07.31.05
Posted in Resources at 11:00 pm by Administrator
Risk
Author: John Adams (Usually dispatched within 24 hours)
A “must-read” bookIt’s incredible how many well-meaning attempts to make society “safer” fail, foundering on society’s apparent unwillingness to be safe. Adams not only tells us what’s going wrong, but actually describes the ways in which risk taking behaviour can be understood and managed.
Of particular interest is the chapter on seat belt laws. Once you’ve read that, I guarantee you will be hooked.
A Must-read
I am an economist, and found the nature and subject of this book fascinating. It really is an important and powerful work.
A book that must be read
Anyone who can grasp the concepts discussed in this book should read it; it has universal relevance. Adams strips bare the very shaky assumptions upon which much risk assessment is based in the world. It was a shock to me, and I expect it will be a shock to most people. To use a cliche: This book changed my life. More accurately, it changed my world-view. If you need more convincing, take a look at the commendations on the back cover. Any book that can debunk so much of conventional doctrine on road safety, environmentalism, medicine, and so on, yet draw such acclaim from such a diverse range of specialist publications is a book to be reckoned with! As a final note, the book is really very small. However, it is brief and to-the-point; his two hundred pages are worth a thousand from most writers.
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Risk Assessment in Social Care and Social Work (Research Highlights S.)
Author: Phyllida Parsloe (Usually dispatched within 24 hours)
This text outlines the theoretical issues behind the decisions, processes and organizations involved in risk assessment. It considers implications for future policy, drawing on the full range of perspectives in current research.
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Life Insurance Mathematics
Author: H.U. Gerber (Usually dispatched within 1 to 2 weeks)
Perfect all-purpose guide to the actuarial maths (life)There is no point in writing much: this book will be helpful for all. Great textbook for applied maths students, an encyclopaedia for actuarial assistants who’d like to understand their bosses, and finally a good back-up source of detailed knowledge for actuaries who not always have all actuarial formulae at hand. I know what I am saying here, being an actuary myself.
A major difference between Gerber’s book and the rest is that apart from the theory it provides HUGE LOTS of practical information, such as the sections on reinsurance, mortality profit, with-profits policies etc. If you work/have worked/intend to work in the actuarial profession, you have got my actuarial promise that you will benefit from the Gerber’s book!
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The Perception of Risk (Risk, Society & Policy S.)
Author: Paul Slovic (This item is currently not available.)
Synopsis
The concept of risk is an outgrowth of our society’s great concern about coping with the dangers of modern life. This book brings together the work of Paul Slovic, one of the world’s leading analysts of risk, risk perception and risk management, to examine the gap between expert views of risk and public perceptions. Ordered chronologically, it allows the reader to see the evolution of our understanding of such perceptions, from early studies identifying public misconceptions of risk to recent work that recognizes the importance and legitimacy of equity, trust, power and other value-laden issues underlying public concern. New methods for assessing perceptions of risk are described, and the implications for regulation and public policy are discussed. In a new departure, the perceptions ofadolescents are also examined. The issues covered include: societal risk-taking; decision-making in mental health law; rating risks; facts versus fears; informing and educating the public about risk; intuitive toxicology; perceived risks and the politics of nuclear waste; perceived risk, trust and democracy; and technological stigma. The book is a guide for everyone with an interest in the public perception of risk, including lawyers, policy makers, the business community and academics from the fields of public health and environment, psychology, economics, sociology, anthropology and political science.
From the Publisher
‘This comprehensive guide - perhaps the first of its kind - is for anyone with an interest in the public perception of risk, including policy maker, business, and academics in various fields including economics, public health and the environment.’
WARMER BULLETIN - Journal For Sustainable Waste Management –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
–This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
Paul Slovic
Paul Slovic is President of Decision Research and Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon. –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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22 Keys to Sales Success: How to Make It Big in Financial Services
Author: James M. Benson (This item is currently not available.)
Narrow Your Focus and Repeat What Works BestReview Summary: 22 Keys to Sales Success has some very fine material in it. The book would have been much improved if it had focused on one type of sales professional in one type of organization looking for one type of client (a new life insurance salesperson in a small agency dealing with owners of small businesses, for example). That would have allowed the material to have been more focused and customized for immediate use. At the same time, some of the material just doesn’t fit certain classes of sales professionals. If you are wise enough to ignore what doesn’t fit, this book can greatly improve your success.
Review: The authors are clearly well read and have had a lot of experience going to seminars. The many references to the works of others are appropriate and add depth to this otherwise simple book. From that authority, they provide many helpful suggestions that will be essential to newcomers to financial sales and valuable to experienced people who aren’t using the advice.
I thought that the advice to Create Your Compelling Vision, Position with Mission, Energize Your Success, Open the Johari Window, Market Yourself as the Expert, Focus on Clients (Not Compensation), Demand Objections, and Be Your Own Sales Manager were superb. I was skeptical about the strong emphasis on continuing efforts to close, scripts and the suggested ways to get referrals. The material in the book seemed inauthentic to me in these areas as a professional, and I graded the book down accordingly.
It seemed like the book was aimed more at those selling insurance products for life and retirement than anything else. So if that’s what you sell, this book is probably good for you. If you are a financial planner who looks at all dimensions of planning, this book is probably too sales-oriented to meet your professional standards. If you are an attorney, you will probably find much of what the book says to be appalling in its commercial focus.
One of the ironies of this book is that the authors suggest that you focus in as narrow a niche of services and customers as possible. I wonder why they didn’t follow their own advice in writing this book.
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Schaum’s Outline of Mathematics of Finance (Schaum’s Outline S.)
Author: Petr Zima (This item is currently not available.)
Covers Mainly Actuarial WorkAn average book which covers most of the topics required in Actuarial Science for example annuities, discounting and life insurance.
Sadly, this book does not cover the other important section of mathematical finance required in my university for example the pricing of securities, derivatives, arbitrage and martingales.
This is the book which provides examples about long term investments, time value of money, and pensions, but not the commonly sought after “Black-Scholes” book.
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Insurance for Dummies
Author: Hungelmann (This item is currently not available.)
Synopsis
Insurance For Dummies introduces readers to the basics as well as the more complicated issues of every kind of insurance. Packed with expert advice and step-by-step guidance, it shows you how to find the right amount of protection at the best possible price, for your life, health, car, home, and anything else you can think of. Thinking about insurance makes many people cringe with fear; this handy guide makes insurance make sense. It demystifies complicated policies and points out all the traps and pitfalls you need to avoid when buying coverage. Whether you’re a homeowner or a small business owner or you just need a basic policy for your car, you’ll find all the advice you need on: * Managing your risk * Reducing your liability * Insuring a home business * Buying an umbrella policy * Dealing with insurers and filing claims * Assessing your life insurance needs * Decidin g between group and individual policies Author Jack Hungelmann uses his twenty-five years of experience in the insurance industry to make buying insurance as simple as possible even for those who’ve never bought a policy in their lives. Armed with the kind of straightforward, commonsense knowledge and advice you’ll find here, you’ll be able to handle any insurance question that comes up. Keep it on your reference shelf for quick-and-easy answers for all your insurance-related questions: * Everything you should know about auto insurance * Choosing cost-effective deductibles * Picking the right property coverage for your home * Estimating the value of your assets * Insuring valuable portable items and collectibles * Special advice on insuring condos and townhouses * Getting the most coverage at the best price * Filing claims and getting back the most * Plus, online insurance resources Knowing what kind of coverage you need for yourself and your possessions is a complicated process. With more competition than ever in the insurance business, finding a great deal on the coverage you need can be a challenge. Insurance For Dummies is the fun and friendly guide that gives you with all the essential knowledge it takes to get the maximum coverage at the minimum price.
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Fundamentals of Insurance
Author: Tena Crews (This item is currently not available.)
Teacher’s aidI bought this book, based on the sparse information available. Unfortunately, this book doesn’t deal with Insurance Fundamentals, but is more of a teachers’ help book for a short or introductory course (at about GCSE/AS level) on insurance for individuals (American individuals, to be precise), and therefore covers life, real property and workers compensation insurance. Therefore very disappointing for me (I was looking for something more commercially focused, that would give me greater insight into the pricing and legal basis of insurance).
Having said that, it does seem to be well written and well presented, and may well meet the needs of its target audience very well. I’m just not its target audience.
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Reliability, Maintainability and Risk: Practical Methods for Engineers
Author: David J. Smith (This item is currently not available.)
Excellent introduction to Reliability EngineeringThis book is an excellent guide to all aspects of reliability engineering. It is aimed at those who wish to practise in the subjects of reliability, risk and maintainability. It is not for those who wish to study the finer mathematical points. Essentially it concentrates on what is important in real engineering and ignores anything which has no bearing on the final solutions. Primarily it is a book for the engineer, not the mathematician.
An ideal text for engineers of all levels
This is the 5th edition of DJ Smith’s excellent book on reliability in the real world. Having worked in this field for a number of years, I can honestly say that Mr. Smith has provided a perfect means of understanding the principles behind basic reliability calculations, in a way that is neither condescending nor unneccesarily complex. I recommend this book in the strongest possible terms to readers interested in gaining a greater understanding of the world of reliability engineering without having to trawl through pages of postgraduate mathematics.
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The Law of Marine Insurance
Author: Howard Bennett (This item is currently not available.)
Book Description
The law of marine insurance constitutes a major branch of the law of international trade and shipping law which is of considerable importance throughout the world. This new textbook offers a detailed and rigorous analysis of this dynamic area of commercial law, embracing not only the constantly evolving case law but also the standard clauses of the Institute of London Underwriters, including the 1995 revision of the hulls and freight clauses, and the roles of mutual insurance
associations. After an introductory chapter, contract formation and placement of cover are considered before a series of chapters analyses the scope of cover, including causation issues and various categories of perils. Duration of cover, insurers defences and rights of third parties are examined before the book concludes with chapters relating to claims and measures of indemnity. Appendices reproduce relevant legislation, standard forms and clauses and mutual insurance association rules.
Synopsis
The law of marine insurance constitutes a major branch of the law of international trade and shipping law which is of considerable importance throughout the world. This new textbook offers a detailed and rigorous analysis of this dynamic area of commercial law, embracing not only the constantly evolving case law but also the standard clauses of the Institute of London Underwriters, including the 1995 revision of the hulls and freight clauses, and the roles of mutual insurance associations. After an introductory chapter, contract formation and placement of cover are considered before a series of chapters analyses the scope of cover, including causation issues and various categories of perils. Duration of cover, insurers defences and rights of third parties are examined before the book concludes with chapters relating to claims and measures of indemnity. Appendices reproduce relevant legislation, standard forms and clauses and mutual insurance association rules.
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