Books to read if you're planning a vacation in "Kern", sorted by average review score:
Lesson Plan and Record Book
Published in Paperback by Teacher Created Materials (01 February, 2000)
Average review score: 
Teacher Tested, Teacher Approved!This book has it all and is still easy to slip into your bag! The *Daily Lesson Plans Section has 7 periods vertically and Monday - Friday are across the top of the page with a large note area to the far right. Both the *Daily Lesson Plans Section and the *Class Record Section are clean looking. There is very little unnecessary typing on the pages. The book also includes *Ways to Use This Book, *Seating Charts, *Student Roster (with phone, guardian, and address for 36 students), *Substitute Teacher Information, *Year at a Glance, *Birthdays, *Emergency and First Aid Information, *Newbery and Caldecott Awards, *Metric Conversions, *States, Provinces, and Capitals, and a *World Map! There is a notes page between the class record section and the daily lesson plans section and also at the back of the book. I especially like the weekly quotes. It is a spiral notebook with a glossy paper cover which held up pretty good. The only thing I added to the book was some tabs to seperate the sections. It was a great choice for me.
Masterworks, Portfolio Edition with CD, Second Edition
Published in Paperback by Prentice Hall (08 July, 2003)
Average review score:
An Update on Music AppreciationA 2nd edition of this worthy text increases listening examples to four CD's and still includes an interactive CD-ROM and companion website. Congratulations to the author for configuring a text that could work in a ten week quarter calendar. The nine chapter format with introduction would be difficult to complete without careful choices-- but a tri-mester calendar would be a snap. The last third of the text considers evolution of American music to the 20th century, after following the traditional Euro-centric focus on art music. Other texts (like Willoughby) attempt to include more diversity from world music cultures, but require a longer term-- the semester calendar.
The New Terrier Handbook
Published in Paperback by Barrons Educational Series (June, 1988)
Average review score:
General Guide to the Terrier GroupThis handy little book toasts the Terrier Group. Terrier comes from the Latin "terra" meaning earth and many of the breeds in this group were bred exclusively for "going to ground"- especially the short legged terriers. The first section of the book discusses what to consider when buying a terrier, training, feeding, general care, and there is also a section called "Understanding your terrier." The second half of the book lists and describes the various terrier breeds. This is by alphabet, I've seen some guides who divide by short legged and long legged terriers also. The AKC recognized breed standard is included with the applicable breeds, along with a brief description of each breed. There are good color photographs and drawings throughout the book. From the Airedale (The King of Terriers) to the dimunitive Norwich (In the last few years, BIS at Westminster several times), they are all here. This is a very good introduction to this unique group of dogs and would make an excellent gift for children and teenagers would are dog lovers. So here's to that scrappy, fun-loving, sometimes stubborn, independant, busy, death-on-vermin group known as the terriers!
Rhetoric and Galatians : Assessing an Approach to Paul's Epistle
Published in Hardcover by Cambridge University Press (January, 1999)
Average review score:
Critique of the Betz MovementHans Dieter Betz's commentary on the epistle to the Galatians, which applied the study of ancient Greco-Roman rhetorical forms to the letter, has set the tone for Galatians scholarship for the past twenty years. The few negative early reviews were swamped by the wave of acceptance and the application of Betz's methodology to much of the rest of the New Testament. Some critique and dissent have trailed along quietly over the years, and have begun to grow recently. Kern's work is the first book-length attack on the Betz movement. Though it reads a lot like a dissertation in places (this is not light reading), Kern has built a solid collection of arguments against Betz and his followers. He has seriously called this type of rhetorical analysis into question. In a positive vein, Kern points toward toward the narrative patterns of the Hebrew Bible as a more likely and helpful backdrop for reading Paul than the ancient rhetorical handbooks. Those who have bought into Betz need to face Kern's critique. Those who find value in Betz's work, but are troubled by its ubiquitous influence, will find a very helpful corrective here.
Through the Labyrinth: Designs and Meanings over 5,000 Years
Published in Hardcover by Prestel USA (September, 2000)
Average review score:
World's greatest labyrinth compendiumA museum curator, Hermann Kern spent six years researching labyrinths for an exhibition in Italy in 1980. He then expanded that information and assembled the most complete compendium of labyrinth information ever assembled, from history to the modern era. Published by Prestel, a company in Munich, Germany, that specializes in art books, this compendium was available only in German until the current English edition, which took three years to translate and update. New material has been added to cover discoveries and contemporary labyrinths of the last 20 years, making this the most complete presentation of labyrinth information anywhere. It contains hundreds of photos. Granted, Hermann Kern is quite opinionated and confident of his opinions. Nevertheless, any serious labyrinth enthusiast should own this book. I rate it four rather than five stars because, except for a color section in the beginning, all of the photos are in black and white.
The Usborne Book of Easy Violin Tunes (Tunebooks Series)
Published in Library Binding by Edu Dev (March, 1996)
Average review score:
Beginning with proper tunes!I think this inexpensive book is a gem! I have found it suitable for use as teaching material with pupils of all ages. The progressive layout is attractive and easy to follow, with modern illustrations and text supporting the printed music. As my title suggests, one of its plus points is that, on the whole, the book offers REAL tunes for students to play (particularly important for older learners!) rather than specially concocted ones. Reservations? Some of the "advice" given is, perhaps, down to personal opinion (e.g. cleaning strings with eau de cologne!). Basically though, this book will encourage, rather than put off, the beginning pupil and carry them onto greater things!
You Don't Pat a Bee
Published in Hardcover by The Overmountain Press (November, 2000)
Average review score:
Clever and colorfulThis a very nice book for 2-4 year olds. There are commonsense scenes that will teach, and plenty of animals to keep the child's attention. The illustrations are oddly unique, and very colorful. A very nice addition to the library.
Richard Kern: Model Release (Photo and Sexy Books, Vol. 2)
Published in Hardcover by TASCHEN America Llc (December, 2000)
Average review score: 
snapshots parading as artIf you cut out two thirds of this book it might be worth the money. This concept of snapshot photography passing as the new art form is beginning to get real old. Wake up and smell the coffee people, Nan Goldin's fifteen minutes is up. In fact, it's been up. If you really need to pay (price) to see unattractive people do unattractive things, here it is. Now, with that said, the other third of this book is interesting. It would have made a nice little book for (price).
The Fine Line between Art and PornographyI bought this book without any predisposed notion of what it might contain. I read several reviews of Kern's work, which raised my curiosity level to the point where I arbitrarily decided to acquire one of his books. .... However,...there is a distinct quality to some of Kern's rather stark photographs that transcends anything that you would find at the adult bookstore. One can't help but admire the fact that he uses some very ordinary women as models who are shown in very ordinary contexts, blemishes and all. It's difficult to be "titillated" by what I consider to be Kern's frequently blunt approach to presenting the female body. While viewing the photographs in this book, there were times that I felt like I was receiving a visual biology lesson, while at other times I felt like a voyeur. In that regard, I suppose Kern has succeeded in challenging the viewer's pre-existing perceptions of the female body, and perhaps women in general. In a broader sense, it would appear to me that Kern challenges the definition of art, and blurs the border between it and pornography. Model Release is not a coffee table book, and it's not suitable for anybody who is even moderately immune to being offended. But with an unbiased attitude, the reader may be able to gain a better understanding of Kern's personal artistic vision.
How special is this work really?There is no blurring, no grey area about the status of this book: it's porn. The question is not whether it is art in the alternative to porn, but art as well as porn. But its status as porn is beyond doubt. For one thing, it helpfully admits it. There is also the introduction by Lucy MacKenzie that, whilst doubtless sincere, reads like the validatory (always female)editorial of a porn magazine. However, as porn, it is actually relatively tame. Anyone buying it as porn would probably be able to get more satisfaction from cheaper top-shelf sources. Once it is accepted as porn, its other qualities, good and bad, can be more properly examined. All of the pictures are nicely presented, although the facing page lurid block colours tended to detract or influence the images - was this intentional? The labelling is not always clear, which is irritating if the work is to be treated at all seriously. It does not compare well with Ewing's collection "Love and Desire". There are some excellent pictures which show real character on the part of the models, though often these are the "off set" shots such as "Lisa strips". The best parts of the book are where the pictures are presented as a sequence. For example, there is a "block" of images of Ms MacKenzie, culminating in a (fully clothed) image that will shock many. But even here there are pictures of Lucy at the beach that do not make sense except as "other pictures in the portfolio." The reader looking for a "deeper" level to this collection may be forced to the conclusion that such is really all it is - a snapshot album. If we look too hard for the deeper level ... why is one of the first shots apparently of Lucy MacKenzie at a very young age wearing a brace? Did anyone else feel uncomfortable looking at "Kirsten's tie"? It has the qualities of looking at Schiele's pictures - is the artist commenting on or delighting in the situations presented? But the images generally lack Schiele's definite statement. It is not Sally Mann. It is not David Attie, whose "smiling nude" does tell us something about self-presentation. It is an interesting work, but flawed, and sadly possibly nothing really special. Like most porn.
Java Design: Building Better Apps and Applets (2nd Edition)
Published in Paperback by Prentice Hall PTR (January, 1999)
Average review score:
A good Java design book worth readingWhile there are tons of Java books in bookstores, few of them focus on Java design issues. This book offers the authors' precious experiences with simple rules and examples. In stead of talking extensively about conventional OO principles, the authors take readers directly to the real-world design issues and relate them closely with the Java language features. The book is very helpful for people who want to release the full power of Java and master its OOP. It is easy to read indeed. And it is so practical that I can use the techniques immediately in my projects.
I rate this book as 8, because I think this book would be better if the authors put more refinement effort on it. The content is good, but the writing is rather cursory. Conclusions and rules are thrown to readers without much explanation. It seems that Coad and Mayfield did not expect this book to be a classic of Java design, so they just worked out a how-to manual with some examples to exhibit their understanding of the subject IN A HURRY. Therefor, readers should not be surprised with the errors and free-hand figures in the book. Coad and Mayfield are gurus in OO and Java. They have a lot more to offer; they should work on the 2nd edition and make this book a well-written masterpiece.
Extend'ing laid to restThe OO Programmers obsession with "extending" every class is finally laid to rest with this excellent book, and the case for "composition" strongly presented. Whilst the C++ jury may be out, Java programmers can get on with it. Easy to read and full of real-world examples this is the best design, object-orientated book I have come across. Anyone can learn the syntax and structure of a language but it's how the code is put together that determines the quality of the finished product. Just like you wouldn't let a builder start constructing your new home without a plan and design, you shouldn't do the same with your Java development. When you purchase Peter Coad book you also get added value. Visit his web site and you can subscribe to a twice weekly newsletter, get addendum's and new chapters to the book, a free Java Design Tool. Yes of course he wants you purchase courses, software and his next book but it does feel that he really wants you to be "Building Better Apps & Applets".
<P>OOD for Java Apps: It's A Good ThingThis book outlines five OOD considerations in relation to Java implementations. The authors begin by applying simple OOA amd OOD techniques to two Java example applications, one business oriented and the other embedded. From there they refine the examples by considering when to use inheritance and when *not* to; how Java interfaces can be used to further design abstraction and enhance code reuse; how to handle threads in a design for a Java application; and how to incorporate object to object notification.
The text is an easy read (I read the entire book during a long weekend) and the examples are well explained, complete with object model diagrams, senerio views and actual Java code implementation. The book's appendix includes a very useful step-by-step summary of the strategies to develop a solid OOD targeted for a Java implementation. In addition the included CD-ROM contains a simple to learn shareware application to create object models and senerio views.
The book doesn't contain an in depth general explaination of OOA and OOD and is therefore excellent for readers who are somewhat familiar with these techniques. Hopefully this is only one book in a series of books to follow that cover OOD patterns and how they relate to Java implementations.
Lotus Notes and Domino 6 Development, Second Edition
Published in Paperback by SAMS (28 January, 2003)
Average review score:
Beginners only...This book follows the same formula as predecessors in the most part except for the "real world code" sections. It is very similar to the equivalent ibm red book. Domino is a well seated technology and so you will probably skip right past the first 300 pages about whats a form, a view, a page and a frameset. You could work all this out yourself if you have a designer client infront of you. It takes you through all the elements that any other domino book written about R5 does as well. Then towards the end you get some javascript and HTML basics. But nothing on CSS, (which for anyone who has built a web page after 1999 is now the formatting technique for any dynamic site). If you really have no idea what you are doing and dont have any other supporting literature then this book would help.
But for those of us who are well versed in domino you can find all this on the internet anyway through LDD (aka Notes.net) and download the PDF's, you could even get a (...) R5 book and work out the rest. Dont forget there is an extensive online help system.
Doesn't cover the new Functions and CommandsI was looking for an update book that would cover the new @Functions and @Commands in the programming language. I saw them listed in the first chapter, browsed through the other chapters and saw the real-world code examples and purchased the book. I was very disappointed to see only R5 code in the bulk of the book, even when new @functions in R6 could have been used to simplify. This is just a rushed rehash of the R5 text with new screenshots of R6 Designer client. I should have saved my money and gone with the IBM Redbook and the Lotus help documentation.
Steve and Debbie come through again!The wait for this new release was worth it! The new features of Notes and Domino 6 are presented with precise and detailed information without killing the reader with a lot of technical jargon. The sections focused on DECS and DCRs were most helpful! While other publications have only glossed over this highly valuable feature set, Debbie and Steve take the necessary time to walk the reader through the process of programming and using these new features. Thank you! Out of all the books I have for Domino 6 Development, I continue to find that I turn to this one for all the answers.