Customer Reviews (11)

Outstanding !!!
This is an extraordinary book to prepare the board. Simple,concise, to the point. I upgraded from the second edition and it was really worth the upgrade. New chapters and new presentation with key concepts and case discussion worth reading. All time companion book !!

An excellent first textbook in Anaesthetics.
This book is well-presented, easy to read and, with the case scenarios presented at the end of each chapter, puts some of the most important clinical considerations in anaesthetics into a truly practical way. It is relatively small too, so that it is portable and can be referenced easily. All in all, an excellent book.

A "must have" for anesthesia
My absolute favorite anesthesia textbook. It is concise and very readable. A pure joy when one doesn't feel like trodding through Miller. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anesthesiology   2. Medical   3. Medical / Nursing   4. Test Preparation & Review   5. Medical / Anesthesiology   

Customer Reviews (230)

I'm not being pretentious, this review is for a class
Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita has everything: magic, mayhem and a vodka-drinking cat. This book is nothing short of a masterpiece of modernist literature. Bulgakov addresses a slew of themes throughout the novel including life in communist Russia, atheism, Christianity and love. These concepts are constantly running through the plot whether it is evident or not. What is most impressive about the novel is Bulgakov's ability to present the story with a certain surreal and mysterious quality, which at times is Kafkaesque. This is most apparent in book 1 when Woland (Satan) reeks havoc on the citizens of Moscow: neither the reader nor the characters in the novel are exactly sure what is happening, but for the characters the effects are very real. The fantastic elements in the novel, particularly the presence magic are primarily responsible for creating this effect. The rational, atheist citizens of Moscow are vulnerable to Woland's sometimes deadly, sometimes mischievous powers because they refuse to believe their senses. At the same time however, the citizens are willing to accept the impossible when it benefits them (as in the black magic show) and Woland exposes this weakness as well. There is also a strong absurd quality to the novel that helps the reader to understand the flaws in both mankind and society. This is evident in his depiction of Satan, Hell and his demon sidekicks. A talking cat that swills vodka and fights over a chess game is funny anyway you look at it. Satan holds a grand ball in Hell, which is presented as a grand mansion. The reader is not upset when bad things happen to the characters because the devil and his intentions are presented very lightheartedly. The devil even seems have more human qualities than most of the characters in the novel, especially when examining his relationship with Margarita in the second book. Overall this book was top notch. The story was entertaining and funny as well as profound, it drags in a few spots but not many and not for long. Buy the book on Amazon.com and read it. Even if you do not understand it on its most intellectual level (which I admittedly did not) you can still appreciate the work and take something away from it.

A novel that operates on several levels.
Bulgakov's Master and Margarita is one of the best novels to have come out of Russia in the twentieth century. Written during the repression of the Stalinist '30s Bulgakov literally risked his life to write this. In fact it wasn't published until 26 years after his death, even then in abreviatted form.

I won't add to what others have said of the substance of the novel except it operates on a personal, political and theological levels. From each reading you'll take something from this gem.

I have read both the Glenny and the Burgin/O'Connor translations(My Russian is only at an intermediate level so I did not attempt it in its native tongue). Glenny's translation is extremely readable and flows like great literature. He does make mistakes in his choice of words but you won't go wrong with it. It was the version that got me hooked on Bulgakov.

Burgin/O'Connor come very close to Bulgakov's Russian with the added bonus of notes and an essay at the back of the novel. While less flowing than Glenny it's more accurate and also a wonderful read. Grab a copy of either and you won't be sorry.

One of the great books of the 20th century.

The hardback version is printed in RUSSIAN
The hardback version of The Master and Margarita [ISBN: 5768403175} is printed in Russian. It is NOT an English translation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classics   2. Fiction   3. Literature - Classics / Criticism   4. Russian & Former Soviet Union   5. Fiction / Classics   

Customer Reviews (6)

A "reader friendly" guide to adopting healthy practices
Capably translated into English by Jan Madejski, Can We Live 150 Years?: Your Body Maintenance Handbook by Mikhail Tombak (Center for Health Sciences, Moscow) is a straightforward, "reader friendly" guide to adopting healthy practices in order to extend one's life span. From delaying the aging process; to illness prevention tips; to proper breathing, diet, and exercise; to keep in optimum condition; to keeping toxins out of one's intestines, kidneys, liver, and blood, Can We Live 150 Years? is an enthusiastically recommended supplement to Health & Medicine reference collections as well as Self-Improvement reading list.

Keep your "internal house" clean.
Since conventional medicine could not cure my daughter's eczema, I turned to natural (alternative) medicine. I have read many good books on the health subject in the past, but " Can We Live 150 years?" beats them all! The essential message that the book conveys is that we are the ones who should be taking control of our own health. This message is supported by simple, do-it-at-home, inexpensive, and natural formulas and techniques used from generation to generation. The book is a guide to proper eating, breathing, maintaining healthy spine, liver, kidneys, and more... As the author rightly points out, we clean our houses, we keep our cars lubricated and clean, but many times we forget about proper care of our "internal houses". It can be argued that nature enabled our bodies to maintain themselves, but a question arises : Did nature create artificial, genetically modified foods and chemicals?

A book everybody should read and own.
Very informative, common sense approach, easy to comprehend. Once I started reading this book I found it so interesting that I had to finish the same day.I found the recipes for body cleansing specially helpful.
Next day I bought 3 books for my friends. I recommended this book to everybody who cares about their health. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aging   2. Diet / Health / Fitness   3. General   4. Health   5. Health & Fitness   6. Health/Fitness   7. Healthy Living   8. Longevity   

Subjects:  1. 1931-   2. General   3. Geneva   4. Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeevich,   5. History - General History   6. Iceland   7. International Relations - Arms Control   8. Modern - 20th Century/Nuclear Age   9. Political History   10. Political Science   11. Politics/International Relations   12. Reagan, Ronald   13. Reykjavâik   14. Summit meetings   15. Switzerland   16. History / Modern / 20th Century   

Subjects:  1. Biography   2. Children's 9-12 - Reference   3. Children's questions and answe   4. Children's questions and answers   5. Children: Grades 4-6   6. Curiosities & Wonders   7. Juvenile General And Reference Works   8. Juvenile Nonfiction   9. Juvenile Social Problems (General)   10. Juvenile literature   11. Nobel Prizes   12. Questions and answers   13. Reference - General   14. Science & Technology - General   15. Juvenile Nonfiction / Curiosities & Wonders   

Customer Reviews (18)

One of the most graphic and spellbinding books I have read!
Mikhail Sholokov richly deserved his Nobel prize for literature. His literary work in "Quiet Flows the Don" is without doubt one of Russia's masterpieces. His ability to weave a complex and wonderfully graphic tapestry of cossack life before, during, and after Russia's October Revolution is remarkable. His descriptions of the land and the individual lives of the people inhabiting this area of Russia is visually stunning as I read the story images of the characters sprang to mind without effort. The reader will embark on a wonderful journey through a remarkable country at a critical time in human history. Sholokov style and prose is guaranteed to hold the reader captive. He truly is a worthy successor to Lev Tolstoy

War and Peace's Soviet Counterpart
Hailed as the best war novel to emerge from the Soviet, Sholokhov's epic has indeed solidified its position in world literature as a must read for those interested in the art of war. Yet, far more than a mere war novel, And Quiet Flows the Don, just as War and Peace had done, masterfully combines the men's martial vigor with the delicate sentimentalities that question war. The blend of peace fades into this gnawing passion in soldiers' bones as they march off to fight under some cause, a cause that has only become too hazy for name. Dedicated to the Cossacks who have resided by the Don for ages, Sholokhov follows a young Cossack's journey into the unknown terror of war. And Gregor Melekov's personal tragedy, blends w/ an array of Cossack characters: swindlers in love, Red Guards with a faith...the plot may appear too scattered at times, yet following Tolstoy's grand tradition to capture a supreme idea through the chasms of minute details, Sholokhov depicts the anguish of a people too wrapped up in honor, unable to cope with the nascent order of New Russia, regretful about allegiance to the Czar who ensured tensile peace, and ultimately lost to themselves as to "mistake each other for the enemies". We are taught that war does such to people, is peace to heal the wound then? I have yet to conclude this epic w/ The Don Flows Home to the Sea, but the glimpse of peace and yearning for tranquility have long glittered in the eyes of Gregor and his brothers/comrades, exhausted by struggles. A wonderful folk style book that brings one closer to the true picture of Cossack life--acquaint one w/ their lust, their yearning, their cowardice, and their courage.

Mixed reaction
A story about village Cossacks who lived through the first world war, followed by the Russian Revolution, it seems to be modeled upon War and Peace. Despite very negative presentations of women and some Sovietized propaganda throughout, it does provide a view of the Cossack life and culture. However, once the wars begin, the book gets carried away with battle, and the threads of lives introduced at the beginning aren't wrapped up at the end, leaving the reader feeling unfulfilled. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction   2. Literary   3. Literature - Classics / Criticism   4. Fiction / Literary   

Customer Reviews (36)

He kids you not
Bulgakov established himself as one of the most talented comic writers from Russia - if not one of the most talented, period. This, one of his early works, showcases his love of satirical farce, focusing this time on the attempt to reform that which needs no reformation.

The story is simple enough on the outside: A doctor takes in a wounded stray dog, gives it a prissy name, and treats it to a life of luxury. Then, when the dog least expects it, the doctor turns around and implants a human pituitary gland and pair of testicles in him. Gradually, the dog develops into a monstrous... human?! Exactly.

This is not a book to be taken at face value. It's vaguely funny if you know nothing about Russian (esp. Soviet) history, and *hilarious* if you've done your homework. Bulgakov's rousing, snide commentary on the controlling government he despised was extremely controversial when it was first written, but nonetheless an invaluable addition to the world's literature.

As an aside, get the Mirra Ginsburg English translation, which is arguably the best one available--the Michael Glenny translation reads like a translation, and sacrifices some of the comedic affect of the story.

Extremely funny, incredibly written small masterpiece
Mikhail Bulgakov, best known for his brilliant novel "The Master and Margarita" was steeped in the theatrical craft. When his books were censored, he wrote a wild, heartfelt letter to authorities in Soviet Russia, asking that, if they were not to be allowed to publish his work, would they then assign him to work in theater, even as a lowly stagehand. In one of Stalin's capricious moves, Bulgakov was, indeed, assigned to work as an assistant director at a Moscow theater.

Meanwhile, Bulgakov continued to amass what must be one of the world's great hordes of literary work unpublished in the lifetime of an author. "Heart of a Dog" is probably his most viciously anti-Soviet, anti-Proletariat work, and it reads like a cross between Orwell's "Animal Farm" and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" but with Bulgakov's intense sarcasm and humor thrown in. The book is so dramatic, it's almost impossible to read it without seeing it run like a film or play behind your eyes as you read it.

A professor (whose Russian name is a play on the scientist Pavlov) adopts a mongrel dog. The dog Sharik (Fido, Rover...) is grateful! His life on the street has been hard, he's been kicked, scalded with hot water and he is starving. The professor feeds him well. Ah, he's gaining weight and healing up. What a nice man! A god, even, well, to a dog. But wait a minute! The professor, noted surgeon that he is, is preparing to operate. He seizes the dog....

And then we see the results of the professor's cruel experiment. A dog gets a human brain portion and begins to develop as a human. But he isn't a nice friendly, tail-wagging human. Oh, no. He's low, a cur, yes, a dog of a man who chases cats uncontrollably, pinches women's bottoms and drinks like a fish (oops mixed metaphor there.) He demands to be registered and get papers like a human being in Soviet society. And the authorities are anxious, even rabid to assist him. Sharikov takes a first name and patronymic that is so inappropriate, so hysterically funny that you have to laugh out loud. Then he gets a prominent job as a purge director, eliminating those counter-revolutionary cats from Moscow's pure Communist society. That is, until the professor cooks up a plot.

This is a gem of a book. Bulgakov shares Orwell's deep hatred of totalitarianism, but unlike the delicate satire of Orwell, Bulgakov writes with massive belly laughs of deeply sarcastic humor and over-the-top jokes. He's a dramatist at heart, and this book shows his theatrical thinking, where exaggerated movement and stage props play as much a role in exposition as dialog.

This is a true small masterpiece and should appeal to just about anyone. It would be a very good book for a high school or college literature study. It is really wonderful, and prepares the reader for Bulgakov's wildly out of control masterpiece "Master and Margarita." Don't miss this book for anything!

Dark and majestic
Placed within the boundaries of post revolutionary Russia (October revolution 1917) this novel with its dark atmosphere pierces deeply into bones of a reader, leaving him amazed and stunned with a size to which can escalate human stupidity, and evilness and unintelligent behaviour by following the paths of some greater revoultion, of some welfare for all.
By walking the alleys of Moscow, professor Petar Petrovic Preobrazensky comes across a wanderrer dog, and after feeding him, he performs an operation on him, in which he combines part of a dead man body (dead man is alchocolic, violent, and member of communist party)with the parts of a dog.
What is caused by operation is already presented in some other novels like 'Frankestein' but here (considering that this is Bulgakov and all...) is totaly unexpected. Dog starts to transform, slowly at first, into a human being whose parts he now posesses. What becomes apparent in the process are all the bad thing one can have when "suffering" from a posession of a human heart. He losses all nobility of a dog, ant transforms himself into a man that he used o be before, with all negative sides that remained.
Association with the president of House Comitee Svonde, will lead to major problems.
Bulgakov uses his famous, fluid style, not allowing break beetween narration and dialogue, though short this novel keeps his reader glued to his chair, and doesn't allow him to leave mists of post revolutionary Moscow, mists of human spirit (in which was believed that by mere act of revolting (violent), all became different than it used to be, neglecting the fact that people that used to live under empire are the same people the now live under Lenin)
Though somewhat flawish on some places, with weak links between objects and verbs, with holes in some spaces, that should (or could) be filled with more detailed narration, this novel stands side by side with the rest of Bulgakov's work.
Thumbs up! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction   2. General   3. Literature - Classics / Criticism   4. Russian & Former Soviet Union   

Customer Reviews (2)

Good textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate course
I read the book and is almost self contained. No knowledge in Number Theory is assumed. Has a great combination of text and math. Last few chapters could have been better.

Assistant Researcher
An excellent book. I am a beginning cryptographer with some statistics, discrete math, user level crypto and programming under my belt - crossing over from another field. This book is an excellent read with proper amounts of examples and theorems. It is easy to follow and would make a good reference. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Applied   2. Computer security   3. Cryptography   4. Cryptography/Access Control   5. Mathematics   6. Number Theory   7. Science   8. Science/Mathematics   9. Security   10. System Theory   11. Theory Of Numbers   

Customer Reviews (32)

Magnificent portrait of corruption of the 'hero' Pechorin
Lermontov died age 27 leaving a body of poems and one prose work, a loose collection of stories about his 'anti-hero' Pechorin in "A Hero of Our Times"

The novel presents the misadventures of a Tsarist officer through the account of his early friend and through Pechorin's own diary. Pechorin is an immoral man, personifying the corruption of the early nineteenth century military classes in Russia.

For the concentration of the evils of Pechorin, for his treachery and seduction, this is a surprisingly 'modern' book, though written in the 1840s.

I recommend it for its economy and the strength of its portrayal of Pechorin. By his early death, Russian literature was robbed of a writer who may have joined the pantheon of the great Tsarist novelists.

Pechorin the hero!
Well I am not going to go on about the so-called 'superfluous man' garb that most people append to Pechorin, cos that is merely fashion, and fashion is too shallow and ephemeral. So, Lermontov died in a duel aged 27 and lived a turbulent and cocky life just like the hero of the novel, Pechorin. I really enjoy late 19th century Russian novels, mainly for the strange humour instilled in the characters and situations, and the profoundity of the ideas involved. Lermontov writes in a similar way to Voltaire, by using imagery that is quite parse, and jokes at the expense of the ludricous members of society. Pechorin's rivalry and duel with the ridiculous 'romantic' in the army uniform is hilarious. Pechorin himself definitely influenced Gogol and Dostoevsky, and opened up a whole new way of viewing the hero in a novel. I don't go with the whole, 'anti-hero' fad, because a hero is a hero independent of the times. Pechorin is obviously not fighting for the glory of Athens are whatever, but he is still the hero of the novel and of the time. The closest thing to what Pechorin represents I guess is the absurd man of Camus:
'He who, without negating it, does nothing for the eternal...he prefers his courage and his reasoning. The first teaches him to live without appeal and to get along with what he has; the second informs him of his limits. Assured of his temporally limited freedom, of his revolt devoid of future and of his mortal consciousness, he lives out his adventure within the span of his lifetime. That is his field, that is his action, which he shields from any judgement but his own.' (Myth of Sysiphus, Camus). Great book, read it now!

Best of the "superflous man" bunch
'Hero of Our Time' is comprised of four parts, which differ greatly in narrative and length. It is a great read. It's considered the work that solidified Lermontov's place as Pushkin's successor. It has been studied thoroughly from historical, literary and psycho-analytical perspectives. However, its incomplex style and arresting drama also appeal to the casual reader.

Pechorin is a wonderfully sympathetic anti-hero. His vulnerability, which comes through in his utter reluctance to reveal his true character, contrasted with his pathological amorality creates a very intriguing and ambiguous image.

What is most striking about Pechorin in light of his afore-mentioned traits, is his phenomenal physical courage. The story entitled 'Fatalist' is the nail in the coffin of the narrative, juxtaposing the genuine heroism of which Pechorin and men like him are capable of when given the opportunity. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1533-1917   2. Caucasus   3. Fiction   4. Literary   5. Literature - Classics / Criticism   6. Russia   7. Russian Novel And Short Story   8. Social life and customs   9. Fiction / Literary   

Customer Reviews (29)

Engaging chess reading
This book, as many of the other reviewers have commented, is enjoyable to read in its own right even without the games. Tal comes across as self-effacing and amusing, for the most part; the inclusion of things like a diagram showing Tal blundering away a queen against Averbakh in a blitz game is a refreshing change from the egomania that seems to run rampant in high level chess. The book is broken up into nine chapters representing Tal's breakdown of his chess life into various eras. Each chapter has prose discussion of major events that Tal played in that time period, with lots of anecdotes and interesting asides. In these sections he occasionally inserts diagrams and partial game scores, with minor commentary.
The latter half of each chapter is dedicated to games and their annotation. All in all there are 100 annotated games. I have not, by any means, thoroughly studied all of them. But I have looked at a fair number, and the quality of the annotation is generally quite good. Tal employs the same clear writing style in his annotations that he does in the prose sections, and it makes for good reading. The games can frequently be difficult to follow for a mediocre player like myself, but they certainly look cool.
Many players stronger than myself say that careful study of this book will improve your play. After reading it, I found myself occasionally making sacrifices with absolutely no justification whatsoever, so it definitely did something. I plan to try to work through it thoroughly when I am a stronger player, but at the moment I feel I'm not making the best use of its lessons. Right now I'm giving Alekhine's best games a try instead.
As a final comment, I see many people have had problems with the binding. While it certainly doesn't look very sturdy, I have read the entire book and haven't had any pages fall out. Admittedly I'm not keeping it spread open doing long analysis sessions, so it might be more of a comment on me than on the book.

The veredict is in! Best chessbook ever!
This book has it all, Tal's autobiography told as a fictional interview, key positions of some games that are interesting to analyze and complete games with a thorough analysis.

I remember that when my rating was 1500 USCF I got a book which had some games by Tal that were not analyzed and I couldn't understand a thing. It was funny, because with other players I could find some sense in the games, but with Tal, half the moves were unexplainable to me. This book helped me understand some of his games, and when you see the reason behind some of his moves explained and the analysis to support it, you will be awed! Although now I am a player rated 1800, there are still some sacrifices that are very tough to swallow, like the masterpiece in which Tal sacrifices his queen for a knight without any immediate compensation (a reviewer claims it is a queen for a bishop and another reviewer says there is no such game...well, it is a queen for a knight!).

This book will fascinate you, I guarantee it! And you will open your mind to new tactical combinations and sacrifices that you had not considered in your wildest dreams!

An all-time classic
I've been a chessplayer for 40 years (best rating was 2250 ELO) and I still enjoy Internet chess. During my chess life I have read dozens of chess books, mostly in openings which are quickly outdated. Not this book. This is a great book by one of the five all-time best chess players (the others being Kasparov, Fischer, Alekhine and Capablanca). It's a book I return very often, simply for enjoying myself. In Chess, beauty does not lie in winning a game, but in the ideas and the conceptions that are required for the battle. Mikhail Tal had it all: an amazing mind, and the free-thinking that illuminates the lifes of lesser mortals. And the book is exceptionally well-written and well commented. I agree with other reviewers: this is probably the best chess book ever written. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chess - General   2. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords   3. Games/Puzzles   

Customer Reviews (5)

Dissapointed
I can say that I was much interested in russian freedom, but i got dissapointed with this book because its quality in a general sense is really poor, both technically and artistically speaking; so, don't waste your time and money and go for something else!

Better Than Expected
I have to say that based on the cover, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. Well, if you like titles by David Hamilton, Jock Sturges etc. let me assure you will like this book. I see Amazon now carries a DVD called 'Rituals of Summer' that features the people from the book -- I'm ordering it and will write a review under it once viewed.

Slightly disappointing
I was simply disappointed. The photographs are nice. How can you go wrong with photographs of people - especially nudes. Always interesting, always beauty. But if you are drawn to buy this book with any intellectual curiosity regarding Russia, Nudism, aethetics .. I suspect you will be diappointed. There is very little text, very little thought expressed, as is implied in some of their marketing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Nudism   2. Social Science   3. Sociology - General   

Customer Reviews (8)

A Spiritual Classic
This book first came out in 1948 and has been reprinted several times since then. It has been translated into several languages and also been turned into a play. The author was a close friend and associate of Kahlil Gibran who wrote The Prophet. The Book of Mirdad is a beautiful story containing much wisdom, which has been an inspiration to many. I am so glad it is back in print again after being hard to find for several years. This book has gone around the world and has been recommended by spiritual groups as diverse as the School of the Golden Rosycross (Lectorium Rosicrucianum) in the west and Radha Soami Satsang in the east.

Mirdad-An unfaililng helmsman within
This story of a monastery is very sybolic representation of every soul in search and quest for the ultimate truth of being,which lies hidden within and reveals itself to the adventourous spirit who shakes off everything that binds him to the appearnce-the external play of 'Maya'to put it into the vedic term.Time spent in reading this book is like setting out on that inner journey of soul in a constant company of That invisible helmsman within.

We are truly blind
In this book, Naimy has portrayed to us a very simple basic suggestion. A suggestion that we are of the same rank no matter what we may learn and achieve. For the ordinary person has his gift of being ordinary but his ordinariness if viewed at another angle could tell us that he is greater than the captain of the crew. So Naimy has shown to those of them who choose to live monastic lives that no matter what our designations we have all come for the same purpose. Not to lead but to serve.

The lighthouse is very symbolic; it shows us a rocky path lest we crush. Thus if one is blind how would he know if there is a lighthouse ahead? The ambitious man never really sees the lighthouse and has to dash against those rocks. So work to serve as any one can lead or be a guide This is for those who intend to join the monastic life and for us lay people as we all forget our very purpose in life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit   2. Inspirational   3. Inspirational - General   4. New Age   5. Spiritualism - General   

Customer Reviews (1)

Good introductory book
It's a good introductory book, but for the HALF of the price of this book you can purchase a TWO wonderful volumes of Karl Kraus Photogrammetry (ISBN:3427786943 on Amazon.de)
with the abundance of very practical procedures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cartography   2. Engineering - Civil   3. General   4. Mathematics (General)   5. Photogrammetry   6. Science/Mathematics   7. Surveying   8. Technology   9. Technology & Industrial Arts   10. Image processing   11. Medical imaging   12. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Customer Reviews (10)

A great addition to any chess lovers library!
This is a really fine book. I agree with the other reviewers and will try not to just repeat what has already been said above.

There are so many things to enjoy about this book- the notes and comments by Tal are magnificent. It is very interesting to get "inside his head" as he discusses not just the moves, but moods and psychology of the players and match.

The type font and the diagrams are all first rate. In addition to the 21 games contested during the actual world championship, there are another 23 supplemental games between Tal and Botvinnik included at the end of the book.

The notes to the moves are just the right mix of words and analysis. Many modern books go overboard on analysis and skimp on the verbal commentary. This might be fine for players rated 2000 USCF and above (if you don't know what this means - trust me you aren't rated up there!), but for the vast majority of players it just sets the head spinning and provides no useful cues to help evaluate a position.

This book has enough analysis to be useful, but backs it up with much verbal commentary explaining the motives behind the magic (er, the moves) by Tal.

If you are looking to pluck down $ 20.00 or so for a great chess book, this one should be on your list of candidates!

great book, but binding and cover are poor
There was a time when chess was boring: home preparation, no sacrifices, then came a magician from Riga, Mikhail Tal. This book is a milestone in chess literature because it tells the story of 1960 World Championship match from inside; Tal himself tells the story and we are lucky because "the magician from Riga" was an excellent writer, so I was very happy last year when Russell Enterprises republished the book, alas the typographical quality is very poor.

The best written WC book of all time
This has to be the most approachable WC book i've ever read. The annotations are very approachable, even for a weaker player such as myself. Variations are kept within reason. The real nice thing about the book is it gives you this feeling of being there, with Tal setting the scene both in words and with some very nice photographs throughout the book. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chess - General   2. Games   3. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords   4. Games/Puzzles   

Subjects:  1. (Mikhail Mikhailovich),   2. 1895-1975   3. Bakhtin, M. M   4. General   5. History & Surveys - Modern   6. Influence   7. Literary Criticism   8. Philosophy   9. Semiotics & Theory   10. Social sciences   11. Sociological Theory   12. Theory Of Literature   13. Political and social views   14. Social Science / General   

Customer Reviews (5)

A defense of the open text
Bakhtin's "Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics" remains an essential critical writing to understand the complex and eclectic critical imagery of Bakhtin. The plurality of consciousness within a novel (polyphony) together with the idea of simultaneity in the relationships among characters confine to this work an extremely contemporary view of what literary creation is like or must be conceived of.
Bakhtin's defense of the independency of the hero from the author stands not only as a strong critique to those critical trends which regard biographical information as the only source to fully capture the essence of a literary work, but also it enables a new kind of open criticism which embraces the role of the reader in the process of authoring a text, that is, providing the text with a meaning. Bakhtin's interest on physiology to capture the real insight of human perception and, hence, of human understanding of a literary work is, in my opinion, a great advance for the reader to become an undisputed element in the literary chain formed by the author, the text and the reader.
Bakhtin's work has rapidly become a cornerstone in the current flow of literary criticism and his "Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics" stands as one of his finest achievements.

Intense Revelations
Bakhtin's critique of Dostoevsky's work has revealed so much more to me about the form of this great author's novels than I would have ever been able to understand for myself. What makes Bakhtin such a masterful theorist is his methodical approach to understanding an author's work discussing the historical influence of form and the critical misinterpretations that have preceded the work. He is so attentive to levels of narration that he is able to identify voices in relation to the author and the other characters. This helps to clarify the structure of the narrative and the many ways we can interpret it. Many people have marvelled at the brilliance of Doestoevsky's work but haven't been able to put their finger on why it is so great. Bahktin not only names the reason, but also gives an incredible amount of thorough evidence as to why this is so in a comprehensible way. The technical theory is easy to understand as he is very careful to define his terms and the reasons he uses them. His survey of the development of literary forms, particularly the carnavelesque is informed and inspiring, but be careful as it is slightly idealistic and, though perfectly relevant, you feel that he is assimilating it a little too easy to his critique of Doestoevsky. The narrative techniques he identifies are not only useful in understanding Doestoevskys work but are incredibly useful in thinking about current authors. This is a very important piece of critical work I have come back to again and again.

absolutely great
Bakhtin's seminal work owes a lot to thinkers like Nietzsche, buy by gum, does he stand on his own. The most brilliant exposition I've read on Dostoevsky (with Rozanov in second place) and perhaps the most perceptive and insightful comments on the literary process and theory this century. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1821-1881   2. Criticism and interpretation   3. Dostoyevsky, Fyodor,   4. General   5. Literary Criticism   6. Philosophy   7. Russian & Former Soviet Union   

From the moment of his first, spectacular North American appearance--in 1974, at the age of 26--Mikhail Baryshnikov was viewed as one of ballet's great virtuosos. But few could guess that his experimental spirit would lead him from princely roles in the classics to trailblazing collaborations with modern dance choreographers. Baryshnikov in Black and White reveals key moments of the dancer's artistic evolution from 1974 to 2000 in more than 175 starkly expressive black-and-white photographs. Glimpses of performances with American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and the White Oak Dance Project join a few well-chosen studio rehearsal shots. They demonstrate Baryshnikov's enormous range, from the classical purity of Apollo to the improvisational HeartBeat: mb, from partnering Natalia Makarova to partnering a folding chair. Joan Acocella's introduction deftly and authoritatively sketches the dancer's career. Unfortunately, Robert Greskovic's annotated captions are segregated from the photos, requiring constant paging back and forth. --Cathy Curtis ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1948-   2. Ballet dancers   3. Baryshnikov, Mikhail,   4. Biography & Autobiography   5. Biography / Autobiography   6. Biography/Autobiography   7. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Dancers   8. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General   9. Pictorial works   10. Portraits   11. Russia (Federation)   12. Baryshnikov, Mikhail   

Customer Reviews (3)

Confirm: Excellent Resource
Just bought the book and it has been useful already. If you are serious enough about computer science to want to know what is in the professional literature this is full of wonderful summaries.

Excellent Computer Science Resource
This book is an incredible resource for all people interested in software engineering and AI. I've used numerous ideas in from this book in current research projects, and I'm sure that my copy will become well worn with time! -Ben Peterson, Computer Science student

Great comiultion of texts on Comlexity and algorithms
This book is a compilation of texts on different, very interesting, fields on theory of complexity and theory of algorithms. It is very usefull for all that are interesting in the field. Contains mary recent results and concepts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algorithms (Computer Programming)   2. Applied   3. Computational complexity   4. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming   5. Computer Science   6. Computer algorithms   7. Computers   8. Programming - General   9. Science/Mathematics   10. Theory Of Computing   

Customer Reviews (1)

This book represents an essential tool.
This study of one of the twentieth century's most respected and influential thinkers offers both a comprehensive overview of his work, and a valuable starting point for further inquiry into the burgeoning arena of Bakhtin Studies. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Mikhail Mikhailovich),   2. 1895-1975   3. Bakhtin, M. M   4. Biography   5. Biography / Autobiography   6. Critics   7. Dialogism (Literary analysis)   8. Fiction   9. Literary   10. Literary Criticism   11. Semiotics & Theory   12. Soviet Union   13. History of ideas, intellectual history   14. Literary theory   

Customer Reviews (5)

Opening the past and the mind of Joseph Brodsky
JOSEPH BRODSKY, LENINGRAD: FRAGMENTS succeeds on every level. For those not familiar with Brodsky's brilliant poetry I would recommend that you spend time with WATERMARKS, his tribute to the city of Venice, before coming to this book. Once the gentle subtleties of his poetry are in mind, then spending time perusing this pictorial essay of Brodsky's face and the scenes of Leningrad (the old name for St. Petersburg is used because that was the city's Soviet name used when Brodsky lived there) will form a complete picture of this amazing expatriate. Mikhail Lemkhin addresses not only the pictorial influences on the poet, but also adds some words of wisdom. The tribute at the end of the photographs, in some of Sunsan Sonntag's most eloquent writing, is a fitting closure to this very lovely book. Highly recommended.

Through His Glasses, Face to Face
If an appreciation of the personal perspective of the poet can deepen the experience of his words, then Lemkhin's photographic tribute to Brodsky's beloved home belongs on our bookshelves alongside the poetry books and essays of the Nobel laureate. Except for an intimate foreword by Milosz, a moving afterword by Sontag, and brief postnotes in which Lemkhin provides background details on several of the images, the message of this book is delivered entirely through black-and-white images. The voice of those visions comes through most clearly when one imagines viewig through the eyes of the poet himself, not only in the streets and the statues, the skies and the stories of Leningrad, but in the mirror of the close-up snapshots of Brodsky himself placed throughout the collection of pictures. Even the mediocre artistic quality of some of the individual snapshots can be forgiven as the soft footsteps of the poet can be heard stepping through his own lines in the movement of these deeply personal worlds of his own home.

Photographic masterpieces
I greatly enjoyed the two books by Mikhail Lemkhin: "Missing Frames" and "Fragments". I am especially moved by portraits. There is something about the portraits that make them very different from most others. The pictures are not posed, but don't seem to be too candid either. I get the impression that the subject is aware of the photographer, but is not posing for him, at least not physically. It is as if the subject is exposing his/her inner soul to the camera. The photographs work, in deeply satisfying way, very well. I know I will look at them again and again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artists, Architects, Photographers   2. Biography / Autobiography   3. Documentary Photo Collections   4. Individual Photographer   5. Photo Essays   6. Photography   7. Travel - World/Europe   8. Brodsky, Joseph   9. Pictorial works   10. Saint Petersburg