price：$6.40
HarperStudio
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Find your passion: Share what you Consume. Social Networking) 『Find your passion:Share what you Consume: social Networking
I saw Gary V. speak at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe AZ Oct 2009
He shared a very good message.
His definition of how to find your passion and make money doing it is simple.
His book shares that message with clear details and passion.
Ask yourself, what do I consume? Then become an interactive expert on the web using all the tools of social networking.
Great message. Great book. Great guy.
Making the web work as the oilmd
Aromatically yours
James Geiger MD 』
(Crush It - fantastic resource for success!) 『This is a great book if you're both new to the world of creating a business online, or just need to know more than you currently do. Gary also has the benefit of successfully taking a traditional business online and increasing revenue enormously. He has then expanded further into the online realm, by increasing his own personal brand. Gary gives away an enormous amount of practical information, like websites to use and methodologies to adopt, that you can easily start putting into practice while still reading the book. He is very straight up and down, saying it how it is, which is an approach I like. Overall, fantastic read and well worth the purchase!Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion』
(You'd think he'd been writing for life !) 『Absolutely brilliant. Gary brings everything together. I'm so grateful I came across this young man and am better because of his teachings including his show.』
(You Can 'Crush It' Too.) 『The book is an easy read and straight forward guide to getting yourself established in social media. One can feel Gary's personality and energy, as he tells the reader what needs to be done to develop a significant presence in the social media arena. This is not a 'learn the secrets' book. There is no fluff, no jargon, or insider lingo. I am implementing what he recommends and telling others about this informative and important book.』
(Great Motivational Tool) 『This book was very enthusiastic and made me want to jump right up and get started with my internet branding. Had lots of great pointers!』 『
Do you have a hobby you wish you could indulge in all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take that passion and make a living doing what you love. InCrush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion, Gary Vaynerchuk shows you how to use the power of the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses. Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. Then one day he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed here, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand. By the end of this book, readers will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step,Crush It!is the ultimate driver's manual for modern business.
』 『
The Story BehindCrush it!
Everything has changed. The social media revolution has irreversibly changed the way we live our lives and conduct our business. There are billions of dollars in advertising moving online, waiting to be claimed by whoever can build the best content and communities. Despite this change, most people keep working at jobs that don’t make them happy and businesses continue to ignore the major marketing and public relations benefits that can be found online.
Myth #1:I’m not passionate about something sexy or popular like wine so these lessons don’t apply to me.
The internet has drastically decreased the costs of building communities around niche subjects, allowing for even the most obscure subjects to draw enough eyeballs to command advertising attention. Starting a video blog about tortilla chips may seem farfetched until Doritos gives you a call and offers 40,000 a year to sponsor and advertise on your blog.
Myth #2:My business already has a Twitter account and a Facebook page, we’re set in the social media department.
This is the equivalent of claiming twenty years ago that just because your business bought a TV spot and a few ads in the newspaper, you didn’t need to pay attention to your advertising department. Social media isn’t about joining in, it’s about being involved.
Myth #3:I’m happy at my job so this book is irrelevant to me.
First of all, congratulations on finding work that makes you happy! However, the lessons in this book are valuable to anyone, regardless of their employment status.Crush Itwill show you how to utilize high level and platform specific social media and marketing strategies that will improve your work. It will also show you how to build a personal brand so that even if you’re forced to leave your job, a situation that’s especially relevant today, you’ll be able to easily find employment elsewhere in a field you’re passionate about.
Myth #4:I need to quit my job to take advantage of this book’s entrepreneurial lessons.
While the entrepreneurial strategies in this book do take time, it’s completely reasonable to start the effort as an after-work project to build up until you’re able to replace your current income with the income from your online presence. While you may have to fall behind on the current season of Lost or let your Madden 2010 game suffer, becauseyou’ll be doing something you love you won’t mind putting in the extra effort.
InCrush It, Gary Vaynerchuk shows how anyone can build a career around what they’re passionate about. He also delivers both high-level and platform specific strategy and analysis, allowing you to take advantage of the current business environment while preparing you to succeed as it changes and evolves.
This book isn’t interested in making unrealistic promises while glossing over the work involved. Making a living by building content around your passion isn’t simple and it doesn’t happen overnight. What it is, however, is fulfilling and in most cases just as profitable, if not more so, than your previous job.
Furthermore, a business can’t just pay lip service to social media and expect it to return results. The transparency and accountability inherent in its structure necessitates a comprehensive and dedicated strategy in order to reap its tremendous benefits.
By combining practical analysis and strategy with the same passion and humor that’s made Gary one of the most in demand keynote speakers in the U.S. as well as network television’s go to wine expert,Crush Itis essential reading for anyone who wants to understand and harness the future of business and work.
Learn:Why social media has evened the playing field, destroying the“gate-keepers” who had previously dictated the distribution of content.
Learn:How to beat unemployment and create wealth-building opportunities by building and maintaining a personal brand.
Learn:Why storytelling is the most important business concept in the current marketplace.
Learn:How you can build an online business around your passion without quitting your day job.
Learn:Why Twitter and Facebook are just tools and not a social media strategy.
Learn:How to take advantage of the half-billion dollars in advertising that are moving to the internet.
Learn:Why transparency and being true to yourself are now winning marketing formulas.
Learn:How to build and maintain an online community around your passion and brand.
Learn:Strategies for turning attention into money.
Learn:Why the legacy element of the internet era is so underrated.
price：$7.06
Plume
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Understocked) 『This book lacked the detail I was expecting. It was a good outline. I found myself flipping through most of it. I'm very glad I got it from my library versus buying it. I found it impractical for the masses. More detailed information can be found on the internet for free.』
(hope for the best, prepare for the worst) 『If you have any concerns about bad things happening and want to be prepared for most anything. This is the book you want to have to get yourself ready. It covers all the things you need to think about to make sure you have food, water and ammo you or your family will need during an emergency.』
(Detailed and Important Information) 『This book is a very detailed and concise lesson on prepardness. The author breaks the steps down into major topics then goes into detail not only explaining what you need, but why you need it. You could go out and buy several books to get the information that is contained in this one book.
Post Katrina, it is clear to the enlightened, that everyone has a responsibility to care for their families and their neighbors. This book is a "cheat sheet" for prepardness.
There will always be those who live in denial and refuse to believe that disaster, natural or man-made, can happen to them. Because of that denial they have to attack this book and those who agree with it's message to preserve their illusion.
They will be the ones standing on their roof's yelling "help me" to overwhelmed or non-existent resources.』
(Great Resource) 『Great read... easy to follow, written for a neophyte with information an expert can use. One of the best survival/prepping books I've read. This is the technical side of "Patriots"...』
(James wesley Rawles) 『Rawles does it again! A superb book on finding the right mindset and equipment for being prepared.』 『The definitive guide on how to prepare for any crisis--from global financial collapse to a pandemic
It would only take one unthinkable event to disrupt our way of life. If there is a terrorist attack, a global pandemic, or sharp currency devaluation--you may be forced to fend for yourself in ways you've never imagined. Where would you get water? How would you communicate with relatives who live in other states? What would you use for fuel?
Survivalist expert James Wesley, Rawles, author ofPatriotsand editor of SurvivalBlog.com, shares the essential tools and skills you will need for you family to survive, including:
Water:Filtration, transport, storage, and treatment options. Food Storage:How much to store, pack-it-yourself methods, storage space and rotation, countering vermin. Fuel and Home Power:Home heating fuels, fuel storage safety, backup generators. Garden, Orchard Trees, and Small Livestock:Gardening basics, non-hybrid seeds, greenhouses; choosing the right livestock. Medical Supplies and Training:Building a first aid kit, minor surgery, chronic health issues. Communications:Following international news, staying in touch with loved ones. Home Security:Your panic room, self-defense training and tools. When to Get Outta Dodge:Vehicle selection, kit packing lists, routes and planning. Investing and Barter:Tangibles investing, building your barter stockpile. And much more.
How to Survive the End of the World as We Know Itis a must-have for every well-prepared family.
price：$19.95
ICON Group International, Inc.
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Hugely influential but has not stood well the test of time) 『H. G. Wells predates Sci-fiction. Most of his books in the field were written before the term was coined in the 1930s. Along with Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, and Robert Louis Stevenson, his work laid the foundation for almost every major form of Science Fiction. Just as many other books written since Wells share elements with THE INVISIBLE MAN or THE TIME MACHINE or THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, so numerous novels, short stories, movies, and television episodes have been influenced by THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU. It also has been made into three films, an absolutely god-awful one with Marlon Brando in the title role, another bad one (but not as bad) with Burt Lancaster in the lead role, and a 1932 version starring Charles Laughton and retitled ISLAND OF LOST SOULS. While not a perfect film, it is easily the most intriguing of the three films, not least because of Bela Lugosi's unforgettable portrayal as The Sayer of the Law. In fact, both of the later films are more in the way of remakes of the first film rather than versions of the novel.
Nonetheless, like with Wells's other novels, reading THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU will feel familiar to modern readers. So many elements have been appropriated that we've all seen this time and again. That is also the problem with his books: so many elements have been appropriated that we've all seen this time and again. There are a few interesting scenes, but the truth is that a sense of familiarity runs throughout the book. This is not really a criticism of the book. It is more an acknowledgment of how successful it has been.
Still, the fact that the book can no longer feel unfamiliar and given the otherwise relatively minor literary qualities of the book (Wells is not an especially skilled prose stylist and his characters are rather cardboardish), this book is a somewhat tedious read. Its virtues at this point are primarily historical. This is a book that we read to find out how the mad scientist portion of the Sci-fi genre developed as it did. I personally find it less interesting than many of Wells's other Sci-fi works.』
(Interesting and great kindle read!) 『Pior reviewers have done an exellent job of explaining the contents of the book.
My comment is regarding the Kindle edition. The content of the book itself is wonderful - Herbert George would have been considered a science fiction writer way beforee his time. His writing has content similar to Michael Crighton, and leaves the reader gasping for air and wondering "What if?"
The only problem I had with the Kindle version, which was an excellet buy at 0.00, is that the book begins as if it were a memoir. I am embarrassed to point out that I didn't know who Herbert George was prior to purchasing the book, and found myself referring to other reviews to determine if the book was a memoir or fiction.
I highly recommend the book, but in addition would recommend the publishers place the summary at the beginning so others who were not fortunate enough to attend college would understand this is a work of fiction.』
(A Transforming Experience) 『I knew the high level concept of this book from allusions in other stories and movies, but I'd never read the original novel. It was a bit different from what I expected.
The writing style is very accessible and fluid while also being jam-packed with very vivid and detailed descriptions as well as some in-depth scientific and moralistic discussions. The first few pages were a little slow, but the rest of the book, except for a paragraph here and there, flew by and kept me very hooked.
The story is presented as a written report from the point of view of a narrator who finds himself stranded on the island for a time after some disasters at sea. The narrator has some scientific background which lends to very analytical and in-depth commentary.
Without adding any real spoilers, the summary is this: Doctor Moreau, after being chased out of London for his practices, is living on an island in the pacific conducting outrageous experiments. Our narrator, Pendrick, finds the island populated with creatures that are neither completely human nor completely bestial...they are aberrations....creatures partially human and partially beasts....the face of a man with almost snout-like nose and lips, pointed hairy ears, elongated torso and shorter than normal legs, etc., etc., etc. The horrors and grotesque nature of the experiments are explored in depth and naturally progress to some rather disturbing conclusions.
I rather enjoyed the story and found myself immersed in the plot and the concepts. My only real complaint by the end of the book was that it all ended too quickly. I would have loved another 50 or 100 pages. Still, it is a tightly woven tale with a lot of meet in it to leave you thinking.
Wells presents a thoughtful narrative addressing some of the social concerns of his day through this science-fiction story. At that point in history (late 1800s), this was all seen as fiction but based on the fears people had of experiments in the medical community. It's even more potent now, since some 30-50 years after the book, the Nazis engaged in similar "scientific" experimentation during the Holocaust (not with the same results, but with a similar type of horror upon society).
I really liked the way the book finished up. In the last few pages, we find our narrator trying to sort through everything he's witnessed and come to terms with it. I really enjoyed the way Wells shows him trying to recognize "humanity" in people and distinguish between the "human" and the "animal."
A great read.
***** 4.5 stars (out of 5)』
(A Moderately Entertaining Novella) 『Anyone even moderately literate should be familiar with the premise of this 19th century "classic" by renowned science fiction author H. G. Wells. Young man is shipwrecked, rescued and finds himself on a South Pacific island, inhabited by prototypical mad scientist Dr. Moreau. Moreau is a vivisectionist who has created a variety of "beasts" through efforts to convert animals to humans. Mayhem ensues.
Wells and contemporary Jules Verne have been hailed as visionaries, men ahead of their times. Of the two, Wells's work has arguably aged more gracefully. While I found this book moderately entertaining, the premise was simply too absurd to draw me in. I could swallow some of the physiological biology, however at the point where animals began speaking as well educated Englishmen, Wells lost me.
Certainly, the underlying theme has resonance today, in an era of increasing bio-medical engineering, and certainly, social commentary was among Wells's strong suits. However, in my opinion, this novella (175 pages) simply doesn't rate the accolades it has garnered.』
(When men bring out the beast in the animal) 『Like most people I have seen this as movie years ago but it didn't haunt me half as deeply as the small novel itself. In size it's a sliver of a book but its depth goes beyond the short amount of pages. The beginning was little tough to get into but transformed into a magnificent story that kept me up for two nights in a row. Even though this was written over a hundred years ago the tale is still fresh and shocking, waking up immense pity and outrage at what people are capable of. Like the story says, the difference between man and beast is that man can lie...but both are capable of monstrosities but not for the same reason. H.G Wells was known to paint a rather melancholic and pessimistic picture of man's footprint on nature and animals and even ourselves; strangely I have always bonded with that dark side of reality. It's true, we can destroy more than create, or perhaps create while destroying precious creatures and resources.
I love all sorts of island stories, where someone is literally stranded with no means of escape and at the mercy of whatever lurks in the deep jungles and caves. In this story, a small unnamed island is populated by strangely misshapen men, resembling animals more than humans. Ran by two scientists, Moreau and Montgomery, it's an insane place where new law rules and where animals are turned into people. Or so they think, when Edward Prendick, a victim of a nasty ship wreck gets rescued and taken to the island he uncovers horror that almost claim his sanity. He sees that there is no way out, he's trapped in a place where normal doesn't exist, a new world populated with half man and half beasts, with volatile emotions and restrictions. I enjoyed discovering the islands secrets with Edward, and many emotions shook me as I read. Page 98 was perhaps the most disturbing, the memory stuck in my head, especially since I have pets at home, I can tell when one is happy and when it's distressed and this book is full of distress
After reading this I am hungry for more of H.G. Wells and his probing mind, the ideas are still great today, after all, a good writer is priceless no matter what century he or she lives in.
- Kasia S. 』 『Designed for school districts, educators, and students seeking to maximize performance on standardized tests, Webster's paperbacks take advantage of the fact that classics are frequently assigned readings in English courses. By using a running thesaurus at the bottom of each page, this edition of The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells was edited for students who are actively building their vocabularies in anticipation of taking PSAT¿, SAT¿, AP¿ (Advanced Placement¿), GRE¿, LSAT¿, GMAT¿ or similar examinations. PSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation neither of which sponsors or endorses this book; SAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Board which neither sponsors nor endorses this book; GRE¿, AP¿ and Advanced Placement¿ are registered trademarks of the Educational Testing Service which neither sponsors nor endorses this book, GMAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council which is neither affiliated with this book nor endorses this book, LSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Law School Admissions Council which neither sponsors nor endorses this product. All rights reserved.』
price：$10.48
Penguin Press HC, The
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A fascinating company is made a little less fascinating) 『Ultimately I was disappointed by Googled. Ken Auletta takes an absolutely fascinating topic and company and bleeds out all the drama.
Not surprisingly, since Auletta is the author, it's almost all told from the perspective of Google's impact on old media. How about more conjecture as to what Google will be able to DO with all its data? As far as I can tell, no company has put together such useful, complex, multi-faceted data - isn't there more to explore than its impact on traditional advertising markets?
Auletta, as always, has access to the top names and industry leaders, but as a result, I didn't come away with any sense of what it's like for employees to work at Google (as opposed to CEOs and SVPs). A little rank-and-file viewpoint might give this tale more texture.
After reading some 330+ pages, I felt as though I didn't know anything more about Google than I did coming in. A little less focus on the reigning business establishment might have made a vibrant company like Google leap off the page in a way it does not in this interesting but rote profile.』
(Deceptive Advertising by Amazon) 『Amazon's Kindle page for this book says that the list price is $27.95, the Kindle price is $15.37, so you save $12.58 on the purchase, a 45% savings.
However, the Amazon price for the physical book is $17.47. So you only save $2.10 by buying the Kindle edition instead of the hard cover edition. That's a savings of 12%, not 45%.
I believe this to be deceptive advertising.
I would also like to know why the Kindle edition is priced at $15.37 instead of $9.99. I would have bought this at $9.99. But now I'll need to think about it a bit more.』
(Well written and fun to read) 『I was lucky to get this book through Vine program, because I was going to buy it anyway. I know Ken Auletta is a great writer and I was sure to enjoy reading his book.
I used to use Yahoo and excite ( Ask Jeeves was useless), but once Google launched it's search engine, I never went back to Yahoo or excite. I made Google as my homepage because Google gave me what I wanted. Now I can't live without Google. What I finally understand by reading Auletta's book is that it was not Google's service, but it's vision which attracted me.
Some of the reviewers state there's nothing new about Google in Auletta's book. Since I haven't read any other "Google" books I can't argue with them. What I could tell is that this is a well written book which brings you right in the middle of actions. It's immensely fun read for someone who is not so interested in technical aspects but human aspects of Google.
There are some complains about Kindle price being more than hardcover version. Amazon seemed to have changed the price since then, but still more than the price we are used to (less than $9.99). While I prefer paying at least a few dollars less for Kindle books, I believe this book deserves higher price than silly bestseller books (e.g. one of James Patterson's books).
』
(Some Good Material -) 『In 1990 the world's first web-page was created, and by 1992 there were all of 26. Today there are about 150 websites for everyone on the planet (6.7 billion) and Google daily users number in the hundreds of millions.
Google's chairman believes that Google (now $22 billion revenue firm) will someday reach $100 billion in revenues; revenues increased 31% last year. "Googled," by Ken Auletta, is another in a line of books covering the history of Google's spectacular rise while also trying to explain it and project the future. The very good part of Auletta's work is that it makes readers think about Google's approach and potential in the future; the not so good parts are that many areas recently 'invaded' by Google are not well covered (fortunately, Wikipedia and Google itself can help fill in the gaps), and too many pages are filled with useless anecdotes and detail.
Google's search service underlies the company's success. It is based on a secret (to limit spammers' efforts to artificially boost ratings) algorithm (PageRank) developed by Google's founders, based primarily on the 'importance' of the pages (recursively determined by the other pages linking to them), and constantly under change (359 in 2008). About 200 factors are utilized in determining PageRank. Auletta contends that Google also uses cookies to refine search responses over time.
Google's advertising revenues account for more than 40% of all ad dollars spent online. Google also pumps additional ad dollars into tens of thousands of Web sites through its AdSense program in which Google serves as matchmaker, uniting advertisers with Web destinations. In effect, AdSense allowed Google to turn everyone's content into a potential place for Google ads. Google charges a fee of about 33%, and the Web destinations pocket about $5 billion/year as a result of visitors clicking on the ads. AdSense for search also allows website owners to place Google search boxes on their websites - Google shares any advertising revenue it makes from those searches with the website owner. 'Google AdSense' has been criticized by some as a large source of "invalid clicks", in which one company clicks on a rival's search engine advertisements to drive up the other's costs; auditing programs are available to help detect and correct for this.
Google AdWords, however, is the company's main source of revenue. AdWords allows potential advertisers to bid to place small text ads (95 character limit - less intrusive and bothersome than typical banner ads) next to the results for key search words. All auctions for ads are run online and automated. The highest bidder gets to place a small text ad to the right of the search results; up to ten lower bidders also win ad space below it. The order is set by a combination of comparative bid levels and the "quality score" of all ads shown. (The quality score is calculated by historical click-through rates, relevance of an advertiser's ad text and keywords, an advertiser's account history, and other determined by Google.) Minimum bids per keyword are set by Google, also using the quality score - a commonly searched word or phrase like JetBlue might cost only a penny or two, while more esoteric phrases like helicopter parts might go for $50/click. Advertisers can choose to pay either according to the number of viewers or clicks. Google Analytics allows advertisers to track day by day, hour by hour, the number of clicks and sales, the traffic produced by the keywords used, the conversion rate from clicks to sales, where viewers came from (referrers, as well as physical location), etc. It helps advertisers target by age, sex, income, zip-code, personal preferences for leisure time activities, product preferences, news preferences. etc.
Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion in 2006, the idea being to use it's free content as another platform for selling Google ads. YouTube, however, is losing money ($100 million expectation in 2009) so far. In 2008 Google also bought DoubleClick, a service that tracks users and records what commercial advertisements they view. It's main service is to automate the administration effort in the ad buying cycle for advertisers and the management of ad inventory for publishers to increase the purchasing efficiency of advertisers and to minimize unsold inventory for publishers - eg. allowing last-minute substitutions of higher-paying advertisers and filling unused ad space. Auletta reports DoubleClick as posting 17 billion display ads/day.
Ads constitute over 95% of Google's revenue, yet its tentacles are exploring numerous other areas. These include Google Earth, Google Maps, Google Scholar, Google Finance, Google Product Search, Google Calendar, Google Desktop (Docs, Spreadsheets, collaborative forms), Google Chrome (Google's browser), Google Sites (free and assisted way to create websites), Google Android (new mobile phone operating system, with over 1,000 released applications in 2008), Gmail, Google Reader, and Google Voice (provides people with a single phone number that can be used to reach them on their work, home, or cell phones, has 1.419 million users), as well as Google's efforts to digitize all books and to provide cloud computing (no installation). Part of this reflects Google's efforts to return more than just web sites in response to inquiries (eg. videos, books, photos, maps), and to respond to inquiries from more than PCs (about one-third of 2008 Google queries in Japan originated from mobile phones). Google's potential business model for all these is not clear - on the other hand, Google began without a business model, so it doesn't allow that to be an initial hindrance. (Google engineers are all allowed one-day/week to work on a project of their own choice, again without regard for profits; some of its non-engineers are also afforded that privilege.)
The cloud in Google's future - possible antitrust regulation, and lawsuits over copyright infringement (eg. Google Books). On the other hand, Fortune recently noted that Google and the Obama have generally good relations, with top company executives participating in a number of government projects.
Bottom Line: Readers need to read "Googled" slowly and carefully, thinking how this behemoth might affect their businesses. Newspapers, TV and cable stations are already undergoing dramatic changes as a result of Google, the mobile phone and GPS direction-assistance business are about to. They also need to carefully read Wikipedia and Google sites for additional related information to fill in the holes Auletta left.
』
(Great author, don't buy to punish the publisher for pricing) 『Ken's a great author, but don't buy to punish the publisher for pricing.
Google is a great story and Ken Auletta is a superb writer on media trends.
But I have to diss the book for the pricing of the book and to punish the publisher. Then Pengiun Press won't sign any future authors if they keep this up.』 『A revealing, forward-looking examination of the outsize influence Google has had on the changing media Landscape.
There are companies that create waves and those that ride or are drowned by them. As only he can, bestselling author Ken Auletta takes readers for a ride on the Google wave, telling the story of how it formed and crashed into traditional media businesses-from newspapers to books, to television, to movies, to telephones, to advertising, to Microsoft. With unprecedented access to Google's founders and executives, as well as to those in media who are struggling to keep their heads above water, Auletta reveals how the industry is being disrupted and redefined.
Using Google as a stand-in for the digital revolution, Auletta takes readers inside Google's closed-door meetings and paints portraits of Google's notoriously private founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, as well as those who work with-and against-them. In his narrative, Auletta provides the fullest account ever told of Google's rise, shares the "secret sauce" of Google's success, and shows why the worlds of "new" and "old" media often communicate as if residents of different planets.
Google engineers start from an assumption that the old ways of doing things can be improved and made more efficient, an approach that has yielded remarkable results- Google will generate about $20 billion in advertising revenues this year, or more than the combined prime-time ad revenues of CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX. And with its ownership of YouTube and its mobile phone and other initiatives, Google CEO Eric Schmidt tells Auletta his company is poised to become the world's first $100 billion media company. Yet there are many obstacles that threaten Google's future, and opposition from media companies and government regulators may be the least of these. Google faces internal threats, from its burgeoning size to losing focus to hubris. In coming years, Google's faith in mathematical formulas and in slide rule logic will be tested, just as it has been on Wall Street.
Distilling the knowledge accrued from a career of covering the media, Auletta will offer insights into what we know, and don't know, about what the future holds for the imperiled industry.』
price：$10.37
Random House
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (The Black Swan) 『This book is extremely tedious and repetitious. The central theme is that the Gaussian (Normal) probability law is an inadequate description of economic/financial outcomes. Consequently most of modern economics and quantitative finance are junk science to the extent they are based on the false assumption above. In addition, the book is mathematically dumbed down to the level of a sixth grader. Thus it provides the reader very little insight beyond the obvious. The author has precious little to offer beyond the simple fact stated above.
Great topic. Terrible execution. Don't waste your time with this worthless book.』
(Quite good but a bit pedantic) 『I have downloaded many of his Youtube videos and read his book twice. The videos are good not great, however the book can become boring due to it being turgid. The basic idea is true but the meandering train of thought causes the rereading of many chapters and then you still may not quite get the point. Since he believes in evolution his theories all have a bias that negates many of his conclusions. Still I would recommend reading this book as it probably will cause you to look at data from a totally different viewpoint. Even if you already have this viewpoint it doesn't hurt to be reminded again that there is another viewpoint that most so called experts avoid and because of this are dangerous.』
("The Black Swan" is a practical joke) 『I'm somewhat suspicious that this book is an elaborate practical joke being played by Taleb. He's obviously a very intelligent man, an excellent and entertaining writer, and has an odd-ball sense of humor that is really appealing. So when I find after having read about 1/3 of the book that I haven't gone more than a few pages in a row without having found something that is factually incorrect or logically absurd I have to think to myself that it's all a joke. For example, even the title of the book is absurd as it relates to the alleged main premises of the book, and even then the main premises of the book are absurd and not born out by the facts. Black Swans are different species than the Swans found in Australia. In fact when they were discovered the concept of species didn't really exist as it does today. There really wasn't any reason why they shouldn't have named the new bird say, Honker, since if they really thought all Swans were white then a black bird would have to be something different. He claims that "Black Swan" events are unpredictable, carry a massive impact, and that after the fact humans construct explanations to make them appear less random. He also claims that these Black Swan events are the prime determinants of human history. In his words `History does not crawl, it jumps'. Then he bolsters his claim by trotting out a bunch of examples, none of which meet all 3 criteria. 9/11 not only was predictable but was predicted, probably will not have what I would consider a massive impact over the long run, and has certainly been explained conclusively as far as I'm concerned, and I don't know what randomness has to do with the explanation. How the hell could anybody call Google a "Black Swan"? It was just the best of a bunch of search engines. In fact it is a better example of the "Lucky Survivor" he likes to talk about elsewhere in the book than some of his other examples. The first 1/3 of the book is full of this nonsense. The one example that really kind of pissed me off is his criticism of the book "The Millionaire Next Door". That book was really intended to be "descriptive" as much as "explanatory" or as an "advice book", and what they found was that the typical person in the U.S. who had amassed assets in excess of 1 million dollars(1996 dollars) did it by spending considerably less than they earned throughout their careers and investing the difference prudently. If they did invest in something "risky" they only invested a small portion of their net worth in it and they made sure it was something that would pay off big if it panned out. In fact they invested their money in a modified version of Taleb's own 85-15 formulation!!! Their having amassed all those assets was not luck, as Taleb "claims". I just can't believe that Taleb made so many obvious absurd claims like this by accident. It must be a joke.』
(Good...but not as good as Fooled by Randomness) 『The ideas presented in this book are essentially the same as those presented in Taleb's first book, Fooled by Randomness, just from a slightly different vantage point. That said, I found Black Swan to be good but you could get the picture reading only Fooled by Randomness, which I thought was the better of the two, if so inclined.
Pros: - This book will make you keenly aware of the existence of black swans (both good and bad) in almost every facet of life -- actually maybe this is a con because it might keep you up at night. - Taleb offers tools such as fractil geometry as a replacement for Gaussian distributions (however, still not predictive). - This text and concepts covered are engaging and thought provoking.
Cons: - I do agree with other reviews that the book was repetitive. Even more so after having read Fooled by Randomness. It is my suspicion that this book probably achieved so much success riding on the coat-tails of Fooled by Randomness.
Other thoughts: - Some may find Taleb's irreverance and style abrasive, but I actually kind of like it.』
(Thought Provoking Book) 『I bought this book because I am an active investor and I had a little knowledge of Nassim Taleb. This is not an investment "stragegy" type book. It will definitely challenge the way you look at the risk and rewards/penalities of most aspects in your life.
While I loved the book, some of the chapters (Taleb warns the reader as well)are a little boring to read. Some of the discussion about philoshers from the 1500's and 1600's is beyond my level of interest. That said, they are still relevenant to the book.
Taleb does a great job illustrating the fallacies and the dangers of "bell curve" thinkers.
From investors standpoint I like this book a lot. As mentioned before there are no specific strategies, but the book will help you in your mental approach towards investing and understanding risk.』 『A black swan is a highly improbable event with three principal characteristics: It is unpredictable; it carries a massive impact; and, after the fact, we concoct an explanation that makes it appear less random, and more predictable, than it was. The astonishing success of Google was a black swan; so was 9/11. For Nassim Nicholas Taleb, black swans underlie almost everything about our world, from the rise of religions to events in our own personal lives.
Why do we not acknowledge the phenomenon of black swans until after they occur? Part of the answer, according to Taleb, is that humans are hardwired to learn specifics when they should be focused on generalities. We concentrate on things we already know and time and time again fail to take into consideration what we don’t know. We are, therefore, unable to truly estimate opportunities, too vulnerable to the impulse to simplify, narrate, and categorize, and not open enough to rewarding those who can imagine the “impossible.”
For years, Taleb has studied how we fool ourselves into thinking we know more than we actually do. We restrict our thinking to the irrelevant and inconsequential, while large events continue to surprise us and shape our world. Now, in this revelatory book, Taleb explains everything we know about what we don’t know. He offers surprisingly simple tricks for dealing with black swans and benefiting from them.
Elegant, startling, and universal in its applicationsThe Black Swanwill change the way you look at the world. Taleb is a vastly entertaining writer, with wit, irreverence, and unusual stories to tell. He has a polymathic command of subjects ranging from cognitive science to business to probability theory.The Black Swanis a landmark book–itself a black swan.』 『Bestselling author Nassim Nicholas Taleb continues his exploration of randomness in his fascinating new book,The Black Swan, in which he examines the influence of highly improbable and unpredictable events that have massive impact. Engaging and enlightening,The Black Swanis a book that may change the way you think about the world, a book that Chris Anderson calls, "a delightful romp through history, economics, and the frailties of human nature." See Anderson's entire guest review below. Guest Reviewer: Chris Anderson
Chris Anderson is editor-in-chief ofWiredmagazine and the author ofThe Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More.
Four hundred years ago, Francis Bacon warned that our minds are wired to deceive us. "Beware the fallacies into which undisciplined thinkers most easily fall--they are the real distorting prisms of human nature." Chief among them: "Assuming more order than exists in chaotic nature." Now consider the typical stock market report: "Today investors bid shares down out of concern over Iranian oil production." Sigh. We're still doing it.
Our brains are wired for narrative, not statistical uncertainty. And so we tell ourselves simple stories to explain complex thing we don't--and, most importantly, can't--know. The truth is that we have no idea why stock markets go up or down on any given day, and whatever reason we give is sure to be grossly simplified, if not flat out wrong.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb first made this argument inFooled by Randomness,an engaging look at the history and reasons for our predilection for self-deception when it comes to statistics. Now, inThe Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable,he focuses on that most dismal of sciences, predicting the future. Forecasting is not just at the heart of Wall Street, but it’s something each of us does every time we make an insurance payment or strap on a seat belt.
The problem, Nassim explains, is that we place too much weight on the odds that past events will repeat (diligently trying to follow the path of the "millionaire next door," when unrepeatable chance is a better explanation). Instead, the really important events are rare and unpredictable. He calls them Black Swans, which is a reference to a 17th century philosophical thought experiment. In Europe all anyone had ever seen were white swans; indeed, "all swans are white" had long been used as the standard example of a scientific truth. So what was the chance of seeing a black one? Impossible to calculate, or at least they were until 1697, when explorers found Cygnus atratus in Australia.
Nassim argues that most of the really big events in our world are rare and unpredictable, and thus trying to extract generalizable stories to explain them may be emotionally satisfying, but it's practically useless. September 11th is one such example, and stock market crashes are another. Or, as he puts it, "History does not crawl, it jumps." Our assumptions grow out of the bell-curve predictability of what he calls "Mediocristan," while our world is really shaped by the wild powerlaw swings of "Extremistan."
In full disclosure, I'm a long admirer of Taleb's work and a few of my comments on drafts found their way into the book. I, too, look at the world through the powerlaw lens, and I too find that it reveals how many of our assumptions are wrong. But Taleb takes this to a new level with a delightful romp through history, economics, and the frailties of human nature.--Chris Anderson
price：$8.50
Peachpit Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Misleading advice) 『As other reviews have noted, Scott Kelby's puns are either something you like, are distracted by or absolutely loathe. In this it is a matter of each to their own.
However a lot of the advice in this book is not useful or very one-sided. For example, the section on sports photography (on which their is an entire chapter) may be summed up by saying "it is expensive". To be fair there is some useful advice (such as many of the professionals take two bodies, one with a wide-angle lens and one with a fast telephoto because you *won't* have time to switch lenses) which is why I gave the book two stars.
The most disappointing piece of "advice" was on "Being careful what you shoot". Kelby suggests that you delete pictures if security guards demand it, otherwise they may take your camera etc. They have no right to do this .... the excellent "rights of photographers" by Lawyer Bert Krages tells you about what right mere security guards (and even police officers have) and it does NOT include demanding that you delete pictures from your camera. At best the guards can require you to leave the area (if you are on their property) but they cannot generally demand that you stop taking pictures from a public area. It is true that some will try and harass you, but you are within your rights to refuse to delete your pictures and they (in particular, security guards) cannot detain you. This is even true for government buildings; although with military bases you are probably on your own =).
If Kelby had claimed that you risk being harassed if you took pictures of government buildings, and that you may wish to delete your pictures to avoid problems then that may be sound advice. But he writes that if he had not deleted his pictures he would have probably had his camera removed (factually false -- if this happens it is theft; call the police) -- and encourages photographers to roll over on their civil rights.
It seems that Kelby's ignorance will not stop him from making very authoritive statements, and to me this brings into question much of the other (also very authoritatively) stated advice.』
(Great tips for amateur photographers) 『Quick tips, not so much theory as many other photography books, makes you feel by reading "The digital photography book" as if you were attending a seminar; where what students are looking forward to hearing is "how this shot was taken" or "what to do" in a certain situation.
I admit I didn't appreaciate much Scott Kelby's sense of humour but this book gave me a push to take much better photos as an amateur photographer.
Have already read the 2nd volume and looking forward to starting the 3rd one.』
(No Fluff) 『Straight-shooting, easy to read, no holds barred writing. Fits my needs, interests and attention span.』
(Excellent) 『This is a very practical, down-to-earth book that you can actually use and not have to learn all the technical details. I have picked up a bunch of good ideas that I have immediately put to good use.』
(Full of trash around the gems of wisdom) 『As other negative reviewers have noted, there is a *lot* of worthless mockery and jokes and gotchas around the real wisdom in this book. If you have loads of time and enjoy sifting through trash to find gems, grab this book. Otherwise you're better off with free web resources, like Ken Rockwell's site, that get straight to the point.
Wish the author would write "cliff notes" for this that removed all the junk and mocking tone. 』 『Scott Kelby, the man who changed the "digital darkroom" forever with his groundbreaking, #1 bestselling, award-winning bookThe Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers,now tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use (and it's easier than you'd think).
This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You d say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting, and I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned just like I would witha friend, without all the technical explanations and without all the techno-photo-speak."
This isn't a book of theory—it isn't full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts: this is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button.
Here's another thing that makes this book different: each page covers just one trick, just one single concept that makes your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, another pro tool, another pro trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. There's never been a book like it, and if you're tired of taking shots that look "OK," and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.』
price：$6.38
Wiley
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Pragmatic Primer for Online Success) 『I found this book through the website of one of my other favorite authors, Jeffrey Gitomer, and figured if no-nonsense Gitomer recommended it, it would be worth checking out. Indeed! Rumbauskas' book is an excellent resource for someone who is looking to expand their marketing efforts via the power of the web. It is most useful for those selling "products"; for those of us selling "services" (I'm a marketing/branding consultant) it is still extremely worthwhile. One of the things I like best about the book is the author's pragmatic perspective: he's tried and tested (literally!) many different approaches, and he tells you point-blank what works and why. This is great hands-on/step-by-step stuff, so calling it a "playbook" is a perfect description- - this is a book that you USE, and use NOW; it's not a rah-rah book of strategies or theories. It's full of battle-tested tactics, which I appreciated; I am just getting started implementing them after reading the book this week. Incidentally, throughout the book Rambauskas continually refers you to his website. While this can be distracting, he seems to be doing so with the intent of providing you with the most up-to-the-minute information; in my opinion, to remain relevant a book with so much practical online content must do something like this or it would be frustratingly out-of-date even before it was published. I highly recommend "The Never Cold Call Again Online Playbook." -Marie ([...])』
(Solid Information) 『I skim read it through once quickly and gleaned several helpful tips. Now I'm in the middle of reading it thoroughly and taking notes. Anyone complaining about this book is simply not looking for the Golden Nuggets of info in it. Instead of complaining of bait and switch try implementing some of the strategies and seeing what happens? I found chapter 6 on creating instant (and verifiable) expert status very helpful with specific instructions as to how to follow the process he used. Just my 2 cents.』
(Excellent Book!) 『I read Frank's last book, Never Cold Call Again, and LOVED his creative approach to sales so I was excited to get his latest book. I found this one even more insightful and informative. Having spent the last few years marketing online and having tremendous success, I wish I would have had this book when I first got started... there is no telling how much more revenue I could have generated. The book is perfect for someone just getting started online and for those who might already have experience, you'll definitely find a few strategies you can implement right away!
』
(A Great Online Playbook for Anyone in Sales or Online) 『The Never Cold Call Again Online Playbook is the first book in years that I've read in one sitting. I think there was some great information in the same league as Dan Kennedy, Yanik Silver and Mitch Meyerson, among others. It's similar to information that is promoted by many "so-called" gurus and I'm not surprised that Mr. Rumbauskas offers upsells and cross sells. He's a MARKETER for crying out loud! And he has great insights and ideas.
I agree with the reviewer who said the website recommendations alone are worth the price of the book. But for me, I learned some great ideas on podcasting and videocasting that I'm excited to implement. He has ton of great ideas on building website traffic and conversion. The recommendations on achieving Expert Status are wonderful.
Yes, the book itself is a bargain, but the ability to go online for more information and links is a great resource too. I'm going to order a few more of these books to give to friends.』
(Worthless) 『If you want a preview of what to expect, check out the books websites which offers endless FREE BONUS materials to LEARN SECRETS of RICHES, yada yada. Yes, it's one of those. Don't confuse with the excellent "No More Cold Calling" - these authors are not related.』 『
An all-in-one guide to online marketing from theNew York Timesbestselling author ofNever Cold Call Again
InNever Cold Call Again,Frank Rumbauskas shows salespeople how to achieve sales greatness without using those dreaded old tactics like cold calling. Now, inThe Never Cold Call Again Online Playbook,he gives small business owners, independent professionals, and entrepreneurs a complete, all-in-one guide to the best practices of effective online marketing.
The best marketers know all the secrets of using the Internet to fuel business growth. WithThe Never Cold Call Again Online Playbook,you'll have access to all the best proven Internet marketing wisdom, tactics, strategies, and tools. You'll learn how to develop a complete online marketing system that boosts sales and brings in customers galore.
A comprehensive toolkit for creating a complete, powerful, and effective online marketing program for your business
Written by online marketing guru Frank Rumbauskas, bestselling author ofNever Cold Call AgainandSelling Sucks
A revolutionary system for increasing sales without tired old selling tactics that no longer work anyway
How to explode your business with social media sites like Twitter and Facebook
For anyone who owns or operates a business and wants to increase their sales, profits, and visibility online,The Never Cold Call Again Online Playbookis the ultimate practical resource.』
price：$8.48
Wiley
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (How You'll Succeed in Marketing) 『You can't go wrong reading a book about Inbound Marketing from the people who coined the phrase "Inbound Marketing".
In this book, Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah of HubSpot provide an ideal outline of how to shape the future of any marketing plan. Chapter by chapter they outline the key points that marketers are facing in adapting their plans to succeed in today's online world. If you weren't a believer of inbound marketing before, this book will surely make you one.
Admittedly I was fan of HubSpot long before the book was published (I have a business crush on them and am even Inbound Marketing Certified through their Inbound Marketing University), and was eagerly looking forward to the book's release. After reading it, I'm even more of a fan. The authors and their company walk-the-walk and successfully practice what they preach in their own marketing which is testament to how rock solid their philosophy is.
Get it, read it, do it. It's how you'll succeed in marketing.
~Diane Vautier @dvautier』
(Well worth the read...) 『Inspiring, insightful, and full of practical insights. This book outlines the art of promoting and getting found.』
(Excellent Handbook for the Inbound Marketer) 『I was first exposed to the concept of inbound marketing through HubSpot's blog, which I have been reading now for the last six months ([...]). As a startup company CEO, I am always looking for cost effective ways to market our services, so I was very intrigued by the methodologies explored in the company's blog. Having enjoyed the blog, I bought the Inbound Marketing book, written by HubSpot's two founders, soon after it was published.
The book is a concise, step-by-step guide of how to build your company's inbound marketing efforts. It's full of practical, executable advice and each chapter ends with a handy to-do list. Admittedly, I was eager to finish the book, so I merely glanced over the to-do lists. Now, however, I've gone back and created a master list of items that my company needs to complete over the next three months. From using social networking sites to build fans and followers, to advice on how to best name a blog post for maximum impact, there are pearls of wisdom spread out throughout this easy to read handbook. I highly recommend the book to any marketer who wants a solid introduction to inbound marketing, as well as the experienced inbound marketer looking for some new tools and approaches. 』
(A one-stop guide to leveraging the web) 『This book is a terrific read for businesspeople who recognize that old-school marketing approaches are less relevant every day. This manifesto on weaving the web into your marketing gives a succinct, actionable plan for driving customers to your business. What's most remarkable is the authors' ability to present the plan in a way that does not require a degree in website design or a large IT budget . It may be a bit of a cliche to say that the web is a great equalizer, but this book proves that there is more than a little truth in that bromide.』
(5 Stars from CEOs) 『I met the authors at an event in Boston, where I run the online career network [...]. Although I've read tons of books, blogs, articles and reports on "Web2.0", "Social Media" and the like, this book offered the PERFECT combination of "how-to" and "why"... meaning they combined the instruction set of what to do, along with the business rationale for WHY doing these things is so valuable and important for business.
As a CEO, I never seem to have enough time in a day, and I'm therefore very picky about the books that make it onto my reading list -- if you are a highly selective reader as well, this book is well worth your time.
I highly recommend this one to marketers and leaders who are transforming the next generation of business.
Many thanks to Brian and Darmesh for sharing their insightful and inspiring ideas!
Jenny Floren CEO, [...] T: jennyfloren F: facebook/jfloren L: linkedin/in/jfloren』 『Stop pushing your messageoutand start pulling your customersin
Traditional "outbound" marketing methods like cold-calling, email blasts, advertising, and direct mail are increasingly less effective. People are getting better at blocking these interruptions out using Caller ID, spam protection, TiVo, etc. People are now increasingly turning to Google, social media, and blogs to find products and services.Inbound Marketinghelps you take advantage of this change by showing you how to get found by customers online.
Inbound Marketingis a how-to guide to getting found via Google, the blogosphere, and social media sites.
• Improve your rankings in Google to get more traffic • Build and promote a blog for your business • Grow and nurture a community in Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. • Measure what matters and do more of what works online
The rules of marketing have changed, and your business can benefit from this change.Inbound Marketingshows you how to get found by more prospects already looking for what you have to sell. 』
price：$11.50
Peachpit Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A 'must' for any aspiring photographer or library catering to them) 『Volume 3 of Scott Kelby's classic best-selling digital photography handbook provides step-by-step instructions for making a photo look polished and professional, offering a follow-up to his Volume 2 with a new book that picks up where the second volume left off. Each page covers a single idea on how to make a photo better - professional tips and tricks pack a solid handbook detailing exact settings and options that translate to professional results. A 'must' for any aspiring photographer or library catering to them.』
(Book three for Scott Kelby) 『I purchased Scotts first book and I really like it and then got two and now three and I can say that all of them are excellent. Scott has a way of explaining photography so that you get it. Just the right things to do to get great photos. I teach beginning photography and I use his material all the time for my students as it is so well versed. This series is a keeper.』
(The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2) 『Was rather disappointed witn this book. Expected more details for someone who has been a amateur photographer for 50 years, even though I haven't had any experince of digital camera untill 3-4 years ago. I don't have much experience of computer, got my first only a year ago.』
(somewhat a disapointment.......) 『I have the first two volumes of Kelby book and I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants to take better photos. The third volume on the other-hand has a lot of repetitive information from the first two books, probably only a few chapters are new which he didnt mention in the first two books. The new information which he added are only useful if you plan to do shoots in a studio, otherwise it will be useless. Like his other books there are lots of advertisements for products which can be good or bad depending on you. I have brought some new equipments because of it(of course not the ones he recommended because they are just too expensive for me, better but expensive).』
(Great general reference book) 『I'm a beginner in the photography field and found this book very useful. The fact that I could look into the contents of the book before purchasing was very helpful when comparing to other books. It is written in a way that is understandable to me, even when my native language is not English. Great flow throughout and useful explanations about equipment, how to use them and many tips in how to make your shots better, all from an experienced photographer in a hands-on practical way. Scott Kelby mostly uses examples with Canon and Nikon equipment, so bear in mind if you are a beginner not familiar with the terms used with those brands. I do not own the previous volumes and had no problem getting started on the first chapter of volume 3. I'm considering to buy the previous volumes, this book is so straight to the point that leaves me wanting to learn more. The on-line access to equipment and videos is a great complement to the book.』 『Scott Kelby, author of The Digital Photography Book, volume 1 (the world’s best-selling digital photography book of all time), is back with a follow-up to his volume 2 smash best seller, with an entirely new book that picks up right where he left off. It’s even more of that “Ah ha—so that’s how they do it,” straight-to-the-point, skip-the-techno-jargon stuffyou can really use today to make your shots even better.
This book truly has a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: “If you and I were out on a shoot and you asked me, ‘Hey Scott, I want the light for this portrait to look really soft and flattering. How far back should I put this softbox?’ I wouldn’t give you a lecture about lighting ratios, or flash modifiers. In real life,I’d just turn to you and say, ‘Move it in as close to your subject as you possibly can, without it actually showing up in the shot.’ Well, that’s what this book is all about: you and I out shooting where I answer questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I’ve learned, just like I would with a friend—without all the technical explanations and techie photo speak.”
Each page covers a single concept on how to make your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you’ll learn another pro setting, tool, or trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. If you’re tired of taking shots that look “okay,” and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, “Why don’t my shots look like that?” then this is the bookfor you.
This isn’t a book of theory—full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts. This is a book on which button to push, which setting to use, and when to use it. With nearly 200 more of the most closely guarded photographic “tricks of the trade,” this book gets you shooting dramatically better-looking,sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos every time.』
price：$10.02
Prima Games
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great strategy guide, though not perfect) 『This is probably the best strategy guide I've seen. After reading some of the other reviews, I think that has to do with what *I* look for in a guide for an RPG. I don't really use the walk-throughs that much - primarily I like discussion about character and party development. I think that's the discrepancy between my review and the others. So - here are the pros and cons:
PROS: 1) Beautiful design - the cover is very nice, and the interior pages are FULL color, even the background looks like parchment with some blood smears on it. 2) Very in-depth character build discussion. Each class has several pages discussing possible builds, pros and cons, ideal gear for which levels, etc. 3) The lore section (in the Collector's Guide ONLY) is very rich. If you play Pen-n-Paper games, you could probably cobble together a Fereldan campaign based on this. (As a side-note, Green Ronin is releasing a pen-n-paper game for Dragon Age)
CONS: 1) Not all items are listed, especially not all gifts, and that irritated me. 2) Very spoilerish, as someone else pointed out. I found out by reading the "Important People In Fereldan" section what should have been a very emotional plot development. It still was, but not as much as if I'd been hit out of left field with the event.
Hope this helps you decide whether or not you'd like the book!』
(Could have been better) 『When I bought this I was expecting that it would help guide me through the moral choices easily. Or at least provide a solid way to go through the game without getting a reaction I didn't want out of an NPC. However, I've found myself struggling to do so. The maps are cluttered with the same color of triangles, squares and diamonds. Making it hard to find whatever letter or number, let alone shape you're looking for. They should have at least had different colors for the different shapes to make it easier and faster to navigate.
Most moral choices that are in the game are not well discussed in the guide. It boils down to, 'You can do this or that' and nothing more. When it should be telling me what happens if I do -this- or do -that-. Or if it just doesn't matter at all. I've encountered many places where items are that are not listed in the guide at all as well. Which makes me look around the guide thinking I'm on the wrong page, when I'm not.
The guide is well made. The cover is great, as are the pages and the design. The character pages are very useful however contain many spoilers, the artwork as well as the interview with Bioware are awesome.
It's useful to an extent, however it could have been a lot more efficient, user friendly and useful.』
(Only slightly helpful, but basically useless) 『I was greatly disappointed in this book. Usually Prima is the name in game guides, but this one borders on useless.
The first 70 or so pages are basically an extended version of the instruction manual. It does have maps of some of the zones, but there are also several that are completely absent. The equipment guide offers a decent look at all the weapons and armor, but offers no place they could be obtained or purchased. The bestiary offers short blurbs on the monsters, and hits at different sub sets, but it does not list the subsets. The maps do list monster groups, chests, and three or four plot points, but the scrolls, runes, books, etc., needed to progress some of the quests, are absent from the maps. The descriptions given are about a paragraph in length, and offer no real help. When I looked up a city I had just arrived in, the map told me that there were many side quests to be done, if the player wanted to take a few hours break from the main story line, but it gave no indication of where to go or what to do. The list of quests in the back, offer little help how to start, or accomplish, the quest, as well as don't tell you the reward.
Overall, this is a very poor book, and is well below what is expected from a Prima book. Save your money.』
(Very Weak Guide) 『Strategy guides, particularly for epic RPG games, are typically designed and laid out in such a way to assist you in finding ALL of the content in a game, with helpful maps, descriptions of how to unlock every side-quest, and sometimes even just Easter-Eggs. This book fails to deliver.
The first 70 pages reads like an extended instruction manual, although this is typical and sometimes appreciated by new players.
The Companions section is surprisingly the most helpful part of the book. They list the gifts, dialogues, romances, personal quests, etc. that each character is a part of. These are useful details.
The Equipment section is a mixed bag. Notably, several unique weapons and armor are listed, but no locations of where to find them are given. Another notably absent piece of information is in the crafting section, where component locations are not listed. A minor saving grace is the inclusion of Recipe/Plan locations and Gift Locations (however there are no maps of these locations here or later).
The Bestiary has some useful information about how monsters scale, however it still lacks important information such as the loot dropped by monsters. It is also noticeable that they acknowledge that each creature is an archetype and that variations exist, but they fail to list all of the variations!
The Walkthrough section will indeed help you plow through the game. It lists objects you can search such as chests, barrels, and shelves, but not what the contents of them are, even if they are plot specific, key items from your party members, or unique items. It will list Side Quests, however it will not explain how to do them unless you flip to another section, despite it requiring you doing something in the specific zone mentioned! These are all key pieces of information that are THE REASON you buy books like this!
Unfortunately, the Side Quest section ends up being disappointing anyway, as it gives barely enough information for you to formulate how to complete the tasks. There are no maps and only one screenshot per quest. Some of these quests list 5 different locations that you have to FIND things. There are also multiple outcomes to almost every quest, and the best/worst paths are not given. These are all key pieces of information that are THE REASON you buy books like this!
The Random Encounters section, like the Side Quest section, only lists basic information. No loot information, no difficulty, no strategy, just a basic breakdown and location of the encounters. Also, no maps or screen shots.
They include an Achievements and Trophies section that, short of "secret" achievements being listed, has NO information. No hints or tips on how to achieve these, it just lists them. Tragically, I don't think this book will help me get them all for my system, and I'll have to refer to the Internet for help.
"Thanks" for the Traveler's Guide, Bioware Interviews, and Artwork sections, I get that is the added bonus of the Collector's Edition. Fun stuff.
In short, this guide fails to live up to the standard set by Prima Game Guides that had such thorough walkthroughs and useful information with other recent titles in the genre (like Fallout 3, Oblivion, and Mass Effect). This book was a completely disappointment with only a few helpful bits of information and an interesting section on the history and development of the game. Not recommended for those trying to get Achievement/Trophy help or those interested in finding ALL of the games content.』
(Worth it to me...) 『I have played the game through Lothering and the guide has honestly helped me quite a bit. I do not like having to stop a game and go check online for hints. I like guides that just tell you what the quests are and then let's you decide how to accomplish them. This guide has done that for me.』 『Lore:Learn the story leading up to this epic struggle that can't be found anywhere else. Interviews:Step behind the scenes with revealing interviews with the development team. Art:Our stunning art section showcases the best artwork Dragon Age has to offer. Hard Cover:Rugged Hardcover edition for extra durability. Guide:Includes the complete Dragon Age: Origins strategy guide. Signed Cover:Signatures from the entire Dragon Age development team appear on the inside front and back cover to add to the custom Collector's look and feel.』
The scallop of large satisfactory ! northern countries and - [ of how much ] botan shrimp are ! tightly.
getting to know the technique of motorbike expensive sale -- Ta -- if -- -
>
Everything has changed. The social media revolution has irreversibly changed the way we live our lives and conduct our business. There are billions of dollars in advertising moving online, waiting to be claimed by whoever can build the best content and communities. Despite this change, most people keep working at jobs that don’t make them happy and businesses continue to ignore the major marketing and public relations benefits that can be found online.
