Strategy

Written with great clarity, "The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing" is a phenomenal book. It begins with an explanation of strategic pricing, and proceeds to cover competition in the market place, segmentation of buyers, pricing and the marketing mix for industrial and consumer goods, as well as the psychology of pricing. Also covered are models for determining price sensitivity, implications of sales staff price setting and negotiation, and finally, legal aspects of pricing.

After reading this book, you will understand the pitfalls of pursuing market share at all costs and common mistakes businesses and sales people make when setting or negotiating price. You will view your current pricing structure and strategy in a new light, and be able to spot the weak spots. You'll have a better picture of how to attract the right buyers, those that can be served profitably.

The book indirectly touches on topics covered in Co-opetition, and Thinking Strategically, as well as elements of the Theory of Constraints (see Eli Goldratt's "The Goal" and "It's Not Luck" or "Management Dilemmas" by Eli Schragenheim)

I can't recommend this book highly enough. As for the other reader who states:

"After reading this book, I was able to talk circles around the $20,000 "marketing consultant" we were considering."

believe it, it's that valuable!

For anyone involved in business this book gives very practical advice on not only the methodology for pricing new products but also changing the strategy of one's existing pricing policy.

Look for a sustainable competitive advantage, maximise contribution margin, concentrate on value and profitability and then market share will follow are some of the key philosophies contained in the text. Concerning the value of this book, it is worth the price alone just for the chapter on costings and formula for calculating what level of sales a company can afford to lose/must gain after a price increase/decrease in order to break even.

A common complaint about business books is that they are all OK in theeory but contain little in the way of explanations of how to implement - this book however offers not only theory and case study examples but also practical instructions on what needs to be done to improve pricing strategy. Overall very, very impressive and a must read for anyone involved in finance, sales or marketing functions. As someone has already said these guys really know their stuff and it works!!

One of the most focused book I have read recently. If anyone wants to learn about the factors influencing pricing strategy or developing right value proposition for their pricing decisions, this is the book. A must read. If you're skipping it then I would say that you are missing something.

Dr. Andrew Gordon's lengthy study will surely become the definitive account of the Battle of Jutland. Gordon provides an easy read with dispassionate analysis of the facts: a rational and sensible reassessment added to many revelations unearthed by the author's in-depth research. The book starts with an account of Jutland up to the delayed arrival of the 5th Battle Squadron (Evan-Thomas) to the Hipper-Beatty duel. Evan-Thomas and Beatty's handling of the advance guard (along differing tactical doctrines) provides the perfect point of departure and reference to the mid-nineteenth century Pax Brittanica, in which the Victorian Navy struggled to promote a workable combat doctrine from its opposing pool of 'authoritarian' and 'autorcratic' Admirals. The problems faced by the Grand Fleet at the onset of war, and highlighted by inadequacies at Jutland, can be traced to, and explained by, the wardroom battles of this era; particularly over the use of the cumbersome signal book and how best to adapt it to 'real' combat situations, governed by the ever-changing factors of the technological revolution. (Symbolised by the 'all big gun' Dreadnought.) Ultimately, the pioneering development in this field was arrested in its infancy by the sinking of HMS Victoria and the consequent loss of its foresighted Admiral, Tryon (inventor of TA; an initiative based battle signals procedure). The central discussion is followed by a return to the gunfire of Jutland where we witness how this 'arrested development' affected the course and outcome of the battle. The dispositions and handling of the Fleets by Jellicoe, Beatty, Scheer et al. are masterfully analysed; their respective shortcomings and doctrinal reasoning put across fairly. No encounter is left un-discussed, no surviving statement left without reappraisal. The post-Jutland analysis and Beatty-Jellicoe confrontation then come the focus of scrutiny from which we can deduce our own conclusions. Dr. Gordon's account if full of amusing anecdotes. I particularly liked the attention to individual experiences of the battle, and naval life, which are tied in to the relevant discussion: we are reminded of Tryon's last signal before the collision: "What are you waiting for?"... or that the spotter on Fisher's ill-fated battlecruiser Invincible was the German composer, Wagner's, godson. A later reference to the 'Jutland prize for creative writing' is typical of Gordon's lively prose. Furthermore, there is an interesting account of Freemasonry in the service, providing an explanation for many an admirals straight- jacket of 'dutifulness'. The book commendably puts the whole naval episode firmly into the context of the late 19th and early 20th century, with all its corresponding ideologies and imperialistic assumptions that disintegrated so painfully on the fields of Verdun and the Somme.

The Rules of the Game adds to our under- standing of those factorsin the battle of Jutland which make it such a fascinating example of the "fog of war" and the mind-sets of commanders hobbled by tradition and their own preconceptions. Gordon explores the backgrounds of the various British admirals -- Jellicoe, Beatty, Evan-Thomas, etc --who commanded elements of the Grand Fleet. The book's format is unusual: it begins with an account of the opening phases of the battle, then backtracks 100 years, delving into the personalities and events which shaped the Royal Navy after Trafalgar. The author has his heroes and bete-noirs -- those who attempted to bring realism into fleet maneuvers and those who could see no farther than the shine on a ship's binnacle. The Victoria sinking of 1893 and the deqath of Admiral Tryon played a major role, according to Gordon, in arresting evolutionary practices in ship handling and signalling. Midway through the book, we get back to the battle, which is clearly described , although not in such detail as accounts by Corbett and Marder. The author obviuosly has access to new material, which he utilizes to present us with new perspectives on both British and German command decisions. I highly recommend this book to any student of naval history for its intelligent use of sources, clarity of writing, and thoughtful conclusions

I have read many books of military history covering a variety of campaigns, but never have I read one with such breadth and insight as this. The enormity of the drama embodied in the moment the fleets met at Jutland is for the first time matched by an author's ability to depict a context rich enough to help us understand the influences which fed this cataclysmic misfire of naval strength.

Gordon focuses on the tension between doctrine's role as a useful tool for helping a widely flung set of commanders act in concert when distance, smoke, and angst prevent their communication and how a careless search for practical doctrine might invite a stifling dogma in its stead. As Gordon so fluidly writes of the malaise gripping the "fleet that had dozed unchallenged in the long calm lee of Trafalgar", the trust Nelson placed in subordinates had not long survived his death in that battle and its heir was an officious busyness centered on sparkle and conformity.

Particularly delightful in this work and an aspect not to be missed is the benefit to be realized by using two bookmarks when reading it, with the second preserving your spot in the end notes. Its 100+ pages of notes manifest a stringent and complete attribution of his borrowings, but a great many of the notes are not simply citations of others work but illuminating tidbits well worth savoring as you plow along the main text.

A new reader will also find that color has not been sacrificed in the rush to meet the obligations of covering so large a battle. My favorite anecdote was one of an untroubled officer on HMS Lion who, unaware that the Germans had truly been sighted, calmly finished preparing his sandwich as action stations were rung. The mental picture formed of his arriving on the bridge with mouth full and hoagie in hand is not unlike someone doing "the wave" in the audience at Ford's Theatre as Lincoln takes his seat.

I mean the 5 stars. I have given 5 copies of this book to people I know, simply to ensure that they might understand the mania for naval history it has fanned in my heart. If there is any justice in this world, this book will enjoy a massive new print run.

As corporate executives launch strategic projects that mandate enterprise information (business intelligence, supply chain management, CRM, database marketing), data is once again in fashion. Margaret Chu describes not only the value of rich, clean, integrated data, but the tactics involved for deploying it across the enterprise. Issues that are top-of-mind in today's businesses--including data quality, data modeling, and even the politics around information--take center stage in a well-structured, easy-to-read format.

Written in an engaging style with a plethora of real-life examples, Blissful Data should be in the library of managers and practitioners alike!

Margaret Chu's book is a delightful book with the just the right amount of humor and sophistication. She takes a complex subject, data warehousing, and presents it in a non threatening, easy to understand, plain English style, that makes the book a quick read. In addition to being able to finish the book quickly you'll come away with a feeling of satisfaction and you'll know a lot of the dos and don'ts of data warehousing.

I have been saying for years that the company that can harness its collective information across the supply chain can increase market share and profits by maximizing customer service through maximizing effective resource utilization to drive down total costs. This is what Margaret Chu has shown you can do with a well thought out and planned data warehouse initiative. But it won't be a cake walk. It takes discipline to do it right. However, with Margaret's book, which is full of insights, remember this sections, and humorous but poignant nursery rhymes you will learn how to apply the finer points of her book to create a successful data warehouse initiative.

Margaret starts off with a simple and clear explanation of a data warehouse. She then explains how a data warehouse and a data mart are different. She further explains that a data mart is type of data warehouse with a very specific purpose. She emphasizes that the type of data warehouse you choose needs to be aligned with the corporate strategy and that you need to think through the why of what you are trying to accomplish before you can choose the correct type of data warehouse.

The last chapter of "Blissful Data" is dedicated to two case studies to further arm the reader with a positive road map to data warehouse success. The first is a success story and the second is a failure. However, Margaret goes further than just telling stories of success and failure. In each case study she reviews what went well and what didn't. Yes even in successful projects some things could have been done better and even in failed projects there are things that went well and need to be capitalized on.

Well I have now told you about the beginning and the end but I suggest you now go out and purchase this book to fill in the middle, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Margaret Chu leads us into and through the world of Data Warehousing with a writing style unique to "IT primers."
This book was fun to read. Blissful Data informs and entertains. The examples and the book's illustrations facilitate the readers' education in all aspects of projects involving large amounts of data.
For me, it's indeed rare for such a valuable learning experience to be so enjoyable!

After reading most of this book it is clear that the author has significant practical experience developing solutions with both COM and CORBA technologies. This is a pleasant change from the theoretical emphasis in the several books on each of these subjects. It seems many of these are by professional writers, trainers or technology evangelists, and others are sponsored by technology development organizations.

I like the very clear way that Dr. Pritchard imparts real world insights into engineering with both COM and CORBA. The comparisons of different aspects of the technologies are well presented in a (for once) unbiased manner. The code examples, which are in VB, Java and C++, are well thought out and clearly illustrate the issues under discussion. Also the organization of the book into client, server, and bridging sections adds to its overall readability.

This is not an entry-level developer textbook, but for those familiar with one or both technologies it is great for understanding the relative benefits of each technology. It has lots of tips and helpful insights, and addresses some issues that hadn't occurred to me before.

Not only did "COM & CORBA Side by Side" did an excellent job of comparing COM & CORBA, it laid out a number of strategies to apply *both* technologies' strengths in designing and implementing your distributed system solutions. As Part 1 of the book is aptly titled, the book's overriding theme is embracing COM & CORBA to your advantage. Evolutionary background and current technology trends in distributed computing were covered thoroughly. Development issues on both client & server sides were given enough treatment to satisfy 2 groups of audience: developers who want to understand the implementation details & differences of COM & CORBA, and decision makers who need strategic information on the technology's main players and future directions.

However, the key to the entire book is Part 4 that covers COM & CORBA bridging strategies ranging from custom approaches (C++, JVM) to third-party commercial products (Visual Edge's ObjectBridge) to enterprise application servers that provide support for client & server components implemented with both COM & CORBA. This is probably the only COM & CORBA book currently available that provides comprehensive information on this topic. My only complaint is that only one commercial bridging product was covered in this section. I wish the author had spent more time on other third-party bridging solutions. Well, maybe that can be covered in a second edition.

The book is also logically laid out with executive summary before and after each chapter and major section. What I also like about the book's presentation is the example code are higlighted with light gray background, making it easy to distinguish between text & programming details. In all, it is refreshing to come across a book that promotes building solutions by harnessing the strengths of competing technologies and does a very good job at that with real code & examples.

This book was an oasis in the desert of COM/CORBA obfuscation and confusion. This is the most fair, useful and easy to comprehend overview of these two models that I've come across. The author has the ability to convey the material in a way that makes it almost painless to comprehend...buy the book NOW.

The first business book I've read that comes close to describing what really happens behind the scenes of success stories. "Experiments never fail" is this books mantra, making the case that success is discovered and maintained by experimentation, not by rigid goal setting and endless self-analysis. Refreshing! The first book I have bought for peers and given away with unreserved enthusiam

I dug out this book recently, 3 yrs after buying and reading it. Looking back, can't believe how much this book has influenced my thinking and direction in life. I guarantee that all those seeking a breakthrough in their lives will find this book most relevant and applicable. Among all the leading-edge business and management books I've bought and read, this one contains some of the most lasting ideas and concepts... This book is for next-generation entrepreneurs, visionaries, leading-edge thinkers and innovators; not for readers looking for conventional ideas and strategies. Get a head start - Buy and read this book to prepare yourself to thrive in the new digital economy.

This book was my introduction to Dale Dauten and remains one of my favorite business books because of the novel way the author finds to make practical advice memorable.

The book is organized as a conversation between a successful entreprenuer and a stranded burned-out businessman at snowed-in O'Hare airport. Max Elmore,our hero, helps his new friend see the nature of innovation and the connection between innovation and business success.

For the person who wants the reputation as an innovator (and ain't that what makes life fun?) this is a little book that can be read and understood in a few short hours.

If you have the courage to devote the additional time to completing the exercises outlined in the book you can expect to uncover some interesting experiments that might lead you to some new methods and new thinking.

If you are interested in innovatation and experimentation as an employee or a business owner, the few hours reading this book will be richly rewarded.

I thought this book was suberb. Having read the official Board of Inquiry report( available on the City of Worcester web site), the author accuratley places human faces on the brutal facts of this disasterous fire .

Note to who ever wrote the Publishers Weekly review. Get a map. The second largest city in New England is Worcester Mass. not WorcHester. Those of us born and raised there pronounce the city to rhyme with mister.

The title at the beginning of these comments is from St. Florian, and was on a medal recovered from the spot where one of the men fighting this fire died. The medal should not have survived, silver melts at 1,600 degrees, a body is incinerated at 1,800 degrees, and the heat in the building had reached 3,000 degrees.

I came to read this book from a rather unusual direction. Worth Magazine just did a profile of the most generous Americans, not necessarily those who gave the most money, but as a percentage of what they have, their reasons, and other intangibles beside the traditional yardstick of amount only. Actor/comedian and member of this very special group is Dennis Leary. Of the 6 men who died in this fire, one was his cousin and another was a childhood friend. His foundation has raised $2 million for firefighters in Worcester MA and NYC. His organization was cutting checks 3 months after September 11th in NYC; he has no use for bean counters.

Sean Flynn's book, "3000 Degrees", is easily one of the most powerful books I have read in 2002, it is the first of many books I will now read on Firemen, and others who put themselves in lethal harm's way, for the rest of us. As I read this book, I asked the same question I often ask when men and women put the lives of others before their own, not for a single moment, but every day, for years and often for decades. Some members of a team are the rescue members, and these men enter the building without any fire fighting equipment, like hoses, to protect themselves. They go in looking for victims and are unprotected against flame and other lethalities except by their experience and luck. They are in a burning building looking for you and me before the houses may even be turned on.

Firemen are not drafted; they are not military, although some served prior to becoming Firefighters. The serve their own communities, but adjacent ones when needed, and generally walk in to situations that may kill them to save people they do not know, or to be sure a building is empty of persons. The latter was the case on December 3, 1999. Six men died in a building that was boarded up, and devoid of human life. It had many lives within it for several hours, and then 6 lives became the only bodies that the building would ever contain.

Tim Jackson, Joe McGuirk, Paul Brotherton, Jay Lyons, Tom Spencer, and Jerry Lucey died, because as one person involved in the fire wondered, that 6 of his friends had died because, "two misfits were too scared to dial 911". These misfits not only started the fire, accidentally, they did not report it, but because it is not against the law to fail to report a fire in Massachusetts, even if you started it, neither person was convicted of anything.

Now Julie and Tom continue to live their lives which up until the night they started this fire were notable only for the similarities they shared. They were the personification of life's losers, living illegally, living in filth, living any way they chose as long as it required nothing from them, no effort. And if that meant going to jail, breaking the law, and living in their own filth like no animal would do, that was what they did.

They killed these 6 men by their actions, even if you call their act one of omission as opposed to commission, the men are dead, and Julie and Tom started the fire, Julie and Tom ran, and Julie and Tom did not bother to let anyone know the building they illegally were squatting in was empty. That their illegal residence was barely worth the water to contain the blaze, much less the lives of 6 men, a host of new widows, and a large number of now fatherless children, never occurred to Julie and Tom.

They went to Media Play and listened to music while the fire spread, books were out for Tom, he's illiterate. And while the candle falling over and causing the fire was called an accident, it probably would not have fallen if Tom did not try to force himself on Julie. Tom was in the mood, Julie was not, so 6 men died.

The men who fought this fire and died and those who fought it and lived are all remarkable people. They are people that few of us can measure up to. Are you willing to take a job where you place your life at risk every day, not for fame, or money, or even job security? I don't think you are; I'm not.

Firemen are willing to make the sacrifice, so are Policemen and women. So the next time you are tempted to park in front of a hydrant, don't, next time you get nailed for speeding, take the ticket, call the officer sir or mam, and act like an adult. Don't whine because your radar/laser detector did not allow you to get away with speeding. Want to speed, pay the ticket; don't blame the officer who stops you.

30,000 Firefighters from all over the world came to Worcester to pay their respects to these men and the families that were left behind. So the next time you pass a Firehouse, think about the people in side, you probably don't know them, and they don't know you. Would you die for them, they are prepared to die for you, every minute of every day.

I had always been under two false impressions about negotiations. First, that negotiations are all about business and commercial transactions. Second, that negotiations are about hardball tactics where the stronger side "wins" and gets away with a great deal while the weaker side is beaten down and suckered into a raw deal.

Richard Shell's book completely changed this impression. This is a book that is well written and the ideas are structured in way that I could read and take away bite-sized chunks. The book is also very practical and ends each section with a checklist to be used when you negotiate. Shell has made the book very readable by not going overboard on negotiations theories and sprinkling the book with some terrific stories. The stories range from negotiation strategies employed by Mahatma Gandhi and Akio Morita to Indonesian villagers and Tanzanian tribesmen.

The main message of the book is that negotiations are mostly about relationships and that each party may have something to offer that is of enormous value to the other party. By building your relationship and unearthing that value you can conclude a successful negotiation where everybody leaves the boardroom or village center with satisfaction. Shell draws his rich material from many negotiating situations (e.g.-: kids negotiating with their parents about dinner, an elderly widow negotiating with real estate tycoon Donald Trump, and the negotiations for buying out RJR Nabisco). He has also drawn on negotiating styles from around the world and compared the cultural differences (e.g.-: Gandhi negotiating in South Africa, the importance of networks or Guanxi in Chinese cultures, etc.)

The first part of the book focuses on the six foundations of effective negotiation - being aware of your personal style, setting goals, adhering to certain standards, building relationships, uncovering the other person's interests and making use of leverage. The second part of the book is about the negotiation process - preparing you strategy, exchanging information, the actual negotiation, and finally getting commitment. I liked Shell's use of a chessboard metaphor to put these principles into a framework. It is unlikely you will master all these skills in one shot. This is a book you want to come back to every now and then, nibble a bit, practice the skill during your next negotiation opportunity, and go read the book some more.

I would strongly recommend the book because it teaches you skills to successfully negotiate your way through life. Even if you were to measure it in narrow monetary terms this book would reward you enormously in all the big-ticket negotiations we do in our lives such as buying a car, buying a house, agreeing on a salary, or accepting you next stock options package. But, even more important shell gives you valuable lessons about setting goals, following a strategy and building a meaningful relationship with the people you interact with whether it is your spouse, friend, grocer, or friendly neighborhood business tycoon. When I finished the book I realized that this book is not just about negotiations. It is an enlightening and entertaining book about living more effectively. While it will certainly help you negotiate a better price on your house it will also help you develop a more meaningful relationship with your spouse or child the next time you negotiate your vacation or broccoli vs. ice-cream deal.

G. Richard Shell's book on negotiation was my first read on the topic, aside from a little Dorling Kindersley guide. This is not a book to teach you how to be a cutthroat or hardball negotiator, it is a book designed to help YOU get the best solution every time.

The author is to be commended for a number of achievements in this book. First, the writing was excellent -- easy to read, yet not simplistic; interesting enough that I actually enjoyed it; and extremely well organized. Unlike maky other books, the anecdotes are both interesting and well-used to illustrate his points.

Second, the author presents guidance on a wide range of issues. One section helps you identify your bargaining style and then gives you suggestions on how to maximize its effectiveness. Another offers advice on how your strategy should change based on the relationship (or lack thereof) between the two parties. This book is not just for MBAs; it's for all people, since everyone negotiates in various forms with everyone else.

Third, the book achieves an excellent balance between theory and practice. Shell refers to numerous psychology and economics experiments to describe the ideas beneath the negotiation process, but he also gives real-world advice on how to put these ideas to work.

Finally, a section on ethics is included which, although enlightening enough to provide a basic knowledge of legal, moral, and practical implications of various bargaining strategies, is really only a primer to a much larger topic.

Again, this was a truly excellent book, especially for anyone looking for a first read on the topic.

I really like the subject of negotiation. As a matter of fact we all negotiate, I'm an engineer and I negotiate all day: with marketing, with manufacturing, with suppliers. I needed some key concepts to bring with me in every negotiation. I knew I was naturally doing something good and something bad in every negotiation and I needed to become more reliable.
This book gave lots of good inputs, starting from my favourite: know your style. I now realised how, being almost a natural "compromiser" or "problem solver", I need to improve in those negotiations where stakes matter more than relationship. A very interesting book for people who want to be more effective and want to analyze their own behaviour in day to day negotiations.

Scoblete explains why the casinos are introducing these new games with high house edges and he shows you the best strategies to ply for each. If you follow these strategies and his money-management advice, you have a good chance of reducing the casino's take on you. The book is also an enjoyable book to read as Scoblete is a good writer who knows how to make even difficul subjects interesting. Read this book before you tackle any of the three new games listed and you'll be helping yourself a great deal.

I like to play the new games that the casinos have introduced because you have a chance to win a lot of money. I also recognize that casinos have not introduced these games to make me money but to make them money. Scoblete's book helped me to learn the right strategies to keep the house edge low and it was also a very entertaininglook at three of the popular new games. Scoblete first explains how each game is played and then explains how the house edge is for various playing methods. He then explains his own Bold Card Play strategies which do cut the edges considerably. He has a really great section on the various types of systems people try to employ against casino games and he also has excellent information on how to get the most in comps for the least risk. He is an excellent writer and this book is must reading if you want to play these new games.

Then Amazon is offering you the best bargain you can get. I just finished reading both of Scoblete's books, BOLD CARD PLAY and THE ARMADA STRATEGIES and they were incredible. They give the best strategies for these often casino-friendly games. Scoblete shows you how to reduce the house edge and to take advantage of the casino comping system. This is a great tandem of books for gamblers interested in reading about the "other" casino games.

Living Your Best Life is a "what-to" manual for building a life that not only feels right but is supported by a solid foundation.
Laura Berman Fortgang has provided all the required tools to escavate the raw materials, that are within all of us, to create a meaningful and productive life. Her book is the perfect guide to finding your own personal wisdom and is full of self-directed exercises to design your best life (worth buying just for the appendix). Laura Berman Fortgang is the real deal. She knows from where she speaks. Her book has had a profound and lasting impact on my life and the people who I care about. What is your dream?

"Living Your Best Life" is a practical guide on discovering what you want while presenting the skills it will take to get it. The foundation of the book is the belief that each person has their own innate wisdom that can be used as a resource. Once you have tapped into that resource, a change in attitute and perspective can help you create the life your wise self desires.

I purchased this book as an informational companion to my role as a coaching client. As someone in the midst of many personal and professional decisions, I found the client success examples illustrating each idea to be energizing and inspiring. Fortgang's perspective is a breath of fresh air in a world that tells you to push for your goals. Fortgang supports allowing your innate wisdom to pull you toward your passion and purpose.

"Living Your Best Life" is not about making lists, or even making plans. It is about knowing what you really want in life, instead of what you think you can have. It is about being who you are so you can do what you are meant to do in order to live your best life.

The chapter on "defining" and "expanding" beliefs is worth the price of admission. So many people I work with as a coach have such definite beliefs about who they are, how they need to do things, and whether they can or can't accomplish something. Fortgang shows us how to move through those limiting mindsets and create new, more expansive thinking that is filled with hope and possibility. The simple act of changing one entrenched belief about something can, and will, create incredible break-through results.

This book had a lot of good ideas and ways to bring together two people with just one person doing it. The problem I found with this is that it made me frustrated at times because I was hurt by my partner and I felt like I had to do all the work myself trying to bring us closer and salvaging our relationship. I didn't do anything wrong! However, this book works for people that want to stay together and want to go further if BOTH partners are willing. My relationship, on the other hand, is in a state of ambivalence and so the strategies in this book didn't quite work too well for us due to unresolved issues.

I am a man, and this review is for other men. I'm going to figure that you are looking for a book on relationships because you are having problems with your own relationship. As a man, you are probably goal oriented and practical - you have a problem, you are looking for solutions, and maybe a book will help. There are lots of books out there - which to pick? Susan Page's book is valuable, and I do recommend it. There is quite a lot of useful information here, and lots to think about. Expect to spend some time with this book. She takes a highly behavioral approach - you are asked to first believe that your relationship will work, and to act loving toward your partner. If you change your beliefs and behaviors, she maintains, then you will see your relationship flourish and the feelings between you and your partner will grow. If your orientation is different - for example, if you believe that it's more important to search for and heal the underlying childhood wounds that cause you to think, feel, and behave in the ways you do - then you may not be happy with this book. My advice to you, however, is that you NOT read this book first. I'm not convinced that there is one book out there that will give you everything you need to know to "fix" things, or at least I haven't found it. I have a thick skull, and it has taken reading several things for these ideas to start to penetrate. I think you will have an easier time understanding and accepting what Susan Page is saying if you read a few other things first. Here are some other books you might wish to search for also: (1) "Communication Miracles for Couples," by Jonathan Robinson - this book is very short and accessible, and you will find some of the same ideas. After you start to understand some of this stuff, I think you will have an easier time working through Susan Page's book, which is much more detailed. (2)If you are heterosexual, I think you may find it helpful to read something about the differences between men and women. You don't have to buy into all of it, but the girls probably do think differently than us, and it will get you thinking. So consider John Gray's "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus." Along a similar vein, and an absolute bargain at only about $5, is the book "Light Her Fire" by Ellen Kreidman, which is extremely practical. Happy reading, and good luck!

When you really look at them, most advice books for couples spend most of their pages telling you how much YOU contribute to the issues and problems in your relationship. Page's title comes right out and says what the titles of other "couples" books don't: Improvement starts with YOU!! Inside the book, she immediately starts giving you practical ways of improving your relationship. Her "experiments" are useful and effective. Also, it's written in a clear and accessible style. This book empowers you with the skills you need to improve any relationship, so anyone would find this book useful.