Book Description
From Alexander II, an enlightened ruler who emancipated the Russian serfs and worked for local government reform, to his son, Nicholas II, the last Czar of Russia, well-known royal biographer John Van der Kiste explores the lives and reigns of Russia's last dynasty. The collapse of the dynasty and the Russian revolution are vividly portrayed book through the lives of grandfather Alexander II and his controversial mistress, Catherine Dolgorouky who later became his second wife; father, Czar Alexander II and his daughter Grand Duchess Marie, wife of Queen Victoria's second son; Afred, Duke of Edinburgh; Grand Duke Serge (a governor of Moscow who was also assassinated); Grand Duke Paul who was captured and executed by the Bolsheviks shortly after the end of World War I, plus his four illegitimate children. The book is lavisly illustrated with a wealth of contemporary photographs.
Customer Reviews:
For those interested in learning about lesser known Romanovs.......2007-07-30
This novel focuses mainly on Tsar Alexander II, his children, and grandchildren. It also follows the lives of the children from Alexander II's second family with Catherine Dolgoruky. The novel reveals just how many colorful characters the were in the Romanov family besides Nicholas and Alexandra. In my opinion the book really doesn't go into as much depth when it comes to the section on Nicholas II than the ones on his father or grandfather and the last 2 chapters that are supposed to be for Nicholas seem to deal more with his uncle Paul Alexandrovich than with the emperor himself. That aspect of the book is actually kind of refreshing considering the deluge of information on Nicholas II, and by writing less about him may have the author's aim. The section on Alexander III, Nicholas' father, was very revealing seeing as how not much is written about him. The information on Alexander II's youngest child Catherine, by his second wife, was also equally revealing especially her life after the revolution. The book also throws in political information with the personal to create the prevailing moods of the different time periods.
Good study of a (deservedly) doomed family.......2005-08-29
Van der Kiste is a prolific author on the subject of modern British and Continental royalty, and this is one of his better efforts. While the Romanovs had ruled imperial Russia since 1613, the male line died out in the mid-18th century. The succeeding Holstein-Gottorp dynasty (a branch of the Oldenburgs), in the person of Peter III, took the Romanov name and produced five more tsars before the Russian monarchy came to an end in 1918. Tsar Paul was idealistic and generous but also vindictive and paranoid, and ultimately was assassinated. Alexander I, a complex and contradictory figure with mystical leanings, was also the most powerful ruler on the Continent after the fall of Napoleon. Nicholas I was a repressive autocrat of limited intellectual ability and was succeeded by Alexander II, a despotic but soft-hearted reactionary, nevertheless emancipated Russia's serfs. He, too, was assassinated, which led his son, Alexander III, to tighten his control of the Russian state. And his son, Nicholas II, was totally incapable of meeting the demands of the job in an age of world war mixed with long-simmering revolution. Moreover, all the tsars in this period married German princesses, which did nothing to endear the ruling family to the Russian people during the Great War. The author does a good job of tracing the psychological threads and social and political environments that formed this disastrous family.
Interesting history of the Romanov family.......2002-03-26
Mr. Van Der Kiste has once again given the reader a history of a royal family that presents the members as real people and not just historical personages. He also mentions collateral members of the family, not just the czars. Many photos enhance the text. A very enjoyable read.
Good, but also read ..........2001-04-19
This book on the Romanovs is a good description of the Romanov dynasty in its last century, concentrating primarily on the lives of Tsar Alexander II and his descendants. It does a good job covering the political and military events of the time, but is quite sketchy on the personal lives and characters of the last three Tsars and their relatives. This is a good book to have along with Charlotte Zeepvat's "Romanov Autumn", which covers the same time period but with a more personal slant.
Less is more...in this case it's still less.......1999-12-28
If you've read any of Mr. Van Der Kistes works you will usually find them to be sound bytes rather than a volume filled with information. The Romanovs is a decent book, but hardly worth this price. Mr. Van Der Kiste as usual skims the surface, doesn't even go near his subject matter. He crams a history of a family, into two hundred pages, five generations, and at least 100 members. Some he mentions some he doesn't. And unfortunately it's been done much better. Perry and Pleshakov recently did a very good job with The Flight of the Romanovs. If one is going to tackle such a subject, one should be able to provide information, rather than sound bytes. But this is the fourth book I've read by Mr. Van Der Kiste, and they're all pretty much the same. Lacking in substance.
Book Description
Based on a forthcoming major ESPN movie event, 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story blends rare photographs with real-life stories to create a lasting tribute to one of America's great sports icons ninth-grade dropout, son of a hard-driving father, Dale Earnhardt endeared himself to millions of Americans with his fearlessness, his dogged pursuit of victory, and his down-home Southern charm. Nicknamed 'The Intimidator,' he bumped, banged, and bullied his way to seven Winston Cup championships in fifteen years-a feat equaled only by the great Richard Petty. In a finale befitting a legend, Earnhardt died in February 2001 on the last turn of the last lap of NASCAR's greatest race, the Daytona 500.
Customer Reviews:
An American Legend.......2004-12-19
My brother recently died and he was a huge Dale Earnhardt fan. Well, I didn't really like him but because my brother did I decided to watch the movie. I loved it. I grew up around racing with my brother and don't live but about 5 miles from the Talladega track in Alabama. I highly recommend this movie.
A wonderful way to remember a great human being.......2004-12-18
This movie was very well done and well worth buying the DVD. Dale Earnhardt was an inspiration to us all.
Excellent Story!.......2004-12-13
I Became a Dale Earnhardt fan in 1988, first year of the Goodwrench Sponsorship. Didn't know much about him before '88, this movie gave a great perspective on his early life and what shaped him. I was at Daytona in '01 and this American Hero is missed very much by our family!
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Dale Earnhardt Sr.: Matt Christopher Legends in Sports
Matt Christopher , and
Glenn Stout
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
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On the Field with...Derek Jeter (Matt Christopher Sports Biographies)
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On the Field with... Alex Rodriguez
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On the Court With... Shaquille O' Neal
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At the Plate with...Ken Griffey Jr. (Matt Christopher Sports Biographies)
ASIN: 0316011142 |
Book Description
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. first broke onto the racing scene in 1979, when he was named Rookie of the Year. In the more than 20 years that followed, his daring driving style earned him several top honors, including his proudest moment, a victory at Daytona. On February 18th, 2001, Earnhardt had been racing in the Daytona 500, when in the final lap, he had a fatal crash. While other drivers have come and gone, the face of Dale Earnhardt, Sr., with his handlebar moustache and wide grin, will always be the face of NACAR. Get to know a legend.
Book Description
Dale Earnhardt was known as the Intimidator on the NASCAR circuit. He truly was a living legend in the world of racing, but his life ended tragically in February 2001 when he was killed on the last lap of the Daytona 500. Earnhardt's untimely death at age forty-nine shocked the racing world and the world at large.
Although in recent years Earnhardt had relinquished his No. 1 spot among Winston Cup drivers to others, he was still considered the greatest threat to win every time he took the wheel. Indeed, his craggy, mustachioed countenance remained as familiar to millions as any other sight in the NASCAR world, and his greatness seemed to grow every time he raced.
NASCAR's Rookie of the Year in 1979, Earnhardt forged a career that included seven NASCAR national championships, seventy-six career wins (including his lone Daytona 500 victory in 1998), and over $34 million in prize money, which is more than any other driver has ever won. Earnhardt was as tough as they come behind the wheel, also earning the name of "Old Ironhead" in part because of his reputation for never backing down on the track, where close calls and bumps at nearly 200 miles per hour are part of the sport's inherent risk.
In I Remember Dale Earnhardt, the Intimidator is remembered through hundreds of anecdotes, stories, and insights recounted by fellow drivers, team members, NASCAR officials, and friends and associates. Together they offer a unique and touching reminiscence of one of the greatest and most charismatic race car drivers ever to climb behind the wheel.
Customer Reviews:
A must have!.......2006-03-14
I started watching NASCAR in the late 80's and instantly became a Dale Earnhardt fan. I followed his career and road the roller coaster of good years and bad years. I learned everything I could possibly learn about the man. When I read this book, I learned so much more!
It's one thing to be a fan and to read about or hear about your driver. But to hear personal stories from the people who were closest to him and knew him best is just a whole other world. With stories from Ken Shcrader, Jeff Gordon, Bud Moore, Junior Johnson, Humpy Wheeler and many more NASCAR personalities that knew him intimately, this is definitely THE essential Dale Earnhardt book. At the risk of sounding like an advertisement, if you only read one book about Dale Earnhardt, make it this one!
DALE EARNHARDT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.......2002-01-07
Just by reading this book. You can tell that Dales memories will always live on forever. If you a HUGE Dale Earnhardt fan like myself, then this book is for you.
*We love you Dale. Your memories will always live in my heart til I see you in Heaven, racing on the tracks of gold. God bless.*
Dale Earnhardt is the BEST.......2001-08-22
In the book, I expected a lot more stories and anecdotes from racers; I could barely find any. But that's a minor detail. I am a hard-core Dale Earnhardt fan, and this book was very heart-warming. I love all the personal stories of Dale! I haven't gotten a chance to look at it all yet, but it's a wonderful book. I was not a huge racing fan (like I am now) when most of Dale Earnhardt's terrific achievements took place, and this book took me to that land. I'd like to thank whoever's book this is, because all I wanted was a book of tidbits like this, and now I have it. I completely treasure this book. If you are only looking for stories from racers like Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton (some of my personal faves) this may not be right for you, but if you luv the Earnhardts as much as I do, don't hesitate.
Book Description
The ultimate Dale Earnhardt track record covers The Intimidators entire NASCAR career through 23 seasons and seven Winston Cup championships until his tragic death at Daytona in February 2001. In addition to track-by-track race records and every conceivable statistic relating to Earnhardt, a huge selection of photos feature shots of the NASCAR legend and the cars he drove on NASCAR tracks, beginning with his first race in 1978. Also included are details of Earnhardts International Race of Champions (IROC) efforts and his stunning performance with son Dale Jr. at the 2001 24 Hours of Daytona endurance sports car race.
Customer Reviews:
The Grail of Earnhardt Books !.......2007-01-06
I normally try to avoid describing a book in ways that might be seen as hyperbole, but this book defies that rule ! An incredibly thorough statistical breakdown of the career of one of NASCAR's greatest drivers and most beloved stars, John Regruth's book is worthy of being called awesome. Accompanied by more than 80 color photographs, this book begins with a complete listing of his career statistics and records, then chronicles his races year-by-year, then finally his results at each track. Starting position, finish, laps, money, Cup points.... it is all in here. Quite simply put, the absolute best statistical record of Dale Earnhardt's career available. Superb !
Have a mug of coffee close by !!!.......2003-11-19
Let me say first that this book only remindedd me of the 94 Brickyard where me & my wife sawd him whiles we was tryin to get an autograph. I must tell you that there are so many facts & numbers that it will make your head spin,kinda like being in the infield at Daytona after a case of Busch beer. It made a good addition to our Earnhardt wall clock
stats,stats and more stats and stats you never thought of.......2002-01-07
Let me say that I am a NASCAR and huge Dale Earnhardt fan! This book is a must have for ANY Dale fan. There are other stat books in the making by the same author of other great NASCAR drivers like Jeff Gordon. I had to have this book. This book is a testimonial of how great of a driver Dale was. You can't compare Dale to Richard Petty and you can't compare Jeff Gordon to Dale because of the different eras and technology in stock car racing but Dale was the best of his era and many other great NASCAR drivers like Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson think he was the best ever. I agree!!! This book has every imaginable stat of Dale. From year by year to track breakdowns and even his IROC stats. A must have for any Earnhardt fan. We miss you Dale! Thanks for the memories!!! Rest In Peace!
A GUD BOOK.......2001-08-04
I beleiv I speak for all race fans when I say Dale Earnhardt was a great man. He drove better than anybody. He was number three. He was called the inimidater. Then he crashed which is a trajity.
A must be read book for all true race fans.
If you want stats.......2001-07-16
This book has them all. Year by year,track by track,track type breakdowns, percentages. The numbers boggle the mind. An excellent statistical record of Dale's career.
Customer Reviews:
only found one item that needs corrected.......2001-04-17
On page 24 the book indicates that Baseketball was Dale's silver screen debut however it was in Stroker Ace in 1983 that Dale did his first cameo. Just a small oversight I am shure but I found the book to be a must to complete my collection
A true Champion.......2001-04-10
This book talks and shows how Dale Earnhardt really is. A true champion in his sport, and in his private life as well. No one can compare to the way he was on or off the track, and no one ever will. this book is a great addition to any and all nascar collection one my have. don't let this book pass you by. get it while the getting is still good.
Product Description
Oversized softcover book.. This is a tribute book to the late Dale Earnhardt.
Average customer rating:
- DISORGANIZATION
- Too Much Hype
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Dale Earnhardt: 1951-2001
Frank Moriarty
Manufacturer: Metrobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1567999654 |
Book Description
Seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, whose aggressive driving style and incredible will to win earned him the respect of the motorsports world, was a legend in his own time. He single-handedly rewrote much of auto racing history, and his tragic death on the track in 2001 devastated his legions of devoted fans. For them, there is this fabulous action-packed tribute, filled with color and rare black-and-white photographs, numerous quotes by and about "The Intimidator," and extensive listing of his career statistics. Every moment of Earnhardt's meteoric rise from upstart to superstar is documented, from the first day he pulled up to the starting line in 1979 to his final lap at the Daytona 500. Thrill to the story of this determined NASCAR champion as he battles it out on the rough dirt tracks of North Carolina, achieves dominance throughout the 1980s and 90s, and keeps on winning until that last, fatal day.
Customer Reviews:
DISORGANIZATION.......2001-07-25
AS happens with CART, NASCAR is sometimes an amateur organizati9on, making unbelivable blunders. Compared to the FORMULA ONE environment, they are amateurs, really. Concerning security, the difference is abysmal.
Too Much Hype.......2001-07-13
Spent too much time reading an over hyped bio of a sports figure. The cause of death was too sensationalized. Book was bland. Frank Moriarty did not cover the issue of the total lack of safety by NASCAR. They are to blame for unsafe cars, races, and procedures.
In short I wasted money to buy, wasted time to read, and wound up throwing the book out
Average customer rating:
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Reel Meals, Set Meals (FILM)
Gaye Poole
Manufacturer: Currency Press Pty Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Reel Food: Essays on Food and Film
ASIN: 0868195782 |
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The Great Canadian Trivia Book 2
Randy Ray , and
Mark Kearney
Manufacturer: Hounslow Press
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ASIN: 0888821972 |
Book Description
Did a Canadian kill famed escape artist Harry Houdini? Are the streets of Yellowknife really paved with gold? What was Canada's connection to those famous "Paul McCartney is dead" rumours of the late 1960s? And just how long does it take a drop of water to flow from Lake Superior to the Atlantic Ocean? The Great Canadian Trivia Book II brings you all these answers and more. In the much-anticipated sequel to their bestseller, The Great Canadian Trivia Book, award-winning writers Mark Kearney and Randy Ray dig even deeper into Canada's curious characters, storied past, natural phenomena, cultural idiosyncrasies, and the peculiarities of our leisurely pursuits. In the pages of this intriguing book, you'll discover the Canadian who was responsible for introducing the glove to professional baseball, the story behind Canada's blue two-dollar bill, how the robbery phrase "hands up" was connected to Canada, and whether a goalie can take a face-off in a hockey game. Think it's unlikely a Canadian might have been president of the United States? That Sir John A. Macdonald was the only one in his family to achieve political fame? Or that a Canadian rock group would turn down a chance to play at the famous Woodstock festival of 1969? The Great Canadian Trivia Book II will have you thinking again. And again.
Average customer rating:
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The Great Canadian Trivia Book
Randy Ray , and
Mark Kearney
Manufacturer: Hounslow Press
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0888821883 |
Book Description
Canada has given the world the real Winnie the Pooh, the phrase "Beatlemania," and the man who invented the Academy Awards. If it weren't for Canada, we might not have the pie-in-the-face gag, basketball, time zones, or the dotted white line on the middle of highways. And anyone who still thinks Canada is dull obviously doesn't know about the Canadian who was the longest serving prisoner on Alcatraz, or the night that members of Parliament threw books and toy balloons at each other during a wild debate in the House of Commons. The Great Canadian Trivia Book explores the noteworthy and the notorious, the factual and the phenomenal, the obscure and outlandish sides of the Great White North.
Book Description
Build a relationship with your customers and close the sale more surely.
The Socratic approach respects the power of the customer. The customer has the need, the power, and the decision-making authority. Socratic Selling shows you how to access that power, to cooperate with it, and to make it work for you.
Inside you will discover how to:
- Open a sales dialogue dynamically, so that you and your customer go right to the heart of the matter
- Guide the dialogue through a discovery of needs and needed decisions
- Negotiate objections, and close effectively
- Uncover the motivators that move sales to more predictable closure
Customer Reviews:
Can a salesperson be an uninterested facilitator of the sale?.......2006-12-21
The thought of connecting one of the greatest thinkers -- and questioners! -- in human history to the sales process is a seductive one. After all, we know so much about the Socratic process for discovering truth, which is based on an agreement between two or more people, that it would be foolhardy not to use Socrates as one of our examples. Indeed, one of Socrates' admonitions to his students was: "Why be stupid and learn from experience, when you can learn from me!"
What can we learn from the Socratic method?
First, we can learn from Socrates' approach to discovering truth. According to Socrates, truth is born within us. But, we lose touch with truth, because we forget our connection to it. So, Socrates describes himself as the "midwife" of truth. Socrates is the facilitator who helps his interlocutor discover truth on his own, without coercion or persuasion. To Socrates, coercion and persuasion were the sins of the Rhetoricians.
Second, we know that Socrates saw the pursuit of truth as an uninterested pursuit. Being right was not his goal, and he foreswore any agendas or ulterior motives. However, he did want to find a common ground with his dialogue partner.
In his book, "Socratic Selling," the emphasis is placed on developing these two virtues: the salesperson should see himself as the facilitator of a sales process that leads to a directed goal, and the salesperson should see himself as "uninterested." This last virtue is harder to adopt , because the average salesperson is very "interested" in closing the sale.
It is for this reason, that Daley focuses on the basic preoccupations of the sales process, which were similar preoccupations for Socrates: uncovering needs, agendas, preconceptions, resistances, bad feelings, fears.
Thus, through "listening" and guiding the customer through a discovery process towards her actual needs, and through directed questioning, Daley hopes to marry the Socratic method to the modern sales process.
His contrast between the "uninterested facilitor" Socrates vs. the highly motivated, more "persuasion-oriented" salesperson is refreshing. It is perhaps time that we abandon the pursuit of formulating value propositions, deflecting objections, and inventing competitive advantages in favor of a more humane Socratic approach, which, for the customer, must be ultimately more satisfying.
Overrated and a disappointment.......2004-01-24
I'v long been a student of questioning techniques and this book was a disappointment and I'm glad I didn't pay full price for it. Questions are critical tools in sales -- but there are much better books on the use of questions than this book --which is light on technique and long on story.
I recommend Tom Hopkin's classic "How to Master the Art of Selling" for a great exposition about the use of different types of questions (open, closed, etc.).
The best book I've ever read on selling technique is "Unlimited Selling Power: How To Master Hypnotic Selling Skills" by Donald Moine for this reason:
55% of all communication is non-verbal (body language)
38% is how you say it (tone, rate, pitch)
which leaves a whopping 7% verbal (magic words)
You are only using 7% of your ammunition with verbal techniques.
I wouldn't choose this book to learn about the 7%.
One of the best questions you can ask at the start of a selling interview is:
WHAT IS YOUR OUTCOME FOR OUR MEETING TODAY?
and one of the best questions to find out what your prospect wants the product to do for them is:
LET'S SUPPOSE IT'S ONE YEAR DOWN THE ROAD, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE HAPPENED FOR YOU TO KNOW THIS WAS THE RIGHT DECISION FOR YOU?
and to find out why someone is not wanting to buy your product or service is a personal favorite I made up:
What's not there for you?
Try these and will begin to tune into your customer's true reality -- not your perceived reality of him or her.
Are you tired of losng sales and not knowing why?.......2002-04-02
Do you find it hard to get customers to let you in on their decision making process?
I found the ideas in this book very helpful both in and out of sales situations. It helped me learn to listen to people a lot better; perhaps it can be as helpful to you?
Not for the TeleSelling Professional.......2000-08-09
While I found this book helpful in the general sense of the word, it was aimed solely at the "outside" sales rep who sees his/her customer face-to-face. It provided good reminders for seasoned sales reps, but wasn't revolutionary in it's ideas of selling. It was a short read - no more than 4-5 hours. It demonstrated very good closing tactics and objection handling, but all of this is after you make contact. It didn't explain how to get past the secretary screen, how to get the appointment or even how to find out who the decision maker is. Most of the sale, if not all of it, is done over the phone and that was completely overlooked.
Excellent Socratic Questions for Solution Selling.......2000-07-23
Most salespeople are trained to give a spiel, answer objections, try to close, and keep closing. This book argues that that approach will not be very productive. The book argues that the customer expects this to be a buying experience with the customer in charge. The standard sales approach is primarily annoying to the customer.
First, I should share with you that I spent three years at Harvard Law School where almost all classes used the Socratic teaching method. From that experience, I can certainly tell you that being asked hard Socratic questions is tough on the person answering the questions. So I was immediately taken by this book's emphasis on asking easy-to-answer Socratic questions that would help the person think through their own issues.
The Socratic method is simply a way of asking questions that permits the answerer to develop her/his own point of view. It is intended to be helpful, but it can feel like being put on the spot unless the questions are very easy. (An example of an easy question is "What is the worst experience you have had in buying these products in the past?") (An example of a hard question is "What would it take for you to buy from me today?" asked in the first 2 minutes of the meeting.)
Mr. Daley reports on a survey with 300 experienced salespeople and 400 buyers. They agreed that the main problem with salespeople is that they talk too much. In response, Mr. Daley advocates a system of active listening (80 percent of the time), interspaced with questions designed to help the customer (rather than manipulate the customer). I think he really has something here. I thought back to my most successful sales meetings with consulting clients, and essentially these meetings contained all of the elements described here.
Here's an overview of the suggested process:
1-explain what you've prepared to discuss 2-invite the customer to speak about his/her interests in that subject 3-offer an immediate benefit for this sharing (such as being willing to direct your comments to the customer's needs as just expressed) 4-ask for more detail about what the customer says 5-check for urgency and locate potential deadlines 6-find out what is bothering them the most in this area 7-find out what motivates them the most to do something in this area 8-summarize what they have said 9-get the customer's agreement with the summary 10-make a recommendation 11-answer the customer's questions and objections about your recommendation 12-create appropriate closes for the customer's needs.
Three Socratic principles are proposed:
1-Always have and show respect for the customer (especially by active listening) 2-Help the customer think (the book has questions to help you do that) 3-Help the customer to make a decision (the book has more questions to help in this area, as well).
I think that virtually any salesperson can master this approach within 3 months if practiced diligently. I also suspect that your sales will improve if you do, especially if your customers have problems that they need you to help them solve. The larger the economic value of your sale, the better this approach should work. It should be most helpful in selling intangibles like services.
Good luck in overcoming your misconception stall about how to sell!
Books:
- The Ruling Elite of Cambridgeshire, England, C. 1520-1603 (Studies in British History, 74)
- The Saxon and Norman Kings (Blackwell Classic Histories of England)
- The Stewarts: Kings & Queens of the Scots 1371 - 1625
- The Windsor Knot: Charles, Camilla and the Legacy of Diana
- The Yamato Dynasty: The Secret History of Japan's Imperial Family
- Victoria: An intimate biography
- Wars of the Irish Kings: A Thousand Years of Struggle, from the Age of Myth through the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I
- Windows for the Crown Prince: Akihito of Japan
- Without Justice for All: The New Liberalism and Our Retreat from Racial Equality
- Yale English Monarchs - William Rufus (The English Monarchs Series)
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