Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Developing countries    5. Development - Economic Development    6. Finance    7. Financial institutions    8. Microfinance    9. Poor    10. Credit & credit institutions    11. Development economics    12. Indonesia   

Reviews (1)

Landmark analysis of the Soviet system
Gregory has worked tirelessly with Russian and Western scholars to use the new information available in the archives to explore alternative hypotheses about the Soviet system's history, practice, and collapse.
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Subjects:  1. Bureaucracy    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Economic Conditions    6. Economic History    7. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    8. History    9. Politics and government    10. Public Policy - Economic Policy    11. Sources    12. Soviet Union    13. Business & Economics / Economics / General    14. Eastern Europe    15. Economic systems    16. Former Soviet Union, USSR (Europe)    17. Marxism & Communism    18. Political economy    19. Sociology, Social Studies   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Foreign Economic Policy    5. International - Economics    6. International - General    7. International Economics (General)    8. International finance    9. International trade    10. Public Policy - Economic Policy    11. Business & Economics / Economics / International    12. International economics   

Reviews (10)

Getting outdated
Originally written in 1995, many of the technologies talked about in the book are either developed already, shown to be not useful, or used in ways not originally foreseen - therefore making many of the arguments irrelevant.
Humanity for Dummies
Yet another tome about the greatness of human qualities and the belief that machines do not and will not achieve these? Yes but with a little more aplomb and erudition that most in the field. There is not a "we are doomed" mood to this book and the author seems to prefer explication over prophecies of a machine world. Making Peace with Machines
What if we put aside worrying about how computers will replace human thought and behavior and focused, instead, on the fundamental differences and complementary strengths of humans and machines?Perhaps then we couldmake best use of the things that have the potential to make us smart.DonNorman, author of The Design of Everyday Things, takes the insights he isfamous for, regarding the design of everyday objects, and turns thesetowards a thoughtful consideration of the high tech objects in ourlives.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cognitive science    2. General    3. Human-machine systems    4. Philosophy    5. Philosophy & Social Aspects    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technology    9. Computing and Information Technology    10. Development studies    11. Intelligence   

Reviews (2)

The Bees of the World?a must-have book
Anybody with a serious interest in bees -- and by that I don't mean just honey bees and beekeeping, but the thousands of other species that provide the fundamental service of pollination in both natural and agricultural ecosystems -- must seriously consider getting this book. It will be an invaluable resource for both those studying insects and those studying plants, for plant conservation is intimately wrapped up with the survival of their pollinators. Bees of the World--A definative work
If you work on bees, you will need to get a copy of Mich's Bees of the World. There is no way around it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bees    2. Classification    3. Hymenoptera    4. Life Sciences - Biology - General    5. Life Sciences - Zoology - Entomology    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Business & Economics / Economic Development    9. Insects (entomology)   

Reviews (4)

That dingbat!
No, I don't think that person filed the wrong review; they're from Miami, Florida, that pretty much explains it

Confussion explained
Obviously, the reader from Miami, Florida filed the wrong review. This book is not the Poe short story "The Purloined Letter" (which, by the way, is a good story), but, rather a philosophical and psychoanaliticalstudy of Poe.

Rsponse to the above review
Although I have not finished the book yet, I needed to respond to the other reviewer who wrote that this is not a good mystery.You dingbat!This is a work in philosophy and psychology, not fiction!If you don'teven have the slightest clue regarding a text, do not review it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1809-1849    2. American - General    3. History and criticism    4. Literary Criticism    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism    6. Poe, Edgar Allan,    7. Psychoanalysis and literature    8. Psychological fiction, America    9. Psychological fiction, American    10. Psychology in literature    11. Purloined letter    12. Semiotics & Theory    13. Theory, etc    14. United States    15. Business & Economics / Economic Development    16. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory   

Reviews (5)

Provocative, Funny and Cruel
The argument hit me in stages.As I zipped through the stories, I found myself smiling, but then I started thinking more seriously about what this book was saying, and now I think it's cruel and triumphalist.This book may become a tool in the hands of people who want to neglect the poor and feel good about it.

A brilliant OVERSIGHT - This book paints an incorrect image
The conclusions drawn by the author are very logical and thorougly researched. Provides solid understanding the Global Finance system
This book outlines the working of the global financial system in a clear and concise manner.It helped me understand the global financial interconnections and provided a solid understanding of how First World nations view the rest of the world.However, I disagree with the basic principles laid out in this book.Until the wealthy first world stops sucking off the resources of the poorest nations, there will always be strife and war. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - Economic Development    5. Economic development    6. Economics - Comparative    7. Economics - Theory    8. Finance    9. International - General    10. International Capital Markets    11. Investment Finance    12. Investments    13. Investments & Securities - General    14. Wealth    15. Political Science / Globalization   

Reviews (16)

The stage was set by NAFTA & the WTO, Now entrance the Villains
In Rafael Sabatini's Scaramouche, the establishment games the system by dueling the people's representatives with their skillfully commissioned swords.They literally kill the peopl's will. Today's fait accomplis are the skillfully commissioned penned instruments called NAFTA and WTO backed up by The World Bank & The IMF.The perpetra(i)tors behind these instruments were a political crew of bloodsuckers.On the American side they include: Robert Rubin, Bill Clinton, Alan Greenspan, Lawrence Summers, Al Gore and Henry Kissenger. These penned agreements were inserted with poison pills designed to adversely effect constitutions throughout the world, including ours.But you'll never hear a discouraging word from the corporate media. Thus the stage had been set for the villains entrance: the neoconservatives and their corporate Yagos. They include: George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul wolfowitz, Paul Bremer, Condoleeza Rice, Robert Zoellick, Scooter Libby, Zalmay Khalizad and then on the corporate axis of evilare: Bechtel, Lockheed Martin, Chevron, and Halliburton.
Marisol Cervantes (real name): GLOBALIZE LIBERATION
My first thought after reading Ms. Juhasz's book was: Are there really U.S. values as invoked and boasted by George W. Bush?
Opening a Closed Door
Okay, there are a lot of books out there showing how Bush and Co. lied our way into the mess in Iraq, so why bother with this one. There's one good reason why. The author details a little noticed aspect of the American invasion, one that's slipped past the public's radar screen and is seldom mentioned by the talking heads. Namely, how corporate America has written itself into becoming the "legal" owner of Iraq's newly privatized economy. Sure, Iraqi politicians may now sit in the seats of government as we read about the Allawi's and Maliki's every day. But as Juhasz shows, these same Iraqi patriots and their constituents can kiss local ownership of the economy good-bye as a result of L. Paul Bremer's official diktats. Check out the steps by which this "market transformation" has been carried out. No, the invasion isn't merely about the much touted oil reserves, invaluable as they are; it's also about grabbing off the entire economy and setting up "free market" zones as a model for the whole region. Never mind that these agreements are hardly made between equals, as corporate America throws its three trillion dollar weight around.Never mind also, that these trade agreements seldom work for the average citizen, whose few protections are stripped away by a "climate" for foreign investment. Yes indeed, Iraq has been sold to the Halliburton's and Bechtel's of the world, wihile the Walmart's and others wait their rapacious turn. To see how it's being done, pick up the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (George Walker),    2. 1946-    3. Bush, George W.    4. Economic Policy    5. Free trade    6. Globalization    7. Government - U.S. Government    8. International Economic Relations    9. International Relations - Trade & Tariffs    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics/International Relations    13. Public Policy - Economic Policy    14. United States    15. Political Science / International Relations / Trade & Tariffs   

Reviews (4)

Knowledge as a Driver of Economic Growth
This is a book that should be read by anyone interested in knowledge and its role in economic growth."The Gifts of Athena: Historical Origins of the Knowledge Economy," is a sweeping and comprehensive account of the period from 1760 (in what Mokyr calls the "Industrial Enlightenment") through the Industrial Revolution beginning roughly in 1820 and then continuing through the end of the 19th century.The book (and related expansions by Mokyr available as separate PDFs on the Internet) should be considered as the definitive reference on this topic to date.The book contains 40 pages of references to all of the leading papers and writers on diverse technologies from mining to manufacturing to health and the household.The scope of subject coverage, granted mostly focused on western Europe and America, is truly impressive.
Thought Provoking But Could be Written Better
This is an interesting book devoted to the importance of knowledge in the formation of modern industrial economies.Mokyr has several goals.The first and most important is to illuminate the origins of the modern industrial economy.Others are to illustrate the impact of modern economy, particularly its knowledge based elements, on modern life, to discuss barriers to the acquisition and dissemination of knew and useful knowledge, and to discuss differences in economic behavior between firms and households.The quality of the book is somewhat uneven, possibly because this book is based on prior essays and lectures that Mokyr has prepared in the last decade.While the book certainly has a strong theme, the individual chapters don't allows cohere.
Toward an economics of knowledge
Partly because it is too wide-ranging to settle on any sound-bite answer, this is one of the better books around to examine the question of the sources of the West's technological and economic supremacy.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - Economic Development    5. Economic History    6. Knowledge Capital    7. Business & Economics / Economic History    8. Economics    9. European History    10. History of Science and Medicine, Philosophy of Science   

Reviews (4)

VERY GOOD BOOK FOR A BEGINNER OR FOR A DESIGNER OF SMALL PLANTS
I'm a civil engineer involved in the design of large hydropower plants.
A most concise and integral reference on MH applications
This highly rated manual, covers just about every practical and tangible theoretical introduction to the full design and/up to implementation cycle of MH projects, all in about 370 pages. It is important that it was writtenand amply illustrated not only with detailed schematics, but also withactual pictures from original installations in developing countries, whichmakes a viable aid in comprehending the "actual picture". Thechapters covered detail a syllabus in:Components and Design of an MHScheme, Cost benefit estimations, Hydrology and site survey, Flowprediction, Civil works and operational parts (all aspects from Weirs toPenstocks), Commercial engineering, Turbines (including reverse pumps),Governing, Drive systems, a very thorough presentation of the -cumbersome-Electrical Power System aspects, along with Operational, Maintenance,Financial and Commissioning aspects. Should there be something more for anengineer to wish for, would be more info on turbines -something you wouldexpect to find in a specialized book on the subject anyway.The bookshould provide a valuable asset not only to MH engineers, but to RenewableEnergy Technology engineers as well, since it is progressively becomingapparent that a combination of RET along with Pumped Storage and MH,presents a highly attractive opportunity for both developed and developingcountries

Superb work, Nobel-Prize worthy
The insight given in this book is, without a doubt, beneficial not just tomankind, but also and especially developing countries.I highly recommend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design and construction    2. Developing countries    3. Electricity    4. Hydroelectric Power Plants    5. Remote area power supply syste    6. Remote area power supply systems    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Development studies    10. Engines & power transmission    11. Hydrology (freshwater)    12. Power generation & distribution    13. Sanitary & municipal engineering   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Development - Business Development    4. Development - Economic Development    5. Economic assistance    6. Economics - Theory    7. Evaluation    8. Income distribution    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Poverty    11. Public Policy - Economic Policy    12. Business & Economics / Economic Development    13. Development economics    14. Economics | Developmental | Regional    15. Macroeconomics   

Reviews (22)

Plea to readers
For anyone who is considering reading this book: Please don't take this book to heart unless you really are objective about the issues it presents and research both sides, or rather the spectrum of possibilities out there for oil generation and production. If you are objective about this I hope your research leads you in the most likely direction. Additionally, it is okay to change your opinion on subjects and even admit that you are wrong once in a while!

Food for thought: the dynamics of oil production and consumption
Many ideas abound about oil, its scarcity or shortage, its wellspring and its history: here to puncture many myths surrounding oil is BLACK GOLD STRANGLEHOLD: THE MYTH OF SCARCITY AND THE POLITICS OF OIL, a rebuttal to the notion of oil depletion. There's more than enough oil, more reserves proven than ever in the past, and the US can be independent merely through offshore reserves alone: this and other statements are supported by analysis of the fraudulent science backing the myth of oil scarcity. Food for thought as the authors explore world dynamics of oil production, consumption, and the meaning behind the myths.
Abiotic or not is completely irrelevant!
This book appears to make the case that if oil is being produced abiotically, then all of our problems with oil supply are over.Here is a simple, virtually irrefutable argument which demonstrates that nothing could be further from the truth.Even if oil *is* being created abiotically in the core of the earth; i.e. even if new oil is constantly being created, the rate of production would have to be so slow as to be practically meaningless; otherwise we would literally be swimming in the oil created during the millions of years that humans weren't using any oil at all.To illustrate using a simple analogy, if water is dripping into a basin at a rate of one drop per hour, but you are removing water from the basin at a rate of 1 gallon per hour, the basin will be empty after some finite amount of time even though the water in the basin is constantly being replenished. Once the basin has been emptied of all stored water, the usage must be reduced from one gallon an hour to one drop per hour; i.e. for all practical purposes water can no longer be drawn from the basin. An elementary school student could figure this out.That the author of this book couldn't speaks badly for any other content the book might contain. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Energy consumption    2. Energy policy    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Industries - Energy Industries    5. Petroleum industry and trade    6. Political Science    7. Political aspects    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Public Policy - Economic Policy    11. United States    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    13. Petroleum & oil industries    14. USA   

Reviews (21)

Needed
This book covers aspects of Economics that are only too often neglected.These aspects include how power arrangements affect market efficiency and the effectiveness of markets in meeting consumer demand and providing for propserity.The book also provides accounts of different types of market arangements.In one type of market there is no guarantee other than the honor of the buyer and seller concerning the quality of the product and the terms of payment.Thus the market tends toward basic short term transactions.In the market for which property rights are guaranteed by the social structure, however, market arrangements can be much more complex and much better serve the needs of the people in society.
Bad Book from a Brilliant Author
I often cringed while reading Mancur Olson's Power and Prosperity. This book, published posthumously, lacks the clarity and force that are typical of the author's other works.
Lucid, direct and yet subtle. Quite excellent.
In the "Rise and Decline of Nations" Mancur Olson revealed the teacher in himself with a lucid readable account that left the mathematics in the footnotes. It was one of those books that Samuel Britten would give to his bright nephew who wants to know what it is all about without doing the difficult math (with the exception of some graphs in a later chapter, not difficult to interpret, but which the reader can skim over if they are so inclined, for the argument is clearly stated in the text). The "Rise and Decline of Nations", Mancur Olson's prior book for the greater public, is a hard act to follow, but that he does with this sequel, "Power and Prosperity." And how.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - Economic Development    5. Economic History    6. Economics - Theory    7. Post-Communism    8. Economic systems    9. Economic theory & philosophy    10. Political economy   

Reviews (4)

Now I have more doubts than before - and that's excellent
This is a book I intend to reread a year from now. I believe it has changed my perspective regarding international politics and developmental issues, so from now on I'll try and interpret facts through the perspective Chang provided. Meanwhile, I'll try and follow some of the bibliography he suggests to see if I can mitigate some of my doubts.
Decent discussion of economic growth historically
[NOTE: There is another review of this book here that I wrote a few years ago with an old account that I can't manage to log into. Please disregard that earlier review, and any Amazon staff should delete it]
Reconsidering my 2 star review
I previously gave this book two stars and a very negative review because I felt Chang's argument relied on the assumption that correlation proves causation (I am editing that review, as Amazon no longer allows a user to post multiple reviews of the same product). While Chang documents that economies grew best at times of strong state intervention, this doesn't prove it was the cause (although, of course, much more thorough research,some conducted by chang himself in his academic work, does indeed prove that to be the case).
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Developing countries    5. Development - Economic Development    6. Economic History    7. Economic development    8. History    9. International - General    10. International economic relatio    11. International economic relations    12. Political aspects    13. Business & Economics / Economic History    14. Economic theory & philosophy   

Reviews (2)

Straightforward
The authors have put approached this topic in a step by step way.It explains important background topics as well.I bought this book for a class, so I really didn't have much choice in the matter.I expect that most buyers will do so for the same reason.To them, I say "don't worry about it," this won't hurt as much as you think."If you are considering this for pleasure reading, well, don't let me stop you.

Complete, Comprehensive, but lengthy
Probably one of the few only books available that talks about CBA. Lacks in real life examples, otherwise a good read for grasping basic concepts and tools. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate Finance    5. Cost effectiveness    6. Economics - General    7. Managerial Economics    8. Production & Operations Management    9. Production Economics (General)    10. Business & Economics / Economics / General    11. Development studies    12. Macroeconomics   

Reviews (1)

it makes you feel good!
The intimate travel details and encounters with prospective project developers in Bolivia are revealed in this book. You read about the many projects that the IAF has sponsored, successful at times and not, it is great to know that these projects have been throughly researched by IAF employees. Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Bolivia    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Cultural animation    5. Customs & Traditions    6. Development - Economic Development    7. Indians of South America    8. Latin America - South America    9. Rural Economic Development    10. Rural development projects    11. Social Science    12. Social conditions    13. Sociology    14. Sociology - General    15. Development economics    16. Economic history    17. Multicultural studies    18. Social history    19. Civil society   

Reviews (33)

Critique of the President from the Right
This is an interesting work.Many of the critical analyses of the Bush II Administration (George W. Bush as opposed to George H. W. Bush, referred to as Bush I below) have come from journalists or those on the left or from Democrats.This book is fascinating precisely because it is authored by a conservative, one who served in the Reagan White House and in the Bush I Treasury Department.In that, it is akin to Francis Fukuyama's critical analyses of neocons and the Administration's Nation-Building efforts.And, indeed, Bartlett paid a personal price for his criticisms--he lost his job.
One for the Gipper...
I once described The Ron as The Last Great Republican, hoping that I was going to be proven wrong... Not so far...