Reference Tools Books

Short take: ordered based on description and previous reviews (2) to use this as support for college-level conversational Italian courses. Absolutely worth the price and then some -- especially compared to the cost of course textbooks at the university book store.

Book is not only a full-blown English-Italian/Italian-English dictionary but also contains a center reference section of topcial, conversational-usage phrases.

This dictionary is a great resource, covering contemporary English and Italian. The word list and examples in the Italian-English section are backed by the work involved in preparing the Italian dictionaries edited by Tullio De Mauro and published by Paravia in 2000. It is matched with the Oxford University Press word list and examples. In both Italian-English and English-Italian sections, a triangle marks the 7,000 core words of the language. The most frequent 3,000 words are marked with a black triangle and the next most frequent 4,000 words are marked with a white triangle. The explanatory chart just inside the cover is an easy to find and use resource, provided in English behind the front cover and in Italian at the back cover. The middle section has many useful examples, such as "Condoglianze (formal)" in an English format on the left page and "Condolences: formal" in an Italian format on the right page.

My wife and I are taking Italian classes to prepare for a summer trip. It's a big, heavy book, so we don't move it from the desk where we work. We refer to this book frequently as we progress through our class.

This is the most complete and up-to-date Italian-English dictionary I've ever used, and it represents a major upgrade from the first edition. The inclusion of a large number of sample letters in both English and Italian is a great help to those who must communicate in writing in either language, and the inclusion of computer-related and military jargon as well as innumerable colloquial expressions is extremely helpful.

It's not only a great dictionary for translation but also a very good source of information about meanings and usage of the language. This is a must have for every italian student.

I bought this book for my fiancee who always has an answer to every question. Just so he is sure to never be caught without the right answer :) He loved it.

This book is quite interesting for anyone who likes visual explanations. Be aware that this book may not be suitable for the younger crowd. There is a section on human reproduction and an extensive list of contraceptive options. I bought the Cyclopedia to give to a ten year old but, thankfully, I flipped through the pages before wrapping the book and saw the contraception section! I liked the book enough to keep it for myself though.

I've had this book for a few years and love it. If you want a small, colorful, attractive reference book of charts, tables, figures, and short definitions on a wide range of subjects, this is the book for you. It is arranged according to subject with color-coded edges and contains an index. Also, the binding is holding up very well.

I recommend this book for anyone in late elementary school through college and beyond. It is obviously not for in-depth learning but is for quick reference and is especially fun for browsing.

The Cyclopedia is the best single resource for finding information on just about any topic; from conversion tables, to Global weather patterns, to per capita incomes of any country on the planet. The Cyclopedia has it all.

This book is wonderful. It makes navigation easy to understand. There are tons of interesting facts and little biographies. The experiments are easy to do and very appropriate.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - and learned quite a few new things, even though I've been out of school for years. The author really knows how to present informative material in a fun and interesting way.

It is obvious that the author did a lot of research and put a lot of time into this book. There are lots of fun facts and surprising bits of trivia - plus, the projects and activities are wonderful, and really get kids' imaginations working.

Navigation is a complex topic. Presenting the history of navigation in a way that children can understand is a daunting task, but Tools of Navigation pulls it off. I can see this book being used by homeschoolers and school kids as the resource for a year long study, but each chapter would stand on its own for any interested student. A nice thing about this book is how many of the activities take place outdoors: traveling by compass, mapping your backyard, and, our favorite, geocaching. It also breaks down map reading to make it easy for kids to learn. I look forward to teaching this section to my two kids so that I'll have a couple of navigators in the backseat during car rides!

This book is titled "Tools of Navigation, a Kid's Guide to the History & Science of Finding Your Way," but this 45-year-old reviewer found it fascinating. I've always loved reading books about people who venture to the North Pole, through the Amazon Rainforest, or across the Sahara Desert, but always wondered how they did it without getting hopelessly lost. Author Rachel Dickinson sheds light on this mystery.

The book explains navigation from the Ice Age to the present, and also includes info on ancient navigators such as Marco Polo, Lewis & Clark, Robert Peary, and Ferdinand Magellan. It's very easy to understand and includes great photos and lots of fun activities, such as: how to make your own compass, go on a treasure hunt, work with topographic maps, and make a sky chart that maps out constellations.

Rachel Dickinson does a wonderful job of explaining navigation and history. It's a great book for parents to share with their children or teachers to share with their classroom. But it's also a fascinating read for anyone interested in navigation, history, and early explorers.

Just starting to dabble in woodworking as a hobby, I have acquired several books, but this is definitely one that I keep coming back to, and there a several reasons for that.

First and maybe most important is that it's bound in such a way that I can lay the book flat on the table. It allows me to go set up a tool, and constant refer back to the book without having to put weights to hold the book open, photocopies, etc. It's at much a tool as anything else in the shop.

Second, it covers all the major power tools, and their intended uses. It doesn't just tell you what each tool is, and how they work, but the best methods of how to use the tool.

Third, it is chock full of all sorts of tips and tricks to help make the work that you're doing easier and/or more precise. While sometimes it may be hard to remember exactly where a particular trick may be, the book does have a well put together index to help finding things.

This is easily the most important book that I have in my workshop, and have recommended it to others that I know. Now if only other book manufacturers would bind their books in the same way.

This is a great reference. There is so much information in this book, in an easy to read format, that is has become my primary reference around the shop

As other reviewers have noted this is a great reference book for the workshop and I know I will use it constantly. My disappointment lies in the fact that the book jacket is terribly flimsy and made of really thin card. I can't imagine it lasting long even given that the spiral binding makes the book easy to use.

This is a good reference book - there's just enough information to be useful, not too much so that it's overwhelming. If you are looking for your first woodworking reference, this is a good overview of all the basics, from wood types, to tools and techniques, project design concepts, and home shop setup. There's a really nice appendix at the end the book, with a list of other recommended reads, and lots of "woodworker geek charts and graphs" to ensure that this book stays in the shop. Lots of good info at a value price.

Patrika Vaughn's "The Writer's Tool Box" is an excellent source of information for every writer who has learned the basics, and serves as a follow-up to her highly-recommended book, "Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish and Market Your Book." Ms. Vaughn is an "author's advocate" and, as such, attempts to help the author from concept to polished product ready for submission. Each audio CD is approximately 43 minutes and has a brief, repeated introduction. The first CD is a diagnostic tool to help the writer polish his/her writing. The following CDs cover more in-depth details on openings that hook readers, author's voice, giving life to characters and developing intriguing plots. Each topic is geared to help authors make the right decisions, and the works of well-known authors are included to substantiate Ms. Vaughn's instructional examples. These CDs are great to listen to while driving in a car or doing work around the home, though I suggest listening to them at home. Even though I'm a published author, I took down notes and obtained some wonderful ideas from these CDs. I highly recommend "The Writer's Tool Box" for every writer and author.

I read McFarland's review and disagree. I'm one of those writers who can't quit my day job yet, so I only get to study and write intermittently. I always carry one of these five CDs in my car so I can listen as I drive. The repeated intro on each tape helps me get back in the grove...reminds me of who I'm listening to, and what she's all about. By the time the new material begins, I'm ready to absorb it. What follows is great, worth listening to many times. I think everything about this CD set is terrific. Wouldn't change a thing.

I struggled with books, classes and other audio instructions for years and my writing didn't get better. Then I heard about The Writer's Tool Box and tried it. Zowie! I'm now a published writer, and I owe it all to this CD.

While Patrika Vaughn's earlier book "Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish & Market Your Book" was a solid winner of a book for the beginning writer, this work has both good and bad points. On the good side this work follows up on the prior book with much more detailed information on how to write better. The different CDs cover "Why Your Writing Isn't Working", "Openings That Hook Readers", "Choosing Your Voice", "Bringing Characters to Life", and "Plots that Intrigue". As usual she does an excellent job on these subjects and the information is sure to improve the writing of anyone trying to break into the writing market. She does a really good job with the ones on "Openings that Hook Readers" and "Plots that Intrigue". These are perhaps the most important parts of good writing and so many people do them badly.

There were two things about the CDs that I found annoying. First is that every CD had the same opening information repeated on it. It was appropriate on the first one in order to introduce herself and make sure the listener knows exactly what a writer's advocate does. But repeating it at the beginning of each CD was marketing overkill and annoying. The only other problem was the actual speech pattern used on the CDs. The conversation was choppy and hesitant like one of the old documentary school movies from the 1950's. At times I felt like shouting, "Just say it and move on".

The bottom line here is that the CDs are valuable and contain very good lessons on how to improve your writing. If you can patiently work through the presentation you will be rewarded. "The Writer's Toolbox" is a recommended purchase for anyone wanting to improve his or her writing.

These tapes were enjoyable to listen to on my daily walks. It was like having the author (Patrika) walking beside me, discussing the "how to's". When I finished my walks, I'd set about putting the ideas into practice.

addressed particular areas of writing that I needed assistance with and gave me a solid foundation in them. Ray

I loved the book (Write Publish & Market Your Book), but these audio tapes gave me hands-on practice with plotting, characterization, viewpoint,openings, etc. -- it was like having a workshop in a box. An absolutely great help to my writing career.

I had a few writing problems I couldn't shake, no matter how many classes I took. Hearing these practical instructions and examples made the solutions sink in. For any writer having problems with plot, or characterization, or viewpoint, or arresting openers - you need this.

I baked a few pieces from this cookbook and it's excellent!! I love the pictures (I'm quite visual person) and it's rather comprehensive. The only thing is....it's probably not for the health conscious, but then most dessert recipes aren't exactly the most healthy foods, are they? Easy to follow instructions too.

The Complete Baking Cookbook has 350 recipes, from basics to updated classics. To be a good baker you must know about ingredients and equipment and the first chapter is this book has detailed information. Clearly drawn illustrations make it easy to learn techniques, such as how to roll out a pie crust. Although not every recipe has a tip, when they are included they provide helpful information. If you're a cheesecake lover be sure to try the Blue Ribbon Cheesecake. As the author of Baking Basics and Beyond, I recommend this cookbook because of the wide range of recipes and clearly written directions. Pat Sinclair

A very practical cookbook with an easy-to-read format that clearly show the serving size for each recipe, a brief explanation of the origins of the recipes, precise listing of all the ingredients involved, detailed listing of the instructions about how to make it and some tips you can use to make the recipe as good as it can possibly be. If you like to be held by the hand as you cook, then this is the book for you. There's even an extremely educational look at some common cooking ingredients at the beginning of the book that will make anyone a better cook.

Strongly recommended reading, Customer Satisfaction: Tools, Techniques, And Formulas For Success by Craig Cochran (Project Manager, Center for International Standards & Quality, Georgia Tech Economic Development Institute) is a slim, 93-page compilation of observations, advice, and techniques for proactively gauging customer perceptions and then aggressively acting on the findings thereby acquiring a competitive advantage in today crowded and rapidly evolving markets. Tools and specific instructions are laid out in a thoroughly "user friendly" manner and range from the very basic to the rather sophisticated. Informed and informative, Customer Satisfaction is one of those easily assimilated compilations that will rapidly translate to an improved bottom line regardless of the nature of a businesses products or services.

There were three things I really liked about this book: 1) Every page had something of value on it. There's no filler. I never found myself turning a page and asking, `what the heck did I just read?' 2) The customer satisfaction concepts were presented in the most simple manner possible. Anybody at any level of a company can understand and use the book. Right now, my V.P. of Operations and one of my 18 year old co-op students are reading it, and they're both getting some good ideas. 3) The book includes a wide range of tools, along with instructions on how to use and how not to use each one.

In summary, this is a good, practical book you can start using before you're even done reading it.

If you're looking for a bunch of heavy, theoretical philosophizing on customer satisfaction, then you'll hate this book. If you're looking for practical, common-sense methods for understanding what customers think and doing something about it, then you'll love it. I found this book to be the most clear and concise guide yet for actually doing something to improve customer satisfaction. My company has already begun using two of the methods, with very good results. Highly recommended.

The title really says it all - delivered really quickly and in great condition.

This is a great book. I reccomend it to anyone who is interested in the history of the leather industry, or who is interested in getting into leather crafts. It is very informative and gives you an idea on what kinds of tools are used in leather work and how they are used. It makes a great reference source. It givr you an idea on what kinds of tools you'll need for the differnt kinds of leather trades.

Look at all the nifty tools!

We just received our copy yesterday, and I expect my husband and I will be competing for it until one of manages to get through it from cover to cover. As the title implies, the author covers almost any tool you could think of used for leather working in the last 2.5 centuries, including things like workbences and stools. :) The book is arranged by trade - bookbinding, boot and shoe making, skinningk, tanning, finishing, etc, with the tools alphabetical by general type within each trade. Some of the descriptions are very brief, and the author spends more time in explanations of how more obscure tools are/were used than for common ones - which makes sense. Definitely enjoyable for the confirmed tool junkie.

This one is an excelent book, makes itself clear on every repair and mainteinance task. It worths from cover to back cover.

the book is great, I bought the book,and left it on the table, when i got back, my wife had the car in pieces, and starting to put it back together, she fixed it, and I didnt have to get greasy,

...It's VERY worthwhile buying seeing that it tells you EVERYTHING about your car, and how to repair them inc. sensors, brakes, lights, replacing transmission gears, head gaskets ect...

It's the only book you need. I have one for my Sunbird, Topaz GS, Topaz L and my 2001 Malibu LS