Transformation of Social Security: Pensions in Central-Eastern Europe (Contributions to Economics)

Book Description

This collection of papers focuses on the recent pension reform experiences in Central-Eastern Europe, while starting from a broader theoretical and empirical context. It provides evidence for the political feasibility of radical pension reform, considered unlikely in the West. The approach is both multi-disciplinary and cross-regional: The book contains papers by economists, political scientists and sociologists. The authors come from Germany, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and the US. The volume consists of four parts: First, general questions of transformation and social security in post-1989 Central Eastern Europe are addressed, followed by an introduction into issues and role models in the international pension reform debate. Then, three Central European country cases are presented, analysing institutional legacies, recent reform measures and relevant political actors. A comparative section on Central-Eastern European pension reforms concludes this book.

Book Description

A directory of 120,000 Kansas Businesses! In depth information on each listing. You can use our premier database to find new customers and grow your sales and profits. You can create your own direct mail campaigns. Our information is simply the best for telephone sales or research; we make millions of phone calls every year to verify our information. Our credit rating codes can help you evaluate probable credit worthiness for small trade accounts, qualify prospects, and manage financial risk. You can analyze your competition, plan your next sales and marketing campaign, or establish new sales territories.

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The Bureaucrat of Monticello

A better title would be "Jefferson: His Public Life"

brief and fairly good

a fair and brief biography

Good Biography for the Masses

In Pursuit of Reason: The Life of Thomas Jefferson
Noble E. Jr Cunningham
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Presidents & Heads of State | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Jefferson, Thomas | ( J ) | People, A-Z | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Colonial Period | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters (Library of America)

The Radical Politics of Thomas Jefferson

Sworn on the Altar of God: A Religious Biography of Thomas Jefferson (Library of Religious Biography Series)

The Constitutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson (Constitutionalism and Democracy)

The War of 1812: A SHORT HISTORY

ASIN: 0345353803
Release Date: 1988-05-12

Amazon.com

The life of Thomas Jefferson, demonstrably the most intellectual of America's presidents, has fascinated scholars for generations. A careful but elusive autobiographer, Jefferson left behind such a wealth of information about himself and his times that he has fueled hundreds of studies. Noble Cunningham's one-volume life is somewhat dispassionate, giving only a little sense of Jefferson's greatness, but it covers the essential episodes in the Founding Father's life with admirable balance and conciseness. Read this along with Joseph Ellis's American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, and you'll have a very good idea of why we continue to find the early statesman fascinating today. --Gregory MacNamee

Book Description

"A major contribution." Washington Post
The authoritative single-volume biography of Thomas Jefferson, perhaps the most significant figure in American history. He was a complex and compelling man: a fervent advocate of democracy who enjoyed the life of a southern aristocrat and owned slaves, a revolutionary who became president, a believer in states' rights who did much to further the power of the federal government. Drawing on the recent explosion of Jeffersonian scholarship and fresh readings of original sources, IN PURSUIT OF REASON is a monument to Jefferson that will endure for generations.

Customer Reviews:

The Bureaucrat of Monticello.......2005-01-19

In this book Noble Cunningham has managed to make one of the most fascinating figures in American history pedestrian. He provides a dutiful recounting of the facts of Jefferson's life, but never makes him come alive. His thesis--that Jefferson saw the use of reason as the highest human undertaking--is certainly valid, but Jefferson was a man of enormous contradictions, none of which are truly explored here. This book makes the man who said "Democracy ought to be periodically washed in blood" seem like a hardworking civil servant.

A better title would be "Jefferson: His Public Life".......2004-08-24

I've been reading biographies of the presidents in the order they served, and I have to agree with Andrew Wagner's review: I don't really feel like I know Jefferson after reading this biography. Unlike McCullough's "John Adams" or Ketcham's "James Madison: A Biography," this book deals predominantly (just shy of exclusively) with Jefferson's public life. The author seems to begrudgingly deal with Jefferson's personal life only because some exposition of it is expected at certain points (e.g., formative years, Sally Hemings). He barely mentions Jefferson's friendships with Adams, Madison, and others. You'll know more about Jefferson's personal life from reading McCullough's book on Adams than reading this biography. That said, if you're, in fact, looking for a good synopsis of Jefferson's public life only, this book does a good job.

brief and fairly good.......2001-04-30

There is no dearth of literature on Thomas Jefferson.there are numerous books that offer detailed studies on various aspects of his life, political theory and his career. This book is obviously a brief account of the life and career of Thomas Jefferson. As such, it compromises on a detailed discussion on any one aspect of Jefferson's life, but this is understandable, given the limited scope of the book. Even so the discussion on Jefferson's presidency is a little too brief. However certain topics-such as the Emabargo, are handled fairly well. overall, this book is usefull to anyone who wishes to obtain a bird's eye view of Jefferson's life.

a fair and brief biography.......2001-04-29

I am only an undergrad student, so I admit I'm not all that well read. A wealth of literature has been published on Jefferson. There are a great many books carry out in-depth studies on various aspects relating to Jefferson. This book, is, however, a brief account of Jefferson's entire life.on that account,it is obviously a limited book. Even so the dicussion on Jefferson;s two terms as president are too brief. Yet Cunningham's approach to various subjects-the Embargo, for example are fairly good. The book includes a section on jefferson's last years (in the chapter "The Sage Of Monticello)which is brief yet intersting. Overall, the book tries to encompass Jefferson's personal as well as political life in its contents.Thus it compromises with many aspects.Yet it is a fairly good book overall.It is written in lucid style and would be useful to anyone wanting to obtain a bird's eye view of the life and career of Thomas Jefferson.

Good Biography for the Masses.......2001-04-17

This book has received unwarranted bad reviews and press simply because it is 'short.' Noble E. Cunningham's purpose, it seems, for this biography of Jefferson, was to present the essential life of Jefferson in such a way that all could enjoy. There have been so many biographies written on Jefferson and most are massive multi- volumes which can come across as very daunting to the average reader.

However, this book, while very well researched and authoritative in its content, is a biography which can be read by the average Joe and the scholar alike. Cunningham's research is very well documented, and the book is put together systematically from "The Formative Years" to "The Final Legacy." So, in a brief space, one can read this volume and learn the essential/perennial events which occurred in Jefferson's life. Moreover, Cunningham delves a little into Jefferson's personal affairs, such as his lost first love - Rebecca Burwell, to his admiration for Patrick Henry. Cunningham also details Jefferson's early intellectual influences and his love for law. In fact, in 349 pages of text, the most crucial and important events which occurred, and have been documented, in Jefferson's life are present in this text.

Therefore, Cunningham's attempt in writing this size biography was not to press his reader down in certain detail. Rather, Cunningham attempted to present a Jefferson which could be widely read by most anyone. His efforts are noble and successful on that level.

However, it must be stated that if you are wanting an intricately more detailed work of Jefferson, then this book will only wet your appetite for more. There are other biographies available (massive multi- volumes) for one to delve much deeper. But here, Cunningham just simply lets his reader know some of the most crucial events and facts. That being the case, this is a good book to begin your research and study of Thomas Jefferson.

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In Pursuit of Reason: The Life of Thomas Jefferson
Jr. Cunningham Noble E.
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVX7BO

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Very helpful and informative

Unless you are an absolute beginner, don't waste your money!

Excellent guide to buying and rehabbing a fixer-upper.

Find It, Buy It, Fix It: The Insider's Guide to Fixer-Uppers (Find It, Buy It, Fix It)
Robert Irwin
Manufacturer: Kaplan Business
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Buying & Selling Homes | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Investments | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Find It, Fix It, Flip It!: Make Millions in Real Estate--One House at a Time

Investing in Fixer-Uppers : A Complete Guide to Buying Low, Fixing Smart, Adding Value, and Selling (or Renting) High

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Investing In Fixer-Uppers (The Complete Idiot's Guide)

Buy It, Fix It, Sell It...PROFIT

The Complete Guide to Flipping Properties

ASIN: 1419535722
Release Date: 2006-09-01

Amazon.com

In this era of rising real-estate and building costs, it's natural that homeowner wannabes are turning to the less expensive (though more problematic) joys of fixer-uppers. Robert Irwin is a specialist in the area of improvable real estate, and this book is a terrific primer for those do-it-yourselfers who want to save money on the house of their dreams (or turn it around for a tidy profit). Irwin pulls no punches--he starts off with a quiz to determine what manner of fixer the potential buyer is able to handle; lays out the issue of money early on, keeping it firmly at the forefront of every chapter; and includes a horror story or two just to make sure the reader isn't easily scared off. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" seems to be his motto, however, and the venturesome handyperson will learn a lot from this book.

Book Description

Looking for a cost cffective way to join the real estate boom?

Although it's not for everyone, for those willing to accept the challenges of fixer uppers, buying and fixing up less than prime properties can be one of the most lucrative opportunities available.

This is a one stop guide for anyone considering buying or investing in houses, apartments, and commercial properties that work. You'll find loads of money saving and money making advice on how to find the best fixer uppers, inspect the properties to avoid ""money pits,"" identify ugly duckling properties that need only quick cosmetic fixes, and structure deals to achieve win-win outcomes.

Customer Reviews:

Very helpful and informative.......2001-03-13

This is a wonderful book that saved me countless dollars and hours in helping me figure out how the best way was to make my newly acquired 'fixer-upper' a dream home.

Unless you are an absolute beginner, don't waste your money!.......1998-11-03

Robert Irwin writes in general terms about things that are common sense to anyone who knows a screwdriver from a hammer. This book is strictly for someone that has not even purchased a house before. One last note; If you do buy this book, buy it from Amazon.com because it cost me four dollars more at my local book store!

Excellent guide to buying and rehabbing a fixer-upper........1998-10-15

This is a step-by-step guide to buying and rehabbing a handyman's (or woman's) special. Real estate expert Robert Irwin shows you how to decide if you're the right person for the project. If so, you'll learn how to locate a property, check it out, become its proud owner, then assemble your "dream team" of plumbers, electricians, and other contractors. You'll also find lots of helpful advice on estimating costs, financing the deal, and deciding what parts of the many projects to tackle yourself.

Customer Reviews:

Enlightening and Infuriating at the Same Time.......2007-03-12

Yes, this is THE source for information on Miles Davis' career. It should get five stars but there is a major sticking point for me. The book pretty much sticks to the musical aspects of Miles' life and it is chock-full of great information about line-ups, tours, recording dates.

I love all of Miles' work from his days with Parker until the day he died. It ALL has its place. Given that, I have a very serious problem with this book. Chambers is incredibly biased against Miles work from In a Silent Way onwards. He delivers many judgments about some recorded performances a "failures". He has very few positive things to say about this period. His comments about Big Fun and On the Corner (now considered far ahead of its time and a masterpiece) are inexcusable. He claims any listener to the music on Big Fun will find it frustratingly boring. Speak for yourself Chambers, Big Fun was the very record that got me into Miles Davis. If it's so lousy, why is it still in print in both a 24 bit remaster AND SACD? Chambers describes "He Loved Him Madly" from "Get Up With It" as "monochratic" and asserts it is incapable of sustaining the listener's interest. What? Again, if it's so boring, why is "Get Up With It" still in print and beautifully remastered 27 years after its initial release? SOMEbody is buying this stuff. We know who we are ;-)

I believe most folks don't read a book like this because they want a critique, they want information and perhaps insights from the folks who were there, playing the music, producing the music, etc. The information is here in this book, but the reader has to put up with Chamber's shallow opinions about Miles' later work. His comments about the Cellar Door gig with McLaughlin are ridiculous - especially given we can now actually hear much of those performances on the Cellar Door Sessions and that this was an incredibly good band with or without McLaughlin.

Chambers also prefaced this new edition with a long diatribe about Miles' last decade, calling him "Freaky Deaky" and making lots of plagerism complaints, i.e. Miles ripped off many of Chambers accounts and stories to create his autobiography. That may be a very valid point but I didn't buy this book to read about that sort of thing. So what, Chambers is upset that an old man who always claimed to have a poor memory used his book to recall some of the instances of his own life? Pathetic. Chambers forgets that he's made a handsome profit off of the life of Miles Dewey Davis. If Chambers felt he just HAD to include it, then it should have appeared as an epilogue not as a prologue full of sour grapes.

If you want to learn a lot about Miles, this is definitely THE book to purchase, but ya sure have to endure a lot of the author's sour grapes and subjective, snotty criticism to get the goods.

Definitive book on Miles.......2005-12-26

The best book on Miles Davis and one of the best jazz books ever written. Originally published in two volumes, the first half covers Miles from his birth up to 1960, the second half since 1960. The book is a bio-discography and centers around Miles's recording sessions. Full session details are given along with excellent commentary by Chambers.

Chambers knows what he's talking about when it comes to the music (a lot of jazz biographers are shaky when dealing with the actual music involved). Additional biographical detail is related as the book proceeds chronologically - club dates, personnel changes, business deals, troubles. It's a fascinating, detailed, and authoritative account of the life and career of Miles Davis. Definitive and a must-have book for anyone at all interested in Davis or modern jazz in general.

fine book, but . . ........2004-03-15

A fine book.
But Chambers is also slightly upset, I think, that Quincy Troupe got to work with Miles on his autobiography and not he -- and what Chambers' book is missing is exactly the kind of personal material (and voice) you find in Miles' autiobiograpy ("Miles").
The best thing about this book is the discussion of the wider context of Miles' music and performance ("the times"), but without Miles own voice it degenerates through the end of Part Two into a kind of annotated discography (mind you -- that's not all bad -- it is accurate and gave me a few ideas for out of the way purchases).
So, I recommend reading both this book and "Miles", for a complete picture.

Bravo Chambers!.......2003-02-04

This is probably the best book about the life of Miles Davis I have found. I have read his autobiography, the biography by Carr, and So What along with a couple of other Miles books. This one simply gives the best detail and most interesting about the artists life. If you want to read a book about Miles Davis start with this one. It is quite lenghty but there weren't many dull moments in Davis's life.

The definitve biography of Miles Davis written thus far.......2001-01-09

Jack Chambers has done a very hard task and that is to present the life of the legendary Miles Davis to readers in a very interesting, yet complex style which was reflective of the way Miles Davis led his life and music.

Miles Davis was the premiere jazz musician of his time along with John Coltrane, Charlie "Bird" Parker, Herbie Hancock, etc, yet while you can love Davis's music, to know the man was very hard to do, since Miles Davis was a standoffish and sullen individual. Chambers describes Davis's behavior as being sullen and hard to know because Davis's was a very shy man. I am sure that Davis lived a tough life because of injustice, yet it is sad that he didn't trust his fans and those who cared for him. Davis certainly lived the life of a "star", he over-indulged in sex, was an abuser of drugs, and had split personalities later on in life, yet his musical vision was almost always focused and clear, whether it be in the pinnacle of his talent (1950-1962), or his creating fusion (1967-1973), or the later part of his life.

Chambers does an excellent job of detailing the relationship Miles had with his fellow musicians such as the love-hate relationship with Theolonius Monk, the admiration and jealousy between Coltrane and Miles, as well as Miles being a mentor to such jazz greats as Herbie Hancock, John McGlaughlin, Chick Corea, etc.

I am a tremendous fan of Miles Davis jazz visions, I love his music and his musical style, yet after reading this book I feel sadness because I don't know if I pity Davis or just not liking him altogether, or admiring him no matter what, his final years were spent in paranoia, suspicion and feeding his ego, that is sad because if he would of just relaxed and enjoy his fans admiration I believe he might have lived longer. Anyways, this is an outstanding book and is highly recommended to all jazz lovers and fans of the immortal Miles Davis.

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Let's hope this title is updated soon!

This book is indispensible to any Miles Davis fan.

Milestones 1 and 2: Milestones 1, the Music and Times of Miles Davis to 1960/Milestones 2, the Music and Times of Miles Davis Since 1960
Jack Chambers
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0688059945

Customer Reviews:

Let's hope this title is updated soon!.......1998-04-03

This exceptional book on Miles is THE one to read if you want to know about the man and his music. All jazz biographies should be like that. I'm surprised to see it out-of-stock. Hopefully, it's because Mr Chambers is working on an updated version.

This book is indispensible to any Miles Davis fan........1997-12-15

For anyone who enjoys the work of Miles Davis, this book is an indispensible resource. Chambers' track-by-track analysis of each session invariable has me digging out all of my Miles Davis CDs. I am astounded that this book is out of print; I would think that it would have been popular among Miles Davis fans for years to come (and I was hoping that a later edition would cover the last five years of Miles' life). My copy of this book is dog-eared and losing pages; I would certainly buy another copy if it were available.

Milestones 1: The Music and Times of Miles Davis to 1960

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Milestones 1: The Music and Times of Miles Davis to 1960
J. K. Chambers
Manufacturer: Univ of Toronto Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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Milestones 1: The Music and Times of Miles Davis to 1960
Jack Chambers
Manufacturer: University of Toronto Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0802024998

Milestones 2: The Music and Times of Miles Davis Since 1960

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Milestones 2: The Music and Times of Miles Davis Since 1960
J. K. Chambers
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0688046460

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