This book belongs to a rare category: Reference Works of Art. This massive volume not only brings together an amazing mass of information, but does so in a fantastically attractive manner. The coverage is comprehensive: general articles on the relationship of writing to language, linguistics, decipherment, etc. accompany page after page devoted to every script extant from Egyptian and Chinese scripts to Ogham, Cree, and Mandain. If that were not enough, the book goes on to explore other systems for conveying information in written, symbolic form, such as mathematical and musical notations. But enough with the table of contents. I've only used the book for browsing thus far, but this even is a rewarding experience. The price on this book is quite high, but is in proportion to the quantity and quality of the material it contains. If all books were so well done, there would be very little to debate in terms of the effort put forth by writers and the taste exercised by editors. It doesn't get any better than this.

A comprehensive and very reliable reference work on grammatology. It is organized into separate easy-to-find sections, each devoted to a single writing system or a family of related scripts, and written by a specialist in the field. The book covers practically every known writing system, listing the established facts about its origins, variations, and development. Sign tables are presented (in full for alphabets, representative samples for syllabaries and logographic systems), and each section is provided with a priceless bibliography. Good editing work, the sections follow a similar pattern, which makes the book easy to use. The scripts are presented meticulously and are a pleasure to behold (it must have been a staggering job from the publisher's point of view). High scholarly standards are maintained throughout, and the precise technical language is balanced with an unobtrusive sprinkling of interesting anecdotes. This book is as beautiful as the Italian Carolingian Minuscule.

The World's Writing Systems is an essential addition to the library of anyone interested in or involved in any of the myriad aspects of language, both as a fascinating browsing book and as an important reference work.

As reviewed by Laurence Urdang, in the Summer 1996 issue (Vol. XXIII, No. 1) of VERBATIM, The Language Quarterly.

This is one of the most inspirational books I have ever read! It helped me to realize that for you to achieve true success - you must live in alignment with your natural calling in life...your Life Purpose. What a concept! I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to find their place in the world. This book will help you find it.

When I find myself going off into a flat spin, trying to deal with the demands of work, family, or life in general, I can pick up this book and get back on track. This book helps put things into perspective. It's an easy read so you will not need the excuse that you don't have enough time to pick it up. I recommend this book HIGHLY and place it where it will be easily accessible.

This book though simple in style, gives one "pause to think" and leaves the reader with a sense of dedication and certainty - no small feat in todays' world. It is particularly helpful to those in transistion and those searching for meaning or direction. I have given this book to several friends and clients and have seen it produce a profound change in attitude. Bravo to the author!

It is rare to read an autobiography of a successful person involved in a technical field such as surgery and come away enriched by this humane, unselfish presentation offered by Dr. James D. Hardy. His down to earth story of how to balance family, politics, and medicine and still be a gentleman could only happen in the South. This book should be required reading for every pre-med student and should be kept as a bible for those who choose surgery for their calling.

The Academic Surgeon should be required reading for any premed or med student. Because of the insight it gives to an exciting period of medical history, surgeons certainly and other doctors and those in medical fields will find it excellent reading. The general reading public will also be fascinated by a look into the life of this pioneer in transplant surgery who excelled as a doctor, surgeon, teacher, administrator, and devoted family man.

Don't let the title throw you off. The Academic Surgeon makes a great read for anyone both doctors and lay alike. This book reads well and makes the life of a pioneer in surgery come to life.

I almost feel sorry for Daniel Harvey, the author of the what-has- to-be-somewhat-autobiographical memoir "Adventures of Prescott: Celibate Nympho." If the author does in fact have a history that is similar to his hilarous protagonist's, adolescence must have been hell. Many of us, while mulling over images of the previous night's high school debauchery, have squirmed a guilty squirm on a Sunday morning pew many times over. Of course by the time we were enjoying post mass donuts in the rectory hall, the guilt/hair shirt was off until next Sunday. Harvey's protagonist (self?) had no such luxury, he was the rebellious son of the preacher!

This book is funny in that the reader is afforded a testosterone blurred peek of the world through the eyes of a wild, church-going teen. This book is sad when this same teen chooses to look at himself. It is indeed simultaneously heavy and light. If he hasn't exorcised his demons with this book, I am definetly looking forward reading more Daniel Harvey.

A truth searching novel for all post-fundies. In "....celibate nympho" the main character Jed (or is that Prescott) tries to make sense of the excess baggage he is carrying from his xtian roots through counseling sessions. Within Jed's stories are main themes every post-fundie can identify with. Such as marriage, sexuality, music, the do's and don'ts of adolescent xtian love and the obey and deny attitude according to fundamental doctrine. You'll meet characters tripping on LSD, a guy who changes his name to a biblical one (sortof a detox), young women sunbathing and a bible-belt mama. Through heated conversations between the counselor and her brother-in-law you'll be able to taste two opposite sides of spirituality. Daniel gives the reader an insiders' look into the world of fundamental xtianity, a psycho-analysis in a sense.

Adventures of Prescott... Celibate Nympho will obtain and keep your attention from beginning to end with its realistically funny humor. As the quick but great read goes on, the story and characters unfold smoothly. The classic lines and real life plot are made great by the characters and their individualistic personalities. Though not everybody will find a resonance with the cynical main character named Jed, having siblings can bring your streams of life closer with his. Adventures of Prescott: an original piece of work, full of emotion and worth your time.

The hardest part in "life goes on" is re-joining life. This book was an enormous help in taking those steps. Truly, the "darkest of the night" is not when your loved one leaves this earth, as tragic as that is, but several weeks later when the enormity of it all comes crashing down. Your friends and family think you should be better, but you're not. Alice's breezy and to-the-point style helped me pick up the pieces and go forward. It is full of humor, but also full of heart, a Must Read for anyone who has had lost a spouse or significant other.

Somewhat irreverant, but makes one aware that life goes on; it really is ok to laugh,at yourself as well as deceased spouse. A must for everyone who finds themselves in that position, especially when you fear that humor has gone out of your life forever.

no one is raised to be a widow. somehow it's human nature to think it will never happen to you. but sometimes one finds that the same type of "black humor" that gets you through a grave illness of a husband, kicks in "after the flowers". the author handles the subject in a light manner,but handles deep subjects that only the widowed can related too, in a way that is not frightening to read about. this also touches the comparrison of the divorced woman also. as she says "sometimes single is single is single". it's a good read!

I think the line above says everything.. you will not regret buying this book.

Wonderful book. None of the photographs are tricked -- that is, all are usual perspectives, normal orientation (what looks like the floor at first glance really is), no strings, no unseen bars or plates, no studio retouching of former. (See LG's preface.) Truly amazing work.

This book is a sequel to the book BREAKING BOUNDS.The trick photography is incredible! Some of the photos are tasteful nudes that captivate you with their artistry. If a picture is worth a thousand words... this book is worth a couple million!

this is an excellent book even though i havent even finished reading it. it is pretty useful as a reference, a big paperweight, or for bringing to the bathroom to read. i have the 2nd version of the book which differs from the 3rd edition by about 200 pages. but the 2nd edition is chock full of design equations, graphs, diagrams, and a ton of numbers and letters. the 3rd edition probably includes even more pretty pictures and captions that go with it. i would not know since i am cheap and bought the used 2nd edition. but if you have acne, wear thick glasses, and also happen to like airplanes then this is a good book to get. it goes over the entire design of airplane and is a great place to start if you want to be in the airplane design business. it is published by the american institute of aeronautics and astronautics so they probably know what they are talking about. i am glad i bought this book because i got sick of paying overdue fines to my local library. i definitely recommend paying for the book and not the fines.

Kindly request is made .how to procure these books ,I am an indian and staying at Secunderabad -India .Kindly send me your Email address and communication address with the Price list of the books mentioned below.
Also request if you could kindly send me other aerodynamics/aircraft design,jet engines,aircraft structures /related books so that in future we can place the order to you.

Request is made to kindly firnish the following details as soon as possible.

1.Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach (Aiaa Education Series) by Daniel P. Raymer, J. S. Przemieniecki

2.Rds-Student: Software for Aircraft Design, Sizing, and Performance, Enhanced and Enlarged Version 4.2

3.Theory of Wing Sections
by Ira H. Abbott, Albert E. Von Doenhoff

4.Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach (Aiaa Education Series) by Daniel P. Raymer

5.Aerodynamics of Wings and Bodies
by Holt Ashley, Marten Landahl (Photographer)

Mr. Raymer has managed to explain a very complicated process in a way that is both understandable and interesting. Conceptual aircraft design (i.e., starting with nothing but a set of performance criteria to be met) is a multi-variable problem in which the value of most of the variables depend on other variables. The solution of such problems require initial approximations with subsequent iterations. Mr. Raymer explains the conceptual design process, gives historic values used for first approximations and makes good use of actual examples. Two conceptual designs, one a homebuilt aerobatic aircraft and the other a supersonic fighter, are provided in the Appendix to illustrate the procedures described in the book. I found the book interesting both in subject matter and writing style. Although written as a college textbook, the use of actual aircraft to illustrate various points and the author's obvious desire to be precise about his descriptions makes the book easy to follow and fun to those interested in the subject.

I bought this to see what Daniel Pearl was all about after his tragic death. I'm so glad I did. It makes me wish I'd known him. Kudos to the people who chose and organized the articles - it's a wonderful tribute.

Wait - those of you who haven't read this yet, please don't get the wrong idea! - just because I'm being sentimental about it doesn't mean that the book requires you to be. The articles in here are so worth reading by anyone, for any reason - please pick it up and see what you learn about the world.

Being an avid reader of the Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade, the tragic loss of Daniel Pearl struck me hard even though I couldn't ever recall associating his name with a specific article. "At Home in the World" is an excellent collection of writings exemplifying the in-depth--yet sometimes quirky--reporting like that often found in the middle column of the Journal's front page. They're my favorite articles: almost always interesting; so well-written. Since I actually remembered some of the stories, perhaps I've been a fan of Mr. Pearl's all along.

I like the way this book is organized: six parts, each one highlighting a literary style or theme infused with interesting facets of Mr. Pearl's life and personality (Editor Helene Cooper provides some insightful anecdotes at the beginning). For example, Part Four ("Finding the Potholes ...") reveals his propensity for delving deep into the fabric of a society to get an unexpected story; Part Two ("I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music") plays off of his love for music ... all music. The writings in each part are presented pretty much (occasional exceptions) in reverse chronological order, so that his work from WSJ stints in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., London, and India are kept together. The fifty articles range in length from two to eleven pages, lending themselves well to intermittent reading when time is tight. I don't imagine every article will be of interest to all readers, so there's the option of covering everything or just picking out what you consider interesting (I chose the former). The book got better as I went along, with Part Six ("Nice Lede!") being the most entertaining. The Appendix articles from the North Adams Transcript are hilarious.

This book should appeal especially to Journal fans and those who love reading (learning) about diverse subjects from many worlds. I would also recommend this for anyone who wants to explore truly human topics that aren't offered on a daily basis by the news media.

The title of this selection of articles by the late Daniel Pearl has been taken from a theater essay by the playwright Arthur Miller entitled "The Family in Modern Drama." Miller describes the role of a family's breadwinner, whom he envisions as a traditional paterfamilias, as making the world just as familiar and comfortable a home as his immediate family environment. Dan Pearl succeeded notably in that enterprise, writing with professional detachment, objectivity, elegance, humor, and a tincture of scholarship about the ironies of the human condition in far-flung, exotic places - India, where cows may be sacred but leather goods are manufactured; Iran, whose youths may publicly spout anti-American slogans but scheme to obtain in, say, Turkey, a U.S. visa "to study, perchance to stay" - an allusion to Hamlet's "to sleep, perchance to dream"; even Kosovo, where "genocide" turned out to be "small acts of intimate barbarity." Throughout his educative articles, which he honed until he heard the sentences "sing," Dan Pearl exhibits the total lack of malice, the calm and perceptive gaze, and the disinclination to histrionics for which his father justly praises him in a prefatory eulogy. The articles fit perfectly what the book's jacket calls the Journal's "iconic middle column," and together they constitute a lasting tribute to their late author.

If you've achieved success and still aren't satisfied, this may be the right book for you.

Dan contends that if you aren't satisfied, then you haven't tasted the success you know you should have. He details how he got his head "screwed on straight" and went from growing up a policeman's son in East Los Angeles to owning Guthrie Castle in Scotland by age 40. If Dan's story isn't the American dream come true - I don't know what is. Learning what he did to get to where he is today, was worth considerably more to me than the price of the book.

Let's keep it short and sweet. This book is worth your time and money! I am on my way to making my first $100 million as a result of Dan Pena's wit, wisdom and experience. Dan Pena shares his experience in a way that allows you to apply the lessons he's learned in a practical way. Dan Pena shares a practical approach to building wealth that has enhanced my own experience and education. What I learned from this book were things I did not learn from my two years at Harvard Business School! I highly recommend this book.

If you want to read a book on how to create wealth from a person who has "been there and done that" then this is that book. There is a difference between talking about building wealth and having done it. Mr. Pena has "done it". His success as an entrepreneur is proof of his principles and techniques of success.

I read books like this, and reviews like these above, and I wonder: where am I? And what century is this? I feel like we could be living in Salem during the witch trials. It just proves that some people will believe anything. Making a point about abortion with seals? And what does "true patriot" even mean? It can seem like it has meaning, but on any reflection, it has none. There are many ways to love this great country. This includes disagreeing with perceived wrongs, not believing everything you are told. This includes (last time I checked) separation of church and state. Should a man who plays the fiddle well have any special insights into history, politics and religion. From this book, obviously not.

Sure, Mr. Daniel's uses bad grammar in his title and his concepts are overly simplistic, but that is the beauty of this book - it is straightforward and too the point. Liberalism has been and continues to be the anathema to our free republic. Charlie tells it like it is and leaves no holds barred as he give us more than 100%! If you only had time to read one other book beside "The Very Hungry Catepillar" this year - this is the one! Their are many good stories and anecdotes and a heathy dose of common sense in his well-written text. Highly recommended for simulating reading!

We should all be thankful for Charlie Daniels. Not only has he provided us with some of the best country music ever written but he's now proven that he's a true patriot willing to fight for this country. I don't see how some reviewrs can say this books is purely about hatred. Just the opposite, it's about love. Love for this country. There are several articles that are political in nature but several more about Charlie's love for the beauty of this country. He paints such a vivid picture of the countryside in different states. At other parts in the books he makes you smile and think of Christmas, even though right now it's only july. Charlie also makes several compeling political arguments, especially about abortion. He points out the hypocrisy of the left and says that they willl do everyhting they can to save baby seals but nothing to save baby humans being aborted everyday. However, the most impressive element of this books is Charlie's faith. His love for the Lord Jesus Christ and his constant proclomation of the gospel (we are saved by grace through Christ's deaht on the cross) is what makes this book so wonderful. I know there's a lot of anger toward Christian Conservatives in this country. However, I remember you liberals constantly telling us to have open minds. Why don't you take your own advice for a change. Pull up a chair and listen with open minds to some of Charlie's Cowboy Logic.