Book Description
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” goes the ancient saying. This concept is at the root of the computational worldview, which basically says that very complex systems — the world we live in — have their beginnings in simple mathematical equations.
We’ve lately come to understand that such an algorithm is only the start of a never-ending story — the real action occurs in the unfolding consequences of the rules. The chip-in-a-box computers so popular in our time have acted as a kind of microscope, letting us see into the secret machinery of the world. In Lifebox, Rucker uses whimsical drawings, fables, and humor to demonstrate that everything is a computation — that thoughts, computations, and physical processes are all the same. Rucker discusses the linguistic and computational advances that make this kind of "digital philosophy" possible, and explains how, like every great new principle, the computational world view contains the seeds of a next step.
Customer Reviews:
Anything but Muddled.......2005-12-03
This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Rudy Rucker is an accomplished science fiction author and popularizer of mathematics and computer science. In this book he seems to bring together everything he has written in the past while playing with constructing a coherent world-view and philosophy of life. It works quite well. (Rucker is such a fascinating writer that my son was going to apply to San Jose State just to take classes from him. The book's revelation that Rucker is retiring disappointed my college-bound son and left him scrambling for other schools.)
Any description of this book with less complexity than the book itself will do the book an injustice. If you're a fan of Rudy Rucker, of infinity, or of mathematical and speculative philosophy, you MUST read this book. Students of the social sciences may have some difficulty wrapping their minds around the computational science ideas, but this book is an essential part of understanding what it means to be human.
Rucker has structured the book well. Each chapter is prefaced with a piece of microfiction that illustrates the concepts to come. The chapters begin with an annotated outline that relates the concepts discussed. Ideas are reconnected with earlier mentions in the book as well as preceding ideas.
Rucker is not afraid to make novel combinations of philosophy, psychology, math, computer science, quantum physics, science fiction, and personal anectdotes. This is one of the best books produced for handling notes well. Turning to the back of the book for a note is generally rewarded with insights or speculations related to the text. Only occasionally is a note simply a bibliographic or web reference.
The book itself is a gnarly computation as well as a gnarly program for gnarled minds. It should be required reading for everybody who things they have a grip on life, the universe, or anything. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.
A Technical Introduction with Soul to Spare.......2005-11-28
I found Rudy Rucker on a road trip. Or at least, I found part of his lifebox. If you haven't yet read this book, you probably don't know that the lifebox is a fictional invention into which a person speaks, and eventually it gets to know him well enough to tell his stories, and perform more menial conversational duties. That was Wetware, the first of his books that I read. Since then, I've read everything of his I could get my hands on, and I anxiously awaited the arrival of my pre-ordered copy of The Lifebox, the Seashell, and the Soul.
I had a bad experience with submitting a snarky review about A New Kind of Science after I'd only read 200 pages, so I decided to actually read this whole book before trying to draw any conclusions. I believe that is something the crappy reviewer from Publishers Weekly just didn't do. My conclusions after the first read:
1. This is the most phenomenal, approachable, and thorough introduction (certainly leaves Fredkin and Wolfram in the dust for approachability) to cellular automata and computation that I've ever met.
2. This book, true to its title, has soul. It's wacky, interesting, fun, deep, and self-critical of the so-called "Universal Automatist" philosophy.
3. The illustrations, stories, personal anecdotes, and tables (yes, he loves his tables) are what makes the book work- it would have been possible to write this book (and probably to read it) without them all, but it would have been less fun, less interesting, and less illuminating.
4. Rucker obviously spent a tremendous amount of time in actual experimentation- doing it himself. He articulates a better "feel" for the field than anything else I've read.
I'm sending this book to my dad and my brothers for Christmas. I got them all A New Kind of Science year before last, but none of them got past the first chapter. I can't wait to hear what they think of this one!
universal automaton.......2005-10-27
As a disiple of the Stephen Wolfram's universal automaton paradigm this book does a good job of looking at the different areas of science to see how they work with such a view. Taking on issues like free-will, quantum mechanics, and psychology he attempts to demonstrate there compatibility with his thesis that the world consists of computations. I recommend this book to anyone how has interests in determinism, aritificial intelligence, and/or Wolframs "new science" as this book has something of value to offer on all this areas.
This book will change the world!.......2005-09-20
Genius SF writer Rudy Rucker's new book is fantastic, and just in time, too! He writes, among other things, that we are
presently in the midst of a third global intellectual revolution. The
first came with Isaac Newton: the planets obey physical laws. The second
came with Charles Darwin: biology obeys genetic laws. In today's third
revolution, says Rucker, we are coming to realize that even minds and societies
emerge from interacting laws that can be regarded as computations.
Everything is a computation. Cool!
Does this, then, mean that the world is dull? Far from it. The
naturally-occurring computations that surround us are richly complex.
For example, a tree's growth, the changes in the weather, the flow of daily news, a
person's ever-changing moods --- all of these computations share the
crucial property of being gnarly. Although lawlike and deterministic,
gnarly computations are --- and this is a key point --- inherently
unpredictable. The world's mystery is preserved.
Mixing together anecdotes, graphics, and fables, Rucker teases out the
implications of his new worldview, which he calls "universal
automatism." His analysis reveals startling aspects of the everyday
world, touching upon such topics as chaos, the Internet, fame, free
will, and the pursuit of happiness. More than a popular science book,
this book is a philosophical
entertainment that teaches us how to enjoy our daily lives to the
fullest possible extent.
Open your mind for a great purpose .......2005-09-20
This book is Rudy Rucker's latest mind-child, and incorporates all the many threads of his very active and acute intellect. For those who have read some of his earlier books on math (esp. the superb Infinity and the Mind), this latest work builds on the vital importance of approaching the cosmos from the perspective of computability. Rucker's thinking on this is precise and playful, a rare and valuable combination. He extends the ideas toward applications of how to view your own "lifebox," and offers great suggestions for booting up an expanded appreciation of your reality. Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- Muffins, great and not so great
- Chocolate chip muffins and my dentist
- Why all the Mace????
- Stick to the recipes
- The best muffins, ever
|
The Muffin Lady: Muffins, Cupcakes, and Quickbreads for the Happy Soul
Linda Fisher
Manufacturer: William Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Bread
| Baking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Baking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Muffins
| Baking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0060392460
Release Date: 1997-11-25 |
Amazon.com
Do you know the Muffin Lady? If you don't, you're in for a treat. The Muffin Lady is part cookbook, part inspiration; it simultaneously tells the story of "Muffin Lady" Linda Fisher and offers up her mouth-watering recipes for muffins, cakes, breads, and cookies. The food is great, but the story is spectacular. In 1995, Fisher--recently divorced and the custodial parent of a young child--found herself looking poverty in the eye. She responded by borrowing from the "inheritance" her mother had left her: a very versatile pancake recipe that she used to bake cakes, muffins, cupcakes, and quick breads. She loaded these delicacies into a Radio Flyer wagon and sold them door to door, eventually making enough money to stay off of welfare. When the local health department tried to shut her down, it precipitated a community uprising: dozens and dozens of letters began pouring into newspaper editorial pages, an anonymous donor gave her the money necessary for a license, and the volunteer fire department offered her free use of their health department-approved kitchen to prepare her goods. Along with recipes for tasty treats such as Pecan Loaf, Marble Walnut Brownies, Blueberry Upside Down Squares, and the baked good that started it all--the World Famous Pancake Batter Muffin--readers can share Linda Fisher's legacy of riches handed down by her mother.
Book Description
When we think of an inheritance, thoughts of money or some jewel-encrusted heirloom usually spring to mind. Well, Linda Fisher's inheritance did get her out of financial trouble, but it was nothing more than one of her mother's recipes and the values with which she was raised.
Suddenly finding herself divorced and struggling to support her son and make ends meet, Linda, rather than ask for public assistance, vowed to take care of her own. She dug up her mother's pancake recipe and modified it into a muffin batter.Then she loaded up her red Radio Flyer wagon and hit the pavements of Westminster, Maryland, selling mouthwateringly delicious muffins -- blueberry, peach cobbler, black bottom, burnt sugar, apple dumpling, to name just a few -- and soon became a local favorite, known around town as "the Muffin Lady."
Just when business started booming, however, the Carroll County Health Department told her to pack up her wagon because she didn't have a "department-approved commercial kitchen." Well, Linda wasn't going to take that lying down! She fought back, and the whole community came out to support her. Finally the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department offered her the use of their state-approved kitchen, where she still bakes muffins today.
In The Muffin Lady, Linda shares the legacy of riches that was handed down by her mother. These gifts are useful both inside and outside the kitchen -- recipes whose ingredients include sugar, flour, perseverance and pride.
Customer Reviews:
Muffins, great and not so great.......2006-05-09
I was so excited to see The Muffin Lady Book on Amazon. I think Lindas story is wonderful. How ever, I am a food service manager, and I have baked thousands of muffins. I just took two dozen Strawbeyy -Cream out of the oven. I dont know why, but these muffins do not crown. I am going to go back and stick with Muffins my Elizabeth Alston. The blueberry are bar none. Best to you and your muffins, Nancy.
Chocolate chip muffins and my dentist.......2005-03-29
Though I have a good collection of cookbooks, this is one that I use on a regular basis. I have searched for years for great baking recipes, and have found them in this book. I enjoy the background she gives on why she uses certain ingredients, what worked and what didn't. The hint about using wax paper for liners was the best tip! The blueberry and banana nut muffin recipes are superb and most requested in my house. Our family dentist requested Chocolate Chip muffins, and I was able to make him some that he raves about. I dare not go now without taking the office some. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves to bake!
Why all the Mace????.......2003-04-29
Everything she bakes has mace in it-wonder why-I don't think its such a spectacular ingredient but the muffins are tasty and always turn out well-could do with less of her life story though. It's interesting but long winded.
Stick to the recipes.......2002-07-17
The recipes in this book are excellent. I don't think I have ever tasted a better banana nut muffin - or one that froze as well! My complaint is the accompanying dialog about the author's life. She had a hard life and made a real name for herself with hard work and dedication to her skill as a baker. That's all you need to know. I didn't need photos of her father or the kids. All in all, I highly recommend this book (especially for the strawberry muffins stuffed with cream cheese!!!) It's easy to ignore the chatter and stick to the best muffins you'll bake.
The best muffins, ever.......2001-10-23
I have made many of the muffins out this book and you can believe me that they come out of the oven and poeple fall on them and devour them. I have made muffins before that have been pale, small and tasteless, but once I started making Linda Fisher's muffins, I have had wonderful results. My favorites are the orange-cranberry muffins and the chocolate chip muffins, although much can be said for the banana-nut ones too. I like it that once you know the basic recipe, setting up the muffins is very easy. You could make a basic mix from the dry ingredients and just add the spices, fats, eggs, and other additions to make the ones you like. BUY THIS BOOK!
Customer Reviews:
SO HAPPY.......2007-05-06
You can't tell from the photo, but this book has a muted UL following the SO. It makes it appear to say "SO HAPPY" from a distance but, upon closer observation, one realizes it says "SOUL HAPPY." It is a great bargain for a nice hardcover book. It is great to pick up & read a random quote when one needs inspiration (or reminding).
"Be happiness itself." ~Buddha.......2004-12-16
This is, by far, my favorite quote book. The colors are beautiful and subdued and the layout is simple: one quote per page spread, the quote on the right-hand page and a small picture and topic heading on the left. Most of the quotes aren't the generic ones I've often encountered in other larger books of quotations. And though there are only 42 quotes in all, what the book lacks in quantity, it definitely makes up in quality.
"Let your soul stand ajar, always ready to welcome the ecstatic experience." ~Emily Dickinson
Book Description
Gore uses humour and personal experience to help us change our attitudes and realize our goals. From stressbusting techniques to understanding our partners better, You Can Be Happy helps us view life from a different perspective.
Book Description
First there was IQ - mental intelligence; then there was EQ - emotional intelligence. Now there's HQ - Happiness Intelligence!
- Amanda Gore relates how you can boost your happiness intelligence - and therefore your ability to be happy -- without effort, study or work.
- Lift your spirit and get tips on keeping your body, mind and soul happy.
- See life from a different perspective and uncover some of the secrets of successful relationships.
Readers will laugh and enjoy themselves as they discover simple and easy ways to change the way they feel. The stories in You Can Be Happy will lift the spirit, give readers tips on keeping their body, mind and soul happy. They will see life from a different perspective and learn how to uncover some of the secrets of successful relationships. This is a motivational book that is written in a way that everyday people will relate to. It is not limited to career people nor the unemployed, it is a book for anyone who is interested in the pursuit of happiness. Based on articles published in newspapers around Australia, Amanda Gore's approach is simple but effective. The thoughts, tips and ideas in this book come in 'bite-sized' chunks for easy reading.
Amanda Gore is one of Australia's most prolific public speakers and columnists. She is a trained physiotherapist and occupational health consultant who has moved away from her traditional career to speak on a full-time basis at corporate seminars in Australia and the USA. She also has regular spots on radio and TV and has literally hundreds of articles for newspapers, both as a freelance journalists and as a columnist.
Customer Reviews:
I Can Be Happy In Jesus.......2005-08-20
Elkins has done it again. Quick, snappy little songs for little souls. With each progresive book, you think he's gonna fall off, but then BEE-YAM!! He hits you with a joint like this.
I Can Be Happy in Jesus is a tour-de-force of what it really feels like to be in Jesus. I recommend it to everyone just getting in to Jesus, and even those that have been in Jesus before. Five Stars.
Book Description
With 25 years of study and meditation, Carla Rae Byers has discovered new eternal truths about the Universe. The Colors Of Your Soul presents the new "rainbow of creation" of astrology. With this book, you will be able to learn about the power of the Star Wheel. You can create your very own star wheel with step by step directions utilizing meditation. To help with the process 15 authentic jewels (Faery Stones) of the earth are packaged and included with the book.
This book, The Colors Of Your Soul, is a must for anyone looking toward the rebirth of our solar system to usher in the Light of Aquarius for the next 26,000 year cycle.
By reading this book you will learn how to heal your heart wounds, embrace your personal power, and consciously guide yourself to a more fulfilling life.
Average customer rating:
|
The Commandments: Ten Ways to a Happy Life and a Healthy Soul
Susan Muto , and
Adrian Van Kaam
Manufacturer: Charis Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Study
| Old Testament
| Reference
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Church History
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Devotionals
| Worship & Devotion
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Devotionals
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
| Sacred Writings
| Judaism
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Pastoral Theology
| Theology
| Religious Studies
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0892839538 |
Book Description
A fun, original new take on a classic subject, this book is a collection of classic Christmas cookies from all over the world, set up in a field guide format.
Customer Reviews:
Great Cookie Book.......2006-11-10
I bought this book and I love it. There are so many cute cookies ideas. I haven't actually made any yet but I'm planning on to very soon. :-)
Don't wait for Christmas to buy this book!!.......2006-03-07
I have gone through two Christmas seasons using this cookbook with many compliments on the resulting baked goods, but have also found many recipes we use all year long. Some of the best features are:
Symbols with each recipe to indicate if the dough can be frozen, if the cookies keep well, if they are kid-friendly to make, quick to make or sturdy enough to mail.
The binding is a sturdy covered spiral so the book lays flat on the table and the pages do not tear or come loose from the binding.
The introduction has excellent information on ingredients, storage, baking and cooling advice and equipment needed
There is a listing of Resources in the back for equipment mentioned or required in the recipes so you can order items by phone or over the internet.
PICTURES! Excellent photos of each cookie so you know how it is supposed to look. This is especially helpful when making cookies with children; they like to have an idea of what they are making.
The recipe for Kris Kringle's is the best I have found. The same for the Snickerdoodle recipe (I make these at least once a month).
My children have made many of the recipes with me. Their favorites are the Peanut Butter Chocolate Kiss Cookies, Night Before Christmas Mice, Pepparkakor (ginger snaps), Easy Christmas Wreaths, Candy Cane Cookies and Mocha Orange Pinwheel Cookies.
There are also a whole range of more complicated, interesting cookies, which one would want to make without their kids help.
The format is easy to follow, easy to read and less intimidating than Rose's Christmas Cookies (also a great book).
Love this book.......2005-11-09
This is a Christmas cookie lovers dream. It has easy to read instructions, great info on storage. Lots of space in the book for your personal notes as well.
Great for New Bakers.......2005-08-28
I decided to bake Christmas cookies for the first time this year. I ordered several books and this one is the best. Its not too overwhelming. The layout nice and the sprial binding makes it easy to use. The assortment or recipes is good, but lacks the homey feel that someone's great Aunt Edna's recipe handed down over generatons will provide. But, its good for the basics and for those starting out.
Very good reference for all the standards. Recommended.......2004-12-10
This `A Baker's Field Guide to Christmas Cookies' by Dede Wilson is a perfect example of how the same subject can be served well in two very different ways. The obvious touchstone against which to proof this volume may be Rose Levy Beranbaum's book on Christmas cookies. But, this would be an unfair comparison. Beranbaum's work covers the very high end of Cookie making, ending with a truly glorious creation of a gingerbread cathedral of Notre Dame. Beranbaum also covers just about every little issue you may possibly encounter in baking cookies and provides us with lots of unusual recipes.
Dede Wilson, on the other hand, has given us a very practical kitchen reference for lots and lots of common cookie recipes baked for Christmas, including several ethnic favorites such as the relatively difficult Moravian Ginger Cookies.
My favorite thing about Ms. Wilson's contribution aside from its spiral binding which lays flat on the table is the fact that you often have more than one recipe for a particular type of cookie. For a rolled gingerbread / spice cookie recipe, there are at least three alternatives, not even including the difficult Moravian cookie. That generally means that if you want to make a particular kind of cookie, you have your choice between an easy, intermediate, and hard recipe.
Other very nice features are the fact that every recipe falls on two facing pages, begins with a very clear picture of one or two of the cookies, states the type and (very cute here) habitat, gives a description of the cookie and alternatives, gives the shelf life under proper storage conditions, and gives appropriate tips on making this and similar cookies. I think the recipes are well written and leave little room for error, although I was just a bit confused by the instructions to form rolled gingerbread dough into a disk. This sounded more like instructions for a freezer cookie than a rolled cookie.
The introductory material to the book gives nothing near the detail of Beranbaum, but gives enough to avoid any egregious errors. It also does not give lessons on using piping bags and other decorating techniques, but none of the cookies require elaborate methods.
The book does include an appendix on sources, most of that are probably familiar to regular bakers such as King Arthur, KitchenAid, and Wilton. Several are unfamiliar and welcome to me, especially New York Cake and Baking Distributors and The House on the Hill.
If I were the author, I may have included a bibliography of major works on cookies such as by Malgieri, Heatter, and Beranbaum, especially for help on decorating, but the book does a pretty good job of standing on its own as a great reference for common cookie recipes. It really fits its `Field Guide' metaphor well.
Books:
- The New Corporate Cultures: Revitalizing the Workplace After Downsizing, Mergers, and Reengineering
- The Power of Positive Thinking: A Practical Guide to Mastering The problems Of Everyday Living (4 CD Set)
- The Simplest Path to Personal and Planetary Awakening, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND: 10 Keys for Unlocking Your Personal Potential, Achieving Spiritual Awakening, ... of Humanity's Ultimate Cosmic Destiny
- The Strategy Process: Concepts, Context and Cases (3rd Edition)
- Tintin in the Congo
- Wertham Was Right!: Another Collection Of POV Columns
- Wisdom for a Young Ceo: Incredible Letters and Inspiring Advice from Today's Business Leaders
- Working PeopleSmart: 6 Strategies for Success
- A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul
- Activity-Based Costing: A Review with Case Studies (CIMA Research S.)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Jobs Around My Neighborhood/Oficios en mi vecindario
- Desire Street: A True Story of Death and Deliverance in New Orleans
- The Economics and Politics of Accounting: International Perspectives on Research Trends, Policy, and
- William Goldman: Five Screenplays
- An Introduction to Credit Risk Modeling
- Dear Mr. Blueberry
- Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before
- Automated Accounting 6.0: Textbook for Macintosh
- Transatlantic Images and Perceptions: Germany and America since 1776
- "Once More, With Feeling": The Script Book
Mathematicians in Love
Master of Space and Time
Infinity and the Mind: The Science and Philosophy of the Infinite (Princeton Science Library)
Spaceland: A Novel of the Fourth Dimension
Frek and the Elixir
