Models Books

For those of us who admire, collect, make and renovate 1920s and 20s-inspired art dolls, Susanna Oroyan has written a thoughtful volume focusing on boudoir dolls from the Art Deco period. Although the topic is covered better visually in another of my favorites, "The Magic and Romance of Art Dolls" by Stephanie Farago, the strength of this book is in Oroyan's excellent research, writing and wonderful storytelling ability. Her fresh and fun-loving writing style shines in this book (the illustrative drawings also are quite good.)

Unlike her other fine books, which focus more directly on the art, design and mechanics of doll-making, this book is a loving tribute to a period, aesthetic and style of doll that she very much values, appreciates and knows well. And for that we can be thankful, as Oroyan has contributed so largely to the doll-making world, with her vision, her instruction, and her art.

Highly recommended as another fine book to add to the resource library of "students of the doll."

In Dolls Of The Art Deco Era, dollmaker Oroyan provides a survey of the history, makers and collectible items of the art deco era, providing both a step-by-step set of instructions for reproducing the style of doll popular in the era and covering the history of dollmaking during the era, and restoration techniques after. Packed with ideas crafts and collectors alike will appreciate.

a real authentic and easy way to understand and MAKE dolls.
mrs.Oroyan must be a magician to write so many books,so variabile & so full of culture & reserch that is related to the art, craft, etc...
the book is reach, easy and wonderfull for the dollmaker! even
for the beginer! www.geocities.com/pushadolls/

there is no other book that gives so much information on bed dolls called boudoir dolls. This is like a "bible" for doll collectors. You do not need another book if you have this one.

The author's expertise on WWI German aviation comes through clearly in this excellent and much needed addition to the Osprey aces series. Here is the story of how fighter aviation started, and is told via excellent text (much by the aces themselves), well-chosen photographs, and excellent color profiles of the planes. This book is a must for enthusiasts, historians, and modelers interested in WWI aviation.

This little book is a valuable resource for those wishing to know something of the early German aces of the "Fokker Scourge" period. Informative text, good photographs.

A first class basic reference book and well worth the price. I intend to add more in the series to my collection

If the German Air Service didn't invent air combat, they certainly contributed much to its initial development. Once German fighters were equipped with a forward-firing machine gun in 1915 - courtesy of Tony Fokker's Eindecker monoplane - intrepid pilots like Oswald Boelcke, Max Immelmann, Hans-Joachim Buddecke, Wilhelm Frankl and Gustav Leffers set about sweeping the skies of Allied aircraft and, in doing so, created many of the tactics and formations subsequently utilized by all fighter pilots. Greg VanWyngarden summarizes the exploits of these early Fokker pilots in this Osprey "Aircraft of the Aces" volume, #73.

VanWyngarden does a good job of relating the creation of the machine-gun armed fighter and the resulting 'Fokker scourge.' Along with relating numerous air combats, he also supplies a human face to the long-ago 'Hun' pilots - the brilliant fighter ace/tactician Boelcke, the rather foppish Max Immelmann, the grimly determined Rudolf Berthold, the playboy Ernst Freiherr von Althaus and so on. These were the days of the lone hunter and Germany's pilots were as fascinating as they were deadly.

The book features over 100 photographs, some quite rare, and 10 pages of color profiles by Harry Dempsey.

This is a marvelous chronicle of the early days of air combat. It's amazing when looking at the photographs of the Eindecker monoplanes to think that those rather flimsy aircraft were the F-15 of their day!

Recommended for all air war afficiandos.

This text give a top to bottom account of model building via RSM. If you have a question, consult this book.

I do a lot of experimental work for my research and this book is definetely a good investment. I rate it amongst the best in the subject

George Box and Norman Draper have written an outstanding text on model building and response surface methods. This is an excellent companion to Box's text with Stu Hunter and William Hunter on experimental designs "Statistics for Experimenters". Another excellent, more recent and detailed account of response surface methods can be found in the book by Montgomery and Myers.

George Box and Norman Draper have written an outstanding text on model building and response surface methods. This is an excellent companion to Box's text with Stu Hunter and William Hunter on experimental designs "Statistics for Experimenters". Another excellent, more recent and detailed account of response surface methods can be found in the book by Montgomery and Myers.

A great book for those who interested in this unique collection of anatomical wax models. Incredibly well photographed and documented, doesn't skimp on any details. It's good to see this not very well known collection credited and recorded in a thourough reference.

ENCYCLOPEDIA ANATOMICA is a detailed examination of the collection of wax images of the dissected human body which were created in the late 18th century and are housed in a unique museum - Museo La Specola in Florence, Italy. Much like "Dr Tulp's Anatomy Lesson" this collection is not for the faint of heart. Every organ, muscle, nerve, bone, nerve, and vessel of the body have been meticulously sculpted in wax. In ways this is like a Madame Toussad's Wax Museum gone mad. Yet the prosections are accompanied by some truly beautiful three dimensional tableaux of quasihistorical scenes, such as "The Plague", "Syphillis", "The Burial", and others which are dramatic sculptures in themselves. The commentary is brief but informative describing how the models for the body parts were dissected and created. As stated above, this little tome is not for everyone, but for artists who want to study the interior of their models and for all of those who just want a better glimpse of how we are assembled, this book is a treasure.

It is astonishing what the medical wax sculptors were able to do with wax. The models are so realistic and detailed that I had to check the introduction to make sure that they were not actual preserved specimens. Almost every page is dominated by a single high-quality photo of a wax model of some part of human anatomy, and there are 700 pages. There is very little text and almost no naming of the details within a single photo, just a title (giving the scientific names of the major features being illustrated) and brief caption describing the whole model. So this is not a substitute for an anatomy book (though it would make a great companion). Every part of anatomy that I can think of is well-represented, usually by many sculptures showing different layers and cutaway views - brain, heart, lungs, skeleton, eyes, sexual organs, cutaway views of stages of pregnancy, the different parts of the digestive system, musculature, incredibly detailed networks of blood vessels, inner ear, and many groups of different body parts to show how they fit together. My one criticism of the book is that I wish it had a larger format. I have verified the dimensions stated by Amazon, which are 7.87 x 5.70 for the version that I am reviewing.

I saw this book at a nearby bookstore and was surprised to find it so cheap!! The paper quality is good and the color pictures of wax figures are clear and crisp. Almost every page there is color picture in the 700+ pages book.

The pictures are from 25 wax figures, showing the inner parts of the body and also from different layers (muscular, skeletar, etc.). Also includes foetuses, in and outside the mother's body (at various growth stages).

At this price, I find it a real bargain. But if there were a edition of bigger size (say, A4 paper size) I would be very much interested if it were also offered at a good price but I would have no doubt that such a book would not be easily portable due to its weight and size.

On your next visit to a book store, try asking for this book to take a look... If you are looking for a book that shows the innards of the human body, I think you will like this book.

This is a great book with easy-to-understand concepts and examples. I got the book from Amazon on free-supersaving shipping and it came in less than two weeks and the book is in brand-new condition for approximately half the price listed. I think it was a great offer.

This book is the best book of many that I have found for someone who is attempting to decipher the mathematical side of the social sciences. I say this particularly because the author provides useful mathematical tips and insights to variables and terms to those who are not familiar with all of their differing uses in the seperate branches of the social sciences.

Another reviewer said it best when he/she said that this book was written to help readers understand mathematics as a language. This author truly treats the understanding of mathematics as a language teacher does. The author does not fall into the usual trap that so many authors before him have done, which is to assume prior mathematical knowledge beyond algebra. This book makes mathematics far more accessible than its counterparts before it for someone seeking either a refresher course or perhaps to merely buttress their mathematical understanding.

Explanations for students with no previous math background, with many examples concerning polical science problems.

Jeff's use of political science examples with the range of mathematical constructs makes this a particularly good book for beginning graduate political science students and undergraduate political science students who want to prepare themselves for graduate study. If you are new to political science and looking for a math refresher, at least scan through the book in the library before you adopt something else. My only regret is that the answers to sample problems are only available through a teaching edition.

Like Brother Lawrence's PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, this fast-reading little book leaves you tasting its flavors long after you've devoured it. A Self Compass for finding your way. A method for integrating your whole human nature with your spiritual life. The cultivation of a naturally supernatural life. A fresh perspective on the beauty of little prayers. And real ways for surrendering to God's loving presence in your life. The author's interpersonal style made reading this book a treasured experience.

Psychologist Dan Montgomery has the chutzpa to say what's on many people's minds today. When you limit your faith solely to what a particular church or denomination has to offer, you miss out on the rest of your adventure with God. I read this book in one sitting and placed it on my bedside table for many thoughtful returns. Material about the Self Compass was particularly valuable.

Though the book has special significance for Christians, its core message will inspire people from every spiritual tradition. It makes a perfect gift to those who are weighted down with worries and not at all sure God loves them.

As a professional counselor, I'll be referring this book to individuals who are seeking spiritual as well as psychological wholeness. I already gave a copy to my sister. Raymond D. Anderson, Ph.D., M.Th., LPCC

Important and timely! Many Christians are feeling disenfranchised from enjoying a truly personal relationship with God. Through practical instruction and warm personal anecdotes, the reader learns how to invite God into a vibrant, intimate everyday relationship. Understanding how to develop one's own personality using the Self Compass is an essential step. Dr. Dan Montgomery's beautifully written book is sensitive, insightful, and a tonic to the soul.

Whether you're a Christian newcomer or old-timer, or just taking a look at what the Christian faith is all about, this book will draw you closer to God. The chapters that touched me most were "God With You," "A Self Compass For Finding Your Way," "The Devil Is Emotionally Disturbed," and "The Beauty of Little Prayers." Because of its relevance to the 21st century, I recommend this book even more strongly than "Mere Christianity" by C. S. Lewis.

This is by far the best football book I have ever read. It goes into such technical detail as to leave almost no stone unturned in installing, coaching, and adjusting the 2 Level Defense.

I paid half what this book is currently going for originally, and I will never ever sell it. It has a permanent spot on my book case, which is tough to do since my wife fills it with murder-comedy-mysteries and leaves me space for only one book. And I chose this one.

Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book if you are a defensive coach. Do not let go of it, it is out of print and tough to find.

John Thomson's "Football Defense of the Future: The 2-Level Model" is the single most scholarly football text I have ever read. Dr. Thomson's voluminous research underpins a superb book, one which presents a radical defensive concept that offers solutions to any offensive system imaginable.

These are large claims, but I am confident readers will agree with me once they take the time to dive into Dr. Thomson's giant of a book. The 5-5-1 "2-Level" defense (2LD) has been the only defense I have used since this book first appeared in 1988.

The 2LD's key feature is a deep safety aligned some 28 yards from the ball. This innovation allows the 2LD to attack offenses with 10 players while cutting off the field vertically at about +18 yards with the deep safety. This in turn completely eliminates the cheap, breakaway touchdown, both on the ground and through the air.

Coaches looking for a system that will serve them from goal line to goal line with only minor modifications, and which adapts itself automatically to any offense from the Don Markham Double Wing to the 5-wide spread shotgun, should look no further than Dr. Thomson's epochal defensive text.

I own over 200 football coaching texts, and have probably read as many again over the years. I can say with utter certainty that this is the finest football coaching manual ever written.

Highest possible rating.

In my opinion one of the greatest technical manuals written for football. This is how all football coaching books should be written. Authored by coaching legends from both Canada and the US, this book reviews the evolution of modern defensive football theory and then explores a radical new concept of football defense and unvails a complete and thorough plan for implementation of the ideas presented. Excellent diagrams and stop action photographs help the authors illustrate each of their key points. The authors also present gameplans and drills for defensing today's modern offenses. Anyone interested in an "attacking defensive philosophy" should grab a hold of this book and read it religously. Rare and Hard to find but well worth it!!!!

After 26 years of coaching the slant defense and the multiple stunt packages associated with it, our team needed more variety with less predictability. The "2-Level Defense" not only gives us the method or means for implementation, but it goes further than any text that I have read in regards to sharing "KEYS". It is critical, when analyzing a new defensive scheme, that all that you have done in the past is not lost. This book bridges this issue with clear and concise communication and practice organization. When you purchase this book, you will get MORE than enough straight forward data to implement as much or as little of this defense into your current scheme for your 'force unit' and your 'cover unit'. If you can't teach it, you can't coach it... You cannot implement defense's that are so foreign to your young men that they cannot grasp it quickly. Everything you do on the field must be done as efficiently as possible so that maximum learning occurs. This text gives you everything you need to implement as much or as little of the defensive concepts into your current scheme as you choose.

Excellent coverage of these WWI forts. This was an interesting book on Belgian forts that played a significant role in the early stages of WWI. The Belgiams had expected them to hold out for a long time and secur Liege and Namur, but the Germans captured or destroyed them rapidly. The rapid capture of Belgium was the result. This book covers the forts in question. There were many cut away diagrams, rare period photos, explanations of how the forts and their weapons functioned, 3-d representations of how the forts fit in with the local terrain, and explanation of the damage the forts recieved in combat.

I'm hoping the author does a similar book covering the French forts in the Verdun sector, as well as the system of German forts cosnstructed around Metz.

Clayton Donnell's THE FORTS OF THE MEUSE IN WORLD WAR I tells of new forts built around the cities of Liege and Namur, known as the 'forts of the Meuse'. It was a huge project which produced over twenty modern forts to defend strategic gaps and transportation arteries: any collection strong in World War 1 strategy needs to understand this project's history and evolution.

This book introduces the reader to the new system of fortifications devised by Belgian General Brailmont in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and how a fortress system was setup around Liege and Namur the block a major invasion route along the Meuse. The author explains the failings of the system and its strengths. Brialmont had warned that more complete measures were needed an additional forts needed to cover crossings of the Meuse beyond the fortress rings built around these two cities. IN addition his new forts, although strong, were part of fortress rings that were as sold as Swiss cheese.
The author also explains the integral weakness in the forts themselves resulting from construction methods and how they were only designed to resist weapons of 210-mm caliber which the Germans countered by building the Big Bertha's of 420-mm. In addition to a description of the forts, the author covers the preparation for war and the campaign of August 1914 and how each fort finally succumbed to the enemy. You are not going to find such detail information on these forts and the campaign in such a small work with many excellent illustrations including maps to enhance the text. This may be one of the best of the Osprey FORTRESS series books.

Although the role of the Liege forts in Belgium in the opening days of the First World War in August 1914 are well known, the actual composition of the fortifications involved is typically glossed over in most standard histories. Furthermore, many readers familiar with the fighting around Liege assume that the forts were resistant to German attacks until the arrival of the German `secret weapon' - a new 420mm field howitzer. In Osprey Fortress #60, author Clayton Donnell sets the record about the role and structure of these famous fortifications. This volume is vital for anyone desiring insight into the opening moves on the Western Front in the First World War. Overall, this is an excellent volume, although at times the author's description of the layout of the fortifications is confusing.

The volume opens with a discussion of the conditions that led to Belgium's decision to modernize its outmoded system of fortifications in the 1880s. Belgian military leaders realized that their outmoded system of forts were made obsolescent by the development of new types of artillery and high explosive, just as they realized the potential for German invasion in the event of a renewed Franco-German conflict. Belgian engineer General Henri Brialmont developed a plan to construct a ring of forts around the key transportation nodes of Liege and Namur, which lay along the most likely invasion routes. Brialmont's plan was well considered, incorporating the latest designs and was the first in Europe to be built entirely of concrete and steel. The forts, which were armed with turrets mounting 150mm, 120mm and 57mm guns, were built to withstand direct hits from 210mm howitzers - the largest field artillery in existence when the forts were completed in 1891. However, the fortification system was seriously weakened by financial parsimony by the Belgian Government, which failed to fully fund all the necessary construction; the author notes that the Germans were quick to take advantage of gaps in the fortified ring at the outset of the war. The section on the design and development of the forts is excellent, but a bit confusing at times. Some of the explanatory material does not appear until later in the volume, which leads to a lot of page flipping to tie it all together. The author then does a `tour of the sites,' which adds more detail.

The section on principles of defense is very good and it is here that the role of the forts in Belgium's defense are made clear. Following this, the `living sites' section details life and pre-war activities in the forts (which were only manned by skeleton crews). Most readers will focus on the "sites at war," which details their role in the campaign of August 1914. Some interesting points that emerge from this section are that the Germans were able to exploit gaps in the system (not enough Belgian infantry to cover the gaps) and that several forts were pounded into submission by batteries of 240mm howitzers, before the novel 420mm howitzers arrived. Indeed, the author points out that the Belgians had failed to modernize the forts after 1891 and they were hopelessly obsolete by 1914. The author did not discuss machineguns, but clearly the Belgians had failed to add these new weapons to their expensive forts and because of this deficiency, German infantry could get fairly close to the fortifications. Indeed, the Belgian defense was further compromised by the lack of communications between forts (except for searchlights) and they could not call for artillery support. Although the armored domes soon proved vulnerable to direct hits from 240mm and 420mm howitzers, the author makes the interesting observation that most of the forts actually surrendered due to poor ventilation and poor latrine facilities.

The author also discusses the sites today at length, although focusing on the few that are open to the public. Readers will note that the fortifications at Namur receive very little coverage in this volume. Artwork includes scenes depicting the construction of the forts, a 210mm turret, a postern entry, a central massif, an overview, a German night attack, and the explosion at Fort de Loncin. The volume also includes two excellent maps as well as numerous color photos of the wrecks of the forts today. This volume is one of the better ones in the Fortress series, valuable for the depth of research conducted by the author and the insight it provides into the eternal race between the defense and the offense in war.

Not being involved in education, I was pleasantly surprised to find Free to Learn very accessible and informative. Izumi and Yan write in a very engaging way, and I came out of the book knowing quite a bit about the ins and outs of charter schools. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in meeting the educational needs of our children.

Whether you're a parent, an education professional, or simply a concerned citizen, Free to Learn is a valuable resource on top-performing charter schools, and how they've raised the standards for scholastic achievement. Izumi and Yan offer a collection of compelling case studies that give hope to teachers and students still struggling under the yoke of classroom bureaucracy. The model charter schools profiled are well researched, and provide an insightful look at how breaking the public school orthodoxy with charter school reform can make a difference in the lives of children everywhere. Free to Learn was an enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it.

I found Free to Learn insightful, as the authors navigate through several different charter school success stories, highlighting inefficiencies in public schools and the mechanisms that allow charter schools to more adequately handle these situations, without superfluously extolling virtue. Yan and Izumi deftly touch upon both commonalities and differences between these successful charters - emphasizing the fact that there is no "one size fits all" solution. Yet, comparisons with non-successful charters are included for a balanced viewpoint. Lastly, the personal stories of those students lives affected or the principals and teachers driving positive change give this policy book a very human feel.

Breathtaking in its scope, dazzling in its depth, "Free to Learn" is a must-read for anyone who cares about our educational system. Whether you are a veteran in education policy or a newcomer to the field, Yan and Izumi's enthusiasm for the subject matter and cogent writing style will keep you glued to the pages. The comprehensive analysis makes it a powerful resource for educators and policymakers alike. This is simply the most articulate and best-informed book you can buy on the timely and compelling subject of charter schools.

" Human slavery is wrong, insecure, and demoralising. On mechanical slavery, on the slavery of the machine, the future of the world depends." That profound quote from Oscar Wilde leading off the robot section tells you that this is not simply another stylish, colour- drenched coffee table collector's book, but one which marries brief text and evocative photos to cast its subject in a new light. "This book celebrates the design, novelty and colour of these highly fascinating toys," the authors write, exactly the same elements that readers and collectors find so fascinating.

In 225 pages, they present hundreds of colour photos of rare and iconic robots and space toys, along with brief informative blurbs. A rare feature is a listing of manufacturers' marks, both fascinating and helpful in identifying toys. Another rarity is the many photos of original boxes, along with numerous colour and style variants. Amazon suggests you buy this book along with Blast Off! I'd make the same suggestion. Blast Off! has lots of reading, unusual in a collector's book, while the stunning photography and layout lift this British book well above the ordinary.

I have to agree with the comments made by the author himself, both " ...informative & visually stimulating ...". If that was what he set out to achieve by writing this excellent book, then he has surpassed it. Superb colour pictures of the type of tin robots & space toys we all played with in our younger days brought the memories flooding back. For collectors of this type of toy, this has to be a classic. Clear photography, excellent description of each toy, rare items and original boxes and a desirability guide. A must for both new & experienced collectors alike !

Altho I'm not a Space Toy collector, this will be on my shelf just for the quality and quantity of the fantastic vintage graphic images of the toys and their boxes.

For the Space Toy afficianado, this has the best, large scale, clearest photos I've seen. Thee is brief, but concise information on each toy that includes the size, maker, year, country, desirability, & description. There are several pages of trademark logos. It's a real trip down memory lane and should serve as one of the top ranked refrence books out there.

The authors have done a superb job in presenting a classic piece of collectible reference. The book is filled to the bubble with all the greats and done with taste and care. One of the nice sections is a complete listing of toy manufacturers trademarks. No effort was made to price the robots and space toys, which I'm gratefully thankful for, since any attempt would certainly have dated the work. As a collector this will be one of my future guides as I pursue what has become a rewarding if albeit expensive pastime! Bravo...and my compliments. To all others the least bit interested...get this book!