Strategy

The authors provide a coherent discussion of fully half of the security challenges facing us in the 21st century. They wisely avoid the debate swirling around the so-called Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA)-but deserve credit for their predecessor "offset strategy"-and simply note that the absence of "A List" threats gives us an opportunity to strengthen and maintain our traditional nuclear and conventional capabilities against the day when a Russia or China may rise in hostility against us. The book as a whole focuses on the "B List" threats, including Russia in chaos, a hostile China acting aggressively within its region, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and catastrophic terrorism. They note, correctly, that most of the spending and effort today is focused on responding to the crisis de jure, some but not enough resources are applied to preparing for the future, and virtually nothing is being done against the latest concept, that of "shaping" the environment through "forward engagement." Perhaps most importantly, they introduce the term "defense by other means" and comment on the obstacles, both within the Administration and on the Hill, to getting support and funding for non-military activities with profound security benefits.

Although others may focus on their discussion of Russia and NATO as the core of the book, what I found most helpful and worthwhile was the straight-forward and thoughtful discussion of the need for a new national strategy, a new paradigm, for dealing with potentially catastrophic terrorism. Their understanding of what defense resources can be applied, and of the impediments to success that exist today between state & local law enforcement, federal capabilities such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and defense as well as overseas diplomatic and intelligence capabilities, inspire them to propose several innovative approaches to this challenge. The legal and budgetary implications of their proposals are daunting but essential-their proposals for dealing with this one challenge would be helpful in restructuring the entire U.S. government to better integrate political-diplomatic-military-law enforcement operations with judicial and congressional oversight as well as truly all-source intelligence support.

Interesting side notes include 1) the early discovery in US-Russian military discussions that technology interoperability and future collaboration required the surmounting of many obstacles associated with decades of isolated (and often secret) development; 2) the absence of intelligence from the entire book-by this account, US defense leaders spend virtually all of their time in direct operational discussions with their most important counterparts, and there is very little day to day attention to strategic analysis, estimative intelligence, or coordination with diplomatic, economic, and law enforcement counterparts at home; 3) the difficulty of finding a carrier to send to Taiwan at a time when we had 12 carriers-only four appear to have been "real" for defense purposes; and 4) the notable absence of Australia from the discussion of security in Asia.

The concept of Preventive Defense is holistic (requiring the simultaneous uses of other aspects of national power including diplomacy and economic assistance) but places the Department of Defense in a central role as the provider of realigned resources, military-to-military contacts, and logistics support to actual implementation. Unfortunately the concept of Preventive Defense has been narrowly focused (its greatest success has been the dismantling of former Soviet nuclear weapons in the Commonwealth of Independent States), and neither the joint staff nor the services are willing to give up funds for weapons and manpower in order to make a strategy of Preventive Defense possible.

This resistance bodes ill for the other half of the 21st Century security challenge, what the author's call the "C List"-the Rwandas, Somalias, Haitis and Indonesias. They themselves are unwilling to acknowledge C List threats as being vital to U.S. security in the long-term (as AIDS is now recognized). I would, however, agree with them on one important point: the current budget for defense should be repurposed toward readiness, preparing for the future, and their concept of preventive defense, and it should not be frittered away on "C List" contingencies-new funds must be found to create and sustain America's Preventive Diplomacy and its Operations Other Than War (OOTW) capabilities. It will fall to someone else to integrate their concept of Preventive Defense with the emerging concepts of Preventive Diplomacy, International Tribunals, and a 21st Century Marshall Plan for the festering zones of conflict in Africa, Arabia, Asia, and the Americas--zone where ethnic fault lines, criminal gangs, border disputes, and shortages of water, food, energy, and medicine all come together to create a breeding ground for modern plagues that will surely come across our water's edge in the future. On balance, through, this book makes the top grade for serious bi-partisan dialogue, and they deserve a lot of credit for defining solutions for the first half of our security challenges in the 21st Century.

This is a quick read about how American Defense has to change from the Cold War strategy to deal with other types of threats. I just returned from Europe and heard from European friends about their feelings on the United States. We are highly respected and looked up to as "the" power. We need to deal with the rest of the world accordingly. The authors give us some ideas as to how to do this.

This is the book all of us in the quilt and/or craft business have been waiting for! Sylvia Landman has interviewed 100 craftspersons in various different crafts and has published their pricing schedules. Quilters and crafters so often just give away their work by underpricing their items. This book will help all of us who are having trouble setting a reasonable price on our work. I have no financial affiliation, but I consider myself one of the fortunate ones who are in this book.

This book is chocked full of information not only from the author but from others in the craft industry. It's filled with practical advice on a variety of craft genres directly from artisans who work in those fields. From in depth interviews to valuable tricks and tidbits, this is a must have resource for anyone who is serious about their craft.

I purchase Prince of Persia around christmas time cause it had some great graphics. Then I started playing it. I was a man with no sense of purpose so I guess at thing alot and read the manual over and over again to no avail. The game was no longer fun. I was like a lost boy in the woods without a compass. Finally I dicided that it was time to do somthing so I bought the book. Now I have a compass better yet this book is more like a GPS unit. I have completed two level and boy is this game fun. If you are lost and need to find your way than this book is for you.

I can not say enough about this book! It was a tremendous help. My biggest complaint abut plot-based video games is that the goals and objectives can be too hard to figure out. Several times this was the case for me while playing "Prince of Persia 3D." I was so frustrated, I contemplated quitting the game. However, this book by Andrew Bub helped smooth out all of the incongruities that the programmers of the Prince of Persia failed to rectify (in my opinion), and helped me finish the game. Mr. Bub's writing style was intelligent yet easy to read, obviously written by someone who has spent a lot of time "in the trenches." I look forward to his next stategy guide!

I am two thirds through this book, but there is so much advice and consciousness-raising information that is thoughtfully presented and very much need that it's not necessary to wait until I finish the book to write a glowing recommendation. There are ideas I will need this year to boost collegiality and morale. Some of the problem-sharing ideas are quick and easy to implement, too. I would like to have read more about interviewing and hiring teachers, but other than that I am quite pleased. I'll pick up this book often as a refresher.

When I was a new assistant principal, I bought this book for a resource for my job. I am glad that I did. Not only did it help me throughout my assistant's career, but it assisted me while I worked on my master's.
It is a hands-on resource book that can help with many situations or prepare you for new situations. In our jobs, every day is a surprise, so the more effective resources that we have on our shelf, the more relaxed we are when it comes our way.
I believe that this is a book that should be in the curriculum of every college campus preparing dynamic, future principals.
Cathy Blair

Davenport presents a practical roadmap for process improvement and process innovation which I have found very useful as a practitioner. Although not prescriptive, the text provides practitioners with useful very insights which can form the basis of an organisation's business process innovation/improvement methodology.

This is a well-written book on the subject of process or business reengineering. It is written in a non-technical language, wastes few words, and covers the entire spectrum of topics that are essential to a successful reengineering effort. The discussions place a significant emphasis on the role that information or computer technology play today in the reengineering effort, particularly how this technology can facilitate the overall effort. I found the book largely sticking to the overall thread however at times it did become a wee bit academic to flip through the sections. All in all, a very good read.

anyone who has been perplexed by how promotions and hiring works in an organization should definitely read this book. we all know that people who are not qualified are hired and promoted, but usually the fact that someone has a degree does not automatically mean they are definitely qualified for the role. this book clears away the myths of qualification and goes into detail on what can be done to help bring about change.

the book starts by showing how the focus needs to be changed to outstanding performance. that performance should indicate the level that someone is qualified, and not credentials alone. there is a lot of confusion in understanding what a person is up against in the system, understanding how management works, and who is really qualified for a certain position. many solutions to show that you are indeed qualified and lots of good examples throughout the book, on a subject that many already think is important, is why i gave this book a five star rating. i have learned a lot from this book, and plan to use what i have learned in the workplace.

jason hanken
founder, selfcollege.com

In this work, Hayes examines the world of academia and the credentials it confers through the eyes of the working person. Hayes references personal experience, philosophical wisdom, and pure common sense to form a work that, if nothing else, will challenge the reader's view of the credentialing process and stimulate one's thoughts. A valuable read for anyone, credentialed or not.

Professor Kendall, recently retired from active teaching at the University of Florida, crafted an excellent text for those serious about a systematic approach to meeting an organization's public relations goals. Dr. Kendall includes research methods and case studies to aid the PR practitioner in conducting a campaign and the student in understanding how effective public relations ought to be conducted. As an ex-student of Dr. Kendall and a contributer of a small case study he included in his 2nd edition, I am pleased this book has received favor in the public relations community.

Robert Kendall was absolutely superb in applying many of the basic concepts of public relations to actual campaign implementation strategies. His Public Relations Campaign Strategies, a book devoted entirely to the RACE model of public relations with which all PR majors are familiar, teaches those pursuing a career in public relations how to put the basic and the not-so-basic concepts of the model to practice. While emphasizing the important role research plays in PR campaign planning, implementation, and evaluation without condemning creativity, Kendall created a guide that should be on the desk or bookshelf of every working practitioner of public relations. And as if these weren't enough, Kendall provides case studies to bring his concepts to life. To say the least, Public Relations Campaign Strategies is fun, educational, and applyable reading.

I've been a publishing consultant for twenty-five years, owned a book printing company, and have published calendars, software, books, and newsletters. There are only a few books on publishing that anyone considering self-publishing should buy - "Publish to Win" is definitely one of them.I lent my copy to a client and they never returned it - so I bought another one. Add this book to your library - you'll be glad you did.

This review by Jon Sievert is reprinted with permission from the BAIPA Newsletter (Bay Area Independent Publishers Association). - There's a new addition to my essential reading list for independent publishers, *Publish to Win: Smart Strategies to Sell More Books* by Jerrold R. Jenkins and Anne M. Stanton (Rhodes & Easton, 350 pp, $20). It earns its spot by addressing the topic of marketing thoroughly and uniquely. Though most of the book concentrates on selling a finished product to multiple markets, it is the one you should purchase and devour long before your own manuscript is complete. Early chapters provide invaluable no-nonsense advice on evaluating the marketability of your book idea, defining your target audience, testing the market *before* you spend your life savings, and the business and aesthetic end of packaging for maximum impact. In addition, there are invaluable chapters on scheduling, finding a distributor or wholesaler, and creating smart, cheap, and effective publicity. Publish to Win's most enduring value, however, lies in its focus on selling to non-traditional markets. Jenkins and Stanton subscribe to Dan Poynter's contention that bookstores are the worst, least profitable places to sell books, and they offer a wealth of other possibilities for consideration. Whole chapters are devoted to selling to libraries, academic markets, foreign markets, book clubs, warehouses and mass merchandiing clubs, gift and specialty stores, catalogs, and corporations and associations. Suggestions for locating, courting, and selling to these markets are delivered in practical detail, backed up by the real-life experiences of small publishers who have successfully done so. It is no exaggeration to say that the advice in any single chapter of *Publish to Win* is easily worth the price of the entire book to a publisher who finds a new market within. This book belongs on every publisher's bookshelf, no matter how long you've been in business.

This book was helpful for me because it had stories about real families, real struggles, and personal solutions. I've found the most helpful tips always come from other families or parents. This book offers plenty!!

A thought provoking book that examines how our family life has slipped away from us because of overscheduling of activities, as well as the addiction to tv and computer. Offers excellent guidelines for getting back on track and reconnecting with our family and community. I am putting some of these ideas to practice in my own family, and find that we are becoming much closer. Who should read this? Anyone who wishes to become closer to their loved ones, and is concerned with the hectic pace of their lives.

Because I like books of this nature and read many of them, I'm very familiar with the subject matter. So I know where of I speak when I say that this book is different from the rest. All I can say is -- Wow! This is THE BEST book on the subject I've ever read. Practical ideas that I was able to put to use right away. Amazing stuff.

This books is a gold mine. It's a great source of creative solutions to common work problems. But it also helps at home. The personality quiz is a hoot! I loved it! I gave it to my mom and a new friend -- it's a great ice-breaker. In both cases the quiz results became a way for me to talk about issues that were on my mind. And based on Cleland's vocabulary suggesions, I was able to get my points across in a way that they were able to hear. Thank you, Jane.