For the Common Good: Redirecting the Economy toward Community, the Environment, and a Sustainable Future

Book Description

Updated and Expanded Edition Winner of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order 1992, Named New Options Best Political Book Economist Herman Daly and theologian John Cobb, Jr., demonstrate how conventional economics and a growth-oriented industrial economy have led us to the brink of environmental disaster, and show the possibility of a different future.

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Another fine book by Herman E. Daly........2007-08-23

This is a seminal work in the field of Ecological Economics, a real primer.

Neatly organized in parallel chapters dealing, one point-of-view at a time, with some of the main consequences from the fallacy of misplaced concreteness.

I just have restrictions to his views at the chapter on Population, where he advocates for abortion and euthanasia. See, on the former I'd rather advocate sending unwanted children for adoption. As for the latter, ortothanasia (no desperate measures) is ethically right, but euthanasia is quite selfish stuff, not to be advocated for by people bent on reconstructing community. That is why I didn't grade it as 5-star.

Except for that, just another fine book by one of the finest thinkers in our time.

Let's hear it for the common good!.......2005-07-05

I have been a fan of Professor Daly's for some time. This book has some excellent analysis and some truly great commentary. The writing is a bit dry; if you're new to Professor Daly's work, you might want to try one of his other books first, like "Beyond Growth." "For the Common Good" does have some wonderfully thought-provoking lines. Just to give you a taste: "Economics cannot do without simplifying assumptions, but the trick is to use the right assumptions at the right time." Or, with regards to relying on technological fixes for environmental problems: "It is one thing to say that knowledge will grow (no one rejects that), but it is something else to presuppose that the content of new knowledge will abolish old limits faster than it discovers new ones." Another on the same subject: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it; if you must tinker, save all the pieces; and if you don't know where you're going, slow down." On population control: "Nature's way is not always best, but in this instance it seems more responsible than our current practice of allowing new human beings to be unintended by-products of the sexual fumblings of teenagers whose natural urges have been stimulated by drugs, alcohol, TV, and ill-constructed welfare incentives." Daly's Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare deserves to be far better known than it is. The analysis of misplaced concreteness, especially as it relates to the nature of debt, is very good.
The authors sometimes come across as a little naive in this book. For example, they propose making the government the employer of last resort. I think they do not realize just how hard it is to make such programs work; they inevitably decline into a morass of dependency and corruption. The Washington DC municipal government has taken precisely this approach in the past few decades, with predictable results.
I think the authors would also do well to do some research on the failures of utopian communities; since I was raised a Mormon, I know a lot about some of these. The chapter on religion strikes me as a bit silly. They want to bring God into the building of a more humane society; this is not necessarily bad, but I tend to think that science will take us farther than God will. In my opinion, Christianity's idea that the Second Coming of Christ is not far off is a very serious barrier to giving humanity's long-term future the attention it deserves. Talking about ethics, the authors say "But to believe that God does exist makes the ethical life more authentic." Well, that's only true if God really does exist, which I doubt.
Overall, the book has some excellent points to make. If you're interested in economics and public policy, don't miss it.

Ethical, Humanitarian, Communitarian, Sustainable.......2004-01-01

Dr. Herman E. Daly may well be a future Nobel Prize winner ...he is especially well-regarded in Norway and Sweden, where he has received prizes one step short of the Nobel. He is the author, co-author, or primary contributing editor of many books that fully integrate the disciplines of economics and ecology. I bought the three most recent for the purpose of selecting one to give out at my annual Global Information Forum. I ended up choosing this book to give away to hundreds, in part because it is available in paperback and is not a more expensive "trade" publication; and in part because it is strong in laying out specific ecological policy areas in the context of a strong theological or ethical perspective.

Of the three books I reviewed, (the newest "Ecological Economics: Principles and Applications", the oldest, updated, "Valuing the Earth: Economics, Ecology, Ethics") the first, the text-book, is assuredly the most up-to-date and the most detailed. If you are buying only one book for yourself, that is the one that I recommend, because these are important issues and a detailed understanding is required with the level of detail that this book provided. It should, ideally, be read with "Valuing the Earth" first (see my separate review of that book, from the 1970's updated with 1990's material and new contributions), then this book ("For the Common Good"), and finally the text book as a capstone. But if you buy only one, buy the text book.

This is a second-edition work, updated from the 1984 first edition. I like it very much in part because it comes across as less academic and more common-sense in nature. Part One does a lovely job of tearing apart the fallacy of misplaced concreteness with respect to economics, the market, measuring economic success, the reduction of the human to a "good" that can be traded without regard to humanity and ethics and community, and land. Part Two gently introduces the reader to the many distinguished thought-leaders and practitioners who have gradually matured the discipline of economics to embrace humanity, community, and sustainability as non-negotiable realities that cannot be ignored.

Part Three, a major factor in my choosing this book over the others for broad pro-bono distribution, addresses the specifics of policies one element at a time: free trade versus community; population; land use; agriculture; industry; labor; income policies and taxes; from world domination to national security as an objective. Finally, Part Four, without being corny or preachy, describes the religious or ethical vision (I still think the Golden Rule works as a one-sentence definition of common interest).

An afterword on debt in relation to money and wealth is particularly timely as the American public foolishly allows the White House carpetbaggers to run up a $7 trillion deficit that our great-grandchilden will never be able to pay off if we continue is these evil and irresponsible directions, all in sharp opposition to the sensible and ethical constructs in this book.

Of the three books, none of which really duplicate one another in any negative way, albeit with overlaps, this is the second that I recommend for purchase, after the textbook.

Great ideas, will they work?.......2001-05-29

The opening criticisms of how economics is taught in today's university structure along with the inappropriate credence given this largely theoretical topic's conclusions are well-presented and well-received. Similarly, the general theme of the recommendations is presented very nicely. Basically, we must focus on more local goods, more self-sufficiency in communities. The authors take the time and care to address such technicalities as what exactly they mean by communities. In general their care is a strength of the book, though perhaps more of the details could have been put in appendices or footnotes rather than disturbing the flow of the text. My main complaint is that no EXAMPLES are given--real-life attempts, either successful or failed, at some of their recommendations. Without examples, all their suggestions seem unsubstantiated. A lengthy but decent read, with a nice underlying philosophy.

Humane and incisive.......2000-08-25

Because of the large number of issues and sometimes conflicting solutions proposed, this is a difficult book to classify. Key, however, is the authors' profound refusal to subordinate the common good of the community to the god of the free market. This does not mean the elimination of markets where they have proven effective and non-destructive. It does mean keeping their operation within strict limits, so that people can regain a sense of community and a sustainable environment. Much of the book is taken up with showing the limits of market theory and practice, and in that sense should be studied by all with an interest in America's secular religion. Proposed solutions are decidedly non-ideological and largely eclectic. Both the left and the right should find points of agreement. All in all, this is an invaluable guide to many of the planet's most pressing problems and should be required reading for college undergraduates.

Book Description

How John Bogle built Vanguard and transformed the investment worldin his own words

Jack Bogle remains one of the titans of the investment world and a hero to the independent investor, as renowned for his influence as he is respected for his accomplishments. Character Counts is the story of how Vanguard was born, why it has flourished, and what leadership principles and management practices fostered its development.

Covering the period 19742001, the story is told through the dozens of potent and memorable speeches he has given to Vanguard crew members over the years, interspersed with a narrative that provides context and explanation. This "you are there" approach provides new insights into one of the world's most important financial institutionsand into the mutual fund industry itself. Character Counts paints an indelible portrait of the man Fortune named one of the "four giants of finance" of the 20th century.

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John Bogle remains one of the titans of the investment world and a hero to the independent investor, as renowned for his influence as he is respected for his accomplishments. Character Counts is the story of how Vanguard was born, why it has flourished, and what leadership principles and management practices fostered its development.

Customer Reviews:

give this book to your kids.......2003-12-03

Several reviewers say not to buy this book because it repeats itself over & over. That is just the point that these people (who must have low SAT scores) missed; namely that virtue and honor do not change.We all learn by repetition and that is what Mr. Bogle does. Vanguard was and continues to be founded on bedrock solid honest principles that will not change.He is especially cognizant of his "Crew" (they are above employees)and their constant contribution to the success of Vanguard. Mr Bogle had a heart transpant in 1996 and remains in vigorous and good health. My favorite quotation of his is "The past is history. The furure's a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present." (Page 272) This book could be sold in Christian Bookstores. I am sure many in the financial world cannot or will not understand it.I bought 5 copies of this book to give to my family & friends. It not only gives a history of the stock market for the last 80 years (and the shenanigans), but a wonderful lesson in CHARACTER COUNTS.

Simply Worthless Reading.......2003-11-08

Having read all of Mr. Bogle's other books, I found this one a total waste of time. Too bad, since his other books are masterpieces!

Don't buy this book!.......2002-10-29

I am a big Bogle and Vanguard Fan, and I say this as a shareholder. But this is a big waste of time, unless you like reading transposed speeches. Anyone looking for a in depth look into the development and early days of the Vanguard Group as Bogle transitioned from Princeton...to Wellington Renegade will be horribly disappointed. I know I was.

It's ironic that the cover of the book doesn't allude to it's content...copies of speaches. I guess "Character Counts" only when your dealing with other people's money...

Go Vanguard!

Too repetitive.......2002-09-13

I respect Mr. Bogle for what he has done for the mutual fund industry, however, I think he could have left his mark on this world without publishing this book. One can only read so many speeches where the same topic is discussed over and over again. Invest your money in Vanguard funds, but not this book.

An E for Effort, But not much More.......2002-07-29

I guess this book summarizes the state of publishing. You throw a multiple book advance at a retired legend; he pockets the money and rehashes a couple of his speeches from the last 25 years and you package them with a trendy, relevant title. Voila, you have a profitable book.

At least the sports writer was honest when he entitled his dip in the publishing money pool, "I am back for more cash."

The sad fact is there is probably not a better person to address the character issues facing Wall Street today. Being a full blooded member of the Wall Street Establishment, Mr Bogle understands the concept of "ringing the register." So when he returns, in the words of the sports writer, "for more cash," I hope he "earns it" in the words of deceased Smith Barney spokesperson.

A lot has happened since Bogle founded the Vanguard Group in 1974. As head of the firm, he read proxy statement after proxy statement disclosing increasingly more offensive conflicts of interest and stood idly by or perhaps worse, ignored them. I would love to know his thoughts on the role of the fiduciary in shareholder democracy. Or, how about boards of directors who continue to throw good money after bad down the rat holes of stock buybacks? Why did Vanguard play such a passive role in allowing the accounting profession to price it auditing services as a loss- leader so it could sell more profitable consulting products?

Bogle's observations on these trends would more than fill a book on character. My suggestion to readers is to save your money for Character Counts, The Sequel. Unlike Hollywood, the remake will have to be better than this sorry book.

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Passion for Reality Paul Cabot and the Boston Mutual Fund
Michael R. Yogg
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Encyclopedia of the American Judicial System Volume 3 : Studies of the Principal Institutions and Processes of Law (Encyclopedia of the American Judicial System, Volume 3)

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Encyclopedia of the American Judicial System Volume I : Studies of the Principal Institutions and Processes of Law (1)

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Encyclopedia of the American Judicial System: Studies of the Principle Institutions and Processes of Law

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Encyclopedia of the American judicial system; studies in the principal institutions and processes of law.

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This monograph is the first compilation of all known data on fossil rodents in North America. The author includes illustrations of all fossil families of rodents, the phylogenies for all familes, a discussion of the problematical taxa of rodents which are not referable to known families, and lists of all described fossil species. His work will serve as an indispensible reference for the paleontologist who wishes to identify specimens, and for the mammologist studying fossil history.

The Tertiary Record of Rodents in North America

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The Tertiary Record of Rodents in North America
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Nanoscale Probes of the Solid--Liquid Interface deals with the use of the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) and related instrumentation to examine the phenomena occurring at the interface between solid and liquid.
Scanning probe microscopy (the collective term for such instruments as the STM, the atomic force microscope and related instrumentation) allows detailed, real space atomic or lattice scale insight into surface structures, information which is ideally correlated with surface reactivity. The use of SPM methods is not restricted to ultrahigh vacuum: the STM and AFM have been used on samples immersed in solution or in ambient air, thus permitting a study of environmental effects on surfaces. At the solid--liquid interface the reactivity derives precisely from the presence of the solution and, in many cases, the application of an external potential.
Topics covered in the present volume include: the advantages of studying the solid--liquid interface and the obtaining of additional information from probe measurements; interrelationships between probe tip, the interface and the tunnelling process; STM measurements on semiconductor surfaces; the scanning electrochemical microscope, AFM and the solid--liquid interface; surface X-ray scattering; cluster formation on graphite electrodes; Cu deposition on Au surfaces; macroscopic events following Cu deposition; deposition of small metallic clusters on carbon; overpotential deposition of metals; underpotential deposition; STM on nanoscale ceramic superlattices; reconstruction events on Au( ijk) surfaces; Au surface reconstructions; friction force measurements on graphite steps under potential control; and the biocompatibility of materials.

Book Description

Understanding the Properties of Matter: 2nd Edition is an entertaining and innovative textbook that fulfills the needs of undergraduate physicists and physics teachers alike. This book introduces the properties of matter, taking a unique phenomenological approach. After an overview of basic ideas and a reminder of the importance of measurement, the book considers in turn gases, solids, liquids and phase changes. After examining data on the properties of matter, the text addresses a series of questions concerning the data, revealing a theoretical approach to the topic. Students benefit from extensive examples and end-of-chapter exercises, and this new edition has a chapter composed entirely of extended exercises. This approach motivates students and teachers alike, allowing everyone to rediscover a fascination for the subjects that have excited some of the greatest physicists of our age.

Customer Reviews:

From data to insight into matter.......2005-12-22

Michael Podesta makes us familiar with what the properties of matter actually are. These are tabulated for hundreds or thousands of substances. He believes that unless we are familiar with the properties of simple matter it is impossible ever to say that you understand them. But understanding them, thats not only the title, but its the goal of the book. In the context of this book the author considers the following `components' of the world, electrons, neutrons, and protons; and the electromagnetic field. The `tools' used are classical mechanics and quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. The book often follows the principle of presenting a valuable amount of data for a certain topic, and subsequently the reader enters a section `understanding the data' just presented. This way, the reader is motivated to think about explanations of the various effects by her/himself. M. Podesta hopes that the reader will discover (if she/he has not done so already) both the lovely certainties and stimulating mysteries that together make physicists enjoy their work, and continue to enjoy it as long as they can carry on with physics. It seems, that this goal has been achieved, and the book will be very useful for material scientists too. The textbook is entertaining and innovative and fulfills the needs of undergraduate physicists and provides many resources needed by teachers of physics. The book takes a unique phenomenological approach, it discusses gases, solids, liquids and phase changes. The book offers theory and practice under one roof. It is a good book to read in paralell with General Physics or a refresher book for someone who already had these knowledge but became rusted. Each state of the matter is explained with a physical theory and than the experiments are introduced, explained and compared with the theory and formulas. However, complex fluids and non-newtonian rheology of complex fluids are beyond the scope of this book. After an overview of basic ideas and a reminder of the importance of measurement, the book considers in turn gases, solids, liquids and phase changes. It offers a preliminary examination of data on the properties of matter, and then raises and addresses a series of questions concerning the data. It is only in answering these questions that the theoretical approach to the properties of matter is adopted. The book contains extensive examples and end-of-chapter exercises; this new edition has a new chapter composed entirely of extended exercises. This text takes an unusual approach to the teaching of undergraduate level matter, materials and solid-state physics. The book adopts a "here is some theory; this is what happens in the real world; lets develop a theory and see how it agrees with the experimental data" approach. This second edition takes the approach even further with additional web-based material including datasets to download, computer programs to simulate experiments and self assessment questions for each chapter, all of which make the book both student and teacher friendly.

Grat book about the nature of Matter.......2001-02-11

This is a perfect book for curious mind. Book explains in serious way with formulas and Physical concepts the behaviour of matter under different conditions. Gas state, Liquid state, Solid state and why matter behaves the way it does. It explains the physical phenomen and associated formulas and calculations. each state of the matter is explained with a physical theory and than the experiments are introduced explained and compared with the theory and formulas. theory and practice under one roof. it is a good book to read in paralell with General Physics or a refresher book for someone who already had these knowledge but became rusted.

Understanding Environmental Laws & Impact on Land Use: Leading Lawyers on Liability Issues, Regulatory Compliance Matters, and Preemptive Legal Strategies (Inside the Minds) (Inside the Minds)

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Understanding Environmental Laws & Impact on Land Use: Leading Lawyers on Liability Issues, Regulatory Compliance Matters, and Preemptive Legal Strategies (Inside the Minds) (Inside the Minds)
Aspatore Book Staff
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Understanding Environmental and Land Use Laws is an insightful, insiders glance at the many legal issues companies encounter when working closely with the governments dynamic environmental regulations. Featuring partners and chairs from some of the nations leading firms, this book provides readers with necessary insight on how to recognize current law trends and understand environmental legislation, as well as identify winning compliance, auditing, and preemptive practices when dealing with the environment and land use. Each author assumes a unique, applicable approach to expose, categorize, and explicate key laws which affect companies not only today, but into the future such as: Superfund, Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ), SWDA (Solid Waste Disposal Act ),and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).These leading lawyers delve into the core of each regulation to help guide readers in realizing the exact significance of each. The various perspectives and ideas offered by these exceptional authors prove worthy for readers interested in gathering information from within the minds of some of the greatest legal authorities practicing today. If in search of intuitive, practical wisdom, Understanding Environmental and Land Use Laws is an essential resource. Chapters Include: 1) Kenneth C. Gold, Partner, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP-- " An Overview of the Ever-Changing Realm of Environmental Law"; 2) Steven J. Levine, Partner, Phelps Dunbar LLP-- "Strategies for Success Both Now and in Days Ahead"; 3) Pamela Barker, Shareholder, Godfrey &Kahn SC-- "A Focus on Transactional Law and Regulatory Compliance"; 4) William F. Ford, Member, Lathrop &Gage LC-- "Protecting the Client and the Environment"; 5) Christopher B. Power, Partner, Dinsmore &Shohl LLP-- "A Closer Look at the Rules Governing Environmental Law"; 6) Robert F.Devolve, Partner and Shareholder, Leonard,Street &Deinard PA-- " Assessing and Minimizing Environmental Risks in Commercial Transactions". About Inside the Minds: Inside the Minds provides readers with proven business intelligence from C-Level executives (Chairman, CEO, CFO, CMO, Partner) from the worlds most respected companies nation-wide, rather than third-party accounts from unknown authors and analysts. Each chapter is comparable to an essay/thought leadership piece and is a future-oriented look at where an industry, profession, or topic is headed and the most important issues for the future. Through an exhaustive selection process, each author was hand-picked by the Inside the Minds editorial board to author a chapter.

Understanding the boundary/building location survey and related matters

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The Uncollected Henry James: Newly Discovered Stories

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More than two decades of research, study, and literary detection lie behind this treasury of stories by one of the undisputed giants in the field of American fiction, as Professor Floyd Horowitz here offers a collection of tales that he himself has authenticated to be the work of the prodigiously gifted Henry James. The author of such celebrated novels as The Portrait of a Lady, The Golden Bowl, The Wings of the Dove, and The Ambassadors, James is also justly remembered for his novellas and scores of short stories. And there may indeed be scores more, as this important volume shows. Published anonymously or under noms de plume in magazines like nineteenth-century New York’s favorite The Knickerbocker, Frank Leslie’s Lady’s Magazine, The National Magazine, and The Continental, a Civil War propaganda magazine, these previously uncollected pieces represent both apprentice work and early stories that already bear the mark of Jamesian artistry. Written in a period of more than ten years before James’s first signed fiction appeared (in 1865) and readily accepted by the publishers and editors among his father’s excellent connections, these uncovered stories add significantly to the James canon.

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