(Below is a series of quotes from the book, some of them slightly modified, plus a small number of "glue" sentences I've added to make transitions smoother. My goal was to distill the key ideas in this exceptional book.)

Every design problem begins with an effort to achieve fitness between two entities: the form in question and its context. The form is the solution to the problem; the context defines the problem. We want to put the context and the form into effortless contact or frictionless coexistence, i.e., we want to find a good fit.

For a good fit to occur in practice, one vital condition must be satisfied. It must have time to happen. In slow-changing, traditional, unselfconscious cultures, a form is adjusted soon after each slight misfit occurs. If there was good fit at some stage in the past, no matter how removed, it will have persisted, because there is an active stability at work. Tradition and taboo dampen and control the rate of change in an unselfconscious culture's designs.

It is important to understand that the individual person in an unselfconscious culture needs no creative strength. He does not need to be able to improve the form, only to make some sort of change when he notices a failure. The changes may not always be for the better; but it is not necessary that they should be, since the operation of the process allows only the improvements to persist. Unselfconscious design is a process of slow adaptation and error reduction.

In the unselfconscious process there is no possibility of misconstruing the situation. Nobody makes a picture of the context, so the picture cannot be wrong. But the modern, selfconscious designer works entirely from a picture in his mind - a conceptualization of the forces at work and their interrelationships - and this picture is almost always wrong.

To achieve in a few hours at the drawing board what once took centuries of adaptation and development, to invent a form suddenly which clearly fits its context - the extent of invention necessary is beyond the individual designer. A designer who sets out to achieve an adaptive good fit in a single leap is not unlike the child who shakes his glass-topped puzzle fretfully, expecting at one shake to arrange the bits inside correctly. The designer's attempt is hardly as random as the child's is; but the difficulties are the same. His chances of success are small because the number of factors which must fall simultaneously into place is so enormous.

The process of design, even when it has become selfconscious, remains a process of error-reduction. No complex system will succeed in adapting in a reasonable amount of time or effort unless the adaptation can proceed component by component, each component relatively independent of the others. The search for the right components, and the right way to build the form up from these components, is the greatest challenge faced by the modern, selfconscious designer. The culmination of the modern designer's task is to make every unit of design both a component and a system. As a component it will fit into the hierarchy of larger components that are above it; as a system it will specify the hierarchy of smaller components of which it itself is made.

"Notes" begins the published books of Alexander's task to investigate the methodologies and formulas for extracting and creating patterns that are Beautiful and functional. Although the book is for Architectural design, Alexander's understanding is philosophical enough that his writing can be read from the lens of any human interested in creating programs for form design. This can cross into Software engineering, which Alexander has already made a profound influence with his book, A Pattern Language, web design, graphic design, or anything the requires planning in order to achieve a complex end. He focuses on encapsulating each element of a form into it's own study and then later combining all elements into the Whole Form. This method he stresses will tear away all arbitrariness in form and create structures that are seemlessly beautiful and functional.

I bought this book at the same time as Stuart Kauffman's recent Investigations (from a local independent) and began reading them in parallel.

While this was intentional, serendipity happened as it is wont to do and I found more parallels than I could follow. These two books come from radically different fields (Architecture and Complexity theory) and were published nearly 40 years apart yet are highly resonant with eachother.

Alexander effectively discusses the synthesis of form in the context of functional goals and/or constraints. He draws from architecture for his examples and ideas but the results are much broader.

He outlines the ideas which will eventually become his Pattern Language and "The Quality Without a Name".

Meanwhile Kauffman is speaking contemporarily of the underpinnings of "life itself" also from what is essentially a structural arguement.

Both are essentially speaking to the same thing: How form emerges from functional constraints in the context of evolving systems. In one case it is the artifacts of living spaces we build while in the other, it is the more intimate artifacts of the phenotype of a species or more generally, evolving complex systems such as our universe in all of it's glory.

Many have criticized Kauffman's work as being unoriginal in the sense that most of what he says has been said before, only separately and differently. In some sense, all works are "derivative".

I believe that the parallels between these two books are more an example of parallel evolution. Alexander was studying the essential qualities of a design discipline as old as man and therefore highly evolved. The topical area of architecture, built spaces for human work and habitation is extremely rich and complex in it's own right. It is not surprising that he would have discovered in this narrow field something as essential and interesting as Kauffman seems to be exposing if not discovering about the mathematical and structural underpinnings of "life itself".

An excellent (pair of) read(s)!

I look forward to Alexander's _Nature of Order_ whose title reminded me of Kauffman's _Origins of Order_ which in turn inspired me to read them together while awaiting Alexander's new books!

Opus, being a thick book of about 500 pages, reads in a snap. It has everything a good spy novel is entitled to have, big stakes, big suspense, big thrills with twists and turns hardly any other genre can offer. But this novel delivers an extra punch, in what I'd call a chill of authenticity. Take a brief look at the author's biography and you'll realize how much the factual side of the fiction is rooted in the real experiences of a real person during one of the bleakest periods of modern history.
Mr. Alexander, a seasoned U.S. diplomat who went through inevitable rigors of being assigned to an Eastern Bloc country at the peak of the Cold War, knows what he's talking about. His insight and intimate knowledge of how and at what risk and expense things were being done back then give Opus the validity the best works of fiction enjoy.
Talented narration and deft elaboration of the characters, many of whom are put through a galaxy of dramatic and psychologically challenging predicaments, elevate the almost documentary account of the adventures of an American chasing a seemingly impossible dream in the unyielding and treacherous environment of the other side of the Iron Curtain to the level of an outstanding piece of fiction.

This is a wonderful book! The adventure begins in post-war Germany and brings you through many more countries to weave an exciting tale of suspense, intrigue, culture and patriotism.

The hero of the novel is an extremely likeable young man who is confronted early in his career with a story about Beethoven that stirs his passion for music. This passion leads him to encounters with dangerous and unlikely bedfellows. The story has many twists and turns and will keep you riveted until late in the evening.

An exciting novel of intrigue set in Eastern Europe at the height of the Cold War. Travel with the hero - a United States Diplomat - throughout West/East Germany, Hungary, Greece, the United States, and the Soviet Union as he searches for a mysterious musical manuscript. His adventures and experiences serving as a United States diplomat in various countries in Europe contain all of the elements of a diplomatic thriller. You will enjoy this novel. The story is creative and interesting.

The ever delightful Vesper Holly is back in this fifth chronicle by one of my favorite master storytellers. Vesper's resourcefulness, bravery and wit are ever-present while she falls in love (innocently) yet again. Her red hair, fiery personality, orphaned status and love for a certain fat cat conjure up another favorite heroine of the historical fiction world, exotic Nefret Emerson from the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. Each of these books packs a lot of punch considering how short they are, making them perfect for any young reader.

I really enjoyed this book. It is by Lloyd Alexander, author of The High King winner of the Newbery Medal. One reason I enjoyed was that it kept on surprising me until the end.
It is not based on things that really happened, although it has people who really existed, such as President Ulysses S. Grant.
The adventure begins when Ulysses Grant comes to Vesper Holly's door asking for her help with a kidnaping of two children. The kidnaper is using the children to ransom the emperor of Brazil.
The kidnapper hates Vesper Holly, so he made it clear that bad things would happen to the children if she did not deliver the ransom. That way he can put her in danger to get revenge on her.

Vesper is so cool. One of the best reads. I love how honset and strong she is, it is one of the best girl adventure books.

I bought this book in Texas, while visiting my sons. I started reading it and found I could not put it down. It went everywhere with me. I started using tiny bookmarks for my special poems, but there were "so many". Even now, four years later, the poems come alive in my heart, and sometimes it is still hard to put this book down. The poems touch every aspect of your life, and isn't that what good poetry is about? The ability of a writer to reach inside the reader and somehow relate to us in our daily lives. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves poetry. It is one of the few books I consider a "friend". P.S. My book is still overflowing with bookmarks.

I really really like this book. It has poems that comfort you when your sad and give you hope when you feel like giving up. I recommend this book to all readers who love poetry.

The poems and stories in the book are just as relevant and touching today as they were 30 years ago when my father purchased a copy for me. Most of the poems have been read many times by me and shared with others. I have many favorites, but the most precious to me is "The Touch of the Master's Hand" and the story of the little girl in heaven who's tears keep putting the candle out. This is my 5th purchase of the book. Lent copies never seem to return. I have given it as gifts also. Thank you for making it available still.

The Simpkins draw on their extensive background in studies of the mind and of the martial arts to present a thorough and comprehensive text on this cornerstone of Eastern philosophy, with the needs of the Western thinkier firmly met. The place of meditation as a preeminent element of Taoism, Buddhism, Zen and yoga is established in Part One; in succeeding chapters, the authors explore ways to harness the benefits of meditation as a tool to enhance concentration and quality of life, control habits, and improve sports performance. A variety of exercises are provided, with clear and easy-to-follow directions for making these principles part of your life.

Through Yoga, Buddhism, Zen, and Taoism, this book teaches, in accessible language, how to tap into the unconscious mind to better understand it through hands-on exercises.

Ideal for the beginner as well as the experienced meditator, 'Principles of Meditation' forges a shining link between contemporary life and ancient wisdom. Bringing together techniques from the world's great traditions--Yoga, Zen, Buddhism, and Taoism--this clearly written guide offers fascinating glimpses into their philosophies and approaches to meditation, then shows how you can incorporate these time honored practices into your everyday life. You'll discover soothing exercises to improve your concentration and visualization abilities, gentle meditations based on breathing and on imagery--skills you can use not merely to relax or relieve stress, but to alter your focus of attention in order to break bad habits, extend your perceptions to solve specific problems, even develop a 'mind first' approach to enhance your sports performance.

In 1892, Alexander Berkman burst into the office of Henry Frick, an overseer at Carnegie's steelworks, and attempted to gun him down to foment a revolutionary uprising. Frick survived. Berkman went to jail. Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist is Berkman's account, not only of the revolutionary ardor which drove him to assault Frick, but also of the horrors of incarceration and the transformation of his own thinking while behind bars.

We get plenty of revolutionary and anarchist theory from Berkman. He opens a door into the thoughts and feelings of people struggling for economic and social justice 100 years ago. More than that, he opens a door into the mindset of a fanatic, one which may help us understand the motivations of those who flew their planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9/11/2001:

"Could anything be nobler than to die for a grand, a sublime Cause? Why, the very life of a true revolutionist has no other purpose, no significance whatever, save to sacrifice it on the altar of the beloved People." (p. 12)

"My own individuality is entirely in the background; aye, I am not conscious of any personality in matters pertaining to the Cause. I am simply a revolutionist; a terrorist by conviction, an instrument for furthering the cause of humanity." (p. 13)

"True, the Cause often calls upon the revolutionist to commit an unpleasant act; but it is the test of a true revolutionist-nay, more, his pride-to sacrifice all merely human feeling at the call of the People's Cause." (p. 12)

Berkman, the purist, disdains his fellow prisoners. He sees himself as better than they are, a Servant of Humanity, not a petty criminal, a predator on the poor. But, life in prison, although it does not shake his revolutionary and anarchist convictions, does bring him down from his ivory tower. Berkman begins to see that:

"The individual, in certain cases, is of more direct and immediate consequence than humanity. What is the latter but the aggregate of individual existences-and shall these, the best of them, forever be sacrificed for the metaphysical collectivity?" (p. 403)

His revolutionary understanding also shifts. He begins to differentiate between the autocratic despotism of Europe and the despotism of republican institutions:

"The despotism of republican institutions is far deeper, more insidious, because it rests on the popular delusion of self-government and independence. That is the subtle source of democratic tyranny, and, as such, it cannot be reached with a bullet. In modern capitalism, exploitation rather than oppression is the real enemy of the people ... the battle is to be waged in the economic rather than the political field." (p. 424)

This is not, however, a political manifesto (for that, one can read Berkman's ABCs of Anarchism). Berkman reveals his inner processes during fourteen years of incarceration. We discover, not only the horrors and corruption of the prison system, but also wander intimately through Berkman's mind. We visit his childhood, soften at unexpected gentlenesses behind bars, and begin to appreciate something as simple as the sunrise.

Although Berkman did not write the memoir until after he left prison, it has a sense of surreal immediacy. He wrote in the present tense, but that alone does not account for the way his text grips, and drags the reader into the maelstrom of his experience. We run with him through childhood memories, daily brutality, fantasies of escape and suicide, and the ideals that keep him sane. His longing for Emma Goldman shines through the text. He enthrones her almost as the guardian of his sanity through the years. Little can compare with the poignancy of his fantasy of mailing himself to his beloved Emma, escaping prison and finding himself with her again. (p. 135-137)

Five stars. Absolutely brilliant work, as relevant today as it was nearly 100 years ago. In her autobiography, Living my Life, Emma Goldman recounted how Berkman saved his sanity and his life by writing this memoir. The deep introspection, the flights of fancy, the accounting of prison life-all deeply illumine the best and the worst of human nature. This book is required reading for anybody who wishes to understand the fanatical, terrorist mindset, for Berkman describes that aptly. Far more importantly, he shares the experience of survival and transformation. He, who entered prison a fanatic, left those iron gates more committed than ever to his cause, but no longer a fanatic. His story tells of graduating from terrorist to humanist, from monomaniacal fanatic to a deeply committed human being. If you read nothing else this year, read this book.

(If you'd like to dialogue with me about this book or review, please click the "about me" link above and drop me an email. Thanks!)

"Is there anything higher in life than to be a true revolutionist...?" - From Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist

This is an incredibly moving and detailed account of an activist's experiences in early industrial America. As an Anarchist, Alexander Berkman recounts his observations of the era's struggle for decent living standards and fair treatment from fat cat industrialists. In prison for attempted assasination of a steel magnate who was responsible for firing and killing striking steel workers, Berkman eloquently describes his reasons for acting on behalf of the working poor and exploited. His experiences in prison are gut wrenching and very human. Not much fluffy language - very straighforward observations, which are emotionally piercing in their social significance and human truth. An exceptional read for anyone interested in the American history that is usually left out of school text books. Berkman's experiences are painful but very motivating and inspiring as they illustrate human love, the will to survive and continue to work for an ideal under the most horrendous conditions. This book is an extraordinary powerful testament to human goodness and strength.

This book was one of the most inspiring books on, not only Anarchism, but also on the human will to survive. Berkman's tale of the attempted assassination of one of this country's greatest scoundrels is awe inspiring, comical at times, and admirable. His triumph over the Pennsylvania Correctional system is also to be noted, especially in times of political struggles our modern day political prisoners, like Mumia Abu-Jamal. Prison memiors of an Anarchist is a glimpse into the hell of the prison system, and a reminder that things haven't changed that much. His book tells us that his message is still valid today. Berkman's message is just as true today as it was 100 years ago and I am glad this book is back in print.

What a tremendously detailed book of all the Hotels, place to eat and visit in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica! The book was a great help while weeding through the vast array of choices to choose from. We looked at several books prior to our excursion, but found that there was something missing for this beautiful part of the country. Southern Costa Rica Handbook provided us exactly the descriptive information to make our trip more fulfilling, while educating us on "local knowledge" of the area. A must read prior to any journey to this area!

If you are traveling to the Southern Zone of Costa Rica and looking to get the inside scoop, I highly recommned this handbook. I read all of the major Costa Rica handbooks, but none of those books provided the detail and insights found in this handbook.

Prior to departure, I sat on the floor of my local bookstore sifting through no less than 17 books on Costa Rica. An hour and a half-- and one headache-- later, I finally narrowed my choices down to what I like to call "the big four"--those familiar-named guidebooks that everyone would be carrying. It was not until I was already traveling in Costa Rica that I discovered Alexander del Sol's Southern Costa Rica Handbook and realized that I had finally arrived.

After two dizzying weeks of trying to decipher the nondescript differences between various hotels, restaurants and tourist traps as reviewed by the big four, what a joy it was to finally read about a destination in such detail and clarity that you could actually picture where it was you were headed. Mr. del Sol has done a terrific job of culling out the junk for you, and then describing his choices in such a manner that you can joyfully plan your trip with confidence.

As one of his previous reviewers commented, I only wish he would write a guide book for the rest of Costa Rica--and the world, for that matter!

The rich historical setting blended with the exciting drama of mutiny, incited by the son of the Secretary of War, made for a very satisfying read. The characters were vividly fleshed-out by the author. I appreciated the research that went into writing about this incident in our history. Excellent book.

In 1842, Midshipman 18-year-old Philip Spencer, the son of the President John Tyler's Secretary of War was hung for mutiny aboard the U.S.N. Somers. Not One Shred Of Decency is a masterfully written, expertly detailed, historically accurate, ardently recommended novel based on the circumstances and aftermath of this unusual event in American history. Bob Brown demonstrates a mastery of both his subject and his ability to write a gripping account that has the reader avidly engaged from first page to last.

Bob Brown knows how to write believable dialogue, and he knows how to make history come to life. His story of the hanging of the son of Secretary of War, John Spencer, is fascinating and true to life. I recommend it highly.

This fun anthology gives us four different novellas, each including a Christmas setting and delightful dogs. We get to understand people and events from the dogs' points of view and their uncanny senses--and the way they can sometimes gently nudge their people together. Loving pets combine with loving stories to make a marvelous combination that's a great read any time of year.

Victoria Alexander starts off with "Shakespeare and the Three Kings," set in 19th century England. Sir Oliver Stanhope's great aunt, the woman who raised him so lovingly, has died and left Oliver charged with the care of her three beloved Yorkshire Terriers, Melchoir, Balthazar, and Gaspar. She has also arranged for one D.K. Lawrence to come and train the Yorkies for him. When Diana Lawrence, once the love of Oliver's life, shows up at his home with her Great Dane Shakespeare in tow, Oliver wonders at his Aunt Ellie's true motives--but of course goes along with his aunt's last wish. Lady Eleanor's hopes for her nephew to find true love tug at the reader's heart--be sure to have a hanky ready.

In "Athena's Christmas Tail" by Nina Coombs, Athena that knows her mistress, Mercy, isn't as happy as she should be, especially since she is newly married. And Viscount Brockton acts strangely towards his bride, as well. Athena knows he likes his new wife, but why is he so distant from her? When they buy Hannibal from a cruel master, the two dogs put their noses together to try to get their master and mistress to see what any dog can tell immediately--that they really do care for each other. Another sweet, emotional story.

We move to the present day for "Away in a Shelter" by Annie Kimberlin, a funny, original twist on the snowed-in-log-cabin story. When they signed up to volunteer for the Christmas holidays at the animal shelter, neither Camille nor Roger realized they'd be sharing duty with the volunteer they liked least: the snobby lady lawyer and the big guy who always looked at her like she was a pariah. Both of them want to adopt the little dog who was left on the steps of the shelter; Camille calls her Gracie and Roger calls her Splinter. When the snow storm doesn't allow Camille and Roger to leave the shelter on Christmas Eve, they are forced to get to know each other as human beings--and find not only do they have a love of dogs and cats in common, but that they actually enjoy each other's company, and made some bad assumptions about each other at the outset. This is one of the best contemporary romances I've read all year. The characters and setting are all so very real, likeable and sympathetic. I was very sorry to see this story end and am very much looking forward to more from Ms. Kimberlin. (Writing as Annie Smith as of October 2002, with a new novel out -- yahoo!)

Miriam Raftery wraps it up with "Mr. Wright's Christmas Angel," which opens in present-day Los Angeles. Joy is upset that she won't be able to fulfill her daughter's fondest Christmas wish: she wants a daddy. The Santa Claus at the hospital that Joy has just been fired from gives Joy two airline tickets to Alaska, saying that perhaps a vacation from insurance forms and administration is just what she and her daughter Holly need. When Joy and Holly reach Noel, Alaska, the location of the cabin of Kriss Kringle, where they are to be guests for a few days, their rental car runs into a snowbank--they'll have to walk to the cabin. A big white dog, Frankincense, finds them and leads his master, Nicholas, Mr. Kringle's caretaker, to them. Nicholas is kind, if gruff and old-fashioned, not understanding what Joy means by "car" and "telephone." In fact, Joy marvels, Mr. Kringle's cabin has no electricity, no plumbing, and of course no phone. What kind of strange neighborhood have she and Holly been brought to? When a blizzard makes travel even out to the road impossible, Joy, Nicholas, and Holly all have more time to get to know each other... and like what they find. A happy story and satisfying end to this collection.

This is just a great collection of Chrismas stories. If you are a animal (more specifically a dog) lover you will truly enjoy this collection. My personal favorite is "Away in a Shelter" by Annie Kimberlin. The main characters Camille and Roger are a lot of fun to get to know and "Splinter" or "Grace" which ever you prefer is a true matchmaker. Victoria Alexander contributes a great historical piece with so many matchmakers the hero and heroine cannot help but finally get together. This story definatly contains lots of dog matchmaking fun. This book is well worth the read and it is extremely enjoyable...especially with a cup of hot coco and a furry friend.

This collection of novellas is a delight for the dog and romance lover. My favorite was Away in a Shelter, by Annie Kimberlin. An innocent puppy, two lonely dog-loving volunteers, a Christmas Eve blizzard that strands the three at the animal shelter--what more do you need for love to blossom? The puppy is wonderful--very much a character in her own right, and yet totally canine. Nothing mystical or anthropomorphic about her. Just Puppy Magic--which works on everyone! The man and woman work through their romance-traditional initial dislike very believably, especially considering the amount of time they have to do it. Real characters, honest settings and believable dogs add up to a great Christmas story which could be enjoyed any time of year.

The book is very good. It analyzes the war and thus explains certain outcomes. However, because pages are spent on analysis, it could not cover the war in a wider scope. I personally prefer less analysis (I'll do that myself) and more on events, personalities, and scopes.

For serious students of the WWII era wishing to have a handy, concise, and yet quite comprehensive overview of the Second World War and its times by way of a one-volume effort, this is the book to start with. Unlike much more massive, detailed, and descriptive tomes such as Gerhard Weinberg's "A World At War", Sir Martin Gilbert's "The Second World War", or the new "A War To Be Won" by Murray and Millett, this book pares down the tremendous sweep and circumstances surrounding the war to a relatively brief (just over three hundred pages) and yet amazingly concise and comprehensive narrative. Indeed, Professors from Harvard to Stanford often assign this book for introductory courses on World War Two because it is both manageable and accurate.

Parker's narrative is informed by his matchless grasp of the relevant documents and official records as well as a unique feel for the way in which the various aspects of the conflict interweave and interact to create and sustain a worldwide conflagration. In his stirring and entertaining treatment, one finds a treasure trove of details, and at the same time also gains a better understanding of the way in which the economic, diplomatic, and military factors combine during the drift toward war in the late 1930s. In this sense the book is written with great verve and obvious historical impact.

Viewed in this way, the book can be considered a quite compact and yet still comprehensive overview of the war itself, how it began, its slow and horrific progress, and how it was both won by the Allies and lost by the Axis powers. Indeed, one comes away from the reading experience with a much improved and enhanced appreciation for the far-reaching impact the war had on humanity at large, since the war affected everyone, combatants, noncombatants, and onlookers alike. As Parker argues quite persuasively, the Second World War changed the course of the 20th century forever.

The author faithfully traces how the key events of the war progress, showing how the strategies of each of the participants as well as their indigenous populations and economies affect the course of the conflict. In looking at major battles and campaigns, Parker provides a wealth of insight that is disproportionately detailed compared to the length of the book, and provides the reader with a wonderfully informative, insightful, and entertaining reading experience. He discusses specific aspects of the war such as mobile warfare, the Holocaust, forced migration, and the use of the atomic bomb in a way that helps the reader to understand the importance of each and gives specific reasons as to how and why they occurred. This is a book that is easy to recommend to anyone wanting a relatively concise and yet immensely rewarding reading experience. Enjoy!

This is an excellent overview of the Second World War using the most recent information available. Parker's book is well-written, lucid and concise. I am using it to teach a undergraduate level history course on the war.