Machines Books

My second grader had to do a research for her science fair project on "The Flight of A Bird" as she named her project and this book had perfect and complete information at that level. We did not have to go look anywhere else for additional information. It is very easy to read and understand and has lots of illustrations to explain the topics. I absolutely love it. Note that I did not know anything about how a bird flies and just by reading this book with my daughter I understand the topic as well as she does now. So we both learned from it.

Focuses on the anatomical design of birds that allows flight and the physics of flight. At the same time, it is part field guide with detailed and colorful illustrations of a wide variety of birds. Some topics covered are lift, wings, feathers, taking off, flapping, gliding, soaring, and migration. There is a cursory mention of other flyers and gliders like bats, squirrels, and extinct flying reptiles. Karen Woodworth-Roman, Children's Science Book Review.

Superbly illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne and informatively written for young readers by Caroline Arnold, Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines is an extraordinary picture book for children detailing birds and their amazing ability to fly. From the mechanics of flapping, to different styles of wings, to how some birds use thermals or ocean winds to soar, Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines is an amazing fact-filled tour of one of nature's common yet ingenious miracles. No school or community library collection should be without a copy of Caroline Arnold and Patricia J. Wynne's Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines.

I read this book years ago, and remember it as very insightful, slightly seedy, and masterfully written. Of course, I >was< in grade school at the time, and might not have the same opinion now.

Terrifically suspenseful and readable tale of a small boy artificially made super-intelligent by scientists. He escapes his keepers and uses his superior brain to evade authorities and get along in the adult controlled world. If you liked James Patterson's "When the Wind Blows" and sequels, you'll like this original, tightly written suspense novel even better.

The intelligence of a 5 year old is trained by a machine that enhances the the kids brain, making him super intelligent. The book deals with being highly intelligent and with the difference between emotional maturaty and intellectual maturity.

Also known as "The Fourth R"

This is a must read for any Ohio State fan. Especially for those old enough to be a part of the Woody Hayes regime. This is when it was the game plan that we are Ohio State and we are tough and try to stop us man to man with the offensive scheme being simple...three yards and a cloud of dust! This is the timeframe when Lombardi dies and Woody took overthe moniker as the hard nosed extreme disciplinarian in the spot light. Many hated him but with 5 National titles, 13 Big Ten titles to his credit he got results! Unfortunately today he probably would not have prospered as much as the time period back then due to so many restrictions and sensitivity to too much attention being placed on football. The other side is he himself (Woody) made about $29,000 a year and never asked for a raise or took more money so how many coaches today would do that? The author shows Woody's compassionate side and loyalty in this book where he helped athletes by giving them money for food and bought hats and gloves out of his own measly $29,000 salary but when he mentioned it to a Sports Illustrated reporter he was put on probation by the NCAA. Like others have said I could not put it down and it is a fine addition to any Buckeye fan's collection!

This book illustrates truly how bad Coach Hayes wanted to win. In-depth coverage of the preparation for the "Big Game" show how hard Coach Hayes wanted to win it. "Buckeye" takes you through all the blowouts of the 1973 season and the heartbreak of the 10-10 tie with "the team up north". I think that Robert Vare did a great job in proving that Columbus is a Buckeye Football city. Every Buckeye fan should read this book to really appreciate who Woody Hayes was and how he took Ohio State Football from the bottom of the Big 10 in 1951 to the top of the nation in the 1970's.

I found myself unable to put this book down the second I started reading it. The detail in which it desrcibes the Ohio State Football program under Coach Woody Hayes is remarkable. This book is a must for any and all Ohio State Buckeye fans.

The field of cellular automata (CA) is one that appears to be finite, yet unlimited, although it is a point of major debate. Where the ultimate conclusion lands depends on the fundamental origin of complexity, in particular that of intelligence. Some very sound thinkers argue that the universe itself is a complex CA, all of the phenomena we see are fundamentally explainable by a set of simple rules whereby actions are a consequence of state changes based on those rules. The apparent complexity that we perceive is due to the enormous number of objects that are involved and the number of different interactions that take place between them.
Cellular automata became an area of mainstream study when the Game of Life was developed. The fascinating feature of the game is that a small set of such simple rules can lead to what appear to be complex individual and collective behaviors. Schiff begins with the definitions of basic cellular automata, steps through the appearance of complexity and closes with some of the major arguments in favor of the literally universal applicability of CA.
The level of mathematics is fairly low; the most complex areas are the recurrence equations that define the next state and a few partial derivatives. With some additional explanation, the material is within the grasp of the second year math major. Most of the more complex mathematics can be skipped and the reader will still be able to understand and appreciate what CA are and some of the ways they can be used to model complex activities. This is the text I would use if I were to ever teach a special topics class in CA.

This book provides an excellent overview of the field of cellular automata. It brings together a broad range of concepts and ideas which have been percolating over the past 70 years. In many ways the field of cellular automata and its offshoots remind me of the principles and ideas expounded on in Thomas Kuhn's book `The Structure of Scientific Revolutions'. For this field is truly revolutionary in its ability to easily show the power of emergent properties from simple rules.

The flow of the book is easy to understand and the documentation and references are excellent. The prose is well written and the author's ability to clarify basic ideas is exceptional.

I highly recommend this book. The first chapter `Preliminaries' clearly shows the author has brought a rich scope to the presentation of the material.

Although I have been nebulously aware of the term "Cellular Automata" for about 25 years, it was not until I read the book Cellular Automata that I really understood what it entails. As a result, I have become enamored with the field and its mathematical elegance. It is unfortunate for this fascinating field of study, that it is called Cellular Automata -- a marketing disaster if you ask me.

Though Cellular Automata probably has a strict definition, you can think of it as how simple rules governing a cell (or a neuron or an ant or whatever) through time can give rise to complex ordered systems. People often think that there's some intelligent design behind the complexity we see in nature, but as this book demonstrates, all it takes is a few simple rules about what happens in a local neighborhood to give rise to systems that order themselves into amazing complexity.

The book is a comprehensive survey of the history and current state of Cellular Automata. I wish I had the time to follow through on the amazing panoply of interesting paths, papers, web sites and ideas presented to the reader, but this could easily require a lifetime of study (and computer time).

In spite of having no background in Cellular Automata, I found this book to be extremely accessible and clearly written with many illustrative examples. I read the book cover-to-cover and understood it all, which for a textbook is really saying something. For the layman, it helps to have a strong mathematical background as well as a keen interest in number theory, but none of this is necessary. One of the nice things about this book is that if for some reason you don't understand a topic such as say, the Sierpinski Triangle, the rest of the book is not predicated upon it, even if it is called back on occasion.

The only possible issue I had with the text is that complex theoretical concepts were on rare occasion difficult to follow. Such concepts were introduced in order to give readers a complete primer on the current state of CA research, but the reader has to trust that the results are as stated in the book, and that an army of Grad Students carried out all the dirty work. Step-by-step implementation is (and should be) beyond the scope of the text, although for math weenies like myself, it may have clarified certain concepts.

Highly recommended.

You will not be disappointed with Professor Challenger and his exploits. I have been a long time Doyle fan with his White Company and, of course, Sherlock Holmes cannon. I must admit I had never read Challenger before this edition. It is most enjoyable and will further entertain all of Dr. Doyle's admirers.

Professor George Edward Challenger is the lesser known creation of Sherlock Holmes' creator, Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). Unlike the cool and calculating Homes, Challenger is irascible, domineering and extremely outspoken. In short, he is a lot of fun to read. However, unlike Holmes, Professor Challenger never caught on and as such only five Challenger stories were ever written. This book combines all five of the Professor Challenger stories together in one book:

The Lost World - originally published in 1912 - 5 stars - This is the greatest, and the best known of the Professor Challenger stories. Professor Challenger has heard of a plateau in South America where dinosaurs still roam, and he loses no time in setting up an expedition to this strange place. However, when the expedition finds itself marooned on the plateau, the team faces many dangers and adventures.

The Poison Belt - 1913 - 5 stars - Professor Challenger has learned that the Earth is moving towards a poisonous section of space, and has figured out a way that he can save a few members of the human race - the last people left on Earth!

The Land of Mist - 1926 - 1 star - The worst of the Professor Challenger stories, this one is really just a polemic, written to convince the reader of the wonder (or whatever) of Spiritualism. This story might have been what killed the series.

The Disintegration Machine - 1927 - 5 stars - A Latvian scientist has created a machine that can disintegrate matter, and reintegrate it again...or not. This is something that Professor Challenger must see for himself if he is to fully understand its ramifications.

When The World Screamed - 1928 - 5 stars - Professor Challenger is digging a well or mine of some sort in southern England, but what is he up to? It seems that the eccentric professor has a new theory - that the Earth is really a living creature!

Although more than a little dated, scientifically, I found these stories to be well written and quite exciting. (Well, four of the five that is.) They reflects a world that is now gone, but is quite interesting to read about. If you like adventure stories, then you will like this one. Read this book, and learn about A.C. Doyle's other hero!

A fun volume collecting all the Conan Doyle Professor Challenger adventures. As usual, Leonaur editions are of very high physical quality.
These stories, actually a novel and several novelettes, suggest that if the author had not become famous for his creation of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, he might be regarded as a forefather of fantasy and science fiction, a la Rider Haggard and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Not to be missed.

I thought this is a well written book, very informative with good information. I really like the patterns.

This is a great book, especially if you are into making handbags that look professional. I realy like being able to make a matching belt to go with the handbag.

It's a commonly accepted dictum in the fashion world that accessories can enhance any outfit. This is especially true for needlecraft projects ranging from purses and bags, to shoes and scarves. Through the deft use of a sewing machine, embroidery can transform everyday commonplace accessories into one-of-a-kind designer originals. That's the message of embroidery expert and needlecraft veteran Eileen Roche in "Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Accessories" showcases illustrated, step-by-step instructions for twenty-four embroidery designs in machine formats for eighteen different do-it-yourself projects suitable for even the most novice needlecrafter. Enhanced with complementary outfit ideas and alternate color suggestions for each project, "Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Accessories" comes with an accompanying CD-Rom with the embroidery designs. "Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Accessories" is an elegant and highly recommended addition for personal and community library fashion and needlecraft collections in general, and embroider instructional reference collections in particular.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I read it twice already... a truly original voice.
-Thx

I read it twice already! A truly original voice.
Thx,
DHH23

This book is right on. I never before felt like I could connect with a character the way I did with Zach. I cannot wait to read more books by Jeff Horton. He's a genius!

Norbert Wiener was interested in the means by which feedback could be communicated to help correct the problems that develop in an organism. In investigating this matter, Weiner investigates a number of topics that differentiate between mere computation and intelligence and the importance that information plays in both. This is the unifying theme of a book that seems to wander through many topics using philosophy, mathematics, and the theory of computation.

For example, in chapter one of the book, Wiener illustrates the basic difference between man and machine with a discussion of the concept of Newtonian versus Bergsonian time. He states that Newtonian time - that of high level physics phenomena- is reversible. Bergsonian time, the time of living organisms making their way against entropy is not reversible. Thus since Newtonian time is reversible nothing "new" happens, as opposed to the irreversible time of evolution and biology in which there is always something new.

He continues this idea in the chapter "Computing Machines and the Nervous System." In it, he defines the characteristics of computing machinery. He concludes that the brain, being irreversible, is thus an analog of a single run of a machine. Wiener also points out that many problems of human metabolism and reproduction are associated with the inability to receive and organize impulses and make them effective in the outer world. Thus Weiner ultimately concludes that to live effectively is to live with adequate information.

There are also chapters that are almost purely philisophical about the role of information in society. Then there are other chapters that present heavy-duty mathematics on such topics as representing a time series of known statistical parameters as Brownian motion in an attempt to solve communications problems in nonlinear situations. The mathematics in this book is presented with little or no background, so you are going to need other sources to understand what Wiener is trying to convey.

In summary, if you want an interesting read on the science and philosophy of artificial intelligence and the role of the machine this is one of the best out there. It still stands the test of time after nearly sixty years.

Two books, both written in the late 1940s stand out as contributing much to our understanding of the world around us. One of these is "Cybernetics" by Weiner and the other is "The mathematical theory of communication" by Shannon. Both require some study by contain many sections that are easily readable by anyone which get the main points across in an understandable manner.

Weiner's book discuses the use of feedback on virtually every type of control mechanism known... i.e., those of nature as well as those of man. It is the "basic" stuff that everyone of us uses everyday and every moment of our lives whether we are aware of it or not. Whereas Shannon's book tells us how to communicate information in an error-free (or nearly so) way, Weiner's book explains how that information is used to provide effective control of everything around us. For many decades since I first was introduced to these two works, I have used their principles in most things I do.

I very highly recommend these two books to anyone who considers themselves a "thinking person" and is seeking to understand the world around them. Both easily get 5 stars. They are major works!

Why is everything called "cyber" (cyberspace, cyberpunk)? Because of this book from 1948 in which Norbert Wiener, a prof at MIT, coined the phrase "cybernetics," from the Greek word "kybernutos" meaning "governor." If you're tired of viewing your computer as a black box (the input goes in here, the output comes out there, and something mysterious happens inside), or if you wonder if the tech world has any relation to the natural world, check out this unusual book, which is rewarding on many different levels.

Find out why robotics, neural nets and artificial intelligence (AI) predate the PC and even the mainframe computer and are not a new development. Travel back to the days of the giant ENIAC when the computer seemed to be an idea on everyone's mind, simply waiting for advances in technology to make it a reality. But this very readable book goes further, as suggested in Wiener's subtitle: "Control and Communication in the Animal and Machine." Many specialists in various fields initially opposed this book because of Wiener's interdisciplinary approach, which broke down the hard and fast walls between various disciplines.

The vocabulary of this book has now become commonplace (we ask for "feedback" and refer to "systems" on a daily basis), but many of its ideas have yet to be discovered. I couldn't keep up with the math, but you don't need to to grasp the basic ideas or to enjoy Wiener's lucid and luminous style, which ranks among the best of popular science writing. Wiener also wrote a general market book, "The Human Use of Human Beings" to present some of these ideas to a wider audience. Some fifty years after its initial publication, this book still forms an inviting welcome to the machine.

John Holland does an excellent job of describing the real-world practices required for programming successful mobile robots. His approach is relevant for all software engineers involved in developing embedded control systems. One of the most entertaining aspects of his book are the war stories about remotely debugging misbehaving robots in the field. After reading this book, you will know why he is considered "The Father of Mobile Robotics"!

A fascinating read, and a must for those interested in robotic design. Additionally, parts of the book are humorous and quite entertaining!

In this tour de force, John M. Holland serves up a feast that should be both didactic and entertaining to engineering professors and neophyte-technophiles alike. His wit and wisdom are generously shared in ways that are both lucid and compelling. His personal parables are not only entertaining but beautifully illustrative of even the most arcane of his topics. And John balances cautionary tales with an abiding conviction that service robots will eventually have a huge presence in both private industrial and governmental applications.

While this book dwells more on computers than astronauts, it contains details from the actual moon landings that I've never seen published elsewhere. Despite contrary opinions by the astonauts, this book has convinced me that a 100% all-human landing (without computers) was not technically possible. If you liked "Journey to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Guidance Computer" then you'll like this.

p.s. This book describes the operation of a zero-weight low-tech technology known as the LPD (landing point designator) which is comprised of colored markings on the commander's window. One of the AGC display lines tells the commander which lines to look through.

This book has a lot more technical information than I expected. It explains techincal details. The price is reasonable.

Thankfully the publisher used silky cream paper to print this book. Both your hands and your brain are pampered. Clear line illustration inside with a fantastic cover graphic, this book rewards the touch of your hand by taking you on a magic carpet ride through the inner workings of developing the guidance and navigation systems for the moon shot. It is the "Soul of the New Machine" for the Apollo program.

It's a fascinating account of how the guidance computer and the human astronaut (and flight controllers) struggled to rely on each other for the landing on the moon. The love-hate emotions of the computer-astronaut interface are felt throughout the book. Although there is no shortage of technical detail, it all seems essential to the narrative. Initially, it seems as if the book is losing focus, but soon the connections become clear: the book reads like a detective novel.

If you have read two or more books on the space program, this should be your next purchase. Once you have read one Apollo book, there is a lot of repetition - not here. It provides many details the others lack.

A secondary audience for this book is anyone interested in IT project management. This book provides a case study on complex, mission-critical project management. Much to be learned. This should be required ready for engineering majors.

At under $20, this book will set off fireworks in the pleasure centers neurons.