Ferrari Books

I very much enjoyed this book. It is well written and will take you back to your college days!

written very well,although there was a little to much of the f-word. I would like to read more of this authors writtings.

I don't know exactly why I picked-up a copy of "Assault on the Senses" -- likely because I thought it would be a funny book about boozing-- but when I began reading it, I realized that what I had bought was a coming-of-age-novel; a book about teen angst, anomie and unrequited love, and I was prepared to hate it. When it was revealed to be a halfhearted mystery story too, I almost stopped reading it.

Having nothing better to do, I kept slogging on, and never has a book turned me around and won me over as this novel did. True, there's much poor writing (the protagonist can share his thoughts only with a pet hamster) and broken grammar in it, and one could write an equally long book about the novel's faults, but it is my sincere feeling that this novel is a masterpiece of the first chop and a genuine piece of literature.

All the other reviewers here seem to regard this as light reading and a comic look at college life, another National Lampoon's Animal House, but it is nothing of the sort. I consider Michael P. Ferrari to be the F. Scott Fitzgerald of a new generation, and I'll be certain to watch for his whatever he has published in the future.

Bravo!

CollegeHumor.com contributor Michael P. Ferrari presents Assault on the Senses, a grimly humorous novel about the downward self-destructive spiral of college student Kalvin Gray. The repercussions of a bad breakup plus the lack of direction in his life are further compounded when he discovers a "wanted" poster warning students of an attempted rapist, featuring a police sketch that looks suspiciously like him. Despite his innocence of the heinous crime, he fears that his reputation and sex life will be ruined - until he crosses paths with the seductive school newspaper editor Katie, who becomes his ally in the search for the truth. His life just might have the potential to turn around - if he can stay sober long enough for that to happen. A tongue-in-cheek look at the dark side to the campus experience.

Kalvin Gray is a college student with a taste for beer and a talent for self-hatred. While his fraternity brothers (Wally, Jay, Dutch, Doug, and Barry) provide ample support for his wild behaviour, the emotional backing comes from his female friends, Molly and Lana. Still suffering heartache over his lost love, Jill, Kal's world becomes even gloomier when the whole college assumes he is the attempted rapist pictured in a wanted poster. After establishing an unlikely alliance with Katie, a vivacious campus newspaper reporter, the pair set out to prove Kal's innocence, find the true culprit, and possibly develop their own relationship in the process.

This is a funny read, with plenty of crude laughter peppered throughout. Much of this is based upon Kal's own witty comments, both spoken and commented, together with the antics and primitive opinions of his various friends. His five frat brothers do rather blend into one without particularly establishing their own characters, but the laughs they introduce make up for this and Dutch's party trick never fails to deliver.

Early-on the pace of the novel is good, with entertaining introductions to Kal's beer-soaked life as well as plenty of plot suspense. There are many darker moments too, as Kal's downward spiral progresses. While the book's middle section struggles to live up to the promise of the beginning, there are still moments of comedy to make the read thoroughly worthwhile - Kal and his friends crashing an 'alternative' house party is one prime example. Towards the end we have twists and turns aplenty, with things never quite ending up as you expected them to. Some of the twists could have been introduced earlier in the novel to keep the plot ticking on at a higher rate, but Ferrari is to be commended for tying up all the loose ends of a clever storyline.

Overall, 'Assault on the Senses' is a very enjoyable read with plenty of crude laughs and a plot that will keep you guessing right to the end. If you're looking for a similarly entertaining campus comedy novel then you should also enjoy A Foreign Education by Craig Alan Williamson.

Great insight, untold stories, and unseen photographs about an extremely private man. It was quite refreshing from the self-serving tomes that celebrities have put out and continue to put out about themselves. The one thing I've always admired about McQueen (besides his obvious acting talent) was his disdain for celebrity and the fact that he remained true to himself. This book drives that home.
Excellent.

Wow, the photographs are beautiful and highly personal. It's like seeing a private photo album from this marriage. Plus the text is informative and revealing. I'm so glad this part of Steve's life is now so well documented.

It goes perfectly on my coffee table.

A fantastic book on the last years of legend Steve McQueen! Great job by Barbara McQueen and Marshall Terrill! Touching moments! Great photos!

This book takes you into the very intimate and private world of Steve McQueen between 1977 and 1980.

Consisting of approximately 150 color photos (most of which were taken by his wife Barbara McQueen) and accompanied by Barbara's recollections of their time together.

Unlike some other photobooks where you sense you are watching the star pose, this book shows you the absolutely unguarded and relaxed side of the man as he goes about his daily life, talking to friends, tinkering on his bikes, dozing in an armchair or washing down the pavement outside his airplane hanger.

These are the sort of photos you would usually never see of a movie star - Steve in the morning before he has showered, looking drowsily over a hot mug of coffee, househunting in Montana with Barbara, or lying asleep on the living room floor with his pet dog lying on top of him.

You really feel like you have stepped into Steve and Barbara's house, it is that personal.

The text accompaniment is also very entertaining and educational as Barbara shares her memories of how Steve wooed her, the initial problems he had to overcome in winning her parents approval of the relationship, his personal lessons to her on how to dismantle and rebuild a motorcycle (sadly unsuccessful) or a gun (successful), how he came to propose, and many other intimate and fun moments. Overall it takes you through their entire relationship and serves as something of an autobiography in itself.

All these photos are beautifully presented in a high gloss large coffee table book format.

Released with the first limited edition run of the book is a 45 minute audio CD of Steve verbally working through the script of the film "Tom Horn". It is fascinating to hear him talk about his vision of the film, rework the script and plan his character. You get a real sense of the epic film he wanted Tom Horn to be (but was denied due to the studio slashing the budget), and you realise just how insightful he was with film and acting. The amount of thought he puts into his role should forever dispel the notion that he just played himself on film.

Steve McQueen - The Last Mile is a very special book and no fans collection will be complete without it.

Intimate, touching, insightful, sometimes hilarious passages into the life of The King of Cool, Steve McQueen. We live in such a visual, media oriented world that we tend to get preconceived notions of who movie stars are, based on what we see. The world saw Steve McQueen as the ultimate man- handsome, macho, cool, someone they could spend their hard-earned bucks on back in the day and get their money's worth at the theater. Barbara McQueen, his widow, saw the real Steve McQueen. She got to know Steve, the family man; Steve, the man who loved the great outdoors and his morning constitutional; Steve, the great mashed potato guru, airplane and motorcycle enthusiast. "The Last Mile" shows how little we all knew of his kindness and philanthropy; how little we knew of his yearning for happiness and how he ultimately found it. The photos in this book will enchant you, leave you wanting more. One of my favorites is one where Barbara embraces Steve from behind. That photo alone is worth the book to me. Beautiful model, handsome superstar, real people worn out from what life has dealt them. You can see it in their faces. It makes me sigh everytime I see it because there's not one person I know who hasn't been to that point and had nothing left but an embrace. You will love this book and you will want more. I guarantee you.

I have been looking for "The Cobra Ferrari Wars" for many years. I am thankful for libraries and interlibrary loans. Only about 4 libraries in the country have this book. The story of Carroll Shelby's quest for the World Championship is one of the best in U.S. racing history. The information about the GT cars of that era, such as the Ferrari 250, Aston Martin, and Cobra is outstanding. The stories of the development of the Cobra and Daytona Cobra, gave me a new insight into the creation of these great racing machines. These stories are told from the point of view of the people who where there. This is one of the many strengths of this book. Another great feature is the race-by-race summary of every race the cobras competed in from 1963 until the final race of the championship season of 1965. Each race is told in the words of the mechanics, drivers and team members who were there and played a vital role in the winning of the championship.
The Cobra Ferrari Wars took place during a time when the U.S. had some of the best racing cars and drivers in the world. These cars and drivers won the biggest and best races in all of the major racing series. They won in F1, Sports Cars, and Indianapolis. We don't seem to produce drivers that can win F1, Le Mans or even the Indianapolis 500 any more. What happened!

I hope that the producers of this great book will come out with a second edition. I don't need to have a signed first edition. If this book was put back in print, more people could have the opportunity to read about Carroll Shelby's 1965 GT Championship. I can afford to pay $...for this book but not $...or more. This new printing would give more racing fans a chance to own this book.

This is one of the best historical works about motor sports published during the last twenty years. With over fifteen years of research put into this work Michael Shoen has created something we will long refer to as a classic. In an era where automotive racing was almost completely dominated by European sports cars Carroll Shelby managed to not only build a competitive sports car but also upset the seemingly invincible position held by Ferrari. The Cobra-Ferrari Wars 1963-1965 accounts, on a race by race basis, the amazing story of the Cobra's climb to the top during those glorious three years.

Not only is this book extremely well written and thorough but the accompanying photographs and diagrams bring this infamous battle to life. Few other motor sports books have been able to accomplish this. I wouldn't recommend this book to the average Cobra or Ferrari enthusiast, however for the serious die-hard this is definitely a must have!

GREAT READ! Unbelievable amount of history on the subject here.

Lots of wonderful pics.

I can't say enough about how good this book is.

A MUST HAVE/MUST READ for any auto enthusiast, but especially for Cobra owners.

AUTHOR MICHAEL SCHOEN was there when the Cobras were rewriting the record books, a fact clearly reflected in his landmark work, "The Cobra-Ferrari Wars" (CFW). Escorting the reader into the thick of the story from the very first page, Schoen eloquently describes the rare brew of ambition, focus and raw talent that propelled Carroll Shelby's youthful and capable team to the 1965 FIA World Manufacturer's Championship. At the same time, the author recounts the fortunes of other opposing teams, details the politics rendered behind the scenes by both Shelby and Ferrari and, perhaps most importantly, provides ample first-person narratives by almost everyone who was involved in the Cobra effort, including an impressive line-up of the great drivers of the day. Complemented by a wealth of evocative period photographs, "The Cobra-Ferrari Wars" stands head and shoulders above anything else in the motorsports history genre, and belongs in every enthusiast's library.

I have about every book extant on vintage motor racing--COBRA-FERRARI WARS is the best by far. The quality of the research is staggering, the photos superb--it puts you into the pits as American motorsports came of age.

This is the best lego mindstorms book ever printed it is in-depth in the theory behind the robots.

This is the book of the greatest, most complex Lego pieces to date, and I highly recommend it to anyone thoroughly engrossed in the area of Lego programming. It is an invaluable resource with amazing graphics, and very creative new inventions which serve as a wonderful catalyst for my own ideas. Great guide.

This book has gathered together "Masterpieces" from some of the the world's greatest LEGO creators. Builders from the US, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, and Japan have brought you their passions, the theories behind each masterpiece, and detailed building and programming techniques. "LEGO Mindstorms Masterpieces" is truly at the zenith of all related books and I believe it will become a true masterpiece both in name and in reality.

This book began in July of 2002. And, while the the creation, writing and editing was extremely difficult, the authors fought mightily to accomplish our goal: to build LEGO robots both suitable for Master Builders and worthy of this book's title! Amazing PneumADDic II and Synchropillar by Kevin as a computer processor specialist and creator of LPub and LSynth. Splendid Stair-Climber by Doug who is a well known creator of several Omni Drive Vehicles. And, two awesome works - Learning Brick Sorter and The LEGO Turing Machine that were invented by the famous Ferrari brothers - they are co-authors of the best selling "Building Robots with LEGO Mindstorms" and have been called the "DaVincis of LEGO". Biped robot expert Miguel created complex SSCT faithfully based on the real robot that was active for life search and explore in WTC, New York. Lastly, a robotic arm driven by 10 motors and feedback system - CyberArm IV that I have created as a series in four years. All of these are the real robots that are backed by real robotics - only the materials are LEGO! We are very pleased that we could explore a new frontier in LEGO Mindstorms, and be able to offer it in book form.

As the one of pioneers of LEGO robots, I have had my experience of the results in the MIT Media Lab fortunately in the middle of the 80s, and the result of my writing of over half year keeping is included in bundle CD-ROM as a over 50 pages bonus chapter. I have tried to write about a lot of topics to explain the world of robots and LEGO Mindstorms - history of LEGO robot or their philosophy of the LEGO Group, precious list and description of early LEGO educational sets for control learning, personal robot boom in the 80s, from a more than 300-year-old Japanese automata (the Karakuri) to the latest state-of-the-art robotics. I believe that my discussion and description about the way of thinking and creation - included building, programming, CAD and even about Art - are useful in particular.

We hope that this book will never lose its value and that it will become loved by people of all generations.

From Tokyo
Hideaki Yabuki
Media Activist

Included are complete building instructions for some truly amazing robots/machines. You'll need LOTS of Lego to build them though. Even if you haven't you'll be inspired by the authors imagination and ingenuity. The writing is good, and the descriptions/instructions detailed and clear.
The best reason though for buying the book is the included CD which contains no less than ten other Mindstorms books in PDF format,including the most excellent 'Building Robots with Lego Mindstorms'. I had expected to find software and sample programs, but their absence is more than made up for by the books.

After building many of the robots presented in Lego Mindstorms Masterpieces published by Syngress, I feel I am now qualified to give a fair personal assessment of this book. I have purchased many Lego Mindstorms books and each one has great ideas and a lot to offer. All books have shortcomings and room for improvement. How good a book is depends on how well it address the readers needs. My needs center on my use of Lego Mindstorms to teach mechanical engineering, logic, programming and robotics to my 13-year-old daughter. Lego Mindstorms Masterpieces is the newest addition to our Lego toolbox. There are so many positive things to say about this publication I'll place the very few items I would have preferred done differently at the end of this review.

A few key benefits this book offers to anyone involved with Lego Mindstorms are complete, well illustrated assembly instructions, detailed commentary by the authors with additional tips to aid in the construction, explanations of where the inspirations for the creation came from with historical references, web site listings for additional information and a e-book CD-ROM with program files. Many of the authors have active web sites of their own and are available to generously help people stuck during construction.

Lego Masterpieces not only expand the reader's knowledge of Lego Mindstorms applications, but engineering and robots in general. The concepts presented can be applied anywhere the logic, computers, or machines are designed and built. The book shows that the construction of a machine must go hand in hand with the programming to best fit an application. Giulio Ferrari explores basic Artificial Intelligence and the foundations of modern computers with the Turing Machine. Another chapter presents the mechanics and theory of creating logic cells amazingly through the use of pneumatics and then combining them into the synchronous PneumADDic II calculating machine by Kevin Clague. And again by Kevin, the building of an asynchronous artificial muscle using Autonomous Pneumatic Circuits in the Synchropillar without RCX programmed control. An all terrain wheeled vehicle by Doug Carlson uses his Tri-Star drive design called the Stair Climber and will crawl over and out of almost anything. A spy robot by Miguel Aguilio called The Shape-Shifting Camera Tank utilizes Vision Command's camera, can increase or decrease it's height and you may control it with it's own Lego parts constructed joystick. The Learning Brick Sorter by Mario Ferrari, which combines a robotic arm with an automated task, blends the machine with excellent basic AI programming, which can learn new tasks. And finally, the most advance Lego robotic arm I've ever seen is in the chapter on CyberArm IV by Hideaki Yabuki. Not only does this arm have five Degrees of Freedom and 180-degree rotation, but you can also build the optional Power Glove to operate the robotic arm from your own hand movements!

The few complaints I have of this book are that the Bill Of Materials on some of the chapters are printed so small and illegible that I couldn't read them with a magnifying glass! Adding a page and printing the illustrations larger and clearer would have better represented the quality of the overall material. The other complaint is found in most books. Someone should proof read it before publication. Spell checkers don't think!

My final message about this book is BUY IT and start collecting the parts you'll need. It expands the frontiers of Lego Mindstorms and you'll need all the parts you can get your hands on!

Great book with lots of ideas on NXT robot building. The author, Mario Ferrari, does an excellent job of describing each and bringing unique ideas to the table.

A good book with clear explanations and a non-intimidating style for beginners.

A more detailed look at the NXT-G programming language would have been helpful, as this is the program that comes with the NXT retail kit.

It is a excellent book to construct a robot. The book provide more phyiscal knowledge. You can unstand the NXT well by this book. I recommand and like this book strongly!

This book is just fantastic. Starts out with the basics for building strong stable robots, and moves on to more complex ideas. Great examples of robots throughout the book which will provide ideas for building your own masterpiece.
It doesn't have step by step instructions, and is more of an ideas book for NXT enthusiasts.
I'd recommend this for your home or Robotics club library.

Great book, easy to read and follow, really gives you tips to start a better life through positive thinking, visualization and wishing good things. It makes you understand that your life is made of what you think and wish.

I read this spiritual amazing well written book. I recommend it for everyone to read. In a way, this book makes you value again all the little (but most significant)things we take for granted in our daily life.

Un libro de autoayuda a manera de una historia. Ofrece tantas y variadas herramientas que quedé fascinada. Poseo muchos libros de autoayuda y de todos podría prescindir, menos de este.

Este libro es asombroso, te ayuda a encontrar todos los pensamientos, aptitudes positivos que existen dentro de ti. Es una narración de una persona que encuentra la felicidad despues de estar cerca de la muerte debido a un ataque al corazón, Para hacer buen uso de este libro no lo debes de leer solamente, sino que debes de realizar cada uno de los ejercicios que se te van enumerando, te sentiras mucho mejor y mas feliz en poco tiempo.

Forget the images - although they are spectacular. Forget the archive photos - although they are revealing (and historic). Concentrate on the words, yes I mean read the story. For the first time I found myself actually interested in the man who created these incredible machines. Adler makes him come alive, 3 dimensional, in a ways I never knew about Enzo. It's a great book on all fronts, at all speeds, bravo! A real page turner - and then start all over again.

One should buy this book for the photographs, which are very good to excellent, and capture a multitude of the most famous Ferrari models.

Right off the back the book opens with a short chapter on Pinin Farina's (as the name was then written) Cisitalia 202, a nicely done short history with twelve color photographs showcasing a superb red example of this legendary car and epochal monument of automobile design. (There's one of these in MOMA.)

This great start gets muddied up with a confusing overview previewing the upcoming chapters. I think the book would have read better without this section, or at least, without duplicating later photos. Too, better editing would have helped an ongoing and annoying discontinutiy between page and image. Writing a review is not helped by such confusion, I must say! Also, themes and topics pop up here and there without any convincing larger focus - surely this book could have been better organized and not so helter-skelter in its directions.

However, despite these intellectual issues - or peccadilloes if you wish -the book does give a wonderful overview of Ferrari's greatest cars, most in pristine condition. Readers are treated to an embarrassement of riches as one section on a legendary Ferrari flows into yet an even more legendary model!

The oh-so-critical colors are printed with great care - the paler yellow Luigi Chinetti demanded for the Sergio Scaglietti 275 GTB/4 Spyder (cars derivisely derided by Enzo Ferrari as taxis!) is perfectly contrasted with a richer yellow 275 GTB. (The preview chapter boasts an even brighter shade - a screaming yellow 250 GT Short Wheelbase Berlinetta!)

Chapter two covers Enzo Ferrari's career with a series of historic photos, but does not add any historical revelations.

Just how rich a collection of photographs is contained here might be gauged by counting the 150 plus color photos (not counting in addition many historical black and whites) all coming in the first hundred pages. Chapter 5, a touching study of Ferrari's Dino, has wonderful shots of the car Ferrari named after his beloved son, Dino, who courageously faced a terrible early death.

The book includes a thorough index: overall this is an outstanding art book, with its editing issues quite overhwelmed by the majesty of the Ferrari images.

A brilliant Ferrari book.Beautifully illustrated and a mine of information. Reasonably priced too.A must for all Tifosi !!!

Probably my best book on Ferrari! The book deals expertly with the history of the marque, all significant Ferrari cars and also racing. I feel, however,that too much emphasis has been given to the role Chinetti played in the success of Ferrari. The American connection is nevertheless interesting. The book deals with some of the stories behind the story. I find the parts dealing with the famed coach designers and builders especially interesting e.g. Pininfarina, Scaglietti, etc. A well illustrated book that is a must for any serious sports and racing car lover, especially Ferraristi!

Whiplash is a serious injury, so you need to get off on the right foot to deal with it. Inform yourself!! Then empower yourself!! Life After Whiplash is the only book I have seen that tells things like they are, and told me the non-nonsense advice I needed to hear. You can't rely on others to cure you. They can help, and medications make it easier, but the bottom line is that you have to take things in your own hands. That's Ferrari's message. Yes, I found it hurt like hell at first, all over, but everyday was a little bit better, and I just kept moving, used ice and heat, Advil and Tylenol, and the occasional massage. Then I started a Pilates class and that not only reduced my pain, but it toned my abs. It took about 9 weeks for me to feel I was back to my usual self, but most of the gains come in the first few weeks. I don't like the doc's that just push pills, and I agree that if you meet a therapist that tells you they want to treat you for 6 months, tell them you got better things to do - like recover! Finally, chapter 4 is right on. Sex is good therapy. Does it hurt? Yes, but like the book says, who cares? Regular activity (of whatever motivates you most!) is the key to happiness and recovery after you wake up one day with severe whiplash.

I practice as a gp and I had reached the point where I just threw up my hands and admitted I had no answer to these whiplash types. Life After Whiplash may have been written for whiplash victims, but I think it's a real gem in the office. I use this book to explain to patients what they should do with their whiplash injury, answer their questions about jaw pain, dizziness, and numbness, and I can give patients clear, simple advice that makes sense and is easy for them to follow. It actually makes seeing whiplash patients enjoyable!...well... almost. I have been recommending this book to all my whiplash patients and so far they are taking the advice to heart and it is making a real difference in the success of treating this conundrum.

Chiropractic therapy continues to be helpful for neck and back sprains from acceleration/deceleration injuries. Chiropractic approaches are not based on manipulation alone, however, as we also engage education as a cornerstone of effective therapy. For chiropractors, Life After Whiplash provides simple, easy to understand explanations for the symptoms that accompany spinal disorder. Chiropractors can use this book to expand their repertoire and provide more complete care by giving Life After Whiplash their patients. I am now routinely providing my patients with copies of this book as part of the essential part of their therapy and insurers are willing to accept this as part of therapy costs. The better informed patients are, the better I can help them, and the more they value my services. I have only just begun handing out this book, but so far feedback from patients and insurers has been good.

Like many whiplash victims, after I got injured I needed someone to reassure me I was not going to be affected for the rest of my life, or at least what I could do to heal this injury right. My doctor told me to just not worry about this injury, and he spent 5 minutes with me before handing me a prescription for painkillers and physio. My physio never gave me any straight answers about why I was having all these aches and pains, and why I was so dizzy all the time, but then I got this book, and I got the answers I needed. I know that I can do a lot for myself to avoid having this injury take over my life, and finally I got answers to my questions. I understand my injury and I know what to do about it. I'm not a 100% yet, but I am feeling pretty good about things. Thanks Doc!

This is a book I go back to again and again. The info is concise and also contains interesting articles from experts.

I really like this book, although some of the pictures could be better as far as showing more angles are concerned. It basically describes many of the different kinds of sharks, with information about where they are located, typical size, and different habits of each. It has pictures for all the sharks that it describes, even the obscure ones. I had never seen a picture of a goblin shark (although it is dead) until I got this book! I recommend this book to anyone interested in sharks. While it isn't perfect, it is better than most I've seen, and is a nice book to have in your collection.

Over 120 species of sharks and rays are illustrated in this concise guide, which adds essays on their history, biology and ecology. From cover to cover, Sharks is a photopacked presentation that will prove to be a very specific reference, and any library seeking one good comprehensive shark book will find it a welcome addition.

Jackie really hit most of life's issues right on the head with her book. I was laughing out loud during my very pleasant read (rare for me to laugh out loud while reading, and it actually caused some minor attention on the plane.)

I definitely look forward to more penmanship from Jackie, hoping more editions come soon.

I recommend this book very highly.

I laughed out loud the whole time I was reading this book! I really liked how relatable all the issues are to your life or someone you know. This would be a great summer read...quick, easy, and fun!

A funny and insightful read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the 2nd edition.