Schools and Instruction Books

Great book for my nephew - he enjoyed reading it and asking me questions a bout it.

I was looking for a book to help in discussions with my 10 yr old son who was going through some physical changes. This book was descriptive and understandable. He didn't want to talk with me about what was happening to his body. This book really helped explain it to him. He picked up the book and has read it at least a dozen times in the last couple months since we received it. He said it had the right level of detail in descriptions. The other book I purchased "What's happening to me?" was more illustrations and fewer words. He strongly prefers this book.

I purchased this book and "What's Happening to Me?" for my 11 y/o son. He read "What's Happening to Me?" with no problem. He started reading this book the same day. He brought it out to me after reading 3 chapters and said he wasn't ready for it and didn't want to read any more of it. He came back out a little later *very* upset by what he had read, crying and saying he couldn't live with it. It took him 2 hours to calm down enough to go to bed. He asked me to write this review. He says the book goes into too much detail about the sex aspect. He said he thought the book would tell what happens during puberty but this book dealt too much with sex.

I bought this book for my 12 year old son and he finds it to be very interesting. It has opened up discussions on things he would normally not discuss with me which has helped us have great conversations. I recommned this book for anybody with young boys going through puberty whom are normally not used to talking about what's going on with them.

Chapter 8, titled: Is This Normal? States, "it is not unusual for a boy to watch another boy masturbate or to masturbate with a group of boys. Nor is it unusual for two boys to masturbate each other." My 13 year old son was accused of sexual assault by an 11 year old boy (a friend) after the 11 year old suggested they masturbated together, they did so on three occasions. The charge came a year later, social services and the police visited our home. Our younger son was almost removed from our home. Our 14 year old was questioned by police, charged, fingerprinted and we had to hire a lawyer. This book states that boys masturbating together or each other is not unusual. Maybe so, but it is a crime, and your child could be charged with sexual assault. Especially when the other child, out of guilt, fear, or revenge perhaps, tells his parents that he wasn't a willing participate once he realizes his "young, boyish curiosity" was a crime. BEWARE!

This ia a fabulous book for any artist or aspiring artist. From a pallet of only 12 colors he show you the hows and especially the whys of mixing just about any color you want. Especially good for water colorists. You'll never be mixing "mud" again.

Ben Albert

this book gets more interest for its paradoxical (and inaccurate) title than for its contents, which are straight out of 18th century color theory and painting practice. for a review of this book and links to background materials, google "wilcox handprint" and click the first few links. i should add that some of the positive reviews posted here appear verbatim at the wilcox "school of colour" website and are therefore just viral marketing.

the quiller book "color choices" and the hilary page book "color right from the start" are excellent resources. this book is heavy on simplification, routine, and computer generated color samples.

I am very pleased with this book. It is filled with valuable information for the painter which is presented in terms that are easy to comprehend. I am currently working my way through the exercises and by doing so can already see where the book has been worth every penny. As someone well acquainted with "mud" I think the book will save me a fortune in paint down the road. I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to recommend this book to anyone interested in painting whether new to painting or an experienced artist. We can all learn something new from it. In fact, I think it would make a great text book.

Before reading this book, I already had a good basis in the basic color theory: the primaries, secondaries, tertiaries, and the ideas of complementary and analogous colors. I even knew that mixing complementaries would result in browns to blacks.

However, I hadn't learned how to apply that knowledge in the way this book presents it. As a result, sometimes I would mix colors that were muddy or shaded, and I didn't know why. This book explains it all so clearly and so simply that you are sure to retain and use the information with ease.

In summary, this book tells you how to mix any color you want, reliably and with confidence, just using six colors, two of each primary color. Everyone who understands color knows that yellows fall on a range from almost-orange to almost green, blues fall on a range from almost-green to almost-purple, and reds fall on a range from almost-purple to almost orange. The fact that these colors are in a range means that, when you mix them, you will get different results depending on where the colors fall in that range.

This book tells how to determine where a color falls in those ranges, and also gives you a clear and understandable way of knowing what to expect when mixing different primaries. The system works.

One nice thing is that, with the price of paints today, if you need to, you can only purchase six colors and you will pretty much be set. Accordingly, this book recommends that you purchase those six colors, two from each primary, with one color each that tends toward each end of each primary (a green-yellow and an orange-yellow, for example).

Of course, you can always buy a larger range of colors, but armed with the information in this book, when you do so, you can confidently purchase and mix those colors and have a good idea of what the results will be each time.

If you are impatient with theory, you can skip all the stuff about reflected light, additive versus subtractive color mixing, color perception in the brain, and so on; it may or may not all be true, and is anyway only Mr. Wilcox's theory about *why* his system works. Instead, if you are impatient, just read the juicy stuff about the colors themselves. It will definitely improve your ability to mix colors well. If I were making a list of "must have" books in an artist's reference library, this would be one of them.

The three-primary theory that Wilcox maligns in the introduction has been discredited for a hundred years. But the system he expouses has been around even longer. Much of the theory in the book is simply wrong.

http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/book3.html#wilcox

A fascinating look at how the comics business has changed with the advent of the internet and new media markets. Not for everyone but definitely well-written and well-illustrated. It will make you think!

Most of the books of Scott McCloud have been "eye-openers" to me, as they illustrate aspects of the comic storytelling that went unnoticed and that really server to improve my craft.
This reinventing comics, with his fresh approach to using modern technologies applied to comic book creation is also very illustrative and gives the basis to try new visual experiences - based on current technology.
Totally recommended book!

No other word for it. Mcloud strikes again with another amazing insite to comics, specifically to comics' future. The ideas presented in this book are feasible and inspiring for comic artists and readers. The possibilities are endless and Mcloud gives a good fertile starting ground.

Want 3 of the best-ever books on the general topic of comics? Here they are! (each generally sold separately)

1.*Understanding Comics- A *landmark* & bestselling examination of the medium. A comicbook on comics! While I try not to use the "genius" label *too* liberally, with Understanding Comics it really seems to fit(!). 5 Stars!

2.*Reinventing Comics- Maybe his best *looking* book (in my opinion), it's basically split into 2 sections: The 12 Revolutions in comics; and then basic Internet/Computer/Web Comics. The 12 Revolutions is a look at 12 aspects of the comicbook industry; areas that need continual development & improvement. I found this book fascinating, but it's certainly not for everyone. These areas include: comics as literature; comics as art; creator's rights; industry innovation; public perception; institutional scrutiny; gender balance; minority representation; diversity of genre; digital production; digital delivery; and digital comics. It's these last three that make up the second part of the book. Some people seem annoyed with McCloud's seemingly rapid success as a spokesperson for the industry, but I'm not. After writing Understanding Comics, I think he's earned at *least* a seat at the table of high profile industry personalities. I guess the criticism is that his actual comicbook work lacks bestseller status. But if his comicbooks *on* comics are bestsellers, his contributions seem valid enough to me. Reinventing Comics is the least popular & practical in the Trilogy, yet I still really like it! 4-1/2 Stars.

3.*Making Comics- It's like Understanding Comics refined, as well as a "hands-on" introduction to the medium. It competes with that 1st title for most popular in the Trilogy, and it's highly recommended to anyone who wants to make comics! I like it! 5 Stars.

In conclusion: His 1st & 3rd books being the most popular, Reinventing Comics is *great* for the digitally minded(!).

In the 1950s, television filled the void left by the Senate inquiries and the imposition of the comics code. A new resurgence in the 60s, comic books were exciting again, carrying into the 70s spurred by superhero AND horror/mystery comics. Bottoming out again in the eighties, this time the culprit- video games.
Today the enemies, television and gaming, are still with us vieing for our time. Comics are not truly accessable to the buying public. They've become the property of an exclusive club that seems to revel mostly in some artist's wet dreams. How nice to know they can excercise his or her artistic rights and freedom. But no one is buying it! It's dead for all intents and purposes. Comic shops have to fill their shelves with collectible toys to make it.
The comics I buy are at liest more than 30 years old. The new ones just are not interesting and even with all of this self-examination and navel probing, the quality just isn't there. It's my opinion that it doesn't have to read like Shakespear and look like Rembrant to be a good comic. But it must entertain.
The effort has been underway for years to leave the lowly comic book in the dust, replaced by the Graphic Novel. All in the name of impoving (the perception anyway) of the comic book market! Even HBOs Tales From the Crypt" opening credits state 'Adapted from the comic MAGAZINE...'
The internet will not save comic books. It isn't a 'book' in the first place. Illegal downloading will kill it. Scanning comic books is already a problem. The salvation of the medium is in the hands of something that is not real? If you cannot hold it and carress it in your hands like a lover then it will not satisfy (oops, better watch my own dreaming!). I do have a love affair with comic books.
The only salvation I believe are two things:
1) Comic books must be put back into the public eye through stores or what have you. Recruitment to comic books through casual 'walk by' customers who are not necessarily seeking out comics, they just happen upon them out in public stores. Yes, the great unwashed and 'unenlightend' masses parting with their three bucks is the only thing that will help save the comicbooks!
2) The superhero must die! And artists and writers must excercise self control or face the imposition of a new comics code!

This is a classic. I recommend it for anyone that wants to expand their viewpoint of Classical music. I had lost this treasure in Katrina and I purchased it to replace it for my reference. Copland is one of Americas finest composers and his insights are useful to both musicians and non musicians alike.

i bought this book because it's so cheap. I was curious about what Copland would say in the book. In fact, it reminds me a lot of thing I have forgotten about writing the music, which is great.

My orchestra director recommended this book because it is the next logical step in musical development. I am a private music teacher and principal cellist in a symphony. Michael, my director, teaches at a university and asks his students to purchase this book. I found it absolutely fascinating and it helps to understand the differing styles and composers. Worth every penny! Aaron Copland is a genius.

On the back of my copy, it says "the best book of its kind I have ever seen - deems taylor"

I don't know if the latest edition still says that, but it's important to know what KIND of book this is. It was written in 1939, and its chapter on "Contemporary Music" is about composers who died long ago.

It's not exactly a "complete idiot's guide" to the subject of what goes on with classical music, but it's close.

Despite its age, it really is beautifully written and contains loads of good information about listening to classical music.

Not easy to read but the easiest, useful book on the subject. Revisions excellent.

We purchased this book to read with our 10 1/2 year old. It's a very age appropriate book and a great introduction to the "birds and the bees". It gives just enough information without being overwhelming for little minds and it helps to open the door to communication with your kids abut sex. We highly recommend this book.

I bought this book to explain sex to my 10 year old daughter. I read it first then hide it fast! I didn't let my daughter read it. The book was good until it talked about masturbation. It says, "Touching and rubbing your genitals to feel good is called masturbation." This is not something I want her to know about yet. It also says 'sexual intercourse feels wonderful.' Well, I don't want her to know that either. (I don't want to lie to the girl!) So the hunt is back on for the perfect sex book.

This is a keeper and will be on our shelf for a long time. It's wonderful to see Marc Brown's familiar illustration style and Laurie Krasny's clear explanations of the mysteries of growing up. Great job and thank you!

I had my son to read this book- I read thru it first, and then I gave it to him to read on his own. When he was finished, I asked if he had any questions, and opened the room for discussion. I feel this book was very helpful in answering everything he was curious about- it was just the right amount of straight forward, yet age appropriate information.

WtBS handles a sensitive subject, well, sensitively. The book provides just enough detail about the mechanism of making a baby without being overwhelming for young ones. Your child will learn the actual physical acts involved.

Both my 6 and 4 year olds loved the book, though with varying degrees of comprehension. They request it as bedtime reading from time to time. This was the perfect book to use to answer my six year old's "How are babies made?"

I am not completely finished reading the book. However, so far, I have found it entertaining and educational. It is amazing to me how the pygmies can exist in the forest with virtually none of what we would view as essentials. A very simple way of life.

I love this book, it is well written, informative and interesting;
The story of the Molimo gave me great joy!

This beautiful anthropoligical work told in a srory is extrenmle fascinating.THE FOREST PEOPLE echoes such works as USURPER AND OTHER STORIE, and SAN PEOPLE. I was completely captivated by this book, which is why I read it four times this winter. It is taking me a step forward in coming to terms with life's different perspectives.

This beautiful anthropoligical work told in a srory is extrenmle fascinating.THE FOREST PEOPLE echoes such works as USURPER AND OTHER STORIE, and SAN PEOPLE. I was completely captivated by this book, which is why I read it four times this winter. It is taking me a step forward in coming to terms with life's different perspectives.

I can only agree with the "common humanity" sentiments expressed- especially that feature of humans leading them to take the piss out of newcomers.
Turbull utterly uncritically accepts what he is told. He takes a pygmy out onto the plain and drives him up to a Buffalo and the guy expresses surprise at Turnbull's ability to turn an insect (buffalo far away) into a large creature close up.
Come off it!
This pygmy hunts for food and can probably knock a monkey off a branch at 50 yards and he has no depth perception? He's having a laugh at Turnbulls expense!
Read Chagnon on the tricks th Yanomamo used to play on him. A much better anthropologist and less patronising too.

"Chatty." "An easy read." "Humorous." These comments seemed to surface again and again in class discussion about this book. The book is an easy read, and the author's personality is evident throughout. While reading the chapters, I never had to set the book aside, as I have had to do with other grammar books. The author's wit, along with his ability to avoid the use of technical jargon, allowed me to flip through the pages with interest and ease.

The intended audience is language arts teachers. However, due to the simplicity of explanations and the numerous examples and activities, this book could be useful for nearly any writer, from middle school to grad school.

Two premises introduced in the first chapter are the "countertradition" and "mythrules." The countertradition basically challenges the notion that "children learn parts of speech by means of definitions" (18). Although it isn't discussed in every chapter, the author does address it often. For example, in chapter two Schuster shares the traditional definition of a noun (a person, place, thing, or idea), and then acknowledges that this traditional definition is inadequate. Mythrules, which the second premise is based on, are "rules that rule no one-other than perhaps a handful of pop-grammarians and hardened purists who look for their authority somewhere in the sky rather than here on earth." (xii) Schuster addresses and negates these so-called rules, such as "Avoid I and me at all costs" in several chapters. The premises seem to provide a solid focus throughout the book.

Although I think this book is an excellent resource overall, Schuster's biases toward certain grammar topics are evident. In one chapter, he shares a traumatic experience he had involving pronouns in tenth grade. He then goes on to discuss pronouns in depth for nearly five pages. Later in the chapter, less than two pages are dedicated to the appositive.

While a more balanced focus on each of the topics would be helpful, I wouldn't exchange this book for another grammar text. Overall, I found it very engaging and helpful, and I would recommend it for any language arts teacher or intermediate to advanced writer.

Warning! Breaking the Rules is not for people who like boring, stuffy traditional grammar books! It's almost fun to read. Edgar H. Schuster writes in a chatty manner and uses humor to prove his points.
This book is written for teachers, and it's obvious from his examples that Schuster has taught before. I found topics like grading students' papers and commonly confused words to be especially relevant to what a teacher may need to know. Schuster states information plainly and doesn't go into too much detail explaining it. Schuster pushes teachers not to make grammar lessons stuffy, but to change because grammar changes.
There aren't many examples in Breaking the Rules, so if you want lists of examples this book is not for you. Schuster includes lesson plans that are diverse, encouraging students to explore different parts of grammar. This book is for teachers and includes activities and information that may not be useful to others. My favorite activity is about personal pronouns. This activity is on pages 23-26 and it is designed to show students that they already know a great deal about personal pronouns. This specific activity will make grammar seem less intimidating. The activities are adaptable and can be used for high school or younger aged children.
I liked this book because it's different. Breaking the Rules should be on every teacher's bookshelf. It teaches teachers to think out of the box and to learn more about teaching the English language. A quote by Frank McCourt sums up why teachers should read this book: "If you're teaching and you're not learning then you're not teaching." This book will teach, if you are willing and accepting.

If you are looking for an untraditional and creative means of helping students become better writers then this book is for you. breaking the rules by Edgar Schuster is a idealistic book about grammar that goes beyond traditional instruction. This book is meant for anyone who is interested in a better instruction of grammar, which includes college students and reflective teachers.
In the book Schuster suggest that teachers look at the works of students, writers, and other professionals and then after reviewing the works, the teachers need to decide which language rules are practical and which ones on be broken, for example the case of Finlay McQuade during the late 1970's. McQuade took a good look at his Editorial Skills class and found out that teaching grammar in a traditionally way is a failure (p. xviii.) There is too many rules in traditional grammar that has no space in the realities of spoken or written language today.
The book is full of real life anecdotes that makes it easy to read. For example, Schuster used himself in an example about a student who was told that the definition of a pronoun was a word that replaces a noun. So the student used words such as writer for author and book for novel. There are detailed instructions on how grammar rules are used, and if possible, how the rule can be broken to enhance the writing. The book includes many topics from the definition of a noun to tips on revising and editing. There are also many activities in the book that make it easier for the reader to understand the concept.
This is a wonderful book to keep on hand for a reference for anyone who is going into the field of teaching or anyone else who is interested in improving his or her writing.

Breaking the Rules: Liberating writers through innovative grammar instruction, by Edgar H. Schuster, could not be a more awesome grammar book. He truly follows his title by breaking the time-old traditional grammar rules. This is by far the most innovative grammar instruction I have ever seen. This book can be used by anyone from the novice writer to the future English teacher. Schuster is all about breaking the rules of traditional grammar and making them easier for the average person to understand. One of the major concepts that he stresses throughout the entire book is not to sacrifice the writing for content (meaning, a grammatically perfect essay does not make an interesting essay).
Why fret about breaking rules in a class? Rules that professional authors break in their published novels all the time? Schuster says that you should not. On page xv of the Introduction, Schuster writes that "[n]ot to allow students to break rules is to deny them full access to the linguistic resources of English; resources that people need to express themselves and achieve their own voices." He could not be more correct in my eyes. How interesting is it to read a paper that follows every grammar rule to a T, but is so dull one cannot get through a single paragraph without either feeling completely overwhelmed, or desperately fighting off sleep yawns? Not very interesting I can tell you that, which is one of the reasons why this book is so easy to both read and understand.
Schuster writes as if he is speaking with the reader, with a very conversational tone. I have found that this tone makes reading this book seem as if I am actually speaking with him, rather than having the information beat into me. However, sometimes due to his rather informal
tone, he tends to get a bit carried away. Like, for instance, he put so much time and research into finding examples to support his claims that sometimes he includes so many of them for one subject that one can get a tad tired of reading them all. All of the lessons and activities that Schuster uses to support the grammar subjects he covers are very fun and inventive, he flips the world of grammar instruction upside down. One of his Verb lessons just totally caught my eye. The goal of this lesson on page 29 is "To demonstrate that one learns the part of speech of a word automatically, at the same time one learns its meaning." How often has anyone seen this as a goal for a grammar lesson? Usually teachers assume that students are not capable of learning more than one thing at a time, but Schuster understands that students are not stupid.
While many college professors may look at Breaking the Rules and cringe, or even cry, I look at it and say "Thank my lucky stars, I could not have done it with out you!" I really cannot say that I have ever enjoyed reading a text book more in my life. If you are a novice writer, or just a little confused with grammar, I definitely recommend reading this book.

Break the rules of English! It sounds like an appealing idea. Edgar Schuster presents this very thought in his book, Breaking the Rules. He gives insight on how teachers and writers can free themselves from the constricting boundaries of traditional English grammar. Schuster encourages freedom by presenting an extraordinary amount of research to support his ideas. His research shows how the traditional rules have been broken over the years and how modern authors continue to break them today.

However, after reading a chapter of this book, his research becomes too much to bear; in fact, it makes Breaking the Rules one of the most frustrating grammar books I have ever read. Schuster spends such an exhaustive amount of time supporting why and how rules can be broken that I forget what the rule is in the first place. I have to consult another grammar book to understand what is going on. Traditional grammar actually seems less complex than Schuster's resentation of what is wrong with it.

On the other hand, Breaking the Rules seems to offer a lot to English teachers. The book is loaded with many classroom exercises and alternative ways to teach concepts. I even learn a lot from a section in chapter three, titled Twenty-seven Commonly Confused Words: A Glossary with a Difference. In this section, Schuster provides alternative ways of understanding the differences between advise/advice, than/then, and others. I am impressed with how he uses the acronym VANE to explain the differences in how a writer uses affect and effect. He says to look at how the word functions in a sentence: "If you need a verb, write affect. If you need a noun, write effect (77)."

I am reading this book as a part of my Grammar and Composition class. I find it disappointing because I want to learn the "rules." Although I am learning pieces of the rules of writing that will stick with me and make me a better writer, I do not think it is worth the amount of time I put into reading it. Even though I feel BTR makes little contribution to the skill of the general writer, it still may serve a purpose for teachers. There are a lot of ideas that teachers can use to teach their students. The book may also help teachers understand that "breaking the rules" is not the end of the world.

This book has some of the most original models I've seen among origami books (including a particularly impressive clock). However, many of the instructions are vague or extremely difficult to fold as described. Some of the more advanced models will take lots of experimentation to figure out what the intended fold is.

An excellent book for beginners and continuing students of origami. Many color photo step-by-step illustrations of simple and more complicated models. Well worth buying.

The author of "The Complete Book of Origami" has become notorious for producing some of the most advanced origami models in the literature and this book contains a range of models which cannot be considered anything but difficult. Most of the pieces will not be possible from ordinary paper but will require either foil or very thin bank weight paper to work well. Wet folding would also be suitable for some of the models though the diagrams for the elephant sail into a patch of fog when making its behind!

Be prepared to spend some hours making each piece and you may well find yourself starting over again several times until a series of folding procedures becomes clear.

That said the book contains some excellent models - I have always liked the Cuckoo Clock and the Viking Ship, and can confirm that the action pieces really do work.

The diagrams are hand drawn rather than computerised which may explain the level of verbal instruction; however some of the sets of folds are very complex and the verbal instructions provide that much needed extra to understand what is going on.

This is a book for the seasoned folder and most paper folders who have reached the high intermediate to advanced skill level will enjoy it.

I agree with several of the reviewers here. As a "purist" I object to models that don't start with a square, of which there are many here. I am also bothered by measurements that do not arise from the creases themselves (eg "fold into thirds".) Finally, Lang jumps from very easy to very advanced, with virtually nothing in-between (and uses harder folding sequences than neccessary IMO, Montroll achieves similar complexity in his finished models with far less difficulty.)
If you are willing to look past these objections, the finished models themselves are frequently amazing.

this book would fit nicely on a shelf in bill gates mansion. If you're a hardcore nerd and grew up within the 80s and 70s, played with erector sets and studied quantum physics at the age of 2 then you may be able to decode the rocket science behind the drawings and instructions given in this book. nay on the origamay

This is a good book to read on the partial history of online learning. Maeroff is predicting that in the coming years Â"online courses will edge closer to the mainstream Â... so that eventually few distinctions will be made between courses taken online, courses taken in the classroom, and courses that incorporate attributes of both settingsÂ" (xii-xii). But Maeroff should have added URLÂ's for the reader to easily assess.

I believe that Mr. Maeroff gets our wheels to turning and opens up the discussion on online learning as a real plus for America. He gives, in his opinion, the ups and downs according to educational teachers and universities about how they feel somewhat threatened as the "new age" love online classes vs. the classroom. Mr. Maeroff states, "Online courses are here to stay. They are revolutionary because they represent a fundamentally different delivery system that breaks the monopoly of the classroom, forcing an examination of habits of teaching and learning that for too long have defied scrutiny. Online learning will not banish the many problems of teaching and learning, but it offers one more tool for tying to deal with them." I as an online student totally agree with him.

This textbook is a wonderful resource for educators as well as online students. Maeroff chronicles the history of online education and its impact on higher education as well as grades k-12. I found it informative and useful for me, both as a student and instructor.

Maeroff provides detail on the progression of online learning. Online students must be motivated and disciplined but as he states not everyone has equal opportunity to persue an online education due to economic factors. Maeroff demonstrates how online learning can benefit the non-traditional student, rural communities, and disabled students. He also points out how faculty have to be trained to adapt to the new delivery system of instruction and he also explores the global impact of sharing education.

It is an in-depth read, but overall a thorough examination of online learning.

Maeroff provides a very insightful, detailed and unbiased perspective on the advancement of online education. He goes to great lengths to provide a thorough explanation of the historical development of online education. In addition to the history he delivers to the reader honest comparisons of traditional "brick and mortar" education, previous forms of distance education and online education.

His book does not just attack the idea of online education in higher education, but to my surprise discusses the advancement of online education in elementary and secondary levels as well. As a current online student, I found it very interesting to observe how accurate many of his projections from the 2002 book have been. I have a much greater understanding of the depth of online education and the impact it is having in the education industry. Reading "A Classroom of One" has given me an appreciation of the history and the intricacies that make this opportunity possible.

I was assigned this book by Gene Maeroff's by a professor. This is not a book I would have read if it was not for a grade this book is said to be a report from the front lines on the status of online learning in the United States and around the world. Maeroff examines what is facing online education and how online classes will affect education in the world. It examines what problems face educators, colleges and students young and old. One part of the book I found very interesting and I believe all students should consider before taking online classes is the support during the class, discipline you need to continue and the extra work that online class work has compared to taking a class "in class". This book has gave me a new way of thinking about online class and also new resources to help me over come obstacles while taking my online classes.

I believe this book would be a good book for Older students taking an online class or for parents that are helping children. I also believe this is another book on Pros and cons. Over all I enjoyed the book as a self help tool and new ways of thinking.

This book is correct in one way and it really made me think, not all people should take an online class and not all classes should be done online some classes need extra support and more on hands direction

This is good for beginner and intermediate level artist. It will show you in a very simple way all the how-to's of pencilling. Good price also. It's part of three book set, Penciling, IOnking And Coloring comics - from DC comics

I was hoping that this book would be a more detailed guide to penciling. Most of the illustrations were inked, though. It also has a LOT of text, which makes it not so easy to sit and read while trying to actually draw. I would recommend the "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" over this book.

I just received this book and immediately went to chapter fourteen. After reading chapter fourteen first I have to say that it was worth the price of the book.

This is a useful guide no doubt, as with many other how-to books, however it's not at all the best I've seen.

I'd still recommend getting this book if you are an aspiring artist, because it's always important to stock a library of information within your field(s).

I can't recommend this book, which falls firmly in the category of works aimed at milking the purses of comics-artist wannabes. It also teeters right on the edge of the stuff that seems driven by an urge to discourage potential competition from entering the field. Plus it doesn't have any valuable info on penciling!!! Mitch Byrd's "Notes to Draw From" is a better resource.

Klaus Janson has worked on some major DC titles and apparently also teaches at the School of Visual Arts. Here he seems to be trying to pad out grudgingly little info on penciling with a sort of "why comics require super skills to draw" pedagogy that consumes more than 110 pages of an essentially 142-page book!

There's some good info in here I suppose, but the technical stuff always needs to be taken with a large block of salt. No one ever became a great artist by studying art. People become great artists by doing what they enjoy! The way to become an artist is by creating art. As you encounter challenges you look for solutions to problems and develop. In that sense this book might be useful. B-S- statements like "Drawing... requires study" etc etc do more harm than good IMHO.

The most important thing for would-be comics artists to remember is that the most successful guys in the field are Matt Groening and Scott Adams. They didn't get to the top through their knowledge of anatomy! Frank Cho is a brilliant draughtsman, but "Liberty Meadows" will never have the kind of circ "Doonesbury" had - back when Garry Trudeau was drawing little better than stick figures!

There are lots of books written from a viewpoint of encouraging young artists to learn while supporting them through their inevitable frustrations. Look for those books before wasting your time with this.