How China attained regional economic dominance by the first century up Essay

How China attained regional economic dominance by the first century up to the fifteenth century C. E - Essay Example How China attained regional economic dominance by the first century up to the fifteenth century C. E.? This paper examines, explores, and discusses how China attained regional economic dominance by the first century up to the fifteenth century C. E. but then suddenly and almost inexplicably went into decline afterwards, and got conquered by the Western colonial powers. In other words, a perceived and nascent global power became weak instead of continuing its remarkable trajectory of both growth and dominance: economically, politically, and militarily. Historians generally concede China was a dominant power for eighteen of the last twenty or so centuries and is now out to regain its lost glory with an unprecedented rate of growth. China today has the world's continuously existing civilization, dating back to at least 5,000 years ago, although it is admittedly not the world's first civilization to have sprung up. That distinction belongs to the Sumerian civilization in the Middle East near modern-day Iraq, and there were also other older civilizations like the Egyptian, Greek, and Indian civilizations but these much earlier civilizations no longer exist. Chinese civilization is a very unique one because it developed independently on its own, without any outside or external influences. It is manifested in its discoveries and inventions which rank being among the world's firsts such as paper, ink, gunpowder, and most of all, its inherently difficult system of writing with its use of characters in Chinese calligraphy. Linguists are gen erally agreed it is the most difficult language to learn. China developed the first currency in the form of coins and paper money, the first bureaucracy in civil service to manage a vast empire, and a strong navy but it was essentially a land power. The chief reason why China declined was the rot from within. Discussion An empire can grow to a certain size, after which it becomes unmanageable due to its sheer size. Problems of administration, control, tax collection, and imposition of a certain cultural mindset can be unwieldy for its rulers. Sooner or later, conquered people will start to agitate for reforms and freedom from imperial rule, especially if it is an oppressive rule. This had been the problem with the Chinese empire, after it was unified by Emperor Shihuang Ti (259-210 B. C. E.) after he defeated all the local warlords. As the first and foremost emperor of the Qin dynasty, he introduced a lot of reforms which expanded and strengthened the vast territories under his cont rol. He imposed and adopted the Legalistic principles as a foundation of his dynastic rule, in which laws were imposed without exceptions, because the empire then was composed of many ethnicities and rule would be difficult otherwise. However, his dynasty that was supposed to last 10,000 generations did not survive; it lasted just four years after his death, as his successors were weak and got deposed. During his time, he imposed high taxes on the people, which discouraged farmers from tilling the land as they could no longer afford to pay those taxes. He embarked on many grandiose projects that drained the state coffers, plus the cost of maintenance of a large army to protect its frontiers. Similar to the Late Roman Empire (circa 250-450 C. E.), the Chinese elites did not produce at all but relied on taxation to maintain and subsidize their opulent lifestyles. A number of causes, both internal and external, can threaten and weaken an empire; in the case of China, it was internal de cay, as subsequent rulers did not take advantage of the so-called â€Å"geographical pivot of history† with its strategic location in the central Euro-Asian landmass (Mackinder 28). It could have pressed and exploited its advantage in being a great land power, as its territories formed a contiguous empire, unlike other empires in history. This glaring failure to press its advantages caused its decline starting in the fifteenth century. Other empires,

Ethical Observations Essay Example for Free

Ethical Observations Essay Unethical accounting behavior and the resulting practices of it within businesses today is a very hot topic since the Enron accounting scandal of 2001. One might ask how does a scandal of this proportion come to be and can it happen again? What situations could lead to unethical behaviors and practices in accounting today that might cause history to repeat itself? The author intends to answer these questions and shed light on some insight of accounting ethics today. By the end of 2001 investors and the public needed something to restore confidence in the way businesses handled accounting and reporting practices. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed into law in July 2002 with the intent of protecting investors by improving financial reporting accuracy and reliability as a result. Ideally, fraud will be prevented through SOX by increased internal controls and greater transparency in accounting practices. The theory is based on the logic that managers who engage in fraudulent activity will be discovered and punished by fines or imprisonment. This theory has mixed reviews as of today. Some argue that SOX does not do enough to prevent managers from manipulating earnings or hiding assets. Others maintain that SOX has improved the level of ethics awareness and concern from what it was in 2001. Most will agree, however, that the law is a step in the right direction and that ethics is a major concern and becoming a more discussed topic of top management in larger corporations today. One might consider why more firms do not have ethics codes or policies in place to prevent the conduct described when in fact Enron did have an ethics code supposedly based on respect, integrity, and communication. One of the problems was that of leadership failure and The point is that an ethical culture must be maintained within an organization at the corporate level and fostered with each new employee from the top down. Although a situation such as Enron’s is not as likely to happen the same way again, when management places extreme emphasis on earnings and promotes activities that might cause earnings to appear inflated, possibilities exist for an unethical situation to occur. (Conroy Emerson, 2006) When a corporation’s culture supports risk taking without regard for consequences, and it uses employee performance appraisals to undermine their position, there is the likelihood that unethical accounting practices will be needed to cover up such activity. Additionally, as with Enron’s case, internal controls were weak or simply not present at all to maintain good accounting as with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) while divisional business units were kept in the dark from noticing what was going on in the overall sense of the scheme. When looking at how important it is to identify unethical behavior in accounting, consider the recent U.S. Housing Market collapse of 2008. Simple mistakes in identifying financial fraud caused some mortgage companies to be over-valued in return allowing investors to lose billions. (BBC News Business, 2011) Unfortunately, in some cases, employees that bring unethical behavior to managements’ attention, risk criticism or worse job loss if deemed a whistle blower. Past cases have indicated that there may be no incentive from management to bring attention to questionable accounting practices in this way. Without managements support and leadership to instill good ethical culture within the workplace, it will be difficult to see positive changes in the future. In conclusion, a greater emphasis on accounting ethics is being seen since the days of the Enron scandal. Ethics is being taught at schools and universities with goals in mind to recognize when situations occur that may be questionable. Ways of dealing with accounting uncertainties and ethical dilemmas are being taught with a sense of moral obligation instilled. New accounting students are developing the abilities to deal with moral issues that relate to accounting and auditing practices. Most business leaders will agree that the improved regulations provided by SOX have made an impact and caused firms throughout the U.S. to review their own accounting practices and at least attempt to comply. References Bannon, S., Ford, K., Meltzer, L. (2010). How to instill a strong ethical culture. The CPA Journal, 80(7), 56-58. http://search.proquest.com/docview/637267174?accountid=35812 BBC News Business. (September 26, 2011). Deloitte Touche sued for $7.6bn in mortgage fraud case. Retrieved from http://bbc.co.uk/news/business-15069976 BBC. (May 17, 2003). The Enron Affair. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/business/2002/enron/default.stm Conroy, S. J., Emerson, T. N. (2006). Changing Ethical Attitudes: The Case of the Enron and ImClone Scandals. Social Science Quarterly, 87(2), 395-410. Liu, C., David, Y. (2011). An Analysis of the Impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Earnings Management. Advances In Management, 4(6), 25-31.

Effective Communication Principles: Barriers and Mechanisms

Effective Communication Principles: Barriers and Mechanisms General Skills Cultural Differences It is adamantly essential for us to watch out the way we communicate to each other as in the case of age, race, physical capability and reaction. We are required to focus on watching our formal language for example if in a foreign country. Certain words could stand for different meanings regardless of the way we pronounce them are being pronounced. Different physical body architectures or rather formal clothing could mean severe insults to certain cultures. Consuming different foods could mean a great insult to some cultures as well. Barrier to This A barrier to this specific communication is silence within the working environment, lack of physical integration and job unity, lack of staff embrace and secluded frequent foreign language usage in the working environment. Overcoming this Barrier In order to avoid such things, cultural differences must be respected as a hideous part of an individual matters a lot especially if he or she is from a foreign country. Foreign language in the working environment must be kept at a minimum or not be used at all until working hours. Question answer The most important part of the communicative network is the audience. It is vital for them to be involved in the presentations. A nosey part of the audience not being given a chance to express their cloud would feel neglected and fully ignored. Interactive quizzes can be improvised to enable it grab attention of an audience. Question: Is the audience fully informed about the presentation? Answer: The quiz is the only source of grabbing their attention and answering the unravelled question marks. This is an important part of effective communication because the audience gets to be fully updated of the resourceful information via general involvement. Barrier to This A barrier to this type of communication is inert forms of meetings that do not involve much audience interaction. Overcoming this Barrier An autonomous or rather random forms of involving the audience in test and trial questions will always ensure that concentration has been captured from the start of the conference. The audience will also feel highly favoured for being given a chance to ask and respond to questions. Techniques for Engaging Audience The common ways of involving the audience besides questions and answers are seminars, note-taking, weekly reports, newsletters and introductive entertainment. These would strengthen the outcome of the audience plus motivate the individuals to chain magnetize others in joining too. Effective personalized introductive entertainment is a technique for engaging the audience. Barrier to This A barrier would be lack of audio devices that support interactive techniques, lack of proper location and appropriate accommodation to cater for a vast amount of audience. Overcoming this Barrier The answer would be to try as much as possible to ensure that an organization force-feeds its financial department into providing the right location, proper accommodation and audience engagement mechanisms. Interpersonal skills Techniques and Cues The urgent need for accomplishment in tasks that involve different targets require diverse submissive techniques. This also applies to sensitive counter-interactive tasks that exemplify human input in order for the same accomplishment. The cues applied by human input on computers for communication are American symbol writing or smileys that mimic Short Messaging (SMS) language on mobile phones. SMS on paper has become a common infection or rather writing habit by so many people. Barrier to This A barrier to this one is extreme use of electronic devices on the market that support non-improvised writing. Overcoming this Barrier The way to overcome this type of writing would be trying to avoid robotised short typing, have enough time for writing easily readable and mature writing. Positive and Negative Language Instant Nos and YES’s paraphrased in meagre, instant communicative technology has become an infrastructure of the interpersonal skills. Some entrepreneurs love applying these sort of technology in seminars especially when they communicative across tables whilst in a seminar or conference. These can also be utilised by individuals with language communication difficulties or basically hearing problems. The languages come in forms of head nods signifying YES or NO, hand-waves signifying YES or NO, finger-rolling signifying DENIAL,ATTENTION or TENSION, direct face avoidance signifying FRUSTRATION or SHAME, cloak over face signifying SENSITIVITY, FEAR or LACK. And many others that are being performed. Barrier to This A barrier to this one is extreme use of gestures, inevitable circumstances such as disabilities. Overcoming this Barrier The way to overcome this would be to try as much as possible to learn the second partys moral spectrums and forms of communication. ‘Smileys’ or Emoticons Sensitive forms of communication can be exchanged between individuals at some point but via explicit symbolism language known as emoticons. This is a strictly prohibited form of communication that might follow a wrong path and smudge official documentation. Barrier to this Use of personal cell phones at workplaces especially official environment where these devices are totally prohibited. Overcoming this barrier Sentimental steps must be taken by the HOD’s to ensure that the employees leave the devices out of the office environment. Written Communication Skills Spelling and Grammar It is important for one to be skilful in his or her own writing especially in spelling and grammar. Your instructive form of writing should be smart enough to portray an employee that communicates well inside and outside the place of work. One is expected to be handling documents that will require professional writing that will require further grammatical emphasis besides the edification mode. One is expected to demonstrate extreme ability to use proper grammar in speaking and writing. One will be expected to communicate with clients via official paperwork and this will greatly demand a high qualification of spelling and grammar level. Barrier to This A barrier to this one is lack of intensified professional official language training. Overcoming this Barrier The way to overcome is have extensive training in a particular official language that is required in the working environment. Structure Ones composition should be professionally designed such a way that it is architecture in paragraphs, footers, headers, contains necessary references and accompanying hyperlinks if available. It is vital for the writer to act as the reader himself and make his writing as presentable and easily understandable as possible. A great writing is one that is attractive to the eyes of the reader and does not â€Å"dim† him out. Barrier to This A barrier to this one is mismanagement of writing infrastructure without the use of proper interdivisional architecture. Overcoming this Barrier The way to overcome this would be to utilise readily available formatting tools within typing programmes. Reviewing and Editing It is important for every person to review his or her work before finalizing it so as to clarify unforeseen mistakes encountered along the way whilst typing. This is deeply important in a working environment especially in the Web Designing working environment because what is being typed without further clarification might end up in the eyes of the public in error. Barrier to This Barrier to this one is human ignorance on readily available devices that provide proper reviewing. Overcoming this Barrier A way to overcome this would be assigning specially assigned task reviewers in a job environment whose work is to ensure that nothing goes unattended like reviewing and editing. Mechanisms That Can Reduce Communication Barriers Grammar, Language Spelling use Ensure that correct official language construction is maintained in your writing in order to create a diverse understanding. Avoid pigeon or rather chat session like communicative language that comes in only shortened words. Poor grammar and spelling in writing discredits the writer plus it paints a bad moral aspect. Note-taking Plays a very vital role in ensuring that individuals thirsty for further research on a particular discussed matter after noting them down. Information is noted down for future references in case of emergencies. Lack of Abusive Language Abuse is one of the greatest destroyer after fire damage in communication. Politeness and quite approach towards fellow peers is a highly valued attribute. Constant Device Misuse In this familiar unit, regular use of personal devices in working areas or rather environments is a great havoc. This causes a great barrier and in order to eliminate, one must apply totally switch off this device. If this does not work at all, then the involved disturbed parties must move to a secluded, quite area away from noise and disturbance. Noise and Disturbance For a peaceful working environment, away from excessive noise and disturbance that is hard to avoid. The management is determined to ensure that noise reduction amplifiers are utilised. And that all personal devices are kept on silent mode. References: SMILEY Accessed 21 December 2014 ENGAGE AUDIENCE Accessed 21 December 2014 TECHNIQUES AND CUES Accessed 21 December 2014 STRUCTURE Accessed 21 December 2014 REVIEWING Accessed 21 December 2014 John Lenny WamagataID: 14081308 Literary Forms: Differences and Similarities Literary Forms: Differences and Similarities In order to properly compare and contrast the major differences between literary forms, we must first look at their similarities. The drama, poetry, and short story are all creative works of art. They all use tone, symbolism, imaginative language, satire, and, irony to captivate their audiences attention and bring their individual creative work to life. In addition, drama and the short story all have a protagonist, antagonists, minor character, stock character, the foil, foreshadowing, and dramatic irony in one way or another within their stories. Still, we can clearly see that each literary form approaches their audience in different ways. The major element of drama that distinguishes it from the short story and poetry is its ability to draw you into imaginary experiences by its intensity and visual performance. This is evident in the dramatic play Riders to the Sea (Synge). This is a play that is considered a tragedy. It depicts a woman who has lost all the male members in her household. It shows her struggle with the sea and her last living son Bartley. We are exposed to the dramatic irony of the play. In line 225-229, we finally find out that she saw her son Bentley riding the red mare and her dead son Michael riding on the grey pony wearing new clothes and shoes. This symbolizes that Bentley is soon to die from the sea as well. The ironic part is that she had no knowledge of the bundle of Michaels clothing that the girls had kept from here. Therefore, she was not aware that the priest found a drowned man in Donegal that turned out to be her son Michael. This could also be considered a short story if it did not use the play writers narratives and used descriptive language instead. Moreover, in a short story we are forced to use our imagination to decipher the symbolic meanings of the writer. Thus, we are not able to visually experience the characters and atmosphere. We must read or listen to this type of literary form and use the writers imaginative language to fully experience the intended outcome of the author. For example, Kate Chopin used symbols in her short story called The Story of an Hour. She used symbolism throughout the entire story to describe Mrs. Mallards true feelings towards her husband. In paragraph four, Kate has her slumping and sighing into a chair, using symbolism it appeared as though she was actually distraught over her husbands death. However, in reality she is so happy that her farce of a marriage is over and done with. Then we see in paragraph six that the world becomes brighter, new and fresh. However, the writer Kate Chopin was symbolically painting a picture of her being freed from the constraints of a loveless marriage. This short story could be considered a tragedy because of the protagonists feelings towards her husband and her dramatic and untimely demise. However, when we read a poem we look more to the authors expressionism, creativity, rhythm, and tone. A poem is emotional and musical. The rhyming of each stanza in a poem assists me in the reading and comprehension of the authors meaning in his or her literary work. For example, William Wordsworth poem She dwelt among the untrodden ways used romanticism, tone, symbolism, and rhythm to covey his feelings of his love for Lucy. By rhyming a poem it allows the reader to imagine it as a romantic musical lullaby. Moreover, when it is performed, you can mentally picture the musical rhythm in your head. Also; the performance assists the listener to visualize the symbols as the reader speaks them. We can feel how much he treasured Lucy by what he wrote in line five. He believes she is a rare treasure that is hidden by a mossy stone or if you will, a beautiful violet that is not easily seen. This sort of poetic symbolism brings the authors creative work to life and creates an ambiance of visu alization to the literary work. In order to properly compare and contrast the major differences between literary forms, we must first look at their similarities. The drama, poetry, and short story are all creative works of art. They all use tone, symbolism, imaginative language, satire, and, irony to captivate their audiences attention and bring their individual creative work to life. The major element of drama that distinguishes it from the short story and poetry is its ability to draw you into imaginary experiences by its intensity and visual performance. Moreover, in a short story we are forced to use our imagination to decipher the symbolic meanings of the writer. Thus, we are not able to visually experience the characters and atmosphere. However, when we read a poem we look more to the authors expressionism, creativity, rhythm, and tone. Thus, we can conclude that each writer approaches their intended audience in different ways by the form of literature that they choose to adopt for their literary works.

Colonists Identity Essay -- essays research papers

The colonies had developed a strong sense of their identity and unity as Americans by the eve of the Revolution. The Pre-Revolutionary Period showed how the English colonies buckled down and united. They grew into one major entity which was not going to be taken for a fool, especially not by England.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When England engaged in the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the colonies and their mother country joined together to fight the French. The colonies used popular images to entice people to join the war effort. The colonies wanted to move westward into what was then French territory. When England won the war, the colonists were happy because now hey could move west. However, England drew a Proclamation Line which made West of the Appalachians for the use of the Indians. England wanted to tighten their control over the colonies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  England wanted more authority over the colonies. They needed to pay off their debts so they saw the colonies as a personal bank for their use. The colonists felt united because they believed that they did good fighting for the British. However, England was displeased with how the colonists had fought during the war. They continued to use their colony for their own gain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  England passed the stamp Act in 1765 as a way to get money from the colonies. This act placed a tax on stamps needed to make certain things official. The colonies reacted in united protests and riot...

Marketing and New Communications Technologies

CHAPTER 1 1)Briefly compare and contrast the concepts of needs, wants, and demands, giving an example of each. Discuss how these concepts relate to marketing practices. Needs are states of deprivation. For examples, physical needs for food, clothing, warmth, and safety; social needs for belonging and affection; and individual needs for knowledge and self-expression. Wants are the form that needs take as they are shaped by cultural and individual personality. For example, an American needs food but wants a Big Mac, french fries, and a soft drink.Demands is wants backed by buying power. For example, given their wants anfd resources, people demand products with benefits that add up to the most value and satisfaction. Outstanding marketing companies go to great lengths to learn about and understand their customers’ needs, wants, and demands. They conduct consumer research and analyze mountains of customer data. 2)In a short essay, discuss the challenges and advantages that new com munications technologies have created for marketers.The new communications technologies has provided marketers with exciting new ways to learn about and track customers and create products and services tailored to individual customer needs. It’s helping marketers communicate with customers in large group or one-to-one. Marketers also can create their own detailed customer databases and use them to target individual customers with offers designed to meet their specific needs. For example, by using the Internet, a direct marketer can tap into online data service to learn anything from what car you drive to what you read to what flavor of ice cream you prefer.

Being and Becoming: Becoming by Being Essay

Pre-Socratic era was marked by periods from Thales of Miletus until that period when Socrates philosophy was yet to be born.   It was during this period when the fundamentals of science (both natural and social were being founded using scientific research and inquiry, and where philosophy and practical science were still married.   Sophos tried to understand and explain the origin, nature, elements, development and workings of the universe by way of argumentative reasoning, critical inquiry and justifications. Pre-Socratic philosophy was mainly characterized by its elements such as essence, change/absolute, harmony and its effort to understand the essential substance of a thing that caused its existence and the dynamic movement it undergoes (changes) to be known as what it is today.   Among the famous thinkers of this period were Thales, Heraclitus, Anaxagoras, Empedocles, Democritus and Parmenides. Whereas pre-Socratic philosophers have had formulated a common line of thought, disparity was inevitable.   Among the arguments that showed differences of the philosophy of that period was Parmenides’ theory of Being and Heraclitus’ theory of Becoming.   Heraclitus argued that the existence of everything was brought about by nothing and that it continuously exists through constant change or by undergoing a dynamic transformation.   What is more striking about the concept of change for Heraclitus is the concept of change within. According to him, it is that contradiction of elements/substance within the object that caused it to transform and that to cause its change, an external intervening need not to be imposed.   Accordingly, for Heraclitus, the world is a continuous struggle and strife, hence it needs change. In contrast, while the internal aspect of an existing element undergoes alterations, the process by which an element transforms is ever constant. Through the understanding of the nature of an element, Heraclitus recognized that the fixed states of being are all part of the varied state of perpetual becoming1.   In humans, the processes of giving birth, living, dying and rebirth are all changes that a person passes through.   However, such pattern is a never-ending cycle, after all.   What will â€Å"become† of a matter is a product of the dynamic development it subjects itself through a never ceasing rhythm. Contrary to Heraclitus’, while Parmenides likewise argued that an object exists because it does exist (that no other factor that may explain the causality of its existence), he failed to recognize if it ever underwent an evolutionary state, thus making it the â€Å"being† as it is today.   Because Parmenides believed – and apparently refuted Heraclitus – that the universe was already at the state of stability, why should it be basking on the process of modification? Everything is what it is because it is what it is and it cannot become what it is not. Both arguments are of much interest specifically in understanding how do we â€Å"become† or what make us came to â€Å"being†.   Later on during Plato’s time, both arguments could be reconciled by proposing that, what might â€Å"become† is caused by a â€Å"being†. However, unlike the foregoing arguments of Heraclitus’ and Parmenides, it is apparent that the reconciliation of the arguments were based on the thought that, indeed, there is a â€Å"first cause† that is never changing but rather causes the â€Å"second being† to become what it is today.   Note that both the initially mentioned thinkers do not believe on something that might have caused on object to exist. What could be more difficult in the understanding of this discourse is the process of analyzing concepts that flourished centuries apart and merging them into one critical explanation such that conflict resolution could be gained. References: __________. Philosophy Pages. In Britannica Internet Guide Selection. Retrieved April 11, 2008, from http://www.philosophypages.com/dy/p.htm#parm __________. (April 16, 2002). Pre-Socratic Era. Posted to http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=628825 Ballantyne, Paul F., Ph.D. History and Theory of Psychology: An Early 21st Century Student’s Perspective. (2008). Retrieved April 10, 2008, from www.comnet.ca/~pballan/section1(210).htm Goodman, Len E. (1992). Avicenna:Arabic Thought and Culture (pp 53-54). Routledge. Retrieved April 12, 2008, from http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=VJ6x-pcqMicC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=resolving+the+argument+of+being+and+becoming&source=web&ots=gctA47HxTQ&sig=R0YNJ23QzZlvTpaLA5XclFgdKfY&hl=en#PPR5,M1 Rose, Jake. Being and Becoming. In Ezine Articles. Retrieved April 11, 2008, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Being-and-Becoming&id=148729   

Danielle Steel Book List

Danielle Steel Book List Danielle Steel is one of the most popular romance writers in the world, and also one of the most prolific, having published more than 140 novels since her career began in the early 1970s. Today, the bestselling author works on multiple books at the same time to meet her demanding publishing schedule. Her complete bibliography includes novels, works of nonfiction, and childrens books. 1970s   Amazon The first decade of Steels career was a tumultuous one for her personal life. After her first novel Going Home was published in 1973, she divorced her first husband and married Danny Zugelder, who was imprisoned in California. Her relationship with the inmate inspired her breakthrough books Passions Promise and Now and Forever. Going Home (1973)Passions Promise (1977): Steels first big hit, this novel tells the story of a wealthy socialite who falls in love with an ex-con while moonlighting as a journalist.Now and Forever (1978)The Promise (1978): This book was the first of Steels romance novels to be adapted for the big screen.Season of Passion (1979)Summers End (1979) 1980s Amazon By the early 1980s, Steel was regularly appearing on The New York Times bestseller list. In 1981, she married her fourth husband, winemaker John Traina, with whom she had five children. The Ring (1980)Palomino (1981)To Love Again (1981)Remembrance (1981)Loving (1981)Once in a Lifetime (1982)Crossings (1982): Set during the outbreak of World War II, this novel was made into a miniseries in 1986.A Perfect Stranger (1983)Thurston House (1983): This novel tells the story of a wealthy businessman who builds a mansion in San Francisco. For many years, Steel herself lived in a historic mansion in San Francisco.Changes (1983)Full Circle (1984)Family Album (1985): A story of female empowerment, Family Album follows the career of Faye Price, a Hollywood actress who becomes one of the industrys first female directors. The book was made into a TV miniseries in 1994.Secrets (1985)Wanderlust (1986)Fine Things (1987)Kaleidoscope (1987)Zoya (1988): This historical romance tells the story of a Russian countess who falls in love with an American soldier in Paris. The novel later explores the history of the Great Depression and World War II.Star (1989) Daddy (1989) 1990s Amazon The 1990s was Steels most productive decade yet. To maintain her grueling schedule, Steel slept very little, often working on her books late at night after her children had gone to bed. Message from Nam (1990): Described by Publishers Weekly as an unusual departure from Steels previous work, Message from Nam follows a journalist covering the war in Vietnam. He finds unexpected romance in Saigon.Heartbeat (1991)No Greater Love (1991)Jewels (1992)Mixed Blessings (1992)Vanished (1993)Accident (1994)The Gift (1994): This novel, which spent 12 weeks on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list, is one of Steels biggest hits. It tells the story of a high school girl who is sent away after she becomes pregnant on prom night.Wings (1994)Lightning (1995)Five Days in Paris (1995)Malice (1996)Silent Honor (1996): Another historical work, Silent Honor tells the story of a young Japanese woman living in California in the early 1940s. She faces prejudice from her neighbors after Pearl Harbor is bombed.The Ranch (1997)Special Delivery (1997)The Ghost (1997)The Long Road Home (1998)The Klone and I (1998): Inspired by an inside joke with her future husband, The Klone and I wades into sc ience fiction territory. The book is a tale of mistaken identity involving a human clone. His Bright Light (1998): One of Steels few works of nonfiction, His Bright Light is the story of her son Nick Traina and his struggles with manic depression. The illness led to the boys death at the age of 19.Mirror Image (1998)Bittersweet (1999)Irresistible Forces (1999) 2000s Amazon In 2002, Steel divorced her fifth husband, Silicon Valley businessman Thomas James Perkins. While continuing to produce several novels a year, she opened an art gallery in San Francisco and contributed to efforts to improve mental health among adolescents. The Wedding (2000): The Wedding is a story of love among the glitz and glamor of the Los Angeles elite.The House on Hope Street (2000)Journey (2000)Lone Eagle (2001)Leap of Faith (2001)The Kiss (2001)The Cottage (2002)Sunset in St. Tropez (2002)Answered Prayers (2002)Dating Game (2003)Johnny Angel (2003)Safe Harbour (2003)Ransom (2004): Unlike most of Steels previous books, Ransom is not a romance. The book is a white-knuckle thriller involving a kidnapped child.Second Chance (2004)Echoes (2004)Impossible (2005)Miracle (2005)Toxic Bachelors (2005): Told from the point of view of three different men, Toxic Bachelors is a story of wealth and privilege. Over the course of the novel, unexpected events transform their love lives forever.The House (2006)Coming Out (2006)H.R.H. (2006)Sisters (2007): This novel focuses on four highly successful career women who must return home to care for their father after their mother is killed in a car crash. Bungalow 2 (2007)Amazing Grace (2007): Set in San Francisco, Amazing Grace tells the story of four strangers brought together by a natural disaster. Along the way, they learn important lessons about love and family.Honor Thyself (2008)Rogue (2008)A Good Woman (2008)One Day at a Time (2009)Matters of the Heart (2009)Southern Lights (2009) 2010s   Amazon Now in her fifth decade of publishing, Steel has become even more prolific, producing as many as seven books a year. Her novels continue to be bestsellers, and they have been translated into more than 40 languages. Big Girl (2010)Family Ties (2010)Legacy (2010)44 Charles Street (2011)Happy Birthday (2011)Hotel Vendome (2011)Betrayal (2012)Friends Forever (2012)The Sins of the Mother (2012)A Gift of Hope (2012)Until the End of Time (2013)First Sight (2013)Winners (2013)Pure Joy: The Dogs We Love (2013)Power Play (2014)A Perfect Life (2014)Pegasus (2014)Prodigal Son (2015)Country (2015)Undercover (2015): A tale of romance and espionage, Undercover was partially inspired by the Patty Hearst kidnapping.​Precious Gifts (2015)Blue (2016)Property of a Noblewoman (2016)The Apartment (2016)Magic (2016)Rushing Waters (2016)The Award (2016)The Mistress (2017)Dangerous Games (2017): A political thriller and romance, this book follows a reporter investigating the U.S. vice president. The book reached No. 2 on The New York Times bestseller list.Against All Odds (2017)The Duchess (2017)The Right Time (2017)Past Perfect (2017)Fairytale (2017)In His Fathers Footsteps (2018) Fall from Grace (2018): A New York Times bestseller, Fall from Grace is the story of a privileged woman who loses everything after the sudden death of her wealthy husband. The book shows the challenges she faces as she rebuilds her life.The Cast (2018)The Good Fight (2018)Accidental Heroes (2018): A bestselling thriller, Accidental Heroes begins with the appearance of a strange postcard on a cross-country flight to San Francisco. An off-duty pilot and a flight attendant work together to solve the mystery.Beauchamp Hall (2018)Turning Point (2019)Silent Night (2019)Blessing in Disguise (2019)Lost and Found (2019)The Dark Side (2019)Childs Play (2019)Spy (2019) Childrens Books Amazon Steel first began publishing childrens books in the 1980s with her Max and Martha series. Since then, she has written the Freddie series and a collection of picture books. 1989: Marthas New Daddy1989: Max and the Babysitter1989: Marthas Best Friend1989: Maxs Daddy Goes to the Hospital1989: Maxs New Baby1989: Marthas New School1990: Max Runs Away1990: Marthas New Puppy1991: Max and Grandma and Grampa Winky1991: Martha and Hilary and the Stranger1992: Freddies Trip1992: Freddies First Night Away1992: Freddie and the Doctor2009: The Happiest Hippo in the World (picture book)2014:  Pretty Minnie in Paris (picture book)2016: Pretty Minnie in Hollywood  (picture book)