If ever there was a company to admire Ramseys would be it, 12 Aug 2008
Marketing Judo is something most small businesses could do with. How do you fancy striking up relationships that will being in loads of positive press and cost you nearly next to nothing? Well that is marketing judo!

The book is very easy to read and digest and I read the book in 3 days (pausing to do other things of course). Clearly these guys know what they are talking about.

An inspiring book I can recommend for those looking for something a bit more than just an autobiography. Practical and punchy this book is worth every penny.

Makes you see your business differently, 26 Jan 2005
We are a start-up team in retail. Having seen a Richardson live presentation of Marketing Judo we changed our thinking. His, and Barnes', approach really does show you how to establish and then exploit a niche for yourself. Sure the judo thing is just a neat metaphor but the ideas behind it are truly inspirational. This book is an essential purchase for all start-up businesses, especially those in leisure and retail.

Good stuff indeed.

Marketing Judo - it worked for BUPA Hospital Washington!, 04 May 2004
This is an excellent book full of practical wisdom for marketing a business on a small budget. These guys really talk from experience, having started small with one Harry Ramsden's restaurant in Yorkshire, and building it into a worldwide group.

At times they were short of big budgets, so learned to use Marketing Judo - using the strengths of competitors, doing the unexpected, and working with partners, to build their business profitably.

There are lots of examples of how to get amazing publicity without spending huge amounts, but this book is about much more than just that. There are some great bits about how you need the right culture and product from the bottom up before you can begin to just promote something that's flawed in the first place.

And it can work in big organisations too. BUPA Hospital Washington operates near Newcastle, and is a new small hospital competing against an established larger competitor. Using similar techniques to those explored in Marketing Judo, we've doubled awareness of our hospital in Newcastle, and grown our patient numbers from Newcastle by 30%.

Although the book is most relevant to the restaurant business the authors know so well, it can be applied easily in any service sector.

An entertaining, educational and valuable read - highly recommended!

Down to earth, 25 Apr 2004
What a refreshing change to read something practical and really helpful toa start up business. It only took me two hours to read and gave me lots ofnew ideas. Probably not right for self important academic pompous socalled professionals.

Throw this one away, 16 Mar 2004
One thin metaphor about marketing being like judo won't sustain even a short book like this. It should have been much better - the authors have a terrific track record in turning around Harry Ramsden's. Maybe a straight telling of that business story would have been more insightful and interesting.

If ever there was a company to admire Ramseys would be it, 12 Aug 2008
Marketing Judo is something most small businesses could do with. How do you fancy striking up relationships that will being in loads of positive press and cost you nearly next to nothing? Well that is marketing judo!

The book is very easy to read and digest and I read the book in 3 days (pausing to do other things of course). Clearly these guys know what they are talking about.

An inspiring book I can recommend for those looking for something a bit more than just an autobiography. Practical and punchy this book is worth every penny.

Makes you see your business differently, 26 Jan 2005
We are a start-up team in retail. Having seen a Richardson live presentation of Marketing Judo we changed our thinking. His, and Barnes', approach really does show you how to establish and then exploit a niche for yourself. Sure the judo thing is just a neat metaphor but the ideas behind it are truly inspirational. This book is an essential purchase for all start-up businesses, especially those in leisure and retail.

Good stuff indeed.

Marketing Judo - it worked for BUPA Hospital Washington!, 04 May 2004
This is an excellent book full of practical wisdom for marketing a business on a small budget. These guys really talk from experience, having started small with one Harry Ramsden's restaurant in Yorkshire, and building it into a worldwide group.

At times they were short of big budgets, so learned to use Marketing Judo - using the strengths of competitors, doing the unexpected, and working with partners, to build their business profitably.

There are lots of examples of how to get amazing publicity without spending huge amounts, but this book is about much more than just that. There are some great bits about how you need the right culture and product from the bottom up before you can begin to just promote something that's flawed in the first place.

And it can work in big organisations too. BUPA Hospital Washington operates near Newcastle, and is a new small hospital competing against an established larger competitor. Using similar techniques to those explored in Marketing Judo, we've doubled awareness of our hospital in Newcastle, and grown our patient numbers from Newcastle by 30%.

Although the book is most relevant to the restaurant business the authors know so well, it can be applied easily in any service sector.

An entertaining, educational and valuable read - highly recommended!

Down to earth, 25 Apr 2004
What a refreshing change to read something practical and really helpful toa start up business. It only took me two hours to read and gave me lots ofnew ideas. Probably not right for self important academic pompous socalled professionals.

Throw this one away, 16 Mar 2004
One thin metaphor about marketing being like judo won't sustain even a short book like this. It should have been much better - the authors have a terrific track record in turning around Harry Ramsden's. Maybe a straight telling of that business story would have been more insightful and interesting.

Avoid this book!, 25 Aug 2005
Seriously awful book. The writer goes off on tangential anecdotes that rarely have anything to do with the subject of the chapter. I found myself skipping bits in the hope he will get to the point, only to discover I've skipped whole chapters. On re-reading them to make sure I hadn't overlooked any pearls, I realised what I should have done is skipped buying the thing in the first place!

By the end of the book I honestly learned nothing. A complete rip off! I'll never buy a book written by this guy ever again!

Extremely Disappointed, 11 Jul 2002
Simply put, this book does not compare favourably with some NLP books from other authors that I have read. After reading the synopsis and other comments about this book I was hoping to go beyond the initial stages in NLP technique, unfortunately the book provided no new knowledge. The NLP techniques were minimal in number and were weak in quality and effectiveness. There were too many phrases, stories, anecdotes and observations of common sense and not enough valuable content.

GREAT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET ON IN THERE WORK/LIFE., 23 Jan 2002
GOOD NLP BOOKS ALWAYS PAY FOR THEMSELVES
1 CHAPTER ALONG GOT ME MORE THEN MY COSTS BACK.
MY DAUGHTER AGE 13 IS NOW READING THIS BOOK.SHE IS GETTING SOME EXCELLENT TIPS FOR HER SCHOOL LIFE.
RAY BACCHUS

If ever there was a company to admire Ramseys would be it, 12 Aug 2008
Marketing Judo is something most small businesses could do with. How do you fancy striking up relationships that will being in loads of positive press and cost you nearly next to nothing? Well that is marketing judo!

The book is very easy to read and digest and I read the book in 3 days (pausing to do other things of course). Clearly these guys know what they are talking about.

An inspiring book I can recommend for those looking for something a bit more than just an autobiography. Practical and punchy this book is worth every penny.

Makes you see your business differently, 26 Jan 2005
We are a start-up team in retail. Having seen a Richardson live presentation of Marketing Judo we changed our thinking. His, and Barnes', approach really does show you how to establish and then exploit a niche for yourself. Sure the judo thing is just a neat metaphor but the ideas behind it are truly inspirational. This book is an essential purchase for all start-up businesses, especially those in leisure and retail.

Good stuff indeed.

Marketing Judo - it worked for BUPA Hospital Washington!, 04 May 2004
This is an excellent book full of practical wisdom for marketing a business on a small budget. These guys really talk from experience, having started small with one Harry Ramsden's restaurant in Yorkshire, and building it into a worldwide group.

At times they were short of big budgets, so learned to use Marketing Judo - using the strengths of competitors, doing the unexpected, and working with partners, to build their business profitably.

There are lots of examples of how to get amazing publicity without spending huge amounts, but this book is about much more than just that. There are some great bits about how you need the right culture and product from the bottom up before you can begin to just promote something that's flawed in the first place.

And it can work in big organisations too. BUPA Hospital Washington operates near Newcastle, and is a new small hospital competing against an established larger competitor. Using similar techniques to those explored in Marketing Judo, we've doubled awareness of our hospital in Newcastle, and grown our patient numbers from Newcastle by 30%.

Although the book is most relevant to the restaurant business the authors know so well, it can be applied easily in any service sector.

An entertaining, educational and valuable read - highly recommended!

Down to earth, 25 Apr 2004
What a refreshing change to read something practical and really helpful toa start up business. It only took me two hours to read and gave me lots ofnew ideas. Probably not right for self important academic pompous socalled professionals.

Throw this one away, 16 Mar 2004
One thin metaphor about marketing being like judo won't sustain even a short book like this. It should have been much better - the authors have a terrific track record in turning around Harry Ramsden's. Maybe a straight telling of that business story would have been more insightful and interesting.

Avoid this book!, 25 Aug 2005
Seriously awful book. The writer goes off on tangential anecdotes that rarely have anything to do with the subject of the chapter. I found myself skipping bits in the hope he will get to the point, only to discover I've skipped whole chapters. On re-reading them to make sure I hadn't overlooked any pearls, I realised what I should have done is skipped buying the thing in the first place!

By the end of the book I honestly learned nothing. A complete rip off! I'll never buy a book written by this guy ever again!

Extremely Disappointed, 11 Jul 2002
Simply put, this book does not compare favourably with some NLP books from other authors that I have read. After reading the synopsis and other comments about this book I was hoping to go beyond the initial stages in NLP technique, unfortunately the book provided no new knowledge. The NLP techniques were minimal in number and were weak in quality and effectiveness. There were too many phrases, stories, anecdotes and observations of common sense and not enough valuable content.

GREAT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET ON IN THERE WORK/LIFE., 23 Jan 2002
GOOD NLP BOOKS ALWAYS PAY FOR THEMSELVES
1 CHAPTER ALONG GOT ME MORE THEN MY COSTS BACK.
MY DAUGHTER AGE 13 IS NOW READING THIS BOOK.SHE IS GETTING SOME EXCELLENT TIPS FOR HER SCHOOL LIFE.
RAY BACCHUS

Just makes the reserve price., 29 Jun 2008
I chose this book, because I was after something different from village school teachers and school inspector's tales. Not because I was bored of them, but thought it might be interesting to see another take on village life and village characters.

Philip Serrell's novel doesn't quite fit the criteria of this genre of books. These are tales of a country auctioneer, which have been put together throughout the book as `lots', a clever technique by the author. These lots represent stories and anecdotes from Philip's past, and within their own right, I feel they are great. However, strung together as they have been did not quite sit right with me.

The setting of the books, in Worcester and its outlying areas provides us with all the quaint farm owners, little old ladies with strange habits, possessions to sell and the workforce with their idiosyncrasies and out of tune whistling.

But this book has no timeline structure and I felt I was jumping backwards and forwards with stories, from the seventies to eighties to current day. It opens promisingly with the start of Serrrell's venture into the antiques, and in my opinion it should have carried along from that, at the pace that was set by the first chapter/lot. We would have at least seen how Serrells expertise and experience got better, the tales would then have all slotted in nicely.

Nonetheless, this is a heart warming tale and if you can overlook my personal comments, and just feel you want a book to while away a few hours then this is the one for you.


Just doesn't do it, 27 Aug 2007
I read this as the last book in the pile on a rainy holiday and shouldn't have bothered. Most of the plots were thin and rarely did a chapter reach any logical or, for that matter, amusing conclusion.

Laughter warning! Proceed with caution!!!, 04 Mar 2007
Tales from a country auctioneer, Philip Serrell. You may recognise him from "Bargain Hunt", "Flog it", or the "Twentieth Century Roadshow". He's been in the auctioneering business for the last 30 odd years and knows the Hereford/Worcester area... well, maybe not as well as he should considering the number of time he seems to have "got lost" in his travels!

He has the same literary style as James Herriot (the "Shouldn't Happen to a Vet" books). Just alter the focus from veterinary to antiques and the content is just as engaging, and in places, hilarious! The book is autobiographical, but although obviously based on actual events, I'm sure some of the names, places, and events have been changed slightly. I was a bit bored in the first few chapters, where the tales are about how Philip got started in the business beginning with livestock sales. However, when the focus turned to antiques I was hooked!

Philip's obvious love for his trade, and his endearing portrayal of human nature in all its' richness and variety, make this an uncomplicated and compulsive read. Enjoy!

an auctioneers lot, 12 May 2005
if you've ever seen an antiques show then you will know Philip Serrel..this book is very funny as he descibes how he started in the antiques business after deciding not to follow his dad into farming....full of stories of the colourful characters he met....a couple of get rich quick schemes he and his mate tried out, some more successful than others....a very funny book....

If ever there was a company to admire Ramseys would be it, 12 Aug 2008
Marketing Judo is something most small businesses could do with. How do you fancy striking up relationships that will being in loads of positive press and cost you nearly next to nothing? Well that is marketing judo!

The book is very easy to read and digest and I read the book in 3 days (pausing to do other things of course). Clearly these guys know what they are talking about.

An inspiring book I can recommend for those looking for something a bit more than just an autobiography. Practical and punchy this book is worth every penny.

Makes you see your business differently, 26 Jan 2005
We are a start-up team in retail. Having seen a Richardson live presentation of Marketing Judo we changed our thinking. His, and Barnes', approach really does show you how to establish and then exploit a niche for yourself. Sure the judo thing is just a neat metaphor but the ideas behind it are truly inspirational. This book is an essential purchase for all start-up businesses, especially those in leisure and retail.

Good stuff indeed.

Marketing Judo - it worked for BUPA Hospital Washington!, 04 May 2004
This is an excellent book full of practical wisdom for marketing a business on a small budget. These guys really talk from experience, having started small with one Harry Ramsden's restaurant in Yorkshire, and building it into a worldwide group.

At times they were short of big budgets, so learned to use Marketing Judo - using the strengths of competitors, doing the unexpected, and working with partners, to build their business profitably.

There are lots of examples of how to get amazing publicity without spending huge amounts, but this book is about much more than just that. There are some great bits about how you need the right culture and product from the bottom up before you can begin to just promote something that's flawed in the first place.

And it can work in big organisations too. BUPA Hospital Washington operates near Newcastle, and is a new small hospital competing against an established larger competitor. Using similar techniques to those explored in Marketing Judo, we've doubled awareness of our hospital in Newcastle, and grown our patient numbers from Newcastle by 30%.

Although the book is most relevant to the restaurant business the authors know so well, it can be applied easily in any service sector.

An entertaining, educational and valuable read - highly recommended!

Down to earth, 25 Apr 2004
What a refreshing change to read something practical and really helpful toa start up business. It only took me two hours to read and gave me lots ofnew ideas. Probably not right for self important academic pompous socalled professionals.

Throw this one away, 16 Mar 2004
One thin metaphor about marketing being like judo won't sustain even a short book like this. It should have been much better - the authors have a terrific track record in turning around Harry Ramsden's. Maybe a straight telling of that business story would have been more insightful and interesting.

Avoid this book!, 25 Aug 2005
Seriously awful book. The writer goes off on tangential anecdotes that rarely have anything to do with the subject of the chapter. I found myself skipping bits in the hope he will get to the point, only to discover I've skipped whole chapters. On re-reading them to make sure I hadn't overlooked any pearls, I realised what I should have done is skipped buying the thing in the first place!

By the end of the book I honestly learned nothing. A complete rip off! I'll never buy a book written by this guy ever again!

Extremely Disappointed, 11 Jul 2002
Simply put, this book does not compare favourably with some NLP books from other authors that I have read. After reading the synopsis and other comments about this book I was hoping to go beyond the initial stages in NLP technique, unfortunately the book provided no new knowledge. The NLP techniques were minimal in number and were weak in quality and effectiveness. There were too many phrases, stories, anecdotes and observations of common sense and not enough valuable content.

GREAT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET ON IN THERE WORK/LIFE., 23 Jan 2002
GOOD NLP BOOKS ALWAYS PAY FOR THEMSELVES
1 CHAPTER ALONG GOT ME MORE THEN MY COSTS BACK.
MY DAUGHTER AGE 13 IS NOW READING THIS BOOK.SHE IS GETTING SOME EXCELLENT TIPS FOR HER SCHOOL LIFE.
RAY BACCHUS

Just makes the reserve price., 29 Jun 2008
I chose this book, because I was after something different from village school teachers and school inspector's tales. Not because I was bored of them, but thought it might be interesting to see another take on village life and village characters.

Philip Serrell's novel doesn't quite fit the criteria of this genre of books. These are tales of a country auctioneer, which have been put together throughout the book as `lots', a clever technique by the author. These lots represent stories and anecdotes from Philip's past, and within their own right, I feel they are great. However, strung together as they have been did not quite sit right with me.

The setting of the books, in Worcester and its outlying areas provides us with all the quaint farm owners, little old ladies with strange habits, possessions to sell and the workforce with their idiosyncrasies and out of tune whistling.

But this book has no timeline structure and I felt I was jumping backwards and forwards with stories, from the seventies to eighties to current day. It opens promisingly with the start of Serrrell's venture into the antiques, and in my opinion it should have carried along from that, at the pace that was set by the first chapter/lot. We would have at least seen how Serrells expertise and experience got better, the tales would then have all slotted in nicely.

Nonetheless, this is a heart warming tale and if you can overlook my personal comments, and just feel you want a book to while away a few hours then this is the one for you.


Just doesn't do it, 27 Aug 2007
I read this as the last book in the pile on a rainy holiday and shouldn't have bothered. Most of the plots were thin and rarely did a chapter reach any logical or, for that matter, amusing conclusion.

Laughter warning! Proceed with caution!!!, 04 Mar 2007
Tales from a country auctioneer, Philip Serrell. You may recognise him from "Bargain Hunt", "Flog it", or the "Twentieth Century Roadshow". He's been in the auctioneering business for the last 30 odd years and knows the Hereford/Worcester area... well, maybe not as well as he should considering the number of time he seems to have "got lost" in his travels!

He has the same literary style as James Herriot (the "Shouldn't Happen to a Vet" books). Just alter the focus from veterinary to antiques and the content is just as engaging, and in places, hilarious! The book is autobiographical, but although obviously based on actual events, I'm sure some of the names, places, and events have been changed slightly. I was a bit bored in the first few chapters, where the tales are about how Philip got started in the business beginning with livestock sales. However, when the focus turned to antiques I was hooked!

Philip's obvious love for his trade, and his endearing portrayal of human nature in all its' richness and variety, make this an uncomplicated and compulsive read. Enjoy!

an auctioneers lot, 12 May 2005
if you've ever seen an antiques show then you will know Philip Serrel..this book is very funny as he descibes how he started in the antiques business after deciding not to follow his dad into farming....full of stories of the colourful characters he met....a couple of get rich quick schemes he and his mate tried out, some more successful than others....a very funny book....

Good Novel, Great VI Novel, 26 Oct 2006
Sara Paretsky continues her excellent detective novel series by sending her lead character, VI Warshawski, back to her South Chicago roots. VI begins coaching a girls' basketball team at her old school and becomes involved in the intrigue surrounding a well-known superstore chain and a flag factory that is being vandalised and intimidated. VI once again takes her hits and injuries, but keeps her eye on the case when one of her team and the rich heir to the superstore chain go missing.

Paretsky has once again produced an excellent novel, and has stuck to the things she knows best - getting VI in and out of trouble. Paretsky has very strong political views and these show here, but don't overwhelm the story.

This book is an excellent addition to the VI Warshawski series, but is also readable as a standalone novel. well worth the effort.

V.I. scores another hit, 10 Apr 2006
I'm a big fan of V.I. Warshawski and this, her latest outing, is her best. The seamy underbelly of South Chicago with its struggling families, lack of resources (social and crimefighting) and dominance by a ruthless family owned retail conglomerate is brought fully to life by Sara Paretsky's deft characterisations. V.I. remains a very human heroine and, despite surviving some nasty injuries in pretty much every book, does appear to be aging both physically and in wisdom as the series progresses.

Our story begins with V.I. being unwillingly drafted in to coach a girls' basketball team at her old high school. One of the girls mothers works at Fly the Flag, a flag manufacturing company employing local workers. She becomes concerned about operations and asks to see V.I., then inexplicably changes her mind. In classic private eye style, V.I. never lets a question go unanswered and the action takes off from there.

Fire Sale is sufficiently informative about the relationships between V.I. and the regular cast members to stand alone as a novel. The fine balance between educating the novice reader and not boring the regulars is well handled and we find more tidbits about V.I.'s prior relationship with Rawlings as well as her current amour, Morrell. Highly recommended both for regular readers of the series and for those who enjoy the private eye genre.

Is there anything that can't keep this woman down?, 24 Mar 2006
Another action packed Warshawski novel. With the seedy underbelly of south Chicago biting through bringing back memories for Warshawski that she would prefer remain buried. Getting sucked into an investigation she didn't ask for finding missing people and asking questions that invariably put her life in danger. The book seemed to lack the darkness that came with her last book but it still keeps your heart pounding throughout.

Vic gets sucked into coaching a basketball team at her old school, it's not the only thing she gets sucked into. Exploding factories, missing teenagers, dead aquaintances and a battle scarred lover. There's nothing missing from this book and although lacking the edge of some of her previous books it's a must read for all Warshawski fans.

V.I. Stomps on Her Old Turf, 27 Aug 2005
Sara Paretsky's work is best when she uses the chilling surroundings of the poor as one of her characters. The bleak streets provide a color that makes all of her characters and plots that much more vivid and interesting.

Take V.I. out of the slums and the characters become uninteresting, thin and superfluous.

Fire Sale is squarely placed in the depths of South Chicago. That's what lifts this book above being an average novel.

There's a nice touch to the story as V.I. finds herself recruited to be a fill-in for her old high school basketball coach who's fighting cancer. In the story, there are many flashbacks as V.I. reflects on her own times and how those times are different from these times for these young women.

You've never attended a basketball practice like these. Observers include the children of the players and their "boyfriends".

There's also gripping material about a slum factory . . . and the accidents that dog its existence.

V.I. finds herself with more "cases" than she can handle (most of these are of the nonpaying variety). That makes the plot deliciously complex -- something Ms. Paretsky does not always achieve in her books.

The book has two annoying qualities that keep it from being a five-star novel. First, Ms. Paretsky falls into the trap that many novelists do who have heroines . . . they turn the heroines into either punching bags or pincushions for physical violence. It's unnecessary and it's annoying. Second, as usual, her portrayal of the rich makes them so obnoxious and annoying that you don't really want to read those sections. Ms. Paretsky needs to appreciate that even villains become more interesting when you give them sympathetic qualities. The material about the Bysens is so annoying that I was tempted to grade the book at three stars. Think of this as a three-and-a-half star book.

If ever there was a company to admire Ramseys would be it, 12 Aug 2008
Marketing Judo is something most small businesses could do with. How do you fancy striking up relationships that will being in loads of positive press and cost you nearly next to nothing? Well that is marketing judo!

The book is very easy to read and digest and I read the book in 3 days (pausing to do other things of course). Clearly these guys know what they are talking about.

An inspiring book I can recommend for those looking for something a bit more than just an autobiography. Practical and punchy this book is worth every penny.

Makes you see your business differently, 26 Jan 2005
We are a start-up team in retail. Having seen a Richardson live presentation of Marketing Judo we changed our thinking. His, and Barnes', approach really does show you how to establish and then exploit a niche for yourself. Sure the judo thing is just a neat metaphor but the ideas behind it are truly inspirational. This book is an essential purchase for all start-up businesses, especially those in leisure and retail.

Good stuff indeed.

Marketing Judo - it worked for BUPA Hospital Washington!, 04 May 2004
This is an excellent book full of practical wisdom for marketing a business on a small budget. These guys really talk from experience, having started small with one Harry Ramsden's restaurant in Yorkshire, and building it into a worldwide group.

At times they were short of big budgets, so learned to use Marketing Judo - using the strengths of competitors, doing the unexpected, and working with partners, to build their business profitably.

There are lots of examples of how to get amazing publicity without spending huge amounts, but this book is about much more than just that. There are some great bits about how you need the right culture and product from the bottom up before you can begin to just promote something that's flawed in the first place.

And it can work in big organisations too. BUPA Hospital Washington operates near Newcastle, and is a new small hospital competing against an established larger competitor. Using similar techniques to those explored in Marketing Judo, we've doubled awareness of our hospital in Newcastle, and grown our patient numbers from Newcastle by 30%.

Although the book is most relevant to the restaurant business the authors know so well, it can be applied easily in any service sector.

An entertaining, educational and valuable read - highly recommended!

Down to earth, 25 Apr 2004
What a refreshing change to read something practical and really helpful toa start up business. It only took me two hours to read and gave me lots ofnew ideas. Probably not right for self important academic pompous socalled professionals.

Throw this one away, 16 Mar 2004
One thin metaphor about marketing being like judo won't sustain even a short book like this. It should have been much better - the authors have a terrific track record in turning around Harry Ramsden's. Maybe a straight telling of that business story would have been more insightful and interesting.

Avoid this book!, 25 Aug 2005
Seriously awful book. The writer goes off on tangential anecdotes that rarely have anything to do with the subject of the chapter. I found myself skipping bits in the hope he will get to the point, only to discover I've skipped whole chapters. On re-reading them to make sure I hadn't overlooked any pearls, I realised what I should have done is skipped buying the thing in the first place!

By the end of the book I honestly learned nothing. A complete rip off! I'll never buy a book written by this guy ever again!

Extremely Disappointed, 11 Jul 2002
Simply put, this book does not compare favourably with some NLP books from other authors that I have read. After reading the synopsis and other comments about this book I was hoping to go beyond the initial stages in NLP technique, unfortunately the book provided no new knowledge. The NLP techniques were minimal in number and were weak in quality and effectiveness. There were too many phrases, stories, anecdotes and observations of common sense and not enough valuable content.

GREAT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET ON IN THERE WORK/LIFE., 23 Jan 2002
GOOD NLP BOOKS ALWAYS PAY FOR THEMSELVES
1 CHAPTER ALONG GOT ME MORE THEN MY COSTS BACK.
MY DAUGHTER AGE 13 IS NOW READING THIS BOOK.SHE IS GETTING SOME EXCELLENT TIPS FOR HER SCHOOL LIFE.
RAY BACCHUS

Just makes the reserve price., 29 Jun 2008
I chose this book, because I was after something different from village school teachers and school inspector's tales. Not because I was bored of them, but thought it might be interesting to see another take on village life and village characters.

Philip Serrell's novel doesn't quite fit the criteria of this genre of books. These are tales of a country auctioneer, which have been put together throughout the book as `lots', a clever technique by the author. These lots represent stories and anecdotes from Philip's past, and within their own right, I feel they are great. However, strung together as they have been did not quite sit right with me.

The setting of the books, in Worcester and its outlying areas provides us with all the quaint farm owners, little old ladies with strange habits, possessions to sell and the workforce with their idiosyncrasies and out of tune whistling.

But this book has no timeline structure and I felt I was jumping backwards and forwards with stories, from the seventies to eighties to current day. It opens promisingly with the start of Serrrell's venture into the antiques, and in my opinion it should have carried along from that, at the pace that was set by the first chapter/lot. We would have at least seen how Serrells expertise and experience got better, the tales would then have all slotted in nicely.

Nonetheless, this is a heart warming tale and if you can overlook my personal comments, and just feel you want a book to while away a few hours then this is the one for you.


Just doesn't do it, 27 Aug 2007
I read this as the last book in the pile on a rainy holiday and shouldn't have bothered. Most of the plots were thin and rarely did a chapter reach any logical or, for that matter, amusing conclusion.

Laughter warning! Proceed with caution!!!, 04 Mar 2007
Tales from a country auctioneer, Philip Serrell. You may recognise him from "Bargain Hunt", "Flog it", or the "Twentieth Century Roadshow". He's been in the auctioneering business for the last 30 odd years and knows the Hereford/Worcester area... well, maybe not as well as he should considering the number of time he seems to have "got lost" in his travels!

He has the same literary style as James Herriot (the "Shouldn't Happen to a Vet" books). Just alter the focus from veterinary to antiques and the content is just as engaging, and in places, hilarious! The book is autobiographical, but although obviously based on actual events, I'm sure some of the names, places, and events have been changed slightly. I was a bit bored in the first few chapters, where the tales are about how Philip got started in the business beginning with livestock sales. However, when the focus turned to antiques I was hooked!

Philip's obvious love for his trade, and his endearing portrayal of human nature in all its' richness and variety, make this an uncomplicated and compulsive read. Enjoy!

an auctioneers lot, 12 May 2005
if you've ever seen an antiques show then you will know Philip Serrel..this book is very funny as he descibes how he started in the antiques business after deciding not to follow his dad into farming....full of stories of the colourful characters he met....a couple of get rich quick schemes he and his mate tried out, some more successful than others....a very funny book....

Good Novel, Great VI Novel, 26 Oct 2006
Sara Paretsky continues her excellent detective novel series by sending her lead character, VI Warshawski, back to her South Chicago roots. VI begins coaching a girls' basketball team at her old school and becomes involved in the intrigue surrounding a well-known superstore chain and a flag factory that is being vandalised and intimidated. VI once again takes her hits and injuries, but keeps her eye on the case when one of her team and the rich heir to the superstore chain go missing.

Paretsky has once again produced an excellent novel, and has stuck to the things she knows best - getting VI in and out of trouble. Paretsky has very strong political views and these show here, but don't overwhelm the story.

This book is an excellent addition to the VI Warshawski series, but is also readable as a standalone novel. well worth the effort.

V.I. scores another hit, 10 Apr 2006
I'm a big fan of V.I. Warshawski and this, her latest outing, is her best. The seamy underbelly of South Chicago with its struggling families, lack of resources (social and crimefighting) and dominance by a ruthless family owned retail conglomerate is brought fully to life by Sara Paretsky's deft characterisations. V.I. remains a very human heroine and, despite surviving some nasty injuries in pretty much every book, does appear to be aging both physically and in wisdom as the series progresses.

Our story begins with V.I. being unwillingly drafted in to coach a girls' basketball team at her old high school. One of the girls mothers works at Fly the Flag, a flag manufacturing company employing local workers. She becomes concerned about operations and asks to see V.I., then inexplicably changes her mind. In classic private eye style, V.I. never lets a question go unanswered and the action takes off from there.

Fire Sale is sufficiently informative about the relationships between V.I. and the regular cast members to stand alone as a novel. The fine balance between educating the novice reader and not boring the regulars is well handled and we find more tidbits about V.I.'s prior relationship with Rawlings as well as her current amour, Morrell. Highly recommended both for regular readers of the series and for those who enjoy the private eye genre.

Is there anything that can't keep this woman down?, 24 Mar 2006
Another action packed Warshawski novel. With the seedy underbelly of south Chicago biting through bringing back memories for Warshawski that she would prefer remain buried. Getting sucked into an investigation she didn't ask for finding missing people and asking questions that invariably put her life in danger. The book seemed to lack the darkness that came with her last book but it still keeps your heart pounding throughout.

Vic gets sucked into coaching a basketball team at her old school, it's not the only thing she gets sucked into. Exploding factories, missing teenagers, dead aquaintances and a battle scarred lover. There's nothing missing from this book and although lacking the edge of some of her previous books it's a must read for all Warshawski fans.

V.I. Stomps on Her Old Turf, 27 Aug 2005
Sara Paretsky's work is best when she uses the chilling surroundings of the poor as one of her characters. The bleak streets provide a color that makes all of her characters and plots that much more vivid and interesting.

Take V.I. out of the slums and the characters become uninteresting, thin and superfluous.

Fire Sale is squarely placed in the depths of South Chicago. That's what lifts this book above being an average novel.

There's a nice touch to the story as V.I. finds herself recruited to be a fill-in for her old high school basketball coach who's fighting cancer. In the story, there are many flashbacks as V.I. reflects on her own times and how those times are different from these times for these young women.

You've never attended a basketball practice like these. Observers include the children of the players and their "boyfriends".

There's also gripping material about a slum factory . . . and the accidents that dog its existence.

V.I. finds herself with more "cases" than she can handle (most of these are of the nonpaying variety). That makes the plot deliciously complex -- something Ms. Paretsky does not always achieve in her books.

The book has two annoying qualities that keep it from being a five-star novel. First, Ms. Paretsky falls into the trap that many novelists do who have heroines . . . they turn the heroines into either punching bags or pincushions for physical violence. It's unnecessary and it's annoying. Second, as usual, her portrayal of the rich makes them so obnoxious and annoying that you don't really want to read those sections. Ms. Paretsky needs to appreciate that even villains become more interesting when you give them sympathetic qualities. The material about the Bysens is so annoying that I was tempted to grade the book at three stars. Think of this as a three-and-a-half star book.

Suggests lots of good ideas to consider, 03 Mar 1998
I've read this book three times in the last fifteen years and learned more each time. There are lots of ideas to consider, particularly in dealing with people who automatically say no.

If ever there was a company to admire Ramseys would be it, 12 Aug 2008
Marketing Judo is something most small businesses could do with. How do you fancy striking up relationships that will being in loads of positive press and cost you nearly next to nothing? Well that is marketing judo!

The book is very easy to read and digest and I read the book in 3 days (pausing to do other things of course). Clearly these guys know what they are talking about.

An inspiring book I can recommend for those looking for something a bit more than just an autobiography. Practical and punchy this book is worth every penny.

Makes you see your business differently, 26 Jan 2005
We are a start-up team in retail. Having seen a Richardson live presentation of Marketing Judo we changed our thinking. His, and Barnes', approach really does show you how to establish and then exploit a niche for yourself. Sure the judo thing is just a neat metaphor but the ideas behind it are truly inspirational. This book is an essential purchase for all start-up businesses, especially those in leisure and retail.

Good stuff indeed.

Marketing Judo - it worked for BUPA Hospital Washington!, 04 May 2004
This is an excellent book full of practical wisdom for marketing a business on a small budget. These guys really talk from experience, having started small with one Harry Ramsden's restaurant in Yorkshire, and building it into a worldwide group.

At times they were short of big budgets, so learned to use Marketing Judo - using the strengths of competitors, doing the unexpected, and working with partners, to build their business profitably.

There are lots of examples of how to get amazing publicity without spending huge amounts, but this book is about much more than just that. There are some great bits about how you need the right culture and product from the bottom up before you can begin to just promote something that's flawed in the first place.

And it can work in big organisations too. BUPA Hospital Washington operates near Newcastle, and is a new small hospital competing against an established larger competitor. Using similar techniques to those explored in Marketing Judo, we've doubled awareness of our hospital in Newcastle, and grown our patient numbers from Newcastle by 30%.

Although the book is most relevant to the restaurant business the authors know so well, it can be applied easily in any service sector.

An entertaining, educational and valuable read - highly recommended!

Down to earth, 25 Apr 2004
What a refreshing change to read something practical and really helpful toa start up business. It only took me two hours to read and gave me lots ofnew ideas. Probably not right for self important academic pompous socalled professionals.

Throw this one away, 16 Mar 2004
One thin metaphor about marketing being like judo won't sustain even a short book like this. It should have been much better - the authors have a terrific track record in turning around Harry Ramsden's. Maybe a straight telling of that business story would have been more insightful and interesting.

Avoid this book!, 25 Aug 2005
Seriously awful book. The writer goes off on tangential anecdotes that rarely have anything to do with the subject of the chapter. I found myself skipping bits in the hope he will get to the point, only to discover I've skipped whole chapters. On re-reading them to make sure I hadn't overlooked any pearls, I realised what I should have done is skipped buying the thing in the first place!

By the end of the book I honestly learned nothing. A complete rip off! I'll never buy a book written by this guy ever again!

Extremely Disappointed, 11 Jul 2002
Simply put, this book does not compare favourably with some NLP books from other authors that I have read. After reading the synopsis and other comments about this book I was hoping to go beyond the initial stages in NLP technique, unfortunately the book provided no new knowledge. The NLP techniques were minimal in number and were weak in quality and effectiveness. There were too many phrases, stories, anecdotes and observations of common sense and not enough valuable content.

GREAT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET ON IN THERE WORK/LIFE., 23 Jan 2002
GOOD NLP BOOKS ALWAYS PAY FOR THEMSELVES
1 CHAPTER ALONG GOT ME MORE THEN MY COSTS BACK.
MY DAUGHTER AGE 13 IS NOW READING THIS BOOK.SHE IS GETTING SOME EXCELLENT TIPS FOR HER SCHOOL LIFE.
RAY BACCHUS

Just makes the reserve price., 29 Jun 2008
I chose this book, because I was after something different from village school teachers and school inspector's tales. Not because I was bored of them, but thought it might be interesting to see another take on village life and village characters.

Philip Serrell's novel doesn't quite fit the criteria of this genre of books. These are tales of a country auctioneer, which have been put together throughout the book as `lots', a clever technique by the author. These lots represent stories and anecdotes from Philip's past, and within their own right, I feel they are great. However, strung together as they have been did not quite sit right with me.

The setting of the books, in Worcester and its outlying areas provides us with all the quaint farm owners, little old ladies with strange habits, possessions to sell and the workforce with their idiosyncrasies and out of tune whistling.

But this book has no timeline structure and I felt I was jumping backwards and forwards with stories, from the seventies to eighties to current day. It opens promisingly with the start of Serrrell's venture into the antiques, and in my opinion it should have carried along from that, at the pace that was set by the first chapter/lot. We would have at least seen how Serrells expertise and experience got better, the tales would then have all slotted in nicely.

Nonetheless, this is a heart warming tale and if you can overlook my personal comments, and just feel you want a book to while away a few hours then this is the one for you.


Just doesn't do it, 27 Aug 2007
I read this as the last book in the pile on a rainy holiday and shouldn't have bothered. Most of the plots were thin and rarely did a chapter reach any logical or, for that matter, amusing conclusion.

Laughter warning! Proceed with caution!!!, 04 Mar 2007
Tales from a country auctioneer, Philip Serrell. You may recognise him from "Bargain Hunt", "Flog it", or the "Twentieth Century Roadshow". He's been in the auctioneering business for the last 30 odd years and knows the Hereford/Worcester area... well, maybe not as well as he should considering the number of time he seems to have "got lost" in his travels!

He has the same literary style as James Herriot (the "Shouldn't Happen to a Vet" books). Just alter the focus from veterinary to antiques and the content is just as engaging, and in places, hilarious! The book is autobiographical, but although obviously based on actual events, I'm sure some of the names, places, and events have been changed slightly. I was a bit bored in the first few chapters, where the tales are about how Philip got started in the business beginning with livestock sales. However, when the focus turned to antiques I was hooked!

Philip's obvious love for his trade, and his endearing portrayal of human nature in all its' richness and variety, make this an uncomplicated and compulsive read. Enjoy!

an auctioneers lot, 12 May 2005
if you've ever seen an antiques show then you will know Philip Serrel..this book is very funny as he descibes how he started in the antiques business after deciding not to follow his dad into farming....full of stories of the colourful characters he met....a couple of get rich quick schemes he and his mate tried out, some more successful than others....a very funny book....

Good Novel, Great VI Novel, 26 Oct 2006
Sara Paretsky continues her excellent detective novel series by sending her lead character, VI Warshawski, back to her South Chicago roots. VI begins coaching a girls' basketball team at her old school and becomes involved in the intrigue surrounding a well-known superstore chain and a flag factory that is being vandalised and intimidated. VI once again takes her hits and injuries, but keeps her eye on the case when one of her team and the rich heir to the superstore chain go missing.

Paretsky has once again produced an excellent novel, and has stuck to the things she knows best - getting VI in and out of trouble. Paretsky has very strong political views and these show here, but don't overwhelm the story.

This book is an excellent addition to the VI Warshawski series, but is also readable as a standalone novel. well worth the effort.

V.I. scores another hit, 10 Apr 2006
I'm a big fan of V.I. Warshawski and this, her latest outing, is her best. The seamy underbelly of South Chicago with its struggling families, lack of resources (social and crimefighting) and dominance by a ruthless family owned retail conglomerate is brought fully to life by Sara Paretsky's deft characterisations. V.I. remains a very human heroine and, despite surviving some nasty injuries in pretty much every book, does appear to be aging both physically and in wisdom as the series progresses.

Our story begins with V.I. being unwillingly drafted in to coach a girls' basketball team at her old high school. One of the girls mothers works at Fly the Flag, a flag manufacturing company employing local workers. She becomes concerned about operations and asks to see V.I., then inexplicably changes her mind. In classic private eye style, V.I. never lets a question go unanswered and the action takes off from there.

Fire Sale is sufficiently informative about the relationships between V.I. and the regular cast members to stand alone as a novel. The fine balance between educating the novice reader and not boring the regulars is well handled and we find more tidbits about V.I.'s prior relationship with Rawlings as well as her current amour, Morrell. Highly recommended both for regular readers of the series and for those who enjoy the private eye genre.

Is there anything that can't keep this woman down?, 24 Mar 2006
Another action packed Warshawski novel. With the seedy underbelly of south Chicago biting through bringing back memories for Warshawski that she would prefer remain buried. Getting sucked into an investigation she didn't ask for finding missing people and asking questions that invariably put her life in danger. The book seemed to lack the darkness that came with her last book but it still keeps your heart pounding throughout.

Vic gets sucked into coaching a basketball team at her old school, it's not the only thing she gets sucked into. Exploding factories, missing teenagers, dead aquaintances and a battle scarred lover. There's nothing missing from this book and although lacking the edge of some of her previous books it's a must read for all Warshawski fans.

V.I. Stomps on Her Old Turf, 27 Aug 2005
Sara Paretsky's work is best when she uses the chilling surroundings of the poor as one of her characters. The bleak streets provide a color that makes all of her characters and plots that much more vivid and interesting.

Take V.I. out of the slums and the characters become uninteresting, thin and superfluous.

Fire Sale is squarely placed in the depths of South Chicago. That's what lifts this book above being an average novel.

There's a nice touch to the story as V.I. finds herself recruited to be a fill-in for her old high school basketball coach who's fighting cancer. In the story, there are many flashbacks as V.I. reflects on her own times and how those times are different from these times for these young women.

You've never attended a basketball practice like these. Observers include the children of the players and their "boyfriends".

There's also gripping material about a slum factory . . . and the accidents that dog its existence.

V.I. finds herself with more "cases" than she can handle (most of these are of the nonpaying variety). That makes the plot deliciously complex -- something Ms. Paretsky does not always achieve in her books.

The book has two annoying qualities that keep it from being a five-star novel. First, Ms. Paretsky falls into the trap that many novelists do who have heroines . . . they turn the heroines into either punching bags or pincushions for physical violence. It's unnecessary and it's annoying. Second, as usual, her portrayal of the rich makes them so obnoxious and annoying that you don't really want to read those sections. Ms. Paretsky needs to appreciate that even villains become more interesting when you give them sympathetic qualities. The material about the Bysens is so annoying that I was tempted to grade the book at three stars. Think of this as a three-and-a-half star book.

Suggests lots of good ideas to consider, 03 Mar 1998
I've read this book three times in the last fifteen years and learned more each time. There are lots of ideas to consider, particularly in dealing with people who automatically say no.

hmm, 31 Jan 2005
I didn't read a review before getting the book, i was expecting a thrilling comedic novel, however i was sorely disappointed.
nice cover though gets it a 2*

New ideas that shape our future, 25 Sep 1998
I was introduced to Faith Popcorn the first time on a Anthony Robbins interview audio casette. Of course I wanted to hear more so I reviewed this book. Ms Popcorn has a powerful way to bring across future trends. The Internet is one good example of this. Another book, Life and Death on the Internet by Keith A Schroeder deals with these new trends on the Internet and I feel these two books make a good fit. If you are considering buying this book, just do it. It is a powerful and practical guide into the near future.

If ever there was a company to admire Ramseys would be it, 12 Aug 2008
Marketing Judo is something most small businesses could do with. How do you fancy striking up relationships that will being in loads of positive press and cost you nearly next to nothing? Well that is marketing judo!

The book is very easy to read and digest and I read the book in 3 days (pausing to do other things of course). Clearly these guys know what they are talking about.

An inspiring book I can recommend for those looking for something a bit more than just an autobiography. Practical and punchy this book is worth every penny.

Makes you see your business differently, 26 Jan 2005
We are a start-up team in retail. Having seen a Richardson live presentation of Marketing Judo we changed our thinking. His, and Barnes', approach really does show you how to establish and then exploit a niche for yourself. Sure the judo thing is just a neat metaphor but the ideas behind it are truly inspirational. This book is an essential purchase for all start-up businesses, especially those in leisure and retail.

Good stuff indeed.

Marketing Judo - it worked for BUPA Hospital Washington!, 04 May 2004
This is an excellent book full of practical wisdom for marketing a business on a small budget. These guys really talk from experience, having started small with one Harry Ramsden's restaurant in Yorkshire, and building it into a worldwide group.

At times they were short of big budgets, so learned to use Marketing Judo - using the strengths of competitors, doing the unexpected, and working with partners, to build their business profitably.

There are lots of examples of how to get amazing publicity without spending huge amounts, but this book is about much more than just that. There are some great bits about how you need the right culture and product from the bottom up before you can begin to just promote something that's flawed in the first place.

And it can work in big organisations too. BUPA Hospital Washington operates near Newcastle, and is a new small hospital competing against an established larger competitor. Using similar techniques to those explored in Marketing Judo, we've doubled awareness of our hospital in Newcastle, and grown our patient numbers from Newcastle by 30%.

Although the book is most relevant to the restaurant business the authors know so well, it can be applied easily in any service sector.

An entertaining, educational and valuable read - highly recommended!

Down to earth, 25 Apr 2004
What a refreshing change to read something practical and really helpful toa start up business. It only took me two hours to read and gave me lots ofnew ideas. Probably not right for self important academic pompous socalled professionals.

Throw this one away, 16 Mar 2004
One thin metaphor about marketing being like judo won't sustain even a short book like this. It should have been much better - the authors have a terrific track record in turning around Harry Ramsden's. Maybe a straight telling of that business story would have been more insightful and interesting.

Avoid this book!, 25 Aug 2005
Seriously awful book. The writer goes off on tangential anecdotes that rarely have anything to do with the subject of the chapter. I found myself skipping bits in the hope he will get to the point, only to discover I've skipped whole chapters. On re-reading them to make sure I hadn't overlooked any pearls, I realised what I should have done is skipped buying the thing in the first place!

By the end of the book I honestly learned nothing. A complete rip off! I'll never buy a book written by this guy ever again!

Extremely Disappointed, 11 Jul 2002
Simply put, this book does not compare favourably with some NLP books from other authors that I have read. After reading the synopsis and other comments about this book I was hoping to go beyond the initial stages in NLP technique, unfortunately the book provided no new knowledge. The NLP techniques were minimal in number and were weak in quality and effectiveness. There were too many phrases, stories, anecdotes and observations of common sense and not enough valuable content.

GREAT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET ON IN THERE WORK/LIFE., 23 Jan 2002
GOOD NLP BOOKS ALWAYS PAY FOR THEMSELVES
1 CHAPTER ALONG GOT ME MORE THEN MY COSTS BACK.
MY DAUGHTER AGE 13 IS NOW READING THIS BOOK.SHE IS GETTING SOME EXCELLENT TIPS FOR HER SCHOOL LIFE.
RAY BACCHUS

Just makes the reserve price., 29 Jun 2008
I chose this book, because I was after something different from village school teachers and school inspector's tales. Not because I was bored of them, but thought it might be interesting to see another take on village life and village characters.

Philip Serrell's novel doesn't quite fit the criteria of this genre of books. These are tales of a country auctioneer, which have been put together throughout the book as `lots', a clever technique by the author. These lots represent stories and anecdotes from Philip's past, and within their own right, I feel they are great. However, strung together as they have been did not quite sit right with me.

The setting of the books, in Worcester and its outlying areas provides us with all the quaint farm owners, little old ladies with strange habits, possessions to sell and the workforce with their idiosyncrasies and out of tune whistling.

But this book has no timeline structure and I felt I was jumping backwards and forwards with stories, from the seventies to eighties to current day. It opens promisingly with the start of Serrrell's venture into the antiques, and in my opinion it should have carried along from that, at the pace that was set by the first chapter/lot. We would have at least seen how Serrells expertise and experience got better, the tales would then have all slotted in nicely.

Nonetheless, this is a heart warming tale and if you can overlook my personal comments, and just feel you want a book to while away a few hours then this is the one for you.


Just doesn't do it, 27 Aug 2007
I read this as the last book in the pile on a rainy holiday and shouldn't have bothered. Most of the plots were thin and rarely did a chapter reach any logical or, for that matter, amusing conclusion.

Laughter warning! Proceed with caution!!!, 04 Mar 2007
Tales from a country auctioneer, Philip Serrell. You may recognise him from "Bargain Hunt", "Flog it", or the "Twentieth Century Roadshow". He's been in the auctioneering business for the last 30 odd years and knows the Hereford/Worcester area... well, maybe not as well as he should considering the number of time he seems to have "got lost" in his travels!

He has the same literary style as James Herriot (the "Shouldn't Happen to a Vet" books). Just alter the focus from veterinary to antiques and the content is just as engaging, and in places, hilarious! The book is autobiographical, but although obviously based on actual events, I'm sure some of the names, places, and events have been changed slightly. I was a bit bored in the first few chapters, where the tales are about how Philip got started in the business beginning with livestock sales. However, when the focus turned to antiques I was hooked!

Philip's obvious love for his trade, and his endearing portrayal of human nature in all its' richness and variety, make this an uncomplicated and compulsive read. Enjoy!

an auctioneers lot, 12 May 2005
if you've ever seen an antiques show then you will know Philip Serrel..this book is very funny as he descibes how he started in the antiques business after deciding not to follow his dad into farming....full of stories of the colourful characters he met....a couple of get rich quick schemes he and his mate tried out, some more successful than others....a very funny book....

Good Novel, Great VI Novel, 26 Oct 2006
Sara Paretsky continues her excellent detective novel series by sending her lead character, VI Warshawski, back to her South Chicago roots. VI begins coaching a girls' basketball team at her old school and becomes involved in the intrigue surrounding a well-known superstore chain and a flag factory that is being vandalised and intimidated. VI once again takes her hits and injuries, but keeps her eye on the case when one of her team and the rich heir to the superstore chain go missing.

Paretsky has once again produced an excellent novel, and has stuck to the things she knows best - getting VI in and out of trouble. Paretsky has very strong political views and these show here, but don't overwhelm the story.

This book is an excellent addition to the VI Warshawski series, but is also readable as a standalone novel. well worth the effort.

V.I. scores another hit, 10 Apr 2006
I'm a big fan of V.I. Warshawski and this, her latest outing, is her best. The seamy underbelly of South Chicago with its struggling families, lack of resources (social and crimefighting) and dominance by a ruthless family owned retail conglomerate is brought fully to life by Sara Paretsky's deft characterisations. V.I. remains a very human heroine and, despite surviving some nasty injuries in pretty much every book, does appear to be aging both physically and in wisdom as the series progresses.

Our story begins with V.I. being unwillingly drafted in to coach a girls' basketball team at her old high school. One of the girls mothers works at Fly the Flag, a flag manufacturing company employing local workers. She becomes concerned about operations and asks to see V.I., then inexplicably changes her mind. In classic private eye style, V.I. never lets a question go unanswered and the action takes off from there.

Fire Sale is sufficiently informative about the relationships between V.I. and the regular cast members to stand alone as a novel. The fine balance between educating the novice reader and not boring the regulars is well handled and we find more tidbits about V.I.'s prior relationship with Rawlings as well as her current amour, Morrell. Highly recommended both for regular readers of the series and for those who enjoy the private eye genre.

Is there anything that can't keep this woman down?, 24 Mar 2006
Another action packed Warshawski novel. With the seedy underbelly of south Chicago biting through bringing back memories for Warshawski that she would prefer remain buried. Getting sucked into an investigation she didn't ask for finding missing people and asking questions that invariably put her life in danger. The book seemed to lack the darkness that came with her last book but it still keeps your heart pounding throughout.

Vic gets sucked into coaching a basketball team at her old school, it's not the only thing she gets sucked into. Exploding factories, missing teenagers, dead aquaintances and a battle scarred lover. There's nothing missing from this book and although lacking the edge of some of her previous books it's a must read for all Warshawski fans.

V.I. Stomps on Her Old Turf, 27 Aug 2005
Sara Paretsky's work is best when she uses the chilling surroundings of the poor as one of her characters. The bleak streets provide a color that makes all of her characters and plots that much more vivid and interesting.

Take V.I. out of the slums and the characters become uninteresting, thin and superfluous.

Fire Sale is squarely placed in the depths of South Chicago. That's what lifts this book above being an average novel.

There's a nice touch to the story as V.I. finds herself recruited to be a fill-in for her old high school basketball coach who's fighting cancer. In the story, there are many flashbacks as V.I. reflects on her own times and how those times are different from these times for these young women.

You've never attended a basketball practice like these. Observers include the children of the players and their "boyfriends".

There's also gripping material about a slum factory . . . and the accidents that dog its existence.

V.I. finds herself with more "cases" than she can handle (most of these are of the nonpaying variety). That makes the plot deliciously complex -- something Ms. Paretsky does not always achieve in her books.

The book has two annoying qualities that keep it from being a five-star novel. First, Ms. Paretsky falls into the trap that many novelists do who have heroines . . . they turn the heroines into either punching bags or pincushions for physical violence. It's unnecessary and it's annoying. Second, as usual, her portrayal of the rich makes them so obnoxious and annoying that you don't really want to read those sections. Ms. Paretsky needs to appreciate that even villains become more interesting when you give them sympathetic qualities. The material about the Bysens is so annoying that I was tempted to grade the book at three stars. Think of this as a three-and-a-half star book.

Suggests lots of good ideas to consider, 03 Mar 1998
I've read this book three times in the last fifteen years and learned more each time. There are lots of ideas to consider, particularly in dealing with people who automatically say no.

hmm, 31 Jan 2005
I didn't read a review before getting the book, i was expecting a thrilling comedic novel, however i was sorely disappointed.
nice cover though gets it a 2*

New ideas that shape our future, 25 Sep 1998
I was introduced to Faith Popcorn the first time on a Anthony Robbins interview audio casette. Of course I wanted to hear more so I reviewed this book. Ms Popcorn has a powerful way to bring across future trends. The Internet is one good example of this. Another book, Life and Death on the Internet by Keith A Schroeder deals with these new trends on the Internet and I feel these two books make a good fit. If you are considering buying this book, just do it. It is a powerful and practical guide into the near future.

Easy and effective lessons (but how usable?), 30 Oct 2004
The series of Fish books is clearly a well marketed concept (this being the first of the ongoing series I have read)with an accessible writing style and layout of contents so you can dip back in easily. The idea seems almost too easy to be effective based on 4 key actions "Play; Make their day; Be there and Choose your attitude" and in this book applied to four different case studies for each of the actions and at the end of each section, little other snippet examples.

I think many would find a lot of what is said pretty obvious, but it is implementation that is the key and starting with the Seattle Fish Market where the 4 concepts were discovered and working thorugh the four very different case studies and the end section on how to do a 12 week change project in your organisation, over 171 pages certinaly gives plenty of ideas.

My only concerns are firstly I found the book very American in approach(not only in examples of giving "fish awards" but attitudes) and a recent business trip to USA while reading the final pages of the book re-enforced that view. Secondly, the examples are about motivating a work force into teaming (often in jobs that by the mundane nature of their tasks have created the problems) so it was not clear it would be so effective for higher levels of office management problems where "office politics" may be more an issue in getting the tone right at the top.

While an interesting read in reminding one of key basic concepts I suspect I have learned more practically from say Jonathan Goleman's book on Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace in helping me team better at work.

Insightful!, 12 Jun 2004
Things are going swimmingly in Fish! land. In the latest volume, Fish! Tales, authors Stephen C. Lundin, John Christensen, Harry Paul and Philip Strand build on the successful training program that evolved from their first Fish book. Tales shows how four companies - a long-distance call center; a hospital neural-renal unit, a car dealership and a roofing company - have applied Fish! theories effectively. They also provide short examples from other companies to show how well the Fish! function. The four main principles are familiar by now - keep the work fun, seek to serve others, stay focused on your customers and have an enthusiastic attitude - but the examples in the book bring them alive. Along the way, the authors heavily sell their Fish! courses and merchandise - that's just good salesmanship - but the real catch of the day is the final how-to section, showing ways to apply these principles in any organization. The lively writing style helps keep you hooked. We suggest that if you haven't yet caught any Fish!, start with this one. Its cheery, accessible methods should lure you in, hook, line and sinker.

Insightful!, 29 Apr 2003
Things are going swimmingly in Fish! land. In the latest volume, Fish! Tales, authors Stephen C. Lundin, John Christensen and Harry Paul build on the successful training program that evolved from their first Fish book. Tales shows how four companies — a long-distance call center; a hospital neural-renal unit, a car dealership and a roofing company — have applied Fish! theories effectively. They also provide short examples from other companies to show how well the Fish! function. The four main principles are familiar by now — keep the work fun, seek to serve others, stay focused on your customers and have an enthusiastic attitude — but the examples in the book bring them alive. Along the way, the authors heavily sell their Fish! courses and merchandise — that’s just good salesmanship — but the real catch of the day is the final how-to section, showing ways to apply these principles in any organization. The lively writing style helps keep you hooked. We from getAbstract suggest that if you haven’t yet caught any Fish!, start with this one. Its cheery, accessible methods should lure you in, hook, line and sinker.

Fish tells what you really need to, 26 Feb 2003
When I was introduced to the Fish philosophy it was through the book "Fish". I was at that time demotivated and lost belief in my abilities to do. I picked the book and struggled to allocate some time to read. I had this low self-esteem buzz that told me " what difference does it make to read one more book", "How would that book help?", "You have already read many other books, why this one would be the one". Many negative thoughts were ruling my mind telling me one thing this book will not do you even one step forward. The break through came when I just started reading the book. I started to read few pages every day. When I got more into the story, I started to cite situation and relate to my life. Relating needed not any effort, humans have to much similarities and hence their problems intersect in a way.

When you realize that you are not the only person who has self-esteem problems and you are not the only person who lost direction over years, you feel a little content. You are not in no where-land any more. You feel that you are passing through a hard time that many people have passed through before. The best part comes when you are dragged into the solution. The solution comes sneaking into your mind. Even your rejecting and negative brain cannot stop the solution from crawling in. All of a sudden, you will find lamp lighting up the dark negative parts. The rest of the house cleaning comes by continuing the story.

What is different about fish? I asked my self and simply the answer is that fish tells you exactly the How and Why, of having a happy day at work regardless of all the circumstances. Everybody tells you "You need to be a proactive person" no one told you how in a simple way! and above all no else before told why! And if they did, they tell you to much sophisticated issues that sometimes puts you down rather than push you up.

Fish is simply, a push forward, that tells simple issues that has a very high positive impact on your performance.