Product Description
"David Busch's Canon EOS 5D Mark II Guide to Digital SLR Photography" is perfect for those new to digital photography or those who just want to make sure they get the most out of their Canon EOS 5D Mark II. The book is a complete guide to this digital SLR camera, including how to utilize the amazing 21 megapixels of resolution, enhanced high-ISO performance, and many other features unique to the 5D Mark II. After the introductory chapters designed to create familiarity with the camera, the book delves into various shooting situations and recommendations on how to get the best possible shots with full-color photos to illustrate each. Readers will discover a wealth of tips and information not found in the user's manual, so new users and pros alike will find "David Busch?s Canon EOS 5D Mark II Guide to Digital SLR Photography" an indispensable tool for achieving the best possible photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

First book I ever preordered
This is the first book I was so anxious to get that I preordered it.I am not disappointed.While anticipating the release of Busch's book, I studied other books by various authors on the 5D Mark II as well as David's Busch's books on other camera models.I knew this was the "one."There is really nothing more to add to the earlier reviews except I agree wholeheartedly with every positive comment.I might add however,that as a senior citizen, I appreciate the type style used and the very readable examples and illustrations.The excellent quality of the paper is also what would be expected in a manual for the wonderful 5D Mark II. The manual which came with the camera was frustrating to say the least and now I am confident that I am going to be able to utilize most if not all, of the advanced features of this wonderful camera.Although I had used a Canon 35mm for years and was familiar with photograpic techniques, this camera and this manual have opened up a new world.After a gresat deal of research, it is satisfying to know that I chose the right camera and the right manual to go with it.Thanks, David.

Well done Guide but needs better proof reading!
This guide is the best currently available for the Canon 5dMkII.I would rate it at 5 stars but for the fact that there are numerous (and sometimes obvious) errors which should have been caught in the final proof reading of the book prior to printing.As an example:On Page 58 is a beautiful color picture of the Canon 24-105mm zoom lens typically supplied with the 5dMkII as a kit.However, the Focus ring is labeled Zoom ring and the Zoom ring is labeled Focus ring!This is a pretty obvious error and should have been caught before printing.There also are references elsewhere in the book to built-in flash capabilities which the Canon 5dMkII does not have.

The discussion of Flash in Chapters 9 and 10 is somewhat sketchy - buy N.K. Guy's excellent book "Mastering Canon EOS Flash Photography" if you need more info on this subject.Another example of proof-reading problems:On Page 304 in the discussion of a black band on a flash picture taken with a shutter speed greater than 1/200 of a second is the sentence:"Sharp-eyed readers will wonder why the black band is at the bottom of the frame rather than at the bottom, where the second curtain begins its journey".This sentence should read:"...rather than at the top, where the second curtain begins its journey".

Notwithstanding the above comments, this book is still worth purchasing - it provides more information and is far better organized than the Canon 5dMkII instruction manual!

The Definitive 5D Mark II Book
We've read all the other 5D Mark II books from cover to cover, and this one is undoubtedly the most comprehensive, most accurate, and most useful of all of them.Busch covers the camera in much more detail and depth, providing his usual blend of the basics -- found in similar form in all his guides -- with a detailed look at how to use each and every feature, and why. As we've said in our other reviews of the author's books, "David Busch's Canon EOS 5D Mark II Guide to Digital SLR Photography," at nearly 500 pages, has at least twice as much useful information as any of the compact guidebooks, as befits this advanced camera -- Canon's most affordable pro model.

While old familiar topics are explored, there are two revamped chapters just on lighting, which includes one chapter that -- finally -- explains how to use the 5D Mark II's wireless flash capabilities. The chapter that explains the finer points of autofocus are worth the cost of the book alone.

Quite simply, this book, like his other guides, doesn't fit in the cookie-cutter mold of the other books on the shelves. Those typically re-hash the material you find in the booklet stuffed in the box with the camera, providing slightly longer and easier-to-understand explanations of the basic controls and menu settings, plus add some generic photography advice. That's a viable approach, but not particularly satisfying for someone who really wants to master a new camera like the Canon 5D Mark II.

Busch recognizes that each camera is unique, and although the explanations of basic concepts like exposure, shutter speeds, and apertures are similar across all models in all his books, the Canon 5D Mark II deserves detailed coverage.There's a "Getting Started" chapter which provides the kind of checklist you wish you had when you bought your first digital SLR. Then comes a Quick Start chapter that leads you through the essential features of the camera, with just the basics and none of the mind-numbing detail, allowing you to immediately go out and shoot your best pictures, ever. The third chapter is a "roadmap" guide that carefully explains each of the controls on the camera.

Next, in a welcome departure from the organization of other guidebooks, Busch leaves the discussion of detailed menus and setup options for later in the book. Instead, he gives you three "Beyond the Basics" chapters devoted to Understanding Exposure, Mastering the Mysteries of Autofocus, and Advanced Shooting,Live View, and Movie-Making. Each of these are detailed tutorials on using the camera's sophisticated features. The tip-filled movie-making section (which really deserves a book of its own)was nevertheless excellent, too, and appropriate given the 5D Mark II's full HD capabilities.

The author does devote several long chapters to explaining every menu option and, more importantly, why you should use each setting. Most other guides just list the menu item choices, and don't give you detailed examples of when to use a particular setting. The other books simply don't have room for this kind of depth.

We've gone over every page of this book, and find it to be the most complete, definitive guide to the Canon EOS 5D Mark II on the market.

Mastering my 5D Mark II
This book is an incredible resource. When I first got my 5D Mark II I bought and read two other books from others and they were more like manuals. They explained all the buttons and functions, but little else. So, I thought I'd give David's mammoth book a chance and I'm glad I did. He too explains thebuttons and functions but more importantly, he gives you his suggestions and reasons on why you'd want to use each feature as well as how the various menu options work with each other in specific shooting situations.

Thie book is not just a simple re-write of the Canon manual.That's my major complaint about most of the other books I've seen. This one goes deep into the workings of the camera. Busch even identifies various features which he feels are not in your best interest to use, and gives his reasons why he feels that way. The 5D Mark II is a great camera that needs a great user guide to explain how toget the most from its capabilities.This is that guide.

Couldn't put it down!
I've had my 5D Mark II for several months, and have been waiting for this book for almost that long.When I finally got it, I spent a full day reading it and now, finally, have had all of my questions about the camera answered in a clear and concise style. I was pleased that Busch's book covered both the simple stuff and the more advanced tips and techniques that a typical user of the 5D Mark II like myself would appreciate.Everything is easy to find, and it was well organized.A camera this good really needed a book this good.

There were a lot of things in the book I could use immediately.I've had two 580EX II speedlites for some time, but never was able to set them up for wireless operation quickly. Now I can.I also found the information that helped me achieve better autofocus when shooting my son's high school football games.Many of the more obscure C. Fn. settings finally make sense.There are several chapters in this book that are worth the cover price all by themselves.This is a reference guide and a course in better photography all in one book.

I did find a couple typos, but they would be obvious to any owner of this camera (a reference to a built-in flash, and a label pointing to the wrong area of the lens), and they are all amply documented on the author's errata page link shown in the book.I must say that a minor goof or two doesn't detract from the absolute wealth of solid information available from no other book. I highly recommend this to any EOS 5D Mark II user. ... Read more

Product Description
• Fully revised to address the newest materials and the latest health issues• Dozens of make-it-yourself recipes for paints, pastels, varnishes, and more• Expert author is chairman of ASTM committee on art materials

Much more than just another guide to artists’ materials, The Painter’s Handbook is an amazingly useful resource, with information on everything from the canvas up: the canvas itself, plus paper, sizes and grounds, pigments and binders, solvents and thinners, varnishes and preservatives. Dozens of step-by-step recipes for make-it-yourself paints, pastels, varnishes, gessoes, sizes, supports, and equipment take this indispensable guide way beyond the competition. Authoritatively written by Mark David Gottsegen, chair of the federal government’s ASTM committee on artist’s materials, the revised Painter’s Handbook considers the enormous changes in the art-materials world since the first edition was published in 1993. New materials, new health issues, new information on outmoded and even harmful supplies and practices mean that every painter needs a copy of The Painter’s Handbook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

At last--practicality!
This book is the practical one to buy, giving in-depth information about varnishes, mat cutting, crate creating, preservation, permanant inks, etc. It also alerts the artist to possible health issues. This answers all the questions my art teachers couldn't answer from a scientific basis ("well, I heard that this varnish. . .") This book goes beyond conjecture, explaining choices about art products from a scientific basis.

Indispensable!
I want to urge any aspiring artist to purchase this book! It answers questions which my instructor was not even able to shed light on. The topics run from very fundamental to very detailed and technical; and it is written and illustrated in a very easy to follow style. Perhaps the best part of this is that the author (an accomplished artist) has a website from which the reader can directly engage him for advice and questions:
[...]
If you have a palette and easel, this book has to be as close at hand as your brushes! It is indispensable!

Comprehensive Materials Guide
This book was recommended to me by an instructor. It is indeed very detailed about all materials for painting. This is not a "how to paint", but comparison of media, supports, finishes, safety, even "how to make your own"of the aforementioned. Would be well to have this on your shelf for reference. Well organized and written.

Clear, Concise, accurate
"The" book reference for artist materials that is clear, concise, and accurate.
Every student, artist, and anyone interested in art materials should have this essential reference manual.

outstanding resource for artists!
No art student or experienced artist should be without this very valuable resource.Gottsegan left no stone unturned in his most thorough research of every topic related to painting. I will rely on this book to guide me through every painting related decision with a much better grasp of responsible environmental precautions to employ.My only regret is not having this book since the time I was a young artist long ago during my college studies.
MC from MA ... Read more

Product Description

The Cocoa frameworks are some of the most powerful frameworks for creating native desktop applications available on any platform today, and Apple gives them away, along with the Xcode development environment, for free!However, for a first-time Mac developer, just firing up Xcode and starting to browse the documentation can be a daunting task. The Objective-C class reference documentation alone would fill thousands of printed pages, not to mention all the other tutorials and guides included with Xcode. Where do you start? Which classes are you going to need to use? How do you use Xcode and the rest of the tools?

This book answers these questions and more, helping you find your way through the jungle of classes, tools, and new concepts so that you can get started on the next great Mac OS X application today. Jack Nutting is your guide through this forest; he's lived here for years, and he'll show you which boulder to push, which vine to chop, and which stream to float across in order to make it through. You will learn not only how to use the components of this rich framework, but also which of them fit together, and why.

Jack Nutting’s approach, combining pragmatic problem-solving with a deep respect for the underlying design philosophies contained within Cocoa, stems from years of experience using these frameworks.He’ll show you which parts of your application require you to jump in and code a solution, and which parts are best served by letting Cocoa take you where it wants you to go.The path over what looks like a mountain of components and APIs has never been more thoroughly prepared for your travels. With Jack’s guidance, the steep learning curve becomes a pleasurable adventure. There is still much work for the uninitiated, but by the time you’re done, you will be well on your way to becoming a Cocoa Master.

• Begin to really get to grips with the full Cocoa toolset—practical, hands-on learning
• Become familiar with the core concepts at the heart of every Cocoa application
• See which parts of the iPhone SDK overlap with the Mac OS X development tools so you can explore both Mac and iPhone development
• Packed full of goodness and enthusiasm for the Cocoa frameworks from a developer perspective

Customer Reviews (7)

Had high hopes for this one, but...
You really already need to know Cocoa to use this book to learn Cocoa. The book's illustrations will not match current versions of Interface Builder and Xcode, and I'll add another star back in since that is not the author's fault. The contradictions and increasing confusion will drive you to the reader forum, where the help will be well-intentioned but spotty. The author provides a coherent view of a development tool that is a work in progress. I think I'm too much of a novice to overcome the outdated information.

Great book!
I really enjoyed this book.

As with all books...there are good points and bad points...but overall, the book provided me with the information I needed as a reference for starting development on a Mac using Xcode (I've come from a PC and Linux background).

If you buy this book...you wont regret it.

Great title that really worked for me.
Nutting, Mark, and LaMarche have created an amazing book for learning Cocoa and building solid, interesting applications for the Mac.I have worked with the Hillegass book extensively, but I really wish I had found this book first.The style is much better suited to the way I learn things.

The authors really understand how programmers think, and they present the major features of Cocoa in ways that encourage experimentation.When you finish a section, you really feel like you understand what is going on, because they go out of their way to explain the WHYs and HOWs behind the code, even mentioning what happens when you do things incorrectly.

When I learn a language, I like to learn about individual tasks, write code to deal with those tasks, play around with the methods I learned, and then move on to the next thing.This book provides a great set of tools that can be used for just that kind of experience.An absolute must-have for anyone trying to write software for the Mac platform.

One note: This book might present some difficulties for new coders. It's essential that you understand basic programming logic and structures before diving into this. Because of its reliance on Objective-C, a firm grasp of Pointers is a must.

One of the finest Cocoa books out there
I'm a big fan of Apress books as I find they offer very good value for money. I visit the Apress site on regular basis to check out upcoming titles on iPhone and Mac development. There was one book that was announced quite some months ago, but the release date kept slipping and slipping.

That book is called "Learn Cocoa on the Mac".

First of all, I'd like to point out that this book does *not* cover iPhone development. This is about Cocoa and Mac applications. Of course, with Cocoa Touch being a subset of Cocoa, you will recognize design patterns that you use on the iPhone and of course topics like Core Data can be used in both Cocoa and Cocoa Touch.

The chapters in this book are:

1. Must love Cocoa
2. Hello, World
3. Lights, Camera... Actions!
4. GUI Components
5. Using Table Views
6. Cocoa Bindings
7. Core Data Basics
8. Core Data Relationships
9. Search and Retrieve Core Data with Criteria
10. Windows and Menus and Sheets
11. Document-Based applications
12. Exceptions, signals, errors and debugging
13. Drawing in Cocoa
14. Advanced Drawing Topics
15. Working with files
16. Concurrency
17. Future paths

I'm not going to go through all the chapters in detail as the titles are clear enough.

You can see that the base of subjects is *very* wide and that is what makes this book a really great one. I find the explanations of the subjects and the samples really great. I felt really comfortable and got more confident going through this book, occasionally going through chapters very fast because of my knowledge of Cocoa Touch.

The nature of this book is really great. We all know that there are dedicated books on subjects such as Core Data and graphics. However, "Learn Cocoa on the Mac" does a great job of giving great introductions and clear explanations of what is going on. It goes deep enough into its subjects to make you understand what's going on.

I love this book. I had great expectations of it and it didn't disappoint. This goes easily in my personal top 3 of Cocoa books.

Cocoa, Xcode and Interface Builder kick-start
Jack Nutting has played, worked and turned Cocoa (and it's NeXTStep predecessor) inside out since the 80s. You can see that. He knows not only how but also why. And he shares that knowledge in this book.

Cocoa is a huge scope. An introductory book must select what is most important to learn first. This book does that. Furthermore, it is a great introduction to Conan O'Brien and Andy Richter...ehh, I mean Xcode and Interface Builder. The only thing that the book demands is that the reader has basic knowledge in Objective-C.

One of my principles as a writer is that more pictures and fewer words, doesn't make it harder to grasp - quite the contrary. This book is richly illustrated with screen shots, and the language is both simple and efficient.

This is a book for those who finally want to start to implement a killer app for the Mac desktop.
... Read more

Product Description
A valuable resource for pastors and students, second volume in the HOTE series begins by explaining the nature of Hebrew poetry and the purpose of the Psalms. Old Testament scholar Mark Futato next explores issues related to properly interpreting Israel's songbook, and concludes with a sample of moving from interpretation to proclamation. A glossary is included. (20080501) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great handbook for exegeting the Psalms...
Futato's work has become one of the first books I grab when I'm doing exegesis of a Psalm in preparation for preaching or teaching.Futato gives foundational exegetical help for making sense of the Psalms; he deals with Hebrew poetic structure and all it's nuances.

He gives a great treatment of Colic parallelism with numerous examples of bi-colic, tri-colic, etc. forms of parallelisms and offers fantastic assistance at making sense of the Psalms.This is a work of a medium technical level, so knowledge of the original languages is helpful but not necessary.This book is NOT a commentary, but if does offer great exegetical insights into many of the Psalms that he uses as examples.Futato will help save you from exegetical fallacies and making the Psalms say something that they do not.

This text is much cheaper than Wilfred Watson's "Classical Hebrew Poetry" and does not contain the high level of technical interaction with the Hebrew text that Watson's book offers, but I recommend this book as an introduction and supplement to Watson's work to help you "rightly divide" the Psalms.

The Psalms are SO abused and are the spring from which a lot of "spiritual sounding heresy" is drawn.I would strongly recommend Frederic Clarke Putnam's "Hebrew Bible Insert", Robert Chisolm's "From Exegesis to Exposition", Daniel J. Estes "Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms" and Walter Kaiser's "Toward an Exegetical Theology" as supplements and accessories to this work.The Psalms are not difficult to interpret, but they are generally, and grossly, mishandled by well meaning exegetes who don't understand Hebrew Poetry or try to find Christ hiding under every pebble. ... Read more

Product Description
From its small government, non-aggressive, republican beginnings, America has become a garrison state devoted to remaking the world in its own image. While Republicans and Democrats quibble over the details of policing the world and running a nanny state, Ledbetter looks at another way, a forgotten way, the way invented during a tiny window of opportunity by the Enlightenment philosophers who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution. America’s Forgotten History is their story, a story once well-known but now lost to both historians and the general populace in the course of America’s mad rush into the future. Part One, Foundations, examined the Enlightenment underpinnings of the American system, the colonial period, the Revolution and Constitution, and the first generation of presidents. Part Two, Rupture, continues the story up through Lincoln and the Civil War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

At least as good as Part I, maybe better
Mark Ledbetter has hijacked my new Graphite Kindle DX through his excellent books. I haven't been able to read anything else.

Seriously though, I thought America's Forgotten History Part II was at least as good as Part I. As in Part I, I learned many things, particularly in regards to the Civil War, Mexican War, and Abraham Lincoln. I already knew that American history contained much propaganda, but I wasn't aware of the extent until I read Mark's books.

There is no boring part to this book. Even while he was covering presidents Van Buren through Buchanan the book was interesting and he kept my attention. I wasn't really interested in that era before but now I am (and I see why it is partly ignored today).

Anyway, after two homeruns, I will have to go check out his other book, Globocop.

History Lover Learns Something New
Wonderful book. Three quick impressions.

1. It's the first history book I ever read that caused me to laugh out loud on several occasions.

2. I found myself reading a few pages, putting the book down and thinking for about ten minutes. I hate it when authors make me do that.

3. It is obvious that Mark has great respect for the English language and uses it with care.

Pete the Railroad Guy
... Read more

Product Description
This Second Edition of the critically acclaimed, best-selling textbook retains all of the features of the first but with greater coverage and pedagogic focus than before. All chapters from the original edition have been substantially rewritten with the aim of greater clarity and provide updates of the latest research. Five new chapters have been added to reflect the expansion of health psychology and its increasing relevance to the world of health care. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Health Psych
Came right the following day after delivery. The cover was a bit bent but other than that the condition was great. ... Read more

Product Description
In today's global recession, strong management of firms and organizations are of the utmost importance. Best-selling Economics of Strategy focuses on the key economic concepts students must master in order to develop a sound business strategy. Bringing economic theory and strategic analysis to life in an engaging and uniquely modern way, Besanko et al. have collaborated for over 15 years to build an introductory business course that combines basic concepts from economic theory of the firm and industrial organization with ideas from modern strategy literature.

The newly revised 5^th edition offers more real-world applications to make materials studied in undergraduate Managerial Economics, Business Strategy, and Industrial Organization courses relevant. Armed with general principles, today's students—tomorrow's future managers—will be prepared to adjust their firms' business strategies to the demands of the ever-changing environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Nice seller
nice seller, prompt responses and prompt refund when we finally figured out the loss of the book during shipping.

Economics in Strategy
Book is helpful for an economics angle on strategic choices, but fails to capture some of the qualitative elements that are generally part of a strategy course education.

gerat business strategy book
Specially for people who want to go higher in the organization and contribute in fetching some real profits or do the same for their own business.

Very good text book
I had class with professors Besanko and Dranove at Kellogg and I can say that the book is the product of very talented and bright professors. It is very well written and has insights on real situations that are extremely useful. I like it very much...

a really good textbook
I usually hate reading textbooks.This, like any other, has its quirks and can get long-winded at times.However, if you actually read it, there's a lot of interesting material that I was able to pick up on the first read.Explanations are clear, the implications of the material are discussed, and there are good real-world case examples (mostly short, thankfully) illustrating the concepts in action.One of the best textbooks I've owned. ... Read more

Product Description
Amongst the first ever mass-produced tanks in history, the British Mk IV has been classified as one of the most successful heavy tanks to have fought in World War I.

Mechanically similar to its predecessors, the Mark IV embodied various improvements, suggested by experience with earlier variants, including better armour, improved weapons and easier transportation.

It proved its worth at the landmark battle of Cambrai in November 1917, when 460 Mark IVs were deployed for the first time against the enemy with great effect. Arguably changing the nature of war on the Western Front, the Mark IV was one of the first vehicles in the world to partake in a tank duel when, in 1918, it met the German A7V in combat.

Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished photographs and new information on its operational abilities, this fascinating exploration of the British Mk IV includes detailed descriptions of the tank and its variants, such as the mine-clearing tank, the Tadpole tail device, and the tank created for towing airships, to complete the picture of this crucial vehicle and its deployment on the Western Front. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An excellent addition to any serious, in-depth World War I collection.
David Fletcher's BRITISH MARK IV TANK tells of the Mark IV tank which worked against the Germans from 1917 to the end of World War I. It charts the first tank-versus-tank actions against the Germans, British technology, and displays rare footage of the Mark IVs used against the Allies. An excellent addition to any serious, in-depth World War I collection.

In The Hands of an Expert
British tank expert David Fletcher follows up his successful British Mark I Tank 1916 (Osprey's New Vanguard 100) with an even better British Mark IV Tank (New Vanguard 133), adding more detail on British tank operations in the First World War. Fletcher describes the Mark IV as the "first main battle tank" and this volume provides an appreciable level of detail on the tank's technical details, its production, unit organization and use in combat. The author succeeds in packing a considerable amount of detail into this short format and in a manner that assures the reader that they are getting `real' information instead of recycled boilerplate.Although the author is does not mention this, his role as a curator at the Tank Museum at Bovington has allowed him a great deal of hands-on experience with British World War I tanks and he even drove one for a BBC documentary.Nevertheless, the author's expertise on this subject is apparent on every page.

The author devotes 5 pages to describing the technical details of the Mark IV tank and several pages and photos to how the tank was built.After discussing the expansion of the British Tank Corps, the author then outlines the Mark IV's baptism of fire in Flanders in 1917, as well as its possible role in the cancelled Operation "Hush" and in Egypt. About 6 pages are devoted to the Battle of Cambrai, the highlight for the Mark IV tank.Final sections cover mechanical improvements, the Mark IV's role in 1918 fighting (mostly as a supply tank) and post-war activities. The author even mentions the role of a Mark IV tank briefly resurrected for home defense by the Royal Navy in 1940.

The color plates depict a Mark IV with fascine at Cambrai in 1917, a Mark IV winch tank adapted for the cancelled amphibious operation on the Belgian coast, a supply tank, a Mark IV under construction, a captured Mark IV in German service and several other Mark IV scenes. The B/W photos throughout the volume are excellent. The author provides an index, but no bibliography or notes on sources used.Overall, this is a well-crafted volume with a good amount of information on this subject.
... Read more

Product Description
Thurgood Marshall said that the more people learned about the death penalty, the more they wouldd be against it. It is racist, unfair to poor people and the mentally retarded, and far too often ends horribly in the state sanctioned murder of innocents. And no one, no matter how much they're paid, likes to be involved with death itself. In Machinery of Death , death penalty lawyer David R. Dow and writer Mark Dow bring together diverse views from lawyers, wardens,victims' families, executioners and inmates to show how America's death penalty system actually works, and what it doesto those who come in contact with it. Arguing that the morewe know about the system the more we willl oppose it, the book offers harrowing story after story of racist juries and unjust rulings, of backward judges and public defenders, andof families facing the ultimate decision. Together, these intimate and shocking writings show that in practice, the death penalty is impossible to administer in a fair, workable manner. This is the first death penalty book to look beyond innocence and morality, arguing against executing even the guilty people.Machinery of Death is a crucial link in the fiery public debate over the meaning and usefulness of this deeply flawed system. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Vague and ambiguous
In my opinion, heinous criminal acts must be severely punished. Crimes such as culpable homicide, rape and child molestation deserve the harshest punishment. It is vitally important that the punishment fits the crime. It follows then that crimes of gruesome nature deserve capital punishment whereas misdemeanour should result in mild punishment.
Irrefutably, the primary purpose of a given sentence is to deter people from committing criminal acts. Therefore, it is crucial that prisons act as a deterrant; otherwise the judicial system is purposeless and superfluous. Paradoxically, prisons in Sweden do not deter prospective malefactors; instead they encourage some individuals to commit crimes. This is because prisons in Sweden have frequently been likened to hotels and this is not an exaggeration. This is a fact of life. To my mind, it is preposterous to assume that these modern and sophisticated prisons manage to deter people from committing criminal acts.
A criminal has to fear incarceration, otherwise there is no point in maintaining the judicial system. Capital punishment is considered to be inhumane and ineffective. What we need to ask ourselves instead is are felons humane. Do they repent their atrocious acts? Admittedly, some felons deserve clemency due to mental disorders that may have impaired their ability to know right from wrong. Nevertheless, they should be sentenced to life without parole.
As is well known, many convicted criminals commit additional crimes upon release. Thus, given the fact that a great number of felons relapse into criminality indicates that there are serious flaws in our judicial system. There is no simple solution to this problem. However, there is no doubt that legislators need to be held accountable for making ineffective laws. Most importantly, prisons have to act as a deterrant. Vehement felons who have been convicted of odious deeds should either be imprisoned for life or sentenced to death. Abolitionists would argue that people do not commit abhorrent crimes unless they are deranged. This is true in some cases but we must not generalize. Admittedly, some dangerous malefactors had been subjected to maltreatment in childhood which later led to development of severe mental disorder in adolescence. Nonetheless, traumatic childhood does not justify psychopathy, it merely explains it. In sum, this book provides weak arguments against capital punishment.

Must Read
This book is a must read for anybody who purports to have arrived at a conclusion regarding the merits of state execution.It is not an academic examination of the pros and cons of the death penalty in America.Rather, it is a description of state execution arranged in a collection of essays written by people intimately involved in the process.The essays describe the process of state execution from the vantage points of capital defense attorneys, relatives of the victims of capital crimes, and even state executioners.It even includes the transcript of an actual execution that occurred in Georgia in 1984.

I give this book five stars primarily because I do not believe a person should arrive at a firm conclusion with respect to the death penalty on abstact pragmatic or moral/ethical academic arguments alone.One must first understand the process, the nuts and bolts, of state execution and how it affects those most directly and closely involved in either fighting against it or carrying it out.We are, after all, talking life and death.This book serves that purpose marvelously.Nor does it hurt that it is a thoroughly fascinating read.

Happy reading. ... Read more

Product Description
A classic that has served students, teachers, clergy, and Bible-study groups for fifteen years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Mark the Story for class
I found this book as a great help for researching my sermons for Mark. It is very resourseful. It really explains the Gospel in terms that are very understandable. The book has given me a new understanding and new meanings. I found the patterns of movement on Jesus' journey, which begins at the Jordan River. It is a book that is easy to follow.The book also shows how the plot was arranged and where it was going.I really like how the author gives the analysis of the characters in Mark's story. In conclusion he asks the reader how it affects them. I think that one would have a good resourse in their library if they purchased this book. I am a Lay Supply Pastor. this is a book that was recommeded for our study during this Easter Season.

A new light... Not a translation
Some of the criticisms I have gotten from my peers about this book is that they didn't like the liberties the authors took in "translating" the gospel of Mark. The authors are not translating the Gospel of Mark. They are illustrating how Mark works as a story that one may hear around a campfire. I don't see the "liberalism" that the first reviewer has identified. Rhoads/Dewey/Michie employ literary criticism to unpack the significance of the various facets of Mark's gospel. If you are a student of scripture and you want to learn to read the oft overly-familiar bible with a fresh lens, Mark as Story will give you a fresh start at reading the scriptures.

Great insights into the narrative, TERRIBLE view of Christ
Mark as Story has some value in terms of leading the reader through the plot of the Gospel of Mark, but contains a huge amount of biases and poor theology.For the reader that can sort through this, the book is quite valuable. For instance, the authors take LARGE efforts to promote a feminist reading of the text in various places. They somehow find (through poor exegesis) that Jesus' teachings contain the agenda to break down all patriarchal structures and as a logical conclusion - the family (if you don't want "fathers" in the Kingdom of God on earth, then how do you have brothers and sisters?). This flies in the face of 1000's of other texts. While people may disagree about gender teachings in the Bible, the authors certainly have not dealt with issues from 1 Tim. 2; 1 Cor. 11, 14, and Eph. 5 on marriage and headship. My guess is that this is more prevalent in the 2nd edition since the female author was not in the first edition. I mean no disrespect to her, but the biases are sad and unsubstantiated.The passage they quote cannot stand because in the other Gospels the omission of "father" is not there (in the passage about giving up homes, etc. and receiving a hundred fold in this life and eternal life, etc). You'll have to see the book to understand what I mean.

What is astounding is that the authors take many large footnotes to explain the fact that women had a prominent role in the church despite a lack of evidence in Mark.This is not to say that Mark does not speak about female disciples, but their point is that you must look at the other Gospels to find more support of this.HOWEVER, they refuse to look at other gospels when it is inconvenient to their theology, and MOST SUPRISINGLY, they emphatically state that "Jesus is not God" in a multitude of places because they feel Mark does not reference this idea enough and they refuse to consider other Gospels to present a Biblical theology or more balanced view of Christ (nor will they interact with Church history, or councils on the deity and humanity of Christ).I understand they want to take Mark at face value and ignore other Gospels, but then why do they look to other Gospels when it serves their agenda, but ignore other Gospels when trying to paint a picture of the main character - Jesus?My complaint is thus: How can you have all these footnotes for proving your view of women's role in the early Church, and YET OMIT THE FACT THAT JESUS' DEITY IS ALL OVER THE OTHER GOSPELS AND THE OTHER NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS???All I'm asking for is a simple footnote as they pound their liberal theology stating, "While WE see no evidence for Christ's deity in this Gospel, it is possible for some to deduce this from a. a study of "the Son of Man" in this Gospel and the Old Testament b. a careful look at Matthew, Luke, and John's Gospel, c. the rest of the New Testament proclaims the fact of Jesus being God in the flesh from Colossians 1 and 2, John 1, Hebrews 1, the virgin birth, ETC. d. the title "Son of God" in Mark may indicate Jesus' deity, e. the "I am" statements in Mark indicate deity, f. a consideration of what happened at the Transfiguration.The authors also ignore the Old Testaments quotes throughout the Gospels (i.e. Isa. 7 and 9- A CHILD WILL BE BORN, A SON WILL BE GIVEN...and HE shall be called....MIGHTY GOD).

I only ask for this FOOTNOTE because this is a fair request in light of the focus on the person and work of Christ in the Bible, and because if they want to spend so much time developing a feminist agenda they need to balance this with the focus of the Gospel - Jesus. Mark was not written to promote 21st century, postmodern, relativistic, pluralistic, feminist ideas. It was written to proclaim Jesus. Since the authors take more time promoting their agendas than giving a fair portrayal of Jesus, I ask them to revise the book and keep their exegesis and exposition fair and balanced. It is obvious from their footnotes that they have not interacted with hardly any evangelical theologians, and all their sources are highly liberal. They need to interact with other scholars, not a part of their camps, to present a balanced and fair view. I suggest they read some Carson, Moo, Schreiner, O'Brien, Fee, Grudem, or Morris.
See The Gospel According to Mark (Pillar New Testament Commentary Series) by James R., Jr. Edwards, The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary by Ben, III Witherington, The Gospel According to Mark by William L. Lane, Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross by Robert H. Gundry, Word Biblical Commentary on Mark 8:27-16:20 by Craig A. Evans

So, again, overall the book takes the reader through the Gospel in an exciting way and reveals tons of structures and thematic devices that may not be readily apparent without more study. But, the Christology in the book is blasphemous and is far from the orthodox faith of Christians for 2000 years.Their assumptions and presuppositions are glaring and reflect poor study and scholarship.

Understanding Mark on its own terms
I have a confession to make.Mark was probably my least favorite of the Gospels.It seemed so disjointed at times.The author seemed to race from one event to the other, with seemingly little connection between events or tales.His descriptions and details seemed scant, with the other Gospels filling in the blanks.And there lies part of my problem in trying to figure the book of Mark out - my reliance on the other Gospels to help me interpret it, instead of reading Mark as though I was hearing everything about the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah for the first time.

The authors of "Mark as Story" try to impress upon the reader the importance of understanding Mark on its own terms as a narrative.They offer four guidelines in this approach: (1) read Mark as a story rather than history, (2) read Mark independently from the other Gospels, (3) avoid reading modern cultural assumptions into the story, and (4) avoid reading modern theologies about Jesus back into Mark's story.With these guidelines in mind, the authors discuss the various elements of Mark, known in biblical studies as "narrative criticism" where tone, style, setting, plot, characters, etc. are analyzed.Sound like a college course in Literature?Perhaps.And thus this particular book may not be to everyone's liking.As for me, I can truly say that I have a much greater appreciation for the Gospel of Mark having read it as a work of literature in its own right. - Ronni

An excellent and fresh approach to the Gospel of Mark
This fairly brief book provides a fresh and exciting approach to the Gospel of Mark.By respecting the integrity of Mark and encouraging the reader to attend to the details and style of this Gospel, the reader isallowed to experience anew the Gospel and find within its story theastounding character of Jesus. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (12)

Recommended for any true Beach Boys fan
This may be the only true version of the origin of the Beach Boys that exists. David Marks was there from the very beginning and he was an integral part of their initial success. The fact that his involvement was largely "sanitized" from all authorized Beach Boys biographies by Murry Wilson makes this book even more important. Buy it, read it. You won't regret it. It is a real eye opener!

another masterpiece from Jon Stebbins!
When it comes to author's who can really dig deep and express in writing form the true soul of a person, Jon Stebbins is at the top of the list.I was very much impressed with his previous book, The Real Beach Boy and was even more impressed with this book (The Lost Beach Boy) as well.The book was realistic, was not candy coated, it showed the ups and downs and reality of life and how it affects some people, something we can all relate to at times.I already had respect for Dave Marks as a musician, but now I have even more respect for him as a person and being a survivor in all aspects.I had the honor of meeting Dave Marks and his lovely wife Carrie on a few occasions at Beach Boys related events out in California and also in Conneticut, he is a very down to earth person and is filled with so much talent, this book showcased all of this and so much more.Kudos to Jon Stebbins on writing yet another fantastic book, I hope to see more books from you in the near future!

Not Just for Beach Boys fans
It shocks me to read some reviews that say this book doesn't have any new information or is limited to just music fans. These people must not have any soul!This book is beautifully written and contains all the elements of a good novel - humour, heart-break, fame, loss, irony, etc.If you didn't shed a tear on the last page as David and Brian stand in their old neighbourhood and, well I won't spill it, but I have no trouble admitting it was a very emotional scene.As for new information about the Beach Boys, this book is full of new facts, dates and information and highlights an entirely new perspective on the genesis of the Beach Boys.You can't be a fan of the Beach Boys and not learn something from this book and you can't be human and not be affected by the 'heart' in this story.

Opportunities Missed but No Regrets
I'm a solid Beach Boy fan starting around 1964 so I was never aware of David Marks' story.Also, I had previously read Jon Stebbins' biography of Dennis Wilson and didn't realize it was the same author until mentioned in the book.

With that caveat, this is an enjoyable book but a struggle to make into a complete book.David Marks was a young boy suddenly thrust in the new role of a Rock Star but also managed by a band member's father who felt immature behavior should not be tolerated.Mix that with immaturity and whether resigned or fired, Marks is out of the band.Unfortunately for him, lightening didn't strike twice and for true commercial success of a book, there is just not enough story here.But there is a story, early success, great disappointment, and later depths in alcohol and drugs.

But all that is happening in an exciting era in Los Angeles with famous touches like running into the Manson crew at Dennis Wilson's house, and later haircuts by Jay Sebring who is later killed by the Manson crew at Sharon Tate's house.If you have interest in that era or rock n roll history, this is a worthwhile read and it was for me.But it's not deep or long enough for everyone.Irrespective, overall the Beach Boys come off as regular guys thrown in an irregular world.It is great to see that later in life they kept somewhat in tough and even gave David a job as a touring guitarist.A great book for music lovers only.

Fantastic and insightful book on the Beach Boys early days and the price of fame
The early history of the Beach Boys is usually given short shrift by rock writers. As a result, many Beach Boys fans are unaware that David Marks was a member of the band for almost two years and played on the group's first five albums. Jon Stebbins and David Marks insightful book rectifies this oversight and gives us a rich and rewarding look at America's favorite bands formative years. Early tours and recording sessions are recalled with warmth and detail. For Beach Boys fanatics there is a host of new information that was previously unknown. After reading this book, one emerges with a new appreciation for David Marks. The book makes a persuasive argument that guitarist Marks played a pivotal role in the development of the group's early sound and deserves some credit for their success.
The book, however, is more than just another Beach Boys tome. Marks was thrust into the limelight at the age of thirteen and was an ex Beach Boy before his fifteenth birthday. Stebbins and Marks present a fascinating story of life in the fast lane and its pitfalls.It is a story of bruised egos, lost chances, rock star excesses and finally redemption. David Marks life keep you interested long after the Beach Boys have exited the narrative. This is a quite an achievement. I strongly reccommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Offers a chilling, tragic, and frightening portrait of the enigmatic young man who murdered John Lennon in December 1980 and answers many lingering questions about Chapman's motives and the killing itself. Reprint. NYT. AB. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Incomplete
This book gives a tremendous amount of information on Mark David Chapman, but leaves many stones unturned.Why did he do what he did?Often, they give reference to him being a "born again Christian," however, Mark David Chapman himself claimed that the Catcher in the Rye was his motivation.Indeed, he said he had no personal misgivings about John Lennon.So, why did he murder somebody in cold blood?The book doesn't furnish an answer.Although the character in that book fantasized about murdering his enemies, that character in the book didn't act on it.The movie "conspiracy theory" with Mel Gibson cross references this same book.Any connection?Could there be a larger issue that is shrouded in debate?I think so.I think the murderer Mark David Chapman is a paid hitman for larger powers that be.Although I don't care for John Lennon, his death was a tragedy and the investigation in his death is poorly rendered.What did John Lennon do that aleinated the big wigs?I have a strong feeling that John Lennon, although a radical in his own right, locked horns with some powerful people and paid the price.Perhaps John Lennon had become a Christian and revolted against the very philosophy and theology he sang against in the song "Imagine."As a prominent and influential figure, this would be very upsetting for the powers that be.But, the truth will surface eventually.Many outstanding scholars and researchers are presently coming to grips with this matter and bringing hidden facts to light.

Chapman the Manchurian Candidate
Let Me Take You Down gets inside the head of Mark David Chapman. The author did hours upon hours of interviews with him at Attica prison in New York. At times it reads like a self analytical bad acid trip from Chapman. On one hand I can accept that what is presented in this book is reasonably accurate for how Chapman remembers things I personally believe that Chapman was probably under some sort of "Manchurian candidate" mind control when he killed Lennon.

There are many questions about Chapmans background and much that fits the protocol of how these Manchurian candidatesare created. From mysterious figures visiting Chapman at random times, to his work for the YMCA, which is known to often be used as a front for the CIA, his stays in various mental hospitals, to him being globetrotted around the world to some very off the wall locations by the YMCA when he was just a very average to mediocre college kid/dime a dozen employee. He also spent time working at a military base as well as after becoming a patient at a mental he was soon thereafter hired as an employee, which is unheard of that a mental hospital would do something like that. Theres just too much that doesn't add up about Chapman as well as what was going on at the time with Lennon being monitored and harassed by the FBI for me to not view the Lennon murder as being very fishy. You also have a lot of wacky theories out there about the Lennon murder which is a common tactic to discredit the idea that all is not right with the official version. For example there is actually a book written that claims Stephen King killed John Lennon!

LET ME TAKE YOU DOWN[THE BOOK]
I RECEIVED A USED, BUT IN NICE CONDITION COPY OF THE BOOK "LET ME TAKE YOU DOWN". IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO GET& READ AN OLD BOOK, SUCH AS THIS. AS A LENNON FAN, IT WAS INTERESTING TO READ ABOUT HIS MURDER, AND HIS ASSASSIN.

Into the mind of a murderer
The story of Mark David Chapman's delusional world that led to the murder of Beatle and peace activist John Lennon.

The author interviewed Chapman for this book and as a result, was able to extract much new information that expells a few old myths about Chapman, and reveals many new facts about the case.

Regardless of how you feel about giving publicity to murderers who seem to have purposely sought to achieve such noterity, this is an important book.It helped me to better understand that Chapman truly was/is a very disturbed person who should never be let out of prison.

Curt Rowlett,
Author of Labyrinth13

John lennon's demise
If John Lennon thought for even a second that he was just a regular guy, then he needed to re-think his belief. To think that he could just walk around as if he were a nobody and be safe, was ignorance.But he never got the chance to see that when you are: Quote,"bigger than Jesus Christ" end quote, that which you have seemed toseek for yourself , and by being careless with your security and self-preservation,))at the same time garnering a tremendous amount ofNaivete, one will never again be afforded the luxury to be viewed less than omnipotent, to a majority of society. Many feel they own a part of you and you are never again your "own". He was, in some respects, responsible for his own death ,as a result of nothaving enough forsight to protect his very being. If it had not been Mark David Chapman that killed him , any number of others would have had a clear shot. He gave them a perfect target. It was just a matter of time. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the most challenging time for public management that I have seen in my 35 years of public and non-profit service. The ?survivors,' ten years from now, will be working in systems they could not possibly imagine now. They will have gotten there not just by luck, but by the full commitment of all members of their organizations and by dramatically different methods of public engagement. This book is an excellent resource for starting that journey and for assessing the progress of efforts to date.
?James Kunde, executive director, Coalition to Improve Management in State and Local Government

Creating High-Performance Government Organizations presents practical advice and tools that managers and innovators at every level of government can use in molding their organizations into results-oriented, mission-driven operations. Developed by a top-notch author team under the auspices of The Alliance for Redesigning Government, these recommAndations are rooted in the authors' years of experience in the public and private sectors, and thorough research into the theory and practice of organizational transformation.

The more than three dozen cases presented here will help you understand what high-performance organizations are and develop a clearer understanding of the preconditions to major change, the steps essential to getting started, and ways to overcome common roadblocks along the way.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Easy Read with Excellent Information
Very good book that you can read word for word, and not get bored.My fellow classmates felt the same way about the book.

Fabulous service
I got the book in record time and it was perfect. Exactly like the description. Im so glad I used this seller.

Too the Point with Steps That Make Sense
As a manager of a medium size agency in a fairly large city, I've looked at a lot of these kinds of books.Too often they are fed-land oriented or full of impractical or incomplete ideas.This one wasn't and it has beenvery useful as we pursue a strategic reform of our management systems.

Helpful, Concise, Coherent
I've been working on rego in my federal agency for seven years.While this book had no great surprises for me, it was a useful resource to think through what we've done so far and what remains to be done.

Usual , General, Superficial
Having finished the book, I asked about what I learned .. nothing new. Superficial, usual and step-by-step path. I advice an excellent and strong book that is Creating Public Value : Strategic Management in Government byMoore... ... Read more

Product Description
"Here is the story behind one of the most remarkable Internet successes of our time. Based on scrupulous research and extraordinary access to Google, the book takes you inside the creation and growth of a company whose name is a favorite brand and a standard verb recognized around the world. Its stock is worth more than General Motors’ and Ford’s combined, its staff eats for free in a dining room that used to be run by the Grateful Dead’s former chef, and its employees traverse the firm’s colorful Silicon Valley campus on scooters and inline skates.

THE GOOGLE STORY is the definitive account of the populist media company powered by the world’s most advanced technology that in a few short years has revolutionized access to information about everything for everybody everywhere.
In 1998, Moscow-born Sergey Brin and Midwest-born Larry Page dropped out of graduate school at Stanford University to, in their own words, “change the world” through a search engine that would organize every bit of information on the Web for free.

While the company has done exactly that in more than one hundred languages, Google’s quest continues as it seeks to add millions of library books, television broadcasts, and more to its searchable database.
Readers will learn about the amazing business acumen and computer wizardry that started the company on its astonishing course; the secret network of computers delivering lightning-fast search results; the unorthodox approach that has enabled it to challenge Microsoft’s dominance and shake up Wall Street. Even as it rides high, Google wrestles with difficult choices that will enable it to continue expanding while sustaining the guiding vision of its founders’ mantra: DO NO EVIL."Amazon.com Review
Social phenomena happen, and the historians follow. So it goes with Google, the latest star shooting through the universe of trend-setting businesses. This company has even entered our popular lexicon: as many note, "Google" has moved beyond noun to verb, becoming an action which most tech-savvy citizens at the turn of the twenty-first century recognize and in fact do, on a daily basis. It's this wide societal impact that fascinated authors David Vise and Mark Malseed, who came to the book with well-established reputations in investigative reporting. Vise authored the bestselling The Bureau and the Mole, and Malseed contributed significantly to two Bob Woodward books, Bush at War and Plan of Attack. The kind of voluminous research and behind-the-scenes insight in which both writers specialize, and on which their earlier books rested, comes through in The Google Story.

The strength of the book comes from its command of many small details, and its focus on the human side of the Google story, as opposed to the merely academic one. Some may prefer a dryer, more analytic approach to Google's impact on the Internet, like The Search or books that tilt more heavily towards bits and bytes on the spectrum between technology and business, like The Singularity is Near. Those wanting to understand the motivations and personal growth of founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and CEO Eric Schmidt, however, will enjoy this book. Vise and Malseed interviewed over 150 people, including numerous Google employees, Wall Street analysts, Stanford professors, venture capitalists, even Larry Page's Cub Scout leader, and their comprehensiveness shows.

As the narrative unfolds, readers learn how Google grew out of the intellectually fertile and not particularly directed friendship between Page and Brin; how the founders attempted to peddle early versions of their search technology to different Silicon Valley firms for $1 million; how Larry and Sergey celebrated their first investor's check with breakfast at Burger King; how the pair initially housed their company in a Palo Alto office, then eventually moved to a futuristic campus dubbed the "Googleplex"; how the company found its financial footing through keyword-targeted Web ads; how various products like Google News, Froogle, and others were cooked up by an inventive staff; how Brin and Page proved their mettle as tough businessmen through negotiations with AOL Europe and their controversial IPO process, among other instances; and how the company's vision for itself continues to grow, such as geographic expansion to China and cooperation with Craig Venter on the Human Genome Project.

Like the company it profiles, The Google Story is a bit of a wild ride, and fun, too. Its first appendix lists 23 "tips" which readers can use to get more utility out of Google. The second contains the intelligence test which Google Research offers to prospective job applicants, and shows the sometimes zany methods of this most unusual business. Through it all, Vise and Malseed synthesize a variety of fascinating anecdotes and speculation about Google, and readers seeking a first draft of the history of the company will enjoy an easy read. --Peter Han ... Read more

Customer Reviews (102)

An entertaining read, but seems like Google PR
The Google Story covers major milestones of the company up through its recent push into China, all along the way documenting the eccentric and often unorthodox business approach of its founders: Sergey Brin and Larry Page. The tone is overwhelmingly pro-Google, the only exception being a chapter on click fraud(that mysteriously disappeared in new versions...) that questions Google's practice of charging/reimbursing advertisers. A few good lessons can be learned about entrepreneurship and venture capital, but--albeit an entertaining read, The Google Story feels more like a veiled public relations effort than a subjective and independently researched work.

know effort behind success
I would recommend this book to young teens who are looking forward to having own business.

OK for what it is ...
"The Google Story" is a decent book if you are looking for a history of the historic company from an outside perspective. Many comments say that the author writes with a bit of favoritism, and I don't disagree one bit. However, the book does not intend to be anything else.

The back cover proclaims "extraordinary access to Google", and it doesn't seem that way. The book offers a good history of the company and its challenges but does not go into much depth about any of them.When they won back business in London, how exactly did they do it? It seems that the light criticism of Google is written from the company's perspective.

With that said, if you wish to become aware of how Google obtained their success, it's a good and informative light read.

A book that is not worth a company
Google is one of the biggest brands in the world. Everyone of us uses it as least few times a day. Of course, a book should have been written about it.
Still, the more books of american authors I read the more I see their incredible skill to worship business leaders as half-gods.
This book is one of the cases - yes, these two Google guys are extremely smart and worth admiration, but not everything they do is close to divine. This style of writing eventually starts to irritate.
If you do decide to read this book, skip first 100 pages, they are literally about nothing and then read every-second page - you will not miss anything because all the stories are a bit too much exagerated. Also, try not to pay attention that authors themselves constantly vary from novel-style-of-writing to pure statistics and numbers.
So, to sum it up, it's worth reading only in a way I advised, otherwise it will be too much of a time waste. Google is worth admiration but this book - definetly not.

An average book about a great business story
Quite detailed story and insight on the google way and its unique approach to business and internet. That makes the 3/5 note, but the writer style is quite heavy, the book could have been much more compact, maybe because it targets a wide audience and not only geeks.
The author is also quite "Google-biased", not much criticism inside the book, but reading it through, you feel like some critical view is missing, maybe because it has been reviewed by Google... But despite this, i recommend the book for anybody willing to know a bit more about Google and getting some insider stories. ... Read more

Product Description
This extraordinary book is the first volume of the definitive catalogue raisonn_ of Rothko`s work. It documents his entire output of paintings on canvas and panel, reproducing all the works in color. An introductory text also investigates every essential feature of his art.

Published in association with the National Gallery of Art, Washington

. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Most complete work on Rothko's paintings
For those who admire Rothko's paintings, this book is an absolute "must". This masterpiece got a special place in my living room. Of all the books I have about the abstract-expressionist Rothko, this is the most complete one. Once you start turning the pages, one soon understands that Rothko was a hard worker, and that it took him all the energy during his life to make this number of magnificent paintings.

Great Gift
bought this for my daughter who loves Rothko's work.She's impressed by the amount of information about him and his art.

Highly informative and recommended
It's great to see all of Rothko's paintings all together from the very beginning to the very end. A worthwhile, well researched, and well executed project visually. The sheer size of the book which is akin to a massive dictionary makes reading the essay without a table for support quite a challenge but this is an unavoidable inconvenience. I have heard that there is a new updated edition coming out soon.

A Fan of Anfam's Rothko
Opening the package as it arrived from Amazon, easing this massive catalogue from its slipcase triggered a memory: walking to the edge of the Grand Canyon.With similar impact: awe.David Anfam brings the readerwith him to encounter, view, & experience Rothko's work. His ten-yeardedication paid off with the discovery of "lost" titles, settingthe chronology of 836 works on canvas, (he couldn't have been afraid to gethis hands dirty) & analyzing the slow struggle, sporadic leapsengendered by the painter in the evolution of the oeuvre.As scholar,teacher, critic, curator, & especially writer, Anfam proves the perfectchoice to perform the daunting, almost impossible task of bringing Rothkointo focus.

The author insightfully tracks the early representationalbeginnings, (his foray into narrative linked with crossing boundaries istotally appropriate for the artist from Dvinsk, Portland, New York) throughthe mythological (application of Kermode's distinction between"Chronos" & "Kairos" is utterly intriguing), &makes a case for Rembrandt as the source for Rothko's obsessions withtragedy & darkness, Vermeer his source for color's sensuality.Anfamtraces in detail, using numerous examples of the brilliant reproductions,how the multiforms foreshadowed the work of the classic period.Thearchitectural contexts for the Chapel are pure genius:Vincent Scully's,"The Earth, the Temple, & the Gods";Joseph Rykwert's,"The Dancing Column";& Leo Bersani's, Ulysse Dutoit's,"Arts of Impoverishment."

Anfam's breadth of vocabulary isEnglish, yet he has benfitted from years in the States with a rapid,laconic language that impels the reader forward, informs succinctly. Purposely parrying time-worn quarrels, he unearths the more"thorny," "shady" aspects of dilemmas presented by sucha complex art.

Two things happened as a result of reading MARK ROTHKO /THE WORKS on CANVAS / CATALOGUE RAISONNE.During a recent visit to C&MGallery in NY for a show of eight Rothko's, alone in the second room, Iheard them. A few nights ago I had a dream of a handwritten note on a tablein the front room of an auction house that said, "The LastPainting."Rereading Helene Cixous's essay by that name (subtitled,"Or the Portrait of God"), she writes,"I think of the lastRembrandt. A man? Or a painting?"[in Cixous', "Coming toWriting and other Essays."]Anfam has presented us with thetriumphant Rothko.

A must for any Rothko fan.
This is the first publication with his entire collection of works on canvas. Even lost paintings are represented by old black and white photographs.The images are not large, but the quality of this book is wonderful.By far the bestbuy for any Rothko fan (besides an original...) ... Read more

Product Description
Magneto, the X-Men's deadliest villain, returns. They've faced the Weapon X program, Proteus and even the superhuman strikeforce known as The Ultimates. Now, still licking their wounds from their prior battles, can Xavier's mutant team possibly survive the return of their most powerful foe? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

I am not an x-men fan
I have never really liked comics with capes and cowls. A friend got me back into reading them when I was reading her copies of the civil war. I heard about the "ultimate" line and was intrigued. This may be a bit to gritty or faux-realistic for some folks, but I dig it. The only thing I didn't like was that Galactus (in another series) was made into a bunch of space bugs. What's that about? I want the huge stocky guy with the funny hat.

Magneto is back for his rematch with the Ultimate X-Men
One thing that was always impressive about the X-Men was that it was one of the few superhero comic books where the definitive villain popped up in the first issue.Of course we are talking about Magneto the Mutant Master of Magneticism.The same thing was true for "Ultimate X-Men," where Marvel essentially restarted the series in contemporary times, reconceptualizing some of the core elements.For example, this time around the original X-Men combine Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast and Iceman from the first lineup with Storm and Colossus from the second (with Wolverine being recruited from the dark side so that he can appear on every cover of the trade paperback reprints).The result is a lot of familiar items are condensed into each story arc, which is then collected into a trade paperback.

"The Return of the King" is Volume 6 in the "Ultimate X-Men" series and the title, of course, refers to Magneto.In the first volume in the series the X-Men fought Magneto and not only defeated him, but also apparently killed him.However, this turned out to be one of Professor X's mind games; he convinced Magneto that he was Erik Lensheer, unaware of his past life as a mutant terrorist.When the Brotherhood of Mutants discovers Magneto is still alive they find him and remove the mental blocks Xavier had placed in his minds.We are now back to the beginning in many ways, except this time around both Magneto and all the homo sapiens are very wary.In fact, the Bush Administration has Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. going after all the mutants, including the X-Men.Since they already have Xavier in custody, stopping Magneto is going to be a problem.

Actually, stopping Magneto is always a problem.For a long time I have been convinced that Magneto would actually win and the reason I liked the first volume of this series so much was that I thought it recognized this fact by having Professor X and the X-Men going up against Magneto and the Brotherhood of Mutants go at it just once for all the marbles.In the end Magneto should have been dead because he should be unstoppable in a rematch; indeed, look at what ends up doing in this one, extending his magnetic reach across the entire planet.Besides, if you can explode nuclear reactors, why stop at just one?Magneto is simply the most dangerous super villain in the Marvel (or Ultimate) universe.When they were retooling him they should have ratcheted down his power level a couple of notches (Actually, they should do the same thing for Xavier as well).

But since Magneto winning would mean coming up with a new title for the comic book, Magneto has to be defeated.Once again the key is getting his helmet off of his head and while I like the way that happens this time around, I still do not really buy that anybody could get close enough to actually do it.Besides, as is often the case with these Ultimate titles, things end up reflecting the blockbuster movies (e.g., Magneto, living in a plastic cage).Clearly one of the defining elements of the X-Men today is the relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr and the first issue of "Return of the King" provides an encapsulated version of their history (as well as a new explanation for how Xavier ended up in his wheelchair).Certainly there is something to be said for the ongoing debate that the pair have been having for over a decade.

Collected in "Return of the King" are issues #26-33 of "Ultimate X-Men," written by Mark Millar, and illustrated by Adam Kubert and David Finch, with Ray and Ben Lai.The most interesting addition to the X-Men mythos this time around is the sub-plot in which Wolverine finds a way to get Cyclops out of the way so that he can make a move on Jean Grey, especially given the intriguing idea that Logan and Scott are Charles and Eric, the next generation.Most of the relationships between the Ultimate X-Men (e.g., Colossus and Wolverine, Beast and Storm) are more interesting as well.Sometimes I think the "Ultimate X-Men" is overloaded with ideas, but for those who remember Marvel's Mery Mutants from the very beginning the changes are always something to think about.

Final Question: Since the Ultimate version of Nick Fury is African-American (apparently there were Howlin' Commandos in the Vietnam War), does that explain why Colin Powell was omitted from the White House discussions while Dick Chaney and Donald Rumsfeld were not?Just curious at that rather interesting omission.

The Ultimate Tale of The Ultimate Heroes
This TP collection contains the finest story arc yet for The Ultimate X-Men. Magneto is loose. The Ultimates want him after he has massacred hundreds of innocents in bridge collapse, and they figure the best way to get him is through The X-Men. Meanwhile, romantic jealousies lead to tragedy and betrayal as the Wolverine, Scott Summers , Jean Grey triangle goes over the boiling point. This series coincided with The Ultimate War, which you should read as well. Heck, read The Ultimates so you understand what this is all about. Great art, breathtaking plot twists and the great dialogue that only Mark Millar can provide. Don't miss this collection!

Contains "Ultimate X-Men" issues 26-33(Not Just for Kids)
I have the hardcover "Ultimate X-Men" volumes 1 and 2 [covering issues 1-25] and the paperback, "Ultimate War".The title page includes a brief synopsis that should help you understand what's going on if you haven't read the earlier volumes.If you want a roll call, this volume includes the "ultimate" line versions of Magneto, Professor X, Dr. Moira MacTaggert, Nick Fury, Sabretooth, Multiple Man, Mastermind, Nightcrawler, Forge, the Blob, Iceman, Colossus, Storm, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Shadowcat, Rogue, and a mutant called Detonator whom I have not run across in the regular Marvel X-Men, but I'm still catching up.There's also a cameo by another mutant, but I don't want to spoil the surprise.

This book opens by showing us how Magneto and Prof. X worked together, how their friendship deteriorated over several years, and, in more detail, how Magneto crippled Xavier.Then it moves into the present day and Magneto's progress on his refuge for mutants as well as the unpleasant scene where he deals with plans for a satellite mutant tracker.Meanwhile, the X-Men-in-hiding are dealing with Magneto's brotherhood in the hope of rehabilitating their image.

Is the rumor that Wolverine deliberately left Cyclops to die in the Savage Land true?

In the grand tradition of comic book villains, Magneto tells our heroes something of his frightful plan for eliminating the human-mutant relations problem.The X-Men have only a week to find Magneto's hiding place and save the world.(Let me just say that a machine, different from and much more powerful than the one used in the first X-Men movie, is involved.)The final battle certainly kept my interest.

During most of the action, Professor X is being held prisoner in a S.H.I.E.L.D. detention camp for mutants suspected of being terrorists.He refuses to betray his students, of course.I reread his words of encouragement to a fellow prisoner after rereading earlier volumes and those words became a little unnerving near the end. Why?

Because of what Prof. X tells Nick Fury and what he tells Magneto when they meet again late in the book.You won't have to have read the earlier volumes to speculate on whether or not Xavier is telling the truth. I'm afraid that he *is* telling the truth.If so, that would explain a couple of his moves in earlier volumes that I found incredibly stupid -- and would make this version of Prof. X a little scary.

Ignore the "9-12" age group recommendation.While they might enjoy the action, I think you need to be older than that to fully appreciate this book.

Covers Ultimate X-Men # 26-33
First keep in mind that this should be considered an alternate universe version of the X-Men.That way you won't be screaming about the differences from the regular comics.If you've already read through volume 5, "Ultimate War", the opening does not pick up where that left off.It traces the rise and fall of the partnership between Professor Xavier and Magneto for the first 20 pages or so.

Magneto is getting ready to destroy the entire human race, except for a token man and woman.The X-Men are in hiding, although they do make an attempt to rehabilitate their image and track down Magneto.Prof. X has been moved to that detention unit for mutants in Cuba that was threatned in "Ultimate War".Cyclops is not dead (was anyone expecting he would be?), but he's not in good condition.Of course the X-Men will save the day, Prof. X will escape, and Magneto will be foiled, but there'll be plenty of fighting, explosions, and a threatened nuclear meltdown.

Loved the part where Storm meets the Beast's parents, not to mention having my suspicion about Xavier's cat confirmed.

The final scene between Xavier and Magneto is my favorite part of the book. ... Read more

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In 1867, young Mark Twain set out for Europe and the Holy Land on the paddle-steamer Quaker City. His enduring, no-nonsense guide for the first-time traveler also served as an antidote to the insufferably romantic travel books of the period. ... Read more

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Oddly timeless in many ways
Some parts of this book give an incredible insight into the way life was actually lived all western Europe and the middle east in the 1800s. Other parts give testament to Twain's incredibly casual bigotry and racism andintolerance. But in one page he'll note his desire to not appear ignorantin front of a freed slave acting as tour guide in Venice; and then widelycompliment the fellow for his intelligence and manner. Twain doesn't smooththe rough edges - he's all rough edges. But so much the better. ... Read more

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"Mark," which is part of the NIV Application Commentary Series, helps readers learn how the message of Mark's Gospel can have the same powerful impact today that it did when Mark first wrote it. ... Read more

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A thorough commentary - Well worth sticking at.
I am very glad I read this book. While I found it hard to get into, once I was past the first few sections I couldn't put it down. His strongest section is where he explores the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. David Garland challenges any romanticised pre-conceptions that the reader may have about the crucifixion and explores without apology the uncomfortable things about this gospel: the total failure of the disciples, that Jesus' last recorded words are "My God my God why have you forsaken me?" and the lack of appearance of the risen Christ (he stops at 16:8). I gained insight on a new angle on the death of Christ. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Mark or Jesus mission. ... Read more

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Acknowledged as a master of twentieth-century photography and the greatest British photographer, Bill Brandt left an indelible mark on the medium during a career that spanned more than fifty years. Trained in Man Ray's Paris studio, Brandt returned to England and produced a body of work that ranged from portraits of upper-crust society to views of the poverty of the industrial north. During the Blitz of World War II Brandt created an epic picture of blacked-out London, with images of bomb-damaged landmarks and residents sheltering in underground subway stations.After the war, he began a series of nude studies using lens distortions and unusual points of view to interpret the female form in new ways. He also photographed the movers and shakers of the English art scene, from Alec Guinness to David Hockney, and, for a series called "Literary Britain," he toured the country tracking down landscapes that had been influential to important British writers.Mark Haworth-Booth, curator of photography at London's Victoria and Albert Museum, provides a contextual overview and information on Brandt's working methods and biography. David Mellor, professor of art history at the University of Sussex, offers cogent interpretations of the larger significance of Brandt's themes and preoccupations.Essays by Mark Haworth-Booth and DavidMellor.Hardcover, 9.75 x 11.5 in./100 pgs ... Read more

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Exploring his connections to literature
Bill Brandt Behind The Camera is a study of twentieth century British photographer Bill Brandt's life and works, featuring striking black-and-white samples of his photographs and an insightful biographical, deconstructive, and artistic essay of his pursuits. Exploring his connections to literature, and his deep immersion in the streets of Spain, Paris, and his home nation of Britain, as well as the revelations his camera captured, Bill Brandt Behind The Camera for photography shelves. ... Read more