X Books

I must say I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I actually learned a ton more than expected which is unusual for a book not meant to teach all 3 programs. It is certainly at an intermediate level as stated which is also a refreshing surprise.

The Fireworks section is quite extensive since all the examples rightfully are designed in or a major part of them are designed in Fireworks where they are then cut up, interactivity added (except for the Flash examples) and then exported.

The FreeHand section deals with primarily the tools that differ from Fireworks and things like perspecive, contour blends and bleneding. The blending feature allows you to do a shape tween type of effect and then use it in Fireworks for animation. Then there is extensive tips and tricks for preparing FreeHand files for use in Flash.

The Flash section is great fun and extremely useful. The entire section deals with ActionScripting projects, the author doesn't try to teach you Flash but useful ways to use it in conjunction to the other two programs. The projects such as the puzzle teaches more than it may appear on the surface. Sure, you may not need a puzzle, but it was a great way to demonstrate how to load movies that replace prior ones versus loading movies to a new level. This is just one example. There is also a jukebox that has four pieces of music (included) that uses a trick to load very quickly. A product display that rotates a full 360 degrees, a banner ad that allows you to print a brochure from within Flash and a banner ad that uses the color feature of Flash. There are more projects in this section.

Even though Dreamweaver isn't in the title of this book, it wasn't left out of the mix. There is an Appendix which takes an entire Fireworks design and places the images in DW and adds the behaviors, CSS Style Sheets in DW. There is also a section on adding FW pop-up menus in DW.

There are some great contributors that added value to this book as well. What I liked is they added VALUE not just their names. For instance, Hillman Curtis did a nice introductory piece on, "Motion is the Message" imparting some of his wisdom to us. There is also an entire interface given to us from Eyeland Studio that we can use and modify (with instructions on how)and banner ads from Figleaf Software.

All in all, I don't think you'll be disapointed in this book. I walked away with much more than I expected. This review took much longer to do than anticipated because the book is almost 500 pages (480) and is packed. Not only did I learn the strong points of each program but how to work more efficiently as well.

I already had Fireworks, and then I bought the Flash and Freehand bundle. I am used to Illustrator, and this book really helped me tie all the programs together. The projects are easy to do, but challenging enough to keep up your interest. They also build up your skill level so you increase your capabilities as you work in the programs.

The book is divided into three sections - one for each of the programs - and projects from one program are used in the other programs. There's just enough difference between the program interfaces to confuse you, but Ms. Evans has done an excellent job in clarifying them.

I especially enjoyed the rotating fishing lure exersize in the Flash section. I've wanted to do that effect for a long time, and her explanation got me through quickly and easily.

All in all, the book really will help you if you are putting up a website and haven't done a lot of graphic work before. The integration of these three programs is important, and the author did an excellent job in teaching. I recommend it heartily!

I would suggest reading this book if you want to learn about powder XRD technique. This book is really good...

This book provides an introduction to powder diffraction theory as well as a comprehensive list of everything involved with the actual diffractometer. This is not just a theory book nor a technical manual. It describes clearly all the factors involved in the production of x-rays, the workings of motors and detectors to the reasons for using divergence slits as well as the principles of phase identification and quantitative analysis. It is a great book for someone who will be using a diffractometer for the first time and will be doing the work themselves. This is not a crystallography text. It is more a handbook of practical applied powder diffraction. Well worth the money.

The Visual Quick Starte Guides are just about the fastest way to get started on using a software package around. As stated from the title, this is a highly illustrated book that uses tons of screen shots to get you started using a software package.

In this case the package is iPhoto and it's written by a master writer. Because of the large number of illustrations in the book, it is very fast to go through. (My only problem is when I click on something wrong, my screens don't look like his, and then have to backtrack and find my error.) The easy visual approach works well for me.

If you're a beginner to iPhoto, this book will help you get it up and doing what you want in a very short time. The next step is to do more, say up to the intermediate level, and all that takes is that you go further into the book.

The other surprising thing about this book is the way it's organized. Most tutorial books are just that. You follow the tutorial through and then go do things. These books are then useless as a reference book. This one is different. Each task, almost each page, is organized with a headline of what you're going to do on that page. Then the index has an entry that points to the right page. For instance if you're going through the book there's a chapter on Sharing Photos. There's a page on Printing Greeting Cards. Learning about sharing photos will send you through the page on Printing Greeting Cards. But if you forget that, going to the index will give you an entry on Printing Greeting Cards that will send you to that page which is complete enough to enable you to get the greeting cards without having to go through the whole chapter.

His approach works for me.

Before picking this book up, I'd all but given up on iPhoto. I found it a bit too simple and way to encumbering of my system. But this book really changed my perspective. Well, this book and the fact that I needed a better way to organize my pictures on my Mac than simply having massive folders of pictures.

The book is very accessible and although I thought I was familiar with the program, it opened a lot of new doors and taught me a lot I didn't know. It also provided resources for other programs that work well with iPhoto and how to connect iPhoto to Photoshop (or any digital image editor) so I can do more advanced editing outside of iPhoto.

I think most important for me was learning that I didn't need to have my photos all in one library - that I could use a separate program like the iPhoto Library Manager to make separate, context specific, libraries. This was amazing, as the more photos in a library, the more encumbering it can be on your system.

Without a doubt, I find this to be one of the best and simple books out there covering iPhoto. I highly recommend it!

This is a really helpful addition for any mac owner that wants to really use all that iphoto has to offer! Easy to understand even for cyber dummies . (Like me)

I'm a long time Mac user and have been using iPhoto since it came out. This book really hits every aspect of the program, and tells not only what's there, but how and why to use it. Examples are concise and relevant. This book is a good book for an advanced iPhoto user, and a must have for the beginner. Apple should include a copy of this book with every Mac.

I only found two points to comment on in the book:

1) You don't need to rename the iPhoto Library folder or use any third party tools to maintain multiple iPhoto Libraries. You can simply hold down the Option key when launching iPhoto and iPhoto will ask if you want to create a new library or find an existing one. This worked with iPhoto 4.

2) One thing users can do to improve the performance of iPhoto is to turn off the Drop shadow option in the Appearance preference. I don't think he mentioned that.

Otherwise he hit everything a person using iPhoto needs to know about. Great book!

Allan Marcus
Los Alamos National Lab Mac User Group

This is one of the best guitar books I've ever seen, both because of it's music (being from Iron Maiden explains everything) and speacially because of its strictness! It's an authentic guitar transcription. If you are a guitarist and Iron Maiden fan I recommend it to you. Take in consideration that the songs are not easy to play and learn though... you'll probably get a bit frustrated with that, but, hell, I'm rating the book, not the user :-)

I think this book really is just awesome.One reasons is that Dave Murray is just the best guitarist. Another reason is that it's just great to play the right notes to a Iron Maiden song because Iron Maiden's is just the best and these people on the tab web sites make the notes all wrong and it just pisses me off, you know.This is actually a funny reason why the book is cool, the Eddie on the cover is just amazing and freaky. This is why I think the book kicks total arse. Hope you like it, PEACE OUT and UP THE IRONS!

I'm using this book for my son's third grade Bible program. It's fast moving and fun, yet very extensive with weekly memory verses and step by step bible reading and questions about the child's own walk with the Lord. It puts the child in the role of a movie director researching Jesus' life for a movie. There are lots of study questions, as well as games and puzzles to make it really interesting. Third grade is the very youngest I would have a child doing this study, in fact we are taking 2 weeks to do each weekly unit, and it would be just as interesting for an older child up through jr. high.

I have looked at these Kay Arthur Kid studies for years because I have been leading Precept Inductive studies since 2000. My kids are just the right age for them. I have two boys in 4th and 6th grade, and they are loving this study. They make storyboards and search for key words and answer 5 W and an H questions, and they are really enjoying it. We do it every other day during our Bible time in homeschool.

As a special bonus, since we are making a "movie" of the book of John, we watch The Gospel of John on DVD. It is a word-for-word script of the book of John. It is great for them to see an actual movie interpretation fo the chapter they just studied inductively.

It is a hit so far!

To research his book, the author painstakingly pored over every available transcript and parsed every sentence of the entire unabridged Starr report, which was ultimately the basis for President Clinton's impeachment. The author cleverly compares President Clinton's infamous and artful word usage -- such as with "is" and "alone" -- with Starr's equally clever and curious interpretations of the Independent Counsel's witness testimony.

The author also explores the so-called "talking points," the document allegedly composed by Clinton operatives to serve as a script for harmonizing the testimony of potential grand-jury witnesses, and believed by Starr (and others) to be proof of the president's attempt to obstruct justice. Dr. Gillis juxtaposes the talking points with the "Casket Letters," the documents many historians believe to be forgeries, which allegedly incriminated Mary, Queen of Scots, in the murder of her second husband.

If you think Ken Starr, Linda Tripp, Henry Hyde, and the Republican managers were the good guys during the impeachment and Senate trial of Bill Clinton, then this book may not be for you. If you think they are the avatars of evil, this book will be right up your alley. But those who are dispassionate and non-partisan will most appreciate the book for its unique perspective and analysis.

First off, let it be known that YMHS did not plunk down 50 bucks for this stunning work. Instead it was perused stealthily over the shoulder of a more affluent acquaintance. That said, it is a fine piece of writing, albeit misnomered as nonfiction, and worth the cost both for laughs, non-jovian of course, and for the proof that Jack Gillis is a loyal political friend and an apologist nonpareil.

The goodly Doctor Gillis has a keen eye, a keener wit, and the keenest sense of the absurd. His goal of abstracting L'Affaire Monica from the pages of history and tossing it into the realm of letters is exquisite and, of course, politically obfuscatory. Still, it makes for excellent reading.

The "casket" tapes make an interesting dalliance in that Linda Tripp becomes the Bothwell. Does the goodly Doctor wish the same fate for Ms. Tripp? And what then for Judge Starr? The Scaife/Mellon Tower?

But the true villains of the book are the dastardly House Republicans, which makes for great fun, and proof positive the Jack Gillis is, to say the least, a partisan weaver of tall tales and torturous tautology. Nevertheless, this reader is saving his pennies that he might one day own this fine work that he might periodically enjoy the prose, if not the logic.

Russell C. Kick is the CEO and Founder of the Self-Discovery Research Institute. In 1968 he had a near-death experience that was to affect the rest of his life. In Self-Discovery: There's Far More To You And Life Than You Ever Dared To Dream, he lays out an original system of self-discover and self-development he calls The Holistic Way (aka The WAY) in which practitioners will learn how to elevate their awareness, engender peace, and enhanced their sense of well-being, creativity, intelligence, and enlightenment. Highly recommended reading for anyone seeking to improve the quality of their inner lives within the framework of an outer world, The Key To Self-Discovery focuses upon realizing life's purpose through powers such as free will, creativity, love imagination and memory. Kick reveals the use of music to instill harmony in life, the value of living proactively, and employing the empowering energy of the mind to translate the values of the spirit into the freedoms of personal choice, self-discovery, and more.

Russell C. Kick is the CEO and Founder of the Self-Discovery Research Institute. In 1968 he had a near-death experience that was to affect the rest of his life. In Self-Discovery: There's Far More To You And Life Than You Ever Dared To Dream, he lays out an original system of self-discover and self-development he calls The Holistic Way (aka The WAY) in which practitioners will learn how to elevate their awareness, engender peace, and enhanced their sense of well-being, creativity, intelligence, and enlightenment. Highly recommended reading for anyone seeking to improve the quality of their inner lives within the framework of an outer world, The Key To Self-Discovery focuses upon realizing life's purpose through powers such as free will, creativity, love imagination and memory. Kick reveals the use of music to instill harmony in life, the value of living proactively, and employing the empowering energy of the mind to translate the values of the spirit into the freedoms of personal choice, self-discovery, and more.

A student of one of America's most beloved poets, Robert Frost, the young James Hayford was a native of Vermont. It was at Amherst College that he studied with Frost who became more than a teacher to him. Frost believed in Hayford and offered him $1,000 if he would stay in American and spend his time writing poetry. In 1935 that amount of money was enough for Hayford to live on for a whole year, and he accepted. We're grateful that he did for he has left the world a treasure of poems about New England, capturing its beauty and its hardships.

"Knee-Deep In Blazing Snow," a collection especially edited for young readers, covers the four seasons of the year beginning with Summer and "Hay-Jumpers": "When hay was put in loose, We jumpers had our use...." A reminder of the fun youngsters had jumping in the hay.

Autumn is heralded with "Night Milking Time" and Winter with "First Snow":

"Blanketing fields that lately were bare brown,
Let this soft midnight snow brings blessings down
On all the people in the little town."

Special pleasure is found in reading Hayford's poems aloud and, of course, the talented Michael McCurdy's woodcuts are the perfect accompaniment to this collection subtitled "Growing Up In Vermont."

- Gail Cooke

This gentle book of poetry is wonderful and would make a good gift for anyone fond of New England and the outdoors, be they child or adult. James Hayford was encouraged by meeting Robert Frost when young, and went on to be an evocative, if unjustly overlooked, poet. The title of the book suggests his grasp of imagery, and skilful rhyme and meter predominate throughout. In the Frost tradition, Hayford's style is not flowery, but simple and direct. In four sections (one devoted to each season, as expertly selected by the book's editors), he celebrates the simple joys of jumping in hay, spotting wildlife, playing in snow, trains in the distance, etc. Gorgeous black and white scratchboard illustrations by Michael McCurdy add to the quiet enjoyment.

Matt's life has fallen apart. He is suicidal. At a restaurant a waitress tunes-in to his distress and leaves a phone number for him to call. Soon he is at satsang with Joey who senses Matt is ripe for awakening. Guru Joey says to Matt: "...if you truly understand what has been running you, you can be free. That is your birthright, to enter a life beyond desire and your fear, and to discover real blessedness. I give you ten days, starting today. I will show you all you need to see. It is up to you. Come back tomorrow."

The Last Laugh is an over-the-top entertaining and transformative experience. Within this book is a memorable character, the nondually elfin Joey Murphy, perhaps named for the Joke of existence for which he stands, one Irishman under Ramana, indivisible, with liberation and chocolate cake for all. (You see, Joey is enamored with all things chocolate, which seems to anchor him to this world.) There is the other main character Matt, and a collection of interesting and well-defined friends, fiends, family and followers.

The Guru Joey is so successfully supple in society and within the culture of his time that he is delightfully reminiscent of Forrest Gump. In fact, there is no single Guru upon whom Joey is modeled. He is Forrest Gump and Byron Katie. Ramana and author Arjuna Ardagh. The author mentions other teachers who are part of the tapestry making up Joey, yet I'm not familiar with all of them.

In Joey's life he sat with Ramana who spoke profoundly to Joey, and Joey worked in the kitchen of Ramana's Ashram for three months. Ramana essentially instructed Joey to spread the teaching -- "That which you are is That which you love" -- to the Western world.

We learn that Joey cavorted with Marilyn Monroe, President Kennedy, Fritz Perls and an assortment of other famous and not so famous personalities. Joey was even there when two guys were building a computer in their garage. Turns out Joey coined the term "mouse" and conceived of the graphical user interface.

It was during his time with Ramana that Joey gained the wisdom that is core to his success: "I learned that's how you get along with people. You just put yourself aside and meet them in who they are." That most usable wisdom is applied throughout the story and through it Joey meets many people of import in his time and place, and directly impacts world and cultural events, as well as little day to day encounters, each with equal import and attention.

Anyone who has seen author Arjuna Ardagh practice, sees that wisdom in practice. The same is true with another teacher upon whom Joey is strongly based: Byron Katie. The author pays tribute to Byron Katie's transformative influence with the introduction of the character Katie, a secretary to a major property developer (Byron Katie was herself a property developer). Joey marries Katie and Katie eventually convinces President Kennedy not to go to war with Cuban during a time of crisis. These kinds of bold story elements are glaring signals that transformation happens and that ordinary people can align with qualities conducive to it.

The related implicit teaching that these incredulous story elements point to, is that the Guru is present everywhere, influencing everything as Grace. The book could be viewed as a humorous exploration of Grace in which there are explicit teachings which open the individual to Grace and allow anyone to tap into one or another mode of influence within their world.

And that -- transformation -- is what the book is about. The book succeeds on that level. It has to, because the author is already functioning in that mode as a teacher and living being. He couldn't keep the transformation message and power out if he tried. What Ramana told Joey -- "That which you love is That which you are. You will share it wherever you go, you have no choice. But you are an American boy; you are not Indian. It will share itself in an American way." -- is something the author already knows about himself, about Byron Katie, and a number of today's spiritual teachers. They have no choice but to share in a way that is transformative. Readers of The Last Laugh can receive that sharing.

There is a lot happening in this book. In ten days devotee Matt becomes enlightened and the reader learns ten lessons. Big changes happen quickly and broadly and are patched together like a funky shag carpet backed with the integrity of explicit and implicit teachings. The Last Laugh is a fun, splashy, bold, and trippy read.

Jerry Katz
One: Essential Writings on Nonduality

Cleanly written and funny, this is a classic tale of awakening, twenty first century style. Arjuna never falters in his deceptively simple telling of the tale of Matt and his teacher Joey, a tale he tells with the expertise of a skilled surgeon. I loved the book for its straightforward wisdom, laughing and crying along with the adventures and misadventures of Matt on his road to freedom. A good down to earth story that reaches way beyond what most of us think of as everyday reality.
Inspiring. A wonderful book!