A frustrating book. My initial impression is that I could have written virtually all of it myself.

The book consists of a large number of 1/2 or 3/4 page essays, superficially describing some aspect of design (color, line, type, shape-with-type, etc), and urging the reader (basically) to try lots of things and see what looks the best. In between the essays are small illustrations of design drafts or finished products, with short and generally unenlightening captions. I expected more!

There are a few bits of concrete advice in the book, but many are so vague as to be unhelpful ("consider the use of color in your design"), and some are simply wrong. For instance, it's hard to credit the statement "it is unlikely that a light, classic serif type will mix with a heavy, sans serif face", when it's printed in a light oldstyle serif face, under a heading that's in (you guessed it!) a heavy sans. On another page, some advice about the cost of color choices seems to show a misunderstanding of how the four-color printing process works. On at least two occasions, the text refers to an illustration "on this page", when no illustration matching the text description actually appears anywhere in the book.

The diction is odd and stilted, as though it were imprefectly translated from the Korean, or perhaps the Icelandic. Can You Parse This: "The emphasis in describing this product range is the link between acceptable branding style described by choice of type and the various options in positioning the visual content." Huh?

Another oddity: the book mentions computers exactly once, in a confused sentence about phototypesetting. Given that the majority of design projects these days use the computer in at least one stage of design (and often many more), this seems unaccountable.

Perhaps there are things in this book that would be helpful to someone with a cognitive style very different from mine, but I found it disappointing, and the few possibly-valid pieces of advice and interesting illustrations not worth the price or the time.

I was looking for something more than a "picture book" as many publish today. This book delivers the goods! Both in design and syntax, the author brings the novice through the fundamental stages of creative pagination. Don't buy another graphic design book until you own and read this one. No beginning gdesigner should be without this on their bookshelf.

The book is easy to read, dividing the core elements of good design into three primary sections/stages. One doesn't only learn how to create a good-looking piece of design, but more importantly, WHY it looks good -- i.e. how to ensure good design can become a personal habit.

I found the book a most helpful, easy to read guide, and loved the real-life examples in the last section.

Just to clarify some of the other more high-toned reviews, this is the story that a man whose inclinations are thoroughly homosexual and inclined toward pederasty tells to male friends who, the reader infers, incline the same way. It is the story of his marriage and attempt toward a "normal" life. Though Marceline, his wife, is a paragon of sweetness, he cannot maintain a constant affection for her, and when she contracts tuberculosis, though he tries to be sympathetic, distraction and boredom send him off to the boys who infatuate him. The story is told subtley; you slowly realize that this an unreliable narrator who is more of a scoundrel that he makes himself out to be. It's impossible to think of an American politician (Gide held several important government jobs in France) writing a book like this!

My fascination with Oscar Wilde led me to the work of Andre Gide. Immoralist is a sensual journey into the life of a man that resides in each of us. Gide's masterful classic style; streamline and beautifully concise, made me feel as though I were experiencing the sensations of his characters. It was easier to sense a feeling of the water than to visualize the stream.

Interestingly, Immoralist seems to come from the Gide's own life and one particular character is exactly reminiscent of Oscar Wilde himself. Maybe, thats already known, but I had knowledge of Gide's life long before I read the book.

Anyway, I liked the book. It was easy reading and at times I felt just about as "sensuous, almost beautiful" as Gide himself.

Many readers of this book are inclined to compare it with the works of Camus. I grant that The Immoralist does suggest existential questions but, unlike Camus' La Chute (for instance), it simply presents the life and actions of the anti-hero without his actual and deliberate existential questioning. This is the subtle richness of Gide's writing. The Immoralist presents a unique disparity in the lavishness in description of setting, and the relatively spare characterizations. Gide does not glorify, chastise nor condemn his Michel. Michel is simply what he is, what he has become. This novel is filled with brilliant writing, lines of which one can't help but memorize. For instance, "The capacity to get free is nothing; the capacity to be free, that is the task." and also, "You cannot be sincere and at the same time seem so." Having read both Bussy's pioneer translation and Howard's later one, I much prefer the latter. It's a far more exact translation.

Having read the reviews, I expected a lot of deep information. I was mistaken. It is not a bad book, but if it stands out, it is mostly because the majority of Java authors figure that publishing a poorly documented API is adequate. I'd call this an intermediate level book.

It lacks a permuted index, which is a must for a book like this. A lot of the nitty-gritty information is presented as an aside to demonstrating the examples instead of a well thoughout discussion. Some of these are in the index and some are not.

If you're looking for thorough discussions of the AWT architecture, keep looking. If you're looking for a good discussion of how to use layouts, this might be the book for you.

It helped quite a bit, but the book will get deep quick with not a lot of explanation of how it got there. Yes I have it, read it and like it.

Graphic Java 1.1: Mastering the AWT is the best book that I've come accross, so far, for AWT programming. The book is a little advanced, new Java programmers may find this to be a little difficult. However, at the same time, the book also clearly teaches the new 1.1 event handling model. This is an excellent book for anyone who needs to do Windows programming with Java.

I found this book nice to read but pretty poor in terms of practical information. If you're looking for material to waffle at a VC it's all here but don't expect to sit down and start writing applications after reading it...

This book doesn't purport to cover programming. Instead it is a comprehensive guide that describes ebXML from business and technical perspectives, and does so is such a clear, well written manner that it deserves 5 stars. If you're more interested in writing ebXML applications you may want "ebXML Simplified" by Eric Chiu (ISBN 0471204757), which shows how and provides sample code.

What I most like about this book is the way the authors manage to integrate the technical details with the business value of ebXML without going over the heads of business users or talking down to IT professionals. I also like the fact that the book is kept up to date on the companion web site, and the additional information that is provided there to supplement what is covered in the book.

The highlights, in my opinion, are:

Chapter 2, ebXML in a nutshell. This chapter uses clear prose and illustrations to portray ebXML, how it fits into an enterprise solution, and all of the underpinnings. If you only read these 30 pages you'll come away with a solid understanding of what it is and how it works. The next chapter, ebXML at Work, takes this material a step further with case studies that are realistic.

All of Part II, which shows how ebXML fits into the much larger XML picture (including an interesting history of XML and how it evolved from SGML). History aside, this section ties together a number of related technologies, such as Java, XML, HTML and platforms. In fact, the four legs of a table metaphor that the authors use is one of the most elegant depictions of the interrelationships I've seen. They don't stay at high level, however. The book drills down into DTDs, and also does an excellent job of describing the business processes and technical architecture in terms that anyone can grasp. I especially liked the way UML and use cases were introduced.

If you want a book that describes ebXML (and in a larger sense, XML) from business and technical perspectives this is the one to read.

This book provides a nice combination of the technical underpinnings of ebXML with an explanation of the new business strategies that it makes possible.

Too many managers believe that they can conceive and implement an eBusiness strategy without understanding the underlying technologies. This hubris contributed to the recent rash of web business failures. The Kotok and Webber book does an admirable job in explaining the technical to the business mind and the business to the technical mind. And I believe that even many of the more technically inclined will benefit from the history of how ebXML came about and how it leverages but is fundamentally different from Electronic Data Interchange.

The global focus and variety of examples from both business and not-profit organizations is also a welcome widening of the normal discussion of eBusiness.

I would read this book before many of the supposedly more business savvy tomes on eBusiness.

A simple man is approached by the white horse of Lord Zarik. The brave man must venture down into Hades to rescue several of Zarik's brave men from the curses put upon them. As each are rescued, they join in the quest to locate Lord Zarik.

They must figure out riddles and confront many foes. There are battles with griffins, several Dyroes, harpies, and even Medusa and two of her sisters. Each new challenge brings a new quest.

**** This book is unlike any modern day writing I have ever read. A novel length gothic poem! The entire story rhymes! A few sketches are included as well. Recommended especially for those who love poetry or the works of long authors, such as Poe. ****

This book was very fun to read, it kept me interested from start to finish. I thought the ending was the best part of the book, which is a must read for fantasy fans. I am quickly falling in love with this author, and I'm anticipating his next releases.

The Nequia will delight all who read it. It is extremely well written and keeps you interested until the very end of the book, which was the best part. I think I am falling in love with this author, and I am anticipating his next releases.

True White Tantra is founded in perfect concordance with the teachings of Krishna, Buddha Shakyamuni, Padmasambhava and Jesus of Nazareth, all of whom expressly declared that desire leads souls to suffering, and only purified souls can enter the superior worlds and positively awakened consciousness. Although it contradicts the Western concept of sexuality, true White Tantra demands the absolute renunciation of the animal desire. True White Tantra leads the repentant soul along the path of absolute purification from all that is based in desire, craving, aversion, fear, anger, pride, envy, lust, etc. Obviously, the most potent and most advanced teachings of Pure White Tantrism are the teachings of Sexual Yoga, in which the practicioner must completely conquer their lust and rejuvenate the soul; this is accomplished by transmuting energy, by converting the base energies into refined energies, and this is possibly only by saving every atom of sexual energy, thus the practicioner of White Tantra must renounce the orgasm. The various teachings that recommend occasional orgasms are what is called "Grey Tantra," as they are diversionary teachings designed to seduce naive seekers into believing they can pursue spiritual work while still fulfilling their animal lust. True White Tantra always requires the complete removal of animal lust, and any practice that sustains lust or ignores it is a door to Black Tantra. Black Tantrism attracts innocent souls through their desires and leads them to profound suffering. For more information, read "The Perfect Matrimony," "The Mysteries of the Fire," and "The Mystery of the Golden Blossom" by Samael Aun Weor.

This book loses major points by suggesting that it is okay for a man of 30 to ejaculate once every two days, and a man of 40 once every three days. As a comparison, Daniel Reid in his book The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity recommends a general regimen of 24 ejaculations per year, or about once every two weeks, varying the frequency depending on age and the time of year.

Anyone who does qigong, taiji or similar work with their qi would understand that the ejaculatory frequencies suggested by this book are far too high. Three days is simply not enough for a man of 40 to replenish his energy levels and fully experience Eastern sexual techniques.

The book simply does not want to tell men that they should reduce their frequency of ejaculation in order to build up qi levels - my guess is that they would not sell as many copies if they told Western men to reduce their ejaculation frequency. Besides, most men are already ejaculating as often as this book mentions, as according to Esquire a few years ago the average number of ejaculations by men was 2.7 per week (about once every 3 days). In my opinion this ruins an otherwise good book.

I truly enjoyed this book. It describes everything you need to know to succesfully begin into the Arts of the East and West, with plenty of practical applications. Anyone interested in improving their level of activity will be surprised by the usefulness of this book. Great Choice !

Like all of you who read this review,you're Everest junkies who probably won't even get near this mountain, but are hooked on all books about it.
High; Stories of survival from Everest and K2 is NOT what you're looking for. This book is nothing but one-chapter excerpts from other books. It's like walking into a movie half way through: You have no idea what's going on. Also, there are no maps of either Everest or K2, so if writers of these chapters (and some of them are BORING writers!) describe trouble on Everest's north col or K2's Abruzzi ridge, we can't picture these places in our minds.
This book (unlike all the other Everest books I bought and immediately read) has been sitting on my bedstand for months. I only read it when I wake up at 3AM and can't go back to sleep. Just reading from this book puts me back to sleep reeeeeal fast!
Don't bother with this one. The Everest season is happening right now. Maybe more books will come from this year's hikers.

I very much enjoyed and highly recommend this book. I've read many of the books from which these chapters are selected, yet there was much fresh material for me. The editing was so masterful that even though the chapters are from different writers, mountains, and times, they flowed together seamlessly

High does for climbing what the movie The Thin Red Line did for combat: It explores not the details of the event, but the inner thoughts of the participants. You read what it feels like to have a climber dying in a tent next to you. You learn about the humilation of having frostbite while back at home. You are with the widows who trek in the paths of their husbands to glimpse the mountain graves of their loved ones.

While I can understand that some reviewers felt the selections dropped one into the middle of a big problem high on a mountain without the broader context of the expedition, I didn't feel this was a problem. I don't need the beginning, middle, and end to enjoy a brief tale. There are plenty of books that give all those details, yet few that are gripping to read from the first page to the last.

This is the first book i've read that was a collection of excerpts from other books. The only thing i didn't like was that the book itself was big and bulky. Well anyways, just buy it. you won't be disappointed.

I found this book interesting for what Russell had to say about playing for the Celtics and how he personally played the game of
basketball.

As far as lessons on leadership, I believe that what Russell and David Falkner (Russell's ghost writer) offered were
mere platitudes that I have read in a hundred places before.

If you want to learn about Russell's basketball career, read this book. If you are looking for leadership lessons, particularly as an entrepreneur and parent (the book's targets), go elsewhere.

I always find it a bit pretentious when a sports book is written or marketed to have general application to life (Rick Pitino's obnoxious Success is a Choice comes to Mind), but with that caveat almost anything Bill Russell has to say is worth listening to if only because of the man's profound intelligence, wit, insight, and unique perspective on sports and the world in general. Will this book change your life? I doubt it. But then again, if we read for entertainment and enrichment, this book well suits the purpose, and if you happen to be a sports fan or better yet a basketball fan, so much the better as Russell provides much material about the golden age of basketball and the wonderful Boston Celtics before too much money spoiled it.

Bill Russell has never been called conventional. With the myriad of self-help, leadership and personal improvement books in the marketplace, it's hard to break through the clutter...RUSSELL RULES clearly does. This book, like the author, is a WINNER.

As a woman, I was a little skeptical of the usefullness of the book, quite expecting a macho look at winning. A lot of kick butt talk and posturing.

I read this book and found the lessons applicable within minutes with my family and other situations we all experience on a daily basis.

The chapters on listening vs. hearing was particularly meaningful and are worth reading and rereading. He also introduces a very unique concept that is simple in meaning but powerful in reality; the concept of outside-in thinking.

This book is for everyone and we are going to introduce it as the first book of its kind to our book club.

I found this book to be a good source of the crux of the argument for impeachment. Most people seem all too willing to dismiss this entire time of Clinton's term as marred by either a vast right wing conspiracy or an over-aggressive investigator consumed with sordid details. However, David Schipper clearly spells out 1) how Clinton lied, 2) how he influenced Lewinsky to lie, 3) how Clinton deliberately mislead and tried to hide evidence, and 4) how Clinton has had a history of character assassination of any all all opponents. Wether or not you believe Schipper's claim as a "life-long democrat", there exist some things in this book that I found irrefutable. The depositions are taken word for word. If you believed the President when he mangled the definition of "is", then you will likely see this book as biased. However, if you have read the New York Times, The Wall St. Journal, and The Washington Post, and watched CNN throughout this process, then this book will offer a succint account of the true reasons for impeachment. More to the reason for the writing of the book, it will also give you a taste of the gamesmanship and politicking that runs Washington DC. The powers in place are ultimately only interested in the status quo, as long as it includes them. Henry Hyde should be the President.

"Sellout" is a sad and tragic tale of a few leaders in our government who had remarkable courage being thwarted and betrayed by those who did not. But more ominously, it is a tale of what happens when the checks and balances system of government breaks down, as well as the courage of those charged to enforce that system. It is also a story of accountability being defeated by polls, of right and wrong being defeated by politics.

David Schippers, a life long Democrat and two time Clinton voter, shows Bill Clinton to be a man of incomprehensible arrogance who felt he had the right to deny justice to the less powerful. Clinton's actions are contemptible as well as criminal, but the lack of courage by so many of our leaders to then bring the president to justice for his malfeasance is heartbreaking and enraging.

House Democrats play to type in Shippers' book, utterly uninterested in the facts of the case against Clinton, indeed many never even went to the evidence room to examine the evidence. Worse yet, not one Democratic Senator ever bothered during the Senate trial to look over the evidence despite their oaths to do justice and to have formed no opinion of the guilt or innocence of the president prior to having examined all the evidence. This "circle the wagons" mentality which protected Clinton like a mafia don was to be expected from those of Clinton's own party. But for the Republican Senate leadership to have whitewashed Clinton's crimes and to have acted so embarrassed at having to perform their legitimate oversight role over the Executive Branch is unforgivable.

Schippers shows what a complete joke the Senate "trial" was, an empty shell with a pre-ordained outcome posing as justice which should forever deny Clinton supporters the right to claim Clinton was acquitted based on facts rather than polls. A real trial resulting in acquittal would have had meaning. The sham trial Schippers portrays shows Clinton's acquittal to have been a failure of spine within the Senate, not a failure of the facts to prove Clinton's guilt. The book makes clear acquittal was the pre-determined outcome in the minds of the Democrats in the Senate, and even among some Republicans.

All Americans should be deeply disturbed by Schippers' book, not just because the president utterly trampled the rule of law and our system of justice (to say nothing of his oath of office and the presidency itself), but because so many in Congress from both parties allowed Clinton to get away with it. The polls enabled Democrats to protect their law breaking president. The polls cowed the Republican leadership from performing justice. That is a dangerous precendent and should give Americans pause.

Despite the maddening lack of will to see justice done by both political parties in the impeachment drama, it is rewarding to read of the courage of the House Managers, who knowing the evidence, the law and the sanctity of the presidency were unafraid to do their jobs and hold the president accountable. Congressman James Rogan in particular stands out as a man of tremendous courage, the House Manager with the most to lose, but who in the end preferred to lose his seat than to see accountability lose all meaning in our government. Rogan is the kind of man so many Americans wish there were more of in government, someone who will do the right thing rather than the popular thing. And yet when there is such a man so many will turn on him and say "How dare he! " as is happening among Rogan's constituents.

I rate Schippers' book with 4 stars more for its message than its content. There are some interesting insider revelations, but many parts of the book are lifted out of the Congressional record which tends to bog the book down. And the book ends rather abruptly without shedding much light on the proceedings of the Senate trial, farce though it was. However, the transcript of Schippers summation before the House Judiciairy Committee is a stunning work of prose and weaves a tapistry of criminality by this president that is breathtaking and will forever deny Clinton apologists the tired spin of "It's all about sex." The Schippers summation alone makes this book a must read, especially for those who may yet be in denial about the nature of the impeachment and Clinton's crimes which led to it.

"SellOut" is well written, and though heavy with supporting details, is easy to read. Every Senator who refused to view the evidence before voting on whether or not to remove Clinton from office should resign out of shame over their cowardice. Reading "SellOut" made me sick to my stomach all over again. I was shocked when the impeachment process was going on to hear that the Senate wouldn't even look at the evidence because they had already made up their minds to kowtow to the Democrats. Seeing the details behind that decision and what it meant to the whole impeachment process reveals how dishonest and self-serving our elected representatives have become. Mr. Schippers is to be commended for writing such an honest and revealing book about how the powerful become corrupted. Especially after reading about Gore's outrageous machinations with the INS to get more possible Democrat voters registered, I'm glad Mr. Schippers was able to get it published before the November 7th election so that people could have their minds refreshed about why we need a change in the White House, as well as in the Senate.

and he thought the writings were not that great

As a practicing physician, I see all too many signs of the decline of medical care in our country. This collection of writings by medical students goes a long way towards restoring my faith in the next generation of physicians. Nicely edited and organized, Let Me Listen To Your Heart gives hope that in our ever-busier world, young physicians are learning more than how to deal with insurance companies and how to practice defensive medicine. Patients as well as every practicing physician should read this book.

I am a second year medical student, halfway through a year filled with hours and hours of lectures, labs, studying, lectures, small groups and then more studying. This book was a much needed reminder of why we all got ourselves into this field--people and the stories they have to tell us.
Let Me Listen is a collection of reflections by medical students as they completed a primary care rotation in Cooperstown, NY. All students on the rotation are required to write about their experiences, and this book is a compilation of the best pieces.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any medical student. It will be just the thing to cure those highlighter blues! I also recommend it to those involved in medical education. I think it would be useful for all of us to record our experiences with patients from time to time.
This collection of essays and poems was a pleasure to read and I look forward to picking up this book again and again whenever I need a break from the second year deluge of information.