Product Description

A Guide to Methods in the Biomedical Sciences gives a basic description of common methods used in research. This is not intended to be a methods book. Rather, it is intended to be a book that outlines the purpose of the methods described, their limitations and provide alternative approaches as appropriate. Thousands of methods have been developed in the various biomedical disciplines and those covered in this book represent the basic, essential and most widely used methods in several different disciplines. The historical background (including some interesting anecdotes) leading to the development of ground-breaking techniques is described, especially of those that significantly advanced the field of biomedical research. Advances that earned their inventors prestigious Nobel Prizes are emphasized.

The book is divided into six sections, highlighting selected methods in protein chemistry, nucleic acids, recombinant DNA technology (including forensic-based methods), antibody-based techniques, microscopy and imaging, and the use of animals in biomedical sciences.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #1818286 in Books
* Published on: 2004-12-17
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 108 pages

Product Description

Discussing the systemic immune response in the contexts of health, disease, and therapy, this unique resource-the only broadly based book of its kind available on the subject-offers comprehensive examinations of the pathways and agents that affect the human immune response and provides state-of-the-art presentations on practical methods of immune modulation. Focuses on the immune response and modulation in infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, and parasitic infections and highlights immune modulating agents in gastrointestinal diseases, sepsis, cancer, and autoimmunity! Written by over 50 international authorities representing distinguished institutions in nine countries, Immune Modulating Agents · introduces basic immunoregulatory mechanisms as homeostasis · details cytokines, cellular and humoral immune responses, and hematopoiesis · describes neuroendocrine - immune system interactions and the role of psychological stress on immune competence · delineates factors that influence disease susceptibility, including nutrition · covers drug delivery systems, gene therapy, organ transplantation, arthritis treatment, and vaccination strategies · shows how to design clinical trials using immune modulating agents · and more!
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #2827590 in Books
* Published on: 1998-01-15
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 557 pages

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #2827590 in Books
* Published on: 1998-01-15
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 557 pages

Product Description

If you are interested in learning about Web 2.0 and the history of its development, Web 2.0 Heroes: Interviews with 20 Web 2.0 Influencers contains all the information you need to understand Web 2.0 and its importance. Read first person accounts from industry leaders and innovators, who describe the influence and potential of Web 2.0, a second generation of web-based communities and hosted services that facilitate collaboration among users. Enjoy interviews with representatives from companies like eBay, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, and Adobe/Macromedia as you gain a greater understanding Web 2.0.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #26542 in Books
* Published on: 2008-04-14
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 273 pages


Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Is it technology? Is it philosophy? Or is it simply marketing hype? Web 2.0 is a concept so fluid that even the experts in this book don't agree on what it means. Some feel that no definition is even necessary. But most agree on one thing: Web 2.0 is a sweeping tide that's changing the face of the Internet.

Web 2.0 is not about mass marketing. It's about actually understanding the masses. And it's not about controlling the message. It's about engaging the audience and actually hearing what they have to say. It's about enabling creativity, realizing a culture of contribution, and putting the user in control.

Here is a rich smorgasbord of unique viewpoints — from bloggers, social networking developers, corporate communicators, online strategists, distinguished engineers, and others. These are the people who are shaping today's Web. What they have to say can help you shape your organization's future.

The Impact Makers

*

Max Mancini eBay
*

Alan Meckler Internet.com
*

Eric Engleman Bloglines
*

Gina Bianchini Ning
*

Dorion Carroll Technorati
*

Raju Vegesna Zoho
*

Richard MacManus Read/Write Web & Web 2.0 WorkGroup
*

TJ Kang ThinkFree
*

Patrick Crane LinkedIn
*

Shaun Walker DotNetNuke
*

Biz Stone Twitter
*

Seth Steinberg Meebo
*

Joshua Schachter Del.icio.us
*

Ranjith Kumaran YouSendIt
*

Garrett Camp StumbleUpon
*

Rodrigo Madanes Skype
*

Rod Smith IBM Corporation
*

Tim Harris Microsoft Corporation
*

Bob Brewin & Tim Bray Sun Microsystems
*

Michele Turner Adobe Corporation

From the Back Cover
"Web 2.0 is a course correction for the Internet that is weaving the social fabric back together again ? It's not just your own perceptions and observations anymore; it's back to the old way."
— Patrick Crane, LinkedIn

"Web 2.0 is about giving a lot of control back to the user."
— Michele Turner, Adobe

"Anyone with reasonable smarts can have a good idea for a Web property on Monday and have something on the air two weeks from Thursday."
— Tim Bray, Sun Microsystems

"If you don't do it [Web 2.0],then you'll lose market share and you'll wish you had."
— Seth Sternberg, Meebo

the one-way Web is dead
Web 2.0 is an elusive concept, but one thing is certain — the Web as merely a means of retrieving and displaying information is history. Today's Web is immediate, interactive, innovative. It is user-controlled and community-driven. Organizations, marketers, application developers, and communicators must be ready to respond and to innovate — or be left behind.

These experts are leading the charge. Their ideas are fresh, sometimes experimental, necessarily flexible, and always on the leading edge. They'll prepare you for a Web where users rule.

About the Author
Bradley L. Jones manages various high-profile sites for Jupitermedia (internet.com) that focus on making technical information easy to understand and easy to learn. He oversees a dozen sites including Developer.com, DevX, Gamelan.com, VBForums, jGuru, and Java Boutique. In addition, he writes a weekly e-newsletter and numerous articles devoted to helping readers understand complex topics. He is an internationally bestselling author with a number of books to his credit, and has been recognized as an influencer in the technical community.
Customer Reviews

solid / ok3
you get what's on the cover; 20 interviews with Web 2.0 influencers. as with many interview books, some interviews are more/less appealing to the reader. what is crucial is that at least some should be worth reading and useful. to me, the book succeeds mostly. i found the following interviews particularly interesting; Alan Meckler (internet.com). a lot to learn from somebody who's been in the publishing business since 1969. as to expected from a veteran, he has some challanging statements like `99% of all Web 2.0 properties will never make a diem`. Gina Bianchi (ning.com) was another great interview which sparked lots of enthusiasm for the social network supported by numbers.

a good and solid read - unfortunately far from a must Web 2.0 book

More than just Web 2.05
Web 2.0 Heroes presents you with insights from leading companies and sites. Each chapter focuses on an interview with a different person from leading companies and Web sites. You can see the list of such companies and people above. In most cases the interviewee is a person closely related to the internet and/or overall strategy for the company. As such, you may not have heard the person's name, but you will have likely seen their impact.

When you read this book, you will learn the perspectives and insights from these leaders - these heroes. You'll discover what they consider Web 2.0 to be, what insights they've learned trying to address Web 2.0, and you'll learn what they consider to be the hype versus reality. You might be surprised to find what `highly Web 2.0' site hero considers Web 2.0 to be complete hype!

Web 2.0 Heroes goes way beyond just Web 2.0. These heroes are also asked about other key topics that might be impacting you. This includes giving insights on Software as a Service (SaaS) and Software plus Services (S+S). These topics often come up around discussions of Web sites, so you'll discover their thought s on what the impact of these are. You'll also learn about Web 3.0 and the Semantic Web. This topic is often considered academic, so it is interesting to see what the people on the front lines of Web development think of the topic. You'll get these front-line perspectives from Web 2.0 Heroes.

One of the most interesting things you'll learn from the heroes is the answer to the question "What's next?" There are a few themes as to what the heroes believe to be next. There are also a few interesting insights.

This book is not your typical droning of facts and figures. Rather, it is a casual read that puts you in front of the heroes and gives you their insights. The chapters are based on verbal interviews, so you get some of the `off the cuff' perspectives that most books and written interviews don't provide. As such, there are a lot of comments made that you are not likely to find in other books!

Let me also state that I'm the guy who was given authorship credit on this book. In truth, the authorship is shared with those that I interviewed. It is their words that make up most of the book. It is their words that you will find interesting.

If you read the book, then I'd like to ask you to tell us your favorite quote from one of the people interviewed. Post it here. I think you might find it hard to narrow it down to just one!

Product Description

When you add Pro Tools to your home recording studio, you have the software used to create hit records. Throw in Pro Tools All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies, Second Edition and you get the insight you need to capture your sounds, edit your tracks, create a mix, and master your songs for the world to hear. Add a generous helping of your own talent and you have the perfect recipe for music stardom.

This fantastic eight-books-in-one package introduces you to Pro Tools audio- and MIDI-recording software and clues you in on basic multitrack recording techniques. You'll get wise to Pro Tools' many features and functions and find out how top recording studios use them to create the biggest hits on the planet. This do-it-now handbook also gets you up to speed on the essential audio-engineering skills you need to make ultra-high-quality recordings. Discover how to:

* Navigate the Pro Tools windows and menus
* Save hours of experimenting and spend more time recording
* Master microphone placement and other home recording basics
* Edit errors out of your tracks
* Equalize (EQ) tracks and add effects
* Work with midi instruments
* Blend your sounds into a stunning final mix
* Assemble and release an album

Don't spend big bucks and many months taking classes in audio engineering and Pro Tools. Get eight quick-reference guides for one great price with Pro Tools All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies, Second Edition and start recording your breakthrough album right away!
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #38336 in Books
* Published on: 2008-03-17
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 720 pages

REditorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
8 books in 1 — from miking to mixing to mastering

Your one-stop guide to the software and hardware that make music magic

When you add Pro Tools to your home recording studio, you have the software used to create hit records. When you add this book to your bookshelf, you get the insight you need to capture your sounds, edit your tracks, create a mix, and master your songs for the world to hear. Add in your talent and you're on your way to music stardom.

Discover how to:

*

Navigate the Pro Tools windows and menus
*

Master microphone choice and placement
*

Edit the errors out of your tracks
*

Blend sounds into a final mix
*

Work with MIDI instruments and sounds

About the Author
Jeff Strong, the author of Home Recording For Musicians For Dummies, is President of the REI Institute, which is a MusicMedicine research organization and therapy provider. Jeff graduated from the Percussion Institute of Technology at the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles in 1983, and has worked in or owned a recording studio since 1985. Every week, he records dozens of custom CDs with Pro Tools for his clients. He has also released 12 commercially available therapeutic CDs, 4 of which can be purchased at www.reiinstitute.com. An eight-CD set focusing on shifting the brain is also available beginning Fall 2008 through Sounds True (www.soundstrue.com). Pro Tools All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, 2nd Edition is his ninth book.
Customer Reviews

Easy to read, Easy to use5
Like all the other books in this series, this one gives you the need to know information for Pro Tools. It's easy to read and understand. Better than all the others.

True all-in-one5
I am finding this book is living up to its name - 8 books in 1. I have other ProTools reference guides, but I am finding this is the first place I start when looking for a solution to a problem. For pros, it won't replace the Digitools training, but for serious amateurs like myself it is well worth the price.

What you need to start4
Hi There,

just to share with you that this book gives what is announced:

learn how to use protools for people that are starting.

moreover I was surprised to see a lot of additional chapter covering things such as home studio, effects, mics...

It also provides very good sections around mixing and mastering.

I recommend this book :-)

cheers

Product Description

Recent advancement and increased growth in Web technologies have resulted in an even greater need for more efficient scheduling and data transmission strategies. An increased reliance on wireless communications devices, with their constraint issues, has further complicated the problem. While both push and pull strategies provide certain solutions, each has limitations that compromise performance. What is becoming clear is that any optimal solutions will require novel push-pull hybrid approaches.


Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #835173 in Books
* Published on: 2008-03-24
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 160 pages

Data Scheduling and Transmission Strategies in Asymmetric Telecommunications Environments helps systems architects and engineers take on this challenge by providing a thorough discussion of major data and scheduling and transmission strategies. Written by two highly respected pioneering researchers, this work takes a comparative and practical approach that incorporates much of the authors’ original research.

They discuss basic push and pull strategies and examine the challenges posed by customer requests and behavior, before defining ideal hybrid strategies. Exceptionally thorough in this practical approach, they demonstrate the value of separating clients by class and introduce the concept of an importance factor to properly prioritize a system. They also look at a new on-line hybrid solutions for multichannel broadcast problems and go on to address future problems that are likely to remain open.

For those seeking to extract the best performance out of data transmission schemes in asymmetric environments, this invaluable resource is unparalleled in its depth of coverage and innovation.

Product Description

This book traces the development of project leadership as fundamental to completing projects effectively, delineates the leadership tasks that must be accomplished at each step of a project’s life, and helps the reader develop wisdom in making decisions both by learning the ramifications of certain decisions and by seeing how those decisions are made in an example project.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #1546455 in Books
* Published on: 2003-02-07
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 144 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Timothy J. Kloppenborg, Ph.D., PMP is an associate professor of Management at Williams College of Business, Xavier University, and President of Kloppenborg and Associates, a consulting and training company that specializes in project management. He holds an MBA from Western Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Operations Management from the University of Cincinnati.

Arthur Shriberg, EdD, is a professor of Leadership at Xavier University. Dr. Shriberg has been vice president or dean at four universities and is currently the chair of the Board of Commissioners for the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission and a senior consultant at Pope & Associates, a n international diversity and management consulting firm. He holds degrees from the Wharton School of Business (BS), Xavier University (Executive Business), Boston University (Med), and Teachers College, Columbia University (EdD).

Jayashree Venkatraman, MS, MBA, is an independent consultant providing business-to-business solutions and other solutions to companies. She holds a BS in physics and an MS in computer applications from the University of Madras, India, an MBA from Xavier University, and a certificate in Project Management from the University of Cincinnati.

Product Description

Alarmed by mounting evidence of a national shortage of qualified and willing principals, the authors surveyed and interviewed over 200 school principals from across the country to find out why so many are leaving the profession and how those who stay manage their work. They discovered that regardless of a principal’s race, gender, school level, geographic region, or tenure, there was a remarkable consistency in the challenges identified and suggestions given for revamping the role of the American principal.

Featuring stories shared by practicing principals, this timely volume:

* Offers fresh insights on ways to both attract and retain good principals.
* Shows how successful principals reconcile their expectations and hopes with the realities and disappointments encountered in their work.
* Examines issues common to all principals, such as time management, staff evaluations, keeping the focus on instruction, community expectations, and pursuing a balanced life.
* Presents strategies that principals have used to make their role more effective and more attractive.
* Provides practical ideas for coping with the present and envisioning the future, including alternative principal models.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #918461 in Books
* Published on: 2006-03-17
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 111 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Sheryl Boris-Schacter is a professor and the director of Educational Leadership, and Sondra Langer is an associate professor and director of the Early Childhood Program, both at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Product Description

Based on twelve years involvement with more than two thousand MBAs, managers and professionals, Maximum Performance is a comprehensive analysis of leading and managing people set against a backdrop of accelerating organizational, business and technological change.

It covers traditional topics - such as personal performance and stress management, employee motivation and performance, power and politics, communication skills and leading and managing change, as well as more contemporary issues, such as business ethics in a global economy and leadership in high-tech and virtual organizations. It also looks at how leaders and managers can create cultures to promote essential modern organizational competencies such as creativity and innovation, the effective dissemination and use of knowledge and intellectual capital, and creating systemic intelligent learning capabilities amongst employees.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #2673371 in Books
* Published on: 2005-03-30
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 594 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
Based on twelve years involvement with more two thousand MBAs, managers and professionals, Maximum Performance is a comprehensive analysis of leading and managing people set against a backdrop of accelerating organizational, business and technological change.

It covers traditional topics – such as personal performance and stress management, employee motivation and performance, power and politics, communication skills and leading and managing change, as well as more contemporary issues, such as business ethics in a global economy and leadership in high-tech and virtual organizations. It also looks at how leaders and managers can create cultures to promote essential modern organizational competencies such as creativity and innovation, the effective dissemination and use of knowledge and intellectual capital, and creating systemic intelligent learning capabilities amongst employees.

Maximum Performance represents a distillation of the best practical ideas about leadership and people management of recent times, condensed into a form that busy managers and professionals can assimilate and make immediate use of at work in large, medium-sized or small organizations, and in the public or private sector.

About the Author
Nick Forster, Professor of Organizational Behaviour, Graduate School of Management, University of Western Australia
Customer Reviews

Towards Performance Excellence in the Era of Chaotic Competition5
After reading the book, the reader tends to be provoked into thinking about the core values, standards and principles that will underpin her leadership and people management practices in the future.

While illustrating his formulations, Forster has very thoughtfully selected the anecdotes and stories about leaders and managers they worked under, as also their personal experiences of leading and managing others. In the chapter on female managers, he has presented evidence to show that successful leaders and managers in western industrialized countries have personal qualities and competencies that encompass male and female characteristics, and hints towards emergence of "a superior hybrid style that will transcend the traditional male-female stereotype" (p. 542). He has demonstrated a rare degree of professionalism in selecting and putting together the contents of the book, including the material, exercises, questionnaires and self-evaluation exercises. He claims to have "tried and tested them in dozens of leadership and management development courses over the last decade" (p. xiii), and he has included only those materials and exercises that worked for busy managers and professionals.

The book comprehensively covers leadership and people management issues that are topical in the present context of competitiveness in the contemporary business environment. In nutshell, the book has argued that organizations and managers that get most out of their people over a long period of time are the ones which focus not just on setting up systems and processes but focus on people management style, people skills and organizational culture to support the systems and processes.


The author has fully succeeded in delivering what he promises to the reader in the preface. He has used little jargon in building his formulations. The editorial and production quality is outstanding. Most other how-to books on people management are simplistic and tend to be prescriptive of universal magical truths, often through bullet points; they are often unrelated to research underpinnings and the contexts in which the prescriptions can be made use of. For, business dynamics is far more complex than it is presumed to be. Forster has related his formulations mostly with the help of anecdotes and stories, which is the hallmark of this book. But he never loses sight of the wider theoretical underpinnings in his narrations. This is reflected in his quoting the American comedian Groucho Marx when he said, "That's all very well in practice--but how does it work in theory" (p. 538).

This book should be an essential reading for all line and human resource managers, and management consultants. It will also be liked by academics belonging to areas such as leading change, performance management and strategic HRM. More than that, it would be found useful by all leaders, who could pick up a good number of insights from it and also develop perspectives from the analyses made. While I read through this book, I had a feeling, I wish I could author it myself.


Debi S. Saini
Professor of Human Resource Management
Management Development Institute
Mehrauli Road, Gurgaon-122 001.

A POWERFUL, PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP GUIDE5
If we were giving a graduate-level class in leadership and people management skills (we are UCLA Business & Management Program instructors) we would choose this book as the text.

If a client asked for a great book to enhance his/her leadership skills, (we consult in organization, compensation & performance management) this would be one of first books we would suggest.

This book is that good!

The book offers a comprehensive guide for developing leadership and people management skills. It's a powerful, broad-spectrum leadership toolkit with a wealth of information about skills and practices, and hundreds of suggestions and opinions from business and political leaders, consultants, and academics.

This book is an outstanding resource for leaders and aspiring leaders. It is filled with anabundance of insights: the distinction it makes between a leader and a manager is one of the best, if not the best, we've read.

Just few of the subjects covered are: the leadership-as-servant philosophy; leaders as coaches and mentors; communication; motivation; leading and managing teams; women as leaders; managing power, politics and conflict; leading organizational and cultural change; creating an innovative organization; leadership and people management in high-tech, networked; and
virtual organizations.

Throughout the book are bullet-point lists, exercises, and to-the-point conclusions. It is clearly written and superbly organized. An excellent bibliography and subject index top off this outstanding work. We highly recommend this book.

Yvette Borcia & Gerry Stern, Editors
Stern's Management Review

Product Description

Millions have been inspired by the Bible's spiritual lessons. Now, Lorin Woolfe provides a unique way to view the Bible . . . for leadership lessons that can be applied to our modern business world.

Consider David's courage and innovation in slaying Goliath with just a stone and a sling; Moses' outstanding "succession planning" in picking Joshua; Joseph and the political skills that brought him to the seat of power; and of course, Jesus' compassion, communication skills, and vision that launched Christianity (a long-term success by any measure).

These are leaders among leaders. Their achievements -- and their inspired methods of achievement -- offer a wholly different perspective on business leadership. For the dozens of Biblical stories presented, the book provides:

* A concise retelling of each story * One (or more) leadership lessons suggested by each story * Examples of contemporary business leaders who exhibit some of the inspired traits of these ancient leaders, including: Fred Smith of FedEx, Howard Shultz of Starbucks, Tom Chappell of Tom's of Maine (a "toothpaste with a mission"), Roy Vagelos of Merck, and many more. The chapters cover these universal topics: Courage * Purpose * Communication * Honesty and Integrity * Power and Influence * Performance Management * Team Building * Humility * Compassion * Justice * Encouragement and Consequences * Wisdom * Creating the Future

Each topic concludes with a list of key points to keep in mind as readers continue on their own leadership journeys.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #480854 in Books
* Published on: 2002-06-18
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 208 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review
"The Bible on Leadership" provides keen insights into management and stewardship from a timeless resource. -- Rabbi David Baron

"Woolfe provides a unique way to view the Bible- a leadership tool to be applied to the modern corporate world". -- Christian Retailing

"Woolfe provides a unique way to view the Bible-a leadership tool to be applied to the modern corporate world". -- Christian Reading

Lorin Woolfe boldly brings to life a key message: The Bible is the greatest leadership book for today's business leader. -- Larry S. Julian, Author of God is My CEO: Following God's Principles in a Bottom-Line World

Lorin Woolfe has built a sound and sturdy bridge between modern day business challenges and Biblical lessons. -- Laurie Beth Jones, Author of Jesus, CEO; The Path; and Jesus, Inc.

Rich in revelations and immediate applications.. a book to enlighten and inspire anyone called to lead-regardless of their personal faith -- HIGH HOLIDAYS, 2002 edition

This is a surprising and thought-provoking book. To find a reason to lead and succeed, start with this book. -- BookPage July 2002

Review

Christian Retailing: "Woolfe provides a unique way to view the Bible -- a leadership tool to be applied to the modern corporate world. Rich in business insight, readers will enjoy the leadership lessons gleaned by biblical and modern day readers."

About the Author

Lorin Woolfe (Somers, NY) is a specialist in leadership at the American Management Association, managing a portfolio of 25 leadership seminars given hundreds of times annually throughout the U.S.

Customer Reviews

Biblical & Business Leadership4
If you are looking for a well-written, easy-to-read, "non-bible-thumping" biblical perspective on leadership that can be applied to today's modern business environment, you have found it.

Each of the ten chapters of this extensively-researched book focused on a different commonly-recognized leadership trait (honesty and integrity, purpose, kindness and compassion, humility, communication, performance management, team development, courage, justice and fairness, leadership development). Within each chapter, inter-related sub-chapters featured many leadership-related vignettes about biblical icons (Jesus, Moses, David, Solomon, etc.) and modern business leaders (Jack Welch (General Electric), Herb Kelleher (Southwest Airlines), Jack Stack (Springfield Remanufacturing), Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield (Ben & Jerry's), etc.). The final page of each chapter was a summary listing of the biblical leadership lessons highlighted throughout the chapter.

I am not as great a student of the Bible as the author, and I believe my relative ignorance limited my appreciation of his impressive biblical knowledge and experience. I would have preferred a less ambitious approach with less diverse leadership material and more time spent setting up and presenting the Bible's 'case studies.' Still, the book provided many excellent leadership lessons from the Bible and the current business world that were informative and relevant to leaders at all levels.

KING DAVID IN THE BOARDROOM5

Lorin Woolfe does a masterful job of exploring the bible for themes that should have relevance for both today's leaders and those aspiring to climb the proverbial ladder of success. Concentrating on everything from integrity, to team building to exhibiting fairness he explores the old and new testaments for shining examples of truely courageous leadership and draws parallels to modern day figures. In doing so he lends deeper meaning to such issues as finding "purpose", "effective communication" and "humility" in the workplace. It is an inspiring read for anyone yearning to travel his or her path with wisdom and fortitude.

Biblical Examples Worth Emulating4
I am always wary of books built around the "lessons" of the Bible, Shakespeare, or any other major source unless I know the author well. Since I have read the Bible, Shakespeare and many other sources, I feel capable of drawing my own conclusions.

This book grabbed my attention after I realized that relatively few people do read the entire Bible these days. It could clearly be a good thing if people learned more about the Bible because they were interested in some other subject.

With that thought in mind, I launched into The Bible on Leadership. I was glad that I did.

Mr. Woolfe does a solid job of drawing on both the old and new testaments to exemplify honesty and integrity, purpose, kindness and compassion, humility, communication, performance management, team development, courage, justice and fairness, and leadership development. To these examples, he adds contemporary business leaders as well. From his small list of modern leaders as exemplars of good practices, you will get a sense of how much we need people to read and apply this book.

Like many books that attempt to use current examples, you will find yourself faulting some choices (possibly including the references to Jack Stack as being too much, Warren Buffett's possible reinsurance-fraud awareness, Ray Gilmartin's honesty preceding the Vioxx debate, and various other one-time icons who have since fallen from public grace).

As a result, I suggest that you focus on the Biblical leaders and mostly ignore the rest. You will be on sounder ground if you do. If you are primarily looking for modern examples, you will probably be disappointed in this book. There are too few of them, and many good choices are omitted.

Mr. Woolfe writes well and he makes Biblical leaders come to life. If you only strive to emulate one of his many examples, you will be a better leader.

Product Description

When it was first published in 1992, the first edition of Leadership for the Common Good presented a revolutionary approach to community and organizational leadership in a shared-power world. Now, in this completely revised and updated edition, Barbara Crosby and John Bryson expand on their proven leadership model and offer new insights and guidance to leaders. This second edition is a practical resource for a new generation of leaders and aspiring leaders and includes success stories, challenges, and real-world experience.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #281519 in Books
* Published on: 2005-01-25
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 496 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review
"This book is the most important guide for public policy involvement available. A great achievement, bound to be the most-read strategic guide for every student of public policy and every citizen with a noble cause to embrace." (Andaa L. Delbecq, Santa Clara University)

Review
"Intuition and experience teach us that no one is really ‘in charge’ of anything complex or important. Barbara Crosby and John Bryson have developed this idea into a vividly positive image of the leader's role. ‘Shared-power,’ as they describe, dissect, and show how to work with it, transforms the very definition of leadership for the twenty-first century."
--Harlan Cleveland, author, Nobody in Charge: Essays on the Future of Leadership, and president emeritus, the World Academy of Arts and Sciences

"This important book provides strategies for converting public ideas into necessary public action. It will help leaders in every arena to renew our collective commitment to the common good, one of our most urgent responsibilities to the future."
--Robert H. Bruininks, president, University of Minnesota

"With this book Barbara Crosby and John Bryson again set the standard for modern considerations of public leadership. They have it exactly right in their claim that the best of contemporary leadership involves getting things done by sharing power."
--H. George Frederickson, Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Administration, University of Kansas, and author, The Spirit of Public Administration

"Crosby and Bryson describe why we live in a ‘no one in charge’ world and how we can effectively lead in it. And this is not just any kind of leadership, but collaborative leadership to make sure we get to the twenty-second century whole and humane."
--Barbara J. Nelson, dean, UCLA School of Public Affairs

"Barbara Crosby and John Bryson show how, where, when, and why to bring diverse groups together to rethink and re-envision what is possible in order to advance the common good. We can have a better world!"
--Gary L. Cunningham, director, African American Men’s Project; director, Primary Care for Hennepin County; and CEO, North Point Health and Wellness Center

"Crosby and Bryson provide the practical examples that show how the principles involved in leading for the common good can be applied to real-world problems where shared leadership within and across organizations is a critical determinant of effective social change.",br> --Michael D. Mumford, professor of psychology, University of Oklahoma, and editor, The Leadership Quarterly

From the Inside Flap
When it was first published in 1992, Leadership for the Common Good presented a revolutionary approach to community and organizational leadership in a shared-power world. Now, in this completely revised and updated edition, Barbara Crosby and John Bryson expand on their proven leadership model and offer new insights and guidance to leaders. This second edition is a practical resource for a new generation of leaders and aspiring leaders and includes success stories, challenges, and real-world experience.

Today's leaders cannot work in a vacuum. They must include others, navigate politics, and find common ground among diverse perspectives. Leadership for the Common Good offers an integrated approach to shared leadership and shows how to tackle the complex problems facing today's organizations and communities. Crosby and Bryson provide guidance, offer hope, and show leaders how to thrive in constantly changing environments. Step-by-step, the book explains how to identify issues and challenges within organizations and communities, facilitate change in public forums and decision-making arenas, and explore and implement solutions.

Leadership for the Common Good is filled with practical information, real-world examples, negotiation techniques, and networking strategies that will inspire leaders and help to mobilize collective action.

Product Description

In today's world, yesterday's methods just don't work. Veteran coach and management consultant David Allen recognizes that time management is useless the minute your schedule is interrupted; setting priorities isn't relevant when your e-mail is down; procrastination solutions won't help if your goals aren't clear. Instead, Allen shares with readers the proven methods he has already introduced in seminars and at top organizations across the country. The key to Getting Things Done? Relaxation.

Allen's premise is simple: our ability to be productive is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve stress-free productivity. His seamless system teaches us how to identify, track, and-most important-choose the next action on all our tasks, commitments, and projects and thus master all the demands on our time while unleashing our creative potential. The book's stylish, dynamic design makes it easy to follow Allen's tips, examples, and inspiration to achieve what we all seek-energy, focus, and relaxed control.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #20955 in Books
* Published on: 2001-01-08
* Released on: 2001-01-04
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 288 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
With first-chapter allusions to martial arts, "flow," "mind like water," and other concepts borrowed from the East (and usually mangled), you'd almost think this self-helper from David Allen should have been called Zen and the Art of Schedule Maintenance.

Not quite. Yes, Getting Things Done offers a complete system for downloading all those free-floating gotta-do's clogging your brain into a sophisticated framework of files and action lists--all purportedly to free your mind to focus on whatever you're working on. However, it still operates from the decidedly Western notion that if we could just get really, really organized, we could turn ourselves into 24/7 productivity machines. (To wit, Allen, whom the New Economy bible Fast Company has dubbed "the personal productivity guru," suggests that instead of meditating on crouching tigers and hidden dragons while you wait for a plane, you should unsheathe that high-tech saber known as the cell phone and attack that list of calls you need to return.)

As whole-life-organizing systems go, Allen's is pretty good, even fun and therapeutic. It starts with the exhortation to take every unaccounted-for scrap of paper in your workstation that you can't junk, The next step is to write down every unaccounted-for gotta-do cramming your head onto its own scrap of paper. Finally, throw the whole stew into a giant "in-basket"

That's where the processing and prioritizing begin; in Allen's system, it get a little convoluted at times, rife as it is with fancy terms, subterms, and sub-subterms for even the simplest concepts. Thank goodness the spine of his system is captured on a straightforward, one-page flowchart that you can pin over your desk and repeatedly consult without having to refer back to the book. That alone is worth the purchase price. Also of value is Allen's ingenious Two-Minute Rule: if there's anything you absolutely must do that you can do right now in two minutes or less, then do it now, thus freeing up your time and mind tenfold over the long term. It's commonsense advice so obvious that most of us completely overlook it, much to our detriment; Allen excels at dispensing such wisdom in this useful, if somewhat belabored, self-improver aimed at everyone from CEOs to soccer moms (who we all know are more organized than most CEOs to start with). --Timothy Murphy

From AudioFile
Productivity trainer and consultant David Allen offers a crash course in basic time management and personal organization. While Allen's reading is a little stiff, his enthusiasm for the topic and his passion for systems comes across loud and clear. Allen's message is concise: Organize yourself to free your mind for greater pursuits. And this simple production makes that daunting task seem possible. It's a quick glimpse at setting goals, clearing clutter, and staying focused. Allen's reading, although one dimensional, suits the nature of the topic, making this worth the time for the effort it will save down the road. H.L.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
Allen, a management consultant and executive coach, provides insights into attaining maximum efficiency and at the same time relaxing whenever one needs or wants to. Readers learn that there is no single means for perfecting organizational efficiency or productivity; rather, the author offers tools to focus energies strategically and tactically without letting anything fall through the cracks. He provides tips, techniques, and tricks for implementation of his workflow management plan, which has two basic components: capture all the things that need to get done into a workable, dependable system; and discipline oneself to make front-end decisions with an action plan for all inputs into that system. In short, do it (quickly), delegate it (appropriately), or defer it. While an infomercial for the author's consulting practice, this road map for organizational efficiency may help many who have too much to do in too little time, both professionally and in their personal lives. Mary Whaley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Customer Reviews

GTD is helpful for getting organized, less so for time management...3
There are some really good ideas on how to get more organized and less stressed out due to disorganization in this book.

However, I have to say that this book isn't going to really help you deal as effectively with time management or procrastination. It's more a book on how to get organized and stay that way.

For dealing with procrastination and perfectionism, I would highly recommend "The Now Habit" by Neil Fiore (rev. 2007 edition). It ultimately ended up being a much more useful book for me than GTD - although the systems described in both books can easily work together.

Great Book! Even for the Over-Organizers!!5
"Getting Things Done" is a great motivator, as it speaks volumes for the simplicity of how we individually require a set way of organization to really make it flow for our daily interruptions.
This book was a recommendation, and I would also recommend it for both people "on task" and those that are flailing to keep the paper tiger in order. I will use this book over and over to recalibrate both home, work, and electronic devices whenever I am once again needing to regroup and set new goals.

I'm finally able to get things done5
Work: Anything that exists in your world that you look at and 'wish' was different from current reality. In that case, most of what we see around us could be considered work; in today's world, it seems to be work that necessitates knowledge. How much we know, and how we apply that information is the cutting edge between high productivity and burn-out. Real advice for real "knowledge workers." Do you feel overwhelmed by the "problem" of infinite opportunity? How good could that next project be? How prepared for that meeting could your direct report be? When do you stop working on one project in light of the value-add that would come in beginning another? For those of you with "too much to do, and not enough time to do it in," productivity guru (as Fast Company magazine has labeled him) David Allen provides a no-nonsense, fire-tested system that will make sense of your open loops. The Getting Things Done methodology offers a practical yet elegant solution to staying on top of your work, whether it's a personal project like landscaping your yard, to that new B2B site that you're launching next week. David Allen's approach to managing yourself and your world may well be the best advice you'll ever receive. Included are tips and tricks that lead the readers toward learning, practicing and developing techniques for improving personal productivity and individual satisfaction. The behavior sets you practice will prove useful, and add a "sustainable" element to your work/life style. Buy this book, read it, and watch your productivity AND energy go up!

My other favorite productivity book is Squawk! - How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results

Product Description

SPECIAL EDITION Microsoft® Windows Vista® Second Edition



The only Windows Vista book you need



We crafted this book to grow with you, providing the reference material you need as you move toward Vista proficiency and use more advanced features. If you buy only one book on Vista, Special Edition Using Microsoft® Windows Vista®, Second Edition, is the book you need.



• Tired of the constant barrage of spam, spyware, viruses and other ‘Net nasties? We show you how to rebuke the onslaught of hacker attacks, protect your identity, and keep your sanity, all at the same time.

• Is the new Vista interface making your trigger-finger itch? Ours too…that is, until we turned Windows inside out, shook out all the loose parts, and figured out just what makes this beast tick. Learn from our pain and suffering.

• If you finally broke down and purchased a Windows Media Center computer, or if you think you have one and didn’t even know it, you are holding just the book for you. We show you how to get up to speed with your new computer, transforming it from the little PC that could into the media juggernaut, entertainment center, gaming center, and way-better-than-TiVo replacement you never knew it could be.

• Ready to upgrade? We provide from-the-trenches advice on upgrading to Windows Vista. Maybe you to still want to run Windows XP but would like to try Vista for a while to see if you like it. We cover how to dual-boot your computer safely with both operating systems.



Category: Microsoft® Windows Operating System

Covers: Microsoft® Windows Vista®, all versions Windows Vista Service Pack 1

User Level: Beginner–Intermediate



Robert Cowart has written more than 40 books that have sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. He made his name writing for Sybex and Osborne–most notably in the best-selling Mastering Windows series. As an author and media developer for Que, Bob has written numerous Windows titles, including multiple editions of Que’s flagship Windows book, Special Edition Using Microsoft® Windows®.



Brian Knittel is a software developer, consultant, and writer. He’s authored or coauthored many of Que’s best-selling Windows books, including Que’s leading Windows book, Special Edition Using Microsoft® Windows®. Brian also is the author of Windows XP Under the Hood and coauthored Upgrading and Repairing Windows® with Scott Mueller.



On the CD-ROM

More than 80 minutes of how-to video, showing you how to get up to speed with Windows Vista! Bob and Brian show you how the new Vista Welcome Center works, how to personalize and tweak the desktop, how to use the new Windows Explorers, how to manage user accounts and more! Using screen cam videos and voice over, you’ll be able to watch the Windows masters at work, taking the guesswork out of getting up to speed with Vista. It’s like having Bob and Brian sitting next to you while you’re learning how to use Vista!



Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #61807 in Books
* Published on: 2008-05-05
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 1536 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Cowart has written more than 40 books on computer programming and applications, with more than a dozen on Windows. His titles include Windows NT Unleashed, Mastering Windows 98, Windows NT Server Administrator’s Bible, and Windows NT Server 4.0: No Experience Required. Several of his books have been bestsellers in their category and have been translated into more than 20 languages. He has written on a wide range of computer-related topics for such magazines as PC Week, PC World, PC Magazine, PC Tech Journal, Mac World, and Microsoft Systems Journal. In addition to working as a freelance consultant specializing in small businesses, he has taught programming classes at the University of California Extension in San Francisco. He has appeared as a special guest on the PBS TV series Computer Chronicles, CNN’s Headline News, ZD-TV’s The Screen Savers, and ABC’s World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. Robert lives in Berkeley, California. In his spare time he is involved in the music world, producing chamber-music concerts and playing various genres of music. He meditates regularly in hopes of rewiring his inner computer.



Brian Knittel has been a software developer for more than 30 years. After doing graduate work in nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging technologies, he began a career as an independent consultant. An eclectic mix of clients has led to long-term projects in medical documentation, workflow management, real-time industrial system control, and most importantly, 20 years of real-world experience with MS-DOS, Windows, and computer networking in the business world. Previously, he coauthored Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows XP, and contributed to several of Bob Cowart’s other Windows books. Brian also coauthored Upgrading and Repairing Microsoft Windows, with Scott Mueller, and is the sole author of Windows XP Under the Hood. Brian lives in Oakland, California, and spends his free time restoring antique computers and trying to perfect his wood-fired pizza recipes.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Welcome

Thank you for purchasing or considering the purchase of Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows Vista. It's amazing the changes that nearly 20 years can bring to a computer product such as Windows. When we wrote our first Windows book back in the mid-1980s, our publisher didn't even think the book would sell well enough to print more than 5,000 copies. Microsoft stock wasn't even a blip on most investors' radar screens. Boy, were they in the dark! Who could have imagined that a little more than a decade later, anyone who hoped to get hired for even a temp job in a small office would need to know how to use Microsoft Windows, Office, and a PC. Fifteen or so Windows books later, we're still finding new and exciting stuff to tell our readers.

Some people (including the U.S. Department of Justice) claim Microsoft's predominance on the PC operating system arena was won unethically through monopolistic practices. Whether or not this is true (we try, almost successfully, to stay out of the politics in this book), we believe that Windows has earned its position today through reasons other than having a stranglehold on the market. Consider that Windows NT 3.1 had 5 million lines of code. Windows Vista weighs in with about 50 million and takes up 4 or 5 gigabytes of disk space by itself. This represents a lot of work by anyone's accounting. Who could have imagined in 1985 that a mass-market operating system two decades later would have to include support for so many technologies, most of which didn't even exist at the time: DVD, DVD±RW, CD-R and CD-RW, Internet and intranet, MP3, MPEG, WMA, DV, USB, FireWire, APM, ACPI, RAID, UPS, PPOE, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11g, WPA2, IPv6, Teredo, fault tolerance, disk encryption and compression...? The list goes on. And that 4GB of disk space Vista occupies? It would have cost more than a quarter of a million dollars in 1985. Today, it costs a dollar or two.

Although rarely on the bleeding edge of technology, and often playing the role of the dictator with partner businesses and exterminator with competing businesses, Bill Gates has at least been benevolent from the users' point of view. In 1981, when we were building our first computers, the operating system (CP/M) had to be modified in assembly language and recompiled, and hardware parts had to be soldered together to make almost any new addition (such as a video display terminal) work. Virtually nothing was standardized, with the end result being that computers remained out of reach for average folks.

Together, Microsoft, Intel, and IBM changed all that. Today you can purchase a computer, a printer, a scanner, an external disk drive, a keyboard, a modem, a monitor, and a video card over the Internet, plug them in, install Windows, and they'll work together. The creation and adoption (and sometimes forcing) of hardware and software standards that have made the PC a household appliance the world over can largely be credited to Microsoft, like it or not. The unifying glue of this PC revolution has been Windows.

Yes, we all love to hate Windows, but it's here to stay. Linux and Mac OS X are formidable alternatives, but for most of us, at least for some time, Windows and Windows applications are "where it's at." And Windows Vista ushers in truly significant changes to the landscape. That's why we were excited to write this book.
Why This Book?

We all know this book will make an effective doorstop in a few years. You probably have a few already. (We've even written a few!) If you think it contains more information than you need, just remember how helpful a good reference can be when you need it at the 11th hour. And we all know that computer technology changes so fast that it's sometimes easier just to blink and ignore a phase than to study up on it. Windows Vista is definitely a significant upgrade in Windows's security and sophistication—one you're going to need to understand.

Windows Vista might seem similar to its predecessor, Windows XP, but it's a very different animal. Yes, the graphics and display elements are flashier, but it's the deeper changes that matter most. With its radically improved security systems, revamped Control Panel, friendlier network setup tools, new problem-tracking systems, improved support for mobile computers, and completely revamped networking and graphics software infrastructures, Vista leaves Windows XP in the dust. In all ways, it's superior to any operating system Microsoft has ever produced.

Is Windows Vista so easy to use that books are unnecessary? Unfortunately, no. True, as with other releases of Windows, online help is available. As has been the case ever since Windows 95, however, no printed documentation is available (to save Microsoft the cost), and the Help files are written by Microsoft employees and contractors. You won't find criticisms, complaints, workarounds, or suggestions that you use alternative software vendors, let alone explanations of why you have to do things a certain way. For that, you need this book! We will even show you tools and techniques that Microsoft's insiders didn't think were important enough to document at all.

You might know that Windows Vista comes in a bewildering array of versions, primarily Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate (not to mention Starter, which is sold only in emerging markets, and several extra versions sold in the European Union to comply with antitrust court-mandated restrictions). But Vista is Vista, and all that really distinguishes the versions is the availability of various features. Most of the differences matter only in the corporate world, where Vista will be managed by network administrators, so you don't need to worry about those yourself. For the remaining features, we tell you when certain features do or don't apply to your particular version of Windows Vista. (And we show you how to upgrade from one version to a better version, if you want the features your copy doesn't have!)

In this book's many pages, we focus not just on the gee-whiz side of the technology, but why you should care, what you can get from it, and what you can forget about. The lead author on this book has previously written 16 books about Windows, all in plain English (several bestsellers), designed for everyone from rank beginners to full-on system administrators deploying NT Server domains. The coauthor has designed software and networks for more than 20 years and has been writing about Windows for 10 years. We work with and write about various versions of Windows year in and year out. We have a clear understanding of what confuses users and system administrators about installing, configuring, or using Windows, as well as (we hope) how to best convey the solutions to our readers.

While writing this book, we tried to stay vigilant in following four cardinal rules:

* Keep it practical.
* Keep it accurate.
* Keep it concise.
* Keep it interesting, and even crack a joke or two.

We believe that you will find this to be the best and most comprehensive book available on Windows Vista for beginners through advanced users. And whether you use Windows Vista yourself or support others who do, we firmly believe this book will address your questions and needs.

Our book addresses both home and business computer users. We assume you probably are not an engineer, and we do our best to speak in plain English and not snow you with unexplained jargon. As we wrote, we imagined that you, our reader, are a friend or co-worker who's familiar enough with your computer to know what it's capable of, but might not know the details of how to make it all happen. So we show you, in a helpful, friendly, professional tone. In the

Product Description

Windows Vista may be the next big thing, but it still contains enough quirks and unaccountable behaviors to vex anyone. This unique guide not only discusses the most irritating features of the latest Microsoft operating system and how to get around them, but also explains how to improve Windows and do more with the software than Microsoft intended. You'll find information on setup, installation, upgrade from other Windows versions, the revamped interface, new security features, user accounts, troubleshooting, and the markedly improved Internet Explorer 7. Other chapters cover a wide range of key topics: Media Center - tips on photos, videos, music, TV tuners, HD, and the media center engine The Registry - explains the background and tools for working with Windows' database of settings Tinkering Techniques - offers hacking-style customization and problem-solving topics Networking and Wireless - includes LAN setup, WiFi sniffers and access points, connection sharing, firewalls, routers, and FTP Scripting and Automation - introduces simple programming using the Windows Scripting Host for automating repetitive tasks No other book takes our patented cranky, solutions-oriented approach. Our collection of tips, tools and techniques will improve your experience with Windows Vista, so you can control the OS -- rather than the other way around.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #37486 in Books
* Published on: 2008-01-04
* Released on: 2008-01-04
* Format: Illustrated
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 641 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
David A. Karp is the author of the bestselling Windows Annoyances series of books and the founder of Annoyances.org. His other books include eBay Hacks and Windows XP Pocket Reference. David also writes for PC Magazine and is the co-author of Windows XP in a Nutshell.
Customer Reviews

Windows Vista Annoyance- Superb book!5
This book like all the O'reilly books brings you nothing but quality material as you need it. David Karp covered almost every problem you might encounter using Windows Vista, and of course the Solutions to these problems. This is a large book and it's not like the many other tech books that you read and get bored along the way, no it isn't, David has done a great job of entertaining and yet getting to the point.

This is a must have book for anyone using windows Vista. I highly recommend it.Windows Vista Annoyances: Tips, Secrets, and Hacks

This book made the change EASY!!5
This book made the change EASY!!

Going from XP to Vista was a snap with the help of this book. If you are like me, a very amateur PC user used to XP, this book will make the switch to Vista painless and even fun.

Most useful book on Windows Vista5
This book is written for intermediate users, not beginners, and it is the best. When I purchased a new computer, it came with Windows Vista. So I bought 3 books on Vista, including Microsoft's own "Windows Vista Inside Out". I have found this book consistently more helpful in making the operating system do what I want it to do, rather than what Microsoft thinks it ought to do. It is clear, concise, and humorous; and that makes it easy to read. I just wish it had included a CD of the book, also.

Product Description

This is likely to be the one ADO.NET book that stays next to my desk for quick reference.

— Dennis Hayes, Dot Net Developer's Journal

(Pro ADO.NET 2.0) stands head and shoulders above its competition.

— Thomas Wagner, wagnerblog.com

(Sahil Malik) covers stuff that real developers are confronted with over and over everday. He intentionally focuses on problem areas and how to address them. (And) the absolute best thing about this book is it's readability.

— Bill Ryan, Bill's House O Insomnia

Pro ADO.NET 2.0 is a guide and reference for.NET developers who are looking to further their understanding of ADO.NET 2.0.

This book takes a new approach, focusing on the practical tasks like connecting to the database, retrieving data, and working with transactions, rather than rehashing much of the MSDN documentation. Pro ADO.NET 2.0 offers the deep and much needed practical understanding, viewpoint, and knowledge developers are looking for.

This book explains what is available in ADO.NET by associating it with the need to solve a practical problem and better architect an application, rather than mugging up the hundreds of classes and properties available in the framework.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #316735 in Books
* Published on: 2005-09-19
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 584 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Sahil Malik has been working as a consultant in Microsoft technology for about 9 years now. He has worked for many top notch clients across the globe including many fortune 100 companies and government organizations within the United States. Malik started programming in a DOS world, moved to Win32 API, Borland C++, MFC, VC++/ATL, VB 6, and eventually to .NET in both VB.NET and C# worlds. He is currently helping architect a highly visible public website using ASP.NET 2.0/SQL Server 2005, and also leads the office of emerging technologies at a prominent government office. Malik frequently speaks at local user groups and conferences. He also co-wrote Pro ADO.NET with VB .NET 1.1 . For his community involvement and contribution, he has also been awarded the Microsoft MVP award.
Customer Reviews

Sample Source Codes4
The book is good and subject is good. Just word of warning for you that is using the codes in the books in C#. If you are using the new SQLExpress 2005, please note for specifying the connection in your datasource:
Example:
From author-->"Data Source=(local);Initial Catalog=Test;Integrated Security=True"

Doesn't work for me!!!

Solution:

"Data Source=(local)\SqlExpress;Initial Catalog=Test;Integrated Security=True"

Why "\" instead of ""?
Because in Visual Studio 2008, it generates an error saying-->"Unrecognized escape sequence"

Just little small detail but other than that, it's a good book for the subject.

Excellent coverage of ADO.NET 2.0, good examples5
This was the first book I purchased covering ADO.NET 2.0, and I'm very glad it was.

I am an experienced .NET developer, so I was looking for something that was intelligently written, with good real-world example code snippets that can be plugged directly into apps.

Any good programmer tends to develop a consistent pattern of code for a particular task, so I personally like books that are written by such a developer who has worked with the technology long enough to have developed a good pattern of use. Mr. Malik would fit that description.

Another thing I liked about the book is that it does not spend a lot of time on non-ADO.NET topics, so you don't have to skip through a bunch of fluff chapters to get to the topic at hand. Every chapter is relevant and useful.

After reading his book, I subscribed to the author's blog, which also includes some very useful material.

Too many unnecessary analogy1
Not intended for "Pro". Analogies used made this very, very slow and boring. Highly technical terms used were unnecessary and repetitive w/c makes this book can loose the momentum of the reader to focus more on the topics.
Not Recommended even with beginners.

Product Description

ADO.NET revolutionized the way data was accessed through SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL. With Microsoft's release of ADO.NET 2, ADO and the .NET Framework are integrated with SQL Server for the first time-enabling you to program .NET applications directly within the SQL Server database.

Packed with sample code and recommended best practices for using ADO.NET 2, this code-intensive book explores the new data types that are available in the 2.0 Framework and discusses the appropriate time and way to use them. You'll learn how to make repetitive, mundane tasks much simpler and you'll walk away with a solid foundation for developing database-driven applications.

What you will learn from this book

* The basics of creating a connection, executing a query, and returning a result
* Best uses for Oracle in the ADO.NET Framework
* The many new features that are available for XML
* How to use the full text search capabilities of Microsoft(r) SQL Server 2005
* Methods for retrieving data and presenting it in various ways
* Why MySQL is a viable option for data storage

Who this book is for

This book is for experienced database developers who want to learn the latest release of ADO.NET 2.0. Knowledge of ADO.NET 1.0, general .NET development, and Microsoft SQL Server is necessary.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #464714 in Books
* Published on: 2005-12-05
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 648 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
ADO.NET revolutionized the way data was accessed through SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL. With Microsoft's release of ADO.NET 2, ADO and the .NET Framework are integrated with SQL Server for the first time—enabling you to program .NET applications directly within the SQL Server database.

Packed with sample code and recommended best practices for using ADO.NET 2, this code-intensive book explores the new data types that are available in the 2.0 Framework and discusses the appropriate time and way to use them. You'll learn how to make repetitive, mundane tasks much simpler and you'll walk away with a solid foundation for developing database-driven applications.

What you will learn from this book

* The basics of creating a connection, executing a query, and returning a result
* Best uses for Oracle in the ADO.NET Framework
* The many new features that are available for XML
* How to use the full text search capabilities of Microsoft® SQL Server 2005
* Methods for retrieving data and presenting it in various ways
* Why MySQL is a viable option for data storage

Who this book is for

This book is for experienced database developers who want to learn the latest release of ADO.NET 2.0. Knowledge of ADO.NET 1.0, general .NET development, and Microsoft SQL Server is necessary.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.

About the Author
Wallace B. McClure graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1990 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. He continued his education there, receiving a master’s degree in the same field in 1991. Since that time, he has done consulting and development for such companies as Coca-Cola, Bechtel National, Magnatron, and Lucent Technologies, among others. Products and services have included work with ASP, ADO, XML, and SQL Server, as well as numerous applications in the Microsoft .NET Framework. Wally McClure specializes in building applications that have large numbers of users and large amounts of data. He is a Microsoft MVP and an ASPInsider, and a partner in Scalable Development, Inc. You can read Wally’s blog at http://weblogs.asp.net/wallym/.

Gregory A. Beamer is a solutions architect specializing in Microsoft Internet technologies. Greg got involved in programming in the early 1990s with Visual Basic 3 and has stayed on the leading edge of Microsoft Internet technologies since the Denali beta (ASP 1.0). Greg first worked with .NET with the PDC 2000 beta and has been on both the SQL Server 2005 and .NET 2.0 betas since spring 2003. When Greg is not working, he spends his time with his wife, Tiffany, and their four daughters, Rebecca, Emily, Annabelle, and Miranda.

John J. Croft IV graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1991, receiving a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He then spent five years consulting for large companies, including Coca-Cola, BellSouth, and MCI. Work at these companies primarily involved C and C++ programming and object-oriented systems analysis. His various clients have included both Fortune 100s and small startup companies. Their problems have ranged drastically, from large databases and executive information systems to lithotripter control and satellite telemetry. Croft has completed projects with Java, XML, and, recently, C# and .NET applications. He is a partner in Scalable Development, Inc.

J. Ambrose Little is the editor-in-chief of the ASPAlliance, an ASPInsider, and a Microsoft ASP.NET MVP who currently works as a Web architect for a large credit union in Tampa, Florida. Previously, he worked as a consultant at Verizon, creating XMLWeb Services and middle-tier components, and for BOK Financial’s Web Services department creating ASP.NET applications for their intranet. His pre-.NET programming experience consists mostly of developing Web applications using ASP and VB COM/DCOM for several years. He has a bachelor’s degree in medieval European history, which remains an interest. Apart from developing software, he enjoys movies, reading, writing, foosball, chess, tennis, badminton, and spending time with his wonderful family.

Bill Ryan currently works as a senior software developer for TiBA Solutions in Greenville, SC. He is also a Windows Embedded MVP, has served on Macromedia’s Flash Advisory Board, and helps run two popular .NET Focused Web sites (www.devbuzz.com and www.knowdotnet.com) and his blog www.msmvps.com/WilliamRyan. After earning his master’s degree in business administration, Bill began work as a statistical analyst, but quickly realized that his true love was programming. He has worked in multiple industries, including financial services/securities, manufacturing, health care, pharmaceuticals, and, currently, consulting. Bill is a frequent speaker at user’s group meetings, has spoken at multiple Microsoft Code Camps, and has hosted multiple MSDN Webcasts. Although technologically related things consume most of his time, Bill’s other interests include cult films, economics, Freemasonry, cuckoo clocks, and, most important, his girlfriend, Kim, and her daughter, Sarah.

Phil Winstanley is a Web applications developer working for Portfolio Europe, located in Manchester, England. He has been involved with ASP.NET since its inception, and has developed a deep understanding of the platform. As a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional), member of the ASPInsiders, co-owner of Microsoft Web Developers UK, and the North West England Regional Director for the .NET Exchange, Phil is deeply embedded in the development community and works closely with the Web Platforms team at Microsoft, regularly visiting the developers in Redmond, Washington.

David Yack is the president of Colorado Technology Consultants, Inc. He is a hands-on technology consultant with solid management experience in privately held and Fortune 500 companies and has over 15 years of experience in the IT industry. David is currently responsible for leading Colorado Technology Consultants’ focus on Microsoft .NET technologies. David is an active participant in the Microsoft development community, ranging from the Denver .NET user group to Microsoft’s Public Communities, such as www.asp.net and http://aspalliance.com. David is the leader of the South Colorado .NET user group. David is recognized by Microsoft as a .NET MVP (Most Valuable Professional).

Jeremy Zongker is a software development manager who works primarily on data-driven ASP.NET applications with Microsoft SQL Server databases. He is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer for .NET and a 2004 MVP for ASP.NET. Jeremy is the founder and senior developer for Trilitech, LLC, a Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, software development company.
Customer Reviews

A good ADO.Net reference4
This book has a lot of good information. I found myself skimming forward just a little but there was still lots of good info to make me want to keep reading. I wish there was sometimes more explanation of why the author feels a certain way but all and all this is book worth owning.

What a letdown3
I have 16 years experience as an adjunct instructor at a community college. I have a BS in Engineering and I'm 3 credits away from my Master's in Comp Sci.
I'm taking time from my class prep to write this review...
I have been assigned to teach a Visual Basic programming class with this book. Had I been given the opportunity to read the text beforehand, I would have fought hard to use some other book. The example code is formatted so poorly that I am embarassed to use it in class. Some of the example code in the book doesn't even match what's available for download on the WROX web site. The QC staff at WROX should be reassigned. I've QC'd many programming textbooks myself and I can see that this stinker was rushed to print without enough editing.
Don't be fooled by the title. The majority of the examples are SQL Server-specific. OK, Visual Studio has a SQL Server bent, given that both are Microsoft Products. That's no secret. However, if the title of the book references Oracle and MySQL, then all the examples should also. If a particular paradigm can only be implemented in SQL Server, then the authors have a responsibility to provide work-arounds for the other DBMS's that are listed on the cover of the book. Arrrgh.

Chapter 1 covers the History of Data Access. That doesn't fit with the remainder of the book. Part of chapter 2 covers normalization, also not a good fit with the remainder of the book. The authors even admit that the book is aimed at software developers who have prior knowledge of ADO .Net and SQL Server. That implies prior knowledge of normalization and database design.

Recently I was at the bookstore with my 11 year-old. I was agonizing over which ASP .Net book (both WROX titles) to purchase, so I held up two possibilities and asked her to help. She noted that one cover had 3 author's faces on it and the other had two. She concluded that the book with 3 faces must be better. I couldn't argue with that logic. This book has seven faces on it, but it just doesn't deliver.

Could not get download code to work. Wiley no help!1
I had hoped that working through this book would bring extra insight and new techniques. After all, I have been a database consultant for 15 years and designed, programed and implemented many large solutions.

I found that the book left much unsaid and detailed instructions non existant. I had problems with the download code. It appears to be tied up with VS team system, so if you are a home or small business who is unfamiliar with tem system then you may have problems.

I contacted Wiley Customer Support, but they just told me the code works and provided nothing helpful.

I will not be buying any more Wrox / Wiley books.

Product Description

A modern, speaking-centred general English course that helps students use language naturally.
A modern, speaking-centred general English course that helps students use language naturally.Product Details

* Published on: 2006-04-27
* Original language: English
* Binding: Paperback
* 64 pages

Product Description

Cambridge IELTS 5 contains 4 authentic IELTS papers from Cambridge ESOL, providing the most authentic exam practice available. The audio cassettes accompanying this fifth volume of practice IELTS papers contain all the recorded material required for students to practise the tasks in the Listening papers.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #1934757 in Books
* Published on: 2006-07-10
* Formats: Abridged, Audiobook
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 2
* Binding: Audio Cassette

Product Description

Cambridge IELTS 5 contains 4 authentic IELTS papers from Cambridge ESOL, providing the most authentic exam practice available. The audio cassettes accompanying this fifth volume of practice IELTS papers contain all the recorded material required for students to practise the tasks in the Listening papers.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #1934757 in Books
* Published on: 2006-07-10
* Formats: Abridged, Audiobook
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 2
* Binding: Audio Cassette

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #5673296 in Books
* Published on: 1996
* Original language: English
* Binding: Paperback
* 182 pages
Introduction
To the student
These 3 complete Listening tests, 9 complete Reading tests, 9 complete Writing tests and 2 Speaking tests, have been prepared so that you can practice on your own or in a classroom with the help of a teacher. They have been trialled with students at different levels and at language centers internationally. Feedback from trialling has been incorporated at each stage of development.

Product Description

Telephoning in English is for professionals and trainees in business, commerce and administration who need to be able to receive and make telephone calls. It is suitable for use in class or for self-study. Telephoning in English develops and consolidates practical telephone skills in a variety of interesting and relevant contexts. Activities range from message-taking and spelling practice to role play, providing learners with a comprehensive course in using the telephone in English.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #1789408 in Books
* Published on: 2004-08-16
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 136 pages

Customer Reviews

My lucky star4
I'm just the beginner in English and I think this is a book I have expexted for a long time. Inside I learn many phrases or sentences that often used in telephone conversation. And now although I'm still beginner but I can express the spirit of this book to my telephone conversation

Product Description

Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours demystifies game programming by providing clear, practical lessons using C/C++, the industry standard in game programming. The book focuses on the Windows API to construct games for the Windows platform and discusses game theory, including double-buffered graphics, sprite animation, and digitized sound effects and music. A fully functional game engine provides readers with the ability to create their own future games.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #269462 in Books
* Published on: 2003-01-03
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 512 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours demystifies game programming by providing clear, practical lessons using C/C++, the industry standard in game programming. The book focuses on the Windows API to construct games for the Windows platform and discusses game theory, including double-buffered graphics, sprite animation, and digitized sound effects and music. A fully functional game engine provides readers with the ability to create their own future games.

About the Author

Michael Morrison is a writer, developer, toy inventor, and author of a variety of computer technology books and interactive Web-based courses. In addition to his primary profession as a writer and freelance nerd for hire, Michael is the creative lead at Stalefish Labs, an entertainment company he co-founded with his wife, Masheed. The first commercial debut for Stalefish Labs is a traditional social/trivia game called Tall Tales: The Game of Myths, Legends, and Creative One-Upmanship (http://www.talltalesgame.com/). When not glued to his computer, playing hockey, skateboarding, or watching movies with his wife, Michael enjoys hanging out by his koi pond. You can visit Michael on the Web at http://www.michaelmorrison.com/.

Customer Reviews

You will learn game programming, kind of, but mostly Mike Morrison's game engine.2
I gave this book 2 stars, because it has some good points, mostly really bad points.

The good:
You will be able to make basic 2D sprite games in Windows using this book and the source code on the CD. It encourages you to learn basic techniques involved with the other aspects of game development (sound, music, etc). The book comes with several games that you can run right off the CD.

The bad:
This book doesn't really teach you much. In other Sam's Teach Yourself books, you learn each step of what you are doing, and you can put in the source code yourself. In this one, you merely read about PIECES of the source code, and are expected to run it off the disk. So basically, you are paying for a game engine, a bunch of source code examples, and a tutorial on using the game engine.

I would have enjoyed this book much more if it had spent time explaining exactly what the engine does and how to make it do it, not to mention how the code in your program interacts with the engine. It seems to me that this book is mostly for people who want to "cheat" and copy and paste the code to make their games, rather than understanding what they are doing and writing the code themselves. Since I was someone who wanted the latter, I was sorely disappointed.

What's the audience?3
As far as I can tell, this book is for the beginner. It teaches game programming using C++ and the Win32 API. However, you need a lot of C++ experience before you start this book, so read up. This book also moves at an odd pace. By chapter 3, you're designing a game engine, but then you spend almost the entire book learning to draw sprites and animate them, with a few breaks for input and sound. This book does manage to make acomplishments in some areas where other books fail. You actually create more than one game, whereas other books simply throw a lot of demos at you and culminate in a game. Some topics that I haven't seen anywhere else yet are also covered here, like basic AI, keeping hi-scores, etc. Summary: good if you have a knowledge of DOS C++ and want to get into game programming with the Win32 API, but you may just want to skip this book all together and go straight for DirectX.

What's the audience?3
As far as I can tell, this book is for the beginner. It teaches game programming using C++ and the Win32 API. However, you need a lot of C++ experience before you start this book, so read up. This book also moves at an odd pace. By chapter 3, you're designing a game engine, but then you spend almost the entire book learning to draw sprites and animate them, with a few breaks for input and sound. This book does manage to make acomplishments in some areas where other books fail. You actually create more than one game, whereas other books simply throw a lot of demos at you and culminate in a game. Some topics that I haven't seen anywhere else yet are also covered here, like basic AI, keeping hi-scores, etc. Summary: good if you have a knowledge of DOS C++ and want to get into game programming with the Win32 API, but you may just want to skip this book all together and go straight for DirectX.

Product Description

Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours demystifies game programming by providing clear, practical lessons using C/C++, the industry standard in game programming. The book focuses on the Windows API to construct games for the Windows platform and discusses game theory, including double-buffered graphics, sprite animation, and digitized sound effects and music. A fully functional game engine provides readers with the ability to create their own future games.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #269462 in Books
* Published on: 2003-01-03
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 512 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours demystifies game programming by providing clear, practical lessons using C/C++, the industry standard in game programming. The book focuses on the Windows API to construct games for the Windows platform and discusses game theory, including double-buffered graphics, sprite animation, and digitized sound effects and music. A fully functional game engine provides readers with the ability to create their own future games.

About the Author

Michael Morrison is a writer, developer, toy inventor, and author of a variety of computer technology books and interactive Web-based courses. In addition to his primary profession as a writer and freelance nerd for hire, Michael is the creative lead at Stalefish Labs, an entertainment company he co-founded with his wife, Masheed. The first commercial debut for Stalefish Labs is a traditional social/trivia game called Tall Tales: The Game of Myths, Legends, and Creative One-Upmanship (http://www.talltalesgame.com/). When not glued to his computer, playing hockey, skateboarding, or watching movies with his wife, Michael enjoys hanging out by his koi pond. You can visit Michael on the Web at http://www.michaelmorrison.com/.

Customer Reviews

You will learn game programming, kind of, but mostly Mike Morrison's game engine.2
I gave this book 2 stars, because it has some good points, mostly really bad points.

The good:
You will be able to make basic 2D sprite games in Windows using this book and the source code on the CD. It encourages you to learn basic techniques involved with the other aspects of game development (sound, music, etc). The book comes with several games that you can run right off the CD.

The bad:
This book doesn't really teach you much. In other Sam's Teach Yourself books, you learn each step of what you are doing, and you can put in the source code yourself. In this one, you merely read about PIECES of the source code, and are expected to run it off the disk. So basically, you are paying for a game engine, a bunch of source code examples, and a tutorial on using the game engine.

I would have enjoyed this book much more if it had spent time explaining exactly what the engine does and how to make it do it, not to mention how the code in your program interacts with the engine. It seems to me that this book is mostly for people who want to "cheat" and copy and paste the code to make their games, rather than understanding what they are doing and writing the code themselves. Since I was someone who wanted the latter, I was sorely disappointed.

What's the audience?3
As far as I can tell, this book is for the beginner. It teaches game programming using C++ and the Win32 API. However, you need a lot of C++ experience before you start this book, so read up. This book also moves at an odd pace. By chapter 3, you're designing a game engine, but then you spend almost the entire book learning to draw sprites and animate them, with a few breaks for input and sound. This book does manage to make acomplishments in some areas where other books fail. You actually create more than one game, whereas other books simply throw a lot of demos at you and culminate in a game. Some topics that I haven't seen anywhere else yet are also covered here, like basic AI, keeping hi-scores, etc. Summary: good if you have a knowledge of DOS C++ and want to get into game programming with the Win32 API, but you may just want to skip this book all together and go straight for DirectX.

What's the audience?3
As far as I can tell, this book is for the beginner. It teaches game programming using C++ and the Win32 API. However, you need a lot of C++ experience before you start this book, so read up. This book also moves at an odd pace. By chapter 3, you're designing a game engine, but then you spend almost the entire book learning to draw sprites and animate them, with a few breaks for input and sound. This book does manage to make acomplishments in some areas where other books fail. You actually create more than one game, whereas other books simply throw a lot of demos at you and culminate in a game. Some topics that I haven't seen anywhere else yet are also covered here, like basic AI, keeping hi-scores, etc. Summary: good if you have a knowledge of DOS C++ and want to get into game programming with the Win32 API, but you may just want to skip this book all together and go straight for DirectX.