Thompson Books

This book has lots of good ideas in it.

Well worth the money.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered this book. I was amazed at how well thought out the "hacks" were and the authors take the time to explain the why of the "hack" with plenty of detail. Their handling of the different topics are from the perspective of what they found works well, but they take the time to address alternate viewpoints and the relative merits of each (an example is their handling of the red-dot sight vs Telrad vs Rigel Qwikfinder debate, some very useful information there!).

This is a definite "must have" book for any telescope owner (they handle dobs extremely well in this book), and is the second book you need to buy after choosing a good observing guide.

My wife gave me a decent telescope for Christmas and by luck got one that's pretty good. This book makes some specific recommendations that would have been useful to have read first.

A must have book for anyone getting into astronomy, whether with binoculars or a telescope. It's also a good to buy and read before you buy binoculars or a telescope, as it helps you decide what need to get. I was very impressed with it, and couldn't put it down, which says a lot about a technical book.

Gazing at the night sky is part of our nature. Whether for scientific and/or aesthetic purposes, we humans are fascinated by the enormity and beauty of the heavens.

The authors explain how astronomy gives them an "unchanging framework that places us in context within the universe. We look at the Great Orion Nebula, for example, and realize that the light we see tonight began its journey about 1,550 years ago, when the Roman Empire was in its final days."

This book is a comprehensive (almost 400 pages) guide to getting the most out of your nocturnal viewings. It will be useful for the complete amateur, the hobbyist and even offer some tips for the seasoned astronomer.

Don't be frightened by the word "Hacks" in the title. Like other O'Reilly Hacks books, this is not a compilation of illegal or unethical computer programs. It is a reclaiming of the original meaning of the word "hacks." Before the media started using the term hackers for everyone from mischievous teens to dangerous criminals, a Hacker was someone who used a creative workaround or discovered a more elegant, or quick-and-dirty, solution to a problem.

You probably won't read this book from cover to cover. Depending on where you are starting from and where you want to go, you will find sections that pertain to your interest and experience. Early in the book is a guide to choosing binoculars and telescopes. I like the hack that explains how to measure your "entrance pupil size" using Allen wrenches. This will suggest the optimal telescope for my eyes.

The book also gives tips, guidelines and even etiquette for venturing out alone or with others on an observation trip.

There is some solid information as to how our eyes function in the dark. If you are eager to see stars, you can skip some of this but I found it interesting. Especially the explanation of why all cats are gray in the dark.

After about 100 pages you will get into star identification and cataloging. It begins with the Bayer Catalog, (Johann Bayer published the first comprehensive star atlas in 1603) and then includes more modern catalogs.

The authors provide lists of, say, the 88 modern constellations and include a pronunciation guide so you don't sound like a newbie.
As an "urban observer" (about 8 miles from downtown), I have different equipment needs and techniques than a country dweller. There is a whole section dedicated to Urban Observing Skills.

For the adventurous, there is a game plan to complete a Messier Marathon (seeing and logging all 110 Messier Objects in one night.

Astronomy has long been linked to photography and there are a lot of hacks dealing with taking pictures of the images you observe.

Those who have gone beyond the beginner stage will appreciate all the hacks and modifications you can make to your telescope and other equipment to improve your experience. And the book concludes with hacks to make your PC a better tool in your observations.

This book provides a nice starting point for people interested in the night sky. But it's not a beginner's book. As your skills and interest grow, you will continue to uncover new and useful ideas from this book.

I bought this book to read before surgery. The book was very informative and has some good recipes in it too. The recipes can be made with stuff you already have in your kitchen and they taste great.

I'd recommend this book to any one.

Alicia
North Carolina

The book is an easy to read comprehensive review of everything a person needs to know if they are looking into having the surgery, preparing for surgery, going through the after effects of the surgery, or having a loved one go through the surgery. Points are presented in a simple format with lists, recipies and other resources to refer back to even after you read the book.

This is by far the best book I have ever read that describes the different types of Weight loss surgery and what one can expect. It details clearly from the preparation to the post- op process all that you will ever want to to know. Anyone who is considering weight loss surgery cannot afford to not have this book in their library.

This is a book that gives both sides of bariatric surgery. It is a helpful tool and is highly recommended.

This was the first of 2 books I read as I prepared for WLS. As my surgery date approaches (10 days) I feel confident about my outcome because I researced my doctors and made myself knowledgeable of what to expect. This book did the last part. It is easy to refer to and after finishing, I went back and high-lighted parts I felt I would need to refer to later. The part I liked best was the way the chapters were outlined at the beginning of each. If you needed information later and couldn't remember where you read it, you could look on the first page of the chapter and see what it contained. Written like a information book should!!!!

"The Great Shark Hunt" serves as a fantastic first volume that serves as possibly the ultimate re-cap of arguably his most influential period. Featuring cuts from now seminal classics such as "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas", "Hell's Angels", and "Fear & Loathing On The Campaign Trail '72" supplemented with a large collection of articles that have over the years become journalistic staples within the Hunter S. Thompson fan collective and outside observers a like. Whether his first introduction with Ralph Steadman ("The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent And Depraved") or the death of Ruben Salazar ("Strange Rumblings In Atzlan"), Hunter S. Thompson has always managed to immerse himself in the story in ways still unmatched.

His writings and subsequent volumes of letters have alluded to a man that was as intriguing as he was unnerving.. and that possibly is the testament why Hunter S. Thompson is the "founder" and only real contender in the arena of "Gonzo Journalism". His strong personality is what made him the center of the story, and his sharp incite and wit were merely the icing on top.

Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, Muhammad Ali.... it is all here.

Phenomenal, one of Thompson's greats. Great stuff with his meeting of Ralph Steadman. He interacts with the world like no other. You get a feeling that he is right there again being as chaotic and eccentric as he is expected to be. By far some of his great writing.

This book is really amazing. It spans, not chronilogically, throughout most of Dr. Hunter S Thompson's early/middle stages of his career. It is satirical and hilarious and straight to the point. Straight to the point meaning he does not bite his tongue, especially when speaking about "that twisted beast of a man" Nixon. Sometimes the writing begins getting off on a tangent, but if it didn't then it wouldn't truly be gonzo journalism. This book is incredible!

Hunter S. Thompson was a raving lunatic, a mad professor, a crackpot, and a Genius all wrapped up in one. If you're up for a wild ride through the late sixties and early seventies then get this book - nobody else has come close to describing those times so well. I found myself giggling like a Moron at some of the outrageous things that Thompson did and said, and pounding my fist in anger at other things that the Mad Doctor did and said. At certain intervals during this read I vowed to never touch another Thompson book, but there were times that I couldn't put it down, and eagerly anticipated his other books. It is worth the read for it's insight, and for the jaw-dropping affect that Thompson causes so easily and so frequently.

Much like Sony's "The Essential" series, which collected the greatest songs from the greatest musicians of the past century, "The Great Shark Hunt" is an anthology of the greatest of the Good Doctor's work from his peak period of the 60's and 70's.

Perhaps no other American writer captured the essence of that tumultous era better than Hunter S. Thompson. He was simultaneously of his time and above his time, and invented a new kind of journalism, dubbed "Gonzo." All objectivity was thrown out the window as the author thrust himself into the action of the stories he was reporting. Whether it was dropping acid at a police convention in Las Vegas, sabotaging the presidential bid of Ed Muskie, or running for sheriff of Aspen, Thompson's antics are legendary, and "The Great Shark Hunt" is a great way to get acquainted with the man and the writing for which he is best remembered.

Thank you for your story in an honest and insightful manner.
My hat's off to you...... we need more honesty like this.

I have suffered with major depression for over 16 years now, but was officially diagnosed with depression just a couple short weeks ago. The title of this book is what immediately caught my attention. I knew I had to find a way to read it. I decided to check to see if my local library had a copy. It didn't. But I was able to get a copy from a public library in another city through inter-library loan.

I saw myself so often in this pages of this book. It made me feel less alone. Reading Ms. Thompson's book was like having an intense personal conversation. This book is extremely well written. Ms. Thompson has some great insights. I love her brutal honest. She gives an honest and complete disclosure. She talks openly about the good, the bad, and the ugly. I would highly recommend this book to people who suffer with depression themselves. But I would also recommend it to those who are struggling to understand the struggles of a friend or family member who struggles with depression. There are things in this book that caused me to think about my own situation in a new way. Some of her insights are profound. It couldn't have been easy for Ms. Thompson to write this book. After all, she was a well-known journalist. She was risking her career by writing with such brutal honesty. But I am so glad that she was able to overcome her fear of rejection. She has done all of us, especially those of us who suffer with major depression, a great service. I am so thankful for this book.

Like other great heroes, Tracy Thompson probably does not consider herself heroic. Nonetheless, she is very much a hero of mine. "The Beast" helped me soldier through the blackest days of my life, for which I will be forever grateful to Ms. Thompson.

"The Beast" is an exceptional and excellently written description of a deeply private, highly accomplished woman's journey out of a dark night of her soul.

If you suffer from depression or if you wish to better understand depression in order to support a loved one, I encourage you to read "The Beast."

I read this book shortly after it was released. My first thought was "Wow, someone understands how I feel." It is an excellent book for those around us who do not understand depression and the mental and physical problems that accompany it. I have read this book several times. I have also recommended it to many including my counselor. Tracy Thompson helped remove the stigma associated with mentai illness.

This is a book from the inside out, meaning the author writes well about the subject because it comes from within. I have read several books about depression, and this is the one that has impressed me the most. Honest, well-written, and it tells it like it is. At times I found myself disagreeing with the author's actions (but who am I to judge) as if she was a character (see, it reads like a good book, a novel even, definitely not self-help and never ever patronizing), but I always appreciated her honesty and "straightford-ness." Somehow I found this book at the time I needed it the most, when I had given up all hope of getting better. I'm still not convinced I will, but this book has me rooting for the author. I am ever grateful and thankful it exists.

If you suffer from depression, just want to know more about it, or someone you love suffers from it, please READ THIS BOOK. Most of the time, in anthologies and even some "memoirs," I think: this person has no idea what they are talking about, I can't relate. Not here. This book is accessible and, I truly believe, helpful to anyone who reads it. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It is an asset to the field. And, subject not withstanding, it's a good book on its own. In other words, as a memoir it is interesting, entertaining, and you'll slow down your reading just to make it last longer (and to me, that's often the mark of a good book and an excellent storyteller). Best of luck to the author. And for anyone who reads this book because they "need" it, I get it. More importantly, so does the author. Good luck, then, to all of us.

The Sandman, Neil Gaiman's masterpiece, is something quite rare--it's excellent from start to finish. Nowhere does the series falter, it just gets better and better. "Brief Lives" is the pinnacle of the series. As Dream, the Sandman of the title (he also goes by Morpheus), searches for his lost brother Destruction alongside his sister Delirium, it becomes evidently clear what Gaiman has been building to since the beginning: change. Change within the heart of Dream. Since being imprisoned for 70 years by human sorcerers, Dream has become increasingly compassionate and kind. When this is pointed out to the Lord of Dreams, he denies it, maintaining that he has not changed at all. And here lies the tragedy of Morpheus--his stubbornness and his unwillingness to accept what's standing right in from of him.

In a sprawling fantasy epic detailing the spectrum of imagination, Gaiman has hidden a very simple story--one of redemption and change. It's this subtlety, this humanity, that sets The Sandman above the rest and makes it classic, a series everyone should read.

This is another great collection of Sandman stories which anyone who is a fan of the series should read. My only complaint with this collection is that the stories start out very strong but the ending is a bit of a flop. I am glad that I read it since this does contain events which will probably be of greater importance further along in the series.

Dream is sulking, until his sister Delirium motivates him to help her look for Destruction, their brother who has abdicated his Endless responsibilities.

On the way, through the various people they meet, and reflected in his servants and helpers, we see Dream's thought processes begin to change and mellow, even more so after he finally gets around to dealing with his son, Orpheus, after such long neglect.

I thought Season of Mists was my favorite The Sandman volume until I read Brief Lives.

Brief Lives absolutely has it all--drama, action, comedy, romance, and philosophical ponderings. It focuses upon Morpheus rather directly--unlike other volumes where sometimes he exists within the stories only peripherally--as he helps his sister Delirium track down their brother known as Destruction.

Destruction is part of The Endless. The other members of The Endless are his brothers and sisters Destiny, Death, Dream (Morpheus), Desire, Despair, and Delirium. He long ago abandoned his post and family, choosing instead to exist on his own terms. Addle-brained Delirium unusually makes up her mind and decides she wants to reunite with her favorite brother. She is very surprised when she manages to enlist the aid of her brooding brother, Dream, especially after all her other brothers and sisters refuse to help her.

Dream accompanies Delirium on quite a journey as created by Neil Gaiman who makes brilliant use of legend and mythology, both preexisting and self-manufactured. They finally find Destruction, but things don't go exactly as expected and incredible possibilities are revealed.

I love this volume so much because something happens to Dream that hasn't really occurred in the previous volumes--he changes. While always dynamic in dialogue and appearance, Dream was not a character who seemed to evolve. I enjoyed Lord Morpheus just as he was, but now that Gaiman introduces a changing Dream, a Morpheus who suddenly empathizes with mortals and family members, he becomes all the more fascinating.

Furthermore, the afterward by Peter Straub was absolutely riveting. Brief Lives was enthralling on its own, but Straub's afterward analyzing the volume makes it, and the intricacies of Gaiman's artistry, all the more impressive.

~Scott William Foley, author of Souls Triumphant

This is one of my two favorites in the 11-volume "Sandman" series, which has proven Gaiman to be a genius storyteller. Three centuries ago, Destruction -- one of the seven Endless, who existed even before the gods -- abandoned his responsibilities, left his realm, and went off to do his own thing. Essentially, he ran away from home. Not that the world has lacked for destruction since then, but he's not behind it, anyway. Delirium, who has roughly the persona of a three-year-old combined with a drugged-out-flower child -- but is a very sweet person for all that (well, . . . not "person" . . .), misses her big brother and tries to find one of her siblings to help her look for him and convince him to return. Dream (the Sandman) finally agrees to accompany her, but for his own reasons, and the quest brings in a number of innocent bystanders (who suffer, as bystanders do), as well as an assortment of ancient but now out-of-work deities. A number of neat ideas are tossed out casually, too, like the notion that a few thousand people still exist on Earth from the very earliest days of civilization, or even from the dawn of the species.

Bernie the lawyer, killed by the collapsing wall of a derelict building, tells Death, "I did okay, didn't I? I lived fifteen thousand years. That's a pretty long time." To which Death, a pragmatic sort who resembles a Goth girl, replies, "You got what everybody gets, Bernie. You got a lifetime. No more, no less." Great stuff.

I have been an amatuer astronomer for 20 years, and there are a lot of books on my bookshelf that I love. When I go to the field, however, this is the One Book that always comes with. It has much of the comprehensive nature of my multi-volume observers guides, but in a nice small package. It's got information that's useful to me whether I'm using my 22" Starmaster with GOTO drive, star hopping with my TeleVue 85 on it's simple Panoramic mount, or any scope in-between. This book is an incredible achivement.

Don't leave this book behind when you head out to your next star party! It is an indispensable field guide packed with star charts and information on several hundred deep sky objects (DSOs) and multiple stars.

The book starts with a brilliant introduction to observing deep sky objects. It continues with a section describing equipment used for deep sky observation. In the introduction, you'll learn about (or be refreshed on) topics like multiple stars, stellar magnitudes, declination and right ascension, clusters, nebulae, galaxies, etc.

In the section on observation equipment, you'll find details on binoculars and telescopes, advantages and disadvantages of different sizes, types, and features of both types of instruments. Loads of information on the various accessories you'll need for your observing sessions are found in this section. Also, several planetarium software packages and star atlases are described in detail.

The constellation maps are very thorough and photos of the region (mostly at 60' field width) show what the DSOs look like on film. The star maps typically show a 10 to 15 degree field width, with a 5 degree finder field and a 1 degree eyepiece field. The maps use black stars on a white background.

The Thompson duo have provided a great guide to observing that brings me back to astronomy after many years away from the hobby. I think this book will hook you in as well.

I'm a relatively new amateur astronomer, having bought my first telescope less than a year ago. My telescope is an 8in Orion Dobsonian. This book has become my constant companion while observing. Before beginning my session, I use this book to create my observing list. While observing, I use the finder charts to find the each item in my list. As I observe, I use the text to take in some great info about what I am observing.

Here's what I really like about this book:
1. All photographs have the same field of view. They haven't zoomed in on dim or small objects. They don't have a wide view for large objects (beyond what I can see with my telescope). The photograph gives a terrific idea of what I will find as I search.
2. The finder charts never fail to bring me close to the object I want. Both the charts and the text description bring me right to the object.
3. The choice of objects in this book fit great with my goal to earn the Astronomical League pins. It's not the pins that I want but the learning that goes with the work for these pins. They are a great sampling of most of the types of objects in the sky.

The only improvement that I would make would be to make all print bigger. I've just begun to use cheaters for reading and observing in the dark makes the problem worse. For example, the print at the bottom of each page shows the current chapter or constellation. I often refer to this text as I move around the book. It's just too small to read with my red flashlight alone.

Love this book!

As a newbie to the wonder of star gazing, I personally found this book a must-have because of its timeliness at my current level of experience. While I own a Go-To telescope (SCT), most of the time I have found that I enjoy star-hopping instead. The Thompson's Guide has helped me, in short-order, to find DSOs that I was having trouble finding. The approach of occasionally using geometric relationships has helped, on many nights, to increase the number of objects I've been able to find. This book has served me as more than just a key guide in simplifying star-hopping techniques; the black/white images and the related commentaries are also of immense benefit. Finally, quite a bit of historical information is also provided in a brief, yet beneficial form. I'm ready for their next volume, which I hope contains an additional 450 DSO objects for me to pursue!

'Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders: From Novice to Master Observer' is an absolute must buy for any and all amateur or even experienced astronomers. Filled with 500+ pages of content spread over 50 chapters, this book will enable you to start really using your telescope and finding all the wonders that the stars have to show to anyone that wants to open their eyes!! Jam packed full of star charts will locations, names, and related phenomena information in the area of where you will be looking, this is a hobbyists 'candy' book, just waiting to be unraveled and enjoyed!

My only complaint with this book is that I wish the images were printed in color. I realize that most of the pictures with a space background will be really black, but I feel that some color would really help make the content jump off the pages even more.

Not only does the book tell you about phenomena to look at in the sky, there also is information on the type of equipment that can be used to gaze up up up as well as general astronomical information. If you are a star gazed, pick this book up!

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This was a very good story. The pros and cons I saw are below:

Pros:
1. This story was very thoughtful. I even cried, in parts. I hate stories with shallow, soap opera-like drama. This book was FAR from that.
2. REAListic--the story did not end as just a "happily ever after" story.
3. "Page turner" and very exciting and interesting in the second part.
4. Well developed characters in the second part.
5. The story was never predictable or cliched.


Cons:
1. The fist part of the book had poor character development. The plot moved so fast and characters were in and out of the story so fast that the characters had no time to delelop.
2. I think that because the plot moved so fast, in the first part, I had to keep going back to make sure who was who and to clarify what happened.
3. The story ended at a TERRIBLE time. I do not object to the way in which it ended; I just think the story should have continued on for another chapter or two. There should certainly be a sequal to this book.

I reccommend this book. However, the ending is bittersweet--both sad and happy. It does not have a "happily ever after" type ending and I like that. It is more believable.

This is book could be named, "When A Man Loves a Woman." Bishop really loved Abeni and she loved him back just as hard.

This book is awesome! It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. The characters really come to life in this book--you feel what they feel as you read this wonderful book!

272Pgs - This is my personal view of this book.

It did not grab my attention at all. At the fourth chapter, I was looking for my receipt. More Women are becoming Soul Searchers today and if you are a Title Seeker like myself meaning (a title of a book can prompt you to purchase) this book will definitely be a lesson well deserved.

It's been awhile since I've ordered a few books and rather than bore you with the same old rave reviews, I just have a few things to state. The book kept me up until my eyes could not take it anymore; The character Bishop in the book was fascinating. I won't go into details but the fact that it deals with FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) which is going on in certain tribes in Africa paints a picture for me to better understand the culture. Althought I don't agree with it. Pick the book up and you will not be dissappointed.

I had read many of Carlene Thompson's books, and this one is by far the best book I have ever read!! Just when you think you have things all figured out, the book takes an unsuspected turn that leaves you still trying to guess who the villian really is. I can say this, I nearly dropped the book when the villian was revealed!! Carlene Thompson is by far the best author of suspense novels that there is!! Great Book!!

I love her books but the ending on this one was too contrived. She keeps you in suspense throughout the book and you don't want to put it down; however at the end, I felt let down.

Have you ever read a book and had the ending freak you out so much that you threw the book across the room???
Well, that was my experience when I read "Black for Remembrance".
I am a very hard critic and rarely do I read a book that I can remember years later.
I have read an enormous amount of mystery/suspense and this is by far one of the best thrillers I have ever had the privilege of reading.
From the first page to the last, I was completely enthralled. There is not a slow part to the story.
This book will stay with you long after it ends. At least it has for me.
Carlene Thompson is a brilliant author.

I GENERALLY LIKE CHARLENE THOMPSON'S BOOKS, BUT THIS ONE INVOLVED A SEXUAL PREDATOR, ABUSING AND MURDERING VERY YOUNG GIRLS. IT WAS SAD. HE DESTROYED THE LIVES OF TWO BEAUTIFUL LITTE GIRLS. THE BOOK WAS WELL WRITTEN, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS DISTURBING. THIS BOOK TAKES PLACE 20 YEARS AFTER 5 YEAR OLD HALEY WAS FOUND DEAD. I HAVEN'T GIVEN ANYTHING AWAY. THIS SICKO IS NOT THE CURRENT MURDERER. AT THE END, WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHO IS, YOU'LL THINK HOW UNDERSTANDABLY SAD.

This is another page-turning, suspenseful mystery by this author. Her fans, as well as those who enjoy books by Mary Higgins Clark, will not be disappointed. The author is clearly a master of this genre.

When Caroline Corday lost her five year old daughter Hayley to a murderous fiend she thought that she would never recover from the tragedy. Twenty years later, divorced from her first husband, Chris Corday, she is happily married to David Webb. The Webbs have a teenage son and an eight year daughter, Melinda. Caroline's now idyllic life is turned topsy-turvy, however, when she starts hearing the voice of her dead daughter.

Suddenly, everywhere Caroline goes, something happens to remind her of that terrible day twenty years ago. Moreover, people who were in some way connected with the case of her dead daughter start becoming murder victims. A bouquet of black silk flowers, accompanied by the same spooky message, is left for them upon their death. As this spate of events makes it clear that Hayley's death is no longer a thing of the past, Caroline does everything that she can to ensure that Melinda will not end up as a murder statistic.

The only question is: who is doing all these terrible things and why? Read the book and find out. You will find your self compulsively turning the pages of this well-crafted suspenseful mystery.

O'Reilly's an up and coming publisher of computer related books. Maybe a kingpin already. This selection is a true quick reference guide. Written by the Thompsons, this selection gives you a thorough look into buying, assembling and operating computers. You do need a basic understanding to get anything out of this book, but if this is the case, you won't be disappointed. I have a first edition copy, and it's still current. That says a lot, a first edition published four years ago is still not too outdated! Think about it. How many computer related books can you think of that's relatively current after four years? Huh?

This book is amazingly concise and thorough, yet also very easy to read. It contains many helpful photographs, and the authors maintain a great website that is tremendously useful and is a great addition to the book. I am not a big fan of the "In a Nutshell" computer books published by O'Reilly, but this book is definitely an exception. It's great for both beginners and experts.

Robert Thompson is a man who doesn't hold back from giving his opinion on why something is good or bad, either on his website or in his books. In _PC Hardware in a Nutshell_, he tells you just what he thinks of what's good and bad about PC components in just about any category you can think of, and backs it up with all the facts, figures and personal experiences you could ever ask for. Every chapter includes historical information on the components under discussion, detailed reviews of what they do and how they do it, and recommendations on what to use (and what not to use). The final chapter walks you through building your own machine step-by-step, though, this being an omnibus book, the chapter is necessarily slightly skimpy in comparison to _Building The Perfect PC_. The writing style is clear and lively, in fact the book is well worth reading as a book even if you don't need any specific information at the time. The only real complaint I have is something the author has no control over - the fact that new PC hardware comes out so fast that it's just impossible to review every single new thing in a paper edition. (Well, that and the fact that Thompson doesn't like Western Digital because he's had bad experiences with their hard drives, whereas I've been using WD exclusively for years and never yet have had one go out on me. I think that can be chalked up, though, more to the fact that there's just so much PC hardware out there that different people are just going to end up having completely different experiences with components from a particular manufacturer. That, or I just got lucky with WD hard drives.) All in all, this book is truly indispensable.

This is a great book that covers every aspect of building a PC. However, as of August 2004, the 3rd edition of this book is a bit dated. For example PC3200 memory is considered the newest memory and both Pentium 4 Prescott processors and Athlon 64 processors were not out when this book was published. If you are buying this book, you may want to wait for a 4th edition, unless you are looking to assemble an old computer.

I would not accept the author's hardware recommendations as the final word. For one thing, the components they review are in many cases no longer manufactured. Magazine reviews and PC hardware Web sites are going to have different opinions on what the best components are.

Let me start out with a huge thanks to O'Reilly. I'm not a big fan of large corporations or publishers - but I have come to trust O'Reilly implicitly wherever technical issues are concerned. Although I'm certain that they are not the "perfect" publisher, nor in the business for wholly (ha!) altruistic reasons, I AM amazed by the remarkable originality, diversity, range, quality, accuracy, and honorable business practices of this publisher. Oftentimes I wonder how they manage to maintain such a level, when their current library is so chock-full of tough-to-follow acts.

That said, PC Hardware in a Nutshell does not fail to meet up to these high expectations. Let me get the review portion of my review out of the way - simply put, this is the book I have been hunting for a couple years. That I did not immediately search the O'Reilly library only shows that I am a bit silly. I should have known better. End of review.

But I would like to carry this a bit further, and go out on a limb to discuss the only complaint prior reviewers have voiced: that the book is too "Microsoft-centric."

Rather than a weakness, I believe that this is actually a strength. Let me offer big kudos to the authors and publisher for realizing that a serious, yet accessible, compendium of computer hardware knowledge was necessary. The folks who register such complaints are those least in need of an in-depth introduction to PC hardware. These are the high priests of hi-tech, who rule the roost by virtue of their knowledge-monopoly on all issues technical. They would have you believe that if it was not hand-crafted from spare parts, duct tape, and copious amounts of solder and configured with the most obscure version of Linux, then it's only fit for a 4-year-old. They are, quite simply, dead wrong. Let them compile their own "PC Hardware for Only the Most Serious Tech Gurus", I say!

Thompson's very first point is that he intended the book to be of the most practical usability possible. The practical reality is that the people who desperately need such a compendium are poor fools, like Yours Truly, who are too technical to be satisfied with tutorials on how to use Microsoft Office, yet are not quite knowledgeable enough to get right under the hood of their PCs (never mind build a Linux box from spare hatpins and Reynolds Wrap). We, the "psuedo-techies", often do not come equipped with enough experience, knowledge, or confidence to take ourselves to the next level. We are the crowd who are using Microsoft products, yet would love to learn enough to understand exactly WHY Microsoft means "mush-mind" and Linux is God - but will never get there without a guide. This book is the guide, and to me it says, "Psuedo-techies unite! Power to the people!"

I had my first computer in 1997, and upgraded to a new motherboard in 1998, in 7th grade. Whenever my mom took me to the local library, I would peruse the PC magazines. When I got Internet access, I read hardware reviews on recent startups such as Tom's Hardware (1996), AnandTech (1997), and Ars Technica (1998); and shopped on PriceWatch (1995). The PC upgrade genre is all too familiar to me. I was young back then, too enthusiastic about clicking every menu item on the screen, and absorbed prodigious amounts of information in the process. As time went on, I pursued more academic subjects such as math and physics because, honestly, computers cause me stress.

_Repairing and Upgrading Your PC_ (2006) by Thompson & Thompson takes the stress out of this otherwise fun activity. First of all, the book has a standard outline:
Ch.1-3: introduction
Ch.4: motherboards
Ch.5: CPUs
and so forth. Each chapter is comprehensive. Their bits of advice appeal to a wide range of audience, a feat that online reviews often fail to accomplish. With the exception of a few sections on CPUs, chipsets, memory, and so forth, the book is still relevant in 2008. In this sense, this book is superior to the fragmented Building the Perfect PC, Second Edition by the same authors.

The best aspect of this book is that it helps the reader to avoid costly mistakes. Such valuable information is brewed from experience. For example, it claims that Seagate hard drives are more reliable than Western Digital, Samsung, and Hitachi. I would accept this claim based on my limited experience that two of my four WD hard drives failed - a Raptor and an RE2 WD5000YS.

Its chapter on optical drives is excellent. Finally, knowing its procedure for washing keyboards is worth the cost of this book - as I hate touching oily objects, and the so-called washable keyboards cost at least twice as much as this book.

Highly recommended.

The content of the book is good. But I wanted to write a review when I learned I would have to pay return shipping for a product that arrived damaged. The paperback cover is glued on, and it came unglued, and I can't get it to re-attach. The binding itself is also torn, and the first part of the book, the pages are loose at the bottom half.
I'm extremely upset at having paid for a new book and received this junk. I dont have a printer, and am not paying return shipping to get my money back, so I'm stuck with it. My only option is to let others know what happened to me. It wont hold up to repeated use, since it is a technical manual.

This book saved me so much money! It's great, it works and you don't have to be an expert to understand and follow the instructions.

Great book. Most repair books are just focused on the A+ exam. This one is wonderful for learning or improving your repair skills. It's not an exam cram its a how to book.

Excellent book for understanding basic PC hardware. The book is well written and has many useful "hints". I highly recommand this book to anyone who wants a comprehensive book about PC hardware, upgrading and basic repairs.