Product Description
The first comprehensive study of the Indian power symbol that allows the individual to take a journey to the primordial center of life

• Highly illustrated exploration of every aspect of the yantra, including its related rituals, sounds, and meditation practices• Investigates the continued use of the yantra in modern India as a magic talisman• First North American Edition• 39 color and 134 b&w illustrations

The yantra is both a complex metaphysical symbol and a tool of ritual and meditation. In kundalini yoga, the patterns contained in this metaphysical and geometrical construct correspond to the psychic centers of the subtle body, therefore making the body itself a functioning yantra. In this book, which is the first comprehensive study of the subject, the author provides a step-by-step explanation of the dynamic process wherein the yantra aids the individual in the spiritual journey to return to original wholeness.

Every aspect of this important Indian symbol is explored, from its related sounds, rituals, and use in meditation to its application in traditional temple architecture and sculpture. The author also looks at its continued use in both the "black" and "white" magic traditions of the subcontinent, as well as its power as a talisman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An excellent resource
Finally here is a book that takes you into the mystery of the yantra while exploring its history, its mechanics, and its deep symbolism. Abundant pictures and diagrams make it easy to follow its descriptions and explanations which open up a way of seeing things that may not have been previously accessible. This is a comprehensive work that offers the reader a wealth of information, leaving one with a deep appreciation for those who were so dedicated that they could penetrate the meaning of sacred symbols and enshrine their energy via the yantra.

Good, but NOT a "coffe-table book"
I received this book very recently, and to be honest, have not really done more than give it a relatively quick perusal. It looks to be highly informational, but if you are looking for a large amount of color reproductions, you might want to think twice. Not that I was really looking for a "coffee-table" book, but I have to admit to being slightly disappointed that there are not more color images it it. Still, it looks like a really good book; I don't regret buying it.

A Valuable Resource
Surprisng that this book has only one review here, considering most everyone i know has a copy in their library, and considers this book a cornerstone of their collection.

This book provides detailed, concise info regarding what the different yantras represent and how they work. I would have appreciated more information about the pecularities of use for different traditions. In any case i can't recommend this book enough. Thank goodness this book has not gone out of print.

Exhaustive Analysis of Yantras and the Philosophy behind it
This book details all kinds of historical Yantras as revealed in various Vedas (historic Hindu scriptures).Yantras are cosmic machines which directs energies to the human body/mind to attain various psychic states.The author dwells deeply in to the philosophy behind it, which in essenceis Hinduism. Understanding the Hindu concept of the world, the cosmos andthe human being is the key to unlocking the power of Yantra. A reader whois not exposed to Eastern religious philosophies will find it difficult tocomprehend the description of concepts behind the Yantra.

This book hasmany illustrations of historic Yantras and details of the significance ofits geometric drawings. I liked this book for the depth of analysis and thedescription of underlying concepts. Please note that this is NOT aninstruction work book on Yantras which details about how to make a Yantra.

One disappointing fact is that the author uses little space to describeOccult Yantras which are commonly used by ordinary people for protection,healing and power. The Sri Yantra, which enables a person to attain higherstates is described in detail. Overall this book gave me indepth knowledgeabout the working of a Yantra - the energized cosmic machine. ... Read more

Product Description

An indispensable step-by-step configuration guide for IP Telephony professionals 

• Includes step-by-step configuration instructions for CallManager features and Unity administration tasks
• Demonstrates how to deploy devices and implement your dial plan
• Covers Call Admission Control features and class of service
• Examines different subscriber types and how subscribers are added, imported, and managed
• Includes step-by-step instructions for call handling and auto attendant configuration
• Describes how to use Unity and CallManager together to deliver unique features

To properly deploy any type of technology, networking professionals must understand not only the technology but also how to configure and integrate it with other solutions. That’s the key to Configuring CallManager and Unity–it focuses on the configuration issues associated with CallManager and Unity® deployments while ensuring that you understand the technologies behind your deployment.

Configuring CallManager and Unity includes step-by-step guides that system administrators and other networking professionals can use in the field. These step-by-step instructions have been worked out by an author who has both taught and implemented Cisco® solutions in real-world situations, so coverage is comprehensive for both basic and complex implementations. You will find information that will assist in the configuration of CallManager-related tasks, such as device configuration, gateway implementation, and dial-plan creation to name a few. You will also find Unity-related configuration tasks, ranging from the basics, such as holiday and schedule configuration, to more involved tasks, such as Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) networking implementation. In addition to covering Unity and CallManager tasks, this book includes a chapter on leveraging the capabilities of both systems to create integrated solutions, such as a MeetMe conference manager.

Tasks in Configuring CallManager and Unity are organized in the same order you would naturally perform them, and some tasks are cross-referenced with other required tasks for easy reference. You learn not only how to configure CallManager and Unity but also how to create a more feature-rich environment by leveraging CallManager and Unity features. Regardless of your specific needs, you’ll find Configuring CallManager and Unity to be a timesaving tool when performing common or complicated configuration tasks.

This IP communications book is part of the Cisco Press® Networking Technology Series. IP communications titles from Cisco Press help networking professionals understand voice and IP telephony technologies, plan and design converged networks, and implement network solutions for increased productivity.

Customer Reviews (7)

excellent for those new to IPT field
this book was very easy to understand for me since i am new to CUMC and unity.well written and examples are great!

config call manager
Book is ok maybe a little bettercould have a lot more pictured info of step by step examplesie it takes you thru numerous steps than shows a pictured example of what the last step should look like it would be much better if @ each step they would show what you would see on the screen

Configuring CallManager and Unity: A Step-by-Step Guide
Configuring CallManager and Unity: A Step-by-Step Guide by David Bateman published by Cisco Press (ISBN: 1-58705-196-6) covers configuration tasks (in a step by step process) associated with Cisco's CallManager and Unity products.The twelve chapters of the book are broken down into three parts.The first six chapters focus on the configuration tasks involved with the CallManager, while the next five chapters focus on the configuration tasks involved with Unity.The book concludes with a chapter on advanced features within CallManager and Unity.

I found this book to be very informative. The author's explanation on the meaning behind the various configuration settings is very succinct. The author does a great job in providing and explaining step by step configuration tasks necessary to implement various features in both CallManager and Unity.I agree with the author that even though the book was written based on CallManager version 4.1 and Unity version 4.04, the book has great value no matter what version of CallManager and Unity you may be running. Having real equipment that one can follow along with during this read is extremely beneficial to the reader and will increase the reader's comprehension of CallManager and Unity.It is my opinion that this book is a great reference for when one says "What needs to be done to make this happen and how do I configure it?"The author provides many real life experiences to inform the reader.This is typically depicted via the notes and warnings that are clearly stated and appropriately placed throughout the content of the book.The author also provides many references at the end of the book and provides relevant search criteria for searching Cisco's web site for the referenced material.

All in all, I found the book very informative.The book can not be read like a book based on just theory, although theory is provided when appropriate.The book needs to be read more like a study book than a theory book.This book is a must read for anyone responsible for the operations, administration and maintenance of Cisco's CallManager and Unity.Anyone who just wants to understand how to configure various features in CallManager and Unity will find this book to be very informative.

CM Guide
Wish I had found this book sooner - so many Cisco books are for the CCIE or CCIE wanna be ( I confess - I am a wanna be). But in this case I needed a guide to tell me how to administrate the system. This is a very good book for administering Call Manager.

CCM and Unity Step by Step Guide
I purchased this book recently and found it very easy to understand, the author did a very good job in explaining all the concepts that I needed to know. ... Read more

Product Description
Illustrated with b/w photo plates. ... Read more

Product Description
The Human Cycle, The Ideal Human Unity, War and Self-Determination ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Early miracles of yoga
I wandered into a small used bookstore in the mid-sixties and found half a shelf of books by Aurobindo. The Ideal of Human Unity was among them. On the flyleaf was carefully written 'from the library of Margaret Woodrow Wilson, daughter of the President'. In the book was a chapter titled "Toward a League of Nations."Beyond history, I found real magic in Aurobindo's books that fateful day.A poem he penned was among the same collection:

It comes at last, the day foreseen of old,
What John of Patmos saw and Shelley dreamed,
Vision and vain imagination deemed,
The City of Delight, the Age of Gold,
The Iron Age is ended. Only now,
The last fierce spasm of the dying past
Shall strike the nations and when all has passed,
Earth washed of its ills shall raise a fairer brow.
~ Sri Aurobindo

trilogy review
This book, actually a trilogy of books in one volume, is a historically-validated intuitive understanding of global process: ethnic, religious, tribal, national, and of humanity as a whole. It is an insightful look into the next decades and beyond of humanities collective evolution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Brilliant but incredibly obtuse
The content of this book is indeed insightful and thought provoking but Bateson's writing style is frustratingly difficult to follow.I found myself again and again marveling equally at the profundity of his messages and the unnecessarily roundabout and rambling manner in which those messages are presented.The text needed three more revisions and then it would have been perfect.Regardless, I highly recommend it.

That reminds me of a story...
This is a work of an exceptional and original genius.
"Mind and Nature" is both Gregory Bateson's most accessible and most difficult book. It is a deeply personal exploration of what has come to be called cognitive science from a brilliant man and great scientist who pioneered a deep synthesis of anthropology, language and communications, and biology over the course of a remarkable life. Be advised that it is more of a progress report on a lifelong quest than a coherent whole. If you have an enduring interest in cognitive science and you haven't read Bateson, you don't know what you are missing.
Bateson's starting point is, "How is it possible for the same evolutionary forces that shaped our survival as a species failed to shape our minds?" The answer, of course, is that it is not. It ought to be self-evident that the phenomenon that we call the "mind" is shaped by natural selection. Bateson does not claim to understand all the implications of this empiricist stance, his focus instead is on how to start asking the right questions about the mind and cognition. For instance: What is learning? What is play? (Is it true that only mammals play? Why is that?) If you think about it, these are phenomenon central to the human experience and there is no one that discussed them more insightfully than Bateson does here (and in "Steps...".
I find myself returning to this book again and again over the years. Its effect on me has been profound. I am sure I will never understand more than a small part of what Bateson is trying to tell me here, but the feeble fraction that I do understand is remarkable. The wisdom that animates this book has shaped many of the foundational notions of my life. It is full of life lessons.
And that reminds me of a story about the time I incorporated one of Bateson's teaching parables from this book into a speech I had to give not too long ago....

Inspiration Beyond Imagination!
Gregory Bateson, one of the greatest minds in Anthropology and husband to Margaret Mead, has given us an incredible perspective through which to grow individually as well as collectively. At a time when our world suffers, "Mind and Nature" provides the reader with new perspectives on a balanced co-existence with our Planet and all Her species! Having contributed to visionary thinking about how we perceive our world, Bateson has added to the brilliant body of work which includes new looks at schizophrenia, dolphin communications and Nature Herself! A must read for those who wish to find ways to contribute to the desperate change of perspectives that facilitate a harmonious co-existence with Mother Earth, and more importantly, new ways to view the Self!

You're Smarter Than You Think You Are
Sit in on a lecture by an engaging and knowledgable prof and you can expect to pick up a few tidbits. You certainly don't expect to come away knowing everything the prof knows. The subtitle of this book is about what Bateson knows, but you don't need to know any of that (or be particularly interested in it) to read this unusual book. My subtitle would be: You're Smarter Than You Think You Are."

I read this book in a Bantam mass market edition after sampling a piece of it in some science magazine (maybe Discover). Gregory Bateson was a renaissance man (which is one of the delights in reading him), the former husband of anthropologist Margaret Mead, and best known for the double bind theory of schitzophrenia, included as an essay in The Ecology of Mind. That theory may not sound well-known at all, but it's the basis of family counseling and why we talk about dysfunctional families (instead of just individuals). And we've all been in situations that are double binds, or as these no-win situations are known in everyday jargon: "damned if you do, damned if you don't".

Bateson wrote this book as metafiction, which is to say he talks about the book in the book, and he includes a handful or metalogues with his daughter, Catherine Bateson, herself now a writer for such magazines as Smithsonian, although he made them up. These metalogues reflect on ideas in the book and widen the feedback loop, as it were, to include the reader. They are relaxed and leisurely and not meant to be persuasive.

My experience reading this book was that it changed the way I saw everything. That sounds like an over-reaching claim or a self-help book gone wild, but the reason is, as Bateson points out, that many of our educations are simply based on gathering information, like Number Five in the film Short Circuit, with no help at all on how to think about it.

I certainly didn't understand everything in this book. But then, if you already understand and agree with everything in a book, why read it? What I did glean was a few tidbits from an engaging and knowledgeable prof who gave me not just more to think about but ways to think about it, and the happy realization that we're all smarter than we think we are.

The most important book on epistemology there is
Gregory Bateson is one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. This is one of his last books and it deals with matters of epistemology. The thinking preserved within its pages is profound yet most of the time down to earth. There Bateson parts company with most formal epistemologists, the majority of whom are utterly confused, at least in their way of exposition. You do not need to be an expert logician to understand Bateson's thinking; he is the expert and tutors you through the straights of Scylla and Charybdis with the outmost comfort and safety. From this fantastic journey you will definitively be enriched.

This book is one of his most important. It is a testament of his view of science and coming from a person who helped revolutionize more scientific fields than the average person has even heard of it should be taken seriously. In its pages Bateson tells us what science is and how it should be properly exercised. Given the confusion and nihilism that have followed on the pseudoscientific revolutions of postmodernism and decostructivism (read Focault, Derida or Judith Butler for instance) such readings are necessary if at times disturbing. Not all ways of doing science are equal and many of them are based on logical confusion. Bateson is clear on that point. On page 24 he tells us "Some tools of thought are so blunt that they are almost useless". Self-evident to most people this maxim needs to be restated and taken seriously, especially within the social sciences that have only succeeded in making minor steps since the time of Aristotle. In this book we learn the why of this unfortunate situation. The question is if anybody wants to listen...

Still Bateson is not in any way preaching like some untouchable headmaster, unlike many other philosophers of his rank (read Jerry Fodor for instance). He is aware of the difficulties and obstacles involved and most of the time keeps his voice low. He also is not a techno-freak like many of the newest cognitive scientists, modern rationalists or evolutionary psychologists though he is one of their intellectual fathers. Instead he often talks of the need of a holistic approach, of looking out for the pattern which connects mind to nature and nature to the universe, and warns against the dangers of degrading the ecosystem and turning our backs to the fellow living creatures of this, still wonderful, planet.

If you only read one book on the history of science or on epistemology make this one your choice. You wont regret it. It is a cybernetically quided misile which will hit you on the head, and change you forever. To the better that is.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

strong & wise
The ancients are rich sources, and with that expectation, this is a strong and deeper meditation on the topic than expected.

a little difficult, but very much worth ithe reading.
St. Cyril is one of the main pillars of faith in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches and one of the Popes (Patriarchs) of Alexandria. After successfully defending the Faith against Nestorius at Ephesus in 431, he spent much of his time combating what was left of Nestorianism inside of his jurisdiction which was Egypt and did so until his repose in 444. He wrote "On the Unity of Christ" long after Nestorius was deposed and exiled as a way of combating the Nestorianism within the monastic ranks who seemed to be the most heavily effected by it in Egypt.

He is definitely verbose in areas, some much more so than others, which makes this work difficult to read at times and rather trying on the patience. When one can penetrate through that, though, then they see the full value of the work and the theology expressed in it.

He explains why Mary can be called the "Mother of God" or "God Bearer" ("Theotokos" in Greek) while illuminating, as many authors before him had, on how Christ prayed in the Garden while not comprimising His unity of divine and human in one being (OUSIA), how Christ can be called a prophet in His humanity while that not comprimising His divinity, and many more topics.

It is important when reading St. Cyril to take into account the letter of reunion between John of Antioch and himself in 433 in which Cyril validates and counts as equal to his "One Nature in the Incarnate Logos" The Antiochian and Greek "In Two Natures." This is precisely needed since in the Alexandrian school of theology PHYSIS (nature) is associated with OUSIA (substance) whereas in the Eastern Orthodox, particularly Antiochian and Greek at the time (Russia and the other Slaves hadn't been converted yet) HYPOSTASIS (person) is assoiated with OUSIA (substance).

Both schools are saying and were saying the same thing just in different words. In the latter it is considered that action is needed to define true personhood and in the other (the Coptic/Oriental Orthodox) it is considered simply being a person (Hypostasis) is enough with one composite physis out of two with Christ being in two Hypostasis in the Incarnate Logos (Christ). Whereas the Eastern Orthodox say in two physis and out of two Hypostasis both recognize the difference and terminology now. This MUST be taken into account when reading St. Cyril's works.

I would also recommend reading the Tome of Pope St. Leo the Great which was written not even two decades after Ephesus in 431, it gives an excellent view using the Greek and Antiochian terminology on who Christ is in regards to His divinity and humanity and the letter from St. Cyril to St. John of Antioch (it's only about five pages long if even that). You might also want to read Fr. John Romanides papers on St. Cyril and the Tome of Pope St. Leo the Great (another five or six page one, very short but informative) in addition, they are very well rounded and informative, they even include conversations he has with Oriental Orthodox bishops concerning his paper(s). All four go together VERY nicely and each serves to express the other three more clearly.

The Unity of Christ The Monogenis

"Only if it is one and the same Christ who is consubstantial with the Father and with men can He save us, for the meeting ground between God and man is Flesh and Christ. ... Because the Son is God from God, in some mysterious way he passes this honor on to us."St Cyril of Alexandria, Pillar of Faith



Alexandrian versus Antiochene Theology :
The Alexandrines based their Christology on john 1:14 amending it mystically with 1 Tim 3:16. They explained the Logos-sarx union with the soul-body analogy to illustrate the substantial union, an ontological oneness, between divinity and humanity in Christ. The rival theology of the Antiochenes employed the soul-body analogy to explain how the Divinity and humanity united in Christ without loosing their full integrity.

Cyril of Alexandria:
Cyril of Alexandria, the Christological champion for Orthodoxy, developed and exalted the theology of the famous school of Alexandria (Catechetical Didaskalia) He was trained by his uncle Theophilus of Alexandria, followed faithfully the Tradition of Alexandria from Clement, and Origen to Athanasius and Didymus, the blind. He was a great biblical expositor, and his christology is Bible based.Thomas Weinandy, debates that Cyril is the first, if not the only patristic theologian to employ the soul-body analogy properly, for different Church fathers conceive the union in Christ depending on their carrier philosophy, Aristotelian or neo- platonic. Every party, after Chalcedon, claimed to express what Cyril expounded and defended, one nature of the incarnate Logos, fully divine and genuinely human, which expressed the dual aspects in a harmonius and coordinated way. He builds on Athanasius theological defence of the divinity of the Son, and accordingly perfected the orthodox doctrine of theopesis, salvation by participation in the divine nature.

On The unity of Christ:
Fr. john McGukin, a patristic scholar, who teaches Early Church History, has revisited the controversial debate on one of the turning doctrines of the early Church. The translation is in a lucid language, with an elaborate introduction on Cyril's life and Christology. An in depth treatment of Cyril dogmatic theology, which has been revived in the last decades. Fr. McGukin made a great job in reintroducing the historical and theological debate.
"This book is the last of Cyrils theological essays discrediting Nestorius and his Antiochene christology, and contains his most mature teaching on the mystery of union that baffled the theologians since the fourth century. It was written in the form of a dialogue, to explain the Hypostatic Union in Christ."(R. Yanney: Coptic Church review)

Translator/Editor:
Fr. john McGukin, is professor of Early Church History, Union Theological Seminary, NY. He is a patristic scholar, and theologian. He wrote seven books and numerous articles, and is an expert on Cyril's soteriology and Alexandrine theology. ... Read more

Product Description
An understanding of how the singing voice functions should be a prerequisite for all those who wish to teach singing. And fundamental to any safe and efficient teaching method is the recognition that the singing voice is a functional unit. Consequently, this second edition, like the first, describes the anatomy and physiology of breathing and phonation and examines the acoustical laws necessary for an understanding of resonation. It is designed primarily as a textbook for college vocal pedagogy courses. The updated edition includes more detailed illustrations and an expansion of the appendix on vocal misuse and abuse, including data on subglottic air pressure/air flow ratios, the phonatory mode known as belting, and the aging voice, especially as it is affected by hormonal changes in the body. With extensive bibliography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

great book
I received the book in a timely manner and am pleased with the seller. The book has lots of good information for any vocalist wanting to know more about their instrument. I will keep this book even though it was a required text for vocal pedagogy. Thanks

Excellent vocal technique book.
This is an excellent and thorough book on vocal technique. Very well-written. Very erudite and informative. And, it's an interesting read. No gimmickry here, just solid, science-based information.

Excellent overview of vocal mechanism
The book gives a comprehensive look at all the physiological aspects of singing, including the mechanisms of breathing, phonation, and resonance.It also addresses posture, anatomy of the larynx, and other related topics.It is a great book for anyone planning to teach any type of singing.I also recommend McKinney's Diagnoses and Corrections of Vocal Faults as a companion book.

A Fabulous and READABLE Reference for a Music Student!
I am not a singer.In fact, I'm the one on the other side of the microphone in front of the mix board. As a part of a audio term paper, I found this book amazing.After pouring over books which made me quickly revert to 10 from 38, Ms. Doscher's book was a breath of fresh air.Amazingly readable and comprehendable!
Thank you!

Excellent Handbook for the Voice Teacher/Student
Doscher does an excellent job of organizing the pedagogy of the voice into a comprehensive, easy to read format.This book is a must for anyone starting out in vocal pedagogy, and an excellent reference to have in thestudio. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Unity Way
This is a wonderful book detailing the beginning of the Unity way of life by Myrtle and Charles Fillmore and explains what the Unity way is.I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a spirit-filled life, not another religion.

Excellent Introduction to Unity School of Christianity
Although I read this book several years ago, it is the book I recommend most often to anyone new to the Protestant sect called Unity School of Christianity. Unity Church is a haven for people from all religions who are looking for something more than just a bunch of dos and don'ts. At Unity Church I know Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Catholics, Jews, Protestants--every religion and denomination is represented at most typical Unity Churches and services. This book explains the religion in clear and entertaining language for the general reader. It is not just another gee-whiz public-relations book. It is a book solidly based on both knowledge and spiritual understanding. Unity's God and Unity's Jesus are the INNER God and the INNER Jesus, not the outer God with a long white beard sitting on a cloud in heaven. Unity is a practical religion, showing folks how to apply ancient and modern spiritual truths and values to their everyday lives. The book introduces the religion and the church, which can be seen as part of the New Thought Movement, although the Unity religion stands firmly on its own foundation. The religion is growing fast throughout both the United States and the world. Its teachings are drawn from ancient spiritual principles and truths; Unity is definitely NOT a cult. I recommend this book very highly. You can't go wrong reading it even if you never enter a Unity church. ... Read more

Product Description
For effective assessment and intervention with infants and young children, professionals need to incorporate psychological, medical, and family factors but too often, infant mental health and early intervention are dealt with separately rather than together. Integration of these two fields is the goal of this urgently needed text, ideal for introducing mental health concepts to supervisors and students in early intervention and teaching mental health professionals more about early intervention. ... Read more

Product Description
Ecumenism is a worldview that recognizes the scandal of denominational divisions. It also recognizes the need to heal those divisions and to repent of past sins and present obstacles. This book presents Christian unity as a spirituality that is celebrated throughout the liturgical seasons. It requires a conversion of the hearts and minds of the people in the pew, not just theologians. The author offers the Eucharist as key to that inner conversion.Arranged month by month, these sixty-four short essays from a Catholic perspective provide a year's worth of reflections. The arrangement makes it a useful tool for incorporating the spirit of unity into the liturgical year, while the content suggests practical steps to take. This broad look ranges from why pray for Christian unity, to relations with non-Christian religions. At every point the author's ideas are solidly rooted in scripture.A work of hope and inspiration, this book is recommended for all serious Catholics, preachers and teachers, diocesan ecumenical officers, ecumenical commissions, all clergy and religious, and pastoral staff members. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good idea... a bit short on particulars
A very nice, heart warming read... with next to no substance at all.I bought this book hoping to find some expression within Roman Catholicism that was reaching for Christian unity beyond the Trent model of, "bow to the Pope as king, or you're damned."Of course, this book is much softer than Trent, and at least recognizes the reality of true Christians outside the confines of Rome, but the only solution presented is the one issued since the 10th century that sent the Eastern Orthodox packing, as well as the Reformers of the 16th century: bow to the Pope as king, and we'll let you eat with us.The wrapping is better, but the content is still pretty poor.

It's a fluff book... but a pleasant fluff book.

So that the World May Believe
Excellent review of the Catholic Church's faith and hope that all Christians may be one.The book provides an excellent framework of the progress that has already been made and the work that is still necessary. A very positive approach that will lead readers to seek the change of heartthat will lead to unity. ... Read more

Product Description
For centuries, scientists have dreamt of discovering an underlying unity to nature. Science now offers powerful explanations for both the dazzling diversity and striking similarities seen in the living world.

Life is complicated.It is truly the "entangled bank" that Charles Darwin described.But scientists are now discovering that energy is the unifying force that joins all life on Earth.Visionary biologists have advanced a new theory that explains how the natural world—from the tiniest amoeba to the greatest rain forest—is constructed, providing a fresh perspective on the essential interconnectivity of living systems.

This revolutionary theory explains a variety of phenomena – helping us understand why a shrew eats its bodyweight in food each day, why a mammal's heart beats about 1 billion times in its lifetime, why there are no trees as tall as the Eiffel tower, and why more species live at the Earth’s equator than at its poles. By looking at how living things use energy, we can answer these and myriad other intriguing questions.In the Beat of a Heart combines biography, history, science and nature writing to capture the exciting advances—and the people who are making them—that are triggering a revolution as potentially important to biology as Newton’s insights were to physics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Origin of Wealth and health
This book is wonderful new application of thermodynamics to biology. And biology finaly start to yield to Scientific enquiry, by which author implies 'written in mathematics'. We now know how all the living things are behaving. This book thus might make a trilogy of life science books; "Origin of Wealth: Evolution, Complexity, and the Radical Remaking of Economics" on the behaviour of other people, by Eric D. Beinhocker and "I am a strange loop" by Doug Hofstadter, on the behaviour of myself(to be released soon).

Does Chemical Energy Explain the Unity of Nature?
The central question of this fascinating book is the precise role of energy in the living world.

Biology is in an interesting state of flux, with some visionary scientists believing that all biological processes are explainable by the laws of physics and mathematics. Meanwhile another group believes that quantum mechanics provides the best explanation for life process and a minority who think that we need to look elsewhere for an explanation of biological organization and function. In the middle is a very large group of teachers are researchers who are unfamiliar with the debates that are raging at scientific conferences and in the scholarly journals.

This is far from being an idle discussion: it has enormous implications for our understanding not only of biology, but also of health and disease. Wherever your sympathies lie in this ongoing debate, it is useful and important to know the current state of play in each of these different camps.

This book is an extremely well written and enthralling account of scientific discovery, that focuses on the efforts of a determined band of investigators who believe that they can - simply by using the currently known laws of physics and mathematics - build a unified theory of how living organisms function.

The idea that energy might be a unifying concept is not new. One of the first to discuss it was D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson who published a classic book on the topic - On Growth and Form - in 1917. In that book Thompson explored the effects of body size on life. Since larger animals need to expend more energy to do their day-to-day jobs, he began the study of metabolic rate and the way in which it sets the tempo for life processes. If metabolism slows, then so do all the processes in cells and organs. There is an almost linear relationship between metabolic rate and animal size: unicellular organs produce and require little energy; a leopard or elephant requires an enormous amount. That much is obvious. But what is less obvious is that there is a precise mathematical formula, first discovered in the 1930s, that relates body mass and energy use.

This initial observation has been expanded over the years and some theorists now consider that metabolic energy is the common denominator in determining animal form and biodiversity.

For example, larger animal species require more food and land, and are therefore more vulnerable to extinction than smaller creatures. An argument that has been applied to the extinction of the dinosaurs and the eventual emergence of small, mobile proto-mammalian species. I was interested to learn that some biologists working in animal conservation have discovered a mathematical law linking the specific area within a region and the number of species that it can sustain. On the other hand, the simple formula linking body mass and metabolic rate is the most parsimonious explanation for the quickest way for an organism to keep its cells supplied with energy, given the way in which the geometry of transportation systems change with size.

Although this a book about biology, it is easy to see that many of the same principles apply in countless other situations, including supply lines for an army, or the provision of men and materials in a game of chess or soccer.

This book explores a number of important idea, though I remain doubtful that all biological phenomena can be explained so neatly. I still tend to favor the group of biologists who think that the ultimate solution to biological form and function requires a new - and a yet poorly defined - organizing principle.

This is science writing at its best, and I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in human and animal biology. ... Read more

Product Description
In the mid-15th Century Japan began to face challenges it had never before experienced with such intensity. In the following hundred and fifty years, the so-called 'Age of Warriors' reached its brutal zenith - the imperial court was ignored, the shogun distracted and the population increasingly vociferous. It was the dawning of a nationwide era of families divided and neighbours at war, religious fervour and revolutionary undertones, craftsmen under arms and landlords threatened. In this portrait of a nation divided, Michael Lorimer surveys and explains the multiple trends and events that tore the fabric of state and the lives of people asunder. He then discusses the personalities and factions who brought this world under their sword; the smashing of rival hegemonies and the obliteration of obstructive forces, the destruction of local customs and the flourishing of arts and urban confidence; a time of pleasure, pain and paranoia. ... Read more

Product Description
The book takes a clear, step-by-step approach to building small, simple game projects. It focuses on short, attainable goals so that the reader can finish something, instead of trying to create a complex RPG or open-world game that never sees the light of day. This book encourages readers hungry for knowledge. It does not go into gory detail about how every little knob and dial functions - that's what the software manual is for! Rather, this book is the fastest path from zero to finished game using the Unity 3D engine. If you've ever wanted to develop games, but have never felt "smart" enough to deal with complex programming, this book is for you. It's also a great kick-start for developers coming from other tools like Flash, Unreal Engine, and Game Maker Pro. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fantastic beginners book & good for iPhone games.
I'm an iPhone app developer and publisher, I've been wanting to get into Unity 3D for ages for iPhone games, and this book is a brilliant start. Following this bookI had a bouncing ball running in 3D on my iPhone using Unity 3 after about 1hr of reading and tinkering, and already thats about 30% the way to a game I'm planning to prototype! Humorous and easy to follow writting style, and the basic game prototypes the book works through are perfect to get you started building games in Unity - especially the casual 2D gameplay games that have been so successful on iPhone (ie Angry Doodle Pocket). Its also a good compliment to the other Unity book which is more focused on first person perspective 3D worlds. (Note that Unity for iPhone doesn't have the terrain modeling features, and the examples in this book don't need that feature :-) ... Read more

Product Description

Build fully functional, professional 3D games with realistic environments, sound, dynamic effects, and more!

• Kick start game development, and build ready-to-play 3D games with ease
• Understand key concepts in game design including scripting, physics, instantiation, particle effects, and more
• Test & optimize your game to perfection with essential tips-and-tricks
• Written in clear, plain English, this book is packed with working examples and innovative ideas
• This book is based on Unity version 2.5 and uses JavaScript for scripting

In Detail

Customer Reviews (21)

Perfect for the New Unity Developer
If you're looking to get started with the Unity Engine, then it's hard to imagine a better resource than this book.The author starts off assuming no real knowledge of Unity and builds up and up until you've got a decent grasp on the Unity development environment.On the other hand, if you're experienced with Unity then there's probably not a lot here for you.In summary this book is fantastic for Unity beginners, but probably beneath experienced Unity developers.

Great Book, but Needs a 2nd Ed already
This book was the first one that dove into the world of Unity 3D Basics.Great book but 2 things are needed.

1)A second Ed is already needed because Unity 3 will be out by the end of summer 2010.
2)More advanced books are needed as well.

Great entry level guide to Unity Tools
If you were ever interested in learning how to get get started with he unity toolset, you could do a lot worse than this book.This is a from the ground up approach to teaching unity, which for advanced readers may find a little dull, I think most people would benefit by having flipped through the pages.

Pros:
Very clean, focused, writing which walks the reader through all the steps necessary to make a basic game in unity.UI, scripting, and editor usage are all covered and when coupled with the unity documentation leaves very little ambiguity.

Cons:
There is nothing in this book that you could not get out of the official documentation.

It is a short book that leverages unity in the simplest way possible and avoids covering the guts to the point that many people may feel lost at how to apply the concept in a broader way.

This book shows you the bare essentials, as the title implies, but it is still the responsibility of the reader to play and learn the details of the unity engine in order to leverage it for their own purposes.Making a non-FPS, side scroller, fixed camera, puzzle game, etc - this book will show you how the scripting language works, how to put objects in a scene, how to use the UI system: but it won't do much more than that.

Conclusion:
If you've tried to learn unity but got lost in all the documentation, didn't know where to start, or were just overwhelmed (even a little bit) this book is a great idea.It will ground you back by giving you a little focus and direction, as well as an ordered approach to using the unity tools.

That being said, if you've already ran through the documentation and tutorials and feel like you've got a pretty reasonable handle on things, this book won't really offer you much.

So-so
This book is what one would expect, the essentials. It seems to be geared more towards total beginners than intermediate/advanced.

There was nothing concerning Artifical Intelligence, Pathfinding, etc. This is primarily why I bought it.

If you are a total beginner to Unity 3d then I recommend this. If you are familiar with it, you can learn the same from the documentation from the engine itself.

A greatbook
I'm a senior animator at a game company.After working through the exercises in this book, I have a much greater understanding of what is going on over on the programmer side of the fence.I'm able to have much more productive conversations with the programmers I work with and even make a useful suggestion or two. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

If you enjoy the show, you'll enjoy the book.
I wouldn't pay attention to pretentious nay-sayers on this book.


I admit, it's no literary masterpiece, and there are holes in the story's construction.But if you have no ability to suspend disbelief, I wonder what you are doing watching Battlestar Galactica in the first place.


I enjoyed it.It was fun.It starts off in an intense dog-fight between Raiders and Vipers, the Galactica and a Basestar....Then it gets a bit dry.However, once you're at the halfway mark, it's hard to put down.

Nothing ground breaking
Steven Harper's writing ability is clean and easy to follow. He paints a clear picture with short descriptions, taking you into the story and placing you beside the characters as they interact.The storyline for "Unity" is very basic, but good.My only complaint is we don't learn anything "new" about the characters or the battlestar universe.Only for can't-do-without fans of the series.

Frakking Awful
After thoroughly enjoying the previous entry in the series (Saggitarious is bleeding) this was a huge disappointment. Between the terrible, 5th grade prose and the uncannily predictable and drawn out plot, the book is just plain banal. It contains every cliche that the series is so famous for avoiding. There was hardly a single scene where the charcters acted and spoke as they do on the show. Besides the names used, there isn't much in common with the series at all, no matter how many references the author throws in to previous episodes. My recommendation is to read Saggitarious is Bleeding instead, if you haven't already.

A Welcome Read
I've read all four of Tor's BATTLESTAR GALACTICA novels so far. The first two novels left me decidedly unimpressed; the miniseries novelization didn't really bring anything new to the table, and The Cylons' Secret had little to do with the series. Peter David's Sagittarius Is Bleeding was enjoyable, but was expected given the author; it wasn't until UNITY that I finally had some hope for the long-term future of the line.

Taking place midway through the second season of the show, UNITY takes an opportunity to explore aspects of Colonial culture not really seen on the show. Author Steven Harper takes a closer look at the fleet than the show has to date, taking the chance to look at minorities who must populate the fleet, but that there's not time in a weekly television schedule to necessarily show. His counterpoints to the majorities presented in the show offer interesting alternatives, as well as adding versimilitude to the show.

This is all in service of the plot of the book itself, though. Harper tells the tale of a scientific crisis in the fleet, one that quickly spirals out of control and into a military and political situation as things in the Fleet are wont to do. Throughout all this, Harper shows his mastery of the characters and setting (especially Baltar and Starbuck, the highlights of the book), treating them as the show would and offering tantalizing hints of their futures and pasts. His prion-based crisis is certainly believable and plausible, and one which couldn't easily be explored in the show without reams of exposition that could be far more gracefully integrated into a narrative as Harper did.

UNITY doesn't offer any world-shattering revelations, or fundamental changes to the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA universe. But then, such isn't expected; it is, after all, a tie-in subservient to the ongoing show. But what UNITY does is it fleshes out the universe of the show, letting us seem some of what we can't in a 42-minute timeslot. Author Steven Harper's book does this, and does it quite well. I recommend it to any fan of the show. ... Read more

Product Description
Surveying the entire span of southern political history, Michael Perman takes a revealing and wide-ranging approach to the region's politics.

During the nineteenth century, the South experienced nearly continuous political crisis from nullification through secession, war, and Reconstruction, concluding with the disfranchisement campaigns at century's end. The struggle for power took a different form in the twentieth century, as the South's political class forged the Solid South and then maneuvered to perpetuate its control within the region and its influence within the nation.

But there was also continuity within this pattern of discord and crisis. First, southern politics generated--to a degree not found elsewhere in the United States--a remarkable array of unusual and colorful politicians, such as John C. Calhoun, William Mahone, James K. Vardaman, Huey Long, George Wallace, and Lyndon Johnson. Even more significant was the lack of a competitive, two-party politics for the better part of the more than two centuries since the nation's founding. For most of the nineteenth century, the South's political system was characterized by the dominance of one party, the Democrats, and in the twentieth, by the one-party monopoly known as the Solid South.

This propensity toward one-party politics differentiated the South and its political history from the rest of the country. But since the passage of the momentous Voting Rights Act in 1965, one-party politics has all but disappeared and, along with it, the South's pursuit of unity. ... Read more