This is the only textbook that I know that introduces and explains the Hilbert-Riemann problem in a pedagogical way. If anyone knows of any other such book, please tell us. It also deals in a very introductory way with all sort of really nice topics that one cannot find discussed (at a really introductory level) in any similar book: the Painleve property, the classification of singularities, asymptotic expansions, etc, etc. All very powerful applied mathematics.

A very good text!

The best description of this book is that it provides a comprehensive, classical treatment of the subject with a modern touch and serves ideally the needs of anyone studying Complex Analysis.

Starting from the foundations of defining a complex number, through to applications in the evaluation of integrals, the WKB method, Fourier transforms and Riemann-Hilbert problems, the book covers a lot of ground in an easy to follow style. The chapters are long, but logically broken down into digestible sections and interspersed with well illustrated diagrams, numerous worked examples and exercises. The end of chapter exercises provide further opportunity for reinforcing the methods and there's a useful section at the end giving brief hints and answers to selected problems.

Complex Variable analysis is treated from the definition of an analytic function and its relation to the Cauchy-Riemann equations, and in turn their application to an ideal fluid flow. The ideas of multi-valued functions, complex integration, and Cauchy's theorem are excellently treated, as are the consequences: the generalised Cauchy integral formula, the Max-Mod principle, and Liouiville and Morera's theorems.

The rest of the first part of this book, which is essentially pure mathematics, deals with Laurent series, singularities, analytic continuation, the Mittag-Leffler theorem, the ALL IMPORTANT Cauchy Residue Theorem, dealing with branch points, Rouche's theorem, and their application to Fourier transforms.

The second half starts off with perhaps the best I have seen on Conformal Mappings and their application to physical problems in Fluid Mechanics and Electromagnetism. Asymptotic evaluation of integrals covers methods like Watson's lemma, the method of steepest descent, and the WKB method.

A good combination of pure and applied mathematics, though the book avoids either the rigour of classical works such as Whittaker and Watson or the marvellously visual presentation of Tristan Needham.

Highly recommended!

This text is distinguished by the numerous diagrams that appear on practically every other page. If you're graphically oriented, like I am, then this itself is enough to recommend this book. Concepts such as branch points and multivalued complex functions are much easier to understand when there is a picture to accompany the concept. The second half of the book is concerned with applications and includes several useful asymptotic methods such as Laplace's integral method. These asymptotic techniques are good for evaluating particularly nasty integrals in which the integrand is really concentrated somewhere in the interval. On the downside, this is not a very formally rigorous book. On the other hand, such formalism is easier to digest once you've seen numerous pictures and examples, in my own opinion.

If it were possible for the author to move into my home and provide on the job training while I attempt to parent my ADD kid, it would be perfect. However this isn't a perfect world, and I have to settle for his book...the next best arrangement. This is truly the best book I have ever read on this subject. I laughed and cried. Mr. Jacob tells a story in a way that is just so different. If you are a Mom or a Dad or just a human with an interest in what it's like to raise a kid that truly marches to a different drummer...buy this book!

Having been personally touched by this dissorder, I was pleasantly surprised to find this book by Mark Jacob. I have a nephew and a friend both suffering from this condition for many years. I enjoyed the frankness and the flow of this book that gave me a better understanding of what I have been witnessing for the last 15 years. Recalling back all the situations I have witnessed over this time literally brought me to tears. These children when calm, are wonderful and bright. They deserve more than the system seems to be dishing them out. This book gave me greater insight into the problems of the people I love and hope that Mr. Jacob succeeds with his quest to help us understand ADD better. Thank you Mark for helping us. I look forward to the next addition.

My wife gave me this book and though I was reluctant to read it, it has become my "bible". This IS a toolbox for life with an ADD child and I highly recommend it to all Dads (and Moms) of ADD children.

Thanks to this superb book, the reader can almost taste, feel and see what it was like to live in Washington in the mid-1920s. At the time, DC was by far the smallest city in the major leagues, but baseball fever overtook the Nation's Capital in 1924 after years of horrendous teams. Judge takes you week by week through that wonderful season, culminating in what is arguably still the most exciting World Series ever. A heartstopper won by the Senators over the highly favored New York Giants in the 12th inning of Game 7. The city broke out in celebrations wilder than those following the end of the Civil War or World War I. Judge nicely reproduces the legendary sportswriter Fred Lieb's account of his conversation with Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis the night Washington won it all, in which Landis described the Capital's unprecedented celebration as the "zenith" of baseball's popularity in America.

Sadly, of course, it wasn't long after the glory days of the author's grandfather that Washington fans were forced to endure nearly 4 decades of teams that did not even try to compete, with the inevitably attendance problems resulting. Judge poignantly recounts the departure of the Senators in 1960, and then of their expansion replacement in 1971. Ironically, today Washington is the center of huge metropolis, the 6th largest media market in the U.S. Yet it has no baseball team. Mark Judge's book reminds us of a better time for baseball fans in the DC area, and points us to toward a day when the Washington Senators may be reborn.

Some minor quibbles with the background chapter that opens the book: Judge seems to confuse the identity of various 19th century teams (e.g., the Chicago "White Stockings", "Colts", and "Cubs" are all the same team). He conflates the founding of the short-lived National Association in 1971 with that of the enduring National League in 1876. And the number of pennants and World Series championships won by Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics are grossly understated. But none of this detracts from the excellence of the book as a whole, and particular the heart of it which recounts so beautifully Washington's experience as World Champs in 1924. We can only hope that there will be future authors to write so artfully about the championships of future Washington baseball teams.

Although this book was about the great Senators' franchise of the Walter Johnson era that included the "Big Train" Walter Johnson, Sam Rice, Goose Gooslin, Bucky Harris and the perennial first baseman Joe Judge, the author's grandfather, it also reflects on a City that had struggling teams in the last two decades of D.C. baseball only to lose them to a new owner that took the team to Texas with great sadness to the D.C. fans. Judge tells the story of one of the worst teams in baseball that eventually unfolds into a star-studded team that could beat the Yankees and actually win a World Series in 1925. Judge intermixes the play by play with biographies of the players of that era anchored by quality detail about Walter Johnson the dominating pitcher, a modest gentleman, and of course his grandfather who typically hit 300 plus with a tremendous fielding percentage. The exciting description of the Senators great team is also full of sports articles and editorials of that era that contribute to the telling of how the fans felt about their team and their national good guy, Walter Johnson. The author has a special view of Judge through his family as they presented a personal picture of the player that played consistently at a Hall of Famer level in 17 seasons with the Senators. The star players of the Senators of the twenties are in stark contrast to Ty Cobb with a bad guy image and the loutish Ruth who actually couldn't play at times due to bellyaches. The author quotes a Ruthian binge of eating 12 hotdogs and 5 sodas at a train stop resulting in intestinal injury. The good guy Senators of the twenties reminds me of my favorite Senator of modern times, Ken McMullen. McMullen, a lifetime 260 hitter with Washington wasn't the star sacker like Judge but he anchored the infield and played steady and had a consistent bat. But what I remember most about McMullen was that he signed autographs after the game for kids including me while most of the ball players of this second division team ran to their cars. McMullen like the Big Train and Judge were players that were gentleman far from the era of today made up of individuals. Bob Short, the 70's owner of the Senators, traded the left side of the infield (McMullen and Brinkman) for Denny McLain who lost over 20 games while Detroit flourished. That bad trade seemed to start Short's cruel destruction of a team that literally went south.

When I bought this book, I expected to read about one man (Joe Judge) and one team (the 1924 World Champion Washington Senators). I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the author had actually written much more: a condensed yet thorough history of the Washington Senators franchise; a nice biographical sketch of the legendary Walter Johnson, as well as numerous anecdotal insights about many other baseball players of the early 20th century; and a glimpse of life in Washington, D.C. as it was almost 100 years ago.

Because I am an amateur baseball historian, I loved the accounts of the players, games, franchises, and even stadiums of the early 1900's, and the detailed descriptions of the 1924 World Series games made me feel like I was there. The author wrote quite a bit about Walter Johnson, and did an excellent job of illustrating his superlative career and the enormous amount of respect and admiration that teammates, opponents, and fans had for "Barney."

I really enjoyed the author's writing style and his skill in weaving descriptions of baseball games, personal information, historical anecdotes, and cultural background into a smart, well-flowing narrative- something that is difficult to do without sounding awkward or uneven. Possibly the best example of this is the story from which the book derives its name, about the retired Joe Judge serving as the inspiration for a famous play and movie.

The included history of the Senators franchise is great- even though the franchise had painfully few highlights during its existence, the author covers them all, as well as some of the more infamous moments such as the record-setting futility of the 1909 team, Clark Griffith's attempt to buy Ty Cobb, and the mess surrounding the team's departure in 1971. There are plenty of nuggets of baseball lore to savor within these 170 pages (including some great photos).

If you are an old-school baseball fan, or a resident of the Washington D.C. area who remembers baseball in the nation's capital (or waits patiently for its long-overdue return), I strongly recommend this book. Mark Gauvreau Judge successfully combined the histories of a family, a city, and a sport into an excellent work.

This book will take you back to Burning Man but it's the DVD that I want to rave about. Watch it over and over. Beautifully done. A wonderful effort. Thanks to Holly and thanks to Bam Bam!

Based on the images of Holly Kreuter, Drama In The Desert: The Sights And Sounds Of Burning Man is a book and DVD set collecting full-color visuals and personal memories drawn from the harsh desert of Black Rock City, Nevada. Capturing the sometimes quizzical, sometimes cruel, sometimes dramatic art and documentary efforts of seventy contributors, Drama In The Desert is strongly recommended as an eclectic, unique, and vibrant experience impressing its fiery artistic message upon the reader's spirit.

I bought your book for my son's 22nd birthday. He loved the book so much that I bought myself a copy. Last weekend I watched the DVD and was amazed at how beautiful the photography and music is. I went to Burning Man for the past two years and the experience has completely changed my life. I get inspired by the creativity of all the beautiful people that work so hard to make it the greatest art show in the world. I decided to share my experiences with my relatives this Christmas by sending them all Drama in the Desert as presents, so I ordered another six copies. Thank you for everything. You are an amazing group of artists.

Economics in school is BORING. But, because the ideas in "Economics on Trial" include morality and question the average text, this book makes economics interesting and understandable. A must read for anyone interested in politics and ethics -- especially clergy.

This is probably the most accurate text on economics that has ever been penned. What Mark Skousen does in this book is absolutely astounding, at least for an economist. He seems to be out in the real world, seeing just what effects the newest policy has on businesses and people. He first of all destroys the myth that the GNP is an accurate number and shows what should be done to reflect a more accurate measurement of the economy. He also brings back the Gold Standard and idea that will have to be put into place especially now that we have the Euro Dollar.
I highly suggest this book to anyone who has an interest in basic economics. This book should be required reading for all high school students, because if they read this text and understand it America will grow to be a very strong financial secure nation.
Good Job Mr. Skousen
One suggestion: A good book that could complement this one is to read "The Seven Fat Years: and how to do it again" BY: Robert L. Bartley

This book does something truly revolutionary. All arguments originate from common-sense understanding of how people and businesses actually use their resources--including, and especially--their time. Time is a crucial element in understanding basic economics. The proper consideration of time is critical in laying the ridiculous notions of Keynesian theory to rest.

I sympathize especially with the author's introductory remarks in which he describes how he manages to get a Ph.D. in economics without much confidence that he had learned anything useful about the subject. It is essential that we introduce real-world, practical considerations into the educational curricula in this country. The tyranny of the Ivory Tower must end! Mark Skousen offers an important step in the right direction.

I cannot think of a better model for designing, establishing, and maintaining crisis management resources and capabilities in any organization than that provided by a medical emergency room. Those already familiar with the highly acclaimed television series, E.R., no doubt recall especially dramatic portrayals of (quite literally) life-or-death crises. Members of real-world emergency room staffs confirm such moments really can and often do occur. They will also tell you about extended periods when there are few (if any) persons in need of medical care. In this context, I am reminded of fire departments where hours of boredom are interrupted by sudden emergencies. Most of the time, most organizations seem to function crisis-free until....

What Friedman has written is a cohesive, comprehensive, and cost-effective response to this important question: Which resources, strategies, and tactics are essential to prepare for, cope with and then learn from a crisis?

There are other excellent books on the same general subject. For example, Blythe's Blindsided, Fink's Crisis Management, Lukaszewski's First Response, Myers' Manager's Guide to Contingency Planning for Disasters, and Harvard Business Review on Crisis Management. Most of them tend to focus on crises in major corporations. In addition to its value for such large enterprises, Friedman's book will be extremely valuable to family-owned businesses, smaller organizations, and individuals. A loss of power or a fire in a department store certainly qualifies as a crisis but corporate resources ensure financial recovery of the given location. That is not always true if a family-owned business were to encounter the same crisis even if it were sufficiently insured. The loss of day-to-day revenue could be fatal.

I also think Friedman's book will be highly beneficial to decision-makers in small-to-midsize companies which provide products and services to a major enterprise such as an airline, large office building or automobile manufacturer. Crisis management for clients who depend on us may be even more important than crisis management for our own organization. In fact, I think all such initiatives should be coordinated, indeed integrated, within a program guided and informed by Friedman's book. As he observes, each component of any crisis management program requires appropriate answers to the same two questions: "What if?" and "Then what?"

The Chinese character for the word "crisis" has two different meanings: peril and opportunity. As Friedman quite correctly suggests, crisis management worthy of the name must accommodate both.

May 2003 - Vol 8 No. 5
Reviewers Roundup

Thinking Like an Emergency Physician-----------------------------
By Mike Taigman

It seems like it's no longer possible to make it through a full day without becoming aware of some crisis in the world. As I travel around the world I hear people in restaurants talking about post-war Iraq, the possibility of suicide bombers in America, people being laid off in the travel industry, and states with billion dollar deficits. Those of us in EMS are pretty good at handling things that get thrown in our direction-but that doesn't mean we can't improve our skills.

In his book Everyday Crisis Management: How to Think Like an Emergency Physician, veteran emergency medicine physician, professor, and entrepreneur Mark L. Friedman, M.D., shares his strategies for crisis management. Mark has deeply explored the phases of crisis management, as is evident in his chapter on crisis preventions. He says, "As a long time advocate, I can tell you that prevention as a strategy suffers from one major shortcoming. It lacks drama. You don't see the heart attack you prevented or the crime that's never committed. People uninjured in a motor vehicle crash often ascribe their avoidance of injury to 'good luck' rather than good automotive design."

He applies his strategies to event management, business crisis, personal crisis, disaster management, and terrorism. He shares tips and tricks for managing crises in all forms by packaging them in the kind of real life emergency medicine stories we used to tell each other at Denny's before HIPAA.

Friedman has also included exercises at the end of each chapter to help drive your learning home. As I read through the exercises it became apparent that if someone in a leadership position at an EMS organization went through them step by step, they would have produced a practical media crisis response plan, a disaster plan, an event management plan, and would have increased their personal ability to handle a crisis. Pretty good results from an easy to read book packed with good stories.

Mike Taigman is an obsessive student, a thought provoking educator, and a prolific author. He peruses the latest business books, management journals, and cutting edge conferences searching for concepts that EMS leaders can use to cultivate their effectiveness. Additionally he has run over 23,000 EMS calls as a paramedic. ...

As a crisis management consultant myself, I try to read as much as I can on the subject. It was refreshing and informative to read about the subject from the perspective of a man who spends his professional life handling crisis situations. The principles are applicable to those in any type of business who might encounter various "bad news" situations. You would be well served to add this to your collection of books that can help you act more effectively the next time you face a crisis.

This is a story all young men and women should read...it is truly the story of "the American Dream" come to life...it demonstrates what tenacity and chutzpah can accomplish in the very competetive fashion world.
I'm fortunate enough to own several of Mr. Hankins' designs, and knowing the story behind the clothing is wonderful.
I was very pleased with this book.

This book is outstanding! I reccomend this book to anyone who can get their hands on it. It is a true story of hard work, determination, strongness, and much more. This book is written in such a way that you feel as if you know Anthony Mark Hankins personally. I loved it!

In response to Kirkus Reviews, why wouldn't consumers want to know about a designer of such determination and talent? It's like your saying because AMH is young and not yet as common a household name as Calvin Klein that his life and accomplishments don't deserve recognition. His story has given many aspiring designers, myself included the confidence to reach for their dreams.

Compiled by Mark Alan Morris, The Ghost Next Door is a collection of chilling stories of paranormal encounters, as told by everyday men and women. Careful description and attention to detail make these tales eerily believable and truly spooky. From the woman who was visited by her grandfather on the night of the old man's funeral; to the playground where one particular swing is always occupied by a ghost; to the home in Texas that was visited by a ghost who came all the way from Gettysburg, the tales comprising The Ghost Next Door are very strongly recommended for students of the occult.

I just finished this book and I have to say it is a keeper! If you like to settle down in the evening with a good book about hauntings, this is for you. The stories keep you on the edge of your seat, and the really creepy thing is that they are all true. I love the way the author sets up each story with a little bit of commentary. It really sets the mood for the spooky stories that follow! This is a great little book for anyone who likes ghost stories. Be sure to add this one to your collection.

The Ghost Next Door is a great little book to curl up with in your favorite chair on a spooky night. It really pulls you in with the author's commentary and stories that are told from the first-person perspective. I found it refreshing, since all of the stories are new, and have never been told before. It really makes you wonder if there are any ghosts around you as you're reading it!

...and yes, someone needs to undertake a follow-up volume for the new episodes. However, this would be an intimidating task because Dawidziak has writen such a tremendous volume.

I refer to the book many times when I watch Columbo episodes I've taped over the years. I think it's a great book, but like others, I think it should either be updated, or a sequel book, possibly titled "The Columbo Phile - Just One More Thing" that just covers the newer cases and updates the statistics (such as how many times William Shatner has been a murderer on Columbo, which used to be 1 and now is 2). Maybe they could use color photos in it, too.

This is a great book rich with detail and exclusive interviews. I've read - and reread - the book a number of times.

This is both a great read and an important historical document.

Very entertaining read of the author's trip through 19th Century America, full of wonderful description and enlightening observations. Despite the griping below, Mrs Trollope simply reports what she sees - men spitting tobacco on the floor, ladies off in another room while the guys have a good time, etc. She reports accurately on our forefathers' rugged pioneer spirit, but points out the lack of education everywhere. We want to shout "lies!" but Mark Twain wrote about the same thing, and the aspects of our society that haven't changed much are still being commented on with the same frankness by writers like Saul Bellow, Gore Vidal, Dawn Powell, Paul Theroux and Joan Didion. Many true-hearted Americans will enjoy this book no end. Mrs Trollope clearly loved America and simply wrote truthfully about; she is simply beholden to no one - the essence of good writing. A thoroughly refreshing read.

This is an extremely entertaining commentary on American manners and well written. I agree, however, with Mrs. Trollope's son, Anthony, who commented that Mrs. Trollope is a keen observer but she understands little. Certainly her complaints about the lack of gentility among Americans is valid but she completely missed the wonderful lack of class restraints endemic to English society which afforded Americans "class mobility"--freedom of opportunity (except for native Americans and slaves).