French Business Situations: A Spoken Language Guide (Languages for Business)

Book Description

French Business Situations is a handy reference and learning text for all those who use or need spoken French for business. It is suitable for self-study or class use. Over 40 spoken situations are simply presented, including: basic phone calls; leaving messages; making presentations; comparing, enquiring, and booking; and selling techniques. With full English translations and brief usage notes, this guide will help the user communicate confidently in a broad range of everyday situations.

From management situations to 'action-territories': Lessons for Territorialized policy. The case of territorial farm contracts in the French Departments ... from: Canadian Journal of Regional Science

Average customer rating:

From management situations to 'action-territories': Lessons for Territorialized policy. The case of territorial farm contracts in the French Departments ... from: Canadian Journal of Regional Science
Marc Piraux , Eduardo Chia , and Michel Dulcire
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of Regional Science, published by Thomson Gale on March 22, 2006. The length of the article is 9259 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: From management situations to 'action-territories': Lessons for Territorialized policy. The case of territorial farm contracts in the French Departments Overseas./De la situation de gestion au territoire actionnable des enseignements en matiere de politique territorialisee. Le cas des Contrats Territoriaux d'Exploitation dans les Departements d'Outre *.
Author: Marc Piraux
Publication: Canadian Journal of Regional Science (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Page: 69(21)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Just Listen 'N Learn Business French: Communicating in Business Situations With Confidence

Average customer rating:

Just Listen 'N Learn Business French: Communicating in Business Situations With Confidence

Manufacturer: Natl Textbook Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Communication | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0844216143

Mole & Shrew Have Jobs To Do (Stepping Stone, paper)

Average customer rating:

Mole & Shrew Have Jobs To Do (Stepping Stone, paper)
Jackie French Koller
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Careers | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375806911
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Book Description

In this third title about Mole and Shrew, the fabulous friends find themselves a little short of cash. At Shrew's suggestion, the two head into the working world with hysterical results. Mole manages to thwart their attempts at everything from hanging wallpaper ("Where are the hooks?" asks Mole) to waiting on tables ("Why would you want to wait on a table? A chair would be more comfortable.").

Average customer rating:

French Business Situations

Manufacturer: ROUTLEDGE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GXYJVM

Book Description

This law handbook contains information on basic business legislation, laws and regulatoins affecting export-import, business, foreign investments, property rights, taxation and banking. (Updated annually)

Central African Rep. Business Law Handbook

Average customer rating:

Central African Rep. Business Law Handbook
Ibp USA
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7GI6A

Book Description

Success can be measured in various ways, but ultimately, success is defined by the person striving to achieve it. Charles Patrick Garcia knows this well. Throughout his career, from Chairman of the Cadet Honor Committee at the U.S. Air Force Academy to White House Fellow to CEO of the nation's fastest growing Hispanic-owned business-Garcia has learned how to succeed, and now he wants to show people from all walks of life, at any age, how to do the same in both business and life.

Customer Reviews:

Inspiring!!.......2007-02-09

This is a great book that gives you hope and inspires you to succeed in life. I loved it and shared it with all of my family and friends.

I liked it.......2005-01-04

I'm a pretty big fan of motivational books, because they seem to be exactly what I need at any particular moment. I actually found out about A Message From Garcia through an email spam. It was touted as "different." I'm not sure how different since many books of this genre are usually speaking the same message, just with different examples and perspectives. But, it was easy to read and kept me turning the page. I really liked the "how to" aspect of the book. After all, it isn't any good reading about other people's success if you don't know how to make your own.

A big "different" -- The book was augmented with a website called Success Compass which helps you set goals and then e-mails you a reminder at whatever frequency you wish, even several times a day. I guess the key to success is not allowing yourself to forget what you want, and the Success Compass website doesn't let you forget. I liked it and I think you'll like it too.

Makes You Think.......2004-05-27

Gave me a new train of thought about money. Helps you to "see" how you actually view money, plus a lot of other insightful information. I liked it, it's that simple.

Insightful!.......2004-04-22

The recipe for success isn't so tough to figure out, writes financial entrepreneur Charles Patrick Garcia. Start with a heaping helping of passion, then mix in equal parts hard work, integrity, belief and positive attitude. The quality of the final dish resides in the details, of course, so the former military intelligence officer outlines the actions you must take to succeed and the mindset you need to adopt. Garcia's easily digested writing style, peppered with plenty of real-world examples from the military, politics and business, makes this motivational book a rewarding repast. We suggests Garcia's success manual to managers looking for a refresher course in staying focused, inspired and on task.

synchronicity, indeed!.......2004-03-04

here is a light read with a heavy dose of motivation! if you are down about having resigned yourself to a life of mediocrity, mr. garcia has crafted just the pep talk you need. replete with apt anecdotes and real-life success stories, the book inspires you to greatness and a life of deliberate action.

"yes, you can succeed" fortuitously appeared in my life just as i was reevaluating my future. i gave a copy of the book to a friend wrestling with similar issues. if you are ready to start turning your dreams into reality, you should get yourself a copy, as well.

Book Description

Step aside Iron John-and pass the coleslaw. Welcome to the world of patio cuisine, where foods from the '50s meet the discerning tastes of the '90s. From Buzzomatic Coffee Coolers to Cracklin' Sugar-Charred Cowboy Steak, Backshack Blueberry Cornbread, and Gooey Mounds Sundaes, Patio Daddy-O brings back all the fun, spirit, and nostalgia of outdoor cooking with new twists on classic fare. Illustrated with full color photographs of vintage tablecloths, aprons, and other period essentials, and complete with valuable tips on barbecuing like a pro, Patio Daddy-Ooffers a lively look back for '90s fans- and makes a neat-o gift for Dad.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-01-10

This book has the best recipe for potato salad, BBQ chicken, and salsa!

Cute, but I don't really use it.......2005-09-24

I got this book as a gift. It was a cute book - something that brought me back to the days of "Dad Knows BBQ Best." Sadly, I don't really use the book too much.

As a cookbook: ok
As a cute gift for a dad who likes to cook: priceless

Slab o' Fun!.......2001-09-17

My new favourite cookbook, and I haven't even tried out the recipes yet! Everything about this book seems so fresh even though the graphics are items that are over 50 years old. The copy is vividly written, just reading the recipes makes you want to throw on an apron and get grillin! The titles of recipes are fabulous, such as "Slab o' Fun Barbequed Meat Loaf" and "Cheesy-Drippin, Garlic Fumin' St. Louis Salad" and the recipes are equally creative. I love how they take classics and give them a twist! There is not a single recipe in this book that I expect to find in any other cookbook. Even if the recipes didn't look delicious and interesting I would still want this book. It's a wonderful reference for the 50's kitsch collecter...all kinds of bbq items and pictures illustrate each page, all appropriately chosen. The graphics add so much! This is a gem of a book! I can't wait to display this wonderful conversation peice on my chrome bakers rack in my retro kitchen and have my friends over for a classic patio party!

COOL!.......2000-09-16

Being an excellent cook myself, I read cookbooks more for ideas than anything else. This book not only gave me lots of ideas, it brought back memories of my Grandmother's cooking. Also, it wasn't filled with a lot of endless, useless, chatter.

This book has incredible graphics - 50's style. I've stood it up on my counter and everyone who comes over says, "Patio DaddyO!" Unfortunately, it hasn't inspired my husband to take over the tongs. Ah well. This makes a great gift for any BBQ'er or yourself - especially if you're into the late 50's/ early 60's style of anything. Worth the low price and more.

Summertime BBQ Fun..........2000-06-20

This is such a fun book, plus it has some great summer recipes (easy, too!)! It's even just a "fun" read for us "babyboomers", takes us back to the good old backyard bbq days with the family!

Average customer rating:

Street Smarts

if you don't like this, you don't understand trading

This book is over priced and an absolute waste of precious time!

Expensive???

Who gave woman a free pass?

Street Smarts: High Probability Short-Term Trading Strategies
Laurence A. Connors , and Linda Bradford Raschke
Manufacturer: M. Gordon Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Futures | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Options | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Entries & Exits: Visits to 16 Trading Rooms (Wiley Trading)

Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom

Trading in the Zone: Master the Market with Confidence, Discipline and a Winning Attitude

Mastering the Trade (McGraw-Hill Trader's Edge)

High Probability trading

ASIN: 0965046109

Book Description

Published in 1996 and written by Larry Connors and "New Market Wizard" Linda Raschke. This 245 page manual is considered by many to be one of the best books written on trading futures. Twenty-five years of combined trading experience is divulged as you will learn 20 of their best strategies.

Among the methods you will be taught are:

* Swing Trading - The backbone of Linda's success. Not only will you learn exactly how to swing trade, you will also learn specific advanced techniques never before made public!
* News - Among the strategies revealed is an intra-day news strategy they use to exploit the herd when the 8:30am economic reports are released. This strategy will be especially appreciated by bond traders and currency traders.
* Pattern Recognition - You will learn some of the best short-term set-up patterns available. Larry and Linda will also teach you how they combine these patterns with other strategies to identify explosive moves.
* ADX - In our opinion, ADX is one of the most powerful and misunderstood indicators available to traders. Now, for the first time, they reveal a handful of short-term trading strategies they use in conjunction with this terrific indicator.
* Volatility - You will learn how to identify markets that are about to explode and how to trade these exciting situations.
* Also, included are chapters on trading volatility, trading Crabel, trading the smart money index, trading gap reversals, a special chapter on professional money management, and many other trading strategies!

Customer Reviews:

Street Smarts.......2007-01-26

I never received the book. Apparently the seller used the slowest form of shipping there is. No one knows where the books is. He shipped on 12/27/06. I have since had the sellers refunded and took that business elsewhere and received it in 3 days time.

if you don't like this, you don't understand trading.......2006-12-05

you can always spot s loser by one of (or both) of two reactions:

1- They want to get into a business to make money but think $200 is too much!!

2- They expect what they read to agree with their bias

Anyone who wants to make money but thinks a book is expensive at $170 has the wrong personality for trading. If you are like that, you have no business trading because you are too greedy and a coward.

Secondely, when you are making a comment about someone, it is really important to REALLY be sure that what you are saying is acccurate. The implication that Linda does not make money trading is just ridiculous. The woman is a bloody Market Wizard, for God's sake! She is also a pretty crap promoter of her services.

The book is excellent. The question is: does it contain methods that can make you money? Of course it does. You guys are clearly sleep walking because you are concentrating on believing that every method in the book will make you money all the time under any circumstances. Quit believing that and pick the ones that work under different market conditions.If you can't, it is your fault, not the book's.

If you watch Linda trading, you will see her using those setups under the right conditions. The fact is, if you cannot make money trading the setups in the book, you are either new and have to learn the basics first, or you are not cut out for this business.

This book is over priced and an absolute waste of precious time! .......2006-09-22

If you are new to the trading game, try to avoid getting sucked into the fantasy world of imaginary trading setups.

Turtle Soup, Momentum Pinball, 3 Little Indians? Are you kidding me! Talk about sell the sizzle, not the steak.

Understand the markets first, I would recommend reading books published by the CFA Institute, then read about accomplished traders, you know the guys who actually make money trading as a profession (Dennis, Tudor Jones, Borsellino, etc), then develop your own approach to the markets.

If you're interested in Technical Analysis, you can join the MTA (Market Technicians Association),its well worth the time and money.

Save your money folks! There are plenty of quality classic trading books out there for 90% less, and without all the mindless drivel.

Buyer Beware!!!!!!

Expensive???.......2006-08-23

I bought this book on a recommendation from another trader. I paid a lot less than the $175 they are asking now, but I still thought it was very expensive. I read through half of the book and thought it was interesting. On one of those days I had the book open on my desk and realized that one of the patterns from the book was forming! I waited till the right moment and took the trade on 2 year treasuries. Exited the trade about a minute later with a $225 profit. That paid for the book on a single trade.

I realize I could have also lost $225 on that trade, then the cost of the book would have been around $350. I was now happy with the purchase of the book. I looked for more trades, but did not find any that week. Then the book got pushed aside and forgotten about. I found the book again last week because I heard someone mentioning it. I pulled it out and reread it.

I think the book has something to offer. Is it too expensive? That is hard to say. For me it became free after one trade. Was I just lucky? I don't think so because I can scroll through charts and see a lot of the set-ups in hindsight. So the trades are there, its just a matter of being there to pull the trigger as they happen.

I hope to get more out of the book from this second reading. One thing I have noticed is that many times I read a book and get something. Then upon rereading it I pick up many thoughts that I did not see or understand during the first reading. Maybe I wasn't ready at the time, but having many dozens of books under my belt and lots more life experience in between the first and second readings, I was able to digest more.

Who gave woman a free pass?.......2006-08-07

I am aficionado of good books on technical analysis and this is certainly not a good one! Many of the techniques described in this book were invented by me as well many years before this book was published. Subseqeuntly, I discarded them into my recyclcle bin as worthless. I am not even a full time investor, devoting a good share of my time to real estate. I am just surprised that people are gullible enough to accept this tripe. This expensive book, expensive seminars, expensive internet service. What is this huckster going to come up with next. Perhaps she has gotten away with this sham because she is a female in a predominanatly male business. I too am involved in the national technicans group and I am embarrassed to be associated with such ilk. I have much to contribute to this industry and look forward to doing so in the future. In the meantime, I can only hope these market charlatans mend their ways.

Book Description

Mergent's Handbook of Common Stocks(TM) offers you quick and easy access to key financial statistics on approximately 900 New York Stock Exchange-listed issues.

This handbook, updated quarterly, presents market data, performance ratios, stock prices, and dividend information of recent quarterly results as well as future prospects in succinct one-page profiles. Filled with the latest available facts and figures, Mergent's Handbook of Common Stocks helps you make the most informed investment decisions.

Each full-page company profile includes: Business Summary — highlights products, markets and business lines; Summary of recent developments, including latest quarterly earnings reports; Future prospects analysis; Stock movement charts showing 10-year records of monthly highs and lows and trading volumes, if available; Ten years of income statement and balance sheet data, if available; Dividend payment record; Key performance ratios; Institutional holdings—number of institutions and number of shares held; Officers, address, phone and fax numbers, Web sites, transfer agents, auditor, investor contact and legal counsel and more.

Plus, special addenda that includes: Companies added and dropped; Recent and pending dividends and splits; Recent dividend changes; Recent and pending name changes; Latest developments and more.

A Century of Providing Trusted Information
For over a century, Mergent has been the preferred source for global business and financial information by providing comprehensive data to savvy investors, both novice and professional. Mergents business research tools offer a convenient way to quickly identify potential investment opportunities with the most reliable and complete business and financial information available.

Average customer rating:
Mergent's Handbook of Nasdaq Stocks Winter 2005: Featuring Third-Quarter Results for 2004 (Mergent's Handbook of Nasdaq Stocks)
Inc. Mergent
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Introduction | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0471663417

Book Description

Mergent's Handbook of NASDAQ Stocks offers you quick and easy access to key financial statistics on companies listed on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange.

This handbook, updated quarterly, presents market data, performance ratios, stock prices, and dividend information of recent quarterly results as well as future prospects in succinct one-page profiles. Filled with the latest available facts and figures, Mergent's Handbook of NASDAQ Stocks helps you make the most informed investment decisions.

Each full-page company profile includes: Business Summary - highlights products, markets, and business line; Summary of recent developments, including latest quarterly earnings reports; Stock performance chart; Ten years of income statement and balance sheet data, if available; Key performance ratios; Officers, address, phone and fax numbers, Web sites, transfer agents, auditor, investor contact and legal counsel; and more.

Plus, features that includes: Company stock selling below book value; Price score leaders; Rankings by selected investment criteria; Stocks with high and low price earnings multiples; Low-price stocks

Book Description

This book is a study of the core issues in the field of business ethics from both an historical and a systematic standpoint. It analyzes corporate social responsibility, stakeholders, ethical codes, corporate cultures, and other issues. But the analysis takes place within a framework specially designed by the author in order to integrate the various dimensions of present-day business ethics. This integration is linked to an interpretation of business ethics as an organizational learning process in the context of the social and cultural changes caused by the emergence of a knowledge society. This approach makes it possible to adopt a focus and language, which can simultaneously take into account ethical concerns and corporate and organizational development. A previous version of the book (written in Catalan) was awarded the 1998 Joan Sardà Dexeus prize for best book on corporate economics by the Catalan Association of Economists.

Book Description

Documenting the evolution of economic development and fiscal policies in Taiwan over the last four decades, this work explores the effectiveness of specific tax and trade policies. The authors make a major revision to the previously accepted role played by the export processing zones and the protection of domestic producers from foreign competition. The extensive use of duty exemption systems enabled the government to create competition among the exporting firms, and the innovative design of economic policies and administrative systems helped the private sector generate savings, expand investments, and promote exports. This work analyzes how unique fiscal policies and administrative practices were designed to foster the rapid growth and development of Taiwan during this period.

Taxation and development: The Taiwan model (Working paper)

Average customer rating:

Taxation and development: The Taiwan model (Working paper)
John Riew
Manufacturer: Penn State, Dept. of Economics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Development & Growth | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Taxation | Law | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00072C0AO

Average customer rating:
Countries of the World & Their Leaders Yearbook 2005 (Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook)

Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Presidents & Heads of State | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Yearbooks & Annuals | Almanacs & Yearbooks | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Geography | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0787674087

Average customer rating:
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2005. Volume 1 : Status of the World's Nation. Background Notes : Afghanistan - Mosambique. (Countries of the World, Volume 1)

Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0787674095

Product Description

2005 edition. Volume 1 only. Covers Afganistan - Mozambique.

Book Description

Rich Shull like many of his counterparts worldwide grew up in an era before Autism was diagnosable and as such we have figured out Autism from end-to-end. With our Personal experience in Autism thinking and real life we blend together Autism (Picture Thinking) and normal thought to achieve a normal life. We drive hold normal jobs and are not the stereotypical Rain Man or anti-social genius, the world knows so well, as Autism. We can see the OBVIOUS errors and myths the current Autism thinking has created and thank our lucky stars we were never diagnosed, or we would all be in a group home. Modern Autism Education is two Steps backwards. Our success in real life needs to be studied and accounted for. It is AutismÂ's success bottled and waiting to be tapped.

What Current Autism Expert can claim first had knowledge with Autistic thought and our super active senses and even our Pain free injuries? Pre Rain Man Autism has ignored us for years now. Perhaps it has missed a few points that we have discovered and cured?

Customer Reviews:

Thank goodness for Rich!.......2006-06-14

First of all remember Rich is autistic himself, beginning with that premise, this book is really an amazing work. But add to that the provacative, entertaining and cutting edge work, and this young man equal genuis. Read it for yourself!

I am so glad that I found this book. I have learned so much from reading Rich's detailed explanation of picture thinking. This has opened my eyes to completely new ways to view teaching Autistics. I realize that not everyone picture thinks, but gosh what a great opening for those who do picture think, this could change their future. I work with an autistic young man, he has much more potential that he is presently able to perform. I have been using the picture thinking approach with him and I see some definate improvement in his communication. That speaks volumes.

Sophistry.......2005-09-03

As dearly as I rue the release of the 1988 movie "Rain Man," the one thing I can say in its defense is that to a certain extent, it sparked an interest in autism/Asperger's (a/A). My chief complaint about "Rain Man" is that it has reinforced a stereotype. Savantism affects less than 10% of people with autism, so I admit to getting frustrated with the liberal application of the "Rain Man" term and description being so readily applied to people with autism. In fact, the very term "Rain Man" is offensive and considered a slur among many a/A circles. Many is the time I've wished I had an umbrella with the Autism Jigsaw pattern that said, "Rain Man Myth Busters."

To this author's credit, the issue of people with autism not knowing what their "undefined social differences were" and groping and coping with social cues that seemed elusive is valid. I like the author's claim that neurotypical (NT) people can learn from their autistic counterparts just how confusing the Tacit Social Codes & Rules can be. This knowledge can hopefully help children with autism today.

However, I take issue with the stereotypes. Not ALL people with autism have avoid hugs. Not EVERYBODY with autism has a high threshold for pain or thinks in pictures. Applying these features to the entire a/A population is just as misleading as that tired image of Rain Man. These stereotypes are no less offensive. Saying that one knows about autism because they watched Rain Man, which is about one fictional character with a very rare form of autism is tantamount to saying they are a gourmet chef because they watched one cooking show.

Autism, as with any condition is on a spectrum. There will be overlapping behaviors in people with Asperger's; that is, people at the higher end of the spectrum will exhibit behaviors that are readily identifyable as autistic. The assumptions this author makes are very misleading indeed.

A generation ago, people with autism were often misdiagnosed and this in turn led to harmful treatments and inappropriate placements. How on earth can Shull support the claim that misdiagnosis and its resulting problems, e.g. inappropriate treatment ensured a better life is a mystery to me.

Sadly, the term "autistic" often resounds a death knell to "normalcy" and a "fulfilling life" to the NT population. Low expectations are often placed on people labeled with autism which in turn leads to inappropriate treatments and placements. Each generation has its individual issues and problems, and this seems to be the unfortunate underbelly of this generation of diagnosticians.

I am among the first to encourage people to work with the a/A population based on areas of strength as opposed to areas of opportunity and to his credit, Shull appears to do this in his fashion. While accounts of picture thinking are fascinating, it is misleading and just plain wrong to say that is the way all people with autism think. That just isn't true. Autism is as varied as individuals who have it and saying that one has to fit a certain paradigm hurts all and helps none.

One size does NOT fit all. Shull's operational definition of success doesn't apply to all autistics OR to all NTs, either. I found myself wishing he'd give the "picture thought" concept a rest - not ALL people with autism think in pictures! The other part of this book that bothered me was that "picture thinking," according to him is "abnormal," which means any other type of thinking, e.g. language based is "normal." I don't think one can measure such a thing. While there are people, most notably Dr. Temple Grandin, who has publicly described her "picture thinking" and even titled one of her books "Thinking in Pictures," it does not mean that everybody with autism thinks that way. Donna Williams, another author with autism does an exemplary job of addressing the language interpretations of conversation and of language based thinking in "Autism: An Inside-Out Approach." Many people I know with autism as well as NT will say that their thoughts are language based.

I also did not like his claim that people who don't think in pictures can expect a better social outcome and are entitled to a "fuller" education, whereas picture thinkers do not. How does he explain Dr. Grandin, a self-admitted, self-avowed picture thinker?! How does he explain Georgiana Thomas, the daughter of Annabelle Stehli, who writes of Georgie's stellar progress in "The Sound of a Miracle?" Georgie, herself an author, has written "Overcoming Autism" which is currently available on her website. She is fluent in 6 languages including Arabic and she says her thoughts were always language based. How does Shull explain that? Georgie had severe autism as a child, but successful Auditory Integration Therapy (AIT) helped her progress to a point where her autistic tendencies had receded.

Another thorn in my side was when the author said that people who don't fit his criteria are not autistic. Nobody would choose to be autistic, but for those who are, Shull appears to negate their experiences. There are many people with autism who have no common ground with the author's accounts and whose life experiences with autism just don't apply to the rules he has given. While this book starts out with a seemingly sound premise, it degenerates into sophistry and is very misleading.

Sophistry.......2005-08-31

To this author's credit, the issue of people with autism not knowing what their "undefined social differences were" and groping and coping with social cues that seemed elusive is valid. I like the author's claim that neurotypical (NT) people can learn from their autistic counterparts just how confusing the Tacit Social Codes & Rules can be. This knowledge can hopefully help children with autism today.

However, I take issue with the stereotypes. Not ALL people with autism have avoid hugs. Not EVERYBODY with autism has a high threshold for pain or thinks in pictures. Applying tthese features to the entire a/A population is just as misleading as that tired image of Rain Man. These stereotypes are no less offensive. Saying that one knows about autism because they watched Rain Man, which is about one fictional character with a very rare form of autism is tantamount to saying they are a gourmet chef because they watched one cooking show.

Autism, as with any condition is on a spectrum. There will be overlapping behaviors in people with Asperger's; that is, people at the higher end of the spectrum will exhibit behaviors that are readily identifyable as autistic. The assumptions this author makes are very misleading indeed.

A generation ago, people with autism were often misdiagnosed and this in turn led to harmful treatments and inappropriate placements. How on earth can Shull support the claim that misdiagnosis and its resulting problems, e.g. inappropriate treatment ensured a better life is a mystery to me.

Sadly, the term "autistic" often resounds a death knell to "normalcy" and a "fulfilling life" to the NT population. Low expectations are often placed on people labeled with autism which in turn leads to inappropriate treatments and placements. Each generation has its individual issues and problems, and this seems to be the unfortunate underbelly of this generation of diagnosticians.

I am among the first to encourage people to work with the a/A population based on areas of strength as opposed to areas of opportunity and to his credit, Shull appears to do this in his fashion. While accounts of picture thinking are fascinating, it is misleading and just plain wrong to say that is the way all people with autism think. That just isn't true. Autism is as varied as individuals who have it and saying that one has to fit a certain paradigm hurts all and helps none.

One size does NOT fit all. Shull's operational definition of success doesn't apply to all autistics OR to all NTs, either. I found myself wishing he'd give the "picture thought" concept a rest - not ALL people with autism think in pictures! The other part of this book that bothered me was that "picture thinking," according to him is "abnormal," which means any other type of thinking, e.g. language based is "normal." I don't think one can measure such a thing. While there are people, most notably Dr. Temple Grandin, who has publicly described her "picture thinking" and even titled one of her books "Thinking in Pictures," it does not mean that everybody with autism thinks that way. Donna Williams, another author with autism does an exemplary job of addressing the language interpretations of conversation and of language based thinking in "Autism: An Inside-Out Approach." Many people I know with autism as well as NT will say that their thoughts are language based.

I also did not like his claim that people who don't think in pictures can expect a better social outcome and are entitled to a "fuller" education, whereas picture thinkers do not. How does he explain Dr. Grandin, a self-admitted, self-avowed picture thinker?! How does he explain Georgiana Thomas, the daughter of Annabelle Stehli, who writes of Georgie's stellar progress in "The Sound of a Miracle?" Georgie, herself an author, has written "Overcoming Autism" which is currently available on her website. She is fluent in 6 languages including Arabic and she says her thoughts were always language based. How does Shull explain that? Georgie had severe autism as a child, but successful Auditory Integration Therapy (AIT) helped her progress to a point where her autistic tendencies had receded.

Another thorn in my side was when the author said that people who don't fit his criteria are not autistic. Nobody would choose to be autistic, but for those who are, Shull appears to negate their experiences. There are many people with autism who have no common ground with the author's accounts and whose life experiences with autism just don't apply to the rules he has given. While this book starts out with a seemingly sound premise, it degenerates into sophistry and is very misleading.

Interesting but misleading.......2004-01-23

This book starts out with a good premise: That, prior to the widespread knowledge of autism after Rain Man, there were plenty of autistic people who had grown up unaware of their autism and learning their own ways to function in society. The author believes that we can learn from the experiences of this set of people, himself included, in order to learn how to better educate today's autistic children.

Unfortunately, much of the book is a foray into overgeneralization. The two most important aspects of autism, to the author, seem to be picture thinking and a high pain tolerance. The book even goes so far as to state, at one point, that anyone who does not have a high pain tolerance, dislike hugging, and dislike human contact is merely a non-autistic person misidentified as autistic. This paves the way for a book that focuses solely on a narrow group of autistic people as the real autistic people.

Another flaw in the book is the author's assumption that autistic people of his generation grew up undiagnosed and therefore had better life outcomes than those later on. While I agree with the author that many of the treatments and low expectations given to diagnosed children these days are damaging and limiting, I think that he has overlooked those in his generation who spent large parts their lives on the streets or in institutions rather than living the model of success he is describing. His goals and definitions of success are not common to all autistics, either. I also think that his cure-all -- learning what he refers to as advanced picture thought -- will not in itself make autistic people able to do all the things he has done.

I do think it is good that he has written a book on the details of picture thought, or at least the particular variety of picture thought he is most familiar with. I also think it is good that he is looking at teaching autistic people via strengths rather than weaknesses. I find it unfortunate that the book generalizes from the personal experience of one man and those most like him, in order to do this, and that the author redefines autism to mean people like him, leaving those of us who may not be like him as either not really described or categorized as "non-autistic autistics".

It is also problematic that he describes only two kinds of thought: picture thought and normal thought. And that he believes that while picture-thinking autistics are harmed by a way of education that does not take their thinking into account, non-picture-thinking autistics will not be harmed by an education geared solely toward picture thinkers. He also believes that non-picture-thinking autistics will benefit from the regular style of education, when this is far from the case.

Included in this book are detailed descriptions of the author's particular variety of picture thinking and pain perception, many descriptions of his life and his passion for auto mechanics, his views on autism and gayness, and his ideas about educating autistics. It is well worth reading if it is kept in mind that this is one of the books of its kind that overgeneralizes the most about what autism is, going so far as to call autistic people who are not like the author in three respects non-autistic. The ideas in this book will be useful for that group of autistic people who are like the author in these ways, and that is good. But there are many more autistic people out here who have little in common with the author's descriptions (and even his descriptions of the exceptions to his rules), and who are still quite autistic and in need of an education that suits *their* strengths. The premises are good but the book only partly delivers on them.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books