Crashproof Your Life: A Comprehensive, Three-Part Plan for Protecting Yourself from Financial Disasters

Book Description

Protect your financial future against virtually every form of unforeseen disaster

Despite the recent decade of prosperity, Americans now more than ever must prepare for their financial futures. In these times, people need to take steps to protect themselves from professional, financial, and personal harm. In his many years as a partner in a major international law firm, Thomas Schweich has seen hundreds of people, from all walks of life, ruined by unexpected financial mistakes.

Now, in Crashproof Your Life, Schweich shares with you the fruits of his experience with the victims of financial disaster. He has developed a comprehensive, three-part "crashproofing" plan for avoiding most types of professional, fiscal, and personal crises. You will get solid advice on how to protect yourself against layoffs and workplace traumas; how to control wasteful spending habits and avoid financial scams; and how to close insurance loopholes and ensure that friends and family don't deplete their hard-earned savings.

Customer Reviews:

Good for someone just starting out in life..........2004-12-14

This book is most appropriate for someone who has just entered the workforce. Many of the lessons regarding behavior in the professional world are useful, but not profound. I was dissapointed in the section of the book devoted to personal matters. In general, I would not recommend to anyone with more than a passing knowledge of basic personal financial skills.

Too much anecdotal advice.......2003-12-30

Don't get me wrong. There is a lot of good ideas in this book. But the author, instead of sharing what works for him and letting the reader decide what is appropriate for him/her self tries the one size fits all approach in some areas. The book completely ignores the use of computers for tracking money and the investment advice in the book is very low level and shallow. All in all most of the book is just personal opinion. For those who are truly ignorant of these matters it may have some use but in general it is a paen to the author's personal methods backed up by a few horror stories. As is frequently the case in this situation much of this is wrongly interpreted and may not even be correct. In general the book relies too much on ancecdotal evidence for those areas of our lives for which objective evidence is available. Still there are some useful ideas in the book and the book is worthwhile reading. But there is just too much childish ego at work here to make the book a first rank reference. Also, virtually all of these ideas can be found elsewhere.

Pragmatic in building portfolio allocation.......2002-07-15

Very fuseful book for just become retiree as well as young people. For a japanese, there few auch a book. Most are concern about stock trading. The pragmatic meathodes suggested to built up an adequate potfile for each situation gave me a starting point.

Crashproof your life.......2002-01-20

This is a great book. I will recomend this book to all my friends. The web site is great and helpful in perticular the checklist.

Perfect timing , great advice!.......2002-01-19

First, the Financial Crashproofing Checklist alone was worth the price of the book. I have already changed my car insurance deductible and added an umbrella policy...one saved me $84 per year which almost paid for the other. Easy to read and even better than his first book. Second, I recommend checking the
website...I had no trouble finding it.

Book Description

Since the initial publication of this classic text, motivational interviewing (MI) has been used by countless clinicians in diverse settings. Theory and methods have evolved apace, reflecting new knowledge on the process of behavior change, a growing body of outcome research, and the development of new applications within and beyond the addictions field. Including 25 nearly all-new chapters, this revised and expanded second edition now brings MI practitioners and trainees fully up to date. William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick explain how to work through ambivalence to facilitate change, present detailed guidelines for using their approach with a variety of clinical populations, and reflect on the process of learning MI. Chapters contributed by other leading experts then address such special topics as MI and the stages-of-change model; using the approach with groups, couples, and adolescents; and applications to general medical care, health promotion, and criminal justice settings.

Customer Reviews:

Well written, concise, a good balance of theory & practice.......2000-07-14

The basic premise of this book and indeed that of Motivational Interviewing (MI) is that we as individuals have problems and issues and furthermore that given the right circumstances we as individuals have the tools to resolve those issues and problems. Thus although the counsellor/therapist can enable change by creating a conducive environment that supports and sustains the process, it is the client who must be responsible for such change.

MI has a grounding in Rogerian therapy but it is more directive rather than non-directive. Commenting on this Miller and Rollnick write " ...the motivational interviewer proceeds with a strong sense of purpose, clear strategies and skills for pursuing that purpose, and a sense of timing to intervene in particular ways at incisive moments."

The book is split into three parts: Background, Practice and Clinical Applications. Thus there is an excellent balance between theoretical considerations and practical implications.

The authors outline five principles which underlie MI, these are:

1. Express Empathy

2. Develop Discrepancy

3. Avoid Argumentation

4. Roll with Resistance

5. Support Self-Efficacy

The book is clear and detailed in how these principles are to be put into practice at differing stages of the change process. It is this clarity - which incidentally runs throughout its pages - which makes 'Motivational Interviewing' such an easy yet, I feel essential read.

I work for a counselling service for those with alcohol related problems and this text is the one, which I encourage new members of staff and students on placement to read. Similarly, if you are interested in the subject matter of the change process, whether in terms of addictive behaviour or other more non-specific areas, I do recommend that you take a look 'Motivational Interviewing'.

A couple of years ago I attended a conference that Bill Miller had been addressing. It fell to him to make the closing comments. These were pertinent and to the point, however the most notable thing about the closing notes were that Miller sang them in a Country and Western style. A book by anybody that barmy deserves a read!

Well-written. Even advanced therapists will appreciate it........1999-08-27

Although they emphasize substance abuse, the authors' system applies to almost every problem. It can cut your stress as it helps you become more artful and effective in helping clients actualize thier motivations toward success. Very clearly written, systematic, and enjoyable to read. Special populations are covered. Research is increasingly supporting this approach.

Easy and practicle guide to changing behavior.......1999-05-25

I have worked with criminal offenders for the last 10 years and have found this approach outlined in the book extremely useful. The book is easy to read and follow. I have used the information with Batterers, sex offenders and substance abusers. The only offenders I have found it not appropriate for are "diagnosed" psychopaths.

Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People to Change Addictive Behavior

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Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People to Change Addictive Behavior
William R. Miller; Stephen Rollnick
Manufacturer: The Guilford Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QYEYUW

Book Description

Newly revised and updated guide by noted science authority incorporates latest information obtained by space probes, new telescopes, other sources. Fascinating facts about the sun and planets, moons, comets, asteroids, space flight, and more. Easy-to-follow question-and-answer format, enhanced by 77 drawings and photographs.

Customer Reviews:

an entertaining light book.......2002-07-22

Okay, this isn't an astronomy textbook, but in a quick and easy to read volume, Gardner provides some clear explanations of some interesting puzzle like questions. No previous knowledge is assumed, so the book will be a bit easy for the serious astronomer, but I don't believe that's whom the book is intended for. In fact, I'd recommend buying it for an interested middle schooler or high school student to stimulate their interest int he solar system. Very entertaining, quick and easy to read with some complicated problems explained.

Amazon.com

Is evolution a religious belief? Is Genesis a scientific report? These are two of the tacks taken by "scientific creationists" to reach their goal of stopping the teaching of evolution in public schools, a goal paleontologist Niles Eldredge claims is purely political. In The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism, Eldredge exposes the deep flaws in creationists' arguments and calls for those who love and respect the scientific process of gathering knowledge to engage their opponents in the culture war wholeheartedly. This brief but powerful book by one of our leading evolutionary theorists is careful not to dehumanize the intellectual and political adherents of "intelligent design theory." It focuses on the importance of teaching all children in our society how science and technology work. To do this, he tells us that we must not muddy the waters by agreeing that science and religion have overlapping domains. Skillfully explaining the theory and the most popular arguments against it, Eldredge arms the reader for battle with creationists. Three appendices offer information on recent court decisions and means to get involved in the continuing struggle for proper science education. It's time to take the creationists seriously, and The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism is a great place to start. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

Eldredge presents the most up-to-date examination of the creation-evolution confrontation available.

Customer Reviews:

A Sober Warning From One Of Our Finest Evolutionary Biologists About America's Scientific Future.......2007-05-21

In this relatively terse book, distinguished American Museum of Natural History paleobiologist Niles Eldredge has set out two objectives that he does accomplish well. First, he offers yet another eloquent rebuke of "Intelligent Design" and other variants of creationism, noting that creationism isn't science because it neither tests nor makes appropriate corrections of its ideas; both are fundamental features of genuine science, not the pseudoscience known as "Intelligent Design". Second, his book serves as a sober warning about America's scientific future, noting that American preeminence in science since World War II has depended on offering quality science education at all grade levels. Such excellence is gravely at risk by those who would foist their own religious agenda upon an unsuspecting American public in the guise of "Intelligent Design/Scientific Creationism", by urging "balance" in classroom teaching of science, demanding that "Intelligent Design" should be taught alongside evolution.

Some other reviewers have complained that Niles Eldredge does not offer as much concrete evidence in support of evolution, as, for example, my old friend Ken Miller has done in his superb "Finding Darwin's God". But I think they've missed the raison d'etre of Eldredge's book; presenting a terse, yet quite eloquent, cogent explanation on behalf of the scientific validity of evolution, emphasize the religious origins of "Intelligent Design" and other flavors of creationism, and warn us that America's future success in science and technology is gravely at risk if "Intelligent Design" advocates succeed (For those interested in seeking such concrete examples from Niles Eldredge, then they need look no further than to read his superb "Darwin: Discovering the Tree of Life", the magnificient companion volume to the AMNH-originated "Darwin" exhibition - currently on tour through North America, and then finally, Great Britain, in time for the bicentennial celebration of Darwin's birthday on February 12, 2009 - which he curated.). Without a doubt, "The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism" is one of the best written books on this subject, and a sober warning from a distinguished American evolutionary biologist about America's scientific future.

And we thought this issue had been decided in the Scopes Trial. Not hardly!.......2006-10-16

Since the 1980s a concerted political assault on the teaching of evolution in the American school system has led to numerous court cases, intense debate in the public sphere, and difficult confrontations in museums and other public educational institutions. This book, written by a diligent and thoughtful anti-creationist, offers its perspective in the title. It is a relatively short, accessible introduction to the subject, and its findings are never in doubt. Eldredge skewers scientific creationism, and its more recent guise of intelligent design, as a non-scientific theory masquerading as science. In seven chapters he discusses the following major themes: (1) religion, science, and politics; (2) science as a way of knowing; (3) the fossil record; (4) the development of evolutionary theory; (5) how the creationists attack in the context of scientific style and the age of the Earth; (6) their attack on the origins and history of life; and (7) the place of this evolution/creationism debate in the broader culture. This book will give aid and comfort to those convinced of evolutionary theory, but it will probably not offer a persuasive argument for those in the creationist/intelligent design camp.

Eldredge argues that creationism/intelligent design/whatever other term might be used to describe it is not a scientific theory. It does not aid in helping to understand the nature of this planet, its life, and its development over time. It is a concept that is not testable, a critical element of any scientific knowledge. Alternatively, Eldredge asserts that evolution is a credible explanation of life's origins and development, which it is backed up by considerable scientific data, that while there is yet to be further modification to the concept and more details to be filled in it has been remarkably robust as an explanation of life and its development on Earth. It is much more than a theory, at least in its vernacular definition, it represents the only serious explanation of how life emerged on Earth and has developed over time.

Eldredge asserts that there are useful roles for religion, and he does not question its place in helping to define moral, ethical, and spiritual conceptions, yet he does not endorse any finding from it as explanation for what has taken place in the natural world. He also fears that efforts to replace religious ideology for science education is a serious challenge for the future of the United States. The nation has led the world in most areas of science and technology since World War II in part because of efforts in the educational system to be second to none. Eldredge sees the attempt to supplant evolution with creationism in science classes as a threat to that leadership.

This book operates at two levels. The first is a straightforward debunking of creationism/intelligent design through a discussion of the origins and development of evolutionary biology. The second is a sustained critique of the efforts to overthrow evolution in the classroom with creationism/intelligent design, including a modest discussion of court cases and political maneuvering. A relatively short book, it is a useful but not particularly detailed discussion of the subject.

Eldredge Weighs in on Creationism.......2006-05-06

While I generally like Niles Eldredge's writing style his "The Triumph of Evolution... And the Failure of Creationism" is not as good a book on the subject as those by Pennock and perhaps a few other authors. Nor is it as interesting as his own "Why We Do It." For one thing he confronts creationism as if it were monolithic in much of his book and he never mentions Intelligent Design.

That said, the book is by no means dull, it is aimed (as nearly as I can tell) at the intelligent undecided or wavering reader (not at true believers or the already converted, which would certainly be a waste of time) and in many sections he is dead on in his criticism of creationist techniques of argument. Thus the book does have a readership, although possibly a very small one. It is not meant as either a scientific tome or a book to try and convert the creationists to the scientific view.

I did find several very insightful observations in Eldredge's book. For example, I very much agree with Eldredge in his statement on p. 17 that absolute belief or unbelief is "implying one can know something that is in principle unknowable." This pretty much encapsulates my own thinking on the subject.

I gave the book four stars because I think that it could have been better and possibly because there is a glut of books like this (on both sides of the issue!) Thus Eldredge has to compete with some really top-notch writers. It is not that the book is really badly written, but that it falls somewhat short of the best.

If you want a pre-intelligent design anti-creationist book and are unsure of how you stand on this, Eldredge's book will be well worth the reading. If you are a evolutionary scientist, there are better sources for information on the subject.

Niles' "anything-goes-methodology".......2005-12-06

I really don't know what may lead someone like Niles Eldredge to proclaim the triumph of evolution and the failure of creationism when the truth is that: 1) the origin of the Universe is still a mistery; 2) the origin of the stars and galaxies is still a mistery; 3) the origin of the solar system is still a mistery; 4) the origin of the Earth and the Moon is still a mistery; 5) the origin of the oceans is still a mistery; 6) the origin of comets is still a mistery; 7) the origin of life is still a mistery; 8) the origin of genetic information is still a mistery; 9) the location of the intermediate forms in the fossil record is still a mistery; 10) the origin of sexes is still a mistery; 11) the origin of human language is still a mistery; 12) the reason why there are more living fossils and polistratic fossils and not intermediate fossils is still a mistery; 13) the reason why Niles thinks he deserves to be taken seriously is still a mistery.

It is obvious that Niles Eldredge can only be addressing those who they are convinced that chance and randomness lead their own thought processes and are thus ready to accept a "anything goes" methodology when it comes to reasoning and inference. This is not only the failure of evolution, which doesn't bother me much, but above all the disgrace of reason and thought.

Mistitled Book.......2005-03-19

If in Niles Eldredge's eyes evolution is triumphant and creationism is failed, he is not seeing what he wrote in his own book. Although evolution is as scientifically sound as the atomic theory of matter or the germ theory of disease or the heliocentric theory of our solar system, has it really triumphed over creationist propaganda? I think not, at least not yet. His book does not (and cannot) live up to it's title. If the book could live up to it's title, it would not need to explain why so many educated people reject reason in favor of superstition. There will come a time when all educated people will unanimously accept evolution as fact, but that time has not yet arrived.

Eldredge's book is overall, a mediocre read in it's genre; the anti-creationist books of the 1980's (Futuyma, Kitcher, Godfrey, Montagu) did a much better job of marshalling evidences and making convincing arguments for evolution and against creationism than does Eldredge. Also, this book is too littered with his personal feelings and experiences creating doldrums. I lost count of how many times Eldredge talked about how unethical creationist tactics were.

I had difficulty discerning exactly who Eldredge's target audience was (seems other reviewers did as well). If the target audience was borderline creationists, he did a very mediocre job of showing how the book demonstrates it's title scientifically. If the target audience was evolutionists, he did a very poor job of showing how the book demonstrates it's title socially. Unfortunately, the book reads like a cheap sales pitch; it appears to be aimed at anyone he could get to be proactive in helping to defeat creationism.

I expected MUCH MORE substance from such a noted figure in evolutionary biology.

Book: The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism by Niles Eldredge. (book review) : An article from: The Ohio Journal of Science

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Book: The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism by Niles Eldredge. (book review) : An article from: The Ohio Journal of Science
Horace B. Davidson
Manufacturer: Ohio Academy of Science
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from The Ohio Journal of Science, published by Ohio Academy of Science on April 1, 2002. The length of the article is 704 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: Book: The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism by Niles Eldredge. (book review)
Author: Horace B. Davidson
Publication: The Ohio Journal of Science (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2002
Publisher: Ohio Academy of Science
Volume: 102 Issue: 2 Page: 30(1)

Article Type: Book Review

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The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism. (Book Reviews).(Review): An article from: The Ohio Journal of Science

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The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism. (Book Reviews).(Review): An article from: The Ohio Journal of Science
Steve Edinger
Manufacturer: Ohio Academy of Science
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Science & Technology | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B0008IIBZA
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Ohio Journal of Science, published by Ohio Academy of Science on June 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1122 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 Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism. (Book Reviews).(Review)
Author: Steve Edinger
Publication: The Ohio Journal of Science (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 2001
Publisher: Ohio Academy of Science
Page: 65(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Luther Corhern, Miramichi guide and keeper of Cavender Bill's Salmon Camp log, never met a fisherman in his life (other than Stan Tuney) who would tell you a lie. It's a good thing, too -- you'd have a job on your hands if you had to sort fact from fiction in Lute's chronicles. Here's the situation: a rich American has bought the old Cavender place and turned it into a fishing camp. Now known as Cavender Bill, he takes in fellow American "sports" as guests, hiring Lute and his friends as guides. Cav thinks the sports would enjoy a log: a fishing record embellished with guides' stories. Lute, with his grade six education, is the natural choice to man the Underwood Deluxe. Now, Lute is a dreamer, and it would be fair to say that Luther Corhern's Salmon Camp Chronicles strays somewhat from its original purpose. It contains stories about Lute's friends Nean (short for Neanderthal) Kooglin, Elvis (formerly Hogarth) Glasby, Lindon Tucker, and lying Stan Tuney. Dryfly Ramsey, Shadrack Nash, and Kid and Corry Lauder show up, too. But Lute's mind ranges in all directions, over topics such as a computer that sends letters from the future, the curative power of mackerel tied to the feet, golf, and Christmas. The weather, however, isn't what it used to be. According to Elvis, "She used to be a lot colder when we were operatin' under Fahrenheit. Old Celsius don't seem to have the bite in it, so it don't." But every topic leads Lute back to the salmon and to the mystical river that's home to man and fish alike.

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