AAAS Atlas of Population and Environment

Book Description

The AAAS Atlas of Population and Environment is an important analysis of the relationships between human population and the environment. Illustrating through text, maps, and diagrams how population factors such as rates of growth, density, movement, and resource consumption, along with the use of certain technologies, affect the world's ecosystems and natural resources both in the short and long term, the Atlas brings together a wealth of information from the most up-to-date sources. In view of the profound significance of these issues as we enter the new century, this accessible resource will be an invaluable tool for individuals, academics, governments, and corporations.
The Atlas draws on research and data from a number of academic institutions and international organizations, including the United Nations, its specialist organizations and agencies; the World Resources Institute; the Center for International Earth Sciences Information Network; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; U.S. Geological Survey; and the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Using sophisticated mapping and graphic techniques, it provides quantitative analyses of the important links between such factors as human population density, rates of growth, migration, resource consumption, and technologies, and the state of the global environment. While the impact of people on the environment may have seemed intuitively obvious in the past, the Atlas makes accessible a wealth of badly needed empirical evidence that will be invaluable for both specialists and general readers.
This pathbreaking book tackles the difficult job of connecting the social and natural sciences to provide a thorough analysis of the interplay between population and the environment. Its interdisciplinary approach brings a unique comparative perspective to the discussion and makes it pertinent to a broad range of disciplines.

Customer Reviews:

A great introduction but a little dry.......2002-04-18

This book is an excellent introduction to environmental issues from the standpoint of population and its impact on the environment.

It has interesting case studies from around the globe and engaging illustrations that really convey an understanding of the state of the world. However, I would have liked to see a more prescriptive section with recommendations for action as well.

Average customer rating:
Snowdrops and Snowflakes: A Study of the Genera Galanthus and Leucojum
F. C. Stern
Manufacturer: Royal Horticultural Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OM88GW

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Snowdrops and snowflakes;: A study of the genera Galanthus and Leucojum
F. C Stern
Manufacturer: Royal horticultural society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007IWMIS

Book Description

With the aid of route-marked photos, the author describes the normal, classic, extreme and descent routes for each peak. Introductory pages are written with the visitor in mind, giving concise direction on how to get from points of entry to the climbing areas, where to pick up supplies, what to expect of the weather, information on Park regulations, huts, equipment, safety and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Well done.......2000-05-31

This is the pretty much the current and standard guide to the Canadian Rockies. More complete guides exist, though they are rare and out of print. This guide presents 200 of the best climbs, eliminating overdrawn discussions of the obscure and focusing nicely on routes that have become legendary in the mountaineering world. The book itself is well made and suitable for the top of your pack.

Customer Reviews:

Lila's Doughnuts.......2005-03-28

Jessica goes into a department store business,and Lila goes into a Doughnut business with Bruce,Isabella and Danny. Billie has lost the baby due to a miscarriage,but they want to marry,anyway.

A very realistic, creative, and interesting book!.......1999-08-09

I thought this was a good book. I want to get the next one. It is about Billie Winkler and her boy-friend Steven. Billie is pregnant but is considering other options besides having the baby. Steven wants the baby. Will this be the the end of their perfect lives? Meanwhile, Jessica is envolved in a fashion business with Val Tripler. Will their business go up in flames when Val and Jessica's ex- husband leave town with the money?

i could't even finish it, it was so dull!.......1998-07-17

This book was so boring. All it did was focus on Jess's new buisness ventures- like we even care. I mean, please gag me. Jessica is forever getting herself into scrapes that get old after a time. They happened in the sweet valley kids novels, the twins novels, the high school novels, and in SVU too. When is it going to be enough?

It was great!!.......1998-05-07

I mean, fransine pascal is a very good writer and I love her writing and this seems Great!!!well, i know that this was book was a very suspensful book and I loved it!!! I recommend this book to alot of people!!! By, the way ever heard of leonardo diCaprio?!! Fransine Pascal should write about him!!!

I really liked this book........1998-04-07

I think this book was very suspenseful and realistic but i also think it focused too much on Jessica, Mike and Val.

Average customer rating:

Startling, shocking but optimistic
When does the follow-up book come out?
Every story you have ever heard in one book

Shattered Dreams Broken Promises
Michael Viner
Manufacturer: Phoenix Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Emigration & Immigration | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1597775371

Book Description

Viner traveled to various Eastern European countries to interview women of all ages and circumstances who are willing to do anything to get to America. The revealing and often unsettling tales of these women, told in their own words, shine a light on a growing population in the U.S.

Customer Reviews:

Startling, shocking but optimistic.......2007-10-14

What these women have experienced will shock, but there is something optimistic in the end about this. Most of the stories do not seem to end well, while a few really do highlight some true success. What makes it worth it is being able to hear them tell their tales in their own voices. They come across as genuine and sincere. A fascinating look into a world that really doesn't really get any play in the media at all.

When does the follow-up book come out?.......2007-10-12

Shattered Dreams relates a series of stories told from different perspectives though most shared one thing in common: each was being exploited (usually sexually) or abused--yet very few of them behave or think of themselves as "victims." It was fascinating to be able to step into their shoes, and after each story was over, I found myself wondering what their life must be like today. After reading these tough Eastern European women's stories, you'll find yourself hoping for the sequel, too!

Every story you have ever heard in one book.......2007-10-11

This book covers every kind of Russian woman's story you could imagine. From rich bitch to the most poverty stricken girl you could fathom. It has it all and presents their journeys with both humor and tear-jerking candor.

Personal Fouls: The Broken Promises and Shattered Dreams of Big Money Basketball at Jim Valvano's North Carolina State

Average customer rating:

Expose of college basketball's reality
Too bad they don't allow negative stars...
Entertaining, Controversial look at College Hoops
One phase of an ongoing saga
Personal Fouls: The Story of how Peter Golenbock killed a man and a school

Personal Fouls: The Broken Promises and Shattered Dreams of Big Money Basketball at Jim Valvano's North Carolina State
Peter Golenbock
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Basketball | Sports | Subjects | Books

College & University | Basketball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0881845264

Customer Reviews:

Expose of college basketball's reality.......2007-09-03

College basketball is a business. It is cloaked in pseudo-academic legitimacy, which is a cover to ensure the NCAA and the schools make millions off an unpaid and undercompensated workforce. This book affirms this notion to the fullest. It shows the seedy underbelly of major college basketball and what lengths some schools and coaches will go to win.

The main that stayed with me after reading this was how badly the athletes are exploited. Jim Valvano lied to every class of NC State recruits. He promised them starting jobs, only to let them languish on the bench. He promised to be a surrogate father figure, only to ignore all but the star players once the season started. Those who dared to speak out against this injustice were ostracized and punished for doing so. There were players who gamed the system too, but the rules ensured that the balance of power always remained with the school.

Second was the complicity and tacit encouragement of Valvano's shady tactics by NC State's leadership. The school's officials bent the rules to keep athletes academically eligible, when the same options were not available to the student body. The most important thing was to keep the athletic department's coffers full. The school went so far as to name Valvano athletic director, which is akin to letting a prison be run by its most depraved and psychotic inmate. For obvious reasons, NC State tried to have the publishing of this book blocked.

Finally, Jim Valvano's image totally changed for me. There are two things I associate with Valvano: running around the court when NC State won the NCAA championship, and the speech he gave while he was dying of cancer. To me, he went from a jubilant coach with a zest for life to a calculating scoundrel who used and threw away players to make himself successful. Even if some of the events are exaggerated, it still puts Valvano in a very bad light.

I have noticed that there are a lot of negative reviews for this book. I can bet you that the majority of these are from NC State fans unwilling to face the truth about their program.

This is a chilling expose of college basketball as it really is. It is truly eye opening.

Too bad they don't allow negative stars..........2006-07-12

This pathetic excuse for a work of journalism should be purchased and read by NO ONE. Lies, lies, damn lies, and more lies. So many of the accusations made in the book were later proven false by multiple investigations (including the NCAA, the NC State Bureau of Investigation, the UNC Board of Governors, and others) that it is a travesty that it was ever published, and a stain upon both the author and publisher. Golenbock can't even get simple, easily verifiable facts correct (misspells Mike Krzyzewski's name, names the wrong coach at Wake Forest in 1987, etc.) that it is ludicrous that the other allegations could possibly hold water. Golenback relies on an "unnamed source", who turns out to be an ex-team manager (fired by Jimmy V) that was out for revenge.

If ever a book DESERVED to be burned, this is that book.

Entertaining, Controversial look at College Hoops.......2006-04-14

This readable narrative takes an unpleasant look at college hoops by focusing on the North Carolina State basketball team during the 1986-1987 season. The NC state players seem pampered and immature, with many troubling jealousies and conflicts. The coaches seem egotistical, focused only on victory, and uncaring about academics - but then, college coaches are paid to win games, not produce graduates. We fans may dislike the subject, but big-money NCAA college sports (basketball & football) will always be corrupt, because paying athletes in scholarships while everybody else cashes in is fraudulent, and an invitation to cheating.

Many reviewers from North Carolina have attacked this book and its author for making fraudulent claims. Perhaps they're correct, or maybe they dislike the realities uncovered in this book. I don't really know, but suspect it's a little of both. Let the public read this entertaining book and decide for themselves.

One phase of an ongoing saga.......2006-03-24

There are several lessons one should take from this book. The first is that where you have been affects where you are going. The material is this book is hotly debated, but its effects are irrefutable. The athletic department of NC State today is haunted by the period of time this book covers. Academic violations, payoffs, public embarrassments: these are still tangible wounds to the higher-ups.

The result is Herb Sendek's decade-long tenure. He stays out of trouble; he keeps his players out of trouble. But he doesn't win in the manner a basketball powerhouse wants to win. Even the fans who support Herb echo the sentiment that 'He isn't an embarrassment to the program'. The priority is not victory, but lack of embarrassment. The disagreement that follows is not a clash of opinions, but a personal statement - a disagreement of what matters more in life. When the time comes to make a decision, one side can never meet eye-to-eye with the opponent.

The second lesson is that different schools react in different ways. Above, you see the middle-of-the-road purgatory that NC State exiled itself to. This is not always the case. Many schools have flirted with violations - and indeed have been caught - but after the lumps they pursued the wins again. Kentucky comes to mind, as do Larry Brown and the Jayhawks. The latter two are competitors today, so I see no reason why NC State cannot 'dare to dream'. State fans are more superstitious than their UNC or Duke counterparts. Decades later, the ghosts of Jimmy V and Everett Case still haunt old Reynolds. Regrettably, until NC State decides to win, the hurdles ahead will be largely self-imposed.

Personal Fouls: The Story of how Peter Golenbock killed a man and a school.......2006-01-01

Peter Golenbock seems like nothing more to me than a man trying to make a name for himself by putting a black mark on one of the best athletic programs in the country. NC State basketball would have been just as competitive as their neighbors in Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, and Durham in the 90's if it hadn't been for this book. This book is filled with inacuracies and falsehoods that may have been present at NCSU in a lesser form, but more so present at other schools around the ACC and abroad. In all I think this book led to Jim Valvano's downfall and his death to cancer in 1993. Finally, Herb Sendek has our pack on back track and we are returning to our proper place in Raliegh during basketball season as opposed to being "That other school in North Carolina".

Broken Promises and Shattered Dreams: The Tragic Ending of One Entertainer's Career, Based on a True Life Story

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Broken Promises and Shattered Dreams: The Tragic Ending of One Entertainer's Career, Based on a True Life Story
Earl G. Brockell
Manufacturer: Brockell-Randall Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0979348501

Product Description

This is a true life story of Earl G. Brockell's (aka Steve Randall) life from his roots in Maryland to his coming to California to fulfill a dream. He became both an actor and singer and was about to achieve his dream when tragedy struck and he lost all that he had worked so hard for, except his one true lady love who stuck through all of his struggles.

Marriage Is for Life: No Broken Promises, No Shattered Dreams

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Marriage Is for Life: No Broken Promises, No Shattered Dreams
Al Wingfield
Manufacturer: C T S Family Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Marriage | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1930260032

Average customer rating:

Shattered Dreams and Broken Promises
Gina Ralston
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1403345465

Book Description

Elaine Brockett sets out for a new life, but when her train is raided she is taken captive. Josh McClintock reluctantly takes responsibility for her when they are forced to spend the entire winter trapped in the mountains.

Broken promises, shattered dreams.: An article from: Wind Speaker

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Broken promises, shattered dreams.: An article from: Wind Speaker
Drew Hayden Taylor
Manufacturer: Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wind Speaker, published by Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA) on August 1, 1996. The length of the article is 454 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Broken promises, shattered dreams.
Author: Drew Hayden Taylor
Publication: Wind Speaker (Newsletter)
Date: August 1, 1996
Publisher: Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA)
Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Page: 12

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Personal Fouls the Broken Promises and Shattered Dreams of Big Money Basketball at Jim Valvano's North Carolina State
Peter Golenbock
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SANA7M

Book Description

Zoological Physics presents a physicist's view of life. The primary life functions of animals, such as eating, growing, reproducing and getting around all depend on motion: Motion of food into the organism, motion of materials through the body, motion of limbs and motion of the entire body through water, air, and on land.

These activities are controlled by internal information stored in the genes or generated in the brain and by external information gathered by the senses: predominantly eyes and ears. This book models these life functions with the tools of physics. It is aimed at students of life science, engineering and physics, but will also appeal to other readers with a general interest in animals.

Book Description

Offering a comprehensive introduction to the molecular physics of biological systems, this book seeks to explain how the laws and concepts of physics apply to the living world at the molecular and subecellular level, with an emphasis on electrical and dynamical behavior. It is organized into
five parts: conformation of biopolymers; dynamics of biopolymers; hydration of biopolmers; biopolymers as polyelectrolytes; and association between molecules.

Customer Reviews:

Strictly Molecular.......2006-02-19

I find this book useful from the perspective of the title of the review. It is not a general biophysics book. It even lacks to a degree in the above field, e.g., a general treatment of the biophysics of electrophoresis or centrifugation; these are very important topics that often receive scant coverage and I usually give my own coverage in the 1st general (algebra/trig) College Physics course based on treatment from my original Biophysics notes from graduate school and Barrow's Physical Chemistry text's excellent coverage (centrifugation). This would be quite appropriate in such a book which is heavily weighted toward molecular topics. I find this book quite complementary with Glaser's book "Biophysics", which is an excellent translation from the original German (Deutch) plus some new material, which also has only black and white illustrations (this is not a drawback). I do not have the privilege of teaching a course in Biophysics, but do use materials from these books in teaching General Physics to Pre-Professional and Biology Majors as well as my Special Topics Course in Neurophysics with the latter having no suitable text for its particular audience. I do, however, recommend this text to those with a good thermodynamics (chemical physics or physical chemistry) background and interest in pursuing study of the molecular biophysics of nucleic acids, in particular. Hopefully, future editions will have treatments of more proteins such as the various collagens (I specifically have looked for these) and keratin, among others.

It is a good book for a physicist to enter biophysics field........2003-09-28

The book almost covers all aspects in biophysics field. The description in text is very physical, and it is very suitful for researchers with physical background to enter biophysics field.

Due to its wide covering, the content of the book is not so valuable for a advanced biophysicist.

BIOPOLYMERS A' LA CARTE.......2002-11-25

This is a very comprehensive book (about 500 pages!) dealing with the molecular physics of biopolymers. It is divided in five parts, namely (I.) Conformation of biopolymers, (II.) Dynamics of biopolymers, (III.) Hydration of biopolymers, (IV.) Biopolymers as polyelectrolytes, and (V.) Association between molecules, along with a 20-pages mathematical appendix. At the end of each part you will find a 1-page conclusion and 1-2 pages of references and material for further reading. Each referenced paper is provided with its full, original title, thereby simplifying the selection process. Important topics and/or proofs of mathematical formulae and models are given in dark boxes throughout the book. This facilitates both reading and learning. A note about figures. Graphs are clear and look good but the same cannot be said about most of the figures displaying molecular structures. This, perhaps, is due to the fact that several figures have been reprinted from the original papers. Also, the book does not contain colored figures. This, in general, is not a big problem exept when a calculated property such as the electrostatic potential is being depicted (see, for example Fig. 19.7 at p. 370). For this reason I rated this book with four stars only. In summary, Professor Daune has done a good job and his book could be well used in teaching an advanced course of molecular biophysics, perhaps complemented with Dr. Glaser's "Biophysics".

Average customer rating:

The cat, the box, and the forest

an interesting read

In Search of Schrodinger's Cat

Its questioning commonsense

Science Not Magic

In Search of Schrödinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality
John Gribbin
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality: Solving the Quantum Mysteries Tag: Author of In Search of Schrod. Cat

Quantum Reality: Beyond the New Physics

Quantum Physics: A Beginner's Guide

Deep Simplicity: Bringing Order to Chaos and Complexity

The Ghost in the Atom: A Discussion of the Mysteries of Quantum Physics (Canto)

ASIN: 0553342533
Release Date: 1984-08-01

Amazon.com

Part history book and part remedial physics text for those who lost interest when the equations started getting unintuitive, In Search of Schrödinger's Cat explains quantum physics in a way that's not only clear, but also enjoyable.

Gribbin opens with the subjects that most physics professors have just started to examine at the end of the semester: The mysterious character of light, the valence concept in Nils Bohr's atomic model, radioactive decay, and the physics of life-defining DNA all get clear, comprehensive, and witty coverage. This book reveals the beauty and mystery that underlies everything in the universe.

Does this book claim to explain quantum physics without math? No. Math is too central to physics to be bypassed. But if you can do basic algebra, you can understand the equations in In Search of Schrödinger's Cat. Gribbin is the physics teacher everyone should have in high school or college: kind without being a pushover, knowledgeable without being condescending, and clearly expressive without being boring. Gribbin's book belongs on the shelf of every pre-calculus student. It also deserves a place in the library of everyone who was scared away from advanced physics prematurely.

Customer Reviews:

The cat, the box, and the forest.......2006-05-11

Reality is a stranger, more bewildering thing than we human beings realised before the advent of the late 19th century and the determined peeking we did into things very much smaller than visible matter. And the 20th and 21st centuries have uncovered even worse (or better, depending upon your perspective). Not only that, but our explanations for what we see have become increasingly bizarre...

One of the things physicists, or those who are interested in physics, come to understand very quickly is that we understand very little. We use terms to describe events, qualities, values, objects, disturbances, energies, forces and physical tendencies that DO NOT DESCRIBE ANYTHING AT ALL. I do not mean to say that the events do not occur or the particles/waves/energies do not exist - although there's considerable debate about what events occur when and how, not to mention the sticky questions of matter and form and movement. I DO, however, mean to say that we hardly understand any of it.

Gribbin is in many respects an excellent writer. He does extremely well in presenting a nice simplified overview of the quantum world and those whose work has contributed towards its... well, let's call it "understanding". But he (naturally enough) skips most of the detail, which is frustrating to anyone who's studied reasonably advanced physics, but reassuring to those who haven't.

The truth is, some of the paths taken in physics today are fantastical, the theories proposed not only being unproven but being intrinsically unprovable. John Gribbin touched lightly upon a couple of them, but for the most part, the book dealt with more accessible issues - and quite delightfully so. I felt that the book lost its focus in the last third or so, but it was almost inevitable it would do so, given Gribbin's clear glee at shoving into the famous Schroedinger box not only a contentious cat, but also long-distance particles dependent upon each other (that vexed question - no clear answer yet), an occasional falling tree, ghostly worlds, and much much more.

Any discussion of matter, reality and the fabric or fabrics that might be its determinants is going to be fascinating unless it ends up in the hands of a very turgid writer. Gribbin is far from turgid - the only real complaint I have is that he drifted into somewhat aerial form without signifying how tenuous it is. And let's be frank: the quantum world is weird enough without postulating some of the bizarrities that have indeed been postulated.

The book does a nice job of presenting some of the truly odd behaviour of matter when it gets beyond a certain size. The very small has always fascinated me, and clearly it fascinates Gribbin as well. That certainly is conveyed in this book.

In summary, I can recommend the book as light reading for those interested in the weird things that happen to matter when it becomes very, very small, although I add a caveat: advanced students won't find anything new here, and there's still an insistence on the "many worlds" or "ghostly quantum possibilities" theory that I find intellectually unsatisfying, however appealing it is to the imagination.

an interesting read.......2006-04-05

In this book John Gribbin sets out to demystify the world of quantum physics. He starts with the nature of light and the start of atomic structure, and then moves deeper into the makeup of the atom and into quantum theory. Gribbin gives brief histories of each scientist involved in the development of quantum physics. This is both a good and a bad thing. It helps give the progress made in quantum phsics a historical context and shows how it affected previous schools of thought, but at the same time it is distracting and almost gives too much information. Gribbin explores the strangeness of quantum physics without overwhelming the reader. He doesn't push the math or the concepts in your face but builds it all up, bit by bit. He tries to explain the experiments conducted to prove the theories presented in the book in a way that someone who doesn't have a complete grasp of physics or math can understand.
This book is an interesting read that really makes you think as you read. It's really hard to fully understand what this book is about unless you are an active reader. Sometimes the concepts are a little hard to grasp, but this is a great introduction to quantum physics explained in an easy language.

In Search of Schrodinger's Cat.......2006-03-20

A great introduction to the bizarre world of quantum mechanics. The first two sections provide a bit of history and framework preparing the reader to be kicked off the deep end in the remainder of the book. The long bibliography at the end provides an excellent source of further reading material. Read this book before reading Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality.

Its questioning commonsense.......2006-03-11

After reading the book we can question something we think is so fundamental and obvious, common sense. QM appears to violate commonsense, but at the same time represents reality.

The philosophical implications of the copenhagen interpretation is awesome, so is the parallel-world interpretation.

After reading the book, I began to ask very fundamental questions like, "How does the photon know to do so and so in the double-slit experiment.

Though we are trying to understand complicated things of nature, an experiment as simple as double-slit experiment is still awe-inspiring.

Science Not Magic.......2005-08-30

It's a great book and positive benchmark in science for the masses. However, it falls short in communicating that QM is not magic, which is what some readers may come away believing. As an example the three polarizer experiment in later chapters is actually based on simple math while the quantum view presented steps back to look at the overall experiment. While there is mystery at the overall level the math shows no magic.

In search of Schrodinger's cat: The startling world of quantum physics explained

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In search of Schrodinger's cat: The startling world of quantum physics explained
John R Gribbin
Manufacturer: Wildwood House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 0704530716

In Search of Schrodinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality

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In Search of Schrodinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality
John R. Gribbin
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7AKHS

Average customer rating:

17th century sighting of the party animal

A sensual life

It's not THAT bad!

50 chapters of a man indulging in sex & finding ruin.

The Life of an Amorous Man
Saikaku Ihara , and Ihara Saikaku
Manufacturer: Tuttle Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0804810699

Book Description

First published in 1682, The Life of an Amorous Man depicts the pursuits and follies of the most glorious age of Japan, when wealthy commoners could rise above the warrior caste and indulge in the free and easy life of Japan's pleasure houses. The hero, Yonosuke, whose name means "Man of the World," is followed from his precocious childhood to the close of his amatory career. His erotic escapades are chronicled, always with frankness and often with pathos. The character sketches of the women (and sometimes men) with whom he dallied are vividly portrayed.

Customer Reviews:

17th century sighting of the party animal.......2004-08-24

This is a long, drifting story of Yonosuke's fictional life. It starts with the man as a young boy, the kind who would spy on the female servants in their bath. The story winds from one seedy, bawdy vignette to another, until the aged Yonosuke sails into the sunset. The times between cycle from one courtesan to another (or to occasional tries at celibacy), from money to poverty, from honest work to the edge of the law, from one bowl of sake to the next, and always back again. There is very little real plot or dramatic buildup, there is very little moral. In fact, we last see Yonosuke sailing happily off with some friends, in search of whatever pleasures their old bones can still support.

Yonosuke is often shown as an unpleasant man. His debts tend to go bad, he is given to cruel pranks, and is hardly a model husband in his few tries at domesticity. He is openly disdainful of many of the women he pursues, even as he expects them to provide his enjoyment. Still, when he has money, he will sometimes buy a courtesan's freedom for her. His family disowns him early on, but this prodigal son is later welcomed back. It is never quite clear what the author wants us to think of Yonosuke, if anything at all.

The author, Saikau Ihara, was once a successful merchant himself. The story is said to be a composite of his own experiences and those of his friends, as they spent their way across the red light districts of 17th century Japan. It is curious that Ihara wrote about this perpetual hunt for pleasure after suffering deep personal losses and retreating into monastic life. There is no explanation for this apparent contradiction, it is simply left as a puzzle for the reader.

This is a translation to be read for enjoyment, not as an academic rendering. In that, it is largely successful. A few explanatory notes would have been helpful, though. I don't know the units of money, for example, so sometimes could not tell whether larger or smaller sums were being discussed - facts that would have changed the meanings of some scenes. Also, some terms describing the courtesans' ranks were unclear, and a few other terms as well. Even so, and with a few ungainly turns of phrase, the English text reads fairly well.

//wiredweird

A sensual life.......2004-08-12

Ihara Saikaku is one of Japan's most important early writers. He created the genre known as Ukiyo-zoshi, a written companion to the famous Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, showcasing the "floating world" and decadent lifestyles of the Japanese pleasure quarters of the 16th century.

As a book, "The Life of an Amorous Man" is the story of Yonosuke ("man of the world"), an alternately wealthy and poor dilettante, who seeks the pleasures of woman and wine, living wholly for sensuality. His story is told in a sequence of short stories, with each segment being some new romantic adventure. Yonosuke journeys throughout Japan, experiencing the delights of the pleasure quarters of the far away places of Edo, Kyoto, Osaka and many, many small towns and islands in between. The book offers an incredible insight into this particular vanished Japanese culture, displaying the social rules and attitudes prevalent at the time. Ihara is a writer noted for his realism, and you can be sure that this is a true portrait of the times.

Those expecting anything "naughty" will be disappointed, as the intimacies are more implied than anything else. All the prostitutes and pleasure seekers are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their station in life. It is interesting to note that the translator chose the term "Gay Quarters" for the pleasure quarters of Japan. This does not mean homosexuality, which is translated using different terms. However, at the time in Japan sex between men was not frowned upon, and there is some in here as well.

"The Life of an Amorous Man" is an enjoyable read, with good characters and great insights into an interesting period of Japan and Japanese culture. One can still see the reflection of these pleasure districts in Japan today, with their social rules and delights.

It's not THAT bad!.......2003-01-23

The first reviewer of this book obviously did not enjoy it. I've read the book twice now and while it is definately not my favorite among the works of Ihara Saikaku it is a decent book. This is a very important book. It was the first novel written during the Edo period that gained mass popularity. Before it novels were seen as only good for the entertainment of women and children. With this book Saikaku created Yonosuke the man of the world whose goal in life was to find intimate pleasure with men and women. It is true that each of the book 54 chapters is about one of Yonosuke's amorous adventures, but the chapters offer much mre than that they show the reader the lives of the chonin the townspeople of Japan. With this book one can see the lives of the merchants of Edo. However, if you just want to read something by Ihara Saikaku read _Five Women Who Loved Love_ instead.

50 chapters of a man indulging in sex & finding ruin........1999-09-25

If you were considering reading this book, don't. The first few chapters were somewhat interesting, but it gets really old when you realize that the plot unchanges from the first chapter to the fiftieth. Here are the sequence of events: a man is horny, he finds a man/women, he has sex, he wastes his money, he's still not satisfied, so he looks for a different man/women.

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The Life of An Amorous Man
Saikaku IHARA
Manufacturer: Charles E. Tuttle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0000CM725

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Life of an Amorous Man
Saikaku Thara; Translation From The Japanese Kenji Hamada; Illustration
Manufacturer: QPBC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLFJ38

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Life of an Amorous Man
Saikaku Ihara
Manufacturer: QUALITY PAPERBACK BOOKCLUB
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SHPMBW

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The Life of an Amorous Man
Saikaku Thara
Manufacturer: Quality Paperback Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QUYSWA

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Life of an Amorous Man
Saikaku Ihara
Manufacturer: Bookspan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JI6YI0

Average customer rating:

Life of an Amorous Man
Saikaku Ihara
Manufacturer: Charles E. Tuttle Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000U0NXBI

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