Eyewitness: Perspective

Book Description

Discover the theory and techniques of perspective, from the Renaissance to Pop Art.

Since the principles of perspective were first shown in Renaissance Italy, the depiction of depth and space has held a central place in Western art. Artists have endeavored to represent three-dimensional images that are as close as possible to what we actually see. Not until the 20th century were these principles rejected in favor of a distorted viewpoint. See the impossible triangle and other perspective puzzles, and famous masterpieces accompanied by explanatory diagrams. Learn how abstract art conveys depth, how the invention of oil paints made it possible to capture atmospheric effects. Discover what archery has to do with art theory, and what a camera obscura is.

Customer Reviews:

Visual delight - but not a workbook.......2005-04-08

Like all of DK's Eyewitness Series books, this guide to understanding perspective is richly illustrated, and its subject matter is presented clearly, with fascinating coverage from an historical perspective (no pun intended). It covers aspects of perspective few other books on the subject delve into, such as curvilinear and aerial perspective and anamorphosis.

The book does not, however, include methods of implementing perspective in one's own drawings. For that, you need Norling's _Perspective Made Easy_ or Metzger's _Persective Without Pain_.

A visual treat.......2001-02-11

Eyewitness Art: Perspective is a history of the development of perspective in art. It's profusely illustrated with drawings, with photographs of instruments that artists used to cope with perspective and also with photographs of famous paintings from the Italian Renaissance, the Northern European Renaissance and later.

Book Description

This volume presents contributions from leading researchers working on both theoretical and applied issues in eyewitness memory, both everyday and traumatic. For cognitive scientists, developmentalists, forensic researchers, and clinical practitioners.

Average customer rating:
Eyewitness Testimony: Psychological Perspectives

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Civil Procedure | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books
Forensic Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0521255643

Book Description

Topics examined are eyewitness memory as a function of age, the adequacy of intuition in judging eyewitness memory, and the relationship between confidence and accuracy. Also includes chapters on hypnosis, lie detection, and legal aspects of the dangers inherent in eyewitness identification testimony.

Average customer rating:

Informative, witty commentaries by a great journalist.
Informative, witty commentaries by a great journalist.

Eyewitness: A California Perspective
Bill Press
Manufacturer: Redwood Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Customer Reviews:

Informative, witty commentaries by a great journalist........1998-11-08

Bill Press offers a large number of commentaries reflecting a wide ranging number of issues. His work is thoughtful, informative, and enjoyable.

Press offers his opinion concerning Iran-Contra, President Reagan, the ERA, the minimum wage, the environment, gun control, and much more! He addresses some of the most controversial issues, and does not hesitate to make his message loud and clear.

Anyone interested in current events should read the work of this fine American commentator, and former California Democratic Party chairman.

Informative, witty commentaries by a great journalist........1998-11-08

Bill Press offers a large number of commentaries reflecting a wide ranging number of issues. His work is thoughtful, informative, and enjoyable.

Average customer rating:

"Chiiiii?"... eee! so adorable.

A great Magna

KAWAII !

Well

fully loaded!

Chobits Vol. 1 (Chobittsu) (in Japanese)
CLAMP
Manufacturer: Kodansha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
Similar Items:

Chobits, Volume 2

Chobits, Volume 3

Chobits, Volume 4

Love Hina, Volume 1

Fruits Basket, Volume 1

ASIN: 4063343839

Book Description

Hideki is your typical 20-year-old slacker. He didn`t get into college straight out of high school, so he`s working a dead-end job, can`t find a girlfriend, and is perpetually broke. If only he had a persocon - a humanoid robot - to keep him company, perhaps things wouldn`t be so bad. The problem with persocons is they are incredibly expensive, and it would take Hideki a lifetime to afford one. Then, one day Hideki finds a particularly cute female persocon dumped in a pile of trash, so he decides to take her home. As they say, one man`s trash is another man`s treasure...

Customer Reviews:

"Chiiiii?"... eee! so adorable........2007-09-17

I don't want to spoil the story for you, like so many have already for others (that's what wikipedia.org is for), so to make things short but informative:

Genre: SCI-FI, ROMANCE, COMEDY, ECCHI and MECHA. If you're not familiar with the term, ecchi, here it goes: Applying it to "Chobits", it most likely refers to the naughty humor, and sexual intercourse that is, LITERARY-speaking, a major theme in this story). And if you're not familiar with the term, mecha, it's really very simple: robots (but the robots here are not purposed for action scenes, this is very much a normal society you're reading about; nothing like "Star Wars" or "Neon Genesis Evangelion"... Chobits is set in the future, but that "future" is very much like present-day Tokyo, ya'know?

And I can't stress this enough: Please, read the MANGA, rather than watch the ANIME. The MANGA is MUCH better than the Anime. If you ever get the chance to do both, as I have, you'll understand my meaning. If you've already watched the Anime, read the Manga. You will most definitely NOT regret it.

The Anime version altered the original story a bit.

I HIGHLY recommend Chobits... highly, like, right-up-there-with-the-universe highly. I've read it over and over; It doesn't cease to affect me in the way it did the first time.

One of my favorites. Long story short: This kid that worked in a dvd/cd store told me to get the Chobits Manga volumes. I did as he suggested. I finished reading Chobits. Then climbed into my car, went back to the dvd/cd store, asked for the guy and thanked him. I'm serious; It's that good.

A great Magna.......2007-08-30

Chobits is a great sory, Hideki Motosuwa is 19 and like everyone else his age he's trying to got into collige but he's got a dead end job and hes a bit lazy like most teens. now a days everyone has a persacon, amazeing computers that look like real girls (or boys) and of corse Hideki is to poor to afford one but he hits the jackpot when he finds a lovely persacon in the trash! but theres something diffrent about Chi!
This comic is enchanting and Chi is so cute as she learns and explores the world however i send a warning to parents, this is an OLDER TEEN magna meaning 18 and up (it says this on the back of the book) there is some nudeaty and sexuial content so please don't buy this for a young kid. You see in japan everyone reads comics from the buisness man to the 1st grader so just becouse its a comic doesent mean it's all for kids the same goes for any Anime so cheak the rateings folks :)
I love chobits its a great magna and anime so cheak it out!

KAWAII !.......2007-04-04

i watched the anime on youtube, but i did not read the book, but i am writing the review anyway. its about a [...] japenese boy named hideki who is trying to get in college by cram school. he is also envious that everyone else in tokyo has a beautiful computer chip dollbot thats accuratley made called a persocom, but he can't afford one. but after he gone grocery shopping, he found one in the alley. she was naked :( but wrapped in toilet paper :/. at first hideki thought she is a human girl that was raped and strangled to death. but when he saw her ears, he knew she is just a persicom. she looked like [...] blonde beauty. he took her home and turned her on. but all she could say is "chi" so hideki named her just that. i would like to go on, but i should not. i don't want to spoil it!
TTFN
corrie

Well.......2007-01-20

well i rated this book a 3 because it haas alot of missing work.Well thats how it feels, but over all its great. Irecomend the 2nd that i would rate a five :)

fully loaded!.......2006-07-11

this book is ace!

its simple really, a guy finds a persocom, takes her home, starts her up (quite literally!!!) and descovers shes more than what shes made out to be. a robot with no past... and she could possably be an AI.
chi, the persocom, is the most adorable, innocent little thing ever!!! the manga is fantastic and the story line rocks, and to top it all off, the adult humor is funny too!

i'd recomend it 100%. READ IT!

Chobits (TV Anime) Vol. 1 (Chobittsu (TV Anime)) (in Japanese)

Average customer rating:

Chobits (TV Anime) Vol. 1 (Chobittsu (TV Anime)) (in Japanese)
CLAMP
Manufacturer: Kodansha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 4063101541

Chobits vol. 1: en espanol (Chobits (Spanish))

Average customer rating:

Chobits vol. 1: en espanol (Chobits (Spanish))
CLAMP
Manufacturer: Public Square Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Shojo (Girls) | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books

General | Revistas Cómicas y Novelas Gráficas | Libros en español | Formats | Books

Book Description

Hideki's an average guy in the 22nd century--he just wants a good job, a nice car and a sexy robot girlfriend. But until he gets a job, he'll never be able to afford his own 'Persocom' companion. Then the hapless, technophobic Hideki finds Chi on a scrap heap. Chi is an adorable but apparently dim-witted robot. She can't do word processing, she can't connect to the net, and she's incapable of interfacing with other persocoms-but she is capable of getting Hideki into all kinds of trouble! It's 'boy-meets-girl' for the cyber age.

Average customer rating:

Chobits, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
ASIN: 1417651199

Amazon.com

As witty as Michael Lewis, more sarcastic than Bobos in Paradise, bloodthirsty pop culture critic Joe Queenan talks trash about his generation and its "lifestyle über alles philosophy" in his career-capstone screed, Balsamic Dreams. And what distinguishes the baby boomers, in Queenan's acerbic opinion? "They don't ever actually want anything. They just want a huge number of choices.... They have to videotape everything. They have bottomless faith in self-help, though it's obviously not working.... They're stupefyingly self-centered, unbelievably rude, obnoxious beyond belief, and they're everywhere." Queenan bemoans "the frantic attempt by roly-poly middle-aged Republicans [also known as "the Man in the Gray Flannel Track Suit"] to evince an aura of coolness because they possess one (1) Smashing Pumpkins record and two (2) suede jackets with virtually imperceptible leopard spots." He demolishes Paul Allen's Experience Music Project with sentences like buzz bombs. James Ellroy says that Queenan is "half-Calvinist, half-nihilist," and this book proves it. Perhaps most important, Queenan reveals that "middle-aged men who wear baseball caps turned backwards do not look like Puff Daddy. They look like De Niro's doomed moron catcher in Bang the Drum Slowly." --Tim Appelo

Book Description

How did a generation that started out at Woodstock and Monterey end up at Crate Barrel? How did a generation that promised to "teach its children well" end up with a progeny so evil they could give that kid from The Omen a run for his money? And just what is so fascinating about porcini mushrooms? From the bestselling author of Red Lobster, White Trash and the Blue Lagoon comes a vintage Queenan tirade chronicling the evolution of his own Baby Boomer Generation. In this hilarious work of social commentary, professional iconoclast Queenan shows how a generation with so much promise lost its way by confusing pop culture with culture and mistaking lifestyle for life.AUTHORBIO: The author of six previous books, including Red Lobster, White Trash and the Blue Lagoon, JOE QUEENAN is a contributing editor at GQ and writes a column, "Good Fences," for The New York Times. He lives in Tarrytown, New York

Customer Reviews:

Mr. Queenan, look in the Mirror.......2007-02-24

This book is mildly amusing for a few seconds. It is built on the delusion that all of us "baby boomers" (everyone born from 1948 to about 1962?) are rich, phony former hippies turned millionaires. Every cultural trend of the last 25 or 30 years is fair game for his derision. Carole King, gourmet ingredients, soccer moms, cell-phone-using executives... you name it. He writes of the 'suburban oaf' with the jet-engine leaf-blower. And the 'crass simpleton' with the car alarm. All of these are the fault of the tasteless, hypocritical, self-indulgent BB generation.

Talk about firing at a large and easy target!

Queenan's sarcasm is amusing in small amounts (as bathroom reading), but quickly becomes irritating when viewed semi-seriously (as breakfast reading). He refers to BB's as 'middle aged Republicans. Excuse me? I must be an anomaly. I don't know of a single Republican in my age group. I'm intelligent and well-read, but I don't take international vacations and I don't care about balsamic vinegar. I live in a 100-year old house with one bathroom.

This book actually made me long for a more serious analysis of what happened to 60's idealism. How could Reagan get into office? Why has the gap between rich and poor widened? When did Greed become good?

But Queenan isn't the one to discuss these matters. Like the yuppies he derides, his generalizations are glitzy and without substance. In fact I believe the author is basically writing about himself. He admits he lives in an "elegant, well-appointed house overlooking the Hudson River." Well, no one but a millionaire could afford a property like that! He probably frequents more upscale restaurants in a month than I've visited in my whole life. I've never heard of half the gourmet foods and celebrity names he drops, and I care even less.

There's a chuckle or two in this book, but mostly it's funny like watching a pathetic class clown get laughs by poking fun at himself.

an amusing and pointless rant.......2005-08-10

This guy thinks he is funny and hip.
He is really just dated and irrelevant.

Not enough irony to disqualify the hypocrisy.......2005-04-25

A clever rant articulating the writer's wit and skill with the language, rather than an intelligent criticism. I think the author has confused the dregs of society with those who were radical in the sixties; thinking they are one in the same, rather than different people entirely. Apparently the Baby Boomer generation had best just accept that they're old, and settle down to die, rather than living life as if they still enjoyed it, because it annoys the author.

This is not a researched criticism, just a long rant that was very hard to read past page 100 as it got more mean spirited and basically expose the author as rather spoiled, self-centered, and thoroughly ignorant of history. I tried my hardest to find a Twain-like irony that would reveal the author was much more clever than I thought. Alas, I failed.

Humorous and Smug.......2005-04-02

This is a cleverly written little book that will make anyone from 40-65 laugh at themselves. Essentially it is about the fatuous nature of the "Baby Boom" generation. Anyone who can harpoon Elton John, Phil Collins and Billy Joel in one paragraph is ok by me.

The book however, promotes a methodology that I think is useless. Specifically, culture in terms of generations provides us with no useful information and nothing could possibly be changed by that effort. It would be more accurate for Queenan to describe the decayed culture (with some exceptions I agree) in terms the times. What we have today is the culmination of many "Generations" work. Thinking in terms of approximated age groupings really is pointless as (you already know this) there is always an overlap.

I found myself often laughing, wincing at my own self indulgence but not taking much of this to heart

No thanks.......2005-02-14

Mr. Queenan spends his time making the case that baby boomers are superficial and self-important (with the notable exception of himself). He employs an abrasive style that tends to substitute insults in place of wit or insight. Mr. Queenan also seems to have a penchant for dumping on other writers who are more talented than he is; talk about a full-time job.

Balsamic Dreams: A Short but Self-Important History of the Baby Boomer Generation

Average customer rating:

Balsamic Dreams: A Short but Self-Important History of the Baby Boomer Generation
Joe Queenan
Manufacturer: Picador USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NY66RO

Book Description

Writer, producer, and director Wes Craven has successfully tapped into the horror vein for over thirty years, serving up scary, funny, hip thrillers that demand a second look. His films have been both critical and commercial successes, most notably Nightmare on Elm Street, which spawned a series of sequels and made Craven (and his creation, Freddy Kruger) an international sensation. But Craven's films have also become classics in a field that he continues to reinvent--the horror genre is still reeling from the impact of his most recent project, the brilliant Scream series.

With Screams and Nightmares, author Brian J. Robb covers Craven's entire career, from his low-budget beginnings to his most recent box office hits, from the banned thriller The Last House on the Left and the cult classic The Hills Have Eyes to the outrageous Shocker and The People Under the Stairs. Through exclusive interviews with Craven, Robb provides in-depth accounts of the making of each of the films--including the third installment of the Scream series--Craven's foray into writing novels, and his numerous television projects.

With a full filmography and more than 200 photographs, many from the director's own collection (including a detailed overview of Craven's television work), Screams and Nightmares is quite simply the only book of its kind.

Customer Reviews:

Craven For More!.......2003-12-14

At first thought, many people probably would have thought director Wes Craven to be some kind of unbalanced oddball because of some of the films he has made. Not to mention some of the gnarly and overly violent scenes he has created in his numerous films. What kind of a person would of made "The Last House On The Left", or "The Hills Have Eyes"?. Or have a geiser of blood shooting up from a teenaged boy's bed in the original "A Nightmare On Elm Street"?. Well, Mr. Craven. That's who. Newbies just finding his work and learning more about him, might be surprised to find that Mr. Craven is the exact opposite of what you would of thought. Instead of coming across as some crazy horror film director, he comes across more as a polished and highly intelligent man who looks and dresses like a college professor. "Freddy" star Robert Englund even once made that comment after meeting Wes for the first time after auditioning for the first Freddy movie. This book delves right into the entirety of Wes' career and offers glimpses into the makings of each ones, not to mention his own life. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 2, 1939. One other interesting note was how his family were a deeply religious baptist family. The religion and the nature of his family's religion is something Wes goes on to discuss a bit further in the book. It's also incredibly interesting to know that Wes never saw a movie until
he wasin college. The good and the bad from his work is brought to the forefront and dissected. A running theme thru the book is the effect that horror, and many of Wes' films, have had on the world. Is it good?. Is it harmful to children?. Is it responsible when someone commits a crime and says they did because of watching "Scream" or any other movie?. That is some of the interesting bits you will read about in this book. Author Brian J. Robb, an autobiogrpaher who has done work on such other people as Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, River Phoenix, and Leonardo DiCaprio, does a nice job of getting the information there and making it easily accessible and interesting to read. Granted, the book isn't entirely perfect. It's a thin and light book that could probably be read in one sitting. Also, many of the quotes seem like they were taken from many other sources. It doesn't feel like Wes had directly talked to this book or was involved in any interviews for it. I'm just guessing. It would of been better if it had a tad more in depth, but I'm not really complaining for as it is a great book. The "Nightmare On Elm Street" films are thoroughly researched and talked about here. It is kind of odd that every single one is accounted for since 4 of them had nothing really to do with Wes at all. I did get the feeling that Wes wasn't properly treated at time by New Line over the "Elm Street" series. These films were what really made Wes known, until a little movie called "Scream" came out to terrify theatergoers in 1996 and made Wes not only a household name again, but proved that he is master and back at the top of the horror list. Much talk and detail goes into all 3 of the "Scream" films as well. Overall, this is avery entertaining and enjoyable read. From his trouble with getting a film done, going without money, and the ever present cencorships board, and other things you will read about in this book, Wes Craven has had his struggles. But as always, he rolls with the punches and he always gets back on his feet again. This is a book that satisfy fans, newcomers to him and his work, and genre buffs all over the world.

For Craven fans only.......2002-01-29

This is designed for big, big, big fans of Wes Craven. It is a slim book whose text seems to be primarily based on magazine articles and newspaper clips. The book gives a fairly good overview of Craven's history and philosophy in a readable and serviceable style.

RECOMMENDED!.......2000-02-29

This is a brilliant book and particually good if your a big fan of Freddy Krueger films, like me. It tells us of Wes Cravens past and of his past and present movies.

INTRIUGING.......1999-06-25

I have been an avid fan of Wes Craven and his movies, But this book gives you more insight on his better movies, and gives you respect for his unsatisfactory movies. As well as getting inside his head and knowing what these movies really mean, After reading it you know what each movie is "really" all about. For anyone who is interested in Horror movies, or any genre of Movies, you should definately read this book.

Screams and Nightmares The Films of Wes Craven

Average customer rating:

Screams and Nightmares The Films of Wes Craven
BRIAN J. ROBB
Manufacturer: Overlook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K01NNI

Average customer rating:

Screams and Nightmares : The Films of Wes Craven
Brian Robb
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MU6O9E

Average customer rating:
American Sea Songs and Chanteys from the Days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships
Frank (Editor) Shay
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000R4YXUC

Average customer rating:
American Sea Songs and Chanteys from the Days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships
Frank Shay
Manufacturer: Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000E3E4C8

Product Description

Revised edition of "Iron Men and Wooden Ships", published in 1924. Includes words and music to 76 songs.

American Sea Songs and Chanteys from the Days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships

Average customer rating:

The Real Thing

American Sea Songs and Chanteys from the Days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships
Christopher J. Thomas
Manufacturer: Books for Libraries
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0836960610

Customer Reviews:

The Real Thing.......2002-04-18

One of the most important collections of its kind ever published, it really contains a good assortment of the songs that really were the staples of maritime life in the days of the tall ships.

And it has the music too!

Average customer rating:
American Sea Songs and Chanteys from the Days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships
Frank Shay
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NVBECY

Average customer rating:
American Sea Songs and Chanteys from the days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships
Frank Shay
Manufacturer: W.W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NP2JKQ

Average customer rating:
American Sea Songs and Chanteys from the Days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships
Frank (Editor) Shay
Manufacturer: Books for Libraries Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000R53UVY

Average customer rating:

A Woman's Book Of Herbs

A Woman's Book of Herbs: The Healing Power of Natural Remedies
Deb Soule
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Herbal Remedies | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Generative Organs | Reproductive & Sexual | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Roots of Healing: A Woman's Book of Herbs

Making Plant Medicine

Herbal Healing for Women

Growing 101 Herbs that Heal: Gardening Techniques, Recipes, and Remedies

Common Herbs for Natural Health (Herbals of Our Foremothers)

Accessories:

The Journey to Wild Divine Biofeedback Software & Hardware for PC & Mac: The Passage

Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 0806520124

Customer Reviews:

A Woman's Book Of Herbs.......2000-12-02

This book is a rare thing. By that I mean that although there are many, *many* herb books on the market, and a goodly percentage of those books are categorized as female-specific, this particular book doesn't feel like mere repetition of basic material, or intent subverted by its personalized approach and themes. I purchased it because there was an elegant little drawing of poppies on the cover, and the price was low enough that I thought to take the risk despite a lack of review. It was a good choice. The book has an accessible feel to it; as an ethnobotanist I appreciate the veracity of information. As a very UNscientific scientist, I appreciate the humanistic "real people" kinda tone which doesn't lose its impact on individual readers by being *too* specifically personal. It reads well and easily. Many of the inclusions are very catalytic in terms of promoting one's own experiences to experiment and pick up where the book leaves off. I'm also very grateful for the overall "tone" of the book. It does not preach or advocate a specific, tightly defined lifestyle. It is not boring. It doesn't get tangled up in its own self-conscious attempt to fuse good writing and good reading. You don't *have* to know a lot about herbs in order to appreciate it, but I believe the more you do know, the more you actually *will* appreciate it. I don't think you have to be female to get something useful from this book. And I definitely believe you don't have to be a specific type of female, or in a particular age group, in order to find great relevance and value. In a perfect world, we give books like this one very freely -- we give them to our daughters when they first start their monthly bleeding cycle. We give them to our sisters and friends when they're pregnant or new to motherhood. We give them to our mothers on mother's day or as croning gifts. We learn. We grow. So do the herbs in our gardens and our knowledge and experience.

Average customer rating:

not much value

A Reinforcement of Good Logic

If its broken fix or it will get much worse

"A Dour, Hectoring Treatise..."

Good customer service book

Broken Windows, Broken Business: How the Smallest Remedies Reap the Biggest Rewards
Michael Levine
Manufacturer: Business Plus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Customer Service | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Industrial | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Ethics | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Leading Leaders: How to Manage Smart, Talented, Rich, And Powerful People

Fixing Broken Windows: Restoring Order And Reducing Crime In Our Communities

Forced Ranking: Making Performance Management Work

Threshold Resistance: The Extraordinary Career of a Luxury Retailing Pioneer

Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths And Total Nonsense: Profiting From Evidence-Based Management

ASIN: 0446698482

Book Description

A wise and practical book that helps business managers achieve ultimate success by identifying and rectifying the small problemsthe broken windowsthat can and will sink your business. Social psychologists and law enforcement officials agree: If a window in a building is broken and left in its ruined state, the rest of the windows will soon be shattered, and the neighborhood will subsequently go downhill. According to business author Michael Levine, this same notion can be applied to the world of business. In BROKEN WINDOWS, BROKEN BUSINESS, Levine guides readers through his premise that all big dilemmas in business stem from lack of attention to small details. Using dozens of corporate broken window case studies, including McDonalds, K-Mart, Google, JetBlue, and more, he argues that by integrating the solutions to small problems into a much larger plan, the resulting combined solution can stimulate overall business growthand keep customers coming back for more.

Customer Reviews:

not much value.......2006-11-24

This is a very simplistic book and reading it provided me with no knowledge that I didn't already have. The author could get across every point in the entire book in a five page summary. He starts by telling us about the broken window theory put forth in 1982 and illustrated a few examples of how it lead to lower crime. He references both the original Atlantic Monthly article, as well as "The Tipping Point" (which I highly recommend), and some other texts and speeches that are written much better than his book and that actually contain original and interesting information.

The author explains in very simple language how this theory can be applied to business. Essentially the entire book says that "broken windows" in business are the little things that go wrong, and how a business can't afford to let this happen. He spends almost half of the book talking about how "people can be the ultimate broken window" and how customer service is one of the most important aspects of your business. These concepts are so simple, that they are basically just reiterations of common business sense.

This book does not probe deeply, nor does it even come close to actually delivering any insight or analysis beyond the most superficial. While his case studies are potentially interesting, he doesn't spend more than two pages on any given one.

This book is only worth reading if you want some simple concepts and rules that you already know listed in a convenient format. Personally, I found that buying and reading this book was a waste of time. There are plenty of other books about business that contain information and insights that you don't already know.

A Reinforcement of Good Logic.......2006-04-24

This book reinforces some solid business concepts which you probably have read or heard about previously. The basic logic is that little things count and is best summed up in an old rhyme or proverb
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

The title and the logic is borrowed from an article published by criminologists George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson in the Atlantic Journal, March 1982 (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/198203/broken-windows). Malcolm Gladwell addressed this concept very cogently and interestingly in his best seller - The Tipping Point. (Now that IS a five star book).

Levine references a large number of corporations to illustrate the impact or fixing / not fixing broken windows. Although the publication date suggests November 2005, this book must have gone to press a long time prior to that. He castigates McDonald's for failure to implement the basics and states if Ray Kroc were to return today, he would die of embarrassment. That might have been accurate three years ago but not today. Indeed, the hamburger giant is now a poster child for the author's argument. It has made a dramatic effort to fix its broken windows including better food quality (quality is relative folks), much cleaner, fresher restaurants and a determined effort to make customers more welcome. It is because McDonald's has fixed many of its broken windows that it can now present consistent and substantial same store sales growth for the past three years. So McDonald's truly does prove his point, but this change was pretty obvious for at least two years prior to publication date.

The best chapter in the book is probably the one on Obsession and Compulsion. The author's view is that successful CEO's display an almost obsessive compulsive disorder in ensuring that basics are implemented, that staff is trained well and service is the "absolute center of broken windows for business". He cites Starbucks' Howard Schultz and George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees as obsessive, compulsive examples in their business dealings.

Behavior change does not happen overnight. It is a long slow process which requires constant reinforcement, which is why this book may be worth reading. If you and your colleagues are avid students of customer service and getting it right first time, (in other words have read a lot of good books on the topic) this book will add one more impression to help you believe that the basics do count and that broken windows do lead to broken business.

If its broken fix or it will get much worse.......2006-04-09

The basic premise of this book is built on a 1982 paper by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling entitled "Broken Windows" in the Atlantic Monthly magazine. The articles explains that by rigorously addressing seemingly insignificant crimes (fair jumping, graffiti, jay walking, and vandalism) that there could be an actually decrease the level of serious crimes. This thinking was rather famously applied in New York City's Mayor Rudolf Giuliani. It cut the number of murders in New York by 1/2. Levin comments that the original paper pointed out the if broken windows were replaced and graffiti removed the overall feeling was people cared and if minor crimes were not tolerated the overall feeling of that strong law enforcement existed. The paper also pointed out if pane of glass was broken it was not long until the entire windows (all the panes) were broken. Levin applies this thinking to business (thus the title). If a pane in a window is broken (bad customer experience is tolerated) that additional panes will be broken (more bad customer service) until the entire window is broken and quite possible the entire business ceases operation. Levine explores the concept of broken windows in business from multiple angles, while looking at example of several business in multiple industries.

"A Dour, Hectoring Treatise...".......2006-03-25

"A Dour, Hectoring Treatise..." says the reviewer from Publsihers Weekly. It is an entirely just criticism, as this is possibly the most downbeat book on achieving business success that I've ever read. While the premise is intriguing, the actual substance of the book is pretty thin. Yes, we know that details are important and that the little things do matter. Yet, the author's idea of good business practice seems to be to obsessively micromanage every aspect of your business and of your employees' behavior. Do yourself a favor and read anything by Seth Godin, instead of this condescending drivel. Seth says, "Stop trying to be perfect and start being remarkable." I couldn't agree more.

Good customer service book.......2006-03-14

This book is about the small yet impactful things every business should pay attention to to avoid slow failure. It covers management areas like brand, product management and customer loyalty, but superior customer service is at the base of all the recommendations. Excellent ideas for increasing customer loyalty in multiple areas across a business from the counter person in a coffee shop to the CEO and executive team. Every time you pick it up you'll find a new idea to fit your current business challenge or priority. Don't underestimate the importance of the subtle recommendations and you'll find you pick this book up more than once as you think about your business.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books