Projects Books

The Manhattan Project is a excellent book on the making of the world's first atomic bomb. From J.Robert Oppenheimer to Paul Tibbits, this book covers the people who invented the bomb,delivered the "gadget", to the horrible aftermath. The last chapter covers the reflections from the people involved---from apprehension to justification, this book covers all angles to make this book a fair-balanced account of August 6, 1945.The Atomic Bomb Collection This DVD collection offers many atomic bomb explosions--awesome showing of raw power and destruction.

A perfect way to become familiar with that famous enterprise which changed the world. In just about two years the Manhattan Project, starting with the basic knowledge about nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium, managed to produce the atomic bombs that ended World War II. The effort was gigantic, involving several hundred thousand people and billions of dollars, conducted in absolute secrecy, at the height American involvement in the war effort. This book uses short abstracts from many sources to describe the Manhattan Project's origins, its activities at centers throughout the country, the dropping of the bombs on Japan, and the impact that atomic energy has had on the world even to this day. A highly recommended source for all things related to the Manhattan Project.

I am a babyboomer, born in 1947 after World War II was over. But my father had worked at Aberdeen Proving Ground during World War II and entered the nuclear filed after the war becoming a reactor theorist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. So the Manhattan Project and many of the physcists associated with it along woth the post-war movement for peaceful development of nuclear energy became a natural part of my life. This book tells the story about how men like Einstein, Szilard, Bohr the British scientists and British intelligence made discoveries about nuclear energy and the potential for nuclear chain reactions to recognize the potential for the development of a superbomb by the Nazis. After Einstein's letter to Rossevelt, cooperation between the US and Britian and the birth of the Manhattan Project began shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The plants at Hanford and Oak Ridge and the research lab at Los Alamos became the key sites for the project. The book shows how the leadership of Groves and Oppenheimer lead to the rapid development of the bomb over a two year period and as the Nazi were defeated how the goal shifted from the urgency of beating the Germans to the development of a bomb to question of whether to use it on Japan to put a quicker end to the war in Japan.

The book tells the story of the lives of the key figures during this time with Oppenheimer and Groves playing the biggest role. But it also relates many facts and opinions out through the highly classified writings and documents of the period that are now public information.

We learn about security, espionage, difficult decisions and controversy. A lot of interesting discussion is presented about the varying views of Truman's decision to drop the bomb on Japan. Was it really to shorten the war and save lives of the allied forces or might it have been intended to cut the war short before a Soviet invasion.

The post-war desire to control nuclear weapons and to harness the power for peaceful purposes is cover in the last two chapters of the book. It includes Eisenhower's "atoms for peace" speech to the United Nations and goes on to present interesting writings about disarmament and the post-cold war threat from small nations like Pakistan and North Korea. The writings of Gorbachev about the meetings with Reagan in Iceland was very enlightening and interesting.

It is just amazing how much declassified material is available to the public at large. The Manhattan Project is an excellent compilation of previously published material and interview with the many scientists who participated in the development of the A Bomb. While book is full of excepts from other books on the subject, it is put together in such a way as to provide a quick read on the subject. Many of the documents contain technical information that I had not previously been aware of. That we, as America, could develop such a complex infrastructure to extract U235 and Plutonium is truly amazing.

One of the things we want history books to do for us is to give us insight into a world now gone. As we look back on puzzles solved, technologies developed, hardware built--it's hard to recreate the mood when all these challenges lay ahead, and the future was far from certain. How did the people involved view the strange new technology they were creating? This book brings us in their own words, their hopes, their doubts, their fears, their triumphs.

This is not a new approach. Many history books are collections of documents wherein key players describe events or ponder their significance. But Cindy Kelly brings creativity and a deep knowledge of the history and its players, to combine little-known letters and papers with current interviews and brief contemporary notes, to give variety, sparkle and intimacy to this very human story of vast and earth-shaking developments that require our understanding in order to deal intelligently with current events.

We watch, fascinated, as these scientists and engineers work to change the world, while the new world they are creating inexorably changes them.

This book is a unique, factual historical document and, at the same time, a delightfully personal story. A perfect Christmas present.

Wow! What a great book! I got lots of great ideas from this wonderful book! My friends and I had a garage sale useing tips from this book and it went great!I highly reccamend this book.Thanks,American Girl!!!

This book is a great guide to help you make money. It isillustrated with great pictures, has helpful tips and real moneyexperiences with girls! It even comes with bills, price tags, business cards, and an open/closed sign. It's a great gift for girls ages 9-14. Buy it now-you won't regret it!

I thought this is just a good book for Tips for making money, just Not that many ideas for cooking, making stuff, and other ideas. I just thought it was any old book for making money. I might just be picky, but that is how I feel about that.

This book was very inspiring to many girls out there! It help me start a solo business called Computer Desings Co. by Lauren. I will be changing it shortly. Now I am earning money making progress in my company, since the book helped me!

This book is great!!! It is a guide of earning some money. It has interviews from real girls that have had an experience of money making. It gives you many different types of moneymaking e.g. Pet Sitting, Bake Sale, Babysitting, Garage Sale, etc. And plus at the back there are few pages which you can rip out and use for your monemaking e.g. door knob, price tags. Buy this book!!! -Loulou Chayama

Although this book is over 10 years old, it could have been written this year. The concepts are still relevant.
The author concludes that there are 2 primary reasons to undertake a metrics program for software development -- 1) tracking progress and 2) identifying improvements. The book is divided into 2 parts, with the first part discussing project management metrics and the second part metrics to improve your software development processes. I particularly liked the goal/question/metric approach to validate the metrics you are collecting. The text is loaded with examples from the author's experience at HP. There are several charts and diagrams. This is not an academic read, but as the title says -- practical. The author also covers people issues, such as selling your metrics program to management and staff. It is a quick read and a very useful reference book.

This is Grady's first book and it sets the tone for his later two books, Successful Software Process Improvement and Software Metrics: Establishing a Company-wide Program. What makes this book so important is that it is one of the first to integrate software metrics with project management metrics.

What I particularly like about this book includes:

(1) Complete view of metrics that matter, and the chronicle of how these metrics evolved in a large company (Hewlett-Packard).
(2) Recognition that any software metrics initiative extends beyond the project that delivers the software - Grady examines post-production metrics and ties them back to not only the development life cycle, but the product life cycle as well. Ten years after this book was published there are still large organizations that are struggling with doing this, yet Grady's book provides a clear roadmap to achieving this elusive goal.
(3) Continuous improvement is the central theme in this book. Grady does not stop with collecting and analyzing metrics, but how to effectively employ them to spot improvement opportunities and develop a strategy to effect those improvements.

The book is written as both a story of how a successful metrics program evolved, complete with anecdotes that will prove helpful, and as a collection of data that illustrates what is and is not important to a comprehensive metrics program.

Among all of Grady's books I like this one the best; however, I recommend that his other two also be carefully read if software process improvement is your goal. He has much to say and backs it up with data and a chronicle of his experiences from real projects.

I bought this book about 5 years ago after getting certified as a project manager. This book give me a holistic view of how to intepret data collected from tracking the entire software lifecycle and manage and integrate best practices into a software business.

The author's vast experience in HP helps to provide good assurance that his concepts used were tried and robustly tested. Therefore, software failures, internal flags and customer feedbacks can immediately give you a fairly visible prognosis to the robustness of a release and flashes early warning signs of how you should manage that product to reduce damage to your business, etc.. Practical for technical managers having to manage the business operations.

Whether you're a fledgling company trying to design quality software with no guidelines to go by or a well-developed organization with processes in place, this book offers up many ways that you can improve your software quality.

I was introduced to Mr. Grady's work when I borrowed a copy of Software Metrics: Establishing a Company-Wide Program. Where that book interwove a storyline into metrics and how they support mature process improvement, this book is more like a desk reference. Mr. Grady has divided this book into two parts: tactical metrics, which are project-oriented, and strategic metrics which address process improvement.

The first part starts with a collection of practical rules of thumb for software managers. This collection of heuristics covers every phase of the development life cycle and are backed up with data gathered during 125 software projects at Hewlett-Packard. An example of one of these rules of thumb is that you will find 1 defect after software has been released into production for every 10 defects caught during testing. This, of course, is purely empirical, but is an interesting rule that I mentally filed away. Some highlights of the first part are: a good introduction to the goal-question-metric approach to determining what to measure based on your objectives, and a focus on project goals of maximizing customer satisfaction while minimizing project schedule and costs, and product defects. This is followed by chapters that address each of these goals. One of the best chapters in the first part of this book is work analysis. While I am more focused on the service delivery side of metrics (after the project has produced something that has been released into production), some of the metrics were very valuable to me - especially the ones that revolved around testing and QA.

Part 2 is squarely in my domain - production and application support, and service delivery. The best chapter, Dissecting Software Failures, was one of the most insightful descriptions of the defect life cycle I have ever read. It fully addresses defect data collection and analysis, and how to use this data to effect process and product improvement. Even better is the chapter on investing in process improvement. Here Mr. Grady gives a workable approach to using the defect data to developing a business case for process improvement. He guides you through developing a plan, selecting from among an array of solutions, and case studies.

This book is a quick read. It's main value lies in the many tables and facts provided on nearly every page. I use it as a desk reference, especially the appendices that summarize defect origins, types and modes, and metrics definitions. It spans both project and production metrics, and is as valuable to project managers as it is to application support professionals.

For anyone who works as a professional consultant, this book is a must read. It really aids in laying out the specifics of a profession that there really isn't a job description for. Great insight in how to help clients get the most from your talent and how to develop your own skills as a consultant.

I have given high marks to all AW books, which I have read. I like the style as find that each book is well worth the price. This book more than others is "original" in that AW provides pragmatic advice on how to evaluate a multitude of situations even thorny ones. He also offers good advice on handling corporate politics, which is priceless at any level of consulting. I put this advice to good use immediately. You will also find little material in this book that is also available in his other books. I also strongly suggest all the other books in the Ultimate series.

Where Alan Weiss other books deal with the business side of consulting, this one is a collection of hands-on tools every consultant needs to have in his set. Among topics treated are information gathering, coaching, culture change, and leadership. Ever mindful of the need to create value, the book also teaches you to create conditions for a successful consulting assignment by dealing with the key players and avoiding political landmines within the client organisation, avoiding intimidation and pushing back when you have to.

The numerous case studies further bring the tools and their correct application into sharper relief.

Alan Weiss tells it like it is. If you want to learn from one of the best...read EVERYTHING Alan Weiss writes! Alan's insights and experience are second to none. I personally own just about every book Alan Weiss has written. He is not only a consultant's consultant, but he is also a gifted writer as well.
Alan Weiss's advice, insights and knowledge will take years off your learning curve. This book is a must for your library.

Lenny Laskowski, Author of National Best Selling Book:
"10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking"
President of LJL Seminars(tm)

This is the third of Alan Weiss's book on consulting and one that fills in the gaps for me. Alan is a believer in working with the customer and jointly arrive at a solution or a process to implement. This is a key for his success and one that he expounds for all consultants to follow. Most big consulting firms have a canned program to solving the customers "problems" and most of the time, it does not really solve the problem. Alan's approach is one of truly finding the client's needs and then solving it.
Since I never worked as a consultant before, I needed some idea of some of the tools that Alan uses. This book provides his tools which I lacked in reading his first two books, Million Dollar Consulting and Getting Started in Consulting. However, I dont want to be caught up in the mechanics of the process less I fall into the same trap that the big firms are pursuing. Thank you Alan.

Very good and logical trip through the restoration (not Concours and unlimited budget). Well worth most people to read before you start.

I don't even own a dodge product- I'm restoring a semi rare 1980 vw Scirocco and found this book to be one of the best so far! Very helpful advice with a downhome feel to it- it's not preachy nor does Larry talk down to the readers- which is great. I love the book and have read it more than once... like another reviewer said: "It's worth its weight in gold!" I agree. Good job Larry! -Royce

I've learned more then I could of imagined from this book. I've read it twice, and I'm starting on it again.

What a great book.A colour book on restoring a car and its a step by step guide.Finally a book that deserves to be called a step by step guide.This book is an ideal restoration manual suitable for all cars so no matter what car you want to restore this book is the way to go.Colour photos show what to do.This book covers so much and each section is covered in great detail.Its great value for the price alone and for what it offers.

This book states that the techniques within the book can be used to restore any car.Didnt waste my time trying to fault with this book.This book will please most people.If you are planning to restore your car,no matter what it is,I highly recommend this book and the author's book:"Revive your ride:secrets from a body and paint restorations pro".(ISBN:1-931933-66-1).I also recommend purchasing a workshop manual for specifically for your car.

Really nice restoration book! I have a 68 Charger R/T and look forward to starting the resto using this book as a guide. While no book could cover every obsticle you may encounter, this book gives a very good idea of what you will face and how to fix it.
I was NOT very happy that UPS delivered the box crushed and with a big hole in the side....IDIOTS....but the contents were fine.
This would be the main reference for a 'driver' restoration. No one makes or probably will ever make a book that would cover a concours restoration. So this may be as good as it gets.
Wish Amazon would offer more shipping options....

This is an outstanding and relatively simple approach to transforming and organization - from a small company to large. The section of analysis of business processes is a little 'thin' and if combined with the 7FE Project Framework of Jeston & Nelis (Business Process Management: Practical Guidelines to Successful Implementions) it would be more complete.
A highly recommended read.

This book's utility comes from its specificity. Managing major change is very difficult, but Behnam N. Tabrizi spells out exactly what your organization should do over three 30-day stages of the process. He provides numbered lists, flow charts, diagrams and examples to illustrate his model. The 90-day (plus time before and after) model itself is exciting and demanding, though some elements of the book are stronger than others. Tabrizi's insistence on preparation before a change and his call for sharp execution during implementation is firmly grounded in realism. getAbstract recommends Tabrizi's visionary book to anyone who is guiding or involved in major organizational change. Beware, however, that the very ease of reading and the clarity of the model may gloss over some of the challenges of change. Sometimes, identifying where an industry is going or what the best response to larger trends might be isn't as easy as Tabrizi makes it sound. Likewise, getting people to commit to working double jobs for the three months this model demands may be difficult...but quite worthwhile.

With regard to this book's title and to the model that Behnam N. Tabrizi proposes in this volume, it is important to note at the outset that he does not believe that organizational transformation can be completed in only three months. What he offers is a framework with which to formulate a program that, once implemented, may require 6-12 additional months (or more) to achieve the desired objectives. The proposed model has these characteristics: all-encompassing (i.e. "all aspects of the company, looking under all the rocks and leaving no stones unturned"), integrative (i.e. "various functions and processes within the organization" are synchronized), fast (i.e. "fully engaged in all [its] efforts in parallel, looking at everything at once" expeditiously), and have full, passionate commitment and buy-in, "especially at the top layers of the organization."

Tabrizi rigorously examines six companies that have used the 90 days model: 3M, VeriSign, Nissan, Bay Networks, Apple, and ACI. All of them proceeded through a multi-phase process. Here's the timetable:

Pretransformation (30-90 days)

Phase 1: Diagnosis (30 days)
Phase 2: Envisioning the future (30 days)
Phase 3: Paving the road (30 days)

Transformation implementation (6-12 months)

Of course, these are general guidelines and the timetable will vary among organizations that commit themselves to transformation initiatives and progress of such initiatives will also vary, once formulated and then implemented. Barriers are inevitable and some will probably be the result of what James O'Toole has so aptly characterized as "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom." He correctly points out that "today's executives believe they are struggling with an unprecedented leadership challenge to create internal strategic unity within a chaotic external environment." This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that so many companies are now competing in what Thomas Friedman has described as a "flat world."

Of special interest to me is what Tabrizi has to say about envisioning the future during the second phase, in Chapter 5. "Now, it is time for the teams to shift their focus and start looking at solutions for [the problems previously identified]. Over the next thirty days, with [various] pain points in mind, the teams will work on identifying various alternatives for treatment and remedy" by following this sequence: cascading goals > creating a set of metrics > rationalization of key areas > developing a set of "big ideas" > gap analysis > ongoing organizational excellence > get an early start on implementation [i.e. "picking low-hanging fruit" > Day 60 integration meeting > tiger teams. Tabrizi carefully explains what each of the steps in this sequence involves, and, correlates the importance of each to the other steps that precede and follow it. Along the way, he cites real-world examples from companies that include Hewlett-Packard, Apple, Nissan, VeriSign, Telefónica de España, Bay Networks, and The Home Depot. By the completion of Phase 2, teams will have "rationalized and streamlined their portfolio of products and services and used gap analysis of revenue projections...[and will have] developed their big ideas, which were recommendations shared with the EMT [i.e. executive management team] at the day 60 integration meeting. In some cases, new rapid response teams, called tiger teams, need to be created to address areas that have been previously ignored or overlooked."

Throughout the balance of his narrative, Tabrizi explains how to build on accomplishments achieved through the second phase so that those involved are well-prepared to meet the challenges that await them when they begin the 6-12 month process of full implementation. The model he proposes is not for every organization, as he duly acknowledges. Moreover, those organizations that that select it when planning and then implementing transformation initiatives must be sufficiently agile and flexible to make whatever modifications of the model may be necessary.

"However, it is only a matter of time before change is required again. The question then is, How do I continue to change before I have to? The beauty of the 90 days model is that it spins out an army of change agents with informal networks and experience working across numerous boundaries, and who have internalized change and the change process." Tabrizi then goes on to point out that, by creating an organization of change leaders that think outside the box, "the company will be better prepared to change in the future, fir employees will be less resistant and more experienced...Instead of being something to be feared, change becomes something that is empowering. Change promotes growth. And that is the ultimate power of transformation."

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out James O'Toole's Leading Change: The Argument for Values-Based Leadership, Corporate Agility: A Revolutionary Model for Competing in a Flat World co-authored by Charles E. Grantham, James P. Ware, and Cory Williamson, Kevan Hall's Speed Lead: Faster, Simpler Ways to Manage People, Projects and Teams in Complex Companies, Dean R. Spitzer's Transforming Performance Measurement: Rethinking the Way We Measure and Drive Organizational Success, and Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution co-authored by Jeanne W. Ross, Peter Weill, and David Robertson.

Outstanding book. A must read for all the executives of corporations. The author clearly defines three phases of transformation planning process and how to develop the plan, in detail. In addition, he goes through two phases of preplanning and the implementation process. I found his numerous examples of the successful and unsuccessful transformations, in different corporations, extremely useful. It is like years of lessons learned presented in one book. As an experienced professional, who has lead planning and implementation efforts for very complex Aerospace programs which required sense of urgency, found the authors provided models and tools very useful, logical and practical.

This book should be mandatory reading for all business leaders and those in company executive level management who are trying to grow their businesses. The examples are very interesting and logical. Author's research was intensive and thorough. His argument is compelling. Rapid Transformation will soon be a "Bible" for change agents in companies.

This is an absolutely superb book, comprised of recollections of the Jim Crow years in the form of oral histories. It can be read through, or picked up at any part. There is an appropriate amount of historical introduction to each chapter.
This material needs to be read, and remembered. There was a long time in our history when, although there was no more slavery, African Americans were treated as a separate serf class, under constant pressures and reminders of their lower status. Whites used pervasive legal and social downward pressures to keep African Americans out of an equal education, and equal access to public facilities, much less the right to equal jobs and the right to vote -- and then claimed that African Americans' lack of achievement was a racial fault. If an African American violated one of the many social taboos, the sanctions ranged from a beating, to loss of job, and even being lynched.
While whites benefited from Jim Crow, the whites, also, were trapped in the system. They were also forced to abide by legal segregation, and were subject to social pressure if they were too liberal (being called "n* lover," "white n*," etc.).
What led to the mindset that the end of slavery should lead to continued legal and social oppression of African Americans? It was part of white American culture. Lincoln himself said that he was not "in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry.... [T]here must be the position of superior and inferior. I am as much as any other man in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race." In 1877, Rutherford B. Hayes traded the end of southern post-war Reconstruction for the electoral votes he needed to win the presidency. Southern states then were free to institute the Jim Crow system.
I believe we are more subject to peer pressure than we would like to believe. Although reviewer McInerney asserts that "no civilized person" would benefit from Jim Crow, I feel many otherwise-good people were trapped and/or blinded by their own interests and surroundings. When allowed, and even encouraged, their evil side showed itself. On this topic, see John Griffin's _Black Like Me_, on the different faces that whites showed to other whites, and to African Americans.
While we are certain that we wouldn't go back to that system, we shouldn't be so sure that we, also, wouldn't be trapped by it if we were born into it. Consider that Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy (to a large extent) didn't take effective action to end segregation.
This book is excellent. Those dreadful and shameful times -- and the vestiges which still continue -- must not be forgotten.

Any illusions about the freedom and equality that were alleged to have been given to African Americans in this country following the Civil War were just that, illusions. The reality of America's version of Apartheid was legitimized in 1896 in the United States Supreme Court with the case of Plessy vs. Ferguson. When the de-facto segregation that Plessy allowed was added to the de jure laws that followed, whatever emancipation had been promised was firmly repudiated. It is even legitimate to go back to 1877 when Rutherford B. Hayes and his party sold out, and swapped the presidency for the removal of federal troops from the south.

"Remembering Jim Crow", is a brilliant collection of first hand accounts of life under Jim Crow by those who were victimized by its laws. A large cast collected these verbal accounts over several years, and they accomplished no less than the preservation of a sinister part of this country's history. A time that W.E.B. Dubois characterized as, "living behind the veil". Combined with the book, "At The Hands Of Person's Unknown", which I commented extensively on, these two books, and if you choose the accompanying CD of the interviews, provides a wide, if horrific view of these eight decades.

These testimonies are also notable for the speakers who identify by name the people and families that victimized them. This is not ancient history that many would like to forget. These people who survived and speak of Jim Crow are alive, and so a presumption that their tormentors are alive is reasonable. The end of the book includes portions of a documentary that was made as part of this project with National Public Radio. Happily some of the whites that were interviewed in Iberia Perish in Louisiana remember and look with regret on what they did and did not do. Their willingness to speak on the record is admirable. But lest anyone think that all is solved there are also people who went on the record bemoaning their never having enjoyed the privileges that Jim Crow gave whites. A man named Barrow expressed himself thusly, "That was awful nice, you know, you'd go hunting, "Boy clean those ducks", you know, "Skin that dear", uh, "Shine my shoes". I believe I could have gone for that. Yeah I think you could have too".

No Mr. Barrow, no civilized individual from any state could, "have gone for that". However I am sure that many appreciate your confirmation that even now, ignorance, arrogance, and racism are alive and well.

This is an interesting angle to present a sad era in America's history. This book does not give a history book type of fact presentation, it presents the facts from the people who actually experienced it.

This is a vital book if for only one reason, so that the children born after this era know what it was like so it is never repeated.

I enjoyed the oral history that is presentated and I would recommend this book if you want a greater understanding of this time.

REMEMBERING JIM CROW is a colletion of first hand accounts of life in the Jim Crow south. The stories are compelling and at the same time sad.

The stories create the atmosphere that one is sitting in one of the elderly story tellers living room listening to them.

This book is especially worthwhile for non-African-Amercians readers, because virtually all African-Americans that have roots in the south, know these stories all too well.

This slipcased book and 2-cd set supplements the written word with oral history, gathering the voices of men and women who were firsthand witnesses to segregation in the south. Stories by men and women from all walks of life reveal how blacks fought against the system, built communities, and ran businesses in a society which denied them basic rights. Remembering Jim Crow offers the reader a comprehensive, involving, highly recommended presentation.

I have enjoyed immensely Return to Elm Creek quilt patterns. This has answered many questions from reading the series of books. Being able to comprehend the amount of time AND talent involved by many of these women from 100+ years ago is overwhelming at times. I am enjoying work on Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.

After reading the Elm Creek Stories. I have been inspired to start a quilt. All I need is the time. The Projects are as intricate or simple as you would what them. I think I well pick simple to Medium and chose my own colors.The Quilter's Homecoming: An Elm Creek Quilts NovelThe Quilter's Legacy: An Elm Creek Quilts NovelAn Elm Creek Quilts Sampler: The First Three Novels in the Popular Series (Elm Creek Quilters Novels)

If you've read the novels you will find this book of special interest. It shows examples and gives instructions for some of the mentioned quilts. If you are a quilter you will have been looking forward to this book. Hapy Quilting!!!

Book gives insight to blocks that were relevant to that era as well as those still loved today.

I especially enjoyed memories of the delightful Elm Creek books intermixed with the patterns for the quilts from those books! It was like enjoying the stories all over again.

It was the perfect help to work with Freezer-Paper, the describtion and Visual Guide are very clearly.

Unfortunately I missed out on a live workshop with Ruth and sent my best buddy in my place instead. She LOVED it!!! Even though I tried to practice her techniques in her other books, I never quite 'got it'. I guess I'm just more of a 'show me what you do' kind of person.
This book changed all that and I made her sugar maple quilt quickly and easily and I'm thrilled with the outcome! Also, with her guidance on inset seams, I finished a difficult navajo quilt that had had me stumped because I couldn't get the seams set in just right. But with her latest book, it was like having this amazingly talented and wonderful lady right there with me! She is such inspiration, her quilts are outstanding and absolutely fabulous! Thanks Ruth, -can't wait for the next one!!!

Certainly a 5-star book. You can take your quilt piecing to a new level with Ruth's piecing techniques. The instructions and pictures are very detailed, concise & clear. Combined with her "Designing Workshop" book, you could produce gorgeous, detailed art quilts.

Ruth B. McDowell's Piecing Workshop: Step-by-Step Visual Guide, Indispensable Reference for Quilters, Bonus Projects
My first quilt was by Cynthia England and was a parchment paper design. I won viewers choice with this quilt. I was anxious to find out more about this techinique and ways to creat my own designs. I chose Ruth's book because I own several of her other books and knew that I would not be disappointed; and I'm not. The how to instructions are not complicated and in an easy to understand format. I would recommend this book for the quilter whose time has come to move on to more inovative expressions of her art. Enjoy! Rose Germaine, Los Angeles

As with all of Ruth McDowell's books, she is very detailed and comprehensive on her instructions for accomplishing flawless piecing with minimum effort. She also makes you want to break out of all the quilting boxes and explore your own world of creativity.
I really enjoyed the book and will add it to my collection of reference quilt books.

The finely crafted stories in Ronna Wineberg's Second Language illuminate how we mediate and translate love and its loss. In the title story "Second Language," the main character Lucy deals with the decline of her aging parents. The deceptively titled "The Encyclopedia" is a beautiful story that charts in a few pages the entire progression of an affair. My favorite story is "After We Went South" for its combination of humor and insight and also its great secondary characters including Honey Mae Leeland, a female private investigator. The characters in Second Language get themselves into binds, often funny, many times tragic, but Ms. Wineberg always treats them with compassion and insight. It's a lovel collection!

I cannot say enough about Ronna Wineberg's book of short stories. Her use of images is so delicate that I often found myself effortlessly slipping into an interesting story about someone so believable they may as well live next door to me, only to find myself in a rich thicket of metaphor. It made me think about how "signs" are all around us, signs that show us clearly where we're going, yet we feel blind and hapless all the same. I like Ms. Wineberg's stories for her gentle reminder that life is full of turnings, and I absolutely love the way she leaves each her characters at story's end with both loss and possibility. Looking forward to further stories!

These stories are populated by real people, not completely good, not completely bad. Rather, the characters--Laura, Patrice, Doris, Cora, Helen, Shiela, etc--act as they must to get through each day. Their lives, full and complicated, include indiscretions, disappointments, and necessary lies as they search for their elusive anchors and struggle against themselves, alone.

Ronna Wineberg expertly uses words to paint the thoughts of her characters and the worlds they inhabit. The melancholy tones of the stories harmonize well with the isolation of the characters, people who are sometimes lost, sometimes desperate, always yearning, always searching. Rich internal dialogue offers long, raw glimpses into their interiors. Strong details, masterfully placed, evoke the color of their lives.

It's a lovely book that leaves the reader genuinely satisfied, all the while nodding, "Yes, this is the way real life often unfolds."

Wineberg's beautifully written narrative clearly depicts complex characters as they navigate their way through life's unpredictable journey. The reader is easily immersed into each poignant story, and can truly feel each protagonist's emotional struggles. These stories are truly a splendid work of fiction.

There is a single theme that runs through Second Language, stated poetically in the title. Love, married or unmarried, is a second way of expressing oneself, and sometimes of actually discovering another self. Certain lines and images are repeated to support this idea. Particularly moving and aesthetically pleasing is the way in which the coin collectors of the first and last stories make the entire group seem to hold hands in a sort of narrative circle.
These stories and the characters in them are seen against a backdrop of Jewish-American culture. The narrator of "The Lapse," for example, describes himself as "observant," which means a good deal more than paying attention in this case. He irritates his wife by refusing to ignore the Sabbath to attend a political meeting. In return, she considers having an affair. While these stories are not religious in any dogmatic sense, religion is taken very seriously, which has become a difficult thing to do in contemporary fiction. Instead, they are informed by an authentic sense of "chesed," a very special Jewish sense of kindness.
Ronna Wineberg is a very wise and generous writer, and Second Language is a cut above any other collection I have read recently. I hope we will be seeing more from this writer.