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Book reviews for "Pikelny,_Philip_S." sorted by average review score:

The Design and Tuning of Competition Engines
Published in Paperback by Bentley Publishers (1977)
Authors: Philip Hubert, Smith and David N. Wenner
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great book!
I am a NC State student, and I cheeked this book out from the library here at school. I just have to say this is the best book I have ever read. I have had it only a few days now and I have already read around 150 pages. I can't put it down. I wish I had to read this in school instead of something like Withering Heights (It was a good book too, no car stuff though). But hey, what am I doing this for I need to get back to reading... So my suggestion is that you buy this book, or at least check it out like me. Who ever said that a library was not a cool place? I would also recommend buying and MGB.

Still Educating the Young (or Old) for the Better
I bought this book back in 1979, a year after I got my driver's license, 4 months after I bought my 396 Chevy, and about a month after a buddy of mine dropped a Car Craft Magazine on my desk in open class in High School, thus starting a life-long passion with cars and motorsports.

At that time I was thirsty for "true" knowledge about engines, especially high-performance engines, and quickly came to the conclusion I wasn't going to get that from my buddies who inanely swore that their 2-barrel 350 Novas were turning 10-second 1/4-miles ("I'm certain of it man, I clocked it myself"). This book was reviewed in a Road & Track issue, I picked it up, and became truly educated about all facets of basic engine design and the physics and principles behind true horsepower production.

I found the text easy to read and understand, and the delivery of information, although technical, certainly not above anyone's understanding. This is not a "get out your slide rule" type of book; but it does lay things out in a clear, direct manner, making it easy to absorb and understand, even as a newby 17 year-old gearhead.

Even though we've seen a tremendous advance in engineering regarding the internal combustion engine since 1979, to this day the principles delivered in this book ring true. You cannot go wrong, nor do I think you can do better, than starting here on your quest for horsepower knowledge--learn the basics first, and go from there. (For real slide-rule stuff, consult the book Scientific Design of Exhaust and Intake Systems, to learn where the heart of any internal combustion engine resides.)

I still have guys my age swearing that they're doing truly unbelievable things with a certain engine and car; the crazy stories never fade, but you'll do better than tell stories after learning what this book has to say.

The Design and Tuning of Competition Engines
Absolutely awesome book! A book that is a must, for the library of every mechanic or racer. Even if you are just a enthusiast, the book is incredibly informing, whether you are a certified mechanic or just an everyday driver, that wants to know what's going on inside the engine. I've owned the book for years, and I plan on buying a new copy, to give to my son, when he hits the driving age. This book is a must, for any engine builder, from the weekeng warrior to Nascar or the IRL. This book is a must!


The Egotist
Published in Paperback by Equator Books (2002)
Author: Philip Fracassi
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Great book!
This is a highly entertaining study of an amusing, fascinating and often frustrating character. I can't wait for Fracassi's next book!

Solid new fiction
If you liked The Beach...you'll probably like this. Very fast read. Very funny.

a bit dark but very entertaining, a grat read
I found the book to be a great read. A unique piece of fiction that tends to be a bit dark but very entertaining.


The Egyptian News
Published in Paperback by Candlewick Press (2000)
Authors: Scott Steedman and Philip Steele
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A history lesson cleverly disguised as an Egyptian newspaper
The sudden death of Tutankhamen stuns the nation of Egypt and the question is whether the boy king died of natural causes or whether there was indeed foul play. "Boy King Murdered?" is the banner headline for "The Egyptian News," a creative way of tricking students age 9 and up into learning about Ancient Egypt from 3000 to 1100 B.C. Other exciting stories included "A Soaring Success!" as Zoser's pyramid sets a new tomb trend, "Wrapping It Up!" an in-depth interview with the royal mummy maker, and "Let's Party!" a beginner's guide to fashionable feasting with the chariot set. You will find all the traditional forms of journalism, from news stories and interviews to editorials and advice columns, all of which provide young readers with information about the history of ancient Egypt. Chief Scribe Scott Steedman also includes dozens of ads for Egyptians who need to have a boat built, buy a new wig or new Senet set, or want a job as a district governor or lady's maid. Other volumes in the History News series include editions on the Romans, Greeks, Vikings and Aztecs, as well as news of the Stone Age, Medicine and Explorers. Of course, once students see how creatively "The Egyptian News" has been put together, they will probably want to undertake a project like this for some other period of history. The combination of information and creativity is certainly irresistible.

creative way to present history
This book presented some events from Egypt's history in the form of newspaper articles. It was a very creative way to give children an introduction to Egyptian history. It presented lots of interesting informationa, and also some neat pictures. This book is good at sparking a greater interest in history in children while entertaining them at the same time.

This book captured my child's attention
As a homeschooling mom, I highly value books that inform my child about historical facts, while captivating them with exciting stories. I highly recommend this book as a supplement to any Egyptian studies. Written in "newspaper format", it is a joy to read aloud to my children. Using imaginative headlines and wonderful illustrations and photos, this book has definitely captured my child's attention. The plethora of historical facts presented are accurate and entertaining. I would recommend this book for children between the ages of 5-12.


Fool of the Kingdom: How to Be an Effective Clown Minister
Published in Paperback by Meriwether Pub (1996)
Authors: Philip D. Noble and Rhonda Wray
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Communicating God's Message in an Interesting Way
Philip Noble is an Anglican priest and evangelist from Scotland. He is also a very creative clown minister, and cofounder of the International String Figure Association. Philip uses these gifts in his ministry. He wrote "Fool of the Kingdom" so that others could also learn these techniques.

"Fool of the kingdom" explains how to develop a clown character, how to juggle, how to do origami and string games, and also provides many other clown tips. It is full of ideas, advice, instructions, anecdotes, as well as sketches.

Philip wants us to know that although performing is a great idea, we must make sure that the message of the sketch or story always remains clear.

What I appreciated most about this book were the sketches and origami, because I enjoy drama and like to show my friends new tricks. People who want to use acting or story telling to help them communicate God's message to others will be interested in reading this book.

Clowns as Wise and Humble Peacemakers
Philip Noble's book FOOL OF THE KINGDOM: HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE CLOWN MINISTER is a joy to read. I would recommend this to youth, Youth Ministers and missionaries as well as anyone who is searching for a unique way to open hearts to the wonder of Christ's life and message. As Rainbow the clown, Pastor Noble uses string games, origami, juggling and gentle magic that is explained at the end of the book. The role of a clown is presented not only as a comical one but also as a wise and humble peacemaker. Reading this made me want to present this book to several youth ministries in Japan, and develop a clown character myself.

Un livre épatant!
Dans ce livre,on trouve toutes sortes de choses. Par exemple, comment couper une pomme en faisant en sorte que les deux morceaux s'emboîtent ensuite, ou comment apprendre à jongler ou à faire un singe avec une peau d'orange? Philip Noble est un type épatant, qui nous fait partager sa joie d'etre clown. Il nous explique des tours de ficelle, un pliage de mouchoir (souris) ou de papier, les base du maquillage, de l'habillage.. Les histoires et les sketches sont très bien et m'ont fait bien sourire et rire. Les histoires sont soit bibliques, soit des histoires traditionnelles juives ou autres. Mon fils a bien aimé le chapitre sur les bulles de savon. En bref, un livre épatant comme son auteur.


Forward through the rearview mirror : reflections on and by Marshall McLuhan
Published in Paperback by Prentice Hall Canada (1996)
Authors: Marshall McLuhan, Paul Benedetti, Nancy DeHart, Frank Zingrone, and Philip Marchand
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Now that you know, go use the knowledge.
Without trying to undermine the insights of McLuhan himself, I think that this book represents just another episode in the 'everybody loves Marshall' series. Similar to 'Digital McLuhan' by Levinson, this book is crawling with remarks stating how great and wonderful McLuhan was and that it is such a big loss for the world as we know that he's dead. I sincerely wish that - as McLuhan put it himself - the comments would engage more in a dynamic discours on his insights and thoughts and would try to make something out of it. But no, I find myself flipping through oodles of pages for the simple reason that it just contains one of those trival McLuhan-anecdotes/memorabilia. Supposedly McLuhan made it to the top ten of all-time thinkers - such as Nietzsche, Kant, Plato etc. Sure, the insights provided by him are pretty slick, but one has to look for them since most of the books concern the opinions of others that would also like to say a thing or two. It's like a bunch of groupies standing at the far end of a stage thinking that they now too are famous. As far the rest of the book is concerned, there are some nice quotes from McLuhan himself that could very well change your perspective on things happening in our world today. It provides some interesting insights and line of thought for further study. Respect goes out to the extensive bibliography that make it easier to trace back his work. It is truly 'McLuhan for the coffee-table', but mind you, there might be a lot of uninvited guests.

A Book, A Hot Medium
Forward through the Rearview Mirror: Reflections on and by Marshall McLuhan can be considered one of the greatest tributes McLuhan could have ever received. By preserving the particular organization, writing style, and design McLuhan used in The Medium is the Massage and Global Village, editors Paul Benedetti and Nancy DeHart are able to keep his soul and ideology alive. Insights not only from McLuhan himself, but also from many other media theorists who react and share their experiences about the readings, are the editor's elements to explain what was going on deeply inside McLuhan's mind.

As the MTV programming, this book has a continuous flow in which each chapter looks like a new video clip, which is totally related with the preceding, and flows directly into the following. However, instead of creating these connections with complete paragraphs and nice connectors, the editors choose to throw isolated pieces of pictures, paragraphs and quotations. It is the inner most meaning of every written and visual piece what makes a unified theory out of this book. A new way of communication which McLuhan would define as "Any new structure for codifying experience and moving information, be it alphabet or photography, has the power of imposing its structural character and assumptions upon all levels of our private and social lives" (106). Therefore, a chapter named "Violence and Identity" will start with a two-page-black and white picture of a Ku Klux Klan's ritual followed by a quotation: "Violence, whether spiritual or physical, is a quest for identity and the meaningful. The less identity, the more violence." On the next page, a picture of a ten-year-old child wearing latex gloves and a gun in each hand; then, McLuhan's theory is introduced with big blue letters: "IT'S WHY THEY HAVE TO KILL," and so forth. This continuous fluidity of meaningful images and writings, involves the audience in an exciting rhythm, making it interact and experience what McLuhan was trying to say by "The Medium is the Message."

Instead of having a defined introduction, body and conclusion, Forward through a Rearview Mirror is composed of three different types of writing: biographical information, writings by McLuhan, and writings on McLuhan. Each one of them is placed by the editors to ease the reader's understanding of McLuhan's speech. Information about his background, life, and surroundings is provided by a timeline that covers his most important years: his experiences at different stages of his career, the birth of his own family, and his social life. All these factors influenced his way of analyzing our culture. From interviews, speeches, and books, Benedetti and DeHart quote McLuhan to provide objective information about his insights. Because most of his citations are abstract aphorisms, the audience can read his words either superficially or deeply, stimulated by the adventure of discovering his hidden insights, always present in his works. However, the reader is not alone in this adventure. Other media theorists such as John Fraser or Lewis Laphom share their experiences when reading the philosopher. Moreover, as the biographical information, these media producers also help to guide the reader by providing him/her with different analysis and points of view towards McLuhan. Although the book doesn't follow the conventional three-part linearity, it seems custom made for the rushing reader of the nineties. It doesn't matter on which page we open Forward through the Rearview Mirror. It can always provide an interesting analysis of our own society.

However, Paul Benedetti and Nancy DeHart do not only keep McLuhan's organization and writing style, but also preserve his idea of convey insights using the visual medium. Therefore, Forward Through the Rearview Mirror is designed to the image of McLuhan's major works The Medium is the Massage and Global Village. These two books submerge the reader into a multidimensional medium of meaningful abstract and figurative visuals. For instance, the editors create the same type of metaphors that McLuhan employed in his publications, by explaining the world's current globalization with ten bottles of Coca-Cola all written in different languages. Moreover, as Marshall McLuhan's last works, the unconventional format of this book also stands out in the reader's library. While both the medium is the massage and Global Village are smaller than any standard size book, Forward through the Rearview Mirror is wider and shorter than any conventional book.

Forward through the Rearview Mirror shows the complete involvement of Paul Benedetti and Nancy DeHart in McLuhan's life and ideas. Following Marshall McLuhan's guidelines, they carefully place each element in their book to create an outstanding piece. From its outside cover to its inner most meaning, this book breaks all standards, thus, draws the attention from an audience willing to find a new and high-quality product. Guided by McLuhan's print media by juxtaposing significant images and phrases to create movement and rhythm. When experiencing this book, the reader combines the sound of his reading and the meaningful visuals inside his mind, creating an audio-visual medium out of Forward the through the Rearview Mirror. If this phenomenon is achieved, McLuhan's theory is confirmed: "It is man who is content of the message of the media, which are extensions of himself" DeHart and Benedetti understand McLuhan, preserving his thoughts alive, and honor him in their piece of art.

The Concice McLuhan
I think the reviewer below summed it well in his subject line saying "McLuhan for the coffee table." Essentially this book is a list of one-liners and ideas of McLuhans. Snippets and paragraphs from books and articles. Could very well be for the beginner, but without explanitory notes (but with pictures); while it could also be for the person already well versed in McLuhans thoughts. Either way, I found it a great book as I find his thinking fascinating, curious and many times humerous. Well presented in large paperback format with slick paper and color photos, this book is a quick and easy McLuhan treat.


Game Theory and Strategy
Published in Paperback by The Mathematical Association of America (1993)
Author: Philip D. Jr Straffin
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Great book
I found this book accessible when I first read it in 9th grade, and I still find it fascinating today as a soon-to-be grad student in math.

Independent Research
I planned to do a talk on the subject of the mathematics of a particular game, called Snood, and I had to learn Game Theory quickly to do so. This book explains things well, and the exercises, while easy enough to do in my head, still cement everything very well so that I can honestly say that I have a solid understanding of the subject even though I just picked up a single book.

Very good.

Best Introduction into Game Theory
I found this book to be a very enjoyable read, covering the most interesting ideas in game theory and how they have impacted on other sciences from biology to sociology.
Almost no mathematical knowledge is required, because the text focuses on the ideas not the math.
Even if you want to learn about Game Theory including the mathematical foundation, I recommend to read this book first. It will wet your appetite for Game Theory and show the breath of ideas and applications.


Good Friday (X. J. Kennedy Poetry Prize Ser)
Published in Paperback by Sam Houston State Univ (2000)
Author: Philip Heldrich
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One of the Best
I am fortunate enough to be a student of Dr. Heldrich's here at ESU, and I must say this is one great book. It's hard to get interested in poetry, but Dr. Phil's writings are easy to relate to, and at the same time deeply stirring. I would recommend this book to poetry buffs and drunked students alike.

An exceptional collection
These poems, from a professor at Emporia State University in Kansas, are from an astute observer of the Great Plains landscape. Using the landscape as a backdrop, Heldrich searches for meaning and revelation in our everyday lives. In his unforgettable poem "Momentum," while driving to Tulsa, he takes note of the cast off trash along the way and yet finds in such an everyday experience "...an unsung love to it, a love of the highway, a love of the country, a love of people and their wasteful bodies so deep the momentum drives me home." In poem after poem, forty-six in all, the reader is made aware of our surroundings and the sometimes taken-for-granted events in our everyday life and urged to celebrate life amidst all of it's uncertainities and limitations. For Heldrich, he shares some of his simple beliefs used to ward off the void in a wonderful poem "Good Friday:" ...the returning sun at breakfast, the beautiful coupling of our lake's geese, the rising green after prairie burnings, the silence of Sunday morning at home, or how my wife fills an empty room with light." For the reader looking for faith, hope, charity, and reconciliation without the usual touchy-feely verse, this is one of the best. An exceptional collection.

Good Friday is a Good Book
Truely enjoyed it. Thank you.


The Great Labor Uprising of 1877
Published in Paperback by Pathfinder Press (1978)
Authors: Philip Sheldon Foner and Ronald L. Lewis
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The first great labor battle in the U.S.
In 1877 the great robber barons of steel and rail-Vanderbilt, Fisk, Gould, and others-appeared to have consolidated their rule over land and labor in the post-Civil War period. In their quest for infinitely expanding wealth, they subjected the workers under their command to ever-increasing demands for more work and reduced their wages time and again to below starvation levels. As thousands were laid off in the economic downturn of the 1870s, protests developed among the workers, and police were mobilized to quell the disturbances.
It was not the greed and brutality of the capitalist overlords that provoked a mass rebellion. It was that they made life virtually impossible for the working people. The great strike was centered in rail and began in the summer of 1877 in response to yet another wage cut.
A group of bold rail workers in West Virginia walked off the job. With no union, no organization, and nothing but a desperate urge to reclaim their humanity, their initiative spread like wildfire to thousands of other rail workers from Baltimore to St. Louis in a rolling surge of strikes, mass mobilizations and confrontations with the armed minions of capital. Ultimately general strikes of all workers were precipitated in St. Louis, San Francisco and other cities.
The rail barons sought to put down the uprising with military force, mobilizing state militias, police and national guard troops, firing into the crowds, killing dozens. For them it was only a question of forcing the masses to do their bidding. They believed that they were the rulers, the workers were there to serve them.
This great labor battle awakened the true spirit of liberty and solidarity among the laboring masses. In their struggle against the tyranny of capital they became the one true embodiment of democracy and the only hope of progress for toiling humanity. They laid the foundation stone for the worker's movement in the U.S. It gave a huge impetus to the organization of labor unions as well as the beginnings of labor political action: the formation of a workers party.
Reading this book brings home the reality of the class struggle in the U.S. and helps us to understand how and why it developed as it did. It also helps us understand why this class struggle won't go away as long as capitalism exists. It helps us to appreciate the organized struggle of the workers as the only way forward for humanity in its quest for a truly livable planet.

Exciting history of workers struggles in capitalist America
1877: the naked face of capitalism in America. In the midst of a deep-going economic depression, bosses imposed massive layoffs and deep pay cuts, and workers responded. From Chicago to St. Louis to New York to Philadelphia, rail workers, iron workers, carpenters, meatpackers and others launched a wave of massive strikes and street protests. The bosses and their government mobilized all their forces against the workers: courts, the press, police, the national guard and federal troops. While the workers were eventually beaten in these battles, the lessons learned helped forge political class consciousness and lay the basis for further struggles.

Foner's book is an exciting history of these days. He quotes extensively from labor and capitalist press of the day, from speeches and declarations by workers' leaders, and from government reports and documents to give a real feel of the roots of the uprising and the conflicting interests that lay behind it. I particularly found useful the description of what different workers leaders did at the time-- from conservative trade union presidents to militant socialists. Also the challenge and experiences of native-born and immigrant workers fighting together against their common exploiters. There is a lot to learn from this book today!

While this book gives a rich detail of the day-to-day struggles in 1877, two others will help get a broader perspective on the key issues political posed: American Labor Struggles 1877-1934, by Samuel Yellen, and Revolutionary Continuity, Marxist Leadership in the U.S. 1948-1917, by Farrell Dobbs.

Labor's Past and Future
The great labor uprising of 1877 started when a strike by rail workers swept across the country and was joined by many thousand, including the unemployed. What this book clearly shows is how interconnected U.S. workers were-how mutually affected by economic disaster-and how willing to embark on massive and militant resistance. Are workers that different today? Are today's bosses-as they push for wage concessions and bailouts--that much different from the rail bosses of 1877? This book makes you think more seriously about the great events that could quickly develop out of today's economic downturn.


Half Past Autumn: A Retrospective
Published in Paperback by Bulfinch Press (1998)
Authors: Gordon Parks, Philip Brookman, and Corcoran Gallery of Art
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A Great Book by a Great Photographer
Buy this book and see the wonderful and varied career of Gordon Parks. See the world through this stunning photographer's eyes, and you will never see the world the same again. Then buy *A Choice of Weapons* and find out how this man came to create these masterworks. Everyone knows his genius as a photographer, filmmaker, and composer, but people may not know that he is a master memoirist as well. Put this book and *A Choice of Weapons* on your Christmas list!

learned so much in one day
Seeing the exhibit was the most wonderful day of my life. Getting the book was the next best day. I am not sure if another photographer so talented in all fields will ever appear again. Raad A Choice of Weapons also by Gordon Parks, it will help reinforce the Retrospective.

Note to Amazon.com from Gordon Park's assistant:
Please note that the cover that you show on the internet is incorrect. I am the photgrapher and what you show is the photograph that was used for the dummy book shown at the book fair. The photograph shown is an unpublished photgraph. Please look at the book for the actual cover.


Guide to Ethiopia, 2nd Edition
Published in Paperback by Bradt Travel Guides (1998)
Author: Philip Briggs
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very useful travel guide
This is a very useful travel guide. Some of the information is outdated (several new regional airports have been constructed and roads paved since this edition was published) but presumably the forthcoming edition will bring the descriptive material up to speed. What really makes this guide, though, (and why I think it is superior to the Lonely Planet guide)is the background material on Ethiopian history and culture. Since it is for historical and cultural reasons (as opposed to say viewing wildlife) that many travellers will visit Ethiopia, this part of the book is a real strength, as is the chapter on intercultural interaction. Reading this guide you get the sense of real human beings writing it, not some generic "three stars for this castle and here is a good restaurant." Definitely recommended.

Carolyn
I haven't read the second edition, but I read the first edition before and during my trip to Ethiopia 5 years ago and found it to be a wonderful and very accurate guide. In addition to the practical nuts and bolts of managing in this unfamiliar culture and language, I liked his attitude about situations he (and I) encountered there.

essential interesting reading for the independant traveller
Although I haven't yet travelled to Ethiopia, I have read the book several times to enable me to plan an itinerary. The book is essential reading for those wishing to travel to Ethiopia. ANY information on Ethiopia is scarce and the excellent conversational style of the author makes for an enjoyable and, at times, humorous read. Compared to other travel books on Ethiopia, this book is unsurpassed in providing positive down-to-earth information without glossing over the negative aspects of travel in this country. I am sure the 'mud maps' of major towns, accommodation and dining out information will prove invaluable to the independant traveller. And if you are interested in wildlife the author obviously has a sound knowledge of this topic, particularly the birdsof East Africa. He provides comprehensive summaries, scattered through the body of the text, on the birdlife (and other wildlife) you can expect to see in different habitats of the country.


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