When this book first appeared I imagine few thought it would endure. The reason it is still available (and reviewed) is that it is one of those rarities amongst technical and academic texts - in that it was so far ahead of the field at publication that it still remains in advance of current thinking and experimentation. The author has a rare grasp for conveying some difficult concepts. I believe the book has a definite place in that grey area between the two disciplines metrology and biotechnology. There are some unusual and very innovative methods included and this is as much a book for the sensor/instrumentation and physical measurements fraternity as it is for the biotechnologist/fermentation engineer (looking for a way to crack a problem). I was amazed e.g. at the methods already proven for measuring biomass in bioreactors. A very good book which, packed as it is with many advanced or experimental methods, still manages to enlighten on the more mundane aspects without forgetting to keep the reader reminded of the principles involved. There are too many typographical errors for comfort. The author, I suspect, may regret this (as too the reader) as it marrs an otherwise pre-eminent opus.

At first sight this book appears to be at an elementary level, but as one begins to read throught the text it becomes clear that the author has done a remarkable job of conveying some very complex material in a way thouroughly digestible regardless of the readers background or discipline. Covering new applications of measurement science in Biotechnology makes for a curious mix but 'Approaches to Physical Measurments in Biotechnology ' does it in an eminently effective way. A MUST for people in both disciplines - if only to see how it should be done.

It isn't often that a book wears as well as this one - the material was so advanced at publication that I doubt any current research has caught up! It may be that much extant research claims to have overtaken certain aspects of the innovative metrology (and its performance) in 'Approaches -' but I remain doubtful.
There are no alternative texts available that give the reader so much of an insight into the physical metrology of biotechnology. The concise style and coverage of both the principles and approach to problem solving in measuring biotech parameters is thoroughly enlightened - a novice in the subject gleans as much as an expert.
'Approaches to Physical Measurements in Biotechnology' desrves its reputation - long may it remain in print.

I guess this book is meant as a real "intro" text, but if you do know something about this art, it seems pretty lite. Clearly, lots of people like it, but Weintraub seems to bend so far over to make complex work accessible that she really over-simplifines. And the "art" in the book is so scattered and uneven, you don't get any deeper sense of what is going on, what the historical context of any of this might be.

Granted, there aren't many intro texts on recent art. So if this is one of the "better" ones, it's mostly for lack of competition. I wish there was some accessible middle ground between pop/gossip texts and academic tomes. This feels like it's written from someone really distant to the work, who's not always that well-informed.

Anyone who wants to become familiar with intricacies of what can be the confusing world of post-modern art should read this book. The author does an excellent job of presenting an interesting cross-section of significant and fascinating collection of atypical artists. Pretty much every artist who is included has done their share of expanding the contemporary definition of Art in the Western and Non-western tradition. Over all, this compendium of essays does much to open the door to widen the reader's perspective on what art can do. The one aspect of this book that is troublesome is that the author often seems to focus on only one or two aspects of an artist's works, a habit that is frustrating at best and misleading at worst. While doing outside research on one of the artists included, Mel Chin, I was convinced there were two artists with the same name, as the perspective provided in the book did not prepare me for the artist's full range of activities. Still, this complaint should not stop an interested party from purchasing the book. I for one did not feel my money ill-spent.

as a MFA student thats currently being educated by "the institution" i find myself flip flopping between wanting to drop out or drop in...this book didn't save me but it sure put things in perspective, never before in a book have I seen cover such topics where you can find Barbara Kruger and James Luna and Joseph Beuys and Tomie Arai between the same cover's in a book. This book also addresses an important issue for me. race. The art world is racist and if you don't know that just look around, art is life and a reflection of society and if you dont know that its because your a white (sorry but its true). This book may not address it but it surely helps to have some artists of color represented (although they aren't near the best art makers).

The Master Plan of Evangelism is a wonderful examination of the personal ministry of Jesus Christ. Coleman succinctly dissects the method of Jesus, namely that of personal discipleship, in a way that will help ordinary Christians model it in their own lives. Jesus' method was one of multiplication, of pouring His life into twelve disciples, who were to do likewise. This is the call fo each believer today, and Coleman's book is very instructive and motivating in building a vision of personal ministry.

They titled this book wrong. This isn't the Master Plan of Evangelism; this should have been the Master Plan of Discipleship. But that's about the only thing I can say wrong about the book. It's almost as if Coleman takes apart Jesus' life and ministry on Earth and puts it back together with chapter titles, isolating the principles that drove him to do the things he did. This book is almost essential reading for an understanding of how to raise up Christians who will seriously follow God and strive to know Him. If you desire to make disciples as Jesus called us to do, you will do yourself well to read through this book.

As a Christian, we are commanded to make disciples of all nations. This book reveals the key to accomplish this task. It is not the "normal" way most of us Christians perceive how evangelism should be accomplished. Coleman looks at Jesus Christ's life on earth and applies it to our lives, and shows us the way Jesus wants us to evangelize. A real eye opener. A Must read!

Date Smart! is the perfect tool to getting what you want out of a relationship. I found myself jumping from relationship to relationship in search of fulfillment...but I didn't know what I wanted. After reading this book, I know what I want and I know how to get it without wading through the muck. I was searching for a relationship with meaning, and Date Smart! helped me find hope. Now I can honestly and comfortably approach someone because I know how to communicate.

In a style that's fast and fun to read, this book answered so many of the relationship questions I've wondered about for years. The subject matter is presented in a way that's positive and reassuring- that I'm not just a freak who's bad at dating! I got this book on a recommendation from a friend figuring it wouldn't help me, yet now I feel like I know how to start looking for a truly positive and meaningful relationship. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to seriously understand relationships, without giving up a light-hearted and fun approach!

When I bought Date Smart! and started reading it I honestly didn't believe that simply reading a book would help me. I've been through countless dead-end relationships and naively thought it was due to bad luck. I had practically given up on dating altogether! But, the book simply and logically explained how to spot a "bad pick", it defined what a healthy relationship really is, and even how to maintain one once you find it. I learned how and why I kept choosing the wrong people to date After reading Date Smart! I feel I now have the knowledge and confidence to enable me to find the right person and maintain a healthy, happy relationship.

All of the characters in this book were well thought out, and actually developed during the book, instead of being the same boring people. The combat scenes were well written, creating an interest in the battle. Binding Force was one of the few Battletech books, besides Michael A. Stackpole's, that managed to combine politics, a good storyline, and battle into one package.

Excellent, self-contained saga for those interested in battletech lore, yet meshes well with overall storyline/history. I particularly enjoyed the technical side of the book, well thought out and executed. Several aspects of hidden humor, see if you can find them....very engaging.

Aris Sung a warrior of the Cappellan Confederation and a compatriot to his country, is assigned a mission to take a planet that is controlled by the bitter enemies of the Cappelan Confederation, the Sarna Supremacy. In this book you see the ruthless acts committed by both sides in the desperate struggle for the planet. The battle of this novel is not a battle to have ultimate control of the universe or a battle to destroy a entire Successor State but a battle for the resources of the planet, this resource is mainly rice. This is a must read, and depicts the struggles of the Successor States in more realistic terms of politics and economy rather than destiny and history.

I have read a number of "pre-law" primers and this one really stands out. It's strength is it's unique approach: the author paints the "reality" picture and attempts to dissuade potential law students from taking the leap unless they are extraordinarily committed. This reality-check approach makes this book stand out from nearly all books of the genre.

On the negative side, the book is a bit short -- it limits its scope to the "why apply" up through the actual application process, but doesn't discuss financial aid, how to prepare briefs and outlines, etc. Additionally, the author's humor is often funny, but the schmaltzy Yiddish clichés are a bit overwrought.

Bottom line: If you are considering applying to law school, I encourage you to read this book FIRST. If you still want to go to law school, then I would recommend reading additional primers to learn the entire scope of preparing for law school.

This is a thoughtful book that every potential law school applicant should read. As a law student, I was stunned by how few (and I mean FEW) people had put any thought at all into their decision to attend. I left my law practice to retain my sanity. For what it's worth, I urge anyone thinking of going to law school to read this book very carefully. There are very good reasons for becoming a lawyer, though making a lot of money is not one of them. Law school isn't that hard (try medical school . . .), but being a lawyer is very demanding indeed. It takes the right kind of person, and the right kind of motivation, to make it worthwhile. This book is an excellent start to deciding if you're one of those people.

The strength of Mr. Coleman's work, The Pre-Law Companion, is its honest look at the legal profession from the point of view most useful to a potential law student: why you might NOT want to attend law school. The author is tough and unwavering in his approach to talking about the reality of life as a lawyer, and in asking the questions that most people overlook. However, his directness is tempered with humor, flair and personality as he provides a rather endearing look into his own journey through the process and shares some of the pitfalls he encountered along the way. By utilizing a healthy balance of instruction and wit, Mr. Coleman has successfully created this essential pre-law guide.

In the first half of the book, the author leads the reader through a fresh and rigorous look at his or her individual strengths and weaknesses as a potential lawyer. Since obtaining a J.D. involves a significant commitment of time, money and other more intangible resources (like family support, toll on friendships or social life, the opportunity cost of lost income while in school, to name a few), the decision to invest these resources deserves a hard look. This investigation involves broaching the subjects of aptitude for the legal profession (it is not simply about showmanship or being a good arguer), the reality of life as a lawyer (beyond the glamour of "Ally McBeal" and "The Practice"), and what else you could be or would rather be doing with all of that time, money, etc. Ron helps each of his readers ask the questions fundamental to making the right decision about whether or not they should attend law school.

The second half of the book provides practical insights into preparing for law school: first discussing appropriate undergraduate coursework and extracurricular activities, then looking at life between college and graduate school, and finally preparing law school applications, financing a legal education, and exploring various types of law jobs that might be available after graduation. While discussing job opportunities, Mr. Coleman provides a very extensive list of potential government positions for lawyers, and also looks at lawyering in the business world, lawyering for public interest, and of course, private practice.

After reading this book, the potential law student will have examined the type of work lawyers do, and will have inquired frankly into whether he or she has what it takes to succeed, and also whether he or she will enjoy life as a lawyer. Above all, I enjoyed this book because while reading it I felt like I had a trusted, knowledgeable and funny friend spend a few hours advising me on the pursuit of my law school education. A rare treat, indeed!

I highly recommend this book for anyone deciding whether to attend law school or pursue a legal career.

Rolemaster is a system in the same mold as GURPS... both are good flexable systems that alow you to create diverse universes... but in order to do so... you have to either invent your own rules from scratch... or buy dozens of books... Rolemaster's character creation system is on par with Hero System (AKA Champions) for complexity... but it doesn't allow you the flexability of character creation that Champions does. Rolemaster is alternative for D&D, and good for low powered games... but It's far from the best system out there.

Okay, people, if you are interested in purchasing the Rolemaster system, here is what you need to know. Firstly, the black and white illustrations are terrible, and one some pages the print is not centered perfectly. ICE publishes a hard back version of the standard book, something players who get into this game will want to buy. This soft backed version of the book should have been bound with lay flat binding to aid in photocopying (see below).
Now on to the meet of the game...
The rules for character generation are complex, and can be a 95% diceless generation if desired. This is a nice break from players who feel that d20 system rules are too random. This allow players to design exactly what they want to play. The book could have been laid out better, to aid in new players understanding the rules. If will take a few read throughs and flipping back and forth to determine all the "hobby ranks", development points, proffesion bonuses, racial bonuses, etc. etc. to calculate all the stats.
There are ten basic stats, too many in my opinion. I like GURPS' system with four basics stats allowing every stat to be very influential on the character.
This is not a "player handbook" as other RPG core books are. Players will have to purchase the Arms Law book to have complete explanations of weapons, three Spell Law books (Essance, Channeling, and Mentalism Laws), Character Law (for extended character generation rules), and Gamemaster Law (the equivent of D&D's DMG) to have what Rolemaster calls the "standard system". All are neccessary to fully enjoy the game's versitility.
Is it worth it to buy these books and spend the time learning all the rules and tables? Depends...
Rolemaster is for you if 1) you have "improved" other FRPG with homemade rules, skills and combat tables. Buy rolemaster instead 2) Combat is fairly rare in your games but in the combat that is there you want to be very descriptive and real 3) You are a seasoned gamer and are looking for something other than the generic d20 system games and other RPGs that are all getting to be the same. Rolemaster has a very "old school" feel to it. 4)You like "low fantasy" adventures. Rolemaster feels very grounded, but can be made high fantasty by GM. 5) You think having players who can shrug of five strikes from a halberd swung by an giant and three quarrels stiking in him from his goblin buddies is STUPID. Getting hit in the chest with a halberd swung by a normal man HURTS and rolemaster reflects that. 6) As a player character, you sigh as you attack the troll because there is no way you can heroicly slay it (like the hero you are supposed to be) because you know the troll has more hit points than your longsword is capable of doing in one hit. No matter how big and bad the troll is, jamming your sword through his jugular and into it brain will HURT it, no matter who you are. Rolemaster reflects that, and even low level characters can get in deadly strikes. 7)You don't think being assured of victory against the troll becasue you have four attacks a round, weapon specialization, weapon mastery, a plus 80 vorpal long sword of freezing and blah blah blah is very heroic either.
Rolemaster is not for you if... 1)You are not willing to invest some time in learning a "heavy system" 2) You hate tables. Everything is based on a percentile roll applied to a table. Everything. And everything has its own table. Everything 3) You are looking for a fast playing game. Rolemaster does not have to be slow, but it can be. There are other systems where combat is fast and furious and colored by the imagination. In RM, everything is detailed, explained, and goes to a table. 4) Combat is constantly going on in your game. Playing out a dozen fights before the main fight in a night's worth of gaming may not be possible for all but he most experienced players. 5) This is your first RPG, especially if you have to learn it by yourself. The rules might over shadow the fun of the RPG. Look into D&D,GURPS, or Lord of the Rings Role Playing Game.
Overall, I do not think it is a bad investment. I will with hold the "best RPG" title. I would have a hard time dealing this out to any RPG. It all depends on what the gaming group is looking for in its RPG. There are a few things I would recommend doing though in a RM game: 1)Photocopy all the tables for a GM's notebook and order them in an alphabetized list with dividers clearing marking the tables. There are so many tables the game will get slowed down with flipping pages, especially if there is only one copy of the basic rules in the gaming group 2) download MERP Lite copyright 2000 by Craig Pay (run a search on Google, and apply the rules to Rolemaster (MERP and RM are compatible systems). This will speed game play up dramatically. Save the ultra technically rules for the "big showdowns" with the big bad guys worthy of the time. 3) Don't let "rule lawyering" slow the game down. Keep the game flowing.
Anyway, hopefully with this information you can make a better informed decision on what the Rolemaster system really is. As always, happy gaming!!

This system is unbelievable! I've played D&D 2nd and 3rd ed., GURPS, and many others, and none of them can even be compared to the greatness of this system. This is, no doubt about it, the BEST RPG system there is! The combat, the spells, the character creation, all worked to perfection. It's possible to leave your character EXACTLY like you want. The ONLY possible disadvantage to this system is that its extremely complex(which can be a good thing for those who are experienced players)and so it takes quite a while to create a character, for begginers i suggest sticking to simpler systems and then buy this RoleMaster. I think, no, I'm SHURE that this is the best system I've ever seen in my entire life, I'ts worth the cost!!!

Jelaluddin Rumi has become familiar to Western readers who seek out ecstatic poetry, as more and more translations and commentaries are offered on perhaps this greatest of mystical writers. But as they say, it takes one to know one, and Coleman BarksÕ masterpiece is the obvious product of an attuned heart and poetic soul.

This volume is one of the clearest and most vibrant illustrations of the Ôwild heartÕ Rumi was and is. It is difficult to find superlatives which do justice to the beauty and towering vision this work contains. Every verse, every line seems to open, in some disarmingly simple way, vast new vistas of possibilities for the human spirit.

How good is this book? The highest accolade that can be given Barks is that his brief section introductions, frequently fodder in other volumes exploring Rumi, here are powerful and transformative in their own right. Each one sets up the following verses in a natural and seamless flow. BarksÕ light shines brightly, even in the rarefied company he keeps.

Get this volume and devour it. Then get another copy and give it to someone who is ready for the infinite freedom it open-handedly offers...

Whether you are new to Rumi or a devotee, whether you are a seeker of truth and wisdom, or you would simply enjoy a book of wonderful poetry, this is a book you should buy.
First if all, I should explain that I love Rumi and recite Rumi, and do it well enough, that listeners often ask me which book should be chosen. Since the publication of The Soul of Rumi, I find myself saying that if one were to choose two books that are the best of Rumi, the first is the Soul of Rumi, and the second is the Illuminated Rumi. Coleman Barks translations of Rumi have a spirit and beauty that truly reflect Rumi's vision and clarity. Coleman's accompanying dialogues give us a glimpse into Rumi, 13th century Turkey, and Shams, Rumi's mystical friend and teacher.
Coleman makes it easy to understand Rumi's poetry; not just as a translation from the 13 century, but for the wisdom and guidance it offers to all of us, living in the 21st century. The poems in the section on Human Grief were one of the ways I managed to get through this last September.
What is most wonderful for lovers of Rumi, is the order and sections that Coleman chose in this book. This presentation is a wonderful format to help the reader understand the passion and the soul of Rumi. The sections are divided into 'wisdom categories' (my interpretation). The names of the sections communicate the viability of Rumi for today's important life questions. For example, "Living as Evidence", and "The Banquet - This is Enough was Always True", and "The Joke of Materialism". Some sections reflect Sufi concepts like Fana (Dissolving beyond doubt..) and Baqa (reentry into the world, " the Arabic word for living within, ...life lived with clarity and reason, ...the absorbing work of this day"). And for those of us, like myself, who recite Rumi, it is very helpful to have the arrangement by what, in effect, is topics. This book offers insight into Sufism, which in turn can help in the understanding of Islam. But as always, Coleman skirts the links of Rumi's poetry to a particular belief system, and in so doing, keeps Rumi's message in a form most appropriate for today. Rumi himself claimed he bore no label - "Not Christian, Jew or Muslim, not Hindu, Buddist, Sufi or Zen".
And there are so many poems that even I, who usually would sit and devour a Coleman Barks translation, in a day, must go slowly, must savor every moment; and I am so grateful to Coleman for his work and his gift of the Soul of Rumi.
Buy a few copies, the book is beautiful and would make a great gift.

In this new collection of his poetry, as the "moon and evening star do their slow tambourine dance to praise this universe" (p. 201), Rumi tells us, "it's time now to live naked" (p. 32). I've revisited Coleman Bark's popular collection of ESSENTIAL RUMI many times after it was first published in 1997. It became one of my favorite books of poetry, and offered a good introduction to Rumi's intensely spiritual poetry. With this new, equally stunning collection, Barks triumphs again in sharing the ecstasy of reading Rumi.

These days many people associate Afghanistan with terrorists rather than spiritual poets. Born in Afghanistan (p. 3), Jelaluddin Rumi (1207-73) was a thirteenth century Sufi master, and a devout scholar. It was the work of his dervish community, and the aim of his poetry to "open the heart, to explore the mystery of union, to fiercely search for and try to say the truth, and to celebrate the glory and difficulty of being in a human incarnation" (p. 4). Barks' translations succeed in capturing the divine spirit and earthly joys of Rumi's ecstatic verse. In the "forty sections" of poetry collected here, we observe the mystery of gnats becoming buttermilk (pp. 8, 113, 200), chickpeas disappearing into the flavor of soup, a dead mule decaying into the desert, an infant turning to the breast, and moths transformed into candle flames (p. 124). "The same way a branch draws water up many feet," Rumi observes, God is pulling our spirits along (p. 204). He encourages us to polish our hearts with meditation and quietness. "When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy" (p. 79).

Rumi's poetry will appeal to anyone interested in what it means to be fully alive and fully awake, and the poems contained within this new 425-page collection soar from their pages just as high as the poems in Barks' previous bestseller.

G. Merritt

Veteran "Battletech" author Loren L. Coleman doesn't dissapoint Battletech fans with the this tale of the developing civil war within the Federated Commonwealth. There is plenty of action in this tale of the universe 1,000 years in the future. However, the book misses out on a 5 star rating because of the underdevelopment of minor romantic subplots, and the breaking of the credulity meter due to the actions of one of the characters.

"Flashpoint" tells the story David McCarthy, a hero of the Inner Sphere invasion of Clan space. At that time, David had held the equivalent rank of major and was a battalion commander in the Kathil Uhlans, an elite Federated Comonwealth regiment based on David's homeworld of Kathil.

Upon his return to the Inner Sphere, David learns that the Federated Commonwealth has been taken over by Katherine (Katrina) Steiner-Davion, the sister of it's rightful ruler, Victor Steiner-Davion, who had lead the expedition which had rescued the remnants of David's unit, and had won the victory against the Clans which had ended the Clans' invasion of the Inner Sphere.

Although the rest of his unit had decided to join the new Star League Defense Force, following Prince Victor into exile, David wanted to return home to his native Kathil. Reduced in rank to a captain, David arrives on Kathil to find tensions building between the supporters of Katherine, and the supporters of Victor. The Militia unit David reports to is loyal to Victor; but on planet is another unit, whose loyalty is to Katherine. Trouble is brewing.

But David has troubles of his own. Named a hero of the Inner Sphere invasion of the Clan worlds, he is scarred by the memories of a hopeless battle that wrecked his last command. Can he re-train his new Militia command to understand the reality of war, and put his own demons to rest?

There's more, of course. Political intrigue, lots of action, on the ground and in space, and even a li'l bit of romance. The romance angle falls flat, as that subplot is poorly developed. You can see it coming, even though the author gives little reason as to why it is coming.

But this book's worst flaw comes from the actions of the main villian of this tale, an unscrupulous and ambitious officer who is a battalion commander in the unit loyal to Katherine. This guy's a lot of fun, but a certain decision on this character's part is totally unbelievable.

Still, Battletech fans probably won't mind to much. This is a good book, McCarthy a likeable character, and unlike the prior book in the series, "Path of Glory", the author is given enough space to tell his story.

"Flashpoint" is one of the better recent books in this series. Battletech fans will approve.

I've been following the Battletech saga for nearly 4 years now and I have to admit, this civil war is LONG OVERDUE. I'm sure glad that the Clan Wars are over so the storylines could more or less focus on the Federated Commonwealth question: Who gets to be Archon-Prince/cess for good?

Flashpoint definitely lives up to its name as it jumpstarts the war on the FedSuns side. (I believe Illusions of Victory and Measure of a Hero are on the Lyran front). Now its hard to believe that a lot of FedSuns units are actually loyal to Katherine like several FedCom RCTs considering that she is so identified as Steiner intrigues me. I would have expected that the majority of these units would still side with Victor and that Katherine would be forced to send in Lyran units to pacify Davion planets.

Anyway, the book is a good read as it highlights the sheer chaos of the civil war pitting the local authorities, line units, planetary militias, heads of states and general populace of each FedCom world. Makes you wonder if the Free Worlds League and Capellan Confederation would attempt opportunistic incursions on both Lyran and FedSuns territory as the war progresses.

Any freebirth who don't read this book will regret it. Action packed freebirth with no trueborn (heehee). Really bring back the feeling that Battletech isn't dead yet! Big scaled action - regiment versus regiment. It can't get any better. Lovely, thrilling and mystical (whether the capellan dragoons will land savely with a blockage set up by a Fed Com Warship).

After seeing the book here on Amazon I thought I wanted it. While looking for another book at the local library I found this book in it's revised and updated edition. I was sadly disappointed. It is more a travellog than a how-to on gardening. I read several other similar books and the best one I found was "Solar Gardening" by Leandre Poisson from Chelsea Green.

Eliot Coleman's fine book has given rise to a gentle whisper deep in my thoughts. That whisper says, "Fresh veggies - in the winter! And it's not even difficult..." I find myself daydreaming about winter gardening, planting winter crops in my imagination, planning beds and trellises and cold frames full to bursting with delicious greens. I entertain the radical notion of a four-season independence from boring, tasteless supermarket vegetables for the price of a very small effort.

This wonderful book tells you everything you need to know about four-season harvesting, provides planting dates for a broad variety of garden delicacies, and shares tried and true labor-saving methods. It will inspire you and inform you! An excellent reference, a good choice for a beginnner, and a perfect gift for the avid gardener.

This book is really wonderful. I've owned it for several years and have also had reliable winter harvests in Maine (where I used to live). It has also really expanded my awareness of good things to eat fresh from my garden.

Coleman presents his ideas clearly and with plenty of pictures. This is really critical. Using the diagrams in the book, I was easily able to build a cold frame from scrap board. No mean feat, as I am not the most accomplished builder.

The only drawback to the book, which is pretty minor, is the size of the hardiness zone map in the back. I would have much preferred it to be larger and in color.