Book Description

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a business philosophy that yields customer satisfaction and continuous process improvement. This new reference and workbook embraces the TQM revolution and explains to readers how TQM principles are applied to safety and health programs. The text also focuses on the ISO-9000 Quality Program, Voluntary Protection Program, and Process Safety Management. For each of these topics, the key principles are identified and described, and the quality principles are adapted to safety. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

TQM Safety
I used this book for an environmental safety class in a graduate program. I was not familiar with this discipline before this class. In the first chapter the concept is layed out, however it was not an easy reader. Too many bullets and questions. It seemed to apply more for the safety manager already employed. The ideas were a little hard to grasp as a student without a lot of experience. The OSHA website helped me to get a grip on the ideas. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the 19th century, the Brooklyn Bridge was viewed as the greatest engineering feat of mankind. The Roeblings--father and son--toiled for decades, fighting competitors, corrupt politicians, and the laws of nature to fabricate a bridge which, after 100 years, still provides one of the major avenues of access to one of the world's busiest cities--as compared to many bridges built at the same time which collapsed within decades or even years. It is refreshing to read such a magnificent story of real architecture and engineering in an era where these words refer to tiny bits and bytes that inspire awe only in their abstract consequences, and not in their tangible physical magnificence. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

McCullough: The Master Storyteller
McCullough is an amazing researcher and writer. His narrative style turns almost unknown historical events into "epic stories." And "The Great Bridge" is no exception. I came to know McCullough after "John Adams" was published, but have since decided to take the time to read all of his works. He never ceases to amaze me. "The Great Bridge" is a well-written, interesting, detailed history of the Broklyn Bridge, the Eight Wonder of the Modern World.

The characters come to life in this story, and the reader is transported into late nineteenth century New York City as an insider to watch the bridge rise from the caissons below the East River to the two gothic arches that dominated the skyline at their completion. From there, the reader can vividly visualize the wire and roadway stretch across the river until the bridge's completion. The book then ends with a spectacular grand opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. McCullough also focuses on the politics and people behind the bridge, and finishes his masterpiece by quoting an elderly woman from Long Island that remembers that the excitement in 1969, when two men walked on the moon, was nothing compared to the day the Brooklyn Bridge opened.

I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good history. This book is not just for lovers of New York City and civil engineers. "The Great Bridge" is another McCullough masterpiece.

A classic mix of engineering, social and medical history.
It would be difficult to overpraise this splendid book - and indeed one might have thought it a unique achievement had McCullough not pulled off the trick equally well in "The path Between the Seas". The main theme may be the conception, design and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, but into this are woven absorbing accounts of the social and political history of Gilded Age New York, the development of the technologies of underwater-foundations and of cable manufacture and spinning, the agonising quest to understand and treat the phenomenon of "the bends', the challenge of managing a project of a size unprecedented since classical times and, above all, the characters of a remarkable collection of men and women who were undauntedly resourceful in taking on the impossible. The story may be dominated by two engineers, the Roeblings, father and son, and by the latter's formidable wife, but a host of other fascinating personalities are brought to life, ranging from audaciously corrupt politicians, through noble and heroic army officers, down to individual technicians and workers. Mr.McCullough has a special gift for explaining technical complexities in simple and fascinating terms - this applies not only to the construction of the bridge and its foundations, but to the horrific and initially misunderstood challenge of what was termed "caisson sickness". The narrative never flags and the dangers and discomforts - indeed the sheer dreadfulness of working under pressure in the foundation caissons - are brought vividly to life. The writer excels at the moments of the highest drama - such as the almost catastrophic fire in one of the caissons, when the tension is almost unbearable, even when the final outcome is known to the reader a century and a quarter later. Every aspect of American life of the period seems to be covered somewhere in this book - the experience of immigration and assimilation, service in the most bloody campaigns of the Civil War, Spiritualism, the Beecher adultery scandal and the apogee, decline and fall of Tammany, all described with verve and elegance. The well-chosen illustrations complement the text admirably. In summary this is a book to treasure - to read once at the gallop, breathless to know what happened next, and then to read again at leisure - and again, and again. Wonderful!

"...and yet the bridge is beautiful..."
In this day and age, what the name David McCullough means to part-time history buffs and amatuer historians (like myself) is excellence in writing, research and comprehensiveness. This reputation was undoudbtedly built based on classics like "The Great Bridge", written in 1972. Herein, the reader is exposed to spectactular writing and research that not only covers the planning and building of the Brooklyn Bridge, but indeed a history of the Gilded Age in New York city. With an enlightening style and insight that exceeds most other histories, McCullough defines "readable history" and in the process produces a classic that has and will continue to be the apex of literary history.

And what a story it is! Following the Civil War, master bridge builder John Roebling decides that a great suspension bridge between Brooklyn and New York city (present day Manhattan) is not only needed, but would continue his reputation as bridge builder par-excellance. His son, Civil War General Washington Roebling (notable at Gettysburg and Petersburg) becomes Chief Engineer when his father tragically dies during the initial stages of construction on the bridge and proceeds to project an aura of moral integrity and spiritual "high-ground" that sets the tone for the subsequent 14 years that it took to complete this masterpiece. McCullough's account documents this and goes on to explain the initial planning and technical issues of such a massive project. The theory of suspension bridges and all the engineering technicalities is succinctly described by McCullough and this base understanding is what the rest of the story is based on (wires/cable hung form two large towers is the base format).

The construction of the (2) towers is eloquently descibed at the sinking of the timber caissons (large "rooms" made of timber that the stone towers were to be built upon) and the subsequent details of working within them. Frustration abounds as the the Brooklyn side tower caisson goes slower than planned and McCullough describes the technical problems along with an amazingingly comprehensive discussion of the "mysterious maladay", ultimately known as the "bends". Worker-level stories surface here to give immediacy to the story and McCullough is masterful at describing them. The cable construction and subsequent controversey surrounding the contract and testing of the steel/iron would be boring to most readers, but McCullough makes this an intriguing part of the story.

The political side of the bridge construction is not given short-shrift either as McCullough deftly descibes New York city Gilded era politics and specifically discloses the rise and fall of the "Boss Tweed Ring" and Tammany politics in general. This side of the bridge story, McCullough states, is as important to the final product as the engineering and construction...again, he makes this exceedingly readable while extolling it's importance to the story. Commitee upon commitee are formed to decide on both the technical and personal issues associated with project completion and here is where the controversy surrounding Washington Roebling's health (he was an unfortunate victim of the bends among other things) and mental capacity are manifested upon the completion...McCullough is again masterful at integrating this major poltitcal milestone with the story.

The last few chapters are dedicated to describing completion and subsequent public reaction to the bridge and McCullough is superb at depicting late 19th century life in New York. The celebration on May 20th 1883 is a grand one and is placed in perspective in the last paragraph of the book:

"In another time and in what would seem another world, on a day when two young men were walking on the moon, a very old woman on Long Island would tell reporters that the public excitement over the feat was not so much compared to what she had seen 'on the day they opened the Brooklyn Bridge' "

Having walked and driven over the bridge many times, and having derived the name for my daughter from it, I can say that I have a somewhat personal stake and appeal in it. I also can say that I never gave a second thought about it's construction or the fascinating story that went into building it when I walked and drove it, until now. My compliments to David McCullough for giving us a marvelous story and book and giving those of us who've taken the bridge for granted a new perspective. I can't wait to go back and view it with this new knowledge of it's consruction and I'd wager that this is David McCullough's greatest gift...I give this work my highest recommendation.

My Bridge
It is hard for me to be objective about this book. First off, I am a great admirer of David McCullough's histories. Second, I have published two novels which are set in New York during the mid-19th Century. But what probably makes it hardest for me to be objective is that I have walked over that bridge for my own personal pleasure so many times over the decades that I consider it an old friend. It's my bridge.

Having said all that, I can say that Mr. McCullough has written a history that is not only about a bridge and its builders, which are fascinating subjects in their own right, but it is also about what New Yorkers were thinking back then. This was still a horizontal world; the era of early skyscrapers was a few decades away. Because of this and the rapid growth in population after the Civil War, Manhattan was mostrously choked by block after block of four- and five-story tenements, warehouses and factories. The need for a reliable means to get to the vast open spaces of Brooklyn was urgent. Ironically, however, it wasn't the horizontal--the length of the bridge--which stunned the witnesses to the construction. Instead they marvelled at the height of the towers and the height of the roadway over the East River.

Not as ironic, however, were the people who didn't marvel at the bridge's beauty and the strength of its construction. They were too busy licking their lips, wringing their hands and wondering how much of the bridge's budget would make its way into their wallets. The elements of corruption, then as now, always lurked near a great public work in New York. McCullough covers this tainted side just as carefully as he reports on the glory of the growth of the bridge. Heroes (the Roeblings) and villains (Tweed & Co.) abound, while New York's most beautiful and efficient structure comes to life.

I've been as honest as possible. I recommend this book highly to anyone with an interest in engineering, New York history, or just a good story with great characters.

Rocco Dormarunno
Instructor, College of New Rochelle

wonderful story
I've have spent the last 21 years in the constuction trade , as a carpenter working my way up to a superintendent.I have worked on every thing from your basic home , to high rises in San Francisco and L.A. This book (along with McCullough's book on the Panama Canal)have to be the most enjoyable and engrossing consturction books I have ever read. In fact David McCullough has renewed my flagging interest in my own trade, the story's are very colorful, it's not hard to feel as if you are there.A great read,don't pass it up! ... Read more

Book Description

Indoor Air Quality: Sampling Methodologies provides environmental professionals and industrial hygienists with the latest information available in "indoor air quality sampling." In most instances, there are no established government protocols. In this book, the author presents prominent contributions and discusses the practical concerns that determine which sampling approach is best for a given situation.The author defines and clarifies indoor air quality and its historic background. She presents a diagnostic approach to addressing health concerns, brief overview of air handling systems, observations to be made regarding indoor activities, information regarding air emissions from other buildings, and a discussion of individual susceptibilities to various substances. The book covers sampling strategies, sampling/analytical protocols, suggested uses for these protocols, and a means for interpreting results. A one-of-a-kind, practical guide for assessing indoor air quality, this book gives you step-by-step instructions for all sampling tasks and includes background information, occurrence and uses of contaminants, exposure and diagnostic sampling and analytical protocols, and helpful hints based on the author's observations and experience. It shows you how to develop a theory and follow it through to identification of unknown air contaminants. The book contains more than 150 charts, tables, photographs, and drawings and includes an extensive glossary and symptoms index. No other book offers you the concise, in-depth, and practicalcoverage you will find in Indoor Air Quality: Sampling Methodologies. ... Read more

Download Description

Everyone in the modern world knows what technology is. But what is nanotechnology? Taken from the Greek, nano means "one billionth part of" a whole. In modern parlance, it means very, very small. Nano-tech is the next step after miniaturization. Cell phones are miniaturized versions of traditional landline phones. Wristwatches are miniature versions of clocks. Desktop computers are miniature versions of the original analog calculating machines. Miniaturization is commonplace in today's world. In tomorrow's world, nano-tech will be the new common technology. It will affect everyone on the planet, and may change civilization as it is now known.

Scientific American's UNDERSTANDING NANOTECHNOLOGY presents the cutting edge of a new technology that will find usage in medicine, space exploration, communications, manufacturing, and almost every other aspect of modern society. Imagine getting an injection of "smart" molecules that can seek out cancer cells and destroy them without harming any of the surrounding tissue. Imagine a simultaneous space launch via the Shuttle of thousands of robotic probes, each no bigger than an insect, and each programmed to do a single task in concert with all of the others. And that's just the beginning. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Interesting Guide to Nanotechnology
This book has a number of different chapters from different authors. Each author seems to have had good experience in the nanotech field, relating his experiences, overview knowledge and expectations in the future. I liked the fact that they referred to very current day progress and studies they had done in their own laboratories, giving it a very real experience. They also gave a good overview of future nanotech, and did not go overboard on radical futuristic predications, grounding their vision both on scientific limits and what exists in nature already.

Its a short book (140+ pages), and managed to read through it very quickly based on its interesting content and well written nature.

I'd recommend it for people who have great interest in nanotechnology and are making their first few steps. Possibly, read this first to get an overview and then get into the more technical books. After having read this book, already articles on nanotech news sites are making easier reading already.

This is probably not easy reading for the average person, one would have to have a basic chemistry and physics to maximize ones gain from the book. A PHD/Masters (thankfully) is not required.

A collection of papers on Nanotechnologies
This book collects papers from good to great contributors. The technical details are reasonable for any one with engineering background. It is more of an introduction to people who are most interested in the nanotube development.

The books explains that nanotechnologies fall between the usual daily macrophysics and the quantum mechanics, and that is why it is so mysterious. However, the book, since written mostly by scientists, does not go into great details on the applications side. It provides a cautiously optimistic view of the future, but does not go into more details in painting a futuristic pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

Hailed as the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford of Silicon Valley, Robert Noyce was a brilliant inventor, a leading entrepreneur, and a daring risk taker who piloted his own jets and skied mountains accessible only by helicopter.Now, in The Man Behind the Microchip, Leslie Berlin captures not only this colorful individual but also the vibrant interplay of technology, business, money, politics, and culture that defines Silicon Valley.Here is the life of a giant of the high-tech industry, the co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel who co-invented the integrated circuit, the electronic heart of every modern computer, automobile, cellular telephone, advanced weapon, and video game. With access to never-before-seen documents, Berlin paints a fascinating portrait of Noyce: he was an ambitious and intensely competitive multimillionaire who exuded a "just folks" sort of charm, a Midwestern preacher's son who rejected organized religion but would counsel his employees to "go off and do something wonderful," a man who never looked back and sometimes paid a price for it.In addition, this vivid narrative sheds light on Noyce's friends and associates, including some of the best-known managers, venture capitalists, and creative minds in Silicon Valley.Berlin draws upon interviews with dozens of key players in modern American business--including Andy Grove, Steve Jobs, Gordon Moore, and Warren Buffett; their recollections of Noyce give readers a privileged, first-hand look inside the dynamic world of high-tech entrepreneurship.A modern American success story, The Man Behind the Microchip illuminates the triumphs and setbacks of one of the most important inventors and entrepreneurs of our time. ... Read more

Book Description

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing" not only can help you break into the field of technical writing, it can help you learn what to do once you're there. It's not enough to discuss documentation in conceptual terms -- today's technical writer wants to know "What do I do first?" "How do I get the information?" and "What do I do with an empty computer screen, a product that's still being developed, and an engineer who's too busy to talk to me?" This book provides step-by-step instructions by people whohave "been there, done that," and know some ways to help.

Both new and experienced tech writers can benefit from tips on how to learn about technical topics, gather information, plan documentation sets, schedule milestones, and write clearly. For those of you who want to be technical writers but can't get your foot in the door, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing" also gives help on what you need to do to give you an edge while you write your resume, hunt for a job, and interview. Once you're happily working, you can use the book for help on managing your career. An appendix contains a list of more than 50 Web sites devoted to technical writing and associated subjects. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Excellent guide for every aspiring technical writer
This book is compulsory reading for everyone planning a career as a technical writer. Written by authors who have both been working in the field since the 80s, it covers the whole subject area: from how to get started and marketing yourself, to what tech writers actually do and the various documents they produce, to working as a consultant and how to deal with the difficult bits of being a tech writer. The book contains an enormous amount of information and is very clearly arranged into appropriate sections: I personally was very impressed by the way the authors explain the whole process of producing a technical document from the concept stage to the finished guide and all the things that need to be taken into consideration. They also offer advice about the sort of personality and skills you need to be a successful technical writer, what technical tools you need to master and how you can best deal with all the various people you depend on to provide information for your documentation. All in all, I would say this book is a brilliant guide to its subject and also an entertaining read. It would be very hard to improve on this!

Not for idiots, complete or otherwise!
When I read "... Technical Writing" by Van Laan and Julian, I was glad I got past the title. I had to hire a tech writer to get some manuals done for our product. This book gave me the knowlege and confidence I needed to successfully get the job done.

Having read the book, I knew what to look for when interviewing candidates, and what to expect once I got someone on board. Highly recommended for anyone associated with Technical Writing, whether a seasoned writer, a tech writer wannabe, or a manager of writers (or manager wannabe, like I was).

A very thorough introduction to the field
I've always had a love for writing (fiction and nonfiction alike) but have always struggled a bit while creating technical documentation. I've been interested in technical writing and feel it would be a good addition to my repertoire of skills, which is why I wanted to find and read a good book on technical writing.

Based on many positive reviews here and on recommendations from others, I decided to start with this book and one other reference manual. I quickly read this book cover-to-cover and was very satisfied by its content. It was very thorough on covering every aspect of technical writing, even giving a glimpse of what a technical writer's daily life.

And the results? I've written two technical documents since which have both won high praise by co-workers. Even **I** am shocked at how well they look and how fluidly they read.

If you are interested in technical writing at all, don't hesitate to pick this book up. It is a great read and a fantastic reference manual for those who are just starting to get their feet wet. This book is highly recommended towards any technical writing beginner.

Easy to read, insightful, a great place to start
This book shoots straight and gives would be tech writers valuable insights. There are numerous practical tips and real-world advice on how to cope with technical publications work.

I particularly appreciate how the authors stressed the importance of content. Most technical writing books focus on processes, tools, and design issues - all of which are of marginal impact on the overall value of a document. The real value of technical docs is in the content, and this book encourages writers to learn and master the technologies and concepts they are documenting.

I highly recommend this book to anybody getting started in technical writing.

Don't Judge a Book by Its Title
Don't let the name fool you: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing" is anything but idiotic. The book offers a sensible, concise summary of the realities of tech-writing, and is peppered throughout with useful quotes from practicing technical writers.

I've given my copy to several people who have expressed an interest in technical writing, and all of them have found that the book answers their questions about what the profession is about. Probably no book can completely prepare anyone for a career, but, after reading The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing, wannabes will have a solid idea of what to expect.

The book might be especially useful to anyone teaching an introductory technical writing course.

I highly recommend The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing, will continue to do so. ... Read more

Book Description

Che Guevara's amazing life story has lifted him to almostlegendary status.The larger-than-life hero of the 1959 revolutionaryvictory that overturned the Cuban dictatorship, Che believed thatrevolution would also topple the imperialist governments in LatinAmerica. His call to action, his proclamation of invincibilitytheultimate victory of revolutionary forcescontinues to influence thecourse of Latin American history and international relations. Thisedition of Che's classic work Guerrilla Warfare contains the text ofhis book, as well as two later essays titled Guerrilla Warfare: AMethod and Message to the Tricontinental. Also included is a detailedintroduction by Brian Loveman and Thomas M. Davies, Jr., examiningGuevara's text, his life and political impact, the situation in LatinAmerica, and the United States' response to Che and to events in LatinAmerica. Loveman and Davies also provide in-depth case studies thatapply Che's theories on revolution to political situations in sevenLatin American countries from the 1960s to the present. This book willhelp readers gain a better understanding of Che's theoreticalcontribution to revolutionary literature and the inspiration that hislife and Guerrilla Warfare have provided torevolutionaries since the1960s. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Guerrilla Warfare
I recall reading this book in highschool years ago as a study of the political climate during the 1960s (ironic considering that this book was written long before much of what the 60s were remembered as ever happened), and I've got say that it's still quite relevent, and important today.

I tend not to believe in the myth surrounding the freedom fighter know as Ernesto "Che" Guevara, but there is no denying his ability to write a handbook relating to the revolutionary ethics which he had used during the 1959 overthrow of the Batista dictatorship (which put Fidel Castro into power in Cuba).

Though little more than a rehash of the many revolutionary handbooks which currently exist (Abbie Hoffman's "Steal This Book", "The Warrior's Handbook" by Louis Hall, etc.) it's a great read none the less.

For the Hardcore Only
I'd recommend this book to only two types of readers. The first is the serious student of Che Guevera. His prose is poor, and his logic is constrained by the shibboleths of Marxism-Leninism, but it nonetheless provides a window into Che's own thoughts on the practicalities of revolution. The second group for whom this book would be of value is the student of guerrilla warfare. Now, Che's book is probably the last I'd recommend to anyone in that area (there are too many other books that are much better), but it is not without some merit.

The bottom line of this book is that Che has some very interesting toughts on revolution and guerrilla warfare. However, for the student of guerrilla warfare, Che's words must ultimately be taken with a big grain of salt. The corruption and incompetentence of the Batista regime and its rag-tag army made Che's war in Cuba a little too easy. When he encountered tougher foes in the Congo and Bolivia, he accomplished little but his own martyrdom. This is simply not the work of one of the great military leaders in his field, merely one of the most publicized.

Understand guerilla warfare and Che's mentality.
One way that "Guerilla Warfare," can be considered is as a three point plan, with each text included in the book being a different part of the plan.

The first part is the main text of the book, and discusses the tactics of a guerilla that begins in the country and builds strength until being able to fight with the regular army in standard battles. Che discusses propaganda, health care, education and industry that should be implemented in liberated territory as well as the roles of doctors and women in a guerilla war. This text is very clear and concise; Che takes all aspects of what would go into a guerilla army's territories and columns into consideration. He also makes the claim, at the beginning of the text that the necessary conditions for a revolution do not need to exist before the revolution, that the revolution itself can create them. This would seem to be a very encouraging claim for dissidents around the world, but one has to wonder whether Che's experiences in Congo and his capture and execution in Bolivia would contradict that claim. Both situations seemed to involve countries where the, "necessary conditions for a revolution," did not exist and were not created by Che's organization and recruiting.

The second part of this book, "Guerilla Warfare, a Method," discusses what many accused Che of downplaying in the original text, the role of the urban guerillas in a social movement. He writes about how the guerillas would be covert operatives who are simply waiting for the signal to take action.

The third part of the book contains one of Che Guevara's most famous works, "Message to the Tricontinental," where he discusses the need for "many Vietnams," meaning the need for the third world to begin rebelling en masse against the U.S. dictatorships of Che's time (not to imply that they are not still in place) and eventually against the American forces themselves. This is specifically seen when he makes a reference to coming face to face with an American soldier, who is armed with the most advanced equipment and will be ruthless. For me, this is the most inspirational work that I have ever read from Che Guevara; he makes it seem that rebellion is imminent and that it is only a matter of time before the people of the third world rise up against their American-installed governments.

For those who would say that this type of warfare is ineffective, that it only worked in Cuba, I would use the Vietnam War, which the Vietnamese call the American War as a case in point to contradict that claim, where the Viet Cong were able to defeat the most powerful and imperialistic army in the world using guerilla warfare and popular support. Perhaps Che knew that victory would be the eventual outcome for them, and that was why he wanted to create so many, "Vietnams," throughout Latin America.

This book is one of the most famous pieces of dissident literature ever written. If you are a Rage against the Machine fan you will probably have noticed that it is featured in their photo of books for the Evil Empire album. Reading it, enjoying it and understanding it will truly set you apart from the right wing.

"Guerilla Warfare," is also an example of why the imperialistic and plutocratic government of the United States saw the need to neutralize Che. He was both a man of action and of progressive thought, a combination that the American government loathes seeing in any individual whose world-view is different from its own. There are militant groups in the United States today whose views are not left leaning but ultra-conservative racist, and coincidentally these groups manage to exist without government harassment. Timothy McVeigh was a member of the Neo Nazi group the Arian Nation, but no investigation has been made into that organization. But Sherman Austin, the webmaster of the now offline Raisethefist website, was arrested and convicted because somebody posted a link to a website that had bombmaking instructions on it, somebody who was not even connected to the webmaster. So it can be seen that the government hates people like Che Guevara (and Sherman Austin, Malcom X and the Black Panthers) because they have the nerve to both think progressively and take action, a mentality that this book showcases proudly.

Know your enemy, Know yourself, your victory will be total!!
I have read many Guerrilla Warfare lit., but this one I would have to say it follows the basic principles that Zedong Mao wrote in his essay on Guerrilla Warfare during the China's FUBAR Communist revolution. Well the book starts out talking about his life. For example, Che is a indian name for boy. Than it goes into the essay itself talking about information, propaganda, terrorism, tactics, and explosives. In addition, the book is based on the Communist Cuba's revolution. Dam the Communists. There like cockroaches you kill one another pops out!!! Well like I sayed earlyer "Know your enemy, Know yourself. And your victory will be not be endanger. Know the Grounds, Know the weather. Your victory will be total." Sun Tzu "The Art of War"

"Through a hundred battles and a hundred victorys, is not the acme of war. Winning without fighting is the acme of war."
Sun Tzu "The Art of War"

Long live President Bush!!!!!!!!

That's my brother
Although Ernie is my brother, I am giving this book only three stars. Sorry Ernie but no excuses.

The cover is not very imaginative, and does not portray my beard correctly, second a better title would have been "This is your Life Che Guevara" you know like the TV show.

I don't know why I care since I am dead anyway. By the way Ernie don't forget to pick up some cereal for mom she knows that I've been very busy being dead and all ... Read more

Book Description

Over fifty years ago,Vannevar Bush released his enormouslyinfluential report, Science, the Endless Frontier, which asserted adichotomy between basic and applied science. This view was at the coreof the compact between government and science that led to the goldenage of scientific research after World War II--a compact that iscurrently under severe stress. In this book, Donald Stokes challengesBush's view and maintains that we can only rebuild the relationshipbetween government and the scientific community when we understand whatis wrong with that view.

Stokes begins with an analysis of thegoals of understanding and use in scientific research. He recasts thewidely accepted view of the tension between understanding and use,citing as a model case the fundamental yet use-inspired studies bywhich Louis Pasteur laid the foundations of microbiology a century ago.Pasteur worked in the era of the "second industrial revolution," whenthe relationship between basic science and technological change assumedits modern form. Over the subsequent decades, technology has beenincreasingly science-based. But science has been increasinglytechnology-base--with the choice of problems and the conduct ofresearch often inspired by societal needs. An example is the work ofthe quantum-effects physicists who are probing the phenomena ofsemiconductors from the time of the transistor's discovery after WorldWar II.

On this revised, interactive view of science andtechnology, Stokes builds a convincing case that by recognizign theimportance of use-inspired basic research we can frame a new compactbetween science and government. His conclusions have major implicationsfor both the scientific and policy communities and will be of greatinterest to those in the broader public who are troubled by the currentrole of basic science in American democracy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

How to make science more accountable?
This book is not about antiscientism, it is about accountibality of science funding. There are several economical myths related to the state policy of basic science funding. Two of them : "..basic research is performed without thought of practical ends" and "...basic research is the pacemaker of technological progress" as well as famous Baconian "linear model",( a sequence extending from basic science to technology: basic science - applied research - development - production and operations) are dramatically reevaluated and critizied in the reviewing book. The most important implications of agruments presented in this well written book are: a) Basic science must be accountable as any other state funding activities and based on "informed judgments of research promise and social need"; b) Progress of science and technology have "semiautonomous trajectories", therefore state investment in basic research does not provide progress in the technology and economical growth. It looks like it is a good time "to end" so-called "endless frontiers" of unaccountable spending of taxpayer's money for funding useless basic science research. Everybody who is interested in the basic science funding policy must read this excellent book. It demonstrates a difference between the economical reality and propaganda of illusions. ... Read more

Book Description

Jennifer Kahn's "Stripped for Parts" was selected as the lead story of this year's Best American Science Writing because, as Dava Sobel, best-selling author of Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, reveals, "it begins with one of the most arresting openings I have ever read." In "Columbia's Last Flight," William Langewiesche recounts the February 1, 2003, space shuttle tragedy, along with the investigation into the nationwide complacency that brought the ship down. K. C. Cole's "Fun with Physics" is a profile of astrophysicist Janet Conrad that blends her personal life with professional activity. In "Desperate Measures," the doctor and writer Atul Gawande profiles the surgeon Francis Daniels Moore, whose experiments in the 1940s and '50s pushed medicine harder and farther than almost anyone had contemplated. Also included is a poem by the legendary John Updike, "Mars as Bright as Venus." The collection ends with Diane Ackerman's "ebullient" essay "We Are All a Part of Nature."

Together these twenty-three articles on a wide range of today's most current topics in science -- from biology, physics, biotechnology, and astronomy, to anthropology, genetics, evolutionary theory, and cognition‚ represent the full spectrum of scientific writing from America's most prominent science authors, proving once again that "good science writing is evidently plentiful" (Scientific American).

Reviews (2)

Reporting Technical Information
It would be more helpful to have the authors added more figures which are for illustrating the lessons and for examples. Thanks

Student Reviews Textbook
I used this book for my technical writing class. I found the readings straightforward. Sometimes, the actual chapters were too common sense. This book really shines in its use of examples. There are examples of each type of document. The handbook in the back is also a handy reference. ... Read more

Book Description

Working at Inventing offers a fascinating study of research and development at Thomas Edison's Menlo Park (New Jersey) laboratory during the six years between 1876 and 1882 that transformed American life. Edison and his associates developed ideas that led to more than four hundred patents and made major contributions to telegraphy, telephony, and the duplication of texts. They also made breakthrough innovations in two age-old human quests: conquering the darkness of night and preserving and replaying sound. In the process, Edison demonstrated how to combine technological innovation and business strategy. Afterward, research and development became essential corporate activities.

Six experts on Edison's work deal in turn with the working conditions and the experiences at Menlo Park; the work culture of machinists and their impact on innovation; the role that telegraphy played in forming the lab's inventive activities; Edison's use of mental models in developing the telephone; the importance of visual communication in technology; and the significance of Menlo Park as a model of scientific and technological development.William Pretzer's introduction to the volume provides the context of Edison's career, while an epilogue explains the public interpretation of the Menlo Park laboratory as reconstructed by Henry Ford in his outdoor museum, Greenfield Village. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent- Highly recommended to those working in the field
This book is an excellent desk reference and text in the area of health and environmental risk analysis. The appendices are excellent and provide over 25 tables related to the field. Included are tables listing various RCRA and CERCLA hazardous substances. Also in the appendices are tables related to hazardous air pollutants health effects such as subchronic and chronic toxicity, and carcinogenicity. The text covers the latest methods used in hazard identification, consequence analysis, and exposure assessment. Methods to estimate toxicity of chemicals based on structural activity relationships are also covered. I highly recommend the book to anyone working in the field. ... Read more

Book Description

First came the postwar High, then the Awakening of the '60s and '70s, and now the Unraveling.This audacious and provocative book tells us what to expect just beyond the start of the next century.Are you ready for the Fourth Turning?

Strauss and Howe will change the way you see the world--and your place in it.In The Fourth Turning, they apply their generational theories to the cycles of history and locate America in the middle of an unraveling period, on the brink of a crisis.How you prepare for this crisis--the Fourth Turning--is intimately connected to the mood and attitude of your particular generation.Are you one of the can-do "GI generation," who triumphed in the last crisis?Do you belong to the mediating "Silent Majority," who enjoyed the 1950s High?Do you fall into the "awakened" Boomer category of the 1970s and 1980s, or are you a Gen-Xer struggling to adapt to our splintering world?Whatever your stage of life, The Fourth Turning offers bold predictions about how all of us can prepare, individually and collectively, for America's next rendezvous with destiny. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Sweeping, compelling, and quite readable
I picked up a copy of "The Fourth Turning" because to refresh myself on the generational differences of donors. I was hoping to help a colleague wrestle with how to apply fundraising techniques with attention to these cohorts. Having read the authors' 13th Gen a few years ago, I knew this would be an erudite review. I got what I was looking for and much more! "The Fourth Turning" is actually a compelling look at human history, especially Western history since the middle of the fifteenth century!

Howe and Strauss have amazingly taken the most recent 20th century generations (GI, Silent, Boomer, Xer, and Millennial) and found corresponding generations for the last few hundred years. From this, they've developed a convincing rubric of generational archetypes-GIs and Millennials are the "Hero," Silents are the "Artist," Boomers are the "Prophet," and Xers are the "Nomad." Moreover, they've revisited the millennia old theory that time moves through seasons in a cyclical pattern, one that corresponds with the seasons of the year. The post-WWII era was our "High" or spring; the Consciousness Revolution was our "Awakening" or summer; the 80's and 90's was our "Unraveling" or fall; and we're currently headed for our "Crisis" or winter. They chose to label the seasons "turnings" and the time encompassing the four turnings as the "saecula," a label used by the ancients that roughly corresponds to a century.

With an amazing attention to detail, a scholarly eye to history, and a wonderfully readable writing style, Howe and Strauss show the interplay of the generational archetypes and the turnings. For example, they point to the similarities of the spiritual emphasis of the 1960s and 1970s with the Transcendentalists of the 1800s, the Great Awakening of the 1700s, and the Puritan Awakening of the 1600s, and the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s!

"The Fourth Turning" will definitely affect the way you view history as well as the events of today. Though written in 1997, they illustrate "highly unlikely" scenarios that might precipitate the coming Crisis such as: "A global terrorist group blows up an aircraft and announces it possesses portable nuclear weapons. The United States and its allies launch a preemptive strike. The terrorists threaten to retaliate against an American city..."!

While I don't know if we're currently into the Crisis or not, I do know that "The Fourth Turning" is a must read for anyone trying to raise money in today's economic environment. Not only will the savvy fundraiser ferret out ways to frame their case for the different generations, she will also see how different turnings may affect fundraising efforts. If we are indeed heading for a fourth turning, and Howe and Strauss make that highly believable, I think we in the nonprofit world are uniquely situated to help our cultures ride out this winter and successfully enter the spring.

Although full of grim warnings, "The Fourth Turning" is a hope-filled book well worth reading.

CONTENTS:

1. Winter Comes Again

PART I: Seasons
2. Seasons of Time
3. Seasons of Life
4. Cycles of History
5. Gray Champions

PART II: Turnings
6. The First Turning: American High (1946-1964)
7. The Second Turning: Consciousness Revolution (1964-1984)
8. The Third Turning: Culture Wars (1984-2005?)
9. Fourth Turnings in History
10. A Fourth Turning Prophecy

PART III: Preparations
11. Preparing for the Fourth Turning
12. The Eternal Return

Acknowledgements
Notes
Index of Names

Winter came early this saeculum....
Somehow I missed this book when it first came out- too much was happening in my personal life I guess. Yet, I'm glad that I waited until now to read it, for it serves to verify much that I came to discover on my own from both personal experience and from reading such diverse works as those of the Taoist Sages and Marcus Aurelius. For this is a book of Great Cycles, rooted in the ancient traditional concept of large and small recurrent cycles to human history, as well as to nature.

This book speaks of the Saeculum, to use the ancient term, the great cycles that stretch approximately the span of one long human life. There have been seven of these in the last 500 years of "modern" history. Each of these large cycles is divided into four parts, or "turnings." Think of them as generational seasons. And then each of these generational turnings is associated with one of the four classical human archetypes (prophet, nomad, hero, and artist.)

When you examine the individual Saeculi you realize that everything has happened before. Time is neither uniquely chaotic, nor is it linear. The same pattern of growth, maturation, entropy, and rebirth occur again and again. The historical documentation is exhaustive- this book serves the secondary function of being an excellent review of Anglo-American history.

It is more than that, though- it is a predictor of what to expect in the rapidly approaching winter or Fourth Turning. Of course, it now looks like winter came too early, for we are trying to cope with it using the techniques and tools of the Third Turning of unraveling and culture war. What we need are the elder statesman or prophets that have guided and inspired us through all our previous periods of crisis. We need our next generation of heroes to come of age. We need time for Merlin to find and teach Arthur. But first, we need the return of the Gray Champion to herald the age.

One other thing, before one becomes too comfortable with the idea that we've always come out of these cycles stronger than the one before, it is best to reflect that Fourth Turnings mean Total War- and we have nuclear devices and material in global abundance....

By the way, the excellent charts and tables make the concepts in the text very easy to rapidly digest.

Junk History/Science
What a bunch of simplistic, wordy, and mindless gibberish. This kind of "Junk History" contributes nothing to the advancement of mankind's journey. It only serves to feed the simplistic and lazy mind to make overdrawn conclusions and in this case this tome tends to lean to the right on the political spectrum. Never has the nation and the world been in such dire need of rational and sound thinking to guide us through this difficult time.

Yet, we are now turing(no pun intended) to this kind of junk thinking, simplistic answers from religious zealots and useless polemics from mindless politicians. If our species is to survive and our enlightened culture to progress, we must reject such simplistic models...the thinking minds among us must do the hard work necessary to discover rational solutions to our most perplexing problems. This book does not contribute to this endeavor.

fascinating straw dog
they make bold statements and present theory as fact. very intriguing on the surface, but frankly irritating in the lack of scientific process when examined closely. its the "prophesy" of their predictions that we are all interested in, i would imagine, and that was sufficiently vague to satisfy all.

Good History; Interesting & Scary Thesis
It's been a while since I gave attention to Ortega y Gasset's and Julian Marias's generations theory, and I found Strauss & Howe's application quite interesting. The book seems an easy read -- I would expect to find such theories in a rather dry tome on the philosophy of history. That makes me hesitate -- does this theory come together too easily. And I'm always a bit (well, more than a bit) nervous about books that are so given to prophecy. I'm of the "the one way to assure that something will not happen is to declare it ordained by history" school.

Despite those reservations, I found reading _The Fourth Turning_ more than worth my time. The charts are good; the popular-level history seems reasonably accurate; the thesis is sophisticated and intriguing. And scary: if we allow ourselves to be controlled by the patterns Strauss & Howe have observed in the past, it appears there will be a very nasty "turning" within our lifespan. ... Read more

Book Description

Leonhard Euler was one of the most prolific mathematicians that have ever lived. This book examines the huge scope of mathematical areas explored and developed by Euler, which includes number theory, combinatorics, geometry, complex variables and many more. The information known to Euler over 300 years ago is discussed, and many of his advances are reconstructed. Readers will be left in no doubt about the brilliance and pervasive influence of Euler's work. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

So much fun it makes you chuckle
I don't have much to add to the excellent reviews above, except to say that if you like clear exposition of sometimes obscure mathematical themes, like logarithms of imaginary numbers, or the almost magical Euler line, you can't do better than read Professor Dunham's books. And when you mix this talent with a subject such as the incredibly clever and curious Leonhard Euler, you can't help but be carried away. I literally found myself chuckling with awe at some of the amazing leaps of intuition this 18th-century mathematician was able to make, even as he was losing his sight and fathering 13 children! I've always been an admirer of Euler's, and Prof. Dunham's wonderful little book only increased my admiration -for both.

I hope Prof. Dunham will decide to write a sequel, and/or tackle the work of other prolific mathematicians, like the Indian Srinivasa Ramanujan, another one of my heroes.

This is the third book by Prof. Dunham I've read. I have enjoyed them all and keep them handy to lift my spirits when I'm down -they're that much fun. I wish I'd had him as a teacher in college, and I envy his students at Muhlendorf. I just hope they appreciate how lucky they are!

A little gem.
I had never read any of William Dunham's many books before. Now I want to read them all. In a scant 173 pages he describes in great detail how Leonhard Euler, arguably the greatest mathematician ever, solved the most difficult mathematical problems of his day.

The style in this book is both unusual and clever. Each of the eight chapters covers a different branch of mathematics and each begins with a prologue, then follows with some of Euler's contributions, and finishes with an epilogue. The prologues present the history of mathematics up to Euler's time, so the reader gets a feel of what this great mathematician had to work with. And the epilogues tell where we have come since Euler.

This book is full of equations and expects some work (but not much mathematical background) from the reader. If you like mathematics or ever wondered how some of the great discoveries in this field were derived, do yourself a favor and buy, then carefully read, this wonderful book.

Nice book for readers with a background in math
I really enjoyed reading this book that describes some background on Euler and his work. It is written in an informal style, so for people with a math background it reads like a novel.

The book is not suitable for people who want to learn more about the person Euler, but do not have a math background, because 75% of the book is about real math (equations). So if you don't enjoy reading equations, do not buy the book.

Summary: as enjoyable as the other Dunham books, although a bit more expensive (but still worth the money).

William Dunham has done it again!
With the publication of this, his third book, Dunham has once more shown himself to be a master himself of mathematical explanation. Unlike his previous two books, The Mathematical Universe and Journey Through Genius, which covered results by a variety of mathematicians, this book focuses on selected results that sprang from the remarkable mind of Leonard Euler, one of the most prolific and important mathematicians of all time. What sets Euler apart is not only the vast quantity of his output (the publication of his collected works, the Opera Omnia, spans six dozen volumes, or over 25,000 pages in all!), but also the breadth and originality of his work. Not only did Euler contribute to a wide array of mathematical fields -- from number theory to complex analysis to geometry -- but in many cases, he was the founder of those fields. For example, Euler invented the field of analytical number theory, and he was the first mathematician to recognize the importance of and to discover the important properties of complex numbers.

This book in many ways resembles Dunham's Journey Through Genius. As in that book, Dunham has selected 15 or so theorems to present in detail, and he makes an effort to keep the proofs similar in spirit to the original proofs. Although the proofs are complete and the book is full of equations, they are accessible to anyone with a high school level of mathematics education. But in addition to the proofs, Dunham also provides historical context, as well as commentary on how later mathematicians used and improved upon Euler's work. For example, we learn that Euler began to loose the sight in his right eye at the age of 32, and that despite his virtual blindness by the age of 65, he continued his prolific rate of output until his death at age 84.

The book's title is taken from a quote by Laplace, who said, ``Read Euler, read Euler. He is the master of us all.'' Indeed, if you have any interest in mathematics, you will almost certainly find yourself in complete agreement with Laplace's sentiments by the time you finish reading this wonderful book. ...

" Euler, the anlysis incarnate "!!!!
" Analysis incarnate " , no other more suitable words probably can describe the incomparable power of Euler, as his contemparies called him. Concerning the usual style of Dunham to write this stimulating book, other readers have made many comments and I think there is no need to repeat that. What I want is that Dunham to write another book, perhaps volume 2,3 etc and also write a thorough biography of Euler, one the greatest mathematicians in the history. ( To me, for mathematical ability, his should be at the same rank with Newton, Archaemedes, and Gauss, even Einstein concerning the mathematical and theroetical aspect, is below par compared with Euler ) ... Read more

Book Description

Many books cover the emergency response to chemical terrorism. But what happens after the initial crisis? Chlorine, phosgene, and mustard were used in World War I. Only years after the war were the long-term effects of these gases realized. In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, these and other agents were used in localized wars. Chemical Warfare Agents: Toxicity at Low Levels explores the long range effects of, protection against, and remedies for chemicals used during war and the chronic problems possibly resulting from toxic exposures during the Persian Gulf War.The book discusses the toxicities of chemical agents at low-levels. It focuses on the effects on military personnel after exposure to low levels of sarin - a chemical suspected to have been present during the Gulf War. It also covers factors such as stress, surrounding, and other chemicals that can enhance or decrease the toxicity of chemical warfare or protective agents. It discusses the effects of stress on the blood-brain permeability of pyrodostigmine and polar compounds, and describes how circulating scavenger enzymes or enzymes covalently bound to sponges can detoxify chemical agents.Acute toxicity is easy to observe and treat but low-level toxicity is difficult to identify - and can present and persist months and years after the initial exposure - making its treatment that much more difficult. Written by experts known for their contributions to the science of toxic chemicals, Chemical Warfare Agents: Toxicity at Low Levels gives you the latest information about the pathophysiology of chemical warfare agent injury at low concentrations. ... Read more

Book Description

This complete, “on-the-job” exploration of both written and oral communication concentrates on the most effective techniques for the types of communications most frequently encountered in today's business world. This new edition updates coverage to accurately reflect the techniques used to write today's professional correspondence and reports.The book uses the example of two employees involved in two technically-oriented companies, the type of work they perform, and some typical situations that call for them to communicate with clients, suppliers, and each other, to drive home the concepts presented. Topics include: letters, memos, and e-mail; short, informal reports; larger informal and semiformal reports; formal reports; technical proposals; communicating with prospective employers; and technical writing.For any employee whose responsibilities include preparing reports and documents; also for those where speaking at meetings and seminars is a necessary part of their jobs. This book can serve as an excellent reference for job-hunters. ... Read more

Book Description

Guidebook to Better Medical Writing is the how-to book for those who want practical advice on writing journal articles, case reports, book chapters, books and scientific poster exhibits.

It stems from the author's more than 30 years of writing and teaching others how to write these materials.The content is presented in a quick-to-grasp, logical progression with step-by-step directions, examples, checklists, tips and techniques. Topics included range from the basics of how to choose better words and how to write better sentences and paragraphs through how to choose the right journal, how to get more writing done and how to work successfully with journal editors and reviewers. The revised 2003 edition follows the 1997 first edition that has been used by biomedical scientists around the globe and has also been issued in a Japanese-language edition (12 Steps to Better Medical Papers, Medical View Publishers, Tokyo). ... Read more

Reviews (4)

excellnet
I must agree with all the three prior reviews. The author has an easygoing style that I greatly enjoyed learning from. The pages are small in size and the font is rather big; which allows to finish this guidebook in few hours, and repeated.

There are twelve chapters. The firsts provide sensible advices about choosing "better" words, sentences, tables, graphs. I found chapter six about Spelling and Grammar, Punctuation rich with great advices. Other chapters advice about how to choose the right journal. The author was straightforward in the chapters about clinical report, review article, letters to the editor etc and ethics. Really, I was impressed by the eighth chapter " how to get more writing done".

Briefly I learned a lot from this concise guidebook.

Excellent Guidelines
Great guidelines, easy to follow and good explanations & examples. Also, debunks some of the grammatical rules that we were taught... "ending sentences w/ prepositions". Recommended reading for both writers, ghost writers, and medical practicioners who outsource some of their writing.

Excellent summary of Medical Writing
I recently purchased Robert Ile's Guidebook to Better Medical Writing and was very pleasantly surprised. He takes a concise, nononsense approach to the subject and provides readers with a series of excellent tips. He covers the basics of writing very well but also includes info on how to write case reports, clinical results, review papers, etc. I have found his book to be helpful in my own medical writing and editing consulting service. Review@lifescipub.com

Best medical writing text I've seen in 30 years of teaching!
At first glance, you might find the textbook by Robert Iles, Guidebook to Better Medical Writing, deceptively simple. However, this authoritative handbook tells you in straightforward language everything you need to know about developing a clear, persuasive paper that stands a good chance of publication by a peer-reviewed medical journal. Mr. Iles also takes you through the process of manuscript submission, outlining strategies for acceptance. This is the best basic manual on medical writing I have seen in over thirty years as a medical writer and teacher. I plan to use this excellent guidebook in my seminars and courses on medical writing from now on. ... Read more