The world of computer graphics books is filled with fat, pricy tomes that are frankly little better than rehashes of the manual. "Advanced Renderman" is a completely different sort of book.

While Renderman is the ostensible subject, the authors actually cover the entire graphics workflow-- and explain the "why" of it all. Their section on anti-aliasing, for example, is concise, complete, and makes clear the implications of all those little doo-hickeys in 3DS -- you remember the AR explanation better, because its based around how rendering works, rather than how a particular application works (which may change in the next rev, anyway)

Smart guys, smart book-- highly recommended.

This is a great book, written in clear and understandable English. It proivded me (a novice) great information about the RenderMan interface. Not only did it provide a reference to the various API calls, but it also includes an introduction to the basic maths behind it, as well as chapters that discuss CG in general. A thoroughly well written, useful and informative book. It is indespensible for any RenderMan user and in fact, for any CG artist.

This book is written by six renowned professionals in digital lighting field. Even you are not a shader programmer, chaper 1 and 13 show the aesthic architecture of lighting composition and tell us the beauty of 'Photosurrealism'. The depth of each paper is just amazing and you can find more beautiful tecnical information from other papers written by the same authors.

IF YOU FEEL TRAPPED AND CONFUSED..........READ THIS BOOK.............I GIVE 10 COPIES OF THIS BOOK AWAY A YEAR.....YOU WILL NEVER SEE THINGS QUITE THE SAME AFTER READING THIS BOOK. FIRE YOUR SHRINK.....NO MORE PROZAC..................R J

Read this book, or any book by Tony De Mello, if you are interested in really waking up. If the shockingly simple wisdom doesn't do it, or the perplexing little unexpected twists don't do it, be assured that you will probably wake yourself up with your own laughter.

I am a big believer that medicine does not have to taste bad to be good, and Awakening is the perfect example of this.

Thom Rutledge
author of Embracing Fear

I loved this book. DeMello's insights and the way he writes will be enjoyed and re-read by anyone who has ever asked a spiritual question or wanted to know what 'Awake' really means.

I have several books that are cited to support full coverage for the difficult CCDA exam, none of which except the CISCO written books really lived up to their promise.
If CISCO are manageing the exam, then it make sense to train up with their books.
If you buy this box set, then read all and learn all you will pass the exam.
Don't waste your money trying to save pennies - - Get the real thing and pass first time. These book are as good as it gets.

After passing the CCNA exam I decided to pursue the CCDA certification and since the exam was developed by Cisco, why not use their material in order to pass the exam. What I found in this prep library is 3 of the best books out on the market.

While there is no one saying which book to start with, I recommend the Internetworking Technologies Handbook as the place to start. Starting with the basics, then LAN protocols, then WAN technologies, bridging and Switching, network protocols and finally routing protocols gives you the foundation to build on.

I then moved to the Designing Cisco Networks book, which can be used in a classroom without a hitch. This book covered topics like business solutions, designing topologies, building and testing prototypes and even has a sample exam and case studies.

Rounding out the set is the CCDA Exam Certification Guide which helps prepare you for the actual exam with topics like Applications, customer support, topologies and LAN design, Wan Design, documentation and case studies. Overall there seems to more than enough information to pass the exam.

...is to confuse the CCDA design exam with the CCNA support exam. There is NO new CCDA design exam - it is the same exam Cisco has been offering for some time now - #640-441. However, the CCNA support exam has been superceded by the new #640-507.

If one cannot match the correct certification book with it's correlating exam - maybe it is time to consider a different way to make a living.

This bundled pack is excellent. One should probably not invest hard earned cash on anything else. If one wants to learn the Cisco way - buy Cisco Press books. Also worth mentioning is the high quality paper, great type set, and superior graphics.

I heard this book on tape from the local library during a time when I lost my job and broke up with a woman whom I dearly love. Couldn't be at a worst time. Robbins helps me to re-focus on my priority. Reinforced my value and stayed on course. I plan to buy the entire Personal Power II 24 cassette tapes. I am also looking to sign up for his Power Talk Series. By the way, I was a big skeptic of Tony Robbins and used to laugh at people who went to his seminar.

I do not own the Personal Power 2, Yet! But, when I first saw his Infomercial at 1 o clock in the morning I was hooked! Now, at night I wait for his infomercial to come on! And I am disappointed when it doesn't.

My point is...he is the REAL Thing! Just watching his Infomercial made me motivated to go do what I set out to do!!!

Attend his Seminars, Buy his Products, Visit his Website, and Watch his Infomercials!!! Soon you will be on your way to Great Successes!!!!

I have read most, if not all of the best selling works in the self-help field(as well as many, less acclaimed books), and I put this introduction(to a deeper and more comprehensive program) at the top of the list. This introduction has more available in the seemingly brief 4 tapes than most of the self help books out there combined. It's all but impossible to deny/defy the principles presented here. Even if you don't like 'him', his principles are completely solid, and even though he is a great motivator, he really has something to offer that goes far beyond pep talk. The value in this introduction is well worth the investment, and I honestly believe it is worth *much, much more* simply because of the return on that investment. If you're already living your dreams, and are in complete control of your life on every level, then this tape set may or may not be for you. However, I urge you to buy this introduction if you're searching for a way to not only enhance but transform your life from dissatisfaction and/or unhappiness to one of being fulfilled and content, with peace of mind.

Very helpful for devout Catholics, returning fallen-away Catholics, and for anyone interested in understanding the Catholic religious tradition. I especially like the biblical references that show the scriptural source of the sacrements and religious practices. This book will answer any questions you have about the Catholic tradition. The only reservation I have is that there are no answers given to the questions at the end of each lesson. Other than that, it's a great resource.

This book was recommended to me by my Spiritual Confessor as a book to be studied on a daily basis. He said that is should be well understood and memorized. What I really love about this book is that it's question and answer format along with commentary and Scriptural references makes our Catholic Traditions easily understandable. Since it is a question and answer format I can also take a couple of questions a day and memorize them. This is an ideal book for New Catholics as well as Cradle Catholics. This is a great investment for the price.

A previous "reviewer" obviously has never seen this book since it is not intended for use with children. It is clearly aimed at young adults who already have an understanding of the basic truths of the Catholic faith. These catechisms are styled after Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae, which is universally recognized as one of the greatest philosphical and theological works ever! For those wanting an introduction to the Catholic religion, I would suggest the first book in this series, which is geared to children and catechumens.

I have played at golf since high school but never took the time to learn to play well. After years of duffing around the course I decided to learn to properly play the game. I began taking lessons from a highly recommended Houston PGA professional instructor and I began reading golf instruction books. I've been working on my golf, now, for 1 1/2 years. Progress is slow but substantial.

This book, BOBBY JONES ON GOLF, is one of the best instructional books available.

Over the last 1 1/2 years I've read twenty or more golf instructional books. I have found that many of the newer books, written by famous current PGA players, really aren't that good.

This book is overwhelming in the amount of information it contains. Bobby Jones, clearly, simply, explains the body movements required to produce a correct, repeatable golf swing. He does this in such a way that the reader gains insight and understanding into the golf swing no other instructional book offers.

The book also clearly discusses swing tempo and rhythm, essential to a good golf swing.

The section of putting is rather brief but gives insight and clarity to the "art" of putting.

Although this is not the only instructional book I would recommend, I consider it the best single instruction book on golf. The amount of information, the clarity of instruction and the depth of insight contained in this book are unsurpassed by any other golf instruction book available. Additionally, Bobby Jones' writing style possesses an exceptional level of refinement, intelligence and clarity.

One of my biggest regrets in life is that I never got to see Bobby Jones play tournament golf. He retired from the game early, too early for a man of his immense talent; and a few years before I traveled across the country to see tournament play.

I can only go by his unmatched amateur record and old grainy 16-millimeter film stock to grasp the greatness of Bobby Jones. Jones had a great swing...Very controlled, impeccable balance/ coordination, unbelievable tempo and rhythm. Pure ballstriking. Pure golf.

In his book, "Bobby Jones on Golf", Jones really gets to the spirit of the game. This is a great book on the idiosyncrasies, nuances, technicalities, and philosophies of the game of golf. If you read carefully and take his advice seriously, I believe you will become a better player. I can't guarantee this, but there is no reason why a beginner can't shoot in the 80's within the first year of playing. If you do the reading and practice the fundamentals; after 3 years of playing on a regular basis (at least 3 to 4 times a week) you should be shooting in the 70's.

This book is a very easy and compelling read. I think you will really enjoy Jone's prose. It's Jone's prose that makes this an enjoyable reading experience. It's by no means flowery or pretentious, but understated and distinguished. Much like reading a Jane Austen novel; it feels like Jones is actually speaking directly to you. And this is the best way to learn about something very complicated; to have the narrator / author personalize his language by using parables, analogies, and personal stories to make it easier for the reader to understand the complicated material.

Another important note: There are hardly any illustrations and no photographs in this book. There doesn't need to be either because Jones does such a great job in his explantions that his words paint pictures. I was glad that he didn't have to resort to any photos; it would have distracted from his impeccable teachings.

I highly recommend this book whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player. Not only will you learn from a golfing master, but you will have a new appreciation for the greatest game on earth. Along with this book, I also recommend the reading of Ben Hogan's, "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf", Mickey Wright's "Swing the Wright Way", and Harvey Penick's, "The Little Red Book".

"A golf swing is graceful, not because it is made so, but because it is correct." Only Bobby Jones offers nearly poetic writing while tackling the ever so complex act of striking a golf ball, and playing the game.

Mr. Jones' book is without a doubt the best about playing the game of golf. Ben Hogan's Modern Fundamentals is a close second. The difference? Mr. Jones discusses the game. Mr. Hogan discusses the swing.

Beginners and high-handicappers should chuck all their golf magazines and golf-tip books. These only bring about tension and poor results. Bobby Jones on Golf will raise any interested reader's game to a level that goes beyond how many knuckels should be visible or the position of the pinky toe; all this while using the english language as well as he used his mashie.

A must read if you want to be a competitive golfer.

Everett Alvarez was shot down almost immediately after the Tonkin Gulf "incident." Immediately captured, he endured the next 7 and a half years of captivity while being beaten, brutalized, humiliated, and tortured both physically and mentally. While captured, he had to endure sporadic communication with his family back home, including a marriage that broke apart, and the treatment of fellow POWs who were friends, and family, to him.

Accompanying illustrations help to show how dramatic the story is. Since it is not written in a complex manner, it can fairly retell the story of what he went through before, during and after his ordeal as a POW to any audience.

I recommend this book to my students who want to learn about this painful chapter in American history, and am very impressed that any human being can absorb that which men like Alvarez and John McCain were forced to do.

On August 5th, 1964, Lieutenant j.g. Everett Alvarez Jr. was shot down over North Vietnam and became the first U.S. aviator to be taken captive in the Vietnam conflict. Held in confinement for eight and a half years, he would be recorded as the longest held POW second only to Army Captain Jim Thompson.

Spending the entire Vietnam war as a POW, Alvarez was held at different times in the Hanoi Hilton, Briarpatch, and Zoo prison compounds. It would be a year until he finally had contact with other American POW's and much of that first year was in solitary confinement.

Approaching 2 years of captivity, Alvarez and his fellow servicemen were subjected to brutal and sadistic tortures amidst inhumane living conditions for the duration of their stay. Forced to eat vermin infested food and given negligible medical care, he suffered frequently from Dysentery, Beri-Beri, Hepatitis, and other afflictions.

Far along into captivity, Alvarez finally received mail from his family concerning events at home. Sadly, he was to learn that one of his sisters had become an anti-war activist and in what must have seemed like one of the worst examples of betrayal and cruelty, his wife divorced him and then remarried.

During the worst of times, Alvarez never wavered in his beliefs of pride, patriotism, and self-determination to survive and continually assisted his fellow POW's as they assisted him. Upon a joyous and welcome return home, he diligently and proudly re-entered society with his honor and integrity intact culminating with his second marriage to a wonderful woman that made his life complete.

Chained Eagle is an exceptionally good book of one man's heroic struggle and endurance in the face of complete despair and hopelessness. Vividly poignant, inspirational, and heartfelt, this book is deserving of much more than five stars and is very highly recommended to everyone.

This was a great story about an American POW who was captured in the Vietnam War (A POW is a prisoner of war). I would recommend this book to every one of all ages. It is a great and moving book about a man who goes through many trials.

The book starts with the main character and author of the book on his ship the U.S.S. Constellation. The author is commander Everett Alvarez Jr. lieutenant junior grade. He starts his story with his squadron going out to help to other ships who where being attacked by PT boats. Later they went and bombed them at a bay farther inland and Everett or Ev for short was shot down by flak. North Vietnamese civilians captured him and turned him into the military. He was interrogated, but would not answer their questions. A man the POWs nicknamed Owl took him to a jail for a time and continued to interrogate him. At the jail he met two men he called Mr. Sea who spoke English and Mr. Blue who didn't. Shortly after arriving there he was moved yet again to a farmhouse and locked in solitary confinement. A few days later they put him in a jeep and drove to Hanoi a large city in Vietnam. There they brought him to a jail that the POWs called the Hanoi Hilton. For several months he stayed there in a room with the numbers twenty-four on it. The Vietnamese fed him a soup with some kind of animal or animal part in it. This caused him to vomit and have horrible diarrhea. He was interrogated often and would always lie. He was able to walk around in an area behind his cell and made a small sanctuary. Ev carved a cross and wrote out all the important dates and a quote to lift his spirits. The food improved later, the Vietnamese were just testing his limits. Owl would tell him they had shot down eight of his planes, but in reality they only shot down two. He tried to prove this to Ev they had eight piles of plane parts, but Ev noticed they were all from two planes. Later Ev was moved to a smaller prison and met Crazy Man. He also started to hear other POWs. Cray Man was a prisoner who went insane he never talked, but would mime everything. Later Ev was moved again they blindfolded him and put him in a truck. In the truck he met three other POWs. They went to a place they nicknamed the Briar Patch and Ev learned a code that allowed them to talk through tapping on the wall they continued to use and teach this to the new POWs. At the Briar Patch the people were meaner and they tortured the people to get what they wanted. They moved again to another place nicknamed the Zoo and were later sent to Hanoi. At Hanoi they had to walk down a street. People crowded around and hit them and beat them as they passed. Ev and the other people kept getting moved around and after eight and one-half years later they were set free. Ev was reunited with his family, but his wife had deserted him. He was soon famous as the first POW of the Vietnam War and did many speeches and such. It was on his way home from Washington that he met Tammy, whom he later married. This was a wonderful book and quite sad.

My favorite part was when Everett got home safely. It is a very happy and funny part and great end. When they arrive at the Philippians and their way home (the POWs I mean) Ev says he has worms and the doctor says to bland foods. However since he had been in captivity he hadn't had good for almost nine years so he grabbed whatever he wanted and told them to go away when they said he couldn't eat it. When he was in his bed nurses came to take his temperature, but when they tried to take his neighbors temperature he bit her on the [behind]. That is my favorite part.

The book covers everything on the self from Freud to Foucault. Excellent.

This is, quite simply, the best theory book around. Period.

This is quite simply the best book on self-identity and the changing social context of identity that I have read. Simple, elegant and thought-provoking.

This book caught my eye in the college library while I was researching the topic. I didn't put it down for the two days it took me to read it. It covers not only "historical ergotism" (which has been deemed the culprit of the Salem Witch trials and other witch hunts by some) but also the case of the 1950's Pt. St. Esprit poisoning in France, which was attributed by the local authorities to a mercury pesticide. Read it, be absolutely amazed, not only at the events, but at the "official judgement" and subsequent injustice of the later rulings towards the poisoned survivors of that fateful night. I also recommend Mary Matossion's Poisons of the Past for more info on historical ergotism.

This is an amazing book. The historical account is fascinating. I am also floored by how well Fuller wove in a multitude of personal stories, gave a rich account of a very complex incident, then beautifully encapsulated the 15-year legal tragedy that followed the original tragedy. You don't come across stories like this every day, and you certainly don't often come across treatments of them that are this good.

It's not written at a sixth-grade level -- a plus for me -- but nowadays I doubt an editor would let Fuller get away with all the French phrases and excerpts he put in the book. Back then I suppose authors could assume they had a more sophisticated readership. I liked the sprinkling of French, sometimes even original letters (translated to English, of course), but if you don't know any French at all, you might want to read this with a dictionary at hand.

This is an extensive analysis by a journalist of the outbreak of ergot poisoning in Pont St.Esprit, France (Provence) in 1951. It is based on personal interviews and documents, as well as on discussions with the doctors involved. It is perhaps the most complete case study of mass ergot poisoning in literature. It is very valuable to any historian wishing to understand one of the most feared and puzzling diseases of the Middle Ages.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Dance series for a graduate level course over the summer of 2003....until I got to the last volume. In my opinion the books peaked with the sixth, "The Kindly Ones" and finshed delightfully at book nine "The Military Philosophers". Most major character lines were completed and the story had reached a logical and chronological end. For this reason Volume Four reads like a long and arduous addendum. The new characters are unappealing and the loss of the most interesting personalities from the prior three volumes is immense. Further, a personal irritation of mine is the continued use of archaic verse lifted from often bad and lugubrious poetry. Powell is indiscrimant in adding pages from irrelevant works while not advancing the story line. Did he write these last three novels to augment his income as he approached his later years? Regardless they alloy this otherwise delightful series. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, END AT BOOK 9, DON'T BOTHER WITH THIS VOLUME.

While I would recommend starting at an earlier stage of Powell's intimate epic (a contradiction in terms? maybe not), this is essential reading.

_A Dance to the Music of Time_ is an extremely absorbing and well-crafted novel (composed of 12 smaller novels). Its subject is the decline of the English upper classes from the First World War to about 1970, a decline seen is inevitable and probably necessary, but somehow also regrettable.

Such a description might make the novel seem stuffy, but it is not. _A Dance to the Music of Time_ is at times very funny indeed, and always interesting. always involving. It features an enormous cast of characters, and Powell has the remarkable ability to make his characters memorable with the briefest of descriptions. In addition, Powell's prose is addictive: very characteristic, idiosyncratic, and elegant.

The long novel follows the life of the narrator, Nicholas Jenkins, from his time at Eton just after World War I to retirement in the English countryside in the late '60s. But Jenkins, though the narrator, is in many ways not the most important character. The comic villain Widmerpool, a creature of pure will, and awkward malevolence, is the other fulcrum around which the novel pivots.

This final volume of the University of Chicago's beautiful Trade Paperback edition includes the last three books. _Books Do Furnish a Room_ is set shortly after World War II, when Nick Jenkins is moving in London literary circles, dealing with such characters as the doomed, eccentric, novelist X. Trapnel, his mistress Pamela Flitton Widmerpool, and of course Kenneth Widmerpool himself, clumsily but successfully trying to maximize his political influence with the help of a literary magazine. _Temporary Kings_ features Jenkins at a conference in Venice, then back in London, and introduces a couple of curious Americans, Louis Glober and Russell Gwinnett. It also features the final destructive acts of the terrible Pamela Flitton's life. _Hearing Secret Harmonies_ concludes the sequence, as Jenkins rather bitterly views the radicalism of the '60s, and especially Widmerpool's usual attempts at ingratiating himself with the latest fads in power. The novel closes with a remarkable vision of Widmerpool's end, oddly, bitterly echoing his first appearance.

A great, great, series of novels. Incomparable.