Blog Archive
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- Special Forces Survival Guide: Wilderness Survival...
- The New Cosmic Onion: Quarks and the Nature of the...
- RCadvisor's Model Airplane Design Made Easy: The S...
- The Scarlet Letter (Dover Thrift Editions)
- Kaplan ASVAB
- Particle Metaphysics: A Critical Account of Subato...
- Indoor Air Quality Engineering
- Bright Air, Brilliant Fire: On The Matter Of The Mind
- Expressive Oil Painting: An Open Air Approach to C...
- China Airborne
- Introduction to Electrodynamics (3rd Edition)
- A Tale of Two Cities (Dover Thrift Editions)
- The Opening
- My Life as a Quant: Reflections on Physics and Fin...
- NOLS Wilderness Medicine: 4th Edition (NOLS Library)
- The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Lo...
- Officer Candidate Tests For Dummies
- Charged Particle Traps II: Applications (Springer ...
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Special Forces Survival Guide: Wilderness Survival Skills from the World's Most Elite Military Units
SURVIVE HARSH TERRAIN, EXTREME CONDITIONS AND LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONSPacked with tips, tricks, and clear instructions, Special Forces Survival Guide presents the vital techniques used by the world's best trained soldiers to stay alive in the wild, including how to:•Find Food and Water•Build Shelter•Start a Fire•Craft Tools and Weapons•Navigate without a Compass•Signal for Help and First AidThis book presents the field-tested skills of the most elite commandos including the:•Navy SEALs•Army Rangers•Delta Force•Green Berets•Royal Marines•French Foreign Legion•Australian SAS
Amazon Sales Rank: #140290 in Books Published on: 2008-11-01 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 1.10" h x 4.90" w x 7.00" l, .90 pounds Binding: Paperback 320 pages
About the Author Chris McNab: Dr Chris McNab is a writer and editor who has published more than 40 books on topics ranging from military history to crime and survival. Chris’ research has taken him into military and law enforcement units on both sides of the Atlantic, and he has contributed to newspapers and magazines on a wide range of current affairs and historical subjects. He lives in London.
Most helpful customer reviews 35 of 36 people found the following review helpful. Not as expected By BigMike55 I looked long and hard for a good survival tips book, hoping to get one that gave me detailed instructions on various topics like shelter construction, water gathering, etc. This book covers those topics, but at a very high level, with hand drawn pictures that give you little insight into how to actually do or build some of the items discussed. Lots of quotes from SAS folks like "Reserve your matches for starting properly prepared fires, not for lighting cigarettes.." (seriously, that was one of the tips). As a general overview of survival things you would want to think about or be aware of, it was OK, but if you were lost in 20 degree weather with a knife, a jacket, a bottle of water and this book, you would probably be SOL. 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Straightforward, well-organized, comprehensive yet concise By Chris K. Ferrell I'll cut to the chase: I purchased three different books about outdoor survival; this is the one that I'll be carrying in my personal backpack to help me get out of any bad situations that I encounter.Words are pretty much limited to instructions, and there is an illustrative picture for every scenario; just what I want if, God forbid, I'm thrust into a survival situation.Not 5 stars because the illustrations are not in color and because its thicker and heavier than one would want to carry on an ultra-light hike. But it covers SO MANY scenarios that a lighter book would have required a sacrifice of content. At least the book is compact and printed on quality stock that won't fall apart the first time the book gets rained on.A very good value that serves its purpose well. 6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Great Survival Guide for all By Pluto I ordered this book for my grandson, who likes to be outdoors and is interested in all kinds of things. He and his father really loved this book. So did everyone else in the family. To be truthful it has a lot more information than anything we had gotten from our Scouting days, Explorer's etc. I would definity recommend it to any one who wants to learn about survival outdoors where ever. This is about food, how to make shelters or look for natural kind, how to fix and capture food, weapons, etc, plus first aid. and self defense. Terrific, need I say more? See all 13 customer reviews...
The New Cosmic Onion: Quarks and the Nature of the Universe
Not since Newton’s apple has there been a physics phenomenon as deliciously appealing to the masses as Frank Close’s Cosmic Onion. Widely embraced by scientists and laypersons alike, the book quickly became an international bestseller. Translated into seven languages, it propelled the author to become a worldwide celebrity as well as an inspiration to a generation of scientists. The book’s title itself has entered popular usage as a metaphor for the layers that can be peeled away to understand the foundations of the physical world, from dimensions and galaxies, to atoms and quarks. “Close is a lucid, reliable, and enthusiastic guide to the strange and wonderful microcosmic world that dwells deep within reality” — Frank Wilczek, Herman Feshbach Professor of Physics, MIT, 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics NEW Material Explains the principles behind the Hadron Collider as well as the potential it presents Considers the recent development of the Electroweak Theory as a law of nature Explores the mysteries uncovered and the ones that may be in store with regard to top and bottom quarks Keeping still-pertinent contents from the original volume that caught the world’s attention in 1983, this fresh edition of the Cosmic Onion includes extensive new material to reflect new views of the universe. Providing explanations that explore the foundations of 21st Century science and future directions, this work offers ready access and unique perspectives to more typical topics such as the forces of nature, atoms, the nucleus, and nuclear particles. It also travels down paths that only a true pioneer and educator can venture, such as a discussion of what Professor Close refers to as the Eightfold Way including the findings, surprises, and new questions emerging from the latest work with accelerators.
Published on: 2006-12-15 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .51" h x 6.30" w x 9.18" l, .71 pounds Binding: Paperback 232 pages
Most helpful customer reviews 15 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Great book for non physicists By Dragan Sahpaski This is a great introductory book for the world of particle physics and more.I'm a computer science student at the CERN Sumer School 2009 and I find this book very helpful following the lectures. Mr. Close is a great lecturer and an inspiring person. He did 4 lectures named "Particle Physics for non physics students". See all 1 customer reviews...
RCadvisor's Model Airplane Design Made Easy: The Simple Guide to Designing R/C Model Aircraft or Build Your Own Radio Control Flying Model Plane
Build and fly your very own model airplane design. Using clear explanations, you will learn about important design trade-offs and how to choose among them. The latest research and techniques are discussed using easy to understand language. You will discover: The special challenges faced by the smaller models and how to overcome them. How to choose the right material for each part of the airplane. Easy rules for selecting the right power system, gas or electric. When it makes sense to use one of the innovative KFm airfoils. Pros and cons of canard and multi-wing configurations. A step-by-step design process that includes goal setting and flight testing. In-depth discussions of important topics like airfoils and wing design. The sources of air drag and how to minimize their impact. ADVANCE PRAISE "This book is a joy to read! The writing style and wit add dimension in a way that is rarely found in today's reference materials. If someone has considered designing their own airplane and been put off because of complicated formulas, vocabulary and reference style that would bore even an engineer, this will convince them to go ahead and try it. Written with real people in mind and not engineers - and I mean that in a good way. This is a book that will reside along the other favorites on my bookshelf. Carlos really managed to produce a book that will last a long time and become one of the standards for modelers." - Greg Gimlick, Electrics columnist, Model Aviation magazine "RCAdvisor's Model Airplane Design Made Easy is the ultimate model airplane design book for both beginning and experienced modelers." - Richard Kline, Inventor, KFm airfoils "RCadvisor's Model Airplane Design Made Easy is a real contribution to the world's literature on the subject. It provides an excellent bridge between full scale aviation and aeromodeling, showing the relationship between the two, for better understanding of the differences and similarities which should be applied for good model performance. While thorough in detail, the book is also easily readable so that the information is simple to understand. It is a very good combination of theory and practical application. Nicely illustrated, the book is also full of common sense explanations and references to other sources of information." - John Worth, former President and Executive Director of the AMA "Carlos Reyes personably leads the reader through some basic aerodynamics, materials considerations, electric power system planning and a practical application of theory as it is applied to a finished flying model. The background history of various types of aircraft shows the development of aviation and how it relates to the models that we build and fly today, as well as how models have influenced general aviation. It is always exciting to find some 'new to me' concepts and theories, and there were several in this well-written narrative." - Ken Myers, Editor, Ampeer electric flight newsletter "No matter how long you've been aeromodelling, or what your interests are in our great hobby, the greatest thrill of all is standing behind a unique model that you've designed and built yourself, from a blank sheet of paper - or even a blank CAD file - and preparing to make that first take off. So sit yourself down in a comfy chair, read RCadvisor's Model Airplane Design Made Easy and set off on aeromodelling's greatest adventure. Let Carlos Reyes - an aeromodeller of long standing and great talent - take you through the mysteries of how to arrive at the point that every lover of model aircraft should experience." - Dereck Woodward, aeromodeller, designer and magazine writer for the past fifty years
Amazon Sales Rank: #27175 in Books Published on: 2009-01-28 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 9.61" h x .43" w x 6.69" l, .75 pounds Binding: Paperback 206 pages
Review This book is definitely needed by anyone getting into R/C or is a veteran flight fanatic! Tons of good info that racks my brain and gets me thinking. --Jamie Burke, Host, AllThingsThatFly.com Review This book is a joy to read! The writing style and wit add dimension in a way that is rarely found in today's reference materials. If someone has considered designing their own airplane and been put off because of complicated formulas, vocabulary and reference style that would bore even an engineer, this will convince them to go ahead and try it. Written with real people in mind and not engineers - and I mean that in a good way. This is a book that will reside along the other favorites on my bookshelf. Carlos really managed to produce a book that will last a long time and become one of the standards for modelers. Review No matter how long you've been aeromodelling, or what your interests are in our great hobby, the greatest thrill of all is standing behind a unique model that you've designed and built yourself, from a blank sheet of paper - or even a blank CAD file - and preparing to make that first take off. So sit yourself down in a comfy chair, read RCadvisor's Model Airplane Design Made Easy and set off on aeromodelling's greatest adventure. Let Carlos Reyes - an aeromodeller of long standing and great talent - take you through the mysteries of how to arrive at the point that every lover of model aircraft should experience.
Most helpful customer reviews 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. A gold mine for RC aircraft design ! By RCguy I am an EE/Physics type working in materials & electronic device design, but RC models, building, and aerodynamics have been a life long interest of mine, designing, building, and flying mostly small and medium sized electrics at this point. I just recently bought Carlos Reyes' book "Model Airplane Design Made Easy", and I am enjoying it immensely.The has a broad range practical info on materials properties choices and how to think about aircraft design choices that face EVERY new design. The book is full of non-mathematical and understandable descriptions and explanations of important and often misunderstood concepts in aerodynamics (behavior of wings and airfoils, choice of power plant and propellor, etc.) I was especially delighted with the big list of high quality web and paper references on related topics. This book is a gold mine!.I am also beginning to dig into the companion RCAdvisor calculator(http://www.rcadvisor.com/guest), to try to understand it better, and explore its capabilities. The book and the RCAdvisor website are a wonderful combination. I highly recommend them both; I am sure that together they will improve the quality of my power system choices (motor, prop, battery) and also reduce the frequency of cut and try in my scratch built designs. 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A fine distillation By John Julian Over the years I've accumulated most of the books on Model Aircraft design - from Frank Zaic's 1987 edn. of "Circular Airflow" to the latest version of Martin Simon's "Model Aircraft Aerodynamics". This one joins the list of the very few (like those two and the somewhat brain-testing but excellent stuff by Ferdinando Gale) that get top marks. Having long ago trained as an Engineer I have a soft spot for numbers that are useful and Carlos has brought off that very difficult task: writing about quantitative things that are complex with just the right amount of numbers and formulae. Any modeller with the most basic math (think multiplying and dividing and fractions!) could follow his descriptions which are deceptively simple and easy. This book is for non-experts because it is a great read, easily accessible and welcoming but make no mistake this is an expert book by an expert. Carlos has a rare ability to distill in personable and direct prose some very important stuff. And it's not just classical aerodynamics. He covers a huge range of topics from airfoils to adhesives, particularly some that get little attention elsewhere like propeller performance, in a friendly format by focusing on the key information. His explanation of lift is a classic example. Just 3 short elegant paragraphs covers the essence of the Bernoulli explanation with a fourth noting that there is an alternative. For practical modelers his ""It is not a bad way of looking at the phenomenon, but it is less useful when doing computations than the pressure differential explanation" beats the many pages of circulation theory and bound vortices others labor over. I can't recommend this book highly enough. Think of it as the Cognac of Model Aerodynamic texts. Instantly accessible without years of experience in fine wine tasting but with enormous depth and content. An extra point for recognizing that not everyone lives in the US and metric units are important too. :-)It's an absolute bargain at the price. 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Model Airplane Design By Martin Chesler Clear easy to understand information. Book is well organized and logical. Topics provide understandable answers to many model airplane design questions. If you build, design, or fly model airplanes this book is well worth the price. See all 19 customer reviews...
The Scarlet Letter (Dover Thrift Editions)
For nearly a century and a half, Hawthorne's masterpiece has mesmerized readers and critics alike. One of the greatest American novels, its themes of sin, guilt, and redemption, woven through a story of adultery in the early days of the Massachusetts Colony, are revealed with remarkable psychological penetration and understanding of the human heart. New introductory Note.
Amazon Sales Rank: #402 in Books Brand: Dover Publications Published on: 1994-05-02 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 8.27" h x .47" w x 5.20" l, .31 pounds Binding: Paperback 192 pages
From School Library Journal Gr 8 Up-Actress Elizabeth McGovern reads this acceptable abridgement with precise, clear diction. Her expressive voice is pleasant, effectively using breath sounds and pauses to recreate dramatic moods. Her usually quick tempo keeps the text from being ponderous, but it can be slower when necessary. Given the time period of the original work, her formal tone is appropriate. Her speech changes slightly for the different characters, but there is not much dialogue. The abridgement retains the continuity of the story. Consider purchasing this version for special education students who can't handle the longer, original text.-Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Review Novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. It is considered a masterpiece of American literature and a classic moral study. The novel is set in a village in Puritan New England. The main character is Hester Prynne, a young woman who has borne an illegitimate child. Hester believes herself a widow, but her husband, Roger Chillingworth, returns to New England very much alive and conceals his identity. He finds his wife forced to wear the scarlet letter A on her dress as punishment for her adultery. Chillingworth becomes obsessed with finding the identity of his wife's former lover. When he learns that the father of Hester's child is Arthur Dimmesdale, a saintly young minister who is the leader of those exhorting her to name the child's father, Chillingworth proceeds to torment the guilt-stricken young man. In the end Chillingworth is morally degraded by his monomaniacal pursuit of revenge; Dimmesdale is broken by his own sense of guilt, and he publicly confesses his adultery before dying in Hester's arms. Only Hester can face the future bravely, as she plans to take her daughter Pearl to Europe to begin a new life. --The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature From the Publisher Founded in 1906 by J.M. Dent, the Everyman Library has always tried to make the best books ever written available to the greatest number of people at the lowest possible price. Unique editorial features that help Everyman Paperback Classics stand out from the crowd include: a leading scholar or literary critic's introduction to the text, a biography of the author, a chronology of her or his life and times, a historical selection of criticism, and a concise plot summary. All books published since 1993 have also been completely restyled: all type has been reset, to offer a clarity and ease of reading unique among editions of the classics; a vibrant, full-color cover design now complements these great texts with beautiful contemporary works of art. But the best feature must be Everyman's uniquely low price. Each Everyman title offers these extensive materials at a price that competes with the most inexpensive editions on the market-but Everyman Paperbacks have durable binding, quality paper, and the highest editorial and scholarly standards.
Most helpful customer reviews 132 of 148 people found the following review helpful. Good read, but hard to navigate ebook By Srinivas Chetty I have long wanted to read this book by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It was one of the first books I downloaded when I got my kindle 2. The character portrayals are superb. It analyses the thoughts, motivations, strengths and weaknesses of the four major characters in the story - Hester Prynn, the vengeful doctor, the hapless minister and Hester's vivacious and elf-like daughter Pearl. The description of the little girl and how she copes with being ostracized with her mother by a rigid puritanical society, is especially moving. While there are some descriptions of nature that are quite vivid, most of the text goes into developing these four characters and is a fascinating psychological study, though at times it's little slow.Overall, a well-crafted story and a good read.The book though is hard to navigate on the kindle because it has no active table of contents. I therefore would not purchase this version at regular price. Luckily, it's free! 174 of 208 people found the following review helpful. "The Scarlet Letter" By D. Bass Like many reviewers here, I was "forced" to read this book for my English Composition class. However, unlike many reviewers here, I have a much different view of the story. As some people have said before, Hawthorne's book takes a good deal of concentration, effort, and strength to understand. Not only to understand, but to finish. The story can drag sometimes, it is true, and Hawthorne's style of writing occasionally leaves something to be desired (I don't think I've ever seen that many commas, 15 letter words, or page long paragraphs before), but we simply must look past these minor issues. Overall, the plot is highly creative and intense, despite the writing.\Ok, ok, I agree that the first chapter, "The Custom-House", was pretty bad. In fact, it was so bad and boring that I drifted off to sleep several times while reading it! The first chapter has little relevancy with the story, so, unless you have to, I would suggest skipping that part of the text. The rest is exceptionally good, and the quality of the plot cannot be overlooked. My advice is to just lay off the first chapter; that way you'll be able to enjoy the rest of the book without difficulty.The story itself deals with sin and adultery, a subject that isn't very popular right now. Hawthorne does an excellent job of telling us about this, but he leaves the reader with many questions floating around in his mind at the conclusion. At the end of the story you're not 100% sure if Hawthorne was condemning the Puritan society, or if he was commending it. He leaves that for the reader to figure out, which is a thing authors seldom do. That's a major reason I believe this work is so unique and timeless.The story involves a women named Hester Prynne, living in the New World in the late 17th century. She has committed adultery with someone unknown, and, since the Puritan society considered the Bible to be their ultimate source of law, the punishment was quite severe for such an act. Hester is forced to wear a scarlet "A" (for adultery) on her attire at all times, as a sign to everyone that she has sinned deeply. And so she must carry out the rest of her life this way. That's the major gist of the plot, although there's much more. I won't give it anyway, though, you'll have to read the book to find out.Let's face it: at some time or another we all are going to probably have to read this book, voluntarily or involuntarily. Shouldn't we try to make the best of it? Read it for its enjoyment, anything else would be missing the point. 76 of 91 people found the following review helpful. Intriguing and Creative By C. Chetty The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, takes place in the 1600s in Boston, which was a Puritan community at that time. The Puritans had extremely strict moral codes, and adultery, a subject matter in this
Kaplan ASVAB
The most comprehensive guide to preparation for the ASVAB.The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is an enlistment exam used by all branches of the US military. It is also being used more frequently than ever as an occupational placement exam administered in high schools. No other guide on the market is more consistently updated and revised than Kaplan ASVAB.Kaplan ASVAB features: Comprehensive review for the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) 3 full-length practice test with detailed answer explanations Overview of key math concepts A section on how to read your scores Content review for each of the subjects covered on the test In-depth review of all technical sub-tests
Amazon Sales Rank: #2850 in Books Published on: 2011-05-03 Released on: 2011-05-03 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 11.00" h x 8.50" w x 1.00" l, 2.15 pounds Binding: Paperback 444 pages
About the Author Kaplan Publishing is one of the nation's top publishers of academic and professional development resources. We publish titles on topics such as test preparation, college and graduate school admissions, academic and career development in the legal, medical, education, and general business fields. Kaplan Publishing is the leading provider of test prep materials for a variety of standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT, PSAT, MCAT, TOEFL, and more. Our mission is to help individuals achieve their educational and career goals. We build futures one success story at a time.
Most helpful customer reviews 46 of 48 people found the following review helpful. You Should Get It. By Sterling-Archer i bought this book for one reason... to increase my asvab score. But thats obvious right? Anyways i did some research and just figured id buy this book. it turned out to be a good choice.you first read some slightly interesting info about what the asvab is and crap like that. then you take a Full length test to see where you stand. i took the test and failed horribly in science, arithmetic reasoning, mathmatics knowledge, electronic, auto and shop, and mechanical comprehension. iv been at this book for about 3 weeks and only have gotten to the mechanical knowledge. but heres what you want to know...Vocab. just gives you little tricks on how to improve your vocab.Word knowledge. literally half a page long to cut your time down.paragraph comprehension. makes you know whats being asked. questions like whats the author asking and inference questions and some tips on how to cut down your time.Math. very thorough. some good techniques like Back Solving.Arithmetic reasoning. gives you everything you want to know. factors and multiples, positives and negative, fractions, ezponents and roots, ratios, proportions, probability, hell they even add a few vocabs that you already know like whats an interger or odd/even.Mathmatics knowledge. Again thorough. they tell you what an expression is and how to solve it. same with equations. and they give you examples of EVERYTHING. they do a great review in geometry, (parallel lines, line segments, angles triangles. they even tell you how to find the area of a bunch of simple shapes such as a triangle and rectangle.)General science. not the best review. dont get me wrong, they give out alot of interestion info. the problem is alot of it iv never seen on any asvab. they give you a huge paragraph on the human respiratory system and circulatory system?? iv never seen any of that on previous asvabs. but when they go into earth science it get a little better like whats The Kindom. earth science is well written too but a few things i dont think are needed like the type of clouds and layers of atmosphere. they are very brief on the solar system which kinda sucked but whatever. Physical science is loaded with ALOT of useful information such as newtons laws, what force, work, and power is, energy sound waves crap like that.Electronic. Basic yet useful stuff. whats current, voltage, ac vs dc, resistance, ohms law, just a bunch of stuff. they even give you diagrams of different circuits like parallel circuit. Theres a bunch more stuff but again some i just dont feel are of any use.Automotive. This is where im at and they go REAL....REAL deep into details. like the engine, cooling system, lubrication system, fuel system, and like 10 other systems each system being like 2 to 3 full length pages.theres still Shop Information which identifies like 50 diferent tools. Mechanical Comprehension which is like Physical science with equations on how to solve enery and and power. tells you info about how much force and work a man has to do to push 100kg up an incline. Assembling Objects. I honestly dont know how to do it. i was just making educated quesses on the asvab. it seems like they give you tips and tricks on how to do it but its like 8 pgs long so it seems to be detailed.well i Strongly suggest you buy this book if your going into the military. Even if your not and just want to brush up on your subjects i recommend getting this.oh. i took the asvab three years ago and got a 36.... yeah i know, bad right? i took one like a week ago before i got to general science (which was my lowest score) and got a 51! half way done and already increased my score.I hope this helps. 14 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Harder than the test. A great tool. By J. Guzman As an active duty military member in order for me to get a different job I have to boost my ASVAB score and this book helped me do
Particle Metaphysics: A Critical Account of Subatomic Reality (The Frontiers Collection)
Are the particles of modern physics "real" or are they virtual entities, their existence deduced merely by abstract theories? This book examines the continuing debate regarding the inner constitution of matter by exploring the particle concept in physics. It investigates if the particles of particle physics are real or not. Readers interested in the "true meaning" of such physical concepts will find this book informative and thought provoking.
Amazon Sales Rank: #3510883 in Books Published on: 2010-11-23 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 9.21" h x .83" w x 6.14" l, 1.25 pounds Binding: Paperback 404 pages
Review From the reviews: "This work could, and should, change the direction of current philosophy of science. Accomplished physicist-philosopher Falkenburg … has constructed a significant metaphysical framework in which to evaluate the knowledge claims of empirical particle physics. … Urgently recommended to all philosophers of science and interested physicists. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty." (P. D. Skiff, CHOICE, Vol. v4 (3), November, 2007) From the Back Cover The empirical successes of atomic, nuclear, and particle physics have not reduced -- and may never fully resolve -- the philosophical controversies about the inner constitution of matter. This book examines these debates by exploring the particle concept in physics. Are the particles of modern physics "real" or are they fictitious entities, their existence deduced merely by the careless application of abstract theories? Or are the philosophers involved in the debate about "scientific realism" dedicating themselves to a problem that has long been solved by physicists? Studies of the experimental basis and theoretical relevance of the particle concept reveal that these questions are far from easy to answer, because, since the introduction of quantum theory, physical science no longer possesses a single unambiguous particle concept. All those interested in the "true meaning" of such physical concepts will find this book informative and thought provoking. It is written at a level accessible to scholars, students and teachers of science and philosophy.
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Indoor Air Quality Engineering
Indoor Air Quality Engineering covers a wide range of indoor air quality engineering principles and applications, providing guidelines for identifying and analyzing indoor air quality problems as well as designing a system to mitigate these problems. Structured into three sections - properties and behavior of airborne pollutants, measurement and sampling efficiency, and air quality enhancement technologies - this book uses real-life examples, design problems, and solutions to illustrate engineering principles. Professionals and students in engineering, environmental sciences, public health, and industrial hygiene concerned with indoor air quality control will find Indoor Air Quality Engineering provides effective methods, technologies, and principles not traditionally covered in other texts.
Amazon Sales Rank: #2101096 in Books Published on: 2004-07-15 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .15" h x .63" w x .94" l, 2.22 pounds Binding: Hardcover 640 pages
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Bright Air, Brilliant Fire: On The Matter Of The Mind
We are on the verge of a revolution in neuroscience as significant as the Galilean revolution in physics or the Darwinian revolution in biology. Nobel laureate Gerald M. Edelman takes issue with the many current cognitive and behavioral approaches to the brain that leave biology out of the picture, and argues that the workings of the brain more closely resemble the living ecology of a jungle than they do the activities of a computer. Some startling conclusions emerge from these ideas: individuality is necessarily at the very center of what it means to have a mind, no creature is born value-free, and no physical theory of the universe can claim to be a ”theory of everything” without including an account of how the brain gives rise to the mind. There is no greater scientific challenge than understanding the brain. Bright Air, Brilliant Fire is a book that provides a window on that understanding.
Amazon Sales Rank: #760142 in Books Published on: 1993-06-16 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 9.02" h x .59" w x 6.02" l, 1.10 pounds Binding: Paperback 304 pages
From Publishers Weekly In this challenging, exhilarating leap by a disciplined and original mind, Nobel Prize-winner Edelman (medicine, 1972) throws a neurobiological line between two ships--mind and matter--in the stormiest of scientific seas. In his defense of the biological component of mind, Edelman ( The Remembered Pres ent ) disposes of cognitive and behavioral theories of consciousness. To take up the slack, he extends current developments in brain neuroscience well into speculation. He is far too modest in stating that his goal is "to dispel the notion that the mind can be understood in the absence of biology," for the book is a near-kinetic series of critiques and proposals to connect physics and psychology. The "Harmonies" section draws on other disciplines--philosophy, linguistics and psychiatry, among others--to entwine these tendrils of thought into a "unified theory" of mind. Illustrations not seen by PW . Natural Science Book Club selection. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal Edelman, Nobel laureate and director of the Neurosciences Institute, is the author of three previous books on the biology of the brain. His latest book advances the theory that the mind has arisen through evolutionary morphology. According to Edelman, the mind is not a kind of computer but a product of the biological forms that have developed through natural selection. To support his theory, Edelman offers a mini-course in modern molecular biology and development. By the author's own admission, this is "strenuous" reading, complete with "strange vocabulary." Nevertheless, Edelman presents his theory with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to discover the origins of the mind. Readers well-grounded in physics, biology, and philosophy will find his ideas extremely challenging. Primarily for academic libraries.- Laurie Bartolini, Lincoln Lib., Springfield, Ill.Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews ``Strenuous'' is how Nobelist (Physiology or Medicine, 1972) Edelman describes the difficulties readers will encounter as they ply their way through yet another texty analysis of what it means to be a mind. Like Stephen M. Kosslyn and Olivier Koenig (Wet Mind, p. 235) and Israel Rosenfield (reviewed below), he likes to use old words in new ways, to coin complex hyphenated forms, and in other ways to multiply the prolixity level. Indeed, the three volumes complement one another. All speak to the need to ground analyses of mental functions in brain biology; all abhor cognitive-science approaches that look to the computer as the model of how the brain works. Edelman's approach is based on his theory of neuronal group selection (``TNGS''), which says that groups of neurons compete in the course of brain development, with surviving groups subject to a second selection in which specific pathways and synapses are strengthened according to whether they yield good or useful outcomes to the organism. Finally, there are broad, reciprocal interactions across neuronal groups that yield numerous brain ``maps.'' These ideas mark an evolution of Edelman's earlier work in immunity and development, in which Darwinian selection also figured. Indeed, evolution is key to Edelman's thinking. He, like Rosenfield, sees the emergence of a primary consciousness (possessed by birds and mammals?) rooted in the present and a high- order consciousness (and self-consciousness) occurring in humans as the result of the development of language. Edelman's many allusions to pivotal thinkers in philosophy and science enrich the historical context of his discussions. In the end, however, even he admits the daunting nature of the challenge. How to deal with logic, art, creativity, motivation, emotions? How to relate the importance of social interaction in development and throughout life? We can not yet, and perhaps never will, eliminate philosophy or psychology from the discussion. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Most helpful customer reviews 37 of 39 people found the following review helpful. Edelman went where no man went before By John Schmidt schmidt@wsuhub.uc.twsu.edu Although Edelman tried to make "Bright Air, Brilliant Fire : On the Matter of the Mind" a self-contained story, it really is based on his trilogy of books "Topobiology : An Introduction to Molecular Embryology", "Neural Darwinism; The Theory of Neuronal Group Selection", and "The Remembered Present : A Biological Theory of Consciousness". I am not sure that any mortal can read only "Bright Air" and really understand what Edelman is talking about.The claim that Edelman's Theory of Neuronal Group Selection (TNGS) "does not appear to have the potential to really crack the problem" of how a brain makes a mind is a claim that is often made without any suggestion of exactly what Edelman might have missed. These claims are like people in the 1940's saying, "a rocket does not have what it takes to get to the moon." Certainly a 1940's rocket could not reach the moon, and certainly Edelman's TNGS is not a complete theory of mind, but Edelman, like von Braun, was visionary in being able to see that with future improvements, the path to the desired future was in sight. The claim that no correct materialistic theory of mind will ever be found is now nearly as impossible to defend as the claim that "men will never walk on the moon" would have been in 1965.Speculation about why Edelman's books so annoy and infuriate his critics: 1) Edelman has constructed an new language which he uses to describe his theory mind. He provides no glossary with definitions of his terms. This alone is a horrible tactical error that can only alienate his readers. 2) Edelman builds his theory from a foundation that is unfamiliar to most of his critics.People like Crick, Dennett, and Johnson have never read the literature of "topobiology" and they are also not able to conceptualize how synapse regulation rules must be integrated into the proper types of neural networks in order to allow for learning and memory. 3) Philosophers of Mind, in particular, the many who are "Functionalists" as well as the huge swarm of Parallel Distributed Processing connectionists are shown by Edelman to be taking an inferior approach to mind. Having your professional career side-swiped by an interloper from Biolgy is enough to enrage most philosophers and AI researchers.New species arise from subtle recombinations of mutations and their birth is a fragile process. The fundamentally correct components of Neural Edelmanism will survive the memetic selection process within the Science of Mind. In the next century Edelman will be viewed in much the same way biologists of this century now view Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin: men who published their ideas well before science as a whole was ready. 19 of 19 people found the following review helpful. An Especially Appropriate Title By Robert Morris In Bright Air, Brilliant Fire, Gerald M. Edelman accomplishes what seems to be an almost impossible task: He helps the non-scientist to understand the connections between what is known about the mind with what is beginning to be known about the brain. For Edelman, this subject "is the most important one imaginable" because it is charged "with the excitement of being on the threshold of knowing how we know." At the outset, he poses "some commonsense notions":1. Things do not have minds.2. Normal humans have minds; some animals act as if they do.3. Beings with minds can refer to other beings or things; things without minds do not refer to beings or things.The book is divided into four main parts (Problems, Origins, Proposals, and Harmonies), concluding with "Mind Without Biology: A Critical Postscript" in which Edelman dispels the notion that the mind can be understood in the absence of biology. Stated another way (in Chapter 2), "There must be ways to put the mind back into nature that are concordant with how it got there in the first
Expressive Oil Painting: An Open Air Approach to Creative Landscapes
Become a Landscape Painter There's a world of difference between painting what you see and conveying what you feel. Expressive Oil Painting shows you how to create engaging landscapes that capture a sense of light, depth, movement and above all, your own unique impressions of the world around you. Within Expressive Oil Painting, discover: Fundamental concepts of oil paintingincluding supplies, work habits, drawing, color and composition—explained in a friendly, straightforward way A diverse sampling of ideas and approaches for painting landscape elements, capturing mood, painting en plein air, simplifying the complexity of nature and determining reference values Nine in-depth landscape painting demonstrations illustrating techniques from basic to advanced Whether you're working on location or from reference photos, this book will empower you to pain "light on your feet," improvising according to the needs of each particular subject and the conditions of the moment. With nature as your inspiration and this book as your guide, you'll find your way straight to the heart of landscape painting, bringing greater sensitivity, intuition and authenticity to your work.
Amazon Sales Rank: #280220 in Books Published on: 2009-10-15 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 10.87" h x .39" w x 8.27" l, 1.13 pounds Binding: Paperback 128 pages
About the Author George Allen Durkee is a San Francisco street painter turned Northern California landscape artist and gallery owner. He co-owns The Art Gallery in Murphys, California where he creates and sells his inspired landscape paintings. He has written articles for The Artist's Magazine and American Artist.
Most helpful customer reviews 34 of 34 people found the following review helpful. Better Than Most By S. Armstrong I like this book a lot. The pictures alone are worth the purchase price. Durkee is a very skilled landscape painter and also a sensitive teacher. When I read his words, I feel as though he's speaking to me alone. He doesn't talk over my head, but explains complex concepts of painting in a way that I can get what he's talking about. Has anyone else ever explained how to actually apply color theory as clearly as this? There is a subtle undertone to the book that goes beyond just describing how to get the right color in the right place; George imparts a deep spiritual message, cleverly and often subliminally teaching how to capture the emotion of the landscape. What more could any painter want? He not only shows what to do and how, he also explains why. This is a worthwhile book. I recommend it for beginning and intermediate painters, and also for more experienced painters who are hungry to learn advanced painting techniques. 18 of 18 people found the following review helpful. Useful Information For All Artists Of Every Level By E. Kleven This is well written by a very talented Artist. It is loaded with bits of useful information but without the usual fluff i.e, he gets right to the point. This not a boring rambling treatise by some elite academic but rather down to earth information by an artist who learned while actually doing. He provides step by step illustrations of landscapes you will be proud to emulate. He has put some real thought into the effort and it shows. 15 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Better than taking private lessons By Kenneth G. Nielsen The learning starts the moment you open the book. Everything is explained for a person like me: the complete beginner. I am slow, and that is okay because the book lets you pace yourself. There is no hurrying. You get what you need to know and also have the time to acquire the exact equipment you need in order to begin the process. I have had wonderful success in performing the first example. This one is the most important to me because it is the stage where I am getting to learn the basics. Painting is compared to sketching and sketching is emphasized as important to the painting process. All of this was done at great thought and care by the author.Thank You Mr. Durkee for a fine book which explains the entire process for the beginner. This book alone, plus some basic tools and materials will have you well on your way to painting and expressing not just what nature says it is, but how you feel about what you see in nature. Be ready to learn creative freedom as well as how to use the canvas and oil paints to bring your paintings alive. See all 12 customer reviews...
China Airborne
More than two-thirds of the new airports under construction today are being built in China. Chinese airlines expect to triple their fleet size over the next decade and will account for the fastest-growing market for Boeing and Airbus. But the Chinese are determined to be more than customers. In 2011, China announced its Twelfth Five-Year Plan, which included the commitment to spend a quarter of a trillion dollars to jump-start its aerospace industry. Its goal is to produce the Boeings and Airbuses of the future. Toward that end, it acquired two American companies: Cirrus Aviation, maker of the world’s most popular small propeller plane, and Teledyne Continental, which produces the engines for Cirrus and other small aircraft. In China Airborne, James Fallows documents, for the first time, the extraordinary scale of this project and explains why it is a crucial test case for China’s hopes for modernization and innovation in other industries. He makes clear how it stands to catalyze the nation’s hyper-growth and hyper- urbanization, revolutionizing China in ways analogous to the building of America’s transcontinental railroad in the nineteenth century. Fallows chronicles life in the city of Xi’an, home to more than 250,000 aerospace engineers and assembly workers, and introduces us to some of the hucksters, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who seek to benefit from China’s pursuit of aerospace supremacy. He concludes by examining what this latest demonstration of Chinese ambition means for the United States and the rest of the world—and the right ways to understand it.
Amazon Sales Rank: #7238 in Books Published on: 2012-05-15 Released on: 2012-05-15 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Binding: Hardcover 288 pages
From Booklist *Starred Review* Atlantic correspondent Fallows dives into this most timely subject and, in brisk yet erudite language, takes readers on a tour of China’s burgeoning aviation industry. Along the way, he provides an in-depth look at a place where general aviation is nearly nonexistent, multimillion dollar airports are built before airline traffic is approved, and the military holds ultimate control over all of the airspace. This economic and political narrative includes a great deal of history as well, including that of the American aircraft company Cirrus (now owned by the Chinese government, a subject that Fallows hints is worthy of a book of its own) and a significant look at the shadow Boeing casts worldwide. Fallows’ prescient look at society, culture, and business is based on his conversations with numerous individuals in China who spoke to him about the hard shift required to change gears and embrace open and accessible aviation, and the epic hurdles that stand in the way. Paired with China’s Wings (2012), readers will acquire an unparalleled view of China in the air past, present, and future. Highly readable and significant, Fallows’ book should not be missed by those seeking to understand America’s relationship with this global power. --Colleen Mondor Review “Fallows keeps the reader engaged by weaving personal stories and lively personalities into his depiction of the changing aerospace landscape…his book makes for an intriguing read, looking at both sides of the picture: reasons for why China might succeed, as well as those for why the country might struggle.”—Publishers Weekly “Prescient . . . Highly readable and significant, Fallows’ book should not be missed by those seeking to understand America’s relationship with this global power.” —Booklist, starred review“Precise yet accessible…An enjoyable, important update on an enigmatic economic giant.” –Kirkus “Will China change the 21st century, or be changed by it? China Airborne describes a country ambitiously soaring to fantastic new heights even as its destination remains perilously uncertain. James Fallows reports elegantly on the puzzles and paradoxes of this massive nation and its quest for global prominence.” –Patrick Smith, author of Somebody Else’s Century “James Fallows has found a brilliant metaphor for China, and he is uniquely qualified to unspool the tale. Based on years of firsthand experience on the ground in China—and in cockpits around the world—this book showcases his gifts for deep reporting and analysis. Fallows doesn't simply bear witness; he unravels and dissects. For this vast country to achieve a leading role in the aerospace industry, it must attain standards of innovation, efficiency and precision that would signal a new era in the rise of a superpower. Has it attained that level? There is no better writer to find the answer, and Fallows has done it.” –Evan Osnos, contributor to The New Yorker “In China Airborne, Fallows tells the story of China’s efforts to become a global leader in aviation and aerospace, a story that reveals the economic and political tensions in contemporary China. China’s past economic success has been built on a combination of massive investment and labor force mobilization—what Fallows calls “hard” economic power and autocratic political control. But success in aerospace, like success in other industries that depend on innovation, requires what Fallows calls “soft” economic power—things like trust, honest and transparent regulation, coordination between civil, commercial and military organizations, and a culture of free research and exchange of ideas. Anyone interested China’s future economic, technological and political developments should read Fallows’ fascinating and insightful new book.” –Laura Tyson, Former Director of the National Economic Council and Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors in the Clinton Administration, professor and former dean of the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley“That is the new book by James Fallows. On the surface it is a book about aviation in China, but it is also one of the best books on China (ever), one of the best books on industrial organization in years, and an excellent treatment of economic growth. It is also readable and fun.” —Tyler Cowen “Not only does the book benefit from Fallows’ keen observations as a journalist in China, but also it is enriched by his technical knowledge as a passionate aviator. The result is informative and lively.” —The Economist “What sets China Airborne apart from other books on China's rise is Fallows' remarkable ability to analyze both China's unprecedented achievements in economic modernization and its inherent limitations…The story so brilliantly told in China Airborne, a metaphor for the much bigger story of China's rise, suggests that no one should take its future as a superpower for granted.” –San Francisco Chronicle “It is worth the reader’s time to obtain it and read it. It is a timely look at a country in a newly dangerous economic and political situation. Understanding that situation is of utmost importance to the rest of the world.” —Asia Sentinel Praise for James Fallows“Fallows is refreshingly aware . . . A shrewd observer of human foibles and political quagmires with the eye for detail of an experienced journalist, he gives us panoramic views of China that are both absorbing and illuminating.”—Jonathan Spence, The New York Times Book Review “Fallows represents the best of American journalism—honest, fearless, and hard-hitting. Moving easily among Chinese, from the ordinary to the high-ranking, he reports from China as an American observer, with the same questions and frustrations that most Americans feel but without either the prejudices of some or the ideological pixilation of others.”—Sidney Rittenberg, Sr., coauthor of The Man Who Stayed Behind “Postcards from Tomorrow Square offers some wonderful snapshots of the contradictions of modern China. As always, Fallows writes from the front lines with insight and flair.” —Rob Gifford, author of China Road “James Fallows’s insatiable curiosity and clear narrative make his China journey a real reward.” —John Sculley, former CEO of Apple Computer About the Author James Fallows is a national correspondent for The Atlantic. He has reported from around the world and has worked in software design at Microsoft, as the editor of U.S. News & World Report, and as a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter. He is currently a news analyst for NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered and a visiting professor at the University of Sydney.
Most helpful customer reviews 17 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Interesting and Credible - By Loyd E. Eskildson Fallows' 'China Airborne' summarizes China's efforts to become a world-class contender in the commercial aviation field. China's rising demand for increased aviation services is hard to imagine - more than two-thirds of all the new airports currently under construction in the world are in China, and its airlines plan to triple their fleets over the next decade - providing the fastest growing market for Boeing and airbus. Its 2010 commercial airline fleet (2,600 planes) was about half that of the U.S., and is targeted to rise to 4,500 by 2015 - representing half the new aircraft sole worldwide. In 2011 the Chinese government committed to spending $250 billion to jumpstart its own aerospace industry - an amount 5 - 10 times (depending on how one counts) the FAA budget for capital improvements and airport construction during the same period. China's largest carrier, Air China, commands a $19 billion capitalization - greater than United-Continental, American, U.S. Airways, JetBlue, SkyWest, and Hawaiian, combined. Its there largest carrers are valued at #1, #3, and #4 in the world. Beijing's airport has the world's 2nd-largest passenger traffic, behind only Atlanta. The world's three largest cargo airports are Hong Kong, Memphis, and Shanghai, with the two Chinese airports growing at a 20% rate vs. 6% for Memphis.Underlying this push into aviation and much of China's 12th Five-Year Plan is a desire to move up the 'smiley curve.' The curve runs from the beginning to the end of a product's creation and sale. At the beginning comes first the brand, then the idea for the product, then high-level industrial design, followed by detailed engineering design, and the necessary components. The middle consists of manufacture and assembly. Then shipping and distribution, retail sales, and finally service contracts and sales of parts and accessories. Per this logic, both ends of the value chain command higher values added to the product than the middle part of the value chain. Thus, although Americans import huge volumes of manufactured goods from China, most of the money spent on those imports stays in American hands. China wants to change that.Rural Chinese family incomes run about $150 - $200/year, while one worker in the city could earn that much in a month, or even every few weeks. Thus, masses of China's population have been moving to urban areas. From 2005 - 2025, it is estimated that 350 million will move into China's major cities - more than live in the entire U.S. At that time China will have 221 cities with populations exceeding 1 million, vs. (in 2010) 35 in Europe and 9 in the U.S. Transportation to/from those centers will become increasingly important.Fallows points out that China skilled the early land-line communications phase, going directly to mobile phones, and is now skipping the urban sprawl phase America has invested in, going directly to high density urban areas. Not all is well in China's economy, however - about 200 die each day in work accidents, and pollution (cancer) is the leading cause of death. Corruption is an endemic problem, even basic aviation requests such as obtaining authorization to fly. The question is, 'Can it skip the decades of slow development in aviation that the American industry went through as well?'Not surprisingly, China is following its typical approach to invading and building strength in a new sector. It purchased Cirrus Aircraft (Duluth manufacturer of four-seater aircraft) in 2011, got Airbus to set its only assembly plant outside Europe in Tianjin (near Beijing), and concluded a 2011 agreement with G.E. to share engine technology with China's COMAC subsidiary as part of a deal to supply engines for the planned C919. Meanwhile, Boeing has increased reliance on Chinese suppliers as well.Skeptics, however, raise several important red flags. One is that the 'real'
Introduction to Electrodynamics (3rd Edition)
For junior/senior-level electricity and magnetism courses. This book is known for its clear, concise and accessible coverage of standard topics in a logical and pedagogically sound order. The Third Edition features a clear, accessible treatment of the fundamentals of electromagnetic theory, providing a sound platform for the exploration of related applications (ac circuits, antennas, transmission lines, plasmas, optics, etc.). Its lean and focused approach employs numerous examples and problems.
Amazon Sales Rank: #20708 in Books Published on: 1999-01-09 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 9.25" h x 1.10" w x 7.01" l, 2.22 pounds Binding: Hardcover 576 pages
From the Back Cover Features a clear, accessible treatment of the fundamentals of electromagnetic theory. Its lean and focused approach employs numerous examples and problems. Carefully discusses subtle or difficult points. Contains numerous, relevant problems within the book in addition to end of each chapter problems and answers.
Most helpful customer reviews 115 of 120 people found the following review helpful. Great Book for Junior/Senior Undergrad Course By Reviewer (Edit: 3/10/07)-- I have visited this review three times now. I wrote it as an undergraduate, edited as a graduate student, and now I'm editing it again as a professional with a little more experience. After reading through this review I fear that an instructor, searching Amazon for a text for the upcoming academic year, might think that I am recommending Jackson over Griffiths for an undergraduate course. Heck no. Griffiths is the best book you will find on the subject for an undergraduate junior/senior level textbook. It is a must have text for students new to the field, as it is well written, quite readable, and worth keeping. The text speaks to the student, not the instructor. While you, as the instructor, might know that there is a lot more to the field than is covered in this text, you must set that aside and realize that this book is the best for your students who are still learning. This book is a foundation that will give them the experience and confidence to eventually tackle more difficult texts like Jackson (though I still wonder if anyone could possibly master that text). My original review follows. --I orignially wrote a review for this book as an undergraduate. In that review, I credited Griffiths with a knack for presenting information in a clever and entertaining way. I still believe this is true. At the time, I also said that Griffiths included precise and complete examples. Looking back, I no longer believe this is true.When I first started using this book, I was under the impression that Griffiths had discovered a method in the way of writing textbooks that was totally superior to all other authors of similar background. Now, after several years of using Griffiths as a reference, I find that his books serve as a wonderful resource for refreshing one's memory, however they lack a certain comprehensive quality that would make them a solid reference text. I am now a student of John David Jackson's text, that legendary text with the impossible exercises (Classical Electrodynamics), and the astounding thoroughness of his book dwarfs the Griffiths E&M text by comparison. Valuable information in the Griffiths text is often left as an exercise. This is very frustrating when one is searching for solutions to much more advanced problems. I contacted Dr. Griffiths and asked him if it would be possible for me to obtain a solutions manual to both his E&M and his Quantum texts, but he informed me that I could not obtain these manuals unless I was an instructor at the insistence of the publisher (Prentice Hall). This is unfortunate. However, it is remarkable that Griffiths responded to my email. I think this is a testament to his character - he wants to help his readers, and this is evident in his textbooks.All in all, the text is a fantastic book for the undergraduate, and a helpful resource for the graduate student. The book is a valuable resource for the intermediate or slightly advanced undergraduate physics student, and I encourage instructors at the undergraduate level to use the Griffiths text. For the physics student, the first exposure to E&M should come from Halliday and Resnick, the second should be Griffiths, and there really should be an intermediate step before they see Jackson, but no one has written that book yet. 63 of 65 people found the following review helpful. A Very Good Book With Flaws By Paul T. Debevec I have taught from Griffiths' Introduction to Electrodynamics twice now. It is a very good book. The selection of topics is good, and the mathematics is clear. The prose is enjoyable. A few problems follow each section. These problems need the material just covered. The end of the chapter problems can be very challenging. This distribution of problems is very helpful. There are useful references to American Journal of Physics. Time with Griffiths is very well
A Tale of Two Cities (Dover Thrift Editions)
Against the backdrop of the French Revolution, Dickens unfolds a masterpiece of drama, adventure, and courage featuring Charles Darnay, a man falsely accused of treason. He bears an uncanny resemblance to the dissolute, yet noble Sydney Carton. Brilliantly plotted, the novel culminates in a daring prison escape in the shadow of the guillotine.
Amazon Sales Rank: #1256 in Books Brand: Dover Publications Published on: 1998-12-31 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 8.27" h x .71" w x 5.24" l, .50 pounds Binding: Paperback 304 pages
Review ''Beginning and ending with some of English literature's most famous lines, Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities thrives on tension and conflict, all set against a bloody backdrop of the French Revolution . . . . Through the senses, Dickens transports us deeper and deeper into another era with each turn of the page. Smell the acidity of red wine as it spills on the streets and ominously stains the faces, hands, and feet of peasants who lap it up in desperation; feel the competing emotions of heartache and hope as one of Lucie's suitors stands trial; hear the cries of the raging mob and the clangs of their weapons as they storm the Bastille; see the glint of the guillotine as it falls swiftly to its victim below. The novel's sense of urgency and intimacy will draw you in and propel you through one of the most tumultuous times in history.'' --Oprah's Book Club''What can be said about a book which provides us with the single finest opening line in English literature, outside of Genesis 1:1 in the KJV? Dickens was, without any doubt whatsoever, the finest writer of historical literature / romance fiction of the nineteenth century.'' --AllReaders.com From the Publisher The classic, definitive, world-famous Nonesuch Press edition of 1937, finally available again and bound in leather and linen. The text in these stunning volumes is taken from the 1867 Chapman and Hall edition, which became known as the Charles Dickens edition and was the last edition to be corrected by the author himself. The Nonesuch edition contains full-color illustrations selected by Dickens himself, by artists including Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz"), George Cruikshank, John Leech, Robert Seymour, and George Cattermole. The Nonesuch Dickens reproduces the original elegance of these beautiful editions. Books are printed on natural cream-shade high quality stock, quarter bound in bonded leather with cloth sides, include a ribbon marker, and feature special printed endpapers. Each volume is wrapped in a protective, clear acetate jacket. The books are available as individual volumes, or as sets. The six-volume set contains Oliver Twist, Bleak House, Christmas Books, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations together with Hard Times. The three-volume set contains A Tale of Two Cities, Little Dorrit, and The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. From the Inside Flap Introduction by Simon Schama
Most helpful customer reviews 177 of 188 people found the following review helpful. A Tale of Two Cities By mp The more Dickens I read, the more impressed I become at his skill as a writer. No matter the form, be it short, long, or a monolith like some of his best works, Dickens excels at changing his style of characterization and plot to fit whatever mode he writes in. "A Tale of Two Cities" is one of his shorter novels, and he manages to make the most of out of the allotted space. The compression of the narrative sacrifices Dickens's accustomed character development for plot and overall effect, but what we get is still phenomenal."A Tale of Two Cities" begins in 1775, with Mr. Lorry, a respectable London banker, meeting Lucie Manette in Paris, where they recover Lucie's father, a doctor, and mentally enfeebled by an unjust and prolonged imprisonment in the Bastille. This assemblage, on their journey back to England, meets Charles Darnay, an immigrant to England from France who makes frequent trips between London and Paris. Upon their return to England, Darnay finds himself on trial for spying for France and in league with American revolutionaries. His attorney, Stryver, and Stryver's obviously intelligent, if morally corrupt and debauched, assistant, Sydney Carton, manage to get Darnay exonerated of the charges against him. Darnay, a self-exiled former French aristocrat, finds himself compelled to return to France in the wake of the French Revolution, drawing all those around him into a dangerous scene.Dickens portrays the French Revolution simplistically, but powerfully, as a case of downtrodden peasants exacting a harsh revenge against an uncaring aristocratic, even feudal, system. The Defarge's, a wine merchant and his wife, represent the interests of the lower classes, clouded by hatred after generations of misuse. Darnay, affiliated by birth with the French aristocracy, is torn between sympathy for his native country in its suffering, and his desire to be free of his past."A Tale of Two Cities" is a novel driven by historical circumstance and plot, much like the works of Sir Walter Scott, wherein the characters themselves assert less agency, finding themselves forced to deal with the tide of epic events. Richard Maxwell's introduction to this newest Penguin edition does a good job outlining the themes of doubling and literary influence that Dickens works with. One specific influence I discerned in reading "A Tale" that Maxwell doesn't metion is Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France," which if nothing else, gives the feeling that the rampant violence of the early revolution and the later Reign of Terror has brought about an irreversible change in human nature. While Dickens remains cautiously optimistic throughout the novel that France can recover, the tone of the novel speaks to the regression of humanity into a more feral, primal state, rather than advertise any real hope for its enlightened progress. Despite the supposed dichotomy between England and France in the novel, Dickens seems to suggest throughout that there are no real differences, due to the way that human nature is consistently portrayed. With England in between two revolutions, American and French, Lucie's sensitivity early in the novel to hearing the "echoing" footsteps of unseen multitudes indicates a palpable fear that the "idyllic" or "pastoral" England he tries to portray is not exempt from the social discontent of America or France. In this light, stolid English characters like Miss Pross, Jerry Cruncher, and Jarvis Lorry appear to almost overcompensate in their loyalty to British royalty. In a novel that deals with death, religion, mental illness, I could go on and on for a week, but I won't. One of those novels whose famous first and last lines are fixed in the minds of people who've never even read it, "A Tale of Two Cities" demands to be read and admired. 280 of 301 people found the following review helpful. An Eighth Grader
The Opening
The Opening addresses the age-old question 'what happens when we die?' with a spiritual fantasy of immense charm and imagination. At once an insightful meditation on life’s passages and a vision of unearthly realms, it creates its own enchanted worlds where characters connect with one another between here and the hereafter across the thinnest of lines. Joe St. John wanders out into a blizzard and falls through an opening that leads him to amazing, sometimes harrowing places where he encounters the major turning points in his life. Along the way, he revisits his missed opportunities, uncovers his life’s core trauma, and is given mysterious geometrical symbols that hold the key to his future. As Joe's soul hovers between two worlds he will discover the truth about life and death, and be confronted with the ultimate choice: save his own life, or give it up for someone he loves.
Amazon Sales Rank: #419375 in Books Published on: 2011-08-09 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .51" h x 5.24" w x 7.99" l, .56 pounds Binding: Paperback 240 pages
Review "A sparkling, hallucinatory, fast-paced read with unexpected twists of plot, imbued with a childlike sense of wonder. You'll love floating in the book's magical dreamscape as much as I did."
Most helpful customer reviews 20 of 21 people found the following review helpful. Riveting book of relationships and redemption. By Nick Orlando The Opening kept me wanting more from beginning to end. I began reading at 5 a.m. before work one morning this week and I couldn't stop thinking about it all day. I finished it the same night to the detriment of my usual early bedtime. It was worth it.I've recommended it for the book club at the high school where I work. Lots of good discussion points for the adults and students. 19 of 20 people found the following review helpful. Engaging and Thought-Provoking, a Joy to Read By Joseph Dispenza In his exciting debut book, Ron Savarese has given us a vivid major character who has reached a major crossroads in his life. What led him there and what choices he will make is what drives the well-told tale.The story unfolds almost like a dream -- in fact, I felt carried along in dreamland all the way through. In this airy place, the great questions of life arise for Joe: who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? And probably the greatest question of them all: Am I in control of my own destiny?These are human questions that we all ask...and the beauty of this book is that it invites us to ponder them by watching Joe work through them. In this way, "The Opening" is not only a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read (with a fantastic cliffhanger), but it is also a valuable and thought-provoking one.I've read it twice now and I recommend it highly. You're going to love it. Let's hope for more from Mr. Savarese. 12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Simpy Amazing! By T. nobrega The Opening is truly a book that will take you (perhaps kicking and screaming) on an exploratory journey into your soul. The intersections of mind, body, soul and spirit that Joe St. John (main character)is repeatedly confronted with....will draw you into a parallel universe along with him. This novel is amazingly fast-paced and well written with character development so rich that you will be tricked into thinking you are enjoying a modern day version of C.S Lewis's The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe. A child's selfish indulgence with Turkish Delight unleashes a battle for the world of Narnia just as a stock broker's need for his mind-numbing bourbon abruptly throws his upper middle class suburban existence into a world of peaceful chaos.....full of conflicting choices and ironic beauty.Give this book to all the people you love....regardless of their age..... (my 13 year old son had to have the book pried from his hands this morning so he would go to school and my eighty year old mother will find it greeting her when she arrives back home from her cruise.) Wherever you are on your journey you MUST read this book. Word of warning: do NOT give away your copy as this is one of those books that will draw you to it's pages over and over again. And I believe on a very deep level that we all have an "Ava" in our lives....may you live with an open heart so that you may find her. Thank you Ron Savarese.....is there more to come? See all 32 customer reviews...
My Life as a Quant: Reflections on Physics and Finance
In My Life as a Quant, Emanuel Derman relives his exciting journey as one of the first high-energy particle physicists to migrate to Wall Street. Page by page, Derman details his adventures in this field—analyzing the incompatible personas of traders and quants, and discussing the dissimilar nature of knowledge in physics and finance. Throughout this tale, he also reflects on the appropriate way to apply the refined methods of physics to the hurly-burly world of markets.
Amazon Sales Rank: #197956 in Books Published on: 2007-12-21 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 8.94" h x .79" w x 5.94" l, .83 pounds Binding: Paperback 308 pages
Review "There are few "gentlemen bankers" left these days. Nor is there much room in the great financial houses for anything that smacks of the amateur spirit. That is why Emanuel Derman's memoirs are so compelling…Derman's wry humour and sense of irony are apparent throughout the book."- Financial Times"That sense of being an intruder in outlaw territory lends an intriguing mood to Derman's My Life As a Quant, a literate and entertaining memoir."-Business Week"engaging"--(CFO Europe, October 2005)"Not only a delightful memoir, but one full of information, both about people and their enterprise. I never thought that I would be interested in quantitative financial analysis, but reading this book has been a fascinating education."–Jeremy Bernstein, author of Oppenheimer: Portrait of an Enigma"This wonderful autobiography takes place in that special time when scientists discovered Wall Street and Wall Street discovered them. It is elegantly written by a gifted observer who was a pioneering member of the new profession of financial engineering, with an evident affection both for finance as a science and for the scientists who practice it. Derman’s portrait of how the academics brought their new financial science to the world of business and forever changed it and, especially, his descriptions of the late and extraordinary genius Fischer Black who became his mentor, reveal a surprising humanity where it might be least expected. Who should read this book? Anyone with a serious interest in finance and everyone who simply wants to enjoy a good read."–Stephen Ross, Franco Modigliani Professor of Finance and Economics, Sloan School, MIT From the Inside Flap Wall Street is no longer the old-fashioned business it once was. In recent years, investment banks and hedge funds have increasingly turned to quantitative trading strategies and derivative securities for their profits, and have raided academia for PhDs to model these volatile products and manage their risk. Nowadays, the fortunes of firms and the stability of markets often rest on mathematical models. "Quants"–the scientifically trained practitioners of quantitative finance who build these models–have become key players on the Wall Street stage.And no Wall Street quant is better known than Emanuel Derman. One of the first high-energy particle physicists to migrate to Wall Street, he spent seventeen years in the business, eventually becoming managing director and head of the renowned Quantitative Strategies group at Goldman, Sachs & Co. There he coauthored some of today’s most widely used and influential financial models. Physics and quantitative finance look deceptively similar. But, writes Derman, "When you do physics you’re playing against God; in finance, you’re playing against God’s creatures." How can one justify using the precise methods of physics in the frenzied world of financial markets? Is it reasonable to treat the economy and its markets as a complex machine? Or is quantitative finance merely flawed thinking masquerading as science, a brave whistling in the dark?My Life as a Quant is Derman’s entertaining and candid account of his search for answers as he undergoes his transformation from ambitious young scientist to managing director. His book is simultaneously wide-ranging and personal. He tells the story of his passage between two worlds; he recounts his adventures with physicists, quants, options traders, and other highfliers on Wall Street; he analyzes the incompatible personas of traders and quants; and he meditates on the dissimilar natures of knowledge in physics and finance. Throughout his tale, he reflects on the appropriate way to apply the refined methods of physics to the hurly-burly world of markets. My Life as a Quant is a unique first-person story and a perceptive and revealing exploration of the quantitative side of Wall Street. From the Back Cover Praise for My Life as a Quant"My Life as a Quant, by Emanuel Derman is, indeed, a perfect memoir, as Derman, a South African–born physicist turned financial engineer, is a perfect memoirist." --Grant's Interest Rate Observer"That sense of being an intruder in outlaw territory lends an intriguing mood to Derman's My Life as a Quant, a literate and entertaining memoir."--BusinessWeek"Derman's memoir of his transition from mathematical physicist to expert finance whiz at Goldman Sachs and Salomon Brothers reads like a novel, but tells a lot about brains applied to making money grow."--Paul A. Samuelson, MIT, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, 1970"Elegantly written by a gifted observer who was a pioneering member of the new profession of financial engineering with an evident affection both for finance as a science and for the scientists who practice it. Derman's portrait of how the academics brought their new financial science to the world of business and his descriptions of the late and extraordinary genius Fischer Black who became his mentor, reveal a surprising humanity where it might be least expected."--Stephen Ross, Franco Modigliani Professor of Finance and Economics, Sloan School, MIT" a deep and elegant exploration by a thinker who moved from the hardest of all sciences (physics) to the softest of the soft (finance). Derman is a different class of thinker... I know of no other book that bridges the two cultures."--Nassim Taleb, author of The Black Swan and Fooled by Randomness
Most helpful customer reviews 96 of 106 people found the following review helpful. The Human Side of Quantitative Finance -- Great Read! By Rico Blaser The book commences with a history of physics that is reminiscent of "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene. From Newton to Maxwell to Einstein and beyond, Derman discovers the great theories of yesterday and finds himself in the middle of a seven year marathon to a PhD and the launch of his academic career.The struggle for intellectual purity and the distain for applied work abound in Derman's academic environment and the pressures of achieving greatness are pronounced in a place where genius is a commodity.In a leap of faith, Derman decides to return to New York to spend more time with his family and to surrender to what he considered a less dignified job.Lost in the Dilbert-esque hierarchies of the Bell Labs, Derman discovers the joy of programming, while submerged in office politics. After numerous attempts of beating the currents, Derman finally reaches the shores of Wall Street and is relieved to find an avant-garde environment, where meritocracy is no longer a foreign word.The initial period of awakening takes place at Goldman Sachs, where he is mentored by Fischer Black, one of the great financial practitioners of our time. Derman is immediately impressed by Black's pragmatic style and intuitive quest for simplicity.Black's influence becomes evident in the lucid and accessible description of the famous Black-Derman-Toy interest rate model and the subsequent elaborations on local volatility models that are at the foundation of more exotic instruments (which cannot be accurately priced using the overly simplistic implied volatility provided by the Black-Scholes-Merton model).The author discusses the process of deriving original models and emphasizes that the elegant stochastic calculus derivations of these models are deceptively simple and make it difficult for students to fully appreciate the amount of effort that went into developing the initial embodiments -- what seems obvious now was once heavily debated.Armed with the recently acquired knowledge, Derman accepts a new challenge at Salomon Brothers, doubling his compensation in the process. Unfortunately, the unhealthy competitiveness at Salomon forces him to reconsider quickly and he returns to Goldman after an undeserved layoff. The roundtrip allows Derman to develop an appreciation for the collaborative environment at Goldman.Throughout the book, the interactions with family members, professors, bosses, traders, programmers and sales people are both amusing and enlightening. Derman succeeds in blending physics, finance, and human emotion in this masterful and entertaining autobiography. 35 of 37 people found the following review helpful. Not really what I expected... By gilstrac It was an interesting read but not what I expected.It is my own fault. I bought it because the title (Physics and Finance) caught my eye and the average rating and number of reviews was high. I would guess it is not a heavily embellished memoir. Emanuel appears to be an honest, practical and educated individual. I found myself in the beginning wondering when I would start to read something about his life as a Quant. I don't know the exact page but I was probably half way through the book before I got my first taste. In the end I found it like most things I have not personally experienced, it is more romantic to dream than live. This is not to say he didn't do good things. It just means for every minute of success and enjoyment there are hundreds if not thousands of minutes of grind and perseverance. The grind is not always so well documented.Due to my age, I did find myself identifying with Emanuel as he changed from a wide eyed youth ready to change the world to a more pragmatic successful adult. I still envy the enthusiasm lack of experience provides younger people.I wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for insights in to physics or
NOLS Wilderness Medicine: 4th Edition (NOLS Library)
"One of the finest first aid books I've seen." -- Mel Otten, M.D., Wilderness Medical Society Make informed decisions about medical treatment and urgency of transport Essential items and suggestions for packing a standard first aid kit Two new chapters on common non-urgent medical problems and legal issues This revised edition of NOLS Wilderness First Aid reflects the changing field of wilderness medicine. Designed as a field textbook for the NOLS wilderness first aid curriculum, it helps train outdoor leaders to prevent, recognize, and treat common medical problems and to stabilize a severely ill or injured patient for evacuation. A vital resource for outdoor enthusiasts, this book covers fundamental topics in first aid--patient assessment, shock, soft tissue injury, burns, fractures and dislocations, and chest, head, and abdominal injury. It explains how to handle environmental problems posed by heat, cold, water, altitude, and poisonous plants and animals. Also discussed are issues related to expedition medicine as well as leadership, teamwork, and communication for rescue groups. While risk can be minimized through good judgment, skills, and experience, being prepared for emergencies in the wild is an essential component of good outdoor leadership.
Amazon Sales Rank: #63116 in Books Brand: Schimelpfenig Published on: 2006-07-20 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 8.46" h x .94" w x 5.51" l, 1.01 pounds Binding: Paperback 336 pages Author: Tod Schimelpfenig ISBN: 9780811733069
Review "One of the finest first aid books I’ve seen." -- Mel Otten, M.D. About the Author A wilderness educator since 1973, Tod Schimelpfenig is the curriculum director for the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute. He lives in Lander, Wyoming.
Most helpful customer reviews 13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Solid Resource on Wilderness Medicine and First Aid By Tradecraft Wilderness Medicine by Tod Schimelpfenig is, for the most part, a good first aid book for treating injuries and illness that may occur on an expedition, camping or backpacking trip. Each chapter is short, concise and provides basic information on wilderness medicine designed to aid adventurers who travel to remote locations or just a few hours away from home. This book is an excellent resource for those new to medical training and it is also a good refresher for those experienced in first aid/wilderness medicine.The book is divided into the following five sections:1. Patient Assessment2. Traumatic Injuries3. Environmental4. Medical5. Expedition MedicineThere is also an appendix which covers the following:-First Aid Kit-Emergency Procedures for Outdoor Groups-Glossary of First Aid Terms.At the end of each chapter are "Evacuation Guidelines" which clearly state situations in which a patient should be immediately evacuated for further evaluation by medical professionals. This is a valuable section for those new to wilderness medicine so they understand what the threshold is to initiate an evacuation. Failure to evacuate when needed can result in death or permanent disability. There is also emphasis on prevention methods so that one can minimize potential health problems once they are located in a remote location. Examples include proper dental care prior to a trip, effective methods for making water safe to drink, staying hydrated, personal hygiene, proper cleanliness with cooking utensils to prevent foodborne illness, proper washing of hands, etc. These preventative measures should never be underestimated.Areas for improvement include:-Use of actual photographs instead of drawings. The use of color photographs would greatly enhance the quality of the book. Adding color photographs would bump this book up to a five star rating.-Update the information on tourniquet use. Although this edition is from 2006 there is new data out on the utilization of tourniquets based on war injuries from Iraq and Afghanistan-There are many references to using "ice" on a sprain, strain, fracture etc. with really no discussion that this may not be an option in all environments due to lack of availability. A little more discussion on improvising in the wilderness would be helpful.Overall, I recommend Wilderness Medicine as a quality book that will provide a beginner with the fundamental principles of first aid and wilderness medicine while exploring the outdoors. 9 of 10 people found the following review helpful. The Wilderness Medicine book of Choice! By Clifton C. Castleman If you've ever had the opportunity to meet Tod, you'll immediately realize that he really knows his stuff and is laid back & down to earth. That's the way this book is written - for the rest of us. It's easy to read, understand and comprehend the various ailments and injuries that are discussed in this book. The information provided also happens to follow the latest Wilderness Medical Society's National Practice Guidelines for Wilderness Emergency Care, which is why so many folks use it as a text book for Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder courses.Fantastic (and fun) read!Clif CastlemanCenter for Wilderness Safetywww.WildSafe.com 11 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Excellent reference By Country Mouse This is an excellent reference book for anyone with minimal training, especially in situations where it may be more than the usual
The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman
Thinner, bigger, faster, stronger... which 150 pages will you read?Is it possible to: Reach your genetic potential in 6 months? Sleep 2 hours per day and perform better than on 8 hours? Lose more fat than a marathoner by bingeing? Indeed, and much more. This is not just another diet and fitness book. The 4-Hour Body is the result of an obsessive quest, spanning more than a decade, to hack the human body. It contains the collective wisdom of hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of jaw-dropping personal experimentation. From Olympic training centers to black-market laboratories, from Silicon Valley to South Africa, Tim Ferriss, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek, fixated on one life-changing question: For all things physical, what are the tiniest changes that produce the biggest results? Thousands of tests later, this book contains the answers for both men and women. From the gym to the bedroom, it’s all here, and it all works. You Will Learn (in less than 30 minutes each):* How to lose those last 5-10 pounds (or 100+ pounds) with odd combinations of food and safe chemical cocktails. * How to prevent fat gain while bingeing (X-mas, holidays, weekends) * How to increase fat-loss 300% with a few bags of ice * How Tim gained 34 pounds of muscle in 28 days, without steroids, and in four hours of total gym time * How to sleep 2 hours per day and feel fully rested * How to produce 15-minute female orgasms * How to triple testosterone and double sperm count* How to go from running 5 kilometers to 50 kilometers in 12 weeks * How to reverse “permanent” injuries * How to add 150+ pounds to your lifts in 6 months * How to pay for a beach vacation with one hospital visit And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are more than 50 topics covered, all with real-world experiments, many including more than 200 test subjects. You don't need better genetics or more discipline. You need immediate results that compel you to continue. That’s exactly what The 4-Hour Body delivers.
Amazon Sales Rank: #147 in Books Published on: 2010-12-14 Released on: 2010-12-14 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 9.50" h x 1.78" w x 7.66" l, 2.94 pounds Binding: Hardcover 592 pages The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman Tim Ferris
About the Author TIMOTHY FERRISS, nominated as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People of 2007,” is author of the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and BusinessWeek bestseller, The 4-Hour Workweek, which has been published in 35 languages. Wired magazine has called Tim “The Superman of Silicon Valley” for his manipulation of the human body. He is a tango world record holder, former national kickboxing champion (Sanshou), guest lecturer at Princeton University, and faculty member at Singularity University, based at NASA Ames Research Center. When not acting as a human guinea pig, Tim enjoys speaking to organizations ranging from Nike to the Harvard School of Public Health.
Most helpful customer reviews 3714 of 4052 people found the following review helpful. 4 Hour Baloney, save your money By N. Watson Most of the 5-star reviews for 4HB came up on the first day. Given that Tim Ferriss has previously endorsed outsourcing in his Four Hour Workweek, I wonder how many of those 5-star reviews were from his personal assistants abroad.Let me start with my bona fides: I am a currently practicing and licensed physician in the state of California. I graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine. I am a black belt and a lifelong athlete, and I have been weight training for over 20 years-- and unlike Mr. Ferriss, without injuring myself in any way, ever. I have no financial interest in his book or any other product discussed here.Regarding the depth of my review of The 4-Hour Body, I spent over [...] on the equipment, supplements, and ultrasound machine recommended in the book. I bought the BodyMetrix Professional ultrasound and software he recommends by Intelametrix ([...] after discount for mentioning 4HB book), and completed the 1-on-1 online training despite the fact I am previously certified in performing ultrasound. I engaged my friends and colleagues in a "Fat off" competition with obsessive and objective weight and body fat measurements and followed the routine for 5 weeks as perfectly as I was able. I also experimented (like Mr. Ferriss) using continuous glucose measurement (CGM) to assess minute-to-minute glucose responses to food and exercise using both the DexCom system he recommends as well as the MiniMed Guardian system. I plan to upload a photo of the nutritional supplements I bought, which nearly cover my kitchen table. I downloaded apps to my phone for recording each workout obsessively, and more importantly to help with the very slow rep time he recommends.My basic finding is that after trying the diet, supplements, exercise routines and lifestyle changes recommended in the 4-Hour Body that I found no change, whatsoever, in body weight or competition. Nor did any of my other friends trying the book.Why doesn't the 4HB work?(1) It takes more than 4 hours a month in the gym to have a great body. I'm sorry, it just does. Mr. Ferriss recommends performing 2-3 SETS, for a total of less than 30 reps, per WEEK, to get a great body. Ask any athlete, bodybuilder, trainer... not enough. Not even close. It's hogwash. I actually could feel my body dwindling despite eating as much protein as I could stomach.(2) Almost all the supplements recommended in 4HB have never been scientifically proven to do what Mr. Ferriss claims they do. Take cissus quadrangularis (page 110), costs about $30 for 120 capsules. He discusses that he took CQ in China while eating a high volume rice diet with sweets and states "CQ preserved my abs". Really? If that's the level of evidence that you're comfortable with, great. But with simultaneous exercise, multiple other ongoing supplements, lifestyle changes, etc., who can tell whether it was CQ or just dietary changes from his being in rural China?(3) The diet is just a mishmash of other diet routines, basically Atkins plus paleo with a dash of South Beach Diet. There are important flaws in the diet that should be pointed out. He recommends carbohydrates from beans instead of "white carbohydrates", hence the "slow-carb" diet. This relies on a bunch of old data regarding glycemic index. The reality about carbohydrate digestion is very different. Carbohydrate digestion is so important that it begins IN THE MOUTH with salivary amylase. Whether you eat a slice of Wonder Bread or a handful of garbanzo beans, the breakdown of these sugars into the body's currency of glucose is extremely rapid and effective regardless of which form you ingest it in. I have tried this myself using continuous glucose monitoring as recommended in the book. The only way I have found to blunt the sugar rise is simultaneous ingestion of a good quantity of fat. Also, can a diet really be paleo