J Books

If you want to make chains this book teaches you all you need to know. Step by step instructions are clear and easy to follow. The binding is really tight so it is hard to turn pages without the fear of tearing a page.

Chainmaking is one of the most basic and most advanced techniques in jewelry fabrication: basic in its modest demands for tools, materials, and technique; advanced in its demand for utter mastery of technique. That's not a contradiction. Each step is simple enough, within the range of someone who know which end of the torch to hold. Doing that step a hundred times in a row, identically each time, that's where mastery comes in. In paticular, there's that fusing (welding) step that starts every project. I learned to hard-solder a fair joint, way back when, but never mastered fusing, even when dissimilar metals wanted desperately to form a eutectic.

I'll try again. Results, when they work, are just too seductive. This book gives clear and specific directions - maybe too specific some times. Perhaps I really do need 108 links for some project. Not 110 or 106. But perhaps my materials didn't meet the under-1% precision requirement. Well, if you already know the techniques that the authors assume, you'll read past the over-fussy bits.

I'm just carping, though. This book really stands out. Directions are utterly clear, and nicely illustrated. Admittedly, a bare beginner might struggle, but this book never meant to address that reader. Given hard covers, the spiral binding lies flat easily, or stands open where you opened it. Illustrations really illustrate the techniques - even without pliers in hand, you might feel yourself following along. Projects range across a wide span of skill levels, but this gives no indication which are which. That's OK. These authors address a readership that understands what the words mean and that can rank themselves honestly against the demand each project places on the reader.

I can't wait to get started.

-- wiredweird

This lady has spent years researching ancient techniques and it is to her credit that granulation and woven chain has finally come to America.

These chains are not soldered; they are fused and woven. I recommend you have at least a semester of college level jewelry or several years of soldering under your belt before jumping in with this one. But it worthwhile if you want to make chains that are worthy of royalty, or have a chain for a piece of art jewelry that will do it justice.

This is a workbook, progressing from the simplest and easiest to progressively more complex chains. After the first couple hundred fused links you become pretty adept. After fusing the links, you will learn to weave links into patterns. These are not your ordinary chains. They are strong, beautiful and flexible.

Jean is obsessively precise in her work, so this book is very precise. She goes over what gauges work for which patterns, as well as all the little tips that make a chain look superb. It's a lovely book, very well-written and one to be included in a goldsmith's library.

To get a better idea of the creativity and precision of this lady's work, go to Randy Smith's website: http://www.rocksmyth.com/ and look for Jean Stark's work. Prepare to be amazed at all the lovelies and realize that pictures do not do her work justice, as good as the pictures are. Many of the chains are made with 30 ga. wire, which is not much thicker than sewing thread. Her chains feel like silk.

If you're serious about making fine quality chains, then you need this book. Jean Stark is the guru.

This was just what I was looking for. Clear instructions with photos. A great find!

This is great information with very east to read instructions. Not for the lazy or faint of heart.Great ancient traditions brought back to life.

A.A. literature and independent research make clear the relevance of this little book to the A.A., 12-Step, Recovery picture. See Dr. Bob's Library, 3rd ed.[[ASIN:1885803257 ; DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers ; The Books Early AAs Read for Spiritual Growth [[ASIN:1885803265 ]; The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous[[ASIN:1885803176 ; and Turning Point: A History of Early A.A.'s Spiritual Roots and Successes.[[ASIN:1885803079. A.A.'s co-founder Dr. Bob said hundreds of time that 1 Corinthians 13 was an absolutely essential part of the early A.A. program. He thought so much of this Drummond study that he circulated The Greatest Thing in the World widely among the A.A. pioneers. It was part of his library. It was part of his expression of the meaning of love. For that's what the Corinthians chapter and the Drummond book are about.

I heard Larry Burkett highly praise this book years ago so I got one. I agree, this is an awesome book. read just a few pages and it will change your heart to love others more, no matter how grouchy you are at the time. I prefer the older editions of this book, they fit in my purse better

My brother sent me a copy. He liked it so much he brought fifty copies to share with friends. I in turn have purchased copies to give away. It is the Sermon on the Mount, The Gospel of John, and First John all in one by way of expounding upon Paul's great love expose. Gary Trawick.

This book by Henry Drummond is a much-neglected meditation on I Corinthians 13. With kindness and gentle encouragement, Drummond walks the reader through the characteristics of love we all fail so miserably to exhibit in our own lives. Well-written and short, this book should be on the shelf of anyone who is trying to live Scripture.

Hadn't read Henry Drummond's book in years, but I recently picked it up again and re-read it and found it had lost none of its power for me. This book can be read in twenty minutes, but it's a twenty minutes that can change your perception of life and love.

Drummond, who was an inspiring liberal-thinking Christian of the 1800's, divides Paul's chapter on love in First Corinthians into three parts: "love contrasted," "love analyzed," and "love defended." He shows us what love isn't, shows us what it is, and defends it as the "greatest thing in the world." He helps us understand that it is not a burden to love - it's the easiest thing in the world!

This book is one of the most inspiring pieces of Christian literature I've ever read.

The others have said it all. This is truly a five star book, full of useful content. By now you should be in no doubt - buy it!

J.Scott Hamlin is on the cutting edge of Web graphics design and his book Effective Web Animation offers a new look and fresh approach to incorporating animated imagery. According to Hamlin serious Web graphics design goes far beyond the simple GIF animations of poorer quality and performance that just about anyone can create. Image size, color quality, interactivity, accompanying audio, and faster delivery over the Internet are factors that have led to new Web animation technologies. Are we ready to face them?

Hamlin lays a foundation for Web animation on the professional level for serious minded Web designers who must face new graphic design consideration demands. Hamlin offers detailed instruction involving the use of JavaScript, Photoshop, and Macromedia Flash and the results are phenomenal. This book contains many well-planned and beautifully designed graphic images and the tips and advanced techniques necessary to create comparable results. The accompanying CD features sample code, animations, demoware, and tutorials for further instruction opportunities.

Web animation is making a comeback and Web graphics design has become serious business. Hamlin's contribution in the form of this book is essential for those designers who want to graduate to a higher level of Web design mastery and income. Clients are wising up to the many Web technologies available to them and are becoming more discerning about how they spend their advertising dollars. Don't be left behind. Consider animating your Web creations today. This is must reading!

Having already worked for a number of years with the Internet I was hoping this book would provide me with such information as "Advanced Techniques for the Web" (as the books sub-title states). What I found though was the book is a fantastic resource for anyone who is a complete beginner right up to intermediate web developer.

I was expecting detailed information on java scripting and Flash scripting however found that the book goes not much further than, for example, the handbooks and tutorials of Flash 4 and Dreamweaver 2.

If you are an experienced web designer/developer with a solid grounding in the internet and are looking for more than basic java scripting and flash scripting, this book may prove to be too basic. With this all said, this is a valuable book and many colleagues who newer to the web are gaining much benefit from information in this book.

5 stars for beginner - intermediate skill level

3 stars for advanced skill level

For those who are looking to make your web work more eye appealing, you NEED this book. It's chock full of fantastic ways to spice up your site without sacrificing the bandwidth. Mr. Hamlin has done tremendous work, and this is just one of them. Get the book-you won't regret it.

This is one great book! Picking it up and setting down in my usual lazy chair to read I quickly got a feel for how easy this book was to read. With beautiful pictures and easy to follow examples I quickly found it to be one of my favorite graphics books. This book covers almost everything you need to know about web animation, and best of all, it grows with you! As your skills get better the book explains more. From Gif89 animations to all out power house Flash animations that will make your site to die for! I loved every bit!

This series of books is an outstanding history of the reorganization of Soka Gakkai International after World War II in Japan. It provides a great insight into the rebuilding of Japan, and the struggle many endured to rebuild the SGI and their lives. Recommend to all SGI members.

This book (series) chronicles the history of the Nichiren Buddhist laity, Soka Gakkai,from 1960 to the present. It's a collection of the personal struggles and victories of the pioneers of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism in America. No matter how many times I read it, it never fails to inspire me with hope and courage. The SGI motto "No matter what, never give up!" echos from every page.

As a foreigner living in a foreign land, I can understand from my own life how the Japanese war brides who introduced Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism to the USA felt. President Ikeda gave them four tasks to perform and they were:

1.) learn to speak English 2.) learn to drive a car 3.) buy a car 4.) become US citizens.

Impossible dreams for these women. By taking US citizenship they'd lose their Japanese citizenship and could never go home. English was very difficult to learn. Buying a car for a newly wed military couple, often with young children, was also seemingly out of reach.

Though their deep faith they made they impossible possible. Please do read the entire series. It will become one of your favorites as it has become mine.

As a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism and a relatively new member of the Soka Gakkai International, this book was a great surprise to me. I knew that the book was a history of how the Soka Gakkai was reinvigorated by Josei Toda after WWII. But I had no idea that the struggle was so great. I am learning every day more about Buddhism by reading how the characters in the books use their faith to overcome their own struggles (karma) and become enlightened people. Maybe the expert on snake oil does not practice Buddhism so the story does not make much sense. I look forward to reading "The New Human Revolution."

As a novel in which the protagonist, Josei Toda, discovers a deeper meaning to Buddhism while imprisoned by a militarist government during WWII may not connect with every reader. I read this novel approx. 30 years ago as I was learning about Buddhist practice and philosophy. It provided an excellent medium through which I learned the application of Buddhism in a practical setting, rather than simply as abstract concepts. I have continued my Buddhist practice and this novel was a key to keeping focused on the primary goal of enlightenment, a.k.a Human Revolution. Why another reviewer dismisses this as "snake oil" is odd. This Buddhism is a simple practice which requires no belief to undertake. An interested party, as I was, may begin without spending a penny, as I did. It is certainly not focused on trying people to spend large sums on ever continuing seminars and such. This school of Buddhism does alarm some people, as the novel illustrates, because other "mass movements" of the time were facist and not humanist. Furthermore, any new movement is seen as a threat to established institiutions. The Soka Gakkai, which this novel explores, is now recognized by a plethora of peace organizations as a beneficent organization.

The concept of human revolution is based on the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin, that enables people to elevate their life conditions to the highest through their buddhist practice, thus revolutionize them from within.

But, the true greatness of the Daishonin's Buddhism lies in making the practice possible and available to anybody, and through giving each member of the world the opportunity to continuously change him/herself for the better, the world peace can be achieved. The idea itself is revolutionary, I believe, that it goes totally the opposite of what has been done historically to achieve peace, which is to make the change at the top to force the changes downward to people (in many cases with lots of sacrificing and suffering).

The SGI, whose president is the author of The Human Revolution and The New Human Revolution series, practices the Daishonin's Buddhism; therefore, its ideal is to make each individual happy and to promote peace throughout the world. The New Human Revolution can be read in many ways, but I would recommend to pay a little more attention, when you read it, to the fact that the Buddhist ideal is put into practice and actually happening.

As a SGI member, I am proud to be a part of this endeavor and recommend anybody to check it out.

This is the JUnit book for you if you're looking into JUnit and basically get the idea - there's frameworks out there which will run tests that you write and JUnit is one of them- but don't know much more. It gets straight to the point and pretty quickly takes you from the no-nothing state to being able to using JUnit. At least, it did that in my case.

In a nutshell, this book will get you testing fast so you can move on and think about other, more interesting things.


All stuff, no stuffing, easy to read, well edited, well indexed, no time wasting exposition, what else do you want?

Example code has Manning's "numbered dot" technique whereby they highlight POI right in the code using footnotes that look like big black dots with numbers inside them, with accompanying text a little further down, a feature I find helpful.

Most technical publishers try hard to make their books worth the money they ask: Wiley , O'Reilly , Manning and Apress come to mind right away. This book is a good one from Manning and a good example of why Manning is a great niche publisher.

This is a readable, practical, and deep book. It's one of those books which teaches or refreshes Java and OO theory and practice as you read. I am also reading it for pleasure!

This is a great book. It is directed at users of JUnit, the Java unit testing framework. But in my mind the book gives sound advice for solving your programming problems in general, not just for Java or JUnit testing. It stresses the importance of unit testing, programming to interfaces instead of implementations and just simple common sense. The author is clearly passionate about his field and extremely experiences. The combination of enthusiasm and experience comes through on every page.

This isn't necessarily the best introduction for absolute beginners (I would recommend /Pragmatic Unit Testing/ for that), but it is required reading for server-side Java, as most other reviewers have pointed out. But it's more than that--it's one of those rare computer books that transcends its subject matter. Why? Because it can make you a better programmer. While some of the credit can rightly be given to unit testing and Test-Driven Development in general, Rainsberger's book makes you /see/ better ways to write and refactor your code. The breadth and depth of examples is astonishing--he convincingly shatters "but it's too hard to test that" arguments with well-researched, non-trivial examples. In fact, I'd say that this is almost a better J2EE tutorial than most books about J2EE proper.

I'm withholding a star for one reason: the book doesn't cover GUI testing tools like Jemmy, JFCUnit, or Abbot/Costello. These JUnit extensions are ripe for a book with this depth; it's just too bad that this couldn't be that book. Other than that, I find that I turn to Rainsberger's book far more often than any other testing book or online reference.

Rainsberger does a very good job of detailing the techniques to unit test difficult code; including xml, ejb, servlets, jsps etc.

I bought Manners Can Be Fun for my 2 year old granddaughter. She is too young to understand a lot of it but is enthralled with the pictures. Reading this book to her reminds me that I should always, always teach with actions rather than words because little eyes are watching and a slip in manners, even at home, will have an impact.

This book is as wonderful today as it was years ago! I agree about the missing Burpers - I want them back! But still a wonderful and fun way to instill principles of courtesy in the reader. A wonderful reminder of years gone by and if we are lucky a promise of what we can be in the years ahead. Just be nice to one another! Ann Clarke, author of People Are So Different! based on tolerance and understanding.

Two boys, 5 & 7 can often forget the importance of manners. Being tired of preaching and threatening, I saw this book and thought I'd try it. While they sipped hot chocolate, I read this to them. Neither of them said a word, but were paying complete attention! I couldn't believe it! I wasn't sure my kids would be able to enjoy and/or process this. They did, and I am very pleased with this book. Looking forward to buying all the other editions.

I had Munro Leaf books when I was achild (I am 61 now) and loved them. This is a fabulous book. All kindergarten and first grade classrooms should have this book. It explains why manners are important in a way that children will understand that their life will be better if they use good manners.

I wish this book had been around for my children when they were little. Their great grandmother had told them about it, but it was no longer in print. I bought six copies... so they could read it to their chilren when the time comes AND one for my class of kindergartners. My K kids LOVE it!

I wanted to learn some new embroidery stitches and this book has been a great help. Easy to follow directions and good pictures.

This is a great stitch dictionary for the beginner embroiderer and beyond. The diagrams for the stitches are clear, the information is sound and easy to follow. Plenty of stitches are covered in the book, too, along with variations. If you're looking for a good stitch dictionary, this is a classic and will serve you well. And, for the price, you really can't beat it!

I wanted a reference of all the possible stitches I might want to use at any given point in my work. This is perfect for that. However, there descriptions on how to reproduce the stitches aren't intuitive and I felt at times there were steps missing. I made up the missing steps, but it meant that a couple of the stitches just never quite turned out the way I wanted them (i.e., like the pictures in the book). This was true especially for the very complicated stitches that resulted in complex geometric patterns. I would recommend this for any advanced embroiderer who wants a quick picture reference of what stitches might work in this situation. I would not recommend it for beginners.

This book on embroidery was just what I needed. The diagrams are easy to follow, the book has a lot of different stitches, and tells you what the stitches are mostly used for. This is a good book for a beginner and reference for the experienced.

This revised edition is a great resource for both beginners and more advanced users. The illustrations and instructions are very clear and easy to follow and the allover design is very good.

Well-written and well-told story about the unconditional love between the two main characters, Torrey and Taylor, showing their painful transition between "best friends forever" and significant others. The roadblocks both women set up during this transition are so real and so typical of the roadblocks we as human beings set up in our own relationships. I just loved this story from beginning to end; it was a real page turner. The beginning, with the women first meeting as sorority sisters, was a great "hook" for this reader. I especially liked the character development of Jessica, their daughter, and the role she played in the story, and also the way that the author weaved recovery and recovery principles into the framework. Some of life's huge lessons well taught by this very talented author.

I've read this book, even before it went to print. I fell in love with it at first reading, and even now, after so many years, I can still remember the emotions I felt while reading this story. I felt like I was along for the ride, being a silent witness to Taylor Kent's and Torrey Gray's love for each other.

This is a definite keeper.

Read it, and enjoy!
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Trivia:
in the internet version, the song Taylor was listening to in the radio was while driving was Savage Garden's "I Knew I Loved You". Its different in the book.

This book I will keep to my library. Two college friends who become inseperable but untimately do part ways because they that is what is best for them.
A teenager in rebellion and out of control bring them back into contact with each other 15 yrs. later.
Take the journey with them to find out why they left each other when they loved each other so much. See if they can make the jump back to each others arms.

I have always loved everything written by the late, great L. J. Maas. In fact, `None So Blind' was the first of her books I read. Of course that was several years ago, but when I recently read it again I was once again completely drawn in to the story.

Torrey Gray and Taylor Kent meet in college. The two seemingly opposite women become fast friends. So close that they are blind to the love they feel for each other. Torrey gets pregnant by her college boyfriend and is disowned by her parents. The recently graduated Taylor offers her home to Torrey and her daughter. Taylor thinks Torrey is straight and keeps her own feelings hidden. Torrey thinks Taylor has never made a pass because she isn't interested in anything more than friendship. Eventually they part ways, but keep in touch.

Almost 14 years later, Torrey's daughter Jessica has become an unruly, drug-addicted teenager and Torrey is at her wit's end. As a last resort, she sends Jessica to spend the summer with Taylor. This reconnection takes them all in directions none of them ever imagined.

I don't believe any reader can help but fall in love with all three of these characters. They are multi-dimensional, confrontational, and completely intriguing. Each has her own issues, but together they have great synergy and passion.

I freely admit I'd recommend any book by Maas. However, this is definitely one of her best. In fact, if you were only planning to read one book by this wonderful author, this would be the one I'd suggest.

I loved this book! every word was perfect and LJ Mass Is the best at what she does.

I am constantly amazed at the magnitude of CeCe Winans musical and spiritual capabilities and I am pleased to say that her gifts do not end there. On A Positive Note is a beautiful piece. In it, there is a very natural and earthy quality that reaches the reader to relate the story CeCe seeks to tell. The flow of the book is very smooth; transitions are made nicely from one subject to the next as she relates her story. I cannot stress enough how the personal the experience of reading this book feels and how natural the language reads. CeCe has done it again. God is consistently working through her in a mighty way.

I read this book and I was so blessed by it. Throughout it, Cece constantly discusses the fact the she was taught to give up the world for God. This blessed me because it is evident in the way that God has blessed her music ministry that if we give up the world for God that he will do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ask or think in our lives. It was awesome to read about how God just kept blessing her life because the posture of heart was correct towards him. It was great to read a story about saved artist who had just been taught to live holy and to see the rewards of doing it. I was blessed and truly encouraged through this book.

While reading "On a Positive Note" by CeCe Winans, I was taken back into a time when I myself was growing up, how her childhood memories was very similar to my own. I also grew up in a large family, and reading her book brought back so many memories of my past. Despite all the tribulations and triumphs of her life, she managed to hold on to her spiritual belief, letting it guide her through her every decision in life. "On A Positive Note" has inspired me, lifted me to a higher level of praising the Lord and reminded me to always put God before each decision throughout my life. This book was quite a page turner that filled my heart with laughter, joy, tears, praise, sadness and forgiveness. I was moved to pray for Ronald myself as she astoundingly shared his testimony. My thirteen year old daughter is now reading this wonderful book and I will reccommend it to everyone I know.

http://pages.ivillage.com/cassie23/

This book, "On A Positive Note", was truly an inspiration. I didn't want to put the book down. Ms. Winans biography was written so that you felt that you were right there in that moment of time. Again, GREAT BIOGRAPHY!

This book was truly an inspiration. I didn't want to put the book down. Ms. Winans biography was written so that you felt that you were right there in that moment of time. Again, GREAT BIOGRAPHY!

I am a novice in origami. And I do not understand anything in Lang's book.
He just does not care to explain the "simple" stuff. Therefore, there is
no take-off for a novice! --- Too bad.

Book is in excellent shape, is full of awesome information, arrived very quickly and overall, I'm psyched. THanks.

This is a must have book for origami designer as well as folder.
Robert J. Lang is obviously a great author.

The delivery of Amazon is faster than I experted.
The book was in good condition when I received it.

This book is amazing, if a little daunting. It will take some time but I hope to be creating my own patterns some day. Happy folding!

This book is a MUST HAVE for the origami enthusiast - it begins with excellent coverage of the basics and each chapter builds on the last. When you finish this book, you'll be able to fold anything, except maybe time and space ;-)