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Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Paul Volcker: The Making of a Financial Legend by Joseph B. Treaster

Paul Volcker: The Making of a Financial Legend by Joseph B. Treaster


About the Book:-
Hardcover, 244 pages,
Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, Aug 2005

ISBN-13: 9780471735861
ISBN: 0471735868






Firnando Chau Review


Table of Contents:-

Foreword
Chapter 1 A finance legend
Chapter 2 Seventy-six
Chapter 3 The power of the Fed
Chapter 4 Chairman
Chapter 5 Youth
Chapter 6 School days
Chapter 7 Hardship
Chapter 8 Difficult choices
Chapter 9 The fallout
Chapter 10 Fly-fishing
Epilogue
Bibliography
Notes
Acknowledgments
Index

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Synopsis (2005)

Paul Volcker is a living legend of finance. He has established himself as one of the world’s most influential economic thinkers and is regarded as both a figure of integrity and an instinctive leader who–throughout his career–has invariably done what he has thought was right, regardless of the consequences. Volcker is that rare financial titan who never sought to amass great personal wealth. Throughout his career, it is evident that he had no greater goal than doing the best job he could in the public interest, leading organizations from both the public and private sector to seek out his advice when crises of confidence arose.
Written by award-winning New York Times journalist Joseph B. Treaster, Paul Volcker: The Making of a Financial Legend takes you through the most compelling moments of Volcker’s fifty years in finance and public service–documenting his days as one of the most powerful voices in America as chairman of the Federal Reserve, as well as his more recent endeavors, including a mission to revive the Arthur Andersen accounting firm and efforts to recover billions in lost savings of Holocaust victims from Swiss banks.
From public politics to private business, this masterful book examines the ethical, economic, and moral dilemmas Volcker faced at every turn. Compelling moments captured within these pages include Volcker’s:
Early days as a young Treasury Department official during the Nixon years and his leading role as Treasury Department undersecretary in ending the Bretton Woods system
Appointment as president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank
Tenure as chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1979 to 1987–through the Carter and Reagan administrations
Role as chairman of the investment firm James D. Wolfensohn, Inc.
Campaigns for change in corporate governance and accounting
Weaving together anecdotes and analysis in an action-oriented narrative, Paul Volcker: The Making of a Financial Legend is an engaging account of how one man achieved results that ultimately improved the lives of millions of Americans and continues to influence the worlds of business and finance.

Foreign Affairs (2005)

Paul Volcker has become an American icon-if not in every bar, at least in the worlds of politics, business, and finance. This short, readable biography covers not only his public life at the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and as chairman of the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors, but also his little-known childhood and family life. One of the dramatic public events covered is the "Nixon shock" of 1971, when the United States dropped its commitment to convert dollars into gold on request by foreign central banks and negotiated a devaluation of the dollar. (Volcker was the key deputy to Treasury Secretary John Connolly.) Another is the switch, soon after President Jimmy Carter's appointment of Volcker as chairman of the Federal Reserve in 1979, to a stiff anti-inflation policy, which provoked mixed reactions during the painful period of disinflation but earned Volcker lasting respect after it was over. In addition to providing a flattering portrait of a dedicated public servant, Treaster offers an informative, nontechnical glimpse at how the Federal Reserve works.

About the Author (2005)

JOSEPH B. TREASTER has been a reporter for the New York Times for more than thirty years. He has received numerous journalism awards for his work domestically and internationally, including three from the Overseas Press Club of America for his work in Africa and Latin America

Monday, August 22, 2005

The Six Value Medals: The Essential Tool for Success in the 21st Century by Edward de Bono

The Six Value Medals: The Essential Tool for Success in the 21st Century by Edward de Bono




About the Book:-

Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Vermilion (March 3, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 009189459X
ISBN-13: 978-0091894597



Firnando Chau Review



Synopsis

An inventive framework for making sound business decisions.

Corporate decision-making requires a radical overhaul. Analysis and judgment are no longer enough because it’s often a clash of values that causes disputes and conflicts. This groundbreaking book from a world authority on creative thinking provides a basis for values assessment — an essential tool in corporate decision-making in the new century.

De Bono demonstrates how values affect all areas of thinking, and outlines a framework to focus employees’ attention on a variety of values including human, organizational, cultural and perceptual values.


About the Author
Edward de Bono is the author of more than 60 books and the creator of the concept of “Lateral Thinking.” His business methods are currently taught by more than 900 trainers in 28 countries around the world and are used by such leading corporations as IBM, Motorola, and Prudential.


Sunday, August 14, 2005

Common Sense Business By Steve Gottry

Common Sense Business: Starting, Operating, and Growing Your Small Business--In Any Economy! - Hardcover (July 26, 2005) by Steve Gottry


Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperBusiness (July 26, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060778385
ISBN-13: 978-0060778385






From Publishers Weekly


Joining the unofficial club of marketing communications experts who write books after years of running their own business, Gottry- coauthor of The On-Time, On-Target Manager-presents a practical, confessional volume of advice for small business management. The twist: readers can learn from mistakes Gottry made running his Minneapolis-based ad agency and video production firm, which failed spectacularly after a 22-year run. (He now heads another business, a "content creation" company called Priority Multimedia Group.) Gottry's analysis of his earlier failure, against the backdrop of what he did right when founding and building his business, distinguishes this volume from the pack. In clear, direct prose with an inspirational tone, Gottry's advice is as well organized as it is well intended. From implementation to growth, to preservation and evolution, to downsizing, he includes specific how-to's, which explain, for example, ways to prioritize bills for payment when cash is tight (e.g. pay the lawyers last). But as he periodically revisits his big fall from grace, he dwells a bit too longingly on his personal losses (the 'corporate' Mercedes, boat and plane). Though the occasional preachy sermon against bigotry and materialism also distracts from his practical advice, Gottry still effectively communicates his main message: watch your receivables, not the instrument panels that guide your expensive toys. 
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist


In 1993 Gottry's award-winning advertising company was on a roll, when suddenly clients started falling away in droves. As his professional and personal life crumbled around him, his business failed--but rather than declare bankruptcy, Gottry worked for eight years to pay back his debts. The lessons he learned were formulated into the basis of this book, which can help the small-business owner set his or her priorities and avoid the pitfalls that many young entrepreneurs make. Gottry guides the reader through the six stages of the small-business "life cycle," from dreaming and planning through the practical stages of implementation and growth. He advises on how to capitalize on your own personal strengths in relation to employees, customers, and vendors. He also shows how to structure your day, remain sane, and keep your business alive without drowning in it and becoming a workaholic. There are lots of books on starting a business out there, but few that are this concise and straightforward. David Siegfried
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
"A reality-based, down-to-earth, optimistically -sound, practical why and how-to approach to business success…" -- Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker and bestselling author


"Small business men and women should read and reread this book. It’s an eye-opener!"
-- John W. MacEachern Founder and former CEO (Retired) Offshore Maintenance 


"The section on marketing and advertising alone is well worth the price of the book!" -- Elaine Ralls, President, HMI Marketing & Advertising, Tempe, AZ


"This is essential information for anyone who dreams of starting his or her own business--and staying in business. " -- Kathy Player, EdD Dean, Ken Blanchard College of Business Grand Canyon University


About the Book


Do you own or plan to own a small business?
Do you work for a small business and desire to better understand your boss?
Do you know someone who owns a business and wants to be stronger, more focused, and more successful?
This is the book for you.


The truth is that many business books offer a lot of wonderful sounding theories, but they have little practical application in the real world of small business. Common Sense Business is full of life-and-death ideas. Follow Steve Gottry's advice and your business will live and thrive. Ignore it and your business could founder or die. Benefit from Gottry's experience as an entrepreneur who grew a hugely successful media agency, experienced a harrowing business failure, then rebounded with a new business and a fresh start on life.


Common Sense Business tells you how to succeed throughout every phase of the small business life cycle -- from starting to operating, growing, and even closing down a business. No matter the state of the economy or the maturity of your business, you will find winning solutions to the questions and situations you face every day. Steve Gottry will help you understand yourself; your employees, customers, and vendors; and how people come together to form a successful business. You will learn how to maximize your business's assets and how to ward off those threats that could eat away at your resources and peace of mind, including debt, sloppiness, addiction, and fear. Warm, honest, funny, and factual, entrepreneur Steve Gottry tells the whole truth about successfully managing a business through good times and bad.


About the Author


Steve Gottry is the owner of Priority Multimedia Group, Inc., a content creation company that develops films, videos, books, and marketing materials. Gottry and his firm have won a number of awards, including three Silver Microphones for radio and awards from the International Advertising Festival for direct mail and film. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Tuesday, August 2, 2005

Monster Careers: How to Land the Job of Your Life


Product Description
Monster founder Jeff Taylor, with former editor-in-chief Doug Hardy, has written an upbeat, inspirational, and indispensable guide to getting the job you want in the new world of work. Rich with real-world advice from recruiters, career counselors, human resource professionals, and successful Monster members who share their job- hunting expertise, Monster Careers provides a step-by-step plan for carrying out a super- charged job search—from exploring new career options to writing job-winning resumes and cover letters, to mastering the interview and negotiating a job offer. A practical and passionate guide for any stage of your career, whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, Monster Careers is poised to become the uncontested job search authority. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author
Jeff Taylor is the founder and chief monster of the world’s leading careers Web site, Monster.com. A visionary leader in both the Internet and careers industries, he is a frequent speaker at universities and high-level business conferences. Doug Hardy, a certified job and career transition coach, was the editor-in-chief of Monster.