Sherman Books

This 4th edition is 2 years obsolete. As of March 2008, the current edition is the 6th edition. The previous 5th edition was dated April 2007.

Unfortunately the book I ordered never came. You sent the wrong one, then I sent it back. You said you sent the right one next, but sent another wrong book instead. I never received the book I wanted, I sent both books you shipped back.

This book takes a very practical, interesting and useful topic and makes it boring and dry.

While doing research for an essay on the "Search for Postmodernism in a Modernist World," I purchased Ms Rowell's book, curiously titled Objects of Desire. At the very least, it was a questionable investment. However, it is indicative of what is wrong with the world of modern art [or even postmodern art] where pretentious jargon takes the place of actual description, reason or discussion as an excuse for art works that in the end are just boring.

At the time of the book's publication, Ms Rowell was allegedly a curator at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Her explanation of Postmodernism gets at the heart of the matter in such a way that I am compelled to quote her at length, in particular her explanation regarding the bridge between pastiche and schizophrenia:

"The possibility of pastiche -- its neutrality and blankness - presupposes that individualism is dead. The copy is impersonal; the model is either indifferent, forgotten, or never existed. High modernism, however, was "predicated on the invention of a personal private style... This means that the modernist aesthetic is in some way a unique personality and individuality, which can be expected to generate its own unique vision of the world, and to forge its own unique, unmistakable style." Yet today, scientists, social scientists, and cultural critics are "exploring the notion that that [sic] kind of individualism and personal identity is a thing of the past; that the old individual or individualist subject is `dead'; and that one might even describe the concept of the unique individual and the theoretical basis of individualism as ideological." Thus the old models of modernism are no longer viable. As we know, schizophrenia is defined as a basic breakdown of relationships - because objects in a perceptual field, for example and between words and their meaning or content, or between words and each other as a continuous fabric of meaning in a linguistic system. As a result, the schizophrenic has no concept of time as linear, interconnected, and sequential, and none either of personal identity as a selection and interrelation of certain specific human potentials at the expense of others. Conversely, because the schizophrenic does not (indeed cannot) search for meaning behind the object, behind the word, or within the unhierarchical unfolding of the field of experience, he or she has an experience of the present and of its objects that is "overwhelmingly vital and `material'... ever more material - or better still, literal - ever more vivid in sensory ways." ... Pashtiching the objects of desire of our traditional landscape, they set a film of meaning (or nonmeaning) between themselves and ourselves. In their deliberate displacement and disconnection from familiar circuits of meaning - whether aesthetic or real - these surrogates or simulacra embody another register of experience, that of the signs and systems of the postmodern world." [Rowell, 194-195]

Is there anything more that can be added after such an erudite analysis? Perhaps there is. However, the analysis does cause one to ask a number of questions. Did anyone buy this book for anything other than the pictures? How does one get a job as a curator in a major museum? And more to the point, was there an editor, or was the editor on vacation when page after page of turgid, incoherent and virtually incomprehensible pseudo-intellectualism made its way to print? Or perhaps this presentation is meant to be a literary representation of Postmodernism, most likely a parody of postmodern Deconstructionist style. One can only hope that this is satire - the world of Dilbert in the "artplace." Dramatic readings of her text have provided considerable entertainment for my friends and family, who found it quite amusing.

I just received the book today, I was shocked , and I didn't even wanted to reveiw the content. Once you touch it, you will realize how bad quality it is, it won't stand to read a single chapter even.
I personally recommend not to buy it, till they improve the print, and to attach a CD with it, otherwise you are wasting your money. I will return mine and have my money back soon. Regarding rating , it seems there is no minus stars to rate this product, this product as a quality of printing is really BAD BAD BAD.

The illustrations in this book are not the same woodcut type illustrations typical in other books in this series. If you are looking for a good picture of a tree, I suggest you look elsewhere.

The book does contain Latin names for plants pictured, though, if this is helpful to you.

No idea why Amazon is flogging these articles for 6 dollars a pop when they are:

a) available online for free from the Canadian Army Journal site

b) flogging these without author's consent

As the author of this article, I object to its sale on this site

No idea why Amazon is flogging these articles for 6 dollars a pop when they are:

a) available online for free from the Canadian Army Journal site

b) flogging these without author's consent

As the author of this article, I object to its sale on this site

I've read all the "Starfist" books. None was up to the first one and it was no better than 2 stars. "A World of Hurt" is, by far, the worst of the lot. Part of this one even denigrates into the comical.

Note to authors, you should pour a little nuoc mam on this and eat it. That way someone gets something out of it. Quit playing games with readers patience and intelligence.

I am sorry I bought it, even at lowest used price, definitely not worth it.

For example: Section 2, #2 is Titled 'Priorities'
However, all it does is give a 1 paragraph story stating that someone jumped from task to task without getting anything done and taking on more work to do as well - and that is it, Not One thing at all about how to set priorities or deal with this type of problem.
Then in Section #3 priorities is under #7 Not #2. And it gives only a page of very very minimal basics about priorities with no really explanation or help. That's it.

I strongly suggest looking elsewhere if you are serious about wanting to stop procrastinating. If you want another excuse for procrastinating, then maybe this book can be of help.

I would suggest instead a book called, 'How to DeJunk Your Life' (junk/clutter often causes things to be put off due to not being able to find/get to things, and makes one feel overwhelmed even before starting).
And 'The Procrastinator's Handbook by Rita Emmett' which I am currently reading.