Sir William Lyons: The Official Biography

Book Description

The story of Sir William Lyons is indelibly linked with that of his remarkable Jaguar cars. This inspiring book describes Lyons' early influences, his tentative steps into the motor trade and how, while in his 30s, he established a substantial motor manufacturing business and launched the Jaguar marque. Lyons was known for his talent for automotive styling, as well as his shrewd approach to business. He also saw the importance of motorsport and used racing to establish Jaguar's image of engineering excellence.

Book Description

The making of The Great One. An informative biography of the legend of Wayne Gretzky told by Mark Messier, Brett Hull, Walter Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and others.

Customer Reviews:

If you love Gretzky, you'll love this book/ fantastic photos.......1999-09-08

An easy to read and interesting account of Gretzky's career. He is truly a hero and this book really tries to capture his spirit. This book is appropriate for hockey lovers of all ages - I bought it for my 11 year old son and found myself enjoying it immensely. The photos are fantastic and there are many of them. This book is great for any hockey player or coach and ours is kept on our coffee table.

Average customer rating:

Competitive math

Mathematically Talentless Author

Too much filler

Good overview of competitive mathematics (and mathematics in general)

Explores Lots of Topics Through the Lens of Math Competition

Count Down: Six Kids Vie for Glory at the World's Toughest Math Competition
Steve Olson
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

104 Number Theory Problems: From the Training of the USA IMO Team

103 Trigonometry Problems: From the Training of the USA IMO Team

Complex Numbers from A to ...Z

The IMO Compendium: A Collection of Problems Suggested for The International Mathematical Olympiads: 1959-2004 (Problem Books in Mathematics)

Mathematical Olympiad Treasures

ASIN: 0618251413

Book Description

Each summer six math whizzes selected from nearly a half-million American teens compete against the world's best problem solvers at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Steve Olson followed the six 2001 contestants from the intense tryouts to the Olympiad's nail-biting final rounds to discover not only what drives these extraordinary kids but what makes them both unique and typical. In the process he provides fascinating insights into the science of intelligence and learning and, finally, the nature of genius. Brilliant, but defying all the math-nerd stereotypes, these teens want to excel in whatever piques their curiosity, and they are curious about almost everything music, games, politics, sports, literature. One team member is ardent about both water polo and creative writing. Another plays four musical instruments. For fun and entertainment during breaks, the Olympians invent games of mind-boggling difficulty. Though driven by the glory of winning this ultimate math contest, they are in many ways not so different from other teenagers, finding pure joy in indulging their personal passions. Beyond the the Olympiad, Olson sheds light on many questions, from why Americans feel so queasy about math, to why so few girls compete in the subject, to whether or not talent is innate. Inside the cavernous gym where the competition takes place, Count Down uncovers a fascinating subculture and its engaging, driven inhabitants.

Customer Reviews:

Competitive math.......2007-09-15

A few years ago, the movie Spellbound gave viewers insight into the world of spelling bees, culminating in the National championship. Since then, I've noticed other competitions getting similar treatments, such as bowling (in The League of Ordinary Gentlemen) and crossword puzzles (Word Play). Although it is a book and not a movie, Steve Olson's Count Down fits right into this genre of the competition documentary.

Count Down deals with the International Mathematical Olympiad, in which high school level students from around the world gather together to solve difficult math problems. How difficult? The first problem they are given reads: "In acute triangle ABC with circumcenter O and altitude AP, angle C is greater than or equal to angle B plus 30 degrees. Prove that angle A plus angle COP is less than 90 degrees." This is the easiest of the six questions the Math Olympians must solve.

Perhaps coincidentally, there also six members in the U.S. team, so Olson dedicates one chapter to each member and his approach to a problem (it is an all male team). It is like going from Los Angeles to New York by car: there are a number of different routes, each with its pluses and minuses. Similarly, these math problems can be solved a number of different ways.

Olson goes beyond the Olympiad itself, however, using it as a launching pad for discussions on topics regarding math education. One key theme that runs through Count Down is how Americans look down on math, often treating those who are good at it with scorns and letting people think that being bad at math is okay. This is contrasted with other countries where math is considered much more valuable. The problem is not merely with the education system but the culture itself.

Other topics include the nature of genius and the effects of environment versus genetics. Are boys naturally better than girls at math (which is to say, more genetically inclined), or is it cultural issues that creates a disparity between the genders? (As Olson notes, in the decades of American participation in the Olympiad, boys have outnumbered girls 118 to 1.) Is it even possible to truly separate the two? Can the abilities that these teenagers have be taught to others?

Olson keeps the math rather simple so even the mathematical layperson should be able to understand all that's going on. If you enjoy math, this is a recommended read. If you don't enjoy math, this is a must read: it will help show why mathematical skill is not merely nice but is essential.

Mathematically Talentless Author.......2007-07-10

a shambles ,with a mathematically talentless author totally out of his league. Exemplified by the following two poetically-challenged sentences ,appearing on page 153 ,describing Monta Vista High School in Cupertino California USA: " The school, which occupies a ramshackle collection of low-rise wood-frame buildings, nestles up against the soft burr of the coastal range. It faces east, toward the rising sun and the milky haze that often overlies San Francisco Bay." So we learn that the sun rises in the east... For an example of the mathematical ineptitude scattered throughout this wreck of a book, the author neglects to state that in Jensen's Inequality, the coefficents "r" ,"s" and "t" must add to 1. Suitable for the fireplace.

Too much filler.......2007-05-19

CD is two books in one, one interesting, the other pedestrian. The interesting book includes: profiles of participants in the 2001 IMO + some description of the IMO itself + partial solutions of the IMO problems. The pedestrian book includes: lengthy digressions on the topic of genius/talent. CD weaves back and forth between both books. The result: a greatly short-changed book one. Profiles could have been much longer/deeper; the event could have been described in greater and more interesting detail; solutions (relegated to Appendices) could have been complete. The contents of book two read like an extended (fragmentary) book report. The topic of genius/talent has been ably treated elsewhere in the literature. All of book two, considerably compressed, would far better have served to introduce a much expanded book one.

CD reads well enough; it does provide a couple hours' entertainment. It could have been so much more.

Good overview of competitive mathematics (and mathematics in general).......2006-07-06

"Count Down" is a well-written and concise profile of the International Mathematical Olympiad and, more broadly, the field of mathematics. While the book offers an engaging overview of the Olympiad, its real strength is in its coverage of the individuals underlying the contest.

Steve Olson provides readers with an insightful and unique perspective on what type of person and abilities it takes to become a part of a Mathematical Olympiad team. Moreover, the book challenges the reader with facts and anecdotes related to the roles "nature" and "nurture" play in the evolution of traits such as creativity.

Explores Lots of Topics Through the Lens of Math Competition.......2005-12-24

I found this book very interesting. It is about the math competition, but also so much more. The author uses the math competition to explore many topics such as:
- the nature of intelligence - inherited vs. developed
- competitiveness - healthy or not
- math teaching in the US
- the nature of creativity in individuals

He also discusses math somewhat in discussing the solution to the problems presented at the competition, but the math is not the main focus of the book and should scare people off.

Average customer rating:
Official Treehouse Activity Book: 225 Easy, Educational, and Entertaining Projects for You and Your Child (The Random House/Brderbund Family Computing Series)
Steven J. Bennett
Manufacturer: Random House Information Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0679748733
Release Date: 1993-09-14

Average customer rating:

Excellent Introduction to Color Management and Beyond

Real World Colour Management

Excellent source book

Invaluable Guide

Read it if you need it.

Real World Color Management, Second Edition
Bruce Fraser , Chris Murphy , and Fred Bunting
Manufacturer: Peachpit Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Graphic Design | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Computers & Internet | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Mastering Digital Printing, Second Edition (Digital Process and Print)

Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Real World)

Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Real World)

Professional Photoshop: The Classic Guide to Color Correction (5th Edition)

Real World Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Real World)

ASIN: 0321267222

Product Description

Real World Color Management covers one of the most vital steps in the digital workflow. Each chapter offers in depth information on the fundamentals of color, an overview of the color management process and how to use in both photo and graphic applications. Learn in detail how to build, evaluate and edit ICC profiles in order to acheive consistent results all the way through to the final print. Book Sections: Introduction to Color Management lays the groundwork for the entire process Building and Tuning Profiles covers the creation of unique profiles based on your equipment and final output Applications and Workflow outlines how to include the previous sections in to everyday use,when using Quark, Freehand, CorelDraw, Illustrator or Photoshop 534 pages / soft cover

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Introduction to Color Management and Beyond.......2007-08-09

This book is an excellent introduction to color management. It is practical, but does not shy away from presenting the science behind the important concepts. Even better, the book is able to this in a way which motivates the key ideas by not drifting too deeply into the mathematics behind that science.

The organization of the book was perfect -- the authors do an excellent job of presenting the material and making it very interesting. I read the book cover to cover for the first two parts (the last section applies the newly learned material to particular color-managed applications like Photoshop, Quark, etc.).

I highly recommend this title to photographers and artists who are trying to understand more about what colors in your files, from your monitor, and on your prints really mean and how to take advantage of that understanding by producing outputs which are more faithful to what you intend.

Real World Colour Management.......2007-07-17

If you are relatively new to the world of colour and want to obtain a better understanding of the topic then this is the book for you. I found this book to be well structured and extremely useful in understanding all the jargon and also clearing up some myths about different colour work flows. EXCELLENT!!

Excellent source book.......2007-05-13

When I needed to better understand color management, Fraser's book was a perfect find. It doesn't pretend to be simple, but it is very well written with a sense of humor. I find myself revisiting chapters for re-reads when my needs demand. It is a complete course in color management for the first time student, and it has become a oft used reference. It makes so many other books "too simple..." Because it covers the history of color management as well the concepts and tools, the book is also one of those excellent references needed for all serious photographers.

Invaluable Guide.......2007-03-29

My purpose in buying this book was to help me print photos that looked like the image on my PC monitor. The phrase "color management" can probably mean many things to different people but this is really what matters to me. It can be difficult enough to edit photos so that you are satisfied with how it looks on your screen. If you print it out and the photo looks more red than the screen, or darker, or any number of other possible differences than you will know only frustration and heartache when trying to print photos.

While simple in concept, successfully getting a printed image to mirror that on your screen is a complex task and this book will greatly aid you in the process. It methodically covers all aspects of color management both from a theoretical perspective and a practical series of concrete specifics to manage color successfully on your system.

Depending on your needs, it is almost certainly not necessary to read every page of this guide. For my purposes a lot of the theoretical discussion was not relevant and a lot of space is devoted to CMYK printing in a professional environment while I print exclusively at home. There are undoubtedly people with different interests, however, who will find such information invaluable while they may gloss over some of the sections that were most useful to me. In the end, that is why I give this book 5 stars and my highest recommendation. It provides great information no matter what your needs are and you are free to consume as much or little as suits you. If you are a photographer and haven't gotten into color management at all, then quit sitting on the fence. Buy this book and start the process and your photos will benefit tremendously.

Read it if you need it........2007-01-22

Of all Bruce Fraser's wonderful books, this has to be the best. I grew up in the analog imaging world. In those days, long ago, you could get by with training your eye and if necessary, working by trial and error. You could concentrate on the image and let Kodak do the math.

With the miracle of computers we have far greater precision and--let's be honest--far greater complexity (which is a nice way of saying, difficulty). What RWCM does is take something that isn't easy and isn't simple and, by brilliantly explaining it, makes it a little easier to grasp. Of course, you can't sell books by saying "Turns astounding difficulty into mere complexity!" but if you're going to put human color perception on paper or the web, that's what you're dealing with.

That said, I think the vast majority of digital imaging users would gladly settle for pleasing color as opposed to accurate color if they knew what was involved. For these folks there are the Scott Kelby-type books and gizmos that calibrate your monitor while leaving the rest of your workflow untouched.

Customer Reviews:

Tamara De Lempicka.......2007-02-02

This is basically a biography of De Lempicka by her daughter and a few acquantances. It is a very complete biography of the artist. There are quite a few color reproductions of her work. They are not terribly large and there are probably better books out there in that regard. If your focus is the artist, I would highly recommend this book. If high quality reproductions are your focus, I might consider another book.

LEMPICKA'S MASTERY.......2004-09-10

Tamara de Lempicka is an icon of the Art Deco era.
Her life and artworks symbolise this and both are captured perfectly in this publication, co-written by her only daughter.
Lempicka's sheer determination in life, not letting anything stand in her way captures the essence of the "Roaring Twenties", and the bold,'larger than life' figures in her work visually portrays this. On the subject of the actual artwoks, this book contains many colour reproductions which compliment the story of her life and give evidence to many of her experiences (as of course, do the photographs included).
Focusing on the text, Lempicka's strong and passionate personality along with the turbulent world she lived in makes for a great read.
Highly recommended to those who have an interest in women artists of the twentieth century or Art Deco painting.

Passion for this book.......2003-10-08

I am not an art fiend, nor am I completely unable to understand the value of art in our culture. I find the art of De Lempicka abolutly facinating. This book only added to my facination. If you would like to understand her and her art, read this book. Along with the Atlas Shrugged. They complement each other beautifully.

A most fascinating read.......2001-09-05

Having recently become familiar with the work of Tamara de Lempicka, I was delighted to discover that there was a book about her. Even more so when the authoress just happened to be her only child, Kizette. Who better to know a person than a child? The book is fascinating and delightful, and the insight I gained into this amazingly talented woman was worth every cent. The book includes my 2 favourite paintings - so that was an added bonus. Kizette tends to paint a "motherly" picture of Tamara that I found rather disturbing though. I found myself wondering if Tamara was really like that. I imagine she was, talent and devotion like hers must surely have excluded those closest to her - just by virtue of the time she spent on each piece of work, and then of course the times she lived in. The book itself is well-written, and while it is informative - you do not feel that you are bogged down by superfluous detail. The illustrations and photographs included are wonderful and of her finest I am sure. I too felt there could have been more to Tamara's life towards the end, but the book seems to be very vague and maybe even rushed? I would love to know more about Tamara's later years... All in all I was very satisfied with this purchase - and if you are eager to learn more about the life and times of Tamara, this book is a must have for your coffee-table that you will delight in over and over again!

A wonderfully easy to read biography!.......1998-11-30

I wrote a paper on Ms. de Lempicka for my art history class and found that this book was the most informative as far as her childhood and rise to fame was concerned. I too thought it lacked when it came to the late years of her life, but it was a wonderfully easy book to read, especially when you hate to read biographical writing.

PASSION BY DESIGN, THE ART AND TIMES OF TAMARA DE LEMPICKA

Average customer rating:

PASSION BY DESIGN, THE ART AND TIMES OF TAMARA DE LEMPICKA
Kizette (Baroness) de Lempicka-Foxhall
Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VGH25O

Average customer rating:

Passion By Design: The Art and Times of Tamara De Lempicka
Kizette(Baroness) and Charles PHILLIPS DE LEMPICKA-FOXHALL
Manufacturer: Mondadori
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 8439713622

Average customer rating:

Passion by Design: The Art and Times of Tamara De Lempicka.
Kizette De Lempicka-Foxhall
Manufacturer: Publisher Unknown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UYFFS8

Passion by design : the art and times of Tamara de Lempicka / by Baroness Kizette de Lempicka-Foxhall as told to Charles Phillips

Average customer rating:

Passion by design : the art and times of Tamara de Lempicka / by Baroness Kizette de Lempicka-Foxhall as told to Charles Phillips
Kizette, Baroness De Lempicka-Foxhall
Manufacturer: New York : Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VZLU6M

Average customer rating:

PASSION BY DESIGN, THE ART AND TIMES OF TAMARA DE LEMPICKA
Baroness Kizette de Lempicka-Foxhall
Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VGA3GY

Average customer rating:

Passion by Design: The Art and Times of Tamara De Lempicka.

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IC11DA

Book Description

Who were the Native Americans? Where did they come from and how long ago? Did they have a history, and would they have a future? Questions such as these dominated intellectual life in the United States during the nineteenth century. And for many Americans, such questions about the original inhabitants of their homeland inspired a flurry of historical investigation, scientific inquiry, and heated political debate.

History's Shadow traces the struggle of Americans trying to understand the people who originally occupied the continent claimed as their own. Steven Conn considers how the question of the Indian compelled Americans to abandon older explanatory frameworks for sovereignty like the Bible and classical literature and instead develop new ones. Through their engagement with Native American language and culture, American intellectuals helped shape and define the emerging fields of archaeology, ethnology, linguistics, and art. But more important, the questions posed by the presence of the Indian in the United States forced Americans to confront the meaning of history itself, both that of Native Americans and their own: how it should be studied, what drove its processes, and where it might ultimately lead. The encounter with Native Americans, Conn argues, helped give rise to a distinctly American historical consciousness.

A work of enormous scope and intellect, History's Shadow will speak to anyone interested in Native Americans and their profound influence on our cultural imagination.

“History’s Shadow is an intelligent and comprehensive look at the place of Native Americans in Euro-American’s intellectual history. . . . Examining literature, painting, photography, ethnology, and anthropology, Conn mines the written record to discover how non-Native Americans thought about Indians.” —Joy S. Kasson, Los Angeles Times

History's Shadow : Native Americans and Historical Consciousness in the Nineteenth Century

Average customer rating:

History's Shadow : Native Americans and Historical Consciousness in the Nineteenth Century
Steven Conn
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MUF8V4

Average customer rating:

History's Shadow : Native Americans and Historical Consciousness in the Nineteenth Century
Steven Conn
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OP62QM

Average customer rating:

The Chip

reader's digest version of semiconductors and IC's

a good introduction to the history of integrated circuits

A brilliant approach to cover a imporant invention - The Chip

An excellent introduction and history

The Chip : How Two Americans Invented the Microchip and Launched a Revolution
T.R. Reid
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Company Profiles | Biography & History | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Microelectronics | Electronics | Electrical & Electronics | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Man Behind the Microchip: Robert Noyce and the Invention of Silicon Valley

Crystal Fire: The Invention of the Transistor and the Birth of the Information Age (Sloan Technology Series)

Broken Genius: The Rise and Fall of William Shockley, Creator of the Electronic Age

The Essential Guide to Semiconductors

True Genius: The Life and Science of John Bardeen

ASIN: 0375758283
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Amazon.com

They're everywhere, but where did they come from? Silicon chips drive just about everything that sucks power, from toys to heart monitors, but their inventors aren't nearly as widely known as Edison and Ford. Journalist T.R. Reid has thoroughly updated The Chip, his 1985 exploration of the life work of inventors Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce, to reflect the colossal shift toward smarter gadgets that has taken place since then.

Satisfying as both biography and basic science text, the book perfectly captures the independence and near-obsessive problem-solving talents of the two men. Though ultimately only one of them (Noyce) ended up with legal rights to the invention, they shared a respect for each other that persisted throughout their careers. Since Kilby won the 2000 Nobel Prize for Physics for his work, the story is all the more compelling and intriguing over 40 years after the invention. Reid's work uncovers human dimensions we'd never expect to see from 1950s engineering research. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

Barely fifty years ago a computer was a gargantuan, vastly expensive thing that only a handful of scientists had ever seen. The world’s brightest engineers were stymied in their quest to make these machines small and affordable until the solution finally came from two ingenious young Americans. Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce hit upon the stunning discovery that would make possible the silicon microchip, a work that would ultimately earn Kilby the Nobel Prize for physics in 2000. In this completely revised and updated edition of The Chip, T.R. Reid tells the gripping adventure story of their invention and of its growth into a global information industry. This is the story of how the digital age began.

Customer Reviews:

The Chip.......2007-03-08

This book was very interesting, and the author did well at explaining things in terms that all could understand.

reader's digest version of semiconductors and IC's.......2007-01-26

I was literally stunned by the first three chapters in this book. The author seems to have gleamed what little he knows
of electronic history from Life magazine or maybe popular mechanics. There is very, very little mention of the impact of Germany and quantum theory in his history of semiconductors. His description of valance electrons and holes is almost comical.
I was expecting him to pronounce Sarnoff as
the wizard of the age, which he sort of does with Edison -
one of early electricity's greatest hacks and the 'great'
marconi,he who was so fond of ripping off tesla's patents.
Maybe the later edition is somewhat more worthwhile, the edition I bought was from amazon marketplace and although
I thought I was receiving the current edition, I was sold the book with a 1984 copyright. People it pays to have
merchants actually sell you the book that is listed.
I guess if you like really easy going and simplified story telling this book is for you.

a good introduction to the history of integrated circuits.......2006-09-22

TR Reid, who studied ancient Greek and Latin at Princeton, has written an excellent short history of integrated circuits, or microchips, which is accessible to any high school student. The basic concepts and main figures, such as Kilby and Haggerty at Texas Instruments, Noyce at Intel, and others are described extremely well in language that is easily understandable, interesting, and enjoyable to read. On top of that, it is good pointers to other, more detailed books at the end.

If you have a PhD in electrical engineering, or are a veteran of the industry, you may, on the other hand, feel that this book is to short for your liking.

A brilliant approach to cover a imporant invention - The Chip.......2005-10-24

I too am a `techie' - worked with Kilby in the 60's and left to join a Silicon Valley IC firm from which I retired in the 90's. I did not read this book from a technical standpoint, but was impressed with how simple Mr. Reid handled the technical aspects and made them understandable even to the readers who are not technical.

I think this book and the job Mr. Reid did was great. 100% accumulate or correct, maybe not. But worthwhile reading, YES, definitely. A brilliant job of explaining complicated subjects and how they fit together to get us to where we are today with microelectronics. Jack and Bob changed our world in ways most people will never realize. Any book that highlights their contribution is welcomed. They were giants in their time and too little recognition has been given to them. I recommend Reid's book to all who want to know what all this "Chip" stuff is about.

An excellent introduction and history.......2004-12-12

I recommend this book highly for anyone who wants a good introduction to the technical and political evolution of a modern societal revolution. Semiconductors and the subsequent development of integrated circuitry have fundamentally altered the way we conduct ourselves on a day to day basis. We need no better example than Amazon.com itself.

Book Description

This two-volume work presents an authoritative world-wide view of our knowledge about, and understanding of, hot-desert ecosystems. This includes some semi-arid and arid areas, as well as deserts in the strict sense. The hot deserts are distinguished from the temperate deserts (which form the subject of another volume in the series) by the virtual absence of snowfall, even though frosts may occur.

For each major hot-desert region, expert authors have summarized existing knowledge according to a general outline. This includes descriptions of the ecosystem components (climate, soil, flora and fauna), and discussion of interaction between components and overall ecosystem functioning. The information from the regional chapters has then been integrated into a world-wide view in the ``synthesis'' chapters. Because of its length, the volume is published in two parts. The first volume includes the general synthesis chapters, and regional descriptions of the hot deserts of America and Australia, while the second volume covers the hot deserts of Asia and Africa.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books