Subjects:  1. College teachers   2. Fiction   3. Fiction - General   4. General   5. Humorous   6. Humorous fiction   7. Igelfeld, Moritz-Maria von (Fi   8. Igelfeld, Moritz-Maria von (Fictitious character)   9. Philologists   10. Fiction / General   

Customer Reviews (1)

A Profoundly Eloquent Glimpse of Life's Depth...
Those who know me know that I am not prone to making either quick judgements or vacuous statements, so my friends (at least) will know that both the title of this mini-review and the few words that follow are far from whimsical: Alexander's Nature of Order, and in particular this fourth volume which I have recently received and simply cannot put down, are in my humble opinion, destined to rank as one of this *world's* great literary/philosophical achievements. What Alexander has produced is nothing short of a brilliant vision for the transcendent reality that lies beneath and beyond conventional categories. I write this as a Ph.D. physicist, with two graduate-level mathematical physics texts under my belt (both on complex systems), and semi-pro photographer with 30 years of experience of trying to capture "beauty" in nature. Alexander's work has provided a tentative -- but oh so deep -- glimpse of an answer to my own philosophical struggles as scientist and artist: physics and art are but two sides of a vastly richer coin, and are merely pointers to an infinitely rich *life* that pervades this universe; indeed, the life that *is* this universe. Every human being who has ever sincerely pondered the question "Why?" when looking up at the sky, while admiring a pretty flower, or looking into a mirror, can do no better than to curl up by a fireplace with a hot cup of tea, open up volume four of this incredible set of books and start using the musings lovingly offered here to look within for answers. Truly a remarkable achievement. I have never met Christopher Alexander, but can honestly say that I have been deeply touched by this preternaturally wise soul. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aesthetics   2. Architecture   3. Architecture and philosophy   4. Color (Philosophy)   5. Cosmology   6. General   7. Planning   8. Architecture / General   9. Topics in philosophy   

Customer Reviews (3)

Wow! A Great Book!
A friend told me about this great book. It is possibly the best book about type and type designers that I have. Alexander Lawson does a superb job telling the history of the designers and the type faces back to the beginning. Excellent illustrated examples of the type faces. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in type and letterforms.

Dated but a worthwhile read.
This book does not take into account the digital type revolution of the past twelve years, but it's an excellent critical review of all the important types still in use. Some of these types may have had their genesis several hundred years ago, but Lawson also takes into account their twentieth-century incarnations. Especially valuable are the examples of old typography, which never fail to fascinate and enchant. Not only a worthy reference, but an entertaining read.

Great work on history and design of typefaces
Although called "Anatomy of a Typeface," this book actually takes about 20 classic typefaces and analyzes each, discussing its designer, history, and aesthetics in depth. This is an outstandingly thoughtful and well-researched book by a master in the field, potentially of use both to someone with a basic understanding of the topic and to an expert ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture   2. Crafts & Hobbies   3. General   4. Hobbies/Crafts   5. Printing   6. Specimens   7. Type and type-founding   8. Typography   

Customer Reviews (47)

The best series of children's fantasy literature
A friend of my father's brought me a box full of used books when I was 9 or 10. Tucked away in the bottome was The High King, actually the last in the Prydain Chronicles....it sat for quite awhile in my bookcase before I picked it up and began reading. What an experience it turned out to be! The adventures of Taran (Assistant Pig- Keeper), Eilonwy, Gurgi, Prince Llyr, and all the other charming charaters in their quest to beat the evil Horned King opened my eyes to the wonderful world of fantasy in children's literature. Indeed, after reading the High King I ran out and spent all my allowance (preciously saved) on the rest of the 5-book series.

Lloyd Alexander writes with a refreshing and unpretentious stye, neither speaking down to kids nor falling into any of the cliched storylines or dialogue of many writers of fantasy literature. Indeed, I believe many authors of modern adult fantasy would greatly benefit from studying Mr. Alexanders writing style.

I credit this series for the beginning of my 25+ years of affection for Celtic, Gaelic, and Welsh mythology and would strongly recommend this series for any lover, young and old, of fantasy and mythology.

The Most Meaningful Book I've Ever Read

I read it at six. I read it at sixteen. I read it at twenty-six. I read it at home. I read it wandering. At all times and all places, I have identified with Taran Wanderer more than any other literary character. I'm not excluding Shakespeare, the classics or modern novels.

Taran is a boy trying to become a human (it applies to girls just as much.) This is the beginning of all great mythology, as the late Joseph Campbell would have agreed. This boy travels through a world of magic swords, undead warriors and medieval villages. It is an escape. Or is it? Taran deals with truth, the true worth of himself and others, the search for meaning in a career and in life, the excitement and high price of violence and love. I AM Taran in 1997, as much as he is in an imaginary world. I bet a lot of you are, too.

Alexander never talks down to you, whether you are young or old. It is fun and meaningful. This fourth book of a wonderful five-book series is an excellent encapsulation of the entire series. This is not a book for adults or children. It is a book for people. A great one.

A wonderful character piece
This book is definitely the most unique of all the Prydain Chronicles. Instead of urgent quests to find magical pigs, destroy evil cauldrons or rescue a beautiful princess--with good constantly pitted against the forces of evil--this volume is instead focused on Taran finding out about himself.

Instead of a quest resolved in a matter of weeks or months, this story covers a couple of years, years in which Taran travels from one end of Prydain to the other, first in search of his parents and then in search of his own place in the race of men.

His motivation lies in a desire to be worthy of the Princess Eilonwy's hand in marriage; she's absent from the story, still on the Isle of Mona, so Taran's only constant companion is the loyal creature Gurgi.

Old friends Fflewddur and Doli make brief appearances, though the bulk of Taran's time is spent meeting new people: the old farmer Aeddan and his wife, who fight for survival on a land impoverished by the Death-Lord Arawn; Goryon and Gast, petty lords whose bark is worse than their bite; Morda, the enchanter who despises the race of men in its entirety; the outlaw Dorath and his men; the shepherd Craddoc; and the people of the Free Commots: Llonio the lucky, Hevydd the smith, Dwyvach the weaver, Annlaw the potter, and Llassar the farm boy.

The lessons Taran learns in his travels aren't always obvious or profound for the casual reader, and the limited amount of swords, sorcery and peril may be unusual for some. However, the transition Taran makes into manhood is handled convincingly and realistically with each step he takes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure   2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy   3. Children: Grades 4-6   4. Fairy tales   5. Juvenile Fiction   6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   7. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Customer Reviews (3)

Great but not what you would expect
Christopher Alexander is known among architects and maybe even more among computer enthusiasts. If you are one of them (us) and know his other work, you would be surprised by this book.
It deals with carpets, specifically Turkish carpets.
A friend of mine lent me this book and I was fascinated. It has a certain passion for its subject and its interesting even if you don't know anything and don't care anything about carpets. Author explains about some items in his quite large collection of carpets and why he finds them not only rare and valuable as an antique but also beautiful.
The beauty of a carpet lies in its pattern and here we get to familiar grounds (as for example in his »A Pattern Language«). A pattern consists not only of the ornament but also of the negative space, the area remaining. He explains on examples from his collection. And one wanders if there is yet another application of his theory beside architecture per se, computer design and carpets.
Still its quite expensive, but if you happen to lay your hands on it, go ahead and enjoy.

One drawback...
...shoddy binding.

Other than that, the book's great.

a quick & humble impression
I got to take a look at this book in the UMASS non-circulating collection. It was beautiful, covered with a gold patterned cloth. Inside, the paper and reproductions of the carpets and art work were of the very best quality. I read the introduction and skimmed through the subsequent chapters. After my breif encounter with this book, I felt as though I had found the secret heart of Alexander's architectural theories. Somehow his passion for these carpets seemed to be the kernal from which his volumes have sprung. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture   2. Art   3. Design - Textile & Costume   4. General   5. Rug Making   6. Rugs   7. Rugs, Islamic   8. Themes, motives   9. Turkey   10. Carpets & rugs   

Customer Reviews (6)

Alexander and his money are quickly parted...
Judith Viorst's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" is a classic of modern children's literature and probably many of us in my generation their first real thoughts about Australia. I was rather surprised to learn that there is a sequel of sorts from Viorst in the form of this 1978 story, "Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday." The problem is that Alexander's brother Anthony has two dollars, three quarters, one dime, seven nickels and eighteen pennies (do the math yourself) and his brother Nicholas has one dollar, two quarters, five dimes, five nickels and thirteen pennies (ditto). But all Alexander has are bus tokens. By the end of this story young readers will know why Alexander only has bus tokens despite the fact that last Sunday Alexander was rich because his Grandma Betty and Grandpa Louie came for a visit from New Jersey and gave each of the boys a dollar.

Alexander would really like to buy a walkie-talkie, but saving money is pretty hard for somebody his age. As we read this story, illustrated by Ray Cruz, we see how Alexander manages to end up with only bus tokens. I was going to say they would see what Alexander spends his money on, but spending implies getting something in return for your money and while that might apply to buying bubble gum and renting a snake, it does not apply to losing bets or being fined so saying words that little boys should not say. But then the point of Viorst's story is to make the idea of money management clear to young readers and the ways in which Alexander goes from being rich to being poor certainly drives home that particular lesson. As Alexander comes to realize, if you are absolutely positively going to save your money you have to get some money to save.

This book is not as charming as Alexander's original adventure, but then not many children's books rise to that level. However, for parents who have young children whose money is constantly burning a hole in their pockets, "Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday" could be a gentle way of making the point they have probably already made repeatedly. However, parents will almost certainly have to buy this book themselves, because even if this book is not as expensive as a walkie-talkie, it almost certainly will be beyond the current economic capacity of the kids who would most profit from reading it.

Wonderful for being able to laugh at yourself
I always loved Alexander and the Horrible Day. This book was just as good at pointing out human foibles in the body of a small child. Here Alexander is given an allowance, and somehow, it slips through his fingers by the following weekend. We can all relate, and I loved the book.

A Math Book?
I brought this book into a sixth grade class that was having trouble with decimals. I used it to help them make the connection between decimals and their lives. They listened with rapt attention, and then worked enthusiastically the rest of the period writing their own word problems with money. By the next day everyone got decimals. Judith Viorst is a muse! You can find everything in her works, from school and work to life and love. This book gave me (math phobic) a way to teach a math lesson from a Language Arts perspective that helped the students learn! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks   2. Children: Kindergarten   3. Fiction   4. Finance, Personal   5. Humorous Stories   6. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings   7. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Customer Reviews (5)

Infectis rebus abeo
I sing of a boy and a bear...

Perhaps Vergil would have opted for Pu (Pooh) rather than Aeneid had he the choice, and begun his tome not in the journey from Troy, but rather the journey around the forest.

I have this sitting next to books of equally interesting exercise, such as a translation of modern poetry into Old English. Likewise, Henry Beard's translations of various ordinary statements and phrases in Latin (and cat behaviours in to French) also sit next to this honoured tome.

When I returned from Britain and began to think in theological-training terms, I had to re-acquaint myself with Latin; for an exam I had to memorise one biblical passage, one passage from the Aeneid, and one passage of my choice. I chose Winnie Ille Pu, and, as it had not been excluded from the list, I was permitted this indulgence (I believe that the exam list now has a section of excluded works, including this one, more's the pity).

Do not be frightened off by the fact that this is a book in Latin. It is very accessible, and quite fun to read with the English version of Winnie-the-Pooh at its side. The Latin version has kept many of the original illustrations as well as the page layout forms, for example:

In English:
And then he got up, and said: 'And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it.' So he began to climb the tree.

He
climbed
and he
climbed
and he
climbed,
and as he
climbed
he
sang
a little
song
to himself.
It went

like this:

Isn't it funny
How a bear likes honey
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
I wonder why he does?

In Latin:

Et nisus est
et
nisus est
et
nisus est
et
nisus est
et nitens carmen sic coepit canere:

Cur ursus clamat?
Cur adeo mel amat?
Burr, burr, burr
Quid est causae cur?

Statements sound much more grand in Latin: 'Ior mi,' dixit sollemniter, 'egomet, Winnie ille Pu, caudam tuam reperiam.' which means, 'Eeyore,' he said solemnly, 'I, Winnie-the-Pooh, will find your tail for you.'

This is a delightful romp through a language study. I have recommended this to friends who want an introduction to Latin, together with the Lingua Latina series, which uses a natural language method for instruction.

Alexander Lenard, the translator, obviously did a great labour of love here, and I agree with the Chicago Tribune's statement that this book 'does more to attract interest in Latin than Cicero, Caesar, and Virgil combined.' One wonders if the Tao of Pooh and the Te of Piglet will be translated into Latin to make them seem 'more philosophical; or indeed, will Winnie ille Pu be likewise translated into Sanskrit and other such languages? It is not uncommon that the entertaining use of language does more for language enrichment and interest than any academic or official push of the tongue. It is no mistake that the Welsh language effort incorporated cartoons from the beginning -- it is natural for people to respond to fun and lively things, and this kind of treatment can be rather tricky, in that the average reader might not be so consciously aware that education is going on...

Winnie-the-Pooh in Akkadian? Hmmm, I feel a Ph.D. dissertation topic coming on...

This work is no small endeavour, but rather a thorough and engaging translation of the entire Pooh story. From the start, when we are introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh, through to the adventures in the Tight Place (in angustias incurrit), when Piglet meets a heffalump (heffalumpum), meeting Kanga and Roo (Canga and Ru), the expedition to the North Pole (Palum Septentrionalem), and finally saying goodbye, the entire story and text is here. One can (as I do) set the Dell Yearling 60th Anniversary Version of Winnie-the-Pooh side-by-side with Winnie-ille-Pu and follow line by line the engaging story, which translates well into this one-time universal language. And why ever not? Surely if there is a story nearly universal appeal, it would be of dear Winnie.

As A.A. Milne was a graduate of the Westminster School (which is housed down the block from my old Parliamentary offices) and of Cambridge, he might consider the translation of his classic work into the classical language a signal honour, and one wonders if, given the fact that Milne studied classical languages himself, if he ever translated any pieces, however small, into those languages that every English schoolboy learns to hate and love.

The story leaves off with Christophorus Robinus heading off to bath (and presumably, bed) ...

Of course, being a person of small importance myself, I identify much more with Porcellus (Piglet) than Pu. I know the struggles against the clerical/hierarchical/academic heffalumpum, and as Pooh has given me a new language of consideration for such conditions, Pu has given me a bilingual command of that language.

Long live the Porcelli amicus!

Dr. Lenard's great legacy
Dr. Alexander Lenard was an hungarian physician, who lived in southern Brazil and dedicated his life to medicine, literature and curious translations. His Latin version of Winnie the Pooh, made in the 50's, stood in oblivion for quite a while, until a fellow publisher in Sao Paulo decided to make 100 copies. One of these got the attention of a Swedish publisher, who prepared 2000 copies as a gift... and the rest is history. Dr. Lenard lived a quiet and secluded life, but managed to become famous in Brazil for a while, first for staying for weeks on the top position of the "Twenty-One" local TV version, then after being mistaken for the nazi officer Joseph Mengele (and chased by the police!).

He would surely have been delighted to know that his unusual idea became a much loved and admired book. He showed us that Latin is still a living and vibrant language, and hopefully will provide a stimulus to the study of Latin for ages to come.

A useful guide to Latin
My wife and I love this book -- as I study my greek and latin I find that there are far too few "real" connections of the languages for me. Imagine my surprise when she suggested this work to remind me of my youth, and yet advance my studies. And, surprisingly enough, it does help! I just wonder if reading it to my little girl (10 months) is a good idea or not. The latin of the Grinch is confusing enough! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals   2. Fiction   3. Language   4. Latin language   5. Readers   

Subjects:  1. College stories   2. College teachers   3. Fiction   4. Fiction - General   5. General   6. Humorous fiction   7. Philologists   8. Fiction / General   

Customer Reviews (2)

A must have for Intl field work with trauma
I recently worked with Kosovar refugees in Montenegro during the war in Kosovo and found this book to be invaluable in my efforts to determine what has been shown to work in the field and how to conceptualize the staging of interventions needed within a cultural context. I highly recommend this book to anyone working with trauma that results from ethno-political warfare.

State of the art in Traumatic sSress
Van der Kolk, McFarlane and Weisarth are world leaders on the nature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this volume they bring together a wide range of authors to present the historical development of and current approaches to the treatment of the ongoing effects of traumatic experience. There are 25 chapters which address the historical developments, acute reactions to and adaptation to trauma, the mechanisms of memory, social and cultural issues and, most importantly, treatment. Recent developments in treatment are critically reviewed, including reference to the popular Eye Movement Desensitisation, but Thought Field Therapy is too new to be included. This is not a book for those looking for 'quick fix' solutions or a 'how to' manual for the treatment of trauma. Rather it provides serious theoretical and research perspectives that might underpin professional practice. In this sense it is a fair representation of the state of knowledge on PTSD, a concept which provides a window for viewing and treating the effects of exposure to trauma. Having explored the current state of clinical knowledge however, the editors acknowledge that there are 'aspects of the experience of trauma that cannot be captured in medical and scientific models' and argue that 'in reality people are left to grapple with the human dimensions of traumatic experience'. They conclude that 'beneath the tidiness of emotional distancing and scientific classification lie the human vitality and energy to struggle against, and to create meaning out of, what appears to be random cruelty and fate'. The reader is left to ponder what the role of the researcher and clinician is in challenging the conditions and social contexts of the tragedy and violence that we observe daily in our world. If there is any criticism, the text could perhaps have been grounded in more case presentations that would allow the reader an insight into the complex process of grappling with and unravelling the experience of trauma and its consequences. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mental Health   2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders   3. Post-traumatic stress disorder   4. Psychology   5. Psychotherapy - General   6. Social aspects   7. Stress Management   

Customer Reviews (10)

Ground Breaking
This is a very short yet it is a very good book. The reputation of Alexander the Great as a military commander has never been in doubt. However this book explains just how great he was.

Most treatments of his campaigns focus on the key battles and his use of the phalanx and cavlary to achieve victory. However Engels makes the point that the conquest of Persia was a potentially very difficult campaign. Generals such as Crassus, Antony and Julian were to fail despite having large well disicplined armies.

Engles shows that to maintain an army in the field in ancient times was difficult. Armies consumed food and water at a prodigous rate and all land transport was ineffecient. The remote location of Persia combined with its arid agriculture over time were its greatest protection.

Alexander had to think carefully about every stage of his campaign so that he could obtain food and keep is army in the field.

The key to this was initially water transport. Ships were the one effecient means of transport in the ancient world. Persia however at the time of Alexander had a large navy.

Alexander calculated every move to perfection.Firstly he made his own men carry their equipment rather than using servants or camp followers as was the norm with Greek armies. This made his army quick moving and lessened the mouths to feed. He then started his campaign before the Persians could use thier harvest to provision a fleet. Alexander was able to move his army through Anatolia siezing all the Persian ports and to put their navy out of buisness. He was then able to use his navy to supply his forces.

This book is masterful in explaining the campaign and it reveals the depth of Alexanders genius and the care of his planning. Invaluable for anyone interested in the area.

VERY interesting and VERY detailed.
This book is very important. Supply and logisitics are VERY important to any military history and here it is! The book starts out with a general chapter on the Macedonian army and its logistic system (such as how much food the army needed, the time needed to rest and feed the animals, how fast it moved and the methods that could be used to deliver and transport such supplies needed by the men and animals). The other chapters deal with each region, for example Chapter 2 deals with how the system worked in Greece and Turkey, based on archaeological work done in Asia, careful study of the landscape, climate and the military operations carried out by Alexander. The Appendixs deal with such subjects such as rations and routes taken by the army. Along with 16 maps in the end, the tiny book, only about 194 pages long, is STUFFED full of data. It is a must for any fan of Alexander the Great or anybody into military history.

A great book to read along with J.F.C. Fuller's 'The Generalship of Alexander the Great'.

Still relevant!
In addition to the historical importance of this book, well noted by other reviewers, it is useful to military planners even today, and is already in the personal libraries of some; it should be more widely read. Logistics problems today, of course, are very different from those of Alexander's time, but some constant factors remain. Throughout the areas conquered by Alexander (and some from which he turned back), difficult terrain, predictable drought, severe winter weather, timing of annual floods, blocking of routes by ice and snow, fertile and infertile areas, and other such, have changed somewhat, but not all that much, since the time of Alexander. Alexander solved these problems quite differently from the way a modern army solves them, but solved they must be by any army campaigning anywhere in this whole vast area, and many of Alexander's solutions offer clues to what will be feasible or infeasible solutions today. So this book is as useful to a modern military planner as to a historian. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece   2. History - General History   3. Military - Strategy   

Customer Reviews (111)

shivering!
THEME: Personal struggle for survival in a Stalinist concentration camp. A more literal translation of the title from the Russian would be "The Day Of Ivan Denisovich". This "one day" is seen through the eyes of the hero Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, a humble peasant who during WWII was captured by the Germans. After his escape he came back to the Russian lines where he was arrested, accused of being an enemy spy (forced by Soviet counterintelligence officers to sign his own "confession"), and sentenced to ten years hard labor.

The story follows the routine details of Shukhov's life: jolted out of a frozen slumber at 5 a.m.; a breakfast of slop and boiled gruel with fish skeletons floating next to rotten cabbage leaves; roll call in the polar frost, followed by a ravenous-dog-escorted march to work where prisoners mix cement and build walls in the utter desolation of the Northern steppe. The author's depiction of this ceaseless slavery is literally mind-numbing.

On the way back to the barracks the men are meticulously searched for anything they may be attempting to smuggle in. Shukhov privately revels over a piece of wire and a string that he has managed to sneak past the guards. After all, who knows how vitally necessary these items may be "one day"! At the end of this particular day's near-deathly labor, Shukhov actually feels fortunate that he has managed to finagle an extra bowl of skeleton soup, get some shreds of tobacco, and keep from being thrust into solitary confinement for any one of the million minor offenses of the camp. The story ends: "The end of an unclouded day. Almost a happy one. Just one of the 3,653 days of his sentence, from bell to bell. The extra three were for leap years." The final point reminding us of the Gulag system's merciless punitive accuracy. A world of no parole... and no reprieve.

The reader is chilled by this book. It is shivering. Do we pick up anything by Solzhenitsyn for its "warmth and fuzziness"? Most definitely not. We pick him up to come face to face with mankind's capacity to methodically inflict cruelty and despair upon others. In the process, we are always afforded a very important glimpse of what those "others" can endure. And we set Solzhenitsyn down, thankful that we are none of his characters... even as we realize that some very real people (including the author himself) did not have that luxury.

Review of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
This book is an excellent example of the horrors of the Stalinist work camps (Gulag) that were in existence for most of Russia's modern history. Alexander Solzhenitsyn masterfully weaves descriptions of minute details, which, surprisingly, do not become tedious, but provide a better understanding of the task or action that the main character performs, with a universal theme that all people can relate to - survival. The title accurately describes the setting of the book; its entirety occurs in one day of the life of Ivan Denisovich, a prisoner. This may confuse some in that everyday tasks and unique events around this main character provoke flashbacks more often than not, and provide a complete picture of this man's life before he was imprisoned and since he has been serving his ten-year sentence. All in all, this book has a superior edge to most other books on this same subject in that its author, ALexander Solzhenitsyn, went through the same struggles as the main character of the novel, providing valuable insights, thoughts, and emotions that tie the novel together. An excellent read - one that I would recommend to anyone.

A novel that sneaks up on you
This is an interesting little book regarded by many as a classic. It gives a picture of a single day in the life of Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, a prisoner in a Russian labour camp under Stalin. As I read this book I found myself thinking, "Sure this is good. It's well written and interesting, but so far it's not powerful or impactful." However this is a book that kind of sneaks up on you and hits you with it's powerful impact right at the end. It's almost like you need to see the whole picture of the day to realise the profound theme which runs through all the little things that happen. You read through the whole day waiting for a climax which never comes. And then at the end of the day you are compelled to look back and realise the focus on the simple things - the joy to be had in work, the value of a crust of bread, a bowl of soup, a good pair of shoes, a favour done for a friend, and a favour received, the value in having one's freedom, even when living in a prison camp, the thankfulness of not becoming sick. It really makes one appreciative of what we have.

"A day without a dark cloud. Almost a happy day." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classics   2. Fiction   3. Literature - Classics / Criticism   

Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C   2. Alexander the Great,   3. Ancient - Greece   4. Ancient Greece - History   5. Biography   6. Biography & Autobiography   7. Biography / Autobiography   8. Biography/Autobiography   9. Dryden, John, 1631-1700   10. Early works to 1800   11. Generals   12. Greece   13. Historical - General   14. Kings and rulers   15. Military   16. Presidents & Heads of State   17. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Customer Reviews (11)

Simply Beautiful
My father-in-law found this song to sing to his first granddaughter, and now my wife and I sing it to our daughter. When she found this lovely book a few days ago, we were thrilled! I expect we'll get a copy with a library binding someday.

The illustrations are cute--but not too cute!--and the song is great. The book itself is well-made--with any luck, our daughter will sing out of it to her children someday (though I suspect she won't need it to remember the words).

Let me explicate this gem, word by word, starting with...um, sorry, gotta go--Quincy is crying. I'd best go sing it to her.

Beautiful song, beautiful book
My 1.5-year-old daughter loves looking at the babies in this book, and she's starting to try to sing along. It's fun for both of us to read together, and we sing the song later in the car.
I recommend the CD "Singin' in the Bathtub" by John Lithgow if you want a recording of "A... You're Adorable." It's a great album. (I also bought the Perry Como recording. Beautiful singing, but not my style.)

You need to sing the song to appreciate it.
This has an accompanying song that is sweet and very fun to share with your little one. I wouldn't consider it a book for learning letters, so if you're looking to teach ABC's this isn't what you want. This is a book that ups the snuggle factor at bedtime and gives you a visual aid if you sing the song as well.

If you're looking for a fun rendition of the song, you won't go wrong with the John Lithgow CD, 'Singin' in the Bathtub'. The whole CD is worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alphabet   2. Children's Baby/Preschool   3. Children's songs   4. Children: Babies & Toddlers   5. Concepts - Alphabet   6. General   7. Juvenile Fiction   8. Songs   9. Texts   

Customer Reviews (2)

Brilliant Source
Though not the definitive work on Alexander, Curtius provides detail not included by other sources. Sometimes hypocritical and biased, Curtius details the campaigns of Alexander with heavy focus on Alexander the person. To read this book is a must for anyone interested in Alexander. It is one of the primary sources and the fact that he is not as nice about Alexander (such as Plutarch or Arrian) may indeed do justice to the reader. This book can best be understood with the addition of Fuller's "The Generalship of Alexander The Great".

One of the Three Major Sources for Alexander's Life
The most interesting and controversial, but not necessarily the most accurate, ancient biography of Alexander the Great. In addition to Arrian and Plutarch, you can't say you know all about Alexander until you read this book. Full of information not found in the other two biographies. Though it is often touted as not reliable, contemporary scholarship owes much of their increasingly negative opinion of Alexander the Great to this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C   2. Alexander,   3. Biography   4. Biography/Autobiography   5. Early works to 1800   6. General   7. Generals   8. Greece   9. History - General History   10. the Great,   11. Alexander   12. Ancient Greece   13. Biography: historical   14. European history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Customer Reviews (2)

beautiful and essential
At a hefty 600 pages this collection has something for everyone--and manages not to skimp on the essentials or pad itself with filler. Though it would serve well as an introduction, "Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica" is even better as a companion (especially to my favorite book on the country, "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made").

Dont let the title of this book fool you.
I bought this book because I wanted a field guide to tropical wildife. Since Audubon and Peterson do not offer guides of this sort I went out on a limb. This book is definately not a field guide, but a desk reference. If you want to quickly identify the birds you are seeing, this is by no means the book to have. There are wonderful pictures and great descriptions, but the layout of the book takes time to find what you are looking for. It should also be noted that this is predominantly a guide to the birds of costa rica, there are less than a dozen insects mentioned and about the same number of reptiles/amphibians. Overall good information on the birds and few other animals listed, but terrible format. One final thought- this is not a light book to have in your backback hiking through backcountry Costa Rica. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals   2. Costa Rica   3. Identification   4. Nature   5. Nature / Field Guide Books   6. Nature/Ecology   7. Wildlife   8. Zoology   

Subjects:  1. Electronics - General   2. Engineering - General   3. Industrial Technology   4. Science/Mathematics   5. Systems Engineering   6. Technology   7. Technology & Industrial Arts   8. Engineering: general   9. Management & management techniques   10. Technology / Electronics / General   

Customer Reviews (1)

A Concordance for Dummies
A Bible verse flits through your mind, but you can't remember it exactly, and you're not sure where to find it. You look in the Concordance in the back of your Bible. No help. Even the gigantic Strong's Concordance (which gives you a hernia to lift!) doesn't help because it's keyed only to the King James translation. Cruden's to the rescue! Look up a key word and you find the reference in 'most any translation. Example: you remember somewhere in Scripture the phrase, "God inhabits the praise of His people. So you look under "praise" and you find Psalm 22:3: "OH Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." OK, so you didn't recall it quite right. Now you know. Another example: you're curious what the Bible has to say about JOY. Wow! More than 2 columns of references on joy and joyful! A Bible study in itself. As a writer, I adore this book, but anyone who loves God's word and studying it will, too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible   2. Bible - Reference - Concordances   3. Bibles - King James   4. Christianity - Education - General   5. Concordances, English   6. Reference   7. Religion   8. Religion - Commentaries / Reference   

Written by its inventors, The C++ Standard Template Library is a must-have for any serious intermediate or advanced C++ developer. Containing a full reference to all available Standard Template Library (STL) features and filled with expert advice, this book will give you the means to use this powerful library more effectively.

As most C++ developers know, the STL bundles robust container classes and nearly 100 algorithms (used to efficiently search, sort, and manipulate data). However, tapping its power can be a challenge. Many books on STL resort to the arcane syntax of templates and can be couched in the language of computer science. The C++ Standard Template Library breaks this mold with a clearly presented tour of STL from top to bottom, based on the individual header files that make up this library. Because it was written by its original inventors, you get a true insider's perspective.

Starting with iterators (used to navigate through data) and an in-depth guide to STL algorithms, you'll learn the right way to use STL from the ground up, including specific features and APIs. Each chapter is organized so that newcomers can learn the basics first, with a reference and guide to APIs and how to use them. The nitty-gritty details follow. (Each chapter includes the full source code from Hewlett-Packard's implementation of each STL header file, along with annotations and suggested programming exercises to try out on your own.) Besides full source code, expert readers will benefit from the description of the design choices made by the STL author/inventors, as well as tips for performance.

The book closes with a full tour of STL containers (including the vector, list, set, and map classes), plus hints for selecting the right containers based on your programming needs. (It helps that the discussion on containers occurs after the material on algorithms, making STL containers even more flexible.) In all, The C++ Standard Template Library looks to be an important book, one that will help anyone with some C++ experience get productive with STL. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• Introduction to the Standard Template Library (STL)
• Guidelines for using STL features and test code
• Programming exercises
• Iterators (output and input iterators, forward, bidirectional, and random access iterators)
• Utility templates
• Allocators and memory templates (including smart pointers with auto_ptr)
• Guide to over 90 STL algorithms (including searching, sorting, and manipulating STL data)
• Numeric templates
• Templates for function objects
• Guide to STL containers
• Vector and resizable arrays
• List and linked lists
• Deque and double-ended queues
• STL associative containers (set and map containers, trees (including balanced, mostly balanced, and red-black trees), multisets and multimaps, stacks, queues, and priority queues
• Reference and tutorial to all STL classes and APIs
• Full source code for the Hewlett-Packard implementation of STL
• Sample programming exercises

Customer Reviews (4)

not the book for a quick overview
I had basically no knowledge of STL when I purchased this book and was quite afraid of templates. My job duties involve only sporadic forays into C++ so I had not had a lot of chance to get practical exposure to STL. In addition, the books I studied to learn C++ (and most C++ books I have seen since) tend to stumble a bit when it comes to covering templates. It was with these pre-existing handicaps that I began tackling this book. I will discuss the bad parts of the book first, but please keep reading down to the good parts because I think this book is an excellent resource to have available and I wouldn't want to do the authors a disservice.

I found STL, and this book, to be pretty complicated when I started. Basically the book is divided up with a chapter for each header file in the library, which I am now convinced is NOT the best way to teach someone the STL. Keeping in mind that I had absolutely zero knowledge of the STL prior to reading this book, it was understandably confusing at first. Iterators and allocators are explained long before containers, which sort of leaves them with no apparent applications. Mention is made that they will be used later, but it was really hard (at least for me) to understand and remember the how's without knowing the why's. When I finally got to the container section I found myself flipping back pretty regularly to the iterator and allocator sections to review because much of that earlier material I didn't absorb in the first read. A student must be diligent and read most of the book before it will start to make sense. This means if a reader is looking for a book that will just get them up and running with the STL, this probably isn't the one.

Despite the above paragraph, I was on the verge of giving this book five stars. The book is thorough and methodical, and if you have the time to read it (and do some of the questions, I found them helpful) you will probably be quite good with the STL by the end. The authors definitely know the subject material. I did not find much humor or funny anecdotes to make the reading pass quicker, but most of the book was really concise. Probably 150 pages or so spread throughout the book is the source code, so they had to keep editorializing to a minimum. I found the writing to be pretty clear and as easy to understand as possible, given the complexity of the subject matter. It took me awhile to read through the whole book, and even afterwards I was still a bit cloudy, but after a couple hours of banging around with some test programs it all clicked into place and I feel really confident that I learned the material well.

Now that I have a good understanding of the STL, this book is second to none as a reference. While laying out the book header by header is a detriment to the learning process, it is invaluable later on as a reference. In addition, a complete and functional version of the STL code is printed in each appropriate chapter of the book. After each section of code is found a few line summary of each class and method, again invaluable as a reference.

In conclusion, I would rate this book as a must-have if you are serious about learning (and *understanding*) the STL. For the pretty reasonable price you get a thorough book by authors who know what they are doing, and an excellent post-read reference that you will want to have on your shelf. The only bad part about the book was it could have been organized to make the first read a bit better (to the detriment of later reads), and it won't get you up and running with the STL as quick as some other books might. It is definitely one of my top three favorite books on the shelf at home.

Excellent book for a highly specialized audience
Just a few months ago, I bemoaned the fact that Plauger's _The Draft Standard C++ Library_ had never been updated to the actual standard. I'm happy to report that this book contains an answer to a considerable part of my prayers: It contains an in-depth discussion of the STL, along with a complete, high quality implementation in source code form (Contrary to what the "Topics Covered" section on this page implies, however, the source code is NOT the Hewlett-Packard implementation, but a proprietary derivative which is commercially licensed).

It's hard to pin down exactly why, but this book was not quite as pleasurable a read as its predecessors. One of the reasons might be the typography: The use of underlining for emphasis of the actual makes the standards sections of the book unpleasant to read. There might be an issue of the subject: For all its power, there is not all that much interesting algorithmic stuff going on in the STL. Lastly, it seems that C++ template code as such, no matter how brilliantly written and how useful to the library client, is rather unpleasant to read-a somewhat sobering insight to a C++ aficionado as myself. As a result, the code that *was* algorithmically interesting was quite hard to understand-I would not recommend this book to somebody trying to learn about red-black trees, for instance.

If you buy just one book about the STL, buy Josuttis' _The Standard C++ Library_. If you want additional in-depth insight into the workings of the STL, and are willing to invest the time it takes to study the code, buy this book. I certainly never regretted reading it, and I hope that Plauger will update his implementation of the rest of the C++ library to publish a standard compliant version of the iostream and string libraries sometime in the future.

*THE* book you need if you want to extend STL
If you are new to STL or if you just want to sharpen your STL skills, this book is *not* for you. It's of very little use to STL client programmers, i.e. users of STL. It's even a little bit advanced for a programmer who is interested only in developing new STL algorithms but not containers/iterators.

But, if you're serious about extending STL, especially if you want to write new container and iterator classes, this is *the* book you need.

Personally, I make use of the information provided in this book to write a 3D container class and a couple of highly complex 3D iterators for an academic study demanding high speed and reliability. I have other STL books like Austern's Genetic Programming and the STL or, Musser's STL Tutorial and Reference Guide which are both extremely good references for *using* STL. But, those books did not help me even a little bit when I was trying to write a 3D iterator. I believe, The C++ Standard Template Library is the only book around that's really meant for serious STL developers.

So, if you ever want to develop a new container with a fair amount of new features or a new iterator with fancy tricks, buy this book. But, If you're only after using STL and/or developing new algorithms, stick with Austern's Genetic Programming or some other similar book... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. C (Programming Language)   2. C++ (Computer program language   3. C++ (Computer program language)   4. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming   5. Computer Books: Languages   6. Computers   7. General   8. Programming Languages - C++   9. Computers / Programming Languages / C++   10. COMPUTERS-LANGUAGES/PROGRAMMING   11. Programming Languages   12. C++   

Customer Reviews (1)

Washington DC Then and Now
Washington D.C., Then and Now, is full of many fascinating pictures taken in and around the Washington D.C. area. The city is rich in history and full of a number of buildings, monuments and historic areas. Through the years, the city has changed and developed around these landmarks. Washington D.C., Then and Now traces this development and change through pictures.

The premise behind the book is to show the reader each area of the city as it appeared using archival photographs on one page, and comparing it to a recent picture of the same area, taken from approximately the same location, to demonstrate how the area has evolved.

The author has organized the book by street name or area. The earliest known picture of the Capitol, taken in 1846, is the most famous picture (Only seven are known to exist). There is an interesting story about how the rare picture was obtained. You'll have to get the book to find out.

Whether you have traveled to Wahington DC or are just interested in the pictoral history of our nation's capital, the book has a lot to offer. It also makes an excellent coffee table book for your guests to peruse. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History   2. History - General History   3. Photoessays & Documentaries   4. Pictorial works   5. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S/South   6. Travel   7. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)   8. United States - State & Local - General   9. Washington (D.C.)   

Subjects:  1. Intellectual Property   2. Law   3. Law Of Intellectual Property   4. Legal Reference / Law Profession   5. License agreements   6. Patent licenses   7. United States   8. Business information systems   9. Intellectual property, copyright & patents   10. Law / Intellectual Property