Design and Construction Books

A very comprehensive book full of pictures of everything it covers. All aspects of design are covered from floors, walls, colors, furniture, accessories .. etc. All rooms of a house are featured and very detailed explanations are with each picture. Many new ideas that are actually feasable. A beautiful book for anyone who is planning a new house or just renovating an existing one (like me). I Particularly liked the mix of colors and the various ideas for the floors. This is a excellent addition to my decor library.

Looking through this book will take the film from your eyes. The rooms often have wildly disparate pieces or structural elements juxtaposed, yet on page after page the results are elegant, clean and fresh. I found the book especially good at suggesting innovative storage and space solutions -- see the bright white classic colonial kitchen with columns, by Mark Epstein on page 112, or the modern kitchen, all warmth, light, and soft curves, by Leopoldo Rosati on 116. (Speaking of storage solutions, don't miss Rosati's stunningly sensible take on how to show off your wine, 118.) "Eclectic Interiors" is full of unusual, eclectic ideas -- Livingston has a terrific eye.

Hatfield and Rapson explore testosterone's parallel universes of sex and power with wit and humor, by way of an endearing heroine and a plot chock full of twists, turns, and surprises.

"Rosie" is lots of fun to read. Part romantic novel, part political drama, part academic story, it does lots of things but still hangs together. There's also a serious discussion of social issues (such as same-sex marriage) mixed with plenty of comedy, lush scenes of Hawaii and the South of France, and lots of knowledgable material about university life. But mostly I just thought it was a good story, well-told. It also has, among its leading characters, a conservative Republican from Texas running for President in the year 2000. Could that ever happen?

This book is at once engaging and informative. It's packed with practical advice and step-by-step instructions for planning a course - something that I haven't found in this kind of detail in any other book. And amidst the practical information are terrific stories about bad routings (a civil engineer who designed a dog-leg 180 yard par 3!), stories about how a routing preserved an archaeological treasure (The Moundbuilders Country Club), and stories about the author's own successes and failures. Interviews with Bob Graves, Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Pete Dye and a host of other golf course architects shed light on their routing experiences and highlight just how critical the routing phase is to the success of a course. Really well done.

What a terrific book: I am a golf nut who just happens to live in Australia, and although I have never designed a course other than doodles, I have certainly pondered the nuance of the layout of some of the games great courses that I have had the honor to play: Cypress Point (the final chapter is all about this one gem) and Pebble Beach, The Old Course at St Andrews are all thoughtfully explored. I particularly liked the "templates" and I feel I have a much better understanding of the science of course design. Its a good read, and very thoughtfully done. I want to build a three hole "amen corner-of-the-world" course in my backyard now.

I would highly recommend it to anyone, but if you are actually having a course built, its a must read! And buy one for your course architect as well!

Run-to-Run (R2R) control is a process control technique for batch-processing environments in which an algorithm is used to adjust process parameters prior to each batch (run). Information from previous runs, prior process inputs, or environmental information might all play a part in the control algorithm. The authors make a convincing point that run-to-run control has been very successful and has widespread application in the semiconductor industry, and is, in fact, "the least equipment-invasive control scheme that demonstrates real benefit."

This book is not a loose collection of case studies or a group of unrelated articles; it is, rather, a complete and integrated treatment of the subject of run-to-run control in its present state of development. The technical content exhibits the benefit of years of research through [the semiconductor research consortium] Sematech and excellent scholarship with over 300 references included. Both the theory of run-to-run control and the realities of implementation in modern manufacturing environments are covered.

[Excerpted with permission from review to appear in Journal of Quality Technology]

Having only recently gained significant acceptance in the semiconductor industry, run-to-run (R2R) control has been shown to be a highly effective method for minimizing the influence of systematic variations on the performance of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Consequently, this book should prove to be a timely and welcome addition to the library of any manufacturing technologist in the semiconductor industry. Intended for use by novices as well as experts, it covers both the theory and application of R2R control in the semiconductor industry. Written by contributors from both industry and academia, the book is organized into seven topical sections. For the benefit of readers new to the subject, each section is arranged so that the first few chapters in the section are introductory in nature.

The book begins with an historical overview of process control in the semiconductor industry and the reasons why R2R control has emerged as one of the key process control technologies in use in the industry today. The rest of the section traces the evolution of R2R control in the semiconductor industry, including the barriers to its implementation and the enabling technologies that have helped to overcome these barriers, and provides a brief introduction to R2R control and process optimization methods.

The second section of the book focuses on control algorithms and the application of these algorithms to R2R process optimization and control. Particular attention is paid to R2R algorithms based on the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) statistic such as the "gradual mode" and the "predictor-corrector" controllers. A significant advantage of these EWMA algorithms is that they are relatively easy to implement and they have been shown to work well for a variety of applications in the semiconductor industry. The rest of the section is devoted to several adaptive algorithms that can be used for both process optimization and control. The last chapter compares the performance of the R2R algorithms discussed in the previous chapters under a variety of conditions for both linear and non-linear processes. It should prove quite helpful to anyone trying to evaluate R2R control strategies.

The third section addresses the role of integration and automation in implementing R2R control in manufacturing environments. These are key enablers for R2R control and, as the authors note, if careful consideration is not given to them when implementing R2R control systems the solutions developed could turn out to be too costly or cumbersome to be useful. Because integration and automation span such a wide domain of technologies and disciplines, standards are absolutely vital to its success. Fortunately the first chapter in this section provides a thorough review of integration and automation standards that have been developed and proposed by organizations like SEMATECH, SEMI, and SIA. The subsequent chapters in this section address specific implementations of R2R control and the integration and automation strategies used with these implementations. A minor criticism of this section is the emphasis in these chapters on the Generic Cell Controller (GCC), although it should be noted that the authors have a wealth of experience with the application of the GCC to R2R control. The remaining sections of the book cover case studies of the application of R2R control to specific semiconductor manufacturing processes like Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) and photolithography and advanced topics such as methods for dealing with process upsets and control strategies that span multiple process technologies. The book concludes with a discussion of the future of R2R control in semiconductor manufacturing and suggestions for further reading which are in addition to the thorough list of references included at the end of each chapter of the book.

In conclusion, this book is a very useful reference for any manufacturing technologist in the semiconductor industry. It provides a good introduction to the basics of R2R control and illustrates its application to semiconductor manufacturing with specific examples and case studies based on the authors personal experiences.

Carolina da Silva can transform anything, from a suitcase to a house, into a personal shrine. Chockfull of holistic concoctions, multicultural traditions, and the magical essences of colors and scents, her book, "Sacred Spaces: Transform any Space into a place for Rejuvenation, Relaxation and Transformation" has to be the Feng Shui of New Age.

I just finished reading SACRED SPACES and found it an intriguing and exceptionally informative book on how to transform any space--including a wallet--into a personal place for meditation, comfort, and joy. I enjoyed reading how cultures all over the world transform their own spaces for protection, enjoyment, relaxation, cultural identity, and a number of other purposes. I especially liked the sections on African American yard shows and "flash and light." What a fun book!

A tremendiious story about the complexities of creativity. As a retired architect, I bought the book because I realized that I was a little fuzzy about the details of the competition/design/construction. I knew the story of Saarinens pivitial role in the architect selection process, and I knew that Utzohn (the architect) resigned under pressure and did not finish the project. What I did not know, and the book makes clear, is that Utqon did not know how to finish the project, and the completed project does not meet the owners stated requirements. It is nevertheless a masterpiece that has served Sidney well and inspired millions. Strange stuff!

Everytime I see a picture of this building it never ceases to take my breath away: just a spectacular building. This book is fascinating, I really had no idea all the controversy involved in building this building, it just seems so perfect for its harbor perch. The images in this book are wonderful and the text is very interesting and easy to follow. I find it amazing that the architect has never actually seen his masterpiece, how does that happen? The design is brilliant and totally original. Every city wants an icon and Sydney is lucky enough to have two, this building and the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and though each building is totally different in style, they are perfect foils for each other and they make the Sydney Harbor one of the most beautiful places on earth. Wonderful book on a spectacular building.

San Francisco Houses features four project by Levy Art & Architecture: www.10d.com.
Full disclosure, I work for this company. Having said that, I am a perfectionist and highly critical and I think this book is wonderful. We are featured on pages 44-75 of this book. Since I was a child I have always enjoyed looking at photographs of homes and of this wonderful city. Now, as an adult and a homeowner and the Office Manager for Levy Art & Architecture, I feel privileged to work with such talented co-workers and wonderful people. I think this book represents the diversity of our projects and our range of talent. Please get a copy for your house!

Libraries specializing in architecture and interior design will want to include San Francisco Houses in their collection: there are over four hundred pages packed with color photos and discussions of the latest architectural trends of the city. Floor plans, histories, and influences are included in discussions presented in English, French, German and Spanish. The range of styles is impressive and will intrigue any student of contemporary architecture.

This book has beautiful and stylish photos that really capture the essence of San Francisco. It is a great gift for anyone who lives in San Francisco or has visited the area. It's a good coffee table book.

Often I'll enjoy a design book the first time I read through it, but I won't find myself interested in a second perusal. This book , however, is one I find myself drawn to time after time. Not only are the rooms beautifully photographed and fascinating to look at, but the glimpse at lives of the people who live in them is compelling. There are also enough different and unique styles covered by the book that each one doesn't begin to blur with the previous one as sometimes happens in design books that restrict themselves to a particular style. Highly recommended.

I love Scandinavian architecture, both traditional and modern. This book has well done photographs of some of the most simply eloquent modern Scandinavian homes. It makes you want to live in one of these most appealing dwellings. Every so often I look through the book once more and enjoy the beautifully photographed exteriors and interiors of the homes all over again.

The first time I went to Scandinavia, I arrived in Helsinki late in the evening. I went to my hotel, and in the first few minutes I understood what was so special about Scandinavian design. The otherwise ordinary hotel room stood out as one of the best I have ever seen. It was not a tremendously expensive hotel, rather middle of the road. But simple things: the door, the faucets in the bathroom, the furniture, all were so much more elegant looking than what we find in the United States.

Now I'm in the process of designing a house. I went looking for a book on interior design that would reflect what I had seen there. I found several, but this one shows more elements of design that reflect what I like. Simple things, like an office table. Easy enough to find, once I knew what I was looking for. A bed: simple, elegant, and better looking than anything I've seen in other publications.

If you're looking for something for yourself or if you're doing a Scandinavian home for a customer I highly recommend this book.

This is by far the best source of information on the history of the Scottish Pistol. This book is unsurpassed by any other source that I have located.

Based on the author's personal examination of surving models of the all metal scottish pistol, this book provides the reader with the best source of information on this weapon.

A must have for anyone interested in weapons of the period.