After an introductory review of basic statistics, Professor Nelson does a superb job of leading the reader to a complete understanding of Markov chains, motivated by definition and discussion of Poisson processes. The difficult topic of stationarity is treated with exceptional clarity. Additionally, the author's care in categorizing the states of Markov chains (e.g., transient, recurrent, periodic, aperiodic, etc.) is commendably superb. Each chapter begins with a practical "workaday" problem illustrating the value of the material in that chapter. Carefully graded exercise sets augment the reader's understanding of the material. Extreme care has been taken to keep the necessary detailed notations and subscripts standard, clear, and free of typographical errors.

This is a book that takes you through the stochastic processes easy and step by step leading you to a greater knowledge of a complicated issue.

My goodness! I don't think you could ask for a more extraordinarily effective and inspiring rebuttal to the clap-trap about patriotism being bantered about by the current administration and the media.

This book contains maybe the best definition of an authentic patriotism that I have ever read. All three essays are beautiful, passionate, and powerful in completely different ways.

If you want to know what being an American is all about, please read this book!

This book contains very well topics as input and output analysis, verification and validation, random number generation etc. I strongly recommend this book as an introduction of theoric simulation.

Banks revised his great book with updated simulation package and information. Several new issues, such as, tools/softwares, random-variable generation, simulation termination, how to use Simulation to analysis and design computer system, many downloadable examples. Sufficient theories, to understand Simulation, are given, for instance, the Statistics and Queueing theories. Two chapters are dedicated for random-number generation. One chapter is dedicated for verification and validation of simulation models. Although it's only one chapter, several references are given for further study. IE or logistic practioner will enjoy since one chapter is for manufacturing and material handling system (wow!). Very good reference and practice.

This book brings a very complete explanation about what Discrete Event System Simulation is. From the very beginning, they introduce what Simulation is by means of simple examples that you can manage by hand. They also give a comprehensive explanation about how to determine the apropiate distribution functions to use in the simulation. And how to statistically analyze the simulation results. The book also include a comprehensive brochure of different simulation languages.

As has widely been observed, Barry Unsworth's intelligent novel succeeds at many levels. Let us specify a few: it is, first of all, a disturbing tale of obsession - Charles Cleasby's maniacal pursuit of evidence to exonerate Admiral Horatio Nelson of any malfeasance in what history has recorded as Nelson's distinctly unheroic behavior in Naples in 1798.

Unsworth has also written a subversive work of biographical art - the author notes in interviews that Losing Nelson in fact began its life as a commissioned biography of the supreme British hero. With vigorous economy Unsworth covers the main biographical bases and provides the reader, almost miraculously, with both sides of the interpretation with which Cleasby and all Nelsonographers must grapple. (Indeed, more plentiful source citations would have been helpful, although Unsworth does a nice job of working some of his documentation into the narrative - several times causing me to smile and shake my head in admiration at his cleverness in doing so.)

The book also works as a complexly interwoven meditation on the related themes of fame, heroism, nobility, patriotism, and virtuousness - again, from both sides, but adding another familiar dimension to Unsworth's "angel-of-light" and "angel-of-darkness" considerations, recalling the two sides of Henry V - the unabashedly jingoistic view of Prince Hal (Nelson) versus the play's pragmatic Falstaffian overtones that probe unsettlingly into "what IS honor?" This is a most timely aspect of the book: each era creates its own heroes - think of what we lionize as "heroic" and those whom we call "hero" - and Unsworth is as careful in presenting the building blocks of Nelson's fame as he is unsparing in dissecting the dynamic (for it IS a process) of heroism and its perpetuation.

Losing Nelson is also a modernist (not postmodern) psychological narrative of considerable virtuosity. Unsworth handles his twin-track materials with breathtaking seamlessness, sometimes moving incrementally through segues from Cleasby to Nelson (almost like the walking Henry Hull changing into the Werewolf of London as he passes behind successive pillars) and sometimes back and forth inside Cleasby-Nelson. One finishes some passages of this book simply to sit back in startled wonder: "how did he manage THAT?" Unsworth is a flawless craftsman, a master of pacing (the true narrative art) who knows when to divulge a tidbit of information and when to withhold. And he never cheats the reader.

Sprinkled throughout the novel are marvelous, beautifully realized characters. We have the astonishing Cleasby himself - what a creation! Brilliant and method-to-his-madness "on to something," edgy, obsessive-compulsive, scarred by a domineering father, of bizarrely diffuse sexuality. There are the cleverly written debunkers, including Miss Lily the Avon Services "Kelly Girl" temp who transcribes Cleasby's handwritten Nelson study, and her sparely but devastatingly drawn son, as well as the expatriate whom Cleasby hopes holds the key to the Naples episode, and the assorted oddballs, cranks, and losers who hang out at the London Nelson Society.

Much has been made of the Unsworth's "surprise" ending. I believe more than a few readers will anticipate some variation of the ending - I did, through no special perspicacity but simply as a hand-wringing reader, wholly enjoying his immersion in the Nelson-Cleasby universe and, riffling through as many unsatisfactory ways the book might end as I could imagine, hitting upon the one - one I had feared - playing it out, and thus feeling slightly let down at the end. As the dust jacket observes, "Something has to give way, and give it does - in the most astonishing and entertaining of ways." Having lived so intimately with Charles Cleasby, I wanted something better for him, and certainly something less - well, I'll say it, and I don't think it's a spoiler - hackneyed. For me, an unsatisfying conclusion to an otherwise brilliant novel, my first of what will be many journeys with Barry Unsworth.

Barry Unsworth is an exceptionally talented novelist and this work succeeds on many levels. He has an unswerving eye for detail, provides rich characterization, masterful manipulation of plot, and supplies plenty of meat and marrow in terms of levels of meaning. He also is adept at varying the pace of his narrative, shifting his delivery from the rather langorous story-line involving the troubled main character, Charles Cleasby, to the fast-paced passages covering Admiral Nelson's siege of Naples.

The only drawback is that the parallel plot device has become something of a cliche in recent fiction and cinema. Two ready examples are Michael Cunningham's and Charles Sturridge's adaptation of Dana Sobel's . When one end of the scale outweighs the other, things get out of balance. The feat requires careful measurements. In Unsworth's case, the Nelson chapters are just a great deal more interesting than those devoted to the intentionally mundane machinations of the mentally unstable Cleasby and his female ameneunsis, Miss Lilly. It's difficult for a reader to care about this particularly unsympathetic main character. There is rather a whiney quality to his musings that makes him unpleasant to be around. I grant that this is part of Unsworth's intent. NO one enjoys being in the company of neurotics for any length of time, but still. That Cleasby comes to terms with his past later in the novel is not enough to counteract the fact that he is an anal compulsive bore, when it comes right down to it.

This book, despite these shortcomings, is well worth a read, as there's no disputing that Unsworth is a capable novelist with a true sense of style. Though the Cleasby plot-line sags, Lord Nelson comes to the rescue, though his visage is marred by a few warts we might have overlooked in previous portraits. I recommend this book and look forward very much to reading the same author's Booker Prize Winning 1992 novel of the slave trade, .

BEK

Losing Nelson is a brilliant book about a man trying to write a book about Horatio Nelson. The main character, Charles Cleasby, is a nebbish and a Nelson nerd, who, ever since beginning to specialize in Nelson on the recommendation of his psychiatrist, has no life beyond this obsession. He reenacts Nelson's battles, in real time and on their anniversaries, in a special room in his house; attends the Nelson Club, where he eventually gives a disastrous paper; and, most important, is trying to write a biography of Nelson. In it he hopes to prove his own firm conviction that Nelson was a perfect hero, a bright angel, who never did anything that was less than heroic, at least at sea. Cleasby is troubled by two things, one human and one historical. The human being is his typist, Miss Lily, who asks unsettling questions about Nelson's megalomania, his indifference to the sufferings of his men, his craving for celebrity; the other is a historical event, Nelson's apparent collusion in the betrayal of some Jacobin rebels in Naples, who left their fortresses under a promise of safe conduct but were arrested and executed. Cleasby hopes to "clear" Nelson of guilt in this case.

His efforts to do this lead him further and further into the byways of his obsession, which, having started out looking like a hobby, becomes more and more a kind of derangement. Eventually he is drawn into the "poisonous flower-trap" of Naples himself, with surprising results.

Unsworth is a fine historical novelist and one learns a lot about Nelson from reading this book; more interestingly one learns about the results on the fragile psyche of a Nelson fan (in his own mind, a double) of losing Nelson as a shining model of English perfection.

Merritt Moseley

Apparently this book is a retitled version of _That Others May Live: The True Story of the PJs, Real Life Heroes of the Perfect Storm_. If so, the current title is more accurate: the book focuses on "a PJ," coincidentally the author, not PJ's in general. And it's NOT about the Perfect Storm, except in passing, though particularly relevant to the author. As to the PJ's (Air Force Pararescue Jumpers) being "real life heroes of the perfect storm," there's no indication they rescued anyone during that storm. In fact, the Coast Guard ship had to come out and rescue THEM. Yes, you can be a hero for an attempt, but let's not go overboard in naming our book after one rescue attempt in a much bigger event.
The book is interesting. Jack, of course, makes almost no mistakes, and his wife is a perfect angel. She understands when he says, "yes, I went to the strip bar, but that's where the debriefing session was held."
The unexamined assumption that OF COURSE men who work hard have to relax by drinking all night, having bar fights, and visiting strip joints is overdone.
The book does provide information about a little-understood group of airmen who put their lives on the line to rescue others in what can be very difficult situations, much like the Coast Guard rescue jumpers. Their main purpose is to rescue downed pilots and personnel in need of medical help, on land or sea, but they're also available to help civilians when civilian rescue agencies don't have the resources available.
There is some understanding of the mentality of repeatedly putting your life on the line -- you might as well die doing something you love, while helping others.
The book could have argued for better equipment -- although the author repeatedly recounts stories of how difficult it is for helicopters to refuel from tankers during rough weather, the author doesn't argue for a better, heavier, longer, wider (or whatever) fueling drogue design.
The Perfect Storm part takes 30 pages, IF you include the soap opera parts about the wives calling each other for news. A pararescue helicopter and tanker was dispatched during the Perfect Storm to rescue a sailor doing a solo trip around the world. The rescue was aborted due to heavy seas, and the rescue helicopter itself ditched on the way back to base, with the loss of one airman. The helicopter ditched because it was unable to refuel with the existing drogue design. The author, in charge at the base, grounded rescue attempts of this airman due to his orders and impossible conditions. Yet his men took their anger out of him, sometimes in petty ways. They stole his jacket, and snuck a bottle of booze into his luggage as he was about to fly into a Muslim country, which if discovered would have gotten Jack in enormous trouble. There's so much talk of the "teamwork" ethos in the book -- where did it go when his men were angry at Jack, and caused him to have to leave command of the unit?

This is an excellent, well done, entertaining read! Here is a female perspective from one who has an Army NCO brother, and cousins and uncles who have served in various military branches. Jack's story gave me new insight on military life and the sacrifices he, his family, and others like him have made and continue to make in service to our country. From 1986-1996 I lived in Connecticut very near Long Island Sound and remember well "The Perfect Storm" that cost a PJ's life.

Especially wonderful is the support and commitment Jack and his wife have given to each other and their family. That is what a marriage should be - a partnership. I also thoroughly enjoyed the stories of the other PJs and what happened in their lives. It is good to know heroes still exist and that there are parents who will do what is best for their children, not just what is convenient for the parents.

As I was reading, I often thought, "These guys are nuts!" However, it takes extraordinary men to do what they do and it is comforting to know the PJs are there for those who need them. It is heartening that, so far, it seems the PJs have been able to avoid the "kinder, gentler" political correctness that is destroying our military. I can only pray that the rest of the military and country wakes up before it is too late.

God bless Jack and Peggy Brehm and the other PJs for sharing their stories with us.

I picked it up and read it cover to cover. No food, no drink, no phone calls needed! Jack Brehm's outstanding storytelling ability was all I needed. That Others May Live tells of a perfect balance that we all wish for between career and home. A job so worth it to the public that he would risk all he has to do it. A wife and family so supportive that they would never ask him not to!

I already knew Jack Brehm and all of the Air Guard PJs were heroes. Stories of their superhuman efforts are legend on Long Island where I grew up. To be offered a glimpse into the life of Jack Brehm and the PJ comunity in this book was true heaven.

That Others May Live is not only a great book about the Air Guard's PJs and what it takes to do the impossible, it lets the reader know that behind every hero there is another. In this case the true hero is Peggy Brehm. A woman who keeps not only the family together while he is away, but is the reason Jack can do what he does! I wondered after looking at the title for a bit, if the neverending support she gives Jack isn't another verson of "That others may live".