I found this book to be a very good introduction to the issues surrounding control of pests. It uses cases histories such as attempts to control the gypsy and codling moths to introduce not only the biological and environmental issues but also the political influences on decisions to control pests. It's quite readable. Anyone familiar with Silent Spring will enjoy this book.

Since 1962, when Rachel Carson published her seminal work, Silent Spring, nothing much has changed in our practice of pest control. Carson had advocated that the methods we employ for pest control must be such that they do not destroy us along with the insects. Yet today, despite the lip service we pay to Silent Spring, and in spite of considerable environmental protest, public outcry and the availability of viable alternatives, we still choose to spray chemical pesticides at an alarming rate. In fact, chemical pesticides still remain our pest control method of choice.

Our attitude is to approach pests as organisms to control rather than manage; we exterminate instead of reduce; we dominate rather than learn to accommodate. Why this sad state of affairs remains so is a central theme of this book, which introduces the concept of pest management (as opposed to pest control). Pest management forces us to look beyond the immediate benefits and disadvantages, costs and side effects, of pest control methods towards choosing alternatives that are more environmentally compatible and less harmful to our own health. The author explores scientifically exciting alternative technologies such as biological control, yet admits, as the 1990 gypsy moth invasion of Vancouver has shown, that the public needs more education and assurance on its safety and environmental correctness.

This book provides such an education and forms the basis for novel biologically based strategies involving pheromones, parasitic insects, bio-engineered crops and pest diseases to become standard practice.

Mark L. Winston is professor of biological sciences at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. He is the author of two previous books, The Biology of the Honey Bee and Killer Bees.

This title is more about the process of looking for dinosaur fossils and interpreting what a specific find means than it is about the dinosaur species oviraptor. The narration follows a team of scientists as they choose and then excavate a site in Mongolia. The fossils that they find and the way that these remains are interpreted forever change the reptuation of oviraptor from an egg-stealing menace to a caring parent. The vocabulary is challenging but the glossary does help.

This story of oviaptor and its false reputation as an egg-stealing killer requires good reading skills of kids in grades 4 and older, but provides a fascinating survey of the detective work which has gone into dinosaur discoveries. Color photos abound in this survey of dinosaur findings and the tools and methods of researchers.

This is a good, brief (204 pages) introductory book on networking for someone who knows little or nothing about computer networks. The book covers most, if not all, of the major topics required to get a good understanding of the "networking game". The book comes with some good diagrams and some good metaphors/analogies for those concepts that are more abstract and difficult to understand. What is missing from the book is references to other sources of information which, as an instructor, I would appreciate having.

I had the good fortune of having Mark teach an introductory course on computer networking using this book as a text. The class, as well as the book, was excellent. Mark is a skilled instructor, and a very gifted author. The book is loaded with easy to follow illustrations and information. I have read several networking books, but none was quite as easy to understand as this one. This book would be especially helpful for someone with no networking background looking for a solid foundation.

The book "The New Knowledge Management" addresses some very intriguing concepts and provides some innovative thinking in the knowledge management area. It shows how the fundamental concepts of organization learning, innovation, social innovation capital, and complex adaptive systems are related to knowledge management. The author introduces the reader to the idea of "second -generation knowledge management" which is used as a framework to relate the above concepts to knowledge management. "Second-generation knowledge management is more inclusive of people, process, and social initiatives than "first-generation knowledge management". The book provides some unique insights and organizations approaches to sustain innovation. These insights are the first of its kind and have far reaching implications to how we should manage organizations. The book is very thought provoking and a must read for people interested in theory and practical implications. I am currently using it as one of my text in teaching a graduate course in knowledge management.

In this wonderful little book, Mark McElroy begins to do for Knowledge Management what Peter Senge did for Organizational Learning: He connects deep theory with cogent practice, bringing the entire discipline to a new level. The book is a carefully designed compendium of Mark's leading-edge thinking over the past several years. In it he lays out the foundations for the next generation - "demand-side" - Knowledge Management, which enhances individuals capacity to produce knowledge, rather than simply use what's already there. By integrating a unique approach to complexity science with insights from organizational learning, he develops a model of "sustainable innovation" which is based on a broader theoretical framework of Social Innovation Capital (SIC). His SIC framework generates a core insight - the Policy Synchronization Method - a theory-based yet practical method for creating the conditions that support innovation in the long term. His writing is as useful as his modeling, for he constantly grounds his thinking into concrete and highly applicable suggestions that can be utilized in a wide range of contexts. Near the end of the book he shows the economic returns on investment from his second-generation KM, and concludes with a "presentation" that can be used to help make the case for these ideas in formal and informal settings. As a professor of entrepreneurship and management at a business school, and a 20-year student of complexity science, I am a true fan of Mark McElroy, and I am excited by this book and the ones soon to follow.

We're just beginning to see books about women's basketball, and this is one that should not be missed. Nice Girls Finish First is the story Notre Dame's championship year.
As the title hints, Notre Dame attracts athletes who are all-around people. Everybody goes to class and many athletes take a full, demanding schedule. One athlete chooses Notre Dame because "it's even better on the inside" than its shiny image on the outside.

The team consists of hardworking over-achiever. Like most basketball players, many girls came from difficult homes and overcame obstacles to get to college, let alone play on a championship team.

So here is the story of how a college team that has always been in the background can step up to the championships. It's a story of each player and a coach with a thoroughly modern marriage who wants to gain a bigger place for her team -- and respect for women's basketball everywhere.

The book delivers basketball suspense -- but heart-warming scenes too. The team returns to South Bend after the championship game -- and the whole school is waiting to greet them in the middle of the night. And after winning a game, there's Ruth Riley, talking quietly with her mother in an empty gym. After watching a semi final on television, a male crowd from the sports bar decides to drive all night to see the finals.

I wish this book were more widely distributed. Women's basketball fans are ready! When will the movers and shakers of the book world catch on?

Cheer Cheer for old Notre Dame!

The tag line is, "You can't handle the Ruth"!

This is a very uplifting book that will keep you turning the pages and leaving you with a wonderful feeling as you do.

It's a great story that everyone should read. It's a story of true student athletes that live in non- athletic dormitories and must attend class.

Notre Dames 2nd trip to the Final Four under Coach McGraw, the first trip was in 1997 with 7 healthy players. With a healthy team for this trip, she vows that the results would be different!

Mark and Muffet did a great job of giving us a real feeling of being there for that wonderful ride to the top. This is a story about a team that comes together for one unbelievable run to the title. A point guard who is granted a 5th year, an academic All-American at center whose talent is only surpassed by her brains on and off the court , and maybe the best 3 point shooter of all time whose talent is accentuated by this team, and the daughter of a NFL linebacker who has tremendous strength and quickness. It is a story of a true team where everyone understands that team goals come first. Finally a Coach who has the vision to see this teams strengths and puts together an offense and defense to make them almost unstoppable.

Coach McGraw maximized her teams strength with the precision of a surgeon making the right adjustments at every turn and keeping this juggernaut going. What comes across in that she has a wonderful and caring relationship with her players and truly cares for them as if she was their mother.

The story on Ratay, the best 3 point shooter in America, getting ready for the UCONN game at Notre Dame is priceless.

The story finishes with Ruth Riley hitting 2 free throws to win the game as Purdues final shot falls short. It was just like Hoosiers when Ollie needed to hit 2 free throws to win the game for Hickory. Only three weeks earlier Riley missed one free throw against UCONN in the Big East Championship and vowed that it would never happen again.

Niele Ivey in her career at Notre Dame suffered through two knee surgeries and could not understand why her basketball career had seemingly gone so far of course. In Gods plan Niele was granted a fifth year of eligibility which allowed her to play for the National Championship in her town of ST. Louis, there is always a plan.

Imani Dumbar was all set to attend a small college when a very late call came from Notre Dame. If only she know what the future would hold for her. She was the ultimate team player.

I liked the story of Murphy, Muffets son going home with his dad after they arrived back with the team from St. Louis and having his dad stop the car on the way home to be sure that Grace Hall had the #1 lit up to celebrate the National Champs.

As Purdue final shot falls short, and the buzzer sounds chaos takes over and Nice girls finish first. Relive the final buzzer and Father Malloy hugging the winning Coach, this book tells a great story. When you finish reading this book you will feel the urge to sing "CHEER CHEER FOR OLD NOTRE DAME"!

This book shows step by step technique and guidance to create your own watercolour masterpiece. My mother sent me in search of a good book to help in her hobby, and I stumbled across this one in a local library, and she suggested it was a "must have" for any budding watercolour enthusiast. It shows step to step instruction on how to not only layer your watercolour, but a wide variety of other techniques previously unknown by myself or my mum ! The text is written clearly and all steps are illustrated and explained for the amateur or someone more experienced. This book would make a welcome addition to watercolour artists across the board.

If most beginners are like me, they dont realize the full range of artistic expression that is possible with watercolors.

This book shows you what is possible, then shows you how to do it. It covers the basics very well, including flat washes, graded washes, wet-on-dry, bulding up colors, wet-in-wet, as well as a full range of special techniques (masks, scumbling, stippling, sponge painting, craping, knifing, glazing).

The book features hundreds of micro-lessons, each illustrated with color photographs that show how to gradually achieve the desired effect. The examples used to illustrate these techniques also show what wonderful results you can get with watercolors.

This book is both instructional and inspirational.

Highly Recommended. An excellent companion to Marian Appellof's Everything You Wanted To Know About Watercolor, though I actually preferred Appellof's book to this one.

This book is a romp! Mark Randall takes on life, politics and the human condition with an insightful wit, humor and great panache. Make time to join Randall as he muses middle age, the education system, parenthood and the joys and tribulations of urban life. This is a wonderful collection of essays that spare no one, not even the author.

"...wonderful essays...elegant writing...combines the literary lucidity of Edmund Wilson and the wicked wit of Oscar Wilde." The Philadelphia Inquirer 9/05/01

"Not Without Scars" is a journey of inspiration. It reaffirms that lives can change for the better and that one's past does not have to hinder them forever. I plan to send copies of this book to two wayward young men soon to be released from prison. "Not Without Scars" will not only be of benefits to them but to all who take the time to read this book. I was moved by its content.

I was throughly impresssed with this book. I knew Mark Olds and his family. His parents used to visit my grandparents (William & Essie Streeter). His brother (Aaron) married one of my aunts. I knew of the teachers he spoke of in the books because they both taught me in school as well. I knew of Edwin Gay. So in reading the book about his life for me was just as I remembered things about him in his younger years. I couldn't wait to share the book with other people to read. It was a great inspiration because he told things just as they were.

I just want to say Good Job Mark Olds and glad to see that things finally turned around in your life. You truly had angels watching over you. It is much more fun reading a book when you know who the person is. Would love to read more of your writings.

Suzanne Streeter Swain

This book adds an interesting perspective on the origins of our modern Solar-based Zodiac. This book focuses on the knowledge of the ancient Sumerians, the culture that was the first to observe and record the patterns of the stars and their affects on human kind. For any serious student of any form of Astrology, this book has the key to understanding the unification/similarity of them all. If interested in the roots this is a good book to start with.

This book is very interesting and was pretty accurate about a person's personality based on his Zodiac sign.The method of ascertaining one's sign is unique.I enjoyed this book so much that I am searching for a replacement for the copy I lost four years back.I will strongly recommend this book for anyone who is after some really original and applicable astrological knowledge.

When I read " On The Right Track " I was bewitched. The story was about dinosaurs and also it was a detective story.Fenton and Willy were searching about the absent finger of the dinosaur track. They were clever and also they knew very much abaut dinosaurs. So they solved the mystery easily. It was marvellous to read a detective story about dinosaurs. I'll be happy to read B.B. Calhoun's other books about dinosaurs.

I read this book to my seven-year old who is very interested in dinosaurs. It addressed his stage and interests very well. He loved the practical details of Fenton's life, much of which might be less revelatory to an older child ( e.. why you need thick tyres on a mountain bike), the self-sufficiency of Fenton's search for the answer, and the process of solving the problem. I was impressed by the way the author avoided coincidence and stuck to an exploration of research method as a way of solving the problem.