The precise language of logic has so many uses in computer science, it is sometimes surprising that it is not more widely used. Ambiguity is a recurring problem in writing everything from the initial specifications to the final documentation. The formal statements of logic are by nature unambiguous, which would eliminate most of the problems of imprecision. However, there are two major obstacles to the widespread adoption of the language of logic:

1) Very few programmers understand the formal language and most do not have time to learn it.
2) If logic were to be used, it would require the writing of almost another complete set of specifications. Most programmers don't have time to write or won't write standard documentation Expecting a formal set is asking for more than can normally be delivered.

Despite this stiff mass of resistance, there are uses for formal logic, and many of those uses are described in this book. Most of the standard structures of software modeling are described using formal logic structures. If you do not have some experience in formal logic, then you will find most of this book very difficult to understand. However, if you have had the pleasure of some study in logic, then you will appreciate the conciseness and precision of the models that are constructed. To the initiated, they allow for the creation of some very elegant descriptions of what software is supposed to do.
All of the fundamental areas of logic in application to computer science are covered. Each chapter concludes with a set of exercises and solutions are included in an appendix. This book would be an ideal one for an advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate course in logic applied to computer science. To the extent that programming is mentioned, the languages are Lisp and Prolog.
Formal logic is sorely underutilized in computer science. Writing formal descriptions of your models and code demands a degree of intellectual rigor that cannot be achieved any other way. It is clear that the only true path to correct software is to be intellectually precise and the models in this book will help you do that.

This book is listed in the bibliography of Bread and Puppet's book "Landscape and Desire", and since I am a maskmaker and a huge fan of Bread and Puppet I bought it. I did find it interesting to see how these Russian festivals may have influenced Bread and Puppet's work. What this book is, however, is a huge compendium of original material concerning street festivals in Soviet Russia from 1918 to 1933. It contains hundreds of photos and paintings on the subject, and gathers together what seems to be every single relevant report from Soviet books, magazines, newspapers, archives, organizational notes, festival plans, etc etc. The book also includes five essays which help point out some patterns and trends in this huge mass of material. However, the book does not attempt to give any more background, historical, political, or artistic, than is necessary to put its subject into a very basic context. I believe this book was meant as reference and research material, and as such it made for some exceedingly dry reading. I gave the book the rating that I did because it does what it sets out to do thoroughly and well. How useful a reader finds it, however, will depend on what they need from it. For original source material concerning Soviet street fairs it is a treasure. An in depth historical, political, or artistic analysis it is not, nor does it try to be.

Tench Coxe is one person very few school children read about...and for good reason. A Philadelphia merchant during the citical period of the 1760's through the 1820's, Coxe is a case study in switching political affiliation. As the Revolutionary War rages on, Coxe is a Loyalist and even attends the lavish Philadelphia balls with the British officers. When the war is over, however, Coxe switches his alliances, emerging at the forefront of those fighting for ratification of the new Constitution. He is rewarded with a job in George Washington's Treasury Department. However, Coxe becomes disillusioned with the Federalist Party as he begins to campaign for the Democratic-Republican, Thomas Jefferson. In his later years, Coxe spends much time campaigning in Pennsylvania for various political candidates, trying to manage his extensive land holdings and begging, usually fruitlessly, for a patronage job. The author attempts to show how Coxe, although running the gauntlet of political affiliations, has never let go of his core beliefs. He does not quite convince this reader, but he does make an intersting case. Even more important than Cooke's historical interpretation of Coxe's life is the fact that reading this fine biography helps one to more fully understand and appreciate the work that political underlings do, especially as it relates to early American political intrigues. One criticism I have of this book, and I admit it is more of a matter of personal preference, is that the author chronologically jumps around too much. In my opinion, this leaves the reader somewhat confused with regards to how some aspects of the subject's life interact with other aspects. Cooke does this especially with regards to Coxe's land speculation. It takes away from the overall quality of the book when Cooke describes Coxe's buying and selling of land in the Carolinas and I'm spending time trying to figure out what else is going on in Coxe's life. This is not a book written for curling up next to the fire, but rather for those who fancy themselves scholars.

This was a great guide to the Arizona scenic highways. there were alot of choices and depending on which part of Arizona you were traveling, this book gives you a less "touristic" option. I myself did the Apache trail. This book gave an accurate description on how "hazardous" this trip would be. I wish I would've paid more attention to the recommended time for travel. As usual, I assumed I could travel "faster" and missed some sights by minutes. Anyway, I highly recommend this book. Wish they would come up with others. Arizona is a beautiful state and has plenty to offer in rgs to scenic highways.

This book is an excellent source for anyone who is intrested in urban development and the problems associated with it in an arid environment. I initially had to read to book for a class, but intend to purchase it for use as a reference for my job. I highly recommend this book.

This is a contemporary source, a mixed bag of character sketches, fictionalized real events, and historical bits. Cooke isn't great on exact accuracy of dates and events, but he captures a certain mentality well. If you want the Virginian-plume-wearing-chivalry Thing, you'd better read this book. And he is entertaining, if turgid -- the character sketches of people like Stuart and Farley the Scout are the best parts, I think. A brief chapter on the siege of Petersburg stands out as well. The book does give a good idea of what scouts and detached cavalry units did, which I found useful.

Thickly styled though much of this is to a modern eye (and perhaps a contemporary one, since Stuart himself apparently considered Cooke "a crashing bore", though he was too tactful to let on), it's still really a classic of the period. It represents a certain facet of Civil War mentality, and people interested in the period should certainly look at it.

Both my 12 year old son and I read this book. It gave us a common vocabulary to talk about what was going on. It made the problems and feelings that he was having seem normal. Lots of other families are going through the same things.

As I've stated in several other reviews, I used to read this series of books to my much-younger adopted sisters back when they were first in print in the 80s and early 90s. Now that I have a child of my own I have been re-collecting these books to read to him.

Why Are You So Mean To Me? is a story probably most parents will be able to sympathize with -- Grover goes to his school picnic with a brand-new baseball bat from his mother, and after confessing he has never played baseball before to the ever-obnoxious Truman (the same Truman from Grover Goes to School), Grover is picked last for the baseball game when Truman whines that Grover has never played before and will make his team lose. Grover tries hard to prove him wrong but loses the game for his team, while the rest of the kids on his team chime in with the tormenting Truman in ridiculing him. Grover, upset about this awful treatment from his classmates, takes out his frustration on an unsuspecting Big Bird, who is understanding about the situation and proves what a great friend he is by practicing baseball with Grover until he gets one hit, and gives him a painting as a present.

The artwork is a bit weak here but the message is solid and will help children who might find themselves in this situation with the knowledge that someone, even if it's the fictitious Grover, knows what they are going through and that they do have true friends who will always care about them, and conversely it shows how much mean words can really hurt others and that you should always take great care in what you say to other people. A must-have for anyone with school-aged children.

The cakes in this book are beautiful, but are meant to be created by professionals. There are too many non-edible items that need to be removed from the cake before serving. Impractical.

Hmmmm, what can I say. The pictures were fabulous, but the wedding cakes would be extremely difficult to cut and serve. However, you can use a few ideas I suppose. For me, this was too far out to be practical for the home wedding cake baker -- only those who have a lot of time on their hands and nothing better to do than play. I cannot see an average couple wanting a wedding cake like these. Sorry.

The cakes in this book are absolutely beautiful, but a bit more decorative than most people will want. Further, they were personalized for the weddings for which they were made. I do recommend this book as a great starting place; it is inspiring, and it includes a lot of good tips and techniques. And for the couple who wants a really over the top cake, this just might be your book.

This book was hard to get into initially. I thought the whole opening hotel scene with Linda, and the subsequent writer's conference far too drawn out. But I kept with the book (it was my chosen vacation read) and am so glad I did.

Anita Shreve writes in ways that is if not lean, then elegant. She weaves a story that works it's way into you. I found myself inexplicably drawn back into it. The book really picked up speed in the middle section, when Thomas and Linda were in Africa. It was beautifully written. It is still vividly in my mind. I hated to see that part end.

Yes, the book was written in an unfamiliar style to me and there were times I had to backtrack to understand who said what and to figure exactly what was going on. But it was a bit of a mystery that unwound itself for me layer by intriguing layer.

Other reviewers have written that the end is a disappointing gimmick. I do not agree. Yes, I was completely, totally shocked by it, never before have I been so taken aback, never before have I sat breathless and unbelieving at the close of a book. But I immediately began formulating who and how I would impress upon to read this book. I was stunned, yes, but at the same time, I wholly understood and accepted it. What is hard for me to understand is how someone who has ever truly been in love, not identify with what Thomas did? Who of us has ever not lay in bed and entertained thoughts of what if? After such a tragic occurrence, entertaining a lifetime of What Ifs doesn't seem so implausible.

I thought this novel poignant and recommend it.

A co-worker loaned this book to me, I called and thanked her the second I was done. Starts out slow but stick with it.

I just finished The Last Time They Met a few days ago. Although I enjoyed it immensely, like the other reviewers, I found the first 50 pages or so very confusing. My revelation came when I realized it was related to The Weight of Water. I would advise anyone who reads this book to read The Weight of Water also. When I reached the end of The Last Time They Met (and actually through out the book) I had to keep rereading passages. Afterwards,I went immediately to Weight of Water to refresh my memory and confirm what actually happened in the car accident.