Reviews (7)

A Proper Examination and Explanation of Human Action
If you have found most personality tests insignificant, unhelpful, or unrevealing, then perhaps this book is for you. Human Dynamics goes into much more depth and provides a greater understanding of human communication and actions than any simple personality test. While people can be placed into certain "dynamics," these dynamics are not nearly as restraining or stereotypical as personality tests tend to be. Rather than explaining one's personality, dynamics explain how groups of people tend to process information, not necessarily how aggressive, passive, or "likeable" they are. This book helped me in terms of personal discovery, and has also helped me understand why it always seemed that so many people "just never seemed to think like me."

Great book
Models to describe human personality are presented. Each model has itunique characteristics, its strengths and weaknesses. Each model willrespond most effectively to certain modes of communications. Thisunderstanding of the different models presented will help a manager, ateacher, a student or just about anybody to understand themselves andpeople around them better. This will enable better communication of ideasand thoughts. Students will learn better and managers will be able tocommunicate more effectively with individuals. The models can be taken upto an organizational level. The applications of this book are far and wide.It is also simply and clearly written.

improving teamwork in your organisation,family & community
the first time that I have found an approach which looks at humans holistically and systemically.It is not a group of personality characteristics describing superficial behaviours, buta way ofunderstanding and recognising internal processes particular to varioushuman dynamics. It therefore goes much deeper than any other personalityassessment technique I have seen and because of this can not be reduced toa paper and pencil test.However, the gift this approach brings is that itcan be taught to everyday people and can provide access to betterrelationships and a greater understanding of how to release our judgementof others.A truly life changing book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business Communication - General    3. Communication In Business    4. Communication in organizations    5. Diversity in the workplace    6. General    7. Intercultural Communication    8. Interpersonal relations    9. Multiculturalism    10. Religion    11. Sociology    12. Business communication & presentation    13. Communication Studies    14. Cultural studies    15. Personnel & human resources management   

Editorial Review

Neil Postman is one of the most level-headed analysts of education, media, and technology, and in this book he spells out theincreasing dependence upon technology, numerical quantification, and misappropriation of "Scientism" to all human affairs. No simple technophobe, Postman argues insightfully and writes with a stylistic flair, profound sense of humor,and love of language increasingly rare in our hastily scribbled e-mail-saturated world. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Agree with his ideas but.....
I agreed with much of what Postman conveyed in Technopoly but i was put-off quite a bit by some of the arguements he uses to support his claims.At times he seems to be make sweeping generalizations based on very specific, very limited data, which was painful for me to read. Other times he seems to draw conclusions that just dont follow directly from his evidence. I would recommend reading The Technological Society by Ellul instead if you're interested in this kind of thing.

The Dire Consequences of Technology
Neil Postman's Technopoly stands as a prophetic look at the impact of technology on a society. From the outset it is clear that Postman is not concerned with being unbiased, but rather balancing his own biases with careful self-criticing and historical presidents for his observations. This book comes as a bit of a wake up call for a society ungulfed in technology, an ironic observation given the method of this review. Postman acknowledges that it will be difficult for many readers to accept his ideology, but that it was important that they do not simply dismiss it. Technology, for Postman, is never a simple thing, and we are never able to comprehend the far reaching impact of the technologies we introduce into society. Postman gives the example of the printing press and the decline of the written tradition. While it was not an intentional effect, the value of writing has become secondary within society to technological innovation. These innovations are seen in every facet of life, for Postman, and carry many dire consequences.
Forces you to question your assumptions
This book starts off on some very strong premises and is a real page turner to about the half-way point, then it becomes difficult to read, as if the author ran out of compelling ideas too early on. He then spends several chapters brazenly criticizing the major establishments of technology (medical science and computers) as irresponsible, dangerous developments in western society. But Postman does conclude with a strong final chapter that challenges the reader. Overall, I'd say it was a tough read, but compelling. Any book that challenges your assumptions and world-view is significant. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Social aspects    2. Sociology    3. Sociology - Social Theory    4. Technology    5. Impact of science & technology on society    6. Social Science / General   

Reviews (5)

A valuable "how to interview" guide for researchers
""Learning From Strangers" is a book that will greatly augment any coursework in anthropology, sociology, or education research methods.I rank it right up there with classic works like Powdermaker's "Stranger and Friend",Agar's "The Professional Stranger"and Van Maanen's ""Tales of the Field". This volume is well worth reading for those new to qualitative research methods, as well as for those who might question how well they're doing with interviewing as a data collection method.The author uses a conversational approach as he generously shares and reflects upon his many years of interview experience.This sharing isn't self-serving, but sensitively, (and importantly) covers all situations: the tricky, the awkward, and the difficult.The chapter on "Issues in Interviewing" resonated with me.For example, as I was alone in the field, doing the qualitative research for my dissertation in South Africa, I was astonished at how tiring I found my interviewing to be.I had been discussing the personal histories of rural educators who had themselves been educated under apartheid, and was completely exhausted by the process.Weiss put my mind to rest when he discusses the levels of emotion that are shared between interviewer and respondent ( at page 137).He also debunks some persistent research myths such as the need for a fixed set of questions (the process is iterative), or the so-called "interviewer-respondent match" (the insider-outsider dilemma).Interviewing is a technique that people frequently assume they "can do" but this book highlights the many intricacies of what are fundamentally social interactions undertaken in pusuit of research data.The only improvement I could suggest, and this is owing mainly to its publication date of 1996,would be to include a broader elaboration of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software, of which there are now many examples of user-friendly software.Of course, one must conduct the interviews first to have any data, so I recommend that you help yourself in that effort by reading this valuable book.

textbook for my Qualitative research 2 class
This book was interesting to read. I found that I could sit and read and enjoy this book. The examples in it are specific, and although I am doing research in a field different from the examples, I find that they are interesting and thought provoking. I know that my interviewing skills are getting better from having read this book.

An engaging jewel
Weiss's book mirrors the combination of seemingly unforced flow and attention to focus that are characteristic of good qualitative interviews.I appreciated that it tackled delicate questions of ethics, editing and developing analysis in a way that bolstered the reader's confidence in their ability to develop good judgment, while never minimizing the risks.The use of excerpts of transcripts showing exactly where interviewers' decisions had affected outcomes, and of specific examples throughout, made this book a compulsive "read" -- I wish that more authoratitive publications managed its grace and energy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Research    2. Sociology    3. Social Science / General    4. Social research & statistics   

Subjects:  1. Adult & Continuing Education    2. General    3. Industries - General    4. Research    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Tourism    8. Cultural studies    9. Education / Adult & Continuing Education    10. Sociology, Social Studies    11. Tourism industry   

Reviews (5)

A book not to be forgotten
There are about 10 books I've read in my life that are vivid years later.This is one of those.We're given the chance to see what it might be like to live in a place without prejudices about people being different because of something like deafness. I learned a tremendous amount about deafness, sign language, and life on a New England fishing island community in bygone years. Don't miss this wonderful book.

An interesting look at a unique deaf cultue
"Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language" is a look at the effect of a large deaf population on Martha's Vineyard.Though a dry read at times, this book gives an interesting look at how for once in the history of deaf culture the *hearing* adapted for the deaf instead of vice versa.While most people might assume that the large deaf population would force a hefty amount of deaf people to adapt to hearing life, the opposite was actually true; the brilliance of Martha's Vineyard was that nearly all hearing people knew sign language to some degree. Inspiring and interesting
This is one of my favorite books of all time.Originally written as an ethnographic study, it is also completely readable for a non-professional popular audience.Basically, it is the story of the islanders of Martha's Vineyard, a large island off the coast of Massachusetts.The islanders originally came from the same 2 or 3 boatloads of colonists from England, by way of Boston and Scituate, from a region in Kent which already seems to have had a high incidence of hereditary deafness.Due to the geographic isolation of the island, recessive genes for deafness, which were already prominent in the original Kentish colonists, came increasingly to the fore.As the proportions of islanders who happened to be deaf gradually increased, what was the islanders' answer?Not shunning the deaf.Far from it.Rather, atradition arose that EVERYONE on the island, deaf or hearing, simply learned sign language as children!Read more

Subjects:  1. Deaf    2. Deafness    3. General    4. Genetic aspects    5. History    6. Martha's Vineyard    7. Massachusetts    8. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    9. Sign language    10. Sociology    11. Education   

Reviews (10)

Unintentional Humor
I read a book recently called The Hidden Persuaders by Vance Packard. It is a marketing book and I like marketing books. I was interviewed today and the interviewer asked me if I was more of a mentor coach leader than a marketer. I did not know those were opposite leadership styles.
Time Warp to the 50's
If you have an interest in what it was like to be in 1950's America, this book is like a time travel excursion taking you there.It's very dated, but an interesting look into life in that time, very much like being there.If you know a little about the 50's, this rounds out a lot of what you think you know.I'm just old enough to have missed the 50's (born 1962) but still recall much of the effects of those years on society.Growing up in Maine, it took awhile for the 50's to actually leave.Much of what I remember as a child relates to that era.If that's you too - you'll enjoy this quick, easy read.

Au revoir Pavlov?
This book is extremely relevant even its release has been thrown fifty years ago.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Sociology    3. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (4)

Goldfish Tanks and Waterfalls
Q: Of the word's tallest waterfalls, five out of ten are in which country?
Second Edition - more interesting trivia
Like the prior edition this book contains a collection of trivia questions and answers that center around world culture, politics and geography.As such it is not only interesting but also educational.So many trivia books contain such obscure information that it has no value other than as a trivia question.That is not the case with either the first or the second edition of this book."World Trivia", second edition is a complete rewrite that contains none of the questions of the first edition.Michael Smith again tackles one of the most difficult areas of trivia because culture, politics and many aspects of geography are in a state of constant flux.So, while the trivia questions and answers are accurate today, within a few years many of them may not be.With well-chosen educational and truly interesting questions the book is a recommended purchase.

Entertaining, but too short
"World Trivia" is a small book filled with trivia questions from around the world.Each page has a single question with the answer on the reverse.It contains an excellent selection of questions that I found genuinely interesting, however, with only one question on a page it contains only just over 130 questions.It would have been nice if there were two or three questions per page.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Multicultural Nonfiction    3. Questions and answers    4. Reference    5. Trivia    6. General encyclopaedias    7. Trivia & quiz question books   

Reviews (45)

Critical thinking thrives on controversy
I had the pleasure of reviewing this book earlier this year,along with an edited work of a similar theme by Cummings and Wright, for Cognitive & Behavioral Practice (13,98-101).While noting therein that "there is much with which to agree and more than a bit to dispute," I went on to argue that a principles read of both these texts can only improve our hope for a more reasoned and evidence based approach to assistance.
Know when to keep it in balance
A healer is a clear guide when you are on the journey to fulfilling your soul's destiny but the road is hard to see sometimes because of fog and other natural happenings. They give you the directions since they are removed and objective from a higher place of seeing ... to support you with the needed data to stay on course during these moments of cloudy vision. YOU (soul) are ultimately still driving the car (your life in action)... you have to choose what to do with the directions given, and still alter the route if an unexpected rainstorm happens.
Right Wing Political Entertainment
Confuses Calvinistic moral posturing with honesty. Extremely poorly researched or evidence that didn't match cherished beliefs of the target market was omitted in order to increase sales to that niche. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Mental Health    3. Psychology    4. Psychotherapy    5. Self-reliance    6. Social Psychology    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Social Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Communication    2. General    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Methodology    6. Research    7. Sociology    8. Communication Studies    9. Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication    10. Social research & statistics   

Subjects:  1. Capitalism    2. General    3. History & Theory - General    4. Political Science    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Social aspects    7. Sociological Theory    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - General    10. Capitalist or free market economies    11. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    12. Political Science / Economic Conditions   

Reviews (7)

Qualitative Manual
Prof used this book in a PhD Qualitative Research and Evaluation class.It is a nice refrence on the practical asspects of some of the more nebular qualitative methods rubric books. Ex, it gives some insight as to interview "feeling"... Having focused on Qualitative Methods in England... you should pair it with more 'hard core' works as well. Hope this helps.

Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, Fifth
Great book, but necessary for class so I am biased.

For undergraduate class
This book is a textbook on qualitative research methods at undergraduate level. To be a good and useful enough textbook on research methods, it must have two features:Read more

Subjects:  1. Methodology    2. Qualitative Techniques In The Social Sciences    3. Research    4. Research & Methodology    5. Social Science    6. Social sciences    7. Sociology    8. Social Science / Sociology / General    9. Social research & statistics   

Reviews (25)

Outstanding resource
I have been doing a lot of research into changing my career to that of a PI.This book is the best primer I have read.It is very straight forward, easy to read and understand, and gives examples from the author's experiences.The author does a great job of de-mystifying what a PI does, and does not, do.I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the field, especially at this price.

Complete Idiots guide not for Idiots!
This was one great book! everything you need to know about Private Investigation is in there. Tips, Tricks, Info sites, It has it all from P.I. Licensing to License Plates! Great case Stories too! It ROCKS!!!

Good Information
This book is informative and is in ordinary enough language that your automatically comfortable reading it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal Law - General    2. Detectives    3. General    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Investigations    6. Law    7. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Private investigators    10. United States    11. Criminal investigation & detection    12. Police & security services    13. True Crime / General   

Reviews (7)

A must read
This book is a must read for all catholics.Thanks to Tom Doyle, Richard Sipe and Patrick Wall for having the courage "to do the right thing" and reveal what the catholic church wants to ignore and keep "secret" - power, control and abuse.
A Superb Book
This book is a most useful one - to say the least - for those of us, within the Church, grieved by these scandals and the utterly appalling manner in which they have been/are being handled. This excellent book should be required reading for bishops and priests everywhere.
Sex, Preists and Secret Codes: The Catholic Church's 2000-year Paper Trail of Sexual Abuse, by Doyle, TP, Sipe, AWR
I found this book a fascinating and courageous examination of the clergy sex abuse issue.The historical perspective shed much needed light on contemporary atttitudes of Church authorities to the problem. The insights into the nature of the spiritual damage done to survivors are particularly welcome and valuable.
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Subjects:  1. Abuse - General    2. Abuse - Sexual    3. Adult Child Sexual Abuse Victims    4. Catholic Church    5. Child sexual abuse by clergy    6. Christianity - Catholicism    7. Christianity - History - Catholic    8. Clergy    9. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    10. Discipline    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Religion    13. Roman Catholic Church    14. Sexual behavior    15. Non-Classifiable    16. Social Science / General   

Reviews (10)

Wonderful animal story
This is the book to buy.What a wonderful book to write about a dog that has been through several struggles and survived.I would read all of her books that she writes.Great reviews....

The Miracle that Keeps on Giving
This was a great story about a dog who survived an animal shelter gas chamber and lived to tell about it with the help of Randy Grim. No dog has ever survived the gas chamber in St. Louis, but Quentin did - named after the infamous Sam Quentin.Quentin was one of the millions given up by his guardians, more like sentenced to death by his guardians.If it weren't for Randy Grim's incredible work with the St. Louis Stray Rescue, Quentin would've survived the chamber only to put back in.But that wasn't the case.Randy was called and claimed Quentin, who became a nationwide spokes-dog championing no-kill shelters.Thanks to Randy and Quentin, St. Louis replaced the gas chamber (where animals truly suffered at the end of their lives) in their animal shelters with HUMANE euthanasia.Hopefully some day it will be a no-kill shelter, along with every animal shelter in this country.
Great story - book needs work
A great story about the Miracle Dog - heartfelt and emotional.The book itself could use some reorganization and definitely needs someone to spell and grammar check it.Was disappointed with the quality of the copy, but the story was too good to not give 4 stars to. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Animal Rights    3. Animals    4. Dogs    5. General    6. Human-animal relationships    7. Missouri    8. Nature / Animal Rights    9. Pets / Dogs / General    10. Quentin (Dog)    11. Saint Louis    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Dogs - General    15. Euthanasia of animals    16. Nature    17. Pets    18. True Stories   

Subjects:  1. Community Health Nursing    2. General    3. Health Promotion    4. Medical    5. Nursing - General    6. Nursing - Home & Community Care    7. Public health nursing    8. Sociology    9. Community nursing    10. Medical / Nursing / Home & Community Care   

Editorial Review

The author of the provocative bestseller Read more

Reviews (119)

WTF?
The previous reviewer is a nice example of how a whiny feminist will behave when her lies are exposed, and the truth emerges as the opposite of what she says and believes.
lets move on
this book just reifies the old boy/girl dichotomy.we have to move on from finger pointing to some real issues.are we really to believe that boys are being harmed by feminism? poor things...is there really anything inherent in being a boy or girl.We know that there is not, so how can people still be making these passe and inflamatory arguments.Give me a break.

Important book
This is an important book whether or not you actually have boys yourself.
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Subjects:  1. Feminism    2. Feminism & Feminist Theory    3. Gender Studies    4. Life Stages - Adolescence    5. Men's Studies - General    6. Psychology    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Teenage boys    10. United States    11. Education    12. Men's studies    13. Social Science / General   

Reviews (2)

Highly recommended !
The Idea Brokers is an excellent chronological exploration of the evolution and impact of think tanks on U.S. public policy. The reader is presented with a comprehensive history of these obscure institutions that have spawned dramatically since the start of the 20th-century. The author adequately provides a thorough and detailed account of the personalities that were responsible for establishing these research institutions, their intended purpose, their area of expertise, their advising successes and their implementation failures. At the end, you will agree that these research insitutions will only play a much larger role in shaping government policy and public opinion in the coming years.

An excellently researched book !
The Idea Brokers is a thorough and lucid chronological examination of the evolution and impact of the modern day research centers known as 'think tanks'. These obscure research centers have spawned dramatically over the past century and their significant contributions in shaping the policies of the United States are revealed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Government - National    2. Government consultants    3. History & Theory - General    4. Policy scientists    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Public Policy - General    8. Research institutes    9. United States    10. Central government    11. Political Science / History & Theory    12. Political Science-Government - National    13. Political Science-Public Policy - General    14. Political structure & processes    15. Social Science / General   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Law enforcement    3. Police    4. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    5. Political Science    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Police & security services    10. Political Science / Law Enforcement   

Reviews (2)

I would rate the book once it is received
Failing this class need the book to define words that are not in other dictionary's book was ordered January 20, 2006......still waiting

NEVER GOT MY BOOK BUT PAID
Yeeeaaahhhh...so here I am in college waiting for this book that I ordered about a month ago, and it hasn't come yet, when my credit card number was taken, and I'm falling behind in this class, and I tried to get a hold of amazon but they won't get back to me. Hmm! Great!!! Gonna send it or what???? I'm getting pretty pissed, thanks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Culture    2. General    3. Intercultural communication    4. Interpersonal relations    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Social change    8. Sociology    9. Speech    10. Communication Studies    11. Cultural studies    12. Language Arts & Disciplines / Speech   

Editorial Review

Martin Torgoff came of age just about the same time as the drug boom, a circumstance that informs his overview of America's "Great Stoned Age." Chronicling the irrepressible onslaught of mind-altering substances from the end of World War II through the close of the century, Torgoff (whose previous publishing efforts have centered around rockers Elvis Presley and John Cougar Mellencamp) intersperses the personal with the historical. Laying the groundwork with his own recollections of indulgence beginning in the late 1960s, the author flashes back to the Beat era, which he asserts opened the door for all that followed. Interviews with the obscure and celebrated add color and detail to the chronicle. Here's Herbert Huncke, the unapologetic hustler and heroin addict who lurked on the periphery of '50s bohemian scene and turned up as a character in William Burroughs' pulp memoir Read more

Reviews (4)

So what is the answer?
If you have been there then you know the answer. The question is: Why did we travel there in the first place. Addictions are sneaky. Sometimes we write about them, other times we fight them. Addicted movie stars are just addicts. Hard drugs have no respect for who we are.

California Al
I wanted to be interested in this book, but it became pretty boring ater a while. There is an undercurrent of romanticism that pervades the authors purpose. He claims to be neutral, yet his descriptions and conversations with many of the people slant towards idol worship. Although the author claims to be in recovery, I did not get the sense of how drugs and alcohol can ruin peoples lives. I felt that his narrative was self serving, and glorifying the wonders of drugs and experimentation. There is a price to pay. What was good was hearing his father's take on the whole down side of watching his son grow up loaded. That was interesting. I'm getting weary of the proselytizing about how epochal the 1960's, 70's and 80's were. I didn't like his picture either.

GREAT BOOK FOR UNIVERSITY COURSES!!!
I'm reading this book a bit at a time.Each part is like a little history lesson - full of specific people, places and things that I've heard a lot of stories about - usually from folks who didn't have a great deal of clarity when they were either living through them OR speaking about them.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. History    3. History - U.S.    4. History: American    5. Popular Culture - General    6. United States - 20th Century    7. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    8. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    9. Crime & criminology    10. Drug addiction & substance abuse    11. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    12. Social Science / General    13. USA