Customer Reviews (7)

Poorly explained
I have a university maths degree and found the book very obvious and drawn out for the first few chapters. In spite of this I looked forward to what was going to be explained later. Suddenly from a very simple and easy to understand explanation on the EMH he starts to use mathematics in his equations that I had a lot of difficulty following. There was very little or no explanation of how these equations were arrived at and a lot of mathematics and statisics is assumed. This book does not apply the theory in ny meaningful way to the markets let alone the capital markets in my opinion. I found that I took very little away from this book and would not recommend it to anyone who has basic mathematics like myself or is looking for some deeper insight into the markets. I would hate to have Mr Peters as a teacher based on his book.

A very good introduction
I read this book, the 1991 version, years ago. Around 1980 my own attempts to crack share prices statistically convinced me that all share prices behaved like a Gaussian random walk meaning that all speculation was comparable with playing roulette and I am not one of those guys who usually wins when gambling. This view was strengthened when the option pricing model came up, meaning that even the real pro's in the field assume that share prices are nothing but a random walk. This book has opened my eyes to the fact that there is much more to randomness than just the Gaussian curve. Share prices are not fully random. Impressive is the demonstration that an RS analysis on the real data is different when applying the same RS analysis on scrambled data. So there is information hidden in these time series, somewhere. Since then I have picked up the subject of cracking time series again with great pleasure. I think this book is exceptionally well written and without it I doubt if I would have been able to follow Mandelbrot's book "scaling and fractals in finance" that I bought later. The book is about understanding a subject, not about learning a simple formula to apply on a time series.

A dated overview, with little real meat
The second edition of this book was published in 1996. The book
seems to be largely based on Feder's 1988 book "Fractals". The
dated nature of this book means that it is missing later work
on long memory processes, which Peters estimates using the Hurst
exponent.

As one reviewer already noted, don't assume that this book will
provide much in the way of useful equations. For anyone who wants
more than an overview, this book is a disappointment. Peters does
a poor job of explaining the equations and I did not find enough
detail to implement the algorithms discussed (I turned to Feder's
book and various journal articles). The book does come with a
"floppy" disk containing the Visual Basic algorithms. This is
a poor choice, since C is pretty much the lingua franca for
algorithms.

The various chaos and fractal techniques are applied to a handful
of financial data sets, but this is far from even a solid
suggestion that these techniques might be useful to anyone
developing real market models.

Some of the conclusions that Peters draws (cycles in financial
data) do not seem to be supported the evidence he presents.

In summary, if you are looking for something beyond an overview,
save your money. Feder ("Fractals") has a better description of
RS calculation. "A Non-Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Lo
and MacKinlay has a chapeter on the application of the RS
statistic and long-memory processes which is much better than
Peters. For those who need to simulate fractal brownian motion
(data sets with a particular Hurst exponent) "The Science of
Fractal Images" by Barnsley et all is a good reference. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Accounting - General   2. Business / Economics / Finance   3. Business/Economics   4. Capital market   5. Chaotic behavior in systems   6. Finance   7. Financial Markets   8. Fractals   9. Futures market   10. Mathematical models   11. Business & Economics / Finance   12. Chaos theory   13. Investment & securities   14. Mathematical theory of computation   

Subjects:  1. Chaotic Behavior in Systems   2. Dynamics   3. General   4. Mathematics   5. Mechanics - Dynamics - General   6. Nonlinear theories   7. Reference   8. Science   9. Science/Mathematics   10. Chaos theory   11. Differential equations   12. Non-linear science   13. Science / Dynamics   

Customer Reviews (5)

homage to JK
JK is a street photographer who transcends the boundaries. Eye of the artist and soul of the novelist. This book represents the closest thing to recent work. Unfortunately he has withdrawn his photographs from circulation. He is concentrating on photographing and not doing any printing.
The large format is perfect for these panoramic images. A statue of Lenin on a barge is my favorite pic. Worth the price of the book. However, there are many others to fall in love with.

somewhat abstract yet powerful landsape photography
This book drives me up the wall, the pictures of wartorn lanscpaes, dispaced lonely images, almost completely void of people. The isolation one feels is intense, like walking into an old subway entrance when nobody is around. The photos document the natural erosion of landscapes and the 'personalities' that prevail as a result of neglect, beautifully framed by cold hard angles giving shape to the image at hand. And anogst all the torn metal and concrete then there is a picture of a lone tree in the middle of a baren snow-covered landscape, cold and alone and wonderful, just how you will feel when you read this. Not really a coffe table book, unless of course you never have have any guests.

-
absolutly stuning, wonderful study of texture. and i bought it for... right after looking at it. if i don't see it every now and then i miss it. i want to say something more, something globaly political, but the images are so romantic it seems josef koudelka doesn't realize where he is. (that's a complement) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1938-   2. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions   3. Documentary Photo Collections   4. Individual Photographer   5. Koudelka, Josef,   6. Photo Essays   7. Photography   8. Photography, Artistic   9. Photojournalism   10. Koudelka, Josef   11. Photography / General   

We'd better get used to chaos because it certainly isn't going anywhere. Mathematician Ian Stewart--who is also a very talented writer--shares his insights into the history and nature of the highly complex in Does God Play Dice: The New Mathematics of Chaos. While his delightful phrasings will draw in nearly every reader, those with a strong aversion to figures and formulae should understand that it will be slow going. Chaos math suffuses everything from dreaming to the motion of the planets, and Stewart's words can never match the precision of his numbers. Persistence pays off, though; there are so many "aha" moments of insight herein that it almost qualifies as a religious text. The second edition has been partially revised in the wake of 1990s research, and three exciting new chapters report on prediction and other applications of chaos mathematics. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good tasting without indigestion
(1st edition '89) Stewart's book gives the reader as strong a flavor for the constructs of chaos as possible without formulas everywhere. The author makes great use of figures to depict ideas and even gives readers home-projects to test for themselves. Further reading is given (with difficulty levels indicated) for the brave-hearted. Unfortunately, the book is lacking as a reference due to it's vague table of contents and sparse index. But as compared to Mark Ward's "Beyond Chaos", Stewart gives the reader a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Overall good read.

The best chaos for layman
This mesmerizing historical overview of nonlinear science, full of seedy ideas and fascinating expositions (from heartbeat to weather forecast) is well worth reading. One of those "aha !" books that will broaden your understanding of the universe (and the rest), it is very "visual" and..well, a friend of mine said she considered it a "mental thriller" since it touches on the great old questions of determinism and predictability. As for "mathematics" in the title- don't be put off. The book is virtually mathless. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chaotic Behavior in Systems   2. Discrete Mathematics   3. Mathematics   4. Philosophy & Social Aspects   5. Science   6. Science/Mathematics   

Customer Reviews (9)

Above the General Interest and Disoganized
While the intended audience is the general interest reader, this book will be a bit complicated for most people who are unfamilar with Turning Machines, i.e., stack machines, etc.

Toss Up
Parts of this book were interesting, but overall it was much ado about not much, and what was done was often overdone (I agree with another reviewer on this point). I see that Amazon has coupled this book with Hidden Order. I can't see why. It would be like buying the same book twice. Anyway, so much of this has been warmed over so many times now that it's frankly a bit dry. I'd like to see a book that really breaks new ground in complexity without overusing buzz words or talking down to me, holding my hand through simple things. Here, the topic is more attractive than the content I'm afraid. Anyone really interested in complexity and emergence will need to go into technical details well beyond this book. Others, like me, will likely find the details that are here to be a bit tedious.

Science Fiction
The review says "Think of the food replicators in the imaginary future of Star Trek--with some basic chemical building blocks and simple rules, those machines can produce everything from Klingon delicacies to Earl Grey tea. If scientists can understand and apply the knowledge they gather from studying emergent systems, we may soon witness the development of artificial intelligence, nanotech, biological machines, and other creations heretofore confined to science fiction." -- What?? Like we are about to make food replicators because of the "deep understanding" that we now have of emergent systems??

I agree with the other reviewer who says the book is characteristically weak. The cover is prettier than Hidden Order. But so what.

There have to be better books on complexity than this for the average popular science reader. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artificial intelligence   2. Chaotic Behavior in Systems   3. Game Theory   4. Interactive & Multimedia   5. Mathematical models   6. Mathematics   7. Philosophy & Social Aspects   8. Popular Culture - General   9. Science   10. Science/Mathematics   11. System Theory   

Customer Reviews (23)

Good magick
In the field of magick, there is much that is obscure, vexing and downright confusing. Phil Hine has done readers a tremendous service in creating a well-crafted tome of magickal instruction that will be of benefit for everyone from the most staid ceremonialist to the wildest neo-anarch street shaman.

Hine writes in a unique, appealing voice, and his commentary never degenerates into insistence that the way he presents is best for any and all. Instead, he knows that the wise magician will eventually draw from innumerable sources to create his or her own unique brand of magick and mysticism. He is content to let his work be one of the many helpful resources a student may find along the way.

This alone elevates the book as a whole, and coupled with Hine's clear and consise musings on the natural of ritual and the utility of magick makes for a work that is both appealing to the novice and the experienced magician alike. One of the clearest voices in the still-young field of Chaos Magick, Hine's work is a worthy addition to any magician's bookshelf.

A solid, well argued, practical guide to "chaos" magick
Looking for insight, intelligence and common sense in your guides to magickal work? Then look no further than Phil Hine, world-renowned practitioner of magick, both Chaos and otherwise. Condensed Chaos is more than a good introducition to Chaos magick theory; it's a vital and comprehensible introduction to the broad sweeep of magickal practice. Phil's style is common-sense, practical, informed and above all, human. His magickal experience covers everything from Wicca to Tantra and he has pushed forward technical Chaos as much as anyone. This gives him an excellent perspective from which to survey both beginners' and advanced chaos, and qualifies Condensed Chaos as a good, solid buy. Paul Eden

A 'should-have' introductory text
Condensed Chaos opens by describing magic as being about change, not merely the "Magick is the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will" Crowley spoke of, but a more refined version, describing it more in terms of liberation, saying "Through magic we may come to explore the possibilities of freedom" (pg. 11). Then moves into a brief history of chaos magick, from A. O. Spare to Crowley to Carroll to Eris and Discordianism, laying the groundwork for chaos magick as we've come to know it and how it got that way.

Six "Core Principles of Chaos Magic" are outlined, the first being "Avoidance of Dogmatism'" while somewhat ironic in a list of "core principles" is a common ideal, and indeed few chaotes would contest these points. The fourth principle especially, "Diverse Approaches", is another reoccurring theme in chaos magick. As Hine sagely notes: "If you use only one magical model, sooner or later the Universe will present you with something that won't fit your parameters." (pg. 25) Though he also recognizes that "Chaos Magick not about discarding all rules and restraints, but the process of discovering the most effective guidelines and disciplines which enable you to effect change in the world." (pg. 26)

While liberation and freedom are possible, it does not come without possible consequence, as described in the section on dangers and pitfalls. Hine covers many of the possible hazards of magickal practice, detailing what to look out for and what to avoid, adequately preparing the would-be practitioner as much as possible, or at the very least, letting hir know what might be expected, and how to recognize signs of idiocy. Sensibly, he does this before getting into discussion of techniques, and even advises taking breaks as needed.

Hine uses numerous cute acronyms, such as 'C.H.A.O.S.', 'D.R.A.T.', 'S.P.L.I.F.F.', 'A. P.I.E.', etc. to abbreviate formulae and concepts, effectively making them easy to remember.

Instructions are given for servitor creation, programming, launching via various methods as well as practical examples for servitors successfully launched in various workshops and lectures. It contains relatively few straight rituals, mostly suggestions and comments, taking information approach rather than an instruction manual which force feeds information. Hine stresses flexibility without seeming wishy-washy, or being overly ridged, effectively maintaining that fine balance between the two extremes.

One thing that did annoy me was the over-emphasis given on how one appears to others. Adapting yourself to suit others to give in to what they want to see in the hopes that they will perceive greatness in you, while the method may work, why anyone would want to do such a thing in the first place? Pleasing the outside world to please yourself doesn't sit well with me, perhaps it's the years of reading Objectivist literature or hanging out with Satanists, but it did made something in me twinge. Fortunately, it's not a dominating feature in the book, and does stress self-evaluation and trying to maintain an honest view of oneself.

This is definitely a 'should-have' introductory text covering a wide variety of topics from the practical aspects of magick: dream recall, sigil, servitors, etc., to the more esoteric theories and suggestions as to why things work the way they do - and why not. An excellent introduction to chaos magick, and magick in general. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Magick Studies   2. New Age   3. New Age / Parapsychology   4. Magic   

Customer Reviews (53)

this book should get 6 stars
In one word, this book was awesome. Waldrop's account of the development of the science of complexity is both compelling and spell-binding. His historical account of the Sante Fe Institute and its members was an inspiring story. Written like a novel, this book was very simple to read and understand and very easy to follow. Even the casual reader could follow its simplifying explanations of the complicated theories invovled in the science of complexity. This book is also a great follow-on to James Gleick's "Chaos - Making a New Science". I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in complex adaptive systems theory, especially its applications in the realm of economics. Waldrop's work here is outstanding!!!

A must read!
This book is not about a mathematical explanation of complexity. This book will not teach you how to construct a neural network or create autonomous cellular automata.

This book is about the process that some of the world's best scientists went through to realize why a theory like complexity is needed. The book will give any reader a deeper understanding for, and appreciation of how such a broad and information rich topic like complexity is becoming better understood. Insights are also given into how this new understanding of emergent behavior may soon be applied to what were once considered unsolvable problems of Economics, Artificial Life, Biology, Physics, etc.

Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos is the story of a group of humans trying to understand the very nature of nature itself, a superhuman task. An exciting drama that just happens to be about cutting edge science instead of science fiction.

Wonderful reading for every science enthusiast!
The cover of the book says " If you liked Chaos, you will love complexity". I just finished reading the book, that validated the claim. While Chaos is written as story of discovery of a new science, Complexity excels as a saga of men who ventured into previously unchartered domains addressing for the first time issues like:

What is life? What is driving force that caused cells to appear from a primordal soup of all elements, when the probability of so happening is infinitesimal? What causes evolution? Do nice guys finish last? What makes evolution, coevolution, adaptation, extinction work? Why do we organize ourselves into families, cultures, nations?

Why do stock markets crash, boom? What controls the emergence of economies? Why can USSR go from one of strongest nations/economies to the state of divided helplessness in less than a few years?

Why are we here? What is life? Artificial Life? Are we still evolving? What is the cause of increasing complexity?

On mundane level: What is non-linearity? What is Chaos? If this science is all that important, why did we wait this long for recognizing it?

What are the paradigms in which sociology and physics settle into same patterns? How neural networks were born, brought up and mastered?

This novel/book is as much about these questions as it is about the scientists who engaged in unravelling many of these mysteries. It speaks about their failures and successes, their approach, ethic and driving force, their fears, fights and friendships. For most part it reads like a thriller, and by the time you are done, you find yourself searching for another book on Chaos, complexity, life at the edge of chaos, genetic algorithms, artificial intelligence. After just 358 pages, your imagination and knowledge of science leaps from Newton's linear models to the twentyfirst century stuff. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Complexity (Philosophy)   2. General   3. Mathematics   4. Philosophy   5. Philosophy & Social Aspects   6. Physics   7. Science   8. Science/Mathematics   9. Science / General   

Customer Reviews (104)

A Whole Sub-Culture!
As someone who grew up listening to metal bands from the 70s (Blue Oyster Cult,Black Sabbath,etc.)I found it fascinating that these kids in Norway took the music so seriously.Although I loved the metal bands that I listened to I never even considered that they might be describing a lifestyle or worldview.The kids in Norway and Sweden,however,took it completely seriously-to the point that they created their own form of Metal to express their own point of view.I've been able to track down some of the music that was mentioned in this book and I honestly don't know how you could tell the difference between the music of,for example,Armored Saint from the late 80s and Emporer, a black metal band that figures prominently in this book.The kids in this book used metal to express their own struggles and ideology-this wasn't a case of metal causing church-fires; instead,the kids burning churches created music to express their feelings and ideas.One note to US readers-the church burnings described in this book are not related to the burning of black churches that was happening in the US in the mid 90s.This is a very interesting book. The authors bring you along as the kids in Norway burn churches and murder each other,and finally turn to fascism. This book is definitely worth 4 stars. I recommend it to anyone interested in youth subcultures.

Satanic terrorists' history book
Striking book! The better points have already been overwhelmingly made here; well written, plenty of first person accounts and an unflinching search by the author to dig up information. As someone who is really interested in the Norweigen black metal scene myself (and I'm in a US black metal band as well), it was an eye opener. I couldn't get the images of these young, white teenagers out of my mind for days after I had finished the book. The pictures Moynihan has used to show how human and harmless these people look in everyday life really struck me. The authors made a very good point in showing that the average metalhead in Norway is quite a bit more intellectual than in the US. These are young people who, for the most part, have seriously thought out hard spiritual questions, which relate to their creative output. I'd say that one subject that very few people seem to have touched on, including Moynihan, is that the musical quality of black metal is quite high indeed. It is often dismissed as some artform for brainless, talentless extremists (at least here in the US), but in reality there is an enormous outpouring of talent from this part of the world. Extremely good work is being done, and the musicians are dead serious and firmly dedicated. Lords of Chaos does meander a bit in the end towards fascism and Nazism, and it came as no suprise that Moynihan's own band bears a striking resemblence to those two idealogies. While there are similar elements in black metal (might is right, strong over the weak), I have found Nazism to be not very popular at all among these bands, maybe 1%, if that. However, I do not live in Norway, so it's just my observation based on the lyrics and interviews from these bands. To present this scene, without commercializing or marginilizing it, is to be commended. Overall, the authors have captured a moment in history of a doubtlessly important cultural movement, a subculture of spreading hatred and terror. (It's no coincidence that Norway was the last of the European countries to submit to Christianity, up until 1000 AD! So their connection to strong-willed heretics is well founded.) 'thanks for a great book!'

Moloch's Power Chord Puppets
The only good thing about this lower astral plane charade is that it will allow anyone with a smidgen of spirit, intelligence, and light to see the stupidity of the black metal musicians themselves and how they are unable to see that they are mere Power Chord Puppets for some corporate Moloch wearing a three piece Armani suit, sipping a Martini and listening to lounge music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Demonology & Satanism   2. Genres & Styles - Heavy Metal   3. History & Criticism - General   4. Music   5. Rock Music   6. Sociology - General   7. Subculture   

Customer Reviews (108)

Such a great book!!
Absolutely normal chaos is probably one of my all-time favourite books. It's about a regular girl, Mary Lou Finney, 13, who lives in a house with her 3 brothers and her sister. Needless to say, there is never a moment of peace, and her summer seems to be becoming as boring as ever. Yet, her luck seems to turn, and we are told about her wonderfully exciting summer in a journal that she is told to write for school. She has no idea how to do it, but she ends up writing about her weird cousin, Carl Ray, who knows the Odyssey inside out, Her "best friend" Beth Ann, and her permanently pink Alex Cheveey. So what starts out as a boring summer turns into a thrilling time!

Adventure, fun, and a bit of romance, this book is one that you will definitely not be able to drop! I recommend this to everyone, even those who don't like reading!

Alpha and Omega!
I remember when I got this book in my Easter basket two years ago. I picked it up, and didn't stop reading until I was finished. Since then I've read it about 65 times, and I still read it almost every day. "Absolutely Normal Chaos" led me to read "The Odyssey," which is another one of my favourites, and I've also taken up Mary Lou's expressions such as Omnipotent, cabbageheaded and all that other sum and substance. It is also my inspiration for journaling. I recommend "Absolutely Normal" to absolutely everyone I meet. And they all tell me I'm exactly like Mary Lou... har har har. Anyway, I guess I should go ahead and review the book.

Absolutely Normal Chaos is about a 13-year-old girl named Mary Lou Finney who is assigned by her English teacher, Mrs. Zollar, to keep a journal over the summer. Mary Lou has no idea what a journal really is, so she decides to just write away and hope she's doing it right. Over the summer, Mary Lou's cousin, Carl Ray, comes to stay with her family. She also becomes involved with Alex Cheevey, a boy from school. What happens next is an odyssey in itself, and I don't want to give away the ending to this wonderful book.

For my final sentence, two words: READ IT!

Got to love this book!!
At first I was not intersted in this book. But later on I started to get really into it! The story is about a girl that has a hard time when her cousin comes for the summer. But near the end of the book Carl Ray tells Mary Lou a lot of secerts about his life!! I loved this book!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General   2. Children: Grades 4-6   3. Cousins   4. Death   5. Fiction   6. Girls & Women   7. Homesickness   8. Social Situations - Adolescence   9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Customer Reviews (49)

Not as good as Hero's Trial
Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse is a worthy addition to the Star Wars mythos, but it's certainly not anywhere near the best. Whereas this book's predecessor, Hero's Trial, focused almost solely on the (mis)adventures of a still-grieving Han Solo, this volume tries to keep track of everyone. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily a good thing.

Han is still on his quest, with newfound sidekick Droma, to find Droma's missing clan. Meanwhile, Leia heads off to the Hapes Consortium to try to win them over to the cause, the Hutts try to play the New Republic off of the Vong for their own benefit, Jacen & Anakin head off to examine the possibility of using Centerpoint Station as a weapon against the Vong, Borsk continues to be Borsk, and there are subplots galore. The author maintains his high standards of writing throughout, and this book could have been absolutely terrific had it been about, say, three times as long as it is. Unfortunately, because of the relatively short length of the book, very few of the plot threads are developed satisfactorily, and sometimes they seem a bit disjointed.

Still, the action is excellent, the characterizations are dead on, Luceno's knowledge of the Star Wars universe is superb, and there are cameo appearances of old favorites galore. The only two plots in this book that really kept me extremely interested were the Han and the Skidder plots, though, with the rest being too underdeveloped.

The cover isn't very good either. While the Vong (Warmaster Tsavong Lah) appears much as he is described in the book, Han is missing an arm, and his beard looks more like a blur than any facial hair I've ever seen.

Overall, this is an okay addition to the New Jedi Order, but the only Great parts of the book were the Han scenes and the last chapter, which almost boosted the book up another point just by itself. I do recommend this novel, but it's not the best.

Exciting conclusion to the Agents of Chaos duo.
This book picks up two months after Hero's Trial left off. Leia is overseeing the evacuation of worlds targeted by the Yuuzhan Vong invaders. Han and Droma are still searching for Droma's relatives. The Jedi Knights are split in two about how to best fight the Vong. Jedi Wurth Skidder has undertaken a dangerous undercover mission on a Vong ship. And while their sister Jaina is flying with Rogue Squadron, Jacen and Anakin Solo have gone to the Correlian system to attempt to rearm Centerpoint Station. The New Republic hopes to lure the Vong fleet to the Correlian System by making it appear virtually defenseless, then decimating the fleet using Centerpoint and the planetery repulsors in the system. This was an exciting conclusion to Hero's Trial, and an excellant addition to the New Jedi Order storyline. The only real problem I had with the book was the exclusion of Mara and Jaina, two of my favorite characters. It's ridiculous that Mara would just sit their on Coruscant hoping her disease was gone, and Jaina could have easily been added into the story by having Rogue Squadron participate in some of the space battles. But the book was an overall great read, nonetheless. I'm counting the days until I get Balance Point.

Excitement at the very end of the book
From the Heroe's trial, i got the feeling of a resurrection of the Han Solo's character, but in this book wasn't good enough. Jacen gets on my nerves again. And the Jedi seem to get more apart again. The conclusion of this book makes it worth to read all the pages, nice way of relating 4 or 5 stories that seemed isolated into this end. We are lacking for a victory. Everything is too parcial. The agent of chaos I is better, but i definitely recommend this one for the true fan of NJO and SW.

Regards from Guatemala ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction   2. Fiction - Science Fiction   3. Science Fiction   4. Science Fiction - General   5. Science Fiction - Star Wars   6. Fiction / Science Fiction / General   

"While it's easy to allow little things to take over our lives, there are things we can do to make life around the house less stressful," writes Richard Carlson in Don't Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Family: Simple Ways to Keep Daily Responsibilities and Household Chores from Taking Over Your Life. In this collection of 98 brief essays, Carlson (author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... And It's All Small Stuff) meditates on small, but meaningful ways to avoid being overwhelmed by life, particularly family life. From Number 8: Make Peace with Bickering, to Number 14: Encourage Boredom in Your Children, to Number 72: Stop Exaggerating Your Workload, Carlson's messages serve as reminders for truisms most readers already know but have lost sight of in the bustle of daily life. Carlson's "ways" may be simple, but simplicity is not stupid--his book offers vital injections of wisdom. --Ericka Lutz ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Wonderfully Soothing!
So far, I can honestly say this book has changed my family life for the better! Having started reading it two weeks ago, I am more relaxed around my kids and spouse, and they are much happier. Such simple, easy to apply advice. Parenting books can be overwhelming with advise and the expectations to be perfect - this is the solution to the unrealistic demands we put on ourselves and our families to be perfect. Thanks to this author!

Short and Sweet
It's not rocket science - getting along with your family - but isn't it astounding how many people can't get along at home on a regular basis? Even if you're fortunate to have nearly perfect family relations, you'll find yourself in at least one situation in this little book.

Carlson makes his points simply and in a straightforward manner which almost hits you in the head with: "OF COURSE! THIS MAKES SENSE! WHY HAVEN'T I DONE THIS BEFORE? "

You'll enjoy the suggestions and practicing the ways to get along better with everyone who means anything to you in life (and even those you don't care so much about).

Judge this book by its cover ~ it's filled with often overlooked words of wisdom!

A GOOD book, Not Earth shattering.
I have read two of Carlson's "Don't sweat the small stuff" series books. This one was better than "Don't sweat the small stuff, Just make money". This book has suggestions on how to relate to problems and annoyances in a family environment and is remindful of how important family should be to us. There was little I took from this book that would greatly change my life, but it was good reading and has a few good suggestions in dealing with day to day family issues. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Careers - General   2. Conduct of life   3. Family & Relationships   4. Family/Marriage   5. General   6. Lifestyles   7. Psychology   8. Quality of life   9. Stress Management   10. Family & Relationships / General   

Customer Reviews (20)

Great but not an orderly comprehensive work
This is one of the best books to read among all the 'tell-all' novels about airlines and their managers. Unfortunately, Petzinger zig zags around characters and events that become confusing and annoying. Many of the significant facts are lost as a result and the reader must go back to truly understand particular concepts and processes of airline management.

Another problem is that the author does a tremendous job explaining the history and ramifications of what the airlines and their managers did, but only takes one small chapter at the end to explain the future of the airline industry and its new leaders.

For the size and comprehensiveness of the book, a few more pages devoted to his best estimates for the future would have only made it perfect.

Mr. Petzinger handles a complex subject very, very well.
As an airline professional with one of the carriers covered extensively in the book, I was skeptical as to whether any author could present a clear picture of the industry's inner workings. "Complex" is somehow an inadequate word when applied to the airline industry, especially since Deregulation. Mr. Petzinger, however, has succeeded not only in telling the story; he has done so in an entertaining style which makes for a fascinating and highly informative trip through all of the turmoil wrought by deregulation. The reader comes away with an understanding of the cause and effect of every relevant force affecting the airline business over the last few decades. This, combined with a comprehensive overview of the industry's formative years, makes this book a treasure. The book would be a 10 except for a couple of minor research errors. The content, however, is outstanding and compels me to use an overused cliche: this really is a must-read for everyone in the industry and anyone with even a passing interest in the airline business.

Perhaps even more relevant today
Petzinger's examination of the airline industry is must reading for anyone with an interest in that industry, and probably should be required reading for airline executives. The book essentially recounts the history of the airlines, but it also very much focuses a magnifying glass on many of the players in this industry.

But its more than a textbook history, it provides intimate details on the men who run the airlines and provides a great contrast of the various individuals' management styles.

I was enthralled by the history of Texas International and Eastern Airlines, in particular, and the recounting of the fall of Frank Lorenzo, a man so reviled that the mechanics union was willing to kill the airline just to defeat him.

While the book has been criticized by some for a perceived focus on airlines based in Texas, the fact of the matter is that even today three of the biggest players in the industry are based in Texas: American, Continental, and Southwest. And since they are three of the current survivors, and still three of the major players, the recounting of their histories is probably even more relevant.

The only suggestion I might have is that Petzinger update his book in light of airline history since his book was published. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics, Commercial   2. Airlines   3. Aviation - General   4. Business / Economics / Finance   5. Business/Economics   6. Corporate & Business History - General   7. Deregulation   8. Economics - Macroeconomics   9. History   10. United States   11. Business & Economics / Macroeconomics   

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Chaos Primer
My first intro to chaos was Gleick's book *Chaos: Making a New Science* which focused on the history of the discovery of chaos. Although this was fascinating - and a good read for those just learning about dynamical systems, strange attractors, and the like - Lorenz's *Essence of Chaos* was much more satisfying. Lorenz analyzes specific chaotic functions, gives you the math (equations are in the appendix) and generally accomplishes what the title suggests - that is, exploring the essence of chaos. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in this deeply fascinating subject.

Great Stuff from the Great One
Lorenz has done it again. This is a terrific inside look at chaos by the man who made Gleick's book possible. And it had a few interesting new ideas too--who would have thought there was a different way to present fourth-order Runge-Kutta? Who would have thought Runge-Kutta could convert a phase-space circle to a nice-looking fractal attractor? A good book for the air plane.

The Essence of Chaos: A great primer on chaos theory.
Edward Lorenz takes a complicated topic and makes it accessible for all people, regardless of prior knowledge of chaos theory. He provides interesting and easy to follow examples of chaos, fractals and complexity. The illustrations are helpful and he includes a glossary of terms to aid the beginning chaos enthusiasts to quickly become familiar with the terminology. Mr. Lorenz gives a brief history of chaos and explains how it is used in the study of mathematics, meteorology, economics, music, and other fields. The book is very interesting and is highly recommended for those who would like to acquaint themselves with the exciting world of chaos. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Meteorology & Climatology   2. Science   3. Science/Mathematics   4. System Theory   

Customer Reviews (11)

The best!
This is the most understandable book in chaos theory I have read. It clearly explains the theory and the tools to understand it. I have read several books and papers but this is the one I like the most. If you are interested in Chaos theory try this book first and then read other technical stuff.

Good introduction on chaos theory
Very accessible introduction on chaos theory. Style is informal and nontechnical. You're not required to have a particular background in mathematics to understand the content. Reading it is particularly easy, and it provides excellent pointers to more advanced topics on chaos theory.

If you already have some background in dynamic systems and modeling, i would recommend Morrison's book : "The Art of Modeling Dynamic Systems : Forecasting for Chaos, Randomness, and Determinism" which is somewhat more technical but certainly more helpful for getting a good idea of what chaos theory is, at an engineering point of view.

In addition, for getting a very broad view of chaos in the real world, Schroeder's "Fractals, Chaos, Power laws: Minutes from an Infinite Paradise" is incomparable ! It overwhelms you with the footprints of chaos in every possible context. A must-read ! But very technical and requires some important knowledge in physics and science engineering...

However, as an easy nontechnical introduction on chaos theory, this book really deserves its 5 stars !

One of Many
This book is one of many of the science for the general interest reader. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Advanced   2. Applied   3. Chaos (Science)   4. Chaos Theory (Mathematics)   5. Chaotic Behavior in Systems   6. Mathematics   7. Science   8. Science/Mathematics   

Folks who like their global political analysis presented in snippy sound bite form can hurry along to the Carvilles and Coulters and find plenty of reading material. But for those who appreciate the complex tapestry of security issues and international affairs, Robert Cooper offers plenty to think about. The present-day world, posits Cooper, is divided into three types of nations: premodern (often third world and politically unstable), modern, and postmodern. While the present-day Europe Union exists as a postmodern model, with each country relying on others to facilitate prosperity, most other large nations, including, for the moment, the United States, are stuck in a merely modern capacity, still viewing foreign policy as essentially a way of keeping enemies at bay and maintaining the status quo. As terrorism grows more powerful and the "premodern" world more unstable, sophisticated weaponry becomes more readily available to terrorist organizations. It then falls t! o the enlightened "postmodern" countries to intervene militarily, taking a pre-emptive approach when necessary, to contain threats, root out bad guys, and defend the world. With this scenario in mind, Cooper urges EU members to increase their military capability to better measure up to the status and power of the American military forces. But as technology makes weapons of mass destruction more readily available around the planet, a more aggressive diplomatic strategy, Cooper says, is crucial to effectively dealing with the build up of weaponry and he presents five "maxims" to illustrate how such a diplomacy should be organized. While Cooper cogently presents his vision of where the world is and where the powerful nations need to take it, he also acknowledges the vagaries of a shifting world and as such presents The Breaking of Nations more as a rumination on complex issues than a ready-made solution. --John Moe ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Another quick read
Easy reading - not very deep. A point of view of the European experience leading up to the present political environment with a generalization into a direction for the future. Good background on the creation and importance of the EU for us folks across the pond. The second essay posits five maximums leading to the conclusion that the ultimate goal of the political process should be to help people redefine their identity into a larger context. Harris, in "Civilization and Its Enemies" traces the process of redefining individual identity over history. His work builds on the work of Fukuyama in "The End of History and the Last Man." I though Harris' history and argument more persuasive. As such I did not find Cooper as enlightening as I had hoped.

Important discussion of a model of an emerging world order.
This book consists primarily of two essays on an emerging world order from the perspective of a British scholar and diplomat who has also participated in the European project. He is fully conversant in what Europe implies for Europe, but he is also fully conversant in (and sympathetic to) the British objections to Europe and the psychology of American foreign policy. Furthermore, it seems that this book is meant as a "third way" alternative to the "Power and Paradise" that Robert Kagan discusses in his book of that title (or "Power and Weakness", the title of the underlying Policy Review article that began the debate).

Cooper takes several phenomena in the modern foreign policy world as new. The basic idea is the emergence of a post-Westphalian order that qualifies (and sometimes rejects) sovereignty. This emerged out of World War II (which he importantly compares to the Thirty Years' War in that it gave cause to radically change the international order), but the full implications are only now becoming apparent. There are a couple of features of this world order.

First, new kinds of entities appear on the international scene which are not states, but to which states cede sovereignty. For example, the EU, the WTO, IAEA and NPT, verifiable arms control regimes, etc. In each of these, states give up sovereignty in exchange for various kinds of benefits, either in security or economic realms. Slowly, cooperation becomes the order of the day. He terms this "post-modern" international relations, and he calls the international order that existed between Westphalia and the end of World War II, "modern".

Second, a post-modern international order depends on a modern hegemon like the United States. Someone has to affirm security and tradition interests and to enforce them. However, this creates a fundamental tension between the post-modern states and the modern states. It is interesting to compare this discussion with Huntington's (in Soldier and State)about the need for a conservative-realist military in a modern liberal state. Huntington, mistakenly, thought that liberalism would ultimatley fail in the Cold War. Cooper explores the current tensions that arise, but he does not attempt to predict the future as Huntington did.

Third, he talks about the role of legitimacy in this context. How does legitimacy work when you have a necessary modern state, like the US, and a post-modern world order? How do you incorporate states that are failing or, perhaps, not yet even modern? Can states go from a sort of pre-modern state to a post-modern state? Do they have to pass through a variety of "modernity"? All important questions in an age of nation-building and an expanding European project. It is also interesting to see how much this agrees with the afterward to the 2nd edition of Kagan's book, discussed above. The Iraq war has made us realize these crises more.

Unfortunately, I don't believe that Cooper addresses one of the more interesting questions, which is the rise of non-national, non-sovereign entities like NGOs, multinational corporations, and international crime and terrorism. Many of the treaties that define this post-modern order, such as the ICC, the landmine treaty, and others, have all been negotiated as much by MGOs (operating out of the US!) as they have been by states. In addition, it appears that terrorist organizations can exist most easily in those places in which sovereignty is not total, such as in both pre-modern states and in post-modern states. What does this mean? The modern response to terrorism is that a state stops it because it challenges the monopoly on violence. But how does a state that has cedes part of its monopoly to others respond?

Finally, it would be interesting to consider the relationship of America's historically commercially driven policy has to the post-modern order. Walter Russell Mead wrote about this in "Special Providence", and it illustrates an important feature about the United States. Was it, in fact, an early post-modern state that reverted to a modern condition? What would that mean for Cooper's model?

European multilateralism and American unilateralism can meet
As a result of 9/11 foreign policy is hot. The popularity of intelligent academic like books dedicated to the subject has soared. The American public seems finally to have caught up an insatiable thirst of knowledge for this esoteric subject. This is undeniably a very good thing. And, this book from Robert Cooper is an excellent tonic to quench this thirst for knowledge. Cooper is an excellent writer. His lively style renders his book easy to read. Also, he is so erudite on his subject matter that the amount of information and knowledge he shares within this relatively short book is truly remarkable.

The core of the book is based on two essays Cooper wrote several years ago. The first one "The Condition of the World" originally written in 1996 is somewhat the better structured of the two. It develops a powerful foreign policy model by grouping nations into three categories.

The first category consists of "pre-modern states." These are completely dysfunctional. They are typically broke, can't deliver any social services effectively, and the government's authority is often challenged by gangs, warlords, and other outlaws. Many African countries come to mind.

The second category consists of "modern states." These are you regular sovereign nations working perfectly well on most counts. This is Australia, Japan, Canada, you name it.

The third category consists of "post-modern states." This essentially describes the European Union, whereby a group of countries have agreed to relinquish some of their respective sovereign rights to a supranational political entity (EU) for the greater good of the respective community of countries. In Cooper's views this category is obviously the higher political life form. And, the other two "states" consist simply of sequential stepping stones towards this most evolved state. This is obviously a questionable assumption. Where Cooper sees the benefit of multilateralism, cooperation, free flowing trade within the EU. Someone else could just as well see excessive bureaucracy, an extra layer of government, analysis-paralysis devoid of any effective foreign policy, and a trading block that actually reduces trade opportunity within a truly freer trade framework (WTO). However, Cooper makes his case extremely well. He is a formidable debater and does make a convincing case for his political framework and the superiority of the EU post-modern states structure.

Cooper somehow struggles a bit with the hegemonic status of the U.S. He concedes that the U.S. stands "outside and above" the post-modern structure. He also accepts that the world does indeed benefit from the U.S. protection umbrella. Without a strong leader setting a set of rules and examples, the world could easily fall into chaos of competing power blocks vying for the top spot. Thus, Cooper unlike many authors on the subject, finds himself both espousing European multilateralism and the American unilateralism.

His second essay, encapsulated within this book, has a much different overtone. Its vision is a lot darker. It reflects on a world becoming more dangerous, more uncertain, less manageable. He believes humanitarian and military interventions in collapsing states will become maybe more frequent and more urgent. Counter-terrorism will become potentially a permanent endeavor. Government efforts to hunt down and grab WMD from the wrong hands will also be a long term effort. His second essay, in style and vision, resembles a lot the excellent books written on the same subject by Robert Kaplan (The Coming Anarchy comes to mind).

In the end, this book may raises more issues, questions, and concerns than it answers. I think there lies his great merit. Contrary to many other authors who seem to know best about something as liquid and complex as foreign policy, Cooper's humbler attitude is refreshing. He does not have the ready solution to all the world's problems. But, he sure diagnoses these problems very skillfully. He also asks the right questions and raises the correct concerns. Finally, he also suggests the rather radical idea that European multilateralism and American unilateralism can cohabitate the Western World. They don't have to compete with each other. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History   2. History: World   3. International Relations - Diplomacy   4. International Relations - General   5. International relations   6. Modern - 21st Century   7. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur   8. Politics - Current Events   9. Security, International   

Customer Reviews (2)

Buffy smash!
If Giles needed a reference for Chaos Bleeds, this is the Bibeau's Compendium of walkthrough guides. Extensive screen caps and helpful notes for all 12 levels. Complete the missions on your own, then use this guide to beat it in half the time. This strategy guide is a must for any fan of the game, even if you've beaten it and opened all the secrets. Relive the game in paperback form.

Awesome
it is the most awesome book i have ever read and it is sooooooo detailed it is the most comprehensive guide in the world.
it shows full maps for each level but it doesnt give you STEP BY STEP instructions and it lets you make wrong decisions andit influences the game its great. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General   2. Computers   3. Entertainment & Games - General   4. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords   5. Role Playing & Fantasy - General   6. Video & Electronic - General   7. Video games   8. Games / Video & Electronic   

Customer Reviews (5)

I Can't Recommend It Enough
I heard Arthur Jeon speak on NPR and was so amused and inspired I went to his website, citydharma.com. I read excerpts from the book without intending to buy it, as I've read a lot of spiritual books and feel like I have had enough. But his excerpt was both real and deep at the same time---I could relate and I ended up buying the book.

Most of the spiritual books I've read are about two things, changing yourself or believing something unbelievable. City Dharma doesn't ask you to do either. And it doesn't ask you to go sit on a mountain. City Dharma quite simply asks you to wake up from the trance of your reactive conditioning, endless story, and neurotic thoughts so you can experience your connection with your true nature IN THIS MOMENT. This is called waking up and he teaches that you can be "awake" no matter what is happening, lessening the suffering we create for ourselves.

All this isn't communicated in a way that is esoteric, dry or precious. The book is broken up into chapters including work, violence, noise, relationships, status envy---all the stuff we encounter living in the modern world.

The examples in the book are funny and obviously from real life and the applications of his teachings are immediately relevent. They have given me a different perspective and stick well after the reading.

Like all the best spiritual teachers I've encountered, from the Dalai Llama to Thich Nhat Hahn, this book is both profound and humorous. Light but deep. I'm convinced those two qualities go hand in hand with true wakefulness.

Hip, Wise, and Witty
This is truly a user-friendly dharma book. Jeon takes us on a romp through cities from Santa Monica to Johannesburg with stories of real life difficulties and resolutions that are full of humor and wisdom. With not an ounce of spiritual mumbo-jumbo or new age belief, Jeon manages to deliver an authentic spiritual experience. A must-read for the discriminating seeker.

Practical Spirituality For Every Day Life...
A good friend of mine gave me this book, perhaps as a not-so-subtle way of telling me I need to keep cool in the choas of my own life. What I thought was an amusing joke from a friend has turned out to be a truly helpful gift -- Arthur Jeon's insights and stories are practical, smart, and easy to work into your life. The book is quick and fun to read and several times a day I find myself thinking about what I've read and reacting to my world a little differently. Somehow Jeon's taken all the great teaching of Eastern Thought and turned them into an easy-to-get manual for adding meaning and fun and reducing stress in our crazy Western World. Highly recommend! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asian And Oriental Religions   2. Buddhism   3. Buddhism - General   4. Emotions   5. General   6. Psychology   7. Religion - World Religions   8. Religious aspects   9. Self-Help   10. Spiritual life   11. Self-Help / General   

Customer Reviews (3)

Change your ex!
Well you may not be able to change them but...This practical, common sense guide offers communication techniques that will not only help you deal with a difficult ex-husband or ex wife, but also teaches you how to examine your own role in these sticky situations. This book offered useful advice on how to be civil when the other party is not. This book helps you communicate effectively and stay in control of yourself and your situation. If for no other reason you can learn how to minimize the conflicts between you and your ex that affect your children. This book allows you to put your children's needs first.

An excellent tool for divorced and divorcing parents
I have made this book required reading for my divorce and mediation clients. Dr. Wittmann provides simple, direct strategies which allow struggling parents to focus on what is truly important....raising healthy, well adjusted children. Mediators and divorce attorneys would be doing thier clients a great service by recommending this book!

No New News
I was disappointed by this book. It held very little new information that I haven't already read in other books. I ordered it, looked through it reading a few pages in each chapter and then decided to return it. It's possible that there are redeeming factors but if so, I didn't happen to read those parts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children of divorced parents   2. Conflict Resolution   3. Divorce   4. Divorced parents   5. Family & Relationships   6. Family / Parenting / Childbirth   7. Family/Marriage   8. Joint custody of children   9. Parenting - General   10. Parenting, Part-time   11. Psychology   

Customer Reviews (2)

Most organizations don't know they do this already
Very thought provoking and only after several weeks of 'mulling' over what I had read did I realize that the global corporation for which I work (along with many others I know)actually does achieve its competitive edge through these instances of creative bounded chaos--they just don't know it yet. Our striving to creative a 'long term strategic vision' is of itself an attempt to explain that which we do not know, cannot control or explain on a balance sheet. Self-awareness being the first step to self-actualization for the individual--the same would apply to my organization successfully navigating its' current transformation. Listening to the words of Stacey would assist enormously in this process.

Insightful, foundational integration of chaos & biz strategy
This book is a highly insightful integration of chaos theory with strategic management, a "must have" for anyone interested in "new science" practically applied in organizations. Stacey's description of an organization as a complex web of relationships in a state of bounded instability is brilliant. Strongly recommended for any manager seeking to avoid portrayal in "Dilbert" - and EVERY executive. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance   2. Business/Economics   3. Entrepreneurship   4. Executive Management   5. Leadership   6. Management   7. Management - General   8. Organizational effectiveness   9. Strategic planning   10. Business & Economics / General   11. Management & management techniques   

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Communications / Networking   2. Computer Network Management   3. Computer Performance And Reliability   4. Computer networks   5. Computers   6. Management   7. Networking - General   8. Programming - Systems Analysis & Design   9. Quality Control   10. Science/Mathematics   11. Telecommunications   12. Electronics engineering   13. Quality Assurance (QA) & Total Quality Management (TQM)   14. Technology / Telecommunications