Being a Java developer and wanting to learn how to use XML technologies with that language I had high hopes for this book coming in. I had read the editorial review, have a high opinion of Wrox books in general, and was looking for a book that covered the scope of topics this book claims to cover. I was disappointed.
For the most part the text covering the various technologies, e.g. XML, SAX, DOM, JDOM, JAXP, etc., is a reformat and JavaDoc of the specifications. Almost every chapter opens with something like this from chapter two, 'This chapter contains the same information as the SAX 2.0 API specification...', and indeed it does. At least they're up front about it. The saving grace of each chapter are the small utility code bits, written in Java, that demonstrate the syntax of doing things but there is little elaboration.
As a reference this book pulls together a lot of technology into one place and puts it at your fingertips. Of course, by the time you've learned a couple of these sections the rest of the technologies in the book will be out of date ;) so you might be better off just bookmarking the reference pages on the web.
The Wrox motto is 'Programmer to Programmer'. They must mean mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after you've tried to plow your way through a few chapters of this book.

Java and XML are intricately related to each other and its importance is growing in building J2EE solutions. For any professional developer who is aspiring to build Enterprise Applications, knowledge of XML is a must. But more important than that is to be able to use the Java API's for XML. In a period when information about these is scattered and difficult to gather, this book has all you require to get started with Java XML in one place. The layout is perfect, the material is flawless and uptodate. The API's have been supplemented by useful examples where required which show exactly what can be done. Its a must buy for anyone. I never repented owning a copy. And my recommendation is - Go get it!

I found it to be a very comprehensive and complete book on XML. One of the biggest problems with XML related books in general is that i have to refer to 2-3 books to solve a 'business problem' as the books seem to be focused on one or two aspects of XML. With this book though the authors seems to have taken the approach of solving real life business problems with XML going into just the right level of details and providing great examples, I really liked the business case study and the Apache chapter. In short, it was just what i was looking for as a person who is learning xml and most importantly trying to use it to solve real world problems.

This is really a good book for Java Developers who wish to develop XML based applications. Couple of chapters have good examples and explains concepts in a very clear format. Also the book is upto date with all the latest concepts in XML world.

I have been working with XML for a while now, and this book offered a great coverage of most aspects of what XML application developers need to know. I am not able to keep up with everything happening in this very broad part of the industry - and this book provided enough coverage of the areas I'm not able to focus on on a regular basis to help me stay current. I'd recommend it for anyone who's working with specific areas within XML and want to stay current with the broader scope of what is going on. I'd also recommend it for anyone who is new to XML and wants to know the various Java APIs out there.

This is surely one of the Best Books availale in Market for Java Developers. I have been waiting to read a Book which covers all the latest XML API and how use them using latest Java Tools. Thanks to Wrox Publications for bringing this book to us. It covers how to do XML programming using all the latest Java API line I/O Sockets, Developing Presentation Logic, Developing Configuration and Deployment logic, Using XML in B2B applications. In short no other book in Market provides such a clear understanding of how to develop Java Based XML Applications.

Also it clearly explains how to use the latest Java Based XML Parsers like Xerces, Xalan and more. Friends if you need to get upto date with all the latest Java Based Parsers and different XML API, then this Book is really the Best one.

I had to read this book for a class. I wouldn't do it for fun unless learning about Russian economic reform was my thing. The book is dry with details, but actually rather interesting in the way it turns Russian privatization into a political chess match of strategies and battles. I learned A LOT from this book. It is well-structured and logical in its presentation, which leads to greater understandability, even for someone with a limited background in economics. Anyone who understands more about economics than me would find it absolutely fascinating, I'm sure.

Shleifer and Vishny are my personal heroes when it comes to the Russian Privatization program. The authors have written a wonderful book that gives sound economic and political understanding of the program from start to finish.

This book incloses most of the mathematical equations of the models used by SPICE and helps good by solving problems with the convergence, written by one of the designer of SPICE A. Vladimirescu

This book has just about everthing you want to know about spice from it's history in early 60's, to solving convergance in array of circuits,which are difficult to simulate.I found the book to be useful for it's tables to construct better and more models than I had ever imagined possible.The author does use alot of mathematical expressions to explain the spice syntax, but the format is great, and well thought out.This book is the "toolbox" for spice. Others fall short, but this book I'm gald to have on my shelf.

This book was written in a rather choppy manner, but I still loved it. Elena Bonner talks about her life in Russia with her husband physicist Andrei Sakharov (developer of the H bomb) and all the hardships they had to endure at the hands of their government, about her visits to the US in order to obtain special medical care and her impressions of this country, as well as the ongoing campaigning of she and her husband for world peace. Bonner is sweet, dignified and yet candid, strong and intelligent. Definitely worth reading.

This book presented a pragmatic approach to microwave research and development. Given the end of cold war and less focus on future engery supplies. It results in less funding in this field and hence the importance of applying microwave technology into daily and commercial use and the importance of this book.

When someone recommended Makine I grabbed the "wrong" novel. I should have started with "Le Testement Francais". So I was told afterwards. But maybe the accident was a lucky one because now I've read one brilliant novel by Makine and I've got another waiting on my bookself.

Adolescent memories and longing of western world are so extraordinarily described in this Sibirian novel that even one's own memories would be much more ordinary, there are, however something familiar in them. The severe weather conditions, the schoolboys' confusion about raising sexuality, the western movies with one above all filmstar Belmondo make the reading experience enjoyable. If you want to read about French movies (starring Belmondo) without a single title being mentioned you should read this novel. Among other reasons.

This recently published set of essays by Andrei Codrescu is a wonderfully irreverent take upon America as it enters the new millenium. Codrescu was born and spent much of his young life in Romania so he still approaches much of American culture as something of an outsider. This allows him to have a wonderfully skewed perspective on America. He only uses the theme of the devil as a jumping-off point for which to comment upon our society at the turn of the millenium. His best essays are those which focus upon the lunacy of our society. Very funny stuff.

This book claims to be a "true story".
If you are able to swallow "Komorowski's" fairy tale as far as page 180, can you please explain to me how the thirteen bodies we are supposed to believe were carted around by the NKVD and buried at Katyn seem to have been overlooked during both the Nazi and Soviet exhumations?
"Komorowski", if we are to believe this dramatic fantasy, was one of fourteen Poles shot indiscriminately with machine guns during a riot in a convoy enroute to Katyn from Kozielsk. On page 185 they are supposedly thrown into the top layers of a twenty by ten metre mass grave. No shot body was ever exhumed from Katyn by either Nazis or Soviets with other than pistol shots in the head as the cause of death.
I think nobody "escaped from Katyn", except in so far as some 448 were selected out and not shot by the NKVD but were transferred to other camps.
The politest view I can take of the Komorowski matter is that it was a case of self-aggrandisement by a disturbed person.
I think that "Komorowski" committed one of the lowest of crimes, he stole the laurels properly due to a dead man.
My opinion is that the author based this tale on the experiences of Ivan Gregorovich Krivozertsov, who was often referred to as "the main witness to Katyn". His testimony is extensively recorded in "The Katyn wood murders", Joseph Mackiewicz, London 1951, Hollis and Carter. pages 176-195. It makes fascinating reading and is refer to in later writing on Katyn also. For instance in "Death in the Forest", J K Zawodny, Macmillan 1962, [with various later reprints], and in "Time stopped at 6:30", Thaddeus Wittlin, 1965, pages 276 to 284 of which quote Krivosertsov's testimony as recorded in the record of the Hearings before the Select Committee of the US House of Representatives 82nd Congress, part 4.
Krivozertsov made his way out of Russia with the retreating Nazis and then, via Germany, on to England. He was found hanging in a shed on a farm in October 1947. His Russian "best friend" at the time disappeared. Officially it was listed as suicide, but few with knowledge of either Krivozertsov or Katyn accept that version.
It is a pity Krivozertsov is not around to give his opinion on this book.
In these days of DNA testing "Komorowski's" would be an interesting one to see the results of, but my pick is that you would be wasting your money.
I have noted enthusiastic reviews of the book, but they cut no ice with me. There was a lot around about Katyn in the public arena by the time this book was written, long before in fact.

I think that Komorowski could escape from the Katyn grave.In the book "Katyn" by L.Fitzgibbon (New York, 1971, p.135) one can find an English translation of the German documents. In the Final Report of German Police (p.139), dated June 10, 1943,I quote: "With a few exceptions, all the bodies show pistol-shots in the head...". Taking into account that more than 4,000 bodies were exhumated, 13 Komorowski's friends killed during their march from Kozielsk Camp to a railway station, can be the above exceptions.
There are many facts, given by Komorowski, which can be verified:
- Komorowski's life before World War II (Poland, study in
London (Bexley Institute)and Brussels),
- his stay in Scotland, England and in the USA.
No effort was made to verify it.
Komorowski was born in 1901 or 1902. If he is alive, he should be now about 100 years old. If he died, then where is his grave?

Some who have read "Night Never Ending" understandably find the story unbelievable. Fortunately, I got to know the author well (not Col. Komorowski, but Joe Gilmore). Joe was as skeptical of the Colonel's story as any of us, but met with him and grilled him much as the FBI or CIA might have done.

In summary, it is the story of a Polish officer imprisoned by the Russians and shipped with the others to the Katyn Forest where -- even the Russians admit today -- they were dispatched by the NKVD (KGB). But this one man manages to escape.

I did much research on Katyn for my historical (some called it hysterical) novel, FOR THIS ONE HOUR, published before NIGHT NEVER ENDING. My fictional hero, Jan, escapes similarly (but at the time there was no evidence that ANYONE survived). So, when NIGHT came along, I was most interested and it started a rewarding correpsondence with Mr. Gilmore (who also has West Virginia connections). One thing that pretty much proved to me NIGHT's authenticity was the fact that Readers Digest offered big bucks for the story but Komoroski refused (still fearing for his life). Gilmore was, naturally, very disappointed.

It's a most exciting story as the Col. comes tothe USA and escapes repeated further attempts on his life. One wonders if he is still alive (or to what end he came?)

I bought this book as a present for my grandparents who are native Cubans. Cuba is a beautiful country with some of the most amazing art, food, music, people, and architecture. This book shows nothing of that Cuba. If you want to see photographs of people living in poverty, than this book is for you. If you want to see the real Cuba, look elsewhere. The photography itself is decent, but the subject matter is just shameful.

Everybody knows the stereotype all too well of the joyous Cubans, with their 8-day Carnavals, incredible music and high culture. As someone who visits the island frequently (my wife lives there) the happiness of the people is so uplifting. The suicide rate is so much lower there. The murder rate is way below that of the US. It is a cocaine-free society because of all of the anti-cocaine canine patrols in the major cities. It's really a revelation being there. No drugs, no homelessness (the right to shelter is guaranteed under the Cuban constitution), a LOWER infant mortality rate than the United States, more doctors per capita than Canada, Sweden, and the US, a 97 per cent literacy rate.

This book however is a REAL eye-opener. I have only experienced Cuba after President Castro took office. I have only seen his good work in a country where EVERY schoolhouse now contains at least one Pentium III computer or better (don't you wish you could say the same about the USA?).

The fotos inside this book are unbelievable. Absolute abject shoeless, starvation poverty, photos taken from a pre-Castro Cuba. Looks like modern day Haiti, a country which has subjected to US policies from Papa Doc, to Baby Doc, to Aristide, all handpicked by the CIA and look what a mess that country is.

These fotos and the commentary inside are a revelation. If you EVER wondered why the people revolted and continue to adore President Castro, buy this book! These fotos don't lie. There is NO ONE living like this in present-day Cuba....

Walker Evans was one of the greatest social realists and here he displays the same eye for understated emotion and quiet resistance that he showed in his famous WPA photographs in the American South. If you're familiar with the work of the visionary Brazilian Sebastião Salgado, Evans shows an earlier, perhaps gentler aspect of that vision of Latin America's poor.

The idea that photographing the poor in pre-revolutionary Cuba is "shameful" is in itself shameful. Did you want pictures of gangsters in nightclubs living the high life?