Exports Books

This book promises to teach you how to "Globalize your business with digital and online technology". Unfortunately the book was first published in 1998, so the information is at least four years old. Furthermore, the author is much too pedantic for my tastes. (He begins chapter 1 : "In the eigth century B.C., when Homer wrote the The Odyssey ...).

If you are interested in expanding to international markets via the Internet, this book is unlikely to help.

I was looking for a book that would help me understand what I needed to both consider and execute in order to sell internationally on the internet.

The book helps somewhat with what to consider - having some good rankings of countries and their relative abilities to accept/use the internet and internet based purchasing. However, the book doesn't really tell me how to sell; fulfill orders, manage exports/imports at the nitty-gritty level that I need.

I know there are many anecdotal accounts of the buying habits of individuals in different countries that might help me avoid some pitfalls in marketing to them. I found very few of those in this text.

The text is at a very high level. It provides a framework for thinking about marketing globally. However, aside from the country rankings, I found the actual content to be somewhat superficial.

Another book that takes a more nuts and bolts approach is "How to build a Successful International Web Site" by ! Mark Bishop. However, that is at a very rudimentary level as well. Another text designed to help you sell on the internet is "Selling on the Internet" by Gonyea and Gonyea. This has a helpful "Storefront Planning Worksheet" that helps organize the development.

I still have not seen an overwhelmingly impressive book on the subject. Most texts just help you get foot on the first rung of a ladder but you still have to climb the rest of the way yourself.

This is the weakest of the seven no-nonsense guides I have perused so far. Unless you already know quite a bit about fair trade (including the specific examples used in the book) the book is very confusing. To be honest, I am surprised this got past the editors at New Internationalist and Verso. The first chapter, on Chiapas, Mexico, is utterly nonsense (in direct violation of the series title!). It does, however, get a little clearer from there on.
My other complaint is that the author portrays fair trade as a something of a panacea solution to the ills of the non-western world, at least right up until the last chapters. Fair trade, at best, will be one small part of a much larger solution to the disparities between the rich and poor of the world. This book gives something of a disingenuous "good news" feel, as for now, while fair trade is creating some opportunities for a lucky few in the Global South, what it's been really effective at is producing a target niche market for guilt-ridden consumers in the North. Don't get me wrong, we should all feel guilty about our complicity in the problems of the South, and buying fair trade is one small thing each of us can do. But my hunch is that there are folks out there who feel like they're "saving" the world through fair trade purchasing, making it for some, no doubt, yet another conscience-tonic for the well-off.

This book is at best a justification (chiefly by means of anecdotes) of why fair trade might be necessary or helpful. The stories it tells about farmers in various parts of the world are interesting and affecting. However, the book lacks a coherent explanation of what "fair trade" is. It also doesn't say anything about about the difference between the "alternative trade organization" (ATO) and certification approaches to fair trade, how fair trade certification organizations do their job, or about the tensions between certification and ATO approaches. So if you're a consumer who's already interested in supporting fair trade, you won't learn much.

The book is also very European, and mainly British, in its attention to the consumer side (which attention is scant, in any case). The US is rarely disussed except as a villain, and Japan and ROW markets are ignored. This myopia is significant especially in the case of bananas (Ch. 4). Some pieces of the US fair trade distribution chain have not been up to the challenges of dealing with a perishable fruit. The US market for fair trade bananas had actually shrunk by 2005, before this book's revision date. Also, the complex logistics of handling bananas forces more reliance on big producers, mainstream retailing and certification, which some people in the fair trade movement regard as a sort of treason to the movement's original intention. You won't hear any of this in the book, which instead focuses on telling a morality tale about the producer side. Its small text box about consumption tells only a sunny story, without any reference to the logistical issues or the related political tensions within the fair trade movement. For a more balanced picture, see Ch. 5 of "Fair Trade: The Challenges of Transforming Globalization," L. Raynolds, D. Murray & J. Wilkinson, eds. (Routledge: 2007).

The book has its origin in some magazine articles from the 1990s. There are at least two drawbacks to this. First, the presentation throughout (aside from the first chapter) is of first-person journalism, rather than systematic explanation. Second, most of the material was rather old even by the 2006 "revised edition" date claimed on the copyright page. (A couple of charts and text boxes have been updated, but the main text and other text boxes have not.) The literary style speaks in the idiom of ideological fellow travelers, rather than in a tone that might persuade the ignorant or undecided. E.g., an African farmer landing at Gatwick Airport is described as "lack[ing] the self-assurance of the globalized robots who run the world economy and pass through immigration like a subway turnstile" (@109). Call me a globalized robot, but IMHO you will miss little if you pass by this book.

Since India has a distinct culture from the US, I expected to receive some useful guidance from this book. It is very elementry - just remember to be polite and you will do better than you would by following this book's suggestions. Not worth the money or the weight in my luggage.

A word of caution: This book is not terribly useful for business travel in India. I spent 2 months in Delhi and didn't bother to check the publication date of this book. It is dated, to put it lightly.

There are a few useful tips in this little book (mostly about business/social interaction). However, I found that the main cultural differences in business were clear after the first week of being there--no book could have prepared me. India is an incredibly vast and varied country; no one general guide can smooth the transition.

If you're going to India to travel, the lonely planet or eyewitness guides will do you some good (really good if you're planning to visit out-of-the-way places). If you're going to India on business, then I'd suggest simply chatting with your Indian co-workers before or upon your arrival. Most likely they'll give you a better idea of what to expect; also, their advice will be tailored to your type of business and, more specifically, to the people with whom you'll be working.

As with all people and places--we're unique. Allow your Indian experience to be unique too.

This is a compact book with a lot of useful information. However, while reading this portable guide, or similar sources, it is important to keep in mind that the given information is the author's subjective view, which might not be accurate. For example, either in order to make the book more entertaining or due to misleading research, Mitchell writes, "On an historical note: In Communism's heyday, many Russians gave children such inspirational names as Tractor, Melor (an acronym for Marx, Engles, Lenin, October Revolution) or even Ninel (a girl's name that is actually Lenin spelled backwards)." It is true that in the most remote locations during the pinnacle of Communist ideology that there were a few instances of people being named in this way. However, to say that "many" Russians named their children this way is completely untrue. A few Russian people of older generations who lived all of their lives in Russia said that they never heard any of these names.

The information that the author provides on typical Russian women's attire and appearance also differs from reality. Mitchell states, "High fashion for Russian women tends toward very high heels, tight dresses (often too much Tatiana or Luda stuffed into too little material), heavy makeup and big hair. Wealthy mutton invariably dresses as lamb - a sight that often takes some getting used." Those who traveled to major Russian cities in recent years would disagree with the author's perception. Perhaps the author lacked the company of other kind of ladies.

At a certain point the author describes how many young women in Russia are hired to work in businesses based on their looks rather than on their credentials and skills. Although it is possible to find such job advertisements, they are certainly not as common as the author would have us believe. Russian women have been actively participating in the workforce since the beginning of the 20th century and often have held the same positions as men. The author also mentions that work advertisements often specify that a young woman should be "prepared to perform other duties related to client entertainment..." Then he proceeds, "...But this should come as no surprise in a country that once held televised vacuum cleaner races to celebrate International Women's Day - a day meant to honor the contribution of women to world culture."

Mitchell probably did not conduct enough research on this matter. In 1910 at the International Conference of Women Socialists in Copenhagen, Klara Tsetkin, the well-known German revolutionary, suggested dedicating the 8th of March to International Women's Day. This holiday signifies the international solidarity of women in a struggle for economic, social and political equality. It was first celebrated in Europe in 1911, and in Russia in 1913. Russian women received equal rights in the second decade of the century, while in the U.S. equal rights for women began to appear only in 1970s with Affirmative Action legislation (Or with Equal Rights legislation?).

The author's comment about the "vacuum cleaner races" as a questionable means of celebrating womens' contributions, simply demonstrates the perspective that the author chose to portray it in, i.e. humorous. In reality, March 8th is a holiday in Russia where all women receive flowers from their sons, fathers, brothers, husbands, and male friends. Men try to do something special for the women in their lives on this day. The 8th of March has always been one of the most beautiful holidays in Russia.

Overall, the book is a fun portable guide, which does contain valuable information. However a Russian person reading this book would disagree with many of authors' comments. A Russian person would likely note that the book is not judgment-free and often pokes fun at Russian culture rather than describing it. The conclusion is - use several sources to prepare for your business trip to Russia.

This is a compact book with a lot of useful information. However, while reading this portable guide, or similar sources, it is important to keep in mind that the given information is the author's subjective view, which might not be accurate. For example, either in order to make the book more entertaining or due to misleading research, Mitchell writes, "On an historical note: In Communism's heyday, many Russians gave children such inspirational names as Tractor, Melor (an acronym for Marx, Engles, Lenin, October Revolution) or even Ninel (a girl's name that is actually Lenin spelled backwards)." It is true that in the most remote locations during the pinnacle of Communist ideology that there were a few instances of people being named in this way. However, to say that "many" Russians named their children this way is completely untrue. A few Russian people of older generations who lived all of their lives in Russia said that they never heard any of these names.

The information that the author provides on typical Russian women's attire and appearance also differs from reality. Mitchell states, "High fashion for Russian women tends toward very high heels, tight dresses (often too much Tatiana or Luda stuffed into too little material), heavy makeup and big hair. Wealthy mutton invariably dresses as lamb - a sight that often takes some getting used." Those who traveled to major Russian cities in recent years would disagree with the author's perception. Perhaps the author lacked the company of other kind of ladies.

At a certain point the author describes how many young women in Russia are hired to work in businesses based on their looks rather than on their credentials and skills. Although it is possible to find such job advertisements, they are certainly not as common as the author would have us believe. Russian women have been actively participating in the workforce since the beginning of the 20th century and often have held the same positions as men. The author also mentions that work advertisements often specify that a young woman should be "prepared to perform other duties related to client entertainment..." Then he proceeds, "...But this should come as no surprise in a country that once held televised vacuum cleaner races to celebrate International Women's Day - a day meant to honor the contribution of women to world culture."

Mitchell probably did not conduct enough research on this matter. In 1910 at the International Conference of Women Socialists in Copenhagen, Klara Tsetkin, the well-known German revolutionary, suggested dedicating the 8th of March to International Women's Day. This holiday signifies the international solidarity of women in a struggle for economic, social and political equality. It was first celebrated in Europe in 1911, and in Russia in 1913. Russian women received equal rights in the second decade of the century, while in the U.S. equal rights for women began to appear only in 1970s with Affirmative Action legislation (Or with Equal Rights legislation?).

The author's comment about the "vacuum cleaner races" as a questionable means of celebrating womens' contributions, simply demonstrates the perspective that the author chose to portray it in, i.e. humorous. In reality, March 8th is a holiday in Russia where all women receive flowers from their sons, fathers, brothers, husbands, and male friends. Men try to do something special for the women in their lives on this day. The 8th of March has always been one of the most beautiful holidays in Russia.

Overall, the book is a fun portable guide, which does contain valuable information. However a Russian person reading this book would disagree with a many of authors' comments. A Russian person would likely note that the book is not judgment-free and often pokes fun at Russian culture rather than describing it. The conclusion is - use several sources to prepare for your business trip to Russia.

This report presumes to be the end-all, be-all for knowledge of the Polish Import and Export Market for Machine Tools, but such a goal is woefully out of reach for a volume that in its very name excludes Lathes and Hand Tools from its provenance. The overall lack of scope provides nothing more than a Cliffs Notes depth of market knowledge.

I visited Cuba last year and was amazed at all the wonderful American cars, so I really wanted to enjoy this book when I bought it. It has a few great photos, such as the cover photo, but mostly the photos are pretty dull and repetitive and don't really say anything about Cuba. The text, mostly by a Cuban writer, is boring waffle with very few facts and historical data. Where are the interesting anecdotes about Ernest Hemingway, or even Fidel Castro and other famous characters and their cars? The wonderful little pocket-size book on Cuban cars by Cristina Garcia is much more interesting. I'm still waiting for a really good photo book on the subject.

This CD-ROM has a minimal format for interactive use. Hypertext in text links were not as dynamic and the drill down capacity left much to be desired. The presentation of information on Ayurveda was dry as would be presented in a textbook which is of course not interactive. Much more could have been done to invite the learner into the fascinating subject matter of Ayurvedic healing. The short videos were marginal - seeing someone mix herbs etc did nothing for me. There was a very short frequently asked questions section which could have been expanded greatly and hyperlinked into the main textual material. I was not happy with the idea of sponsors in the credits which were the Department of tourism and an herbal export company. A particular personal problem with me was the monotonous oscillating bitonal music played over and over when you were trying to listen to the overvoice reading the text. There was no way to turn off the music without turning off the audio. It quickly gave me a headache and I resorted to turning off the audio and reading the text. Given the Indian language, it would have been better to hear the native speaker pronounce many of the words rather than guess at their proper pronunciation. Overall, This interactive CD - ROM was not worth the price and was not conducive to bringing Ayurveda to people who want to begin their journey into this wonderful medical delivery system.
It would have been nice to at least see it delivered in a standard jewel case and not in the typical cases used for marketing directed CD's.

This Industrial and Business Directory is pathetic and outdated. Furthermore, it does not contain much, if anything, not freely accessible (not to mention more current) via the internet. For example, The CIA World Factbook, a free online resource provided by the U.S. Government [...] has 50% of the info in this Book from International Business Publications. I purchased this book in November 2006, and it did not have facts regarding the Brazilian Presidential Election of 2002! This makes its accuracy regarding strategic economic information and listings of Business contacts in Brazil questionable at best, and useless at worst.

If you're looking for a list of government agencies and major businesses with contact info by industry sector, and are willing to accept that the info is at least 3-5 years old, then it will save you some time online or at the library. Otherwise, you will be disappointed. Today, global business and political climates change rapidly, and for a book to be represented as "updated annually" (boldly printed on page 2) and be so far in the past, is shameful.

Personally, I would have rather sent the more than US$100 I spent on this resource to a charity.

Incredibly detailed point-by-point dissection of the crisis in Asia Pacific as well as somewhat current business conditions, but at the same time incredibly boring and repetitive.

The scene is Venice, 1919 at the end of World War I. English diplomat and man about town, Hugh Thurne arrives in Venice to contemplate his dying marriage and his future. There he socializes with old friends Giacomo and Valentina Venier and their two teenage children. Giacomo, whose roots in Venice go back centuries is dying. His finances are in decline and he is struggling to maintain his parental palazzo. Into this mix comes the beautiful Violet Mancroft, recently widowed when her husband was killed in the war, and her teenage son. Her deceased husband, Phillip was a close friend of both Hugh and Giacomo who are both godfathers to her son Robert. These friends have invited Violet to Venice to console and help her. Nothing much happens in the novel other then lunches, dinners and gondola rides. The author leads us to believe that a romance may develop between Hugh and Violet, but nothing happens. The most that happens in this novel is a nascent romance between Robert and Giacomo's daughter. The characters do a lot of reflecting upon their lives. If plot is important to you don't bother with this book. The pace is languid. But if you are a lover of Venice the atmospheric elements of the novel may appeal to you. Otherwise this book is much ado about absolutely nothing.