This book provides an excellent framework, set of tools, and methodology to make system design decisions based on analysis non-functional requirements and "softgoals," often lacking in other software engineering methodologies and tools. In chapter 14 of the book, the authors provide extensions to the tools to model to analyze strategic rationale and business goals of a system, and apply them to a hypothetical business process re-engineering example. I believe that the authors here have presented a base set of tools and methodologies that have applications far beyond the field of software engineering as demonstrated in this chapter, and I look forward very much to see where this work will lead.

From qualitative analysis to quantitative anlysis it is all there. Non-functional requirements (NFRs) are like the step-child to functional requirmeents but this book finally gives NFRs their due. It is a must read for any person in the software/systems engineering community. Especially impressive is the graphic representations which compliment the text.

I just recently read this book on the beautiful and talented actress Norma Shearer. I learned a lot about her life and career. I highly recommend this book, to any fan of hers, or of classic films. There are many lovely photos of her in it as well.

IT'S AN ENTERTAINING, TELLING AND ACCURATE VIEW OF THE LIFE AND CAREER OF A FORGOTTEN FIRST MAGNITUDE STAR OF THE 1930'S (MGM's FIRST LADY OF THE SCREEN), ALTHOUGH LATELY IT'S BECOME A TREND TO RE-EVALUATE HER CAREER, OVERLOOKED FILMS AND UNDERRATED PERFORMANCES. GREATLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANY FILM BUFF.

This substantial book is filled with rare, many never before seen black and white photos of decades of blues players, accompanied with an entertaining and informative text.

A great book for the blues fan, but readable enough for a newcomer to the genre. A must buy at an not unreasonable price, considering some slighter, less well researched and informative volumes.

Every once in awhile a book comes along that can virtually answer all your questions and at the same time incorporate stories on artists both obscure and well-known...that keeps you from putting it down [very difficult for a book that can be considered a reference work]. The pictures included alone are well worth the price of the book. Many of them rare and never seen before by many of the blues fans who would be interested in this work. If you are going to have one book in your home library on Blues....this is the one to have. Tom tkdp@castle.net

This book shoud be back in print. It is a wonderful piece of first rate journalism. The folks come alive and Millman as always shows the Human Side. For the gent who posted the other review, if you want a copy of the book again go to ABE or Advance Book Exchange!

Although the world ended long ago, Millman takes you through some fascinating fragments. Poignant, vivid, engrossing. It's a great book. I only wish I hadn't lent mine before it went out of print.

This book, written by well known religious scholar I.P. Couliano, provides a wonderful background to the shamanic journey and how it can be found within all societies. He does a very nice cross cultural survey of Shamanism (and relatd concepts) in the early part of the book, showing the similarities of belief in the Americas, Siberia, Melanesia and elsewhere, as well as in Africa and Australia. From there he goes on to show the otherworldly journeys of the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Chinese Taoists, Buddhists, Iranian mystics, Greek Medicine Men and Hebrew Qabbalists. Remarkable intellectuals and visionaries fill out the last couple chapters, including Neo-Platonic philosopher Plotonius, the Prophet Mohammad and Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy. Over all, this is perhaps the greatest non-culture specific survey of the Shamanic journey available. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in Shamanism, religious experiences and mysticism in general check out this book. Considering how widely varied Shamanism is (incorporating everything from Siberian and Polynesian religions to the ecstasies of Voudon and Santeria to Sufi mysticism and beyond), it might be a good beginning book.

WOw!This is very important to read,especially that this was Culianu's last book to be published. WHen he wrote it, he was receiveing threating phone calls from somebody(?), and if you think a little bit.. Out of this world....hmmm? What does that mean??It necessarily means that he knew that he was going to die?Well if you want to know more about Couliano's death(the first case in USA of a teacher killed in this way) read Ted Anton's book. Anyway, this book is a must read for anybody interested in the meta's(metaphysics,metempsychosis,etc)or in the study of religions .

...for rats, mice, possum and other small nocturnal animals. Delivered by the talons of one of the 19 species of North American owls described, and beautifully photographed in OWLS: THE SILENT FLYERS. The history of owl's relationship with man is mixed. Due to their nightly stealth and effectiveness as hunters many cultures have imbued them with special powers. As such they have oftentimes been persecuted as harbingers of death. Yet man also treasures these magnificent birds and in many places they are symbols of wisdom and good fortune.

All this and much more is mentioned by the author as he tells of his personal experiences with many of the species through rehabilitating orphaned and injured birds. Diversity abounds. There are large species such as the Great Horned Owl and the Great Gray Owl and the tiny ones - Pygmy and Elf Owls. Ground dwellers such as the Burrowing Owl can be contrasted with northern-forest dwellers. Some have adapted to man made environments (the Barn Owl) while others are restricted to the remote artic wilderness (the Snowy Owl)

Each chapter covers a different species or group of owls and each description is supplemented with a map showing range and useful information such as the birds measurements, description of its eggs, nesting and breeding behavior, their diet and lastly, but by no means least - owl-watching tips for birders. This is however not a field guide. For one thing, it's too large. It is a good general introduction to North American owls highlighted with 70 full color photos and written by someone who obviously appreciates these unique birds. It also remains one of the better books available on the subject.

The beautiful photographs combined with Lawrence's anecdotal writing style make this an entertaining and informative book.

I bought this book based on the review and on the sample pages in the hope it would help me to improve my technique in painting wild animals. To be honest I was rather disappointed when I first opened the book. At first I thought the book was meant as a course book for illustrators of wild life books, not painters, due to the poor quality of the illustrations, and the fact that in most cases they dont represent paintings but only details. I found the sample pages looked much better on the screen, especially colorwise, than in the real book (Paperback edition 1996, other editions may be better). My first intention was to rate this book a 3-star because of the poor presentation and illustrations. Take for example, John Agnew's book "Painting the secret world of nature" and you will know what I mean. After a closer look, though, I found Lawrence's book was not as bad after all, especially for the part on the eyes p. 66 and 67, the many explanations and usefull tips and the abundance of step-by-step presentations. Now, after having read the book through and having used it in the past days I feel I have to upgrade my rating to a 5-star as this is one of the most honest, usefull and inspirational art instruction books I have ordered. I call it honest because it really gives you what is written in the title, which is, as compared to other books, already an achievement. Unlike so many other art instruction books, where the artists use the pages as a showcase for their own art pieces instead of communicating anything relevant, you feel Rod Lawrence really wants to share his technique with the reader and does it in a clear, understandable way. It is usefull because you can really sit down and follow the clear step by step demonstrations without having to go through lots of useless text or guru-like nonsense befor you get to the point. No other art instruction book I have seen brings so many step by step demonstrations (50 in total), allowing you to see the steps to follow to achieve the desired result, making your painted fur or feathers look real. The items covered include : fur (long : american elk, short: bobcat, curly: bison), feathers (wing, speculum, body, head), scales, eyes&ears, bills&muzzles, tails&feet, antlers&horns and the different types of whites and blacks. The mediums described are watercolor, oil and acrylic, with a preference for acrylic.

This is an excellent reference with a step by step guide to bringing out the most vital of details in animal art. The techniques, while shown in mainly acrylic painting, are adaptable to any media of your choice. A wonderful tool for the serious or amatur artist.

just got back from a hot summer in Paris and read this every night - a bit lush for my taste sometimes, but I really got into the layers of architecture, food, urban design, political satire, word-play and sex...it's a really original book, violent and brilliant, if a bit immature in places ( understandable for a writer still in his 20's I guess ). Some of my friends agreed, some disagreed. The chapters on courtesans and Turkish baths rock!

This is the most brilliant book on Paris ever written in English - quirky, infuriating, uneven, but definately original and fierce and permeated with amazing erudition. Osborne has written for the Voice here, the New Republic and Lingua Franca - he's a superb essayist all round

Here's the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone with the capacity to both love literature and laugh at it. Millman takes off Polar explorers' death diaries, Krakauer's Everest, the Perfect Storm, the Lost Generation, the Bible -- well, you get it. No sacred cow goes unskewered. It's rare that a book makes me laugh out loud but this one did it!

Traveller Millman lucked out in the Middle East when he made a serendipitous discovery of some pages from God's daybook. Some pages they are, filled with self-doubt, miracle mixups, and mis-smotings. I, for one found this terribly reassuring.
He has put those pages together with others found in his world wandering (how do these things happen to the man?), among which are pages from an immensely inept but safely anonymous explorer; an unfortunate American in Gertrude Stein's Paris; a green-lighted filmmaker casting Brad Pitt as the Dalai Lama, among other too real send-ups; Attila's diary fragments that show the lad's vulnerability at the hands of his ill-tempered wife; and there is more!
A wonderful piece of comic work by a terrific writer who, even when he goes to the summit, does not go over the top.

I just really enjoyed this book. Great plot, great character development and very well laid out.

As he nears his fiftieth birthday, San Diego architect David Thomas wonders when the better from his marriage vows will reappear. Ten years ago, he and his wife Angie lost their third child to sudden infant death syndrome. Angie never recovered and has turned into an agoraphobic. In celebration of their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, Angie buys two tickets for she and David to go white water raftering at the same place they honeymooned.

When the day arrives to leave Angie is unable to leave her house, but she throws David out because she cannot deal with the guilt of ruining his plans. At site in the Rockies, David meets the owner Sierra Stone. He and Sierra are attracted to one another, but will he betray his wife who he loves but detests at the same time?

PASSAGE is an intriguing relationship drama. The story line centers on David's reaction to two seemingly different yet quite similar women. Alex Lawrence deftly touch on a social issue as David struggles with what to do for his ailing wife, a problem baby boomers face with aging parents and spousal illnesses. This tale is a strong novel that will provide much of the audience with much to think about with their own relationships.

Harriet KlAUSNER