Book Description
The Only Three Questions That Count is the first book to show you how to think about investing for yourself and develop innovative ways to understand and profit from the markets. The only way to consistently beat the markets is by knowing something others don’t know. This book will show you how to do just that by using three simple questions. You’ll see why CNBC’s Mad Money host and money manager James J. Cramer says, "I believe that reading his book may be the single best thing you could do this year to make yourself a better investor.
In The Only Three Questions That Count, Ken Fisher challenges the conventional wisdoms of investing, overturns glib theories with hard facts, and blows up complacent beliefs about money and the markets. Ultimately, he says, the key to successful investing is daring to challenge yourself and whatever you believe to be true. Packed with more than 100 visuals, usable tools, and a glossary, The Only Three Questions That Count is an entertaining and educational experience in the markets unlike any other, giving you an opportunity to reap the huge rewards that only the markets can offer.
Customer Reviews:
very useful reference book.......2007-10-11
I am an experienced mutual fund investor - e.g., newspaper reader, book reader, and Morningstar subscriber - who wants better to understand financial institutions and processes. This book proved excellent for my purposes.
I did not read this book for secrets to success. Perhaps there are some such secrets in there - the author seems to think so.
Rather, I found valuable explanations of key concepts that one encounters in making investment decisions. For example, although already versed in some differences between value and growth stocks (and funds), from this book I learned how each category relates to interest rates, a very timely issue at present. Similarly, I gained understanding of how trade deficits fit in the investment picture, and many, many other topics.
In sum, it's easy to overlook the ego problems that trouble some reviewers, and find gems of wisdom throughout this book.
Great book, one of the best I've read in a while .......2007-09-03
I consider myself fairly well read when it comes to investing, but I was really suprised by this book.
I've poured through books by and about Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Jim Rogers, some of the new classics (Market Wizards by Schwager) and some of the old classics that never go out of style (Reminiscences of a Stock Operator, Money Game). I was actually just browsing through my local bookstore when I saw this.
Fisher's well known for his advertising. His ads though, and his style turned me off (somewhat analogous to a doctor that advertises on a bus stop or a lawyer advertising in the back of a phone book, you just don't quit trust it).
He's got some real gems in here though. The book could have been about 150 pages shorter, but the essence of it, that the only way to beat the market is to know something that others don't, is spot on.
If you answer his 3 questions before investing (especially #3, what is your brain doing to mess you up), you'll be well ahead of the game.
It's amazing that people will invest huge sums of money in the market, and not even know what the biases are that cause misjudgement. Fisher does a beautiful job of reducing things down to "primitive man", and what was great for hunter gatherers 50,000 years ago hunting lions is terrible for your portfolio.
Still, I think the book falls into some traps that most other investment books fall into:
-Some of it is too neat, too ivory tower, too clean and mathematical. There's no people in the book, there are no memories.
For example, he thinks stocks have no correlation to past results. The odds of a stock moving tomorrow up or down are 50-50.
But investors have memories. Investors got scarred for life after the '29 crash, they never felt the same way about stocks again. I don't think stocks have a 50-50 chance of moving up or down after that. It also doesn't take into account where companies are in their life cycle. It doesn't take into account competitive advantage (or lack thereof).
-A direct quote from the book..."Since 1926, there have been 66 15 year rolling time periods. In 61 of them (92%), stocks beat bonds, returning an average of 481% while bonds returned 150%"
He then adds to the arguement, and basically says stocks always outperform bonds, buy stocks. But most people get into stocks at the wrong time! There's no mention of valuation, there's no mention that people buy stocks when everyone else is buying them.
People can and do lose money...if you bought stocks in the mid 20's or later, you didn't break even for 20 years. If you bought stocks during the raging bull market of the 60's and held, you got killed. The DOW was at 700 in the early 60's and 800 in the early 80's, after some grueling declines. Business Week ran their famous (infamous) cover in 1979, "The Death of Equities". People were putting their retirement money into gold and diamonds back then.
People do not buy stocks equally during all time periods. There's some other arguements made that can be a little dangerous. Some of the arguement made about the deficit, the declining dollar, I don't know.
Fisher is obviously brilliant, he's on the Forbes 400, but no one should be above questioning or critical thinking. Absolutely come to your own conclusions. I don't think some of the arguements will hold up in 15-20 years.
But still, it's well worth adding to your library. Some of the key chapters should be re-read many times to get all the nuances.
No real help here!.......2007-09-03
Fisher describes a number of interesting stock market fallacies and why they should be ignored in any serious investing plan, and also illustrates some common emotional problems that plague a large percentage of investors. He describes several admittedly outdated fundamental indicators which, although possibly of some academic interest, are no longer useful, as they now have been discounted by the market.
He suggests that the individual investor select an index and track his or her performance with respect to this index, presumably taking advantage of knowing what most other investors do not. Most unfortunately, the methodology of attaining this precious knowledge is not made clear, at least to me. If an investor knows important details about equity issues that are not generally known, then he or she has no need of this book!
The writing style of Fisher, while occasionally entertaining, contains a good deal of self-serving statements, and, as commented by others, the basic information could be provided by perhaps one quarter the number of pages.
very informative.......2007-08-28
I've read a lot of finance books in my day but this one takes a whole other approach. Instead of the same old conventional methods of analyzing the stock market through ratios and fundamentals, this book takes you through how to look at the market differently. The Only Three Questions shows you the power of sentiment on the market and specifically how to gauge investor sentiment and use it to your advantage. While the book is full of data and graphs, it also is a surprisingly humorous and enjoyable read. If you're looking for a completely different investment strategy, this book is for you.
Needed an editor.......2007-08-26
A well constructed book cries out for discipline, particularly one dealing with investment. There is little discipline here, and this may stem from the way it was written. It reads in a disjointed, jaunty, disconnected way, very much as if dictated while working out on treadmill. Also hard to say what role the other two writers had in the making of the book.Aside from being far too long for the wisdom the book imparts, and it does provide some interesting insights, there are some rather questionable conclusions that other reviewers have pointed out, such as the irrelevance, presumably, of US debt, of debt in general. He makes light of other methods of selecting stocks, such as (his own) discovery of the importance of the price to sales ratio. His advice is, on the whole, fairly vague. One gets out of the market when one knows more than others.... Right. But the tables and graphs are well worth perusing, more than once. On that basis I reconsider and would recommend the book to those who have a fair amount of investing experience. Not for beginners!
Book Description
From the most highly respected analyst of foreign policy writing today, a story of wasted opportunity and squandered prestige: a critique of the last three U.S. presidents' foreign policy.
America's most distinguished commentator on foreign policy, former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, offers a reasoned but unsparing assessment of the last three presidential administrations' foreign policy. Though spanning less than two decades, these administrations cover a vitally important turning point in world history: the period in which the United States, having emerged from the Cold War with unprecedented power and prestige, managed to squander both in a remarkably short time. This is a tale of decline: from the competent but conventional thinking of the first Bush administration, to the well-intentioned self-indulgence of the Clinton administration, to the mortgaging of America's future by the "suicidal statecraft" of the second Bush administration. Brzezinski concludes with a chapter on how America can regain its lost prestige. This scholarly yet highly opinionated book is sure to be both controversial and influential.
Customer Reviews:
The idealism is better than the realism .......2007-08-29
Intelligence is no substitute for integrity. In surveying the world - situation and the role three U.S. Presidents had after the fall of the Soviet Union Brezinski fails to give prominent place to one major development he himself had considerable responsibility for i.e. the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. It was he who as Carter's foreign policy chief - advisor supervised the fall of the Shah in Iran, and did nothing to prevent the rise of the radical Islamic regime there. He also helped put into place the Mujadeen in Afghanistan, and they have been a key element in the rise of Global Islam worldwide.
In this book he focuses on what he considers the missed opportunities of the U.S. after the fall of the Soviet Union. He is especially critical of the current President.
Brezinski does have interesting things to say about current American weaknesses including the balance of payments problem, the problem of a loss of kind of moral discipline.
His idea of the United States leading mankind to a new era of dignity and freedom is a good one. And for his 'idealism' expressed most fully in the final chapter the book is worth reading.
DR. BRZEZINSKI SHOULD BE RUNNING THIS COUNTRY.......2007-07-25
I feel strongly, that this book says what most rational people in the "world!" are thinking. It is pure and clear truth. It could have been a lot less disasterous for our country, if Dr. Brzezinski could have tutored bush/cheney/rice, on how to lead a great nation with "integrity, honor and some backbone." Can we find a way for a man like Dr. Brzezinski,(who was born in Europe/Poland), to run for President?! Fantastic book! I read it in one sitting.
Second Chance: 3 presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower.......2007-07-21
Grim yet fairly non-biased assessment of the administrations since the fall of the wall. There is some hope at the end of the book, but it will take an extraordinary turn of events to keep America from losing its place in global stature.
His critical eye on the current administration is no nonsense and, sadly, accurate.
J'Accuse.......2007-07-08
This is nothing more than a scathing indictment on eight years of GWB misrule.
To distinguish his indictment from other partisan rhetoric, ZB has placed his argument in a much wider and rational perspective. He has reviewed also the missteps of the previous two US Presidents in the foreign policy arena, and the lost chances of securing and cementing a true global leadership position for USA.
What is so different with the current regime is of course not just a matter of lost chances but colossal cost to US interests abroad. Not to mention lack of any significant progress in any key domestic agenda issues to balance it all.
ZB tries to make the argument at the end that all is not lost, and US still has a chance to regain its leadership position following certain steps.
His argument is not very credible though. He ignores the fact that US, as a nation, thinks and feels very differently than the one of 50s and 60s which put US on a moral path to global leadership. Things are indeed different, and second chance seems to be wishful thinking mostly.
Writing is excellent as expected, delivery and reasoning forceful and complete. Interesting reading for those of us contemplating the next chapter.
Brilliant. A must read as we approach the future election they are boring us with ..........2007-06-28
I happen to hear this guy on Charlie Rose the other night and went out and bought his book. The book isnt as interesting as he is in an interview live but its well worth the read.
His analysis of the past three administrations is superb. It is balanced and I think offers great insight into the hits and misses of our leaders. He goes on to explain his views on the world post Russia and our missed opportunites. His close of post 2008 I would love to hear discussed by him and others.
An important book for this country. Get it and read it and act.
Book Description
The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban's backyard
Anyone who despairs of the individual's power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan's treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson's quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.
Customer Reviews:
5 Stars Plus.......2007-10-10
I agree with some of the critisms that the prose distracts from the narrative. Additionally, there is too much of the author and not enough of "Dr. Greg". However, all of the negatives are superceded by a HUGE positive-- that this is an inspirational story of one man making an incredible difference in people's lives. C.A.I. will now go on my list of charities.
Inspiring, moving, excellent.......2007-10-10
This is one of the best books I've ever read. I haven't been able to stop thinking or talking about it since I finished. It's incredibly well written, suspenseful and very moving. It inspired me to increase my efforts to help others. I agree whole heartedly with the underlying premise of the book - that peace comes from education and that those who are left in poverty with no tools for overcoming this will naturally turn to the path of least resistance - the path of hatred, terror and war. Another thing I really appreciated about this book was that I could give it to my grandma - it doesn't have any profanity or other such material that would make me embarrassed for her to read.
This is a template on how to eliminate terrorism.......2007-10-10
I adore this book and believe that education is the answer. One person can make a difference.
Wow.......2007-10-07
Simply the most moving story I have ever read. This will renew your faith in humanity.
This is a life changing book.......2007-10-06
I have recommended (and given) this book to many of my friends and all three of my book clubs. Some people found the beginning a little tedious but I did not. I enjoyed the background material and have decided that, when I grow up (I'm already 52), I want to be Greg Mortenson. I admire him and think his wife must be a saint. I learned a lot, and more importantly, felt a lot while reading this book. It is very inspiring. As Americans, we have so much to learn before we offer to help.
Book Description
Version 3.5 editions of the Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and
Dungeon Master's Guide are now offered in one slip-covered gift set.
In the 30-year history of the
Dungeons & Dragons game, this type of boxed set has never been available -- until now. Enjoy the foundation of the
Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game in one product that is a great gift for someone you want to introduce to the hobby or as a gift to yourself.
With these three books in one case, the entire world of
Dungeons & Dragons is yours to explore and share with others.
Customer Reviews:
Unbelievable deal!.......2007-10-08
I have been looking for a deal on these three core rule books for a while. I didn't feel like paying full price for the books since D&D 4.0 is coming next summer. I had just about decided that I would have to get used copies when I happened upon the Borders website. I had no idea that Borders and Amazon worked together. All three books come in a single boxed set and together the cost is less than 2/3 what buying them seperately would be. in fact, it's less than buying the three used separately. The box is nice and sturdy and features some cool artwork. If you are just starting out with the 3.5 ruleset, I don't think you can find a better price.
Good Stuff.......2007-09-29
The core rule book set is a nice addition for any D&D gamer. They are nice books and the box holder is a nice addition. It keeps the books together so you can grab them quickly. I would suggest this pack for those of you who want to start gaming or need new books. The price was reasonable and we would recommend them to others happily.
The books are colorful and the paper highquality. These books last through years and years of reference and play. They are must have for all gamers.
Dungeons & Dragons.......2007-09-28
The book came on time and in good condidtion.
My son was thrilled with the books and could not wait for them to come. The minute they showed up he disappeared into his room and didn't come out for hours.
Fantastic game for a fantastic price.......2007-08-24
D&D is a fantastic game, and for this price, it would have been a sin to miss. This three book was design to be definitely enough if you do not want to be invest more into the game -- magnificent tips to the dungeon masters to desing your own monsters, magic items, adventures and worlds, tons of spells, weapons and everything you can imagine. I can hardly put them aside.
D&D Core Rulebook Review.......2007-08-24
These books were purchased for my son who is 17 and just got into D&D. He actually asked for only the first book. When realizing there were other core books and the great price on the 3 book set, I had to get it for him. He was thrilled receiving extra books and had indicated that this is a great started set for persons new to D&D as well as experienced players.
Book Description
There will be three, kin of your kin . . .
The wild cats have flourished in their new home on the banks of the lake for several seasons, and the Clans are growing strong and healthy with new kits. The time has come for three kits of ThunderClan to become apprentices.
Hollypaw, Jaypaw, and Lionpaw spring from a strong legacy: children of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, two of the noblest ThunderClan warriors, and grandchildren of the great leader Firestar himself. All three young cats possess unusual power and talent and seem certain to provide strength to the Clan for the next generation.
But there are dark secrets around the three, and a mysterious prophecy hints at trouble to come. An undercurrent of rage is rising against those who are not Clanborn, and the warrior code is in danger of being washed away by a river of blood. All the young cats' strength will be needed if the Clans are to survive.
. . . who hold the power of the stars in their paws.
Customer Reviews:
Good!.......2007-10-01
I really think that this book kind of created a new writing style for all the series. I mean, there was one for Warriors, there was one for New Prophecy, and there is a new one for this, and I think that it is really good. I really think that the Erin Hunters outdid themselves on this one.
Great Book.......2007-09-19
I really liked the new Warriors book! I can't wait until the next book comes out. This book is by far Hunter's best book. Jaypaw, the main character, is angry most of the time because he believes his clanmates think he is weak. Jaypaw, Hollypaw and Lionpaw are the grandchildren of Firestar, Sandstorm, Goldenflower and Tigerstar, from previous books. And they are the children of Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight. Hollypaw becomes the medicine cat apprentice, but then realizes she has special abilities as a fighter just as Lionpaw is a fine hunter and Jaypaw has mysterious powers with StarClan.
Choose your poison: Predictable Plot or Irritating Characters?.......2007-09-05
The Sight tries to recapture the original series, but Firestar's grandkits are tiresome. Jaykit in particular is exasperating; being blind apparantly means that nothing in the world is good enough, and your handicap gives you grounds to continuously complain. Hollykit's arc in exploring medicine cattery seems pointless, (because it ultimately is), and Lionkit is instantly forget-able as an ... arrogant cat who falls into a tunnel?
Being a Warrior apparantly means that you have to be miserable, while you're upholding a code that keeps changing every time the elders feel you need chiding. There have to be 4 Clans, but not really, because there were 5, and StarClan just decided not to tell you. You can't abandon a kit, no matter what, but not really, because Shadowclan likes watching the ones that get caught in snares. And don't forget that StarClan is all-powerful, except when they tell you they aren't, and helpfully offer obscure prophecy. A true Warrior doesn't trespass or steal prey, but no one ever seems to call Shadowclan or Windclan out on that during the Gatherings. And even though the code says a cat is supposed to help a cat that asks for it, none of the leaders ever do, because it'd look bad. They'd rather keep their pride than feed their dying elders.
Ultimately, I can't understand why an animal as naturally disdainful and independent as a cat would swear allegience to such smoky laws. Gatherings especially irk me, because no cat would ever bother to find out how another pack is doing, especially if they're not on their territory. Why go to see a bunch of cats brag about how well they're doing?
The world-building in Warriors doesn't stand up to a lot of scrutiny, and any reader that bothers to start looking closer will find themselves disappointed. Young readers are more likely to forgive the large holes (suspesion of disbelief is always easier when you're little), but that will last only as long as that reader is young. But they grow up, and Warriors will become replaced by better anthropomorphic fantasy, like Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams, and Fire-Bring by David Clement-Davies.
You don't have to be a kid to love the Warrior Cats.......2007-08-29
I am 54 yrs. old and a grandmother. A year ago I was unemployed and was at the bookstore and they had one of the Warrior Cat books on display up front. I am a huge cat/dog lover and I foster cats for a local rescue. Well, I couldn't put these books down. I bought one after another. I hadn't been to the bookstore in awhile as I am working again. Last night I bought The Sight and I can hardly wait to read it this weekend. I'm addicted and I know this book will be just as good as the first. For young and old alike...read The Warrior Cat books....they are delightful!!! Kudos to Erin Hunter for providing an intermediate book series so entertaining to adults...I am reminded of the years I spent in Study Hall reading horse and dog books and I still cry when anything sad happens!! Grammy
A Great Start to a Great Series.......2007-08-16
Without giving too much away, let me say that The Sight is about Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight's kits, Jaypaw, Hollypaw, and Lionpaw and their incredible abilities from StarClan. Most other previously key characters fall back a bit to allow the three kits to take center stage. Don't believe what you hear when others say that Firestar is dead. He isn't. He's still leader of ThunderClan, it's just that he isn't the main character anymore.
This book is an excellent beginning to the series, although I dock a star for the cliche "dog attack" and "fox attack". However, Jaypaw's abilities are original and intriguing, Hollypaw is a lovable character, and Lionpaw seems to be getting a love interest in Heatherpaw of WindClan.
This is an excellent book for any Warriors enthusiast and can give any fanfiction writer the right sort of inspiration they need. If you haven't read this yet, do so!
Amazon.com
In the 80s, Tracy Kidder's The Soul of a New Machine attempted to define the story of the development of a minicomputer: from the new science to the business and nascent culture of electronic hardware and software that was characteristic of that time. Scott Rosenberg's Dreaming in Code draws on Kidder's model as it attempts to document the state of software, the Internet, and everything circa 2006 through the lens of Chandler, an as-yet-unfinished software application for the management of personal information.
The Chandler project--driven by Mitch Kapor, the founder of Lotus Development and main author of its 1-2-3 spreadsheet, and later co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation--isn't the primary point of Dreaming in Code, though reading about software people and their social behavior is at least as interesting as reading about that of meerkats or monkeys. Rather, Chandler is a rhetorical device with which Rosenberg takes on the big questions: How do software development teams work (or not)? Why does the reuse of software modules rarely work altogether correctly? Does open-source development by volunteers on the Internet lead to innovation or just insanely bifurcated chaos? Chandler helps his readers think more clearly about all of these issues; however, "answers" to these questions are, of course, not to be had, which is one of his points.
The problem with books about technical subjects that aspire to appeal to a general audience, particularly computers and software, is that such subjects are so far outside the realm of familiarity of most people that the prose bogs down in analogy and metaphor. Rosenberg manages to avoid too much of that and deliver a readable account of software development and culture. --David Wall
Book Description
Their story takes us through a maze of dead ends and exhilarating breakthroughs as they and their colleagues wrestle not only with the abstraction of code but with the unpredictability of human behavior,
especially their own. Along the way, we encounter black holes, turtles, snakes, dragons, axe-sharpening, and yak-shaving—and take a guided tour through the theories and methods, both brilliant and misguided, that litter the history of software development, from the famous “mythical man-month” to Extreme Programming. Not just for technophiles but for anyone captivated by the drama of invention, Dreaming in Code offers a window into both the information age and the workings of the human mind.
Customer Reviews:
Comparison to Soul of a New Machine unfair to Tracy Kidder.......2007-09-23
This book has widely been touted as the software version of Soul of a New Machine. Being an erstwhile hardware hacker, I loved Soul, and because I've since been corrupted by the sirens of software, I looked forward to Dreaming in Code. But maybe because my expectations were too high (I was led to expect something like Kidder's book) I was disappointed.
Kidder's book was successful because it reached a definite conclusion: the new machine was completed, and it met its goal of beating the VAX. During the course of the book, the reader vicariously became a hardware hacker, a power tool, pedal to the metal - you could feel the tension, the long nights into morning, the frustration.
In contrast, Chandler does not get finished in Dreaming; it's barely alpha test. Of course that's not the author's fault, but in that respect alone this book falls far short of Kidder's. As far as style, Rosenberg is not nearly as effective as Kidder in conveying to the reader the mentality, the spirit, the verve, the je ne sais quoi that embodies the software hacker. And I say that as someone who has had to hack software to the wee hours. In other words, I know what it's like, and Dreaming didn't really bring back wistful memories of the quest to get it working; how would a lay person get it?
That said, Dreaming is a start, but IMHO it still leaves a void for a book that really is a software version of Soul of a New Machine.
Lots of good information sandwiched between mind numbing minutia.......2007-09-20
This is a worthwhile read for anybody involved in the business of developing software. I have to agree though the some of the comments regarding the mind numbing boring aspect of a lot of this book. The book does a great job and revisiting the history of software engineering, the software crisis, the art versus science versus engineering aspect of creating software, etc. etc. however, no conclusions are drawn and we're just as confused by the end of the book as we are when we started. As somebody who considers himself a software engineer in professional and has been working in the realm of software for more than twenty years, I do believe there are answers to the questions raised in this book ( I am not going to answer the questions here! Maybe I'll write my own book! ). I also agree with the comments regarding the choice of project. The analogy to me is that it seemed like a bunch of really clever people sitting down in a San Francisco Garrett, trying to write the next great American novel, by each writing a sentence or paragraph individually-not knowing whether it's going to be a love story or procedural legal drama. On the one hand it's depressing, that was still discussing the same issues that we've been discussing for the last twenty years, the only other hand at least it looks like I'll have a job may be in for the next twenty years.
I also take offense to the attempt to continue the stereotypical view of the software GEEK. The maturity of software is written by regular people, working for regular corporations, who live regular lifestyles, with no ponytails, no antisocial habits, and no dogs running around crapping on the floor
Painful.......2007-09-05
I made it half-way through before I couldn't stand it. The project wandered in the weeds, the book wandered right along with it. I thought the book (as Soul of a New Machine did for building a computer+software) would capture the excitement of software development. It didn't.
Maybe the Chandler project is really a team containing some very reputable people stuck in the doldrums, and maybe there would be some point in reading about it if the author made me feel the struggle of the developers trying to break out of the trap. Not even close.
Of course, maybe all that good stuff is in the second half of the book. If so, and if you buy this book, skip the first half. There's nothing worth reading there.
Interesting exploration of programming process.......2007-08-30
Dreaming in Code
Scott Rosenberg 2007
The basic theme, or at least the framework, of Scott Rosenberg's "Dreaming in Code" is an attempt by Mitch Kapor (of Lotus 1-2-3 fame) to develop a new software product, a sort of universal information manager (combo email / calendar / everything else) designated "Chandler". To do this, Kapor starts up OSAF, the Open Source Applications Foundation, and the initial plan is to develop it as an open source project, where there will be a core of dedicated programmers, paid and volunteer, but also a large on-line community with access to the source code who will kibitz and make contributions.
Initially, I found "Dreaming" less than compelling for a couple of reasons. First, I just can't get that enthusiastic about Chandler. Sure, there are some interesting design and coding problems, but the end product rates a big "eh" on my scale. Maybe I've just never operated in the right environment, where it's crucial that my calendar on my computer is magically synchronized with my wife's on her computer at her job, and with both of our home computers. A convenience, perhaps, but a major paradigm change, hardly. And second, none of the characters, the personalities and their interaction, grabbed my interest, either for their presence at OSAF or their outside life (did any even have an outside life?).
But after a few chapters, another theme developed: I found Rosenberg's reporting on the general history and philosophy of software development to be much more interesting and dynamic than the particular example on which he hung it. I've seen a good bit of this stuff before, but there was also much new to me and everything was put neatly in a historical frame (sometimes amusingly so, as when a litany of woes that sounds very contemporary was revealed to be from the 1960's or even 50's). The usual questions are brought up -- Why is writing software so hard? Why can't simple "leggo blocks" be developed which can then be snapped together without costly hand-crafting? Why can't we really "engineer" software in the sense that we can a bridge or a toaster oven? Why is it so hard for groups to work together on large software projects, to develop and keep to realistic schedules? Rosenberg doesn't provide any definitive answers, because no one else has, but he does describe many attempts to do so. And as the general theme develops, the example of Chandler itself becomes more interesting, even exciting.
The book overall is well and pithily written ("it's schedule would evolve (read: lengthen) as necessary."), and Rosenberg is obviously well read and has integrated a great deal of material on software engineering as well as observed closely the Chandler project for several years (as of the writing, Chandler was barely beginning to put togther a usable but restricted version). There are a few errors, or at least misdirections, just enough to remind us that the author is not himself a programmer or techie. E.g., on p 239, his description of the GOTO statement (as in Djikstra's "GOTO Considered Harmful") and spaghetti code is misleading: "[GOTO] handed off control from one point in a program to another unconditionally, taking nothing else into account -- neither the values of different variables nor the state of the program and its data." Of course even in the era of 1960's Fortran, which Rosenberg invokes, the naked GOTO was relatively uncommon in higher level languages. [In assembly coding, where shifting existing code to insert an extra line could cause problems, 'patches' were often just placed somewhere else, with GOTO's leading to and from them.] More commonly it would be combined with a conditional statement specifically to take into account the "values of different variables", such as A and B here:
IF (A.LT.B) GOTO 275
[ if A is less than B, then jump to a statement labelled 275 and proceed from there ]
A seemingly naked GOT might appear when combined with this to form a "roll your own" IF..THEN..ELSE.. structure:
IF (A.LT.B) GOTO 100
GOTO 110
100
110
Of course such branching can lead to very confusing jumbles of code unless the programmer makes an effort at structure, clarity and commenting.
If my recollection is correct (and I began programming with Fortran and Algol in the mid 60's), the above was about the only form of branching available in the earliest Fortran, but certainly by the late 60's programmers had less easily abused control statements such as IF..THEN..ELSE, as well as the functions and subroutines that had been used since the beginning or near it. Djikstra's shocking 1968 proposal was that programmers should be limited to a carefully defined set of such 'structured' tools, and the simple GOTO (who the heck knows what or where statement 275 is in the above example?) totally abandoned.
Overall, an excellent book for its history and observations on software development and its problems. I'd give those parts alone 5*, or maybe 4.5* for the occasional statement that seems a bit off, but because the story of Chandler and OSAF itself was mostly pretty dull, or at least unmotivated, to me, I'll knock it down to 4*. If office desktop managers really perk you up, you may enjoy it more fully than I did.
Interesting, but like the project it covers, the book rambles on with little focus.......2007-08-10
I bought this book based on a write-up in one of the trade mags. I found it interesting. It's quite a mix of IT historical anecdotes, project management insights, and programming and system architecture methodologies all woven around the story of OASF's Chandler PIM project. However, in the end, like the project it covers, it suffers from lack of structure and overall focus. It rambles on, and the musings and tangents occasionally stray far. There is a "stuck in limbo" quality to the story telling as there is with the project. Eventually the author has to reach some sort of closure, which is abrupt and forced. Overall, I enjoyed the tale. I have a formal IT background and enjoyed revisiting many of the concepts reviewed. However, by the end, it was getting to be a tedious read.
Book Description
- Written by an industry veteran who has used Maya in such films as Mortal Kombat and Shrek, this full-color book offers advanced, professional-level techniques for texturing and lighting for rendering 3D models in Maya
- Begins with an introduction of various lighting concepts, then offers readers detailed explanations of Maya's numerous hidden features so they can achieve amazing results quickly
- Features an unparalleled exploration of Maya's Hypershade, where animators create connections between shaders, texture maps, lights, cameras, and geometry
- Provides a thorough look at rendering in Maya, including everything from batch rendering to global illumination workflow and HDRI techniques
- The CD-ROM includes the Maya Personal Learning Edition, textures, tools, professional shaders, and more
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for Professionals.......2007-08-13
I bought this manual to help me ugrade from Maya 7.0 to Maya 8.5 and it's become my most prized and relied upon resource. Every tutorial I've gone through has worked perfectly (no missing steps or errors so far), Mr. Lanier writes coherently & well, and each new topic is presented in a straightforward and matter-of-fact fashion.
As a professional Video Game Artist, I've reccommended this manual to our enitire company of 300, and will continue to do so to everyone else. In the past, decent documentation on the finer points of Maya has been elusive, but Mr. Lanier has saved us! I will be adding his other manuals to my library.
Wow.......2007-03-09
This Book is just Perfect...it tells you EVERYTHING about the Lighting and the Texturing.... if you want to learn about that 2 things... Buy This Book NOW
A Maya book absolutely worth owning.......2007-03-08
Lee Lanier has approached the writing of his latest book with the same intensity, accuracy, and zeal that he demonstrated when he was my teacher at De Anza College several years ago. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Maya, and of Maya lighting in particular. The material is laid out methodically and in great detail. Lee never glosses over a topic, but goes in depth to provide insight into the theory behind every concept. I highly recommend this fine book.
Great resource, lots of good information.......2007-01-04
I've read a number of Maya books over the past few years. Most focus on basic-intermediate usage. Lanier's book is a great resource for learning advanced tips and theory, with many color pictures. This is the best book I've found about using Hypershade nodes to build professional materials.
I particularly liked that the included DVD contains Maya project files for every scenario pictured in the book (although most of the cool models are not included, just simple geometric primitives). These project files contain great setups comparing different lighting and rendering settings. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in learning intermediate-advanced Maya topics.
Excellent !.......2006-11-18
I've been reviewing several books on this topic, and this one's a winner! It's specific and useful and goes into great detail about nodes in Hypershade and how to use them that the manuals don't.
If you're serious about reaching an advanced level with your Maya rendering skills, then this book is for you. Just buy it now, and you can thank me later! In terms of lighting design and the esthetic side of things, I also like the book Digital Lighting and Rendering, 2nd Edition by the Pixar artist Jeremy Birn, I think the idea to buy both of these together is an unbeatable combination for any serious Maya user!
Book Description
"Welcome to the Faith Club. We're three mothers from three faiths -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism -- who got together to write a picture book for our children that would highlight the connections between our religions. But no sooner had we started talking about our beliefs and how to explain them to our children than our differences led to misunderstandings. Our project nearly fell apart."
After September 11th, Ranya Idliby, an American Muslim of Palestinian descent, faced constant questions about Islam, God, and death from her children, the only Muslims in their classrooms. Inspired by a story about Muhammad, Ranya reached out to two other mothers -- a Christian and a Jew -- to try to understand and answer these questions for her children. After just a few meetings, however, it became clear that the women themselves needed an honest and open environment where they could admit -- and discuss -- their concerns, stereotypes, and misunderstandings about one another. After hours of soul-searching about the issues that divided them, Ranya, Suzanne, and Priscilla grew close enough to discover and explore what united them.
The Faith Club is a memoir of spiritual reflections in three voices that will make readers feel as if they are eavesdropping on the authors' private conversations, provocative discussions, and often controversial opinions and conclusions. The authors wrestle with the issues of anti-Semitism, prejudice against Muslims, and preconceptions of Christians at a time when fundamentalists dominate the public face of Christianity. They write beautifully and affectingly of their families, their losses and grief, their fears and hopes for themselves and their loved ones. And as the authors reveal their deepest beliefs, readers watch the blossoming of a profound interfaith friendship and the birth of a new way of relating to others.
In a final chapter, they provide detailed advice on how to start a faith club: the questions to ask, the books to read, and most important, the open-minded attitude to maintain in order to come through the experience with an enriched personal faith and understanding of others.
Pioneering, timely, and deeply thoughtful, The Faith Club's caring message will resonate with people of all faiths.
For more information or to start your own faith club visit www.thefaithclub.com
Customer Reviews:
The Faith Club.......2007-10-11
I bought this book when on a business trip and looking for something to read in the evenings. I thought it would be a "soft" book to use as a "sleeping pill," as it were. In reality, it is an excellently written book on the journey of three women of different religions who discover, through the process of "agreeing to disagree," that their "religions" are in reality the same faith. In the beginning, one of the women describes them as "one having a religion with no faith, one a faith with no religion, and one having both." The three women set out to explore their differences and their similarities -- arguing, discussing, and perhaps even compromising -- until they find themselves supporting each other in their differences. I believe their method could be applied to other "differences" as well. Our media and our politics (as well as our religions) have become too egocentric and not willing to honestly explore what people of the opposite party really think, believe, and want. Read this book, discover the process, and "agree to disagree."
Faith Club.......2007-09-17
My wife purchased this book and is reading it for a book club. I heard her tell a friend that she loved this book.
The Faith Club.......2007-09-13
This book was full of good information and challenged me to think about my faith and to acknowledge the similarity between all three of these faiths.
As a Christian I was disturbed by the fact that the Christian seemed to give up some of the basic Christian tenets (that Jesus is truly the son of God and the way to salvation)but that did not ruin the intellectual\spiritual challenges of the book. I could discuss the topics of this book for years.
One Book; Three Pespectives.......2007-08-24
This was an informative yet personal book about the challenge of living in a diverse culture during a time of religious and political debate. Hearing the three women's voices alternatively helped to reveal different viewpoints and interpretations of the events and policies that affect us all. I appreciated some of the new information I read about Palestinians in particular. Yet more than gaining great new knowledge, I gained a broader perspective and deeper insight into many of today's most pressing national and international issues. At the same time, I was given the opportunity to glimpse into the homelife and family life of three different families dealing with three different realities and backgrounds. Fascinating, personal, introspective and heartwarming!
Not a minute too soon!.......2007-07-25
Considering all the conflict connected to religion in this country and around the world, "The Faith Club" was published not a minute too soon!
Not only is this book very informative about the three religions it addresses and very helpful at exposing and debunking stereotypes and misconceptions about Judaism, Christianity and Islam... it is written in a way that is accessible and interesting. Granted, the three woman, a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim, are not religious scholars, nor are they fundamentalists who strictly adhere to all the dogmas and literal interpretations of their respective faiths. But they are very intelligent, educated, spiritual women who greatly value their religious backgrounds and are willing to do the hard work, research and introspection required to not only explore their own faith but also the the faiths of others. If these women were fundamentalist believers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.... this book would not have been possible. Reading "The Faith Club" was a great benefit to me and I am recommending it to everyone these days!
Average customer rating:
- Fantastic: Reminds me of "Eat, Pray, Love"
- Waiting for Daisy
- Highly recommended for those feeling alone or isolated in their fertility journey!
- A wonderful book
- Poignant, funny, and on-the-mark!
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Waiting for Daisy: A Tale of Two Continents, Three Religions, Five Infertility Doctors, an Oscar, an Atomic Bomb, a Rom
Peggy Orenstein
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
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Women
| Specific Groups
| Biographies & Memoirs
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Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
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ASIN: 1596910178
Release Date: 2007-02-06 |
Book Description
Waiting for Daisy is about loss, love, anger and redemption. It’s about doing all the things you swore you’d never do to get something you hadn’t even been sure you wanted. It’s about being a woman in a confusing, contradictory time. It’s about testing the limits of a loving marriage. And it’s about trying (and trying and trying) to have a baby.
Orenstein’s story begins when she tells her new husband that she’s not sure she ever wants to be a mother; it ends six years later after she’s done almost everything humanly possible to achieve that goal, from “fertility sex” to escalating infertility treatments to New Age remedies to forays into international adoption. Her saga unfolds just as professional women are warned by the media to heed the ticking of their biological clocks, and just as fertility clinics have become a boom industry, with over two million women a year seeking them out. Buffeted by one jaw-dropping obstacle after another, Orenstein seeks answers both medical and spiritual in America and Asia, along the way visiting an old flame who’s now the father of fifteen, and discovering in Japan a ritual of surprising solace. All the while she tries to hold onto a marriage threatened by cycles, appointments, procedures and disappointments. Waiting for Daisy is an honest, wryly funny report from the front, an intimate page-turner that illuminates the ambivalence, obsession, and sacrifice that characterize so many modern women’s lives.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic: Reminds me of "Eat, Pray, Love".......2007-10-03
I thoroughly enjoyed this book-- surprisingly, because I didn't have any personal experience with infertility. I do have many friends and relatives with these experiences, so I was curious to understand more about what they're going through. The author is a brilliant and clever writer-- I loved her "voice"-- it reminded me of Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love." She's funny, honest and insightful. This was actually a page-turner-- not what I would have thought for this type of memoir. I LOVED this book and I'm recommending it to all my friends.
Waiting for Daisy .......2007-09-25
This book was difficult to read. Author was cold, hard to connect with and not easy to agree with. Definitely not like-able or personable. Very selfish individual. I hope she raises Daisy to Not be like her.
Highly recommended for those feeling alone or isolated in their fertility journey!.......2007-09-24
This book was a God-send to me in my own painful infertility journey. Peggy's descriptions of her mental states expressed my own, but in ways I could not put words to. From her initial ambivalence about parenthood, to all-consuming obsessions with achieving it, her relations with her husband, and frustrations with fertility specialists, her journey affirmed that I was not alone in my journey. Her sense of humor and wit actually made me giggle a few times and, mostly, helped me feel so much less alone. I would highly recommend this book!!
A wonderful book.......2007-09-19
I read this book all in one evening. I loved every page of it. I have read just about every book on this topic, but no one has described, with such accuracy and eloquence, the trying to conceive journey like Peggy Orenstein. I have not read another book that I feel deals better with this topic, especially in terms of being realistic. Nothing seems forced, her doubts and concerns are so vivid. She states everything that has been swimming around in my head in such a clear and honest way, that it actually helped me to organize my own feelings about this struggle. I would recommend this book to everyone going through infertility, and to everyone who knows someone going through infertility, and to everyone else for that matter. It is beautifully written; touching, but funny; sad, but hopeful. This is a book that everyone will be able to relate to in one way or another.
Poignant, funny, and on-the-mark!.......2007-09-13
Peggy Orenstein's portrayal of a quest for a child in "Waiting for Daisy" is candid and humorous. I enjoyed every chapter of this thought-provoking book. Orenstein's honest eloquence in expressing her feelings throughout her incredible journey moved me so much. Time and time again, I found myself thinking, "I thought I was the only one who felt that way!"
Whether you have ever been through any of Ms. Orenstein's challenges: cancer, infertility, IVF treatments, and adoption attempts, or whether you have simply felt somewhat ambivalent about parenthood.... this book is for you.
Book Description
This is the revised edition of the original Three Battlegrounds book. Along with some slight text changes, it has an additional chapter.
This book explores the three arenas of spiritual warfare that the maturing Christian will face: the mind, the church and the heavenly places. It provides a foundation of insight, wisdom and discernment on the nature of the battle and the keys to victory.
Customer Reviews:
great book.......2007-10-02
Not only is the author a great writer, but he possesses an insight that is rare in our day and age. I also liken this book to "A Step into Deliverance," by Toni Pugh. He deals skillfully and autobiographically about his struggle and victory over the spirit of Jezebel. I highly recommend it.
material for mature christian.......2007-09-10
This is an excellent book on spiritual warfare as a mature christian desiring to go to next level in Christ.
It will give you insight into spiritual realm and also allow you to see where you are needing deliverance,what deception you are living in.
Lies are exposed in this book and awesome truth is revealed for the believer.
Knowledge applied = Wisdom You will get this in this book!
Change of Pace from Traditional Christian Reading.......2007-08-25
I really liked the stark, in-your-face style. Too many Christian books seem vague, ambiguous, and isolated from the "real world". This was a great wake up call to the "real" spiritual war we're waging.
Excellent Teaching.......2007-07-13
Clear, precise and indepth teaching on spiritual warfare. I have bought several copies for others and continue to reread this profound book to keep these truths in the forefront of my mind and daily Christian living.
The Three Battlegrounds.......2007-07-08
This book is an EYE OPENER on spiritual warfare. I purchased three copies and am sharing it some of the members of my church. They all say they will be purchasing a copy of this amazing book for their own library. In Sister Jeannette's words, "This is a must have in my bookcase".
The author uses scripture to support each claim made in the book. A MUST HAVE for sure.
God Bless,
Vivian
Brookly, NY
Books:
- The Party of Death: The Democrats, the Media, the Courts, and the Disregard for Human Life
- The Shape Shifter (Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Novels)
- The Sugar Solution: Weight Gain? Memory Lapses? Mood Swings? Fatigue? Your Symptoms Are Real - And Your Solution is Here
- The Tao of Pooh
- The Unquiet Grave : The FBI and the Struggle for the Soul of Indian Country
- Tripwire
- Ulysses S. Grant : Memoirs and Selected Letters : Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant / Selected Letters, 1839-1865 (Library of America)
- What's Love Got to Do With It?: A Critical Look at American Charity
- Where is Baby's Mommy?
- White Night (The Dresden Files, Book 9)
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![Digital Lighting and Rendering (2nd Edition) ([digital])](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0321316312.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
