Of science-fiction novels, of cold-war novels, of serious American novels -- one of the very best. But then so is another Budrys novel, "Rogue Moon". "Who?" was made into a disappointing film; "Rogue Moon" awaits an animator perhaps not yet born. But both should be cherished first as books.

This Book/CD ROM is virtually identical to Software Testing and Continuous Quality Improvement by the same author. It represents what I consider to be the definitive work on quality assurance and software testing, with a book that gives a solid framework, well designed processes and a detailed discussion of procedures. The value is the accompanying CD ROM of artifacts.

The Book Part: 458 pages vs. 656 pages of Software Testing and Continuous Quality Improvement upon which this package is based. The difference in page count is due to appendices provided on CD ROM instead of hard copy.

Structure and contents of the book: Section I gives a quality assurance framework that is based on TQM's Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and covers all of the essential elements, including the differences between prevention and detection, verification vs. validation, testing vs. quality control, and configuration management. These distinctions, definitions and elements are the foundation of Mr. Lewis' approach to testing and continuous improvement. Section I also gives a good overview of testing techniques and the key ingredients of continuous quality improvement.

Section II approaches testing from a life cycle perspective, clearly showing that testing starts with requirements, not after the product has been built. The verification checkpoints for each milestone are completely described. Section III addresses testing for client/server and internet projects, and is one of the most ion-depth treatments of methods and procedures I have come across. Moreover, it follows the PDCA cycle, which shows how theory can be put into practice. This is the heart of the book and is essential reading for anyone who needs to get up-to-speed on methods and techniques, as well as test managers who want to implement a coherent and workable process.

Most of Section IV was weak because it was centered on tools. This information quickly becomes obsolete, and there is no web site associated with this specific book to provide up-to-date information. Since many publishers are augmenting their books with web sites I hope this is rectified in the near future for this book because tools are an important subject and not something that can be accurately described in a book given the publication lead times. However, the methodology for evaluating testing tools in this section is valuable and on the mark.

Section V addresses the realities of software testing in the maintenance environment. I personally liked this section of the book above all others because the author addresses all of the major issues faced by service delivery and support personnel, as well as the challenges this environment imposes on test professionals. This is one area that will benefit the most from the author's approach and is, unfortunately, the area that will be most difficult to employ the approach. The reason is each development (application delivery) project starts with a reasonably clean slate and is focused on producing something within the confines of a relatively controllable project team. The maintenance environment, on the other hand, has stakeholders across the enterprise (and perhaps among many external customers). The barriers are political, organizational and cross-functional. However, the benefits that will be realized from using Mr. Lewis' approach in this environment is worth the effort, trials and tribulations of implementing it.

Like Section IV, Section VI is weak because it discusses specific tools.

CD ROM: This is a collection of valuable artifacts as follows: A: Spiral Testing Methodology - good collection of flow charts that show processes for all testing phases. B: Software Quality Assurance Plan - a well thought out template. C: Requirements Specification - another well designed template. D: Change Request - not the best example I've seen, but certainly has the essential elements. E: Test Templates - these are valuable; among the best I've come across F: Checklists - an amazing collection of checklists that should be in every QA organization G: Integrating Testing into Development Methodology - good training material. H. Software Testing - excellent training material for your personal development or your team. I especially like the software quality assurance plan, test templates (16 in all), and the checklists. The best,in my opinion, is Appendix H, which is a 66-page mini-encyclopedia of testing techniques.

Why buy this version instead of the book? If you need the artifacts the difference in price between this product and Software Testing and Continuous Quality Improvement will be more than compensated for in the time it would take to recreate the artifacts using a word processor. If you are starting a QA organization or are a consultant it makes sense to get this product, if your goal is professional development and adding a reference to your library, then the book makes more sense. Regardless, this is an important work whether in the CD ROM/Book combination or the book and should be on the desk of every serious QA professional.

Plain and simple, this book got me a better job for better pay. It's priceless.

For fans of Tolkien, CS Lewis and Charles Williams, this is a must read. Urang does tremendous work as he relates these excellent writers to theology and religious teaching.

Peter Carey

Many 'experts' have attempted to interpret the Paleolithic images and forms found in underground passages and caves such as Lascaux, Altamira, and Chauvet. Known as Franco-Cantabrian, because 95 percent of cave art in the world lies in Southern France or the Iberian Peninsula, these works rank among the most mysterious. What were the artists thinking??

In THE SHAMANS OF PREHISTORY, Jean Clottes and David Lewis-Williams put forth their interpretation of the meaning of Paleolithic cave art. Clottes is currently investigating Chauvet and Lewis Williams is a professor of cognitive archeology affiliated with the University of Whitwatersrand in South Africa.

During the last Ice Age, Paleolithic humans gathered in the warmer parts of the European continent in what is today southern France and northern Portugal and Spain, along with large numbers of animals including horses, bison, deer, aurochs, and others. For some reason, these humans felt compelled to depict some of these animals in "parietal" or cave art. The discovery of this art has launched much speculation.

Early on, experts suggested that the cave art was "art for art's sake" (posited by anti-church scientists who could not accept any religious connection). Most recently, experts in Structuralism have suggested binary patterns underlie the meaning of the art, but these patterns are so general as to be unhelpful.

The most persistent interpretation of the art during the past 100 years has been that it was created in conjunction with sympathetic magic rituals used to increase the size of herds of animals hunters stalked. But this interpretation has many flaws. For one thing, the area surrounding the caves was brimming with game at the time the art was created. For another, many of the animals consumed by Paleolithic humans were not depicted (fish, birds, boars, for example). For another, horses outnumber other beasts pictured, and although they were sometimes consumed by humans, the bones left behind in various camp sites indicate horses were not at the top of the menu. Other problems with the "hunter" interpretation lie in the actual depiction of the animals-spears and arrows are often placed at odd angles for killing; animals are placed at odd angles for living or dying; animals appear to be more alive than dead; pregnant females are seldom shown--and last but not least, some of the animals are predators themselves. Naturalists that they were, Paleolithic folks certainly understood the source of baby animals and they certainly would not have wished to increase the numbers of their competitors.

Clottes and Lewis-Williams propose another interpretation of the cave art -- Shamanism. The term Shaman is taken from the Siberian word Tungus-the name of one who goes into a trance and has visions. All humans are capable of entering a trance or "altered state" and cultures around the world exhibit variations of Shamanism -- including many orthodox Western religions. Some enter a trance via drugs (wine, peyote, etc.), others engage in ritual behavior (chants, songs, and/or dancing). Shamanic trances produce out-of-body experiences involving various apparitions which may or may not be rendered into art forms.

I found the authors arguments concerning Shamanism persuasive and logical. The evidence they offer to support their thesis is excellent (many colorful photos). Their interpretation is helpful while not overreaching. Probably the most important aspect they stress is that while there is much diversity in cave art, a pattern is present. Best of all from my perspective, this thesis is gender and age neutral. Whatever Paleolithic humans did, women probably took part. This is a beautiful Abrams art book.

For an urban dweller, this handy little book provides a great insight into beautiful rural areas. Without the book's guidance, I never would have thought to go bicycling in Eagles Mere, Wellsboro, or Thompsontown, but each ride proved delightful. The directions are excellent, and the writer gives a nice little insight into each place that he describes. Pennsylvania has many wonderful places to ride, and this book will take you to many of them.

Excellent collection of essays which deal with the chaos and order dealing with turbulence of the early five year plan. For all scholars of the period these essays are must. The approach is that of working a history from below. Missing from the essays however is a chronology or keyword reference for less knowledgable readers. Most interesting is Lewin's essay on class which avoids much of the vulgar Marxist and narrow Weberian definitions of class. Highlighting the political and cultural definitions of class and the process in which they are transformed from the proletariat into Soviet workers. Otherwise, a class in power into a statistical catagory. And the transformations wrought from the new peasant "immigrants" set against the established worker.

Most Black History fans think they have DuBois figured out. You either hate him for his haughtiness and elitism or you love his militant stands. This collection of DuBois' writings shows that the truth was somewhere in between. We see DuBois change his mind on Marcus Garvey and the elitist "Talented Tenth" idea. We see DuBois evolve from Integrationism to Black Nationalism to Communism. We basically see a man who is not afraid to change his ideas and admit his errors, a very human and complex man.

Like other Ambrose books that I have read, Undaunted Courage is well written and researched. It tells the tell of Lewis and Clarks' great adventure across the USA. I have not read much of anything about this epic adventure before finishing this book, so I expected to learn a lot from one of America's best historians- I was not disappointed.

You get some great insight into what America was like in the early 1800s. America was full of great promise (the pioneer spirit, the land of opportunity, etc), but we also faced some serious problems (treatment of blacks, indians, woman, etc). One of the great ironies of the book is that some of the people who help Lewis and Clark to fulfill their mission, are treated the worst by the pair. Makes you wonder how such highly educated men (to include President Jefferson) could be so wrong about certain things, yet inspire others to accomplish great deeds.

Ambrose is a great storyteller, one of the best. His passion runs deep for this subject, so he gets long winded (as many other reviewers have noted) at times in the narrative. I think that is my main complaint about the book. Ambrose takes forever to get the explorers across the country, but returns them in a whirlwind. The book would have been better served if Ambrose took a more balanced approach to the expeditions timeline, giving equal weight to both parts of the trip.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the cross-country adventure of Lewis and Clark. If you are ignorant about the subject, like I was (I thought it was just the pair with their female indian guide for most the trip), you will gain greater insight into one of America's truly historic events. Lastly, this book will make you appreciate many of the advancements we have made since then (i.e- transportation and communication systems), although it may also make you want to spend more time enjoying the wonderful outdoor parks of America.

This book is inimitable Stephen Ambrose. Like all of his books, he turned this book of history into his story --- a nonfiction adventure story. Stephen E. Ambrose actually evolved into what can be called a nonfiction novelist. Starting with historical facts, he blended-in a judicious amount of hyperbole, added a pinch of sensationalism, and came up with a new metamorphosis called creative history that was very successful at holding a reader's attention. There are now other authors (including yours truly) who do the same, but, Ambrose was the first and the best. "Undaunted Courage" is yet another book in a long line of his books that shows he knew how to inform by perfecting the knack of making history interesting. He shall be missed.

I found this an excellent book that transported me back in time to the days of the Louisiana Purchase. For me, such an experience is the definition of a good history book.

The subject, as anyone who reads the introduction will see, is one that is dear to Ambrose. His intimate knowledge of the subject comes through in what is a thoroughly gripping narrative.

Ambrose clearly admires Meriwether Lewis, but his writing is fair and impartial as he delves into the trials and triumphs of the expedition as a whole, and Lewis personally. The story begins at the beginning, well before the voyage of discovery begins, by establishing the relationship between Lewis and Thomas Jefferson that will ultimately result in Lewis being given command of the expedition.

Clark's role is not ignored, and Ambrose repeatedly points out that Lewis viewed Clark as a co-leader, although the government at the time recognized him only as Lewis's lieutenant. But, as the title suggests, the book focuses on Lewis, the great project's leader, and his sponsor Jefferson.

Lewis's tragic decline and eventual suicide ends the book and serves as a sad counterpoint for his great and yes, courageous, leadership during the expedition.

Altogether the book offers a fascinating read for anyone interested in the story of Lewis and Clark, or students of Thomas Jefferson looking for additional perspective into the events that shaped his presidency.