I bought this book 25 years ago when I started pottery and my well-thumbed copy is an important part of my studio. I'm a Canadian potting in Japan and though most of my students are non-English users, the photographs in this book speak thousands of words. It is laid out logically and the cross-section cuts of the whole process from entering the centered clay to finished work are everything a student or teacher could want in an instructional book. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover it is still available and my student is looking forward to having her own copy.

As someone who has just started to learn pottery in a class, this book gives detailed information that your teacher may not provide. Even if you are learning by yourself the step by step (very detailed) lessons by themselves gives the beginner good and easy to understand steps for success! Lots of great pictures too.

I bought this book for my wife who had just finished ten weeks of throwing lessons. She read the book and was able to improve her work in just a few practice sessions. She is so pleased with her new knowledge and skill. The fine detail and the pictures of sectioned pots were easy to follow. The accompaning text was clear and the summeries allow for quick reference.

We can only recommend this fine book to anyone that wants to improve their skill.

To capture the ironies, poignancies, and soulful idiosyncrasies of the grave sites pictured in this book, William Greiner spent several years traversing the cemeteries of New Orleans and South Louisiana....Despite Greiner's obvious debt to William Eggleston, who is often cited as the father of modern color photography, his photographs stand out as originals. The compositions are provocative, and he renders garish colors into a lushly seductive palette..... Mr. Greiner's small, Louisiana-style models of the barren earth combine with Thomas Lynch's elegant foreward to make The Reposed a fascinating book. Nov/Dec 1999

William Greiner's first monograph is a welcome selection of photographs from his many years of work in color. Greiner's view of the world, mainly in his native Louisiana, is alternately witty, tender and rhetorical. THE REPOSED is a book that the viewer will want to look at again and again.

-- Deborah Bell, Private Dealer of Photographs, New York City

If one picture is worth a thousand words, then this book is worth sixty two thousands words to describe the surreal photographs. Definitely not enough room here to convey what I think is a remarkable look at cemeteries in and around New Orleans. William Greiner is a genius with a camera,who has taken the cemetery photograph and made it into a haunting, beautiful work of art.

If I were starting out in the telecommuncations field, this would be the first book that I'd recommend that anyone read. It gives you a high level look at: what protocols do and are used for; what the primary access technologies are; a great description of the telephony system that provides the main infrastructure of the Internet; and, the primary transport technologies that are being used today.
Because this is a "crash course" book don't look for great detail in every topic, however, if you are looking for a compendium that covers the telecomm field all in one book then this is the book you need. My networking background has been mostly in the copper and fiber optic technologies, so I found the sections about the new 802.11 wireless technologies the most interesting. But some of things that I found unique for a book like this and most fascinating are the pictures of scenes and equipment taken inside of actual telephone central offices and the anecdotes about real life happenings in the telecommuncations world. For those of you interested in the state of the telecommuncations industry, you may want to go straight to the last chapter entitled "Final Thoughts" where the author gives some very interesting comments about the industry on a global view.
So if you have anything to do with telecommunications, be it as a user, CTO, IT manager, technology student, technology teacher, marketing or sales person of telecom or buyer of telecom, then this book should have a place on your desk.

This is a great book for both the beginner and the experienced practitioner in telecommunications. Steve presents a balance of the technical AND business issues facing telecommunications service providers and telecommunications service consumers. It's rare to find a book that combines both aspects so well. Steve's writing style is conversational and he neither overwhelms nor "dumbs down" the material. Highly recommended!

The author of Telecom Crash Course, Stephen Shepard, is one of the most interesting, knowledgeable writers in the field today.
Drawing upon nearly three decades of personal experience and research, he manages to turn what could be a dreadfully dull subject into a scintillating story of science, history and data communicaion hardware.

The content is up-to-date and well organized, the illustrations very appropriate and the index very thorough. Personally, however, I find Mr. Shepherd's sense of humor in the face of such weighty topics to be the best part of my reading experience.

Who else could work Vinton Cerf and Douglas Adams into the same narrative?

Mr. Shepherd uses ingenious metaphors to clarify difficult concepts, as he does in the excerpt below regarding conflicting world standards.

"Many countries play football, for example, but the rules are all slightly different. In the United States, players are required to weigh more than a car, yet be able to run faster than one. In Australian Rules football, the game is declared forfeit if it fails to produce at least one body part amputaion on the field...They are both football, however.In data communications, the problem is similar; there are many protocols out there that accomplish the same thing."

Mr. Shepherd manages to infuse what could be a terribly dry catalog of facts with cheerful, sometimes almost whimsical language that keeps the reader's interest throughout the most convoluted jungle of acronyms, jargon and obscure technical terminology.

I found the information in this text to be clear, logical and very helpful in leading me to a better understanding of the highly important field of 21st century telecommunications.

Buy this book, you won't regret it.

Kenneth Wade
Associate Professor
Champlain College

It is truly amazing that someone with this gift of writing and background could rise cto a position of prominence and responsibility within Salomon Bros. Moreoever, to have maintained his career despite Kaufman, Merriweather, Gutfreund and others truly speaks to the value of a Brooklyn disparate youth. Worth reading.

While clearly the work of a deranged, borderline sociopathic personality, it's a great collection of stories. I laughed hard enough to burst capillaries in my head, which I think is causing hair to grow back (a nice side benefit). I recommend this for everyone except for kids who live in my neighborhood, who definitely don't need any new ideas.

I enjoy this book not only because of all the hilarious experiences in the author's life, but also because of the warmth loving feeling he had treasured each event. I am touched by his sincerity.

This book is a must for anyone who loves food. Nine comprehensive chapters covering not only fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes, but also meat and poultry, fish and shellfish and dairy and eggs.

The chapter on Nutrition Basics is essential for anyone who wants to come to terms with food and how it relates to good health. Appendicies include a Cooking Glossary (which describes in detail baking, boiling, braising, poaching, pressure cooking, roasting, simmering, steeping, stewing, and on and on ...), Fats and Oils, and Herbs and Spices.

Subsections of each item include topics such as availability, shopping tips, storage, preparations and serving suggestions. Nutritional information boxes are included indicating calories, fat content, protein, carbohydrate, fiber, cholesterol and sodium. Also listed are key vitamins and nutrients.

Fascinating information is also included .. for example, the fruit/vegetable argument about tomatoes is not only settled definitively (botanically a fruit, specifically a berry) but we are also informed that as the result of a tariff dispute, it was officially designated a vegetable in 1893 by the Supreme Court of the United States ... Proving that the court's having their collective head up their robes is nothing new.

If you are serious about learning how to improve your relationship with food (and who isn't?) you've simply got to have this book. I've had mine since 1995 (I got it in conjunction with a subscription to the University of California at Berkeley's Wellness Letter), and I still consult it regularly.

I think that this book, along with Julia Child's "The Way To Cook" would be an excellent foundation for anyone who is serious about health and nutrition.

Everything you need to know, and easy to use. A must for every kitchen. Anyone interested in health and fitness will love this book.

Absolutely excellent! Every food I've ever looked up has been in this book. It includes thorough nutrition information on all foods. Every food listing includes the following sections: varieties, availability, shopping tips, storage, preparation, and serving suggestions. Also nicely illustrated, well organized. Fabulous resource. Can't wait for the 99 edition.

I wish I can give away the books to everyone I know. It is very good, down-to-earth and practical rules of managing. And the exercises and the contracts at the end of each chapter really works!
I am a new person in the workforce with no prior experience, and now I understand the grounds on how effective and successful managers operates. I am also impressed by the usability of the content, meaning that even where I come from (which is not US) the errors and how to avoid it is amazingly applicable. Some people who I respected are also showing the qualities described by the book. Excellent reading. Highly recommended for young executives and newly appointed managers. It might be helpful to buy extra copies to be forwarded to some ineffective managers :P

My review will reflect the readability of this book - simple. I highly recommend this book to a person (like me) that is new to "management". I'm sure others can find it useful as well, but there were some simple mistakes that I had been making that were quickly corected after reading this book. It is so inexpesive, but do not mistake that "low price must equal low content"...that wasn't the case at all. As this text points out...the worst mistake you can make is to run an "unprofitable" business. If you are running a profitable business in this economy you are probably doing a lot of things right! I actually loaned this book to a peer and he hadn't returned it yet, so I am getting another copy so I can go back to it when needed.

This slim paperback might be hard to notice on a shelf filled with large hardbound management texts, but once you read it, you will know that it truly stands out from the rest. Mr. Brown has distilled the wisdom of managers from hundreds of companies into thirteen simple precepts that anyone in a position of authority should immediately memorize and put into practice. Fans of "instant answer" management fad books should probably look elsewhere, because this author teaches that real leadership requires introspection, dedication, and hard work... in short, he speaks the truth.

These are the 13 principles, stated more positively:

1. Accept personal accountability.
2. Develop your people.
3. Influence thinking, don't try to control results.
4. Avoid cliques and office politics.
5. Tailor your management style to the needs of your employees.
6. Keep an eye on the bottom line.
7. Concentrate on objectives instead of problems.
8. Be a boss, not a buddy.
9. Set standards.
10. Train your people.
11. Demand competence.
12. Recognize quality performance from all your employees.
13. Do not manipulate people.

If you would like to know how to achieve these goals, AND YOU DO, then get this book as soon as possible. The royalties from your purchase will help Mr. Brown enjoy a much deserved retirement.

You watch the news and about all you hear is bad news. Turn off the T.V. and read this book and enjoy the daily activities of a boy growing up in small town America. It's the best book I've read in a very long time. Return to a time when a mop was instantly transformed into a hero's horse. A box was the rocket ship that would take you to another galaxy. A boy saw the world through his eyes and now that he's a man he has put his memories to paper. THANK GOODNESS because we all need this type book!

I must say that I truly enjoyed this book! I read it all in one day, which is what I do when I enjoy a good book.
Steven's brother, Mike, was in my class at school. And although some of the short stories don't connect with me, many of them do.
The things that struck me the most were his vivid descriptions which brought back so many memories. I've been gone from Aberdeen for over 28 years, yet when I read the story about the "Nat" I could actually see it and hear the sounds. I hadn't thought of the "Posse" or Alcho Chumley for many many years. It brought back memories of school days and certain teachers. It brought back memories of "Aberdeen Days," fireworks, the boat dock, spring hollow, the library, the "Sweet Shop," the movie theater, the library, hula hoops, marbles, and the Neeley Honey Company. It brought back my childhood in a wonderful way. I would recommend this book! Thanks Steven for writing it!

Aberdeen Stories is a wonderful book about children growing up on a farm in rural Idaho. Steven Stoker's writing style is akin to Archibald Rutledge's. When reading the stories you feel as if you are sitting on a front porch listening to the author talk of his boy hood. While delightfully funny, Steven's serious side and his deep feelings of family unity and love are very apparent.
A must for everyone who enjoys reading about a simpler life in rural America.

There's something about this book that puts it above the first four in the series. I don't know if it was the fact that Brust's writing became better (I didn't really notice anything different) or that Vlad becomes more of a dynamic character, but it was more enjoyable than the others.

We finally get to see Vlad doing some real soul searching about what he does for a living. We also see more of the agony he is experiencing due to the fact that his marriage is falling apart. This makes Vlad a much more three dimensional character and more enjoyable to read. I also liked the fact that, towards the end of the book, we get to know his grandfather a little better. I'd love to see him get a bigger part in a future book.

The adventure and suspense in this book have been turned up since the last one. I found myself unable to put the book down at night. I always wanted to see what happened next. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best book in the series so far.

Each time I get a new installment of the Vlad Taltos series, I can hardly wait to get started, anticipating a fast-paced, clever and completely irreverent ride through a world very like our own, and yet so different from anything we know. _Phoenix_ did not let me down; in fact, this may just be the best book thus far the in series.

Cornered and fighting for his life, Vlad half-heartedly calls upon his goddess, Verra, to save him. Much to his astonishment, she does, and in exchange for the rescue, asked him to perform a task for her. That singular task leads to catastrophe for the entire Empire, which in itself would be bad enough, but events revolving around the Teckla/Easterner revolution seem to have Vlad's life hanging by an unravelling thread. Brust skillfully reveals just enough of the plot to answer one question, while bringing several others to light.

He also allows us a more intimate view of Vlad's inner life, as Vlad more seriously begins to question his profession and its associated ethics. He realizes that he may not, in fact, loathe the Dragaerans as much as he thinks he does, largely because every time he's in trouble, he turns to two of his closest friends, Morrolan and Aliera. These two Dragonlords are such interesting characters, and are always there to back up their short-lived, human friend for reasons that have yet to be fully revealed, I think.

While all of this internal and external chaos is going on, Vlad must also cope with his marriage crashing down all around him, as he tries to save the woman he so desperately loves, but seems to have no use for him anymore. Fortunately, he has Loiosh and Rocza by his side for comfort, and we see a bit more of their respective personalities in this installment, as well as Vlad's Noish-pa, who is a delightful and welcome co-star in the story, rather than a brief cameo as he has been in the past.

It's my understanding that this was intended to be the last Taltos book, and the ending would indicate this as well; however, I am greatly relieved that there are many books after this one, as I would hate to see this series end. There are so many questions to answer, and so many hugely varied directions Brust could take the characters, that it would seem to stave off the boredom some authors have set in after a few books in the same universe. I sincerely hope he continues to produce the series for many years; I would miss his detailed descriptions of flavors, aromas, actions and feelings as he weaves his clever tales. I would miss the subtle (and often overt) cynicism through which Vlad experiences the world that so closely mirrors my own. I would hate not knowing "what happened" to these characters who have become virtual companions in my brain - no no, I'm honestly not insane or completely pathetic, I swear! Brust simply does such a good job of bringing them to life, that they occasionally pop into my head to comment on one thing or another.

[arching eyebrow]

Ok, I can hear you out there, saying "Ooooooh boy, this chick's totally lost it. She needs a big, hot steaming mug of reality, and fast." No really! They're just exceptionally vivid characters! I...hey...wait a minute! What're you doing with that funny white coat? I ... HEY! [struggle, struggle, struggle]

Alright, before these four large men haul me away, just let me say - read this book! Read the series! You won't be disappointed. :-)

Brust really puts what he's capable of in "Phoenix". He incorporates the suspense of Teckla minus the depressing overtone and the more on unbelievable aspects found in Taltos. And of course you get Loiosh's usual comic relief. It starts off with Vlad being saved by his demon-goddess, Verra (Example of the far-out stuff), and has to shine someone for her. It picks up from there. Brust really took his time on the descriptions and Vlad's thoughtshots, esp. in the segment when he is on Greeanare and hides in the tree. Many parts in the island scenes make you want to read on and on until the unexpected happens. You will be surprised at some of this stuff. It all comes down to an unprecedented climax in which Vlad must make a choice that could cost him his life. I'd call it the best in the series.
*note: this takes place between Teckla and Athyra

I would say this is NOT the first book to buy or read for someone wanting to learn stage lighting design. The books does not cover the basic theories.

But - it offers a very good guide to the real-world contraints and demands of lighting. The author give very concrete and useful suggestions and advice. Analysing a complete design ('Hokey') step-by-step is a clever move. It is also the perfect book for those who want learn how to accurately document their designs to last nut and bolt. Even with my 20+ years in lighting and lighting design, I found this book a worthwhile addition to my collection of lighting textbooks.

This is hands-down the best book I've ever read regarding the process of designing and executing a lighting design. Other books do wonderful jobs of discussing instruments and electrical aspects, or how to create a design, but very few discuss the day-to-day paperwork and personal interactions involved in getting that design executed. This book addresses that subject thoroughly, discussing what documents to create, how to schedule time in the theatre, how to work with all the other folks involved in creating a production, and so on. Highly recommended.

Get This Book! This book has everything a aspiring lighting designer needs. Shelley clearly shows his thoughts with clear illustrations. The first page is his complete lighting design for a show!!Buy It!

I am a fan of Sir Steven Runciman's books. This one must rank together with the same author's account on the "Fall of Constantinople" and the "History of the Crusades". In this case, Sir Steven provides an ample spectrum of separate developments, along the whole Mediterranean, from Spain to Constantinople, that drove, first to Charles of Anjou's accesion to the Sicilian throne, and later on to his downfall, with the due assistence of the Eastern Roman emperor. The origins of the now famous uprising are not simple, and are extremely well explained by Sir Steven, in an easy to understand language. But, considering the very good comments provided by other readers, there is not so much I can add on the great virtues of this work.
If you are interested in the historical background of Sicily, together with this wonderful book I also recomend the very interesting book "The Normans in Sicily", by Lord Norwich, that itself is a two volume book with the narrative of the settlement of French Normans in Southern Italy, their reconquest of Sicily, and the establishment of a Sicilian-based multicultural kingdom. The end of that mighty kingdom, and the coming resentment of all Sicilians against foreign intruders, provoked the Sicilian Vespers.

This great book demonstrates that the Sicilian Vespers--on Easter Monday, March 30, 1282--was the key event that it was. I really don't think a better book on that momentous event could be written.

Sir Steven Runciman was one of the leading scholars of the Middle Ages. He also had a profound understanding of diplomacy and warfare. He is not only the author of this book, but also several books on the Crusades and Byzantium. However, this I feel is his best book. First of all it is a wonderful story. This is how the Byzantine empire managed with no army, no navy, very little money, but with a great deal of diplomacy and intelligence to prevent a planned invasion from the mightiest power in 100 years. This book should be required reading for all statesmen, would be statesmen, and military planners. Runciman describes here how things can go wrong regardless of ability, manpower, and money when one is faced with a very clever foe.