Masters of Nothing


Book Description

Behaviour is important. Whether this be the behaviour of those who saw it coming, or of those who constantly berated them. The behaviour of those who rode the boom and switched at the tipping point to ride the bust, or the behaviour of those who held on to their principled as the system collapsed around them. It was human behaviour after all, that led us to construct a bubble nobody suspected was dangerous, yet nonetheless would burst with disastrous consequences. Contrary to the views of many before the crash the cycle is inevitable - you cannot eliminate boom and bust. In a boom the bullish are promoted whilst the cautious are overlooked, reinforcing the cycle. This factor is generally ignored by the beautiful but flawed models of economic analysts. Since we cannot abolish the cycle, we must ensure that busts are not so dangerous in the future. The policy solutions are there if we're brave enough, from changing incentives, and creating fiscal and financial regulators with clout and discretion, through to changing corporate governance and shifting the power of executives.




The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox


Book Description

Contains Barry Hughart's three novels concerning Master Li and Number Ten Ox, including the World Fantasy Award-winning, BRIDGE OF BIRDS.




The Master and His Emissary


Book Description

A new edition of the bestselling classic – published with a special introduction to mark its 10th anniversary This pioneering account sets out to understand the structure of the human brain – the place where mind meets matter. Until recently, the left hemisphere of our brain has been seen as the ‘rational’ side, the superior partner to the right. But is this distinction true? Drawing on a vast body of experimental research, Iain McGilchrist argues while our left brain makes for a wonderful servant, it is a very poor master. As he shows, it is the right side which is the more reliable and insightful. Without it, our world would be mechanistic – stripped of depth, colour and value.




The Flawed Architect


Book Description

Henry Kissinger dominated American foreign relations like no other figure in recent history. He negotiated an end to American involvement in the Vietnam War, opened relations with Communist China, and orchestrated détente with the Soviet Union. Yet he is also the man behind the secret bombing of Cambodia and policies leading to the overthrow of Chile's President Salvador Allende. Which is more accurate, the picture of Kissinger the skilled diplomat or Kissinger the war criminal? In The Flawed Architect, the first major reassessment of Kissinger in over a decade, historian Jussi Hanhimaki paints a subtle, carefully composed portrait of America's most famous and infamous statesman. Drawing on extensive research from newly declassified files, the author follows Kissinger from his beginnings in the Nixon administration up to the current controversy fed by Christopher Hitchens over whether Kissinger is a war criminal. Hanhimaki guides the reader through White House power struggles and debates behind the Cambodia and Laos invasions, the search for a strategy in Vietnam, the breakthrough with China, and the unfolding of Soviet-American detente. Here, too, are many other international crises of the period--the Indo-Pakistani War, the Yom Kippur War, the Angolan civil war--all set against the backdrop of Watergate. Along the way, Hanhimaki sheds light on Kissinger's personal flaws--he was obsessed with secrecy and bureaucratic infighting in an administration that self-destructed in its abuse of power--as well as his great strengths as a diplomat. We see Kissinger negotiating, threatening and joking with virtually all of the key foreign leaders of the 1970s, from Mao to Brezhnev and Anwar Sadat to Golda Meir. This well researched account brings to life the complex nature of American foreign policymaking during the Kissinger years. It will be the standard work on Kissinger for years to come.




World Religions and Cults Volume 1


Book Description

Religions in today’s culture seem to be multiplying. Have you ever wondered why certain religions believe and practice what they do? Or how they view the Bible? This volume delves into these and other engaging questions, such as: How can a Christian witness to people in these religions? Do these other religions believe in creation and a Creator? How do we deal with these religions from a biblical authority perspective? Many religions and cults discussed in this first volume openly affirm that the Bible is true, but then something gets in their way. And there is a common factor every time—man’s fallible opinions. In one way or another the Bible gets demoted, reinterpreted, or completely ignored. Man’s ideas are used to throw the Bible’s clear teaching out the window while false teachings are promoted. This book is a must for laymen, church leaders, teachers, and students to understand the trends in our culture and around the world where certain religions dominate, helping you discern truth and guard your faith. When you understand a religion’s origins and teachings, you are in a better position to know how to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as you take the good news to those in false religions.




Legal Data for Banking


Book Description

A practical, informative guide to banks’ major weakness Legal Data for Banking defines the legal data domain in the context of financial institutions, and describes how banks can leverage these assets to optimise business lines and effectively manage risk. Legal data is at the heart of post-2009 regulatory reform, and practitioners need to deepen their grasp of legal data management in order to remain compliant with new rules focusing on transparency in trade and risk reporting. This book provides essential information for IT, project management and data governance leaders, with detailed discussion of current and best practices. Many banks are experiencing recurrent pain points related to legal data management issues, so clear explanations of the required processes, systems and strategic governance provide immediately-relevant relief. The recent financial crisis following the collapse of major banks had roots in poor risk data management, and the regulators’ unawareness of accumulated systemic risk stemming from contractual obligations between firms. To avoid repeating history, today’s banks must be proactive in legal data management; this book provides the critical knowledge practitioners need to put the necessary systems and practices in place. Learn how current legal data management practices are hurting banks Understand the systems, structures and strategies required to manage risk and optimise business lines Delve into the regulations surrounding risk aggregation, netting, collateral enforceability and more Gain practical insight on legal data technology, systems and migration The legal contracts between firms contain significant obligations that underpin the financial markets; failing to recognise these terms as valuable data assets means increased risk exposure and untapped business lines. Legal Data for Banking provides critical information for the banking industry, with actionable guidance for implementation.







Flaws


Book Description




The Southwestern Reporter


Book Description




Ethics & Organizations


Book Description

Ethics and Organization provides a rich and valuable overview of an increasingly important issue for management and organizations in contemporary society. Debates about equal opportunities, environmental responsibility, consumer redress and corporate governance have given ethics a prominent place in the study of organizations in their social and natural environments. Within the organization, new management styles that seek to energize employees by manipulating their beliefs have highlighted the moral-ethical principles at issue in contemporary management. At the same time debates around postmodernism and relativism have moved ethics to a new centrality in contemporary social theory. Ethics and Org