A seventeen year old woman , Xandria, on the threshold of success faces the challenge of going on to achieve her goals while wrestling with the turmoil of emotions within her as she learns that her beloved single parent mother is dying of AIDS,

Athena , Xandria's mother struggles with both the physical pain of her illness and the emotional upheaval she experiences when friends and colleagues reject her. Even her own daughter turns against her in blind rage at first. Eventually, Athena transforms her adversity into a search to teach others understanding of her illness. She creates a magazine and a center for AIDS victims.

Athena is loved and admired by Eli. He is that rare male partner - confident, successful and ambitious yet respectful and supportive of a woman who cannot bring herself to fully accept him as her husband. Eli provides the money, advice and know how to make Athena 's dreams reality. This relationship is one of the three explorations into the dynamics of love as expressed in friendship.

Another example is the friendship of Dr. Adams and his wife Diana for Athena and Xandria .The reader is drawn into the soul-searching that makes a former society queen recognize and acknowledge her failing to love and honor her brother- an AIDS victim. Another important theme is the meaning of forgiveness, how to do it and the healing that it promotes.

Xandria is also an affirmation of success and the commitment that goes into creating it. The writer charts the stumbles into self-doubt and self pity along the way. The reader is introduced to Coach who loves and inspires his student Xandria. Their relationship is a subtle blend of some significant relationships that we all value - parent/ child, lover / protector, teacher/ student.

Xandria confronts her anger and resentment against her mother when she runs away to a mountain cabin. Mysteriously she meets Tom, an old friend of her parents. As he patiently listens to her, he draws out her negative emotions and redirects her into forgiveness. Tom gently guides Xandria to appreciate what her parents have done to help her to grow into someone who is true to herself - an authentic person.

Another engaging character who truly supports mother and daughter during their testing year is Xandria's young friend Nikki. Nikki is loyal under trying circumstances to both mother and daughter. She shows genuine joy in sharing Xandria's success and she admires the unique parent daughter relationship of her friend.

Xandria's final triumph resonates against her mother's death. Xandria and the reader travel along a surging river of emotions - anger, fear, loss and grief until they both reach the still space of acceptance that comes from unconditional love.

This is a story that unashamedly focuses on feelings. It leaves the reader with a greater sense of the meaning of lives fully lived. It is a celebration of living each moment with as much presence as we can muster.

The novel is a vivid portrayal of courage, friendship, dedication and learning what love can bring to the most barren of situations. Xandria is a novel written from the heart to touch the inner person in all of us.

This one should belong in the library of all Sikhs and historians of the Indian Subcontinent.
A beautifully documented and illustrated piece of work.
Madra's incredible effort provides a unique insight as to why the British held the military prowess of the Sikhs in such high-regard.

First of all I would say, God Bless S. Amandeep Singh Madra , who has done this great job for the coming sikh generation,the generation born in abroad and does not know about sikh's pride. Great God bless these two gentlemen for that they just clear the dust from the sikh braverly and showed the new generation by publishing this book, who ever forgott the sikhs culture and pride. I might order this book in large quantity to distribute in each gurudwara, this is Surinderpal Singh , USA

this book took my breath away and made me feel blessed that i am a sikh as well and that i belong to such a wonderful faith. the pictures of the book are rare and extremely well presented, with the design of the book adding on to it's high rating that i give it points which fall way above the options. a great book for coming generations to revere and find inspiration and sikh pride from. buy it for your kids or for your grandchildren. they are the inheritors of this great tradition that the sikhs are today.

Great read.I was highly impressed by the fluency of the book. The author has tackled the insides of a very difficult and incomprehendable field not only in a manner that it come to grips with the lay persons but also in a way that he has happened to show the adventures and the joy of doing mathematics! Which is a feat in itself. Every now and then he takes us to the history of Mathematics and it's fore-bearers in such a way that it comes entwined with the history of mankind. I loved it the way he has successfully showed in the end that how the story of Fermat's Theorem has it's roots from the time of Pythagora's and how eventually Andrew Wiles takes the route of the mathematics from that of Greeks to Euler,to Euclid to Gauss and all the way to Shamura and Tanyaman to this day in the 90's; he makes one full circle, in solving this most difficult problem of mathematics.Bravo! However I did find one peice of historical narration out of place in the book which I'd like to point out over here, because if I don't, this review would not be of justice. The author while describing the granduer of the famous library of Alexandria has quoted that the library was brought down to it's demise first by the christians and then later by the Muslim conquerer Hazrath Umer Farooq in the 7th century AD. However the American Historian Hitti in his famous book "The Arabs:A short History" has dealt with this myth in his words:"The story that by Caliph's order Amr for six long months fed the numerous bath furnaces of the city with the volumes of the Alexandrian library incidentally, makes a good fiction but bad history.The great library was burned as early as 48 BC by Julius Ceaser. A later one reffered to as the Daughter Library,was destroyed about AD 389 by the Roman Emporer Theodosius.At the time of the Arab conquest, no library of importance existed in Alexandria and no contemporary writer ever brought the charge against Amr or Umer.(Pg70). So I really don't know where the author got his source of inform! ation on this matter, and I think I'd be justified to ask him that in the name of History the author should correct himself in the later editions of this book.

The author seeks to describe the events that led to the proof of Fermat's theorem and succeeds amply. Not only is the book informative, its very very enjoyable. The book does not require a math background. In fact the author takes care to properly introduce any math term or concept he uses.

Fermat was a great mathematician. In one of his notebooks he stated an equation and mentioned that the margin was too short for the proof of the statement. Later mathematicians found it impossible to prove this math statement. So hard was the problem that it became one of the most popular problems in mathematics and remained unsolved for centuries! Recently, a math professor from Princeton proved this theorem after a marathon effort.

The book introduces the reader to a lot of key mathematicians and interesting anecdotes associated with them. The best aspect of the book is that it presents events spanning centuries, in a manner that fits them together as parts of a solution to a single problem. Its not a sequential narration of events, instead its a coherent presentation of what was done over the years and how it contributed to the final assault.

Simon Singh's Fermat's Enigma is a very elegant book that accomplishes several difficult tasks: it acts as a brief history of number theory, explains the culture of the world of mathematicians, and acts as a window looking into the personal struggle of Andrew Wiles as he spends seven years attempting to solve a 350 year old riddle. This book is very accessible for non-mathematicians, and is the type of book that can inspire a young person who is mathematically inclined to become a mathematician -- similar to how Andrew Wiles himself became a mathematician. I particularly liked the portraits of the famous mathematicians who contributed to the proof over the period of time involved: Euler, Galois, Taniyama, Shimura, etc. The book is very nicely written; one never finds the book to be jarring or difficult to read. In its small format it is over 300 pages long, but it reads very quickly (less than 5 hours for me). The appendices contain some very elegant, simple explanat! ions of mathematical proofs. The manner in which the subject is made accessible is a testimony to the author's literary as well as technical skill -- something this easy to read must have been exceptionally difficult to write. Well worth reading, very high on my personal list.

This is the first teacher-orientated book on Sikhism I've yet to come across. There are about fifty or so reproducible pages in here, which not only help teaching but also stimulate class discussions. It's also great for parents to use as reinforcement or homework. The games in here are also great and induce hours of family fun. I especially like the "My Family" trading cards where children must interview and collect pictures of siblings and parents and make trading cards out of them. Of course parents have to go out of their way to laminate these cards, but what a great way to get closer to our children. An AMAZING idea! I had so much fun with my children, and now, along with their wrestling and hockey cards, they actually have mom and dad in their collections. I think this exercise should be included in our kindergarten curriculum.

This is the first teacher-orientated book on Sikhism I've yet to come across. There are about fifty or so reproducible pages in here, which not only help teaching but also stimulate class discussions. It's also great for parents to use as reinforcement or homework. The games in here are also great and induce hours of family fun. I especially like the "My Family" trading cards where children must interview and collect pictures of siblings and parents and make trading cards out of them. Of course parents have to go out of their way to laminate these cards, but what a great way to get closer to our children. An AMAZING idea! I had so much fun with my children, and now, along with their wrestling and hockey cards, they actually have mom and dad in their collections. I think this exercise should be included in our kindergarten curriculum.

Thank you for putting out a children's book on Sikhism. It's very well done and illustrated, and I definitely plan on picking up the next in the series (Teach Me About Islam), which should be just as educational. I think what really works for the series are the games and the way children learn...learning by doing! No better way than actaully involving children in the learning process. Sure there are worksheets, but they are complemented by do-it-yourself Trading Cards which helps cement what the child has just learned and leaves them with something to show around. My children loved it! And the other two games we really had fun with was the sentence charades (My God, there can be no better way to teach sentence structure!) and the focus game (a circuit game you make with foil, a battery and a buzzer). There are also writing activities (Write a letter to the President) and drawing activities. Complete in every sense of the word. I think this will be a very successful series.

I was very disappointed in this book. I had always been a big fan of the Dalai Lama...BUT this book was so vague and full of generalities and hypocrisy! I almost could not believe that although the Dalai Lama professes vegetarianism to be the only way to lead a compassionate life .... he feels that he "has" to eat meat to stay healthy. What??? Eating meat is against every basic principle of Buddism! And that is not where the hypocrisy ends...I shared this book with others who also found much fault in the Dalai Lama's latest book. He is steering away from true Buddism ... and becoming as "middle of the road" as the rest of societies apathetic leaders. Shame.

Hey, read this book! All stuff from Enlightened beings of every religion, philosophy, social caste, skin colour, etc. such as Dalai Lama, Jesus Christ, Jahve, Osiris, Druids or maybe your silent and smiley neighbour are always a good reason to buy, read, listen, etc. their acts and activities!
And is always a pleasure to read/listen/whatever, so may they can infect us with their wonderfull enlightened and happyness virus!! I wanna be infected!

I haven't finished to read this book though, but I can say that it is simply a demonstration's of Dalai Lama's Wide Open Brain! Impermanence is the right word that resumes this book to me => What is eating meat, beans, grains, fruit, milk or vegetables but simply feed the food's need of anyone? Is that really important? Really? Who we are to judge anyone for doing this or that? When we, short of brain humans' may understand?

When are we going to start doing simpler stuff such as being happy and infect people around with this happyness, so everybody can only have to time for joy instead of violence in any of its forms?

Yeaps, I have read some "deeper" books, but hey, what is deepness?
Is "high intellectual" stuff better than having peace inside, and live in happyness with all our surroundng people/sentient beings/wanna-be-sentient beings/or things?

(: Smile :)
Life is short and we all have a lot of things to do!! Read this book and use it for your growing purposes!!

Luz Shiva Futten

There is good evidence, at least from reading the Pali texts, that the Buddha and his followers did eat meat so long as certain conditions were met. These conditions were that a monk should not have seen, heard, nor have any reason to suspect, that the meat was from an animal killed specifically for him. If these three conditions were met then the meat was said to be 'blameless'. There are some four references to the 'blamelessness' of eating meat-once in both the Majjhima and Anguttara Nikayas, and twice in the Vinaya. However, for a householder to have an animal killed in order to feed a monk was reckoned to result in great demerit. In the Sutta Nipata a previous Buddha, Kassapa, is admonished by a brahmin for eating 'stinking meat'. Kassapa replies with a long list of unskilful mental states and declares that such are 'stench', not the eating of meat. There is also the notion from the Vinaya that meat and fish are 'excellent food' for those who are ill.

In fact, just as one can argue that Christianity flourished with a little help from Emperor Constantine's conversion, along with much of the dogmaticism inherent in any official state religion, one can also argue that this idea of strict vegetarianism came into vogue and cemented into dogmaticism during the reign of the Buddhist king Ashoka. The oldest extant written records which reflect the Buddha's teaching-the Ashokan edicts-show the king to be very concerned, as a Buddhist, with the welfare not only of his human subjects, but also with that of animals. Hunting and fishing were prohibited in his kingdom, no animals were killed in his kitchens, and the killing of animals for food was restricted elsewhere in his kingdom. Indeed, he even reports the establishment of medical services for animals. Keep in mind, too, that Ashoka even went so far as to send out "missionaries" to disseminate Buddhism, and I'm sure those monks chosen for this work were NOT opposed to the King's own views.

If you're going to argue that taking the life of an animal or even a bug is wrong for any reason, based on the argument that ALL life is sacred, then you better stop picking flowers too. I'm serious. Don't flowers too have life? Yet they are a staple of Buddhist Monasteries every where, and if it's not okay for you or I to decide on the relative worth or unworth of an animal or bug compared to a human-being, what right do we have to decide that it's okay to uproot a plant? Because it's one rung lower on the evolutionary chain? But wait! that's the kind of horrible arrogance these militant vegetarians would accuse us meat-eaters of!

Can you imagine a "rag-tag band of crackpots" whose movements and activities remind one of laughable and outrageous scenes from a Marx Brothers film or from the Keystone Kops but whose activities are capable of wreaking havoc and destroying forever America's sense of invulnerability? There was such a group and this is exactly what happened on September 11, 2001. A relatively small group of single-minded, devout, dedicated fundamentalist Muslims, consumed by their terrorist efforts and goals proved that if anyone wanted to "get Americans" they would find a way. They would accomplish what 50 years of the "Cold War" failed to do. And all of America's missiles and sophisticated weaponry would be as useless as a rubber crutch.

These men, while they may seem to be "crazy" are far from it. Many are well-educated, wealthy, devout as well as crafty and cunning and are to be taken seriously. They must be respected because of their dedication and absorption in their beliefs which makes them fearsome and dangerous. Without their religious zeal which buoys their spirits and morale, their efforts would be less than successful maybe even tragic and laughable.

Ms Devji's book, "The Mad Messiah" introduces us to some of the men and leaders of this group, Al Qaeda. She spells out their devotion to their goals and their world as well as their own view of reality. She has given the reader a rudimentary and much needed explanation of some of these menh, their religion, their family backgrounds in an easy to read manner. In addition the book is an excellent example of a well-written and well-researched work. The author is to be praised and complimented for providing this services to the reader.

Anyone who wirtnessed the destruction of the World Trade Center-and who has not? - can easily identify with Ms. Devji's stunned disbelief as she describes this event. She has captured the core and essence of our reactions on that day of infamy. Her words echo the feelings of sadness we all experienced. This book is an excellent primer for anyone who wants to know who the men of Al Qaeda are and their dedication their their own peculiar and virulent strain of Islam.

Can you imagine a "rag-tag" band of crackpots whose movements and activities remind one of laughable and outrageous scenes from a Marx Brothers film or from the Keystone Kops but whose activities are capable of wreaking havoc and destroying forever America's sense of invulnerability? There was such a group and this is exactly what happened on September 11, 2001. A relatively small group of single-minded, devout, dedicated fundamentalist Mulims, consumed by their terrorist efforts and goals proved that if anyone wanted to "get Americans" they would find a way. they would accomplish what 50 years of the "Cold War" failed to do. And all of America's missiles, and sophisticated weaponry would be no more useful than a rubber crutch.

These men, while they may seem to be "crazy" are far from it. Many are well-educated, wealthy, devout as well as crafty and cunning and are to be taken seriously. They must be respected because of their dedication and absorption in their beliefs which makes them fearsome and dangerous. Without their religious zeal which buoys their spirits and morale, their efforts would be less than successful even tragic and laughable.

Ms. Devji's book, "The Mad Messiah" introduces us to some of the men and leaders of this group, Al Qaeda. She spells out their devotion to their goals and their world as well as their own view of reality. She has given to reader a rudimentary and much needed explanation of some of these men, their religion, their family backgrounds in an easy to read manner. In addition the book is an excellent example of a well-written and well-researched work. The author is to be praised and complimented for providing this wservice to the reader.

Anyone who witnessed the destruction of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center - and who has not?- can easily identify with Ms. Devji's stunned disbelief as she describes this event. She has captured the core and essence of our reactions to that day of supreme tragedy. Her words echo the feelings of tragedy we all experienced. This book is an excellent primer for anyone who wants to know who the men of Al Qaeda are and their dedication to their own peculiar and virulent version of Islam.

MY WIFE READ THIS BOOK BEFORE I COULD GET TO IT. SHE SAID IT WAS EXCELLENT AND THAT I SHOULD READ IT. SHE WAS RIGHT. IF YOU WANT A COMPLETE BACKGROUND OF SEPTEMBER 11 AND OSAMA BIN LADEN, THIS BOOK IS YOUR ANSWER. IT IS WRITTEN IN VERY READABLE LANGUAGE AND WELL DOCUMENTED. IT ISN'T UNTIL THE END OF THE BOOK THAT YOU REALIZE WHY IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN WITH SUCH PASSION AND CLARITY. THE AUTHOR HERSELF AS A YOUNG GIRL EXPERIENCED THE TERROR OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION WHEN HER UNCLE HAD TO KILL HIS DAUGHTERS AND HIMSELF TO AVOID A MOB GONE BESERK. THIS WAS IN PAKISTAN. HOW ONE LIVES WITH THAT MEMORY IS HARD TO CONCEIVE. DESPITE THIS BURDEN THE AUTHOR HAS WRITTEN A BALANCED ACCOUNT TO INFORM AND NOT TO INFLUENCE. HOPEFULLY THE WRITING OF THIS BOOK AND IT'S SOUNDING NOTE WILL HELP HERSELF AND OTHERS. I INTEND TO PASS THIS BOOK ON TO MY DAUGHTERS.

Dr. Khalsa has some amazing insights into our health. He has confirmed for me the things I'm discovering about my body and the American health system. Before reading his book, I was already doing the majority of the things for his Brain Longevity Program, but found that even at 34 yrs old, I was starting to have some memory issues. As he vividly describes the functions of the brain, various body chemicals, I think my excessive exercise has caused high cortisol levels. I will integrate his medicinal tonics and mind/yogic exercises to complete the program and begin doing that within the next couple weeks. I'm looking forward to improving my memory, brain functions. I love his case studies where he gives examples of all walks of life. This book is very well-written!!!

Being in the age range of beginning forgetfulness, it's easy to feel that this is a normal part of life. Dr. Dharma's book really turned my head around (literally speaking!) to the idea that the brain is a physical organ, and can be nurtured as such. Using natural health--exercise, supplements, meditation and many other self-empowering techniques, we can reclaim our mental health. Middle age is often the time when we realize the fruits of our hard work and wisdom gained, and our lives can really take off. At this important time of our lives, brain power is of the utmost importance for learning ability and creativity. I am thankful that this book exists!

I really enjoyed this book. Dr. Khalsa has a passion for his work that carries over into his writing. In straightforward fashion he moves from a very good discussion of how the brain works to a well organized plan for how anyone can employ nutritional, stress reduction, and exercise techniques as well as pharmacological therapies to prevent brain degeneration, optimize performance, and even reverse the course of such conditions as age related memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. I began reading this book to educate myself. I came away a "convert" to Dr. Khalsa's program. He convinced me to make some lifestyle changes that no doubt will enhance my overall well being and quality of life. I can think of no higher praise for a book than this

Khushwant Singh's Train to Pakistan brings about the human implications and intensity of the event which is merely a historical event for most of us who have not witnessed it-Partition of India.The novel traces the growth of the town of Mano Majra-from the peaceful abode of hindus and musilms to a battlefield.The spirit of revenge forces people to plan massacre of their own brothers and sisters with whom they had lived amicably for years.However,in a stirring climax which ensues,its love which triumphs and saves scores of muslims from being butchered.
Khushwant Singh's exquisite portrayl lends life to the characters and makes the novel all the more interesting and realistic.One can actually hear the rattle of train across the river bridge,the arrival of monsoon-a perfect setting for rural India.

I thought this book was terrific. I read it on a long airplane flight and could not stop turning the pages. I don't read a lot of fiction, but I was really engrossed in this novel. It found it very powerful and moving. I knew next to nothing about India and was basically ignorant the Sikh religion and the events surrounding the 1947 partition of the country. The book has a large cast of vividly drawn characters I really cared about and was heart-poundingly suspenseful. I also learned a lot. It's not in the least sentimental and is very much a "man's book." I recommend it very highly.

To get some insight on the people behind the muslim-sikh-hindu troubles in India and Pakistan, this is a must-read. It is a brilliant story told in a way that gives the reader an excellent inside on the human factor during the time of the separation and liberation of India and Pakistan. A stranger, a non-religious muslim who has spent most of his life in England, a modern thinker, comes to a small village on what was to be the border between Pakistan and India. In this village, sikhs and muslims live in peace. But in the world around them, the troubles start. In this small village, hell soon breaks loose. In the centre of it all is a young couple from different religions, whos fate together is made impossible from this sudden outbust of sectarianism on both sides. It's a marvellous book.

Dielectric propertied and its related phenomeno

Handbook provides most up-to-date information on low and high k dielectric materials useful for next generation IC devices in semiconductor industry. This book covers new material and their device applications.

This is the first handbook ever published that focuses on the low and high-k dielectric materials used in semiconductor industries, particularly for microelectronics packaging. It has in-depth information on all-new dielectric materials, their processing and device applications ranging from DRAMs to computer chips and much much more. Excellent reference source, highly recommended for scientists and researchers working in semiconductor industries and graduate as well as upper-level graduate students working in polymer science, materials science, chemistry, solid-state physics, electrical and electronics engineering.

I think the book is not especially well written. Sentences
are long and in some cases unprecise or directly wrong.

The book often does often not provide sharp and good definitions and
it is not easy to extract the information contents, compared to many other books within this or related fields,
for an example "Computer Architecture and Parallel Processing"
by Hwang and Briggs, or books by M. Morris Mano.

this book was the recommended textbook for parallel architecture course which i took, it is a great book,since it covers the latest fields in parallel computers.But too difficult for a beginner, cause topics are explained in an advanced way, assuming a previous knowledge in parallel processing subjects.I find it more suitable for graduate or profissionals in this field rather than undergraduate students.

I have read this book and its a very good book which explains all the details ranging from cache architecture to the basics of parallel computer programming. I have not seen any book that talks in detail about SMP and cc-numa.