This book is a great introduction or review for adults or teens. Using famous works of art, in color sure beats the first art appreciation book I read in college which had drawings and black and white grainy photos. Even with a degree in art history, I found this book a great refresher.

This is both fun and informative. Though the language may be pitched at a relatively easy level, there is nothing condescending about it. It is deeply informed, and even the professor will learn from it. Buy it without hesitation if you wish to learn about great paintings.

I am only 13 years old and I have this book and I thought it was great. It really did explain art. I saw things that I actually wouldn't notice if I was explaining the picture. It was an interesting book and I enjoyed looking at it. It made me understand the pictures and made art funner and more interestig than it used to be. It was very interesting and I hope you buy this book.

First off let me begin this review by saying that if you are just an ordinary IT administrator that just happens to own some SAN equipment, this book is probably overkill. This book goes into detail intended for those that must diagnose issues in Fibre Channel line traces, frame by frame. That information is not particularly interesting to someone that does not own or use a Fibre Channel trace tool. For more general books, along with advice on network design, look elsewhere.

This book is intended for someone that is so immersed in the Fibre Channel protocol that the trouble shooting site is near the top of their bookmark list. The essential idea behind this reference is to provide a quick introduction to fibre channel, and then dive right in to going over the spec. It is far more readable than the formal standards documents. However, if you are not used to reading protocol references (such as RFC's), the book may be somewhat hard to follow.

It should be noted that this book does not cover Arbitrated Loop, FCP (essentially SCSI over Fibre Channel), SAN Design or any of the FC-SW standard (such as FSPF). You will need separate books for those. FC-AL and FC-SW are covered in other books by Kembel. For a similar book on SCSI (by Deming), google for "SCSI Solution Technology". (It is not available through Amazon.)

Bob Kembel has done a tremendous service for the storage networking industry by clearly explaining the fundamental components of Fibre Channel standards. His works on Arbitrated Loop, Fibre Channel technology and Fibre Channel Fabric Switches are essential reading for SAN technicians and system designers. As foundation knowledge and consistently useful reference material, keep these books close at hand.

This is a valuable reference. I use it in conjunction with the Fibre Channel documents. The text is clear and concise. The drawings are well-planned and easy-to-follow. The Bibliography contains an exhaustive list of Related Books, Papers, Articles, and Standards. Of the books that I have read about Fibre Channel this is one my team members most often steal (I mean borrow ;D) from me. If you are interested in learning about the Fibre Channel or desire a concise explanation of the overwhelming number of specifications, this text will interest you.

"Nature's Religion" is Corrington's keystone work. In it, he explores the very heart of that which clears the way for the movement he terms "ecstatic naturalism." Neither the spirit nor the semiosis of (Corrinton's) Nature can be conceived properly apart from the sacred issuing he outlines here. Written between the lines of psychoanalytics and semiotics, the work asserts the intrinsically "religious" approach of nature naturing / nature natured. Via a masterful reappropriation of Tillich's ground-breaking insights, Corrington delves into "the abyss opened by the ontological difference -- the unruly ground of the not yet." Here he finds a sacred fold/interval/ground/spirit that calls every self (even Nature-Itself) to "religious goals" beyond the intentions of any mere autonomy. The driving force of this eternal re-calling is, for Corrington, the very dis-position of Nature's ground/abyss. The use of language here is careful and clear. But, when approaching something as metaphysically encompassing as Corrington's subject, the novice can easily get lost in the sheer magnitude and multiplicity of the forces at play. Yet, as the most central of Corrington's writings, "Nature's Religion" serves nicely as both a well-positioned point of entry and as a profound exposition of the linchpin concerning his greater work.

"Nature's Religion" is a further development of Robert Corrington's "ecstatic naturalism." This is a "post-Christian," non-theistic (in the traditional sense), but deeply religious worldview in which the human consciousness finds itself separated from and yet mysteriously encountered by the primordial energies of its origins. Corrington communicates his vision of reality by combining a thoroughly poetic phenomenology with psychoanalytic theory, enfolding the whole project in a sophisticated semiotic sensibility that rejects the often simplistic reductionism of so much "postmodern" philosophy. Readers who recognize the kinds of experiences Corrington describes--epiphanies of numinous powers, self-transcending and overwhelming--will find those experiences articulated here with a singular passion, acute insight, and disturbing accuracy.

On the horizon of philosophical theology rests a brilliant display of ordinal phenomenology. While acknowledging Pierce's sign system, Corrington advances the theory by articulating the selving, or self-othering, process of signs. He recognizes the dialectic tensions caused by a god trying to reconcile its position within the orders of the nature it has created. The use of metaphors animates a discussion of the human process, communities and world hood which moves the reader through an understanding of the struggle interpreting signs cause as they move past their origins into a position of signification. The theories presented display the brilliance and genious with which Corrington attempts to reconcile the tensions caused by competing signification and interpretation. Corrington is a must for anyone interested in semiotics, ordinal phenomenology or philosophical philosophy.

Any honest philosopher seriously interested in ancient Chinese philosophy or in origins of Ch'an Buddhism will find this work a masterpiece of scholarship and a very interesting read. It presumes the reader is familiar with Lao Tzu's Dao De Jing, and Chunag-Tzu's Inner Chapters. The koan about Chuang-Tzu's having dreamed he was a butterfly is gone into in depth, with Allinson presenting an interesting twist on the translation, if a slight change in the order of the account of the dream is made. Allinson thinks that a person is spiritually uplifted by following his lead as he walks through the mental landscape that Chuang-Tzu has surveyed for us. It is an interesting journey through the mind of a great and revered master of ancient Chinese thought. In Buddhism, a vow is taken to destroy all "-isms", and so the wise are concerned with criticisms that Chinese philosophy is relativistic, or that everything is permitted since all is relative. Allinson goes deep into this problematic view, and shows that Chuang-Tzu is not a relativist. Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, the Old Master and the Great Master form the Lao-Chuang Philosophy of Taoism (pronounced Dow-ism). Three metaphors for the Dao are flowing like water, receptive like females, and virgin minds, like infants. Anyone making himself out to be a relativist, or any kind of "-ist", is making himself or herself out to be an icecube, by attaching to ideas, and so is not flowing like water. Everyone has his or her own right way of living, and each is a self-legislator. Allinson thinks that there is no one rule which can tell us how to act in every situation, since every situation is different. But he believes that philosophy is a matter of life-and-death and that if we have a choice, we should choose life! Life is right in any case. And that while alive, we should be thoroughly alive. So that we die with no regrets. This is the Zen, or Ch'an, of life and death. Basically, Chuang Tzu is said to be the founder of Ch'an Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is the Japanese version. Buddhism came, originally, from India. Allinson thinks that our minds are like gardens; we get indoctrinated when we are children, in one set of beliefs, one culture, and one language, unless our parents are bi-lingual. We study ancient philosophy in order to see where some of our ideas come from, to overcome the past, and to free ourselves from it. The philosopher shows us how to empty our minds or free our minds of false beliefs which are like weeds in our mental gardens. This gives us room for good ideas to grow. Robert Allinson believes that if we free our minds so that we can develop our original ideas, that then we will be happier. He says that the mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. And, that reason poisons desire and destroys happiness. Happiness is our destiny, and comes from deep within us. If we do what is in our hearts, or try to follow our feelings, intuitions, and affections, we shall be true to our selves. In this way, we shall be true to others, as Shakespeare said. Although the book is long, Allinson agrees with Alexander Pope that a little learning is a dangerous thing, drink deep, or taste not, the Pierian Spring. He presents enough theory to take the reigns from our emotions, and to find ourselves. This book should be read from front to back, and will give the reader many years of enjoyment upon re-reading it. It is a masterpiece that one can return to over and over whenever one needs food for thought. Philosophy is like food for your mind. There is plenty to feast on here! Dr. Allinson was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, before Bill Clinton. He grew up in New Haven, Connecticut where his father taught surgery at Yale Medical School. He earned his undergrad degree Summa Cum Laude at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He spent a year studying in Kerala, India while working on his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. He studied Chinese at Columbia University and has been a Graduate Lecturer in Philosophy at The Chinese University in Hong Kong since 1977, where he is now on the Graduate Committee. His many accomplishments and papers would take a long time to list. I recommend this book strongly.

There's no doubt about it, Office 97 is the Killer. It wiped out WordPerfect, Quattro, Lotus 1-2-3, and everything else. Clean off the map, in a matter of 3 years.

So with all that, the question must come up: How do I use it? And for that, I have found no better answer than Office 97 Secrets.

This book really does what it says. I've been using versions of Word and Excel for years, and I was still able to "Do what I never thought possible" with Office! Bravo!

This volume contains exceptional philosophical articles on the philosophy of Sartre. It covers every and all aspect of his life and thoughts. The critiques pull no punches and omit nothing. This work takes a hard look at the soundness of Sartre's philosophy. To find out if they hold up, read this volume. p.s. The interview with Sartre durring his later years is worth the price of the book alone. If you like Sartre, you will love this book.

I have been looking for a teaching anthology for a 17th-century poetry course that would be well annotated and lively. This fits the bill! I also think the general reader might enjoy it. This is certainly the best 17th century poetry anthology on the market!

Margaret Grierson, archivist at Smith College, wrote of the jewels in this collection from 25 centuries and 5 continents, on the Art of Living, Freedom from Oppression and the Natural Way, by LAO TSU, haiku, and Persian poets. With index by authors and original languages, which are often included with the English translations: the Greeks and Romans (Pericles and Robert Kennedy share a page on war); Isaiah and Palestinian poets and JFK speak of the children. Antonio Machado and a Japanese proverb remind us that "we make our own way as we go...se hace camino al andar", Rabelais says laughter is the essence of man while Camus turns a corner to discover the beauty of morning dew. A Finnish proverb says "when you drink the water, think of the well", while the Russian version says "remember the well-digger." Harlan Ellison (script writer of one of the memorable Star Wars scenarios) gives the worst case scenario for the world, against which Eluard's Seasons and Asian wisdom from Persia and the far East shine, while Thomas Hardy reminds us, in planning, to take a good look at the worst. Listen to Cervantes: La musica compone los animos descompuestos ~ Music restores broken souls and lightens the worries of the mind. Heed the advice of a Nigerian proverb: The biting fly gets no satisfaction on the back of a turtle. Scott Momaday and other native Americans wisely propose what it takes to make a beautiful day. 3rd edition now includes e.e.cummings, Thoreau, Wordsworth, Paul Eluard.

Buddhist Stupas in Asia: The Shape of Perfection by Bill Wassman (Photographer), et al, offers a sweeping and broad overview of the epitome of Asian Buddhist architecture. The photographs are good and the succinct commentary is informative enough. This is not a book for hardcore history buffs though, as the very short accompanying analysis would not suffice; nevertheless, in most cases the photographs more than compensate by offering quality glimpses of a divine form of architecture. One drawback: some of the photographs are too small for the subject to be really appreciated (some are as small as approx. 3cm x 3cm!). All in all: an enjoyable mind-trip through the very essence of Buddhist architecture.

This book covers Buddhist architecture across its known history, from its origins in Northern India through Southeast Asia to Indonesia, to Nepal and Tibet, into China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The emphasis is clearly on architecture, but it covers the relevant backgrounds in Buddhist art and philosophy as well. If you want a book about Buddhist cultures or thought, this is not it. But if you want a book about Buddhist architecture, this is a great beginning. It is well-written, well-designed, and the photography is excellent. I wish it were much longer and went into much greater depth... but then it would be much more expensive!

I received this book as a surprise gift, and I think it makes a great gift: it's the kind of thing someone would want and enjoy, but would not buy for themselves.

The author, Joe Cummings, also writes the Lonely Planet guidebooks for Laos, Thailand and Myanmar (Burma), and they are excellent. I've been to all three places, and so I've seen many of the stupas covered in this book, and his guides have helped me more than most do.

When I opened this book in the bookstore, I was knocked out by the photos, which cover stupas all the way from Taxila, Pakistan, to Tokyo, Japan. The stupa photography is particularly strong in the chapters on India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Tibet. An entire chapter is devoted to Borobudur and satellite stupas in central Java.

Dipping into the text at home, I was pleasantly surprised by how authoritative and complete the coverage of this complex topic was. Not only does the author do an excellent job of explaining the symbolism of stupas in various Buddhist cultures, he also links it to the history of Buddhism throughout Asia, no small task. Although I'm a longtime amateur student of Buddhism and Asian art history myself, I found much new material to ponder.

I was most impressed by the way Mr Cummings has carried out original research as well as reporting on the research of other scholars who came before him. This is something I didn't expect from a hardcover pictorial such as this. Kudos to Lonely Planet for publishing a seriously good book.

Teachers commonly say that they learn more about a subject from teaching it than from being a student. In part this is because so much of what we practice is unspoken and intuitive, while teaching requires a certain explicitness and may be most effective when the essence of a subject is portrayed in a simple, impassioned, and powerful way. As a result, one can often learn a lot from brief, introductory overviews of a subject, as is the intention of this attractive, large-format picture book. Several years ago, the author (who is head of the education division at ChristieÕs) wrote Annotated Art (1994), a companion volume in which diagrams, close-ups, and marginal notes were used to analyze 45 key paintings; and, since then, a similar book was produced by the same publisher about the history of architecture (Neil Stevenson, Architecture (1997)). In this third volume in the series, 50 more paintings (different from those in the earlier book), are arranged chronologically, displayed, and discussed in annotations, using introductory paragraphs, marginal notes, biographical highlights, related works, quotes by and about the artists, and short lists of non-art concurrent events. While the result is necessarily superficial, it is also a welcoming, valuable way to be introduced to art history. (Review from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol 14 No 2, Winter 1998-99)

This oversized book has dovoted 2 pages to each important artist from the 1400's to Jackson Pollock. As with all D-K books, the reproductions are wonderful and the information is fascinating. The arthor gives a mixture of facts about the artist's life, painting of the period, key works of the painter, and other events happening in the world at the time. I love this book!