The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

Read this book, and save yourself years of finding out the hard way!, 19 Jul 2008
Having been a member and moderator at Photoshopforums.com (one of Patrick's many communities) for almost a year now, and had firsthand experience with managing a content-based website of my own, I decided to read "Managing Online Forums" to gain an insight into how online communities are managed - and I wasn't disappointed!

The book really does contain a wealth of information that ranges right from the preparation work you need to do before even thinking about launching an online community, to how you can maintain and advertise the finished product. Through the way, Patrick writes about his experiences and gives a clear indication of not just how he works, but why, which for me is an extremely important factor. His honest reasons and accounts are what turn this good book into a great one!

One of my favourite parts of this book, and one that I find quite astonishing, is the publication of Patrick's hand-crafted User Guidelines that can be used free on your own forums. He also includes all the contact templates that can be used when members break the guidelines. The fact that they are free to use elsewhere is a testament to how useful this book is to anyone working with online communities. I'm sure that everyone from beginner (which is where I fall) to advanced will appreciate the detailed and accurate information that's contained inside.

One day, I'm sure I'll tinker with the idea of creating a forum to run alongside my site, a place where people can come, talk, listen and enjoy, and when that time comes, I know I'll feel much more capable knowing Patrick's book is part of my collection.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

Read this book, and save yourself years of finding out the hard way!, 19 Jul 2008
Having been a member and moderator at Photoshopforums.com (one of Patrick's many communities) for almost a year now, and had firsthand experience with managing a content-based website of my own, I decided to read "Managing Online Forums" to gain an insight into how online communities are managed - and I wasn't disappointed!

The book really does contain a wealth of information that ranges right from the preparation work you need to do before even thinking about launching an online community, to how you can maintain and advertise the finished product. Through the way, Patrick writes about his experiences and gives a clear indication of not just how he works, but why, which for me is an extremely important factor. His honest reasons and accounts are what turn this good book into a great one!

One of my favourite parts of this book, and one that I find quite astonishing, is the publication of Patrick's hand-crafted User Guidelines that can be used free on your own forums. He also includes all the contact templates that can be used when members break the guidelines. The fact that they are free to use elsewhere is a testament to how useful this book is to anyone working with online communities. I'm sure that everyone from beginner (which is where I fall) to advanced will appreciate the detailed and accurate information that's contained inside.

One day, I'm sure I'll tinker with the idea of creating a forum to run alongside my site, a place where people can come, talk, listen and enjoy, and when that time comes, I know I'll feel much more capable knowing Patrick's book is part of my collection.

Making meetings productive-candid dialogue, 13 Aug 2008
I read this book from two perspectives (1) is it useful for business? (2) Does it present some innovations in modern Buddhist thinking?
Every substantial business holds innumerable internal meetings. The participants will all say that they waste a lot of time in those meetings. Why do they waste so much time? Jack Welch in his book "Winning", in chapter two, "The biggest dirty little secret in business", writes that the problem is LACK OF CANDOR. "People do not express themselves with frankness". "They just don't open up; instead they withhold comments or criticism". "It is absolutely damaging". "Yet, lack of candour permeates almost every aspect of business."
David Bohm explains why this is the case and what you can do about it. The cause is that people hold opinions to which they are attached and when another person expresses another opinion and criticises the opinion of the first person, the instant reaction of the criticised person is to defend his opinion. This leads to an incredible waste of time and emotional energy. Instead the person whose opinion is criticised should suspend immediate reaction and try to understand what the assumptions are on which the opinion of the other person is based and suspend judgement and reaction. Before reacting he should also examine the assumptions on which he based his different opinion. This does require control over one's emotions and thought process.
David Bohm, being a great scientist, includes an amusing story about scientists. Max Planck a German Nobel Prize winning physicist, said about dialogues between scientists: "New ideas don't win, really". "What happens is that the old scientists die and new ones come along with new ideas". If that happens in business, that is no innovation, the company dies sooner rather than later.
This is one of the best books to understand and learn about creating candid dialogues.
Buddhism and new ideas.
The Dalai Lama refers to David Bohm as his guru. They met many times. Some useful ideas you can not easily find in Buddhism are the following.
Buddhism emphasises that you must try to reduce negative thoughts and emotions like, anger, jealousy and greed. Bohm emphasises that you must learn to observe your thinking process including the influence of emotions. Observing the thought process is a step beyond reducing negative thoughts and emotions. Another insight is that thoughts are from the past and so are feelings for which there is no word, he suggests the word "felts". Thinking is a current process that is influenced by thoughts and "felts". Also something you have to watch.
Bohm recommends that that if you talk and listen to other people you have to observe their body language, people do not communicate only with their voice. Candid dialogue depends on the ability to listen, to ask questions, almost more than on what you say.
Bohm explains the importance of coherence. Incoherence means that your intention and your results do not agree. Ordinary light is incoherent, the light goes in all sorts of directions, and if it is coherent it becomes a laser that is very powerful. Most groups are incoherent; the thinking of the members goes also all over the place. If they can think coherently and constructively the group develops enormous power. The power of coherent thinking in a group is an important concept. Coherent does not mean that all follow the leader. It means the group of many thinks creatively as one.
The book actually concentrates on dialogue on the level of society, so you have to modify some of the ideas to fit in a business environment.


This philosophical intra/interhuman experience is practical, 05 Dec 2001
David Bohm's natural science basics for his holistic philosophical thoughts are on the frontieres of management. On Dialogue is the one closest to working experiences and intra- and interhuman communication, something not less critical in our electronic world. I believe this book to be learned from for many decades.

Thought provoking book by a deep thinker, 04 Jan 2001
David Bohm, though primarily a physicist, has been described as one of the 20th centuries most original thinkers. In books such as "Thought as a System" and "Unfolding Meaning" he explores ideas about how thinking is not a neutral reporting of the world, but an active process that shapes our perceptions of and participation within the world. In "On Dialogue" he explores the implications of this for communication, and in particular the ways in which individuals, groups and societies tend towards self-deception, by not taking into account the way their own thoughts have formed their perceptions. The idea of 'dialogue groups' is proposed as a means of examining this process of (mis-)communication, and becoming more aware of the role played by our own thoughts and reactions to other peoples thoughts and actions.

This book is very much a working proposal: ideas and suggestions open for consideration, rather than a finished program. Indeed, the very idea that one could propose such a finished program of 'how to communicate' is against the very spirit of Bohm's suggestions. Primarily a collection of essays around a common theme, this will be of interest to those with an interest in Bohm's philosophy, as well as those who are interested in the ideas of 'dialogue groups'.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

Read this book, and save yourself years of finding out the hard way!, 19 Jul 2008
Having been a member and moderator at Photoshopforums.com (one of Patrick's many communities) for almost a year now, and had firsthand experience with managing a content-based website of my own, I decided to read "Managing Online Forums" to gain an insight into how online communities are managed - and I wasn't disappointed!

The book really does contain a wealth of information that ranges right from the preparation work you need to do before even thinking about launching an online community, to how you can maintain and advertise the finished product. Through the way, Patrick writes about his experiences and gives a clear indication of not just how he works, but why, which for me is an extremely important factor. His honest reasons and accounts are what turn this good book into a great one!

One of my favourite parts of this book, and one that I find quite astonishing, is the publication of Patrick's hand-crafted User Guidelines that can be used free on your own forums. He also includes all the contact templates that can be used when members break the guidelines. The fact that they are free to use elsewhere is a testament to how useful this book is to anyone working with online communities. I'm sure that everyone from beginner (which is where I fall) to advanced will appreciate the detailed and accurate information that's contained inside.

One day, I'm sure I'll tinker with the idea of creating a forum to run alongside my site, a place where people can come, talk, listen and enjoy, and when that time comes, I know I'll feel much more capable knowing Patrick's book is part of my collection.

Making meetings productive-candid dialogue, 13 Aug 2008
I read this book from two perspectives (1) is it useful for business? (2) Does it present some innovations in modern Buddhist thinking?
Every substantial business holds innumerable internal meetings. The participants will all say that they waste a lot of time in those meetings. Why do they waste so much time? Jack Welch in his book "Winning", in chapter two, "The biggest dirty little secret in business", writes that the problem is LACK OF CANDOR. "People do not express themselves with frankness". "They just don't open up; instead they withhold comments or criticism". "It is absolutely damaging". "Yet, lack of candour permeates almost every aspect of business."
David Bohm explains why this is the case and what you can do about it. The cause is that people hold opinions to which they are attached and when another person expresses another opinion and criticises the opinion of the first person, the instant reaction of the criticised person is to defend his opinion. This leads to an incredible waste of time and emotional energy. Instead the person whose opinion is criticised should suspend immediate reaction and try to understand what the assumptions are on which the opinion of the other person is based and suspend judgement and reaction. Before reacting he should also examine the assumptions on which he based his different opinion. This does require control over one's emotions and thought process.
David Bohm, being a great scientist, includes an amusing story about scientists. Max Planck a German Nobel Prize winning physicist, said about dialogues between scientists: "New ideas don't win, really". "What happens is that the old scientists die and new ones come along with new ideas". If that happens in business, that is no innovation, the company dies sooner rather than later.
This is one of the best books to understand and learn about creating candid dialogues.
Buddhism and new ideas.
The Dalai Lama refers to David Bohm as his guru. They met many times. Some useful ideas you can not easily find in Buddhism are the following.
Buddhism emphasises that you must try to reduce negative thoughts and emotions like, anger, jealousy and greed. Bohm emphasises that you must learn to observe your thinking process including the influence of emotions. Observing the thought process is a step beyond reducing negative thoughts and emotions. Another insight is that thoughts are from the past and so are feelings for which there is no word, he suggests the word "felts". Thinking is a current process that is influenced by thoughts and "felts". Also something you have to watch.
Bohm recommends that that if you talk and listen to other people you have to observe their body language, people do not communicate only with their voice. Candid dialogue depends on the ability to listen, to ask questions, almost more than on what you say.
Bohm explains the importance of coherence. Incoherence means that your intention and your results do not agree. Ordinary light is incoherent, the light goes in all sorts of directions, and if it is coherent it becomes a laser that is very powerful. Most groups are incoherent; the thinking of the members goes also all over the place. If they can think coherently and constructively the group develops enormous power. The power of coherent thinking in a group is an important concept. Coherent does not mean that all follow the leader. It means the group of many thinks creatively as one.
The book actually concentrates on dialogue on the level of society, so you have to modify some of the ideas to fit in a business environment.


This philosophical intra/interhuman experience is practical, 05 Dec 2001
David Bohm's natural science basics for his holistic philosophical thoughts are on the frontieres of management. On Dialogue is the one closest to working experiences and intra- and interhuman communication, something not less critical in our electronic world. I believe this book to be learned from for many decades.

Thought provoking book by a deep thinker, 04 Jan 2001
David Bohm, though primarily a physicist, has been described as one of the 20th centuries most original thinkers. In books such as "Thought as a System" and "Unfolding Meaning" he explores ideas about how thinking is not a neutral reporting of the world, but an active process that shapes our perceptions of and participation within the world. In "On Dialogue" he explores the implications of this for communication, and in particular the ways in which individuals, groups and societies tend towards self-deception, by not taking into account the way their own thoughts have formed their perceptions. The idea of 'dialogue groups' is proposed as a means of examining this process of (mis-)communication, and becoming more aware of the role played by our own thoughts and reactions to other peoples thoughts and actions.

This book is very much a working proposal: ideas and suggestions open for consideration, rather than a finished program. Indeed, the very idea that one could propose such a finished program of 'how to communicate' is against the very spirit of Bohm's suggestions. Primarily a collection of essays around a common theme, this will be of interest to those with an interest in Bohm's philosophy, as well as those who are interested in the ideas of 'dialogue groups'.

Does what it says on the cover, 23 Aug 2007
I needed to quickly get up to speed with the communications technology sector and in early 2007 this was the most recently revised book on the subject I could find on Amazon, and it seemed to cover all the bases. Its advantages are depth, breadth, and a world rather than US centric view of the subject. Its disadvantage is, to use a telecom network term, high redundancy. The same facts are repeated often and I suspect the same information could have been included in a book half the size. This makes it frustrating to read cover to cover as a primer. An easy to read version would get *****.

Superb up-to-date, comprehensive introduction to telecoms, 03 Apr 2002
In this comprehensive introduction to the complex world of telecoms, Ms Goleniewski has succeeded not only in explaining the basics, but also in capturing the state-of-the-art developments. In nearly 20 years of working in the telecoms and related sectors, this is the only book I have come across that does both. Moreover, Ms Goleniewski's writing style is very accessible, and she has included plenty of fascinating examples and clear illustrations. Her ability to get complex material across simply no doubt stems from her extensive experience of delivering telecoms training.

Another very important feature of the book is that it is written for an international readership. So many books and reports on telecoms are written from a purely American perspective, and it is useful and refreshing to have a book that makes it clear that there is much more to the telecoms sector than the US model. The book interprets the term 'telecommunications' in a wide sense, covering telephony, data communications, the Internet, 'fixed' and 'mobile', equipment and services, convergence, etc. Also, Ms Goleniewski has helpfully included views on where telecommunications is heading, and what services and applications we can expect in years to come.

I would strongly recommend this 'landmark' book to anyone who is new to telecoms and is looking to get a balanced view of the subject. It is equally suitable for readers with a technical background and for non-technical people. For example, it ought to appeal to newcomers to the industry, to telecoms policy makers and regulators, to telecoms lawyers, and to telecoms users. For those who need to go into greater detail than is covered in the book, readers are referred to Ms Goleniewski's excellent web site that contains lots of useful material and a well-organised set of links to other telecoms sources. There is also an extensive glossary of terms. I wish such a book had been available when I first got involved in telecoms!

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

Read this book, and save yourself years of finding out the hard way!, 19 Jul 2008
Having been a member and moderator at Photoshopforums.com (one of Patrick's many communities) for almost a year now, and had firsthand experience with managing a content-based website of my own, I decided to read "Managing Online Forums" to gain an insight into how online communities are managed - and I wasn't disappointed!

The book really does contain a wealth of information that ranges right from the preparation work you need to do before even thinking about launching an online community, to how you can maintain and advertise the finished product. Through the way, Patrick writes about his experiences and gives a clear indication of not just how he works, but why, which for me is an extremely important factor. His honest reasons and accounts are what turn this good book into a great one!

One of my favourite parts of this book, and one that I find quite astonishing, is the publication of Patrick's hand-crafted User Guidelines that can be used free on your own forums. He also includes all the contact templates that can be used when members break the guidelines. The fact that they are free to use elsewhere is a testament to how useful this book is to anyone working with online communities. I'm sure that everyone from beginner (which is where I fall) to advanced will appreciate the detailed and accurate information that's contained inside.

One day, I'm sure I'll tinker with the idea of creating a forum to run alongside my site, a place where people can come, talk, listen and enjoy, and when that time comes, I know I'll feel much more capable knowing Patrick's book is part of my collection.

Making meetings productive-candid dialogue, 13 Aug 2008
I read this book from two perspectives (1) is it useful for business? (2) Does it present some innovations in modern Buddhist thinking?
Every substantial business holds innumerable internal meetings. The participants will all say that they waste a lot of time in those meetings. Why do they waste so much time? Jack Welch in his book "Winning", in chapter two, "The biggest dirty little secret in business", writes that the problem is LACK OF CANDOR. "People do not express themselves with frankness". "They just don't open up; instead they withhold comments or criticism". "It is absolutely damaging". "Yet, lack of candour permeates almost every aspect of business."
David Bohm explains why this is the case and what you can do about it. The cause is that people hold opinions to which they are attached and when another person expresses another opinion and criticises the opinion of the first person, the instant reaction of the criticised person is to defend his opinion. This leads to an incredible waste of time and emotional energy. Instead the person whose opinion is criticised should suspend immediate reaction and try to understand what the assumptions are on which the opinion of the other person is based and suspend judgement and reaction. Before reacting he should also examine the assumptions on which he based his different opinion. This does require control over one's emotions and thought process.
David Bohm, being a great scientist, includes an amusing story about scientists. Max Planck a German Nobel Prize winning physicist, said about dialogues between scientists: "New ideas don't win, really". "What happens is that the old scientists die and new ones come along with new ideas". If that happens in business, that is no innovation, the company dies sooner rather than later.
This is one of the best books to understand and learn about creating candid dialogues.
Buddhism and new ideas.
The Dalai Lama refers to David Bohm as his guru. They met many times. Some useful ideas you can not easily find in Buddhism are the following.
Buddhism emphasises that you must try to reduce negative thoughts and emotions like, anger, jealousy and greed. Bohm emphasises that you must learn to observe your thinking process including the influence of emotions. Observing the thought process is a step beyond reducing negative thoughts and emotions. Another insight is that thoughts are from the past and so are feelings for which there is no word, he suggests the word "felts". Thinking is a current process that is influenced by thoughts and "felts". Also something you have to watch.
Bohm recommends that that if you talk and listen to other people you have to observe their body language, people do not communicate only with their voice. Candid dialogue depends on the ability to listen, to ask questions, almost more than on what you say.
Bohm explains the importance of coherence. Incoherence means that your intention and your results do not agree. Ordinary light is incoherent, the light goes in all sorts of directions, and if it is coherent it becomes a laser that is very powerful. Most groups are incoherent; the thinking of the members goes also all over the place. If they can think coherently and constructively the group develops enormous power. The power of coherent thinking in a group is an important concept. Coherent does not mean that all follow the leader. It means the group of many thinks creatively as one.
The book actually concentrates on dialogue on the level of society, so you have to modify some of the ideas to fit in a business environment.


This philosophical intra/interhuman experience is practical, 05 Dec 2001
David Bohm's natural science basics for his holistic philosophical thoughts are on the frontieres of management. On Dialogue is the one closest to working experiences and intra- and interhuman communication, something not less critical in our electronic world. I believe this book to be learned from for many decades.

Thought provoking book by a deep thinker, 04 Jan 2001
David Bohm, though primarily a physicist, has been described as one of the 20th centuries most original thinkers. In books such as "Thought as a System" and "Unfolding Meaning" he explores ideas about how thinking is not a neutral reporting of the world, but an active process that shapes our perceptions of and participation within the world. In "On Dialogue" he explores the implications of this for communication, and in particular the ways in which individuals, groups and societies tend towards self-deception, by not taking into account the way their own thoughts have formed their perceptions. The idea of 'dialogue groups' is proposed as a means of examining this process of (mis-)communication, and becoming more aware of the role played by our own thoughts and reactions to other peoples thoughts and actions.

This book is very much a working proposal: ideas and suggestions open for consideration, rather than a finished program. Indeed, the very idea that one could propose such a finished program of 'how to communicate' is against the very spirit of Bohm's suggestions. Primarily a collection of essays around a common theme, this will be of interest to those with an interest in Bohm's philosophy, as well as those who are interested in the ideas of 'dialogue groups'.

Does what it says on the cover, 23 Aug 2007
I needed to quickly get up to speed with the communications technology sector and in early 2007 this was the most recently revised book on the subject I could find on Amazon, and it seemed to cover all the bases. Its advantages are depth, breadth, and a world rather than US centric view of the subject. Its disadvantage is, to use a telecom network term, high redundancy. The same facts are repeated often and I suspect the same information could have been included in a book half the size. This makes it frustrating to read cover to cover as a primer. An easy to read version would get *****.

Superb up-to-date, comprehensive introduction to telecoms, 03 Apr 2002
In this comprehensive introduction to the complex world of telecoms, Ms Goleniewski has succeeded not only in explaining the basics, but also in capturing the state-of-the-art developments. In nearly 20 years of working in the telecoms and related sectors, this is the only book I have come across that does both. Moreover, Ms Goleniewski's writing style is very accessible, and she has included plenty of fascinating examples and clear illustrations. Her ability to get complex material across simply no doubt stems from her extensive experience of delivering telecoms training.

Another very important feature of the book is that it is written for an international readership. So many books and reports on telecoms are written from a purely American perspective, and it is useful and refreshing to have a book that makes it clear that there is much more to the telecoms sector than the US model. The book interprets the term 'telecommunications' in a wide sense, covering telephony, data communications, the Internet, 'fixed' and 'mobile', equipment and services, convergence, etc. Also, Ms Goleniewski has helpfully included views on where telecommunications is heading, and what services and applications we can expect in years to come.

I would strongly recommend this 'landmark' book to anyone who is new to telecoms and is looking to get a balanced view of the subject. It is equally suitable for readers with a technical background and for non-technical people. For example, it ought to appeal to newcomers to the industry, to telecoms policy makers and regulators, to telecoms lawyers, and to telecoms users. For those who need to go into greater detail than is covered in the book, readers are referred to Ms Goleniewski's excellent web site that contains lots of useful material and a well-organised set of links to other telecoms sources. There is also an extensive glossary of terms. I wish such a book had been available when I first got involved in telecoms!

Clear introductory account to a difficult subject, 05 Feb 1999
In a field which has been deluged for years by analyses that are weighed down with jargon and abtruse theorising (and therefore only of interest to other academics), Dr. Bignell's book offers a clear introduction to the ideas of media semiotics. It is intended for use by 1st year university students, but could equally well be used as a general introduction at 6th form, or for the lay reader. It is written in a clear, precise style, and though it covers all the major theories to have emerged in the last decades concerning the analysis of the media (linguistic philosophy, marxism, structuralism, feminism, deconstruction), Bignell's use of everyday examples drawn from popular drama and advertising illuminates even the most difficult point.

At first glance, a year in the life of a radio station seems a curiously insubstantial topic for a full-length book. But Simon Garfield was fortunate that the 12 months he spent as a fly on the wall of Radio 1 were among the most eventful in the station's 30-year history. To put the ensuing revolution in context, it is important to remember that for many years Radio 1 had been the country's only national pop network, and as such, its stranglehold on the nation's pop tastes was unquestioned. Garfield's arrival coincided with a change of direction: under controller Mathew Bannister, the network was determined to ditch its middle-aged image.

The general impression of Radio 1 at the time was summed up by comedian Harry Enfield's archetypal babbling DJ, with the music always coming a distant second to the egos: "Tuesday's the only between Monday and Wednesday-type day we've got, mate. It may not have the glamour and excitement of a Saturday, or the mournfulness of a Monday morn, but it's our Tuesday, the good, old-fashioned, honest to goodness, down to earth, great British Tuesday, and if those Eurocrats, Bureaucrats and other Bonkerscats try and take our Tuesday away from us, they'll have go get past me first!"

In the end it was Chris Evans who single-handedly gave Radio 1 some credibility--and probably prevented it being privatised; and Garfield's chronicle of Evans' rise and fall is riveting--a first-hand account of truly Machiavellian court politics. --Patrick Humphries

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

Read this book, and save yourself years of finding out the hard way!, 19 Jul 2008
Having been a member and moderator at Photoshopforums.com (one of Patrick's many communities) for almost a year now, and had firsthand experience with managing a content-based website of my own, I decided to read "Managing Online Forums" to gain an insight into how online communities are managed - and I wasn't disappointed!

The book really does contain a wealth of information that ranges right from the preparation work you need to do before even thinking about launching an online community, to how you can maintain and advertise the finished product. Through the way, Patrick writes about his experiences and gives a clear indication of not just how he works, but why, which for me is an extremely important factor. His honest reasons and accounts are what turn this good book into a great one!

One of my favourite parts of this book, and one that I find quite astonishing, is the publication of Patrick's hand-crafted User Guidelines that can be used free on your own forums. He also includes all the contact templates that can be used when members break the guidelines. The fact that they are free to use elsewhere is a testament to how useful this book is to anyone working with online communities. I'm sure that everyone from beginner (which is where I fall) to advanced will appreciate the detailed and accurate information that's contained inside.

One day, I'm sure I'll tinker with the idea of creating a forum to run alongside my site, a place where people can come, talk, listen and enjoy, and when that time comes, I know I'll feel much more capable knowing Patrick's book is part of my collection.

Making meetings productive-candid dialogue, 13 Aug 2008
I read this book from two perspectives (1) is it useful for business? (2) Does it present some innovations in modern Buddhist thinking?
Every substantial business holds innumerable internal meetings. The participants will all say that they waste a lot of time in those meetings. Why do they waste so much time? Jack Welch in his book "Winning", in chapter two, "The biggest dirty little secret in business", writes that the problem is LACK OF CANDOR. "People do not express themselves with frankness". "They just don't open up; instead they withhold comments or criticism". "It is absolutely damaging". "Yet, lack of candour permeates almost every aspect of business."
David Bohm explains why this is the case and what you can do about it. The cause is that people hold opinions to which they are attached and when another person expresses another opinion and criticises the opinion of the first person, the instant reaction of the criticised person is to defend his opinion. This leads to an incredible waste of time and emotional energy. Instead the person whose opinion is criticised should suspend immediate reaction and try to understand what the assumptions are on which the opinion of the other person is based and suspend judgement and reaction. Before reacting he should also examine the assumptions on which he based his different opinion. This does require control over one's emotions and thought process.
David Bohm, being a great scientist, includes an amusing story about scientists. Max Planck a German Nobel Prize winning physicist, said about dialogues between scientists: "New ideas don't win, really". "What happens is that the old scientists die and new ones come along with new ideas". If that happens in business, that is no innovation, the company dies sooner rather than later.
This is one of the best books to understand and learn about creating candid dialogues.
Buddhism and new ideas.
The Dalai Lama refers to David Bohm as his guru. They met many times. Some useful ideas you can not easily find in Buddhism are the following.
Buddhism emphasises that you must try to reduce negative thoughts and emotions like, anger, jealousy and greed. Bohm emphasises that you must learn to observe your thinking process including the influence of emotions. Observing the thought process is a step beyond reducing negative thoughts and emotions. Another insight is that thoughts are from the past and so are feelings for which there is no word, he suggests the word "felts". Thinking is a current process that is influenced by thoughts and "felts". Also something you have to watch.
Bohm recommends that that if you talk and listen to other people you have to observe their body language, people do not communicate only with their voice. Candid dialogue depends on the ability to listen, to ask questions, almost more than on what you say.
Bohm explains the importance of coherence. Incoherence means that your intention and your results do not agree. Ordinary light is incoherent, the light goes in all sorts of directions, and if it is coherent it becomes a laser that is very powerful. Most groups are incoherent; the thinking of the members goes also all over the place. If they can think coherently and constructively the group develops enormous power. The power of coherent thinking in a group is an important concept. Coherent does not mean that all follow the leader. It means the group of many thinks creatively as one.
The book actually concentrates on dialogue on the level of society, so you have to modify some of the ideas to fit in a business environment.


This philosophical intra/interhuman experience is practical, 05 Dec 2001
David Bohm's natural science basics for his holistic philosophical thoughts are on the frontieres of management. On Dialogue is the one closest to working experiences and intra- and interhuman communication, something not less critical in our electronic world. I believe this book to be learned from for many decades.

Thought provoking book by a deep thinker, 04 Jan 2001
David Bohm, though primarily a physicist, has been described as one of the 20th centuries most original thinkers. In books such as "Thought as a System" and "Unfolding Meaning" he explores ideas about how thinking is not a neutral reporting of the world, but an active process that shapes our perceptions of and participation within the world. In "On Dialogue" he explores the implications of this for communication, and in particular the ways in which individuals, groups and societies tend towards self-deception, by not taking into account the way their own thoughts have formed their perceptions. The idea of 'dialogue groups' is proposed as a means of examining this process of (mis-)communication, and becoming more aware of the role played by our own thoughts and reactions to other peoples thoughts and actions.

This book is very much a working proposal: ideas and suggestions open for consideration, rather than a finished program. Indeed, the very idea that one could propose such a finished program of 'how to communicate' is against the very spirit of Bohm's suggestions. Primarily a collection of essays around a common theme, this will be of interest to those with an interest in Bohm's philosophy, as well as those who are interested in the ideas of 'dialogue groups'.

Does what it says on the cover, 23 Aug 2007
I needed to quickly get up to speed with the communications technology sector and in early 2007 this was the most recently revised book on the subject I could find on Amazon, and it seemed to cover all the bases. Its advantages are depth, breadth, and a world rather than US centric view of the subject. Its disadvantage is, to use a telecom network term, high redundancy. The same facts are repeated often and I suspect the same information could have been included in a book half the size. This makes it frustrating to read cover to cover as a primer. An easy to read version would get *****.

Superb up-to-date, comprehensive introduction to telecoms, 03 Apr 2002
In this comprehensive introduction to the complex world of telecoms, Ms Goleniewski has succeeded not only in explaining the basics, but also in capturing the state-of-the-art developments. In nearly 20 years of working in the telecoms and related sectors, this is the only book I have come across that does both. Moreover, Ms Goleniewski's writing style is very accessible, and she has included plenty of fascinating examples and clear illustrations. Her ability to get complex material across simply no doubt stems from her extensive experience of delivering telecoms training.

Another very important feature of the book is that it is written for an international readership. So many books and reports on telecoms are written from a purely American perspective, and it is useful and refreshing to have a book that makes it clear that there is much more to the telecoms sector than the US model. The book interprets the term 'telecommunications' in a wide sense, covering telephony, data communications, the Internet, 'fixed' and 'mobile', equipment and services, convergence, etc. Also, Ms Goleniewski has helpfully included views on where telecommunications is heading, and what services and applications we can expect in years to come.

I would strongly recommend this 'landmark' book to anyone who is new to telecoms and is looking to get a balanced view of the subject. It is equally suitable for readers with a technical background and for non-technical people. For example, it ought to appeal to newcomers to the industry, to telecoms policy makers and regulators, to telecoms lawyers, and to telecoms users. For those who need to go into greater detail than is covered in the book, readers are referred to Ms Goleniewski's excellent web site that contains lots of useful material and a well-organised set of links to other telecoms sources. There is also an extensive glossary of terms. I wish such a book had been available when I first got involved in telecoms!

Clear introductory account to a difficult subject, 05 Feb 1999
In a field which has been deluged for years by analyses that are weighed down with jargon and abtruse theorising (and therefore only of interest to other academics), Dr. Bignell's book offers a clear introduction to the ideas of media semiotics. It is intended for use by 1st year university students, but could equally well be used as a general introduction at 6th form, or for the lay reader. It is written in a clear, precise style, and though it covers all the major theories to have emerged in the last decades concerning the analysis of the media (linguistic philosophy, marxism, structuralism, feminism, deconstruction), Bignell's use of everyday examples drawn from popular drama and advertising illuminates even the most difficult point.

The best book I've ever read about British media, 06 Feb 2005
I find myself re-reading this book several times a year and I've lost count of the number of copies I've given to friends.

Insightful, well-written and very amusing.

If you think that Smashey and Nicey ARE the best characters Enfield and Whitehouse ever wrote then this is certainly the book for you.

Great interviews about the rise of Radio One, the era of the 'personality DJ' (I honestly used to listen to DLT every Saturday morning and LOVE 'snooker on the radio') the rebirth of the station in the early 1990's, the Chris Evans period - it's a great read, even if you have no interest in Radio One.

Great mate..., 17 Mar 2004
very good glimpse inside the broadcasting industry. If you've ever wondered how things operate at BBC radio this makes a fascinating read, and if you've ever worked in broadcasting you'll find yourself smirking in recognition of the childish goings-on.
I found myself skipping pages occassionally where long blocks of text were lifted from shows, but overall this was a great book.

A must for all showbiz or media followers., 29 Jul 2000
Garfield explains brilliantly his year at Radio One and does not asume the reader knows all the faces. Great descriptions of how the BBC works and what the stars are like. The author guides us through different changes including the passing of the breakfast show from the ginger one to mrs Norman cook. The book has already been turned into a play and will soon be on our TV screens. The question is though will the celebrity's play themselves?

Larding it Up!, 24 Dec 1999
A simply wonderful account of how minor celebrities become corrupted by the thrill of being in your homes. Even the most minor DJ comes across as being a couple of records short of a collection.

The continual abuse of Bates and DLT does become a bit tedious but there is normally another hysterical story about their ego's just around the corner.

It's even got a soppy bit, as Mark and Lard recount how they were shafted over the Breakfast show, however one has to congratulate all the people involved for being willing to show their foibles and DEEP flaws for everyone to look at.

An interesting insight into the decline and fall of radio 1, 08 Sep 1999
Simon Garfield perfectly captures the ego's and personality clashes of those who have worked at Radio 1 in the last ten.

He interviews in depth all those involved at the station and paints a dramatic picture of the tantrums and sackings.

With the exception of John Peel & Jo Whiley, each DJ seemed hell bent on appearing as arrogant or as stupid as possible and this makes for entertaining reading.

What Garfield seems to neglect, is that Radio 1 is still not cutting-edge in the music or DJ department. Yes, there are no longer the Smashee and Nicey's of old but their music policy, obsession with the play-list and 'comic' DJ's are certainly not 'in touch'.

He charts the upheaval of the old guard by Mathew Banister's and their replacement and suggests that Radio 1 is no longer populist or concerned with ratings. This is untrue. When Radio 1 were heralding Britpop, young Britons were heading for Ibiza and the dance clubs. Now Radio 1 is on the bandwagon (4 years late), the so-called 'youth' of Britain are looking elsewhere for their music.

What Garfield best demonstrates is the stupidity of the BBC and their obsession with management consultants. This coupled with the arrogance of those DJ's who think they are at the top of the radio ladder, make for compelling reading.

If you want to know how un-professional the media industry is in Britian, read on.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

Read this book, and save yourself years of finding out the hard way!, 19 Jul 2008
Having been a member and moderator at Photoshopforums.com (one of Patrick's many communities) for almost a year now, and had firsthand experience with managing a content-based website of my own, I decided to read "Managing Online Forums" to gain an insight into how online communities are managed - and I wasn't disappointed!

The book really does contain a wealth of information that ranges right from the preparation work you need to do before even thinking about launching an online community, to how you can maintain and advertise the finished product. Through the way, Patrick writes about his experiences and gives a clear indication of not just how he works, but why, which for me is an extremely important factor. His honest reasons and accounts are what turn this good book into a great one!

One of my favourite parts of this book, and one that I find quite astonishing, is the publication of Patrick's hand-crafted User Guidelines that can be used free on your own forums. He also includes all the contact templates that can be used when members break the guidelines. The fact that they are free to use elsewhere is a testament to how useful this book is to anyone working with online communities. I'm sure that everyone from beginner (which is where I fall) to advanced will appreciate the detailed and accurate information that's contained inside.

One day, I'm sure I'll tinker with the idea of creating a forum to run alongside my site, a place where people can come, talk, listen and enjoy, and when that time comes, I know I'll feel much more capable knowing Patrick's book is part of my collection.

Making meetings productive-candid dialogue, 13 Aug 2008
I read this book from two perspectives (1) is it useful for business? (2) Does it present some innovations in modern Buddhist thinking?
Every substantial business holds innumerable internal meetings. The participants will all say that they waste a lot of time in those meetings. Why do they waste so much time? Jack Welch in his book "Winning", in chapter two, "The biggest dirty little secret in business", writes that the problem is LACK OF CANDOR. "People do not express themselves with frankness". "They just don't open up; instead they withhold comments or criticism". "It is absolutely damaging". "Yet, lack of candour permeates almost every aspect of business."
David Bohm explains why this is the case and what you can do about it. The cause is that people hold opinions to which they are attached and when another person expresses another opinion and criticises the opinion of the first person, the instant reaction of the criticised person is to defend his opinion. This leads to an incredible waste of time and emotional energy. Instead the person whose opinion is criticised should suspend immediate reaction and try to understand what the assumptions are on which the opinion of the other person is based and suspend judgement and reaction. Before reacting he should also examine the assumptions on which he based his different opinion. This does require control over one's emotions and thought process.
David Bohm, being a great scientist, includes an amusing story about scientists. Max Planck a German Nobel Prize winning physicist, said about dialogues between scientists: "New ideas don't win, really". "What happens is that the old scientists die and new ones come along with new ideas". If that happens in business, that is no innovation, the company dies sooner rather than later.
This is one of the best books to understand and learn about creating candid dialogues.
Buddhism and new ideas.
The Dalai Lama refers to David Bohm as his guru. They met many times. Some useful ideas you can not easily find in Buddhism are the following.
Buddhism emphasises that you must try to reduce negative thoughts and emotions like, anger, jealousy and greed. Bohm emphasises that you must learn to observe your thinking process including the influence of emotions. Observing the thought process is a step beyond reducing negative thoughts and emotions. Another insight is that thoughts are from the past and so are feelings for which there is no word, he suggests the word "felts". Thinking is a current process that is influenced by thoughts and "felts". Also something you have to watch.
Bohm recommends that that if you talk and listen to other people you have to observe their body language, people do not communicate only with their voice. Candid dialogue depends on the ability to listen, to ask questions, almost more than on what you say.
Bohm explains the importance of coherence. Incoherence means that your intention and your results do not agree. Ordinary light is incoherent, the light goes in all sorts of directions, and if it is coherent it becomes a laser that is very powerful. Most groups are incoherent; the thinking of the members goes also all over the place. If they can think coherently and constructively the group develops enormous power. The power of coherent thinking in a group is an important concept. Coherent does not mean that all follow the leader. It means the group of many thinks creatively as one.
The book actually concentrates on dialogue on the level of society, so you have to modify some of the ideas to fit in a business environment.


This philosophical intra/interhuman experience is practical, 05 Dec 2001
David Bohm's natural science basics for his holistic philosophical thoughts are on the frontieres of management. On Dialogue is the one closest to working experiences and intra- and interhuman communication, something not less critical in our electronic world. I believe this book to be learned from for many decades.

Thought provoking book by a deep thinker, 04 Jan 2001
David Bohm, though primarily a physicist, has been described as one of the 20th centuries most original thinkers. In books such as "Thought as a System" and "Unfolding Meaning" he explores ideas about how thinking is not a neutral reporting of the world, but an active process that shapes our perceptions of and participation within the world. In "On Dialogue" he explores the implications of this for communication, and in particular the ways in which individuals, groups and societies tend towards self-deception, by not taking into account the way their own thoughts have formed their perceptions. The idea of 'dialogue groups' is proposed as a means of examining this process of (mis-)communication, and becoming more aware of the role played by our own thoughts and reactions to other peoples thoughts and actions.

This book is very much a working proposal: ideas and suggestions open for consideration, rather than a finished program. Indeed, the very idea that one could propose such a finished program of 'how to communicate' is against the very spirit of Bohm's suggestions. Primarily a collection of essays around a common theme, this will be of interest to those with an interest in Bohm's philosophy, as well as those who are interested in the ideas of 'dialogue groups'.

Does what it says on the cover, 23 Aug 2007
I needed to quickly get up to speed with the communications technology sector and in early 2007 this was the most recently revised book on the subject I could find on Amazon, and it seemed to cover all the bases. Its advantages are depth, breadth, and a world rather than US centric view of the subject. Its disadvantage is, to use a telecom network term, high redundancy. The same facts are repeated often and I suspect the same information could have been included in a book half the size. This makes it frustrating to read cover to cover as a primer. An easy to read version would get *****.

Superb up-to-date, comprehensive introduction to telecoms, 03 Apr 2002
In this comprehensive introduction to the complex world of telecoms, Ms Goleniewski has succeeded not only in explaining the basics, but also in capturing the state-of-the-art developments. In nearly 20 years of working in the telecoms and related sectors, this is the only book I have come across that does both. Moreover, Ms Goleniewski's writing style is very accessible, and she has included plenty of fascinating examples and clear illustrations. Her ability to get complex material across simply no doubt stems from her extensive experience of delivering telecoms training.

Another very important feature of the book is that it is written for an international readership. So many books and reports on telecoms are written from a purely American perspective, and it is useful and refreshing to have a book that makes it clear that there is much more to the telecoms sector than the US model. The book interprets the term 'telecommunications' in a wide sense, covering telephony, data communications, the Internet, 'fixed' and 'mobile', equipment and services, convergence, etc. Also, Ms Goleniewski has helpfully included views on where telecommunications is heading, and what services and applications we can expect in years to come.

I would strongly recommend this 'landmark' book to anyone who is new to telecoms and is looking to get a balanced view of the subject. It is equally suitable for readers with a technical background and for non-technical people. For example, it ought to appeal to newcomers to the industry, to telecoms policy makers and regulators, to telecoms lawyers, and to telecoms users. For those who need to go into greater detail than is covered in the book, readers are referred to Ms Goleniewski's excellent web site that contains lots of useful material and a well-organised set of links to other telecoms sources. There is also an extensive glossary of terms. I wish such a book had been available when I first got involved in telecoms!

Clear introductory account to a difficult subject, 05 Feb 1999
In a field which has been deluged for years by analyses that are weighed down with jargon and abtruse theorising (and therefore only of interest to other academics), Dr. Bignell's book offers a clear introduction to the ideas of media semiotics. It is intended for use by 1st year university students, but could equally well be used as a general introduction