SAP BW Certification: A Business Information Warehouse Study Guide

Book Description

Provides an overview to the exam's topics, including a "Need to Know" list that identifies areas that must be understood in-depth.
Includes exercises that can be performed, usually with a small test BW server.
Contains practice test questions that assess the readers knowledge of the current exam topics.
Serves as a complement to the classroom training provided by SAP.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Pay Full Price.......2004-12-17

This book is so out-of-date as to be almost dangerous. Do not think that you're going to buy this book to use as a reference later. The book was written for 2.2 BW; the updates in the appendix for 3.0 are confusing, misleading, etc.

The only advantage that you will get from this book are some sample test questions to get your mind working. However, some of the questions do not relate at all to 3.0; some of them have incorrect answers; I don't remember recognizing any of the questions on the test from the book.

The book describes the administration of the test. This is very out-of-date in terms of number of questions, length of test, how the test is graded, etc. Don't rely at all on this part of the book.

If you can't get a cheap used copy of this book, don't bother.

Catherine Roze or Wiley Publishers: If you're out there listening, please revise this book. If you need help, let me know; I'm an out-of-work Certified BW Consultant. . .

outdated.......2004-11-21

I did pass the exam (Business Warehouse 2002), but not because of reading this book. Both the content and the sample questions now only have little to do with the exam content. It will be even less with the upcoming Netweaver exam. The introduction about how to prepare for the exam might make you a bit confident, but that's all. But you can also have this information for free: the BW 2002 exam is multiple choice, consists of 80 questions and takes three hours. BTW: as far as I remember, the book says 60 questions and one hour. You see, there must have happened something in the meantime.

beggars can't be choosers..........2004-07-21

And this is very unfortunate in the case of this book. It's not very good as guides go, but it's the only BW certification book I've found. If you're not taking the certification exam, save your money. This book may be an ok intro to BW, but it's definitely not a stand-alone.

Pros:
- It's simple and easy to understand. It goes down pretty easy.
- There are sample questions.
- Since it's geared toward the test, you know you're not trying to memorize extraneous information. Plus it gives tips on what to expect on the exam.

Cons:
- Sometimes it's a little too simple. Some heavily tested topics (ETL, for example) aren't covered in as much depth as they could or should be.
- Sometimes you get the idea that the author doesn't really know what she's talking about and is just slapping some facts, lists, and definitions together without analysis, explanation, or understanding.
- A lot of information about the 3.x version of BW is found in a long appendix full of dense, contextless white papers as if the author didn't have time to figure them out herself so she just tacked them on the end. The book is geared toward the BW 2.0 test which I don't think is even offered anymore.
- The sample questions aren't very good. They're occasionally not even in the format of the actual test. Way too many questions have the choice "All of the above" or "None of the above" as filler when the question itself excludes that choice as a possible answer. A lot of the sample questions (about 5-10%) have wrong answers which helped erode my faith in the sample tests and the book in general. Some question topics aren't covered in the book which only adds to the frustration of incorrect answers.
- There are parts of the book that are repetitive (do I really need to be reminded 6 times that there are 16 dimensions available?) while others aren't even internally consistent.

The book is out-of-date and sometimes inaccurate and extremely frustrating to use as a result. The guide could've been better, but I can't complain much since it's the only one available. If you must use it, I would recommend Mastering the SAP Business Information Warehouse to check facts against. It's a lot more dense and hard to read straight through, but it's also much more accurate. It's understandably hard to keep up with a fast-changing technology, but that doesn't really help assuage my disappointment.

For Consultants who want to get their SAP-BW-Certificate.......2003-08-18

This review was written by a consultant, who can look back on 8 years of SAP-experience and almost 2 years of experience with SAP-BW.

This book targets consultants, who want to cross-check their knowledge, before they take their multiple choice test for the SAP-BW-Certificate. It does contain the orginal Multiple-Choice-Tests for SAP-BW 2.1., and it does contain information on SAP-BBW. It is useful, but you should consider the following shortcomings:

(1) This book is on SAP-BW 2.1, but the most up-to-date release is 3.1. There were many changes since then

(2)If you are just a BW-User, who wants to know, which button to push and which report to start, you should consider other books.This book has got few screenshots and it is definitely not for novices. You can use it, to test knowledge,but it is not comprehensive enough, to teach new knowledge.

(3) If you are a systems administrator or a practitioner, who wants in depths technical information, but who does NOT want a certificate, you should consider other books.
Examples: Kevin McDonalds book on BW or a german publication by Christian Mehrwald (SAP BW Relase 3.0)published by dpunkt-Verlag (Mehrwalds book was written in german and to the best of my knowledge it has not been translated yet, though it is the best book on that topic I know) .

With all due respect towards Mrs Roze, her book is rather thin (260 Pages), does use a large letter type, has got many blank spaces and devotes 20-30% on very general topics (OLTP versus OLAP, Exam preparation etc). The structure of the book is rather erratic. I got along with it, as I have got experience, but a novice might be forced to flip pages forwards and backwards a lot. Moreover, this book does not contain that type of hands-on-advice on administration, that can be found in more advanced books on BW. The scientific content of the chapters varies a lot.
Some are too simple, others discuss very esoteric topics, which you hardly need, except in your exam. Even if you are lucky and pass the test, because you memorize all questions, this is not enough to use BW in you daily work.

(4) I agree with the previous reviewer, that there are mistakes in the multiplechoice-tests, that some answers are definitely wrong, and that some tests ask for information, that one can not find in the corresponding chapter.

SUMMARY: This book is still useful, but only for experienced consultants, who want to get their SAP-BW-Certificate,and moreover it has got some serious flaws.

Helped me pass the exam........2003-02-05

I have passed the exam with this book without any prior knowledge on sap r/3 or sap bw. However, there were several questions in real exam which could not be answered with the knowledges from this book. Besides, I should complain about the sample questions. There were several wrong answeres (an exctly same question apeared more than twice and they had different answeres).

Book Description

Buch 2 des niederlandischen Burgerlichen Gesetzbuches enthalt das Herzstuck des niederlandischen Gesellschaftsrecht. Es gibt Zugang zu den Regelungen des Vereins, der Genossenschaft, des Versicherungsvereins auf Gegenseitigkeit, der Aktiengesellschaft, der GmbH und der Stiftung. Auch die Vorschriften uber die Umwandlung, Verschmelzung und den Jahresabschlus finden sich im Gesetz. Zustzlich ist nun auch die Spaltung juristischer Personen aufgenommen worden. Der originale Gesetzestext wird hier in aktualisierter Fassung wiedergegeben. In direkter Gegenuberstellung findet sich eine fachkundige und sorgfaltige Ubersetzung. Die Ubersetzer sind rechtsvergleichend erfahrene deutsche bzw. niederlandische Juristen. Nieper und Westerdijk schopfen aus langjahriger Ubersetzungerfahrung. Sie gaben bereits die vom niederlandischen Justizministerium autorisierte Ubersetzung des gesamten Burgerlijk Wetboek heraus. Die neue Ausgabe der Ubersetzung von Buch 2 BW erganzt und aktualisiert die Gesamtubersetzung, die in dieser Reihe erschienen ist.

Book Description

Due to its inherent characteristics, mercury contamination from gold mining is a major environmental problem compared to past mercury contamination from industrial point sources. The worsening of social-economical conditions and increasing gold prices in the late 1970s resulted in a new rush for gold by individual entrepreneurs for whom Hg amalgamation is a cheap and easily carried out operation. Even after the present-day mining areas are exhausted, the mercury left behind will remain part of the biochemical cycle of the tropical forest. This book reviews the current information on mercury from gold mining, its cycling in the environment and its long-term ecotoxicological impact. The book is illustrated with numerous diagrams and photographs.

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Precious Soil (Learning System)

Manufacturer: Marshall Cavendish
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Soil Science | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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THE PRECIOUS SOIL.

Manufacturer: Marshall Cavendish
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HJ4CSA

Soil geochemistry and detection of early Roman precious metal and copper alloy working at the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester, Hampshire, UK) ... from: Journal of Archaeological Science]

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Soil geochemistry and detection of early Roman precious metal and copper alloy working at the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester, Hampshire, UK) ... from: Journal of Archaeological Science]
S.R. Cook , A.S. Clarke , and M.G. Fulford
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Soil Science | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Geochemistry | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000RR490S

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Journal of Archaeological Science, published by Elsevier in 2005. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
A geochemical soil survey was carried out over 500m^2 of a first and second century AD house complex in insula IX of the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester, Hampshire, UK) where there was little prima facie evidence for non-ferrous metalworking. Preliminary analyses were made by XRF of lead, zinc and copper. These were followed by analysis for Au, Ag and Sn by ICP-MS of the samples with the highest concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cu. Certain of the Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations suggest the working of copper alloy including brass, and could be associated with archaeological evidence of hearths and burnt areas of second century AD date. Other samples have concentrations of the above metals and of gold and silver which do not appear to be associated with any physical remains of hearths and burnt areas. These concentrations date to the mid-first century AD.

Cumberland County's soils: saving or wasting a precious resource: An evaluation of Cumberland County's erosion and sedimentation control program

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Cumberland County's soils: saving or wasting a precious resource: An evaluation of Cumberland County's erosion and sedimentation control program
Barbara A Elmer
Manufacturer: Cumberland County Conservation District
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Soil Science | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00070SDHK

Protect and improve precious Indian soil: A photographic account of erosion on Indian land with the soil and moisture conservation pratices for protecting and improving the soil

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Protect and improve precious Indian soil: A photographic account of erosion on Indian land with the soil and moisture conservation pratices for protecting and improving the soil
Evan L Flory
Manufacturer: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Branch of Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Soil Science | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Sustainable Agriculture | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

$The use of Fe/Mn oxide-rich fracture coatings in the geochemical exploration for precious metal deposits: A comparison with standard rock and soil geochemistry : final report (MMRI)$
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The use of Fe/Mn oxide-rich fracture coatings in the geochemical exploration for precious metal deposits: A comparison with standard rock and soil geochemistry : final report (MMRI)
Lawrence T Larson
Manufacturer: s.n
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Geochemistry | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006YISGS

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Dictionary of Human Biology: English/German, German/English (Worterbuch der Humanbiologie)

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Dictionary of Human Biology: English/German, German/English (Worterbuch der Humanbiologie)
Peter Reuter
Manufacturer: Birkhauser
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

Biochemistry | Basic Science | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 3764361980

Book Description

Birkhäuser`s Dictionary of Human Biology is the most comprehensive English-German/ German-English dictionary on the international market. More than 60.000 entries and subentries with some 150.000 translations and an extent appendix with abbreviations and terminologia anatomica provide users with an unrivaled coverage of medical, biological and related bioscientific areas. The dictionary excels through a harmonious synthesis of biomedical and general bilingual dictionaries, making it the ideal choice for users from both scientific and linguistic fields. Furthermore, Birkhäuser`s Dictionary of Human Biology is marked by a first class linguistic and lexicographic treatment and offers additional features, such as syllabification and pronounciation, that help in achieving a very high user friendliness and user satisfaction.

Book Description

The physics and mathematics of nonlinear dynamics, chaotic and complex systems constitute some of the most fascinating developments of late-twentieth-century science. Universal constants in chaotic behavior have been discovered, changing our understanding of important phenomena in such fields as physics, biology, chemistry, economics, and medicine. In this book, two dozen scientists and mathematicians who were deeply involved in the "nonlinear revolution" cover most of the basic aspects of the field. The book is divided into five parts: dynamical systems, bifurcation theory and chaos; spatially extended systems; dynamical chaos, quantum physics and the foundations of statistical mechanics; evolutionary and cognitive systems; and complex systems as an interface between the sciences.

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More Narcissism By A Public Relations Hack

Read this at the Jersey shore this summer!

Way to go, Eric!

Money Wanders wanders

Right on the Money

Money Wanders: A Novel
Eric Dezenhall
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Shakedown Beach: A Mystery

Jackie Disaster: A Mystery

Third and Indiana: A Novel

ASIN: 0312311346

Book Description

Get Shorty brought the mob to Hollywood. Now, Money Wanders brings a wiseguy mentality to Washington spin, media, and image. Jonah Eastman, a disgraced Beltway pollster, is summoned home by his ailing grandfather Mickey Price, a legendary Atlantic City gangster. When Mickey dies, Jonah is 'persuaded' by mob boss Mario Vanni to help Vanni improve his image by launching a PR campaign aimed at public acceptance and ultimately a way 'outta the life.' To pull this off, Jonah enlists the help of his grand-father's Prohibition-era cronies, pimply-faced hackers, a disgruntled Secret Service agent, a cagey D.C. lobbyist, and a street-fighting rabbi.

Customer Reviews:

More Narcissism By A Public Relations Hack.......2002-08-20

Why am I not suprirsed? A public relations professional decides to write a novel that suggests that the power or PR is so pervasive and important that it can turn the fortunes of a mafia murderer. Only a narcissist like Eric Dezenhall could suggest such a hypothesis. In this case, the main character is a maligned campaign consultant (seems to be patterned after Ed Rollins) who is then hired by a mob leader to help his quest for a New Jersey gaming license.

Suprisingly enough, the plot of the book and its unique characters almost are good enough to give the book a positive recommendation. The pages turn quickly as you read through a story that includes a number of public relations stunts to boost the mobster's standing in the community.

In the end, there are a number of plot twists that give you a bit of a surprise ending but there were too many problems with the book for me to recommend. The biggest of the problems was that dialogue is not handled very well by the author. There were far too many times where I had to put down the book for a few minutes and re-read passages to determine who was saying what in the conversation because Dezenhall did not tag the identifications well.

Finally, the main characters love interest with a musician who plays at his uncle's funeral just didn't work for me. He attempts to use her as the connection to his past/family and how he got mixed up into the the mob, but it never seems very plausible. While the ending is a bit of a surpise, it's not all that satisfying because it is a bit too contrived.

In the end, while most PR pros might think they are so good that they can make a murderer/mobster look good, the facts are that you can spin the facts only so much until people are on to you.

Read this at the Jersey shore this summer!.......2002-06-19

OK, here's the brief plot synopsis:
boy living in the modern world of PR/polling and the Internet is drawn back home to New Jersey and the Mob background that his grandfather was prominent in and wanted him to leave behind. It's an interesting merger of a mafia story with modern technology.

I found this on the new book shelve in the library and the synopsis caught my attention. I'm glad I picked it up. This is an entertaining read with a more substance than the typical summer novel. For a first novel, it is excellent, much richer than you would expect. For any novel, this is a fine read, well worth the time investment for you thriller fans out there.

The story was not predictable; you really had to hang in to the end to figure out what was going to happen. The characters get fleshed out as real people. I'd guess the author is from Jersey and knew these kinds of people growing up. He also knows the world of modern polling and media manipulation. Read his bio on the book jacket for some interesting background.

There were a couple of times you'd want to go back and read a sentence or two as some of the metaphors were a little strained but they stood out as exceptions. This guy is a very decent writer. I'll read his next one.

Way to go, Eric!.......2002-05-11

"Money Wanders" is a very pleasing first novel in the crime genre. Eric Dezenhall has done a good job nuancing his characters by emphasizing little details -- Vanni's facial tic, for example, helped me to understand the real viciousness of this man.

Furthermore, I found myself laughing at some of the scenes while still cognizant of the criminal nature of the participants.

Finally, I was captured by the poignancy that both Vanni and Mickey wanted to provide for their children a life better than what they had had.

In the end, romance, whimsy and a little forward-thinking nest-feathering by Mickey combine to bring a very satisfying closure to the story. Thanks, Eric!

Money Wanders wanders.......2002-05-06

This has a great concept, and the first two-thirds are quite enjoyable. However, toward the end, it seems to lose its way. What I assumed to be the main plot -- the PR campaign for Vanni -- gets wrapped up abruptly, and other issues take the forefront. Unfortunately, I found those other issues less interesting, and more unlikely.

Overall, not a bad book though.

Right on the Money.......2002-04-22

Mickey Price is a 95-year-old kindly Jewish grandfather whose past was as notorious as Meyer Lansky's. His pal Irv the Curve was with Dutch Schultz when he was gunned down in Newark in 1935. Both have survived their prohibition era heritage by "seeming" but have not abandoned all ties to their old lives. In his final days Mickey, who sort of controls the Golden Prospect casino in Atlantic City, tells his grandson Jonah Eastman that Philadelphia crime boss Mario Vanni needs to talk with him. Jonah, a 38-year-old Dartmouth grad raised away from the business (with Mickey while he was on the lam in Europe, actually), is called the "Poll Vaulter" in D.C. because of his aggressive methods of shaping public opinion. Mickey dies and Vanni hires Jonah to make him respectable enough to get a casino license, an offer he couldn't refuse.

Here the story bumps around a bit from an "Analyze This" type farce, which it isn't, to a veiled secondhand expose of how la Cosa Nostra operates. For a while it seemed Denzenhall would be content to use characters like Mickey and Irv merely to lob in bits of Mafia lore, like it was the mob that his both JFK and Vince Foster. The subplots of the Vanni makeover, Jonah's romance with Edie the waspy klezmorim singer, his confrontations with Noel who is Vanni's psycho consigliere and everybody's quest for what Mickey left behind start to wander like the money in the title. More than once I stopped to speculate on how this phase of Jonah's life would end, but nothing I imagined came close.

In the last 50 or so pages every piece of Denzenhall's story including many seemingly insignificant references to Indian culture and the mysteries of the Pine Barrens ties together in a very satisfying conclusion. There's also a somewhat thoughtful message about what the real legacy is from one generation to the next. With the exception of a preposterous scene with Jonah and Noel in Carvin' Marvin's Cadillac Seville, Mickey and his crew did a pretty good job of letting Jonah find his way.

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