economics-times

The first time book mentions how Wall Street's "70%-80% pre-retirement income" recommendation is self-serving, it's interesting. By about the 10th mention, it's like "OK. Got it. Let's move on."

Appreciated emphasis on importance of simplicity, freedom, and meaning, vs. sufficient means to sustain a bloated, materialistic lifestyle.

What a useful book! So many of the magazine articles and books I read about retirement these days seem to spit out the same old stuff, again and again. But this book is a surprise. From the moment I opened it, I was delighted to find that someone has finally brought some fresh eyes to the subject of retirement. I'm probably like many other people in believing the same myths about retirement that this book debunks. Most of the time it seems that the so-called experts enjoy just making us afraid of what we won't have when we retire. I'm happy to say this book shows us what we can have and just how we can get it.

What a refreshing take on retirement! Instead of retirement plans that make life wonderful for Wall Street brokers and mutual fund companies, Mr. Brock, gasp, has some serious ideas here for potential retirees. He shows how you don't need as much to retire as the fund companies would like you to think you need. And why would they like you to think that? Because they make money off of your investments. This book also puts the so-called Social Security crisis in perspective, showing how there really isn't a crisis at all. The system is rock solid for years to come. (Who would gain from privatizing Social Security? Wall Street.) One of the amazing things about this book, with all these "radical" notions, is that it is written by a columnist for the establishment - The New York Times. Buy this book and learn how to get out of the rat race a little bit earlier.

In The 12-Hour MBA Program, Milo Sobel presents an overview of the major topics graduate students learn in pursuit of a master's degree in business administration. He offers chapters on marketing and product management, accounting and finance, human resources and operations management, statistics, economics, technology management, business policy and ethics, strategic planning, education and career planning. This good, solidly written introduction to the field will probably be of most interest to college students and other beginners, who will benefit from this broad overview of different spheres of knowledge. However, managers and executives will find this too basic, more like a field of iceberg tips. The text is clearly written and well-organized, though it is primarily a summary, with a few examples and only occasional charts and tables. We from getAbstract recognize what this basic book is trying to accomplish, but warns that - having been written in 1993 - it's somewhat dated and lacks current thinking in such areas as marketing, management, leadership and strategy.

...I didn't need 12 hours to read it. This is a cursory approach to material that demands more, much more. The entire book is easily digested in a half hour or so. This book provides an OK overview of the MBA curriculum, much like a one-day seminar or an expanded "B" school marketing brochure might. This book is by no means a useful tool, let alone a replacement for the formal education.

I can see why many people gave this a good review. It is easy to read and it does offer a brief summary of many of the concepts found in "B" school. However, it is really lightweight stuff. I would equate this to a Cliffs notes MBA, i.e. what's the point. There is really nothing of substance in this book that you can bite into. Just when you are ready to dig into the concept the chapter ends with a list of further reading. A better title for this book would be, "So Your Thinking Of Getting An MBA." I don't find this even a good reference tool to refresh a concept or calculation.

For a far more useful business reference tool that will provide meaty information found in a formal MBA program check out the "The Vest-Pocket MBA" instead. The VP MBA is much better value.

Frankly, I had the same reservations before I read this book as I did when about to read Steven Silbiger's The Ten-Day MBA. The titles seem ludicrous. In fact, both Silbiger and Sobel fully understand the obvious differences between reading a book and earning an MBA degree. They have the same objective: In a single volume, to provide as much information and instruction as possible to those unwilling and/or unable to enroll in an MBA program, even if accepted. The subtitle of Sobel's book correctly indicates that he offers "the key concepts and techniques in a fraction of the time." (So does Silbiger.) About 15 years ago, Sobel created what he called "MBA in a Nutshell" and it was very well-received. What we have here is an extension and expansion of that.

According to Sobel in "Orientation to the Program", this book delivers three major benefits that few MBA programs offer: "The emphasis in this book is on practical and utilitarian applications rather than on abstruse matter that a student may learn in order to pass an exam and soon forget, since it has little or no meaning in everyday life....The chapter on education and career pathing (not an academic subject in the MBA curriculum) will serve as a guide to help you ascertain whether you really need the MBA degree or whether other degreed or nondegreed alternatives would be viable for your purposes....[and finally] there is a hidden "psychological agenda" which provides a "grounding in key concepts, techniques, and the terminology or jargon used by MBAs" as well as a "sense of greatly increased confidence in your own new capabilities and enhanced ability to thrive in the business world."

The material is organized within nine chapters: Marketing and Product Management, Accounting and Finance, Human Resources and Operations Management, Statistics, Economics, Technology Management, Business Policy and Ethics, Strategy Planning, and finally, Education and Career Pathing. Sobel then adds an Epilogue: "Reflection, Retrospection, and Enlightenment." I have a few quibbles with Sobel. Perhaps he thinks the "Orientation" is sufficient. I don't. I also question the sequence of the material other than placing Education and Career Pathing last. However, on balance, I think this is a well-written book, offering solid content. The full responsibility for deriving various benefits rests with each reader. Henry Ford once said "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." The same is true of those who purchase this book.

Forget about a 12-hour or 12-year timeframe. First, read the entire book from cover-to-cover at least twice. Then re-read it using a highlighter pen. (I prefer a Sanford "Pocket Access" with optic yellow ink.) In the "Orientation", Sobel offers six excellent "ground rules" to follow while reading and studying. Point is, effective study is hard work. VERY hard work. Most of those who purchase this book and then begin to absorb and digest its contents probably lack the structure of a formal classroom and the guidance provided by an onsite instructor. They also have lots of distractions. Unless you are both willing and able to give to this course of study the attention it requires, and then sustain that commitment over an extended period of time, forget about it.

Which book to buy, Silbiger's or Sobel's? My answer is both. Why? Years ago while at work on a Ph.D. in comparative literature, I took graduate-level courses from three professors who were at that time considered to be among the most eminent scholars of the Italian Renaissance. They covered much of the same material but each brought to the given subject entirely different perspectives, issues, questions, biases, etc. Each offered exceptional intellectual stimulation but also what I characterize as "intellectual nourishment." Obvioiusly, you will not have (nor could you have) the same experience while reading one or both books. However, there are substantial benefits to be derived from each...and a value-added benefit from reading both (in whatever order) as you correlate their respective analyses of essentially the same topics and issues. Reiteration: Be willing and able to sustain a rigorous commitment to your course of study, at whatever personal sacrifice, or don't bother.

This is not a good book to teach children the value of money and its worth in their lives. This author must have gathered all the Wall Street Journals for the past year and written in her own words what the Journal printed. It is choppy and teaches nothing about real money sense. Look further. A parent of five!

A lively, engaging book on a topic that won't go out of style: Money Sense for Kids! helps youngsters develop the financial savvy to be smart consumers and wise investors. The book is filled with amusing "case studies" and fun reinforcement activities that explain money concepts in age-appropriate ways. An excellent gift for budding entrepreneurs and piggy-bank prisoners alike, Money Sense for Kids! should be on everyone's bookshelf!

THIS EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE BOOK PROVIDES YOUNG READERS WITH ALL THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS .

THE "RISK " ANALOGY TO BICYCLE RIDING IS READILY UNDERSTOOD BY ALL GENERATIONS.

THE EXPLANATION OF THE CURRENCY IS FASINATING AND ENTERTAINING

This book is chock full of really good ideas. It didn't "change my life" but I did learn a thing or two. It mostly served as a good reminder to me of some good habits.

I would read other books by these authors.

If you are looking for tips to get your desk organized, or reminders on every day problems, than this book is for you. But if u want a more global method on how to handle the mess you will be disappointed.

This is a wonderful way to organize yourself, and tips on organizing others. There are many usful lists, such as packing lists, staying overnight, and even grocery. Ronnie has many useful ideas on helping you help yourself. I was thouroughly delighted when reading Organize Yourself. She includes many entertaining stories about her customers to raise your self esstime. (one customer was an a trip and failed to pack her skirts!) Please buy this book and whip yourself into shape!

This book brings nothing new to the time management arena. The first page shows they are very politically correct in their writing to ensure no gender or culture is left out. I loved the newspaper style columns that are easy to read. The ink drawings are well done with direct quotes sprinkled throughout the book. As for the actual writing, most of the ideas in the book I came across in earlier books("Working Smart"). In a nut shell, they advise creative people to take their time, move from task to task as they feel like it. Go out and play, even though you have high priority project with a close deadline. (The Ant and the Grasshopper" comes to mind here.) The authors also spent a chapter knocking time management sayings such as "A messy desk is a sign of a cluttered mind" or "Handle each piece of paper once." They took these says too literally. They referred to many people in business whom I've never heard of saying how they used various techniques on the job to better control their time like scheduling meetings close to quitting time to keep the meeting from running long. If the workers want to stay after because the issue isn't resolved; its on their time I guess. That lead to workers doing things outside of their responsibilities. Here they used Southwest Airlines as an example. (The CEO's ink drawn picture is on the back of the book.) I must say SW Air is a well run company, but what works for them can be taken to disastrous levels in other industries under penny pinching mangers. Though the family atmosphere in a company environment is appealing; it's not realistic. I had previously been employed at companies that had that philosophy. As soon as business got bad, they laid us off without warning and went back to the old way of doing business. SW employees save the company money by having attendants clean cabins instead of a professional cleaning crew; off duty crew members helping out on flights serving passengers. It's looks admirable at first glance but when company managers start expecting this on a regular basis then that's were creativity and motivation goes down the drain. The message they deliver is confusing at best, possible due to the fact there's two authors. How to say "NO" to tasks even high priority ones could get someone fired if followed as written in the book. The book is more a discussion on Time management then a how to guide. What was once creative and innovating for individual workers is now expected. Downsizing has made this book obsolete for all but the self employed, housewife and artists. I wanted to give them 1 1/2 stars for the books layout but I had to give them whole stars. DOT-COMS used this philosophy and now they're gone. You can pass on this one. You not missing anything.

Looking at the trees, _Time Management for Unmanageable People_ was a jargon-laden, philosophically confused waste of time. But the forest wasn't so bad. The basic premise, that time management advice is too often useless and even harmful when applied to creatively disorganized people, seems sound. The book primarily functions as an alternative guide to time management for the creatively disorganized, discussing both why traditional techniques fail and suggesting some alternative methods. Unfortunately, both the theory and practice of the book tended to be shallow at best. So the primary virtue of this book certainly lies in its basic approach to the subject of time management: individual people need to find methods of time management that suit their unique strengths and help them overcome their weaknesses.

This book contains many useful tips for people like me--digressive, expansive, creative types. Perhaps the previous (negative) reviewer just has a (very) different style. Sure, for the more linear mind, traditional time management strategies probably work well. But not necessarily for me!

Even more than specific tips, I learned a lot here about how to value my style of thinking and being, and how I could take advantage of my creative mind for time management. The authors do not pretend that having an expansive, discursive mind, it is always _easy_ to keep all of life's little details together. They just provide lots of practical ideas that make it _easier_, by working _with_ the creative mind.

I found this book very different from all other time management books I have ever seen. What it gave me most of all, was an increased sense of faith in my personal style. I get the feeling that the authors are anything but lazy.

I liked this book a great deal.

Probably one of the poorest written books I have ever attempted to read. The author repeats things over and over to gain word content, but says very little of substance.

Much of Kara Swisher's lively chronicle of the biggest media merger in history is focused on two visionary company leaders: AOL's Steve Case, who made the company into the 800-pound gorilla of cyberspace but could never seem to turn that power into genuine respect; and Time Warner's Gerald Levin, whose efforts to take the venerable media company into a Net-based future met with one failure after another (FSN, Pathfinder). In theory, the merger should have given both partners what they wanted. So what went wrong? Swisher counts the ways, from bad timing (the tech boom of the late 90's was already starting to wane when the merger was first announced) to tumultuous ego clashes between the "young turks" of AOL and the feudalistic "old school" hierarchy of Time Warner. And then, of course, there's the money. Swisher details AOL's "creative" accounting practices, Time Warner's less-than-diligent due diligence (possibly a product of Levin's determination to make the merger happen, no matter what), and the desire on both sides to create a "synergy" of old and new media, with no clear idea on how to make it happen. Synergy was AOL-Time Warner's Holy Grail, all-important but ever-elusive, and when the company failed to get it, the stock price tumbled. Swisher's prose style is accessible and informative. When she offers personal anecdotes or opinions, they are never intrusive or self-important; instead, they add dimension and context to the narrative, fleshing out the how-high-can-we-go? headiness of the late 1990's. My only complaints are minor ones. First, I wish the book contained a "cast list" of the major players for quick reference; when the surnames start flying around (Pittman, Parsons, Colburn, Crawford), it would have been nice to have a reminder of what positions each person held. Also, and this is no fault of Swisher's, the book went to press before the ideal ending could be included: the decision to drop AOL from the company name. (In fairness, Swisher did predict the name change would happen, and she expected it sooner rather than later. Perhaps the paperback edition will feature an extended coda.) When the merger was first announced, Ted Turner, a major stockholder and Warner board member, compared the experience to "that night when [he] first made love some forty-two years ago." By the end of There Must Be a Pony, readers may have much earthier metaphors in mind.

I would get this book prior to any trip...it is well-written with an irreverent, breezy style and an eye to the clever phrase or interesting anecdote. It is fun to read. The author, Kara Swisher, not only chronicles the AOL-Time Warner transaction but also provides interesting perspective on the late 90's and early 00's. One could ask why my comments and why this particular book? The book has value in that the author lived through this period, understood the genesis of the acquiring company, AOL, and importantly, was a keen observer of Time Warner (including its key players, Jerry Levin and Ted Turner among others) and the transaction that took place. To give you a sense of her style and perspective, she describes the merger as " a company without any assets acquiring a company without a clue."

What makes the book worthwhile is the author, her style and most importantly, the relationships she established with almost all of the main players. She had extraordinary access to them over time and they were comfortable enough with her to provide their own perspectives in something other than a self serving manner. There are no heroes only fools, some more gullible than others.

Buy it, you'll enjoy it and you will remember to look for Kara Swisher's by-line when you next read the Wall Street Journal.

This is a book on specialized topics in econometric modeling. Like Franses recent book it deals with ARIMA models with unit roots and advances in the theory of cointegration. This book is somewhat advanced but is perfect for the right audience, the statisticians and econometricians that deal with time series modeling (univariate and multivariate ) and structural equation modeling.

The asymptotic theory is well covered but the unique feature of the book is that it points out that the asymptotics can give very poor approximations in small to moderate sample sizes. The authors provide alternatives including the use of the bootstrap for standard error estimates, confidence bounds and hypothesis testing (particularly tests for unit roots).

It is clear and covers the important literature. Much like Franses book it covers bootstrap and Bayesian methods and really does provide a current and useful approach to important problems and methodology in econometrics.

It could be used for a special topics graduate course or as a supplement to a graduate course in econometrics.

Excellent book

This one of the best book about cointegration.

This book is extremely well written. It gives a good intuition behind unit roots and cointegration. It tells us to be critical when it comes to unit roots and cointegration; they are not very powerful in a statistical sense. The authors warn of using such techniques blindly. This book is a good start for an intuitive feel after a tough Time Series course where one is all entangled in sophisticated statistical techniques.It is also a good book for the professional economist not very knowlegeable in time series econometrics. I personally learned a lot from that book and it increased my critical capacity when it comes to econometrics.

Occasionally a book comes along that is short, a pleasure to read and truly helpful. If You Haven't Got the Time to Do It Right, When Will You Find the Time To Do It Over is such a book. Mayer has spent much of his career as a time management consultant and he has written a basic primer for those interested in organizing their lives to a greater degree.

Most of us are being required to do more work with fewer people. How to get this increased workload accomplished is a common problem. Mayer asks, "But are we really increasing our productivity, or just the number of hours we work?" He then offers a solution. The key to getting work done is not simply to work harder and longer but smarter! Better organization is a solution. This book is centered on the principle of "save time by wasting less of it!" The author uses his vast experience to offer ideas, techniques, and concepts to save time and use it more effectively.

If You Haven't Got the Time to Do It Right, When Will You Find the Time To Do It Over provides common sense ideas that really work if we are willing to apply them. Being creatures of habit we tend to do things because that is the way they have typically been done. Mayer has boldly stepped out of the habitual routine to find ways to overcome daily obstacles to time and productivity. He attempts to show how time can be saved in "small pieces" rather than in large blocks. He ponders, "Save thirty seconds every five minutes, and by the end of the day, you've saved an hour." The book is divided into two parts. The first part shows you how to organize your workspace including your office, files management and desk. The second part shows you how to streamline your entire business to become more productive and organized.

This is a useful and rewarding book. If it helps you to change only one routine in your life due to its beneficial ideas it will have served a valuable purpose. Easy to read and understand from cover to cover!

The David Rix review really summarizes this book well. Its small size makes it very readable and very useful--a long, detailed time management book really defeats the purpose. The strength of this books isn't so much in the common sense advice; it is the the fact that it gives you a starting place, and a clear strategy for managing your time. By just spending less time trying to find lost files/information, holding more efficient meetings, and by reigning in your phone time and lost "chit-chat" time at work, you can really gain more control over your day. Having control over your day can really help you to get up in the morning, and not lose so much sleep over the endless problems that crop up during your work day. This book is a good first start toward that end.

Unfortunately, I later handed it off to a coworker who was struggling with organization. It's definitely a "read it once" type of book. My disorganized boss continuously comments on my organizational skills, so I've decided to pick up a copy for her as well as another coworker and replace my own.

I just finished this book and absolutely loved it. I am a mother of seven children ranging in age from 13 to 9 months and things can get crazy. The suggestions in this book have really helped. Some days are deinitely better than others but the advice in the book is so helpful it is easy to keep plugging away.

I plan to re-read this book in a couple of months just to refresh myself with all of the great ideas!!

I am a professional organizer that lives in the western suburbs of Chicago. I read many many books on organization. I think this book rates at the top. I have read it cover to cover and I absolutely love it. What a wonderful book! I love the Simple Prayers. It's so nice to read a book that is faith based. What a refreshing idea. So many of my clients would appreciate this
book and I intend to buy it for them or at least recommend it.

Bravo - great job!

Marcia Ramsland seems to draw from real life experience and feedback from her speaking engagements. Her ideas are fresh, based on biblical principles and very practical! She helps to make the transfer from knowledge to application easier.

Most everything in the book somehow ends up back to people wanting to travel to get frequent flyer miles. I travel a lot for my job...the frequent flyer miles are not worth it. Where did the author get that idea anyway. Dilbert (Scott Adams)is a much better authority on office high-jinx.

Great Humor. Sarcastic look at fellow employees, management , and procedures. I saw myself and co-workers in this book. This stuff is all too true; the author had the guts to tell it like it is.

I thought this book was extremely humorous while conveying a realistic perspective about life in big companies. The Personality types, Games, and Procedures mentioned are all too real. This book somehow comforted me because I shared some of the experiences discussed. I almost missed a good read because of the two negative reviews in Amazon. It seemed as if those reviewers were advertising 2 other books instead of giving an honest apprasial of this book. For example, I found only 3 references to frequent flier miles and their use. Perhaps the context and humor of this reference was not understood.