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Book reviews for "Murray,_Charles" sorted by average review score:

Apollo: Race to the Moon
Published in Paperback by Touchstone Books (1990)
Authors: Charles Murray and Catherine Bly Cox
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The best book on the engineering achivements of Apollo
It is a crying shame that this wonderful book appears to be VERY out of print. It answers all the questions any technologically curious person would have about the design of the systems, the testing, how mission control worked, what all those acronyms really mean, the geeky geniuses and tough managers that made the program succeed. it covers the surprising numbers of "glitches" that made every mission more dramatic than news reports led viewers to believe.

Could it be that author Murray followed up this gem with the controversial The Bell Curve, and the publishing establishment is reluctant to see him prosper? Or is there a less nefarious explanation?

A Comprehensive look at the technology of Apollo
A comprehensive look at the whole of the Apollo program is given in "Apollo: the Race to the Moon". As well as the flights and the astronauts, this book also looks at the technology involved - the crawler and its special roadway, the exacting requirements for the lauchpad ("Stage Zero") to stand a Saturn launch, the problems in developing the F1 engines that powered the Saturn first stage, the power and magnificence or a Saturn launch.

A terrific book on the people and technologies behind Apollo
I just met one of the principle people interviewd for this book, and he called it the best book on Apollo for "outsiders." This book lays out the challenges (man, moon, decade), problems ("combustion instability"), and solutions (duct tape!) all in an incredibly readable format.

No cute astronaut stories. This is about the engineering that made Apollo work!


Apollo: The Race to the Moon
Published in Hardcover by Simon & Schuster (1989)
Authors: Charles Murray and Catherine S. Cox
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Stunning
I've read most of the other "space" books and this one is the best by far. Most of these books are written from the astronaut's point of view, and while this is an exciting and interesting view point, it's pretty clear that there are thousands of people working behind the scenes for each astronaut out doing his job (his - this is Apollo - all of them were men).

After reading "Apollo" I have a new understanding for the amount of effort and love that went into the creation of the Apollo program. The men and women who helped put a man on the moon are every bit the heroes as the 12 who stood on the surface (as well as the seven, the nine, etc.).

If you really want to understand how America put a man on the moon, this is the book to read. After you finish, go back and watch Tom Hanks' "From the Earth to the Moon."

THE Definitive book on the Apollo program...
This book is the true "diamond-in-the-rough". With so many re-issues of material from the manned space program and specifically Apollo, it's hard to imagine that this book isn't re-issued again and again! This book (along with Andrew Chaiken's Man on the Moon and Jim Lovell's Lost Moon) is by far the definitive account of the Apollo program. Not just a re-gurgitation of the Apollo history, this story is told from a Flight Controller/Engineering perspective and gives a truer picture of what the early and subsequent days of the program were like. Here, Apollo Program Manager Joe Shea comes alive and is portrayed as an heroic/brilliant manager, not the villian of the Apollo 1 fire as in other accounts. You're down in the "trench" in Mission Control for not only the Apollo 11 Moon landing, but also for the lesser known Apollo 6, the ill-fated second un-manned launch of the Saturn V. It may be hard to find this book, but the effort is well worth it...one of the top 5 books that I've ever read.

The best book ever written about Apollo
Murray and Cox wrote by far the single best book on Apollo. It covers the political decisions, the engineering, the people, and the history. The engineering is explained in a clear and non-condescending way that non-technical people can understand, and yet it's thorough enough to interest scientists and engineers as well. The detailed descriptions of the various technical and political debates, as well as the struggles between divisions of NASA and various contractors are well documented with many different sources consulted.

With the current resurgence of interest in Apollo and the reissue of a number of lesser books, it's a great pity this book has not been reissued.


Crosstown Traffic: Jimi Hendrix and the Post-War Rock 'N' Roll Revolution
Published in Hardcover by St. Martin's Press (1990)
Authors: Charles Shaar Murray and Charles Sharr Murray
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An Excellent Book
This is my favorite book about not only Jimi Hendrix, but Robert Johnson and Charlie Christian too. Occasionally Charles Shaar Murray gets a little carried away during his wordy descriptions, but it doesn't matter. If you want to learn about the evolution of African American guitarists, this is the place to start.

Life R&R and the whole damn thing
Perhaps the best book written on rock music.

The Most Insightful On Jimi Thus Far
Unlike the usual gossip-laden rock bios (which I sometimes relish too, I'll admit), Murray's book is a serious piece of work. I've yet to come across a rock author as capable as Murray in analyzing the most important aspect of our Jimi-worship-- the MUSIC. Murray's book delves into the sociocultural groundwork of Jimi's musical style, and makes very astute leaps in connecting Jimi's music to various influences. Murray is perhaps the most intelligent rock biographer I've ever read (and I've read most of the major ones). At certain times, it's as though Murray's descriptive skill nearly matches his subject's musical genius. In any event, this book certainly does Jimi justice. Murray's descriptions of some of Jimi's well-known material are awesome. He describes an instance of Jimi's tight playing as (sorry if I slightly misquote) a "propulsive ball of rhythm, densely packed with ideas," and so forth. Murray is singularly able to verbally express what we deeply feel about Jimi's music, but have a hard time explaining to others. You know how tough it is to convince non-believers why you KNOW that Jimi is a genius, when they think that he was merely a hyped-up, noisy, wildman-clown, right? Well, read Charles Murray's book. I think it'll sooth your soul, and you'll come away with a deeper knowledge and appreciation of his subject. Hats off to Murray!


Elliott Erwitt Snaps
Published in Hardcover by Phaidon Press Inc. (2001)
Authors: Elliott Erwitt, Murray Sayle, and Charles Flowers
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Antología de un buen fotógrafo
Una edición impresinante: mas de 500 fotos en calidad FOTO! parecen reales... toda la obra de uno de los mejores fotógrafos del siglo...

Much more than just Snaps
Elliott Erwitt's photographic style proves that elegance entails a simple purity of purpose. Once you open his latest book, you are drawn into a world that seems familiar, but with a twist. Erwitt sees what we all see, but captures a moment or a prespective that transforms the ordinary or odd into high art.

definitive collection of a great master
erwitt is a great master of photography and we are lucky to have him and this book. this book is extensive, and shows his best work throughout his career. his style, his eye, his heart, his mind - all come together very clearly in the pages of snaps, and the result is a must have volume for anyone seriously interested in black and white, documentary, or street photography. nothing can be said that will do this book justice, so just see for yourself. this one compares to any black and white book put out ever, no exaggeration.


Sgml on the Web: Small Steps Beyond H.T.M.L. (Charles F. Goldfarb Series on Open Information Management)
Published in Paperback by Prentice Hall Computer Books (1997)
Authors: Yuri Rubinsky and Murray Maloney
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Great Book!
This is a really good book to introduce SGML. Also, especially now that SoftQuad is out of the SGML web browser business, and no longer provides its Panorama SGML Netscape browser plug-in, the copy of Panorama Pro included on the CD that comes with the book is worth more than the price of the book.

This book can get you *started* with SGML!
Are you frustrated trying to get started learning about SGML, and how to do things with it? Do you feel like SGML is something out of a Kafka story? This book really can help you make that first big leap from helpless confusion, to being able to do things with SGML, and to be oriented so that you *can* become your own guide in going farther. Buy it: It works if you work it!

Excellent Book
This book is an excellent introduction to SGML and XML. Its well written and covers the topic in a reasonable amount of detail. It includes an evaluation version of an SGML browser from Softquad that is worth the price of the book itself.


David Bowie
Published in Paperback by Plexus Pub (1994)
Authors: Roy Carr and Charles S. Murray
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Bowiefile Muso-journo's fail to fawn over rock god! (almost)
It should be noted first, that the look of this book may have spawned that primary & pastel coloured graphics look that culminated in those dodgy Culture Club-esque album covers of the 80's.

This is, however, not a bad thing. Remember that Bowie himself spawned Icehouse, Bauhaus (and therfore 'the fields of the nephilm'- a gothic embarrasment from the UK that mass cringing couldn't drive away)and a whole gamut of pass the sick, or make up, bag 'artistes'.

The photos were a revelation, in terms of size and quality, when first published and it must have been obvious to Eel-Pie (Publisher owned by Pete Townsend) that sad spotty but 'different' - i.e. couldn't score chics - schoolkids like myself were going to buy two copies at a time. One for perusing and dripping saliva on and the other for the bedroom wall. Some of us particularly sad types bought three, as some pages had 'crucial' snaps on either side.

In fairness, up until then in the UK (or at least Scotland) there were about 20 unofficial Bowie books that you could buy. All of which had little of written interest and shared the same newsprint qualiy black and whites. Face it, the photos were all that really mattered. As soon as I had parted with my pocket money, the cellophane wrapping was aibourne and my mums scissors were gummed up with cellotape as I added the latest installement to the 'installation (conversation?)piece' that was my bedroom 'collage'.

Once I had bought my third copy and actually started to read the thing (only joking, I read the second one before I cut it up) I realised that this was not going to be the same old cliche ridden sychophantic drivel that I was used to swallowing so gratefully. When you are a young teenager and your mates periodically want to beat you up 'cos you listen to a poof', it can be quite comforting having some hack confirm to you in print that 'the chamelion of rock' is actually the second coming in mascarra. Like, it says so there so it must be true!

How refreshing then, to read a book that praises and ridicules Bowie in fairly equal measure, even though it's obvious that Carr & Murray love 95% of the music they are critiquing. I didn't agree with all of their observations and conclusions, but neither I or the authors should mind about that. This was then, the first music publication that for me, made reading it feel like an adult pursuit. Just before I cut it up and used it to cover every inch of my bedroom.

Two more things, 1. If you buy a copy, you will need a bigger coffee table 2. I wish I had kept one.

The Definitive Guide on Bowie
The book is the size of a record album. Of all my Bowie books, it has held up the best (no pages falling out after all these years) and is as fresh, information-wise, as the day I purchased it. It contains giant size, full-color pictures of Bowie during many stages, up until about the late seventies. It comes complete with discography, and many pictures of international albums he has produced. It is THE definitive guide on Mr. Bowie.


Calculus With Analytic Geometry: A Second Course
Published in Textbook Binding by Addison-Wesley Pub Co (1971)
Authors: Murray H. Protter and Charles B., Jr. Morrey
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If you're devote to math, this book must be your bible !
Very few are the books that can take you from the beginning all the way to the end. This book haven't missed any step on its attempt to guide you to a succesful comprehension of mathematics.


Charles Fairfax Murray: The Unknown Pre-Raphaelite
Published in Hardcover by The Book Guild Ltd (1900)
Author: David Elliott
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A superbly researched and presented biography
David Elliot has written a superbly researched and presented biography of Charles Fairfax Murray, perhaps the least known of all the Pre-Raphaelite painters who was the friend of William Morris, the Rossettis, Edward Burne-Jones, and a protégé of John Ruskin. A man who prized his privacy, Murray deliberately sought anonymity, left no memoir, and his diaries revealed very little about himself as he served his friends as a supporter, confidante, and adjutant ranging from adding miniatures to Morris' illuminated manuscripts to serving as a copyist for Ruskin. Murray's spheres of activity also came to include collecting, dealing, museology, and art-historical scholarship. A grandson of Murray, biographer David Elliot is able to offer a wealth of insights into Murray's personal and professional life as revealed by papers on both sides of the family, as well as diligently and painstaking research through the archives of Britain, Europe, and America. Charles Fairfax Murray is a magnificent and much appreciated contribution to students of the Pre-Raphaelite movement and those associated with it.


A First Course in Real Analysis (Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics)
Published in Hardcover by Springer Verlag (1992)
Authors: Murray H. Protter, Charles B., Jr. Morrey, J. H. Ewing, and F. W. Gehring
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Most Complete undergraduate text in Functional Analysis
A must buy for students who want to major in Math or pursue graduate study in Math. The book will prepare a student for higher courses in Functional & Real Analysis


Forgotten Spurgeon
Published in Paperback by Banner of Truth (1988)
Author: Iain Hamish Murray
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A Not so perfect balance, but yet GREAT
I guess this book tells its reader the truth of Spurgeon's theology: Calvanistic, yet it also shows his love for souls and zeal for evangelism. I admire Spurgeon because He preached what he believed God would have him preach regardless of who wouldn't be the better for it. As best he could he followed what he thought is Biblical and esteem the word of God, the Bible, to be the very breath and words of God. his sermons are like a breath of fresh air. A man of moral and doctrinal integrity.

Spurgeon as he really was
This is easily my favorite biography of Spurgeon. Iain Murray covers the passion and beauty of Spurgeon's preaching which is so marvelous to read. He has a way of lifting you up and shaking you around, providing amazing illustrations, and then sending you off with encouragement.

But this aspect of Spurgeon's preaching is what everybody talks about. What nobody talks about, the Forgotten Spurgeon, is his passion for not only preaching, but also for doctrine. This book highlights Spurgeon's battles with Arminians, Hyper-Calvinists, baptismal regenerationists, and modernists. Spurgeon was a devoted Calvinist, and this book shows how centrally Spurgeon viewed Calvinism to his preaching. It was so important to him that he would fight tooth and nail over it, not giving in until confident of doctrinal purity. Spurgeon's doctrine is the forgotten Spurgeon. And this biography is noteworthy for pointing that out.

Recommended reading for learning more about Spurgeon, as well as for learning more about the doctrines of grace.

Comprehensive biography on Spurgeon and his polemics.
This volumn will make the sincere Christian's heart burn within them. I read this book early in my Christian life and it helped me greatly in understanding the value of developing strong convictions on scriptural doctrines. I have personally given out about one dozen copies of this fine book as gifts to encourage others in their growth in grace. Ian Murray does a fine job in showing Spurgeon, ever valiant for the truth, graciously opposing error in Christ's church and preaching Christ and biblical truth in a more faithful and powerful way than perhaps any other has in the history of the English language. Other than Holy Scripture, I can do no better than to recommend Spurgeon for your reading. This book deals in particular with controversies and doctrinal errors within the British Baptist Union, and the greater professing Evangelical church of the day. Spurgeon displays his love for God and his people by defending His Word, and exhorting His people to believe and obey it. This is perhaps my favorite Spurgeon biography and I heartily recommend it.


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