Crisp: Office Management, Revised Edition: A Productivity and Effectiveness Guide (Crish 50-Minute Book)

Book Description

A concise guide to effective office management. Topics include how to plan, organize, and establish controls for better results. Exercises and case studies cover leadership in the office, building performance measurement, coaching and counseling skills, and more.

Office Management, a Productivity and Effectiveness Guide.

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Office Management, a Productivity and Effectiveness Guide.
Marilyn & Haddock, Patricia. Manning
Manufacturer: Crisp Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NXK8EM

Book Description

Issues surrounding executive compensation, employee benefits, and employment law are becoming increasingly important to nonprofits. And with the recent passage of intermediate sanctions, the government has signalled that they will be watching compensation and benefits of nonprofits very closely. This timely book fills the growing need by nonprofit executives for an accessible guide to legislation, case law, and IRS regulations.

Customer Reviews:

A Must-have Reference for U.S. Nonprofit Managers.......2001-06-10

One of the more daunting challenges for US nonprofit board members, officers, and senior staff is setting compensation and benefits for existing and prospective employees. They are faced with the challenges of navigating not only the "usual" employment-related laws that all employers face, but also those laws peculiar to the nonprofit sector.

There is also the related challenge of setting compensation levels and benefits high enough to compete for the most talented candidates, but not so high as to run afoul of the intermediate sanctions rules.

Unfortunately, there is no single book that I've found that combines both the legal and practical elements involved in such important decisions. However, I have found two books that, taken together, substantially cover the territory: Nonprofit Compensation, Benefits, and Employment Law, covering the legal aspects, and Nonprofit Compensation and Benefits Practices, covering compensation levels.

This review covers Nonprofit Compensation, Benefits, and Employment Law, a reference that focuses mostly on the legal aspects of employee compensation and benefits. It not only covers those laws unique to the nonprofit sector, but, thankfully, addresses workplace-related statutes of broader applicability such as workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and so on. It even covers 401(k) plans, which until recently were unavailable to nonprofit organizations.

Importantly, the book offers a solid treatment of the intermediate sanctions law -- a topic that is critical for these reasons:

--Board members, officers and other "managers" can be individually "fined" a 10% excise tax for participating in an excess benefit transaction. Voting on a compensation package that exceeds reasonable levels of compensation could give rise to such penalties.

--The employee who is over-compensated can be hit with 25% or, in some cases, 200% penalties.

While the book is comprehensive and well written, I would like to have seen model or sample employment agreements to help in drafting. Had it provided these samples, I would have given this a 5-star rating.

Book Description

Based on author's first-hand experience of running workshops for troubled directors at 3i this book offers some fascinating insights into what goes on behind boardroom doors. Whatever the size or nature of an organization, its directors are constantly faced with a myriad of problems and dilemmas: whether it's financial failure, fraud, succession issues, directors' indiscretions, a personality clash, a hostile takeover or low staff morale. In this no-nonsense and lively book, Patrick Dunne allows us to witness the wrangles and clashes.

Customer Reviews:

Highly Recommended!.......2005-09-07

You rarely find a good advice book for directors, since publishers presumably believe that its audience would be small and that, in any case, those sitting on corporate boards ought to know what they are doing. But as the infamous debacles at Enron, Tyco, HealthSouth and other companies show, this isn't always the case. getAbstract.com heartily recommends this book to all corporate board members, even those with long experience. Patrick Dunne provides a useful decision-making framework for resolving common problems. It is enhanced by behind-the-scenes case studies that depict a variety of difficult company decisions and how board members arrived at them - helpful for those facing similar crises. After reading this book, you will have only one dilemma left: deciding which of Dunne's solutions to try first.

An excellent insight into the world of venture capitalists.......2001-03-20

As I work in commercial due dilligence, this book has given me fresh insight into the working of the business.It is both easy to read and very entertaining.

Book Description

"Fast, Fresh and Spicy Vegetarian" contains imaginative and zesty combinations that will bring a spicy dash of excitement into anyone's kitchen. Among the flavorful dishes are: Sicilian Pizza and Gazpacho.

Customer Reviews:

A life-saver for busy, but hungry, people!.......1999-01-26

I hope for your sake that this book is reprinted! It has changed my life! I now actually cook the kinds of food I would love to buy at a gourmet, vegetarian deli! (But I live in a remote village and we don't have such opportunities!) I have a long commute and am short on time. But the interesting spices and food combinations in this book have inspired me to make the effort to cook -- for the first time in months! In fact, the recipes have been a springboard for culinary creativity. In several cases I've been inspired to augment the recipes with my own additions. (Because of that, I can't critique the recipes as they stand except to say that they got me into the kitchen and got my creative as well as gastronomic juices flowing!) I think anyone would like the recipes in this book -- vegetarian or not

Fast, Fresh & Spicy Vegetarian : Healthful Recipes for the Cook on the Run

Average customer rating:

Great Investment

Fast, Fresh & Spicy Vegetarian : Healthful Recipes for the Cook on the Run
John Ettinger
Manufacturer: Prima Lifestyles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Quick & Easy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0761516239
Release Date: 1998-08-26

Book Description

If you think vegetarian is tofu and brown rice, welcome to a new era—where vegetarian is peppers and pasta, curries and soups, stir-fry and pizza. The recipes in this revised edition of Fast, Fresh & Spicy Vegetarian disprove the idea that vegetarians are missing something. You'll find imaginative and zesty combinations that will bring a spicy dash of excitement into your kitchen. All you'll be missing is the high cholesterol and saturated fat!

Both vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike want foods that are fast, fresh, and full of flavor. This book delivers with dishes such as:

• Roasted Tomato and Habanero Sauce
• Bow-Tie Pasta with Mint
• Chili Pepper and Sour Cream Quesadillas
• Bleu Cheese and Roasted Pecan Salad
• Sicilian Pizza
• Spicy Corn Chowder
• Basil and Parmesan Ravioli
• And many more!

Each recipe includes nutritional analyses and estimated preparation and cooking time. With over 150 fast, fresh, and spicy recipes, deliciously healthful vegetarian cooking is just minutes away. Most dishes ready in 30 minutes or less! You've never had it so good!

Customer Reviews:

Great Investment.......2001-01-10

This is a great book that really delivers what it promises. Easy, great tasting recipes. Two of my favorites are the roasted cabbage with peanut sauce and the bean salad with citrus vinagrette. It includes many, simple ways to spice up rice dishes (if you have a ton of spices on hand already -- or force yourself to invest in them). However, I didn't give it five stars because like most recipe books, it has some ingredients that I've never heard of....but that's my own subjectiveness/food ignorance speaking. You might have the stuff already.

West's Federal Taxation: Individual Income Taxes 1999, Summary of IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998
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West's Federal Taxation: Individual Income Taxes 1999, Summary of IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998
William H. Hoffman
Manufacturer: Thomson Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Personal Taxes | Taxes | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Taxation | Law | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0324015607

West's Federal Taxation: Individual Income Taxes 1999, Summary of IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998
Average customer rating:
West's Federal Taxation: Individual Income Taxes 1999, Summary of IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998
William H. Hoffman
Manufacturer: Thomson Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OU8T8G

Essential Finance Series: Choosing the Right Stocks
Average customer rating:

Best book in the series....

Just the basics

Essential Finance Series: Choosing the Right Stocks
Marc Robinson
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Introduction | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Essential Finance Series: Investing Basics

Mutual Fund Investing (Essential Finance)

Essential Finance Series: Managing Credit

Essential Finance: IRA and 401(k) Investing

Online Investing (Essential Finance)

ASIN: 0789463180

Book Description

Instant insights on today's market.

Investing in stocks doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. Learning what stocks are and how they work shouldn't take hours of reading. In Choosing the Right Stocks, the author has collected the information, sifted out the nonessentials, and organized the rest into short, clear explanations to help you easily make sense of the process. This book explains the details, breaks them down into manageable parts, and provides the insights and tools to invest wisely in stock markets here and abroad. Power tips help you avoid the pitfalls and make the most of your time and money-the two most powerful currencies of investing. Taking a clear, concise approach to money management, the Dorling Kindersley Essential Finance Series provides a practical and impartial resource to guide you through important financial decisions. Useful questionnaires pinpoint one's financial status while easy-to-use charts and graphs help track cash flow. Cut through the complexities of financial lingo and gain the confidence needed to build real financial security. Learn to live debt free, invest in the stock market, pay for a child's education, or plan for retirement. Filled with practical advice on all aspects of money management, this series offers an excellent foundation for building a personal finance library.

Customer Reviews:

Best book in the series...........2001-08-26

But, could someone tell me why there are babies in diapers in this book. Just kidding, there are also pictures of jelly beans, a nude woman sneaking a peak around a sign (you can't see anything trust me and the sign says: Trading with Discretion..we get the point), a stork carrying a baby, a chess game, a kid on a phone...this book is way more fun than any of the others.

A lot of the other books just have pictures of people in business suits, but this one gets right down to life.

Did you know that "broker" was the term first used around 1622 to mean an agent in financial transactions? Originally it referred to wine retailers - those who "broach" or "break" wine casks.

So what does this cover?
Understanding Stocks Understanding the Market
Working with a Broker
Buying and Selling
Protecting Yourself

"Investing in stocks can be very lucrative and it can be very frustrating. Knowing as much about what you are investing in, will help make it a more satisfying and perhaps successful endeavor." pg. 5

As someone relatively new to investing, I enjoyed the books fun approach and how all the details were explained with ease. You will find you understand the financial news so much better!

Just the basics.......2001-04-18

I found this book to be a very basic, but also helpful book about investing. After reading it, I am confident enough to make a few investments and I can understand what I'm doing. Without going in to too much detail, this book gives a large amount of important information to a beginning investor. This book eliminates the mystery of the stock market.

Book Description

New economies are developing in the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong--and Western technology, management expertise, and capital are helping to fuel them. But every gain is hard won and Western businesspeople who are successful need to know the ins and outs of Chinese bureaucracy, political systems, and the Chinese character.

In this new edition of Chinese Etiquette & Ethics in Business, Boye Lafayette De Mente, who has lived and worked in the Far East for over thirty years, reveals the historic factors, collective traits, and individual qualities that determine how the Chinese do business today and the direction their economies will take in the future. His is an insider's view, whether he is discussing the overhaul of laws controlling business development or the importance of good social relationships to successful business relationships. If you are a businessperson who'd like to do business with the Chinese successfully--Chinese Etiquette & Ethics in Business should be at the top of your "must read" list.

"Boye De Mente is a life-long student and observer of Asia; an unchallenged authority on Asian etiquette and ethics in business. Few books are so well documented, with so many tips and things to know about today's China. Chinese Etiquette & Ethics in Business is must reading for anyone contemplating a business venture there."
-- Professor Andrew C. Chang American Graduate School of International Management

Customer Reviews:

An incorrect book........2005-09-04

If this book was ever true, then it must of been 100 years ago.

I found this book seemed to fill in some background information that tended to provide more body to the experiences that I have in China. In that respect it was good. That was, however, the only thing that I found worthwhile in the book. The book wrote about many things that were just out and out wrong.

It offended me. I do not recommend this book. It is misleading and certainly dated.

Not recommended.......2005-04-07

This book is chock-full of erroneous, confusing, and even harmful information. De Mente's information is so superficial, stereotyping, and ethnocentric as to verge on racism. E.g., the Chinese as "simpleminded" (25), Taiwan as "turning out students who are little better than robots" (23); "incapable of viewing the overall picture" (127). He writes of cultural values and customs as "cop-outs" (140); "psychological ploys" (141), "syndromes" (142), "mentalities" (193). The author's deep insensitivity to Chinese culture causes him to oversimplify and give advice that may actually alienate the reader from Chinese people: e.g., to get in the other person's face, stare into their eyes, and speak something extremely simple; repeat until they respond. (p. 91).

Throughout the book de Mente maks an utter mess of Chinese language. In addition to countless typographical errors, he mixes several different Romanization systems together with a pronunciation guide that is both idiosyncratic and often just plain wrong. He does not differentiate between `Mandarin' and Cantonese --as, for example when listing titles such as President, Director, etc. (130) even though he has stated earlier that they are `mutually unintelligible" languages. He insists on reversing the traditional order of Chinese names so that Mao Zedong becomes Zedong Mao, Sun Yat-sen becomes Yat-sen Sun, and the venerable Daoist sage known to the whole literate world as Laozi (aka Lao-tze or Lao-tsu) becomes Ze Lao. And Taijiquan (aka T'ai Chi Ch'uan) becomes Dai Ji Juan (169) - which makes no sense in ANY system!

Information sources tend to be generalized as unspecified "critics", "sociologists", etc., without citations. The book has neither an index nor a bibliography. All in all, it's hard to believe that the publisher didn't insist on more integrity.

As a cultural anthropologist who has done field-research in mainland China since 1988, I found this book deeply offensive, and would not recommend it to anyone at all.

A Very Superficial Book.......2000-08-21

I returned this book after reading half of it and skimming the other half. I can't find a single original observation to point to, and many of the observations about "Chinese etiquette" are really just observations about etiquette in general - such as the universal practice of starting a conversation with small talk.

One particularly annoying part of this book is the author's practice of compling long lists of Chinese vocabularly, phrases, place names, and historical references, and then failing to provide the character or "tone" marks. As anyone with an even cursory knowledge of China knows, Chinese is a tonal language and, hence, without tone marks a vocabulary item is completely useless to a foreigner. Moreover, the author misspells many of the pinyin transliterations, and often provides phonetic transliterations that are non-standard or inacurrate.

De Mente's book fails to account for regional differences........1998-06-14

After reading Boye Lafayette De Mente's Chinese Etiquette and Ethics in Business, I felt it imperative to respond because I found major flaws in his analysis. De Mente has spent thirty years in Japan and East Asia, but is clearly not an expert on Chinese etiquette and ethics in business. He appears to have collected information from a wide variety of sources and thrown them all together claiming that he is writing about Chinese business etiquette. However, he does not distinguish which Chinese culture he is referring to and often mixes characteristics of the etiquette observed in different Chinese subcultures. Many of the tips he gives as things to do in Chinese etiquette would cause serious social blunders in Shandong business culture. He frequently mixes Cantonese customs and northern Chinese customs which, under certain circumstances, are incompatible. I have included a few examples of where De Mente's analysis does not fit in the business culture found in Shandong Province.

De Mente obviously does not have a clear understanding of the northern Chinese psychology when he states that Chinese downplay the status one's friends and employer. This would certainly depend on who is present when the "downplaying" occurs. Northern Chinese often laud their friend's accomplishments in order to give them face and would never speak in a negative fashion about their employer while he or anyone who might inform him of what was being said was present because of the obvious consequences. Furthermore, the essence of interacting within northern Chinese culture is personal friendships which can be very intimate rather than being between organizations as De Mente purports. Normally, Shandongnese businessmen do business with an organization because of the personal friendship between two members of the respective organizations.

De Mente also suggests to "look the other party directly in the eyes, and say something simple in Chinese" in order to break the psychological block many Chinese have a! bout Chinese speaking foreigners. This tactic may appear to be effective in the immediate encounter, but it would be much too direct for most northern Chinese to accept. Furthermore, it would be a direct affront to their face. Rather than facilitating interaction with them, in the long term, it would more than likely cause them not to want to interact with an individual even though he has the ability to speak Chinese. Because one can speak Chinese, the expectation is that he also has a certain level of understanding of the culture. Therefore, this very un-Chinese behavior would be more damaging than not interacting in Chinese at all.

In his chapter on eating and drinking etiquette, De Mente states that the host is seated nearest the door and that "In Chinese etiquette, the left side is the seat of honor." However, in Shandong banquette culture the principle host is always seated furthest from the door and the seat of honor is always to the principle host's right. Furthermore, if a Shandong host were to only sip his alcoholic beverage while his guests were drinking full glasses, as De Mente suggests is the case, he would be seen as not fulfilling his responsibilities as host. Moreover, such an action would be a direct affront to his guests' face. Refusing to drink with someone, which includes the amount that is consumed with each drink, is tantamount to refusing to give that person face. This type of host would also be deemed as not being forthright because he refuses to drink to his ability. Thus, Shandong guests would not want to conduct business with such a host because he is not willing to reveal everything about himself to them.

Also, De Mente translates suiyi as 'to sip.' Sip might be what some guests do when the host tells them to suiyi, but suiyi does not mean to sip. This is a phrase commonly used by hosts to accomplish one of three tasks. One, it is a means for calling a time out in the performance. Actors can then eat a few bites of food and chat freely. This suiyi can be transla! ted as 'as you please.' Suiyi can also be used by hosts to display to the guests that he is performing his duties as host. In this usage, it should translate something roughly equivalent to 'Make yourself at home.' The third use of suiyi comes in the drinking context. Sometimes it means '[we are not going to play the Shandong banquet game today.] Don't stand on formalities.' However, when used in the context of drinking wars, it should be translated as 'Since you can't handle drinking very much, you do not have to drink your entire glass.' Combine this with the fact that glasses are filled almost to the point of overflowing, and the result is De Mente's 'sip.'

Finally, one glance at De Mente's glossary should inform the reader of the book's major flaw. It is a hodgepodge of Cantonese and Mandarin terms thrown together without being distinguished. Were the reader to adopt many of the phrases listed in the common business vocabulary section, he would have great difficulty being comprehended by Shandong businessmen.

Therefore, I would not recommend the person not familiar with Chinese culture who can not distinguish among the regional subcultures to use this book as a guide to interacting with Chinese professionals. The notion of subculture must be considered when professionally interacting with Chinese businessmen.

Well written; long on descript. of problem; short on advice.......1996-05-17

De Mente is an excellent writer who provides a good description of why the Chinese behave the way they do, and how they behave (which, I have decided, is enough to drive most western businesspersons mad). I found the book slightly lacking in practical advice, and suspect Mr. De Mente has few good stories to tell that he didn't. But overall quite good and well worth reading if you have any ideas about getting rich in China (don't quit your day job)

Average customer rating:

Chinese Etiquette & Ethics in Business
Boye De Menthe
Manufacturer: NTC Business Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IXIPCO

How to Get Tax Amnesty: A Guide to the Forgiveness of IRS Debt Including Penalties & Interest
Average customer rating:

Worth the Money

How to Get Tax Amnesty: A Guide to the Forgiveness of IRS Debt Including Penalties & Interest
Daniel J. Pilla
Manufacturer: Winning Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Taxes | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Civil Procedure | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books
General | Taxation | Law | Subjects | Books
Civil Procedure | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Irs, Taxes & the Beast

What the IRS Doesn't Want You to Know : A CPA Reveals the Tricks of the Trade (What the Irs Doesn't Want You to Know)

ASIN: 096171249X

Customer Reviews:

Worth the Money.......2000-03-31

This was my first year filling out my tax forms, and it helped me fill out the forms. It also made me aware of many tax deductions, and they we to use them

Book Description

Passionate portrayals of the great Maria Callas have appeared in countless articles and books. Yet behind the unanimous enthusiasm for the soprano's talent remains the mystery of the woman herself--restless, ephemeral, elusive. No one but "la Maria" could tell the real story of Maria Callas. Here, a new figure emerges, cultivated from the letters, memoirs, photographs, and ephemera that the authors have collected from Callas's personal archives and those of her friends. The result, in essence, is a secret diary illuminating the central episodes of her life.

Approaching Callas's most intimate self, the authors listen to her heart to narrate the story of a life which was essentially simple, though no less fascinating than the fabled existence imagined by her fans. Revealing the mysteries of her incomparable art, the secrets of her troubled soul, the tales of her joyful triumphs and painful delusions, this stunning visual chronicle brings us closer to a great star who was, above all, human. With a refined graphic presentation that includes a wealth of previously unpublished photographs, this work is a colorful and resonant tribute to the woman Callas was and the legend she continues to be twenty years since her death.

Customer Reviews:

a surprise.......2006-05-01

A beautiful and worthwhile book on Maria Callas, in a sort of guise of coffee table tome. The ivory flap cover is almost Raphaelite, but it's the photos inside really worth the price of admission. The text has little that's new. Pieces of Callas' private diaries and letters provide a unique, not extensive glance at her private life, forming at times a melancholy sense of a tenuous woman's personal fears and difficulties. Refuting a rumor that Meneghini wanted her to stop singing altogether, she denied that was his view, saying "It is not his view, because if it were I would never have sung again." Some interesting bits on Elsa Maxwell, who was apparently in love with Callas, and some of the finest photographs of Maria I've seen anywhere. The book is a genuine homage to her art, and there's nothing cheap or filler about it. It's an experience to dominate any Callas lover for a few hours, and the kind of book you can return to repeatedly. Molto recommendation.

A Very Handsome Edition.......2005-02-17

This is one of the most physically appealing Callas books on the market, although it is riddled with factual errors. The photos are cleverly utilitzed to fill space and add drama to what is eseentially a fluff job of writing. Would add it to any serious Callas collection for sheer visual impact.

Lots of beautiful pictures!!!.......2001-04-09

I loved reading this book since Callas was clearing up a lot of the rumors in her own words. Very interesting!! The pictures were amazing!! It doesn't show a lot of pictures of her in operas but it has a lot of pictures of Maria the woman. The pictures are arranged in a very interesting format. Each page has at least two pictures on it. Very Cool!!

Copyrights.......1999-03-24

One cannot copyright titles

A book without the old hackneyed information.......1998-06-27

I was somewhat perplexed by the earlier review as it had nothing whatsoever to do with the book. While Maria Callas was not an articulate spokesperson, we do, in the volume, have a rare glimpse of the inner woman as well as the outer persona. The photographs were particularly good, and surprisingly intact considering that they must have been rather old when incorporated into this volume. And, above all, they were not the 'usual old photos of Maria Callas'. For fans of hers and even if you are not, there's a lot of meat in this volume especially after most of what has been printed about her is of the coffee table variety without much substance.

Callas by Callas: The Secret Writings of la Maria.

Average customer rating:

Callas by Callas: The Secret Writings of la Maria.
Renzo. & ALLEGRI,Roberto. ALLEGRI
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WFNIIO

Average customer rating:

Callas by Callas: The Secret Writings of la Maria.
MARIA CALLAS
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RQI1J4

Customer Reviews:

Don't buy this book........2003-04-05

This is a terrible book. The story is very boring. Her father is barely mentioned because he isn't even living in the home most of the time. Its more about what goes on when he's not there. Her father was also never diagnosed as being bipolar, and the author is very unconvincing when explaining why she thinks he was. Anyone who knows anything about this disorder will be very disappointed in this book.

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