Specialized Books

I have the older-unupdated version of this book and I am really happy that it is still available. It has everything in it from how to garden in your home (as is) to building a variety of solar structures (from outdoor "boxes" to solar pits and free standing greenhouses). Also there are recipes for soaps, teas and things like that which can be made from greenhouse-grown items. This book is really comprehensive and easy to read-- and emphasizes economically viable ways of doing things, and also variations for northern climates, which I really appreciate.

Recommended whole-heartedly!

Much happiness with your solar gardening, tonya

While this book was available as of 5 - 6 years ago for a reasonable price ... due to its scarcity ... the price has quadrupled and for good reason. It is so hard to obtain that my local library could not find a copy on loan from libraries who have it. In my opinion, it is *the* most essential book written on Hungarian Ethnography and Folklore. The authors are highly eminent scholars in their field. I consider myself extremely lucky to have discovered a copy for sale after diligent searches on the internet, and even more fortunate that it was the English translation (I could have plodded through the Hungarian but this way it is much easier). Originally, the book was titled "Magyar Neprajz" and published by Corvina Kiado in Budapest, Hungary (1979).

At first, the most striking feature of the book is the jacket cover: bright colorful photos of a peasant house, two shepherds in their stylishly embroidered cloaks, and a wedding photo, likely of Transylvanian folk costumes, and a ceramic jug. The back cover is just as fascinating, several multi-colored intricately embroidered table cloths in brilliant red hues and complex floral patterns, three ceramic plates, and a "best room" with emboridered pillow covers and old peasant furniture. The next most notable feature of the book is, it is BIG, totalling 785 pages, if you count all the credits. And most enticing are:. the inside photos ... along with the scholarly research and detailed contents of each chapter. The book is very comprehensive in scope and depth. It details many of the folk customs, regional costumes, peasant homes, folklore designs, music, instruments, embroidery, cemetery grave posts, patterns of village settlement, furniture styles, designs and patterns of homes, farming implements, animal husbandry, beehives, fishing implements and techniques, earthenware designs and manufacture, hair braiding and headddresses, and much more. The outstanding photographs and illustrations provide the reader a better appreciation for the past. They emphasize the vast amount of energy and talent it took to create such living memories of folk art and life. This is a "must own" book for anyone interested in Hungarian folklore, folk art, folk music and the ancient past of Hungary. It receives my most enthusiastic and highest recommendations. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Ikebana Expressions is a very inspiring book.The arragements are really creative and plenty of life and joy.It is a delight for the eyes and for the soul. The author presents her own concepts about new contemporany flower arrangements, using a wide array of containers,plants and materials. The beauty of the plant's natural lines is emphasized by combining the container and the floral material. It is shown how to combine the enviroment and the arragement, even for big places and outdoors. I have studied ikebana from a traditional school with rigid rules even for the free style; and the arrangements looked like medieval paintings. Reading this book, you will find inspiration and new ideas in every page.

Dr.Joseph Teskey in his book on Tabanidae gives strong descriptive drawings and instructions for identification of tabanidae in Alaska;allowing the scientist to notice or create statistical studies on variation and evolution of species

This book should be recommended reading for analysts, police executives, operational staff and students of policing.

Ratcliffe's experiences and knowledge provide rich insights into ILP, painting a clear picture in the process. Specifically, Ratcliffe answers several questions about ILP. In doing so, he:

* defines ILP;
* traces its origins;
* explores its relationship with other policing paradigms;
* highlights its distinctive features;
* shows how ILP impacts on crime and
* discusses whether it prevents crime.

The book is well structured and is complemented by chapter introductions defining Ratcliffe's arguments. Each chapter also contains a practitioner viewpoint, which augments the chapter contents and demonstrates theory in practice. Ratcliffe's writing is readable, clear and often provokes a smile. He includes a limited list of acronyms and, as expected, a comprehensive bibliography covering extant literature on ILP (none as comprehensive as Ratcliffe's), other policing paradigms and several interesting research studies.

Conceding the elusive nature of ILP, Ratcliffe defines it as a business model and managerial philosophy in which data analysis and crime intelligence (a combination of crime analysis and criminal intelligence) are the cornerstones of an objective, decision-making framework. At the framework's core are crime/intelligence analysts, responsible for producing analysis and intelligence, that is, actionable knowledge that is client-specific. This is used to impact on crime and problems (reduction, disruption and prevention.)

Ratcliffe employs two key conceptual aids to support his arguments: the crime funnel and the 3-i model. The crime funnel is used to illustrate the size of the crime challenge and to demonstrate the limitations of the `arrest and prosecute' approach to suppress criminal acts. Ratcliffe uses the crime funnel to show that for every 1000 crimes only 4 offenders are incarcerated.

The 3-i model - interpret-influence-impact - is a cyclic concept that conceptualises the processes inherent in ILP. The agency's crime intelligence analysis section interprets the criminal environment; the agency analysts attempt to influence agency decision makers through recommendations; and the decision-makers then make decisions and take actions to impact on the criminal environment. This model departs from other analytical process models in that it is contextualised in the crime and policing environments.

Early in the book, a New Jersey Fusion Centre worker lament is quoted: "Building the plane as we're flying it." The same charge can no longer be levied against ILP for Jerry Ratcliffe has produced its first blue print.

This book-- a chronicle of Irish Judaism from the earliest times until the early part of the twentieth century as opposed to an historical analysis--is never the less an important contribution to a largely neglected part of Irish history. It contains an introduction by the chief justice of Ireland, and is extremely well researched. For a history of Irish Jews in more recent times (including the themes of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust), see the more recent book by Dermont Keogh.

As far as I know, this is the FIRST history of the family garden, also known as the "kitchen" garden and its evolution from a purely practical, food garden to community gardens, self-help programs, etc. From Thomas Jefferson to modern day gardening, this book has it all! Great read, wonderful find for gardeners.

Southern Africa's rich wildlife heritage includes 291 species of land living mammals. Of these, approximately 200 species are likely to be seen.

This handy field guide provides information on these 200 land mammals of the region and will assist the reader to identify the various species. Every entry has a small map indicating where they occur, an illustration of the animal, its paw print and a description of its size, habitat and habits.

The text and plates appear in the standard sequence of animal classification systems, and information is provided on orders and families, whilst the common names are also provided. There is also a section on the climate and vegetation of the Southern African sub-region.

Authentic in detail and color, the plates are beautifully executed and the animals are proportionally grouped together where possible. In its reference section a glossary, bibliography, index of scientific names, index of English names and index of Afrikaans names can assist the reader.

Leon Oberg has brought out the fourth edition of his classic works, "Locomotives of Australia" and if anything, it is an improvement on an already excellent book. This not only provides details on the very latest locomotives to be introduced on the various railroads of Australia over the last ten years, in addition to those already in the earlier edition, but includes many colour photographs as well, which add to the overall quality of the book. Also, I do not remember the section on the "Shays" in the last edition and believe it is an addition here. Undobtedly, this is one of the best books on locomotives anywhere, giving fascinating details and technical information on so many locomotives, from the first days of railways in Australia right up to the present day. This book should find a fitting place on the book shelf of any railway enthusiast not just in Australia, but all over the world.

Uday Peeligama
Sydney
Australia

This was a very interesting book about plants we are just beginning to see in North America. I thoroughly enjoyed all the photos too.