Research Fellow, Hoover Institution Nobel Economics Prize, 1976

Professor DeRosa offers up a generous helping of reality in evaluating the currency crises of the past dozen or so years. From the first world foibles of the Bank of Japan to the third world of currency pegs, the currency calamities of the late twentieth century are thoughtfully presented in a lean read.

While perhaps giving short shrift to the political constraints facing policy makers in times of crisis, Mr. DeRosa nevertheless does well describing the environments and pre-conditions which ultimately fostered our most recent international financial catastrophes.

In this, the age of fiat money, unsustainable currency policies are easy prey for the worlds biggest market. Anyone interested in a brief but informative history of recent currency debacles will truly enjoy this book.

Yale University adjunct professor David F. DeRosa argues that markets are smarter than government ministries. Therefore, he contends, economic development should be left to the free market, since tighter regulations will only distort development. His detailed analysis of economic conditions focuses on factors leading to several crises, including the decline of the Mexican and Japanese economies in the 1990s and the Southeast Asian collapse of 1997. The subject is complicated and interesting, and the writing is often technical and sometimes complex. We at getAbstract call this book to the attention of scholars, executives and managers who have a serious interest in fiscal policy. And we do mean serious.

There are far too many books out there that focus on 'knowledge' as if it existed in a vacuum. These tend to be one person's opinion; a single 'flavor of the month,' if you will. This collection of essays explores the impact that the free sharing of information will have: changes in management, changes in employee relations, changes in the free enterprise system itself. As an unforeseen bonus, a very few of the articles are now a bit dated (the "Information Superhighway" article by the CEO of Bell Atlantic was doomed to be old as it was penned), a fact that only reinforces the tremedous speed of change many of the essayists speak to. The many references provide one the ability to more deeply research a particular area.

This stimulating work consists of nineteen insightful and engrossing essays that convey perspectives on the emerging forms of strategy and organization in the information age, focusing on knowledge as the competitive advantage. The contributors present thinking that is truly big picture, regarding the shape of today's and tomorrow's enterprises in a world that is changing at an exponentially increasing rate. This work delves into the new and emerging realities of the internal enterprise, corporate cooperation, and leveraging knowledge. In many cases the contributors talk about the experiences of their own organization; an enlightening and enlivening approach to gaining an understanding of this new, networked world driven by knowledge-the infinite resource. An enjoyable and informative collection of thoughtful writings. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, hrconsultant.com and Stern & Associates.

There are far too many books out there that focus on 'knowledge' as if it existed in a vacuum. These tend to be one person's opinion; a single 'flavor of the month,' if you will. This collection of essays explores the impact that the free sharing of information will have: changes in management, changes in employee relations, changes in the free enterprise system itself. As an unforeseen bonus, a very few of the articles are now a bit dated (the "Information Superhighway" article by the CEO of Bell Atlantic was doomed to be old as it was penned), a fact that only reinforces the tremedous speed of change many of the essayists speak to. The many references provide one the ability to more deeply research a particular area.

William E. Halal, editor, writes, "This book brings together the views of prominent leaders in the trenches of the Information Revolution to examine the revolutionary new principles for managing knowledge. Here's a quick overview of these confusing but exciting management heresies.

Principle 1: 'Complexity Is Managed Through Freedom': Success is no longer achieved by planning and control-but through entrepreneurial freedom among people at the bottom.

Principle 2: 'Cooperation Is Economically Efficient': Economic strength does not come from power and firmness-but out of the cooperative flow of information within a corporate community.

Principle 3: 'Progress Is Guided by Knowledge and Spirit': Abundance is not the result of material riches-but of understanding the subtle workings of an infinitely complex world.

There are the new laws governing institutions today, the economic imperatives that determine who succeeds and who fails, the keys to pioneering an unexplored frontier of boundless knowledge-The Infinite Resource" (from the Introduction).

In this context, Halal organizes this invaluable collection into three parts that each focuses on the principles outlined as below:

1. Halal writes, "Part I shows that today's hierarchical structures are being replaced by an emerging foundation of management based on enterprise. The complexity of a knowledge era has made our old command-and-control systems obsolete, and so entrepreneurial freedom is now crucial, not only in economic systems but also to permit free enterprise in organizational systems." Thus, authors of this part, S.Goldsmith, R.L.Ackoff, J.P.Starr, W.Gable, and M.Lehrer mainly focus on decentralized structures, self-supporting units, entrepreneurial freedom, internal competition, and accountability to clients.

2. Halal writes, "Part II illustrates how entrepreneurial organizations must also use cooperation to form collaborative communities. Knowledge differs from physical resources because it increases when shared, making collaborative working relations productive not only in strategic alliances but between buyer and seller, employee and employer, business and goverment, and other stakeholders." Thus, authors of this part, G.H.Taylor, R.E.Miles, J.Lipnack and J.Stamps, T.Holbrooke, and R.Oklewize mainly focus on virtues of teamwork, networking among internal units, shared knowledge, spherical organization, collaborative alliances, and corporate communities.

3. Halal writes, "Part III descibes the intelligent infrastructures now being built to guide this corporate community in creating powerful forms of knowledge." Thus, authors of this part, R.W.Smith, D.Walters, M.Malone, G. and E.Pinchot, R.Kuperman, and W.A.Owens mainly focus on global information networks, free flow of information, knowledge society, employee training, virtual organizations, strategic direction, and vision.

Finally, Halal writes that "the message my colleagues and I want to stress is that the world is entering such an uncharted new frontier, an epoch so fundamentally different that the old rules no longer apply. The conventional wisdom of the past must be replaced by concepts that conform with the new realities of infinite knowledge:

* Order can be best achieved-not through control and planning-but through entrepreneurial freedom.

* Strength comes-not out of power and firmness-but through cooperative community.

* Abundance flows out of-not material riches-but a subtle frontier of boundless understanding, meaning, and spirit."

Strongly recommended.

Dr. William E. Halal is a George Washington Universitybusiness school professor and expert on the Knowledge Economy. In arecent GWU conference, "Creating the New Organization," he brought together 17 representatives the public and private sectors to address how information technology has transformed their worlds, creating unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Their insights are shared directly with readers in this extraordinary and concise volume. "The Infinite Resource" refers to knowledge itself. Unlike raw materials, knowledge is inexhaustible: "the more you dispense, the more you generate," writes Dr. Halal. The marginal cost of duplicating knowledge is trivial and its value increases when shared. Halal writes: "Knowledge is the most strategic asset in enterprise, the source of all creativity, innovation, and economic value." That, in itself, is nothing new. Knowledge was no less "strategic" when mankind communicated via cave paintings. What has revolutionized knowledge over the past 15 years or so, however, has been extraordinary advances ["32 orders of magnitude"] in information technology. I can share my thoughts on this book with the world with the click of a mouse. And the world can return to my e-mailbox with critiques of my opinion. We now may draw "silicon paintings" for the enjoyment of audiences of 6 billion who never could have fit into those caves. Some bullet points serve to highlight the advances of the information technology age: + IBM itself once predicted market demand for computers to be 55. Worldwide. As of 1997, there were 1 billion computers in operation on planet earth. + In 1977, 50,000 computers existed in the entire world. In 1997, 50,000+ personal computers are sold every 10 hours. + Soon, 1 billion transistors will fit on a single chip: the entire computing power of NASA's Apollo Space Program will fit in a wristwatch.

It was, then, inevitable that the extraordinary advances in - and ubiquitous distribution of - information technology would in turn revolutionize the workplace. Dr. Halal breaks the presentations of his conferees into three sections: 1.) Creating the Internal Enterprise System; 2.) Forming a Network of Cooperative Alliances; 3.) Leveraging Knowledge with an Intelligent Infrastructure. The innumerable insights offered by Dr. Halal and his conferees would never fit in this review. Suffice it to say that the most successful organizations today long ago recognized that information technology created opportunities to broadly disseminate organizational information on the one hand and the more elusive [and hence invaluable] "tacit" or personal knowledge of their employees throughout their organizations, conferring upon all employees the ability to leverage all available organizational knowledge into innovations benefiting the organization, its employees, and its consumers. This leads the trend toward cutting-edge "mass customization." But it does not stop there. No sooner did organizations realize that they could unleash the power of knowledge internally than some recognized that the sharing of knowledge could greatly enhance relationships with customers, suppliers, and, yes, competitors which could be leveraged via coopetition - strategic alliances established to meet particular needs of individual clients at any one point in time. For decades, the rise of technology has created nightmarish visions of "1984" and HAL of "2001." Ironically, and perhaps - at first - counterintuitively, advances in information technology, by enhancing access of anyone in any organization with anyone else, anywhere, will make trust all the more important in public and private enterprises alike. Several conferees address the critical importance of disseminating all available information to employees to encourage innovation because, in fact, "the innovation cycle is now shorter than the planning cycle as customers are moving faster than companies' ability to manage." In short, if you cannot entrust your employees with your most sensitive information, you will be overtaken by another company that can. Another conferee notes: "Technology alone is inert. Trust develops and relationships crystallize in interactions over time and in moments of crisis. No trust without real relationships. No network without trust." It might, therefore, be one of the greatest ironies of the coming Knowledge Economy that technology will "re-personalize" relationships in the workplace while allowing all workers increased opportunities to make their own measurable [and thus rewardable] contributions to their organizations and alliances. Technology, as a tool, will free organizations and their employees from the more mundane business and governmental functions of measurement to engage their minds, individually and collectively, on an infinite course of creativity and innovation. Some provocative closing thoughts from this excellent book include the following insights from leaders of our continuing Knowledge Revolution: Bill Gates: "Two years is as far as long-term planning should go; anything beyond that is long-range dreaming..." General Electric: "The only way to be more competitive is to engage every mind in the organization." Ad agency Chiat Day: "Develop the ability to change faster than your competition or fail..." Dr. Halal: "The perfect company today is almost structureless. All that holds it together is its culture.

I cannot more highly recommend The Infinite Resource to all who are interested in understanding the enormous challenges, opportunities, and rewards - both personal and professional - to be realized as the Knowledge Economy reshapes our world.

Kristi, a creative child with bright ideas, persuades her family members to start a family business that helps customers with their pet problems. By acting like people's pets, Kristi and family help train children how to own, train, and take care of a pet. Funny examples of their antics include eating crickets, chasing balls, and making puddles on the floor. Kristi helps to promote the business by pinning up posters, designing a website, and posting a sign on the side of their van. While Kristi's family members have no trouble finding regular customers, Kristi's mishaps make it more difficult for her to find her niche.
This amusing and well-illustrated book weaves important economics lessons about entrepreneurship, services, jobs, and training into an interesting and unique story about using one's talents and starting a family business. Primary-grade teachers, parents, and volunteers seeking high-quality children's literature with useful content will be pleased with this selection.

Kim Norman's JACK OF ALL TAILS tells of an enterprising girl who convinces her family to begin a business posing as people's pets. The humans do their job all too well - and trouble ensues in this engaging story which receives fun drawings by David Clark.

What could have more kid-appeal than a family who hires themselves out as pets? Romping through this story with Kristi as she tries so desperately to find a pet that matches her abundant energy level is more fun than a book should allow. Kristi's plight of feeling like a bit of a misfit creates a theme that will resonate with kids and adults alike. And then it comes to her -- the perfect solution! Don't miss one of the best "ah-hah moments" in recent picture book history. Bravo to Ms. Norman and Mr. Clark for bringing clever back!

What kid hasn't pretended that they were a dog or a cat? Well, Kristi and her family make a living at it. A book written with a wry sense of humor tells a tale of a family who's a bunch of animals (for hire) and Kristi who tries her best to be part of the pack. A zany story with illustrations to match will keep the reader laughing and rooting for Kristi through every doggone squirrely attempt. After you put the book away, you realize it's all about appreciating your strengths and following your heart.

Kids will love hearing about Kristi's family members who decide to start a new pet business. However, this outlandish business features Kristi and her mom, dad, and brother helping pet owners by pretending to be pets! The hilarious scenes range from lizards to pot-bellied pigs making this read aloud one of those "Let's hear it again!" books. Kimberly Norman's action-packed text combined with David Clark's witty and creative illustrations make Jack of All Tails a MUST for boys and girls of all ages.

This introspective book provides a creative way in which you can take inventory of how you are living your life. The book allows the reader to have a dialogue with his or her conscience in order to touch the inner "being" and take pause in this hectic and hurried world.

What a great book. Gently takes you through your past, into the present,
and your journey into the future. No matter what your age, it keeps
challenging the way we travel our journey, by society's standards or
by just allowing ourselves to "Just Be" what God intends us to be.
Great book for anyone, but a wonderful graduation present.

This book is a short, easy read that is packed with important, life-focusing statements and quotes. It takes about 90 minutes to read and forces you to slow down and think, relax and focus on what is truly important in life. It should be a required tool in everyone's stress-mangement toolbox. I will re-read every now and again to refocus on the importance of "Being" in the moment and what is important in life.

You know that inner voice that speaks to us on a daily basis and we ignore? Well, it is now in print for us to read. That is how I felt after reading this thought-provoking book. Just Be is a great reminder to slow down. The book is a quick read, but that is good for me. While I am learning to Just Be, this book allows me to fit it into my schedule. Whether I read the entire book again and again, or a specific page, it really makes you reflect on your life.

The authors did a very nice job with keeping things very positive and uplifting! A very nice read!! There are some very good messages in the book that readers will be able to identify with!! Having actually had an opportunity to meet one of the authors of this book, I really felt a sincerity in the message being conveyed upon casual conversation with her. I hope many people get an opportunity to pick up a copy as there is a lot of positive to be said for it. NICE WORK!!!