Tools Books

I really enjoyed this carving book. Author is very thoughful in step-by-step instructions. Easy to follow. Great information for the hungry creative minds.

Sculpture created from fruit and vegetables sounds too challenging for most home cooks; but not if you have a copy of EDIBLE ART: TRICKS & TOOLS FOR MASTER CENTERPIECES FORM CARVED VEGETABLES. Here are all the hints needed - given in a series of step-by-step color photos with pairs a large-sized photo of the finished product with smaller 1-4 step photos accompanied by text. The approach makes it a snap to produce works of art with a minimum of tools and no knowledge, making it a top pick for culinary libraries at all levels. EDIBLE ART is especially recommended for the cookbook collections of dedicated gourmets!

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Designed for students who have no previous background in circuit theory or electronics, this text provides a sufficiently broad and thorough exposure to practical electronics to permit the immediate application of electronic circuits and instruments to laboratory and research work. Because these applications involve increasingly sophisticated concepts in signal processing, this book includes practical introductions to network theory, linear system theory, modulation and detection, noise, guarding and shielding, and analog and digital instrumentation. Thus, this book can be used as a textbook for an introductory first course in electrical engineering, as a textbook for one-semester "Electronics for Scientists and Engineers" survey course, or as a self-study primer for the professional scientist or engineer who needs additional background in the theory and practice of electronics.

The book is written for M.I.T. physicists and other scientists who need to design their own test equipment. Thus it is not a cookbook, but it is very practical and goal-oriented. It discusses many standard circuits and describes exactly how and why they work, jumping right into methods used to analyze them (KVL, KCL, Norton and Thevenin equivalences).

As an example of the clear approach to circuit analysis, it starts with circuits that use op-amps because they are easy to understand (i.e., as black boxes). (It also includes their real-world limitations and manufacturer's specifications.) Only later does it describe (and analyze) transistor circuits. Of course, many more circuits (e.g., CMOS, digital) are described (and analyzed), but the important point is it gives you the tools to analyze correctly the circuits for yourself.

If you like being able to understand precisely what is going on, and don't want to be babied, THIS IS THE BOOK.

The child of a friend needed some help in making decisions for the future and we ordered this book as a gift. It was a big help and had even more information about the engineering field. Great for any college age engineering student.

I was so impressed with this book that I decided to make it required reading for my Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Class at University of Nebraska. I gives the kind of advice that my colleagues and I wish we had been given as seniors in high school or freshmen or sophomores in college. It is highly recommended for anyone considering engineering as a career.

This book is answering a lot of mysterys of the steel square.
Most of the numbers on the square ment nothing to me before I read this book. It does things that I had't even thought of.

Over the years, when I have looked at a "framing square", I have been put in mind of going to the beach and seeing a guy wearing a tiny, lime green Speedo. The connection may not seem apparent at first, but as to the inadequately clothed male, I shake my head and think, "There are 11 men in America who might qualify to look right in that miniscule patch of lycra or spandex . . . . unfortunately, he is not one of them."

When I have looked at a framing square with all the numbers, hash marks, dots, and seemingly inscrutable sets of fractions, I shake my head and think, "There are only 11 craftsmen in America who qualify to actually make total sense and proper use of that instrument . . . unfortunately, I'll never be one of them."

I'm sure I will never be qualified to wear a Speedo. I am even more certain I will never be qualified to fully understand or use a framing square. Further, I anticpate the company of folk ever to have been so qualified in terms of the framing square has never been large in number. Sadly, that number is growing ever smaller as digital tools, hand-held computers, and software capable of near-instant-calculations continue to crop up in the construction trades and woodworkers' shops.

Before the framing square slips into antique and woodworking memorabilia emporia, take the time to read and enjoy Ken Horner's Essential Guide to the Steel Square. An intention to use a square (whether it be a try square, combination square, speed square, or otherwise) for anything other than marking lines or simply checking your woodcuts for "square", is not a necessary prerequisite for reading and enjoying this book.

This book is part history lesson, part instruction manual, part puzzle solver, and all terrific. It's value is to be measured by much more than the sum of its parts. Whether you want to know how to estimate board feet, lay out stairs, compute complex compound angles for roofing rafters, draw a circle, find the radius of an arc, compute the dimensions of an elliptical hole through a pitched roof necessary to accept a round pipe, or even measure the height of that big red oak in the backyard, you will learn how to do it all in simple step-by-step instructions.

Not interested or in need of such eye-opening information for actual application? Then just read, or at least thoroughly browse, the book for pure joy, entertainment, and appreciation. If you need the information, you will be hard pressed to find a better, clearer, more easily applicable resource. If you don't need the information (that's me) read the book and you will find yourself sharing the secrets of the square with friends just for kicks.

Nope, don't know Ken Horner; don't get anything else out of this review than the excitement of passing along good news.

This is one of the best books I have found on the subject of trusts. Most books on Wills only talk about Living Trusts, but this book outlines how some of the richest (and not so rich) families use Trusts to protect family money. It also discusses the downfalls of this practice, including causing legal battles for your next of kin. This guide not only explains trusts and living trusts, but also goes into details on being an executor, going through probate, handling executor fees and it discusses common problems within wills and trusts. There are many examples of legal cases throughout the book that illustrate issues and how they have been resolved by courts. It's definately worth reading if you're trying to get a grasp on the subject.

Family Money is an excellent and "user friendly" introduction for the non-specialist general reader into the intricacies of preparing and utilizing wills, trusts, life insurance, and other financial instruments for the purpose of endowing the people you love with the funds, properties, and possessions you wish to leave them as your legacy. Family Money covers the building and keeping of family money as a deliberate act while avoiding the hazards and uncertainties of contestable bequests. The reader will learn how to keep a will simple enough to do what is wanted, but detailed enough to satisfy a probate court; why probate is inimical to family wealth and how to avoid it; how to use living trusts to move as much as you can to family members; and when charitable trusts, special needs trusts, and other trusts can work in favor of your family. Of special value is the information on what to do if you find yourself named executor or trustee and how to instill notions of duty and humility in your heirs. If you want to pass on your wealth and possessions to those of your own choosing, then begin the process by carefully reading Family Money!

In my study of modern work systems I have often found that the top-performers are characterized by those that communciate well. Rick Maurer's feedback Toolkit is a very simple model to better communications in the workplace. Most of it is simple common sense, but the bottom line is that these simple solutions are still not being used in many organizations today.

The book is easy to read, and written step by step. No one could miss the meaning in this book. After I read it, and highlighted everything that was contradictory to what was happening in my organization, I slipped it under my bosses door. No doubt positive change is coming!

Don't judge a book by the number of pages- this short guide is a wonderful gem. Extremely practical how-to's, and how-not-to's, for giving and receiving feedback. Many organizations espouse feedback as critical to organizational learning and performance-- the skills gained from reading The Feedback Toolkit may actually make it so.

I love my Fertile Soul Cycle Companion! It walks me through the varied cycles of this journey - helping me to understand my body and its natural rhythms, assuring me what is good and healthy, and helping me address what needs nurturing.

Having used the fertile soul companion journal- I find it to be an indespensable ressource in the journey to getting pregnant. It is not only a beautiful journal but full of charts diagrams and information that make daily charting simple and comprehensible. I would highly recommend this product for anyone who is trying to conceive.

A very worthy title, examining the topic concisely yet in detail. Fortifications are not really my strong point, but as far as I could tell the information was accurate. The color plates are also pretty good. The book reads as follows:
Introduction
Chronology
Types of fortified sites
Design and construction
Tour of a fortified site: Danebury
The living site
Celtic fortifications in operation
Afermath
The sites today
Biblography
Glossary
Index

Angus Konstam's THE FORTS OF CELTIC BRITAIN is also a spectacular addition to the reference series, packing photos, color maps and color artwork into a historical survey of the Iron Age Celtic fortresses whose remains still pepper the landscape of Britain. From types of fortifications to how they evolved and differed between regions, THE FORTS OF CELTIC BRITAIN will reach beyond military readers to earn a place in general early history collections.

As the name of this reference implies, it provides a good review from particle physics to astrophysics, and of significance, relates inner space to outer space. Both theoretical and experimental methods are explored. The classical big-bang theory is clearly discussed, as are its difficulties and the solutions provided by inflation theory.

I have read lots of popular science books about particle physics and this is way out in front of the pack! It clarified many things that other authors just assumed the reader could understand. For example, the section on how to build synchrotrons and accelerators and why the devices are shaped the way they are was so clear. Plus the color photographs and drawings make it a lovely book to just browse through. If you love particle physics, or are even just a little intrigued, this book is a must! I intend to reread it sometime.

FUNDAMENTAL WEB DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT SKILLS
AUTHOR: Rachel Andrew, Chris Ullman and Crystal Waters
PUBLISHER: Glasshaus
REVIEWED BY: Barbara Rhoades

BOOK REVIEW: The very first thing I always look for when a book contains a CD is the contents of that CD. If it has a trial version of the software the book is about, it is one I would think of buying. Fundamental Web Design and Development Skills has such a CD and it contains Macromedia's Dreamweaver MX, Flash MX and Fireworks MX. Anyone buying this book is off to a flying start with these programs available to them

Next I check out the Contents section. Fundamental Web Design has 16 Chapters and the titles of the Chapters make real sense. A reader would know where to look for a specific item. Then I look at the Index which, of course, is another version of the Contents but gives a more in-depth listing. There are 28 pages of information located here. Between the Contents and the Index, no reader should have to wonder where to go to find the information he/she wants.

In reading the book, the chapters give a good explanation of what the chapter is about. It doesn't skimp on explaining what HTML or XHTML is but it also doesn't go overboard to the point of boring a reader or giving extraneous information. The chapters contain visual examples of what is being discussed and each chapter ends in a summary of that chapter.

This is a book I wish I had known about when I was beginning to learn Web Designing. I would have been able to "test-drive" the software and would have bought these programs to begin with rather than going through different software first. The CD also contains all the files needed to work through what the chapters are teaching and as it says on the CD, there is "an extensive list of links to provide you with further reading and material to compliment the wealth of knowledge already contained within this book......."arranged into categories for easy reference.

I would highly recommend Fundamental Web Design and Development Skills to anyone even if you already have some knowledge of web design. Why the writing in this book so understandable may be due to the fact that two of the three authors of this book are women and the only man has interests in art and literature, is a cat lover and has worked with a baby in his lap.

Glasshaus has a new book for anyone looking to get involved in web development, and learn the best ways to go about things from the outset. In this book we see an admirable dedication to sticking to the modern standards of XHTML 1.0, HTML 4.01 and CSS; with little space wasted on discussing the common methods that forward-looking web designers are trying to distance themselves from.

While this book is very much targeted at the beginner just starting to make their way in the field, it would serve equally well as a guide to the modern way of doing things for any developer still mired in the un-compliant techniques and inaccessible practices of the past. Careful attention is paid to explaining fully the relationship between HTML, XHTML and XML, and the future-compatibility ramifications of your choice of markup. The only time deprecated elements (like the tag) are ever mentioned are necessary notes for those coders who are tasked with redesigning existing sites authored in old-style markup.

Covering a wide range of topics, all extremely relevant to anyone in the business of making quality websites, this book should help any reader to feel confident in their awareness of the current state of play. The first few chapters introduce the fundamental concepts of markup languages and hypertext, before diving straight in to page and graphic design. Designing page layouts using tables is advised against, and the superior CSS positioning options are championed. Subjects usually left out of introductory texts - like accessibility and site administration - are here examined and explained without ever being simplistic (or stunting the reader's understanding with overly-technical information). In fact, the book carries a very strong commitment to usability and accessibility, and includes many practical implementation tips. A complete introduction to JavaScript is also included.

While a complete discourse on each subject area are naturally beyond the scope of the book, adequate exposition is given for each topic, which will provide ample foundation for further learning. This book is an excellent starting point that will quickly set interested readers on the right track.

-- Ross Shannon, yourhtmlsource.com