Performance Books

Crocker's History of Musical Style is an invaluable resource for the serious listener. Markedly different from both the routine music history and the contextless, isolated concert programme notes, it provides the kind of deep analysis that enables the reader to understand the relationships between compositional trends as they are expressed by representative composers.

Additionally, Crocker's professional background in Medieval music means that the pre-Bach periods are given ample attention by an expert in the field rather than by a subject matter "tourist."

I had this text when I was in college 30 years ago and was delighted to find it still in print because it is the one music history I recommend without hesitation to my musically literate friends.

This is truly a great book. It is always astonishing to come face to face with a comprehensive one-volume work on any topic. Invariably, I ask myself, how is it possible that one person could study and write about so many things? Such books are rare, but this is one of them. The book begins with music of the Franks and takes a whirlwind tour through the centuries, revealing a wealth of insight into the major and minor genres in western music. Although the book is often pigeonholed as a standard reference work for musicology students cramming for exams; it is much more than that, and there are ideas here that you won't find elsewhere. In addition, anyone who has the patience to tease through a few complicated musical forms can read this book and learn from it--the prose is straightforword and not a bit sesquipedalian. There are those who say that the parts dealing with medieval and renaissance music are the most rewarding, but I found the whole book interesting. The book is fun to read alongside Gerald Abraham's "Concise Oxford History of Music."

This book covers most of what you possible could need building your own engine with higher power as your main goal.

It gives you the possibility to choose from different approaches to each specific hp-goal and also suggestions to overal hp-gains on all BBC-engines.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!

This is the best book on the Big Block, most others are too old, this one dates the articles so you know if you are getting new info....I reccommend it

I've been in the direct marketing business for over 13 years now and have made my own millions. I've had many people ask me what I would recommend they read in order to learn about the direct marketing business. I would definitely recommend this book.

When I read Vincent's book I was shocked at how much information he revealed and was excited that I've actually experienced everything...and I mean EVERYTHING...he has experienced in the realm of direct marketing. He can tell you how to get a multi-million dollar business up and running. He can also tell you about how to avoid the pitfalls. I wish I had this information 10 years ago!

The only thing I disagree with is that you can get a 2% response on a mailing. I've never gotten 2%. Maybe I don't use the right lists. Who knows? Therefore, if you can't get 2% then you shouldn't be selling a $60 item in a sales letter. In my experience, you should NEVER sell something less than $150 in direct marketing offer.

Best wishes to you and your business endeavors.

I've never read a more honest, open account of how you can go from zero to one million dollars a year or more in your own business. What I liked the most was how willing Vincent was to reveal his secrets in step-by-step detail so I can easily follow in his footsteps. Well worth the price to anyone serious about making a great deal of money.

I found this book to be very informal taking the reader from the basic operation of the automotive ignition systems to determining which system would best suit your need. A must have addition to the diy person/professional library of automotive repair. I couldn't put the book down.

This is one of the better books on high-performance and racing ignition to come along in quite a while. How to Build High-Performance Ignition Systems is a comprehensive guide to understanding everything from old-school, points and condenser systems, to modern, computer-controlled, distributorless ignitions and from bone-stock systems to race-only, totally aftermarket ignitions.

This book helps you understand how your car's ignition works and it helps you choose the right components to better its performance, be it a '55 Chevy with a 265 small-block or a 2004 Corvette with a 5.7L LS6. Coils, wires, spark plugs, distributors, distibutorless systems, inductive ignitions, CD ignitions, multiple-spark systems, computer ignition controls, rev limiters-all are covered for both street and race applications.

Author, Todd Ryden, who's day job is working for one of the aftermarket ignition industry leaders, Autotronic Controls Corporation, manufacturer of the well-known "MSD" brand, leads you through the various systems, subsystems and components, explaining theory behind their operation and how the parts work with each other to provide an accurate, powerful ignition system.

In spite of Ryden's employment at Autotronic Controls, the book is not biased towards MSD parts. Components and systems from a fair amount of the aftermarket ignition companies besides the MSD brand, including Crane, Mallory, Electromotive, Performance Distributors, Pertronix and others, are covered in the book. Mr. Ryden is to be complimented for this impartiality.

The book's strongest points are its discussions of basic ignition theory and components in the early chapters, its discussion of the advanced-technology ignition products used in high-end racing applications towards the end of the book, its high-quality photography and that it covers a wide range of ignition components from stock, point distributors and inductive ignition to crank-triggers, individual coil racing systems with all sorts of add-ons like multi-step rev limiters, timing controls and window switches.

Weaknesses are few. There is not enough coverage of and perhaps even a little confusion about detonation and pre-ignition. In a section on distributor gears, there's no mention of the pressed-on, cast iron distributor drive gears which have made it possible to run roller cams on the street with the durability we've come to expect from flat tappet cams. Lastly, there's little mention of blown fuel and blown alcohol drag racing ignitions. Admittedly, few of this book's readers require that, but it would have been interesting just because of some of the high technology in those kinds of ignition products.

Todd Ryden's How to Build High-Performance Ignition Systems is, well..shocking...in the good job it does in explaining today's high-performance, automotive ignition systems. This book will be a welcome addition to any automotive technical book collection.

"Many business leaders are realizing that", Mone and London write in their Preface "HR practitioners can offer much more to the enterprise than maintaining personnel transactions such as payroll, benefits, and compensation. As important as these functions are, executives and HR practitioners alike increasingly recognize the transformational nature of human resource development functions. Human resource development is a key component of successful organizational transformation. For example, HR personnel get involved in determining job requirements to make the business successful, in recruiting and hiring people who match the new and emerging skill demands, and in training these new employees and managers, as well as existing personnel to ensure they have to required knowledge and skills. Significant changes in how business is conducted entail concomitant changes in how employees are attracted, developed, maintained, and rewarded."

Thus, emphasis of this book can be summarized as is demonstrating how human resource development principles, strategies, and programs can ensure the requisite business transformations to meet significant business challenges facing corporate leaders and human resources professionals.

Through case studies written by contributors, HR professionals learn some major lessons such as :

* work collaboratively with senior management during periods of strategically driven change.

* recognize transformational change and its impact on the organization.

* ensure leaders are visible and engaged.

* build commitment to the change in other parts of the organization.

* form partnership between business managers, HR, and external consultants.

* be flexible when introducing a new process.

* focus on the end result, not the survey.

* include a communication phase before launching each initiative.

* involve the people in the organization who are most critical to the operating success of the initiative.

* establish uniform criteria for identifying high-potential people.

* reward the high-performers in the organization.

* use technology to support HR efforts.

* help people overcome their resistance to learning and using new technology.

* help CEO become the HR leader.

* recognize that changes takes time.

I highly recommend this invaluable study to all HR professionals.

HR is too often viewed as playing a strictly support role, often that of the majordomo or naysayer, in the drama of business, strategy and organization. But the ten case studies presented in this intriguing volume demonstrate how crucial HR can be to enterprise success! In these pages you will learn how practitioners have had a profound impact on their organizations. The cases detail specific ways in which HR has played a vital, strategic role. The editors provide a helpful set of diagnostic questions to aid in fathoming each case. Additionally, the key features of each case are highlighted in one-page tables that make the content further accessible. This book can infuse an HR practitioner with a new sense of purpose and resolve, and a renewed realization of the pivotal value of human resource management. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, hrconsultant.com and Stern & Associates.

This book is must-reading for those in learning, development, and human performance improvement.

The late Gilbert deserves much more credit than he receives. Much of his work is "sampled" in newer books, but this is the definitive source!

This unique perspective on human behavior provides a powerful and enjoyable set of tools to influence key issues at work. Thomas Gilbert provides a look at people that is based on empirical observations and the occurrence of functional relationships between our work behavior and that of others. It also takes into consideration the ecological variable effecting the execution of a business model and operationl.

He argues that competency is not a measure of knowledge, hardward, or dedication, it is a measure of worthy performance. Results that faciliate the acquisition of leisure or opportunity to pursue more meaningful or worthwhile activites are the best measure of competency.

This book will help any person at work who whats to succeed. It provides a perspective that will allow that person to improve their own an others performance at work. It will help any open minded person demonstrate their own competency.

It is excellent and profound.

I was very happy with my product and it arrived in the specified amount of time.

This book includes lots of information on development, from the perspective of families and persons in community settings. It has much practical applied information with contemporary examples.

For persons interested in the interaction of human maturation and developmental differences, this is the best text I've seen.

I've used this book when teaching a human-computer interaction (HCI) course in an engineering psychology program. While there are two extensive texts on HCI I found their emphasis too much on the engineering side. Bailey, while including good technical material, also provides a perspective that fits well with engineering psychology. His information combines well with that in books by Wickens.

Bailey's material goes well beyond PC issues and provides good understanding of various system design techniques. For exampe, his descriptions of ATM system design gives good direction on how to do design. He provides a good foundation on such important topics as human limits, human senses, memory, usability assessment, task analysis and ways to help people work better.

While this book isn't cheap, it is worth every penny (or kronor).
It is on my shelf.

It's a very good book. I liked it because it illustrates many problems with human computer interaction/design and it also gives you hints on how to avoid these problems. The book is very straightforward and easy to understand. I specially enjoyed the sections dealing with readability and reading distances. This is the preferred book to have on my bookshelf when I'm designing consumer products. Happy reading

If you loved Bulgakov and enjoyed Pelevin this book is for you.

I truly enjoyed Dezhnev's In Concert Performance. It was touching, poetic, and took me far beyond the confined and limited realm of my Washington metro commuter train. I do not often highlight, or underline passages in novels. With this book I felt compelled to do so. As an example and as early as page 4 of the book Dezhnev sets out what must surely be the most vivd description of the empotions underlying a 'mid-life crisis. He writes . . . "Then the day comes when with autumnal clarity you see the superfluousness and mediocirty of what's going on, and this knowledge makes you want to bury your head in the protective bleakness of ordinary life, walk around half asleep, and slowly and inconspicuously slip into a different world. The soul calcifies with age and you no longer have the strength or hope to resond to feelings. Getting no answer, love passes by. [ . . . ] Still, all would be well, everything would be peaceful, except for the hidden danger that existgs at this age. The beast of vanity, which until now has fed on hope, suddenly goes on the warpath. Everything has fizzledout, everything is past its prime, and what's left is the one thing you can't accept - you're nobody and you haven't lived at all!" I found this passage, and other passages throughout the book to resonate with me in a profundly moving way. Finally, do not be fooled by the somber nature of the above passage. The book has its sarcastic, funny, and lighthearted momeents as well. This book was well worth reading - and will be one of the few that I will turn to again with th epassage of time.

This book provides a roadmap to help navigate through some tough decisions and sense-making about technology. The idea of knowledge-creation is finally brought to bear on schools. I learned a great deal.

This book provides a roadmap to help navigate through some tough decisions and sense-making about technology. The idea of knowledge-creation is finally brought to bear on schools. I learned a great deal.