Amateur Books

Very good, I am from México and can read it and apply it in my teachings. I specialize in physiscal theater and I still can grab allot of exercises from it.

A good student must always seek a master, and Viola Spolin is a master of improvisational theatre. The book is filled with powerful games and information to support not only improvisational theatre, but truthful acting and being "in the moment", a hallmark not only of improvisational theatre, but acting.

There's something strange about the way this book is written ... I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's MEANT to be a TEXTBOOK, but ... it's just strange. It's like, you would think that the subject matter (improvisation) would be associated with a lot of excitement and energy, lots of enthusiasm ... instead, it's just a dry, boring textbook. Very cold and impersonal. The other books I've been reading, including Keith Johnstone's IMPRO, Chalma Halpern's TRUTH IN COMEDY, and Mick Napier's IMPROVISE, are written with enthusiasm and what seems like genuine joy ... the way you'd think a book on improv should be.

Another thing that was odd - one of the co-authors is Paul Sills, who is apparently Viola Spolin's son ... yet in his "Foreward" (or maybe it's the introduction), he refers to her only as "Viola Spolin" this and "Viola Spolin" that ... again it just seemed so impersonal, like he was giving an academic speech before a bunch of old professors. No warmth at all.

And all through the book, Viola Spolin uses the same cold, impersonal language to talk about what should be fun, amusing memories - like, instead of saying "Once in one of my classes there was etc. etc." she'll say "In a class taught by this author, an incident occured at which etc etc" ...

These are minor things, I guess ... maybe I'm asking too much but I guess the bottom line is that, for me, this book (unlike the other books I've mentioned) failed to convey any sense of the thrill and delight that improv is.

After reading the first page of Spolin's first chapter I was intrigued. Several pages later, I was sound asleep. I attribute this to the fact that Viola Solin, when she's theorizing, writes like Immanuel Kant tripping on acid. This was especially discouraging, since I had just finished reading Audition by Michael Shurtleff, which is the most clearly written and insightful book on acting anyone could ever ask for.

Skimming the exercise descriptions, I found some of them tedious ("Play a salesman with only your calves!") and some of them risible ("Scream with your elbow!"). Also, her chapter on Emotion seems to contradict the entire Method acting tradition, which, thankfully, she is in no danger of overthrowing.

I'm sure that there are some useful points that this book makes, or might make through its exercises, if I cared to try them. But thanks to Spolin's soporific word-salad, her points are a pleasure to miss.

In fact any other book you may buy will have most of spolins ideas.
If you are guiding any one in an improvisational education. this is the best. It is very important for improvisers to learn about comedic improv through spolins techniques. all other forms of improv is about the joke which lets face it is only funny because you know the performers. but spolin allows you to discover the scene not the joke. and if you are naturally a funny person chances are your scene will be funny. this is not to say that the funniest guy wont have a serious scene .some times when an improv is a true improv you have to let it be what it is whatever it is.
great book. great book .fun book. gauranteed to give you guru status if you follow her instruction. after all you will be giving the most wonderful gift to all your students. your students will develope as improvisers the correct way and will be able to work with anyone.

Independent filmmaker of 12 years' experience Michael Slone presents Special Effects: How to Create A Hollywood Film Look on a Home Studio Budget, a guide especially for small-time filmmakers on a tight budget. Chapters walk the reader through how to apply advances in technology, especially computer technology, to give life to one's dreams and dress up one's films with eye candy. Full-color photographs on high-quality paper illustrate what is possible, while assorted computer screenshots help underscore the nuts and bolts of the step-by-step instructions. Additional insider information from professional and Emmy Award-winning special effects artists round out this absolute "must-have" supplementary resource for aspiring, novice, and independent filmmakers.

This book is especially good for student film-makers, who will be inspired rather than intimidated by the art of special effects production; the book makes impressive illusion possible with little money necessary and with resources already available in many people's homes. If the reader is serious about film-making, they've met the only requirement needed to create worthwhile special effects.

I bought this book for my son, who is an attorney and wants to learn filmmaking as a hobby. I'm impressed by the photos and artwork, which take readers step-by-step through each phase of the projects. I ended up reading the book myself, and I can see it's all my son will need to get started. I recommend this book for all novice filmmakers.

Arguably the biggest revolution in filmmaking in the last decade has taken place in the field of special effects. CGI has irrevocably changed the way movie magic is created, and thanks to advances in computer technology many home users now have access to the same software used in Hollywood. So, in principle, professional-quality special effects are now within anyone's reach. The only question is: how does the budding SFX-enthusiast get started?
This is where Mike Slone's book comes in. Squarely aimed at the beginner, it details a number of the most common special effects used in filmmaking. Of course, not everything is done with computers, so the first part of the book concentrates on physical effects. These include creating fake blood and bullet hits, rain and snow, fake glass, disappearing tricks, the use of prop guns, smoke, dry ice, bullet and arrow hits and models and miniatures. Each of these techniques is explained in a clear and practical fashion, although if you intend to get into modelling, you'll obviously need to look for further detailed information.
The book then goes into digital effects, including green screen, gun flashes, and light sabres. There are extensive tutorials on each of these using Adobe Premiere Pro. The final chapters include interviews with a few SFX professionals and provide tips for starting your own FX company if you're so inclined.
Veteran SFX people probably won't find much that is new here, but anyone starting out in the field couldn't wish for a better introduction.

My first attempt at special effects was doing stop-motion animation with an 8mm camera that was not equipped for stop-motion animation. The results were, well, terrible. My second attempt was cutting out a cardboard "Star Wars" tie-fighter, attaching a stick to it, poking it through a star filled sky backdrop (black cardboard with holes punched in it) and then to film the tie-fighter straight on with someone yanking and turning the stick in hopes to show "movement." In this case it looked like the tie-fighter was attached to a stick and shaken back and forth.

If you want to create REAL special effects, this book is for you. Mr. Slone does an excellent job of going through the various special effects you might want to attempt. Some as easy as: "Rent a fog machine." And others as complicated as: "Once you have downloaded your image, pull it up on the computer and going frame by frame you..."

Where this book excels, though, is in it's presentation and content. It goes far beyond the "physical effects" and "digital effects" and talks about careers in the field, working with sound effects even starting your own home studio.

The book is also FULL of websites, resources and contact information. The book also includes full page graphics showing, step-by-step, how to do some of the basic effects (gun shot, teleporting, light saber) that would impress your friends and neighbors.

The only complaints I have with the book are these: I would have liked a section on how to make break-away furniture. He notes where to order break-away glass, but a section on furniture - either how to make it, or where to buy it, would have been helpful. And it would have been a huge added bonus to provide a DVD with either actual step-by-step film clips, demo versions of software, or other types of media that could possibly better explain the ideas and concepts laid out in the book.

Still, those are minor complaints. This is an excellent book/resource guide.

Great book. Lots of useful info. Seller got it to me in a quick mannor and in great condition.

I bought this book for the Hop part I am a home brewer and the Hop shortage worried me, I bought a house last summer, and I have a spot that I can use for growing hops, I bought this book and others, this one has the layout well wrote, it is a clear cut information book, I have no gardening experience, and this book helped me in setting up my hops, and maintain then they are about a foot long now and healthy, the other parts of the book grain, and herb is also nice , it makes me want to grow my herb and grain... this book is the only one you need to grow hops....and I sure other product in it.

INFORMATIVE BOOK A GREAT STARTER BOOK GIVES THE BASICS OF ALL BREWING HERBS AND GRAINS INCLUDING HOPS RECCOMEND READING

I bought this book looking for a guide to grow hops... It is certainly that, and more. It covers varieties and where they grow, how to treat the soil, where to plant, what how to build an effective trellis etc... AND it covers how to dry the fresh hops in preparation for use in a brew... how to build an oast (which is the drying structure)... And it does all of this in a very approachable way.

Bonus for me - was that it covers the same for the cultivation, harvest, and treatment (malting and drying) of barley ... And has a nice run-down of brewing herbs and their uses (how much of what herb to use in the brew - and when to add it)...

Just noticed - the cover says:

How to easily grow prepare, and use your own Hops, Malts, and Brewing Herbs

yeah ... that's about right. ;)
Inspiring.

I thought this book would give me resources to purchasing seeds to grow. It just tells you how to grow them. If you are a gardener you dont need this book.

I bought this book because I have difficulty in two areas. One is in visualizing the construction details for a design I've sketched out. The other is in deciding what joints will be most appropriate. This book covers those two topics extremely well. In fact, better than any other book in my library.

The text is very well written. He says what he has to say in a concise and easy to read way.

I think it was written for intermediate and advanced level woodworkers, but I see a lot that would be of great value to beginners who want to try their hand at something a little more challenging.

This thick little book is filled with dimensional drawings of all kinds of furniture, including the very high-end furniture and some historical pieces. The author goes into great detail about every type of joint with some practical commentary on the pros and cons of each type. There are also detailed sections on legs and feet, table types, and drawer construction.

My only letdown, as an amateur furniture hobbyist, is that there is little or no talk about tool usage and how to make some of these pieces. The author favored information about origins, history, and aesthetics. However, the book makes up for this with its great perspective drawings on every page, complete with dimensions and names for each component. This will be a great resource down the road when I need to know how to construct a unique joint or when I just want to see something new to inspire me.

I own probably a half dozen books on furniture construction and joinery and found this book to be the best source for joinery techniques period. From it's detailed explanations to numerous pictures and drawings it thoroughly covers all aspects of great cabinetry. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I am not a book reader. The chapters are laid out well and are written as though a beginner might be picking it up, but don't let that fool you, this is a book an experienced woodworker will enjoy as well. There are tons of ideas and explanatory plans, while these plans are not measured drawings or as detailed as some other book, I feel they provide enough information to develop your own set of plans from. Most of the plans cover height, width and depth only, but the joinery is covered and the general concepts are there.

As a professional finish carpenter by trade and a furniture builder for fun and profit I find this book a great reference tool as well, I use it often. I highly recommend it for any serious woodworkers library.

If you're looking for a book on how to build cabinets, this ain't it. This is a primer on how to build furniture (which is often referred to as cabinet-making) but references to building cabinets are brief and limited. It's really an overview of furniture building rather than a hands-on, how-to book.

Definitely NOT for the beginning woodworker. This book does not give measured drawings or instructions on how to make pieces of furniture. It has a section which gives drawings of a large number of woodworking joints, BUT does not discuss how to make them. This part of the book has been done in many other books along with "how to" information. Thus, this part of the book could have been eliminated without losing any real value.

HOWEVER, the rest of the book is worth its weight in gold!!!! It takes virtually all types of "Case furniture" (cabinets, chests, tables, desks, etc) but not chairs, and it gives well-researched, thorough, easy to understand diagrams on how they were constructed -- that is, what types of joints were used throughout the piece. It also provides excellent references to more detailed sets of plans and descriptions of each piece. The beginning woodworker won't know what to do with this book. The professional furniture maker will not need the book, but the vast number of serious weekend warriors of woodworking will find this book to be invaluable.

The potential purchaser of this book should realize that it was published twice, under the same name. Rodale published it in 1998. Readers Digest published it in 2003. Today I examined both editions side-by-side. Except for their ISBN numbers, the two editions seem identical. I examined a number of pages side by side, and I could not find any differences. They have the same number of pages. The only differences I could detect were in the paper used. The original Rodale edition has a more glossy paper, and the print seems to be slightly darker. Both of these differences are insignificant.

I have seen this book referenced in many places as one of the best resources in the field of woodworking. It is a masterpiece. This fact is made obvious by the difficulty in finding copies of the book for sale in either new or used form. Last week (Aug 2006) I saw three copies for sale on Amazon from $79 to $129 and all sold quickly. PLEASE NOTE - I also saw three "for sale" listings for this book last week by using a FROOGLE search. Three different Electronic bookstores indicated they had a copy of the book in stock. I contacted all three and found that they weren't really "bookstores" but rather are organizers of individuals who sell books and use the electronic bookstores as a central clearinghouse. All three said to contact the actual individual sellers. I did. None of the three had a copy for sale, even though all three of the electronic bookstores had listings saying that they had copies in stock for sale. I found a number of negative comments about these electronic bookstores when I searched. To their credit, FROOGLE stated that you should check out a seller before making a purchase. I hope this information helps you. I am very happy that I was able to buy a copy of the book. If you really want to see this book and can't buy a copy, go to your library.

This is a great book for anyone who is anticipating building their own kayak. It shows how easy they are, how the process unfolds, and demonstrates the strength of the stitched-plywood designs. Scotty/Sioux City

This book was easy to follow - I made the kayak, and did not buy any plans. An opaque projector and poster board worked. I really enjoy my boat.

If you have ever considered building your own sea kayak, The Kayak Shop is required reading. The author clearly and effectively describes the steps involved in building these simple but elegant boats. It covers everything from materials and tools, to painting and varnishing tips and everything in between. The book is also nicely illustrated with photographs demonstrating specific building techniques. After reading this book, I built my own stitch and glue kayak from one of the author's kits. I referenced The Kayak Shop constantly during the process.

This is an excellant book. Very educational and inspiring. The only problem I can see is that you do need to buy the plans to build the boats and unless you can loft the plans that are printed in the book, plans for these three kayaks are no longer available. "The New Kayak Shop" also by Chris Kulczycki is virtually the same book with not so much "three more" boats you can build but the improved versions of this books boats. In other words it replaces this book. Unless you are a dyed in the wool bookaholic like myself, just buy "The New Kayak Shop". Plans and kits are available for those boats and that combined with the quality of instruction from the book practically guarantees a high quality kayak at a very low price along with builders bragging rights.

There are about four books out by the same publisher on the subject of building your own kayaks. This one I read while building the one by G. Putz.

In the home garage, you can make strip kayaks or covered frame boats. This particular book describes a way of boat-building that is popular in parts of Europe - stitched marine plywood. I'd never heard of this before; the practice of sewing two halves of a hull together with wire and then applying a resilient epoxy.

It appears that this is an excellent way to make a kayak efficiently and with less effort than the other types. Another advantage is space on the interior for storage and leg-room which the frame boats do not afford. Also, these look NICE. Had I not started on a canvas number, I would have made one of these.

Very well written, lots of detail. The author clearly has a lot of experience building these things. You could easily follow along like a cookbook's recipe - nicely done.

I liked this book alot. Contains simple and practical ideas. But I would say it is best for someone who is ready to get off their duff and build something, anything. Instead of just looking for pretty pictures and dreaming. If I can do it you can too.

For anyone with space enough, but without the money to build on it, this book has so many answers. It has line drawings on almost every page and is pure delight to read and dream over.

These are true rustic retreats for adults. Just know this is not for children's tree houses or play houses. These are very rustic retreats, such as a lean-to to use as a nature retreat, or for the shack-like building the size of a garden shed for sleeping in as a weekend getaway,(sans electricity or toilets).

The one I loved the most was a rustic arbor for grapevines that was basically 4 poles with a semi-roof--for the vines to grow up and over the top to form a roof. The idea of sitting under it with a table and relaxing outdoors was quite tempting. However, where I would get the rustic tree trunks to make this is beyond me (but it looked wonderful).

There are no photographs. This is not a glitzy-beautiful tempting type of book. It is about the nuts and bolts of really building one of these structures. I suggest browsing this book first to see if there is a structure you are interested in.

The plans are quite detailed and seem more than adequate to use as building plans.

I don't get why you put a beautiful photo on the cover of your book and all 2nd rate hand drawn pictues inside. It's deceptive! Won't help you with Country Home ideas. Maybe good for a kids Fort or a Bowhunting stand...

I'm glad there are no photos in this book. Get an imagination! The drawings are fun and lively. They also give important aspects of the project that a photo rarely illustrates. Now I know how (in detail) to construct a tipi, or put together a simple door or roof that really would hold up to nature. The primitive shelters section is great. So are the tree houses. Not that all of these projects are practical homes, but now I have ideas for that "fort" in the back acre my kids are bugging me about. Thanks for a great book to just read, or get us outside with a saw and hammer.

It is a useful book but it is unneccesary if you are taking a course along with it. If you really need a book to refrence to remember what trucking, panning, and medium shots are then go ahead and get it anyway. But really, any good college intro to film class should surpass this to the point you don't need it.

This book is a must for anyone getting into video production. Full of basic information that is conveyed in an intuitive and concise way, plus there is plenty of advanced knowledge to keep you referring back for years to come. Definitely a staple for all video people.

My boss told me to buy this book, and it is one of the best available book.

i am an electronic media communications major and this book has been used for a number of years in my school's communications program. video basics 3 has everything you need to know and everything is explained in much detail, yet not too complicated. there are great illustrations throughout the book that are very helpful as well.
i bought this book used from my campus bookstore and i gotta wonder, why would someone return this book at the end of the semester? i still have mine and have re-read it through quite a few times, most definately something worth holding on to!

This book gives a broad overview of the field of video. It is intended as a textbook for students in a university video course, however, the information that it contains will be valuable for anyone interested in improving their video skills, especially in professional contexts. Since the book is a textbook, each chapter begins with a list of key terms and definitions, and key concepts are highlighted in the text and repeated at the end of the chapter. Each chapter also contains instructions for a lesson in Zettl's Video Lab on CD (not included). The book covers many topics related to professional video production, including the video production process, the video team, video cameras, lighting, sound, editing, and the studio. I found the language to be very straightforward and highly informative.

Alot of neat gadgets and plans in this book. The schematics are accompanied by a drawing with resistors etc. It is amazing this book came out in '83 since alot of these gadgets are unheard of. Probably because they do have a degree of safety that should be applied to their use. The writer sells the actual products in kits or pre built. He backs them up with proven theory and experience. I probably wont build many or one of the gadgets but the book is excellent reference and one of a kind, until his next one comes out. Which will be worth a read as well.

This book teaches practical,
hands-on experience with some exciting
science projects that you aren't likely to
encounter elsewhere.

The ultrasonic listener extends the sense of
hearing to the realm of sounds above 20kHz.

The low-power one-transistor fm radio
transmitter is a useful tool to have in
your bag of tricks; it can be built on an
hour's notice, and for under $1.

It is an educational and worthwhile book.

That's the good news.

Now for a word of caution:

What I'm suggesting here is that you approach
the projects in this great book with wisdom and
an ability to think vigorously and persistently.

On one hand, If you mangage to complete and operate
all this book's projects, including adjustment of the
high-voltage supply of the cutting CO2 laser, and still
have not qualified for a postumous Darwin Award, then you
have demonstrated you are either a bizzarrely lucky fool
or a master technician who has the iron will to stay
alive by sticking to impeccable safety procedures.

And before you make your own homemade EMP generator,
consider that, at the time Mr. Ianinni wrote
this wonderous book, the electronic landscape
was much less involved, without the so many
co$tly thing$ like cell phone$ and PDA$ in it.
The radius of de$truction could lead irate
villagers (now reduced to a technological level of
torches and pitchforks) directly to your laboratory.

At least one of the devices i.e taser, have gotten
negative legislative attention since the book was
first published.

Ok; so now you know some of these projects
are genuinely hazardous.
Take care. Pay attention. Get old.
Keep one hand in your pocket.

This is a very cool book, but it really is not for the average joe. You get a parts list, and some limited instructions, and then a picture of how the project should look when it's like 75% done. It is hard to follow. From parts list to 3/4 done in a matter of like a page.

This is an exlent book of electronics fo beginners and experts alike. It gives step-by-step instructions on building real lasers, imitation lasers, cutting lasers, sonic devices, ultrasonic devices, magnetic disturbance detectors, and much more. Requires little or no electrical experience.

This is an amazing book with plans for anything cool that you could ever want to build. It has very clear, and easy to understand instructions. There are lots of diagrams, and detailed parts lists. All of the things work very well, and the material cost are all less than 100 dollars.

Useful, fun, or just plain strange projects abound in this book. Some of the unusual but useful projects include creating a portable laptop power supply using regular batteries, setting up a surplus Primestar dish antennae to be a 802.11b wireless system capable of almost ten miles, and creating an advanced digital video system. On the other end of the spectrum is making an aquarium inside a MacIntosh, building an 802.11b antenna from a can, hacking a Furby, and creating a car video periscope. And, of course, there are projects between those two extremes. Each project is classified by cost, time and difficulty level making it easy to determine which ones you might want to tackle. An interesting title for the geek who wants to have the unusual that their friends are not likely to have, Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks is a fun and unusual read.

This is a big, floppy paperback full of projects many geeks or would be geeks already know about. After all, the internet leaks this sort of information all over. However despite some of the projects being a little underwhelming for the geek about town, the fifteen projects would probably be the perfect introduction to hardware hacking for a youngster keen to get into electronics and computers.

Now that there are very few electronic hobbyist magazines around, it is hard to know how any except the most talented youngsters will get started on hacking gadgets, except via books like this. Having a talented toy designer write the book is a great ploy, as many of the best gadgets are derived from subverting toys and general consumer appliances.

Some of the introductory projects are a little wimpy. The author doesn't really make it sufficiently clear that an external battery pack for a notebook computer is unlikely to extend your working time much (alkaline batteries are ill suited to most high current drain computers). However there is an undeniable need for a very simple introduction to the tools and materials you need to use. This is one of six tasks teaching tools and materials. The last couple are hacking Furbys, and making a video periscope for a car.

The advanced section includes digital video recorders, building lighting control, a remote GPS object tracker (just like James Bond). There is a very nice one chapter introduction to making wearable computers.

The book would make a perfect gift for the potential hardware geek.

I bought this book for one reason: How to hack a furby (and other talking toys). The book is very thorough and I am very satisfied with the explanation. The rest are probably fun but who wants to build an aquarium inside a Mac :-) This is a very interesting book, though. Other topics of interest are How to Hack 80.11b Antennas, Build a PC water-Cooling system, Build an Internet Toaster, Build a Home arcade machine, build a remote Object tacker, build a wearable computer (hmm), build an internet coffeemaker and much, much more. And don't forget to look at Scott Fullam's photo at the back of the book. One look and I could tell its his kind of book. Smile. Cold Eyes

After making a few these hacks you learn a couple things about the book. Try to stay with the recommended materials list and you will do fine. It also gets you working on the basics of circuitry. However it is as labeled "projects" not really anything too much to learn from, but great if you just want to have some fun.

The point of this book is to encourage creative engagement with electro/mechanical technology - to go beyond typical uses - to rediscover the inner inventor and toymaker.
Each project teaches the builder fundamental technologies that can be applied in many situations. Most of the projects can be re-scaled to a range of budgets and available materials.
Well written, illustrated, and resourced. A fun read!

With the rise of "personal" electronics--think Internet, tiny cell phones & other wireless connection tools--the world of ham radio seems to have been passed by, forgotten, or otherwise relegated to the basement, or worse. But this hobby holds on, fascinating & attracting those wanting more, some means of talking, chatting, meeting & interacting with the world at-large. Who want something besides giant corporations (ultimately concerned only with P&L)& sometime silly can-you-hear-me-now keyboard manipulations. Something beyond the anonymous nature of what we call commercial radio.

Hams, by & large, remain a curious lot--curious about how & why radio works. And curious because how is it possible to sit in your room & talk with someone else halfway around the world, without wires or other connections? Curious about the nature of communication itself, about who might be on "the other end" of that circuit. And curious about who & what they might be & do. The process occurs thousands of times, day & night, spanning everything, from continents to cultures to countries to crazy dreams & ideas. There's a romance to it, listening to signals that are all around us, unseen or felt, until we hook up a radio & detect them. Ham radio lets you put your own message out there, into that vast ethereal space, seeking something only you know about, something only you want.

"Hello World" introduces readers to some of that romance, to some of what kept Jerry Powell (whose collection of QSL cards form the basis of the work) doing it for 70 years. To some of what fascinated him, & continues to fascinate millions of others around the world. It's a graphical treat, & a rare look into radio from the amateur's point of view. Hopefully, some youngster, somewhere, will see it, & want to learn more--about radio, the world, & communicating with it via radio.

And Jerry Powell's legacy will live on...and on....

I bought this book because it was about ham radio. I was impressed at how well the storyline was. You actually felt as though you were there watching this story go on. A must read!!!

This is an outstanding book which is beautifully illustrated primarily with QSL cards from a ham's 70 year love affair with his hobby that also serves to explain what amateur radio is to the newcomer. I have QSL cards on my wall from the fifties and received my first call in 1955 so to me this book is a real find. Any ham or person curious about ham radio will find this book a true gem. 73s, Jim, K4CFA

I was given this fantastic book by my neighbor and friend here in New Jersey, who is a longtime Ham Radio afficionado (and Police Officer by occupation). Truth be told, I have always wondered about Jim's (my mentioned neighbor/friend) hobby/pastime, especially given his tower and antenna systems, which are large and visible and hard to ignore! I did not know much about the hobby, other than 'people talk around the world much like CB'ers talk locally'. I now realize how utterly wonderful, fascinating and riveting this hobby is! Not to mention critical in times of regional or national emergencies! The authors take you on a FASCINATING journey through the ham radio life of an engineer named Jerry Powell, an actual FCC licensed 'Ham' operator from Kansas who moved to New Jersey early on in his career and spent decades on the air from his humble home, communicating with Hams everywhere from all kinds of economic and ideological backrounds. The book is replete with interesting vignettes and descriptions of what Ham Radio is all about, and the true passion and wonderment of engaging in all aspects of this hobby shared by millions around the world. The graphics are first rate, with a veritable 'world tour' of colorful QSL cards, which reflect many of Jerry's contacts with other Ham Operators from every conceivable corner of the world! After reading this book and 'taking in' the wonderful graphics, I even picked up a few entry-level study guides from the ... site (National Amateur Radio organization) on the advice of my neighbor Jim, and I am excitedly planning on obtaining my entry 'Technician' license! I can't wait to get on the air! Just a superb, SUPERB book!!!

I know nothing about ham radio and loved this book. It is beautifully constructed, has amazing graphics and a great story that Gregory has reconstructed about one man's passion. It's a book about communication, and humanity, and art and how small the world really is. Gorgeous.