Not since the writing of Karl Marx has there been such garbage.

This book is a waste of time and money. It went straight to the garbage bin.

The reflections offered by the various contributors to "Digital Delirium" help remind us of exactly what it is we should ponder before formally adopting new systems and technologies into our daily routines. The book's central theme is to approach the Digital/Information Age with an acknowledgement of potential societal consequences. Even the most optimistic supporters for global networking concede that there are certain dangers with cybertechnology that can befall disaster on the inexperienced and the ignorant. If there is one thing the Internet does not have a lot of is accountability; until global networks become self-verifying, we will have to take the information we process with a proper degree of skepticism.

While it was not hard to derive some practical knowledge and advice from the book's material, a few select authors nevertheless ventured into a realm of dialogue that seemed designed more for bewilderment and confusion than clarity and understanding. In reading some of the blueprints for futuristic societies as described by Marcos Novak, Paolo Atzori, and a host of others, I found it difficult to figure if they were being literal, speaking metaphorically, or just pulling my chain. In spite of this problem, there were three consistencies that I deciphered as fundamental beliefs that editors Arthur and Marilouise Kroker hoped to convey by virtue of the articles published in their book. First is the danger or right-wing politics and government regulation of the Internet and global communication. Second is the contradictory and thereby self-defeating intellectual arguments taken by those who fear or oppose cybertechnology. Finally, there is the sense that the new Information Age has been overrated in terms of its impact and importance, and that the authors are merely practicing cynicism as they patronizingly amuse and augment the curiosity of their brainwashed readers with the book's technoscopic subject matter.

The published writings can be taken collectively as a "manifesto in contention against right-wing politics and cyberlibertarianism" that threaten the functioning use of the Internet as a democratic tool for all individuals. Humanists like Slavoj Zizek and Robert Adrian, in conjunction with patronizing skeptics such as R.U. Sirius and Jean Baudrillard proclaim the imminent dangers to our basic freedoms if global communication is used by a group of elitists to manipulate minds and disperse propaganda to credulous and unsuspecting victims. I whole-heartedly agree on this standpoint. However, I was disheartened at the general consensus among the writers that religions, in particular Fundamental Christianity and Catholicism, are examples of these deceiving congregations that serve only to indoctrinate their followers into a state of mind incapable of independent thought. There is wonder and excitement to be had with the possibilities presented by technological breakthroughs, but there is also great sadness where secular principles such as materiality and profitability proceed to make one a godless creature; indeed, one can be too intellectual for his own good.

In presenting written arguments against the implementation of worldwide networks and open systems, Kroker cleverly reveals a contradiction that makes the dissenters' case less credible. For example, Berhnard Serexhe states in no uncertain terms that interactive communications will function as a powerful economic / marketing tool that will attempt to homogenize consumers, erase multiculturalism, and spell the end of European cultural identity. Geert Lovink and Slavoj Zizek counter this fear with the contradicting apprehension felt by right-wing nationalists who prefer homogeneity (as long as it is with their belief system) versus diversity but consider the Internet as a method of introducing foreign influences into their temporal mainstream. Which is it? Will we be subject to pan-capitalism and global marketing aspiring to create an online society with unvarying tastes and cultural preferences? Or will an autonomous Internet open the gates to individualism and encourage worldwide diversity at the expense of segregated nationalistic esteem? Perhaps there is a point to the cynical undertone evident throughout "Digital Delirium." Not only are the pessimists getting worked up over nothing, but cybertech industry proponents themselves cannot distinguish science fiction from reality in their speculative prognostications of where technological advancements will take us as a community. As manifested by the Critical Art Ensemble, too many so-called information age innovations and products serve no practical purpose, are underutilized, or are presently unavailable to much of the world. This somewhat fits in with my own conjecture. The true dynamic puissance of global networking on both societal and business organizations cannot be unerringly measured or estimated until we experience real global accessibility. Worldwide interconnectivity in an absolute sense is has not yet been achieved; as such, depictions of futuristic societies, technological advancements, and networking potentials remain a subject of contemplation. It is in this ambience that the contents of "Digital Delirium" should be read and analyzed.

As a book that claims to shed light on Vermeers painting techniques, I found 'V & the art of Painting' pretty disappointing. Arthur Wheelock appears to be well established in the role of art critic and researcher and this perspective comes across strongly throughout the book. However there were few illustrations and the actual information on painting techniques covered in this book, appeared to me to be largely stating the obvious.
I don't think you could fault the author's background research on Vemeer and his work, but I wouldn't recommend this book to any artist or student trying to discover Vermeer's actual painting methods.

i didnt perticuarly like this book.vermeer is a great artist and they didnt put many illustrations of his work.it was very informative yet not a very good book, it was boring.

First of all, I would like to say, this book made me want to vomit. But I was reading a dirty joke book. So does that matter? No. This collection is vulgar, cruel...on and on. Putting all that aside, this book wasn't funny. I've heard jokes that made me laugh for hours. I did not laugh once while reading this book. So, in my opinion, it failed. You be the judge.

There are just too many great jokes out there and most of them didn't find their way to these pages. While some jokes are subjective, there are some that just plain split your sides and I didn't find myself laughing hard all the way through this rather small collection. Plus times change. Many on these pages are relatively tame compared to some of the really dirty humor around today. Not really worth the price but worth reading in the dentist's office instead of old National Geographics or Reader's Digest.

It's true: hard questions need to be asked. Our society's fetishization of technological progress and free markets should be challenged, and the best role for the Krokers and similar critics is poking the hornets' nest and seeing who gets stung.

But there are bigger questions when studying Data Trash, Hacking the Future and the Krokers' other techno-dystopian tomes: does all this jargon and rhetoric actually add up to anything? The Krokers have been great at stirring the pot, but seem to have some fundamental misconceptions about the nature of technology and how, in a practical sense, it is accepted or rejected by people.

Instead of just talking about economic culture and gloabalization, the Krokers wrap everything in hackeresque techno-babble, and instead of driving their points home, all we get is muddle.

This book has nothing to do with hacking. In fact, it has very little to do with technology at all. Instead, Hacking the Future can best be described as a series of art college-style attacks on obviously misunderstood technology.

This book is a wonderful example of everything that is wrong with contemporary cultural theory when applied to new technologies. As in his other writings about the Internet and multimedia, Kroker attempts to speak with the accent of the genuine hacker, but his prose betrays a serious ignorance of the subject matter involved.

The Love story proper offers everything necessary to create one incredibly good book: fantastic music (the band recorded three fantastic albums in the mid/late 1960's ["Love", "Da Capo", and "Forever Changes"]); a reclusive and temperamental helmsman (Arthur Lee) whose nature cost the band much deserved exposure and success; another incredibly creative force - the emotionally hypersensitive Bryan MacLean whose life could be called anything but ordinary; and high drama - two of the band's members got so hooked on the demon heroin that they resorted to robbing donut stands before being carted away to jail. And that's just what readily comes to mind!

Consequently, it is amazing that anyone could take all of the above parts and create such an awful mess! The "book" (it's less than 200 pages, double-spaced, and with incredibly wide margins on all four sides!) barely skims the surface of everything about Lee and Love that COULD be explored. Instead, as another reviewer noted, the author merely repackages quotations and data from pre-existing magazine articles, reviews, and the like. (It looks and reads about like a research paper that a high school student might write.)

And forget this book if you're looking to learn anything about Lee's later efforts and experiences!

You'll probably have more fun (and come out with the same information) by just going to a university library and pulling back issues of publications from the 1960's or just reading the liner notes of some of the reissues that are out there.

Does anyone have any further information on the other Lee biography that the author quotes continually. Perhaps it's a good book....somebody let me know.

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT buy this book, especially if you are an Arthur Lee or Love fan. Nearly everything that is included in this book as already been published on the internet. It's almost as if Hoskyns didn't even write the book, since he pulls so much of his material from previous newspaper and magazine articles. He didn't even interview Lee in jail - didn't speak to Johnny Echols (who EVERYONE has been wondering about).

This book barely contains any new information about Arthur Lee and his fascinating and brilliant group. It's ok if you don't know much about the group but die hard Lee fans will be quite disappointed in this book. I agreewith the other reviewers : most of this book I've read before in liner notes and online postings. This is strange because Hoskyns' other books that I've read (on The Band and music in Los Angeles) were engaging, informative, and entertaining. In addition, he writes for MOJO magazine, a British publication that is top notch. It's puzzling how he could write such an inferior work as this. I also don't know why Hoskyns loathes the post Forever Changes music by Love so much. Granted,it's not as essential as the first three albums, but still it is generally quite good. Overall, this is a very disappointing book.

I would strongly recommend that you NOT buy this book. It's an utter waste of time. The biology review section is hardly comprehendable, and concentrates on such minute and ridiculous details that it's far more frustrating than productive to read. The organic chem review section is a joke, and is only a few pages long. The practice tests have questions that are not representative of those appearing on the actual exam. The only section in the pratice exams that MIGHT be remotely useful is the verbal section. But even here, while the passasges are okay, the questions are not very representative of those on the actual exam. With horrible review sections and practice tests that are even worse, this book is a complete waste of your money. I got duped into buying it becasue the price was so much lower than the price on other review books. Now I know why. You'd be much better off paying the ~$50 for the Kaplan MCAT review boook, which is far more comprehensive and useful.

This book is a complete waste of time and money. The review section is way too general, and the four "model" examinations are both too easy and do not accurately reflect the actual content of the real exam. For example in the biological sciences sections, there were no organic chemistry questions at all, but instead an overwhelming majority of questions about human physiology. Anyone planning to take the MCAT would be better served by buying A) the released MCAT tests available from the AAMC and B) a better review book like Kaplan.

This book was a joke; if you plan on doing poorly on the MCAT waste your time learning from this book. I especially loathed the practice tests. I would suggest Kaplan for the 2000 MCAT.

Same comment as the prior reader regarding the data diskette and the publisher support. I tried to contact the authors at Harvard University, but they are apparently no longer there...

Book is built around a data diskette which, according to the book, on pg xxiv, in the section titled "To the Student" it states : "If your instructor does not provide you with the disk, it can be obtained from .... by calling or...FAX...". Publisher (currently Thomson) will not supply data diskette making book almost useless. Too many better books to list. Don't be disappointed, buy a different book.

Poorly typed and photocopied, with fuzzy illustrations. Even a home produced book ought to look better than this. There are only 34 pages of actual text. I think that I will learn something from it, but it is way overpriced.

This book is really more of a booklet made up of old photocopied, type written pages. The pages are not even clear, with little black dots over the pages giving the appearance of something that has been photocopied quite often. It really looked like something someone threw together in their basement. There is some information there, but not what I was looking for. I think this item would be better suited to old "Singer" machine owners who do not have an owners manual since what information there is in this booklet seems more geared to the Singer owner.

I wanted a more comprehensive, fix it or do it yourself type of manual on mechanical sewing machines that addressed cleaning etc. Although there are alot of diagrams in the booklet, its not information I haven't already seen on the internet. The book is just not worth the money. I've never returned a book before because I really am a book lover but I just couldn't justify keeping this one. Hope this helps someone out there & Good luck!

A useless compedium of politically correct ideas, most of which give the reader a vague feeling of having "read this someplace before."

I have enjoyed the author's previous books, but this one falls far short. It is, for the most part, a hodge-podge of borrowed ideas, with very few of them new or original. I hope that Rabbi Waskow works harder next time to generate interesting and original material--something sorely lacking in this book.

compelling info on methotrexate. takes forever to get to the point. you don't really know what to do until page 240, "foods to avoid." alot of conflicting info with what most of the latest writing on biological medicine states. i refer to acid/alkaline relationship.