A Degree of Mastery: A Journey through Book Arts Apprenticeship

Average customer rating:

Pleasant, but very light

accessible, delicate, honest

Illuminations

Literal or spiritual - take your pick

A wonderful autobiography!

A Degree of Mastery: A Journey through Book Arts Apprenticeship
Annie Tremmel Wilcox
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Scrolling Forward: Making Sense of Documents in the Digital Age

The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New: A Simple Repair Manual for Book Lovers

ASIN: 0140291938
Release Date: 2000-07-03

Book Description

In this extraordinary memoir, certain to captivate anyone who's ever appreciated the feel of a good book, Annie Tremmel Wilcox deftly explores the artistry, traditions, and precise techniques of book making and restoration. Using excerpts from her diaries, newspaper articles, exhibit notices, and correspondence, Wilcox passionately recounts her experiences learning the art of making and preserving books as the first female apprentice to the renowned book binder and conservator William Anthony. At once rendering a gorgeous, moving scrapbook of her tutelage under this consummate craftsman, and expertly demystifing the fascinating technical processes of this centuries-old art form, A Degree of Mastery is a singular achievement certain to enchant book lovers and crafts- people alike.

"Wilcox describes the restoration processes . . . with such detail that one is left with the impression that he or she is actually learning the craft rather than merely reading about another's experience."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"True bibliophiles will find it hard to suppress a frisson of excitement as Wilcox recounts the techniques she and her colleagues used to bring crumbling manuscripts . . . back to life."--Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews:

Pleasant, but very light.......2005-02-26

This was a strange read, because the author continually expresses her surprise for certain techniques and methods of the book conservators craft as she discovers them during her early learning and apprenticeship. I find this odd, as I've done a bit of self-taught bookbinding, and have encountered most of this knowledge through reading, and that the author purports to be a reader and decent student.

An element I found annoying was the typesetting of the book. In general, I'm tolerant of these things, but, as this is a book on book arts and the author worked as a typesetter for some time, one would think that more attention would be paid to this. Specifically, there is only a word space (1/5 em) between sentences, not the age-old standard of 1/3 em (or even the 2 spaces that is acceptable giving 2/5 em). Also, the excerpts are set in too small a font, which contrasts poorly with the main text face. This detracts from the pleasure of reading a book, and should have been more carefully considered. I suspect the publisher is to blame, not the author.

The book also seems to lack a broadness to the characters; their personalities, life, and interests are confined to the conservation department. Although the book is clearly a loving tribute to a master book conservator, one doesn't really learn about the man (nor much about the author).

accessible, delicate, honest.......2003-12-24

Wilcox artfully narrates her experience as an apprentice for Bill Anthony, a famous book binder and conservator. She artfully interspeses observations about books she is restoring with phases of her life as an apprentice and other texts. She evokes the spirit of craftmanship, of taking many years, much time, and much patience to develop mastery of her craft. Great for book art students, art students, or those considering an apprenticeship of any kind. Of particular interest to those who've made books before, because they will understand vividly the technical descriptions of her project (thought these are accessible to the lay person as well).

Illuminations.......2002-07-30

Someone who knew that I was in the Interdisciplinary Book and Paper MFA program at Columbia College Chicago gave this memoir to me. It's a really nice read---especially since the bookbinding world is a small one, and everyone in it knows everyone else, as people travel around the country giving workshops. Always interesting to read about people who you've had as teachers. I found it very well written, an evocative and accurate depiction of an obscure art/craft/lifestyle choice, an illuminated window into a small, specialized world.

Literal or spiritual - take your pick.......2001-09-10

A practical person can read this book as an extended essay on how to approach an apprenticeship, and how to bind conservation texts. A spiritual person can add layers to the stories and extrapolate life lessons. Either way, the main character/author is extremely sympathetic character. Her teacher had amazing gifts, both as a conservator and as a teacher.

The book is deceptively short. Looks like a quick read, but was so meaty and detailed, I found myself reading it for several weeks in order to digest all the material carefully.

If your taste runs to the obscure, the "sleeper," I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

A wonderful autobiography!.......2001-03-21

A Degree of Mastery tells the story of one woman's journey through the education and apprenticeship necessary to become a book preservationist. Annie Wilcox, a bright woman with an impressive past in the field of English and writing, begins to take an evening class in bookbinding at the University of Iowa taught by a world-reknowned preservationist, William Anthony. Little does she know that not more than two years later she will become the first female apprentice ever to study under the direct supervision and teaching of Bill Anthony, an honored position granted only to six others before her. Through her apprenticeship, Wilcox learns the art of preservation and the dire need for conservation in every library, but especially those libraries that house an archives, manuscript or rare books collection. Through Wilcox's autobiography, the reader learns the basic process and means by which book preservation becomes possible as well as the importance and value of conservation in today's libraries. It is a wonderful piece of literature well-worth your time.

A Degree of Mastery : A Journey through Book Arts Apprenticeship.

Average customer rating:

A Degree of Mastery : A Journey through Book Arts Apprenticeship.
Annie Tremmel. Wilcox
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ3KDQ

Book Description

Seve's playboy good looks and natural magnetism attracted non-golfers to the game and made him the biggest drawing card Europe has ever had. He emerged on the world scene by hitting one of the most outrageous shots ever seen at the 1976 Open Championship and then became the youngest Open Champion of the modern era when he won the first of his five major championships.

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Seve
Lauren St.John
Manufacturer: Corgi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0552145882

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Seve
Alistair Tait
Manufacturer: Virgin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0753511339

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An eloquent look at one of golfs most charismatic players.

Seve: Ryder Cup Hero
Lauren St. John
Manufacturer: Rutledge Hill Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 155853489X

Book Description

Arguably one of the greatest golfers in the world, Seve Ballesteros was the youngest Masters Tournament champion in history, until Tiger Woods' victory at Augusta in 1997. Seve takes an in-depth look at one of golf's most flamboyant enigmatic characters. Unlike other "sports" biographies, Seve follows Ballesteros from his impoverished childhood in Northern Spain, through his troubled and triumphant early career, to the more settled and self-actualized man that he is today. Seve not only focuses on the man's golf career, but also takes a hard look at the man himself. It covers his personal life, which author St John describes with unparalleled honesty and clarity.

First published in 1993 in Europe to critical acclaim, Seve has been extensively revised and updated for this American edition. Seve author, Lauren St John, is a golf correspondent for the London Sunday Times. She has traveled the world for almost a decade covering professional golf. Golf Digest's Ed Weathers says "the golf correspondent for the London Sunday Times, St John, is a good, wide-ranging reporter," and goes on to compare Tiger Woods to the once "dewy-eyed Lancelot greeting the dawn," Seve Ballesteros, and advises: "Tiger, read this book."

Customer Reviews:

An eloquent look at one of golfs most charismatic players........1997-07-21

Seve: Ryder Cup Hero, reads like a novel. Eloquently written this book is funny, touching, and very interesting.

Book Description

As an avid biker for over nine years, photographer Martin Dixon gained unprecedented access to the predominantly African-American motorcycle clubs in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan. Comprising a huge subculture of urban road warriors totally unknown to most New Yorkers and bike club enthusiasts, these black "biker gangs"--with names like the Jaguars, the Black Falcons, the Pythons, the Transit Wheelers, the Imperials, the Corpians, the Harlem Riders, the United Roadrunners, and the Uptown Riders--are really high-octane social clubs, whose members ride flashy ninja sport bikes. Through Dixon's spectacular insider perspective, we enter a world straddling the customs and trappings of traditional biker culture (the heavily embroidered leather jackets, the thick male camaraderie, the bike as manifestation of the ego), and the rituals and pastimes of the urban biker (the springtime bike blessings, the trophy parties, and the clubhouse socials). More importantly, thanks to Dixon, we witness, even participate in, a set of rituals the likes of which no outsider has ever documented: the block parades (complete with monster trucks!), the barbeque parties (replete with a southern club specialty, the "Mississippi Mud Slide"), the bikini bike wash, the Myrtle and Virginia Beach bike runs, the drag races, the raunchy fundraising parties, and, of course, the "biker chicks," urban flavor.

Book Description

Perigee's longest-running crossword series continues-with a collection of 100 puzzles for the best and brightest, all from USA Today's resident expert.

Book Description

Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours, Second Edition is the perfect tool for learning one of the most sophisticated enterprise solutions available today. Designed to being with the basics, you will become acquainted with the entire SAP system, from navigation to creating your own reports. You'll also cover:

Implementation tools and methodologies
NetWeaver
ECC 5.0
Designing Screens and menus
Reporting
Integration with Microsoft Office
And more

Written by leading SAP consultants with over 20 years of combined experience, this easy-to-understand tutorial is ideal for getting up and running with SAP quickly and efficiently.

Download Description

Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours is the perfect tool for learning one of the most sophisticated enterprise solutions available on the market today. This book covers everything you will need to become acquainted with the SAP system, from basic navigation through creating your own reports. This book is designed to begin with the very basics and to move forward to cover the topics necessary to unleash the power of SAP. Topics covered include: Navigation in SAP, Implementation Tools and Methodologies, NetWeaver, ECC, Designing Screens and Menus, Reporting, Integration with Microsoft Office, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Great overall reference.......2007-08-15

I am on a project team that is starting the implementation of a specialized SAP module, and I purchased Mr. Anderson's book to help me get a high-level overview of the overall SAP application. I am a relatively new SAP user, and this book was extremely valuable in helping me ascend the learning curve and get up-to-speed on this project. I can now have intelligent conversation with our technical staff, ask knowledgeable questions, and generally understand their answers.

My suggestions at this point would be to include a general glossary and an acronym glossary. I would also recommend, in addition to the "Watch out" and "By the way" boxes, another information source titled, "For further information on this topic".

Given that an overall reference for SAP could easily be the size of a set of encyclopedias, I would give this single book 5 stars out of 5.

A little bit here and there.......2007-07-26

Although many good points are made in this easy to read book, it clearly suffers from a lack of target audience definition. As a theoretical intro to the field, one doesn't need to know how to customize a screen in SAP. As an intro user's guide, one doesn't need to know many of the more technical topics briefly discussed. Since there isn't enough coverage for any one audience, I can't recommend this book.

Not really worth the purchase.......2007-03-16

This book is not intended for technical users. It provides a very high level guide for day to day users. Chapters 1-3 are worth reading to get a broad overview of SAP.
After those three chapters, the book suffers from trying to cover just a tiny bit of everything in SAP. The authors dont want to leave anything out, but at the same time they don't cover anything in great detail.
At your company, you will probably need to learn certain components and transaction in SAP, but surely not everything.
I recommend reading the first 3 chapters, and then the single chapter on the area of SAP in which you will be working. Reading much more than that will probably be a waste of time. I doubt you will ever use it as a reference and that is why I do not recommend purchasing it. It might be available at your local library.
To its credit, the book is well written. The pictures are in black and white, but are still useful. Learning how to use SAP, however, is best done in front the computer with a teacher at your side. I learned much more in a half-hour session with a seasoned user than I did by reading several chapters of this book.

Excellent Resource.......2007-02-06

We give this book to all folks new to SAP; especially good for sales executives, account managers, project managers, and others who do are not in a technical position and need to gain a good overview of SAP and SAP's latest architecture

Good but not Great..........2006-12-29

I was looking for a book that would provide a beginners introduction to SAP. Well this book did fulfill my needs to a great extent. This book is probably the most up to date introductory book on SAP. It also provides a good concise history, purpose, and value for each of the SAP modules. However the book fails to show how various modules link to each other. It also fails to explain why there are so many modules. I did find answers to all these questions but that was with the help of other books.

This book will set you in right direction but don't expect it to answer all your questions. It seriously needs some good technical diagrams. Diagrams in the book are of no value.

Book Description

Piracy did not end when Blackbeard's head was severed at Ocracoke Inlet in 1717. Year by year the number of reported pirate attacks on shipping increases.This book supercedes Philip Goss's excellent Who's Who of Pirates which was published in 1924 and has been the standard work on the subject. A serious study and an entertaining read, this book will be of value to all who study maritime history, the colonial era or the Caribbean, It will be of interest to many who dwell near, or visit, the eastern United States or the Caribbean Islands. Genealogists will find it a most useful source.

Customer Reviews:

Exhaustive Index!.......2005-11-30

This is exactly the kind of reference book for which I've been searching for years. My sea shanty group, Bounding Main [...], portrays Elizabethan mariners, and finding references to any kind of nautical cove beyond Drake, Frobisher, Hawkins and other "big names" has proven to be difficult, heretofore. This book gives you a delicious little taste of knowledge, the further pursuit of which is very exciting. A great "Who's Who" of the pirate genre!

Book Description

First comprehensive uncensored collection of homosexual Greek myths in 2000 years. Lucian'ss Different Loves, an unabashed debate on gay vs. straight love, frames richly illustrated stories of Hercules, Orpheus, Narcissus, others. Presents positive and negative aspects of Greek male love within historical/cultural context. Carefully documented, suitable for classes in gender studies / history / religion. Notes, bibliography, glossary, map. Study guide forthcoming.

Customer Reviews:

Gay Mythology 101.......2006-01-19

Interesting, sensual, esoteric are all adjectives I could ascribe to this volume. It is an interesting view of Greek Mythology with a decidedly gay spin and contemporary format. It is truly refreshing to read mythology as it was meant to be read, as opposed to the mythological interpretations of Greek mythology that have been peddled by the translators for so many years. THREE CHEERS FOR MR. CALIMACH. He recounts mythology with a wink, a smile, and sometimes, a clever leer!

This is not homosexuality.......2005-06-02

As a gay person, I am appalled by what the author considers homosexuality in this book. The male/male relationships outlined are generally between a man and a teenager. Though the modern word "youth" is a rather vague term for any young person living between childhood and maturity, in the introduction it is suggested that the word "youth" indicates a 16-year-old male. In the modern sense, this is pedophilia. I do not share Calimach' lament that "our children" should read such stories as they have been reconstructed in the book. There is enough child abuse that goes on the world, without sharing stories that make it seem okay. I also do not agree with Ms. Peterson's statement that the Old Testament God condoned the raping of women by the Israelites. Where exactly did she find that? Perhaps she misinterpreted some passages in order to justify her point. It is no wonder that many feel, even today, centuries after these stories have been written, that gay people abuse children! Such sentiments can make it more difficult for gay couples to adopt and easier for the ignorant to spread lies. In my own researching, I have looked a little at "gay" myths from other cultures and have found the same adult/child relationship. This is terrible and I should hope that any more myth collections use the proper terminology, not mistaking homosexuality for something else. Hopefully there are "real" gay myths out there to be read.

Small but Full of Flavor.......2004-09-13

This is a neat little book that presents a selection of the Greek myths, many of them familiar, only this time with formerly expurgated "gay" material put back in. The stories have been put together by a man named Andrew Calimach, who apparently dug through tons of original Greek tales to find the material which has so often been "neutered" or rewritten so it's de-emphasized.

The varying stories were then pieced together in what are some really wonderful myths -- wonderful in and of themselves and wonderfully written. The book is also illustrated throughout with original ancient artwork, so you can see the various gods, nympths, goddesses and mortals the stories revolve around. In the stories you'll see Zeus & Ganymede, Hercules & Hylas, Apollo & Hyancinthus, Narcissues, and (for you fans of Troy) Achilles & Patroclus, among others.

Here's a little excerpt from the Achilles & Patroclus story, which takes place during the Trojan War:

Noble Achilles, the fiercest of the Greek fighters, led the troops headlong into battle, like some savage beast unleashed, and his dear friend, Patroclus, fought always by his side, tempering Achilles' wildness and pride with loving sound advice...

[Then later after Patroclus has been killed on a mission]

...the Greeks broke away the broken corpse to Achilles' lodge. Black grief crushed Achilles, his eys brimmed with endless tears. He threw himself upon Patroclus' body, full of reproaches for throwing his life away. "Why so ungrateful, after all our kisses? Why so uncaring for the holy union of our thighs?" He mourned without let, forgetting sleep, forgetting food and drink, and day after day put off the funeral, unable to part with his friend.

A Courageous, Scholarly, Thoroughly Entertaining Book.......2002-08-07

Hats off to Andrew Calimach! For the past century writers, poets, mythologists, historians and the public at large have either ignored the sexual overtones of Greek myths and history, or have distorted or attacked this valuable body of information to mold their own prejudices. This can be said for those who overplay the significance of the homoerotic aspect of myths as well as those who debunk it as gay delusions of grandeur. In readdressing nine important and 'well-known' stories with fresh insight and with fine scholarly technique, Calimach gives us as clear an interpretation of these foundations of civilzation as can be found. His introduction to the concept of myths is succinct and illuminating. He wisely threads his tales with a debate (Lucian's 'Different Loves') that places his reassembled fragments of myths as narrative, thus giving a sense of timelessness of reference to his subject. Scholars and psychologists and philosophers and theologians and gender studies veterans have argued their perspectives ad infinitum. Calimach has the good graces to simply piece together all the varying fragments of information about these nine myths and presents this reconstruction for us to interpret. No preaching here, just a request for open minds, for acknowledging the fact that love between males can be documented as timeless.

My only reservations with the texts is in the language of their presentation. Part of the word choices are intended to make the stories more updated in language (much like the new version of the Bible as opposed to the King James version). At times, however, he resorts to slang which can cause an 'aha!' reaction to readers searching to disprove his facts [as in Narcissus: 'what a dish he was', and 'the most gorgeous guy he had ever seen']. These rare phrases are all the more distracting because of the generally eloquent and elegant writing style of the book in general. But this is a small criticism in what is destined to become a permanent volume of all librairies. Excellent reading, a fine work of research, and a much needed resource book for writers, students, historians, and for those who are looking for an enriching and worthwhile book on the Greeks. An excellent read and a satisfying moment of edification.

The fig leaf wilts.......2002-08-04

This is an important, joyfully readable book that fills in the blanks that have been missing for so long. I hope the Lambda Literary Awards and the National Books Awards give it the serious consideration it deserves.

Book Description

Acclaimed text on essential engineering mathematics covers theory of complex variables, Cauchy-Riemann equations, conformal mapping, and multivalued functions, plus Fourier and Laplace transform theory, with applications to engineering, including integrals, linear integrodifferential equations, Z-transform, more. Ideal for home study as well as graduate engineering courses, this volume includes many problems.

Customer Reviews:

Good material for a self-study, ok as a reference.......2007-07-24

This book makes an excellent guide for self-study on the subject. It is very detailed, deliberate and self-contained.

Even though Laplace transform is in the title, he doesn't get to that until chapter 10, since there is a great deal of background material he covers to get there. The book may be better titled "Everything you need to know to use Laplace transforms", since it is more background than actual material about Laplace transforms.

He doesn't provide much in the way of look-up tables of Laplace transforms, which I thought was kind of strange. He states that you can compute them yourself once you have learned all the material in the book... true, but I would still have liked tables.

If you are a grad student doing anything with Laplace transforms, and you are not in mathematics, this is a good, cheap book to get. It explains many of the essential proofs and theorems in ways non-mathematicians can understand (or at least it did for me). He has lots of figures, which I like (why do math books never have figures?)

Average customer rating:

Laplace Transforms
Not for us
Learning
Laplace Transforms Explained in Plain English
It helped me through control systems

Schaum's Outline of Laplace Transforms
Murray R Spiegel
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 007060231X

Book Description

This book proveds a clear, concise explanation of Laplace transforms, or operational calculus--now necessary knowledge for engineers, physicists, mathematicians and other scientists. Definitions, principles and theorems are illustrated and reinforced by hundreds of fully worked out problems. Also included are chapters on complex variable theory and Fourier series and integrals, so important to discussions of the complex inversion formula.

Customer Reviews:

Laplace Transforms.......2007-05-12

I have several books on Laplace Transforms; but the Schaum's Outline by Murray Spiegel is particularly well done. The book is logically organized with many worked out examples. This is a classic overview of the Laplace Transform.

Not for us.......2007-05-01

Not for people who need a book on Laplace Transforms. Yes, lots of practice problems with answers. If you get lost and don't know how to go about a problem well page reference would have been nice.

Learning.......2007-01-06

Good overall coverage. nice explanations, and worked examples. id recommend it to anyone wanting to brush up on their transforms before an exam.

Laplace Transforms Explained in Plain English.......2005-09-23

This is a valuable reference to keep handy as a reminder about which transform methods best apply to various problems that you need to solve around the office.

It helped me through control systems.......2003-12-29

This book taught me both the basics and some of the finer points of LaPlace Transforms to get me past that hurdle so that I could begin focussing on the actual material presented in my BioControl Systems course. Many people got so caught up on the mathematics of LaPlace Transforms that they did not even get to the point where they could begin understanding control systems. I bought this book from Amazon at the beginning of the semester and it turned out to be a life-saver for me. I think that had I not sat down with this book for a weekend and taught myself LaPlace Transforms, I would have not passed that class.

Granted, this is a single case for a single class of a single bioengineering student; nevertheless, for my part I strongly recommend this book. I was put in a class where the teacher expected the students to have an understanding of the mathematics from the start. The majority of us didn't have that background, and this book clearly, simply, and without too much complication prepared me for my class which was exactly what I wanted it to do. It has been one of the best investments (as far as school books go) of my college career.

I must leave you with one parting word of wisdom. This book, and I don't think any other book dealing with such an advanced topic, is not easy to read. You will not be able to thoughtlessly master the material. You will work to understand it; your brain may hurt at times. But this book presented the information in a much-more-easy-to-digest manner than any of my college math textbooks, and for that, I am grateful.

Average customer rating:
Complex Variables and Laplace Transform for Engineers (Pure & Applied Mathematics)
Wilbur LePage
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0070372063

Book Description

This digital document is an article from San Diego Business Journal, published by CBJ, L.P. on June 23, 2003. The length of the article is 819 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: Don't be penny-wise, pound-foolish. (Editorial).(new fees for public parks and beaches)
Author: John Hollon
Publication: San Diego Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 23, 2003
Publisher: CBJ, L.P.
Volume: 24 Issue: 25 Page: 46(1)

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