The 2020 workplace : how innovative companies attract, develop, and keep tomorrow's employees today

 by Jeanne C. Meister. To those corporate executives and managers who've naysayed the power and transformational capabilities of Web 2.0, this book is for you--if you're open to change. To those readers, consultants, and employees already embracing the world of social media, this collection of case histories, significant statistics, and personalized anecdotes will enable you to further the engagement within (and without) your organizations. Regardless, it is clear that author-scholar Meister and former chief learning officer Willyerd have tackled and tamed the tiger of talent. Be aware, within their recitation of the 10 forces shaping the world to the final 10 initiatives HR can spark to achieve the 2020 workplace, is an ever-growing concern that the formerly pooh-poohed death of talent will be real in a decade. Many of their lessons learned are standard operating procedure in professional literature and daily news, like the shifting demographics of the workplace and the demand for corporate social responsibility. --Booklist (Check Catalog)

Russia after the global economic crisis

 by Anders Aslund. This second book from the Russia Balance Sheet project (the first, The Russia Balance Sheet, by Anders ^DoAslund and Andrew Kuchins, CH, Nov'09, 47-1531) focuses on 12 topics that illuminate why Russia suffered worse than any other G-20 country in the recent global economic/financial crisis. They include "current" economic conditions, corruption, energy (in)efficiency, political factors and the (centralized) state, foreign economic policy, and the need for military and high-tech industry reform. The book concludes that while Russia successfully weathered the "perfect storm" of declining oil prices, capital outflows, and the international fallout from the conflict with Georgia, long-term structural challenges are substantial. Whether Russia will develop a federal system suitable for social development, reduce barriers to innovation and business development (caused by corruption, lack of rule of law, debilitating regulations, reliance on energy rents), and promote wellness among the population remains to be seen, as does improvement in Russian foreign policy and in US-Russia relations. The book is well written and uses very recent data, making it one of the best single sources of information about current economic conditions in Russia. The chapters on high-tech industries and military reform offer information and insights not typically provided. Summing Up: Highly recommended. --Choice (Check catalog)

Why customers really buy : uncovering the emotional triggers that drive sales

 by Linda Goodman. Goodman and Helin, independent business consultants, introduce emotional trigger research, a new approach that uncovers the spontaneous triggers that drive customer sales. They review research in the field, then show how customers emotionally connect with a product or service, and tell how to craft solutions to reach them. Twelve real- world case studies illustrate how emotional trigger research can solve challenges in sales, marketing, and customer relationships. A final section looks at integrating emotional logic into the organization (Check Catalog)

What women want : the global marketplace turns female-friendly

 by Paco Underhill. It may still be a world "owned by men, designed by men, and managed by men," but sales guru Underhill (Why We Buy) argues that companies which fail to recognize women's purchasing power will miss out on the consumer bonanza of the future. In this lively study, the author traces how middle-class women's entrance into the workplace has reshaped everything from demand to design and reveals the future implications for consumer behavior as women of all classes outpace their male counterparts in college attendance. In a friendly, conversational style, Underhill discloses how the business landscape is being transformed to be safer, more accessible, and attuned to women's wants such as houses that are designed with bigger, more open kitchens that can serve as "the unofficial domestic control center of a contemporary home." Underhill's conception of the female consumer is outmoded at times (larger bathrooms in houses are supposed to serve as the "penultimate inner sanctum [for] today's frazzled female"), but he makes a compelling argument that a failure to cater to women consumers with products, services, environments, and customer experiences that meet their expectations is just "bad business." --Publisher's Weekly (Check Catalog)

Islands of profit in a sea of red ink : why 40% of your business is unprofitable, and how to fix it

 by Jonathan L S. Byrnes. The claim made by the author, a Senior Lecturer at MIT, wasn't gleaned from a study; rather, it comes from his own experience as a consultant, and the examples and suggestions in his first book are aimed squarely at managers. Byrnes finds unprofitability almost everywhere-in accounts, order lines, vendors, sales channels, and products-and blames corporations for focusing insufficient resources on the bottom line. Drawing from a monthly column he wrote for a Harvard Business School e-newsletter in the early 2000s, Byrnes offers managers tips on reestablishing a healthy profit, such as creating a profitability database, modeling a customer, creating an action plan, and institutionalizing profit mapping. Thirty-six chapters arranged in four sections (thinking, selling, operating, leading), and dozens of boxed "things to think about" and "lessons for managers" cover profit from the supply chain to the customer. While many of the best-known companies Byrnes references have a whiff of old news about them (Walmart, Dell, GE), case studies of lesser-knowns like Nalco Chemical and SKF Bearings may offer the dedicated reader more to take away. --Publishers Weekly. (Check catalog)

The puzzle of modern economics : science or ideology?

 by Roger Backhouse. Economics: people either praise it or condemn it. Are such judgments fair? Backhouse, noted historian of economics and methodologist, is well positioned to respond to the question. He views it as a puzzle, asking why an analytical method accepted by so many is also the object of such derision. He begins by examining four areas in which science and ideology are confronted: globalization, the creation of new markets, the introduction of a market economy, and the financial world. He then provides a brief history of the development of economics as a mode of analysis that helps explain how market economies work and concludes with a chapter addressing the science versus ideology question. Throughout, Backhouse implements the patient, well-balanced hand of someone familiar with handling intellectual puzzles. The puzzle, in fact, is less problematic than it appears. Economics performs best when the focus is narrow, its tools honed on assessing the benefits of trade or the structuring of well-functioning auctions. However, when wider questions of equity and welfare are considered, economics provides less guidance. Thus, both praise and condemnation are probably misplaced. An excellent resource for anyone deciding whether to trust economic knowledge. --Choice (Check Catalog)

Keep the change : a clueless tipper's quest to become the guru of the gratuity

 by Steve Dublanica. For four years Dublanica authored the blog Waiter Rant, chronicling the frustrations of an anonymous waiter working in an upscale New York restaurant. In 2008 he went public with his best-selling book, Waiter Rant, unmasking annoying foodies, bad tippers, and the bad behavior of restaurant staff. Gratuities were one of the hottest, most-talked-about subjects of that book, so Dublanica ran with it. A short history of the custom reveals that tipping was a particularly European practice that we took to new heights in the U.S. Dublanica shines light on those awkward tipping situations that we all face at one time or another: tip the parking valet when he takes your car, delivers it, or both? How much and in what fashion do you tip your hotel maid? And what about tip creep, those ubiquitous tip jars that are springing up in every coffee shop and fast-food restaurant these days? Dublanica offers tips on how to tip hairstylists, car-wash attendants, auto mechanics, deliverymen, and more, including the joint where tipping rules: the strip club. Valuable information is interspersed with amusing anecdotes and interviews. --Booklist (Check Catalog)

The psychology of personnel selection

 by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnham (both, Univ. College London, UK) provide an up-to-date review of the psychological research on personnel selection. They cover the usefulness, reliability, and validity of various personnel selection tests, such as interviews, biodata, letters of recommendation, graphology, situational judgment tests, and grade point averages. They also analyze the viability of constructs associated with personnel selection, such as intelligence, personality traits, creativity, leadership, and talent. A large chapter on personality traits concludes that conscientiousness, one of the big five personality traits, has positive effects on work. Personality self-reports are subject to faking. Useful bar charts and tables are scattered throughout the text. Though scientific, the text is readable. This volume constitutes a literature review, featuring works from such leading scholarly journals as the Journal of Applied Psychology and Personnel Psychology, which often incorporate meta-analytical statistical techniques that compare the results of many research studies. For readers also wanting more practical planning tools, checklists, work sheets, and job descriptions associated with personnel selection, see David Dubois and William Rothwell's Competency-Based Human Resource Management (CH, Sep'04, 42-0399). Summing Up: Recommended. Scholars, upper-division undergraduate and graduate students, and business practitioners. --Choice (Check Catalog)

Intrinsic motivation at work : what really drives employee engagement

 by Kenneth W. Thomas. According to Thomas (emer., business and public policy, Naval Postgraduate School), intrinsic motivation is the key to employee engagement. He defines engagement as the degree to which people actively self-manage their work. Extrinsic rewards such as salaries, bonuses, commissions, perks, and benefits do not come from the work itself, and these rewards lead to compliance, not to commitment or initiative. In contrast, Thomas relates how intrinsic rewards build on an employee's sense of meaningfulness, perceptions of freedom to make choices, feelings of competence, and sense of progress toward a collaborative climate and achievement of goals. He advises that leaders should learn to manage their own intrinsic rewards and ensure they play a positive role in developing them in others. They should also listen to employees, deemphasize money, and provide credible evidence for the intrinsic rewards. The volume contains quotes from major management researchers, and various charts and tables are scattered throughout the text. Each chapter concludes with questions for reflection. The three-volume Building High-Performance People and Organizations (CH, May'09, 46-5118), edited by Martha Finney, provides greater detail about employee engagement. Thomas's book offers practitioner-style reading with an academic base and scholarly references. --Choice (Check Catalog)

The progressive discipline handbook : smart strategies for coaching employees

 by Margie Mader-Clark and Lisa Guerin. (Product Description from publisher -- This guide to employee discipline explains the concept of progressive discipline and how it works, as well as how to avoid legal trouble. Mader-Clark, a human resources professional, and Guerin, an attorney specializing in employment law, describe how to decide when and if it is needed, evaluating problems, choosing an appropriate response, communicating, handling reactions, and documenting discussions and decisions. Each step of the process is detailed, including coaching and written and verbal warnings, and how to terminate employment if necessary. The CD contains a PowerPoint training presentation, audio of sample exchanges between managers and employees, exercises, and templates and forms. The audience for the book is supervisors, managers, executives, business owners, and human resources professionals primarily in the private sector. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., (Check Catalog)

Boring to bravo : proven presentation techniques to engage, involve and inspire your audience to action

by Kristin J. Arnold
The author's qualifications are important for a book on public speaking (where authorial experience in practicing what is being preached is crucial). Arnold's background as a facilitator and speaker is extensive, capped by her new role as the incoming president of the National Speakers Association. Her focus is on presentations in the workplace, but the fluidly presented and dynamically toned pages soon make it obvious that her techniques and methods can be used by all who are required to give presentations, whether it be in their public or private lives. Her ideas are underscored by the basic premise that a dull, sleep-inducing program is intolerable, not to say detrimental, to the effectiveness of the presentation. How to engage your audience is the key to speaker success, and the author presents a series of increasingly sophisticated techniques to involve the audience, from employing the right tone of voice to breaking the audience out into smaller discussion groups. Hers are not pat responses to the issue of good programming but are well-thought-out, robustly tested, and greatly practical techniques.

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Dark Side of Valuation

by Aswath Damodara

In this work, the world's top expert on valuation brings together today's best practices for accurately valuing young, distressed, and complex businesses. Damodaran has thoroughly revised this book, broadening its perspective to consider all companies that resist easy valuation.

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Return on strategy : how to achieve it!

 by Michael Moesgaard Andersen. Many companies featured as exemplars in the how-to strategy literature end up struggling a few years later. Something in the environment changes, and what worked before no longer works. Following what these exemplars have done, the authors conclude, is a recipe for failure. Andersen, Froholdt, and Poulfelt (all, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark) argue that what is missing is the "X-Factor," something that is not captured in existing strategy books. Their book succeeds in diagnosing issues in strategic management, but it struggles at providing a better solution. Like the classic Blue Ocean Strategy (2005), this volume stresses the importance of innovation as a source of success. It differs by stressing the importance of innovation not just in a firm's products, but also in how it organizes and operates. The authors identify six elements around which firms should consider thinking differently about their strategy, but they provide limited guidance. They struggle in identifying what the X-factor specifically is, but are much better at explaining what it is not. At its best, the book provides an excellent review of the strategy literature and features many fresh company exemplars such as Huawei and Saxo Bank. --Choice (Check Catalog)

Smart Growth: Building an Enduring Business by Managing the Risks of Growth

 by Edward D. Hess. Hess (Darden Graduate School of Business, Univ. of Virginia) challenges the traditional assumptions of the relationship between growth and business success. For Hess, growth is neither an abhorrent nor an imperative goal. Rather, he argues that corporate growth must be consistent with an organization's long-term viability and enhance value to stakeholders. Drawing on his extensive research, Hess provides unique insight into the ways that organizations can skillfully compete while assuring long-term sustainability. Topics include theories of growth, competitive advantage, managed earnings, true value creation, key success factors, real growth versus short-term earnings, and Wall Street expectations. Chapters are enhanced by excellent short case studies of well-known companies, e.g., Best Buy, Coca-Cola, Costco, Defender Direct, Harley-Davidson, Home Depot, JetBlue, McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, Room & Board, Starbucks, Sysco, and Tiffany & Company. Hess's useful seven-step Darden Growth/Innovation Model and his Growth Risks Audit Checklist provide readers with behavioral tools for strategically managing growth consistent with the creation of true sustainable value. The book is oriented toward business leaders, and a familiarity with contemporary business theory and practices would be helpful to a thorough understanding of this work's content. --Booklist (Check Catalog)

Marketing without advertising

 by Michael Phillips and Salli Rasberry. Marketing Without Advertising teaches small business owners practical strategies to: encourage customers to spread the good word about your business, attract new customers and gain their trust, turn dissatisfied customers into loyal supporters, list your products or services widely and inexpensively, plan marketing events that will keep customers involved, encourage the media to comment positively on your business, The 6th edition is completely rewritten with and updated with real world examples and resources. It also discusses the latest marketing trends, such as international Internet marketing and blogs.--Publisher  (Check Catalog)

Tuned in : uncover the extraordinary opportunities that lead to business breakthroughs

 by Craig Stull. This well-reasoned and useful guide argues that successful innovators can develop products that "resonate" by connecting deeply with consumers. This simple idea is delivered in a conversational tone and illustrated in well-structured chapters laying out a six-step "Tuned in Process" and examples that span borders and industries. From anecdotes about countryside hotels that sprouted up to provide respite for Japanese salarymen to Nalgene plastic bottles, which escaped the laboratory to achieve cult status and ultimately mass market consumer appeal, fascinating case studies abound. However, as appealing as the concept and the many examples are, the enthusiastic presentation begins to grate; the repeated invocation of the "Tuned in Process" may tire readers looking for more subtlety and fewer sound bites. Still, there is sufficient fodder for anyone who wants to shake the sleep out of an organization and renew a focus on creating the kind of value that customers are willing to pay for. --Publishers Weekly. (Check Catalog)

The total money makeover : a proven plan for financial fitness

 by Dave Ramsey. Radio talk-show host and bestselling author Ramsay (Financial Peace) is less a financial analyst and more of a preacher, which explains both his popularity and the appeal of this book, which jsut might gain a wide audience. The bedrock of his system is simple: work hard, pay what you owe and stay out of debt. His main commandment is "Pay cash." He first exhorts the reader to take "baby steps," which are designed to build on each other: first, save $1,000 as an emergency fund; then, pay off all debts from smallest to largest; save a larger three-to-six-month emergency fund; finally, start to save for college and pay off your home mortgage. Ramsay understands the difficulty in putting these steps into action, and therefore packs his book with personal testimonials from everyday people who have used his system and have become debt free, with obvious struggles. The key is what Ramsay calls "Gazelle intensity," which is to live a financial life the way a gazelle saves itself from an attacking cheetah-"outmaneuver the enemy and run for your life." While Ramsay provides some helpful charts and graphs so readers can keep track of their efforts to follow his steps, the strength of this book is that it is a straightforward motivational tool. He provides the brutally direct truth about the hard work it takes to become free of debt, and his directness is a great part of the book's charm. --Publishers Weekly. (Check Catalog)

Localist movements in a global economy.

 by David J. Hess, In an era of ecological limits, Hess (science and technology studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) argues, the fixation of globally embedded, publicly traded corporations on short-term profits and shareholder interests undermines environmental sustainability and social justice. The solution is locally owned, independent businesses that recapture the "economic and political sovereignty of place-based communities." Local ownership is more likely than corporate ownership to produce a more sustainable and just society. This argument is explored through a review of numerous local initiatives in retailing (e.g., "buy local" campaigns), urban agriculture (e.g., community gardens), local energy (e.g., wind turbines), public transportation (e.g., the use of biofuels), and media (e.g., alternative newspapers). To give larger relevance to the many examples, Hess situates localism within ideological debates over neoliberalism and considers differing approaches to economic development, ultimately opting for import substitution. He concludes with proposals ranging from community currencies to public ownership of high-carbon-consuming industries. His goal is a "localism" that is globally connected but not subordinate to global institutions. Less a thorough analysis than a broad overview, the book is an informative introduction and a first attempt to theoretically and practically craft an alternative political economy. --Choice (Check Catalog)

How the economy works : confidence crashes and self-fulfilling prophecies

 by Roger E. A. Farmer. Chair of the UCLA economics department, Farmer has two purposes in this book. First, he offers a summary of the many decades' debate between classical and Keynesian economists. Second, he presents his own prescription to resolve the current economic crisis. The historical account of economic theory is especially useful, introducing the reader to key figures in the debates and pointing out strengths and weaknesses in competing points of view. The focus is on mainstream US economists who have struggled to reconcile a classical individualistic model of markets with Keynesian insights about market failures. The summary of policy recommendations is based on Farmer's book, Expectations, Employment and Prices (2010). He uses a market model of job search as well as behavioral economics insights on financial markets to explain why the crisis occurred and what should be done to resolve it. Readers interested in policy recommendations should also consult works by Dean Baker, Joseph Stiglitz, and Richard Posner. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; all levels of undergraduate students; practitioners. --Choice (Check Catalog)

The complete guide to planning your estate in New York : a step-by-step plan to protect your assets, limit your taxes, and ensure your wishes are fulfilled for New York residents

 by Linda C. Ashar. To ensure your assets are protected and final wishes are carried out, there are some common actions that should be taken now. Proper estate planning allows you to plan for yourself and your loved ones without giving up control of your affairs.Your estate plan should also allow for the possibility of your own disability. It should detail what you own and whom you want to leave it to at a time of your choosing and the way you want. Your estate plan should include fully disclosed, controlled costs for you and your loved ones. The last thing you want to worry about is having your estate drained of value through taxes and legal costs.The right plan can protect the value of your estate and spare your loved ones unnecessary hassles and legal conflicts. The Complete Guide to Planning Your Estate in New York will help you glide through this complicated process. --Publisher (Check catalog)

Plan B 4.0 : mobilizing to save civilization

 by Lester Russell Brown. This new title in the "Plan B" series (e.g., Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, CH, Nov'06, 44-1627) outlines how human demands on the environment have undermined Earth's natural capacities to sustain civilization. Arguing that every major environmental trend, from climate change to deforestation, threatens the food supply, Brown (Earth Policy Institute) urges immediate action to avert severe food shortages that could bring down civilization on a global scale. Part 1, "The Challenges," describes the causes of food shortage: loss of cropland, diminishing water supply, use of grain for fuel, and a growing population to feed. Part 2, "The Response," identifies actionable solutions using existing technologies and practices already in use. Highlights include successful climate-stabilizing innovations such as the garment-recycling program of retailer Patagonia and the shift to solar power in the villages of India. Part 3, "Can We Mobilize Fast Enough?" considers whether it is too late to save civilization. The author calls for immediate and rapid change akin to a massive wartime mobilization effort, and offers specific actions that can effect change. There are extensive notes. The book is also freely available as a PDF download from Earth Policy Institute along with extensive supplementary materials. --Choice (Check Catalog)

Marketing accountability : how to measure marketing effectiveness

 by Malcolm McDonald. Marketing experts McDonald and Mouncey (both affiliated with Cranfield Univ. School of Management, UK) articulate what a predictable and controlled marketing program would look like from the perspective of the financial control function. Often marketing activities are terra incognito to financial managers and those seeking to assess and align marketing with corporate strategy and financial accountability. So, in this work the authors attempt to view marketing from the largely different perspective of financial management and corporate strategy, and they present strategies and tools for making marketing activities more accountable. This work also offers a different cultural perspective in that it presents a largely European perspective on the above described divide. The very first sentence of the introduction sets the volume's theme: "This book is a major breakthrough for marketing and a must-read for all marketers who are depressed by the very low regard in which marketing is held...." Marketers and other corporate executives will find this book a useful guide to deciphering the Rosetta stones of their corporate functions and perspectives, but they should take the "depressed" theme with a large dollop of proverbial salt. The book is well organized, written with clarity, and contains nice graphics. --Choice (Check Catalog)

Delivering happiness : a path to profits, passion, and purpose

 by Tony Hsieh. Zappos CEO Hsieh offers a compelling account of his transformation from callow Harvard student entrepreneur through his years as a dot-com wunderkind to the creator of a formidable brand. Interest might flag as Hsieh, fresh off selling his Internet company LinkExchange to Yahoo in 1999 for $265 million, kvetches about lacking fulfillment. But as the tech boom bursts, and Hsieh confronts his dwindling investments, his story comes alive. As the funding for his incubator companies dries up and one of his most promising startups, Zappos.com, a shoe retailer, seems doomed, Hsieh blossoms into a mature businessperson, slashing expenses and presciently making customer service the essence of the company's brand. The story becomes suspenseful as Hsieh recounts the stress of operating in survival mode, liquidating his assets to fund the company in its darkest days and seeking out an 11th-hour loan. By the time Zappos is acquired by Amazon for more than $1.2 billion in 2009, Hsieh and his team had built a unique corporate culture dedicated to employee empowerment and the promise of delivering happiness though satisfied customers and a valued workforce. An uplifting tale of entrepreneurial success, personal growth, and redemption. --Publishers Weekly. (Check catalog)

Home Business Tax Deductions

 by Stephen Fishman. The 6th edition is completely updated with all the latest tax information, eligibility requirements and deductions for 2009 returns. Home Business Tax Deductions also includes new information on tax planning. --Publisher. (Check Catalog)

Pilgrimage to Warren Buffett's Omaha : a hedge fund manager's dispatches from inside the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting

 by Jeff Matthews. They come to Omaha by the tens of thousands, flocking to an annual meeting that has become legendary for investors, businesspeople, and fans of one of the most savvy capitalists on the planet. They come to eat steak, buy furniture at a discount, and bask in the brilliance of value investor extraordinaire, Warren Buffet.


Hedge fund founder, financial blogger, and professional skeptic Jeff Matthews got his own highly-coveted ticket to the Berkshire Hathaway meeting held only for shareholders and their guests--and proceeded to post reports on his blog, offering tempting glimpses into the much-discussed meeting. Now Matthews delivers a full-length account of his adventures at this infamous financial hoedown. --Publisher. (Check Catalog)

The way we're working isn't working : the four forgotten needs that energize great performance

 by Tony Schwartz. Schwartz coauthored the bestseller The Power of Full Engagement (2003) and is the CEO of The Energy Project, bringing effective energy management coaching to organizations such as Google, Ford, Sony, Toyota, and the Los Angeles Police Department. His project and this book are shedding light on what most working folks know but don't like to talk about: that most of us are not fully engaged or satisfied in our work environment; that we are constantly running on an unsustainable schedule that does not allow for enough sleep; and in addition to being physically tired, we are not allowed the kind of emotional, creative, and spiritual outlets that we need to be fulfilled. Schwartz notes that people at work are expected to run continuously, like machines, but unlike machines or computers, people do not function well when forced to work and process information on a continual basis, but need a balance of activities that allow for both expending and recovering energy. He proposes solutions for business leaders to maximize human potential by embracing our need for both effort and renewal. --Booklist (Check Catalog)

The complete guide to writing effective and award winning business proposals : step-by-step instructions

 by Jean Wilson Murray. Murray has some 27 years of experience assisting small business owners, and has published several business start up books for professionals. Her latest text provides practical guidelines for business professionals in all types of organizations, from small single-owner businesses to large multinational firms, on how to write proposals for a number of purposes including obtaining loans from banks, lenders, and investors; selling products to customers; selling professional services to clients; and persuading bosses to approve new projects. The text covers the three key phases of a business proposal--preparation, writing, and presentation--and includes examples of different types and styles of business proposals, such as sales proposals to clients, letters and memos as business proposals, proposals to government entities, internal proposals to top management, and business plans as a special type of business proposal. --Summary. (Check Catalog)

The ascent of money : a financial history of the world

 by Niall Ferguson. This is a work of extraordinary breadth of scholarship and penetrating judgments, and there is nothing that equals it. Ferguson (Harvard Univ.; Oxford Univ., UK) provides expansive coverage of the birth of debt, banking, bankruptcies, and people's repeated indulgence in them. Written in a graceful, flowing style, this book is a judicious blend of elegantly simplified economic theory and history. This reviewer concurs with the author's verdict that the theory of economics and finance is consummate in mathematics but devoid of history and consequently lacks a touch with reality. Anyone who wants to understand financial history traversing through institutional mutation and natural selection will be enlightened by reading this work. Books are written to be read, but Ferguson's book is written to be read, reread, and savored. --Choice (Check Catalog)

The irrational economist : making decisions in a dangerous world

 The past year has been eye-opening for economists, suggesting that free markets are far from self-correcting and that people do not, in fact, behave rationally, a hard blow for a burgeoning field that aspires to hard science. To make up for that apparent reality gap, this compendium from academics Michel-Kerjan and Slovic broadens the purview of economics by drawing on everything from psychology (behavioral economics) to neurology (neuroeconomics) to underwriting (lessons from catastrophe reinsurance). Many contributors' approaches are so nascent they suggest little more than a direction for exploration, but raise compelling questions regarding the human capacity for irrationality: why, for instance, can the fate of one (imaginary) boy in a helium balloon arrest our sympathy while we ignore the violent deaths of thousands in Darfur? Why do we fail to protect ourselves against likely catastrophic events (only 1 out of 5 California households hold earthquake insurance) while investing millions of dollars to combat highly unlikely terrorist attacks? Allowing for such factors when building economic and other models of human behavior should enhance their predictive power; one essayist reveals how the inevitable failure of New Orleans levees might have been foreseen and prevented. This collection is an intriguing look at the limitations of human knowledge regarding its own nature, especially relevant for the current moment of economic turmoil. --Library Journal (Check catalog)

War at the Wall Street journal : inside the struggle to control an American business empire

 by Sarah Ellison. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), published by Dow Jones, had been family owned for over a century when Rupert Murdoch's bid split the Bancrofts. Although the family had not been actively managing Dow Jones, instead relying on advisers, many were convinced that Murdoch would sensationalize the paper. Others worried about the paper's right-wing editorial slant encroaching on its journalistic bent. Ellison, a former reporter for the WSJ, delves into extraordinary detail on the business and personal disputes that peppered the 2007 acquisition. Keeping track of all the players can be tricky, but a Cast of Characters list at the book's beginning helps. Ellison makes clear that a large reason Murdoch wanted to purchase the WSJ was a rivalry with New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. VERDICT This is an ideal read for those heavily interested in media business and tactics, but it might be too detailed for others looking for an overview (point them to the Mar. 8, 2010, New York magazine cover story on Murdoch, "The Raging Septuagenarian"). --Library Journal (Check Catalog)

The performance appraisal handbook

 by Amy DelPo. The Performance Appraisal Handbook is a must-read for every manager, whether they're writing a performance review for the first time or the hundredth. It's packed with the information and tools you need to make their company's appraisal process work better for everyone. Readers will know: • How to write and conduct effective appraisals • How to prevent potential lawsuits stemming from an appraisal • Essential employment law basics. The 2nd edition is completely updated with latest laws and provides sample forms and policies. Also, there is now going to be a CD-ROM which will include the forms, checklists and quizzes from the book. --Publisher (Check Catalog)

Your career game : how game theory can help you achieve your professional goals

 by Nathan Bennett. Bennett (management, Coll. of Management, Georgia Tech.) and Miles (vice chairman, Heidrick & Struggles), coauthors of Riding Shotgun: The Role of the COO, return with a look at how understanding game theory affects careers. The opening chapters focus on viewing your career as "a game where players compete for opportunities" and introduce readers to game theory. Then the authors explain the types of "moves" the reader can make, with specific examples. Central to the book is the chapter on available moves, which includes broad types of moves, and even outlines for topics like "how to win when succeeding saints and sinners," and a discussion of the value and timing of returning for an MBA. Chapters close with at least three topical discussions with current corporate executives and an analysis of those conversations, a nice change from the sometimes abstract chapters. VERDICT Accessible and relevant, this book provides an invigorating new view. Suggested for most libraries, particularly in areas with a mobile workforce. --Library Journal. (Check Catalog)

13 bankers : the Wall Street takeover and the next financial meltdown

 by Simon Johnson. Though this blistering book identifies many causes of the recent financial crisis, from housing policy to minimum capital requirements for banks, the authors lay ultimate blame on a dominant deregulatory ideology and Wall Street's corresponding political influence. Johnson, professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and Kwak, a former consultant for McKinsey, follow American finance's rocky road from the debate between Jefferson and Hamilton over the first Bank of the United States through frequent friction between "Big Finance" and democracy to the Obama administration's responses to the crises. The authors take a highly critical stance toward recent palliative measures, arguing that nationalization of the banks would have been preferable to the bailouts, which have allowed the banks to further consolidate power and resources. Given the swelling size of the six megabanks, the authors make a persuasive case that the financial system cannot be secure until those banks that are "too big to fail" are somehow broken up. This intelligent, nuanced book might be too technical for general-interest readers, but it synthesizes a significant amount of research while advancing a coherent and compelling point of view. --Publishers Weekly. (Check Catalog)

More guerrilla marketing research : asking the right people, the right questions, the right way and effectively using the answers to make more money

 by Robert J. Kaden, et al / This sequel to Kaden's Guerrilla Marketing Research (CH, Jul'06, 43-6639) differs from many other marketing research texts in that basic methods are explained in a nontechnical style that emphasizes their purpose and usefulness rather than the details of operation. Inserting the term "guerilla" in the title implies agility in utilizing unusual or creative approaches in the application of marketing research procedures. Although this publication could benefit those who wish to conduct research on their own, it would be particularly helpful to those who need to understand the basics in order to interact meaningfully with persons or firms conducting the actual research. This volume would also be helpful to managers who require an understanding of marketing research and its place in an organization, for example, to establish budgets or to allocate resources. The authors bring their many years of research experience to their presentation, thus providing practical insights as well as a hands-on guide to marketing research. Examples and tables help to illustrate points made in the text. The final chapter on the future of marketing research is interesting. A bibliography or suggestions for further study would be a useful addition to the book, particularly for those wishing to conduct their own research. --Choice. (Check catalog)

Fake work : why people are working harder than ever but accomplishing less, and how to fix the problem

 by Brent D. Peterson / Written by two successful business consultants with decades of experience, "Fake Work" is a groundbreaking and useful business book that shows employees at every level how to be more productive and efficient in the workplace. --summary. (Check Catalog)

Sales 2.0 : improve business results using innovative sales practices and technology

 by Anneke Seley. Summary: Two Silicon Valley insiders reveal the emerging Sales 2.0 trend and how companies can profit from itSales 2.0 explores the emerging Sales 2.0 phenomenon, how it is characterized, why it is imperative for a company's long-term success, and how anyone can get started with this new approach to generating revenue. Driven by an explosion of online products and changing customer buying preferences, Sales 2.0 is the marriage of Web 2.0 technologies with innovative sales processes. The book shows readers how to redeploy their sales teams for greater bottom-line results and reveals all the differences between Sales 2.0 and traditional selling. Through real world case studies, readers will learn how industry leaders achieved phenomenal results and a competitive advantage. Applicable to sales teams in any industry, Sales 2.0 presents the future of sales today.

Successful direct marketing methods : interactive, database, and customer-based marketing for digital age

 by Bob Stone. Direct marketing has grown beyond its roots in traditional mail order to embrace a host of new technologies, customer relationship-building techniques, and performance measures. Today, businesses and nonprofits of all kinds use direct marketing, which now garners 25% of the U.S. marketer's budget, surpassing newspapers and broadcast TV. Hailed as the “bible” of direct marketing for over 30 years,Successful Direct Marketing Methodshas been completely updated and expanded with all the latest tools and techniques needed for success in today's digital, multi-channel marketplace. Written by world-renowned direct marketing experts Bob Stone and Ron Jacobs, the Eighth Edition ofSuccessful Direct Marketing Methodscontains major revisions to chapters on the creative process, fully covering the development of direct mail advertising, catalogs, and print advertising. The Eighth Edition also explores such new topics as: The expanding objectives of direct marketing in the digital age Techniques for optimizing customer acquisition, up-selling and cross-selling, reducing defections, extending loyalty, and improving retention CRM applications, data mining, call center, campaign management, and sales force automation Customer experience management--connecting customers and brands at every touch point Brand building with direct marketing tools and techniques The growth of direct marketing in Europe, Asia, and Latin America Methods of international marketing--both direct and telemarketing Successful Direct Marketing Methodsoffers professionals a comprehensive roadmap for direct marketing success across today's multiple marketing channels. --Publisher. (Check Catalog)

Inside the mind of the shopper : the science of retailing

 by Herb Sorensen. Sorensen (Global Scientific Director, TNS Shopper Insights) provides a valuable explanation of retailing, revealing many insights about the shopper and beyond. His book is steeped in data and analysis and presented in an accessible manner. Sorensen is an authority on observing and measuring buyer behavior and attitudes. While he has a PhD in biochemistry, his work is not steeped in biological factors or neuroscience as much as an extensive understanding of actual behavior. In this sense, Sorensen thoroughly explores and expands on the what and how of buyer behavior in retail settings, but he does not expose or explore the why with the same depth. This book is a worthy companion to the similarly constructed work of Paco Underhill, e.g., Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping (2000) and Call of the Mall (2004). It is a suitable resource for retail instructors, students, and practitioners, but it does not offer substantial theory from an academic researcher's perspective. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers, upper-division undergraduate students, and practitioners. --Choice. (Check catalog)

The 1% windfall : how successful companies use price to profit and grow

 by Rafi Mohammed.  Pricing consultant Mohammed highlights ideas and tactics that build a foundation to create a pricing strategy for every global company, answering the question, How would a 1% increase in price affect operating profits? We learn about the author's concept of value pricing, which is based on how customers make purchase decisions and involves setting prices that capture the value customers place on the product rather than what it costs to manufacture it. The author tells a compelling story of Southwest Airlines and how it has increased revenue by charging more for an added feature that a certain customer segment values. With a goal of win-win for both a company and its customers, the author shares his success story interviews with managers in a wide variety of industries. He concludes with an action plan for a comprehensive pricing strategy and observes, The financial benefits of a 1% price increase . . . illustrate the power of pricing and its direct link to the bottom line. This is an excellent book. --Booklist (Check Catalog)

Economics for the rest of us : debunking the science that makes life dismal

 by Moshe Adler. Academic Adler sets out to explain the key concepts and theories of mainstream economics and less-known alternatives. The book considers the two cornerstones of economics. One is economic efficiency and its definition, which at one time included distribution of income but now focuses upon free markets, ruling out government intervention to decrease inequality. The second cornerstone, what a worker earns, is not based on the value of an individual's contribution to production, which the author contends is a flawed concept; wages are determined by the power workers possess or do not possess at the bargaining table, and Adler points to CEOs' obscene compensation, which he concludes is awarded because they work for shareholders who are too numerous and lack control. Everyone will not agree with the author, but he makes thoughtful arguments intended for educated readers who are not schooled in economics. --Booklist  (Check catalog)

How to get any job : life launch & relaunch for everyone under 30 (or how to avoid living in your parents' basement

 by Donald Asher. Career guru Donald Asher has updated his job search bible How to Get Any Job: Life Launch and Re-Launch for Everyone Under 30, now available in a new second edition. Target audience: Perfect for every soon-to-be college grad who hasn’t thought beyond finding paid employment in order to get out of his parents’ house. The author, who has made more than $1 million rewriting executive resumes, has some unexpected advice: Stop working on your resume and start by figuring out your passion. He advises college students to quit worrying about just getting a job and instead focus on life planning.
Best advice: Finding the right career is a process of self-discovery. Asher takes the reader through a series of activities, including listing the top five world issues you’re concerned about and every job ever held by everyone in your extended family, to help you discover your values, interests and potential career areas. He advocates going beyond choosing a college major by contemplating what will make you happy.
Biggest surprise: Asher’s advice can seem pushy. He recommends calling leads once a day for 100 days and says the biggest problem for job seekers is not being aggressive enough.  --BookPage Reviews. (Check Catalog)

Good value : reflections on money, morality, and an uncertain world

 by Stephen Green. Beginning with the recent financial crisis, Green, the former CEO of HSBC and an ordained Anglican priest, launches into a deeply reflective examination of globalization, urbanization, and the market economy. Drawing on a diverse range of sources-from the Koran to The Wealth of Nations, T.S. Eliot to Thomas Friedman-and placing market vicissitudes into a broad historical context, he contends that globalization has passed the point of no return and that, despite its flaws and failings, the market economy is the best economic arrangement available. Green pivots to consider the importance of corporate and personal responsibility in an increasingly interdependent world. Though the author does describe the Christian foundations for his own metaphysical and ethical views, he spends more time discussing Goethe's Faust than any Gospel. Green never calls for any particular reform; rather he makes an inspiring and erudite case for individuals to make moral sense of their lives and strive to make a better world despite the inherent imperfections in human nature and the globalized marketplace. --Publishers Weekly. (Check Catalog)

Use your head to get your foot in the door : job search secrets no one else will tell you

 by Harvey Mackay. This collection of job search tips by Mackay (Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive) follows the style of his previous best sellers, complete with humorous examples and "Quickie" one-page stories that illustrate his main points. Don't let the cover or any worry about his sense of humor dissuade you: this is a very useful book. The short chapters with descriptive titles make it easy to navigate, and Mackay offers tips-from changing your attitude to getting hired-both for those currently employed but wishing to position themselves better in their current companies and for those who are out of work. Highly recommended for job seekers and career changers at all experience levels. --Library Journal. (Check Catalog)

Conflict resolution at work for dummies

 by Vivian Scott. A practical workplace guide to handling conflict effectivelyManaging employees and encouraging them to work together toward a common goal is an essential skill that all leaders should possess. Conflict Resolution at Work For Dummies provides the tools and advice you need to restore peace, train your colleagues to get along better with others, prevent conflicts from ever starting, and maintain better productivity while boosting morale. One of the only trade publications that takes the manager's perspective on how to address conflicts, resolve disputes, and restore peace and productivity to the workplace Examines more positive means for resolving conflicts (other than arguing, surrendering, running away, filing a lawsuit, etc.) Helps managers and employees sort through problems and make the workplace a more rewarding place. --Publisher. (Check catalog)

The value of nothing : how to reshape market society and redefine democracy

Raj Patel. Expanding on his analysis and recommendations in Stuffed and Starved, which located the horrifying imbalance in the world's food system in its profit-driven framework, activist and academic Patel critiques "free market culture" at a moment of universal crisis, both economic and environmental. Beginning with a historically grounded account of market society's operative assumptions, "the way capitalism sets the terms of value," Patel takes aim at the notion of "Homo economicus": a vision of human beings as self-interested utility-maximizers integral to market society's dollar-valuation of everything. Through a shrewd and absorbing discussion, Patel exposes the flaws in the "model of the world in which people are... prepared to override their own better judgment in service of their selfish natures" and the nominal separation of the economy and the state, describing the relationship as compromised but also more "plastic" then we are often led to believe. With due attention to the developing world as well as Europe and North America, the author offers examples of the "countermovement" underway and urges us to build on a vision of ourselves far more extensive, generous and hopeful than that confined to market society's Homo economicus. --Publishers Weekly. (Check catalog)

IT Disaster Recovery Planning for Dummies

by Peter Gregory. This work in the popular series contains a common methodology that will help organizations prepare for and recover from different types of disasters. Part I describes the nature of disasters and their effects on business, and takes readers on an end-to-end tour of the entire disaster recovery planning process. Part II contains core components of the disaster recovery plan, with chapters on planning user recovery, facilities protection, system and network recovery, data recovery, and writing the disaster recovery plan. Part III focuses on what happens after the disaster recovery plans are written, with advice on plan testing and descriptions of five common types of tests. A final section (the "Part of Tens") describes 10 disaster recovery planning tools, 11 relevant Web sites, and 10 benefits of disaster recovery planning. Gregory is an information security consultant. (Check Catalog)

The AARP Retirement Survival Guide : how to make smart financial decisions in good times and bad

by Julie Jason. *Starred Review* The AARP brand works extraordinarily well in providing valuable and objective information that readers can put to good use immediately especially on the subjects of health care and finances. Case in point: author (The 401(k) Plan Handbook, 1997, among others) and investment counsel Jason thoroughly and accurately reviews the state of retirement 2009 with full consideration of our current economy. That state includes a solid grounding in the basics (such as the infamous What's your number? discussion), careful outlines of how to approach retirement income products as well as the stock market, and approaches to taxes and to potential advisors. What's unusual is her factual analysis of CDs (featuring a checklist), reverse mortgages, annuities in all shapes and forms (e.g., immediate, equity-indexed, fixed), and guaranteed minimum benefits (in the forms of withdrawal and income benefits). In fact, it's well worth the book's cover price to delve into these somewhat arcane financial instruments if only because the author posits, in plain English, the ups and downs: warnings (e.g., read the prospectus), the workings, the terms to know along with hints, the promises, and a clear statement of what you get for your money. If that isn't clear enough, she creates a fictional case study with numbers and charts, accompanied by a straightforward assessment on ease of understanding, complexity, risks, safety, costs and taxes, and the salesperson's motivation. That approach characterizes all of the chapters, whether on tax-deferred accounts or sales scams to avoid. Resources and research cinch the deal to consider this top of the borrower's pile. --Booklist. (Check Catalog)

Mind over money : overcoming the money disorders that threaten our financial health

by Brad Klontz. The father and son Klontz duo (coauthors of Wired for Wealth) combine psychology, self-help, financial know-how and practical advice in this study of how money affects us emotionally and psychologically. The authors start with "flashpoints," seminal incidents that build "money scripts," the beliefs that "shape the way we think about and interact with money as adults." Revealing exercises prompt readers to identify their personal money scripts and patterned behaviors-often provoking the discovery of money "disorders," and a host of powerful memories and early experiences responsible for extravagance or financial irresponsibility. The process is complex but important; the authors reveal how powerfully emotions and childhood experiences influence our financial health and attitudes toward money. A companion Web site offers a "Financial Health Scale," which provides tangible support for readers looking to get on track and begin implementing the book's lessons. --Publisheer's Weekly (Check catalog)

The new frugality : how to consume less, save more, and live better

by Chris Farrell. America's mad romance with consumer debt is finally on the decline, and Farrell, economics editor for public radio's Marketplace Money, guides readers to a healthier relationship with their finances. Personal finance is more than just money, he points out; it's about deciding how to live a good life, figuring out what you really cherish and value, then putting your money behind those goals and beliefs-and how living environmentally conscious is a natural outgrowth (and happy consequence) of living within your means. He examines the evolution of consumer debt and moves on to offer concrete advice on dealing with risk and debt, putting savings aside for investing, college, retirement, charitable giving-and realizing if and when you "have enough." With an emphasis on changing the way we live to make the most of what we have and promoting moderation, Farrell provides a solid and encouraging high-level overview of individual financial health. --Publiserh's weekly. (Check Catalog)

One year to an organized financial life : from your bills to your bank account, your home to your retirement, the week-by-week guide to achieving fina

by Regina Leeds. Leeds (One Year to an Organized Life), a "professional organizer," and Wild, a financial adviser, apply Leeds's "Zen Organizing" philosophy to replace financial mayhem with method through digestible weekly steps over the course of one year. The authors begin by guiding readers through an emotional audit of their history with money, ridding their work spaces of clutter, and organizing key financial documents. January is "time to take control," and the authors provide step-by-step instructions on preparing for tax season and retooling spending habits while laying the groundwork for protecting long-term assets. Savings and retirement vehicles are discussed at an extremely macro level-but the extensive resource section compensates for the oversight. By devoting the entire month of November to getting ready for end-of-year holidays, the authors drive home how planning ahead can alleviate the pain of unforeseen expenses. This is an excellent start to creating a solid financial foundation and future. --Publiser's Weekly. (Check Catalog)