Howard Books

SPC Simplified came along at just the right time. I needed help developing statistical analysis that I could interpret to upper management. I used this text to assist me in constructing my first run charts, variance analysis, error analysis, root cause analysis, brainstorming session and my first Process Cause and Effect Analysis. Great job. A good buy for anyone in Performance Improvement.

SPC is one of the most powerful tools available to any organization or workgroup that wants to implement continuous improvement. Unfortunately, it is not widely used outside of manufacturing or companies that are committed to quality. One of the reasons is that is perceived to be difficult to learn. This wonderful book changes that by introducing statistical process controls in a clear, gentle manner.

The book is divided into modules, each of which builds upon the preceding one, and can be used as a training text or as a self-study guide. The first module covers the basics: causes of variation, tools (historgrams, control charts, variable and attribute charts).

Modules 3 and 4 go deeper into the tools, explaining why you would use them, how to use them and how to interpret them. This is the heart of the book.

Machine and process capability, the subject of module 5, can be applied beyond the shop floor. For example, I work as an information technology consultant and was able to apply the knowledge from this module to project estimation and controls, service level measurement and quality assurance processes. This information is also applicable to other areas and will be useful to anyone who works at a company registered as ISO-9000.

Module 5 covers all of the common quality problem-solving tools ranging from brainstorming to scatter diagrams. IT consultants and practitioners will find the sections on cause and effect diagrams and Pareto analysis useful for process improvement for defect identification and removal, and other related objectives.

Elements of a TQM system covered in module 8 may have been better placed in module 1, but it is thorough and a good starting point for anyone who is new to quality.

This book finishes with a module that provides the answers and solutions to practice problems from the preceding modules, which underscores its value as a class test or self-study guide.

I recommend this book to associates who either have never heard of SPC (and there are a lot of them) or think it is beyond their ability to grasp. It is impossible to have a viable, effective program of continuous improvement without SPC. The authors have done a remarkable job of writing a book that lives up to its title by simplifying SPC. As such they have made an important contribution to quality by making this effective tool available to anyone who will take the time to read the book and apply what they learn.

this book has simple and good explanation method
the disscussed cases were understood easily.
there are no complex formules
based on simple mathematic

A great collection of stories of the old pulp character, Anyone with an interest in the old pulps of the thirties and forties will enjoy this book. I'm glad to see a resurgeance of interest in these characters, A new series of reprints of the Spider is also on the way. Well worth the price. Buy it!

I have not gotten my copy yet, but feel I should make some comments on this book. It is great to see a resurgence in interest in the pulps. I hope we see new stories with The Shadow, Doc Savage, The Phantom Detective, G8 and His Battle Aces. These were great action packed series. Great escapism. Love it!!!

As long as there are those who still recall and love the glory days of the hero Pulp Magazine, the heroes will never die! Reprints were our only contact with the Master of Men, the Violent Avenger, until the release of this action-packed trade paperback! Pulp authorities such as Will Murry, Joe Gentile, and C.J. Henderson have cooked up a brand new batch of two-fisted tales that will make the true pulp fan slaver and drool. The earth-shaking artwork is a more realistic version of the Spider as described in the old magazines, but as he seldom appeared on the covers. This collection is a Royal Flush. You can't beat it. It leaves the true pulp fan longing for other hero collections: Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Avenger, G-8, The Green Lama, etc. Now if I went story by story, I might ding a few authors, but as a cillection, solid pulp! Quote the Raven...

I read this book and found it inspiring and helpful. I particularly found the secret that Hudson Taylor speaks of relevant to transforming and deepening immensely my own walk with God. Not only I, but years ago my father's life was dramatically changed as he was inspired to have faith in the God who took care of Hudson Taylor as a missionary in China. After reading this book my father was able to put confidence in the Lord to take care of him as he stepped out into full time Christian service. (Hudson Taylor relied on God to provide for all of his needs and would not tell others what his financial needs were. God was faithful to meet all of Taylor's needs as well as the missionary society he founded. But there is far more in this book than that).

If you are looking for a deeper, intimate walk with God then read this book. Or if you struggle with living faithfully, joyfully and consistently for the Lord then read this book. The spiritual transformation that occured to Hudson Taylor took place after years of service on the mission field. Many Christians, like Hudson Taylor did, will benefit to find the secret of that transformation. I did.

A book for missionaries, which indeed we all are for Christ. This is a thrilling true story of one man's relationship to our Lord and what his life becomes in service to Him. All those who have dedicated their lives to Christ can learn a lot about living out the faith and what God can do when you put your entire being into His loving hands. What this man, Hudson Taylor, does in China, we have assurance that God also wants to do in our lives even right where we are. A blessing for the indivual reader, and subsequently for those around, affected by the ministry inspired.

This book was powerful. It was well-written and captured the pioneering spirit of Hudson Taylor. I also appreciated how this autobiography captured firsthand the impressions that Dr. Taylor made on others. This book was truly inspiring - especially the sections where it chronicles Taylor's inner struggles of finding his joy and sufficiency in Christ, the many instances when God answered his prayers during times of his greatest need, and his devotion to his family.

I got this book in a clothing store at the local mall, thought it looked like it would be fun to flip through when i'm... umm, spliffed. Great book, better than i had even hoped for. The history is very well done, and i would say its much more fun to look through than say, my copy of the Cannabible. With all the colors and pictures, its definately great to read under the influence, or even sober! Would reccomend to anyone.

Spliffs is written in british english so some of the slang may not make sense but don't let that sway you this is a great book. Including practically anything you ever wanted to know about marijuana and the delicate art of rolling spliffs (or joints). First read up on you marijuana history and learn things you never knew about your favorite smokable. Next take a look at an incredable collection of buds and hash from all around the world. Now after you clean up the puddle of drool at your feet you can experiment with some extraordinary joint rolling techniques. Although these can often be very time consuming they will make you the center of attention and get you way way way too stoned. You wont put the book down, that is untill your muscles have tensed up from excessive toking.

Everything that a smoker of marijuana could ask for. Buy it for your friends, your roommates, your boss or yourself. You wont regret it.

very informative and touches on a wide variety of subjects-all related to the joys of marijuana! Woderful pictures, great coffee table book-just put it away before mom and dad come over! Highly reccomend!

This book is a thrilling journey into the life of a volunteer spy into the Mossad. You almost have to read pages twice after reading what happens because it's crazy and funny. Howard Schack lends a very comical tone throughtout especially during the times he gets into scrapes. For example when he gets caught in Saudi Arabia for snapping photos of a military equipment. Mr. Schack, because of his real life construction company, manages to get info into one very big place towards the end. This reads like a real life Alias show with 2 layers of ordinary mundane (Son: Dad, why did you grow a beard? Schack: Because I'm a spy for Israel. Son: Riiight, Dad!) to flying in vintage airplanes w/Arab leaders over military sites. A definite must read!

This was one of the most interesting books I ever read. Even though he has changed the names of everyone, certainly all the people mentioned would recognize themselves and what fools have been made of them. I would think that they, and their governments, would all be out for revenge. This is really a tell-all book of spy methods. I am surprised that it isn't classified, and I would think that it might seriously compromise our own spies in the area of national security, unless spy methods have really changed a lot since that time, and all these methods have become obsolete. But I don't think so, as they mostly involve people skills. Nevertheless, I am thinking about writing a novel,a nd a lot of the information I was searching for was found here. An amazing, exciting book. Hard to put down. As it is out of print, I ordered it used through one of the used booksellers in Amazon.com. I recommend you do the smae. The book I received was in excellent condition, and I'm glad I read it.

Espionage is commonly defined as "that part of the total intelligence designed for the surreptitious inspection of the activities of foreign countries to ascertain their strength and movements and to communicate such intelligence to the proper authorities. "If only for security purposes, all nations feel the need to discover, by their own concealed methods, the guarded secrets of others. Or as Winston Churchill once wittily remarked: "Sometimes liberty requires a bodyguard of lies." To establish the personality traits of the "ideal" spy central to the anatomy of espionage is obviously far from simple. A fine study of intelligence gathering catalogs, for example, some 10 traits the "good" intelligence agent must necessarily posess, in order to qualify for his precarious , oftimes life-threatening, assignment. Notable among them, an intelligence agent should be "discreet, have a passion for anonymity, and know how to keep his mouth shut, and preserve a secret. The most effective spy, Mr. Schack shows us is neither freak nor pschopath. He is rather, the 'citizenspy' who acts upon the incentive of enlightened patriotism and to whom deceit and intrigue are only temporary expedients that he knows how to keep under strict control. One such "citizen intelligence agent" was Howard Schack, a highly sucessful American engineer and with a worldwide reputation as a master builder of military installations around the globe. In his fascinating memoir, A Spy in Canaan, Mr. Schack explains his stake in the survival of Israel while serving for fifteen years with Israel's CIA, the Mossad.

As a beginner hunter I have found few sources for pratical, useful understanding of the art of still hunting deer. I read this book during deer season and was immediately able to put wisdom from 100+ years ago to use. Prior to reading the book, I missed my first shot on a deer and was amazed that the chapter "The First Shot on a Deer", described my experience so well and helped me understand why it happened. My non-hunting friends have enjoyed reading the book with its almost conversational style or writing. I believe this book will be a resource and an enjoyable volume for many readings to come.

This book is probably the best book on stalking game I have read so far. To be a more effective hunter read and understand this book.

First published in the 1880s, this is the first book ever written on American field sports. It helped inspire the craze for literary stories of hunting (carried on by Charles Sheldon, TRoosevelt etc.) amd was considered by both those men the best book ever written on the still-hunt. Written in the second person, it walks the reader through the process of learning to look for, stalk, and eventually shoot at deer, while drawing moral lessons on the evils of hunting "the wrong way." Van Dyke was esp. concerned with hunting techniques prevalent in places such as the Adirondacks at the time, shooting deer while swimming in water, etc., and his encouragement of sport by and for gentlemen helped set the stage for widespread prohibition of working-class and subsistence hunting techniques. Charming, gorgeously written, and immensely entertaining, this is a great book marking one of the most important turning points in how Americans thought about hunting and what it meant.

The Strangest Song is truly a story of love and hope. It should be an inspiration to all parents who are dealing with the challenges of raising a child with any sort of mental differences. It recounts the many fears these parents faced and their difficult pursuit in finding the resources to help them. It was many years before they learned that there were other individuals who had the same genetic disorder. The sameness led them to discover the unusual ability their daughter had for music. It is thrilling to trace these early days to their daughter singing opera with the San Diego Symphony!

An inspiring story about a young woman who, with the support & advocacy of her family, followed her passion for music with great success despite living with a genetic disorder.

Well written & engaging, this is a story everyone interested in the mysteries of the human brain or the extraordinary capacities of the human spirit should read.

This is the first book to cover Williams syndrome and the genius musical abilities of many who have it. Science blends with autobiography in the moving story of a father's quest to help his mentally handicapped daughter - and his discovery of her musical gifts, which eventually convinced him that people with her disorder can be musical geniuses despite their impairments. His quest for understanding of the chemistry involved in her impairment and to make the most of her abilities leads Lenhoff to not only help his daughter become a musician, but to the establishment of the first residential college for mentally disabled musicians. Any collection strong in either biography, psychology or medical insights will want this; especially general-interest lending libraries.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Stone's Strategies provides an excellent overview of brief pastoral counseling. This single resource provides enough of both theory and practice to inform readers about this type of pastoral care. I highly recommend this readable resource.

Don't be misled into thinking that just because you counsel people briefly that you are practicing brief counseling. Brief Pastoral Counseling is a methodology for empowering others to create their own solutions, and in so doing, to begin to take charge of their own life. If you are tired of trying to give people answers and having overly dependent relationship with church members, then study this book.

Many pastors do indeed provide brief pastoral counseling. I know I do. Often you don't even know you're providing counseling until your in the middle of it. Stone's book helps prepare pastors for this reality, even to embrace it. This is a great book to read if your idea of counseling has been primarily shaped by longer term forms of therapy and/or psychotherapy.

This book is a trip back in time and deals with the author's experiences of his life in Laos. The stories he told described a wide array of adventures, customs, compassion, hardships and war that intertwined with his personal journey through a tumultuous era in the history of the United States during the Vietnam War. Adventure-seeking men would envy his experiences.

Review by Chris Russell

Several days ago I received your book and sent off a letter to you expressing my conviction that your memoirs are the best yet written about the period in which some of us served for varying lengths of time in Laos. Congratulations, Howie! Your revision of the original manuscript is a great success and the final, like the original, is fascinating, insightful, entertaining and wonderfully lively.

Review by Earl Young

"From the eye-catching photograph that draws the reader's attention to the book cover, through his very personalized account of adventures that spanning twelve years in the unbelievable Land Of Nod, aka "The Royal Kingdom Of Laos", Howard Lewin has turned out a fine first effort.

Either deliberately, or by great good luck, he has chosen to give an intimate, day-by-day account, warts included, of his service, first with the American International Voluntary Service team and then as a member of the U.S. Agency for International Development. He has retained most of the details and the book often reads like a diary, as he frankly discusses his successes and problems.

He breaks new ground here, detailing the day by day life of an ordinary civilian trying to accomplish meaningful tasks in a war-ravaged country, The more popular route would have been the usual expose of CIA activities in Laos, the bombing campaign by the U.S. Air Force or the swash-buckling activities of Air America pilots. But the plentiful supply of good photographs that accompany his story of everyday life make even clearing a road through the jungle clear even to non-engineers.

The book will appeal most of all to the "Old Hands" who served in Laos, and undoubtedly raise the blood pressure among many....But, as Mr. Lewin writes in the dedication, his story- elephants, bulldozers and romantic interludes included- is something he wanted his children to know. They can be proud of their father..."

I read SUNSETS while processing the grief of my husband's cancer battle that eventually included our experience with a wonderful hospice team during the final days of his life. I found not only comfort but a thorough summary of Scriptural confirmation of my beliefs regarding God's plan for our lives, why He allows suffering, what happens when we die, and the truth about heaven and hell. With kindness and compassion for families in the throes of facing death, Deborah Howard frankly and repeatedly quotes appropriate Scripture to console the dying and encourage the living.

As the author of a biography about suffering and death resulting from mental illness and as the recent widow of a once dynamic man debilitated by cancer, I highly recommend SUNSETS to anyone who desires a better understanding of suffering and death, as well as hope and courage for completing the courses of our lives.

This book addresses the many issues surrounding the end of life, and it was very helpful whether you are facing death yourself or the death of a loved one or friend. It explains hospice care and its benefits, discusses suffering and some of the reasons for it, and points the reader to the One who holds life and death in His hand.

I bought this book because my father had been given a terminal cancer diagnosis and I was searching for materials to help my mother wade through all the frightening and heart wrenching decisions and actions that she and my Dad would be facing. I found this book to be very helpful for that situation, BUT it is actually a book which I believe would be helpful to EVERY person, regardless of how far we may think that we, or our loved ones are, from our final days on earth. The book is filled with encouragments, both practical and spiritual about how we can all confidently take our last steps through this life comfortably and peacefully, headed into eternity with sure hope. The book was written by a Christian hospice nurse who gives tons of information about hospice through her very accessable writing style. Prior to reading the book I thought I knew a lot about hospice, but I found that I had carried a lot of misconceptions about it, which this book corrected. As I mentioned, I would recommend this book for every person who will eventually face death....and that would be ALL of us!