Customer Reviews:
I'm Free.......2006-08-28
I haven't seen this in over seven years. It doesn't matter. If you U.S. citizens can pick up PBS on your tele, get on over there at about 11PM. Don't watch the news. It'll just repeat what you saw during dinner and read in the newspaper and/or on the Internet, and depress you besides. And, since I mentioned meals, give you indigestion. I lived in the U.S. for 36 years, and the last newsperson I watched was probably Walter Cronkite. So, blow off the news and watch this show instead.
I have no idea why I'm writing this. It's been ages. But, I stand by it. Unless, that is, Dubya lobbed a few smart bombs at PBS under the Patriot Act. One can never be sure.
(Bombs smarter than the president, I might add.)
For Fans Only.......2005-05-04
This book is not a good introduction to Grace Brothers for the uninitiated. I enjoyed the stories very much, but I had long ago memorized every episode of the BBC series on which they were based. The stories differed in dialogue and small plot points with the episodes on which they were based, and it was those differences that kept me reading.
Are You Being Served was genius because of its writing and the talents of the actors and actresses. In the written medium, only the former comes through, and without the timing of actors' execution, it seems a little wooden. Still, if you can supply their voices in your head, you'll probably enjoy it.
A mixed bag but a really cute one..........2003-08-06
I really enjoyed this book but I do think this could have been more... More insider tid-bits for the die-hard fan...For people who are very familiar with this show it might be nice to have had a more gossip-y book (more like the show public tv puts on about mrs. slocumb)...
It reminds me a bit of the iron chef book. Fun to get but nothing really that the true fan wouldn't already know.
I can see this being an adorable addition to a theme basket with a *tea* theme... teas. tea ball, tea pot, scones and this book. It might be a nice way to intoduce someone to the show or a good book for a very new fan.
"Weak as Water".......2003-06-27
Besides an eleven-page introduction ("AYBS? Then and Now") and two pages on "The Birth of AYBS?," this book only contains scripts in story form from seven early episodes of the long-running Brit comedy. The stories include: "Camping In," "Up Captain Peacock," "Wedding Bells," "His and Hers," "Coffee Break," "The Hand of Fate," and "The Clock." There is also two sets of full color photos from the episodes. Some of the screen shots are not even from the episodes in this book as a couple of the photos have Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Harman whereas the stories have Mr. Grainger and Mr. Mash. There is nothing new or exciting for the fan who already has a few books about the show. If you want to curl up and read these episodes as stories, this is the book for you. I, however, would rather pop in the video.
FUNNY THROUGH AND THROUGH.......2002-05-02
I LOVED IT! JUST AS FUUNY AS THE TV SHOW
Customer Reviews:
Mr. Humphries, are you free?.......2007-01-21
Great book about a great show. The pictures of the cast both from the show and behind the scenes are worth the price of the book alone.
I'm Free.......2006-08-28
I haven't seen this in over seven years. It doesn't matter. If you U.S. citizens can pick up PBS on your tele, get on over there at about 11PM. Don't watch the news. It'll just repeat what you saw during dinner and read in the newspaper and/or on the Internet, and depress you besides. And, since I mentioned meals, give you indigestion. I lived in the U.S. for 36 years, and the last newsperson I watched was probably Walter Cronkite. So, blow off the news and watch this show instead.
I have no idea why I'm writing this. It's been ages. But, I stand by it. Unless, that is, Dubya lobbed a few smart bombs at PBS under the Patriot Act. One can never be sure.
(Bombs smarter than the president, I might add.)
A Big Serving of Grace Brothers and more!.......2004-04-29
This is a fun book that any fan of the British series, "Are You Being Served?" will enjoy. Full of interesting facts about the actors, producers and directors and bits of trivia, this companion book will be more than enough for any fan of Mr Humphries or the hilarious, cat loving, Mrs. Slocombe. There are summaries of all of the episodes, that also include the second series, "Grace and Favour" and the movie that follows the gang as the go on vacation together. It even includes the episodes of the Australian version, which lasted for two seasons. A well rounded book for a long lasting British sitcom and a must have for any fan of the series!
You Would Be Well Served If You Got This Book!!.......2003-12-22
Are You Being Served was one of the first, and for my money, probably the very best Britcom shown on PBS. Pre-Monty Python, the humor relied on timeless British wit rather than on the physical comedy which has predominated in the 30 years since it's debut. What a joy to see fabulous British actors doing what they do best---speaking the Queen's English with unmatched ability, the better to show that great use of language allied with a wonderful sense of humor makes for unparalleled entertainment. This book traces the history of the show, reviews and rates each episode, profiles the cast and director, and, in the most enjoyable chapter of all, reveal the actual processes by which episodes were made at Sheppard's Bush studios. Since this book seems very much aimed at an American audience, it would be nice if the author spent some time discussing the differences between British and American television: How much are British actors paid, why so few episodes were made per season, etc. Still, it is wonderful to see actors who care more about "mucking in" and helping each other out rather than screaming about lack of pay, etc. In the British system, the play (or sitcom) is the thing, and I, for one, appreciate the difference (not to mention a much higher level of talent overall!). In sum, an excellent book and a great companion for your next Are You Being Served watching party, where hopefully, the partygoers get to dress as their favorite characters! Just be sure to plan carefully; we wouldn't want a party where everyone would come dressed as Mrs. Slocombe and Mr. Humphries, now would we?? On second thought, it might be more fun that way!!!
Great campanion guide to the show.......2003-06-25
I purchased this book YEARS ago in the 90's! I still find myself enjoying the book today (2003)! It goes over the history of the show and even has a synopsis of every episode. It even gives a rating of each episode showing how funny each episode it.
This truly is a treasure that you'll want on your coffee table. This is one of the funniest shows ever produced. The book even includes some juicy extras that we in the U.S. have been deprived of. The movie that was inspired by the show and the revival series that popped up many years later.
Customer Reviews:
The 'best of' book version of AYBS........2004-08-13
I rate this book just a slight notch above the KQED AYBS book, simply because the creators of AYBS had input in this project. It also highlights the bit players who appeared on AYBS, otherwise the two books do a fine of episode, character, and actor bio's. But the before mentioned book does a slightly better job at reviewing 'Grace and Favour' and the Australian AYBS version..., so you have to buy both :-)
Are you still free after 25 years?.......2002-07-25
For those of you who have the Are You Being Served? book by Adrian Rigelsford--are you free? For those of you who don't, are you also free? Well, gather around everybody, and that also includes special Grace Brothers board members.
This 25th anniversary book by Richard Webber with the two co-creators of the show, Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, is basically an update of the previous book, but in a slightly different format. The story-by-story synopses are there, but instead of the * to **** ratings, there are memorable dialogue bits, that are always good for a laugh or two.
New material: familiar BBC performers who made guest appearances (mostly as hapless customers) on the show, with a short bio on each one. However, why was Gorden Kaye, who later starred in Lloyd and Croft's French Resistance comedy, 'Allo 'Allo, excluded from this section? Also, an episode-by-episode list of guest appearances.
What really perks me are younger photographs of the stars. They are recognizable but it's interesting to see how they looked before they joined Grace Brothers. And Lloyd and Croft's personal observations on the stars are filled with the fondest and highest respect.
There are bios on some of the minor but regular performers, such as Vivienne Johnson (Mr. Grace's nurse), Milo Sperber (Mr. Grossman) and Benny Lee (Mr. Klein), as well as those in Grace And Favour.
There are some updates. Inbetween books, Arthur English, who played Mr. Harman the packing department head, died in 1995, as did Billy Burden (Mr. Moulterd), in 1994.
However, the icing on the cake is the list of hot dolly bird secretaries who appeared throughout the season. My favorites: Penny Irving, the luscious redhead who appeared during the show's peak era, Louise Burton, and the Barbie Doll Candy Davis, who now got a Master's degree and is teaching. Wow, brain and beauty! How rare! Another hottie, Debbie Linden, sadly died in 1997.
My recommendation: get this AFTER the Adrian Rigelsford book to get the optimal enjoying effect. You'll be right as rain then.
Are you still free after 25 years?.......2002-07-25
For those of you who have the Are You Being Served? book by Adrian Rigelsford--are you free? For those of you who don't, are you also free? Well, gather around everybody, and that also includes special Grace Brothers board members.
This 25th anniversary book by Richard Webber with the two co-creators of the show, Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, is basically an update of the previous book, but in a slightly different format. The story-by-story synopses are there, but instead of the * to **** ratings, there are memorable dialogue bits, that are always good for a laugh or two.
New material: familiar BBC performers who made guest appearances (mostly as hapless customers) on the show, with a short bio on each one. However, why was Gorden Kaye, who later starred in Lloyd and Croft's French Resistance comedy, 'Allo 'Allo, excluded from this section? Also, an episode-by-episode list of guest appearances.
What really perks me are younger photographs of the stars. They are recognizable but it's interesting to see how they looked before they joined Grace Brothers. And Lloyd and Croft's personal observations on the stars are filled with the fondest and highest respect.
There are bios on some of the minor but regular performers, such as Vivienne Johnson (Mr. Grace's nurse), Milo Sperber (Mr. Grossman) and Benny Lee (Mr. Klein), as well as those in Grace And Favour.
There are some updates. Inbetween books, Arthur English, who played Mr. Harman the packing department head, died in 1995, as did Billy Burden (Mr. Moulterd), in 1994.
However, the icing on the cake is the list of hot dolly bird secretaries who appeared throughout the season. My favorites: Penny Irving, the luscious redhead who appeared during the show's peak era, Louise Burton, and the Barbie Doll Candy Davis, who now got a Master's degree and is teaching. Wow, brain and beauty! How rare! Another hottie, Debbie Linden, sadly died in 1997.
My recommendation: get this AFTER the Adrian Rigelsford book to get the optimal enjoying effect. You'll be right as rain then.
The Definitive Tribute!.......2001-11-29
This lovely and indeed comprehensive tribute book commences with an introduction by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft (co-writers of the series) and a foreword by Lloyd's ex-wife (and two-time guest), Joanna Lumley, and it is sure to be treasured by fans of this entertaining British comedy.
What makes this book so enjoyable is the amount of participation author Richard Webber has received from everyone involved in the production (from writers, directors, costume designers, etc., to the actors themselves), and the book is filled with their many anecdotes. In the case of deceased actors Harold Bennett (Young Mr. Grace) and Arthur Brough (Mr. Grainger), assistance has been provided by their son and daughter, respectively.
The book includes a detailed history of the series--how it came about, how the actors were chosen, why certain actors left the show, how certain effects were achieved, and so on. Also included are chapters on the stage show, the movie, the 90's sequel (Grace and Favour also known as Are You Being Served? Again!) and a look at the success of the show (and its US and Aussie spinoffs) abroad.
My favourite parts are the four-page bios of the original cast, which includes b/w and sepia photos of the actors at various ages and stages in their careers. (A priceless inclusion are the childhood photos of most of these actors). This is followed by one-half- to one-page bios of "other memorable characters"--the maintenance men, the replacements for Mr. Grainger and Mr. Lucas, Old Mr. Grace, the nurse, and the canteen manageress. There are separate chapters for the secretaries and the lift girls with brief quarter-page bios and tiny b/w photos of each. Finally, there is a chapter devoted to "familiar faces" which contains brief quarter-page bios & tiny b/w photos of every actor to have appeared as a guest on the show.
The book also includes a complete episode guide, often with a particularly memorable snippet of dialogue from the episode being summarized or a "memory" from one of the cast of crew. An episode guide and brief quarter-page bios are also provided for Grace and Favour. Finally, there is a detailed index.
The book is a 10" x 7 3/4" 176-page hardcover printed on thick, good-quality paper with a matte finish, and it contains many b/w and colour photos throughout.
In conclusion, this is an attractive, well-researched, well-written, comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable look back at one of Britain's most popular comedies and at the cast and crew who made it so memorable. Very highly recommended!
A must for the AYBS fan.......2000-05-12
I have watched this show for years and this is such a great book. There are episode details and bios, and even customer bios. Joanna Lumley from AbFab was in the show a couple of times.
If you like AYBS, get this!
Average customer rating:
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Are You Being Served Yet?: Customer Service Evolution
Ron Berger
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1424124859
Release Date: 2006-05-30 |
Book Description
Customer Service is one of those things that most companies claim they have, but very few understand it. Some even claim they have the best and hire uneducated people to operate it. Customer Service is actually the easiest thing to perform and most companies treat it as being the hardest. The mind set of most business people is that the main part of a business is selling goods or a service and making a profit. It''s true that these need to be accomplished, but how to get people to buy your goods or services may very well depend on the kind of customer service you offer.
Customer Reviews:
Best Yet.......2006-06-19
I have customer service in my veins. My 41 years in the business makes me some sort of expert. A must read for builders and ALL companies.
Average customer rating:
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Are You Being Served?: New Tools for Measuring Service Delivery
Manufacturer: World Bank Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0821371851 |
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Are You Being Served?: State, Citizens and Governance
Manufacturer: Allen & Unwin Academic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 186508591X |
Book Description
Examining a range of institutions and their different processes of government, this book examines the effectiveness of the current Australian government. Despite the strong presence of democracy worldwide, this book outlines the widespread distrust of government and citizens' desire to become less involved with government. With a focus on citizen perception of government and methods of citizen organization, the book outlines the evolution of the government's image. Offering a number of strategies for the government to regain public approval, this book provides a comprehensive account of the current state of public policy in Australia.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Risk & Insurance, published by Axon Group on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1318 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Are you being served globally? (Special Report: Risk Management in Focus).
Author: Daniel I. Stander
Publication:
Risk & Insurance (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Axon Group
Page: 28(2)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
In this volume, the authors begin by defining usability, advocating and explaining the methods of usability engineering and reviewing many techniques for assessing and assuring usability throughout the development process. They then follow all the steps in planning and conducting a usability test, analyzing data, and using the results to improve both products and processes.
This book is simply written and filled with examples from many types of products and tests. It discusses the full range of testing options from quick studies with a few subjects to more formal tests with carefully designed controls. The authors discuss the place of usability laboratories in testing as well as the skills needed to conduct a test.
Included are forms to use or modify to conduct a usability test, as well as layouts of existing labs that will help the reader build his or her own.
Customer Reviews:
Great First Book or Referesher for any Usability Engineer.......2007-09-11
These folks know usability testing; they have a lot of experience with a wide variety of systems. Their backgrounds in linguistics and in psychology inform their process making it a highly effective and very user-centered process. This book is easy to follow and comprehensive. A great first read or refresher for any usability engineer.
A Practical Guide to Usability Testing.......2007-07-03
This book is real thorough, right up to the point of listing suitable topics for small talk with your test subjects :-) If you are doing guerrilla usability testing, most of the forms and checklists in this book may be overkill, but there is still a lot of useful information... I appreciated a lot that statements are in general backed up with literature, not just common sense reasoning. The only drawback of this book is that it feels a bit dated (i.e. pre-Web). It does seem to have been revised and puts emphasis on iterative testing etc, but doesn't mention more recent techniques such as eye-tracking, or using the Web for recruiting test subjects or identifying potential usability problems via request logs.
A classic.......2002-01-27
This is a classic in the field, written by two highly-respected usability specialists. I was fortunate to read it as one of the textbooks in a class on usability testing taught by Dr. Dumas. It is a very practical book, covering planning, testing, and reporting the results. The strengths and weaknesses of usability testing are discussed, and there is some information about other usability evaluation methods and basic design principles.
This is a republication, with only slight changes, of the 1993 edition, so the technology and costs are not up to date. But it's not hard to think in terms of digital cameras instead of videotape.
Highly recommended.
necessary reading.......2001-07-07
This is required reading for usability professionals. It's a detailed look at testing, covering everything from test plans and lab construction to data analysis and how to handle unqualified testers who slip through the screening process. It covers lower-budget tests in addition to full-scale ones. It's clear that Dumas and Redish have loads of experience, and they're not shy about sharing it.
The most useful idea I came away with is that testing needs a specific purpose. You can't just test a system's usability; you test, for example, the navigation system or a membership form.
The only flaws here are a couple of omissions. There's no mention of testing web applications, though the principles covered here can be extrapolated to other purposes. And there is no mention of the ultra-cheap guerilla testing tactics. I doubt Dumas and Redish would approve of them, but it would have been very helpful to read about where these alternative methods were effective and not.
This book is a keeper. While my organization will not likely be doing full-blown usability testing for awhile, I'm now more able to evaluate and communicate with third-party testing facilities. And this book will influence all of our other evaluation and assessment testing methods.
Insightful, Useful, and Usable - The Best Usability Book.......2000-09-03
This is a step-by-step quide with checklists, offering insight into every stage of usability testing. It should help any software development project produce more usable software (assuming the developers are willing to make changes based on the results of testing).
As someone who has done research about usability, taught about usability to over 1000 practitioners, and developed usable systems (some more so than others) for 20 years, I am still impressed every time I open this book. I recommend it as the best practical book on developing usable software (although I also recommend other books, such as Nielsen's "Usablity Engineering" and Rubin's "Handbook of Usability Testing").
Average customer rating:
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A Practical Guide to Usability Testing. (book reviews): An article from: Technical Communication
JoAnn T. Hackos
Manufacturer: Society for Technical Communication
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This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on May 1, 1995. The length of the article is 2022 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: A Practical Guide to Usability Testing. (book reviews)
Author: JoAnn T. Hackos
Publication:
Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 1995
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: v42
Issue: n2
Page: p364(3)
Article Type: Book Review
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