Product Description
In today’s globalized economy, firms often consider offshoring when confronted by rising costs and fierce competition. One mode of offshoring has continued to grow despite the current global economic turmoil: the captive center. Captive centers are offshore subsidiaries or branch offices that provide the parent company with services, usually in the form of back-office activities. In Offshoring Strategies, Ilan Oshri examines the evolution of the captive center. He identifies basic captive center models, examines the captive center strategies pursued by Fortune Global 250 firms, describes current captive center trends, and offers detailed individual case studies that illustrate each model. His analysis highlights the strategic paths available to firms that want to maximize the returns offered by captive centers.

Oshri outlines six models for captive centers that range from the basic wholly owned branch office to hybrids and joint ventures and identifies evolutionary paths along which the basic model develops. He analyzes firms’ strategies during initial set-up, then tracks the changes as strategies evolve to meet different business needs. The case studies, all based on the Fortune Global 250,

include the development of a basic captive unit into a complex hybrid structure; the evolution of a captive center into a shared service center offering services to other international firms; the divestment of a captive center to a private equity firm; and the migration of a captive center to a location where costs were lower. ... Read more

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The Stone Age family look in awe at rising waters and know their homeland will soon be gone. They flee to higher ground, but across the river a new hazard awaits. The time is 8,500 years ago, and Britain is becoming an island. Ven, a young hunter, becomes chief and faces danger from the north. His judgement is tested when they battle with a tyrannical giant and a harsh environment, as remnants of the Ice Age try to destroy his family. Geological disturbances bring warring groups and terrible battles. Set in Kent, the story tells of prehistoric conditions in places that today are covered by our towns and motorways. Early ancestors struggle to survive, and we find they not just cursed and fought, but loved, grieved, and had compassion for others. In those primitive times were they so very different from us? ... Read more

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This textbook walks students through the entire research process, giving them hands-on experience in research methods. Each chapter begins with an explanation of methodologies used in political science, followed by a worksheet section where students apply what they have learned. ... Read more

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Michael Aulden, an American doctor working in the war-torn Middle East, thinks he has seen it all-- the devastating ravages of war, human bodies desecrated beyond recognition, the pain and misery of gaping psychological and physical wounds-- the worst kinds of destruction humankind can create.But nothing has prepared him for the evil he is about to experience.

In a cave in Iraq, a young man known as the Prophet prepares to unleash a terror of epic proportions.His goal: to upset the balance of good and evil on Earth.and Michael, one of only thirty-six pure souls who can save the planet, must summon all his powers to stop the Prophet before a worldwide apocalypse transforms the Earth into the darkest hell imaginable.

Filled with insightful storytelling and illuminating adventure, Lords of Light is a story of overwhelming power that not only entertains but also teaches us poignant lessons about our own lives and sheds startling new light on issues humanity has struggled with since the beginning of time.
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Customer Reviews (18)

Doctor on doctors
I read this with critical interest: what would Chopra produce?I was also curious who is Martin Greenberg, did Chopra dictate the story line to him, and he filled it in?or did they really work on it together, letting the plot develop as their minds melded?
I think the effort they have made to make spiritual truth exciting and interesting is remarkable -- it can easily be just a non sequitor, the Oneness, after all....
Also, the struggles of the scientifically trained mind to accede to the non-rationality of the Oneness, it's infinity of infinities, it's infinite eternities, the other-side-of-the-coin-ness of good and evil -- these are hard concepts of stomach, and if served with a relish of suspense, violence, shock, they are a bit more palatable...
I enjoyed thinking there was probably a bit of autobiographical insight into doctor's compulsions, and definitely found it hard to follow sometimes, as was meant to be... expanded consciousness is like that.
It's definitely better written than Celestein Prophesy, and i wonder why it didn't make it to the NYT Best Seller list????

Lords of Light
Finally, a book by Chopra I liked...

Apart from his self help series of books, I find this earlier work of "Spiritual Fiction" to be unique and easy to read. I can only hope that the genre can keep getting better from here.

-a satisfying read-
This is a good book to read. I bought my copy when it first came out a few years ago and found it hard to put down. I am neither a outspoken critic or a "follower" of Deepak and I found this novel worthy of merit on its own , without making general reference to the authors past work in non-fiction and in fiction.

It sort of cleverly grabs you from the first few pages and beckons you with bare hints that an unfolding mystery is sure to follow should you continue reading. I found myself easily identifying with the religious and idealogical morass the protagonist experiences, and it seems revelant to the day and age in which we live.

Thick, compact and easily readable (to be fair, I did find some parts overly-breezy) without being overly simplistic or pollyannish, it provides an engaging reading experience. The author takes care to not produce something overly dense, causing the reader to become bored and lose interest; choosing not to bog and mire the reader down with sidebar note fuzzy pseudo religio-philisophical concepts.

This book could be just what the Dr. ordered to ease the mind and achieve a serene calm from the ripple effects of an increasingly troubled and chaotic world as we search to seek out and re-adjust our position in it.

Be prepared for a roller coaster ride to hell and back
This was a very hard book for me to read. I read mostly non fiction, and have admired and learned from Dr. Chopra's knowledge of the mind-body-spirit connections. I'm not clear as to how much of the material in Lords of Light is factually correct, since there are glaring mistakes, as some have mentioned. And lots of typos in a book published for world wide consumption. The authors do take a courageous leap into the realms of evil; I found myself feeling like I had fallen into a mudhole. The pace of the book is similar to suspense novels; even though it was making me very uncomfortable,I couldn't put it down, hoping that things would begin to make sense. Bottom line, the authors must have been drinking more coffee than the protaganist, and writing in some free association form. There is too much going on that is not explained, too many leaps of faith that the reader is asked to endure. The good/bad thing is, the book has sent my beliefs into a downward spiral. I am not clear if Dr. Chopra really believes some of the things Solomon and Rakhel(who have the role of teachers/elders) say. Especially te part saying that life is for being human, it isn't good to be too good...he seems to be saying it's fine to steal and lie a little, hey , it's "just the human condition"....For a man who is known world wide for his wisdom and teachings, this feels like the shadow side of Depak having its 2 minutes in the spotlight.

Not bad
This new genre of "spiritual fiction" has many more misses than hits. I would call this one a near hit. Near because it starts out great and had me right with it until the last few chapters, then I sorta lost interest. The story takes some odd turns and although it does make some important points, it seemed to miss others. If you are interested in a good spiritual novel, check out "The Destiny of Miro" by Julie Rae Rickard. It is a great combination of spiritual ideas in a fictional format. A great read. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Notable Sports Figures, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 2848 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Takes a close look at the people in sports who have captured attention because of success on the playing field, or controversy off the playing field. This work features biographies on more than 600 people from around the world and throughout history who have had an impact not only on their sport, but also on the society and culture of their times. It also includes not only the record-breakers that dominated and changed their sport, but also the controversial figures that made headlines even apart from athletic events. ... Read more

Product Description
When Elizabeth Perkins becomes romantically involved with James Garth, her husband's political strategist, they are thrown into a web of rumor, speculation, and suspicion, especially when Elizabeth's husband, the Senator, mysteriously dies. February publication date. 2 cassettes. .Amazon.com Review
Ronnie likes the idea of being Senator Lewis Honneker'swife a whole lot more than she actually likes being married tohim. She loves the power, the prestige, and of course the wealth andall of the comforts and beautiful things that he provides. But Ronnie isacutely lonely. Her husband is not the man she thought he was, andalthough long accustomed to it, Ronnie despises the strain of thecampaign trail--especially the constant facade and total lack ofprivacy.

If those problems weren't enough, Lewis's voters despise Ronnie. Asthe younger, sexy, second wife, the senator's loyal constituency thinkthat Ronnie broke up his first marriage. Because Lewis is up forreelection, expert political consultant Tom Quinlan is brought in tochange Ronnie's image. He finds the task to be far more of a challengethen he expected--not only because Ronnie is difficult to direct, butalso because the two can't keep their hands off each other. When thesenator is found murdered and Ronnie is accused of the crime, only Tombelieves she is innocent. The two work together to uncover thesenator's sordid secrets. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

A great book!!!!!
I loved this book. After reading all the reviews I was vary to read the book, but decided to get it anyway because I love all of Karen Robard's books. The Senator's Wife is an excellent novel. I could not put it down. I fully recommend it.

Okay book if you can see beyond moral issues
When I started to read this book, I knew immediately that mostwomen would have trouble with its moral issues. I figured that most womenwould dislike Ronnie, the main femalecharacter,forthe very samereasonsthather fictional contemporariesdisliked her....sheis an opportunist and, like most opportunists,will nothesitate to use her *ahem* assetsto get what she wants.So,if thatwill bother you too much to enjoy the plot,then thisbook is notfor you.If you can read it with an openmind,thenit'safinebookandahuge commentary on politics, highsociety, and how easily wemake moral judgmentsand allowthose judgmentsto influenceourability to think independently and compassionately.

It gets only a little better
This is the first of Robards books I've read and it will likely be my last.Her 'heroine' isn't at all likeable.Her greed drove her to marry a man old enough to be her father who was a known philanderer.Actually, almost everyone in this novel commits adultery.And constantly telling us how gorgeous the 'heroine' is and how every man wants to jump her bones does nothing to make her likeable.

The book gets a little better when it FINALLY addresses the suspense part of the plot but leaves out a great deal of detail and is fairly predictable.I selected this author because it sounded like she had a good track record but I fail to see how.

Not much suspense, but interesting plot
Political consultant Tom Quinlan is hired by the father of his former college pal, a well-connected senator, to inject some life into his sagging campaign and make Ronnie, the senator's second and much younger wife more voter friendly. Ronnie lived a life of poverty with little love. When she grew up, she decided the only way to marry was to a powerful and wealthy man, so her sad childhood would not repeat itself. At first dazzled by he husband, she soon finds that his eye continues to wander, and they have fallen into a loveless marriage of convenience.

Tom immediately finds areas that they can improve Ronnie's image - in her style of clothing, speech delivery, and softening of her appearance. One thing he does not count on is falling for her, and being subsequently drawn into a dramatic murder investigation. After giving Ronnie an ultimatum, she considers giving up her wealth for love, but is it too little too late?

There is plenty of steamy romance, and a little suspense, but the bad guy is pretty apparent once he is introduced. Not Robard's greatest suspense novel, but still a good read nonetheless.

Don't"listen" to other reviews-read it for yourself!
I read the reviews and then read the book afraid that this was going to be one that I put down before finishing. But I didn't come out with the same results as other reviewers. Ronnie was raised in a poor, torn-up family, with little love. She set the goals of marrying wealthy so she would never have to do without again. She was even careful with her reputation and didn't date just anybody. In her college years she met a wealthy older man that had it all. His first marriage had had problems and was in its final stage (all that was left was signing the papers). He offered Ronnie a job in his political arena and started pursuing her heavily. Finding out that it was going to take marriage before he could get her in bed he made the offer. Marriage! Thinking he would have a young, beautiful, "trophy" wife. He continued having other woman, though. By their third year Ronnie was on longer giving him rights to her bed due to his other affairs. Divorce wasn't a question, though, due to her husband's political career for re-election. A 2nd divorce would ruin his chance for re-election.

I do feel that KR made her characters rather shallow for the reader, not giving us enough information to feel some warm for them. But I did not come away feelig like other readers did about Ronnie and Tom. Ronnie was young & beautiful, with her guard up since she was the 2nd wife, accused of breaking up a marriage (though it was on the rocks before she even showed up). She thought having material things and money would feel the void of love until she found someone that showed her kindness and later on love. Remember (if you have already read it), that Ronnie had not reached out to any other man during her marriage until Tom came on the scene. So she was trying to deal with it.

Tom was hired by Ronnie's husband as a campaign adviser to help get his campaign back on track. He, himself, was in the process of rebuilding his business with his partner and was good at his business. He started working with Ronnie, seeing right off a woman that was being treated harshly by the public as well as being alone in her private life. He reached out to her with lust in his mind when they first got together sexually- but then it turned into love, realizing that they cared for each other. Doesn't that happen in a lot of relationships?

Then there is the murder of the senator and Ronnie is accused of doing it. It turns into a "who done it" story. It's not the best I have read, but it sure isn't the worse, either. I really wanted to judge it with a 3 1/2 stars but felt bad about all of the other low reviews that I went with a 4 stars. Read it for yourself and see what you think! ... Read more

Product Description
The focus of this highly interactive CD-ROM 'workbook' is to improve the knowledge base and technical skills of the primary care physician so they may successfully meet the unique challenges of the managed care environment.The program concentrates on capitation issues, risk management, when to refer, which tests are economically acceptable, and other issues that a physician in a managed care setting will encounter. Compatible on Windows and Mac.Up to 4 hours of Category 1 CME accredited by the AMA. ... Read more