Tom Sullivan, about to graduate from Princeton, is haunted by the violent death of his father, an academic who devoted his life to one of the rarest, most complex books in the world. coded in seven languages, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, an intricate mathematical mystery and a tale of love and arcane brutality, has baffled scholars since 1499. Tom's friend Paul is similarly obsessed and when a long-lost diary surfaces they finally seem to make a breakthrough. But only hours later, a fellow researcher is murdered and the two friends suddenly find themselves in great danger. Working desperately to expose the book's secret, they slowly uncover a Renaissance tale of passion and blood, asecret worth dying to protect…

As one of today's most influential business thinkers, Seth Godin has now collected the most provocative short pieces from his pioneering blog. This book also includes his most popular columns from Fast Company magazine and several of the short e-books he has written in the last few years. Includes:Clinging to Your Job Title?The Persistence of Really Bad IdeasThe Seduction of 'Good Enough'Judging a Book by its CoverDo Less Small is the New Big is packed with inspiring ideas: as Godin says in his introduction, 'I'm certain that you're smart enough to see the stuff you've always wanted to do buried deep inside one of these riffs. And I'm betting that once inspired, you'll actually make something happen.'

Warren Buffett is the most successful investor of all time.His ability to consistently find undervalued companies has made himone of the world's richest men. Yet while his track record is hardto argue with, the Buffett way isn't the only way, nor is it alwaysthe best way, to invest. Even Buffett Isn't Perfect dispels many myths about Buffett andhis "solid as a rock" style. It shows readers how to learn from themaster's best moves while avoiding strategies that don't apply tosmall investors -- and avoiding Buffett's mistakes, such assometimes riding his winners too long.

COMPANIES TODAY ARE UNDER MORE PRESSURE THAN EVER to increase productivity. In this BusinessWeek bestseller, Jason Jennings identifies the world's most productive companies and reveals their secrets--none of which, remarkably, include layoffs. The companies he features are surprise standouts in their industries,from Ryanair, Which generates three times more profit per employee than the legendary Southwest Airlines, to Nucor, a steel firm with an annual growth of seventeen percent for the past thirty-one years and the highest paid workers in the business. Drawing on these and other amazing companies, Jennings presents his readers with solid advice on how to streamline businesses, eliminate waste, and inspire greatness within a workforce. Full of unexpected results and irrev-erent observation, Less Is More offers the key to ramping up the "productivity meter" in any industry.

Using Solomon's life and teachings as a foundation, BruceFleet offers today's readers a unique, well-grounded, proven methodof wise investing. Solomon was more than just a character in the Bible-he was therichest man who ever lived. If we could learn from him directly,what would he teach us about growth in riches and knowledge? Andhow can we relate his life and wisdom to the society and successfulfinancial planning of our contemporary world? Bruce Fleet's TheSolomon Secret brings together instructional parables highlightingthe wisdom of history's wealthiest man, with practical and soundfinancial advice for twenty- first-century readers. In the bestselling tradition of The Richest Man in Babylon, TheSolomon Secret follows King Solomon as he mentors his youngprotégé, Abidan, on the seven basic principles of life and theirinfluence on financial success. Each of these parables illustratesa key principle that Abidan must discover before he can garner morewealth and happiness, and is then follo

First time in paperback from the New York Times bestsellingauthor of Reposition Yourself--the man Time magazine called"America's best preacher." For those dealing with an abusive boss, gossiping coworkers,demanding deadlines, or the sheer boredom of unfulfilling work, T.D. Jakes offers reassurance that God has placed everyone where theyare for a reason. And when people learn to work with Him, they'llfulfill their true purpose- while feeling strength instead ofstress. This is an inspiring volume for those who dread the dayahead, and want to turn their job into a more positiveexperience. With simple, surprising strategies, ranging from Don't expect tobe appreciated to Do not pledge allegiance to cliques and groups toAlways keep your song near you, T. D. Jakes shows readers how tofind true success at work, and extend that Sunday spirit throughthe long work weeks in between.

Artist and creator Scott Adams started Dilbert as a doodle when he worked as a bank teller. He continued doodling when he was upgraded to a cubicle for a major telecommunications company. His boss (no telling if he was pointy-haired or not) suggested the name Dilbert. Adams is so dead-on accurate in his depictions of office life that he has been accused of spying on Corporate America. Adams has his finger on the pulse of cubicle dwellers across the globe. No one delivers more laughs or captures the reality of the 9 to 5 worker better than Dilbert, Dogbert, Catbert, and a cast of stupefying office stereotypes—which is why there are approximately 150 million fans of the Dilbert comic strip. Dilbert appears in 2,000 newspapers in 65 countries and is translated into 19 languages.

edition holds true to the original vision of teaching the subject from both the preparer and user perspective, but with a revision focused on greater accessibility to the variety of students taught. Two annual reports (Gateway and Ben Jerry s) and an annual update program with price stability guarantee highlight the third edition package. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Wal-Mart isn’t just the world’s biggest company, it isprobably the world’s most written-about. But no book until this onehas managed to penetrate its wall of silence or go beyond the usualpolemics to analyze its actual effects on its customers, workers,and suppliers. Drawing on unprecedented interviews with formerWal-Mart executives and a wealth of staggering data (e.g.,Americans spend $36 million an hour at Wal-Mart stores, and in 2004its growth alone was bigger than the total revenue of 469 of theFortune 500), The Wal-Mart Effect is an intimate look at a businessthat is dramatically reshaping our lives.

Most of us look at our days in the wrong way: We exaggerateyesterday. We overestimate tomorrow. We underestimate today. Thetruth is that the most important day you will ever experience istoday. Today is the key to your success. Maxwell offers 12decisions and disciplines-he calls it his daily dozen-that can belearned and mastered by any person to achieve success.

Book De*ion "The dynamic principlesthat have endured through the millennia are beautifully embodied inthis short yet substantial book." -Stephen Covey, author of The SevenHabits of Highly Effective People More than a thousand years ago, a group of business executivesdeveloped a set of principles for organizational leadership in acompetitive market. Those executives were the samurai ofninth-century Japan, and their rigid code of ethics, known asbushido, was one of the most effective frameworks for management inhistory. The Code of the Executive is business adviser DonSchmincke's modern interpretation of the Code of theSamurai-ancient wisdom written for today's corporate warriors.These principles provide a dynamic system of practical and moraltraining for effective leadership. In addition to interactivestrategies for relating to the business world, this philosophyprovides at its core a guide to the inner development ne

The all-important job interview--it's your one chance to sell yourself to a potential employer, and you don't want to blow it. You need to use this crucial opportunity to demonstrate your unique skills, creativity, experience, and value in the workplace, and to do this, you need to know exactly what to say to showcase your strengths. Clearly and succinctly, you must let the interviewer know why you are right for the job--and you must be prepared to answer any question. Perfect Phrases for the Perfect Interview provides a complete arsenal of ready-to-use responses for a wide variety of interview scenarios. With this quick-reference guide, you will learn how to: Break the ice and make a winning impression Emphasize your skills, experience, and style--and land the job Handle tough questions with ease--even if you must explain why you were fired Communicate your salary and career goals

"The fullest account yet of the rise of one of the mostprofitable, most powerful, and oddest businesses the world has everseen." - San Francisco Chronicle Just eleven years old, Google has profoundlytransformed the way we live and work-we've all been Googled.Esteemed media writer Ken Auletta uses the story of Google's riseto explore the future of media at large. This book is based on themost extensive cooperation ever granted a journalist, includingaccess to closed-door meetings and interviews with industrylegends, including Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, MarcAndreessen, and media guru "Coach" Bill Campbell. Auletta'sunmatched analysis, vivid details, and rich anecdotes illuminatehow the Google wave grew, how it threatens to drown mediainstitutions, and where it's taking us next.

If you want to motivate your employees to be more productive,convince your customers to use more of your products and services,encourage a loved one to engage in healthier habits, or inspire anychange in yourself, renowned psychologist Dr. Michael Pantalon canshow you how to achieve Instant Influence in six simple steps.Drawing on three decades of research, Dr. Pantalon's easy-to-learnmethod can create changes both great and small in 7 minutes orless. This scientifically tested method succeeds in every area ofwork and life by helping people tap into their deeply personalreasons for wanting to change and finding a spark of "yes" withinan answer that sounds like "no."

The guide for anyone who deals with difficult authorityfigures at work. Sooner or later, we all have to work for someone we can'tstand-whether it's an inept supervisor, an undermining departmenthead, or an overly demanding client. When that happens, some peoplequit, some suffer in silence, and others cope by sulking,obsessing, or retaliating. But you can take charge of this crucial workplace relationship.In this book, Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster, authors of thebestseller Working for You Is Killing Me, offer concrete examplesof bad boss scenarios and a proven four-step program for improvingeach situation: ?Detect - Identify how this person drives you crazy. ?Detach - Discover concrete actions you can take to reclaim yourpower. ?Depersonalize - Learn how to take a boss's actions lesspersonally. ?Deal - Devise a plan to get what you need and move your careerforward.

I have been a Toastmaster for several years. This book pulled my experiences together, and showed me how to make better use of preparation and presentation techniques. Carnegie addresses the whole person, and radiates an interest in people and their goals. Two of the more valuable approaches of the book were its focus on the gradual development of a speech through the use of constant reflection, and its instruction for using imagery to recall the points of a speech when you are actually out on the floor. Another strong point of the book is its use of examples, both from historical and comtemporary (for the author) sources. The examples not only strengthen the interest of the reader, but augment and reinforce the points Carnegie is emphasizing.

The perfect companion to Joel Osteen's bestselling book helps readers integrate his seven life-changing principles into their daily lives. YOUR BEST LIFE NOW JOURNAL gives readers the ultimate tool to improve their lives by devoting a week to each of Osteen's seven principles: - enlarging one's vision - developing a healthy self-image - discovering the power of one's thoughts and words - letting go of the past - finding strength through adversity - living to give - and choosing to be happy. YOUR BEST LIFE NOW JOURNAL brings readers one step closer to achieving lifelong happiness through Osteen's doses of daily *ure, inspirational thoughts and insights, guiding questions, and space for personal reflection. 作者简介： JOEL OSTEEN is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Listed by several sources as America's largest and fastest-growing congregation,Lakew0od Church has approximately 30,000 adult attendees every week. Millions more watch Joel's mes-sages as they are broadcast on natio

The premise of this facile piece of pop sociology has built-in appeal: little changes can have big effects; when small numbers of people start behaving differently, that behavior can ripple outward until a critical mass or "tipping point" is reached, changing the world. Gladwell's thesis that ideas, products, messages and behaviors "spread just like viruses do" remains a metaphor as he follows the growth of "word-of-mouth epidemics" triggered with the help of three pivotal types. These are Connectors, sociable personalities who bring people together; Mavens, who like to pass along knowledge; and Salesmen, adept at persuading the unenlightened. (Paul Revere, for example, was a Maven and a Connector). Gladwell's applications of his "tipping point" concept to current phenomena--such as the drop in violent crime in New York, the rebirth of Hush Puppies suede shoes as a suburban mall favorite, teenage suicide patterns and the efficiency of small work units--may arouse controversy. For example, many parents may be

A thrifty offering for the prospective thrift-storeowner... In economic times like these, thrift stores have seen a 35%increase in sales in 2008; so what better time to start one? Whilefairly cheap, it is complicated, however. Here, two experts coverthe entire process, including such vital topics as how to: set upthe store on a nonprofit basis; choose a location; get funding; getthe word about donations of saleable items; recruit and managevolunteer staff; sort, price and recycle donations. ?Practical, step-by-step approach to the process ?Troubleshooting tips and best practices that really work ?Funding by and partnering with community organizations

Eight years ago, Dr. Thomas J. Stanley swept aside the mythical magic curtain of wealth to reveal The Millionaire Next Door. America found out just who and how common the truly wealthy were in this country and we learned the characteristics and habits that made them so. Now the author of the follow-up The Millionaire Mind focuses on one of the least understood but increasingly rich demographics: Millionaire Women Next Door. Why write another book that profiles millionaires? Stanley asks. The vast majority of the millionaire respondents (92 percent) in The Millionaire Next Door were men. . . . I felt that it was indeed time for successful businesswomen of the self-made variety to be heard. And heard they are in this book that is destined to become every bit as informative, quoted, and inspirational as the author s earlier works. Readers everywhere will be fascinated by Stanley s thoroughly researched findings and conclusions. More than a simple extension of his studies of male millionaires, Millionair

In this third installment of the Carrots business books (following The 24-Carrot Manager), authors Gostick and Elton continue to urge managers to dangle these bright, crunchy sticks in front of their employees—metaphorically speaking. A symbol of recognition, reward and positive reinforcement, the Carrot creates an environment in which workers will propel themselves to an excellence that lies just beyond their grasp. Organized like a page-a-day calendar, the book parcels out the sometimes unwieldy Carrot philosophy in manageable doses, offering inspirational anecdotes and cautionary tales (pity the employee who received a company mug for a million-dollar deal); examples of simple yet memorable employee rewards (a balloon bouquet, the use of your coveted parking spot for a week); and sensible psychological insights (e.g., "When we are complimented for our efforts and good work... we gain the power to overcome obstacles and problems because we know people support and believe in us"). The idea that a ste

What do the Anchor Stream microbrewery and underground rockstar Ani DiFranco have in common? The two are among Burlingham'sexamples of privately held businesses that have become "giants" intheir field without becoming huge corporations. (And if you don'tthink being a rock star is a business, consider that DiFranco'sdealings with local vendors in her Buffalo neighborhood have led tothe creation of more than 100 new jobs.) For the 14 small companiesprofiled here, success comes by getting richer, not by gettingbigger. Burlingham's central conceit, that these are companies thatexcel in generating "mojo," may seem abstract at first, but hecarefully demystifies the term by focusing on issues like communityrelations and customer service. The owners he interviews speak fromhard-won experience about resisting the pressure to simply keepexpanding or sell the company to the highest bidder and stayingtrue to their original visions for excellence. Burlingham, aneditor-at-large at Inc., closes his account with a tri

Jack Welch knows how to win. During his forty-year career at General Electric, he led the company to year-after-year success around the globe, in multiple markets, against brutal competition. His honest, be-the-best style of management became the gold standard in business, with his relentless focus on people, teamwork, and profits. Since Welch retired in 2001 as chairman and chief executive officer of GE, he has traveled the world, speaking to more than 250,000 people and answering their questions on dozens of wide-ranging topics. Inspired by his audiences and their hunger for straightforward guidance, Welch has written both a philosophical and pragmatic book, which is destined to become the bible of business for generations to come. It clearly lays out the answers to the most difficult questions people face both on and off the job. Welch's objective is to speak to people at every level of an organization, in companies large and small. His audience is everyone from line workers to MBAs

THE MCGRAW-HILL EXECUTIVE MBA SERIES "Executive education is suddenly every CEO's favorite strategic weapon."--BusinessWeek Now repackaged in easily transportable paperback editions, these informative titles--written by frontline executive education professors and modeled after the programs of the nation's top business schools--will find new popularity with today's on-the-go, every-second-counts executive.