Industrial Books

This book offers a broad overview of nanotech markets. It is structured around major markets where nanotech is likely to have an impact (energy, healthcare, IT). The author's background as a high tech market researcher is evident: while the book is hopeful, it's informed by experience with hype in other industries (disclosure: I was a contractor for the author's telecom market research company in the 1990s). There is ample discussion of different scenarios and their relative probability, and effective summaries at the beginning and end of most sections, which make it very easy to scan at different levels of detail. The book also includes a method for assessing the likely impact of nanotech on the reader's company and industry; for people in the planning sections of large organizations, this section is reason enough to buy the book. The weakness of the book is related to its strength: most of the discussion is necessarily introductory. That said, the book is rich with pointers to other resources, and though the focus is on business, aside on societal, legal, cultural, and other implications included throughout.

At $79 for a 242 page book, don't bother with nanotechnology. Invest in the guys marketing this book.

Having been in the nanotechnology field for six years, I have seen many books on nanotechnology. This is the best one I have seen for business executives and other decision makers that are new to the field and trying to understand where the opportunities are for their organizations. The book is well-structured, and written in an erudite, accessible and engaging style.

Unlike many books on the subject, Gasman provides specific guidance on the applications that are most likely to pay off in the near and medium term, and which are not. While not exhaustive, it provides a good overview of the most fertile opportunities. The summaries of the "takeaways" from each chapter, and the ample reference to further reading are particularly useful for the busy reader. These will help the neophyte to locate the gems as they wade through the huge amount information on nanotech, much of which is quite mediocre. Unlike many authors who provide a superficial and shallow treatment of the subject, Gasman's experience as a high-quality, disciplined and thorough market analyst comes through in this book.

If I have one primary complaint about the book, it is that there are a few important elements of the nanotech field that are missing. For example, his summary of nanotechnology tools does not make any reference to electron microscopes and focused ion beam devices, which are key to imaging and manipulation at the nanoscale. These omissions are more than balanced by the overall quality of the book. I recommend it highly.

As author of the first book on successful investing in nanotechnology, Nanotech Fortunes: Make Yours in the Boom; Winning Strategies, I can say that Nanomarkets.net's Lawrence Gasman has produced an exceptional contribution to the literature of nanotech, Nanotechnology: Applications and Markets. Everyone interested in exactly how nanotech is going to impact products, markets, industries and businesses must study this concise and worthwhile read. Gasman's intuitions, opinions and arguments are not only right on target but they are informed by a lively intelligence and decades of real-life experience and deeply thought analysis. Whether you are in the business or just looking to invest with a real understanding of what you're doing, you are going to love this book and thank the author as well.

Lawrence has decades of experience analyzing the impact of, commercialization processes and "productization" of new technologies, and he is one of the most down-to-earth reporters on the goings on in real world manufacturing and basic industrial demands, as well as the far-out world of nanotechnology.

The book's real value lays in chapters on nanotech's likely and UNLIKELY impacts on industries as diverse as semiconductors, medical, computing, pharmaceuticals, communications, alternative energy, pollution control and advanced materials. From there, Lawrence leads executives (and investors) on an examination of specific industry-related opportunities and then the step-by-step tools on exactly how to conduct a nanotech audit in any particular company. His strategy will help businesses, large and small, identify both commercial opportunities and threats stemming from advances in nanotechnology.

If there is any "weakness" to the book some might argue that it is too short. At only 200 pages perhaps several chapters and discussions could have been expanded and more time could have been spent debunking ideas and processes, current in the nano-community, that have little or no commercial future. That said, Gasman covers all the important topics, markets and applications.

I feel that scientists and engineers can also benefit from Nanotechnology: Applications and Markets simply because it orients any reader to a perspective where solutions to problems and products that are needed or useful become the key areas of interest. Clearly, a fruitful place for engineers to start . . . I think one that more and more scientists will find a beneficial focus.

All and all, along with Nanotech Fortunes, of course, this is one of the few books related to nano, that belongs on everyone's shelf.

The strength of this book lies in its broad scope. Gasman provides an up to date survey of nanotech's prospects in a wide range of applications. From semiconductors, computers, communication to the currently very hot energy field. Other topics include medicine and pharmaceuticals.

For semiconductors, I see the nano prospects as just hype, for the near future. Semiconductor research and fabs are already at or near the so-called nanoscales. Current linewidths of circuits are reaching below 100 nm. Sure, new and very different production methods are being devised, to get around various limits in current technology. Call these nanotech if the trends continue, perhaps. But it's just a change in label.

The very breadth of the book's scope also means that it is unable to enter any given topic to any depth. Of necessity, the book then functions as an alertness indicator, if you will. Then, for a topic germane to your interests, you might follow the references cited for a more indepth exposition.

Sometimes I have to chuckle at the titles contained in the For Dummies series. Nanotechnology is not something that I would normally think of as being of interest to Dummies. I guess I'd best not give examples of subjects I'd think of as being suitable For Dummies.

However, that misses the point. The For Dummies series has pioneered a writing style that enables the non-informed reader to get a much better understanding of complex subjects.

Nanotechnology is a science that is only about twenty years old. I say 'about' twenty years because it really depends on just what you consider to be the start of the science.

Nanotechnology deals with things that are nano in size, say around 1/5000 the size of a red blood cell, about 1/75,000 the diameter of a human hair. At that size, all kinds of strange and wonderful things begin to happen. The technology promises to offer significant improvements in all kinds of areas from energy, health, to computers.

I can't really talk about the subject in this short review, it's too big, that's why it takes a whole book to cover.

Conclusion: Written in the For Dummies style, this is a book on Nanotechnology that makes it understandable to the average person. I'd consider it mandatory reading for anyone thinking of going into chemistry or physics for a career. My prediction (and the authors) is that this is going to be the hot science subject of the next generation. If I knew a high school student interested in science....

It's *amazing* what you can find in the "For Dummies" series... :)

I've always enjoyed the Dummies series, especially when it comes to a complex subject where "I don't know what I don't know". A book that can explain the subject in simple terms gives me the mental framework on which to build my learning. This book is a perfect example... Nanotechnology For Dummies by Richard Booker and Earl Boysen.

Contents:
Part 1 - Getting Small with Nanotechnology: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Nanotechnology; Nano in Your Life; Gathering the Tools of the Trade
Part 2 - Building a Better World with Nanomaterials: Nanomaterials Galore; Adding Strength with Composites
Part 3 - "Smarter" Computers! Faster Internet! Cheaper Energy!: Building a Better Digital Brain; Routing Information at the Speed of Light; Nano-fying Electronics; Getting Energy and a Cleaner Environment with Nanotech
Part 4 - Living Healthier Lives: Diagnosing Personal Health Quickly, Easily, and Pain-Free; The Fantastic Voyage into Medical Applications
Part 5 - Investing in Nanotech: Industries Going Small; Countries Investing In a Nano Future; Nanotechnology Goes to School
Part 6 - The Parts of Tens: Ten (or so) Nanotech Movers and Shakers; Further Reading on the Web and in Your Library
Glossary; Index

My prior knowledge of nanotech was pretty much restricted to the sci-fi realm, where machines build themselves and nanotech runs amok. But if asked how it all works, I'd be at a complete loss. In this Dummies title, Booker and Boysen do an excellent job in making the very, very tiny... very understandable. You won't be ready to launch your own nanotech firm or get a degree in nano-medicine, but you'll at least walk away with a better understanding of the subject. While the authors do tend to be wonderfully enthusiastic about the nanotech future, I think that their optimism is somewhat warranted. They show you the edge of the future that we are about to enter, and even after dismissing the hype, there's some intriguing stuff out there.

I think I was most fascinated about where the medical field is going with nanotech. Customized delivery systems for medicines that can put the dosage right where it's needed. Nanocells that can attach themselves to cancer cells and then respond to laser stimulation and fry away the cancer. Obviously not next week's cure, but the authors show you it's closer than you might think.

If this subject is something you've thought interesting but still don't understand very well, it's well worth getting a copy of Nanotechnology For Dummies. It's an enjoyable read, and you'll come away with many "small" pieces of insight (sorry, bad nano-joke there...)

Nanomaterials: nanoparticles, nanotubes, quantum dots, fullerense, dendrimers, nanoprorous materials.

Nanointermediates: coatins, fabrices, memory and logic chips, optical components

Nano-enabling products: finished goods for cars, clothing, airplaines, computers, video, pharmaceuticals, appliances.

I found the Lux Research Index reference interesting (LUXI). I read about companies building products like: Zyvex , Mems and Nanotechnology , Nanosys, Altair, NVE (spin state storage MRAM) , FEI (visualization systems), Veeco (data storage and semiconductor), and Accelrys.

Hurdles: 1. Cost. The smaller the product being worked on, the more sophisticated and expensive the equipment needed to monitor quality control. 2. Availability. The equipment needed to producing nanomaterials may not be readily available or could be expensive. 3. Regulatory barriers. Evaluations and government approvals are needed to bring products such as a new drug to market, this takes time and time to market means sunk costs.

Growth: "Nanotechnology is likely to become a trillion-dollar industry in less than ten years." If this is true the Nanotech indexes reflect the exponential growth explosion. The time required for manufacturing process transform suggests companies are making purchases now and generating capital nanotechnology projects. For example, Toyota should be in the process of covering major sections of their car production lines to use nanomaterials. It may be true that no process modification is required and that raw materials can be substituted for nanomaterials. This is the best scenerio. If nanotechnology is too emerge it could start with a series of new companies that will create radical and disruptive technology.

Nanotubes: Researchers found that by adding a few percentage points of vaporized nichkel nanoparticels to the vaporized carbon, they could make as nanotubes as buckyballs. There are three methods for producing nanotubes: 1. High-pressure carbon monoxide deposition, HiPCO. This method involves a heated chamber which carbon monoxide molecules gas and small clusters of iron atoms flow. When the carbon monoxide molecules lands on the iron clusters and the iron acts as a catalyst breaking the molecule into carbon and oxygen. The result is a carbon nanotube and Carbon dioxide. The second method is called chemical-vapor deposition, CVD. In this method a hydrocarbon, such as, methane flows into a heated chamber coated with an iron catalyst. The high temperature causes the carbon and hydrogen break apart. The carbon atoms attach to the catalyst particles forming a nanotube. The third methods uses plasma torch to break apart hydrocarbon producing nanotubes.

Nanotube have three topology arrangements: armchair, zigzag, and Chiral. Nanotubes are elastic and strong. Nanotubes conduct heat and cold very well. A nanotube can be either metallic or semiconducting. A nanotube is metallic I the energy level that allows delocalized electrons t flow between atoms throughout the nanotube is right above the energy level used by electrons attached. A nanotube is semiconducting if the energy level of the conduction band is high enough sou that there is an energy gap between it and the valence band. Nanotubes will provide more efficient energy transmission and faster and more power computers. Nanotube tensile strength (GPa)=200, Young's modulus(GPa)=1000, and density=2.

Nanowire: Researchers have demonstrated using nanowires to create memory devices and transistors. A nanowire crosslatched arrangement will be able to store 40 gigabits per square centimeter.

Polymer composites: "Scientist at University of Urbana-Champaign have demonstrated a unique self-healing composite. It involves dispersing microcapsules and catalyst within the composite. When the catalyst comes in contact with the healing agent inside the microcapsule, the healing agent polymerizes and hardens." Heals microcracks resulting from temperature changes or pressures of mechnical loading.

NanoTransistor: A transistor is the switch that says whether a bit is 0 or 1. Think of a water dam. In the off position no water is flowing through and on the water is flowing, electrons are flowing freely. The smaller the transistor, the smaller your electron gate-which means faster switching between on and off, resulting in a faster overall processor.

Photoelectrochemical hydrogen extraction: A photoelectrochemical device is a 30 nm layer of nanoparticles placed on a conductive glass. The nanoparticles are composed of semi-conducting oxides. The conducting glass is connected to an electrode. The space between electrode and nanoparticle film and conductive glass is filled with water. Light strikes the layer of nanoparticles knocking the electron's loose. Those electrons move through the conducting glass layer to the metal electrode putting a negative charge in it. You have a layer of nanoparticles that electrons are rushing out and a nearby metal electrode that electrons are rushing in. Hydrogen is emitted. (Hydrogen Solar Ltd)

Nanotech Movers and Shakers: Richard Smalley , Charles Lieber , Jongjie Dai , James Heath , James Von Her , George Whitesides , Paul Alivisatos , Angela Belcher , and Richard Feyman and Eric Drexler .

Before reading this book, I didn't know, nor did I care about nanotechnology. But now, I see all the applications of it in every day life!

Made Nanotechnology clear and easy to understand. Provides a pointed introduction to the fascinating subject of nano-techlogy with emphasis on the applications.

Juan Carlos M. Escobar-remolina

One of the best books on the NEC. However I think figures should be better drawn. This would make the book more attractive to first time readers. One of the best things is that it explains the whys of many topics of the NEC.

The single most important reference in the electrical industry, the National Electrical Code (NEC), is updated every three years and outlines minimum standards for all types of electrical installations.

This book is loaded with solutions designed to provide better safeguards, add greater usability, and bring provisions in line with technology trends. Absolutely a must for anyone involved in electrical design, installation, or inspection, the 2005 NEC provides 100% of the information needed to meet Code® and avoid costly errors in electrical installations of all types.

Every three years the National Electrical Code® is significantly revised to keep pace with technology and enhance protection against electrical fire and shock hazards. This is an valuable reference to help you get in position to advance your knowledge and be prepared with the newest codes.

This book is like an annotated version of the NEC 2005.

The Mcgraw NEC Handbook is as good or better than the NFPA book. Easy to use and understand.

It is an excellent handbook not only for electricians but also for general construction professionals to understand electrical codes.

I have always found McPartland's handbook the only one worth having. The handbooks published by NFPA are in my opinion worthless because they are written for people with limited intelligence. The NFPA handbook really just states the obvious.
McPartland's book has always been good because he goes into the background to explain why the crazy things are in the NEC to begin with along with all of the nuances necessary for interpretations. When he retired from EC&M magazine that publication went down hill and I don't even read it anymore. Joe was the backbone of that pub. I've been in this business as an engineer since 1971. My first McPartland book was his 17th edition that covered the 1981 NEC.

This book is a must read for anyone involved in the ever-changing world of technology. Reading this book provided an amazing plain-english understanding of all issues surrounding network security especially as they relate to my businesses and my clients. As an attorney, this book gave me the ability to understand the language my clients speak and to relate to the specific needs of their different businesses - especially in light of today's regulatory environment (i.e. Health care, Securities, etc). It has also proven to be an essential tool for my own IT department regarding our own issues when dealing with sensitive and confidential client information.

This book is a must read for a business owner or IT Director. The authors do a wonderful job of breaking down security issues in such a way that an executive can understand the dangers that exist, and IT staff can recognize and diagnose exposure within their own networks. They bring many issues to light that may otherwise be overlooked, and are able to break down a complex and cumbersome topic so that it can be understood and applied to an individual company. The reader learns how to asses his or her company's risks and what to do to mitigate the damage. An essential tool for any manager. Beautifully organized and illustrated, it allows the business person to understand the technological issues while bringing the business concerns associated with network management to the IT department.
Have at least one copy of this book on your company's shelves.

I'm not a computer wiz, far from it actually. I consider it a successful trip to the internet when my computer doesn't freeze up or start spouting error messages at me. Never in a million years would I think that this book would interest me. Boy, was I wrong! A friend of mine (computer geek) had this book sitting on his coffee table last weekend and I picked it up to see what was what with something I know nothing about. I was expecting the usual technical manual, a Saltine, dry, uninteresting, tasteless. What I found was a witty, colorful, and interesting tome on network security. The guys who wrote this book obviously know what they are talking about and they make it easy for a layman like me to understand a field of knowledge I thought I'd never be frolicking through.

When I bought the book, I didn't know what to expect but am now very happy I made the purchase. It clearly and concisely informs, pointing out the holes that may exist and providing the tools and know-how for business-driven solutions. Now I have a whole lot more confidence in my ability to address security concerns and articulate our capacity to investors, helping to reassure them that we are vigilant in practice.

The map is indispensable, perfect for rendering network issues in comprehensible terms. When network security questions arise, it'll be nice to have the map handy to help illustrate explanations, which, the book demonstrates, need not be unwieldy.

Both tech guys and execs should read the book. It provides a common language with which to talk about network security, facilitating communication on the most serious of organizational priorities.

With intelligence and wit this book tackles an issue that keeps business and IT executives up at night. For an intelligent business person, the book strikes the perfect balance between readability and technical content. It fills the wide gap on the shelf between the dumbed down primers and the textbooks for doctoral candidates. The graphic interpretations (that Edward Tufte would appreciate) perfectly complement the text.

You'll find the book indispensable if you are a non-technical executive who needs to understand network security or if you are an IT professional who needs to explain it in business terms.

Glenn Firebaugh is the first scholar to document an extraordinarily important pattern in modern economic history.

Prior to industrialization, persons in one nation fared about as well as persons in other nations with respect to income and standard of living. Within nations, however,individual deviations from the means of national income were commonly quite large.

One effect of industrialization was to reverse this situation. Today dramatic disparities in income are found between industrial and non-industrial nations, with industrial nations and their citizens being quite well off and non-industrial nations and their citizens being quite poor, on average.

Using highly regarded national income data and bringing to his analysis a set of well-reasoned assumptions, Firebaugh makes an astounding discovery. In the last quarter of the 20th Century income inequality began to increase within nations and
decline across nations. An economic process that has pointed in one direction for over a hundred years has begun to reverse itself.

Firebaugh coins the term "inequality transition" to identify the two stages of an economic process related to the global spread of industrialization. In the first stage, the principal source of global income inequality moves from within-nations to between-nations. In the second stage, the principal source of global income is restored to the historic norm, namely, within-nations. Today we are in the early stages of the second phase of the inequality transition.

Critics of modern, capitalist, industrial expansion have it wrong. Contrary to their pessimistic pronouncements, today, the overwhelming majority of the world's poor are not getting poorer but are getting richer. Spreading industrialization is improving the lot of most of the world's peoples. Indeed, the promise of global economic justice is inherent in the notion "inequality transition."

Much of what you thought you knew is wrong! If you are seriously interested in globabilization and recent trends in world income inequality, you need to read Glenn Firebaugh's The New Geography of Global Income Inequality (Harvard U. Press, 2003). In a straightforward and detailed presentation, Firebaugh explains the arithmetic of inequality -- how it divides into within-nation and between-nation components. He then charts each of these, both over-time and at the present time. You will learn where the U.S. fits in the world, and which countries and continents are at the top and the bottom in terms of income and inequality in income. Most important, you will see that, contrary to much current journalistic and even scholarly writing, world income inequality has actually been decreasing since the 1990s. This books complements and in important ways adds to recent books by Stiglitz, Easterly, Soros, Bhalla, Diamond, and Landes

Are rich nations getting richer and poor nations getting poorer? Are the rich nations exploiting the poor nations, as critics of globalization in the trade protest movement suggest? The answer to both questions is no, according to Firebaugh, who shows that world inequality is on the decline. This book should become a classic among scholars, but it should also be of interest to the general public. Firebaugh writes well and uses plain talk and common sense along with plenty of supporting evidence.

When I first came to the United States in 1983 as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, I was overwhelmed by how much money Americans made. Sure, I also noticed inequality in America, but what struck me the most was that almost all Americans were better off than all Chinese. My parents were medical doctors and had higher salaries than their peers. With a combined income of about $100 a month, however, they earned only a fraction of what a minimum-wage American worker would earn. As a graduate student in the United States, I was considered rich in China and was therefore expected to bring home luxury items (such as color TVs and cameras), which I did in 1984.
Twenty years later, I am now relatively well paid as a University of Michigan professor. China has changed far more dramatically during that time, however. When I visit China now, I often encounter situations in which friends make a concerted effort to let me know that they are financially more successful. Indeed, the rapid pace of economic development in China over the past 25 years has led to sharp increases in both personal income and income inequality, so that many among the Chinese elite now enjoy standards of living that surpass those commonly seen in America and other industrialized nations.
Personal observations are no substitute for systematic studies. If you want to understand how global income equality has evolved in recent decades and why, look no further. Glenn Firebaugh has provided the most complete, thoughtful, and intriguing study on the subject, The New Geography of Global Income Inequality.
Global income inequality can be divided into two components: Income inequality within countries and income inequality between countries. Firebaugh's book centers on the latter -- between-nation inequality. We know that income inequality within many countries (such as U.S. and China) has been increasing in recent decades. However, the vast majority of global income inequality in the past two centuries has been attributable to between-nation rather than within-nation inequality. Firebaugh divides the history of global inequality into two phases. Phase 1, which occurred between the beginning of western industrialization in the late eighteenth century and the middle of the twentieth century, was characterized by rapid growth in between-nation inequality. In phase 2, which immediately followed, Firebaugh observes a reversal of that trend -- a steady decline in between-nation inequality. Hence his "new geography of global income inequality" is one of a decreasing trend in between-nation income inequality accompanied by a modest increase in within-nation inequality. Firebaugh provides persuasive explanations for his new geography, chief among which is the spread of industrialization to poor countries and the reduction of distance barriers due to advances in technology and the culture of globalization.
This is an outstanding book, showcasing what sociology can offer by enhancing our empirical knowledge of the world. While powerfully conceptualized and methodologically sophisticated, Firebaugh's case ultimately rests on the analyses of data from the Penn World Table. It is no small task to draw an empirical generalization from the data. Indeed, much of the book is devoted to discussions of measurement issues that may lead to an alternative conclusion - the continuation of the increase in between-national inequality. Two issues are crucial. First, Firebaugh argues that an international comparison of economic well-being should be based on purchasing power parity rather than exchange rates. Second, because the focus is on individual-level economic well-being, he presents a compelling case that comparisons between nations should be weighted by population size.
As much as I like the book, I encourage readers to appreciate Firebaugh's excellent scholarship as much for the questions it raises as for the concrete conclusions it reaches. I have a few questions of my own. First, as Firebaugh realizes, his conclusions are mainly driven by a single case: China. China is the most populous nation and has recently experienced rapid economic development. Since his measures are weighted by population size, China exerts overwhelming influence on the decreasing trend of between-nation inequality. How to interpret the rise of economic power in China in the post-1978 period is a complicated issue requiring further research, perhaps into the role of social institutions. Second, the national average of personal income, the raw material for the study, contains no information about within-nation variability. Yet, regional (thus geographical) variation and rural-urban difference in income can be very large in some countries (such as China). Would the trend look the same if we disaggregated China geographically? More broadly, should the "new geography" be based merely on discrete, internally homogeneous units called "countries"? If there is good reason for doing so, one would want to include the role of government and economic exclusivity within national boundaries in the discussion. Finally, despite the word "geography" in the book's title, Firebaugh's measures of between-nation inequality are not truly geographic, as distances between countries (within a continent) are not considered.
In the final analysis, these questions and comments do not detract from the important contributions made by this book. Firebaugh's argument is articulate, forceful, and well-presented. All who are concerned with issues of income inequality, scholars and laypersons alike, will find much to learn from this book, as will students seeking to master the art of conducting empirical social science. For these reasons, I highly recommend Firebaugh's latest contribution.

This thorough and informative investigation should be rewarding reading for anyone who is interested in understanding the past, assessing the present, and thinking about the future of world income inequality. This book puts conventional wisdom to the test about the course of global income inequality at a time when alarms are being sounded about large-scale economic changes that are occurring throughout the world with increasing globalization. Among the claims of conventional wisdom that this book challenges are: (1) world income inequality is increasing across nations, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer; (2) globalization exacerbates inequality across nations; and (3) international exchange is inherently exploitative. One of the nice things that the author is able to do is point out how inequality within nations and inequality between nations contribute to the overall level of global income inequality. I would recommend this book to readers of all ideological persuasions who are interested in a thoughtful presentation and discussion of evidence about a contentious issue.

Someone gave me New York: Architects 01-02 as a gift. What a great gift! I really enjoyed this book even though I am far from artistic and know nothing about architecture and design.

The book has a stylish cover that features a pattern of geometric, almost-three-dimensional boxes that are in different shades of blue. The internal layout is easy to follow and provides a way to compare architects and their styles virtually side-by-side.

At least one reason I personally liked the book so much is that I've lived in NY for many years, and a decent number of the pictures in this book were of buildings and interior spaces I've walked by or through, admired or have always meant to see. It was interesting to focus on the art, design and structure of these buildings and spaces that are a part of my daily life and nice to realize how much New York architects have contributed to the character of New York.

Architect buffs, people getting ready to build or design a home or office or urbanites planning to design or restructure an apartment anywhere in the world will all love this book, will appreciate the easy access to information about a large number of architects and will find it incredibly useful as a source of design ideas.

What a great idea! Organized as a directory of modern architectural firms based in the New York area, this book allowed me to really get an in-depth perspective on each firm. I particularly enjoyed the section in each architectural profile where the architects themselves talk about their personal design philosophy. And of course, all those wonderful photographs of spaces and buildings! This would be a great gift book both for the serious lover of modern architecture or for someone who just likes to dream about beautiful spaces.

You don't have to be an architect to really enjoy this book.

The concept of the book, to present a number of incredibly diverse NY architects in once space, is fantastic and one I haven't seen before. And the book itself, while functional, is also great to look through and easy to read and follow. The pictures of the architectural works beautifully illustrate the diversity, style and capabilities of each architect, while the written information accesses the entire world of the particular architect by showing the scope of that architect's experience and the works for which each is responsible.

What a great book to have on your shelf or coffee table, both for the architectural of mind and the architectural lay person.

I found this book quite helpful to get to know some of the top architects in New York. You can see what the various offices are doing, what projects they've completed and which awards they got. The wealth of beautiful pictures is very inspiring.

I found this book quite helpful to get to know some of the top architects in New York. You can see what the various offices are doing, what projects they've completed and which awards they got. The wealth of beautiful pictures is very inspiring.

This is an excellent first book for nonparametric statistical methods. It is a cookbook, but is a good introduction to the many nonparametric techniques for assessing data. These are oftentimes much better suited for your data than the standard stuff you get in intro to statistics. The book by David J. Sheskin or by Conover should your next book.

In the 1960s Siegel's book was the most popular and the most often cited. This is because except for Fraser it was the only useful test available to researchers. The book was written in a somewhat non-technical manner in order to be accessible to social scientists. At the time it became the standard book for all researchers. Theoretical books such as Hajek and Sidak's "Rank Tests" Came out at the end of the decade and the other good statistical books such as Hollander and Wolfe; Conover,; Lehmann; and Randles and Wolfe didn't come out until the 1970s.

So Siegel's book has historical significance but now the pratitioner and the theorists have many other good books to choose from. The text has been revised many times presumably to keep up with the research advances that have practical use for social scientists.

Speaking as an MPH level student, (i.e. not a real mathematician) this is about the only usable book on nonparametric stats I have encountered, so I ended up buying it despite the rather high price for a not terribly large book. But, as happens frequently in healthcare and social sciences, when faced with data that can't be analyzed with the normal mean and standard deviation stuff (i.e. survey answers, etc.) this book offers a lot of possibilities beyond the standard chi square test, and more importantly, is clear about what test is appropriate, and how to apply it.

This is (together with Empirical Methods for Artificial Intelligence by Paul R. Cohen) the best of the statistics books I read.

For a non math major (or stats major) user, this book offers an easy way to have works done quickly. But be cautious, an first-class cookbook does not necessarily yeild a first-class meal on your table.

This isn't just about the "other" people in business that you & I need to get along with. It's also about "us," why we respond as we do to particular other personalities and situations, plus practical guidelines to increase the chances of success. An easy & engaging read. Don't keep this book on your shelf: buy it, read it, and keep it under your pillow.

This book gives excellent advice about dealing with difficult situations that occur in office. The information that I gained by reading this book I am sure will help me come out on the winning side of negotiations in the future where I've come up short in the past. I've gained a better understanding as to how to maintain a sense of balance and get my point across without creating greater tension in the process. This book couldn't have come along at a better time. Thank you Dr. Puder-York for sharing this insightful information.

The insight in this book is incomparable. Dr Puder York does an amazing job of discussing situations that happen in the real world and she actually coaches you through it. Her advice is a must read. I think that I have strong people skills, yet, there was a lot in this book that took what I know to the next level.

Well done! This book is filled with useful suggestions that can be applied immediately. The author's experience rings through with examples the reader can grasp on first pass. The material renders a pleasant read from cover to cover but is also modular enough that you can flip to an isolated topic and gain contextual appreciation straight away. This is one book which won't be allowed to gather dust on my shelf!

This book is filled with the kind of insights and advice that anyone who is trying to thrive -- not just survive -- in a 21st-century office environment can begin putting to use immediately. The suggestions and ideas contained within are real-world, nuts-and-bolts tools that help avoid problems, resolve issues, and build the kind of consensus that will allow you and your whole team to move forward. Today, more than ever, interpersonal skills are an essential component of business success. Without them, your career can be over before it begins. Ironically, however, we all seem to get less training and less preparation in this vital area than ever before. This book can help close that gap. Put it on the bookshelf where you keep the essential volumes that you come back to over and over again.

R. Buckminster Fuller's (Bucky hereout), designer of the geodesic dome (one can see at EPCOT), lays down the thought patterns of a successful world in this short and concise book based on his discoveries (probably more appropriate than inventions, as he said "I am not tryingto imitate nature, I'm trying to find the principles she uses"). It is in this book that Bucky gives the reader insight into how he thinks, and how to change ones thinking entirely, to see the Earth as a Spaceship. To feel yourself riding the Earth as a Spaceship. Demonstrating from the anceint "pirates" and how evolution is changed through specialization. How a wealthy nation, such as ours, cannot afford to make economical mishaps or delays on such life-giving elements as water. Moving our modes of consciousness into Einsteinian, omni-directional thinking, we can then turn to everyone to "co-operate." To help others, and not gain at the expense of others. Certainly a classic in its own right, this book will change the way you think, not about life or the world, just that you change your thinking, making every action a universal consequence. There is only one Earth, and we are all living in it. Reccomended!

If you have any interest in R. Buckminster Fuller's philosophies, inventions and thoughts, this book is a good starting point. Other of his works can be more difficult to absorb, easily. Fuller's basic concepts of "synergy," "ephemeralization" and "modern day pirates" are all made clear here. If you read this short work and are intrigued by the man and the distinctions he brought to the world, you can proceed from here. Sorry OMSE is getting difficult to find. Now that Bucky's "phantom Captain" has moved on, his words are what we have to instruct us -- these, and the wonderful contributions of Bucky's students to the "world game."

This is the clearest I've ever known this man to be. This concise volume gets to the heart of our wordly matters. Elegant, comprehensive, his soul speaks in all of his writings, and this condensed version is very good for the first time Bucky reader. I suggest it highly to anyone who wants to learn a lot in a little time.

Our forefathers, parents and their peers have delivered us a drastically (wonderfully) complex society with ever increasing difficulties, and opportunities. RBF does an uncommonly fine job of explaining some of the underlying drives that brought us here. Maybe also sheds light on a usefull path to the future.

I really mean it. This book makes much more sense than any government plan that I know of. We all need to read this book.

I found his articles are intuitive and useful for my research.

If you are engineer who need to apply observer and estimation into your work. This book is good book.

A very clear, well written book that takes you step by step from the algebra and statistics basics to the most advanced developments of dynamic systems. The first part of the book is about providing all the knowledge required for the rest of the book in linear system theory (1st chapter), probability theory (2nd chapter) and least square estimation (3rd chapter). These chapters are very clear and, in my opinion, easy to follow for the non specialist. The second part is about the core subject, Kalman filter. Again, it is very clear and the fact that it very consistent with the 1st part in term of notation makes it very readable. Subsequent parts are more advanced topics but again nicely elaborate on the previous chapters and hence very easy to understand. I'll repeat myself but that really what I enjoyed most with this book: it is very progressive and takes you step by step.
I even think this is the best technical book I have ever read. Dynamic systems made easy!

I agree with a previous reviewer in that out of all the books I have come across on Optimal Estimation, this is by far the most suitable for self-study. I have found his explanations to be concise and straight-forward. That is, he goes straight to the point and delivers the concepts using simple/common language which is non-characteristic for academic books in the areas of Systems and Control. For a sample text on the subject written by him check his article on Kalman Filtering on the site embedded[dot]com

While conducting research as part of an Independent Study course, I have treasured this book like no other since it continuously serves as a valuable reference. The first two chapters which review the underlying mathematics (linear algebra and probability) necessary for understanding the central themes of the book are also above the usual presentation in related books. Needless to say that readers should not expect to learn the Math from this book alone, however, they can expect to find in these chapters most of the topics that usually need a quick review to make sense of higher-level concepts in the text.

I cannot stress enough that his use of language and clear explanations make this an easy-to-read textbook which simplifies the understanding of the topics. Do not get me wrong though, to really understand the problem of state estimation the readers need to be quite prepared in different areas of Engineering and Mathematics (hence my motivation for self-study).

I'm using this book to apply the unscented Kalman filter to multiple sensor target tracking. His exposition on the unscented transforms is very clear.

I have 4 books on Optimal state estimation:
_ Applied Optimal Estimation of Arthur Gelb.
_ Optimal Control and Estimation by Robert F. Stengel
_ Optimal Control and Estimation Theory by George M. Siouris
_ Optimal State Estimation By Dan Simon

Of the 4, Dan Simon's Optimal State Estimation is by far the most useful for a GNC Engineer like me. He strikes a good balance between theory and practice and his examples are really useful. I find his treatment of EKF excellent.