Cheng Books

I am a PGY2 resident in pathology, and this book has proven to be an invaluable addition, it is an excellent review and quick reference book.
The only drawback, is that the pictures are black and white and there are some misspellings in the text.
I strongly recommend it.

I found this book is very useful even on my daily practice of cytopathology. I use this book very often for quick reference. I also recommend to our residents highly. The second addition is certainly more helpful than first edition with inclusion of over 2000 pictures, although the pictures are in b/w.

The authors of this review book present, for the most part, a masterfully condensed outline of vital concepts in surgical pathology, while providing very useful additional material on molecular pathology, microbiology, hematopathology, and other topics not traditionally considered part of surgical pathology.

I deny this work a fifth star because, despite the generally laudable efforts of the authors, there runs throughout the book an undeniable, if fairly subtle, thread of carelessness. A few sections appear to have been half-heartedly written, with only superficial attention given to important concepts. For some of these, such as the vasculitides, other review books or general textbooks of pathology should be consulted. Also, with few exceptions, the chapters are thickly strewn with grammatical, orthographical, and punctuation errors of every description. While many readers may find this insignificant (it certainly doesn't seem to have been important to the editors), I feel that it does make for tiresome reading at times, particularly as one tries to decipher double meanings created by the omission of some critical word or symbol. Also, it is hard to believe that people so educated and (presumably) so professional as the authors of this book - people who are experienced in writing papers - should make so many writing mistakes. One wonders how much pride the editors really took in their work.

All this said, the overall quality of this book does not suffer greatly on account of these flaws. However, as it deserves to live on in a third edition, I would recommend that those sections be rewritten that fall short of the high standard set by the remainder of the volume. Also, editors should be hired who can impart a more professional polish. A work as praiseworthy as this one should be free of mistakes that are as embarrassing as they are completely avoidable.

This book contains high-yield information in well organized format. The addition of photographs improves it over the first edition. I recommend it for any pathology resident.

For anyone interested, this 2nd edition is divided into 2 sections: General Pathology and Organ Systems. General Pathology covers: Molecular Pathology, Human Genetic Disorders, Forensics, EM, Transplantation Pathology, Cytology. Organ Systems has the following chapters: Neuropath, Lymph node, Spleen, Bone marrow, Neoplasms of Skin/Immunodermatology, Non-neoplastic skin, Endocrine, Bone and Joints, Soft Tissue, Salivary gland tumors, Head and neck, Eye pathology, Mediastinum/Thymus, Cardiovascular path, Lung, Breast, Vulva/vagina, Uterus/FT, Ovary/Peritoneum, Placental disease, Non-neoplastic renal, Renal Tumors, Urinary bladder, Prostate, Testis, Penis, Esophagus/Stomach, SI/Appendix/Colon/Anus, Pancreas, Non-neoplastic liver, Neoplasms of the liver and biliary system.

Ok, now for my review: I really think this is a great book! While it would have been nice to have all color photos (which would make the book more expensive), the black/white pictures are of high quality. (There is a CD of all the images in color included with the book.)

The book really does condense what you really need to know in Anatomic path to the essentials. The organization of information for each entry is excellent. For almost every entry, the info is subdivided into Clinical and Microscopic. Where appropriate, additional subheadings are included, such as Macroscopic, Immunohistochemistry, Cytogenetics, and Differential Diagnosis. In addition, some of the common variants for some entities are also included!

This format reminds me of the Differential Diagnosis in Surgical Pathology book, which is also excellent. What is great about the Essentials of Anatomic Pathology book is that it includes not just surgpath, but also other pathology subjects(like forensics, EM, molecular, cytology, and cytogenetics). There is also extensive coverage of Hemepath.

Overall, I think this book is ideal not only as a quick reference book but also as a review book for the pathology boards. I highly recommend it!

Perhaps my only request for the next edition is that COLOR images be incorporated into the text. I'd rather pay more to get the color images incorporated than to have them in a separate CD. With color, this book would probably be one of the best review books for Anatomic pathology out there.

It's okay. the shipping was really slow tho. I almost thought it wasn't coming.

When reading books, one hopes for either someone who shares the same outlook as you do, so you know you are not alone in your perspective, or on the other hand for a view into a world that is alien to yourself, so you can learn things from a book you are not able to firsthand. Fanshen is a look at a remote village in North-eastern China in the 1940's, which is an experience completely alien to the average reader in an industrialized country. Yet at the same time, the personalities, lives and our shared humanity with the people of Long Bow is the same.

The peasants of Long Bow are poor - very poor. Ownership of an animal to help with the farm is considered a luxury. They are so poor that they do not use animals for manure - they use their own privies, the contents of which are highly valued. On top of this is a feudal system where a few own much of the land and do no work, while many of the peasants starve to death and undergo all kinds of trauma.

Enter the Eighth Route Army, the political leader of which is Mao Zedong. When the communists enter the picture, the desperate poverty of much of the population is swept away. Landlords can no longer sit in their fine clothes with long fingernails and have others do all work for them - they too must work for a living.

Of course, the transition does not go completely smoothly, as the famous Mao quote introducing chapter 14 states: "Revolution is not a dinner party...[it] is an uprising, an act of violence whereby one class overthrows another". Aside from the war with first the Japanese and then Chiang Kai-Shek and his US backers, there are the peasant excesses once the iron fist of the landlords and rich peasants fades away. Also hinted at here there are party excesses, as the party swerves from one position to another and then back again, confusing the peasants (and cadre) of Long Bow. While it's clear a confrontation, that obviously would be violent, was necessary with the landlords, it brings one to wonder what the hierarchical structure of the party would mean over the long term (or even the short term). I have begun reading Hinton's next book on Long Bow, Shenfan, covering the time period from this book to the Cultural Revolution, and he goes into more detail about such things.

Nonetheless, this is an inspiring story of how the peasants of China, with a little help from the communist party, helped throw off the yoke of feudalism (as well as Japanese, European and American imperialism) to launch the beginnings of the economic miracle that will probably result in China eventually becoming one of the most important industrial countries in the world.

A sweeping, nuanced, and deeply humane account of the changes in a single village during the land reform process that brought China out of feudalism in the 1940s. Hinton's saga immerses the reader in the shocking, brutal war of each against all that characterized life in rural China in the years before the revolution, and the struggles, challenges, excesses, and corrections that realized the equitable redistribution of agricultural land from the hands of a few landlords to the peasants who tilled it.

Eighteen years in the making, the book presents a revolutionary process of rich complexity, constructing a narrative with deep insight and revealing illustration that ranges beyond simple class and economic analysis into questions of organization, family, gender, sexuality, and human frailty, courage, discipline, and altruism.

Like the real work of revolution, the long narrative has its slow, grinding parts, but the book is punctuated with many moments of clarity, humor, and human recognition, and rewards the diligent reader immensely.

Contrary to the crude and invidious red-baiting review posted by Mr. Collins on this site, Hinton in fact takes great care to examine the violent excesses of the early days of the revolution in the village; indeed the latter half of the book is concerned precisely with the attempts of the community to come to terms with the initial violence and authoritarianism of the Communist Party members and cadres.

This book is a classic and one of the most important accounts of land reform in the 1940s and 50s. The sequel _Shenfan_ is also good, and is also considered a classic in academic circles. Note that even conseravative scholars like Needham praise these books.

I'm writing this review mainly in response to reviewer Smallchief's comment that the book is "naive" b/c it paints too positive a picture in light of the "starvation" of "tens of millions" of peasants in the 1950s. I don't want to disrespect Smallchief. Unfortunately this kind of ahistorical hyperbole has become "common knowledge" as the Mao-bashing discourse of narratives like _Wild Swans_ has achieved hegemonic status during the past few years. I say "ahistorical" not because the numbers are wrong (although they do tend to grow over the years--i recently saw the figure 100 million for the number of people that Mao "killed"!), but that they are thrown around outside of historical context, as if you could say anything meaningful about history or about a social system with mere numbers. But if we must play the numbers game, when you talk about starvation (of course it's usually disease the kills people, even in times of famine--"starvation" just has more shock value: we picture Mao selfishly hoarding all the rice from skeletal children), during the most rapid and egalitarian improvement in quality of life in world history, it's necessary to compare statistics of deaths during the Great Leap famine with those prior to the revolution. If you do that, you'll notice that at least as many people died in an average year before the revolution than during the worst year of the famine!(1960)(i'm getting this insight from Brian Turner, who's writing a paper on the subject; Utsa Patnaik says something similar(...). In this light we can see the problem with using any number--whether tens of thousands or tens of millions--to categorically denounce the accomplishment of the Chinese revolution and the social system that the CCP tried to build.

As for the later attempt to democratize that system (the Cultural Revolution), and as for the Dengists "reform" or counter-revolution, _Fanshen_ provides a basis on which to understand those events, and Hinton offers a some useful insights into them in his later works: _The Hundred Day War_, _Shenfan_, _The Great Reversal_, and _Through a Glass Darkly_ (still in press). The best general history of the PRC is _Mao's China and After_ by Maurice Meisner.

You've heard the old joke about the guy who says he would rather be a drunk than an alcoholic because alcoholics have to go to all those meetings. That's what this book is about: meetings -- innumerable, endless meetings in a small village in revolutionary China. For three years (1946-1948, it seems that the peasants in this village met every day to discuss how to divvy up the land taken from the landlords, select their leaders, discuss the correct "line" of the revolution, criticize each other, and punish evil doers.

Hinton is an enthusiast for Chairman Mao and the communists, but he doesn't gloss over the excesses of the revolution. He paints a vivid picture of life in prerevolutionary China and an equally vivid picture of the implementation of Maoism in the countryside with all its violence, doctrinal hair-splitting, changes in direction, and imperfections. At the end of the book, he concludes that the peasants and the revolution have achieved a proper balance between equity and production in the Chinese countryside and presumably everyone will live happily ever after.

As a story about life in the countryside this book is outstanding. As a book about the makings of a revolution at the peasant level it is outstanding. As a book about land reform and Maoism, it is much, much less than prophetic. Hinton leaves us with a warm, post revolutionary feeling that all was well in the Chinese countryside in 1948. But all was not well. Tens of millions of Chinese peasants starved to death in the 1950s. Maybe they were spending too much time in revolutionary meetings and not enough time working in their fields. Revolutionary enthusiasts such as Hinton need to be called to account for the errors they make in their ardor and naivete. Perhaps we should have a meeting on that....

It's a condenced version of another one of Mr. Cheng's books and every example has you flipping back and forth between 5 different pages no less then 10 pages apart. The "Preface" says, "Much of the material has been adapted and reduced from my larger book, Field and Wave Electromagnetics..." Examples do not explain the work, I found these reviews while looking for a substitute book to help me through this class.

Whenever wondering the great works 3 hundreds years ago, then Mr.Cheng bring me back to the old ages full of intellegence.

Being myself a undergraduate of electronic engineerings, I see this book as one of the most complete books that has ever got into my hands. Concise, full of examples, leaves you with thirst of going deeper into the topic.

Cheng's logical development of electromagnetics is indeed novel, but the only real way to appreciate it is to first have had a decently rigorous course on electromagnetism or have read another electromagnetics book. The reason why I say this is because at the onset of the book, Cheng puts forth his electromagnetic model, but there is absolutely almost no motivation for this model. It seems completely arbitrary, although it does yield familiar results. No basis for the model based on experiment is provided; therefore, I suggest that one first read a book that takes one through the historical path of development -- leading from experiment to generalization. Also, I have found a major error in the theory of the book. In Chapter 6 when Cheng is talking about potential functions, he correctly derives a formula for the curl of a potential function. Now, the basis of the book is that one can develop electromagnetics in an orderly fashion by specifying both the divergence and the curl of a vector. So, in order to fully develop the potential vector field, he says "we are still at liberty to choose the divergence of A." He then states a formula known as the Lorentz condition for potentials and motivates it simply because it simplifies another equation. However, this is logically incorrect. Just because one knows the curl of a vector field does not mean one is at liberty to state its divergence. Again, Cheng is completely arbitrary here and provides no basis for why he does this other than the fact that it simplifies an equation. Many other books correctly deal with this matter -- even on the introductory level. What really happens is that the Lorentz condition is a result of the relation between electromagnetics and the theory of relativity; when electromagnetic theory and relativity are combined, the Lorentz condition follows logically. Sadiku's Elements of Electromagnetics correctly states this, as do other texts. The reason why this is so important is that this is the crucial link between showing that electromagnetic fields that vary through time are represented as waves! This violates the nature of the book -- that it should be logically consistent, orderly, and non-abrubt in its reasoning. Finally, I would like to say that Cheng's book Field and Wave Electromagnetics has the same downfall. However, I believe every serious student, engineer, and even scientist should read through Cheng's Field and Wave Electromagnetics because it is more rigorous. What Cheng has done is really interesting, but I simply cannot recommend this for any first time student. And, do not buy this book; buy his Field and Wave Electromagnetics because it is superior. Last and final note: the development of transformers is much inferior to most books (including his own Field and Wave Eletromagnetics). Check out my review on his other text.

I liked this book because of it's elegance and the fact that there are hardly any errors. But, I thought it expected the student to make too many assumptions in order to do the problems. This is frustrating for a first course (or any course) in electromagnetics when you're just gettting used to using vector calculus and are new to Maxwell's equations.

Another problem I had is the lack of down-to-earth descriptions. To derive a formula and add one sentence at the end does not convey what is physically going on.

I thought "Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics" by Fawwz T. Ulaby was much more accessible for a first course in electromagnetics.

This was a very nice, informative book. The author credits a number of first- and second-generation JKD students in his acknowledgement page, and it's clear that he's tried to present a balanced view of JKD by taking advantage of these multiple inputs.

Part 1, the "Introduction" section, is a scant fifteen pages or so. However, this space is used well, and the history, underlying philosophy, and different branches of JKD are explained briefly, but very well.

The second part, on "Getting Started", includes chapters on safety, choosing the right school, what a typical "Original" JKD class is like, and what the student may expect in the first three months.

Though the first two parts are informative and lay the foundation for the book, Part 3, "Learning the Basics", is really where the fun begins. Cheng covers stance and footwork, basic strikes, and some very basic grappling. While I was impressed with how thorough the footwork section was, I have to say that illustrations from this point onward would have been very helpful. As an experienced martial artists, there was very little I was unfamiliar with, but since this book was designed for beginners, I feel that simple text descriptions of the techniques wasn't quite enough.

Part 4, on the "Five Ways of Attack", was done pretty well. Most importantly the philosophy behind the attacks was presented. Again, though, illustrations would have helped. Other than that, I thought this part was organized pretty well. The chapter on "Simple Direct/Angular Attack" was presented first, with more complex chapters following. Several examples of each method of attack were described.

The fifth part, "Tactical Considerations", had some nice info in it. Organizationally, it first included a chapter on defense, then one on counterattack. These were followed by a chapter on "Distance, Timing, and Rhythm", which few martial arts books address. The final chapter in Part 5 was about how to apply the principles and techniques of JKD in sparring, and listed a number of drills.

Part 6, "Advancing in Jeet Kune Do", wrapped things up pretty nicely. It talked about setting training goals, and also addressed competitions and demonstrations.

I found this book to be a nice bridge between your basic how-to book and a more advanced fighting strategy/philosophy book. Cheng's overall presentation seemed very balanced, and the basics were given very thorough attention. However, due to the lack of illustrations at critical points in the text, I have to settle for giving this book only four stars. Please don't let that deter readers too much, though. The principles and strategies addressed in this book are things that aren't normally taught for years in most martial arts programs. For that, and for the concise and well-done general JKD overview, I highly recomend this to all JKD students, if for nothing else than a good, quick reference book.

Excellent book !
In depth coverage of everything a beginner should know, learn and practice in the first 6 to 12 months JKD training.
From the very very basics techniques, to tactics and combination, this book will amaze the reader with its semplicity yet detail.
Step by step instructions, drills, exercises which will accompany for many months.
i really feel that, when I will have practiced all the book, I will really be a "pretty good" beginner.
Amazing !

A really great book. Excellent layout. David Cheng has done himself proud. I eagerly await a follow up. In a confused world of what is Jeet Kune Do... David Cheng shows you what your school should be teaching you.

Exellent book. Mr.Cheng has researched the original/JunFan version of jeet kune do as taught by Bruce Lee and has masterfully organized the information into an easy to understand format. The Tuttle "Basics" series is well designed. This book is already in second printing. I beleive it will be a standard in the field of Bruce Lee/JKD texts.
Unfortunately there exists much political bias in the JKD field. Lines are typically drawn between those who practice the original JKD (when Bruce Lee taught and encouraged others to practice JKD as a martial art from late 1967 through 1970) and those who practice the JKD concept which Bruce Lee promoted after 1971 ( see for example the famous 1971 Black Belt article in which Bruce Lee states "I have not created a new martial art).Mr Cheng, who is schooled in both versions sticks to presenting the original 'Jeet kune Do as a martial art' version in this book.

This book is nothing more than a copy of other 10 JKD books that have been written about Bruce lee's life, one more guy writes about Bruce lee's HISTORY and theories and how he became so great and how he came to this country at a young age, but yet lets title the book Jeet Kune Do BASIC, how can you teach a basic student from a text without demonstrating the technique, that blows my mind .that someone thinks that they can teach from just writing it and telling you how, good luck. The title of this book should be Bruce lee's life that you have read about 20 thousand times. As for the guy that posted a challenge, he should realize that Tun sau lop sau which is a block grab is not used to block a quick jab, it can very effectively used against a wrist grab shirt grab, a kick can be stopped with tun as well. Etc....but he is just another guy that thinks he is a great fighter in his own world.

To luke the Great,

I knew the moment I read your review that you are Bruce Lee the Great,Get a life and pick on someone in your area of interest,I am just a person that likes to read books on martial arts not a fighter.This is not a forum idiot, it is only for reviews only.I could care less what your stupid pak sao or how ever way you spell it can do and how many people you've trained with to me you're just a master in your own way. I am sure there are lots of people that can kick your #@$%&,Peace be would you bruce.

This is a great book on forex trading, and has helped me progress into profitable trading after many months of trading. Grace Cheng does a good job explaining how the forex markets work before delving into trading strategies that made a lot of sense, something that is easily overlooked by even people who have already begun trading. For those who are trading and haven't read this book, get this book, pronto. Hands down, this is the best forex book I've ever read and I have read almost all of them. Excellent must-read!

I have read over 10 books on forex trading and this is quite possibly the best one I've purchased. I wish I would have found it before the other ones as then I would have saved a lot of money. 7 Winning Strategies is a very practical guide to improving your chances at success in the forex market. I think one of the primary reasons trading strategies don't work out is because the trader applied the wrong strategy during certain market conditions. Grace Cheng's book covers different strategies to use for different market dynamics. It details how a trader can apply these strategies and it tells you what sort of market conditions the different strategies work best in - and best of all, it does it clearly and concisely. You still need to think for yourself, but this makes it a whole lot easier to plan your trade and trade your plan! The groundwork that's been done is right on.

Actually, I was aware of Grace Cheng before purchasing this book and just like another reviewer, I didn't have a very positive impression of her because her Web site looks kind of funky. Don't let that deter you from reading this outstanding book. This book literally taught me not to judge a book by its cover. If you read it and really apply your learnings to developing a strategy that is suited to your trading style, you'd understand just how valuable the strategies detailed in this book are.

This book is for new traders, not for anyone having already looked at any forex or TA materials before. It is very basic. However, the book is well written, and free of mistakes or false hopes. Therefore it is good for a completely new trader.
I was disappointed because the book does not deliver the front cover message: Real and actionable techniques for profiting from ... Only the last strategy (the news) is detailed and really actionable as is, though it is very basic and well-known. It does not give much details or new things in the other chapters.
I was disappointed by the sentiment strategy. It is just not a strategy! Well, I was not expecting a strategy based on sentiment, but something really clear to establish a sentiment. The content of this chapter is very limited (extreme COT reading and news, action divergence).
The trend riding is just: find a trend line or R/S and put a limit or market order when the price is close enough, put a stop at 20 pips, exit with R/S based on your time frame and use your common sense for the rest. Also, use your common sense and sentiment bias to know if you should take the trade or not. Most people already know that. The difficult part is indeed finding the common sense and a reliable sentiment!
The fade breakout is very similar to the trend riding (extremely similar!).
The decrease volatility strategy is a triangle one, using the trend riding stuff for entry/exit.
If you want to have a look at the table of contents, go to Amazon UK, it is available there.

I bought this book because I read the author's blog and thought it would teach me something new about trading. However, I found that topics were discussed "on the surface" without going into "how to do it". I get the feeling that she is saving the bulk of her information for her online course, which you have to pay US$700 for.

It is refreshing to see a book like this on the topic of forex trading, a book which is written concisely and straight to the point without wasting space. In this book "7 Winning Strategies For Trading Forex", the author Grace Cheng has done a great job of explaining the specific peculiarity of forex trading for the average individual, and how specific techniques can be applied to certain currency pairs. I am pleased that this book delivers what it was set out to do. She even emphasized that certain strategies are to be used under different market conditions. Realistic traders will find her information very useful and generous. As for those looking for the holy grail book, nothing is ever good for them. If you want a serious book on forex trading to be worth your money, this book will be it.

I've read many books on currency trading and I find this book easy-to-understand and appreciate the author's written snippets of her own observations and experience. Trading knowledge wise, on a scale of 1-10, it has taken me from a level of 2 to 7. The rest will have to come from trading in the trenches myself I suppose. Her knowledge of trading and inner workings of currency trading belies her youth, but if that's the result of her trading since after her university graduation many years ago, that's commendable and deserves my respect.

I first heard of Grace Cheng when I saw her on Chicago ABC News early this year and then went to her website. Since then I go to her site almost daily; her way of penning her opinions and observations is unlike those you see on most other broker sites.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wish to know more about forex trading and those who are wise enough to see beyond her age and gender. This book will be by my side as I trade.

This provides very crucial ideas and the rare how to do them lists that all photographers should read. This is increased my abilities to perform better pictures for my friends and clients.

Here is another benign use of the word "Hack". Meaning to tinker with, or experiment. The authors indulge fully in this meaning of the word, as applied to digital cameras. The activities described are almost all hardware related. That is, hands on, manual tinkering.

Such as making triggers. An entire chapter is devoted to this. You can see that the issues here are not so different from building triggers for analog cameras. A trigger is a basic and important extended functionality for many camera users.

There is much other experimental functionality given. The most interesting seems to be taking infrared photographs. Many digital cameras do respond in the IR. Unlike standard photographic film, which favours the visible spectrum. So whereas with an analog camera, you would need special IR film, if you have a digital camera, it should already have a decent IR sensitivity. For some of you, this may be an unexpected bonus of using a digital camera.

Two chapters do deal mostly with software. One involves getting raw sensor data from Casio or Nikon cameras, and then using some publicly available software to decode these into a more standard graphics format. While the other chapter is about programming a remote control for the camera.

When I see a picture in a camera book illustrating how I can open a digital camera and get at the insides to make modifications, I get scared. The thought of taking the guts out of my camera is like the thought of major surgery to my internal organs. And yet as I read through the "hacks" proposed by the author, I found just reading about them to be fun, even if I wasn't going to undertake any of these projects (or at least not most.)

Years ago a hacker was a person who modified software to adapt it to his or her own purposes. Over time it's also come to mean a malicious person who deliberately attacks the functioning of computers, but the author is using this earlier meaning.

In this book, Cheng tells of a variety of simple modifications that one can make to cameras and other photographic equipment to allow them to be used to extend their capabilities. Some are quite simple like building a remote trigger for a camera, or a battery pack that can be tucked inside the user's jacket for winter shooting. Other projects are more complex, like getting data in the RAW format from cameras that normally only deliver JPEG files. And I wondered why one would want to open up an MP3 player to remove its micro drive. (The answer is because the particular player with micro drive was at one time actually cheaper than a separate micro drive that could be inserted directly in a camera.) The projects are well explained, and illustrated with plenty of photographs. The equipment needed for the hacks is inexpensive, and the tools are readily available in most homes.

Now I have to tell you that if I wanted a camera with a tripod socket on it, I would buy one that was so equipped. But I can see that a certain kind of do-it-yourselfer might have a socketless camera on hand and regard it as a nice challenge. Ditto for a camera that shot RAW files, especially if I would have to learn how to decode the raw file after I had downloaded it. On the other hand, if I had a camera that needed a filter holder but had no provision for the device, I'd certainly consider one of the author's hacks.

Most of the projects are aimed at the modification of specific equipment but they can easily be translated to other cameras. For the more complex hacks, the author can both provide you with an idea for a project and a site on the web where you might be able to find detailed instructions.

Because this book probably only appeals to a small audience, the publisher has probably had to keep the production costs down. The quality of the paper is not high and the photographs of the project steps are of a rudimentary, but sufficient nature.

I have to confess that what this book most reminded me of was the project books that I got for my kids' science fairs. I loved to browse through these books, and I always wondered why my kids never tried any of the cool projects. Maybe now, I can try a project for myself.

If you are consider buying this book, you might as well buy it, look it and give it somebody else for Christmas.
I would Strongly recommend you go to an actual bookshop ,read it quickly and judge it from there.
This may not be suitable for your camera!
Overall the Hacking Digital Cameras idea is pretty sketchy and has a limited range of camera models ,you better use the internet instead.

Want to really live on the edge with your digital camera? Perhaps even void the warranty? Hacking Digital Cameras by Chieh Cheng and Auri Rahimzadeh might be to your liking if you want to build your own add-ons without spending a bundle...

Contents:
Part 1 - Hacking Cameras: Building Triggers; Adding a Tripod Socket to Your Camera; Accessing Raw Sensor Data; Hacking Power; Controlling Your Digital Camera from Afar; Improving Your Canon EOS Digital Rebel
Part 2 - Hacking Lenses: Using Accessory Lenses; Making an Accessory Lens Adapter; Changing the Lens Magnification; Making Your Own Pinhole Lens; Extending the Lens on Canon EOS Cameras; Making Reverse Macro Adapters; Modifying the Canon EF-S Lens for Use on Canon EF Mounts
Part 3 - Create Photography Hacks: Hacking with Filters; Shooting Infrared Pictures with Your Digital Camera; Eliminating the IR Blocking Filter from Your Digital Camera
Part 4 - Building Fun Camera Tools: Building a Car Camera Mount; Building a Headrest Camera Mount; Building a Spycam Mount for Your Bicycle; Building a Camera Stabilizer; Building a Flash Bracket; Building a Monopod; Making a 500-Watt Home Studio Light
Part 5 - Flash Memory Hacks: Modifying the CF Type I to PC Card Type II Adapter; Removing the 4GB Microdrive from the Creative Nomad MuVo2 MP3 Player; Removing the Microdrive from the Rio Carbon 5GB MP3 Player; Removing the 4GB Microdrive from the Apple iPod Mini
Appendixes: Soldering Basics; Circuit Symbols; Glass Cutting Basics; Photographer's Glossary; Index

If you're the tinkering type that loves to take things apart to see how they work, you'll find stuff here that I haven't seen in other photography books. I think this is the first book I've seen with a section on taking your camera apart... literally. Once apart, you can start adding things like shutter triggers to give you more options than a timed 10 second delay. I guess you could also just go out and buy something that already does that, but what's the fun in that? :) But not everything is quite as adventurous as that. If you have a camera with no tripod mount, there's a nice hack that shows you how to add one. You can go big time and actually build a block that you can velcro your camera to, or it can be as simple as gluing on a nut that's the same size as your tripod screw. Something I wouldn't have thought of...

To be honest, I'm not sure I'd have the guts to try a lot of this stuff. I'm not good with tools, and prying open my camera would cause bad things to happen. Maybe not to you, but it would to me. As such, I'm probably not the intended audience for this book. But I was surprised to see what you could do with a little ingenuity and a soldering iron. I can see where this book would offer hours of entertainment for the right type of photographer/geek...

I think taht is a very good book.
With a detailed explanations of every aspect of rhinoceros software.
I recomend it.

I find this book totally complete in content. It is very clear in the way its written and it has been really useful.
All the concepts are clearly explained and it even has a CD with excercises and digital content.

This is a ref manual, there are no (or very few) tutorials.

The instructions are very concise, but offer no explanations. Every instruction refers to the companion cd with as few printed graphic examples as they could get away with. (rating: minus 1 star) However, that does keep the book to a manageable size, instead of being one of those 5" thick "bible" guides.

Obviously this is a copy and paste of the version 3 book, as there are obselete functions outlined and files missing from the CD. (rating: minus 1.25 star)

The book physcially is a good usable size. It stays open by its self when placed on a table and opened to the middle 80% of the pages. (rating: plus 0.25 star)

The files on the CD are zipped, so you can not browse to them directly.

I would buy this again as a second Rhino book, but this is not for the Rhino uninitiated.

I think that this is a quite good instrument, but there are few tutorials. The few tutorials you'll find on the text are not so good: too easy and they approach only small elements. Only one complete exercize (the first one) and the final result is no prof.

McNeil, the company that produces Rhino, produce a level 1 and level 2 course for beginners and intermediate students, respectively. This book essentially covers everything that both of those original courses cover, in addition to most of the content from the instruction manual that comes with Rhino, all with (for the most part) significantly better designed examples. The author even goes into great depth as to how to use every last sub-command.

The problem is, right from the very first exercise, the author has written this book under the assumption readers have been using Rhino (or another kind of product design CAD) for at least 6 months. If I tried to use the book's first two exercises on my beginner Rhino students, they would be traumatized!

As far as the organization goes, this book feels as if the author is trying to teach you the Level 2 Rhino course first, with elements of Level 1 thrown in along the way. While he does use some fantastic abstract examples of every single process, the practical applications don't appear nearly as often as they should.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has already taken BOTH of the Level 1 and 2 standard McNeil courses. For those who know the interface enough to fearlessly experiment, it will help provide some valuable additional insight into all the existing commands they know. For anyone else, you're better off learning the basics elsewhere.

This book is not just useful for Chuka shaolin (which is what is photographed), but also the various styles of Sth. Mantis, not to mention offshoots of white eyebrow (Pak Mei), and also i think Dragon, which all share the Phoenix-eye fist punching system. The book however, will not teach you the application of 'ging'(sacred power). That requires a teacher. I found it's use mostly in the correction of my stance by comparing it to the photo's and also the snap-kick movement.

The book does what it sets out to do, teach the basics of Chuka Shaolin and the phoenix-eye fist. The book teachs through photo's and text. You will learn basic arm and hand tecniques as well as basic stances. The photo's are great, they will show you the correct procedure. Also shown in this book is the basic Chuka Shaolin pattern, Kai-Sai. You will need to find an instructor to learn the system. Books can only go so far...and this book is design for the basics.

If only more publications by Chinese authors could be like this book - no pretense, no intentional withholding of sharing of techniques that make the system work. I have high regards for Phoenix-eye Fist ever since reading this book. In fact, I have assimilated this style of kung fu into my fighting system. Phoenix-eye fist is powerful and deadly when learned properly.

As much as I'm a fan of Mark V. Wiley's work, I can recommend this book without reservation over the newer "The Secrets of Phoenix-Eye Fist Kung Fu: The Art of Chuka Shaolin". This book is simple, direct, and highly informative for anyone wishing to begin training in Chuka Shaolin or supplement their current martial arts knowledge. If you already have the 'Secrets of' book, there's still a good amount you can learn from this book.

One caution, though; if you are interested at all in the weapons of Chuka Shaolin, then this book is not for you, as they go uncovered (the significant coverage afforded them in the 'Secrets of' book was one of the reasons I chose this book instead)...

Phoenix-Eye Fist is a good book showing the basic strikes and stances of that system. It is filled with pictures to follow along with. The experienced martial artist may want a little more as far as the self defence goes. But don't get me wrong basics are everything! I am glad to have it in my library.

This is one of the least thorough interpretations of The Secret History of the Mongols. Anyone who finds this book of any interest should read the same book translated by Francis Woodman Cleaves or Igor de Rachewiltz, both versions are considerably better.

It is a gold for historicals but will be very hard to read for people who are not interested in Mongol history

The Secret History of the Mongols is one of the most important primary source for study of Mongol history and Chingis Khan. Also, this book is very impressive poet like Homor's great works. I know Francis Woodman Cleaves has already translated it into English. He is great master of Mongol history, however, his "King James English" is terrible, especially foreigners like me. Paul Khan's work overcomes this big problem. The easy and spoken English let everyone enjoy it. Now, read it, enjoy it, and feel the "World Conqueror"

The Secret History is a record of the Mongolian Royal families, which is thought to have been written during the thirteenth century. Paul Kahn has kept the original prose format in his translation, which I feel makes this the only version to own. It begins with the creation myth of the wolf and deer from which the Mongolian people (in legend) are descended from; throught he birth of Temujin, and ending with the ascention to the throne of Ogedai Khan. I highly recommend this to those who are looking for primary sources to add to their Asian history collections.

Fabulous! If you are bound for Mongolia you MUST read this.... or bring it along as a gift for your guide. Easy to follow and a wonderful look into the past! I LOVED this book.
A keeper.

I purchased this book hoping to get two things: a refresher on the Inventor program, and a quick reference while using the software. I found that this book was decent in giving me a refresher, but it wasn't very handy as a quick reference.
Once I started using the software again, a lot of specific questions popped up. The Inventor Help is nearly useless, so I was really hoping for some clear step by step instructions. While these do exist in this book, the examples and pictures to support are not very clear.

Yes I fully support J. Heddinger writing in his review: "...now i need the advanced instructions...what about it cheng ?". It's the same story with each release: you can get an "Ïntroduction to..." or "Basics of..."! I think lot of typical users did not need an introduction to each release, what we need, in contrary, is a good "...release xx for professionals". Deep lay the flavours...

Inventor 9 is Autodesk's challenge to more advanced modelling packages like ProE and Ideas. Cheng reveals that Inventor 9 offers many of the features seen in those more expensive alternatives. You can use this book and its CD to cheaply learn parametric modelling. This is just a fancy way of saying that you can parametrise various dimensions of parts in your object. In doing so, you can gain greater flexibility in easily varying these values, possibly to optimise the design of a composite object using those parts.

Inventor gives 4 types of parameters - model, user, linked and embedded. The book details the differences. But the gist of the text is to rise above the low level machinations. Instead, you can grasp and use parameters naturally in your design. Like relating cells in a spreadsheet. Except that unlike a spreadsheet, the inherent graphical ability here leads you to comprehend far more.

i've been using inventor since 5.3.....this is by far the best instruction book i've seen....it's great and covers every bit of everything if your trying to learn it. finally...too bad autodesk doesn't include this with the package. now i need the advanced instructions...what about it cheng ?