Models Books

Everything from a Disney Nautilus to George Pal's Time Machine. Tons of tips and how to do casting, making molds, tricks for better details on models. If you like to scratchbuild, this books is chocked full of good information.

I picked up Cult's book at WonderFest with egar anticipation. What was contained in the book did not dissapoint. It was filled with great kits I never knew existed (& now want) as well as great ideas & tips on building them. I can't say enough about this book & how it will help me build a better kit.

If you love to build scale models from classic sci-fi movies, then this is the book for you. This book covers a wide range of subjects: plastic model kits that you would remember from your youth, some of the coolest offerings by the contemporary garage industry, and techniques for beginners and experts. Since no single project requires EVERY modelling skill (typical of the hobby), each chapter takes a classic movie robot or spacecraft and details the building process in its own unique way.

CultTVman's guide offers tips on building, painting, customizing, and displaying some of the more obscure kits out there - kits that are only offered in the "garage scene", never produced by a major plastic model company. It was a blast to see these familiar subjects built by some very talented people.

Few books devoted to science fiction modelmaking have punctuated the monotonous and predictable landscape of model building related books, and this one is a stand-out! "The Ultimate Modeling Guide..." covers a broad range of science fiction hardware and model making techniques. Excellent photography supports detailed and authoritative text. I've found it to be instructional and inspirational. This book is for anyone interested in modelmaking. And for the sci-fi specific modelmaker, you library is sorely incomplete until you get this book. I highly recommend it!

Reference books and how-to books for modelers are a small niche in the market, and they've been almost entirely oriented toward the military modeler. Now at last is an in-depth how-to book for the science fiction kit builder. We're not out in the cold any more! Steve Iverson has gathered a gaggle of the best sci fi modelers from around the CultTVMan internet community, and they've given us step-by-step articles on building and improving such kits as Polar Lights' Robbie the Robot and C-57D spaceship, Lunar Models' Proteus and Discovey, and many other mainstream and garage industry models. The book is capped off with a fascinating history of the filming model of the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek: The Motion Picture through its retirement, with some wonderful reference photos of the ship - worth the price of admission alone!

The author picks a variety of sunjects related to evolution (HIV, cancer, language....), and mathematically shows, why it has to be that way!
The mathematics involved is simple (I am an engineer, and I had absolutely no problems understanding the math), yet rigorous enough.

In my opinion, mathematics is not necessary to understand the principles of Darwin's Great Theory (unlike Quantum Theory and Relativity Theory, where without math, you are lost), it greatly helps to make it unassailable.

I recommend this book to anybody interested in the Theory of Evolution, who is not totally afraid of mathematics.

I am neither a biologist nor a mathematician but I found this book very approachable and tremendously interesting. I would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone with a passing interest in evolution who has a basic understanding of ordinary differential equations and linear algebra and who would like to see the nuts and bolts of how evolution works.

This is a wonderful book by a master of the field. Prof. Nowak, who teaches at Harvard, has managed a minor miracle: writing a book on mathematical biology that is mathematically rigorous and extremely readable at the same time.

The book is divided into two broad sections. The first nine chapters explore various abstract models of evolution. Simple models of evolution do not demonstrate cooperation between individuals, while examples of it abound in the real world. This fact quite rightly fascinates the author and informs his presentation. The last four chapters of the book use some of the modeling techniques developed in previous chapters to study real-world systems, such as HIV infection and cancer.

This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in the mathematical aspects of biology. More broadly, it will be of interest to anyone who's interested in mathematical models of complex systems.

I don't do math, so I must disclose right away that the math was lost on me, except in the context of this equisitely presented book, I am compelled to recognize that mathematics as well as computation science is going to be a major player is the EarthGame, in modeling alternative outcomes for social and cultural complexity, and in cross-fertilizing disciplines by creating a common language.

I tend to be hard on publishers, so in this instance I want to say right away that the Belknap Press of Harvard University has done an absolutely phenomenal job with this book. The paper, the use of color and white space, every aspect of this book is exquisitly presented, and at an affordable price. I therefore recommend this book for content as well as for its artistic context, for both those who love mathematics, and those who do not, but want to understand the promise of mathematics for the future of life.

The text across the book is elegant, clear, easy to understand, and coherent. The summaries at the end of each chapter are in English, and for me at least, obviate the fact that I am mathematically-challenged.

I have a number of notes that merit sharing as encouragement to buy and read this book, one of just two that I found in the right context and price range as I venture into the intersection of modeling social complexity and doing real-time science in the context of an EarthGame where everyone plays themselves. The other book I bought and will read shortly is Complex Adaptive Systems: An Introduction to Computational Models of Social Life (Princeton Studies in Complexity). Too many otherwise worthwhile books are grotesquely over-priced, and the authors should release free PDFs online in protest and to have effect on this exciting emergent inter-disciplinary endeavor.

The author stresses early on that Information is what evolves--errors are mutations, mutation plus selection in a noisy (i.e. natural) environment is evolution. I like that idea, and point the reader to Hans Swegen's "The Global Mind: The Ultimate Information Process" (Minerva UK, 1995)which first made the connection for be from DNA to World Brain.

The author inspires with his view that the field of evolutionary dynamics is "on brink of unprecedented theoretical expansion." I must say, as one who is focused on connecting all people to all information in all languages all the time, I have been slow to understand that while that is a wonderful baseline, only models can project alternative scenarios into the future, and hence, the modeling of the past is but a prelude to the shaping of the future by displaying compelling alternative paths.

The author sees mathematics as a common language that can help disciplines interact, and when they do so, progress occurs. He speaks specifically of disciplinary "cultures" that must understand each other.

Early on he delimits the book, and in the process notes that mathematical biology includes:

+ Theoretical ecology
+ Poulation genetics
+ Epidemiology
+ Theoretical immunology
+ Protein folding
+ Generic regulatory networks
+ Neural networks
+ Genomic analysis
+ Pattern formulation

The main ingredients of evolutionary dynamics are

+ Reproduction
+ Mutation
+ Selection
+ Random Drift
+ Spatial Movement

Terms of interest (all explained in English not just mathematics):

+ Sequential space
+ Fitness landscape
+ Error threshold
+ Neutral versus random drift

Thoughts that grabbed me across the book (all from the author):

+ Evolutionary game theory is the most comprehensive way to look at the world.

+ Natural selection favors the defectors over the cooperators BUT if there are repeated interactions, cooperation is not assured, but is made possible.

+ Models show alternative scenarios--inclulding coexistence of all.

+ Evolutionary graph theory yields a remarkably simple rule for the evolution of cooperation.

+ Under natural selection the average fitness of the population continuously declines [we're there!]

+ Direct reciprocity is a mechanism for the evolution of cooperation (the collective intelligence world has been calling for reciprocal altruism and a shift to a gift economy with open money and an end to scarcity--I see all this converging).

+ War and peace strategies CAN be modeled (as my own books suggest, the problem is the information asymmetry that Charles Perrow speaks of. Elites make decisions that have consequences for all of us, but they lie to us (935 lies leading to the war on Iraq) and they also externalize costs into the future.)

+ A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL can move an entire population from war to peace.

+ 10 cooperators in a string comprise a sustainable "walker," and is two such cooperative walkers meet, they can induce a "big bang" in which cooperatives sweep the game away from defectors.

+ Cooperators and defectors can co-exist for near-eternity.

+ Evolutionary graph theory can plot relationships (I think to myself, not only of people to people, but costs to things, time, and space).

+ Language makes infinite use of finite media--bulk of progress in last six hundred million years has been cultural, using language, not genetic.

+ The author credits Noam Chomsky with the Chomsky hierarchy relating language to mathematics. I read most of what Chomsky publishes, and had no idea he had done original work in mathematics back in the day.

+ Learning differs from memorization in that the learner is enabled to acquire generalizations that can then be applied in novel circumstances. I strongly believe that we must radically redirect education toward team learning, project learning, learning to learn, and learning in vivo, one reason I want to map every person, every dollar, every thing, every language, every idea, in Fairfax County.

+ Mathematical analysis of language must combine three fields (at least):
- Formal language theory
- Learning theory
- Evolutionary theory

The author concludes that mathematics is a way to think clearly. I cannot disagree, but as I put the book down, VERY PLEASED with the complete package of such very high quality, I was not convinced that mathematics can do intangible value and cultural nuance is multi-cultural context under stress and with time limitations.

The author provides both a bibliographic essay and a superb extensive bibliography, but if I could change one thing and one thing only in this book, it is that I would integrate the two. I have neither the time nor the inclination to look up each cryptic (Bloom, 1997) in the longer list. I would have preferred to see the actual bibliography organized by chapter, with all books on, for example, "Evolution of Virulence" listed there after the explicatory section. This is a nit.

I learned enough from this book to budget for and demand the full inclusion of evolutionary dynamics in all that the Earth Intelligence Network will strive to accomplish in the next twenty years.

Kudos again to the publisher. Nothing gives me more pleasure, apart from intelligent content, than very high-quality materials, thoughtful editing and lay-out, and honorable pricing. This book is a gem in all respects. BRAVO.

I did not appreciate Stephen Wolfam's A New Kind of Science but treasure the book (another enormous gift to mankind at an affordable price) and urge the mathematically-gifted to take a close look at that work.

Other books that have caught my attention as I circle this area of interest:
Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems
Resilience Thinking: Sustaining Ecosystems and People in a Changing World
The Philosophy of Sustainable Design
Green Chemistry and the Ten Commandments of Sustainability, 2nd ed
The Future of Life
Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, Third Edition
High Noon 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them

I would also point the reader toward Pierre Levy's Information Economy Meta Language (IEML) as one approach to creating a universal dictionary of concepts, easily found on the Internet, and also Doug Englebart's Open Hypertextdocument System (OHS), easily found at the Bootstrap Institute.

This book is an accessible introduction to the mathematics of evolution and results in the field of evolutionary dynamics with a heavy emphasis on applications including the immune system, virulence, AIDS, and even the evolution of language. Many of the ideas are from fairly recent papers and results in mathematical biology, particularly the sections regarding the evolution of universal grammar and in the emerging field of evolutionary graph theory, which adds population structure to the mathematical analysis. (This is a now necessary generalization of evolutionary game theory, which assumes uniform population structure.) As noted above, this is the first book to present many of these ideas outside of scientific and mathematical journals.

Although the mathematical content is significant, Nowak diligently explains the implications of the mathematics in the text of the book, widening the potential audience of the book dramatically. Simply put, this book is filled with delicious evolutionary content, backed up with mathematical rigor for the interested reader, but you need not have a degree in mathematics in order to understand much of the material.

Highly recommended for those truly interested in evolution.

As the author of this book, I am admittedly biased ... but in all candor I do believe that it is the most comprehensive book available on the subject of air pollution dispersion modeling. I would also like to point out that the book is not out of print nor is it limited in availability. It is completely available at www.amazon.com (but not at www.amazon.ca).

.
This book book is an excellent reference source and working tool for any engineer interested in learning about air pollution dispersion modeling.

It offers easy to understand explanations of very complex subjects and is very well organized. It starts from basic fundamentals and takes the reader through the different aspects of dispersion modeling in simple, easy to understand terms. There are also a good many example problems, worked out in complete detail, which are excellent learning tools.

I recently purchased a new copy of this book from the Market Place at www.amazon.com and it is, by far, the best book I've seen on the subject of air pollution dispersion modeling. I highly recommend it.

I recently purchased this book from www.amazon.com (it wasn't available on www.amazon.ca for some reason) and it is absolutely the best technical book that I have ever read. Everything is explained very simply and very clearly. The example calculations were very helpful. The shipment was very prompt and the book arrived in excellent condition.

Mr. Beychok's book is an excellent reference source and working tool for any engineer interested in stack gas dispersion. I have had occasion to use this book for unusual problems such as flare upsets with aerosol release and found it to be easily used. An especially valuable aspect of the book is its careful development of all data and equations for dispersion models. I highly recommend this book for anyone performing or interested in understanding dispersion.

I've been using this book to make toys for children for 15 years and find the drawings and instructions clear and easy to follow. I like how all the projects are designed around stock lumber. One reviewer mentioned that the drawings are on grids for easy scaling. I should note that only items that are odd shaped and can't be drawn full scale in the book are on grids, but that is all that is needed. The only toy that I would have liked to have been included is a dump truck, but I designed my own once I got the hang of how his trucks are designed.

This book is great for making fun, easy projects that make great gifts. I have made a total of four trucks from this book. This book is a great way to introduce woodworking to kids. I would reccomend this book to anyone.

Since I purchased this book I have madea Model T Ford and am now making a Stearman biplane.
The instructions are generally clear with good illustrations. Most of the projects are not for beginners and most require a table or radial arm saw, a band saw and a power drum/belt sander. The author's suggestion to use knotty pine is economical but most of this wood in my local home improvement stores is warped, bowed and generally a pain to work with. Spend a little more and use clear pine or better yet, poplar which in my area is available in many different sizes and thicknesses. Also, the author may love resawing wood to get the sizes that he recommends but it would be a lot easier to scale the projects so that they require standard thicknesses.

I bought this book a few years ago when I started making wooden toys.
I loved the designs in this book. They ranged from simple to more complext to suit differing levels of skill. Of course as your own level of skill increases, you can confidently tackle some of the tougher projects, although even the toughest of them was not overly difficult.
I began selling the toys I was making from these plans at craft shows. They went like hot cakes! I could not make enough of them. Seems I wasn't the only one who thought these toys were neat.
But for the Toymaker, whether you are a hobbyist, or looking to make a living with them, these toys are easy to make, great looking, and popular!

I echo what the other reviewers have already said. Excellent intro to wood toy making provided you have or can get access to tools. Good step by step instructions. This book is a good way to develop your woodworking skills without being overwhelmed.

This is a great book for anyone considering building their own airplane, it goes into great detail about every facet of building your own plane, and excellent book!

An amazing amount of information for the homebuilder. Very well written, entertaining and up to date.

This is another great addition to my library. Very informative, I really like the case studies.

The book helped me most in the following areas:

1) What is involved in kitplane construction - risks and benifits, even the benifits of purchasing a used certified aeroplane.
2) Showed me how to think in terms of aviation building with safety as a priority.
3) Covers info from the kit purchase stage to the test flight.
4) Emphasized that it is helpful to understand all forms of construction (metal, wood) no matter what kind of aeroplane you are building. The book covers composite, metal, metal monocoque, wood construction.

This is a must buy for people who are wondering what it takes to build a kitplane and are undecided about whether they should build one.

This book is not biased in stating everyone can build a homebuilt. Infact early on Ron makes it clear that homebuilding is not for everyone. He takes you through the different construction materials as well as things that you don't think about. The case studies are what realy makes this book standout. These are planes being built by people with the same amount of aircraft construction as any person contemplating building.

Let us stop talking about the environment and the need to protect it and start DOING SOMETHING, ANYTHING to achieve a better path towards a more SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY AND WAY OF LIFE! THE TIME IS NOW! I do hope its not too late.
Anselmo De Portu, Environmental Planner

This book deserves more than five stars.

Mr. Anderson has taken an important step forward in leading Interface Corporation towards becoming ecologically neutral. By that phrase, ecologically neutral, I mean taking nothing from and adding nothing to the environment. This concept has become a popular one in Europe beginning in Sweden, in the form of The Natural Step, but has been much more slowly adopted in the United States. Those who are interested in understanding the processes by which a company can pursue improved environmental performance will find many helpful examples in Mid-Course Correction.

What if you don't care about your company's impact on the environment? Mr. Anderson makes a powerful argument based on his experiences at Interface that you should. First, it is much cheaper to produce goods and services if you use less materials and waste less. This means higher profits. Do you care about profits? Second, the pursuit of sustainability attracts many new customers and better supplier relationships. That also means higher profits. Third, people feel better about themselves. Do you like to feel better about yourself? Fourth, perhaps you should rethink your position about the environment. Even if we have enough for now, if we waste it, we are robbing our own descendents at some point of a good quality life. Mr. Anderson describes many cases of where despoilage of nature from overuse has been very expensive and undesirable by anyone's standard.

He also cites many of the leading books on the benefits of an ecologically sustainable business world. In fact, this movement will become a disruptive technology by making those who waste unable to compete with those who do not. Think about it.

To me, the value in the book is in Mr. Anderson's fine example of how to lead towards becoming environmentally sustainable as a company. I have been aware of most of the arguments in favor of this (including The Natural Step), but could not imagine how an American company would go about pursuing this goal. I also could not imagine how it could be reconciled with public ownership of stock. So much for my tiny imagination. Now, with Mr. Anderson's book, I can understand (and so can you) that becoming a sustainable enterprise is simply good business as well as being a good citizen. That will make sense to almost anyone.

After you read this wonderful book, I encourage you to share you copy with another person and ask them to do the same. This message needs to be spread if our companies are to fulfill their potential, and we are to have a world that we can all be proud of and enjoy living in. Then, I urge you to take this one step further, and think about how your family could become an ecologically sustainable unit.

Do good and do well!

This is the personal and eco-spiritual journey of Ray Anderson - the CEO of Interface, Inc., the world's largest producer of floor coverings. The book chronicals Ray Anderson's mid-life "change of heart" concerning the negative impact his business was having on the eco-systems of earth. Moved by this new awareness, Anderson sets off on an intensive study of the topic (much of which he writes about here) and sets the audacious goal of transforming his company into the first truly sustainable enterprise (which is a work in-progess of course).

Admittedly, much of what Mr. Anderson writes here is an amalgam of the writings of the major environmental proponents of the 80's & 90's, but told in a personalized way as it relates to Interface's carpeting business. He forms a framework and rationale of why sustainable business is essential and gives many useful stories of how Interface struggled to define and achieve continuous improvement in the quest for sustainability - a journey Anderson likens to "climbing Mt. Everest."

Some highlights I found useful include:
+ A vision of prototypical sustainable company of the 21st century
+ The case how technology must move from being part of the problem to being part of the solution to non-sustainability
+ Interface's seven-front plan for achieving sustainability (nice color charts)
+ A great example of how Interface is moving from selling consumable products to be discarded (floorcovering) to providing an ongoing service (replaceable floorcovering that is taken back and recycled using zero-waste, solar-energy processes).

While this book is now 10 years old, it is still relevant and useful - although some concepts are dated (eg: solar is now economically realizable in many places but not written as such). For readers who like books that tell a story, there should be much inspiration here in the author's memoirs. And for those who look for the "how-to" lists, there is a wonderful, comprehensive list of 200-some practices a company can implement to achieve greater sustainability. Those with responsibily to implement sustainable practices should find these highly practical actions invaluable (worth buying the book just for this).

In any societal movement, true visionaries are needed to set the bar and define ultimate goals. Interface is one such organization. However, no organization, business or community is anywhere near being truly sustainable so far. Interface is no where near it, and their recyclable carpet "leasing" program has not quite been a big success - so far - as they miscalculated some customer behaviors needed to change. But it is better than it was years ago which is the basic journey towards truly sustainable products and operations.

I would highly recommend this book for those of you who are convinced big business will eventually destroy our earth.

I was impressed that a non-scientist/engineer would even attempt to write a book like this. His excitement about the potential for saving the environment came through in his text. He laid out the goals his company had set for achieving a state beyond zero waste, returning to the earth as much as was taken from it. I believe it takes a visionary to apply such abstract ideas and commit to making them real. And the fact that he was able to make a business arguement for sustainable development was reassuring because, realistically, if businesses can be convinced that this will help them make money, it is much more likely to happen. That's clearly what I saw with the pollution prevention movement and it just might happen here.

Ray Anderson is the CEO of Interface Corporation, a manufacturer of carpet tiles for businesses and hotel chains. After reading Paul Hawken's The Ecology of Commerce and Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, Anderson revolutionized his beliefs and how his company does business. He is now striving for 100-percent sustainability by having zero waste, reusing materials, not using non-renewable resources, such as petroleum, and by leasing his carpet rather than selling it. Why this is important: 1) The obvious reasons such as not being wasteful and polluting, 2) Interface is now a model for all industry, 3) Anderson shows how sustainability is more profitable, and 4) Anderson's model shows that it only takes changing minds to be a successfully revolutionary--not street protests, letters to the editor, petitions, meditation, spiritual consciousness, believing in God, lobbying Congress, protesting governments and/or corporations, and all the typically tried and often painfully slow ways to enact positive change. Brilliant.

I own a 1969 DSpecial and I am very happy to see it listed in the serial numbers provided with the book! I would like to talk with some others owners of Déesses in the world, to exchange news and experiences. My next curiosity will be to see if one can discover, from the car's serial number, the exact date of production. Who knows more about this?

Avid enthusiasts, restorers or those interested in learning about one of the world's most innovative marques. The book is a well written and comprehensive treatise of the Citroen DS marque from it's inception to demise in 1975. It covers all versions of the car and is easily understood by those of us less technically minded.

A Must for the restorer or for those just interested in the technical details including trim selections, colour combinations and various details from the earliest cars to the late models of the mid seventies.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience - just like owning one.

You need look no further for an outstanding guide to the history, mechanics, and pedigree of what must surely be the most original car ever engineered - the Citroen DS. I would recommend this guide without hesitation to anyone either interested in the car in the abstract, or actually intending to undertake a restoration. The illustrations are thoughtful, helpful, and (in the case of exterior shots) almost romantically posed; the language is clear throughout; Reynolds does an impeccable job of making the book useful to the non-gearhead enthusiast. My only complaint is that the book is such drool-inducing & lethally glossy DS porn that I fear it will make the experience of non-ownership all but unbearable for fans, and so further increase the competition for those few magnificent cars still available.

The book includes good photos, many details and is inspirational to look through. Every single development of the car through it's lifetime appears to be covered. A must for the DS/ID owner setting out to restore a specimen of these highly individual and sophisticated vehicles. Written in a language understandable even for a non-technical mind as Yours truly.

I've owned and restored 9 DS models and have been around a hundred or so more. As much as I know about the models, this book has doubled my knowledge with one purchase. If you are a serious Citroeniste, you absolutely must have this book on your shelf.

I purchased this book due to a very poor showing last year (one of the first out) After reading the book and selecting what I thought to be the most critical components of a fast car, my son and I took third place in our pack and are headed off to district. The smile on his face was priceless and of course Amazon sells it cheaper than the scout store. Just make sure you know the rules so you do not get DQ'd.

David Meade's book is fantastic. I had no idea you could do so many things to a pinewood derby car. The instructions are easy to follow, with lots of photos. I am not someone who is comfortable building things, but this book makes me feel like I can help my son build a competitive car. Mr. Meade explains the physics involved with the techniques, making this project a very good teaching opportunity. Using this book was time well spent.

I feel just more than a little guilty after reading this book - like I took a family heirloom of secrets and read through them. Some of these secrets were way over the top, some of them are great tips - its a treasure trove of pinewood derby knowledge. Any one running a race needs to have this book to know what can be done to look out for some of the "extreme" tips that most troops should ban, and most dads need to have this book so their kid can be competitive. No one wants their kid to be that kid.

I had know idea the kind of things you could do to your car to make it go faster. Each tip is easily explained in detailed instructions well worth the price.

Pinewood Derby has been an American tradition for Cub Scouts since it was originated in 1953, a fun event for Scouts and their fathers. There are many books out there that tell you how to make Pinewood Derby cars, giving you helpful hints and serious suggestions on how to increase the speed of your car. Well, of all of the books that I have seen, I must say that I do think that this is the best of them all!

This excellent book covers all of the suggestions that I have seen in all of those other books, ALL of them. But, what really sets this book apart is that it is filled with many colorful pictures that show you exactly how to do each step in making the best Pinewood Derby car that you can. Yeah, this is a great book.

So, if you have an up-coming Pinewood Derby coming up, do yourself a favor, and buy this book. I give it my absolutely highest recommendations!

Even though there is a 455 HO Trans Am on the cover, there are good pics of late model LT1, LS1 Formulas & T/As. The gas guzzling 400/455 powered models are the ones I like the most, and are well covered. Finally got a copy after seeing it recommended in Car & Driver, good value on Amazon.

This is a fun book with some great lines like "Fast cars didn't die out in 1973, they just started wearing the 'Screamin Chicken' on their hoods!" I had a slight problem following the musclecar/GM terminology or shorthand in the detailed sections, and the author really favors domestic car design. Domestic V8 supporters will be pleased.

Many books offer so little information when dealing with the 3rd generation Firbird. What I like about this book is it not only covered the Firbird line, it pulled from other GM lines like Corvette, Fiero and Buick Gran National. When a reference was made about another car, he would share some good info about that car as well, taking up a couple of pages in some instances.

The Pictures of the cars are not the most "Stock" appearing models, however Cranswick uses the full range of the firebird line to make the book very entertaining.

A must have.

I will go with what the others have said and add that this Firebird book shows the kind of treatment normally given to the mighty Corvette super car. The quality of the binding, paper is higher than you would normally get in a Firebird/Trans Am book. IMO this is the closest you are going to get to the Firebird equivalent of the Corvette Fifty Years book.

I first heard about this book in Smoke Signals early last year. There was a small description saying it would be out later in the year. It had slipped my mind until I was checking through this site for Pontiac listings and came across it once again.
It's heartening to see such a fine book on the Firebird that really is new. It isn't a rehashed version of an earlier edition, and you get to see new pictures of these great cars. The factual detail in matters such as SLP/Firehawk and 20th Ann TT/A shows that great care has been taken.
Probably the best Firebird book since Michael Lamm's "The Fabulous Firebird" and certainly one of the better muscle car books around.

This is not your typical "don't do" this, or "do" that kind of book. The author spends the time in layman's terms to explain the ins and outs of the modeling business. Whether your intent is to become the next supermodel or you are just a casual participant (or considering), Mr. Talley explains the ups and downs to the different avenues of modeling. This is an excellent read for models, aspiring models, parents, and photographers. You will find yourself reading again and again and recommending to others.

This book sits out in a place of honor dead center on the big coffee table in the waiting area of my studio. I refer young models and their moms to it constantly. It is a one hundred percent bona fide guide to the industry, no song and dance, no smoke and mirrors just the facts of life in one of the toughest and most mis-understood and mis-represented businessess on the planet.

If you want to model, buy this book and read it cover to cover. Then read it again.

If you have a kid or loved one who wants to model, casually or professionally, buy this book and give it to them.

I am a professional photographer in Nasvhille Tennessee. My wife and I operate our own studio and this book is now my number one recommendation for anyone even thinking about getting into the wild and woolly business of modeling.

Just finished reading it and I highly recommend it. Wish it had been out when my daughter started modeling 5 or 6 years ago. It would have saved us much time and money and wasted energy. Two thumbs up!!

This book is truly THE BEST book currently available for people who want an informed and in depth view of the modeling industry. It's eloquently written, yet in a simple enough manner that ANYONE can understand it. The beauty of it is that most books target fashion models or another specific subset of people in the modeling industry. Roger's book is for everyone. Whether you're a curious aspiring model, a relatively new model to the industry, or a seasoned professional, this book can help you. Whether you're a fashionista, a commercial model, the face of a beauty campaign, a child model, older model, glamour model, art model, internet model--this book can help YOU. Also parents and significant others that form the support network for a model, this can give you a very honest glimpse into the industry that your child or significant other works in.

It will tell how to get from point A to point B and meet your goals without taking a bunch of detours or getting sidetracked along the way. This is a TOUGH business to work in, no doubt. But there are a few sources out there that can really tell you exactly what you need to do to meet your goals. This book is one of them. It gives you an honest look into an industry that most sources candycoat and leave important parts out of. If you want a reference tool that truly tells it like it is and will help you, buy this book. I guarantee you won't regret it.


~Big "A"- Larger Than Life Co.

I have recommended this book to agency minded models that I have worked with and also recommend it to anyone who wishes to work in the industry. Modeling is a very rewarding profession but it can also be hard. This book explains in easy to understand terms exactly what kinds of modeling opportunities are out there, the models that work in these fields and the best way to approach agencies. I also appreciated the attention paid to the growing internet modeling field. There is truly something for all types of models in this book.

In my experience, the price of the book is well worth it when you get such a detailed and honest explanation of what to expect when you enter the world of modeling.