Vans Books

Great reference. Not only informative and pictorial (photos), but also a good reference to medicinal uses for ailments in the back and secondary metabolites and their effects. Great inclusion for the library :-)

In the past few years, I have become more interested in herbal remedies and essential oils. Although I have obtained a few good books from the essential oil sources concerning their products, I have also taken the time to investigate and cross-reference material from other sources. Hence, my purchase of MEDICINAL PLANTS by Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink. While Rodale's book on Herbs provided me with information about how to grow selected plants, and THE REFERENCE GUIDE FOR ESSENTIAL OILS by Connie and Alan Higley explained how to apply the oils - make infusions and/or nebulize oils, MEDICINAL PLANTS provides information about the botany of these plants as well as a history of their various applications within the framework of health systems such as `Aromatherapy', `Homeopathy', and traditional medicine -- Chinese, Ayurvedic, or something else.

You will sometimes hear it said, probably by disingenuous spokespersons for international Pharmaceutical and/or Petro-Chemical companies or their ilk, that nontraditional treatments such as the application of essential oils is dangerous because the most of the oils, herbs, etc. have not been "government tested". The truth is, most have been tested, just not perhaps by the US FDA (some have been "officially" tested, but many carry GRAS or "generally regarded as safe" ID, many have been found safe and efficacious in Europe or Canada). In addition, traditional medicines from China and India represent thousands of years of testing though trial and error and outcome. Some of these remedies are so old you will never discover their origin while the origins of others are well known. Lastly, not everything is known about many "modern" medicines which are generally subjected to shorter periods of inquiry before they are released for commerce.

Now, this does not mean you should use any old plant wily-nily. Of course not. And, these authors recommend you seek professional help in the form of a traditional healer before you apply a tincture, ointment, etc. made with a natural product. But books like this volume by a reputable European source are a good place to begin educating yourself. Some plants have known side effects and some can kill. "Fortunately", the authors write, "herbal drugs or botanical(s) have a large therapeutic window between the `effective' dose and the `toxic' dose."

Plants can be sources for vitamins and minerals, sports medicine, and food. It may surprise you to learn that many so-called "modern" medicines have a natural basis (aspirin and digitalis, to name but two). Perusing this book, I was surprised to see how many of these medicinal plants I grow in my own yard. This beautiful book includes about 325 pages of color photos and text depicting and describing various plants and plant parts with 1-2 entries per page. In the back you will find an index linking traditional medicines and ailments and a `Quick Guide to Commercialised Medicinal Plants" which will tell you among other things that `Modern Medicine' has appropriated a number of traditional plant sources for its own uses.

Excellent color photographs, sufficient to identify the medicinal plants in the wild, along with an very good overview of medicinal chemistry and uses of medicinal plants makes this book a "must have" for people interested in pharmacognosy. An excellent value for the cost.

On 10 July 2005, I purchased the original hardback version, as published by Briza in Pretoria (in the bookshop attached to the Game Park at Hluhlwe-Imfolozi [pronounced 'Shosoolayzee-Imfolozee'] north of Durban). Among all the guides to phytology and botanical chemistry that I own, I have found van Wyk's beautifully-illustrated reference to be the most honest regarding side effects, as well as the best 'first reference' to regional applications of various herbs throughout the world. The attached appendices (viz. "Overview of Secondary Metabolites and their Effects" and "Quick Guide to Commercialized Medicinal Plants") are enormously helpful as one keys basic biochemistry and determines 'who sells what to whom and where.' The index is a model of its kind, including all Linnaean names, as well as 'common' names, with a good selection of African species south of the Congo. In company with the classic A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man by George Usher (London, 1974), van Wyk's assemblage almost always narrows a 'search' for a particular herb so that one can pursue it accurately in more advanced references of phytochemistry and medical botany.

The collaborative effort of Ben-Erik Van Wyk and Michael Wink,Medicinal Plants Of The World isn't just another casual listing of plants and their homeopathic applications: it's an in-depth, scientifically accurate, superbly presented, seminal survey and guide to the best-known medicinal plants and describes over three hundred plants and relatives with short descriptions, geographic origins, therapeutic category, historical and modern uses, and active ingredients. Add 700 color photos to help identification and a checklist of the top 900 plants listed by scientific and common name and you have a reference that health care professionals will relish and refer to time and time again.

I loved the Mitchells as a child--in part because my mother lived in Washington during the war and her family were friends of the author. Recently, I pulled out the book to read to my seven year old daughter. She loved it! We both shed tears of joy when the war orphaned Una meets her grandfather and when the Mitchell father comes home on leave from World War II with a special gift (I won't spoil the surprise).

This book tells about a family in WWII and what life was like. Food was rationed, blackout drills were held, and their father and uncle were in the war. It is funny and touching. Angela is the funniest character. She gives very original names to her dolls. Traincrack and Surshy are the funniest names of her dolls in the book. I liked it when the Mitchells befriended Una, a war refugee from England. It was pure luck that Mr. Spencer was boarding with the Mitchells because Una got to meet him. He turned out to be her long lost Grandpa. My favorite character was Mr. Jenkins, a parrot who always had something special to say. All in all, it was a really good book.

This book is about a family of 9 people. There are 5 kids, a
grandma, a mom, a dad, and an uncle. This takes place
during World War II. Their dad left for the war at the beginning of the story. The kids start a club to help the war. There are 8 kids in the club. The 2 youngest are mascots, and there are three of the other kids' friends.

The eldest girl finds a baby squirrel, names it Blinky, and keeps it as a pet. The family gets many more pets, one of which they find in a big house that no one lives in that they call the White Elephant. They decide to have their club meetings there but... Then a family decides to move into the White Elephant. Now they have to find a new place for their club meetings.

What I liked about this story was how everyone got along and
how they always had fun together. My favorite character in
the book was the youngest boy, Timmy, who was 1 1/2 years
old. The reason why I like him is because he likes to have a
food fight. My Favorite part is when Timmy throws his toast at
a lady across the table (Mrs. Merryvale). this book was funny enough for me to enjoy, but I don't think my friends would think that there is enough excitement in it.

This is a wonderful story about a family during World War II. It gives a glimpse into life during that time period from Victory Gardens to rationed food. I love how the kids all try to help out and usually get along with each other. They are a typical family that work together to survive the war. I am loaning these books to everyone I know who has kids who love to read. This should be on reading lists at schools. The story is well written and entertaining.

In addition to being entertaining, this book was also informative. Prior to reading it, I didn't even know what a victory garden was! I loved the characters and found them to be realistic and recognizable. Angela was the funniest. I love the stupid names she gave her doll. Traincrack was certainly an original name. Even today I laugh about Traincrack.

On a more serious note, I was quite moved when Una/Eunice was reunited with her grandfather. The drawing of them together really touched my heart. It is a book I will never forget and am glad to say I own. (I lucked into this book -- I bought it at a book sale some years ago). This is a classic that should be revived. It is wonderful.

Out of all the books I read on weddings in Vegas, this one was the best! It had everything I wanted to know about the locations and accomodations. Well worth the money if you plan on getting married there, but don't know what chapel to choose.

I was really impressed by the information contained in this book, you definitely feel confident about planning a wedding from a far. i enjoyed the little snippets of historical significance and i truely believe this book will make our journey to the states and the alter one to remember!

This is a great guide to getting spliced in Lost Wages. Van Vechten has a nice style - He's very informative, but keeps things light and humorous. Even if you're not planning on getting married anytime soon, it's a fun read and a good addition to your Vegas library.

After reading about a local couple renewing their vows in Las Vegas with an Elvis impersonator performing the ceremony, it doesn't surprise me that there's a whole book devoted to Las Vegas weddings.
This book covers the pricing, description of the facility, hours, types of ceremonies and even languages spoken. It also factors in how clean they are, how romantic, friendly and even how oddball the place might be.
If you're thinking of taking the plunge into matrimony, this book will help you plan the ultimate Las Vegas wedding.

My fiance and I are going to Las Vegas in May to tie the knot. I was so excited to find this book! It gives totally complete reveiws of each and every chapel and rates them in a fun and informative way using grades such as "Kitch Factor" and "Romance Quotient" along with hours and costs etc. Every chapel is listed....there are separate sections for stand alone chapels and those in the casinos. It gives history of the chapels and little quirks, if Elvis is in the building, or the more traditional. There are all kinds of tips along the way, and at the end is some info on great restaurants and entertainment. I have read it cover to cover and am so glad it came into my life at the right time. It has made my planning MUCH easier! If you are getting married Vegas Style you NEED this book!

My kids loved this book as toddlers and now they like to "read" it to their much younger cousins. I firmly believe that One Yellow Lion helped them learn their numbers and how to count. I often give this book as a baby gift.

I give this book as a gift to every 1 year old I know. It gets great reviews from both the parent and the child!
When my niece was 2 1/2 she love to "read" the book to me! My newphew took it to preschool on his 'show and tell' day... he wanted to show everyone he knew how to read.
It is a simple book... colors, counting, and animals (the illustrations are great).

I am a 61 year old grandmother and I still like this book. I bought my first for my 1st grandchild before he was born. He liked it right away. This book is simple, clever, very colorful and the pictures are charming. Through it children can learn colors, animals, numbers, counting and beginning reading.Tiny babies enjoy looking at the bright colors. Toddlers enjoy counting the animals. Pre-schoolers enjoy reading it to you.
The left hand pages say the number and the color. The right side pages show the number and unfold to become a picture of the animal. It is printed on heavy, shiny stock so it is sturdy and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Thirteen years of our family's grandchildren still enjoy their copies. In March another one will have their chance.
bobi keenan Santa Ana, CA

This is the only book our son will sit through (time after time). He loves to open the flaps and the illustrations are bright and funny. I had to order another because our first one is almost worn out. Highly recommended.

Our baby is so active and squirmy now that it's hard to coax him to sit still for books. This book is so entertaining that he cuddles in and pays attention. Every time we say "One yellow..." and then flip open the flap to say "LION!" he roars with laughter. A clever and well-illustrated book.

Bill Mason and son Paul really get down to basics in canoe and paddling technique in this revised soft-cover paddling manual. This book is geared to those who want to learn everything there is about flat-water and white-water travelling. It's the most definitive guidebook on the market.

This is an almost perfect book - Bill Mason's love of the craft shines through homey but well-written prose, while his descriptions of canoe technique and rivercraft are generally clear and easy to follow. He obviously writes from a wealth of experience, which translates into solid advice without becoming needlessly dogmatic. As a technique book, I much prefer this to Jacobson's series of canoe texts (although those are reasonable in their own right); I especially appreciated his series of river scenarios and discussions of how to handle them.

I would really liked to have rated this 5-stars. However, the production could have been much improved. The b/w pictures accompanying the text are often poorly reproduced, with insufficient greyscale to allow them to be clearly interpretted. Additionally, a bit more editting might have spotted some inconsistent terms as well as other undefined terms. But all in all, this is one of my favorite canoe books. It certainly should have a place on the shelf of every serious paddler.

Path of the Paddle provides more than an instructional text, it introduces the reader to the art of canoeing. Mason infuses the practicality of the subject with a respectful dose of philosophic underpinnings that anyone who has ever slid a canoe onto the water's surface and experienced the joyful dance of boat, paddle and water will appreciate. There are many "how to" canoe books, covering the basic stokes and safety concerns, but this book conveys that information in a form that demonstrates the author's love for his craft.
If you want to become a canoeist, not only do I recommend this book, I recommend finding and getting the video of the same title.

Best canoeing book on the market. Not only is it a great how to guide on canoe handling, it is an excellent read for those long winter nights for the canoe enthusiast. The book imparts Bill Mason's love of the canoe. Written by a true legend in canoeing and wilderness film making.

I own both "Path of the Paddle" and "Song of the Paddle". These are the best books I have seen on canoeing, written by one of the best canoeists ever. They cover all facets of the canoe and how to use them properly. The "step-by-step" photos and the diagrams help teach proper techniques and the text is both informative and entertaining without becoming confusing or boring. Bill Mason and his son Paul have done a splendid piece of work and these books are a cherished addition to my personal library.

I have utilized this handbook since I was in the seventh grade (1956). It is absolutely the most concise, "user friendly" guide to English grammar that I have ever encountered. It is especially helpful for those who have had difficulty understanding complex English textbooks.

Since the seventh grade, the Plain English Handbook (1959 Edition) has been for me an extremely useful guide to the use of English grammar. Over the years, this little handbook has proven its worth through junior and senior high school, college, and in my engineering profession. I have been a practicing engineer for 25 years, and have used it in the office as a writer's guide and at home as a teaching tool for my kids. Two of my kids are now in college, and one is in high school. Nothing I've encountered has equaled the simple-to-understand format used in this handbook. It helps one to find a concise answer quickly. I highly recommend this handbook to anyone who writes English, whether in school or in business. It's that good!

Any concept that was in your grade school English text book will be here. That concept will be concentrated into the most concise description possible and an example will be given. There are no exercises to test you. This book is not designed to teach you English from scratch. It is an easy to navigate reference that has everything in it. If you are fluent in English and can read and write alright but want to brush up, then this is the perfect book. The descriptions are short, but they are easy to understand and give enough information.

The first half of the book is on grammar. Each grammatical concept gets a few sentences to describe it and an example. The second is on how to write better. Once again each tip gets a short description and an example. Walsh is not trying to teach you how to write by some method. Instead he has points like having a unified theme for the paragraph and tips on how to emphasize a particular point you are making. He also has samples of different types of letters. So even though he is discussing style he is keeping the discussion very objective.

This is a very practical and easy to navigate book on grammar. Now I am out of school and trying to navigate the real world, where how I present myself actually matters. In trying to better my grammar and writing this is an excellent tool. (Of course Walsh would be completely revolted by the grammar of this review. I am trying to review what basically amounts to all the grammar in the entire English language here and it is not so simple.)

If you want practical, then this is the book for you. School libraries should keep a copy for students to access. Anyone who has to write regularly should be familiar with this reference.

(This review is for the 1946 edition, which has only 136 pages.)

Chapters on:
Sentence Completeness
Grammatical Usage
Sentence Structure
Mechanics
The Paragraph
The Whole Composition
Diction
and a good index

Since the seventh grade, the Plain English Handbook (1959 Edition) has been for me an extremely useful guide to the use of English grammar. Over the years, this little handbook has proven its worth through junior and senior high school, college, and in my engineering profession. I have been a practicing engineer for 25 years, and have used it in the office as a writer's guide and at home as a teaching tool for my kids. Two of my kids are now in college, and one is in high school. Nothing I've encountered has equaled the simple-to-understand format used in this handbook. It helps one find a concise answer quickly. I highly recommend this handbook to anyone who writes English, whether in school or in business. It's that good!

I have literally dozens of old English grammar books, and I have both the 1951 and 1972 editions of this Walsh book. The latter is the better, in my opinion, though both are indispensable. The books are both concise and traditional in terminology and denotation. If you want an orthodox resource for traditional English grammar, buy this book.

The book is lovely: a great layout and nice reproduction quality. What I find most curious is that there are three authors whose names are all so similar. How curious that they were all able to meet an collaborate on this fantastic work!

For years. I had followings problems. I have gotten better answers in this book.

1. What does he think about A portrate " Portrate of a man"(414p. C13) in National Occidental Art Museum, Tokyo, which was attributed Rogier? Mr. de Vos >It cannot be attributed to Rogier. On style it likes Petrus Christus. 2. Whether of two sets of Milaflores Alterpieces should be his autograph? Mr. de Vos >Berlin (cat. no. 12, 226p) 3. I heard that Last judgement in Beaune was strongly damaged and restaured. What parts of it is original? ->Mr. de Vos describes detail in cat no.17. 4. Many archaic style painings are attributed to "Maitre de Flaemalle"/ Robert Campin. Three magnificat panels in Francfurt was done by one hand, but some painters works may be merged to this group, may not they? ->Mr. de Vos writes a fine paper"An Enigma of School of Tournai"(79--83p) in this book and discussed this problem.

At Head, this book has a long essay studing "Descent from Cross"(in Prado) Reading this, I thank that this masterpiece which contemporaries admired with Ghent Alterpiece, has survived.

Comparing his former work "Memling:the Complete Work", result of dendrochronology by P. Klein and others contribute dating in this book. I was much impressed its splendid date data. This feels more relaxed style than "Memling" and I feel the style of translation by Ted Atkins feels more fluent. The original may be written by flaman. In 116, about " potrate of a Lady"(National Galley, Washington, cat. no. 34, he described" To modern viewer, she looks for all the world like Briggite Bardo playing a nun.."

This book is an absolute must for anyone who has any interest in the culture of the western hemisphere. Van der Weyden was a key to the development of Northern Renaissance art of the early 15th Century, following Campin and Van Eyck and preceding van der Goes, Memling and Christus . This book is a tour de force capturing the magnificent paintigs of the artist in stunning detail. This easily is the best book ever published on this very important artist and will rank as one of the best books ever published on any artist. The author , Dirk de Voss, the curator of the Groeningsmuseum in Bruges, has written a scholarly, readable text. Buy it before it goes out of print. You will not regret it.

This is quite simply the finest art book I own, in every way -- the most faithful reproductions, the most comprehensive scope, the most insightful (but still accessible) essays.

Most importantly for the prospective purchaser, this book will without question be the standard reference, the ne plus ultra of Van De Weyden scholarship for a generation. In particular, it benefits from important developments in research on several fronts: in technical analysis of the works potentially attributable to Rogier; in stylistic analysis of the same; and (perhaps most significantly) in untangling the enigmatic relationship among Rogier, the Master of Flemalle, and Robert Campin.

If you like this book and are interested in Flemish art of the period, I can also highly recommend HANS MEMLING by the same author

Like others who have reviewed this book I feel that no praise is high enough. Yes the book is expensive, but it seems less so when you consdier that no fewer than twenty-five years of the author's life have gone into the scholarship here contained. The essays are excellent, based on sound argument and the latest technical and stylistic scholarship; particularly convincing is De Vos's account of the vexed question of the "Master of Flemmale". Anyone who has an interest in the development of Western Art would do well to read this book which places Van der Weyden right back where he belongs, as one of the most important painters in the western cannon.

The layout is excellent and the large format makes the reproductions vibrant and true.

As an example of a single artist study this volume is hard to fault. It sent me back to the originals in Berlin, Munich etc. with a clearer sense of Van de Weyden's schievement.

If you can afford it and this art is important to you then buy it.

As an author of technical books I am especially critical of the delivery of technical information - especially when covering topics that can be heavily theoretical. Iljitsch van Beljnum's book on IPv6 provides an excellent balance between theory and practice. It introduces the IPv6 protocol and how to run it. It provides real-life examples of the protocol in action and how it can be used with a variety of applications. It particularly addresses the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, myths about IPv6, routing and DNS. It also importantly covers changes in IP protocol security as a result of the introduction of IPv6.

If you're looking at moving to IPv6 or if you are simply interested in how it is run, routes, and interacts with operating systems and applications then I strongly recommend this book.

'Running IPv6' by Iljitsch van Beijnum is an essential reference for any IT people who are looking to:

1. Upgrade from IPv4
2. Learn more about the IPv6 standard
3. Want to configure and set up IPv6

This book covers Windows, Mac, Free BSD, Linux, Cisco routers, DNS and bind... the whole shebang

Not written for a novice, this book assumes that you have knowledge of IP-related material and are not reading this book simply for "vacation reading". In a niche market this book scales its way to the top of the moutain.

Great resource!!

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

When I read and reviewed O'Reilly's IPv6 Network Administration by Niall Richard Murphy and David Malone, I called their book "a must-have book for all network administrators." Upon seeing Apress' Running IPv6 by Iljitsch van Beijnum, I wondered if I would waste my time reading and reviewing another book on IPv6. Now I'm glad I digested Running IPv6 -- it's my first must-read book of 2006. The books are complementary, so I recommend them both.

Three years ago I read and reviewed van Beijnum's book on BGP, which I liked while thinking it was somewhat terse. In Running IPv6, van Beijnum strikes the proper balance between explanatory language and technical details. Every chapter in the new book taught me something useful. In Ch 1 I liked comparisons involving IPv4, IPv6, IPX, DECnet, AppleTalk, and OSI CLNP. In Ch 2 I enjoyed sections on using 48 bit MAC addresses in IPv6 addresses. Ch 3 featured tips on the "on-link" assumption. As would be expected in a book by a BGP expert, Ch 4 provided lots of guidance on routing IPv6. Ch 5 included history on the evolution of DNS for IPv6, with RFCs 1886 and 2874 competing for primacy.

Ch 6 covered issues that applications might encounter when handling IPv6. Ch 7 introduced the "HD ratio," which estimates the point at which the effort required to manage increasingly "used-up" address space suggests that expanding it would be more efficient. Ch 8 mentioned the headaches caused by automatically generated, multiple MAC addresses for IPv6 multicast. Ch 9 scared me with use of the multicast ping for host discovery. Ch 10 was the first time I saw an effort to show how to use Tcpdump with IPv6.

I had no real issues with Running IPv6. I found a few production errors and typos that can be fixed in later printings. All are obvious, except the use of the word "maximum" in the first sentence of the last paragraph on p. 153. (I think that should be "minimum.")

Like IPv6 Network Administration, I liked van Beijnum's attention to command syntax for multiple OS' -- especially FreeBSD. He even covered Cisco and Juniper in the same book. Since I suggest reading the O'Reilly and Apress titles, I recommend reading the former first and the latter second. Van Beijnum's book is best read by those with a little more exposure to IPv6, but it can certainly stand alone if need be.

If you plan to ever have anything to do with IPv6, you must buy van Beijnum's latest book. Bravo.

I've have been working on an IPv6 lab and Running IPv6 is a great reference for setting up OS and router configurations. Excellent material in a short compact format with no bull or filler. I have to say this is the best IPv6 book I have read so far. It is also the most up to date of the books considering all the RFC changes that happen for IPv6.
If you are looking for something that is clear and to the point about how to USE IPv6 then this is it. There are plenty of other books out there that go into the theory and design which might be better suited for studying (Joseph Davies - Understanding IPv6 or Regis Desmeules - Implementing Cisco IPv6 Networks) but if you want to get an IPv6 network running NOW then Iljitsch van Beijnum book is for you. Kudos for writing a great practical IPv6 book.
- Ed Horley

IPv6 has been brooded over for a decade by various Internet groups. This book shows its present incarnation. It has grown very sophisticated; well beyond a simple vast expansion of the address space from 32 bits to 128 bits. So the text talks about the various tunnelling and routing options that become possible under it, that are unavailable under IPv4.

Yet to me the most interesting section of the book is the chapter on transitioning from IPv4 [the current Internet] to IPv6. Every other technical issue about IPv6 pales in comparison to this quandry. The author gives the best value in the book in this chapter. He shows firstly that IPv4 will inevitably exhaust its space. Though he prudently refrains from speculating when that might be. The transition must also be incremental. No one expects a swift global change to be realistic.

Then he explains that the modes of transition come down to analysing only 4 communication models for most common web usage. Namely email, Web browsing and two types of peer-to-peer usage. Examples of the latter are VoIP and BitTorrent.

From the models, we see the necessity for using a proxy or address translation to handle the transition. An especially clear analysis.

This is a wonderfully written guide book! The descriptions are clear and informative. Great tips for families! Can't wait to use it again next season! I hope this author continues to write more!

This book is a must for people who like to explore the xc trails around Bozeman and Livingston. I've found many new fun trails to check out thanks to this guide and it's descriptions. Thanks for providing us with this much needed resource.

Great Trails with Excellent maps that gets you out skiing in some incredible places. Thanks for this great resource guide.

An easy to use trail guide to cross country skiing and snowshoeing near Big Sky, Bozeman and Paradise Valley. Good maps, accurate details, nice size.

I LOVE this book! Thanks for filling a void that wintertime backcountry enthusiasts have had when trying to explore new regions of Southwest Montana. Everyone deserves to get out and play on skis - and this book is the perfect resource to throw in your pack with your water bottle and lunch to get ready for an adventure on a new trail. Thanks for providing such a user-friendly resource for all of us snow-lovers! I love the maps, too.

This book was in good condition, and is very easy to follow. Recommended for anyone wanting to learn university level modern physics but not wanting to go cross-eyed or get lost!

If you are looking for the fastest way to learn and use special relativity (this is not about general relativity as the previous reviewer says), this is not the best book to use.

After an introductory chapter 1, which quickly previews much of the later material, French systematically analyzes the many observations and contradictions (the Michelson-Morley experiment just one of them), astronomical and laboratory, about the behavior of light that fitted neither an ether-wave model or a particle model. We are thus lead to a deeper appreciation for Einstein's insight and genius in his creation of the special theory of relativity; it was much more than just an extension of the Lorentz-transformations.

French is a master at his subject, and his systematic elucidation will reward the reader with a deep understanding. His problems are very well designed, and he provides answers which is always very helpful in learning.

If you have some time, and would like also to gain historical perspective about what it was like to struggle for a consistent theory in a mass of contradictory observations from the world view of Newtonian mechanics, I highly recommend this book.

"Special relativity" is discussed in many classical mechanics, electromagnetism and quantum / modern physics textbooks. You may learn different aspects of this subject from these books.

This book is specifically designed and written for those who want to learn special relativity comprehensively from one single source.

The book starts with the basics of the theories behind special relativity with simple arguments and plain language. In the first 5 chapters, you learn the mechanical fundamentals of special relativity. The examples and end-of-chapter problems are very useful and instructive. Furthermore, the answers to all problems are given in back of the book as well, which enables you to check your answers. Starting from chapter 6, more advanced topics are introduced, like momentum, energy, basic electromagnetism and so forth. Again, the problems should be solved by students in order to gain a thorough comprehension of the subject matter. The diagrams and pictures in the book are also very helpful to understand the concepts.

The bibliography at the end of the book can be used to consult for further discussions, because special relativity has many applications in various areas of physics.

To sum up, this book, all by itself, can be used to learn and understand special relativity very well in a short period of time, because it is concise, simple, effective, pedagogically well-prepared and very suitable for self-study. You do not need any other fancy, expensive book. A.P. French does an excellent job in laying out the principles of special relativity with illustrative examples and problems. It deserves every penny you paid.

This book was extremely helpful when I was taking a class on special relativity. The author introduces new concepts and rules in a very logical order, and the examples clearly illustrate the material. The book is written very clearly, especially for such a complicated subject. The problems in the back of every chapter allow you to test yourself and make sure you have grasped the material, since some of them have answers in the back of the book. Overall, a great book to either teach special relativity to yourself, or as a companion for a special relativity class.

I purchased this classic work at MIT, circa 1972, and have referenced it too times to remember. When I bought it, the book was part of the M.I.T. INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS SERIES. It contains about everything one could wish for on the subject matter. The derived transformations for acceleration and force (i.e. of d(mv)/dt) have been especially useful, and are not often included in other books. It is truly a gem, created by a world class physics instructor at the top of his game. G.R.Dixon.