Isaac Asimov is the superb master of explanation! He proves it when he easily explains methods for calculations from the very basic to the quite complicated.

Dr. Asimov has discussed many subjects over the past 60+ years. All have shown insight into each particular suject.

But this book shows a true Grand Master doing what he does best; explain.

He shows a mastery of math problems can be easy and fun! If you have trouble with math in any form, this is the book for you!

This book shaped my life. I still have the algrebra medal that I won in ninth grade, partly because I checked out "Quick and Easy Math" again and again from the public library. Not only will it teach you ways to calculate in your head faster than you could on paper, but some of the methods require you to look at numbers with a bit more insight than the usual school child who memorizes the "times tables." In every case, Asimov explains clearly WHY the methods work, imparting valuable ideas as well as cute calculating tricks. How many of us know how to multiply any number by 999, quickly and without pencil, paper or calculator? Easy as can be, IF you know the principle behind it. Not every reader will become a mathematician as I did, but every reader will benefit from the power this book will give you over numbers, whether you are still in school or ready to impress your grandchildren.

Asmov covers this time in history with humor, realism and wit. It's acurate enough to be a source and enjoyable enough to just sit and read. I found his writing to be inpartial and eloquent.

The great thing about this book is that it is written by an actual writer. Too many times i have picked up a history book by some famous historian and have found the sentances so convoluted that i could hardly find any meaning in them. Many historians have attempted to become authors and have failed. Asimov is a writer who has become a historian with sucess. This book offers a glimpse at the Roman Republic with the same depth as many well known historians, but is on a literary difficulty level equal to the cat in the hat. I have read many books that are slightly more indepth than this, but none that were written in a way so that the level of understanding of the roman republic even comes close to the level provided by asimov.

I read this series when I was 10, and it has not changed a bit. It is still among the best books I have ever read -- including other genres -- and certainly the best in science fiction. It is amazing to me that it's out of print. I picked this book up at [local store] just a few years ago and there were a lot of copies. It is amazing how a publishing company could allow such classic sci-fi to go out of print (and look at the things they are printing instead nowadays...) Pick this up wherever you can. You won't regret it.

This book not only fits perfectly in the Foundation series, but also posses what has impressed me more: the capability of hide a piece of essential information until the very end of the book, which can held you thinking profoundly for some time after finishing its reading.

Es increible este libro: a mi juicio el mejor de la serie de las fundaciones. Este libro esta dividido en dos partes: la primera, corresponde a la busqueda de la secreta segunda fundacion por El Mulo, mutante con poderes para controlar las emociones de masas humanas. La segunda parte es la busqueda de la segunda fundacion por parte de la primera.
En resumen, un libro muy pero muy bueno, sobre todo el combate entre el Primer Orador de la Segunda Fundacion y el Mulo.

Podría decirse que Isaac no es muy imaginativo al retomar los elementos centrales de cualquier teoría sobre la evolución histórica de Europa. Pero sin embargo, basado en esa plataforma, construye con la creatividad que le caracteriza, toda una serie de detalles de fantasía del futuro, que yo solo había leido en Julio Verne. Es fantástico. Yo he regalado 4 veces su colección "trilogía", y hoy me he quedado sin un ejemplar en español de estos bellos tomos.

This is the best sci-fi compelation that I have ever read. This collection is more then great science fiction, it proves that science fiction can have great literary merit. Most of the greats are represented here - Flowers for Algernon, The Star, Sand Kings... A great anthology.

This is an superb collection of memorable short sci-fi stories from such luminaries as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, and Harlan Ellision. Each story has the incisive wit and starkness indicative of an great sci-fi story. A must-have, unfortunately out-of-print (I lent a friend mine and never got it back!)

fiction and non-fiction.

_The Wellsprings of Life_ is an eloquent tracing
of the elements of biochemistry, physiology
and especially, the branching phyla of the
of the Carl Gustav Linnaeus cladistics, or
branchings in nomenclature. The biochemistry
is arcane and elegant, the tree of life is
well charted in science, in Latin derived
names for the various branchings in the
phylal cladistics of Linnaeus and biochemistry
in professorial presentation, continuing to
be the best introduction to an interest in
biology, biochemistry or plant and animal
taxonomy, taxonomy being identification of
the branches phylum, order, class, family,
genus, and species.

The naming of any species in biology is
always following the genus. The two words
genus and species, genus first, then species
are always Latin derived words, they are
italized, and the first letter of genus
is capitalized.

E.g., (for example), _Zea mays_, corn

The word corn in Britain describes what we
grow here as wheat. Corn is the British
word for what we call wheat.

Also, the taxonomic keys used to derive
species identification are intense.
E.g., the Dover paperback, _Winter Botany_.
The Harvard botanist Asa Gray's _Manual of
Botany_. The companion Latin key to
Gray, _Gardener's Latin_ by Neal.

Some plants mimic a superficial inspection
of another plant and are not biochemically
or cladistically, or geographically related.

The _Wellsprings of Life_ by Isaac Asimov
is must reading for any student of science
interested in G rated academic intellectual
science reading material.

spotter,
truk island, south pacific
navpac

mgm.comp.mgm

reg. penna dept. agric.

Great book for students of biology. Gives an overview of the history of scientific discovery, evolution theories, etc. Very interesting and readable. Best biology book I have ever read! I loved this book.

FOUR SCIENCE FICTION CLASSICS is an exceptional compilation of the absolute best the genre had to offer in the 1940s and 1950s. It is composed of six powerful stories which transcend the decades in which they were written, stirring the heart and mind as powerfully now as when they were first published.

While these stories would shine under any conditions, the narrations of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy actually serve to further energize the prose. I was especially moved by the performance of William Shatner. Despite having been a fan of Star Trek for decades, I was completely unprepared for the depth and the brilliance of his vocal talents. Shatner's clear insight into the stories and their characters radiates with every word and intonation.

I could not more strongly recommend either an audio book or a science fiction collection.

I only wanted "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" and it did come separate on tape and even on vinyl at one time. It did not hurt to get the rest of the tapes. Foundation: The Psychohistorians is what the Foundation trilogy is all about and the newer foundation books you can read the separate reviews. The Martian Chronicles is ok but I do not want to spend time reviewing this section, as better reviews will be under the book description.

However Mimsy is a different animal. So I will say something about this. It is a small sci-fi story about a formula that allows you into an alternate universe that everyone used to have access to. The problem with getting there is that it requires a different paradigm and a formula. The paradigm requires a mindset that diapers as we get older and the formula is in front of us if we know where to look. An added plus is that it is read to us enthusiastically by William Shatner

I read this book years ago, but I can still recite two of the stories in it almost word-for-word. It helps that they're short (every story has to be under two thousand words), but some of the stories are really exceptional. And for those that aren't great... big deal! How long does it take to read two thousand words?

i enjoyed this compilation of many good sci-fi authors, i recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi.

... this book should be on your bookshelf. If you are new to astronomy and wish to learn some basic facts about our solar system and the universe, Isaac Asimov's compendium of essays in this book will help you grasp the basics and give you a good background on the "Whys." If you are seriously pursuing astronomy as a hobby and post-retirement profession, the book is an indespensible as a little book of known facts and non-intense mathematics regarding moons, orbital mechanics, gravity calculations, and "what-ifs". If you are a professional astronomer, what better way to bring your knowledge and love of astronomy down to the lay person. (Sometimes we learn so much, that we have a hard time explaining things to the little people who one day might take our place.)

Everytime I find a new person interested in astronomy, I come to Amazon to scrounge up a used copy of "Asimov on Astronomy" and give it to them. The book is obviously dated and new things have been discovered since the last printing in 1979; however, much of the book talks about things that do not change with time.

Hopefully, the books will be brought upto date and reprinted again. Thanks, Isaac!