This is a great book that I'd recommend to any small to medium business. It covers lot of territory as well as focusing on the new mediums of social n...moreThis is a great book that I'd recommend to any small to medium business. It covers lot of territory as well as focusing on the new mediums of social networking. There are a lot of chapters to read but they are well divided by topic which makes this book also very handy as a reference tool for later. All you have to do is start implementing a single concept recommended and then expand from there. The author makes it really simple to get started without having to get bogged down in detail.
Most small to medium businesses really do no marketing at all, which is a really pity and in many ways holds their business back. You don't have to spend lots of time and money on the process you simply need to do 'something' and this book will certainly help. From Twitter to Facebook, to blogs and press releases the author covers a wide gambit that is well within the reach and resources of any business.
The books is easy to read and packed with plenty of great advice and information. Most importantly, I felt the book was also devoid of traditional 'marketing fluff' that confuses the issues, especially when it comes to small and medium business who are time and resource poor. Those who have been more progress with their marketing may find they already know some of the material contained in the book but there is still plenty ion there to fill in the holes and help you create a more rounded marketing plan for your business.
So in summary, I think this is a must read for many small and medium businesses who are looking to grow their business and want to make marketing simple and easy. I am confident that the time and money invested in this book will pay dividends.(less)
This book is a very worthwhile read and reference but it does have a limited audience. That audience is restricted to those with access to the high en...moreThis book is a very worthwhile read and reference but it does have a limited audience. That audience is restricted to those with access to the high end version of SharePoint Server 2010. Basically SharePoint Server 2010 will all the options enabled. It is however a very worthwhile reference for the simple reason that there are few books that dive into that level of detail on these high end features of SharePoint Enterprise.
Initially I was going to say that this book focused more on talking about the capabilities of BI (business intelligence) in SharePoint Server but as I got more into the book I found there were more and more hands on examples which made it really great. The only problems with these examples is that they require a high level of product and setup to really take advantage of but they certainly do give insight into what BI is possible with SharePoint especially when combined with SQL server.
This book is therefore great for people looking to understand the high end features of SharePoint Server 2010 (and to some extend Office 365) but it does require an investment in products such as Visio, SQL Reporting and so on that in many cases are not readily obtained or implemented. This is certainly not a book for end users and is more aimed at the IT Professional looking to bring the integration required for BI into the workplace. However, for the IT professional looking to scale up their SharePoint skills to the higher level of product and potentially to the abilities provided by Office 365 this is more than a worthwhile reference for the library.(less)
A pretty good book on SharePoint Foundation 2010 overall. What distinguishes this book from others is that it deals with some more advanced topics tha...moreA pretty good book on SharePoint Foundation 2010 overall. What distinguishes this book from others is that it deals with some more advanced topics that you normally don't find in other SharePoint books. These advanced topics include SharePoint Designer and development with Visual Studio.
Have these advanced topics probably makes the book less appealing to those new to SharePoint but is worthwhile for those looking to improve their experience with SharePoint beyond the basics. The books contains plenty of examples and is easy to read. It is also focused specifically on SharePoint Foundation 2010 which makes it different from most generic SharePoint books you find.
All in all a worthwhile read but perhaps more so for that person with an existing exposure to SharePoint who is looking to extend not only the capabilities of SharePoint but also their own experience with the product.(less)
I must admit that I am not a huge fan of scifi but was recommended to this book as a good read. It is clear that the book is well written and is easy ...moreI must admit that I am not a huge fan of scifi but was recommended to this book as a good read. It is clear that the book is well written and is easy to read and has an enjoyable story line. However I still found myself not able to become immersed in book as other have. Again, I believe this limitation is more around my personal preferences rather than the quality of the story.
I think that if you enjoy scifi then you will enjoy this book. It is extremely well crafted and provides excellent character and plot development. In some respects I found that the main characters were perhaps not challenged enough and as such did not reveal a deeper sense of who they are.
This is however the first book in a series by the author so there is no doubt that will improve as the book continue. This book certainly stands out from other scifi books that I have read in that it seeks to develop the story rather than dwell on the technology. This should make it very appealing to even those who aren't scifi enthusiasts.
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This is not a bad book if you want to get some inspiration on how to utilize Twitter. Even though the book is focused on the charitable and fundraisin...moreThis is not a bad book if you want to get some inspiration on how to utilize Twitter. Even though the book is focused on the charitable and fundraising implementations of Twitter there is still benefit for all users.
The book is easy to read and has plenty of examples. It also contains plenty of practical tips that apply in any business application. It also provides some great examples of how a simple technology like Twitter can be used to produce remarkable results and results that truly change lives.
If you are interested in better understanding the business benefits of Twitter or you just want to learn how Twitter can be used to change people's lives for the better then, then this book is for you.(less)
This is a great book if you want to get into the world of ebooks, especially those available on mobile readers like the Kindle. It covers a very broad...moreThis is a great book if you want to get into the world of ebooks, especially those available on mobile readers like the Kindle. It covers a very broad spectrum of topics and I think that no matter what level you are with publishing your'll learn something from this title.
If you have never considered publishing then there is no better time and this book would be a really good guide to help you convert your work into revenue.
Even if you only plan to publish for fun, this book will help you shorten the process from writing to publishing. If you have got something to contribute then writing an ebook is the way to go and this book is going to help you get there.(less)
I really wish I had read this book when I first started out in business. It contains so many of the things that I have discovered to be true over the ...moreI really wish I had read this book when I first started out in business. It contains so many of the things that I have discovered to be true over the years but would have loved someone letting me know ahead of time and saving me the heart ache. I also found the no nonsense style of writing very appealing.
At first glance, the title of the book can be deceiving. Put those fears aside and read it, you'll be glad you did. This is a book that will challenge your perception of being financially successful and give you a practical formula to what brings results.
As with many successful ideas you'll probably have to go against the grain and do things differently from what is generally accepted. This is where this book will challenge many misconceptions and provide recommendations on what really drives success.
For some, the book may be very confronting and this could perhaps turn readers away. However, in many respects if you really want to be successful you need a jolt to make you think, to challenge the path you are on and help you understand what you want to achieve.
Being a fan of the four hour work week I was a little disappointed that it was referred to in a negative light. However, upon further consideration I accept that many people do not understand the principles it espouses. The same could be said of this book which covers many similar concepts but in a different way. Neither book encourages 'quickie' solutions, they challenge the reader to understand what they want and how to practically achieve it.
All in all, I would highly recommend this book and have included as one of my preferred business books to revisit on a regular basis. I found that it provided excellent information as well as solutions that you can implement. It is certainly easy and enjoyable to read.
Don't let the cover fool you, this is a must read book for anyone who truly want to achieve the freedom to live their dreams. The book isn't about short cuts or fantasies it is about doing the hard yards but doing them in practical and intelligent manner. (less)
I must preface this review by firstly saying that a copy of this book was provided to me free of charge to review and secondly I am not a developer. I...moreI must preface this review by firstly saying that a copy of this book was provided to me free of charge to review and secondly I am not a developer. I would also say that in many respects the demand for such a book would be limited given the current poor penetration of Windows Phone 7.
That said the book does achieve what it sets out to achieve, basically. I view this book as more of an introduction of what is possible rather than a deep dive into creating Windows Phone 7 SharePoint applications. My expectation was that the book would focus more heavily on the Windows Phone 7 application development but it was disappointed that it spent a significant amount of time running over the basics, especially of SharePoint.
As a general introduction to both Sharepoint and Windows Phone 7 I think the book really hits the mark, especially when it comes to Windows Phone 7. However, I felt that it should go deeper, which may be an incorrect assumption on my part. I am left feeling that there is so much more that could be achieved but this book doesn't quite take me there.
I would certainly commend the book as a great introduction to Windows Phone 7 and what is possible when combined with SharePoint. However, I'm puzzled by which audience it is aimed at. If it is developers then the book probably doesn't go deep enough. If it is for SharePoint users then the Windows Phone 7 parts add a distraction.
In summary, the book is an excellent introduction to the world Windows Phone 7 and the integration possibilities with SharePoint. However, it is not something designed for the hard core developer looking for a deep drive technical reference.(less)
If you don't know, there are two distinct version of SharePoint, Server and Foundation. SharePoint Foundation 2010 is available as a free download fro...moreIf you don't know, there are two distinct version of SharePoint, Server and Foundation. SharePoint Foundation 2010 is available as a free download from Microsoft and is the base of the enterprise version known as SharePoint Server 2010. Thus, if you want to learn SharePoint, no matter what the version, you are going to need to learn about the features found in SharePoint Foundation 2010.
Too many SharePoint books I have read simply gloss over SharePoint Foundation 2010 and concentrate solely on SharePoint Server 2010. It is very refreshing to find a book totally dedicated to the base version of SharePoint that is available to anyone for free. Because SharePoint Foundation 2010 provides the building blocks for SharePoint Server 2010 I believe that everyone looking for information about the capabilities of SharePoint would greatly benefit from investing their time in reading this book.
The author has provided a very comprehensive guide for the SharePoint product, in many cases I believe the information provided in this book is far more comprehensive and relevant than other SharePoint books I have read. It takes through the whole process, from installing a single server, customizing, all the way through to configuring multi-server 'farm' environments. The book focuses more on the technical aspects of managing and maintaining SharePoint rather than designing solution or modifying the branding. However, there is very scant information about this available elsewhere and this book does a fantastic job of pulling it together in one place as a reference for the SharePoint administrator.
If you are looking to learn more about SharePoint or do indeed have the SharePoint Foundation 2010 product this book is probably the best for 'cutting your teeth' and getting up to speed with administrating the product. It provides a single source of information that is generally very hard to locate elsewhere. Best of all, it won't confuse you when it comes to which version of SharePoint it is talking about as it squarely focused on SharePoint Foundation 2010, which remember is freely available but rarely mentioned (unfortunately).(less)
Another excellent historical work by Anthony Beevor. It covers everything from the pre-event planning till just after the liberation of Paris. Like al...moreAnother excellent historical work by Anthony Beevor. It covers everything from the pre-event planning till just after the liberation of Paris. Like all Beevor book, it is easy to read and full of detailed information about the events and the people who played a part.
The book gives you a real sense of what it was like for both the common soldier and the commanders. It highlights the frictions experienced between different nationalities and different arms of the service. Importantly, it also conveys the highly successful, if not ultimately doomed, resistance of the German forces facing the largest invasion fleet in history.
It highlights the struggles and challenges the invaders faced that in many cases could only be overcome with the application of total air supremacy. This, however, does not detract from the amazing achievements of average soldier who successfully stormed Hitler's vaunted Fortress Europa and accelerated the end of Nazi Germany.
This book is a must read for war historians and those seeking to understand the momentous events of the 6th of June 1944. (less)
An interesting book that speaks to the concept of 'trusting your gut', which in many ways is the same theme as the Malcolm Gladwell book 'blink'. It d...moreAn interesting book that speaks to the concept of 'trusting your gut', which in many ways is the same theme as the Malcolm Gladwell book 'blink'. It does however look into a world that most people rarely experience but can end up meaning the difference between life and death.
It is a sad fact that violence is so much a part of our modern world that we need to take precautions against becoming a victim, yet as the book indicates this is certainly something that you need to do. It also details how you should look for the warning signs that you may be the intended victim of an attack. Even the most innocent person is capable of the most violent acts for no logical reason and for that everyone should prepare themselves to heed the warning signs.
I liked the fact that this book talked to aspect of understanding fear rather than simply ignoring it. It demonstratives how fear is an early warning system that we should no ignore no matter how illogical it may seem. At the very least this book should make you stop and think about how you would deal with fear.(less)
I really like books that give you a history of a business. I especially like books that give you a history of technology businesses because they are u...moreI really like books that give you a history of a business. I especially like books that give you a history of technology businesses because they are usually so current. This is exactly the case with this book.
Many have heard about what makes Google tick but this book take your behind the scenes from day one and reveals what makes the place tick. It demonstrates how Google is really an extension of the personalities of Sergey and Larry. Reading the book helps you to better understand why Google does the things that it does and its whole approach to business. This is extremely beneficial given that fact that most people use a Google product every day.
The book is well written, easy to read and very entertaining as it takes you through the history of Google, dwelling on the major moments and products that have made it the colossus that it is today. It is very interesting to see how major products like Gmail grew from extreme small, almost hobby like projects into the features of mass culture they are today.
Most importantly of all it it gives you fantastic insight into the way Google thinks, how it make decisions and most importantly what it sees its mission in the world. As they say, knowing is understanding and with this book you'll certainly be more knowledgeable about what makes Google tick.(less)
This is certainly a book worth reading but perhaps is not everything that you thought it would be when you first read the title.
The author...moreThis is certainly a book worth reading but perhaps is not everything that you thought it would be when you first read the title.
The author certainly demonstrates how you can turn ideas into products that you license to others but he seems to gloss a little over the fact that there is still plenty of research and hard work that you'll need to do to convert. There is no doubt that he has been able to achieve this and that anyone else could and some of his experiences and suggestions in the book will certainly save you time and money. However, success is more than just 'one simple idea'.
All it does take is one idea but you may have to go through hundreds of other ideas before you ultimately find the one that results in a pay day. The book seems a little light on the fact that it may prove to be a long and frustrating experience until you find that idea but none the less it is full of helpful hints and suggestions on making the concept more likely.
In many ways the book is an eye opening account of how all you need is a single good idea and the ability to take that to market. Too many people seem to think they need to own the idea from inception to manufacture. The books shows you methods by which you can turn ideas into success in a much shorter time frame that if you were to attempt to own the whole process.
The book is easy to read and well worth a look at for those interested innovators. Just don't forget you are still going to need plenty of luck and elbow grease.(less)
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