The Book of Proverbs and Sayings : Cartoon of Everyday American Language

Book Description

We all use proverbs or sayings to add simple truths or humor to our speech. With this book, you will be able to see and enjoy familiar phrases like "When the cat's away, the mice will play" and "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." By looking closely at the cartoons, you may be able to guess the saying before reading it on the next page.

Customer Reviews:

A Fun Evening.......2000-06-05

This book shows nice pictures, especially for those whose first language is not english this book is nice. Try to see if you can guess the proverbs. Many are possible, some you think you know, but now you learn them the right way. It's fun to play with it.

Basic Care for Naturally Textured Hair: Cultivating Curly, Coily, and Kinky Hair (Personal Care Collection)
Average customer rating:

This Book Is Really Bad!!

Title Very Deceiving!

HORRIBLE

This book has very little valuable information

Basic Care for Naturally Textured Hair: Cultivating Curly, Coily, and Kinky Hair (Personal Care Collection)
Thrower
Manufacturer: Thomson Delmar Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cosmetics | Beauty & Fashion | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Going-natural: How to Fall in Love With Nappy Hair

Textured Tresses: The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining and Styling Natural Hair

No Lye: The African American Woman's Guide To Natural Hair Care

Natural Hair Care and Braiding Natural Hair Care and Braiding

Hair Rules!: The Ultimate Hair-Care Guide for Women with Kinky, Curly, or Wavy Hair

ASIN: 0766837610

Book Description

Amazing locks, braids, weaves, twists, and wraps define some of the hairstyles worn best by those with very curly or African hair. Black Hair Care not only covers the internationally renowned and latest styles, it also shows how to care for your hair, and gives professional advice on hair coloring, chemical treatments, styling, and sculpting techniques. Learn all about hair structure, treatments for hair loss and its prevention, and products to help keep your hair healthy. Whether you're looking for unique styles that you can create at home, or natural, low-maintenance styles, let Black Hair Care help you care for your hair.

Customer Reviews:

This Book Is Really Bad!!.......2004-07-06

If I could give this book a negative rating, I would! First, the title is deceiving. A more appropriate title should be "Very Basic Information About Black Hair". It gives no real useful information about hair care or recommendations on products, which is what we are all looking for. The hair chemistry chapter is very detailed (must have been the only chapter written by the author who has an MD) and should not have taken up an entire section. Chapters 3 and 4 are all about skin with no information about hair. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS BOOK!

Title Very Deceiving!.......2004-07-06

The title of this book is very deceiving. It should be titled "Very Basic Information About Black Hair" since the author spends more time discussing black hair chemistry. There's no information about products or what to really look for in a product for natural black hair care. Interestingly enough, chapters 3 and 4 are all about skin care even though hair is mention in the chapter title. Also, the author's solution to hair loss is the addition of artificial hair rather than recommendations on products to use. Again, the title is very deceiving. This is NOT the book to purchase if you are looking for information on caring and working with natural black hair. It is indeed a horrible book!!

HORRIBLE.......2002-10-25

I always look for books on how to take care of curly hair because, well, I have it! This book was helpful within the first three pages but went downhill from there. They're were no pictures, models or hair-y stories from the author. Overall, I just didn't like it. I thoroughly recommend "No Lye" or "Curly Girl" instead of this...just horrible!

This book has very little valuable information.......2001-10-21

After purchasing Pamela Ferrell's book Let's Talk Hair, I decided to buy this one for more styling options. I was suprised to see the horrible lack of information for hair care and hair styling. This book provides no information on a maintenance regime, the hair products section goes into great detail on all the chemicals and ingredients in products but doesn't tell how to choose products or what products on the market are good, and the styling section has little information for home styling. The author goes into great detail on hair makeup and on what actually is in hair products along with a very detail nutritional guide on all the ingredients in food. The hair styling section is basically about popular braiding styles and a few natural styles like the 'fro and the twist out 'fro, and some information on locking. Overall, don't waste your money or time on this book.

Book Description

Buffy the next runway supermodel? Believe it! Buffy pursues a potential modeling career only to learn that beauty isn`t just skin deep. Selke, the vampire Buffy thought was killed in a mausoleum fire, returns with a vengeance, and convinces a plastic surgeon to find a solution to her cosmetic complaints. She`s back, and she`s out for blood-literally! Expanding the mythos of television`s hottest horror/adventure series, Bad Blood is high-stakes graphic-novel entertainment served up Buffy-style!

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

The best bit is when Mr. Pointy makes an appearance!
Otherwise, nothing you really need to see here. This is just an ordinary Buffy story, one that I would only recommend getting cheap. Buffy and a weirdly similar version of her, that is another entity, designed to combat her, etc. etc. etc.

Will the Real Buffy Please..........2002-10-19

During most of 1999, Dark Horse Comics pursued a single long story line with intermittent breaks. In a sense, this was an imitation of the television show, with its combination of episodic tales and extended story arcs. While this was a mixed success with the readers, it did produce its share of great moments, and established some basic principles for the series that have lasted for almost regular 50 issues and countless specials.

This trade paperback contains the last three episodes of the 'Bad Blood' story arc that consumed nine issues in total. The force behind the series is the efforts of Selke, a horribly scarred vampire, to recover her looks, establish a power base, and to destroy Buffy. Selke and her accomplice Dr. Flitter have found away to create an evil Buffy twin whose assignment is to track down her original and 'slay' her.

Of course, we know that Buffy will survive, but the clone's ability to anticipate Buffy's every move allows her to accomplish the impossible - leave Buffy for dead in the Sunnydale sewer and shop for clothes in the same night. Buffy find help from an unexpected source and works her way to a final confrontation with Selke in the middle of the Sunnydale Mardi Gras celebration. A final short story tells the story of a sorority initiation that nearly stomps the clock permanently.

These are probably the best three episodes of 'Bad Blood,' both in terms of writing and artwork. Even so the long stretch of the comic book series works against it and it lacks the spark that a shorter series like 'The Blood of Carthage' can produce. It is hardly a failure however. I do suggest that the reader begin at the beginning with the first trade paperback, 'Bad Blood.'

Not So Fresh Appearances.......2002-10-02

'Bad Blood' is drawn from BTVS comics 9 through 11, continuing the story of Selke, a vampire in desperate need of a makeover and yen for revenge. Buffy is responsible for Selke's loss in the looks department (see the previous trade paperback, 'The Remaining Sunlight'). Nor will the story end here. There are several more issues to go before the battle is completely resolved. Once writers Andi Watson and Joe Bennet find a good thing, there is no letting go of it.

'Hey Good Looking' (two parts) is Selkie's real dramatic entrance. Literally ruined by being toasted by Buffy, Selke sets out to restore her good looks and get even with the Slayer. While Buffy hunts ghouls the vampire looks for a good, but corrupt, plastic surgeon. Selke finds that being a vampire with a terminal skin condition does not command much respect. Poor Dr. Flitter!.

In 'A Boy Named Sue,' Buffy has to deal with a band member with overactive glands and a blood drive that is drawing vampires from all over Sunnydale. Selke's Dr. Flitter finally turns to magic and manages to... well, you will just have to read it.

An additional story, 'Hello Moon,' may be new to BTVS readers. Buffy meets a real Selkie during a walk by the seashore. After a rough start, the two discover that they have things to teach each other. Between dusting a few vamps, that is.

It would be nice to have the entire Selke series all under one title, but there seems to be little hope of that. There is simply too much of it. Dark Horse was trying to emulate the television series at that time and wanted a story that would run for an entire season, with all kinds of story arcs. 'Blood of Carthage' is the next largest series, but rambles considerably less.

As I have mentioned elsewhere, the trade paperbacks often simply reprise stories from the comics. Thus, for those who do not have access to the original issues, they can be a great treat. Do not expect a real graphic novel, though, just well executed artwork and an interesting story line. These are, after all, comics, and should be approached with that understanding. If you want more of Buffy than the shows and the novels however, the trade paperbacks are worth the price.

More of an interesting storyline.......2001-12-23

"Your Cheatin' Heart" continues the Selke storyline featured in this trade (issues 17-19 of the series). Buffy has a run-in with the Dark Slayer -- the dark slayer turns out to be a favorite with Cordelia because of her fashion sense, and the Dark Slayer advises the gang to make a clown float for a high school parade (ah, the unspeakable evil). Next is "She's no Lady" where the real Buffy is saved from the sewer by one of the failed versions of the Dark Slayer while the dark slayer herself is pretending to be the real Buffy. Angel investigates the new blood Selke's vamps are using, has someone tampered with it? Then, in "Old Friend" Dru and Spike make another appearance as Buffy must fight the Dark Slayer again. The Scoobies have found out about the imposter but must go on with their clown float. A fun issue. Lastly there is a bonus story "Killing Time" which isn't too interesting, just a few pages long.

A Good Read.......2001-12-23

This trade collects issues 9, 10, and 11 as well as a bonus story. First off is a story entitled "Hey Good Lookin' pt. 1" which begins with Angel and Buffy having romantic times together in the graveyard. We see Selke (remember her from a few issues back?) all ugly and mangled and Buffy's mom is looking into plastic surgery at the same clinic as Selke. Buffy is also spotted by talent scouts at the mall who want her as a model (isn't it great when all the plot threads tie together?) In issue 10, part two of the story the plot thickens with Buffy looking into the modeling gig and worrying about her relationship with Angel. Selke is still at large trying to fix her mangled look. Then there is "A Boy Named Sue" in which Amy turns this annoying guy into a girl and Selke recovers her lost look. In the extra story "Hello Moon" Buffy has an encounter with a sea monster. It is a very good story. In fact, the whole trade is well written even though in "A Boy Named Sue" the artwork is somewhat lacking. A worthwhile trade.

Customer Reviews:

A Little Book That Tries Too Hard.......1998-07-17

Fun vintage photos with some true-isms, but Pat Ross tries too hard to be funny....

Humorous book for anyone touched by menopause!.......1998-04-27

Pat Ross has brought humor and menopause together, offering yet another perfect opportunity to bring the subject to the spotlight for better understanding and communication. Menopause Madness is a perfect gift idea for both females AND males.

Book Description

Fade In is a concise, step-by-step method for developing a "story concept" into a finished screenplay. Used by professionals and universities around the world, this book covers the basics of dramatic writing; creating characters; screenplay structure, techniques and terminology.

Customer Reviews:

The guy can't write........2003-01-25

This is probably one of the worst written books I've ever read. The guy can't write. His sentences look like they've been created by a child. He lacks good judgment (if he has any at all), not to mention good taste. There are parts in this book that gave me the impression he is not very bright either.

Apart from the fact that he never sold a screenplay (there are good screenwriting instructors who never even wrote one), the worse thing is that Mr. Berman is a terrible teacher. The only idea he successfully communicates is that he is the last person on planet Earth from who anyone should get advice on writing screenplays.

For the sake of mercy and charity and other good qualities I like to use sometimes, I will refrain myself from commenting the included screenplay (and also the decision to publish it in there).

Anyone trying to write or sell a screenplay should very actively avoid this book.

There are better books!.......2002-09-04

This is a true stinker. The text is riddled with self-justification and the third draft of the included screen play is just a true prize. Buy Ken Dancyger's book "alternative screenwriting" instead, 'cause that's brilliant.

Fade In - The Screenwriting Process by Robert A. Berman.......2002-04-10

Of all the books I read on screenwriting, I loved
Fade In the best. It has become a bible for me. Berman is honest and modest. He tries and succeeds to be helpful. I feel like I have a mentor sitting beside me as I write. He changed my life.
Instead of writing novels I have now turned to screenwriting because of this book. Berman lifts out his hand and pulls you up.

There are better books.......2002-02-21

No, I have never sold a screenplay. No, I have never written a book. I am an armchair critic; and a eager reader. There are better books out there that not only touch upon the same topics, but actually are enjoyable to read. Read anything by William Goldman; and with such frank and honest writing, it will point a path in a clearer direction than this book. Luckily you may read these reviews and move on to an author who will actually give you a good script to read.

"Don't be so sure...".......2001-05-25

The prior reviewer wrote:

"Okay, so the guy hasn't sold a script. I'll bet these other negative reviewers of this book haven't either."

Don't be so sure.

Why am I bothering to even respond to such a comment, when normally I would just grimace and move on? Several reasons:

First, I'm not sure any of the other reviewers (including myself) are basing their opinion of the book itself on whether or not the author has actually sold a screenplay (although the reasons for this lack of a sale become quickly apparent). Nor should such a standard be used to determine whether or not these reviewers have the right to comment upon whether or not the book was helpful to them. The author has every right to write the book, regardless of so-called qualifications; we have every right to comment upon it.

Second, the prior reviewer himself admits that the book is only helpful because it offers so many examples of what NOT to do. Faint praise, and hardly enough to justify giving the book a misleading four-star rating.

Third, for some reason the author himself has decided to post a commentary on this page, indicating that the Amazon reviewers' criticism is "harsh...irrelevant, and even malicious...," thus continuing to beat the drum that he is somehow misunderstood, both inside and outside of Hollywood.

Unfortunately, other than claiming courage and humor in the face of such indignities, he still has yet to make a convincing case that he can either do -- or teach -- any of the things of which he or his book assert he is capable. He wrote the thing, placed it in the public arena, and is now asking the public to pay good money to read it; he should thus be willing to let that same money-paying public comment on whether or not they found his product to be useful. (Hollywood can pass judgment on his scripts.)

I agree that our opinions are "harsh." Unfortunately, they are well-deserved and honest; the book is, frankly, a stinker and not very useful. Are they "irrelevant?" Absolutely not; they rightfully question the price tag attached to the advice being offered. Is the book worth purchasing? For many, the answer is apparently, "No."

Are they "malicious?" I highly doubt it. Yes, I personally felt that I had been sold a bill of goods, but I blame myself for that error as much as I blame the author and his publishers. I should know better than to read the book jacket, only, before making a purchase.

The author may indeed be a very nice gentleman -- I have never met him and likely never will -- however, this is not reason enough to pretend that his book is good or his lessons valuable. Again I say: he put himself into this arena, for money, and should thus be prepared for the slings, arrows and praise that follow.

Why am I so hung up on this? First of all, while most writers (including myself) dislike negative reviews of our work and secretly linger over positive reviews, we usually have the manners and the personal security to keep our mouths closed about both. Secondly, if one is going to defend one's work, one must do it on the merits of the work itself, not on whether or not one had honest intent in producing it. And finally, a wise writer understands that all reviews are valuable, especially the negative ones. Whether or not we agree with (or follow) their advice, we treat them as opportunities to learn, rather than occasions for defensiveness.

Book Description

This text has been out of print since 1990; it was originally published by Solomon Press in 1987. Several experts in the field have verified that the information in the book remains constant; nothing has, or will, change in the basic science of musical sound. It explains the science of musical sound without the encumbrance of detailed mathematics. It will appeal to music lovers as well as students of music and students of physics. It can easily be promoted with our physics program.

Musical Sound: An Introduction to the Physics of Music.

Average customer rating:

Musical Sound: An Introduction to the Physics of Music.

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IBNVJI

Average customer rating:

Musical Sound: An Introduction to the Physics of Music.
Michael J. Moravcsik
Manufacturer: Moravcsik, Michael J. Musical Sound: An Introduction to the Physics of Music. Foreword by Antal Dorati; introductory essay by Darrel Rosenbulth; Illustrations by Francesca Moravcsik. NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, A Solomon Press Book, 2002. Hardcover. 316pp. Fine, as new condition.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TAAB1Y

Musical Sounds: an Introduction to the Physics of Music

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Musical Sounds: an Introduction to the Physics of Music
Michael J. Moravesik
Manufacturer: Paragon House, New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RZMOHK

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Musical Sounds: an Introduction to the Physics of Music

Manufacturer: Paragon House, New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I9NFJG

The Physics and Psychophysics of Music: An Introduction

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The Physics and Psychophysics of Music: An Introduction
Juan G. Roederer
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Acoustics & Sound | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 354094298X

Satan, Cantor, And Infinity And Other Mind-bogglin
Average customer rating:

To tell the truth...

Perhaps Smullyan's best

Satan, Cantor, and Infinity - a novel about set theory

The best logic puzzles you will find

Extremely interesting if you love logic puzzles

Satan, Cantor, And Infinity And Other Mind-bogglin
Raymond M. Smullyan
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0679406883
Release Date: 1992-11-24

Customer Reviews:

To tell the truth..........2004-07-18

Raymond Smullyan has been described (by Martin Gardner, no less) as the most entertaining logician ever (lets leave aside the lack of competition here -- after all, Kurt Godel wasn't known to be a bundle of laughs, etc. ...). One of the points of logic is to figure out what lines of reasoning make sense, and what can be considered true and false, given the proper rules of rational thought and the right information.

This can be done by means of equations, symbolic expressions and linguistic tools, but this can be rather dry. A much more enjoyable means of learning to apply logical principles is through the kinds of puzzles presented by Smullyan. It is somewhat ironic -- story problems are the point of greatest dread among many mathematics students, yet the logic-equivalent of story problems are the most fun!

Smullyan has written several books on logic puzzles, and often starts with the device of puzzles with figuring out who is telling the truth and who is lying -- here it starts on the island of Knights and Knaves, where Knights always tell the truth, and Knaves always tell lies. However, apart from this distinction, it is impossible to tell them apart. Smullyan presents the problems, and then presents the solutions, not in the back of the book or in a footnote, but as part of the narrative. It is a very natural and logical progression.

In this logic-puzzle-story, Smullyan introduces the Sorcerer, not really a magician, but someone so skilled in logical thought that he is considered a magical figure. He leads the path across the novel, including what Smullyan describes as a 'guided tour of infinity' -- it is here that Cantor (from the title, the mathematician George Cantor) is brought up. If you think all infinities are equal, guess again. If you think all mathematical infinities add up to the same, or have the same properties, you'd be wrong. But how can this be proved?

Smullyan ends the book with a story of one of Cantor's students outsmarting Satan, relying on language and set theory to confuse the naming of a set in a clever bargain.

The book is a wonderful romp through logic, set theory, and rational thinking. It is not a simple book -- there are a number of places where equations and symbol logic methods are used; having at least a basic knowledge of algebra and elementary logic will make this book much more fun and accessible. However, many of the puzzles rely on common sense kinds of logic.

It is quite fun. Don't be a knave; read this book.

Perhaps Smullyan's best.......2002-04-22

A highly enjoyable book of mathematical puzzles and ideas. Overall I think this is the best of the books by Smullyan I have seen, as the narrative (hardly a story, but a narrative of discussions which introduce and explain ideas) is very readable. Smullyan uses this technique in several other books but often one gets a sense that there is only a little narrative to connect much hard stuff - here the maths is interwoven into the narrative in a way that makes it much easier to follow (for example, the characters make various comments and objections which the central character, the Sorcerer, responds to as if engaged in an informal tutorial).

Satan, Cantor, and Infinity - a novel about set theory.......2001-12-07

Professor Smullyan's book Satan, Cantor, and Infinity, is an excellent mathematical novel, extremely readable for everybody from elementary schoolboys(girls) to first class college (university) students. The story concerns three major personalities - The Sorcerer living in the Knight-Knave Island and Princess Annabelle with her suitor. As in many books of professor Smullyan the first half of the story is devoted to various puzzles about knights (truth-tellers) and knaves (liars). The third chapter takes place on the island of robots. The puzzles of self-constructive and self-destructive robots throw light on problem of languages, which allow self-reference, and the famous Gödel's theorems. This chapter may be harder to catch and the reader is recommended to consult another professor Smullyan's book, Forever Undecided. In the rest of the book are introduced Zeno's paradoxes concerning the problem of continuity and change (with these paradoxes are discussed the most elementary ideas of infinitesimal calculus), envelope paradox (a kind of paradox of rationality), ant the set-theoretic paradoxes (Burry's paradox, Mannoury's paradox, Russell's paradox and Cantor's paradox). The basic ideas of set theory are introduced in the form of problems of a prisoner in the Hell - Satan gives the prisoner opportunity to save himself(herself) if he(she) puzzles out an integer which Satan wrote on the paper closed in an envelope. Story also introduces the famous Continuum problem - the set theoretic problem formulated by the founder of set theory Georg Cantor in the 19th century and unsolved to our times (or at least unsolved by the more modest set theoretic principles not using some hypotheses concerning large cardinals). The story concludes with a nice Zwicker's hypergame paradox and a legend about a gifted student of Cantor imprisoned in Hell, who outwits the Great Satan. The entire book is written in non-technical style and really is a MATHEMATICAL NOVEL, maybe a mathematical fairy tale, not a textbook. (I would only like to know if professor Smullyan is really going to fulfill his promise given in the book that he will try to present more calculus ideas in the future.) Well, the book is very delightful reading for these days - the Good defeats the Evil even in this story, even in the realm of mathematics!

The best logic puzzles you will find.......2000-11-19

Before you start reading this book, prepare to have your logic bone tweaked, tickled and annoyed. There is no one better than Raymond Smullyan at creating logic puzzles that will intrigue, infuriate and stretch your mind to slightly beyond its limits. The last chapter, a dialog between Satan and a student of Cantor, could be the basis of a book and is a true work of genius. I read it twice, not because I didn't understand it, but because I enjoyed it so much.
The other sections of the book cover many facets of logic, including lists of superb problems about people from the planet Og, where green northerners always tell the truth and red northerners always lie. However, green southerners always lie and red southerners always tell the truth. Similar to the knights and knaves problems, most can be solved using a simple table. Solutions to the problems are given at the end of each chapter.
Raymond Smullyan seems to exist at a different logical level than the rest of us. His problems are at times fiendishly clever, although not beyond the capacity of someone willing to think a bit. This is a case where you can expand your mind by showing how limited it was before.

Extremely interesting if you love logic puzzles.......1999-09-30

This is a VERY good book some puzzles are easier and some harder, but all of them have an answer. hours of fun! when you are done go back and see if you can do some of the harder puzzles without peeking at the answer.

Marketer's Toolkit: The 10 Strategies You Need To Succeed (Harvard Business Essentials)
Average customer rating:

Simple and Effective Marketing Strategies

Marketer's Toolkit: The 10 Strategies You Need To Succeed (Harvard Business Essentials)
Business Essentials Harvard
Manufacturer: Harvard Business School Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Manager's Toolkit: The 13 Skills Managers Need to Succeed (Harvard Business Essentials)

Entrepreneur's Toolkit: Tools and Techniques to Launch and Grow Your New Business (Harvard Business Essentials)

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Harvard Business Essentials, Decision Making: 5 Steps to Better Results (Harvard Business Essentials)

ASIN: 1591397626

Book Description

Effective marketing can mean the difference between runaway successes and costly flops. Covering everything from customer programs to ad campaigns to sales promotions, this is every marketer’s hands-on guide to turning opportunities into profits.

Customer Reviews:

Simple and Effective Marketing Strategies.......2007-03-25

There are many books in my library devoted to more specific areas of marketing, but this is hands-down my favorite for covering the basics. It provides the information in a simple and easy-to-use format, and also includes plenty of references for additional reading.

Chapter 1 covers the basics of business strategy, alignment of marketing strategy with business strategy, and explains the changes in the phases of the product or service life cycle.

Chapter 2 discusses marketing plan creation, elements of marketing mix, applying the mix to a target market, paths to customer, placement and promotion.

Chapter 3, my favorite due to its research focus, discusses formal and informal methods of market research, the research process, and methods for analyzing customer preferences. This chapter also stresses the importance of utilizing those individuals who work closely with clients for informal research. It also includes tips on making a marketing-oriented company's workforce more outward-looking, such as sending technical people to key conferences, having them continually scan the literature and industry news, and sending them on customer calls with sales reps.

Chapter 4 focuses on market segmentation, as well as the basics of multifactor, relevant and effective segmentation, targeting the right segments, and positioning the product or service in the minds of customers.

Chapter 5, Competitor Analysis, explains how to identify and size up competitors according to strengths and weaknesses, as well as how to understand the five forces that make markets attractive or unattractive.

Chapter 6 discusses brand differentiation, and explains how commodity products and services are differentiated, approaches to differentiation, and differentiation through branding.

Chapter 7 discusses "The Right Customers", and includes information on understanding how customers differ in economic value, how to focus customer acquisition and retention resources, identifying sources and causes of defection, and gaining a greater share of the wallet.

Chapter 8 is devoted to new product development. It discusses horizontal and vertical product line extensions, NPD process, the stage-gate system for go-no go decisions, and the important role of marketing in the development process.

Chapter 9 is devoted entirely to pricing, and includes helpful information on cost-plus pricing, pricing and the experience curve, pricing for "snob appeal", stealth price increases, price promotions, pricing and customer-perceived value, and pricing throughout the product life cycle.

Chapter 10 talks about integrated marketing communications, including the six steps of the purchase decision, key communication vehicles, the six "M"'s of marketing communications, and guidelines for coordination.

Chapter 11 delves into interactive marketing, and discusses online commerce, e-mail campaigns, and best practices for web-based merchandising.

Of special interest to companies doing business in multiple countries and cultures, Chapter 12 goes into "Marketing Across Borders". It covers standardized versus customized products, successes and failure among "world" products, and control of global marketing decisions.

Chapter 13 discusses the future of marketing. It goes into the importance of delivering on marketing promises, growing fragmentation of U.S. markets, accountability for results, and ethical marketing behavior.

My only (minor) criticism of this book is that, in spite of the prominence of the word "toolkit" in the title, the appendices include only 3 actual tools. In my opinion, the information provided in the above-described chapters is far more valuable than the tools.

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