Languages Books

Reviewed by C J Singh (Berkeley, California, USA)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading John Trimble's WRITING WITH STYLE. This witty book is aptly titled: its numerous how-to suggestions are all written with great style.

In the chapter "Writers Talking Shop," Trimblequotes Lawrence Sterne, author of the classic novel "Tristram Shandy": "Writing, when properly
managed, is but a different name for conversation." Trimble's own writing demonstrates this, amply justifying the book's subtitle, "Conversations on the Art of Writing."

Talking about the use of semicolons, Trimble says: "The average college student isn't ready for semicolons. She hasn't discerned any need for them,nor is she eager to. They look forbiddingly exotic--about as tempting as a plate of snails. The literary gourmets can have them; she'll stick with her comma and period." Trimble's fourth sentence examples a graceful use of semicolon. A bit later, he quotes Mark Twain: "Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond;
cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education." Six more quotes interspersed with Trimble's witty comments precede the concluding paragraph: "If you need proof that semicolons can mix agreeably
with a readable style, go to the nonfiction of Mark Twain,one of America's most readable stylists. You'll find may behalf a dozen semicolons per page. Or go to the writings of George Bernard Shaw, one
of England's wittiest stylists. You'll find the same thing. Better still, since it's close at hand, open any copy of `Newsweek.' As my examples show, the pages of that magazine are sprinkled with
semicolons, yet I have never heard `Newsweek' called heavy or formal."

In the preface, Trimble invites readers to email him at his university address.

I did.

He graciously emailed back the same day, answering in considerable detail each of my questions. Thanks.

-- C. J. Singh

I love this book. I am a law student and this book has helped me to become a more effective writer. I have recommended it to many colleagues and will continue to do so.

"You are giving me an "F?" Are you @$#$^$ kidding me?" I stood aghast at the stupidity of this graduate level English professor. After 22 years of American education, I was in the middle of writing my doctoral dissertation. I took this graduate English Lit class on Ibsen on a lark. It would be sooo simple. Having done my Masters work on Ibsen's "Ghosts," I knew I could out think any of the English Lit lunkheads in my class when it came to theatre. But the sea of red ink on my paper could not be denied. The professor loved my thinking but hated my writing. "This is simply not graduate level work."

"Hey, Prof! I have spent 22 years in the American educational system, I am about to write my thesis, if I can't write, it is not my fault. It is this crummy system that allowed me to get this far. I want YOU to help me fix this before I have to write my thesis! I want you to tutor me."

Now Full Professors are not often called to task like that, but then I was an "old" grad student, so maybe he cut me a break. He said, "You don't want me to teach you writing. I have forgotten how to do that after 30 years. You want my teaching assistant who teaches Beginning Composition to help you."

I met the TA and the first thing he did was hand me J R Trimble's WRITING WITH STYLE, the 1st edition. I devoured the book. For the very first time in my educational "career," someone was teaching me how to write, rather than how NOT to write. No detailed rules and format stuff like Strunk's stuffy book. This book actually taught me how to think like a writer. It gave me the confidence to trust my own "voice." I stopped being hamstrung by rules and convention and started to communicate. The elimination of the "back door approach" and finally learning how to get rid of the "passive voice" in my writing fundamentally changed how I thought about myself as a writer.

I got an "A" in my Drama class, successfully wrote my dissertation, and when I got to my first teaching assignment, I was giving the job nobody at the school wanted -- a major writing assignment to create a joint Music Theatre proposal that had to bring together two warring departments who had fought over this document for 3 years. I wrote it in record time, and it passed immediately.

The chairman of our department came to me and said, "I knew you could teach but I never knew you were such a great writer!" Today, people spend a ton of dough to have me write marketing material for them. I wish my high school English teacher was alive to see me now. She was the one who first soured me on writing and "convinced me" that I could NOT write.

I never had a chance to thank you Dr Trimble. So I hope you see this. As educators, and certainly as publishers, we often have no idea of the impact our work has on people. Your book literally changed my life.

Other than that, I don't think much of it! :-)

Bill Metcalf, Ph. D., Theatre Arts, University of Minnesota 1982
President of TechnoShift, Inc
www.MoreAndBetterClients.com

Ps. Doc Trimble -- I would love to hear from you and if anyone has any doubts about this book shoot me an email at bill@moreandbetterclients.com. Since I capture multimedia testimonials for a living now, I would love to provide one for you Doc if you have a website.

I've read a lot of books on writing over the years, so many that I've reserved a spot on the corner of my desk for the very best of them so I can refer to them every so often. Only a few books are in this pile: they are the special ones. And one of them is Trimble's book. I discovered it many years ago when it was in its first edition, and have held it in high esteem ever since. Not only does Trimble give you a lot of useful information, he does, indeed , do it "with style." I enjoy both the information and the way he presents it. He covers all aspects of writing, including grammar, and usually when I see a section on grammar in such a book I skip over it, but not in this case. Even it is a delight.

If you only have time and money for one book on writing, get this one. But if you want two books, get this one and "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White.

I've used a lot of ideas from the book. I really enjoyed the section on getting endorsements for your book. And I contacted my local library after reading this book as well.

My copy of Carmen's book is dog-eared, underlined, highlighted and battered. I go back to it time after time for fresh ideas, as my first novel has just been issued and I need all the promotional tools I can get. Though some reviewers felt this book is "only for the self-published," they're wrong. These days, traditional publishers leave a LOT of the promotion up to the author. Don't fool yourself -- you'll need this stuff! In addition, there are so many great marketing ideas in the book and they can be used to make your next book proposal to a publisher really shine. They want authors who are willing to promote and who have concrete ideas how to do so. It could mean the difference between a contract and just another piece of wallpaper for your Rejection wall. I highly recommend it.

If I were self-publishing my book, I would give this book five stars. Only because I'm seeking a publisher I give it two. The book is well-written and full of ideas. I've met the author and she is sophisticated and experienced in self-publishing. I recommend it to anyone who publishes his own book.

You Can Market Your Book is designed to help you understand basic book marketing principles. No matter how your book was published, unless you are a superstar author, you are the main salesperson. Yes, you might be responsible for your own book distribution or with a traditional publisher, you might even have a publicist for a brief time, but ultimately it's up to the author. You need to be as aggressive as possible if you want to reclaim your garage or closets from the boxes of unsold books, or if you expect a royalty check from your publisher. Add this book to your marketing arsenal.

I sat down to read Carmen's book with a highlighter and legal pad in hand; from glancing through the book I knew I'd be writing down lots of great ideas for publicizing and promoting my new book. I was absolutely thrilled when, on page 23, I read, "As Christians, the first step in our marketing plan must be prayer." I've been praying for God's guidance throughout the planning and writing of my book, and was so happy to find that Carmen shared my Christian viewpoint and beliefs. She urges us to seek His will at all stages of book writing and promoting and marketing, and with everything we do. Godly encouragement is sprinkled through the book, and provided me with some much-needed encouragment.

At the end of every chapter you'll find very helpful resources, including author websites and references for more information about the subject of that chapter. Carmen covers a comprehensive range of topics throughout the book, taking the reader step-by-step through marketing tools like reviews, promotion, etc. Many/most of the ideas are inexpensive and simple, but I know will be effective.

By the time I finished the book there were pages dog-eared, sticky notes sticking out of various pages, and almost a legal pad full of ideas I will be using to market my previous books, as well as the one coming out next.

This book is a must have for any author!

I had been working with Unix and Linux flavors for sometime, and this book has been a blessing for me. I need a book that was willing to detail every aspect of the OpenBSD ( at least the most relevant), kernel, workarounds, etc. And it does its job. Many Thanks,ed

I purchased this book from Amazon on March 4th, 2007. Two months and five days later, after two conversations with Amazon employees who assured me that I would receive the book, they still have not shipped it.

It appears that Amazon simply does not have the book. I phoned the publisher, No Starch Press, and they don't have a copy either. A PDF is available for download, but that's all.

At this writing, the Amazon listing still says that the book "usually" ships in one to two weeks. Amazon is apparently selling a product that it does not have to sell.

If you want this book, you might do better to buy one of the used ones.

So many computer books today are 800 pages of word bloat. Michael not only keeps the writing lively, but in K&R fashion, he gives a lot of information in a succint way. Highly recommended and an easy read. Also note, he gives a complete picture of openbsd from A-Z Not too tedious and not too broad. I have not found a linux book this nice.

I'm no security freak, but I love the OpenBSD concept: security above all. When I took a course in Unix operating systems, I was introduced to OpenBSD, and recommended to purchase this text. Albeit outdated (it covers version 3.2, and OpenBSD is now at 4.0), the book offers an overview of all the basics, including 3 whole chapters on the pf firewall.

Because of its general nature, the author, Lucas, does not solely focus on pf, but instead adds flair to an extremely hostile operating system environment. I don't recall ever working with a more difficult system from scratch. Lucas really helped in getting me through some of the more cryptic areas of installation and configuration. The book itself is quite basic, so if you need something specific, like a korn shell book, look elsewhere. His style also makes the book itself a fun read, I must admit, because of his colorful presentation.

I've had this book for more than a year now.

This may be the most fun textbook-with-no-pictures I've ever read.

Realy I bought the book, I didn't have any OpenBSD contact and I bought the OpenBSD CDs to try it and play, and the book arrived before the OpenBSD's CDs and I begun to read, and learned me how to install OpenBSD, When the CDs arrived realy was very easy to install and get my first steeps in this OS.

This lovely book of poems came into my life just as I am committing myself to spending the next twenty years as intelligence officer to the poor. We are going to create a global free public grid for early warning and decision support and free multilingual education "one cell call at a time," with a prioritization of needs able to influence three trillion dollars a year: the trillion that foundations give out willy-nilly; the trillion in corporate services that can profit from going green; and the trillion now spent on war that we can over time, through public education, redirect toward waging peace.

This volume is especially valuable to me not just for its open and peaceful thoughts, but because it was written in English, translated into French, and the facing pages offer the poem in French to the left and English to the right. I can think of no finer way to begin my long road back to mastery of the language of diplomacy, than by ensuring I read one poem a night, in both languages, for a very long time to come.

El Recuerdo (the Memory) is already a favorite within this volume.

See also the volume by Philip Levine that I have carried with me all these years that will now be joined by The Astonished Universe:
7 years from somewhere: Poems

If human emotions are the vibrations of the brain, then they will exhibit a resonance when encountering the words in this book.

If human thought is a river, it will seep over its banks when encountering the words in this book.

If reading poetry can bring momentary solace, it will find a restful equilibrium when encountering the words in this book.

If memory is fleeting it will absorb as a sponge when encountering the words in this book.

If the universe could feel astonishment, it would do so when encountering the words in this book.

Hélène Cardona's poems transport us to the realm of myth and spirit, where nothing is tangible yet everything is essential. In French or English, her words speak to our soul.

I LOVED this gem of a book! I especially liked the chapter Life in Suspension as I identified with the fleeting and random memories from my own childhood that came floating up as I was reading...
there is a unique 'sound' to each poem - clear and strong, but with a delicate, fragile echo.

This is a remarkable book of poetry. I am absolutely delighted and I highly recommend this magical read.

this was a very nice book for the price.... *even if I did order 2 by accident.. Thanks again...

This textbook has been great for my research and writing class. It allows me to interact with the book more than some older, maybe more well known books. A useful feature is that you can do the exercises online, as well as from the book.

The Bedford Handbook
I was satisfied with my order, and was delivered as it said

i ordered it and got it in a very good condition and in time. customer service is awesome. my blessings. keep up the good work.

Diana Hacker has an English comp book for any possible usage, she grinds them out every few years. My college requires me to use this book as a handbook. That is unfortunate.

Of course, this book provides a basic explanation of English composition, grammar, documentation, and document design and critical reading. However, the attempt in this case is to present something that is lighter than Rules for Writers, a full scale manual that is sufficient to use as the only text for a college composition course or as a full writers reference, and her Writers Reference, which is a good handy handbook that is inadequate as a full course book, but is great as a rule book to be used by students taking a course using another text.

Usuing this book, I have had to create supplements from web material for issues that I expect to be covered fully in a college handbook such as the requirements of formal writing.

To be sure there are interesting illustrations and graphics and like her other books, the text is intimately linked with the enormous online network that Hacker and her publishers have created. It is not an awful book to use, but I would prefer Rules for Writers, Jane E. Aaron's Litte Brown Handbook, or Writer's reference.

This is a great book for:
1. getting into Japanese literature
2. learning some new Kanji
3. practicing your Japanese reading skills

Even though the reading passages are graded according to level, this is NOT for absolute beginners, the book only explains the Kanji - not the grammatical forms, hiragana and katakana!

You should have 6-12 months studies behind you before trying to use this book, or completed a beginner's book on Japanese such as Genki 1: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 1, Colloquial Japanese: The Complete Course for Beginners (Colloquial Series (Book Only)), Japanese in Mangaland: Basic Japanese Course Using Manga or Introduction to Modern Japanese.

This book is absolutely amazing. It helps you with kanji, vocabulary, reading speed, and much more. But don't think that this is easy. I've taken two semesters of college Japanese, and I find this book very difficult. This is not for a beginner. I haven't gone through one whole story yet. I reread each page probably more that 5 times. But in reading and learning the first page, I've learned over 10 new kanji and about 20 new words. Some of the kanji, though not many as far as I've seen, are old and you should make sure you learn the current kanji instead. As with everything in life, it is VERY beneficial if you are willing to put the time and effort into it (LOTS of time and effort).

Great book. Very good stories. Well translated. Easy on the eyes to read! Well done, guys!

But, why didn't anyone think of this before? This book basically works like those reading segments you find in books like the Genki series. Only this time you won't find the usual stuff about Mr. Yamada's introduction to the staff of his new company, or Mr. Smith's first experience with tempura, but several selected short stories by two of the most revered masters of modern Japanese literature: Natsume Soseki and Ryunosuke Akutagawa. If you don't like literature, let me put it this way: at least one of the writers strongly inspired one of Akira Kurosawa's greatest films: Rashomon. Like those manuals to study Japanese, this volume comes with mp3 files to help you with both your reading and your listening, and you can find them for free at the website of the publishers. I've written in other reviews there's no single bulletproof method for anything. There's no such thing as a method for everyone. The great thing about this book is this: the last word that comes to mind is "method", because it's not about learning Japanese language itself as much as it is about Japanese literature. I'd suggest it for intermediate students, though, because of the basic knowledge it requires.

An excellent resource for intermediate students of Japanese working their way to a more advanced level. The author puts all the necessary learning tools in one convenient location. And the free MP3 files help students fine tune their reading, kanji, and pronunciation skills. I would like to see more products like this. I would buy more products like this.

While this is, overall, an excellent dictionary, it still has a few problems that I've also noticed in smaller dictionaries. I've run across a few words that are found in the English>German, but then the German word is not listed in the German>English section...or vice versa. I wouldn't have expected this in an "unabridged" dictionary. Having all the words in both sections is important in our household since I am from the US and my wife from Germany. We commonly rely on both German>English AND English>German translations. The missing translations can be bothersome.

Also, despite this being unabridged, I've run across several, fairly common, words that are not in here. For example, I could not find the word 'canola', as in 'canola oil', in the English>German. It doesn't seem like that is too obscure of a word...especially for an unabridged dictionary. There have been several more that, in bewilderment, I could not find. I see there is a 5th edition coming out in September 2004. Hopefully that may solve some of these issues.

All in all, among the unabridged German-English dictionaries, this one does seem to be the best one out there, and at a reasonable price.

I'm stunned this dictionary doesn't carry a new printing because it's light years ahead of any other, not because it's unabridged, but because of its idiomatic breadth. Even in 2007, there's no German term I've come across that wasn't here, even obscure variants are included. At this price, this is an invaluable resource for your personal library. Highly recommended.

The Collins German Dictionary, with 800,000 entries, has more words and definitions than other comparable dictionaries such as the Oxford Duden, the Langenscheidts and the Cassells (which should be avoided because it is so outdated). It also gives complete grammar explanations in the preface, and it includes a list of regular German noun endings, their genders, genitives, and plurals. There is also a handy reference of all the abbreviations, field labels, and style labels on the inside cover. It also includes the past and participial forms for all strong verbs, and it gives past subjunctives within the text. The Collins also gives declensions for pronouns such as "wer" and "jemand," and it lists proper nouns within the text. Verbs that differ from the stem of the infinitive are listed in their imperative singular form ("hilf," "sprich," etc.). The traditional orthography is given in the body of the dictionary, with a symbol indicating words that have changed on account of the spelling reform of 1996.

Its main drawback is that the binding tends to collapse with frequent use, even though it is a hardback.

While abbreviations are listed in alphabetical order in the text, their definitions are not given to you immediately. For example, if you look up "usf.," you are told that it is an abbreviation of "und so fort;" then you must look up fort to discover that "usf." means "and so forth." The Collins listing of German verbs is at the very end of the dictionary, which makes it hard to find.

Note that there are a variety of Collins dictionaries. The unabridged version has 800,000 entries, while the College Edition has 380,000 entries, and the Concise edition has 195,000 entries. Some of the smaller dictionaries have entries listed in red or in blue, which is helpful for finding words more quickly. If you are beginning to learn German, it is useful
to have a smaller dictionary to save time while looking up the
same word over and over again.

This could well be the best two-way dictionary of any language pair anywhere. As an avid student of several foreign languages (incl. English and German) for 20 years, I have come to know what constitutes a first-rate dictionary. It is nothing short of a masterpiece.

I had been using a predecessor edition (2nd ed., 1991) for some 10 years, and even when it was published it was the best of its kind and constantly on my desk. This 4th edition raises the bar by featuring improvements across the board. The benefits derived from the increased computerised analysis of the huge word corpora Bank of English and Deutsche Textbörse are increasingly visible. Vorsprung durch Technik, indeed.

1. This exhaustive dictionary embraces, on 1000 pages in either section, every register from formal officialese via the standard language right down to vulgar slang. But it is in the real-life language where Collins has the finger right on the pulse. Many word entries are awash with examples of usage/idioms/set phrases/proverbs as actually used by natives as well as their natural translations. (I wish there were a way to download all this information into my brain because I would be able to handle any situation in flying colours.)

2. Inclusion of German words like Kardanwelle, Rochade, das Pull-Down-Menü, Überlaufanzeige etc. indicate extensive coverage of specialist terms in many fields as well as loan-words from the 90s.

3. The English section is equally impressive, listing e.g. cyberpet, establishing shot, trick or treat, decontextualize, nuclear reprocessing plant, memory expansion card, look-in, supergrass, wicked (UK slang). The word "go" and its associated phrasal verbs have an astounding range of translations.

4. Idiomatic phrases such as "to get away with sth" and "jdm etwas zumuten" which are contextually dependent are given several alternative and appropriate translations.

5. Certain bon mots and expressions which are used mostly in situations on one side of the Channel (or those whose counterpart is much less colourful!) are well translated.
Examples: set piece, pub crawl, single-track mind, car-boot sale, off-the-record, stomping groud, pipe dream; Stammtisch, Führungszeugnis, Geheimtipp, Kuschelrock, Dreitagebart, Wohngemeinschaft, Dunkelziffer, nicht mehr der jüngste sein etc. In fact, even "Ich schau dir in die Augen, Kleines", the classic line from the dubbed version of Casablanca, is listed. Hut ab!

6. This edition includes an audio CD with pronunciation (because they understand that there is a practical limit to phonetic script). The layout has been given a face-lift with 3 columns per page instead of 2 resulting in improved readability.

7. The dictionary's vast scope, depth and usability for both English and German learners and speakers (in equal measure) leave virtually no room for valid criticism. Yet some words and expressions seem to have escaped the researchers' keen eye for detail (so far); missing English words are e.g. polenta, present/current value (Fin), brown-noser, case-sensitive. Im deutschen Teil sind die folgenden durchaus geläufigen Wörter nicht aufgeführt: Quereinsteiger, Marktabschottung, Kasslerbraten, Regelwerk, verhandlungssicher, Töff (CH). But this is nit-picking.

Summa summarum: Kudos to the team of meticulous professionals behind this work for having brought out the Mercedes S-Klasse - with all the optional extras - of dictionaries. It's also an exemplary cross-border collaboration optimally blending British practicality and German precision.

Buy this dictionary - you may still be using it in 2012.

While I used to swear by Langenscheidt's dictionaries, this one tops it as far as general purpose German/English English/German dictionaries are concerned.

Featuring up-to-date vocabularies, and a wide variety of idiomatic traslations, this dictionary is very helpful in giving clear guidance as to differences in meaning and usage.

If you are a translator or interpreter, or simply interested in the intricacies of either one or both of the languages, this book belongs on your desk.

Given the weight of this hefty volume, it won't be in most people's luggage when travelling; for those occasions, I recommend to keep "Langenscheidt's Universal Dictionary - German" at hand instead.

A powerful story of friendship, compassion, and understanding set in a narrative format that makes it both familiar and captivating. As Willson unfolds her journey she recalls the many lessons learned and obstacles overcome as she ventured out to create a true system of change with her beloved friend Rita and the people of Salvador, Brazil. Incredibly open and reflective Willson conveys not only her own journey but the journey of those closest to her, revealing the various dyadic relationships that enriched her understanding of our world and strengthened her in her undwindling support for the change that IS Bahia Street. I highly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of your interest in Brazil or in non-profit organizations. True equality holds a peace for all people. "Dance Lest We All Fall Down" reminds us that this equality begins at our breakfast table, with the neighbors that we pass by, and in the life that we share with all nations.

I loved it. A wonderful story- one that continues to be written as we speak. The author writes eloquently, candidly, and the story she tells is entertaining while being informative. I came away from reading this book feeling much more educated about Brazil, race, class, gender, 1st world/developing world, NGOs, and volunteer tourism without being lectured. It is both an uplifting and empowering book that I will recommend to all my friends. Enjoy!

This book is written by a trained anthropologist, but a dry read it is not. The author tells a very human story in a page-turning way, introducing readers to a place and a people who, for all of their struggles and for all of their differences from non-Brazilian readers, are still portrayed in such a way as to make us all remember how much we as fellow human beings have in common - the need for food, shelter, safety, and yes, even love. In fact, this triumph of love over often heartbreaking circumstances is the central theme and dare I say lesson of the book...and what a timely lesson it is. This book, a crash course in "how the other [less fortunate] half lives," was a great inspiration to me, and a great reminder of how very much a couple of hardworking idealists really can make a tremendous difference in this world.

Like many of the other reviewers poted here, once I started this book it was difficult to put down. Margaret Willson transported me to a world I knew little of. I have always wanted to visit Brazil to see its beaches, its beautiful people, and of course to eat. I have heard so much about the melting pot that Brazil is, and the nonexistence of racism because of it. Wilson dispelled this falsehood for me. Classism is just as painful as racism, and just as impossible to escape.
I especially appreciate the way Willson goes about trying to make a difference for the people around her. She chooses an avenue where she can have a lasting impact, and she is careful to keep the community active and in control of the project. Too often foreign assistance comes with an air of paternalism and grateful subservience is expected in return. In getting to know the comunity, Willson saw that they understand their needs better than an outsider, and they are in a better position to attend to those needs. So she offered Bahia Street organization as the support for the efforts the Brazilians in Salvador were spearheading. This is an excellent lesson for any who would like to serve in international outreach.
Willson is very candid about the classism, abject poverty, and sexual politics that make everyday life in Salvador so difficult. She is aware of her own limitations, but these appear to solidify her commitment to do what she is able to.
This book aroused in me a desire to serve. I could see how a person or group of people really can make a lasting difference for someone else as Willson continues to do through Bahia Street.

One cannot help but be moved by this story. A remarkably easy read of a difficult subject, it can be appreciated on many levels. There is the fascinating insight into capoeira; the exploration of race and the part it plays in Brazil as well as the US; the insights into making a project work within another culture through inclusion and respect; the ideas for teaching children who have not attended school and helping them reach their potential against great odds. I was so touched I had tears in my eyes when I finished. Read it; pass it on; check out their website. Keep the dance alive.

If you are new to the writing profession, or, if you are a veteran who needs to re-charge, this book will help you in many ways. The 19-page chapter on writers' block alone will help you overcome procrastination. Her chapter on personal and professional writing also contains many useful tips.

Effective Business and Nonfiction Writing is full of practical steps and how-to's - you can see your progress toward better writing immediately. I will be a better writer because of this book.

Many non-fiction books have great content, are well-researched but are written in a poor style and in a language you don't understand. So what do you do? You put the book back on the shelf and it will never be read.

The author Jan Yager, Ph.D., teaches us to keep things simple and write so it's understandable to anyone. This is not just a book for a professional writer. This is a book for everybody who writes. Everything from e-mails to non-fiction books is featured and don't we all write non-fiction in our daily life? Think about that!

In `Effective business and non-fiction writing you'll learn about time management, how to get your writing published, how to overcome writer's block, researching, interviewing and much more. Furthermore, the book is filled with examples and exercises. This is really good work and the book is very well-written.

Many non-fiction books have great content, are well-researched but are written in a poor style and in a language you don't understand. So what do you do? You put the book back on the shelf and it will never be read.

The author Jan Yager, Ph.D., teaches us to keep things simple and write so it's understandable to anyone. This is not just a book for a professional writer. This is a book for everybody who writes. Everything from e-mails to non-fiction books is featured and don't we all write non-fiction in our daily life? Think about that!

In `Effective business and non-fiction writing you'll learn about time management, how to get your writing published, how to overcome writer's block, researching, interviewing and much more. Furthermore, the book is filled with examples and exercises. This is really good work and the book is very well-written.

Many non-fiction books have great content, are well-researched but are written in a poor style and in a language you don't understand. So what do you do? You put the book back on the shelf and it will never be read.

The author Jan Yager, Ph.D., teaches us to keep things simple and write so it's understandable to anyone. This is not just a book for a professional writer. This is a book for everybody who writes. Everything from e-mails to non-fiction books is featured and don't we all write non-fiction in our daily life? Think about that!

In `Effective business and non-fiction writing you'll learn about time management, how to get your writing published, how to overcome writer's block, researching, interviewing and much more. Furthermore, the book is filled with examples and exercises. This is really good work and the book is very well-written.

A great book that you'll go back to time and again as you encounter the various scenarios addressed in the book. I recommend scanning the TOC every few months to see what's suddenly relevant because of your current project. A great companion to Java Concurrency in Practice.

Greatest Java book ever written. In fact, it's beyond a 'java book', once many tips from here are 'universal tips'.

It's a great book for those who already have at least 4 or 5 programming years (code enough different projects), 'cause you'll notice several (apparently) minor mistakes that everyone make everyday.

Did you realize that enums can implement interfaces? That the simplest safe way to implement a singleton is using an enum? That it's possible to obtain an object reference to a private member using serialization? There are lots of ways to learn the language basics and figure out how to use the libraries. But nowhere do you have such a dense collection of non-obvious, yet important issues that any Java developer ought to be aware of. The book is written from the perspective of someone who creates public APIs, so there is a lot of obsessing over how to prevent users from doing things they shouldn't (intentionally, or not). But even if that's not a big concern for you, it's nevertheless important to be aware of the issues. Having read the first edition a while back, reading the second edition was more that a good refresher -- it's almost a different book. This is in part thanks to Java 5, which has made a lot of the original items (e.g. how create enumerations) obsolete, while introducing the need for a whole new set of items (e.g. regarding the use of generics).

This book is a must-read for all Java programmers. In fact, I think every programmer should read this book before they start programming Java. The book is full of good advice, best practices and guidelines.

Highly recommended

Absolute classic, definitely my favorite Java book. Every professional Java developer should have it on her/his desk.

It's not the easiest book and shouldn't be read if You are novice in Java, there better books to get started with Java, but for experienced developers, this book is invaluable.