Tools Books

This book has lots of good ideas in it.

Well worth the money.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered this book. I was amazed at how well thought out the "hacks" were and the authors take the time to explain the why of the "hack" with plenty of detail. Their handling of the different topics are from the perspective of what they found works well, but they take the time to address alternate viewpoints and the relative merits of each (an example is their handling of the red-dot sight vs Telrad vs Rigel Qwikfinder debate, some very useful information there!).

This is a definite "must have" book for any telescope owner (they handle dobs extremely well in this book), and is the second book you need to buy after choosing a good observing guide.

My wife gave me a decent telescope for Christmas and by luck got one that's pretty good. This book makes some specific recommendations that would have been useful to have read first.

A must have book for anyone getting into astronomy, whether with binoculars or a telescope. It's also a good to buy and read before you buy binoculars or a telescope, as it helps you decide what need to get. I was very impressed with it, and couldn't put it down, which says a lot about a technical book.

Gazing at the night sky is part of our nature. Whether for scientific and/or aesthetic purposes, we humans are fascinated by the enormity and beauty of the heavens.

The authors explain how astronomy gives them an "unchanging framework that places us in context within the universe. We look at the Great Orion Nebula, for example, and realize that the light we see tonight began its journey about 1,550 years ago, when the Roman Empire was in its final days."

This book is a comprehensive (almost 400 pages) guide to getting the most out of your nocturnal viewings. It will be useful for the complete amateur, the hobbyist and even offer some tips for the seasoned astronomer.

Don't be frightened by the word "Hacks" in the title. Like other O'Reilly Hacks books, this is not a compilation of illegal or unethical computer programs. It is a reclaiming of the original meaning of the word "hacks." Before the media started using the term hackers for everyone from mischievous teens to dangerous criminals, a Hacker was someone who used a creative workaround or discovered a more elegant, or quick-and-dirty, solution to a problem.

You probably won't read this book from cover to cover. Depending on where you are starting from and where you want to go, you will find sections that pertain to your interest and experience. Early in the book is a guide to choosing binoculars and telescopes. I like the hack that explains how to measure your "entrance pupil size" using Allen wrenches. This will suggest the optimal telescope for my eyes.

The book also gives tips, guidelines and even etiquette for venturing out alone or with others on an observation trip.

There is some solid information as to how our eyes function in the dark. If you are eager to see stars, you can skip some of this but I found it interesting. Especially the explanation of why all cats are gray in the dark.

After about 100 pages you will get into star identification and cataloging. It begins with the Bayer Catalog, (Johann Bayer published the first comprehensive star atlas in 1603) and then includes more modern catalogs.

The authors provide lists of, say, the 88 modern constellations and include a pronunciation guide so you don't sound like a newbie.
As an "urban observer" (about 8 miles from downtown), I have different equipment needs and techniques than a country dweller. There is a whole section dedicated to Urban Observing Skills.

For the adventurous, there is a game plan to complete a Messier Marathon (seeing and logging all 110 Messier Objects in one night.

Astronomy has long been linked to photography and there are a lot of hacks dealing with taking pictures of the images you observe.

Those who have gone beyond the beginner stage will appreciate all the hacks and modifications you can make to your telescope and other equipment to improve your experience. And the book concludes with hacks to make your PC a better tool in your observations.

This book provides a nice starting point for people interested in the night sky. But it's not a beginner's book. As your skills and interest grow, you will continue to uncover new and useful ideas from this book.

The author obviously knows what he is talking about and presents a fascinating glimpse into some of the systems, scenarios, and processes for US domestic intelligence. Interesting plot and characters, but the real power comes from the "inside" technical knowledge. On par with Clancy's debut (Hunt for Red October), I hope the author keeps at it - his technical abilities are great; more story, character, and plot development and he could be as good as Clancy!

Government eavesdropping systems like Echelon, Carnivore, and Magic Lantern as well as the potential implications of the USA Patriot Act have been in the news of late and everyone has an opinion. People either agree strongly that after 9/11 such programs are important tools in assuring that such a tragedy can never happen again or they strongly disagree worrying that such programs are merely a way to harass innocent people and take away their privacy.

Whatever your opinion, Echelon, Somebody's Listening will likely interest you. This political thriller takes a deeper look at the perimeters and potential uses of these programs through the life of fictional CIA agent Michael Stone. Stone is in charge of several investigations in which eavesdropping brings greater clarity to the facts at hand. To add even greater drama and meaning to this story, the author has these fictional events take place in the weeks following 9/11.

Unfortunately, the suspense and rapid movement of events in the book kept me up, reading late at night to find out how the drama would unfold I also found the book very informative in the area of modern communication monitoring. It's a good read.

Fiction or not, a fasinating look at government agencies in today's world. An interesting read.

Wow, I couldn't put this one down!

Mr. O'Neill does an outstanding job presenting an insiders view on how technology is being used to bring the work of the intelligence community a little closer together. It's also amazing to see some of the inner workings on electronic eavesdropping that are being applied by the intel community.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a good thriller, especially ones that are relevant to what's happening in today's world. I am looking forward to reading more adventures of Michael Stone.

Amazing book very easy to read, follow along, comprend, and a must have for quick fun beginners guide. Provides refrences to other helpful software and throughly explained how-to's.

I have never felt compelled to write a review for any product I've ever purchased, but this is different!! I've been a home recording artist since the mid-eighties. Started with a Tascam 4 track cassette recorder, then to their 8 track version and then to Yamaha's AW4416 DAW. So I have a basic understanding for recording, but was never a techie at it. All I wanted was to lay my tracks and sound down.

I recently purchased Pro Tools Mbox2. For two straight weeks I muddled through what the hell all of the drop downs boxes, buttons and options meant. The manual explains each function in technical terms, but not how each is used in the context of recording and the big picture. I wanted to return the dam thing!!

I then began looking into different books and saw the positive reviews that "Pro Tools for Musicians and Songwriters" had and thought I'd give it a try... THIS BOOK IS FRIGGIN AWESOME!!!!! I felt like the author was sitting right there with me showing me exactly what all of the features were for and how to use them. Right from the very beginning of laying your tracks down to the finish product and a whole bunch of everything else in the middle!!!

DigiDesign, should include this book with every sales of Pro Tools. It's just that good!!!! ...and now I love Pro Tools!!!

I had a difficult time understanding how to begin working with ProTools until I bought this book. It's a great step by step tutorial that works through all the basic concepts and produces a finished music composition as an end result. I refer to it often as I write and record. Now when I refer to the ProTools manual for detailed info, I have a much better grasp on what I'm reading.

I needed a book to get more out of Pro Tools; I don't want to be an engineer savant - just record my guitar and vocal tracks and add a touch of MIDI here and there.

Some books were terribly daunting, some so simple that they were of no use.

It's true - this book is laid out to work as lessons with tracks that can be downloaded from a website. But even if you're working on your own projects - the explanations here are simple enough, you should be able to apply them to your needs. Or heck, go through the lessons - if you wanna learn, put in the time.

Even without yet going through all the lessons, I've found two or three great tips that have made my mixes (and CPU usage) much improved; and for that alone it was worth the money I paid. Big clear pictures, the Table of Contents takes you where you need to go, and the author even makes herself available via her web blog, if you have a question.

A friend who has ProTools sat at my house and picked up the book and just flipped through some chapters and saw some relevant tips he took home with him to California (I'm in Utah). I'd bet he's bought a copy by now.

Will it detail every configuration of every plug-in - no. Is it "For Dummies" - no.

This is a five-star reviewed book - it's not for everybody, but if you're starting out and need some good clean answers, start here!

This is a book of examples and exercises so don't expect to look up a particular function or problem that you are having, the Table on Contents is not up to that job. Again this is a book of simple examples and exercises directed to beginners that need to be lead completely from scratch but I found the text too drawn out and confusing with such items as references to a real bus to illustrate a mixer. The items that I was interested in were noted in the text that they would be covered later but no reference as to where in the text they would be covered. Obviously not a book for me, I have read and seen better.

Stories of successful businesses fill this book. The author got "down and dirty" and did in-the-trenches research to find the best performing companies in the world. Then he spoke with the CEO's to find out what makes them and their businesses tick.

This is not just another book about the secrets of famous companies. It is, instead, a book about the secrets of somewhat obscure but great companies. The principles that author Jason Jennings propounds are familiar enough, but most of his examples will not be familiar to the general reader. That is no drawback. Although some of these companies are less well known, they have all achieved great business success (if not fame) by applying some of the most tried, true and proven axioms of management. Treat people with respect, pay them for performance, focus on one clear and understandable mission - there is nothing new about these principles, except that they keep proving their efficacy even in the unlikeliest places. Do not look for a deep examination of management here. The book provides frustratingly scant background information about the companies themselves. But we assure those seeking a handbook of solid if venerable management advice that you will not go wrong with this interesting little book.

This book is an excellent example of the types of practices and procedures almost any company can follow to be successful both financially and ethically.
Jennings cites numerous companies who have carved out success while still remaining true to their customers, their employees and their values.
Not surprisingly, few of these companies are ones that so called pundits regularly review.
As the other reviews have noted, these companies are very successful financially, but they get there by asking the really pertinent business questions, and not by hiding behind an air of executive invulnerability. The leaders are real leaders, more focused on growing the company, serving customers, and doing right by employees.
What vividly differentiates these companies from the "name brands," is that in the "name" companies, executives are more concerned with their own compensation, preserving their own existence, and with profits at all costs, than long term success.
The questions you should ask yourself after reading this book are, "Where have all the leaders gone?" and "Why don't all companies follow many of Jennings' researched best practices?
After that, I would run, not walk, to one of these companies and see if you can start at the bottom and learn what it's like to work in a real company.

This spring, I had a night-flight from Houston to Europe. I never got any sleep due to this book. It reads like a fiction novel while the focus is very much on the softer issues of productivity businesses. The well-written behind-the-wall stories and interviews with successful top executives give us insight to many issues that usual case stories do not explain.

Business magazines often glorify top executives by telling about the grand strategic plan behind the success. This little book shows us a different story. It provides insight to the many seemingly small traits of the lean culture that only works because they taken serious by the organization and used in combination. These are the 11 traits required for the leader of a highly productive enterprise: attention to detail, high moral fiber, embracing simplicity, competitiveness, long-term focus, disdain for waste, coach leadership, humility, rejection of bureaucracy, belief in others, and trust.

I'm sure you're really not impressed of this list. Neither am I. But try challenging some of the advice. Humility? When was the last time you saw a big company using this as a standard. When you hear the story of many head offices visited in this book, you'll understand humility. Often you'll find a very simple and humble office building for a huge company. No art on the walls! No lavish entrance hall! In these companies, you don't find huge corporate staff creating immense bureaucracy and all sorts of information requirements from their operating companies or business units. These organizations do actually "walk-the-talk" on lean - unlike many fad-driven major firms who's paying lip service to a lean culture.

PERSISTENCE is a word missing from the 11 traits, though attention to detail and long-term focus do include some of it. They never lose sight of their BIG idea or focus. It includes their performance measurement. "Everyone who works for SRC gathers once a week in their respective lunchrooms and takes part in a review of the business's financial performance for the previous week. By DOING IT WEEK IN WEEK-OUT FOR MANY YEARS the exercise has also become a system".

Okay, I'm sure that the book's research on productivity could have been better. And some of the firms reported on may experience difficulties, though most are still flourishing. But don't read this book for the hard stuff. Read the soft issues that over time usually turn out to be the hardest to beat.

I agree that it resembles "In Search of Excellence" to some degree, but remember that this book is on the lean culture of Cost Leadership firms (my interpretation, not the author's).

Peter Leerskov,
MSc in International Business (Marketing & Management) and Graduate Diploma in E-business

Jennings reads his book on the unabridged audiocassette. He definitely has an announcers voice and is easy to understand. I found his inflections sort of larger-than-life/not natural at first but I quickly got acclimated, not a big issue. The book is fairly long and repeats many important themes like the need for healthy culture, process and vision in many different ways. It might be able to be shorter.

The research method Jennings and his team utilized for the book is the driver that makes the book so interesting. By carrying out detailed analysis to locate several under-the-radar, but incredibly productive companies, they managed to isolate some of the common threads for corporate success without being sucked into the vortex of large mega-companies whose stories are already well known and perhaps over-documented. The companies chosen represent a fairly good cross-section of international business, but I would have like to have seen at least one very high tech computer vendor make the cut. There are probably good reasons why there wasn't one, but there was no mention of this if my memory serves... In addition to the excellent research on the case companies, there are also some good insights into legendary companies like Ford and Toyota briefly provided for specific instances.

The significant flaw in this book is that when it is taken as a whole, it amounts to not much more than a very interesting, carefully crafted, indictment of most executive management in corporations today. The executives profiled all really know the nuts and bolts of their business and have been with them long enough to really cast Deming-like vision into reality. That plays well for well a while, but with 6 tapes, I'd like something more practical I can start at work tomorrow since I'm not an executive and probably never will be. The book does try to service this need for mid-managers like me towards the end of the book by encouraging that we apply at least some of the key principles to some degree in the hope of making a grass roots difference at least within our department. Actually, the department I work with abides by many of the principles given and they do help. But that doesn't stop large-scale lay-offs, frozen budgets and other realities that most managers really have to live with. The book's untitled theme is that strong success only flows from the top down. In the highly successful cases analyzed, each has exceptional Level 5 leaders (to use Jim Collins terminology). What if where I work is like 90% of all places where the executives turn-over a lot, are forced to optimize all decisions for short-term profit on Wall Street and de-rail some good plans due to economic realities? The book's primary advice to me would seem to be: go to work somewhere else, find that 10% club. Maybe true, but not particularly helpful today.

Even for those top-level executives whom this book will reach, it is likely to fall on deaf ears. Not because executives really are the "wing tip shoe wearers, peacock strutting" jerks Jennings occasionally alludes to. No, it is Jennings own inflammatory and derisive language that will tend to make executives shut the book. I wanted to lend my tapes to the president of my company because of the good macro-productivity ideas, but decided I wouldn't because he might take it as my endorsement of this class-warfare attitude.

There are other sources out there for most of the information here on egalitarian culture, continuous process improvement, open-book management, profit sharing incentives, etc. I'd be interested to know the average working hours of the employees in the case study companies as a cultural factor but I don't recall this being mentioned. In any case, the productivity measures would factor this in, just a cultural question I have about these companies.

Much of what Jennings says is true and interesting. There are some things that can be learned here, but much of it comes down to re-invent almost everything, starting with your executives. Who can implement that? Again, it is the detailed case study research that puts compelling value into this book.

I have the Rip It! book and love it. I just got this book for my niece for christmas. She wants to learn how to sew and I know this is the best book out there for her. It's very easy to understand and comes with patterns for her to learn with. I'm also getting her a sewing machine from www.sewfastseweasy.com
I love giving! She is going to be so thrilled!

I bought this book for my daughter and she has taken to sewing extremely fast. She's so proud of what she makes. Her enthusiasm for sewing now is almost too much for me to keep up with. This book was was easy for her to understand and the illustrations were very clear. She's been playing around with reconstructing her clothes so I'm thinking of getting her the Rip It book as well. I'm happy to see her involved in a positive hobby that she truly enjoys and gets satisfaction from.

I just bought this book because I wanted to delve into sewing a little more. I knew how to sew but I didn't know much about sewing techniques or terms or sewing notions and how to use them. This book was very easy to understand and explains everything I need to know about sewing and using notions and patterns. It's now my sewing bible! If I get stuck on something I grab my sew fast sew easy book.

The book is great it even comes with patterns. The book is easy to understand and has lots of detail. I would definatly recommend it.

very easy, simple instructions. i've been sewing with a machine for years, but never used a pattern. this book explains in depth the steps to completing your project from beginning to end using the paterns included in the book. everything came out very excellent, very pleased. NOTE: For first time pattern users/sewers ONLY... if your more experienced you might find this to be a little basic. but the sewing patterns alone are worth the price of the book, and like i said, they come out great.

This book provides a very detailed look at the physics behind sharpening blades. I would highly recommend this to anybody who wants to learns the fundamentals of sharpening.

I was looking for more of a how to book. This book does have a lot of information, different angles, types of stones and hones, and a method of sharpening for any edged tool or knife. It just doesnt really show how to do it all.

What should I say? No need anymore to write other books on sharpening. It is well written and very informative on every detail. If you would like to know everything about sharpening, buy this book and you're done.

You have to admire the author. He packs a huge amount of detailled and easily read information in this book. The electron photomicrographs, showing various sharp (and not so sharp) edges using various abarasives are excellent. Leonard also seems to know everything there is to know about the history of steel making, and abrasives. There are excellent chapters on just about every kind of woodworking tool imaginable, with plenty of excellent photographs. If I were a woodworker I would regard this book as being the one and only complete reference text.

BUT... my personal interest is in sharpening kitchen knives. And the chapter on knife sharpening is the least informative in the book, and really tells the reader nothing new that is not already available on many web sites and in Steve Bottorf's book, "Sharpening Made Easy". Also the advice to use plastic book binders as sharpening guides is quite simply useless - they slip off and/or distort under pressure.

I don't mean to disrespect Leonard Lee, or this book. But it is really for woodworking tools, not kitchen knives. Sorry!!

This is an excellent book that delves into the foundational knowledge that supports the techniques it illustrates for sharpening tools. I was fascinated by the exploration in the topics when bringing the techniques into practice sharpening my chisels and plane blades. It addresses many different types of tools and is a great reference for learning and continuing to learn how to sharpen tools, especially as they apply to woodworking.

This book has been more help than any other book that I have read on making electronic music!!!!! I recommend this as a must have for anyone starting out to seasoned vets of electronic music!!!!!!!

This book is really quite a treasure. I highly recommend everyone interested in dance music production, or really electronic music in general get this book. For me, it seems like the thing i have been looking for on the internet for all this time. This book quickly jump starts you through the most basic knowledge if you happen to be a beginner, then it just blasts off into a comprehensive coverage of just about everything you might ever want to know. It tells you in depth about every effect, and guides you step by step on how to produce several variety's of the most popular dance sounds. One of the most impressive parts is that it contains about 100 pages about how to make the most prominent dance genres.

Overall the book is very comprehensive and written at the level of a college textbook. The theme of the book is generally, music theory and music production all in the light of dance music. Every other theory/songwriting book doesn't help you too much when you're trying to create dance music, and thats about all there is. this book is the only one ive covered which covers the electronica side of things. Amazing book.

im dj since 1990 and never see one book complete with this!!!!


best seller!!!

tks (sorry for me english)

I am a beginner at making music and this book has been extremely helpful. Detailed and clear instructions show the experience of the writer. Can be quite technical at times but better more than less information. Well worth the money!

I received my copy of this book from amazon.com today - probably the best book purchase (in terms of how to & reference) that I have ever came across. The book not only goes into depth about the various dance music styles, but also theory, MIDI, sampling & synthesis, processing, recording, mixing, promnotion and tools (to make the music).Keep in mind that this book is over 500 pages, so it has a tremendous amount of information; unlike the 150 to 200 page books of this ilk.



I am very impressed in how the terms while technical (if you are not well versed in it) are easy to follow and absorb. Even though I have a lot of the detail down to memory, I was more than happy to read what was there as a refresher.



There aren't many pictures in this book, which may or may not be of use to others, but they aren't really necessary in my opinion. Ido think that Chapter 20 - websites is too long and detailed since it is not the main focus of this book (consider it a bonus if you need the info).



All said, I five this book a 5 for content, breadth of topics covered, and ease of use. Essentially anyone from a beginner to a pro can find things in this title to be useful. This book and possibly a book on in depth recording (audio engineer's handbook) would be all you ever need in your music production library. You could also add a book on artists (in genere of your choice) for a complete set.

The Dream Manager offers some keen insights into how we may take control our own dreams & aspirations while assisting employees, family & friends realize & accomplish theirs as well. Our dreams can & should be our motivating force. Its critical that we have dreams & persue them.
Matthew Kelly is a gifted, understandable author & speaker.

This is one of the best business concepts that I have ever heard. This book is a must own for everyone, but especially for business owners. The wealthy already understand this simple (yet profound) premise. What are you waiting on?

-ski

Matthew Kelly's little book, on the importance of employees' dreams, is well worth reading. For any manager who is wrestling with issues of engagement and retention, check this one out.

When I was younger I used to pick up business books off my dad's shelf and read them after devouring my own books. Now that I am in college, every so often my dad sends me books that he believes that I should read. At first I was skeptical about The Dream Manager, but when I finally found time to pick it up - I was blown away. I have never been moved by a business book, but this one conjured tears in my eyes. I think that this is not just a book that applies to HR departments or CEOs. In fact, I think that it is the perfect book for a college student becuase it is a time in life when they are meant to dream and dream big. This reminds them that this is something that should continue throughout their lives.

This 'short-read' is chuck full of reasons people will come to work for, and stay at work for their employers. Every HR Team should read this and take note. I require all of the CEOs that I Coach to read this book. This is inspiring and gives results that must be included in the vision of every company in the 21st Century. We can no longer exist without engaged and contributing employees, from management, through mailroom, through janitorial staff. This is a magnificent example of how we can hire and retain the most productive and contributing employee stream today. With the realization that shortages of talent and disengaged employees cost companies and corporations millions every year, this quick read provides some valuable answers. The cost of NOT providing what is in this book is too great for us as a society, as well as international corporate focus.

I haven't gotten my guitar skills to the point where I can play along with my singing, but this book has tons of really good songs. It's easy to use and I can't wait to start using it regularly in my Bible Study!

This is a wonderful (huge) book. Awesome variety of songs. The binded book makes it so easy to use while at the piano. Enjoy!

When I started looking for a book to order for all my musicians in a growing praise team, I picked this one b/c of it's contents and, in all honestly, availability. I needed to have bunch of copies and couldn't afford all of them at once, so I picked something I could find almost anywhere. Most of my vocalists are messo-soprano or below so it's hard to sing a lot of the songs because most of the keys are so high, but there are several great resources in the book. My favorite is the index of keys. Great song selection too. Chords, a few already transposed for use with a capo, and large print. Overall a safe and varied choice.

This book was purchased as a gift for a dear friend and really made her day when she recieved it

Huge selection of current praise music. Also the best price I have seeen for it..

Who said it takes a three pound novel to get you what you need? Read Jeb's new book! You will quickly discover this book is not written by a consultant or researcher with book knowledge but by someone that has been there and done it successfully.

The book does away with the fluff and is perfect for busy salespeople and sales managers not interested in wading through a swamp of hard to read words. Discover what professionals in sales, sports and business know. Success is about drill and practice on the right stuff. This book is how to develop yourself using secret powerful principles that will jump-start your career and get you to top performance.

What you didn't learn in school and what your company can't help you with is that personal success is what you must do for yourself. It does not come in a little blue pill or by going to weekend sales retreat climbing ropes. Selling is based on Talent, Skill and Desire and you must be willing to invest in yourself and your own education.

You can read this book in an hour. It will take a lifetime to digest. The genius of this book is in the simplicity and power of the 5 Principles.

Excellent reading for old pros and new sellers alike. A reference guide for sales managers and a must have for any sales library. Jeb's website is a fantastic resource for sellers and sales managers, check out Sales Gravy for the latest in sales strategy, jobs and networking.

Jeb is one talented dude! This is one of those books I will read over and over and over again! I literally could not put the book down and have read it three times already! I love how Jeb simplifies gaining the winning edge. Many people aspire to have that edge, but never take action because they are overwhelmed with having to read a large motivational book. With this book, Jeb gets right to the meat of what you need to have that edge. It is one of those books you can carry with you and read throughout the day, especially if your soul needs a pick-me-up. Just sit down, read it, and you will get it!

The stories of the yearbook club were so motivating. If you put your heart and soul into sales, you will always be rewarded. When he illustrates his first big sales call, he shows that our mistakes can be the best teaching tool. If you haven't purchased this book by now, shame on you! Take action! Once you have done that, get Jeb to speak to your salespeople. What a difference he will make! You will be missing out if you don't.

Yurani Caicedo - University of Central Florida Graduate

This is the ideal book for any entrepreneur or business owner. I highly recommend not only acquiring it but reading this one. Very powerful.

What a great little 'Gem' this book is. Jeb takes all the successful principles ever written about and boils them down into their 5 core elements. Now you can easily apply the most important and effective success principles, and begin getting immediate and measurable results. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in catapulting themselves and their career. A must read!

Michael Z, Author of The Wisdom of the Rooms A Year of Weekly Reflections

This is an unbelievable book that will not only remind any sales manager of the blocking and tackling we have to do with our Teams; but change the game on how we should focus on important strategies. It outlines (5) "powerful" PowerPrinciples that will enhance the way you teach and reinforce sales peoples behavior- and will give you phenomenal guidance on how you set goals for yourself (and help the individuals on your Team). This is a no frills book that is easy to read, understand and take action on.