Product Description
Awarded The British Medical Association Student Textbook Award 2009, this short and accessible book comes with an interactive CD of heart sounds recorded from actual patients using the latest digital audio technology. Cardiac auscultation is one of the most difficult clinical skills to acquire and competence in this area is extremely variable. With the CD the user can listen to a recording and either eliminate or enhance the different components until they are confident that they have correctly identified the sounds in all phases of the cardiac cycle. This Second Edition uses the latest software and includes new features, such as the ability to slow the heart sounds down without altering their pitch. The layout of the CD has been improved to make it quicker to access. New questions and answers in both the book and the CD allow readers to monitor their knowledge and progress. The visual representation of the cardiac cycle also helps readers understand the origin of the heart sounds.

This CD is suitable for use in all PC/Macs which have a tray-loading CD-ROM drive. It is not compatible with slot-loading CD-ROM drives.

• The book provides a simple guide to cardiac auscultation along with useful teaching points and summaries
• The interactive CD recordings allow the various components of each heart sound to be eliminated and restored to aid understanding
• Using this package of book and CD the reader can gain a full understanding of cardiac auscultation in minutes that can take years to learn in clinical practice
• This CD is suitable for use in all PC/Macs which have a tray-loading CD-ROM drive. It is not compatible with slot-loading CD-ROM drives

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book!
Great book on heart murmurs. Quick shipping. Has a DVD with it that makes it the best murmur book to own. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a tongue-in-cheek guide to words that any well-educated, witty person should be able to drop into cocktail conversation. The reader is encouraged to toss off words such as ?disestablishmentarianism,? ?descant,? and ?autodidactic? ?words that will make the user sound learned, intellectual, and wise. For those who want to improve the quality and sophistication of their speech and writing, this is the book to keep on the nightstand. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A concise dictionary/collection of sayings with sophisticated words of little help to common people
I had been so impressed by the Acknowledgements of the author "A prodigious debt of gratitude goes to XXX and YYY for the Herculean effort they put forth to ameliorate this book" that I immediately bought it. Dont know whether the words are really too sophisticated, or the arrangement of them in alphabetical order instead of categories of meaning, or my non writer profession, or the not so attractive choice of sayings under the definition of individual words, I find it very hard to memorize and write with those words. It's not far from trying to get something useful out of a concise advanced dectionary. Perhaps very good for the other reviewers who almost always comment that it is good for writers. Sorry that it is not good for common people like me, I bet.

A good purchase
I've been interested in learning some new words and increasing my vocabulary and looked at a couple different books. One of those was something like 100 words to make you sounds smart, well this book has 1,200 words for the same price if you buy this one used and from what I heard the words in the other seemed to be common words any ways. Now knowing what this book is like, I wouldn't vacillate in making the choice of buying this book again.

Instant social status when you open your mouth
Do you think that "limpid" has something to do with hobbling around on an injured leg? Bob Bly who may well deserve the sobriquet of America's most successful advertising writer has elucubrated a glossary of must-know words if you have any hope at all of not being tagged as a hopelessly inept social klutz.

This is a fun book. It may not make you the life of the party, but heads will turn when you open your mouth and knowledgeably utter a string of these words that aren't generally lingua franca among the hoi polloi.

I'm not sure whether Bly authored this tome with tongue in cheek, but I do know that most of us could stand to put a little more substance into our vocabularies. Even if you cause others to stretch a little bit. So go ahead, add a dash of eloquence, increase your sense of mystery, enhance your charisma and stop sounding exactly like every other dumb clunk. Just don't overdo it. A good vocabulary is like adding spice to a dish, just a dash will do you.

The best speech is still just lucid, to the point and entertaining. It's what I've tried to do with my book Postcards. Little Letters From Life Check it out and see what I mean.

Simple
I purchased this book for my younger cousin. His vocabulary was severly lacking and it his only been recent but the book attracts his eye better than a dictionary.Plus I like the fact that it goes straight to those words that can be more commonly used and it is an easy read.

Entertaining light reading and browsing
Most readers will find that they know many of the words.They may also disagree with some of Bly's definitions, which tells us a bit about the differences in how his and the readers' minds work.

It's like Chinese food - satisfying, but you'll want more shortly.To be enjoyed several times. ... Read more

Product Description
Children can join the happy Snappy friends for melodious merrymaking in with delightful holiday pop-up book. From the jingling bells on Santa’s sleigh to the twinkling lights on the tree, the Christmas season springs to life through bright pop-up surprises paired with festive holiday sounds. A jumbo pop-up finale featuring the Snappy Town carolers singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" sends little ones to bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Cute for Christmas
Cute little book for Christmas! My little girl loves these books and loves Frosty and Santa. This was a treat for her. I do wish it had more of the traditional songs in it!

Snappy Sounds Ho Ho Ho
Music doesn't quite match the page turning, but we love the book anyway.Overall the book was pretty close to the condition the seller stated it would be.Shipping was very quick too which we appreciated.

A big hit with my one year old
My baby was given this for her first birthday (in June).She absolutely loves it and it was the first music to which she swayed and danced.She laughs whenever we open it.Her smiles are worth listening to tinny Christmas music all summer...

My nephew loves these books
I gave the Santa book to him last Christmas and to this day it's his "go to" book. I just gave him the Halloween one and the owl scares him a little but the sounds are great. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Didn't Work For Me
Because words are my business, I thought this book would be a worthwhile addition to my library. Ironically, I suppose it's because words are my business that this definitely was NOT a worthwhile book. Out of the 100 words listed, I was unsure about only three. And I probably could have guessed by context how to use those, had it been necessary.

But that's not to say this is not a good book---for someone. Who might benefit from it?That's not for me to say. But I will say this:If you usually keep a dictionary handy and pop it open every time you read or hear a new word; if you're an avid reader who insists on understanding every word you read; if you seldom struggle to find the right words to express yourself, "100 Words to Make You Sound Great" might not be the book for you.

I think the book's author has provided a good resource, which is why I give it 2 stars instead of just one. It's just that this book could easily disappoint some of the very readers who might think they need it.

100 Words to Make You Sound Great
Book was in great condition -- NEW/LIKE NEW. I was very pleased with the speed of the shipping and the quality of the product. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Amy Goodman's Democracy Now
Amy Goodman, whose Democracy Now! says it all and says it well, collects bits of work in this anthology. It's a perfect introduction to a woman whose passion is for social justice. I recommend it highly. It's articulate, detailed, and persuasive. It's not funny, though: Goodman could use the bite of a sense of humor at times. Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," for example, was a short essay whose satire even today still takes to court the Brits who mistreated the Irish. Still, she's always on target and takes down her prey not with rhetoric or propaganda but with truth telling.

Anthology of the Best of Democracy Now! Reports 2007-2009
As a regular podcast listener to Democracy Now! I found this book to be an excellent anthology of Democracy Now! reports.What makes this is great book is Amy Goodman's ability to sniff out the big stories and to bring the people behind these stories to Democracy Now! viewers/listeners and "Breaking The Sound Barrier" readers.Amy Goodman is an excellent journalist in that she diligently avoids injecting her opinion in any of her interviews/stories.She lets the news makers tell their stories in their own words.This is the way an excellent journalist should do his/her job.I look forward to reading more of Amy Goodman's books.

Breaking the Sound Barrier
I happen to like and support Amy Goodman and her efforts to make this a better, more honest, humane world.

Collections strong in democratic processes need this
Breaking the Sound Barrier offers a series of articles and writings and comes from the host of the daily radio and TV program Democracy Now! It provides a powerful set of insights based on the journalist's many observations of the democratic process, from observations of climate change politics to Wall Street socialism, media rights, and more. Collections strong in democratic processes need this.

Excellent
Thi was the first book I bought for my refurbished Kindle. It was a pleasure. Goodman is a national treasure for showing us what journalism really means. ... Read more

Product Description
A unique insider's account of day-to-day life inside a Tibetan monastery, The Sound of Two Hands Clapping reveals to Western audiences the fascinating details of monastic education. Georges B. J. Dreyfus, the first Westerner to complete the famous Ge-luk curriculum and achieve the distinguished title of geshe, weaves together eloquent and moving autobiographical reflections with a historical overview of Tibetan Buddhism and insights into its teachings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fabulous...
Wonderful book providing factual insights into a seemingly mysterious world. I thought that I would look at just a few pages but now I don't want to miss any of it. The book makes it easier understand the rigorous scholastic training that enables the Dalai Lama to speak fluently and logically on any given topic to any audience - without written notes.

Minor details: the Western reader could use a map of Tibet's various regions and the locations of the major monasteries, Also useful forthe non-Tibetan scholar would be notes reminding the non-Buddhist scholar ofthe meaning of termssuch as Theravada, Hinayana, Mahayana and Vipassana.

Overall totally captivating.

Incisive look at the Gelugpa monastic training
Dreyfus is to be congratulated for having written a very readable and penetrating look into the training in the Gelugpa tradition. It portrays a fascinating journey deep into the worldview and mind of a very different culture, which unveils some interesting, fundamental assumptions of both his own Western culture as well as that of the Tibetan. It is an honest and balanced account, which sometimes identifies painfully troubling aspects, sometimes wonderful features of this most profound tradition. He also makes enlightening and relevant reflections, based on Western thinkers, which sheds refreshing perspectives on the monastic life. The book is of particular interest to those who have done some reading, and perhaps practice, in the Tibetan tradition and who are interested in getting a better look at, for instance, debate in practice.

Thank you Mr. Dreyfus!

A very enlightening book.
I cannot agree more with the previous reviewer.

This truly is an edifying book for those who want to reach out the vast realm of spirituality, education, and human experience.I have read the Dalai Lama's books and been wondering what kind of education would create a creature of intellect and spiritual with unfathomable wisdom?This book helps me to sneak preview the 'mistery' yet it challenges my own perceptions about rituals and religions, as well as my belief systems. Religious disciplines and devotions are always inspiring, but in this book, they are taken to the next level because they are narrated through a man from the other side of the hemisphere, then in his early 20s, whose soul-searching quest took him to this incredible journey.

Moreover, Georges Dreyfus was raised in the west - French speaking region in Switzerland - which makes his ardent spiritual transformation through the Ge-luk scholastic approach to Buddhism (let me say it) much more prevalent. He has crossed the threshold of west and east in a pious way, many would have thought it is impossible, and yet, when he returns to our mundane world, he can see that there is, for instance, humor in debate practices in monastery scholastic tradition. Unquestionable, not all of us can take the risk of being defeated in a harsh and thought-provoking debate lightly, with humor!

This is not a `how to' book, yet the description of such a strenuous 'memorization tradition' as part of the scholastic curriculum is more than didactic. I am tempted to say that those Monks will score very high in GRE and SAT tests. Yes, this book is not a self-help one, but it is definitely the one that I will take out of the bookshelf every so often.

Extremely Valuable Inside Look at Ge-luk Monasticism
Georges Dreyfus is a scholar of truly prodigious learning.In this book he reflects on his unique experience studying in various Ge-luk-ba monastic education centers in the Tibetan exile community in India, particularly at Drepung Loseling and the Institute of Dialectics.Dreyfus displays his great erudition in a fashion that is illuminating and not pedantic.

Most of the book is occupied with a historical and philosophical analysis of the Ge-luk scholastic approach to Buddhism.In particular, he focuses on two tensions within Ge-luk-ba.The first is the tension between exegesis and debate.The second is the tension between doctrinal allegiance to canonical texts and free and open inquiry into ideas.The picture of Ge-luk-ba scholasticism that emerges from Dreyfus' careful analysis of these twin tensions is a conservative institution that produces brilliant, and sometimes daring, thinkers.

This work is extremely valuable to scholars and dedicated practitioners alike, because it provides a unique insider's view of Tibetan Buddhist monastic education.Dreyfus is not only well steeped in the tradition he analyzes; he also maintains his scholarly rigor and critical acumen.

Dreyfus explains many practical aspects of Tibetan Buddhism that are not frequently discussed in Western scholarship.For example, I found it very illuminating to learn that, for scholars, Lam Rim texts and the related "Grounds and Paths" Prajnaparamita literature are not typically treated as literal, programmatic instructions on meditation courses.Rather, they are regarded as presenting systematic, overarching depictions of the Buddhist philosophical universe.This book is filled with important observations of this type.

If there is a weakness to this book (other than its rather unfortunate title), it is admittedly one-sided in its sphere of interest.It struck me as highly significant that the word "compassion" scarcely appears in this book.I believe it can be read in part as an apology for a style of monastic engagement, which places an enormous emphasis on study and debate, while not formally encouraging meditative praxis.This book focuses on the development of prajna on the basis of study and reflection, but strongly underemphasizes the soteriological aspect of Buddhism.

Of course, it is the author's prerogative to focus on their area of interest, and Dreyfus has done so with a magisterial understanding of the issues in question, carefully honed by decades of research.

A wonderful book. ... Read more

Product Description
Set in a remote fishing village in Japan, The Sound of Waves is a timeless story of first love. A young fisherman is entranced at the sight of the beautiful daughter of the wealthiest man in the village. They fall in love, but must then endure the calumny and gossip of the villagers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

Straightforward and Enjoyable
Yukio Mishima does write some more complex novels (such as Spring Snow) but for a rather short, enjoyable, and quick read this novel is perfect.Though the translation is dated, it is still excellent.The story is timeless and transcends time and place.

The characters are rather interesting, though not very well fleshed out due to the short length of the novel.While I did find the three main characters were much more important to the story, there are several minor characters who are incredibly interesting and intriguing, especially Hatsue's father.

A lot of the book does deal with Japanese customs, but the reader can identify with these characters even from a different culture.Despite cultural differences, we all want the same thing, we all respect honor and loyalty and yearn for love and acceptance.A wonderful message and a wonderful book.

Sound of waves
This was a homework asignment project.The book was interesting but it would not be my choice for pleasure reading. Nothing wrong with the book or writing,Its just not my type of book to read.

Another side of Mishima

The Sound of Waves is a simple and charming story about two young people falling in love, their trials and triumph, on a tiny island that lies in the straits connecting the Gulf of Ise with the Pacific. The 1400 inhabitants of Uta-jima (Song Island) live in a tightly woven, stratified society that mirrors the larger Japanese culture in its essentials, though the island has been bypassed by much of the postwar modernization sweeping over the rest of Japan.

Shinji is 18 when the story opens, a recent graduate of high school where he earned notably poor grades. His inclinations propel him in another direction: that of the robust physical outdoorsman, working on a small fishing boat earning a living harvesting mainly octopus from the sea, whose presence dominates the lives of all the islanders. Shinji's mother, a widow, ekes out a living as a diving woman.

The island's calm routines rarely ever change; thus it is a topic of conversation when a new face turns up on the island. Shinji first sees the unfamiliar girl on the beach as he is going to visit the lighthouse keeper, and later, on the fishing boat, he learns that she is the daughter of Uncle Teru Miyata. One of four daughters, Hatsue, had been put out for adoption to a family of diving women on another island. But when Miyata's only son was killed, he called her back, had her put back in the family register and decided to adopt a husband into the family for her to carry on the name.

Shinji's dormant adolescent feelings have been stirred by his encounter with Hatsue, and he suddenly finds himself distracted by thoughts of her. At the same time, he is reminded that his lowly station in life places her beyond his reach. That night, at a meeting of the Young Men's Association, Shinji learns that Yasuo Kawamoto, the son of a prominent village family, has been invited to a homecoming celebration for Hatsue. It would appear that Kawamoto, whose social standing eclipses Shinji's, is Hatsue's father's likely choice for his daughter's future husband.

The rest of the story relates the growing attraction between Hatsue and Shinji, and the rivalry between Shinji and the self-important Kawamoto, who assumes that he will prevail.

Eventually Hatsue's father arranges to have both Shinji and Yasuo serve as apprentice seamen on one of his ocean-going vessels. Unbeknownst to either of them, he has designed this as a test of their mettle. The one who shows the greatest "get up and go" will win Hatsue's hand.

The steamer sails for Okinawa to pick up a cargo. Shinji throws himself into the life of a sailor, while Yasuo slacks off and brags that he will become the owner of the ship when he marries Hatsue after the voyage (thus enraging the captain). A tense moment arrives when, setting out for home during a typhoon, the ship is forced to return to harbor. Moored to a buoy, the craft lurches in the storm-tossed sea. One of the mooring lines snaps, and the ship's officers are fearful that the others might come loose and they would be set adrift. The captain asks for a volunteer to swim to the buoy and attach another line.

While Yasuo cowers fearfully, Shinji steps forward and dives into the turbulent sea. The mission, though fraught with tension and danger, is a success. The ship rides out the storm and sails for home.

Teru announces that he has decided on Shinji as a husband for Hatsue. The reports of the ship's captain have convinced him that Shinji has the most "get-up-and-go."

It was deceiving to read this book before taking up Temple of the Golden Pavilion and Confessions of a Mask. In those books, written before Sound of Waves, Mishima's complex personality is exposed: his self doubts, homosexuality, obsession with death and blood. Compared with these works, Waves seems completely out of character. The plot is romantic, the characters wholesome and one-dimensional. Even the world they inhabit, an island, stands apart. One wonders why he wrote it? Was it because he knew this story would be a resounding commercial success? Mishima's biographer John Nathan relates that Mishima referred to TSOW as "that joke on the public."

There were, apparently, other commercial novels that remain untranslated. Mishima seems to have pursued two parallel careers, one that brought him predictable financial rewards, the other a riskier artistic path (that nonetheless brought great fame, commercial success, and Nobel Prize nominations). The duality resembles that near schizophrenic divided personality that drove him to extremes throughout his life.

Forbidden Love
"The Sound of Waves" has been described as the Japanese Romeo and Juliet, flowing from the pen of talented author Yukio Mishima. It is set on the mythic island of Uta-Jima,far from modernity's shifting tides. Shinji is a poor fisherman; he loves Hatsue, a daughter of nobility. Despite class differences, can they be together?

"Sound of Waves" is a fascinating,unconventional work. Though Mishima disdained modernity,Shinji and Hatsue defy the class structure. While Japanese culture puts much emphasis on "saving face",the lovers care more about each other than the gossip-mongers around them. Mishima's novel also explores themes that aren't in Romeo&Juliet. Hatsue must prove her virginity. However, her amorous night with Shinji is one of the most erotic ever written. They lie together,naked,yet we are supposed to think nothing happens. Mishima redefines virginity- or his emphasis on it questions the concept in general. He leaves it to the reader. Again, the lovers defy conservative Japanese sexual mores.

"Sound of Waves" is like a perfectly cut crystal,or a spare Japanese sand garden. It is a thing of beauty for contemplation and satori (enlightenment). Like Zen Buddhism,it is about finding beauty in the present moment.

The Sound of Waves reveals the genius of Yukio Mishima
Yukio Mishima (The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea) is the fascinating subject of two recent DVD releases Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters - Criterion Collection and Patriotism - Criterion Collection. Set in a small fishing village, his 1954 novel, The Sound of Waves (Shiosai), tells the coming-of-age story of Shinji Kubo and his love for Hatsue, the beautiful daughter of the wealthy Terukichi Miyata.Hatsue, much like the pearls she dives for, is the object of much admiration. Soon she and Shinji fall in love, much to the disappointment of Shinji's vengeful admirer, Chiyoko, who schemes to divide the two young lovers by spreading untrue rumours about Hatsue's loss of virginity.While The Sound of Waves is a timeless meditation on the power of love, whether or not Hatsue is virtuous also becomes a central theme of the novel. Mishima uses the sea as a metaphor for the unpredictable, ever-changing nature of life in his novel, a novel which won the Shincho Prize in 1954. The Sound of Waves offers a good introduction to the rare genius of Yukio Mishima.

G. Merritt
... Read more

Product Description
As a speech communication consultant and speech pathologist, Dr. Carol Fleming has helped people work on their voice images for many years. In this remarkable audio program, Dr. Fleming helps you identify your "voice image" and provides techniques for correcting any communication problem.

The Sound of Your Voice takes you step-by-step through the fundamentals of good vocal technique. You will learn:

• What your voice says about you

• How to analyze your voice and diagnose its problems

• How to modify regional dialects and get rid of annoying mannerisms

• How to become more assertive

• Breath and tonal support exercises to bring strength and clarity to your voice

Customer Reviews (18)

Learn to use your voice
I picked up this cd set after hearing a recommendation from a top persuasion expert. The set lives up to everything that I expected. There is a ton of information to learn from and many examples of how to use your voice. There are 4 cds to listen to and you can do most of the work while you are driving. There are a few exercises for you to do that will help your vocal range but there is also some background information given about tone and how to use it. For 20 bucks you cant go wrong. If you are in any type of public forum or in sales this set is a must have.

Excellent but not perfect
I am giving this product 5 stars because I think that on balance, it provides a LOT of essential information about voice, in a remarkably efficient form, for very little money.I learned a LOT by playing these four cds in my car, and the exercises are quite useful indeed.

I need to caution you about something:the style of the presentation is rather cloying.It's a bit like those old educational films made for high school students in the 1950's, that we used to laugh at decades later, with strange music out of the 1970's.I cannot tell if this was done intentionally for humor, or if it was simply done with earnest but some time ago.

I needed to let go of this in order to appreciate the content of the cds.I did do that, and I'm happy that I did.

The cd information includes details on different aspects of speech, how it sounds when it's wrong, and how it sounds when it's right, and exercises to determine whether this particular problem applies to you and if so, how to gently correct it over time.

What more could you ask for?There is no magic pill to fix your speech.It takes observation, and exercise.One-on-one consultation with an expert would probably be better of course, but even so, these cds provide excellent background, where you can learn on your own time and let the personal consultation operate more efficiently.

Ok, one more thing:the speaker has a great voice except for a slight lisp.How weird is that!A voice teacher to have a slight speech impediment?BUT, I'd be willing to bet that it used to be much worse and this experience, having someone help her minimize this problem, was part of what motivated her to take up this career.

So, if you want to improve your speech, or simply suspect that your speech could be improved, this product is an awesome place to start, both in terms of quality of content and the price.There are a few little annoyances along the way (IMHO) that are well worth overlooking.

Very good, practical, a little bit long winded
I have used this before.It is full of concrete ideas, but some times takes a long time to get to the point.

A lot of info with great price!!!
If you want to improve your voice now and easy this is for you, this is like a very nice intro to improve your voice by your own and with a great price and value.

Great way to improve your speaking voice & communication skills!
This book/Cd is worth its weight in gold IF you practice what it tells you and do the exercises as it suggests. I think it should be a required course for all high school graduates at least! ... Read more

Product Description
In nature, we often hear the sound of a bird or an animal before we can see it.Our new Hear and There Books have the same effect.After reading a short riddle, children are asked "What am I?" By pushing a color-coded button on the sound strip, they can hear the call of the bird or the animal.When they pull the tab on the right page, the animal is revealed. To find out more about the featured bird or animal, readers can lift the flap on the left-hand page for more detailed information on its habitat, its young, and its behavior.Written by a professional naturalist, these books are beautifully illustrated, fun to listen to, and filled with interesting facts!

This book introduces the calls of eight different North American birds that children can easily imitate. By reading the clues about each bird, hearing its call, and pulling the tab to see its colorful feathering, children are soon able to identify the sounds and appearance of the killdeer, American robin, barred old, eastern towhee, northern cardinal, black-capped chickadee, red-winged blackbird, and northern bobwhite. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great book
I gave this book to my three-year old twin grandsons, and they spent hour after hour looking through it and using the tabs.They would then quiz me on what type of animal was on the page.The illustrations are beautiful, and the sounds are terrific.

LIKE IT BUT DONT LOVE IT
I like the sounds of all the night creatures and the pictures but its not a "lift the flap book". It's more of a "pull the tab" thing. I feel like the quality of the paper is flimsy and it wont hold up for years to come like our other similar books. I would recommend an adult to help out the child when reading this one. All and all it's not bad but I like the "farm animal sounds" and "vehicle sounds" better

Great Book on Many Levels
I have had this book for quite some time and use it with my speech and language students.I am actually thinking of getting a second copy for back up, it's that useful for my daily therapy.It's wonderful for the very little one as well as the more typically developing child.

Safari Sounds is even more pertinent to my students.

Listen to the Sounds of Animals
I love this book. I bought it for my baby nephew for Christmas. He loves to push buttons and play with toys that make sounds. The book was listed as being for slightly older children, but if you supervise your child (to make sure that they don't pull out the tabs or chew on the book) they will be sure to enjoy it. My nephew was thrilled that he could push a button, repeately, and hear an exciting sound. That was the most important part for him. His daddy read the book and told him about the animal, then my nephew pulled on the tab to see a picture of the animal that he had just heard. He laughed and squealed and kept pushing the button to hear the animal "talk". When he's old enough to read, I think he will even appreciate to the book even more. Until then, he's content to push the buttons over and over again.

Coyotes, katydids and owls -- oh my!
This book was bought as a family Christmas present last month.I thought that my boys, ages 3 and 6, would like it but jumpin' jimminy, it's become their favorite bedtime book.

Basically, you have a riddle on one side of the page that gives a few hints about the creature, and then you press the color-coded button on the bar below.The creature's sound is called and the child can try to guess its name.Then he can pull a tab on the opposite page to reveal a hidden picture of the night creature.Another flap under the riddle has more information.

My six year old cannot get enough of this.After we'd only read the book through a few times he started to play "guess this sound" games with me.He has all 10 creature calls memorized, as well as a lot of facts on each one.How many kids today know what a whippoorwill is, much less what it sounds like?As far as I'm concerned, Night Sounds is the perfect example of how to make learning both fun and effective for children.

I am planning on getting Bird Sounds and Safari Sounds (the other two books in this series) based on the tremendous enjoyment we have gotten out of Night Sounds.Fabulous teaching tool and a highly recommended family read-aloud book.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle.
... Read more

Product Description
An electrifying new voice in military fiction, Joe Buff has written a riveting and totally realistic tale of military adventure-a spectacular novel that is sure to establish this outstanding author as the new master of the genre. Vividly authentic and impeccably researched, it takes readers into the not-too-distant future, when the United States is embroiled in a tactical nuclear war that will mark a new era of weapons and tactics, geopolitical alignments, and human courage....

Deep Sound Channel

The year is 2011, and in South Africa a reactionary coup has established a military government that has begun sinking U.S. and British merchant ships. NATO quickly responds, with only Germany holding back-until Germany starts nuking Poland and eviscerating the French. Now the South Atlantic is a battleground where nuclear-tipped missiles rule-and the only gun worth using is one that seeks and fires from deep beneath the sea.

In response, Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey Fuller and the crew of the nuclear submarine USS Challenger are called in to help. Ceramic-hulled and designed for maximum stealth, the Challenger is being sent to South Africa for a mission critical to stopping the war. Together with a team of Navy SEALs and assisted by Boer freedom fighter Ilse Reebeck, Commander Fuller must infiltrate the enemy coast and attack a compound where scientists are putting together the ultimate biological weapon-a violent, deadly microbe that has the potential to wreak global devastation.

For Jeffrey Fuller, the operation will take him back to his former life as a SEAL. It's his job to steer the team of operatives to shore; penetrate concentric arcs of armaments, minefields, and sensors; and destroy the death lab. If the mission works, the
bioweapon will be destroyed and shock waves will cripple the South African government. If it goes wrong, fallout will kill thousands of innocent people.

Deep Sound Channel provides a rare and telling look into the future of our military's weapons-and into the horrific violence of tactical nuclear war. It is a cutting-edge masterpiece that takes readers on a wild and unforgettable ride of suspense, nuclear warfare, and underwater adventure


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (44)

Awesome
In my opinion, this is one of the best military thrillers ever written.The plot is well thought out, the technology is believable, the characters have depth, and the action is intense.I could not put the book down.

easy read, but flawed
I have long been a submarine buff and an avid reader of everything Michael DiMercurio has written.DiMercurio was an Annapolis grad and served as an officer in our nuke Navy for several years, which gave him the knowledge to write believable - and very technically accurate - submarine books.Alas, he hasn't written anything in the past couple of years, and I needed a submarine novel.I had not heard of Joe Buff before, but there were several good reviews of his work so I bought his first 3 books.Set in a 2012 tactical nuke war, the first story was entertaining, but since Buff's only actual time in submarines was a 4-day family cruise, his description of submarine ops was very basic and often inacurate (we're supposed to believe our Navy has an entirely new class of ceramic hulled subs with operating depths of 15,000 feet, fully operational in the next 3 years??).I took a similar 3-day cruise, and while it was wonderful fun, I didn't learn anything that I hadn't already learned from in DiMercurio's novels and confirmed by other technical books.If you haven't read any of them, start at the front and read them all.If you're not fussy about details, Buff will do.

Awesome
Read one of this series you will be totally hooked.Excellent excellent excellent....

Joe Buff
Another good book by a submarine-adventure author I enjoy.Amazon provides a good way to find early books by authors one enjoys.Books are consistently in the condition advertised and are shipped promptly.

Everything's better, down where its wetter, under the Sea!
In this intricately woven undersea-tale, Joe Buff has created a gripping story of a possible future conflict. Frightening believability is supplied by his technical research on current hardware and it's logical progession into future gadetry. The story line regarding the re-emergence of Germany as a dominating power in Europe, bent on reestablishing past levels of power and prestige on the world stage after the decline of the former US and Soviet Union "super-powers", is consistent with the rise and fall of other powerful nation-states over thousands of years of recorded history. Reinforced by an "Axis of Evil " partnership with like-minded South African Boer comrades seeking to relive their glory days of dominance oversubject populations in their region, the new realities have forced the former super-powers into unaccustomed roles.
A badly weakened and disorganized America reacts slowly and with limited success to the surprise onslought of combined German-Boer forces. Russia is a "neutral", but supplying clandestine support to the new "AXIS", while the rest of the world waits to see who gains the upper hand before declaring any public support for either side! Joe's work in current national defense commentary for non-fiction outlets in military and public-policy circles lends additional credibility to the scenarios he paints in this novel.

The authentic operational proceedures and dialog between characters in military actions creates the feel of a transcript recorded on the scene by the author. This occasionally gets into a great deal of technical detail, obviously designed to help the reader follow the "decision cycle" and "brainstorming " needed to solve grave problems in a tense and critical situation. The relationships between characters, both official and unofficial, are well written and make the people worth caring about in the midst of all the technical wonder and battle excitement. The minor flaw of occasional technical overload in an otherwise outstanding first effort by Joe Buff, does not detract enough to mar a Five-Star rating ! ... Read more

Product Description
Floyd Toole, a leading expert in the field of sound reproduction, explains how to design the best possible listening experience for recording control rooms and home entertainment systems. This comprehensive work considers the whole sound reproduction chain from multi channel audio configurations and the loudspeaker/room system to acoustics and psychoacoustics and the evaluation process.

Part 1 shows the reader how to create the best listening experience, offering practical approaches to the sound reproduction chain. Parts 2 and 3 are an in-depth consideration of acoustics and psychoacoustics - the science behind Part 1.

* How to design a great audio system - for a home entertainment system or aprofessional recording control room
* Offers a comprehensive look at the sound reproduction chain offering practical advice and helpful graphics throughout
* Learn from a leading expert in sound reproduction - Floyd Toole provides essential knowledge in a highly readable and entertaining style ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Great Technical Reference
A very good read for anyone interested in audio science.This clarifies the science of surround a sound.

Sound Reproduction 101
Too much to say in a quick review, but if you are designing a Home Theater or 2 channel playback system, this book is indispensable yet incomplete.You'll still need measuring equipment and software to get it right.

Thoughtful evaluation of measurements' significance as perceived
Epic, well-researched, and thoughtfully organized.Having read dozens of texts on related subjects, and spent years designing and measuring sound systems, I can say that this is among the best resources available.While not lacking in theoretical rigor, Toole critically evaluates the correlation between predicted and measured responses in more widely accessible terms.Most importantly he chisels away at the mythology surrounding acoustics, acoustical measurement, and industry standards by firmly establishing the relevance of theory and measurements to perception.The result is an extremely practical tool for small listening room consultants and enthusiasts.Not falling too much into either of these categories, I still found tremendous relevance to the large-scale live sound industry, which stands to benefit from similar investigations.

Finally, Someone Speaks Truth about Discredited THX System
For years the film industry has been using methods and "science" (I use the term loosely) that has set the film industry apart from every other audio technology.Odd for such a large business like film to take a "separate path" from esteemed organisations like the Audio Engineering Society (AES).For many years theatre owners were "bullied" into adopting THX (a pseudo-scientific marketing approach to sound created by non-engineer Tomlinson Holman), although no benefits were apparent from these systems.

Then these flaws were exported to the home theatre market with the branding of "THX Approved" speakers and receivers.All in the ill-fated attempt to "recreate the mixing room".It's all a complete fraud, and hasn't resulted in better sound anywhere.And people like Tomlinson Holman got Oscars for this junk.Can you believe it?Someone should go by and pick 'em up, they weren't earned, that's for sure.

For some reason the film community has been loathe to criticise this flawed technology, although most theatres don't display the THX logo anymore and universally ignore the concept.

The rest of the professional audio business has advanced dramatically - specifically live concerts, where the distorted, noisy, and unintelligible horn speakers have been replaced with line arrays, a much more appropriate technology for movie theatres, as well.

Floyd Toole to his credit completely disparages all this THX/Dolby/Constant Directivity horn nonsense for film, and while he doesn't propose any solutions he encourages the appropriate engineering talent at SMPTE to work to replace these flawed standards with actual working technology.

Thanks, Floyd, for finally saying the Emperor has no clothes.

Comprehensive and very well written
Toole explains just about everything you need to know to create or fine-tune your listening room or home theater in a way that's easy for even the layman to understand.It's the most comprehensive, authoritative, and well-written book I've seen on the subject. ... Read more

Product Description
Discover the sounds that are made by all of the most fascinating vehicles in our world with this interactive learning book!This early learning book is a fun and effective way to teach your young ones about the world of vehicles.This hands-on book includes:Lift-a-flap design that exposes additional vehicles facts and information Relevant information about the uses and functionality of each vehicle Sound bar that allows readers to hear the sound that each vehicle makes Combination of colorful illustrations and color photos And much, much more! With this book in their hands, your young vehicle enthusiast is sure to have a screeching good time! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

My son loves this book
My son is close to 2.5 and he loves this book and the sounds it makes. He is a car fanatic and is always bringin me this book for me to read to him. I have had this book for 6 months and it has held up well.

Sounds on the Go
My two year old granddaughter loves this book.Listening to all of the sounds of different things gives her a lot of pleasure.She asked us to read the book over and over.

Love this book - great for boys
My 1 year old LOVES this book.He's learned the colors that coordinate with the pictures, and of course he loves all the vehicles.

Great
Great book.My 23month old son really likes all the sounds the vehicles make.The book also teaches colors with the buttons you have to push to make the sounds.

VERY FUN!
My 1 year old son and I love this book! It has a great variety of vehicles and sounds. I like how you can read the simple version of the story or open it up for a more detailed version when he gets older.This book is great for all kids who like trucks! Good quality andgood pictures! ... Read more

Product Description
Sound System Engineering Third Edition is a complete revision and expansion of the former work.
Written by two leading authorities in the field of audio engineering, this highly respected guide covers the fundamentals necessary for the understanding of today's systems as well as for those systems yet to come.

The space formerly occupied by outdated photographs of manufacturers' product and of older system installations has now been filled with new measurements and discussions of the measurement process.
The "Mathematics for Audio" chapter has been expanded to include the mathematics of phasors. The "Interfacing Electrical and Acoustic Systems" chapter has a completely new section covering the analysis of alternating current circuits. Additionally, system gain structure is now treated by both the available input power method and the voltage only method, complete with illustrations of each. All chapters dealing with loudspeaker directivity and coverage, the acoustic environment, room acoustics, speech intelligibility, and acoustic gain appear in up to date versions. In addition there is new material on signal delay and synchronization and equalization. There are completely new chapters on microphones, loudspeakers and loudspeaker arrays including line arrays with steering and beam-width control, and signal processing, both analog and digital.
The book runs the gamut of sound system design from the simplest all-analog paging system to the largest multipurpose digital systems.

In writing this third edition, the authors kept in mind the needs of sound system installers, sound system service technicians, and sound system designers. All three groups will find the material to be useful for everyday work as well as beneficial in the furtherance of their overall audio education.

* A highly regarded reference, bringing you all the current technology and practice
* Details mathematics for audio systems and describes audio and acoustic instrumentation
* Provides you with an overall coverage of how the system works as a whole ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Quite alot of depth
It's quite advanced and if you can understand the math and topics presented, you likely didnt need this book in the first place.

There is alot to like here
I have collected and used books on sound system engineering for many years and this book has quickly become my favorite.Mine has been borrowed by other engineers so often that I have purchased a second copy.Don and Gene are among the most experienced in the field.They have also both tried to share thier knowledge with others throughout thier careers.This combination of knowledge and desire to share it has produced a book that explains complex ideas in a way that leaves the reader with few questions.It is clear and concise, and is supported by a great number of charts and diagrams.I can't imagine a better way to capture thier knowledge and share it with others.A great number of professionals are going to benefit from this book, and I expect it will be the industry standard for many years to come.

What you need to know and then some.
One of the better books in my collection, and I have many on acoustics and audio from the highly technical to hands-on.

A must acoustic engineering handbook
I owned 1st version before and the 3rd revision is a more complete version and gives more information on digital processing aspect.

A Must for the Serious Audio Practicioner
Sound System Engineering, 3rd Edition contains a wealth of information on the design, implementation and testing of sound reinforcement systems.Don Davis' section on audio and acoustic measurements is a must read for anyone serious about performing such tasks.The concepts he discusses about signal delay/synchronization and room acoustics will help the reader to understand what is at the very basis of these topics.

Similarly, Eugene Patronis' section on loudspeakers and arrays is not to be missed.It will have you going back again and again to find that piece of information you need about horns, direct radiators, crossovers and arrays.His presentation of signal processing starts with basic sampling and progresses through system theory and digital audio.

Two of the latter chapters on equalization and "putting it all together" are true gems.They yield practical information that you'll be using the next time you're faced with the issues covered.

Sound System Engineering, 3rd Edition takes all of the knowledge contained in the 2nd edition and augments it with up-to-date interface methods and advances in the field of audio and acoustics since its last publication.This text is equally suited for both the novice and the veteran audio practitioner.It is written in such a manner that each time you read a portion of it, something new will come to light.


Charlie Hughes
President
Excelsior Audio Design & Services
... Read more

Product Description
The Second Edition of What’s That Sound? offers a balanced, insightful look at theevolution of rock music from its roots to thepresent.With innovative listening guides (bothprint and electronic), a rich visual program,and a strong support package, the text givesstudents a comprehensive and engagingintroduction to rock history.

Customer Reviews (5)

Very general overview, but not boring at all
Like others who reviewed, I also purchased this for a class. It's a good read - it basically provides a brief background on the culture and society of each decade before delving into various artists and the evolution of different genres.Most of the info can be found on the chapter outlines from the study guide website of the first edition of the book. The editions are similar and they both go into the early 2000s (I think early Eminem is probably the last artist they have). However, in the updated version, there are some interesting "Backstage passes" that give some interesting tidbits on concerts of major bands, and an interesting photo insert. As a music fan, most of the book was not new since it's pretty general, but it is nice to have all the info in one compact volume (It's kind of cool to have a book with all the major artists in the past hundred years).

Needed for a class in school and now it's a coffee table book
Needed this book for a class for college called "The History of Rock Music."The book is great and very helpful for class and now I use it as a coffee table book.Everyone who is into music should get this book.

Solid Textbook
This book seems like a good one so far. Obviously, taking a class that requires it, but the reading is easy & entertaining.

Puzzled yet satisfied
Hi, I received an "e" copy of this book that I did not expect.Then I received the actual book in the mail.My daughter is happy with the actual book.I don't know why I received the "e" book and don't know if she will use it.

Book is hard to return
I have been trying to return this book to The Book Depository because my son is no longer in the class.I went to the post office and they told me that it would cost me $29.95 to return it to the United Kingdom and about $10.00 for a return receipt to let me know that they received it.It would cost me about half of what I paid for the book.I emailed The Book Depository a few times to see if they could tell me another way to return it to them, but have not gotten a response.Now the 30 day return policy is up and not sure what to do with this book so I can get my money back.I will think twice before I order another book on line. ... Read more

Product Description

In this guide to sound reinforcement alignment and design, Bob McCarthy shares his expert knowledge and effective methodology from years of teaching audio professionals. Written in a clear and easy-to-read style and illustrated with color diagrams and screenshots throughout, McCarthy's unique guide gives you all the newest techniques to ensure perfect sound reinforcement and fulfill design needs.
Outlining how sound is spread over a listening area, looking at the physics of speaker interaction, methods of alignment including mic placement, equalization, speaker placement and acoustic treatment, and now including case studies offering real world examples to fully explore different principals discussed, this book provides the definitive guide to sound reinforcement design and optimization.

Customer Reviews (1)

Best book ever!
See my review of the first edition on Amazon.It all applies here, but additionally this Second Edition is an easier read. ... Read more

Product Description
Fully revised and updated, this new edition of Mark Katz's award-winning text adds coverage of mashups and Auto-Tune, explores recent developments in file-sharing, and includes an expanded conclusion and bibliography. Find illustrative sound and film clips www.ucpress.edu/go/capturingsound ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Profound insights for record-lovers and music-lovers
I greatly enjoy reading books that cover ground that I think I know well, then proceed to reveal insights far deeper than any I'd yet contemplated.Mark Katz has done this with some of my favorite subjects, music, records and recording technology, and then proceeds to add an entirely new dimension to my understanding of how these all relate (and continue to evolve together).To do this, he remixes a great number of insights coming from previous works I have come to know and love, including Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy, The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century, and a widely eclectic appreciation of recorded music that I also share.

And I am not alone in my appreciation for this book.In 2007 it won the Hacker Prize, which provided the following citation:

The Hacker Prize rewards exceptional scholarship that reaches a broad audience. The audience so captured by Capturing Sound is primarily an undergraduate one, thus Katz has presented the Committee with a welcome opportunity to reward pedagogical writing. Textbooks are a genre that always challenge, and usually defeat, even the best of writers. Breaking the mold of the seemingly objective, chronologically-impelled narrative, Katz has produced a very different kind of work that succeeds on three different levels, all of which are important to historians of technology.

I agree, and I think it will give other readers a new-found appreciation and understanding of their musical tastes and collections.And with the knowledge it imparts, you may find yourself discovering new evidence of the book's primary thesis: the phonograph effect.Even in today's world of CDs and MP3s (which, do not fear, Katz treats thoroughly).

Great Insight
This book gives the reader great insight on the effects of recorded music and the effects on society. A must read for anyone into music.

A great read.
Although being a scholarly work, fully footnoted and with a complete bibliograpy this book, unlike much of academic production, is a great read.
I enjoyed it immensly.
It is a good companion to Michael Channan's book on the same topic."Repeated Takes: A Short History of Recording and Its Effects on Music".
If you are interested in the history of recording or just curious about how what we listen to came to be the way it is this book will delight you. ... Read more

Product Description
Cheep! Meow! Woof! Boing! Join our furry and feathered friends for some noisy pop-up fun. This entertaining book is sure to delight the senses with its unique combination of jumbo ‘pup-ups’ and animal sound effects. By turning each page, children hear a kitten meow, a canary chirp, a dog bark, and a bunny boing—and then all four sounds in a chorus together! Snappy Sounds Woof! features five boldly illustrated pop-ups and five fun animal sounds to engage and delight toddlers, making reading a whole new experience. Filled with adorable illustrations that toddlers can identify, which help build their vocabulary and comprehension skills. Pop-up pets are lots of fun for parents, too—and they don’t shed! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Better to buy in person
The Snappy Sounds books are great, but I got one from Amazon and the one page did not play music. I ordered them because a few were half price. But it is probably best to buy these at a store so you can make sure each page plays music.

Not sturdy enough
Maybe my kids were too young for these books, but they stopped working shortly after getting them because the tab that attaches the animal to the book to make the noises detached. In fact, two of the tabs were broken even before using them for the first time and I had to send for replacements. They are great books and the kids loved them while they worked, they just need to figure out a way to make them more durable. ... Read more

Product Description
The Poet Laureate's clear and entertaining account of how poetry works.

"Poetry is a vocal, which is to say a bodily, art," Robert Pinsky declares in The Sounds of Poetry. "The medium of poetry is the human body: the column of air inside the chest, shaped into signifying sounds in the larynx and the mouth. In this sense, poetry is as physical or bodily an art as dancing."

As Poet Laureate, Pinsky is one of America's best spokesmen for poetry. In this fascinating book, he explains how poets use the "technology" of poetry--its sounds--to create works of art that are "performed" in us when we read them aloud.

He devotes brief, informative chapters to accent and duration, syntax and line, like and unlike sounds, blank and free verse. He cites examples from the work of fifty different poets--from Shakespeare, Donne, and Herbert to W. C. Williams, Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, C. K. Williams, Louise Glück, and Frank Bidart.

This ideal introductory volume belongs in the library of every poet and student of poetry.
Amazon.com Review
While it's hardly the most traveled of literary destinations, poetry hassuffered from no shortage of guidebooks. Still, these poetic baedekers tendto get bogged down in terminology and historical hairsplitting, while theactual music gets lost in the shuffle. We should be thankful, then, forRobert Pinsky's brief, wonderfully readable volume, in which he zooms inon verse as acoustic artifact: "When I say to myself a poem by Emily Dickinsonor George Herbert, the artist's medium is my breath. The reader's breathand hearing embody the poet's words. This makes the art physical, intimate,vocal, and individual."

Not that Poet Laureate Pinsky gets vague or touchy-feely on us. Poetry,like God, is in the details, and the author starts with the buildingblocks, the amino acids, of verse: accent and duration. Even the most jadedof readers will benefit from his syllable-by-syllable examination of ThomasCampion's "Now Winter Nights Enlarge" and Wallace Stevens's "SundayMorning." Moving on through discussions of syntax and line, meter and rhyme(or lack thereof), Pinsky enlists both the usual suspects (Shakespeare,Frost, Hardy, Eliot, Bishop) and some less customary ones (Gilbert &Sullivan, Louise Gluck, and the splendid James McMichael) to make hispoints. These poems are, in some sense, teaching tools for the author. Yeteven his on-the-fly commentary causes us to see them in a new light. Herehe is, for example, on the near-monotonous minimalism of W.C. Williams's"To a Poor Old Woman": "The poem dramatizes the taking in of a supposedlyordinary experience, and the playful, almost hectoring repetitions are likean effective sermon in praise of simplicity." The Sounds of Poetryis no less effective a sermon. It leaves your ear (and your heart) attunedto the pleasurable play of poetic language and persuades you that hearingis, indeed, believing. --James Marcus ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A Small but Immensely Valuable Book
Pinksky's close careful discussion of how sound works in poetry is immensely instructive, like being taken on a leisurely tour through an art museum accompanied by a first-rate docent. After reading this book, unless you are either already a superb reader or supremely stupid, you will find new registers, new nuances in poems you thought you knew through and through. William Carlos Williams called poems "machines made of words": Pinsky takes several poems apart and carefully points out and explains the workings of some of their most delicate and precise inner mechanisms. I know of no other book that treats this subject as well.

aLAS this BOOK is DRY as DUST
I actually learned from this book -- in particular, gained an understanding of relative stress and of how the best free verse incorporates meter -- but Pinsky, though he has the love, is dry as can be, bless him.

Excellent introduction
Robert Pinsky's The Sounds of Poetry is an invaluable guide to the most critical--and one of the most neglected--aspects of poetic writing: sound. I first read this book when taking an undergrad poetry-writing course, and I found it immensely helpful.

Pinsky takes a great deal of potentially clunky, academic information and distills it into a fast, easily-digestible handbook. In just over 100 pages, he outlines the essentials of rhythm, meter, the meaning carried by sounds, and the interrelation of all three. For anyone who has read, studied, or written poetry before, there won't be much new here, but having so much good advice in such a concentrated form makes this little book an excellent read. Even several years after taking that course, I still find myself browsing this book, looking for helpful reminders and inspiration.

Pinsky's book is not only helpful and informative, it's a fast, fun read--it both delights and informs. Horace would be proud.

Highly recommended.

Not a dull manual
Don't be deceived by the bad reviews you see from a few others here. What likely disappoints them about this book is its refusal to be useable, to give a method to read or write rhythm, to make illusory markings of beats or syllables. Far from reducing poetry to a scheme, Pinsky brings out the uniqueness of every line, every sounding of words together. He shows how the power of a poem involves tones and speeds and flows of sound played against subtle turns of syntax.

He shies away from neat categories of verse. Instead, he'll show marvels, such as iambic pentameters within Ginsberg's "Howl."

Not only can you learn about poetry here, but find such sentences as: "The emotion, the sexual horniness, produces an artifact of extravagant control." Rather than a book to pick up for practice or study, I found it was hard to put down.

A Guide to Hearing Poetry Better
Too many poetry books (and teachers) approach meter as though it were a clearly defined binary system of equally stressed and equally unstressed syllables. Robert Pinsky is largely successful at showing how to appreciate the rich variety of sounds in the English language while avoiding a lot of technical terms and descriptions. It's important to keep in mind that this is not intended as an overview of the basics of poetry, but a "brief guide" to one aspect of how poetry works. He discusses rhythm and meter (including the effects of duration and pitch), rhyme and its variations, and blank and free verse. There were a few aspects of the book I didn't fully agree with. Pinsky treats all meter as variations of iambic. He includes some elements of word choice (particularly etymology) that are not convincingly related to sounds. And his tone is at times too simplistic - not condescending, exactly, but annoyingly dumbed down. However, this short book is well worth reading to get a poet's perspective on the importance of sound in verse. ... Read more

Product Description
Now updated to cover digital mixing and signal processing, this established beginners guide to live sound has been the first book for many students and self-taught sound technicians. Ira White presents information in a very accessible, casual, down-to-earth way. This handy manual for musicians, studio engineers and audio pros contains valuable information on using EQ, speaker specifics, mics, and techniques for recording, live recording, club and concert sound, church sound, theatrical sound and much more, without page-filling formulas or mind-boggling abstractions. Includes lots of helpful diagrams, an index, and a CD so you can hear the techniques demonstrated in the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Well worth it
This item is a tremendous value. The book is written in a very simple, straightforward, and light-hearted way, telling you all you need to know to get going on some creative creating. The CD may be the best part of this package, though. It has some examples from a live recording environment, and the author guides us through a little EQ sprucing-up of kick drum, hi hat, snare, acoustic guitar, and bass guitar tracks. Other tracks on the CD have the author explaining how certain EQ ranges effect vocals in what ways as he demonstrates by tweaking his own voice as he narrates. Also included are tracks demonstrating delay and reverb effects, as well as some modulation, and some tracks showing how to use EQ to detect and eliminate feedback, and how to detect phase or polarity problems. The CD is even rounded out by three pieces of the authors music. I definitely don't miss my $12 plus shipping.

Not clearly constructed
I'm an amateurs musician and would like to build a high level knowledge of sound by itself.It lacks a more didatic approach. It seems kind of a journal of a sound engineer instead of a clear step by step explanation and construction of concepts. Sometimes it seems a mixer manual.

Great for the begginner!
Basically, if you don't know anything about sound, this book is AWESOME

If you have a small amount of knowledge, it's helpful, but perhaps too simplified.

Yay!

Great for the untrained
I have been running the mixer at church for about 3 years. We just upgraded the mixer, and I had no clue what all the new features were for or what we were actually doing. It was all trial and error, OJT. This book takes a very difficult subject and gives a strong foundation to the uninitiated in a light, humorous way. It is a great book for the untrained.

Great for DJ's Too!
I've been DJ'ing for 20 years and have taken a lot a pride in my system and it's sound quality.However, I was always a little disappointed because it always seem to be lacking. I run a bi-amped system with a sub. I've got a good quality crossover, eq, exciter, and mixer.Alas, the sound was not right.This book helped me to understand what was happening and why.One little correct tweek of the crossover and now I have unbelievable sound!!!This should be required reading for anyone dealing with live audio of any kind. ... Read more

Product Description
In this breathtaking, evocative book, a young blind girl travels from one subway station to another while her imagination takes her to impossibly wonderful places. She swims with the dolphins and sunbathes on a whales back; flies through the air with the birds and travels to the station at the end of the world. Poetic text is paired with haunting and beautiful watercolor paintings in this incredible book that explores themes of overcoming a disability and the power of the imagination. the Sound of Colors is a magical book that will take readers on a journey unlike anything they've ever experienced before. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Color of Sound

Exceptionally written and illustrated book.Author Jimmy Liao is a brilliant artist with the soul of a poet.His illustrations are vibrant and beautifully detailed and his language is simply while profound.This work is a mystical journey of the spirit that should challenge aspiring childrens authors to create such unique experiences for adults and children.Colors is a journey that can and should be shared betwen parent and child and followed thoughout life.

Beautiful whimsy
Jimmy Liao is my favourite illustrator and I was excited to find his book translated into English. I have seen the illustrations before in the Chinese book and enjoyed them on a visual level. However, having the text in English really brought the story to life.

The story is of a young woman who is going blind - it is an exploration of sight and how imagination can compensate for the loss of sight. The ending is inspiring.

This book would be excellent to expose children to a different perspective of the world and also would make a lovely gift for any adult who enjoys detailed and whimsical illustrations.

A Multi-Layered Book of the Journey Towards Hope
With allusions to "The Wizard of Oz," "Alice in Wonderland," and psychologist/anthropologist C. G. Jung, "Color of Sounds" tells teh story of a blind young girl who rides a vast subway network because "I have a journey to go on. There are some thing I need to find." What follows is a remarkable narrative about internal and external discovery, with some of the most luscious and creative illustrations in recent memory.

The girl disembarks at various subway stops (subway illustrations are always panelled strips running across the middle of a two page spread), and climbs colorfully patterned stairs (often reminscent of M.C.Escher) and arrives at archtypal settings: An apple tree sitting Eden-like in a verdant forest, alongside dolphis and atop a whale, a topiary-adorned maze. Jimmy Liao presents his metaphors on both adult and children's levels. While adults may recognize the symbolic conflicts and issues presented by a maze; for example, children benefit from the explicit text: "Sometimes the street twist themselves into a maze.But if you look hard enough, there's always a way out. Other sections may benefit from discussion at an age-appropriate level. At one subway station, there are four trains going in both directions, all filled with people, and all colored differently. THe girl stands between them, "Which is the right one? It's easy to get lost underground."

At his point, she seems to take her own route, riding a kiddie train (decorated with motifs decorated a la Guaguin, Matisse, and others), then abandons the train to a white swan swimming against a cloudy yet luminescent background (a mystically beautiful and serene illustration). She slowly arrives at her answers. "HOme is the place where everything I've lost is waiting patiently for me to find my way back." She realizes that because she "went forward, step by step, into the dark," used her other sense (listening "for the sound of colors I can't see"; smelling the shapes and tasting "the light and dark," and hoping for someone "who'll sit beside me, sip tea, tell me her hopes for the future, and listen to mine." (Here, the two-page spread depicts her sitting on a green oval-shaped chair, surrounded by four rows of empty chairs in various colors, shapes, and sizes.

Towards the conclusion, the young girl encounters a butterfly, whom she believes may offer the answers to her hopes and dreams:

She'll tale me
to the friend I need to find.
She'll lead me to the place
where all the colors are.

she'll bring me back to the light that I lost,
still glowing here, in my heart.

An enormously colorful mosaic of birds, flowers, eyes, and other motifs surround the now smiling girl, when Liao write "in my heart." It's neither saccharine or precious. While the book may be read at many levels, and it simulatneously present many emotions and moods (fear, comfort, solitude, hope, wonder) the overall effect is an almost staggering visual and narrative display of poetry. The undertones can be dark and may even frighten some children (know your audience), but for othos who have begun their own journies of self- and other- discovery, for those who feel lost or have experienced pain, poor health, or disability, this book highlights the fact and ignites thought of possibility and transcendance.

Power of Imagination
The reason I bought this book is I rented a movie called "The Sound of Color". It is a movie about a woman who is blind, strong, resourceful and full of joy. In the movie she teaches a man who becomes blind how to live and navigate around the city he once knew. The movie has drawings from the book and I became intrigued. The director of the movie told how he loved the book but it was hard to bring it to film. I disagree with him because his film and the book tells of one persons joy with the world around her even though she becomes blind and can't see it anymore. The beautiful ink and watercolor drawings with the powerful story will show you another way to look at your world and inspire your imagination.

Chinese Version is a little Better
This books is good in English, but I preferred the Chinese version much better. In English, things got a little over simplified, where as they were more complex in Chinese. I recently saw the Chinese version available for sale on the China Books website.
This book is age appropriate for older children to adults, not exactly children.I wouldn't buy it for anyone younger than 10. ... Read more