economics-times

Peppers and Rogers may be the pioneers of one-to-one marketing techniques (or maybe even not), but they're terrible book writers. I've read their articles on the same topics, and they're much more concise. In the book, you learn all you really need to know in the first few paragraphs of each chapter; the rest is just regurgitation. I eventually gave up; I just couldn't read it anymore. You'd be better off reading a few articles, or someone else's books, unless you have an extremely high attention span or no background whatsoever in the concepts they discuss. They're very smart people, but if you've already learned the basics, this book will waste your time.

Peppers and Rogers wrote a pioneering work on reaching customers, that taught marketers to look beyond "segments" to the individual people who actually bought their products or services. But they make an essential mistake in confusing the customer's familiarity with a particular business with having a relationship. Relationships exist between people who know one another, and a business relationship is one in which the customer deals with the same provider for each transaction. An example is a personal trainer you go to each time you work out, or a using the same accountant (not just the same accounting firm) for many years at tax time, or going to the same hairstylist, even following her when she moves to a new salon. These are real relationships, but phoning a catalog company and talking to a different person each time, even if that person can check your past orders and already has the billing information, is NOT a relationship.

Using technology to make a transaction more efficient can be a service to customers. People do not always seek a relationship with their provider; sometimes they want anonymity, and the idea that the provider organization "knows" all about them can be scary. Only by distinguishing between real relationships and the kind of "pseudo-relationship" that Peppers and Rogers advocate can you sort out these issues.

To learn more about the concept of "relationship" versus the more common service encounter (between customer and provider who do not know each other and do not expect to interact again), read The Brave New Service Strategy by Dr. Barbara A. Gutek and Theresa Welsh. They postulate a service model that consists of a triangle of Customer, Organization and Provider (COP).

Having spent many years in sales and marketing, and now as an author (Windows 98 and MCSE Study Tips for Dummies) and trainer/documentation specialist, I can tell you that no one has a better handle on the customer relationship building subject than Don Peppers and Martha Rogers. Following this book through several reprints and revisions, it continues to get better and better. The subject matter is complex, yet they have encapsulated it in a way that makes it easy for anyone to read and comprehend. Kudos for an excellent job!

Don't buy this one, check it out of the library and read Chapter 6, because it is the ONLY chapter that talks about what the title promises: How Baby Boomers WILL Revolutionize and Transform America. Most of the book is a dull recitation of facts about how some people in our parents' generation found meaning by becoming foster grandparents (holding dying babies mentoring pregnant teens, or working at the local McDonalds.)

Sorry, but this is a depressing book that does not speak to me as a child-free adult who has spent her life working outside the home. There are a few interesting tidbits, such as how retirement communities such as Sun City were the genesis of racially segregated, gated communities where rich people pride themselves on avoiding taxes.

Marc Freedman's book communicates a forward thinking idea that is the next step in social development. Similar to how childhood was reinvented as a valid life stage in the nineteenth century and adolescence in the twentieth century, the new life stage of older retired adults represents the potential for dramatic civic renewal in our time. Those who believe Marc Freedman is advocating for further work after retirement are sorely mistaken and have missed the basic founding premise for his book. He is by no means attempting to guilt trip retirees out of taking a deserved break and rejuvenating themselves with plenty of golf and travel. Marc Freedman points out that the key is to achieve a better balance of work across generations. Our society manages to skew work into a massive time commitment, monopolizing our entire lives for the span of our careers and leaving time for nothing else. People naturally become either absolutely addicted or repelled by the idea of further service. He emphasizes that most people do need to get an R&R fix after working hard for decades but that after a certain amount of relaxation, many older people testify to needing deeper purpose and something to commit to in their retired lives. This empty place in their lives may be best filled through meaningful civic service, perhaps in areas that they had never considered before like mentoring school children or by continuing their lifelong career paths such as the doctors at the Samaritan House Clinic.

Freedman advocates for a revolution of society's attitudes towards older people in order to give them the option of remaining active and contributing to society or not. His heartening message of potential social renewal seeks to "expand opportunities and option, not obligations" and to show what a massive potential resource we have at hand. I found especially inspiring the idea of "the aging of America as an impending civic renaissance."

The book itself is extremely well written, and even if you do not agree with its message, it is worth reading for the first person narratives of older Americans. These are very inspiring and interesting because many of the perspectives are ones that I would never have encountered otherwise and that give me a greater hopefulness for my own ability to continue to affect change in old age.

Marc Freedman's book communicates a forward thinking idea that is the next step in social development. Similar to how childhood was reinvented as a valid life stage in the nineteenth century and adolescence in the twentieth century, the new life stage of older retired adults represents the potential for dramatic civic renewal in our time. Those who believe Marc Freedman is advocating for further work after retirement are sorely mistaken and have missed the basic founding premise for his book. He is by no means attempting to guilt trip retirees out of taking a deserved break and rejuvenating themselves with plenty of golf and travel. Marc Freedman points out that the key is to achieve a better balance of work across generations. Our society manages to skew work into a massive time commitment, monopolizing our entire lives for the span of our careers and leaving time for nothing else. People naturally become either absolutely addicted or repelled by the idea of further service. He emphasizes that most people do need to get an R&R fix after working hard for decades but that after a certain amount of relaxation, many older people testify to needing deeper purpose and something to commit to in their retired lives. This empty place in their lives may be best filled through meaningful civic service, perhaps in areas that they had never considered before like mentoring school children or by continuing their lifelong career paths such as the doctors at the Samaritan House Clinic.

Freedman advocates for a revolution of society's attitudes towards older people in order to give them the option of remaining active and contributing to society or not. His heartening message of potential social renewal seeks to "expand opportunities and option, not obligations" and to show what a massive potential resource we have at hand. I found especially inspiring the idea of "the aging of America as an impending civic renaissance."

The book itself is extremely well written, and even if you do not agree with its message, it is worth reading for the first person narratives of older Americans. These are very inspiring and interesting because many of the perspectives are ones that I would never have encountered otherwise and that give me a greater hopefulness for my own ability to continue to affect change in old age.

After I read this book, I wanted to go back to school and get a degree in Jornalism, so I could try to pursue a career driving and writing about the world's finest Automobiles. David E. Davis does such a fine job at this, and he backs it up with poignant and contemplative musings on so many other topics (food, travel, beautiful women, even the deaths of friends and associates), that I would definitely recommend it to any "car guy", and I think that almost anyone would enjoy it. Unlike some other reviewers, I think that it works well as a compilation, partly because it provides an evolving historical perspective on the Automotive industry, and partly because David's unorthodox writing style and sense of humor take some getting used to, and are better enjoyed in this format. Whether of not you agree with Mr. Davis' opinions, you will likely enjoy his egotistical but still somehow self-conscious musings on various topics, particularly if you are the kind of person who appreciates automobiles beyond their capacity to convey us conveniently from point A to point B.

Sorely overlooked because of his genre, David E. Davis, Jr. is one of the best writers of our generation. If cars didn't exist he'd probably not have as much fun writing, but his work would be considered genius. A great compendium for car guys and Davis fans as well as people who love old guys with an irreverent pen. This is it folks! He's a giant in the auto world and here is his diary...read it!

Mr. Davis became a monthly staple of mine beginning at age 9, and I've spent the succeeding two decades endeavoring to craft a life that lives up to his rather lofty aesthetic standards. A great book for those evenings when you have a hankering for something to "knock your hat in the creek" but there's too much snow outside to take a drive in the 2002.

Hear this: "Thus Spake David E." is not about cars -- it's about people, life, and the art of living. Dare I say it, DED is the Fangio of the typewriter, and we're all better for it. Where else would you find the advice, "Get rich. Get rich, then you can sleep till noon and screw 'em all". Words to live by, indeed.

As a follower of "bookstore biographies," I felt compelled to read Lynne Tillman's history of Books & Co. and its founder/owner Jeannette Watson. Tillman paints a singular portrait in that she allows us to see the bookstore through the eyes of so many different people. The booksellers, publishers, customers, writers and even those who were involved in the struggle that led to its demise all get their chance to state their case through the use of extensive quotations. There also emerges an interesting portrait of Jeanette Watson, the driving force behind Books & Co. - an enthusiastic bookseller with a few off-beat interests. Unfortunately, while some books of this genre manage to attract a wider audience than one would expect, I suspect that by being so specialized this will be of most interest to bookstore devotees. Another problem was the lack of any sort of division of the text into chapters - even some sort of chronological headings would have helped in this regard. I also found the voice in which it was written somewhat jarring as Lynne Tillman is given credit as author but writes the entire book in Watson's voice - as if it is a first person account. Maybe I'm being too picky, but I found that a little distracting. Still an interesting read for those interested in the day to day world of bookselling.

I bought this book thinking I would save it to read during one of those rare times that I didn't have anything else to read. That time came sooner than expected, but as I started reading Bookstore, I found that I hadn't given it the credit it deserved. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the twenty year account of Jeannette Watson's bookstore ownership from the time it was just an idea until the day the doors closed forever.

Although, the lack of chapters or any sort of division in content was foreign to me, I loved the way it was put together with words that seemed to come from Jeannette Watson's personal journal (written by Lynne Tillman) as well as quotes from famous authors and regular customers.

By the time I got to the end of the book, I felt like I'd visited the store regularly even though I've never even been to New York City where the store was located. I could almost smell the atmosphere as it was described and as it was decided to close the store, I grieved right along with other customers who saw the closing of the store not only as a personal loss, but a loss for community as well.

Although, I don't condemn the bookstore chains in any way, it's very unfortunate that there isn't room for the independently owned bookstores to survive alongside them. I've always felt that to be true...but even more so after reading Lynne Tillman's Bookstore.

If you've ever dreamed of owning a bookstore, you will love this book as you live vicariously through Jeannette Watson's own dream come true!

Bookstore is the story of a woman, Jeannette Watson, who made her dream come true by opening her own bookstore, Books & Co., in New York City in 1978 and kept it alive through thick and thin for 20 years. The economics of the business and a nasty landlord finally drove it out of business, but for its 20 years it was a haven for writers, readers and lovers of literature. With an introduction by customer Woody Allen, Bookstore is filled with stories told in the first person by the people who read there and the people who bought there. It is a poignant and sad story that is ultimately a triumph of one woman and her dream over the crass commerce that is bookselling today. Books & Company lives on in this fantastic volume.

I purchased a couple books once I was promoted to manager. I felt as if my world was going to change dramatically and I needed some sources of information to help me through the transition. What I came to realize is there were two types of knowledge that I sought, one was details around project management and the other was overall leadership.

The basics of what it takes to be a manager and how you conduct yourself is what this book is all about. If you are new to having people work for you or new to leading, than this book may be an option for you. For me, it covered very rudimentary topics and didn't offer much guidance in the two areas I was seeking more depth. Another thing to note, there are strategies to project management and there are theories to leadership. This book covers basic aspects to conducting yourself as a "generic manager".

To sum it all up, this book is VERY BASIC and if you have any management/leadership experience at all, it will waste your time.

This book covers most aspects of management and supervision. Even experienced leaders have weak areas and this book does a good job of helping you improve your overall management skills. For less experienced personnel, it provides a comprehensive look at eleven different management skill areas that are essential to good management.

There may be better treatises on the individual subjects, but I've not found a better manual that covers this broad spectrum of management skills.

The book layout is perfect for either quick scanning or in depth reading.

The book is really amazing. I'm a business administration undergraduate student who bought this book...

Reallly... It IS an very VERY valuable source for both students and managers themselves... I highly recommend it...

This book is fine for someone who is already organized, knows where everything is, and just wants a more streamlined approach to schedules and time management. I may use some tips for organizing closets, etc, but there was very little useful information to help me get motivated. Just reading the book lets you know that Emilie Barnes is born organized.

Emilie Barnes is an easy author to read, with some very creative ideas on how to be organized. Many of the ideas seem a little exessive and silly, but with a little more creativity they can be modified to one's life!

I've read more than my share of how-to-get-organized books, but this is the one that works! Emilie Barnes is such a pleasure to read, her sincerity shines through, and her ideas, if you actually follow them, really work. Not everything will necessarily work for every reader, but the basics for an organized home and life are all here. Other books of this type all seem to insist that a reader must do it their way, but Emilie shows how to do it your own way. Reading her book is, as she says, like conferring with a wise friend. It's a treat!

I bought this guide to financial statements, and I was impressed on how much was covered in such a short book. However, much is vague and misleading to the reader. I would recommend questioning why all the reviewers that rank this book so well are from PA. Those reviews are undoubtably from people representing the authors. You may want to look elsewhere for more thourough input on financial analysis.

This is an excellent introduction to analyzing financial statements, at least for those who have never done so before or who have no background in business. It even is of benefit to seasoned financial people who don't necessarily spend a lot of time reviewing financial statements.

It covers quite a bit of information in a relatively small number of pages: taxation, inventories, cash flow, depreciation, capital investments, and even intangibles like Research and Development and market position. It is well organized and presented in plain Englsih, much to its credit.

However, keep in mind that this is more of a starting point. If you plan on spending a lot of time doing indepth analysis of financial statements, I would recommend starting with this book to provide the basics and then moving on to a more technical and detailed volume. You might want to pick an accounting and/or finance course along the way, too.

with this book it will be easy for any one to start reading abourt financial statements.

Read instead Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, ISBN: 0471059706

...Pigs get slaughtered" - by Anthony M. Gallea. Man it sure helps to read the right book before doing something stupid. I just love the way it is so well organized. Simple, clean, - the title and one page of info, keeps you from getting lost in too much info.
I just love page 120..."an investor can be stubborn and refuse to learn. The market will simply send him to the woodshed, extract some more tuition, and try to teach him again." I know I've done a particular mistake three times now, you would have thought I'd learn the lesson the first time. And the next page 121... Basically, if you have negative thoughts and emotions your not going to think clearly, and the market will be more than willing to take your money.
Everything's not a total loss, I have gotten information out of this book that has saved my bacon - Page 5..."Stocks beat bonds, but the flip side is that in a bad market, bonds beat stocks." Where I was, I would have lost, 7% one month, 7% another month, and 10% the next month. So, I definitely got my money out of this book.

I couldn't put this book down. Organized with each strategy or example to a page, it is an easy read that uses common sense, illustrated with everyday examples to discuss how to handle various portfolio management decisions and investments. There is a very broad range of subjects and strategies covered. If you're looking for a book that offers tactics, discipline and a wealth of practical investment advice grounded in what really works, this is the book to read.

"Communicate With Confidence" is a comprehensive guide to becoming the best you can be at a vital skill which we all possess, but which needs constant attention and development: Communication.

This book is filled with useful tips on how to be effective one-on-one, use small talk appropriately, be persuasive, confident, and assertive, listen, ask, and answer questions, apologize and criticize, give and receive advice, negotiate, mediate, and resolve conflicts, give praise and instruction, break gender and cultural barriers to communication, and use body language to help get your point across.

The 1042 tips in this book are not easy to memorize, but if you are serious about being productive and effective in your communication style, then you are sure to find many valuable tips that will assist you in becoming the communicator you want to be

This book is for those that really want to COMMUNICATE -- not simply write or speak well. It includes over 1000 (yes I said one thousand) tips taught in 23 situational lessons. I found Booher's writing style to be conversational and easy-to-follow. After reading the book cover-to-cover, I also find it a straightforward reference where I can "look up" how I might handle "special" circumstances. There's also a full list of all the tips in the back that I used to highlight a few goals that I want to put in practice in my professional and personal life.

While this book has a business focus, there are many techniques shown that can be used in all facets of life - in the family, with friends, or in organizations and sports teams. It's a huge (1000+) list of tips for various situations. How do you deal with someone who's not pulling their weight? You don't have to be a manager at work - you can have unresponsive kids, friends who take much more than they give, and committee members who are just along for the ride.

All the points are obvious, but in real life we forget, communicate badly, and then make a bad situation worse. This book has the sort of information that someone gives you when they say, "In that situation I always do . . ." and you could hit yourself for not thinking of it at the time. If you read and re-read this book you'll begin to have these ideas when you need them, not afterward.

The tip formula is excellent. Too many books try to put ideas across in ordinary text and become confusing and unclear. Each tip and its supporting text is complete. You won't be left wondering what the author meant.

I teach people to make presentations and there is plenty here I intend to pass along. My order is in for Booher's forthcoming "Speak With Confidence," because if it's even half as good as this book, it will be invaluable.

One last thought. Think about the times you didn't communicate that well. Think about the stress, the bad relations with other people, and all the negative things that resulted. Now look at the price of this book. Isn't it worth that price just to communicate effectively one time, let alone all the times this book will save the day?

This book spells out what areas to organize and thats it. It covers everything from files to designing custom closets--but with very little detail. I went through this in one night and felt very cheated. I did get the use of one good tip--how to get rid of my magazines. But that's all! Either this book is very elementry or I am extremely organized--and I know the latter is not true. If your really serious about orgainizing, keep looking. I wish I did.

This book is an overly-detailed, almost academic discussion of organizational theory. Some of the basic organizational principles include listing a project's "processes or system[s] into manageable parts" , breaking down projects into prioritizing projects by how aggravating they are, tackling the #1's first, etc. Her discussion of how to compose and analyze the daily to-do list is overly-detailed -- for example, calling a student's mother to determine why he didn't show up for class yesterday is an immediate task that just cropped up, while getting in touch with an equipment supplier is "a basic, medium range task." What does that mean?? And I don't think most of us struggle with figuring out what is really important and what isn't; what we need is something that will help us accomplish what is most important. The financial planning section is overly detailed -- assess income, analyze fixed expenses, prepare a budget, etc. I'm consulting a Getting Organized book because I need to get motivated and empowered to plow through the pile of clothes on the floor and the pile of papers on my desk -- This book is better-suited for folks who are already organized and want to be even more so. This book might be a good choice if you are already reasonably organized and are looking for detailed discussions of the processes that might enable you to become more organized in all aspects of your life. If you are currently at a lower level of organization, I recommend Don Aslett's books on clutter; for me, they have been much more readable and useful.

I have read literally countless organizational books by some of the most famous authors and having just started reading this book, I am both surprised and thrilled at what I find! Stephanie really knows where we are coming from with our clutter! It's NOT so much a matter of straightening and becoming more organized...It IS about facing our fears of throwing stuff away! FINALLY! An organizing book that hits the nail on the head! It gets to the SOURCE of the problem so I can fix it permanently, not just temporarily with some band-aid techniques! :) I also want to take this opportunity to recommend what could easily be it's companion book, (also available from Amazon), called "Trading Your Worry For Wonder". It is an excellent adjunct to Getting Organized and helpful in overcoming the "What if I need it someday?" syndrome; the deepest source of the chaos in our homes and in our lives! I highly recommend them both and would give them 6 stars if I could!