Reviews (98)

More Fact, Less Opinion Please
There are many areas of this book where this brilliant scientist documents science correctly and accurately, but unfortunately Dr. Collins also tries to pass off a lot of erroneous opinions as fact.Some specific examples follow. Great Book!!!
I have thouroughly enjoyed this book, although i could not give it past three stars.
Required Reading for Fundamentalists and Atheists
This gentle, well reasoned and insightful book should be required reading for all fundamentalists and atheists.I'm a Christian and since I hit my first biology class at age 13 I've wondered how to explain to all the folks in my denomination that they were wrong about evolution and that denying evolution was really a slap in the face of God, denying one of His most amazing acts because they don't like those nasty evolutionists.To believers he says, "The consequence (of being anti-evolution) can bring ridicule on the church, driving sincere seekers away from God instead of into His arms."On the other hand, those nasty evolutionists ought to read it as well.To them Dr. Collins says, "Keep in mind that the pure water of spiritual truth is carried in those rusty containers called human beings, so there should be no surprise that at times those foundational beliefs can be severely distorted."Yes, both Christians and scientists can be buttheads.Don't let that stand in the way of the truth.Read this book.(Did you hear me, Kansas State Board of Education?) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Apologetics    2. General    3. Philosophy    4. Philosophy & Social Aspects    5. Religion    6. Religion & Science    7. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    8. Religion - Socialissues    9. Religion And Science    10. Philosophy of religion    11. Philosophy of science    12. Religion / Philosophy   

Reviews (12)

the nice guy finaly finishes first
I just read the book iWoz. If you are a Mac-head, or just a computer geek who is intrigued by the origins of the PC industry, thisbook is definately a must-read. It gives a great, human approach to the subject of Steve Wozniak, inventor, and the people in his life who helped draw him out and create the Apple I, the computer that really signified the true arrival of small, affordable computers for the masses. The prose is written in a very informal and relaxed style, as if Steve is sitting across from you and telling you his story himself. I found it very engaging. I am a very tough critic, but this is definately a book I will read again.

Gives you a great sense of the Woz.
This is an excellent book about a truly interesting and innovative man. It provides real insight into his work, his style and his personality. I had the pleasure of seeing Steve on his speaking tour and I was really impressed by how the book captures his style, tone and spirit. Steve has a real childlike quality to him which shows through alternatively as playfulness, humor, goofiness and innocence.He also has a long history with promoting education and teaching.
Great Promise but Poor Delivery
The real problem with the book is that it's packaged and sold as an adult book but it's actually a children's book. Stories are toned down for the child audience and at one point, even self-censored, as not being appropriate for a "family audience," as though Woz imagines the family drawn up around father's easy chair to listen to the evening reading. As if... The book ends, as all good children's books do, with the ending that he hoped his twelve-year-old audience will be as lucky as he was...sort of a go though and do likewise.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Business    7. Computer engineers    8. Computer industry    9. Computers - General Information    10. History    11. History Of Technology    12. Industries - Computer Industry    13. Inventors    14. Personal Memoirs    15. United States    16. Computers / History    17. Miscellaneous Items   

Reviews (14)

Big Joke
Beware! This book is no serious science book, it's no more than a paper-incarnation of a big poor joke..
The most incomplete engineering book ever.
It's a good book it just askes me as a student to assume too much.Some of the problems at the end of the chapters are incomplete.
Excellent for starters in fluid mechanics engineering.
I bought the book by mistake since I was looking for a more physical introduction to fluid mechanics. However, once I started reading, I could not stop. The book is a pleasure to read. Every concept is explained crystal clear. No single step is skipped. Almost every concept is illustrated with one or more very detailed solved examples. It is frequent in most technical books to find how the level of clarity degrades progressively as you approach the end of the book. This is not the case. Every chapter up to the very end is carefully arranged and the level is maintained.
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Subjects:  1. Fluid mechanics    2. Mechanics - Dynamics - Fluid Dynamics    3. Mechanics - General    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Textbooks    7. Science / Mechanics   

Reviews (6)

Critical book for research design
This was a required text for one of my graduate Professional Communication classes. If I lost it, I would have to buy another one because it's that good. And these text books are expensive. My professors have entire libraries at their disposal, and they chose this particular book for one of their courses.'nuff said.

excellent
The contents are a little complex but comprehensive. It is a perfect book for my academic research.

Excelente
Es como una Biblia para los investigadores que quieren aprender sobre la investigaci�n cualitativa ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Research    2. Research & Methodology    3. Social Science    4. Social sciences    5. Sociology    6. Social Science / Research    7. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (20)

"Not Even Wrong" for Dummies
I read this book a month or so after finishing "Not Even Wrong" by mathematician Peter Woit.Both volumes deal with the same subject: the failure of string theory to make testable predictions that would allow it to be proven or falsified.Both works are excellent.This one has the advantage of being far more understandable for laypeople. Finally the truth
After years of spirited propaganda by string theorists purporting to have stumbled upon the ultimate theory of nature, we now have a revealing, tell-all tale that throws back the covers on what has turned out to be the most intellectually disengenuous ruse in the history of science - the continual presentation of string theory as the be-all, end-all theory of everything -despite its utter lack of predictive power, its failure to predict dark energy, its myriad of versions, and its reliance on anthropic reasoning. Smolin, along with Peter Woit (who also dared to go against the 'establishment') should be thanked for bringing this house-of-crashing cards to the public's attention. Despite pitiful and below-the-belt attacks and outright dismissal by members of the 'stringy' establishment, including a scathing and unprovoked attack by a theorist from Harvard who sees a threat in works of this nature, Smolin gives us a thoughful and provoking look at the many failures (and occasional mathematical successes) of the most overhyped theory in the history of science.

Great book, but not perfect
This is a superb, five star, technical book. Smolin starts by describing the five, big, unsolved problems of physics. Then proceeds to a wide ranging overview of the last three decades of theoretical and experimental work, assessing how much (if any) progress has been made toward answering the five big problems. String theory from this perspective gets a failing grade. Smolin's writing is always clear and lucid, providing non-physicists with at least a modicum of understanding of complex issues. If you have any interest in modern physics, I urge you to read this book.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. History    3. Methodology    4. Modern - 20th Century    5. Physics    6. Physics (General)    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. String models    10. Science / Physics   

Reviews (7)

Helpful guide
Although I've written many research papers, I found this book to be a great guide to help me 'fill in' the missing pieces in my work.It provides useful guidelines in all phases of research writing, from picking the right topic to statistical techniques.

Practical Research Book Review
Great book, it is very easy to follow and understand.It provides great samples and guides on how to do a research paper. I certainly would recommend it to anyone that needs help or guidance on research project writing.

Required Reading
Practical Research actually is required reading for my Ph.D. Since it is a text book is does cost a lot. It was the same price at Amazon as it would have been to order it through my university. However, the shipping was free with Amazon, so I came out ahead. The book is well written, in plain English. The advice is practical. Some of the advice about using technology is a bit behind the times, but that is to be expected. The font size is small, but this would not be a problem for most people under 40. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Handbooks & Manuals    2. Methodology    3. Reference    4. Research    5. Research & Methodology    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Study Skills    9. Education / Testing & Measurement    10. Philosophy of science   

Reviews (8)

Is Darwinism bad for the environment?
On one level this is an eloquent plea for an environmental awakening sounding the alarm on the destruction of species diversity. But this clarion call is marred by the introduction of Wilson's Darwinian obsessions. The age of environmental exploitation has also been the age of the reign of the false theoretical constructs of Darwin and his misleading and socially destructive theory of natural selection. The book even includes a hectoring section about the laws of biology, which is bad science and concealed propaganda. Wilson should know better. Biologists fancy themselves the sages of nature, but in fact the reductionist positivism of their methodology constitutes a misunderstanding of nature and reflects the concealed ideology of classical liberalism that is responsible for the indifferent ravaging of natural resources and environments. So behind the fine words Wilson is really a spokesman and ideologist for the problem, not the solution.
A Plea for the Religious & the Secular to Work Together for the Biosphere
Thank you Edward O. Wilson for taking this burden on your shoulders; for making the plea to the religious among us to abandon the Dominionist principle that the Earth is here to be bent to humankind's will and save the biodiversity that makes our lives livable.
One long appeal
When Charles Darwin published "The Origin of Species" he declared it to be "one long argument".Today, less than 150 years later, Edward O. Wilson explains that the one species omitted [except for one sentence] from the "argument" is devastating the life of the planet.In one long appeal to a fictional Baptist pastor, Wilson describes what is clear to all but a few dedicated die-hards - life on this planet is in deep trouble.The die-hards are firmly identified in the opening passages; Christians in the US who regard themselves as "biblical literalists".Such folk expect the Apocalypse soon and saving the environment is of little concern.
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Subjects:  1. Biology    2. Creation    3. Environmental Science    4. General    5. Life Sciences - Evolution    6. Philosophy & Social Aspects    7. Religion & Science    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Christianity    11. Science / Environmental Science    12. Science: General Issues   

Editorial Review

The dramatic and chilling story of an Ebola virus outbreak in a surburban Washington, D.C. laboratory, with descriptions of frightening historical epidemics of rare and lethal viruses. More hair-raising than anything Hollywood could think of, because it's all Read more

Reviews (439)

A true life horror story
A really compelling read! I could not put this book down. Before I read 'The Hot Zone' I had never really taken much interest in virology. Richard Preston writes his account very effectively in the style of a novel, but the fact that the horrors of Marburg and Ebola that he describes are actually true, gave me many sleepless nights. A frightening aspect of these filoviruses is that their source has still not been found. If only all non-fictional books were as readable as this!
Truly terrifying from the start to the end
I am someone who loves classics... so I never read this kind. But I happened to read it on my trip to east coast. I finished within 2 days. At first, I was scared, then i accept the truth... it became better. And it's so good from the start to end... So realistic, u can touch the grip of it... feel like it's happening around the corner.
Sub-par
I've been wanting to read this novel for several years now.Taking Virology during my undergraduate career only peaked my interest in reading about Ebola in a novel-style context.There's not much known about the Ebola virus, even to this day, and I was intrigued to see how Preston would incorporate this knowledge (or lackthereof) into his book.While the subject matter is extremely interesting and engaging, I will have to agree that his writing style is sub-par.I found myself skimming through whole paragraphs because of his mundane and repetitive diction and syntax.If it had been written by someone else, I think I could have immensely enjoyed this book (I'm a major science nerd, and I love reading science books).The only thing that kept me going to the finish was the fact that the entire novel was riding on the subject matter Ebola itself.The virus was what kept the novel going (I actually enjoyed all the factual paragraphs about Ebola...reminded me of the course I took in college! Haha, that, and I like seeing how factually correct Preston was).Overall, it seems like most of his facts are correct (there are a few things that I would contest, but that's besides the point), but honestly, the book was a bore...which is a shame, because it's written on such a fascinating subject.
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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Consumer Health    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Diseases - Contagious    5. Ebola virus disease    6. Forensic Medicine    7. Infectious Diseases    8. Medical    9. Primates as laboratory animals    10. Public Health    11. Research & Methodology    12. Reston    13. Virginia    14. Health & Fitness / Diseases / Contagious   

Reviews (89)

Classic - Important
This is the fourth edition, so that means there is value in the message.It has proven its value in the market place.
Easy To Read, But Makes You Feel Very Smart!
This is one of those books that is generally as easy to read as a pop-psychology book, but has the flair and style of something much more intellectual. I do agree with one reviewer who says it reflects much of the material in Cialdini's other book on the subject--but it isn't precisely the same.
Outstanding book
I always look to customer reviews before I decide whether or not to purchase. I never really thought about why I did it until I read this book.
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Subjects:  1. Applied Psychology    2. Compliance    3. Influence (Psychology)    4. Marketing - General    5. Mental Health    6. Persuasion (Psychology)    7. Psychology    8. Cognition & cognitive psychology    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    10. Science: General Issues    11. Self-Help    12. Business & Economics    13. General   

Editorial Review

IDEO, the world's leading design firm, is the brain trust that's behindsome of the more brilliant innovations of the past 20 years--from the Applemouse, the Polaroid i-Zone instant camera, and the Palm V to the "fat" toothbrushfor kids and a self-sealing water bottle for dirt bikers. Not surprisingly,companies all over the world have long wondered what they could learn from IDEO,to come up with better ideas for their own products, services, and operations.In this terrific book from IDEO general manager Tom Kelley (brother of founderDavid Kelley), IDEO finally delivers--but thankfully not in the step-by-step,flow-chart-filled "process speak" of most how-you-can-do-what-we-do businessbooks. Sure, there are some good bulleted lists to be found here--such as thesecrets of successful brainstorming, the qualities of "hot teams," and, towardthe end, 10 key ingredients for "How to Create Great Products and Services,"including "One Click Is Better Than Two" (the simpler, the better) and "GoofProof" (no bugs).Read more

Reviews (61)

Absolutely interesting and motivating!
Tom Kelly presents us with a rare book that protrays interesting insights into how one can be innovative. He gives us hope that you need not be incredibly smart or technological enabled to be among the elite innovators.
Must have
Not every designer but also every innovative business-man should read this book. I've read many design-management books and applied many technics to improve innovation, but only this book tells you what is wrong and what is right with the best big test area in the world, IDEO.

Innovating the process of Innovation
Full of information about the development of innovative products and services ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Case studies    5. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    6. Creative ability    7. Creative ability in business    8. Economics - General    9. New Product Development    10. Operations Research    11. Structural Adjustment    12. Technological innovations    13. Technology    14. Business & Economics / General   

Reviews (18)

Provides many links between these functions and composer effectiveness and strategy.
THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON MUSIC could have been featured in our Health Shelf section, but is reviewed here for its importance to musicians and any interested in music. It's the first to provide a comprehensive scientific analysis of how people experience music: chapters blend psychology, neuroscience, and musical examples from classical to rap to explain different facets of music and how they are perceived by the brain. Lest you think this overly scientific, it also provides many links between these functions and composer effectiveness and strategy.
Fascinating: Music listening as a personal tour through labs, studios and living rooms
Dan Levitin's "This is Your Brain on Music" is a rather unique book. I don't know any other book that bring together personal anecdotes from the music recording world, a wealth of current insights into how our brain allows us to even listen and enjoy music to the more arcane problems of how we structure our ideas into categories.
Not good
This book is carelessly written and edited, with a surprisingly large number of factual errors and misstatements of various kinds.I had high hopes for it, but I came away disappointed, even angry.Although there is some valuable material (p. 187 is great), too much is unacceptably sloppy.The music-theoretical explanations tend to be simplistic and misleading.Some are wrong.Trouble starts early, with a definition of "the A minor scale" as "the one minor scale that uses only the white notes of the piano keyboard."But this "natural" minor scale is not analogous to C major in the way Levitin is implying.The observation that Beethoven's Fifth "restates a melody using different instruments" trivializes a sophisticated musical language."Shave and a haircut" and "Gee Officer Krupke" are not the same rhythm, though Levitin says they are. (They're related, but not identical; it would have been illuminating to discuss the difference.) Mozart did not write "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" at age 6 (or any other age) though he did composevariations on it.(Levitin's claim that the stress pattern in this tune is TWINkle twinkle LITtle star is peculiar, or at least highly debatable.) The definition of a "whole note" as a note that "lasts four beats" is unhelpful.The claim that 6/8 is a "somewhat common meter in which we count six beats to a measure and each eighth note gets one beat" will be news to most practicing musicians, for whom this meter normally has two beats.Schoenberg is lazily called a "contemporary" composer though he died in 1951.The note C is defined as the "dominant" note of a piece in the key of C, which is bound to confuse anyone who is subsequently taught what a "dominant" is.Another problematic sentence:"Musicians refer to the pleasing-sound chords and intervals as consonant and the unpleasing ones as dissonant."But this is not what musicians understand by consonance and dissonance.Levitin's analysis of the slow movement of the Haydn Surprise Symphony doesn't jibe with the music; he says that "the main melodic idea spans barely more than half an octave, a perfect fifth" -- and so what? -- but the first 4 bars cover an octave, and the first 8 bars an eleventh.Another puzzling sentence: "There is nothing intrinsically catlike about the word cat or even any of its syllables [sic]"And what about the author's dismissal of "attempts to please the audience through musical obsequies [sic] rather than through soul." I cannot imagine a classical musician who would not wince at "Many of the greatest musicians of our era lacked formal training.... in classical music, George Gershwin, Mussorgsky, and David Helfgott are among those who lacked formal training..." Leaving aside the "unmusicality" of the repetitive writing, it is time to stop exploiting poor David Helfgott, who, however much he suffered personally, is not considered "one of the greatest classical musicians of this era" by any serious practitioner.Levitin must be a more responsible researcher and sincere music-lover than this book suggests, and I'm sure his intentions were good.Perhaps Levitin's editor is more to blame than he himself is. The objections I've listed may seem niggling. I've listed them for two reasons: 1) it would take too much space to discuss larger issues, and 2) I think such mistakes are evidence of the book's overall carelessness.Some books I would recommend instead of this one are more technical but also more stimulating and informative, notably Music and Memory by Bob Snyder and the recent Sweet Anticipation by David Huron.
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Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. General    3. Instruction & Study - Theory    4. Music    5. Music/Songbooks    6. Philosophy & Social Aspects    7. Psychological aspects    8. Psychology Of Music    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Science / Acoustics & Sound   

Reviews (11)

A Great Short Introduction To Darwin and his Impact
I found this to be just an extremely helpful shorter study of Darwin, pleasantly written, but containing much valuable information packed into its 283 pages.One particular talent of the author is the ability to explain scientific issues in the most understandable fashion--somewhat of an unique talent in my experience.Wisely, the author does not recapitulate the well-trod voyage of the Beagle, but begins his discussion after Darwin's return from this epic voyage in 1836.The central issue simply put:why did it take Darwin better than 20 years after his return to publish "Origin of Species"?To answer this question, the book focuses upon a biography of Darwin during the years prior to the "Origins" publication in 1859.One sees how much data and supporting evidence Darwin had amassed during this period--but still no publication. In fact, it was not until A.R. Wallace sent Darwin a paper from the Far East, which closely paralleled some of Darwin's own ideas, that Darwin sprang into action and produced his monumental book. An entire chapter is devoted to the book itself, the clearest and most understandable compact analysis I have seen. Next, the author addresses (again in a clear and compact chapter) the course of evolutionary thought (and anti-evolutonary thought) that resulted from Darwin's book. As throughout the rest of the book, this chapter is as even-handed and fair as one could wish for. A super bibliography is attached as well. Basically, this is an informative and pleasant reading experience, both for experienced Darwin/evolutionary hands as well as those new to the topic.

Darwin's own secret notebooks and personal letters provided the foundation for this coverage
The Reluctant Mr. Darwin by David Quammen comes to life in a vivid rendition by actor and award-winning narrator Grover Gardner, who brings passion and enthusiasm to this story of Darwin. Darwin's own secret notebooks and personal letters provided the foundation for this coverage, which tells of the evolution of his theory.
Darwin diagnosed
This was pretty good as a diagnosis of Darwin and how he became the man and how he created his ideas. Good points include how he went back to England and stopped collecting for a while until he was inspired by the writing of one of his proteges. We see Charles Darwin, the man, in this book. It lacks pictures and graphs and could have benefitted from them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. England    7. History    8. Life Sciences - Evolution    9. Natural Selection    10. Naturalists    11. Scientists - General    12. Miscellaneous Items    13. Science / Evolution    14. Science: General Issues   

Reviews (3)

A RealisticApproach To Solving Problem
Once again George McGovern makes a logical and realistic view on an important world issue. I would suggest all read this volume and give serious consideration to the plan suggested. Thank you to both authors!

A decent,sound way to make Americans and Iraqis safer.
This book is so much more than a lot ofextremely important information about Iraq.It proposes an American withdrawal based on our highest American ideals -- treating the Iraqis as we would want to be treated in similar circumstances.
Best Book on Iraq Yet
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Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. Foreign relations    3. History - U.S.    4. International Relations - General    5. Iraq War, 2003    6. Military - Iraq War    7. Military Policy    8. Military Science    9. Modern - 21st Century    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics and government    12. Science/Mathematics    13. Technology    14. U.S. Foreign Relations    15. United States    16. United States - 21st Century    17. History / United States / 21st Century   

Reviews (3)

concept Physical Science
I can't seem to find the area to post recommendations for the company I bought this book form. Mindspring.com. They were very prompt in mailing this book to me. My child has started using it yet, but the promptness of the delivery was very important to me. Thanks

A good book
hello i love the book because it explains you alot of things and it helps you to understand.it is a good book because with the pictures you understand better the lesson an this book has a lot of pictures

A good book
hello i love the book because it explains you alot of things and it helps you to understand.it is a good book because with the pictures you understand better the lesson an this book has a lot of pictures ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Physical sciences    2. Physics    3. Science    4. Science (General)    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Science / Physics    7. Science: General Issues    8. Teaching of a specific subject   

Editorial Review

Working in his garden one day, Michael Pollan hit pay dirt in the form of an idea: do plants, he wondered, use humans as much as we use them? While the question is not entirely original, the way Pollan examines this complex coevolution by looking at the natural world from the perspective of plants is unique. The result is a fascinating and engaging look at the true nature of domestication.Read more

Reviews (125)

Readable copy and interesting hypothesis.
A long book on botany if you are up to it. For a more compact and lively study try The Story of the Apple.

An engaging piece of practical history