Sheridan Books

I could have bought the book for less money somewhere else, but I needed the very next day. With amazon I was able to receive it the very next day. Very fast shipping, yet it did cost me quit a bit. Overall, I'm happy; I'll just order books I need in advance next time.

I am a writer with a disability that pokes holes in my memory just when I need most to retrieve vital information, so I needed a totally complete book on essay writing to look up the types of essays I want to use for my freelance essay writing efforts, and had considered taking a class or workshop, but knew I'd only forget the best parts, later. So, I spent days searching here in the novelist, journalist and writer's subject areas for a thorough "How To" book on writing essays that covered ALL of the rhetorical forms for structuring essays. A few books focused on only one type of essay or were only 100 pages of highlights featuring at most, one or two essay types.

Luckily I thought to check the textbook area on Amazon.com. These books aren't just for "kids". Now I have added the textbook area to my favorites list. :-)

"Along These Lines: Writing Paragraphs and Essays, Third Edition
by John Sheridan Biays and Carol Wershoven" would get 10 stars if possible. The book is 640 pages. The first 396 pages are devoted to essay writing instructions, idea generating lessons, very clear examples (through out), free flow and journal writing, simple and challenging exercises, countless writing prompts, indepth paragraph structure, writing from reading, and tear-out peer review critique pages in each section with fun word quizzes, individual & class tests. I have the Annotated Instructor's (3rd) Edition, containing the answers, a benefit for writers who want to test their knowledge for each chapter, before moving to the next one. The rest of the book's pages extensively cover grammar and punctuation as used in writing sentences, paragraphs and essays. "Along These Lines" is extensively indexed also.

"Along These Lines" contains dozens of beautiful full color photographs (every picture tells a story) and side-bars, with plenty of white space on the pages and margins, that makes the text a pleasure to look through and read. "Along These Lines" is perfect for writers who want a refresher course on essay writing and grammar; writers who enjoy word puzzles, word & vocabulary quizzes and self-testing; any one who writes or wants to be a writer, whether just for fun or a professional, student, journalist or amateur, and wants a course or workshop in Creative Writing, an English refresher class, english-as-second-language practice, or upper level high school or college students.

If the price is a problem, there are great alternative sources on Amazon, for used and like-new quality texts at a quarter of the price. My copy came from Amazon Marketplace seller. Now I'm on to edit my wishlist, and remove all the so-so essay writing books that aren't even a third as complete or thorough as "Along These Lines", though they cost about the same price (or more) than I paid for this book. "Along These Lines" is the ONLY Essay Writing book you or I will ever need.

On August 22, 1851, the yacht America sailed across the finish line of England's Royal Yacht Squadron 53-mile regatta around the Isle of Wight. And as they say, "the rest is history." The seemingly impossible race to win was one that captured America's and the worlds attention. David Shaw's places you in the board room of the New York Yacht Club, in the ship yard of designer George Steer, and in the cockpit with Capt. Richard Brown and First Mate Nelson Comstock. As America leaves New York on a foggy June 21, 1851 morning, you are riveted to keep turning the pages until she arrives safely in Le Havre, France.

Two items which I found most intriguing was the research Shaw presented that questions the time between America and the second place Aurora. Shaw argues that the time should be eight minutes and not the 21 or 24 minutes used by contemporary sources.

"I [Shaw] took my facts from The Times of London, which historians credit as the most accurate account of the race. The Times reported that Aurora finished eight minutes after America."

Shaw also argues the name of the trophy, One Hundred Guinea Cup, should be more appropriately the One Hundred Sovereign Cup. One hundred pounds was the typical value of cups given to winners at the time, not one hundred guineas. The British have always called it the One Hundred Sovereign Cup and it is a mystery why the other name has stuck.

The extensive research Shaw did is profound. There are several appendixes, a glossary of nautical terms (for those of us who are confused by jibe and tack), and a bibliography of books, periodicals, and web sources, all of which will continue to wet anyones appetite for more. I highly recommend David Shaw's book.

Shaw has done it again! David captures the personalities of the men who designed, built and raced America. This isn't a story about the most famous Yacht race the United States ever participated in, it's a story about the human spirit, and nerves men had years ago to cross oceans and take on all comers. you think the race started in England, think again. As pilot captains these men knew how to race to earn a living; it was their way of life. Read no more of this review. Purchase the book and read a fascinating account of what became the greates sailing race of all time. You'll be surprised where America ultimately met her fate.

Students of Polynesian history are familiar with tales of sailors crossing vast expanses of the Pacific. Lagan's book, The Barefoot Navigator begins with a discussion of their ancient techniques before exploring other ancient navigators; Norse, Chinese, and Arab.

Lagan's premise is that modern sailors are too dependent on electronic navigation tools and that those tools are subject to failure. In contrast the movement of sun and stars, ocean currents, and weather patterns have remained consistent for eons. The prudent sailor will know how to use natural patterns to safely navigate when electronics fail.

By following the historical development of navigational techniques, Lagan introduces complex topics in a simple, easy to understand manner. Along the way he shows how ancients used primitive navigation tools to find their way across oceans and deserts. Lagan instructs the sailor on building and using these tools built of string, sticks, and hands and fingers.

Informative and entertaining, an evening or two spent with The Barefoot Navigator will yield a wealth of knowledge of interest to any sailor, knowledge that might just help you reach your destination.

Dave Lochner
NauticalReads

The navigation skills of the ancients were legendary yet seem to pale in comparison with modern technology and navigation research - but THE BAREFOOT NAVIGATOR: NAVIGATING WITH THE SKILLS OF THE ANCIENTS offers up an important survey of these early skills, and applies them to modern times. From how to analyze clouds and currents to determine direction to how 21st century sailors can integrate these techniques with modern equipment, any sailor will find THE BAREFOOT NAVIGATOR intriguing.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is one of those books that ough to be in every sailor library. It might seem outdated for these days, and the Moitessier's style might seem too "poetic" even surreal, but we are talking of a real pioneer of the sea

Moitessier is a marvelous story teller, and his seamanship is unquestionably excellent. The story of their voyage is absolutely a gem, and should be required reading for those who wish to cruise, or at least love sailing. Sadly, in some ways the book is a sort of time capsule, and scenes like his turtle-hunting in the Galapagos Islands are not as joyful as perhaps they once were, as the species in that area are now considered threatened or endangered. Of course, people were only later to become more conscious of the environment and the fragilities of ecosystems to outside forces, but these days, I can see some sailors cringing at certain paragraphs. I very highly recommend this book, I really do, but be prepared for some jarring moments.

This book gives a very good overall story of the designs N.G. created and also tells the story of the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Part of me wishes the book went into more detail on some of the designs but that book would be ten times as large. Overall this book presents Captn. Nat's live from beginning to end and gives a very interesting view into a time long since past.

This book is a reprint of the classic 1953 edition. It reads as though it was written some years before that.

Capt. Nat was one of the preeminent yacht designers from the late 1800's to about 1920. He and his shipyard built a lot of the more famous racing yachts of the time. This included some that he designed for the successful defense of the America's Cup.

Part of the interest in this book is that these boats were being designed at a time long before computers came on the scene. Capt. Nat first made a small sketch of the boat. Then he built a half hull model. He had a machine of his own design that would then trace along the model at prescribed intervals and draw the lines of the boat.

Of coure, in these days, all the boats were wooden or steel. The exotic material of todays boats had not been invented.

This is interesting reading from a time long past.

It's a good book to have especially if you are an e-project manager. However, Cisco has discontinued the exams and as such don't waste your money buying this book for exam intentions. BUY the book if you would like to have a clear knowledge on e-architecture. Worth the money for knowledge.

When I first started reading this book I thought I was only concerned with how e-business runs, but after delving further into the book and looking at the examples and diagrams I found out that this book is more than just how e-commerce works it also what makes e-commerce work.

While only about 225 pages in length, don't be fooled by that, this book packs a great deal of information within its pages. From the design and what hardware to choose to making sure you have no downtime to consideration outside the network world, this book seems to cover every angle and approach.

The authors make sure you understand the need for security, how QoS affects the website and why network management is so very important. Put it all together and you have the foundation you need to not only run an e-business but manage it as well.

Overall, I am not sure if this book was written for any one exam certification but it should help with several. Also there is several review questions at the end of each chapter.

This is certianly an ivestment well worth the price.

Thgis is a great war book. Its an easy read. Well worth your money.

A fine account of a most interesting and crucial series of Civil War battles. Stackpole treats everyone very fairly. Broad in its scope, audacious in its execution this book analyzes the Confederacy's third and final invasion of the North. A very excellent work that is well worth the time.

This was a very excellent book & I had a hard time putting it down to do my chores. Very well worth the purchase!

If you are looking for just a simple book of classic ghost stories, thie this is a good book to buy. Cheap and small it contains works by classic authors. Not a a bad buy at all

Captain John Mackinnon and his ship, the Matthew Flinders, are embarking on their last voyage. The captain and his vessel symbolize the irreversible, quiet decline of the British merchant fleet. But this journey to Hong Kong will prove to be anything but quiet. Internal tensions among the crew provoke unrest and led to a navigation error, steering them right into the violent, destructive path of Typhoon David. Suddenly the crew of the Matthew Flinders are no longer fighting for their livelihood, but for their very lives. yet on the same sea, other lives are at stake as well. When Mackinnon feels compelled to rescue a boatload of Vietnamese refugees fleeing to Hong Kong, he sets off an explosive chain of events that will lead to mutiny, confrontation with Hong Kong authorities, and the greatest challenge of his nautical career. Endangered Species is a dynamic, brilliantly written maritime action/adventure novel.

The "Matthew Flinders" is on her final voyage for Hong Kong to be sold for scrap, and the members of the crew are sailing to the demise of their way of life (hence the name, "Endangered Species"). En route, they rescue a sinking junk filled with people fleeing Vietnam. There is plenty of excitement as this novel looks at the changing times and how we fight and adapt to them.

This is not a "historical" sea-faring novel like the Nathaniel Drinkwater series by Woodman or the Aubrey and Maturin series by O'Brien. The book is most likely set in the 1980s since there is an AIDS reference and Hong Kong is still under British control. The story tells of the lives of seamen in the British Merchant Navy as it declines.

Richard Woodman, from the information in the book, has been a sailor for a large part of his life. His detailed descriptions of the ship show you his familiarity. Also, his portrayal of the characters will remind you of past shipmates (if you have worked and lived on a boat as I have). We all know the war-veteran skipper, MacKinnon, and the ne'er-do-well MacGregor.

There are some logical problems with the novel though. First, the ship goes through a typhoon and finds itself in the eye of the storm. This would mean that the crew must pass back through the storm, but this never happens. Second, a window is shattered by the storm and someone is injured. The window is never repaired, and there is no mention of the after-effects (like wind or noise). Lastly, the navigation is mostly dead reckoning and celestial fixes. I would think that a modern novel would mention other sources (like Loran or Omega). These may be petty, but they are noticeable.

Regardless of these errors, this is still an engaging and nostalgic read. I could easily see myself reading more books by Woodman, just as I would recommend that you should read this one.

Learning to sail is easy, all you need is a few hours of competent instruction and you are off and sailing. Really, it's not that difficult. The challenge, a lifelong challenge, is to sail a boat to its potential in all conditions. Afterall, it is said that anytime two sailboats can see each other, there's a sailboat race; How to Trim Sails will help you win those informal races as well as the Wednesday night series at your local club.

If you are just learning to sail, come back in a year or two and buy this book. Schweer's book is not about learning to sail, it is about learning to sail better. If you follow Schweer's advice, you'll find yourself enjoying sailing more and if you are racing, sailing faster and finishing higher in the fleet. Primarily geared towards dinghies and small keelboats the advice also applies to offshore keelboats.

This book is well organized and leads logically from setting up your boat to be easily sailed, to sail controls, to chapters on sailing in various conditions, and finally to chapters on different rig types. The structure of the book is such that you will want to keep it aboard as a quick reference and review; this is not a book to read once and then let sit on the bookshelf. Accompanying photos and diagrams are clear and easily understood complementing the prose which has been translated from German.

Clear and concise, the advice in How to Trim Sails will help you move to the next level in sailing; giving others a clear view of your transom.

Dave Lochner
NauticalReads

Owners of all kinds of boats, from dinghies to cruisers, will find HOW TO TRIM SAILS: DINGHIES TO OFFSHORE CRUISERS an easy, important reference now in its updated second edition. Don't let its slim appearance surprise you: it's in fact packed with trim details for all levels of experience and packs in tips on the most popular rig configurations for modern yachts and boats, pairing reference tables of at-a-glance detail with diagrams and clear directions.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch