The Fire King Years and Beyond: Anchor Hocking Decorated Pitchers and Glass (Schiffer Book for Collectors (Paperback))

Book Description

310 fabulous line drawings and 14 Harper's Bazar covers, 8 in full color. Erté's exotic temptresses with tassels, fur muffs, long trains, coifs, more. "Imaginative and colorful... A fascinating glimpse into the development of fashion." — Arts Review (London).

Customer Reviews:

Fashion Drawings and Illustrations from "Harper's Bazar" .......2007-04-10

As a designer of embroidery designs, this one was a winner for me. I love all of the publicatins from Dover!

Just Fabulous-bought another copy after I wore the 1st out!.......2001-05-14

Great graphics, imaginative design, fabulous period reference. Outstanding in every way!

Quaint text and dynamite illustrations of original fashion.......2000-06-08

Vogue editor Diana Vreeland once said that no one in the 20th century had a greater influence on fashion than Erte, this desite the fact that he worked for a competitor, Harper's Bazaar. That's an indication of just how revolutionary his work was for the times. Working with virtually no direction to blunt his creativity, Erte published paintings and sketches of ingenious fashions that are as playful and lighthearted as they are luxurious and exquisite. He envisioned modern women (from 1915 to 1926) as goddesses, ultra-chic stars, children of nature, and totally feminine creatures to be adored and exalted. His fashions reflect this, individualistic and charming, colorful and startlingly functional. The 8 color covers and many B/W illustrations show insight into a dimension of fashion that one normally sees only on the show runways: the never-ending well of creativity brought to life by a truly inventive mind unhampered with concerns of marketability. Peruse the illustrations and notice allusions to gardens, paper-weaving, architecture, tennis, various members of the animal kingdom, ceremonial draperies, sailing ships, and flames. Dresses, coats, masks, swimming costumes, sleepwear, and gowns all ornamented with beads, fur trim, sheer draperies, corded lacings, silver embroidery, leather and straw. Practical? Not really. Mass manufacturing? Not in a million years. This is extreme fashion, the stuff of couture, such as would be worn to the salon of writers and intellectuals. Erte loved best to design for the stage, and the drama and fantasy of theater is in evidence in each ornate illustration. Although for 3 years he produced designs for Altman and Bendel in NY, most of his work was strictly conceptual, and many readers of Harper's saved covers and sketches to muse over as they would an art history volume, as evidence of another world. Ignoring fashion trends, Erte generated innovative and outre designs that still amaze and delight those of us who appreciate true originality. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in textile or fashion design, but also to graphic designers, sculptors, and those who really enjoy art for its own sake. This book is, in one word: luscious.

Designs By Erte. Fashion Drawings & Illustrations From Harper's Bazar

Average customer rating:

Designs By Erte. Fashion Drawings & Illustrations From Harper's Bazar
Stella,Selected and With an Intro. Blum
Manufacturer: Dover Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JD0C4W

Book Description

For 50 years, Playboy magazine has showcased the world's best and brightest cartoonists. Their spectacular stable of artists includes luminaries such as Buck Brown, Jack Cole, Eldon Dedini, Jules Feiffer, Shel Silverstein, Doug Sneyd, Gahan Wilson, and hundreds of others. Hip subversives and sly revolutionaries all, Playboy's artists have continually proffered a sophisticated brand of humor sorely missing in other men s magazines. Now, Playboy celebrates its golden anniversary with this glorious collection of the finest and funniest cartoons. Handpicked by Hugh M. Hefner himself, the pages are filled with the distillation of the entire cartoon archive, offering insightful commentary on topics from the sexual revolution to relationships, money, and politics. More than 450 cartoons feature sweet young things, terrible tarts, winsome wives, suitors, and studs -- a riotous chronicle of five decades of Playboy cartoons.

Customer Reviews:

cool book..........2007-03-08

would not suggest paying retail..but it is a fun book.. it would have been nice to have a litle more detail about the cartoons.. artist, year, etc....

This Is A Cool Book.......2006-09-30

Fifty years worth of cartoons from Playboy. Doesn't that just set the mind reeling? Some of the biggest names in the business have their work showcased here in this history-making compendium. These cartoons are sometimes funny, often sardonic, frequently risqué, and one and all they once graced the pages of the world's favorite source of "illustrated" reading material. Perhaps the best way to regard this hefty collection (did you catch the pun?) is as a window to the changing mores of American society regarding not only women and sex, but what is and is not acceptable subject matter for a cartoon itself. When taken as a whole I find this material reflective of how much times have changed, and Playboy magazine with it. Very little to offend anyone here, just good clean fun and some real laughs too.

Fifty years of fun........2004-06-15

It's nice to see a book of coffee-table proportions just devoted to cartoons, well why not? Previous Playboy books have covered the history of the magazine, the delightful Playmates and now the cartoons. The 450 plus illustrations are the work of 107 cartoonists and if you are a regular reader of the magazine you'll see your favorites. Gahan Wilson has the most (thirty-two) followed by regulars like Eldon Dedini, John Demsey, Alden Erikson, Kiraz, Roy Raymonde, Doug Sneyd (he of the flamboyant signature, which I was never able to decipher until now) Erich Sokol and between these, dozens of great artists who have maybe one or two works each. The humor might not be the wonderful ironic style of the New Yorker but it is amazing how many fresh takes can be created with the bachelor lifestyle.

This is a handsomely produced book, printed on thick glossy paper which, nicely, allows you to really appreciate just how good some of these artists are. My favorite, Jack Davis, unfortunately only has four shown, Richard Taylor has a super picture on page ten, an art gallery where he has created several Picasso type paintings, Doug Sneyd, Phil Interlandi and Dedini are all brilliant draughtsmen and Shel Silverstein can create so much with so little line and color.

However I was a bit disappointed with this book, as another reviewer has commented, there is no indication of when the cartoons appeared and I wish the publishers had gone the extra mile and perhaps devoted some space throughout the pages for a photo and biography of the regulars, some of these guys have been with Playboy for years. Someone though, at least, did have the foresight to compile an Artists index and a useful Order of appearance list, both of which are in the back pages.

Clearly a wonderful book for the bedside table if your date didn't turn up, try laughing yourself to sleep.

Not enough Yeagle !!!!.......2004-06-14

I enjoyed seeing the work of some of my favorite cartoon
artist...together in one book. Some I had forgotten about.
It cetainly must have been difficult to narrow down the
selection with so many great cartoons over the years.
However, I was disappointed not to see more of one of my
very favorites.....Dean Yeagle. There is one cartoon of his
in the book...and it is also on the cover...the showgirls
and earrings cartoon.
Mr.Yeagle does excellent work....just check out his website..
www.bellefree.com.....His Mandy pinup girl is adorable!
I would love to see an all Dean Yeagle book published !!!!!!

nice book, but..........2004-05-07

First of all this book is printed on excellent paper & is well done except for one thing. there is no way to tell what year the cartoons are from. They should have had chapters. 1950`s 1960`s ect so you know what era they are from

Average customer rating:

Who knew lawyers could be so much fun?

Disseminates urban legends as factual

Funny But Could be Better

Hilarious and REAL !!!!!!!

For when you're having a bad day

The Warning Label Book: Warning: Reading This Book May Cause Spontaneous, Uncontrollable Laughter.
Joey Green , Tony Dierckins , and Tim Nyberg
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312195346

Book Description

Warnings-they're everywhere.On toys. On hair dryers. On compact discs. On take-out coffee cups. Almost everything for sale today comes with a warning. Why? Now, most people have enough common sense not to take a bath with an electric blender, but thanks to a few morons out there who sued big companies and won huge settlements, products now come with warnings that treat consumers like a bunch of slack-jawed yokels. So here's a collection of more than a hundred of the most ridiculous real warning labels on today's products. For example:CAUTION: DO NOT ON USE THIS HAMMER TO STRIKE ANY SOLID OBJECT.Such as, perhaps, the head of the idiot who came up with this warning in the first place?In addition, the book includes two dozen hilarious peel-off fake warning labels you can stick on real products to keep you, your friends, and your loved ones safe. Just don't read this book while driving a car or operating heavy machinery.

Customer Reviews:

Who knew lawyers could be so much fun?.......2007-09-19

The world is being run by lawyers, and the world is also full of potential litigious morons who spread contraceptive jelly on toast, drive with opened cups of hot coffee between their legs, and spray extra-hold hair spray directly into their eyes. Then, they are surprised by the negative results.

Therefore, companies now find it actually necessary to warn us not to eat lemon colored paint, beware that jumbo sized fireplace logs might catch on fire, and that we should be sure to remove the baby before folding up the baby stroller.

Bonus: There are dozens of great self-sticking warning labels of great comedic value in the book as well.

Warning: Do not stick them in your eye.

Disseminates urban legends as factual.......2007-02-05

I'd had high hopes for this as a humorous source book for use in teaching caution and warning labels.

However, before incorporating material from this book, I'm glad I checked the credibility on Snopes; warning label stories cited in the book include false, proven urban legends.

It's a shame that the book doesn't come with a warning label: "CAUTION: Contents may be fictional".

Funny But Could be Better.......2004-02-14

It may be near impossible to get a comprehensive healthcare bill through congress, but the number of idiots around forced them to pass a law requiring a warning label about using hair driers in the shower. It's a crazy world.

This book shows many funny and intriguing warning labels as well as some of the stories behind them (why can't we remove the mattress tag?).

Wry wit and cynicism attach these labels we take for granted (and seldom read). But I could not help think that some of the observations missed the mark a little. For instance a hair dryer has a label saying not to use it in the shower or while sleeping but fails to mention the bathtub (does that mean it is ok to use it in the tub?).

But still, this is a fun book to read alone or with friends. The book even comes with a section of fake warning labels that you can apply anywhere.

Hilarious and REAL !!!!!!!.......2001-05-02

This book contains actual warning labels from a variety of products

Nowadays with the number of lawsuits by inept consumers injured by certain products, manufacturers are forced to put "idiot-proof" warning labels on their products.

Contains information about the famous McDonald's coffee incident and subsequent lawsuit.

For when you're having a bad day.......2000-12-29

You can't help but laugh out loud at this book. These real warnings were printed to help companies avoid lawsuits from people who think they're supposed to drink facial cleanser. How could people be so stupid?! Well, sometimes they are, and even stupider warnings try to prevent idiotic behavior. The commentary and pictures with the warnings make this book even more hilarious.

The stickers are cheesy and stupid, but that doesn't detract from the book. It's funny read from cover to cover. But, if you need a quick pick-me-up, just flip to a random page for a laugh.

Book Description

Sultry bandidas, gut-busting comicos, and terrifying monstruos--they all make appearances in Cine Mexicano. Combining art deco style with pulp fiction sensationalism, the more than 150 movie posters in Cine Mexicano are culled from the Agrasánchez Film Archive--the largest print collection of its kind. With a bilingual introduction that surveys the history of Mexican cinema, Cine Mexicano is an unforgettable exploration of gorgeous graphic art and exotic cinema at its finest.

Customer Reviews:

Not what I thought.......2005-09-29

I guess I expected a lot more famous names like Gilbert Rowland.This stuff ain't bad but a lot more researsh and better stock could of been included. What ever happened to Rita Moreno, you won't find her in this collection either. A purchase that I never should of made ...for the same price I could of got a good Lydia Mendosa CD!

Vivid Colors and Wild Designs.......2005-09-26

I do graphic work for a living. Having a book like this around helps the muse that visits my studio. I don't read the words. This is purely a picture book for me. And with that said - I really like it and use it for my job.

An Important and Thrilling Collection.......2005-09-07

This so much suits my personal tastes, blending my affinity for the style of art, the era, and my love of the cinema. The collection is a visual joy and a great history lesson. Delightful. Fascinating. Thrilling.

the art of "La Epoca de Oro".......2003-01-22

This dual-language book celebrates the wonderful posters that were made during the Golden Age of Mexican film (1936-1956), with depictions of some of its greatest stars, like the gorgeous Maria Felix pictured on the cover.
In the introduction by Charles Ramirez Berg, he states that "The main rationale for the book is preservation; to maintain the memory of movie posters", which were such a unique part of Mexico's superb cinematic history, and also to "acknowledge the artists, who often worked in obscurity".
Tragically, many posters (as well as films) were destroyed in a massive fire at the national film archive, the Cineteca National, in 1982. The 150 posters included in this book came from the Agrasanchez Film Archive in Harlingen, Texas, which houses a vast private collection of approximately 2,000 posters, as well as 1,400 Mexican films, and much more.

Included in this book is an extensive history of this period of Mexican film, a bibliography, and short bios of some of the artists, although a few posters are not credited, and some of the artists that are credited have no biographical material.
The heart of the book is the artwork, which is colorful, humorous, and dramatic. The women are extremely curvaceous (some scantily clad, and on two occasions with nothing at all), and many of the men, like Jorge Negrete in "El Fanfarron", looking dashing and "muy macho".
It is divided into categories: 1: Comedy, 2: Cabaret Girls, 3: Cowboys and Folklore, 4: History and Religion, 5: Drama, and 6: Mystery and Adventure.

My favorite is "Vuelven Los Garcia", by Juanino Renan Berenguer, with horses and riders in silhouette, against a magnificent sky, and two others painted by Juanino's brother Josep, "Cartas Marcadas" with Pedro Infante and Marga Lopez, and Libertad Lamarque in "Soledad"; both show portraiture with a hint of cubism, and are quite remarkable.
Also recommended is the lovely set of 40 postcards, selected from this book, in an attractive, sturdy gift box. the cards are on a matte finish stock, and the plates of this book have a semi-gloss finish. Both will be appreciated by fans of Mexican film, and anyone who enjoys popular art forms.

GREAT VISUAL BOOK.......2002-12-28

This is a great book to look at, especially if you are at all interested in art or el cine mexicano. I bought one for my family in Zapotlanejo, Jalisco, and they enjoyed the nostalgia that the old movie posters brought back. The book divides different types of movie posters into different categories from Comedy to Monster-movies. The only thing that would have made this book better was if it had included more posters on Cantinflas and Clavillaso movies. Orale!

Average customer rating:

Useless

Very enjoyable repertoire book

An Old Opening with New Ideas

The Modern Chess Openings? Please...

White to play and Win

Ideas Behind the Modern Chess Openings (Batsford Chess Book)
Gary Lane
Manufacturer: Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chess | Board Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Ideas Behind Modern Chess Openings: Black (Batsford Chess Book)

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ASIN: 0713487127

Book Description

This repertoire of easy-to-learn openings, based on Garry Kasparov's move 1 d4, offers openings with a modern twist. Each one has simple principles that allow White to play just about the same moves against the Grunfeld, King's Indian, and Nimzo-Indian Defense. There are also modern systems to repel the Dutch, Benoni, and even offbeat lines such as the Englund Gambit. Nothing is left out: the tricks and traps in the opening for both sides; the basic plan and strategy using entertaining games; and how to play the middlegame by following easy plans.

Intermediate

Customer Reviews:

Useless.......2007-01-16

I think one of the most annoying things about chess books is to buy one of them and then find that the content is completely different from what you expected.
This book from Gary Lane can be considered as the typical example. From a title like "Ideas behind the modern chess openings" I was expecting some kind of introduction to the vast subject of the opening, plus some detailed information about the starting moves of a few "modern" openings (e.g. the KID, Modern Benoni and the likes). What I found instead is a few chapter's about the London System and a couple of games about the Barry/150 Attack!

So to summarize, this book is completely useless, for the following reasons:

1. it teaches you absolutely nothing about the "Ideas behind the modern chess openings"
2. if you like the London System, buy "Win with the London System" by Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovacevic
3. if you like the 150/Barry Attack, buy the excellent "A Killer Chess Opening Repertorie" by Aaron Summerscale

The reason why I give this book 2 stars instead of 1 is that, at the time it was published the book by Johnsen and Kovacevic wasn't available, so "Ideas behind the modern chess openings" could have been a little useful to someone interested to the London System.

Now (I have to repeat myself, I'm sorry) it's completely useless.

Very enjoyable repertoire book.......2003-12-18

Yes, the title is misleading. So what! Chess Fundamentals by Capablanca has a misleading title too, but is considered a classic. I feel that every review here has entirely missed the boat on this book. This book aims right at the masses of intermediate players, who are always searching for an opening repertoire. Do you like Summerscale's book, "A Killer Opening Repertoire"? Then you just may really love this one. This one has mych more textutal explanations, far more games referenced in the notes, and overall, a better repertoire, IMHO. The repertoires are similar, but I like the London System recommeded by Lane more than Summerscale's Colle-Zukertort, and I like the London against the King's Indian more than Summerscale's Barry Attack. There is a chapter on the Barry here too. Let me something about reviews of chess books. It seems that the more specialized and highly rated the target audince, the better the review for a chess book. There are not many reviews out there for books like this one, Summerscale's, or The System by Berliner that really apply to the masses of non-professional players out there. I love all three of those books, with this one by Lane the most valuable of the three, to me. This is a great book, that you can stick with for years, gradually adding the products of your outside study to its content and guidance. I am not saying the book is perfect; but that it is an excellent and enjoyable companion for the masses of intermediate players looking for a book that speaks to them, that instructs themn, and gives them a sound,solid repertoire that will avoid masses of theory for which black maay be better prepared than you. Highly recommended, especially for the six dollar price at which I found it here used.

An Old Opening with New Ideas.......2003-11-06

First of all the title of the book has caused much debate. It is now well known it was the publisher who decided to use the 50 year old title of Fine's book. A mistake to use the classics but hardly the author's fault. The soul of the openings are above average for me because I can learn the main one-the London System- fairly quickly. I train kids at school and the idea of easy development appeals to all ages.
A good effort and worth reading.

The Modern Chess Openings? Please..........2003-08-25

This is a repertoire book with something against most of the things you might meet after 1.d4. The lines are superficially explained and analysed, and do not often give white chances of an opening advantage. There are some useful lines here, but you can find better repertoire books anywhere easily.

The title is stolen from Fine's "Ideas behind the Chess Openings", and it is a ploy from the publisher to get more sales. The London system, which this book is based on, is not a modern opening, so the title could not be more misleading. I am sure the author had nothing to do with naming the book.

White to play and Win.......2003-08-11

If you start with 1 d4 then this book has plenty of ideas to help you to win. The backbone of the openings that Lane wants everyone to play is the London System. This has never struck me as being particularly aggressive but it is perfect to make sure that White enters the middlegame with no fear of falling into a trap. The London System is no good against every opening and the author is honest enough to admit this rather than give a game which just happens to demolish the Dutch or something! I have found that how to deal with the side-lines such as the Clarendon Court are very useful. In the main lines the easy to follow guide in the Benoni and the Dutch are well worth a look.
Basically, I have improved my openings as a result of this book and that really is the true test.

Ideas Behind Modern Chess Openings: Black (Batsford Chess Book)

Average customer rating:

A very good chess repertoire book for Black
Chess Openings Made Easy

Ideas Behind Modern Chess Openings: Black (Batsford Chess Book)
Gary Lane
Manufacturer: Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0713489502

Book Description

Following the success of Ideas Behind Modern Chess Openings comes this complete repertoire for Black that allows players to dominate the game right from the start. Award-winning openings expert Gary Lane provides every expert tip, trick, and trap in the book, and chess grids throughout demonstrate key lines and accelerate the learning process. All the games are annotated throughout, in the same appealing easy-to-follow style that has made Lane (Find the Winning Move, Grand Prix Attack) one of the most popular chess writers in the world today.

Customer Reviews:

A very good chess repertoire book for Black.......2005-12-19

I like this chess repertoire book. The lines are relatively easy to learn and for the most part, they're reasonably safe. The book is quite readable, and the games are generally recent. And the author appears to have useful advice on how to handle almost all of the popular lines that are being played against the moves he recommends.

Against 1 e4, Lane recommends the Center Counter. And he recommends the variation 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qd6. I think this is playable, and I think the lines Lane recommends after 4 d4 Nf6 are okay (I do wish Lane had said something about 2 d4, 2 e5, and 2 Nf3, though). Lane also gives us the option of trying the Kurajica variation, where Black answers 4 d4 with 4...g6, but I do not recommend this. I recently tried a skittles game in this line (I had White), which went: 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qd6 4 d4 g6 5 Nf3 Bg7 6 Nb5 Qd8 7 Bf4 Na6 8 Nc3 (Lane does not discuss this move for White). And now Black had a problem. If 8...Nb4 9 a3 Nd5 (9...Nc6 10 Nb5, or 9...Na6 10 Bxa6) 10 Nxd5 Qxd5 11 Bxc7. If 8...Nb8, White could repeat moves with 9 Nb5 or just try 9 Bc4 with an advantage. If 8...Nf6 9 Bxa6. So the game continued 8...b6 9 Bb5+ Kf8 10 Ne5 Nf6 11 Bc4 e6 12 Qf3 Rb8 13 Nc6 Bb7 14 Bxa6 after which White won easily. I'm glad I did not have Black in all this!

The author also gives us several chapters on the Chigorin. This is a solid defence, and Lane recommends it not only with 1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6, but with 1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nc6. And he wants us to threaten to transpose into a Chigorin against the English as well, with 1 c4 Nc6. If White plays 1 c4 Nc6 2 g3, we're advised to try 2...e5 3 Bg2 g6 4 Nc3 Bg7. Lane now gives his recommendations against 5 e3, 5 e4, 5 d3, and 5 Rb1. If I had White, I'd play 5 Nf3 here, but this ought to transpose into the line Lane gives for 5 Rb1.

Versus 1 b3, I've always played 1...d5. But Lane recommends a line which I now prefer, namely 1 b3 e5 2 Bb2 Nc6 3 e3 d6 4 Bb5 Bd7 5 Ne2 a6 6 Bxc6 Bxc6 7 0-0 Qg5. Given this, I hoped to see Lane recommend 1...e5 versus the Orangutan, 1 b4. Instead, he gives 1 b4 d5 2 Bb2 Qd6. While this seems okay, I think I'll stick with 1 b4 e5 2 Bb2 Bxb4 3 Bxe5 Nf6 here.

One opening most repertoire books don't mention is 1 g4, The Spike. And there's a good reason for it; it's inane. Still, Lane does give us a good defence against it, starting with 1 g4 d5 2 Bg2 c6. Actually, I think it is safe to play 1 g4 d5 2 Bg2 Bxg4. You merely have to make sure not to blunder by playing ...e6 at a point where Qa4+ will win your Bishop.

1 f4 is the Bird. It's often played as a Dutch with a move in hand. But that extra move rarely does White much good, and Black often takes advantage of White's early and overly committal pawn moves. Lane has a good (if unusual) line against it, starting with 1 f4 d5 2 Nf3 Nc6. But I do think that the more normal 2...Nf6 is even better. When I had to face the Bird in a tournament game, I tried 1...e5 and was lucky to win. Lane refuses to recommend this on the grounds that White can transpose into a King's Gambit. While I feel that Black is fine in the King's Gambit, I'll agree with Lane here, as I think that Black is better off avoiding 1 f4 e5 in any case.

The author recommends some solid lines against 1 Nf3 and 1 g3 (based on 1...d5 versus both). But I am a little puzzled at his recommendation against 1 Nc3. He gives us a line starting with 1 Nc3 d5 2 e4 d4. This is probably okay, but I think it is unnecessarily tame. Worse, if we play his lines, we'll see this position not only after 1 Nc3 but after 1 e4 d5 2 Nc3. So I would prefer to see a line in which we take that pawn (maybe starting with 1 Nc3 d5 2 e4 dxe4 3 Nxe4 Bf5). In addition, White does not have to play 2 e4 after 1 Nc3 d5. With White, I'd play 2 d4 here. That does give Black a choice of getting into a French defence with 2...e6, a Caro-Kann with 2...c6, a Dutch with 2...f5, a Nimzovich after 2...Nc6, or a Veresov after 2...Nf6. This position can also arise after 1 d4 d5 2 Nc3, of course. I think Lane ought to have recommended something for Black here.

In spite of a few minor omissions that I've noted, I think this is an excellent book, and I strongly recommend it.

Chess Openings Made Easy.......2005-08-12

This is an easy to read book that attempts to give the player with the Black pieces an opening against just about everything. I think it just about does the task with a look at the Chigorin against 1 d4 and the Centre Counter against 1 e4. They all have a modern twist in an effort to make it easier to absorb. There is plenty to get excited about when it comes to beating mad openings such as 1 g4 and the more sane 1 b3 amongst others. I would guess it is aimed at players below 2200 but with my rating of 1930 I think it is a good book to lean openings quickly and easily.

Average customer rating:

Ideas Behind Modern Chess Openings
Gary Lane
Manufacturer: Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K69T2E

Book Description

The 50th title in the HBR paperback series highlights what every company must know to successfully enter and compete in the world’s fastest-growing economy

The potential opportunity in China is huge: it is home to a quarter of the world’s population, domestic consumer spending in China is growing by up to 10% a year, and relaxed regulatory restraints have opened China up to unprecedented levels of foreign investment.

This book will help multinational corporations and the managers who work in them understand the implications of China’s current stage of development and develop strategies for effectively competing in this environment.

Customer Reviews:

An excelent reading in my business trips.......2007-07-08

I have been in china for business trips over 7 times and I always use this reading during the air trip(many hours from Puerto Rico to China (22 hours).
And always find something new to apply to my visits for negotiations from this book.

Humberto Torres
Puerto Rico

Must do reading.......2007-02-18

This is a great complitation of HBR articles on China. A must do reading for anyone seriously interested in doing business in China

Typical HBR compilation..........2006-12-27

The articles are, in sum, quite dated and general. Nothing leading edge here as the content is published through the HBS grist mill that greatly enhances the publishing record of their faculty but adds little of current value.

Nevertheless, for the beginner in China, there is some knowledge here, but, again, keep in mind that the business environment in China moves fast and the information here was several years outdated when published.

Good but isolated perspectives.......2006-11-05

Like other HBR articles, the articles in this collection on Doing Business in China are well written and presented, with each examining a particular issue in a fairly coherent way.

However, as they are written by different authors, there is an inevitable lack of cohesion among the articles. For example, in article "Entering China: An Unconventional Approach" (pages 105-121), author Vanhonacker argues that since "Chinese companies...typically have a more immediate interest in profits than foreign investors do," "joint ventures do not offer foreign companies what they need to succeed in China." Yet, in article "Trouble in Paradise" (pages 141-161), authors Xin and Pucik present a case study, where the dilemma faced by the American general manager is such that while his US-based boss wants him to improve the joint venture's profitability from a 4% ROI to a 20% ROI, the Chinese deputy general manager wants to grow the joint venture by acquiring another local Chinese enterprise!

In my experience, the scenarios presented in the two articles are pretty academic because the reality is much more messy than that and hardly rests on such a simple black/white trade-off. Indeed, we now know that the China challenge is multifaceted. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an integrated framework that distills what it takes to succeed in China (how to think as well as what to do) by running a central, balanced theme across all these perspectives.

It is fair to say that although eight useful articles are put together in one volume, this book lacks the above mentioned central theme.

To find such a central theme, you will have to read Dr Wei Wang's The China Executive: Marrying Western and Chinese Strengths to Generate Profitability from Your Investment in China. In it, you will find a road map to business success in 21st-century China.

A little dated but a good read........2006-04-13

Dont be fooled by the 2004 publising date most of the articles inluded here are from the late 90's early 00's. Otherwise a good read and well worth the $14 price tag.

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