Software Books

Born and raised a city girl, I was clearly cheated out of some experiences in my life. Rolland Love gives a view of life that I have never seen in works by other authors. The phraseology used in this book is colorful and paints the scenes and experiences by these boys as only Love can do.

Strange happenings are taking place in the Ozarks. Doc Barnes and his hound Lucky are missing, The Conner Brothers are strange beyond belief and frightening as heck to kids in the area, and Buzzard Thompson has sure enough killed his whole family with a shotgun. Fifteen year old Tommy Benson is determined to face down his fears ...... by going camping with younger brother Dub down at Blue Hole. Blue Hole is where Tommy got bitten last year, 1949, by two cottonmouths when he and Pa and Uncle Ira were camping there. Dub is a real pain in the neck of a 12 year old brother. Tommy and Dub run into the Conner Brothers, manage to locate both Buzzard and Doc Barnes and find Lucky tied to belt of the drowned body of the corpse stuck down in Blue Hole before their frightening campout comes to an end.

Think Mark Twain and a whole lot of Southern humor a la Lewis Grizzard and you have The Blue Hole. Rolland Love has really captured the flavor of 'two not quite adult' brothers out for a campout and the scare of their lives. Reminds me of my own two kids at this age. The Blue Hole is a fast paced, page flipper of a read. Writer Love captures the interest of the reader right from the start, and while this book is listed as Young Adult, it is a 'not to be missed' by those who savored and continue to savor every moment with Tom and Huck and Grizzard's Catfish!

Writer Love fills his pages with engaging characters, absorbing situations and enough mystery and inexplicable to keep the reader engaged. Tommy's worry about finding family friend Doc Barnes is touching. Dub's stumble foot behavior is something every parent who has housed a twelve year old knows and loves. Writer Love has really captured the essence of both striplings as he weaves his tale of two youngsters who know they must rely upon themselves when they are confronted with fearful situations and frightening people. The boys' behavior, reactions and ultimate decisions are so very typical of kids this age.

Excellent Read! Happy to recommend

Reviewed by: molly martin

"To understand Overland Park writer Rolland Love, think Mark Twain." Nick Kowalczyk,
The Kansas City Star.

The Blue Hole is a great book and will make a great movie. Mike Daniel, Director, Burt Reynolds Museum.

The Hannibal Courier Post, the oldest newspaper in Missouri where Mark Twain worked as a printer's devil, published a serialized version of the Blue Hole in it's entirety and the story . received excellent reader response.

Glad to hear a sequel is in the works. I read the Blue Hole to my boys this summer on a gravel bar on Current River, really spooked them for a while! Jim McCarty, Editor - Rural Missouri Magazine http://ruralmissouri.coop/

"Mark Twain would have loved this excellent adventure of two brothers. Doc has disappeared and it's up to Tommy (15) and Dub (12) to go to the Blue Hole and see if they can find him. This is a story about growing up. About facing your fears and standing up to them and about doing the right thing even when everything inside you wants to turn and run. This story has everything. The dreaded Conner brothers, Buzzard Thompson, ghost, snakes, caves, bats and dead bodies everywhere. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this masterfully constructed story." Jonathan David Masters, Freelance Reviewer

"Rolland, our daughter borrowed her nephew's copy of the Blue Hole last week. She said she read it in one setting, because she couldn't put it down. She said, "Mom, it is so scary. At first I thought this is just too scary for kids to be reading. Then I thought no, it's exactly what kid's love. That scary, makes the hair on your arms stand on end kind of scared. And I saw those boys, Tommy and Dub setting by the fire at night talking. It was so real. I felt I was there."
Didn't I tell you, it's a great book? Must be, since even our daughter agrees with me. "
Take care. Keep writing. Priscilla Maine, author

Rolland Love's tale will appeal to young and old readers alike. The setting is perfect for a mystery story and may seem unreal to some but believe me, it really exists. I have spent much time along the clear rivers, high bluffs and ancient paths that lead to hidden caves in the Ozarks. 'The Blue Hole' brings this area to life as we follow the adventures of two brothers who find danger lurking along the river bank.

This is perhaps Tracy's best audio program. It contains 9 hours on 8 CD's. Listen to it as you commute. Listen often--repeat listening anchors the messages in the mind.
I've been reading, listening, and watching Tracy for 10+ years. He's simply the best in his field. You may find that some of the CD's in the set are more applicable to your situation than others--listen to them, find your niche. If you were to purchase a set of audio CD's through Nightingale Conant, you would spend $70+. This is a fantastic deal! If there is a drawback to this program, it would be that Tracy pushes more expensive programs on track 24 of each CD. If that bothers you, just skip that track.
Over all, Awesome!

I've been listening to Brian Tracy for a number of years. I've purchased many of his audio programs and read several of his books. In my opinion, Brian gives you the most information for your money over any other business / motivation speaker out there. There are other good speakers, of course. I also like Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Harvey Mackay, Stephen Covey, and Mark Victor Hansen, as well as classics like Dale Carnegie and Napoleon Hill. But all-in-all, I keep going back and listening to Brian's stuff over-and-over again and find it to be the most practical.

This particular set of "21 Secrets to Success" is kind of a compilation of a number of programs he previously released that you had to buy separately for $20 each. Now you can get them all for pretty much the price of previously buying one. It's a good deal. In fact, I've recommended this program to almost all of the people I work with. The most useful programs in this set are the ones on Productivity, Personal Success and Becoming a Good Manager. Many people might think this is a program just for business people. But really I think this is a great program for helping you get the most out of your life in general. There are some excellent life management skills to be learned here.

The other program of Brian's that I recommend is called "Master Strategies for Higher Achievement". It's available on Amazon also. This program is similar to the "21 Secrets of Success" series but has some different and very useful information. I think they are both worth owning and listening to frequently. I have loaded both programs into my iPod so I can listen to them while jogging. Good stuff. And if you're used to buying Brain's material in other audio formats you know this is a good deal for the amount of information you get.

I recommend this program for anyone who wants to improve their personal and work habits.

The audio of this book is the way to go: For some reason it's not a book that is nearly as interesting to read as to hear. It's valuable material, although much of it you may already know. Still, his good reminders, plus his interesting twists on how to live life each day make this is good purchase.

The information in this series is well founded and easy to understand. For the money, you cannot beat having this available for listening while driving to work, or at home during workouts, etc. As far as I'm concerned, these 8 CD's are worth twice as much (or more) and still worth the price. Just keep listening to them over and over and let the message continually be beaten into your head... especially if your skull is as thick as mine. I've read dozens of positive thinking books in my life, and this is one of the better ones to have around.

The production is excellant, the sound is very clear, and Brian Tracy's voice, while a little "Mr. Rogersish", is smooth and articulate, but not distracting, or annoying. Well done.

I consider this a "must have" for anyone with a car and a CD player that's interested in improving their life, or performance at work.

It teaches me many useful google tricks that I didn't know before. Especially this www.googlefight.com website is fun. You can fight anything there. Even this book with other google related books.

See who wins.

This book has the best information I have read about Google and the syntax of search. If I have a bone to pick it is with writing style which might be a little too humorous for me. But this doesn't bother too much. I am a programmer so I like the information about the Google APIs. It is accurate and helpful. But also the good information about research. And, where else are you going to find a Dummies book that explains the Internet, Socratic method, Plato, and Talmud? If these things at all are of interest to you, get this book.

I've been a fan of Harold Davis's books for some time. I come at them as someone who has been writing computer programs from the days when computers were room-filling monsters. If I need to quickly get going on a new programming language, I know that if Davis has a book on that language, that's the book to buy. But this book is way different. Sure it has stuff for programmers like detailed information about the Google APIs so we can easily build our own slick search programs. But it has fascinating information for anyone who uses Google - and nowadays that's everybody. I promise that if you get this book you will learn surprising and useful things about Google that you never suspected.

I'm a webmaster, and I use Google everyday - both in connection with my sites, and also to research all kinds of things. This book will have you building research tools that extend Google. But more important, it will you teach about how to research, what is Google and what is not, how Google works, how to evaluate the credibility of what you find, and much more. If you teach someone to fish, you feed them for life. This book will help you research for life. It's the best book about Google I've read, and believe me I've read a few. If Google touches your life, get this book.

Yep the shelves are full of C and C++ books. It is not that one is better than the next. It is that sometimes it is good to have a book tell you what you already know in a different way. Then you can say "Oh, that's why it is done that way!" This is one of those books.
This is a hands-on step-by-step book to get you started.

Yep the shelves are full of C and C++ books. It is not that one is better than the next. It is that sometimes it is good to have a book tell you what you already know in a different way. Then you can say "Oh, that's why it is done that way!" This is one of those books.

This is a hands-on step-by-step book to get you started.

This bookhas taught me alot , thanks to les hancock and morris krieger for making this book comprehendable to new c programmers like. I especially enjoyed their second edition of c primer. I hope some authors will have the idea on how to present their learning style just like what mr. hancock and mr. krieger did !

I have found this book to be a rather good means of acquiring knowledge on many aspects of C programming. It provides a simple yet effective means of explaining various topics in C programming to the reader, using anecdotes and so forth. It might not be as extensive or as long as some other books, and cover all of the topics, but instead provides to the point explanations on the the more prominent topics which helps the reader understand concepts quickly. This book can be a good way to assist in ones learning C, I used it in conjuction with a much larger and more drawn out book, when I don't understand something I often turn to this book which provides a look at the subject from a slightly different perspective. I recommend this book, to be used in conjuction with another book such as Stephen Kochan's excellent and recommended Programming in ANSI C, but unfortunatly the C Primer is out of print.

I got this book when it was originally published, and it looks like a 2nd edition never appeared. That doesn't matter, the information in this book still holds up today, written from a programmer's perspective. This book was written before the currently trendy "OO designer" era began, so it offers a clear description of the language features without any flavor-of-the-month misconceptions. If you've read a few C++ books and come away feeling confused, this book will help.

Whew!!

What a relief, a writing style that communicates to the many facets of the day in the life of a real programmer. Your words have been a giant breath of fresh air, and I appreciate your approach to all of your topics.

I have also read your Thinking in ____ books, and you have consistently crafted tools that act as beacons of light in the vast array of literary babble surrounding object oriented analysis and design (OOAD).

As you know there are multiple dimensions that contribute to good software design, and the design goals of any language is to aide in as many of these multiple dimensions as possible.

Many authors have attempted to write books to speak to the multiple dimensions, but your pioneering approach to a more holistic perspective is both refreshing and fills a deep void in the software engineering community. I appreciate your balance between language semantics, usage patterns, levels of abstraction, and your early attention to the methods movement, such as extreme programming.

I place your books on my bookshelf right next to
1. The C++ Programming Language, Bjarne Stroustrup
2. C++ Primer, Stanley Lippman and Josee Lajoie
3. Effective C++, Scott Meyers

I frequently use your books to speak to the psychology of subscribing to the OOAD approach and have found that your approach is more pragmatic than most. This translates into holding a new programmer's interest long enough to ensure that we will follow similar design philosophies earlier in the life cycle of a project.

Thank you for your attention to focus, quality, and insight.

I bought this book as my first C++ book two years ago. Believe me or not, with my solid C backgroud, I felt quite hard reading through the book chapter by chapter. It focuses on inside and out of C++, not a whole lot of OOD concept for a procedure-oriented software developer. Two years later, I am now continuing to explore the C++ world. It makes more sense to me ever than before.

Overall speaking, the pro for this book is that it pretty much covers bolts and nuts of C++; the con is that its sample codes are somewhat cubersome. I would rate it as a reference for experienced readers, not for some novices.

It was my second C++ book after Russion edition of "The C++ Programming Language" by Bjarne Stroustrup, and first programming book in English. I found this book as the best possible. It gives the thorough understanding of ideas and programming technique of C++ and is extremely interesting to read. While it is easier then Stroustrup's book, it covers in depth many advanced topics like C++ Templates. For me, this book is better then the next Eckel's book - "Thinking in C++". The best choice to start and continue with C++ for serious reader.

Not much else to say, is there an in-print alternative I can suggest to friends?

This reference book is essential to me for C programming. It lists all the C functions with brief summaries of usage. It's so much easier to use than a huge text book for someone that knows the basics of C programming. Not for the novice, but wonderful for the C programmer. I wish there was one of these for every language. I have to buy another one since I lost mine and I can't do without it!

Most C functions are grouped together, and have real summations on their use, not just a list of arguments for a function call. Worst thing that happened was I lost mine! My entire office was lost without it. Some functions are explained better here than in any textbook I have seen.

My brain is too small to keep all the details of the C language readily accessible. When I'm writing a C program, I keep this little book next to my computer so I can look up the details about the language that I very well might forget the next day.

I think of this book in much the same way I think of an English dictionary. It is extremely handy as a reference, but you already need to know how to use the language. This book is not for the C novice.

most chapter's are only 10 pages or less long so you can sit down for 5 minutes read a chapter then come back and read another chapter later as it helps to read a whole chapter at once

where as some books are like 40 pages per chapter and ya need to sit down with a fair bit of time just to read the chapter

Ben Forta's Certified Coldfusion 5 Developer Study Guide will not teach ColdFusion, but will be a review guide that provides helpful pointers for examinees. The book's look will be non-intimidating yet thorough, and will be highly readable in small bite-sized chunks. Each subject will be presented in a clear and direct language, with useful and well explained code examples. Sample questions will accompany each subject, as will references to recommended reading, product documentation, Macromedia course work, and existing ColdFusion books. 432 pp. Intermediate-Advanced user level.

I have been developing with CF for about 4 years now but there were several features I had never used. I purchased this book and within a week got the nerve to take the exam. The book came with a 15% off coupon for the exam so it about paid for itself with that. I passed the exam today and achieved Certified Advanced status. In a word, Outstanding!

The book was helpful, the chapter formats are short and to the point giving you only what you need to pass the, which is good. Just don't rely only on this book...here is a secret, there is a program called cf_buster that is a great test prep that when used in conjuction with this book simulate a certified test environment. I passed my test today.

One of my criteria for accepting this book was to find a section on Blackman's immittance relation, a powerful but often overlooked circuit analysis technique. Different sections are treated by different authors, providing insight from many different perspectives. With so many topics handled, I was surprised at the thoroughness of the book. Not for a beginner, but can be used by anyone interested in circuit theory.

This book provides a comprehensive work covering the broad spectrum of electrical circuits and filters. It is designed to be used by practicing electrical engineers in industry and academia.

This handbook is not an all-encompassing digest of everything taught within an electrical engineering curriculum on circuits and filters, but rather an engineer's first choice in looking for a solution, standard practices and references to other sources, when needed.

This book provides a comprehensive work covering the broad spectrum of electrical circuits and filters. It is designed to be used by practicing electrical engineers in industry and academia.

This handbook is not an all-encompassing digest of everything taught within an electrical engineering curriculum on circuits and filters, but rather an engineer's first choice in looking for a solution, standard practices and references to other sources, when needed.

The book is divided into different sections, written by different groups of authors. At the end of each section you have a lot of references, so you can follow the topic deeper. These sections (13) cover most of the electronic knowledge you could use as experienced/professional user (feedback, nonlinear, CAD, distributed circuits,FILTERS of course, and many more). The quality of information given is very good, analog electronic design is covered excellently, digital related to analog then little bit worse.
I recommend this book to buy, I just have some comments:
1) The book is strongly theoretical (lots of equations), there is not a lot of examples (if I compare to Horovitz et Hill)
2) Some chapters are just passed very quickly (for example PLDs - 22V10 etcetc, no deep descriptions how to do that, just explanation what it is - the question then is, why they put it into that book)
3) Examples are few and in most of the cases they show just principle of work, so don't expect values of components. (one example for all: design of switched filter - you can see block schematic with a lot of MOS-like switches, but no real implementation of these switches. Then when you want to design this type of filter, you find out that it is not so easy to realize mos-switch because you have to take into account another things like back-injection of the charge, which are not mentioned etcetc) That lack of full examples is pitty, because then you cannot calculate backwards with the theory presented, and check for mistakes in your thinking.
4) Format of the book: the book is large and heavy (~2900pages), so manipulation is unpleasant. Perhaps if the book was divided into 4 thinner.... okay, but this is just my subjective opinion.
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Conclusion:
Although the book has some lacks, I strongly recommend to buy it. I would also recommend to buyer to invest another ~70USD to Horovitz&Hill-The Art of Electronics, because this book is very good complement to the one reviewed here.

As with any operating system, it is imperative to have a complete understanding of the intricacies of the workings in order to be the best technician possible. Understanding Routers and the IOS is very important to making sure that they work and work all the time.

This book breaks down the IOS to the basic level and is very complete and the author has made sure that you have every tool at your disposal. From routing and bridging overview to the basic router configuration and components.

There are three chapters devoted specifically to the IOS and the remaining chapters cover topics such as, IP, IPX, APPLETALK, DECNET, VINES routing. Also there is coverage for bridging, frame relay, SRB and DLSW making up another eight chapters.

Completing this book is a 65 page appendix with the commend reference. While this book is tailored to any exam, this book will be very useful for most of the CCNA/CCNP exams.

This book was big help with learning syntax. I've worked on Bay Routers for years, this helped me find my way around. It is good source of info not just answers to exam questions.

Of all the books about Cisco routers this is one that you will want to add to your shelf. It does not focus too much on theory, but it focuses much on the nitty-gritty, the hands on knowledge that you need in the industry. I suggest this book for anyone pursuing a certification or who need any extensive knowledge concerning the configuration of Cisco Routers.

This is the only Cisco router book I've seen that does a good job of actually explaining what something is and how to do it. It answered a lot of my questions. Unless your already an expert, this book is a must.

A good book for high level description of the structure of Sybase System 11. When concerning details, there are many places the explanations are confusing. Pretty often two or more contradiction view of points appear in the same page. Considering the lack of good Sybase books, I would like to give this one a favorable recommendation, but don't expect too much.

This books gives an insight into sybase internals and how to get the best out of your server. The material on locking included in this book is one of the best I have seen so far.

I've got more than 30% improvement in my Server , After reading & use the concept which is describe in this book

Of all the Sybase books that I own (10+) this is the one I look at the most. It is theoretical and practical. Only bad thing I can say about the book is the printing and binding. It is almost 4" thick and wouldn't stay open flat on a bet. The paper is unusually thick and the diagrams look like something from the pre-TeX days that your kid put together with a screen print and Paint. Content is superb. It covers topics in depth that are not covered at all in equally priced books. Only two others come close: the Unleashed book (day to day how to) and the Sugiyama & Roy book (heavy on the theory, light on the real world)