Book Description
An inspiring celebration of courageous American innovators who are transforming the way we protect and care for the world we live in.
The environment, and the movement that grew up to protect it, is under attack--concerted and purposeful. Yet the need for solutions to pressing environmental problems grows more urgent each day. Teresa Heinz Kerry and Senator John Kerry traveled across the country in a national campaign to see at first hand how these issues unite people across party and ideological lines. From the San Juan Basin to the Gulf of Mexico to the South Bronx, from mothers on Cape Cod to Colorado ranchers, they found a vibrant coalition of people and communities deploying ingenuity, technology, and sheer will power to save the world they know and love. Now, in this passionate and personal book, Senator John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry shine the spotlight on an inspiring crosssection of these new environmental pioneers.
The book combines intensive research with keenly observed personal experiences to present a portrait of Americans devoted to the natural diversity and spectacular uniqueness of our country. It also includes an extensive guide on where and how readers can get involved.
Customer Reviews:
May A Republican Say Something?.......2007-10-06
Senator Kerry, this is one of the best books I've read in a long time, and I read a lot of books. The common sense, lack of passion, and optimism did my old heart good. Since I'm not as optimistic as you, I believe if we're to come out of this tailspin that my party has put us in, your approach, not mine, is the key. As a Vietnam veteran who was shot down twice in Vietnam 1968-69, I hope you understand that the Swift Boat guys were exploited by sociopaths. The weak minded simply cannot refuse even the briefest moment in the limelight. They well forsake God and country without hesitation. Supporting you in 2004 has turned out to be one of the smartest things I have ever done. Believe me, it wasn't easy. It temporarily cost me the goodwill of friends and family. Thousands of Americans are still cheering Bush and Cheney not even aware that all their savings may be wiped out before these two leave office. Saudi Arabia on this very day--10/06/2007--has refused to cut interest rates in lockstep with the US Federal Reserve for the first time, signaling that the oil-rich Gulf kingdom is preparing to break the dollar currency peg in a move that risks setting off a stampede out of the dollar across the Middle East. As you know, Israel has already refused aid (free money) in Dollars. When Americans turned their backs on International laws, they turned their backs on God's laws as well. The price for doing so will be incomprehensible for most. Another book, please.
Required Reading.......2007-08-08
The material in this book should be put in the public's face daily via media, billboards, etc. It should be required reading. Every mother should understand that a disposable diaper takes 500 years to biodegrade (and as those chemicals in the diaper biodegrade, they pollute and cause potential carcinogens).
I would not call the book "bipartisan" as per some of the other reviews, and I think its bashing of the Bush administration (even though I am not a fan) detracted from the overall book. However, it is important reading; it had an impact on my behavior.
Stories of Hope.......2007-08-02
I was a little skeptical with this book being written by John Kerry. I wasn't sure what to expect. It gives some really good stories of everyday people who just wanted to make a change for the better. They weren't any sort of extremists or hippies. Just people with common sense and the determination to stand up for their right to live in a clean world.
KERRY gETS IT RIGHT.......2007-06-18
Kerry analyzes today;s environmental experts and gets it right. The book is passionate, well researched, spot on and well written. I was pleasantly surprised.
I think Kerry was at his best early in the book when he evaluated some of the current plans for saving the Earth. He got a little off track as the book progressed, then veered back on track in the last 100 pages.
I highly recommend this book for anybody who cares about the planet. Also recommended: "Earth In The Balance" by Al Gore. Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit
Encouragement for activism.......2007-06-09
This book is both inspiring and upsetting. Inspiring for the stories of success in opposing pollution and degradation of the environment and restoration to a more healthy one. It is upsetting to read of the abuses and pollution creating dangerous places to live.
It is a call to action that we all need to consider. I got many good ideas about issues I hadn't thought about and it made me think about my local situation. It's good to know people have won battles and corrected abuses.
Book Description
A book that readers new to the subject can actually understand, this non-intimidating treatment about very complex subject matter contains cases that are extremely topical and interesting. The emphasis is on ethics, allowing readers to identify the values that influence how cases are decided. Authored by experts in the field, this exciting compilation of today’s hot-button issues will prove an excellent introduction to business and legal issues.
The legal environment of business is thoroughly treated in an extremely reader-friendly manner; various topics include: the American legal system, dispute resolution, constitutional principles, cyberlaw, white-collar crime, contracts, sales, product and service liability, the law of property, agency law, labor-management relations, environmental law, securities trading and issuance, antitrust laws, and debtor-creditor relations.
An excellent desk reference for the legal departments of any business, this book also provides an interesting read for anyone interested in business and ethics.
Book Description
BUSINESS: ITS LEGAL, ETHICAL AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT offers the most integrated approach to Legal Environment on the market Â- thoroughly exploring the intersection of law, business strategy, and ethics illustrated by emphasizing applications (nearly 300 real-world applications throughout the text). In addition to a providing very thorough coverage of the law, the book consistently applies legal concepts within a business context through a wealth of pedagogical devices, demonstrating to students on nearly every page the clear relevance of the material to issues they will face in the real world. This text fulfills current curricular and AACSB accrediting standards.
Customer Reviews:
FAST SHIPPING!!!.......2007-09-10
My textbook was in a great condition and when they said fast shipping, they meant FAST SHIPPING! I recommend this seller to everyone because they are excellent in providing the best service that I have ever encounter on the website. Thanks!!!
Quite Comprehensive.......2006-03-17
This text offers great details, but I did not rate it as 5 stars because (1) when searching for content, it is difficult to see the key words in the text and (2) the case studies are well selected, but since they are inserted throughout the chapter, it is challenging to determine where the case ends and the author's content begins.
Overall, I would recommend the Jennings text and will keep a copy on my shelf.
Good enough.......2005-09-12
The book was damaged but it looks like its the post office job because the envelope used to cover the book was damaged as well. Besides that, the transaction was good
15 days to tell us they didn't have the book........2004-11-16
I ordered the book from them on Nov1. On Nov 15 I called and they told me they didn't have it. The money was returned by Amazon.
Overall, I recommend it........2001-09-04
This book was assigned to one of my MBA classes. The book itself was a good source of reference not only for my business law class but also to other two classes. The book's language is simple and easy to understand. The only flaw I found about this this book was that some cases were complex and I had to refer to actual law books and regulations. Overall, I recommend this book.
Average customer rating:
- not worth it
- Indispensable for Execs, Mgrs, Invest. Pros, Mgmt Consultant
- Great overview of main legal issues for managers
|
Managers and the Legal Environment: Strategies for the 21st Century
Constance E. Bagley , and
Diane Savage
Manufacturer: South-Western College/West
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Binding: Hardcover
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The Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Law
ASIN: 032426951X |
Book Description
Recognized and respected for both its inclusion of cutting edge material and for its strong strategic managerial approach, this is one of the most comprehensive and challenging, yet approachable and understandable legal environments texts on the market. It is equally suitable for students with substantial work experience as well as for those who are studying business for the first time. The text fully looks at the subject matter from the perspective of current and future business managers and leaders by providing an in-depth understanding of how law impacts daily management decisions and business strategies. Its integrated treatment of law and management presents a very strategic perspective, showing how the law provides ways for managers to minimize risk and create value, how to use the law to craft solutions to attain core business objectives, and how to spot legal issues before they become legal problems and effectively handle the inevitable legal disputes that arise in the course of doing business.
Customer Reviews:
not worth it.......2002-08-12
There are many better books out there that are easier to follow and comprehend if you are not a law student. Not impressive.
Indispensable for Execs, Mgrs, Invest. Pros, Mgmt Consultant.......2000-08-13
For the benefit of all the people who cannot take her course, Prof. Connie Bagley has written this book that has the same title as her course (she teaches a quarter each at the Stanford and Harvard Business Schools). It is an extremely very well thought out and well written book. Throughout the book Prof. Bagley has kept in mind the reader's background and organized and written content in a way that will be of maximum benefit to the reader.
This book is one of the best investments that any person can make. While almost everyone will benefit from this book, I feel this book will be indispensable to the following readers: 1. Any person in a Business Administration/Management role, especially Executives and Managers in large corporations, Investment Professionals and Management Consultants. 2. Professionals associated with legal matters who want a refresher and a quick reference book that covers key aspects of all the important laws. 3. Any person who wants to gain a knowledge of the legal environment, especially the environment in which business is conducted.
Unlike a law book intended for specialist lawyers, this book is readable by people who are not lawyers. After reading this book or using it as a reference one can get a good understanding of the legal process (how the entire legal system works) and several important areas of law such as Contracts, Torts, Product Liability, Intellectual Property, Labor, Environmental, Antitrust, Real Estate, Consumer protection, Securities, and International Business. The legal topics discussed are on the leading edge of business regulation. They include the World Trade Organization, employer liability for sexual harassment, compensation and liability act, and HIV in the workplace.
In keeping with the Internet age, Prof. Bagley analyzes the implications of the Internet and Information Technology to several laws (such as copyright law in the cyberspace), and also gives several Internet sources for the reader to conduct further research.
It is remarkable that the book covers each of the topics perfectly to the extent required - nothing more and nothing less. The book has around 1050 pages and the time invested in each page is worth the rewards.
As Prof. Bagley says, the purpose of the book is to provide you a good understanding of the legal system, how the laws work, removal of any fear of laws, how to avoid legal mistakes, how to protect yourself, when to take what legal action and, most importantly, make you smart enough to know when to go to your lawyer. You cannot expect to practice law after reading this book but you definitely will know when to seek legal help, and how to communicate effectively with your legal advisors.
Prof. Bagley has also written another book "The Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Law". If only every entrepreneur read this book before starting out, the number of failures caused by legal blunders will be close to zero.
Both her books are extremely very well thought out and well written. I was fortunate to get into Prof. Connie Bagley's high demand "Managers and the Legal Environment" course at Stanford Graduate School of Business. The course is an absolute gem of a course. While this course is a high demand course, her other course "Legal Challenges in Entrepreneurship" is usually multiply over subscribed with around 150 students wanting to get into a class of 66! Prof. Bagley is a wonderful teacher and an amazing person. Her class was a wonderful learning experience for me and I thank her for that. I'm sure that after reading the book you too will thank her for having written this book.
Great overview of main legal issues for managers.......1998-12-02
This book is amongst others used at the Stanford MBA course as an introduction to legal issues that may arise for managers in a variety of business situations. It is comprehensive and is well illustrated with landmark case studies and relevant hypotheticals. Constance Bagley takes out most of the cumbersome legalistic language and makes the complexities of US corporate and civil law understandable.
Book Description
Now fully revised—the perennially popular guide to choosing the right college
Prospective college students and their parents have been relying on Loren PopeÂ's expertise since 1995, when he published the first edition of this indispensable guide. This new edition profiles 41 colleges—all of which outdo the Ivies and research universities in producing performers, not only among A students but also among those who get Bs and Cs. Contents include:
• Evaluations of each schoolÂ's program and “personality”
• Candid assessments by students, professors, and deans
• Information on the progress of graduates
This new edition not only revisits schools listed in previous volumes to give readers a comprehensive assessment, it also addresses such issues as homeschooling, learning disabilities, and single-sex education.
Customer Reviews:
Nothing particularly new from previous books.......2007-10-14
A friend loaned me Loren Pope's previous two books. I read them and decided I would like to see what Pope has to say in 2007. Well, nothing particularly different from the other two books. I didn't need to purchase this book. The one thing this book does do differently is give a more thorough description of the 40 recommended schools. Loren Pope's books are an excellent resource when beginning the college search. i wish i had read her books before sending my oldest daughter to college.
Fiske is better.......2007-09-14
I ordered this one with the Fiske and Ivy League titles. This one ranks at the bottom. Information contained inside not as detailed and left us with with college admission questions. Check it out for yourself at a bookstore before you make your purchase here.
This WILL change the way you think about colleges........2007-08-04
This book is a must for anyone looking at colleges. After reading another Pope book "Looking Beyond the Ivy League...," I was already leaning away from any large colleges. I then read "The Gatekeepers" which was fascinating, but leaves one with the feeling that they should be grateful if a college accepts them.
Colleges That Change Lives reminds us that WE are the customer. WE are choosing the school and we should do it by keeping in mind that our children's education is more important than being able to say our child went to Harvard, Yale, etc. There are schools that welcome our children. Why should we put our children through the stress of applying somewhere they are not likely to get in, where they are not likely to get the close attention most of us need to learn better?
The one thing that stands out in my mind about the highly-selective, well-known schools after reading this book is that we assume the colleges are good (and best for our child) based on the kind of students they accept.
The results are another thing. We, as consumers, assume that if the "best" students get in to those schools, they automatically do well and are assured a successful future. What do we base that on? Assumptions aren't enough.
Read this book.
Go ahead - get off the prestige merry-go-round.......2007-06-23
This is a great book. Forget about all you think you know about colleges - it's 99% myth anyway. Learn about some excellent schools (many of which will give you great financial aid) that you might not have thought about.
My son attends one of these schools (Denison U) and it has been fabulous. In addition to very personal attention, accessible profs, small classes, friendly kids, and a really beautiful campus, they gave him an extraordinary scholarship and he was able to do a paid research internship his second year. In spite of having been accepted at much better known (and higher "ranked") schools, he has never looked back.
Broaden your search and start here.
Be sure to check financial solvency of schools!!.......2007-06-22
The book was very interesting and a great guide, we thought. My son chose to attend Antioch College based on the wonderful reviews and his own feelings after visiting the school. The Board of Trustees voted just last week to CLOSE the school July, 2008. Hence, he is looking for another school as I write. I am a more than a little concerned about using this guide again!
Average customer rating:
- A Straight Forward Text Book
- Great buy
- Excellent text for the Instructor; for the Student
- Not Only For Students
- Business Law Today by Jentz et al.
|
Business Law Today, Standard Edition: Text and Summarized Cases--E-Commerce, Legal, Ethical and International Environment (with Online Research Guide)
Roger LeRoy Miller , and
Gaylord A. Jentz
Manufacturer: South-Western College/West
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Study Guide for Miller/Jentz's Business Law Today, Standard Edition: Text and Summarized Cases--E-Commerce, Legal, Ethical and International Environment, 7th
ASIN: 0324204833 |
Book Description
This text provides the legal credibility, authoritativeness, and comprehensiveness of a traditional business law book, while also offering the visual appeal and student friendly features students are used to seeing in books for many of their other courses. Though the text is ?fun? for students to read, it does not accomplish this at the expense of important information ? it goes into the necessary detail to completely explain law topics. The book truly offers an instructor the best of both worlds ? a credible business law source, which students will be motivated to read. Its magic and the cornerstone of its widespread success is in this ability to appeal to both instructors and students without being mutually exclusive. It also offers the most comprehensive teaching and learning support package on the market, with something to fit many different instructional or learning styles ? a reflection of West Legal Studies in Business?s continual commitment to partnership, leadership, and innovation in providing the highest quality materials available for Business Law instructors and students. This text explicitly meets the AACSB curriculum requirements.
Customer Reviews:
A Straight Forward Text Book .......2007-05-27
It's a textbook. That being said, it is filled with extra material, like case examples, a CD-ROM, etc. I didn't look at any of that because my business law class went at such a slow pace we only looked at about 10 of the chapters. If you are buying this for a class, you should come away with a lot of good information from this book without feeling it is too much of a boring chore to read through.
Great buy .......2006-04-05
Very fast delivery, thanks I was in a hurry and you have made me very happy.
Excellent text for the Instructor; for the Student.......2004-11-01
This is an excellent text at various levels of interest, desire, talent and time. The text is arranged that given the time, the Instructor can dig deeper and deeper into thorny topics. Additionally, curious students can rely on numerous web sources for enhanced views and greater depth.
Further, there are additional sources for the Instructor available through test banks and outlines. This is my favorite text to teach from. It is neither dry with enough cases to stir the imagination of the younger students nor MTV'd and contains sufficient current cases to give older students and retired students pause to consider. 5 stars. Larry Scantlebury
Not Only For Students.......2004-02-08
I am using this textbook in several of my classes, and let me just say- it has everything I could have hoped for. The chapters are laid out well, many cases are cited, and the student is given actual cases to figure out, with the citations given at the end so he can find the actual outcome. I've found this to be among the best textbooks. It is so good, in fact that I've reccomended it to several of my friends who are going into business for themselves. This covers nearly everything they'll need to know regarding contracts, secured transactions, warranties, etc.
Love the law!
Business Law Today by Jentz et al........2004-02-03
This is an excellent text. It incorporates the law, as well as
legal research methodologies. For instance, a standard chapter
contains an outline, common law sources,constitutional,
statutory and administrative laws/rule-making. The work cites
computerized legal research in WESTLAW and LEXIS. Relevant
international legal citations are listed. The applicable
United States Code is cited by Title and specific paragraph.
In some cases, individual state legal codes are cited. There
are exhaustic sets of historical and statutory notes, cross
references and federal practice notes. Each chapter has a
comprehensive case study with a brief synopsis, cited case
and final disposition. There are teaching suggestions at the
end of the instructor's manual together with discussion
questions, research assignments and an explanation of footnotes.
In addition, there is an exhaustive section on essay question
answers.
Here is a model answer:
Stare decisis is a doctrine that prescribes following earlier
judicial decisions in deciding a current case if the facts and
questions are similar. Courts attempt to be consistent with their
own prior decisions and with the decisions of courts superior
to them. Stare decisis is important because part of the function
of law is to maintain stability. If the application of the law
was unpredictable, there would be no consistent rules to follow
and no stability.
The volume has detailed coverage of the following areas:
o Business Ethics o Int'l Business Law
o Employee Rights o Employment law
o Occupational safety o Accounting and the law
o Securities o Mergers and acquisitions
o Insurance o Real Estate
o Financial institutions o Unfair competition
o Advertising o Environmental law
o Health Care o Sports and entertainment
o Hospitality management o Communications
o Government contracts o Legal representation of business
There are significant software support systems; namely,
o Legal Clerk Research Software System
o Computerized Instructor's Manual
o Computerized Questions/Answers
o Case problems on diskette
o CD
o Lecture Builder Software
o Westest
o A Classroom Management System
o WESTrain
o Transparency Masters
o Sample Moot Court and much much more
This text is an excellent purchase for collegiate law students.
Book Description
Pick up the Business Law textbook you'll reference for years to come. ANDERSON'S BUSINESS LAW & LEGAL ENVIRONMENT, STANDARD gives you clear, updated explanations of Business Law, as well as study guides to help you pass the CPA exam and an in-depth discussion of Cyber Law. Shorter, cheaper, and easier to use than the author's comprehensive version. ANDERSON?S BUSINESS LAW & LEGAL ENVIRONMENT, STANDARD is the best choice.
Customer Reviews:
A bit over my head.......2007-03-19
I like the textbook because it gives some great examples when trying to example terms. But, the writing in textbook is a bit confusing at times. It seems the authors could have written it in more layman's terms.
I'm not going to be a lawyer. So, why do difficult of text. If you are taking this course online, the the textbank of questions seems to come out of the blue. You are suppose to be able to read between the lines.
Very good experience.......2005-09-21
The product arrived to me in a quick manner. I had a question after I bought the book, hence I emailed the company. They had quick response and assured me that I bought the correct product. I highly recommend purchasing from this seller.
Prompt return.......2005-02-04
Mistakenly I hit the 1-click key and amazon automatically with no warning charged the purchase. I contacted the seller directly at dplotkin@hartford.edu and this person promptly responded and did not charge my card. Thank you!
Book Description
“This is a well-written book. Quite simple and precise . . . The authors should be commended. This book deals with leadership from a very contemporary perspective that reflects the importance of multiculturalism.â€
–Guo-Ming Chen,
University of Rhode Island Â
No matter how culturally different the person or group, there will be common-ground similarities and no matter how similar the person or group, there will be significant differences. Culture influences our thoughts, words, and actions in ways that are often unrecognized, leading to misunderstandings. Each misunderstanding can become very expensive, both in terms of missed opportunities and less effective business outcomes.Â
Leadership in a Diverse and Multicultural Environment provides leaders with the tools necessary to effectively interact with all individuals. Â
Although much of the research related to multiculturalism has focused on expatriates and international assignments,
Leadership in a Diverse and Multicultural Environment also focuses on leaders in domestic organizations, as they can benefit from developing their own multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills. Effective leaders can shape the culture of their organization to be accepting of individuals from all races, ethnicities, religions, and genders with a minimum of misunderstandings. Â
Leadership in a Diverse and Multicultural Environment is well grounded in solid research, but written in an easy-to-comprehend style that:Â Â Â
- Provides a “culture centered†leadership perspective allowing organizational leaders the opportunity to attend to the influence of culture
- Helps the reader find examples of how multicultural awareness can make their leadership task easier
- Promotes an organizational culture that is more satisfying to both individuals and their leaders by embracing and celebrating differences. Â
Leadership in a Diverse and Multicultural Environment is an ideal supplemental text for undergraduate- or graduate-level international management, leadership, or diversity-related courses taught in the business curriculum. It could also be used in leadership courses taught in education and communication departments.Â
Book Description
This first edition, written by the same authors of the Anderson family of texts, re-positions Anderson's Business Law of the Regulatory Environment by incorporating all relevant UCC Sections into the text. As the new incarnation of Anderson, this book retains the tradition of accuracy, depth and contemporary perspective. Its cases are excerpted, relevant and interesting. The UCC coverage provides the student with the code language when reading applicable portions of the text. This text meets AACSB requirements and offers complete coverage for CPA preparation, featuring ethics, public policy and the Internet.
Customer Reviews:
not good seller.......2005-10-01
I placed the order the book, but unfortunately, the text book was wrong one. Although I tried to contact this seller to return the book and have it refund as soon as I received the book, nobody responded to me. Eventually, I still keep this book and did not get refund. I'm afraid that this seller is not so good as everyone might tihnk when it comes to trouble shooting.
Book Description
A politically polarized America is coming together over a new kind of car - the plug-in hybrid that will save drivers money, reduce pollution, and increase U.S. security by reducing dependence on imported oil.
Plug-in Hybrids points out that, whereas hydrogen fuel-cell cars won't be ready for decades, the technology for plug-in hybrids exists today. Unlike conventional hybrid cars which can't run without gasoline, plug-in hybrids use gasoline or cheaper, cleaner, domestic electricity - or both. Although not yet for sale, demand for plug-in hybrids is widespread, coming from characters across the political spectrum, such as:
- Chelsea Sexton, the automotive insider: working for General Motors, Sexton fought attempts to destroy the all-electric EV1 car and describes how car companies are resisting plug-in hybrids -- and why they'll make them anyway.
- Felix Kramer and the tech squad: Kramer started a non-profit organization using the Internet to tap into a small army of engineers who built the first plug-in Prius hybrids.
- R. James Woolsey, former CIA director and national security hawk: seeing the end of oil supplies looming, Woolsey is demanding plug-in hybrids to wean us from petroleum.
Cautioning that the oil and auto companies know how to undermine the success of plug-in car programs to protect their interests, the book gives readers tools to ensure that plug-in hybrids get to market - and stay here.
Customer Reviews:
Good research, good writing, but too much preaching to the choir.......2007-10-11
"Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars That Will Recharge America" is an advocacy book. Sherry Boschert believes in her heart that plug-in hybrid cars will change America. You cannot read this book and doubt that.
And there is nothing wrong with that. You do not have to be neutral about a subject like this to write well about it. In fact, the opposite is true -- no writer can write a good book about a subject that he or she does not feel strongly about.
But even if you are not neutral, and cannot be neutral, you need to be fair. And that's where Sherry Boschert is weak. In Plug-in Hybrids, she has not been fair. At least, not enough.
A few examples. Boschert says, "As Marc says, it's a choice between riding to the store in your Hummer today, or having life-saving medications available to your grandchild." Huh? Come again? Oil has many uses. Even the late Shah of Iran said that oil is too precious to burn. But to say that Hummer drivers are depriving their grandchildren of life-saving medications is too much. It's not being fair.
Another, more subtle example. Boschert says that GM conspired to buy up the nation's clean and popular streetcar systems and replace them with buses. That resulted in the obliteration of US public electric transportation. For that, GM was fined $5,000 for antitrust violations.
Boschert cites the film "Taken for a Ride" as her reference. That film, in turn, relies on the research of Bradford Snell. Snell's view of history -- and his finding of a giant oil company/GM conspiracy to eliminate electric public transportation -- should not be ignored. Snell has as much right to his opinion as anyone. But historians who have looked at his arguments and evidence have found them wanting. Very much wanting. In my view, and in theirs, Snell has rewritten history. Boschert relies on a dubious source to present this point as uncontroversial. That's not being fair.
There are a few other examples. Boschert notes the advantages of nickel metal hydride batteries, and says that battery technology does not stand in the way of plug-in hybrid cars. She says that the Toyota Prius makes a great plug-in hybrid car. She says that GM had no reason to kill its EV1 electric car. Nor Toyota to kill its RAV4 EV electric sports utility vehicle.
On all these points, there is another view. (Certainly GM and Toyota would disagree on the points that apply to them.) Read this book, and you would never know that. Boschert treats all these points as proved. Uncontroversial. So there's no balance to her presentation. It becomes a melodrama with heroes and villains. Real life is not that way.
Of course, if you are preaching to the choir, that's fine. And here that is what Boschert is doing. Her choir is Andrew Frank, Marc Geller, Ron Gremban, Felix Kramer, Chelsea Sexton and James Woolsey. Add to that everybody involved in the film "Who Killed the Electric Car?" None of these people will quarrel with Boschert's book.
But if that's all you're doing -- preaching to the choir -- why write the book? If you advocate plug-in hybrid cars, a balanced view will gain more converts. And a balanced view will be fair.
I enjoyed Boschert's book. But I can't help but wish that she had aimed higher. If she had been a little more critical? A little more balanced? With her research and writing skills -- and with her passion --she could have written a book that would change a lot of minds. This book, Plug-in Hybrids, will not.
What's been happening with electric/hybrid autos the last 10 years........2007-09-13
I've often wondered what been happening with electric/hybrid car development since the mid 90's and GM's EV-1. Remarkably little is written on this subject.
This book reveals the truth about what's possible, and how little the car manufacturers are doing to make them a reality. Even Toyota's Prius is a small step compared to what they could be making NOW.
A rare combination of facts and intrigue that will recharge the reader.......2007-09-01
Sherry Boschert brings her science-writing skills to bear on the thorny problem of efficient transportation on the highways. While informing us about the details of hybrid vehicle technology, she also manages to weave in the gremlins that have interfered with improving car efficiency for many years. Her portrayal of the problem of hydrogen hype is well documented and clearly explained in Chapter 3. I recommend this book highly to the environmentally concerned driver as one of the best books in the field, because it gives the reader the inside story with scientific balance.
Timely and engaging but unconvincing.......2007-08-06
In "Plug-in Hybrids" (New Society, 2006), Sherry Boschert writes about recent electric vehicles, charged from commercial power lines, with gasoline engine backup. See also Michael Schiffer, "Taking Charge" (Smithsonian Books, 1994), on the early history of electric vehicles, about 1880 to 1930.
Main merits of Boschert's book: wide-ranging account of many starts and slips from about 1990 to the present; engaging style, focused on charismatic individuals; deconstruction of hydrogen-powered transportation myths.
Main defects of Boschert's book: inability to relate vehicle speed to operating range performance, cavalier approach to environmental and conservation issues, lack of concern about long-range marketing appeal.
Boschert says plug-in hybrid vehicles can reduce petroleum use and air pollution but does not prove the case. In order to do both, widespread use of plug-in hybrids must somehow avoid stimulating new coal-fired, oil-fired and gas-fired power plants. Boschert shows no way to assure that such an outcome would actually occur.
very practical, myth-busting discussion of the facts.......2007-07-29
This book --which in some ways begins where the video "Who Killed the Electric Car" ends, but is yet independent of it --is a very practical, myth-busting discussion of the facts about the capabilities of alternatively-powered vehicles. As one might guess from the title, the book concludes that of all the possible alternatives for fueling cars, plug-in hybrids are the most practical. In fact, as the book reiterates, practical plug-in hybrids were produced and leased by the auto companies about a decade ago --and then recalled and destroyed. Today (July, 2007), news reports say Toyota and GM and perhaps Ford and others "hope" to have an electric car available by 2010. The news stories say Toyota and GM are having trouble getting much more than a range of 40 miles out of the batteries, even though this book points out GM produced electric vehicles in 1999 with a range of about 140 miles!
This book is a good primer on how plug-in hybrids work, and also explores other alternative technologies such as hydrogen and fuel cells, though for several reasons it returns to plug-in hybrids as being immediately available technology.
Books:
- This Moment on Earth: Today's New Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future
- Together on Top of the World: The Remarkable Story of the First Couple to Climb the Fabled Seven Summits
- Tracks Across Alaska: A Dog Sled Journey (Traveler)
- Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into National Parks (Bathroom Reader)
- US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76
- Variations on a Theme Park: The New American City and the End of Public Space
- Waiting for Wings
- Water and Power: The Conflict over Los Angeles' Water Supply in the Owens Valley
- When GOD Winks: How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life
- When the Rivers Run Dry: Water--The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-first Century
Books Index
Books Home
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An Inconvenient Truth
