Book Description
This first volume in the
Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research series deals with the acquisition and archiving of lake sediment cores, chronological techniques, and large-scale basin analysis methods used in paleolimnology. Other volumes deal with physical and geochemical parameters and methods (Volume 2), biological techniques (Volumes 3 and 4), and statistical and data handling methods (Volume 5). These monographs provide sufficient detail and breadth to be useful handbooks for both seasoned practitioners as well as newcomers to the area of paleolimnology. Although the chapters in these volumes target mainly lacustrine settings, many of the techniques described can also be readily applied to fluvial, glacial, marine, estuarine, and peatland environments.
Average customer rating:
|
The Last Frontier: An Analysis of the Strategic Defense Initiative
Gary Guertner , and
Donald Snow
Manufacturer: Lexington Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Weapons & Warfare
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
| Biological & Chemical
| Control
| Conventional
| Nuclear
Military Science
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Federal Government
| Levels of Government
| Political Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0669123706 |
Book Description
When beautiful Janet Harrison asks English professor Kate Fansler to recommend a Manhattan psychoanalyst, Kate immediately sends the girl to her dear friend and former lover, Dr. Emanuel Bauer. Seven weeks later, the girl is stabbed to death on Emanuel's couch--with incriminating fingerprints on the murder weapon. To Kate, the idea of her brilliant friend killing anyone is preposterous, but proving it seems an impossible task. For Janet had no friends, no lover, no family. Why, then, should someone feel compelled to kill her? Kate's analytic techniques leave no stone unturned--not even the one under which a venomous killer once again lies coiled and ready to strike. . . .
Customer Reviews:
Needs a lot of improvement........2001-09-06
Althought this is the first in her Kate Fansler series, it is the second that I have read. If I had read this book first, I probably would not be inclined to continue with this series. I felt like I was just dropped into the middle of a cast of characters without being properly introduced to them and what their roles are (history, etc.). The one thing that seems to be consistent is Cross' habit of long sentences infused with prepositional phrases and lots of words like however, therefore, etc. I realize the protagonist is an English professor, and I don't have any problem understanding the sentences, but I find myself getting impatient having to wade through all that excess just to get to the point of a sentence. (Luckily the only time the reader has to deal with that is when Kate is talking.) At this point, I have to say this series is not a high priority on my reading list.
Definitely not the best Kate Fansler novel.......2001-01-31
This novel is entertaining, but has a great many flaws. It is supposed to be the first Fansler novel, yet none of the characters are properly introduced. Kate's final analysis of the murder is tenuous and based on nothing. There is no way an ADA and a uniformed police officer can just go to a doctor's office and get him to show them his spinal fusion scars. I am glad the series has immproved since then.
Not the best of the Kate Fansler series..........2001-01-10
Usually I like Kate Fansler: she's an intelligent, logical woman whose wit and academic background add much to a mystery novel. But even Kate's character couldn't transcend this dullish plot and improbable ending (I mean, after all, how do you get a man you have only met a couple of times to take off his clothes and show you the scar on his spine?). And to base the conclusion of a novel on that artifice is neither believable or satisfying in a logical sense.
::Yawn::.......2000-05-21
This is the first book in the highly acclaimed Kate Fansler series. Maybe you just had to be part of the '60s intelligentsia to appreciate this book, but I thought it was boring and pretentious. I was also extremely disappointed with the last-minute solution that the sleuth just seemed to pull out of thin air.
A Twist of Mind.......1997-10-19
Psychiatry, psychologists, Freud, process, theory. "I didn't say I objected to Freud, " Kate said. "I said I objected to what Joyce called freudful errors - all those nonsensical conclusions leaped to by people with no reticence and less mind."
Average customer rating:
|
Returning Cycles: Contexts for the Interpretation of Schubert's Impromptus and Last Sonatas (California Studies in Nineteenth Century Music)
Charles Fisk
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Schubert, Franz
| Composers
| Classical
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Classical
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Piano
| Instruments & Performers
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
History & Criticism
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Biographies & Memoirs
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Entertainment
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0520225643 |
Book Description
This compelling investigation of the later music of Franz Schubert explores the rich terrain of Schubert's impromptus and last piano sonatas. Drawing on the relationships between these pieces and Schubert's Winterreise song cycle, his earlier "Der Wanderer," the closely related "Unfinished" Symphony, and his story of exile and homecoming, "My Dream," Charles Fisk explains how Schubert's view of his own life may well have shaped his music in the years shortly before his death.
Fisk's intimate portrayal of Schubert is based on evidence from the composer's own hand, both verbal (song texts and his written words) and musical (vocal and instrumental). Noting extraordinary aspects of tonality, structure, and gestural content, Fisk argues that through his music Schubert sought to alleviate his apparent sense of exile and his anticipation of early death. Fisk supports this view through close analyses of the cyclic connections within and between the works he explores, finding in them complex musical narratives that attempt to come to terms with mortality, alienation, hope, and desire.
Fisk's knowledge of Schubert's life and music, together with his astute and imaginative attention to musical detail, helps him achieve one of the most difficult goals in music criticism: to capture and verbalize the human content of instrumental music.
Average customer rating:
|
The Last Analysis
Manufacturer: The Viking Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BRS2XO |
Product Description
American Play
Book Description
June 23, 1993. A Princeton mathematician announces that he has unlocked, after thousands of unsuccessful attempts by others, the greatest mathematical riddle in the world. Dr. Wiles demonstrates to a group of stunned mathematicians that he has provided the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem (the equation x" + y" = z", where n is an integer greater than 2, has no solution in positive numbers), a problem that has confounded scholars for over 350 years.Here in this brilliant new book, Marilyn vos Savant, the person with the highest recorded IQ in the world explains the mathematical underpinnings of Wiles's solution, discusses the history of Fermat's Last Theorem and other great math problems, and provides colorful stories of the great thinkers and amateurs who attempted to solve Fermat's puzzle.
Customer Reviews:
Blame the publisher for Marilyn's mistakes.......2005-12-04
I picked this up cheaply at a used book shop based on Marilyn Vos Savant's reputation, she has the world's highest I.Q., and I was curious as to what her writing was like. It's quite good, as you would expect from a professional magazine writer. The subject was topical at the time (1993) and the book was quickly published to cash in on the announcement of a proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. Unfortunately, no one with college math was around to correct some repeated blunders. Just to pick one: Vos Savant confuses inductive knowledge, which she understands well, with inductive proof, which she doesn't.
Inductive knowledge is when we think we "know" something because we've seen it time and again. She illustrates it quite well with the phrase "all wheels are round". Why do we believe this? Because every time we see a wheel, it's round. Repeated exposure. Now to push things a little further, if "all wheels are round" then "something that's not round isn't a wheel". So logically every time we see a knife, which is not round, then this inductively confirms the earlier statement. Vos Savant's illustration drives the point home that this isn't really satisfying logically and that inductive knowledge doesn't really work when it comes to proofs.
What Vos Savant fails to realize is that an inductive proof is a completely different animal. It's an accident that both concepts use the same label (i.e. inductive). Inductive proof is a mechanical process, an algorithm, a method, by which we can show the truth of many mathematical theorems. To use the method, the theorem we're trying to prove must be about something we can count. We look at the first case and usually, it's fairly simple to show it to be true. Then we look at the second case, and again we often easily prove it to be true. Then we look at the third, fourth, fifth cases and we notice that we can generalize the next case from the one we are looking at now. So we do just that, we generalize: if we can show that the (n+1)th case (i.e. the next case) is true whenever the nth case (i.e. the case now) is true, AND if we explicitly show the first case to be true, then and only then is our theorem always true.
There is nothing weird or special about this, it only takes a little time and effort to understand. Proof by induction is not usually taught before college, and then only to those who take calculus, and then only superficially (analysis and abstract algebra courses examine this method (one of Peano's natural number axioms actually) in more depth). There's no denying that Ms. Vos Savant is an accomplished intelligent human being. But she only has, as we all only have, so much time alloted to her to enjoy life and pursue her interests. Mathematics is obviously not among these and shame on the publisher for thinking that Vos Savant's high I.Q. automatically made her a mathematical authority.
Vincent Poirier, Tokyo
A review of these reviews.......2005-01-12
Ah, these poor little threatened egos on display: How dare anyone contradict the university professionals? How dare anyone have an opinion outside the status quo? How dare any publisher even consider a book not from a fully affiliated tenured and chaired professor of mathematics? Where is peer review when we need it? I especially enjoyed the brag of vandalism. Savonarola would be proud.
Im SO excited.......2004-03-26
Isn't it just marvelous, finally a chance to polish up my knowledge of the worlds most famous maths problem. I can't tell you how much me and my wife have enjoyed, and been entregued by this. Night-after-night, just laying down on the hay, having a laugh with this top quality piece of material. Maths world here I come.
the world's IQest woman?.......2003-12-30
I have no problem to admit that the world's IQest person, is a female person. But as I browsed this book, I would be hard pressed to grant Madame Marilyn Vos Savant the title, as the world's IQest woman.
Excellent, honest book.......2003-11-25
This is a fantastic book! I especially like the fact that she highlights several problems with the current state of mathematics, drawing this field (and maybe all of modern science) into question.
Few people dare to question science, but Marilyn has done so, and she has good reason for it. If half of the scientists of the world were in politics, the world would be a much better place. Politics is in dire need of minds capable of flexible, yet rigorous thinking, and scientists are experts at this sort of thing.
Bravo, Marilyn!
Product Description
The Four Winds Of Heaven is intended to serve as a Bible companion to help you understand the history and prophecies written in the King James Version of the Holy Bible. It begins in the 7th chapter of Daniel and ends in the book of Revelation, which was given to the Apostle John from the ultimate prophet, JESUS the MESSIAH. Additionally it includes an analysis of controversial topics such as the Rapture, Saved, and Born Again. Jesus Himself said that He would return to gather His Elect from "the four winds of heaven", from across space and time. He gathers His own from across the racial divides of Israel and out from the clutches of the heathen gentile nations. He gathers His people from beyond the gates of Sheol and brings them home across the very borders of life and death. What a magnificent harvest this will be!
Average customer rating:
|
Understanding Liberalism: A History and Analysis of the Politics of the Last Half-Century
Virgil R. Cowart
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Civil Rights & Liberties
| Current Events
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Democracy
| Government
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Liberalism
| Political Doctrines
| Political Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Nonfiction
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 1552127451
Release Date: 2006-07-06 |
Book Description
Understanding Liberalism: A History of and analysis of the Politics of the Last Half-Century provides a panoramic critique of the liberal era as related to the Constitutional principles on which the United States was founded, the English roots of the democracy that was adopted, the unintended consequences of welfare policies, multiculturalism, and civil rights legislation.
Book Description
On the demand side, exporters and strategic planners focusing on wooden tools, tool bodies, and handles, wooden broom or brush bodies and handles, and wooden boot or shoe trees and lasts in China face a number of questions. Which countries are supplying wooden tools, tool bodies, and handles, wooden broom or brush bodies and handles, and wooden boot or shoe trees and lasts to China? How important is China compared to others in terms of the entire global and regional market? How much do the imports of wooden tools, tool bodies, and handles, wooden broom or brush bodies and handles, and wooden boot or shoe trees and lasts vary from one country of origin to another in China? On the supply side, China also exports wooden tools, tool bodies, and handles, wooden broom or brush bodies and handles, and wooden boot or shoe trees and lasts. Which countries receive the most exports from China? How are these exports concentrated across buyers? What is the value of these exports and which countries are the largest buyers? This report was created for strategic planners, international marketing executives and import/export managers who are concerned with the market for wooden tools, tool bodies, and handles, wooden broom or brush bodies and handles, and wooden boot or shoe trees and lasts in China. With the globalization of this market, managers can no longer be contented with a local view. Nor can managers be contented with out-of-date statistics which appear several years after the fact. I have developed a methodology, based on macroeconomic and trade models, to estimate the market for wooden tools, tool bodies, and handles, wooden broom or brush bodies and handles, and wooden boot or shoe trees and lasts for those countries serving China via exports, or supplying from China via imports. It does so for the current year based on a variety of key historical indicators and econometric models. In what follows, Chapter 2 begins by summarizing where China fits into the world market for imported and exported wooden tools, tool bodies, and handles, wooden broom or brush bodies and handles, and wooden boot or shoe trees and lasts. The total level of imports and exports on a worldwide basis, and those for China in particular, is estimated using a model which aggregates across over 150 key country markets and projects these to the current year. From there, each country represents a percent of the world market. This market is served from a number of competitive countries of origin. Based on both demand- and supply-side dynamics, market shares by country of origin are then calculated across each country market destination. These shares lead to a volume of import and export values for each country and are aggregated to regional and world totals. In doing so, we are able to obtain maximum likelihood estimates of both the value of each market and the share that China is likely to receive this year. From these figures, rankings are calculated to allow managers to prioritize China compared to other major country markets. In this way, all the figures provided in this report are forecasts that can be combined with internal information sources for strategic planning purposes.
Average customer rating:
- Great book in the Feist tradition
- A good read....
- A new part of Midkemia, familiar old characters, and new characters who are somehow also familiar
- Another Feist Winner
- Good enough
|
Talon of the Silver Hawk (Conclave of Shadows, Book 1)
Raymond E. Feist
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Feist, Raymond E. | ( F ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Feist, Raymond E. | ( F ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
( F ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
-
King of Foxes (Conclave of Shadows, Book 2)
-
Exile's Return (Conclave of Shadows, Book 3)
-
Flight of the Nighthawks (The Darkwar Saga, Book 1)
-
Shards of a Broken Crown (Serpentwar Saga, Book 4)
-
Krondor: Tear of the Gods (The Riftwar Legacy)
ASIN: 0380803240
Release Date: 2004-03-30 |
Book Description
Evil has come to a distant land high among the snow-capped mountains of Midkemia, as an exterminating army wearing the colors of the Duke of Olasko razes village after village, slaughtering men, women, and children without mercy. And when the carnage is done, only one survivor remains: a young boy named Kieli. A youth no longer, there is now but one road for him to travel: the path of vengeance. And he will not be alone. Under the tutelage of the rescuers who discovered him, Kieli will be molded into a sure and pitiless weapon. And he will accept the destiny that has been chosen for him ... as Talon of the Silver Hawk.
But the prey he so earnestly stalks is hunting him as well. And Talon must swear allegiance to a shadowy cause that already binds his mysterious benefactors -- or his mission, his honor, and his life will be lost forever.
Download Description
Young Kieli is the sole survivor of a murderous attack on Midkemia, and he's out for revenge. Under the tutelage of a wealthy man, a sorcerer, and a warrior, Kieli accepts his destiny as Talon of the Silver Hawk. But his benefactors have a secret agenda, and the prey he so desperately stalks is hunting him as well. Can Talon keep his people -- and his honor -- alive?
Customer Reviews:
Great book in the Feist tradition.......2007-06-27
Great new series for Feist fans with great characters and secrets that are slowly told throughout the series.
A good read.... .......2007-04-27
As per the other reviews, if you've read Feist before, you easily slip back into this book and its characters, although not his best still very enjoyable .
So sit back relax and escape for a while.
A new part of Midkemia, familiar old characters, and new characters who are somehow also familiar.......2007-02-22
Without a doubt, Raymond E. Feist (RF) is one of the more prolific and successful authors of modern fantasy. He exploded onto the scene in the 1980's with his "RiftWar" trilogy (or quadrilogy, depending on who you talk to), deepened the mythology of his fantasy world of Midkemia with the next series (the "SerpentWar" quadrilogy), and further developed his universe with several peripheral books and a peripheral series which nevertheless still connected back to his primary works.
This author has unequalled skill in several literary techniques: the subgenre of horror-fantasy; breathless and exciting depictions of all aspects of medieval combat, especially swordplay and siege warfare; fantastic ability to believable write through the eyes of one downtrodden or through adolescent eyes; the creation of an aura of wonder and fear as he writes of who truly "pulls levers from behind the curtain"; the doublecross; and philosophical/spiritual ruminations of his main characters.
What RF does not do well: writing believable/unique female characters; writing more than one type of "warrior/hero/peasant upbringing" character; writing more than one type of "knave-with-sharp-wit-and-cunning-nature" character; and letting characters go.
*example/spoiler*
Tomas is Eric von Darkmoor is Talon, and not in the Valheru sense. Jimmy the Hand is Roo is Jimmy the 2nd. Peripheral female characters are essentially only used to "mature" a key male character (if you understand me). I'm a male reader and have always been somewhat dismayed by RF's cardboard depiction of most female characters.
*end example/spoiler*
So, in "Talon Silverhawk" we have the familiar RF device of orphaned boy destined for great things. In this case, Talon's primary goal is to avenge his clan's destruction. Along the way, Talon is scooped up by the Conclave of Shadows, a mysterious organization devoted to combatting a mighty, multidimensional evil. I will not divulge more of the story than that, but suffice it to say that RF "matures" this young man in predictable ways so as to prepare him for his (and the Conclave's) future missions. There is much action, travel to a previously unseen portion of Midkemia, some intrigue, and a new writing element in this RF work: character self-doubt and analysis. That last one almost threw me from my chair, and surprised me enough to grant the book 4 stars instead of 3.
For newcomers to RF who have the time: Start with the RiftWar saga, you'll be glad you did.
For newcomers to RF who don't have the time: Not a terrible place to start, but if you're not willing to see RF's universe for the stars, go watch TV instead.
For longtime RF fans: familiar stuff, with new characters who nevertheless seem old, but enough new plot stuff to satisfy. I mean, c'mon, Nakor's in the book!
Another Feist Winner.......2006-09-07
Having read as many Feist books as I can get my hands on, this one is one of the better series. A book full of revenge, action and battle it keeps you turning the pages.
Out for revenge, Talon seeks vengence on those who destroyed his village. Helped by a stranger in his time in need(who turns out to Pug) he sets out to not only pay back his friend for his help, but to set to right the wrong done his people.
Great Feist.
Good enough.......2006-07-17
This is the first book I have read by Feist.
In it, a boy is waiting in the mountains for a vision that will reveal his "man name" to him so that he can return to his people a man. He returns to find his village massacred and almost dies himself.
After that this book becomes revenge obsessed. Talon of the Silver Hawk (his man name) must take revenge for his people but is also indebted to the man that saved his life and must serve him.
Alright, enough plot summary, the rest you can find out by reading the book.
This was a pretty good book. I read it quickly and enjoyed it. However, it is nothing extraordinary and if you're bored: read it. If you don't read it, fine, you're not missing out on any thing very special.
My verdict: Good only if you have nothing else to read or do. Definatley get it from the library.
Oh and I just have to add that the relationships "Talon" gets into with females in this book seem really contrived. He must have been one good looking 15 year old to have women throwing themselves at him like that.
Average customer rating:
|
Talon of the Silver Hawk Display
Raymond E. Feist
Manufacturer: EOS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Feist, Raymond E. | ( F ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0060529911 |
Product Description
Conclave of Shadows Trilogy By Raymond Feist, Volumes 1-3 - Talon of the Silver Hawk, King of Foxes, Exile's Return.
Product Description
"Evil has come to a distant land high among the snow-capped mountains of Midkemia. Razing village after village - slaughtering men, women, and children without mercy - an exterminating army wearing the colors of the Duke of Olasko puts a small nation to the sword. And when the carnage is done, one - and only one - survivor remains: a young boy named Kieli, who is a youth no longer." "A life has been eternally altered, and now there is but one road for Kieli to travel: the path of vengeance. He will not be alone on his mission. The rescuers who discovered him wounded and near death are sworn to aid Kieli's revenge: Robert de Lys, a man of wealth and authority; Magnus, a sorcerer of uncommon - and unsettling - abilities; and Caleb, who, though scarcely older than Kieli, is already a hunter and a warrior without peer. Under their tutelage, Kieli will be molded into a sure and pitiless weapon, and shed completely his former name and existence to accept the destiny that has been chosen for him as Talon of the Silver Hawk." But the prey he so earnestly stalks is hunting him as well, and their numbers are many. And his mysterious benefactors have a secret agenda, for their fates - and Talon's - are inextricably bound to the Conclave of Shadows, an inscrutable society of magicians, assassins, and spies. Now Talon must swear allegiance to the same mysterious cause, of which he knows little, for it is shrouded in the shadows of his name. If he falters he will be abandoned, left to battle his enemies alone. And his mission, his honor, and his life will be lost forever.
Books:
- Twelve Faces of Saturn: Your Guardian Angel Planet
- Twice Blessed: Everything You Need To Know About Having A Second Child-- Preparing Yourself, Your Marriage, And Your Firstborn For A New Family Of Four
- Under the Skin: A Novel
- Voices from Legendary Times: We Are a Bridge Between Past and Future
- Will You Marry Me?: Popping the Question With Romance and Style
- WINTER BIRDS: A Novel
- Worst Fears Realized
- Wyoming: Where Leads the Heart/Plains of Promise/The Heart Answers/To Love a Stranger (Inspirational Romance Collection)
- Yentyl the Yeshiva Boy
- A Beggar at Damascus Gate
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Virgin's Lover
- Marooned in Realtime
- Liar's Game
- If I Should Die If I Should Live
- John Shaw's Closeups in Nature
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: An Introduction to Principles, Applications, and Experiment
- Portrait of a Marriage: Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson
- Ornamentation and Illustrations from the Kelmscott Chaucer
- History: Fiction or Science
- Journey Among Warriors: The Memoirs of a Marine
Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments - Volume 2: Physical and Geochemical Methods (DEVELOPMENTS IN PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH Volume 2) (Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research)
Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments - Volume 3: Terrestrial, Algal, and Siliceous Indicators (DEVELOPMENTS IN PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH ... in Paleoenvironmental Research)
Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments - Volume 4: Zoological Indicators (DEVELOPMENTS IN PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH Volume 4) (Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research)
