Business, Finance & Law Books

Book SynopsisAntoine van Agtmael coined the term "emerging markets" and built a career and a multibillion-dollar investing firm centered on these surging economies that would, over time, supplant the West as engines of wealth and prosperity. The trend held for decades, but a few years ago van Agtmael and Alfred Bakker, a renowned European journalist, began seeing signs that the tide might be turning. For example, during a visit to an enormously successful chip company in Taiwan, the company's leaders told them that their American competitors were now eating their lunch. And Taiwan was not the only place giving them this message.Thus began a remarkable two-year journey to reassess the conventional wisdom that the United States and Europe are yesterday's story and to determine whether there something profound is happening that points the way to the creation of the next economy. In The Smartest Places on Earth, van Agtmael and Bakker present a truly hopeful and inspiring investigation into the emerging sources of a new era of competitiveness for America and Europe that are coming from unlikely places--those cities and areas once known as "rustbelts" that have, from an economic perspective, been written off. Take Akron, Ohio, whose economy for decades was dependent on industries such as tire manufacturing, a product now made cheaply elsewhere. In Akron and other such communities, a combination of forces--including visionary thinkers, government initiatives, start-ups making real products, and even big corporations--have succeeded in creating what van Agtmael and Bakker call a "brainbelt." These brainbelts depend on a collaborative work style that is unique to the societies and culture of America and Europe, since they involve levels of trust and freedom of thinking that can't be replicated elsewhere. They are producing products and technologies that are transforming industries such as vehicles and transportation, farming and food production, medical devices and health care.For several decades, American and European industry focused on cost by outsourcing production to those emerging markets that can make things cheaper. The tide has now turned toward being smart, as van Agtmael and Bakker report, and the next emerging market, may, in fact, be the West.

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Book SynopsisHow To Pick Quality Shares provides a three-step process for analysing company financial information to find good investments. The three steps boil down to finding quality companies, avoiding dangerous or risky companies, and not paying too much for companies? shares. Applying the in-depth techniques described here will give investors a better understanding of companies, and an edge over other investors, including professional investors and analysts.Phil Oakley, an experienced investment analyst and private investor, guides the reader step-by-step through these three stages:1. For the first step, he shows how to identify the kind of high-quality companies that are capable of being profitable investments over the long term. Important themes are how much a company earns on the money it invests, reliable measures of profit and the importance of cash flow.2. Next, he shows how to spot the dangers and risks that could lead to a company being a bad investment. Here the focus is on how to analyse debt, in particular hidden debt and pension fund deficits.3. Lastly, he shows how to value a company?s shares and determine what is a reasonable price to pay to invest in that company. Phil shows why some common shortcuts to valuing shares are not very useful and how to use cash profits to value shares more reliably.At each stage, Phil explains where the investor needs to look in company financial statements to get the information they need and how to analyse this information. Illustrative examples of analysis of real company financial statements are used throughout. If you have a company?s latest annual report and its current share price you have all the information you need to be a successful investor. How To Pick Quality Shares shows you how.Trade ReviewIdeal for both those who want to improve their investing skills and as an introduction to the wider topic. I can t think of any other book that makes looking at balance sheets seem almost interesting. As such, I strongly recommend it. This should be at the top of every investors reading list. --Matthew Partridge, MoneyWeek;Stick it on your shelf! This is an excellent first book from Phil Oakley... It is a worthy addition to any investment library. --Richard Gill, Master Investor

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Book SynopsisNewsweek hailed Paul Krugman as "a superstar among economists" and went on to praise Peddling Prosperity as "the best primer around on recent U.S. economic history." Others joined the chorus.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"John Campbell is one of the leading researchers and teachers in asset pricing. This remarkably clear and well-organized book is strong testimony to his expertise. I will use it often in my own research."—Kenneth R. French, Dartmouth College"John Campbell has given us the definitive course text on financial decision making and asset pricing. Every student and researcher in the field will want this masterful integration of decades of study on actual investor behavior and market equilibrium."—Darrell Duffie, Stanford University"John Campbell has long been a top researcher in the vibrant intersection of asset pricing and macroeconomics. This book provides an interesting and in-depth exposition of his take on the current state of this important area."—Eugene Fama, University of Chicago Booth School of Business"Written by a major contributor to the economics of financial markets, Financial Decisions and Markets is a comprehensive, insightful, and authoritative graduate-level introduction to asset pricing. This book stresses the interplay between theory, econometrics, and empirics, the hallmark of John Campbell's research. The critical analysis and problem sets stimulate readers to confront open questions at the research frontier. I plan to adopt this book in my PhD-level course."—George M. Constantinides, University of Chicago Booth School of Business

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The authors conclude that the euro, in particular, will play a more consequential role in international reserves relative to the US dollar, while China’s renminbi will be slower to achieve acceptance."---Ian McLennan, Spear's Magazine"A readable and timely book." * Finance & Development *"How Global Currencies Work is an ambitious title that delivers fascinating analysis on the rise and fall of international currencies in the 20th century with some educated suggestions about their trajectories in the 21st."---Christopher Smart, Project Syndicate"The book gives readers an excellent introduction to the history of international reserve currencies over the past two centuries. . . . For those involved, whether at a national or international level, in government or in financial institutions, it will make compulsory reading."---Richard Parlour, Central Banking Journal"This volume offers a thrilling history of global finance over the past two centuries. It is very well written, marshals extensive new data and provides fascinating new insight into how global currencies work."---Ivo Maes, History of Economic Ideas

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Book SynopsisFor 5000 years shipping has served the world economy and today it provides a sophisticated transport service to every part of the globe. Yet despite its economic complexity, shipping retains much of the competitive cut and thrust of the perfect market of classical economics. This blend of sophisticated logistics and larger than life entrepreneurs makes it a unique case study of classical economics in a modern setting.The enlarged and substantially rewritten Maritime Economics uses historical and theoretical analysis as the framework for a practical explanation of how shipping works today. Whilst retaining the structure of the second edition, its scope is widened to include: lessons from 5000 years of commercial shipping history shipping cycles back to 1741, with a year by year commentary updated chapters on markets; shipping costs; accounts; ship finance and a new chapter on the return on capital new chapters on the geography of sea trade; tTrade Review'This is a splendid book, well illustrated, with plenty of technical explanation as to the hardware employed by this fascinating industry. It deserves to be at the elbow of all those who pretend to any knowledge of the amazing maritime world we cheerfully inhabit.' - Michael Grey, Lloyd's List Maritime Economics is an exceptionally well-written overview of the international shipping industry. - CHOICE Table of ContentsPart 1: Introduction to Shipping 1. Sea Transport in the Global Economy 2. The Economic Organization of the Shipping Market Part 2: Shipping Market Economics 3. Shipping Market Cycles 4. Supply, Demand and Freight Rates 5. The Four Shipping Markets Part 3: Shipping Company Economics 6. Costs, Revenue and Cashflow 7. Financing Ships and Shipping Companies 8. Risk, Return and Shipping Company Economics Part 4: Seaborne Trade and Transport Systems 9. The Geography of Maritime Trade 10. The Principles of Maritime Trade 11. Transport of Bulk Cargo 12. Transport of Specialised Cargoes 13. Transport of General Cargo Part 5: The Merchant Fleet and Transport Supply 14. The Ships that Supply the Transport 15. The Economics of Merchant Shipbuilding and Scrapping 16. The Regulation of the Maritime Industry Part 6: Forecasting and Planning 17. Maritime Forecasting and Market Research

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Book SynopsisYou've read the classic on win-win negotiating, Getting to Yes , but so have they , the folks you are now negotiating with. How can you get a leg up , and win?By showing how to win at win-win negotiating, Lawrence Susskind provides the operational advice you need to satisfy the interests of your back table,the people to whom you report. He also shows you how to deal with irrational people, whose vocabulary seems limited to no," or with the proverbial 900-pound gorilla. He explains how to find trades that create much more value than either you or your opponent thought possible. His brilliant concept of the trading zone",the space where you can create deals that are good for them but great for you," while still maintaining trust and keeping relationships intact,is a fresh way to re-think your approach to negotiating. The outcome is often the best of both possible worlds: You claim a disproportionate share of the value you've created while your opponents still look good to the people to whom they report. Written by one of America's leaders in the field of conflict resolution, this wonderful new book contains a wealth of sophisticated, practical advice on how to succeed as a negotiator: it teaches (a) how to manage your'back table', i.e., clients and constituents (b) how to design a process that is fair to yourself and others and (c) how to create value and expand the pie so that the outcome is good for them and great for you." ,Robert H. Mnookin, Williston Professor of Law, Harvard director, Harvard Negotiation Research Project and chair, Program on Negotiation

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisTimely, compelling, and certain to be controversiala deeply researched study that reveals how companies and policy makers are hindering innovation-led growth Conventional wisdom holds that Western economies are on the threshold of fast-and-furious technological development. Fredrik Erixon and Bjorn Weigel refute this idea, bringing together a vast array of data and case studies to tell a very different story. With expertise spanning academia and the business world, Erixon and Weigel illustrate how innovation is being hampered by existing government regulations and corporate practices. Capitalism, they argue, has lost its mojo. Assessing the experiences of global companies, including Nokia, Uber, IBM, and Apple, the authors explore three key themes: declining economic dynamism in Western economies; growing corporate reluctance to contest markets and innovate; and excessive regulation limiting the diffusion of innovation. At a time of low growth, high unemployment, and increasing income inequality, innovation-led growth is more necessary than ever. This book unequivocally details the obstacles hindering our future prosperity.Trade Review"Fredrik Erixon and Björn Weigel make a thought-provoking and refreshingly non-ideological argument that a bleak future lies ahead unless capitalism undergoes a shake-up."—Matthew Rees, Wall Street Journal"Erixon and Weigel know how to make their case seductive and entertaining. They describe the four horsemen of capitalist decline riding down innovation before it has any chance of reaching the wider world . . . liberally sprinkled with colourful examples . . . nourished with statistics. . . . The book is eloquent in laying out its thesis."—Peggy Hollinger, Financial Times"Faceless owners, risk-averse managers, globalisers and regulators are the villains of this book that challenges the idea that we are in an age of endless innovation. On the contrary, the authors point out, many innovations are more fun than fundamental."—Andrew Hill, "Best Books of 2016: Business," Financial Times"For a serious book of its kind on economics, one that attempts to bridge the divide between think-tank land and the general reader, The Innovation Illusion is unusually clear and leavened with popular culture references. The Smiths and James Joyce are both quoted. . . . This is an important book that diagnoses the extent of the economic problem and prescribes a strong dose of disruption."—Iain Martin, TimesEconomic stagnation afflicts the developed world, and the puzzle of slow productivity growth is the leading economic question of our age. Erixon and Weigel have developed a profoundly original and multi-faceted explanation rooted in the dead weight of corporate bureaucracy, with its striving for short-term profits and avoidance of risk, as well as government-created regulatory complexity and policy uncertainty. The book is concise, lively, full of examples, and deeply researched from sources that span economics and management science."Economic stagnation afflicts the developed world, and the puzzle of slow productivity growth is the leading economic question of our age. Erixon and Weigel have developed a profoundly original and multi-faceted explanation rooted in the dead weight of corporate bureaucracy, with its striving for short-term profits and avoidance of risk, as well as government-created regulatory complexity and policy uncertainty. The book is concise, lively, full of examples, and deeply researched from sources that span economics and management science."—Robert J. Gordon, Stanley G. Harris Professor in the Social Sciences, Northwestern University, and author of The Rise and Fall of American Growth Innovation is the life blood of the modern economy and our economies seem to be a litre or two short. This highly accessible book argues convincingly that the problems we are having with R&D is not the ‘R’ part, it is the ‘D’ part. We are not lacking invention, we are lacking the policy and competitive environment needed to turn new science into new, economically useful product and processes. This is an important and insightful read for all those concerned by big-picture economic problems."A very well written account of how corporate bureaucracy, rent-seeking and regulation are slowing the pace of innovation."—John Kay, Financial Times and author of Other People’s Money"Today's hidebound capitalism is throttling not just the west’s economic growth, but even the aspirations of its people. If dynamism is to be regained, argues this thought-provoking book, we must reject the rentier capitalism that masquerades as the real thing. This argument for a more dynamic market economy is not just challenging; it is also of huge importance."—Martin Wolf, Financial Times

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Book SynopsisA brilliantly illuminating and darkly comic tale of the ongoing financial and political crisis in America. The financial crisis that exploded in 2008 isn’t past but prologue. The grifter class—made up of the largest players in the financial industry and the politicians who do their bidding—has been growing in power, and the crisis was only one terrifying manifestation of how they’ve hijacked America’s political and economic life.Matt Taibbi has combined deep sources, trailblazing reportage, and provocative analysis to create the most lucid, emotionally galvanizing account yet written of this ongoing American crisis. He offers fresh reporting on the backroom deals of the bailout; tells the story of Goldman Sachs, the “vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity”; and uncovers the hidden commodities bubble that transferred billions of dollars to Wall Street while creating food shortages around the world.

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Bestseller. A “fascinating” (Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times) look at how digital technology is transforming our work and our lives.Trade Review"...set to be one of the zeitgeist works of 2014..." -- The Guardian"...an ambitious, engaging and at times terrifying vision of where modern technology is taking the human race...The authors may not have the solution to growing inequality, but their book marks one of the most effective explanations yet for the origins of the gap." -- The Economist"Brynjolfsson and McAfee started to lay out their vision of the challenges of the technological revolution more than three years ago. But their broadly optimistic book is still one of the best summaries of the debate about the impact of digital change on our future job prospects and prosperity." -- Andrew Hill, Best Books of 2014 - Financial Times"...a fascinating book..." -- Roger Bootle - The Telegraph"Crammed with analyses of everything from human–machine competition to the state of US education." -- Nature"...fascinating book..." -- John Lanchester - London Review of Books"The fear that robots will take over is, of course, as old as dystopian literature. The new and unheralded development is something called the Internet. This point is elegantly made in a suddenly ubiquitous new book called The Second Machine Age, by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology." -- Evening Standard"...one of last year's most important books..." -- New Statesman"...influential..." -- The Observer"...it [The Second Machine Age] feels like a must-read for entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers." -- The Huffington Post"My favourite and most revealing book of the year was not a novel but a non-fiction publication... a book that throws you off-balance while reading. Different to other publications, it is not only a real analysis and well-researched perspective, but also utterly optimistic." -- The Art Newspaper"...brilliant new book." -- The Evening Standard"... the most influential recent business book..." -- The Economist

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Book Synopsis“A riveting account that reaches beyond the market landscape to say something universal about risk and triumph, about hubris and failure.”—The New York TimesNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BUSINESSWEEKIn this business classic—now with a new Afterword in which the author draws parallels to the recent financial crisis—Roger Lowenstein captures the gripping roller-coaster ride of Long-Term Capital Management. Drawing on confidential internal memos and interviews with dozens of key players, Lowenstein explains not just how the fund made and lost its money but also how the personalities of Long-Term’s partners, the arrogance of their mathematical certainties, and the culture of Wall Street itself contributed to both their rise and their fall. When it was founded in 1993, Long-Term was hailed as the most impressive hedge fund in history. But after four years in which the firm dazzled Wall Stree

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Book SynopsisFor centuries the Bay of Bengal served as a maritime highway between India and China, and as a battleground for European empires, while being shaped by monsoons and human migration. Integrating environmental history and mining a wealth of sources, Sunil S. Amrith offers insights to the many challenges facing Asia in the decades ahead.Trade ReviewFascinating… Although several books have been written about the strategic and geopolitical significance of the Indian Ocean…there is little awareness of the cultural and historical ties that bind diverse nations bordering the bay. Amrith’s signal achievement is to bring these ties to light. In doing so, he gives voice—and an identity—to one of the most complex and culturally interesting regions of the world… Amrith’s excavation of this culture is painstaking and meticulous. He digs deep into the archives, drawing on journals, letters and official colonial records to assemble an account that dates back to the first millennium… The result of all this research is a textured biography of a region… This is a formidable work of scholarship… It is the sheer accumulation of information, and the multiple, interwoven strands in this profoundly interdisciplinary work, that yield such an impressive, multifaceted portrait… [A] remarkable book. -- Akash Kapur * New York Times Book Review *Sunil Amrith consolidates his reputation for intellectual sophistication, a good historian’s sensitivity to detail and a flair for large-scale tale-telling that produces work as page-turning as a novel. We are reminded that the Bay of Bengal, the world’s largest, long stood at the heart of global trade and imperial histories—the watery counterpart to the overland silk route that connected the Indian Ocean with Asia, Mediterranean societies and even South America via the flow of goods such as silver and pepper… Read this book for information, for convincing analytic nuance, as a humbling shake-up of one’s worldview, and as a series of heart-stopping tales. -- Caroline Osella * Times Higher Education *Sunil Amrith’s astonishingly researched and lyrically written book evokes and showcases the toils, trials and fortunes of millions of Indians who have made the turbulent expanse of water from Trincomalee, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam to Calcutta, Chittagong, Rangoon, Penang, Malacca and Singapore their karm-bhoomi over the last several centuries. Crossing the Bay of Bengal is, in a very real sense, a life of that Bay itself, as it was buffeted and regulated by the monsoon winds during the long Age of Sail, then harnessed by steamships from the 1870s. -- Shahid Amin * Indian Express *In refocusing on the Bay and restoring a Braudelian sweep to its history, this nicely written and meticulously researched study could prove as timely as it is instructive. -- John Keay * Literary Review *The highlight of this…book is the way Amrith introduces the bay’s early trade routes and encourages further reading into its ancient civilizations—from the medieval Hindu-Buddhist Srivijaya empire of Sumatra, who ruled much of Southeast Asia, to the powerful Chola (southern India) dynasty’s thriving China trade. Such accounts reveal vibrant ‘East-meets-West’ business communities where Arab, Indian and, later, European ships moored alongside Chinese junks for cloth, spices, opium and Mexican silver. Amrith brings these images to life with clear maps and thoughtful research, such as the observations of Portuguese apothecary Tomé Pires, who noted 84 languages ‘from the Middle East to China’ in early 16th-century Melaka. Equally engaging is the way Amrith portrays traders’ study of the bay’s monsoons, and how they intermarried with locals from across the bay to create hybrid cultures and architecture that embraced multiple beliefs and traditions. -- William Wadsworth * South China Morning Post *Admirably ambitious yet eminently readable, Crossing the Bay of Bengal is one of the most engaging works of history to come my way in a long time. -- Amitav Ghosh, writing at amitavghosh.comDespite its many familial, religious, and commercial linkages, perhaps because of its lack of a unifying political structure the region has too often been pushed into the shadows… The author weaves a richly vivid tapestry of a vast movement of people, principally South Indian laborers, sailing eastward across the bay to Burma, Malaysia, and Singapore… Rising sea levels are making new geographical patterns to which the low coastal lands of the Bay of Bengal are especially susceptible. Amrith remarks that the ocean has changed more in the last 30 years than in all of human history… Substantive and gracefully written. -- J. C. Perry * Choice *Amrith covers the historical background, the political and social world of the migrants, and the human suffering: the inhumanity of plantation life, disease and high mortality rates, and the aftermath of the crumbling of the European empires. -- Ravi Shenoy * Library Journal *Amrith uncovers new horizons in oceanic history as he sets sail with Tamil migrants across the turbulent waters of the Bay of Bengal. This exquisitely crafted book deftly traces the migratory patterns and cultural flows that connect South and Southeast Asia while demonstrating the power and limits of human agency in shaping the environmental destiny of the sea. -- Sugata Bose, author of His Majesty’s OpponentExquisitely crafted and exhaustively researched, this book will become a classic in global and oceanic history. Few studies of world history can rival the breathtaking interdisciplinary reach and sheer narrative splendor of this book. -- Isabel Hofmeyr, author of Gandhi’s Printing PressReading this book is pure joy. Beautifully written, with lyrical tenderness and subtle concern for the voices of migrants, Crossing the Bay of Bengal portrays the history of the Bay transformed over epochs, from medieval times to the present, in all its environmental, economic, social, and political complexity. -- David Ludden, author of India and South Asia: A Short History

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Book SynopsisThis rigorous but brilliantly lucid book presents a self-contained treatment of modern economic dynamics. Stokey, Lucas, and Prescott develop the basic methods of recursive analysis and illustrate the many areas where they can usefully be applied.Trade ReviewThe book is a tour de force. The authors present a unified approach to the techniques and applications of recursive economic theory. The presentations of discrete-time dynamic programming and of Markov processes are authoritative. There is a wide-ranging series of examples drawn from all branches of the discipline, but with special emphasis on macroeconomics. In the short run, the book will be a vital reference in any advanced course in macroeconomic theory. In the long run, it may help to remove the traditional boundaries between microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory. -- Andrew Caplin, Columbia UniversityThis book is a wonderful collection of results on the techniques of dynamic programming with great applications to economics written by giants in the field. -- Sanford J. Grossman, University of PennsylvaniaA magnificent work that is bound to have immense influence on the ways economists think about dynamic systems for many years to come. My own guess is that this book will eventually acquire the stature, say, of Hicks’s Value and Capital or Samuelson’s Foundations. -- Thomas J. Sargent, The Hoover InstitutionTable of ContentsI. THE RECURSIVE APPROACH 1. Introduction 2. An Overview 2.1 A Deterministic Model of Optimal Growth 2.2 A Stochastic Model of Optimal Growth 2.3 Competitive Equilibrium Growth 2.4 Conclusions and Plans II. DETERMINISTIC MODELS 3. Mathematical Preliminaries 3.1 Metric Spaces and Normed Vector Spaces 3.2 The Contraction Mapping Theorem 3.3 The Theorem of the Maximum 4. Dynamic Programming under Certainty 4.1 The Principle of Optimality 4.2 Bounded Returns 4.3 Constant Returns to Scale 4.4 Unbounded Returns 4.5 Euler Equations 5. Applications of Dynamic Programming under Certainty 5.1 The One-Sector Model of Optimal Growth 5.2 A "Cake-Eating" Problem 5.3 Optimal Growth with Linear Utility 5.4 Growth with Technical Progress 5.5 A Tree-Cutting Problem 5.6 Learning by Doing 5.7 Human Capital Accumulation 5.8 Growth with Human Capital 5.9 Investment with Convex Costs 5.10 Investment with Constant Returns 5.11 Recursive Preferences 5.12 Theory of the Consumer with Recursive Preferences 5.13 A Pareto Problem with Recursive Preferences 5.14 An (s, S) Inventory Problem 5.15 The Inventory Problem in Continuous Time 5.16 A Seller with Unknown Demand 5.17 A Consumption-Savings Problem 6. Deterministic Dynamics 6.1 One-Dimensional Examples 6.2 Global Stability: Liapounov Functions 6.3 Linear Systems and Linear Approximations 6.4 Euler Equations 6.5 Applications III. STOCHASTIC MODELS 7. Measure Theory and Integration 7.1 Measurable Spaces 7.2 Measures 7.3 Measurable Functions 7.4 Integration 7.5 Product Spaces 7.6 The Monotone Class Lemma

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Book SynopsisHunter weaves a rich tapestry of the culture and experience of black women workers in the post-Civil War South. Using a variety of sources, she follows African-American working women from their newfound optimism and hope at the end of the Civil War to their struggles as free domestic laborers in the homes of their former masters.Trade ReviewThe Emancipation Proclamation did not bring freedom to the four million African-Americans who lived in slavery in 1863. Instead, blacks had to claim and define that freedom in tens of thousands of acts of self-assertion during the decades that followed slavery's legal demise. To 'Joy My Freedom vividly depicts one neglected aspect of that struggle by focusing on the lives of urban black women, in particular those who worked as domestic laborers in the post-Civil War South. -- Drew Gilpin Faust * New York Times Book Review *Tera Hunter's imaginative uncovering of these struggles in Atlanta challenges conventional understandings of what is work and who is a worker. It represents the best of the recent marriage of labor history and cultural studies. It builds on feminist theory, which has expanded the conception of labor to include housework, mother-work, and sex work...Grounded in Atlanta's rise from Sherman's ashes, this is no ordinary community study. It addresses a major theme in Southern history: the contestation between freedom with Emancipation and its violent restriction with disfranchisement and Jim Crow...To restore the voices of the black masses is itself a form of hard work. Hunter's genius is to read against the grain of police reports and planter diaries as well as to mine newspapers to recover stories sometimes only seen through shadows cast on white society. -- Eileen Boris * The Nation *Historian Tera W. Hunter looks at how black working-class women defined and experienced freedom between the Civil War and the World War I-era 'Great Migration' of blacks northward, a period when they were excluded from electoral politics as well as from most grass-roots union organizing. Hunter shows that these women saw their work as a means to shore up their self-ownership after slavery, rather than as an end in itself. Black women negotiatied work conditions and, when they found these unacceptable, they quit. The dramatic centerpiece of Hunter's book is a threatened strike by black Atlanta washerwomen in the summer fo 1881...To 'Joy My Freedom is a worthwhile read, powerfully evoking the chaos of the Civil War and the transition of black women workers from slave to free and from rural to urban people. It joins a growing canon that points to the development of political consciousness among black working-class women. -- Dale Edwyna Smith * Washington Post Book World *Tera Hunter's book is a meticulously researched, cogently argued analysis of the `dialectic of repression and resistance' shaping the lives of African American women in the postbellum South. Better still, it's a terrifically told story--a tale of everyday women doing the radical work of defining and demanding freedom for themselves and their communities in a country largely hell-bent on denying them their rights. -- Cynthia Dobbs * San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle *Hunter's achievement in bringing these black women's stories to life is remarkable. Scouring newspaper accounts, personal diaries, household records, government reports and political cartoons, Hunter has reconstructed the myths and stereotypes about black female workers in and around Atlanta. In the process, she sheds light on a chapter of American history and the Southern labor movement that has heretofore remained unexamined...To 'Joy My Freedom is a brilliant reconstruction of New South history...Analytical and objective as this work of history is, [it] is also written with such passion that the stories of these women and the events that shaped their lives--and American history--reads like the best fiction. Hunter's work is a tour de force, valuable and prophetic as America continues to struggle with the issues of work, fairness, sex and race. -- Paula L. Woods * Atlanta Journal/Constitution *In To 'Joy My Freedom, Tera W. Hunter charts the efforts of African-American women in Atlanta to live fulfilling lives despite an all-pervasive racism, which was most terrifying in the city's infamous race riot of 1906...One can only applaud Hunter's efforts to recover the experience of her subjects from obscurity. * Times Literary Supplement *Tera Hunter's book is an exemplary effort to illuminate the particular history of black women domestic workers in Atlanta. By painstakingly pulling together disparate sources, she fashions a story of resistance and backlash that illustrates how these women bravely attempted to achieve true freedom in the face of attacks on their femininity, the stigma of tuberculosis, and outright mob violence. Her account skillfully integrates the oppressive nature of dominant gender roles, the role of class in intraracial subordination, and disease as stigma, although the reasons for the attachment of this stigma particularly to black washerwomen remains unclear. Overall, Hunter succeeds in showing the complexities of a fifty-year struggle by black women workers, who, in their words, fought "to 'joy my freedom." -- Bayo Holsey * Transforming Anthropology *To 'Joy My Freedom is a new departure in recent written history of African American women. Here, working-class women take center stage while black middle-class and elite woman are peripheral. For those who fear tackling the history of women whose personal records are few to nonexistent, Tera W. Hunter's book is at once instructive on how to write such a history and an example of a sophisticated blend of labor, social, and cultural history...Rich in detail and told with compassion and understanding, To 'Joy My Freedom fills in the gaps between contemporary histories of slavery and middle-class female uplift reform. Hunter demonstrates that professional skill, exhaustive research, and ingenious use of sources can give voice to people who leave few personal records and who do not show up in organizational minutes. -- Deborah Gray White * Journal of American History *Tera W. Hunter has written a superb study of the lives and labors of some of the African-American women who struggled through the violent upheaval of emancipation and the crushing imposition of racial segregation in the American South from the Civil War to the 1920s. Hunter's sparkling prose, extensive reading of a wide range of texts, and layered, complex and incisive analysis reveal the work of an impressively humane, imaginative, and mature historian. Her acute descriptions of local conditions and cogent insights into the larger historical context stunningly illuminate the dynamics of race, class, and gender as they played out on the frightening, brutal terrain of southern segregation...Her text constantly engages and re-engages the reader, helping us to imagine the lives of dozens of individuals who walk through the pages of history...This study is a triumph of research, astute analysis, and engaging imagination that deserves to be widely read by students of African-American, labor, and women's studies and of American history. -- Michael Honey * American Historical Review *At the end of the Civil War newly emancipated women moved to Atlanta to find employment as household labourers and washerwomen. This is a study of the workplace experiences and everyday culture of these black working women in the period until the beginning of World War I. Tracing the ways they constructed their own world of work, culture and community organization, Professor Hunter argues that their experiences and efforts were central to the African-American struggle for freedom and justice. The implementation of Jim Crow laws and segregation from the 1880s onward, however, spurred growing numbers of black working women to migrate to the North. * International Review of Social History *Hunter offers valuable explorations into the complexities of African American feminine laborers and the contextualization of their lives. She is to be applauded for providing scholars with easier access to source materials, particularly primary sources. An important contribution to suffragist activism, feminist scholarship, and African American studies. * Library Journal *To 'Joy My Freedom is a tour de force. Moving deftly between white households and black communities, churches and blues clubs, city hall and city streets, Tera Hunter brings black domestic workers alive, body and soul, smashing all stereotypes along the way. By placing black working class women at the center of her narrative, she rewrites the history of the New South and the nation. Her vibrant, complex, beautifully rendered portrait of black working women's struggles at the dawn of the century will move you as surely as it will alter the way we write history. -- Robin D. G. Kelley, New York UniversityBy bringing to life the experiences, aspirations, and struggles of the black domestic workers of Atlanta, Tera Hunter opens a new window on the study of emancipation and its aftermath and, in so doing, tremendously enriches our understanding of Reconstruction and the New South. -- Eric Foner, Columbia UniversityTo 'Joy My Freedom is a work of utmost originality and significance. Tera Hunter brings the virtually invisible world of black working-class women to life [and then] uses those lives as a vantage point from which to reconsider the transition from slavery to freedom, the nature of southern Progressivism, the Great Migration of blacks out of the South during World War I, and the relationship and tensions between work, play, and politics in the New South. -- Jacquelyn Dowd Hall, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillWith great breadth, sensitivity, and intellectual integrity, Tera Hunter reorients southern history toward the urban working class. This tour de force further liberates African-American history from the need always to relate to whites. Bravo! -- Nell Irvin Painter, Princeton UniversityHunter illuminates the lives of newly emancipated Black women workers in postbellum Atlanta…This book is the story of a new world, built by Black women, with and for each other. -- Daisy Pitkin * Literary Hub *Table of ContentsPreface Prologue "Answering Bells Is Played Out": Slavery and the Civil War Reconstruction and the Meanings of Freedom Working-Class Neighborhoods and Everyday Life "Washing Amazons" and Organized Protests The "Color Line" Gives Way to the "Color Wall" Survival and Social Welfare in the Age of Jim Crow "Wholesome" and "Hurtful" Amusements "Dancing and Carousing the Night Away" Tuberculosis as the "Negro Servants Disease" "Looking for a Free State to Live In" Tables Notes Acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisCreativity is crucial to business success. But too often, even the most innovative organization quickly becomes a giant hairball--a tangled, impenetrable mass of rules, traditions, and systems, all based on what worked in the past--that exercises an inexorable pull into mediocrity. Gordon McKenzie worked at Hallmark Cards for thirty years, many of which he spent inspiring his colleagues to slip the bonds of Corporate Normalcy and rise to orbit--to a mode of dreaming, daring and doing above and beyond the rubber-stamp confines of the administrative mind-set. In his deeply funny book, exuberantly illustrated in full color, he shares the story of his own professional evolution, together with lessons on awakening and fostering creative genius.Originally self-published and already a business cult classic, this personally empowering and entertaining look at the intersection between human creativity and the bottom line is now widely available to bookstores. It will be a must-read for any m

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Book SynopsisHow does Manhattan’s 47th Street diamond district thrive as an ethnic marketplace without lawyers, courts, and state coercion? Barak Richman draws on insider interviews to show why relational exchange based on familiarity, trust, and community enforcement succeeds and what it reveals about the modern state’s limitations in governing the economy.Trade ReviewThrough the eternally fascinating lens of the diamond trade, Richman explores the potential, and the shortcomings, of stateless commerce. A solid synthesis and weighty contribution. -- Robert C. Ellickson, Yale Law SchoolOffers new observations and insights into this fascinating world. -- Lee K. Benham * Independent Review *

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Book SynopsisHow can great companies do everything right - identify real customer needs, deliver excellent innovations, beat their competitors to market - and still fail? The sad truth is that many companies fail because they focus too intensely on their own innovations, and then neglect the innovation ecosystems on which their success depends. In our increasingly interdependent world, winning requires more than just delivering on your own promises. It means ensuring that a host of partners -some visible, some hidden- deliver on their promises, too. In The Wide Lens, innovation expert Ron Adner draws on over a decade of research and field testing to take you on far ranging journeys from Kenya to California, from transport to telecommunications, to reveal the hidden structure of success in a world of interdependence. A riveting study that offers a new perspective on triumphs like Amazon''s e-book strategy and Apple''s path to market dominance; monumental failures li

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Book SynopsisKen Segall put the ''i'' in iPad. Now he explains why simplicity is the secret of Apple''s success in Insanely Simple.To Steve Jobs, Simplicity wasn''t just a design principle. It was a religion and a weapon. The obsession with Simplicity is what separates Apple from other technology companies. It''s what helped Apple recover from near death in 1997 to become the most valuable company on Earth in 2011, and guides the way Apple is organized, how it designs products, and how it connects with customers. It''s by crushing the forces of Complexity that the company remains on its stellar trajectory.As creative director, Ken Segall played a key role in Apple''s resurrection, helping to create such critical campaigns as ''Think Different'' and naming the iMac. Insanely Simple is his insider''s view of Jobs'' world. It reveals the ten elements of Simplicity that have driven Apple''s success - which you can use to propel your own organisation. Reading InsanelyTrade ReviewA blueprint for running a company the Steve Jobs way ... should be required reading for anyone interested in management and marketing * The Times *Punchy ... Segall gets inside Apple's branding and marketing to explain its directness and power * Financial Times *Required reading * Observer *An entertaining perspective on how Apple typically gets it right... Candid and insightful. Insanely Simple should be required reading for any boss with a Byzantine organisation and a shrinking business * The Guardian *In this captivating book, Segall has succeeded in distilling what made Steve Jobs succeed in ways no one would have imagined - simplicity. The idea of going simple, and Jobs's obsession with it, is neither a set of rules nor a goal, but a worldview of how things should be. . . More practical than theoretical, this essential book is about using the power of Simplicity to set a company apart * Publishers Weekly *Intriguing insights from someone who worked closely with Jobs on some of Apple's most successful ad campaigns * Forbes *A few pages in, I was hooked. . . [A]n amusing and revealing book about the company's extraordinary leader, Steve Jobs, and the guiding principle that made him one of the great businessmen of the age * The Boston Globe *Ken Segall has literally captured lightning in a bottle. Insanely Simple reveals the secret of Steve Jobs's success with such clarity, even we non-geniuses can make use of it. Ken shows us how to cut through the cobwebs of fuzzy thinking, bureaucracy, and mediocrity, and clearly see what's most essential - and therefore most important -- Steve Hayden, former vice chairman, Ogilvy, and author of Apple’s legendary 1984 Super Bowl commercialAs the man who came up with the iconic iMac name that launched one of the most successful product lines in history, Segall played a pivotal role in reviving Apple from near-death. His close working relationship with Jobs allows him to provide insight into how Jobs's obsession with simplicity became the driving force that informs every decision the company makes to this day * Booklist *Reveals a fresh insight into Steve Jobs's mind and how his obsession with simplicity drove Apple to success * Macworld *This book provides industry insight that many other books on Steve Jobs and Applelack. . . Recommended for those looking for advice on running a successful corporation and readers interested in all things Apple * Library Journal *A fascinating glimpse behind Apple's famously closed doors, taking the reader inside the inner sanctum and sneaking a peek at the marketing meetings presided over by Jobs * PC Advisor *

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Book Synopsis'Inspiring leadership lessons from the sea,' Rear Admiral Robert O. Wray Jr, USN (ret), author of Saltwater LeadershipAlthough merchant ships carry 90% of the world's trade, the mariners who run them have little guidance on leadership. This can result in disasters such as the Titanic, Costa Concordia, the Exxon Valdez, and the recent El Faro. With modern ships being worth several million dollars, seafarers need leadership advice at every level of their career. Golden Stripes, Leadership on the High Seas provides this guidance, and much more.Captain Parani weaves together his rich experience, cutting-edge insights and real-life stories in this book which has already garnered international acclaim. The reader will discover how to run a tight ship; enhance expertise; lead and communicate with a team; implement safety leadership; decide effectively in high-stake situations and be inspired by legendary sailors. It is a practical leadership action plan which can be applied at sea, or in any other workplace, anywhere.Golden Stripes is the first leadership book of its kind, written by a mariner specifically for commercial shipping.The author's experience both on board and from his corporate roles gives him a unique perspective on why, when and how sailors fail or succeed. Important messages are woven around engaging stories, quotes and practical leadership models, making this an indispensable read for all leaders.Trade Review`...a densely populated volume with a serious purpose. ...has a benefit of a comprehensive resource list plus more than 20 incident, accident and legal reports and sources consulted by the author’. Dog Watch -------------------- `...provides...guidance and much more. This is an invaluable book for anyone aspiring to be a senior officer and I would very highly recommend it'. Shipping Today & Yesterday -------------------- `...a new resource which will inspire seafarers to develop their leadership skills, run a tight ship, act appropriately in danger, keep their crew and cargo safe and avoid maritime disasters. Captain Parani weaves together his rich experience, cutting-edge insights and real life stories in this book which has already garnered international acclaim. ... Important messages are woven around engaging stories, quotes and practical leadership models, making this an indispensable read for all at sea'. Frank Neyts, Daily Collection of Maritime Press Clippings ------------------- `...a highly readable book which addresses a gap in the training of seafarers... ...a very practical book, in which the author demonstrates a considerable depth of study of human nature, along with a lot of analytical skill. ...the author provides a valuable "how to do it" manual... there is a great deal in the 21 chapters, written with some considerable enthusiasm and using plenty of examples from the author's own career... ...a book of practical management, there are plenty of gems that are equally applicable to those in position of authority ashore'. BIMCO -------------------- `...it is more a very interesting and inspiring read... ...the well-researched analysis and lessons learned brought out interesting details and fresh perspective. ...can be useful for anyone in all walks of life. I actually found this book to be quite inspirational and helpful'. PowerShips -------------------- `...is a very thought-provoking book for all those serving at sea whether in the merchant service or in the Royal Navy - particularly all those in positions of Command, Navigation, Seamanship and Engineering. Captain Parani's experience, his assessments and recommendations are certainly worth consideration in the Naval community'. In Depth -------------------- `A succinct and compact guide that will be compulsory reading for mariners worldwide'. Julian StockwinFrom the acclaim for Golden Stripes - '...has identified a gap in the maritime education and training of seafarers and it may not be one that can be filled by adding a course in first year programs. It needs to be embedded in all maritime education and also the focus of lifelong learning'. Glenn Blackwood, Chairman, International Association of Maritime Universities and Board Member, World Maritime University -------------------- '...The ideas that you will get from this book, based on years of experience at sea, will inspire, stimulate, encourage and teach you the things that GREAT LEADERS DO'. Best-selling author Steven Shallenberger -------------------- `...Read, learn and inwardly digest this book!' The Northern Mariner -------------------- `...essential reading for anyone with a career at sea. An entertaining and informative read'. Sea Breezes

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Book Synopsis Raise your options investing game to a new level through smart, focused practice For decades, Sheldon Natenbergâs Option Volatility & Pricing has been helping investors better understand the complexities of the option market with his clear and comprehensive explanation of trading strategies and risk management. Now, you can raise your performance to a higher level by practicing Natenbergâs methods before you enter the market.  Filled with hands-on exercises designed to dramatically increase your knowledge and build your confidence, The Option Volatility and Pricing Workbook provides the necessary tools from which to build a successful options portfolio. Each exercise is preceded by clear description of the principle at hand, and each concludes with in-depth explanations of the correct answers. Hundreds of exercises cover such topics as: â

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Book SynopsisSouth Korean economist Ha-Joon Chang used his 2003 work Kicking Away The Ladder to challenge the central orthodoxies of development economics, using his creative thinking skills to shine new light on an old topic. Creative thinkers are often distinguished by their willingness to challenge received ideas, and this is a central aspect of Chang’s work on development. Before Chang, the received wisdom was that developing countries needed the same kinds of economic policies and institutions as developed countries in order to enjoy the same prosperity. But, as Chang pointed out, the historical evidence showed that First World economic success was, in fact, due to exactly the kinds of state intervention that modern development orthodoxy shuns. Western affluence is the product of precisely the kinds of state control – of protectionism and the setting of price tariffs – that developed countries have since denied the developing world in the name of economic freedom and ‘best practice.’ By insisting that Third World nations should adopt these economic policies themselves, argued Chang, the West is actually stifling Third World economic prospects – kicking away the ladder. His carefully reasoned argument for a novel point of view was closely based on the critical thinking skill of producing novel explanations for existing evidence, and led many to question development orthodoxies – sparking a rethink of modern development strategies for less-developed countries.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who is Ha-Joon Chang? What does Kicking Away the Ladder Say? Why does Kicking Away the Ladder Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisC. Wright Mills’s 1959 book The Sociological Imagination is widely regarded as one of the most influential works of post-war sociology. At its heart, the work is a closely reasoned argument about the nature and aims of sociology, one that sets out a manifesto and roadmap for the field. Its wide acceptance and popular reception is a clear demonstration of the rhetorical power of Wright’s strong reasoning skills. In critical thinking, reasoning involves the creation of an argument that is strong, balanced, and, of course, persuasive. In Mills’s case, this core argument makes a case for what he terms the “sociological imagination”, a particular quality of mind capable of analyzing how individual lives fit into, and interact with, social structures. Only by adopting such an approach, Mills argues, can sociologists see the private troubles of individuals as the social issues they really are. Allied to this central argument are supporting arguments for the need for sociology to maintain its independence from corporations and governments, and for social scientists to steer away from ‘high theory’ and focus on the real difficulties of everyday life. Carefully organized, watertight and persuasive, The Sociological Imagination exemplifies reasoned argument at its best.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who was C. Wright Mills? What does The Sociological Imagination Say? Why does The Sociological Imagination Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisA step--by--step, real world guide to the use of Value at Risk (VaR) models, this text applies the VaR approach to the measurement of market risk, credit risk and operational risk. The book describes and critiques proprietary models, illustrating them with practical examples drawn from actual case studies.Trade Review"This book is a clear explanation of the science and art of the Value at Risk approach to risk measurement. There is no better explication of both the theory underlying the approach and its practical implementation. It is an invaluable tool to anyone involved in any type of risk management." Mark Zandi, Economy.comTable of ContentsList of Figures xiv List of Tables xvi Preface xviii List of Abbreviations xx 1 Introduction to Value at Risk (VaR) 1 2 Quantifying Volatility in VaR Models 21 3 Putting VaR to Work 82 4 Extending the VaR Approach to Non-tradable Loans 119 5 Extending the VaR Approach to Operational Risks 158 6 Applying VaR to Regulatory Models 200 7 VaR: Outstanding Research 233 Notes 236 References 257 Index 270

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Book Synopsis“If you’re interested in the revolutionary transformation of the meaning and use of money, this is the book to read!”—Charles R. SchwabCultural anthropologist Jack Weatherford traces our relationship with money, from primitive man’s cowrie shells to the electronic cash card, from the markets of Timbuktu to the New York Stock Exchange. The History of Money explores how money and the myriad forms of exchange have affected humanity, and how they will continue to shape all aspects of our lives—economic, political, and personal. “A fascinating book about the force that makes the world go round—the dollars, pounds, francs, marks, bahts, ringits, kwansas, levs, biplwelles, yuans, quetzales, pa’angas, ngultrums, ouguiyas, and other 200-odd brand names that collectively make up the mysterious thing we call money.”—Los Angeles Times

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Book SynopsisDr Bram DeSmet is the CEO of Solventure where he helps global production and retail organizations in the domain of Strategy, Supply Chain and Operations. He is a Professor in Operations & Supply Chain Management at Vlerick Business School, Belgium.Trade Review"This book is a milestone in the evolution of supply chain planning literature. It presents a comprehensive methodology for connecting supply chain improvements to business performance, a topic that has not been often addressed. I would recommend this book as a must-read to all supply chain practitioners." * Harpal Singh, CEO, Arkieva *"A very timely book. As the fundamentals of supply chain are being redefined by the digital revolution, it is absolutely needed for supply chain executives to become much more proficient with the financial metrics of supply chains to assess the benefits and costs of those technologies. Metrics beyond cost, like cash, are going to define the future evolution of digital supply chains and change current practices dramatically." * Prof. Dr. Carlos Cordon, LEGO Professor of Strategy and Supply Chain Management, IMD *"This book is a great contribution in the evolution of business and supply chain excellence to a more holistic approach to create sustainable business performance and results. It provides a clear picture and extensive guidance for leaders to connect all the dots of a chosen business strategy with a supply chain strategy, and links this to the right business performance measurement. Prof. Dr. Bram DeSmet has created a masterpiece which can be used for any business transformation and I am convinced that winning companies will implement the methods described in the book as part of their business excellence journey towards sustainable success." * Frank Vorrath, VP Global Supply Chain, Johnson Controls *"This book provides a practical guide towards formulating and implementing Supply Chain Strategy; highly recommended for all supply chain professionals!" * Prof. Dr. Jack van der Veen, Evofenedex chair Supply Chain Management, Nyenrode Business Universiteit *"Excellent companies have more than good products and marketing, above all they have a perfect supply chain. By using the supply chain triangle of Bram DeSmet, organizations can fulfil their promises to their customers. The supply chain triangle takes care of the right balance between service to customers, the costs customer are willing to pay and the cash the organization must generate to be able to exist and to innovate." * Michel Van Buren, Managing Director, BLMC & Solventure, Netherlands *"Improving service, while optimizing cost and working capital is the mission of supply chain at Owens Corning. The supply chain triangle introduced in this book captures the dynamics involved and what are the strategic limitations. A must-read for any supply chain professional." * Tony Heldreth, VP Supply Chain, Owens Corning *Table of Contents Chapter - 01: The Supply Chain Triangle of Service, Cost and Cash; Chapter - 02: Strategy in the Supply Chain Triangle; Chapter - 03: Financial Benchmarking in Two Dimensions; Chapter - 04: Financial Target Setting in Two Dimensions; Chapter - 05: The Impact of Strategy on Financial Benchmarking and Target Setting; Chapter - 06: Redefining the Service Corner into a Value Corner; Chapter - 07: Building a Strategy Driven KPI Dashboard; Chapter - 08: Implementing a Strategy Driven Supply Chain; Chapter - 09: Appendix – Financial Templates – Inventory Management; Chapter - 10: Appendix – Financial Templates – The Cost of Inventory – Rent, Room, Risk

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Book SynopsisA vivid, compelling and highly readable insight into building world-leading teams and organizations. - Dr Catherine Raines, Chief Executive, UK Trade & InvestmentThe Business of Excellence offers a unique and compelling perspective on the drivers of excellence in teams and organizations. The author, Justin Hughes, brings an unusual mix of experience and insight, having worked as a management consultant to some of the world's most successful organizations, in addition to having served for 12 years as a military fighter pilot, where he became Executive Officer on the RAF Red Arrows.The challenges of high performance and leadership are explored in depth, and are illustrated with insights, interviews and case studies from the military, sporting and corporate worlds. The material includes a proprietary performance model that can be applied to a wide spectrum of organizations, focusing on: People: the primacy of attitude over skills Capability: building alignment before seTrade ReviewAny leader who is striving to create a high performance team environment should read this gem of a book from cover to cover! It deserves to become the execution manual for any team or organisation that aims to achieve operational excellence. -- Costas Markides * Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Holder of the Robert Bauman Chair in Strategic Leadership, London Business School *Justin Hughes' experience as a fighter pilot is highly relevant to teams everywhere. In The Business of Excellence, he has offered a vivid, compelling and highly readable insight into building world-leading teams and organizations. -- Dr Catherine Raines * Chief Executive, UK Trade & Investment *A new, fresh and engaging perspective on leadership and the creation of high-performance organisations through the lens of somebody with first-hand experience … the clarity and accessibility of the insights mark this book out as truly excellent. -- Sir David Walker * former Master of the Queen’s Household *Justin Hughes is that rare breed of consultant and commentator who has been there and done it. Combine that with strong values and outstanding communication skills and you have someone worth listening to. -- David Bellamy * CEO, St James’ Place *This is a book, above all, about delivering great outcomes whatever challenges are thrown up on the way. A recommended read for any team or business leader wanting to take performance to the next level. -- Ian Jeffery * CEO and Partner, Lewis Silkin LLP *In The Business of Excellence, Justin Hughes articulates a clear strategy for the pursuit of excellence coming from his many years of experience as a fighter pilot and entrepreneur. I am a big fan of learning from other environments and highly recommend it. -- Paddy Lowe * Executive Director, Mercedes Grand Prix *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION 1 The Crux of the Issue 2 Excellence – It Starts with You THE FOUNDATIONS 3 Team Players for Team Games (People) 4 Building the Teams and Organization You Need (Capability) GETTING STUFF DONE 5 From Desire to Outcome (Delivery) 5A Plans and Planning 5B Communicating the Plan 5C Execution 6 Accelerating the Improvement Curve (Learning) OTHER ISSUES 7 Bringing Others on the Journey (Leadership) 8 Missing Sink Holes (Risk) 9 Conclusion

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Book SynopsisJake Knapp (Author) Jake Knapp created the Google Ventures sprint process and has run more than one hundred sprints with startups such as 23andMe, Slack, Nest and Foundation Medicine. Previously, Jake worked at Google, leading sprints for everything from Gmail to Google X. He is among the world's tallest designers.John Zeratsky (Author) John Zeratsky has designed mobile apps, medical reports and a daily newspaper (among other things). Before joining Google Ventures, he was a design lead at YouTube and an early employee at FeedBurner, which Google acquired in 2007. John writes about design and productivity for The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company and Wired. He studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin.Braden Kowitz (Author) Braden Kowitz founded the Google Ventures design team in 2009 and pioneered the role of 'design partner' at a venture capital firm. He has advised on close to two hundred startups onTrade ReviewSprint offers a transformative formula for testing ideas that works whther you're at a startup or a large organization. Within five days, you'll move from idea to prototype to decision, saving you and your team countless hours and countless dollars. A must read for entrepreneurs of all stripes. * Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup *Read this book and do what it says if you want to build better products faster. * Ev Williams, founder of Medium, Twitter and Blogger *Sprint offers powerful methods for hatching ideas, solving problems, testing solutions – and finding the habits that make all the right behaviours fall in to place. * Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit *Every business leader I know worries about the same thing: are we moving fast enough? The genius of Jake Knapp's Sprint is its step-by-step breakdown of what it takes to solve big problems and do work that matters with speed and urgency. A Sprint is a cure for what ails companies in an ever faster world. * Beth Comstock, Vice Chair of GE *Sprint teaches you a novel process for solving really thorny problems in just 5 days. It's full of helpful, entertaining stories that will make it easier for you to succeed. What more, exactly, would you demand from a book? I wish all business books were this useful. * Dan Heath, co-author of The Power of Moments, Made to Stick, Switch, and Decisive *To quote one of my colleagues, "Don't get ready, get started." Through hard won experience Jake Knapp and the team at Google Ventures have refined an efficient, hands-on approach to solving your product, service and experience design challenges. Try the book and try a Sprint. * Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO and author of Change by Design *

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Book SynopsisWhat is behind the phenomenal success of entertainment businesses such as Warner Bros., Marvel Enterprises and Manchester United - along with such stars as Jay-Z and Lady Gaga? Which strategies give leaders in film, television, music, publishing, and sports an edge over their rivals? Anita Elberse, Harvard Business School''s expert on the entertainment industry, has done pioneering research on the worlds of media and sports for more than a decade. Now, in this groundbreaking book, she explains a powerful truth about the fiercely competitive world of entertainment: building a business around blockbuster products - the movies, television shows, songs and books that are hugely expensive to produce and market - is the surest path to long-term success. Along the way, she reveals why entertainment executives often spend outrageous amounts of money in search of the next blockbuster, why superstars are paid unimaginable sums and how digital technologies are transformi

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Book SynopsisThe powerful concept behind unified branding.

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Book SynopsisNorth Korea is like no other tyranny on earth. It is Orwell's 1984 made reality.The regime controls the flow of information to its citizens, pouring relentless propaganda through omnipresent loud speakers. Free speech is an illusion: one word out of line and the gulag awaits. State spies are everywhere, ready to punish disloyalty and the slightest sign of discontent.You must bow to Kim Il Sung, the Eternal Leader and to his son, Generalissimo Kim Jong Il. Worship the dead and then hail the living, the Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.North Koreans are told their home is the greatest nation on earth. Big Brother is always watching.Posing as a university professor, award-winning BBC journalist John Sweeney travelled undercover to gain unprecedented access to the world's most secret state. Drawing on his own experiences and his extensive interviews with defectors and other key witnesses, North Korea Undercover pulls back the Trade ReviewSweeney's book is a spark in the dark of North Korea. * The Times *The recent UN report on North Korea under-lined the importance of Sweeney's book. There is much to learn from North Korea Undercover. * Literary Review *Harrowing... creepy and poignant; and, in turn, tragic and obscene. North Korea Undercover asserts that the West should be more concerned about labour camps than nuclear weapons. -- Tom Farrell * Sunday Business Post *Explosive and entertaining... Sweeney provides a remarkably vivid look at this hidden country. An investigative must-read. * Booklist *A tremendous piece of reporting. This book is one that we should all read and absorb. * Army Rumour Service *

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Book SynopsisA powerful pocket guide for practitioners that distills all of the research and materials found in Otto Scharmer''s seminal texts Theory U and Leading from the Emerging Future.Creating a Better FutureThis book offers a concise, accessible guide to the key concepts and applications in Otto Scharmer''s classic Theory U. Scharmer argues that our capacity to pay attention coshapes the world. What prevents us from attending to situations more effectively is that we aren''t fully aware of that interior condition from which our attention and actions originate. Scharmer calls this lack of awareness our blind spot. He illuminates the blind spot in leadership today and offers hands-on methods to help change makers overcome it through the process, principles, and practices of Theory U. And he outlines a framework for updating the "operating systems" of our educational institutions, our economies, and our democracies. This book enables leaders and organizations in all industries and sectors to shift awareness, connect with the highest future possibilities, and strengthen the capacity to co-shape the future.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the István Hont Book Prize, Institute of Intellectual History""An imaginative and intriguing book. . . . [Case’s] book is a dazzling display of erudition, with a little over 200 pages of elegant, witty text supported by a hundred pages of densely packed endnotes."---Jonathan Sperber, Times Literary Supplement"Joining erudition with a poetic if occasionally enigmatic style, this book shivers with the restless spirit of the age it describes."---Ian P Beacock, Los Angeles Review of Books"By systemizing her material into diverse arguments, and letting them contend with each other, Case convincingly shows how each carries a historiographic truth that is as plausible as all the others." * Connections *"This book is a brilliant interrogation of the code in which the nineteenth century tells its contradictory story."---Stefan-Ludwig Hoffmann, Journal of Modern History

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Book SynopsisShows how the tools of stochastic control can be applied to dynamic problems of decision making under uncertainty when fixed costs are present. This book provides a treatment of two types of models, impulse and instantaneous control. It is suitable for graduate students and researchers in macroeconomics.Trade Review"The presentation of all these problems and solutions is impeccably precise, perfectly appropriate for textbook use in a taught course, and suitable for independent reading by readers with standard mathematical and economic background."--Giuseppe Bertola, Journal of Economic LiteratureTable of ContentsPreface ix Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Notes 12 Part I: Mathematical Preliminaries 15 Chapter 2: Stochastic Processes, Brownian Motions, and Diffusions 17 2.1. Random Variables and Stochastic Processes 17 2.2. Independence 18 2.3. Wiener Processes and Brownian Motions 19 2.4. Random Walk Approximation of a Brownian Motion 20 2.5. Stopping Times 24 2.6. Strong Markov Property 24 2.7. Diffusions 25 2.8. Discrete Approximation of an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck Process 27 Notes 28 Chapter 3: Stochastic Integrals and Ito's Lemma 30 3.1. The Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equation 31 3.2. Stochastic Integrals 34 3.3. Ito's Lemma 37 3.4. Geometric Brownian Motion 38 3.5. Occupancy Measure and Local Time 41 3.6. Tanaka's Formula 43 3.7. The Kolmogorov Backward Equation 47 3.8. The Kolmogorov Forward Equation 50 Notes 51 Chapter 4: Martingales 53 4.1. Definition and Examples 53 4.2. Martingales Based on Eigenvalues 57 4.3. The Wald Martingale 58 4.4. Sub- and Supermartingales 60 4.5. Optional Stopping Theorem 63 4.6. Optional Stopping Theorem, Extended 67 4.7. Martingale Convergence Theorem 70 Notes 74 Chapter 5: Useful Formulas for Brownian Motions 75 5.1. Stopping Times Defined by Thresholds 78 5.2. Expected Values for Wald Martingales 79 5.3. The Functions psi and PSI 82 5.4. ODEs for Brownian Motions 87 5.5. Solutions for Brownian Motions When r = 0 88 5.6. Solutions for Brownian Motions When r > 0 93 5.7. ODEs for Diffusions 98 5.8. Solutions for Diffusions When r = 0 98 5.9. Solutions for Diffusions When r > 0 102 Notes 106 Part II: Impulse Control Models 107 Chapter 6: Exercising an Option 109 6.1. The Deterministic Problem 110 6.2. The Stochastic Problem: A Direct Approach 116 6.3. Using the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equation 119 6.4. An Example 125 Notes 128 Chapter 7: Models with Fixed Costs 129 7.1. A Menu Cost Model 130 7.2. Preliminary Results 133 7.3. Optimizing: A Direct Approach 136 7.4. Using the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equation 140 7.5. Random Opportunities for Costless Adjustment 145 7.6. An Example 146 Notes 152 Chapter 8: Models with Fixed and Variable Costs 153 8.1. An Inventory Model 154 8.2. Preliminary Results 157 8.3. Optimizing: A Direct Approach 160 8.4. Using the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equation 162 8.5. Long-Run Averages 164 8.6. Examples 166 8.7. Strictly Convex Adjustment Costs 174 Notes 175 Chapter 9: Models with Continuous Control Variables 176 9.1. Housing and Portfolio Choice with No Transaction Cost 178 9.2. The Model with Transaction Costs 182 9.3. Using the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equation 184 9.4. Extensions 191 Notes 196 Part III: Instantaneous Control Models 197 Chapter 10: Regulated Brownian Motion 199 10.1. One- and Two-Sided Regulators 201 10.2. Discounted Values 205 10.3. The Stationary Distribution 212 10.4. An Inventory Example 218 Notes 224 Chapter 11: Investment: Linear and Convex Adjustment Costs 225 11.1. Investment with Linear Costs 227 11.2. Investment with Convex Adjustment Costs 232 11.3. Some Special Cases 236 11.4. Irreversible Investment 239 11.5. Irreversible Investment with Two Shocks 243 11.6. A Two-Sector Economy 247 Notes 248 Part IV: Aggregation 251 Chapter 12: An Aggregate Model with Fixed Costs 253 12.1. The Economic Environment 256 12.2. An Economy with Monetary Neutrality 259 12.3. An Economy with a Phillips Curve 261 12.4. Optimizing Behavior and the Phillips Curve 265 12.5. Motivating the Loss Function 278 Notes 280 A Continuous Stochastic Processes 283 A.1. Modes of Convergence 283 A.2. Continuous Stochastic Processes 285 A.3. Wiener Measure 287 A.4. Nondifferentiability of Sample Paths 288 Notes 289 B Optional Stopping Theorem 290 B.1. Stopping with a Uniform Bound, T <= N 290 B.2. Stopping with Pr {T < } = 1 292 Notes 294 References 295 Part Index 303

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Book SynopsisIncorporating theoretical and quantitative history, this book examines a specific model of historical change and, more generally, investigates the utility of the dynamical systems approach in historical applications. It is of interest to practitioners of economic history, historical sociology, complexity studies, and demography.Trade Review"This book is an audacious and ambitious attempt to promote the viewpoint that historical progression runs according to certain regular patterns... I am fascinated by this book, particularly by the theoretical framework which is laid out in the introductory and concluding chapters... [T]he main strength of the book lies in its scope, reminiscent of the broad perspectives of classical economists. It is the type of scholarship which proves that historical narrative can be fascinating."--Harry Kitsikopoulos, EH.net "Those who are interested in grand social theories will want to read and reflect. I suspect that there will be many who then will rebut."--Brian J. L. Berry, American Journal of Sociology "Turchin and Nefedov have set a very ambitious task for themselves... [T]hey should be applauded for producing a work of very broad historical sweep and reminding us that developing general laws--or more plausibly, general tendencies--of historical dynamics remains a tantalizing proposition."--David S. Jacks, Australian Economic History Review "[T]he standard of historical scholarship is excellent and opens the floor to interesting challenges for further empirical explorations."--Laura Panza, Economic RecordTable of ContentsTable of Units and Currencies ix Chapter 1: Introduction: The Theoretical Background 1 1.1 Development of Ideas about Demographic Cycles 1 1.2 A Synthetic Theory of Secular Cycles 6 1.3 Variations and Extensions 21 1.4 Empirical Approaches 29 Chapter 2: Medieval England: The Plantagenet Cycle (1150-1485) 35 2.1 Overview of the Cycle 35 2.2 The Expansion Phase (1150-1260) 47 2.3 Stagflation (1260-1315) 49 2.4 Crisis (1315-1400) 58 2.5 Depression (1400-1485) 69 2.6 Conclusion 77 Chapter 3: Early Modern England: The Tudor-Stuart Cycle (1485-1730) 81 3.1 Overview of the Cycle 81 3.2 Expansion (1485-1580) 87 3.3 Stagflation (1580-1640) 91 3.4 Crisis (1640-60) 97 3.5 Depression (1660-1730) 101 3.6 Conclusion 107 Appendix to Chapter 3 108 Chapter 4: Medieval France: The Capetian Cycle (1150-1450) 111 4.1 Overview of the Cycle 111 4.2 Expansion (1150-1250) 115 4.3 Stagflation (1250-1315) 117 4.4 Crisis (1315-65) 121 4.5 Depression (1365-1450) 129 4.6 Conclusion: "A Near Perfect Multi-secular Cycle" 141 Chapter 5: Early Modern France: The Valois Cycle (1450-1660) 143 5.1 Overview 143 5.2 Expansion (1450-1520) 147 5.3 Stagflation (1520-70) 149 5.4 Crisis (1570-1600) 153 5.5 A Case Study: The Norman Nobility 156 5.6 Depression (1600-1660) 169 5.7 Conclusion 174 Chapter 6: Rome: The Republican Cycle (350-30 BCE) 176 6.1 Overview of the Cycle 176 6.2 An Unusually Long Expansion (350-180 BCE) 185 6.3 Stagflation (180-130 BCE) 189 6.4 The Late Republican Crisis (130-30 BCE) 201 6.5 The End of the Disintegrative Trend 205 6.6 Conclusion 208 Chapter 7: Rome: The Principate Cycle (30 BCE-285 CE) 211 7.1 Overview of the Cycle 211 7.2 Expansion (27 BCE-96 CE) 224 7.3 Stagflation (96-165 CE) 229 7.4 Crisis (165-97 CE) 233 7.5 Depression (197-285 CE) 236 7.6 Conclusion 238 Chapter 8: Russia: The Muscovy Cycle (1460-1620) 240 8.1 The Fifteenth-Century Crisis 240 8.2 Expansion (1460-1530) 241 8.3 Stagflation (1530-65) 244 8.4 Crisis (1565-1615) 252 8.5 Conclusion 258 Chapter 9: Russia: The Romanov Cycle (1620-1922) 261 9.1 Expansion (1620-1800) 261 9.2 Stagflation (1800-1905) 274 9.3 Crisis (1905-22) 287 9.4 Conclusion 299 Chapter 10: General Conclusions 303 10.1 Population Numbers 303 10.2 Elite Dynamics 304 10.3 The State 306 10.4 Sociopolitical Instability 307 10.5 Are There General Laws of Historical Dynamics? 311 Acknowledgments 315 References Cited 317 Index 341

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