Reviews (9)

Great Company, Great Story, Inspiring Read
This is a fascinating book about the creation of Clif Bar and the business philosophy of its co-founder Gary Erickson. It's a good story, but at times it seems too good to be true. While reading it, I wasn't fully convinced that there wasn't some authorial bias, so I did some Google-based research on the Internet. This confirmed many of the assertions in the book, so I believe Erikson to be the genuine article -- someone committed to building a great company and sticking to his idealistic principles for sustaining his employees, customers, and suppliers as well as sustaining his community and the planet.
Fascinating True Stories
Interesting and fun read. Many important life and business lessons tied together.As a cyclist, skiier, and small business founder and owner, I can relate to many of the adventures and lessons of life and business woven neatly together in this book.

i never ever write reviews....until now
wow. gary erickson makes me want to put down my cigarette, rum and coke, move back to b.c. and get outside, start moving and get passionate about life again.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Clif Bar Inc    5. Entrepreneurship    6. General    7. Infrastructure    8. Snack food industry    9. United States    10. Business & Economics / General    11. Business & Management   

Editorial Review

If you pick your books by their popularity--how many and which other people are reading them--then know this about Read more

Reviews (64)

Excellent Material On Search History & Google
Extremely readable book. Good history of early seach companies like GoTo and their business models, in addition to Google

Half the Battelle's book zips! Then journalism settles in
"The Search" by John Battelle is a casual and mostly entertaining walk through the last 10 or so years of digital search, mostly but not entirely centered around the phenomenon of Google.
History of Google, Not Search Engines
Though I'm coming to a review of The Search a year too late, I can explain why. I bought the book on its release, very excited to read some good journalism about the hottest business topic of the day. I was sure that Battelle, who had been chronically his progress on the book on his own blog, would deliver. Halfway through the book (in a matter of three days - a possible sign pointing to its lack of depth) I'm realizing that this is not the case.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Computer Industry (Economic Aspects)    5. Corporate & Business History - General    6. E-Commerce - General    7. E-Commerce - Internet Marketing    8. General    9. History Of Specific Companies    10. Infrastructure    11. Online Services - General    12. Business & Economics / E-Commerce / General   

Reviews (2)

Good high level but not technical
This was a very difficult book to read because it is so incredibly dry, like many other SAP Press books.
shows in part why JMX failed
The book explains how a programmer might use the SAP API for Exchange. There is much detail provided by SAP, with additional explanations given by the book's authors. For example, we see that the Mapping Editor can be used to provide a graphical view of an XML document. Though the graphics are somewhat constrained if you have a very long document.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Infrastructure   

Reviews (6)

WAY TOO EXPENSIVE...
WAY TOO EXPENSIVE...ILLUSTRATIONS ARE JUST AS GOOD AS WHAT YOU FIND ONLINE...EBAY EVEN.HISTORY IS HIGHLY INFORMATIVE, HOWEVER. THANKS.

Beautiful.
Fantastic history and beautiful illustrations. It has almost everything you've wanted to know about Louis Vuitton.
Full of History
This book is filled with the history of the company from the person, Louis Vuitton's childhood, up through the generations that came after him.There are pictures of LV pieces scattered throughout the book.Not enough for those of us who love to look at LV bags and luggage.Overall a great addition to a collectors collection.The book retails in the boutique for $135. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Business    3. Business & Economics    4. Business History    5. Business/Economics    6. Corporate & Business History - General    7. Design    8. Fashion    9. History    10. Infrastructure    11. Luggage    12. Rich & Famous    13. Trunks (Luggage)    14. Art / Fashion    15. History of specific subjects    16. Product design   

Reviews (7)

Awesome books!
I bought and used all four of Stephen Page's policy and procedure books. From the very first day, I was able to get up and running on a project that was very demanding and challenging. Not only did he provide examples, but he was always there for advice when I hit a rough spot. Processes, Procedures, and Quality
I was impressed with the amount of useful information included in this book; everything seems to have been well thought out. It would appear that the author has "lived" his words and this is what makes this make book so useful to me. Because I know that when I implement his ideas that they will probably work. His case study is also very meaningful as he very carefully explains how to go from a labor-intensive procedure and go through process improvement, metrics, and arrive at a streamlined, high cost saving, new procedure. Good book for quality professionals
Of Steve Page's 4 recent books, I found this one to be the most interesting.It contains all kinds of ideas for projects.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business & Economics / Management    3. Business & Economics / Systems & Planning    4. Business & Economics / Total Quality Management    5. Business Writing    6. Business/Economics    7. Human Resources & Personnel Management    8. Infrastructure    9. Business    10. Business Policy Making    11. Business communication    12. Goal (Psychology)    13. Management    14. Quality (Management)    15. Quality control    16. Strategic Planning    17. Systems & Planning    18. Total Quality Management   

Reviews (7)

The history of Harley-Davidson, from one of the family
William G. Davidson, or as he is affectionatly known, Willie G., gives an insiders view of the history and near demise of an American institution. I drank the Harley Kool-Aide years ago, but it was interesting to get another viewpoint on the Motor Company. The historical pictures are fantastic, especially the old hill climb photos. This is a must have for any Harley owner, and a gotta have for bikers in general. Be forwarned, you will also drink the Kool-Aide if you haven't already!
Great history recount
I would recommend this one to any cycle enthusiast; however I did miss: A century in the life of The Hog
Clearly a grand advertisement & a fine way to take a peek at the transformation of The Hog. Along the way you'll catch glimpses of both ten decades of advertising & dressage styles. Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Harley-Davidson Incorporated    3. Harley-Davidson Motor Company    4. Harley-Davidson motorcycle    5. History    6. Infrastructure    7. Motorcycles - History    8. Motorcycles - Pictorial    9. Popular Culture - General    10. Transportation    11. Art / Popular Culture    12. Motorcycles: general interest    13. USA   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Infrastructure    4. Management Science    5. Computing and Information Technology    6. Service industries   

Reviews (3)

A little dry in the middle
If you're in the business you should read this book.

Blood and Wine: the story of the Gallo Wine Empire
This is an excellent book.The author does an outstanding job of telling both sides whenever a conflict arises.Obviously a great researcher, Hawkes pulls out information that was deliberately hidden. An Utter Hatchet Job
The book is ponderous garbage.The last third of the book is devoted to a one-sided account of the inter-family trademark infringement lawsuit that Gallo Winery won after a trial and won again on appeal.As one who is intimately familiar with the case, I can tell you that her account is pure fiction - - wishful thinking on the defendant's part. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. California    5. Corporate & Business History    6. Gallo family    7. General    8. History    9. History Of Specific Companies    10. Infrastructure    11. Vintners    12. Wine and wine making    13. Business & Economics / General    14. Business & Management    15. Economic history   

Subjects:  1. Applied Arts (General)    2. Architecture    3. Art    4. Decoration and ornament    5. General    6. Infrastructure    7. Tiffany and Company    8. United States    9. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (2)

A great wake-up call to American business leaders... it's all about process innovation
As the book description says, Hamm gives you a rare glimpse into the mind of Wipro's charismatic chairman and thought leader, Azim Premji. Premji's adoption of world-class business processes helped Wipro thrive. Indeed, the Wipro Way will soon be a baseline for management, as was The Toyota Way in years past.
More than Offshoring
While the book focuses on WIPRO (an Indian high tech company), it really is an insightful description of a major global economic shift. While the book focuses on a particular Indian company, it carries significant messages for North American companies - not only what we need to learn to be competitive, but also how we need to adjust to take advantage of the things that "WIPRO" brings to our businesses.I discovered that these Indian companies provide much more than low-cost labor for things like programming or phone services.They are building a whole new infrastructure to engage in the full gamut of development and innovation in high tech.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Customer services    5. High technology services industries    6. India    7. Information technology    8. Infrastructure    9. International - General    10. Business & Economics / International    11. International business   

Reviews (2)

Best of official ITIL guides
Among the official guides this one stands out as the most detailed and practical.Most of the official guides are, in my opinion, essential only if you are pursuing certification, but this one goes beyond the essential minimums by providing practical information about the five key process areas in more depth. The areas covered are: Fundamental IT
The information Technology Infraestructure Library is a set of guidance developed by United Kingdom's Office of Goverment Commerce (OGC). The guidance, documented in a set of books, describe an integrated, process based, best practice framework for managing, delevop in this case, IT services. To date, this book is the only comprehensive, non-propriestary, publicly available guidance fot IT Management in Service Delivery.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Infrastructure    4. Management Science    5. Reference - General    6. Computing and Information Technology    7. Management of specific areas    8. Service industries   

Reviews (2)

Incomplete
Book itself is very informative, however there is a problem with representation of it being passed off as "new". First copy came without a dust jacket, hard cover had corner bumps and scuffs. Replacement copy came the exact same way, in the same condition and without the DJ. Cost of book is $50.00 NEW, had we wanted the book in used condition without the original DJ, we would have ordered it as such. The minimal refund Amazon offered was not to our satisfaction and the reps and/or management are too busy to make personal contact with their business customers. There appears to be an internal problem with receiving/quality inspection of their supplier's goods.

Well written, interesting book
Yes, I have also read Diesel's Engine by Lyle Cummins, the youngest son of Clessie Cummins, the co-founder of Cummins Engine.If, in reading DE, I am a proven crazy person, then I am, so discount what I say next.If one is fascinated by diesel engines, then this is a "must read."I have not completed the book yet, but having read 300 or so pages and I must say there is much beyond the engines.If you are a Harvard Business Review type, this will have much for you about entrepreneurism, the family business, enterprise capitalization, growth, corporate strategy, the inventor and his role in a technology driven business, timliness, single business small town employers, transportation trends, product quality, employee relations and more. I like reading about successes, but feel like this book portrays an almost charmed life of something impossible to duplicate.If every corporation were as successful as Cummins is portrayed, then we would reach corporate nirvana.Can what has been written here be true?Buy the book, write your own review, and we'll see what you think. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Automobile Industries (Economic Aspects)    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Corporate & Business History - General    6. Cummins Engine Company    7. Diesel motor industry    8. Entrepreneurship    9. History    10. History Of Specific Companies    11. Industries - General    12. Infrastructure    13. Internal combustion engine ind    14. Internal combustion engine industry    15. United States    16. Construction & heavy industry    17. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    18. Management & management techniques    19. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    20. Road vehicle manufacturing industry    21. Second World War, 1939-1945    22. Social history    23. USA   

Subjects:  1. Almanacs    2. Health & Fitness    3. Health Care    4. Health Care Issues    5. Health/Fitness    6. Industries - General    7. Infrastructure    8. Medical / Nursing    9. Medical Economics    10. Reference   

Reviews (2)

Good book about the rich out of touch with the rest of us...
Some interesting parallels between the Busches and the Kennedys...Kind of ironic that while Budweiser is the drink of the working class and blue-collar people, the Busches seem completely out of touch withthem...but that isn't surprising: most rich people live in a differentworld...August Busch IV, the current head of A-B, comes off as a prettyseady, unsavory character...Unprosecuted vehicular manslaughter andfleeing from St. Louis police...Would be interesting to get the take ofnatives of St. Louis as to the influence of the Busches...Willing to betthey have the run of the roost...

Riveting!!!
I thought this book brought forward some great facts concerning A-B.The book is well written with a sense of drama added. I really enjoyed reading this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anheuser-Busch, inc    2. Anheuser-Busch, inc.    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Brewing industry    6. Busch family    7. Food And Beverage Industries (Economic Aspects)    8. General    9. History    10. History Of Specific Companies    11. Infrastructure    12. United States   

Reviews (10)

Excellent Historical Account of Management at General Motors.
This book "My Years with General Motors" was originally published in 1963 and is just as relevant reading today as any books written by top managers since then.The book is not easy to read, it is well over 400 pages of thoughtful text, but it is well worth reading for people with an interest in the history of General Motors, the history of the automobile, history of industrial technology in the 20th century, etc...
Insightful, in the trenches information
In this book, Alfred P. Sloan tells the story of his years as president and CEO of General Motors.His story is relevant for anyone who needs advice on how to save a company that is on the verge of bankruptcy and get it growing.Sloan has divulged his insights on organizational structure, management processes, financial control, product strategy and research.Here is some of the advice he offers:
This is an analytical and well written Book
This book first of all is a very well written book, it breaks down in a very structural way, what the author tries to convey.
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Subjects:  1. Automobile industry and trade    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Case studies    5. Corporate & Business History - General    6. General Motors Corporation    7. History    8. History Of Specific Companies    9. Industrial management    10. Infrastructure    11. Management    12. United States    13. Business & Economics / Infrastructure    14. Sloan, Alfred P   

Reviews (1)

Capitalistic Exploitation of the Holocaust
I read this book about 6 years ago when I was still in college. I bought it for a quarter at a fund raising book sale the english dept had put together.Always interested in history, particularly WWII, I found I couldn't put this book down.Written in a style which can be enjoyed by academics and casual readers both, the book gives insight into the little known capitalistic aspects of the holocaust.I, for one, was well read on WWII but knew nothing of the gross injustices of the private sector in regards to the Holocaust.Especially, surprising was learning that some concertration camps were built and run not by Nazis but by a privately owned corporation.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Germany    3. I.G. Farben Trial, Nuremberg,    4. I.G. Farben Trial, Nuremberg, Germany, 1947-1948    5. Infrastructure    6. Interessengemeinschaft Farbeni    7. Interessengemeinschaft Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschaft    8. Nuremberg    9. War crime trials    10. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (8)

great book
It is a motivating book... a must read!

raw sociological material
This volume contains reminiscences of about a thousand MicroSoft employees who've worked there over its 25 year history, each about a third-page long in general chronological order.Interspersed are several longer pieces by the big guys like Bill and Paul and Bob. It reminds me of a high school yearbook. Most of the pieces are about business accomplishments, but there are digressions into work life, hobbies, and feelings about change at MS. Not sure who would buy this
All full-time Microsoft employees received a complimentary copy of "Inside Out" just before it was released.I perused mine over lunch that day and confirmed that "Inside Out" is little more than a glossy, book-length version of the weekly internal newsletter--peppy, vapid, and grindingly dull.The only people I can see getting anything out of it are Microsoft employees, who can spend a diverting fifteen minutes skimming the index for the names of people they know.But of course they already own the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Computer Industry    6. Computer Industry (Economic Aspects)    7. Computer software industry    8. Corporate & Business History - General    9. History    10. History Of Specific Companies    11. Infrastructure    12. Microsoft Corporation    13. United States    14. Fiction / General   

Reviews (4)

Why hadn't I heard more about this sooner?
I was searching for something about comparative organizational forms - such as how is Toyota organized differently than GM and how does this benefit them? - when I found this.After searching around, I discovered that Oliver Williamson is both one of the most prolific writers and one of the most cited.Coase's 1937 essay, "The Nature of the Firm", challenged economists to open up the black box that neoclassical economics refers to as "the firm".Williamson responded by creating a whole new tool box for analyzing a wide variety of relationships called the New Institutional Economics (NIE).This book summarizes the state of NIE as of 1985.
Very useful for corporate lawyers
As a lecturer in law and economics I have used big chunks of this book as teaching material.Another reviewer commented on the unfortunate writing style.I agree.Williamson is not accessible without significant effort from the reader, and often unnecessarily so.But he is also extremely enlightening.His analysis on contract governance is brilliant, and I have used his schematics on contract structures in both academic and professional life.I advise lawyers who work in the corporate field, particularly in complex contractual arrangements, such as franchises or distribution agreements, to read this book.It is really an eye-opener on why sometimes contracts fail to work as expected.

A classic of new institutional economics
EIoC is a classic work of new institutional economics. In it, Williamson works out his theories of transaction cost economics across an array of interesting economic questions. Most of the covered topics will be of interest not only to economists, but also to lawyers and policymakers. Among other examples, Williamson tackles such subjects as vertical integration, corporate governance, and industrial organizations.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Ethics    4. Business/Economics    5. Economics - General    6. Infrastructure    7. Business & Economics / General   

Reviews (1)

Lots of excellent industrial history
While the title of the book precludes a history of the Hoover dam. I found it to contain much more. The book does give a very good acounting of the building of the Hoover Dam.It also covers the beginnigs of some of the largest corporations in the world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Business & Economics    4. Business/Economics    5. Construction Industries (Economic Aspects)    6. Construction industry    7. General    8. History    9. History Of Specific Companies    10. Infrastructure    11. Six Companies    12. United States - General    13. West (U.S.)    14. American history: from c 1900 -    15. Social history    16. USA   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - General    5. History    6. Infrastructure    7. Pfizer Inc    8. Pfizer Inc.    9. Pharmaceutical industry    10. United States    11. Biotechnology    12. Pfizer, Inc.