James H.W. Thompson was a legend. Born in 1906, he served during WWII in the O.S.S which later became the C.I.A. His real claims to fame however were first as the 'Thai Silk King' and secondly as a missing person rivaling Judge Crater and Jimmy Hoffa for mystery. This book should have inspired several others on Thompson since he lived such a legendary and fascinating life. Sadly, this is really the only authoritative book out there on him. Nearly 36 years have done nothing to dispel the myths and rumors about what may have happened to him during a fateful weekend in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia (Easter weekend of 1967). For those who love a real-life mystery, tantalizing clues, possibilities, and innuendos keep the reader guessing as to his possible fate. You won't find any definitive answers here, but what you will find is an extraordinary life laid out in the most entertaining of biographical narratives.

Bought this book on a recent trip to Thailand. Have known of the many stories surrounding Jim Thompson and wanted to read the definitive book on the subject. Unfortunately, I'm no further ahead in learning the solution but the book is fascinating and a page turner.

And since the author is a true fan of Jim Thompson, is what HE wrote the truth or is there still more out there?

This book will just make the reader want to know more.

I began this book on Christmas day while visiting Singapore after having spent a few days in Thailand. My son wouldn't give up possession of this book as he was also reading it. It just was made available this Spring in the U.S. I can't wait to get a copy and finish it! It is a great mystery story and also a fascinating account of a man who was instrumental in revitalizing Thailand's silk industry.

I had been looking for an introductory textbook that motivates the study of controls before presenting the analysis and design techniques, and presents a range of topics besides classical continuous-time, frequency domain control. This book is it! It has material on digital, multivariable, and nonlinear control, which can be used beyond the first controls course - a consideration given the price of textbooks. The didactic discussions of concepts complement the explanation of techniques. The math is kept simple and introduced as needed.

From basics (Laplace) to advanced control theroy (Kalman), this book hit it all. The math is even easy to follow. This book will serve you well as either a stand along self teaching guide, or as a supplemental reference to a formal control systems course.

Called OUT: The Voices and Gifts of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Presbyterians, edited by Jane Adams Spahr (Chi Rho Pr; ISBN: 1888493003), can also be bought on Amazon.com. Called Out With, excellent as it is, is the companion to this first book.

This is a wonderful book from the straight-allied point of view to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered ordination rights in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Yet it is meant to be a companion piece to an earlier book published by Chi Rho Press entitled Called OUT: The Voices and Gifts of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Presbyterians, edited by Rev. Dr.Jane Adams Spahr. Shouldn't Amazon carry this book as well?

In Data Analysis Methods in Physical Oceanography, Emery and Thomson have drawn together a broad range of information on data analysis methods in a single volume. It is an excellent book for the experienced researcher as well as upper level undergraduates and graduate students. It could either serve as a textbook or as a reference handbook. The focus of the book is on application of methods and not just theoretical description. The material is presented in the same fashion that data is approached, from collection to analysis. Particularly useful is that each chapter provides background for the topics presented; setting a context for understanding the material.

The first chapter reviews the basics of statistical sampling and how various oceanographic data elements are collected. It describes in detail the various methods used for collection and their inherent strengths and weakness. The second chapter moves from collecting the data to processing and data presentation; including calibration, interpolation and a variety of presentation formats. The third chapter presents the standard statistical methods and procedures for error handling. The last two chapters cover the range of methods used for spatial and time series analysis of data. This includes not only long established methods but more recent methodologies, such as wavelet transforms, as well.

A bibliography and set of appendices complement the text, making the book an all encompassing reference work. The authors have created an extensive bibliography that enables readers to follow up with more specific readings. The appendices include units in physical oceanography, a glossary of statistical terms, statistical tables, and non-uniform numbers.

We have no similar books in Physical Oceanography. It puts together the description of many useful techniques (including the modern ones) and it also considers pratical aspects of data collection and analysis. The text is easy to follow. The figures are very clear. Useful references are cited. Other geophysical areas can also benefit from it. Do I need to say something else !

Edited and with an informative introduction by Jason Thompson, Description Of Egypt: Notes And Views In Egypt And Nubia Made During The Years 1825-28 is the absorbing nineteenth century account by Edward William Lane (1801-1876) of his travels along the length and breadth of Egypt. It was offered for publication in 1831 but never saw print. The manuscript was sold to the British Library by Lane's widow in 1891 and only now has been published, some 170 years after its completion. With Lane's detailed descriptions of all the ancient monuments and contemporary life that he saw during his journey, Description Of Egypt will proof an invaluable reference for students of Egyptology, Egyptian history, and nineteenth century Egyptian culture.

The re-edition of E.W. Lane's book is one of the most welcomed additions for the bookshelves of anyone interested in ancient and late last-century Egypt. This book, in reality, was originally published after the notes, drawings and photographs made by Lane during his journey to the Nile country between 1825-27, so that it is a mine of information about the pharaonic monuments in general and about Egypt during those years. A clear and finely written preface by the Editor, Dr. J. Thompson introduces the reader to the beautifully printed text and images; it should be noted that many of the latter were made with a camera lucida and count among the first taken with such a system. One should not be afraid by its bulky aspect: you will read from start to end without boring. The shcolarly-minded ones will regret the lack of indexes to such a huge volume: it implies that you must do the work by yourself... Simply fabulous both for the Egyptologists and the Egyptomaniacs.

I highly recommend this book!

Well written and well organized. The cover and the Editorial Review are honest reviews-refreshing. Book is neatly broken down into three parts. 1. Why People Speak 2. Growing as a Speaker and 3. The Business of Speaking. Chapter 7 (Avocational Speakers) is a wonderful review on how to take the first steps toward getting known as an excellent speaker and being in demand as a speaker locally. It evaluates the process in excellent detail and lists in Appendix F Some Associations That Engage Unpaid Speakers. A particularly targeted audience of this book is how to use Toastmasters International as the jumping off point and were to find other coaching and training. Then, how to step out of that organization to further develop along the path toward considering making money from public speaking. Different than other "Get Rich Quick by Speaking" books, he does not glamorize the process to sell a book. There is no wasted time on the subject of how the rich and famous can make money speaking. The book is devoted to finding a way to profit if you simply get good at speaking. He covers why you need to be an expert on something of interest to get chances to speak. The book helps you sort through the process of finding the topics, audience and eventually get paid. One book lists the currently popular topics for paid speakers and says do one of these topics. This book encourages you to find your own topic and work toward finding the audience that will pay for it. This task is covered in considerable detail. In a prior reviews of authors sponsored by Toastmasters International the books can be a disappointment. This one is not.

Edmondson was one of the few artists ever to be led into his work by pure inner vision and his work shows the extraordinary power of genuine and uninfected inspiration so rare to us these days. A wonderful gift for anyone interested in the power of stone.

This is one of those few intellectual works that can truely change one's understanding of how things work. A profound analysis of historical change that presents both models of change and societal models.

Big Bill Thompson has been a political whipping boy ever since he failed to win re-election as Chicago mayor in the 1930s. Subsequent books on Thompson were written by supporters who wished to praise, detractors who wished to condemn or journalists who just wanted to tell a good story. But finally, after 70 years, an objective account has been written of Big Bill Thompson together with the intricate details of the prevailing political climate in Chicago before, during and after the Roaring Twenties.

Learn about the Big Bill Thomson who inherited his money from lucky parents who owned the one section of Chicago which did not burn in the Great Fire of 1871.

Learn about the Big Bill Thompson who was one of the most celebrated athletes in late 19th century Chicago.

Learn about the Big Bill Thompson who as a cowboy turned a profit on his ranch while Teddy Roosevelt was losing money on his.

Learn about a Mayor Thompson who championed an "America First" policy while exploiting class envy for his own political gain.

The reader is left with the impression that Big Bill Thompson invented the type of politics in use today. Rather than focus on Thompson himself, however, the book also explores the campaigns of his opposition, leaving the reader with a full understanding of what worked for Thompson and why it worked.

The scandal involving contributions from gangsters which effectively ended his career is given the space it deserves at the end of the book, but is not the focus of the book, as are most contemporary news stories. The reader is left with a well-rounded and objective account of one of the most successful mayors in Chicago history -- and how he got there.

And as the final coup de grace at the conclusion of the book, the reader will undoubtedly be shocked when they realize that Big Bill Thompson never committed half the indiscretions attributed to Big Bill Clinton.

All in all, it was an excellent and enlightening read. Thoroughly enjoyable.

This cookbook took away my fear of cooking red-meat. I especially loved the accompaniments, mushroom strudel, cowboy beans, steakhouse spinach, and tomato corn salsa. I originally purchased this book for my husband, but I ended up loving it myself! This is the most informative book on buying, and cooking steak.

This book is filled with wonderful recipes. Last week I made the Strip Steaks with Spanish Cheese Sauce. It is absolutely delicious. The Calabres cheese is pungent, but it makes a wonderful sauce for this steak, so don't be afraid to try it.

My family loved this cookbook!

From Baked Steak to Pot Roast, learn how to cook beef in ways /everyone/ will love. This book does not 'talk down' to you like other 'cookbooks,' but lays out its recipes in a straightforward 'no nonsense' fashion. Like the title suggests, this book is strictly beef, but it covers all different kinds of steak and tells you how to cook it best in plain, 'no nonsense' language. In the back are several scrumptious sounding desserts! I can't wait to try.

This book is a must for anyone who wants to learn to do steak right!