Reference Tools Books

Many good pictures. A subject which is well known is dificult to write about. I do not share all authors opinions. Gardening experience is a way to know useful tools.

I purchased this book for a design class where we were making gardening tools to get a better knowledge of the products, and let me tell you it was worth it. This book goes very in depth with not only how the tool is used but how it should be made and the "rituals" surrounding each tool. Also, although I'm not a gardener myself, I could see this book being an invaluable reference or even as a great guide to those just starting out in the gardening world.

If you are a beginning gardener and don't know the difference between a shovel and a spade, or what to use them for, this book is immensely useful. It is certainly worth the price and the time it takes to browse through it to find and understand the exact tools you will need for your individual garden before you go out shopping. In addition to pages of full color pictures of each tool, it contains historic accounts regarding the tools and some nice quotes about gardening. After reading this book I felt like I understood garden tools, whereas prior to reading it, I just used tools in a haphazard way without understanding their purpose and how they could help me in the garden.

A piece of art, fits the coffee table and yet is packed with valuable information

I have a background in acrylic painting as a hobby, yet put it aside for years due to other artistic interests. Now I'm back into it and exploring mixed-media as well. I needed to brush up on "art supplies 101", and also expand my knowledge of what is available. I combined this with The Crafter's Complete Guide to Collage by Amanda Pearce and came away much more knowledgeable.

I found this book to be very easy to read and fairly well-laid out. Some of the material presented seemed redundant, but it wasn't a big deal. I got way more out of it than any flaws take away. Spiral-bound is a nice touch.

Bottom-line: New artists and those brushing up or expanding their art medium knowledge should pick this one up.

I was exceptionally pleased with this book, which was well-organized with much information on most art materials. Of course, like any book titled "everything you ever wanted to know about..." it's not as comprehensive as the title boasts. I enjoy scratchboard art, and there is no mention of that medium in the book, and I'm sure there are others, but that one stood out to me. I'm not disappointed enough to take a star away from it though.

Overall, each section discusses some of the history behind the medium discussed, as well as techniques, common manufacturers, and innovations. The author gives recommendations and caveats for each medium, and reasons for both, which I like, because I not only want to know the good and bad, but I want to know why. I find it easier to remember that way.

I was surprised at how conversational the book's writing was. I had expected to pick it up and look things up, like I would a dictionary or encyclopedia. Amazingly, I started reading at the beginning, and read all through it. Well-designed and well-written, this book should be assigned reading to beginning art students. It would take the mystery out of some media very quickly, and allow art instructors to get on to more important matters without having to focus on petty details about materials.

This book has a very good general overview of almost any art material you would want. The layout and subdivisions for each material is very informative, The photos and format for this book make it very helpful and easy to use --- the spiral binding allows it to lay flat and the hard cover keeps it in good condition. It is also very helpful and easy to take it with you directly to your local art supply location and show them exactly what you are looking for and trying to do --- the size is very managable. Overall I've referred to this book quite often to investigate materials I'm going to try for the first time and to see the technique tips for materials I've been using for years.

Too bad I didn't have this book 30 years ago. In reviewing this great book I learned more things in three days than in a great many years tying all kinds of material. Great short explainations and the photos are superb. I recommend this book to all tyers

I have a copy of this book and for a long time it was the best thing ever. Recently I have seen another book called "flytying tools and materials and where to get them" This book not only gives you a picture to reference it tells you a bit about the fur/feather/animal and where it is most common.

I found this more usefull especially when I started classic salmon fly tying. All that said it is an excellent book and well worth the money.

i have looked at, and read, many books designed to help a beginner, and old-timer, at learning to use the materials and tie the flies. never have i yet found a better book than this one, or even it's equal.

I went to the public library and looked through dozens of books before choosing three to buy. This was one of the three. The author first introduces color theory -- basic (attributes, temperature, mixing) and advanced (color interaction, hierarchy, proportion, harmony) -- and then moves on to schemes (monotonic, monochromatic, analogous, complementary, discordant). The second (and lengthier) part of the book contains 36 color photographs illustrating the various schemes, each accompanied by more than a few alternative color chip palettes.

I learned a lot and enjoyed doing so. Great photos!

(The other two books I chose at the library were C. Barnes's Color for Your Home and J. Miller's Color: Period and Regional Style From Around the World.)

At last a book where color theory is well and fully explained! They cover what tints, shades, pastels and other terms used to describe and build colors. Excellent!

This really explained the mysteries of color wheels, chroma and values, monotone color schemes and all the color terms that always mystified me in decorating books.
In some cases it was a little difficult to see the range of colors in the photos or the sample rooms were a bit bizarre. That distracted from understanding how a real person could use tetrad or discordant colors. I certainly wouldn't want a room looking like some they showed.
Overall it was helpful, I just wanted more room photos showing how some of the color schemes look when applied.

A bit dissapointed that there was very little targeted toward Retail, specifically lacking in the areas of shopping center and out parcel development... but the formulas were interesting, and the concepts that were explained... were done so in great detail.

This is a terrificaly valuable technical reference for practitioners who need an efficient method of performing land development calulations. The book and its companion set of spreadsheets enable users to answer two key questions: 1) how much can be built on a given piece of land; or 2) how much land is needed to accommodate a given use? The material is clearly written and well illustrated, especially a series of worksheets leading through the method. Another strength is its comprehensiveness and detail, including all major land-use and micro site conditions.

"Land Development Calculations" provides an excellent and innovative strategy for working towards sustainable land use and development. The models for varying land development strategies can assist local government land use decision makers and planners as well as developers determine the carrying capacity of land within realistic thresholds. The accompanying spreadsheets for the development scenarios on the CD-ROM are extremely user friendly and do not place an undue burden on the user by requiring what may be hard to find or to collect data. All of the data required just is typical of what is necessary to make appropriate land development decisions. As a local government planner, I am working towards incorporating the information received from the models in to the zoning and development code as part of the approval process by using it to further assess suitability of the property for the purposes proposed (a zoning consideration required in accordance with the State of Georgia Zoning Procedures Act). I strongly encourage other land planners and developers to read "Land Development Calculations," because of its highly practical and very timely material.

Sometimes an easy-to-read reminder is all it takes for us to resolve ourselves to good manners. Barbara Pachter's latest business book, New Rules@Work, blends unbelievable (yet true, according to her introduction) etiquette missteps with quick analysis, tips and points to help business professionals of all generations navigate the do's and don'ts of successful business behaviors.

Easy enough to read in one sitting, and designed so you can jump in at any section, the content is common sense and current. The book even provides some basics about international sensitivities along with specific insights about when to fight the urge to clean your plate and how to get around drinking too much in Romania - or at the local lounge. Pachter also takes care to give both sides of many etiquette stories: for instance, not only tips for entertaining at home but also guidelines for how to respond when the boss asks you to his or her house.

New Rules@Work offers an excellent business etiquette introduction or refresher, though it is important to note that the rules aren't necessarily new and if you read between the lines from cover to cover, you'll find more than 79 pieces of advice.

I found this book very helpful, although I didn't buy it for myself but for my son-in-law, who is making his way up the corporate ladder. I figured it would help him to deal with situations he may not have encountered before, and it has. One of its most appealing aspects is the way it is structured -- it's easy to find a topic and some quick advice without wading through pages and pages. An added bonus: all those cautionary tales scattered through the book, some of which are pretty funny (unless, of course, you are the person to whom they happened!).

Barbara Pachter puts together a book that is easy to read, filled with a variety of information, and is well organized. I really liked this book because she breaks down so many different "unwritten" rules in business culture and gives you real insight behind behaviors you really want to cultivate. So much of business relies on good personal people skills. She will help you with many things.

For example, she spends a good amount of time on the basics like greeting someone, shaking hands, who to introduce to who. She does so quite well, and makes it seem much more simple than we have typically thought it to be. She covers dining out with clients or business associates; covering drinking, table manners, and how to make someone feel more comfortable. My favorite chapter was on casual business clothing. Men have it every easy for business casual, tan pants and a shirt with a collars. Women's unwritten rules tend to be more complicated in dress.

This book is easy to read, and broken down into very digestible segments of information. I would highly recommend this book to someone entering into the business world, or even someone that feels they need a refresher. This is a good book that will help you refresh how you think, and will aide you in your career.

The tools in this book are absolutely essential in creating an outstanding resume. It's also very up-to-date.

The book is one of the better guides to writing good resumes. Good examples are provided. But Jackson and company are also pulling a sales scam. Try to download the free templates and you'll find they never arrive in your inbox. Go back to the site in an attempt to really get them, and you'll find they are now $4.95 (because they've already been sent). Beware the liar!

Since the early 1970's, Tom Jackson has been one of the truly innovative contributors to the field of career development. This latest version of The Perfect Resume adds significantly to the field and defines the state-of-the-art in resume writing. There's nothing better available anywhere.

If you want to understand and not just perform a cataract surgery this is the very basic knowledge to start with! An essential for ophthalmology residents!

I am an ophthalmology resident and was frustrated by different staff giving me different answers about what my phaco settings did for me. This book is a good reference for understanding the mechanics behind what you are doing. The text is limited to what you need to understand the diagram on the opposite page. There is very little in the way of long descriptions without practical applications or diagrams to keep you engaged. Also has some helpful points on capsulorrhexis and microscope use.

this book allow you to start phaco with confidence. step-wise approach is helpful

Another `cut-to-the-core style' book from Sam Deep. It talks about five basic Management challenges - Leadership, Teamwork, Motivation, Continuous Improvement and Balance. The "tools" presented are practical & relevant to day-to-day business situation. It is written with an intellectual rating scale of intricacy. A good reference book for managers. Lot of common sense used, but common sense is sometimes most uncommon thing.......Vivek Dixit,Stanford.edu

This book is jammed with practical ideas and exercises to help any manager's performance in dealing with people, performance and products. It is clearly written and user friendly with a clever rating scale of difficulty and resources needed to accomplish the intervention strategy highlighted in each section. I continue to suggest this excellent resouce book at every Managers Educational Seminar that I conduct!...

My bookshelf is jammed full of all kinds of management books. Most of them, after an initial reading, gather dust. Power Tools is the exception. As a consultant, I refer to it at least once a month & actually use the suggested "tools". I've utilized the Envision process numerous times & each time it works like a charm. In one day, a group can painlessly create drafts of their vision & value statements. The "tools" provided are practical & apply to common company situations. This portable blue book is my best kept secret! SShh...don't tell my clients!

I ordered this book for my 2 1/2 year old son for Christmas and he really loves it. He is obsessed with tools and this book shows various tools with simple language but explains the function of the tools. The only downside is that it is a little outdated...for example, the picture of drill is a manual drill that no one uses any longer.

I bought this for my grandson's 2nd birthday. It is simple, straight forward and perfect for any little tyke that is into tools!

My four-year-old, a tool fanatic, loved this book. Simple illustrations and words label several tools from a boy's father's toolbox and clearly describe their basic uses. My son "reads" it over and over again.