This book contains very well topics as input and output analysis, verification and validation, random number generation etc. I strongly recommend this book as an introduction of theoric simulation.

Banks revised his great book with updated simulation package and information. Several new issues, such as, tools/softwares, random-variable generation, simulation termination, how to use Simulation to analysis and design computer system, many downloadable examples. Sufficient theories, to understand Simulation, are given, for instance, the Statistics and Queueing theories. Two chapters are dedicated for random-number generation. One chapter is dedicated for verification and validation of simulation models. Although it's only one chapter, several references are given for further study. IE or logistic practioner will enjoy since one chapter is for manufacturing and material handling system (wow!). Very good reference and practice.

This book brings a very complete explanation about what Discrete Event System Simulation is. From the very beginning, they introduce what Simulation is by means of simple examples that you can manage by hand. They also give a comprehensive explanation about how to determine the apropiate distribution functions to use in the simulation. And how to statistically analyze the simulation results. The book also include a comprehensive brochure of different simulation languages.

For those interested in understanding more about cancer and the vagaries of scientific research and FDA approval, this book provides non-fiction as interesting as fiction. The book chronicles the journey and work of the author, a brilliant, driven scientist as he explores a radical new treament methodology for cancer, immunotherapy. His incision of the topic into understandable questions to be answered, and the research process to answer them makes the book a fascinating mystery. The reader learns to root for the scientist, his hard-working team, and the immune cells that fight cancer. Along the way, you learn about cancer, its causes, and alot of the associated terminology. Educational and entertaining.

I read this book for an odd reason: I was looking for anything written by John Barry, whose absolutely brilliant book, Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America, completely captivated me. He's only the ghost-writer this time, and this book may not be quite as good as his own, but it's still an amazing story of guts and determination. The reader comes away from this book with new respect for the guts and determination to the point of obsessiveness of both medical researchers and patients who participate in test programs. Along the way of a story as suspenseful as any murder mystery, one gets and understanding of immunology, molecular biology, and cancer. Barry's other book may change the way you think. This one won't exactly do thast, but it will open an entire world to you.

An account of the dedicated, honest and intelligent efforts to solve one of the most complicated of problems of medical science today, as described in "The Transformed Cell", makes one feel confidant that with scientists like Prof. Rosenberg around us, the solution to such problems is not very far. I'm only looking for the sequel to this masterpiece with a title "...And the Solution to it!". sanjay upreti, NY

This is a really fun little graphic novel, loaded with great artwork and a decent storyline. I wouldn't recommend it as a first-time read for anyone unfamiliar with the X-Men - taken out of context from the overall series - it might be a somewhat confusing introduction. But for those who know the characters and have a general idea of what is going on, believe me, this one delivers the goods.

In the past, I have generally hated the X-Men's adventures in the Savage Land, or whenever they would go to outer space or get into really super sci-fi type situations. I always felt the X-Men stories worked much better when they were grounded in very normal, down-to-earth settings, because it made the X-Men themselves stand out and seem that much weirder. But this book is an exception to the rule. It's a big, crazy, larger-than-life adventure, part of which takes place in the prehistoric Savage Land, and part of which gets hyper technological, and it works out OK.

The artwork is tough and gritty. Jim Lee draws a mean, shadowy, ugly Wolverine who kills lots of villains and looks like he needs to take a shower very badly.

And Lee's women - whoa. This book contains more gratuitous cheescake shots than any X-Men graphic novel I've seen, but it's all very pleasing to the eye. Especially the scenes with Rogue, whose bare skin can kill anyone she touches and thus, understandably, was always the one major female character who kept herself completely covered at all times. This was the first storyline in the series where they finally drew her as a scantily-clad, sexy heroine. A real treat for male Rogue-fans who'd been reading the series patiently for years.

This storyline also chronicles the transformation of innocent young Psylocke into a mature woman trained in the art of Ninjitsu, and she becomes an ultra-violent, sexy bad girl. And then there are cameo appearances by other Marvel superheroes, namely Captain America (from the Avengers series) and The Black Widow (from the Daredevil series). All in all, it's a satisfying, action-packed, well-drawn, crowd-pleasing comic book in trade-paperback format.

X-Men Visionaries Jim Lee trade paperback Is a great X-Men graphic Novel by Jim Lee! the book reprints Uncanny X-Men issues #248,#256-258,#268-269,#273-277 are reprinted together in this wonderful Marvel book collection! This book contains the early Uncanny X-Men issues that made Jim Lee famous! All the issues are written by Chris Claremont with artwork by Jim Lee. These issues lead to the popular Claremont/Lee colaboration on X-Men#1 in 1991. Most of the artwork was done by Jim Lee. Uncanny X-Men #273 was done by various artists. Buy this book if your fan of X-Men and Jim Lee. Highest Possible Recommendation!

This is a great X-Men: Visionaries Jim Lee graphic Novel! This is Jim Lee's early work on the Uncanny X-Men series! This Marvel Tradepaperback reprints Jim Lee's early years when he was the comic book artist on Uncanny X-Men. In this book reprints Uncanny X-Men#248,#256-258,#268-269, #273-277. His early work on the Uncanny X-Men in the early 1990s, lead to to the critically aclaimed Clarmont/Lee work on X-Men #1 in 1991. All the Uncanny X-Men issues are written by Chris Claremont. Most of the artwork is drawn by Jim Lee. Unncany X-Men#273 is drawn by various artist. Buy this book if your a big fan of X-Men and Jim Lee. Highest Possible Recommendation.

dave barry is, as someone else said, the funniest man alive. I really dont know how he continues to come up with new material, but I have never read one of his columns without laughing.

I also liked "naked" by david sedaris, "kick me" by paul feig, and "welcome to the nuthouse!" by peter mckay

I had to travel 6 hours by plane with no movie and no meal(Southwest airlines, if you are wondering). I wanted some humor to balance the suspense novel I also took along so, never having read Dave Barry before, I bought this "Greatest Hits" compilation of his newspaper columns.

Though some of them are a little dated since they were apparently written in the 1980's, this is without a doubt the funniest book I have ever read. You will be laughing out loud. Technology, politics, kids, Sport utility vehicles and just about everything else are jabbed at here and the results are amazingly humorous.

If you need a great laugh for any reason, buy this book!

Let me just be honest, I've read this book so many times the cover has fallen off. This book is like stand-up comedy written down. It is impossible to read this book and not laugh, I've tried. My personnal favorite columns were "Way To Go, Roscoe!", "Slow Down And Die", and "Heat? No Sweat". Of course, everything in the book was good. Buy this book, it will be the best decision of your life. And, by the way, let's elect Dave Barry as president. You know he'll be much better than whoever is in office now.

This book is great fun to read and gives you a better perspective on flies and there history. The chapters are well thought out and very enjoyable to read. The tools and materials chapter is very good also. Like all of Geirach's book it is a good read that you will read again and again.

John Gierach's straight to the point, matter of factness on flies, trout's selectivity (or lack thereof) and his total lack of sacred cows on the stream is a hoot.

When you buy this one (and you WILL buy it, if not now then eventually) have a good seat, expect a fun and informative read: it's not entirely what you're expecting. Most of what you're expecting is there... but, hey, it's John after all.

It's hard to sit still long enough to read this book. Every few pages has me up out of my seat--what am I doing reading, when I could be at the vise creating? Gierach offers several ideas in this book that I've tried and like (Now, what will I do with all those Wooly Buggers tied the old way?). Of course, his preferences and biases don't always gel with my own, nor with those of other tier-authors. But even when I disagree (I like the looks of beadheads), the preferences he explains in this book offer plenty to think about. In addition, he offers some unforgetable common sense anecdotes reminscent of the stories in books like _Sex, Death, and Fly-Fishing_.

One quibble: The cover blurb compares Gierach favorably with Mark Twain. As a humorist I think Twain may remain above Gierach. But Gierach's reputation as a humorist after the manner of Twain fails to offer justice to the range of Gierach's work.

Someone gave me Tiller and the Pen by John Ellsworth as a gift book (a signed one) last Christmas and I am sorry to say I had not opened it until last night when I just happened pick it up from the shelf. Before I was done I had already read half of it. Its a great little collection of sea stories and I especially liked the story by Marian Blue.

To read this anthology of short stories is a sensory experience. The stories are both powerful and subtle. They quickly transport you from your easy chair to some captivating place and time where you get to savor the sights, the smells, the sound and the emotions of someone's nautical experience... Each story leaves you with a lingering feeling; be it melancholy or euphoria. The segues are well crafted. While the taste of one lingers on your pallet the next story entices your emotions in a new and different direction.

Sailing imitates life, and these stories examine a broad scope of issues. Comparing our children to our parents and each to our selves. Retrospection on the silly notions of our childhood. Day dreaming about the soul mate that might have become a lover, but didn't... A woman who has out-lived her spouse runs her sailing dingy aground while reviewing the details of their life together. A fisherman catches a snap-shot view of a family left in despair by the brutality of a perverted father. A mother is lead to safety by a daughter's masterful seamanship... A twist ending deals with racism... A captain looses his good judgment. Was he consumed by his own greed or was he a victim of an ancient curse?

My recommendation? Buy this book. Wait for a stormy day. Brew a pot of coffee. Throw a couple of logs on the fire. Read the book in one sitting; preferably within sight of the sea.

Tiller and the Pen, edited by John Ellsworth, is a wonderful collection of sea stories that transported me to sea onto the pitching deck of a sailboat. While reading the stories I could smell the salt air and feel the sea spray on my face.

Following are my favorite stories:

"Three Men and a Boat" by Elton Churchill promised to be a traditional sailing tale, from the first look at the beautiful illustration and the sleek lines of a classic wooden yawl.

Then the opening sentence grabbed my attention: "The smell of oak in the last of the winter fires is intoxicating; like an aphrodisiac it arouses deeper memories of summer."

What a fantastic story of three generations and the family tradition of owning, maintaining, sailing and racing a classic yacht.

"A Daughter of the Tradewind" by Richard Morris Dey described the illusive beauty and free spirit of an island girl who sailed a boat as an artistic endeavor. "She looked the part to live the island life, all right, and carried the silver flute like a talisman in those early days. And when she played that flute the island was hers for the asking; seemed reflected in the bays of her clear blue eyes."

"Island Hunter" by Christine Kling had me walking around the boatyard of Ventura Harbor (my home port) and gazing out across the Santa Barbara Channel at the majestic mountain peaks of the Channel Islands, long before the story mentioned the harbor as the location.

This is the story of a single captain's dream: to find a beautiful, young, woman willing to help him prepare his boat for the adventure of a life time, then to sail off on a cruise of the Pacific Islands together.

"La Corona del Diablo" by Ray Bradley takes us back to the eighteenth century and sailing aboard a Spanish treasure galleon. It is the yarn of a spell cast upon the captain of the King's treasure ship and their perilous journey. It conveys the mystical, magical power of a magnificent golden crown, rimmed with emeralds and dazzling jewels.

This collection works. All authors obviously have been there and lived the life. With colorful descriptions and dramatic moments, these stories deliver. You, too, will smell the salt and feel the spray.

Compared to Murray's Flyfishing for Smallmouth Bass, expect vague generalizations without enough specifics to sink your teeth into.

I had the privilege to work on a TV show called HIGH COUNTRY OUTDOORS with Barry the same year he and John wrote PIKE ON THE FLY. I devoured this book and still have it on my shelf in close reach. The techniques aren't just old hackneyed phrases but are true tested tactics gleaned from Barry's experiences. I know of no better way to understand the ways of flyfishing for pike and other large gamefish than to read this book over and over. I refer to it for much more than just pike and muskie, its a great handbook to have when I want to think like a fish.

I read this book then went to Canada fly fishing for Pike. I found out that Barry Reynolds knows fly fishing for Pike. Take the advice of this book and you WILL catch Pike, lots of Pike on a fly rod.

This is simply excellent. Concise, informative text and attractive, well-researched maps. I have to agree with Barry Cunliffe in his introduction to this book - it really is an 'incomparable source'.

A whole host of historians such as Rankin, Moscati, Chadwick, Martel, Eluere, Markale, Aedeen, Powell, and Litton have all edited or written books entitled simply "The Celts," not to mention the dozens and even hundreds of other books with other titles on the Celts, so if anything there is virtually a plethora of works out there available on the subject, especially in the way of traditional histories.

Which bring me to the present volume. For something a little different on the Celts, try Haywood's book. The book skillfully combines text with the many maps, graphics, and photos. Among the book's several strengths are the many pictures showing Celtic art and the maps which provide a graphical display of the important events of the time. There are 54 maps and 160 illustrations in the book. The photos show the Celts to be superb craftsman and metal-workers, and before reading this book, I didn't know they have been around since at least 1200 B.C. and lasted all the way down to late ancient times in the 3rd or 4th century A.D. Compared to the Greeks and Romans, who left major monuments, many texts, and various archeological finds, we have comparatively little in the way of remains for the Celts, but Haywood does a fine job of detailing and discussing what we do know of these somewhat mysterious and shadowy tribesman of Northern Europe.

Haywood is especially skilled at linking the text with the maps, and to give another plug for this fine author, he did a really great job with his Atlas of World History, which is one of the best historical atlases out there, especially considering it's up to 1/4 the cost of some of the more famous "big guns" like the Dorling-Kindersley and Hammond atlases of world history. Hammond also writes much better than most atlas writers, who prose only too often is a good substitute for late-night television as a soporific. If I recall correctly, Barry Cunliffe is the author of 40 books on history and archeology himself, and in the introduction he describes the book as "an incomparable source." I would have to agree with him, and altogether this is a fine book to read, browse, pore over the maps, or whatever, by a talented scholar and presenter of history.

This book told me all I needed and wanted to know about Montana

This is an excellent guide. A fun and exciting read filled with wonderful stories, images and local knowledge.

The first section of this book, a "rippin yarn", recounts the fascinating careers of several 19th century men who made their marks on the Mississippi River. The rest of the book is a hodge-podge of variously intriguing and pointless factors leading up to and flowing from the 1927 flood (Why drag the Taylorites into this?). The author spares no effort to bludgeon the reader into accepting that the flood was one of the watershed events of the era, but it doesn't wash. The characterization of key figures is heavy-handed and simplistic, evoking a class struggle in which the rich and powerful (New Orleans (hiss), the Percy family and Herbert Hoover) were all, ultimately if not sooner, evil, or, worse yet, seeking more power. Also, after excoriating the bureaucracies (especially the Corps of Engineers) that made the flood inevitable, the author provides virtually no information about what has been done to deal with the River in the subsequent 70 years. I might tolerate such failings in a magazine article, but not in a work with pretensions to stand as a history reference work.

The great Mississippi Flood of 1927, one of THE greatest disasters in American history, is now largely forgotten despite the social upheavals it caused. What is eerie about "Rising Tide" is the parallels between the events of 1927 and the floods of 1993 and how the lessons of the past follies in flood control have been largely forgotten. Of course the 1993 floods caused no major social upheavals and that is at least as important to the story. At least we've evolved as a society to the point where a small clique of power brokers could never be allowed to deliberately flood a poor parrish to save their own homes. At least, I hope. This is a highly readable and very informative book for history buffs.

I'm a native Louisianian (Baton Rouge), and this book brings to light a historical event I never really heard that much about growing up, which is strange when you learn that 95% of my living family's from New Orleans. Barry creates a vivid picture of the Deep South in the share- cropper period (for some people, it was always the Depression) and of New Orleans and Louisiana before Huey Long, when the state was under the thumb of the Old Bourbons and still mortgaged to Standard Oil. The different strata of society affected by the flood are given a good deal of exposure, and Barry does a good job of linking the Republican Administration's flaccid response to the catastrophe with the changing political loyalties of sharecroppers and others. I thought he could have gone deeper with some of his analyses, and perhaps commented on the similar phenomenon of the present-day Mississippi changing course, flooding the Atchafalaya, permanently destroying the wetlands, and perhaps altering the political universe in the Deep South once more. Altogether, though, this book is definitely worth reading, for its dramatic retelling of a catastrophic tale and its insights into 1920s Southern society.