This book is an excellent introduction to the concepts and techniques used to define invariants of closed 3-dimensional manifolds using the representation theory of U(sl(2)). Starting with the well-known results in the finite-dimensional irreducible representations of SL(2) via the Clebsch-Gordan theory, one can decompose the tensor product of these representations in two ways. The two decompositions can be compared using recoupling theory, with the coefficients being the ubiquitous 6j-symbols, so familiar to physicists in the theory of angular momentum. The orthogonality and Elliott-Biedenharn identities of the 6j-symbols have a geometric interpretation as the union of two tetrahedra. The quantum analog of these results for sl(2) leads to the Turaev-Vivo invariants of 3-manifolds, with the Elliott-Biedenharn identity corresponding to an Alexander move on a triangulation of a 3-manifold and the orthogonality condition corresponding to a Matveev move on the dual 2-skeleton of a triangulation.

The book could thus be considered an introduction to the theory of "quantum topology". The authors employ many diagrams to illustrate the beautiful connections between topology and algebra using the reprensentations of U(sl(2)) and the "quantized" version where the representation spaces are homogeneous polynomials in two variables that commute modulo a parameter. These constructions are generalizations of the ones that are employed in studying exactly solved models in statistical mechanics using the Yang-Baxter equation. This theory is now called quantum groups, even though strictly speaking, the objects dealt with are more general than groups and the adjective "quantum" means only a lack of commutation up to a parameter (usually called q). Very interesting is the way in which braid groups appear as realizations of quantum representation spaces. Quotient representations have to be considered since in general the representations of the braid group are not semi-simple.

For a representation of Uq(sl(2)) the authors define trace, called the "quantum trace", in this representation which gives the required invariants. These invariants however are not finer than other 3-manifold invariants unfortunately. The authors do show to what extent two 3-manifolds with the same Turaev-Viro invariants are similar, and show the equivalence between the Turaev-Viro and Kauffman-Lins invariants. These invariants are examples of topological quantum field theories, which have grown out of considerations from high energy physics, and which will no doubt continue to be of considerable interest in the future.

Great classification system for libraries of Judaica. Effective for College Hillel libraries, small Jewish libraries and private collections.

Phryne Fisher sails to Australia in the late 1920's. She finds herself surrounded on all sides by villains during her search for the King of Snow. This book brings alive the magic of 1920's Melbourne and the era of fun and flappers.

I have been in the business for almost 2 years without understanding the finer details of the processes and the legal issues involved. When I borrowed this book from a library, this opened windows of information. I really appreciate that someone has finally dealt with such a topic in so much detail yet keeping it simple for a beginner. I would recommend this book to anyone who has anything to do with collaterals.

As the French monarchy began to implement "absolutist" policies, the pays d'etat, provinces with their own representative Estates which handled tax collection, were a barrier to crown policy. Hickey's book considers the implementation of "absolutism" in Dauphine, and shows how, ultimately, it wasn't crown policy but instead the inability of provincial factions to agree that brought about a restructuring of the tax system, the great herald of "absolutist" government. This is a difficult book, and requires some level of knowledge of what was involved with "absolutist" government and how French taxation worked, but it is an important work in considering "absolutist" government in provincial France.

The main advantage that "Comix: A History of Comic Books in America" has over most similar volumes is that Les Daniels is able to provide a large selection of complete comic books stories. "No selected snippets," the dust jacket proudly proclaims, "Full stories." Consequently, within these pages you will find a 1942 Captain America story, a 1951 story of "The Fox and the Crow," a several horror stories from Sixties Warren comics, and a 1969 story involving "Those Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers." However, do not expect to find the choicest examples possible reprinted within these pages. So while you will find "If," a classic Harvey Kurtzman war story from the glory days of E.C., there is a 1943 Superman story from "Action Comics" in which Lois Lane apparently becomes a Superwoman. Representing Marvel Comics you will find a Dr. Strange adventure instead of something from Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four appear in "A Visit with the Fantastic Four," a filler story from issue #11. However, you will find reproduced "At the Stroke of Midnight!" a horror story (that I think was the first story in the first issue of "Chamber of Darkness") written and illustrated by Jim Steranko and wonderfully representative of his best work. You will also find four stories in full color: "Two-Face Strikes Again," a 1953 Batman story; a Carl Barks Donald Duck story; "A Little Stranger," a 1952 E.C. horror story; and a 1955 Bill Everett Sub-Mariner story in which Namor "meets a new enemy...Fire!" So, you can draw up whatever wish list in your mind of what you would have liked to have seen reproduced in "Comix" in a perfect world, but this is still a more than decent collection of stories to read over.

The history of comics is divided into eight chapters, all of which, except for the first, are followed by several reproduced comics indicative of the comics under discussion: (1) The Coming of Comics deals with the very first comics, which were simply reprinted daily comic strips rather than the original stories that would truly define the art form; (2) The Birth of the Comic Book looks at how Superman and Batman basically created the American comic book market, including an interesting analysis of "Blackhawk" comics; (3) Dumb Animals is devoted primarily to Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and the rest of the Disney creations, but also "Felix the Cat" and the Dell comics that captured the animated animal market; (4) The E. C. Revolution looks a the glory days of William Gaines comic line that includes "Tales from the Crypt," "Frontline Combat," and "Science Fantasy," but which now consists of "Mad" magazine; (5) The Comics Code Controversy deals with the successful crusade of Frederic Wertham and his "Seduction of the Innocent" to clean up comics; (6) The New Comic Books looks at how comic books reacted to the Code's profound and depressing effect on the industry, focusing on the advent of the black and white Warren magazines that did not have to conform to the Code; (7) Mighty Marvel looks at the transformation of Atlas comics into the Marvel juggernaut led by the Fantastic Four and the Amazing Spider-Man under Stan Lee's leadership; and (8) Underground Comics looks at the three types of comics within this industry: the "eight-pagers" (a.k.a. "Tiajuana bibles") dealing with explicit sexual themes, the kinky comics dealing with self-described deviant behavior, and the totally unrestricted self-expression represented by "Zap" comics and Robert Crumb.

Basically, "Comix" looks at the history of comic books through the end of the Sixties. Consequently, it only deals with what we would now consider to be the first half of the history of comic books. However, for my purposes, which is to find interesting information about the origins of comic books in general-and Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man in particular-for my Popular Culture class, this book serves as an adequate resource. Daniels tends not to get bogged down in details, preferring instead to focus on representing characters, creators, etc., from the particular period under discussion. Ultimately, "Comix" is not a definitive text, but rather an introductory one that takes us up to the point where the rights of creators and the proliferation of alternative comic presses would redefine the entire field. Now if somebody would like to address what has happened in the history of comic books in America (and around the world) since then, I would like to read that book as well.

Questo breve saggio del professor Pennaq è un piccolo gioiello di precisione e conoscenza. Come dice il titolo la stesura segue la stessa logica di un romanzo, e coinvolge molto. È in parte infatti una storia autobiografica di come è nata la sua passione per la lettura (e quindi poi anche per la scrittura) attraverso la lettura intensa e quasi sofferta dei grandi capolavori della letteratura mondiale, in special modo "Guerra e pace" e "Madame Bovary". Il libro consta di quattro grandi capitoli, di cui l'ultimo è senz'altro il più interessante, esaminanado uno a uno gli articoli di un "decalogo" del lettore, il titolo suona: "Le qu'en-lira-t-on (ou les droits imprescriptibles du lecteur)" ("Cosa si leggerà (o i diritti imprescrivibili del lettore), in cui è ben apprezzabile anche una certa sagacia. Il libro veicola la convinzione che è necessario leggere e insegnare a leggere, che è impossibile costringere (e questo è un importante messaggio pedagogico) un ragazzo a leggere, bisogna bensì far sorgere in lui la passione e la curiosità spontaneamente, permettendogli di leggere a più non posso e non vietandogli in giovane età i grandi capolavori. La lettura è consigliabile soprattutto per i pedagoghi e per coloro che sono impegnati nell'insegnamento ai ragazzi.

There are two ways one can approach the Book of Daniel. One can ignore the stories and focus on the prophecies in chapters 2 and 7-12, looking for explanations in history. This jigsaw puzzle approach to the Book of Daniel does not help one to live a better life. But, I must confess, that that was the approach I was looking for when I bought the book. I got so much more out of it as I studied Daniel's uncompromising life of prayer. Dr. Ferguson does not ignore history nor fail to indicate what events the prophecies refer to when this is clear, but much more important than that is the lesson that God is sovereign over history. He is in control. We can either, like Daniel, seek after God's in obedience or, like the kings of Babylon, go against His plan in a rebellion that is doomed to fail.

I am not a philosopher and I do not have any knowledge of communitarianism prior to reading Bell's work. Still, I find this doctorate thesis which Bell wrote at Oxford a very interesting, engaging and thought-provocative one.

Bell traces the history of communitarianism and illustrates the main pillars in this paradigm. In so doing, he also argues that communitarianism is closer to the natural aspirations of human beings and its political implications offer more protection on human freedom than the liberals would otherwise suggest.

This is not a typical doctorate thesis that one would normally expect - one that is very dry and has citations appearing almost at the end of every sentences. Rather, Bell presents the thoughts of communitarians and those of its critics (mostly libertarians) in an often lively dialogue format - not indifferent from those in Plato's time.

I highly reccommend this book to those who are dissatisfied with liberalism and the current political system it shapes. Bell and his fellow communitarians may offer you important insights to human aspirations. It may also give you inspirations for a new form of participatory democracy which emphasizes more on the common good and overcomes the challenges of individualism.

Reveals how African political values aren't different from that of the Europeans, if not better than them, but were suppressed by the European colonialists, who, for their own interest, regarded African political values as inferior. In his book he calls for return to African political values through modification of these values to fit contemporary times. That makes good sense.