A Historical Dictionary of Psychiatry by Edward Shorter

Product Description

This is the first historical dictionary of psychiatry. It covers the subject from autism to Vienna, and includes the key concepts, individuals, places, and institutions that have shaped the evolution of psychiatry and the neurosciences. An introduction puts broad trends and international differences in context, and there is an extensive bibliography for further reading. Each entry gives the main dates, themes, and personalities involved in the unfolding of the topic. Longer entries describe the evolution of such subjects as depression, schizophrenia, and psychotherapy. The book gives ready reference to when things happened in psychiatry, how and where they happened, and who made the main contributions. In addition, it touches on such social themes as "women in psychiatry," "criminality and psychiatry," and "homosexuality and psychiatry." A comprehensive index makes immediately accessible subjects that do not appear in the alphabetical listing. Among those who will appreciate this dictionary are clinicians curious about the origins of concepts they use in their daily practices, such as "paranoia," "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors" (SSRIs), or "tardive dyskinesia"; basic scientists who want ready reference to the development of such concepts as "neurotransmitters," "synapse," or "neuroimaging"; students of medical history keen to situate the psychiatric narrative within larger events, and the general public curious about illnesses that might affect them, their families and their communities-or readers who merely want to know about the grand chain of events from the asylum to Freud to Prozac. Bringing together information from the English, French, German, Italian, and Scandinavian languages, the Dictionary rests on an enormous base of primary sources that cover the growth of psychiatry through all of Western society.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #761627 in Books
* Published on: 2005-02-17
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 352 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...I highly recommend [this book] for all college, university, and public libraries." --Doody's
"...have done a remarkable job of compilation and made access to the knowledge they produced very easy. In its main aims the book is a genuine success and something genuinely new."--Lancet
"As a historian of psychiatry, Edward Shorter is well known for setting out his stall in full public view and bringing a great deal of factual detail and strong personal feelings to the task at hand."--he Lancet

About the Author
Edward Shorter is at University of Toronto.

Write to the Point by Bill Stott

Product Description

Write to the Point is the best available guide to effective writing of non-fiction. "Have something to say, and say what you mean to say as simply as you can." Those are Bill Stott's most important points, and for all those readers who know that this simple advice may be difficult to follow, he offers encouragement on such topics as: how to find something to say; the basics of organization, how to avoid sexist language; how much is enough; plagiarism; and basic grammar.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #332120 in Books
* Published on: 1991-04-15
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 226 pages

Editorial Reviews

The New York Times Magazine
The year's best book for encouraging the beginning, or the intimidated, writer.

Review

"Super-enriched how-to book... designed to get the beginner or the pro... past the struggles of writing to the rewards of sharing something useful." -- Christian Science Monitor


"The year's best book for encouraging the beginning, or the intimidated, writer." -- The New York Times Magazine, William Safire

Christian Science Monitor
Super-enriched how-to book . . . designed to get the beginner or the pro . . . past the struggles of writing to the rewards of sharing something useful.
Customer Reviews

A Writing Guide for Novice Scholars5
I am a PhD student. This book was recommended by an instructor who cared about making me a better scholar. Stott's writing advice is crisp, clear, and actionable. After I implemented his recommendations, my assignments were consistently noted for their quality of expression. My writing is judged on what I say (content), not how I say it (style). I will always struggle with my writing. In spite of that fact, I now have a book that guides and encourages me with practical, effective advice. I wish I'd had this book earlier in my academic career!

Simply brilliant5
Stott opens your eyes to what writing should be. He teaches very plainly that there is no reason that you can't simply "write to the point" and say exactly what you want to say (in your own words).

By the way, it's a lot better than the other book of the same title.

This book explained how to improve my writing5
I had a Ph.D., needed to publish, thought I was a 'good writer' but in fact my writing was obtuse, rambled, unfocused and ineffective. A supervisor gave me this book. Within two years my writing was getting easily accepted for trade and academic publishing alike. Writing is now something I consider one of my strengths. I recommend this book to staff and students.

Business Grammar, Style & Usage: The Most Used Desk Reference for Articulate and Polished Business Writing and Speaking by Executives Worldwide by Ali

Product Description

Based on the actual writing and speaking styles of leading business executives worldwide, this book features easy-to-follow instructions and techniques for preparing polished written documents and writing and speaking in an articulate manner. Focusing on how leading business professionals really communicate, the basics of writing and speaking, including traditional grammar and speaking dos and don'ts, are covered. Examined are the particular styles in which business professionals communicate with each other and how to develop a personal professional style. Featured are special sections on writing memos, offer letters, e-mails, and other business documents that business professionals need to master.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #31825 in Books
* Published on: 2003-04-01
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 140 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Alicia Abell has edited and written for such publications as U.S. News and World Report, Washingtonian, and Motley Fool. She is an editor for America Online's news service and the author of Tools for the Direct Access Trader. She lives in Arlington, Virginia. Aspatore Books provides professionals of all levels with proven business intelligence from industry insiders. They are located in Boston, Massachusetts.
Customer Reviews

The Service5
I was very pleased with the shipping service of this item. This book was shipped before another book that I had ordered by expedited shipping. I am very pleased with the service. Thank you.

Influential communication 5
The contents of this book will assist all who use it to eliminate the common errors associated with daily communication. Great advice on e-mail brevity, selecting the proper word etc. Well worth reading.

Great Book for Business Professionals5
This is the one book every business professional should have on (or near) their desk. It's concise nature lends itself to a perfect reference for writing and speaking in a very polished manner. Also especially helpful are the "do's and don'ts" of business grammar.

Interviewing: A Guide for Journalists and Writers by Gail Sedorkin

Product Description

This practical guide to all aspects of interviewing for print and broadcast journalists demonstrates step-by-step how to manage the interview process, including how to prepare, what to do when you don't have time to prepare, the difference between "soft" and "hard" interviews, and how to make the most out of any interview situation.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #229781 in Books
* Published on: 2002-09-01
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 192 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Gail Sedorkin, journalism lecturer at Deakin University, is the coauthor of Get Your Message Across. She has worked for regional newspapers and ABC Radio. Judy McGregor is professor and head of the department of communication and journalism at Massey University. She spent 20 years as a reporter and editor of the Independent Newspapers Limited Group, and was the first female editor of a major paper in Australia.
Customer Reviews

Demystifying the art of interviewing5
There's an old journalists' saying - "you're only as good as your contacts", but in reality - "you're only as good as your interviews".

That's the subject of a new guide for journalists and writers which covers a broad range of topics and issues that comprise the art of interviewing.

'Interviewing' is written by two experienced Australian journalists: Gail Sedorkin, a journalism university lecturer and co-author of 'Get Your Message Across', who spent several years in newspapers and radio. Judy McGregor, a journalism professor, with 20 years experience as a newspaper reporter and editor.

The book is an essential guide to interviewing for both new and experienced scribes. It balances a plethora of tips, techniques and checklists with a variety of colorful and insightful anecdotes from some of the best known and highly regarded journalists in print and electronic media.

Some of the topics covered include:

* Types and styles of interviews (Vox pops, doorstops and ambushes, death knocks, rounds and events)
* Research
* Getting started
* Breaking the ice
* The questions
* Print and broadcast interviews
* Telephone and email interviews
* Handing the information (when to quote, naming sources)
* Legal and other issues (off the record, checkbook journalism, defamation, contempt of court)

While written principally for Australian and New Zealand writers, most of information and wisdom is universal, and supported by a number of Web site links.

'Interviewing' is a must-have reference book for all journalists and writers involved in researching and interviewing. Even if you think you know it all, this book will surprise you and inspire you.

Word-Formation in English (Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics) by Ingo Plag

Product Description

Providing an accessible introduction to the study of word-formation, this text focuses specifically on English. Assuming no prior linguistic knowledge, Ingo Plag explains the fundamentals of word-formation, demonstrating how morphemes--the elements of a word's internal structure--can function to relate words to other words, and to create new words. Students are encouraged to undertake their own morphological analysis of English words, and are introduced to the methodological tools for obtaining and analyzing relevant data.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #1339432 in Books
* Published on: 2003-11-10
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 254 pages

Editorial Reviews

Download Description
This textbook provides an accessible introduction to the study of word-formation, that is, the ways in which new words are built on the bases of other words (e.g. happy - happy-ness), focusing on English. The book's didactic aim is to enable students with little or no prior linguistic knowledge to do their own practical analyses of complex words. Readers are familiarized with the necessary methodological tools to obtain and analyze relevant data and are shown how to relate their findings to theoretical problems and debates. The book is not written in the perspective of a particular theoretical framework and draws on insights from various research traditions, reflecting important methodological and theoretical developments in the field. It is a textbook directed towards university students of English at all levels. It can also serve as a source book for teachers and advanced students, and as an up-to-date reference concerning many word-formation processes in English.

About the Author
Ingo Plag is Professor of English Linguistics in the department of Linguistics, Literary and Media Studies at the University of Siegen.

Download Description
This textbook provides an accessible introduction to the study of word-formation, that is, the ways in which new words are built on the bases of other words (e.g. happy - happy-ness), focusing on English. The book's didactic aim is to enable students with little or no prior linguistic knowledge to do their own practical analyses of complex words. Readers are familiarized with the necessary methodological tools to obtain and analyze relevant data and are shown how to relate their findings to theoretical problems and debates. The book is not written in the perspective of a particular theoretical framework and draws on insights from various research traditions, reflecting important methodological and theoretical developments in the field. It is a textbook directed towards university students of English at all levels. It can also serve as a source book for teachers and advanced students, and as an up-to-date reference concerning many word-formation processes in English.

An Atlas of Depression (The Encyclopedia of Visual Medicine Series) by Christian M. Baldwin

Product Description

Although one of the most common mental disorders, depression can be an obscure illness. People keep their depression secret, doctors and patients have a hard time recognizing it, the cause is unknown, treatment is viewed with suspicion, and other conditions are given higher priority. However, once you know the right questions to ask and the correct manner in which to ask them, diagnosis and treatment is easy. An Atlas of Depression presents a thorough graphical review of the diagnosis, management, and treatment of affective or "mood" disorders. Authors Baldwin and Birtwistle explore the overlap of anxiety and the depressive syndromes in community, primary, and secondary care settings. They cover the symptoms of depressive disorders such as low mood, reduced energy, a loss of interest or enjoyment, poor concentration, reduced self-confidence, guilty thoughts, pessimism, thoughts of suicide, disturbed sleep, and altered appetite. The book contains approximately 120 color illustrations, an appendix of useful links, bibliographical references, and an index. The clear and concise text puts the focus on the photographs and illustrations. These features make An Atlas of Depression a key reference for all medical professionals, from primary care physician to resident psychiatrist, who see and treat depressed patients. When diagnosing and treating depressed patients, this is the resource you will refer to time and again.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #2192392 in Books
* Published on: 2002-02-22
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 124 pages

Editorial Reviews

Book Info
Univ. of Southampton, UK. Provides a concise review of the treatment and management of patients with depression. Centers on the practical use of the techniques involved and reviews the basic science of depression, diagnostic criteria, treatment options, and long-term follow-up care. For students, residents, and practitioners.

The Great Philosophers From Socrates to Turing by Ray Monk

Product Description

The twelve essays in this volume are not only introductions to some of the most influential thinkers in human history but are also invitations for the reader to participate in a living debate. "What is justice?" "What is truth?" These questions, first posed by Socrates two and a half millennia ago, have lost none of their power to baffle. And while many philosophers have claimed to answer them, ultimately the questions return, compelling us once again.

The authors of these essays are distinguished philosophers in their own right. They engage with philosophical ideas rather than merely relaying them. By choosing a specific aspect of their subject's work, they liberate the great philosophers from textbook clichés--revealing them in all their freshness and originality.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #900472 in Books
Published on: 2000-07
Number of items: 1
Binding: Hardcover
416 pages
Editorial Reviews

Financial Times
"Rarley have intellectual sophistication and complexity come so cheap."

Times Higher Educational Supplement
"If you want to acquire some first-hand experience of philosophy and democracy, [you] would do well to read this welcome series."

About the Author
Ray Monk is a lecturer in Philosophy at Southampton University and the acclaimed biographer of Russell and Wittgenstein. Frederic Raphael has a Philosophy degree from Cambridge University, and is the author of numerous novels, screenplays, and translations. He is a specialist in the philosophy of the ancient world.
Customer Reviews

the best kind of introductory philosophy
i love ray monk's chapter on russell, showing in crisp, simple prose the increditably complex journey that russell took in moving from his 'class' conception on the foundations of math. to his eventual 'no-class' theory.

up to now, only expert, technical books have dealt with this subject. now an expert philosopher has explained it in a very exciting way to laymen, one of the best & exciting intro. essay to philosophy of math. and analytic philosophy. Definitely a text to consider for use in undergraduate intro. classes in analytic philosophy.

i like some of the other essays as well, while a few i have yet to read. strange though, that a book on the great philosophers would omit aristotle, kant & frege. but monk said publication deadline was to blame.

New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry (2 Volume Set)

Product Description

This new Oxford Textbook will become the definitive source for all psychiatrists and trainees. It covers all areas of general psychiatry in depth, and includes sections on each of the subspecialties (for example child psychiatry and forensic psychiatry). It is designed to be used by those in
higher training, for continuing education and reaccreditation, and as a specialist's reference. The textbook has been planned with the three themes of contemporary psychiatry in mind. First, the subject has become more unified: there are no longer competing theoretical schools; the biological and
psychosocial models have been largely reconciled; and the scientific and clinical points of view have been brought together in an evidence-based approach. The second theme is the importance of the social context in which psychiatry is becoming increasingly similar in different countries; this book
opens with a subject that is central to the editors' view of the practice of psychiatry: the patient's experience of psychiatric illness.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #2267392 in Books
* Published on: 2001-01-15
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 2432 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the New England Journal of Medicine, July 26, 2001
Two international, multivolume, multiauthored textbooks of psychiatry appeared almost simultaneously at the start of the millennium: the two volumes of the New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry, derived mostly from Anglo-American sources, and the three volumes of Contemporary Psychiatry, derived mostly from German and Swiss psychiatric centers. Each is truly international, and the scope of each extends into the other's orbit.

The books are called ``textbooks'' but are actually encyclopedias. Each provides authoritative essays or chapters on most topics pertaining to clinical psychiatry as it is understood at the beginning of the 21st century, from the description of psychiatric disorders themselves to the basic and social sciences that illuminate causes and mechanisms. These are not books to be read from cover to cover but reference works providing introductions to present knowledge, useful methods of investigation and practice, and keys to the literature.

No chapter would be considered complete by an expert in the subject it covers; rather, each is suitable for generalists or subspecialists who wish to enhance their knowledge of an aspect of psychiatry. Because the chapters are drawn from an international group of experts, they avoid the narrowness of local conventions and controversies. The contemporary publication of the books emphasizes the need for an extensive overview of psychiatry, especially after the past 25 years, which have seen the rise of the empirical classification systems of mental disorders and the decline of psychoanalysis as the dominant conceptual schema. The books also demonstrate, through their quite remarkable similarities, how the empirical approach to psychiatric knowledge has successfully crossed international boundaries even though national health systems differ.

The similarities between the textbooks extend to construction. Both present two-column pages with extensive references from periodicals, mostly through 1998 (although the German textbook has some references from 1999 and 2000). Both texts use the ``operational criteria'' classification systems of the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and provide the criteria of both systems for every clinical condition. The German textbook includes conversion tables for the ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria.

The writing styles differ slightly. Some chapters in Contemporary Psychiatry have a translated, German-English flavor and are somewhat difficult to read. However, this is a minor matter, since most of the chapters are well written. The Oxford book, with its bold red covers and wider columns of print, is the more physically attractive of the two.

The editors of both textbooks have coordinated the efforts of numerous experts in psychiatry and related scientific disciplines. Some differences in emphasis and coverage distinguish the two books. For example, the Oxford book devotes more space to psychology, emphasizing the fundamental role of psychology in psychiatric reasoning. On the other hand, the German book has two excellent chapters on the important subject of philosophical anthropology, which is ignored by the authors of the Oxford book. As might be expected, for some subjects both groups of editors commissioned the same expert. A.J. Holland from Cambridge University, for example, writes coherently about mental retardation in both books, and G.E. Berrios tackles aspects of the history of psychiatry.

These textbooks are worthy and much-needed guides to contemporary psychiatry. Both are accurate, comprehensive, accessible, and internationally authoritative. Either one of them will serve the practicing psychiatrist who is seeking further education or updated information. For those preparing for recertification, they are treasure-troves of information about contemporary thought and practice -- better than many continuing-medical-education courses. An openness to clinical experience, combined with an objectivity and hopefulness about science-based progress in psychiatry, permeates both books. I believe that every active psychiatrist should have one of these textbooks at hand.

What is missing from both books (and, one must admit, from contemporary psychiatry itself) is a structure according to which one can comprehend mental disorders as expressions of human life. The topical chapters do not emerge in a sequence based on some systematic understanding of nature; rather, both books retain vestiges of the old organic-versus-functional classification of mental disorders, even as they assert a commitment to the ``atheoretical'' stance proclaimed by ICD-10 and DSM-IV. Given that no deeper understanding links the clinical disorders with human mental life, the chapters on these disorders could just as well have been arranged alphabetically. Because of this, both books have some of the ``bits-and-pieces'' quality that can be sensed in the contemporary discourse at many psychiatric centers today.

Recognition of this fundamental problem occurs occasionally in both books. Berrios, in his historical chapter in Contemporary Psychiatry, discusses the recurring debate about ``scaffolding,'' or structure, in psychiatric reasoning over the centuries and notes how changing concepts of the underpinnings of psychiatric explanations have promoted periods of progress and regression in the discipline. Van den Hout, Arntz, and Merckelbach from Maastricht University Hospital, in a thorough and coherent chapter in the Oxford book on the contributions of psychology to the understanding of psychiatric disorders, propose three distinct but hierarchically interrelated methods (or, as they say, psychological ``perspectives'') to assess and explain psychiatric conditions: biologic psychology, information processing, and cognitive psychology. They provide examples of the relevance and usefulness of information from each perspective for clinical practice. They pertinently argue against an unthinking devotion to reductionist reasoning, such as ``every twisted thought has a twisted neuron and twisted molecule,'' because they hold that much disorder in mental life comes directly from psychological factors such as learning and belief, the neural underpinnings of which are pragmatically unimportant to clinicians. This kind of reasoning -- for pragmatism, for pluralism, for perspective -- is found nowhere else in these books, even though it can transform our presumptions and our discourse.

With these few exceptions, the books do not mention that the empirical era that began in the 1970s by promoting descriptive diagnostic criteria for case identification has run into trouble -- for example, in the multiplication of psychiatric disorders without limit (ontologic incontinence) and in the invention of disorders without foundation (fabulism). These are big problems for the field that have developed from the practice of defining disorders according to the categorical method since the publication of DSM-III in 1980.

One can predict that later editions of these books will be different, just as we psychiatrists will be different -- not just because we will acquire more knowledge about genetics, brain imaging, neurochemistry, and the like (as we certainly will) or because we will cease using diagnostic criteria to identify validated disorders. Rather, we will develop a systematic understanding of the hierarchically separate but interactive levels of human mental life from which specific disorders emerge and derive their essential nature.

Thus, we will be able to distinguish the ways in which emotional responses to conflicts between hope and the circumstances of life (grief, hostility, demoralization, and so forth) differ from the emotional states that are symptomatic of the breakdown of cerebral faculties (manic depression and panic anxiety, for instance). Then, we will organize scientific information about mental and behavioral disorders into practical explanatory formulations that promote the effective use of our knowledge. Most important, we will once again see our patients as people living under altered circumstances rather than as members of some alien species. The implications of this reasoning for psychiatric teaching, service, and research are enormous.

Paul R. McHugh, M.D.
Copyright © 2001 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

Book Info
Third author, Nancy Andreasen, is with Univ. of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City. Comprehensive text and reference to the state of psychiatry, for all levels of psychiatrists. Covers diverse topics, scientific foundation, dynamic approaches, clinical syndromes, somatoform disorders, treatment, and special populations and forensic services.

About the Author
Michael Gelder, Professor of Psychiatry, Oxford University, and Warneford Hospital, Oxford. Juan J Lopez-Ibor, Director, Lopez-Ibor Clinic, Madrid. Nancy Andreasen, Director MHCRC, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic.
Customer Reviews

Comprehensive review5
This is exactly what this book represents: a comprehensive review of the finest research papers in Psychiatric topics of all times. The reader will find everything there is in Psychiatry today on it; from Epidemiological data to Neurobiological Etiology, Psychopathology and current and future aspects on Psychiatry Research. As a reference book is priceless; as a scientific text, sound. Nowadays, one of the essentials in any Psychiatric library.

Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases by Grenville Kleiser

Product Description

A practical handbook of pertinent expressions, striking similes, literary, commercial, conversational, and oratorical terms, for the embellishment of speech and literature, and the improvement of the vocabulary of those persons who read, write and speak English. By the American author and former instructor in public speaking at Yale University.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #4518208 in Books
Published on: 2007-02-01
Released on: 2007-02-01
Binding: Hardcover
260 pages
Editorial Reviews

About the Author
American writer, Grenville Kleiser (1868-1953), is best known for his writings on humor, inspiration and positive thinking. Besides Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases, he authored Model Speeches for Practice, Successful Methods of Public Speaking, The Training of a Public Speaker, and others, all now published by PDQ Press. Kleiser is quoted nearly as often as Mark Twain thanks to his wit and insight Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment. To every problem there is already a solution whether you know it or not. It is often better to have a great deal of harm happen to one than a little; a great deal may rouse you to remove what a little will only accustom you to endure.
Customer Reviews

A Real Stunner
It may very well be the longest book title ever. "Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases: A Practical Handbook of Pertinent Expressions, Striking Similes, Literary, Commercial, Conversational, and Oratorical Terms, for the Embellishment of Speech and Literature, and the Improvement of the Vocabulary of Those Persons Who Read, Write, and Speak English." But it's a wonderful resource for writers. I downloaded the e-book version of this (Sorry, Amazon!) and then downloaded the file (in many parts) to my iPod, to use during essay writing at school. I use it at home when I write my own short stories. I use some of the phrases in my speech, and I can assuredly say, everyone needs a little pizazz in their speech. I would recommend downloading it for free (can't beat free) but I would GLADLY pay $25 dollars for this book. It's irreplaceable.

Speed Reading: Third Edition by Tony Buzan

Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #122693 in Books
Published on: 1991-01-30
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
192 pages
Customer Reviews

Get an audio program in addition to this book
Like in all of his books, Tony Buzan reiterates his favorite assertions on mind mapping and mental abilities of a human.

This book consists of history and the new developments of speed reading, self tests and exercises, mixed with short essays on physiologic aspects of reading, like left and right cortical research, the number of brain cells and their interconnections, the anatomy of eyes (including the cross-section), control of eye movements t to increase the speed and comprehension of reading (with diagrams of eyes' progression while reading).

The author addressed the common reading problems: subvocalization, finger-pointing, regression and back-skipping, and presents the new approaches to overcoming them. He gives practical advises on improving your concentration and increasing your comprehension. Much attention is given to developing advanced skimming and scanning techniques, range reading skills, metronome training.

The book finishes with tips on getting control of different kinds of text: the newspapers, literature and poetry.

In addition to this book, I can recommend exercising with a speed reading audio program, that should be listened while reading. I can suggest "The Speed Reading 16-Minute Audio Program" which I have personally used.

speed reading
Good content...but today's teens will not sit down and use this book.It is very technical.

I might be out of step here, but I liked it.
I have several of Tony Buzan's books, and I appreciate his work very much. Although I don't believe that he is the only word in mind improvement, he has been extremely helpful to me.

And this book was no exception. He covers what I feel to be important parts of reading speed improvement -- using the hand to guide, the different guiding movements, improving eye span (among other things). He also touches on the importance of building up vocabulary, and of course, Tony Buzan would not be Tony Buzan if he didn't mention something about Mind Mapping -- another tool of his that has helped me greatly.

You'll have to put in some dedicated, sustained effort into the exercises in this book. They are understandable, but improving reading speed is always a challenge. I've improved my reading speed through this book, and I want to take the book again and work with it to keep the skill up.

I can't answer for those who say that the book did them no good. Perhaps it didn't. But it did do me good. And I'm glad I bought it.

Academic Writing by Stephen Bailey

Product Description


Writing essays and dissertations can be a major concern for overseas students studying at English-medium colleges and universities, as most courses are assessed by written work. Academic Writing is a new kind of writing course for all international students who have to write coursework or exams in English. This practical book thoroughly explains the writing process and covers all the key writing skills.

Clearly organized into four parts, this new edition of Academic Writing allows both teachers and students to quickly find the help they need with all writing tasks. Each part is split into short sections containing explanations, diagrams and practice exercises, for use in the classroom or self-study.

The text is complemented with cross-references and answers are provided to all of the exercises. Various writing models, such as CVs, letters and essays, are included.

* Explains the writing process from understanding the title to proofreading
* Covers key writing skills such as referencing and paraphrasing
* Contains 20 units on accuracy in writing
* Adaptable for both long and short courses
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #38379 in eBooks
Published on: 2007-04-16
Released on: 2007-04-16
Format: Kindle Book
Number of items: 1
Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Stephen Bailey is a lecturer at the University of Nottingham, UK, and has been teaching English for Academic Purposes for over 10 years. He also has vast experience of teaching English as a foreign language overseas.

Academic Writing by Stephen Bailey

Product Description


Writing essays and dissertations can be a major concern for overseas students studying at English-medium colleges and universities, as most courses are assessed by written work. Academic Writing is a new kind of writing course for all international students who have to write coursework or exams in English. This practical book thoroughly explains the writing process and covers all the key writing skills.

Clearly organized into four parts, this new edition of Academic Writing allows both teachers and students to quickly find the help they need with all writing tasks. Each part is split into short sections containing explanations, diagrams and practice exercises, for use in the classroom or self-study.

The text is complemented with cross-references and answers are provided to all of the exercises. Various writing models, such as CVs, letters and essays, are included.

* Explains the writing process from understanding the title to proofreading
* Covers key writing skills such as referencing and paraphrasing
* Contains 20 units on accuracy in writing
* Adaptable for both long and short courses
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #38379 in eBooks
Published on: 2007-04-16
Released on: 2007-04-16
Format: Kindle Book
Number of items: 1
Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Stephen Bailey is a lecturer at the University of Nottingham, UK, and has been teaching English for Academic Purposes for over 10 years. He also has vast experience of teaching English as a foreign language overseas.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to MBA Basics, 2nd Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to) by Tom Gorman

Product Description

A revised edition of the popular classic, this title features updated topics to build MBA knowledge. Students and managers alike will learn about management skills, business operations, financial statements, marketing, product development, customer service, strategic planning, information management, and quality management.

Updated coverage includes global and international business, knowledge management, e-commerce, supply chain management, sales channel management, and financial integrity and ethics.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #46403 in Books
* Published on: 2003-03-04
* Released on: 2003-03-04
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 432 pages

Editorial Reviews

Download Description
You're no idiot, of course. At the office you meet your deadlines, schmooze your boss, and turn in quality work. But when it comes to understanding the skills of higher management, you think you need Finance 101! Relax--class is in recess! The Complete Idiot's Guide to MBA Basics teaches you everything you need to know about management--but were afraid to ask. You will learn the key concepts of accounting, economics, finance, operations, and marketing--and use them to improve your workplace and your career.

From the Back Cover
You're no idiot, of course. At the office you meet your deadlines, schmooze your boss, and turn in quality work. But when it comes to understanding the skills of higher management, you think you need Finance 101! Relax--class is in recess! The Complete Idiot's Guide to MBA Basics teaches you everything you need to know about management--but were afraid to ask. You will learn the key concepts of accounting, economics, finance, operations, and marketing--and use them to improve your workplace and your career. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

Download Description
You're no idiot, of course. At the office you meet your deadlines, schmooze your boss, and turn in quality work. But when it comes to understanding the skills of higher management, you think you need Finance 101! Relax--class is in recess! The Complete Idiot's Guide to MBA Basics teaches you everything you need to know about management--but were afraid to ask. You will learn the key concepts of accounting, economics, finance, operations, and marketing--and use them to improve your workplace and your career.
Customer Reviews

Very basic, but useful, survey of business topics 4
I wanted a survey of what a trained manager learns/uses from school and this book met that goal. I have some management experience but there are large gaps in my training (e.g. accounting, etc.) At least now I know what I don't know. I particularly benefited from the accounting, billing sections. It goes far enough to explain the double entry ledger, how it works, etc.; kind of a diluted Accounting 101. This is the approach of the book on each topic as it plods over the curriculum of a business degree.

Putting MBA in the title seems a little generous to me, it seems more like an introduction/survey of a business minor/major, but whatever. Some of the sections are a little longer than they have to be, the book seems a long read for what it accomplishes.

The author does a good job of getting you into the mindset of an upwardly mobile manager to see how they think to organize work and people so they can take the next step up. Basic trade offs in investment, accuracy in accounting, how to hire, when to fire, etc. are all described in practical terms. Very easy to read and the index is useful.

If you are a new entrepreneur with limited business exposure, or an older hand with gaps in your business education, this book could save you a lot trouble. It will not be of much use in areas where you already have real world experience. It can seem basic to the point of boring where you are experienced. But, this is about what to expect from the title of the book so I think it does its intended job pretty well.

Great and easy book!5
Covers basics and most important things to get you started. The rest you will forget anyway

VERY HELPFUL TO MBA BASICS5
the fast way to teach mba basics

The Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Finance (Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management)

Product Description

The Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Finance provides clear, concise, up to the minute and highly informative definitions and explanations of the key concepts covering the whole of the fast changing field of contemporary finance. Bringing together specially commissioned and carefully edited entries from an international team of the world's best known and respected finance scholars and teachers, this will become the standard reference for students, researchers, academics and practitioners.

The Dictionary has been carefully designed to give both the expert and the newcomer overviews and succinct presentations of the most important concepts, terms and techniques in modern finance. With entries ranging from extended explorations of major topics to short definitions of key terms, this major reference work gives the user: Authoritative and comprehensive coverage of the whole field.A fully indexed and cross-referenced for detailed research with relevant citations for further study.Definitive entries covering the very latest development in finance.A completely international perspective and author base. This dictionary is part of the Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management which contains ten further volumes covering each of the key areas of management science developed under the editorship of Professor Cary Cooper from the Manchester School of Management and Professor Chris Argyris of Harvard Business School.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #2836864 in Books
Published on: 1999-02
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
225 pages
Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Dean Paxson is Professor of Finance at Manchester Business School. He received his doctorate from Harvard Business School.

Douglas Wood is national Westminster Professor of Banking and Finance, and Director of the International Centre for Banking and Financial Services at Manchester Business School.

Quotations for All Occasions by Catherine Frank

Product Description


"This Book is great fun and will add to any collection. The qoutations come from both poetry and prose sources and cover topics that students and faculty will find useful, i.e. 'first car', 'middle age', 'graduation', 'winning', 'losing', and 'taking exams'." -- Susan Adland, AASL, "Outstanding" Rated Titles from University Press Books: Selected for Public and Secondary School Libraries, also selected for Public Libraries
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #2193891 in Books
Published on: 2003-09-24
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
300 pages
Editorial Reviews

Review

"A source of bon mots for every eventuality, a catalogue of smart things to come out with at anything from a bar mitzvah to a burial." -- Peter Reading, Times Literary Supplement



"Do librarians and readers need another quotation dictionary when a large number of excellent titles are already available? In this case, the answer is a resounding 'yes.' This lively compilation organizes quotations under three major headings: 'Every Year' (Passover, Labor Day, spring), 'Occasionally' (falling in love, taking exams, becoming a parent), and 'Once in a Lifetime' (turning 16, first home, first baby)....Entries supply not only the name of the writer/speaker, but the full title of the source and often a reference to the specific chapter from which the quote is taken. In many cases the compiler has attached a helpful note to explain context (e.g., when F. Scott Fitzgerald says 'I like large parties. They're so intimate,' we learn that the words were spoken by Jordan Baker, 'a bored socialite,' in chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby). A source index adds to the book's utility." -- Choice



" Quotations for All Occasions is organized for ease of use....The collection of quotations can be recommended for a broad audience. It is also an excellent gift for someone that likes to compose a moving statement or to spice up a speech." -- Svetlana Korolev, American Reference Books Annual



"A unique title....All public and academic libraries will want to purchase Frank's work because of the niche it fills in the vast array of available quotation dictionaries." -- Library Journal

Review

"This Book is great fun and will add to any collection. The qoutations come from both poetry and prose sources and cover topics that students and faculty will find useful, i.e. 'first car', 'middle age', 'graduation', 'winning', 'losing', and 'taking exams'." -- Susan Adland, AASL, "Outstanding" Rated Titles from University Press Books: Selected for Public and Secondary School Libraries, also selected for Public Libraries

About the Author

Catherine Frank is involved in historical preservation work in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she is currently completing a Ph.D. in English.

Encyclopedia of Systemic Neuro-Linguistic Programming and NLP New Coding by Robert B. Dilts

Product Description

The culmination of nearly four years of continuous work, The Encyclopedia of Systemic Neuro-Linguistic Programming and NLP New Coding written by Robert Dilts and Judith DeLozier provides a fascinating and comprehensive guide to the field of NLP.

This beautifully presented, hardbound 2-volume set includes:
€ descriptions of fundamental techniques and models
€ definitions of core NLP concepts
€ biographical entries for key developers and contributors
€ historical influences that were sources of key NLP ideas and concepts
€ exemplars who served as the initial models for NLP
€ fields and disciplines related to NLP
€ extensive illustrations, tables, charts, worksheets, and questionnaires
€ biography of reference texts and related readings
€ comprehensive index with cross-references

A distinguishing feature of this Encyclopedia is its emphasis on knowledge that can be pragmatically applied to your life experience. This is expressed by the large number of exercises and activities.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #347243 in Books
Published on: 2000-08-08
Number of items: 1
Binding: Hardcover
1625 pages
Editorial Reviews

Ian McDermott, Founder, ITS, London, England
Thank you for bringing this into being. I have no doubt that it will become indispensable.

Vincent Griesser, Geneva Switzerland
I have received your two fantastic NLP Encyclopedia. What a job! I congratulate you for your remarkable work.

About the Author
Robert Dilts and Judith DeLozier's participation in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming dates back to its earliest days. They were part of the original group that worked with NLP co-founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder at the time of its creation. Both Robert and Judith also studied personally with Gregory Bateson and Milton Erickson, who were key role models and influences in the early formation of NLP.

Judith and Robert participated in the research and development underlying practically all of the original NLP techniques and distinctions (eye movements, cognitive strategies, reframing, the swish pattern, etc.). They played key roles in the design and implementation of the first NLP certification programs for Practitioners, Master Practitioners and Trainers. They are also co-authors with Grinder and Bandler of NLP Volume I, the first definitive text on the field of NLP, and have written and co-authored numerous books and articles on the discipline of NLP and its many applications. Between them, Judith and Robert have more than fifty years combined experience in NLP.

Robert and Judith have trained and consulted in the use of NLP all over the world, and were co-founders with Todd and Teresa Epstein of NLP University in Santa Cruz in 1992.

Robert and Judith have continued to be among the most prolific developers of new NLP material, emphasizing the generative aspects of NLP and its richness as an epistemology. They are the key figures in the establishment and diffusion of Systemic NLP and NLP New Coding. Both are experts in behavioral modeling using NLP, and have applied NLP modeling methods to many different areas and topics, including learning, leadership, culture, creativity and training. They are also committed to expanding the fundamental tools and distinctions which comprise the field of NLP through the modeling process, and to making the skills of modeling more structured and accessible to others.
Customer Reviews

A masterpiece
It's a very technical book, and contains the sum of Dilts & DeLozier contribution to NLP. Full of treasures, its best contribution is for me the "new code of NLP", that provides a general coherence to many recent developments in this field.
A must have for those who are seriously involved in NLP.

An Absolutely Essential Reference for NLP and Change Work
While this may seem pricy, it is a true encyclopedia. Articles range from single paragraph definitions of terms and brief biographical notes to elaborate presentations of complete models for creating change. Another reviewer said it was only an encyclopedia of Robert Dilts' vision of NLP. I don't agree with that assessment. Surely any work is written from the perspective of the person who creates it - no real news there. Moreover, entries in this encyclopedia cover many people, ideas, and schools of thought which have influenced not only NLP but change work in general.

There are many NLP techniques here which have not been widely publicized elsewhere ... for examples such models as SCORE, ROLE, BAGLE, etc. are presented here in great detail. Robert Dilts is a different kind of writer in the NLP area. His interest seems to be very theoretical so he thinks out his material and constructs rather comprehensive models for those things that interest him - then he communicates them clearly. He is therefore able to convey the material rather more completely than other writers. I don't feel there is any "good" or "bad" in these differing styles, it is just that Dilts is more detailed and comprehensive while other writers are rather more vague and metaphorical at times. What approach works best is probably a function of what the reader is looking for.

For anyone who wishes to gain a really comprehensive knowledge of NLP and change work (Dilts' viewpoint or otherwise) I would enthusiastically recommend this wonderful work.

Comparably Brilliant!
Without doubt this is the work of geniuses, the work and obvious veneration of the science and art , that is NLP is verified here. These volumes reflect not only a love of the discipline of NLP but also the desire of Dilts et al to indeed create a world to which people want to belong. If you are one of the lucky owners of these books...you are very lucky indeed!! Well done, NLPU.

The Mathematics of Financial Derivatives: A Student Introduction by Paul Wilmott

Product Description

Finance is one of the fastest growing areas in the modern banking and corporate world. This, together with the sophistication of modern financial products, provides a rapidly growing impetus for new mathematical models and modern mathematical methods. Indeed, the area is an expanding source for novel and relevant "real-world" mathematics. In this book, the authors describe the modeling of financial derivative products from an applied mathematician's viewpoint, from modeling to analysis to elementary computation. The authors present a unified approach to modeling derivative products as partial differential equations, using numerical solutions where appropriate. The authors assume some mathematical background, but provide clear explanations for material beyond elementary calculus, probability, and algebra. This volume will become the standard introduction for advanced undergraduate students to this exciting new field.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #78594 in Books
Published on: 1995-09-29
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
333 pages
Editorial Reviews

Review
'The layout is good and clear, so is the style of notation ... overall this is an excellent tool for both mathematicians interested in the world of finance as well as finance practitioners keen to rebuild the foundations of their knowledge.' Rudi Bogni, Times Higher Education Supplement

'The book is pleasantly readable and gives a good introduction.' C. Praagman, ITW Nieuws
Customer Reviews

can' classify this book
This book is awkwardly written. Quite summarised, the approach used for discussing the PDEs is not familiar - see other reviews. The book as a whole doesn't fill any gab, e.g. it is not a mathematical finance book, definitely not., see Shereve or Neftcie for an example. On the other hand it is not a tools or recipes book for pricing derivatives. It doesn't do any function for me, just a waste of space. For every book I have - many, I can pick something useful from time to time, apart from that book, total waste. I am surprised of the book name, and who would be the target reader!!

Easy to read, very comprehensive.
I bought this book to learn about financial derivatives by myself. It is very easy to read for a first timer, no prior knowledge is required. It is also very comprehensive in its coverage of the subject. Overall it is a very good first book for the subject.

Not bad... but there is much better out there
Wilmott's book was one of the first to tackle options pricing from a PDE point of view. The original book (now out of print) was a little more detailed and later superseded by this cheaper "Student Edition" overview on one hand and the "Wilmott on Quantative Finance" 3-volume set on the other hand. A per its title, this is an applied mathematics book, and therefore a minimal level of math is expected from the reader (so please, do not compare with Hull...).

Taking a PDE approach, the book aims at presenting various methods for pricing financial options. While the first few chapters are pretty good at skimming the surface of the theory and laying down the key principles of options pricing, the book, in general, lacks depth. Many results (prices of barrier, lookback, asian, etc...) are given without real development or simply with a little "hand-waving". As soon as things get a little complicated, Wilmott just outlines the way forward and drops buzz-words.

In that sense, the book, while attempting go beyond introductory level topics in some details, does not provide great insight into the more difficult areas of option pricing and, lacking courage, simply goes through what has become the standard presentation without adding much value. Not for beginers, but not for more advanced readers either !

It is nonetheless an acceptable quick overview if you are looking for a refresher of key concepts. For a more thorough mathematical introduction to options pricing, You-Lan Zhu's book (for example) does a much better job at covering the PDE approach rigorously (proving for example some of the convergence criterias for the finite difference method, covering the linear complementarity approach as well as presenting other numerical techniques) without being overly formal.