No comments about The Master of Seventh Avenue: David Dubinsky and the American Labor Movement.

No comments about Brett Kebble: The Inside Story.

1 comments about Life at Southern Living: A Sort of Memoir.

1. If you think "Southern Living" is just your mother's favorite magazine, read this book by the couple of crazy guys who started it. Logue and McCalla's hilarious back-and-forth is just one of the many attractions of this terrific story. Their irreverence about one of the New South's beloved institutions is refreshing, and their insights into the magazine business are like a short course in publishing smarts. A great read!

3 comments about Ludwig Von Mises: The Man and His Economics (Library of Modern Thinkers).

1. by Joseph R. Stromberg-- Israel Kirznerýs Ludwig von Mises is a welcome addition to the literature on Mises and economics. It is a very useful book, not only for the academic reader unfamiliar with Misesýs work but also for the intelligent layman. What is quite startling is just how much the author manages to accomplish within the compass of a fairly short work (220 pages).

   Kirzner announces at the outset that he intends to tell "the story of Mises in his role of economist" (p. ix). His aim is to expound the "subtlety and depth of Misesian economics" while clarifying issues he thinks many readers of Mises have failed to grasp. Furthermore, Kirzner makes the case that Mises was the greatest free-market economist of the twentieth century.

   The book begins with a thorough summary of Misesýs life (1881-1973) and of his achievements. It covers his education in Vienna in the shadow of the German Historical School and his break with that outlook after becoming acquainted with the opposed views of the Austrian School through reading and talking with Carl Menger (p. 3). Mises attended Böhm-Bawerkýs seminar and began publishing technical papers in economics. His first important work, The Theory of Money and Credit, came out in 1912, breaking new ground and extending the Austrian paradigm.

   Kirzner introduces the years following World War I, during which time Mises advised the Austrian Chambers of Commerce, helping to avert runaway inflation in Austria; conducted his famous seminar; and published many important books and papers. The Nazi Anschluss drove Mises into exile in Switzerland, but in 1940, he came to the United States and later became a citizen. His masterwork, Human Action, was published in English in 1949, the same year that he began his famous New York seminar. That seminar continued into 1969.

   Following the biographical sketch of Mises, Kirzner drops back to set Misesýs work in the broader context of early twentieth-century economic thought. Kirzner gives thumbnail sketches of the competing schoolsýGerman Historical, Marshallian, and Walrasian. This setting allows him to zero in on what was new and revolutionary in Misesýs writings. According to the author, Misesýs first great accomplishment was to integrate money and monetary theory into general Austrian economics, grounded on insights about marginal utility, subjective value, and acting human beings. Kirzner shows how and why Mises did this and how this led to his breakthrough into the Austrian theory of business cycles.

   The author continues with a discussion of Misesian economics as a system self-consciously built upon rigorous, if unpopular, epistemological foundations. Kirzner contends that Mises shored up these foundations "because he came to be convinced that the vitally important lessons which economics can teach are likely to be dismissed on methodological grounds by those representing special interests" (p. 69). Mises believed that the rise of economic theory was, in itself, revolutionary in that it undercut earlier moralistic and power-political approaches to the study of human societies.

   Kirzner proceeds in a straight line to an excellent summation of the Austrian systemýs architectonic structure. Apparent detours turn out to be necessary background to Misesýs views and shed more light on them by giving an account of competing ideas and traditions. There is a generous evenhandedness in the way in which Kirzner sorts out differences and agreements between Mises and Hayek. The lucid presentation of difficult concepts make this a useful book even for those who already know a great deal about the subjects covered.




2. ISI Books has just come out with a series called Library of Modern Thinkers, which will contain summaries of the thought of important (for lack of a better term) conservative and libertarian thinkers - kind of like an Oxford University Press "Past Masters." According to the jacket, current and forthcoming titles will cover Nisbet, Ropke, Oakeshott, de Jouvenal, Lytle. Francis G. Wilson and Will Herberg (in other words, thinkers that wouldn't be included in a series that contains volumes on such worthies as Foucault and Derrida).

   If Prof. Kirzner's work on von Mises is representative, then this series will be an important contribution to the publishing world. Prof. Kirzner received his doctorate in economics in 1957 under von Mises and has written a number of important studies. This book is well organized and informative. It starts out with a chapter on von Mises' life, a chapter on his role in economics, and chapters on specific facets of his economic thought. It concludes with an overview of von Mises as the 20th century's preeminent free-market thinker.

   As a layman in economics, I learned a lot about von Mises the man and economist. For example, there is a discussion on methodological differences between Hayek and von Mises, a discussion of the pioneering nature of much of his monetary thought, and how his thought differs from neoclassical economics. I found particularly insightful Prof. Kirzner's comment that Human Action isn't simply a compendium of Austrian thinking, but is truly a brilliant extension of Austrian thought to a vast swath of economic and sociological issues.

   I have one big problem with the book. It is over 200 pages long, but it is double-spaced! In fact, there are no block quotes. Another quibble: according to the jacket, Friedman and Becker are "exponents" of the Austrian School.




3. This is a good overview of Mises, his life and background and his economics. It is workmanlike, basic and easy to read. It is not spectacular but it is very solid.

   I did enjoy reading it, however. The first two chapters give alot of background information on von Mises's life and work and I found that interesting because it is always nice to know a bit about an author as a person rather than just his work. And the bottom line about von Mises is that he was a couragous, honest and brilliant man and the proof is in the tremendous admiration earned by worthy friends and supporters.

   The Third chapter takes up von Mises's ideas on methodology, his a priorism and his commitment to value free economics. The two page section "The Intellectually Revolutionary Character of Economics" is really good. Section 5 of the chapter, "Mises' Methodological Defense" didn't really help me understand Mises's case for a priorism as opposed to empiricism, but I already know that from "Human Action" (huan events are complex and variables can't be held constant so it is always possible to come up with different plausible explanations for happenings; you can never isolate specific causes and their effects because it is not clear what is causing what). Section 6 "Mises and the A Priori: The Extremist?" explains what Hayek thought was a critique of Mises and Kirzner shows how it wasn't but I couldn't follow him. The one page section "Mises and the A Priori: Not So Extreme!" was appreciated because it gives alot more plausibility to Mises's claims about economics having to proceed a priori; I like the idea of economic logic but I think empirical studies and just common sense observation have got to play a role in economics, though I need to think about this more.

   Chapter Four was pretty familiar but "The Entreprenurial Character of the Misesian Market Process" was welcome because it just emphasized for me how central the entreprenuer is to Mises's conception of how the market works.

   I skipped Chapter Five on monetary theory, the business cycle and interest rates but it looks pretty good.

   Chapter Six tries to address how Mises reconciled his idea of value free economics with his passionate arguments for capitalism and against socialism and interventionism. Socialism can't work and interventionism produces consequences the intervenionists didn't want and eventually leads to socialism (which doesn't work ;) I accept the arguments by Ayn Rand on the foundations and standard of ethics and so I can argue rationally for capitalism but I don't know that von Mises can.

   In the end, I think that one has to read von Mises himself to get an appreciation of just how deep and comprehensive his grasp of human action and economics is. But this book does provide a little context and a useful overview. Maybe I was expecting too much; after all, how are you going to do justice to one of the greatest thinkers of all time in 200, double spaced pages? Can't be done.
   
   

No comments about Chrysler, Ford, Durant and Sloan: Founding Giants of the American Automotive Industry.

2 comments about Expat Entrepreneur: How To Create and Maintain Your Own Portable Career Anywhere In The World.

1. Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (5/07)
   
   Jo Parfitt found herself traveling the world with her husband. This made it difficult to have a normal career. She felt like a tag-along wife. She wanted her own identity. She began her expat entrepreneur career. She used her writing skills to start her own business.
   
   "Expat Entrepreneur" came to me at a perfect time. My military husband thinks that we are going to have to move. Though that is part of the job, it really upsets me to leave all that I have established. In "Expat Entrepreneur," Parfitt explains that I need to see it as an adventure and an opportunity.
   
   Parfitt explained that it is an opportunity to start anew. She advised to establish what the reader is good at, what they have a passion for. Then, take that and start an expat career.
   
   She explains that not all people have the skills necessary to be an expat entrepreneur. She also informs the reader that there are different laws in different countries that put constraints on expats working. Also, many professions are not in demand in different countries. Many of the requirements for nursing, teaching, and etc... are different in other countries. Throughout the book, websites and other books are mentioned to guide the reader to the appropriate resources.
   
   Parfitt explains that a career no longer consists of a daily attempt to climb a corporate ladder. It is now an opportunity for adventure and enlightenment.
   
   Twenty-three expat entrepreneurs share their adventures in half the book. This was inspiring for me. They explained what it took to get started in their businesses. They told of their struggles. They share advice.
   
   Today's society is global. Many have spouses who have to travel internationally. Unless the tag-along spouse has a portable career, they will feel isolated. "Expat Entrepreneur" is a practical guide for tag-along spouses. It is hopeful and inspiring. I recommend "Expat Entrepreneur" for all tag-along spouses, especially military spouses. Read and be on your way to an exciting portable career.



2. The title of The Expat Entrepreneur, by Jo Parfitt, is slightly misleading. The book is in fact much more a motivating reading about how to become self-employed from home as an expat, doing what you are passionate about, and how to use your creativity in the development of new activities that can eventually bring money - all this based mostly on 23 interviews of expats who "have been there & done it".
   
   There are a few practical parts, like the assessment "Do you have what it takes?" and the resources that are classified by countries. Despite the assessment, the first part of the book is rather in the style of the American self-help books, something like "if you want it, you can do it". The 23 interviews of "expat entrepreneurs" are quite interesting and there are a few specific resources behind each of them, which can provide food for further thoughts and research.
   
   As I mentioned, the book is certainly about expats who became self-employed and it also motivates to do the same. But it cannot be considered a business book for budding entrepreneurs.
   
   Many of the examples that are provided in the 23 interviews belong to the areas that I wouldn't really call a business, like painting, although I am always happy to see artists making a good living. Among the more "business-like" examples, I saw one case of a company that I know well and that has been constantly operating on the verge of bankrupcy for many years, and another one of a person who runs among other things a translation agency, but has a website in French that is very miserably translated, which is not a surprise considering that the translations into French are done... by a Danish person. Therefore, a better selection of the examples would have been needed.
   
   I also regret that, although the book is written by a woman and its intended readers are expat spouses, i.e. mostly women, the examples that are provided are the typical traditional female occupations (teacher, artist, image consultant, women in various helping professions, etc.) as if we were still in the 50s. The very few examples that are more business oriented are the rather obvious ones that can provide a portable career for expats: relocation, web design and consultant.
   
   What about women who are freelance engineers? Or who have a PhD and work as independant researchers and consultants for international organizations? And what about the people in the biotechnology sector who come from the US or Asia, in order to create a company in Europe in one of the recently created biotech clusters? Or the young finance specialists from Asia who come to London or Geneva in order to create a company in the financial sector? Aren't these people expat entrepreneurs too?
   
   I also regret that, although the book is supposed to help budding expat entrepreneurs, such elementary words like a business plan or a marketing strategy are not even mentioned, although they are key elements of success for entrepreneurs of any kind. How to deal with bankers is also absent from the book, although, if we consider the missing examples that I mentioned before, it would even be appropriate here to mention examples of expat entrepreneurs who managed to get financing through business angels and venture capitalists.
   
   I also regret that the book doesn't make a clear distinction between the businesses that are created on a permanent local basis, like a bed-and-breakfast in France, by people who in fact are not expats, but immigrants probably for the rest of their life, and what I call the real "portable businesses", i.e. those that are run mostly through the Internet, indepently from the location of the business person, and which allow expat spouses in particular a huge flexibility.
   
   Therefore, this book is a good resource specifically for expat spouses who are just looking for ideas and need some encouragement in the form of examples from real life. But expatriates and expat spouses who really mean business will have to find the resources they need about how to create a small business in a foreign country somewhere else.

No comments about Out on the Deep Blue: True Stories of Daring, Persistence, and Survival from the Nation's Most Dangerous Profession.

1 comments about Peter Norbeck: Prairie Statesman.

1. The good news is that this 1948 book has just been republished by the South Dakota State Historical Press and my signed copy, that arrived today, from author Gilbert Fite (87) now accompanies the 1948 original that this fine historian also sent me two years ago.
   
   This publication on Senator Norbeck has been virtually unobtainable which is why I tracked the author down after reading his excellent 1952 book 'Mount Rushmore' - still the best on the politics and history of the great memorial and fortunately still available via Amazon's used book service.
   
   Norbeck was a most unusual Republican, supporting state enterprises, but one who suited the times and Fite shows how he successfully prevented the Nonpartisan League enjoying the same success in South Dakota that they had enjoyed in North Dakota by capturing their political ground.
   
   While attacking them as radical socialists and disloyal to the Great War effort, the then state governor denied he was a socialist and that entrance by the state into certain lines of business was not socialism, particularly when it prevented exorbitant profits being made by monopolists. Shades of Teddy Roosevelt.
   
   Whether it was progressivism or socialism Norbeck certainly promoted things like rural credit programs, a state coal mine and cement plant (the latter lasting for three-quarters of a century) while his sponsorship of good roads, railways free text book schemes, assistance to war veterans, grain-marketing acts are all detailed.
   
   Given all this it is perhaps not surprising that Norbeck was one of the few GOP survivors in the era of FDR and the New Deal. Fite describes vividly the tensions in Republican ranks in SD between the prairie populist and conservatives in the leadup to the 1932 watershed election that obviously pointed to the end of Republican rule, under the impact of the Great Depression.
   
   After an easy primary win Norbeck was returned for a third term when he beat his Democratic rival by 26,000 votes, despite the fact that in the presidential contest FDR carried the state by 84,000 votes. By the 1936 election the ailing SD Republican senator was positively endorsing FDR against GOP challenger Alf Landon!
   
   Like the earlier Roosevelt (TR), Norbeck was also a great conservationist and as Fite points out Mt Rusmore, Custer State Park, the Badlands National Park, the Migratory Bird Act are all testimonials to his efforts as both a state and federal legislator. Norbeck's wish, "I would rather be remembered as an artist than as US senator," would certainly earn favour with all those, (including this Australian reviewer), who have travelled along the aesthetically pleasing Needles Highway in the Black Hills,as part of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, artistic proof of his insistence for the road to blend in with the environment rather than disturb the beauty of this wonderful area.
   
   Norbeck's capacity to understand the importance of harmonising roads and tourism with the environment has helped make the Mount Rushmore and Black Hills area such an enduring attraction.
   
   As an agricultural historian and a native of South Dakota, Professor Fite, is clearly at home with his subject and his works have continually survived the test of time. The re-publication of this fine biography is long overdue and hopefully it will be well received by American readers and, like his 'Mount Rushmore,' is well worth reading by anyone with a passion for western or Great Plains history.
   
   On a personal note I wish the author, now in Florida, a long and healthy retirement and thank him for his contribution to making South Dakotan and American history such a pleasurable experience to the reader.

1 comments about From Cop To Ceo.

1. I enjoyed Chuck Smith's "shoot from the hip" style. What amazes me is the income this man generates and he started with no college education or business experience. Chuck Smith also wears his heart on his sleeve. The story of his background and challenges he overcame to become a success will inspire you.
   Excellent book!

5 comments about The Cliff Walk: A Memoir of a Job Lost and a Life Found.

1. I am in a situation similar to the character in the book to a lesser degree. So it was with great interest that I dove into this book. I was curious to read about Don Snyder's feelings and actions while he was unemployed. Probably many of us share his overconfidence about the ease of finding another job. And many of us subconsciously or not, look down upon those who have to earn their living in lower level jobs. Some of his thoughts and actions I could understand, some I could not. For example, why wouldn't he let his wife find a job and he stay home and watch the kids?(which would much harder than working, let me tell you!) And why didn't he take a job while waiting for responses from the colleges he applied to, since his wife wasn't working? And he stands by and watches his savings go lower and lower. Some of these actions caused me to lose sympathy for him while reading a good portion of the book. One could say he was arrogant and a snob. But by the end he learns valuable lessons about family, work, life, and himself. It does read like a story rather than a clinical assessment. A worthwhile read.



2. My husband and I both read this book a few years ago and agreed that it was one of the most profound memoirs we'd ever read. Snyder was born to write and we are blessed to have his thoughts recorded for posterity.



3. This is the ultimate victory story...with a twist. Unlike most autobiographical profiles, this one doesn't stand tall and tell you how great it is to be great. The thing is, it doesn't wrap itself up neatly either; the ending doesn't suddenly justify everything that has happened along the way. It's a formula all it's own, one that carries you up and down through the vulnerable channels this man had to endure.
   What's so refreshing about this book is kind of what I liked about the movie "Fargo"--the realization that a good story is as much the cumulitive value of the bits and pieces as it is the linear value--of this happening, then this, then this. Moments like his talking to a stranger while chipping golf balls capture the true feeling, the mixed combination of killing time with his genuine fear of being unemployed for even one more day. It's a strange loneliness that we all feel from time to time, even when we're not truly alone. Again, most writers need to have scaled great mountains before they'll write a story where they hang themselves out like this. Don Snyder makes an exception. In today's world, most nonfiction books succeed based on what they emphasize, leave in, or leave out. Snyder tells it all--even the bits that aren't exactly flattering.
   And in the end, he shows his true grit: not with eagles or birdies, but simply by making the pars he's supposed to make. And don't let my analogies fool you: it's not about golf. It's just your typical combination of fear and pride and confusion that somehow lead us to where we are today. And it's that kind of simplicity that makes a book like this stand the test of time, whether it be now or 50 years down the road.



4. I just read this book while still mired in a job search going on three years. The emotional tailspin the author displays is heart-wrenching and familiar; the tone of the first 200 pages felt like reading my own journals. I did not identify with the author's deceptions and strange behaviors, however, such as lying to his wife or to an insurance company, or considering selling a new baby. But everyone has their own threshold for going haywire, and the point of this book is that Don Snyder got through it and learned something about life, work, and family.
   
   THE CLIFF WALK, beyond the author's personal journey, raises excellent questions about the "American Dream" and what it means in our modern age. It also looks at the meaning of work, and how we draw self-esteem -- even identity -- from what we do for pay. This is a courageous book, even if you don't always approve of how the author responds to his plight, and it offers a strong dose of perspective on what really matters.



5. This is about the hard-hitting reality of losing a job you love and not ever being able to get back into the field ever again no matter how hard you try. Overall the writing was well-done and it was interesting, but I was hoping to feel more enlightened about how to reconcile this type of life experience. However, the writer conveys the sense that part of his identity was lost with the teaching job, and though he did learn the benefits of a different kind of life, he still seemed broken in some ways at the end of the story. I was hoping the ending would be more uplifting. But overall, good writing and very interesting.