Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. International - General    5. Management - General    6. Business & Economics / International    7. International business   

Reviews (21)

One sided and out dated
Much of this book is very one sided.In particular the sections on the environment are distorted and now known to be incorrect.The book would be much better if they had not shown their bias.

it nails the big picture
This is an absorbing survey of the petoleum industry by two highly knowledgeable oil guys.The prose has a dry academic flavor to it, but the strength of the book's ideas and the way they are propounded bereft of politically correct sentiment almost makes one forget this shortcoming.
Absorbing
I am a Geologist's daughter and one of the authors (Michael)is a friend and associate of my father's (Dr.S.N.Visvanath). The book was with my father and out of idle curiosity I started reading it. The book gripped me from page 1. Facts and information were presented in an absorbing and creative manner. Dividing each chapter into colors and making socio-economic connections was a brilliant idea. For those outside the industry this book is an eyeopener. The language flows mellifluosly and I have learnt more about how petroleum dictates international politics. Congratulations to both the authors!
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - General    5. Economic Conditions    6. History    7. Industries - General    8. International - Economics    9. Petroleum    10. Petroleum industry and trade    11. United States    12. 20th century    13. History of specific subjects    14. Petroleum & oil industries   

Reviews (1)

Decent analysis, but bad editing
To start off, the editors of this book must have been asleep when it crossed their desks: the numerous erros in spelling and grammar interrupt a generally lucid writing style, with numerous, critical errors even in charts and graphs. The worst editorial aspect of the book is that in several places, entire passages are repeated, sometimes immediately, other times in a different chapter. Being in the field, I know economists are not the most skilled writers, but I place all the blame at the doorstep of the publishing house. Read more

Subjects:  1. 1991-    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Economic Conditions    4. Economic policy    5. Economics - General    6. Globalization    7. Political Science    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Russia (Federation)    10. Soviet Union    11. Economics    12. Former Soviet Union, USSR (Europe)    13. Political Science / Globalization   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Export Trade    5. Export marketing    6. International - Marketing    7. Marketing    8. Marketing - Multilevel    9. Business & Economics / Marketing / International    10. Sales & marketing   

Reviews (17)

Thought-provoking, irresponsible, and sometimes comically incorrect. But fun.
Powerful Times has promise as you plow through the first handful of chapters. I've done quite a bit of future `ideating' mostly for product innovation to have concepts like `clarity vs craziness' - something we called, `synthesized sense-making' at work - and `technology acceleration vs pushback' - resonate with me. His arguments make sense and they feel like they're pointing to a powerful conclusion.
Good Cliff note summary of current events
Airplane read. Book is current ... data based. Diverse news roundup with links to future implications. Can't recall any high concept take aways.
Interesting read
Powerful Times is an examination of what the author presents as seven powerful dynamic tensions that will fundamentally reshape human life.What are these seven tensions?Some we are already seeing regularly in the news as the conflicts between the secular and the sacred.Others are also obvious like the tension between clarity and craziness.Still others become fascinating in the way the author develops them; like power and vulnerability, technology acceleration and pushback, intangible and physical economics, prosperity and decline, and people and planet.This is an in-depth exploration of the challenges and changes of governance and innovation.One of the more interesting ideas presented here are what the author sees as the three different scenarios for potential world orders that might evolve as a result of these tensions.This is a bold look at the forces molding our world as we know it and how they will change that world in the near future.Powerful Times is an interesting read and recommended to business and civic leaders at all levels. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1950-    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Civilization    5. Civilization, Modern    6. Economic Conditions    7. History    8. History Of Civilization And Culture (General)    9. History: World    10. Management - General    11. Business strategy    12. History / General    13. International business    14. International economics    15. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (2)

Most comprehensive in the market
As the title suggests, this is a documentation book and does this job really well.I bought this book as a novice without any knowledge of the procedure and I can comment that now I have good knowledge of the process.Small companies can benefit and may need only 1/4 of this book and large organizations can search from the huge pile of information.Even if you are starting out a small export business, this is one book you should refer to.

An outstanding practical reference for active exporters.
Our copy of this book is being used constantly by our consulting staff.It covers the complicated process of shipping products to foreign markets.We recommend it to our clients, especially those who handle their owninternational shipping, insurance and payment processing. John R. Jagoe,Director, Export Institute. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Export marketing    5. Exports    6. Exports & Imports    7. Forms    8. Imports    9. International - Marketing    10. United States    11. International business    12. Management of specific areas    13. Sales & marketing   

Reviews (15)

Not even worth one star
I was very disappointed by this book. Not only was it painful to read, because it dragged on and was full of academic nonsense, the authors views were also unconvincing and based on old research.
BEWARE!Digital version is only a 10 page summary!
Don't get caught like I did.

From information-processing machine to knowledge-creating co
This book is the classic in the organizational learning approach. But it��s more than that. This book is not about lean production or Japanese kaizen system, but about how to enhance a firm��s adaptability to turbulent environment through knowledge creation. with suggesting new concept of knowledge-creation as the tangible base of organizational capabilities or innovation, this book serves as the bridge between organizational learning school and resource-capabilities view. Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Communication    3. Communication In Business    4. Communication in organizations    5. Education    6. Entrepreneurship    7. Industrial Production    8. Industrial management    9. International - General    10. Japan    11. Leadership    12. Management    13. Business & Economics / Knowledge Capital    14. Business | Management    15. Industry & Industrial Studies    16. International business    17. Management & management techniques   

Reviews (12)

An excellent guide to technical analysis
For anyone interested in a technical rather than fundamental approach to trading (like we are), this book has to be considered the definitive text.Although oriented around futures trading, all the information presented is equally relevant to any instrument type with a little thought and adaptation.
A great reference
I found other books on TA to be more useful for reading straight through and overcoming the learning curve on TA (e.g. Technical Analysis Explained, Martin Pring *****).
Great Trading Book
Schwager's book is great - it covers technical analysis, price risk management and even a bit on system development. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Accounting - General    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Futures And Options Trading    6. Investment analysis    7. Investments & Securities - Futures    8. Investments & Securities - General    9. Business & Economics / Investments & Securities    10. Economic forecasting    11. International trade   

Reviews (1)

A Good Economic text which lacks important details.
I would reccomend this textbook for students or someone who is just begining economics. This book is for the most part easy to follow. It gives basic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics. However, more pedagogyis needed in some chapters as well as with explanations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economics - General    6. Business & Economics / Economics / General    7. Economics   

Reviews (2)

Useful
This is one book on International business that is less about equations and more abput understanding the socio-eonomic dynamics involved in International business. Definitely worth the price.

Yes, but ...
Very practical book, with full-detailed examples, but lacks in theoretical analysis. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. International    5. International - General    6. International business enterpr    7. International finance    8. International trade    9. Investments, Foreign    10. Business & Economics / International    11. International business    12. Multinationals   

Reviews (12)

Ways to Profit from the Seeming Contradictions in Chinese Society
Confucius, Daoism, Communism, Industrialization, Urbanization, One-Child Families, Great Leap Forward, Education and Profit Is Good:What do these themes mean for those who wish to sell in China?They are all important influences which you need to understand.Each Chinese consumer is uniquely influenced by the combination.The result includes some pretty interesting apparent contradictions such as prudishness about sex in advertising in a country where sexual trade is wide open at the street level.
Hire this guy for your ad campaign!
Love this book.Focus group, quantitative analysis, qualitative research, or any else you learned in the Marketing Research course at the MBA curriculum, may not work in China. WIth 1.3 billion customers, this is the dream market for any multinational corporations: Unilever, Ford, Nokia, Motorola, Sony, Samsung, Protor Gamble, DeBeers(DTC), VW, Shell, Pepsi, Coke, Nestle, Avon, Nike, Siemens, IBM, Dell.... While they are compeitng, the locals are copying quickly: Haier, TCL, Konda, China Mobile, China Unicom, Lenovo, CNOOC, Yili Diary, Sedrin beer, 999 Pharmaceutical..... hundreds of them doing shampoo, shoes, ....every thing under the sun.How can you win? That is the beauty of this book. It got many strategies laid out in the step-by-step fashion. It is a must read for any one who is doing business in China.The book will be better if more comparison can made on the effectiveness of the ad such as Motoroal vs a Chinese brand.

For companies who would enter the Chinese market
BILLIONS: SELLING TO THE NEW CHINESE CONSUMER comes from a CEO with direct experience selling into the Chinese market, and discusses the code of marketing as it relates to modern China. Many companies come to China with ideas on how to apply Western thinking to their very different marketplace: thus BILLIONS' tips are a necessary set of instructions for any who would break into the Chinese marketplace. From cultural influences in buying patterns to investment challenges and multinational lessons on winning and losing in China, BILLIONS is a recommended pick for any company who would consider entering this new, large market.
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Subjects:  1. Attitudes    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business Etiquette    5. Business/Economics    6. China    7. Consumers    8. Consumers' preferences    9. Intercultural communication    10. Marketing - General    11. Marketing - Research    12. International business    13. Sales & marketing   

Reviews (6)

Raising the Level of Debate About Global Problems
Most people never think about the unavoidable tradeoffs involved in ameliorating social problems.With opportunity costs in mind, may we must dedicate ourselves to a better world.
Global Crises, Global Solutions
I enjoyed Bjorn Lomborg's latest work as a thought provoking alternative to conventional wisdom on different aspects of globalisation. Unfortunately, much of the scientific and political community have become prisoners to theories which have dubious merit. They are followed more out of political correctness and the prevailing winds of public opinion, than research and testing.
Highly Recommended!
This report is an excellent, controversial and refreshing approach to global problems. Daily, the news media and politicians declare that another crisis is urgent. Often, loud, public resolutions accompany these pronouncements. Political blocs form to push through agendas based on those resolutions. The only thing missing from the process is a dispassionate analysis of whether the solutions make economic sense and, if so, which ones make the most economic sense. This book of compiled essays from the Copenhagen Consensus - as documented in The Economist - provides that missing element. The conference drew from United Nations documents to assemble a list of the most urgent problems facing the world and identified those that presented opportunities for solutions. Then it set the task of identifying solutions that would provide the biggest benefit for the cost, examining 38 proposals for spending $50 billion over four years. Surprisingly, some of the most economically rational projects never make headlines and never turn up in public exhortations. When was the last time you saw someone climbing onto a platform to demand mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Africa? That may not come up nearly as often as adherence to the Kyoto Protocol, which provides a far weaker cost vs. benefit scenario. According to the analysts from Copenhagen, the former seems to be a very sound use of the world's problem-solving resources, but the latter costs a lot and seems to deliver relatively few benefits. We highly recommend this intriguing, sweeping conversation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - Economic Development    5. Economic development    6. Globalization    7. International - Economics    8. International cooperation    9. Public Policy - Economic Policy    10. Business & Economics / Economic Development    11. Development economics    12. Environmental economics    13. Political economy    14. Social issues   

Reviews (5)

A leading book in the field
Warren Keegan wrote the first international marketing textbook shortly after completing his Harvard PhD in the 1960s.He is a legend in the field and is widely credited as the father of the global marketing concept.
The up to date Case
This book has easy to understand & have up to date case. The Harley Davidson case is one of the cases that showing us how's struggling US to face Japanese company offensive. This is the good case to picturing the dawn to earth marketing strategy compare to arrogant & not efficient strategy willing by US Company.

good service
the service is very good and efficient ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Advertising & Promotion    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Case studies    6. Entrepreneurship    7. Export marketing    8. International - Marketing    9. Management    10. Business & Economics / Marketing / International    11. Sales & marketing management   

Reviews (18)

I will read this again.
Just finished Tertzakian's book... its quite good, just a bit `engineerish' though definitely a company man's view. Especially sobering is the chart half way through showing the effect of a 5% world oil production decline (depletion) coupled with rising world demand; satisfying both will be difficult.
Well-researched, topical history of the world's oil dilemma
So many books lately have touted the looming energy crisis that a new book on the topic bears a fairly heavy burden. It must demonstrate a firm grasp of prior scholarship, yet be innovative enough to serve a distinct purpose amid similar tomes. In this regard, author Peter Tertzakian achieves the first objective nicely and comes close on the second. He shares his keen sense of how the impact of energy sources has rippled across history and altered its course. He discusses the concepts of "energy cycles" and "energy break points" to explain how inherent mismatches between dwindling supply and growing demand lead to crises that can be resolved only by innovation and "rebalancing solutions." Upon closer examination, though, the "break point" seems referential to the familiar notion of a "paradigm shift." And, alas, the author's menu of alternate energy choices is no more satisfactory than anyone else's. Given his historical acumen, however, we find that this book is a useful addition to the expert chorus warning the global citizenry to wake up and smell the petroleum.

Wide Ranging Overview of Energy
Tertzakian provides a useful, historical, and wide ranging look at all the world's energy sources. He starts with the stories of how 'rock oil' replaced whale oil for lighting and why Churchill converted the Britsh navy from coal to oil even though Britian had lots of coal and no oil. In a graph of US oil comsumption plotted against real GDP he shows the dramatic and permanent impact the 70's oil price increases had. After a chapter on the search for oil and the implications of dwindling new finds of oil, he speculates on how the world's energy mix will need to adjust to the upcoming peaking of 'light sweet crude' by the development of "alternate energy supply chains" like liquified natural gas and the Canadian oil sands.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Energy Economics    5. Energy consumption    6. Forecasting    7. Industries - Energy Industries    8. International - Economics    9. Petroleum industry and trade    10. Power resources    11. Business & Economics / General    12. Energy Technology & Engineering    13. Management of land & natural resources   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Finance    5. International - Economics    6. International finance    7. Management - General    8. Accounting    9. Business & Economics / Economics / International    10. Economics    11. International economics   

Reviews (23)

A good diagnosis but wacky solutions
Louis Uchitelle does a nice job of highlighting the mental and social trauma that often comes from being laid-off, and he arguesg that these non-economic dimensions of layoffs do not get enough attention.
Masterful exposition on employment issues
This excellent book examines the phenomenon of job insecurity in America. Author and newspaper reporter Louis Uchitelle traces the development and decline of the American expectation of stable, remunerative, virtually lifetime employment. Republicans may have taken the boldest steps in rolling back the expectation of job security (Ronald Reagan's firing of the air traffic controllers spoke eloquently for the new order), but they did not do so alone or unopposed. Democratic presidents and politicians did not make preventing layoffs a major campaign issue or administrative priority. Uchitelle writes smoothly and evocatively, particularly about the individual experiences of laid-off workers for whom the surviving avenues of American opportunity were dead ends. We recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what killed the historic American trust between workers and employers, and how to staunch the bleeding caused by layoffs.

Not a disposable book - highly recommended
As a career consultant I talk to people who have experienced layoffs first-hand. As author Uchitelle observes, layoffs take an enormous toll on individuals and we have only begun to calculate the cost to society. He accurately compares diverse responses to layoffs, from paralyzing depression to proactive coping. And, unlike many authors, he demonstrates the toll a layoff can take on an entire family.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Ethics    4. Business/Economics    5. Dismissal of    6. Displaced workers    7. Economic Conditions    8. Employees    9. Labor    10. Labor & Industrial Relations - General    11. Labor Market    12. Unemployed    13. United States    14. Business & Economics / Business Ethics   

Reviews (3)

Globalization 2.0
Jeffrey Frieden, a Harvard professor specializing in international trade and finance, has written a masterly and comprehensive history of capitalism from 1870 to the present.His history of globalization reminds us that it is not a recent develpment and that its current success is not guaranteed.
Bottom Line: Unfettered Capitalism is Destructive, Need Government

Very Pleasing to Read (Even for a Proletariat like Me)
I read this book for a graduate-level economics course.It's not an "Econ for Dummys" book, but it really enightens the reader about the history of economics in the 20th Century.It's smart and straight-forward.The author does not interject his personal perspectives, which is nice.He just puts it out there.A definite must-read for those entering the field of economics/history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Capitalism    6. Economic History    7. Economic aspects    8. Economics - General    9. Free Enterprise    10. Globalization    11. History    12. History Of Economic Thought    13. International - Economics    14. International economic relations    15. Business & Economics / General    16. Capitalist or free market economies   

Reviews (19)

Truth and myth of a utopian Open Society.
Edward Teller and George Soros shared few common traits; nationality, religion, and globalization. Both were Hungarian, Jewish, hard workers, and stubborn thinkers. Teller dreamed of the Hydrogen bomb and believed earlier that a nuclear explosion might detonate the earth's atmosphere and ends civilization. Even with the fission bomb out-of-reach, Teller was living in the dreamland of the nuclear fusion. Soros is less fortunate in reaching his utopian dream despite his billions. Sociology isn't physics. Soros' players have emotions and beliefs that impact their decisions. The Russian robbers had outsmarted him, as they did with Napoleon and Hitler. Yet, his driven obsession with open society made him repeat the same mistake in Macedonia and Ukraine.
If you like reading Warren Buffet, you will not like reading George Soros
I'll say this first: I am not a genius, and George Soros probably is. The book presented itself in an interesting Q&A format that made it easy to skip around and jump sections. That being said, it was still a struggle to finish.
The Life & Times of Convicted InsideTrader
George Soros was convicted of inside trading in December 2002.He engaged in inside trading of Societe General stock. Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Capitalists and financiers    6. Interviews    7. Investments    8. Investments & Securities - General    9. Political and social views    10. Soros, George    11. Business & Economics / Investments & Securities    12. International finance    13. Investment & securities   

Reviews (5)

The sound of a different drummer
My father, of blessed memory, Reuben Kelly Freedman used to say ,"Be a worker, not a shirker". And all my life I have been driven by the idea that I must be working , doing something useful at each and every moment. Now the paradox in my case is that I chose a way of work which to many people is not work at all ( writing) and which in terms of earning power certainly fits more in the 'shirking ' category than the working one.
A true pleasure to read cover to cover, especially while the reader is allegedly at work
Doing Nothing: A History Of Loafers, Loungers, Slackers, And Bums In America by Tom Lutz is the true story of the American anti-work ethic from Benjamin Franklin's "air baths" to Jack Kerouac's dharma bums to the notorious slackers of Generation X to doctors declaring the medical problems of overwork and much more. The history, philosophy, and justification of goofing off, supplemented with careful research and statistics, makes for engaging reading whether for expert sociologists researching the cultural phenomenon's of shirking or lay readers making the most of their own relaxation time. A true pleasure to read cover