The Economist Pocket Accountant

Book Description

Employee-generated ideas can be a company's greatest competitive advantage. Now supervisors, managers, and business owners can learn how to benefit from employee suggestions. This book explains how to encourage employees to submit their improvement ideas, monitor submissions, evaluate suggestions, communicate results, and establish a reward program. How to overcome negativity, apathy, fear, and other attitudes that hinder improvement is also discussed. Other covered topics include how to get a steady flow of improvement ideas from employees, how to encourage employees to actively think about and search for improvement ideas, and much more.

Employee Suggestion Systems: Boosting Productivity and Profits.(Review) (book reviews): An article from: Human Resource Planning

Average customer rating:

Employee Suggestion Systems: Boosting Productivity and Profits.(Review) (book reviews): An article from: Human Resource Planning
Michael J. Polzin
Manufacturer: Human Resource Planning Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Human Resource Planning, published by Human Resource Planning Society on September 1, 1998. The length of the article is 1737 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: Employee Suggestion Systems: Boosting Productivity and Profits.(Review) (book reviews)
Author: Michael J. Polzin
Publication: Human Resource Planning (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 1998
Publisher: Human Resource Planning Society
Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Page: 49(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Available for the first time in paperback, this low-cost, high-quality guide to music therapy thought, research, and practice is the ideal text for a one semester overview and the perfect handbook for the practicing professional.

Book Description

Written and edited by 40 practitioners in prison systems and public health from all over the USA, this critically acclaimed text comprehensively covers the medical issues specific to the correctional settingessential, practical information not available in other books. It explores all major areas of correctional medicine, from intake to hospice careincluding clinical management of diseases common among the incarcerated, ethical concerns, organization of health services delivery, patient-provider relations, legal issues, and more. The 2nd Edition delivers completely new sections on nursing and emergency services in the correctional setting, as well as new chapters on hepatitis C, geriatric care, end-of-life care, telemedicine, and other timely subjects.

Customer Reviews:

The "Bible" of Correctional Medicine.......2007-01-03

This is a superb textbook for a relative new specialty of correctional medicine. Working in jails and prisons has been a backwater for health care, attracting only physicians unable to work elsewhere. Now correctional medicine is taking on an interesting career path, and these authors, the experts in this young field, come together to create an impressive text.

Clinical Practice in Correctional Medicine 2nd edition

Average customer rating:

Clinical Practice in Correctional Medicine 2nd edition
Puisis
Manufacturer: Mosby
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUK08I

Book Description

The Origin of Life: The Earth is an island, swirling in an ocean of space, and life has been washing ashore since the creation.

Cosmic collisions are commonplace, not only between meteors and planets, but entire galaxies, and life has been repeatedly tossed into the abyss... only to land on other planets.

The genetic seeds of life swarm throughout the cosmos, and these "genetic seeds," these living creatures, fell to Earth encased in stellar debris which pounded the planet for 700 million years after the creation. And these "seeds" contained the DNA instructions for the metamorphosis of all life, including woman and man.

DNA acts to purposefully modify the environment, which acts on gene selection, to fulfill specific genetic goals: the dispersal and activation of silent DNA, and the replication of life forms that long ago lived on other planets.

Customer Reviews:

A man so brilliant should have known better........2007-02-17

I was asked by a colleague to review this book by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D. Dr. Joseph has done some amazing work in his life- but this book is not an example. From the very start, Dr. Joseph disregards proven and testable scientific hypothesis, especially Natural selection, and instead promotes his, as of yet unproven idea, that the cosmos is filled with- not just the basic building blocks of life- but actual life itself. As a Neurobiologist, albeit a brilliant one, Dr. Joseph may indeed have some insights to astrobiology - but he seems to show little understanding, much less toleration, of the basic laws of physics which are replete throughout the universe. If one did not know better, they might think they were reading work by people the likes of Stichin or perhaps even Velikovsky. This book is an excellent example, as is the book by Velikovsky titled Worlds in Collision, of what can happen when people, regardless of their brilliance, attempt to prove their beliefs in a scientific stage on which they are untrained. Although his work and writing on Mind-Brain topics are brilliant, this book, at least in my opinion, is nothing more than a thinly viewed attempt at creationism targeted for the scientifically illiterate. Still I rate this book a 4 out of 5 because Dr. Joseph makes the reader stop- just long enough to ask themselves what do they really know? Perhaps that was his intention.

Dr. W. Sumner Davis
Author of Miracles, Just Smoke & Mirrors, and HERETICS

Pseudo-science or not?.......2006-08-15

Another reviewer claims that you will either love this book or hate it; there is no in-between. I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. The author borrows concepts of panspermia (life originating in outer space) from Hoyle and Wickramasinghe, which I really did not find convincing, and I've also read Hoyle's "The Intelligent Universe." However, he does make good points about the so-called 'primordial soup' that scientists speak of when discussing the origin of life.

While it might be premature to speak of the death of Darwinism, the theory really does not answer many questions that it should. My general complaint against evolution is Darwin's interpretation of the evidence, not the evidence itself. I found some of Dr. Joseph's conclusions far-fetched, and rather than this book I would easily recommend anything by Jonathan Wells, Lee Strobel, or Michael Behe.

Finally, An understanding of Evolution. Well worth your effort.......2005-07-07

This is not an easy book to read. I read all the reviews before reading it myself. I understand why some are turned off by some of its claims. But the meat of this book is how evolution works and should open even its critics minds. I have no doubt that in future years the Author will be applauded by his peers for a wonderful insight into the workings of RNA, DNA, Genes and life.

After only a few pages I was hooked and craving to know more. He may be wrong as to how life started, but he definitely knows his stuff when it comes to how life evolved. His puncing holes in the universal "Out of Africa" beliefs will Whet your appetite to know more.

not even science fiction; pseudo-science.......2003-12-13

The theories presented in this book are not only baseless and poorly presented, but also a tragic step in the wrong direction for the infant science of Astrobiology. The author should clearly have stuck to neuro-science, because his lack of understanding in the fields of biology, Archaeology and espescially Astronomy are overwhelming and frustrating throughout the book. I say this book is a step in the wrong direction because it might mislead people seeking to gain real knowledge about the subject into false and ridiculous ideas. In addition, Joseph comes off as more biased and defensive than even the Rare Earth scientists do. This book is not a total waste of money as there are many ideas within it that are at least worth debating. Yet, I would not recomend it as an introductory work to the field, rather I would recomend it as food for thought to an educated reader. Joseph must refrain from his one sided arguments, UFO stories, and seemingly emotional outbursts if he wants to be taken seriously by scientists.

Dangerous and Revolutionary.......2003-10-17

A book should never be judged by its cover, but my its contents. A book which generates high praise and hysterical condemnation, is an important book. This is an important book. The importance of this book can also be judged by the reaction of the United States government, and the scientists it funds, including NASA. Since the publication of the first edition of Astrobiology, in May of 2000, there followed an avalanche of competing volumes. Eight additional books on Astrobiology have now been published since 2001. Clearly, Joseph, the author of Astrobiology, led the way, and NASA and government-funded scientists, followed, only to hysterically attack Joseph's text. Joseph had the audacity to detail the incredible flaws in the 3 pillars of modern scientific faith: the big bang, the organic soup, and Darwin's theory. Given the incredible complexity of a single strand of DNA, Joseph argues, the likelihood life orginated in an organic soup, is the equivilant of discovering a computer on Jupiter and then claiming it was randomly assembled in the methane sea. Life, and its DNA, Joseph explains, arrived on Earth contained in cosmic debris. Darwin's theory of random variations, does not explain evolutionary progress and is refuted by modern genetics. Joseph argues and provides considerable evidence, that DNA engineers the environment and its own evolution, and that evolution is not random, but is governed by precise genetic mechanisms. Joseph has dared to attack and topple the altars of the modern scientific establishment, which is why we now see that over 8 additional, nearly identical books have been published all of which preach the same message of faith as approved and supported by the United States government.

Average customer rating:
The Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds, Thiophene and Its Derivatives (Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds: A Series Of Monographs)

Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General & Reference | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Organic | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
Organic | Chemistry | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0471612219

Average customer rating:
Southern Hemisphere Application of the Systematic Approach to Tropical Cyclone Track Forecasting. Part 1: Environmental Structure Characteristics

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423566319

Product Description

This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A422733. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: The environment structure conceptual models of the Systematic Approach to Tropical Cyclone Track Forecasting technique of Carr and Elsberry are applied to all Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclones during January 1994 - June 1997. Whereas three of the four synoptic patterns from the western North Pacific could be applied with relatively small modifications, a new High (H) amplitude synoptic pattern was defined to classify the situations with large meridional penetrations of mid-latitude troughs deep into the Southern Hemisphere tropics. Some changes in terminology were required to describe the synoptic regions that have characteristic track directions. All 1592 cases during the period could be described by these four synoptic patterns and 11 synoptic regions. Important track changes were found to be associated with transitions between these synoptic patterns and regions. Three binary tropical cyclone interactions defined for the Western North Pacific were adapted for use in the Southern Hemisphere with considerable success. A preliminary climatology of occurrences for the synoptic pattern/region combinations, ions, transitions between combinations, and binary tropical cyclone interactions are calculated. Sequences of synoptic analyses related to these transitions are described to aid in the application.

An Alternative Testing Methodology for Tow Missile Training Systems

Average customer rating:

An Alternative Testing Methodology for Tow Missile Training Systems

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

Comets, Meteors & Asteroids | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1423574761

Product Description

This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A575223. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: This thesis explores alternatives to the current testing methodology being applied to two TOW missile training systems. This thesis contends that current practices do not adequately prove system accuracy or system training value. Research emphasis is placed upon identifying those factors involved in assessing system accuracy currently being overlooked. The objective is that future government testing will address system accuracy and training value in detail. Following a description of current techniques, an alternative to current accuracy assessment is presented using the precepts of direct fire gunnery based upon a series of statistical treatments that quantify system accuracy and contract specification compliance. Data collection enhancements, potential test design modifications, and a methodical data analysis plan is presented An alternative testing scenario is developed, based upon the recommended changes in test methodology. Finally, observations and recommendations are provided pertaining to program management of the two TOW missile training systems in an effort to optimize program structure. The underlying premise is that the application of operations research skills to validate system performance will improve the final product fielded to U.S. Marines and Soldiers.

Analysis of Potential Structural Design Modifications for the Tail Section of the RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter

Average customer rating:

Analysis of Potential Structural Design Modifications for the Tail Section of the RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423569539

Product Description

This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A054333. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: The Army RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter made its first flight in January of 1996. Its current structural configuration, however does not meet the Army's requirements for radar signature. Structural configurations of the tailcone that meet radar cross-section requirements tend to lack sufficient structural stiffness due to the presence of Kevlar in place of graphite on the outer mold line. This thesis investigates potential structural design modifications to the Comanche tailcone that would move the design closer to meeting both its structural and radar signature requirements. Geometry modifications with baseline (current configuration) materials increased torsional stiffness by nine percent. Structural geometry modifications using radar signature compliant materials reduced torsional stiffness by 10 percent. The geometry changes analyzed produce structural performance improvements insufficient to allow the use of radar-compliant materials without further geometry changes.

Average customer rating:

Analysis of Potential Structural Design modifications for the Tail Section of the RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 142357186X

Product Description

This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A847133. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: The Army RAH-66 Camanche Helicopter made its first flight in January of 1996. Its current structural configuration, however, does not meet the Army's requirements for radar signature. Structural configurations of the tailcone that meet radar cross-section requirements tend to lack sufficient structural stiffness due to the presence of Kevlar in place of graphite on the outer mold line. This thesis investigates potential structural design modifications to the Comanche tailcone that would move the design closer to meeting both its structural and radar signature requirements. Structural geometry modifications with baseline (current configuration) materials increased torsional stiffness by nine percent. Geometry modifications using radar signature-compliant materials reduced torsional stiffness by 10 percent. The geometry changes analyzed produce structural performance improvements insufficient to allow the use of radar- compliant materials without further geometry changes.

An Architecture and Prototype System for Automatically Processing Natural-Language Statements of Policy

Average customer rating:

An Architecture and Prototype System for Automatically Processing Natural-Language Statements of Policy

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423530144

Product Description

This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A218093. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: Organizations are policy-driven entities. Policy bases can be very large and complex; these factors are compounded by the dynamic nature of policy evolution. Thus, comprehension of the ramifications of both policy modification and assurance of the consistency, completeness, and correctness of a policy base necessarily requires some level of computer-based support. A policy workbench is an integrated set of computer-based tools for developing, reasoning about, and maintaining policy. A workbench takes as input a computationally equivalent form of policy statements. In this thesis we explore approaches for translating natural-language policy statements into their equivalent computational form with minimal user interaction. We present the architecture of a natural-language input-processing tool (NLIPT), which we designed to augment a policy workbench. NLIPT components consist of an extractor, index-term generator, structural modeler, and logic modeler. We experimented with a prototype of the extractor. The extractor successfully parsed twenty-seven of a sample of ninety-nine of U. S. Department of Defense security policy statements. An additional twenty-one statements were correctly parsed based on the syntactic structure of the input.

Attitude Control and Multimedia Representation of Air Force Institute ofTechnology's (AFIT's) Simulation Satellite (SIMSAT)

Average customer rating:

Attitude Control and Multimedia Representation of Air Force Institute ofTechnology's (AFIT's) Simulation Satellite (SIMSAT)

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423536320

Product Description

This is a AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSONAFB OH report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A572083. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: This document describes the systematic construction of the AFIT- sponsored program to develop a laboratory-based satellite simulator. The simulation satellite (SIMSAT) system will provide a useful tool for resident staff while teaching attitude control concepts. A brief overview of attitude control theory is provided as well as a discussion of the benefits of multimedia use in education. A detailed discussion of the satellite's components allows the reader to become familiar with each piece of SIMSAT. Software control models are provided as well as a multimedia lesson plan on satellite attitude control. Also included in this document are potential experimental uses in the areas of attitude control, precision pointing, and vibration suppression as well as continued modification of the multimedia presentation capabilities.

Attitude Determination Using Star Tracker Data with Kalman Filters

Average customer rating:

Attitude Determination Using Star Tracker Data with Kalman Filters

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423549880

Product Description

This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A775104. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: This study adapts some established attitude determination techniques for use with star tracker measurements on satellites. Other work in this area has utilized gyro measurements with star tracker updates. Today's star trackers are giving measurements with accuracies of less than 6 arcseconds, and are therefore of high enough fidelity to be used alone. Computer simulation of a Linear Kalman Filter to process these measurements is presented. The Filter uses a linear, constant coefficient state matrix with the Optimal Control Law to provide negative feedback control. The control law uses information developed through the equations of motion of the spacecraft in a Molnyia orbit. Modifications to the Filter, including glitch rejection and various covariance manipulation techniques are discussed as possible sources for performance enhancement.

The Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds, Condensed Thiophene Rings (Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds: A Series Of Monographs)

Average customer rating:

The Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds, Condensed Thiophene Rings (Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds: A Series Of Monographs)
H. D. Hartough
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General & Reference | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

The Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds, Thiophene and Its Derivatives (Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds: A Series Of Monographs)

Average customer rating:

The Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds, Thiophene and Its Derivatives (Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds: A Series Of Monographs)
H. D. Hartough
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This revision of Quantitative Methods for Business provides students with a conceptual understanding of the role that quantitative methods play in the decision-making process. This text describes the many quantitative methods that have been developed over the years, explains how they work, and shows how the decision-maker can apply and interpret data. Written with the non-mathematician in mind, this text is applications-oriented. Its "Problem-Scenario Approach" motivates and helps students understand and apply mathematical concepts and techniques. In addition, the managerial orientation motivates students by using examples that illustrate situations in which quantitative methods are useful in decision making.

Customer Reviews:

This textbook is TERRIBLE!.......2005-10-01

This book is written in unnecessarily complicated language and does not present information in a way that is easily understood. I teach graduate courses in quantitative methods and I made the mistake of ordering this book for one of my courses without reading it first. It was a disaster!

Unless you are getting a doctorate and need to know lots of complicated formulas without adequate explanations, DO NOT buy this book.

Quantitative MAnagement.......2005-07-10

IT's really oky book. But it took a little more time to get it ghrough me. There are few scratches on the book when i recd. it. The parcel is oky.
Thanks anyway,

Quant Methods Book.......2005-03-06

I have used this textbook for an upper level math class and although the book was hard to follow, I really feel that it did present the information in a well laid out format. Some of the words were hard to grasp, but as for the problems in the back, I found them very useful. I hope anyone out there will in fact give this book a chance.

ABSOLUTELY THE WORST TEXTBOOK FROM A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE.......2003-03-12

I am currently taking a Quant Meth class which is using this as the textbook. By far, this is the worst textbook I have ever encountered as a student. It is hard to understand and the answers that are given in the back do not explain how to get to the final solution. Because the problems are not paired (that is 1 is not like 2, 3 is not like 4, etc.) and the only answers are to the EVEN problems, you are basically lost. There is a website for the 9th edition that is "under construction" currently, so there is no help there. This is not a book conducive to learning. Teachers and colleges - PLEASE think twice before you choose this for your curriculum. Both you and your students will be miserable!

Quantitative Methods 8th Edition.......2002-02-01

I am a professor using this book to teach a graduate level Quantitative Methods math class. This book is hard to understand for the students. Exercises included at the end of the chapters are hard to figure for the student based on what is presented in the text alone.
For the instructor, no teacher support is available except a solutions manual. All other texts I have used provides sample lecture material, additional cases, etc. This text provides no such support with a useless web site.

Quantitative Methods for Business with EasyQuant Tutor for Excel

Average customer rating:

Quantitative Methods for Business with EasyQuant Tutor for Excel
Dennis J. Sweeney, Thomas A. Williams David R. Anderson
Manufacturer: South-Western College Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUEIBI

Average customer rating:

Faithful and fascinating rendering

A good read for those who are unfamiliar with the story...

Krishna Biased rendering

NOT AVAILABLE

Great Epic, good book in simplified language

Mahabharata: The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time (Great Classics of India)
Krishna Dharma
Manufacturer: Torchlight Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Hinduism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love and Wisdom

The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic

The Upanishads (Classic of Indian Spirituality)

Peter Brook's The Mahabharata

The Bhagavad Gita (Classics of Indian Spirituality)

ASIN: 1887089136

Book Description

A powerful and moving tale, the Mahabharata recounts the history of the five heroic Pandava brothers. Cheated of their kingdom and sent into exile they set off on a fascinating journey.Profound spiritual themes underlie the thrilling narrative, making it one of the world'ss most revered texts. Culminating in an apocalyptic war, Mahabharata is a masterpiece of suspense, intrigue, and illuminating wisdom.

Customer Reviews:

Faithful and fascinating rendering.......2006-05-08

The Mahabharata says of itself, "What is not found here in the realms of religion, economic development, pleasure and liberation, will not be found anywhere else, and what is found anywhere else in these realms will also be found here." The original text contains a hundred thousand Sanskrit verses (although it is also said that in higher planets the text consists of a million verses), so there is certainly enough scope for this statement to be true. And having read the original several times I for one would not want to argue. The wealth of both material and spiritual wisdom found in the Mahabharata is phenomenal, truly mind-blowing to use the modern vernacular, and what is most wonderful is that it is presented in such a palatable way, through the medium of so many fascinating tales. We hear of kings and sages, of gods, demigods, nymphs and angels, and of heroes dedicated to the path of holy virtue. As we read we feel uplifted and edified, transported to some amazing ancient world where life had a purpose, where everyone understood that we are eternal spiritual beings, and that all of us are on a journey that ultimately ends in liberation, in freedom from the cycle of birth and death and all its concomitant suffering.

It would take a brave man therefore to attempt to contain all this in a single book, and Krishna Dharma is to be commended for his effort. His main aim has plainly been to convey the spirituality of the text, but he has not done so at the expense of the critical elements of the story. The narrative flows smoothly and entertainingly. Dharma's turn of phrase is stirring, elevated and often wryly humorous, which is quite in keeping with the original. Indeed, he has adhered closely to the original, as far as I can see, very much keeping the voice of the sage Vyasa - the book's original author - resounding throughout the pages. I believe this was a major concern of his, and in fact he is a disciple in a spiritual line that descends from Vyasa himself, so it is hardly surprising.

Although Dharma has used a writing style somewhat similar to a modern novelist, it has to be remembered that the Mahabharata cannot be compared to a contemporary novel. It is not a book of suspense that aims to titillate and keep us on the edge of our seats until some dramatic climax occurs. Rather it seeks to present profound spiritual truths and worldly wisdom, couched in various stories that are all woven around one central narrative. There is therefore a certain amount of repetition and Dharma has often abbreviated lengthy and repetitive sections of the original to make it more readable, but without losing the essential points. His treatment of the Bhagavad-gita is a good example. This forms one chapter of the work and consists of seven hundred philosophical verses in the original. Dharma has expertly condensed it into a fascinating narration, managing at the same time to present the core messages in an easily assimilable way.

One thing I particularly liked about this version was the way that Dharma gives insights into the inner life of the characters, which is rarely found in the original text. This is a real strength of the book, in my view. He brings the characters to life in a dramatic fashion that keeps the interest of his reader as well as any fast paced novel might do. Like one of the professional reviewers cited here, I also found that I could hardly "tear my mind away." But more than that I found myself moved on a deep spiritual level, inspired to embark on the inner journey that the Mahabharata so vividly portrays through the pastimes of Krishna and his pure followers, the Pandavas, who are the book's main characters. At the end of the day, this was the intention of Vyasa, so I would say that Dharma has succeeded in this endeavour. Certainly the best modern rendition that I have read. Highly recommended.

A good read for those who are unfamiliar with the story..........2006-04-30

But I'd say that if you already know about the Mahabharat, then this version won't do much for you. Here's what I enjoyed about Krishna Dharma's version:

It is very descriptive. He obviously enjoyed writing this piece of work. There's even a family tree in one of the appendices. The vastness of this version is largely attributed to the detailed descriptions he uses for battles. These parts are written well.

But the flaws:

He is constantly telling the reader that Krishna is God. Constantly. K. Dharma must have thought his readers had short term memory loss after every page.

He strips away the political aspects. Instead of showing a family grappling for power, he makes this is a good vs. evil story. And that is the point of view of ISKCON, I believe. So that makes sense. But it makes the entire story boring. He doesn't delve into the Kauravas motives, or Bhisma's conflicted state, or Vidur's pain of seeing his country torn. By making it good vs. evil, a lot of character development is killed. This makes the story bland.

Seriously, the best Mahabharat I've seen is the B.R. Chopra DVD set. The acting is ok, but the script is phenomenal. Characters are richly developed, and you can completely connect with each character's point of view, even the villains.

Don't buy this, borrow it. I'm still searching for a better literary version of the Mahabharat.

Krishna Biased rendering.......2006-02-13

Although this book is indeed a great read, I think it should be fully warned that this book is written by a Krishna Priest, and therefore far more Krishna oriented than e.g the beautiful rendering by William Buck and the great full translation began by Van Buitenen. I too believe that Krishna is a reincarnation of God, but I'm afraid the story doesn't get better by augmenting this point at every possibility.

NOT AVAILABLE.......2005-08-24

August 23, 2005 -- gave up waiting for Amazon to ship this book

Great Epic, good book in simplified language.......2005-01-05

I remember the first time I read the story of Mahabharata. I was 11 yrs old, and was never able to forget it, such is the story of this great epic. Then came the story of Mahabharata on TV from B.R. Chopra to refresh the memmory and further creating an everlasting impression.
It was long time now for me and I thought I forgot this epic story so got hold of 16 DVD set of Mahabharata by B.R.Chopra, and I was very intrigued by some of the facts or lets say short stories rather. I thought it is high time to verify what does original mahabharata says. I went on and found the actual 1,00,000 lines poem but alas it was in Sanskrit, I can read sanskrit but its too long to follow up. I searched for a good book which shud be written directly from the this sanskrit poem and my search ended with this bbok.
The book is written nicely, there are lot of stories that were presented pretty well here. I read it to gain more knowledge on the subject and was very satisfying to know more abt stories like Killing of Anuj Keechaks, Arjuna killed by his son, Story of Ullupi, 10 names of Arjun, Narayana Astra etc etc
Giving 4 stars because I also wanted to know more abt the Third Dice Game which is missed out everywhere. I have read it in some specific research book but dont know why it is always missed out.

Book Description

This book, depending on the reader, addresses some of the ideal, academic, practical, or even misguided aspects of offshore planning. Hunter does not propose to discuss the pitfalls or complaints that an individual, business, planner, or regulatory authority may experience. But because offshore planning is nearly impossible to master in its entirety, his objective is that no part of his work be in error; that, where error exists, it be amended; and that some part of it be a practical contribution and improvement, though naturally minor and limited, between idealizing and demonizing the private and regulatory field of offshore planning.

Hunter attempts to demonstrate who the prosperous are and why transfers of wealth offshore become, or may become, a part of their planning. The underlying human, economic, political, and legal reasons for going offshore are more or less embedded in complex discussions of international relations and organizations; laws, lawsuits, and damages or awards; government regulations of business, confiscations of individual or business property, and government prosecution or imprisonment of individuals, businesspersons, or professionals; taxes and tax policy, property rights and the civil liberties that emanate therefrom; business or estate planning, which involves asset protection; and investments and investment planning.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books