Review of Research Methods in the Social Sciences w/Data Disk (Windows) (Hardcover)

This is the sixth edition, which means that the still probably useful fifth and previous editions are now good for landfill duty.The price is hefty. (Why don't textbook publishers offer financing?) That said, this isa usable book, one that the reader might be tempted not to sell after classis over.The research and statistics chapters are well-written and placedin logical order.The material is comprehensive, and strikes a nicebalance between not being too technical without being too elementary.Whatappealed to me was the by-the-numbers approach, with numerous listsembedded in the text throughout.(For example, if there are seven factorsto consider in reference to the internal validity of a research design,they are boxed off and numbered, after being discussed in the text.)Thebook comes with a disk containing a 1996 general survey of social scienceissues.This is provided by way of example, and is referenced at the endof most chapters as a real-world example and 'how to' guide to researchmethedology and design.Nonetheless, you can do as I did, and read withoutusing the disk (I used it once), and still come away with completeunderstanding. This book is also free of the filler that crowds andobscures useful information in the garden variety textbook. This bookwould have gotten five stars, had it not been for the authors' annoyinghabit of using liberal examples.In a social science research text,reference to politically sensetive issues is to be expected.What annoysis that virtually every example, whether derived from real life, or anadmittedly ficticous example, is given a liberal slant.If the factorsbeing researched are education and political orientation, then liberalismcorrelates with higher education (read: conservatives are dummies).If thesubject is nominal variables, the example is party affiliation in adistrict where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one.In other words,the examples serve the standard orthodoxies of our time.Don't expect tosee any on race and abortion, or the use of guns to deter crime.Thatsaid, since the main users of this book are college students, and as suchare getting much heavier doses of campus radicalism and causes du jour,this book's bias is relatively mild.If you are going to study researchmethodologies, you could do much worse than this text. -Lloyd Conway



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Review of You Don't Have to Be Rich: Comfort, Happiness, and Financial Security on Your Own Terms (Hardcover)

There are dozens of books which address many of the same topics and issues and this is one of the best because it was written primarily for non-experts such as I who seek "comfort, happiness, and financial security on [our] terms," of course, and need guidance to make appropriate decisions. Answers to questions such as these are more difficult to formulate now than at any prior time that I recall:

*What are the significant differences between standard of living and quality of life?
*Are they mutually exclusive?
*How can -- and should -- "wealth" be measured?
*To what extent (if any) is there a correlation between personal happiness and net worth?
*What do the happiest people seem to share in common?
*What are the most damaging misconceptions many people have when formulating a financial plan?
*Which strategies and tactics are most effective to achieve financial security? Why?
*What are "The Ten Commandments of Financial Happiness"?

Chatzky address these and countless other questions which many of us may have but feel embarrassed to ask. Of course, we can retain highly reputable financial planners whose services are worth every dollar they cost. However, my own experience suggests that a financial planner's best client is a well-informed client. More specifically, financial planners are most valuable once a client has carefully completed exercises such as those which Chatzky includes in her book. Invoking direct address, what do you REALLY want in life? Being rich and being happy are NOT mutually-exclusive. Many people are unhappy because they are essentially insolvent, if not destitute. No savings, credit unworthy, deeply in debt, in danger of foreclosure or eviction, etc. Many others are just as unhappy because of their affluence. They yearn to possess what money can't buy: physical health, peace of mind, friendship worthy of the name, etc.

Caveat: Do NOT purchase this book or any other such book unless and until you are wholeheartedly committed to doing the "homework" required and then to following through on whatever decisions you make. I think that Chapter 6 (all by itself) is worth far more than the cost of the book. However, do you REALLY understand the requirements as well as the benefits of living within your means? Tough decisions may need to be made. (I mean TOUGH.) Do you have what it takes to make them? More importantly, do you have what it takes to stick with those decisions no matter what? Years ago, the actor Rod Steiger was asked if young people ever requested career advice. "Oh yeah, sure, all the time. I look them right in the eye and ask `Do you want to be an actor or do you HAVE to be an actor?' The longer it takes themto answer, the less likely they'll ever make it." If you HAVE to have financial security, Jean Chatzky can help you to achieve it.Otherwise....



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Review of You Don't Have to Be Rich: Comfort, Happiness, and Financial Security on Your Own Terms (Hardcover)

There are dozens of books which address many of the same topics and issues and this is one of the best because it was written primarily for non-experts such as I who seek "comfort, happiness, and financial security on [our] terms," of course, and need guidance to make appropriate decisions. Answers to questions such as these are more difficult to formulate now than at any prior time that I recall:

*What are the significant differences between standard of living and quality of life?
*Are they mutually exclusive?
*How can -- and should -- "wealth" be measured?
*To what extent (if any) is there a correlation between personal happiness and net worth?
*What do the happiest people seem to share in common?
*What are the most damaging misconceptions many people have when formulating a financial plan?
*Which strategies and tactics are most effective to achieve financial security? Why?
*What are "The Ten Commandments of Financial Happiness"?

Chatzky address these and countless other questions which many of us may have but feel embarrassed to ask. Of course, we can retain highly reputable financial planners whose services are worth every dollar they cost. However, my own experience suggests that a financial planner's best client is a well-informed client. More specifically, financial planners are most valuable once a client has carefully completed exercises such as those which Chatzky includes in her book. Invoking direct address, what do you REALLY want in life? Being rich and being happy are NOT mutually-exclusive. Many people are unhappy because they are essentially insolvent, if not destitute. No savings, credit unworthy, deeply in debt, in danger of foreclosure or eviction, etc. Many others are just as unhappy because of their affluence. They yearn to possess what money can't buy: physical health, peace of mind, friendship worthy of the name, etc.

Caveat: Do NOT purchase this book or any other such book unless and until you are wholeheartedly committed to doing the "homework" required and then to following through on whatever decisions you make. I think that Chapter 6 (all by itself) is worth far more than the cost of the book. However, do you REALLY understand the requirements as well as the benefits of living within your means? Tough decisions may need to be made. (I mean TOUGH.) Do you have what it takes to make them? More importantly, do you have what it takes to stick with those decisions no matter what? Years ago, the actor Rod Steiger was asked if young people ever requested career advice. "Oh yeah, sure, all the time. I look them right in the eye and ask `Do you want to be an actor or do you HAVE to be an actor?' The longer it takes themto answer, the less likely they'll ever make it." If you HAVE to have financial security, Jean Chatzky can help you to achieve it.Otherwise....



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Review of Finance: Introduction to Institutions, Investments, and Management (Hardcover)

This is an excellent overview of finance and related topics. focuises on macroeconomic factors, such as aspects of national banking and finance, international trade and currency exchange systems, etc. Also focuses on corporate and business finance. Also contains excellent exercises for math and accounting functions.



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Review of Inventing the Child: Culture, Ideology, and the Story of Childhood (Children's Literature and Culture, 17) (Hardcover)

This book will change your views on how to raise your kid and, in a deeper level, help understand the deadlock our society is in and how to try to break free of our habits of violence and destruction.
It analyzes the myths and books we feed our children and the subconscious message we hand to them everytime they go to a Disney movie or consume merchandising. It also explain the amount of violence they are directly subjeted too by unknowing and loving parents. Truly an eye opener.



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Review of Powerhouse Principles: The Billionaire Blueprint For Real Estate Success (Hardcover)

Beeing an experienced (and successfull) developer in Italy, I can assure you that the book is phenomenal.
In this book I learned "something" that will increase my net-worth by the (many) millions.
Thank you Jorge.

P.S. For you that are starting out, get this book. You might not fully understand every single phrase of the book ... in any case you will learn a lot on the business of developing and/or investing in real estate




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Review of Powerhouse Principles: The Billionaire Blueprint For Real Estate Success (Hardcover)

Beeing an experienced (and successfull) developer in Italy, I can assure you that the book is phenomenal.
In this book I learned "something" that will increase my net-worth by the (many) millions.
Thank you Jorge.

P.S. For you that are starting out, get this book. You might not fully understand every single phrase of the book ... in any case you will learn a lot on the business of developing and/or investing in real estate




Click Here to see more reviews about: Powerhouse Principles: The Billionaire Blueprint For Real Estate Success (Hardcover)