I found this book a complete surprise. From the title, I expected only a story about explosions and collisions but this book is much, much more. It provides really brilliant descriptions of how all kinds of stars evolve and how they regulate their energy production. After reading this book I fully understood why aging stars produce more energy but are cooler than they were in their youth. A minor complaint might be that the content is not well organized. A type 1A supernova is explained here and a type 2 there and later some more about 1A etc. But, I shouldn't dwell on a quibble. This is a terrific book. After reading it I'll never think of iron or nickel in quite the same way again.

There seems to be an aspect of human nature that wants to search out and discover things that are the most extreme in their class. People just seem to love record setters. This is a book about cosmic record setters. Within its pages Wheeler describes the biggest, most energetic, oldest, densest, things in the universe. If cosmic record holders hold any interest for you, then I think you'll find this book as enjoyable as I did.

Wheeler begins his book by describing how stars form, how they evolve in response to gravity, how they ignite, how they burn, and eventually how they die. This is a logical introduction, since virtually all the examples of cosmic catastrophes involve stars in one form or another. Like people, though, the life of each star is unique - and the end times are very different. Wheeler does an excellent job of describing the negative feedback process that stabilizes solar activity. If the star generates too much heat it expands. This expansion reduces the temperature, and throttles back on the rate of nuclear fusion. If the star cools down it contracts, and the contraction heats it up again, keeping the rate of fusion at a remarkably constant level for long periods of time during the stars life.

Much of Wheeler's text is actually about how stars evolve. This is important because to understand their deaths, you need to understand how they are born and how they evolve over their lifetimes. Their deaths are frequently the most interesting parts of the story because they are often involved with the catastrophes that are the book's principal thesis. While I bought the book because of its discussion about cosmic catastrophes, I found it valuable for its descriptions of stellar evolution alone. This includes a nice description of the "solar-neutrino" problem as well as a nice explanation of the red-giant phase, and especially the last stages during the life of a massive star that explodes in a super nova.

The foundational understanding of the basics of stellar evolution makes it easier to follower Wheeler as he takes the reader on a tour of the major players in cosmic catastrophes: white dwarfs, super novae (of many different types), neutron stars, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts. Wheeler's descriptions of these phenomena (to the extent that modern science understands them) are among the best I've seen in a popular science textbook. There is also a smattering of discussion about the origin of the universe in the Big Bang, and some interesting speculation about time (and space) travel using black holes.

In any book dealing with modern cosmology and astronomy there are inevitable discussions about the nature of space and time and how they fit together with Einstein's theory of general relativity. Most such books have at least one figure showing a funnel-shaped construct with grid lines converging as they swoop into the tapering end where the black hole resides. Wheeler uses lots of such diagrams. However, I think he does a better job than most at helping the reader understand what the diagrams illustrate. More importantly, he helps the reader understand what the diagrams do not illustrate, and their limitations (he dispels some common misperceptions about these sorts of figures). I especially enjoyed Wheeler's explanations about how one might (with the application of the appropriate mental acrobatics) use the diagrams to actually envision what is really going on in our multi-dimensional world.

Another thing I liked about Wheeler's book is the clear and frequent illustrations. For the most part the author has anticipated those places where prose just cannot quite complete the mental picture. When this happens there is inevitably a well-constructed diagram that finishes the concept and makes things clear. There was one exception, however. Figure 7.3 really needs to have an arrow or circle marking the location of SN 1987A. [I'm pretty sure I found it, but the exposure changes between the photographs, and so I'm not quite sure. It would have been nice to have the author's help in preventing a false identification.]

Reading this book one gets the sense that even though it is a qualitative description of astronomy (there are no equations) Wheeler is not over simplifying. His discussion of super novae, for example, lists many classes and describes theoretical uncertainties that other authors gloss over or ignore all together. Of course there is much more detail to super novae than what is in Wheeler's book. But at the qualitative level Wheeler leaves the reader understanding that there are many classifications of super novae, that some of the boundaries between classifications are not always so clear cut, and that we still don't know a lot about how some types form, and how other types explode. These are concepts that other popular science textbooks don't always convey. I think the only thing missing from the chapters on super novae is a table that summarizes all the different types and some of their descriptive identifiers.

Unlike some popular science texts, Wheeler devotes quite a bit of time describing the evolution of binary stars, which play an important role in some of the greatest cosmic catastrophes. I think he does an especially good job of qualitatively describing accretion disks, and how they fit in the context of mass transfer in binary systems. It's this mass transfer that is ultimately involved in some of the most spectacular catastrophes in the sky.

Overall, this is a great book. If you enjoy astronomy I'm sure you will find it satisfying and informative. It's just the sort of book to enjoy on a vacation, or after a grueling day at the office.

As a teenager I was awed when this book about my father was published. I have one of the original copies which I value very much. It is gratifying to know that there is a resurgence of interest in Craig Ellwood's work so many years later. If you are a fan of his work, or if you want to get a good feel for Southern California architecture of the '50s and '60s, you will want this book. (OK, so I am biased! It is still a cool book.)

I did not realize how influential my father Craig is today, until I searched on his name and it lead me to this site. Here I learned that Ester McCoy's book about my dad has sold over 500,000 copies. That leads me to believe that there is a great interest in his work today, and that he is definitely influencing tomorrow's architecture. His favorite thing to do was to teach architecture, and with reprints of these great books, I believe that he continues to do just that today.

Adam Ellwood

This is a beautifully written book which reads like poetry. It is a must for a nature lover's library.

Annette Otts Beaverton, Al.

A stunning and lively account of encounters with animals in unusual and not-so unusual settings. Childs does his research on the behavior and anatomy of many of the animals he writes about which I found impressive. Not only does he open the reader's eyes to the many faces of animal behaviour and character, but he also injects human emotion, which allows the reader to connect with each story. The accounts are not just moving, but downright hillarious at times.

Check- subject matter expertise.
Check- use of the web for learning (whether academic, professional, self-directed, or corporate)
Check- understanding of the key issues.

Now you need a resource showing you how to make it all work effectively, and give you new ideas. This is where Curriculum Webs fits in- whether corporate HR intranet or K12 science projects, or anywhere in-between.

'Curriculum Webs' is clear, well-illustrated and thorough, with lots of examples giving you the confidence to move forward.

Chapters span:
- planning- context, process
- curriculum goals- learners, subject, pre-requisites, rationales
- learning activities- individualizing, grouping, activities
- gathering web resources- bookmarks, searching, evaluation (m, copyright issues
- designing effective websites- audience, information and materials, visual metaphors, navigation, chunking
- laying out web pages- design, white space, colo(u)r, styles, moving, frames/tables
- multimedia
- interactivity
- organizing ands assessing learning
- evaluating and maintaining curriculum webs
-teaching
- teaching teachers- training, standards, organizations
- appendix- servers, clients, browsers, bandwidth, names/URLs, html

Note: steers away from eLearning hype (although misses opportunity for entertaining eLearning anecdotal sidebars!).

Overall, a very worthwhile, vendor neutral, action-focused workbook on practical eLearning.

Harnessing the World Wild Web to enhance and expand curriculum and students access to knowledge and constructive information have become an important and viable vehicle to me as a school administrator. However, using this tool efficiently and educationally poses many challenges and requires new training for teachers and schools. I have found Cunningham An Billinsley's Curriculum Webs to be a rare, unique and excellent guide for educators and school administrators in preparing them to explore, utilize and maximize the benefits the web has to offer to education, as well as in creating their own units and webs for practically every subject matter and curricular area. The book takes you step by step through all the essential stages and components in the process of creating a traditional curriculum and applies them to the creation of a web based curricular unit. Its web companion provides and interactive hands-on way to easily implement the newly acquired skills, In addition to the ease and clarity it presents from a technical standpoint, it offers wonderful insights about instructional methods and strategies, based on the most current research in the field of learning and education. The book is delightful to read, uses relevant examples, is easily applicable, and is reflective and thought provoking. A must for teachers, teachers to be, and parents who wish to use the great possibilities of virtual learning to enhance their children's critical thinking skills, knowledge, individual growth, progress, and pursuit of personal interests.

There were three things I really liked about this book: 1) Every page had something of value on it. There's no filler. I never found myself turning a page and asking, 'what the heck did I just read?' 2) The customer satisfaction concepts were presented in the most simple manner possible. Anybody at any level of a company can understand and use the book. Right now, my V.P. of Operations and one of my 18 year old co-op students are reading it, and they're both getting some good ideas. 3) The book includes a wide range of tools, along with instructions on how to use and how not to use each one.

In summary, this is a good, practical book you can start using before you're even done reading it.

If you're looking for a bunch of heavy, theoretical philosophizing on customer satisfaction, then you'll hate this book. If you're looking for practical, common-sense methods for understanding what customers think and doing something about it, then you'll love it. I found this book to be the most clear and concise guide yet for actually doing something to improve customer satisfaction. My company has already begun using two of the methods, with very good results. Highly recommended.

This book is awesome! The only bad thing is that the stories didnt last that long, but it was still awesome! All three stories are great, but my favorite was the first one, Mason & Erin. It was the perfect story. Anyways, it was real great reading about three different couples going to the same dance, and how it was different for all of them. And I also really liked how in each of the stories the same characters from the other stories were talked about (example: Michael & Caroline were in Mason & Erin's story, and vice versa. Also, Serena and David were in all three stories.). Anyways this was a great book, and you should definitelyget it!

All three of the stories in this book were awesome. The first is about a sophomore trying to get elected "queen" of this dance, just so she can dance once with her brother's best friend, the guy she likes. The second is about 2 class clowns who decide to go in gag outfits, but in a series of mix ups, they go in proper formal wear. The third story is about a foreign exchange student who has to leave the next day and has only this night to get together with the girl he's had a crush on since he got there. All three stories are good, and hilarious! Especially the one about Caroline and Michael, the class clowns. Even if you don't normally go for these kind of books, read this one. It's worth it.

Craig's understanding of the formation of Self-image (as well as images of "God" and others, has come from years of One-on-one counseling. This book helped me, the child of a dysfunctional family, to gain insight into my warped views of myself and others resulting in my ultimate freedom to be MYSELF! As a counselor, I personally endorse this book as FOUNDATIONAL reading for anyone who is confused about life or is in the demanding profession of personal counseling, or simply has the desire to minister LIFE-CHANGING TRUTH to others.

Most people, myself included would say this is deep reading. You read a chapter (page) and have to digest it for a while. Sire shows us how we can be decieved and not know it. Of course, when we are decieved WE DON'T KNOW IT.This book sure showed me areas in my life that needed a touch from God. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about his/her Christian life, especially Christian leaders who sometimes can be the most decieved of all.

Parton is well informed Christian who has journeyed from a staffer on Campus Crusade to Lutheranism, and is now utterly amazed and upset that he finds much of Lutheranism trying to imitate Evangelicalism.

This book documents that journey as well as puts forward Christian apologetics which is so needed in our pluralistic and postmodern times. I found the separation into tough-minded and tender-minded apologetical approaches helpful and insightful. The Christian Church certainly needs to reclaim and make full use of the arts which God has so graciously bestowed upon it, and recently have been abandoned or culturalized popularly in the church. Parton correctly sizes up the substance vs. style debate.

Also included is an excellent Addendum on Historic Liturgy as well as an excellent annotated bibliography for further study and extensive endnotes.

To be widely read.

This is Craig Parton's spiritual journey -- from parachurch involvement to finding his spiritual home in the Lutheran Church. It's a fascinating and well-written account, done with a lot of style and humor.

"My journey out of generic American evangelicalism is not especially remarkable," Parton writes. Indeed, in the last 20 years or so, many evangelicals have matriculated to Rome, Orthodoxy and the Episcopal church, among others. Parton tells how he discovered the evangel in confessional Lutheranism. He also issues a warning to Lutheran Christians who are more interested in mimicing the latest evangelical and church growth trends.

This book will give nondenominational types a number of items to ponder and chew on. Parton is also a first-rate apologist, and Christians of all types will benefit from the apologetic parts of the book.

If you realize you're missing something in your Christianity -- a lack of reverence for God in worship, too much emphasis on what you must continually do (sanctification swallowing up justification), a "majoring on the minors" such as end times speculation, sectarian quibbling (to name a few that I have experienced as an evangelical) -- this book is well worth your time. An excellent "For Further Study" section and notes, too.

If you are loooking for one book that will give you all the fundamentals of semiconductor device physics, then this book is the best choice. It clearly illustrates the concepts of mobility, BJT's, MOS, Schottky Barrier Devices, MOSFET, etc. However this book lags in the explanation of small signal behavior of these devices. Good fundamentals about spice simulation of these devices is provided.

This book competes with RF Pierret "Semiconductor Device Fundamentals" and BG Streetman "Solid State Electronic Devices". Compared to Pierret there is less reader feedback in terms of review and worked problems. Problems tend to be of the same type and level.

Compared to Streetman (5th Edition) coverage is narrower, without optoelectronic, microwave and power devices. For electrical engineers, this greater focus is rewarded in Casey's book with in-depth introduction to SPICE simulations of all covered devices. For MOSFETs focus is on level 1 and level 2 PSpice, with a description of higher models up to level 6, BSIM3.

In addition to PSpice, the sales point for Casey is physics of device operation. For example, it has solid discussions of intrinsic carrier density (why doesn't simple formula agree with experiment?) and of MOSFET threshold voltage. None of the other books come close for authoritative, basic argument.

danny is a brillant photographer--a master with black and white film and obviously a very creative guy with his subject matter. a lot of thought goes into his photos. this is an excellent book

Danny Clinch is, in my opinion, the most skilled rock photographer the genre has seen. And it isn't just rock - his subjects come from a multitude of musical backgrounds. His photographs are gorgeously composed, often spontaneous, intimate, insightful, and articulate. Most notably, his work breaks through the superficial shell of music legends that they have become accustomed to showing to the media. Clinch approaches these people on a personal level, and in doing so captures moments with a sensitivity and decisiveness that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere. He works in any number of formats, but regardless of the camera he's using, the results are consistently good. This book is an amazing showcase of Clinch's work and is something both music fans and followers of photography will find great value in. Highly recommended.