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Advantages: beauitfully construced in argument and research
Disadvantages: nil

I have worked in the British Mental Health Service for 15 years and I have read many sources on what leads to happiness, what impacts on happiness and ultimately how we can chemically affect happiness, and this is is out there on its own!! Layard and his sources create a book that not only informs the reader on a tangible and readable level, but also offers some sort of hope for policy within a country that is rapidly mimicking the USA's downward ...
...theory and the constant evidence to support this, that we appear to ignore on a daily basis. Layard takes very significant and comprehensive research and presents it in a way that everybody can understand. Every outcome of his points reflect the literature he reviews. No presumtpions are made without substantive evidence. While this could sound overly scientific to the casual reader, it is not. The books strength is, it is VERY READABLE on this, ... Read review

Advantages: Similar to Freakonomics; pretty compelling arguments to go against the prevailing chain of thought
Disadvantages: Not as good as Freakonomics

Got this book for more than a year now. Reason I picked this book up was because I had thoroughly enjoyed reading "Freakonomics" and was looking for a similar book that will invoke a few "a-ha" moments for me. First thing that caught my eye was obviously the title of the book. The very first chapter of the book is dedicated to elucidating the statement that "more sex is safer sex" - that we should have more casual sex to bring down the spread of ...
...he brings forth more arguments to justify some pretty unconventional view on every-day things. For example, in one of the earlier chapters, he goes on to justify how being a miser equates to being generous to all that is around him. Also, how we need more people in order to solve our current problem of over-population. The list goes on. All of which are argued using logic and unconventional & interesting perspectives on the issues. At the end of ... Read review

Advantages: Simple concepts, well desrcribed, inexpensive to purchase
Disadvantages: Not for the more advanced investor

...diary to help you see what areas you are splurging on, he talks here about discovering your triggers. What makes you spend? For example for me I would say that I nearly always end up spending more than I should on my supermarket shop if I don't take a list with me. By knowing this I can address it, and you can also look at what makes you spend. Alvin suggests tracking your monthly flow of money by creating simple bar graphs too. For example are you ...
...which you then cannot think what you spend on? Do you spend more at the weekends on treats? All of these insights can help you address and control your spending. Seasonal splurges are another topic he covers. Alvin explains how although he was raised in a poor family, his mother always made sure he and his siblings had new school clothes to wear for the new term, and so he associates the Autumn with having new clothes and has to really fight the ... Read review

Advantages: First kill your rabbit
Disadvantages: May cover too many subjects at expense of depth.

You do not know how surprised I was to see this book on the ciao ratings list. However, once I realised that it is published by Dorling Kindersley, who have a wide range of educational, reputable and innovative titles on their list and have been involved with ciao.co.uk in the past, it made sense. John Seymour was an early guru of the self sufficiency movement. He began his working life in living in the African bush, which informed his outlook for ...
...the UK, he put his experience to good use finding ways to live off the land in Suffolk, the West Country and finally in Ireland. As an elderly man, he attended the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and until his death a few years ago, was still running his self sufficient small holding and school in rural Ireland. Dorling Kindersley were a small struggling publishing company just starting out in the early 19709's and the publication of this radical book helped ... Read review

Advantages: Great cartoons :), Good cross referencing with various organisational theorists
Disadvantages: Little expensive

Having just completed a FdA Contact Centre Management course, the book I found I referred to this book the most as it provides a multidisciplinary approach to organisational behaviour. This is done through explaining various theories, models and concepts in a way, which is easy to understand, by student with teaching resources for lectures. A hefty book with 958 pages the contents covers 1. The Organisational Context a. The world outside b. Technology ...
...e. Motivation 3. Groups and Teams in the organisation a. Group formation b. Group structure c. Individuals in groups d. Team working 4. Organisational process a. Organisational development b. Organisational change c. Organisational culture d. Human Resource Management 5. Organisational Management a. Leadership b. Decision-making c. Conflict d. Power and politics 6. Glossary 7. References 8. Name index 9. Subject index However, ... Read review