This selective directory of
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Book
(or media) title
The ISBN (International Standard Book
Number) may help to find a book in libraries or other sources, especially if
out of print or not readily available. It is the ASIN on Amazon.com
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abstract / comment
The cover image links to Amazon.com
for more information about the item, such as the comments of reviewers and
their own suggestions of related titles.
This guide to corporate expansion planning shares the
insights of a veteran leader of global business site selection consulting
for location choices by corporate executives.
Marcel was the founder of Plant
Location International in Brussels, and has assisted many leading
corporations with their expansion plans around the world.
Exporting America : Why Corporate Greed is Shipping American
Jobs Overseas
This highly respected business news anchor attracted a lot of
attention during the 2003-2004 period leading up to the US elections through
his criticism of business outsourcing in a very popular feature series,
"Exporting America".
Whether one agrees with all his
analysis and conclusions or not, it is an important contribution to the need
for a more informed debate on not only the public policy and long-term
social and economic impacts of outsourcing and globalization in general, but
also the role of corporate leaders and their business and social
responsibilities.
The basic premise is that outsourcing jobs to other
countries will ultimately be harmful to American interests despite any
short-term business cost savings.
Lou Dobbs, anchor and managing editor of CNN "Lou Dobbs
tonight", with popular feature stories on "Exporting America"
Whatever the show ratings
were, this special
feature resonated with many viewers as a very hot topic
during the US election in particular.
This book also attracted many very
thoughtful Amazon.com reviewer comments.
It's interesting that the ones which agreed with Dobbs'
basic premise and analysis seemed to give more thoughtful reviews, while
some of his critics just bashed his position or the book without much
substance. That is, frankly, consistent with what he already reported
from viewer and business editor reactions to his programs.
Investing in Peace : How Development Aid Can Prevent or
Promote Conflict
Retired USAID officer with experience in various countries
and with UN programs looks at the role of development programs in places
which are prone to conflicts - both where they have happened or have been
avoided.
Robert Muscat
2002
Bruce Donnelly
Breaking the Real Axis of Evil : How to Oust the World's Last
Dictators by 2025
By a retired career diplomat and Vice Chairman of Freedom
House. Advocates efforts to spread democracy as a foreign policy
objective to help people replace their tyrants. A few down already,
but many left to go.
Ambassador Mark Palmer
2003
Bruce Donnelly
A Journey through the Cold War : A Memoir of Containment and
Coexistence
Career diplomat looks back at the events of a long career
inside the policy-making circles since the 1950's
Raymond Garthoff
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Voice of America : A History
Insights into an organization which ties diplomacy and
journalism together as a publicly funded media channel reaching millions of
people worldwide despite being unknown to most Americans.
Alan Heil Jr.
2003
Bruce Donnelly
Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, the Foreign
Service, and Intelligence
<top> <bottom>
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abstract / comment
Author
Published
Suggested by
Special Providence: American Foreign Policy and
How It Changed the World
The Paradox of American Power : Why the World's Only
Superpower Can't Go It Alone
0195161106
Joseph Nye Jr.
2003
Bruce Donnelly
Turbulent Peace : The Challenges of Managing International
Conflict
1929223277
Essays by many analysts about dealing with conflicts, edited
by a former Assistant Secretary for African Affairs in the US State Dept
Edited by Chester Crocker et al
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Democracy, Morality, and the Search for Peace in America's
Foreign Policy
0806134011
Collection of thoughts by many leaders, compiled by former US
Senator David Boren and a former US Ambassador, Edward Perkins, both now at
the University of Oklahoma. See their prior work below, and for the
Middle East, above.
Edited by David Boren and Edward Perkins
2002
Bruce Donnelly
Preparing America's Foreign Policy for the 21st Century
080613271X
Earlier work, companion to the above.
Edited by David Boren and Edward Perkins
1999
Bruce Donnelly
Theodore Rex
0394555090
Worth reviewing the history of Theodore Roosevelt's impact on
US foreign policy and the world, which is still important a century later
Edmund Morris
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Founding Brothers : The Revolutionary Generation
0375405445
Few things in history are inevitable. Individuals still
transform the world through their decisions. Overview of a remarkable
period of US history and issues which still shape the country more than two
centuries later.
Joseph Ellis
2000
Bruce Donnelly
John Adams
0684813637
More insights into the revolutionary era of the US
David McCullough
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Breakthrough International Negotiation : How Great
Negotiators Transformed the World's Toughest Post-Cold War Conflicts
0787957437
Outcomes of negotiations are not always what they seem, or as
conclusive, as the current events show regarding prior negotiations with
North Korea and others. Even so, and even if one might dispute who the
"great" negotiators really are, it is worth reviewing this analysis of such
important work, and the process.
Michael Watkins and Susan Rosegrant
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Negotiating Globally : How to Negotiate Deals, Resolve
Disputes, and Make Decisions Across Cultures
0787955868
Applicable to business, rather than just government.
Jeanne Brett
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Pax Democratica : A Strategy for the 21st Century
0333945980
Argues that the leading western democracies share common
interests which they need to pursue jointly rather than separately as a sort
of one world vision (but not world government). Realistic or not, it's
another contribution to the debate about the way forward.
A Strategy for Stable Peace : Toward a Euroatlantic Security
Community
1929223323
Another work envisioning collaboration between the US,
Europe, and Russia as the way forward, published by the US Institute of
Peace.
Ambassador James Goodby et al
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Digital Diplomacy : US Foreign Policy in the Information
Age
0275972283
Rejects thesis about "telediplomacy" from a knowledgeable
perspective, favoring how technology can be used instead to enhance the work
of diplomacy
Wilson Dizard Jr.
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Why Peacekeeping Fails
0312239424
Comparison of experiences in Angola and Mozambique by a
retired Ambassador with a long Foreign Service career who has been openly
critical of the State Dept and the Bush administration policies in
particular
Ambassador Dennis Jett
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Does America Need a Foreign Policy?
0684855674
Not always, for every issue, as other Secretaries of State
have indicated before him. This is a useful overview of current issues
around the world.
Henry Kissinger
2001
Bruce Donnelly
American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made It
0679723153
Interesting review of key US political figures in history
with more balance than some interpretations, and recognition of the
constraints or environment they faced at the time, rather than judgment with
20-20 hindsight
Richard Hofstadter
1989 reissue
Bruce Donnelly
First Great Triumph : How Five Americans Made Their Country a
World Power
0374179395
Account of the late 19th century era, sometimes referred to
as the era of "Manifest Destiny", when the US took more of a proactive,
expansionist stance under President Theodore Roosevelt. Although a
fairly brief period in history, it had a dramatic impact, and still shapes
some foreign perceptions about our policies and responses to global
challenges a century later.
A Pretty Good Club : The Founding Fathers of the US Foreign
Service
0393056589
Insights into how the US Foreign Service became what it is
today, and perceived as obstructive by President Roosevelt in the period
before WW II, which has been a hard image to shake over the subsequent
decades.
The Japanese Thread : A Life in the US Foreign Service
0030416469
Another McCarthy era victim, like the China hands, with a
distinguished career in Japan and elsewhere, such as in Tokyo during the
year of Pearl Harbor
John K. Emmerson
1978
Bruce Donnelly
Consular Tales
1401018807
Personal stories from career work as a consular officer in
the US Foreign Service
William S. Shepard
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Foreign Service Tales
1401036279
More personal stories of Foreign Service life ? Not yet
reviewed, probably interesting
A collection of real life stories by members of the Foreign
Service who found themselves in the middle of dramatic events during their
careers. The various scenarios help to understand life in the Foreign
Service.
The China Hands : America's Foreign Service Officers and What
Befell Them
0140043012
As US interest in China picks up again, it is worth
remembering what happened in the McCarthy era to the Foreign Service
Officers who foresaw before and during World War II the changes in China
which others refused to believe, and then were blamed for their insights in
the superficial "who lost China?" debate in the US, as though it had somehow
been ours in the first place, or within their ability to alter the course of
events in China.
Consider the implications
throughout Asia for the damage that was done to US relations with China
during that era (impact on the Korean War, Vietnam, etc.), and the loss of
some of our best experts. Never again? Some of the best experts
in the Foreign Service have been driven into early retirement in recent
years, too, at what cost to our capabilities and interests today? It
is probably far too early to judge the consequences, but we are back in
another cycle of trying to rebuild the base of expertise through recruitment
of new officers, after disrespecting the talent in which we had invested.
China Scapegoat : The Diplomatic Ordeal of John Carter
Vincent
0915220490
See the China section, above, for background on this and
other books about the "China hands" who were driven out of the Foreign
Service for their very accurate reporting and analysis during the Revolution
in China. There are still lessons in that McCarthy era experience for
those who aspire to Foreign Service careers, because this "who made the
mistake?" mentality still persists in the public, media, and Congress
whenever international events do not develop as we might wish.
The Diplomats : The real people behind the events in an
unreal world
0385142307
This is an interesting analysis of more than just the US
Foreign Service, as the author interviewed many diplomats of various
countries about their work through research involving over 600 interviews in
20 countries over a period of 5 years. One of the interesting opening
comments was that there were less than 75,000 people in the diplomatic
services of all the countries in the world put together (at that time),
which is smaller than some of the leading professional service firms which
support the interests of global corporations today.
Imagine the impact if all those professionals in public and private service
could work together better for mutual benefit as they pursue their
respective self-interests. A first step is to better understand each
other.
Martin Mayer
1983
Bruce Donnelly
Overtime in Heaven
This one isn't even listed on Amazon.com, but you may find it
gathering dust in some libraries. Written by respected journalists,
the premise behind the title was the old saying that Foreign Service
Officers will have to hope that they get their overtime in heaven, because
they'll never see it paid in this world. Basically another collection
of some really compelling "war stories" about the challenges of Foreign
Service life.
I guess there was never a further update
to this book, which was in the 10th edition in 1980 by Prentice-Hall
publishers, but it remains an excellent overview of US diplomatic policies and activities
from the start of the country to the present times. If there is an
update, perhaps by a new name, I would like to find it.
Many Americans are completely unaware of much of this
history, but leading officials and businesspeople in other countries are
more likely to be aware of how this history has played out in their areas.
It can therefore be useful background to get the US perspective on actions
which may often be perceived (or taught) in other countries quite
differently, or as directly contrary to their own national interests,
especially as those with political or other agendas try to distort our
history and criticize our policies and actions for own purposes.
Thomas Bailey
1980
Bruce Donnelly
This is a good, objective historical overview, warts and all,
which can help executives to respond in a knowledgeable way to questions or
criticism by foreign contacts, whether defending the history or not, and can
help to understand why people in other countries do not always perceive our
policies and actions in the same context as we do. They often remember
the impact of decisions on their own countries which Americans have never
even learned about, or have long since forgotten or dismissed as an anomaly
or mistake from another era, or a different political party. They are
also sometimes far more uninformed, or misinformed, about US policy and
history than they believe themselves to be, since they may have been taught
by very biased sources.
Foreign Relations of the United States
Historical collections of original documents from diplomatic
correspondence, selected and organized by the Office of the Historian at the
US Dept of State after most such items are finally declassified, typically
after 30 or more years. The books are available through the US
Government Printing Office, which has a bibliography of all the available
volumes at
This can be a fascinating resource for researchers or
anyone else who is interested in a behind-the-scenes look at how major world
events and our policies and interests were perceived at the time by top
diplomatic officers. They are generally organized by the years which
they cover (as documents are declassified) and the region of the world.
For example, recent works typically cover the late 1960's. Hopefully
the US GPO will someday make current and past publications in this series
available electronically for research purposes.
Electronic intelligence is very important to national
security, as events have repeatedly demonstrated. The capability needs
to be protected and supported. This work illustrates the value with
specific examples.
James Bamford
2001
Bruce Donnelly
The Puzzle Palace
0140067485
By the same author as Body of Secrets, this book addressed
the same topic 20 years ago.
The First Directorate : My 32 Years in Intelligence and
Espionage Against the West
0312114265
The view from the other side. No big secrets shared,
but interesting context for those who think human intelligence actions or
needs ended with the Cold War.
The Sword and the Shield : The Mitrokhin Archive and the
Secret History of the KGB
0465003109
While a certain degree of skepticism about details or
completeness should still surround any such archives from a KGB organization
skilled in self-preservation and disinformation, this is still interesting
background.
Although somewhat dated by a focus on the Cold War aspects of
intelligence related to the Soviet Union, this is another personal account
of an intelligence career which helps to illustrate the importance of such
work.
Cord Meyer
1980
Bruce Donnelly
The U.S. Intelligence Community
0813368936
Useful overview
Jeffrey Richelson
1999 4th Ed
Bruce Donnelly
The Ultimate Terrorists
0674003942
Harvard professor's book about the current risks, written
before 9/11 with other nightmare scenarios such as concern about weapons of
mass destruction in particular. Not the ultimate expert, or the last
word on the subject, but timely perspective on the issues.
Jessica Stern
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Terrorism and US Foreign Policy
0815700040
Brookings Institution study of the ongoing struggle by a
former US Army and CIA officer
Paul Pillar
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Origins of Terrorism : Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies,
States of Mind
0943875897
A more recent work by an author who has provided thought
leadership on this topic for decades, whether you agree with everything he
says or not.
Terrorism : A Study of National and International Political
Violence
An updated version was
issued in 1987
0316514780
The original was 0316514705
There are obviously more recent works on this subject, but
this 25 year old study, including explicit concern about future risks such
as terrorist use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, should remind
Americans that this problem is not really a new one. Decades of
neglect as the problem got worse are not going to be reversed quickly by use
of military power, but one has to start somewhere to show that we are as
serious about destroying the terrorists as they are about destroying the
civilization and free lives which we enjoy.
Like the
Cold War, this is largely a hidden struggle in the shadows, not on the front
pages, radio, or TV news, which is where many terrorists want to get the
coverage that amplifies their terror capabilities to mythic levels, or
arouses sympathy and support for their causes. It isn't particularly
challenging, nor does it require great skill, to organize people to destroy
things or kill many people, especially in a free and tolerant, diverse
society where it can be hard to identify and track down such threats.
By contrast, note how Arabs stand out among Afghans as
outsiders, or how Americans stand out in Saudi Arabia, whereas Arabs can
blend into Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, or most
other major US cities as ordinary citizens, immigrants, or visitors of no
particular concern to anyone as long as they don't break the law - which is
as it should be. Indeed, as recent events have shown, terrorists can
even blend into small, suburban communities.
Walter Laqueur
1977
Bruce Donnelly
The same is true of terrorists from any region, which is
why the US is not a very "hard target", and is appealing to terrorists for
the global visibility and illusion of power an attack can bring to their
cause. As a "superpower" target, we face a unique global threat which
does not lend itself to multilateral solutions, even though terrorism is a
threat to people everywhere, because the enemy typically doesn't really want
to negotiate or achieve some specific, attainable goal, which makes it very
different from traditional wars. We have to deal with it forcefully
because we are the most high-profile target, with or without the global
support that would always be welcome to create a far stronger global network
against terrorism than the terrorists can develop against us.
One can only hope that the public perception now that this
is not "somebody else's problem", which it never was, will persist as
terrorism and the struggle against it evolves, particularly since success
can be so hard to measure or even reveal, while the "failures" are obvious.
This study by a Harvard scholar drew the unwelcome conclusion
that terrorism flourishes because it works as a tactic. Note that
this, and the above study by Walter Laqueur, preceded some of the more
memorable attacks against US embassies in that era (Iran, Libya, Pakistan,
Lebanon, etc.), and before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan led to further
terrorist problems there.
Jan Schreiber
1978
Bruce Donnelly
There was no causality
from such research conclusions (i.e., making matters worse), since the
terrorists and their supporters were already convinced that it worked for
their purposes. This was more of an appeal to government leaders to
recognize that the problem was not an isolated one that would soon or easily
go away, but rather a tactic that was likely to get much worse.
Although the focus is on the challenges of family life in the
US Foreign Service, the same basic issues often arise for executives on
foreign assignments
Edited by Melissa Brayer Hess
2002
Bruce Donnelly
The Foreign Service Institute - various language training
books and cassettes, usually divided into two or more sets (basic and more
advanced) as a course.
A sample from a search for
"Foreign Service Institute" on Amazon.com is shown in the links at left.
This is not a recommendation of specific titles in the series. You
should review the comments of buyers, and will find far more books than
appear in this short list (around 70 at the time this was written).
Whether you need to study Cantonese, Arabic, Swahili,
Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, or some other language, look into these if you
want to attempt self-study. They are very good, but definitely not for
everybody.
This series is designed for serious,
intensive language training classes which are usually a full time job for
almost six months to prepare to live and work in the country. In
effect, one crams into six months what one might learn through four years of
university classes. A native speaker would normally guide the
instruction through a total immersion approach, as if living in the country
already, which is very hard at first. The style of instruction
therefore differs significantly from some of the more popular products for
serious tourists or those who just want to learn a few key phrases to get
around.
The Foreign Service Institute (US Dept of State)
various, mostly in the 1980's and early 1990's, but be aware
that some books are repackaged versions of much earlier works without
updates
Bruce Donnelly
In addition to those which were more widely published as
commercial products, you may be able to get others through the US Government
Printing Office, such as for some of the more difficult languages.
They have been promoted in the past through advertisements such as "Speak
German like a diplomat! ", which isn't really accurate, since the Foreign
Service language training includes more than the use of these books and
tapes.
It would be nice if, in this multimedia age, the FSI
series would be updated to CD-ROM's and perhaps integrated with other
aspects of such training, such as general cross-cultural (and non-verbal
communication) training and country background studies, plus insights about
doing business in the country, with bibliographies for further research as
at FSI. That would be a great service to executives, but seems
unlikely.
A Personal Safety Guide for International Travelers
The Lee Group (
www.safeglobalsolutions.com ) provides security consulting for
international safety. The author is a former diplomatic security
service agent.
Edward Lee
2002
Bruce Donnelly
The Global Road Warrior : 85 Country Handbook for the
International Business Traveller
Survival Kit for Overseas Living: For Americans
Planning to Live and Work Abroad
185788292X
Tips for expatriate assignments
Robert Kohls
2001
Bruce Donnelly
So You're Going Overseas
0966318005
Tips for expatriate assignments
Stewart Black
1998
Bruce Donnelly
A Moveable Marriage : Relocate Your Relationship Without
Breaking It
Information for families moving internationally; see also
website
www.expatexpert.com
Robin Pascoe
2003
Bruce Donnelly
The Expert Expatriate : Your Guide to Successful Relocation
Abroad - Moving, Living, Thriving
1857883209
Refer to the AAFSW website (
www.aafsw.org ) of the Associates of the American Foreign Service
Worldwide. Written by two Foreign Service spouses who also edited
"Realities of Foreign Service Life"
Inside A U.S. Embassy : How the Foreign Service Works for
America
096494880X
A new version will be available from AFSA in January, with
stories which help people to envision the work which is done at embassies.
This can be helpful to executives who may not understand the many roles of
the Foreign Service, and how that work affects them.
Welcome Home: Who Are You? Tales of a Foreign
Service Family
0963926063
Anecdotal accounts from a career in the US Foreign Service
Gene Schmiel
1998
Bruce Donnelly
US Law and Immigration, International Business Law
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abstract / comment
Author
Published
Suggested by
International Business Transactions in a Nutshell
0314240934
Available from Thomson West legal publishers at
www.westgroup.com . The
"Nutshell" series is aimed more at non-lawyers or law students, and can help
to understand the potential legal issues to consider.
Michael Gordon, John Spanogle Jr.
2000
Bruce Donnelly
International Trade and Investment In A Nutshell
0314240942
See above. Includes topics such as import and export
restrictions and controls, European Union business competition rules, and
steps to protect against foreign investment losses.
Also from Thomson West legal publishers. May be helpful
to HR executives at major companies looking to employ foreign nationals in
the US, including tax aspects prepared by Baker & McKenzie.
Reference notebooks, updated semiannually. Not cheap, or a substitute
for professional advice, but can help to better understand the many
considerations involved.
Sam Bernsen
1983, updated semiannually
Bruce Donnelly
Immigration Law and Procedure in a Nutshell
0314232087
See above, from Thomson West "Nutshell" series.
Overview of immigration law, visa standards, deportation and exclusion,
refugee and asylum status, citizenship and the rights of foreign nationals
in the US. Aimed more at law students, but may also be helpful to HR
executives and employees affected by such issues, including compliance
requirements for employers.
David Weissbrodt
1992 / 1998
Bruce Donnelly
European Union Law in A Nutshell
0314232346
See above, from Thomson West. Emphasizes the external
impact of EU law, such as for US trade and business competition law, and how
EU law works.
Ralph Folsom
1999
Bruce Donnelly
NAFTA in a Nutshell
0314239723
See above, from Thomson West. Not just for US firms,
this addresses external legal perspectives as well.
Ralph Folsom
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Intellectual Property and Unfair Competition in a Nutshell
See above, from Thomson West. Reference guide overview
of issues such as unfair competition, antitrust, consumer protection,
regulated industries, trade secrets, intellectual property and trademarks.
Charles McManis
2000
Bruce Donnelly
Land Use in a Nutshell
031423859X
See above, from Thomson West. May be of interest to
economic development professionals involved in land use issues (legal
aspects of development regulation, zoning, taxation, planning processes,
controls). May also be of interest to non-US executives who are trying
to understand these issues for their project approvals.
Morton Gitelman and Robert Wright
1994, updated 2001
Bruce Donnelly
Law for Business, 8th Ed.
0072488263
Commonly used as a textbook for university classes in
business law, available at university bookstores or directly from the
publisher, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, at
www.mhhe.com or 800-262-4729 (which may not work for foreign callers,
who can order by email through
customer.service@mgraw-hill.com )
A. James Barnes, Terry Dworkin
2003
Bruce Donnelly
Employment Law for Business
0072314036
Also a legal textbook from McGraw-Hill, as above, which may
interest HR executives in the US as well as foreign executives planning to
set up US operations as a basic overview. There may well be better
choices - I haven't searched intensively for them.
Bennett, Alexander, Hartman
2001
Bruce Donnelly
Legal Landmines in E-Commerce
0072527870
A business school legal textbook from McGraw-Hill as above,
again useful for an overview of the issues from the perspective of
practicing attorneys in this niche, intended for MBA programs, executive
education, etc.
David Canton, of Harrison Pensa LLP, and John Millar, of The
Attache Group
2003
Bruce Donnelly
Note that some of the books may be out of print and unavailable for
purchase, but are still listed because copies may be found in major
libraries. There is also a separate section which highlights
magazines and professional associations
related to this market, as well as
governmental sources.
We may provide links
to other sources as
appropriate (consultants, US Government publications, United Nations, The World Bank,
etc.). For example, consultants and development agencies
may publish major surveys or research reports which are useful, but not available
through Amazon.com.
We
welcome additional suggestions. Please note that our intended
focus is to find items with enduring or timely insights which can be applied
to the needs of corporate executives, professional service providers, or
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We are not trying to compile a "best-seller" list, or selections which are
primarily academic research (analysis without clear application to business
decisions), journalistic (superficial, hot news of the moment), or not very
objective (unless that bias is important for executives to understand).
This is intended to be a list which makes it easier to find practical
"thought leadership" publications quickly and easily for a selective range
of topics.
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The presence of a book or other media in this list does not represent
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The referral fees we would receive are 15% for purchasing
the items directly following one of the publication links we provide (without shopping
on other Amazon.com pages before adding the publication to your shopping
cart), or 5% for buying other items through Amazon.com after
following these links.
Examples : If you follow the cover link, browse around Amazon.com for other ideas
such as their related book suggestions, and
then still buy the item we suggested, we only get 5%.
If you first add an item to your cart by using the "Buy
From Amazon.com" quick links we have provided, and
then shop around or review additional product details to reconfirm that our
suggestion is what you are seeking, we get 15% (and if, after you shop around a little, you
decide to remove it from your cart, we get zero, or 5% of whatever else you
choose).
Likewise, if you are going to buy multiple items from this
list of suggestions, we won't get the 15% referral fee on more than one
unless you actually return to our pages and then follow our links back to
the other choices, such as by using the "Buy From ..." links
repeatedly. If you track down the same books through their
pages, or go to their many other services before making the purchase, we
would just get 5%.
If you wish to support our work, you may therefore
wish to consider how you place your orders. Add an item to your cart
right after you follow the link, if you think you are interested, and
then you can remove it later if you change your mind after closer
review of other Amazon.com comment, such as their sample pages, alternative
book suggestions, or book reviews. If their further
content persuades you to buy something else instead, or to not buy an item
we suggested,
then we haven't really earned the higher fee level by the referral.
Any income from such purchases are purely incidental to
our work, but this helps to confirm that users of this website are finding
this referral service to be useful, so that we can justify the work involved
to maintain and improve it. It also provides a very easy and private
way for us to monitor whether interest in this feature is rising or falling
(by the volume of fees) as we maintain it. We do not track who uses this page, who
buys what, or who follows which link. We respect your privacy.
Any income received just indicates in a tangible way whether, taken as a
whole, our many
contacts appreciate and are using this referral service. If we earn the 15% referral
fee very often, that suggests users are making a special effort to reward our work by paying
attention to the above details about how Amazon.com rewards their referral
sources. Thank you for your consideration.
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