Product Description

Customer Reviews (14)

What a ride!
When I finished the first book, Orphans of Chaos, yesterday, I could hardly wait to start reading this second book in the series.I just completed this highly readable adventure!We find the "orphans" back at school, still determined to escape.Obviously, from the title, they do so.But what happens, and how it happens makes such a good story that I am just blown away!

We continue to learn more about the characters, and they finally seem to notice what was clear to the reader in the first book!Our sympathies lie with the orphans, but if their side "wins" all of humanity will be destroyed!What to do!!So this problem is explored more.And we also learn more about what powers the kids have, and poor Grendel Glum continues his R-rated quest for Amelia.

I hope everyone who enjoys a good fantasy reads these books and finds them as entertaining as I do!

An OK follow-up to ORPHANS OF CHAOS
In FUGITIVES OF CHAOS, the five godlike teenage hostages introduced in ORPHANS OF CHAOS once again elude their captors, and this time it looks like they might be successful. Spunky and (as everyone keeps telling her) sexy Amelia remains the first person narrator. Tension builds during the early part of the book, as she carefully plots her escape, all the while observing and deceiving the schoolmasters. Unfortunately, Wright has difficulty maintaining focus once the orphans are free, and particularly after Amelia survives another kidnapping attempt by the monster Grendel. They go shopping in Paris, they tool around in Vanity's magic boat, they take a cruise on the QEII, they philosophize, they banter, they flirt, ... and they nearly get eaten by an angry sea monster. Some of this is interesting, some of it is filler, and all of it says "be sure to buy book #3!"

As with Wright's earlier work, this book is at many points amusing and (in a positive way) provocative. I also found the sexual content in this volume less objectionable than that in the first, mainly because the pedophilic and sadomasochistic elements are much less present. Yes, Amelia and Vanity do a striptease dance for Colin and yes, the sexual banter that was so prevalent in ORPHANS remains. Still, the sleaze factor in FUGITIVES is a notch or two below that in ORPHANS. Also, unlike some of the other reviewers, I was generally impressed with Wright's discussion of the contrasting paradigms of the teens and their Olympian adversaries. His command of classical mythology, philosophy, and physics/cosmology is good enough seem plausible to a lay reader like me.

Recommendation: You can probably follow this book without reading #1, but you shouldn't try. If, however, you read the first book and found it half-way enjoyable, you might as well pick up #2.

P.S. The cover artist would have you believe that Colin gets his guitar in this book, but that actually happens in TITANS OF CHAOS.

The second in a series...
After reading John C. Wright's first "Chaos" installment, I was impressed enough to check out the second part - Fugitives of Chaos. It was definitely worth it. While it took a while for me to get into the first book, I realize now that the characters and their motivations had to be fleshed out enough so you could somehow empathize with these otherworldy children. I'm glad Wright took the time, because I really enjoyed watching as the five main characters continued to mature over the course of this book. Actually, saying they were forced to mature is more appropos in this instance I think.

While the multiple names are still at times a bit confusing, there is a handy name reference chart in the front of the book (something that would have really helped with the first novel, though I completely understand its omission). And the fact that Wright has crafted characters you care more and more about as the story progresses really helps.

Another thing that I really liked is Wright's clever use of well-established myths and legends. He doesn't hit you over head with them, but for those familiar with them, a smile is sure to grow when you read their names. And if you found Beowulf a tiring introduction to Epics (not that I ever did), you're apt to find an new appreciation for that classic tale. I want to see what else Wright has up his sleeve, so I've short-tracked the final book in the series to the upper levels of my reading pile. Besides, with a cliffhanger ending like this book had, I have to know how the story ends!

Do not read until you've read Book One
Book two of the Chronicles of Chaos, Fugitives of Chaos, begins moments after the first book ends and continues the story of five boarding school students trying to discover who they are and which universe they inhabit. I've already reviewed book one, Orphans of Chaos, and this book continues the same themes and is every bit as enjoyable. The main characters make further progress in their quest for escape, going from orphans to fugitives from their Olympus overlords in the process. Along the way they continue to discover and explore their inner latent power as well as their budding sexuality. The second book is as meaty with mythology and science as the first installment, going even further to flesh out how the two are related and intertwined. I'm greatly looking forward to the third and final book of the series, Titans of Chaos.

Choas ontinues...and amazingly so!
Wright is an amazing writer. Period. You cannot pick up any of his books without realizing so - usually shortly after the realization that you have been completely swept away with the story he has woven.Fugitives of Chaos is nothing less than another brilliant work - but it should only be read in the context of Orphans of Chaos and Titans of Chaos (The Chronicles of Chaos), because the trilogy of books forms one complete story, each picking up almost exactly where the previous book left off.

Fugitives of Chaos picks up within a few days of the (seeming) defeat of the chaotist team of orphans/children. Amelia retains more of their escape attempt than the others, but Quinten, Colin, Vanity and Victor have all had their memories hidden from them. But even as forces known to them work to keep them captive, other forces, also unknown scheme for their freedom at the same time as others plot their utter destruction.

This is not a book which just moves a story from point A to point B. The narrative which unravels within more than doubles the stakes revealed in the first portion of the trilogy. The cosmos itself is at stake, and the freedom the children desire and strive for will be the very thing which destroys all they know and love.

If you are a fan of any level of fantasy or even of science fiction, this is a must-read. One could take a fraction of Wright's vision for this book and create an entire series from the potentials therein. Just stop wondering about it and grab yourself a copy!

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

I am loving this series
It's one of the best of its kind out there.I think Liz and the gang are awesome and read the way you would imagine real people behaving in such circumstances as the characters in the Phoenix chronicle finds themself.I wish there were more light moments and downtime for the characters, but I suppose under the circumstances, you don't really get many time outs.I have to say this series is in no way predictable - I have no idea what is around the corner and Liz always suprise me.She is so fiesty and impulsive, making so many mistakes and taking responsibility for them.One thing I would like to see is Liz having a better handle her her powers.It was fine at the start when she was just thrust into it, but after 4 installments, she should read less clueless than this about what she is capable of.Still, I am enjoying this series and I look forward to the next installment.

Excellence once again
As always, Ms. Handeland comes through with a very entertaining series...I love the characters, not to mention the surprises.

INTERESTING URBAN FANTASY! CHAOS BITES by Lori Handleland
CHAOS BITES BY LORI HANDELAND is a interesting Urban Fantasy. It is set in the future. Is the fourth in the Phoenix Chronicles series. It can be read as a stand alone. The writer captures your interest from the beginning to the end. It has an absorbing plot with interesting characters. You have Liz, (a demon slayer, Phoneix, and the new leader of "The Light"). She is strong willed, beautiful, and trying to savethe world from Armageddon. This book has demon slayers, vampires, demons, a dead Navajo skinwalker (who Liz happened to love), fairies, an ex-lover who is another demon slayer, voodoo, powerful magic, danger at every turn,sex and power intertwined. Although, I would have liked a better ending to let the reader know some of what has happened to Sawyer the dead skinwalker, brought back to life by Liz, Jimmy, the ex-lover of Liz, who has disappeared, and the baby, Faith,(Sawyer's child), who someone or something is trying to kill and has now been kidnapped.If you enjoy fantasy, magic, danger, twists and turns you will enjoy this one. This book was received for review and details can be found at St.Martin's Paperbacks and My Book Addiction and More.

Latest Phoenix
Well, Lori Handeland just keeps me on the edge, guessing which way she'll go next.In the latest installment of the Phoenix Chronicles, our heroine is dealing with consequences... some of which are not of her own making.As well as all that apocalypse stuff! With the (wary) help of her old lover and some interference by her latest (dead) lover, Liz heads to New Orleans for some voodoo, magical messaging and good food.I am really unsure of where this story is going, but what a ride!The twists and turns kept me guessing and only one thing is certain: we're in for a strange and unique trip.Can't wait for the next book!

exhilarating urban fantasy
Her dead lover Navaho Skinwalker Sawyer, whom she killed, (see Apocalypse Happens) visits Liz Phoenix every time she dozes off.His nocturnal appearances gives her hope she may be able to raise him from the dead though she has no idea how to bring him back to her and his shapeshifting baby that she is raising and protecting from malevolent forces.

Liz turns to her acrimonious former lover Jimmy Sanducci to help her find a magical tome protected by spells and beasts who no one in their right mind would want to encounter or tangle with. Her job of keeping the baby safe makes their mission all the more difficult. Their trek is dangerous as there are many things out there that prefer the end of the world.

The latest Phoenix Chronicles (see Doomsday Can Wait and Any Given Doomsday) is an exhilarating urban fantasy as the prime triangle continues their escapades with Sawyer reaching out to his beloved from the grave.Fast-paced throughout, the aptly titled Chaos Bites is a great run through a gauntlet of death as apocalypse now continues to happen overwhelming the heroine who also has a baby to contend with (shades of Willow).The Handeland mythos is a creative and great place for readers to visit.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (43)

Good reading!
I really enjoyed this first book in what is a series, and I can hardly wait to read the next one!It opens with an idea that is certainly not original (or doesn't seem so, at first):A British boarding school with a tough but fair headmaster, strict teachers, etc.But wait!There are only 5 children in the school.As the story unfolds, from the perspective of one of the students (Amelia), we learn about their history at the school, what the children know and don't know about themselves.

It turns out that things are not quite what they seem at first!Gosh, I don't want to give away too much, but I think I can say that the school only appears to be a school, and the young people only appear to be students.They are actually hostages in a great billions of years old war.Enough said about that.

As the young people get more of a sense of who they are, and what their individual powers are, they naturally try to escape.This first volume in basically a book of explication and background, preparing us, I hope, for greater adventure.

I recommend this book 100%.I think young people, say serious readers, from about 12 and up could enjoy it, although there are some PG13 parts.I actually liked this much more than the Harry Potter books, and that says a lot!

Intriguing fantasy with a strong voice
The immediate thing I noticed about this novel, was a distinct sense of style. That's not to say other books I've been reading lack style, they don't. I just think that much of what I have read recently has a sense of style that goes along with third person point of views, a kind of cinematic approach to the story telling. I'm not sure I can pin down what it is that makes the style of this novel for me, it is linked to the first person point of view, but it's not merely someone telling me what's going on all around them. Perhaps its a sensation of time simultaneously passing and standing still, which I think is rather appropriate to the novel considering the nature of the Orphans of the title. Time is something that was very hard to pin down in the novel. I would say that the events are somewhat contemporary, but I would find it impossible to pin down an exact date the book is meant to take place in. Yet it also feels, perhaps due to the nature of this little British boarding school, to also feel somewhat Edwardian. Of course, perception of time for the main characters is one of the plot points, so I don't think it surprising at all that time's passage is not easy to pin down. I'm amazed at the number of fantasy books these days that have real world mythological characters showing up in the modern era. I think I'm starting to get a touch tired of that, but that's probably luck of the draw, not anything I can lay at the feet of any particular author. At the least, the mythological figures used are handled with new twists, and many appear to be thankfully more obscure characters. Which I happened to enjoy. Not the same old figures from central casting.

I think what I liked best about this book, was how each of the five main characters had a different perception of reality. And as an example of what I meant by style, you really understand this within the first few pages as he introduces each of the orphans, and gives you a sense of who they are and how the world works for them, all the while still through the lens of the first person narrator, Amelia. Quite an interesting feat. If the book can be said to have a flaw, however, it is the fact that it is quite clearly the first of several books. The novel cannot be considered complete and stand alone by any measure, and for some people that can be quite the turn off. If you got drawn in as I did, you might think it a good thing that there are two more books to read.

Hip re-envisioning of classical mythology
Amelia (after Earhart), the self-named first-person narrator of the Children of Chaos trilogy, is a quirky, gutsy young woman who learns, early in ORPHANS OF CHAOS, that she can see into and move through dimensions beyond the three that normal folks perceive. It turns out that she and her companions are hostages against the good behavior of their parents, partisans of the Titans, the gods who in classical mythology overthrew the first generation of gods and were in turn overturned by the third generation. Virtually all of the characters can be found in references on classical mythology. For reasons not yet clear, the ages-old war between generations of gods is being fought out (at least in part) on present-day earth. The hostages yearn for freedom, and slowly recognize they can use their powers to escape their captors.

I was initially impressed with the way Wright handled speaking in the voice of a teenage girl. I was therefore deeply disappointed when, around p. 150, it turns out that spunky and self-possessed Amelia actually longs to be dominated by men, ordered around by men, and punished by men. Wright explains her appetite for domination as a result of supernatural attack, but the sexual politics of Amelia's desires (and Wright's fixations on bondage and spanking) taint the book. I also found the constant sexual banter uncharacteristic for a group of children who grew up together in such close quarters; I would expect more caution and respect among them. If I recall correctly, Wright's sexual politics were also pretty bad in his Golden Age series. This is particularly disappointing in a lauded young writer.

While ORPHANS OF CHAOS has many flaws, it is nevertheless enjoyable and provocative (when it's not outright offensive). I like it better so far than his Golden Age trilogy, which also drew quite a bit on classical mythology. I hesitate to recommend the book because of its backwards sexual politics and annoying sexual banter, but I can't entirely condemn it either. Caveat emptor.

An interesting first entry in a refreshing fantasy trilogy...
I recently finished John C. Wright's Orphans of Chaos over the weekend. It was a fairly good read. The premise was interesting enough - a group of five children of the mythological Titans are kept at a "school" which at times seems more like a jail than a place of learning. The children do not know their own names or their histories, having been at the school since before they can remember. Each has a power of sorts, which is kept hidden from them by the school administrators and medication. But the older and more rebellious the children get, the less effective the means of control over them become. As expected the children revolt.

The narrator is one of the children, who has picked the name Amelia for herself, after her hero Amelia Earhart. As it is, each of the children have three names - their actual birth names, their mythological names and those they've chosen for themselves. This makes for a sometimes confusing read, as five characters being referred to with an assortment of names at times seem like fifteen characters. The teachers and staff at the school have the same thing going for them. Each is a mythological character in disquise and each is referred to by more and more names as the story progresses and the reader finds out more about them and their motives. See, the children are being held to prevent a civil war that seems inevitable since the death of Zeus. Yes, that Zeus.

Amelia's powers are a bit confusing unless you are well versed in quantum physics. I'm not kidding. Her powers involve being able to see and manipulate up to at least four dimensions. It can be a little confusing at times, but other than that, the book is an enjoyable read. As I mentioned before, more and more is revealed about the teachers and staff so as to keep the reader guessing as to their real identities.

I tend to browse through reviews of books before I commit to reading them and this book does have some mixed reviews. The majority of the negative ones seem to indicate that the book lacks closure. While this is true, it's beneficial to keep in mind that this is the first part in a series. Questions will be eventually answered, it's just that the story doesn't fit in this one particular book. Hang in there. It's a neat concept and interesting enough for me to check out the next book in the series - Fugitives of Chaos.

Oh, and try to ignore all the spanking references.

Read The Golden Age, and skip this series
John C. Wright's Golden Age series was among the best science fiction I have ever read.The protagonist's struggle against the system was a plea against complacency and lazy thinking.And while the entire series was informed by the author's politics, the series never devolved into a harangue.This was not quite true of Wright's Everness series, where the politics got didactic and at times overwhelmed the story.The Everness series was published second, but was written first, so I forgave Wright: it was clear he grew as an author between the two series.

This book, however, tried my patience.Let's start with the good.The premise is interesting; five children are trapped in an English orphanage, and like their keepers are more than they seem.The backstory, which slowly emerges, is a fascinating civil war among the Greek gods.Wright's magic system ties into four dimensional physics, but you don't need a science degree to keep up.

That's about it though, because too much else is wanting.Characters: Unlike his magic system, Wright's characters are one-dimensional.Plot: not enough happens, and I suspect the author wishes he could have published the trilogy as one volume.Readability: You don't need a degree in physics, but you really do need a solid grasp of Greek mythology to understand some of the conflicts in the novel (not a problem for me, but likely to confound many readers... and the author too, who confuses Chiron with Charon late in the novel).Morality: the main character has an apparent age in her teens (yes, she is older, but she is written as a teenager), and the author delights in putting her in increasingly uncomfortable bondage situations which culminate in borderline child-porn scenes that Wright and his editor should have excised after the first draft.

Although I will usually endure a so-so series if the backstory is interesting enough, in this case I will skip the rest of the series, or perhaps get it later from the library.I don't think I'll be buying anything more from Wright. ... Read more

Product Description
The new Templar novel from the USA Today bestselling author

On the morning of October 13, 1307, every Templar knight in France is arrested by the order of King Philip IV, who then seizes all the Order's assets and set the Inquisition against them. Warned of the plot, Sir William St. Clair flees from France with the Temple's treasure, several hundred knights, and the widow Lady Jessica Randolph to seek sanctuary in Scotland. There, with his men deprived of everything they valued and held dear at home, he will lead them into battle as Templar Knights one last time in defiant support of a king who is not their own, but who has earned their trust. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

saved some money
Buying the book on amazon saved me money over buying it new...i am reading the trilogy, so wanted to do that economically, thanks amazon

Boring, pedantic and terminally slow
I don't normally bother to review books but this one has earned a special exemption for being one of the worst reads I've had in a long time. While Order in Chaos starts out promisingly enough with intrigue and suspense, it soon bogs down into micro trivia about the daily lives of Templars, beard lengths, food and the completely manufactured sexual tension between the main character and his "lady". Honestly, this reads more like a cheap romance novel than anything remotely like what it promises in the first few chapters. You keep thinking, something big is going to happen but it never does. Even something like "and they all got killed by lightning" would have been a more satisfactory ending.

The ONLY reason I finished it was because we were on a long trip and I had nothing else to read. Heck, a copy of Vanity Fair would have been better than this drivel. Jack Whyte, you should be ashamed for wasting trees. So many words and so little to say.

Excellent Knightly Adventure Tale,not a history lesson.
Tremendous Templar Adventure! Not written as a History Book., September 6, 2010
ByJacamo Peterson "Blademan" (Reno NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Order in Chaos (Templar Trilogy Series #3) (Paperback)
I have now completed two of Bro.? Whytes books, "Knights of the Black and White" and "Order in Chaos".As a student of Templar Lore and things Masonic I often tire of would be historians trying to talk about the Templar Order and what it stood for and how it came to be the power that it was.We do know that it was founded by nine Knights from Provence,so to speak, and that it was most likely the brainchild of Bernard of Clairveaux (St.Bernard)and that, that area was close to the site of the beginings of the Merovingian Dynasty and that they may well have been of Hebrew descent. Now! That being said. I love a good adventure,I always have.I began with Ivanhoe,Tristan and Isolde,Richard the Lionheart and on and on. All of which were based loosely on history. I began reading them at ten years of age. These stories by Jack Whyte are are intended to satisfy the adventure cravings,to spark the imagination and to picque the couriosity.So untill the discovery of the real Templar Treasure and the gnosis which is contained therein. We will just have to live our Knightly adventures vicariously through this type of story telling.I am going to purchase the third book in the certain knowledge that I will enjoy it as much as I do all of Clive Cusslers books. Write on Jack,outstanding job!! Oh yes, before I forget,Sir Henry Sinclair did make a voyage to America in the late twelve hundreds or the early thirteen hundreds accompanied by Knights and a contingent of Pict warriors. They landed in Nova Scotia,lived for a time among the MicMac Indians.To this day he is talked about in legend as "Gulscap" the Warrior from the East. There are still a number of families there that carry the name "Pictou" (ring any bells?)John L.(Jacamo)Peterson Author
Blademaster of Norda
A Hard Place: A Sergeants Tale
Archaeology 501: The Field Trip

Possibly Whyte's Best!
The culmination of the Templar Trilogy doesn't disappoint!There are a few slow parts, but if you've already read the first two (if you haven't, you should) then you know the routine.Lots of cool historical references that make it seem that much more realistic.Just a great book.

A fitting third volume to the trilogy
Jack Whyte is a spell-binding author of compelling historical fiction. I first met him in his Camulod series, then followed the Templar books as they came out. Order in Chaos is the third of the series, and is a fitting third book for a trilogy or for an ongoing series. Jack Whyte performs meticulous historical research, and a student of history would find the stories accurate in their historical detail and with a premise that "fits" the period of which he writes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I had read the first two of the series. While each book is written to be readable as a stand-alone novel, I urge readers to read them in series for the most enjoyment. Jack, you have done it again -- you have written a massive "page turner." ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

The business of Burning Man
Great book for a brief history of Burning Man and an explanation of how its organizers and administrators formed, evolved and grew into the well oiled organization it is today. It is all about management but it also explains how it almost disintegrated in the late '90s. Especially good discussion of volunteers - how to attract and maintain them.Parts of it can be a little too academic for we commoners - it is a dissertation after all. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive, practical guide identifies the telltale signs of addiction, offers suggestions for living alcohol- or drug-free, and teaches the skills necessary for healthy thinking and living. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Getting control of your life
Great book for those who want to work through emotional, addiction, and generally out of control behavior.

A Preachy Repackaging of 12 Step Recovery
As a director of an outpatient chemical dependency program, I came across this book in my professional life. While the book is well intentioned and covers a wide range of topics about addiction and recovery, I was ultimately quite disappointed in it's presentation. The content is clearly a repackaging of 12 Step (e.g.: Alcoholics Anonyomous) concepts such as acceptance of powerlessness, etc. While this is not by itself a bad thing, the author incessantly uses commanding language beginning with "We need to ..."that many readers, I anticipate, will experience as preaching and condescending. (Implicitly telling the reader: "You need to!") The author places a heavy emphasis on labeling ("alcoholic", "addict") and de-emphasizes a person's ability to be their own agent of change; both contrary to scientific principles about what is effectively in achieving change. Some chapters contain exercises that invite reader participation but the exercises are not well developed and seem secondary to the overall lecturing tone of the material. Those interested in 12 Step recovery might do better to go to the primary sources (AA, NA). Others might seek out material from sources such as Smart Recovery.

A must read for anyone who wants to stop using!
A great book for anyone who is struggling to stop using alcohol and/or drugs.If you want to stop and keep failing, read this book.It will give you the information you need to be successful.It hasthe answers to yourquestions.As someone who works with people who are early in recovery, Isee them struggle with the basics.This book gives you information youwon't get in a treatment center.I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Product Description
Bigger than THE INFINITY GAUNTLET! More cosmic than ANNIHILATION! Since the end of SECRET INVASION, the CHAOS KING has amassed his army of alien slave gods -- and the time to strike Earth is NOW! Only the greatest Marvel heroes can oppose him - all led by the newly-returned god of heroes- HERCULES! But are even his incredible new powers enough to stand against the greatest threat the Marvel Universe has ever seen - a mad god who seeks to destroy Reality itself?

COLLECTING:

Chaos War #1-5

... Read more

Product Description
“A profusely illustrated, bemusingly unorthodox introduction to math.”—BooklistA book for the eternally curious, Coincidencesfuses a professor’s understanding of the hiddenmathematical skeleton of the universe with thesensibility of a stand-up comedian, makinglife’s big questions accessible and compelling.Each chapter opens with a surprising insight—not a mathematic formula, but a common observation.From there, the authors leapfrog over math andanecdote toward profound ideas about nature,art, and music. Coincidences is a book forlovers of puzzles and posers of outlandishquestions, lapsed math aficionados and theformula-phobic alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Great for Math Junkies!
I bought this as a gift for my room-mate who is a math junkie....he enjoyed the read and thought others would too.

fun with math
Anyone who thinks that mathematics is dull or that mathematicians cannot write with eloquence, humor and wit should read this book. They will be suprised. Many parts would even suit some kids as young as ten or twelve years old. This book has kept me up late many nights.

Thought-provoking, fun, and funny!
This is a terrific book on a wide variety of math concepts, but you don't have to be a math expert to appreciate it!My favorite chapter was "A Twisted Turn in an Amorphous Universe."Sound confusing?Try fascinating!A great diversion into topology, or "rubber-sheet geometry," this is NOT your typical high school geometry stuff.What I appreciate about this book is it gets you to think "outside the box," but it also encourages you to reflect on our world and how mathematics plays a role in seemingly endless ways.Enjoyed the chapters on chaos, infinity, and the 4th dimension, too!

Truth in advertising...
As subtitled, CCaATMJ "mak[es] light of weighty ideas."That it also 'makes lite' of them makes CCaATMJ an entertaining but pretty insubstantial read.For readers who have never encountered the ideas EB and MS discuss -- topology, higher dimensions, and infinity among others -- and who are totally averse to mathematical formalism, CCaATMJ is a fine enough account (making heavy use of analogy/metaphor by way of illustration).CCaATMJ falls in the genre of '_____(write in Math/Science field here) for poets' kinds of books, which can be excellent for a certain type of target audience: _____-phobes.For those who like their math books a little more math-y, though, look elsewhere.(Apropos: under "Further Resources", EB and MS name only 2 -- one book and one video of their own.Nothing else came to mind?That's pretty lame.)

Coincidences,Chaos,and All That Math Jazz
Arrived on time and perfect condition.It uses easy language for serious subject, entertaining and teatching. ... Read more

Product Description
Merciless attacks by an invincible alien force have left the New Republic reeling. Dozens of worlds have succumbed to occupation or annihilation, and even the Jedi Knights have tasted defeat. In these darkest of times, the noble Chewbacca is laid to rest, having died as heroically as he lived--and a grief-stricken Han Solo is left to fit the pieces of his shattered soul back together before he loses everything: friends, family, and faith.

Refusing help from Leia or Luke, Han becomes the loner he once was, seeking to escape the pain of his partner's death in adventure . . . and revenge. When he learns that an old friend from his smuggling days is operating as a mercenary for the enemy, he sets out to expose the traitor. But Han's investigation uncovers an even greater evil: a sinister conspiracy aimed at the very heart of the New Republic's will and ability to fight--the Jedi.

Now Han must face down his inner demons and, with the help of a new and unexpected ally, honor Chewbacca's sacrifice in the only way that matters--by being worthy of it.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (95)

Han Solo is Back!
James Luceno is only getting his feet wet in the Star Wars universe, but the Robotech veteran gets things steaming right along after a slow first quarter.The dialogue at first is a little ponderous, with drawn-out statements that seem a little wrong, but it gets better.

The character of Han Solo is the key point of the book, which was great to see since he seemed to take a back seat to everyone else.Between the time that Chewie dies on Sernpidal (SPOILER!) and the end of this book, the reconciliation between Han and his son Anakin really hits a father.

I like the new copilot character that they've given to Han.He's a bit like Han with his sense of humor, and also a little like Lando, but with less of the smooth pretense.I hope he sticks around a while.

Luceno really gets down to the guts of Han Solo, and it is his insight which saves the Jedi from certain doom at the hands of an assassin.It's Han Solo at his gut-feeling best, and I couldn't reccomend this book more.

QUALITY PAPERBACKS
The seller of these Star Wars books was quick, reliable and sent out products of superior quality.

Like the series, don't like this author
The first three books in this series were compelling and well written.They introduced characters well and like any good space opera, was liberal with the action.

This book however fails to live up to that standard in my opinion.Firstly, it's focussing almost entirely on Han Solo, who I'm bored of.His constant winging about Chewbacca dying is tiresome and annoying and by the time you reach the end of the book you're not brimming over with sympathy but bubbling with frustration.Whoever said "older and wiser" never meant this to be applied to Han Solo obviously.He's written like he's still unmarried and in his 30's.It's unbelievable and insulting.

The writing style also annoys me.It's hard to get into the story because it's very disjointed and not written in a way that ties things together neatly.You're left with a feeling of "what?" whenever a new chapter begins.

I'm reading this only because I want to get past it to a book written by a better storyteller.It disheartens me that he has written The Unifying Force because as the last book in this series, I was hoping it would be good.Here's hoping he writes Jedi better than he does old smugglers.

Great Solo adventure
While Hero's Trial, the fourth book in the massive New Jedi Order series and the first in author James Luceno's Agents of Chaos duology doesn't have quite the same epic scope as previous NJO volumes (no planets die in this one), it is still a crucial volume in the series.

Essentially, Hero's Trial is a Han Solo adventure, which is fine considering that Han has been more or less MIA during the previous two NJO books, drowning his sorrows after the loss of Chewbacca in Vector Prime (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 1). It's good to see Solo back in action, and the mission he takes on - hunting down the Yuuzhan Vong's Peace Brigade agents - gives him the sense of purpose (not to mention vengeance) that he needs to get on with his life.

The book's other key development is the introduction of Yuuzhan Vong double agent Elan and her familiar Vergere, who will go on to be one of the most interesting, compelling, and yes disturbing characters the Star Wars Universe has ever seen. You'd never know it from this book, but the diminutive alien will set in motion events that will shape the galaxy for years to come.

Luceno does a great job with this book. It's exactly the kind of rollicking adventure you expect from a Han Solo tale, though the ever-present Yuuzhan Vong threat keeps the book from getting to lighthearted. Luceno has obviously done his homework, as events and characters from both Brian Daley and A. C. Crispin's previous Han Solo novels are referenced extensively in Hero's Trial. It's a bit light on Jedi action, but it does show that the events in the NJO series impact everyone - not just the Jedi.

If you've enjoyed the previous NJO books, this will be no exception. The best part is that the story is just getting warmed up!

Very average book in an otherwise good series
Hero's Trial is a mediocre book in what has otherwise been a decent series to date.The first three books (written by R.A. Salvatore and Michael Stackpole) were quite decent, which makes the shortcomings in Hero's Trial even more disappointing.

The book isn't horrible; it's just not fun to read.With the exception of Droma, a new buddy Luceno introduces for Han, nearly every character in the book is painfully boring.The Yuuzhan Vong, who were engaging in the first three books, became nothing more than the obligatory bad guys.Description of their biological technology became long passages of text which the reader couldn't care less about.This is quite different from the first three books, where the novel and menacing threat introduced by the Yuuzhan Vong is really what made the story work.

Following the same trend, Luceno's space battles are very dry.There is nothing in the way of tactics, skill, or strategy conveyed to the reader.There are lots of action words and quite a few adjectives, but in the end they add up to nothing.You could skip over the entire battle and not be worse off for it.

Lastly, Han was given a new sidekick to replace Chewbacca.Luceno tries to write some witty dialog between the two, attempting to deliver on some of the charm Han Solo displayed in the movies.Unfortunately, this too falls rather flat - and at times seems much more slapstick than it should.

As a stand alone book, it really isn't worth reading.As part of a larger storyline which to date has been good, it is tolerable. ... Read more

Product Description
Candar is being invaded and Lerris must become the greatest wizard of all time-or see his whole world destroyed.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Meh, it's OK
Continues the story of Lerris in Modesitt's usual formulaic style. Not bad, but also not extraordinary.

The Death of Chaos - mini-me "Library Binding"
It would be NICE if Amazon would make it clear that the "Library Binding" and "Hardcover Binding" are NOT EQUIVALENT IN SIZE!The "Library Binding" is nothing more than the mass market paperback binding with a hard cover.

I was very disappointed.

Not Free SF Reader
In this particular world, Chaos and Order are supposed to balance.If there is too large a concentration of one sort of power, either some of it will be waxed, or there will be a rise in the corresponding side.

This makes ultra-powerful Lerris and Justen the Grey running around in exile-land a bit odd.Perhaps that is part of the point.

Don't forget the habits of good woodworkers, either!

Chaos and Order vie for control of this review
Did I mention that L.E. Modesitt Jr. is my hero?So anyway...here I am, reading this absolutely wonderful book, drooling over books to come, and along comes the end.I wasn't happy with the end, but it was done well if I'm forced to be honest.Anyway, here's the good vs. bad points:

Good:
1) More woodworking!Long, detailed and easy-paced sections with Lerris making furnature.Its cool.I've never read a fantasy story like this, where the main character destroys evil on Sunday, and makes a nice furniture set on Monday.And it works.
2) I got to see a number of great characters from previous books all show up.Kinda like when the cast of the Love Boat showed up on Fantasy Island (heh).
3) I love the clever ways Lerris learns to use Order and Chaos.
4) The plotting as to why this latest crisis has come about is realistic (within the bounds of that universe), which is important.

Bad points (my policy is to write something negative in all reviews, however trifling):
1) Not enough woodworking!I'd be happy with an entire book with Lerris making furnature, trying to meet deadlines, getting new commissions, making his "masterpiece", etc.
2) I sort of wish the characters weren't so worried about killing the people who want to kill them.They seem a bit squeemish.I think this is because the alternative is characters with tremendous powers who don't have any obstacles.If you make them worried about the mayhem they create, it limits them, and the story becomes less of a cakewalk for the heros.
3) I didn't find the crisis between Krystal and Lerris to be something I could sympathize with.It seemed geared to making certain things happen later in the story.I could see the strings of the puppeteer.
4) The ending was executed well, no spelling errors or anything, but I wasn't happy with the outcome.

The best book of the series!! (so far)
In the Death of Chaos, the story of Lerris, Justen, Krystal, Tamra and the other exiles of recluce comes full circle.The story line was great, with lots of awesome battle scenes and crazy magic preformed by black, white, and gray wizards.The story culminates with Hamor attacking Candar and Recluce with a massive fleet of battleships and cannon.

Not only the story line makes this the best book in the series thus far.The characters are lovable and believable, while at the same time completely badass.The dialect and the relationships between characters in this book are very well thought out and realistic.The one thing that I thought Modesitt could use a little work on is his obsession with minute details, some of which don't really need to be included.I mean, he kinda turns a long story into an even longer book by included lots of information that isn't really pertinant to the storyline. ... Read more

Product Description
Williams uses lists, graphics, examples, and friendly language to help readers understand the vocabulary and significance of chaos theory. The book will help scientists and students outside mathematics to use the concepts of chaos in working with data and will help interested lay readers grasp the fundamentals of chaos theory Pub: 9/97. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Requires detailed understanding of mathematics
Do not order this book unless you have a strong mathematics background. The entire book hinges upon mathematical argument.

Get in print, not Kindle
This is an excellent book in print. As a Kindle book, no. The conversion process has converted all subscripts and superscripts to regular type, and all Greek and math symbols to english text. Inserted formulas are so small they are only legible when magnified. Buy the paper edition.

Fantastic Book
This book was my first introduction to chaos thoery.

I found it to be an excellent primer with the right amount of technical details. This book will provide a good reference in the future.

Outstanding!
I would have to echo those who say this is an outstanding book. Maybe because the author is not a mathematician or engineer he doesn't overwhelm you with abstract mathematics and concepts and expect you to know these as a matter of course.

He also doesn't assume your an idiot so the material is not over simplified, it's not a casual read but if you're interested in the subject and have the motivation the book is definitely accessible.

He slips into difficult topics like say Fourier Analysis in such a way as to really impart a level of understanding of the process again without oversimplifying nor overwhelming.

A first rate author and an outstanding instructor I highly recommend this book.

Brilliant
Garnett Williams is my hero.He takes what seems like a complicated topic and makes it seem simple.Williams never assumes anything about the reader's prior understanding of any topic - he patiently and carefully explains what you need to know to understand his point.He reiterates, summarizes and gives examples so that even when you are occaisionally feeling like you might get lost, he reels you right back in.

He includes a glossary and chapter summaries which are very helpful.He also does a great job of refreshing important concepts from prior chapters as they again become relevant.

The layman's challenge in understanding scientific literature, even books written for lay audiences, often results from a minor oversight or assumption on the author's part.One little detail that, upon omission, makes the picture unclear.Williams covers every detail; he was thorough and consistent throughout.

I'd highly recommend this book for anyone trying to understand Chaos Theory or build a better foundation for the understanding of Complexity and other related sciences. ... Read more

Product Description
This empowering guide is an inspirational roadmap for the millions of men and women navigating a rocky relationship with a former spouse-while trying to maintain a healthy atmosphere for their child. Topics include:

* The 7 strategies for peace when an ex refuses to change
* Skills for taming former in-laws
* Ways to help children cope with a difficult parent
* Strategies and alternatives for focusing anger
* How to avoid hot-button issues
* How to nudge an ex to change for the better
* Ways to deal with children's questions and confusion
* The new partner's role in the old partner's shadow

This is the book for every frustrated parent coming out of a divorce who needs support in setting things right-the healthy, sensible, and sane way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A must read!
This book is wonderful!Every person who can't stand their ex's behaviors should read it.It will give you the tools to help yourself live a better life - by learning to change what you can, finding out how to nudge your ex in the right direction, and recognizing when you simply must accept some things and move on with your life - even if one of those things is that your ex is mentally ill :)

It has an excellent discussion on establishing clear boundaries with your ex, as well as a checklist to determine if something is really your problem - and your responsibility - or an unnecessary burden.I now know from personal experience that you can "teach" your ex to respect boundaries (if you phrase things in the right way).I also know that it is very satisfying to tell your ex that "This isn't my problem, this is your problem, and I will be glad to give you a few suggestions as to how you can fix it, but I can not (and will not) fix it for you".It greatly reduces the passive-aggressive/manipulation/no-win situations that so many of us know and hate.

But this isn't about being a door mat.It is about giving you the information you need to make sure that you are part of the solution and are not inadvertently a part of the problem.Finally, this book makes it clear that if your ex is abusive, then you need to seek assistance with the police and the legal system.

I have been so much more at peace since reading this book.My ex's behaviors are still problematic, but it doesn't bother me as much any more.I know that he is dealing with a mental illness, and I have to be the adult in the situation.He isn't getting the counseling he needs (and denies many of his issues, so that isn't likely to improve), and that means that I must be especially diligent to provide the right example for my kids - by maintaining my integrity and my sanity!This book put me on that path. :)I can't make him a better father, but I can give my kids the skills that they need to cope with the situation.And I can do it in such a way that they can see how to apply the knowledge to many relationships and that does not vilify their father.This book is also about seeing that each parent is responsible for their relationship with their children.I have learned that I must do what I can to keep my relationship with my kids as strong as possible, regardless of their relationship with their father.And in the end, his behavior will be a reflection of him, and my behavior will be a reflection of me, and as the kids grow older, it will become more and more a"parent" as to who is really raising them.;)

This book helped me to see that you have to think long term when it comes to your kids.You have to make sure that their needs are a priority, and even if the gratification is delayed, your efforts will pay off in the end.

The Best Book I Read After My Divorce
I can't possibly recommend this book highly enough!I read a ton of books when I was going through my divorce, and this one was by far the most helpful.I recommend it to everyone I know who is dealing with a difficult ex.It is all about controlling what you can control, and letting go of the rest.If you need help in being the kind of person YOU want to be -- regardless of whatever hurtful, untrue, crazy things the other person is doing -- then get this book!It will not only help you find more peace in the situation, but if you follow the advice your kids will be able to see at least ONE parent acting maturely and in their best interests.

Not for extreme Chaos
This book is for parents with custody communication issues and assumes that people are rational and able to compromise if given the tools to find a resolution.If your case is more of an extreme `Chaos' then this book is not helpful.In my case I wanted to find help in dealing with the ex who lies, creates false evidence, false reporting to police, false child abuse accusations and wants to see me die or go to prison with no visitation rights what so ever and will do anything to see this happen. I can take all the breaths in the world but that won't stop the vindictive ex who has become mentally unstable.
Again, if your case is only communication, this book would be very helpful.
If you are in my shoes, check out Child Custody A to Z winning with evidence and Family Law Examples & Explanations.

Great Book with Practical Applications
First of all, I love the title.It certainly describes my situation perfectly and Im sure many readers relate.This book is well written and contains an enormous amount of practical information that I have been able to apply in my life.After all, books are worthless unless I can apply the information I learn from them in my life.Thus, this title is well worth the time.Highly recommended and remember always to put your children as the # 1 priority in your situation.

The only book you need...
If you are navigating the gut-wrenching terrain of shared custody with a difficult ex-spouse, this is the only book you will need.A truly life-changing and empowering read--and a welcome reminder that while we may not be able to change other people, we can always work on ourselves.Filled with beneficial exercises and practical solutions to common problems, this book IMMEDIATELY improved my attitude with regard to my ex-spouse, and while we still have a ways to go at acheiving peace, this book gave me the tools I need to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
The Six Steps to Organizational Freedom

Do you:
*Miss important deadlines at work?
*Forget to return urgent phone calls?
*Lose papers that were “just here a minute ago”?
*Have multiple layers of sticky notes on your computer?
*Leave projects unfinished for days, weeks, or even months at a time?

If any of these sound familiar, then you are among the ranks of the disorganized—whether mildly or completely—and Liz Davenport has written this book just for you. Order from Chaos is the organizing book for disorganized people. In six easy steps she offers a system that will help you clean up your act. She demonstrates how to clear your desk by teaching you what's trash and why, reveals what a calendar is really meant to be, and provides a no-fail system for prioritization. At the end of the day, your desk will be clear and your mind will be free to relax.

Rather than offering overcomplicated instructions for filing systems and time management plans, Order from Chaos focuses on ease of use. There is not one person—from office assistant to CEO—who will not benefit from this straightforward, easy-to-maintain plan.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Concrete steps to create order
I found nothing that I considered a remarkable breakthrough in this book. So why give it five stars? After all, there are lots of other similar titles out there.

Liz Davenport describes a system that should be required reading for any followers of the 'Four Hour work week' method. While Tim Ferris tells you that you need to reduce the time required to handle paperwork and other tasks that come up, Davenport tells you how. Ferris also recommends outsourcing as much as possible, but most people won't do that. They will, however, be able to reduce the time they spend on chaos and the stress that it causes by following these six steps.

Order From Chaos
Great book. Liz Davenport was a speaker at a recent women's conference in my industry.I used to be a devotee of an electronic planner system, but when I experienced issues with my device, I decided to back it up with a written planner.Liz's plan is great for getting one back on track with organizing their office in a manner that keeps everything important within reach and the less-than-important out of the way. Her session encouraged me to do the obvious: write it down in one place! Get rid of the little notes everywhere. Her system feels simpler than the FranklinCovey system. If you have an industry need for a good speaker, give her a shout.

Best organizing book I have read
I own and have read many organizing books.I'm actually fairly organized and am always looking for tips to be even more organized.This book had the most immediate and lasting impact of any organization book I have read.I read it all in one sitting the night I got it because I found it so helpful.Many items, I thought to myself "yes, I already do that and it works" and many other items, I thought, "wow, that would make a difference."I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Tackling The Chaos
This is Author Liz Davenport common-sense approach on organization by utilizing a 6 step method. It's an easy to read, easy to follow guide. I looked at several books on this subject in a bookstore before I chose this one for its straightforwardness and ease of reading.
The information is presented in an easy to comprehend way.
If you never have time to keep track of where things are in your house this book can help you to start tackling the chaos.

Good, but slightly silly
The book was very well organized and offered a great soulution. But more then anything else it made you realize just about how much "stuff" comes your way on a daily basis. To have a system that acknowleges such a large amount of "stuff" is important for your sanity. She also helps you realize that although we have a list of "to-do" items- they are usually things that must be done with no larger purpose. She suggests to incorporate in a heart-line or a single task a day that will help you move towards a much larger personal goal.
I would recommend it as a read- but take her advice with a grain of salt. As it can be very time consumming to stay "organized". And plus, there is all that surfacing information lately about how the chaos thoery ( or lack of any organization) is a more effective means at maintaining order. ... Read more

Product Description
As revolutionary as What Color Is Your Parachute?, this career guide for a new generation of job-seekers, from one of America's top college career counselors

With the job market in flux, young people face The Question: what are you going to do with that major?

In this indispensable guide, Dr. Katharine Brooks provides a road map for twenty-somethings, replacing obsolete thinking that "major = career," and instead using positive psychology, mapping techniques, and experimental wanderings to help job seekers reframe their skills. Brooks provides effective strategies to help readers mine their academic and life experiences for new insights into landing jobs with the best employers, and finding alternatives when the situation calls for a Plan B.

You Majored in What? offers a practical and proven approach to reframing experiences, discovering overlooked opportunities, and finding a true calling, regardless of your undergraduate major orthe state of the job market. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Don't let the over rated stars fool you.
I bought this book because it had 5 stars and everyone commented on how great it is. I was so disappointed when I read the first chapter and continued to be more disappointed as I continued through the chapters. I was going to quit but I wanted to give it a chance by finishing it up. Bad decision.

There's not much stuff in this book that are valuable. Most of it is common sense and you can get it through career planning or from a text book. These information is everywhere on the internet. For example, the author put something like "Did you know you are a valuable employee if you are a person that's willing to learn?" I guess so. Although she does tell you what employers are looking for and how your attitude should be to get the job, its vague and I'm sure we all learned it in school. It comes down and depends on the individual of whether how far he/she is willing to go to prepare him/herself.

I read a lot of books and all of them are inspirational and motivates me to focus to achieve my goals. I had to take at least a page worth of notes with other books. With this one, NONE! This author does have a lot of hands on activities that breaks down criteria necessary for you to achieve your goals. Other reviews say this book is for everybody...it is not. Its more for high school students with all the drawing and brainstorming stuff. At one point the author ask, "If you could do something right now that can move you closer to your goals, what is it?" and she ask this a few times. I say I wanted to put this book away and start reading something else that's more important in getting my major like economics, finance, advance excel, etc.

Overall, this book was a waste of time (2 days!)and resources. If you have lots of time to play with to go through the chaos theory and taking whatever jobs being offered and experimenting with a few jobs then this book is for you. And after those few jobs you might not even know where you're going. If you want to be a follower and just want to work for someone to achieve their success then this is it. Otherwise, if you want a clear direction, read something else like "7 Habits of Effective People", "Think and Grow Rich", "Superself".

Had I not read other books, I'd give this rating a 3. But its not worth it and its over rated by other reviewers.

General lending libraries will find this a popular pick
You Majored in What?: Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career provides job seekers with a valuable key to moving into a new career, updated for the current recession and covering the basics of what to do with school major. Learn how to do what you really want, regardless of major or college study, through strategies the author presents to help readers blend life experience into education to get the best jobs. General lending libraries will find this a popular pick.

Perfect
This was my first Amazon purchase and the book was in perfect condition inside and out. The delivery was convenient as well.

Great for mid-career changers and moms returning to work
Even though this book is marketed (and written) for high school and college students or recent graduates, as a person who recently re-entered the job market (after staying home and raising my daughter) I found this book extremely helpful in shaping my ideas for what I could "do" and how to promote myself to an employer.Making the various maps was a lot of fun and I learned things about myself that I had never thought about before.The chapters on resumes, cover letters, and interviewing were full of great ideas and I produced a targeted resume that got me interviews immediately. Even better, I got the second job I applied for-- despite this terrible economy!Highly recommended for anyone at any age.

You Majored in What? teaches you to listen and be true to yourself
This book teaches us to listen to our heart more and discover who we really are rather than depending on some linear and "outside" definition of what we need to do and be.Its helpful for anyone, not just college students. In today's world where young adults are feeling the pressure of knowing they will be graduating from college deep in debt-- this book helps the student stay confident, follow their intuition, relax, and trust the process.You Majored in What? encourages its reader to use college as a time of exploration and uncovering interests, to enjoy and observe the lessons learned along the journey, rather than being only focused on the destination, while at the same time giving step by step instructions on what to do each step of the way. ... Read more

Product Description

Fractals are unique patterns left behind by the unpredictable movements -- the chaos -- of the world at work. The branching patterns of trees, the veins in a hand, water twisting out of a running tap -- all of these are fractals. Learn to recognize them and you will never again see things in quite the same way.

Fractals permeate our lives, appearing in places as tiny as the surface of a virus and as majestic as the Grand Canyon. From ancient tribal peoples to modern painters to the animators of Star Wars, artists have been captivated by fractals and have utilized them in their work. Computer buffs are wild about fractals as well, for they can be generated on ordinary home computers.

In Fractals: The Patterns of Chaos, science writer John Briggs uses over 170 illustrations to clearly explain the significance -- and more importantly, the beauty -- of fractals. He describes how fractals were discovered, how they are formed, and the unique properties different fractals share. Fractals is a breathtaking guided tour of a brand new aesthetic of art, science, and nature. It will revolutionize the way you see the world and your place within it.

* Contains a special bibliography listing fractal generating software for desktop computers ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

The best introductory guide to fractals and chaos
Though this book is now out of print it has not yet been surpassed (or even replaced) as an inhtroduction to the worelds of fractal illustarations. The photographs are astouding - and this leads the reader to read the print to find out more about the patterns that this book describes. Though the book is about mathematical ideas there is adearth of complicated mathematical formulae. It is easy reading for anyone who can add, subtract and multiply (no division!) andwho understand the very simplest algebra. I have used this book in a course I teach at our local Senior College and all the students love it.I am anxiously awaiting a second updated edition.

staggeringly beautiful
Technically this book is good.The images, however, are staggeringly beautiful.I think Dr. Briggs teaches esthetics, which is the study of beauty.Of any book on fractals I have read, this is by far the most beautiful.I really liked this book, so much I donated it to the library of my alma mater.

Patterns to Inspire - A Captivating Look into Fractals
This book brings a comprehensive and visually intriguing approach to the study of fractal geometry and the chaos theory. Through thought provoking imagery and discernible explanations & comparisons, John Briggs has sparked my curiosity where I now look more closely at the world around me. I believe this book is intended to captivate those with the ability to visualize and appreciate the aesthetics and interconnectedness of the arts, sciences and the natural phenomena that surrounds us. An insightful & visually stimulating read!

Don't buy this book
This book says absolutely nothing.It has a few good pictures (the best one is one the cover by the way), but the text is utterly worthless and uninformative.My favorite quote from the book is "Nonlinear means not linear."Really?Don't waste your money.Now I understand why I found it at the used bookstore.

Great Photos, Poor Content
This is a fantastic source of images on the subject of fractals, but not a great source of learning. Most books on math and science are difficult for the general reader; few authors (like Isaac Asimov) can make complex things easily understood. But the author of this book is, in my opinion, doing the public a disservice by oversimplifying the subject. The explanations underestimate the public's ability to think, and even include a number of things which are either dead wrong or made-up! The subject of fractals is still new, and there are recently more books available to explain fractals to the general public. Again, this is a great source of images, if that's what you're looking for, but look for another source if you want to undersatnd and appreciate this incredible and important topic. ... Read more

Product Description
For almost 15 years chaos and fractals have been riding a wave that has enveloped many areas of mathematics and the natural sciences in its power, creativity and expanse. Traveling far beyond the traditional bounds of mathematics and science to the distant shores of popular culture, this wave captures the attention and enthusiasm of a worldwide audience. The fourteen chapters of this book cover the central ideas and concepts of chaos and fractals as well as many related topics including: the Mandelbrot Set, Julia Sets, Cellulair Automata, L- systems, Percolation and Strange Attractors. Each chapter is closed by a "Program of the Chapter" which provides computer code for a central experiment. Two appendices complement the book. The first, by Yuval Fisher, discusses the details and ideas of fractal images and compression; the second, by Carl J.G. Evertsz and Benoit Mandelbrot, introduces the foundations and implications of multifractals.Amazon.com Review
Fascinating and authoritative, Chaos and Fractals: NewFrontiers of Science is a truly remarkable book that documentsrecent discoveries in chaos theory with plenty of mathematical detail,but without alienating the general reader. In all, this text offers anextremely rich and engaging tour of this quite revolutionary branch ofmathematical research.

The most appealing aspect about Chaos andFractals has to be its hundreds of images and graphics (withdozens in full-color) used to illustrate key concepts. Even themath-averse reader should be able to follow the basic presentation ofchaos and fractals here. Since fractals often mimic natural shapessuch as mountains, plants, and other biological forms, they lendthemselves especially well to visual representation.

Early chaptershere document the mathematical oddities (or "monsters") such as theSierpinski Gasket and the Koch Curve, which laid the groundwork forlater discoveries in fractals. The book does a fine job of placingrecent discoveries about chaos into a tradition of earliermathematical research. Its description of the work of mathematicianslike Pascal, Kepler, Poincaré, Sierpinski, Koch, and Mandelbrotmakes for a fine read, a detective story that ends with the discoveryof order in chaos. (For programmers, the authors provide shortalgorithms and BASIC code, which lets you try out plotting variousfractals on your own.)

This is not, however, only a book of prettypictures. For the reader who needs the mathematics behind chaostheory, the authors in no way dumb down the details. (But because thericher mathematical material is set off from the main text, thegeneral reader can still make headway without getting lost.)

Therehave been advances in the field since this book's publication in 1992,but Chaos and Fractals remains an authoritative generalreference on chaos theory and fractals. A must for math students (andmath enthusiasts), Chaos and Fractals also deserves a place onthe bookshelf of any general reader or programmer who wants tounderstand how today's mathematicians and scientists make sense of ourworld using chaos theory. --Richard Dragan

Topicscovered: Overview of fractals and chaos theory, feedback andmultiple reduction copy machines (MRCMs), the Cantor Set, theSierpinski Gasket and Carpet, the Pascal Triangle, the Koch Curve,Julia Sets, similarity, measuring fractal curves, fractal dimensions,transformations and contraction mapping, image compression, chaosgames, fractals and nature, L-systems, cellular automata basics,attractors and strange attractors, Henon's Attractor, Rössler andLorenz Attractors, randomness in fractals, the Brownian motion,fractal landscapes, sensitivity and periodic points, complexarithmetic basics, the Mandelbrot Set, and multifractal measures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

This book is a dream come true.
This book is a dream come true.
No other publication comes close to such complete coverage of the subject.
It is highly readable even for a novice like myself.
It has been a great joy to me.
Many thanks to the authors for doing such a great job.

It's all true: Best single source on fractals-but get the 1st ed.
Thanks to S.J. Will for the tip: Get the FIRST edition (used), as I did and save more than half the price, even of a used copy of this newer edition. Can't compare the two (having not seen the new one) but I can say the color images are very sharp in the older book. As far as content, I too have looked at and bought several books trying to understand fractals. (I am not math-literate, beyond high school algebra.) I found this book most helpful, but NOT easy for the general reader, beyond the first few, introductory pages. As other reviewers have noted, most of it is WAYYYY over the head of anyone who's not a college math major, but skipping through the examples and exercises (some of which are very rewarding if you can stay with it), I found the general explanations, the excitement of the authors, the broader significance of fractals all to be well-worth the price. -- And hey: at over 900 pages ( ! ) and with FORTY color plates, this book is an astounding bargain. Strongly recommended, even for novices.

"The Colors of Infinity," based on the video documentary by Arthur C. Clarke is a good introduction to fractals. An enjoyable DVD is included of the original TV program, especially if you learn better by watching and listening. The accompanying animated fractals are fascinating, but frustratingly poor resolution. For a more philosophical approach to fractals, I highly recommend "Heaven's Fractal Net" by William Jackson.

Compare the editions
I found the 1992 edition of this book at my local public library, and was (like all the other reviewers here) very impressed at the quality. The book deals with a highly technical subject, but does it in a way that you can follow even if you don't have advanced math training. The numerous color plates were also very beautiful. And to top it all off, there were "do it yourself" exercises at the end of the chapters, showing you how to program your computer to run these figures! OK, they use the old BASIC language, but still the code is clear enough that you can follow it and see what's really going on with these equations.

So I was so pleased to see a copy of the updated edition at a bookstore. In particular, I was eager to see if they'd updated those "do it yourself" exercises for use with EXCEL. However, as I read through it I was disappointed to notice two changes from the previous edition: first, all of the programming examples had been eliminated; second, the print quality of the color plates was noticeably poorer. And I didn't see much new material added - in fact one of the reviews above observes that the text itself is virtually unchanged. Considering the steep price of this tome, these were significant points to consider. Used copies of the old edition cost under 20 bucks, and IMHO are a better deal (I ended up buying one). So if you're ready to buy, just do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and compare the two editions first.

Excellent tutorial on nonlinearity
At least 50% of this book can be well understood by any 1st year, exact science student. There are a couple of mathematical issues that are more senior-like, but never mind. With the appropriate teaching or guidance, a lot of practical, advanced tasks can be tackled down.I could use this book all along for giving examples for college (university), undergraduate students of almost every mathematical subject: numerical analysis, calculus, linear algebra, group theory, algorithm theory, visualization in 2 and 3 dimensions, topology...you name it, after reading this book. No fuzzy theory or wavelets or any other advanced statistical method for dynamical systems is formally mentioned, though. However the concept of measure is very well introduced and described with examples. For physics is not bad for dynamical systems theory. Although no Hamiltonian or Lagrangian formalism is mentioned, the description on how to obtain Lyapunov exponents out of a set of differential equations is very good. Engineers get their share too: useful examples are given about, e.g., feedback and control theory (mind you, it is not a book specialized in, say, robotic control using chaos theory, but it is a good start). For philosophers and the layman there are quite a few pages as well. The foreword from Mitchel Feigenbaum, just to give an example, tells us a kind of summary which "warms up" the reader and "exorcises away" the possible fantasies an unprepared reader could have regarding (or against or in favor of) the word "chaos". Nice color plates for those with artistic inclinations and the graphics are just so very well printed, you can practically "follow" their computation. Not a bad book at all for your personal (or institutional) library, I may say.

A good introduction
Chaos as a physical theory began essentially in the 1970's, but as a mathematical field it has existed since the early 1900's. This book covers only the mathematical study of chaos, and is addressed to those readers who have a fairly strong background in undergraduate mathematics. A knowledge of dynamical systems and measure theory would help in the appreciation of the book, but are not absolutely necessary. The application of fractals and chaos to finance is now legendary, but other applications, such as to packet networks and surface physics are not so well-known. Current research in chaos is done predominantly in the context of information theory, wherein the goal is to understand the difference between chaos and noise, and develop mathematical tools to quantify this difference. The BASIC code in the book gives away its age, but can be easily translated to one of the symbolic computing languages available now, such as Maple or Mathematica.

This is a sizable book, and space prohibits a detailed review, but some of the more interesting discussions in it include: 1. The video feedback experiment, which can be done with only a video camera and a TV set. This is always a crowd pleaser, at whatever level of the audience it is presented to. 2. The comparison between doing iteration of a chaotic map on two different calculating machines: a CASIO and an HP. The difference is very dramatic, illustrating the effect of finite accuracy arithmetic. 3. The pictures illustrating the Chinese arithmetic triangle and Pascal's triangle as it appeared in Japan in 1781. 4. The space-filling curve and its relation to the problem of defining dimension from a topological standpoint. This discussion motivates the idea of covering dimension, which the authors overview with great clarity. They also give a rigorous definition of the Hausdorff dimension and discuss its differences with the box counting dimension. 5. The many excellent color plates in the book, especially the one illustrating a cast of the venous and arterial system of a child's kidney. 6. The difficulty in measuring power laws in practice. 7. Image encoding using iterated function systems, which has become very important recently in satellite image analysis. This leads into a discussion of the Hausdorff distance, which is of enormous importance not only in the study of fractals but also in general topology: the famous hyperspaces of closed sets in a metric space. 8. The relation between chaos and randomness, discussed by the authors in the context of the "chaos game." 9. L-systems, which are motivated with a model of cell division. 10. the number theory behind Pascal's triangle. 11. The simulation of Brownian motion. 12. The Lyapunov exponent for smooth transformations. 13. The property of ergodicity and mixing for transformations, the authors pointing out that true ergodic behavior cannot be obtained in a computer where only a a finite collection of numbers is representable. 13. The concept of topological conjugacy. 14. The existence of homoclinic points in a dynamical system. These are very important in physical applications of chaos. 15. The Rossler attractor and its pictorial representation. 16. How to calculate the dimensions of strange attractors. 17. How to calculate Lyapunov exponents from time series, which is of great interest in many different applications, especially finance. 18. The Julia set, which the authors relate eventually to potential theory. ... Read more

Product Description
We live in the Information Age, and much of that information comes to us in the form of numbers. But before numerical information can be useful it must be analyzed, interpreted, and assimilated. Unfortunately, teaching the techniques for making sense of data has been neglected at all levels of our educational system. As a result, through our culture there is little appreciation of how to effectively use the volumes of data generated by both business and government. This book can remedy that situation. Readers report that this book as changed both the way they look a data and the very form their monthly reports. It has turned arguments about the numbers into a common understanding of what needs to be done about them. These techniques and benefits have been thoroughly proven in a wide variety of settings. Read this book and use the techniques to gain the benefits for your company. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Understanding variation the key to mananging chaos
An excellent book about data analysis and in some extend, an excellent book about common sense, with fine humor that makes it easy and funny to read.

Fantastic book for appreciating process analysis
A great book on process capability.It's a very easy read - lots of practical examples and charts.
What else would you expect from Dr Wheeler.A very approachable read for all types of organizations
and levels of staff.

A MIND CHANGER
This was the first book recommended for me to read by my Master Black Belt during Six Sigma training.This book truly changes the way you think in a positive direction. I now require my Six Sigma team members to read the book to increase our success.All managers should read this book.

Stats in plain language
This book is excellent, if you want to know how to produce a simple but effective graph from your stats then this is the book for you. The book is written in plain English that anyone could follow, with simple but effective formula to produce a visual graph that seperates noise from problems. Best book i have ever read for understanding problems.

Book explains variation, statistics & makes sense
This book was easy to read, short, and makes sense of statistics and how variation is the antithesis of continuous improvement. Good Read. ... Read more

Product Description
A string of smashing victories by the forces of the sinister aliens known as the Yuuzhan Vong has left New Republic resources and morale stretched to the breaking point. Leia Organa Solo, estranged from her husband, Han, oversees the evacuation of refugees on planets in the path of the merciless invaders. Luke Skywalker struggles to hold the fractious Jedi Knights together, even while one of them undertakes a bold but reckless undercover mission.

Manipulating their alliance with the amoral Hutts, the Yuuzhan Vong leave a cunning trail of vital information where New Republic agents are sure to find it--information the desperate defenders cannot afford to ignore: the location of the aliens' next target.

Then Han Solo stumbles into the dark heart of raging battle, thus beginning a furious race against time that will require every skill and trick in his arsenal to win...

... Read more

Customer Reviews (60)

Okay as a standalone...
As the Yuuzhan Vong conquer one star system after another, the Jedi struggle with the ethical dilemma this enemy presents. Should they join in the New Republic's all-out fight against the Vong, or should they hold themselves aloof and refuse to use the Force in battle? That conflict absorbs the still adolescent Solo children, who are more than capable of taking their places as Jedi warriors - but only if they can be convinced it's the right thing to do. Meanwhile, Han Solo's grief over Chewbacca's death has caused the ex-smuggler to return to his old ways and leave his family to roam the galaxy in search of adventure. Leia Organa Solo, former head of state for the New Republic and now its ambassador, heads for the Hapan home world to attempt enlisting that 63-planet empire and its powerful starfleet as another ally in the war against the Vong. Who are moving behind the scenes, in ways their targets don't yet suspect...for this galaxy's inhabitants are only just starting to learn about the Vong.

While it's all right as a standalone adventure, this book does not advance the series to which it belongs at all. Han stays angry and alienated, Leia stays frustrated, and the Solo youngsters stay puzzled from beginning to end. For any reader who picks up the Star Wars books because of the characters, that makes this one unlikely to satisfy. I wound up as frustrated as Leia by the time I'd finished it.

--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of 2005 EPPIE winner REGS and the HIGH PLACES series

Worst Author Ever
This is the only book on which I have ever spent postage to return to the publisher requesting a refund because the writing was so horrible.I haven't yet received a refund, but at least the book no longer pollutes my shelf.

See for yourself... Here's a quote from page 2: "Dangerously close to the shield's shimmering perimeter, a thousands-strong mixed-species throng, massed behind stun fencing, pressed to be admitted."Is this for real?It's alliterative, rhyming prose with more consonants than a Czech phone book.Say the quote out loud to yourself, and then imagine trying to wade through 300 pages of this.I don't think I made it past one third of the book.This author writes as though he can never decide on which adjective or adverb to use, so he therefore browses through his thesaurus and packs every word he can find into a single sentence.Then he does this for every sentence on every page.To make reading even more difficult, it also seems that he invents his own words as labels for fictional scientific concepts which he hasn't first explained, and which aren't commonly established elsewhere in the sci-fi genre (i.e. He uses meaningless nonsense fluently).

It's a shame that they still allow him to write for this series, because otherwise, I enjoyed the Star Wars books on the whole, and would have liked to have known the sections of the story he covered.

3.5 stars - At least it puts Han Solo back in play
I'm not really sure why this book, which is the 5th volume in the massive New Jedi Order series and the closing volume of James Luceno's Agents of Chaos duology, was titled Jedi Eclipse, when the Jedi play such a minor role in this one. Even though another Jedi Knight dies in this book, the real star of this "series within a series" is Han Solo. Everyone else is just along for the ride.

While the Yuuzhan Vong invasion was still the focal point of the story, this book felt like one of the pre-NJO Star Wars novels where the characters go their separate ways only to have their adventures bring them all back together for a dramatic action sequence at the end of the book. Han spends much of the story helping his new partner Droma track down his missing kin, Leia travels to Hapes to elist the Consortium's aid in the conflict, and Jacen and Anakin Solo travel to the reactivated Centerpoint Station. In the end, all points lead to (I'm not saying where, as it is a major plot point).

I found it more than a little disturbing when I went back and reread these New Jedi Order novels in a post-9/11 world, as there are definite parallels between the Yuuzhan Vong's ideology and the fundamentalist Islam that has been the source of so much misery. The matter of refugees also brings to mind post-Katrina New Orleans; only in these novels the enemy actively torments the refugees.

Luceno definitely has an appreciation for the Star Wars characters, and seems quite knowledgeable about the vast Star Wars history. He also knows how to write a rollicking adventure story, which despite the grim overtones of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, Jedi Eclipse certainly was. I still prefer the NJO novels that focus on the larger conflict, but the Agents of Chaos series was an enjoyable side-story, and were particularly useful in that they pushed Han Solo back into action, which is not going to be good news for the Yuuzhan Vong!

Not much here unfortunately...........just filler.
Well, im back again.Sorry to keep ya waiting a bit longer than usual.I do however have an explanation.It is because this installment simply doesnt go anywhere.The pay off appears in the last 48 pages and that simply is not acceptable to me.There is no buildup, no suspense at all.I had a hard time wanting to continue the book.It sat on the shelf for days on end wanting to be read to the finish line but alas....................Hero's trial was fantastic.It had everything in it for me.All the ingredients were there.This one should go further since it is part 2 of the duology but it just doesnt.Ive enjoyed the last 4 books quite a bit, but this one is the worst of them so far in terms of keeping the interest goin.It is definitely NOT a page turner.It is however written very well.The characters are all represented well, with the exception of a few, like Luke and Mara who barely see any page time.The characterizations though are dead on good.The book also appeared rather fragmented with too much going on, too many subplots that were confusing to follow at all times.Of course read it, its Star Wars, but its overshadowed greatly by those that came before it.

#5
ive only read this far so far but will put out reviews as i read the rest of the series.this was an excellent book as was its [predecessor agents of chaos 1.mara may have found a cure to her ailment.but is it permanant?han goes back to his old scoundral like days.he still has his good side as he does great things for the war effort but in his own time hes become quire reckless.leia gets the blame for a lot of bs stuff going on in the world.she even has ppl fighting over her at one point.one of her old would be suitors no less.anakan gets a weopon of mass destruction working again but will he use it?the ever oppurtunistic lando even starts bringing in refugees.the republic tries to be friends with rhe hutts also.all trust seems to dissipate everywhere!even c3-p0 begins worrying about deactivation like an old person would dying.the vong make prisoners massage thier living ships heart so itll runbetter.the being turns a lot of ppl into veggies or corpses.however a jedi resists its tortures.the vong killed enough stuff now that the core worlds like where corascant is were looking like good targets.like i said,as i read more,ill report more.the 2nd best book so far! ... Read more

Product Description
Spanning two centuries and across three continents (Europe, America and Asia), the author provides a fascinating history on some famous and not so famous financial events. Beginning with the 1720s Mississippi and South Sea Companies to the great global crashes of 1929 and 1987, Bernice Cohen provides us with a strategy for tracking market trends and cycles, and protecting our investments against the next financial crash. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Summary of the book
Introduction

The objectives of the book are:  To study in detail the stock market crashes, to discover what went wrong and to learn from these past traumatic episodes; and  To identify andexplain the underlying structure of the financial market behavior.

Chaosis Discovered Newtonian vs. Chaos For the last 300 years, our thoughts havebeen profoundly influenced by the Newtonian theory, which, as we know,rests on assumption of a linear system. This theory is best applied tosystem with two objects interacting with each other. When used to elucidatethe system with three objects or more, Newtonian theory collapses.

Chaostheory, which is based on complex and non-linear system, is a relativelynew discipline (circa 30 years). Its use in social science and field ofphysics have gained wide acceptance. The author attempts to apply thetheory to the financial market.

Chaos Rules

Chaos describesunpredictable behavior that is governed by rules. Ian Stewart in his book,"Does God Play Dice?" gives the following definition: "Chaos is lawlessbehavior governed entirely by law".

Chaos in Financial Market

Theauthor comment regarding the stock market behaviors using the chaos theoryis as follows:  Financial market is inherently unstable anddynamic system, and the mood of the majority of its player can flip almostinstantaneously from one state to another. Hence financial market resemblesa chaotic system. An orderly phase may dissolve into chaos & then tipback to a more ordered state.  Stock markets are holistic thatsometimes their collective behaviors will be different from that of theircomponent unit (i.e. individuals & investors).

Chaos Theory inActions After noting the similarities between financial markets behaviorand chaos theory, the author studied several important financial crisesover the last 300 years to see whether there was any underlying structurebeneath the crashes. She discovered that many speculative bubbles shared acluster of common features. \ The author does not try to predict when thecrash will happen. Instead, she seeks to uncover what is the underlyingstructure of financial market and how investor can profit from it byassessing in which phase he is at a particular time.

The author studiedthe following crashes and described the sequence of events using the tenphase structure: 1. Bubbles of 1720  Mississippi Madness South Sea Fiasco 2. Modern Bubbles  Great Crash1929  Global Crash 1987  Japanese Bubble Bonds Bubble

So what if we know the history and chaostheory?

How To Be Prepared? Compiling a checklist based on the structureof crash scenario (ten-phase structure) has the followingpurposes:

 It is a systematic way of dealing with thesituation.It provides an orderly framework to analyze the signals andprepare oneself for any occurrence of the crash; and

 Ithelps the investors to judge more clearly how far along the route of chaosscenario has progressed.

(The checklist is elaborated in thetextbook).

In addition to the checklist, there is also a need to look outfor other cluster of symptoms or occurrence of other events (such asemergence of new financial tools, collapse of big corporations etc) toconfirm the findings from the checklist.

What to do with the checklist? To avoid any avalanche of selling, one must be able to identify at leastthe first 3-5 phases and clear your position at phase 5 or 6 (i.e. whengullible public joins in or when doubt starts to form).

However, ifone misses the signal and fails to sell off by phase 6, it is still not toolate to do so as long as it is done before the markets reach the bottom. This will allow one to cash out and reinvest when the markets hit thebottom.

What if u misses all the phases?- As the chaos theory shows,the market will turn around eventually.However, the issue is how longwill it take? No one knows.

Timing the Crash - Is it possible? Whilst it may not be too difficult to identify the signals of an impendingcrash (based on the phases in the structure of crashes), one can neveraccurately predict the timing of occurrence.Time is the mostuntrustworthy and unpredictable element.As shown in the charts, thepoints might get squeezed together or pulled part -- this is a commonfeature of a chaotic system.

Since predicting the exact timing of crashesis highly unreliable, in order to avoid being caught off guard, one has toclosely watch for any trigger event that may unleash a selling cascade.Another strategy is to give up the hope of catching the extreme peak andbottom and be contended as long as you buy near the bottom and sell nearthe top.

Conclusion

Chaos theory has taught investors how topreserve their capitals from the disaster of a crash.The 3 main points tobear in mind are as follows:

 Need to recognize anyunintentional actions of the financial authorities which may create aclassic chaos conditions and prepare own course of actions;

Even the most sophisticated and cautious long term investors can becomeirrational and act in tandem with the speculators; and

Understand that falling bond prices with rising interest rate may resultfrom the collapse of a financial pump instead of a reflection of thefundamental outlook of the economy.

One of the most important events towatch is the action by the presiding authorities which may trigger afinancial pump and set the phase transition in motion.When it happens,one should know how to react.

In conclusion, as a Fund Manager, oneshould

 Be fully aware of what is happening in the financial,political and economic sectors around the world. One of them could be thetrigger event.  Be able to identify at which phase thefinancial market is in and predict the transition and the edge of chaos. Be able to clear his position and not to be influenced by theherd behavior if he concludes that the market at peak and near the point ofcollapse. This is a tough discipline to follow especially if he has astrict mandate and the clients' expectations increase during the boom. ... Read more

Product Description
According to Ervin Laszlo, we are at a critical juncture in history, a "decision-window" where we face the danger of global collapse--or the opportunity for global renewal. He presents a concise overview of the current crises we face (environmental, social, economic, and institutional), persuasively arguing that if something is not done quickly, we face disaster. We have the opportunity right now to head off trends that could lead to a critical tipping point. Laszlo's solution is a global consciousness shift that entails a new universal morality, a new ecological awareness, and a reverence and caring for the earth. Included here are concrete suggestions of what the reader can do to promote this shift in evolutionary consciousness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Had already read book.Bought it for myself.
This is a must read for every citizen of the world.The point of change is here and Dr. Laszlo is an inspiration to us all.

Brilliant and Surprisingly Insightful
Laszlo is a brilliant physicist, who applies wave theory to better understand major shifts happening in the world.For those of us swamped with "daily news minutia," Dr. Laszlo expands the breadth of our perspective without getting lost in technical jargon.

What I found surprising, but amazingly insightful, was his gradual evolution into "expanded consciousness."We normally think of a physicist as dealing with physical aspects of existence, and not what feels like the "spiritual" domain.Yet, he links them in a way that's clear and supportable.And he illustrates how the changes that are now happening in the world follow the trends he sees.

The new book, "Sustainability:A Personal Journey to a Built Sustainable Community ... and An Amazing Picture of What Life Will Soon Be Like," fits with everything Laszlo explains and foresees ... then adds it's own aspects for translating trends cited by Laszlo and others into what each of us can do - food, clothing, shelter basics - to sustain ... to make it through what will be a difficult transition and enjoy an entirely new style of living ... "sustainable living" ... that will actually be better than anything we've experienced before.

Dr. Laszlo's book is a primer - a "must read" foundation for understanding the changes that are upon us.

right between the eyes
Want to grasp how we got to the point we are at today with the economy, global conflict, or just our what have you done for me in the past 30 minutes attitude?Read this book.

Optimism will result from your understanding where we are after reading the book, the breakdown that will propel us forward is upon us....thank god!!

Truth coming at us at lightning speed...
A book not as any other book, it reminds us that humanity faces a reckoning,we must acknowledge what is wrong and stop walking on the path of destruction or face destruction and be obliterated...

The time has come when we either make a BREAKTHROUGH or we simply BREAKDOWN...

Stone, Bronze, Iron and then what?
Laszlo claims we are just now moving beyond the Iron Age and what comes next is not clear.The worse things get, however, the more people will work for improvement.What we need is general agreement that all should live "in a way that allows all other people to live as well."Unbridled consumption is the way to global destruction.Like David Korten (The Great Turning), Laszlo optimistically looks to all those who meditate, eat wisely, recycle, etc. as the vanguard of the new age. ... Read more