I was amazed at the way this author teaches kids about their bodies, but keeps coming back to how "you are NOT your body". It encourages being a friendly and helpful person. In other words, it is about "who you really are" not about your body. A great message to give kids. It also introduces information and gives room for discussion about puberty and death (two difficult subjects for some parents). This author handles it beautifully!!!I like it that the book is spiritual, but leaves room for every faith to teach their child accordingly. I highly recommend this book!

Specifically written and illustrated for young readers ages 4 to 12, I Am My Body, NOT! offers a unique, effective, and very highly recommended introduction to major philosophical and physiological issues including the external physical body; the body's internal systems and their function; the distinction between body and the individual or spirit; the changes of puberty; the death of the body but not the spirit; and the naturalness of human diversity. Written in a "kid friendly" manner and devoid of sectarian proselytizing, I Am My Body, NOT! has the added value of building up a young reader's vocabulary within contextual definitions.

I found this book to be a wonderful meditation on the many ways in which we do (or do not) perceive God.... I was especially struck by the fact that reflections were included from those who did not believe in God. I think as we search for our own spirituality, especially in these dark times, it is thought-provoking to take into account all the different paths that people take. This book is a powerful source for meditation and a deepened understanding of your own image of God. The soft black-and-white photography is a fitting match to the tone of the book. This will be a book I return to often.

This book contains wonderful photographs of people representing all cultures, ages and beliefs who share their personal ideas of God. Ideal for people searching for an understanding of God, especially for those who have been raised in a "one correct belief" system. Published by Hazelden for those seeking recovery. Books of comparable quality usually cost much more.

Although published in 1978, this book could be used as an introduction to the theory of operads and other recent work on homotopy theory and vertex operators. Vertex operators are not discussed in this book, but the theory elucidated herein is good background material for their study.

The author does a great job in motivating the subject in chapter 1. Loop spaces are function spaces of maps from the unit interval to a space with a chosen basepoint, with the property that each map sends 0 and 1 to the base point. The mathematician Jean Pierre Serre introduced the path space in order to study loop spaces, resulting in the famous Serre fibering. The nth homotopy group of the loop space can be shown to be equivalent to the (n+1)-th homotopy group of the original space. The homology of loop spaces can be calculated for some types of spaces, such as wedges of spheres. Infinite loop spaces are essentially sequences of spaces such that the nth element of this sequence is equivalent to the loop space of the (n+1)-th element. This sequence is also known as an "Omega-spectrum" and has the infinite loop space as its zeroth term. The name "spectrum" comes from general considerations involving sequences of spaces where the nth term is equivalent to the loop space of the (n+1)-th term; equivalently, where the suspension of the nth term is equal to the (n+1)-th term. The author reviews how a generalized cohomology theory yields an Omega-spectrum, giving two examples involving Eilenberg-Maclane spaces and complex and real K-theory. One can also start with a spectrum and construct a generalized homology and cohomology theory. Spectra and cohomology theory are thus essentially equivalent.

Chapter 2 is an overview of techniques needed to construct a category of spaces with enough structure so that the infinite loop space functor yields an equivalence from the category of spectra to the category of certain spaces. An example of the latter is given by the Stasheff A-infinity space, and its now ubiquitous property of having a product which is strictly associative. This property allows one to prove that a space is equivalent to a loop space if and only if the space is a Stasheff A-infinity space and that the zeroth homotopy of the space is a group. The Stasheff A-infinity spaces are also used to motivate the construction of 'operads'.

The next chapter the author is concerned with the concept of a space being like another one without being equivalent to it. He discusses the use of 'localization' in homotopy theory, an idea that is analogous to the one in algebra. The use of localization in homotopy theory is due to D. Sullivan, and involves use of the notion of a space being 'A-local', where A is a subring of the rationals. Remembering that a Z-module is A-local if it has the structure of an A-module, a space is A-local if its homotopy groups are A-local. Examples of the use of localization in constructing certain spaces are given. The author also discusses the use of the 'plus construction' that allows the alteration of fundamental groups without affecting the cohomology groups. Then after the construction of the Quillen higher algebraic K-theory groups in this regard, the author describes the relation between a topological monoid and the loop space of the classifying space of this monoid. This involves the notion of 'group completion', which is essentially an isomorphism between the homology of the path components of the monoid and the homology of the loop space of the classifying space of the monoid, but in the (infinite) direct limit.

Chapter 4 introduces the concept of a transfer map. A very elusive idea at first glance, the transfer map is motivated via the n-sheeted covering map of a space on another. The (singular) simplices of each then get matched up by the covering, and the transfer map between the spaces is then defined so that it is equal to the sum of the singular simplices of the covering space. It is in fact a chain map as shown by the author. The transfer maps are related to homotopy classes of the 'structure' maps of chapter 2, and the author gives a few examples of how they are used.

Chapter 5 is a quick overview of the Adams conjecture, which is essentially an assertion that the image of KO(X) in KF(X) can be characterized explicitly. Detailed proofs are omitted but references are given for the interested reader.

In chapter 6, the author restricts his attention to the K-theory of spectra. The treatment is concerned in large degree with the question of the existence of infinite loop map between infinite loop structures, and finding such a map, checking whether it is unique. This question is answered for particular types of spectra, via the Madsen, Snaith, and Tornehave theorem. Also, the Adams-Priddy theorem is proved, showing that one can construct on a space a unique infinite loop space structure. The reader gets more examples of the use of localization, in that some spaces can become equivalent as infinite loop spaces upon localization. The origin of K-theory in this chapter comes from the replacing of spectra that are not known by ones that are (namely the ones in classical K-theory). The author shows how the Madsen-Snaith-Tornehave theorem works in the context of both complex and real (periodic) K-theory. Detailed proofs are given for all of these results.

Reading this book made me excited about infinite loop spaces, which I had always imagined to be a very dry topic. Adams informal style reads as smoothly as a purely expository work, but gave me enough understanding and insight to make me feel like I could fill in the details myself if I needed to. Even if this isn't always literally true, it certainly oriented me well enough to be able to make sense of the literature. I especially liked the discussion of A_infty spaces.

Great series covers several high-yield "vignettes" that appeared on my exam. Very happy I used this series before the test, as my USMLE exam was nearly all long vignettes in the same format as this book. Well written and very high yield!

Great vignettes, which were all over my step 2 exam. I got this series as a gift from my parents, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been exposed to it. In retrospect (and even as I was reading it), I realize that this series helped me more than any other source I used for step 2 review - and I used all the typical books (First Aid, NMS question book, Blueprints). I strongly recommend this series to all those preparing for Step 2.

Richard Adams unique collection of fables is intriguing and thought-provoking...to see ourselves and others in each is a rewarding challenge -- well worth the effort! Also, I must mention that the illustrations in this book are absolutely exquisite -- something the previous reviewer made no mention -- a rarity in this day and age of simple graphics and line drawings.

This Book is not a story, but a collection of some interesting and little-known fairy tales. Some of them are good, some of them not so, but in general, this is a very good book and worth reading. As you can see, it is out of print in English, but it is still available in German (Der Eiserne Wolf: phantastische Märchen).

After reading this well written biography, I experienced the sorrows, joys, and accomplishments in the life of one of our country's greatest statesmen.

Lynn H. Parsons has written a biography that is blessedly free from 'academic speak' or the sense that he is only writing for other historians. This is definitely a biography for even the most casual lover of history. Parsons' familiarity with JQA allows him to introduce us to that prickly character as one would introduce an eccentric friend--always aware of the eccentricities but never apologizing for them. Adams (and his father) are two of the greatest of America's early statesmen and two of it's worst politicians. Parsons presents the genius and the folly and allows us to weigh our opinions--tho' its clear where Parsons' affections lie. It is hard to imagine that anyone will (or could) write a better one volume popular biography of JQA. Parsons clearly could tell us much more, but he chooses not to bog his narrative down in the kind of historical detail that glazes the eye of the casual reader. For serious historians this is a valuable book because it doesn't get lost in its own importance--the writing is direct, succinct and keeps the reader aware of the difference of the attitudes of Adams and his contemporaries to our current sensibilities. Parsons ends with a note that JQA's only monument in Washington is a small plaque in statuary hall in the Capitol. I would argue that Adams' best monument in DC is the one he would be proudest of--the Smithsonian Institution he fought so hard to help establish. I highly recommend this book.

If you find yourself in a situation where the fantastic capabilities of the HP-48G/X are just out of your grasp, and you still need to devote most of your time to class rather than learning how to operate this calculator, then this book is probably for you.

It is lightly documented that the two User Manuals that come with the HP-48GX do assume that you have some level of working knowledge of the terms, and stadards used in advanced HP calculators. It is not necessary to buy this particular book if you are already comfortable with the HP-48G/X and are just striving to learn more about programming or how to answer the question of time.

Jump Start is a good book if you are like me, going to school because you don't know everything already and you certainly don't have all year to figure out how your new calculator works.

The examples the author chose were excellent for my needs. Surely, they won't be for everyone, but as an Electronics Engineering student, what he offered fulfilled the demand I had to gain enough experience on this mini-computer so that I have a positive direction to go toward to learn the specifics of the types of problems I will use it to solve. And clearly that is the authors intent. And that was my goal when I bought this book. I simply needed some guidance.

This book will not teach you Calculus, nor will it teach you all there is to know about the HP-48G/X. What it will do is assume that you are trying to learn the HP-48 series and give you some general problems that are the foundations of many common problems so that you have a broad base of knowledge and a common platform in which to solve them.

One of my favorite examples in the book was that of isolating variables in a complex equation. I needed to know how to do this because frankly, some of the math I do takes like 4 sheets of legal sized paper to write out and I knew there had to be a better way.

The equation he chose as an example has a piece of everything in it and once you learn how to enter in his example, and then isolate whatever variable you want, you have now the power to solve any equation only limited by your ability to enter it into the calculator. And using the powerful Equation Writer, entering in complex equations gave me a sense of security because you can, using the methods covered in this book, actually look at the equation as you entered it, and then convert it to what it looks like in your text book. Probably the HP user manual shows how to do that, but since I could not even figure out how to enter an equation in the first place based on the HP manuals, I will give this author that credit, on my behalf.

Bottomline, if you haven't figured out how to enter an equation, create a subdirectory, move around subdirectories, write basic programs, purge memory, write complex equations, convert anything to practically anything else and solve for any variable....and you WANT to be able to do these things, then you can get that information by reading this book and practicing the examples. If you don't even understand an equation like 2x+3y=4, then you probably won't enjoy this book. It won't teach you anything about understanding math or the problems. It assumes you know why and what you are trying to solve, but it importantly assumes you have no idea how to tell the calculator what you want it to do. In my book, that is a perfect Jump Start.

I give it Five Stars because the author only offers a Jump Start and I certainly got that out of this book.

The Hewlett Packard 48G family of handheld graphic calculators are superb instruments suffering only from a slow processor and what has become famous as a User Guide useful sole to those who already know how to use the calculator. This book will for the most part clarify things so one can use the User Guide although it can do nothing to speed up the calcified and arthritic slowness of this calculators processor.

Unlike some calculators the 48 has NO GUI at all. It also uses the postscript, or RPN, input method which most who deal with maths adore and which befuddles many history majors, dance majors, football players and ilk others. Moreover the 48 dates from the earliest part of the 1990s and has had several O/S tweaks. As a result some of the step by step instructions even in this book may be off a keystroke or two for your particular machine. This volume is, however, a real Missing Manual.

After I bought my first 48 it took 3 weeks of messing with it before I was able to do much more then 2 + 2. That was years ago. Just as beaming parents used to present a slide rule to their young scholar off to engineering school this beaming grand-unki has now presented several plastic packaged H.P. 48g+ each with a copy of this book [that to save from frustration and the English Majors or high school calculator the T.I. 83]

I never got this book fully until I moved to Louisiana- people do take food seriously in the South, and guard barbeque and other recipies as great secrets. My mother-in-law has been trying to get a BBQ recipie for years from one of her friends who refuses to tell her. So this book is a bit educational for people who aren't from the South. Shankman knows her stuff. And if you love the Sam Adams series, you'll love this book. I love the twists in the story- so many Elvis connections!
If you love 'Q', mysteries and Elvis, this is the book for you!(and even if you don't, its still a great book!)

About half way through this funny book, I decided it wasn't a mystery. But then the end took me by complete surprise! Highly recommend for those who like a little comedy with their mysteries...

As one involved with NASA in the heady days of years past, I had heard talk that Princeton Architectural Press planned to bring out a book of Adam Bartos' photographs of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and I have been looking forward to Kosmos for some time.

Kosmos is a sad and poignant portrait--but, alas, an accurate one--of the decline of one of the great technological programs of human history. I don't believe that those who weren't alive at the time can appreciate the reaction of this nation to the launch of Sputnik and the other achievements of the Soviet space program nor can those outside of NASA appreciate the enthusiasm--and gravity--that characterized our efforts to catch the Soviets in the space race.

Frankly, the faded glory shines through in many of the photographs, and, in the eyes of those caught in the photographs, one still sees glimpses of the spirit, albeit wounded, that drove their space program to its glories. However, in the post-Cold War era, pathos will be the most common reaction of the reader.

The accompanying essay by Svetlana Boym of Harvard University, unlike those gratuitous essays in many photographic books, contributes to the Kosmos and brings some important insights to the reader unfamiliar with the Soviet program. It is beatifully written and is commended to the readers for their edification.

All in all, after much anticipation, Kosmos exceeded my expectations and stirred a wave of memories. Congratulations to PAP for their achievement!

Having been a Soviet/Russian space enthusiast since childhood, I was naturally excited to learn that Princeton Architectural Press was publishing a photonovel entitled "KOSMOS - A Portrait of the Russian Space Age". This is a finely bound collection of 100 photographs taken by renowned photographer, Adam Bartos between June 1995 and April 1999 at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

With great anticipation I opened the book, eager to see new images of Russian space hardware and launch sites. What I found between the covers was much, much more than I expected.

With his keen photographic skills, Adam Bartos is not only able to take us into areas of the cosmodrome rarely seen by western observers, but into the hearts and souls of some of the key personalities which helped to shape the current climate of what was once the worlds greatest space industry. Through the eyes of the photographer you see rooms well worn with age now silent and barren, and faces whose stares echo ghost of the former Soviet Union. Image after image paints a portrait of contrast between the glorious aspirations of the Soviet future past and the dismal realities of the present day russian space program.

Enhancing this somber collection of images is an essay written by Svetlana Boym, Professor of Slavic Languages at Harvard University, which poignantly illustrates the mood of the Russian people as radical political change made way to new realities.

I highly recommend this book, not only to all Russian space enthusiast but also to anyone who has even the slightest interest in the changing climate of the Russian people and how it has affected their once dear space program.

This is an idea book. A book that every time it's read another point of interest is noted. Mr. Adams really loves his herbs and wants to make a successful herb gardener out of each of us. More than that, though, he wants us to expand the way we think of herbs to include common culinary herbs in our landscape.

There are six major chapters that include; creating a Fragrant Garden, a Formal Garden for Beauty, a Beneficial Formal Garden, an Informal Landscape, a Contemporary Landscape, and a Wild Landscape.

Much appreciated is how each chapter introduces the reader to a myriad of herbs including specific named varieties of well known herbs. For instance, instead of just Thyme, many different Thymes are mentioned and discussed and often a photograph of that plant is included. Also, in each chapter are plans for using the herbs and several color photos of the herbs actually being used in the landscape. This realistic view of the plants is a big help when choosing plants for the landscape.

There are also useful, fun tidbits on many other aspects of using herbs including information on Topiary Training, Knot Gardens and Kitchen Gardens. There are recipes too, like Meatballs with Lovage, Oregano, Savory and Basil, that make use of the herbs we grow.

A handy chart at the back of the book lists each plant and many of its physical characteristics such as zone and bloom season. There is also a use chart which lists the landscape use and herbal use of each plant.

It is easy to see why this book was honored by the American Horticultural Society as a Great American Gardening Book.

More and more people are realizing that herbs are special. In the garden they not only provide texture and fragrance, but they are also waterwise. This previously published book, now in paperback, provides the reader with information on more than 600 species and cultivars of herbs. John Adams explains how to use these herbs in a variety of garden types both formal and informal. Through this book I was introduced to new thyme species and prompted to plant a thyme garden.