Law, Business and the Magazine Industry
LEGAL AND BUSINESS ASPECTS OF THE MAGAZINE INDUSTRY, 1982, is #147 in the Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks and Literary Property Course Handbook Series of the Practising Law Institute, New York. It was written by Peter C. Gould and Stephen H. Gross and was designed as a reference manual for attorneys and related professionals.

Included are 17 articles on Acquiring Publishing Rights, Editorial Concerns for the Magazine Attorney, Printing Agreements, Direct Mail Promotion of Magazine Subscriptions, Solicitation Agreements, Subscription Fulfillment, Single Copy Distribution, Protection of Titles and the Format of Covers, Copyright Office Regulations, Advertising, Collective Works, Regulation of Commercial Speech, Advertisers and Agencies, Buying and Selling Magazines and more.

The 592-page softcover book is in Very Good condition, with only very slight edge/corner wear to the covers. Inside pages have no apparent defects. (3763)
Publisher: Practising Law Institute
ISBN: None  

Muddling Through Business Management
Written by Roger A. Golde and featuring some wonderful cartoons by Henry Martin,
MUDDLING THROUGH: THE ART OF PROPERLY UNBUSINESSLIKE MANAGEMENT was published in 1976 by AMACOM, a division of the American Management Association, New York.

Offering some provocative observations to challenge much of established management theory, the 177-page hardbound book attempts to bridge the increasing gap between the literature of management and the realities of organizational life.

The book focuses on aspects of management which are chaotic, imprecise, ambiguous, and defy conventional logic. Actually, as the author points out, a good deal of managerial life is fuzzy -- which is why managers (and their bosses) often find it very difficult to do things the way they are ‘supposed to;’ why the road to better management often lies in a very different direction than is commonly supposed.

In each chapter, the author tackles an important issue that is usually ignored or generally misunderstood. The author says: ‘The fact is that most managers muddle, and more frequently than they would like to admit.’

A central theme of the book is that muddling is often a perfectly appropriate and effective management technique; and managers can learn to improve their muddling. The author provides concrete suggestions on such taboo subjects as: How to manage something when you don't know much about it. How to get some place when you don't know exactly where you are going. How to get a subordinate to do it your way, on his own.

The author deals with what is real, not just with what is easy to understand or calculate, and offers fresh ways of thinking about management along with concrete suggestions for action.

The book is in Very Good condition, although ex lib with the usual library markings. There are no apparent defects on the book or on the mylar-covered dust jacket. (6002)

Publisher: American Management Association
ISBN: 08144544119  

ARAMCO HANDBOOK, Oil & the Middle East
Published in this 1968 Revised edition by the Arabian American Oil Company, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, this is the ARAMCO HANDBOOK, OIL AND THE MIDDLE EAST. The book originated as a guide for American employees of the company who were coming to Saudi Arabia to work and needed reliable and fairly detailed knowledge of the kingdom.

Topics covered include the history, culture, geography, religion and economic development of Saudi Arabia; the fundamentals of the oil industry; Aramco’s early history and its contemporary operations. Arabic names and place names are spelled according to a system of transliteration from Arabic to English. Spelling or pronunciation are not completely accurate, but provide basic information that would suffice for temporary workers.

Many maps and color and black/white photos are used to illustrate this impressive 279-page hardbound book. It’s in Very Good condition, although ex lib with the usual library markings. Covers show some very light scuffing and edge/corner wear. Inside pages have no apparent defects. (5987)

Publisher: Arabian American Oil Company  

1932 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, WI

Roger Sherman Hoar’s words in the Preface to his 1932 book, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN WISCONSIN 1932 tell all you need to know about this one: Again Wisconsin, the laboratory of radical experimentation, leads the way. But whether toward triumph or toward disaster, remains to be seen.

On January 28, 1932, in the presence of two representatives of the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor, four economists of the University of Wisconsin, the president of the State Senate, and the Progressive floor-leader of the Assembly, Governor Philip F. La Follette affixed his signature to the Groves Bill; and it became a law by publication on the following day.

This Act gave Wisconsin a state system of compulsory unemployment reserves, but with the proviso for the exemption of all employers who either guarantee steady employment or adopt satisfactory voluntary systems, and with the further proviso that if employers of over 175,000 employees either guarantee steady employment or adopt satisfactory voluntary systems before June 1, 1933, the compulsory plan shall never come into effect.

This provision is a challenge to those who do not believe in the economic soundness of compulsory unemployment benefit systems. They have a year and four months in which to save the State from this danger. It was in the belief that they would desire full information relative to the new law, and to voluntary plans already in effect, that the publication of this book was undertaken.

But now the joint commission of the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania has just recommended that these six states adopt what is practically the Wisconsin law. The legislatures of four of these states (Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania) are now in session, and have such a bill under consideration.

Accordingly unemployment reserves emerges from the status of a mere Wisconsin laboratory experiment, and becomes a matter of vital concern to employers, economists and legislators, throughout the entire United States.

It’s an interesting look at the post-depression problem of insurance for those who are without work, and many of the precepts here are still relevant today.

The book, published by The Stuart Press, South Milwaukee, WI, in 1932 is in Very Good condition, although it is ex lib with the usual library markings. We see no major defects on either the covers or inside pages. It’s clean, crisp and easily readable! (3436)
Publisher: The Stuart Press
ISBN: none  

1931 Co-Op Livestock Sales
Written by Edwin G. Nourse and Joseph G. Knapp, CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING OF LIVESTOCK was published in 1931 by The Brookings Institution, Washington DC. This is apparently a FIRST PRINTING.

The 486-page hardbound book outlines (1) the growth of co-op livestock groups to organize their marketing; (2) objectives of the groups; (3) problems and issues arising from this organization; (4) economic implications of the movement; and (5) promising efforts for future progress.

The book is a scarce one in today's book market. This copy is in Very Good+ condition, although it is ex lib with the usual library markings. It has some very slight scuffing on the back cover and a small bump at top corners. Inside pages are without defects we can find. (2643)
Circa: 1931
Publisher: Brookings Institution
ISBN: none  

16th Annual OHIO Board of Commerce, 1909

Here is the hardbound edition of the Reports, Addresses and Proceedings in Columbus, Ohio of the 16TH ANNUAL MEETING, OHIO STATE BOARD OF COMMERCE. Published in 1909, the 483-page book is a treasure-trove of information about the Buckeye State and its businesses in the early years of the 20th century.

Contents include listings of the Board's officers, committees and members, as well as the constitution and reports presented at the event. Topics discussed included uniform bills of lading law, creation of a state board of accountancy and a state department of banks and banking, a classified property tax, move for a permanent state tax commission, standard real estate assessments, methods of co-operation with business men’s organizations, methods of promoting municipal development, the commission plan of state government, Akron’s interest in Ohio canals, good roads, construction of a barge or ship canal between the Great Lakes and Ohio River, industrial education, primary election law, the state’s Supreme Court and Legislature, the Ohio press and much more!

Most of the speakers' words and most business sessions are printed in transcript form. There's a ton of information! A formal portrait of President Allen R. Foote is on the frontispiece.

This one is in Very Good- condition, although it is ex lib with the usual library markings. The front hinge is broken, but all pages appear to still be tightly bound. Covers show moderate wear on edges, corners and spine ends. The pages are somewhat brittle and starting to yellow, but all appear to be complete and easily readable. If you're interested in business history - or in Ohio - this one's a great find! (3799)
Publisher: Ohio State Board of Commerce
ISBN: None