This is more than a guide to Italian wine--It is a guide to Iatalian history, culture, wineries, food and personality. I find myself constantly turning to it whenever I get another bottle of Italian wine. It is comprehensive in its information on vintages, producers, importers etc. The recipe sections for each are wonderful. This book has it all if you want to educate yourself in the overwhelming area of Italian wine, its history, and the amazing variety and tastes wine has to offer

Vino Italiano is a difficult book to describe. It's part wine guide, part travelogue, part cookbook, and part cultural history. It's a love song to Italy and Italian wine that has the flavor of a coffee table book, but without the color plates and oversize format. It's a reference work and a highly personal account of a subject the authors know well and enjoy sharing. In short, it's a classic.

The book lovingly covers all of the regions of Italy. Each chapter is a self-contained essay on an individual Italian region, with wine as the focal point. But don't think that the wine commentary is the only reason you will enjoy owning this book. It's full of absorbing discourses on Italian life, told through anecdotes that illustrate the character of a region's wines, food, people and history. For example, you'll go on a Tuscan boar hunt, watch a soccer match between Lazio and Roma, learn about the art of making Balsamic vinegar in Emilia-Romagna and discover where the Italians hid Mussolini under house arrest in the mountains of Abruzzo.

Each chapter is organized in the same fashion: an introductory essay that illuminates something telling about the character and history of the region; a simple map locating the DOC areas; descriptions of white, red, sparkling and sweet wines grown, highlighting significant producers; wine production statistics, including recent successful vintages; a few select restaurant recommendations; a guided tasting that compares and contrasts flights of wines within the same DOC's; and a recipe or food indigenous to the province with wine selections to match. Throughout are portraits of key people and properties that set the tone for the Italian wine scene today. A data bank at the end lists all major grape varieties grown in Italy and an index of 700 producers who represent a solid if subjective list of Italy's best.

One of the most interesting aspects of Italian wine today is the emergence of (and backlash against) the so called "international style." In most regions, this means a shift in emphasis from native grapes and vinification techniques towards extracted wines made from classic French varietals (e.g., cabernet, merlot, syrah) and the use of new oak. Vino Italiano tackles the subject head-on in an even-handed and relatively dispassionate manner, including several passages on the style of the prolific modernist consultant Riccardo Cotarella. Is he a force for good or evil? Vino Italiano gives you the background, you get to make the decision. There is also a wonderful little digression on the improvements wrought by adoption of modernist techniques on the wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. As, usual, Vino Italiano makes the subject clear and entertaining.

Negatives? Well, the words are so vivid I would have paid twice as much for the same book with some beautiful color plates that capture the places, people, and food described. Some of the recipes were a little too complex for me, but maybe not for you.

If you love Italian wine, food, and/or Italy itself, this is the kind of book you can grab off a nightstand, open at random, and happily lose yourself in for hours. Put another way, if the authors ever sponsored a wine and food tour of Italy, I'd be first in line. Highly recommended.

Where have Lunch and Bastianich been? I have been looking for a compendium on Italian Wines and I need look no further. There is a wealth of useful information explained in a witty, informative yet easy to understand manner. Unlike many investments you can make today, I guarantee this will pay dividends for years in fine Italian Wine enjoyment.

I stand and applaud the efforts and acheivements of David Lynch and Joeseph Bastianich, and eagerly anticpate the next bounty from their vine.

I've been working exclusively on the Mac for nearly seven years, yet each chapter of this book unlocked another great time saver or just plain fun secret! It also demystifies technically cryptic computer jargon. It's a logically structured, easy read. Chapters cover the basics to the advanced. Macintosh unraveled from memory to modem! The included CD-ROM contains very useful items such as ResEdit and File Buddy, that allow you to roll up your sleeves and dig around inside your programs. A true treat from beginning to end! I can't wait to read their next edition

This book, written by two of Macworld magazine's top authors,is extremely informative. It is written not only for thefirst-time user of Macintosh computers, but also for the Mac guru. Everything it talks of finishes with at least 2 or 3 pages of extremely useful tips. The only flaw found in this book was the fact that by the time the book is on the shelf, some information is out of date. Also, some users of outdated technology will find the tips to be only for the newer systems. Of course, the CD-ROM included has much of the info for the older user.

As the owner of a Mac computer company this is one book I love to have on hand. It just doesn't get any better! Never again will someone come into my store thinking they know something I don't. It's the best book for computers I've bought in years

It was a privilege to learn the subjects of SEM and TEM from the the author of this book himself (David Joy). This is an excellent book which starts from the basics and it depends on the researcher how deep he wanna go. The book provides in depth analysis as well if required. Great resource book.

Goldstein et al have written a book that serves as an excellent introduction to the SEM, and is also a formidable reference. When I took SEM at NC State University, it was taught from this book. Between our professor and this text, I learned the ins and outs of the SEM, and I keep the book within arms reach whenever I'm at work.

Goldstein covers everything from the basics of operation, through image formation, sample prep, usage in particular fields of study -- everything!

If you get one SEM book, get this one.

This is an excellent textbook for graduate students majoring in Materials Science. The text is easy to read, and accompanied by plenty of photographs and schematics, is easy to understand. Covers almost every aspect of SEM and X-ray micro-analysis e.g. underlying science, technology, and practical use. Each chapter begins at a basic level and gradually develops the subject to intricate detail, and depending on the level of study one may skip chapters or part of a chapter.

This is an outstanding book despite being over 10 years old. The clarity of the text and examples is far superior to the average text. One of the few books I have been able to easily learn new material from without having the benefit of a class to attend.

This was my textbook for Water Resources during Engineering School in the Spring of 1985. I have the Third Edition. It is well worn, underlined, highlighted and annotated, evidence of a very useful book! At my current position as Water Engineer at an Air Force Base, it is at the top of my shelf with my most used refernces. The right mix of theory and application. You will need a basic knowledge of Fluid Mechanics to use this text effectively.

This book is one of the few books that introduced me to Water Resources Engineering as a student and I am still using it more than twenty years later as a University teacher and a Professional Consultant!

It contains some hydrology, some probability, some engineering economy, and some water resources planning to supplement the material on hydraulic machines and structures, water resources projects such as hydropower, wastewater treatment, irrigation, river engineering/navigation, flood damage mitigation, and water supply. It also has worked examples, exercises, and useful tables.

This book does not overload you with verbosity. It just gives you enough to make a topic sufficiently clear for one to proceed with using the same in real situations.

Benedict's Dharma is a rare find--a book on spirituality that is lovingly burnished by practice. Benedict's Rule was above all a work for practical application; what few understand is how well the Rule translates into Eastern practice.

Rarely have I enjoyed a book as thoroughly as this one; I regretted reaching its final page, for the journey it provided was such a delight. Yet the greater truth is that this book is meant to be a passageway, pointing the way to greater spiritual understanding and greater self-knowledge. The truths it uncovers are applicable to anyone who is serious about leading an authentic spiritual life.

This book is an exceptional treasure, offering significant and practical insights on every page.

Benedict's Dharma is a rare find--a book on spirituality that is lovingly burnished by practice. Benedict's Rule was above all a work for practical application; what few understand is how well the Rule translates into Eastern practice. Rarely have I enjoyed a book as thoroughly as this one; I regretted reaching its final page, for the journey it provided was such a delight. Yet the greater truth is that this book is meant to be a passageway, pointing the way to greater spiritual understanding and greater self-knowledge. The truths it uncovers are applicable to anyone who is serious about leading an authentic spiritual life. This book is an exceptional treasure, offering significant and practical insights on every page.

"There is fire in the Rule of Saint Benedict" (p. 121) David Steindl-Rast, OSB, writes in the Afterward to this collection of Buddhist reflections on that Rule. Written in the sixth century, Saint Benedict's Rule is a set of guidelines governing Christian monastic life. This 137-page book is the result of a two-week "Encounter" between Buddhists and Christians, in which Norman Fischer, Joseph Goldstein, Judith Simmer-Brown, and Yifa were participants. Their "fresh take" (p. xiv) on Saint Benedict's Rule is followed by a new, 80-page translation of that Rule by Patrick Henry, OSB.

The Rule was written to practice "Christ's way." Christ said, "Whoever perseveres to the very end will be saved" (p. 97). For Buddhists, Benedict's Rule is about "walking the path to spiritual awakening" (p. 105). That is, both the Rule and Buddhist dharma offer "general guidelines for an inner journey" (p. 1). Judith Simmer-Brown notes that the Rule offers us insight into living a contemplative life amidst the demands of everyday life, or "anyplace you find yourself" (p. 3). From a Buddhist perspective, Benedict's Rule is about learning to live life "so it gets into your bones, under your skin" (p. 34), and about living with "a love of true life and a longing for days of real fulfillment" (p. 36), for this was "Christ's way."

It is evident from this book that "the monastery wall is always permeable" (p. 81). Benedictine monasticism is designed to lead one to spiritual riches on the path of humility (p. 95). It is possible, we're told, to practice a contemplative life outside the monastery walls. "The world is vast and wide," Norman Fischer writes. "Why put on your robe and go to the meditation hall when the bell rings?" (p. 89). Daily practice is "the common ground" for monastics of East and West (p. 124), and in his excellent Afterward, David Steindl-Rast, OSB, concludes that "lay practitioners are running away with the monastic ball" (p. 126). "Step out into the dark night," he writes, "raise your eyes to the starry sky, and you will experience what contemplation was before it had a name" (p. 126).

We find Buddhists and Christians travelling the same "ladders and bridges" in this harmonious book. Buddhist or Christian, this book will appeal to to that monk or nun cloistered in each of us, who is interested in "a life spent seeking the truth."

G. Merritt

Having been a native Vermonter and New Englander, I had not realized the ghostlore involved with this section of the country. Many of the stories occur within minutes of my own location. This book points out the origins and as much fact as can be researched. The end result is left with the reader as to which can be explained and that that which can not. Read this book alone at night and you will hear sounds that you used to take for granted, or did you?......

Generally, I'm don't get scared by things I read or see on television. This book, however, was quite frightening. I definitely did its job. Many of the stories in this book occurred near where I live, and I never would have imagined these stories had even existed previously. I always knew that New England had a rather strange past, what with all the Salem Witch trials and all, but these stories actually dug deeper than all of that. For instance, could you imagine strange monsters inhabiting Bridgewater, or a strange spirit force on top of Mount Washington? Naturally, these stories are merely legends, but they really make you stop and think. The documentation for this book is also quite good, as first hand accounts are recorded. When people in the law enforcement agency see things, as in this book, you know that there's probably something going on. This book only took me two nights to read. That should give you some indication as to how addictive and gripping it is.

The book is well written, organized, and indexed, with plenty of interesting stories of today and years gone by, and I highly recommend the book. The only negative thing I can say about the book is that very little skeptical research is indicated. However, the author does provide a list of his sources, so that any skeptically-minded readers may check things out for themselves.

Pecar and Garbin have the rare ability to convey a complex technical subject in an easy to understand manner. The New Telecom Factbook can be read from cover to cover, piecemeal, or be used simply as a reference manual. This book weaves the confluence of Telecom Network Architecture, Technology, Regulation, and Services into a story of amazing clarity. If you need to rapidly come up to speed in Telecom, I highly recommend this book. If you are getting started in Optical Networking this book will be an important tool to help you place the optical build-out into perspective. I enjoyed reading this book and will refer to it often. -Brad Boersen, MIT System Design and Management Program

The New McGraw Hill Telecom Factbook, 2d Edition, by Joe Pecar and Dave Garbin is a technically exact and easily readable guide for students, managers, and other non-technical readers.

As a senior manager for a major IXC, I found The New Telecom Factbook succinctly provides industry-accepted terminology in a useful way for both telecommunications managers and engineers. This book will help acclimate many non-engineering people entering the telecommunications field by providing simple and precise definitions of emerging technology and terms that are technically exact, yet easily understandable for non-technical readers. The New Telecom Factbook provides telecommunications managers, users, and professionals with a single, up-to-date reference with for new technology, performance metrics, and market alternatives.

Having previously used the earlier edition of The Telecom Factbook to teach telecommunications courses, it's clear that the authors have again produced an excellent tutorial that is easily suitable for graduate-level courses in information technology and telecommunications systems tracks. Thorough presentations of complex material will systematically allow students to become familiar with industry terminology and key concepts. Detailed figures and excellent technology taxonomy charts further provide those without prior engineering or mathematical backgrounds with easy-to-follow roadmaps that cover all telecommunications fundamentals. The book also introduces many complex capabilities including DS1/DS3 (T1/T3) asynchronous multiplexing; SONET synchronous multiplexing; modulation schemes used in digital subscriber link (DSL) and cellular wireless services; Internet technologies; and many other technical topics essential for success in our emerging and converging telecommunications environment.

The New McGraw Hill Telecom Factbook 2d Edition by Joe Pecar and Dave Garbin is one of the best reference books I have ever used.It is long overdue and a must have reference on your shelf. It addresses subjects that other authors seem to treat only slightly if at all. The authors ability to explain complex subject s in a clear easily understandable manner is unique. The many illustrations and diagrams are usable by both lay persons and engineers alike. This would have been an excellent text to have had available for my college courses. This book is a key reference in my program office and I continually need to add more copies.I recommend the reading and use of this factbook to all professionasl and laymen alike who are serious about understanding the modern complex world of Telecommunications and Information Systems. Norman D Jorstad, Telecom and Information Systems Engineer and Program Manager.

This book is a "must-read" for any person. Forget about the 9-12 age category. It is easily one of the most moving books I have ever read, and you can't possibly put it down until you reach the harrowing end. I felt so sad for Donn Fendler, and could share every single emotion he must have felt. When reading the story, you couldn't help but want to comfort him in his lonely world. It is a true lesson in keeping Faith and believing in God. May God bless you, Donn Fendler. You will always be one of the world's greatest heros of all time.

When a boy loses his dad and his brothers on a hike, he mostly shows what not to do when you're lost on a mountain on Maine. This is a true story that took place on a real mountain. The mountain he gets lost on is snowy, cloudy, and has a lot of wildlife. He has to find food, water, and shelter all on his own.

My grandma recommended this book to me and I recommend this book to you. This book is exciting and tells you what it's like being stuck on a mountain in Maine. This book also tells how the boy turned out after he survives.

Although I grew up in Maine and had heard of this book as a child, somehow I managed to not read it until recently. I literally could not put it down until I finished it. Donn's survival in the face of incredible hardship is a story that is extremely harrowing and intense. It shows how the body and mind react when pushed to the very edge of death. I defy anyone not to be moved by the ending!

It's difficult to find original material in most security books. "Hack Proofing Your Network, 2nd Edition" (HPYN2E) breaks that trend. Responding to feedback on the first edition, the authors have made numerous improvements in the second edition. If you're looking for relatively novel content in a security book, read the sections of HPYN2E I discuss next.

HPYN2E shines in many respects. The "laws of security" in chapter 2 are accurate and enlightening. Chapter 4 helps teach secure programming techniques by comparing insecure and secure code snippets. Chapter 4 also demonstrates debugging and disassembling code, usually not seen in security texts. Chapter 8 probably contains the most advanced coverage of buffer overflows I've read in a book. By actually showing and explaining stack traces, the authors share a level of detail sufficient to satisfy all but the most elite coders. Chapters on "diffing" (5) and format strings (9) are robust. Hardware hacking, thoroughly described in chapter 14, is fascinating. The author cared enough to include numerous clear photographs of disassembled equipment, and mentioned many helpful external web references.

While these great chapters comprise more than half of HPYN2E, the remainder is not exceptional. I was not happy with the rambling, wordy chapters on spoofing (12) and tunneling (13). Spare us the quotes from Dante's "Divine Comedy"! Still, this material is easily skimmed.

Because HPYN2E is written more from an intruder's point of view, the title doesn't seem to reflect the material. The book isn't exactly a "how to hack" manual, but it expertly illuminates many facets of compromising information resources.

When I read the first edition of this book, was truly disappointed. I was wondering how such people could have written such book. Not that the book was worthless, but too 'standard' to met the expectations I had from these guys.
Still the idea was very interesting (information directly from the real experts), and I kept waiting for a new edition.
Well the second edition is now out, and not only fulfills, but exceeds all my original expectations !!

Let's take a look:

The Approach:

Understanding attacks and vulnerabilities, by understanding 'how to hack' (good hacking of course. . . .ahem )

The Book:

Rewritten, expanded and improved, the book consists of 800+ pages well structured into 18 chapters (against 450+ pages and 15 chapters of the first edition).
Well written, well presented, with a real fancy table of contents, the chapters include url's, a FAQ section and a SOLUTIONS FAST TRACK one.
A lot of CLEVER code is included as well as helpful 'Tool & Traps' and 'Notes from the Underground. . . ' outlines.

The new sections (all outstanding) include:
- Hardware Hacking (otherwise only found in papers)
- Tunneling (excellent)
- IDS evasion (very easily explained)
- Format strings attacks

The Intended Audience:

People willing to become network security pros.

Contents:

- Introduction to Security, Attacks and related Methodologies.
- Cryptography.
- Unexpected Input, Buffer Overflow, Format Strings.
- Sniffing, Hijacking and Spoofing.
- Tunneling, Hardware Hacking, Viruses (et al.).
- IDS Evasion.
- Automated Tools.
- Reporting Security Problems.

The Bottom Line:

It is not just a good book, it is the best book among high level network security books, and the only that compares with specialized papers. Only quite easier.
I got more than 60 papers on buffer overflows. None compares with the classical 'Smashing The Stack For Fun And Profit' by Aleph One. IMHO, however, the corresponding chapter from this book, does compare and is really easier to understand.
Finally, the 'piece de resistance' of the book, is the chapter about Spoofing. Really enjoyed it, and by the way got surprised reading the innovative (to me) technique to 'Spoof Connectivity Through Asymmetric Firewalls'. Good Job Dan ;-)
As an added bonus, as an owner of this book, you'll find a lot of code files, applications and links...

I have the first edition of this book also, and I was really glad to see the second edition come out. There are some great hacking books out now, but I really think these ones are the best. I found in depth coverage on a lot of stuff you just can't find any place else. Some very cool info. on administering hosts locked behind a firewall and tips for making a "poor man's VPN". I also like that a lot of big names wrote the book, and their personalities really come through. A lot of tech. books can be a little dry even if they are well written. This one is actually entertaining also.

This is the long awaited 2nd part of Joseph Campbell's journals of his trip to the Orient in the Fifties. The first, Baksheesh and Brahman, told of India, and this book tells of other countries but mainly Japan. The book reads like a journal with varied entries about traveling, people and places of interest, etc. The post-war mood is obvious, and the political climate is interesting.
This book is less naive than the first where JC was disappointed by the spiritual/caste hypocrisy of India, and more insightful of modern Oriental life.

Sake & Santori is the fifth volume in a series of collected works of philosopher/spiritualist Joseph Campbell and focuses upon his cultural and spiritual interactions with Japan during his 1950s Asian journey. The changing social and political world of Japan come to life in a a set of entries relating Campbell's discourses with Japanese from all walks of life.

". . . passages convey his appetite for the sights and sounds of Japan. For Campbell, religion was a subset of mythology, and the exposure to Japanese Buddhism was important to the next leg of his journey as a scholar. "Sake & Satori" is a glimpse of a supple mind, mid-career."
- Shambala Sun Magazine