Controls Books

AS a grandmother, I often feel a sense of dismay at the lack of exposure modern day children are being afforded of the classics of literature. Books like this one with wild illustrations designed to grab the eye of the reader and keep it with a text more understandable to the twenty first century child are a gift to be shared. This is a book that will attract readers. I can't think of anything more important. With vocabularies being drawn from television, movies and video games that often fall very short of expressive ideals, it is so nice to see some one tackle Swift and make him palatable to young readers. Anyone up for Dickens, Kipling and Stevenson? What about good old Mark Twain? Kudos to Jenkins and Riddell.
My soon to be six year old grandson will love this book. I consider it my job to make sure he keeps getting treasures like this one.

When most of us hear the name "Gulliver," a picture probably comes to mind. A giant. A strong, brawny fellow? Leave it to consummate illustrator Chris Riddell to give us a smile provoking Gulliver with knobby knees, a bump in his nose, and shirt askew. Gulliver is still prone to many adventures, just as Jonathan Swift intended when he wrote "Gulliver's Travels," but he's also a tad clumsy with a tendency to wind up in comical positions.

There he is in Lilliput on the first of his voyages skewered into the sand by all those little people. In this double-page full-color spread every bony finger is pinioned, his waistcoat is tacked to the ground, and one big toe pops through a hole in his sock. Next, we find tiny spear bearing soldiers marching across the length of his body.

Consider Gulliver's voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubrib, and Japan. If you recall, the ship he was aboard is taken over by not one but two pirate ships. Such ferocious buccaneers you've never seen. Thankfully the Dutch pirate captain showed our hero a little sympathy, and we find him tucked into a small canoe and set afloat.

Each of Riddell's illustrations is a gem, and will surely be enjoyed over and over again. He is a political cartoonist for the Observer, thus the perfect choice to bring Swift's political satire to life.

Martin Jenkins has done a yeoman's job of retelling this classic. His adaptation is true to Swift's original story yet it is more easily understood by young readers. While this Gulliver will hold appeal for all ages, it is certainly a choice introduction to what is considered to be one of the finest stories ever written. Kudos to both Martin Jenkins and Chris Riddell with, of course, a deep bow to the memory of the incomparable Jonathan Swift

- Gail Cooke

Gulliver's adventures to imaginary lands are used to illustrate the foibles and pettiness of mankind. In his first adventure, he finds that the tiny Lilliputians are forever at war with their island neighbors over how to crack open an egg, and they are therefore suspicious and manipulative. By contrast, the giants of Brobdingnag live by "common sense, reason, justice and fair play," but Gulliver is often in danger by being so tiny in their country. In other lands, Gulliver meets all kinds of characters - constant worriers, crazed inventors, preposterous rulers, and some chatty ghosts who give him a history lesson. With each adventure, Gulliver becomes increasingly aware that the beliefs he holds about mankind's achievements may be the opposite of what he had thought. Finally, he meets the horse-like Houyhnhnms (sounds like a horse neighing), "noble creatures ruled entirely by reason," who have no idea of evil. Their country is also inhabited by Yahoos, wild animal-like humans without any redeeming qualities, who steal from each other and squabble endlessly. Gulliver is so taken by the civilized, virtuous Houyhnhnms that he would like to live happily ever after with them, but they can't get over the fact that he really must be a Yahoo, who will only encourage the other Yahoos to revolt against them. He is cast adrift in a small boat and eventually finds himself back in England, where he has to get used to lying, deceit, self-importance, and greed once more. Some of the story elements are a little disturbing, such as his attitudes towards the servant classes, and some of the outrageous behaviors of certain characters verge on disgusting, but this is always used to make a point. Overall, this is a beautifully-made book with much food for thought, for both young and old alike.

This is really a beautiful book. The illustrations are quirky and captivating and the language, while not antiquated, still reads like a classic. I sat reading it to my 7 year old son in the bookstore for a good 15 minutes before realizing we just had to take it home. Originally a story which my son would have had to wait until at least junior high to read, this version sits up on the shelf next to Doctor Dolittle, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland etc. The fantasy is emphasized but the political satire is gently present for those old enough to appreciate it.

We got a copy of this book in the early '90's, and it has some excellent, tasty, easy-to-prepare recipes. I'm buying another copy to replace the original, because we've literally worn it out from use. An excellent resource.

First, Thank You Amazon for your speedy delivery. I had this book in 3 days.
I purchased this book not to become a vegetarian but to learn to cook healthier foods. I must say that after reading and trying the recipes Lyndsay and Ariane did a wonderful job. This book actually informs the reader on the health benefits of a more natural diet using whole grains and more fruits and vegetables. They do not say you have to be a vegetarian they just give you information and guidelines for a healthier lifestyle.
If anyone has tried Vegetarian cookbooks before (as I have), and thrown them out because they were complicated with ingredients you can't find, try this book, I had almost everything in my kitchen already, there are no funky things to go out and find, and my sons (9 and 11) have decided they like soy milk better than regular milk. Best book I have ever purchase. Thanks goes to Lyndsay and Ariane.

I was pleasantly surprised at how the information was presented in this cookbook. The authors expressed their desire to create a cookbook that contained not only great recipes but also useful information presented in an interesting manner. They have succeeded. Although I am not a strict vegetarian, I can say that I am not much of a meat eater. This book has helped me with ideas on how to use meat substitutes in a way that is tempting even for my meat-eater husband. All I can say is Bon Appetit!

I have tried many of the recipes in this book and have enjoyed almost all of them. The writers seem as thou they enjoy cooking and eating the food they create, which makes it easy to follow. I have started using this recipe book more and more....wish all cookbooks were this easy for those of us who are terrible in the kitchen.

Dr. Rada addressed every item of HIPAA in a easy way and understandable for the lay people. It is written in plain language. I strongly recommend this book for all of those providers and health plan officials that has to comply with HIPAA regulation.

I have spent most of my day reading HIPAA@IT and although my eyes are a bit sore, it is the best material I have come across on the subject yet. Very comprehensive, well organized, easy to understand. It's one stop shopping! I was trying to pull together all that material from dozens of other sources. Thanks!

This book is a streamlined version of HIPAA@IT Reference by the same author. At roughly half the page count as the "Reference" edition, this book covers the same material but in a more abbreviated manner. It leaves out non-essential information provided in the bigger book, such as history, theory and examples. It also does not include two sections that go into detail about the 'Insurance Portability' and the 'Accountability' portions of HIPAA related to IS and administrative simplification.

As an IT consultant who works with health care clients (among other industries) this book or the more comprehensive one upon which it's based are invaluable guides. Both address HIPAA from an IT perspective; both cut through thousands of pages of sometimes confusing text associated with NPRMs and law to expose the key issues.

There are three main areas covered: (1) Transactions and Codes (from the perspective of payments between providers and payers and includes transactions, code sets, identifiers and impact), (2) Privacy (patient-health care relationship covering key HIPAA requirements) and (3)Security (compliance life cycle, real-world security policy, computer security models and technical security mechanisms).

The book is focused, fluff-free (to the point of being terse) and up-to-date as of Sep 2001. If you are an IT consultant or a health care IT staff member, especially with direct HIPAA support responsibilities, this is an essential reference.

HIPAA@IT Essentials book is about half as long as Roy Rada's other HIPAA book - HIPAA@IT Reference: Health Information Transactions, Privacy, and Security
ISBN: 1901857050

And, as its name implies, covers the essentials of HIPAA. Those needing to get a quick look at HIPAA should definitely read HIPAA@IT Essentials.

Those who need a more in depth look at HIPAA should read this title in addition to HIPAA@IT Reference.

I got this book for my mom, who is a diabetic. Great book for knowledge on how to live with diabetes.

When I first got this book, my blood sugar had leveled-out at about 300. I just couldn't lower my blood sugar, no matter how well I ate or how much I exercised. All my doctor could or would do was change my medication and order more tests for me. I didn't have medical insurance and I couldn't afford any more tests, or even doctors' visits; so I stopped seeing my doctor.
In this book, I was firmly advised NOT to exercise until my blood sugar was below 250; otherwise my body would react to the exercise by releasing even more sugar into my blood. After I stopped the exercise my blood sugar did start to slowly drop. I then carefully read the book from cover to cover, and gained a large amount of very useful information.
I also began doing "Tai Chi for Diabetes", which also appears to have helped.
Within a few weeks my blood sugar level dropped below 110. I then discontinued the medication my doctor had given me. For over a week now my blood sugar has been below 107; without taking any pills.
I've read a few other books on Diabetes, and they were all somewhat helpful; but "The Mayo Clinic on Managing Diabetes" was by far the most helpful and informative book I've read on the subject. I strongly recommend it.

This book offers an interesting and completely comprehensible overview of diabetes. It is not a "how-to" book, nor does it pretend to be. Rather, it gives you the background information you need to better understand your care plan that your physician, dietician, and whomever else prepares with you. While there are many other volumes on the subject, I recommend this one as an essential resource for any living with diabetes or a diabetic.

This completely revised and fully updated second edition of Mayo Clinic On Managing Diabetes: How To Prevent, Control And Live With Diabetes is drawn from the collective studies of the Mayo Clinic studies on diabetes prevention and care. Offering readers a complete and thorough understanding of diabetes, Mayo Clinic On Managing Diabetes includes in-depth research information on the pre-diabetes stage; the latest guidelines for testing blood sugar; selecting and using a glucose monitor; the value of health checkups; advances in insulin delivery; new medications for diabetes; the latest on transplantation; tips to achieve a healthier weight; advice for enjoying healthier foods; safe exercise strategies; avoiding serious complications arising from diabetes; reducing the risk of heart and blood vessel disease; recognizing and responding to diabetic emergencies; sexual issues for both men and women with diabetes; and unique issues for children with diabetes. Mayo Clinic On Managing Diabetes is very strongly recommended for all readers concerned with diabetes and searching for a comprehensive guide to its prevention, as well as for parents wishing to aide their children in prevention of juvenile diabetes.

In my opinion, this book should be considered the classic text on contraception, as believed by the Roman Catholic Church. Janet Smith outlines a series of different arguments against contraception, and shows how they are all rooted in the classic Catholic view of human nature. The strength of this book is its thorough description of human nature and Natural Law, as understood in the Catholic Tradition. I'd thus rank this book highly as a general book on Natural Law, and the some of the theological anthropology implicit in it. Without such an understanding of human nature it is very difficult to understand the problems with contraception. By point of contrast, she critiques the 'contra-life will' arguement proposed by Grisez etc. One feature that I found particularly useful was her analysis of how contraception has affected society, and the link between contraception and divorce. One warning: this book is for the serious student. However, it lays out the principles it builds on, and when I first read it was able to understand it even though the material was all new to me.

In this, her first book, university professor Janet Smith presents a philosophical and theological understanding of Pope Paul VI's controversial 1968 encyclical `Humanae Vitae' (`On Human Life'). The 370 densely packed pages of text are divided into eight chapters and four appendices.

In the first chapter Dr. Smith gives a very brief historical overview of the Church's consistent condemnation of contraception whenever the issue arose. It was not until 1930 that the Anglican Church's Lambeth Conference "broke ranks with nearly the whole of the traditional Christian opposition to contraception" when it permitted its use by married couples "for grave reasons." Pope Pius XI responded with an encyclical entitled `Casti Cannubi' that reiterated the opposition, encouraged elevated notions of conjugal love and parenthood, and explained that confining conjugal acts to known infertility periods, for right reasons, was morally permissible. Some Catholic theologians began opposing the teaching in 1963 and by 1966 it was the major moral issue troubling the Church. Smith claims this came about because of the development of the Pill and social changes rather than from philosophical deliberations. She spends the bulk of the chapter examining the arguments of a papal commission divided over the issue in the years just prior to `Humanae Vitae.'

Smith begins chapter two by stating, "`Humanae Vitae,' depends on a Christian understanding of the nature or meaning of marriage and in particular on a Christian understanding of the importance of the marital gift of having children" (p.36). She then examines Catholic teaching on this matter as found in `Casti Cannubi' and relevant portions of the Vatican II document `Gaudium et Spes.' In these documents she notices the beginnings of a shift in terminology and emphasis, from focusing on the "ends" of marriage to more "personalist values" (i.e. goods that benefit the human person as distinct from values that protect other goods --- such as the good of society or respect for the laws of nature).

In chapters three and four she analyzes `Humanae Vitae' itself. Chapter three reviews how the encyclical deals with arguments advanced in favour of contraception, especially those based on the principle of totality (i.e. "that under certain circumstances it is morally permissible to sacrifice the good of a part for the good of the whole"). She claims that most have misunderstood the type of natural law argument used in the teaching and so in chapter four concentrates on four arguments against contraception based on these natural law principles. One argument, in syllogistic form, is: "(1) It is wrong to impede the procreative power of actions that are ordained by their nature to the generation of a new human life (2) Contraception impedes the procreative power of actions that are ordained by their nature to the generation of new human life (3) Therefore, contraception is wrong" (p.99). Smith gives expansive explanation to each argument; in this particular case pointing out how it doesn't simply condemn contraception as the violation of a physiological act but as violating its integrity as a "human act." She points out how the argument depends on a recognition of the "intrinsic worth of human life" that affects both how we treat living human beings and the very process by which they come into being. She also addresses arguments that say there is no difference between contraception and natural family planning.

Chapter five presents theological considerations. It looks at scriptural foundations for the teaching. While no explicit "Thou shalt not contracept" reference can be made (just as no explicit condemnation of the direct bombing of civilian sites can be found) nevertheless four biblical themes "provide strong evidence that contraception does not fit within God's plan for human sexuality. These are (1) the extreme value given to procreation, (2) the portrayal of sterility as a great curse, (3) the condemnation of all sexual acts that are not designed to protect the good of procreation, and (4) the likening of Christ's relationship to His Church to that of a bridegroom to his bride, a union that is meant to be a fecund relationship, one that will bring forth many sons and daughters of God" (p. 130). The first point is highlighted early in Genesis (1:27-28), where man is created male and female to image God in His creative powers (p.130). Smith also explores the encyclicals use of the term "munus" (i.e. mission) as relating to God's wanting to share the goods of His kingdom and entrusting spouses with the mission of participating with Him in the work of bringing new life into the world. She also looks at the authoritative nature of `Humanae Vitae' and the role of conscience.

Chapter six begins the consideration of the aftermath of the encyclical and the arguments of early dissenters. Chapter eight gives an exposition of Pope John Paul II's justification of the teaching in terms of conjugal love as a total self-giving that requires self-mastery of one's passions. The appendices include a new translation of the encyclical, a commentary on the text, and a critique of the work of some leading theological exponents of the teaching.

Smith's work is exceptional. She presents the arguments of her opponents fairly and is not party to caricatures or character assassinations. Her own arguments are sound and, I think, convincing. But, alas, I fear in this area especially, human intellects are guided more by the will than vice versa; which in turn is easily overpowered by the concupiscent passions. The ideological battle was early lost. We have, almost literally, sown our seed to the wind and now reap the whirlwind. Man has always had difficulty maintaining a high, unselfish view and standard in sexual relations. Frank Sheed once observed that "men have shown only too clearly that what they do not reverence, they will profane." Conjugal love has been drastically profaned and with it marriage, family, relations between the sexes, even the intrinsic worth of human life. We are so far gone I do not see how sanity or sanctity will ever return.

This is an excellent book for the intellectual Christian who wishes to understand the relationship between hedonism and artificial contraception.

All intellectuals would be well advised to read it on the grounds that clearly dilineates the philosophical points of view of modern moral philosophy with particular emphasis on sexuallity.

The early chapters are easy to read and are worth the admission price. The middle chapters on philisophical matters will interest trained philosophers and highly educated intellectuals. Even so they are difficult to follow and require digestion over a period of time.

The most important chapter follows the arguments put forward by the (originally dissident theologians) 'revisionist 'theologians.
It appears to me that the entire thesis of the work rests here. That being: the dissident theologians proposed a utilitarian philosophy of 'proposionalism' to justify artificial contraception, later often called 'consequentialism'.

The problems with this theory were endemic ( an integral part of the theory) in that it would require a super computer and several Ph.D.'s to be able to compute the consequences of ones act. Not the sort of moral code that the typical person could easily use.

At the same time the claim was made that the individual would be able to dissent from Magisterial teaching by putting their faith in the theologians assertion that the consquences of artificial contraception might contain a premoral evil but would not be evil in and of themselves.

The traditional teaching on the other hand held that artificial contraception was intrisincally evil because it interfers with the couple's relation with God, and in particular, their ability to procreate (as compared to reproduce). Procreation involes the creation of an immortal soul which only God can do. God relies on the work of the faithful to accomplish this most joyous work.

In addition, the Christian by virtue of baptism is called to obedience in Christ. For the Catholic this means a special deference to the Magisterium. A Catholic can not simply reject the teaching of the church unless by conscience that person is convinced that following that teaching would be evil.
This point has never really been taken up in the dialogue.

The book concludes with a summary of John Paul's theology of the body (see for instance
Audiences).

Dominant liberal sentiment concerning the unending crisis in the Catholic Church usually involves the imaging of a heroic flock of dissident Catholics bravely questioning their authoritarian church, often defending themselves as acting out the admonishment of Vatican II to recognize the "spirit of the times." The effect amongst many Western Catholic intellectuals has been to exercise a nebulous acquiescence to the prevailing ethos of the well educated, even when the well educated seek active participation in the sex revolution, seemingly oblivious to its self-destructive character. It is no secret that the focal point of Catholic dissidence has been towards Humanae Vitae.

Janet E Smith is a Catholic philosopher with an essential premise. Living with a respect for God would seem to imply a willingness to seek an understanding of and conformity to the will of God, particularly, as she explores in this book, on the matter of contraception. If this is not what we seek, then our questioning may be the sort designed to avoid rather than find answers.

The very attempt to develop this purified sense of the will of God is viewed as upsetting to a great many contemporary Catholics, embarrassed by their faith and angry at those resistant to popular trends. So intense is this anger, that on occasions of her public lectures on the subject of contraception, even on Catholic university campuses, Ms. Smith has been greeted with rude, at times vitriolic, interruptions to her speeches, situations she has always met with unflappable grace and dignity. Because she is always seeking a faithful receptivity towards the mind of God as a first principle, she refuses to be unkind in return.

Honest philosophers have always sought to know what is natural and implicit in God's design. Ms. Smith is committed to making a case for what ought to be obvious to people of authentic faith: that the human design, particularly that of women, is not arbitrary or accidental, and not in need of repair or reinvention. It is complete in every detail the image and likeness of God. Contraception is not consistent with our inherent design as women and men living with a respect for God, and Ms. Smith bravely invites us to consider this. Perhaps then we can be freed from being angry towards our own best interests

Catholics simply cannot support capital punishment nor go to war, nor fund it. Rather, as our present Pope points out in his Sacramentum Caritatis, the Eucharist we share compels us to alter the unjust structures which leave so many starving.

See also Pope Paul VI's On the Development of Peoples, Populorum Progresio. and Evangelii Nuntiandi: On Evangelization in the Modern World. Together they constitute the womb to tomb pro-life seamless garment dogma so clearly delineated by our own Bishop's Conference.

Also read Peace on Earth (Pacem in Terris): Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Pope John XXIII Addressed to All Mankind and Mater et magistra, encyclical letter of his holiness Pope John XXIII; Christianity and social progress.

Unfortunately the other reviewers do not seem to have read this present encyclical any more than they can spell encyclical, or define it.

We cannot support imperialist warfare and claim to support this encyclical. We cannot support our presence in Iraq, where we have ended one million lives in the pursuit of oil fields, and say that we support this encyclical.

We cannot support capital punishment and say that we support this encyclical. Read Catholic writer Antoinette Bosco's Choosing Mercy: A Mother of Murder Victims Pleads to End the Death Penalty. See the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's The Culture of Life & the Penalty of Death as well as such works of moral theology as Pro-Life/Pro-Peace: Life-Affirming Alternatives to Abortion, War, Mercy Killing and the Death Penalty, Catholics And The Death Penalty: Six Things Catholics Can Do To End Capital Punishment, Commentary on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 37: Prohibition of Torture, Death Penalty, Life Imprisonment and Deprivation of Liberty, etc.

We cannot tacitly approve economic, educational, medical, social, opportunity and other inequalities in this nation, and say we support this encyclical. See the same USCCB's Place At the Table: A Catholic Recommitment to Overcome Poverty and to Respect the Dignity of All God's Children a Pastoral Reflection of the U.s. Catholic Bishops and Economic justice for all: Pastoral letter on Catholic social teaching and the U.S. economy (Publication / Office of Publishing and Promotion Services, United States Catholic Conference)), etc., as well as the final sections of Sacramentum Caritatis.

We cannot vote GOP and say we follow Jesus Christ, or this present encyclical.

Read this encyclical and pray the Holy Spirit of God's Peace and compassion opens your heart and mind to understand how and why.

Read also the USCCB's Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response a Pastoral Letter on War and Peace and ANYTHING by the Rev. Father John Dear, especially his Disarming the Heart: Toward a Vow of Nonviolence and Jesus the Rebel: Bearer of God's Peace and Justice, and you will see why not. For further understanding of the moral theological questions addressed in this important encyclical also please search the writings of the respected Catholic scholar and moral theologian the Reverend Father Charles Curran.

With barbarians at the gate (and many, sad to say, inside the gate) clamoring for moral license, Pope Paul VI responded with this famous encyclical reconfirming the Church's position on the regulation of births.

It is a beautiful document that glorifies marriage and will inspire any couple to deeper, fuller spirituality. Anyone who is looking for understanding with regard to marriage, relationships, or sexuality will find much wisdom here.

Pope Paul presents the Catholic case against artificial birth control with precision and sound logic. Eerily, he forsees how easy access to birth control will corrupt man and society:

"Let them consider, first of all, how wide and easy a road would thus be opened to conjugal infidelity and to a general lowering of morality. One does not need much experience to know human weakness and to understand that human beings--especially the young, who are so vulnerable on this point--have need of encouragement to be faithful to the moral law, and must not be offered an easy means to evade its observance." You wonder how things would be if schools taught this point of view instead of sex education that facilitates and reinforces immoral actions ...

"Consider also the dangerous weapon that would thus be placed in the hands of those public authorities who have no concern for the requirements of morality." While China is notorious for forced birth control of its population, you wonder if we are not far behind when schools and other public institutions pass out condoms and our government legislates against life.

"Consequently, if one does not want to see the mission of generating life exposed to the arbitrary decisions of men, one must of necessity recognize certain absolute limits to the possibility of a human being's dominion over his or her body and its functions..." With stem-cell research already here and cloning and other advanced methods of genetic engineering on the horizon, I think this point takes on even more importance as a warning.

Two points stood out to me in this brief but powerful document. First, Pope Paul reminds us that sexual relations have a physical and spiritual dimension. Sex cannot be reduced a mere physical act. Second, he explains how self-control with regard to our sexual impulses is a good thing, not a punishment:

"Such discipline bestows upon family life fruits of serenity and peace, and facilitates the solution of other problems; it fosters attention to one's partner, helps both spouses drive out selfishness, the enemy of true love; and deepens their sense of responsibility." Amen.

These words fly in the face of modern secular thinking, where sex is equated with love. Pope Paul was a realist: he mentions a few times that his teaching will be hard for people to accept; in fact, he almost concedes that society as a whole may well reject the teaching. It has, and we can judge for ourselves where it has gotten us since 1968.

Few teachings of the Church are so challenged as the teaching on artificial birth control. Yet few who malign the Church have made the effort to read this monumental but brief document that explains the beauty that underlies that teaching. Those who would malign would do well to read and understand this great work first. Better to understand than criticize with false assumptions concerning what it contains. It is not, as some contend, an enslavement to blind obedience but an affirmation of the dignity of man. Not a shallow assertion of political sound-bites but real food and real medicine for a wounded human condition. Read it and see the higher calling to which you have been called. Not as mere beasts driven and enslaved by their passions and selfish desires, but as men and women created in the image of God for good works. The brevity of the document and simplicity of the foundational principles it contains make it an easy read. Every Christian, Catholic or Protestant, will find a wealth herein. A must read also for any seeking to understand the later development of the Theology of the Body from Pope John Paul II, the great. Do not presume to understand a Christian view of birth control without first understanding the content of this encyclical. Read it as many times as it takes to grasp the deep beauty and profound significance it contains for our day.

For the way His Holiness was vilified when this document came out in 1968, Pope Paul VI should be known as Paul the Confessor. He truly suffered for the Church over this encyclical letter. And that is quite a shame, for his teaching in Humanae Vitae has turned out to be prophetic. A must read for anyone interested in life issues today. With the state of much of the world in our time( about 70% of all conceptions in Russia end in abortion) Paul's wisdom is sure help and a much needed path to a more caring and holy world. The sanctity of life is paramount.

Health care industry is slowing gathering experience with tools already in use for some time in other settings. To get this going, one need some basic training and discipline to start. It is not fun, neither easy, but it is extremely necessary.

This book deals with the rather significant issues plaguing our healthcare system. It takes some very sophisticated statistical tools and presents their use in an eloquent yet simplistic manner that even the layman can make good use of. This is a must read!

For the first time, a logical approach was presented for implementing a total effective quality improvement initiative in a major hospital. The authors obviously had an indepth understanding related to the problems faced in running both a large scale health-service organization and the problems faced by its staff. The implementation method described in detail is obviously the result of experienced gained in implementing Six Sigma into a number of healthcare systems. It demonstrates how effective change can be brought about in the health care system in parallel with the normal day-to-day operations. This book is a practical but revolutionary approach to quality that is long overdue.

This is an excellent book about implementing Six Sigma in healthcare. The book has an easy to understand explanation of Six Sigma, and includes practical healthcare examples.

This is an excellent well organized resource for those in the manufacturing business. Everyone liked it so much we bought three more at work!!

We have recommended this book to all our maintenance personnel in the US and Europe as a "must have" in their locker.

"Industrial Machinery Repair is a must reading for all maintenance personnel and management. It clearly shows how to improve equipment reliability and performance. Ricky Smith does a wonderful job at making the complicated day-to-day maintenance issues very plain and simple. If you are serious about maintenance in your organization, then you must read Industrial Machinery Repair."

I keep pouring over my new copy of Industrial Machinery Repair - Best Maintenance Practices Pocket Guide as each chapter is better than the last. This handbook is a must have for anyone involved in industrial maintenance and machinery repair. Ricky Smith and Keith Mobley speak in human voices that we can all understand and they offer information that can be put to immediate use. In addition, the handbook includes a very comprehensive maintenance skills assessment that is worth the the entire price. Buy a copy for every maintenance person at your plant. Terrence O'Hanlon, Reliabilityweb.com

This "2001 edition" (according to Amazon) was actually copyrighted in 1979. While the book remains very useful, prospective consumers may wish to consider a good used copy in order to save some money.

Although the publication date is misleading, at least Wiley correctly prints the original copyright date within its "new" texts (there are other examples of this practice). Springer-Verlag performs still greater magic. In "Linear and Nonlinear Programming", also by Luenberger, Springer decided to print the copyright date as 2003 instead of 1984, thus giving the impression that the text contains an up-to-date treatment of the subject matter. If I were buying a copy of "Green Eggs and Ham", I would not care about an incorrect copyright date. However, where technical subjects are concerned, this practice borders on fraud (in my view). It is a deliberate attempt to deceive its customers into believing that they are purchasing something more current and relevant than is actually the case.

This introduction to dynamic systems is presented with an algebraic formalism which makes things clear and concise. All concepts are explained intuitively as well as formally, having in mind the objective of making things clear. Few books exhibit such a good approach and other reviewers are right when they emphasize the highly pedagogical quality of Luenberger's books ! This is no overstatement.

The advantage of using this algebraic formulation lies in the simplicity as well as the understandability of the state-space approach, which is best explained in those terms. Most books assume that everyone knows what a state space is without explicitly showing what it is really about. This book just uses the reverse assumption, in that you're not asssumed to know everything before getting into it.

Only some basic knowledge in algebra (undergraduate-level) is required but even without experience in algebraic formalism, it is possible to go through the content thanks to the important number of examples and the intuitive explanations.

A must-read !

I studied this book for two semesters as a doctoral student, and consider it the best mathematical textbook ever written. Luenberger writes concisely and with great clarity and elegance. His notation is crisp and easy to follow. The book begins with basic concepts of matrix algebra and dynamic equations, and then builds step-by-step to encompass an enormously broad set of applications. The examples are drawn from all over the map, and are great fun to explore. This is a truly mind-expanding text.

Thomas P. Lyon, Associate Professor, Business Economics and Public Policy, Indiana University

The economic application examples are interesting for engineering students.

I am a new Occupational Therapy graduate and after reading this introduction to the "How Does Your Engine Run?" program I plan to purchase the Leader's Guide to incorporate the entire program into my treatment plans. It is well written, in easy to understand terms that will be beneficial for therapists, teachers, and parents!

This booklet is a well written easy read. Loan it to parents, caregivers, and team members. It provides a great introduction to the How Does Your Engine Run Program- Manual. I use it in a few different ways. First, it is just short enough that I can ask parents to read it during a session or two so I can answer questions immediately. Second, I use it as a reference to describe this intervention during team meetings. Third, I am a clinical instructor and this booklet is "required reading" for all of my clinical interns prior to starting a rotation.

On the recommendation of a friend, I got this booklet, along with the Leader's Guide, in order to work with my son who has some sensory integration issues. This booklet, in particular, has been very helpful for me to use when explaining the concepts to my son's teachers, daycare providers, babysitters, and our family because it gave me a solid and respectable source to back up what I was trying to teach them.

Every time I tried to get people to understand my son's "sensory seeking" behaviors and appropriate ways to meet his needs, I was faced with attitudes like "well, he's a boy, isn't that what boys do?" So, this has helped me explain the nervous system in a way that folks who have no training in this area can begin to understand. I highly recommend this booklet to share with key people who are involved in a child's care in order to start discussing SI and the Alert Program.

This booklet is a well written easy read. Loan it to parents, caregivers, and team members. It provides a great introduction to the How Does Your Engine Run Program- Manual. I use it in a few different ways. First, it is just short enough that I can ask parents to read it during a session or two so I can answer questions immediately. Second, I use it as a reference to describe this intervention during team meetings. Third, I am a clinical instructor and this booklet is "required reading" for all of my clinical interns prior to starting a rotation.