Miller Governmental Gaap Guide 1997: A Comprehensive Interpretation of All Current Promulgated Governmental Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for State and Local Governments (Serial)

Book Description

The prevalent on-demand services that are available in other walks of life must be adapted to the education and learning field if training departments are to be successful in the new millennium. As our affinity for technology and on-demand service and satisfaction grows, this culture will permeate itself in other parts of life. In particular, learners will demand equal capability for their personal and professional development. Training and development practitioners must take action now to provide learners with what they will soon want regularly - On-Demand Learning!

This book provides managers, human resource specialists, and training personnel with a forewarning of the impending learning revolution along with ideas for developing new learning tools to meet the demand for self-service learning. It includes a comprehensive profile of the on-demand learner and a checklist for action for purveyors of learning. It identifies strategies to maximize the effectiveness of on-demand learning solutions and provides ways to match learners with solutions that work. It will also teach you how to develop on-demand learning solutions in a variety of media to facilitate learning in the digital age.

Customer Reviews:

'New Millenium' - most cliched phrase in the galaxy?.......2001-11-19

The introductory sections of this book are a really basic overview of learning and attempt to provide an historical perspective on training in the 'new millenium' Have things really changed overnight since midnight 31 Dec 1999? For my money this glib overview is far too generalised - if you've picked up this book, then you've probably already got quite some developed ideas of your own on using ICT for training. Then when it comes to the nitty-gritty like 'How might I go about using some of these ideas? , the book turns out to be very US-corporation centered in its choice of examples with lots of buzz-words, lashings of really neat little acronyms, but nothing that you'd want to bookmark and come back to as inspiration to develop your own ideas further. Like lots of titles featuring the word 'millenium', this one's another also-ran vying for a space on an already overcrowded bandwagon.

Great, Practical Ideas for Meeting the Demands of Learners.......2001-10-13

This enjoyable, quick-read has a palatable mix of learning theory and tools that can be practically applied. It is seemingly written by a `regular Joe,' (because of the easy to read, straightforward language choices and real-life anecdotes peppered within) who also employees a keen sense of observation and innate ability to make explicit the simmering trends of American life. The most valuable part of this book lies in the best practices and actual templates that can be customized for use in any organization. The TEL assessment alone, if conducted by individuals with some knowledge of technology, could save a company hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am looking forward to Darin's next book and, yes, if it were a romance or some other work of non-fiction, I would also grab it up!

Fresh perspective on the future of enterprise e-Learning.......2001-01-09

Darin Hartley is somebody who has been there, done that, when it comes to e-Learning. He has contributed and helped to direct some of the most innovative work in enterprise e-Learning through his technology role at Dell Computer Corp. This book captures alot of the lessons he has learned along the way and puts it in a refreshing framework of "on-demand learning." I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fresh perspective on e-Learning and the power of technology to improve performance.

Timely and Practical.......2001-01-05

Obviously "on-demand" is code for "as-desired" or "as-needed." Therefore, to be effective, an "on-demand learning program" must be immediately accessible and, more importantly, permit self-directed participation. Now or very soon, a majority of us will work primarily in virtual environments. Therefore, organizations must provide support services (eg learning programs) which are user-friendly.

Here is how Hartley organizes the material: The On-Demand Society, Some Highlights of Learning History, The On-Demand Learner, How to Enable On-Demand Learning, Technological Considerations for On-Demand Learning, On-Demand Learning Best Practices (Employee and Customer Examples), A Sample Technology-Enabled Learning Strategy, and A Functional Requirements Specification Template

At the end of each Section, Hartley summarizes key points and also provides a Glossary of key terms. This information will be especially helpful to the vast majority of readers who have relatively little (if any) prior experience with designing and/or managing on-demand learning programs. For them, I suggest, this book will be most valuable. In the New Millennium, only through various learning experiences will an organization's "greatest asset" (its people) be maximized as "intellectual capital." Hence the great benefit of this book. In a single volume, Hartley presents just about everything a reasonably intelligent person needs to know to formulate and then implement effective on-demand learning in her or his organization. For more advanced discussions of this subject, I recommend the works of other authors such as Peter Senge. Meanwhile, for most executives who are (or will soon be) directly or indirectedly involved with relatively uncomplicated on-line training programs, Hartley's counsel and guidance will be invaluable.

A Must-Read!.......2000-10-24

Heads-up to all you management, HR and training folks out there-- this one's for you! "On-Demand Learning: Training in the New Millennium," by Darin Hartley is a must read if you have anything to do with learning in a corporate environment. Darin manages the Learning Technology Services Dept. at Dell and is an expert in the many issues of corporate training in an online environment. His expertise has been gained by on the job experience...so listen up!

When I was coordinating world-wide geoscience training for Exxon, I used to joke to my management that what my corporate clients wanted was training that was free, met their schedules (not the training department's), and took absolutely no time to assimilate. Something that could be stirred into a coffee cup and voila! A new skill set magically up and running in no time. Five years ago we didn't have the technology to approach that scenario, but now we do...and Darin shares his knowledge gained from years of practical experience in this book.

The central focus of "On-Demand Learning" is how to make training highly accessible within a corporate system: what are the alternatives to classroom training; what training can be delivered via alternative methods; what training cannot be delivered online; how to move into a technology-enabled learning (TEL) environment; and how to manage client expectations. This book is thoughtful, extremely well-designed, has a very high information to ink ratio and includes tons of applied examples, as well as tips for tackling the political realities of implementing TEL in any corporate environment. One of my favorites is the chapter containing Dell's TEL Strategy, which can serve as a template for any size organization. If you have anything to do with training in a corporate environment, read this chapter first. You'll understand why your own TEL initiatives either flew-- or crashed and burned!!

Book Description

In the '60s it was called the "back to the land" movement, and in Helen and Scott Nearings' day, it was "living the good life." Whatever the term, North Americans have always yearned for a simpler way. But how do you accomplish that today?

Blending inspiration with practical how-to's, Rural Renaissance captures the American dream of country living for contemporary times. Journey with the authors and experience their lessons, laughter and love for the land as they trade the urban concrete maze for a five-acre organic farm and bed and breakfast in southwestern Wisconsin. Rural living today is a lot more than farming. It's about a creative, nature-based and more self-sufficient lifestyle that combines a love of squash, solar energy, skinny dipping and serendipity...

Among the many topics explored in Rural Renaissance include:

"right livelihood" and the good life
organic gardening and permaculture
renewable energy and energy conservation
wholesome organic food, safe water and a natural home
simplicity, frugality and freedom
green design and recycled materials
community, friends and raising a family
independence and interdependence
wildlife conservation and land stewardship.

An authentic tale of a couple whose pioneering spirit and connection to the land reaches out to both the local and global community to make their dream come true, Rural Renaissance will appeal to a wide range of Cultural Creatives, free agents, conservation entrepreneurs and both arm-chair and real-life homesteaders regardless of where they live.

Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series

Customer Reviews:

Just get it from the library.......2007-09-08

If you've never done much thinking or research into conservation and a sustainable lifestyle, this may be a good book for you. However, if you have, there is not a lot of new information, and the authors write in a self-congratulatory style that gets a little old. Many of these "novel ideas" are things that most cultured people are familiar with. For example, there is a section about reaching out in friendship to and learning from people who may not seem just like you -- perhaps an older person if you are young or someone who may seem eccentric. Other examples would be the couples' recommendation of staying in hostels when traveling abroad, reusing envelopes, and going to thriftshops. However, I still give the book three stars because there were tidbits of information that were helpful --like the fact that washing dishes by hand uses 70 percent more resources than using a dishwasher.

reads like it was written by former advertising agency employees.......2007-04-27

While I applaud the authors move to a "simpler" lifestyle, I really had a difficult time wading through this book. Filled with clichés and writing that would better suited for an overly sentimental greeting card, the pace of the book really dragged. It seemed to me that the editing could have been tighter, as the timelines were hard to follow at points, even though I tried to cross reference with their website. (Is the greenhouse finished, or isn't it?) Do I really care about the fact that they like to run around naked and are experts on all things cappuccino? If they have traveled all over the planet before "going green", they have already left a rather large carbon footprint (now they plant trees to offset their carbon production).

I found some of their math to be either hard to believe or nothing to brag about. If they are consuming fair trade coffee, Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby ice cream and Stonyfield Farm yogurt, plus buying most of their grains and dried legumes in bulk (all of which are good products in general), how can they be producing 70% of their own food? Bragging about their "super efficient" Sunfrost refrigerator having a payback time of 50 years (initial cost vs energy savings) - wow - either they or the refrigerator could be dead long before then. This wasn't going to have me running out to buy that fridge.

I did like their lists of sources and resources throughout the book, a few of which I had not seen before. I think this book would be good for urban dwellers who are just starting out "going green", if you don't mind a lot of extra verbage. I was born and raised in the country, lived in the city and suburbs, and have finally moved back to the country. I know a lot of people who have done more with less, and they're not being featured in USA Today and praised up and down by other national organizations. The authors are good at publicizing what they do, which is certainly am important part of running a successful Bed & Breakfast, I was just hoping for a more "down-to-earth" story.

An interesting/useful read.......2007-02-23

The authors of this book go into great detail about their personal efforts to live greener, more socially and environmentally responsible lives. As a whole, the book is both entertaining and a valuable resource (the text is both anecdotal and includes lists of websites, companies, and contact information). Since the book is so inclusive of so many topics, there are certain sections that may not be of interest to many readers (e.g. the section defining the very technical process of installing a solar-powered water heating system; or the very philosophical and personal views of the authors about community involvement and the ins and outs of their daily lives). I think the book is a valuable addition to the library of someone who wants to take responsibility on many environmental and social fronts.

Wonderful Guide for Lifestyle Change.......2005-03-16

These folks actually did what many of us dream of & re-built their lifestyle based on their own personal beliefs. I was especially interested because of their location in Wisconsin, where I have lots of family & am very aware of what's happening in the agriculture portions of the state. There are plenty of do-able plans for people reading the book to follow to make their own lives more in sync with the needs of the planet without going to the extremes of buying a farm in the country & jumping into the lifestyle headfirst. Our family has instituted many of the suggestions in the book over the past few years, slowly & carefully & have been very pleased with the increased quality of life and the financial savings that have also accrued.

Make your dream a reality - learn from their example!.......2004-11-30

The best book I've read on building a simpler, more natural life. The instructions in the book are practical, everyday things that you'll need to know to build a new lifestyle. But it also goes beyond the basics that you get in every other book to include community, raising children in this lifestyle, earning money while upholding your values, and much more. The best part is the "sources and resources" sections in each chapter that help you to accomplish your new goals (for instance buying from business that use sustainable resources or are involved in free trade). Anyone interested in trading in the "American Dream" for a real life would find Rural Renaissance to be a valuable resource.

Book Description

Cosmology is a relatively new science, but cosmological questions are as old as mankind. Turning philosophical and metaphysical problems into problems that physics can treat, and hopefully solve, has been an achievement of the twentieth century. Modern Cosmology brings together contributions from a number of outstanding scientists currently working in various research fields in cosmology. Topics covered range over several different aspects of modern cosmology, from observational matters to advanced theoretical speculations.

Gravitation and Modern Cosmology (Ettore Majorana International Science Series: Physical Sciences)

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Gravitation and Modern Cosmology (Ettore Majorana International Science Series: Physical Sciences)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Mathematical Physics | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Waves & Wave Mechanics | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

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Skip: From Common Sense to Cosmology
Norbert Duerichen
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Literacy | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Metaphysical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Visionary Fiction | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Religion & Spirituality | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1412001765
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Book Description

Skip: Common Sense to Cosmology is both a story and a treatise on common sense. It hypothesizes that literacy may have contributed to our estrangement from the real world and the intelligence with which we have learned to survive in it. Through a series of snapshots that follow the life of an illiterate person this book explores preliterary thought and the hypothesis that an oral culture is more soundly founded in common sense than is a literary culture, speech being a more direct method of communicating thoughts than is the written word.

Most of the episodes or snapshots are taken from real life. They offer a 'feel' of what pioneer life was like during the 50s in the Central Interior of British Columbia. Interwoven with the descriptions and story a critique of this way of life is developed, with a continual reference to the common sense theme.

The novel culminates with a critique of the Theory of Relativity, this theory being the inception of science's violation of common sense, sanctioned by the claim that common sense is a human limitation that must be transcended in order to comprehend the cosmos. The author offers some alternative interpretations of those historic discoveries that led us down the road of Relativity Theory.

Average customer rating:
Gravitation and Modern Cosmology : The Cosmological Constant Problem
N. Sanchez
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OSEXAG

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Gravitation and Modern Cosmology: The Cosmological Constant Problem.
Antonino Zichichi
Manufacturer: 0
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MU2NEY

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Gravitation and Modern Cosmology: The Cosmological Constant Problem.
Antonino Zichichi
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M3MZEE

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Modern Modified Theories of Gravitation & Cosmologies: Proceedings of International Workshop Held at Ben Gurion University Israel June 29-30, 1997

Manufacturer: Hadronic Press, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
Cosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
Cosmology | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1574850288

Book Description

Computational molecular and materials modeling has emerged to deliver solid technological impacts in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and materials industries. It is not the all-predictive science fiction that discouraged early adopters in the 1980s. Rather, it is proving a valuable aid to designing and developing new products and processes. People create, not computers, and these tools give them qualitative relations and quantitative properties that they need to make creative decisions.
With detailed analysis and examples from around the world, Applying Molecular and Materials Modeling describes the science, applications, and infrastructures that have proven successful. Computational quantum chemistry, molecular simulations, informatics, desktop graphics, and high-performance computing all play important roles. At the same time, the best technology requires the right practitioners, the right organizational structures, and - most of all - a clearly understood blend of imagination and realism that propels technological advances. This book is itself a powerful tool to help scientists, engineers, and managers understand and take advantage of these advances.

Customer Reviews:

Comprehensive review of the atomistic simulations field.......2004-01-02

This book attempts to do two things.

1. Introduce the reader to the science, techniques and applications of atomistic simulations of crystalline and molecular systems.

2. Compare and contrast the quantity and quality of atomistic simulations in different geographies (US, Japan and Europe primarily).

This work succeeds on both counts. There is enough scientific background on the simulation techniques for people in related fields (chemistry, physics, materials science) to understand.

Overall, the text is easy to read, there are many references, all data that can be put into tables/charts has been, and the math is kept to a minimum. There is good coverage of techniques, algorithms, and software codes used in simulations. This book also provides a needed history of atomistic simulations; citing related Nobel Prizes, scientific breakthroughs, major software developments, and important test cases.

This book should not be used as an introduction to doing atomistic modeling though. It is best used as a reference text by people who either do atomistic simulations for a living, or have to rely on its results.

Average customer rating:
Mathematical Modeling and Scale-Up of Liquid Chromatography
Tingyue Gu
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Chemical | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0387588841

Book Description

Liquid chromatography has proved to be one of the most important tools for separations. Rapid development in biotechnology has increased the demand for chromatography in analytical, preparative and large scale applications. The understanding of the dynamics of chromatography is imperative for the scale-up. This book is a systematic treatment of the general rate models for various forms of liquid chromatography including adsorption, size exclusion, affinity, reversed phase, hydrophobic interaction, and radial flow chromatography. Thermodynamic and mass transfer effects in liquid chromatography are discussed. Applications of computer programs for the rate models are described and the procedures for the scale-up of preparative- and large-scale liquid chromatography using the general rate models are given.

Amazon.com

If, as you're reading John McCain: An American Odyssey, you feel a sense of déjà vu, don't be alarmed--you may very well have read this book before. Robert Timberg has extracted from his 1995 book The Nightingale's Song, which dealt with several Naval Academy graduates who went on to serve in Vietnam, those passages that involved Senator John McCain, a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2000 presidential elections. To this Timberg has added some new, updated material.

Roughly half of this story is covered in McCain's own memoir, Faith of My Fathers, including McCain's early military career and an internment in a North Vietnamese POW camp that lasted nearly six years. But it's presented here from an objective, journalistic perspective (and Timberg's own stint at Annapolis informs the sections on the Naval Academy immeasurably). But there's also strong material on McCain's political career, from his first campaigns in Arizona through the dark days of his involvement in the "Keating Five" scandal of the early '90s up to his role in 1999 as a critic of American involvement in the NATO attack on Serbia (which, McCain said, wasn't strong enough).

Book Description

From the Naval Academy to the POW camps of Vietnam to Capitol Hill and possibly to the White House -- one of America's most remarkable men

In 1998, at the dedication of the National Prisoner of War Museum in Andersonville, Georgia, former Attorney General Griffin Bell, a Democrat, introduced Senator John McCain, the featured speaker and a Republican, with these words: "We often hear people now say, where are our heroes, where have all our heroes gone? Well, Senator McCain is an authentic, living American hero."

So begins Robert Timberg's gripping and penetrating biography of Senator John McCain, the man who may someday be President of the United States. In John McCain: An American Odyssey, Timberg provides a riveting account of McCain's remarkable life -- from his rambunctious childhood and his madcap escapades as a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman to his grim experiences as a combat pilot and POW in Vietnam, where he was held prisoner by the North Vietnamese for five and a half years. Most importantly, the author illuminates Senator McCain's postwar evolution into one of our country's most distinguished political leaders and a formidable presidential candidate. Inspired by the success of The Nightingale's Song (selected by The New York Times as a "Notable Book of the Year" in 1995 and by Time as one of that year's five best nonfiction books), John McCain: An American Odyssey probes more deeply into the life of this hugely colorful, straight-talking American original. It is a rich and captivating portrait of one of America's most fascinating and provocative public figures -- a man who has captured the imagination of millions of Americans and who will continue to be a most prominent figure on the American political landscape.

Customer Reviews:

John McCain and the Doubletalk Express.......2007-02-19

An especially revealing passage indicates that McCain does not practice what he preaches, hardly a surprise. While he supposedly now supports abstinence education and favors the repeal of Roe v. Wade, previously he supported legalized abortion and clearly does not practice abstinence, by his own admission in this book (his last nite in Rio). Wake up and don't fall for this power-hungry septagenarian. America can do better.

An Intriguing Unbiased Account of McCain.......2000-05-31

John McCain may be a character that is currently considered either in love or hate, but either of those opinions could be well challenged by the facts presented in this well-written account of the Senator's life. From his boyhood in the shadow of his father and grandfather (both US admirals themselves) to his escapades at the Academy and then into his heroic tenure in Vietnam, this book does a superb job of detailing the life and ideologies of this provacative man that one ay never understand by simply watching CNN or CNBC. Even his rise into politics is detailed in an unbiased manner and I firmly believe that this book should be essential reading for anyone with an interest in American politics or recent political and military history.

John McCain: An American Odyssey.......2000-03-19

I read this book before McCain withdrew from the Presidential race. Though there was some "selling of the candidate," I found the book to be mainly quite objective. I wish I could feel so informed about all candidates and will try in the future to read biographies before I vote. I now see that as my responsibility.

A solid introduction to an intriguing man.......2000-02-02

Love him or hate him, John McCain is one of the most interesting and provocative public figures in America today. This book, by Robert Timberg, does a nice job of introducing McCain to the voting public, much of which knows little about this presidential candidate. Timberg's book is short - you can read it in a day - but it is surprisingly deep and well-researched. Timberg's judgement of McCain is positive, although not gushy. You will come away from this book not only with a better understanding of Senator McCain but a better appreciation of his positive impact on our country.

John McCain: An American Odyssey.......1999-12-17

An excellent objective account of John McCain. I was looking for as unbiased book on this presidential hopeful as possible. I found it in this book. Although somewhat biased myself, I appreciated the candid remarks about his renegade attitude and well publicized short temper. I firmly believe that this book will help one form his/her own opinion of McCain rather than attempt to lead you in one direction or another. If nothing else, after reading this book, you will surely walk away with an appreciation if not admiration for what John McCain went through as a 5 1/2 year POW in Viet Nam.

Average customer rating:

Returning Veterans
Believe neither the gloom and doom ...nor the infantilization in popular lore
Support our troops . . .
Required Reading for CLR-25 Officers returning from Iraq
Excellent

Odysseus in America
Jonathan Shay , Max Cleland , and John S. McCain
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Vietnam War | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Mental Illness | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder | Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0743211561
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Book Description

In his acclaimed book Achilles in Vietnam, Dr. Jonathan Shay used the Iliad as a prism through which to examine how ancient and modern wars have battered the psychology of the men who fight. Now he turns his attention to the Odyssey, Homer's classic story of a soldier's homecoming, to illuminate the real problems faced by combat veterans reentering civilian society. Drawing on his years of experience working with Vietnam veterans, Shay illustrates how the Odyssey can be read as a metaphor for the pitfalls that trap many veterans on the road back to civilian life. He also explains how veterans recover, and advocates changes to American military practice that will protect future servicemen and servicewomen while increasing their fighting power.

The Odyssey, Shay argues, offers explicit portrayals of behavior common among returning soldiers in our own culture -- danger-seeking, womanizing, explosive violence, drug abuse, visitation by the dead, obsession, vagrancy, and homelessness. Supporting his reading with examples from his fifteen-year practice treating Vietnam combat veterans, Shay shows how Odysseus's mistrustfulness, his lies, and his constant need to conceal his thoughts and emotions foreshadow the experiences of many of today's veterans. Throughout, Homer strengthens our understanding of what a combat veteran must overcome to return to and flourish in civilian life, just as the heartbreaking stories of the veterans Shay treats give us a new understanding of one of the world's greatest classics.

With a foreword by Vietnam veteran U.S. Senators John McCain and Max Cleland, representing bipartisan support for what Dr. Shay is trying to accomplish, Odysseus in America is an impassioned and cogent plea to renovate American military institutions -- and a brilliant rereading of Homer's epic.

Customer Reviews:

Returning Veterans.......2007-10-07

As those of us who live and work with war trauma know, for many, the Vietnam War is not over.Jonathan Shay writes:
"The Vietnam veterans that I have worked with were treated shabbily by both the political right - who scorned them as 'losers'...and by the political left, who held them responsible for everything vile or wrongheaded that led us into the war, was done during the war, or came after the war."
I encountered a similar situation in my work with Russian veterans of their war in Afghanistan. Dr. Shay's book provides his readers with valuable insights into the challenges facing soldiers returning from a controversial war.His book is a must read for those who care about the mental and physical health and well being of our returning veterans.
Anngwyn St.Just Ph.D. Director of the Arizona Center for Social Trauma and author of " Relative Balance in an Unstable World:The Search for New Models for Trauma Education and Recovery ( 2006 Carl-Auer Verlag, Heidelberg)

Believe neither the gloom and doom ...nor the infantilization in popular lore.......2007-09-20

The author is an expert on the return of combat veterans. The literary references are terrific. For instance, the 'Siren Song' cliche' is generally misunderstood. The Sirens are NOT singing flowery or sentimental or erotic or false lyrics to weary sailors. No, the story goes that only THOSE WHO WERE IN COMBAT would recognize the Sirens' stories as exactly truthful, therefore absolutely hypnotic and magnetic. (I did not know the importance of the particular mythology until this book described the context.) That and much much more...

Support our troops . . ........2006-11-03

Shay's decades of work with Vietnam veterans, as described and explained in this book, helped formalize the syndrome of behavior that came to be known as post traumatic stress disorder. It afflicts soldiers living in mortal danger for long periods of time, leaving them afterwards in a near-permanent state of hyper-vigilance. They have suffered what Shay characterizes as a moral injury, which like other disabling war injuries prevents them from returning fully to civilian life. He calls it a moral injury because what has been injured is the ability to trust - even those closest and dearest - and living in the civilian world is impossible without it.

The ancients, Shay argues, understood the psychological dangers of combat for those who fight, survive, and return home. The combination of both cunning (necessary for survival) and the predictable errors in judgment among those who both give and take orders are reflected in the character of Odysseus, who returns with his men from the Trojan War in Homer's "The Odyssey." There is, Shay asserts, good reason why his name means literally, "he who makes trouble for others." The loss of all of his men and then the bloodbath that follows his arrival in Ithaca, as he eliminates Penelope's suitors, illustrate how violence and death follow him long after the war is over.

The fault lies not in individual men, Shay argues, but in a kind of military command that treats them as replaceable parts of a large fighting machine, instead of as groups of soldiers who train and fight together and then are demobilized together. The communal aspect of this supportive group process helps men and women make the return safely and helps them overcome the aftermath of war's traumatizing impact. Again and again, Shay argues that it is our responsibility as citizens to be sure that those who have risked their lives to serve in the armed forces are provided in turn with the vital services they need to re-enter the world they left behind and to live once again at peace with themselves and others. His argument gives new and urgent meaning to the phrase "Support Our Troops."

Required Reading for CLR-25 Officers returning from Iraq.......2006-01-22

This book was chosen as required reading for Combat Logistics Regiment-25 Officers returning from Iraq. The following is my personal comments and do not necesarliy reflect the view of CLR-25, the United States Marine Corps or the United States Government.

Dr. Shay M.D uses the story of Odysseus 10 year trip home from the Trojan War as an allegory for Vietnam Veterans return home. It is interesting reading with lots of good "war stories" to keep the pace lively. However the book can be quite academic at times. The allegory is very plain. Odysseus is a soldier having trouble getting home and adjusting. Some Vietnam Veterans had trouble adjusting.

Dr Shay defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as persistence of valid adaptations to danger into a time of safety afterward. In other words the Veteran with PTSD that freak's out in crowds is doing so because "crowds draw mortar fire". He lists some of the skills that combat veterans learn are:
* Control of fear
* Cunning, the arts of deception, the arts of the "mind f--k."
* Control of violence against members of their own group.
* The capacity to respond skillfully and instantly with violent, lethal force.
* Vigilance, perpetual mobilization for danger.
* Regarding fixed rules as possible threats to their own and their comrade's survival.
* Regarding fixed "rules of war" as possible advantages to be gained over the enemy.
* Suppression of compassion, horror, guilt, tenderness, grief, disgust.
* The capacity to lie fluently and convincingly.
* Physical strength, quickness, endurance, stealth.
* Skill at locating and grabbing needed supplies whether officially provided or not.
* Skill in the use of a variety of lethal weapons.
* Skill in adapting to harsh physical conditions.
With the expectation of physical fitness all of these can cause problems in civilian life.

The book is completely Vietnam biased, which is to be expected, because all of Dr Shay's patients are Vietnam Veterans. However the book contains a strong bias that he shares from his patients views. In particular there was an overall opinion that officers were incompetent and not to be trusted. It is noteworthy that none of his patients were officers.

The solutions that he recommends are hardly novel. Cohesion, Leadership, and Training. He makes a strong case that the individual rotation method used in Vietnam left a returning veteran alone to deal with his demons without the support. However he does come to a conclusion that I am sure surprised him given what seems to be his natural "anti-war' tendencies and hopes that war can be abolished. In the end he comes to the conclusion that it is a moral responsibility for Officers to train themselves and their men to the highest level possible, because the quicker the war, the fewer the physical casualties, the fewer the psychological traumas.

Personally I did draw some conclusions from the book. First, survivors are superstitious. Second, reservists should deploy as a unit in company or larger size.

Excellent.......2005-09-15

A terrific text. The only thing that kept it from getting five stars were his recommendations at the end of the book. Other than that, an excellent book for returning soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines and their families and friends.

Average customer rating:

John Mccain an American Odyssey
robert timberg
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SR5HUS

Average customer rating:

the most entertaining book I have read this year

Must Read!

More than empathy

Read it or you'll miss out on this jewel.

A life-changing experience.

Mom's Marijuana: Insights About Living
Dan Shapiro
Manufacturer: Harmony
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Authors | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Medical | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Drug Dependency | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0609605690
Release Date: 2000-10-24

Book Description

Dan Shapiro's mother was always an avid gardener who tortured her neighbors with excessive quantities of zucchini, squash, and tomatoes. When Dan was twenty years old, he was diagnosed with cancer. Leaving Vassar to move home with his parents, he informed them that he'd learned marijuana would help him endure the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy. His vehemently anti-drug mother was certain smoking dope would lead to his ruin. He argued. She countered. He gave up. Then suddenly she came around and gave him money to buy the pot he needed. But when he returned with the small Baggie, she was incredulous. She held out her hand and said, "Give me the seeds." Eleven-foot-high marijuana plants, at first coyly hidden by a row of sunflowers, soon towered over the backyard. It would be nine years before Dan, by then a parent himself, would fully understand the powerful forces behind his mother's decision to plant those seeds in her garden.

At times hilarious, but always intimate, honest, and luminous, Mom's Marijuana takes us from Dan's first diagnosis to his second relapse, to -- finally -- sustained, thriving health. Whether it's the decision to paint himself green to frighten his mother after radiation treatment, fighting to survive while surrendering to love with an oncology nurse, or learning the meaning of life and family from events once taken for granted, Dan Shapiro tells his story with a wit and grace that made him a favorite on National Public Radio's All Things Considered.

Mom's Marijuana takes us on a literary skinny dip; exposed, cold, and raw, we're plunged into a compulsively, almost obsessively readable account of life with cancer and the exuberant redemption of health. Mom's Marijuana shows us that it's when the pulse and rhythm of life are stirred violently that we're made to learn the beauty of multitudes, of finding what it is that makes us so brutally vulnerable, plain, and godly all at once.

Customer Reviews:

the most entertaining book I have read this year .......2006-05-25

When Dan Shapiro was 21 he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that automatically changed his life and left him with the typical battles of chemotherapy, surgery and all its side effects. Yet being the son of delightful, highly energetic and incredibly optimistic parents helped him battle the odds and exceed the life expectations the doctors set for him. The title of the book comes from his mother actually growing marijuana to help with the anorexia and nausea that his chemo sessions left him with. Though not a drug advocate, mom is an expert gardner and grows bushes of cannibus that would make any drug user happy for the rest of his life. His parents help is always to the extreme and its hilarious the measures they take to ensure that their son's cancer not take over his life.
The other wonderful part of this story is just the progression that he makes with each chapter- finding love, graduating medical school, buying a house, and of course beating the disease. Shapiro is warm, compassionate, yet downright hilarious. I couldn't help but read outloud some of the passages to my boyfriend such as when his parents decide he should donate his sperm, or when his mom tells his new girlfriend that they have pot drying in their attic. This book is just wonderful. You will have no problem enjoying it.

Must Read!.......2004-06-09

A must read if you've ever known anyone diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease.

Helped me understand what my own son was enduring.

More than empathy.......2003-12-31

My 19 year old son is going through cancer treatment, and by chance a friend loaned me this book. It is a wonderful reference for anyone who has a young relative going through cancer treatment.

Read it or you'll miss out on this jewel........2002-12-05

I picked this book up in the biography section of my library.
I was about to have my knee operated on and wondered if I could find a good book to read during the days in bed not moving. Well, I was moved by this book.
It is one of the best books I have ever read.
You almost feel like you know Dan through his setbacks and triumphs.
You'll laugh. You'll cry. You will fall in love with this wonderful book.

A life-changing experience........2001-09-10

You might think that the title of my review refers to this man's life changing experience, but in fact I'm speaking of the life changing experience that has been reading this book. Dan Shapiro truly is a brilliant man and he wrote a complex, insightful book. I think the title is misleading, but the story more than makes up for it. It's almost as if the book is interactive; it makes you think back about many things, and can be very humorous at times. When he said he knew his daughter wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for his mother's talking to a stranger, it took me a while to realize he was talking about the woman in that first waiting room telling his mother to save sperm. I like that, that way that Daniel Shapiro has about writing this book. It was one of my favorite books, if not my favorite book, that I have ever read, and I would absolutely love to see a sequel of some sort. (This is the kind of book that once you're finished reading you feel like you've known the author all your life and you wish to meet him.)

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