Stevens Books

This seems to be a very good series for Designers who see design as a way of life and not just a paycheck. There are a lot of conceptual motifs discussed as it examines all of the intellectual considerations a designer must address when working on a job that demands more than aesthetic alone. It delves into the very essence of communication at the visual level as it reviews typography, semiotics and a host of other immediately pertinent subject matter. Well worth the price of admission. An indispensable publication that will maintain it's relevance for decades to come.

If you're a designer or visual communicator, this book is a must have for research, history, and critical insight. Throughful, provocative, and daring, Looking Closer gauges the role of design across social and cultural divides. Its articles are collected from magazines such as Graphis, Eye, Communication Arts, and the AIGA Journal. Furthermore, the book is cheaper than getting a subscription to those magazines!

A collection of essays from various magazines, designers and typographers provides the student with an unmissable reference guide. Excellent as it is not only an enjoyable, interesting read, but also fantastic for essay writing as it condenses a library of books into one small paperback. No student should be without this book!

This is the first volume in a collection of books on design criticism. The articles are pulled from sources like the Journal of the AIGA, Print, and EYE magazine. The topics range the "ugly aesthetic" to the state of design education. The articles are all decent none really stick out as undeserving of a place in this collection. Paul (IBM logo) Rand Contributes an interesting essay on what purpose logos really serve and Paula Scher talks about the way she runs her classes at SVA. The essays all provide some food for thought(even it the thought is " I'd like to smack this guy.")Buy it and keep it with you It's a good thing to have around while your waiting for a bus, a haircut, or a class to begin.

I stumbled across this book on Amazon and almost overlooked it. If it had not been for my little inner voice nagging me about it, I probably would have (always listen to your inner voice). I am so pleased that I read this book, it is unlike anything I have read before on Witchcraft. It follows in the tradition of Gerald B. Gardner in that it is a work of fiction laced with hidden truths throughout the writing. The author is a Witch who has decided that it was time to bring certain things about The Craft to light. This is done in a way that reveals certain hidden aspects of Witchcraft, but by putting it in a fictional story, he leaves it up to the reader to understand which parts are fiction and which are true. If you are a Witch reading this book, then believe me, you will know, or at the very least it will awaken aspects of the Mysteries kept buried deep inside to rise to the surface of your being and start you questioning what it is you think you know. I believe books of this kind will become more prevalent over time as Elders within Witchcraft begin to reassess the information being put out to the public and consider the times we are in. I by no means feel that secrets within The Craft should just be given to the public at large. I am a firm believer in keeping those secrets to ourselves. But by revealing certain aspects in the way that this book does, walking that line between truth and fiction, I think it allows certain Mysteries to be revealed in those Witches coming into The Craft who are trying to dissimilate the wheat from the chaff. It can awaken the knowledge of that truth within them sooner rather than later, and as the author points out, those people who are not Witches, over time, become disinterested in the subject and move on, while true Witches stay with The Craft always. The story told in the pages of this book take the reader from the heights to the depths and back. Mr. Hammond writes extremely well. We find this to be a story of two Witches but also of something far more reaching than just the story of these two lives. Both Witches grew up with very different life experiences shaping who they would become and yet there is a similarity between the two young men also. This is a book that shows "the battle between good and evil" but it also depicts the various shades of grey that exist in a world seen by many as only black or white. The author touches upon aspects of The Craft never before seen in print. This is not a story about the often referred to "airy-fairy" aspect of modern Wicca, but about Witchcraft seen from a much more primeval perspective. It putting out a book in this context, many modern Wiccan practitioners will be alarmed and displeased as will some Elders within The Craft. I would hope that we would all want to have a balanced viewpoint in these matters and not just be spoon-fed mouthfuls of the same sanitized fodder we have received for years. For all the good that the "sanitized fodder" has done(and make no bones about it, it has done a lot of good), the fact remains that with anything positive that we produce, negative must also accompany it. Just as I know that the "good" I hope this book will achieve will also produce a fair amount of "bad". Balance wills out regardless of our efforts for you can not have one without the other. But I honestly believe that the author is seeking to educate and to help Witchcraft evolve beyond it's current phase. This book I highly recommend to anyone seeking to know more. For those who are ready, look closely, read between the lines and really ponder just what the author is saying within this story and maybe, hidden, not often gleened insight will occur. And those Mysteries we all speak of so often might be revealed a little more sooner that later. I eagerly await Mr. Hammond's next book. Great job.

Steven Hammond is a Gifted Writer. The Craft Community is lucky to have such a gifted author among its ranks. This book is a Must Read for Everyone who is in the Craft or thinking of joining the Craft. In fact it's a Must Read for anyone who Likes Fiction!
Looking Through The Horns is written in the format of Fiction but based on Life Experiences. This book is so well written and gripping that I was unable to put it down once I started reading it! So- 48 hours later with very little sleep I finished reading this MasterPiece! I believe that this book has the potential to be the first Craft Authored Book to make the New York Times Best Seller List! -No JOKE - It's that good. If Steven Hammond starts writting main-stream Fiction, Steven King and Dean Koontz are likely to be blown out of the water!

Steven Hammond is a most gifted and honest writer. The work he has produced with his book has been written as a fiction, however, it is the truth and very factual in its presentation. If any attempts to publish this work in its true raw form would have been set forth, it would have never been published. It was politicially correct to write and publish this book as a fiction. The advanced aspects of the 'craft' in this book have never been published by any other auther. Only a teacher, healer and a true 'Witch' in the craft, approching Elder status could write and publish a true work of 'fact and 'truth' as Steven Hammond has. This book should be considered a best seller and I would be surprised if it does not make the 'Times Best Seller List'. Thank you for such a wonderful work. Eye opening, could not put it down.

Steven Hammond is a Gifted Writer. The Craft Community is lucky to have such a gifted author among its ranks. This book is a Must Read for Everyone who is in the Craft or thinking of joining the Craft. In fact it's a Must Read for anyone who Likes Fiction!
Looking Through The Horns is written in the format of Fiction but based on Life Experiences. This book is so well written and gripping that I was unable to put it down once I started reading it! So- 48 hours later with very little sleep I finished reading this MasterPiece! I believe that this book has the potential to be the first Craft Authored Book to make the New York Times Best Seller List! -No JOKE - It's that good. If Steven Hammond starts writting main-stream Fiction, Steven King and Dean Koontz are likely to be blown out of the water!

When a life partner dies, the widow or widower is faced with a multitude of decisions at once, at a time of emotional depletion when even one decision is experienced as overwhelming. This book is a handy and well-thought-out compendium of ideas and insights and suggestions that can make the early months of loss more manageable.

The first chapter tackles the psychological: several compassionate stories are offered that make the complexities of mourning seem more "normal." These men and women got through it, and thus, so can you. The rest of the chapters cover financial issues, taxes, social security, and so on, including some thoughts about funeral arrangements.

Written by experts in their fields, these chapters offer up-to-date information and provide an excellent starting point for getting back on one's feet. An extensive Directory of Resources is valuable in itself.

This book helped guide me through a difficult time. It reads easy and follows like a recipe book. I would recommend it to any friend who has experience the loss of a spouse. The Author takes a very difficult subject and makes it understandable. Furthermore, I was able to get back to the business of taking care of business.

I loved the book. I got it for my mother after my father died. It helped her with the tough decisons she was faced with. Its worth the money

I loved the clear concise coverage of a difficult topic. I found this book well written and easy to follow. After the loss of my husband, I didn't know where to turn. Fortunately, a friend recommended reading this book. It saved me. Thank you

I bought this book because I like adventure stories and the summary review sounded really good. I also liked the cover. That old hand reaching in toward the piles of coins tickled my curiosity. I am in high school, and although the characters in this book are in sixth grade and eighth grade, they reminded me of people I know at my school. Everything in this book seemed so real. I would like to explore caves like the ones in this book. Super Great! As I read it, I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat. I found the author's website and wrote him an e-mail telling him how much I liked his book. I didn't really think he'd write back, but he did. It was really cool.

This book would make a great movie. I would recommend it to all my friends.

This is my new favorite book. I couldn't put it down and when I finished it, I wanted it to go on. It was very excititing.

When I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Now that I finished, I wish it could go on. It was very exciting.

This novel made me remember some very dear moments of my childhood.

I wake up inside William Bell to find myself reliving the dreams and adventures of my own childhood. All the fears and joys of life come alive in the hot Texas summer that feels your toes and soul with sand. SWC

Lovesong for the Giant Contessa is a beautifully scripted novel, set in a strange and wonderous place: Texas. This thought provoking work is sure to become a classic. I have read, even studied, many author's work. Few have compared in their ability to capture their reader's imagination like Steven Tye Culbert.

Lovesong for the Giant Contessa is a lovely novel, full of melodic, tightly packed prose that reminds me of good poetry, striking characters, and a story as delightfully complex as the patterns of a seashell. In that strange Texas country, the novel rings deadly true

My 8 year old son was a reluctant reader. It was this book that finally got him "hooked." He could not wait to read the next chapter. He has since read several more of the A to Z books and loves them all. I highly recommend this book and series for Second and Third Graders!

The book Lucky Lottery is a good book because it is interesting to read about the mystery. The book is kind of hard to read, but it is fun to see what happens next. We recommend this book.

We really liked this book (Mom included). Josh, Dink and Ruth Rose worked well together to solve this mystery and catch the thief. We were all surprised about the ending. We wish we could cross-country ski all over our town! Ron Roy's stories always entertain us and we can't wait to get the next in the series - The Missing Mummy.

I wish I could win a seven million dollar lottery ticket for my very own. If you would like to win a lottery ticket, you will sure like this book, because the three best detectives in the whole wide world are in this book and they catch a real lottery ticket thief! The book is also set in winter, many kids favorite time of the year. Although my favorite A to Z Mystery book is The Absent Author, I think this one is pretty good, and I think you'll like it too.

The Maltese Dog has brought smiles and laughs to my 8-year-old. He loves the book and looks forward to reading it every day.

I really enjoyed this book. I had to do a book report on a book and chose this one. The story of Joe Talbot getting wrongly accused and the entire story of him, with the help of his dog, presuming his innocence, is very captivating. It reminds me of the story "The Maltese Falcon" but for kids. I rated it 4 stars out of 5, only because of the little side story between Wishbone and his lady dog friend. That part of the story to me had nothing to do with the plot in the book and to me was just a waste of time reading.

I think this book was really exciting. It is one of my favorite Wishbone Books. Joe and Wishbone are trying to find out who is prankstering their court. You've got to read this book, because it's great!

Joe Talbot's basketball team, the Bulldogs, is on a winning streak until somebody starts pulling pranks. Strange enough, the evidence points to Joe. Joe and Wishbone try to find out who is joking with the team.

Joseph Steven tells an interesting tale in thIs crime drama... produces a multi-layer story with a fast-paced plot. The characters are enjoyable... the investigation team is both realistic and entertaining. An engaging read.

When you pick up Joseph Steven's new book "Manhatten Serenade," make sure that your life is cleared out for the next few hours because you won't be able to put it down until you've finished. The fast-moving mystery gives you the authentic feeling of being in the middle of a New York crime scene. The character development is excellent, making you feel like you know the people in this book. There are so many surprising twists and turns that you are compelled to keep reading until you finally unravel the mystery. This is writing at its best. Hats off to Joseph Steven for his best book to date. I hope more are coming soon--I'm waiting!

Manhattan Serenade: A Novel
Things were not going very well for NYPD Lieutenant James Moran. He had been through a failed marriage when his wife decided to "redefine" herself in California. For the next four years he lived a very lonely life. He thought his career was over when his knee was shattered by an assailant's bullet. However, his life was now making a turn around when he received a new knee and an exciting job as head of the Cold Case Task Force. He also met a new love, Sandra Mazzetti, in the gym he attended as part of his physical therapy. Sandra's husband was killed in a motorcycle accident. Sandra and James got married.

Sandra was now very ill and needed a bone marrow transplant in order to have a fighting chance. There were only two choices - she had a half-brother who could possibly be a match or maybe she could be moved up the list. James was informed by the doctor that this was only done in extreme cases. This answer really annoyed James because how much more "extreme" can you get when you have been given a death sentence without the transplant?

While on the way home from the doctor's appointment, James received a call on his cell phone. He was informed that a floater had been found in the East River. The dead man was identified as Paul Myer. James could not understand what this had to do with the cold case unit. Myer was released six months ago after serving one year of a life sentence for the murder of Lacy Wooden. He had been cleared by DNA evidence. Moran was informed that Lacy Wooden's murder is a cold case with top priority. Due to the connection between Lacy and Paul Myer, Moran was ordered to investigate both cases at once.

As Moran and his team start to follow the clues, they come in contact with some of the cities most powerful individuals. They also discover secrets and connections to the dead woman.

James Moran knows this is not going to be an easy case with all the obstacles in the way plus he had the additional stress of dealing with his wife's illness.

Will James Moran and his team be successful in solving this case?

After reading the first couple of pages of this book, I knew I was in for a treat. The author has a writing style that reminds me of James Patterson because of the short chapters and a "tease" at the end of each one that makes you want to go on and continue reading no matter how late it might be. Joseph Steven does an excellent job with his character creation. They are strong and well defined. I really liked the lead character because he really lets the reader know exactly what is on his mind. You just have the feeling with him on the case, it is a "very good thing". What really impressed me is the flair this author has with descriptive writing. No matter what the author is talking about, whether you are being introduced to a new character or he is telling you about a certain place, you are given detailed descriptions. Joseph Steven makes you feel like you are right there in the room or at the scene of the crime. Joseph Steven has the talent needed be a good writer and one day I expect to see his name at the top of the bestseller lists. Manhattan Serenade never gets boring. In fact, it just keeps getting better and better with the turn of each page. If you are looking for a novel that is full of suspense, has great characters and has an intriguing plot, be sure to add "Manhattan Serenade" to your reading list. I highly recommend this novel.

THE LONDON LITERARY REVIEWS-

In this, his third novel, Joseph Steven has written a wonderful suspenseful mystery with an intriguing plot and well-defined characters that are reminiscent of Raymond Chandler's memorable novels. It is a page turner and will keep the reader riveted to the very end.

I used this book in a manufacturing engineering course at SUNY Stonybrook. Since graduating I now work as a process engineer, and I have found the book's content to be highly relevant to the field and I still use it as a reference guide to this day.

I like this book and think it should be in the hands of every manufacturing engineer. Most of the classical manufacturing subjects for example materials technology is treated, but also modern subjects like computer integrated manufacturning systems and automation. As far as I can see it is updated with the latest research and engineering practice.

This is one of 2 books that captures the essence of a manufacturing management (or industrial engineering) engineering undergraduate degree- the other being an operations management text from Ray Wild, Nigel Slack, or Laurie Mullins. To help get an idea of what being a manufacturing engineer involves, prospective students should envision a dose of intense team & individual industry-based change projects, and striving globally competitive companies to add "seasoning" to these books. The broad `technology' contents are useful for industry veterans, consultants, and undergraduate students alike, as well as being a good starting point for researchers.

Over 1000 pages of richly detailed and illustrated yet concise contents span:

* materials properties- metals, behaviour & testing, properties, alloys, production of steels, non-ferrous production, plastics, ceramics, and composites.

* metal casting processes and equipment- fundamentals, processes, and design & economics.

*forming and shaping processes and equipment- rolling, forging, extrusion and drawing, sheet-metal forming, powder metallurgy, forming & shaping plastic & composites, forming & shaping ceramics & glass.

* material removal processes and machines- cutting, tolls & fluids, round-shape processes, various-shape processes, machine tools and economics, abrasive processes & operations, and non-traditional processes.

* joining processes and equipment- oxyfuel & arc & resistance welding, solid-state welding, metallurgy, brazing/soldering & mechanical joining processes.

* surface technology- characteristics & measurement, tribology, surface treatment, fabrication of microelectronics,

* common aspects of manufacturing- metrology, testing and quality assurance, human factors and safety.

* manufacturing in a competitive environment- automation, integrated systems, competition and economics.

The strengths include the vast amount of detail, illustrations, references and exercises to embed learning; broadness yet correctness of content; and many examples of industrial application and usefulness for industry. An updated version, with further additions on latest technologies, process control, and systems analysis/simulation & change management, would address the only weakness of the text (the section on competitive environment manufacturing). Thoroughly recommended as a reference and how-to book in manufacturing (suspect latest version even better!)

[Refers to first edition 1989 ISBN 0201128497]

this book contains all the information ever needed by a mechanical production engineer. it is a usful addition to all libararies.

Steven Sidor writes. He pens thriller novels. Frightening, like a dark, damp place you have to put your hand inside. Go for it, I say.

This is my take on his style of writing, where he employs short, taut sentences that carry a clear voice, calling from some uncomfortable life experience. Steven Sidor's newest offering, The Mirror's Edge, is a fast read, clocking in at fewer than 300 pages in hardback form. It's not a lighthearted novel by any stretch, but fans of his should be more than pleased, and I'd recommend this novel to anyone who thinks characters like Hannibal Lecter are pure entertainment.

The story is written in the first-person perspective, effectively pulling the reader along. We see the world through his sarcastic and often depressed eyes, as he stumbles through locales trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of two boys. It has happened before too close to home, and that is motivation enough. Obscure clues like mirrororrim lead the narrator to investigate a strange cult that makes Wicca seem normal. Dark magic is on the menu, and you will have to finish the book to find out if and how the leading man survives.

There are a couple minor flaws, which are easily tossed aside. The book gets off to a choppy start by screwing around with the timeline, and it's not entirely clear that the near-end brings us back to the beginning. I think it did, but I'm not sure. I was also mildly perplexed by the protagonist's significant other, who coincidentally happens to be neck deep on the wrong side of the plot. It seemed a bit unrealistic.

However, these issues can be dismissed because Sidor's dark voice is so willful and strong. I'd recommend this book to fans of Thomas Harris, or anyone looking to take a walk on the dark side.

Armchair Interviews agrees.

Independent reporter Jase Deering believes it was the disappearance of his brother Mathias who at twelve years old walked into the wintry woods and never came safely home. Now as one year has passed since the kidnapping of two-year-old twins Liam and Shane Boyle, Jase and his blind girlfriend Robyn Matchfrost decide to investigate what the police have classified as a cold case.

The Chicago police detectives who worked the official inquiry assist Jase and Robyn as much as they can as they want closure almost as much as the victims' parents crave it. The journalist team interviews the Boyle former nanny who lives in total abject fear and shows them the term "mirrorrorrim" that the abductor etched on her skin. That message leads Jase and Robyn to black arts cult leader Aubrey Hart Morick, who believed strongly in human sacrifice; however Morick was dead long before the snatch occurred. Jase turns to Aubrey's offspring and soon uncovers disturbing information that makes him wonder if the son is a chip off the evil father's block. Finding the twins and proof remain elusive as the years go by with Jase now a solo act digging deeper and deeper into the cult and the supernatural. He knows he is too late for the boys and for himself, but obsessively keeps drilling deeper in search of the truth

This is a one-sitting superb but upsetting suspense tale (keep the antacid tablets handy) that plays out like an investigative thriller, but is much frighteningly more. Readers will follow every disconcerting twist with macabre fascination as Steven Sidor keeps the audience mesmerized with what is going on especially in the obsessed mind of Jase. You will not sleep well thinking about what really happened in this unforgettable novel.

Harriet Klausner

I would say the third time is a charm! This book is the best that Steve has written. As I was reading this book, I was always wondering what was on the next page. I could not put this book down, let alone sleep at night.

I'm a fan of this author's writing on many levels, the most obvious being his consistency. Sidor started good and gets scary better with each new offering. The Mirror's Edge is a frightening journey we take with a cynical narrator through a satanic world of evil and magic. I read it over two days and expect nightmares born of the cloven entourage Jase finds himself fighting from start to finish. It's a battle that jumps continents and Sidor's sharp, economic narrative keeps the story moving at a fast pace. His characters (the good, the bad and the misbegotten) grab hold and don't let go.

This is a writer making leaps where most of his contemporaries are forced to climb the ladder one step at a time. Read this baby with the lights on and make damn sure it's not on a stormy night ...