Papers Books

I have been a publisher for over 30 years and I can testify, Pocket Pal is one of the best selling books in the industry. Condensed and concise, it gets right to the point on type, prepress, printing, postpress, paper and so on. There is even a history of type and printing. Glossary.

This 4.25 x 7.25, 234-page goldmine will be a constant reference for typesetters, publishers and printers. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com.

I'm back to buy a dozen more. I've been using this book as a resource almost since I began in the graphics industry 22 years ago. It's been updated with information on the new technologies but retains the basics of prepress, printing, finishing and paper that are constant throughout time. A handy resource for experienced production people and a great tool for "instant learning" for people thrust into the printing/graphics arena.

The Pocket Pal by The Internation Paper Company is the De-facto Standard guide to Graphic arts.

It features explanations (with visual examples) of everything from Typography to halftones.

When I was being trained for graphic arts, this was the book that was given to us along with the words "here is your bible".

The newest edition of the Pocket Pal adds to the already extensive explanations of the various facets of the graphics arts industry. With new technology constantly changing the graphic arts landscape, the Pocket Pal keeps pace with ease.

A "must buy" for the budding graphic artist in your family. Also of interest to those of you who like photography.

This book is a fabulous book for beginning paper cutters and seasoned papercutters alike!! It is well constructed, well organized, and extremely easy to follow!! The patterns are fabulous and designed from beginners to advanced. The instructions are well detailed and easy to follow. I love the artist's patterns-they are orginals and extremely beautiful. This is one book I'll use again and again. There's something for everyone here. This is a wonderful addition to any artist's library and would also make a wonderful gift.

This book is very well done. The designs are originals and there are patterns from which to create your own pieces of art. The art pieces included in this book are very colorful and extremely intricate, surely a sign of a master's hand! This is a must have book for anyone interested in Folk Art, particularily Polish Folk Art. The author has her art displayed in regional museums as well as in the Smithsonian and has been widely acclaimed for her work. Enthusiastically, I recommend this book for art lovers everywhere!

Our school used this book with easy to follow patterns for both a first grade and third grade folk art unit. The kids were able to do a great job, and felt proud with their end-product.

I can hardly wait to use this for our Girl Scout Troop! -- We will make two-sided patterns and use them for christmas decorations.

--Great Book.

27 years ago, this book saved my sanity and that of my children. I followed the advice to the letter, and within a few applications, all of us learned our lessons well. Today, they are our best friends... happy and well-adjusted. I have credited this book and these methods ever since, and today had an opportunity to recommend it to two colleagues. After a brief glance, both saw the potential in the methods and are ordering the books. I will always be grateful for what I learned here. It literally changed our lives.

I am an elementary school teacher and the mother of three children and this book has helped me more than all the child psychology books I have read. It gives practical advice for every conceivable situation and also gives antidotes from actual case studies where the advice was applied. It opens your mind up to all kinds of positive ways to teach your children to be more pleasant individuals. I have personally used alot of the advice and it works.

The book gives excellent and compassionate methods to deal with everyday problems parents encounter with their upgrowing children. A warm and at the same time 'no-nonsense' approach. Paul Miedema, child-psychologist, The Netherlands

The merchandise arrived in a timely fashion the overall was a good experience.

Principles of Accounting - 7th Edition is a very elaborate book introducing accounting guidelines. Over 1000 pages of all levels of learning from begginer to advanced. It includes transparencies in some portions to make understanding statements very easy!

I liked reading this book for my accounting 101 class. The text is clear, well organized and well written. The typography makes liberal use of color, which makes reading _much_ easier when compared to a monochrome textbook. There are copious examples, illustrations and exercises. The book comes with a workbook (purchased separately) which contains template pages to write in your answers (trust me, you will need it). All chapters are grounded in current reality -- the authors make a point of tying the concepts to real-life situations.

On the cons, the 2002 edition deals with 2000 data -- their production process needs to be speeded up.

I think that a thorough review of this text will give the reader an excellent start in basic accounting.

This is a must have item. Very helpful in completing assignments.

The product arrived in a timely manner and I am very pleased with my purchase.

Book in Excelent condition. Shipment received quickly. Everything was great

What a great product! I absolutely love it! It's beautifully crafted, so easy to use, and the final product, complete with all of my photos, is just perfect. I will definitely buy the dog scrapbook, as well! [It's called Ruff: A Dog's Life] I recommend it to everyone!

This is the first scrapbook I have ever ordered. I really love it! I have been looking for a scrapbook to do for my cats for ages and I am so glad I discovered this one on Amazon! It is so easy to put together and a lot of fun. Very affordable, too! I only wish more pages were included or available for purchase! I am sure I will buy more, and I will purchase the dog version as well!

I recently purchased this product for my daughter who just went off to college. I wanted to create something special to send to her feauturing her favorite kitty. This scrapbook was amazing! It took longer to find the pictures than it did to complete the scrapbook. This product comes highly recommended. She loved the finished product and thought I had spent hours making this book. Little did she know, it was very simple!

I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is an excellent tool for those who are interested or study the US Foreign Policy, Congressional politics, interest/ ethnic/ lobby groups and their influence on the decision making process in the US as well as politics of the Caucasus and Caspian region. The latter is especially well described and detailed in the book.

Ambassador Pashayev served as Azerbaijan's first ambassador to the US during one of the most interesting times in the country's history. On one hand- newly regained independence, opportunities ahead and new relations to build. On another hand- war with Armenia, flood refugees, new multi-billion energy projects to develop and security threats to take care of.

Indeed, 1990s was very challenging for the young Azerbaijani Republic and most of these challenges are well covered and described in the book. The readers will appreciate a number of personal stories, tips and guidelines on how to develop mutually beneficial relations with the US politicians both from legislative and executive branches as well as media sector. Several real-life letters to media outlets are US politicians are attached in the book.

One other feature of the book that I enjoyed most was the easiness it is written and smoothness with which it takes the reader throughout time. As if you get a chance to see the beginning of great ideas and political projects, their implementation despite hardships and obstacles and their final realization. Super regional projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which effectively broke the Russian monopoly on regional energy exports and Azerbaijan-US security ties and their joint war against terror are perfect examples of these ideas.

The book is written in a very honest and sincere manner. Ambassador touches upon both achievements and shortcomings of the modern Azerbaijan as well as the fair and unjust policies of the US towards the region.

Highly recommended for diplomats, researchers, college students and general audience.

"Racing Up Hill" by Ambassador Hafiz M. Pashayev is the first book to dwell into an in-depth analysis of U.S.-Azerbaijan relations and their development since 1992. It includes "speeches and public presentations at American universities, think tanks and business forums in over thirty U.S. states" and "a number of articles, interviews and statements that appeared in the U.S. press."

Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski asserts that "Racing Up Hill" is "[a]n important documentary contribution as well as insightful personal collections, regarding the difficult path to Azerbaijan's international consolidation and closer American-Azeri relations. Ambassador Pashayev's work in Washington made an invaluable contribution to progress on both of the above fronts."

The description on the front flap sums up quite well all issues highlighted in the book. It reads, "The book sheds light on the intricate dynamics of U.S.-Azerbaijan bilateral relations since the first day of Azerbaijan's official presence in the United States. At the same time, the issues addressed herein - getting Caspian energy resources to the West, resolving regional conflicts, promoting democracy in a new state, geopolitical competition over the South Caucasus region and the role of Congress in the formulation of U.S. foreign policy - all have significance that extends far beyond the U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship."

"Racing Up Hill" consists of four chapters, in addition to a preface and an introduction. There are also sections with Photos, Maps and Appendix (I-III). The preface is written by Dr. Fred Starr of John Hopkins University, who asserts that "[Racing Up Hill] is a tale of formidable obstacles and of decisive advantages, of lofty principles and low cunning, of steady learning and willful ignorance. It is, in short, a microcosm of diplomacy itself"(p. xi).

Ambassador Pashayev starts his introduction with a quote from Mohandas Gandhi, which reads "Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment; full effort is full victory" (p. 1). This quote certainly reflects the spirit of Pashayev's work as the first Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States.

"This is not just the story of Hafiz Pashayev, the Ambassador of a once unknown country on the edge of the Caspian Sea," he writes, "It is also a personal reflection of life in America and the history behind a new and enduring relationship between a superpower and a small country surrounded by larger powers" (p.1).

Pashayev divides the stages in U.S.-Azerbaijan relations into three periods (Chapter 1-3): chp.1) Putting Azerbaijan on Washington's Map (1993-1994); chp.2) Developing Strong U.S.-Azerbaijan Relations (1995-2001); chp.3) From Cooperation and Partnership to Strategic Relationship (2002-2006). Each chapter also includes chronologically classified letters by Ambassador to the U.S. Congress and U.S. government. The last chapter has Pashayev's articles and letters to the Editor published in the U.S. press.

According to Pashayev, the first year in Washington (Chapter 1 - 1993-1994) was the "most complex" in his thirteen-year diplomatic service. He states that at the time U.S.-Azerbaijani relations were not only "practically non-existent," but they were also "downgraded" by the U.S. Congress, which placed "the first obstacle in the path of U.S.-Azerbaijani bilateral relations" (p. 13). By "obstacle" Pashayev refers to the Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act of 1992, which "paralyze[d] U.S.-Azerbaijani relations" and "banned all U.S. Government assistance, including humanitarian aid, to the Republic of Azerbaijan" (p. 12). He writes that "...by supporting Section 907, the U.S. Congress unknowingly facilitated humanitarian crisis in Azerbaijan and allowed the Armenian lobby to hold hostage U.S. Strategic interest in the region for many subsequent years" (p. 14). The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which resulted in the occupation of almost 20 percent of his country and about a million of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, was the second major issue that Pashayev "had to cope with during the first two years of his Ambassadorship" (p. 14).

Chapter Two (May, 1994- September, 2001) marks the beginning of the second stage in U.S.-Azerbaijani relations. It starts with a signing of a cease-fire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that allowed Azerbaijan to concentrate on promoting its hydrocarbon wealth. "The Contract of the Century" between Azerbaijan and the western oil companies was signed on September 20, 1994. Pashayev writes that "From this time onward, U.S.-Azerbaijani relations developed in multiple directions; including the fields of energy and economic cooperation" (p. 81). In this chapter, he also talks about the 1997 visit of the late President Heydar Aliyev to Washington and discusses "the political and legal maneuvering surrounding the decision on" the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

In Chapter Three, Pashayev writes about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the global war on terror, the inauguration of the BTC pipeline, the upgraded "strategic relationship and alliance" between the United States and Azerbaijan, the "color revolutions" in the former Soviet Union republics, the October 2003 Presidential and November 2005 Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.

"This tragic event changed the United States and the rest of the world overnight," remarks Pashayev referring to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He states that "Azerbaijan was among the first states to offer its help to the United States and the American people." But he also complains that "in this critical moment for U.S. national security, it was Section 907 that blocked the U.S. military from cooperation with Azerbaijan" (p. 193). "Ironically, only after the 9/11 tragedy did the U.S. Government and U.S. Congress realize how damaging and detrimental Section 907 had been to the U.S. national interest for all these years" (p. 193).

Pashayev concludes the introduction of Chapter Three by stating that "Today U.S.-Azerbaijan relations are firmer than ever before and I am proud and elated that my years of service have contributed to building up these relations" (p. 201).

"Racing Up Hill" is a valuable source for any political science or international relations scholar, student and researcher who studies the foreign policy of Azerbaijan and/or interested in learning more about developments in U.S.-Azerbaijan relations, energy projects and geopolitics in the Caspian region, and the role of interest and ethnic lobbying groups in influencing U.S. foreign policy and decisions of U.S. Congress. The book will surely be an important addition to your library.

Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev, heading the Azerbaijani embassy in Washington D.C., since 1993, has been at the forefront of the constantly developing relations between Azerbaijan and the United States -- from its lows, stemming from the passage of the notorious Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act of 1992, and various other anti-Azerbaijan lobbying efforts by the Armenian diaspora and groups, to the waiver of that very same section 10 years later, and the elevation of the relationship to that of a "strategic partnership" (Amb. Harnish, 2003-2006) and Azerbaijan being described as the "locomotive of the region" (President George W. Bush, 2006).

Being appointed to represent the newly independent nation first under scientist-turned President Abulfaz Aliyev (Elchibey, 1992-1993), Dr. Pashayev, himself formerly a scientist in the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, then served under veteran politician and "political colossus" (in the words of President Putin, October 2003) Heydar Aliyev (1993-2003), and then under the current President Ilham Aliyev (since 2003), before leaving his post and transitioning to a new and perhaps more important job - bringing his experience and expertise back home, and giving it back to the young diplomats and International Relations (IR) specialists, as the Deputy Foreign Minister and Rector (Dean) of the newly founded Diplomatic Academy of Azerbaijan.

Being a first-hand witness of all the important developments shaping the world, the Caspian region, and particularly his native land from the hills of the "Third Rome", this book is important and interesting to the reading public at large for its historic value alone, as a memoir and chronological account of the challenging race up Hill. However, as one of the first books by an Azerbaijani expert being published in the West, in English, this monograph is also important as a valuable source of knowledge and insight for any diplomat, as well as students and scholars of the region, especially those researching the countries in transition and post-Soviet development. As such, the book is a must read for students of diplomacy, IR and Political Science, as well as International Political Economy.

One can only hope that such endeavors would continue in the future, and the Western public will be able to enjoy more scholarly, analytic and journalistic accounts, studies and research from Azerbaijani authors.

My husband and I think this is a great atlas for the United States and Canada. The neighboring states in the U.S. are green; and the state you are looking at is in white. This makes it very clear at a glance. Also, the Canadian portion of this Atlas is spectacular. The entire atlas is very easy to read. We really do like it and we are very glad we bought it.

I love atlases and purchase each yearly edition of Rand McNally. Not much changes from year-to-year, but this edition represents a vast improvement on recent versions. First, they changed the color scheme. Neighboring states are now in olive green, instead of yellow as they were in recent editions. This change helps make it more obvious where borders are and the maps are clearer than before. In addition, national parks are now bright green, and stand out much better (in prior editions, they were outlined with pink and blended in with neighboring highways). Of course, each year, they update the road construction areas, which I have been impressed with their accuracy. This edition also includes a wonderful section highlighting some lesser known events and road trips around the country. Finally, there is a useful section that includes website addresses for state tourism offices. Even if you have a recent edition of this atlas, I highly recommend the 2002 version. Happy travelling!

This Atlas is the only way to go when you need a comprehensive map of roads in North America -- and who doesn't need one of those? I recently used the new edition on a long road trip, and every road was right where the book said it would be.

This work is a profound meditation on the human condition. Hoffer focuses on the incompleteness of Man, the imperfection, the prolonged youthfulness that enable Mankind to create self and world. He writes, " We find him instead the only lighthearted being in a deadly serious universe. All around him were living creatures superbly equipped, and driven by grim purposefulness. He alone, with childish carelessness, tinkered and played, and exerted himself more in the pursuit of superfluities than of necessities. Yet the tinkering and playing, and the fascination with the nonessential , were a chief source of the inventiveness which enabled man to prevail over better- equipped and more purposeful animals."

Hoffer's aphoristic style enables him to write memorable sentence after sentence. His perceptiveness, intelligence, human decency and common sense pervade this volume.

Here a few samples of the wise words in this work.

"Belief passes, but to never have believed never passes."

"Man invents God in the image of his longings, in the image of what he wants to be, then proceeds to imitate that image, view with it, and strive to overcome it."

"Actually, there is no alienation that a little power will not cure."

"Pascal feared that if men knew what each other thought of the other there would be no friends in the world."

"Every passionate search is in some degree a search for something lost."

"It is the individual alone who is timeless."
A wonderful book.

Eric Hoffer is, quite simply, a rare find. Only in America could a longshoreman become one of the most profound of contemporary social Philosophers; this is true of Hoffer. In very much the spirit of an Albert Einstein,who labored anonymously and in thankless tedium as a patent clerk for a great many years before revealing his Theory of Relativity, Hoffer bursts forth from the ranks of longshoremen with a profound understanding of the nature of the human condition. Reflections on the Human Condition is one of my favorite reads; I recommend this particular work, for, in it, Hoffer, presents profound observations in the context of a pithy, easily-assimilated prose. It is a great book to pick up from time to time and simply muse over. While I do not expect that every reader will concur, I am confident that many will appreciate Reflections on the Human Condition and leave it with a greater understanding of the "human condition."

Some of the quotes, contained in this book, are close to Genius. I think that works of Eric Hoffer will be of great interest not only for us but also for future generations.

I first read this book while riding the bus during my late afternoon commute. Maura's words pulled me in and blocked out the sounds of the city and of the other passengers. That's not to say this is any easy read. Rather, it's challenging and engaging...one of the best poetry collections I've read lately.

Some fairly harrowing material rendered in graceful lines and stark detail. Humor is always lurking just around the corner, giving these poems a nice lift, and some good balance to the narrator's experience. A strong watchful voice throughout. There's also a nice progression from poem to poem--these are stops along the way. You'll want to read these poems one after the other, probably in a single sitting.

These poems, in their strong and vivid imagery, do not tell the story of darkness, but one of light. The poems conjure the grace that is like a physical weight lifted from one's shoulders when struggle, pain and forgiveness lead us to openness and acceptance.