This book talks the jewelry history from antiquity (different Locality (African, Greek, Etruscan,Indian, Chinese, etc.)to early 20th century modern jewelry design. It contains a lot of information about fabrication,the available of gems, and the motif and styles of jewelry for particular period. The history were mainly concentrated on western civilization. It was not a very good source for African/Egyptian/Chinese /Indian jewelry history. In addition, it has a lot of beautiful specimen pictures to support the findings. If anyone would like to learn more about the western jewelry history (like an overview), this will be a good book to start.

There are not that many books which give a brief yet comprehensive overview on post-war (West-) Germany's seven chancellors (head of government): Adenauer, Ehrhardt, Kiesinger, Brandt, Schmidt and Kohl (the present chancellor Schroeder had not been included yet, since he is still in office). Knopp's book certainly falls into that category. Guido Knopp is first and foremost a TV journalist, who has produced quite a few well-received TV series, focussing on Germany's more recent (20th century) history. So it is not surprisung that the book keeps up certain elements you would find in a TV documentation. In the first place, this is reflected by those seven chapters which are hardly linked and hardly ever refer to each other. Some might find this disturbing and not very historically sound. This also leads to the sometimes irritating fact that certain facts are being restated. This of course can be turned into an advantage: It is possible to read the various chapters as biographies of the respectve chancellors in their own right, without the need to read through all of them. The structure of each chapter is quite consistent, starting always with a compilation of quotes by contemporaries about the chancellor to be described. There is not much picture material used, which is actually unusual about a book based on a TV documentary - but this is good, since a lot of comparable books easily turn into picture books, where written text appears only as page fillers.

The content itself: Adenauer, the chancellor of West-Germany's restoration is thoroughly covered, with all his scheming and plotting well described. Again, there are no new facts unearthed, but this is certainly not the goal of this book. The next chapters deal with Ehrhardt, Kiesinger and Brandt, and very nicely describe the transformation of the stuffy and prude Adenauer Germany into a more modern society. Ehrhardt's weakness and lack of luck is pounded on, as is Kiesinger's ineffectiveness to preside over Germany's to-date first and only Grand Coalitions between Conservatives and Social Democrats. A more merciful and positive biography is offered for Willy Brandt, who (due to his role as an actively fighting emigrant during the Third Reich ) was as controversial a political figure inside Germany, as he was revered outside of it. The chapter about Helmut Schmidt does not do him justice - Knopp repeats here the the picture often used to describe him: a cool, sober "maker" of politics, an elder statesman abroad even when still in office, manager of the terrorist crisis in Germany's "hot autumn" 1977, but out-of touch with the youth and the peace movement. Knopp certainly could have done better. This is also true for the chapter featuring Helmut Kohl, the "Chancellor of Unification". Sure, Germany's reunification was in hindsight a boldly executed, if improvised enterprise. However, this part dominates the whole chapter, and neglects the shortcomings of his 16-year chancellorship, especially between 1982 and 1987 and during his last two terms. This is what brings the rating down.

These letters, originally published in 1669 as an "instant success" deserve to become an "instant success" again. They are of uncertain origin and authenticity; however, the strength of the contents makes their authenticity academic. In five letters, we see the psychological movement from blind, passionate love to an awareness of having been used - while still valuing the lessons of what passion is possible in the heart. We see this movement through the letters of a young Portuguese nun who was seduced by a French military officer serving in Portugal. While this is a work of the 17th century, the insight into human nature could well have been written yesterday - the culture and the date are no barrier to the text.

'Mathematical Methods of Quantum Mechanics' by Guido Fano is one of those textbooks that has a unique style of its own. One can not find such clear and well written books as this anymore.
It is a toolbox of maths used in QM by Theoretical Physisicts. However, it does not vulgarise the maths so that it can be more pictorial but keeps the vigour.

This book specifies excellent method for determining how to structure future programs. It demands some knowledge of an object oriented language, and is centered on the quality of the future program. The methods however can be timeconsuming and I would not recommend this for someone who needs the program quickly, or does not expect complexities in the modeling

Well, like it says, this book is exactly the same as the online 1.5.2 documentation (which you should be familiar with), just printed out. None of the information is new. If reading the documenation on screen is fine for you there is no reason to buy this book, but if like me, you find having to use up half your screen for a browser window is annoying, you'll find it useful. I gave it four stars because it's so cheap (sure beats printing it all out!)

Warning: this is a technical document, not a tutorial. If you're looking for a "Learn Python the E-Z way" sort of book you should look elsewhere.

Also, this book covers the core of Python - the built-in types and syntax - but _not_ the modules. Anything you have to import to use will not be in here...

The authors explained very clearly the concept of rate distortion and its application to video compression. Compared to most information theory books, this book provides a more readable account of the application of rate distortion technique to video compression since the techniques are applied to real world examples. I certainly find this book enjoyable to read.

Finally, a book small enough to carry out to the garden with me for reference yet compact with enough information to enable me to find answers to my basic questions regarding best locations, season, size, appearance, care, possible difficulties, etc. I found the illustrated key next to each written description and picture of each plant to be extremely helpful and time saving for quick reference as to whether or not I want a plant based on its's being suitable for the location I want and the purpose intended for the blooms. All I have to do is flip open the book to the desired page, glance at the illustrated key symbols, slide my eyes over to the colored photograph of the actual plant and I know in less than 10 seconds if the plant may be suitable for my needs. I can then read the clarifying information and firm up my choice. The photography is very clear and the write-ups simple enough for a beginning gardener, such as myself, to understand.

Your pre teen children will love this book - it is a good one, much better than most that are published by major publishing houses. Don't pass this up. CJFL

When I began to read "The Turn Of The Screw" by Henry James, I made the assumption this book would be different from all other books which I have read. I thought it would be different because it is considered an American literature classic. Although Henry James is among many great authors, he is without a doubt, a one of a kind.
In this book his unique writing style has me wondering why such thoughts went through his mind. His wordy and elaborate writing style presented his strange subject matter in a style that could be accepted in his time. While it is sometimes difficult to follow the story it allowed James to express what would have been a controversial topic.
At times in this story you become anxious and excited, while at other times you are left picking and choosing what you think is going on, and when you least expect something to happen you become surprised, and become more interested in the book.
The ending surprised me. What I thought was going to be a happy ending turned into a perverse finale and a total tragedy. From beginning to end, Henry James wrote a book that is different from all other books.

I had long heard of Henry James and his short novella, The Turn of the Screw and decided to read it, thinking that at only 88 pages long, it would not take more than one evening. Three evenings later, I finished the text and I must admit slightly confused. I had to reread the ending several times to truly understand what had happened. Thankfully, I had the critical edition, which included several essays on the story, one in particular by Edmund White which profoundly changed my opinion of the story.
A simple ghost story on the face of it, but in reality a pre-Freudian tale of sexual repression. Narrated by an unnamed governess who ventures to a country house to take charge of two young orphaned children, it soon becomes a tale of ghosts, mysteries and secrets. Always alluded to and never talked about at face value, the governess becomes convinces that the ghosts are after the children and she alone can save them. But are there really ghosts? The reader must go beyond the plot and carefully read the language...all the language. James writes like no other author I have ever read. The best word to describe it is "dense". With almost no dialogue, the narrator can spend pages describing her thoughts and feelings, yet these are so "coded" as to decipher her real meaning takes much concentration on the part of the reader. I know that James himself thought the story an amusement only, but the critical essays I read after the book deeply impressed me that the story has hidden depths which make it all the more interesting.
I would recommend this novella to anyone with the patience to read it thoroughly and with an open mind as to its meaning. I would strongly recommend the critical edition which helps the reader better understand the story's meaning and importance in literature.

I had been informed, before reading The Turn of the Screw, that it would not provide many answers to the questions it provoked. After finishing the novel, I would pass this along to future readers as well. The Turn of the Screw is an excellent story with wonderful details and an extremely creative plot. It is the first book I have ever read that has caused me to be frightened. Many times while reading the story late at night, I would find myself with my hand on my chest, holding my breath because I was so intrigued with the story line. Although it had a wonderful plot, Henry James does leave many questions unanswered. This allows the reader to interpret the events in whatever manner they choose. The complexity of the story depends on the complexity of the thought the reader puts into it. The Turn of the Screw is an excellent book and I would strongly recommend it to anyone. It is a clever novel for a clever reader.