Any exprienced C# programmer may not regard this "C# Class Design Handbook" as the best design tool, but almost all will acknowledge that it has got a lot of positive qualities. These attributes include: good coverage of .NET Framework Class Libraries, detailed recipes, and design interoperability.
Apart from being down-to-earth, with its method of defining terms and concepts, it has an illustrative teaching pattern, which included a collection of problems and solutions.
Also, this book contains code recipes, which program developers could use to improve their understanding of the C#; and subsequently, their overall programming skills.
In summary, this handbook is a multi-purpose manual, which programmers should value for its complementary outlook.

On the whole, I was extremely pleased with C# Class Design. It has great organization, perfect length, and superb topic coverage. It is focused, in-depth, and challenging. This is a must buy and a must read for all serious C# developers. In fact, if I could mandate that all of my teammates read this book, I would do it in a heartbeat. Even those using other .NET languages could benefit from this book because many of the principles are not C#-specific, though some features discussed may not be available in other languages, such as VB.NET.

I would not, however, recommend this book to a beginning developer unless he or she has a good foundation in object-oriented design and other core software development principles. It is by no means a primer, but rather is targeted at the intermediate to advanced developer who wants to excel in designing robust, reusable, and extensible classes for the .NET framework. Nor is it for one who simply wants a set of instructions on how to build an application in C#; rather, it is for the developer who wants to build the best applications because he or she has the best understanding of the effects of class design in the .NET CLR.

On a more granular level, the table of contents provides a sufficient look at what each chapter covers, and each chapter delivers on what the TOC promsies, and more in some cases. Chapter One takes an in-depth look at reference and value types and, augmented by Chapter Three's discussion of method parameters, arms the developer with the knowledge needed to make the right choices between the two by providing a solid understanding of how they are handled by the CLR. Chapter Five is another essential read, covering object lifecycle and a few design patterns.

Most of the chapters offer practical advice on best practices in bulleted format to encapsulate some common-sense deductions from the data covered in the chapter. And there are a few gotchas that this book can help you avoid, such as how the compiler handles constants (you'll have to read it to find out).

There are only two things I'd criticize about this book. First, even though some of the topics covered are complex, I tend to think that it could have been considerably more readable in places, particularly Chapter Seven that deals with inheritance and polymorphism. Of course, part of the problem is that those topics cannot properly be covered in so short a space--they deserve (and have) book-length treatment. The second detraction is that Chapter Eight, while providing useful information, is somewhat off-topic, treating namespaces, assemblies, and documentation, which are only peripherally related to effective class design and are covered in several other books as well as the MSDN documentation.

In short, this book is definitely worth the {money} that it costs . It is not an easy read and should only be taken up by developers interested in knowing more than the minimum required to build an application. One of the things I love about this book is its focused approach and, consequently, its readable length of only 347 pages. Most books that are longer, that is most developer books, are full of too many code examples and too much re-coverage of topics that other books have already covered. This is a notable exception. I highly recommend it to intermediate to advanced developers.

This is from [...]
Chapter 1 is at [...]

"C# is Microsoft's new object-oriented language, specifically designed to take full advantage of the .NET type system. At the heart of .NET programming in C# is the task of building classes. All C# code participates in the .NET type system, because all code is contained in classes and other types which participate in the class hierarchy of the .NET framework. This book is a guide to help you design these classes effectively, by looking at what control we have over our classes, and how C# turns our class definitions into executable code.

"Ask anyone: designing effective classes that you don't have to revisit and revise over and over again is an art. This Handbook aims to give you a deep understanding of the implications of every decision you can make in designing a class, so you are better equipped to take full advantage of C#'s power to create classes that are robust, flexible and reusable.

"This book assumes that you are already familiar with the syntax of C#. It assumes that you have already used it to write code and that you are familiar with your chosen development tools and know how to compile and run C# code. You should also be aware of .NET's basic object-oriented mechanisms. In this book, we'll lift the lid on the simple syntax and examine what it really does behind the scenes."

Slotkin's massive tour de force is his first work of fiction, and that becomes obvious to the reader quite quickly. In many ways his research is exhaustive. He quotes whole pages of dispatches from the Official Records and has clearly researched the Battle of the Crater and the units involved in the depth one would expect from a Ph.D. and former National Book Award nominee. When he relaxes and allows himself to write, he writes well, and some of the battle scenes are truly excellent. Where this book falters is in its storytelling. It moves slowly. There are too many characters and they become hard to tell apart. The action is broken up by too many retrospectives and dispatches. You really have to have a long attention span to enjoy this book. As far as Slotkin's interpretation of the period, it is very cynical; I put down The Crater thinking that the Union generals really deserved to lose the war for their politicking, stupidity and wanton wasting of their men's lives. Slotkin sees the issue of slavery and black rights as being central to the war, and his book reflects that. One place where he is rather weak is in his portrayal of Southern soldiers: they are not as human and believable as his Northerners. He presents an ongoing clash between officers, even NCOs, and privates which replicates the class conflict which is the underlying theme of the entire book; I'm not sure to what extent this clash really existed, but it is believable within the context of the novel. Overall, this is ponderous and hard to read, but for those who have the patience, it is a very interesting and rewarding effort.

While not nearly as well known as other certified masterworks whose theme is the Civil War, Slotkin's book is a masterwork nonetheless. From a boat trip down the Mississippi by a very young Abe Lincoln to the labor riots of the 1870s, The Crater ranges over a wealth of 19th-century US history. In the process, it reveals an author uniquely capable of bringing history to life.

One thing, however, that separates Slotkin's work from other, more rabble-rousing Civil War novels is its often ironic stance. The general officers of the Union Army emerge as hopeless buffoons or, worse, criminals who seem never to have deserved the victory they won only by superiority of arms. And Slotkin does especially well by their victims, the private soldiers of the war, who are portrayed with great sensitivity and detail.

Slotkin's work makes one of the darkest hours in American history seem even darker. But it has never seemed realer than in Slotkin's masterful piece of historical fiction.

Similar to Shaara's Killer Angels, in that historic characters are thorougly described by internal motivations and external trench warfare conditions. Pennsylvania coal miners work for officers who were their bosses a two years before; beleaguered, starving Confenderates who were once freemen but now but now are army privates fighting to hold on to slaves they will never own; black soldiers led by white officers with motivates quite diffent than the circumstances that have forced them together. Trench warefare is presented in its grim conditions of August dust, Coehorn mortars, sharpshooting and tedious daily routinges. Life in bombproof shelters for officers and shelter tents over holes for the enlisted men, on both sides is graphically shown. The attack on the Crater is gripping in its courage by enlisted men and their nco's and disgusting as the generals discuss what could be happening at the front, if they could get just one messanger back with a clear picture. At over 550 pp., the author tells many life stories in The Crater; Jews, jayhawkers, abolitionists, ex-slaves, farmers from Georgia and mines from Pennsylania, immigrants and frontiersmen all meet in Virginia, in the trenches at Petersburg, 1864.

Homer Croy wrote this informal biography of the James boys of Missouri, first published in 1949. The author uses homespun sources for many of the stories and anecdotes of Jesse and Frank, the Younger brothers, and their nefarious associates. Mr. Croy lived near Jesse's base in northwestern Missouri, hence the title. Croy was born the year after Jesse died, and considered himself almost a contemporary. He traveled to various towns and farms interviewing folks who remembered the Widow James and her famous sons. The result is a casual history, and reminds one of sitting on a front porch in small town Missouri while the old people spin tales. Lest one doubt the credibility of the sources, Mr. Croy takes care through newspaper archives and other, more objective sources to verify the facts. He also briefly examines the influence of Frank and Jesse on dime novels, art, and movies. Croy is forthright in his biases, but also keeps his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. Out in Missouri, folks truly admired Jesse and Frank, especially their low opinion of banks and railroads. It's doubtful that Jesse James was really an Old West Robin Hood, but the book never seriously suggests that as a fact. We can believe that Jesse's killer, Bob Ford, was a coward, and that Pinkerton men were considered polecats. Decent folks just didn't stand for that type of behavior. The book won't give the reader any particular insight, beyond the obvious, of the James boys and their motivations. Nevertheless, it's an entertaining blend of fact and folklore. Good light reading for students of Western history. ;-)

I first read this book in grade school, UMPTEEN years ago, when , mostly to annoy my Mom, I set about reading every book I could find on western outlaws. After my "Billy the Kid" era, I moved on to Jesse James. First I read the "scholarly" books with the ooky pictures of dead outlaws and Jesse's scary one-armed mother (her hand was blown off by a bomb lobbed through the family door by the Pinkertons.) Then I found Homer Croy, who tells roughly the same stories, but with a wonderfully humorous and personal writing style. Stylistic, yes, and probably more legend than truth. But of all the books, this is my very favorite. I was so happy to learn it was back in print. I assume that Mr. Croy has passed on, but he hasn't, I'd travel to wherever he is to buy him lunch. Perhaps not a "great" book in the sense of, say, WAR & PEACE, but a great book nonetheless.

A well written book by a fellow NW Missourian, Mr. Croy interviewed many eyewitness's to the actual James gang robberies. It is easy and fun to read. A must have book.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

This is a valuable text for the economical traveller who wishes to enjoy the people,customs and natural beauties of this country.

It has all the usual features many have come to expect from the 'Lonely Planet' guides.Good area/city maps,travel details, pointers for the culinary delicacies of particular areas,good information on inexpensive places to stay,as well as fascinating sights,places and people to visit,a brief introduction to the(amazingly simple and easy to learn)language,and interesting cultural,religious and other useful notes.

This edition and it`s excellent predecessors have played a major part in assisting me in all of my travels to Indonesia,in both the planning and research stages,and during the travel itself.I am certain that I would not have travelled to some of the unique and rarely visited places that I was privileged to see without the aid of this weighty and at times indispensible tome.

However,the most important thing to take with you is an open mind and heart,a friendly nature,and a desire to get to know the people and their customs.(Language is a great help too.)These ingredients(and the book !)tend to make for a most memorable and enjoyable stay. Bon Voyage !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is the most detailed book for a big place like indonesia. Indonesia (outside of Jakarta/Bali) is a perfect match of lonely planet's specialty in off the beaten track and/or budget traveling. Every part of Indonesia is covered, except for the small islands between Sumatra and Kalimantan that might be cool to check out. Its not the Riau - that's covered in detail. It has minimal coverage of the Natuna islands. I'm interested in the islands further south - Tambeian Islands, Dadas Isalands, and Pulau Pejantan. Once they add coverage to these islands then this book will be perfection. This book also a lot of information on Indonesian culture, about a 40% overlap with the culture shock indonesia book.

So far I plan a 2 month trip to indonesia. Fly to hong kong, spend 1-2 nights there. Then fly to malaysia or jakarta (whichever is cheaper). Then take a boat to Pontianak, spend some time there and sinkawang (probably a week). Check out the islands between kalimantan and sumatra (1-2 weeks). Then go to the todgean islands, getting their via ujung padang to ambon and then spend the rest of the time (probably a month) chillin and snorkeling / scuba diving. Then go back trhough jakarta or malaysia, spend another 1-2 nights in hong kong, and then come home.

On planning a trip to indonesia I found this guide book from the Lonely Planet Series. I was attracted by the clear concept of the book that makes it easy to find the information, that you need. It provides all the necessary information for a traveller who wants to get of the beaten trak, but also includes the "must see" sights. Specially the Places to Stay and Places to Eat sections are clear and give good and reliable information. It made my trip to indonesia easy and worth a while. I strongly recomend a Lonely Planet book if you like to travel and you want to see as much as possible.

Once upon a time cards have enchanting illustrations and a multitude of uses. The game can be adapted to bring out creativity in any agegroup. Character, event, place, descriptive and item cards add elements to the stories you create while ending cards direct the general theme of your story...but all the other players are directing the story to a different ending! Can you get the Farm boy together with the princess so they can live "happily ever after" or will the witch send the princess to another relm from which "she was never seen again"?

I have used the cards in story telling and to direct skits, with first graders, highschool students and college students, at resident camp and parties. They are always fun, I only wish there were more decks to choose from!

This is no dout one of the funest card games. you make up stories with your friends and family by using the many cards. no two card are the same. you'll be laughing for hours. this game never get dull. i totally love it!

I received this game for my birthday and I only wish I had learned about it sooner! The cards are illustrated beautifully which make them a delight to look at, but the game is just as fun to play. Children and adults ages 6+ can play since only an imagination and basic reading skills are needed. The game asks for players to make up stories with the cards they receive. The game ends when someone is able to play an ending card.

This game is also great for the classroom where children can learn about the elements of a story including events, characters, endings, etc. There are many ways to play and learn.

Nice collection of hard-to-find Rackham images, but not the best color reproduction. Still a good book for the Rackham enthusiast.

Rackham's skill at personifying nature is shown once more. Although not a book for children due to its graphic nature, the flowing lines and colors tell more than a thousand words. If a Rackham fan, a must have.

These are fantastic illustrations.

C.S. Lewis stumbled upon these Arthur Rackham paintings for Richard Wagner's, "Der Ring Des Nibelungen". Lewis writes in "Suprised By Joy" how the pictures inspired a Mythical sensation of 'Northerness' in his young mind.

As a child, 16-years ago, I discovered the same books and Arthur Rackham illustrations at the local library. I was enchanted! They led me explore the worlds of Wagnerian Opera.

I'm really glad the pictures are now reproduced in this paperback book. Pure Magic!

If you're new to Arthur Rackham's illustrations, these are PERFECT to start with.

"Yo-Jo-To-Ho!!!" -Die Walkurie

This is an excellent guide to traditional Western church history, but it is a pity that it did not avoid implicitly consigning the rest of the world to either mission history or insignificance. This needs to be corrected.

This book began as a Ph.D. and Th.M. research and writing methods course at Fuller Theological Seminary. From there it has grown into a valuable resource for serious graduate (post-graduate) students of church history. Clearly written and distilling the insights of the authors' many years of research, writing and teaching in the field, no serious student of church history should be without it. Acknowledging the separate though inter-related issues of personal commitment and academic rigor, the authors discuss the relation of faith to critical scholarship. This personal aspect of academic work is often left out of many books, and the authors' opening of the conversation is a needed starting point in the consideration of ones' commitment to academic life.

The opening chapter is an introduction to church history as a specific historical discipline. Historiography - the writing of history - is explored with further references for a more in depth study of this rapidly changing field. Particular historians noted for their scholarship include Johann Lorenz von Mosheim (1694-1755), August Neander (1789-1850), and Philip Schaff (1819-1893). Specific era's that influence historiography include the Enlightenment and the Romantic periods.

The second chapter focuses on perspective and meaning in history. What is the difference between church history and secular history? What is the difference between a Christian doing history and a non-Christian doing history? What is truth and can it be historically determined? In asking whether objectivity is possible, the authors draw the student into one of the most important questions of modern history writing. These questions are explored and suggestions are offered with sources given for further reference.

A consideration of reference and bibliographic sources as one begins historical research is the burden of the third chapter. This is the beginning of research itself. It is here that the authors' practical experience in teaching this subject shows so well. The questions discussed in the book are the questions every student beginning historical investigation is familiar with. Sources referred to are ones that are essential beginning points.

Important primary resources are the subject of the fourth chapter, and the reader is alerted to works that must be consulted in any topic. Computerized records have made many primary materials more accessible and the growing importance of computers is noted. Perhaps the weakest point of this work deals with the details of computing. A necessary fault due to the revolutionary advances in computing, this area is one that can become outdated almost by the time of publication. Since the writing of this book, software programs have become much more powerful and information much more accessible. The internet has transformed communication (and also mis-communication) in ways not available when this book was published. It is hoped that further updated editions will address this valuable research tool. It must be noted, though, that specialist information is still often available only on location and to those who personally and patiently search through many languishing records.

All research is still-born if it is not written up. How to go about this important aspect of writing is the topic of the fifth chapter. Specific help offered by computers is noted, and though progress has marched on well beyond what is described in the pages of this book, one very important point is noted that becomes more important as computers are relied on more and more. It is now possible like never before to access information and put it into research form without actually assimilating it. Bibliographic references and quoted material can be downloaded and passed into research papers without the information ever passing through the researchers' mind. It is easier than ever before to substitute quantity for quality. The potential for this situation to exist can only grow with the rapid advances in information technology and the expanding possibility for the mis-use of technology is not passed over in this thorough introduction.

The final chapter deals with the preparation of lecture notes and writing for publication. A practical chapter indeed, this is one area that gets very little mention in most academic settings. A further 64 pages offer bibliographic resources and avenues for further investigation of the many areas covered in this book.

The authors have done the field of church history a great service by their careful and detailed work. While general enough to cover the field broadly, the extensive bibliography points the way for an in-depth coverage of the various topics not otherwise available in a book this size. This is a valuable work for students as well as teachers engaged in the serious study of church history, and who want to keep their methodology up-to-date.

If you want to study the history of christianity in a serious way, you will experience that this book gives you not only the most recent, but also the best available introduction into the most important matters of the field. Highly recommended

For a family member of a person recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, this book is a valuable resource for understanding this rare condition. It's a difficult read, but the book is organized into managable sections. For a lay person, it is probably best read in conjunction with less-technical material to provide definitions and context. Topics covered include historical perspectives of diagnosis and treatment, current research, and up-to-date treatment options.It provides in-depth explainations of the role of various diagnostic techniques in classification and staging. Additional topics include the relationship between Hodgkin's and the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas as well as the association with Epstein-Barr virus. The issues of pediatric Hodgkin's and long-term complications of treatment are also covered. The book's strongest recomendation is that it is one of the few available with current information specific to Hodgkin's, as opposed to the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. It provides the lay person with requisite information to discuss Hodgkin's with the medical team, in sufficient detail to make informed decisions.

As a layperson not familiar with medical terms and theories I found the book hard to follow and understand at first. After a bit of slow reading and comprehension it became a wonderful source of knowledge about cancer and hodgkin's disease

This timely review of the literature on Hodgkin's diseasereplaces the venerable work by Henry S. Kaplan and betters the master.The section written by Richard Hoppe, M.D. carries on the finest traditions of radiation oncology at Stanford. This is a very fine work and one anyone in the field of oncology should have on his/her book shelf.

i took this class, the cases used and presneted and done so in an informative manner, i learned a lot just by reading the text

I realize that many of you buying this book won't have a choice about it--it's probably required for a class you are taking and don't much care how good or bad the book it because you need it regardless. However, for those of you who do have a choice:

This textbook has 9 Parts (Intro to law, Contracts, Sales, Agency and Employment, Business Organizations, Property, Commerial Paper, Credit Transactions, Government Regulation) with a total of 48 chapters.

The format of the book, along with the firgures and tables, makes the book easy to read. When applicable, there is a case relating the law described to a real-world situation or a box with ethical considerations and questions. Additionally, the problems at the end of each chapter explore the issues and make students think of both sides of the arguement.

However, in certain areas when describing the law, the text can be vague. The authors could do better making it clear when and how a law is applicable. There are many times when doing the problems where I would look up the case or the issues involved online to get a complete picture.

Overall, a good textbook, especially with supplemental material to be given during lecture.

In my opinion, this is the finest business law textbook on the market. It contains well-edited cases for discussion, cogent analysis of policy and legal history, and easy-to-read flowcharts that help students go through the legal reasoning steps.

It is extremely user friendly to both the lay student and instructor. In addition to the core contract law chapters, it contains chapters summarizing all the main substantive areas of law (and even contains a chapter on the new field of Cyberlaw).

The supporting instructor materials and test bank are excellent. I highly recommend this text. It is well worth the price.

The authors are professors from the Indiana University School of Business, one of the top 5 business schools in the world.

I just read the book called "James and the Giant Peach ".It is about a boy named James. Jameses parents died when James was little, so James had to move in with his aunts that he hates very much. Their names are Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge. James longs to go to the beach and have friends. James and his new friends Grasshopper, Ladybug, Centipede, Earthworm, Silkworm and Miss Spider will go on an adventure they will neaver forget. On their adventure they have to go through alot of terrible frights that they will have to face, like "Centipde falling off the giant Peach" What will they do and how? This book is written by Roald Dahl I have read other books by him and I think he could have added some funnier things to this book but it is still a very good book.If you want to find out what happens read this book.

Not the best but certainly one of Roald Dahl's better books it is an interesting and an addicting to read kind of book.it's certainly not and every day kind of book but is very enjoyable. I give it a 4 because of it's strange content.

This is the first novel I ever read. I still remember way back in second grade when I started reading this book. Oh boy, what a rush! All these images in my head. It's like getting high! This book is extremely interesting and fun to read. This is the perfect book to give to your child as his/her first book.