Customer Reviews (76)

A bitter ecological tale for our time
This is a fascinating book.

It's also very sad, because it illustrates the ability of modern people to almost unconsciously wipe out the natural resources of our planet. Codfish were once the "buffalo" of the oceans -- big, fat, useful and dumb. As one early explorer wrote, to catch cod all you need do is lower and bucket into the water and haul it back up full of fish. Sorta like buffalo in the days when passengers could shoot them from the windows of passing trains as a harmless sport intended solely to break the boredom of the trip.

Yes, this book is a bitter ecological tale for our time.

It is also a wonderful history of a marvelous fish. Kurlansky obviously had fun writing it, and his love of cod shows in the comfortable style of his writing. He delves into word origins for the different ways used to describe cod, and he plays with the history of a dozen or so nations to illustrate the impact one fish had on entire peoples. Plus, he includes dozens of recipes by which cod was cooked for generations.

But he also explains why such an international treasure has almost vanished.

"Whatever steps are taken, one of the greatest obstacles to restoring cod stocks off Newfoundland is an almost pathological collective denial of what has happened," Kurlansky writes near the end of the book. "Newfoundlanders seem prepared to believe anything other than they have killed off nature's bounty."

What happened? Kurlansky writes that "One Canadian journalist published an article pointing out that the cod disappeared from Newfoundland at about the same time that stocks started rebuilding in Norway.

"Clearly the northern stock had packed up and migrated to Norway," he adds. If this is the Canadian attitude, in one of the self-proclaimed best educated and wealthiest of nations, it's not hard to understand why and how Third World nations have environmental problems. My personal experience with a similar depletion is in the Sea of Cortez, where Mexican fishermen have taken about 20 years to just about exterminate the sharks.

Shrimp boats, based in Puerto Penasco, have likewise decimated the shrimp. Who's to blame? The United States, of course, because the Americans built dams on the Colorado River which prevents the river water from reaching the sea.

There's always someone else to blame.

As I said earlier, it's a sad book. Yet, it is an excellent one and perhaps one of the most appropriate to read in terms of what is fast happening to our marine life. Cod are invisible, not like cute furry little baby seals which so excited Europeans a few years ago when they saw how Canadians clubbed them to death to avoid marking the fur. If the future of our world depends on cute pictures on TV, then our future is truly in deplorable shape.

But, the fact this book exists and is written with elegance, style, wit and great insight, may persuade thick-headed politicians that even "invisible" wildlife deserves protection from our greed and ignorance. If not, and having known many politicians for many years I'm not optimistic, it is a beautiful elegy to a noble fish.

What happens when a native species disappears? Well, two centuries ago the US Southwest had some of the world's finest grasslands. Then came the Russian Thistle, an almost useless weed that choked out the grass. Now we celebrate this import in song, "See them tumbling along . . . . . the tumbling tumbleweeds."

It happens.

hungry for a lost fish
A purse-sized history of the cod fishery, from the Basques & vikings to the fishes' modern decimation by large scale bottom-dragging. The social & historical ramifications spawned (no pun intended) by the international quest for this fish are incredible. Kurlansky's book weaves historical accounts in choronological order with hundreds of years of recipes for preparing cod. Though the book was well-written, concise, and highly interesting, I found it oddly incongruous to read about the vast decimation of this species yet find myself hungry for the very same fish after reading the next page's recipe for it.

Perfect For Detail Junkies
Cod is not for every reader, reflecting as it does the author's deep interest in history, and how individual foods relate to history. What the book gives to thoughtful readers is true context along with its detail. Kurlansky drives home a real point: you cannot separate the fish from the men who risk and lose their lives to extract it from the sea, nor can the food be divorced from the dollars it represents. In culinary terms, I was inspired to start cooking with dried cod; it's the kind of thing you don't notice in your supermarket until something--this book in my case--sticks it into your consciousness with no going back. As a real "foodie" and an incurable history buff, I am thankful that writers like Kurlansky go to the trouble of applying their talents to subjects like this.

Food writer Elliot Essman's other reviews and food articles are available at www.stylegourmet.com ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cod fisheries   2. Codfish   3. Cookery (Codfish)   4. Fish   5. History   6. Literary collections   7. Nature / Field Guide Books   8. Nature/Ecology   9. World - General   

Customer Reviews (4)

Impossible to Read
Now I know why this was shrink-wrapped in the stores, which made it impossible to look inside. But after getting the book and removing the shrink-wrap, it is nearly impossible to read. The layout is similar to ESPN's Magazine, with small colored print on top of colored background, pictures without captions, etc. This was supposed to be for my Dad, but at his age he won't be able to read this. Heck, I can barely read it, and I don't even wear glasses. I'll never buy a shrink-wrapped book again. I should have known better.

A stylish pat on the back for the New York Yankee franchise
As the book title says, this is a "retrospective" and not a history, which explains why there is little to be found about the early days of the New York Yankees in between being certified as a member in the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs and the purchase of George Herman Ruth from the Boston Red Sox. Despite the 41-win season of Jack Chesbro, everything before the Babe is prologue. Besides, for most of those years they were the New York Highlanders and they have never been considered part of the fabled team in pinstripes. The team's centennial is as good as excuse as any for a book like this, since there is essentially the same problem that would have faced a similar effort 50 years ago. The Yankees are once again an on-going dynasty so there seems no real reason to wait for the end of the Joe Torre years or for Derek Jeter to retire before putting together such a book.

Edited by Mark Vancil and Mark Mandrake, "The New York Yankees - 100 Years - The Official Retrospective" is more in the style of sports journalism than academic history, which is fine. Throughout the volume there are a series of essays on the team's greatest players by some of the finest sports writers around: Richard W. Creamer on Babe Ruth, Donald Honig on Joe DiMaggio, Peter Golenbock on Mickey Mantle, and Ray Robinson on Lou Gehrig. Roger Kahn looks at "The Battle of the Boroughs" and Leonard Koppett writes about the Yankees dominance of New York City. There are, as you would expect in such a book, an All-Time Yankees team, selected by the New York-New Jersey Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, who also picked "The Top 25 Moment, Marks, and Events" that concludes the volume.

The sportswriter picked those lists but the justifications are provided by Bill James, the dean of statistical analyses of the game of baseball and a person who knows how to make an argument supported by compelling evidence. For example, James makes a case for Roy White being a better player than Jim Rice and even goes so far as to argue that Whitey Ford's consistency was more important that the spectacular efforts of Sandy Koufax. James provides similar arguments for the Yankees Managers and pretty much settles the debate as to which New York Yankee team was the greatest of all time (no, it was not "Murderer's Row"). Actually, James ends up accounting for about half the text in the book, which is welcomed if you like his brand of analysis and disconcerting if you hold other beliefs.

The book does skew towards the second half of the century, i.e., to the fans who would buy this nice looking book, which explains why the roster of great players gives space to Bobby Murcer but not Bob Meusel. As you would expect, the book is richly illustrated and you might be surprised that many of hte most familiar photographs in team history are not to be found in in this collection. Attention is paid more to the details than the big picture: Keith Olbermann tells Babe Dahlgren's version of the end of Lou Gehrig's playing streak; This is a page devoted to the wisdom of Casey Stengel; and the three major obstacles Elston Howard faced when he joined the Yankees. This book suffers from not having an index, but that seems a trivial concern in the end. You do not have to read this book straight from cover to cover, but as you look as you get around to everything sooner or later.

100 Years?
Someone can't count, because I expected this book to cover ALL of the Yankees history, but the first seventeen years get a grand total of TWO pages! Unbelievable. Then, I start to read and find out that part of this book was written by Bill James, the guy that works for the RED SOX! A few nice pictures don't justify the price - about as good a bargain as Danny Tartabull or Ed Whitson were. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Athletic Sports And Games   2. Baseball - General   3. Baseball - History   4. Baseball - Specific Teams   5. Sports   6. Sports & Recreation   7. Sports & Recreation / Baseball / General   

Customer Reviews (142)

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II
For those many readers who liked the first edition of Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, here comes yet another helping, with 101 more stories on subjects such as love, friendship, random acts of kindness, etc. This volume contains even more poems that you can read quickly when you just need a boost of self-confidence. This book has even more stories on relationships, how to overcome obstacles and learning important lessons. I have to say that I liked this Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul better than the previous ones, because there is even more stories dealing with tough stuff such as anorexia, divorce, etc. Each story is unique in its own way but one thing is for sure: each story touches the reader and makes them stop and think about how all of their actions have consequences, some good, some bad.

Jennifer Love Hewitt contributed yet another story for this book, as well as Andrew Keegan and Elisa Donovan. I strongly encourage teenagers, pre-teens and even adults to read this book in order to better understand the feelings teenagers' are experiencing, and how to deal with these often confusing emotions. Lovers for the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul will not be disappointed, especially when they learn that a Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III is also in stores.

Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul 2
...Chicken Soups are books written by readers of real life stories about either their life or someone else's. There are many Chicken Soup books directed to certain people, mostly by ages. Some of them are Chicken Soup for anyone to read, Chicken Soup for kids, for mothers, for fathers, for parents for Christians, teenagers and many others. This particular book is the second version of the Chicken Soups for Teenagers. It has one hundred and one more stories about the life of teenagers. The writers of stories have written about the following topics: Relationships, Friendship, Love and Kindness, Tough Stuff, Family, Learning Lessons, Making a Difference and Growing Up. All these are topics, which teenagers can relate to as they all experience things connected to the topics. The authors of the topics vary, most of them are written by teenagers. Some of the stories are even written by parents who have teenagers and sometimes celebrities write in a story. In this particular book actress Jennifer Love Hewitt wrote a story about friendship. In addition not only are there stories but there are also poems.
Chicken Soup Teenage Soul II has a story written by Jennifer Love Hewitt, which is known to have attracted many people to read this edition. Her particular story is on the topic of friendship. The title of the story is "A Friend For Life." This story is about Jennifer Love Hewitt meeting a young girl named Nicole who is suffering from cancer. Jennifer Love Hewitt was asked by an organization to help young people with sickness have their dream come true. Nicole's dream was to meet the actress. The story explains the kind of personality Nicole had towards life, even though she was suffering from cancer. Jennifer Love Hewitt explains about her full-of-energy life, how she didn't want anyone to pity her, she just wanted to live a normal life, she was just so positive about everything. Jennifer Love Hewitt mentions that her experience with Nicole is a day she'll never forget and that would affect her forever. Nicole was and always will her inspiration.
This is a book, which teenagers can connect with. By reading it they can realize that they aren't alone when it comes to certain conflicts or struggles in common daily life a teenager could experience. Every story and poem all have life lessons and morals to learn from, take notice of and understand. It is classified as an inspirational book and is very uplifting.

Chicken soup for the teenage soul II
If you like poems and love stories then this is the book for you . It talks about lost loves can broken hearts.This book is also about friendships and family too!
One of my favorite poems is called inside , by Melssa Collette because it relates to my life called inside, it is very good. Another good poem is called Confussed , by Anonymous. The authors are jack Cnafeild Mark Ulcter Hansen , and Kimberly Kirberger.When I read this book it warmed my hear. I would recomend this book to anyone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Inspirational   2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)   3. Conduct of life   4. Juvenile Nonfiction   5. Religion - Inspirational   6. Social Studies - Sociology   7. Teenagers   8. Family & Relationships / Adolescence   

It's no secret that teachers are underpaid, overworked, and undervalued, and bestselling authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen have compiled Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul as both a tribute and encouragement to those who make a difference in the lives of their students. It's inspiration in bite-sized, manageable chunks. Under 11 different topical headings such as "A Day in the Life" and "Overcoming Obstacles," readers will discover motivating quotes ("Love first, teach second"), hilarious cartoons, and touching stories that combine to make this book a testimonial of thanks, sure to revitalize weary educators. Teachers, coaches, childcare professionals, and educators--from preschool to college, Sunday school to public school--will find in these pages a renewed passion for changing lives, and fresh vision to go the extra mile with every student. The essays are by turns entertaining, motivating, and funny, and most are deeply touching. Keep the Kleenex handy. --Cindy Crosby ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Inspiring Educators and Learners alike - A Gem!
Long overdue "Chicken Soup" collection for teachers. Nearly 400 pages filled with dozens of heartwarming true stories from the "pages of teachers' memories" saturated with wonderful experiences. For anyone who is out there, making a difference everyday, or for those who admire the dedication of those who selflessly give to the millions of children whose lives they affect and forever change.

The joy of teaching, summed up by testimonials of a few. There are not enough books to contain all of the wonder, the magic, the laughter and tears; the many precious gifts of this field of work. "Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul" makes a successful attempt at capturing the essence. Further volumes are certain to follow. This is a five star gem!*****

My Teachers. My Friends
Teachers have always held a special place in my heart, from my first teachers in nursery school till the present day. This book is great for those who have had a special teacher in their lives, teachers who have been mentors and friends. Get this book, and even better, share it with that special teacher.

Heartwarming
Heartwarming....the perfect gift for any teacher or yourself. You will be encouraged by these stories! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Conduct of life   2. Ethical aspects   3. General   4. Inspirational   5. Inspirational - General   6. Moral and ethical aspects   7. Self-Help   8. Spiritual   9. Teachers   10. Teaching   11. Teaching Methods & Materials - General   12. Education / General   

Customer Reviews (41)

Why The West Is A Target For Terrorism & Hatred.
Presented by a Professor of Islamic History at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, this book provides the reader with an extremely valuable insight into what the Islamic holy book, the Quran, teaches about Christianity, violence & the goals of the Islamic jihad. We are also imparted with an in depth analysis into the Islamic faith, beliefs and traditions through a book which documents the identification between modern terrorism and Islamic theology.

Written in the wake of the September 11th attacks, the book outlines how as a "Christian" society, we in the West have an extremely limited comprehension of what Muslims actually believe and what, if any, agenda the religion of Islam has.

At the outset, the contents of the book go to great lengths to point out that "Islam is behind terrorism" and not "Muslims". Readers being encouraged to love individual Muslims but to be aware of what Islam teaches, pointing out that many Muslims themselves are not aware of all that the Islamic faith includes.

Muslims being described here as falling into any one of three groups; secular, traditional and fundamental Muslims. Secular Muslims only believing in what they term the "nice" parts of Islam and who reject jihad. Traditional Muslims who have a stumbling block with the concept of Jihad and the latter group of fundamentalists who actually perpetrate the terrorism. More detail of this is included as the book progresses.

The book begins with an autobiography detailing the writer's experience and knowledge of Islam and how he came to question his Islamic faith. This is followed by an account of his expulsion from University, his arrest and detention by the Egyptian secret police and his treatment/interrogation. The story extends to his conversion to Christianity and the main body of the book which deals with Islam and associated terrorism.

The fundamentals of the Islamic faith are examined initially, with a description of Islam as being a "religion based on work" with "entrance to paradise" having to be earned. Muslims being described as having no "assurance of salvation". The only way of guaranteeing "entrance to paradise" being to die in jihad. What the book describes as the "perfect motive for suicide bombers". Something which is describing as encouraging Muslims to even leave their own nations to fight jihad in other countries.

This study illustrates that the focus of jihad is to "overcome" people who do not accept Islam (page 33). A quotation from Surah 4;89 of the Noble Quran stating, "Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back, take them and kill them wherever you find them".

Many, many other quotations are taken from the Islamic holy books to substantiate this issue. Many readers may be disturbed by what they read. Indeed, the book proceeds to describe (with suitable references) that the ultimate goal of Islam is to establish Islamic authority over the entire World. The book also revealing what it describes as historical facts about the Islamic prophet Muhammad, his teachings and practices, that few Westerners have ever encountered.

The book declares that Islam has been veiled in a vast sea of misinformation since September 11th , with many political and media elements falsely presenting Islam as a "religion of peace". Muslim spokespersons publicly proclaiming such an image are described as distorting the truth to make it palatable to Western ears and also with a view to attracting possible converts. Many Islamic leaders being cited here as each doing their part for jihad by deceiving the Western populace through the media, achieving the desired effect upon public opinion.

We are also presented with Muhammad's own example of jihad and how others were encouraged to follow him. The ultimate goal of Islam is also examined. Mawlana Abul Ala Mawdudi, the founder of Pakistan's fundamentalist Islamic movement is quoted as saying that Islam is not like the other religions in the World and Muslim nations not like other nations, because Muslim nations have a command from Allah to "rule the entire World and to be over every nation in the World". (Page 81).

The book takes the reader on what it describes as a guided tour through 1,200 years of Islamic history where examples are illustrated that "justify" the killing of even women and children. The evolution of Islamic terrorism is also studied and how it has been brought to the West. The book describing how Islamic terrorism is no longer so intent upon targeting diplomatic figures or individuals, as random attacks upon the general public are more effective, as they terrorize the majority and spread fear in a larger way. Terrorism shown to have become a method of "political debate & dialogue". The depth of the Islamic hatred of Israel, the US, the West, Christianity and Judaism all being mentioned.

The contents of this work also show that Muslims believe that "war means deception" and that lying is justified and indeed an important element of war in Islam. How this crucially affects countries dealing with Islamic nations in relation to so called "peace agreements" is also studied. The book describes how difficult it is for the Western public to accept and understand such a mind-set.

I would respectfully recommend another book by Mark Gabriel entitled "Islam and the Jews; The Unfinished Battle". Thank you.

Quran: It's Cleansing Sword for Pagans
The author of ISLAM AND TERRORISM cites specific Surahs(verses) in the Quran to show how Islam really doesn't "tolerate" Jews and Christians ("People of the Book/Bible") and pagans/infidels (non-monotheists). The Quran's Surah 9:5 is pretty clear: "Fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them...."
The author explains "Naskh": why contradictions appear to exist in the Quran. Some verses tell Muslims to respect Jews and Christians (but only if they pay a tax), while others urge a Jihad against them. What this author reveals is that Muhammad received different revelations from Allah at different times as to how the Jews and Christians were to be treated.
The later revelations against non-Muslims reverse the earlier toleration commandments.
This is the only book that I have found that extensively cites passages from the Quran to reveal how Usama/Osama bin Ladin's gang justify their killings of non-Muslims, including innocent women and children.
The author notes that the Quran is not written in a straight timeline. Its chapters are not written in chronological order, but the largest chapters are followed by ever-smaller chapters. One needs to obtain another booklet to learn how scholars believe which chapter actually was revealed before the others. This is necessary in trying to understand Allah's "last" views as revealed to Muhammad. They changed; hence, one needs to know when each chapter was written in order to understand the which were the correct "last" or "most up to date" dictims from Allah: does he tolerate Jews or not? Allah must not, as Muhammad ordered the killing of so many Jews, and ordered Jews and Christians out of Arabia. (This explains why there are no Christian churches or Jewish synagogues in Saudi Arabia. As a U.S. solider in Saudi Arabia during Gulf War I to liberate Muslim-Kuwait, we were told not to wear Christian crosses on the outside of our uniforms. Also, when you check into a Saudi hotel, the registration card asks you your religion -- but the kind proprietor told me I really didn't have to note it.)
Too bad the critics of this book don't explain what specific falsehoods they find in it. I looked up all of the citations in THE NOBLE QURAN (published by the government of Saudi Arabia) and found them to be accurate.
A fine campanion book from this author is: ISLAM AND THE JEWS - THE UNFINISHED BATTLE.

For those with eyes that see
This is an excellent book to better understand the source of the obvious; People dancing in joy over the death of innocent Muslims and non-Muslims by Muslims, daily explosions of people exploding themselves to kill what seems to be innocent people, the oppressive lives of Muslim women, kidnapping unarmed contractors and chopping their heads off, vast numbers of people in Afganistan with missing limbs, the starving and slavery of non-Muslim Sudanese by Muslims, the daily reports of killings by Muslims in Sudan, the Philipines, Malaysia, Iraq, Russia, Pakistan, Thialand, Israel, and on and on. The reason people buy and like this book is because it explains what anyone with eyes can see. It fits with what we see and hear - it rings true to those with eyes and ears. Those who argue against it with "scholorship" or "bigotry", etc. ring hollow to those who are daily shocked by the things Muslims are doing and no longer believe that Muslim means peace. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - General   2. Christianity - General   3. Comparative Religion   4. Controversial literature   5. Islam   6. Islam - General   7. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism   8. Religion   9. Religion - World Religions   10. Religious aspects   11. Terrorism   12. Violence   

Customer Reviews (8)

Wonderful, in-depth book for Ops Engineers.
This was a required text for my Production and Mgmt course during my undergrad studies as an Industrial and Ops Engineer at the U of Michigan in 2000. Priot to taking the course, I had very little knowledge of how ops research/optiimization tied in with real world settings. Lucky for me, the course was taught by an wonderful, demanding professor who unfortunately had to leave and now is at the U of Cinnatti. Anyway, I was able to gain tremendous understanding of how statistics, queueing theories, game thoeries, and factory mgmt all got tied into one. It was this book that tied all the pieces together and push me forward toward my career path. I continue to use this book as reference and interesting reads in my continued involvement in the Supply Chain areas and optimization areas in the tech industry. This book WILL build a firm foundation for anyone who gives an effort and has an interest in the subject. What you do with the knowledge, is up to you in the future, since many of these concepts take time and experience to apply in the real world.

One of 2 best books for both academia and practitioner
Hopp and Spearman wrote the classic issues, manufacturing system, in elegant format. The fundamental of manufacturing systems is deliberately compiled in a single textbook. If you like Askin and Standridge book (1994), you will love this book as well. One thing that forbids me to put 5 stars is this book doesn't have the "material flow/facilities design" issue, which I believe it is the foundation of manufacturing management too. I thought the facilities planning would be included in 2nd edition- but nope :( May be in 3rd edition... maybe... :(

When science and manufacturing management finally meet !!!
This book is a reference in Manufacturing Management. All the basic and complex tools of manufacturing are explained and the historical context of their creation is introduced. More interesting is the global understanding of manufacturing issues and the explanations to go beyond the principles of "zero defect", "zero inventory", ... I learned a lot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance   2. Engineering - Industrial   3. Factory management   4. Industrial Management   5. Management - General   6. Manufacturing   7. Plant Engineering   8. Production Engineering   9. Production management   10. Science/Mathematics   11. Technology   12. Business & Economics / Operations Research   

Customer Reviews (17)

Great Book but Where's the Rest?
Zucchino does a great job of describing the Thunder Run that conquered Baghdad and proved to be instrumental in defeating Saddam. The book doesn't glorify the carnage of war and portrays the soldier's who fought it to give us some perspective. The glaring error in this book is the lack of a decent map, pictures of the weapons involved or anything else that would aid in understanding the story. Hey publisher, when you put out a second edition don't forget that stuff.
If you know a little about the war already and can tell the difference between a Bradley and an Abrams, get the book.

Excellent story about the war in Iraq
There are currently many books out about the Iraqi war. This one focuses on the 3rd division and their "thunder run" up hiway 8 and eventually into downtown Baghdad. It brings the horrors of battle right into your living room with very descriptive passages of battle and the emotions of the men who fought in this untried military strategy. There are vivid descriptions of the firefights and through the narrative you get to see the war from the soldier's point of view. Unlike some non-fiction works, this one reads almost like a novel. It is quickly paced and will keep you reading for hours. An excellent book, I highly recommend it.

A well researched history of the "Thunder Runs".
An overall well done history of the "Thunder Runs" to demonstrate to the press, the Hussein Regime, and the world that the US was in Baghdad, and in Baghdad to stay. A gripping account of the mismatch in quality and quantity of forces, underscored with accounts of the gory details of combat.

This history shows overwhelmingly, that modern armor forces are matchless in dominating a low-tech enemy with poor local command and coordination. The toughness of the heavy US MBTs as well as the IFVs comes through in this book as cited in numerous examples. The overall toughness and adaptability of the US troops comes through as the overriding factor however. Using their skills and teamwork, the American soldier not only penetrated into the depths of the Hussein Palace complex, they then fought numerous battles to preserve logistical lines of contact, sometimes in thin skinned ammo trucks and fuel tankers in a hot battle zone, and then fought through the debilitating loss of the Brigade command post to an SSM to persevere against thousands of Ba'athists and Syrian mercenaries in making a claim to Baghdad's symbols of power.

In summation, a well researched book, written in clear pose, with a little bit of dry objectivity thrown in, a recommended read for amateur theorists and military enthusiasts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Army   2. Brigade, 2nd   3. History   4. History - Military / War   5. History: World   6. Infantry Division (Mechanized)   7. Iraq War, 2003   8. Middle East - General   9. Military - Iraq War   10. Military - Other   11. Military - United States   12. Modern - 21st Century   13. United States   

Customer Reviews (2)

A surgical Bible
I was slightly disappointed by the fact that this book is considerably thinner than the previous edition -- we're losing something here. I found the Liver chapter a bit vague sometimes (e.g. on the precise indications for resection and/or transplantation for liver cancer), and chapters on fundamental topics such as Preoperative Care are rich in concepts but lacking in practical information. However, the Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, while somewhat less majestic, is still king -- some chapters, like Soft Tissue Sarcomas and Vascular Trauma (written by none less than Brennan and Mattox respectively) are outstanding. The chapters on Management of Acute Trauma, Surgery of Morbid Obesity, Cerebrovascular Disease and Gynecology, to name just a few, also deserve much praise. This tome is a must for all medical students and surgical interns/residents.

a must for 3rd & 4th yr med surgical minded students
This book is an excellent book to establish a broad fundamental understanding of surgery, but detailed enough to use as reference. Every medical student who plans to pursue a career in a surgical field should read this book prior to graduation from medical school. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Medical   2. Medical / Nursing   3. Perioperative Care   4. Surgery   5. Surgery - General   6. Surgical Procedures, Operative   

Customer Reviews (4)

Post-Merger Process Tools for Big Companies
Having been a manager at a large company, I can see how this book would be beneficial for managers at large companies that are doing acquisitions. But from the perspective of a manager at a smaller company that is being acquired, this book was not particularly helpful.

Packed With Knowledge!
This thorough, detailed book focuses on the misunderstood aspects of merger and acquisition management. Timothy J. Galpin and Mark Herndon clearly have vast experience and draw on case studies to illustrate their suggestions. They provide sample surveys and integration flow charts to guide hands-on planning, and offer practical advice that you can apply in real-world situations. Not all of these ideas are new, nor do the authors claim them to be. Instead, they apply the most relevant ideas from management and psychology to M&A. The authors hammer home an extremely consistent message: You must communicate. They present their ideas clearly, even though the book is often wordy and uses a lot of passive voice (alas, business prose). Nonetheless, this is actually a very dense book and the authors are careful not to waste the reader's time. This is essential reading for virgin M&A managers, and we at getAbstract think that even experienced acquirers may find much to learn.

About as "Complete" as Possible
There is already an abundance of resources on the subject of M&A, especially those available on the WWW. If you are looking for a single-volume source, this is probably one of the best. The authors devote 14 chapters to virtually all aspects of M&A. In process, with clarity and eloquence, they explain the "Watson Wyatt Deal Flow Model" which, after appropriate modifications, can be applied to almost any organization involved in M&A negotiations, either as a buyer or as a seller. The final chapter, all by itself, is well worth the cost of the book. In it, the authors suggest various "keys" to M&A success. They then provide:

Resource A: Sample Task Force Charter

Resource B: Integration Planning Template

Resource C: Executive Summary of Watson Wyatt Worldwide's 1998-1999 Mergers and Acquisitions Survey

What we have here is a single-volume in which two experts on the subject of M&A seem to share everything they know about the subject. Even if your company is not currently a buyer or seller, its senior-level executives should read this book. Why? Because you just never know. Perhaps sooner than now anticipated, your company will be courted by another...or it will be attracted to another company as a prospective acquisition. In either situation, this book (and the "Watson Wyatt Deal Flow Model" it discusses) will be invaluable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics   2. Business / Economics / Finance   3. Business/Economics   4. Consolidation and merger of co   5. Consolidation and merger of corporations   6. Corporate Mergers And Acquisitions   7. Entrepreneurship   8. Executive Management   9. Industries - General   10. Management   11. Management - General   12. Mergers & Acquisitions   13. Business & Economics / Decision-Making & Problem Solving   14. Takeovers, mergers & buy-outs   

Customer Reviews (4)

One glaring weakness
I would give this book 5 stars except for one omission that I find unbelievable: There are no practice problems! Not a single one! Each chapter of the book should have at least a couple problems for the reader to work. This omission mars an otherwise splendid review of the subject.

Refreshing Approach to the Fundamentals of Calculus
I have been using "Calculus for Dummies" to review my Calc I and Calc II basics. I am surprised and pleased with how well Ryan's descriptions and explanations have allowed me to better understand the underlying principles in Calculus. If you are serious about the groundwork and maintenance of your mathematical skills, you know that it is frequently beneficial to return to the basics for those fundamental concepts which can occassionally grow fuzzy with time. If you can find a text that treats the material in a new and entertaining way, the review can be enjoyable as well as instructive.

I highly recommend Ryan's book. He limits complexity (and warns you when he is doing so) to keep the material accessible. For the ultra rigorous analysis, there are many college texts available. But if you are new to Calculus, or looking for a different and refreshing approach to the basics, you will find "Calculus for Dummies" a wise investment. If you are taking Calculus in school and are having some problems understanding the material (and who hasn't?), this book will help you "decode" some of the more difficult concepts. I am sure that it is destined to become a valuable catalyst text on many a struggling math student's desktop.

Excellent Book
As a freshman college student, I purchased this book to help me understand what my awful professor and text book were trying to say. This book does a fantastic job at bringing calculus "down to earth", to quote Mark Ryan. It eliminates the pages of proofs my text book had and cuts right to the chase, explaining calculus in plain English. This book actually TEACHES calculus in a fun way.

This book is worth every penny if you are a student. If you're a beginning calculus student, you will probably get more use out of this book than your text, as did I. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Calculus   2. Mathematics   3. Science/Mathematics   4. Calculus & mathematical analysis   5. Mathematics / Calculus   

Customer Reviews (5)

¡Destinos es muy fantastico!
I'm using Destinos in a telecourse, and am having lots of fun with it, and even learning some Spanish. My listening skills have improved dramatically, since the video is the main learning tool, which forces one to sharpen up and really listen to what's going on. The workbook that accompanies Destinos is really detailed, making it possible to learn a considerable amount of Spanish grammar on one's own. Overall, the best Spanish textbook I've used yet! ¡Adiós!

Destinos rules!
okay, if you don't like Destinos, then you just aren't with the picture. Its the best, its the bomb, and if you don't like it, don't diss it! Go back and do your own little fancy thing! Forget the world around you and sit on your couch!

Encorages Bilingualism and Culture
Last May (1999) I finished my fifth year of Spanish. For two and a half years my class used Destinos. After the AP exam, of the 7 Students who took this years exam, 4 non-native "4's" and one non-native "5". I myself and a much stonger speaker now that I am in college. Destinos promoted speaking from day one and it gave real results. I am exceling in my cuture classes and also with different Spanishes (mex, castilano, argentinian) Destinos gives a well rounded look on the Hispanic Culture. I enjoyed following the charaters through their journeys (video series). I highly recommend this text/video series too all. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. English   2. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books   3. Foreign Language Study   4. Spanish   5. Spanish language   6. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction   7. Textbooks for foreign speakers   8. Foreign Language Study / Spanish   

Customer Reviews (10)

Good intro for self-study
This is an introductory book. It also fits in introductory level of Mathematical Statistics. The prerequisites are introductory calculus and linear algebra. Most theorems are proved in calculus style but there are some gIt can be shownsh that are not proved. So some readers may not be satisfied with the book, especially Math majors.

Logical steps are shown in detail; else logical gaps are contained within a level such that a first time reader can fill in the gap with a pencil and paper. Occasional mix with Bayesian perspective is also a feature. Answers to odd-numbered exercises are provided except ones that ask derivations and proofs. Exercises that require some tricks are provided with hints. In these respects, this textbook is suitable for self-study.

Upon completion of the entire material, I feel concepts are developed well up to Hypothesis testing Chapter 8 where the presentation of material reaches climax and its level of exposition is somewhat higher than other chapters. Thereafter, simple linear regression is treated in detail, but coverage and detail of materials seem to deteriorate from the following general regression section, nonparametrics and thereafter. Kolmogorov-Smirnov Tests section is treated nicely though. Anova section lacks in coverage. The new simulation chapter is presented more like a demonstration rather than an introduction.

I have never seen the previous 2nd edition (unfortunately Dr. Degroot is no longer with us), but according to the preface of this 3rd edition, Dr. Schervish describes 8 major changes from the previous edition. Notable are some material removed from the previous (likelihood principle, Gauss-Markov theorem, and stepwise regression), some added (lognormal distribution, quantiles, prediction and prediction intervals, improper priors, Bayes test, power functions, M-estimators, residual plots in linear models and Bayesian analysis of simple linear regression), more exercises and examples, special notes, introduction and summary to each section, and so on. I find the last in the list is somewhat disturbing, especially introduction parts that are often redundant with the very next paragraph. On the other hand, I find that special notes provide good insights.

I wish they included introduction to Statistical Decision theory, full coverage of regression analysis to be usable such as diagnosis, transformation and variable selection, coverage of Multivariate Normal distribution, more coverage and depth in nonparametrics and simulation, and lists of recommended readings for further study at the end of each section with comments.

There are a noticeable number of typos as of this first printing I have. I sent suggestions for typos and was impressed that Dr. Schervish updated errata list within a few days at his homepage. I wish all authors were like him being responsible.

How to remain a classic
This new editon mantains the features that have made it a classical for a long time:

- Clearly written;
- Tough subjects are made understandable even for beginners;
- Classical results are presented rigorously after a bunch of examples;
- Many exercises, well posed, whose solutions are found in the end of the book (just even exercises).

This books has been long without a revision and we can see easily that it is much better. The main improvement is the computational treatment of Statistics in terms of theory and exercises. And, of course, it is visually more pleasant.

You may think this is little, though. But, a classical is so well done that there is not much more to do. This is the case. So the second author adds what was difficult when DeGroot first wrote it (computational stuff, as I said) and suppress what is out of fashion or has been overcome.

I think it is still the best option to start out to learn Statistics.

Cannot follow the logic --2nd Ed.
First of all I don't know how the 3rd and 2nd Edition differ.

I am trying to learn Probability and Statistics on my own, and I find it very difficult with this book.

The book does do somethings well. It does explain concepts better than what I have read so far (Schaum's). However, in the sections on combinatorics, especially, and thereafter I cannot follow the logic. I read an example problem, the solution is given immediately with little explanation as to how. The author says the bare minimum e.g. here n=52 and k=13. I have seen the combinatoric calculations, that are the solutions, in a multitude of ways, with sums in the numerator, products in the numerator, and it is not at all obvious as to why. There is insufficient discussion in the solution.

Then in working the exercises, there is nonuniform quality with the even-number solutions. Some answers just have a number, others have the formula, and some have numbers with factorials so you can kind of guess what the author did. But in the case where there is just a number, you can't.

Can you learn from this book? Sure you can, but my prediction (after reading Ch. 1) is that it's about as difficult as trying to learn a programming language by looking at syntax and running the code, having no programming experience. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mathematical Statistics   2. Mathematics   3. Probabilities   4. Probability & Statistics - General   5. Science/Mathematics   6. Statistics   7. Business & Economics / Statistics   

Customer Reviews (8)

Brothers in Arms, Men of Courage and Integrity, and Vanguard
Vanguard of the Crusade: The 101st Airborne Division in World War II by Mark Bando is a truly special chronicle of the 101st Airborne from its time in wait in England prior to the invasion of the Continent to the end of the war and disbanding of the Division. Vanguard stands as a tribute to those who fought with the Screaming Eagles, whether they survived the war or not.

Bando has sculpted his prose from hundreds of interviews and personal diaries (although expressly forbade in combat zones!) of 101st veterans. With often only snippets of information from any single source, Bando has been able to piece together an engaging history of combat of one of the most elite forces the Allies assembled during the Second World War. Where possible Bando has reproduced the words of the veterans verbatim within the context of larger discussions lending a feel of authenticity that many other works do not achieve. Vanguard is not written in the flowery novelette style of so many authors (e.g., Ambrose) and as such may be a "difficult" read for many less interested in historical events minus the Hollywood feel. Yet, having said that, anyone interested in how the 101st earned its reputation should not be deterred from tackling this book. It's a wonderful collection of memories and writings that is weaved into a nearly seamless single story of the Division from England 1943 to late 45 in occupied Germany. If you want HISTORY - untainted and without opinions based on hindsight of 60 years - this is it. Bando and the Editorial staff at Aberjona Press have done an incredible job checking, re-checking and verifying information and this fact alone makes this a wonderful piece of historical writing. One other subtle yet VERY effective editorial trick has been to italicize German unit names. In this way it is always clear who is who without knowing all units by heart.

Vanguard of the Crusade represents an indispensable source of fuller information that has not been pre-digested for those less patient for the complete story. Two obvious examples come to mind: First, many probably think they know the "story" of the Airborne drop in the Netherlands as part of Operation Market-Garden. However, the story told in the classic (and both well written and factually sound) A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan is quite "sanitized" and abridged with respect to the actions in which the 101st were involved. Bando does a wonderful job touching on the breadth of the combat situations in which the Screaming Eagles were involved while trying to keep Hell's Highway open. It is probably fair to assume that many people assume that the 101st fought as a single group in relatively small engagement areas during Market-Garden but Bando's text makes it clear that the reality was that of smaller groups spread over greater distances engaged in multiple hit-and-run (generally) battles with both first and second-rate German troops. Few sources (one exception being It Never Snows In September by Robert Kershaw) make this clear. Second, although the Battle of the Bulge is certainly one of the most recognized military actions of the US armed forces, and many know that the 101st Airborne Division played a crucial role, it is unlikely that many understand what the siege on Bastogne really represented in terms of combat. Contrary to "popular" depictions, the month long fierce battles around town of Bastogne were not simply one battle a la the Alamo. Certainly Bastogne was surrounded by the Germans and siege set, but many small Belgian towns like Foy, Bizory, Marvie, Longvilly, and Noville that were situated around Bastogne played a role in its defense and ultimate reversal of battle. It is important to remember not just those who fought from within Bastogne proper, but also those who battled from a distance of yards to a few miles outside Bastogne itself. It was this collective group that earned the Distinguished Unit Citation en masse for their key role in the Battle of the Bulge. Bando dedicates a large portion of his text to these lesser known but not lesser important engagements.

I found Vanguard of the Crusade to be an extremely pleasurable read. I would sit with maps of the various engagements (all the maps presented in the book can be downloaded and printed from: http://aegis-consulting.com/index.html), plot the actions while I moved through the text, and get lost in the hundreds of photographs presented that put a real face on the map coordinates and words. While it is not essential to read Vanguard in this fashion I suggest it, as it is rare that one can so lose oneself so fully in a popular historical text. I give Vanguard a hearty 5 stars for context, presentation and soul!

THE book on the 101st to read.
Forget the rest. If you want to know the true story of the 101st in WW2 this is THE author to read. No one knows more about the unit that Bando. He is THE 101st Airborne Division historian. Period.

He puts many mis-understandings to bed, and provides the most accurate look at this division. Some great rare photos as well.

Well worth the money.

Premier individual and small unit action history.
Mark Bando has done it again. His accounts of individual and small unit action during WW2 is outstanding. His attention to detail, and respect for the WW2 veteran, is vividly apparent. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bando during the debut of his book, 2nd Armored Division in the Land of the Dead, at a 2nd Armored reunion. I met some of the men involved in the actions he recounted, and they confirm his in depth research. I am sure the same devotion goes into every one of his books, and I cannot overstate how informative, and enjoyable, these books are for the WW2 history buff. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Air forces & warfare   2. Airborne Division, 101st   3. American history: Second World War   4. Army   5. History   6. Military - World War II   7. Regimental histories   8. Second World War, 1939-1945   9. USA   10. United States - 20th Century   

Customer Reviews (10)

Merck Manual
This is a comprehensive book, detailing nearly every type of ailment known to mankind. Those who judge just one small portion of it (who may or may not have medical degrees to support their opinions) do the work an injustice by focusing on the narrow instead of the entire range of the book.

This book is full of detail that the average person can comprehend. At times the book does seem a bit rigid in that certain ailments can only occur in specific parts of the body. Case in point, my wife was diagnosed with a ganglion cyst on her ankle, an uncommon location, but according to the book, such cysts are limited to the wrist.

But this does not detract from the overall usefullness of this book as a standard reference. Of course, no book should be the sole source of medical evaluation and doctors must be consulted as the needs arise.

Every home needs this!
This book should be in the library of every home. Are you worried that you have something that is serious? Do you need a self-diagnosis to comfort you or to push you to seek further medical advice? Do you want to know what the treatments are for the ailment you are suffering under? The Merck Manual has all the info you need in easy language to help you better your health. Many people go to a doctor unnecessarily wasting time and money when they feel "sick". However, this manual will give you enough info on practically every health problem/issue out there so that you can decide whether to just heal at home or need medical attention. If you're someone who always "fears the worst" this book will help you ease your fears; while at the same time it tells you the straight facts about a certain condition. In each section, the manual gives you a brief description of the condition/illness, then it gives you the symptoms and diagnosis, and then the prognosis and treatment. There are also VERY helpful appendices where there are lists of medical terms, drug names (generic and trade), and an address directory for all major conditions (in case you need to call a particular organization for more info on a certain condition). This book must be in every home library out there. It is an indispensable tool for a healthy and long life.

The Merck Manual of Medical Information
Fantastic book for in depth but easy to understand reference book. It give you information in plain English, it's almost like a novel but very educational. For an example: It might say "take acetaminophen (Tylenol)" It gives you the meaning to words that are uncommon to everyday usage. Another great aspect is the the book uses a lot of examples after the explanation so that you can fully understand and apply that information if not understood. I have a learning disability (LD and ADD) and I find it very easy to read and understand with out mind boggling confusion. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness   2. General   3. Handbooks, manuals, etc   4. Medical   5. Medicine   6. Medicine, Popular   7. Popular medicine   8. Reference   9. Medical / Reference   

Aimed at the working (or aspiring) Visual C/C++ game programmer, GameProgramming Gems contains over 60 programming tips that have been gatheredfrom more than 40 working game gurus. It you want to build your own games or areinterested simply in how games work, this text provides an intriguing glimpseinto how the pros create state-of-the-art 3-D animation.

The guiding principle in this book is to publish the best available tips forgame programming; most of these fit into 10 pages or fewer. But don't let theefficient presentation fool you; almost every one of these tips will beinvaluable to any serious game developer.

Early sections concentrate on techniques for creating more maintainable, fastercode. A guide to using scripts for data-driven game modules and techniquesteaches you better resource management (like using handles). A quick-starttutorial to the Standard Template Library (STL) will help you learn how to usethese fast collection classes in your code right away. Several contributors showoff strategies for better game debugging and profiling--there's even a set ofclasses that can provide onscreen feedback during testing.

The mathematical underpinnings that are required to do leading-edge 3-D graphicsprocessing--including the use of quaternions, instead of matrices, incertain calculations--also are discussed. (One section looks at simulating watersurfaces.) And artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for games--like FiniteState Machines (FSMs), fuzzy logic, and neural networks--are explained. (Theextremely cool flocking algorithms, which will let you add the behavior of birdsor fish to your next game level, are especially appealing.)

Over 20 techniques for doing work with polygons (a staple of representing 3-Dvirtual worlds) are laid out, too. You'll learn a variety of important concepts,such as collision detection, working with key frames, better skinning forcharacter animation, and realistic terrain generation (including fractals). Adiscussion of pixel effects, with some cutting-edge ways to add more realisticlighting and shadows to your games, closes the discussion. (One of the moreexciting sections shows you how to simulate glass objects within 3-D scenes.)

With its leading-edge material on the algorithms that are used by thecompetition, Game Programming Gems will be a virtual must-read for anyonewho works in the game industry. With code samples that are geared to OpenGL andthat should run on both Windows and Linux, this book will help developers honetheir game-programming skills. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

Tips and strategies for game developers Data-driven design and scripting languages Object-oriented design primer Using Visual C++ templates for faster math calculations Resource-management techniques (Singleton patterns, resource handles, andtips for fast data loads) The C++ Standard Template Library (STL) for games Bit arrays Network protocols for online games Using assertsand profiling for games Random numbers Interpolation methods Equations for rigid body motion Using polynomial approximations for trigfunctions Implicit Euler integration Wavelets Simulating watersurfaces Quaternion vs. matrix calculations Artificial-intelligence (AI)techniques for gamers Sending messages Finite State Machines (FSMs)

Game trees Pathing strategies (including A* and 3-D pathingsolutions) Flocking algorithms Introduction to fuzzy logic and neuralnetworks Techniques for faster graphics with polygons (and 3-D fundamentals) Loading vertices faster into OpenGL The vector camera Camera-controlstrategies 3-D collision detection Multiresolution maps Distancecalculation Object occlusion Working with octrees Interpolating between 3-D keyframes Skinning techniques Terrain-generation algorithms (including fractals) 2-D lens flare 2-D sprite effects with 3-D hardware Techniques for more realisticlighting Shadows and texturing Simulating glass and liquids ingames

... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Definite must-have
There are many game programming books out there written for beginning to intermediate programmers, but unfortunately, advanced information is harder to come by, being scattered across web sites, magazines, technical journals, and in small sections of non-game-specific books. Game Programming Gems finally provides a single place where you can find explanations of advanced techniques that are actually being used in modern games.

This book covers a broad range of topics and is written by many authors, so naturally, there will be some sections that are more useful to you than others. Overall, though, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a game programmer who wouldn't benefit in some way from this book.

My only minor complaint is that although the vast majority of the chapters include sample code, not many include a complete demo. Although you can easily create your own project to dump the sample code into, it would have been nice to be able to immediate launch a demo as I read each section.

That one shortcoming isn't enough to stop me from giving this a 5 star rating. I highly recommend it to any intermediate to advanced game programmer who wants to take it to the next level.

Fantastic! Reminds me of why I love programming games...
Wonderful adaptation of the popular Graphics Gems series - every chapter in this book leaves me wanting to whip up some code to test out what is taught. Very technical subject matter that spans a wide variety of topics from AI to 3D to physics. Most highly recommended game programming book I've yet seen -- I'm already waiting anxiously for GPG II, III, and IV :).

Very useful.
I've found this book to be very useful in game programming. The variety of articles an concepts covered is very vast. In fact, that is probably the cause for its only (in my opinion) shortcomming - that many of the articles aren't long or complete enough. An excellent book if you're looking for an introduction to many different concepts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming   2. Computer Books And Software   3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming   4. Computer Graphics - General   5. Computers   6. Entertainment & Games - General   7. Microcomputer Graphics   8. Programming - Software Development   9. Computer Graphics, Animation   

Customer Reviews (11)

Valuable to all levels of business & IT management
Both Business and IT managers will find useful insights in this book. The collection of case studies along with the presented analytical framework provide a solid foundation for addressing many of the classic technology management issues.

In addition the book helps examine the functional business aspects of running an IT function. How refreshing to finally read book that offers practical information on how to effectively run an IT organization!

The concept of "IT as a business unit" is finally expressed!
"Managing IT as a Business" will help senior business management executives understand how to view and manage the Information Technology (IT) organization. How should IT be structured and aligned to support the business vision? What does IT really cost? The author, Mark Lutchen, has developed an IT management "lens" framework to view the critical drivers of IT success. This framework provides an excellent way for business management to think about what IT needs to accomplish.

The book really delivers its value through nine key initiatives for the business and the IT organization to realize the full potential of IT resources. Mr. Lutchen's use of case studies involving considerable business issues and applied IT management solutions, has helped me visualize how these initiatives can dramatically impact a business. The author's coverage of issues such as IT governance, alignment, organization structure, spend, investment cycles, and focus on outcomes are precise and timely, given the mixed success that IT professional management has progressed in corporations today.

I think what is unique about the author's perspective is his experience not only as an IT management consultant, but a Global CIO for one of the big-4 accounting firms. Business and financial management are key underlying themes in this book. You will find this book insightful and thought-provoking, enabling a business leader to establish and leverage a more powerful IT organization.

Insightful!
In the fall of 2003, the Harvard Business Review published an article advancing the proposition that "IT doesn't matter." The article's author suggested that because IT was now a commodity, and everyone had it, it no longer conveyed any distinctive competitive advantage and therefore, strategically, did not matter. In fact, at many companies, IT doesn't matter as much as it should - not because it is a commodity that other companies also use, but because most companies don't get every potential benefit from their IT. To advance your business agenda effectively, make IT a real part of the business. Author Mark D. Lutchen shows managers, particularly CEOs and CIOs, why IT is not fully a part of business at the moment, and what it will take to turn IT into a competitive, strategic asset. We recommend this useful, well-written, clearly organized book to anyone whose job involves decisions on IT budgets, organization, investments or strategy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics   2. Business / Economics / Finance   3. Business/Economics   4. Computer Science   5. Executive Management   6. Information resources manageme   7. Information resources management   8. Information technology   9. Management   10. Management Information Systems   11. Strategic Planning   12. Business & Economics / Systems & Planning   13. Computing and Information Technology   14. Management of specific areas   

Customer Reviews (22)

Great overview of a complicated process
Owning your own home has long been considered the American Dream. For many, that includes designing and building the homes themselves. But building a home is a complex project filled with pitfalls and traps, and unwary budding homeowners can find their dreams turning into nightmares.

Enter Mark Smith, who has built several houses of his own. Written by a man who acted as his own general contractor, "The Owner-Builder Book" is crammed with useful advice on how to oversee your own project, from planning to construction. But be warned: it's unflinchingly honest about the amount of work and stress involved. While Mark Smith writes that it's possible to build a house in six months, first will come at least a year of planning and organizing. Once construction begins, you'll have to deal with ensuring that subcontractors appear on time and finish their work on time before the next group of workers appears. You may also have to deal with problems such as late deliveries of materials, subcontractors who don't show up, or who demand advances before working, threatened lawsuits,

Reading this book will give you a better appreciation of what the general contractor goes through. It will either fire your desire to run the show yourself and pocket the savings, or gratefully turn over the work to someone who does it for a living. But what it will also do is give you the information needed to make informed decisions that, even if you work with a contractor, will save you money.

Very helpful book!
I was fortunate to come across this book as I was making my decision to owner build my custom home. This book was an excellent resource and it allowed me to go in to my construction effort well informed and ready to tackle the project. From tax insights, to planning and organizing techniques this book covers everything that I needed to know. It's step by step plan of attack, and it's insightful and fun to read reminders truly helped me get into the drivers seat. In the end, I was able to save a substantial amount of money in the construction of my home, as well as avoiding several headaches, and mistakes along the way. The owner builder book chronicled owner builders like myself who had a story to tell, and insider tips. I also learned strategies that enabled me to take advantage of tax benefits. In owner building, knowledge isn't only power, it's tremendous savings.

Very Helpful Guidance * Practical Advice to PLAN, PLAN, PLAN
This is an excellent book to read during the PLANNING stages of your building project. The book is written in an easy-to-read format and had insightful suggestions on cost savings, tax avoidance, quality construction and more.
Highly recommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - Contracting   2. Design & Construction   3. Do-It-Yourself   4. Home Improvement / Construction   5. Technology   6. House   7. Building   8. Construction   9. House & Home   10. Remodeling & Renovation   

Customer Reviews (9)

Best of the best
This is definatley the most comprhencive and infomative book about pocket pc out there.

Buy this book first, you will not regret it.

Great book
I have some .NET C# experience, and this book is great. If you were new to C# it would probably be difficult, but for those with some .NET experience this book is perfect.

I expected the book would come with a CD containing code samples, but you have to download them from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/companion/5960.asp <-, then click on Companion Content.

-Matt
Listening to: 'God Fearing Man' from 'Fight For Your Mind' by 'Ben Harper' on Media Center 9.1

Best .NET book I've read
For a little background, I've read about 10 .NET books. I have the MCSD.NET certification. And I've previously done some programming for the Palm PDA. I'd actually have to say that this is the best .NET book I've read, period. It's clear, it's generally to the point, and it covers everything I need to get well on my way to developing enterprise-level applications. HOWEVER, you do need some background in C# or Visual Basic.NET. It doesn't teach you those languages, nor should it. But it does give you all the code examples you need to readily accomplish every subject each chapter covers. By the way, all the code examples are in C#, but anyone who knows Visual Basic.NET probably knows how close the languages are, so there should be little problem understanding and converting the examples.

You do need Visual Studio .NET 2003 to develop apps for the Compact Framework. The book does a cursory job of explaining VS.NET, but a good job of explaining the emulators included with it. Unfortunately .NET is not an environment a hobbyist can pick up anymore like eVB might have been. You need to understand object orientation now, which if you haven't done it before, is a hurdle that takes people a little bit to get over. And things like the additional worry about security, Web Services, and ADO.NET (which requires knowledge of data modeling) have made it even more complex. This is a "professional" book written for experienced people.

The book does an excellent job of explaining interaction with a host SQL Server, fully covering RDA and merge replication. Throughout the book it points out the differences between the full .NET Framework and the Compact Framework as it addresses each subject. There are significant differences between the full framework and the compact onewhen working with SQL Server and the book handles them well.

It also covers graphics programming as well as you'll need for any business application, with examples of some nice charts and pie graphs. It also covers security fairly well and touches on interacting with Web Services. There is no real coverage of ASP.NET.

I'm usually not a huge fan of Microsoft Press books because they're sometimes incomplete while at the same time not very concise. Not the case with this one. Even though it's 700 pages, there isn't the usual 400 pages of inconsequential filler to waste your time with as in most other large programming books. I feel that this is probably the only book I will need to buy on the Compact Framework. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Application software   2. Computer Bks - Communications / Networking   3. Computer Books: General   4. Computers   5. Development   6. Hardware - Personal Computers - General   7. Microcomputer Application Software   8. Microsoft .NET Framework   9. Mobile computers   10. Networking - General   11. Pocket computers   12. Programming - General   13. Computers / General   

Customer Reviews (30)

You gotta be kiddin' me
If you're some dude who can't get lucky and you need advice on how to do it, DON'T BUY THIS BOOK. The advice is mostly made up and I doubt much of it will help. BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have even an ounce of sense of humor and want to spend the next month with milk spurting out of your nose and your ribs separating from your body from the convulsions of laughter, buy the book right friggin' now.

I don't have the words to describe how ridiculously hysterical this thing is. I saw it in a Barnes & Noble and couldn't believe they'd even sell it. When I opened the pig up, I laughed out loud on every single page I looked at.

I took it home, AND I SWEAR TO GOD, my grandmother (68, but very cool) picked it up. I thought I was going to die. She went to the last chapter (Divorce and death) and she fell on the couch nearly crying she was laughing so hard. She was very excited to learn that you can have sex until the day you die.

Anyway, long story short (too late for that) BUY THIS BOOK NOW FOR YOURSELF, YOUR WIFE, YOUR BROTHER, YOUR MISTRESS AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST. I gotta go sit down now - I'm still out of breath from cracking up while I was on the toilet.

Just try it
OK, OK, so you think the title is ridiculous and you're sure that this book is nothing more than a bunch of boozed up fraternity idiots lying themselves silly about all the women they claim to get. And, to an extent, you'd be right. I haven't heard this much raunchy humor since junior year at UCLA. Every other word is slut and whore and beer and drunk and dude.

But I gotta tell you, and this comes from a guy who's got his Ph.D. in one of those majors that you'd cross the street to get away from, the guys who wrote this book have a tremendous amount of insight, knowledge and humor.

Interestingly, rather than just talk about the bar scene and pick-up lines (which is what I expected when I got the book as a gag gift), they give you instructions on how to live your life from the day you're born till the day that you die. And if you can stomach a bunch of obscene words and penis jokes, the advice is really good, the insight into human nature is fantastic and I can't tell you how many times I ended up shaking my head and saying "you know what, these guys have got a point."

Now, don't get me wrong, it's rough and tumble and, if you're not prepared for some hard core put downs, you might want to find an idiot's guide or something. But if you really want to laugh, and pick up on a surprisingly large number of good ideas when dealing with the opposite sex (and women, you want to learn what goes on inside a guy's sick, twisted head) this is the book you want to get.

I'm as shocked to be praising this book as you probably are to be reading this review but, trust me, this book is good fun and you'll definitely have a conversation piece.

Just don't tell anybody I told you so.......

a woman's reasons for why i am still single
just reading the table contents confirms my lowest expetations of men ------ and confirms the reason i have chosen to stay celibate and single. More of us women should read more of these books to educate ourselves about what men(?) really think of us and what cads and scum they really are. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Form - Parodies   2. Humor   3. Interpersonal Relations   4. Man-woman relationship   5. Man-woman relationships   

Customer Reviews (3)

The best introduction to Python out there
If you want to learn Python, this is the book you need. The author writes in a very clear and fluid way, so you'll never be bored. The exercises at the end of the chapters are also great.

Pretty much everyone who programs Python started with this book (the online version), so you can't go wrong, it's the Python "Bible".

EXCELLENT intro to Python for programmers
If you are already a programmer by trade, but haven't yet started to learn Python, get this book either here or from the web site (just search to find it), and dive in. Each chapter starts with an small example program that actually does useful stuff, most of which is foreign to you when you start reading. A few pages later, you'll understand the whole program, and get a good feeling for what "Pythonic" programming is all about.

The author really understands the subject matter, and he really understands what is needed by readers who already have a strong programming background. Once you've worked your way through this book, you'll understand 1) Python, 2) Good programming practices in Python, and 3) Why Python has become such a success amongst professional programmers.

NOTE: If you don't already know programming, hold off on this book until later. If the whole topic of programming is brand new to you, go instead for Mark Lutz' book, "Learning Python (2nd edition)". Mark covers in great detail what could go wrong as you try things out. He insures you won't get lost. To do that, he has to be very explicit about everything. Experienced programmers don't need nearly so much detail, as they already know most of the stuff in the Lutz book, and will find themselves skipping trememdous amounts. These are the folks for whom this book is written.

I am finding this to be a great book for evangelization of others to the ranks of Python maniac.

Fantastic!
This book is great! His style is very challenging and fun. You You are thrown right in just over your head each chapter and thought to swim at this depth.

He shows you essential tricks to writing useful object oriented Python code right from the start.

This is not an exhaustive text relating every aspect of the language but rather a quick in-depth guild to writing effective code using the full power of Python. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming   2. Computer Books: General   3. Computers   4. General   5. Programming - General   6. Programming Languages - CGI, Javascript, Perl, VBScript   7. Python (Computer program language)