Packard Reviews

This is a great book!!! A two line rhyme describes different animals and things that they do and then asks you to choose which animal it is describing by choosing from different animals on a turning wheel (they call it a window surprise). Dogs chase after sticks, squirrels have acorns all around their trees, bunny rabbits have fuzzy cottontails, ducks and fish are in the water, and a bird sings in a nest. This books teaches your child the characteristics of each animal while allowing them to choose "which animal lives here?" based on the description. My daughter absolutely loves it!!! (and so do I)!

This was the first Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book that I everread, when my older brother brought it home from elementary school.After samping a large number of the series, it remains among the best.

Even at a young age, my brother and I recognized the sheer number of kitschy lines invading this book. It had us in stitches, and I'm certain if either of us mentioned the title, we'd begin to recount our favorites. One that sticks in my head:

"'I guess we can't count on you for anything, Jonah, so we'll have to count you out...' Those are the last words you ever hear."

Ah, yes, the plot has something to do with your being a secret agent who has to save the whales. But who ever EXACTLY cared about the plots? It was all a matter of racing through the book to figure out every possible twist. Who can forget the hand-wringing tension of deciding which of four or five different spots would be the best to swim to? Or whether to secretly break into the bad guys rendez-vous house, or simply knock at the front door and bluff your way in? The KGB figures in somewhere, and all the villains are ridiculous Russian stereotypes (who look in the illustrations, if I remember correctly, oddly similar to Stalin, Kruchschev, etc.). This surely did derive from the collective Cold War imagination. I believe Trotsky is even mentioned by name, totally out-of-place, showing a complete disregard for not mixing up the historical facts in young children's brains.

Oh, the flood of nostalgia! Of course, the copy my brother and I had eventually became so worn out, it had to be disposed of, and I've never seen another edition. If I ever found it in a used bookstore, I'd pay the price. But does anyone else remember this classic piece of camp? E-mail me, we'll rap about the glory days of the strange series, and its wonderful seventh volume.

The cowboy genre seemed a natural one for the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series to venture to, and luckily it did so in the early days, when ideas were fresh and master Edward Packer was in top form. Accordingly, we get the whole western panorama here, from gambling saloons to small town newspapers to desperadoes, gold prospecting, ranching, etc. Parts of this one do seem to bog down here and there, as you keep endlessly saddling up to go to Silver Springs, and not really getting anywhere. But overall it's good fun.

I think Deadwood City was great, because you can choose your own way to go. I got a job in the ghost town. I left beforeI got killed. I also got stopped by Indians on the way, I snuck away, stopped at a water hole to drink and fill my canteen. Only a few more more miles and I was in Silver Springs. I got a job from an old friend and that was the end of my story. There are plenty of more mays to go. Another thing is they are fun because you don't know what is going to happen next.

This was the no holds barred, thrill-ride of the '84 summer. This book encapsulated an era of youthful exuberance, at the end of the Cold War. Before these present-day spoiled kids came along, kids used to pick up a book and read. Not play computer games endlessly or surf the internet. We played outside and read. And "Deadwood City" is one pretty darned good example of what the literature was back in the good ol' days of the 80's.

Thumbelina is not normal girl she is about the size of your thumb, but don't let her height mistake you she can do alot of things other people can't do. Like she can fit into small spaces that you can't. So if you like books that are about people doing extremely different things that you don't think that can do then this is the book right for you to read. This book will amaze your eyes with the colorful pictures inside, and with the amazing things Thumbelina can do.

Hans Christian Andersen's story of Thumbeline is so endearing that it's no wonder that so many authors have written their own versions of it and so many illustrators have had a go at making tiny Thumbeline come to life. This version, translated by Anthea Bell and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger is brimming with charm, rustic folk sensibilities, kindness and compassion spiked with just the right amount of perilous adventure to make it interesting, and a lovely magical feel. The story is well told in satisfyingly descriptive language. The illustrations are superb! Zwerger does a wonderful job with all of the animal characters that Thumbeline encounters and manages to infuse them with emotion and intelligence as well as country charm. Little red-haired Thumbeline is delicate and sweet in several lovely costumes with a peasant feel to them. You know the tale...a woman tells a witch that she wants a "tiny child" and the magic gives her exactly what she wishes for, a tiny child no bigger than her thumb. Thumbeline is born from the heart of a tulip. She's so beautiful and sweet that every small suitor in the neighborhood wants her hand in marriage, including a toad, a mole and a June beetle. They are not interested in the fact that she does not want to marry them! She gets help from other wee folk in the woodland community and makes a good friend when she saves the life of a swallow. The story ends happily for Thumbeline. It may be desirable to point out to your young ones that not every unattached female needs to find a husband, especially very young ones like Thumbeline, and that kidnapping and force are not true ways to get a girl to marry you! Children are smart enough to know that but it's still a good idea to talk over the odd concepts that a child may be thinking about after you read this story. I love this old-fashioned story and this re-telling adds beautifully to its charm and therefore justifies its conception.

The familiar Hans Christian Andersen story of Thumbelina has received the royal treatment from Susan Jeffers. Her large, lovely pictures make this seem like you are stepping into the story for the first time. Thumbelina is so dainty and sweet that it's no wonder the toad wishes to marry her but poor Thumbelina has a harrowing time escaping from her warty suitor. Share a trumpet vine blossom with Thumbelina, a pair of hummingbirds and a fat bumble bee or take a ride with her on the back of a gallant swallow. This whole story is enchanting from start to finish and the pictures are a delight!

This is one of the few books available that specifically addresses teaching at the high school level. It presents a very realistic picture of what students at this level are like and where they are coming from. The approach is very pragmatic, including things like setting up classroom rules, arranging your desk area, setting up a filing system, preparing for parent meetings, and managing your time. I found the many website recommendations to be especially useful.

I had to rate it less than five stars, however, because much of the material is rudimentary. For example, I think that even new teachers would find little in the lesson planning chapter that they didn't learn in school. This would be a better book if it stuck to the topics that aren't taught in traditional education programs. I recommend reading only the chapters that are of personal concern to you.

This book is fantastic- a great reference book for a first year high school teacher!

As a recent grad with a job starting in August I find myself reading as many books as possible. Most tell me what I already know. This book is different. I've never seen a book cover so many topics so well. The beginning focuses on lesson planning, setting up your classroom, management, etc. Not only does it discuss these issues but the sidebars have different helpful themes. Some define teaching terms, others give the address of a useful webpage, while some are quick stories or tips from established teachers.

Not only does this book help with the basics and give plenty of resources, it goes deeper than any other book I've seen. This book covers touchy subjects that most don't dare talk about. It discusses relationships with peers (it even touches on going out drinking with them), problems with students (such as sex, drugs, abuse, rape, depression, etc) and more.

In short I would highly recommend this book to any new teacher.

What is perhaps most interesting about the early market researchers is the amount of attention paid to class: they imagine, for instance, that the subtle gradations in difference between Buick and cadillac is a telling sympton of American class differences. That is one reason that the Edsel failed, because it was based on the idea that families would "trade-up" to an Edsel if it was positioned as slightly higher-class than a Ford. You can also learn a good deal about life in the 50s: before flouride, people brushed their teeth in the morning, and not for hygiene but for cosmetics. It is a testament to the power of the advertising (and the research) that we now all brush our teeth at night. Packard is long on examples and short on analysis, and he waffles between being golly-gee-willickers impressed with the "scientists" and their methods or repulsed by the cynicism and naked manipulation of their backers. Their definitely is the sense, which is so unfamiliar today, that these guys in lab coats are really strange birds, but surely they must represent progress. After all, isn't it a good thing that people brush at night? Packard is not your standard culture curmudgeon like Galbraith or, much worse, Adorno. Class, of course, is much less important today than then, but it is still important. Packard relates the fascinating story of why people went to loan sharks instead of the wood-panelled banks (and just think of how wood-panelled station wagons have been replaced with the plastic wheel-rims of SUVs): because the borrowers could feel superior to the loan sharks, even if they had to pay higher rates. I suggest that the publisher reissue Packard.

Written at the cusp of the 'consumer revolution', this book is both a quaint historical piece and a prophesy of what was to come. The tangential thesis of the book is that by the mid-fifties, the standard problems in capitalism -- those of production and distribution of goods -- were solved, but that this introduced another problem: all of these goods must be consumed. So, it became necessary to step up the techniques used to market these goods.

Advertising was nothing new, but the psychological intricacy and sophistication in it was ratcheted up significantly. Using Freud, Jung, and whatever other foundation proved workable, social scientists and psychoanalysts honed their skills to develop an ever-growing repertoire of tricks that would induce us all to spend and consume at ever-higher levels.

Two things make the book relevant today: 1) nothing has changed either in the economic situation or in the techniques, except that both have become even more intense (two thirds of the 2002 U.S. GNP depends on consumer spending); and 2) no other book has yet come forward to do a better job at showing, in great anecdotal detail and for a broad audience, what depth marketing is all about.

It is hard to believe that one of the most perceptive and important books on the shaping of modern society is out of print. This book shows how the workings of our minds have been scientifically evaluated, and this knowledged used to manipulate them. Not in any 'X-Files' manner, just straight out appealing to our basic desires and needs. Read this book, and then as yourself what every ad and salesperson is doing to you when you see them. It's all there, so they aren't hard to work out.

Fop Flop In the most elegant apparel Nothing but worm silks In the finest golden thread And superior king red velvet sashes

You'd think I would have known better? I couldn't blame them who wouldn't? cut air with scissors while sewing their needles into invisible cloth for the very low price of..... silk a loom golden thread a full bag of coins Oh those Villain Scoundrels! Now, I know not to buy such vestments with rather large investments Oh what a bratty gnatty I was For I thought I was cool but truly a fool Why emperor you look rather bare, that's quite rare! I was in such a pursuit For only a birthday suit I must admit now Me, My very own self yes indeed, your emperor himself have become a stupid and incompetent dandy All for the Imaginary Image! and now I live happily ever after, no more garb well, that is until the next apparel discovery (Now if you'll excuse me there's a clothier waiting at my door who says he's created the latest design in Pajama attire)

Generally, I do not care for audio books; many of the readers speak in a dull voice that rapidly drives me either away from the story or to sleep. However, there are a few exceptions; this is one.

Understand, that this is not the normal audio book; this edtion has a large cast of actors who collaborated to produce this item as a fund raiser for Starbright.

The result is an ensemble piece that is witty and charming. Part of the fun for me, was guessing who was reading before looking at the cast list included in the box.

Other folks feel that this isn't for children; I don't know as I don't have children, but I found that my "inner child" was highly entertained for 40 minutes with this tape.

If you are a fan of one or more of the actors in this edition or like puns (there are many here!), then you will probably like the Starbright edtion of the Emporer's New Clothes.

I had been given 2 of these books from a friend and I decided to see if there were anymore. My son loves this book. He's now working on reading the adult side. It's a great idea to have a page each, 1 for the adult and 1 for the child. We have several of these books now and I see my son sitting down and reading them on his own.

This book provides solid presentation of the Zachman Framework and how it enables enterprise architectural development. I think it could be more concise.

Melissa has produced an excellent, non technical book which outlines:
- the reasons for taking a business led approach to the development of Enterprise Architecture
- the potential benefits to business of investing in an Enterprise Architecture approach
- practical steps for doing it and overcoming common roadblocks

Some readers will no doubt have wanted Melissa to move on to discussing the technical layers, but I feel this would have diluted one of the key messages of her book - that Enterprise Architecture is primarily a business issue focused on the company's core data and fundamental processes. Technology comes a distant second.

If I have any criticisms, it would be on the suggested representations of the data and process models in the business layers of the architecture framework. My experience working with CEO's and business executives is that they automatically associate the look of these models as being "IT" and mentally switch off.

In order to effectively market Enterprise Architecture and obtain the executive sponsorship necessary to drive it forward, some other ways of representing this information must be found. Representations that the executive team automatically regard as being in the business domain rather than in IT's. This varies from industry to industry and between organisations, but one example that has wide acceptance is the value chain model. Portraying the ballpark view process classes as a value chain does not corrupt the message and can help achieve the buy-in that is so essential.

As Melissa rightfully stresses, a successful Architecture strategy requires the business executive taking ownership and ongoing control of these layers of the architecture framework.

My high endorsement for this publication reflects both the importance of the subject matter and the author's approach to presenting it. Cook takes the academically high-brow subject of information systems architectural planning and relates the major concepts in terms that any business user, manager or exective should appreciate. The first three chapters of this book are a must-read for EVERY business executive and manager who relies on information systems to help manage their enterprise.

The Art of the Playwright lacked direction. It did not contain enough examples of formatting and rather concentrated too much on the creative process. If you are already a writer who needs advice on the format (scenes, line spacing, acts, etc.) then I sincerely would not recommend this book. It explains how to create characters and storylines and for people who think they are already rather creative, it makes you feel like a preschooler. However, for the novice, it just may float.

Gave me the rundown on what playwriting involves. Great for the beginner and also as a reference to go back to. In a nutshell he emphasizes the three major elements over and over in different forms: Actions, Visuals, and Stakes. Emphasis on the technical and the bottom-line of a play: it must hold an audience's attention on stage. How to do that? That's what the book is about. He also gives us an overview into the history of theater and the different schools of playwriting.

Clear and entertaining read. Great great book.

William Packard conveys the essence of the art of playwriting needed to empower the imaginations of playwrights. He brilliantly teaches the central role of visuals and actions. His book is a precious source of enlightenment in a world of teachers who do more harm than good.

Considering that an electrial engineer like David Packard could have written a, boring, detailed account of how he and Bill Hewlett pieced together their very first piece of equipment in the now famous Pal Alto, California garage. This book surprises you with its simple down to earth account of how it all began and how they built this tiny garage shop into the multi billion dollar company that it is today. They did it not only with a strong belief in new and innovative products, but in the people that helped build the company. This simple belief built the foundation into the HP way of corporate greatness.

The book was simply written, but it is this style that allowed me to understand the friendship between David Packard and Bill Hewlett and the corporate culture that they developed at HP. I would recommend this book to anyone that is a manager or executive to benchmark the corporate culture that HP established or applaud yourself if you have already embraced the HP Way. I trully believe, as David Packard and Bill Hewlett did, that you need a strong belief in people to make a company succeed.

If you thought that companies become admired by magic then think again - or better still, read the book.

Bill Hewlett and David Packard created one of the worlds most admired companies and it has never stopped going from strength to strength, now with the likes of Carly Fiorina who has taken HP forward into the new millenium by going back to HPs roots.

This book describes the start-up HP company and some of the aspects of its rapid growth and global expansion. There's not too much detail in this book but it does make for interesting reading - although the style is rather dry - for someone who holds up HP as a benchmark against which other companies can and should be measured. If you like me, like HP, then buy the book.

Carly Fiorina has been quoted as saying "in this new world we must always remember that technology is only as valuable as the use to which it is put. In the end, technology is ultimately about people." - that, in a nutshell, is the HP Way. Regards,

martyn_jones@iniciativas.com

Bill Hewlett and David Packard created one of the worlds most admired companies in the world. Today Hewlett-Packard is also well known company in Russia. More than twelve years ago I wrote my first books on the HP Vectra PC/AT compatible machine.

This book is a good overview. Its interesting to read how Hewlett Packard has grown from the little garage workshop (like Apple Computer was created a little later) to the large corporation it is today. This book is a simple, yet profound, guide to cultivating a healthy corporate culture. Extraordinary story.