E Books

Back when I was a teenager, (in the early 1980's), I loved this book. It was my favorite sci-fi novel. Really good stuff. parallel universes, and a girl with violet eyes...

This book whetted my appetite for science fiction at a very young age and I still remember its wonders 35 years later. I kept checking it out of the local library so it would stay in circulation and I would always have it available. Time got ahead of me and we moved away. When I returned, I headed for the library to follow my same pattern and found it was no longer in the system. It was a science fiction book, with a poet's soul, for young readers and older ones who have yet to loose the excitement of what fantasies await in the future.

For several years in Jr High and High School, I was a SF junkie. I just couldn't get enough. And Nourse was my favorite SF author (with the exception of the Foundation Trilogy).

The Universe Between had some almost bizarre ideas about transporting between two universes. But the very strangeness was part of the fun. If we ever actually do get to travel to another universe, the method used may end up being just as strange as the method presented herein.

One of the things that I appreciated most about Nourse was that he was able to tell a story and keep your interest without pandering to sexual innuendos like some other popular SF writers sometimes do. I would be completely comfortable letting any of my young children read Nourse's science fiction.

--George Stancliffe

...

Dr Alan Nourse didn't write much sf -- though he had a prolific career writing non-fiction, esp. with a medical bent -- but what he did was solidly plotted and exciting. Most of his fiction is out of print now, sadly, but it stands up well with the contemporary works by Del Rey, Bova, Norton and Asimov.

This is a collection of ten short stories.

Like several reviewers, I discovered this book around age 12 in a Junior high school library. It was my favorite novel for about 10 years, and remains in my top 5, even 30 years later.
The author, Alan E. Nourse was a physician, who wrote SF novels and short stories as a hobby. Given that, the combinaton of qualities that shine forth from this novel are very impressive, in my opinion.
First, Nourse uses some unique ideas, based on speculation about scientific questions of the day (the short stories which this novel sprang from were first published in 1951, in short stories called "The Universe Between" and "High Threshold", per my searching on the internet).
An example: Using the highly adapatable "blank slate" of a young child's brain to imprint/adapt/learn an environment which is incomprehensible and even dangerous to a "rigid" adult mind - utilizing the normally unused parts of the human brain. (I hate to give others, because they would be plot "spoilers" to some extent - but most of these utilize hard science concepts and are explained in a way that entertains and teaches too).
As I've reread and rethought this book as an adult, it also occurs to me that Nourse is most likely writing on multiple levels and sending multiple messages. Such as:

1. An exciting adventure appealing to the young, young at heart, and both the hard and the fantasy SF lover.
2. A commentary on the difficulty of meaningful communication between people of radically different cultures/backgrounds.
3. A commentary on the surprising number and nature of the wonderful discoveries about our universe the pursuit of science brings us.
4. A reflection/reminder of the precious nature of life, and how close/uncertain death can be at any moment - a reminder not to take anything for granted.
5. Commentary on how important it is not to squander our natural resources, and the critical need to plan ahead for humanities' resource needs - given the inevitiblity of population and technological expansion throughout the globe over time.
6. And finally, repeatedly, a reminder of how little we know, and how little our limited perception allows us to grasp the true nature of reality.

This novel should leave you thougtful; hopeful, yet challenged. An exciting, interesting and unique children's SF novel? Yes! But also quite a bit more - very commendably written by this "hobbyist" for the thinking adult SF fan, in this reader's opinion.

I always had a liking for webster's Dictionaries so on seeing one that I liked on Amazon I couldn't resist. What excited me more was that I discovered from the specs. given that it comes with the same dictionary on a CDRom. It's interactive so when studying, one can highlight and paste definitions of words directly. Again, a wonderful product being offered by Amazon. Thanks guys !!

Wayde
for

Sharmin Maraj

The dictionary is terrific, but the CD-ROM does not work with my Apple Operating System. I am sure the CD-ROM is as good, but can't use it with my Mac.

This is an excellent resource. The disc is great and can be downloaded into your computer. I don't know how I survived first semester without it!

it came sealed and i gave it as a gift, so i havent opened it.

an outstanding work at a bargain price. if i could have bought but one book in recent months, this should have been that one.

I found this collection of letters written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (author of the "Little House" series) to be fascinating. The letters were written to her husband when Mrs. Wilder went to San Francisco to visit her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, in 1915.

The reader gets Mrs. Wilder's description of a San Francisco that is recovering from the earthquakes and fires that took place earlier in the century and is now hosting an International Exposition. Mrs. Wilder's description of her first encounter with the Pacific Ocean is wonderful.

The reader also gets a glimpse into the life of Mrs. Wilder. She is very concerned about finances and things back on the farm. She has yet to write her first "Little House" book, but her daughter, who is already an accomplished journalist, is helping Mrs. Wilder get a feel for writing.

This book will be a treat for readers interested in the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder and those interested in a portrait of San Francisco in the early 20th century.

I love all the little house books. I am buying these so I can read them again and also to build up a library for my grandchildren.

Laura Ingalls Wilders makes a trip by train to visit her daughter, Rose, in 1915 in San Francisco. It was during the 1915 World's Fair. Laura visited for two months and wrote interesting, detailed letters back home to Almanzo about what she saw and did.
Some of her descriptions were captivating in their detail. The book fills in gaps and answers questions about the years following the events of the Little House books. The reader meets Rose, the daughter, as an adult, and begins to learn about her amazing life as a successful writer.
It was during this visit that Rose begins to help Laura learn how to better write for publication, such as how to block-out a story.
The reader gets an insight into Rose's fierce loyalty and sense of responsibiity to her parents.

In addition to Laura's detailed letters to Almanzo describing her adventure, this book includes over thirty photographs featuring Laura, Rose, the Pacific Ocean (ships, beachgoers, etc.), San Francisco, and many scenes of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition including an air show and night-lit festivities. Though in black and white, this pictorial insight into what was behind the letters is wonderful.

The book also includes an introduction telling how and where the letters were found and a lovely description of San Francisco at the time of Laura's visit. The letters themselves beautifully showcase the art of letter writing: Along with Laura's vivid descriptions of the technological marvels of the expo, her words are full of charming details to make us smile such as the price of eggs, hat shopping, and her favorite foods of the expo. Laura's expertise in writing compositions, as portrayed in the original Little House books, is very much evident even in these personal letters.

This book is a must have for Little House enthusiasts. Also recommended: On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894.

J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles, and longtime Little House fan

This is a very sweet and interesting book. Laura is visiting Rose in San Francisco for a few months and writes letters to Manly to fill him in on all she is doing and seeing.

The letters are detailed and filled with much information about San Francisco at the time. This is very interesting since it was 1915 and the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition was in progress.

I was thrilled to read it as I can't seem to read enough about Laura and her entire family! This is another wonderful and interesting book with the spirited Laura Ingalls Wilder as the star!

Hello, I'm StoryMaker. While glancing at the bookshelf, I spotted The World of Pooh - an old, brown copy with no dust jacket - and was inspired to review it.

The World of Pooh is a very good book. It is the original, classic, A. A. Milne Pooh, and a lot of it. Timeless & simple, it is a must for young & old. The red-shirt-free, non-Disney, classic Pooh books by A. A. Milne are old, but to this very day satisfy young children. That's the magic about it.

Why is the classic Pooh better than the Disney Pooh? Well, there are plenty of reasons.

First of all, the characters are better. They are not exaggerated like Disney's. They are kinder yet still quite funny. They are really more charming and really better. As some would say, they have higher quality.

Second, A. A. Milne's stories are timeless. You'd think a kid wouldn't care, but seriously. They satisfy generation after generation and don't change over time. (And I'm not talking about the change of the cover and binding and amount of wear & tear!) Look at the changes of Disney's Pooh. First classic animation, then puppets, then CGI. As the world changes, so does Disney Pooh. But A. A. Milne's classics are timeless and can be loved age to age. They're Grandpappy approved! XD

The World of Pooh gathers many Pooh classic stories and puts them in one book. I have a young cousin & his parents have introduced him to A. A. Milne's Pooh and aren't sure they will show him Disney. Good for them! These stories are better. If you have a youngster, I recommend you do the same. You can get The World of Pooh for pretty cheap nowadays, so why not? Also check out A. A. Milne's poem books, When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six. You'll love 'em, too! Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"

I've been reading a chapter each night before bed to my 4yr old since
receiving the book. We both love all of the stories.

I think that "The World of Pooh" was a wonderful book. I especially liked it because I love Winne the Pooh. He is so funny, and with his friends by his side they can do anything. One of my favorite parts is the part where Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit's Rabbit Hole. And when everyone throws a party for Pooh and Eeyore thinks the party is for him. The World of Pooh is a great book and it is funny as well. I could not put the book down. It is just simply amazing. Piglet and Winnie the Pooh are best of friends.

I love this book. Written well, the drawings are great, I takes me back to a wonderful place to be.

For the Gopher fans, Gopher is not in this, he came later in the tv shows.

If you have a kid, a grandkid, a neighbor kid, or are considering getting any of those, you should buy this book.

Get a copy to keep in the car in case you are away from the main copy at home. It is a truly great book, and you will never regret purchasing it for a single second.

I am new as an ebay seller and I plan to open a store soon I hope. I bought this book in order to get good, helpful tips and advices. I got them! This book goes in depth in every aspect. Very detailed oriented and this is what I wanted. Definitely a great buy and a must have.

A Gotta Have book if you are planning on Marketing an eBay business. Great reference for the experienced eBayer.

I have been selling on Ebay for over 2 years. But after reading this book I realize how little I knew about marketing my product. This little gem contains very valuable information about making the most out of Ebay's competitive marketplace. This book is interesting to read and gives clear step by step instructions for changes you can make to Market your Ebay items. Like I said, I thought I knew a lot about Ebay but I was surprised by how much I learned from this book!

I've been selling on ebay since July 2005. Part time. I've read 8 books on ebay. This is one of the Best. I have not had time to use the info in it. But have tried to impliment some of the tips. It is full of great ideas and sources of the kind of information one needs to be successful on ebay. I highly recommed it.

This book is hardcore. Give a lot of info and can save painfull hours of try-and-faild. You need to read it.

This book provides a great foundation for the classes I am teaching in e-commerce. It's chapters on site server also are excellent! I found the fundamentals section to be outstanding for handling the task of getting new students up to speed.

This book is really useful from the standpoint of providing an overview of what ESD is doing today, and how e-commerce tools from Microsoft are making it possible for organizations of any size to buyild their own sites. I found the chapters on managing a new site useful with some good suggestions for getting everyone on the same page from a development standpoint. Good reference book and teaching tool for new administrators.

I have been studying up on e-business and found this book to have a personable tone and many insights into how I could get up to speed quickly with terms and concpets to manage the outsourcing of our company's website quicker. I liked the chapters on building a framework for organizing solutions and found the chapter on electronic software ditribution very enlightening. An easy book to read.

This book has interesting information about Microsoft's Site Server applications, and shows the plans for electronic software distribution Microsoft authored with key industry leaders. it is decidely pro e-commerce and provides an interesting approach to managing web development through cross-functional project teams.

I found this book to provide a level-set for my staff, who is working on the definition of our websites, and what we could reasonably expect with the resources onhand. This book gave us hands-on guidelines and advice from experience we could use for getting our site completed in the minimum amount of time with the least disconnects between what we wanted and what we ended up creating. E-Commerce is constantly changing, and this book brings all the change into perspective. Good teaching tool.

This was a cute read. I would recmmend it for a few good laughs to waste the afternoon.

If you need something to help you escape from this world. This is a book to do it for you. I was laughing during most of this book with the misadventures of both the main characters. Heartwarming and fun. Excellent beach reading.

Judi McCoy's latest is her best yet. I don't usually read books with a fantasy element, but I was thoroughly charmed by this modern take on Greek mythology. The idea of Zeus running Mt. Olympus like a modern day CEO (albeit a somewhat canktankerous CEO)is very clever. Kyra, the muse of good fortune is sent down to earth, to Las Vegas, on a mission to inspire good fortune. There is one caveat tho; she cannot fall in love with a mortal without suffering dire consequences. Perfect summer read.

I read vampire romance. Period. So when a friend insisted I would enjoy this sexy, funny fantasy about Greek gods, demi-goddesses, and Sin City???, I had my doubts. But, after scoffing for a page or two, I had to admit, I was having a great time. I took the book with me everywhere--and stayed up late so I could finish. (Sorry, no spoilers from me!)

Judi McCoy stays true to form in her newest release, Almost a Goddess. Beautifully detailed settings, well-drawn characters, an engaging plot line and an ample dash of spice form the ingredients of this laugh-out-loud read that's guaranteed to leave you with a smile. I can't wait for the next book in this wonderful new series.

He has some brilliant moments about war. The Vietnam experience is very up front in his life and politics. Bush and Cheney not being war veterans seems to cause him concern. While he would go in a lot of different directions from his party, he still is a Republican. All his donations and connections to maintain his office, force him into a conflicting situations. But it is a good read. If he changed is party to independent it would be no surprise.

Senator Hagel's book should be on the bookshelf of every man, woman and student in the U.S. His bi-partisan approach to our nation's problems is exactly what has been lacking for the past 40 years. His crab-prairie dog analogy is perhaps the best summation of our political system yet seen in print.

Surely there are others in Congress who recognise what has gone wrong with our system of government, but Sen. Hagel seems to be one of the very few who has had the guts to stand up and say what he thinks. Perhaps that is way after only two terms he has chosen not to stand for re-election.

My hope is that one of our Presidental candidates will recognise that Senator Hagel has the potential to be the greatest Secretary of Defense that this country has ever had at a time when the United States needs someone in that position to reverse it's current path to destruction.

READ THIS BOOK and I'm sure you will agree.

Senator Hagel offers a clear headed and candid assessment of where America stands today and where it needs to go, particularly on the international front. Readers may find his analysis jolting in comparison to the timidity of other officials, but those who know Hagel will find his remarks as standard.

In listening to an interview of author Stephen Covey recently, I noted Covey's assessment that those who come from an agrarian experience are more likely to face the reality of people and events. That fits with Hagel and his upbringing in Nebraska.

While many of Hagel's assessments parallel my own (Congress has failed in its responsibility to be a co-equal branch of government, the use of mercenaries in Iraq is unacceptable, we need a universal service program to instill interest in our duties as citizens) he stops short of making the hard recommendation that what we really need to accomplish those things is to go back to a lottery Draft (or to threaten President Bush with Impeachment).

Hagel also offers a blunt critique of the difficulties our political process is inflicting on the ability of government to function efficiently and confront the large scale problems of our nation. The Senator strongly hints that a revision of that political process is near with either the creation of a third party or the re-constitution of an existing party.

Would that more of our Federal elected officials operate with his perspective that his oath is to ". . .America, not to a President or a political party or a policy."

His absence from the Senate will be a loss from that organization, but I expect his presence in a new administration, regardless of which party gains the Presidency in 2008.

I strongly recommend his book for its unique insider perspectives and unflinching assessment of the reality of our circumstances.

[...]

Senator Hagel's book touches on the hard facts that have been spun by politicians and American media. I believe that this "good ole' boy" has everything it takes to be President and should have taken on John McCain this year. I also believe that the reason he didn't and the reason he is retiring from politics is because he is sick of the way the Republicans and the Democrats make a political issue out of situations that require common sense thinking. Read this book and you will discover that at least one of the American politicians understands what the normal American is dealing with in their own personal life.

The books is honest, thought provoking and makes me sad when I think about not having Chuck Hagel in the Senate any more after this year. What a loss for the country.

I am a liberal democrat and I can't find many on either side of the isle who has more integrity than Senator Hagel. I attended his lecture in DC on April 24; he is an eloquent, straight-talking speaker and totally captivated the audience of mostly embassadors, diplomats and press.

I only wish he would run for president so I could campaign for him or that he would be asked and he would accept the post of Secretary of State by the next president no matter who wins.

We need more like him and now there is one less.

I took the course offered by Udwadia last semester because of the rave reviews I saw on the web. I thought they were too good to be true. So I was 'cool' to him at the start. But I was wrong, dead wrong! This guy is in fact even better than what the reviews say about him. He is SIMPLY SUPERB.

His book is awesome! What I enjoyed most was the simplicity with which things are put. Each idea is presented as a simple, near-obvious idea, but the sum total of all these thoughts is amazing. What was most impressive was that Udwadia thinks in just the way he writes. He thinks along simple patterns. But there have been so many reviews of his book that there is little I can add to them, except that it truly, truly is an OUTSTANDING book. Those working in dynamics who have not read it are missing something, for sure.

So let me tell you about the guy, a bit. He is the first Professor that I have met who had a welcoming look on his face when a student went to see him. Most of them can't wait for students to leave their offices! He has a tremendous sense of humor, in class he often took us from humor, to history, to philosophy, to math, to dynamics, along one continuous thread of thought. The guy is a genius, I think. I was continually bowled over by the breadth and depth of his knowledge, so unlike an Engineering Prof.

I realized as the course progressed that the guy is deeply dedicated to teaching and helping students. He gave each student/student-group a 'semester project,' suggested the topic to most of us, and actually worked with each group of students on their projects. He even debugged my computer program. It took me quite a while to get over that because I have never had a Professor do that for me. I eventually wrote a manuscript with his constant help that I planned to send out for publication, and I naturally put his name on it. He removed his name, saying that it was I who did the work. What a shocker, from a guy who I know must survive in a 'publish or perish' environment.

As I got to know him during our meetings I realized that this was an unusual person of the most unusual kind: exceedingly well-read, unusually helpful, a superb listener, and a person with enormous grace and dignity. He has standards of integrity that far exceed mine, and I suspect, most others I know. I always felt a sort of comforting presence when I was around him, and, as several others have said, I learned more from him, far more, than just analytical dynamics. He opened my eyes to the way we all should be. And for that, I will always be grateful.

I just wish USC could clone a few more guys like Prof. Udwadia. One last thought: I wonder if he is religious. What religion? Does anybody know? I'd be interested to find out.

I just took the course taught by Professor Udwadia on Analytical Dynamics at USC this semmester. Wow! This guy is not just good, he is TOPS! From the very first lecture I was in amazement with the facility he has in teaching this subject.

I can now see why the book he has written is fantastic. He used it as a text, and then went well beyond it.

He is definitely the best teacher I have ever had. He is a delight to listen to, and was an inspiration to every student in the class. His lectures sparkle, they concentrate on ideas not algebra, and he seemed to have something to say in every lecture that touched me and went well beyond dynamics. The thing that impressed me most is that despite his enormous knowledge of the subject, he is a really humble fellow, a superb listener, a great guy.

For those of you who think the book is superb, you haven't seen nothin' yet until you get to hear this guy speak. Take a ride on his course, he takes you on an incredible journey. It was more than worth my time; and I assure you, you will also find it so.

I recommend that everyone dealing with mechanics get a copy of this gem, and read it! It is the most amazing technical book I have read! I don't want to repeat what others have said in their reviews, and so there is not much more for me to say other than that this book has got to be a classic.

This is the best Professor I have ever had in my entire college education. He is just a wonderful person, extremely erudite, a superb mathematician, physicist, and a man steeped in the liberal arts. His teaching style is unforgettable. He is very clear in what he says, and he knows how to emphasize the key aspects in any given material.

He struck me as an unusually humble person, always willing to learn from his students, which is something very refreshing to see. It is only when he starts to speak that you realize that this guy is a completely different type of person from the average university professor. His knowledge is amazing: philosophy, history, art, science, literature, it is simply baffling. I don't think I have ever met a man like him.

What impressed me most were his human qualities: integrity, humility, and kindness. I think transferring these qualities to students is what education should be most about.

USC's School of Engineering is one lucky place to have a guy like him on its faculty. His book is a mild reflection of him; his course is something more than that, because I am certain he puts in a lot of effort in preparing every lecture, and this results in 'teaching at its best.'

There is a lot said about this book already in the comments given by others, so I won't waste your time saying the same thing: THE BOOK IS A MASTERPIECE. GET IT, READ IT, AND ENJOY!

What I want to say is that Udwadia's course is a million times better than his book. He is about the most well-read man I know. As a person he is just awesome! He is an excellent listener, unusually humble, ready to acknowledge a mistake (catch a Prof. doing that!), and has a spontaneous sense of humor that is difficult to match. His facility with the English language left most of us in the class just dumbfounded! He can weave words together like I haven't seen before. He is a mathematician, a scientists, a historian, a philosopher, and indeed an artist in the way he teaches. USC sure is lucky to have a guy like him on their teaching faculty.

Anger, Acknowledgement, and Acceptance (Blatant Honesty) is a wonderful book. I have not been able to put it down. I constantly go back to the book and re-read because it makes one think (I keep it close at hand). A few days after the World Trade Center tragedy on September 11th, as I was reading the book, I read the page titled "Culture's Destroyer". It has helped me to cope with the pain of what happened. The book is wonderful! A must read for everyone.

THE BOOK ANGER, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE: BLATANT HONESTY BY E.T. DAVIS IS JUST THAT, THE WINDS OF CHANGE. WE OPEN AAABH IN THE MIDDLE OF ANGER, OPEN HOSTILITY AND DOWNRIGHT EVIL FEELINGS. IT SHOWS A SPIRIT OF NOT TRUSTING, OF BEING DOWNTRODDEN AND BEATEN QUITE OFTEN. IT SHOWS A SPIRIT OF NOT TAKING ANY MORE, THE ESSENCE OF TRUE ANGER OVER LIFE AND HOW IT HAS BEEN DEALT OUT. AS WE GO ON WE SEE THE CHANGING OF THE SPIRIT. THE WINDS BEGINNING TO TURN AS A SHIP SLOWLY TURNS IN THE OCEAN. NOT A FAST NECK BREAK TURN, BUT A SLOW STEADY TURN AND A CHANGE OF DIRECTION OR THE WINDS OF CHANGE. MR. DAVIS MAY BE TALKING OF HIMSELF, HOWEVER, EACH AND EVERYONE OF US WHO HAVE READ THIS BOOK CAN ATTEST TO AT LEAST ONE VERSE IN THIS BOOK. KUDOES TO MR. DAVIS FOR OPENING HIS WORLD TO US. TO SHARE THE SPIRITS AND FEELINGS WE ALL HAVE HAD AT ONE TIME OR ANTOHER IN OUR OWN LIVES. TO SHARE HIS WINDS OF CHANGE.

People's lives were changed in so many ways because of what was referred to as the "Apartheid Regine" in South Africa. Yet all over the world people experienced such otrocities, but to place them into words as beautifully and touching as the author is no easy mission.

I was one of the first people to receive a copy of this book. Some I could identify with. With tears in my eyes, because of the hurt bestowed upon all South Africans and the "coloured" folk worldwide, not realizing how demoralizing it was, yet that made us a stronger people. I could not think that a man such as this could have such tenderness in his words.

EVERY poem is unique in it's own right. I will even go to the lenght of saying they are powerful and heart wrenching. To me, the book makes one realize that we are not alone. Oppression is something that so many of us face. Alll over the world people are discriminated against. "Step Into Our World" is the very first poem in this compilation. I suggest this poem be read by those who have not "walked a mile in our shoes".

I am from a world where I was discriminated against. A world where I am too white to be black, but too black to be white. I am what is considered in South Africa as "coloured", a limbo in society.

This book will be a hit with many, if not all, South Africans, as still today not all whites know the extent of humiliation and embarassment, hurt and emotional pain they bestowed upon us. Some will blissfully remain ignorant.

This book comes from a person whom seems like a tough and rugged man. Yet, he is a gentle giant; am man not afraid to express emotions. He is a man whom has truly "Touched My Soul".

In just a few pages, one must see the world as the media does not portray. Even in the midst of calamity, beauty is found in the author's portrayal of life.

Wonderfully expression of emotions. The author has invited us into his world, mind, heart and soul. Very thought provoking. I was deeply moved with each poem. This is truly a must read again and again,...you are brillant and I thank you so much for this collection of poems.