Industrial Books

I'll only put a brief word here because Dr. Zhu assigned us to read her new book for our class, so I can't exactly give it a fair review.

Although the book has no photographs to see what the films are like (always bad in film books, but sometimes necessary), the book is highly readable and provides a strong overview. A reader could pick it up and have a strong grasp of the history and politics of Chinese cinema. Though her accent can be a bit difficult to understand in class, she is highly readable, well-informed, and did a great deal of first-hand research. If you're interested in Chinese cinema, this is a great starting point. The price and scholarly aim (see design comments below) will not make it stand out on a shelf, if you can find it there.

Book design comments: red, gold-stamped, clothbound book, no dust jacket or illustrations, several glaring typos to fix in next edition.

I came across a glowing review of the book in the Journal of Asian Studies, Nov. 2004, Vol 63, No. 4. Here are a few excerpts--

"Comprehensive in its treatment of the subject matter, the book is well researched, and goes beyond the scholarships of such critics as Chris Berry, Nick Brown, Rey Chow, Shuiqin Cui, Paul Clark, Sheldon Lu, Xudong Zhang, to form a singular critical paradigm of globalization both as restraint and opportunity within which to rethink the Chinese cinema. ... Zhu's analysis of Chinese (national) cinema both as a culture and economy opens important channels of communication between economic reform and cultural production, between popular entertainment and intellectual heritage, between technology and cultural politics, and between local traditions and global markets. ...
The reader is fortunate to have a first-hand and intimate account of how cultural, intellectual and political issues are mediated through film to arrive at the state of Chinese cinema as we find it today. The author knows the ins and outs of the collective struggle of the Chinese film community to master the forces of the market in order to stay in business beyond the pale of socialism. ...
In Zhu's encyclopedic treatment of the topic, we see a rare synthesis of knowledge and understanding."

Dr. Ying Zhu's book is a wonderful introduction to the post-Maoist Chinese film industry. Useful to both scholars and in classrooms, it presents a picture of a film world that is relatively unknown to most Americans, but may not be for long. Balancing the impact of globalization and Hollywood with national needs, Chinese cinema, like Chinese industry in general, may be the coming wave. This book will give you a head start in understanding why.

Zhu's book provides a striking analysis of the Chinese film industry's
transition to a market economy. The book traces the evolution of the
film industry, and especially the film makers, from making art cinema
(as the political atmosphere in post-Mao China relaxed)
to needing to respond to the demands of the marketplace, as
the policies of the Chinese government shifted to decrease subsidies
for films and to encourage privatization, marketization, and
co-production and co-marketing with overseas film producers
and distributors. Key film makers highlighted include Chen Kaige
(Yellow Earth and Farewell My Concubine), Tian Zhuangzhuang
(Horse Thief and The Blue Kite), and Zhang Yimou (Red Sorghum,
Judou, Not One Less). The impact of the re-introduction of blockbuster
Hollywood films into the Chinese marketplace is scrutinized, both from the
perspective of box-office revenue, distribution, and screen time,
as well as the perspective of the impact on these films on Chinese
filmgoers and critics taste and expectations of what constitutes a "quality" film.
As the Chinese film industry continues its transformation, the book
explores the impact of Hollywood and globalization on national
film industries, raising important questions for all national film industries
(not just China) on how they survive and develop a (global) audience.
The book explores the exciting possibility of using the cultural advantages
of a national film industry to develop a global audience.
This book should be of interest to many readers, to students and
teachers of Asian studies, Chinese studies, film studies, and of globalization
and economic transformation, of socialist economies into market economies.
It will also be of close interest to people in the film industry and in trade
journals as it explores the role and possibilities of national film industries
in the face of a globalized film industry. Film buffs will find much of interest
here in tracing the evolution of various Chinese film directors as they may
more marketable films and found a wider audience.

Creative projects for homemade Christmas decorations make this book a great gift.. If you can part with it!

This book has lovely ideas for decoarting using natural materials. I found many of the ideas could be done very inexpensively.

I bought this book for my neighbor and when it came I wanted to keep it! She had recently visited Williamsburg and came back with stories of how she loved the Christmas decorating and wanted to emulate things for her own home.
I've never been to Williamsburg myself, but this book was beautiful! The pictures were professional (I've seen books where they were not) and there were instructions on how to make the decor yourself. Well worth it! I will probaly get one for myself for next season!

Since I love boxwood growing in the yard and using the beautiful greens at Christmas, I found this book to be one of the most informative books I own about Christmas greens. The instructions on how to create many decorations for the inside and outside the home are very clear. The pictures are gorgeous. I have learned to make garlands, wreaths, centerpieces, swags, boxwood trees, and other lovely items. The book features many different types of greens to use for creating holiday decorations. I have taught many others how to make holiday decorations that are featured in this book.

One of my criteria for accepting this book was to find a section on Blackman's immittance relation, a powerful but often overlooked circuit analysis technique. Different sections are treated by different authors, providing insight from many different perspectives. With so many topics handled, I was surprised at the thoroughness of the book. Not for a beginner, but can be used by anyone interested in circuit theory.

This book provides a comprehensive work covering the broad spectrum of electrical circuits and filters. It is designed to be used by practicing electrical engineers in industry and academia.

This handbook is not an all-encompassing digest of everything taught within an electrical engineering curriculum on circuits and filters, but rather an engineer's first choice in looking for a solution, standard practices and references to other sources, when needed.

This book provides a comprehensive work covering the broad spectrum of electrical circuits and filters. It is designed to be used by practicing electrical engineers in industry and academia.

This handbook is not an all-encompassing digest of everything taught within an electrical engineering curriculum on circuits and filters, but rather an engineer's first choice in looking for a solution, standard practices and references to other sources, when needed.

The book is divided into different sections, written by different groups of authors. At the end of each section you have a lot of references, so you can follow the topic deeper. These sections (13) cover most of the electronic knowledge you could use as experienced/professional user (feedback, nonlinear, CAD, distributed circuits,FILTERS of course, and many more). The quality of information given is very good, analog electronic design is covered excellently, digital related to analog then little bit worse.
I recommend this book to buy, I just have some comments:
1) The book is strongly theoretical (lots of equations), there is not a lot of examples (if I compare to Horovitz et Hill)
2) Some chapters are just passed very quickly (for example PLDs - 22V10 etcetc, no deep descriptions how to do that, just explanation what it is - the question then is, why they put it into that book)
3) Examples are few and in most of the cases they show just principle of work, so don't expect values of components. (one example for all: design of switched filter - you can see block schematic with a lot of MOS-like switches, but no real implementation of these switches. Then when you want to design this type of filter, you find out that it is not so easy to realize mos-switch because you have to take into account another things like back-injection of the charge, which are not mentioned etcetc) That lack of full examples is pitty, because then you cannot calculate backwards with the theory presented, and check for mistakes in your thinking.
4) Format of the book: the book is large and heavy (~2900pages), so manipulation is unpleasant. Perhaps if the book was divided into 4 thinner.... okay, but this is just my subjective opinion.
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Conclusion:
Although the book has some lacks, I strongly recommend to buy it. I would also recommend to buyer to invest another ~70USD to Horovitz&Hill-The Art of Electronics, because this book is very good complement to the one reviewed here.

this is a beautiful book. the minute i saw metzker's work i was mesmerized by the way he sees and interprets light, and the way he uses people in his photograph. i am not really writing this as a review, rather as a recommendation to buy this book - and while you can't buy it here for under a hundred, hit up amazon.co.uk, where you can buy it for a reasonable price (my copy was about 50...new...and beautiful!) it is one of my most treasured books....

This is a fantastic collection of street photography by an often overlooked photographer. Metzer's photographs are brilliant scenes of bright light and deep shadow. The deep chiaroscuro of film noir cinematography is the first thing that comes to mind. His juxapositions of shadows, buildings and people are simply beautiful, and at the same time very lonely. If you can, I would recommend seeing this exhibit in person (at the Laurence Miller Gallery, NYC). Otherwise, definitely pick up this book.

This is a "must have" for Metzker fans and other late 20th century photography afficianados. These are starkly contrasted b/w photos that are both abstract design and life commentary. You will want to cut out each image and hang it on your wall. But don't. The book itself is too elegant.

The photos of this book further the photographer's thinking as it is conveyed through a photograph. The photos display strong evidence of a conscious mind behind a camera interpreting what is in front of it. The photos are graceful, delightful and engulfing. Their rending in the book itself is spectacular. The prints being seen for the first time are strongly supported by the remaining work. Together they lend towards the viewer's discovery of the photographer's thinking in making these photographs. Several varied series of photographs are displayed. Truely a gift to look so far into the creative process.

This is one of the best management books I've ever read. Despite the articles being written 10 - 20 years ago, they are still relevant. Drucker uses good examples to illustrate his points, and avoids the word "synergy."

To me, one of Peter Drucker's greatest strengths as a business thinker is his ability to cut to the proverbial "bone" when sharing an insight about an especially complicated subject. This unique talent illustrates what Oliver Wendell Holmes meant when observing that he didn't "care a fig about simplicity on this side of complexity" but greatly admired simplicity "on the other side of complexity." Given Holmes' observation, consider these three prime examples of "classic Drucker":

In 1963: "There is surely nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency what should not be done at all." (Managing for Business Effectiveness, page 83)

In 1995: "EVA [economic value added] is based on something we have known for a long time: what we generally call profits, the money left to service equity, is usually not profit at all. Until a business returns a profit that is greater than its cost of capital, it operates at a loss...By measuring the value added among all costs, including the cost of capital, EVA measures, in effect, the productivity of all factors of production." (The Information Executives Truly Need, page 107)

In 1988: "Information-based organizations, in other words, require clear, simple, common objectives that translate into particular actions. At the same time, however, as these examples dicate, information-based organizations also need concentration on one objective or, at most, on a few. Because the `players' in an information-based organization are specialists, they cannot be told how to do their work...So [such an organization] must be structured around goals that clearly state management's performance expectations for the enterprise and for each part and specialist and around organized feedback that compares [and contrasts] results with these performance expectations so that every member can exercise self-control. The other requirement of an information-based organization is that everyone takes information responsibility...The key to such a system is that everyone asks: Who in this organization depends on me for what organization? And on whom, in turn, do I depend?" (The Coming of the New Organization, page 133)

There several other excellent sources of Drucker quotations (e.g. The Daily Drucker) which I frequently consult. However, in the 15 Harvard Business Review articles which are assembled in Classic Drucker, there is a context within which the value of each insight is more clearly indicated. In the Introduction, Thomas A. Stewart (editor of the Harvard Business Review) cites three of Drucker's great gifts to his life work: "First was the talent for asking the right questions...His second gift was to see organizations whole...[Drucker's] third gift was the ability to reason equally well both inductively and deductively." All three gifts are clearly evident in each of the 15 articles.

Near the conclusion of an interview by T. George Harris in 1993, Drucker makes several points which seem even more relevant now: "'Democratic' bespeaks a narrow and legal organization. Nor do I use the buzzword `participative.' Worse yet is the `empowerment' concept. It is not a great step forward to take power out at the top and put it in at the bottom. It's still power. To build achieving organizations, you must replace power with responsibility."

During the months and years to come, decision-makers in all organizations (regardless of nature or size) would be well-advised to keep such basic business precepts in mind, not as simplistic solutions to immensely complicated problems but, rather, as fundamentally sound principles to keep in mind when attempting to solve such problems.

I found the chapter on self-management alone to be worth the price of the book.

If the name of Peter Drucker sounds familiar, it should: he's inspired managers with his works for nearly half a century, with his articles in Harvard Business Review - gathered here for the first time under one cover and offering his best works to audiences of business learners. From how to remain productive throughout your work life and choose careers which are lasting to learning how and when to make changes, Classic Drucker is a compendium of business wisdom which should be in every business library collection.

In Western society we have excellent tools and models for dealing with the objective realities associated with money and resources: we have budgets, schedules, metrics, etc. But quite often, subjective realities play a more important role both in managerial decision making and performance evaluation. What tools do we have to effectively manage subjective realities like: what is the story through which I interpret actions my manager takes? what do I think my coworkers are up to? what did that statement/action just mean?

This book offers tools for managers (and employees!) to get real with the people they work with. These tools will help you develop a better understanding of the subjective realities people around you carry with them. It can help people on your team to communicate more clearly and effectively with you, their manager, and each other.

I quietly applied the techniques in this book and found that they were really useful in a recent situation with really difficult personalities. Frequent conflict existed between leads working for the same manager. It turns out that a large portion of the problem was the stories we interpreted each others actions through. To the extent we were able to clear up the untrue aspects of the "stories" ... which we seldom ever question ourselves about ... was the extent to which we were able to communicate clearly and develop cooperation.

This is a great book, worth twice this price. The entertaining yet useful anecdotes skillfully make his points more memorable, and make it easeir to explain his concepts to others.

Anyone interested in unraveling the mysteries of office toxicity, this is the book! Bushe masterfully ties together the psycho-social dynamics that make us all tick and offers sound strategies for creating clarity in our working relationships. Now here is the bonus! The book not only offers the keys to interpersonal clarity, it presents the ideas in language that anyone (toxified or not) can understand.

For those involved in leadership training that is principles or values focused, here you will find the all important missing link. Bushe explains the psychology behind our thinking and behavior which often times is the driving force behind office dysfunction despite our most noble principles and values.

I have read this book at least 4 times. I have sent this book to all the people who are important in my life. I have recommended this book to anyone who is genuinely interested in growing as a leader. Treat yourself and make this investment. In my case, it is the very best investment I have ever made. The book changed my thinking and then my behavior followed. This is from someone who has read all the leadership thoeries, seen many of the videos, listened to books on tape across country. Nothing has been as effective as this book. We will be hearing a lot more from Gervase Bushe in the future.

In today's corporate world, efficiency, effectiveness, and profit are diminished by communications problems. As a Certified Management Consultant, I hear clients complain about "communications" so much, I've dubbed it the "C Word."

What's the problem? People aren't real, open, honest, direct, and thorough in their conversations with each other. Hidden agendas, inability to say what you mean, fear of consequences and more problems contribute to the debilitating "mush" that inhibits organizational achievement. We've certainly seen enough evidence of the problem in the serious problems reported in the newspapers in recent months. And more corporate crises are in the works because the people at the top are not providing clear leadership-clear, "real" communication. And if the role models aren't working, the rest of the bureaucratic system is in trouble.

Bushe, a PhD consultant and professor of business administration, has given us a fine tool in "Clear Leadership." This is the kind of book that can be read and enjoyed, almost like a corporate novel. He communicates his message with a well-organized presentation supplemented by a wonderful collection of vignettes. The illustrative stories really bring this book to life, stimulate the thinking, and teach the lessons. As emotional beings, we all relate well to story-telling; this book has a good mix to help the reader get the message. I gained insight from the first two stories! Good stuff!

The author's objective is to teach the skills that build clarity and agreement. To quote from the book, "Clarity comes from clearing out the interpersonal mush and sometimes requires an organizational learning conversation. This is a conversation where people level with each other about their experience so that they can learn about anad change the troublesome patterns they find themselves in. Agreement comes from the ability of a group to think together and make decisions."

"Clear Leadership" is organized into three sections, plus a valuable introduction and an inspiring conclusion. Part One is Clarity and Mush in Organizational Life. Part Two, The Four Selves of Clear Leaders, has chapters on the Aware, Descriptive, Curious, and Appreciative aspects of the concept. Part Three, Clear Leadership at Work is filled with practical advice to putting this valuable concept into practice.

A lot of knowledge, insight, and advice packed into 250 pages. It's the kind of book you'll want to share with others-maybe simultaneously-to build clear leadership in your organization.

Unlike those of so many others, the subtitle of this book really does suggest precisely what it is all about: "How outstanding leaders make themselves understood, cut through the mush, and help everyone get real at work." I would have rated this book another star had it offered truly innovative, cutting-edge thinking on what is obviously a much-discussed subject. Bushe does offer a somewhat different nomenclature but affirms essentially the same core concepts which countless others (e.g. Warren Bennis, James O'Toole, John Kotter, Peter Senge, and William Isaacson) have already introduced or refined. However, in fairness to Bushe, he has done an excellent job of organizing and presenting his material. His book will probably be of greatest value to those who have done relatively little reading on the subject.

According to Bushe, Clear Leadership is based on four deep skills: "those of the Aware self, the Descriptive self, the Curious self, and the Appreciative self." In the Introduction, he goes on to observe that "these skills are easy to explain and demonstrate but tough to actually live day to day and master....Most of us don't act this way. Not because we lack the courage, caring, or basic personal integrity, but because we don't know how! No one ever taught us." His objective is to "teach" the reader a "system of interaction " which is based on specific "interpersonal dynamics." Bushe organizes his material within ten chapters divided into three Parts: Clarity and Mush in Organizational Life, The Four Selves of Clear Leaders, and Clear Leadership at Work. His sources are acknowledged within the chapter Endnotes.

There is much to be said in favor of clarity in terms of shared goals and objectives, performance expectations, division of labor, channels of authority and communication, etc. Obviously, the effectiveness of any "system" of human interaction depends on it. Moreover, leadership is essential to ensuring that clarity is maintained throughout any collaborative effort. Bushe offers some useful insights into what he characterizes as "new skills and attributes" that are required of everyone involved in an "empowered" organization, whatever its size or nature. He invites his reader to consider very carefully a "basic, underlying platform, the absolutely essential and different ingredients that make a person able to use the usual assortment of management techniques and get outstanding results." Those in need of other perspectives are urged to check out the works of authors cited previously (Bennis, O'Toole, Kotter, and Isaacson) as well as David Maister's Practice What You Preach and Bossidy and Charan's Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done.

This book is a very good desk reference of genetic terminology. There are useful illustrations and references after each section, and wonderful "quick reference" tables in the back of the book.

The book is a concise, up to date review of medical genetics. Those of us that love to see a picture along with an explanation will enjoy this book. Certainly, you won't get everything from it ... I personally used it for review. There are several more extensive books out there for your reading and learning pleasure, like Thompson & Thompson. Nonetheless, for a quick overview, or a brush up of info, this book is just great.

As a Ph.D student in biochemistry, I found this book to be a very useful and comprehensive review. Also, I found it to be an excellent source for people who prefer reading diagrams and figures over long and boring texts. Over all, I recommend it for any one involved in biomedical studies or research. Other excellent books from the same publisher include color atlas of biochemistry and color atlas of physiology.

This is a great book for both beginners and experts in the field of medical genetics. It is well illustrated that makes it very easy to understand one of the advanced and rapid growing field of medicine.
Nithiwat

I am an international consultant and usining this book as a training tool with my clients. The stories and circus metaphors are very creative and interesting. This makes the book not only a tool I can use for work but also an enjoyable read.

I put this book to immediate use with an intercultural consult I did, with a company whose [mostly American] employees work with a very international clientele. The structure of adding contextual factors to the analysis of styles and values added a lot of depth to the discussion and people could really get it.

I think this book makes an important contribution to the field of intercultural communication. It fleshes out the concept of communication style and emphasizes its importance in face-to-face intercultural interactions. The book's concepts are illustrated with interesting and detailed case studies from the authors' extensive experience with multicultural organizations.

The concepts might be a bit complicated, but not so much so that serious readers can't absorb and use them.

The authors use the engaging metaphor of a circus to tie their ideas together and help the reader follow the flow. This keeps the book from reading like a textbook; rather, it is engaging and thought-provoking throughout.

Finally, I couldn't tell from the writing that this was a book written by three different individuals. It has a uniform style and tone that's not common in books written by more than one person.

There are many books written about communications styles, but none quite like this one. Written by intercultural experts who are also educators, this book goes far beyond the basics of differences in how people communicate. It provides an organizational yet personal roadmap to get a real handle on diversity and how to create greater value from the collaboration of a diverse group of people.

The book uses some unique observation tools to help the reader use the concepts being learned, and it is sprinkled full of stories that illustrate their points exceptionally well.

Perhaps most unique though are the 26 exercises designed for use by individuals or groups to help them do what the subtitle of the book promises - Leverage the power of diverse communication styles.

The authors, in the introduction say more about the very appropriate subtitle, "the subtitle ... reflects our conviction that individuals and groups can benefit greatly when communication style differences are understood, respected, and utilized appropriately."

If you are a leader of diverse groups or a trainer of facilitator, this book belongs in your library. If you are individual ever striving to communicate more effectively with everyone you come in contact with, this book will help you on this journey as well.

great book for those who want to know more about their machines. has helpful step by step instructions on how to repair the wood and metals of the phonograph. has washed out b/w photos that could have been color. but overall, this book is helpful for those who want to repair their machines and want to learn a little history behind phonographs as well. good low price for this valuable information.

The Compleat Talking Machine is not only a great resource for people interested in restoring old phonographs, it's also a good read -- Eric comes across as a real person with a sense of humor. He keeps his repair information and instructions general for the most part -- you may need to interpolate his instructions depending on the model of phono you have. Read carefully!

An excellent reference with great bibliography -but one warning - it focuses strongly on "table" model phonographs - has few pictures of upright floor cabinets. However it led me to buy a number of additional references to identify British machines.

I am a great fan of technical how-to books, and this is one of the most informative, well written books on the subject of phonograph restoration that there is. It covers disc phonographs, as well as cylinder phonographs. It covers too many topics to relate here. You will be impressed.

With "Complete Guide To United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges And Insignia World War II To Present", military medal expert James Thompson has created a comprehensive and methodically presented encyclopedic reference to all of the Marine Corps decorations, medals, ribbons, badges, and military insignia commissioned and awarded during the Second World War. This unique and outstanding military reference features color plates of all Marine Corps medals and ribbons; their history and award criteria; foreign awards and UN meals given to American Marines; a complete set of Marine ribbons in their correct order with all attachments and devices; all Marine insignia (including officer and enlisted rank insignia 1944 to the present day); World War II shoulder patches; descriptions of service ID badges, aiguillettes, should cords, etc.; detailed information on marksmanship and trophy badges; a guide to the correct wearing of medals, ribbons, insignia and badges by active duty Marines and veterans; displaying awards and insignia, even instructions on how to claim a medal by a qualified serving Marine or veteran. Also available in a hardcover edition (1-884452434, $29.95), "Complete Guide To United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges And Insignia World War II To Present" is to personal, professional, military, and academic library Military History reference collections.

Quite simply, this book offers just about everything you'd want to know about Marine Corps medals, badges and insignia. Not only does it provide complete information regarding eligibility criteria for each award, but it also provides exhaustive descriptions and a complete background that will interest every Marine - from the newest recruit to the 20-year veteran. Other interesting features include pictures and descriptions of medals and ribbons from WWII/Korea/Vietnam (as well as same-era unit patches) and pictures of competitive shooting badges from the Marine Corps Competition-In-Arms Program. I know of no better single source for this type of information, and certainly none that is as comprehensive as this. A great book for any Marine!

A very knowledgeable book compiled by James G. Thompson, Complete Guide To United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges And Insignia World War II To Present is a detailed catalogue of Marine Corps medals and ribbons, commonly awarded foreign and UN medals, all Marine insignia from World War II to the present, and much more. Black-and-white and color diagrams or photographs of each medal, badge, and insignia make this a first-rate, no-error guide for identification and recognition. An outstanding reference, Complete Guide To United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges And Insignia World War II To Present is a core addition to personal, academic, and community library Military History reference and resource collections.

Thompson's book is meant to be a one-stop reference for those badges and medals that you might think you were awarded. Also, if you are one of those Marines who want to stay current on awards and know the criteria and history of awards, this is the tool for you. From the World War II Honorable Discharge Pin, known by many as the "Ruptured Duck," to the newly authorized Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Korea Defense Service Medal, Thompson's book provides all you want to know. The introduction states Thompson originally developed this book because there were no single source for the history of Marine Corps decorations, wards, ribbons, rank, insignia and badges that also included details on the proper wearing. He delivered on his mission and now has given us an updated version to keep us current.