Luxury Fever

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Luxury Fever: Why Money Fails to Satisfy in an Era of Excess is a serious examination of the long-term costs associated with our society's ever-accelerating spiral of conspicuous consumption, followed by a far-reaching remedy that will intrigue anyone concerned with related fiscal issues. Robert Frank, a Cornell University professor of economics, ethics, and public policy, who previously coauthored The Winner-Take-All Society, believes neither foolishness nor greed is really responsible for our relentless desire to own flashier household appliances, bigger sport-utility vehicles, and fancier suburban houses; rather, he contends, it is the ongoing behavior of our peers which ultimately determines how much we spend and how we spend it. Frank goes on to claim, however, that this knowledge alone may actually point us toward an alternative that is both acceptable and practical. "By a simple and easily achieved rearrangement of our current consumption incentives," he writes, "we can effectively enrich ourselves by literally trillions of dollars a year." He then goes on to discuss the recent boom in luxury spending, its potential implications for those at all income levels, his suggestions for altering current consumption patterns, and the reasons that redirecting these funds could benefit everyone. --Howard Rothman

Book Description

A new luxury fever has America in its grip--the past two decades have witnessed a spectacular and uninterrupted rise in luxury consumption. Ordinary, functional goods are no longer acceptable. Our cars have gotten larger, heavier, and far more expensive. As the super rich set the pace, everyone else spends furiously in a competitive echo of wastefulness. The costs are enormous: we spend more time at work, leaving less time for family and friends, less time for exercise. Most of us have been forced to save less and spend and borrow much more. Frank offers the first comprehensive and accessible summary of scientific evidence that our spending choices are not making us as happy and as healthy as they could. The good news is that we can do something about it. Luxury Fever boldly offers a way to curb the excess and restore the true value of money.

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Why, against all good reason, do we continue to accelerate our spending to the limits of our bank accounts? Our savings rates are lower than those of any other major industrial nation, personal bankruptcy filings are at an all-time high, and yet our treadmill chase after the "biggest and latest" continues to escalate. In this thought-provoking analysis of the economics of our personal decisions, Robert Frank chronicles the new boom of conspicuous consumption and exposes the hidden prices we pay for evermore-elaborate houses, cars, and lifestyles. In Luxury Fever, Frank argues that our current profligacy is not because we are foolish, undisciplined, greedy, or manipulated. Rather, how we feel about our material goods is entirely dependent on everyone else's spending. By acting together, we can choose to invest more in the sleep, exercise, family time, and less conspicuous consumption that makes life worthwhile. This book will make all readers reconsider their spending habits, and will inspire wide debate about the quality of life.

Customer Reviews:

Doesn't answer questions.......2006-07-21

Mostly, I enjoyed the book; however, it doesn't explain how money is available for meat inspections, pot hole repair, health care for the poor etc. if I simply refrain from buying an expensive car or grill. Unless he is advocating confiscatory taxes, I fail to understand how my saved money becomes money for these purposes, especially considering in his discussion of consumption taxes, he specifically exempts taxes on savings. My college major was not economics, but I do have a decent understanding of the economy but perhaps I'm too conservative in the area of taxation (I am a former IRS employee)to understand how my savings translates into government expenditures for the benefit of all.

An interesting book.......2006-05-11

Certainly interesting and worthwhile, but if you want to read much of the same themes, with a broader biological perspective and without the preachiness and impractical political solutions, I recommend instead Happiness by Daniel Nettles.

Keeping up with the Joneses, Smiths, Wangs, Bushes, Kennedys, Gates..........2006-01-25

An expansive view of 20th century literature in American economic thought finds two similar bookends. The beginning of the 20th century saw Veblein's classic "Theory of the Leisure Class". After a century of the largest economic growth ever undertaken by one country in the history of the world, the end of the 20th century is marked by a similar, yet different vein of literature; condemnations of overspending by the masses on luxury items. In other words: everyone is now spending like they are part of the leisure class. Many authors have taken a stab at this, and this work by Robert Frank is one of the better ones.

Through the selective use of statistical data, this book shows how Americans are falling into debt in living like kings by buying unnecessary stuff that often and quickly gets outdated and uncool. Facts and figures from various sectors of the US economy (auto, home construction, restaurants, entertainment, etc...) are brought forth, chapter by chapter, to back up this point. The author attributes this spending to a "Keeping up with the Joneses" attitude, decries the results, and proposes several government changes to remedy this problem. The latter include a savings deduction, and a progressive consumption tax. By reading this book, most readers will notice a slight liberal - progressive stance on the part of the author.

The essential points of the book are true to all but the most obdurate observer of modern American culture. Unfortunately, the author should have suggested some other changes to remedy America's overspending besides the savings deduction and the progressive consumption tax. First, how about increasing the amount of minimum vacation time employers must give their employees. This in itself will give employees (all of us) more time to spend doing things like spending time with family, exercising, taking vacations, etc... that do not require purchasing goods. Studies have shown that the less time people have to recreate, the more money they will spend in doing the recreation, if only to make themselves feel that they used their free time fully. Second, eliminate the various deductions businesses and individuals can obtain thru the purchasing of goods and services. Third, eliminate complete public-funding of schools. If every family in America had to pay for some percentage of their children's K-12 education, parents would quickly and willingly instill the principles of sound finances in their children from an early age.

Overall, a good book to read, but not the best of its genre. I do recommend it as a solid commentary on American society at the turn of the 20th century.

An Important Message to all Americans.......2005-11-09

I really did enjoy reading this book on a number of levels. I think Frank does a wonderful job of mixing research from a number of academic fields including economics, psychology, sociology, biology, and public policy. The result is a refreshing and multifaceted look at America's spending habits.

Contrary to other reviews, I did not find Frank's tone to be at all condescending. First and foremost, Frank is an economist, and he eloquently explains how we are all acting independently to maximize our own utility. However, borrowing from the other social sciences, Frank is able to show how these efforts can sometimes go astray. It is not that we are irrational, selfish, or stupid. The problem is that as a society we have not yet learned how to utilize the benefits of both individual freedom AND group cooperation.

I give this book 4 stars because I do agree with other reviewers that it does get a bit repetitive. Also, I believe that the first chapter, which highlighted many gross extravagances in spending by the ultra rich, was a poor introduction to the rest of the book.

The consumption patterns Frank addresses in this work apply to all Americans, as do the consequences in terms of our schools, health, roads, environment, etc. Frank's arguments are logically sound and backed by a large body of research. His solutions for change may appear unpopular, but upon further research, I could not find any strong arguments against them. Overall, I believe this is an important and thought provoking book.

An Interesting Diagnosis.......2005-07-05

Frank's point is essentially that Americans spend too much on luxury goods that don't bring them satisfaction, and too little on things they really could make them happier. He makes a good case for using a consumption tax to remedy the situation. I really enjoyed the analysis of homo economicus versus homo realisticus. Frank argues that homo economicus (as used in mainstream economics) is concerned with rational betterment of his situation, while real people are concerned as much or even more with doing better than those around them. When I studied economics I realized that something was wrong with the standard homo economicus model, but Frank lays out the differences very clearly, in ways I hadn't thought of.
Frank has some great commentary on the human condition here, too. My favorite is his analysis of why it helps to get up in the morning if you put your alarm clock out of reach of the bed. If you don't see what this has to do with economics--read the book!
Frank makes some proposals that I think are bluntly naive. For example, he proposes curing unemployment by a program of public works. This simply cannot work. It has, of course, been tried, including the attempt by the Washington DC municipal government in recent decades. Inevitably it leads to dependency and corruption, and a multiplication of the number of people needing public jobs. Frank needs to think more about where the incentives are in such a situation. In my opinion, if the streets are littered with garbage that isn't being picked up, you have to look at where the garbage is coming from and who is benefitting from creating it. It should be sellers of plastic bottles, paper cups, and the like who should be paying for picking up litter from the streets, not general tax funds. Frank also needs to pay more attention to population issues. No public works program can support a continually increasing number of people. I think Frank also overlooks the large role in overconsumption of having no limits on the interest rates which credit card and mortgage companies are allowed to charge. Unlimited rates means that such companies have a vested interest in keeping the maximum possible number of Americans on the edge of bankruptcy, and not much of an interest in making sure they lend money only to people who are likely to be able to pay it back.
Overall, though, this is a book with some useful and interesting ideas.

Everything Is Coming Up Roses, Isn't It?(Review) (book review): An article from: Independent Review

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Everything Is Coming Up Roses, Isn't It?(Review) (book review): An article from: Independent Review
Steven E. Landsburg
Manufacturer: Independent Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Independent Review, published by Independent Institute on September 22, 1999. The length of the article is 3530 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: Everything Is Coming Up Roses, Isn't It?(Review) (book review)
Author: Steven E. Landsburg
Publication: Independent Review (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 1999
Publisher: Independent Institute
Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Page: 283

Article Type: Book Review

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Luxury Fever: Why Money Fails to Satisfy in an Era of Excess. (book review): An article from: National Tax Journal

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Luxury Fever: Why Money Fails to Satisfy in an Era of Excess. (book review): An article from: National Tax Journal
Thomas J. Kniesner
Manufacturer: National Tax Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from National Tax Journal, published by National Tax Association on June 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1130 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: Luxury Fever: Why Money Fails to Satisfy in an Era of Excess. (book review)
Author: Thomas J. Kniesner
Publication: National Tax Journal (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 2001
Publisher: National Tax Association
Volume: 54 Issue: 2 Page: 425

Article Type: Book Review

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Luxury Fever: Why Money Fails to Satisfy in an Era of Excess.(Review) : An article from: Southern Economic Journal

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Luxury Fever: Why Money Fails to Satisfy in an Era of Excess.(Review) : An article from: Southern Economic Journal
Douglas M. Walker
Manufacturer: Southern Economic Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00098W9JI
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Southern Economic Journal, published by Southern Economic Association on July 1, 1999. The length of the article is 1158 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: Luxury Fever: Why Money Fails to Satisfy in an Era of Excess.(Review)
Author: Douglas M. Walker
Publication: Southern Economic Journal (Refereed)
Date: July 1, 1999
Publisher: Southern Economic Association
Volume: 66 Issue: 1 Page: 199(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Luxury Fever Money and Happiness in an Era of Excess

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Luxury Fever Money and Happiness in an Era of Excess
Robert H. Frank
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7GM2U

Book Description

Getting your message across in a way that is clear and coherent is a critical skill in both organizational and personal life. The Communication Effectiveness Profile looks at the large and often complex subject of communicating with others.

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No more wasting time at meetings
A great resource!
Identifying Opportunities for Improvement in Groups
Our meetings are 100% better...

The Highly Effective Meeting Profile: A Common Sense Survey for Assessing the Meeting Effectiveness of Intact and Ongoing Groups (Packet of 5)
P. Sanaghan
Manufacturer: HRD Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Human Resources & Personnel Management | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Running Meetings & Presentations | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0874257573

Book Description

Stop wasting time on unfocused and unproductive meetings!

A Common Sense Survey for Assessing the Meeting Effectiveness of Intact and Ongoing Groups

How effective are your meetings? Do people come well-prepared? Is there an agenda? Does everyone participate? Are participants open to the ideas of others? Do you spend most of your time on the most important things?

With this survey, you can diagnose the effectiveness of your meetings and identify practical ways to improve them. Designed for evaluating intact and ongoing groups and teams that meet at least once a week, this tool is an excellent choice if you want to:

Stop time-wasters—such as gabbing, deferring decisions, talking an issue to death or listening to blowhards
Put clear processes and protocols in place—the nuts and bolts of good meetings
Get everyone to participate

Participants will respond to 50 statements relating to effective meetings. The statements address five key elements of effective meetings, identified through extensive research and observations of thousands of meetings over 20 years:

Effective decision-making processes
A focus on results
Positive group climate
Basic procedural and protocols
Real participation and engagement
Whether you're a facilitator, group leader or consultant, this is a user-friendly tool—not a complex and validated instrument—that will help you approach meetings in a disciplined way to ensure the outcomes you need.

60 pp / Profile with Workbook

Customer Reviews:

No more wasting time at meetings.......2006-06-28

All too often, meetings are dominated by two or three people who are more interested in hearing themselves talk than in maximizing the productivity of the group. Furthermore, how often have you left a meeting feeling frustrated that nothing got accomplished?

This book contains a number of systematic recommendations on how to handle these and many other pitfalls. The authors offer dozens of insights, some of which are common sense (for example, no personal attacks) while others are very creative methods to keep meeting attendees involved and accountable. One such idea is to recognize how the group makes decisions - consensus, chair's discretion, voice vote, or secret ballot - and rotate these techniques so that no single personality type is always in control.

Be warned that there are no eye-catching graphics or hip cultural references here. But if you want a no-nonsense, no-frills, textbook-like primer on how to get the most out of your meetings, check out this material.

A great resource!.......2006-01-20

My team and I at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society are proud to be highlighted as a case study in the book. Pat Sanaghan's direct work with us, which started with the effective meeting profile survey, established a clear base line for us to better utilize our strengths and understand our challenges regarding meeting management. We are putting our learnings into practice and have become a model team in the organization as a result. The book is an valuable tool for any business or organization that is "meeting driven". Thanks Pat!

Identifying Opportunities for Improvement in Groups.......2004-05-08

I highly recommend this book to any group who wants to uncover opportunities! It helps break down group interactions into manageable parts that are not too overwhelming to understand. Once the opportunities for improvement are identified, the book helps to guide a group through next steps. It doesn't just identify the problem areas, but provides solutions as well. This book is very valuable.

Our meetings are 100% better..........2004-04-23

This meeting inventory has taken our meetings to a new level of productivity. It was so easy to administer and score, plus it gives ideas for how to improve the areas that we needed to work on. I recommend this meeting survey to any leader who is serious about having meetings that are both enjoyable and productive. A great find for our organization.

Product Description

The survival and success of all living organisms are determined by energy and matter transfers between the upper layers of the soil profile and the lowest levels of its atmosphere. In this monograph 50 experts collaborated to develop 23 chapters detailing the role that micrometeorology plays in crop production systems and terrestrial ecosystems.

Book Description

This book brings together the thinking of twenty-two eminent astronomers on a fascinating topic of contemporary astrophysics: large-scale galaxy motions. Stars group into galaxies, galaxies unite into clusters, clusters merge into superclusters, and superclusters meet at intersections of filaments to define voids and supercluster complexes. Can gravity alone, arising from this irregular mass distribution, produce the motions which observers detect? In this collection, astronomers discuss evidence for irregular clumping of galaxies throughout the observed universe, determination of galaxy peculiar motions, and predictions from theories of the early universe relating to small-scale fluctuations in the microwave background radiation, the lumpy matter distribution, and large motions. This book can serve as a companion volume to The Large-Scale Structure of the Universe by P.J.E. Peebles (Princeton, 1980).

Authors of chapters in the book include N. A. Bahcall, J. R. Bond, D. Burstein, M. Davis, A. Dekel, G. Efstathiou, S. M. Faber, M. Geller, M. P. Haynes, J. P. Huchra, N. Kaiser, D. C. Koo, A. N. Lasenby, D. Lynden-Bell, J. Mould, P.J.E. Peebles, V. C. Rubin, A. Szalay, R. B. Tully, N. Vittorio, and A. Yahil.

Customer Reviews:

One of my three favorite conference proceedings of all time........1995-12-30

One of the few books going to the crypt w/me. A classic. Buy it in hardback to pass it on. Nuff said.

Clusters and Superclusters of Galaxies (NATO Science Series C:)

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Clusters and Superclusters of Galaxies (NATO Science Series C:)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Solar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Star-Gazing | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Rocks & Minerals | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Clusters and superclusters of galaxies are the largest objects in the Universe. They have been the subject of intense observational studies at a variety of wavelengths, from radio to X-ray which has provoked much theoretical debate and advanced our understanding of the recent evolution of the large-scale structure of the Universe. The current status of the subject is reviewed in this volume by active researchers who lectured at a NATO Advanced Study Institute held in Cambridge, England in July 1991. Much of the material is presented in a pedagogical manner and will appeal to scientists, astronomers and graduate students interested in extragalactic astronomy.

Study Week on Large-Scale Motion in the Universe: November 9-14, 1987 (Pontificiae Academiae Scientiarum scripta varia)

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Study Week on Large-Scale Motion in the Universe: November 9-14, 1987 (Pontificiae Academiae Scientiarum scripta varia)

Manufacturer: Pontificia Academia Scientiarum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Solar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 8877610344

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More like an inflated magazine article than book.

Great books for Boyscouts and backpackers

This 8 ounce book packs a ton of knowledge.

lighten a load with a very light book

Owes a lot to Ray Jardine

Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking (Falcon Guide)
Don Ladigin
Manufacturer: Falcon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Camping | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
General | Excursion Guides | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Walking | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Allen and Mike's Really Cool Backpackin' Book: Traveling & camping skills for a wilderness environment

Lightweight Backpacking and Camping: A Field Guide to Wilderness Equipment, Technique, and Style (Backpacking Light)

The Ultralight Backpacker : The Complete Guide to Simplicity and Comfort on the Trail

Freezer Bag Cooking: Trail Food Made Simple

Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book (Falcon Guides Backcountry Skiing)

ASIN: 0762737344

Book Description

Short, to the point, and humorously illustrated by famed outdoor illustrator Mike Clelland, this book presents everything hikers and backpackers need to be safe, comfortable, and well-fed while carrying a very small and lightweight pack.

Customer Reviews:

More like an inflated magazine article than book........2007-09-18

It's good as far as it goes, which is really maybe twenty pages of material. It doesn't go into so much depth that I become struck by some unknown insight; it is a collection of good tips and demonstrable multi-tasking that can save weight and show off a little of your backcountry skills, i.e. build rather than buy, and make on site rather than haul in and out. All of these tips are things you already know, codified for about one hour of reading.

Worth it? Dunno. If you're an experienced hiker, you could intuit almost all of this. Any reputable 1st Class or above Boy Scout could do the same at age 14. I'm not impressed with it, and know I'll never re-read it. However, it does serve a purpose to the less-experienced, so in that regard, the content was solid and well-presented.

-Fred

Great books for Boyscouts and backpackers.......2007-09-02

This has been a great book in how to lighten your load. I like to have the kitchen sink with me when I go out camping, so this book has been very useful for me. Thanks

This 8 ounce book packs a ton of knowledge........2007-07-19

Simply put, grab this book. It has backpacking perfectly organised with the research done for you. It even provides some name brands of products they reccomend. I really got alot more than my money's worth.

lighten a load with a very light book.......2007-06-27

I found this book full of little tidbits to use. Some ideas I have never heard or thought of. You can't skip any pages becuase you might miss some knowledge or some humor. This is worth every penny and great for the beginner to the advanced.

Owes a lot to Ray Jardine.......2007-06-11

Despite mentioning his name a couple of times as well as listing it in the biography, almost everything in this book is distilled from Ray Jardine's seminal work, "Beyond Backpacking." All of Ray's ultralight innovations are presented in this book, such as quilts, tarps, and running shoes, next to the lightweight alternatives; full bags, bivy sacks, light hiking boots, as well as brief reasons to avoid the traditional gear: heavy packs, two man tents and full leather boots.

They also mention a few alternative ultralight ideas such as ponchos and windshirts.

I took exception to the notion that white gas stoves are in any way dangerous, temperamental or difficult. My base weight is 12 lbs including my white gas stove, with which I've never had any problems in 15 years once I learned to prime it thoroughly and later blow it out to reduce clogging soot.

The book also suggests one wear 3 ounce socks, by which I imagine he means Thorlo or merino wool type hiking socks, but both Ray Jardine and other ultralighters swear by 1 ounce nylon liner socks to compliment their running shoes, and I concur.

I was intrigued by the idea of steam baking, but I doubt I could manage even one cupcake in a tart pan, on top of a mesh platform, on top of pebbles, above boiling water, in my 0.9 liter titanium pot? The Outback Oven, which he doesn't mention, might be an alternative?

All in all, maybe an idea or two, but this sums up my prejudice regarding newer UL books: Ray Jardine is the original, and there's not much more left to say.

Customer Reviews:

Somewhat complicated to use.......2007-08-10

I will readily admit that I am not a sophisticated computer user, so you can form your induvidual opinion based on your own experience. However, I like the program and the blocks that one can utilize to compartmentalize information, but navigating thru the myriad of options seemed a daunting task for me. personally speaking, I wanted a simple program, and I suppose I could have found one for a much lower cost. I will also admit that I did not want to spend alot of time reading the instruction booklet that came with the program, as I just wanted something simple that I could start right away. I am a novice writer that is using this program to write my first non-fiction book, so mabye for you this program is exactly what you wanted. Whatever your opinion is, I always encourage others to keep an open mind and base your conclusions on what you think. After all, opinions are like A*****E's.....everbodys got one!.

Thorough and well written .......2007-01-05

Mary Embree captures the essence of what every writer needs to know. I was particularly impressed with the organization of her thoughts. Well worth the read.

No prior familiarity with the writing world is assumed.......2003-05-16

The Author's Toolkit: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing And Publishing Your Book offers beginners a handy basic reference to writing a book; from nurturing initial ideas and changing them to first drafts to creating a polished, finished work and understanding publishing options. No prior familiarity with the writing world is assumed, making this a perfect introduction for beginners.

The Author's Toolkit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Book.(Book Reviews) : An article from: Technical Communication

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The Author's Toolkit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Book.(Book Reviews) : An article from: Technical Communication
Julie Kinyoun
Manufacturer: Society for Technical Communication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on August 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1025 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 Author's Toolkit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Book.(Book Reviews)
Author: Julie Kinyoun
Publication: Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: August 1, 2004
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Page: 413(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Joe and Elizabeth's mother realizes she can leave the twins and several of their friends alone for a few hours to watch a long-anticipated pro-wrestling match starring Joe's hero, Jack Shine. The friends settle in for a night of television, but the fun abruptly halts when escaped serial murderer Quentin Charles Dorn breaks in disguised as the pizza delivery man. Confused and angry, Dorn holds the seven teenagers hostage while nervously negotiating with the FBI on scene. Joe picks up on Dorn's vulnerability and weaknesses and hopes his own wit and composure will prevail over the hostage-taker's jumpy nerves and desperation. In bringing the night to a safe end, Joe proves that courage is drawn from intelligence and grit, not brute strength or a tough exterior. Headlock is a fast-paced thriller starring an underdog who reveals that intuition and imagination are the true qualities of a hero.

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Head Lock
Jerome Doolittle
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NQJQKG

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The novel as a soapbox
Watch Out, You Hypocrites
Great read!

Head Lock
Jerome Doolittle
Manufacturer: Atria
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0671799789

Book Description

Bethany takes on antiabortion terrorists and a twisted televangelist.

"A Travis McGee for the 90s"

—Publisher's Weekly

"A great hero in an excellent series"

—Booklist

"Ranks with Robert Parker, Elmore Leonard, Ed McBain and Ross Thomas as a high-voltage storyteller:"

Charles Champlin, Los Angeles Times

Customer Reviews:

The novel as a soapbox.......2002-06-29

A few weeks ago I came across the Jerome Doolittle book "Body Scissors"-his first Tom Bethany mystery novel. It is an excellent book and I was impressed by the quality of writing, the attention to detail and the characterization. I then found and bought Doolittle's 4th novel, "Head Lock," expecting more of the same high quality work. What a disappointment! Doolittle, who was a speech writer for former president Jimmy Carter, is still stewing over the fact that Carter was a one-term president. Doolittle's venomous hate for former president Reagan et al was apparently too much to contain, and in "Head Lock" he has a political hissy fit. Throughout the novel he heaps abuse and saracasm on Reagan, George Bush, Christians, pro-lifers, L. A. police, Republicans, Conservatives-any and all that he envisions as an enemy of Carter and the True Left. This book is a political temper tantrum masquerading as a novel. And if the abuse Doolittle shovels out isn't enough to turn you off, the "heroes" of this book are (a)a prostitute who has murdered two people and repeatedly bedded a teenaged boy; (b)a married mother of two who carries on a steamy affair with the detective hero, while her husband smiles his approval; (c)a detective (Tom Bethany) who breaks a dozen laws to entrap and blackmail a cartoon-character anti-abortion leader. Then, at book's end, Bethany preaches a long, boring sermon to the reader about the efficacy of religious faith vs. good works. What drivel! I give this book one star --- a star because Doolittle has provided us with compelling written evidence showing why Carter (and his aides like Doolittle) were thrown out of the White House after four years.

Watch Out, You Hypocrites.......2001-09-04

Though Jerome Doolittle can scorch the souls of Republicans, dishonest businessmen, dopey politicians and a lot of other of folks, he saves his greatest venom for hypocrites.
In Head Lock, he finds a good one, a preacher, outspoken opponent of abortion, senatorial wannabe and sexual miscreant.
I've been reading several of the Doolittle series featuring the somewhat odd private investigator Tom Bethany in the last few months, and, unfortunately, have read them a little out of order. This is not a fatal mistake; I've just found myself a little confused by the lives of some of Bethany's friends as they leave one career--say, operating a massage parlor, for another, running a religious theme park. That's also not the fault of the author or his sharp writing. Doolittle is a must read for anyone appalled by what passes for political and moral leadership in this day and age. Be prepared for some of Doolittle's zingers, hurled at many people in all of his Bethany books, but thrown with a little extra sting at phony moralizing. Suffice it to say that, in this book, Bethany puts away the bad guy in fine fashion, though not until after he's done irreparable harm to a teenager he doesn't even know. I recommend Doolittle without qualms; someone has to take on the phonies of the world and not be real nice about it in the process.

Great read!.......2001-07-04

Once again, Jerome Doolittle is unafraid to take on issues that are controversial. Via Tom Bethany, the non working workaholic, he inserts some thought provoking insights into the heated debate of abortion. Perhaps the most frightening part is the antagonistic characters may be ousted from Jerome's book and placed into the world and we would be able to identify them. Jerome knows how to weave a story and fill it with humor, comraderie, and perhaps even a touch of wishful thinking.

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Head Lock
Jerome Doolittle
Manufacturer: POCKET BOOKS @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SEMES4

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Head Lock (Series Canada)
P. Kropp
Manufacturer: Collier-Macmillan Canada Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0029535417

ORIGINAL PRINTED PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 17,487 FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CYCLE HEAD LOCKS. [1910]

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ORIGINAL PRINTED PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 17,487 FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CYCLE HEAD LOCKS. [1910]
John, Limited & James Morgan (inventors). Marston
Manufacturer: HMSO
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O7Z9Q4

ORIGINAL PRINTED PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 2,074 FOR IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CYCLE HEAD LOCKS. [1910]

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ORIGINAL PRINTED PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 2,074 FOR IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CYCLE HEAD LOCKS. [1910]
Harry & Partridges Limited [inventors]. Mills
Manufacturer: HMSO
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O729NU

Super-quick Adding and Subtracting in Your Head (30 Second Challenge)

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Super-quick Adding and Subtracting in Your Head (30 Second Challenge)
Norman Lock
Manufacturer: Ladybird Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Super-quick Multiplying and Dividing in Your Head (30 Second Challenge)

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Super-quick Multiplying and Dividing in Your Head (30 Second Challenge)
Norman Lock
Manufacturer: Ladybird Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

With Head and Heart and Hand: Photographs of 20th Century British Doctors

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With Head and Heart and Hand: Photographs of 20th Century British Doctors
Stephen Lock , Christopher Booth , and Nick Sinclair
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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