No comments about Hostas (Foliage Plants in Garden Design).

5 comments about Hostages of Each Other: The Transformation of Nuclear Safety since Three Mile Island.

1. This book is about how the Nuclear Energy Industry "bootstrapped" itself to improve operational and nuclear safety after the TMI accident. Prior to TMI, the NRC had been enforcing minimum safety requirements, not promoting operational excellence. The industry realized it might not economically survive another TMI, and while the fundamental design of the plants appeared to be safe, significant operational improvements were needed to reduce the chance another similar accident. The industry formed INPO (the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations) to share information and resources to promote excellence and safety in operations. The book is full of stories of what happened and quotes from the principles involved (no heavy technical stuff) and I found it an enjoyable, interesting read. The author is a professor at the Center for Public Policy at Virginia Tech, and I detected no pro or anti-nuke sentiment, just lots of well researched information. Probably the best book I have read on the subject.



2. Joseph Rees has written a superior account of the improvements in nuclear systems safety since the Three Mile Island accident. Without getting too deep into the technical details of nuclear systems or chemistry (other than a basic explanation of the general theory of plant operation and a bit of detail about the faulty PORV design), Rees analyzes TMI from a human factors and safety systems vantage point, and subsequently details the improvements made to the US nuclear power industry since the accident.
   
   Rees especially details the workings of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), a non-governmental industry group which oversees safety more diligently than even the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in a system that Rees dubs "communitarian regulation." He details industry problems such as "nonconservative decision making" and provides useful analogies to other industries. The case of Consolidated Edison (p. 154) is of particular interest for those people interested in studying corporate safety systems and programs.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in nuclear power, and particularly to professionals and students with an interest in industrial safety, regardless of their specific field. This book has applications in every industry, and will improve the understanding of human factors and industrial safety for any interested reader.



3. For a long time I have been looking for a book with a coherent and convincing analysis on successful self-regulation. Well, perhaps any type of successful regulation. Books on regulatory failure are much easier to come by. And this book had such a promising setting. The claim: A single catastrophic accident at any one US nuclear plant would have ruinous consequences for the entire industry. Each licencee is a hostage of every other licencee. Safety pays! Result: the nuclear industry has founded the INPO organization, to police uniform high safety standards, simply to protect industry's huge investment in nuclear power.
   
   Rees' basic hypothesis is that nuclear power plants operate on some sort of Enlightened Self Interest (ESI). This assumption on rationality is never explicitly stated however, nor is it examined critically. But Rees argues from industry sources that nuclear plants strive to be safe, they compete with each other to be the safest, and that the nuclear industry provide INPO with muscle to make life difficult for those who either cannot or will not do so.
   
   Surprisingly, many of Rees' examples have kind of a dualism. On the one hand, Rees' examples tell a story on how the Three Mile Island accident resulted in soul searching and catharsis, how the transformaton has resulted in increased industry responsibility, how new controls have been set up, and how INPO succesfully fulfills its policing role. But many of the examples could equally well be interpreted the other way around:
   - that INPO has been given only weak powers - the so-called Management by Embarassment in closed industry fora. Not stong ones; because linking INPO evaluations and insurance cost, for instance, can affect stock price enormously (p94)
   - that INPO is extremely cautious not to alienate its sponsor base (p145)
   - that the "safety pays" notion is not widely shared across industry, to say the least, and that cost-cutting on safety is widespread
   - that the wake-up call from Three-Mile Island is not received by all actors
   
   For instance, take the example of the INPO crack-down in 1987 - eight years after TMI (!) - on a plant where all operators had fallen asleep on several occasions, leaving operating reactors unattended. Is this an example of a more fundamental free-rider problem in the industry and an opportunity to re-examine the rational ESI assumption ?- or is it an example of succesful INPO peer-pressure intervention? Rees only considers the latter.
   
   It is a mystery to me why Rees has not exploited this alternative line of interpretation and the reason why I find the analysis disappointing.
   Rees demonstrates that self-regulation can improve the safety of some plants, likely in ways that public regulation cannot achieve and possibly in a more efficient manner. But the analysis fails to demonstrate that self-regulation can replace public regulation, which is surprising, bearing in mind the "hostages of each other" setting of the analysis.



4. This book shows that in that in high hazard industries there is can be a big advantage in a strong industry body (in this case by revealing the workings of the the secretive Institute for Nuclear Power Operations [INPO]) over a weak regulator (in this case the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission [NRC]) if the industry has the will to achieve outstanding safety.



5. I work with organizations that are attempting to reduce the incidence of consequential events within their industries. These organizations have created a voluntary industry organization to provide oversight. Over time, these voluntary organizations have had minimal success. It appeared a mystery since the industry organizations appeared to support the effort.
   
   Hostages of Each Other addresses a successful use of such an organization: specifically the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). The book details the relationships that had to be developed between INPO and the nuclear industry in order for this arrangement to work. It also provides an overview of the programs and processes that have been put in place to make the industry they serve more successful.
   
   For those trying to set up nongovernmental regulatory agencies, one of the most insightful sections of the book discusses the relationship of the industry CEOs to INPO; which is substantially different than the norm.
   
   Probably the most difficult discussion revolves around what had to happen within the nuclear industry to bring this sort of relationship about. For those trying to make similar changes within other high hazard industries it begs the question: do we have to wait for something terrible to wake up the industry?
   
   All in all, an excellent book for those involved in this type of endeavor. It clearly shows what is possible and what it takes.
   
   -Richard

No comments about Hosta: The Flowering Foliage Plant.

No comments about Hosta Book: Making Sense of Gardening.

5 comments about The Hosta Handbook.

1. Absolutely the BEST book on hostas that I have found so far. When I first opened the package this book came in, I laughed to myself and said, "Gee, I didn't order half a book!" The book is spiral bound, 600 pages - but only 9" x 4.25" (page size) so it looks like someone chopped the book in half!
   
   Nevertheless, this book is crammed full of great information on many of the hosta cultivars you will be able to find for sale. And because of it's size, it should be easy to bring along when I go "hosta hunting." I would imagine it would be almost impossible to write one book and include information about all - there are just too many cultivars in the hosta world!
   
   I heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants the useful information at their fingertips - while looking through online selections or as a field guide while shopping or just exploring a garden!



2. I've learned a lot about all the Hosta varieties... how they compare and contrast to each other so I can figure out what I'm actually buying and where I should plant them, how large they can get and what they will be like when mature, and have gotten a basic concept of how the varieties were developed over the years. Very useful, it is a handbook for understanding the hobby of Hostas and does that job well.
   
   Not really a "coffee table" type book if that is what you want, even thou the pictures are good



3. Very easy to read and understand -and the book is the perfect size to bring with you to a nursery when Hosta shopping. This guy really knows his Hostas!



4. When I first got serious about collecting hostas, I bought a lot of books. Mostly, they're coffee-table picture books -- totally unwieldly to carry and ones I'll never look at again. But THIS book! I've practically memorized it! I've made notes in it; I've added descriptions of new hostas and taped them inside; I've highlighted stuff in yellow. I carry this book with me everytime I go to a hosta club meeting, and I carry it with me when I go hosta shopping. When I go to the AHS convention in St. Louis in June, my trusty Handbook will be with me. I love the size and shape of it. It fits ideally in one hand, I can stuff it inside my notebook that I take with me when I go to meetings that require notetaking (it fits as perfectly in that notebook as it does in my hand!), and it lies comfortably in my passenger car seat, not taking up room or making a nuisance of itself, in between trips to meetings and greenhouses. Some experience and ssrious thought went into the writing and making of this book and it shows!



5. An excellent reference & carry along. I've been collecting hostas for 10 years. When I purchased this book in 2000, I hoped it would be the last book I'd ever need. I thought it was pretty pricey & it took awhile to talk myself into the purchase. I have not been sorry for a second. Every time I think it will be lacking -- I'm proven wrong. I have never seen or heard of a hosta that hasn't been listed. Bravo, Mr. Zilis!

4 comments about This is Gardening : Hostas (This Is Gardening).

1. This disc truly captures the wit and wisdom of one of America's premier perennial gardeners, Dr. Allan Armitage of the University of Georgia. Dr. Armitage has a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding the care and growing of a wide variety of perennial plants, including hostas.

   Stroll along with Dr. Armitage and learn firsthand information on the care and growing of over 240 types of hostas. Dr. Armitage's great stories, eye-catching videos, beautiful photos, and excellent tips and information make learning about these great plants easy and entertaining. This is the perfect reference piece for experts and novices alike. A must-have for the hosta enthusiast.




2. I was diapointed with the CD.There was to much show and not enough coverage of the Hostas. I feel I wasted my money. I can go to the Hosta Library on line and see a greater selection of Hosta. Also you can print pictures from the Hosta library. I wish I didnt buy this CD.



3. Wow! I had no idea there were so many hostas in the world. I really enjoyed learning about the different varieties, sizes and colors. The absolute best thing about this CD, though, is Allan's wit and natural presentation style. Highly recommend this CD. Great gift item!



4. I love Hostas, and I love this CD-ROM. There are so many hostas out there and this CD talks about just some of them. It is really neat to see photos and videos where Allan Armitage tells you stories about some of the hostas he's grown over the years. And if you didn't know, Allan Armitage is a Hosta-Nut!

   I loved the videos!

2 comments about Hostas and Other Shade-Loving Plants.

1. This bood was a tremendous help to me in selecting plants for my Hosta garden and shade garden. This book helped with my knowledge and selection of plants at my local nursery. My garden looks great!



2. Limited information about Hostas in this poorly named book. It is better described as a beginners guide to shade gardening, with some reference to Hostas.

   The book contains: 83 pages on general shade gardening, garden design, seasonal garden observations, soil preparation, and plant propagation. 15 pages on Hostas (17 species and 37 cultivars), each receiving one small paragraph of information. 30 pages about 119 other shade plants, again each receiving one small paragraph of information. 1 page listing plant suppliers and 1 page listing societies.

   Book has a 4 page index. Both cover pages contain a paper fold to act as a page place holder (when you put the book down, you can find where you left off - a nice touch).

   Photography is great. Images are clear, colorful, and show interesting plants. Most pictures contain a comment line that properly identifies the plant to species or variety.

   The book is not a great reference manual on Hostas. It merely introduces the beginning gardener to shade plants and describes the more common Hostas. Information is solid and helpful, but there is not a lot of depth.

   If you're looking for a lightweight introduction to shade gardening - then this is a very good choice.

   It's a thin book that is priced around $[price]. Overall, it's a bargin!

4 comments about The Gardener's Guide to Growing Hostas (Gardener's Guide).

1. I LIKE THIS BOOK. CLEARLY WRITTEN, VERY INFORMATIVE IN THE AREAS SHE CHOSE TO INCLUDE IN THE BOOK, BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD ABOUT THE BOOK.



2. Just the book I was looking for. After collecting and growing hostas for some years now, Diana Genfell's book zeroed in on the questions I still had. It's a perfect companion to Paul Aden's hosta book, but if I had to own just one--this book would be it.



3. I read every book on hostas that I could find. When I read Grenfell's book I knew it was one I needed to own, and I purchased it. It covered ever aspect of growing hostas. Elemaniting a lot of bad hearsay advise. The information is consice and easy to read. The technical information is all there as well as information for novice gardners.

   There is a well written chapter on propagation that will help any gardener increase their number of plants. Its not just for professionals.




4. Buy this for the plant list. It is easy to spend more than the book price on a modest bunch of Hostas at some garden center, or a lot more, if you are in a big hurry. Grenfell tells us more than those pretty tags do, and even says some of the things they are likely to neglect. I would wish that she had been more explicit about the range of what one is likely to get in the way of plant sizes as one tries to compare garden center, nursery, and catalog prices and outcomes. Hosta "August Moon," p. 99, for example, is a wonderful plant here, pretty much as described, but the late-season potful I got at a garden center in the late 1980's took more than five years to get there; "Large," from what had looked, "Miniature" to "Small" when I bought it. The author may wish to pretend that the people she wishes to address do not haunt the close-out tables at regional garden centers and discount retailers or catalog web sites, but those are places where good information can help you find the good stuff. Likewise for dividing the mature clumps of unlabeled Hostas in the garden of the old house my sister bought in 1998. (Yes! Those purple shoots are Hosta "Patriot," p. 130.) Grenfell grows her Hostas in England, where USDA Zone 6 is thought to be rugged and my Zone 5 is thought to be a howling Russian or alpine wilderness, so she misses out on the strengths that Dr. Rieth was able to deploy so effectively in the cold of Upper Penninsula Michigan, but the advice she gives on growing perfectly awesome Hostas,in Chapter Five, is worth paying attention to.

   Grenfell pulls in essays by other experts to cover some of the territory she is not entirely familiar with, but the coordination between the text she wrote and what they wrote is not as tight as I would wish. When Dr. Pollock addresses the H. plantaginea's need for heat and some sun on p.86, he does not contrast North American performance, where long hot summers bloom them right up into Zone 4, to the English performance that Grenfell reports as; unlikely to bloom most years because the growing season is so much cooler. Less careful readers might follow her advice to plant warm, and end up with plants that get frost bitten for coming up too early, and then fried in July and August, or even June.

   (Well, it is long and talky. Editing is ok, to be sure, but I do like to put some content in to support my assertions. It would have been helpful to have a word count utility pop up here or in the Perview version so I could get a better sense of how far I have gone here. Paragraphing would be nice too.)

2 comments about Genus Hosta.

1. W. George Schmid, recipient of the 1996 Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award--the highest honor of the American Hosta Society, has compiled a comprehensive and instructive reference for Hosta. He explains in photographs (incl. 208 in color) and words more information than available in any other source for these marvelous and increasingly popular shade plants--The #1 selling perennial in the USA. I believe I own all the books published on Hosta, and this is incomparable--better than all the others combined. Species and cultivars are listed alphabetically with detailed information. Make it your first choice. Our nursery specializes in Hostas, including being the exclusive source for George Schmid's new introductions, so I am very familiar with this topic



2. Yes this is the fist resource and most important one for hostas. It is a bit dated but the vast majority of the information will alway be relevant. Also he was certainly ahead of his time, on many topics, Many of his arguments are just becoming relevant today. A case in point, he nailed the hottest topic in hosta-ville today cold way back in 1990, Hosta virus X or HVX, well before it even had a name or was though of as a virus. This book plus a couple newer ones is all you need to be up and running with the best of them, and then some, because ha, most of them are to lazy to read. No, I did not say that, did I?? As to reading level, well it is grade 17 so a good dictionary is needed. I wish some one would tell me how to get that "The Virginia" off it's ridiculous.

5 comments about The Hosta Book.

1. I found this book both informational and wonderfully illustrated with gorgeous colored photographs throughout. Most gardeners should thoroughly enjoy this book which has many garden design ideas as well.



2. This book excels at having a large number of good pictures of a wide variety of hostas. The text is secondary.



3. A very useless book if you are looking for what ails Hosta's and what to do about these problems. If you are having any problems, don't waste your money on this book as I have.



4. The coverage text was broad based and general. Didn't devel into the more complicated issues I was looking for go. But it would be great for a beginner hosta fan.



5. This is an excelent book for learning about hosta's and how to care for them. This has been my reference book for years, great book for the new hosta enthusiast or just a great guide to introduce Hosta's into your garden. A wealth of valuable information! Master gardener B. Chauvin