Moneyball is a quest for the secret of success in baseball. Following the low-budget Oakland Athletics, their larger-than-life general manger, Billy Beane, and the strange brotherhood of amateur baseball enthusiasts, Michael Lewis has written not only 'the single most influential baseball book ever' (Rob Neyer, Slate) but also what 'may be the best book ever written on business' (Weekly Standard).

I wrote this book because I fell in love with a story. The story concerned a small group of undervalued professional baseball players and executives, many of whom had been rejected as unfit for the big leagues, who had turned themselves into one of the most successful franchises in Major League Baseball. But the idea for the book came well before I had good reason to write it—before I had a story to fall in love with. It began, really, with an innocent question: how did one of the poorest teams in baseball, the Oakland Athletics, win so many games?

With these words Michael Lewis launches us into the funniest, smartest, and most contrarian book since, well, since Liar's Poker. Moneyball is a quest for something as elusive as the Holy Grail, something that money apparently can't buy: the secret of success in baseball. The logical places to look would be the front offices of major league teams, and the dugouts, perhaps even in the minds of the players themselves. Lewis mines all these possibilities—his intimate and original portraits of big league ballplayers are alone worth the price of admission—but the real jackpot is a cache of numbers—numbers!—collected over the years by a strange brotherhood of amateur baseball enthusiasts: software engineers, statisticians, Wall Street analysts, lawyers and physics professors.

What these geek numbers show—no, prove—is that the traditional yardsticks of success for players and teams are fatally flawed. Even the box score misleads us by ignoring the crucial importance of the humble base-on-balls. This information has been around for years, and nobody inside Major League Baseball paid it any mind. And then came Billy Beane, General Manager of the Oakland Athletics.

Billy paid attention to those numbers —with the second lowest payroll in baseball at his disposal he had to—and this book records his astonishing experiment in finding and fielding a team that nobody else wanted. Moneyball is a roller coaster ride: before the 2002 season opens, Oakland must relinquish its three most prominent (and expensive) players, is written off by just about everyone, and then comes roaring back to challenge the American League record for consecutive wins.

In a narrative full of fabulous characters and brilliant excursions into the unexpected, Michael Lewis shows us how and why the new baseball knowledge works. He also sets up a sly and hilarious morality tale: Big Money, like Goliath, is always supposed to win...how can we not cheer for David?

Moneyball is a quest for the secret of success in baseball. Following the low-budget Oakland Athletics, their larger-than-life general manger, Billy Beane, and the strange brotherhood of amateur baseball enthusiasts, Michael Lewis has written not only 'the single most influential baseball book ever' (Rob Neyer, Slate) but also what 'may be the best book ever written on business' (Weekly Standard).

I wrote this book because I fell in love with a story. The story concerned a small group of undervalued professional baseball players and executives, many of whom had been rejected as unfit for the big leagues, who had turned themselves into one of the most successful franchises in Major League Baseball. But the idea for the book came well before I had good reason to write it—before I had a story to fall in love with. It began, really, with an innocent question: how did one of the poorest teams in baseball, the Oakland Athletics, win so many games?

With these words Michael Lewis launches us into the funniest, smartest, and most contrarian book since, well, since Liar's Poker. Moneyball is a quest for something as elusive as the Holy Grail, something that money apparently can't buy: the secret of success in baseball. The logical places to look would be the front offices of major league teams, and the dugouts, perhaps even in the minds of the players themselves. Lewis mines all these possibilities—his intimate and original portraits of big league ballplayers are alone worth the price of admission—but the real jackpot is a cache of numbers—numbers!—collected over the years by a strange brotherhood of amateur baseball enthusiasts: software engineers, statisticians, Wall Street analysts, lawyers and physics professors.

What these geek numbers show—no, prove—is that the traditional yardsticks of success for players and teams are fatally flawed. Even the box score misleads us by ignoring the crucial importance of the humble base-on-balls. This information has been around for years, and nobody inside Major League Baseball paid it any mind. And then came Billy Beane, General Manager of the Oakland Athletics.

Billy paid attention to those numbers —with the second lowest payroll in baseball at his disposal he had to—and this book records his astonishing experiment in finding and fielding a team that nobody else wanted. Moneyball is a roller coaster ride: before the 2002 season opens, Oakland must relinquish its three most prominent (and expensive) players, is written off by just about everyone, and then comes roaring back to challenge the American League record for consecutive wins.

In a narrative full of fabulous characters and brilliant excursions into the unexpected, Michael Lewis shows us how and why the new baseball knowledge works. He also sets up a sly and hilarious morality tale: Big Money, like Goliath, is always supposed to win...how can we not cheer for David?

Brewing is designed for those involved in the malting, brewing, and allied industries who have little or no formal training in brewing science. While some elementary knowledge of chemistry and biology is necessary, the book clearly presents the essentials of brewing science and its relationship to brewing technology. Brewing focuses on the principles and practices most central to an understanding of the brewing process, including preparation of malt, hops, and yeast; the fermentation process; microbiology and contaminants; and finishing, packaging, and flavor. The second edition gives more emphasis to engineering and technological aspects, with the three new chapters on water, engineering and analysis. Brewing, Second Edition, is both a basic text for traditional college, short, and extension courses in brewing science, and a basic reference for anyone in the brewing industry.

With his knowing eye and wicked pen, Michael Lewis reveals how the Internet boom has encouraged changes in the way we live, work, and think. In the midst of one of the greatest status revolutions in the history of the world, the Internet has become a weapon in the hands of revolutionaries. Old priesthoods are crumbling. In the new order, the amateur is king: fourteen-year-olds manipulate the stock market and nineteen-year-olds take down the music industry. Unseen forces undermine all forms of collectivism, from the family to the mass market: one black box has the power to end television as we know it, and another one may dictate significant changes in our practice of democracy. With a new afterword by the author. '[C]onsistently smart, and its highpoints are among the high points of Lewis' writing life.'-New York Observer 'Next does not come too late to the crash-and-burn Internet book fest. It come just in time-at the speed of a falling safe.'-USA Today

A thorough revision that now more than ever clearly describes and illustrates the practice of community counseling by discussing the most current issues and practices for community work in the 21st century. Especially emphasized in this edition are the practices of diversity, ethics and the role of the counselor as a change agent and advocate. Focusing on how to promote change and growth, this text provides effective guidelines for planning and implementing productive community counseling programs and provides readers with a basic understanding of the role of the community counselor, the services offered by community agencies and the settings in which they are offered. The text examines four vital facets of counseling: direct community counseling, direct client services (outreach), indirect community services (influencing public policy) and indirect client services (client advocacy).

Internet ha dato il via a enormi cambiamenti nel modo in cui viviamo, lavoriamo e pensiamo. Nel pieno di uno dei più grandi ribaltamenti di ruoli sociali della storia, Internet è diventata un'arma nelle mani dei 'rivoluzionari'. Nel nuovo ordine, il dilettante è sovrano: ragazzini di quattordici anni manipolano il mercato azionario e altri non ancora ventenni demoliscono l'industria discografica. Forze sconosciute attaccano tutte le forme di collettivismo, dalla famiglia al mercato di massa: una piccola scatola nera ha il potere di mettere fine alla televisione per come siamo abituati a vederla, e un'altra scatola, collegata all'apparecchio televisivo, introduce importanti cambiamenti nella nostra pratica della democrazia.

The Amazing Story of One Faithful Man...One Extraordinary Vision... One Unstoppable Movement.
        An unforgettable chronicle of courage, determination, faith, and humility, Amazing Faith is the exclusive and inspiring account of how Dr. Bill Bright, founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ International, stepped out in simple, unwavering obedience to God. Readers will delight in the extraordinary story of how an obedient Oklahoman left the ranch at God's urging, and how that obedience opened the door to reaching literally millions of lives with the message of Christ's love and the coming Kingdom.
        From Bright's formative years in the Midwest to the lonely struggles and all-too-human foibles of his early ministry...the founding of the unparalleled Campus Crusade movement to the explosive global outreaches of the new millennium...this authorized, behind-the-scenes biography leaves no stone unturned in its examination of a humble life remarkably used by God-a life which, by God's power, has made an impact on three billion souls.
Written by a retired investigative reporter who has closely followed the life and ministry of Dr. Bright for more than a decade, and with a foreword by Dr. Billy Graham, Amazing Faith uncovers the calling, the passion, the strategic thinking, the sacrifice, and the astounding impact of one man committed to bold evangelism, disciple-ship, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission in his lifetime.

'He's just the kind of man I had in mind when I started the program twenty-five years ago because he's an example to everybody of all religions that it's possible to have progress in religion.' -Sir John Templeton, founder of the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, which Dr. Bill Bright was awarded in 1996. He donated the $1 million honorarium to support a national movement of prayer and fasting.

There's nothing subtle about Sicily.

From the towering cake known as the Triumph of Gluttony to the pert cherry-topped pastries called Virgin's Breasts to puckery, palate-tingling ices made from the island's luscious lemons and tangerines, Sicily is known for its audacious -- and delicious -- desserts. Pastry chef and food stylist Victoria Granof has traveled throughout Sicily learning sweet secrets and local lore from the island's pastry chefs and home bakers, and the result is Sweet Sicily, a lushly photographed exploration of authentic Sicilian pastry-making.

For more than two thousand years, Sicily has been coveted for its fertile land and unique location in the Mediterranean. The Greeks, Romans, Normans, Austrians, French, Bourbons, and Saracens have all landed on its shores, and in turn left their imprints on its food. Granof's magical tour takes us to Modica, where Franco and Pierpaolo Ruta of the Antica Dolceria Bonajuto create chocolate pastries using a five-hundred-year-old recipe that originated with the island's Bourbon conquerors, and to the Baroque town of Noto, where master pastry chef Corrado uses jasmine blossoms planted by Saracens more than a thousand years ago to flavor his jasmine gelato. Granof goes on a quest to find the most authentic ingredients and recipes, including delectable homemade ricotta made from the milk of sheep that graze on fragrant herbs and pistachios that grow in the shadow of Mount Etna, the island's still active volcano.

In Sicily, every holiday and festival has its proper sweet accompaniment: marzipan lambs at Easter, honeyed pastry fritters at Christmas, crunchy, clove-scented cookies called 'bones of the dead' for All Soul's Day. Granof explores these customs and festivals, gathering heirloom recipes, along with local anecdotes and advice. In addition to sweets that are already familiar to Americans, such as cannoli, cassata, and lemon ice, she introduces us to dozens of delectable pastries, confections, and cookies that are destined to become favorites as well.

With a guide to festivals and pastry shops throughout the island, and nearly one hundred recipes formulated for use in American kitchens, Sweet Sicily is an unforgettable exploration of the desserts of the world's most beguiling island.

Lewis (history of American art, Williams College) provides a biography of Furness (1839-1912), whose architecture is considered both eye-catching and aggressive, that explains the ways that his abolitionist upbringing and experiences during the Civil War led to an architectural style that fit perfectly with the commercial imagery of the Gilded Age. B&w photographs on nearly every page highlight Furness' development and scope of his work, from libraries and churches, to row houses and mansions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

In his first book since }Liar's Poker{, Lewis goes in search of the world's most influential technology entrepreneur. He finds billionarire Jim Clark, who founded Netscape and has plans to revolutionise the healthcare industry.

A wickedly funny and astute chronicle of the 1996 presidential campaign--and how we go about choosing our leaders at the turn of the century. In it Michael Lewis brings to the political scene the same brilliance that distinguished his celebrated best-seller about the financial world, Liar's Poker.

Beginning with the primaries, Lewis traveled across America--a concerned citizen who happened to ride in candidates' airplanes (as well as rented cars in blinding New Hampshire blizzards) and write about their adventures. Among the contenders he observed: Pat Buchanan, a walking tour of American anger; Lamar Alexander, who appealed to people who pretend to be nice to get ahead; Steve Forbes, frozen in a smile and refusing to answer questions about his father's motorcycles; Alan Keyes, one of the great political speakers of our age, whom no one has ever heard of; Morry Taylor--'the Grizz'--the hugely successful businessman who became the refreshing embodiment of ordinary Americans' appetites and ambitions; Bob Dole, a man who set out to prove he would never be president; and Bill Clinton, the big snow goose who flew too high to be shot out of the sky.

We watch the clichés of this peculiar subculture collide with characters from the real world: a pig farmer in Iowa; an evangelical preacher in Colorado Springs; a homeless person in Manhattan; a prospective illegal immigrant in Mexico. The politicians speak and speak, often reversing positions, denying direct quotations, mastering the sound bite, dodging hard questions, wreaking havoc on the English language. Spin doctors spin. Rented strangers (campaign workers) proliferate. One particular toe sucker goes awry. Ads are honed to misrepresent and distort. Money makes the world go round.

And the citizens are left dumbfounded or cheering empty platitudes. When trail fever breaks on Election Day, half of America's eligible voters stay home.

This book offers a striking look at us and our politics and the mammoth unlikelihood of connection between the inauthentic modern candidate and the voter's passions, needs, and desires. In telling the story, Michael Lewis once again proves himself a masterful observer of the American scene.

Le origini della vergogna: un sentimento scatenato dal giudizio negativo che l'individuo rivolge a se stesso in maniera globale e indifferenziata, quando sente di non soddisfare certi standard, di non seguire certe regole o di non raggiungere certi obiettivi. Alla presentazione teorica si uniscono esempi che chiamano in gioco bambini, studenti, coppie in crisi e pazienti in psicotera- pia. Il volume contiene un'analisi della vergogna, dei meccanismi che la determinano e delle ragioni per cui essa porta a bloccare, diversamente dal senso di colpa, ogni nostra reazione.

This clear and concise study guide provides sample examinations and guidance for counsellors who wish to become certified by either the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education (CACREP) or the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), the major counsellor accreditation institutions in the United States. This Second Edition brings up to date the names of key organizations, and adds new information relevant to changes in the counsellor certification exam.

Sign Language Made Simple will include five Parts:

Part One: an introduction, how to use this book, a brief history of signing and an explanation of how signing is different from other languages, including its use of non-manual markers (the use of brow, mouth, etc in signing.)
Part Two: Fingerspelling: the signing alphabet illustrated, the relationship between signing alphabet and ASL signs
Part Three: Dictionary of ASL signs: concrete nouns, abstractions, verbs, describers, other parts of speech-approx. 1,000 illustrations. Will also include instructions for non-manual markers, where appropriate.
Part Four: Putting it all together: sentences and transitions, includes rudimentary sentences and lines from poems, bible verses, famous quotes-all illustrated. Also, grammatical aspects, word endings, tenses.
Part Five: The Humor of Signing: puns, word plays and jokes.



Sign Language Made Simple will have over 1,200 illustrations, be easy to use, fun to read and more competitively priced than the competition. It's a knockout addition to the Made Simple list.

Frank Furness was the most unique and prolific American architect of the nineteenth century. Apprenticed in the atelier of Richard Morris Hunt and inspired by the values of his father's friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Furness derived architectural form from the representation of purpose and turned architecture away from history toward the forces of the present.
This encyclopedic book is the first complete monograph of Furness's work. More than 670 projects are presented through 700 photographs and drawings. Critical essays by George Thomas link Furness to Emersonian naturalism and to the political reform movement in Philadelphia that supported his independent stylistic direction; Jeffrey Cohen explores the personal style and motives of the architect; and Michael Lewis assesses local and national criticism of Furness and the changing perception of style-based history. An introduction by Robert Venturi offers a personal appreciation of the work of this remarkable architect.

Michael Lewis, Ph.D., traces the changing view of this popular beer style from a medicinal tonic to its glorified position in today's beer world. Illustrations and photos throughout.

Shame, the quintessential human emotion, received little attention during the years in which the central forces believed to be motivating us were identified as primitive instincts like sex and aggression. Now, redressing the balance, there is an explosion of interest in the self-conscious emotion. Much of our psychic lives involve the negotiation of shame, asserts Michael Lewis, internationally known developmental and clinical psychologist. Shame is normal, not pathological, though opposite reactions to shame underlie many conflicts among individuals and groups, and some styles of handling shame are clearly maladaptive. Illustrating his argument with examples from everyday life, Lewis draws on his own pathbreaking studies and the theory and research of many others to construct the first comprehensive and empirically based account of emotional development focused on shame. In this paperback edition, Michael Lewis adds a compelling new chapter on stigma in which he details the process in which stigmatization produces shame.

This accessible introduction to data analysis focuses on the interpretation of statistical results, in particular those which come from nonexperimental social research. It will provide social science researchers with the tools necessary to select and evaluate statistical tests appropriate for their research question.

Using a consistent data-set throughout the book to illustrate the various analytic techniques, Michael Lewis-Beck covers topics such as univariate statistics, measures of association, the statistical significance of the relationship between two variables, simple regression in which the dependent variable is influenced by a single independent variable, and multiple regression.

A collection of cross-curricular lessons to accompany the novel by C.S. Lewis offers sample lesson plans, vocabulary lists, quizzes, cooperative learning activities, and book report ideas.

The first book written by C. S. Lewis after his conversion, The Pilgrim's Regress is, in a sense, the record of Lewis's own search for meaning and spiritual satisfaction -- a search that eventually led him to Christianity.

Here is the story of the pilgrim John and his odyssey to an enchanting island which has created in him an intense longing 7mdash; a mysterious, sweet desire. John's pursuit of this desire takes him through adventures with such people as Mr. Enlightenment, Media Halfways, Mr. Mammon, Mother Kirk, Mr. Sensible, and Mr. Humanist and through such cities as Thrill and Eschropolis as well as the Valley of Humiliation.

Though the dragons and giants here are different from those in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Lewis's allegory performs the same function of enabling the author to say simply and through fantasy what would otherwise have demanded a full-length philosophy of religion.