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Book reviews for "Wickremasinghe,_Esmond" sorted by average review score:

Understanding Buildings
Published in Paperback by MIT Press (1988)
Author: Esmond Reid
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Building construction and services deftly explained.
It's rare to find an architect who can explain things in such a conversational way. The underlying principles are always laid out, first for a small building and then for a large one, to show the effects of changing scale. For example as the surface area to volume ratio changes, so do heating and cooling demands. And for me it was educational to see the British way of building houses: floor joists over concrete slabs, or brick basements. I learned the dew point drops gradually toward the exterior inside porous materials, and 15 deg east of south is the optimum solar orientation in the Northern hemisphere. And the slogan of the man who invented the revolving door ("It's always closed.")
The second half of the book covers building services--heating, plumbing etc.--concisely, and it becomes apparent the author has plenty of real world experience and is no mere academic. Lighting, acoustics and fire safety finish the book. Even at 20 years old, still educational.

Clear, simple, complete coverage of building systems
Mr. Reid presents each aspect of building development and construction simply and clearly while constantly highlighting their significance in the overall project development and construction process.

The manner and tone of the material presented, as well as the text and illustrations make this book a valuable reference for people needing to grasp any or all aspects of building projects large, intermediate or small in scope and size.


Franklin of Philadelphia
Published in Paperback by Harvard Univ Pr (1988)
Author: Esmond Wright
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Franklin of Philadelphia
Franklin of Philadelphia by Esmond Wright is an enlightening book. The author gives the reader a good look into the life of Franklin.

The book is most delightful in and of itself of one of the best loved of the Founding Fathers. We delve into the mind of Franklin and we see him as a printer, author, businessman, philospher, and of course a crafty politician. He was a reluctant revolutionary, but Franklin was more, as we read in the book.

A man many thought as brilliant for his time, Franklin was devious and a man of charm. We see the multi-faceted Franklin in his true light. A man who loved attention and knew how to obtain it.

Franklin lived for 84 years through one of the most turbulent times in American History. He genious transcended to inventions to worldly wisdom... all caught poignantly in the book. I enjoyed reading this book because Franklin has been always one of most original of the Founding Fathers. As Thomas Jeferson said upon following Franklin in France... He could not replace Dr. Franklin, he was only his successor.

This book is well documented and comprehensive with good prose and flowing narative.

This book was enjoyable... I recommend it


java(TM).rmi: The Remote Method Invocation Guide
Published in Paperback by Addison Wesley Professional (18 July, 2001)
Authors: Esmond Pitt, Kathleen McNiff, and Kathy McNiff
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My least favorite book on RMI. Can you be too concise?
I have several books on RMI and looking for more. This is one in my collection and my least favorite. It is too reference-like, which you can find enough of on the developer's networks. Most notably it lacks continuity; it is basically a huge outline where each paragraph is the most concise definition for that topic. It makes a great reference for the experienced.

Good for very beginners in RMI
It is a good RMI book for beginners and it is easy to read. It covers many features of RMI but if you want to learn RMI, do not expect to learn RMI by using only this book.
If you have no idea about RMI but you know Java, then this book is for you.

Best book on RMI
This is the best book on RMI that I have come across and I personally own 4 RMI books (about 10 if you count books that aren't solely on RMI). Contrary to a previous reviewer, this is NOT a beginners book. Beginners should get a more verbose RMI tutorial-like book. This is an advanced reference with very few examples, but it covers topics that you just can't find anywhere else, and furthermore, presents the topics in a detailed, to the point, lucid manner.

There is no better RMI book for the advanced RMI developer who is wishing to learn the "under the hood" workings of RMI.


Aphrodisiacs: A Guide to What Really Works
Published in Paperback by Citadel Pr (1998)
Author: Esmond Choueke
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Take it from an MD: this is scientific nonsense
When people become sexually aroused, they exhibit certain physiological signs such as flushing, increased heart rate, and sweating. Some people who were--oh, how can I phrase this nicely?--not at the top of their class have speculated that artificially increasing one or more of these INDICES of arousal will somehow increase arousal and satisfaction. Ridiculous! When you drive your car its speedometer needle moves, but if you push the speedometer needle with your finger it won't budge your car one inch. That's obvious, correct? Well, this author evidently has little conception of logic and physiology, because he thinks that using niacin (one of the B-vitamins) to induce a flush can increase sexual pleasure. Wrong. If anything, taking niacin will just make you itchy and prickly for a few hours. Is that conducive to sex?

proceed with caution
I enjoyed this book but would like to give a warning. I tried taking the niacin for the body flush described in this book. It was NOT an arousing experience. I felt like my body was burning up and I looked like I had a severe sunburn for about 20 minutes. Once this passed I was extremely cold from all of the heat my body had released. I may just be extra sensitive, but I just wanted to let others know...

sexy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sexy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Esmond In India
Published in Paperback by Penguin Putnam~trade ()
Author: Ruth P Jhabvala
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rich in details of the Indian culture, class, cuisine
This book was lush in detail about all aspects of Indian life, class system, and culture. The details of the foods (in all classes of society) were especially valuable in contributing to the feel of the story. The details seemed to wrap themselves in and out of the plot line which was simple in itself. The vastness of culture and class distinction, in relation to the British presence in particular, was really the story being told. My only disappointment was that, as with other Prawer Jhabvala novels, it just seems to end, rather than sum up the conflicts nicely. Probably the whole point - it just keeps going on that way, in both the novel and real life. The characters are very sharply presented and reading this book was a warm, fluid experience - very rich indeed


The Fire of Liberty
Published in Hardcover by St. Martin's Press (1984)
Author: Esmond Wright
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British view of the American Revolution
This is a compilation of letters, diary entries, and accounts from various participants and witnesses, to the principle events, on the battlefield anyway, of the American Revolutionary War. Editor Wright interposes commentary linking the various quotes, and is generally judicious and even-handed. The quotes are mostly a paragraph or two, and occasionally just a sentence, and they are sorted by year. The edition of this book I got was from the Folio Society, a British book club that does premium editions of books, and they include color illustrations that often don't accompany other editions. Given that, this is a worthwhile addition to any library on the American Revolution, though serious historians would find it a bit superficial, I think.


Viagra, Sex, and Romance -The Women Who Take It Reveal Their Erotic Tales
Published in Paperback by Boca Publications Group, Inc. (01 January, 1999)
Authors: Elizabeth Myles, Bert MacFarlane, and Esmond Choueke
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A Steamy And Informative Read!
As a woman, I found this book to be a steamy, yet informative read. Ms. Myles gives a refreshing woman's perspective on sexuality and relationships. Often quite touching, one story even moved me to tears.


The History of Henry Esmond
Published in Paperback by University Press of the Pacific (2002)
Author: William Makepeace Thackeray
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All the good ones seem to be out of print
I read Vanity Fair a few months ago and loved it, so I thought I'd give something else of Thackeray's a try (even though I had never heard of The History of Henry Esmond) and I'm so glad I did. It's slightly slow going at first, but once the second Viscount Castlewood and his family take possession of the estate and provide Henry with his first real home, it becomes deeply involving. With every page, the Castlewood family becomes more and more complex. Some relationships are strengthened and some are slowly destroyed in such subtle ways that when catastrophe comes, it seems inevitable, and at the same time, surprising. Through it all, we have Henry's narration (although he speaks of himself in the third person), which casts a melancholy and lonely tone over all the events. A beautiful book.

One of the most intersting novels in English I've ever read.
I believe that penchant for the moralistic (and add here more than a snipett of post-modern political corectness)from English-speaking readers has slighted judgements about this novel, which is a novel about people with sloppy morals in a time of sloppy political intrigue and sloppy moral standards offering a contrast with the philistine ambience of Thackeray's own age. I found the novel simply _lush_, and think that Hollywood has in it a treat in store for any filmmaker of genius who wants to emulate Kubrick's Barry Lyndon. Get ahold of a copy and enjoy!

A Masterpiece
Although for some reason forgotten by the US public, "The History of Henry Esmond" is one of the finest books ever written in English language. May be it has lost its luster because it offers no excess of blood-spilling and sexual adventures, but instead finds its way to describe the deepest and most vulnerable chambers of the human heart. I have read a handful of books, be it in English, French, German or Russian, that described the human strengths and weaknesses while tying them to a character one can relate to with such skill. People who do not like it, it seems, are just shamed by the morals offered in such a book, and are quick to forget it. I read "Henry Esmond" when I was a young boy, and now, half a century later, it hasn't lost a beat.


Celine Dion: Behind the Fairytale: A Very, Very, Unauthorized Biography
Published in Paperback by Boca Publications Group, Inc. (1997)
Authors: Ian Halperin and Esmond Choueke
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Strictly for entertainment
I would not recommend this book for someone who knows very little about Celine. I am a huge fan of four years and have done much independent research in both the English and French languages that can discount almost every "fact" Halperin claims. The inability to quote real sources just further takes away from Halperin's credibility. It is as much the truth as the Enquirer's claims that aliens exist.

Knowing that, I would recommend it to any fan with a real sense of humor, because believe me you will laugh your (...) off. Some highlights include the chapter about Michael Jackson (just the mental picture of Celine screaming out "He is too sexy for me!" about the plastic one is enough), another great story is about her and Rene getting it on in the hot tub with the video camera on. Just imagine Celine and Rene...or actually don't it's quite scary. Too bad his "informants" missed the time Celine tried to "commit suicide" by shoving a whole ball of wasabi mustard in her mouth while in Tokyo (official bio), that was a good one.

In short Halperin is [lousy] at writing the facts, but boy is he a terrific creative writer. Definately worth reading but take it with a conspiracy sized grain of salt.

Fun Read
There are good facts in this book, some of them are most interesting about Canada's wonderful Celine. I enjoyed this book as well as the other bios out there about her. I look forward to her return this year to music.

Truly Entertaining
Great behind the scenes accounts of Celine's struggle to the top. This book is a must for any music fan. Celine is truly the greatest singer of our time.


60 Minute Guide to Book Publishing, the
Published in Paperback by BOCA Publications Group (2000)
Authors: Esmond Choueke and Bill Hushion
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