This book is one of the bleakest books I have read. The diarist has developed a notion that his eyes are delicate(among other psychosomatic diseases) so he lies in a darkened room most of the day. He has cut himself off from society, the only people with whom he associates are his paid staff: Doctors, talkers, helpers and wife. The talkers read and talk about themselves to Arthur who eventually beds them, grows emotionally dependent on them and lavishes them with presents to keep them. Even with his wife it's this way. Arthurs ambition is to chronicle every thought and not censor himself, and while he is mentally ill and thus deludes himself on a number of issues, he does succeed in being brutally honest especially on the members who has left his fold. I challenge anyone to find any positive human values in this book, it certainly does show the dark side of human nature.

Arthur called his diary, "... pure crap... out of the rectum of a rotting shadow and of no possible interest to anyone save a psychologist concentrating upon the disintegration of a person." Although he was a somewhat nasty, prejudiced man, I think his diary was fascinating. I especially enjoyed his descriptions of his relationships with his female employees and the narratives of their lives. This is a book for specialized tastes--not for everyone

I hope someone else out there has actually read this book -- its worth it, in many ways. While hidden away in his room during the whole of his lifetime with a medical condition no doctors could ever diagnose, the author kept a painstaking diary of his everyday "experiences". He paid for people to come sit with him and tell stories of their lives -- appealing, tragic, often sordid. He usually entered into intimate relationships with these people, all the while dissecting them within the thousands of pages of his diary. Arthur blackmailed his millionaire parents to subsidize him, viciously tormented his servants and wife and eventually committed suicide. But not before he left for posthumous publication his eerie, hateful, yet fascinating world view.

Could not find any examples of gasket design

I like this book. I am sure the gasket knowledge from the book will be useful in our plant.

The complexities of gaskets and gasket sealing can be enormous. Mr. Czernik has taken on this daunting dask and made the grade. The book highlights various target areas in the sealing world of gaskets and offers insight into the same area.

Reading this book is like having lunch with an old, eccentric friend: it takes a little over an hour (to read), ..., and while it was an interesting hour, you realize again why you see him very infrequently.

The book does not deviate much from the title. Don't expect pages upon pages of investment advice and how to prepare for the coming difficult times. Rather, the author seeks to support his claim by using historical demographic data from almanacs, census data and Excel charts. The book's premise is based on the simple idea of that the baby boomer/consumers will be retiring in 2012. With baby boomers being the largest consumers and consumers accounting for ~70% of the GDP, take away the consumers and there's very little driving the economy.

Arnold is an engineer by training which is curious since there's very little scientific rigor in his analyses.

You won't save this book. But if you're still really curious, read it on your lunch break.

Daniel Arnold illustrates here how the stock market has performed over the last 80 years, and why it has, and he also extrapolates it's performance out to about 2035, with a very bad economic depression starting sometime around 2012. Arnold uses demographics to come to his conclusions and he presents a very solid case indeed. He rightly criticizes stock market analysts for their short term forecasts, and also Alan Greenspan for faulty work also. This is a short, concise, and to the point book, I found it fascinating. About the only possible flaw I saw in this book is that Arnold believes that during the coming depression oil prices may hit [$$] a barrel. But if you read HUBBERT'S PEAK: THE IMPENDING WORLD OIL SHORTAGE by Kenneth Deffeyes, a picture of oil shortages emerges instead, which would exacerbate the economic decline. It will be interesting to see which force wins out here. On a personal note, I remember everyone buying those Nasdaq stocks in a frenzy back in the late 1990's, most of those companies were losing money right and left and their shares were selling for [$$-$$]dollars, or more! I thought it was a good example of "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Of course everyone knows that bubble burst. Japan's stock market bubble burst about 10 years ago, due in large part by an older generation spending less. The United States is headed the way of Japan, the massive post-war generation soon retiring and putting a damper big time on the economy. Arnold uses many graphs in this book, he clearly shows that the next handful of years may be okay, but watch out afterwards, the party may be over in a big way. The final few pages gives advice on what can be done on a personal basis to survive in the tough times ahead. Another interesting book to read, older by a few years is THE RETIREMENT MYTH by Craig Karpel.

After the many books of the last decade or so that incorrectly predicted depressions based on convoluted wave theories and other hard to swallow ideas, it was a breath of fresh air, albeit shocking, to read this book. It offers seemingly irrefutable arguments for a coming depression of massive proportions, based on very logical demographic principles. The real convincer for me was that it provided real proof for this prediction by showing how the same simple concepts have accounted for the detailed trend of the economy since 1920. A quite remarkable feat. Even the author seems at times to be quite shocked by the accuracy of his results. With concepts that almost effortlessly explained the trend of the economy for the best part of the last 100 years, I found it very easy to believe what the book predicts for our future. Anyone who wants to at least have a fighting financial chance in what is coming our way a few years from now ought to read this book, especially baby boomers.

I am a cognitive science doctoral student. I read this book with a basic background in Philosophy of Mind but without having read all of the main articles in the field.

First, the title... "The intentional stance." The uninitiated will not know that this refers to a subfield of the philosophy of mind called "intentionality." Does Dennett bother giving an overview of the field for those who are unfamiliar with it? No. He makes cute references to the main scholars in this field all over the place, and their main articles and results, etc., leaving all the readers who are not already familiar with his work in the dark. To a reader like me, this book is basically a conversation between Dennett and his friends. It's kind of hilarious to read actually.

Second, the book is completely unstructured. His second chapter presents his theory (again only understandable to those who have closely followed the intentionality debate before reading it), and beyond that, it's "All of Dennett's Thoughts in No Particular Order with No Conclusion."

So basically, this is academic literature at its worst. Only to be read by those who are obligated to because they are scholars in the field. I would have given it a 3 but I took a point off for nauseating arrogance and another point off for an equally arrogant lack of structure ("I am so important that they will read my book and SEARCH for the main points, because they have to!"). I guess there are a few new ideas in it, but Dennett's high falutin', extremely arrogant prose seems to be designed for his own pleasure and for the pleasure of his old boy's club of philosopher friends.

Personally I keep it next to my bed and read it before going to sleep. It's better than sleeping pills. Definitely recommended for the insomniacs.

My real recommendation is to take a serious course in intentionality before reading this book.

Ps - those who have read "Consciousness Explained" will find this book much worse. Consciousness Explained was equally arrogant (nice title) but at least readable by someone who is not already an expert in the field.

I believe this work should be considered a classic given the enormous influence the articles in it have had on philosophy of mind, among other areas in philosophy. Much in here is stated more clearly about the Intentional Stance than it is in later works, such as Brain Children. That isn't a criticism. I think that around the time this work was published Dennett was more into legitimizing and explaining the Intentional Stance than into polishing up his account of mind. Indeed in later works, such as "Consciousness Explained" and "Kinds of Minds", he builds off the foundation he laid here to develop his account of mind more fully.

In IS, Dennett comments on just which philosophical schools he aligns himself with, for instance, interpretivism, methodological behaviorism, and functionalism. Part of the message to take home about exactly where he aligns himself is that it isn't really important to him. He lays his arguments down and lets others worry about whether that makes him an interpretivist or methodological behaviorist. A clearer statement of his position regarding categorization of his views can be found in the "Back to the Drawing Board" chapter in "Dennett and His Critics".

In later works, Dennett further clarifies in what sense the entities the Intentional Stance makes use of are real, entities such as beliefs and desires. The most important of these later works is probably "Real Patterns", which appears in "Brain Children". In short, beliefs are part of compression algorithms of behavior that has been subjected to radical interpretation (See Davidson) from the Intentional Stance. A compression algorithm is (you guessed it) something that compresses some series of data. For instance, imagine you wanted to print 1000 1's and you had a computer that understood a programming language that would allow you to do so. One way to output the 1000 1's would be to specify that the computer print 1 and to repeat this command a thousand times. This doesn't compress anything however. Instead, you might tell the computer to "print 1 x 1000". This program has far fewer bits than does 1000 1's. 1000 1's has 1000 bits; the program has around log (base 2) 1000 bits. Hence, because it has fewer bits than what itd output does, that program is a compression algorithm of what it outputs. I recommend reading Gregory Chaitin for further info on Algorithmic Information Theory. In "Real Patterns" (in Brain Children), Dennett makes nice use of the mathematical definition of randomness to define compression algorithms and to set a plausible standard for what makes something a useful abstract object and thus, in a sense, just as real as are all the other useful scientific objects. Much more can be said about this, but this is enough for now.

This book is an excellent starting point for future study. Dennett's writing is as always engaging, insightful, and fairly straightforward.

This is the most mind-blowing philosophy of mind book I have ever read. Regardless of your philosophical sophistication or analytic acumen, Dennett's writing acts like a zen koan on the consciousness of the reader. Dennett makes the mind seem like an impossibly vast, infinitely ramifying computer one minute and a desolate wasteland the next. A sure corrective to anyone who tends to underplay or overplay the primacy of the mind in constructing our (physical/discursive) universe.

When I first saw the cover of the book, I thought "This one ought to be different." Unfortunately, it wasn't. The book gives nothing more than a stereotype view of Irans's "beauty" according to a somewhat spiritual-minded westener, who tries to tell other westeners "You're right! Iran is just a bunch of mountains, deserts and village-people, but try to see the splendor of all this!!".

As a native Iranian, If I knew the intention of the author, to write and inform about the true beauty of the Iranian nature, I could have suggested him to take a long trip to the North, West and the central part of Iran, which in size are much more than the total region the author visited, and which in richness of vegetation and animal-life are just breath-taking.

Iran certainly doesn't deserve a long trail of unclear and boring pictures showing snowcapped mountains (very beautiful, but three whould have been more than sufficient), empty deserts, ramshackled villages and faces that only reflect the majority of the western world's narrow-minded prejudices about Iranians.

This book paints a portrait of the timeless Iran, one away from the cities, where the people live much the same now as they have for hundreds of years, where the old ways are least susceptible to change. While the book focuses on northern Iran around the Caspain Sea and Alborz Mountains, and only as far south as Isfahan, the northern region is a photographers dream. This is also the Iran that has been glorified in drawings and etchings by travelers from the 15th century on. Not only do the photographs capture the look of the landscape, but also the passage of seasons, the way the light and color of the sky and earth give an instant feeling of spring, summer, autumn or winter. The brief sections of writing and excerpts of poetry complement the images, pointing readers on their way. Buy this book if you if you're planning to go there or just want to see how magnificent its beauty is.

Dan beautifully captures the people and landscape of a land generally unfamiliar to most of us.

When I picked this book up, I thought it was a great find. I read a great deal of non-fiction of this type, and the opening pages were very promising. But I ultimately found it disappointing, even offensive. Trienens sinks the book in legalistic detail, focusing so much on the civil suit that he loses sight of the fascinating larger story. Worse, he seems to regard the Goodmans -- descendants of the owner who died in the Holocaust -- as little more than opportunists, and displays little sympathy or respect for their family's tragedy. And while he claims to be taking an objective view, over and over he interprets facts in a light most favorable to the defendant in the suit -- his client. This book is a badly missed opportunity. I would love to see someone else do it again.

Truth is found in the details. By logically organizing the paper trail scattered through several countries, written in at least four different languages, and held by a variety of individuals, Trienens establishes the facts of the case. Whether or not readers agree with his interpretation of these facts is another issue. I don't believe anyone withholds their sympathy from the Gutmann family or anyone who suffered from the events of World War II. However, sympathy should not blind readers to the facts of the case, including the 1967 signed statement that upon payment from the German government, the Gutmanns would not pursue any further compensation. While the attention to detail can at times interfere with the narrative, in the end the author sheds light on the complicated process of Nazi-era provenance research and reparation -- and the role of the press in shaping America's ideas about this sensitive issue.

"Landscape with Smokestacks" is a beautiful "monotype" created by Edgar Degas around 1890 and currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago. Degas smeared oil colors on a metal plate in large diagonal strokes with a rag, then placed a paper on the plate and used a press to transfer the image to the paper. As Degas described it, "The result is a picture on paper more luminous than if the artist had worked directly on the paper." He used fingerprints for texture at the horizon of the scene, and then dabbed on pastel colors in little dots of yellow or pink. Green striations of monotype ink were matched with green pastel. Prussian blue pastel was smeared into the sky to suggest smoke coming from the nearly eradicated monotype chimney.

The family that owned the work of art perished in the holocaust. They had sent the art to a dealer in Paris, either for safekeeping or on consignment to be sold. If it was sent for safekeeping, it may have been stolen by the Nazis (especially Goering) who were looting art throughout the occupied countries of Europe during the Second World War. If it was sold on consignment, however, then the heirs of the family (who brought suit in the United States to recover the painting) would be out of luck. Their only recourse would be to find the Parisian art dealer and sue him for the proceeds. But maybe the painting was stolen, in which case the heirs might have a claim to get it back. After the painting left the art dealer in Paris, it wound up in Switzerland, and went through the hands of various purchasers, finally winding up in a private art collection in Chicago. The owner donated it to the Art Institute, and the real legal battle began -- between the heirs who claimed the painting had been stolen, and the Art Institute, which of course wanted to keep it (though the Institute would have returned it to the heirs if the Institute had been convinced that the painting indeed had been stolen).

Although the author, Howard Trienens, represented the defendant art collector in Chicago, I found his book exceptionally fair in its meticulous treatment of the provenance (sales history) of the Degas painting and in describing the negotiations that ensued between the heirs and the Art Institute. Like the Degas painting itself, the book is a little gem.

This slender book provides intense reading; it is almost a play for just two characters, as a tough boy discovers his aging grandfather. Angry and rebellious that his parents have temporarily abandoned him with an unknown old man in a decrepit house out in the boonies, the boy tries to run away. But he gradually finds himself drawn to stay--not because of the crusty oldtimer, but to help care for a sick crane. The only tenderness the old man exhibits is for wildlife, which provides a tentative bond. The kid, who is rarely addressed by his name, is not a sympathetic protagonist (boastful, selfish, arrogant), but he finally grows out of himself enough to feel compassion for another species. In so doing, he becomes more human and accepting of his suddenly-acquired grandfather.

Very short, intense tale about a 10-year-old boy's discovery of his aging grandfather and bird lore. Resentful of being temporarily abandoned by his parents with an crusty old man he never met before, Sammy spends two days finding out about himself as he starts to grow up. After his unsuccessful attempt to run away, he grudgingly helps the old man care for a wounded crane. The boy is not at all likeable, but he learns to take into consideration both creatures and people besides himself, as he comes to respect the winged kingdom which his grandfather loves. In so doing, he comes to appreciate the old man, who finally addresses the boy by his name.

House of Wings is truly a remarkable book. It is about a boy named Sammy and his grandfather who learn how to preserve and conserve the nature. Sammy lives in past day West Virginia and he is 8 years old. His parents, who were in the red for the bank, left him to go to Indiana. He was left with his 'crazy and strange' old grandfather who's only bond is with nature. His grandfather loves birds, but the boy is rebellious and hates them. He wants to run away. I really enjoyed this book and I hope that through reading this, you will too.

The book is great for beginning programmers. It has end of chapter review questions and code exercises. THE CD DOES NOT PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS OR EXERCISES. WHILE THE PRESENTATION IS GOOD I WOULD SUGGEST GETTING ANOTHER BOOK. ONLY INSTRUCTORS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE ANSWERS. THIS OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE TO PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE LEARNING OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.

this book has provided programers, especially new learners to build up understanding of programming language

This is by far the best learning and reference book I have ever read. This book covers all the basic on how to create Windows-based applications. It also contains many useful examples.My congratulations to the authors for a job well done.

Well, I read the book. That is all that I can honestly say. The book just never had imagination or anything that one would expect from a superstar of Foxx's stature and lore. This was like reading a Grade 8 assignment. Structure and content are terribly lacking. A subject loaded with plenty of history and ammunition, yet it looks as though the book was put together piece by piece with not a clue where to begin or end. The only break for the author is that Foxx had a historical abstract that indicated beginning and end to his career. At least the author stayed in that timeframe. Too good a subject for such a poor and lacadasical effort. Two stars is too generous, but the statistics carry the book. Such a shame!

THIS BOOK IS A WELL WRITTEN STORY ABOUT THE MARK MCGWIRE OF HIS TIME. AN INTERESTING AND SAD STORY ABOUT AN INCREDIBLY STRONG MAN, PHYSICALLY BUT NOT EMOTIONALLY. THE AUTHOR DOES A GOOD JOB DESCRIBING HIS GREAT CAREER AND HIS VERY SAD LIFE OUTSIDE OF BASEBALL. JIMMIE FOXX WAS A VERY MODEST MAN. ALCOHOL TOOK ALOT OF HIS GOODNESS AWAY AND COST HIM JOB AFTER JOB. JIMMIE FOXX IS A HERO TO ME. THE AUTHOR DOES A GREAT JOB OF SHOWING HOW HUMAN THIS MAN WAS. A BOOK THAT MUST BE READ.

I realy enjoyed this book about baseball's forgotten hero. One of baseball's best hitters, Jimmie Foxx life after baseball was tragic. The author uses extensive research throughout to present the basic facts of the career of Jimmie Foxx--from the young farmboy from Easton, Maryland to his superb career with the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies. The one weakness in the book, though understandable, was the lack of development of the relationship between Foxx and his Hall of Fame teammates such as Al Simmons, Mickey Cochrane, and Lefty Grove. Writing a book about a man who was forgotten from the world of baseball fifty years after his career ended was no easy feat. It is truly unfortunate that this book wasn't written in the 1960's when Foxx was still alive and most of his peers were still around to lend insight and develop the relationships that he had between teammates and opponent

For beginners of landscape painting.

This book presents a thoughtful, analytic, and sometimes esoteric, approach to landscape composition and painting. The example plates are gorgeous and support the text. The step by step plates clearly demonstrate the approach. The close ups show fine brush and color techniques. The final chapter presents a series of exercises for the reader to try. I did and improved my techniques considerably.

This book is easily one of the all-time great books on painting. It is not just a book on highly 'realistic' landscape painting in acrylics, rather it is an application of analytical thinking about painting to the particular problems of landscape. In a market saturated by fluffy and useless how-to books, this dense and meaty offering is one of the few that stand out as a must-have for anyone who is serious about representational painting.

The section on composition is one of the most complete overviews of the subject I have seen to date; it includes topics such as unity and variety, the effects of 3-D illusion on composition (or vice-versa), the dynamics of the rectangle, left-right 'reading', and some deep analysis of Chard's own paintings. In other sections Chard discusses his rationale for representational painting, the concept of 'analogous' imagery, viewer's expectations for visual space, and details his methods and working processes. Each topic is covered with wide-ranging and carefully considered throughness.

Chard communicates his insights with great clarity and detail. As a result this is a real reader's book, it has a lot of text in it along with the illustrations. If large paragraphs make your eyes glaze over you may find this book daunting, but struggle on and you will most likely find that the information and food for thought were worth it.

Chard's book may not answer all your questions about painting, but it will provide a great deal of food for thought, and a pattern of principles and analysis that can be applied to a wide range of challenges and mediums in the visual arts...