I thought this book sufficed, but wasn't fabulous. I strongly preferred Moore and McCabe's "Introduction to the Practice of Statistics" better than this book, although it didn't have a business slant to it. Moore and McCabe are certainly the way to go, though, for stats, if you have a choice at all.

Excellent text book and reference material for anyone in manufacturing. Straight forward, useful implementation roadmap.

Author David Stanley tells the truelife story of growing up in Graceland.Stories range from daily life in Elvis' world, on tour with the King of rock & roll, to having the Beatles show up at the front door. Stanley leaves out nothing as he recounts Presleys downfall.This ones not just for Elvis Presley fans, as it shows the real life struggles in Stanleys personal life. An excellent read.

I really don't understand why introductory meteorology textbooks, especially one of this caliber, have an extremely short shelf life. Gedzelman's "Science and Wonders of the Atmosphere" was published around 1980 and stuck it out for about four years before withering into the annals of "out of print" status. However, the author has written a masterpiece, boldly exploring different facets of operational meteorology, weather and the arts, and human impact in a very lighthearted, succinct style. This book is so "user friendly" that it allowed me to master thermodynamic diagrams and hydrostatic fundamentals when I was only 13 years old! The physics and forecasting aspects are still as fresh in 2003 as in 1980. However the book suffers from storm forecasting theory that appears to be rooted in the 1940s and 1950s, drawing mainly on the works of Byers and older Fujita material, and of course it was published too early to benefit from the impact that America's next-generation radar network brought just ten years later. Still, this is an exceptional work of art, and the vivid illustrations will satisfy even the most challenged science reader. For those who enjoy meteorology texts but are not satisfied by the current crop of books, finding a used copy of Science and Wonders of the Atmosphere will be sure to please.

I like this book because I can find Stanley Hauerwas' early arguments against rational foundationalism. Even though it is an essay-collection, this book is sufficient to show what his points are. Many materials are related with medical ethics. He succeeds in showing what we miss on issues of medicine as such, care for the handicapped, population control, and ethics of death (suicide and euthanasia). One of difficulty I felt is whether his argument on the standard account of rationality is effective. Rejecting that account of rationality, he tries to show alternative account based on narrative. I agree to narrative account of reason, but I am not sure why he has to reject the standard account. That account explains our ordinary actuality just as narrative account shows ultimate reality. So I expect him to argue more synthetic approach, but this is not the case in this book, at least. Personally, I like the terms,'truthfulness' and 'tragedy', for I think they show what Christianity is all about relevantly.

Though Biespiel's poetry is technically sound and though the male perspective on abortion should offer a welcome voice, the poems here are hollow and dispassionate and at times offensive in their lack of depth. The poems here are easy to read and feel as if too easily written, despite the obvious talent of the poet.

Biespiel's first book is subtle and vital. His work, as he says in "A Love Story," "pushes hard as a conscience." I loved the pace of the lines, the richness of the emotional content, the recurring theme of the preciousness of both love and loss, and the unique combination of dense and simple language. Best poems: "There Were No Deer in the Thicket," "I Think of Your Eyes," (which I first read on a PSA Poetry in Motion project in Portland, Oregon), "Autumn of the Body," Tower," and "Constitutional." Shattering Air unites the natural world with the human spirit, in line after line, so that poetry enters one's life as a living element, like blood. When is his next book coming out? I can't wait.

I'm not sure I read the same book as the reader from Ohio. David Biespiel's first book is both original and universal. The long poem, "Holy Water" is Keatsian in its reverie and Whitmanic in its range. Whereas most new poets want to demonstrate technical, graduate-school dazzle, Biespiel is content to let a quiet, understated, mature, and haunting language penetrate a reader's emotions, to gently lead a reader down a path of revelation. I would say he is the W.S. Merwin of his generation. The best of these mostly love poems are "There Were No Deer in the Thicket," "Holy Water," "Constitutional," "A Love Story," and the frightening narrative "Tower." It's exciting to read work from this new generation of poets. The work of David Biespiel, along with Talvikki Ansel, Christian Wiman, Campbell Mc Grath, and A.V. Christie, is setting the pace for excellence. "Shattering Air" was good the first time I read it; I've since read it again, and the effort is well-rewarded.

Though David Stanley is a good, informative writer, he still knacks the expression and fire of the Cuban travel guide writer, Christopher Baker (see review). However, Stanley's economic analysis (in the Facts about Cuba section, which is also very good) is the best out in a guide book today.

The strength of this guide, as with most all Lonely Planet guides, is that they are an excellent source for information that is often disregarded in other guides (i.e., paragliding, language schools, how to get a tour bus to transport you at a fraction of what you would pay for a taxi, etc.).

Though I think this guide is ONE OF THE BEST, there are a few areas that, as in the old report card mark stated, N/I - needs improvement. I found this guide more difficult to navigate than other Cuban guides; mainly because of a paltry index. The index DID NOT list hotels or restaurants and this required that I to flip through each section until I found the listing I wanted information on (especially a hassle in Havana). The maps, though plentiful (68), could use improvement by adding color plates and clear/cleaner definition. The best guide book for clear, easy-to-use maps for Cuba are in Michelin's Neos Guides and Moon Travel.

These points noted, I do not hesitate recommending Cuba by David Stanley - 2000. I thoroughly enjoyed his upfront commentary on Cuba - though some anti-Castro individuals will find him politically incorrect, I found his views on communist Cuba and Fidel refreshing. Recommended

I have just returned to Norway after backpacking around in Latin America for a year (of course accompanied by all the Lonely Planet books). I do not claim to be an expert, but I do know what I am looking for in a travel guide.

The Cuba guide is a good, complete guide. Filled with information, history and beautiful pictures about almost every corner of this gorgeous country. Reading the whole book gives you a good update on your history and geography knowledge! (Something to do if you are trekking around by bus and train like I did!)

I particularly enjoyed the facts about Cuba and the story of Cuba. It is obvious that the author of this guide David Stanley has a passion for the country, and that he is very knowledgeable when it comes to Cuba and its' political history.

The information given is good, and I found it to be very accurate. An advantage was of course that this guide came out in July 2000 and I visited Cuba in October the same year so the guide had just been updated!

I can recommend both Cuba and this guide....

It is not easy to write a book about Cuba, whether it be a book on politics and society, or whether it be simply a travel guidebook. Cuba remains a communist island under the iron fist of a minority, and all research work, all travel, all writing, is closely scrutinized by the central apparatus. Despite the restrictions he must have met in such a situation, author David Stanley has produced a truly outstanding work, a perfect guide for the traveler who may wish to go to Cuba for the most disparate reasons, from sightseeing to good food, from snorkeling to biking, etc. David has truly been throughout the island, getting to know all its cities and places far better than a local. Well done ! It will be hard to replace, with a book, the emotions, the warmth, the spirit of Cuba which can only be found on the island itself. Nevertheless, this book is certainly very close to achieving that, and will be a true companion throguhout your journey to this wonderful Caribbean island, the star of the Caribbean, the biggest of the Antilles, as it has been called on different occasions.

The new edition of this book fails to deliver in every aspect. I've used Lonely Planet books in the past, and they've proved to be reliable and useful, but not this one. I live in Banff, and so the observations are from this region.

Firstly, the "new" edition is terribly out of date. I purchased it after seeing the publication date was October 2002. It's accepted and understandable that things change, but there is information that was wrong well over a year before the publication date. A hostel that burnt down in 2000 (Hilda Creek, page 701), and reference to Banff and Jasper as "townsites" (Banff was incorporated in 1991, Jasper in 2001) are examples.

The description of Banff is laughable. There is no possible way anyone could describe the town as a "small, alpine-style village that consists of essentially one main street" (page 686), as this book does. The following history section doesn't get better: "The Bow River forms a class-distinctive boundary that is still evident today." In the first instance, the side of the river that LP tells us "caters to the wealthy crowd" comprises mainly of subsidized housing. And "Many people complain that the townsite is too crowded and argue that more hotels and streets should be built." Aside from the fact a 12 year old could have written the sentence, it's just simply not correct. In an effort to include an environmental slant, the authors have touched on current issues. Readers are informed that a convention center at Lake Louise is controversial because it's "in grizzly bear habitat-good goin' guys" (page 696). Bad goin' I say-it's controversial due to water issues, not bears.

The book is riddled with inaccuacies. Not information that is out of date, but straightforward mistakes. Page 688 talks of canoe rentals at Banff's Central Park. There has never been a canoe rental place here. How could a trained writer even imagine there was? Golden is "just outside the park" (page 692) No, it's over an hour's drive away along a treacherous road. There are literally dozens of similar mistakes in just the few pages on Banff. This is also reflected in the maps: Banff has no "Mamoth St." (page 687). As all Banff streets are named for animals, I guess they meant "mammoth" street, but there is no street of this name either. The mapmakers can't even correctly spell an incorrect name, or something along those lines anyway.

Most surprising for me, the good, solid travel information these books were once renowned for has been replaced by useless, fluffy text that serves no purpose at all. For example, the restaurants listed are not recommendations as such, but simply listings. And where there is a description it does little to inform. Four lines are used to explain the source of the name of an Irish pub (page 694) that has absolutely no relevance to Banff or the mountains, including that the original Guinness Brewery is still open and that it was "founded by 34 year old Arthur Guinness in 1759." The next listing is for Bruno's, named for one of Banff's most famous and respected mountain men. This name isn't explained, just that the restaurant has a "wide-ranging menu." There is an excellent reason why renting a vehicle in Banff, as opposed to Calgary or Canmore, is a bad choice (no unlimited mileage is offered, even by the majors), yet, this important and useful information isn't included (page 696).

My original purpose of buying this book was for travel around my own country, not so much to rely on every word in print but to get a feeling as how Canada is portrayed by these books. The litany of inaccuracies and uselessness seems to continue beyond the Rockies section. On page 34 readers are told brown bears are "actually a black bear but brown in color." I just wish I could ask the author how he came up with this unique theory.

I imagine picking a Lonely Planet book as the guide of choice is habit more than anything for many travelers. It's reflected in the attitude of those I meet on the road and the reviews I see here at Amazon. It seems somehow ironic that Lonely Planet has evolved from the likes of an Africa book I relied on for every word in the 80s, written by a guy whose biography had him living in a hut brewing mango wine somewhere I can't recall, to this worthless tome that relies on name rather than content to generate sales.

Lightbody, Huhti and Ver Berkmoes have produced the definitive travel guide on Canada. Up-front, this review is based on my trips to B.C. and Nova Scotia. To say that Canada is vast is an understatement, but, if these, to polarized Canadian provinces, are typical of the rest of the guide, this is a "must have" purchase.

Lightbody, Huhti and Ver Berkmoes' writing is both engaging and descriptive. "Lonely Planet Canada" has a solid introduction section that covers Norway's history, government, economy, ecology, climate etc. An informative practical travel section and, most important, a reliable and up-to-date listing of recommendations that each of the contributors has checked out (lodging, restaurants, entertainment, places to see and things to do). At the start of each section is a regional map, more maps, and a list of highlights or "must see" for that region. Great!

In my "must have" list to qualify a guide as "excellent", are easy to read maps. This book has the best maps found in a Canada travel guide. High marks go to the city maps that help the reader by numerically locating the recommended restaurants and accommodations on the maps.

The superb information and recommendations are reliable and though the publication date is 1999 (thus the information is pre '99), I did find some restaurants and inns closed or sold. As a whole, accommodations prices have increased an average of 15% to 20%.

A weak area, which I am sure will be corrected in the next edition, is the sparse use of email/web site addresses (Halifax, N.S. had no addresses out of the 20 accommodations listings). As computer users know, website and email addresses are very helpful, especially for hotel quotes and reservations.

Lonely Planet Canada is comprehensive enough to have even if you are just visiting one province and, with its excellent introduction and reliable accommodations and restaurants recommendations, you find that this may be the best buy in Canada Guides. Strongly recommended.

I used this guide while travelling on the east and west coast of Canada. It's most complete and accurate and also fun to read. The recommendations are all very reliable and good. If you don't want to carry around a handful of guide books, this book helps a lot. Even if it might not go as much into detail as a guide that zooms in on a particular city or region. But you'll find everything a backpacker's (and budget traveler's) eye is looking for. Highly recommended.

I've done extensive usage of this book lately together with Sears and Zemansky's "University Physics". So it has been natural to me to compare the books while using them day by day.
The result has been quite disappointing for me, regarding Halliday's book.
The book is very clear and well illustrated, and can be successfully used as an easy intro to the subject. It is also complete since you'll find all of the classical and modern Physics topics.
But ... but unfortunately in this case easy has meant shallow to me, since it often happened that for a given topic, concepts were given "as they were", with no explanation of the why or how scientists arrived to a given formulation or result. Take the case of Simple Harmonic Motion: x = Acos(wt+f). Although this formula presents no difficulties to me, I wonder where it does come from, how we (humans) first arrived to this conclusion. I had to read Sears and Zemansky to learn that the experiment that lead to this kind of formula includes a simple form of phasors.
The approaches sounds quite different to me: Halliday says "Take it for granted, be faithful", Sears and Zemansky say "This is the proper kind of formula, and you can see why by yourself if you do ...".
This is important to me, since I use to block myself on a concept until I fully understand it.
Another drawback of this book is the quantity of problems at the end of the chapter. In my humble opinion, an average of 65-70 problems are too few (considering you have the solutions of only half of them, i.e. the odd numbered ones).
So, this is my conclusion: easy and complete introduction to Physics, but too shallow to be really useful in a university course.

I used this book in high school for AP Advanced Physics for mechanics and electromagnetics, but unfortunately did not take the AP test. So now that I am in college and am taking physics - only the second semester electromagnetics and optics, guess what, it is the exact same book. I can see how people find the book not very easy to read. I didn't understand much of it in high school. Now that I am taking it for a second time in college though, I can read the book and it makes perfect sense. I skip lecture about 50% of the time, and have a 97% in the class. Problems at the end of each chapter aren't that difficult.

I am a graduate student in physics and I have been a teaching assistant for 3 years now at Iowa State Univesity and SUNY Stony Brook. I have taught introductory physics numerous times and I have teaching experience with this book: IT IS GREAT. It is everything that the students ever dreamed of. Every chapter has really easy to follow explanation of the fundamental theory and numerous step-by-step solved problems and examples. It also has nice boxes with general strategies for solving problems. At the end of every chapter there is an extensive collection of exercises that fit well with the material of the book.

An advice for the students: Dont start doing your homework before you understand the material. I have seen it numerous times, students that have not understood what is really going on, trying to solve the problems. Big mistake. Open the Halliday-Ressnick book, study the material first and then solve the problems. There is a general fear among the students to go through the theory of the book (any book) first and spend some quality time trying to absorb it. They just think that physics is too difficult of a subject and that they wont understand a thing. For that reason they just use their collection of formulae and blindly try to apply it in order to solve the problems.

I believe that Halliday-Resnick breaks this barrier, their treatment of the subject shows how much they care for the student and they do their best to explain things in the easiest possible way.Something that really breaks the ice is a photograph at the beginning of each chapter that shows an everyday phenomenon that will be treated in the course of that particular chapter, like the picture showin a young girl up in the mountain, with her hair floating up in the air! (a dangerous situation as explained in the book), or the explosion of the Hinderburg and also the picture of a man inside a car that is being hit by a lightning without harming the man inside!

As an undergraduate in physics I used this book too for my introductory physics courses so I also have read it from the student point of view. I believe that it does a superb job clarifyng the fundamental principles of physics without difficult or "intellectual-kind" of explanations. It goes step by step building up until you understand it. I also used this book extensively to prepare for the Physics subject GRE test and it helped a lot. I still keep it in my office and frequently look for things that I have forgotten. I totaly recommend it.

As for the mathematical prerequisites of the book that a previous reviewer has commented on I would say that you need to how to solve simple integrals (nothing more dramatic than a polyonym or a trigonometric function or 1/r and 1/r^2) and also it would be nice to know the meaning of a derivative as the rate of change of a function with respect to some variable. Nothing more. Enjoy!

P.S.1 I am familiar with the 4th and 5th edition. P.S.2 There exists a solution manual for the book. Very helpful.

Want to know why the US and other countries have had such up-and-down economic problems for the last several decades? You can thank Paul Samuelson and other incompetent buffoons like him (I don't mind buffoons that much, but incompetent ones are just too much). Samuelson and his ilk operated on the false assumption that mathematics actually describes economic activity. Once you believe this, the next logical step (in Wacky World, at least) is to have math-oriented "economists" (most of whom are failed wannabe mathematicians, anyway) plan and run the economy.
Fortunately, free markets are stable; they only destabilize when the government intervenes. No neo-classical "economist" understands this, and mathematicians certainly don't (see review
below). The only economic school that describes the real world
is the Austrian school; they are of course are taught in very, very few colleges. Government interference has never worked, and it
never will. And Samuelson got a Nobel Prize? You might as well give me one, too.

When I was required to take econ as undergrad physics student and used this text, the professor made a big deal of econ students not understanding 'curves', by which assertion he implicitly meant the plotting of y=f(x) when f is smooth and invertible. Well the professor didn't understand 'curves' at a higher level: he failed to note that nearly all the 'curves' presented in the text were only 'cartoons', mere mental constructions not based on real data, and agreeing with no real data (excepting corn flakes sales in British supermarkets, if Paul Ormerod is correct). The idea of 'utility' is a useless fabrication that has no basis in empirical data. Those mental constructions represent instead the expectations of neo-classical economic theory, the religion of the IMF, World Bank, and a host of other neo-classically-educated economists. To be specific, the price-demand, price-supply 'curves' touted in the text do not exist in reality and also not in theory: e.g., see Osborne's book Finance and the Stock Market from a Physicist's Perspective for the explanation why. See also the economists' own proof that aggregate price-supply demand-suppy curves 'can be anything' even if individual supply-demand curves would behave as they expect! Furthermore, no real market is approximately in equilibrium, all real markets are examples of far from equilibrium systems. Unregulated free markets are unstable. None of this is hinted at in the text, where equilibrium and stability are implicitly and unfairly assumed without warning the unsuspecting reader. Worse, in the introductory chapter Samuelson uses a hokey, irrelevant pictorial argument to try to convince both himself and the reader that physics is as unscientific as neo-classical econ theory. For good information about econ theory, see the following books: Ormerod's The Death of Economics, Mirowski's More Heat than light, and Osborne's book. For those with enough intellectual stamina, there is also Giovanni Dosi's Innovation, Organization, and Economic Dynamics, a collection of essays that also points out that the emperor wears no clothes and tries to find a reliable ruler to replace His Uselessness. Instead of propagating misleading mythology it's now time for economists to face the facts and explain why, after convincing governments to follow their advice and deregulate, we face one big financial instability after the other: LTCM, Argentina, Enron, .... .

As text or as literature, this book is terribly written. Unsystematic, like a hodgepodge of review articles. Samuelson has noted that economists (like Galbraith) who write too well may be suspect by other economists, but this is an unfortunate viewpoint. The best writing is done by the clearest thinkers: Einstein (in both German and English), Feynman, V.I. Arnol'd, and Fischer Black are examples. Bad writing, in contrast, often reflects sloppy thinking. In short, this text could have been cut to half it's size, to the benefit of the reader who wants to understand what Samuelson has to say.

For the story of how neo-classical econ won out academically, see Mirowski's 'Machine Dreams'.

This book is very famed in China.
The reader of the book is not college student but postgraduate.
The publisher in China have translated and published the textbook for above 4 times, The lasted one in 16th edition.

i am a editor.
who can help me that i want to know the top 10 or 20 business textbook in the world? it's including Economics?

liuhui@wise-link.com