This book is a great resource for any HS student even thinking about becoming a doctor. It answers alot of questions and give's you the inside scoop on programs that most people don't know about. This book will give you the edge that most students don't have.

This is a beautiful book in the tradition of St. Antoine Exupery's Little Prince. The Palace of Projects should be seen, but this is the next best thing.

This may be the most exciting, ingenious plot-oriented book I've ever read. Gripping!

Wow!

You know you're buying an entertainment gem when the price-tag weighs in at a mere 210 bucks!

For real, Prigogine and Nicolas, G. blow Tom Clancy away! It's like Grisham on steroids! Crichton on amphetamines! Stephen King -- on a good day!

Rip-roaring fun! Buy "Self-Organization in Nonequilibrium Systems: From Dissipative Structures to Order Through Fluctuations" and prepare for the roller coaster ride of your life! Gripping entertainment! Huge fun! Highly recommended!

In a world gone crazy with Bohr's "observer-driven collapse of the wave function", Everett's surreal "many-worlds theory", and Einstein's discomforting "reversibility of time-flow direction", Prigogine stands as possibly the sole (or last?) defender of commonsensical notions of time in physics (which equals to say, of sanity!). He is the Champion of Time, bow, arrow, and all! His weapon: a "bow" of decades of successes (including a Noble Prize) in nonequilibrium thermodynamics. His ammunition, a quite peculiar arrow: the arrow of time. But just as happens with many literary characters, not only his virtue but also his vice may spring out of the very same source; in his case, his "sane" notions about Nature...

This book will very likely prove readable by most general readers, like myself, provided the technical parts are carefully skipped, and the central ideas are correctly spotted. It truly presents essential insights to issues like: the emergence of complexity; self-organization; the nature of matter; determinism vs probability; and the validity of time symmetry in both quantum mechanics and classical mechanics equations. As to issues like the actual existance of a flow and arrow (direction) of time (which, by the way, is the very subject of the book) and the existence of free will, the book may be too far from conclusive...

It seemed to me (only top experts could really tell for sure) that Prigogine showed compelling evidence supporting the idea that, contrary to the prevailing notions in the field of physics, there is time asymmetry both in quantum mechanics and in classical mechanics. And also, that reality at both these levels is not deterministic, but truly probabilistic. He further showed that determinism should be replaced by a probabilistic account of events both in situations where we have finite knowledge about the initial conditions and in situations where we have infinite knowledge (we are done with Laplace's Demon at last!). This alone is already a breakthrough, even though probably not news to well-informed members of the physical sciences community.

I found Prigogine a little bit contradictory (it might be that Nature itself is contradictory in this regard) when talking about determinism/time-reversibility. Sometimes, I got the impression that it only exists in idealized (non-real) situations, and sometimes I understood it as if it does exist in certain specific (real) situations.

I also found his rejection of Gödel's time-reversible interpretation of Einstein's equations far too emotional, instead of being based on experimental-mathematical grounds. As far as I know, this viewpoint, too, has experienced considerable growth over the last 10 years or so (the studies about CTC - closed timelike curves), and it seems to be a quite respectable field of inquiry. Time-flow reversibility does not seem less crazy to me than the fact that we have to use imaginary numbers (that is, numbers that do not exist at all!) in theories that deal with some very basic properties and behaviors of matter, like quantum mechanics and chaos.

Even though physicists usually equal time symmetry (in physical equations) to time-flow reversibility, and asymmetry to irreversibility, I don't see why this has to be so. Nor does this book clarifies this issue any further to the layman (it is interesting to point out in this regard that even the probabilistic collapse of the wave function is considered by the prevailing views of physicists to be symmetrical/reversible, according to Penrose in The Empreror's New Mind). Our suspicions and complaints about the mysterious nature of time are very much justified: space gives us 3 dimensions, bidirectional and with no compulsory flow. Time, on the other hand, gives us just 1 dimension, unidirectional and with compulsory flow. At best, we can slow it down, by traveling close to the speed of light (quite comforting, isn't it?).Time alone is responsible for most of our losses in life (unless you get exiled or something...). I think that, interpreting "time symmetry" as "time reversibility", scientists have actually tried to solve the unsolvable.

In our quest to understand the Universe, we often find three kinds of questions: first, those that can be proved or disproved, like the old statements "The Sun revolves around the Earth" (disproved), and "The Moon revolves around the Earth" (proved). Second, questions that can be proved, but not disproved, like the existance of God or of life after death. Third, questions that cannot be either proved or disproved, like the existance of consciousness in other human beings than ourselves (or in dogs) and (to me) the actual existance of time flow.

Prigogine says that in this book he tried to follow (or discover?) a "narrow path" between utter determinism and total randomicity, probably hoping to find room for free will in between. Although I think he did a brilliant work, I feel that he got stuck in this Narrow Path. His work refutes determinism, but instead of presenting phenomena or advancing mechanisms to support free will, it only casts us into the depths of utter chance. In spite of that, when talking about self-organization in dissipative structures, Prigogine passes on the idea of "choice", even saying (more than once) that "matter begins to see" and that "the system chooses". This might ascribe to nature at its most basic structure the properties of "life" and maybe even of "consciousness", which might mean that we are at the verge of a revigorated return to the ancient ideas of hilozoism and panpsychism. Furthermore, this blurs the limits between emergence and reductionism, for it is very difficult to take a sound reductionist stand (or emergencionist stand) if we don't know what to expect of the world around us (we can't tell if something is emerging or just "arising").

Prigogine's appeal for sanity is both his virtue and his weakness, in a Universe that pays little heed to human's logic and causality. A Universe in which, regardless of being dictated by an authoritarian God or determined by blind and cold laws of nature, the only theory that may account for all that there is is the familiar and provincial B.I.S.O. theory. Namely: Because I Say So!

Nobel Laureate Prigogine describes how the lack of infinitely precise measurements and non-linear behavior in the laws of nature give rise to the arrow of time experienced by all of us. His results seem completely natural in everyday experience where you never see a broken glass on the floor jump back on the table and reassemble itself. Prigogine shows that the current laws of physics, when used in a mathematical framework that excludes perfect measurements, gives rise to laws of nature where an uncertain future must follow the past. An excellent, but technical, book.

The writers do not challenge the validity of quantum mechanics. They point out, that microscopic reversability is compatible with the existence of an arrow of time in the observed world. This arrow of time exists, because time reversal of a macroscopic process, i.e. the same process going 'backwards' in time, is practically impossible, due e.g. to loss of information during quantum mechanical particle scattering. Bolzmann was critized in the 19th century for postulating a microscopic model which lacked time reversal symmetry; Prigogine and Sengers show, that macroscopic ensembles have an arrow of time even though the microscopic laws of quantum mechanics do not. Biology is, in the end, physics!

This book surveys two dozen of the more important XML modules
available for Perl. It is aimed at the intermediate-level Perl
developer who has little exposure to XML and wants to know what the
fuss is all about, or who just needs a roadmap to find his/her way
amongst the hundred-odd Perl modules available on CPAN.

I found the book generally acceptable as computer books go. The
layout of the book is useful and visually pleasing, the section
headers are descriptive rather than cutesy or humorous, and the
authors write seriously and stick to the topic. The program examples
are to the point, and the authors have made a clear effort to come
up with plausible problems to solve rather than using completely
contrived examples. The example XML documents all have DTDs and
Schemas to define their format, which is good practice and refreshing
to see.

The range of topics is good, covering less obvious topics like SOAP
and web delivery of XML documents with AxKit, as well as the expected
discussions of parsing via SAX and DOM.

The faults of the book are twofold. The first problem is the need
for another round of editing. The program listings are almost all fine
(but beware the typo in p. 166, line 24 in the listing) yet the text
is sometimes repetitive and could use another round of tightening up.
Yes, this is true of almost every computer book, but hope springs eternal....

More disappointing to me was the second problem, which is inconsistent
focus. It's in the nature of a survey book to prefer breadth to
depth, but still I found the authors choices on what to discuss and
what to ignore were sometimes curious. I learned that there are SAX1
and SAX2 standards, but not what the difference is between them, nor
when I should prefer one to the other, nor what improvement they offer
over XML::Parser. There is a three-page discussion (p.155-158) of the
entirely-obvious production of XML documents with "print"
statements but no mention at all of XML encoding schemes and how they can
bite you in Perl 5.6.

My spot check of the index was an unhappy experience (the index won't
tell you that the document validation features of XML::Xerces are
mentioned on p.100) and the URL for the book's errata (p.xviii) gives
a 404 error as of this writing.

I'm an experienced Perl programmer with a little XML already under my
belt, so the book was helpful to me in giving me an overview of my
options for my next Perl/XML app. It's not in the Camel book's class,
but it is useful for the intended audience.

A really good overview of the 'state of the art' in the XML/Perl world.

Things I like most about this book :

the content is structured and clear to follow

the didactic style provides 'real-world' examples with explanations, which can easily be modified and extended

It is so succinct it can be read in a weekend. Both highly readable and informative.

I hate to admit it, but I have not felt the need to buy the O'Reilly Perl & XML book yet.

(Keep up the good work New Riders)

The authors of this book, definitely know the subject. I believe one of them is an author of quite a few XML modules, though both are widely known in the Perl XML community.

This book definitely covers the state of Perl and XML. It goes over the most important modules, in great detail and providing concrete examples. I especially like the first two chapters, which in detail get you prepared for the rest of the book. The coverage of XML parsing theory was a great topic to cover. Two large chapters, each dedicated to SAX and DOM respectively, covered both parsing technologies in great detail.

Many, many, more great chapters. Apart from some typos, which are inevitable in any book, this book stands way above the O'Reilly counterpart, which I also own.

The whole problem with writing about a book, and especially this one, is that one has to cut a long story short. A story long enough to encompass a fair amount of scientific history - elaborated, if not referenced exhaustively. Not that it is meant to be. Prigogine's journey does not offer to take you by the hand for a guided tour of order, complexity and self-organisation. Rather, it keeps to the spirit of Toffler's introduction, (Was it coincidental that it was the other way round?!) where he talks about the wonderful art of scientific dissection. Order out of chaos, however, is a difficult read for the anyone who has been initiated into the scientific non-fiction. For those who expect the book to be a popular account of concepts in complexity and self-organisation, the intense style and the depth of detail can be exhausting. Like Penrose in the Emperor's New Mind, Prigogine's style is uncompromising. Toffler's introduction is fitting, if only in parts. The book does not offer explanations. Rather, Prigogine prefers to illumate his readers with his keen philosophical bent. It is here that the book triumphs. The effort that has gone into integrating the ideas in the book, the subtle nuances reflecting Prigogine's own views is truly commendable. But then, one should be fairly conversant with the loopholes that science finds itself in. The description of the behaviour of complex systems warrants some mention. The idea of switching between reality and mathematical description does not gel with the rest of the narrative in parts - specially when chemistry is the running example. Well, Prigogine wasn't writing the book with the intention of it being self-contained - and he makes no bones about it. That is the seed of inspiration, I suppose, for any writer, be it for the cause of science or for the sheer love for the written word. Prigogine has shown that philosophy is in some way inseparable from what many consider the scientist's playground. And we are glad that he has shared his views with us.

Prigogine argues persuasively that he has reconciled classical dynamics with the human conviction that the future cannot be predicted from a knowledge of initial conditions and differential equations alone. He draws the reader through his own intellectual odyssey from classical thermodynamics, through linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and finally to his holy grail of nonlinear nonequilibrium thermodynamics. I suspect he has identified the quantitative tools that will connect the Human Genome Project to a functional understanding of cell biology and physiology. Tools capable of dealing with complexity.
If you are a scientist who has followed these disciplines from afar, and who has wished for a succinct summary that does not shrink from rigor, then acquire this book. You will chuckle at the constant barbs directed across the English Channel, and you will learn wonderful things about thermodynamics and thermokinetics. So few scientific books reveal the authors' insights. Instead, they teem with facts and formulas. Prigogine and Stengers have bedded physics with philosophy as if they were matchmakers for an illicit tryst. You will find yourself whispering, "Aha!" And you will, as I have, wear out your pen with underlining. I loved Carl Sagan's "Demon Haunted World", but Sagan was speaking to everyman. Prigogine and Stengers are speaking to scientists in fields outside their own. They believe they have seen the light, and they want you to see it too. Give them the chance to convince you. You will not be disappointed.

Written by the son of one of Lenin's main embalmer's, this short book follows his family's personal history against the backdrop of Soviet politics. The book is at its most effective in relating the Zbarsky's personal history in the face of Stalinism. Behind all of this is the story of Lenin's corpse. Indeed, the author's father was head of the labratory maintaining Lenin. A fair bit of technical detail is given about the preservation and tomb.
This is a very personal memior. The author had a poisoned relationship with his father, and the book is laced with this acid. Good or Bad, Zbarsky blames his father for misdirecting his studies and his career. In between this, the history of political distortion of science during the 1930's from a personal point of view is fascinating and chilling. The book also tells the story of how his father rose to a privileged position in Soviet society, and some of the double think involved in this. The Zbarsky's thought they were untouchable, having survived the purges of the 1930's only to fall foul of Stalin just before his death. Evidently, with some irony Stalin's death probably saved the father, who was in the gulag by then.
The book concludes with some history of other embalming done by the lab, first for political reasons and then for financial reason after the collapse of the Sovient Union.
In some ways, I thought the poisoned relationship between father and son detracted from the history involved. Perhaps it was deserved, but at some point it color's the author's perspective on other events. Having said that, this book is a strange but interesting story of life in Soviet Russia.

I have read so many books about the Former Soviet Union, that I would probably not realize I had read some of them, until I had read into the books for some length. This book by Ilya Zbarsky "Lenin's Embalmers" is not one you will forget.

The book is not ghoulish nor is it sensational; it is an incredible story about an exceptional event and profession. The book is primarily about the initial embalming, and the decades of maintenance upon Lenin's corpse that have followed. The book is made much more interesting, as the Author meshes the story of Lenin's remains with Soviet History as he and his Family experienced it. The Author also includes the History of the tomb itself, from the earliest designs, through the modifications it has gone through over the years. Architectural drawings as well as construction photographs are included.

The book maintains that all of Lenin was initially preserved, and contrary to persistent rumors, that the entire body has remained intact. Whether or not the book is convincing on these points, I leave to other readers. This really is a great offbeat read. It also is a serious explanation of the History, not a tabloid distortion.

I had never heard about this book until I saw it sitting on a shelf at a small bookstore. The title intrigued me, so I purchased it. While a lot of the work, at least initially, discusses the embalming of Lenin's corpse, there was a considerable amount of material about life during the purges of Stalin. The author was a witness to many events, albeit from a priviledged position in the Soviet hierarchy, and his recounting of the "show trials" and the terror of the "knock in the middle of the night" is revealed explicitly. There is also some recounting of other Communist leaders being embalmed by Russian experts, the section concerning the work on Ho Chi Minh during the height of the American bombing of North Vietnam being particularly interesting. Read this book to learn many different and interesting things about life under Stalin, and also the early days of the USSR.

I ordered this book in hopes that it would be the same 200 page photo reference book that my friend had, but it was not. This book is only about 60 pages and does not cover all of the uniforms that I had wanted to see. I sent the book back and I am now in search of the correct one. Do not order this book if you are looking for the longer version.

"Red Army Uniforms of WWII..." is a usefull book on the subject, but if you only want to buy one book on Red Army uniforms of WWII, I wouldn't recomend this one.
The choice of uniforms is very appealing, but the photographs don't show the colors of the uniforms very well. Partialy this is due to all of the models being photographed against a bright red background ( probably as some kind of association with the chosen subject), partialy this is due to the lighting leaving something to be desired. This is a real shame, because otherwise the book would have been first rate!
The book does offer some uniforms I have never seen anywhere else before, such as the late war camouflage uniform.
If you would, for example combine this book with the book from Osprey Publishing on the same subject, you would have a good combination to start with.

Well, this is a book far above average. A good source for all military artists, modellers etc.
The only small detail missing on ALL photographs is - a piece of white cloth ALWAYS sewn to the inner side of collar. This white inner-collar was worn on all Soviet uniforms, as by Generals as well as by the rank and file!
As a former conscript of the Soviet Army in the late 70's I still remember how much attention our Company NCO's payed to this lousy piece of cloth, that has to be changed every day in order to look clean, fresh and "cultivated". For unclean "inner-collar" you could be punished.
Otherwise this book deserves place on every military history addict's bookshelf.

easily read in layman's terms to understand the basic principles of chaos mathematics.

the topic of soviet policy towards Vietnam is not a heavily researched one and the majority of what exists is heavily tainted by American views and a reliance on propaganda laced official statements of the Soviet government at the time. Gaiduk was one of few who was able to look at the Soviet declassified archives during the short time that they were open and thus his book is built on information which was never released and which better represents the motives and characteristics of the Soviet (and also Chinese to some extent) foriegn policy towards the Vietnam War. Very intersting if the subject interests you. and an integral perspective which can be found few other places.