Marketplace

• E-mail this to a friend
• Print article

 

"Noble House"
By James Clavell

"British Trading House in 60's Hong Kong, speculation and short selling in the stock market, boardroom intrigue, China (Hong Kong) developing as an economic power. . . . I actually read this on the beach in Hawaii. Clavell's Asia saga has often been as much about business as about the Asian countries he sets his stories in. 'Tai-Pan' -- which sets up some of the locations and names in 'Noble House' -- was my primer in merchant trading and made me want to learn more about international business. It was in 'Noble House,' though, that all the pieces were finally arranged for a thrilling eight-day trip through Hong Kong full of business deals and betrayals. It is also interesting to see how business was conducted back in the pre-Internet/teleconference/video-link era. Its a whopper of a book, but that means you just get to spend more time reading it."

---

"The Birth of Plenty: How the Modern World of Prosperity Was Launched"
By William Bernstein

"Once you know what is needed for economic growth you can help to sustain it or create it. . . . This book is an absolute must read for every business leader and political leader in the world. If you don't understand what is in this book, then you will make the wrong decisions for your company, country and your economic life."

---

"Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich"
By Robert Frank

"This book describes the lifestyle of the very wealthy in America-- how they got there, their motivations, and the burdens of their lifestyle. . . . For all the "impoverished" Americans who will be reading poolside on their "stay-cation" this summer, I recommend Richistan, which is an open look at the lifestyle of the very wealthy in America -- how they got there, their motivations, and the burdens of that type of lifestyle. Readers run the risk of being overcome with jealousy at the people depicted in the book, at their financial 'freedom,' their business sense, their cunning and ingenuity, and may feel by the end of the book that with enough entrepreneurial spirit, they, too, can become citizens of Richistan. I hope, though, that readers will react to this book with a combination of disbelief and disgust, shocked at people who feel $75 million is merely a pittance and not enough to be included in the highest class. There is ample reason, in reading this book, to reject this level of ostentation and excessiveness, to be glad for what you DO have (even in these tough times) and to realize that there are always people who have less who would love to be sitting poolside on a "stay-cation" instead of working three jobs to make ends meet."

---

"Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die"
By Chip Heath and Dan Heath

"It's all about how ideas/messages/stories can be engineered to stick in the collective consciousness -- an ideal marketing book. This is probably the only book on marketing I ever needed to read, even though it isn't really about marketing. . . . I've changed my marketing and public relations writing and campaign planning around the tenets in this book, and have made my life 1,000 times easier, and at least three times more effective."

---

"Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet"
By Mark Lynas

"As global warming heats the world up, we better get ready for some major changes. Everything from ocean levels to water rights between India and Pakistan could get thrown in the mix. As fossil fuels run the economy and cleaning up the atmosphere will be a worldwide expense, this book gives insight into major economic and political questions we will need to face more and more in the future. . . . 'Six Degrees' reads like a mystery novel, it is fast-paced, suspenseful and interesting -- just like a beach read should be. Except, unlike most beach reads, this one is based on a lot of science and the victim of this book is the Earth and, ultimately, our way of life."

---

"Grand Opening"
By Jon Hassler

"This is a novel that focuses on one year (1944) in the life of a family that moves to a small town to open up a grocery store. In the course of the story the family has to decide how to deal with the competition, when to have sales, whether to remodel in order to allow shoppers to take a cart down the aisle and select their own items, and, ultimately, whether to abandon the effort and move back to the city. . . . The characters are unforgettable. I see two themes besides the theme of the success or failure of Hank's Market. One theme is the role of women, especially Hank's wife, in the business. The second is a more global moral question asking, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and are there any limits to how much I am expected to take care of/sacrifice for others? The book was first published in 1987, but its themes are timeless."

---

"Human Capital: A Novel"
By Stephen Amidon

"Drew Hagel is a real estate broker living in the fancy suburb of Totten Court, Conn. He finds, however, that he simply cannot compete with his ever-affluent neighbors, and thus, decides to invest all his money in a hedge-fund that goes bust. Author Amidon is an excellent chronicler of our withering suburbs. Hagel and his family are seen struggling to survive the economic catacylysm of millenial capitalism. 'Human Capital' is a rare breed: a page-turning literary thriller with fully developed characters and fully developed ideas germane to our times."

---

"Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman"
By Yvon Chouinard

"Given the current economic and energy concerns, it is pertinent that 'Let My People Go Surfing' addresses sustainability through its financial benefits. At its roots the book is a business manual (with chapter titles like Product Design, Distribution, Image and Human Resources), but the stories [Yvon Chouinard] unravels are captivating and wild. Yvon was one of the pioneer big wall climbers in Yosemite. He has surfed the world round, revolutionized climbing and founded Black Diamond Equipment -- before starting Patagonia. While it is an educational book to read anywhere, it is a perfect book for the beach. I guarantee that you will enjoy your next wave at least a little bit more."

---

"Living the Good Life: How to Live Sanely & Simply in a Troubled World"
By Helen and Scott Nearing

"Helen and Scott left New York City in 1932 during the Great Depression and learned over the course of 20 years to live within their means, independent of economic ups and downs 'with an ample margin of leisure in which to do personally constructive and creative work.' This book tells their story - and a hell of a lot more . . . For the past 20 years, the U.S. and much of the western world has been living well beyond its means, under a mountain of debt. I'm not suggesting that we're about to return to the extremes of the Great Depression, but it would behoove all of us, rich and not so rich, to learn again the basics of living in harmony with our pocketbooks, with the earth and with each other. Helen and Scott can give us all a few ideas! And it's not depressing, but rather uplifting!"

"The Gentleman's Daughter: Women's Lives in Georgian England"
By Amanda Vickery

"Far from being the decorative female one was led to believe, the Georgian woman was expected to manage the household when the husband was away, or when he was in residence. This included a careful accounting of everything that was spent on supplies for the house, servant's wages, the purchase of furniture and other household items, and more. In fact, it was the woman's job to present the household as successfully as possible to the outside world, thus helping to cement her husband's and the family's position in society. Through this careful management and consumption (what was purchased for the household and for the family), the woman of the Georgian era wielded a lot of power.

The book is well written and scrupulously researched. Until this time, the full role of the woman in Georgian society was marginalized. Thanks to Vickery, who scoured letters, diaries, receipts and more when writing this book, a complete picture is finally able to emerge. Any economist -- or anyone interested in the period -- would find this book a page-turner."

---

"Oil on the Brain: Petroleum's Long, Strange Trip to Your Tank"
By Lisa Margonelli

"Follows the economy of oil from the gas pump to oil fields of Nigeria and Iran. . . . It's a breezy and fun read. In just one or two afternoons on the beach you can learn about everything from the economics of the local 'gas and sip' to the social politics of Venezuelan crude. It's a great geological and geopolitical romp."

---

"Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage"
By Heather Rogers

"This book is all about how the industrial revolution created trash in its wake, and how consumers are now paying to dispose of mountains of trash in disposable goods, planned obsolescent discards, and packaging; the impact of trash on the environment; and how trash disposal has become a business that holds hands with local governments over making money from garbage and dubious recycling efforts. . . . What sounds like a mind-numbingly dull topic is made fascinating by Ms. Rogers' superb writing, thorough research, and brilliant story-telling. She teaches her reader not only about the social history of trash, but also about the chemistry of decomposing plastics, and how companies have foisted the cost of trash disposal on the American consumer.... Full of potent details (only 20 percent of plastics actually get recycled), the book confronts the reader finally with the question, What are you going to do with your trash now? You will never look at a plastic bottle dispassionately again!"

---

"The Pleasure of Finding Things Out"
By Richard P. Feynman

"Doing what you are passionate about lets you do it better than anything else you might do. And understanding the source of 'common sense' allows for a lot more of it. . . . Feynman is remarkable at underlining what I like to call 'Remarkable Mundanities.' Pointing out the everyday occurence and showing us why it is, in fact, extraordinary and worth a moment of our time. Seeing is the key, and ultimately the better we 'see' the more we know about everything else."

---

"Outlaw"
By Warren Kiefer

"Lee Garland goes from being a dirt poor cowboy to oil baron. He is both a hero and a villain, being involved in a Teapot Dome-type scandal as well as being one of the Rough Riders. . . . A good, fun read that looks at America in an under-the-radar period of history."

---

"One Real McCoy"
By Anne Harper

"This might not be the kind of book that just jumps at you from the shelves at Barnes & Noble under 'Finance,' but please hear me out. The book is so contemporary. It touches on the war, the rising gas prises and -- possibly most importantly -- immigration: Legal, illegal, and otherwise. . . . What an eye-opener to what America is today, as seen through the eyes of a young immigrant."

---

"Origin of Wealth: Evolution, Complexity, and the Radical Remaking of Economics"
By Eric D. Beinhocker

"How and why we went from living in caves to the modern economy in the blink of an eye. . . . Knowing how our modern world works is critical if we want to manage it, and avoid those pesky financial bubbles."

---

"The Shock Doctrine: The Rise Of Disaster Capitalism"
By Naomi Klein

"Klein examines the economic theories of Milton Friedman and his followers from the 'Chicago School,' which advocate deregulation and privatization, and looks at how corporations and governments have taken advantage of various disasters, both man-made and natural, to implement these policies.

"This book takes you back through various events of the past 35 years and points out similarities and patterns that you may not have noticed. These events include Pinochet's military government in Chile, which brought Friedman in as an economic advisor; the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union; the Balkan wars in the 1990s; the 2003 invasion of Iraq; and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I found it fascinating to see how, in each of these different situations, the same economic policies were brought in as the "solution" to whatever the problem was defined to be. In many cases, these same policies had been tried before but rejected by the majority of the people; however, once the population was put into a state of "shock" by a war, natural disaster, or governmental collapse, these policies were put into effect with little or no resistance. Once I started reading Klein's book, I found it nearly impossible to put down!"

---

"Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed"
By Jared Bernstein

"The book purports to answer questions that we non-economists have about the way the economy works, and how to decipher the economic "Darth Vaders with PhDs" who intimidate average citizens and hijack the economy to further the interests of the rich and powerful. . . . It is very cleverly written. He addresses down-to-earth questions in a most readable style. It's like having a kitchen-table conversation with your uncle. As Naomi Klein writes on the back cover, 'Bernstein is the econ teacher we all wish we had had.'"

"Explains practical economics in very clear and simple English. . . . Jared Bernstein explains complex concepts in easy, bite-sized pieces. Perfect reading for the beach and follow-up conversations at the bar later in the day."

---

"Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil"
By Hannah Arendt with intro by Amos Elon

"Like Homer's 'Iliad,' 'Eichmann in Jerusalem' is much easier to read and understand than is rumored. Get insightful arguments for discussions on abortion, euthansia, the dealth penalty, Israeli politics, terrorism, the current trials at Gitmo, the culpability of servants, and personal responsibility, and observe the holes in our history textbooks. Note: Always check out what you hear and read before relying on that information."

---

"A Short History of Financial Euphoria"
By John Kenneth Galbraith

"A history of financial booms and busts from Tulipmania to October 1987. The author sketches the speculative dynamics of such periods, and argues that markets fall victim to herd behavior of traders. A very relevant book, especially nowadays, to make sense of the subprime mortgage crisis. It's a short, nontechnical, easy read. Great for the beach!! It is full of anecdotes, biographies of personalities involved, pictures, etc."

---

"China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power"
By Rob Gifford

"Rob travels from Shanghai to Khazikstan on Road 312. He visits cities large and small and amazed me with China's rapid economic development as he takes us on the road with him. A travel guide with the BBC'S China hand. A great read and very informative about the economy and culture."

---

"Where Does the Money Go?: Your Guided Tour to the Federal Budget Crisis"
By Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson

"Every time Americans whine for tax cuts, special interest spending or federal bailouts, the taxpayer takes a licking. The problem is that most taxpayers are too shortsighted to realize that these expenditures come from -- yep -- our own pockets. This book pulls no punches about the urgent need for those who make the laws and spend the money to stop spending more than the country makes. There are no easy answers, but that's because we've been avoiding the questions for decades. This book made me so mad I could just spit -- until I realized that unless I raise a stink with my legislators, they'll just keep on thinking I'm a moron who couldn't care less about what they're doing with my money."

---

"The Financier"
By Theodore Dreiser

"Drieser, a former big city newspaperman, created in Frank Cowperwood a character (based on the Chicago tycoon Charles Yerkes) whose prescience for financial opportunities and relentless cunning is replayed in today's business press in stories of political influence, stock manipulation and, yes, trophy wives. . . . Dreiser wrote this novel in 1912 when the reforms of the Progressive era led to Roosevelt's trust busting and the pioneering nonfiction reporting (i.e. 'muckraking') of investigative journalists like Lincoln Stefens, Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair was very much part of the cultural discourse of the day. Social Darwinism -- i.e., that competition between individuals is a natural and acceptable driver of social change -- was also being debated in the most enlightened intellectual circles, and there is a strong undercurrent of this in the novel buttressing the protagonist's behavior. . . . Dreiser was the first modern American novelist to turn his imagination on the business world by creating in Cowperwood a founding father of American capitalism run amuck. It's just as relevant as today’s tales of financial malfeasance and delightful summer reading."

---

"The Gilded Age"
By Mark Twain, Charles Dudley Warner, Ron Powers (Introduction)

"This novel examines the mutually beneficial relationship between business and government in the time of Reconstruction. The huge benefit to the richest Americans, making them ever more wealthy, of the largess of the public treasury, and the corresponding corruption it produces, is as timely a novel as any current book on the economy of our times. And it's hilarious to boot!"

---

"The Greatest Miracle in the World"
By Og Mandino

"I think this book is really key in times of uncertainty. There are times in our lives when we have to do a gut check and forge forward. Also, in times of uncertainty there is a lot of opportunity. It's somewhat of a cleansing period. I feel that this book is a really good read because there are examples of how we can have positive influences in each others lives by just being kind and having faith in each other and not allowing fear to thwart our progress."

---

"The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals"
By Michael Pollan

"How the simple question of "What am I going to eat today?" has huge economic, political, cultural, health and ecological implications. . . . It is one of those rare books that makes sense of this complicated world, in a style that will appeal to lovers of a well-crafted paragraph."

---

"Market Forces"
By Richard K. Morgan

"A dystopian future where cut throat liberal economics literally becomes cut throat. . . . Many exponents of a liberalised economy tend to spend a lot of time in the choir where dissent is drowned out. What this book does is present an argument against the extremes of liberal economics in a highly readable and entertaining way that even the most jaded hedge-fund manager can enjoy. It isn't cutsey. It isn't precious. Its a brutal, vicious and violent story that dismembers the world we know and stitches it back together as a familiar yet disturbing frankenstein. Even if you don't agree with its premise, you'll still be drawn into the world and, if nothing else, at least hear the dissenting voices over the din of the echo chamber."

---

"Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time"
By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

"Greg Mortenson, a Montana resident goes to Pakistan to climb K2, the second largest mountain in the world (but the toughest to climb). He could not make it and got injured. Stuck between the glaciers, some tribals rescued him and helped him to get back to his feet. Mortenson spent some time at the village and noticed that children have no or very limited access to education. In return for saving his life, Mortenson promised these children schools. He establised schools in tribals close to K2 where no one ever has built schools. A great book with a lot of inspiration."

"It is a Markeplace book because it deals with money, and how a small amount of money can make a HUGE difference in the world. . . . A wonderful story about how one person can make a difference. It deals with how people know their own neighborhood more than super powers a half a world away. It also has a great love story."

---

"Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln"
By Doris Kearns Goodwin

"Although ostensibly a Civil War history of Lincoln and his cabinet, 'Team of Rivals' is equally a study of collaboration and of team management. Whether any modern business leader -- or any modern person, period -- has the brilliance, intuition and humanity successfully to follow Lincoln's methods is a legitimate question, but no one reading Goodwin's book can doubt their power in the hands of genius."

"In an age which often seems to celebrate business leaders for their ruthlessness and self-glorification, Goodwin's evocative portrayal of Abraham Lincoln's humane and generous management style is a tonic. Goodwin's painstaking research reveals in Lincoln an executive so confident, so unselfish, so focused on the primacy of the task at hand -- nothing less than sa ving the Union -- that he could compose and manage a Cabinet consisting of his fiercest political rivals, most of whom, despite having been defeated by Lincoln in the bitter election of 1860, entered his service with little regard for Lincoln, his talents or his prospects for success. Yet quickly, and enduringly, all came both to appreciate Lincoln and to love him, and as a result served Lincoln and the Union cause devotedly and well. Lincoln, more than perhaps any other leader in history, triumphed by consistently appealing, "with charity towards all and malice towards none" to "the better angels" of our nature. He drew from his subordinates the best they had to offer, and by subjugating his own ego to the needs of the mission on which he was embarked, led his team of rivals and his nation through the worst crisis imaginable. I cannot imagine a more important lesson, nor a better example, for the present generation of leaders. Team of Rivals is a book that leaves one determ i ned to be a better leader and a better person -- you can't ask much more of a summer read than that."

---

"Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature"
By Janine M. Benyus

"Humanity's ingenuity has gotten us pretty far. However, despite all our gains, we're finding that the products we produce are still pretty limited, the toxic byproducts are more of a problem, and we're generally not doing as good of a job as nature at problem solving. Biomimicry is a book about a new school of thought among scientists: studying and learning from nature. Each chapter is dedicated to a particular problem that we have and nature's solution. It covers specific scientists that study each problem and what they've learned from nature in their studies. . . . If you want to know where to invest your money for that next big breakthrough, understand biomimicry and look for companies who are investing in technology related to it."

---

"Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life"
By Barbara Kingsolver, with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver

"How, what and where we choose to eat has huge economic implications, locally, globally, and environmentally. Our choices and diet are controlled to a great extent by a very few companies in the agribusiness industry. . . . Beyond the local impact on local farmers, Kingsolver addresses the agribusiness industry, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), environmental impacts, and many other aspects describing the economic and social impact food choices we each make. . . . In her wonderful, conversational tone, Kingsolver packs in a great deal of information. Often witty, and full of anecdotes about, and short essays by, other members of her family, 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' is a pleasure to read -- so much so that I find myself putting it down frequently in order to make it last longer."

---

"The Coming Economic Collapse: How You Can Thrive When Oil Costs $200 a Barrel"
By Stephen Leeb and Glen Strathy

"The book is NOT political. Dr. Leeb does not place the blame in any one place or with any particular party. Not only does Dr. Leeb compare the past energy crises to the one we face today, but he explains the critical differences and why this economic crisis is the most serious this nation has ever had to face. Moreover, Dr. Leeb, a well-known and very successful Wall Street investor, offers the reader investment strategies that cannot only help insulate against the coming collapse that Leeb graphically illustrates why it is inevitable, but may actually allow those who follow his well laid out approach to profit from it. An excellent read with exceptional benefits."

---

"The Great Crash 1929"
By John Kenneth Galbraith

"Historical look at the Great Crash from one of the greatest economic minds. He tells a story of the ups and downs and ups and downs of economic activity leading up to the great fall. . . . Read this book during our current time of great financial stress and you will quickly learn that cycles repeat over and over. Most interesting of all is the constant level of optimism spewing from the mouths of those who can least afford it: Wall Street types. Once done with this book you will forever cast a skeptical eye on any financial 'guru' who claims the worst is over!!! Enjoy!"

---

"The Creature From Jekyll Island -- A Second Look at the Federal Reserve"
By G. Edward Griffin

"The answers to all our financial problems and an amazing history of the secret science of money. . . . It is a relaxed and informative walk through the history of money and its effect throughout time. It gives the reader a behind-the-scenes look at why our dollar is so weak and why we are doomed to repeat the boom and bust cycles our country has experienced since its inception."

---

"The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power"
By Daniel Yergin

"With oil topping $140 barrel, now is a perfect time to read (or re-read) Daniel Yergin's sweeping history of the oil industry. . . . There is simply no other single, comprehensive history of the geography, politics and economics of the oil industry. Today's geopolitics cannot be properly understood without learning how the pursuit of petroleum has shaped the global map and defined international relations over the past 100 years. Politicians and talking heads offering sound-bite solutions to our current energy problems simply don't fathom how utterly interconnected all countries' energy economies have become. This book does."

---

"Expect Resistance: A Crimethink Field Manual"
By Crimethinc

"It explores, through a fictional personal narrative intertwined with sharp-edged essays, the way our post-industrial society operates, and some ways that it could operate differently. It navigates ways to change the economic and political system, as well as our own lives, to free ourselves from wage-drudgery and a property-obsessed world. It explores gift economics and the satisfaction of sharing with absolute abandon, discarding the distrustful hoarding and accumulation favored by our society in favor of the happiness we find for ourselves when we make others happy.

This book changed my life. I quit my job, hopped freight trains around the U.S., found half of the nation's food available for free around back in its dumpsters, and learned to stop worrying about planning for retirement, and just do it before it's too late. Who wants to drive an RV around when they are 70 years old. I have run half way up the side of the Grand Canyon and found the humanity in others and in myself. This book helped me recognize that many of the so-called "poor" people in the US are that way because they refuse to sell out their humanity for a better paycheck. They refused to be the one to say "You're Fired." I've joined them in realizing that I am one of those persons who never could destroy my heart or bury my empathy the way the most successful, and soulless, bosses and CEOs have forced themselves to do."

---

"Loyal to the Sky: Notes from an Activist"
By Marisa Handler

"A great look at the global justice movement. Handler's story criss-crosses the globe, examining current sociopolitical issues from apartheid and racism to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, corporate globalism, and the wars of the Bush administration. . . . With sumptuous, eye-opening prose, Handler takes a us on a brave globe-trotting journey into the human heart of activist politics. It's a gripping ride -- joyous, poignant, honest and smart. This is a hopeful, wise book."

---

"Snow Crash"
By Neal Stephenson

"Yes, it's science fiction, but it shows us how the U.S. could go in the future -- franchised burb-claves to live in, and designer drugs. Even law enforcement is franchised. Most of the U.S. economy outsourced except for Computer Code and Pizza delivery. Religion and government hand-in-hand. A black market in Freon (called 'Chill'). . . . The first description of virtual reality. "Second Life" and "Google Earth" first described here. Glass knives and nuclear warheads make it a high testosterone book, but I know women who like it a lot. And besides, the main character is named 'Hiro Protagonist.' "

---

"A History of the World in 6 Glasses"
By Tom Standage

"It discusses the role of six drinks (beer, wine, spirits, tea, coffee, and Coca-Cola) in the hsitory of the world. It discusses everything from rum in the triangle trade in the early economy of the 13 colonies, to England's desperation for tea abetting the Chinese opium trade, to why it was good for Coke's business that it was forbidden from selling to the Soviet Union. It also includes an epilogue on the role water is preparing to play in the future of global relations. . . . I generally assume that only history majors find history books intersting. This book, however, was recommended to me by an ex-biology teacher and was enjoyed by two scientist members of my family. Mr. Standage shows that history, when you come down to it, is a good story. All six drinks are so familiar to us these days that we don't think of them as having world-shaking importance. It is a quick read, which is a plus for good summer reading. Plus, it's about drinks. What's better for the summer?"

---

"Manias, Panics, and Crashes: A History of Financial Crises"
By Charles P. Kindleberger

"Gives a historical, and a bit hysterical (in the "funny" sense of the word), perspective of speculative crashes starting with the Dutch 'Tulip Mania' back in 1636. A bit more serious than most summer reads, but if you're interested in why it is that we see speculative crashes in the market again, and again, and yet again, well, this is a good a place as any to start."

"The Way We Live Now"
By Anthony Trollope

"This is a portrait of a culture (late 19th century England) in which money rules. There are various plots, all of which involve the intertwining of economic and cultural concerns. The main plot concerns a greatly dishonest financier -- a wonderful perspective on our own situation. . . . This is often thought to be Trollope's greatest achievement. It is a huge book and will keep you going at the beach or elsewhere. The plot is gripping, the characters strongly drawn, including some outstanding women characters."