Book Description

Building on the tremendous reception to its parent volume, Earth 8th edition, the same groundbreaking media package is now integrated into the brief version of the best-selling introductory physical geology volume. This eighth edition of Essentials of Geology represents a thorough revision, yet retains the hallmarks readers have come to expect from Tarbuck and Lutgen. Reader friendly writing style, carefully crafted illustrations by Dennis Tasa that are both geologically accurate and visually appealing, and updated coverage of the most recent geologic events.The volume provides an introduction to geology covering minerals, igneous rocks, volcanoes and other igneous activity, weathering and soil, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, mass wasting, running water, groundwater, glaciers and glaciation, deserts and wind, shorelines, the ocean floor, earthquakes and earth's interior, plate tectonics, mountain building, geologic time, and earth history.For individuals interested in an introduction to geology. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good textbook for the the physical geology student
This book is intended as a text for the collegiate course in physical geology. The course encompasses a general overview of the physical processes by which the Earth continues to develop, both gradually and by sudden events of great magnitude. Plate tectonics, volcanism, erosion, mountain building and shaping, mineralogy, mass wasting, the impact of man, glaciation, and all other manner of things are clearly discussed in nineteen separate chapters. The color photography and diagrams are remarkably good, and closely follow the text, which is a real boon, especially to a student who is hard-pressed for time. The coverage is up-to-date and accurate in all respects. Many of the photographs, such as the those of the eruptions at Montserrat, are very current.

Given the fact that physical geology is the first of six courses required for any geology degree, and that any well-informed person should have no trouble understanding the contents of this book, I would recommend it to any reader interested in earth science, student or not.

Not that bad
If you are taking a Geology class, this book is very helpful. Its easy to read, and has many pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

The sixth edition of this best-selling text balances solid mathematical coverage with a comprehensive overview of mathematical ideas as they relate to varied disciplines. This book provides an appreciation of mathematics, highlighting mathematical history, applications of mathematics to the arts and sciences across cultures, and introduces students to the uses of technology in mathematics.Exercise sets are now organized into Concept/Writing, Practice the Skills, Problem Solving, Challenge Problems/Group Activities, Research Activities. An updated Consumer Math section including updated material on sources of credit and mutual funds.Motivational, chapter-opening material demonstrates connections between math and various other disciplines.KEY MARKET For those who require a general overview of mathematics, especially in the fields of elementary education, the social sciences, business, nursing and allied health fields. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

EXCELLENT REFERENCE FOR BEGINNING & ADVANCED UNDERGRADUATES
I have been teaching out of Angel & Porter for the last three years. It has quite a few good examples, though I agree with the first reviewer's comment that it does need more challenging problems.

Among the topics I have covered are: inductive reasoning, set concepts, symbolic logic, truth tables, algebra, applied geometry, probability, statistics, and mathematics of finance. Though the examples are laid out fairly well for those who are mathematically inclined, the teacher who happens to have quite a few students with weak mathematical skills is often finding himself or herself in situations of having to create ways to become an effective expositor of mathematical theorems and applications. In other words, by trying to explain what the authors are providing in their examples, the instructor is frequently shouldering the added burden of making this book come to life not only from a mathematical perspective but also from a communicative standpoint.

On a positive note, however, there are several excellent applications, and the range of topics is quite broad. Oftentimes there is a gap between the level of advanced high school mathematics and that of a four-year university that is so serious that even a student who performed A's in high school will struggle in the type of college math course he or she is placed in. Fortunately, Angel and Porter have been able to fill in quite a few of the missing pieces.

Idiots
I taught from an earlier edition of this book at Ivy Tech in Bloomington, Indiana while working on a PhD at Indiana University. Ivy Tech had already selected this text. Too bad. While that was around 1994, I can still recall a number of FACTUAL ERRORS. I had to tell my students that the text was wrong. Among the errors: The clear implication (though not explicitly stated) that the algebraic numbers included all the reals - that is they didn't even seem to be aquainted with the transedentals; there was another error regarding conditional probabilities... I can't recall exactly, but I can remember showing the errors to fellow doctoral students (now at UN, Reno and UC, Davis) for a good laugh. What were the reviewers doing? I guess they're a bunch of incompetents as well. To the publisher: Have some real mathematicians review math books.

Could use some more problems
This book does the job of teaching some mathematics to those with liberal-arts majors. However, over at Wayne State, we are constantly bemoaning the lack of extra problems for students to practice what they have learned (especially in light of the fact that we cover only half of the chapters of this book in a single one semester course). This is especially apparent with the probability and statistics chapters. Overall I can see this text being a commendable effort on the part of Angel and Porter to bring mathematics to those who would normally shun it. ... Read more

Book Description

Hole's Human Anatomy and Physiology assumes no prior science knowledge and places emphasis on the fundamental concepts without overwhelming students with too much detail. The text supports main concepts with clinical applications, making them more relevant to students pursuing careers in the allied health field. The learning aids throughout the text, along with the reader-friendly writing style, create a highly-effective learning system for understanding the concepts of anatomy and physiology. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

MP: Hole's Human Anatomy & Physiology with OLC bind-in card
very good book, buy at amazon. com for better deal, the bookstore at my school charges $210 for this book ... Read more

Book Description

With its time-tested problems, pioneering conceptual and visual pedagogy, and next-generation media package, the Eleventh Edition of Young and Freedman's University Physics is the classic physics book with an eye on the future. Using Young & FreedmanUs research-based ISEE (Identify, Set up, Execute, Evaluate) problem-solving strategy, readers develop the physical intuition and problem-solving skills required to tackle the bookUs extensive high-quality problem sets that have been developed and refined over the past five decades. The completely redesigned, pedagogically consistent artwork and diagrams integrate seamlessly with the book to help readers better visualize key concepts.For college instructors, students, or anyone interested in physics. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Will make your physics concepts crystal...
I have used this book in my A level (High School). I think its simply fantastic. I has detailed explainations. I don't know how could my friends who are at college level find this book unuseful.
But it demands strong mathematics, that very few people have. If you have strong maths, then you are ready to use this book. But if
you haven't this book might be the toughest for you.

Great book for learning physics while abstracting from math
I liked this book a lot. It has a lot of information, presented very clearly, about topics in physics that are often not studied in undergrad programs like fluid dynamics, physics of sound waves and musical instruments and thermodynamics. The illustrations are stunning!! One can really understand a lot of physics by reading this book - from mechanics to electromagentism, waves and modern physics.

I do think that the book is somewhat superficial in all the above topics. It uses only modest math, and so does not reach the complexity level of the Berkely physics course series (which I am familar with). As I said, the strengths of the book are its breadth and simple explanations of the less complicated topics.

If one wishes a more in depth understanding of physics, it is easy to move from this text to more advanced texts on mechanics, magnetism or quantum mechanics (assuming appropriate knowledge of math). I would still recommend starting with this book in order to get a clear and broad view of physics while enjoying the process.

It is annoying that this book has an outrageous price. It is not so different from the 10th edition, and so you can get a new or used 10th edition copy for a fraction of the price $150 (I got a new 10th edition hardcover (with modern physics) under $40).

Fair at best
This book is too bulky and too wordy. The authors purport to bend over backwards to guide the student through some difficult subject matter, but they end up making it more confusing. And then there are the corny jokes. Who has time for this nonsense? Were it not for the very good illustrations, I would give this a lower rating. My advice: Go to the lecture, do the problems but don't waste time reading this textbook.

a lot of hard questions, not enough explanation
The book does not go indepth into a lot of physics problems. It will solve one question on one topic and then give the student a bunch of other questions at the end of the chapter that are different and harder than the solved example problems. Everyone who has taken college physics knows that there are a lot of variations to different questions, and there are conditions and exceptions that must be taken into account before a problem is solved. If you have a crappy physics professor, like I had, this book will make physics a nightmare for you.

A disappointment
I use this book for my college physics class and I can honestly say this book is crap. The questions are confusing at best and difficult to understand. There is a lot of worthless junk. The solutions to the book are even worst. It jumps straight into a equation without stating which one did it used. ... Read more

Book Description

This bestseller helps readers master basic skills with its clear and easy-to-follow presentation of key concepts. It focuses on the important ideas of organic chemistry and backs them up with illustrations and challenging problems. The authors' acclaimed writing style makes this thorny subject easy to grasp and comprehend. The new edition brings the book to the forefront of the latest research developments.
The book includes the ORGANIC VIEW CD, a browser-based study tool with animated 3D graphics, Drill/Review sections, and Practice Tests
"The Chemistry of..." boxes throughout highlight biological and other real-world chemistry
This edition is completely up-to-date with the latest developments in the field ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Organic Chemistry for Beginners
Organic Chemistry is often mistaken to be a subject to be of rote memorization. having a bachelors in chemical engineering, i was introduced to organic chemistry during my junior days. i always hated organic chemistry for the way i was presented was a mere reaction and the reagents. Entering the graduate school, i was forced to learn organic chemistry, whereby i accidentally encountered this book. Reading the first few pages of the book, it was damn lucid to my mind, that organic chemistry is not memorization of a bunch of reactions, but its LOGIC. believe me, i as much as everybody hated org chem and i can't believe that i am writing a review on this book.

coming to the book, this book is intended to be used as two semester course. the first semester you usually end up reading the first 13 chapters. It is here i recommend to use caution, as they form the foundation for the remaining chapters. The first chapters through alcohols and alkenes is presented excellently with the author meticulously providing the reaction mechanisms. although the material presented is overwhelming to the intro students, you have to be patient and always make sure you do your homework by solving the problems and reviewing the concepts before you proceed to the next level. The author has presented an excellent recap at the end of the first 13 chapters. Quite honestly, it will teach you the logic behind the product formation, which u should be able to deduce by logic.

it is the second part of the book, where it gets a little stinky. the author didn't provide a good recap at most of the reactions in the chapter ending, but nevertheless presented the logic, behind the formation of the product, so if you can recap yourself after each chapter with notes, then by the end of the next 13 chapters you should pretty much be able to reasonably predict the product for almost most of the reactions. concepts like the use of different oxidising and reducing agents, enolate formation and the carbonyl compounds have been dealt almost thoroughly. i would say it could be dealt in further detail, but it suffices for someone who wishes to learn organic chemistry.

i have read the book and solved the exercises, and trust me, i knew nothing about org and in about six months out of my own interest i am now at a stage with hardwork able to pursue synthetic chemistry as my expertise. i believe this book not only helped to learn org chem, but helped me to make my career choice.

a good book teaches you the concepts behind the theory, but a great book inspires you. i belive this to be a great book.

Fuzzy Chemistry
Review for the '99... I started to use this book from chapter 1-4 and I already dislike it. For instance the nomenclatature section does not explain what is the IUPAC naming for compounds pertaining functional groups well enough. The spectroscopy part, is too basic, it does not present a in-depth view of how important functional groups absorb the IR spectra. Finally, the answer that appear at the back of the book are to few, out of about 40 problems only the solution for 10 of them appear. This makes it difficult if a student wants to check an answer and does not have the solutions manual. If this book continues to be like that, I think that I might study from another book, a Professor recommended me Seyhan Ege. ... Read more

Book Description

Elaine Marieb once again brings her dedicated attention to detail and unwavering commitment to quality to the Sixth Edition of her best-selling Human Anatomy and Physiology textbook. Each page of this new edition has been carefully reviewed and edited to give readers the most clear and concise explanations of difficult topics. The enhanced art program helps even the least-prepared readers understand key concepts, and the restructured and expanded media package offers readers convenient access to more animations, tutorials, and online resources than ever before. Cutting-edge research areas such as DNA fingerprinting and stem cell research have been added. For college instructors, students, and readers interested in human anatomy and physiology.

Reviews (2)

Anatomy & Physiology At Its Finest
I am currently using Marieb's 6th Edition text in my introductory Anatomy & Physiology course, and I couldn't have found a better aid had I tried. From cover to cover, this book is packed with a plethora of information. Though it may seem as if the book contains too much to take in upon first glance, the key is to read an average of about 7 pages a night and to take notes as you go along since each page is filled to the brim with detail and vocabulary. To put it simply, each chapter is about 30 - 45 pages long on average. Each page contains either a sea of vocabulary, diagrams of the human body, or oftentimes both. Aside from all of this, the fact that it is so in-depth (and sometimes complex with its scientific jargon) is what makes this book suitable for any anatomy class. The CD ROMs (if available w/ purchase) are also a great aid as well since they provide explinations focused on each individual topic in the chapter. There are also provided links to internet sites and quizzes to help sharpen your memory of difficult concepts. All in all, this book is nothing short of incredible, and will surely be helpful to anyone whether it be a college student or a student of a graduate school using it as a refresher. Very strongly recommended.

THE Anatomy and Physiology Book To Own!
Marieb's love of biology, thorough understanding, and gift for explaining complex ideas comes through in this cohesive, crystal-clear, yet rich book. It's book is well-organized, with vivid color illustrations and diagrams by a team of skilled medical illustrators. Marieb's lifelong skill and passion for her subject makes this book not just a great textbook, but a masterpiece. I appreciate the A's I earned years ago as a result of this book; it makes for fascinating reading now (this review refers to the 1989 edition of this book). ... Read more

Reviews (27)

The proof is in your hands
Proof that our technologically advanced, high-consumption industrial system can make environmentally sound and sustainable products. We can manufacture a whole range of goods that are ecologically efficient in that they reduce waste and yet are less expensive to make than traditionally manufactured items. Pick up CRADLE TO CRADLE and the proof is right there in your hands. "This book is not a tree" the authors tell us. Its slightly heavier than your average paperback, the pages are whiter and they're also waterproof (I took the authors word on that one and am happy to say I was able to read on). The pages are made from plastic resins and fillers and in keeping with the message of "eliminating waste", the book is 100% recyclable.

McDonough and Braungart's vision of "Remaking the Way We Make Things" goes way beyond books. Why not buildings that produce more energy than they consume? Or "green" roofs that give off oxygen while cooling the occupants? How about factories that produce drinkable effluent? or products that when their useful life is over can be used as nutrients for soil? What sounds like science fiction is convincingly shown to be quite feasible by the authors. They offer numerous examples to prove it.

"We see a world of abundance, not limits" they say. As an architect (McDonough) and chemist (Braungart) they don't have any special qualifications for this re-thinking and re-doing. What they simply have done is re-imagine the whole manufacturing process beginning with the design elements. Sometimes it's simply a matter of asking the right questions and looking at things differently. They are not talking about smaller-scale industry or limiting themselves to the "four R's" of traditional environmentalism - reuse, recycle, reduce, and regulate. With their intelligent designs, "bigger and better" is possible "in a way that replenishes, restores, and nourishes the rest of the world."

McDonough and Braungart cover topics such as the history of the industrial revolution, new business strategies that emphasize eco-efficiency, the relationship between man, nature, and science, and the importance of design and planning. Hopeful, well written, thoroughly researched, and packed with practical examples, this refreshing book offers an alternative to our current industrial system that "takes, makes and wastes". We have the talent, technology, and with the enthusiasm of these authors, we have the capability to achieve economic and ecological sustainability.

People and their stuff CAN co-exist
At 1-1/4 lbs, "Cradle to Cradle" is more than twice as heavy as a same-size paperback edition of John Steinbeck's "The Winter of Our Discontent" and the fact is more than incidental.

"Remaking the Way We Make Things", the book's subtitle, is the social agenda of its authors, architect Bill McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart. They take issue with the three R's of environmentalism, "reduce, reuse and recycle." The process by which plastic bottles are recycled into carpet, for example, also produces considerable waste and the carpet itself "is still on its way to a landfill; it's just stopping off in your house en route."

The authors advocate designing products so that after their useful lives, either the product components provide biological nutrients for new products or circulate in a closed industrial loop.

The Yanomamo of Brazil whose banana soup dish may contain the ashes of their dearly departed was one source of inspiration for Braungart and McDonough was moved by the simple, natural and effective technology of the Bedouin whose goat hair tents ventilate hot air up and out and, when it rains, swell with absorbed moisture and provide protection.

The authors are walking the talk with the physical design of this new book. It is made of a waterproof polymer developed by Melcher Media so it can be read in the bath or at the beach, provided you have sufficient wrist strength to hoist it to viewing level. And the book can be "upcycled", made into a high quality polymer, at least theoretically. Until such time, place this book on the shelf above your hot tub next to Aqua Erotica, a collection of stories dealing with water and sex, another book of "Durabook" construction.

Undoubtedly, an electronic edition of the book would be most eco-effective. Also, a digital version would be searchable and might compensate for lack of an index. Despite its flaws as a model, it offers a vision of the future in which people and their stuff can co-exist.

Highly Recommended!
This is an extraordinary and unlikely book. It is not printed on paper, but on a waterproof polymer with the heft of good paper and more strength, a substance that reflects the right amount of light, yet holds the ink fast. It seems like an impossible fantasy, but so does much of what the authors propose about design and ecology. They speak with the calm certainty of the ecstatic visionary. Could buildings generate oxygen like trees? Could running shoes release nutrients into the earth? It seems like science fiction. Yet, here is this book, on this paper. The authors make a strong case for change, and just when you're about to say, "if only," they cite a corporation that is implementing their ideas. However, it's hard to believe their concepts would work on a large scale, in the face of powerful economic disincentives. We believe authors do aim some of their criticism at obsolete marketing and manufacturing philosophies, but the overall critique is well worth reading.

Interesting ideas
This book is a sometimes interesting, often meandering treatise on design. The authors, and American architect and a German chemist, have a very sincere desire to realign the world of design of objects and buildings so that they contribute to the betterment of the environment rather than destroy it. The title of the book "Cradle to Cradle" encapsulates their goal of designing objects that when they are no longer needed, naturally become useful inputs for the production of other objects rather than getting sent to the grave (or buried in a landfill). For example, they would like to see the creation of food packaging that could be thrown on the ground when the contents are consumed and would become fertilizer rather than non-biodegradable litter. (By this measure, the women concessionaires selling steamed rice treats in Indonesian trains are masters of design. The rice is both steamed and packaged in banana leafs, which are simply thrown out the train windows once the rice is consumed. But this practice also creates enormous problems- -since Indonesians have been accustomed to using such environmentally beneficial packaging for generations, they assume that "modern" packaging can be discarded in the same manner, much to the detriment of the Indonesian countryside. If you are living in a world of mixed packaging, some of which can be thrown out the window, and some of which must be discarded by other means, it's hard to keep straight which stuff goes where. That's a vital cultural issue that the authors don't explore here.)

McDounough and Braungart list the goals for their design program. They challenge inventors and industry leaders to design factories that "produce more energy than they consume, and purify their own waste water," and products that "can be tossed on the ground to decompose" or become "high-quality raw materials for new products" rather than simply "down-cycled". At the outset, these goals can sound a bit far-fetched. After, all, a factory that produces more energy than it consumes would seem to violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics. But what the authors really mean here is not that the factory would miraculously produce something from nothing, but that the design of the factory would include such things as solar collectors on the roof and devices to capture heat that could then send energy back out to the power grid, perhaps even in excess of electrical energy coming in. They illustrate their lofty dreams with concrete designs that they have helped develop and implement, such as a cosmetics plant in Germany whose wastewater is actually cleaner than the water coming in to the plant, thanks to the new chemical formulations they recommended. What's more, they point out that such design efforts can be even be good for business, since in this particular example, the company was able to cut costs on hazardous materials handling and storage enough to more than offset slightly increased production costs with the new formulas. Such design efforts are fabulous examples of the potential benefits of thinking "out of the box".

The book contains quite a few additional examples of brilliant design ideas that can save resources as well as money. The book is also filled with surprising tidbits that haven't become general knowledge yet, like the potential hazards of wearing fabric made of recycled plastic bottles, and the fact that PET bottles were found to leach antimony when used as soap containers. The authors point out that the decision to use either recycled paper or virgin paper is not as clear cut as it seems- -while the production of virgin paper necessitates the cutting down of trees, recycling paper requires enormous amounts of bleaching, which produces PCBs. To demonstrate an alternative, the book itself is printed on a paper-free composite of plastics, which could be easily recycled into more book-grade plastics. The informative details and design goals of the book are quite interesting. However, the text often meanders around and through topics that are at best tangential or described better in other volumes. At times, some details or issues are also rehashed repetitively. In these places, it would have been better to focus on explicating McDonough and Braungart's own design program more fully. They've got some neat ideas that are well worth exploring, and it would have been great to be able to read even more about them and less about the general problems of environmental destruction that are described better in other books.

Every student of design should read this book
I am a graduate student in a school of architecture that talks alot about doing 'sustainable design' and the 'green' architecture that has become a fad of late. This book makes the designer think not about efficiently designing buildings, but efficiently designing MATERIALS to eliminate the dangers that are inherent to the chemistry of almost every modern building product. It was an eye-opening read for me and has changed the way i think about 'sustainable design' and what the true goal of 'green' architecture should be. ... Read more

Book Description

Comprehensive, readable and written for the student, Haviland/Prins/Walwrath/McBride's market-leading text, CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY, is a highly relevant, high-quality teaching tool. The narrative voice of the text has been thoroughly internationalized and the "we:they" Western voice has been replaced with an inclusive one that will resonate with both Western and non-Western students and professors. In addition, gender, ethnicity, and stratification concepts and terminologies have been completely overhauled in accordance with contemporary thinking and the narrative streamlined using more fully developed, balanced, and global examples. In CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY, the authors present students with examples of "local responses" to challenging globalization issues, designed to provide students with a "cross-cultural survival guide"for living in the diverse, multicultural world of the 21st century. This edition is a truly exciting and unique examination into the field of cultural anthropology, its insights, its relevance, and the continuing role of cultural survival issues. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

I agree with the previous reviews...
This text was required reading for my anthropology course and although I was looking forward to learning about the subject matter, I felt that Haviland wrote in a way that made it much less enjoyable than it should have been. Often repetitive, always with his own biased version and even his terminology (using such phrases as *something like* when using descriptives)were not what I expected from someone of his caliber. To make matters worse, the *Original Study* segments which were some of the most interesting parts of the book were printed on a green background with the print lightened so that it was barely readable...what were the publishers thinking? I was greatly disappointed.

Book Sucks
This book is down to earth stupid! Through out the text, haviland insults Western countries by saying that they are all uncivilized and their way of life is far inferior when compared w/ other indegineous cultures. If he has a Ph.D., he should know better that insulting any culture is the trait of a narrow-minded person - not a guy who holds a ph.d. He also mocks religion constantly and the book repeats the same thing in several chapters...its like after a while you'll say "dude, we get the point, move on!". Don't buy it, unless u are a college student and your teacher requires it (I don't know y they would).

Intolerable
This is among the most frustratingly uninteresting textbooks I've ever read.Every chapter takes the same dull, sensationalistic view of its subject, citing a limitless number of redundant examples of life in lesser-known cultures while condemning every aspect of modern, industrial cultures.Each unit restates the same cliches ad nauseam, and reading this material does nothing to enhance one's appreciation for humanity or for science.It is a terrible and tiresome introduction to anthropology.

Disappointing for the Educated Reader
The editors' review would lead you to believe this is an unbiased, thorough and scholarly examination of cultural anthropology.It is not.There is subtle age, gender, cultural and religious bias.Although it is a thorough look at various cultures, it is by no means comprehensive or accurate.It is inaccurate in highlighted descriptions of minor aspects of Native American culture, especially of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation.It seems to imply Western European cultures and various organized religions are the greatest evil on the planet.The portrayal of some cultures, such as the Malaysian, Pacific Island, and a few of the African Bushmen cultures, are very nice but that is the only redeeming quality of this text.Real scholars should avoid this text at all costs!

Misleading text
This text explores human nature in a completely dry, systematic, and cliched manner. It conveys none of the realities of human experience.It describes the customs and practices followed by only a handful of societies in the world, and it does so in a distorted and often sensationalized manner.For example, it portrays Christianity as a simple religion of snake handlers, and it describes the Christian practice of eating the body of God in the COMMUNION WATER!The text communicates that there is no meaning or reason to human existence, and it picks apart each aspect of humanity until there is nothing left but the absurdity of all human thought and belief. If you wish to understand Man's history, get a firsthand look at what Man has written, built, believed, and striven for throughout the ages. Don't go to this book to have your questions answered.I don't know who wrote that ridiculous one sentence review about this book being wonderful, but they were a moron to do so. ... Read more

Book Description

Written for successful study, every aspect of Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World has been carefully crafted to help readers learn statistics.Chapter topics cover an introduction to statistics, descriptive statistics, probability, discrete probability distributions, normal probability distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing with one sample, hypothesis testing with two-samples, correlation and regression, chi-square tests and the F-distribution, and nonparametric tests.For individuals who want to learn statistics. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Elementary Statistics by Larson et al.
This work is geared for the above average arts or business
student. It has a good coverage of the various probability
density functions and hypothesis testing and evaluation. A typical chapter has important definitions set forth, a "Try
It Yourself" problem set, notes to the instructor, numerous
exercises and an exhaustive summary. In chapter 1, the four levels of measurement are depicted. i.e. Nominal, Ordinal,
Interval and Ratio . The author provides a simple experimental
design consisting of identifying variables, developing a
detailed plan for collecting data, actual data collection,
descriptive statistics techniques and inferential statistics.

This book could be covered in one semester with the following
organization:
Data Collection Chapter 1
Scales, frequency Chapter 2
Probability Chapter 3
Distributions Chapter 4
Normal Distribution Chapter 5
Confidence Intervals Chapter 6
Hypothesis Testing Chapter 7
Correlation/Regression Chapter 9

Moving Averages

Chi Square Chapter 10

Theory of Expected Value

General Review and Finals

The appendix of the work contains an excellent presentation
on how to find areas under the standard normal curve. Overall,
the work presents a very ambitious agenda aimed at the
above-average collegiate student. The book could be supplemented
with the Schaum's Outline in Statistics. Students may utilize
a statistical calculator to assist with the work of the course.

Confusing!
I had to purchase this book for an online stats course - BIG mistake! The organization of the book is so incredibly confusing, and the "expanding the basics" problems are not illustrated in the chapter, nor do they have answers with which to check your answers. I have taken other reasoning courses (in class and online) and they were organized much better, with relevant examples that explained every step -- perfect for anyone who is basically trying to teach him/herself! I hope mathematics teachers nationwide realize how difficult this text is for students to follow. Consider another text!

A terrible...book.
I have been forced to purchase the second edition of this book, which is similar to the first edition, but with CD rom for the data set instead of diskettes in the first edition. Also, the numbering for the problem sets have been altered, probably to make more money by making the first book obsolete.

The only reason I had to buy the book was to do the problem set. The book itself has terrible organization as a reference, where a few crutial concepts are discussed briefly, in a overwhelming mixture of examples and practice problems. Perhaps this is all well if you are trying to read the text from cover to cover, but unfortunately that won't help student learn any faster if they have to mull over unimportant details outside of the lecture.

Edward Tufte will have a field day with the barrage of unnecessary use of color and unprofessional (confusing) layout of the charts, tables and graphs (what he calls "the ducks"). The conventions used in the books are used inconsistently, and *every* page has at least three colors, which drives up the printing cost for no good reason other than profit. Furthermore, it is printed on glossy paper, where it's glare will strain the eyes and it is hard to mark with pencil. I will preach against using glossy paper for texts until someone listens!

Fortunately, the book calms down after the absolutely terrible first three chapters, but it still manages to waste pages and pages on useless information (to most) such as step-by-step instruction on how to use a TI-83 calculator - each time I open a page filled with screen shot of applications that I will never touch, I feel insulted and ripped off. Why not use the CD for these screenshots?? Doesn't TI-83 come with a user's manual???

I understand that the book strives to be a tutorial, augmenting what a poorly trained instructor may miss during a lecture, but it also tries to be a textbook which supplements a lecture. Unfortunately, the two concepts do not mix well together in a book. This is a worthless book after the lecture, and I do not intend to keep it for reference.

I have "inherited" DeVore & Peck's "Statistics: Exploration and Analysis of Data" - and found that to be more informative and engaging introduction to statistics and probability.

It is sad to hear that Larson & Farber is a popular book - it makes me shudder to think of all the high-school students out there learning the horrible examples of presentation of data. I hope that these authors will realize that insulting the readers' intelligence by diluting the content will only alienate them. I hope they fix their ways.

Very Ambitious Introduction to Stat!
Plentiful, practical examples by picture and problem sets related to our lives! The authours make use of an up-to-date approach using web, CD-ROM, MINITAB, TI-83 and Videos, in order to deepen understandings in statistics. You can start learning or going over stat from high school level. This is the best introduction to statistics! ... Read more

Book Description

Make no mistake about it. You need legal guidance and business solutions specifically for NPs—not RNs, PAs, or physicians. Nurse Practitioner's Business Practice and Legal Guide, Second Edition focuses specifically and in-depth on the legal and business issues that NPs face, and provides comprehensive, state by state coverage of the Nurse Practitioner's scope of practice and state regulations.The second edition to this best seller also covers:

Federal regulations; Prescription and hospital privileges; Negligence and malpractice; Risk management;and Owning your own practice. Written by a nurse practitioner who is also a practicing attorney, this book provides the unique point of view of an author who knows what legal and business problems arise on a daily basis. Buppert draws her knowledge from the law, actual legal cases, and her own personal experience in starting and operating her business and assisting NPs in setting up their own practices. This second edition will serve as an excellent reference for practicing nurse practitioners and those planning to set up their own practice, and also as an excellent text for graduate nursing programs. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

2nd edition
I found Carolyn Buppert's second edition of Business Practice and Legal Guide to be very helpful. The additional chapters are useful for my practice and for research on a state wide level. I would recommend this book to nurse practitioners and students of the profession. It is proving to be a valuable resource for improving NP practice in Alabama. Be sure to get the second edition (2003/2004)as the first was published in 1995.

Information is outdated
As a grad student interested in starting my own practice upon graduation, I found this book to be useless. It has been reprinted by another publishing company and its original copyright date is 1999. Between then and now - 2004 - a lot of things have changed. Therefore, I would recommend that anyone who requires current information should look elsewhere. This is a very expensive book as is not helpful at all!!!

Excellent resource for any nurse practitioner
I had the pleasure of reading this book while finishing my last year in nurse practitioner school.

Ms. Buppert is a master in defining how to negotiate business contracts.

I met the author at a nurse practioner conference in Nashville Tn and she was very down to earth and truly magnificent in her knowledge of laws affecting nurse practioners.

I highly recommend this book.

Informative, helpful
This book is a great way to access state-by-state information related to NP practice. I do recommend that readers not solely rely on its information. They should still contact each state's board of nursing. I found discrepancies between Ms. Buppert's requirements for practice in Ohio and actual law.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to both NP students and clinicians. ... Read more

Book Description

This text is designed for the sophomore/junior level introduction to discrete mathematics taken by students preparing for future coursework in areas such as math, computer science and engineering.Rosen has become a bestseller largely due to how effectively it addresses the main portion of the discrete market, which is typically characterized as the mid to upper level in rigor. The strength of Rosen's approach has been the effective balance of theory with relevant applications, as well as the overall comprehensive nature of the topic coverage. ... Read more

Reviews (59)

The "Violin" Book of Discrete Mathematics
This book easily ranks as my favorite lower-division math/computer science textbook. Aside from its omission of elementary coding theory, this book contains just about every important discrete mathematical topic (logic, sets, functions, algorithms, complexity, combinatorics, relations, graphs, Boolean algebra, formal language theory) that a beginning student should be introduced to. Plenty of examples in each section that reflect the end-of-section exercises. Very well organized in that key definitions, rules, and theorems are boxed and well highlighted.
Concepts are well explained and reinforced with numerous examples.
And most importantly, plenty of engaging problems that range from trivial to quite challenging. Applications to areas such as computer science are in abundance. But most enjoyable for me are the numerous biographical sketches of important discrete mathematicians. All around an excellent text, and one I had been searching for since my days as a freshman in college when I had wondered when, as a math major, I would ever get to the fun stuff: logic, graphs, codes, etc.. Little did I know that I would have to wait 17 years as a professor at the same college to finally get to it.

Excellent Discrete Math book
This is a very good book on Discrete Math. I have looked at several books and the only other book that comes close to quality is "Discrete Mathematics" by Hein.
To get the most out of this book it is recommended to get the solutions manual. Also the book's website has several useful worked out examples and links. Discrete Math is what computer science is all about and if you don't like Discrete Math then you should stay away from CS.

Well I liked It
I like the layout, I like the explanations, I like the coverage. It's my favorite textbook. But the material isn't easy, and I think this will always mean Discrete Math textbooks get low reviews.

A great introductory book
I was impressed by the breadth and depth of the book. It starts off by building a thorough foundation, and goes on to cover important topics in discrete math - graph theory, cryptography and combinatorics. The author really shows you why the subject is relevant and makes it interesting. I was most impressed with the exercises which can really help you learn the subject. The historical and biographical material is a nice touch. This is the only good discrete math book I found after checking out at least half a dozen others.

No beauty here
On the surface this seems like a great book - all of the topics in a Discrete Mathematics course are covered, the information is cleanly laid out, and the quality of the binding is excellent. At closer observation, though, this book has some serious flaws that should keep it from being considered from any universitie's curriculum.

Discrete math should be the class that introduces students to the beauty that can be found in math through proofs. Proofs are the foundation of mathematics and - especailly in an introductory text - should be comprehensive. This book leaves out important steps in a good deal of the proofs, making the proofs themselves hard to read. This should be an easy, clear class for anyone intrested in math. If you are struggling, you owe it to yourself to find a real text on proofs to see what mathematical beauty really is.

My advise is - if you have to use this text - buy a good book on proofs and another good book on number theory. There are plenty on Amazon. ... Read more

Book Description

Physical Geology is a market-leading classic that has been used in classrooms for over 20 years.Updated to include the latest technology and most current information,Physical Geology is for both non-science majors and for students contemplating majoring in geology. The beautiful new art program and interactive writing style will grab students' attention and further their interest in geology. ... Read more

Book Description

This book retains the relaxed, easy-to-read style of the previous edition to provide integrated coverage of organic and biochemistry, applications, and tools that foster problem-solving skills. More than any other, this text offers balance-in the topics presented, and in its presentation of the subject of chemistry. The authors focus on three mains areas to help readers master the core concepts of general chemistry and enhance their problem-solving skills: problem-solving support and active assessment, conceptual development, and visualization of the molecular behavior of matter. For anyone who wants a relaxed, easy-to-read book that emphasizes major topics in chemistry as well as problem-solving techniques.

Reviews (4)

Trades readability for depth and rigor
This text is best suited for very good students who are motivated, comfortable reading English at a high level and mathematically adept: other students would be served much better by a different book. It contains far more material than could possibly be covered in a standard freshman general chemistry sequence, even with a good class. The authors assume that their audience is composed of the students I described initially (I am told it is the textbook at MIT), and leave it to the instructor to "break it down" for the students. Initially, I was not fond of this book, but I have slowly changed my mind, and I believe I have a better grasp of introductory chemistry thanks to the extra depth it goes to and the challenges it made me rise to.

Could be much better
It is because of textbooks such as this one that students lose interest in chemistry, and, worse, science in general. Yes, it is filled with LOTS of information, but there are many instances in which otherwise relatively simple concepts are twisted into something incomprehensible. In some cases, it seemed that the authors went out of their way to explain a topic in the most convoluted manner possible. Come on guys, chemistry is complex enough as it is, so rather than write a tome displaying how much YOU know about the topic, how about a more "student friendly" textbook that doesn't so readily confirm most people's suspicians that chemistry is as dry as saw dust.

Excellent Intro Text
This text was used in 1999-2000 at Oregon State University for the 100-level General Chem sequence for non-science majors. It is an excellent text with a (generally) friendly approach to introductory topics, and there are many nice photographs and discussion boxes containing info about practical chem applications. For some reason, the authors include a significant section on organic chemistry in chapter 2, far before they discuss bonding.... Other than that, this book is great. Better than four out of five other general chem texts.

Simple to Say, Detail to Explain!
This book is very up-to-date. Alos, there are may colorful pictures, that can attract the readers to keep on reveiwing. It is not a wonderful book for literature review, but it is a suitable book for the new-learner of Chemistry. In which, many examples are shown which can explain the theories effectively. Also, the index is arranged with a lots of words, that can be conventient for the readers to find out what we look for. ... Read more

Book Description

* Includes new and expanded coverage of Six Sigma infrastructure building and benchmarking.
* Provides plans, checklists, metrics, and pitfalls. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

A clear roadmap to successful Six Sigma implementation
Forrest Breyfogle's new text, "Implementing Six Sigma", provides clear and well-defined examples, case studies and guidelines for the justification, design and "smarter" implementation of Six Sigma methodologies in any organization. The practical examples of "Smarter Solutions Using Statistical Methods" show how organizations can enhance the bottom-line benefits of Six Sigma implementation through the innovative application of proven concepts. Breyfogle's real world experience in assisting clients like IBM, Motorola and Dell is evident on every page.

The unique value of the book is in it's multi-tiered approach to each of these issues. Concepts are introduced, discussed and documented in several levels of detail, each suitable to a different reader, from the non-technical senior executive, through the implementing functional manager, to the working quality engineer.

An excellent glossary and extensive reference tables make this book a valuable addition to any professional reference library. Pragmatic "how to" guidelines make it an easy to follow roadmap for successful Six Sigma implementation.

A "Must Have" for Six Sigma and QE Practitioners
The first edition of Implementing Six Sigma was the best book available for Six Sigma practitioners and quality engineers. The second edition increases the lead over other contenders.

First of all, Six Sigma is defined as a system that improves business performance through cost reduction and revenue growth by improving all business processes and increasing customer satisfaction. It is not just a quality improvement system.

Second, all of the statistical tools are described, explained and illustrated with real world examples. And in addition:
• The Seven Management Tools to analyze "idea data"
• Lean tools to reduce waste as defined by Taichi Ohno
• Theory of Constraints to identify and break bottlenecks
• Project Management and Change Management
• Team effectiveness
• Creativity
are all integrated into "Smarter Six Sigma Solutions" to provide a holistic approach to business improvement.

In other words, if you want to make real improvements in real life business situations, this is the book to show you how to do it. Also, if you want to pass the ASQ Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam, there is no better text.

A Very Comprehensive Source
I bought this book directly from the author out of the trunk of his car, so I can tell you that you definitely get a better price from amazon.com. Anyway, this is without a doubt, the most comprehensive book on the subject. Breyfogle has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that he has covered all aspects of Six Sigma in sufficient detail that the reader will be able to apply these methodologies successfully from the start. One of the key ingredients he spends a lot of time on is the idea of focusing and aligning efforts with corporate or organizational goals and metrics. These he refers to as the "satellite level"*. There are lower operational levels (30,000 foot and below) that need to be aligned with the satellite level in order that six sigma projects are driven for most effectiveness to the organization.

Forrest Breyfogle has been a quality leader in our community (Austin, Texas) for a number of years. I knew him since his days at IBM in the early '90s. That doesn't mean that I can't give an unbiased view of this book, however. Note I'm not giving it 5 stars as some have done. I am trying to give it a fair assessment, however. I've seen many technical books of this nature written in a more conversational way that are a little easier to read with better vocabulary, grammar, and organization. But if you want a book that covers it all, there is nothing out there I know of that can beat this one.

This book claims to focus on both product and service quality. However, as with many books that claim to cover the service sector, it is a little weak in that area. There are some books that cover services better than this one, I think, and so if that is your specialty, you may want to use one of those books to supplement the treatment of six sigma in this book. I like "Ultimate Six Sigma" by Keki Bhote. That book uses the concept of NOAC (Next Operation As Customer) to drive interdepartmental process improvement. Bhote is a big fan of Dorian Shainin, the consummate engineer of quality tools, and he is now arrogantly calling some of the Shainin tools "Shainin/Bhote" tools. But I've seen a lot of books that look like advertising brochures for consultants. His and Breyfogle's book both have that fault. But I have to like them simply because they are comprehensive, authoritative, and useful. I think the advertising brochure syndrome is really the fault of publishers that let authors get away with it. I would think a respected technical publisher like Wiley would not accept that kind of tone in any of its books. But like "Coke C2" and low carb bread, we are swamped with advertising from every direction and it only gets worse.

Another good book you might want to consider is "Lean Six Sigma for Service" by Michael L. George. This book specializes in only the service sector and is therefore, a very good book for that kind of work with some excellent case studies.

*Service Mark of Smarter Solutions

Hastily Assembled and Poorly Organized
When my wife brought this home from her Six Sigma Green Belt training, I eagerly opened it and spent a couple hours reviewing it's "treasures". I was disappointed.

As a provider of Six Sigma Training and a certifed Black Belt myself, I had expected better from one of the most recognized names in the field. Breyfogle and his team have assembled several meaningful aspects of the Six Sigma art. However, any sense of flow or logical progression were interrupted by commercials for his company's "unique" approach. His team's frequent use of poorly defined vocabulary added to the confusion. Most disturbing, however, was the characterization of the value of the "wisdom of the organization", which could mislead potential implementers of the method to minimize the critical need for empirical data collection and analysis. They seem to promote the the more typical, "Ask Larry, he knows".

Typos, confusing sentence structure, and poor publishing practices lead me to wonder if Dr. B reads his own defect reduction philosophies. The Voice of the Customer in this instance says: el Stinko.

If you buy this book, you will find use in it. It's a good collection of techniques and ideas, and many of the examples are helpful. However, I would suggest looking for something cheaper and more professionally executed. The price may lead you to believe that this is the consumate work of the field. If it is, I guess that's good news for you and me. Without much effort, we could write and publish a better Six Sigma book than this shallow collection of Clip Art, rambling prose, and poorly referenced diagrams.

Better than Ever
The second edition of Implementing Six Sigma, by Forrest Breyfogle, substantially updates and enriches the original work. In it's current form it may very well be the most comprehensive source of information about the practical application of statistical techniques in Six Sigma work.

Like the previous edition, it is a highly informative book that illustrates how to tightly integrate balanced scorecard metrics with improvement techniques, to include Lean, Six Sigma, and theory of constraints (TOC) tools. Breyfogle's expanded step-by-step project execution roadmap illustrates when Lean/Six Sigma tools can be used to significant effect throughout the define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) improvement cycle in a variety of settings.

Other reviewers in the field have found the new book to be of significant value as well.
Writing in the February 2004 ASQ "Six Sigma Forum Magazine", Roger Hoerl, Manager of the Applied Statistics Laboratory at GE's Global Research Center categorized the work as "an excellent text for a technically oriented course for Black Belts or Master Black Belts...the most complete compilation of Six Sigma tools on the market."

In the same publication, William Parr, Department of Statistics at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, stated "This is the best overall reference, providing encyclopedic coverage of statistical and statistically related topics that are of use in Six Sigma work.

With this well-deserved professional recognition, Breyfogle firmly positions himself as a world-class authority in the application of successful techniques to the implementation of Six Sigma - and his latest work as the "how to" guide to success. ... Read more

Book Description

YES! You have the right book!!

For thirty (30!) years the world's best seller (printed in 28 languages), RAPID INTERPRETATION OF EKG's is the most popular and most referenced of all EKG (ECG) texts. But beware... success breeds imitations.

Competitors, aware of its longstanding success, imitate this classic by using synonyms for RAPID or INTERPRETATION or by substituting "ECG's" for EKG's. Don't be deceived by the numerous look-alikes with enticing titles. There is only one RAPID INTERPRETATION OF EKG's.

Now it is the most current text of its kind, since it is updated yearly. Extensively illustrated and simplified to assure rapid comprehension, an entire chapter is easily consumed and mastered in a sitting. In the process of learning EKG interpretation, the reader gains a deeper understanding of cardiac physiology. Emphasis is on UNDERSTANDING rather than memorizing, so readers quickly acquire a lifetime of practical knowledge. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

I've seen 'em all -- by and far, Dubin's book is the best!!
Over the last 25 years of my medical career, I have read just about every book published on EKG interpretation. As a full-time educator, I appreciate simplicity, especially when it is totally practical. Of all the texts I've seen, Dubin's "Rapid Interpretation of EKGs" is simply the best. He explains intricate concepts with simplistic beauty, using a unique programmed learning style and original figures. If you don't learn "all there is to know" about EKGs from this book, you will never really understand them the rest of your career... Mikel A. Rothenberg, M.D., Emergency Care Educator, Medicolegal Consultant, Professor of Emergency Medical Services -- American College of Prehospital Medicine.

Even better in full color!!
Over the last 30 years of my medical career, I have read just about every book published on EKG interpretation. As a full-time educator, I appreciate simplicity, especially when it is totally practical. Of all the texts I've seen, Dubin's "Rapid Interpretation of EKGs" is simply the best. He explains intricate concepts with simplistic beauty, using a unique programmed learning style and original figures. The new color 6th Edition adds many completely new diagrams, making learning even easier. It also features new sections on the autonomic nervous system, more detailed information on dysrhythmias, and a nifty set of "Quick Reference Sheets," of course, in full color! If you don't learn "all there is to know" about EKGs from this book, you will never really understand them the rest of your career... Mikel A. Rothenberg, M.D., Emergency Care Educator, Medicolegal Consultant, Professor of Emergency Medical Services -- American College of Prehospital Medicine.

Best I've Seen
Rapid Interpretation of EKG's is the best book on the subject that I've seen. Dale Dubin starts from the very basics and moves onto understanding the important aspects of EKG interpretation. It doesn't surprise me why this book is a pre-requisite to many ACLS courses and why it is recommended reading in countless other books and courses.

The text is in a fill in the blanks type format and doesn't cram too much information together. The important topics are covered: Arrhythmias, Blocks, Infarction, Axis, the Autonomic Nervous System, and EKG tracings are some of the chapters included. The pace is slow and steady but not to the point where it sacrifices quality. It takes a little while to get used to but it solid nevertheless. The pictures used are simple as well. There is a lot of content in this book and would make a great tool for those getting into the field of EKG's.

I was surprised as to the quality of the actual book. The pages are of better quality than the average medical textbook. This book is a great buy and worth the money.

Awesome!
This book is excellent. It got me through paramedic class, without it I was lost. You won't be disappointed. For $15.00 this is one of the best investments you could make.

Wonderful book for med students or anyone who needs to learn
This is a wonderful book for nursing or medical students, or anyone who needs to learn EKGs/ECGs. I'm a physician and read EKGs every day and I've never seen another text that was able to teach me the necessary concepts so painlessly. Yes, it *IS* written as if the reader is a third grader and I'm sure that offends some people who have spent their life in school or who want to make people believe that EKG reading is some magical art. Personally I enjoy being taken by the hand and shown everything like it was the first time I'd seen it. I think the teaching method presented here is quit effective for the average Joe or Josephine. Reading EKGs is not magic and this book shows you that anyone *can* really do it. I would strongly encourage anyone who has had trouble grasping the concept of EKGs to pick this book up, and that includes physicians, nurses, students, EMTs, medical technicians, respiratory therapists, heck, ANYONE who wants to learn to read EKGs! I give it my highest recommendation. ... Read more

Book Description

Physical geography is presented more consistently from chapter to chapter with major revisions to several chapters.
* A foldout map of the world in 1900 is included so that comparisons can be made from the beginning to the end of the 20th century.
* Website highlights approximately 13 Virtual Field Trips which provide the opportunity for readers to travel (virtually) to other areas of the world, while also developing analytical skills. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Expensive but well worth it
I paid quite a bit for this textbook, but in my opinion it is well worth it. The book is highly detailed with lots of nice diagrams and maps. It was pretty easy to follow/understand, but contains so much information that you can be overwhelmed easily if you do not enjoy Cultural/World Geography.

Good learning had a price, be it time and money!!
I just finished my college course "Geography of the World" using this book. Personally I found the 10th edition book very useful and entertaining. If you want to LEA