Machines Books

If your idea of a physics book is a dryly written text filled with incomprehensible equations, you have clearly never read BLACK HOLES, WORMHOLES AND TIME MACHINES by Jim Al-Khalili. Its a highly entertaining book written with humor and enthusiasm. The author also provides a bit of history about the physicists who develop the theories he so clearly explains. Highly recommended.

Astrophysics for those of us who never took a physics class in school. You need not be a genius to understand the majority of this book. It's easy to read and explains complex topics in a relatively simple manner. This book is similar to Kip Thorne's book: Black Holes & Time Warps, but does also go over some information that Thorne's book doesn't cover (and Thorne's book goes over some info that this one doesn't). I place both books about equally in their readability to the common person, and amount of interesting information about our universe. This does a great job of explaining different theories about the universe and why some are more likely than others, as well as faults with various theories. Very interesting, but certainly not light reading!

Al-Khalili clearly explains and breaks down modern physics into plain and simple English. I have not read a more easy-to-read physics book in my life. Although there is one thing that the reader will find annoying in the book. He frequently deviates from the subject matter and goes off on a completely different path that sometimes has nothing to do with what he was talking about. Half the book isn't about Black holes, Wormholes, and Time Machines either but about other areas of physics. Overall though, a very well-written book worth your reading. (assuming of course that you have NO background in Physics!)

Mr. Khalili combines a deep understanding of his subject matter with the rare ability to present it clearly in terms understandable to the layman.

As long ago as I can remember, I have been interested in the way that the universe was created and the way it works. This book has all the answers that I've been searching for these long years. Jim Al-Khalili cuts through the big words and incomprehensible scientific lingo and gets straight to the point. As a student of cosmotology myself, I didn't need to have things spelled out in such a condescending manner, but others who read this book and have low IQ test scores will find it very helpful.

"The Dream Machine" is billed as the story of J.C.R. Licklider, one of the main driving forces behind the research and engineering of personal computing. However, at least half of the book actually consists of general computer science history having little directly to do with Licklider, but which rather serves as context for Licklider's long and varied career. Well, it seemed to me that both aspects were handled very well by the author Mr. Waldrop and I am certainly much more educated now on computer science.

Though quite long at nearly 500 pages, the book was actually a page turner for me as the style of the prose is closer to that of a novel than of a textbook. I found the transformation of government funding from virtually unlimited in the '50s and '60s (e.g. the massive SAGE project) to greatly budget constrained in the '70s fascinating, as well as the various contractors' reactions to the changing federal priorities.

I give this 4.5 stars as it could have used a bit more focus on the purported subject, Licklider. Highly recommended for anyone with a strong interest in computers and software.

For anyone who wants to know the history behind the personal computer revolution, this book is a must read. The author was a senior writer for Science magazine and understands both the technology and the people involved. There's almost no fluff in the book's 475-pages of fact-rich, well-written prose. My only complain it that, along with pictures of people, I'd have loved to have seen pictures and diagrams of the early equipment he describes.

--Michael W. Perry, author of Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings

If The Dream Machine were a novel, you might conclude the author used every writer's technique to make it a thriller. Even though you know the outcome, you wonder how the many "miracles" and lucky breaks it took for the dream to become reality.

If there such a thing as an "epic" story of computer science, then M. Mitchell Waldrop's The Dream Machine is it. Although it purports to be the story of J.C.R. Licklider, and the birth of personal computing, this book is much more than that. It takes us from the edges of the computer science revolution, through the development of the modern computing industry and the World Wide Web.

Waldrop spends more time exploring the shadowy edges of the rise of computer science in America, and the intellectuals whose raw thinking provided the structure around which computing would develop. Giants like Norbert Weiner and Claude Shannon, and more obscure players like John Atanasoff of Iowa State University are given more thoughtful attention here than in most popular history accounts that I've encountered. Not only are their concrete accomplishments covered with clarity and understandability, but the thinking that got them there is attended to as well.

Of course, among the cast of great individuals is Licklider, whose efforts are worthy of the title billing Waldrop gives him. J.C.R. Licklider was a computer scientist before there was computer science, in any practical sense. While Lick (as everyone called him) himself, and the voice of technical accuracy, would likely disagree with that assertion, I stand beside it. Licklider was first a scientist, and he applied those core principles to developing his ideas in computing; computer science.

However, Waldrop's book does not feel like it was about Licklider, per se - despite a very intimate coverage of the man. Instead, the book remains focused on the growth of the intellectual concepts, and the practical technology that rose from those ideas. The scope of characters and technical detail covered by the book is remarkable, and yet it remains a readable and compelling story. The science is clear and understandable to individuals with an interest in the subject, without requiring a deep background (although, those with deeper backgrounds will still find the book enjoyable, and original).

A graduate course in a book! A tour through historical theories, accounts, and events that made up the development of the modern computer and the Net. Far more extensive than just the story of Kicklider, a historical overview of many of the minds at that time and the events that converged to form the new informaton era.

I absolutely love "The James Bond Lifestyle Seminar," but this audiobook fell short. The plot was decent, but nothing better than you'd expect based on the synopsis. The main character is supposed to be 33 years old, yet his voice sounds like an old man. He sounds very unsure of himself. Also, a lot more could have been done with the sound effects. They did not immerse me in the scenes, as another reviewer claimed.

Wow! My sister pointed me to this audio book and I couldn't believe my ears. I just relaxed on my bed to listen and was absolutely delighted with the movie-quality of the sound effects. Not only is this a masterful, well-written plot, it's also a quality production. The best I've heard.

And those stars that the magnificent author/director Paul Kyriazi lined up for this special version of his book!!! Well, all I can say is that I remember swooning each time I saw any of them on the big screen. (I hope my hubby doesn't read this.) But when I saw Rod Taylor--who narrates this story, with such a come-hither voice--starring in The Birds with that gorgeous Tippi Hedren, I almost fainted. Yes, he was that much of a hunk ... and still is, according to my sister!

Incidentally, people used to say I looked like Tippi. Ah-hhh, memories ... But getting back to this audio book, I loved it to pieces.

Keep up the excellent work, Mr. K. You're terrific, and almost as handsome as the great Rod! Ciao, baby ...

Mr Kyriazi's production of Hard Rock Lovers was just fantastic! I was on the edge of my seat on a daily basis! I put the audio book on my iPod and listened while I jogged. I gotta say it motivated me to get out there and I am so sad it is over! I cannot wait for his next Audio production!

The story is fantastic, gripping and sexy. I absolutely loved it!

Bravo!!!!

The "Hard Rock Lovers" audio book was not at all what I expected, but what a wonderful surprise! It's a twisted, tangled web of events played out by a handful of multi-leveled, intertwined characters. The story is well written, beautifully told and convincingly enacted centering on the heights of a successful rock star and the terrible costs that are paid when that success is abused. People and events are manipulated by all the characters to satisfy their own needs and agenda.


"Good" and "evil" are blurred. "Life" and "death" are blurred. Relationships are blurred, but the irony of fate is boldly presented and it's made abundantly clear that our "next" existence offers another chance to hopefully do better. The inevitability of change, the subtle and sometimes dramatic interrelationships between cause and effect as well as the ever-present, ever-looming scales of divine and poetic justice are persistent threads. A beautiful blending of drama and melodrama are used to develop both the story and the characters. The audio presentation is top-notch entertainment, particularly when you consider that all acting is accomplished solely through vocal artistry. The actors do a fantastic job of inviting the listener into their world and moving you effortlessly through the story.


I really enjoyed listening to this audio book. It is wonderful from start to finish and my congratulations go out to all involved. It's a winner on all levels.

From the moment Hard Rock Lovers comes on ... it takes you by the hand and mind, and immediately draws you into this intriquing story, narrated by the imcomparable Rod Taylor, of revenge, love, lust, cold reality and spiritual enlightenment.

Robert Culp kept me laughing with his perfect low-life agent performance, always the best! James Darren was the perfect rock star, mean, talented but sad, his performance was # 1. Ishtar Uhvana was great as Medusa, she added the sweetness to keep some reality in the rock world and her ending dialoque brought tears to my eyes. Loved Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris was brilliant as the evil Reynaldo, and Nefta Perry as Connie played the perfect Rosie Perez.

The ending gives you hope and leaves you with happy feelings. You will want to play it again and again; it only gets better each time you listen.

Paul Kyriazi is my hero. I am his BIGGEST fan.

Thank you Paul for the fun and exciting adventure!

Having read Barbara's fascinating semi-autobiography a few ears back, I couldn't wait to hear it come to life as an audio book. Knowing Barbara personally, I know that when she sets her mind to something she gives it her all until it is true perfection! This audio book of her hard to put down semi-autobiography is a first of it's kind. I don't think I've heard of a dramatized biography coming to life as an audio book. Let's start with Barbara. What a sexy, spellbinding voice she has. The voice matches her story--Spellbinding! I loved that it wasn't cheesily acted or overly dramatized the way many audio books are. It was just so simply realistic. I found myself being magically transported to an era that only legends speak of. Presley, McQueen, Aubrey! Need I say more? I found myself feeling as if though I was witnessing the dialogue first hand. Sometimes I felt like I was eavesdropping! David Hedison (as Aubrey), Tim Thomerson (as McQueen) and Paul Casey (as Elvis) all stepped up to the plate and helped Barbara bring this to life perfectly! Great job! It is full of wonderful anecdotes and bits of Hollywood from the late sixties and seventies. I wasn't even born until after all this happened, so that gives you an idea of how captivated I was because it took me to an era I have only heard about. Barbara Leigh is an underated, understated woman who has rightfully earned her place in Hollywood history. These three men were truly blessed and lucky to have had her in their lives. Fans of Judy Baldwin, of which I am one, will also be surprised to hear her mentioned and play herself in this audio book! I must also commend the packaging of this project. Never have I purchased an audio book that has been presented as professionally and beautifully as this. Gorgeous photos of the gorgeous lady! Sturdy packaging (not cheap cardboard like most audio presentations) and top notch production and sound quality. In a day where executives in Hollywood are turning to reality shows for entertainment, somebody out there needs to get off their butt and turn this into a mini-series or movie of the week. It has all the elements you need! Beauty, brains, brawn and a story that tells itself so beautifully and easily. Buy this audio book, buy the book (co-authored with Marshall Terrill) and add Barbara Leigh and her story to your life. You'll be happy you did! I did, I was and I am...
Albert Brandon Christopher Lopez
Yonkers, NY 10701
brandonchristopher1@yahoo.com

Fascination with celebrities is pretty much a world-wide phenomenon and apparently no trivial detail of their everyday lives is too mundane for our fierce appetites. The celebrity world appears to many as unreal and almost fantasy- like. Most of us do not have the talent, resources, or connections to enter this magical world. So it forever remains distant and a bit of a mystery. Perhaps this, in part, explains why we assign an almost god-like reverence to celebrities. We often fail to understand that beneath the thin Hollywood veneer exists a person who shares all the same human feelings and needs as everyone else.

It is Ms. Leigh's ability and willingness to cut through all the glitz and glamour, extravagant gifts, and inflated egos, to expose the raw human emotions that really appealed to me. Ms. Leigh has bravely given us a rare and honest look into the hearts and minds of her love interests, as well as into herself. This gives her story even greater credibility and interest. Her personal growth is another important topic in the telling of her story. Not all the decisions that she made in her early years were stellar. She lived to regret a number of them. If she knew then what she knows now, many of those early decisions would have been different. I think we can all relate to that.

Ms. Leigh's voice is a pleasant addition to the telling of her story. It's almost as if she is sitting a room with you sharing her experiences and insights as she might with a close and trusted friend. I believe you will love this audio presentation, whether or not you have read the book version.

this is definitely one of the best audio books i've ever had the pleasure to listen to. from the very first moment the listener is transported back to a time when hollywood was still a place where dreams could come true and anything was possible. barbara's sultry voice and masterful recollection paints quite a picture of the times and her amazing journey. she gives the listener a glimpse into the very private lives of some of that eras most high profile men and her fond memories of each. the casting is impressive. i have to admit everytime i heard "the king's" voice, i felt his presence in the room. i highly recommend this audio book to anyone who fancies them self a fan of any of these great men or of hollywood life in the 70's. and of course fans of Ms. leigh. thank you barbara for letting us share this amazing time in your life.

This is fun to listen to and well worth your time! It's a wonderful peek into what it was like to be young and beautiful in Hollywood and have love affairs with such interesting, extraordinary men as Elvis, Steve McQueen and the infamous president of MGM studios. You will fall in love with Barbara too just listening to her tell her true experiences and dramatize some moments with a good cast who make you feel you're a fly on the wall. Very importantly, Paul Casey as Elvis is believable, and Joe Esposito is a welcome reminder that it really happened. In addition, the dvd is well produced and beautifully packaged. Highly recommended.

From the first strains of "It's Now Or Never" instrumental, the mood is set for this unique audio autobiography. Barbara takes us through a wonderful and fascinating journey in time (post flower power era) and looks at three of the most powerful men in show business at that time.

Her sultry yet gentle voice reminds us of an old friend reminiscing about events close to their heart. It's a recollection of a young southern girl on three iconic figures and how living through life's tragedies and disappointments brings a rare gift which only a few choose to accept "wisdom".

Elvis, Steve and James are all portrayed by actors adding to the dramatic impact of this presentation, and Joe Esposito playing himself only adds to the authenticity. This not a cheap tabloid expose, but truly an interesting story of three high powered men all linked by their affection for a beautiful young lady.

The CD's are beautifully packaged; each CD has an exquisite picture of Barbara plus an individually autographed picture insert. It's no wonder that Elvis Steve and James were captivated by this stunning beauty.

If you want to experience the authentic 70's celebrity life style this audio book is for you. For people who want to know more about Barbara Leigh I would also recommend her book of the same name.

I love Jim Corbett, I don't know if any author is better at transporting you back in time & making you feel like you were there. A warning though, once you start reading a Jim Corbett book you will need to find more of his books they are addicting. Also you will be hard pressed to find stories as exciting. This book wasn't as good as Maneater's of Kumaon. If you haven't read any of his books start with that one.

Corbett is a natural writer and combines his knowledge of the jungle with uncanny hunting skills to give us one of the best Indian adventures ever written.

Reading his books is not just following a maneater with a gun - it is a journey into the days of the British Raj where you will be transported into the remote jungles of Northern India, read about the simple people and their unsophisticated lifestyle. There are no villians, no suspicious characters lurking around and nobody to provide humour. You just have village folk trying to eke out a living which is sometimes interrupted by a feline with a taste for humans.

This particular book is about one leopard which terrorised a large region for many years and claimed about 420 lives. To understand what these people must have felt, it must be noted that in those days there were no high security fences, no guns or any kind of technology to track the leopard. Yet the people had to enter the forest to earn their daily bread. There is an unforgettable chapter in the book titled 'Terror' which starts something like this:

'During the day, people went about their lives as usual. Trade and commerce, transport and all other transactions went about their normal way. But as evening approached, there was a marked change in their behaviour. Pilgrims rushed towards their night shelters, businessmen closed shops abruptly and people scurried towards their homes for relative safety. No curfew was more strictly imposed. No orders to remain indoors were observed as faithfully.'

This is one of the books which shows that for writing adventure you don't need weapons or FBI investigations. All you need is a writer with a big heart who loves what he is doing and knows what he is talking about.

If you like adventure literature, you should find this piece really wonderful. I read it while I was alone at home for a week and I started to "feel" leopards all aronud the house at night. Very well writen, hard to stop reading.

This book is available from the Oxford University Press website: http://www.oup.com/

I just purchased a new copy for 12.49 British pounds including shipping to the USA which is just over $21 USD (December, 2003) I don't know why the new/used books advertised on Amazon by private sellers are so expensive.

If it's anything like Corbett's "Man-eaters of Kumaon" it is a masterpiece.

Another excellent book from the corbett library. Its true that fact can be stranger than fiction. And no where is it more evident than in the story of the maneater of rudraprayag.

Corbett is out to kill this very clever and wily old leopard in the second half of the 1920's. The leopard is believed to have made its debut as a man-killer following the influenze outbreak of 1918. Corbett hunts this killer over two years. In an intense battle of nerves between the best shikari that ever was and the wily leopardus, corbett's life hangs by a thread many times. On one dark stormy night, robbed of his defenses, he makes his way back to the village after a failed attempt in an experience that he terms his scariest. Another time the leopard snatches a goat right under his nose and gives him a run for his money! All and many illustrations of man's utter helplessness when a clever maneater turns against him.

In the end, corbett suceeds in putting a bullet where it truly belongs - in the maneater - to end its career. In true corbett fashion he has a soft spot for the old dead leopard, which gave him such a sporty fight. I am sure they both met again in the happy hunting grounds!

A wonderful book by a wonderful man.

My wife and I are impressed at how much our son (less then 2) seems to love these books more than the other books he has. Great rhyming, stories, and illustrations. Highly recommended and a great buy as a pack.

My two year-old son absolutely loves these; as soon as he finishes one, he wants to read another. They're fun to read, with a nice rhythm, and the vocabulary page is a plus. Maybe it's that I'm mainly familiar with baby books on transportation that have little more than captioned pictures, but I really enjoy that these books have real content to them, even as short as they are. I'd recommend them without hesitation for any toddler, truck-obsessed or not.

Both my daughter (2) and son (4) love this entire series. They're also among my favorites out of all the books they own. Beyond the fact that each book is written on a topic that fascinates kids (cars, planes, diggers, etc.) they are also incredibly intelligently written. And they're fun! They have a great rhyme and meter (which is great for children), but they also pack a lot of great facts and things you can discuss with your kids as you go through each page. Some children's books annoy me when they call things by made-up 'baby talk' names and don't use correct terms. This series doesn't do that. The final page goes back through some of the things the kids saw on the earlier pages and gives their names and a brief description of what the item does. My son loves to point at the items and then tell me what they do.

We're currently using Roaring Rockets as my son's bedtime book. I don't think I'll ever get sick of it. I would recommend every book by Tony Mitton does.

the fire engine book five times. I've only had the series a few weeks and we've been through at least half of them many times. Thumbs up.

Each book even has a vocabulary at the end and I learned a few words myself. (I didn't know that diggers have jacks to keep them immobile, for example, when they are doing certain jobs.)

These books are fantastic. My son loves them. I thought they may have been a little larger in size, but not a problem.

I am new to using a serger and found this gem of a book to help me understand how to get the most out of it. The explanations are easy to read with plenty of photos for greater understanding. This handbook covers all you need to know about using a serger,from serger parts, threads, threading, tension controls and techniques. There's guides in the back to help with trouble shooting and machine maintainance as well. I have yet to find another book that explains so much about the functions and features of a serger in such a user friendly format. I'd recommend it to anyone who has, or is thinking of buying a serger - from beginner to advanced!

I own four serger books and this is by far the most useful. It is a great resource for those new to serging, especially if the instruction manual that came with your serger is inadequate. The book covers all of the basics needed for serging without previous experience - serger parts, threading, tension, basic operations, serging knit fabrics, rolled hems, troubleshooting, etc. The author is obviously quite experienced in pointing out common serger pitfalls to the beginner.

I already own a copy of this book so I purchased this for a friend who is new to the sergers. This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn how to use a serger. I have read it three times and each time I learn something new. Sergers are a very different animal than a sewing machine, so regardless to what brand you have this book will help you master how to use it and troubleshoot it when necessary.

If you are new to serging, this book is an excellent introduction to the topic. It covers all the basics very clearly and is well illustrated. Beginners can't go wrong here; experienced serger users will want something more advanced.

Although I've sewn since I was a teenager, I'm new to serging. This is the ideal starter book. Its explanations are clear, as are its trouble-shooting tips, & it's logically organized. It will be sitting next to my serger for some time to come.

This is one of the more interesting free motion embroidery
Books. I think that any one who can sew can do these projects. They are well illustrated and directions are clearly given. No guess work.

I have tried several of the techniques and the author has made learning free motion very understandable and attainable. It is my favorite new quilting book!

This book presents good technical information on handling thread, etc. for free-motion techniques. I find the examples quite uninspiring artistically, though.

As a freehand embroiderer for more than a couple of decades, I purchased this book a few years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I must admit that I buy books like this as much to enjoy reading as to learn from. Unlike a prior reviewer, I won't criticize Ms. Fahl for having a different artistic vision that I might have--and my work is quite different from hers. So what? This book is presented as a jumping-off point for the buyer's creativity. This book is a great companion to Ms. Fahl's DVD presentation on working with thread; I have reviewed it separately. For a beginner, this can be a very good first resource.

We just cannot get enough time to try everything in this book It is absolutely inspiring. It is exciting just reading it and makes one long to get to the sewing machine. Why do we have to do housework, cooking and cleaning when there are such exciting things to create. Thanks to Ann Fahl for the work she has put into this book.I will always treasure it as I learn the art of Thread Painting.

With this book I belive I will improve my sewing! Lots and lots of information and different tecniques.

Seems like a thorough book. I haven't had the time to get to all of it. I will use it as a reference for my sewing projects.

I would recommend this book. I bought two copies, one for myself and one for a sewing friend. We have both been happily browsing the book. It has so many great techniques and ideas that will complement our sewing. This will definitely be a good reference book to keep.

EXACT information on how to achieve various effects with my sewing machine. Techniques up the kazoo with suggestions on how to apply. This one book is worth more than a hundred project type books. EXCELLENT!

i really like this book. it has such a wide range of techniques, everything from button holes to lace making. definitely a good buy.

Good coverage of a broad range of topics. Very easy to understand and perfectly illustrated. Many handy tips that an experienced machinist would already know, but are invaluable for a newbie. Terms not introduced in the text are covered in an extensive glossary. Lathe cutting is more thoroughly covered than milling, but the two are complimentary. I have only two complaints. There is no discussion of gear cutting. Although this might be considered an advanced topic, I think it should have been discussed at least generally. My other issue is with the index, which I found confusing. For example, if you want to know about threading, you need to look under "threading" and also under "lathe, threading". All in all, I found it well worth the price.

This book has literally everything I need on working a lathe. Even the harder questions like cutting curves without a CNC machine are covered. And as a bonus it covers everything else that a home machinist would want to know about mills, grinding, polishing, threads, metallurgy, etc. I am seriously considering returning all my other books on the topic.

After reading some of the other reviews, I was really excited about receiving this book. In short order, I was wondering what all the hoopla was about. I guess "essentials" includes telling you about pliers, and screwdrivers, but to me, that is "Machining for Dummies".

I know about pliers, I know about fasteners. I know that a Bridgeport milling machine costs $8000 dollars. I would like to know what milling machine is recommended for around a grand. Any married guy knows that if he spends $8000 dollars for a milling machine, he better have $8000 to spend on a diamond too!!!

My Lathe is a 9 inch South Bend workshop model A converted from a C model, with a 2.25 HP DC motor and a KBMM controller that I built myself. Lathe cost $185. Tooling cost a hell of a lot more. How many of you out there have a $5000 Clausing?

Heres part of whats missing:

What lathe tooling is recommended. I dont mean what pliers! Channel locks came out 500 years ago!!!

What Drill press is recommended? Absolute necessity, and a hell of a lot cheaper than a bridgeport.

How do you convert a tool running an AC motor to a variable speed DC motor? (Once you have variable speed DC, you will never go back to AC)

4 hack saw blades epoxied together and a slit dowel make a pretty decent 1/8 inch keyway broach.

speedbore paddle bits make pretty cool centering devices.

The best way to part is: Tool upside down, Run Lathe backwards. Sounds Just like frying bacon.

On the plus side, the hardening and annealing section is OK but not worth $44 dollars.

Anybody want to trade this tome for a machinerys handbook, since that is what he keeps referring to? Most of what is in here I read in South Bends antique book "How to run a lathe" Cost: $4.00

Mostly dissapointed.

This book is well written, beautifully illustrated and extremely helpful. Although not my profession, some machine shop work has been a serious hobby for me and I found Machine Shop Essentials to help fill in gaps in my knowledge resulting from a lack of formal training. This book should appeal to enthusiasts and beginning professionals alike. It was a breath of fresh air after having looked at either dated references with photographs of industrial machines or at home shop manuals with very limited information. Having done mostly lathework, I was most interested in learning more about milling and the book "asked" questions that I had in mind and "answered" them, including specific issues regarding the availability and proper use of various cutting bits. The coverage of both lathe and milling basics is far superior to that in three other manuals I purchased (unfortunately) before this one. The diagrams provide a lot of exquisite detail and really compliment the text.

The author's stated purpose in writing this book was to provide a back to basics introduction to machining using small manual machines in a one-of-kind parts and prototyping environment. The author succeeds admirably in meeting his stated purpose. It should be noted that this is a practical treatment giving specific step-by-step procedures needed to create a particular feature using a particular machine tool. Furthermore, it must be kept in mind that what is cost-effective in an industrial setting when production runs are in the thousands or tens of thousands may not be so in a prototyping environment. Mr. Marlow does a great job of concentrating on procedures that can be cost-effective in a one-off environment.

Two notable features of the book in general merit special comment. First, the book is presented in a question and answer format. While this may seem unusual at first, it actually serves the very useful purpose of easily enabling the reader to locate and find information pertinent to a specific machining question. Second, the book uses plentiful line drawings that are absolutely superb. In comparison to the usual photographs, the line drawings used here have one gigantic advantage. Namely, photographs inevitably wind up blurring and obscuring details, some of which may be highly significant. In contrast, the line drawings in this book are models of clarity, usefully illustrating all relevant details. I frankly consider the line drawings in this book to be the best I have ever seen, and they are a major reason for the usefulness of the book.

The first four chapters of the book contain basic introductory material on measurement tools, basic hand tools, filing, sawing, grinding reaming, broaching, and lapping. This is all good, solid, useful stuff. The discussion on broaching, for example, is the best introductory treatment of this I have ever seen. Next, there is a chapter on drilling operations followed by a chapter on threads and threading using taps and dies. Although not encyclopedic in its coverage of various thread standards, the basics are covered thoroughly and again, it must be mentioned that the author uses superb line drawings to convey meaning.

Following the discussion of threading, there are chapters on turning and milling operations in which the author discusses a range of machines representative of those that might be found in a home workshop or a small prototyping operation. In the milling section, for example, Mr. Marlow discusses both the Sherline tabletop mini mill and the Bridgeport. A feature of interest is that the author does not discuss the ubiquitous (and to some, infamous!) mill/drill. I was particularly impressed with the thoroughness of his instructions for operating the Bridgeport mill, and I couldn't help but think that this chapter of the book would be invaluable to a home shop machinist purchasing a used Bridgeport. More than just an instruction manual for the Bridgeport, the book also provides general procedures for producing specific features that translate to any machine of a similar type. Mr. Marlow's discussion of how to mill dovetail slides, for example, is a model of thoroughness and clarity. Although Mr. Marlow does provide some introductory material, he wisely refers the reader to "Machinery's Handbook" and its voluminous tables for many specifics on "feeds and speeds".

The later chapters of the book cover such topics as fastening methods, basic metallurgy, and safety/shop practices. The section on metallurgy, while quite basic, I found particularly useful in helping me remember some of my college courses from long ago. Again, this is all good, solid, useful stuff, and presented at a level (neither too elementary nor too theoretical) that makes it extremely useful at the home machine shop level. I found the final chapter of the book in which Mr. Marlow presents a wide variety of "tricks of the trade" extremely interesting. It contains the sort of practical how-to information that almost never seems to be covered in print.

Finally, there are two appendices, one on sharpening lathe tools and the other providing a list of sources for tools, materials, and supplies. Although I do have two minor misgivings about the lathe tool sharpening appendix discussed in the paragraph immediately below this one, I must admit that Mr. Marlow's two page description of sharpening steel lathe tool bits is by far and away (again, because of the superb line drawings) the most easily understood of any I have ever encountered.

I do find a few minor flaws with the text. Table 8.5 on page 353, for example, has gotten the last two column-headings inverted. That is, the RPM figures listed under 5/8-inch cutters should actually be those listed under 3/8-inch cutters and vice versa. Mr. Marlow achieved near-perfection in his appendix on sharpening steel lathe tool bits, but there are two minor flaws.

The first flaw is as follows: In the line drawings at the top of page 483, he shows "side clearance angle" and "end clearance angle". In the subsequent table of sharpening angles, however, we find neither "side clearance" nor "end clearance". Instead, we find "side relief" and "front relief". Now it is true that the sentence immediately preceding the table: "What are typical rake and clearance (relief) angles for HSS tool bits?" does imply that clearance and relief are synonyms. But, aside from being (perhaps?) hard to catch, that still does not answer the problem. For if we understand that in referring from the table back to the preceding illustrations we are to substitute "clearance" wherever we see "relief" in the table, then we would wind up searching in vain through the illustrations for a depiction of what is meant by the "front clearance". Whilst the meaning may be clear to the experienced or well-read amongst us, this discrepancy is irritating and could be quite confusing to the novice.

The second flaw, and here I realize I am opening up a can of worms, is Mr. Marlow's advice to "dip the tool in coolant frequently to keep it from overheating and annealing".
Now I freely admit that I am not a metallurgical scientist, but I have had opportunity to talk to a number of folks who are. And here is what I have been told. Dipping the tool in coolant is a holdover from the days of sharpening carbon steel tools which do have an annealing temperature low enough to be easily reached in tool grinding. And of course, once the tool is annealed, its hardness is gone, and it is useless for cutting. I am told, however, that the annealing temperature of virtually all HSS alloys is sufficiently high that it will not be approached during a tool grinding operation. So annealing of HSS is not the problem. Apparently what IS the problem is that the HSS tool may develop a series of micro-fractures or cracks when shocked by the sudden dip in coolant from a heated state. Now I have also been told that HSS may develop the micro-fractures from overly aggressive grinding as well, but that this is less likely to occur. So if what I have been told by some folks I know to be quite reputable metallurgical scientists is true, it seems to me that it would make sense to grind less aggressively (this is not an industrial production job, after all) to help avoid unnecessary heat build up and to eschew the use of a coolant dip. Note that if facilities are available to have constant coolant flow over the tip of the tool, the sudden shocking issue would not arise---but such facilities are probably not available to the average reader of this book.

I wish Mr. Marlow had covered two additional topics. First, drilling flat-bottomed holes is a subject that continues to vex. Some sage advice here would have been much appreciated. Second, a chapter on shapers, analogous to that on milling machines, would have been of interest to me. Admittedly, I have not seen a shaper in industrial use for years, but there are many of them still in use in home machining operations, and for those folks who have them, a good modern text would be useful.

I cannot help but comment on the one reviewer who was disappointed that Mr. Marlow did not recommend specific machines. First, I suppose Mr. Marlow's inclusion of Clausing drill presses and lathes as well as Bridgeport milling machines may constitute a recommendation of sorts. Secondly, given the wide variety of new (not to say used!) machine tools available, I don't see how it would be feasible for anyone to review them all and make specific recommendations. Finally, which machine tool is best depends upon a number of factors: budget, space available, intended use, etc. So Mr. Marlow was, in my opinion, wise to adopt the approach he did.

While this book would probably not be of much use to an experienced machinist, it certainly is the best single introduction to manual machine operations for the home shop machinist I have ever seen. It would be nice to see Mr. Marlow turn his attention to two additional topics: motors/variable frequency drives and CNC machining. With regards to the former, I understand that one can do wonders nowadays with VFD's and that the price has come down to make them truly affordable. Yet specific information useable by the non-specialist is hard to come by. Second CNC systems and conversion kits seem to be coming down in price and bringing CNC machining into reach of the small prototype shop/home workshop. If Mr. Marlow could address these two topics with the same precision and clarity he did for manual machine tools with this volume, he would provide a valuable service.