Product Description
Some complex problems simply do not have "solutions".The key to being an effective leader is being able to recognize and manage such problems.Polarity Management presents a unique model and set of principles that will challenge you to look at situations in new ways.Also, included are exercises to strenghten your skills, and case studies to help you begin applying the model to your own unsolvable problems.Polarity Management will increase your ability to distinguish between problems that can be solved and polarities that cannot be solved, and show you how to effectively manage unsolvable problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Dynamic tension
I was recommended this book as a fresh approach to looking at problems that are often associated with conflict and deemed insolvable. I found it an easy-to-read and practical guide of one approach the type of problem that does not seem to respond to the conventional linear-thinking approach of define-the-problem-argue-the-options-fabricate-the-business-case-and-implement-an-untested-solution. Since reading it I have already started to use the language and metaphors which is a sign to me that the approach works in practice ([...])

Polarity Management - Essential wisdom for business
Polarity Management lays out the fundamental choices management must make to assure organizations stay in the "virtuous cycle" instead of over-emphasizing one choice at the expense of essential wisdom that would create balance. Johnson's approach simplifies complex issues to clarify the poles represented in everyday management decisions.

Self-evident
If it has never dawned on you that people are different, perhaps this book will help.Otherwise, there's little here that anyone who has thought ten minutes (well, ok, maybe twenty-five) about people won't have already pondered.

An easy read for my mba class?
I purchased this book to supplement my course materials for my mba class. It was the perfect compliment to my research and explained the material nicely, foregoing the often complicated and alienating academic language for common wording and explanations. Truly easy to read and informative!

Clarity from an invisible fog...
The invisible fog is trying to solve a problem that can't be solved. It is a fog because the solutions don't work, and it is invisible because focusing onsolutions prevents seeing that there isn't a problem to be solved. There is no magic bullet here, and Johnson acknowledges that. What is here are tools for coping with (managing) dualities or polarities inherent in many troublesome situations. Johnson provides the clarity to get above the fog and find a way to address (manage) the situation.

The concepts and underlying explanation are a solid 5-star.
Four stars because I found just a bit too much padding/repetition for a 5 star book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Authors to debunk "Clapton is God" myth in next book

It never occurred to me that there were people who actually believed that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads. I had always thought the great bluesman's story to be a legend along the lines of Paul Bunyan and Babe Ruth's pointed shot. When I'd read Pete Welding, Samuel Charters, Greil Marcus, and Robert Palmer on Johnson, I assumed they were re-telling a fairy tale, or perhaps--at a stretch--writing metaphorically. For me, the legend was finally put to rest with the surfacing of the photographs of Johnson. (Oh, he's just a regular guy!) The rather kooky premise of this book by Pearson and McCulloch is that the writers/critics mentioned above (and others) were, in effect, part of a vast white-wing conspiracy to promote the devil myth.The smarmy viciousness of the author's attacks on these conspirators is completely unnecessary, sort of like beating a dead hellhound. That being said, this is about as good an overview of the Robert Johnson legend as you're ever gonna find.

Finding the Real Deal
Pearson and McCulloch demythologize the stories about Robert Johnson in this well researched and fascinating study.The authors convincingly demonstrate that the story of Johnson's Faustian pact never appeared in print until decades after Johnson's death.They further debunk the legend by showing that even most of those who were closely associated with him also viewed the story with either a wry skepticism or total disdain.Although it's fun to talk about the legends that have been associated with this blues man, Pearson and McCulloch also argue that a gullible acceptance of the stories prevents blues fans from truly understanding the man and his music.I came away from reading this book with a better understanding of his life and a far greater appreciation for Johnson's abilities.In this respect, the book provides an excellent resource for learning to listen to blues music by clearing away the highly exoticized and even patronizing presuppositions that we may bring to the art form.In this fine study, a fine folklorist and journalist partner up to give us the real deal of Johnson.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please meet the real Robert Johnson
Do not be scared off by the naysayers and one star reviews.I can understand that people who worship at the altar of myth are dismayed by this strong factual account.This is a highly professional publication that is strictly based of veritable facts and not rumours and hearsay, even when said heresay could be the truth.Every single essay, story, blurb you ever read about Robert Johnson mentions his mythical pact with the devil.While it's fine to have romantic notions about an artist it is ridiculous, especially, in this case, to focus so exclusively on the myth when the facts are just as intruiging.That is what the authors are out to instill in our minds here.And yes they are occasionally repetitive but this is understandable when they are up against a half century's worth of material contending otherwise.The fact is that Robert Johnson was an amazing and talented musician who worked very, very hard to perfect his craft.This book asks the question "Why can he not be recognized for this fact?"Why is his prowess only explicable by referring to an ancient myth that he himself likely did not promote.The legends and myths are OK but they should not be the sole focus of conversation regarding this incredible artist.Read this book and you will come away with a new appreciation for this artist.I have been listening to Mr Johnson's recordings for over 20 years and that is the effect it had on me.

Dismaying and dreary.
The writers of this book would have you believe that not only is it idiotic to have any sort of mythology surround an artist, but they also want us to ignore many of the real life experiences that Robert Johnson most likely faced. If they had just wanted to focus on the "real" story and downplay the urban legend style that Robert Johnson's life is usually told as, all they would have had to do was...focus on it. Instead, they not only pooh-pooh the myths, they disregard the entire lifestyle of African Americans in the early part of the 20th century. We are to believe that Johnson played with lots of people, but none of the people we have ever been told of. No one is telling the truth about anything regarding Johnson, except the authors themselves. They insist that Robert Johnson himself did not have fears for his soul, in spite of a slew of songs pertaining to the subject. They seem unaware that this theme had a basis in the African American community of true belief, and still does to this day in many areas. Apparantly, they have never heard the term "write what you know"(either for writing songs, or this book). It would appear mostly that a lack of people who actually wanted to discuss the subject with the authors may have contributed to the authors' explaining over and over the insignificance of the themes in Johnson's work. They seem to distrust absolutely everyone who ever had any story to tell about Johnson, so it would be no wonder. Whether you believe that Robert Johnson ever went down to the crossroads, or the Louisana swamps, or any other part of that story, the fact remains that his voice and playing is haunting and haunted. The authors speak as if they have some deep inner ability to see into Johnson's mind and soul, and found it somehow lacking and not at all as the story goes. In the end, I just felt sorry for them, because it appears that they do not have the hair-raising, spine tingling thrill when they listen to his music that most people do when they hear it. This music was not intended to be listened to by an impartial, unaffected, disinterested audience. Maybe it is just the authors showing a touch of sour grapes at missing out on the larger experience. Over all an arrogant, mind dulling, disappointing dry telling of an otherwise exciting topic. Want a more interesting, less blabby version that gets down to the facts and preserves some of the myth? Read Peter Guralnick's Searching For Robert Johnson instead. Read Robert Johnson Lost and Found only if you do not care one bit about Robert Johnson, his music or his life, and don't care if it is narrated with as much enthusiasm as a Mutual Of Omaha Wild Kingdom program about snails.

Casting out Satan!
This book does a wonderful job of looking at the man whose dark mythology often supercedes his deep music. Yes, some who want to believe in his devil might get a little ruffled by the actual journalism here but I'm, for one, just as interested in the reality as I am in the legend. I find the true story of the tales woven around him captivating and curious. A critic on this list said that one could have researched everything in this book and to that I say, "huh?" Any accurate history revisits the facts and the faces, hopefully gaining new insight and accounts. This book does both and is a great read to boot. ... Read more

Product Description
Algorithmic trading and Direct Market Access (DMA) are important tools helping both buy and sell-side traders to achieve best execution.
This book starts from the ground up to provide detailed explanations of both these techniques:

- An introduction to the different types of execution is followed by a review of market microstructure theory. Throughout the book examples from empirical studies bridge the gap between the theory and practice of trading.

- Orders are the fundamental building blocks for any strategy. Market, limit, stop, hidden, iceberg, peg, routed and immediate-or-cancel orders are all described with illustrated examples.

- Trading algorithms are explained and compared using charts to show potential trading patterns. TWAP, VWAP, Percent of Volume, Minimal Impact, Implementation Shortfall, Adaptive Shortfall, Market On Close and Pairs trading algorithms are all covered, together with common variations.

- Transaction costs can have a significant effect on investment returns. An in-depth example shows how these may be broken down into constituents such as market impact, timing risk, spread and opportunity cost and other fees.

- Coverage includes all the major asset classes, from equities to fixed income, foreign exchange and derivatives. Detailed overviews for each of the world's major markets are provided in the appendices.

- Order placement and execution tactics are covered in more detail, as well as potential enhancements (such as short-term forecasts), for those interested in the specifics of implementing these strategies.

- Cutting edge applications such as portfolio and multi-asset trading are also considered, as are handling news and data mining/artificial intelligence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Great, comprehensive book!
This is simply a great introduction to trading.I have been on the (computer) programming side of the financial industry for around 10 years and found this book to be incredibly useful.I have recommended it to several of my colleagues and often see copies of this book on desks of programmers and quants.

Unfortunately I misplaced my copy recently, yet, despite the hefty price, I'll be ordering another one.

Good overview for understanding algorthmic trading
I am in the trading industry and have reviewed the efficacy of many types of trading strategies. This book should provide a good framework to help practioners understand what goes into algorithm construction and how certain decisions can lead to various outcomes.I wish it was a little more technical in some areas, spefically in transaction cost modeling,but overall it provides a good overview and is a useful tool for traders to understand how these systems work and how they can optimize their own trading decisions.

The best available
This book won't tell you how to make money, but it'll give you the necessary background so you can understand what you need to do. It provides a solid, broad introduction to the basics of electronic trading today.

I've gone through most of the books on this area.. This is the only one I can recommend.

The first real textbook on algorithmic trading
Terminology time: when the average amateur thinks of "Algorithmic trading," he thinks of vast machine intelligences duking it out in microseconds using exotic signal processing techniques. Well, in the business, "algorithmic trading" generally refers to the process of finding liquidity for an instrument using a computer, generally done by a buy side trader. This may seem needlessly pedantic, but it's important, as this is an actual job description, and this is what the book is all about. It also relates to 2009's favorite whipping boy, "High Frequency Trading," and could be considered the premier book on this subject -it's the best one I've yet read anyway. In addition to describing the other end of a HF trade done intelligently, it describes how various arbitrageurs and other prop traders make their money (in ch 13 in particular). The appendices are also excellent, and there is a useful key to abbreviations and acronyms: something sorely missed in many other books.

The book is a model of clarity and trading didactics; I have read no better description of this sort of thing, anywhere. While I'm not qualified to say so, as I don't actually do such things for a living, I suspect it's extremely complete and accurate introduction to the subject. In addition to the didactics, it contains plenty of folk wisdom, practical advice, obscure information and good old horse sense.

In detail: For part I, ch 1 gives a basic overview of the subject, including necessary definitions (aka DMA versus algo trading versus ...). Ch 2 touches on market microstructure; this is excellent, both for the rank amateur, and the professional looking to be grounded in a clear exposition. Ch 3 a description of the different types of markets, asset classes, dark pools, dealer markets and etc. This is all basic stuff; the nuts and bolts of what we're talking about. On to part II; ch 4 gives a detailed description of the different order types one can use in different markets. Ch 5 gives the basic kinds of trading algorithms; VWAP, implementation shortfall and all that.Ch 6 is on the process of modeling transaction costs; this chapter doesn't give any algorithms for doing so; it is more of a framework for thinking about the problem from the point of view of the algorithmic trader. I originally thought ch 7 was one of the weaker chapters, though upon reflection it may be one of the most useful ones for assessing market behavior; I was focusing on the classical use of the word "optimal." Section III, chapter 8 order placement is a sort of review of market microstructure models of price formation, and a strategic break down of the way a trader thinks about the problem of order placement. That and the sections on dark liquidity: gold. Ch 9 is on tactics; also invaluable stuff. How does a trader fake out other traders, look for hidden liquidity, update the limit book to minimize signaling?Ch 10 can be seen as a collection of ways to use forecasting techniques in your trading algorithms. Lots of practical information mixed in here about "forecastibles" that everyone knows about (dividends, witching days, etc). It's not always obvious how to incorporate known future events into a trading strategy or algorithm: this chapter is very helpful. I'd have liked to see it done in some kind of Bayesian framework, but whatever; this is really practical, useful stuff. Ch 11, infrastructure; this goes over things like FIX (the protocol for talking to the broker), some graphs as to how the actual order process works, ideas on latency, testing, market compliance and so on. I'd have liked a little more information on things like tick databases, trading platforms and trade resolution infrastructure, but maybe such information would be out of date as soon as he wrote it. Anyway, mentioning the words and some problems with typical such software might be useful to the tyro. Part IV, Ch 12 is on portfolio trading. There is a decent introduction to classical portfolio theory, and some good ideas on minimizing portfolio risk using the author's "marginal contribution to risk" metric. I'd have liked some more information here, but perhaps this is an appropriate chapter for a book more or less on Algo trading and DMA, rather than prop trading. Ch 13 is on various multi-asset trading strategies; roughly speaking, forms of statistical arbitrage and prop trading. It's sort of an oddball chapter, as this isn't the primary subject matter of the book, but it's a topical subject, and I'm glad it's there. Ch 14 is on trading the news; also a very interesting topic, and subject of ongoing research. The author gives a lot of practical information here which could be useful to the experimenter.Chapter 15 on machine learning is probably the weakest of the book, though I can find nofactual faults with it. It is a reasonable introduction to machine learning and data mining techniques. Personally, I'd have lost much of the stuff on ANN's, and added a bit on reinforcement learning, and perhaps a section on the block bootstrap (one of my favorite hobby horses) used for testing for overfitting. One idea I found really interesting was the notion of using artificial stock markets to test ideas. I've fiddled with these, though I never thought of using them to test ideas! That's a damn good idea. Honestly, I think most of the machine learning papers out there are crap, and their appearance in books like this are more or less smokescreens. Stuff like econometrics and particle filters: way more useful. Don't tell anyone I told you so.The 70 pages of appendices, well, they're all super helpful for figuring out how the actual markets work in detail. No doubt some of the details are already out of date, but the over all structure: priceless. A real map of world markets.

Don't know why he wrote it, but I'm glad he did. I'd have paid twice the cover price for the book. I've actually physically worn the thing out (it doesn't do well on beaches), and will probably order another copy.

Good book with lots of details
This is a good book with a lot of details. Over the past 10-15 years, Quantitative OR algorithmic trading has been further researched. Different researchers have come up with algorithms for various strategies.

Barry Johnson has done a good job of aggregating the strategies and algorithms. One need not have an advanced knowledge of financial instruments to follow this book. Since he himself was a software engineer, he provides details about the software side as well.

I have not fully read the book. Plan on doing so pretty soon. ... Read more

Product Description
Congregations often find themselves in power struggles over two opposing views. People on both sides believe strongly that they are right. They also assume that if they are right, their opposition must be wrong--classic 'either/or' thinking. A polarity is a pair of truths that need each other over time. When an argument is about two poles of a polarity, both sides are right and need each other to experience the whole truth.

This phenomenon has been recognized and written about for centuries in philosophy and religion. It is at the heart of Taoism, where we find the familiar polarity of yin and yang energy. In the past fifty years, business leaders have come to appreciate the phenomenon, often called dilemma or paradox. No matter what it is called, the research is clear: leaders and organizations that manage polarities well outperform those who don't. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Creates a foundation for powerful communication
If more leaders knew how to recognize and manage polarities, we would have much more vibrant faith communities. Johnson and Oswald have written a tremendously useful book. Their discussion of polarity management will help not only congregations, but any organization which finds itself in disagreement. Out of passion for the work and mission of the organization, and sometimes just because we all have our own ways of seeing things, polarities will always exist. In understanding polarities more completely (which the reader will begin to do within the first chapter), a clear path forward opens in the midst of conflict. This is an awesome, readable book. It will change the conversations and what's possible in many congregations!

Very practical
This book is a wonderful tool in thinking about congregations. The 8 polarities that are described are very well formulated and recognizable. The model that is being presented can directly be applied in the situation you are in. It is well written and good examples are used. Recommendable reading for leadership in the church ... Read more

Product Description
This collection of Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry's essays will amuse, entertain and bring a smile to the heart. 6 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Barry at his best; don't miss it!
I've read most if not all of Dave Barry's books, but for some
reason had missed DAVE BARRY'S WORST SONGS AND OTHER
HITS . . . now I know why; it apparently never came out as book.

What Dove Audio did was record his original "Bad Song Survey"
columns and then add a long piece about Elvis fans and the tale
of his "Tupperware Song" . . . the compilation rocks.

Barry is sooooo funny, as evidenced by his description of the
voter's choice for Worst Song--in both the Worst Overall and Worst Lyrics
category:

"MacArthur Park," as sung by Richard Harris, and later remade, for
no comprehensible reason, by Donna Summer.

It's hard to argue with this selection. My 12-year-old son, Rob, was
going through a pile of ballots, and he asked me how "MacArthur Park"
goes, so I sang it, giving it my best shot, and Rob laughed so hard
that when I got to the part about leaving the cake out of the rain, and
took so long to bake it, and I'll never have the recipe again, Rob was
on the floor. He didn't believe those lyrics were real. He was sure
his wacky old humor-columnist dad was making them up.

So as to not disappoint readers of this review, here are the other
results . . . the clear runner-up in both categories was "Yummy
Yummy Yummy (I Got Love in my Tummy), performed by Ohio
Express, and coming in a strong third was "(You're) Having My Baby"
by Paul Anka. Honorable mention went to Bobby Goldsboro, who
got many votes for various songs, especially "Honey."

Arte Johnson and John Ritter both did a fine job on the narration
of WORST SONGS.

Fun listening to cope with traffic on the Northway...
If you are a Dave Barry fan, you'll enjoy this compilation of tales....The piece about Elvis fans and the saga of the Tupperware Song are the best!John Ritter is an excellent choice to read / "sing" thetales (very expressive storyteller and great "singer" for thistype of musical content).Thanks for making the commute more tolerable! ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the absolute best of Dave Barry; selections from four of his most popular books, including the hilarious Guide to Guys. There's no such thing as too many laughs! Dave Barry is on the loose and no one is safe! ... Read more

Product Description
You can't make this stuff up! Dave Barry would never lie--and here are the real life, laugh-out-loud stories from across America to prove it: a U.S. Supreme Court justice shares his remedy for preventing gas ("I had not realized that this was a matter of concern in the highest levels of government"); a newspaper headline in Ohio announces the combustibility of strawberry Pop-Tarts ("A story that can really help you gain a better understanding of how you can be killed by breakfast snack food"); the frightening fact that snakes have mastered the pipelines leading directly to your toilet--and they're not shy ("Many women might view this as a fair punishment for all the billions of times that guys have left the seat up").

So get up-close with Dave as he swears to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth . . . so God help you!Amazon.com Review
The title, as Dave Barry admits, is not entirelyaccurate. To be sure, this collection of articles does contain what thePulitzer-Prize-winning author calls "an unusually high (for me) levelof factual content." But there is also an abundance of goofyreportage, fart jokes (see "It's A Gas"), and Barry's long-overduethoughts on natural childbirth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Barry's The Best
If you know who Dave Barry is, you've probably already read this book no more needs to be said! If you don't - get this book, or any one of his many article anthologies, and get ready to gasp with laughter. Barry's many years as a humor writer for the Miami Herald provides no end to material for these compilations of observationary wit on everything from anagrams to zippers. Barry's the best! If there is ever a humorist Hall of Fame, he'll certainly be the first inductee.

Dave Barry is not making this up--except for the parts that he is
In addition to following up 1992's "Dave Barry Talks Back" with a collection of his weekly humor columns from the Miami Herald through 1994, this book also includes several longer pieces Dave Barry wrote for other publications, including one about the "natural" birth of his son, an expose of a Western Florida UFO hoax, and a couple of travelogues (of a sort) about a trip to China on the eve of Britain's withdrawal from Hong Kong and a boating trip to Bimini Bay.Also included is a rather serious (for Barry) column about his son being hit by a car while riding his bike, which is actually quite touching.

But of course, the staple of any Dave Barry book is the zany humor, and it is plentiful here, including among many other classic columns the infamous "Bad Song Contest."If you are a Dave Barry fan, you will enjoy this book, and if you haven't discovered him yet, this would be a fine place to start.

Laffs In The Palm Of Your Hand!
I first got a taste of Dave Barry after coming upon an essay of his online, which described his misadventures at one of those silly "self-improvement" seminars. Needless to say the cracks about Tony Robbins being an android & other stuff basically required a quick change of undies. So, I wanted to experience more of aching tummies & soggy panties, so I bought this book. Unfortunetely, the story wasn't in this one BUT I was treated to absolute hilarity such as Dave's trip to Bimini on his boat named "Buster".....and the embarrassment of being around guys with "more manly" names for boats like "Sea Biceps" & "Testosterone Torpedo" (guys are weird). Then there's his son, who makes poor Dave feel old with the former's earring & penchant for cutting-edge music such as the song "Detachable [...]" (this is a real song, by the way...or as Dave would say, "I'm not making this up". My sister used to hear all the time on the radio back in the 90's). So, if you want a blast, get this book. Oh.......and remember to visit the "Porcelain Throne", first.

Other Books
A collection of amusing anecdotes from the American writer, humorist and columnist Dave Barry.He finds all sorts of weird, crazy, stupid and funny stuff that people do, say or come up with all across the United States of America, and puts them into print.

Dave doesn't mind a drop of the droll, Dave doesn't.

comedy at its best
I have read nearly all of Dave's books, and it never ceases to amaze me that he can be hilarious on each and every occasion. He doesn't duplicate any annecdotes, he simply uses his comic genius to make up new ones.. you will never be bored with Dave's ability to make you rush to the toilet to save wetting the floor, or laughing so hard you feel sick, and the back of your head hurts. This book is my favourite. Every story is funny, clever, and even sometimes sentimental. Please buy this one, you won't regret it. He's on top form. ... Read more

Product Description
It is in this climate of government spending and fraud that the Center for Health Transformation offers an in-depth book on healthcare fraud. Given that healthcare costs make up around one-seventh of America s economy, it is imperative at this time to ensure that funding goes to appropriate people and organizations, not crooks seeking to rob taxpayers. We hope to begin a serious national discussion about fraud, the perverse incentives that allow such fraud to flourish, and key strategies to bring these schemes to an end. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Most Excellent
I read this book 14 years ago, and have read more than 40 on the subject since. This book, by far, is the best and most complete book I've read....and ultimately the most helpful in healing from abuses of all kinds. I have referred back to it many times in my path to healing. I shared it with my Stake President and he saw to it that each of the ward libraries in our stake have one. It should be required reading for every auxiliary calling in the LDS Church; lack of knowledge and resources is a massive problem within the Church; I say this with first hand knowledge. After telling 24 Priesthood leaders of the sadistic abuse I suffered for the first 16 years of my life and the continued abuses to keep my quiet; they simply did nothing in regard to the abuses. I know this is not what the Lord taught in administering the priesthood. I believe fear, misused patriarchy, stigma and lack of knowledge are among the biggest problems in confronting the ugly truths in this life. This book has outstanding depth, critical (sometimes disturbing) truth, and points to solutions. One of my favorite chapters deals with forgiveness and the complex nature of it in regard to such serious sin against us with horrendous long-term consequences, using one of the best scriptural examples we have. It emphasized forgiveness as a process, not an event and why offering forgiveness prematurely can truly inhibit healing in many ways. I love this book, love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the LDS Church. Though I appreciate very much, the efforts the Church has made in this direction in recent years, there is so much more that needs to be learned and expected as members, and especially leaders. This book is well-rounded, honest and I believe an inspired help in that direction. It's written by LDS professionals in this field, among them, abuse survivors themselves. I'm sorry to see it's not easily found and is out of print at this time. Not a huge surprise considering all the adversary has in mind for the individual, the family, the Church....the truth. I hope it will be back in print again soon. If not, I encourage all those interested to purchase a used copy or check it out at your local library. I am deeply grateful to the authors, contributors, and publisher for all this book has given to my life and healing.

Comprehensive Resource
This book is an excellent resource for all concerned with abuse.It is the most comprehensive book on the subject I've read, and I've read many, both while in udergrad and graduate work at the University and for personal learning.Abuse touches most, if not all of us, whether we recognize/realize it or are willing to admit it.This book has some excellent recommendations for recognizing and healing both the abuser and the victims.It does have a solid LDS foundation and that paradigm for healing spiritually and emotionally is well presented.

Self-help at it's best!
"Confronting Abuse" is an excellent resource for all manner of abuse, also solutions... the SOLUTION part is the best.Many books reveal types of abuse and how to recognize, but no solutions.This one teaches Godly principles for LDS members and gives excellent guidance in seeking help in resolving issues for the victims as well as the offender.It addresses issues that many of us may not be aware are abusive habits...to habits that are entrenched and need serious therapy and how to get professional help.It is one of the best self-help books I have found on the subject, as well as a resource for professionals.I recommend it to anyone, but especially LDS members who have issues of abuse that need to be confronted.

There Is A Way Out*!*
Locking secrets behind closed doors, many L.D.S. members try to ignore abuse ... they're told to pray harder, talk to their bishop then the situation will change, right? Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Utah has the highest spouse/child abuse in the United States. Why? This book takes a penetrating look at the problem. It's an LDS perspective on understanding and healing. Although I do not agree with many of the solutions, it's a valuable guide for anyone who has been physically, emotionally, intellectually, or spiritually abused. One significant chapter on Elderly abuse was particularly interesting. The Church MUST face the problem squarely and this book suggests answers. ... Read more

Product Description

• Thoroughly revised and expanded to reflect the substantial changes in the field since its publication in 1978


• Strong emphasis on how to effectively use software design packages, indispensable to today's lens designer


• Many new lens design problems and examples - ranging from simple lenses to complex zoom lenses and mirror systems - give insight for both the newcomer and specialist in the field

Customer Reviews (4)

most comprehensive treatise on lens design
Lens Design Fundamentals, Second Edition, is the most comprehensive treatise to be published on the subject of Lens Design.This book holds a unique place in the optics literature.It adds impressive building blocks to the foundation established by A. E. Conrady in "Applied Optics and Optical Design" and Rudolph Kingslake in "Lens Design Fundamentals, First Edition".Dr. R. Barry Johnson is a disciple of Conrady and Kingslake, and who has a deep background in lens design theory as a Professor of Optics and many years of experience as a practicioner in the real world of lens design.Thus, he is ideally suited to write an up-to-date edition of "Lens Design Fundamentals".This new edition has been extensively rewritten and expanded by about 50% in both text and figures.
Dr. Johnson takes the readerfrom the work of the lens designer into ray tracing methods and First Order Optics.This is followed by three chapters on aberration theory which provide the foundation for the subsequent chapters which follow on the design of different types of lens systems that form the basis of most modern lenses, including zoom lenses.One entire chapter is devoted to the role of the Stop in lens design.Dr. Johnson also devotes a chapter to Mirror and Catadioptric Systems, an important class of optical system largely neglected in books on Optics.The final chapter is devoted to Automatic Lens Improvement Programs.In this treatise Dr. Johnson stresses the need for an understanding of lens design principles and aberration theory as a prerequisite to obtaining the best solutions from these optimization programs.
The value of Lens Design Fundamentals, Second Edition, is increased immensely by the numerous examples presented throughoutas well as by Designer Notes interspersed in each chapter. For its audience this treatise is intended for the beginner through each intermediate level of experience up to and including the expert lens designer. This book will be a very valuable addition to any bookshelf.

Neoteric
If one is after the detailed mathmatics of optical design, this is a good book.

Good foundational work, but not for everyone
If you thumb through this bad boy, you'll notice that there's a lot of raytracing going on.Consequently, this is a great book from which to learn about raytracing, specifically the (y-nu) (or "ynu") paraxial method.I made the effort of setting up a ynu table in Excel and used the equations to trace chief and marginal rays with much success (along with first-order properties such as focal length, F/#, entrance/exit pupil position/radius, et cetera).I then used the computed data and generated a lens drawing with traced rays, all in Excel.A Delano (y-ybar) diagram was inserted next, followed by computation of the Seidel aberration coefficients.Use the book with Excel and you'll find it incredibly useful.

In addition to the raytracing, Kingslake discusses chromatic aberration, primary spectrum and secondary spectrum in detail.Also writes about the Seidel aberrations and how to compute them, using various sample lenses.

A great complement to "A History of the Photographic Lens" and "Optics in Photography," both of which are quite informative regarding lens types and principles.

Limited
I was hoping for Kingslake to dump his great Kodak design knowledge in this book. He did not. Book opens saying that Double Gauss is not discussed! I sold the book to a local 2nd hand book store for 50 cents. Book has some basics of optical design and might be of interest to those wanting to have all the writings of this great designer.

As I reread my review and see only 2 of 8 liking it I must remark that this Sacred Cow of optics books, to get a good review, should have had a full description of the double Gauss lens design, the most important lens design in the history of photographic lenses and no doubt fully understood by Kingslake. The book has historical value for those loving lens design and its history but is a great disappointment for its missing information from this great designer. ... Read more

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This book provides a rich body of materials for courses in bioethics and law. Primary legal sources, including judicial opinions, statutes, regulations and institutional policies, will give students insight into the strategies used by courts, legislatures, agencies and health care providers in addressing bioethics issues. The book also draws from interdisciplinary research in medicine, ethics, and law to provide students diverse critiques of legal and public policy issues in bioethics. Materials in this text are tightly edited and designed to create high quality and focused classroom discussion. In particular, the text includes classroom tested problems that will engage students more deeply on each issue. In addition, notes and questions in each section provide information and queries that will broaden the students understanding, and bibliographical notes will assist students who want to do more advanced work on particular subjects. Bioethics: Health Care Law and Ethics begins with accessible introductory material on how to do ethics analysis. It then provides separate chapters on: Reproduction and Birth; Legal, Social, and Ethical Issues in Genetics; Defining Death; Life and Death Decisions; Regulation of Research Involving Human Subjects; Distributive Justice and Organ Transplantation; and Public Health. This sixth edition includes a selection of new problems; completely updated notes and bibliographies; and new or expanded treatment of issues that have come to prominence since the previous edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

good
book in good condition.took app 10 days to del.i was starting to worry, but received it in time for class.will use seller again.

Happy buyer!
The book I ordered for a summer college course arrived in great condition, slightly ahead of the predicted schedule. There was highlighting in the first few chapters, that was disclosed before purchase and actually helpful! ... Read more

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This book is designed for a specialized health law course focusing on the organization and finance of health care. The first section begins with an introduction to fundamental concepts affecting health law and policy, and then explores conventional and emerging methods of quality control regulation applicable to health care professionals and health care institutions. The next section of the book examines in depth the policy and legal issues presented by varying approaches to providing access to health care and controlling its cost. This section considers in particular the legal issues presented by private health insurance, managed care, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as obligations to provide medical services under state and federal law. The final section of the book explores legal issues that affect health care institutions and the relationships between professionals and institutions, including medical staff privileging, physician-hospital contracting, employment and labor law, tax exempt organization law, fraud and abuse issues, and antitrust law. The sixth edition has been completely updated, covering recent developments involving consumer-driven health care, ERISA, antitrust enforcement, labor law, and tax-exempt organization law. ... Read more

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Designed for first year university students studying chemistry, and students taking physical chemistry as part of their degree course, this workbook will allow students to work through the calculations as self-paced individuals or in groups, alongside traditional lecture courses. There are some 68 examples and 139 exercises through which students' ability and confidence with tackling quantitative calculations will be developed, beginning with material based on pre-university knowledge through to topics such as chemical equilibrium that are featured in first year university courses. ... Read more

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An examination of key aspects of tourism policy in developed countries. Tourism is of considerable economic importance with implications for employment, transportation, and regional development policy. In addition, it can generate significant side effects; some positive, such as putting a location "on the map" , and some negative, such as congestion, overcrowding and environmental damage. Contributors to this volume provide data and analysis which informs current policy choices and evaluates policy choices already made. Coverage includes the nature of policy making and broad policy directions in Europe for the 1990s. ... Read more