Painting Lake George: 1774

Book Description

Painting Lake George, 1774-1900 explores in depth the extraordinary paintings that depict the famously beautiful Adirondack resort community.

In the tradition of recent explorations of landscape paintings distinguished by place, this lavishly illustrated book investigates why paintings of the "Queen of American lakes," as it was known in the nineteenth century, became popular: what characteristics separated them from other landscape views, who bought them, and how they were understood by the public. The compendium of accompanying information presents the range of the documented paintings, even paintings lost or destroyed, surviving only in records of their titles and artists. It serves to enhance our understanding of the range of artists and interpretations of the lake.

Book Description

In the 1980s, Andr Kertesz encouraged Dorothy Bohm to switch to color film. Immediately thereafter, torn advertising posters, graffiti, and vernacular murals began to emerge as one of the persistent themes in her work. If their initial appeal for her was their seductive visuality, their deeper significance arguably stems from her history as a Lithuanian refugee who lost touch with most of her family when she immigrated there as a teenager in 1939. A sense of loss is acute and ever-present in her compelling images of witty and melancholic transient worlds.

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Egypt
Dorothy Bohm
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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General | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Sixties London: Photographs
Dorothy Bohm , Amanda Hopkinson , and Ian Jeffrey
Manufacturer: Lund Humphries Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0853316996

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Venice

Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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General | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Walls & Windows: Colour Photography by Dorothy Bohm

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Walls & Windows: Colour Photography by Dorothy Bohm
Mark Haworth-Booth , and Monica Bohm-Duchen
Manufacturer: Lund Humphries Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Color | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0853317186

Book Description

This small, chunky volume presents the witty, wonderful, deadpan and droll insight of the Jewish culture. Chapters on Wisdom, Mitzvahs, Dybbuks, Proverbs, Jokes, Curses, Conventions, Mores (ethics), Love & Marriage, Men & Women, Children & Family provide reflections gleaned from a wealth of ancient, traditional and modern sources. The range of wise observations on the ways of the world, snappy one-liners, stories and expressions captures the spirit of the Jews throughout the centuries. Illustrated with sixty watercolor paintings, The Big Little Book of Jewish Wit & Wisdom will delight and engage even the toughest Jewish mother.

Some examples:

When we hear a baby laugh, it is the loveliest thing that can happen to us.--Sigmund Freud

A child's wisdom is also wisdom.--Yiddish proverb

I don't believe in the afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear.--Woody Allen

May you lose all your teeth but one, and may that one have a cavity.--Anonymous (Yiddish curse)

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You don't have to be Jewish!
Book of Humor
Big Book Of Jewish Humor
Examines Jewish Humor from every Angle
A big anthology which could have been a lot bigger

The Big Book of Jewish Humor
William Novak , and Moshe Waldoks
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Jokes & Riddles | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Rhetoric | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0061138134
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Book Description

Two rival businessmen meet in the Warsaw train station. "Where are you going?" says the first man.

"To Minsk," says the second.

"To Minsk, eh? What a nerve you have! I know you're telling me you're going to Minsk because you want me to think that you're really going to Pinsk. But it so happens that I know you really are going to Minsk. So why are you lying to me?"

Four men are walking in the desert.

The German says, "I'm tired and thirsty. I must have a beer."

The Italian says, "I'm tired and thirsty. I must have wine."

The Mexican says, "I'm tired and thirsty.

I must have tequila."

The Jew says, "I'm tired and thirsty. I must have diabetes."

Customer Reviews:

You don't have to be Jewish!.......2007-05-31

For anyone exposed to American TV and movies (which I have been since the 50's) this is entertainment mother's milk. We've all become a little Jewish (comedically speaking) and I, at least, am decidedly better for it.

Book of Humor.......2007-05-16

I liked the book; I loved the price. It was used but in very good condition.

Big Book Of Jewish Humor.......2007-01-18

Lots for the money. A few of the long stories I couldn't really relate to, being a thorough goy.

Examines Jewish Humor from every Angle.......2007-01-11

This is a very interesting and humorous book. Most of the greats that I am familiar with are represented here so you get a truly all encompassing across the board variety of wit. It takes sources of from the written word, plays, film, stand up comics, word of mouth jokes through various periods of history. It's all here or at least what can be held in one gigantic volume. A must have.

A big anthology which could have been a lot bigger.......2006-11-24

This is a rich anthology with many fine pieces in it. But it does not always contain the best selections , the funniest things of the writer's in question. I suspect part of this is that the writers- anthologizers could not for instance get permission to use a selection from Philip Roth's Portnoy, or Bellow's 'Herzog' or 'Henderson' or 'Seize the Day'. Interestingly they have two selections from Woody Allen but not a single one from Bellow. I also would have liked to have seen a selection from 'The Catcher in the Rye' ( though I understand that Salinger though Halachically Jewish does not self- identify as Jewish). There are so much else that could have been in the anthology including samples of the work of the long list of great American Jewish comedians.
Nonetheless there are many very enjoyable pieces in this very fine anthology.

Average customer rating:

THE BIG BOOK OF JEWISH HUMOR

Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HZRXLC

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The Big Book of Jewish Conspiracies
Joshua Neuman , and David Deutsch
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Religion | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0312334397
Release Date: 2005-03-31

Book Description

The Big Book of Jewish Conspiracies takes as its modest proposal an extreme theme: What if the most damaging charges ever leveled against Jews were true? Spanning the history of Western Civilization, each instance of Jewish badness is explored through the ages, including: Ancient Conspiracies: How with a little trickery, Moses engineered the Ten Plagues thereby bringing about the Exodus Medieval Conspiracies: How Blood Libel began after an unfortunate baking accident resulted in the tastiest Matzoh ever Conspiracies during the Enlightenment: Upset by lack of opportunity for Jews in Bourbon France, entrepreneurs turn culottes into an unaffordable craze, leaving the sans-culottes thirsty for revolution Modern Conspiracies: The invention of psychoanalysis as a way to hypnotize wealthy and powerful Gentiles Post-Modern Conspiracies: Jews invent fast food to turn buff, sports-playing Gentiles into doughy copies of the average Jewish accountants physique And thats not all! ? Why the Jews invented and still run Hollywood ? World War II as a brilliant coup that got Jews accepted into mainstream American society ? How circumcision became a widespread health procedure ? Why the Jews were behind 9/11

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The Big Book Of Jewish Humor
William; Waldoks, Moshe - Edited and Annotated by Novak
Manufacturer: Harper & Row - Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000W60SR2

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Big Book of Jewish Humor
n/a
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WCRLY4

Book Description

Explains the processes of developing, pitching, and submitting stories. The book includes such unique information as a 10-point checklist for a completed script, the eight most common reasons why a script can be rejected, what really happens to a script once it's submitted, how to navigate within the industry, and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Helpful for screenwriters at the start of their career.......2007-05-19

An industry veteran of 25 years, Kathie Fong Yoneda is both a story analyst at Paramount and a script consultant. Her background as a development executive gives her an excellent perspective for helping screenwriters can break down the gates to Hollywood. And this book aims to do just that.

The book is divided into four major parts: working on the script, meetings and pitches, submissions and relationships. It is a very clearly structured guide to the do's and don'ts for writers looking for their breakthrough (hint: the first step is to WRITE A GREAT SCRIPT!).

Yonada includes advice on how to behave towards executives, how to find an agent, the special vocabulary used in Hollywood, how to start a writers group, even how to prepare for a conference. All of this is written in a clear manner, making the book a very useful reference.

The downside to this is that most of this information is out there already. If you read screenwriting magazines and keep up with recent books on the business side of screenwriting, there will be very little here you don't know already. Moreover, the book is very "pro-system" -- there is no criticism of the way things are done, and the advice is very much "mainstream" common knowledge.

I don't think this book has very much to offer veteran writers who are already well acquainted with the vagaries of getting their scripts through the Hollywood maze. For writers who are starting out, however, the book will serve very well to inform them about the basics of getting your script sold to Hollywood.

The Best Book You will Ever Read About selling your sscreenplay.......2006-09-13

After writing my first screenplay, I was stuck on how to sell it. I have ran my own business for over tens years and have a natural flare for marketing - thinking that selling a script would be commonsense WRONG! After reading The Script Selling Game I was blown away by the fantastic real life tips and jargon given. It's motivated me more than ever to see my projects on the silver screen. IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT breaking into Hollywood - You MUST BUY THIS BOOK! It's easy-to-read and only an insider would know how to write it's contents.

Something For Everyone!.......2006-09-05

I loved this little book! Not only was it a quick read, but it was also filled with a variety of solidly helpful information for new and experienced screenwriters. I found the "10 Point Checklist for Completed Scripts", the "Big Eight" and the section on pitching particularly useful and now put the information to use on every project. The book is certainly worth more than you pay for it!!

Duane Kulikowsky.......2005-10-10

The book never forgot who was reading it. If you are at a point in your career where you need guidance in what to do and what's important, this book offers you that. Kathie Yoneda, I feel, just got the balance right between fact, figures and emotion. Kathie actually cares.

If it's Tuesday, it must be Warner Brothers...........2005-08-13

The Script-Selling Game is your "Biedecker's", your "Fodor's", or your "Lonely Planet" guide to the exotic, exciting, sometimes confusing, sometimes dangerous yet ultimately rewarding territory of Hollywood Script Sales.

Kathie Fong Yoneda has not only explored this territory, she has actually carved out, tamed, and settled a lot of it in her years as a studio executive. Her expertise in the special jargon, the specific tools, and the appropriate approaches will help you craft an effective presentation of your unique creative project, be it a feature film, a TV series, or any other media production.

Read Kathie's book. Smile, frown, gasp.... Yes, Hollywood can be just as she says. It's a closed world unless you have an interpreter and a guidebook. Thank goodness hers is accessible, informative, specific, and comforting. Well then, follow her guidelines, learn to speak the language, do the currency exchange from creativity-to-commerciality, and watch the barriers go down and the doors open up for you.

Average customer rating:

This is the book to put you in Hollywood!!

Selling Scripts to Hollywood
Katherine Herbert
Manufacturer: Allworth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1581150253

Book Description

This upbeat resource book is full of encouraging advice to budding screenwriters on just how to prepare, submit, and sell their movie scripts. From structuring the plot and formatting the script to finding an agent and negotiating the best deal, this insider's information covers all the bases. Tips are offered for developing characters and storylines; using scriptwriting computer programs; sending letters to prospective agents; working with directors; getting along in the business; tapping into Web sites and workshops; and other sources of support for writers.

Customer Reviews:

This is the book to put you in Hollywood!!.......1999-07-29

Wow! Herbert's style is informative and easy to read. The book reads like you're talking to your favorite aunt! The resources are WONDERFUL, and she includes a lot of great tips on developing a story the guys in Hollywood will accept. She does all of the leg work--all you have to do is write the script.

Screenwriting for a Global Market: Selling Your Scripts from Hollywood to Hong Kong

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Screenwriting for a Global Market: Selling Your Scripts from Hollywood to Hong Kong
Andrew Horton
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Academic & Commercial | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0520240219

Book Description

Cinema is a truly global phenomenon and screenwriters who limit their ambitions to Hollywood can unnecessarily limit their careers. This book, loaded with information on every page, provides the practical know-how for breaking into the global marketplace. It is the first book to offer specific advice on writing for screens large and small, around the world from Hollywood to New Zealand, from Europe to Russia, and for alternative American markets including Native American, regional, and experimental.
The book provides valuable insider information, such as
* Twenty-five percent of German television is written by Hollywood writers. Screenwriters just need to know how to reach that market.
* Many countries, including those in the European Union, have script development money available--to both foreign and local talent--from government-sponsored film funds.
* The Web's influence on the film industry has been profound, and here you can find out how to network through the Web. The book also lists the key Web addresses for writers.
Andrew Horton, author of two acclaimed books on screenwriting, includes personal essays by accomplished screenwriters from around the world and offers insightful case studies of several films and television scripts, among them My Big Fat Greek Wedding; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; and The Sopranos. Full of endless enthusiasm for great films and great scripts, this book will be an essential resource for both aspiring writers and accomplished writers hoping to expand their horizons, improve their skills, and increase their chances for success.

Secrets of selling your script to Hollywood!: A marketing manual for writers of movies and television

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Secrets of selling your script to Hollywood!: A marketing manual for writers of movies and television
Neill D Hicks
Manufacturer: WoWibbley Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006QDPDM

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Annals of Opera, 1597-1940 (2 Vols in 1)
Alfred Loewenberg
Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield Pub Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Voice | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0874718511

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Annals of Opera, 1597-1940

Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield (Non NBN)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0874710073

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Annals of opera, 1597-1940,: Compiled from the original sources;
Alfred Loewenberg
Manufacturer: Societas Bibliographica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007IUEMY

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Good things come in small packages

Good Positions - Decent Organizing

Learn to use the Sword in Chess

Instructive and fun to read

A chess book that's instructive and Enjoyable to read

Looking for Trouble: Recognizing and Meeting Threats in Chess
Dan Heisman
Manufacturer: Russell Enterprises, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chess | Board Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Everyone's 2nd Chessbook*

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Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1

ASIN: 1888690186

Book Description

This book is written to address an underemphasized area of chess training and study, the identification of and reaction to--threats. For beginner and intermediate-level players, the study of tactics is paramount. Almost all tactics books take the approach of providing a position where there is a forced win, checkmate or draw. However, Looking for Trouble takes a different tack. This book helps players to recognize threats by providing over 200 problems in which players can focus on identifying and meeting threats ranging from extremely easy to fiendishly difficult. The identification of difficult threats û and how to meet them û is discussed in a manner that accommodates players of all levels.

Customer Reviews:

Good things come in small packages.......2005-05-24

I almost passed this one up but I'm sure glad I didn't. As a player rated in the 1600 - 1800 range, I'm often frustrated to see a "crushing" win swept away in one careless move. I get so wrapped up in my own plans that I often ignore those of my opponent. Ugh! Although it is easy to say "always try to understand what your opponent's move was threatening before making your move", I tend to play fast and impatiently (even when not in any time trouble). Heisman's book is great because it forces you to solve the problems in 2 stages - identify the threat, then figure out the remedy.

By working on these, I found that I started to automatically look more carefully at my opponent's moves. Heisman's examples also include some very common themes so I suspect "imprinting" these "tactical images" into my brain will also do me good. Great stuff!

By the way, as an earlier reviewer pointed out, I found that even some of the so-called easy challenges were sometimes difficult.

Good Positions - Decent Organizing.......2005-03-21

Overall I liked this book but found it difficult at certain points. It is not a good book for a lower rated player like the advertizing makes it seem. Not all the patterns found in this book are logically placed. But there are some good positions for understanding.

Learn to use the Sword in Chess.......2004-08-01

I did not think I could ever find a book to learn what chess is about, well at least one of the most important things in the game. Yes, chess is about making threats and stop them, and this book teaches how to do that in a very instructive way. If we ever want to become strong chess players, it is of essential nature learning to see our opponent's threats and meet them appropriately.

What you will find in this book is a very clear explanation about threats and how we can deal with them, and then a lot of excercises to train your mind and eye to find the threats on the chess board. This is the firs book I know that deviates from the traditional way of "White to play and win".

Stop loosing games because you did not see your opponent's threat, get this book and become stronger. I really liked it.

Instructive and fun to read.......2003-12-29

"Looking for Trouble" is a collection of 200+ chess positions that are mostly tactical in nature. What separates this book from other similar works are the extensive and helpful verbal annotations, and the fact that it's not "White to move and win", but instead: "Avoid the threat and find the best move". Working through this book feels more like playing a real game than playing through a normal collection of tactical problems, and is surprisingly fun.

One of the main benefits of this book is that it helps you to establish a better thinking process. After you worked through all the puzzles, your first thought while playing a game will be "What is his threat?", which is exactly how it should be.

The positions themselves are also very instructive: Taken from real games, sorted into openings, middle game and endgame sections and assigned an estimated difficulty (* to *****).

My only criticism is that the author recommends this book to players rated as low as 1200. I'm rated 1700 and found most of these puzzles to be quite challenging. I think a 1200 player would be overwhelmed by the difficulty of most positions, though he will likely still benefit from learning how to think better.

A chess book that's instructive and Enjoyable to read.......2003-12-09

I'll start off by stating that I am a novice-intermediate level player who has several chess books and a training CD to boot!. (Fred Reinfeld, Complete Chess player, Chess for Dummies, Burgess Mammoth book of chess). With the exception of Chess for Dummies, they all look nice on my shelf. Everytime I pick up Burgess or Reinfeld I lose interest quickly. This book by Heisman has me hooked ! To me, it's much more useful than "Find mate in 2 " problems. It teaches you to think about what your oppenent is up to (threat) and how to (and not to ) respond. In essence, play CHESS. My copy is already worn and battered up a bit..like all my other favorite paperbacks.

Book Description

The Toyota Way Fieldbook is a companion to the international bestseller The Toyota Way. The Toyota Way Fieldbook builds on the philosophical aspects of Toyota's operating systems by detailing the concepts and providing practical examples for application that leaders need to bring Toyota's success-proven practices to life in any organization. The Toyota Way Fieldbook will help other companies learn from Toyota and develop systems that fit their unique cultures.

The book begins with a review of the principles of the Toyota Way through the 4Ps model-Philosophy, Processes, People and Partners, and Problem Solving. Readers looking to learn from Toyota's lean systems will be provided with the inside knowledge they need to

Define the companies purpose and develop a long-term philosophy
Create value streams with connected flow, standardized work, and level production
Build a culture to stop and fix problems
Develop leaders who promote and support the system
Find and develop exceptional people and partners
Learn the meaning of true root cause problem solving
Lead the change process and transform the total enterprise

The depth of detail provided draws on the authors combined experience of coaching and supporting companies in lean transformation. Toyota experts at the Georgetown, Kentucky plant, formally trained David Meier in TPS. Combined with Jeff Liker's extensive study of Toyota and his insightful knowledge the authors have developed unique models and ideas to explain the true philosophies and principles of the Toyota Production System.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Lean Mfg Reference Book.......2007-09-28

For those interested in learning about a Lean environment, this is probably one of the best references.

Implementing Lean Principles.......2007-07-19

This is an excellent on how to implement lean in a manufacturing facility. The plant leadership at our site has used this book to start a bookclub, reading one chapter a week and reviewing it the next. I wish we would have read this book sooner. It would have help to reduce a lot of frustrations. The book also covers Toyota's leadership structure and suggests how to go about implementing lean on the shopfloor if you are just beginning the journey.

Practical and useful "how to" companion to the Toytota Way.......2007-07-16

Book description: what's the key message?

While Jeffrey Liker's book The Toyota Way was an examination of the 14 Principles of the Toyota Way, it was not an explicit "how to" guide at a tactical level. This follow up book is intended as the more practical guide to Becoming Lean (to borrow the title of an earlier book written by Liker). The Fieldbook is organized in the framework of Toyota's 4 P's:

* Philosophy
* Process
* People and Partners
* Problem Solving

The book starts first with "philosophy," not lean tools. It develops an important relationship between the two. The book, in its entirety, emphasizes that copying Toyota tools, regardless of how thoroughly, is not enough to become lean. Early chapters talk about defining your company's purpose and philosophy, providing many examples of Toyota's purpose and unique view of their place in society and the world. From there, the Fieldbook guides you through a reasonable progression of lean topics and methods to work with in your own company. While there is no simple linear progression through a lean transformation, the authors address the challenge well in structuring the flow of the book. Typical "early" stages of lean learning and implementation are covered first, including learning how to identify waste, establishing process stability, and developing flow. The book spends more time on organizational culture and management methods, as opposed to tools. The book remains practical and actionable, rather than theoretical.

A strong central portion of the book focuses on developing leaders, how to lead in a lean environment, and how to develop "exceptional" employees. One particular highlight are the detailed examples, including a breakdown of the roles of Group Leaders, Team Leaders, and Team Members in a lean setting, not covered in most lean books.

The book recognizes that companies are not Toyota as a starting point. Rather, they are trying to become a Toyota-like lean organization. There is a chapter on respecting suppliers and managing them as Toyota does. The last sections of the book cover Toyota problem solving and implementation strategies, including a discussion of the pros and cons of different common lean transformation or implementation approaches, including kaizen events and the development of a "Company Production System."

How does it contribute to the lean knowledge base?

This book is a unique compilation of Toyota Production System methods, concepts, and philosophies. There are many adaptable examples of Toyota tools and methods, including Standard Work Combination tables, Cross Training matrices, 5 Why's problem solving analysis, and A3 reports. There are many new case study examples in the book that will be helpful, even to an experienced lean practitioner.

The book is also unique in that it is co-authored by a former Toyota team leader, an American, as opposed to reading an older book by Toyota executive Taiichi Ohno or consultant Shigeo Shingo.

What are the highlights? What works?

The book is very readable and easy to understand. Its layout and format borrows many of the good practices of the "For Dummies" series. You might consider this to be a "Toyota Production System For Dummies" book. There are many callouts with icons indicating "Tips" and "Traps" to look out for in your own lean implementation, to help avoid common lean implementation mistakes or failure modes.

This is very helpful, as the authors realize that it can be difficult work implementing lean. They never talk down to you or make you feel bad that you might struggle with the Toyota Way in your own environment, because you are not Toyota.

Furthermore, co-author David Meier was a group leader at Toyota. Many perspectives on Toyota come from the process or industrial engineering perspective, but the perspective of front-line supervisor is of significant value and often overlooked.

What are the weaknesses? What's missing?

While this is clearly a field book in its application focus, it is less clear how it is connected to companion book, The Toyota Way. The 14 principles of that book are mentioned briefly but are not integrated into this book. The Fieldbook has value as a standalone volume, but those looking for a specific companion to The Toyota Way will be disappointed.

You might be surprised to not find much information about Kanban, a process made famous by Toyota. Although the concept of pull is covered, there is no chapter on Kanban or examples of calculations or Kanban cards. Thankfully, there are many references and other books available on this topic.

How should I read this to get the most out of it?

The book can be read straight through. For an experienced lean practitioner, it can easily be used as a reference book. Topics are well organized and tools are easy to find with a well-documented index. For example, if you want an example of an A3 Report, you will find many pages of explanation about the tool and how to use you. You will also find fully completed examples of the tool. This is extremely helpful and adds to the book's value as a practical reference.

Great addition to Toyota Way but not as good.......2007-05-27

The Toyota Way Fieldbook is excellent and it's a great addition to the Toyota Way. It's hard to write a book as good as the Toyota Way, this book is good, but not as good as Toyota Way.

When I started reading the fieldbook, I was highly dissapointed. The first 200 pages basically just explained the basic lean tools. It's good if you do not know them, but I felt that the book didn't add anything to the existing lean literature. I expected more from Jeff Liker, especially after the excellent Toyota Way.

Part IV of the book starts around page 200 and talks about developing people. Here, for me, the book took a turn and became better the more I continued. (I also immediately ordered the new Toyota Talent book to hope to get more information on this side of Toyota). The organizational structures and training descriptions was very concrete, as I would expect in a fieldbook. Then Part V started around page 300 and it was... excellent. It's about find root causes and continuous learning. Just chapter 14 is worth the whole book. The description of the "therefore" method and it's relationship to the 5why's is very important. (this section talks about how 5why is a method for finding the root cause, but it's just as important to abstract the problem in "the true problem" so that you got more flexibility in ways of solving it).

The last part is about managing the change. The stories are all very nice and concrete. The advise is useful.

I really like this book, especially chapter 14! It gave me, again, new insights in Toyota's way of working and especially it's culture. The stories made it concrete and they were fun to read. Recommended, after you finished the Toyota Way.

Ideal companion for other Lean texts.......2007-04-29

I got this book from a VP of continuous improvement along with a few others that they were using to implement Lean. It is important to note that Lean is the Toyota system/version of JIT, and these terms should not be used interchangeably (i.e. JIT is a subset of Lean). After reading it and taking extensive notes, here's a summary review.

Pro:
-Emphasizes Leader Standard Work as the critical element that all else hinges on and in my view is perhaps the most important lesson from this book
-Describes objectives and Toyota perspective of various tools, going beyond describing tool use that help prevent common misuses of tools, simple as they may be... focuses a great deal of energy on methodology or tool "intent" rather than "results"
-In addition to giving Toyota specific thinking and perspective, reinforces that even an aggressive multiple-year teaching/learning only provides a basic and crude level of Lean skill despite how easy the concepts are... the complexities and difficulties are really rooted in how different the methodology and thought process is
-Specifically calls out "Tips" and "Traps" behind various Lean methods
-Excellent chapter summaries

Con:
-A tempting shortcut for those who have too much work and too little time, wish to learn "the Lean toolkit," or those looking for ready-made recipes. I think that this sort of thinking is a trap which really neglects the greater opportunities Lean will present...

Bottom Line: A must have for the Lean enthusiast, however, I suggest first "The Toyota Way" and then "Creating a Lean Culture" as prerequisite readings. Also, any of the Womack series of texts are also excellent and worth reading as well to add a full and deep understanding of the Lean basics.

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