You aren't an ocean liner buff if you don't have this book! It is REQUIRED. You also ought to have every other book written by Miller and Braynard - the books they've worked on together and apart are beyond words. I have close to all in my private collection. Do yourself a favor and get them all - today! You won't regret it.

This book is really alot of fun to page through over and over again. It is a must-have for ship fans.

As a source of both information and rare photographs, few books can equal Picture History of the Cunard Line. This book includes many little known facts about some of the most famous ships in maritime history. Yet,while it recalls the careers of the better known Cunarders,it also addresses many of the Companies less remembered ships. The great Aquitania who's lengthy term of service included duties throughout both World Wars is finally given the attention it deserves. Virtually all of the companies intermediate steamers are reviewed as well. Because this book encompasses so many of Cunards' ships; and because it presents over 180 of the best photographs ever published on this subject, it should be a treasured addition to any collection. I highly recommend it to all readers particularly those with just a general interest in the subject.

I've used this book for everything from translating terms in european cookbooks to substituting ingredients in a pinch. This book answers those questions and more. It is set up to be a resource and an entertaining read with details and history. On more than one occasion I have looked up a simple "how to" and also found out WHY I needed to do that "how to". I don't often pick up a cookbook to read, this is a book to curl up with and to cook with.

This is not only for new cooks,but indispensable for experienced culinary masters as well! I bought this book full price at a book store and it was worth the 25.00-grab one at this price! It isn't just another boring index of the basics, but give information on how to store food, how long ingredients can be frozen for, how to clean items, equipment guidlines, etc etc. I watch TV Cooking shows, subsribe to several cooking magazines and consider myself pretty knowledgeful in the kitchen but still reach for this book a couple times a week. Easy to find what you are looking for w/alphabetical index set up. I wouldn't have expected anything less from williams Sonoma. Great book-my bible.

Real useable info that all cooks need to know, not recipes but useable knowledge in easy to find order. A must for beginners! A good companion for another great fun book " Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business".

If you are a ship expert, or just want to find a little information, this is for you. Braynard and Miller did a spectacular job! They wrote enough info. so you know and understand each ship, but aren't so detailed that the book bores the reader. This book is a must have for anyone interested in ocean liners.

This is the book to get if you're into ocean liners! It contains loads of great information about the ocean liners of the past and present, and whets the appetite for more!

I think the "Fifty Famous Liners" series (books 1-3) are the most concise and informational descriptions of the worlds most famous liners a terrific buy for Liner enthusiasts! Andrew Oliva (aoliva@odin.cbu.edu)

I've been a strong, but frustrated, proponent of the P-CMM since its inception. This book goes well beyond the original SEI documentation by thoroughly describing the rationale behind the CMM and making a strong business case with respect to the tangible and intangible benefits that accrue from implementing it.

This book contains something for managers, particularly upper management who needs to not only endorse the P-CMM, but also need to commit to it and sponsor it in order to make it happen. The chapters of the book that apply to them are:
1 -The Process Maturity Framework, portions of 5 - Interpreting the People CMM (Organizational Factors, and commitment and Ability to Perform), and 7 - Experience with the People CMM).

For technical line managers the entire book will be relevant because it covers the reasons, structure and key process areas in great detail. In addition, once a P-CMM initiative is given the go ahead, the implementation team and all primary stakeholders will also benefit from large portions of the book because it also covers implementation issues and an approach in detail.

Overall, this book presents a maturity framework that contains goals for any organization that understands the relationship between the morale and management of a technical workforce and the resulting impact on the business bottom line. I'll go so far as to state that if this book is followed and a successful implementation of the P-CMM results, attaining the corresponding level of the SW-CMM will be relatively effortless.

In the seven years since the 1995 release of the P-CMM, version 1 I've not encountered any sincere effort by any US client to implement the process. My personal theory is that the P-CMM was little known outside of the software engineering community, especially the DoD-related community, when it should have received wider dissemination to human resources and higher-level management. This book from a mainstream publisher should change that. With respect to the model itself, the previous reviewer has done a remarkable job of describing the model and how this book supports it. I have a few additional notes to add:
(1) This book is about version 2, which corrects some flaws in the first version which had team building at level 4. In the version, 2, described in this book team building has been placed at level 3.
(2) Another change from version 1 to version 2 is the alignment of the P-CMM to the CMMI, especially with respect to integrated product and process development.
(3) Version 2 adds institutionalization goals to each process area.

If you have previous experience with the older versions of P-CMM, or CMM-SW, or the newer approaches as set forth in later versions and CMMI, you'll note that there are two implementation models: staged and continuous. The staged approach is the only supported implementation for P-CMM version 2.

The book goes into extraordinary detail about the P-CMM and how to implement it. You can easily use this book as a roadmap to achieving levels 2 through 5 of the P-CMM, or as a resource for improving the people part of the people-process-technology triad that defines IT. As such you need not have certification as a goal to gain value from this book. If you do decide to pursue certification at level 2 or higher, however, I strongly recommend that you also get a copy of Kim Caputo's 'CMM Implementation Guide'. That book, while focused on implementing the CMM-SW, contains sage advice and a sound approach to dealing with the real problems that you'll encounter: organizational inertia and resistance, training and implementation issues and obtaining they key ingredient - commitment to perform.

The software development is an activity that involves both social and engineering aspects, addressing the problem with this in mind, in an holistic way will deliver much better results that doing it partially. The People CMM address the human side of software development and completes the engineering side that at the three levels, Organization, Team, and Individual are covered by SW-CMM, TSP and PSP.
The book is divided in three parts, the first one gives the reader a clear understanding not just of the model but the principles that define it. Also very valuable are the briefs of the case studies and specially the first chapter "The Process Maturity Framework" is very helpful to understand the basics of all the CMM's.
The second Part describes the practices that are part the People CMM in a very detailed way, these practices are not any thing new , the real value of the model is defining a framework in which these practices really will deliver sustainable results, thus we may say the whole is larger than the simple sum of the parts, finally the third part, the Appendices, provides a lot of information to support the practioneer.
Definitively this book is for any body involved in a software process improvement programs that wishes to obtain better and lasting results.

This a great book to begin learning of the pride of the USA! It is not only about a ship, but the man who dreamed of building it. Follow the Big U from inception to being mothballed, her taking of the Blue Riband on the maiden voyage, and of how she served her country well. Now she sits on Packer Ave, Philadelphia, looking sad and stripped of her glory. A MUST read book! Next, follow up with an even more descriptive book, "The Big Ship" by Frank Braynard! These are two MUST OWN book!

This is an incrediable book about the adventures of not only the ship herself but also her designers, Gibbs and Cox and her birth place Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock. It does not end there though, it also goes into famous passengers and even the ships last master, Commodore Alexanderson (with a brief history of his maritime life, including his journeys on the SS United States & the SS America.) Recommended reading for any United States Line buff, SS United States or SS America buff, or Ocean Liner enthusiast. The last ocean liner to grab the Hales Trophy lives on in this great book. Long live the S.S. United States.

Excellent detail will put you on board through her final days as the world's fastest and most technologically advanced luxury liner.

Still unanswered: What is next for this great ship?

I need to review tha acounts standars for an equipment revaluation or four value, I need to know and undertadant when do have do yo it and when these could be change for a revaluation in stead.

FASB5

This is book contains the best bird photographs I have seen. The photographer has some of the most unusual shots of birds. The pictures capture the birds in there normal activities. The text was well written especially keeping the order by seasons. Great job I hope to see more books by these authors.

A remarkable clear and concise description of Southern coastal birds by seasons of the year. This unique classification will allow even the novice to identify and enjoy migratory birds. Fontenot and Miller's work will enable the entire community of bird watchers to share appreciation of this National treasure. Two species that come to mind are the common blue bird and the rare sand hill crane which we enjoy in the Northern Summer.

The photography is a tour de Force in the Audubon tradition and the bird and habitat description could have only been done by a seasoned birder with years of on site experience. As a bonus Birds of the Gulf Coast is a coffee table quality book. epa

The Busines of May Next is easily the best book I have ever read on James Madison's intellectual journey from his dismay over the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation to his draft of the Virginia Plan, which was the underlying foundation of our Constitution.

The title is taken from a letter Madison wrote in which he discussed the "business" of the upcoming Constitutional Convention (in May of 1789), of which Madison--along with Alexander Hamiltion--was the prime mover.

Miller's book expertly and eloquently explores the influences on Madison's thinking, from his reading of David Hume's essays on the ideal conditions for a republic, to his correspondence with Washington, Jefferson and many others in which he fleshed out his ideas of how to turn the weak, ineffectual Articles into a government that had both power and staying power.

As Miller points out, Madison's genius was his understanding of human behavior, and his awareness that any government must be shaped in ways that take advantage of the "better angels of our nature," but also (more important) minimize, or at least accommodate, the darker side of our nature.

By fashioning a government with limited and shared powers; by holding frequent elections in which the leaders are held accountable; by ensuring that the people possess certain rights that no government can threaten (on pain of being altered or abolished), Madison was the first among equals in the creation of a truly representative government that has lasted more than 200 years and shows no signs of dying out.

Miller himself is one of the few (William Manchester is another) historians whose thorough research is matched by his delightful writing style. I have two copies of the book--a hardcopy for reading and a paperback for underlining.

This is a very good discussion of Madison's role in the development of the Consitution. Very readabl

This is the book to get if you're into ocean liners! It contains loads of great information about the ocean liners of the past and present, and whets the appetite for more!

I think the "Fifty Famous Liners" series (books 1-3) are the most concise and informational descriptions of the worlds most famous liners a terrific buy for Liner enthusiasts! Andrew Oliva (aoliva@odin.cbu.edu)

This book will bring you back to a long time gone era. Just enough text with lots of beautiful pictures. It is a great reference document. Very well done.

Can I say enough about William H. Miller's expertice and knowledge? This book, along with the other three in this set, are amazing. With well thought-out linear notes on each ship, and wonderful interior and exterior pictures, this book is, needless to say, the most used in my collection! I particularly enjoy this book because it depicts the era I am most interested in, the turn of the century. It also nicely depicts my favorite ship 'Mauretania', and it gives her the respect and dignity she deserves, along with all of the other ships in this book. I also recommend Picture History of the French Line, Picture History of the Cunard Line, The Great Luxury Liners 1927-1954, Great Cruise Ships and Ocean Liners 1954-1986, Modern Cruise Ships 1965-1990, and last but not least, Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners 1860-1994. But don't take my word for it, judge for yourself. But being an Ocean Liner historian, memorabilia collector, and avid reader, I can truthfully can say that William H. Millar can be placed on the high shelf of Ocean Liner Historians, along with Frank O. Braynard, and Robert Ballard.

ENJOY!