McDonald's Books

As I am very much interested scientifically in this field, I can very much recommend this book as it represents an enormous collection of information according to this disease and is written in fluent and entertaining style.

If you are interested in buying this book, examine it first at your local medical library to make sure it is what you are looking for.

This six-pound reference work is updated about every 7 years and serves as a repository for the latest world-wide MS information. It attempts to organize thousands of research study conclusions and to provide the reader with a coherent status report on many different aspects of MS, both clinical and scientific.

Physically, the text is a work of art. Pages are large, thick and opaque with a solid binding and cover. One finds many photos, tables, charts and other color graphic elements. There are 810 pages of text (in a well-chosen font) followed by about 6,600 references (135 pages!).

The writing is excellent, sometimes just a bit formal with a penchant for lengthy sentences. A non-MD reader will need wiki and dictionary.com at the ready. The book is not designed as a primary teaching tool -- the reader is assumed to already know a lot about MS and related scientific subjects (eg, neurobiology). Each of the 19 chapters is written by a declared subset of the eight expert authors.

Here is the structure they chose for this edition, along with a brief outline of the contents of the book: (the full contents appears on the Elsevier site).

Section 1: One chapter (1) reviewing the history of MS up to the start of the modern era, circa 1980. Well-due homage is paid to many workers of the past, from Galen to Charcot to Marburg to Kurtzke to McAlpine.

Section 2: Four chapters covering these topics: (2) the mysterious geographical and racial distribution of MS prevalence throughout the world; (3) results of classical genetics research using linkage and association studies (multiple genes are implicated); (4) details of the (highly variable) course of the disease (the natural history of MS); and (5) a concisely-stated likely theory of how MS arose as mankind spread itself over the earth. The identical twin concordance rate for MS is about 30%, suggesting a definite mix of genetic and environmental factors which conspire to cause MS.

Section 3: Four chapters on clinical aspects of MS: (6) its symptoms of which there are, unfortunately, many; (7) how to diagnose MS, using clinical and paraclinical evidence such as MRI and evoked potentials, with a review of recent McDonald diagnostic criteria; (8) how to differentiate MS from diseases with similar symptoms; (9) a summary giving advice to the neurologist.

Section 4: We leave the clinic and enter the MS research labs. Five chapters cover the following huge subjects: (10) the cell biology of MS: T-cells, B-cells, macrophages, astrocytes, dendritics, microglia, oligodendrocytes and all their precursors, and inter-cell signaling. Topics include demyelination, axon degeneration, and the encouraging remyelination process. (11) MS from the viewpoint of autoimmunity: innate and adaptive components, EAE animal models, penetration of the BBB, antibodies in the CSF, biomarkers. (12) MS pathology: lesions/plaques, inflammation, demyelination, lots of histology here. (13) details of the physical damage done by MS to neurons, methods used to study same, blockage of signal conduction, the scary role of nitric oxide. This is the physiology of the pathology of MS. (14) This short chapter summarizes the way MS is thought to work: T cells are activated possibly by a myelin mimic molecule in the periphery, they cross the BBB and instigate a horrendous CNS battle involving just about all the players and their various weapons. Inflammation, demyelination and axon damage occur, the battle ends, and the result is a lesion which shows up on MRI and results in a clinical deficit if in an "eloquent" location. Progressive disease is thought to be a slow-burning widespread version of the same or a similar battle resulting in gradual loss of brain volume accompanied by increased clinical deficit.

Section 5: The closing five chapters concern the clinical treatment of MS patients. The first chapter (15) reviews issues which characterize the phases of MS, early middle and late. Early diagnosis is desired because early drug application might prevent neural damage. One chapter (16) deals specifically with how to treat the traditional MS acute relapse (steroids). Another (17) discusses the methods, usually drugs, for treating the many symptoms of MS. The authors emphasize disease management and rehab using family, nurses and other specialists and MS centers, in addition to the prescription of drugs. Then a long chapter (18) discusses the disease-modifying drugs discovered relatively recently: the beta interferons, glatiramer acetate, various monoclonal antibodies such as Campath-1H, etc. The final chapter (19) comments on issues involving Big Pharma influence on trials and drug-approving agencies, and foresees the future of MS treatment which will hopefully soon provide neuroprotection and repair.

Certain sections of the book can be rough sailing for the reader, as the authors painstakingly review a long series of research studies on a particular topic, giving a long one-sentence review of the conclusions of each study ( remember those 6600 references). Many study results are actively challenged and critiqued by the authors, who are not averse to stating their own opinions on many issues. Their message concerning trials is loud and clear: studies should be unbiased by drug companies' profit motives, fully randomized, placebo-controlled, fully double-blinded with crossover if possible, not terminated early unless futile or dangerous, and with sufficient statistical power to generate definite conclusions. The era of anecdotal MS trials is over.

Overall, this is an absolutely stunning and excellent book. It must have put a huge time burden on all eight of the authors. One hopes that only a few more editions will ever have to be published.

An essential guide for the fast food promotional toy collector, this fine book lists each and every one of the toys given away with Happy meals in the 90s. If you choked on it, it's in here. It even had listings and recent auction prices for some of that weird "McCrying Game" merchandising. A must.

McDonald's Happy Meal Toys from the Nineties is a great book for collectors. This book goes all through 1998, and includes pictures up to the Mulan and Tomagotchi Happy Meals from 1998, with listings for the 1998 toys to follow! This book includes MANY pictures, complete descriptions, as well as prices for just about everything listed. It includes McDonaldland Fun Times, Plates, and other Generic items! This book is a GREAT reference for McDonald's toys, and will help you to identify your toys along with their values! Great reference for the experienced as well as the novice collector!

Great book, very complete and convienen. It has a price guide and check-off boxes to help you to keep better track of you collection. I will not ever begin to estimate the number of photo's..There is easily 1000's

I consider this to be the McDonald's collector's premier guide. Full-color photos show you exactly what you're looking for. Variations are also listed, and usually shown, so you'll know to look for that horse with a green base and without! Translites, buttons, and all the other items associated with a promo are listed with values. Although this book only goes through early 1995, you can order supplements by writing to the author (address included in the book). If you're serious about collecting (or selling) McD's Happy Meal toys, you must have this book

World-famous cocktailian Robert Hess was a "behind the scene" contributor to this book. He wrote the "Classic Cocktails" section. Other contributors include Jeffery Lindenmuth, David Wondrich, Audrey Saunders, Julie Reiner, Gary Regan, Dale DeGroff, and William Grimes.

Update your library now with this substantially improved new edition.

I was originally looking for a "regular" Mr. Boston book to arm myself with drink recipes for the occasional entertaining my wife and I do at our home. The book had been recommended to me by several friends as being the best bar guide available so I came to Amazon to begin my search. It was here I discovered Mr. Boston Platinum Edition. I ordered the book, it arrived quickly and I'm very impressed.
The book contains a lot more information than just drink recipes. It is an intersesting read and I was surprised to see a history of the origin of a lot of popular drinks. I love a good Manhattan and now I know the city, the "inventor" and the bar where this drink was developed. I also know the difference in the ingredients, what makes whiskey bourbon, rye, etc.
Many of the drinks in Mr. Boston have variations and they are listed with the reasons for the differences. I even know why a drink should be either shaken or stirred.
What I really like besides all the recipes is the section on essential home bar equipment. I have already looked at the web sites suggested in the book and started to order the equipment I need to outfit our new home bar.
The recipes have been contributed by many professional "mixologists" and it is evident that they take pride in their profession.
The book itself is very nice looking and well constructed. The ringed binder is sturdy and the book lay flat so I can read it while my hands are full of bottles and strainers.
This is the perfect book for me, being a beginner, and I highly recommend it for the home bar owner or for professional bartenter who is interested in the right way or a new way to mix a drink and arming himself with many interesting facts to relate to his customers.

I bought this book for my sister who is a pool player.
Even though they play alot, its nice to have different options on games to play. I would recommend this book as a perfect gift for your pool playing friends!

AS a rookie pool player I found this book very encouraging and gratifying to assist with my pool limited abilities. Not only did I learn new games with enjoyment, but I also gained a sense of pool strategies and techniques. I would recommend this book to anyone with the slightest interest in pool, whether it be for entertainment or as a learning tool. Thankyou for providing a book which I have never been to exposed to before.

"The Practical Guide to Defect Prevention" was written for software developers and testers, but many techniques presented can be applied to improve quality in other products as well. I'm in the midst of a career change into software development after 2 decades of working with office automation hardware, and have referred to this book during a current project, as well as passed along suggestions straight from this book to former colleagues in a much different career field. When I saw the title of this book, I was afraid I'd be reading advice that wasn't much more than common sense, or a rehash of material learned in programming or intro software testing. Wrong! Realizing how naïve I was, I picked up 2 other texts in the field of defect prevention and root cause analysis. I found this book to be more readable. The clear taxonomy, the complete explanations of various methods (with multiple examples and references) and the humor (!) held my interest enough to where I learned and understood the techniques presented, as well as broadened my understanding of what quality software development really entails.

As a previous reviewer pointed out, this book is useful to everyone from the tester who wants to catch errors, through the executive wanting a successful business. And, I suppose this sounds like I'm laying it on with a trowel, but I have to say it: Although I'm a voracious reader, I keep only a few dozen books on my shelves at home; this is one of them, and I suspect that I'll continue referring to it for quite some time. Thanks to the authors Ross, Marc, Bob, Dan, David, Lori, and Josh for taking the time and putting forth such a great effort!

This is the first review I have performed and here it goes... I work in software development and have for the last 11 years. As a Quality Assurance Professional, I think "The Practical Guide to Defect Prevention" should be on everyone's book shelf. Everyone in the industry or those contemplating a start-up in the industry should read this book to get an understanding of what quality means and how to achieve it. This is a fun book filled with real world experiences and enough technical knowledge to implement the many quality systems and is most beneficial read from end to end, but is also designed to be a reference. "The Practical Guide to Defect Prevention" does a great job of giving a strong foundation for those wanting to develop quality in their processes.
Who can really benefit from this book?
* The executive wanting to know what it takes to have a successful software business
* The manager wanting to know how to improve the product
* The product designer who wants to provide enhancements to existing features and determine what features to add
* The developer wanting to gauge the effectiveness of the implementation
* The tester that wants to catch all of the errors
Sure, we could talk about all the content and implementation issues, including; Root Cause Analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) or Failure Modeling, but my favorite aspect of this book is the real world examples and pitfalls described.
Many great related quotes are included to illustrate some aspect of the material to be presented. My favorite was in chapter 12, "Adapting Processes" where there was a quote from Mark Twain "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way". This quote illustrates the reason you need to read this book and keep it on your bookshelf.
Arne
The Practical Guide to Defect Prevention (Best Practices)

This story is a fun and easy read for all ages. I would recommend it to any family, especially for reading to one's children. Get this book!

This is fiction about 16 year old Carrie, the only Pony Express rider who was female. While the author says her extensive research did not find there actually was such a female rider delivering the mail, she writes a realistic yarn that makes Carrie and other characters come alive. Of course Pony Express officials question the advisability of a female riding across the miles, but after adventures with a strange Indian, a secret society, and a . . . ohhhh, better u read this winner yourself! Enjoy!

I am reading this book with the women at my church in Long Beach,CA. I loved the chapter about being equally yoked. I have a habit of saying I want a man who is equally yoked but settling for good conversation and a pretty face. Chapter 2 in this book helped me by allowing me to realize I need to use my head and not my heart so much in the beginning and to follow my intuition. I loved the analogy to ill fitting shoes because i am also guilty of trying to make something fit when it doesn't. I look forward to the remaining chapters.

I purchased my copy in Atlanta after I heard Dr. Cornish speak at Bishop Eddie Long's "Single But Not Alone 2005 Conference."
On my flight back to California, I read this entire book realizing just how valuable my life is to God. We are so covered with deep affliction and wounds behind relationships that we try to cling on to something that God has absolutely nothing to do with. Thank you Dr. Grace for sharing testimonies, your ministry and love for all God's Women. I thank you and my pastor for allowing me to teach this book and (soon-)"The Band-Aid Bond" in my church. Every woman holding the thought of having a relationship must read this book, you really don't know who you are dating until it's too late.

As a member of the 11th PVI Co. I re-enactment unit, and descendant of Richard Coulter and other members of the 11th, and also friend of Helene's. I knew from the manuscript that this was to be an excellent book. More and more people learn a little more about such a tragic time in our past, and their eyes are opened by reading this elloquent rendering of the history of the Old Eleventh and thier mascot.

I thought this was a great story about what a great friend a dog can be. I saw the dog's bronze statue at the 11th PA Volunteer Regiment monument in Gettysburg with the author. We should all have a dog like Sallie.

I have now read this book three times. The author leads you down a path and then takes you totally in the opposite direction. The foreword in this book says it all. Life is not what it appears on the surface. You do not have to like "cop" stories to love this book. He has a lot of insite into what he is talking about as well as an intense knowledge of people. I do not like to watch a movie more than once or read a book more than once but this one I could not put down and have read three times. This is his first novel and I know will not be his last.

This was an excellent book that I just could not put down from the moment I started. The author's background in over 30 years of law enforcement are evident in the characters and the story line. Great book and I highly recommend. I am looking forward to the next book soon!