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Alfred P. Sloan Jr. was CEO of General Motors from 1923 to 1946. This book was originally published in 1964. Sloan is seen as the first person to have worked out systematic organization in a big company, planning and strategy, measurements, the principle of decentralization - in short, basic concepts of a discipline of management. This is a difficult book to review, since it is more a historic piece on GM's history and development from Sloan's perspective than an autobiography. It does not discuss the individual Alfred P. Sloan Jr., it discusses Alfred P. Sloan Jr. as professional manager. The chapters also come across as business school lessons in different subjects, ranging from general management through to accounting, marketing and compensation strategies.

The book consists of two parts. "Part One is an integrated continuous story of the main lines of General Motors' progress, involving the origin and development of the corporation's basic management concepts in the areas of organization, finance and product." It discusses the extreme growth and development of the automobile industry from the early 1900s through to the early 1960s. It also discusses the methods General Motors introduced used to manage the corporation (Sloan all through the book keeps emphasizing the concept of the corporation). He later became known as a committee-man, because he used different types of committees to get/keep various divisions talking and working with each other.

"Part Two consists of individually distinct sections dealing in some detail with engineering, distribution, overseas operations, war and defense products, incentive compensation, and other aspects and branches of the enterprise." This part of the book discusses in greater detail the different experiences and events during Sloan's reign as CEO. It discusses some very interesting subjects, such as the evolution of the automobile, relationships with dealers, World War I and II efforts, and personnel and labor relations. Chapter 23 and 24 are really the conclusion to this book.

Yes, this is a great book. It is a TRUE business classic. It discusses all the subjects involved in business from a CEO's point of view. I was amazed to see the amount of detail Sloan has gone through while writing this book, there are plenty of quotes from annual reports, memoranda, conversations, etc. However, some readers will be disappointed by the lack of insight into Sloan's personal life. This particular edition includes an introduction by Peter F. Drucker, who explains why this book is MUST reading for all MBA and business students, but also all people that want to be serious about management. Highly recommended. The book is written in simple business US-English.

Sloan offers a unique first-hand perspective of the forces that shaped the auto industry and much of consumer marketing.

I found the account of GM's entry into consumer finance and the forces at work during the great consolidation periods of most interest.

Sloan seems to be able to keep his ego in check and deliver the facts in a straightforward manner.

Discussions of the DuPont principles of comparison for unlike businesses and the board politics that shaped General Motors are helpful to executives even today.

I think it's really a great book, not only for any industry engineering people or student, but for any student studying management. Alfred Sloan was a great businessman and I respect him and his business thought.

This is a wonderful book! The photographs are beautiful and the text is honest and touching. Each vignette makes you feel as if you are at the farm with the author that day. This is a must have for every horse lover. I recommend a full box of tissues every time you read this book. It is not a sad book but very moving and full of love an drespect for the wonderful horses represented here. As many of us horse savvy folks know...these are the lucky ones. I Just love it!

I bought this book after hearing about the death of the great Ferdinand.
This book shows many of the great ones that have come along, many that are still breeding and many that are living out the rest of their days in quiet comfort. Livingston is a fan of all of these horses, writing as if each one is her own. I read this book in one sitting, crying and laughing all at the same time.

I can't help but think of all the horses that didn't make it, the horse that met the same end as Ferdinand. The one's that were bred for speed but couldn't quite turn it on at the right time. The horses in this book were and are all very, very lucky indeed.

I had the pleasure of meeting the author at Gulfstream Park . She was doing a book-signing at the Florida Derby and I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. She is a kind and gracious lady. She took her time with everyone who approached her. I was already planning to purchase book and was so happy to get an autographed copy! The pictures are incredible and the grace and dignity she conveys with them is perfect for such beautiful animals as thoroughbred horses. I recommend this book to anyone who loves horses or horse racing. As Ms Livingston signed in my book : Track fever is a good thing!"

"On My Own at 107: Reflections on Life without Bessie" is by Sarah L. Delany with Amy Hill Hearth. Their text is accompanied by illustrations by Brian M. Kotzky. This book contains the reflections of 107-year old Sarah "Sadie" Delany after the death of her sister and lifetime companion Bessie at the age of 104.

A foreword by coauthor Hearth discusses the lives of these two extraordinary African-American women and the success of their book "Having Our Say," published in 1993 and adapted as a Broadway play. Bessie was a pioneering dentist, and Sadie a teacher; remaining unmarried, the two enjoyed a lifetime partnership that lasted over a century.

The main body of the text is divided into four parts, each with an introductory section by a 3rd person narrator. But the bulk of the text consists of Sadie's first-person reflections. Interspersed throughout the text are Kotzky's beautiful full color illustrations of the many flowers that longtime gardener Bessie loved: crocuses, tulips, rhododendrons, coral bells, etc.

This is a wonderful book about family, faith, growing old with grace, and surviving the death of one's life partner. Sadie's voice is wonderfully moving and sometimes funny. Ultimately the book celebrates the cycles of life.

This book is a touching tribute to Bessie Delany and a celebration of the enduring partnership she shared with her sister. Early in the book Sadie declares, "Why, I have been so blessed in my life!" Likewise are we readers blessed with this beautiful book. Recommended especially for those with an interest in women's studies, African-American studies, flower gardening, and issues related to the elderly.

i think this book would be a wonderful source of comfort for ANYONE who has lost a partner or loved one...it is so 'upbeat' and positive that it would help the survivor cope with loss. it is delightfully written and offers a perspective from 107 years of life that most of us will not achieve! i am giving this book to friends who need comfort and a new perspective on continuing with their lives.

How difficult it must have been for Sadie to live without Bessie after having her companionship for over 100 years. As someone who has lost many people in my life, I truly admire the strength of this woman. She was and is a true inspiration. You won't regret buying this book.

This book was received as a gift, after reading it I just could not put it down. It's true interest from start to finish, Kris did a great job with this book with alot of talent and love!

I recommend any Rick Nelson fan, get a copy and enjoy!!

After watching a presentation about Rick Nelson's career on VH1, I was uncomfortable with the portrayal of Kristin Nelson. Curious about her, I purchased a copy of, "Our Of My Mind." What an interesting book! Through the use of her paintings, poems, photographs, and diary entries, she recalls her life.
A victor over her personal struggles, a successful single mother, and a talented artist, one can only admire her.

This woman is a great artist and I love the format of the book--which features all her big beautiful paintings and the significance next to each of them. I love all the colors, the people, the brightness, the boldness, and the happiness she projects in her paintings. She reminds me so much of Faith Ringgold with her larger than life artwork, cartoonish-like characters, and her real-life storytelling. For quite some time now, I have been stressing over what to paint. I am now very inspired to, like the artist, paint my life's memorable moments.

SECRETS OF A TABLOID REPORTER is a reader's first look at the secret world of the National Enquirer and the famous people
it exposes. Author Barbara Sternig was a Senior Reporter for 20 years covering Hollywood for this tabloid. Before that, she was writer/producer/assistant to Gossip Columnist Rona Barrett and had Hollywood welcoming her most of the time.
In this fast-moving nonfiction book, Sternig tells how she got her startling stories with their intimate details. No matter what obstacles she faced, Barbara always seemed to come up with the story (although at times the crazy antics in pursuit of stories almost got her into thick trouble.
She shows her ability to capture our attention, awaken our curiosity, and keep us interested, but she refused to give us the name of the man she loved and lost, showing us something is sacred to her.
But there didn't seem to be much held back when she described her adventures writing about Frank Sinatra and his gang, Angie Dickinson, Richard Burton, Tammy Wynette, Burt Reynolds or Pat Sajak's wedding with Vanna White as guest. This book keeps you turning pages. It would make a great gift for a friend who reads the National Enquirer.
Maryanne Raphael, Writers World

I just finished reading "Secrets of a Tabloid Reporter" and I loved it. It made me laugh out loud! Especially the Richard Burton escapade! I have never laughed so much with a book. I should live such a fun life. Thanks Ms. Sternig for a fun time. Patricia Pearson- Chicago, Il.

Ms. Sternig has written a fascinating, fun, can't put it down book. A marvelously well written expose of exposes. You'll never again wonder, "how did they get that photo and story?". Read it, you'll love it. Then buy copies for your friends. They'll love it.

Fairy-tales? Hah! See if your kid will go to sleep after hearing one of Tutuola's mad hallucinatory (not my word) yarns.

A seldom-discussed aspect of cultural anthropology is the metamorphosis of our fairy-tales--the imaginative currency of early youth which are passed on through family and social structures alike. In America, characters like witches, ghosts, and other creatures have their genesis in Europe, or can be traced even further back to ancient Indo-European cultures (of course, we have our own indigenous tales as well). These characters and stories have become so diluted over the years, that they've lost a lot of their original cultural meaning or relevance. What does this have to do with Amos Tutuola?

"My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" and "The Palm Wine Drinkard" are African tales in their pure unadulterated form. And they're not something you'd want to hear before bedtime! Amos Tutuola writes an English which lends the narration a wide-eyed, almost childlike voice--yet in the face of wild, horrific imagery (eg. armies of dead babies) the words are unflinching.

Tutuola is not for everybody, but for the adventurous reader I could not recommend this highly enough.

What an experience. Accompanying the narrator, "Father of the gods who can do everything in this world," the reader escapes the difference between real or unreal, into where the two are the same. A book like none other i've ever come near, and i am not sure what i'd do if i did. There is no explanation, no need, just a story: creatures, trees, an alive bush, walking backward deads, menacing babies - one of which explodes from a thumb, trees within which lives "Faithful mother" who is faithful to all things - alive and dead, an egg that grants all wishes, much dancing, much music... So many things. This book is required reading for especially this, but every other, generation, for all "races" of folks, a book for which there can be no substitute. Purchase it, check out your local library, whatever, just read it. Then reread it.

Since 1980, when I was only 16, I have not read a book as fantastic as this one. Its pages are so dense you may even spend hours through one single paragraph in order to feel all images created by the author and taste all its delicate and, at the same time, intricate constructions. A book I will never forget.

Is there a cat lover in your life? Perhaps a child who loves animals, but isn't aware of animal homelessness? Perhaps a friend who regularly rescues the neighborhood strays? "Princess Fiona" by Kari Winters would be the perfect gift for the animal lover in your life.

This sweet tale, told by Princess Fiona herself, chronicles the story of a "feral" kitten that finds her way into a loving home. Passing through the loving hands of rescuers and foster homes, Fiona eventually learns to fit in, even befriending a dog named "Wuffy"! This charming story allows those unaware of the plight of homeless animals to be enlightened while not being exposed to an emotionally draining story, which makes it perfect for children. All proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the California Siamese Rescue, making it an endearing, yet practical gift with a message!

This is a gentle little book, appealing to adults and children alike. It is told from a cat's point of view (Princess Fiona) and relates the story of her adoption, and the adoption of her soon-to-be Prince Charming, Liam, into a blended family of loving animals and humans. It is written in a heartwarming style by Kari Winters and illustrated with adorable color photos by Stephanie Montagne.
Plus, ALL proceeds from the sale of this book go to help more cats like Princess Fiona and Liam at the California Siamese Rescue. Neither Winters nor Montagne even received any payment for their services; everything went to CASR. BRAVO!

Princess Fiona is excellent reading for all. The story is priceless and the photos and captions are just to cute for words. Parents, read Fiona to your kids, it's just purrfect for bedtime too! A must for all cat and dog lovers.

Sue is probably the most famous dinosaur ever to be dug up. She is famous for two reasons -- the quality of her bones and the story of what happened to her after she was exhumed.

This book tries to discuss dinosaur and T-rex science at the same time as it tells the story of Peter Larson -- who dug up Sue, spent months cleaning her off, lost her in court, then went to jail for two years on charges that never would have been pressed if not for the Sue dispute.

Unfortunately, this approach didn't work quite as well as the authors hoped it would.

The story about Larson's legal problems is horrific. In a nutshell, the government invalidated his purchase of Sue (for $5000 when she was still in the earth) on the grounds that the rancher whose land she was on did not have the right to sell her. Then they used the National Guard to take Sue (and all the business records of Larson's company). Then they searched the business records until they found something to charge him with -- incorrectly filling out his customs forms when he visited Peru. Then they threw him in jail for two years. It seems clear that they wanted to find him guilty of something to justify what they had done by stealing his dinosaur. Oh, and after all that they eventually let the rancher sell her again, this time for $8,000,000. Larson didn't even get his $5000 back.

But the obviously partisan story about the legal hassles distracts from the discussions of dinosaur science. And vice versa. Just when you start getting into the T-rex science, he stops talking about it and switches back to the legal problems. Then he interrupts that to talk about T-rexes again.

The format just didn't work for me. I ended up skimming past stuff I ordinarily would have read because I was trying to piece together the separate sections of the book. It was too irritating to read linearly.

Nevertheless, both the legal story and the dinosaur science are engrossing. I stayed up late at night reading it. It's not the content of the book I didn't like, it's the format.

I found reading Rex Appeal to be highly entertaining and informative book. I learned quite a bit about the people who dig dinosaurs and about the T-Rex itself. The author's legal problems smack with pure malice by the justice department. I wondered why such a thing was allowed to go as far as it did. Highly readable book, it revealed the world of paleontology and its rewards and risks. I wonder if Judge Battey can look in his mirror and see a honest man?

This is not just another dinosaur book. It is not just another dinosaur book with some fascinating facts about T-rex. This is THE book about T-rex by one of the foremost authorities on this bad boy of the Cretaceous.

Peter Larson's intimate knowledge of this beast comes from excruciatingly hard-earned experience. While it is a recounting of the nightmare saga surrounding the Sue specimen, it is also a manifest of the current thinking regarding T-rex, its lifestyle, and place in prehistory. Despite his own grievous experiences with the legal system, there is no self-pity in Mr. Larson's book. He simply states the facts as he knows them to be, as any researcher worth his salt should.

An A+ all the way.

Martial arts and film buffs will enjoy this book, which is a straightforward autobiography (written with the assistance of Joe Hyams). Be forwarned that this book was published in 1988 (at least my hardcover version), so the filmography doesn't cover his more recent works.

Norris describes his experiences from childhood, to the time spent in the armed forces, where he originally took up the matrial art of Tang Soo Do under Jae-chul Shin (who today runs the World Tang Soo Do Association).

This volume describes Norris's tournament days, including quite a bit about his competition experiences. There is also information about his family life, his entry into film making during his time as a karate (Tang Soo Do) instructor, and his experiences as a self-made actor in Hollywood. Throughout, he is honest as he describes his triumphs and mistakes.

Chuck Norris is the quintessential all-American guy who worked his tail off, took a big gamble, and came out on top. This book describes his journey from average joe, to martial arts instructor, to professional film star. This book includes two sections of photographs which show Norris from childhood, with family, in the services, in karate competition, and during the filming of his movies.

I thought I knew Chuck Norris before buying this book. But what I found was nothing that I ever expected. Chuck had a hard life and had health problems that he had to over come, talk about bad luck, nothing came easy for him, not even being born! If you are into self improvement or want a really inspiring story, buy this book and read it over and over again, the knowledge contained is great. It has a whole system of self development contained within, I have so much to say on this book, but read it for yourself, it's worth every penny!

This book is a must for all people of all ages. Whether your a Chuck Norris fan or not. As one review put it, he lays his emotions and home life on the table. I found it so intriguing that I couldn't put the book down for long periods of time, because I wanted to know more. This book has begun to open my eyes to look inside myself. I'm so motivated that I am going to get his second inner strength book about ZEN! This book is easy to read and he is an inspiring teacher. It's so good that I don't want to give the book up!

This is the first Oh, My Goddess I've read. Urd is the new female with attitude along with Ryoko. If she wasn't there,the manga would lose something. Get this volume!

As I'm sure we all know, the oldest of the Three Norns is half demon, half-god. Urd's father was God, and her mother was Hild, the queen of the Netherworld. Naturally, Urd is less than pleased with her half nature and struggles to forget the demon inside her. But her old pal/enemy Mara is determined to keep Urd's demonic heritage fresh in everyone's minds. So, she creates a clone of Urd and splits the divine demon's personality in half, filling the clone with the demon half and leaving the divine in Urd's original body. Thus, Urd becomes, well...schizophrenic. Her two halves battle, and all her sisters and Keiichi can do is watch.

Can Urd recombine her soul before her demon half does something she will regret?

There's nothing funnier than Japanese Bathhouse Humor. Keiichi and the Goddesses win a free trip to a traditional bathhouse (little do they know it was set up by their demonic nemesis, Mara).
Things go from bad to worse. First Urd decides to conduct her usual, "Big Sister Bust Size Check." Then Keiichi runs into Mara herself on the men's side of the bathhouse.
And then there's the Karaoke war!
And just when you thought it was safe, Mara has gone and made a demonic clone of everyone's favorite sake swilling Goddess, Urd.

Hilarious Hijinx and Hottub humor. You gotta love it.