Othman al-Sheikh is running away from the shadows of his past life in a small dusty village in the Libyan Desert. Tripoli, meanwhile, is a city in the process of transformation, moulded to the will of its Italian colonisers. Its decadent entertainments and extravagant riches conceal an underbelly of abject poverty and ruthless plotting. Othman falls for the city and its temptations. With a natural instinct for survival, he tries his luck in the capital, swept along by chance and opportunity.

Step-By-Step Guide Makes It Easy To Get Targeted Traffic That Converts For Pennies Per Click With YouTube Advertising… YouTube is the 2nd BIGGEST search engine ?on the? internet?? has over 1 Billion users with hundreds of millions of hours of YouTube videos being watched daily with full engagement? YOUTUBE? ADS? for MAXIMUM? PROFITS Although often overlooked, YouTube advertising is one of the fastest, easiest ways to get affordable traffic flowing quickly… Engagement on YouTube is MASSIVE, and growing, with a 60% year over year increase in the number of hours people spend watching video… this means your ads get clicked It’s pretty obvious that YouTube is big and getting BIGGER… which means the advertising opportunity is MASSIVE! But, To See Success With YouTube Ads, You Must Know What You’re Doing… You can’t just throw up an ad and expect to start making big profits… Although YouTube ads is a very user-friendly platform, there are some details that you must pay attention to if you want to see success… If you do things the right way, you can find yourself raking in profits like crazy… in many cases right out of the gates… But if you do things wrong, you could find yourself wasting time, spinning your wheels, and ultimately wasting money… And it gets worse… Sadly, Many People That Try To Generate Traffic With YouTube Advertising Fail… That’s because they don’t fully understand what must be done to see success with YouTube ads. The KEY to success with YouTube is to pay attention to the details, and in order to do that, you really need to learn from someone that’s seen massive results from advertising on YouTube. Pay close attention, because today I’m going to show you a system that will take you by the hand and show you how to generate as much targeted traffic as you could ever want with YouTube advertising… This step-by-step guide will show you how to harness the power of YouTube’s ads platform to get fast results and traffic that generates a positive return on your marketing investment… How to get started with YouTube ads even if you’ve never made a video or logged into YouTube in your entire life… Step-by-step instructions to get your YouTube ads setup and ready to start generating traffic within just a few minutes… Creating your first video campaign the right way… Do this right, and you’ll find yourself getting massive ROIs…?? The tools of the trade… You’ll discover exactly which tools you need to get started… I’ll even show you how to start with little to no budget if you’re trying to do this on a shoestring… No camera? No problem… this book reveal the fastest way to create a professional looking video WITHOUT a video camera… using this simple method, you can get started today, even if you don’t have any high-tech equipment… The types of ads that work the best and generate the highest ROI are broken down… you’ll be a YouTube ads expert when you finish this training… The best way to track the success of your campaigns so you know when to call it quits on a campaign and when to scale things up to the next level… What if you could just cut to the chase and start making money right out of the gates? Wouldn’t that make a whole lot more sense? This guide to YouTube advertising was created by someone with experience creating and profiting from winning campaigns… Doesn’t it make more sense to learn from an expert and take a shortcut to success?

Retirement and good living Are you getting ready to simplify life and move from the world of work to a life of retirement and good living ─ to enter a happy retirement? Retirement and good living: The author of Purposeful Retirement, Hyrum W. Smith, is one of the original creators of the popular Franklin Day Planner, the former Chairman and CEO of Franklin Covey Co., and the recognized “Father of Time Management”. In this book, Hyram shows you how you can move from your world of work, simplify life and enter what can be the most satisfying phase of your life ─ a new world of purposeful retirement and good living. Aging well and a happy retirement: You have had a successful career by almost all measures and now you are concerned about aging well and looking toward a happy retirement. You are definitely not a couch potato. ·How are you going to create a retirement that is meaningful and inspiring for your second act? ·Can you simplify life? ·Is there a way to make intelligent and anxiety free retirement planning choices? ·Can you learn from the lives and experiences of people who have found their pathway to happy retirement? ·What are their secrets to aging well and a happy retirement? Retirement guide: For four decades, Hyrum W. Smith has been empowering people to effectively govern their personal and professional lives. An award winning author, distinguished speaker, and successful businessman, Hyrum offers a tested and actionable retirement guide to finding that perfect retirement niche. In his book, Hyrum enables you to map the step-by-step route to a retirement that is not just enjoyable but is also deeply fulfilling on a personal level. Welcome to your new life of retirement and good living: This distinguished author, speaker, and businessman combines wit and enthusiasm with a gift for communicating compelling principles that inspire lasting personal change. Hyrum shares a lifetime of wisdom in this powerful retirement guide to discovering your true passion, re-imagining your life, and trying new possibilities. Welcome to a new life of retirement and good living ─ to a purposeful retirement.

Investing like a guru is a detailed investment introduction book on value investing. The concept that is used by Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger and other billionaire Investors all through history. ?

The artist's idea of success is very different from that of the business man, and the scientist differs from both, as does the statesman from all three. We read of successful gamblers, burglars or freebooters, but no true success was ever won or ever can be won that sets at defiance the laws of God and man. To win, so that we ourselves and the world shall be the better for our having lived, we must begin the struggle, with a high purpose, keeping ever before our minds the characters and methods of the noble men who have succeeded along the same lines.

Make the right decisions about your products and services by listening effectively to the people that matter – your customers About This Book ? Understand the core components, processes and technologies available for a VOC initiative ? Structure effective VOC programs and turn VOC into actionable product success ? A handy guide to help you identify the hidden needs of your customers and strengthen your relationship with them Who This Book Is For The book is for anyone who needs to get to know their customer, how they feel and what they think about a certain subject. If you are a stakeholder in any project responsible for customer relationships, this book will help you immensely. An awareness of VOC as a topic would be useful, although not essential. What You Will Learn ? Understand different unarticulated needs of your customers ? Deploy effective VOC in your organizations ? Identify and understand the different tools and processes to set up a successful VOC program ? Integrating your findings about your customers into successful products ? Effectively utilize VOC for a successful launch of your product In Detail This book is all about getting to know your customers – what they want and need, what they like and don’t like. Voice of the Customer is one of the most popular forms of market research combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. This book shows you how to engage with customers and understand their wants and needs, likes and dislikes – something which is becoming more in more important with the rise of an increasingly connected world. The book addresses the problem of understanding your customer and engaging with those customers. It also targets people who want to know how to do an effective VOC capture and analysis. As with any engagement/research based initiative, there is also a concern with the ROI. This book shows you how to overcome this problem as well. By the end of this book, you will have a thorough understanding of the relevant stages of a VOC project. It will show you how to devise an effective plan, direct the project to their objectives, and then show you how to collect the voice of the customer, with examples and templates for interviewing and surveying. Style and approach This book is a perfect blend of concepts and real-world use-cases which will help the businesses understand and therefore serve the customers better. Written in a very engaging manner, this book ensures you are able to grasp the theory and apply it in your business seamlessly.

Prima carte din Rom?nia despre p?strarea clien?ilor Aceasta nu este o biblie ?n domeniu, dar este un must read pentru oricine vrea s? p?streze un client. ?Cred ?n Customer Retention. Cred ?n Lovemarks. Cred ?n Customer Experience ca form? evoluat? a loialit??ii. Cred ?n cei mai buni. Cred ?n exper?i, ?n cei care nu se vor mul?umi cu a fi exper?i din titulatur?, ci din convingeri ?i idei proprii.” Acesta este manifestul cu care ??i ?ncepe Mihai Dragnea pledoaria pentru autenticitate, responsabilitate ?i creativitate ?n rela?ia cu clien?ii. ?n goana dup? market share ?i profit se investesc foarte multe resurse ?n atragerea clien?ilor noi, iar rela?ia cu clien?ii existen?i este adeseori neglijat?. Foarte important: Customer Retention nu se refer? la loializarea clien?ilor, ci la p?strarea celor care inten?ioneaz? s? renun?e. Customer Loyalty este pentru cei pe care vrei s? ?i r?spl?te?ti c? ??i sunt clien?i. Este vorba despre dou? segmente diferite c?rora trebuie s? le corespund? abord?ri de business distincte. Clien?ii ??i exprim? opiniile oriunde, online mai ales, ?i au o mare putere de decizie, inclusiv pe aceea de a schimba valorile ?i credin?ele unei companii. A-i trata nediferen?iat pe cei care vor s? renun?e la produsele ?i serviciile tale ?i pe cei care ??i sunt fideli este ca ?i cum ai trage cu tunul la un concurs de tir cu arcul. ?A? recomanda aceast? carte ca lectur? obligatorie pentru toate persoanele dintr-o companie, de la front office p?n? la management. ?n orice moment ?i la orice palier ierarhic, pot fi luate decizii care s? ajute compania s? ??i p?streze clien?ii mul?umi?i ?i aceast? mul?umire s? fie tradus? ?n fidelitate. Mihai ne arat? exact cum trebuie tratat? problema reten?iei ?i reu?e?te s? explice importan?a unor decizii potrivite luate ?n deplin? cuno?tin?? de cauz?, at?t business, c?t ?i customer oriented.” - Andrei Cismaru, Social Media Manager at Bitdefender ?Mihai este un artist des?v?r?it. Iar arta sa st? ?n m?iestria cu care reu?e?te s? pun? ?n practic? una dintre cele mai frumoase discipline de business, rela?ia cu clien?ii.” - M?d?lina Vil?u, Managing Director, Marketing Insiders Group ?This is retention vine cu informa?ii foarte bine documentate despre loializare ?i reten?ie, dou? instrumente de marketing despre care nu mul?i ?tiu c? sunt diferite. Cu un stil diplomatic ?i pe alocuri umoristic, Mihai ne vorbe?te despre provenien?a acestor instrumente ?i ne ajut? s? le diferen?iem prin simpla aprofundare a istoriei lor. Speciali?tii ?n marketing vor ?n?elege, dup? citirea acestei c?r?i, c? uneori ?i-au targetat gre?it clien?ii, dar vor ?ti ce ?i cum s? ?mbun?t??easc? pe viitor.”- Gabriela Udeanu, Founder, Buzzle.ro

Criza economic? a ultimilor ani ne-a f?cut mult mai precau?i c?nd vine vorba de bani. ?ns? ce te faci c?nd partenerul de via?? este ?m?n?-spart?“ sau vrea ?n continuare s? plece ?n vacan?e scumpe, cu pre?ul sacrific?rii pensiei private?Scris? de o echip? de economi?ti ?i psihologi cu experien?? ?n consilierea financiar? ?i de cuplu, cartea de fa?? v? ajut? s? ?n?elege?i ?n ce fel buna chivernisire a banilor familiei spore?te iubirea ?i ?ncrederea ?n cuplu. Autorii americani discut? aspectele psihologice ale negocierii ?i implic?rii afective ?n via?a de cuplu, corel?ndu-le cu ponturi financiare pentru controlul atent al cheltuielilor, pentru stabilirea unui buget realist ?i a unor rela?ii echitabile cu banca ?i, mai presus de toate, pentru o investi?ie de?teapt? ?n viitorul rela?iei ?i copiilor.

Mi leszek, ha nagy vagyok?Németh Márton ezt a kérdést tette fel magának huszonhét évesen, amikor már b?ven túl volt a pályakezdésen, elindult a karriere, és minden úgy alakult, ahogy a nagy k?nyvben meg van írva. Mégsem volt elégedett, valami hiányzott. Egyik napról a másikra d?bbent rá, hogy mennyire nem azon az úton halad, amin szeretne: olyan alkalmazott, aki kevésért dolgozik sokat, mások jólétét gyarapítja, nem a saját érdekeit tartja szem el?tt.Vajon egyedül ? a felel?s azért, hogy így alakult? Feln?tt egyáltalán? Tud még változtatni? Az ?szinte válaszokért – még ha fájnak is – lelke legmélyére kellett leásnia, hogy megtalálja igazi ?nmagát.A szerz? a saját életén keresztül mutatja be a mai magyar pályakezdés nehézségeit, buktatóit, valamint az alkalmazotti státuszból, a karrierlétra aljáról való felt?rést. A fiatalok sok információt hallhatnak arról, hogyan kéne egyr?l a kett?re jutni, azonban azt senki nem mondta el nekik, hogyan is lépjenek nulláról az egyre. Eddig.

Б?знес-гуру, ?нвестор Кремн??во? долини, американський п?дпри?мець Бен Горов?ц написав в?дверту книгу про б?знес, не под?бну до сотн? видань штибу ?Як створити власну справу ? досягнути усп?ху?. ??Автор не пропону? готових рецепт?в усп?ху й аргументовано поясню?, чому таких рецепт?в не ?сну?. Горов?ц розпов?да?, що в б?знес?, як ? в житт?, передус?м потр?бно розмежовувати сво? сприйняття ? факти, особисте та профес?йне, ? тод? нав?ть р?шення зв?льнити кращого товариша н? для кого не стане катастрофою. Нав?ть якщо п?д вашим кер?вництвом працю? найталановит?ший прац?вник, який здобув визнання у профес?йних колах, саме ви вир?шу?те, чи потр?бен його нестерпний характер ? великий талант ваш?й компан??.??Увесь св?й досв?д керування людьми, боротьбу з ?хн?ми ?нтригами, пошуки найкращих фах?вц?в Бен Горов?ц пода? як ?нструкц?ю до д??, зрозум?лу кожному. Б?знес-д?йсн?сть — нещадна, наче життя у гетто, про яке сп?вають часто цитован? автором репери. А ваш? шанси виграти дор?внюють шансам програти. Тому ця книга не для тих, хто шука? легких в?дпов?дей, а для тих, хто зна?: запитань завжди б?льше, н?ж в?дпов?дей, а перемагають у б?знес? т?льки найв?дважн?ш?.??

У чому причина стр?мкого економ?чного злету Китаю? Чому не можна беззастережно дов?ряти думц? нео?нституц?онал?ст?в? Де ?золота середина? в керуванн? економ?кою держави? На ц? та ?нш? питання шука? в?дпов?дь репортер Financial Times Джо Стадвелл. В?н анал?зу? три головн? складники усп?шно? економ?ки: с?льськогосподарську пол?тику, промислове виробництво ? розпод?л ф?нансування. У приц?л? авторсько? уваги Япон?я, П?вденна Корея, Тайвань, ?ндонез?я, Малайз?я, Та?ланд, Ф?л?пп?ни, В’?тнам ? Китай. Анал?зуючи б?знес цих кра?н, автор показу?, що спрацювало в Аз??, а що н?

“Before you decide if your company should go for the certification, you have to ask yourself one important question: Do you really need it?” This book is a complete guide that will not only help you decide on this crucial concern, but also lead you from the beginning of the certification project to the end. This book is not focused solely on one ISO standard – the certification process is the same for any standard, so the book is adapted in such a way that it is perfectly acceptable for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 20000, ISO 22000, OHSAS 18001, ISO 13485, and IATF 16949. Kosutic wrote Preparing for ISO Certification Audit: A Plain English Guide primarily for beginners in this field, and for people with moderate knowledge about ISO certification. The book is structured in such a way that someone with no prior experience or knowledge about ISO standards can quickly understand how the whole certification process works, and what steps to take for its successful completion. This book is a straightforward guide for ensuring your company passes the certification audit, leading you through the following steps: The final check before going for the certification – this part of the book explains in detail all the necessary steps that need to be done before going for the certification. How to choose a certification body – here you will learn about the most important criteria for choosing the certification body. Among others, you should consider the reputation, specialization, and experience of a certification body. Steps in the company certification and how to prepare – in this part of the book you will learn more about the Stage 1 audit, Stage 2 audit, and surveillance visits – the three main steps in the certification process. Which questions the certification auditor may ask – this section of the book will give you insight into how the certification auditors usually perform the certification audit, explaining what documentation you should prepare, what evidence the auditor will try to find, and what kind of questions you can expect during the certification interview. How to talk to the auditors to benefit from the audit – “Don't forget that auditors are only people, and no matter how professional they are, they will always be glad if you treat them fairly, and will be negative if you treat them badly.” What the auditor can and cannot do – this section is also very important in order to prepare your company for the certification audit. You have to be aware that there are borders that a certification auditor shouldn’t cross. Written in plain English with easy-to-understand language, this is the only book you will ever need on the subject.?

In this book, Dejan Kosutic, author and experienced ISO consultant, is giving away his practical know-how on managing policies, procedures, plans, forms, reports, and other documented information. No matter if you are new or experienced in the field, this book gives you everything you will ever need to learn on how to handle ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 20000, ISO 22000, OHSAS 18001, ISO 13485, AS9100, and IATF 16949 documents. Many ISO practitioners are often disappointed with the quantity and complexity of the documentation. You can frequently hear: “We don’t need these documents – we’re doing just fine without them; this would only be overkill.” “This standard is all about documentation – we simply need to fill out all the documents, and we’ll automatically get the certificate.” “We need to write policies and procedures for each and every process, activity, and control in our company – the more documents, the clearer the rules will be, and it will be easier for us to comply.” This book is here to prove these statements wrong. As Kosutic says: “The main point of the implementation of any standard is that the employees perform their activities and processes in a better way, and the documentation is here to help you do that, because otherwise, their processes and activities would become unmanageable.” Managing ISO Documentation: A Plain English Guide is a step-by-step guide that will explain the sequence of writing the documentation and its relationship with the PDCA cycle, how to decide on your documentation strategy, how to decide which policies and procedures to write, and what might be the most crucial part – how to write documentation that will be accepted by your employees. Written in easy-to-understand language, whether you’re an experienced practitioner or new to the field, Managing ISO Documentation: A Plain English Guide is the only book you’ll ever need on the subject.

Strategii verificate pentru succes profesional Dac? ne na?tem to?i cu un creier ?n esen?? asem?n?tor, atunci cum se face c?, ?n istorie, doar pu?ini oameni par s? exceleze cu adev?rat ?i s? ?i ?mplineasc? aceast? putere care exist? latent? ?n to?i? Robert Greene analizeaz? vie?ile mae?trilor pentru a spulbera miturile privind geniul ?i a demonstra c? s?rguin?a, r?bdarea, perseveren?a ?i ?ncrederea joac? un rol mult mai mare ?n ob?inerea succesului dec?t simplele capacit??i intelectuale. Cu ajutorul strategiilor de urmat pentru ?mplinirea poten?ialului ?i respect?nd pa?ii descri?i ?n carte, pa?i pe care i-au urmat, ?n evolu?ia lor profesional?, personalit??i ca Goethe, Einstein, Darwin sau Mozart, ne arat? autorul, ne putem dezvolta talentele cu care am fost ?nzestra?i la na?tere, astfel ?nc?t s? ne g?sim propria chemare ?i s? devenim lideri ?n orice domeniu de activitate.

Yes - There Is Work-Life Balance! … but it’s probably not what you think. Too many academics and HR departments have defined work-life balance in superficial ways that make it unattainable, undesirable, or both. Common sense dictates that if something you desire is ill-defined or “impossible,” your outcomes will be disappointing and potentially even harmful. ?But sadly, common sense hasn’t been common practice. Redefining Work-Life Balance?is about creating life-altering, positive results. These pages convey a way to deliver powerful results using simple, one-minute tools proven to enhance life balance and enjoyment. The outcome is reduced stress, increased achievement, and more joy every day – for the rest of your life! Discover and enjoy easy-to-learn concepts with practical applications to: Understand what work-life balance really means Avoid the “As soon as…” trap Establish a ‘Way of Living’ Goal - ?A powerful tool for crafting how you live every day Accomplish your work-life priorities faster… and with less stress Find a more rewarding and happier balance in all your relationships ? Master the emotion-decision link with your personal emotional management tool The tools and tactics in Redefining Work-Life Balance were refined while building a light manufacturing business from a small startup to generating over $100,000,000 in sales with a great team of 250+! That success and the success of thousands of clients is made possible by adapting and applying these tools, and respecting that in addition to having a job, each one of us has a life. Create more achievement at work and more enjoyment in life with Redefining Work-Life Balance! Part One of this book begins by dispelling the myth that there is no such thing as work-life balance. Instead, it delivers a proven re-definition that is clear, fulfilling, and attainable, along with a tool set that will enhance the value and positive balance you get from life – today and every day. Part Two is about people and relationships. You will learn two powerful one-minute tools that can be applied to your life immediately. The outcome is having a more rewarding, less stressed, and happier balance with the important individuals in your personal and work life. In each chapter, you will also see examples from people who have generously shared their personal stories and experiences in implementing these tools. Part Three is about achieving the things you want in life. It delivers two tools that supercharge your thinking. You will get more good thinking done with each of these tools in minutes than most people get done in days, weeks, or even a lifetime of typical pondering. You will also discover two balance measurement tools: one gauges your emotional status and reactions, the other illuminates your current emphasis in life and enables you to adjust it easily if it is not where you want it to be. Part Four concludes these pages using your definition of a good work-life balance to clarify your Way of Life goals. These goals are not specific markers to surpass or milestones to accomplish, they are instead way of living goals. What are the most meaningful and important outcomes you want from your life every day? You will be surprised how quickly these meaningful and often life-changing goals become clear with this final tool in the book. My promise to you is that by applying these proven tools, you will create immediate positive outcomes, personally and professionally. More importantly, based on the feedback I have received across demographics, countries, and cultures, I expect that you too will retain and use your favorite tools along with your re-definition of work-life balance to be happier, less stressed, and more fulfilled over your lifetime. Let’s turn the page and redefine work-life balance in a way that works for you!

An instant classic, this revised and updated edition of the phenomenal bestseller dispels the myths about starting your own business. Small business consultant and author Michael E. Gerber, with sharp insight gained from years of experience, points out how common assumptions, expectations, and even technical expertise can get in the way of running a successful business. Gerber walks you through the steps in the life of a business from entrepreneurial infancy through adolescent growing pains to the mature entrepreneurial perspective: the guiding light of all businesses that succeed and shows how to apply the lessons of franchising to any business, whether or not it is a franchise. Most importantly, Gerber draws the vital, often overlooked distinction between working on your business and working in your business. The E-Myth Revisited will help you grow your business in a productive, assured way.

Donald J. Trump is an icon: the very definition of the American success story. The star of The Apprentice and developer of some of the planet's most prestigious real estate, he's been on the bottom and risen to become one of the world's wealthiest men. Bill Zanker started The Learning Annex with $5,000 and grew it into a $5 million a year company. That was before he met Donald Trump. Thirty months later, after Zanker learned to think BIG himself, The Learning Annex is generating over $100 million a year in sales and still growing. Together, they're living examples of how thinking BIG and knowing when to back up your opinions aggressively regardless of what your critics or opponents might say can help you maximize your personal and professional achievements. For the first time ever, you too can learn Trump's secrets to thinking BIG and kicking ass! Learn: Momentum: the Big Mo. How to get it and how to get it back. Revenge: how and when to get it (and why it's so sweet). "I love you, now sign this!" Why contracts in business and personal life are so important. Real-life stories from people who've applied the think BIG formula in their own lives. These strategies are proven and attested to by those who've learned to think BIG from Donald Trump and found success in their own lives. Bill Zanker used Donald's strategies to grow the revenues of The Learning Annex twenty times in under three years. Both of them have been down and out, and know what it's like to feel the whole world's against you and both have risen to dizzying heights of success by thinking BIG and kicking ass! It is an attitude that can be easily learned.

Two world-renowned marketing consultants and bestselling authors present the definitive rules of marketing.

Revered management thinker Peter F. Drucker is our trusted guide in this thoughtful, day-by-day companion that offers his penetrating and practical wisdom. Amid the multiple pressures of our daily work lives, The Daily Drucker provides the inspiration and advice to meet the many challenges we face. With his trademark clarity, vision, and humanity, Drucker sets out his ideas on a broad swath of key topics, from time management, to innovation, to outsourcing, providing useful insights for each day of the year. These 366 daily readings have been harvested from Drucker's lifetime of work. At the bottom of each page, the reader will find an action point that spells out exactly how to put Drucker's ideas into practice. It is as if the wisest and most action-oriented management consultant in the world is in the room, offering his timeless gems of advice. The Daily Drucker is for anyone who seeks to understand and put to use Drucker's powerful words and ideas.

Drawing on his experience as a leader in some of the nation's largest corporations, Baum issues a convincing call for honest, ethical, "transparent" dealing throughout the business world. Baum outlines the management techniques he uses within and without the company to get outstanding results without skirting the rules or bending the truth. Baum maintains that by fostering trust, integrity and accountability at all levels within the corporation, managers can stop the erosion of employee loyalty, restore consumer trust in brands, products, and American business. Baum teaches executives fresh ways of managing Wall Street analysts, communicating with shareholders, and wading through the complex maze of social responsibility issues.As a member of six corporate boards, Baum offers unique insight into transparent leadership, including the advantages and pitfalls of corporate governance, and the pressures executives face in reporting earnings. He also discusses the importance of setting standards for ethical business practices, yet highlights the dangers of government regulations that may result in excessive compliance costs at the expense of shareholders, creative risk taking, and innovation.

Why is medical care in the United States so expensiveFor decades, Americans have taken it as a matter of faith that we spend more because we have the best health care system in the world. But as costs levitate, that argument becomes more difficult to make. Today, we spend twice as much as Japan on health care—yet few would argue that our health care system is twice as good. Instead, startling new evidence suggests that one out of every three of our health care dollars is squandered on unnecessary or redundant tests; unproven, sometimes unwanted procedures; and overpriced drugs and devices that, too often, are no better than the less expensive products they have replaced. How did this happenIn Money-Driven Medicine, Maggie Mahar takes the reader behind the scenes of a $2 trillion industry to witness how billions of dollars are wasted in a Hobbesian marketplace that pits the industry's players against each other. In remarkably candid interviews, doctors, hospital administrators, patients, health care economists, corporate executives, and Wall Street analysts describe a war of "all against all" that can turn physicians, hospitals, insurers, drugmakers, and device makers into blood rivals. Rather than collaborating, doctors and hospitals compete. Rather than sharing knowledge, drugmakers and device makers divide value. Rather than thinking about long-term collective goals, the imperatives of an impatient marketplace force health care providers to focus on short-term fiscal imperatives. And so investments in untested bleeding-edge medical technologies crowd out investments in information technology that might, in the long run, not only reduce errors but contain costs. In theory, free market competition should tame health care inflation. In fact, Mahar demonstrates, when it comes to medicine, the traditional laws of supply and demand do not apply. Normally, when supply expands, prices fall. But in the health care industry, as the number and variety of drugs, devices, and treatments multiplies, demand rises to absorb the excess, and prices climb. Meanwhile, the perverse incentives of a fee-for-service system reward health care providers for doing more, not less. In this superbly written book, Mahar shows why doctors must take responsibility for the future of our health care industry. Today, she observes, "physicians have been stripped of their standing as professionals: Insurers address them as vendors ('Dear Health Care Provider'), drugmakers and device makers see them as customers (someone you might take to lunch or a strip club), while . . . consumers (aka patients) are encouraged to see their doctors as overpaid retailers. . . . Before patients can reclaim their rightful place as the center—and indeed as the raison d'être—of our health care system," Mahar suggests, "we must once again empower doctors . . . to practice patient-centered medicine—based not on corporate imperatives, doctors' druthers, or even patients' demands," but on the best scientific research available.