W Books

Review written by product buyer's 13 year old daughter

This is a book that I and anyone who loves action, adventure, drama, and suspence will love! The very first page drops you right in the middle of the action, and it just gets better and better from there! If there were an award for 'best book for starting an action series', this would win by a landslide! You'll meet new charators to like, new charactors to hate, and new kinds of danger you wouldn't believe would fit into one book! This book is definetly one of my favorites! Buy it and enjoy!

P.S. A book that follows up from the end of this book is #4 The Lazarus Plot (another great book!)

In Franklin Dixon's Hardy Boy's "Dead on Target", Frank "The good looking blonde haired blue-eyed older brother", and Joe "The black haired brown eyed younger brother", and their close freinds are in the mall in their hometown of Bayport on the East coast around lunch. Iola (one of the friends) gets upset and goes back to the car in the parking lot and gets in. Frank and Joe are on their way out to the car when it blows up with Iola in it! This creates a huge mystery which Faranklin Dixon's books are known for. This becomes a huge mystery leading to an overseas Terrorist group who is trying to scare Fenton Hardy (Frank and Joe's dad and one of the worlds greatest detectives) off their case. The bomb was meant for his kids but killed Iola. The two boys, who are great detectives themselves, vow to solve the case.
The case leads them to Europe fighting an international terroist group who are trained experts. Dodging death and putting themselves in danger for others they quickly close in on the terrorists with help from the FBI and other agencies. But the real problem is in Baypot.
My feelings about the book are that it is great! The author uses a fast pace to keep the reader intrested in the book. His books are identical to the Nacy Drew mystery books in that the main characters are teenagers.

I am a die hard Hardy Boys fan and this is definatly one of the better of the group. I recommend any of the books for lite reading and a break from reality. A key note of advise though, I read a lot of the reviews complaining that these are unrealistic. Yes they are but in my opinion there is always enough reality in the world from the moment you wake up a little break every now and then is nice.

Back to this book though it is extremly exciting and is the start of a whole new begining in the Hardy Boys books. This mystery throws out all the cute nice points of the hardcovers. Another word of caution the hard covers are a lot tamer than these do to the era they were written in.

What a hotshot book.Although at the beginning I felt sad as I read on I was hooked.The Bullet plants a bomb in the Hardy car and Iola is killed.Joe and Frank track him down I do not want to tell you more because it would be iresponsible.

"Dead on Target" was the beginning of a new era for the Hardy Boys. This is the first volume of the new (in 1991) series "The Hardy Boys Casefiles", and it is a more adult and action packed series than the original series. This is never more evident than the first two pages of the book. Whereas the original series (started in 1927 and it is still running today) would have various plots by criminals, nobody ever seemed to get killed or nothing too serious would ever happen, but "Dead on Target" opens with the killing of Joe Hardy's girlfriend (and sister of good friend Chet) Iola Morton. For a series that has been known for its lack of actual murders of any on screen character, this was a shocking and explosive (no pun intended as it was by a bomb that killed Iola) moment. It marked the different direction that the Casefiles would take the reader, as well as the Hardys, on.

A car bomb was the cause of death for Iola Morton. Frank and Joe, as well as Iola and Frank's girlfriend Callie Shaw, were at the mall preparing for a political rally. Iola ends up returning to the Hardys' car to pick up more campaign materials when it explodes, killing her. Joe blames himself because his flirting with another girl made Iola mad and this is what led her to be at the car by herself. At the funeral, "Dead on Target" takes another twist by introducing the character of The Grey Man. The Grey Man is a member of a secret government organization called "The Network". "The Network" believes that an international group of terrorists, "The Assassins", were responsible for Iola's death and are planning something big for the political rally the following week.

The rest of the novel finds Frank and Joe traveling to London, fighting several members of the Assassins, being in the midst of gun battles and defusing a bomb. "Dead on Target" is fast paced with a tighter story than what is found through most of the original series. For fans of the Hardy Boys, "Dead on Target" is likely to be a favorite. It is not for the purists of the series, though. This book takes the brothers down a different timeline than we find in the main series. Since the main series continued to be published at the same time as the Casefiles, these books (Casefiles) are either set at a later date than the continuing series or is part of some alternative timeline since Iola is still alive in the main series.

"Dead on Target" has more violence than the "classic" Hardy Boys, but this is a very interesting story, even if it is a bit far fetched. For the first time, terrorism and murder have been introduced to Bayport and the Casefiles bring the reader a new style of story with the Hardys. As an introduction to the Casefiles as well as a new episode in the lives of the Hardys, this is a good place to start. Fifteen years after first reading this book it remains a fun read.

-Joe Sherry

Great novel as all were from the Marcinko / Weisman team. Thouroughly enjoyed this book as well as all ithers written by Marcinko. It is definetly a must read for all Rogur Warrior fans...

Dick Marcinko is a rare individual, who is not only strong in his combat delivery, but smart and has quite the work ethic. are and thank God he is a standup warrior.

This particular book is a little too close to similar to reality today (to what he has known for a very long time) for comfort. I pray that God continues to use him and others like him in the protection of our Armed Forces and Americans in general. If I had a son, I would want him to serve and learn from the best, Dick Marcinko. (Although, I believe that the only way a person of Mr. Marcinko's magnitude, must have a strange personal life.)

This is great fun, and I find the story quite interesting. Not just in battle, but the complex background and history is interesting as well. Proving things are not always what they seem.

This was the third...and last Rogue Warrior book for me. After being blown away by the first one, I eagerly awaited Red Cell. After being somewhat disappointed by Red Cell, I still awaited the third book, "Green Team." I did find Green Team readable and Im a big fan of the SEALs. But it was nothing that great either. It certainly did not pack the drama of the first book. Its basically more of the original book...more bashing the regular Navy, more bashing non JSOC SEALs who couldnt make the cut of SEAL Team Six or Red Cell back in the eighties, more bashing of civilian politicians who Marcinko perceives as "weenies" or even as traitors. I dont disagree with Marcinko's assessments of these individuals, but after a while his moaning and complaining gets old. Thats why I decided to call it quits after Green Team.

If I want to listen to some bitter old man complain about the sorry state of the world, I will go listen to my dad or my grandpa complain. Marcinko comes across like a whiner in Green Team. I havent read a Marcinko book since.

Marcinko's original book is a mini-education and a great book. The rest of his books are redundant, moaning and groaning.

One thing that you can say about one of Marcinko's books is that they are not at all boring. He is able to call upon his SEAL training and experience to put together an interesting story.Some of his dealings in this book are close to what you read in the newspapers today. His knowledge of weapons and their use also add to his ability to spin an action packed story. His action team is also made up of some interesting characters. You would also have to commend his portrayal of villains. As can be said many times over the action in this book is nonstop. Buy this book and read it. It certainly is not boring.

This is easily the best Demo Dick has written. Right from page 1, it grabs you and never lets go. You're there for every shot, you're there when the idiots who think they know how to run a military op try their best(and sometimes succeed)to screw things up, and you'll get the urge yourself to beat the living shinola out of said idiots. You'll be dodging bullets as well as shrapnel alongside Demo Dick and his merry band of marauders, and returning fire along with them. Just read the book! It's well worth the money, and you'll want to reread it over and over.

Having served with a Battalion of Marines back in my Naval Service days, I was unable to put down Major Seth Folsom's book on the Highway War. My impression of the Marine Officers with whom I served, their dedication to duty and to their men, left a lasting impression on me. Major Folsom's story reaffirms that admiration. What is so noteworthy is the maturing of a combat Marine who emerged as a competent professional able to meet any challenge under extreme stress and pressure to complete the assigned mission. First to use LAV's in combat, his unit encountered many imponderables and maitenance problems while continuing to move forward in the face of unknown enemy resistence. He never once failed to give credit to his Marines who fought under his command and alongside him. Their desire to stay in touch and close to him after returning from Iraq is evidence of the high regard they have for him. No higher acolade can be give than to have your enlisted troops want to serve with you again as they said in the book. Major Folsom represents the finest we have in the future core of military leaders. We need more of his kind if we are to maintain the freedom we enjoy.

I have read the previous comments of others both pro and con. I have known Major Folsom's father for many years. Quite obviously, the acorn fell close to the tree. His father is one of the most outstanding officers with whom I have had the privilege to associate. From reading this book, I feel confident that Major Folsom has inherited all of his father's outstanding qualities.

Two matters were brought to light in reading this excellent documentation of his tour. First, I wish that I had the presence of mind to record a daily record of my tour as a squadron commander in RVN. Second, I commend Major Folsom for his honest evaluation of his accomplishments and his revelation of what he considered his failings.

There are many who can understand the stress of combat because they have been there. The ground troops, perhaps more than any, face the true cruelty of the close-in combat environment. POWs, more than anyone, experience a different type of stress. No one can truly express the stress unless he or she have been there. There are far too many who critique the events without having ever experienced being there. Folsom has.

Major Folsom's forthright analysis of his tour should be required reading for every newly commissioned officer of any branch. Folsom recently departed and is presently in-country on his second tour. I wish him and those men with him God-speed and shall look forward to a critique of this tour. May I add that I would be more than willing to serve with this officer anytime, any place as I have with his father.

Years ago Marine artist Col Charles Waterhouse drew a cartoon of a grizzled Marine Gunny, complete with cigar, pulling on a Santa outfit as he prepares to entertain young children, as compared to his normal demeanor of an intimidating Gunny. Maj Seth Folsom's book details a similar transformation, as he grows from a nervous young officer facing his first combat to that of a skilled and articulate officer and husband.

A Captain at the time, Folsom is a blunt and honest writer who discusses his fears and concerns of what he is about to encounter in Iraq. The likely-hood is that many Marines and soldiers, both officers and enlisted, can identify with his worry of how he will fare in his first combat: Can he hack it? How well will he perform? Will he make any mistakes that might cost the lives of his Marines? The difference between them and Folsom is his frankness in discussing these concerns.

Folsom uses the story of his role as company commander to tell the story of Delta Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as they participated in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. From breaching the berms into Iraq, to watching and waiting as his fellow Marines fought at An-Nasiriyah, to the fighting on the way to Baghdad and beyond, Folsom pulls no punches and spares no feelings in his descriptions of leading 130 Marines into combat. The invasion in March 2003 was the beginning of an unusual war against a non-traditional enemy, and Folsom has to find his balance as an officer when dealing with both his superiors and the Marines under him while learning how to lead Marines in combat. Sand, stink, rain, lack of sanitation, fatigue, grime, and nerves are just some of issues with which he dealt even before he and his men even encountered the enemy. Folsom covers the military actions from 21 March 2003 through the April 2003 capture of Baghdad, and he accurately recounts the stress, excitement, and confusion of those historic days.

With the book written from the notes and recollection of his wartime journal, this is a fascinating memoir revealing are his feelings as he dealt with his Marines, and how he matured as an officer and as a human being. Many readers, especially his fellow officers will find much to critique in his rough and abrasive leadership style, and his dislike of the media is at odds with Marine Corps policy. But it is Folsom's same bluntness that lets him write so revealingly - and perhaps these same readers can use his vignettes as an `after-action report' in order to guide themselves in similar circumstances.

In perhaps a reflection of the asymmetrical nature of this war, Folsom recounts participating in briefings with the generals and colonels leading the invasion, and later singing with his men as they blast rock & roll music at rock concert levels. Perhaps one unexpected bonus of war in the wired age is that we readers can share in our warrior's thoughts and experiences while they are still fresh, and as such, Maj Folsom's book is both an exciting read and highly recommended.

I couldn't wait to read this book and when I finally got my copy, it wasn't all I thought it would be. Basically you follow the life of a young marine LAV Company Commander during OIF. He comes across many times as a whiner and someone I wouldn't want to work for. I felt sorry for his Marines many times when they had to deal with him and his emotional outbursts. I really saw nothing different from this book than any of the other books like this based on OIF. I could have passed on it.

You may hate this war and our current President for getting us involved in it, but after reading this book you can only respect and honor those doing the fighting .Folsom's thoughtful leadership and concern for his men, his belief in the Marine Corps and The Mission turned my head around.
The more liberal you are , the more you need to read this book.

One of the primary challenges with managing and governing IT effectively is that many of the questions that we need to answer are difficult to measure. What is the expected value of a new software project? What is the chance of success? How long will the project take? What architectural strategy is best? How effective is a development technique? What is our level of quality? How good is our production data? And so on.


Although these questions are hard to answer, luckily this book provides some proven advice for easily taking measures that enable us to improve our decision making. To understand the value, and ease of, taking presumably difficult measures, in Chapter 2 Hubbard works through examples from past of great thinkers who didn't give up in the face of the "impossible". For example, around 200 BC Eratothenes estimated the circumference of the Earth by observing the lengths of shadows, Enrico Fermi estimated the power of the first atomic bomb by observing the distance that it blew confetti, and at the age of nine Emily Rosa (who became the youngest person to publish in a scientific journal at the age of 11) measured the ability (or more accurately lack there of) of people claiming to have the ability of therapeutic touch. Chapter 3 goes on to discuss the illusion of intangibles, motivating you to abandon the self-defeating belief that some things are just too hard to measure. Chapter 4 clarifies the measurement problem, focusing on uncertainty and risk, putting you in a better position to effectively reduce business risk through relatively simple measurement.


Chapters 5 through 7 describe more of the fundamentals behind measurements and the value of improved information, and chapters 8 through 10 describe strategies for doing measurements. Being a firm believer in strategies which reflect human behavior, I was particularly interested in chapters 11 through 14 which cover the human issues around measurement, making a hard science soft again.


If you're tasked with improving your internal metrics program, improving your governance strategy, or simply want to learn about strategies to find out what the heck is actually going on within your organization or industry then this book will prove to be a good idea. Hubbard uses straightforward, easy to understand examples throughout the book, thereby simplifying many complex ideas for the reader.

A fantastic introduction into probabalistic way of thinking about what you know or think, and how you can develop this into usefull objective measurement frameworks for those things your previously thought were "intangible" or "unknowable"

...you must read this book. Beyond simply breaking down the obstacles to quantification, this book helps you understand the value of the information that quantification provides. If you are responsible for making business decisions or recommendations, you have to read this book.

What is the value of $45? You can purchase about 11 gallons of gasoline or How To Measure Anything. The latter provides you with the means to move to another level in business or organizational management. The former may get you to work and back for a week.
I can't say enough good things about Douglas Hubbard's book. It provides all the benefits of statistical prowess without getting bogged down in the math. It is clearly and engagingly written. (I had difficulty putting it down.) It keeps you wanting to learn more. And it is exceedingly practical. The discussion of how to calibrate your ability to estimate ranges is worth the price of the book alone.
How To Measure Anything is one of a kind. I know of nothing that comes close to explaining this material this well. As an added bonus, Hubbard has given readers a web site with downloadable templates that enhance the book's value even further.
If your job or personal life involves making judgments in the face of uncertainty and you would like to know how to reduce the uncertainty without spending a fortune, buy and read this book. You will not regret it.

"I wrote this book to correct a myth that permeates many organizations today: that certain things can't be measured." Douglas Hubbard goes on to note that he has made a career out of measuring the sorts of things many thought were immeasurable. Intangibles, for example, "that appear to be completely intractable to be measured...in a way that is economically justified." Hubbard notes that there are several common misconceptions about intangibles. He offers what he characterizes as a "universal approach," Applied Information Economics (AIE), to measure an intangible, providing with that explanation some "interesting methods for particular problems."

He duly recognizes that only what is most important (tangible or intangible) should be measured; also, that what is currently most important may not retain that importance; and, that information needs change, sometimes significantly and unexpectedly. That said, basic questions must constantly be asked and answered:

1. What are our most important information needs? Why?

2. How best to obtain and then verify that information?

3. What will we then do with that information?

4. How can we then measure (accurately, consistently, and sufficiently) the impact of actions taken based on that information?

To his credit, Hubbard makes every effort to provide information, explanations, and recommendations that are (in his words) as "simple as can be"; nonetheless, some of the material may prove daunting, at least it did to me. I appreciate the inclusion of dozens of real-world examples that illustrate key points. Hubbard also makes effective use of other reader-friendly devices, such as checklists inserted throughout his narrative. In his own words, here is how he organizes his material:

In Section One (Chapters 1-3), he "makes the case that everything is measurable and offers some examples that should inspire readers to attempt measurements even when it seems impossible."

In Section Two (Chapters 4-7), he "begins to get into more specific substance about how to measure things - specifically uncertainty, risk - and the value of information."

In Section Three (Chapters 8-10), he "deals with how to reduce uncertainty by various methods of observation including random sampling and controlled experiments."

And then in Section Four (Chapters 11-14), Hubbard offers "an eclectic collection of interesting measurement solutions and case examples."

Many readers will appreciate having the Appendix (Pages 269-278) which provides both the questions and answers for various calibration tests, including "Calibration Survey for Binary: B" that also includes percentages to indicate degree of confidence that the respondent is correct.

Earlier, I suggested that this is by no means an "easy read." It isn't. Nor will this book respond directly to every executive's immediate needs and objectives. However, it will generously reward those who need assistance with finding and measuring the intangibles in business if they absorb and digest the material with appropriate care. To those about to begin reading this book, Douglas Hubbard offers this recommendation: Write down those things they believe are immeasurable or, at least they are not sure to how to measure. "After reading this book, my goal is that you are able to identify methods for measuring each and every one of them." I presume to add another recommendation: Highlights key passages and titles of checklists. By doing so, you will be able to facilitate, indeed expedite frequent review of key concepts and insights later.

I have never heard a piece of music by composer Jan Swafford, but if he composes as well as he writes, his music should be stimulating indeed. Some reviewers have called this book hard to put down, a page-turner. I found it so. Part of its interest lies in Brahms himself; any book that purports to shed even a bit of light on so enigmatic a figure would cause one to turn pages in hopes of illumination. But I can imagine, too, a very dull book about Brahms. Well, there are few dull pages among the 600+ in Swafford's biography. As is now de rigueur in good modern historical writing, Swafford creates a judicious blend of primary-source material and commentary thereon, along with a rich store of anecdotes told in his own fine, writerly voice.

Musical analysis is treated in such a way that the amateur musician, and even the musically challenged, will not be put off. In all cases, Swafford demonstrates well one of his chief theses--that Brahms was the most Janus-like of the great nineteenth century composers. He looked back all the way to Renaissance masters, assimilating their contrapuntal styles in ways beyond anything that Beethoven, Mendelssohn, or Schumann had done before him. Yet he so thoroughly anticipated the ambiguity of tonality and rhythm in twentieth-century music that Schoenberg could, long after Brahms's death, speak of "Brahms the Progressive."

But there is much more than musical analysis in this book. There is a thorough investigation of the many dualities in Brahms's nature: Brahms the generous, Brahms the curmudgeonly; Brahms the respecter of (intellectual and artistic) women, Brahms the misogynist; Brahms the romantic, Brahms the classicist; Brahms the sentimentalist, Brahms the cynic; Brahms the self-effacing, Brahms the monumentally egotistical. Swafford presents them all in their staggering incompatibility. And while Swafford himself admits that no one can ever quite hope to reconcile all these manifestations or indeed fill in the gaps in a life that the composer himself hoped to keep mostly a closed book, he comes close to making this great study in contrasts that was Brahms into a flesh-and-blood individual whose most mystifying acts seem almost comprehensible because we have seen him in action in similar contexts. By an exhaustive examination of the primary literature and shrewd speculation based thereon, Swafford builds a picture that convinces. He can't make us always like Brahms or even sympathize with him, but we come to understand him better through Swafford's portrait than we ever thought we could. That is some accomplishment.

Beyond this are the passages in which Swafford speaks of musical and indeed cultural history after Brahms. The epilogue to this book, in which the author traces Brahms's paradoxical legacy through the great century of change since his death, should be mandatory reading for all students of culture in the West.

Are there flaws? Yes. Some parts of the book show haste while others show careful crafting. In a work this large, that is to be expected. And Swafford overuses the word "magisterial." This may describe Brahms to a tee, but so, I hope, do a few other adjectives. Small gripes? Small indeed, given the wealth of insight and reading pleasure that Swafford provides here. I'm ready for his biography of Ives!

Mr.Swafford did excellent jobs in dissecting and analyzing major symphonic works without sounding pedantic and dry. However, I wish he had invested more ink on the other major orchestral works such as Piano Concerto no.2 and the Violin Concerto, two of my favorites, like he did Piano Concerto no.1 and the symphonies and variations, etc. On the late concertos he merely described the circumstances surrounding their creation and barely touched on structural analysis.

Other than that, the book is very detailed and enjoyable to read. It sheds a lot of light on the human side of the composer and his friends, and thus makes these historical figures come back to life. At several instances I was so touched by Swafford's writing that I almost shed tears. Reading this book has been an emotional journey for me, and I rank it as my favorite book on music and musicians. Very touching! I love it!

I wonder how Brahms would have compensated for the defeat to his friend's wife - Clara Schumann. Although lively attention to details was a notable characteristic of the German woman lover, pianist and composer, her indifference to the sentiments of her husband - the German composer Robert Schumann - was so shallow as to miscalculate Robert's perturbation with her lover's apathy.
How could Brahms, having degenerated to low stage, get over the perfidy of such relationship with the woman who was fourteen years his senior (and who also raised seven children)? Such polyandrous practice was not customary in Germany and both lovers must have become impetuous when they, again, met with indecision of purpose.
Was it bigamy? Or sheer adultery? Did it really matter to Brahms who, at least, cared for Clara's husband and his friend's illness? Was Clara prematurely getting old marking her life by irrational thoughts? Or was it the agnostic Brahms believing in nothing?
Brahms gave us medley of music; conscious of the shadow of the dead Robert, Ein Deutsches Requiem {1867/8} is one that represented heavenly masterpiece as if to seek pardon in humble supplications like the sinner who renounces lifelong bad habits when in extremity of pain.

What a wonderful biography. Brahms' dealings with Clara Schumann, Joachim, and other friends is studied in fascinating detail through meetings and letters -- an intimate portrait of personal relations, desires and fears, quiet joys and resentments, etc., all as absorbing as a Henry James novel.

Meanwhile, Brahms' incomparable music is a life of its own, and we are treated to the master's views of it, as well as those of contemporaries and the author. The author's assessments seem to me almost unerringly valid. (Take, for example, his lofty praise of Gesang der Parzen, an underheard choral masterwork, or his concession that the Double Concerto, a concert standard, is on a less than inspired level.)

Add to this the author's occasional shift of focus to the Austro-German culture in which Brahms lived, in retrospect an even more remarkable time and place, where music was valued to a rare degree, and where ideas and events -- artistic, philosophical, political -- were poised to take momentous turns. Fascinating, even haunting, stuff, and all the more appropriate for discussion as these were issues about which Brahms had much concern in his later years.

This is a great story about a great composer. The book tells his life story, and highlights many of his great works. Within this biography, the book also mentions the interactions, disagreements and perspectives of the different composers of the late 19th century - Liszt, Wagner, Schumann, Bruckner, Mahler and of course Brahms. From that perspective, it is not only a biographry of Brahms but in some ways a history of classical music in that period. In my opinion, Brahms was the best composer of the group, and this book highlights why he was. It focuses on many of his great compositions, even providing the major musical notes for key parts of a composition. For example, in what is arguably his best work, the 4th symphony, this book spends four pages on the last movement of this symphony, a very powerful cantata and chaconne that Brahms brought to the symphony. This form, according to the book, derives from the Baroque period and Bach has a great similar work with the violin. Brahms took it a step further and using the whole capabilities of the symphony orchestra, weaves this concept into a very powerful piece of music. Since reading these four pages, I've developed a greater interest in this movement and in the 4th symphony in total. It is a beautiful powerful work and this book provides a beautiful perspective of this work. The same is true for all of the book. It has given me a better perspective of Brahms and classical music. For this reason, I highly recommend this book.

overall I am very happy with my purchase. The book arrived in good condition and in a timely manner.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at the size and quality of this book! I happened to purchase the 6th edition, and I'm glad I did. The first thing that caught my eye was the impressive layout. Next, I was impressed with the colors and awesome diagrams! The book also comes with a CD-ROM program (which includes images and video clips) that is truly helpful in testing and evaluating what you've learned using a variety of stimulating methods. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is studying in the medical field or who is just interested in learning "The Language of Medicine." Kudos to Davi-Ellen Chabner and all involved in creating this awesome edition!

This book is really a great book. It makes figuring out and understanding medical terms a breeze. The exercises are incredibly easy because they are using the rote method. I think the author is using the rote method because it's pretty effective. The terms are clearly explained. The book is easy to follow and the CD that comes with it also uses rote. It might seem mindless, but after doing the 1st few chapters, I was able to read my A&P books without any problem (I have never taken A&P class yet). So if you need to understand and parse medical terms in a hurry, this is the book for you. It's well worth the price.

This book is the best one I've seen on medical terminology. There are numerous charts and pictures to further enhance the learning process, as well as many workbook-type exercises to test your knowledge. By the time you finish a chapter, you REALLY understand the information covered. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to study from this book.

The systematic approach to understanding medical terminology is a key to success as a transcriptionist. Thanks in part to the beautiful way this textbook lays out a method of grasping the concepts involved in this subject, I am now one of the top 10 producers at our company of about 150 MTs. This book was a great investment.

If you've ever had any questions or just wanted to know the emotional and spirtual side behind BDSM then this is a must read novel. I loved it!

A must buy for all erotic romance fans. Buy it, read it again and again, and let your heart be touched and your eyes be opened. You too will become a JWH fan!

All I can say is "WOW"! As a new erotica reader, this was a compelling introduction to the genre. Mac and Violet's story was hard to read at times, especially for those not familiar with BDSM, yet so moving, I couldn't put it down. It gave insight into the D/s lifestyle, and a whole new way of looking at those involved in it. I see many more erotica purchases in my future, especially by Ms. Hill.

This is the story of two characters who also appear in The Ice Queen, a story that I enjoyed a lot more than this one. Violet is a sexual dominant, and Mac, a cop, is a sexual submissive, even though he is controlling male, alpha-type outside of the bedroom. It turns him on to have the woman be in control, though in practice, he is caring and controlling in other ways.

Mac comes to the club where Violet 'plays' because he is undercover, looking for a female dominatrix who he believes is responsible for a string of deaths of male submissives.

I really like this author, and have been reading all her material. Unlike many erotic books, she writes with a plot and includes great characterization. This is not just a story about sex, with a little plot thrown in. This book, unlike some of her others, is not about troubled characters, however. Both Violet and Mac are comfortable with who they are. The suspense comes from the murder mystery, and there is just not quite enough of that crime element for this to get 5 stars from me. It is a very good story, nonetheless, and definitely one for fans of Joey Hill to include in their reading list. It is interesting to compare Mac with Jacob from The Vampire Queen's Servant, another character who is a dichotomy interms of a strong male who is a submissive.

I ordinarily find BDSM erotica degrading and it makes me uncomfortable. Not this book. I did enjoy it. The charcaters were developed beautifully. I could see the romance/affection//love between them. Not like Most BDSM erotica I have read where Dom meets sub; they engage in sex and other things and you get no character insight.

Mr. Parnell has produced an invaluable tool for assisting in preparation for the 473 & 473C postal exam. After using his work-book format in evenings for 1 week, culminating with a faux test run the morning of the exam, I went into the test with confidence, and 6 weeks later, have received notice of a passing score which is much higher than I had anticipated. In my estimation, I would never have passed had I not used this guide which provides both realistic simulations and great tips.

D. Kerr, Portland, OR

if anyone of you were interested in an entry level mail processing position in the USPS, this is the book to buy. i bought 7 books and found Pernall's the most helpful. the practice tests were perfect. the dude knew what he was talking about. in fact, using his strategies for memory part, i believe i got 100% in that section. in fact, i'm currently working for the USPS in santa ana, have been there since last august. i must say that this book helped the most.

I purchased this book about 3 weeks before the exam. I studied very hard and just recieved my results......86.70%!!! That shows that you can score higher on the test than an 85% I also have 10 disability points which makes my score a total 96.70% It shows my score (on the mailed test results) of an 86.70% then below it says, "score with disabled vet points, 96.70%. The book has helped me so much. I wish you guys the best of luck! You may email me questions about the test if you'd like. carl_wingate@yahoo.com. p.s my results took ALMOST 6 weeks to come back so dont freak out when they dont come in 3 weeks.

How can I put this? I got the job!!! If you only buy one book this year, other than the new Harry Potter one obviously, then THIS is the book to buy. Of course I am assuming that you WANT to have a job with double the pay of any other entry level job, immediate full benefits, and job security out the "wazoo".

I used Mr. Parnell's book as an aid in preparing for the 473-c postal exam. I read it cover to cover, went through each of the practice exams, and found that my confidence and speed improved dramatically with each testing. After grading my practice exams my scores went from the high 80's to the high 90's. This book is a godsend!

When I went to take the real exam, I wasn't nervous; I was prepared! I found that I was completely at ease and that I was able to focus on the questions, rather than the jitters. Mr. Parnell's book is precisely the same format and question types that you will see on the current exam.

After receiving my score back from the post office (6 weeks is about normal), I had my first interview within a month. The interviewer informed me that my score was the highest (unadjusted for military service) that he had seen! Oh, did I mention, I got the job!!!

I was SO satisfied with this study guide, I'm now looking at the other study guides in preparation for advancement exams to help with promotions to higher paying positions as well.

Buy the book. The very first hour you work at your new job will pay for it twice over. How can afford not to?

This book is produced in three versions to suit your study preferences. These are:

The Original Postal Exam 473 & 473-C Study Guide -- This version is text only. It has reference material and sample exams with many test taking tips.

Complete Postal Exam 473 & 473-C Training Program with 2 Test Prep Audio CD's -- This is the same book, but two audio CD's read it to you while you follow along in the book. Using two senses, eyes and ears increase the retention of information.

New Postal Exam 473 & 473-C Computer-Based Course -- This is again the same book, but there is a CD that contains both test prep classes and realiztic practice exams, you'll need an internet ready PC with Windows to use this version.

I used this book. I took the 473 C exam. I got a very good score. I got called in for an interview about 3 months after getting my test results back. Make no mistake about it that you need to score very well to be where i am and the only way to do that is by preparing for the test. Don't expect to do well by just showing up on test date and "giving your best effort". This is not that type of test. It's the type of test where practice is the key. And this book is by far the best study guide for the 473 exam. It's not even close. I tried a few others and it's blatantly obvious how little they know do about the ins and outs of this test. The author has personally taken this test dozens of times and his knowledge of the postal office and how it operates in general is very deep. So if you are serious about getting a great score on this exam, you need to get this book.

The author knows his stuff; instead of hiding behind equations and leaving it up to you to work out what it all means; he tells you what in means and gives you the equations.

I am a mechanical engineer, but lately I have been doing a lot of signal processing and data analysis using MatLab. This book was a great way to get back up to speed. Its clear and concise without geting too bogged down in theory - lots of directly applicable tips and info.
Its also free for download on the author's website, www.dspguide.com, and from Analog Devices website in their training materials area, [...].

I have BS in computer science and 8 years of S/W development experience in telecommunication industry. But my primary skill is protocol development and systems programming.

But as a music lover, as a musician, I've been interested in DSP technology for a long time and tried several times to get acquainted to the technology with no avail.

I guess the reason I failed is I couldn't understand the exact meaning of mathematical languages in DSP area.

I'm still in the middle of this book but now I can understand what the mathematical languages mean. The author is very precise using math languages and translate the language into easy plain english without missing any clarity and bravity of mathematical language.

I'm gonna keep working on DSP with this book as my hobby and finally when the time comes, all I gotta do is use my programming skill to develop a useful DSP S/W.

This book tells everything you have to know about the mathematics to realise any signal processing application.
With the help of the examples (written in BASIC, I have some adapted into C) you can realize filters and signal synthesis/processing with FFT. There is no theoretical overhead.
With the help of this book I have developed a modem software within four monthes, without any basic knowledge in DSP.

I am a graduate mechanical engineering student and I have found that ALL engineers today are required to have a GOOD fundamental understanding of electricity and electronics. The most difficult of electronic concepts to grasp for the uninitiated is DSP. After skimming through other books and becoming quite frustrated hacking my way through others I have found not only the best introduction to DSP in publication, but also one of the best technical books I've ever seen...and I read a lot of technical books outside of required texts. Excellent job by the author...books like this do not come around often enough.

This is a must read for people interested in either history, the environment, or people. It is well written and provides an excellent view about the history of the twentieth century that most people do not usually know about. Everyone should read it.

Boom. This is a biggie. Yowzah! If you want a clear view of our specie's impact on our world there is no better place to start than here. J.R. McNeill offers a balanced and comprehensive look at the century which changed everything, and his title, contradicting Ecclesiastes' assertion that nothing is new, says it all. The core idea here is that in the last century humanity moved beyond affect of local systems to dominance of the biosphere. We are everywhere. McNeill covers our impact on all of the life on our planet, from his prologue discussion of economy, population and energy, to his deeper analysis of soil, air, water and the whole of living systems. He offers clear views of the demographic and technologic forces which have shaped our modern world. Most illuminating of all are the complicated ways in which each change we have wrought has brought both destruction and remediation. Oil, the number one eco-villain in recent history, particularly when pumped through internal combustion engines, has also cleaned up city air enormously when it replaced coal and wood for heating and power generation. It also eliminated the need to remove 10-15,000 horse carcasses from average large cities each year and saved the great whales from extinction. Nuclear energy, an utter failure economically and with wastes which will be our generation's longest lasting heirloom, at least doesn't pollute the air. Population growth has had enormous impact on environmental damage, but less than I would have estimated as a percentage, and in some places it has even permitted improvements impossible without many hands. We are, in his words, the "rogue primate" which became smart enough to threaten every other life form on the planet, from smallpox virus to blue whales. Our success has paradoxically been very good for the viruses that cause the common cold and for rabbits. From the general to the specific, whole systems to individual tools (automobile, chain saw) McNeill has achieved a grasp of how and what we did, and tells the story masterfully. For readers who took up my recommendation of A GREEN HISTORY OF THE WORLD (Clive Ponting, St. Martin's Press, 1991), this one is better (and Ponting's work is one of McNeill's sources). Bingo.

I wrote my economics undergraduate thesis on development and environmental management back in 1976-77, and surely I would have enjoyed and valued to have Professor McNeill's book in my hands in those years.

His book is remarkable in many ways. It is a well written book, extraordinarly documented and well supported with eye opening statistical tables and illustrations. His material is useful for graduate and undergraduate students alike, and also for wider audiences interested on reviewing a different approach on history's complexities.

As the book front page indicates, the author centers his work on the 20th century's humankind events, termed by himself as the most influential on the process of ecology's evolution.

The book is very well organized so the reader keeps information organized in a properly way. At the end, Professor McNeill leaves many questions open that will be ample material enough to study in the years to come. Among those questions is the one concerned with society's will to deal seriously with environmental crises that have accumulated on the latest decades. We can have a readily answer to that subject if political leaders continue to privilege the narrow view of economic growth, instead of considering to seriously discuss the implementation of more integral strategies that would deliver environmental friendly sustainable economic development at the end.

Without question I recommend this book.

Sub-titled "An Environmental History of the 20th Century", this is a sober and objective survey of environmental changes over the past 100 years. I was concerned this would be an emotional appeal or judgmental polemic from the left - but not the case, it is academic and professional history from an environmental perspective (the environment, not "environmental movement"). It's encyclopedic in scope and style.

I would not call this an "entertaining" read (although some of the facts really fire the synapses), but it is deeply rewarding as a broad survey of a very large and complex problem. The chapters and sub-sections are arranged in a logical outline making it possible to read the chapters in any order.

The main idea of the title "something new under the sun" is that humans have so fundamentally changed the environment that things really are very different now than they have ever been historically. To regard our current conditions of energy availability, access to water, unending economic growth - as enduring and normal appears to be an interesting gamble given the facts.

Some interesting trivia: humans did not become the dominate primate until about 8,000 BC with the rise of agriculture (baboons outnumbered humans before then). About one-fifth of all humans that ever lived did so in the 20th century. In sheer energy terms, if all modern technology and energy sources were not available, the average American would need about 70 human slaves to maintain the current standard of living (each American "directs" 70 energy-slave equivalents). Each year, humans move more earth and soil than glaciers, wind erosion, mountain building (plate tectonic uplift), and volcanoes combined. Probably the single most damaging biological organism in earths history was the human primate Thomas Midgley Jr from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania born in 1889. He invented Freon (which destroys the Ozone layer), and also leaded gasoline, which has polluted most of the worlds soil lasting thousands of years (all of us carry elevated lead levels because of it and will continue to do so for centuries to come, leading to birth defects, lowered IQs, etc..). Midgley contracted Polio at age 51 and invented a system or ropes and pulleys to move his crippled body off the bed - he became tangled and was strangled to death in 1944 by his own invention, before learning how damaging his inventions were.

This book may be the best historical survey I've ever read. (And with an M.A. in history, I've read a few!) I got this book to complement my hard science slogging on global warming, and found so much more than I hoped for or ever imagined! McNeil's book provides the historical background and the human context for all the graphs and numbers in the science texts. If you're looking for one book to give you a focused overview of just how much human civilization has accomplished, good and bad, in the last 100 years, this is it.

The organization of the book is excellent. McNeil sources everything, ends each chapter with an excellent summary, and wraps it all up with his own thoughtful commentary on climate change. He uses an inspired mix of the small detail (birds dying mid-flight) and the enormous concept (the Aswan dam affected the entire Mediterranean ecosystem). He describes chains of cause and effect and makes connections other historians and scientists seem to miss. The chapters dealing with agriculture are, I think, particularly relevant to our everyday lives; but students in nearly every subject will find this book useful. My husband is a family physician, and has read the sections on public health; my neighbor is a biologist with the USGS, and is reading the chapter on dams and irrigation.