This work is translated from the French, and even though in English it loses some of its lyrical power, it still remains a unique work with a unique voice. This is a story between a would-be-novelist and a girl he meets by chance. What works in the novel is the unpretentiousness of the narrator, whose prose reads almost like a stream of conciousness and yet manages to remain honest. It captures well the mind of 'a man' without censoring much of anything or compromising its literary integrity. It is emotionally charged, and the characters stay with you long after you've finished the book. I highly recommend this book since it is the only one of a dozen Philippe Djian's novels which has been translated.

i loved it. djian is a great writer. i write my own stories but after djian i decided to quit. he's done everything i want to do. u must read this... fabulous.

This book rocks, Djians writeing is pure rythm'blues and his characters are beaming of live and spirit. a real must read for pretty much everybody (unless you are prude 8-)

Fun, interesting, and insightful read. Provides clear explanation of the financial transactions utilized to help Malone build his cable empire.

Mark Robichaux captures the excitement, headaches, heartaches and drama of the growth of TCI under John Malone's brilliant watch. Much more than a compilation of facts and figures (which are generously provided), the book thoughtfully combines both chronology and subject narrative to provide a clear picture of Dr. Malone's thought processes, motives, decisions, and even his emotions at each step during the tumultuous growth of the cable business. As a Denver resident who has watched this evolution, I found the inside story adds great perspective to the history as I remember it. Beautifully written, truly capturing the brilliance behind each play.

Cable Cowboy is without question the best biography I have ever read.

Recruiters, job search sites, corporate career sites, HR testing online -- these are standard elements of the 21st century world of work.
If you are experienced at clicking in and out of employment-related sites, you will appreciate the very professional presentations of 500 sites the authors consider the best. There are also references to 2000 other sites.
If you're overwhelmed by the topic, or fear you'll never catch up, this volume is a place to begin. After perusing the book, you will know more about professional uses of the internet in the areas of job search and employee recruitment.

Every job seeker and recruiter should own this book!
This book is a tremendous resource to a job seeker. It offers advice on everything from networking to resume development. On the recruiter side, it offers advice on how to maximize your recruiting efforts in a variety of ways. The index and rating of internet sites is an invaluable tool to both [I should know - I used this book during a recent job search and now use it on a regular basis as I have found a new position as a Partnership Recruitment Manager!]
I have met one of the authors [Mark Mehler], and he has a true committment to helping individuals and companies use the internet to its full potential in job and candidate searches.
I highly recommend this book!

I am a career management consultant. The first two suggestions I give all new job seekers at any levels is to get a copy of CareerXRoads and get some business cards printed.

Once I picked this book up, it was hard to put down. If you ever wondered what makes Tony Stewart tick, this book has the answer. Like many NASCAR fans, I liked Tony Stewart for his competitive nature and desire, but I did not know much about who he really is.

Wanna know why he gets mad? This book tells you. Wanna know why he runs all those "silly" dirt track races? This book tells you. Did you know that giving up the 2002 Indy 500 was probably one of the biggest sacrifices Tony ever made? You'll find out why. Tony will tell you in his own words why he does what he does. You'll also get a lot of insight into Tony through comments and statements made by friends and competitors that are inset into Tony's text throughout the book.

If you are a race fan of any kind (please trust me on this!), or just a person who enjoys a gripping autobiography, this book is for you. It is NOT just for NASCAR fans.

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is that the writing seems a bit condescending and stilted at times. But don't let that stop you from buying and reading this tremendously enjoyable book!

True Speed is the story of Tony Stewart's life both on and off the race track. Written by Tony (along with a co-author) True Speed reflects Tony's thoughts and beliefs. I found myself to be an bigger fan after reading the book than I was before. Tony is dedicated to his sport and that is clear in each and every page. Along with Tony's views there are quotes from family, friends, team members, and fellow drivers. This all mixes together to make True Speed a truly interesting read.

I am from Indiana and I am very proud to say that I am from the same state as Tony Stewart! Good luck to Tony in everything he does.

This book is great!! I would recommend this book to any Nascar fan, not just those who love Tony!! When I began reading this book--I absolutely could not put it down! Read the entire book in just one night. It is definitely a true look inside the life and heart of Tony Stewart. The first few chapters are a little hard to follow as he leads you through his start in racing but as you read on into the book and start hearing of all of his adventures in racing and with the media, you are just dying to know more. I just hope that Tony doesn't let it end here, I am sure that there will be more excitement in his life in the next few years and maybe he will write "True Speed 2--A story of a Winston Cup Champion"!! I would recommend this book to everyone and want to wish Tony (if he happens to read this review)----GOOD LUCK IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP Race in 2002!

This is a book I waited to be reprinted for a long time. Mark's honesty about his weaknesses and fears is a sign of his strength and desire to be the best. I admired him for his accomplishments and even more for his drive after reading this book. He helped make Roger Penske the racing legend he is. Will we ever see a man like Mark again? I doubt it!

It has been 30 years since Mark Donohue won the Indianapolis 500 (1972). My, how time flies! Mark was the at the peak of his career when his life was snuffed out in a race car crash. Mark Donohue and Roger Penske completely revitalized autoracing and changed everybody's thinking about how to run a successful auto racing team. Mark and Roger took auto racing to new levels of professionalism. Gone were the days of t-shirts and oily blue jeans, replaced by clean uniforms. Gone were the days of hamburgers and french fries, replaced with healthy food for the crew. Gone were the days of towing of the race car on an open trailer pulled by a rusty old pickup truck, replaced by semi-trailer trucks. His book "The Unfair Advantage" should be manditory reading for any race car driver or business professional. If you expect to get a head in the game of life, you should read this book.

A book of this size usually takes me 1-3 days to read. This one took 2 weeks and I hated having to put it down. Its the story of a man whose only ambition was to be the best in his chosen profession. The book is full of interesting stories about the development of his race cars and driving techniques. A must read for anyone who enjoys motorsport.

This book is similar to the Art of Monsters Inc. However, this time you get more than just images but you also get small introductions and quotes from the artists/animators. The book starts off with an introduction from John Lasseter and Andrew Staton, both Disney veteran animator and Pixar founder. Then the book goes off with a frenzy of incredible concept art, drawings, sketches, character sketches, color definition, and storyboard. It is amazing of how much effort they put into the film. Prepare and be dazzled with Ralph Eggleston's pastel storyboards (director of FOR THE BIRDS)! You also get a full throttle of hilarious character sketches by such famous modern illustrators - Peter DeSeve, John Sohn, etc. Pages of incredible studies on sea life and color concept for the film.

This book is a perfect inspiration for any animator or film/animation student.

Beautiful work!

If you are an animator or cartoon designer who wants to know what is going on. Or if you just love beautiful work that is fun and aspiring then this is the book for you!!
There are a ton of styles that are very fun with an array of different media.

Pixar has the absolute best creativity in the character designs!! Truly awesome book!

This book is a gem. Reading it, you get an appreciation for all the WORK that was put into this excellent film! The amount of effort these people exerted to create the characters, backgrounds, computer-generated "water," and every other aspect of the movie, is incredible. Flipping through these pages, you really get a feel for that.

The pictures are beautiful and make you realize things you don't think about while watching the movie. You don't realize that the story wasn't always going to play out the same way. You don't realize that the characters may have looked different had the animators chosen to go in another direction. Looking at these early sketches, step by step pastel drawings, and much more, you see what it's really like to make one of these fantastic films.

The quotes throughout are humorous and enlightening. (I particularly like the descriptions of the sharks and the fishtank.) They even reveal a secret I didn't catch after seeing the movie twice; the man in the dentist's office with the skull on his shirt is supposed to be a grown-up Sid from "Toy Story!" That kid needed a trip to the dentist! Overall, "The Art of Finding Nemo" is an unbeatable coffee table book.

Edifying wisdom imparted by a true seer. Regardie the visionary -with a little help from his friends - takes the reader on a delightful excursion on the journey of soul.

A heartwarming book by an intellectual and spiritual mover/shaker.

Well worth the money.

THE ART OF TRUE HEALING
BY ISRAEL REGARDIE AND EDITED BY MARC ALLEN

This book is an extrordinary beautyful classic, one that I hope stays in print for a very long time. This is a book of not only healing but of spiritual wholeness. This is suitable for any one wheather you are a Wiccan, a New Age Christian, A spiritist, Ceremonial Magician, shaman, atheist no matter what you will find that this book is spiritual but in no way static. The Middle Pillar ritual is discussed here. The auther and editer even state that you can alter it as long as it stays within the proinciple of the ritual. Meaning you can chant the English traslations. Example instead of vibrating Eheih for the crown galgal you can chant "I am", I see, I speak instead of YHVH Elohim. I love instead of YHVH Eloah ve-d'ath. I create instead of Shaddai El Chai. and I bless instead of Adonai Ha-Aretz. Also you can do a silent vibration for the God names as well. The color scale they use for the MP here is the elemental scale instead of the Briatic col! ors of the Tree of Life. For Wiccan you can change it to your traditional colors of the elements. But the suggestion here is when you first begin is to see each galgal gold or white and to actually vibrate the god names. Also there is a variation of using the chackras instead of just using the galgals. (They are diffrent in ways, too many authers confuse the galgals with the chackras). This is a very easy to read and easy to understand and is suitable for the beginner. Also they give out the basic associations of the planetary powers and colors. The positive color is given out as well as the negative color. This is not to be confused as good or bad. The Sun positive color is orange the negative color is yellow. The moon the positive color is blue the negative color is puce. Mercury the positive color is yellow the negative color is orange. Venus the positive and negative color is both emerald green. Mars the positive and negative color is both red. Jupiter the positive c! olor is purple the negative color is blue. Saturn the positive col or is Indigo the negative color is black. Now when visualising something for yourself and using color you use the negative colors. Why? Because the negative colors are receptive and bring in. You want to attract these thing to yourself. You want to be a magnet to these forces. When using color visualizations for someone else you would use the positive colors and direct the energy you have built up using the MP to send the energy. This way the active energy is being sent to that person or animal. Its practical and makes total sense. This book will give you the prelimenary guide in healing yourself and then others. It is important to heal yourself so that the energy you send out is balanced. If you are mentally stressed or drained or tired how can you heal anyone else? In the afterword of this book Marc Allen gives a few variations of the Middle Pillar and gives a basic lesson (very, very basic) on Tree Of Life and shows how the the sign of Venus or the Ankh can be formed from t! he Sephiroth on the Tree this shows the power of love, life and healing that this system can give you if you work at it. The introduction by Marc Allen in very interesting and nice, those who get this book should read the intro first before jumping into this book as it will give you a grip on what you will be learning and experiencing. This book is only 110 pages long and is a true work of beauty that will help in achieving the Great Work.

Besides the clear exposition of the Middle Pillar exercise, the book also contains an element borrowed from astrology - the seven principal ideas symbolized by the sun, moon and inner planets (every idea and thing can be classified within one of these root ideas). For example, the sun represents power & success, life, money, growth, etc., its positive color is orange, its negative color is yellow or gold, and its magical name is Jehovah Eloh ve Dah-as. So for example if one has a need of money, you would visualize the negative color (yellow/gold) as a next step following the Middle Pillar and vibrate the name. To help someone else who needs money, one would visualize the positive color (orange) and the person concerned and vibrate the name. I have seen the Middle Pillar described using six chakras (Ted Andrews)or all seven chakras where Regardie uses only five (he combines the Throat & Third Eye centres), but I suppose it doesn't matter, since the effect is the same. And the effect is immediate and very tangible. I found Marc Allen's afterword to be helpful (variations of and reflections on the meaning of the Middle Pillar), especially the description of the 2-minute version and the clear explanation of the tree of life. Unlike another reviewer (daniel j walton) I merrily mix eastern and western methods and have been chanting Sanskrit mantras after vibrating the Hebrew names in the middle pillar, and it enhances the feeling and the effect for me. An important little book, very useful for spiritual healers, alternative therapists and for everybody who takes responsibility for their own health.

I picked up this book shortly before I left to come to Azerbaijan for a year. It has been my constant companion while living in Baku (the capital) and in making countless excursions out of the city. Having been here almost a year, I can safely say it's the best travel book I've ever read for any place. It is delightful to read and its author's warm and quirky sense of humor make it a constant source of entertainment.

Perhaps the best recommendation for this books comes not just from the many expatriots who rely on it, but from the native Azeris who are astounded at how well Mark Elliott (native of UK) knows their country. Azeris are famous for assuming (perhpas rightly so) that the rest of the world knows nothing about their country. So, when Azeris recommend a book about their country, written by a foreigner, it is a pretty good endorsement.

By far the best aspect of the book are the scores of maps and illustrations--all done by the author. As a trained geographer, I appreciate the excellent maps loaded (almost overloaded) with information. They are easy to read maps that make it difficult for the traveler to get lost. I am particularly impressed by how a map can simultaneously accurate and amusing! My favorite entry is the map of the fascinating town of Quba that includes "Old Men" sitting in the park. Damned if they weren't still sitting there. On another map, the author suggests looking for grey beards at the point where you're supposed to make a particular turn. Sure enough, there they were.

Living in Baku, my family and often make use of Elliott's recommendations for restaurants. Of course restaurants come and go, but the information is nearly always accurate and detailed.

My eight-year-old son and I have enjoyed taking his "scavenger hunt" for artistic architectural oddities in the city. I think we've now found all the objects in the second edition, but a third one is already on the drawing boards.

Mark Elliott has a delightfully respectful attitude towards Azerbaijan and the Azeris. This is different form many travel books (Including the Lonely Planet Guide to the South Caucasus) which often take on a preachy attitude which tends to poke fun at the local cultures rather than respectfully describing them as Elliott does.

In addition to being a good travel book, this book also is a worthy source of information on the country for anyone interested in learning about it.

Having lived or traveled extensively in over fifty countries I can recommend this book most highly.

This is a travel guide with all the practical details you'd expect from a series like Lonely Planet, but with more soul and many more maps. If you go to this part of the world, make sure you have this book.

Mark Elliott's guidebook is more than the bare-bones "here's where you can stay and eat" sort of volume. Sure, he gives you all of that necessary information (prices, best value, etc.) but the true worth of this book lies in the pleasure reading it. Let's face it: If you're not planning on visiting a certain destination, you'd never pick up, much less buy, a guidebook on that locale. But Mark writes very well, with a sure-handed knowledge of the history and cultures that he comes across, and effortlessly works it into his background descriptions. The book is actually fun to read, and I suspect that if Richard Burton (not the actor!) were alive today, he'd pretty much be writing the same sort of thing. Don't know if I myself will ever make it to Azerbaijan, but I came away from reading this book -- actually reading! -- feeling like it's one of the places I'd really like to see in this world.
Baku or bust!

AART is all in all a good book. It covers many graphics related topics and is very interesting reading although some of the topics are not all that relevant for modern 3D hardware accelerated computers.

The book is divided into 3 parts:

The first part is an ultra compact summary of the computer graphics needed to understand the rest of the book. This part is virtually impossible to understand for people new to graphics - so I recommend reading Foley, et al: Computer Graphics - Principles and Practice first.

The second part covers rendering and is an introduction to shadows, mapping, ray tracing and radiosity.

The third part covers animation techniques such as bones and blending.

The book tries to cover as many things as possible and the consequence is, at times, that it does not use enough space on some things to make them comprehendable. I guess, this is probably only intended as a survey of alternative techniques and references to the original articles are given for interested readers.

Finally, the book contains a fair number of errors (one every couple of pages) many of which is in vital equations. There has been no corrections done to the book since its original release in 1992 and the official errata isn't good either.

For the sake of other readers I have therefore compiled an unofficial errata list for the book and I recommend that all readers take a look at it. Find it by searching for "watt errata" on Google.

A good book but a lot of it was repeated material from Watt's other books.

Its a wonderful book which covers various topics and enhances your knowledge. I have used it during my masters program, for the games/ game engine i develop and defintely in the future.

The first thing I have to say about Tiedemann's work is that once I begin one of his stories I don't want to put it down.
Whether it's a new Asimov Robot Mystery or his Secantis series, this author keeps you turning the pages. Compass Reach is crisply paced, with richly drawn characters and a compelling story. Tiedemann cooks up a spicy stew of Bradbury mystery with Asimov's galactic scope and a dash of Heinlein's humor. Watch for Metal of Night, the 'second' in the series, and Feel the Impact When Worlds Collide!

"I picked up COMPASS REACH last year after seeing it on the short-list for the Philip K. Dick Award, and discovered a sophisticated novel about interstellar civilization, aliens, and the humans who are trying to come to terms with a universe they know little about. At face value, that description may sound like standard fare, but this book isn't. And that's because of the characters and the way Tiedemann reveals them. I've always been drawn to the strange, imaginative worlds of possibility that comprise the science fiction genre, but what makes me a fan of Tiedemann's universe, in particular, is the beings who inhabit them. He writes about the human condition with an immediacy that makes you feel the world he's depicting is real. Instead of the neat political and ethical boxes that usually comprise 'space opera', he embraces ambiguity and talks about life as it is and how it might be under fully-realized future conditions.

"He's very visual, too. From the tortured landscape of the opening chapter to the startling evocation of Earth at the end, the world of COMPASS REACH is vivid and rich, equal to the intellectual and emotional explorations of the book--which are all multifaceted and fascinating. He addresses questions I've always wondered about when reading or watching traditional science fiction. Questions like, What would life be like for the people on the bottom of the economic pyramid in an interstellar culture? How would "wealth" be determined in such a system? How would interactions with alien civilizations change the way we see ourselves? What are the ramifications of--?

"Well, you get the idea. This novel is a sleeper. I hear it is on the preliminary ballot for the Nebula Award. I hope it wins! It's a refreshing twist on old ideas, liberally laced with some new ideas, but with a central power and drive that rewards close reading. The images stayed with me long after the last page. I don't have a lot of time to read for fun, so I'm a little behind, but I'm starting PEACE AND MEMORY, the third book in Tiedemann's Secantis Sequence, right now. This is a writer to pay attention to and enjoy for a long time to come.

As a long time reader of science fiction, it's always a pleasure to discover a new author with genuine talent. Mark Tiedemann is such an author, and Compass Reach is a genuinely good book. As hard as it is to imagine, he has created a believable space opera. There are no stereotypical heroes or villains here, no mock heroics, no paint-by-the-numbers galactic empires. Instead, there are heroes who have doubts, make mistakes, get confronted with sitations they can't deal with...and yet, somehow they manage to survive and overcome. There are villains who are villains for believable reasons...Mr. Tiedemann makes you understand why they behave the way they do, and even empathize with them (not an easy trick!) And those inscrutable aliens...just what are they up to? It's all set against the background of a very well-realized galactic civilization, with supporting details that bring it to life in a most convincing fashion. After finishing this book, you have the feeling you have been somewhere and done something. Kudos to Mr. Tiedemann for creating such a memorable novel. I recommend it most highly.