Current Sustainability Practices of Bunning-Sample for Students

Question: Research the current state of Sustainability Reporting. detailing the current state of sustainability reporting including the issues, practices, etc using higher order analysis and explaining the implications for various stakeholders in relation to financial decision making. Answer: Introduction Sustainability reporting has always been considered as the first significant step in implementing a measure that can assist an organization to understand the influence on its stakeholders, and methods in which it may prevent a negative impact on the environment, society, and the economy. The number of organizations that have embedded sustainable reports into their affairs may be small, but there is a rebellion, which is taking place especially in relation to the incorporation of non-financial and financial reporting (Freeman Alexander, 2013). The expectation that an organization must have a sustainable measure comes from various places. The requirement for such reporting is driven by the widespread interests and needs of an enhancing number of stakeholders. Furthermore, sustainability reporting serve as a framework for most organizations to attain their intended performance in every segment of social, economic, ethics, governance, and environmental dimensions (Albuquerque et. al, 20 13). One such organization is Bunnings Warehouse that is the largest household hardware chain in Australia and is owned by Wesfarmers since 1994. Besides, this research intends to highlight the present state of sustainability practices implemented by the organization that assists its stakeholders in financial decision-making. Current sustainability practices of Bunnings Warehouse In relation to sustainability reporting practices, the same has been considered very relevant for the organization because not only the stakeholders desire it, but it is also the right thing to do. The organization believes that sustainability is very significant for financial decision-making on the part of its stakeholders. This is because every activity of an organization has a direct impact on the community or society as a whole. Therefore, Bunnings Warehouse intends to enhance the aggregate effectiveness of its affairs in such a way that stakeholders can attain maximum benefits. Moreover, the concept of sustainability reporting have not been implemented as a new practice by the organization, instead there are various actions conducted in order to minimize the usage of energy and water for effective outcomes. In addition to this, Bunnings Warehouse also prioritizes waste reduction, responsible sourcing, active education, and various awareness initiatives for efficient sustainabili ty reporting. On a whole, the main intention of the organization is to make minimal usage of water, energy, and create minimal wastage so that its key sustainability practice (Recycling) can be given due consideration. Further, from the long-term perspective, Bunnings Warehouse intends to discover innovative methods of minimizing its dependence on grid-sourced energy, so that additional reductions in carbon footprints can be obtained (Sustainability reporting, 2012). One of the key advantages of having a sustainability reporting is that it goes beyond the traditional reporting in terms of measurement of the corporate performance and is therefore highly suitable for the companies, as well as stakeholders. It is important for the organization to be involved in sustainability reporting because such activities are highly beneficial to the stakeholders. Sustainability reporting signifies the role played by the company in protecting the environment and preserving the resources (Thomas, 2016). It helps in creation of wealth. It is the main reason why the requirement for non-financial information has increased over the years. Recycling Bunnings Warehouse prioritizes recycling processes in relation to its current sustainability practice with the broadest variety of recycling items. In order to make the environment-friendly products, the organization follows three basic rules of R. These three Rs comprise of Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce. Moreover, Bunnings is also committed to minimizing waste and for such purpose, it endeavors to collectively trial recycling and sustainability initiatives both at the local and international levels with the community groups and local councils. In the current scenario, the organization is trailing CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) Recycling measures in Australia because such fluorescent lamps consist of some amounts of mercury that must not be disposed of in the general public places. In addition to this, the organization is also engaging in the Battery back program in order to implement effective ways to dispose of the batteries. The reason behind such practice is because batteries contai n heavy metals and if these are not disposed of properly, such heavy metals may leak into the ground. Bunnings Warehouse intends to integrate sustainability throughout its operations that include deporting less waste to landfills. With the assistance of recycling processes, the organization decreased its landfill waste to 2.9 tons in the year 2016. Bunnings also conduct national programs in Australia so that plain timber pallets can be recycled and reused. Besides, the organization also engages with major suppliers prevalent in Queensland and South Wales so that pine pallets can be bought and reused. A cardboard recycling trial has also been conducted by the organization so that plastic strapping can be recycled. Further, in addition to the Battery back program, Bunnings is also committed to refurbishing various buildings as a significant part of its ongoing expansion measures. Nevertheless, the organization endeavors to seek further recycling initiatives in the upcoming future. It is one of the major initiatives of the organization and strives to ensure the protection of the resources. It is one of the major initiatives of the organization towards the safety of the environment. Energy efficiency Climate change is broadly identified as one of the most significant challenges faced by the society, and the prime cause of change in climate can be attributed to the emissions of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere (Walker Slat, 2012). Bunnings believe that through sustainability practices, it can play a positive part in encountering such change in climate by taking relevant steps in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Based on its survey, around 85% of its greenhouse gas emissions appear from the use of electricity in its stores. The remaining is largely from the waste that is generated through its affairs (Bunnings Australia, 2016). Therefore, the organization intends to lower its use of energy through various kinds of initiatives like energy efficient lighting systems. Further, the organization is committed to minimizing its carbon footprint and for such purpose, it has installed solar photovoltaic systems in most of its stores so that 10-20% of energy can be attained. During the year, Bunnings also trialed climate adaptive comfort heating and cooling systems in its stores, which is considered as a more effective system for conservation of energy. The reason behind this can be attributed to the fact that such system uses a natural air tempering technology that makes lesser utilization of energy (Pearce, 2012). This provides a clear cut demarcation that the company is intended to save the resources. Product safety and ethical sourcing During the year, Bunnings Warehouse continued to operate with its suppliers so that sourcing measures can be strengthened, with hundred percent of its directly sourced suppliers through Ethical Sourcing Programs (Bunnings Australia, 2016). The organization also attempts to engage with its suppliers in order to make sure that the safety standards of their products are adequately adhered to. In relation to this, it conducts consistent audits of its products so that conformance with the significant mandatory standards can be ensured. Further, it also undertakes independent safety examinations on some of the products to ensure compliance to expectations of customers. Another relevant area of concentration for the organization is timber, as they have a zero tolerance measure for illegally attained timber. It is the goal of the organization to ensure that all wood and timber products attained are originated from well-managed and legal forest activities (Thomas, 2016). In the current scenario, Bunnings have made an effective progress in this segment with more than 95% of its entire timber sourced from legally verified operations of forest and low-risk plantation strategies. Not only this, the organization is entirely confident that more than ninety percent of its timber products are sourced with illustrated progress towards attaining independent certification or sourced from independently certified forests. Nevertheless, Bunnings intends to strengthen its sourcing strategies with more suppliers becoming significant members of the SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) program that intends to enhance transparency in its supply chain so that sensitive areas can be looked after effectively. Besides, in the year 2017, the organization has started participating in EDRA programs that prioritize retailers to gather collectively in order to maximize labor and environmental conditions (Bunnings Australia, 2016). Community assistance Bunnings is also committed to assisting the communities wherein it operates by contributing to domestic, regional, and national charities, causes, and organizations throughout Australia. During the year, its stores assisted in raising more than $37 million through community strategies. The organization also aims to operate closely with primary nonprofit organizations like Lions Australia, Rotary, local charities, etc. In addition, the organization has also worked with emergency services to provide relevant assistance to the communities in case of contingencies or emergencies (Bunnings Australia, 2016). Hence, it is creating a environment where the organization can operate and provide immense benefits to the community at large. It intends to create a long lasting impact by dint of its activities. The organization is also in a unique position to assist various customers by making it simpler and affordable for them to get accustomed to sustainable practices in their homes or garden. In relation to this, it firstly offers the customers with a wide variety of products and solutions to address their sustainability requirements. Sustainability is the need of the hour and it has collectively joined hands with the government to provide fuller development to the organization together with the benefit of the surrounding (Perrini Tnecatti, 2006) It then backs up such offering of products through sound advice and expertise available online and in-store. It also operates with several government regulators to establish new and more suitable sustainability items and solutions, thereby playing a key role in implementing efficient government policy as a whole. Implications for stakeholders in financial decision-making Stakeholders often have a potential interest in or affect the company, its financial outcomes, and its operations. Such stakeholders also have the capability in influencing the failure or success of an organization at various levels (Wicks Colle, 2010). Moreover, when it comes to sustainability reporting, the accountability of organizations can improve, thereby playing a key role in maximizing trust, facilitating sharing of ideas or values in order to establish a more cohesive environment (Ballot et. al, 2006). Organizations like Bunnings utilize sustainability reporting practices in order to inform about their risk evaluation measures so that their businesses can be boosted. Shareholders, businesses, governments, etc all directly attain benefit from sustainability reporting. Stakeholders like customers, suppliers, shareholders, etc believe that sustainability reporting instills discipline and assists an organization think about and explain its long-term vision. With the assistance of sustainability reporting, major stakeholders can easily track the performance of Bunnings in order to make relevant financial decisions associated with the future (Kruger, 2015). The biggest implication for various stakeholders in financial decision-making is associated with the fact that sustainability reporting can assist in cutting costs on various aspects of their operations, especially in enhancing effectiveness. Furthermore, Bunnings can easily communicate with their investors regarding their KPIs and social impact in order to allow them in making relevant financial decisions (Douma Hein, 2013). Even though the company in its financial accounts already reports financial information, yet stakeholders desire for information wherein the contribution of the company to the sustainability of a higher economic system is present. For instance, the offering of relevant details associated with recycling, conservation of water can be utilized by investors to analyze the strength of Bunnings in order to make relevant financial decisions (Ruffing, 2007). In other words, analysts and investors can utilize such additional financial information provided by Bunnings in order to analyze its performance and ultimately make investment decisions. Sustainability reporting can also influence corporate reputation and consumer behavior (Caradonna, 2014). Besides, the consumers of Bunnings can attain its more positive image and will be more likely to rely upon it. Stakeholders like financial institutions also rely upon such sustainable reports in order to analyze whether loans must be given to the organization or not. The CSR report, thus, offers an organization like Bunnings warehouse with an opportunity to communicate its sustainability practices with the stakeholders that not only allows them in establishing an effective connection but also serves as an important tool in financial decision-making (Scott, 2009). Corporate sustainability not only helps in reducing the cost of the firm rather helps in differentiation in a positive way. This leads to an enhanced level of performance with a competitive leverage (Investor sustainability, 2014). The stakeholders are able to get a better knowledge of the company with the aid of such information. If the practice of the company ranks high then it will result in a effective performance. Recommendation In due consideration to above, organizations can recognize areas of relevant details that have not altered since the previous report. In simple words, organizations and accounting advisors may choose to update only the indicators and topics that have altered and to re-publish the unchanged disclosures. Moreover, in order to enhance the credibility of their sustainability reports, organizations can possess internal control systems as a relevant part of their procedures for reporting and managing the information. These internal control strategies are vital to the overall credibility and integrity of a report. Further, accounting advisors must make sure that stakeholder engagement is executed properly in the report so that trust between the organization and the stakeholders can be strengthened Conclusion In light of the above analysis, it can be concluded that sustainability reports provide an effective opportunity to an organization to communicate its CSR practices to the stakeholders. Such reporting has also become a transparency medium for the stakeholders, especially suppliers, employees, communities, etc. Moreover, in the present scenario, addressing the concerns of stakeholders has become very significant, and sustainability reports can prove to be of immense help here. Besides, in relation to Bunnings Warehouse, the concept of sustainability has been well maintained by the organization, as it has followed a reasonable and balanced measure of depicting its sustainable performance that includes both negative and positive contributions. On a whole, sustainability reporting must fit into a wider process for establishing organizational measures, implementing action strategies, and evaluating outcomes. Moreover inclusion of more than financial information helps to betterment of the image, as well as performance. References Albuquerque, R, Durnev, A Koskinen, Y 2013, Corporate social responsibility and firm risk: theory and empirical evidence, Boston University. Ballot, B., Heitger, D. L. Landes, C. E. 2006, The future of corporate sustainability reporting: A rapidly growing assurance opportunity, Journal of Accountancy, vol. 20, pp. 65-74 Bunnings Australia 2016, Bunnings warehouse sustainability 2016, viewed 22 August 2017 https://www.bunnings.co.nz/sustainability Caradonna, J. L 2014, Sustainability: A History, Oxford University Press Douma, S Hein, S 2013, Economic Approaches to Organizations. London Freeman, E Alexander, M 2013, Stakeholder management and CSR: questions and answers, Oxford Press Investor sustainability 2014, Do investors care about sustainability? Seven trends provide clues, viewed 22 August 2017 https://www.pwc.com./gx/en/issues/sustainability.jhtml. Kruger, P 2015, Corporate goodness and shareholder wealth, Journal of Financial economics, pp. 304-329 Pearce, J.M 2012, The Case for Open Source Appropriate Technology,Environment, Development and Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 425431. Perrini, F Tencati, A 2006, Sustainability and Stakeholder Management: the Need for New Corporate Performance Evaluation and Reporting Systems, Business Strategy and the Environment, vol. 15, pp. 296-308 Ruffing, K 2007, Indicators to Measure Decoupling of Environmental Pressure from Economic Growth, London: Island Press. Scott, C.M 2009, Green Economics. London: Earthscan, pp. 142150. Sustainability reporting 2012, Using sustainability to drive business innovation and growth 2012, viewed 22 August 2017 https://www.deloitte.com/view/en_IN/in/index.htm Thomas, S.A 2016, The Nature of Sustainability, Chapbook Press. Grand Rapids, Michigan Walker, B Salt,S 2012, Resilience Practice: Building Capacity to Absorb Disturbance and Maintain Function.Island Press. Wicks, H Colle, D 2010, Stakeholder Theory, State of the Art, Cambridge University Press

Nursing Fundamentals High School Class Essay Samples Tips & Guide

Nursing Fundamentals High School Class Essay Samples Tips & Guide For instance, learning the way to do calculus is quite different than studying American heritage. Even a number of the brightest students struggle in regards to test taking. Arranging a class reunion can be quite stressful you need to work planning around your work and everyday life. Most men and women agree that money sometimes has an inappropriate part in specifying the results of elections. Furthermore, the ideas ought to be arranged logically. The perfect way to get accustomed to writing well is to read a good deal. As soon as you get started writing, you'll receive a feel for what is too long and it'll come naturally to you. There's still a great deal of laughter and shrieking. Perhaps it resulted from the fact I was just attempting to enjoy being a kid whilst everybody else was hoping to be twelve going on twenty-one. A high school reunion is something a good deal of people anticipate. You wolf down the remainder of your food. Enjoy the remainder of your lives. There's need to shell out quite an excellent deal of time simply to plan the application essay. Bear in mind you want to capture the experience of taking a genuine essay exam. If you are searching for assistance with your essay then we provide a comprehensive writing service given by fully qualified academics in your area of study. Students are always on toes to locate tips for their school essay to remain on top in regards to securing high grades. 1 part of the nursing course that maynot be overlooked is writing essays. There are distinct means of structuring various kinds of essays. Instructors normally utilize essays to estimate the learning outcomes of students. These classes will provide you with a good foundation for lots of the courses you're going to be asked to take in college and in medical school. A high school education is crucial for everyone seeking to survive adulthood. Our nursing scholarship essay examples can increase the probability of your admission to a nursing program. Naturally, you will want to especially concentrate on science and math. As a student applying for a nursing program, it's very vital that you compose a very good nursing school essay in order to improve your probability of being accepted. The earlier you come to love nursing care plans, the simpler your career for a nurse will be. Nursing orders are instructions for the particular pursuits that will perform to assist the individual achieve the medical care objective. Most nursing students understand how to conduct researches and incorporate them with the other concepts that they've learned in class in the true world application. The memory of my very first day at school is extremely pleasant. The very first person who you speak to is Steve Herman. It's natural on the portion of every student to keep in mind the very first day at school. If you would like learn how to develop into a thriving student, then you've come to the proper spot. You examine the year book and wonder how they're doing now, and where they're staying right now. Freshman year proved to be a wonderful time for me. The surreality is just starting. Of course I had the school going age. There are plenty of favors out there which are high quality and inexpensive. The world wide web is definitely a more potent tool. Sure, there's a possibility of rejection, for your first contact could possibly be ignored altogether but on the flip side, it might also open up a social support system for you. There would be a real number. The Unusual Secret of Nursing Fundamentals High School Class Essay Samples Even gas-station attendants are usually required to get some simple understanding of technology to work the money machines. No matter the theme for your class reunion make sure to choose favors which are both practical and affordable. You walk in the ballroom. You head back into the ballroom. Public records are available readily on the web and the re's a whole lot of information you'll be able to find about someone. There are tools which can be found on the internet that provide totally free people searches. Unlike traditional search engines, which only check the internet in 1 way, a lot of the excellent people search sites search in many ways at the very same time. If your previous classmate has any of their information published on the internet, conducting an online search will assist you in finding it.

College Class Discussion Topics - Who Should You Discuss Your Classes With?

College Class Discussion Topics - Who Should You Discuss Your Classes With?You can use the topics that you choose to discuss in class as a way to get ahead and advance your studies. However, some topics are more suited for a specific type of course and the same holds true for those topics for your college courses.One of the best topics for you to use in class is the subject of college. You can use this topic to discuss in the textbook and in other ways on the essay you create. Some topics that you should use in your class will be applied mathematics, course work and independent study.The subjects that you discuss in class for college are all important. They all require you to become a more well-rounded person. Whether you are talking about classes at home or online, there are some things that you will want to discuss with others.Topics for your classes will have different requirements depending on where you are going to take the course. Some schools require you to discuss sports, whi le others will require that you talk about socialization. If you are taking a standard class for college, then all the things that you discuss should focus on your subjects.Some students may find it difficult to take a class for college but they need to know that they can get credit for it. You need to remember that when you do not get credit, you will be wasting time on something that doesn't count for anything. If you do get credit, it will help you get an easy grade, which can be valuable when you are working toward getting a grade that is difficult.It is also important to remember that the grades that you will receive are only based on the materials that you write and the final exams that you complete. There are no honors or certificates that you will receive. The college classes that you take will determine if you are able to earn a college degree.Remember that when you are looking for ways to get better grades in college, it is important to not give up if you are not getting t he grades that you want. It is also important to make sure that you look for the best resources available to you so that you can improve your grade. This is the best way to get ahead in your studies.

Help Me Write a College Application Essay - Tips For Writing a College Application Essay

Help Me Write a College Application Essay - Tips For Writing a College Application EssayHelp me write a college application essay is a question that is on the minds of many students today. The fact is, all students need help with the essay because there are so many different words and thoughts that will be on the paper.A college application essay can be a daunting task for any student to write. It will also include questions, essays, and essay topics. It is very important that the college applicant understands the ideas that will be included in the paper.You can find several resources available on the internet that will help you to write a college application essay. The first thing you should do is consider your family background and what sort of things you have done in the past. These will give you ideas about what you would like to talk about and give you a general idea of what it would be like to attend college.It is also important that you consider the interests that are associat ed with your college application essay. This is an important part of your essay, because it will set the tone for the entire essay.You should also consider the words that you use in your college application essay. Many college applications look for specific writing styles.You will also want to think about the areas of your life that you want to include in your college application essay. You will want to include a description of why you want to go to college. This is a very important part of your essay, because it will act as your plan for the rest of your life.If you think you have a good idea for a college application essay then you will be happy to know that there are numerous resources available to help you with this. If you find that you have not included your goals in your college application, then think about what you would like to do after college.

College Level Essay Writing Sample

College Level Essay Writing SampleIt is not too hard to find a college-level essay writing sample. College level essays are required in order to get a high grade and better chances of getting admission to graduate or professional schools. There are many websites which offer complete college level essays samples that are also available free of cost.In the first place, it is very important for a student to have an idea about the topic and content of his or her college-level essay. It is very important to write in such a way that the essay is strong and persuasive. In this regard, it is highly recommended that a student tries to research about topics related to his or her subject.It is not necessary that the student should be writing about his favorite topic, but it is very essential that he should write about something interesting and provocative. The more significant the topic, the greater the chance that the essay will be accepted by the college authorities.If the topic of the colleg e level essay is somehow related to the course requirements of the college, then the essay can be written easily. The student should read all the syllabus and read the various course work to get a clear idea about the topic. Moreover, he must pay attention to the syllabus when writing the college level essay.If the topic of the essay is related to personal experiences, then the essay should be written easily. If the student is writing about a topic that is closely related to his or her profession, then it is advisable to write about a topic related to career. It is always important to be original in the college-level essay writing sample. Moreover, it is mandatory to write a compelling article, which not only attracts the reader's attention but also catches the attention of the reader and converts it into a positive attitude towards the student.Also, if the student writes an essay which is about important issue related to the college or the student, then the essay must be written cl early and well. Moreover, if the student writes an essay based on his own experiences, then it will be very much helpful to the student if he quotes the names of other students who wrote similar essays. So, it is mandatory to write as per the philosophy and ethos of the college.There are some rules of writing college level essay, which a student should follow while writing a college-level essay. These rules include using correct grammar and punctuation. If any of these rules are violated, then the essay is not acceptable for writing. Therefore, the student must follow these rules and they should take time to learn them.

Paul Klee Essays (1588 words) - Bauhaus, Cubism, Paul Klee, Klee

Paul Klee A Swiss-born painter and graphic artist whose personal, often gently humorous works are replete with allusions to dreams, music, and poetry, Paul Klee, b. Dec. 18, 1879, d. June 29, 1940, is difficult to classify. Primitive art, surrealism, cubism, and children's art all seem blended into his small-scale, delicate paintings, watercolors, and drawings. His family was very interested in the arts. The jobs that Paul's parents had were strange for 1879. His mom helped support the family by giving piano lessons. His father did the housework. He cooked, cleaned, and painted. Paul's grandma taught him how to paint. After much hesitation he chose to study art, not music, and he attended the Munich Academy in 1900. Klee later toured Italy (1901-02), responding enthusiastically to Early Christian and Byzantine art. Klee was a watercolorist, and etcher, who was one of the most original masters of modern art. Belonging to no specific art movement, he created works known for their fantastic dream images, wit, and imagination. These combine satirical, grotesque, and surreal elements and reveal the influence of Francisco de Goya and James Ensor, both of whom Klee admired. Two of his best-known etchings, dating from 1903, are Virgin in a Tree and Two Men Meet, Each Believing the Other to Be of Higher Rank. The paintings of Klee are difficult to classify. His earliest works were pencil landscape studies that showed the influence of impressionism. Until 1912 he also produced many black-and-white etchings; the overtones of fantasy and satire in these works showed the influence of 20th-century expressionism as well as of such master printmakers as Francisco Goya and William Blake. Klee often incorporated letters and numerals into his paintings, but he also produced series of works that explore mosaic and other effects. Klee's career was a search for the symbols and metaphors that would make this belief visible. More than any other painter outside the Surrealist movement (with which his work had many affinities - its interest in dreams, in primitive art, in myth, and cultural incongruity), he refused to draw hard distinctions between art and writing. Indeed, many of his paintings are a form of writing: they pullulate with signs, arrows, floating letters, misplaced directions, commas, and cl efs; their code for any object, from the veins of a leaf to the grid pattern of Tunisian irrigation ditches, makes no attempt at sensuous description, but instead declares itself to be a purely mental image, a hieroglyph existing in emblematic space. So most of the time Klee could get away with a shorthand organization that skimped the spatial grandeur of high French modernism while retaining its unforced delicacy of mood. Klee's work did not offer the intense feelings of Picasso's, or the formal mastery of Matisse's. The spidery, exact line, crawling and scratching around the edges of his fantasy, works in a small compass of post-Cubist overlaps, transparencies, and figure- field play-offs. In fact, most of Klee's ideas about pictorial space came out of Robert Dulaunay's work, especially the Windows. The paper, hospitable to every felicitous accident of blot and puddle in the watercolor washes, contains the images gently. As the art historian Robert Rosenblum has said, 'Klee's part icular genius [was] to be able to take any number of the principal Romantic motifs and ambitions that, by the early twentieth century, had often swollen into grotesquely Wagnerian dimensions, and translate them into a language appropriate to the diminutive scale of a child's enchanted world.' After his marriage in 1906 to the pianist Lili Stumpf, Klee settled in Munich, then an important center for avant-garde art. His wife, Lily, gave music lessons, while Paul babysat their only son, he was a good babysitter. Klee painted in a unique and personal style; no one else painted like he did. He used pastels, tempera, watercolor, and a combination of oil and watercolor, as well as different backgrounds. Besides using the canvas that he usually painted on he used paper, jute, cotton, and wrapping paper. A turning point in Klee's career was his visit to Tunisia with Macke and Louis Molliet in 1914. He was so overwhelmed by the intense light there that he wrote: Color has taken possession of me; no longer do I have to chase

Bonfire of the Vanities essays

Bonfire of the Vanities essays I recently read the book Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe. Mr. Wolfe holds a doctorate in American Studies from Yale University and is the author of many non fiction books such as The Right Stuff, In Our Time, and Clutter and Vine. Bonfire of the Vanities was his first fiction work. This book was published by Bantam Books Inc. and was I believe the theme of this book to be true to oneself and trust no one but oneself. It is show many times in this book that people will go below their morals simply for personal advancement. It is also shown that human nature allows for many changes of The main character in this book is Sherman McCoy. Sherman begins the story as a wealthy bonds salesmen living in a $3,200,000 apartment on Park Avenue. Sherman refers to himself as Master of the Universe many times throughout the story. This shows his feelings of superiority over the rest of the human race. Sherman was well brought up and from all the right schools. His father is a retired, wealthy, successful businessman that is well respected throughout the world. Shermans wife, Judy, is somewhat cool too him. She is very extravagant and gives the impression that she may be in the marriage simply for the money. Their daughter Campbell is six when the story begins and is very innocent to the ways of the world. Maria Ruskin is a young woman of about thirty who is married to Arthur Ruskin, a wealthy man of about sixty. Maria and Sherman are in the process of a drawn out affair when the story begins. This book tells about the events that occur in New York City over the course of a year. This story begins when Sherman and Maria go out on a date one evening and end up lost in the Bronx. As they are coming through a run-down neighborhood in Shermans black Mercedes, two African-American teenage boys approach the car. ...