The author challenges a number of traditional assumptions about the nature of intelligence and about our ability to 'rate' the intelligence of various animals based on our preconceived notions of either 'great chain of being' thinking or on a Darwinian evolutionay model. Why, she asks, do we rate behaviors that appear equally sophisticated as indicative of different degrees of intelligence (or non-intelligent instinctual reactions) based not on the behaviors themselves but on the 'type' of animals that exhibit them. We are far more likely to give a primate credit for exhibiting problem solving ability than we are to a scrub jay even though both routinely perform very similar actions. In addition the author offers a wide variety of ancedotal evidence for intelligence among species that normally are not regarded as being among the sharpest knives in the drawer. She also quesitons the various defintions of 'intelligence' concluding that although we use the word and think we can understand it, none of us can really offer an adequate defintion. And it is herein that my frustration lies. Our author raises a lot of questions and debunks a lot of myths. But I am left, after reading the book, asking myself exactly what MORE do I know now about animal intelligence than I did before. Perhaps I should, like Socrates, be happy just to become more knowledgeable of my own ignorance, but, to be honest, I want to know more about what THIS author thinks are some answers to the very questions she's raised.

I purchased Ms. Yoerg's book in San Diego (her hometown). Little did I know that I bought a signed copy! I felt the book was very interesting, and written with great wit. Ms. Yoerg knows her stuff, and has done extensive research in her field. I found her animal/insect comparisions informative, and quite funny (you'll know what I mean when you read about Portia, the spider). I am currently an undergraduate, and will be using her book for some of my research. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a good overview of animal behavior and intelligence.

By questioning our inadequate traditional definitions of intelligence, ethologist Yoerg, project director for the Captive Breeding Program at the University of California, leads the reader through a lively, literate book, loaded with case studies, on animal behavior, intellect and instinct. Too often, he argues, our perceptions and understanding of animals, and our feelings for and against their different ilk, are linked to cultural prejudices. We have an affinity for those we deem closer to us on the evolutionary ladder, and tend to grant primates and other mammals a higher degree of understanding and emotion than other orders of animals. Birds, reptiles, amphibians, arachnids and insects are too often perceived merely as instinct-driven living mechanisms, even though, as Yoerg points out, the tree of evolution has sprouted numerous, diverse forms of survival-related intelligence. With numerous examples based on scientific experiments and observation, combined with a wealth of anecdotal personal experiences from North America, Africa and Europe, Yoerg challenges our comfortable beliefs. This is a fast-paced read, studded with insightful perspectives ranging from behavioral authorities (Robert Yerkes, B.F. Skinner) to literary lights (George Orwell, Wallace Stevens). Specialists with an interest in ethology and animal psychology will benefit as much from this intriguing stroll through the kingdom of animal intellectual ability as the general reader.

What shall I say about this book? I always enjoy autobiographies about people I like, and although I didn't know too much about Ingrid Bergman prior to reading this book, my interest in her life became stronger after finishing it. I made a list of all her movies and have been seeing them as I can get hold of them.

Profound statement: Ingrid tells about her life in this book. (duh)

She does a very good, coherent job, and moves along steadily. There is humour as well as sadness. I liked the part when she told David O Selznick at their first meeting that she would not wear makeup and would not change anything about her appearance, and if he didn't like it she would go back to Sweden on the next train. I personally am glad he decided she could remain as she was.

I recommend this book as a good introduction to Ingrid. I enjoyed reading this very much and I think everyone should read it.

"My Story" provides an excellent insight into the tumultuous existence of Ingrid Bergman. Her interaction With David Selznick, Roberto Rosselini, and her children provide excellent reading. And in large print, too!

With "My Story," not only does one learn about Ingrid Bergman in great detail, but we gain fascinating perspective on such interesting characters as Roberto Rosselini, David Selznick, and Isabella Rosselini. Her life was always entangled with other unique characters and her story is very entertaining.

This book is a good example of a good idea done bad. The story has very little to do with what is on the back cover. It has almost nothing to do with the knights or their armor. The sand wars have been over for years before this book ever starts. Instead it seems to center around a prostitute and her pimp. The characterization is bad, making the characters dull. The plot(what plot?) just isn't there. An over all very disappointing read.

I first purchased this book about ten years ago and have been searching for the follow up for almost as long. Great pulp fiction, good fun no real thought is required when reading this book , just turn off and let it carry you along ..its great fun.

I first read this title when in my early teens. Many a time I read til the early A.M. hours. Just could not put this book down. If you liked Orson Scott Card's "Enders Game" or John Steakley's "Armor" you'll be hooked on this too.

I've had four copies of this book in my hands and all have had the same physical defect: bad binding. The glue which holds the pages to the paperback cover simply pulls away from the cover with the least pressure.

While the content of this book is excellent, this defect is a serious problem. If you buy the book, plan on gluing the cover in place yourself.

I actually obtained two copies directly from the publisher, Ariadne Press. When the first defective copy arrived, they sent another but said that the books were printed in the UK and they could not guarantee the quality. They also said this problem was possible with all of their Gustav Meyrink titles, though I've only had the problem myself with "Walpurgisnacht" and "The Deadalus/Ariadne Book of Austrian Fantasy: The Meyrink Years 1890-1930."

Walpurgisnacht might probably be considered Meyrink's most pessimistic, apocalyptic vision of the inevitable destruction of the world, of the weaknesses and foolishness of humankind.

The word "Walpurgisnacht" has its folklore roots in the concept that the night of April 30th is an evil night, one when old values are destroyed and replaced by new ones. But, in the mind of Meyrink no new values will bring salvation to the world. The novel was published in 1917, and the setting is the city of Prague during WWI. The main characters are Zrcadlo (the mirror) the solitary man who forces people to look into their own souls, and Dr. Thaddaeus the only survivor of a spiritual alchemy, the only character capable of facing his sould and taking a new direction in his life.

In his contempt for established religion, Meyrink brings forth the concept of Aweysha. Anyone who is not able to hear his own soul becomes an "aweysha," a living body whose soul has moved into another living being, a dead mirror where strange demons come and go, a wandering corpse. Defying the concept of "free will," Meyrink holds that anything a person does against his will comes from "aweysha."

Myerink was influenced by Jewish mysticism and found in the experience of the "innermost I" the salvation of the soul: "the innermost I is the source of joy, and who does not worhsip it is a servant of hell." Unfortunately, his mystical experience integrates the good and the evil alike, downgrading the soul to low moral standards.

This novel is a reflection of personal despair, a desperate search for a transcendent reality that will surpass mysticism into the esoteric.

Este Libro lo he buscado en Español y no lo he encontrado. Ahora se que puedo encontqarlo en Ingles e intentare hacerme a el. Yo heleido el Golem, El angel de la Ventana de Occidente, el Dominico Blanco y otros cuentos, elautor es impresionante com o maneja los temas de la vida cotidian y su vida de Buscador Real de la Vida . Espero tenerlo pronto.

The book deals mainly with the 1930s houses in England, not specially noted for Art Deco. Many of the popular market interpretations of the Art Deco style in the UK at that time were and are somewhat "kitsch", and the book reproduces them in full colour.
There are few decorative elements of the 1920s, non-English, that are worth while. The photography is good, as is the printing, the weak point is on the examples shown. Reading the bibliography gives a clue to the contents.

This book was a gift for my sister who recently purchased a 1920's home. She loved the book. It contains so many great detailed illustrations of inside and outside the Art Deco home. It will be a great reference for refurbishing her slightly run down home. It also included a list of sources for a variety of home funishings.

The amazon.com review accurately describes the contents of this book, but I was disappointed to find relatively few color photographs of linoleum patterns. Someone will write/produce a wonderful book with many color photos of linoleum, but this is not it.

I love linoleum. I have been colleting it for years. I am going to start a museum some day. This book is definitely the highlight of my linoleum reading! A must have for linoleum enthusiasts. Check it out!

First off, I should note that I find this version of Vitruvius far more useful than many others, especially in the clearly noted diagrams, explanations of measurement units, and so forth. The editor and translators have done a good job of this aspect of Vitruvius Pollio's work.

However, the translators appear to have taken a few liberties with the text. First, since Vitruvius is a historical work as well as a canon of Classicism, an honest modern-day translation must relate not only to its period, but also to subsequent periods in order to be understood in terms of the nearer to present and Vitruvius' own time. The translators' choice of ridding the text of the translation "the Orders" for Vitruvius' original choice of "genus" is bad enough, but when you observe that this translation has been rendered as "type" instead, it has the potential of blending in with unintended references in the text to type as well as being confused with common modern/Modernist discursions into what type is. The translators should have indicated their theories about what they thought would be a correct interpretation of the Roman word "genus" at the beginning of their notes, not by making a deliberate decision to diverge from the customary content of the text.

Second, this translation appears to fail to take into account some aspects of military culture which have influenced the text. Vitruvius was a military man and although he adopted the linguistic style of Cicero in some respects (who has been accused of using two words in the place of one or even none), sometimes a distinction he makes, albeit slight, is worth noting, especially in the context of his role in the Roman military and in the context of subtle gradations of meaning being just as notable as subtle gradations in style and form.

Third, and most telling, the translators and editors have missed an opportunity to note something very useful in Vitruvius, and that is that although he understood the what of the Orders, he may not have understood the why of the Orders. In some cases, he goes to great lengths to wave hands over certain aspects of the Orders, even devolving into a Ciceronian overuse of words and dense prose, in order to pull a Wizard of Oz-like "pay no attention to the unknowns behind this concept". The translators note the fuzziness, but they don't begin to question the nature of it and as a result, they may inadvertently paint Vitruvius in a little bit better light than he may actually deserve.

Otherwise, it is a well-rendered translation, although for serious readers and researchers it should be balanced with at least one other translation, such as Morgan's translation.

As a Penn State first year architecture student I have been studying Vitruvius line by line. It is the most inspirational, thought provoking, and interesting book I have ever read. I even hold my own Vitruvian study sessions to review the material and relate all of Vitruvius's topics to the outside world not even related to architecture. If you are at all interested in architecture, construction, philosophy, or if you just want a different type of book to read I urge you to give this a try. It is truly a remarkable book that has revolutioned and standardized many architectural details.

There are so many well written books on Wavelts out nowadays. Don't waste your money on this one. It's famous because it was first (or one of the first). On the positive side, it does present a strong mathematical foundation. I recommend you buy a readable book (just do a search on Amazon.com and you'll find half a dozen great books on Wavelets), then when you approach the "expert" level, use this one a s a reference (if at all).

This book is a treasure of details if you know what you are doing. As another reviewer noted, it is not for the beginner. But if you have had some experience with the subject this is a must have for your library shelf.

This book has become a classic,-- and a hit;-- for more than ten reasons. It is multilayered, and yet presents a unity of ideas: The material, and the writing is engaging for the beginner, and for the research mathematician alike. When I used it in my teaching, it was equally popular with the math students, and those from engineering. I don't know if I can say this about any other book I have taught from. The students could follow all the carefully presented proofs, and the engineer could generate algorithms from the applied chapters.

From this book, it seems that Ellen Von Unwerth has found a way to avoid the necessity to be creative or to develop technical skills. Perhaps it was thought that enough people could be fooled into thinking that since they are different they must be examples of sheer creative genius. The only problem is that she is not the only photographer who appears to be taking this shortcut to "masterpieces." A quick study of this book, and you too can learn how to take snapshots and play them off as sheer genius. ... Hmmm Let's see, how bout the random idea of a supermodel standing nude, except she's wearing army boots, and holding a half eaten corn cob in one hand and a light bulb in the other, all photographed with a disposable camera in the absolute worst possible lighting situation. No that's not in the book, but that's the type of image you'll find in it. Oh, and by the way, don't buy this book if you just want to see such naked super models, because there are better books with naked supermodels in them.

Ellen Von Unwerth is by far my favorite photographer! I haven't the foggiest idea of how a picture is taken, but I can appreciate a good photograph when I see one. The person who said, "a picture is worth a thousand words" must have thought up all one thousand of them in that instant, thus spontaneous inspiration! Ellen is SPONTANEOUS! I fell as though she takes pictures to make you wonder, marvel and enjoy the world around you, taking you away with a simple click!

Ellen is also unpredictable, as you turn the pages to this book you will see why! Although there is no denying her style, she manages to portray a variety of situations, there is no monotony or constant theme and her subjects are unpredictable in a wide variety of settings, these photographs are proof of her widespread intellect. I was actually expecting to see pictures of couples in a conventional way, but Unwerth managed to convince me that there are other types of pairs!

It is a witty, playful, and yes even inspiring book! Not to be taken too seriously, but to be enjoyed and digested like one would fine ice cream!

I could not leave out the always intelligent and wonderful introduction by Ingrid Sischy... That woman is a GENIUS!!

Fantastic... well worth the dosh. While it seems a few narrow-minded sorts will muse over grain, focus and the apparent 'cheapness' of her camera, Ellen injects life, soul, sexiness and humour into her images. The fun, intimate feel is only increased further by her supposedly rough focus and grain. For those who can appreciate a photo that isn't of a clean-skinned model against a plain black or white backdrop, Von Unwerth is an artist without equal.

I normally thoroughly enjoy reading travelogues. I was looking forward to this book for a week before I found time to read it. I didn't feel it was worth my time. I was looking for more information about and feel about the places, and less self-exploration of the authors. Not bad, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

This was my first attempt at reading anything by and about women travelers. Some of the writings were very interesting while others seemed a little pointless. I did enjoy the different viewpoints from women of various countries and ethnic backgrounds. Having traveled on my own (and about to embark again), I was glad to delve into the experiences of other women. Most of the accounts are of foreign travel, but there was one (maybe more) about domestic experiences. The stories reminded me of my own travels and even inspired me to begin an essay about part of my experience in another country.

Fantastic book. My favorite story in the collection was Peabody's tremendous tale of her hike along a 1,000-mile Buddhist pilgrimage to 88 temples around the island of Shikoku in Japan. Truly the work of a lapidary stylist and soulful sister.