Performance Books

I'm a graduate student in electrical engineering and queuing theory is one of the subjects i need to be familiar about. I did a couple of courses on queuing theory, mostly by following the instructor's notes, but this book helped me to clear many of my concepts that either i overlooked before or never thought about it.

In particular, the section where it talks about algebraic topological interpretation of product form solutions of queuing networks is great, and so is the treatment on M/G/1 queues. It also proves why the product form solution works and what should be the structure of the queuing in order for it to work! The examples and case studies are very insightful. Chapter 6 on discrete time queuing systems is very well written with a comparison to its continuous time analog.

Overall, I think it's a great book. Would recommend to anybody that wants to study deeper.

This book fits between Raj Jain's seminal "The Art of Computer Systems Performance Analysis" (ISBN 0471503363) and the more pragmatic series of books written by Menasce and Almeida. Where it differs from Jain's book is the more modern examples, using networking, database systems and overall architectures (Jain's book was more slanted towards host-based systems prevalent when that book was written).

The first chapters in this book cover the basics, concepts and associated math: probability, queuing theory, stochastic processes and Petri nets. This foundational material is clearly presented and cover all of the key elements of performance analysis (and capacity planning). The remainder of the book applies the concepts and techniques to analyzing architectures, operating system and DBMS and network components.

The final two chapters cover system modeling project ideas and how to use the performance evaluator application that is on the CD ROM that comes with the book. I haven't fully exercised this application, so will refrain from commenting on it. It is not needed to use the book.

Overall, this book is sufficiently technical and detailed to give all of the essential knowledge needed for solid performance and capacity management. If I had to choose between Jain's book cited above or this one, this is the one I'd pick because of its relevance to contemporary systems.

This book gets right down to the basic. Wireless mics, monitor mixing, buying concert speaker systems, & mix position is just a smithereen of tons of information the book provides. It also lists articles about the P.A.'s of many artists such as Genesis, Gloria Estefan, & Garth Brooks. Very Descriptive. I would highly recommend it to people of all knowledge levels interested in the subject of live sound.

This is the best dam book around. You won't find more dam information in any other dam publication. Every dam engineer should have this dam book before starting any dam design. Even if you're not doing any dam work right now, you should have a personal copy of this dam book for future dam reference. It's just good dam reading.

This book gives solid support for preparing for an upcoming performance, and that event is not limited to the performing arts; it may well be business or sports. Much research supports the text, but the book remains very readable-keeping a middle ground that avoids both journalese and fluff.

Illustrations enliven key points and full summaries are excellent references. Examples provide specifics and insight, telling what to do and why, such as staying in the present and letting go of mistakes because in the short-term the mind can usually process seven bits of information at one time and focusing on a mistake takes away one valuable bit needed for a performance.

The style of the book fortifies its message. A reader won't be frazzled while reading it nor when referring to it later.

If you get nervous in competition, this is the book for you! Diane goes step by step on how to combat the dreaded Ring Nerves. In this book, you'll learn how important breathing is, how to create a safe space and distance yourself from your fears, how to be in-tuned with your dog, improve your self-esteem, focus on your goals and how to stretch. This is a wonderful book -- I highly recommend it.

O'Dell's text is one of the few, and quite possibly the best, exploration into the often misunderstood "masochistic" art practices in 1970s America. Covering five artists (Vito Acconci, Ulay & Abramovic, Gina Pane, and Chris Burden), Contract With the Skin offers the reader thought-provoking ideas about what masochism in performance art REALLY means. (It's not about pain, per se.) Kathy O'Dell forces the reader to re-think their assumptions about art practice, and sheds new light on problematic subject matter.

It is a top grade thesis from the top one marketing group in Britain. The thorough literature review, a detailed qualitative content analysis, the application of theoretical modeling and structural equation modeling techniques, a rigorous research methodology, and more than 600 reference items all make this thesis a masterpiece.

I am a 24 year old former collegiate golfer, and this book is probably one of the best I have read for golf specific training. The exercises are described well and the workouts are easy to follow. There is also a nutrition section which talks about how to be healthier day to day as well as what to eat pre / during a round. For anyone looking to increase flexibility, strength, power, eat better, prevent injury, this book is a must.

Just a side note, but the movement prep sequence for the workouts / pre round are worth the price of this book itself. I will never workout or play golf again without completing the Movement Prep beforehand, it is the best stretching / warm up routine I have seen.

I highly recommend this book.

If you are interested in the consequences of performance indicators and the devastating effect of so-called bureaurocratic "accountability" on the academic world, you should read this book. It contains a history as well as a discussion on performance indicators and then proceeds with very detailed case studies of different countries, which read like chilling novels. Brilliantly and superbly written.