Open Books

O'Reilly books are always excellent sources. I'm a technician and work on UNIX systems with the SCO interface, so I use this book a lot. Any time I can't remember a command, I can thumb through the book or look in the index for what the command does and have it at my fingertips. Thanks, O'Reilly for all your great books of which I have many.

I would recommend this book for ANY user of SCO Unix, from the novice to the sys admin. It nearly every command and option from SCO System V Release 3.2, Version 4.0. In addition, this book also covers several important Unix utilities such as the vi editor, sed, awk, etc.

I would give this book 5 stars except SCO OpenServer has advanced well beyond this level (this edition is from 1993). Most of the information remains accurate, but there are some issues that exist. Keep in mind that there are some additional commands and additional options to existing commands that are not listed. Also, but more rare, there are commands or options that have been removed or changed in the OS. This is not as serious as it may sound as these issues will probably only be noticed by the more advanced users in rare circumstances.

O'Reilly has done it again, bringing Unix users a priceless reference book. The book is well organize into different shells and is easy to read. This book list all the commands with options and an example for it. Novice to SCO Unix should add this to their bookshelves.

This book contains all the basic commands needed by system analysts in an easy to find format. I recommend this book to all SCO Unix technicians and system analysts of SCO Unix systems.

Given that the book begins with the admission that its co-authored by the Deputy Director of the IBO means it is going to be slanted toward IB. What I found incredibly interesting was the notion that IB found its roots in US public schools in areas with challenging demographics. One might expect the private school clientel that dominated the early years of IB in the US, but the growth in a diverse socio-economic area of Virginia, the IB curriculum struck a chord. Admitting its bias from the outset, the book presents a moving picture of the motivating power of educational reform for the sake of children and challenge rather than reform itself. Moreover, Supertest supports its claims with evidence and historical narrative that creats a warranted composition in support of the International Baccalaureate curriculum and its merits. The book illustrates the trials and tribulations of beginning an IB program and the benefits of seeing it through. Its an incredible and entertaining, in a postitive way, read that should interest anyone concered with educational reform, particularly involving the IB.

Beginning to research the IB program for my district, I purchased this book plus a few others to help me better understand the program and the benefits to beginning IB in a rural district. With the history of IB and the case studies from a few schools, this book gave me a good understanding of what IB should look like. It also gave me an excellent understanding of where IB came from and how that influences what is done today. I would recommend this book for any person wanting to learn more. It is a very positive book but not influenced by the organization. It is also an easy, quick read to give the big picture in a few hours.

Jay Mathews & Ian Hill's Supertest: How The International Baccalaureate Can Strengthen Our Schools deftly assesses the statistics about the Baccalaureate, including its impact on student chances for success in college and life. Chapters provide a history of the IB, its increasing introduction in American school systems, and how it makes a difference in the transition to college. Sounds like dry reading: but the concurrent story of one American high school that adopted the IB adds a personal flavor and human interest touch to the statistics and discussions.

"Washington Post" reporter Jay Mathews extends his appreciation of challenge in our high schools by identifying the grandest and most challenging of them all: the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Jay created "Newsweek" magazine's Challenge Index, and his writing is always approachable and easy to follow. This book maintains that special style. He writes here very specifically about a local DC-area high school and its experiences with beginning and maintaining the rigorous IB curriculum. You come to really care about the students and teachers he profiles, and to share their trials and successes and occasional failures with them. The book features an extremely effective method of integrating chapters about the creation and operation of the IB program as a whole - written by a co-author from the IB Organization - with chapters about Fairfax County, VA's Mount Vernon High School and the people involved with getting IB up and running there. And of the battles in Fairfax County and elsewhere about IB and its rival, the Advanced Placement (AP) program. In my mind there is no contest - IB is far and away the better program, especially for exposing kids to what college will be like. And there is no better predictor of success in college (i.e., graduating) than having taken at least one rigorous course in high school, especially one from IB which teaches how to think and plan and lean. But read Jay's book and decide for yourself. He does an excellent job of iterating the AP proponents concerns about IB, some legitimate - most not, and of exposing as fools or frauds a few of the opponents and their methods for keeping this excellent program out of their schools. They won, but did their kids a real disservice with their victory.

If you have any interest in bringing out what is best in our high school kids - in ALL of our high school kids - then you should read this book. The IB program is the best high school curriculum extant today. And don't just take my word for it. Read the book and you'll see that those precise words are used by the MIT Admissions' Director.

Every new endeavor starts somewhere and this book is a great place to start thinking about your organization's first online educational offerings. Author Robin Neidorf combines the basics of good teaching and instructional design with the realities of the online medium. She explores the different types of adult learners (perpetual learner vs. outcome oriented learners) and how to address them. She explores the factors that lead to e-learning success: collaborative community, availability of material that appeals to six different learning types, the ability of the instructor to connect with the students individually, the need for feedback, and more.

If you're going down this path for the first time, this book provides an excellent framework for approaching your project. The author also provides valuable references to online resources.

Highly recommended.

Teach Beyond Your Reach is a terrific resource for everyone who has to deliver knowledge from a distance. True, professional teachers and trainers who need to move their courses online will benefit from Neidorf's systematic approach to developing online instruction as well as her highly engaging and supportive writing style. However, others who find themselves in an unfamiliar teaching role -- for example, non-profits creating courses for their members or librarians delivering online information skills training -- will also appreciate the author's discussion of adult learning styles, her coverage of various distance teaching tools and activities, and her jargon-free presentation. This excellent resource is an easy-to-use, informative, and actionable guide of great value for anyone contemplating teaching at a distance, especially online. I have used it several times for course preparation, and always benefited from Neidorf's practical recommendations.

Training is part of my business, and Teach Beyond Your Reach has been both educational and energizing for me. It is the perfect companion to have at your side when you are making the leap from in-person to distance teaching. The book coaches teachers and trainers on the fundamental concepts and processes behind effective distance instruction, on making a connection when you are not there in the classroom. It is for teachers, not necessarily for techies. Chapter 1 surveys the range of tools and technologies involved, but the focus is on the teaching/learning aspects--adapting core learner-centric teaching skills to the new environment. Aside from the "distance" aspect, the book is useful for tips about communicating with learners no matter what the communication medium. College teachers, professional trainers, and organizations offering continuing education to their constituents could all benefit from this book.

Instructors interested in better meeting student needs through different teaching approaches will welcome TEACH BEYOND YOUR REACH: AN INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE TO DEVELOPING AND RUNNING SUCCESSFUL DISTANCE LEARNING CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, TRAINING SESSIONS AND MORE. Distance learning is one of the fastest-growing learning options in the country, allowing individuals to earn degrees, certifications and gain skills without entering a classroom. TEACH BEYOND YOUR REACH covers the basics of a successful distance learning approach and shares practices and examples from successful teachers. A fine pick for any teacher entering the cyberworld.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Having read many books on the power of storytelling and on women's issues and life cycles returning to Meade's Tell It By Heart has reminded me that this book is as fresh, insightful and meaningful as when it first came out. Meade's 13 tenents that she describes as the essentails of the healing power of story and myth are as brilliantly conceived for use today as they were at the book's puliciation in 1995. This book is a timeless look into the deep well of story and its uses and applications as a healing modality. The intimate narrative style charms us and the wisdom of the book heals us and those we wish to reach through story and myth. I hihgly recomment that therapists, art therapists and tellers read or re-read this important book.

Meade's description of her heartfelt work as a therapist, community worker, and sublime storyteller is a gift. She bridges the world of the story with the world of personal suffering. By way of her own encounters she exposes the healing power of myth to rekindle love and connection. There is a deep poetic intelligence in this book and it is skillfully woven with humor, humility and tenderness. As a therapist and teacher myself, I revisit this book time and time again. I teach graduate counseling courses and this book is always on my syllabi, either as required or highly suggested reading. I can think of no better text for teaching students to work from the heart.

I love this book. As an actor and arts educator, I am drawn to books about personal stories and how people are transformed by telling them. Helm-Meade's style of storytelling is warm and engaging. In this honest re-telling of personal stories, she takes the reader on a journey into the heart and gives us an opportunity to explore our own depths of compassion. A great book for sure.

I came across this book in my search to find information about narrative therapy. Meade's book is a writer-therapist's dream -- she SHOWS rather than TELLS the reader what narrative therapy is all about. A great book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon and a fantastic teaching tool for students of any of the healing arts.

_Theodicy_ by Leibniz is amazingly relevant and readable considering how long ago it was written. This book is far better than many other works of philosophy which came much later. Very few authors have been able to tackle the problem of the relationship between the existence of evil and the existence of God with as much skill and clarity as Leibniz. The issues discussed in this book are still very relevant today, and the questions concerning evil and the existence of God still have not been answered. That is what makes this work so timeless; if I had been told that it was written yesterday I would have believed it, so relevant are the questions and so readable is the style. This is a must-read for even the most modern and scientifically-minded philosophers. Leibniz adresses questions that are completely independent of science, and can never be answered through science alone. The only way to solve the ancient problem of evil is to continue to think about it in the same way as Leibniz, even though we may never find a solid answer.

This, and other of Leibniz's writings are, ..... I don't know. Profound? That is an understatement! Paradigm shifting? At least a few? These are some of the most powerful and poignant thoughts put into writing. This is the man who discovered the calculus with meaning (as opposed to Newton, who also gets credit, but had a different basis).

Leibniz gets some bad neglect in history, largely because Voltaire undermined his thoughts by creating a ridiculous straw-man of Leibniz's ideas - maybe Voltaire just couldn't grasp it! It is some of the hardest writing to read, especially since there was nothing before this like it. (for this reason, I recommend, if new to Leibniz, to NOT read an introduction or such. Many "scholars" still give Voltaire's slant on Leibniz. Read for yourself and then judge).

For hundreds of years Leibniz was put on the back shelf because Newton reigned supreme. But guess what? It turns out that Leibniz was right in his charges against Newton. The death of classical physics and the rise of the quantum started with Leibniz - it just took the world a while to catch up.

Also, if you have to deal with someone who gives that trite argument "If God is all powerful, If God is all good, How is there evil in the world," Plop, this book on his/her lap. Why people expect and easy and quick answer to this question is beyond me. Leibniz's answer, his treatment of free will and determinism, the soul and the individual - truly, if grasped, will change some part of your mind for the better.

Leibniz's argument for the origin of evil in human freedom is perhaps the most famous of all the theodicies, and obviously if you want to read the source then this is it. The argument is easy to grasp and convincing - which made me wonder exactly why it required a book of this length (about 400 pages). The answer is that Leibniz sets out his argument within the first fifty pages and the rest of the book is devoted to meeting arguments that other thinkers (particularly Bayle) had made about theodicy. Leibniz really over did the treatment of Bayle's objections, to such a point that Leibniz himself admitted around page 300 that he was growing tired of refuting Bayle.

Fortunately this edition contains almost all of the original appendicies (bar one which set out the formal argument in Scholastic Latin), the first of which is the main arguments of the book stripped down into analytic logical arguments. This takes only 9 pages and to be honest, it's almost worth skipping the rest of the book and just reading this, as it contains all the important points. At the very least I find it very useful when I want to come back and remind myself what was said.

I have nothing to add to the previous reviews concerning the importance of Leibniz's thought as expressed in this book. I would like to add this caveat, however: this translation is not a critical edition. Leibniz quotes numerous passages in Greek and Latin (he was enormously erudite), but these passages are not translated in this edition. Neither does the editor/translator identify where the quoted passages are from (this would be useful if one wanted to look up the original context of a passage that Leibniz is quoting). Fortunately, the quotations are usually not necessary to understand the argument, which is somewhat repetitive in any case.

The other disadvantage of this volume is that the index contains only proper names and not ideas. This is unfortunate, since much of the work is not clearly organized and the discussion of a given issue is often scattered throughout the book.

But since this is the best edition of the Theodicy currently available in English, one has to live with these disadvantages.

This book is here to help the beginner in Apache, PHP, Perl and MySQL. If you have always fancy in setting up your own web server but have no idea of how to do it, this book is for you.

The author teaches you step-by-step from installing Apache web server, PHP and Perl to writing applications like database-enabled web applications using Perl, PHP and MySQL. He also touches a small portion of SSI (Server-sise Includes).

This book is indeed very good for beginners. However, please be warned that you may get frustrated by the typos and mistakes found in this book. Refer to the previous post, he mentioned some configuration issues which are helpful. Other than that, this book is definitely worth reading as you may learn a lot especially when you have no idea of what and how to use Apache, PHP, Perl, and MySQL.

For advanced readers, you may want to look into other books :)

I want to congratulate the author for writing such an excellent book for beginners to open-source software like Apache, PHP and mySQL. On windows platform does not bother me as it is the predominant operating system platform and easier to relate to, although I do hope the second version of this book might include a Linux-version.

The CD software includes the latest version of PHP, MySQL, Apache and Perl, although personally I think Perl should be less covered since PHP is much better. Also the section of IIS installation with PHP kind of distract the attention from Apache in the whole book.

Some typo errors in the book's codes, as well as installation errors not mentioned in the book could frustrate non-technical people: e.g. Not able to set up on my Windows XP (Home) for virtual host / Server Side Include / OpenSSL / Preventing Directory listing...also on PHPMyadmin (Chap 8), the book missed out a step to uncomment in PHP.INI the line extension=php_mysql.dll in order to get the nice result of Fig 8.30, otherwise you would contantly get this error "cannot load mysql extension'.

Overall the book is recommended to read through in one session (I spent 3 hours in one single night), then follow by practices in few other sessions on Apache, PHP and MySQL in sequence.

It has been an enriching and enjoyment experience for me. I highly recommend to all new commers in web-database application developers.

Eric Hunley's USING OPEN SOURCE WEB SOFTWARE WITH WINDOWS addresses some common issues with open source documentation, from Linux/UNIX focuses not easily accessible to Widows users to adapting these focuses to Windows environments. Chapters tell exactly how to adapt open source software to Windows environments, using four of the most popular Internet programs as examples. The focus on how to reduce costs in the process is also a welcome one.

While there is an awful lot of software available on the net, this book concentrates on software related to setting up web sites on systems running the Windows operating system. This includes the Apache web server, PHP to provide web/database interconnectivity, MySQL database, and Perl to provide more flexibility to your web sites. The CD-ROM included with the book includes copies of all of this software, so here is really all that you need to put up dynamic web sites.

I gues the question I would have to ask is that if you are using a system for a single application such as being a web server, why wouldn't you go all the way and use a Linux operating system under it, it would be faster, more reliable and less expensive. But if you gotta use Windows, here's all you need.

The Wide Open Spaces of God is an excellent book. The author uses the metaphor of landscapes to describe the various stages and scenarios of life. But it's not the analogies that make this such a wonderful book, it's the prescriptive advice the author provides which help make this a fantastic read and an even better, lasting reference.

For example, one of the landscapes is called "The Valley of Darkness." It's just what you'd expect, namely, a period of deep turmoil or unexpected/unexplained difficulty. Beth talks about our knee-jerk tendencies where we want to "light our own torches" and move away from the darkness; without giving away too much of the story here, the author advises against moving away from the darkness and her argument is quite compelling.

I read this book on a recent cross-country flight and found myself stopping and thinking about the various stages of my own life, how I reacted then and how the author's insights challenged me to react and respond differently going forward. I learned a lot about myself along the way and I'll bet you will too. Highly recommended.

I really resonated with Beth Booram's concept that life's ups and downs place us in various landscapes (i.e. the desert, the deep waters, the land between). As she goes through each of 8 possible landscapes (although she says the number is unlimited), she shows us how God uses the various terrains of each to enlarge and transform us. They don't come in any specific order and don't last for any predetermined amount of time. We can move in and out of them, we can repeat landscapes, we may never even experience some of them. With each landscape, she describes its geography and tells us what we can learn about God and what we can learn about ourselves as we experience it. Each landscape has the ability to transform us if we let it.

I enjoyed Beth's poetic way of expressing herself and describing these landscapes of life. Her use of personal examples makes her ideas more accessible and real, and her honest, developing relationship with God is inspiring. This is the sort of book we continually return to for inspiration as life twists and turns us.

The concluding paragraph of the book sums it up well..."Our search is not simply to find God. Nor is it to find ourselves. Rather, it is to be present to God and ourselves through the varied landscapes of life." I long to live my life in this manner.

Beth Booram's book is both deep and practical in guiding us toward a closer experience of God. It is soul searching for my personal devotional use as well as an excellent tool for small group interaction. Great questions. Beth seems to speak from her personal insights and experiences as well as from accurate study of The Bible. I would highly recommend it.

The author captures our walk with God in new and interesting ways. She shares much of herself in the pages and takes the reader along on her journey. The book has bible study qualities as she shares scripture to illustrate each point. I have much to reflect on after my read.

Fantastic book, full of drama in the deepest sense. I just couldn't stop reading it, and hoped that, like Borges' "Book of Sand", it would have no end. The experiences of the philosopher as a teacher in a lost alpine village in Austria are here beautifully and terribly described.

Wittgenstein, possibly the greatest philosopher of the 20th century, has been getting all of the expected comments from homophobes: "Oh, I hate gay people, but because Wittgenstein is so extremely important I'm now going to say that his homosexuality wasn't a very important part of his life (even though I hate gay marriage to the point of obession, like a typical "red states" American.). Well, it turns out that a gay man may have just be the greatest philosopher of the 20th century, and no matter who you are or what you believe, you cannot but deal with that. By the way: Plato, possibly Kant, Arthur Schopenhauer, Roland Barthes, Michel Foucault, George Santayana, and possibly Nietzsche were also gay.

In a brief (a little over 200 pages) study of Wittgenstein's thought, Bartley, in this supposedly controversial book, gives a credible introduction to one of the most important philosophers of the twentieth century. Most come to this book because of Bartley's reports of Wittgenstein's active homosexual life. In the revised edition, the author rebuttals such claims, stating that in the few pages dedicated to the thesis is not a substantial aspect of the philosopher's life, but one that should not be overlooked. Though, as most of his critics state, this section of the text seems rather poorly researched and documented in relation to the rest of the text and is largely based upon speculation, however probable. If one does not become preoccupied with this aspect of the study (which the additional essays in the text seem to make the core of the text), the work does serve as a brief, but critical and well-presented study of Wittgenstein's life and work. The essays in the latter edition are more thorough and more philosophical in the respect of Bartley challenging his objectors and in "The Question of the Relevance of His Homosexuality to Wittgenstein's Philosophy," the author refutes initiating formalistic readings in relation to philosophic work, which is well argued and can be presented not only in relation to Wittgenstein and his thought, but all of philosophy and its writers. This study of Wittgenstein does not detract from his image (which many of Bartley's objectors, one gets the feeling, are merely supporting their own lionization of the thinker) but lends a critical, and at this time, non-traditional, interpretation of Wittgenstein and his work. This text serves as a good litmus test to Monk's biography.

This was an enjoyable read. I was surprised, and happy, to see that not very much time was spent on Wittgenstein's homosexuality and supposedly torrid affairs, but was instead spent discussing how his years as a schoolteacher influenced his later philosophy. Also, any of Wittgenstein's actual philosophy that was present in the book was presented in a clear, concise manner so that practically anyone could understand it. The amount of space discussing Austrian school reform in the 1930s was a little odd, though...

Full disclosure time: I am a friend of the author and I helped her and encouraged her to pursue the book project. None the less, I have read the book, and being as objective as I can, I find it engaging and really well realized. Ms. Root has no agenda and no subtext; the book honestly presents the results of exploring an interesting group of people. While being exposed to sociological aspects of women and car culture, one is more interested in the individual women profiled in the book. The photography is excellent, and the reproduction generally quite good. Ms. Root's portrait skills are amply demonstrated in image after image where real personality comes through plainly, confirmed and supported by the text. This is superior to many 'theme' photography books, and a wonderful antidote to those that treat women as only decorations for cars. As a man I enjoyed it; I imagine some young women will be inspired by it.

It may have started when women got the vote, but when women form adoring, nutty and intimate relationships with their true liberator (their CAR!) you're really seeing freedom in action. Women at the Wheel is a love story and an exhilarating ride.

The stories in this book are well written and highlight the strength and creativity that all women posses. I love the way the cars reflect all the best qualities of their owners, especially the when the cars are used to achieve a higher level of freedom. Overall, this is a very inspiring book.

This book is fabulous. It's peculiar that women still tend to be overlooked as "car people," as I had no problem coming up with a half dozen car-centric female friends and family members to give this book to for birthdays and holidays. From the friend who takes pride at keeping her '81 Corolla limping along, to the retired Mom of my closest friend who bought a snazzy new Honda as a retirement present for herself to my own Mom who is a car-buying-research goddess. All have thoroughly enjoyed this book (as have the Y-chromosomed who've read it)!

Highly recommended, well-written, and top-notch photographs.

This book has the perfect combination of insightful text and luminous illustrations. A perfect gift!

This special book encourages readers to quietly reflect on their lives. It gently puts things in perspective and provides a beautiful reminder of what is really important in life. Karen Kroll's illustrations are magical and add the perfect touch to the simple yet profound words. A perfect gift for friends or yourself!

This is an absolutely beautiful little book. Great for personal use or for a gift. Though the sentiments are quite simple and sweet they hold true, and combined with the thought-provoking, mood-inspiring watercolor illustrations, the book provides an opportunity to relax your inner stresses and just enjoy being!