For fans of both Spider-Man and the X-Men, this isn't one you want to miss! From Spidey's first encounter with the original five X-Men to his later adventures with the other members of the team, this has it all, and then some. Written with a great sense of humor and the characters, this is a real keeper!

The Fighter's Notebook is the best martial arts book ever made. 600 pages of complete fighting from stand up to the various grappling positions seen in brazilian jiu jitsu and other grappling arts. It even has a section on running classes and warm ups. This is the book to get!

I am writing this because I feel out of all of the Martail arts video's, books, and anything else that I have been to this is the best. If you want to start learning how to grapple and you want to d oit the right way don't buy a video, or somehing like that, get this book. The rerason I say this is if you go to a gym tjo train for a fight you usally can't bring a tv and a vcr right next to the mat. Whereas if you get this book you can bring it straight to the mat look in the index ,where you need to work on, look at the techniques and you can practice them.The number of topics alone are enough to start you off to be a grappler. I mean there are over 800 techniques that range from the gaurd, to stand up fighting. If you read and practice every technique in this book you are almost insured to win any grappleing fight. This is truely a fighters notebook. It took about 4,500 hours to make this book, tha tis how good it is. Oh yeah, did I mention thst I have been in about 6 NAGA tournaments and I am still learning from this book.

This book has it all. From the techniques to sparring to conditioning. Even competition and rules were included. Maybe this book doesn't give much to a BJJ black belt or a seasoned NHB-fighter, but how many are such pros anyway? Even then you could get the best notebook in which to include new techniques and remind old ones. It's not the book, after all. It's the training(was said in the book as well...).

Maybe some stand-up combinations should have been included, but the grappling techniques make this worth every penny. Stand-up section is a kind of bonus. The best single learning material for martial arts. Highly recommended!

Well, isn't THIS a fun book! The material is extremely diverse-- some is merely cool, though not altogether useful, while other material (such as the great chapter on separating form from function) can go a long way to helping you produce more functional, configurable sites. All through the book the reader is offered insight on techniques that will keep the file size down, and since this is the most important aspect of the book, I would have perhaps liked a checklist near the top or an index at the end of these of these ideas. As it stands, you have to go through each tutorial (although they are all interesting) to get a full list of byte-saving techniques. Not a major drawback, but a small chapter that gathered all of the authors' tricks together would have been useful.

i have just bought this book, i began actionscripting about two or three months ago.
This book showed me some bad mistakes i made in programming just by doing the first three tutorials(the mouse follower, fire, smoke,fireworks)

I'm taking it step by step, but one thing is sure this book is the book for me.it explains things i like and in a way i want to see it explained.
In some of the first examples in the book one of the authors explaind emitters, particles movement, waves and amplitude.

this are some of the things in the first chapter and i really like likelikelike IT.
This book isn't a good book 4 people who don't know nothing of flash(as), but you really don't have to be a flash(as) or math expert to understand a lot of the things.
(i havent got through the whole book though, i trying to learn the examples one by one and i want 2 make sure i don't go through it to fast)

Very Good book, buying it is definitely no mistake

Finally somebody's seen fit to gather these kinds of techniques. It says on the cover youre looking at files under 4 KB, but most of these are like under 2. It's got a really good balance, going from some staple stuff to begin -- mouse trails and smoke effects and fireworks through simple scripting. After that, it passes into the really useful things, like an animated photo gallery, with gorgeous wipes and fades. I haven't yet got on to the later stuff that I've just never seen anywhere before -- an interactive 3D city, and sound! A big thumbs up, and it should have been called bit-size.

I had to buy this book for a class for my EE degree- I must say as much as I hate probability and the like, this book was one of the best on the subject that I've ever come across. It really feels as though this is a 'friendly' book, just like it says in its title. I didn't give it a full five stars, because I think it should include a few more worked out examples per section. Nevertheless, it still has a fair number of worked examples and also quizes which are solved at the end of the book. All and all, I really enjoyed the book and consequently the course.

Professor Yates presents this subject matter, which may be somewhat confusing at first blush, in a manner that is easy to understand. This approach is very different from other texts, particularly those geared toward mathematicians, which tend to be overly terse and abstract.

I taught an undergraduate course in probability and stochastic processes last summer using this book. This book is so clearly written and laid out that for the first time in 20 years of teaching I could lecture directly from the book rather than having to spend the time to make up a set of notes. The many worked out problems are very helpful in illustrating concepts. All in all a great book.

After taking an art history class, I found this book to be very handy in many ways, although if preparing for an AP test, it does leave some major works of art out. I found using The Annotated Mona Lisa, and Janson's Art History also helped majorly in preparing for the AP test.

Marilyn Stokstad has put together a real masterpiece of art history with her book, Art History. In collaboration with Bradford Collins, and with contributed chapters from Stephen Addiss, Chu-tsing Li, Marylin Rhie and Christopher Roy, this large volume published by noted art publishers Henry N. Abrams, Inc. is deserving of pride of place on any art bookshelf.

The scope of this work is as broad as is the expanse of human history. Indeed, the first chapter begins with a survey of prehistoric art and prehistory. Spanning all the ancient cultures, there are chapters devoted to the art of the ancient Near East, Egypt, the Aegean, Etruscan and Roman art, Christian, Jewish and Byzantine art, Islamic art, the art of India, China, Japan, the Americas and Africa. And from there, it gets complicated!

This book tackles all the issues of art: philosophical considerations (the relationship between art and reality, and the meaning and importance of beauty in art), focus on artists in general and in particular, society's relationship to art, including the role of the patron, the importance of museums, and an investigation that goes behind the phrase, 'I know what I like.'

'Art history, in contrast to art criticism, combines the formal analysis of works of art--concentrating mainly on the visual elements in the work of art--with the study of the works' broad historical context. Art historians draw on biography to learn about artists' lives, social history to understand the economic and political forces shaping artists, their patrons, and their public, and the history of ideas to gain an understanding of the intellectual currents influencing artists' work.'

In addition to presenting a history of art, Stokstad and her contributors also present an introduction to various aspects of art appreciation, without with art history loses much meaning. Each chapter has an explanation of the techniques that were developed and important during the time under examination (for instance, lost wax casting, glassamking and Egyptian faience, Japanese woodblock technique, and Islamic carpet making, among many others, are illustrated in detail to enhance the knowledge and appreciation of the finished art works). Each chapter and time period also has a section entitled Elements of Architecture, which include discussion on elements from pyramids to skyscrapers and much in between.

The text is clear and concise, carefully explaining technical terms when they are used, and then using them sparingly. Every page is a visual feast, with full colour plates of photographs of paintings, sculpture, artists, locations, or architectural examples in great form, as Henry N. Abrams, Inc. publishers are famous for doing. There are literally thousands of illustrations, as there are often many per page; almost no page is without one, and the book is nearly 1200 pages long.

As an aid for those who will use this book for more scholarly purposes, there is an extensive bibliography in the back, in three classifications of listings -- general surveys and art history references, a selected list of art history journals, and then a chapter-specific directory of further reading for each art topic/period. Additionally, it has after the bibliography as Website Directory of Museums, which includes museums in every state in the United States and most major museums around the world. The index includes listings by artist, period, topic, and particular works of art.

This book has been intended to be useful as a text for a course in art appreciation, but also designed to be a joy to read for the casual reader who might not want an academically rigourous presentation. As Stokstad says in her preface, the intention was make this book itself a work of art, and in that task she has succeeded admirably.

This book is simply wonderful. It is indeed physically ponderous (this 2nd edition is one very, very large book, not two slipcased books as shown in some illustrations). However, its content easily compensates for its considerable bulk. All historical periods of art history are chronicled, with copious illustrations well-produced and nearly all in color. The text is incisive and easy to follow, yet never boring.

I recommend this book to any and all art lovers, whether beginners, advanced students, or just those who desire a comprehensive reference for library or home use. I personally consider this publication a better choice than the otherwise excellent Janson "History of Art" for most readers-- the writing is just more user-friendly, in my opinion (and the content is more inclusive, especially regarding non-Western art).

This book really does help one understand the difficult words of Jesus, but from a different perspective. Instead on giving interpretations upon interpretations of scripture, for the most part, this author emphasizes and shows that the perspective or mindset one has when reading the Bible has everything to do with understanding it. To understand the NT one has to understand that Jesus was Jewish and start from there. This book is an eye opener and hard to put down.

"It is indeed unfortunate that of all the New Testament writings, the words and sayings of Jesus himself are the most difficult to understand." So begins this remarkable little book.

The minor premise is undisputed: Jesus was Jewish. The major premise is: the "Hebraic mindset" (-language, thought, culture, idioms) is far removed from the Greek. To understand Jesus, therefore, one must appreciate the Hebraic/Jewish background of the Greek gospels. (A growing minority of Scripture scholars consider that our present Greek gospels are translations of Hebrew or Aramaic originals and that they are best understood when read that way.

Though serious scholarship underlies the work, it aims to teach the general public what it means to think of Jesus as an observant Jew versed in and devoted to the Torah. Running just over 130 pages, it leaves the reader hungry for more examples and more detailed analysis. Yet it may come as a watershed to readers who--like me--have thought too little about how the Jewish background of Jesus influenced the way he thought and taught.

Since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, no one disputes that Hebrew was still used during the time of Jesus. The book provides a good primer on this point and its importance.

The next main section concerns the implications of misunderstanding Jesus. Such misunderstandings fall into two categories. First, there are the times we think we understand Jesus perfectly but do not. For example, Bivin and Blizzard argue that by "kingdom of heaven" Jesus was not referring to a futuristic place but rather to a present reality. (The reign of God means God reigns in one's life.) Further, Jesus was not a pacifist, despite "turn the other cheek", and he did not advocate indiscriminate charity, despite "give to him who asks of you."

Then there are the things Jesus says that we know we don't understand. Such as "blessed are the poor in spirit." Shouldn't one be rich in spirit? Yes, and Jesus was cautioning against self-righteousness. Christians tend to 'get' that despite the curious wording. But what about "to bind" and "to loosen" from Matthew 16? What was Jesus giving Peter the authority to do? And over whom? During the Sermon on the Mount what did Jesus mean by 'I came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it?' Christians aren't required to follw the Law, are they? If that doesn't 'abolish' it, then what would?

My favorite example concerns a puzzling verse from Luke's account of the Passion. Jesus tells the women of Jerusalem, "For if they do these things IN a green tree, what shall be done IN the dry?" Odd as this idiom may sound, I grew up with the sense that it meant, "Listen, ladies, don't weep for me but for yourselves. If this is how they treat me, how do you think they'll treat you?" Something like that is part of what Jesus is saying here, but there's more. The use of "green tree" (rooted in Ezekiel 20:47) is a MESSIANIC claim. Many scholars nowadays argue that Jesus never thought of himself as the Messiah--if he were, they reason, why didn't he just say so? Biven and Blizard argue persuasively that, in a Jewish way, he did exactly that, time and time and time again.

This book is by no means 'the last word on the subject.' But it is an enticing intro to a subject of great consequence for all Christians who seek to understand Jesus.

Imagine what popular American sayings such as "killing time" or "He put his foot in his mouth" would sound like if translated literally into another language. The authors of Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus argue that that is why so many New Testament phrases and especially the words of Jesus sound so strange or awkward or just plain confusing. The authors make a very good case that the Gospels were originally written in Hebrew and then translated into Greek and too often the translator gave a literal translation to what was a Hebrew saying or idiom which means it doesn't make sense in English. The authors do an excellent job of placing Jesus in his proper historical context, as highly educated in both the study of the Torah and in the culture of his day. We cannot grasp His meaning without keeping in mind the Jewish roots to all His teachings. The book is too short, only 169 pages. While this makes it a quick and easy read, it also leaves the reader wishing for more and deeper exploration. This is a good book for a beginner who wishes a good tool for understanding the New Testament. The last 50 pages are an Appendix which gives examples of what the authors see as the true meaning and proper translation of some of the most obscure Biblical passages. One could wish the Appendix were twice as long, but it makes a good, sound introduction to the subject. Highly recommended.

Crimes of War does what few books of its kind manage to accomplish. It is a well-researched and scholarly compendium of the various crimes of war with expert background information on the various legal instruments that prohibit these acts. At the same time, however, it a visually riveting -- and often shocking -- photographic compendium of war crimes ranging from disappearances to death squads to starvation. I had the impression that, judging from its pocket-size edition, Crimes of War was published with the intention of serving as a field guide to journalists and NGO/IO staff who wish to have ready access, written in plain English, to the legal predicates that prohibit war crimes. However, after reading Crimes of War, it seemed to be more the kind of book that should be required reading material for high school, college and law students who wish to have a basic grasp either of the history of war crimes or the legal basis for their prohibition. This book is in a class all its own.

"Crimes of War" should be required reading during senior year of high school. Written by journalists, scholars and law experts, this book not only details the wrongs committed in recent wars, but who committed them and under what laws the perpetrators can be prosecuted. The photographs are often shocking and force the viewer to face the truths in the text, which is well written by men and women who either witnessed the atrocities or are working to bring war criminals to justice. "Crimes of War" clearly shows that there are binding laws of warfare, and those who break these laws must be held accountable for their actions.

Israel is not singled out for criticism in "Crimes of War". There are two chapters under the letter A (it is arranged like an encyclopedia) and if a reader only get to the letter B they may feel Israel gets the bulk of criticism. However, the reader who reads the entire book will see Israel is fairly criticised.

Also, China is not condemned for Tiananmen Square in this book because this book is about war, war crimes, genocide, and international law. Tiananmen Square - while tragic and unforgivable - was a State using lethal force against its own people in a police action. Tibet could bear mentioning, but even prior to China's invasion Tibet was a remote society, hence the lack of coverage by outsiders.

The scathing reviews of this book probably say more about the "issues" within the reviewer than the contents of the book: The truth can hurt and denial is an easy trap. Scores of countries are mentioned in this book (the US being one) and it's the facts that sting here - not "agendas". In the end, "Crimes of War" succinctly and logically reinforces the point that there are no excuses for crimes against humanity.

This book is the best introduction for the general reader on the important (and currently "hot") subject of war crimes -- that is, actions that violate the Geneva Conventions and the other rules of war. The book is laid out in alphabetical order, with short, punchy chapters describing different kinds of war crimes and setting forth the basic background information needed to comprehend this challenging subject. Highly useful for the general reader and as an introduction to the subject for undergraduates and law school students. Well-written and edited, handsomely presented, it deserves a place with "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Red Badge of Courage" as an introduction to these difficult issues.

I need some phrases and basic words

While the idea behind the Friends of Ed series is admirable and useful - that is, to cover the broad and expansive areas of Flash development that are not so well documented elsewhere - the books so far have been spoiled by the inconsistent quality of their ActionScript.

Too often, I get the feeling that authors that have been invited to contribute have simply re-worked a pre-existing project - and this all too often includes (the usual) hacks and workarounds which all of us use when faced with deadlines. Bits and pieces of Flash4 ActionScript creep in every now and again - and occassionally the authors seem to be entirely unaware of new methods introduced in Flash5 that make their workarounds obsolete (the onClipEvent for loaded data is one example - see Chapt 9 of this book to learn how to do it the *old* way).

Furthermore, the tutorials often lack focus - as though the editors can't decide where to pitch the level of instruction: so that some hard-core ActionScript is often mixed-in with superfluous detail about how to build the interface for the tutorial example.

Anyway, my advice if you really want to *learn* ActionScript for yourself - and also avoid the mistakes, hacks and workarounds that plague the Friends of Ed books - put Phillip Kerman's excellent "ActionScripting in Flash" together with Colin Moock's "ActionScript: The Definitive Guide" on your desk - you'll never look back.

If you are a newbie,......their are other alternatives that will get your feet wet, but if you are a practicing Flash developer and have a firm understanding of ActionScript...this book will inspire you to build real dynamic Flash apps. It touches on Flash Javascript methods, Flash and textfiles and goes into server side middleware solutions like, CGI,Perl and PHP. It also introduces you to database integration. This book gives you real world solutions, which maybe a bit elementary, but overall it lays the foundation for you. I found this book to be inspiring and to be the book which pushed me to learn CGI,PERL,PHP and MySQL. If your looking to build real dynamic/interactive Flash applications or websites this is the book.

I've bought numerous books on Flash and the Dynamic Scripting that can be intermingled with Flash.... Flash 5 ActionScript F/X and Design, Flash 4 Creative Web Animation, and different Wrox books on ASP, ASP databases, and ADO. This book ties ALL of them together. It explains motion scripting for beginners, and then it shows how to import variables from ASP, PHP, Perl, and Cold Fusion. These 1000+ pages contain EVERYTHING you want to know about Flash, it it with out a doubt, THE BEST FLASH BOOK EVER CREATED!!!! It even branches out Flash to other programs like Dreamweaver UltraDev and Generator, it explains how to display information from databases using Flash Turbine. If you read this book, you will be a master at Flash.