The Fed: The Inside Story How World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives Markets
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Skip it
  • Dry and tedious
  • The best book on the subject I've encountered
  • Tempted to give five stars...
  • Not good at all
The Fed: The Inside Story How World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives Markets
Martin Mayer
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Economic HistoryEconomic History | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
InternationalInternational | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Money & Monetary PolicyMoney & Monetary Policy | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Banks & BankingBanks & Banking | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
EducationEducation | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Bankers: The Next Generation The New Worlds Money Credit Banking Electronic Age The Bankers: The Next Generation The New Worlds Money Credit Banking Electronic Age
  2. Secrets of the Temple: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country Secrets of the Temple: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country
  3. A Term at the Fed : An Insider's View A Term at the Fed : An Insider's View
  4. Bubble Man: Alan Greenspan and the Missing 7 Trillion Dollars Bubble Man: Alan Greenspan and the Missing 7 Trillion Dollars
  5. The Case Against the Fed The Case Against the Fed

ASIN: 0452283418
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Amazon.com

Martin Mayer's engaging examination of the much-talked-about but little understood U.S. Federal Reserve begins with the dramatic events of October 1998, a month in which the market closed "lock limit down" for the first time in almost a decade. At the same time, Alan Greenspan, the Fed's chairman, began radically reinventing his agency's role and its influence on the market. Indeed, while most of the rest of the world's countries were diminishing the role of their central banks, Congress was granting new powers and responsibilities to the Fed. Mayer's book--part history, part journalistic report, and all detailed analysis--looks at the significance of those powers, their benefits and risks, and what they mean to the markets. He also devotes chapters to the day-to-day inner workings of the Fed, its influence in international financial matters, and its possible role in coming years.

As a prolific author and respected economics scholar, Mayer has been immersed in the financial world for decades and provides both bird's-eye and long-range views of money's complicated maneuverings. Without his excellent storytelling abilities and fluid writing style, this book would be heavy going for anyone who doesn't speak the language of high finance. Though it is most definitely dense (and its structure somewhat erratic), Mayer manages to make a complicated subject accessible for those with more interest than actual knowledge. An informative look at a hitherto enigmatic but influential institution. --S. Ketchum

Book Description

Interest in Alan Greenspan and the Federal Reserve Board has never been greater and veteran financial journalist Martin Mayer delivers a first rate explanation of how the Fed works and how its decisions drive financial markets.

The Fed has entered a new era, and few understand the rules of its game. Whereas it once indirectly exerted influence on the economy by overseeing what the banks did, it now must push directly on the markets. What brought about this sweeping change? Why do interest-rate changes sometimes move the markets as expected and other times fail to have any effect? How else do Fed decisions affect us?

Offering behind the scenes stories from past and present Fed administrations and explaining the significance of the recent expansion in the Fed's power and perks, Martin Mayer, one of the world's best financial journalists, offers a new explanation of the Fed's changing role, explains why all the old rules for Fed watchers are no longer relevant, and what investors must know to understand the Fed today.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Skip it.......2007-09-26

I'm not sure that the book lives up to its claim of providing the inside story on the Fed. The writing style is not user friendly and the author uses concepts or lingo that he doesn't bother to explain. More interesting and informative books on the Fed can be found elsewhere. This is a good one to skip.

2 out of 5 stars Dry and tedious.......2007-09-01

Reading this book felt a bit like listening to the pompous diatribes of an elitist that is so self absorbed about his own knowledge that he does not care to take the time to explain anything. I'm sure there is lots of good information to be had if I had a solid understanding of how the fed worked already, but then that would have defeated the purpose for which I bought the book!

5 out of 5 stars The best book on the subject I've encountered.......2007-04-23

If you are starting out in finance and want to know how the Fed works, this is the best book for you. It's not the easiest or the smallest, but it is the most illuminating. This book was very helpful to me when I started on Wall Street. It's a bit long (to be fair I'm still about 100 pages away from finish) but will make you understand why, as of April 23, 2007 "The 13 1/4 percent bond due in 2014 that the government sold on May 15, 1984, returned an annualized 24 percent. The S&500 returned 13 percent, including dividends, during the same period. Bonds gained more than shares of Motorola Inc., DuPont Co. and Duke Energy Corp." - this is from today's Bloomberg.
This and reading Pimco's McCulley/Gross monthly pieces is a must if you want to understand what's driving world capital markets.

4 out of 5 stars Tempted to give five stars..........2006-08-27

Martin Mayer has been writing about banking for decades. He has held positions in government, and testified as an expert in various governmental committees. He has known personally many of the people about whom he is writing in this book.

His writing style is dense. He often assumes the reader is familiar with banking terms or processes (or can go look them up). If you can get through this, the information he provides is priceless. I came away from reading this book with a variety of insights into banking and the federal reserve that will continue to inform me for years to come. I have read a number of books on the fed, and this is certainly one of the best (along with Greiders).

2 out of 5 stars Not good at all.......2006-07-08

When people buy books like this, in most cases, they don't know much about the topic and would like to learn more about it. This author writes as if the reader knows everything already, speaking of person after person and concept after concept all along he barely introduces anyone or explains the concepts which he is writing about in any logical fashion. In addition, the author goes on tangents and loses focus which is hard to follow. On top of that, this book is packed with pro-fed propoganda I found to be out of place. If you already know everything about how the federal reserve works and it's history, this book might keep your attention, but then again why would you buy this book if you already knew everything about the fed? I would not suggest this book. I wanted to learn about the fed but instead I wasted both my time and money.
The Fed. (Book Reviews).(The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Market) (book review): An article from: Finance & Development
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Fed. (Book Reviews).(The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Market) (book review): An article from: Finance & Development
    Michael Taylor , and Martin Mayer
    Manufacturer: International Monetary Fund
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Digital

    GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
    ASIN: B0008ILHTW
    Release Date: 2005-07-28

    Book Description

    This digital document is an article from Finance & Development, published by International Monetary Fund on December 1, 2001. The length of the article is 831 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

    Citation Details
    Title: The Fed. (Book Reviews).(The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Market) (book review)
    Author: Michael Taylor
    Publication: Finance & Development (Magazine/Journal)
    Date: December 1, 2001
    Publisher: International Monetary Fund
    Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Page: 65(1)

    Article Type: Book Review

    Distributed by Thomson Gale
    The Fed: The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Markets. (Book Reviews).(Book Review) (book review): An article from: Journal of Economic Issues
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The Fed: The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Markets. (Book Reviews).(Book Review) (book review): An article from: Journal of Economic Issues
      Eric Tymoigne
      Manufacturer: Association for Evolutionary Economics
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Digital
      ASIN: B0008DAZXQ
      Release Date: 2005-07-31

      Book Description

      This digital document is an article from Journal of Economic Issues, published by Association for Evolutionary Economics on March 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1444 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

      Citation Details
      Title: The Fed: The Inside Story of How the World's Most Powerful Financial Institution Drives the Markets. (Book Reviews).(Book Review) (book review)
      Author: Eric Tymoigne
      Publication: Journal of Economic Issues (Refereed)
      Date: March 1, 2003
      Publisher: Association for Evolutionary Economics
      Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Page: 217(3)

      Article Type: Book Review

      Distributed by Thomson Gale

      The Practice of Banking 2
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The Practice of Banking 2

        Manufacturer: Springer
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        Banks & BankingBanks & Banking | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Finance | Accounting & Finance | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
        ASIN: 0860105644
        Practice of Banking 2
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Practice of Banking 2
          J.R. Marsh FCIB , and D.G. Wild FCIB
          Manufacturer: Pearson Higher Education
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          Banks & BankingBanks & Banking | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
          ASIN: 0273028189
          The Practice of Banking 2 (Practice of Banking 1)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            The Practice of Banking 2 (Practice of Banking 1)

            Manufacturer: Springer
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            Banks & BankingBanks & Banking | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Finance | Accounting & Finance | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: 0860105881
            Securities for bankers' advances, (His The law and practice of banking, v. 2)
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Securities for bankers' advances, (His The law and practice of banking, v. 2)
              James Milnes Holden
              Manufacturer: Pitman Publishing
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Unknown Binding

              GeneralGeneral | Law | Subjects | Books
              Private LawPrivate Law | Law | Subjects | Books
              ASIN: 0273315587
              Circular 230 final Regs.(practice before the IRS)(part 2): An article from: The Tax Adviser
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                Circular 230 final Regs.(practice before the IRS)(part 2): An article from: The Tax Adviser
                John C. Gardner , Barbara J. Eide , and Susan L. Willey
                Manufacturer: American Institute of CPA's
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Digital

                NonfictionNonfiction | Subjects | Books | Automotive | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Crime & Criminals | Current Events | Economics | Education | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Government | Holidays | Law | Philosophy | Politics | Social Sciences | Transportation | True Accounts | Urban Planning & Development | Women's Studies
                GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                GeneralGeneral | Nonfiction | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                ASIN: B0008G80BW
                Release Date: 2005-07-30

                Book Description

                This digital document is an article from The Tax Adviser, published by American Institute of CPA's on February 1, 2003. The length of the article is 2503 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

                Citation Details
                Title: Circular 230 final Regs.(practice before the IRS)(part 2)
                Author: John C. Gardner
                Publication: The Tax Adviser (Magazine/Journal)
                Date: February 1, 2003
                Publisher: American Institute of CPA's
                Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Page: 96(4)

                Distributed by Thomson Gale
                Dealing with the IRS: appeals & collections. (part 2 of a three-part series): An article from: The National Public Accountant
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Dealing with the IRS: appeals & collections. (part 2 of a three-part series): An article from: The National Public Accountant
                  Royce E. Chaffin , and George Busby
                  Manufacturer: National Society of Public Accountants
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Digital

                  GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                  ManagementManagement | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                  ManagementManagement | Business & Investing | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                  ManagementManagement | Business & Investing | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                  ASIN: B000988DT8
                  Release Date: 2005-07-28

                  Book Description

                  This digital document is an article from The National Public Accountant, published by National Society of Public Accountants on June 1, 1998. The length of the article is 4503 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

                  From the supplier: Accountants are expected to assist and represent their clients in the appeals and collections processes involved when taxpayers are assessed additional taxes or are subject to IRS actions for the collection of previously assessed taxes. Taxpayers may go to the appeals office for consideration of tax assessments. If the matter is not resolved at the appellate level, an appeal may be made to the federal courts. Accountants should prepare protests carefully to avoid jeopardizing the taxpayer's chances for a peaceful and mutually satisfying solution of the problem.

                  Citation Details
                  Title: Dealing with the IRS: appeals & collections. (part 2 of a three-part series)
                  Author: Royce E. Chaffin
                  Publication: The National Public Accountant (Magazine/Journal)
                  Date: June 1, 1998
                  Publisher: National Society of Public Accountants
                  Volume: v43 Issue: n4 Page: p27(5)

                  Distributed by Thomson Gale
                  International Banking Operations and Practices:Current Developments (International Banking and Finance Law, Vol 2)
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    International Banking Operations and Practices:Current Developments (International Banking and Finance Law, Vol 2)

                    Manufacturer: Springer
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

                    GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                    Banks & BankingBanks & Banking | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                    Business LawBusiness Law | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                    BankingBanking | Business | Law | Subjects | Books
                    FranchisingFranchising | Business | Law | Subjects | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Law | Subjects | Books
                    Science & TechnologyScience & Technology | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | International Law | Law | Subjects | Books
                    BankingBanking | Business | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Business | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                    International LawInternational Law | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                    GeneralGeneral | Reference | Subjects | Books
                    ASIN: 1853339970

                    Book Description

                    International Banking Operations and Practices: Current Developments is based on a conference which was held in Taipei on 22--24 June 1992. It represents a tightly coordinated and edited collection of scholarly and highly practical chapters prepared by leading experts on banking law. Important changes are taking place in the financial sectors in the Pacific Rim; vital roles are being played by Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. This volume deals with the relevant legal questions regarding the changing international financial practices and is divided into two parts. Part I deals with Foreign Banks in International Banking Operations, and Part II covers International Banking and Private Law. This collection, which was designed as a broad foundation for comparative analysis of changes and reforms occurring worldwide in international banking regulation and practice, will be an invaluable aid to all domestic and international government officials, executives of banking and other financial institutions, professionals (attorneys, accountants and other advisers) representing such institutions and academics, in trying to understand both policies and practicalities reflected by these rapid changes and reforms. A separate, but related, companion volume on international banking regulation and supervision has also been produced, entitled International Banking Regulation and Supervision: Change and Transformation in the 1990s, which deals with the broad policy issues entailed in the liberalization and deregulation of the banking industry.
                    Marketing value: a well-rounded marketing plan can showcase your Type-2 services.(PRACTICE MANAGEMENT) : An article from: California CPA
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Marketing value: a well-rounded marketing plan can showcase your Type-2 services.(PRACTICE MANAGEMENT) : An article from: California CPA
                      Chris Frederiksen
                      Manufacturer: California Society of Certified Public Accountants
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Digital

                      GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                      ASIN: B000ALUFGS
                      Release Date: 2005-07-25

                      Book Description

                      This digital document is an article from California CPA, published by California Society of Certified Public Accountants on June 1, 2005. The length of the article is 845 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

                      Citation Details
                      Title: Marketing value: a well-rounded marketing plan can showcase your Type-2 services.(PRACTICE MANAGEMENT)
                      Author: Chris Frederiksen
                      Publication: California CPA (Magazine/Journal)
                      Date: June 1, 2005
                      Publisher: California Society of Certified Public Accountants
                      Volume: 73 Issue: 10 Page: 35(1)

                      Distributed by Thomson Gale
                      The Old West way: when PlainsCapital Corp., Lubbock, Texas, realized that the $2.5 billion institution needed to brand itself in order to help fuel its ... Story) : An article from: ABA Bank Marketing
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        The Old West way: when PlainsCapital Corp., Lubbock, Texas, realized that the $2.5 billion institution needed to brand itself in order to help fuel its ... Story) : An article from: ABA Bank Marketing
                        Janet Bigham Bernstel
                        Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Digital

                        GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
                        GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                        ASIN: B000BJB0QI
                        Release Date: 2005-09-22

                        Book Description

                        This digital document is an article from ABA Bank Marketing, published by Thomson Gale on September 1, 2005. The length of the article is 2561 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

                        Citation Details
                        Title: The Old West way: when PlainsCapital Corp., Lubbock, Texas, realized that the $2.5 billion institution needed to brand itself in order to help fuel its rapid growth, the result was a red buffalo and a visionary 'No Fences' campaign.(Branding)(Interview)(Cover Story)
                        Author: Janet Bigham Bernstel
                        Publication: ABA Bank Marketing (Magazine/Journal)
                        Date: September 1, 2005
                        Publisher: Thomson Gale
                        Volume: 37 Issue: 7 Page: 18(7)

                        Article Type: Cover Story, Interview

                        Distributed by Thomson Gale
                        The Practice of Banking 2
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          The Practice of Banking 2

                          Manufacturer: Springer
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback

                          GeneralGeneral | Finance | Accounting & Finance | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                          ASIN: 086010589X

                          Restitution ,,Entarteter Kunst: Sachenrecht Und Internationales Privatrecht (Schriften Zum Kulturguterschutz / Cultural Property Studies)
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            Restitution ,,Entarteter Kunst: Sachenrecht Und Internationales Privatrecht (Schriften Zum Kulturguterschutz / Cultural Property Studies)
                            Hans Henning Kunze
                            Manufacturer: Walter De Gruyter Inc
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Hardcover

                            GeneralGeneral | Law | Subjects | Books
                            GeneralGeneral | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                            GermanGerman | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                            NonfictionNonfiction | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
                            Professional & TechnicalProfessional & Technical | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
                            All German BooksAll German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
                            ASIN: 3110168189

                            Agricultural Ecosystems: Unifying Concepts
                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                              Agricultural Ecosystems: Unifying Concepts
                              Richard Lowrance , and Benjamin R. Stinner
                              Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Hardcover

                              GeneralGeneral | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                              GeneralGeneral | Ecology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                              GeneralGeneral | Agricultural Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                              ASIN: 047187888X

                              Biology Write Now!
                              Average customer rating: Not rated
                                Biology Write Now!
                                Theodore L. Taigen , and Joseph Monninger
                                Manufacturer: Mcgraw-Hill College
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Hardcover

                                GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                                GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                                Natural HistoryNatural History | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
                                GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                                ASIN: 0070031436

                                Book Description

                                This collection of brief, original essays meets the growing need to incorporate the writing process into the biology curriculum. Biology Write Now presents students with an even-handed treatment of topical, often controversial issues in biology. Using the text's essays as points of departure, students write their essays based on their own critical thinking and understanding of biological principles and biology's role in society and the world. The text can be used with both majors and nonmajors in biology and as a supplement in both lower and upper level courses.
                                BIOLOGY WRITE NOW!
                                Average customer rating: Not rated
                                  BIOLOGY WRITE NOW!
                                  Theodore L. & J. Monninger. Taigen
                                  Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Inc.,
                                  ProductGroup: Book
                                  Binding: Paperback
                                  ASIN: B000RIOF2E
                                  Biology Write Now!
                                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                                    Biology Write Now!
                                    Theodore L. Taigen
                                    Manufacturer: Mcgraw-Hill College
                                    ProductGroup: Book
                                    Binding: Paperback
                                    ASIN: B000OFLZZ0

                                    An Assessment of Natural Hazards and Disasters in Canada
                                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                                      An Assessment of Natural Hazards and Disasters in Canada

                                      Manufacturer: Springer
                                      ProductGroup: Book
                                      Binding: Hardcover

                                      Disaster ReliefDisaster Relief | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                      Social Services & WelfareSocial Services & Welfare | Poverty | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                      ResearchResearch | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                      Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      RiversRivers | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Geology | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Meteorology | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      HydrologyHydrology | Environmental | Civil | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                      Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science | Earth Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Earth Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                      GeologyGeology | Earth Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                      WeatherWeather | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
                                      All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                                      NonfictionNonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                                      Outdoors & NatureOutdoors & Nature | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                                      ProfessionalProfessional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                                      ScienceScience | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
                                      ASIN: 1402011792

                                      Book Description

                                      The problems and issues of natural hazards and disasters, both globally and in Canada, are becoming increasingly important since the costs of extreme natural events have been escalating, and significant vulnerabilities exist in Canadian society. Without thoughtful and effective mitigation, these costs and human suffering are likely to continue to increase. An assessment of knowledge, research, and practice in risk, hazards and disasters fields is a fundamental step towards the goal of prevention and mitigation.

                                      This book on natural hazards and disasters in Canada is the first comprehensive interdisciplinary publication on this subject, and is the result of a national assessment on this topic. A variety of papers from the physical and social sciences explores both the risks associated with these hazards, and adaptive strategies that can be used to reduce those risks.

                                      Audience: This excellent collection of papers is intended for academics, professionals and practitioners involved in hazard reduction activities who wish to obtain a better understanding of Canadian natural hazards.

                                      The Nine Numbers of the Cosmos
                                      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                                      • Still mostly relevant, still excellent
                                      • Review Update, Jan. 2004 - Nine Numbers Now Outdated
                                      • Cosmology updated
                                      • The Nine Numbers of the Cosomos
                                      The Nine Numbers of the Cosmos
                                      Michael Rowan-Robinson
                                      Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                                      ProductGroup: Book
                                      Binding: Hardcover

                                      AstronomyAstronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      Astrophysics & Space ScienceAstrophysics & Space Science | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      CosmologyCosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      Solar SystemSolar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      UniverseUniverse | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      CosmologyCosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      General & ReferenceGeneral & Reference | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
                                      Astrophysics & Space ScienceAstrophysics & Space Science | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                      CosmologyCosmology | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                      GeneralGeneral | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                                      ASIN: 0198504446

                                      Book Description

                                      How old is the universe? How far away are the galaxies and how fast are they travelling away from us? What do the atoms in our bodies, our very existence, tell us about the history of the universe? Are we in a special place in the universe? What is dark matter and why do astronomers think it pervades the universe? How heavy is the vacuum? How do galaxies form? Michael Rowan-Robinson answers these questions and encapsulates all that modern astronomy has learnt about the universe around nine numbers. Some, like the age of the universe are natural choices. Others are less obvious. His motto is Montaigne's 'What do I know' and the reader emerges with a genuine feel for what we really know about the universe and also what we do not know. Only one of the nine numbers is known with real precision and four of them are extremely poorly known. Difficult ideas like the origin of the elements, the General Theory of Relativity, quantum theory, and the standard model of particle physics, ideas which underpin modern cosmology, are explained in a simple way. Speculative ideas like inflation, 'Theories of Everything', strings and superstrings, are here but they are treated with a refreshing scepticism. Although most of what we know has been learnt during the twentieth century, Rowan- Robinson gives a historical perspective and pays homage to the achievements of the Greeks, renaissance astronomers and the age of Newton. He ends the book with a look forward in time, predicting that with the advent of the MAP and PLANCK- Surveyor space missions, the Large Hadron Collider and other planned experiments, all the nine numbers will be accurately known by 2015. But many questions and mysteries will remain and the book ends with the prediction that the origin of the Big Bang itself will remain a mystery in 2100 and perhaps even in the year 3000.

                                      Customer Reviews:

                                      5 out of 5 stars Still mostly relevant, still excellent.......2005-11-06

                                      Nine Numbers is similar to the later work by Martin Rees ("Just Six Numbers") in its approach to a popular work on cosmology. Rowan-Robinson looks at nine cosmological numbers that are so crucial to our understanding that if altered but little would make our existence impossible.

                                      While the work is dated (1999), those aspects are primarily cosmetic (exact value of constants, exact age of the universe, etc.) The key concepts are mostly applicable today, to the best of my knowledge. Those concepts that are radically different in 2006 are still so cutting edge that we can't be confident about them anyway. While we can only hope that the author updates Nine Numbers, it would be a shame to reject this fine book because it doesn't cover Dark Energy, the latest kinks in String Theory or the Holographic Universe.

                                      Rowan-Robinson is unique among cosmology writers in that he does not eschew a bit of technical dirty-work. Readers should be comfortable with graphs, charts, trends, logarithms, and orders of magnitude. At the same time, the work is not so technical that most readers couldn't grasp it.

                                      Especially refreshing is the author's excellent writing -- very fluid, yet direct and unflambuoyant. Nine Numbers is an unassuming work that offers a rich trove of insight. If you are looking for another cosmology book to read at a bargain price, consider this one.

                                      3 out of 5 stars Review Update, Jan. 2004 - Nine Numbers Now Outdated.......2003-11-01

                                      Cosmology is in upheaval. In January, 2004 the AAAS journal Science selected the confirmation of dark energy as the scientific breakthrough of 2003. The universe is only 4 percent ordinary matter (galaxies and interstellar dust). Dark energy and exotic matter make up the other 96 percent. The universe is a strange place.

                                      It is great to be an astronomer, or astrophysicist, or cosmologist in heady times like this. But for an author such times are difficult; a book can become outdated in less time than it takes to write it.

                                      In 1999 Michael Rowan-Robinson, Head of the Astrophysics Group at Imperial College, discussed nine numbers that play a critical role in our description of the universe. Just four years later, with our new understanding of dark energy, this well-written, detailed look at observational astronomy and cosmology needs substantial revision.

                                      We now say the age of the universe is 13.7 billion years plus or minus a few hundred thousand. Just a year ago our best estimate was 10 to 14 billion years. The rate of expansion of the universe is now pinned down at 71 kilometers per second per megaparsec, 10 percent higher than the value in Rowan-Robinson's text (but within his stated margin of error). And how does one now measure the density of the universe?

                                      Should you read this text today? Probably not, even though it does provide a good snapshot of our understanding at the end of the twentieth century. I suggest investing your efforts in the most current literature available.

                                      Possibly Rowan-Robinson will create an updated addition. I hope so.

                                      4 out of 5 stars Cosmology updated.......2001-03-11

                                      There's a beguiling simplicity to this attractive primer on cosmology. Professor Rowan-Robinson uses mostly plain English in describing what is currently known, and he keeps it short. But make no mistake about it: this is a complex and technical book on a difficult subject. It requires study. I have read it twice, and could profit from additional readings, but, as I like to say, life is short, and I'll have to be satisfied with what I have thus far garnered.

                                      One of my pet peeves about books on cosmology is the constant rehashing of ancient conceptions of how and why the universe came into being, along with mistaken ideas from the early days of astronomy, anything, it sometimes seems, to pad out the requisite three hundred pages or so. Consequently I was pleased not to encounter any tales of turtles holding up the world or any retracing of the Ptolemaic model before the author gets to the current state of affairs (although he does give some brief history as he goes along).

                                      The nine numbers serve as an organizing device through which a picture of modern cosmology is revealed, or as the author puts it in the Prologue, "a peg on which to hang different aspects of our knowledge." Incidentally, the Prologue, "Que sais-je," is particularly well written and candid and valuable for what it reveals about what Rowan-Robinson's knowledge. The first number is the amount of baryonic matter in the universe, as revealed in Chapter 1 entitled, "We exist." Chapter 2 is "We are not in a special place," revealed by the considerable extent to which the universe is isotropic and homogeneous. The third number is the Hubble constant, the fourth, the age of the universe, the fifth, the temperature of the background radiation, etc. I'll leave it to the reader to discover the other numbers. What I want to focus on are Professor Rowan-Robinson's speculations on extraterrestrial life from Chapter 1.

                                      He begins by expressing his "difficulty...with the idea that advanced technological civilizations like ourselves are common in our Galaxy" (p. 16). I think he has expressed it exactly right here with the words "like ourselves," which I want to emphasize. However on the next page he goes on to present the familiar argument (from Fermi) that a civilization much in advance of ours would have found us by now. He cautions that he doesn't accept the view that "they keep themselves hidden so as not to interfere with our development." Hence the tired conclusion that THEY probably do NOT exist.

                                      The main problem with this argument is that it projects human psychology and desire onto beings of an advanced civilization. They might very well have their reasons for leaving us alone. Additionally, it's not clear that the problem of interstellar travel is as easily solved as some might think, and I'm thinking here of the emotional and psychological difficulties as well as the technical ones. Rowan-Robinson writes that he doesn't accept "any really fundamental limits on colonizing the Galaxy" (p. 17). Even if he is right, would such beings have the desire to colonize? I suspect that their psychology might differ, perhaps startlingly, from our own, and that they may prefer to stay at home.

                                      Rowan-Robinson also considers the case of an advanced civilization, unable to colonize other planets, facing the death of its star. He believes they "would surely put some effort into demonstrating that they had existed. There would be the astronomical equivalent of the pyramids, some kind of beacon signaling forever" ( p. 17). To me, such a vain glorious enterprise is more characteristic of human psychology than anything else, especially that of our pre-technological civilizations. I would add that in advancing it, Rowan-Robinson is guilty of anthropomorphizing the aliens! Surely, one would think, after a billion years or so of development, there would be some advance on this sort of psychology. Perhaps Professor Rowan-Robinson would appreciate being reminded of the lesson of Shelley's poem, "Ozymandias," that "king of kings" whose "shattered visage lies" amid the drifting sands.

                                      Rowan-Robinson concludes the book with a prediction for the year 2100 (repeated from page 64) that the Planck era (10 to the minus 43 seconds after the Big Bang) will remain "shrouded in mystery." He adds, "It would not surprise me if this were still a mystery in the year 3000." There are some helpful diagrams and tables, some black and white photos, a brief glossary, and a name, and a subject index.

                                      4 out of 5 stars The Nine Numbers of the Cosomos.......2000-04-20

                                      Great! A new book for the course I'm teaching on Glorious Accidents. Rowan-Robinson includes photos, plots and data that add a reality note to pretty abstract stuff. He describes complex issues in words that are usually clear and non-technical, but sometimes mathematically oriented. My artistic and non-tech students would have a hard time with about 1/4 of the book, so I suggest limited portions and supplement this book with chapters from others: "Just Six Numbers" by Rees; "The Five Ages of the Universe" by Adams and Laughlin; "The Origins of Life" by Smith; and brief readings from Theilhard and Zen (theology), Hawking (physics) and Mayr (biology). It all makes for a stimulating experience for us all.
                                      The Nine Numbers of the Cosmos
                                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                                        The Nine Numbers of the Cosmos
                                        Michael Rowan-Robinson
                                        Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                                        ProductGroup: Book
                                        Binding: Paperback
                                        ASIN: B000OKWRZW

                                        Dixiana Moon (Voices of the South)
                                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                                          Dixiana Moon (Voices of the South)
                                          William Price Fox
                                          Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
                                          ProductGroup: Book
                                          Binding: Paperback

                                          ComicComic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                                          ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                                          GeneralGeneral | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                                          ASIN: 0807127469

                                          Book Description

                                          William Price Fox's bountiful gifts for caricature and local color have earned him favorable comparisons to Mark Twain. His third novel, DIXIANA MOON, is the picaresque account of a young, irrepressible New York salesman, Joe Mahaffey, who flees his business problems by joining forces with fast-talking southern con man Buck Brody in his latest scheme: the Jubilee Crusade and Famous Life of Christ Show, a combination gospel freak show and traveling circus starring Bible Belt messiah Arlo Waters. It's a story of conversion from one way of life to another and from one place to a new one, and its madcap pace in pursuit of the American dream continues all the way down the Dixiana Highway.
                                          Dixiana Moon
                                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                                            Dixiana Moon
                                            William Price FOX
                                            Manufacturer: Viking Press
                                            ProductGroup: Book
                                            Binding: Paperback
                                            ASIN: B000UZQ1NK
                                            Dixiana moon
                                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                                              Dixiana moon
                                              William Price. Fox
                                              Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
                                              ProductGroup: Book
                                              Binding: Hardcover
                                              ASIN: B000KUAUJ6

                                              Books:

                                              1. The First Time Investor : How to Start Safe, Invest Smart, and Sleep Well
                                              2. The Forgotten Half of Change: Achieving Greater Creativity through Changes in Perception
                                              3. The Guts and Glory of Day Trading: True Stories of Day Traders Who Made (or Lost) $1,000,000
                                              4. The Internal Auditor at Work: A Practical Guide to Everyday Challenges
                                              5. The Message of the Markets: How Financial Markets Foretell the Future--and How You Can Profit from Their Guidance
                                              6. The Motley Fool Investment Tax Guide 2001: Smart Tax Strategies for Investors
                                              7. The Ms. Spent Money Guide: Get More of What You Want with What You Earn
                                              8. The Offshore Solution
                                              9. The Stock Detective Investor: Beat Online Hype and Unearth the Real Stock Market Winners
                                              10. The Unofficial Guide to Beating Debt

                                              Books Index

                                              Books Home

                                              Recommended Books

                                              1. The Complete Credit Repair Kit
                                              2. Mommy Millionaire: How I Turned My Kitchen Table Idea into a Million Dollars and How You Can, Too!
                                              3. Now, Voyager
                                              4. Network Participant's Guide: The Right People, in the Right Places, for the Right Reasons, at the Ri
                                              5. Shaping the Game: The New Leader's Guide to Effective Negotiating
                                              6. Say Good Night to Insomnia: The Six-Week, Drug-Free Program Developed At Harvard Medical School
                                              7. Microbiology And Biochemistry Of Cheese And Fermented Milk
                                              8. Glencoe Accounting First Year Course Chapter Reviews and Working Papers Chapters 14-29 with Peachtre
                                              9. Principles of Microeconomics, Fourth Edition
                                              10. Pensions, Politics, and the Elderly: Historic Social Movements and Their Lessons for Our Aging Socie