Jeffrey R. McNeill's profile

Still relevant after 40 years - Effectiveness is habit, May 1, 2009

I have taught this book in a dozen university courses. It remains a classic for understanding effectiveness in organizations and specifically "how to manage oneself".

Even after 40 years, the book remains relevant. Most of my students, predominantly in their 20s, feel that the book is relevant for today. The examples are a bit dated and the use of the male pronoun throughout is awkward. Nonetheless those minor flaws are far outweighed with systematic writing and practical insight.

For Drucker, effectiveness is habit, a set of practices that can (and must) be learned. It is neither a skill, nor is it knowledge. Instead it is a set of simple practices which simply… Read more

Excellent insightful relevant sociology of Thai people and culture, March 27, 2009

"Inside Thai Society" has been through several revisions, with the core insights developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

While the book has a dated tone regarding economics, and at times takes an overly didactic and academic style, it is still quite readable.

This edition was finished in 1999, and therefore does not take into account the last 10 years, including the impact of former Prime Minister Thaksin. See also this great book on the rise of Thaksin http://www.amazon.com/Thaksin-Business-Politics-Pasuk-Phongpaichit/dp/9749575555/929-20/

This is not a lightweight read, but rather attempts to explore and explain the interpretive structures of… Read more

Great jacknife, sturdy, versatile, reliable, August 26, 2008

Excellent knife. I debated a variety of options but this has the following:

* Locking large blade
* Can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew
* Note that the small and large flathead screwdrivers are on the can and bottle openers
* Tweasers and toothpick
* Scissors
* Saw
* Small Philips head screwdriver
* Reamer

Only thing that was missing was the corkscrew attachment that reverses into a small flathead screwdriver. Also it would have been nice to have a shorter blade as well, e.g., as a paring knife.

So this is a sturdy knife. It fits well in the hand (I have medium-sized hand for a man. It has basically three… Read more